Art everywhere

Making this 2008 Carnegie International opening weekend especially festive are other exhibition receptions planned around the city.

"Glass & Steel: Art Transcends Industry," a 31-artist salute to the city's industrial past and creative future, opens Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Friendship. Acclaimed Australian glass artist Ben Edols will demonstrate glass blowing at 7 p.m. (free; information at 412-365-2145 or www.pittsburghglass-center.org).

Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight, The Andy Warhol Museum throws The Whole Boogie Woogie Party to celebrate the opening of "Piet (Mondrian) in Pittsburgh" and "Transformer: The Work of Glenn Kaino," the latter a Los Angelene who creates large-scale mixed-media and kinetic sculptures. Highlights are DJ Zombo, free dance-card portraits, thematic cocktails and a 10 p.m performance by Chicago-based Ross Bon and the Mighty Blue Kings. ($69 couple, $40 single; for information, call 412-237-8300 or visit www.warhol.org.)

Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. the "2008 Biennial" opens at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Shadyside, and Pittsburgh Filmmakers, North Oakland, featuring work by more than 40 artists in a range of media. The evening includes food and spirits, DJs, performance art, digital projections and music, and concludes at Filmmakers with a robot dance party. A shuttle will run between the locations throughout the event. ($5 donation, for information call 412-361-0873 or visit www.pitts-burghbiennial.org).

Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Edols will give an illustrated talk at Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Shadyside, followed from noon to 5 p.m. by an artist's reception. Edols is among nine artists in the gallery exhibition "Gesture & Cadence." Also being exhibited are ceramic works by Japanese artists Mieko and Hiromu Okuda that had been shown briefly during the recent ceramic educators conference held in Pittsburgh. (Free; for information, 412-441-5200.)

-- Mary Thomas

Trolley through time

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is marking Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary with a weekend devoted to local transit history.

There will be a series of historic presentations throughout the weekend, and displays of antique rail vehicles -- a 19th-century horse car, a recently restored 1917 Pittsburgh street car, post-World War II trolleys and modern buses. Visitors will be able to ride some of the vintage vehicles as well.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors 62 and over and $5 for kids 3 to 15. The Trolley Museum is at One Museum Road in Washington, Pa. Information: 724-228-9256.

-- Adrian McCoy

River city rock

Generally, the River City Brass Band's idea of oldies is Gershwin, Copland and Strauss. This time around, it's "Rock Around the Clock," "Only You" and "Satin Doll."

The RCBB pays tribute to the '50s with versions that probably will sound more like Duke Ellington than Bill Haley.

Special guests are the Andrews Trio, aka sopranos Eva Rainforth, Judith Jenkins and Katy Shackleton Williams from the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Opera Chorus.

In addition to the '50s rockers and ballads, the RCBB will premiere "Snapshots of a Great City," a Marilyn Taft Thomas piece written in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the city of Pittsburgh.

It begins with a concert at the Byham tonight at 7:30 and continues at Carson Middle School in McCandless Friday, Palace Theatre in Greensburg Saturday and the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center in Johnstown on Sunday, and then other venues.

For more details, call 1-800-292-7222 or visit www.rcbb.com.

-- Scott Mervis

Cringe-worthy

Fans of cringe humor, be happy. Jim Norton is comin' to town. If you're not entirely sure what cringe humor is, here's an example, taken from Norton's Web site, www.eatabullet.com: "If you are bulimic and need to vomit then I encourage you to look at the photo of me used on the cover of the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sunday magazine. I look like I have Down's syndrome, and I hope the photographer is currently suffering from rectal cancer."

My reaction goes something like this: Gasp! Hee hee, feel vaguely guilty. The gasping part isn't recommended -- you'll get the hiccups. And calling attention to yourself during a stand-up comedy show probably isn't the smartest move.

Norton, familiar with fans of the "Opie and Anthony" radio show, has appeared on the couches of David Letterman and Jay Leno and filmed an episode of HBO's "One Night Stand."

Norton will perform at the Byham Theater, Downtown, Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $29.50. 412-456-6666.

-- Kate McCaffrey

Nice Christian music

On a more tasteful note, Christian rockers Third Day should feel right at home at Orchard Hill Church in Franklin Park Friday night.

The Georgia band -- which has won three Grammys and two dozen Dove Awards -- is about to release a new record this summer but is still on tour with its sixth studio album, "Wherever You Are," of which Amazon said, "Dealing with a number of recent personal tragedies, the band has forged its finest work to date with a collection of material that ranges from raging rockers to contemplative worship songs."

It begins at 7:30 p.m. with special guests Australian Christian rockers Revive. Tickets are $30. Call 724-935-5555.

Bouncing in

The Bouncing Souls are still bouncing after almost 20 years. The New Jersey punks pogo into town for what should be a high energy show at Mr. Small's Friday night.

Don't be surprised, though, if the band takes a break from the action to slow things down.

