Cool Picks Sunday September 30, 2012

1) This weekend the Germans and the Italians are having some fun with “Oktoberfest” and “Little Italy Days,” both ongoing today. Carry the party ahead and explore Irish Culture with Celtic Thunder VOYAGE, a production that takes the audience on a musical journey through both traditional and contemporary Celtic/ Irish songs and ballads. 8 p.m., Benedum Center. Penn Ave. & 7th St., Downtown Cultural District.

2) The Penn’s Colony Festival (last day) recreates American colonial life.  As part of the experience, the Folk Art Marketplace features primitive and fine crafts, decorative home accessories, clothing and jewelry, along with  music, dance, children’s games, food and a “living history” camp with battle re-enactments by Native, French, Scottish and British re-enactors. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 365 Saxonburg Blvd., Saxonburg.

3) Los Straitjackets, a mid-West, instrumental surf band that wears Mexican wrestling masks when they perform, is in town at Club Cafe. 8 p.m. 56-58 South 12th Street, South Side.

4) Sen. John Heinz History Center is offering free admission today as part of Allegheny County’s RADical Days. View 6 floors and 250 years of Pittsburgh culture and industry, including fascinating exhibits on the French & Indian War, Lewis & Clark Expedition, Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.  Performances by Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater (noon), Pittsburgh Youth Ballet (1 p.m.),  South Hills Chorale (2 p.m.) and the Children’s Festival Chorus (3 p.m.). 10 a.m – 5 p.m. 1212 Smallman St., Strip District.

5) FREE admission to the National Aviary from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  At America’s premier bird house you can see flamingos, a real penguin colony (hopefully we’ll get to see Pittsburgh Penguins this year), macaws, owls and more. Watch as the birds feed, call and fly. 700 Arch Street, North Side.

6) The Young Men and Women’s African Heritage Association: Nia Quilt Guild is offering free admission as part of RADical Days with quilts, art and entertainment. 10 a.m. -5 p.m. 1205 Boyle Street, North Side.

7) Carnegie Museum of Art and Carnegie Museum of Natural History open their incredible collections of art and natural history to visitors today for free as part of RADical Days. noon to 5 p.m.  4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland.

8) Carnegie Library-Main: Cy Hungerford Exhibit and Discussion featuring Rob Rogers and Tim Menees. Exhibit and discussion  of Pittsburgh’s Cy Hungerford and his body of editorial cartoon work (1927 -1977), by top Pittsburgh political cartoonists Rob Rogers and Tim Menees.  Quiet Reading Room, 2-4:30 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland.

9 ) RADical Days are for kids too. Free admission to the Children’s Museum . Check out all of the cool exhibits, create your own projects, plus performances by members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Fiddlesticks (1 p.m.); the Bulgarian dance troupe Otets Paissii (2 p.m.). Quilting with the Nia Quilt Guild in the” Makeshop (2-4 p.m.).”  10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square.

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