5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Jan. 12-15
It’s the weekend — a three-day weekend for some with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday.
Here are some ways to spend it.
All aboard
The Carnegie Science Center on the North Side is hosting Locomotion Weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
There will be guest train displays owned by model train enthusiasts as well as the science center’s Miniature Railroad & Village will showcase its latest addition, the Allegheny County Airport.
The event is included with general admission. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for children ages 3-12. Children under 2 are free.
Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online.
Details: carnegiesciencecenter.org
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
There are several events happening this weekend to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
On Saturday at 10 a.m., Park Place Ministries will present “Music & Memories,” a program recognizing renowned Homestead musical trailblazers — Mary Cardwell Dawson, opera soloist and founder of the National Negro Opera Co.; her sister Catherine Cardwell Gardner, a longtime choir director of Park Place AME Church; and their cousin Jester Hairston, a composer, choral conductor and actor.
The event will be held at Park Place AME Church in Homestead. Suggested donation is $25.
The Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland is hosting “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Words and Action” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There will be a compilation of King’s speeches played throughout the day in the art theater. It’s free. Museum admission is not required.
“Let Freedom Sing!” is happening at 7 p.m. Monday to honor King at Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. There will be a performance by The Heritage Gospel Chorale and MLK Festival Choir, directed by Dr. Herbert Jones and Nikki Porter with soloist Anqwenique. Tickets are pay what moves you event for $2-$50.
From noon to 3 p.m. at the Kelly Strayhorn, “Justice in Action” encompasses performances that recognize the civil rights legacy of King and Pittsburgh activists past and present. It will be hosted by Jacquea Mae, an international vocalist, actress and creative artist. Tickets are $2-$50 — pay what moves you.
The Spartan Community Center of Hazelwood will host a brunch at 11 a.m. Monday. There will be free activities including bingo, a book fair, youth and adult poetry readings, jazz music and a gospel tribute. Brunch will be provided by Nikki P’s Cafe.
Details: battleofhomestead.org or carnegieart.org or kelly-strayhorn.org
‘Girl From The North Country‘
“Girl From The North Country” will be on stage this weekend at the Benedum Center, Downtown. Presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical reimagines 20 legendary songs of Bob Dylan as including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.”
The show takes place in 1934 in Duluth, Minn., where a group of wayward travelers lives intersect in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope.
Shows are at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets start at $35.
Details: trustarts.org
Winterfest
Winterfest is at the Frick Pittsburgh in Point Breeze from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It’s the annual celebration with family activities including an exploration of the Clayton House, the last remaining home of its kind in Pittsburgh.
There will be live performances by the South Hills Children’s Choir from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Shakespearean characters will stroll around the grounds from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
“Hot Wheels: Glass Blowing with Pittsburgh Glass Center” will conduct glass-blowing demonstrations from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday. There will also be a scavenger and spot the snowman on the grounds activity.
Most of the events are free. Tickets are $5 for the Clayton House.
Details: thefrickpittsburgh.org
Psychedelic science-fiction
At 5:30p.m. on Sunday, the Harris Theater, Downtown, will be showing Pittsburgh Sound + Image’s 35mm print of the 1973 animated science-fiction film “Fantastic Planet.”
It is considered a politically minded and visually inventive work of science fiction. The film is set on a distant planet called Ygam, where enslaved humans called Oms are the playthings of giant blue native inhabitants called Draags.
Tickets are $15.
Details: pghsoundandimage.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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