ALL WEEKEND

Bug season won't be upon for us for a while, but the Carnegie Science Center is having some issues with the little critters this weekend, which in fact, has been titled Bugs Weekend.

	"Inch by Inch" is among the Leo Lionni stories to be brought to life by The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia for Pittsburgh International Theater at various venues around the city and suburbs. Click photo for larger image.

The Science Center has imported hundreds of preserved bugs -- from beetles to walking sticks, spiders to butterflies -- from Carnegie Museum of Natural History's collection and is offering other types of "buggy" activities, including face painting and bug origami. Bring in a bug for identification and you'll get $1 off at the concession stand. Very appetizing. While you're there, catch the IMAX film "Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure." Activities run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

It's not often that the touring production of a Broadway hit comes complete with its original star. But Cherry Jones is on the Benedum stage this weekend as the Tony- and Pulitzer prize-winning drama "Doubt" makes its Pittsburgh premiere. The CMU grad and Tony winner plays a nun in 1964 who has to make a difficult ethical choice about one of her male colleagues. It's part of the PNC Broadway Across America -- Pittsburgh series, showing at 7:30 tonight; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $19.50-$55. Go to www.pgharts.org or call 412-456-6666.

The other good news for theater fans is new offerings tonight from both the Pittsburgh Public Theater and City Theatre. The City opens the premiere "Mezzulah, 1946," a play by Michelle Lowe ("String of Pearls") about a woman factory worker who doesn't want to dwindle into domesticity when the men come home from war in 1946. It runs through April 1 (www. citytheatrecompany.org). See story page W-16. PPT opens "Life X 3," a comedy about a dinner party gone wrong (through April 8).

Whole Wheat Bread will open for Against All Authority Saturday night at the Rex. Click photo for larger image.

The 26th annual Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show, a one-stop shop for home improvement with more than 1,500 exhibitors, opens this weekend at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, a building that could use a few improvements of its own. The three Dream Home feature areas are the Post-Gazette/Bidwell Gardens, five horticultural experiences; the miniature homes in the Girl Scouts Playhouse Auction; and the ASID Designer Showcase, where 10 noted design professionals created entire rooms of new ideas. The show opens Friday and runs through March 18. Times this weekend are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $10 adults; $4 children, 6-12; 412-922-4900 or for exhibitor information, visit www.pghhome.com.

The 14th annual Pittsburgh Jewish-Israeli Film Festival opens tonight with "Monsieur Batignole," the story of a butcher in German-occupied France, at the SouthSide Works Cinema at 7:30. The festival will continue through March 25 in five locations.

TODAY

Martinis and movie shorts. Not a bad combo for a Thursday, which also is International Women's Day. The Pittsburgh chapter of Women in Film and Media will showcase nine award-winning shorts by female filmmakers tonight at Olive or Twist, 140 Sixth St., Downtown. Socializing starts at 5:30 p.m., screenings at 7 p.m. Admission at the door, $20. Go to www.wifmpit.com for a list of the films, ranging from two to 20 minutes long, and more details.

John DiCrosta, a Los Angeles comic known for his impressions and appearances on such shows as "Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher" and "Dancing With the Stars," brings his "That's Italian" Comedy Tour to Slapsticks! Comedy Loft on Library Road at 8 p.m. Call 412-920-5653.

Calla, an indie-rock band from New York City that takes its cue from '80s post-punkers like Cure and Echo and Bunnymen, turns up at Club Cafe at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.

FRIDAY

It's a concert and a religious revival under the big tent of the Mellon Arena with the appearance of gospel legend Bill Gaither and his Homecoming Friends. The publicity notes for the 67-year-old former schoolteacher from Indiana remind us that "Gaither is proving (once again) you don't necessarily need a 'wardrobe malfunction' to sell CDs or fill arenas when you can do it the old-fashioned way: by making the audience feel good." Dated reference, but we get the idea. Gaither, who does sell out arenas and has had multiple Grammy and Dove awards, will serve up his four-part harmonies and inspirational anthems. It begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17.50 to $36.50. Call 412-323-1919.

