ALL WEEKEND
’Superhero Science’
When Thor needed to fix his uru hammer, did he return to Asgard? Not when the Steel City was right here on Earth. After a battle with The Destroyer (think Drax in "Guardians of the Galaxy"), Thor traveled to a foundry in Pittsburgh to repair damage to the hammer in Marvel's "Journey Into Mystery #120" (1965).
Flash forward to 2014, and Pittsburgh is again giving comic-book heroes a hand. "Comic-tanium: The Super Materials of the Superheroes" is a new ToonSeum exhibition that shows how Batman, Iron Man, Captain America and other characters use "real-world" science and engineering to boost their powers and save the day. The mission of "Comic-tanium," a joint effort of the ToonSeum and The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society: "To inspire K-12 students to pursue science and engineering careers (and maybe save the world a little bit themselves)."
The exhibition, curated by Suveen N. Mathaudhu, assistant professor at the University of California-Riverside, runs through Jan. 10. ToonSeum hours are Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: toonseum.org and www.tms.org.
Off the Wall, onto “The Stairs”
"A Small Room at the Top of the Stairs" is a play by French Canadian writer Carole Frechette that was seen in French and English in Canada and came to the States via Yale Rep before coming to Off the Wall Productions. The cast includes Daina Michelle Griffith, Ken Bolden, Sharon Brady, Amy Landis and New York actress Amanda Brooke Lerner.
The play, dubbed "a miniature masterpiece" by the Toronto-based National Post, is a modern thriller with shades of the Bluebeard legend: Newlywed Grace is drawn to the one room in her husband's mansion that he has forbidden her to enter. Will she be a dutiful wife or succumb to curiosity?
Directed by Ingrid Sonnichsen, "A Small Room at the Top of the Stairs" is at Off the Wall, 25 W. Main St., Carnegie, Friday through Nov. 1, with show times 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets $5-$35 at insideoffthewall.com or 1-888-71-TICKETS.
Baroque ’Banquet’
Historically informed performance trio Chatham Baroque opens its season with "A Musical Banquet," featuring 17th-century string music by Bertali, Biber, Schein and Schmelzer. Guests include Allison Edberg Nyquist on baroque violin, Kristen Linfante, Karina Schmitz and Matt Hettinga on baroque viola, and Adam Pearl on chamber organ. The concerts are 8 p.m. Saturday at Synod Hall, 125 N. Craig St., Oakland; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Campbell Memorial Chapel, Chatham University, Shadyside. Tickets are $30 with senior and student discounts, www.chathambaroque.org or 1-888-719-4253.
The trio will also present a "Peanut Butter and Jam Session" at 10 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Ave., Shadyside. This family friendly event includes storytelling, dancing and music. $5 for children, $8 for adults, www.chathambaroque.org or at the door.
TONIGHT
Music Smiles jam
Music Smiles is a worthy program that brings local musicians to local hospitals for an evening of musical therapy.
The 11th annual Rhythms of Life Fundraising Concert, benefiting Music Smiles, takes place tonight at The Meadows Casino, Washington. Among those performing will be The "Rhythms of Life" House Band (Bob Banerjee, Matt Barranti, David Granati, Joey Granati, Ron Soltis, Ben Tryc) and Bill Toms, Kenny Blake, Dallas Marks, Artistree, Johnny Angel and the Halos, Hewlett/Anderson Band, Shari Richards, Bastard Bearded Irishmen, Joel Lindsey, and Granati Brothers. It is hosted by WDVE's Sean McDowell.
It's at 7 p.m. Free buffet 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $25; $20 advance at www.sonnypugar.org.
SATURDAY
In bloom
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is back in bloom for the Fall Flower Show with colorful chrysanthemums, horticultural designs and model train displays celebrating the harvest season.
Foliage and other flowers will also be incorporated into each garden scene as tiny trains wind their way through many of the Conservatory's display rooms. The Garden Railroad exhibit will take visitors back in time to the Gold Rush as they explore the landscapes of northern California and Mount Shasta -- complete with prospectors, water features, interactive buttons, and miniature living plants, shrubs and trees.
Two new art exhibits will be open for the duration of Fall Flower Show as well: "FLORA: Natives on the Rooftop," featuring drawings of plants that grow on the Center for Sustainable Landscapes' (CSL) green roof; and original photography created by eight local high school students.
