Weekend Hotlist
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Tow Mater from the movie "Cars" will roll into the Convention Center as part of this weekend's World of Wheels.
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"Ehhhhhh."
Henry Winkler doesn't look much like the Fonz these days, but you can still reminisce about "Happy Days" with him at the 47th annual Advance Auto Parts World of Wheels Show at the David Lawrence Convention Center.
And he's not coming alone. Winkler will be joined by Joanie Cunningham (Erin Moran) and their pal Shirley (Cindy Williams). They'll be at the show all weekend meeting with visitors. Also on hand will be:
• "Days of Our Lives" star Drake Hogestyn (4-9 p.m. Saturday).
• Former Steelers Mike Wagner (Sun 1-3 p.m.) and Andy Russell (Sunday 3-5 p.m.).
• Jason Earles, Hannah Montana's brother on the show (4-9 p.m. Friday).
• Ben Jones, "Cooter" from "Dukes of Hazzard" and the General Lee (all weekend).
The featured cars will be:
• The happy wrecker "Mater" from the movie "Cars," based on a Chevy Duallie pickup truck.
• "Bumblebee," the '77 Camaro Autobot hero from "Transformers," "featuring every mistake a hot-rodder could possibly make."
• "Precious Metal," a California '37 Ford Wagon, "Vampyre" and the Bubbletop Car.
• A "Grave Digger" simulator you can sit in.
Also featured will be Race World and Race Collectibles, including Toy-a-Ram, an All-American Custom Cycle Show and the "Heartbeat of America" exhibit from Super Rod Magazine. In the X-treme Entertainment Area, you can find the "BOSS" Motorcycle stunt team from Texas and the Semcycle Daredevil team.
Times are 3 to 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $13; $5 kids 6-12; 5 and under free.
Opera Theater's 'Lost'
Black-white race relations of another country are the focus of an Opera Theater of Pittsburgh production that opens tonight. Kurt Weill's "Lost in the Stars" examines race relations and social injustice during apartheid in South Africa of the 1950s. It is an adaptation of Alan Paton's novel "Cry, the Beloved Country" and makes its Pittsburgh premiere. Julius Rudel conducts and Opera Theater head Jonathan Eaton directs. Both are among the world's experts on Weill, the intriguing theater composer who spent half of his creative life in Germany and half in America.
The cast includes brothers Herbert and Eugene Perry, Dzidzofe Avouglan and Denise Sheffey Powell. "Lost in the Stars" runs at the Byham Theater, Downtown, at 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25-$75 (students $15); call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pgharts.org.
-- Andrew Druckenbrod
Art Noir
Showcase Noir, an annual exhibit and sale of artwork by Pittsburgh-area African-American artists and designers, will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Benedum Center, Downtown. The public event, in its fifth year, is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Education and Community Engagement Department.
Works for sale will include painting, sculpture, photographs, fiber art, jewelry and ceramics. Among artists exhibiting are Leslie Ansley, Ernest Bey, Firdasi Bey, Emory Biko, Curtis Cureton, Kendrah Foster, Bangally Gakou, Rita Gregory, Vanessa German, Kyle Holbrook, Marica Jackson, Laverne Kemp, Monique Kollman Luck, Mary Martin, Jim McDowell, Clif McGill, Harriette Meriwether, Anire Mosley, Saihou Njie, Ruth Richardson, Solomon Steelpan Company, Susan Tankersley, Odella Welch, Armand Wright and Richelle Wilson.
Entertainment will include live jazz by Gerald Haymon and acid jazz and rare funk grooves spun by DJ SMI. Admission is free. For information, call 412-456-6666.
-- Mary Thomas
Punks with Gravity
Spin, the magazine that belittled Anti-Flag for its earnest political punk, surprised everyone in December by declaring Against Me!'s "New Wave" as its Best Album of 2007.
The Gainesville, Fla., band is the kind of Warped Tour act that is often cast aside by the major music mags. But Spin wrote, "From the title track's opening strums and chimes -- every bit the drop-what-you're-doing clarion call of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' -- Howitzer-throated Tom Gabel and his Gainesville rabble-rousers use every inch of space that [Butch] Vig's IMAX-size palette allows, even if the message within is as simple as it ever was: Question authority, question yourself."
On Saturday, Against Me! brings its questions and answers to Gravity in Cheswick at 7 p.m. For more on the band, see page W-14.