The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center keeps the lights on for the ninth annual History Uncorked, an evening of socializing, networking and dancing with the theme of "Frozen in Time." It begins at 6 p.m. Admission of $45 includes four drink tickets, unlimited soft drinks and appetizers, and access to all exhibits. For tickets go to www.postgazette.com/ae or call 412-454-6324.

"Thrills, stupid and loudness guaranteed" at the 31st Street Pub with the appearance of The Spunks, Japanese punks from New York City on a Kamikaze tour. Starts around 10 p.m. Call 412-391-8334.

SATURDAY

Due to popular demand and an overflow crowd last year, Attack Theatre will be reinventing "The Dirty Ball," the '07 edition, at 8 p.m. at 121 Ninth St., Downtown. Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope promise even more "down and dirty times" at their gala, aided and abetted by Attack Theatre performances, outrageous art installations and seductive sounds. The gang will honor local arts supporter Richard Parsakian and move to the music provided by DJ Justin Hopper of PANDEMIC. Tickets: $40 presale and $45 at the door; 412-394-3353 or www.proartstickets.org.

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company uses a visual cue for "color-ography, n. The Dances of Jacob Lawrence." The company assembled four choreographers -- Donald Byrd, Rennie Harris, Reggie Wilson and Kevin Ward -- to build dances around his series of paintings, "The Migration of the Negro," based on the experience of his family and people in his community. The August Wilson Center for African American Culture presents it at the Byham at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $40. Call 412-456-6666 or online at www.pgharts.org.

Against All Authority, a ska-punk band from Miami with a political bent and more than a passing resemblance to Rancid, plays the Rex at 7 p.m. Opening the show is Whole Wheat Bread, a black punk trio from Jacksonville that calls its sound "Dirty South punk rock." Cover is $11. Call 412-323-1919.

Black Helicopter, a punk band from Boston with ex-members of Kudgel and Green Magnet School, should appeal to fans of Husker Du, Bad Religion and Killdozer. The band plays Garfield Artworks with ELA, Hell Yeah the Hellcats and The Samoan Cats at 8 p.m. Cover is $6. Call 412-361-2262.

The Blue Method, a spirited funk band from Philadelphia fronted by soul belter Brian Williams, plays the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville with CK9 and the Old E Allstars, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call 412-682-0177.

Jimmy Thackeray returns to Moondog's in Blawnox at 9 p.m. for a night of old-fashioned roadhouse blues. Cover is $15. Call 412-828-2040.

For an afternoon event known for its sappiness, head to the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania's Maple Madness at the Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel. Along with exploring the history and process of maple sugaring, you get to eat pancakes and sausage. It runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $6; $5 per child; $4 members; $3 member child. Call 412-963-6100 for reservations or visit aswp.org.

SUNDAY

The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia pulls into town with large-scale puppets and sets designed to look exactly like the picture books to tell the tales of three Leo Lionni stories: "Swimmy," about an adventurous guppy who is bullied by a much larger fish; "Frederick," a poetic mouse with the ability to overcome troublesome situations with his vivid imagination; and "Inch by Inch," an adorable inchworm with a level head. It's presented by Pittsburgh International Children's Theater at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Byham Theater; 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 15 and 7 p.m. March 16 at Marshall Middle School; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 17 at Mt. Lebanon High School; and 2 p.m. March 18 at Gateway High School. Tickets are $9.50 in advance or $11 day of show; 412-321-5520 or www.pghkids.org. Children's Theater recommends this show for children ages 3 to 8.

Hooley, the Pittsburgh Irish Reelers, Guaranteed Irish and Central's Chamber Singers headline the 11th annual Brendan Foley Memorial Concert at Central Catholic High School's McGonigle Theatre at 6 p.m. Central Catholic's Marching Band will greet guests in the quad and Tommy Sands will also perform. Following the concert will be a reception filled with Irish treats. Donation for tickets: $20 preferred seating; $15 general admission; $5 student/child. Call 412-621-9339 or send e-mail to arlenej.miller@gmail.com.

Cynthia Sayer & Her Hot Jazz Band, led by the banjo player and vocalist who has worked with such artists as Woody Allen and Dick Hyman, pull in from New York City to play Jazz at the Elks, a benefit for the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital Heart Camp. It's at the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339, 400 Cedar Ave., North Side, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and include free draft beer. Call 412-321-1834.