Seeds of creativity

Exhibiting photographers in "250 Years of Plants: Botanical Works by Regional Photographers" will discuss their works at 6:30 today at Silver Eye Center for Photography, 1015 E. Carson St., South Side. Participating are Mary Jane Bent, Tim Fabian, John A. Fobes, Stephen Y. Lai, Amy Kathleen Lamb, Anne Medsger and Donald M. Robinson. Reservations recommended: 412-431-1810 ($5; students and members free).

-- Mary Thomas

'70s invasion

Back in the '70s, a bill of Styx and the Outlaws would be unthinkable -- a grandiose art-rock band and a Southern rock band? No way -- but it's a new era of classic tracks.

They join forces Friday for a show at Consol Energy Park, home of the Washington Wild Things. Styx -- one of the favorite bands of funny people such as Adam Sandler and Cartman -- feature the dueling guitars of Tommy Shaw and James Young, plus Lawrence Gowan on keyboards filling in on lead vocals for the departed Dennis DeYoung.

The Outlaws will be doing "Green Grass and High Tides" without their one constant member, Hughie Thomasson, who died last year. The band is currently led by Henry Paul.

Also on the bill is The Chris Higbee Project, featuring the former member of the Povertyneck Hillbillies.

It begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $19.50 to $39.50. Call 412-323-1919.

Shelton country

The Harv at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort takes on a country twang Friday with Oklahoma star Blake Shelton.

He has had 13 singles on the country charts, including four No. 1 hits going back to 2001: "Austin," "The Baby," "Some Beach" and the recent "Home," a cover of a Michael Buble tune.

His latest single is "She Wouldn't Be Gone." Chris Parton of CMT.com says that Shelton has a funny side, and "on the other hand, he's got this dead serious, lonesome singer side. That's a big part of why I like him -- you never know what to expect. His newest single, 'She Wouldn't Be Gone,' comes from the lonesome singer category. There's nothing funny about this one, just some real sad, descriptive lyrics and a catchy melody."

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $20. Call 412-323-1919.

-- Scott Mervis

Meditative art

The title of Teresa M. Harris' solo exhibition "Meditation Relates to Physics = Art" may have you asking, "Huh?" But the way I read her press release, it makes sense. If you achieve harmony with nature, you can envision planes of higher consciousness. That should be easier to do once you realize that your body is made up of the dust of stars that died billions of years ago, releasing atoms that reformed into the sun and its planets, and us. Harris' images are the result of meditation and inner vision, the former of which she compares to looking into a parallel universe where one can glide peacefully.

"I ask energy to come into me that I perceive to be divine, and I experience waves of energy that are visual."

Energy and visual, as in physics and art. Follow?

You can ask the artist herself for the real explanation at a free public reception from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday at 707 Penn Gallery, 707 Penn Ave., Downtown (across from the Benedum). The show continues from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Sept. 27; 412-325-7017.

-- M.T.

Celebrate summer

Pssst... Mayor Ravenstahl is having a party. And he's inviting EVERYBODY. (Oh, guess we don't need to whisper after all). In honor of Pittsburgh's 250th, the mayor, with help from First National Bank, is hosting a free "Summer Celebration" from noon to 8 p.m. outside PNC Park on the North Shore. You can pull up a lawn chair and listen to live music from Artistree, Jessica Lee and Co., Gary Belloma and the Blues Bombers, the Hewlett Anderson Band, Johnny Angel and the Halos, and The Original Tymes. The Kids Zone will feature activities along with the Citiparks Roving Art Cart, and there's a classic car cruise, too, where you can have your own wheels on display ($5 per car benefits the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship Fund). For information, visit www.pghgov.com.

-- Karen Carlin

Square run

Studies show you can get more out of your workout if you exercise to the beat of music, so that's all the more reason to take part in the 26th annual Run Around the Square 5K and 1.5-mile Run/Walk in Regent Square.

Posted throughout the route that goes through the flat streets of Regent Square and Frick Park will be Roger Day on the tuba, Lee Robinson on the sax, Craig Zinger on the electric piano, Caribbean Vibes on the steel drums and several other musicians.

The 1.5-mile event begins at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K at 9 a.m., both on Milton, just off Braddock Avenue.

Proceeds from this Citiparks event benefit the Frick Park Nature Center and Regent Square Civic Association.

Online registration and details can be found at www.runaroundthesquare.com. Or call 412-422-6562 (press 5).

Our music

Stage 62's annual fundraiser is the Music of Pittsburgh, paying tribute to performers, composers and lyricists such as Stephen Flaherty ("Ragtime," "Seussical"), Stephen Schwartz ("Godspell," "Pippin"), Gerome Ragni ("Hair"), Gene Kelly, Shirley Jones and Patrick Wilson ("Phantom of the Opera").

The program will include a silent auction offering dinners at popular Pittsburgh restaurants and a dessert reception with Stage 62's "Juke Box."

