RIBS 'N' PIGSKIN

In a possible preview of the Super Bowl (let's hope) the Steelers are taking on the Carolina Panthers in an exhibition game tonight at Heinz Field and then Pitt is playing Virginia on Saturday. The Steelers team is also using it as an opportunity to launch the Coors Light Football, Ribs & Rock-n-Roll Festival with free concerts by the Clarks, The Outlaws and Grand Funk Railroad. The latter, no longer fronted by Mark Farner, features founding members drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher, as well as Bruce Kulick, who spent 12 years with Kiss. There will also be activities for kids and displays of Steelers memorabilia. The grounds open at 2 p.m. today at Heinz Field and run noon to midnight Friday through Sunday and noon to 7 p.m. Monday. Here are the highlights:

Friday: Good Brother Earl (7:30 p.m.); The Clarks (9 p.m.).

Saturday: The Smick Brothers (4 p.m.); Pitt vs. Virginia (8 p.m.).

Sunday: Gatorade Steelers 5K Race, Fitness Walk and Kids Kickoff Run (9:30 a.m.; 412-697-7713); Iron City Promotions Exhibition Boxing (noon and 3 p.m.); Marvel Heroes Spider-man Show (2 and 5 p.m.); Opening Act (7:30 p.m.); Grand Funk Railroad (9 p.m.)

Monday: The Fabulous Gunslingers (3:30 p.m.); The Outlaws (5 p.m.)

Seat upgrades are available for $10 for Grand Funk and the Outlaws by calling 412-323-1919 and on the night of the show. For more details, go to www.steelers.com.

To keep the vaunted Super Bowl XL Trophy free of beer and barbecue sauce, it will be displayed at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center this weekend. From Friday through the Monday, the Vince Lombardi Trophy will be on display at the entrance to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the History Center. While you're there, check out such black and gold artifacts as Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception" shoes, a Steel Curtain display, Super Bowl replica rings and highlight videos.

Kennywood salutes the Super Bowl Champs with a special Black & Gold Fall Fantasy Parade Friday at 8 p.m. The park asks that you wear your Steelers colors and honor hometown heroes Charlie Batch (Homestead) and Mike Logan (McKeesport) at the High Dive Stage at 7:30 p.m. and then during the parade. Kennywood opens at 5 p.m. today through Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday through Monday. Nightrider admission (at 5 p.m.) is $14.95. Call 412-461-0500.

It's called the Johnstown Folk Festival, but, like at Newport, you're allowed to go electric. The festival runs Friday through Sunday with a mix of Americana ranging from the roots rock of Sleepy LaBeef to the modern klezmer of the Balkan Beat Box to the bayou swing of Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience. Also represented on the four main stages are Pittsburgh's own Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers and the Billy Price Band. Hours are 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday; noon-12:30 a.m. Saturday; noon-11:30 p.m. Sunday.

The goal of the 13th annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Colonial Festival is to transport you back to 1776, but you might want to bring modern-day cash. More than 500 artisans from "15 Colonies" will don period clothing and peddle floral designs, handmade and embellished clothing, candles and scents, stained glass, jewelry, functional and decorative wood, jellies and jams and more at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Greensburg. Along with the crafts, there will be a military encampment, performances by the Westland Flute Choir, Acoustic Shadows of the Blue & Gray, Beaver Creek and chainsaw carving and glass blowing demonstrations. Kids can have their faces painted by colonial clowns, Glitter Dot & Dapper and feed the animals at the Kidders & Kritters Petting Zoo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Monday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5; $4.50 seniors; $1 kids 6-12. Call 724-863-4577 or go to www.familyfestivals.com.

This time around, the American Shorts Reading Series has its mind on, well, S.E.X. The Mattress Factory's Winifred Lutz Garden is the setting for an evening designed for mature audiences (under 18 not admitted without an adult). Patrick Jorden, founding director of Barebones Theatre, will serve as emcee/host for a program with WYEP's Rosemary Welsch reading a "steamy-hot tale of erotic fiction," WQED's Minette Seate doing her own take on short films from Gordon Nelson's private collection of vintage 1950s burlesque. They recommend that you bring a special pal, a comfy blanket, dinner or a snack, and your favorite beverage. It begins at 7 p.m. at 500 Sampsonia Way, North Side. Tickets are $4.