"We're going to come out blasting like we always do for 20 minutes or so, and then we're going to transition into an acoustic period where we've reworked a lot of our songs in different ways, and then we'll finish up rocking again" bassist Bryuan Kienlen told the Press-Enterprise.

Opening the show at 8 p.m. will be Tim Barry and Gaslight Anthem. Tickets are $17 in advance; $19 at the door. Call 1-866-468-3401.

-- S.M.

We interrupt this Hot List for a special announcement:

Kennywood's open!

The 2008 season begins Saturday when the park opens at 10:30 a.m., followed by the rides at 11 a.m.

The curiosity this year is: How is the Ghostwood Estate? It's the new darkride in the vein of the Gold Rush or the Ghost Ship. Also new at Kennywood is the U-Do-It Slush Factory, where guests can make their own Slushies; BreakOut, an interactive laser experience in Kiddieland. Featured performances include the Sheer Lumberjack Show and "master entertainer" Jason Pipitone.

After Saturday, Kennywood reopens again May 9-11. Daily season begins May 14. FunDay price is $32; Seniors (55+) $15; children 46 inches and under $19. After 5 p.m. NightRider tickets are $17, Senior NightRider tickets $9. (Sandcastle and Idlewild season pass holders may purchase NightRider tickets for only $8!)

For info, visit www.kennywood.com or call 412-461-0500.

Have some Chocolate!

A sweet new exhibit will be in full bloom this summer at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

Chocolate! is designed to entertain and educate visitors, using plants with a chocolate connection and other displays.

The Amazing Chocolate Tree exhibit was developed by Phipps and other conservatories and botanical gardens around the country. It features displays outlining the history of chocolate and how chocolate is made. The Phipps Garden Railroad will become the Chocolate Express, with chocolate-themed displays incorporated in the miniature railroad.

Chocolate! opens Saturday at Phipps. 412-622-6914.

-- A.M.

Mister Rogers medley

The Pittsburgh Concert Chorale fetes Pittsburgh on its 250th anniversary by singing music by Pittsburghers Stephen Foster, Henry Mancini, Stephen Flaherty, Perry Como and Bobby Vinton and more. A highlight will be a medley of songs from "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" arranged by Robert Page. The Chorale commissioned this work and two others: arrangements of music by Pittsburghers Oscar Levant and Earl Hines. Katherine Mueller conducts the concerts at 8 p.m. Saturday at Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel, and 4 p.m. Sunday at Ingomar United Methodist, Franklin Park. Tickets are $16-$20 (students $8, under 12 free); 412-635-7654.

Polish tunes

The Lira Ensemble of Chicago -- specializing in Polish music, song and dance -- makes its Pittsburgh debut Sunday at Heinz Hall.

"A Polish Musical Celebration" will feature Polish patriotic music, folk songs and dances in colorful, authentic costumes and music by Polish composers: Frederick Chopin and Stanislaw Moniuszko.

This concert is presented in observance of the May 3 Polish Constitution Day. It begins at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 to $65. Call 412-392-4900.

• The "I-am-a-Heather" exhibition at Future Tenant, which features more than 15 artists that are either named Heather or have created art around the name Heather, drew more than 1,700 people last week during the Gallery Crawl. On Saturday, the party continues with a MidShow Mixer from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Future Tenant, 819 Penn Ave., Downtown, with a DJ, food and drinks. It's followed by a show at Gooski's in Polish Hill at 11 p.m. with Chicago trio Baby Teeth (performing songs from their EP "For the Heathers") and local drum duo Italian Ice.

• On Saturday night, The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is the scene for KA-BLAM!, a benefit with DJ and dancing, The Dr. Sketchy Anti-Art Salon featuring the Sketchy Girls, caricature artists, live entertainment, silent auction, original cartoon art, beer, wine, cartoons and comics. Proceeds go to ToonSeum, furthering the appreciation of cartoonists and their work. It runs from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance; $45 at the door. Call 412-394-3353.

• Drummer Jim Donovan, of Rusted Root fame, has assembled an international ensemble of percussionists and drummers to perform a benefit Saturday at Molly Brannigan's Irish Pub in Mt. Lebanon. It's a RockHouse Arts Foundation concert benefiting the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. It begins at 8 p.m. Bill Burke and Dan Ostrowski. Donation is $10.

• Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra will offer a sneak peek of its upcoming tour to China at Heinz Hall on Saturday at 2 p.m. Included on the program are "Palace of the Nine Perfections" by Chinese composer Zhao Tian, Rachmaninoff's "Symphonic Dances" and PYSO Concerto Competition Winner Jeremy Malvin in a portion of Creston's Marimba Concerto. Admission is free.

• The Senator John Heinz History Center presents Asian Heritage Day on Saturday with hands-on cultural activities, cooking demonstrations and costume and dance performances from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www.pghhistory.org.