Cool Picks Friday October 5, 2012

October 5, 2012/Rick Handler

Cool Picks brings you the best in Pittsburgh entertainment every day!

1) BLONDIE, a 1970s-1980s pop/New Wave/punk band out of NYC, is rockin’the Palace Theatre in Greensburg tonight. Featuring former Playboy bunny, blond-haired singer Deborah Harry rode the charts with hits like Call Me, Heart of Glass, The Tide is High, One Way or Another. Another Blondie hit, “Rapture,” became one of the first single mainstream hits to incorporate the emerging form of rap music. When coming up Blondie regularly played famous NYC clubs Max’s Kansas City (one of Andy Warhol’s hangouts) and CBGB. Co-founder Chris Stein still plays guitar in the band. 8 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg.

2) The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents Esperanza Spalding, 2011 GRAMMY award-winner for “Best New Artist.” Spalding is renowned for her special mix of jazz, a melange of blues, hip-hop, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban influences. She is considered a multi-talented, musical “slash,” an accomplished composer, singer and bassist. 8 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 6th Street, Downtown Cultural District.

3) It’s “Veteran’s Weekend” at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO), featuring the orchestral world premiere of Scott Eyerly’s “Arlington Sons.” This production piece, commissioned by Broadway/Met star David Pittsinger, who sings the music with his son Richard. Based on a visit by a father and son to Arlington National Cemetery, it is thought to be the first vocal piece ever written for a father and son. Leonard Slatkin conducts the PSO with Olga Kern on piano. Runs through Sunday; with special veterans $10 discount. 8 p.m.; Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Downtown Cultural District.

4) Allegheny County RADical Days (RAD) organizations with free admission and/or events today include: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. See RADical Days Website (www.Radworkshere.org) for the specifics.