Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in Concert at Heinz Hall; Pittsburgh Marathon Day (CPs Sun., 5/3/15)

1) The music business is fraught with peril and hardships, and a career that spans more than a couple of years is generally considered a significant accomplishment. Frankie Valli has reached  that level of  achievement. Born in Newark, N.J., Valli rose to fame in 1962 as the lead singer of The Four Seasons (They took the band name from a New Jersey bowling alley), and his fame train continues to chug as powerfully as ever. The Four Seasons’ first hit, “Sherry” put the band on the map. Other hits include “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” and “Working My Way Back to You.”  Valli comes to Heinz Hall in what is guaranteed to provide a harmonious joyride down melody lane. Opportunities to catch legends like Valli are increasingly scarce, so pen this one into your evening’s “high-priority” category. 7:30 p.m. 600 Penn Ave. Cultural District.

2) You don’t need to be a runner to enjoy all the festivities of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon this weekend. The fun starts bright and early at 7 a.m. for the full, half, and relay marathon runners. As a spectator, though, you get your choice of entertainment, depending on where you decide to park yourself on the course. Many musicians will be projecting their pipes along the route to keep spirits high, and every neighborhood that the races passes through offers some great acts. You can check out a map of the course here, then pick your favorite spot to cheer on the runners—whether it’s in South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, Bloomfield, or elsewhere. 7 a.m. Downtown and surrounding communities.

3) Moussaka, pastitsio, spanakopita, and baklava are all beautiful-sounding Greek (food) words that will be spoken today through Saturday at the 54th Annual Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral Food Festival in Oakland. In addition to the food, they’re offering Greek wine, coffee, music, and dancing. Today noon – 8 p.m. ,Mon. – Thurs., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., with music until midnight. 419 S. Dithridge St.

4) Planet of the Apes – “Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!” The 1968 original with Charlton Heston about an astronaut who gets lost in space and ends up on a planet where apes are the primary primates and humans are the slaves. Also starring Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter, featuring Jerry Goldsmith’s legendary score and what is probably the most famous and shocking final 10 minutes of any movie ever made. 8 p.m. Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Ave., Regent Square.

Share on Social Media