On a different sort of historical note, the NewLanders step into the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts to celebrate the release of "Born of Fire: Songs of Steel and Industry." The CD consists of songs the men and women in the steel and coal industry in southwestern Pennsylvania sang between 1845 and 1945. It begins at 6:30 p.m. with a showing of the Bill Mosher's documentary "Born of Fire: How Pittsburgh Built a Nation." The NewLanders take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5.

You can party like it's 1994 at the Post-Gazette Pavilion with Hootie & the Blowfish, a pop-rock band from South Carolina that had a flash of fame -- 25 million copies worth -- like few others. The keepers of the 1996 Grammy for Best New Artist are still led by Darius Rucker (star of the "Burger King" commercial) and are still wowing crowds with such monster radio hits as "Hold My Hand" and "Only Wanna Be With You," though generally in smaller venues. The band is on an 11-show tour supporting a new CD, "Live in Charleston," and helping local kids. Ticket-holders are asked to bring a school supply, which will be distributed in the Pittsburgh Public School system. Hootie is joined by Better Than Ezra for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $15 and $29.50. Call 412-323-1919.

The First Fridays at the Frick concert series concludes with Rene Marie, a singer who took her cues from Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan to interpret popular, jazz and folk songs. She performs on the grounds of the Frick Art & Historical Center at 7 p.m., sponsored by Mellon Jazz. The rain date is Saturday. Guests are invited to arrive as early as 5:30 p.m. for picnicking. A donation of $5 per adult is suggested. The Frick Art & Historical Center is at 7227 Reynolds St. in Point Breeze. Call 412-371-0600 or go to www.frickart.org.

5151 Penn, a new multi-purpose gallery and performance space, opens with "Birds, Bees, Flowers and Trees," featuring the works of Kim Fox and Linnea Glick and music provided by Justin Hopper (Soulcialism, Pandemic). The reception is from 7 to 11 p.m. It's part of the larger Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn in the Friendship/Garfield area. Go to www.5151Penn.com

Michele Bensen and Dr. Zoot and the Suits swing into Mt. Lebanon for Jazz on Washington, a free concert at 6 p.m. on Washington Road that will also feature Drew the Dramatic Fool and Ben Sota from Zany Umbrella Circus.

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History invites you to touch the teeth of the world's largest piranha, test the zap of an electrical eel and stick your hands into the gut of an Amazonian catfish. The occasion is the opening of "Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes and Other Riches," an exhibit about biodiversity, field research, resource management and the ways people celebrate the Amazon River. It is currently on a five-year tour of U.S. museums. It opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 7 in the R.P. Simmons Family Gallery on the third floor. Call 412-622-3131.

Boots Randolph, whose 1961 hit, "Yakety Sax," was also the closing theme to TV's "The Benny Hill Show," plays a special engagement Saturday at Jacksons Restaurant-Rotisserie-Bar Southpointe, 1000 Corporate Drive, adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn. Randolph, 80, performed on Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" and with Elvis Presley on several albums. Details on the 7 p.m. show: 724-743-5005.

The Rhythm House in Bridgeville invites you to come on feel the noise with Quiet Riot, still led by singer Kevin DuBrow. The vintage metal band will be joined by Daniel McMaster (of Bonham) and Ron Keel. The show is at 4 p.m. Go to www.ticketalternative.com.

The Gatorade/Steelers 5K Race, Fitness Walk & Kids Kickoff Run starts at Heinz Field at 9:30 a.m. and takes a course around the North Side. Call 412-697-7713.

Dixie Doc & The Pittsburgh Dixieland All-Stars play old-time music on the tented patio at Schenley Park Visitor Center from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Schenley Park Cafe will be serving drinks, pastries and light lunch fare. Then, join in guided park history walks at 1:30 p.m.

MCG Jazz and Citiparks present the Labor Day Pittsburgh Jazz Festival on Flagstaff Hill in Schenley Park. It will feature a mix of local and national acts including the Joey DeFrancesco Trio, Dwayne Dolphin, Salsamba, Three Rivers Jazz Orchestra with Sheryl Bailey and Dave Samuels, and Maureen and David Budway. It runs from 1 to 6 p.m.