It begins at 8 p.m. at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie. Donation is $10. Call 412-429-6262 or visit www.stage62.com.

Over the falls

Spectators are invited to watch paddlers sprint and cartwheel over a spectacular 18-foot waterfall at the ninth annual American Whitewater Ohiopyle Over The Falls Festival. It begins at noon, followed by upstream race at 6:15 p.m.

After the races, stick around for the Ohiopyle Town Party with live music by 706 Union, silent auction and food booths.

Visit www.FallsRace.com for more information and registration details.

Food and wine

"Bottle of wine, fruit of the vine/when you gonna let me get sober?"

The Seven Springs Mountain Resort throws a party this weekend with the 16th Annual Wine & Food Festival. It will feature a variety of arts and crafts, gourmet food, live entertainment and daily seminars. It will come to an eye-opening conclusion Saturday night with a fireworks display.

The culinary delights will include carved roast beef, smoked turkey legs, chicken stir fry, gyros and pulled-pork sandwiches and much more. The wine-tasting portion of the festival is reserved for attendees age 21 and up.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Tickets are $30 for Saturday and $27 for Sunday. Go online at www.7springs.com or call 1-866-703-7625.

Special lodging rates are available as well; 1-866-437-1300.

Billy Bob rocks

Billy Bob Thornton -- you may have heard of him from the movies -- will be on the South Side tonight for a show at the Rex. He will be playing the role of Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters, a seven-piece "modbilly rock 'n' roll" band that draws its influences from the Beatles, Kinks and Hank Williams.

Before he was an actor, Thornton played drums in rock bands, worked as a roadie for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and wrote songs on Nashville's Music Row. He cut his first album in 1974 at the Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama.

He returned to recording in 2001 with "Private Radio" and has since recorded three more records, including last year's "Beautiful Door." The show will be split between Boxmasters and solo material.

"We come out [first as the Boxmasters] with the whole mod suits and everything and play kind of loud hillbilly music," Thornton told the Kansas City Star. "And then we're off for about 20 minutes, and everything changes. The lighting and the stage set changes, and then we come out and do the big rock show."

It begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. Call 412-323-1919.

Jesse and Jordin

A heartthrob and an Idol are paired on the "Jesse & Jordin Live" tour, stopping at the Benedum on Sunday.

The Jordin is 18-year-old Jordin Sparks, "American Idol" winner in 2007. She was supposed to play here on a tour with Alicia Keys earlier this year, but the show was canceled. The R&B/pop singer's debut album spawned the top 10 hits "Tattoo" and "No Air," a duet with Chris Brown. Sparks, according to reviews, is still slightly unsure of herself as a performer.

The Jesse is 21-year-old Jesse McCartney, a music veteran by comparison. He broke out of the 'tween TV culture in 2004 with the hit "Beautiful Soul." More recently, he co-wrote the Leona Lewis hit "Bleeding Love" and released the album "Departure," which includes the fan favorite "Leavin'."

"I've left a lot of things behind with no regrets," he recently noted. "There have been departures in my personal life and in my career, and I've learned a lot from the past few records. I wrote some songs on this album and ended up writing for other artists as well. Before it's even released I feel like this is my most successful album, whatever happens."

It begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.50 to $49.50.

-- S.M.

• The 25th annual East Pittsburgh Greek Food Festival will run Thursday through Sunday at Olympia Hall, Electric Avenue, in East Pittsburgh. The event will feature Greek meals, desserts and beverages, as well as crafts, Greek music and traditional dancing by the renowned Grecian Odyssey Dancers. Tours of the presenting Christ Greek Orthodox Church will also be available. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Admission and parking are free. Call 412-824-9188 or visit the Web site www.greekburgh.com.

• The Washington Jazz Society presents its first annual Jazz Picnic Sunday in Canonsburg Borough Park with Tony Janflone Sr. and Dan Baker, Josh Dunlevy, Patrick Arena and Mark Lucas, Weekend Edition, Rare Form and more. The WJS will offer hot dogs and hamburgers with the public bringing potluck items. It's free and runs from 1 to 9 p.m.

• Mr. Small's presents a Rock for Wildlife concert to benefit the Animal Rescue League Wildlife Center. On the bill Friday at 7:30 p.m. will be Forgotten Nobody, Anthony Rankin, Euphonic Brew and Dom Liberati. There will also be henna tattoos, a 50/50 raffle and a sale of original artwork. Admission is $10. Call 1-866-468-3401.

• Keith Burns from Trick Pony plays Saddle Ridge Friday at 9 p.m. with Michelle Poe.

• Commander Cody pulls his "Hot Rod Lincoln" into Harmar for Fez Fest 08, a concert to benefit the Shriners at the Syria Shrine Center. It takes place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with guest Ben Shannon. Call 412-977-6935.