-- Scott Mervis
Cinderella ball
Dance will become an earthly garden of delights this weekend. Sandwiched in between Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo's "Cinderella" performances (8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday) at the Benedum Center, patrons can head over to the Clark Building (on floor 22, of course) for "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," with the ultimate in atmosphere by Richard Parsakian.
For $50, partygoers can indulge in festivities such as music by DJ Adele, video artist Suzie Silver, performances by The Pillow Project and tasty delights by Michael Lench Catering. Black and white dress is encouraged in mingling with Cinderella or a Stepsister beginning at 10 p.m. And who knows what will happen at midnight? Call 412-456-6666 or go online at www.pgharts.org.
-- Jane Vranish
Classical Sax
Who would have thought in the '80s that in 20 years you would have a better chance of hearing saxophone in a classical quartet than in a pop group?
Jazz and marching/stage bands may still dominate, but classical saxophone quartets are seemingly everywhere these days. Just last year the Rascher Saxophone Quartet played in the city, and next month (March 6 at CMU) the Erie Saxophone Quartet arrives. In between comes the Presidio Saxophone Quartet, which formed a decade ago at the University of Arizona.
It is presented by Music in a Great Space, the concert series at Shadyside Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 ($5 for seniors, students and children free); visit www.shadysidepres.org or call 412-682-4300.
-- A.D.
Brahms on the Bluff
The final concert in Duquesne University's Brahms on the Bluff recital series focuses on the clarinet. Brahms' Clarinet Trio and Clarinet Quintet showcase a composer in love with the timbre of the instrument. Performers are clarinetist James Campbell, violinists Charles and Rachel Stegeman, cellist Anne Martindale Williams and pianist David Allen Wehr. "Songs With Viola," performed by bass-baritone Guenko Guechev and violist Donald McInnes, rounds out the concert and the series; 3 p.m. Sunday at PNC Recital Hall, Duquesne University. Tickets are $10; call 412-396-4632.
-- A.D.
PBT at Phipps
On Sunday, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre members might not tiptoe through the tulips, but they can dance among the Chihulys in the send-off for the Phipps Conservatory's landmark exhibition from 6 to 9 p.m. Called "Glass en Pointe," it will offer attendees sumptuous hors d'oeuvres, delicious drinks and sweet treats in between two special performances and an assortment of choreographed vignettes throughout the exhibit. The one-of-a-kind event will benefit both groups. Tickets: $150; call 412-441-4442 or visit www.phipps.conservatory.org.
-- J.V.
NEED TO KNOW
• The 1700 block of Carson Street is going to feel like the '80s this weekend. On Friday night, Gene Loves Jezebel, the glammy New Wave band behind songs such as "Jealous" and "Desire," plays Diesel at 7 p.m. with the Science Fiction Idols ($13-$15; 412-323-1919). On Saturday, across the street at the Rex, we get the return of one of the great 2-Tone ska-punk bands, the English Beat. We went years without seeing the band. Now the group is almost like regulars here, and it's always a great show. It's at 7:45 p.m. with RX Bandits ($21/$25; 412-323-1919).
• Jazz keyboardist Rachel Z, who started her career with fusion band Steps Ahead before moving on to Wayne Shorter's band and a solo career, makes a return engagement at Gullifty's, Squirrel Hill, Friday at 9:30 p.m. Cover charge is $15. Call 412-521-8222.
• Gilda's Club Western Pennsylvania, a charity founded in memory of comedian Gilda Radner ("Saturday Night Live"), presents a Red Carpet Cocktail Party Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Deja Vu Lounge in the Strip with live jazz, DJ, free refreshments and an auction. Advanced tickets are $35; $60 per couple; $40 at the door. Call 412-338-1919 or visit www.gildasclubwesternpa.org.
• Cellofourte, Pittsburgh's own all-cello rock-n-more band, makes an appearance at the South Side's Club Cafe, a venue that perfectly fits its mix of pop and classical, fun but sophisticated music. Devotees of classical, metal and pop all will find the music suits them; 7 p.m. Sunday. Opening act TBA. Tickets $7; www.clubcafelive.com or 1-866-468-3401.
• It's not too early to get ready for St. Patrick's Day -- at least for the Parade Committee. It presents a fund-raiser tonight at 7 at Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle in the Strip. Entry and entertainment are free. Raffles will be held.
First Published February 21, 2008 12:00 am
