BEST BETS
CABOT — Cooper Cabin Pioneer Homestead will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. July 12 and 26 for a program and docent-led tours of the cabin and grounds.
The cabin was built circa 1810 by the Cooper family and was home to their descendants until 1963. The property includes the cabin, a spinning house, a springhouse, and an herb garden lovingly cared for by the Herbal Thymes Garden Club and the Master Gardeners.
June 12 will be Children's Day with activities such as pioneer chores, schooling and toys, all presented by docent Sue Donahey.
On July 26, wood carver Bill Vogel will demonstrate the art of hand-carving wood.
Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for children ages 5 to 17 and senior citizens, and free for children younger than 5 and Butler County Historical Society members.
For more information, call 724-283-8116.
The Party in the Park and the City of Butler's biggest fireworks display will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, the Fourth of July, at the new Pullman Park off Pillow Street. Gates open at 6 p.m.Live in concert will be Abby Abbondanza, former lead singer of the Poverty Neck Hillbillies, and his new band.Tickets are available now during all events at Pullman Park and at the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler, 114 Wood Drive. Tickets cost $10, or reserved seat tickets are $12.The event is sponsored by The Butler Eagle and the Lyndora Hotel.For more information, call 724-283-0116.
BRADY TWP — Jennings Environmental Education Center will host a family program about exploring a stream at 10 a.m. July 11.The Jennings staff will join participants at Big Run Creek. The program will help people discover the normal life in the stream ecosystem and special adaptations that occur there.The program will begin indoors with an introduction to stream ecology, critter collection and identification techniques before moving streamside for observations of creatures in the creek.For more information, call 724-794-6011.
HARMONY — The Harmony Business Association hosts its 14th annual program of summer music events, with three Thursday evening band concerts in the diamond at the center of Harmony's National Historic Landmark District and three Saturday acoustic performances to accompany pizza parties in the Harmony Museum garden on Mercer Street.The diamond will be closed to vehicle traffic for free concerts by Eugene and the Nightcrawlers tonight, Zelienople-Harmony Community Jazz Band on Aug. 6 and The Right Rhythm Band on Sept. 3, each beginning at 7:30 p.m. Those attending are to take lawn chairs; refreshments will be available.Between 3 and 7 p.m. July 25 and Aug. 29, Harmony's McPharlin Guitar and Violin Studio will provide musical interludes while the museum offers old fashioned artisan European pizza from its reconstructed 19th century wood-fired beehive oven in the garden behind the Wagner House museum annex. Beverages will also be available.For more information, call 724-452-7341.
EAST BRADY — This year's East Brady Riverfest will run from 6:30 p.m. July 17 to 6 p.m. July 19.The annual event will culminate with a ceremony that will honor hometown soldier Kevin Kammerdiener with a Purple Heart medal at the Graham football field.Activities will include a parade, food, crafts, live music, an auction, fireworks and games.For more information, call 724-526-5174, 724-841-6218 or 724-526-5346.
NEW CASTLE — The New Castle Playhouse will stage the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" from July 17 to Aug. 2 at the theater at 212 E. Long Ave.Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays.Tickets are $15 for adults. $12 for senior citizens age 60 and older and students, and $10 for children age 12 and younger.Call 724-654-3437 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
CENTER TWP — J.J. Ehrhardt of Harmony, author of "The Adventures of Poppy McBee," will be signing copies of his book from 1 to 4 p.m. July 25 at Borders Express, Clearview Mall.The book is about a teenage girl who befriends a nutty inventor.The recently released 139-page paperback costs $24.95. Send e-mail to jje1951@gmail.com.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents "ABBA, The Music" at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Ave.Tickets range from $34.50 to $39.50.Call 412-456-6666 or visit pgharts.org.
PITTSBURGH — "The Dutch Italianates: 17th-Century Masterpieces from Dulwich Picture Gallery, London" will go on display July 11 and continue through Sept. 20 at the Frick Art and Historical Center, 7227 Reynolds St. in Point Breeze.The Frick is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays; closed Mondays and major holidays.Admission is free, however there are charges for docent-led tours of Clayton, the former home of Henry Clay Frick, and some educational programs. Admission to the art museum's permanent collection galleries is free.Call 412-371-0600 for more information.
LAUGHLINTOWN — The Ligonier Valley Historical Society will sponsor a Scots-Irish themed living history weekend July 18 and 19 at the Compass Inn Museum, Route 30.Music, costumed docents, demonstrations in the cookhouse, blacksmith and carpenter's shops are planned. Craft demonstrations will include bobbin lace making, candle dipping, weaving and spinning.Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 18 and 1 to 5 p.m. July 19.Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, $6 for students, and free for children younger than 5.For more information, call 724-238-4983 or visit the Web site, www.compassinn.com.