The show runs through Nov. 9 and is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays. Admission is $15; $14 for seniors (age 62 +), $14 for students (with valid ID), and $11 for children (ages 2-18). Members and children under 2 enter are free. phipps.conservatory.org.
tUnE-yArDs at Smalls
New England artist Merrill Garbus, who works under the banner of tUnE-yArDs, has been defining quirky indie with her offbeat vocals, world beats and loops since coming along in 2009 with the debut "BiRd-BrAiNs."
She comes to Mr. Smalls on Saturday, having released the third album, "Nikki Nack," which came after a period in which she studied Haitian drum and dance.
Pitchfork praised it, saying, "tUnE-yArDs now sound less like buskers outside the neighborhood co-op than some blues-jazz combo from the near-future, severed from the traditions of the music but still somehow in touch with its spirit.
The show is at 9 p.m. Tickets are $18 advance; $20 at the door; www.ticketmaster.com.
Voices of Exile
Exiled Voices -- Celebrating City of Asylum's 10th Anniversary will feature readings by exiled writers Hung Xiang, Horacio Castellanos Moya, Khet Mar, Israel Centeno and Yaghoub Yadali.
The five writers, who will be reading from their novels, will be introduced by poet Toi Dericotte, Karla Boos (Quantum Theatre), Steve Sokol (World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh), accordionist Henry Doktorski and Paul Johnson (Mexican War Streets Society).
It's Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Alphabet City Tent, 318 Sampsonia Way, North Side. Admission is free; www.cityofasylumpittsburgh.org/ai1ec_event/exiled-voices-2014.
SUNDAY
Yo kids!
"Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! Music Is Awesome!" hits the Benedum stage Sunday on the fifth anniversary of the live tour.
Directed by Yo Gabba Gabba! creators Christian Jacobs (The Aquabats) and Scott Schultz (Majestic), it will feature DJ Lance Rock and the colorful cast of Yo Gabba Gabba! characters, fan favorite Leslie Hall and beat boxing legend Biz Markie.
"Yo Gabba Gabba!," launched in 2007, is an award-winning, live-action television series and live stage show that revolves around the adventures of DJ Lance Rock and five colorful characters who come to life when they hear the magic words, "Yo Gabba Gabba!"
Special guests are invited to join the party on stage in each city for the "Dancey Dance" and "Super Music Friends Show" segments.
Times are 2 and 5 p.m. Tickets start at $28.75; www.culturaldistrict.org.
King Diamond’s throne
Just in time for the haunting season, Stage AE plays host to King Diamond, the singer from Copenhagen who fronted metal band Mercyful Fate in the early '80s and then again for the '90s reunion.
He formed the eponymous band King Diamond in 1985 and debuted a year later with "Fatal Portrait," the first of a number of concept albums. He's on the road now, bouncing back from triple-bypass surgery in 2010.
Doors are at 7 p.m. $25-$35; ticketmaster.com.
Harvest fest
Kids can participate in old-fashioned games such as the corn cob toss and ducking for apples at the Children's Harvest Festival at The Oliver Miller Homestead, Stone Manse Drive, in South Park Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Children can also try their hands at tin punching, churning butter, writing with quill pens or sampling one of the many different corn crafts. Demonstrations will include spinning, weaving, open-hearth cooking and forge work.
Admission is $2; www.olivermiller.org, 412-835-1554.
Tiffany brass
The Tiffany Concert Series presents "Brass With the Masters," a performance featuring the River City Brass Sextet led by James Gourley. Selections include classical works by Bach, Gabrieli, Handel and local composers as well as hits by Lennon-McCartney, the Rolling Stones and Chicago. The 4 p.m. concert takes place at Calvary United Methodist Church (971 Beech Ave., North Side). $15, discounts for seniors and students. More at 412-323-1070.
NEED TO KNOW
• The Woodlands in Marshall will host its annual Fall Festival Saturday with food and refreshments, activities such as face painting, field games, archery and a haunted trail, with musical entertainment provided by the bluegrass band Take Solo and The Woodlands Music Ensemble. It is free. It runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Information: www.MyWoodlands.org.
• Gritty Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem, touring on the fifth record "Get Hurt," play a sold-out show with Against Me! and Cory Branan Friday at Stage AE. Doors are at 7 p.m.
• Power-pop legend Paul Collins (The Nerves, The Beat) plays at free show at 7:30 tonight at Get Hip Recording HQ, 1800 Preble Ave., RJ Casey Industrial Park, North Side, in support of his new studio album "Feel the Noise." For info, www.gethip.com.
First Published: October 16, 2014, 4:00 a.m.