The dinosaurs are here!

After the long wait since dinosaur hall closed in March 2005 and an expenditure of $36 million to spruce it up, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History opens "Dinosaurs in Their Time" on Tuesday (for more, check out the Post-Gazette's coverage of the new exhibit). To get in the mood, among the films at the Carnegie Science Center Rangos Omnimax Theater is "Dinosaurs Alive!" (at 3:15 p.m. today; 412-237-3400 or carnegiesciencecenter.org).

Concert for Peace

What better way to kick off Thanksgiving week than with "Atzilut: Concerts for Peace," a presentation of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh at the New Hazlett Theater, North Side, at 1:30 p.m. today. Atzilut, known in Europe as the Middle East Peace Orchestra, is an ensemble of almost a dozen Arab and Jewish musicians who explore their shared musical roots to create a musical statement for tolerance and co-existence. The band's slogan is: "No speeches, the music is the message." Opening act is the local dance troupe Oriental Star Dancers. Tickets: Adults $12 (museum members $10), children 2-18 $10 ($8); www.pittsburghkids.org/tickets or 412-322-5058, ext. 240.

Toms & Hard Rain

One way to help others give thanks is to join Bill Toms, formerly of the Houserockers, and Hard Rain in a benefit concert for Relief International and Darfur specfically at Cefalo's Nightclub in Carnegie at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets $10, or $12 day of show; www.clubcefalo.com or 412-276-6600. Details: www.billtoms.com or www.ri.org.

'Late Night' cabaret

If you missed last night's "Late Night Romp with Gorman Lowe and Friends" at the Cabaret at Theater Square, Downtown, don't fret. Lowe, with Carol Wiltman and Sean Flaherty and propmaster Jan Held, give their "barrage of Broadway and burlesque" another go at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $10; at pgharts.org or 412-456-6666. Doors open at 10.

Turns out, Chloe's funny

With "24" a victim for now of the Writers Guild strike, Mary Lynn Rajskub's alter ego, irascible Chloe, gets a time out. Rajskub heads out on her "Turns Out I'm Funny" comedy tour, with a stop at the Rex Theatre, South Side, at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets: $32.50; 412-323-1919.

Festival of Trees

The 18th annual Beaver County Festival of Trees at Brady's Run Park Lodge begins 5-9 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and runs through the weekend (noon-9 p.m. next Sunday) and again Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. Admission: 5 and younger free; 6-12, 50 cents, 13-60, $3, older, $2. Proceeds benefit Beaver County Children & Youth Services. More info: 724-891-5842.

Celebrate the Season parade

How's this for an odd group of Celebrate the Season stars: Zachary Quinto, Peter Tork and Santa Claus. They join mascots, musical acts and floats carrying entertainers and sports celebs as part of the annual Celebrate the Season Parade that marches through Fifth Avenue, Downtown, from 9-11 p.m. Saturday. Along with the WPXI reporters checking in for the parade telecast, Pittsburgher Quinto -- Sylar on NBC's "Heroes" and Spock in the upcoming "Star Trek" film -- and Tork -- one-fourth of the TV-made '70s boy band, the Monkees -- will help Pittsburgh kick off the season.