Thursday, July 30, 2009
Jerry Garcia’s Birthday Bash, a four-day music festival begins at (where else?) Nelson Ledges Quarry Park near Garrettsville. Fletcher’s Grove gets it started at 8:30 p.m. The headliner is the legendary Hot Tuna, who will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary, but the full pass is $60. Go to nlqp.com.
The Greater Youngstown Italian Festival means three days of peace, love and pasta. The massive street festival sprawls out for a couple of blocks in all directions from Central Square in downtown Youngstown, with morra tournaments, music, food and rides. Gates open at 11 a.m.
The outdoor film series at Yellow Creek Theatre in Poland continues with the 1960 classic “Inherit the Wind,” starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March and Gene Kelly. “Inherit” is a fictionalization of the real-life 1925 trial of John T. Scopes that pitted Darwin’s evolutionary theories against the accepted text of religion. The film is a masterpiece of casting with Tracy as Clarence Darrow and March as William Jennings Bryan. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with live music and food. The theater is behind Poland Library on U.S. Route 224.
Earlier this year, party band Little Ambition made an ambitious move by adding vocalist/frontman Chuck Shaffer, formerly of prog-metal act Grey Dealer. Little Ambition — who sound nothing like Grey Dealer — will be at Mojo’s Pub in Austintown. Michael Young, the band’s lead guitarist, offered a glimpse of what to expect. “We party right along with the crowd.," said Young. "Where Little Ambition is, there is a party.” Music starts at 10 p.m. Mojo’s is at 5423 Mahoning Ave. (across from the Skate Zone) in Austintown.
“Blues in the Night” opens at 7:30 p.m. at the Youngstown Playhouse, with additional shows at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. “Blues,” a 1982 Tony nominee for Best Musical, explores the lives of three women in a hotel room in 1930s Chicago. The Playhouse is off Glenwood Avenue. Call (330) 788-8739 for tickets.
New Castle Playhouse’s stellar production of “Fiddler on the Roof” is in its final weekend. The show opens at 7:30 p.m., with additional performaces at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The theater is at 202 E. Long Ave. Call (724) 654-3437.
jThe Zou headlines a free show at O’Donold’s in Austintown Plaza. Opener is Sam Goodwill. The plaza is at 6000 Mahoning Avenue, opposite Wal-Mart. Call (330) 270-2800.
Comedian Kevin Downey Jr. will be at The Funny Farm Comedy Club, in the Radisson Hotel in West Middlesex, Pa., for an 8 o'clock show. The Radisson is on Route 18, at the Interstate 80 exit. Call (330) 652-4242.
The Columbiana County Fair, which runs from Monday through Aug. 9, gets off to a sneak peek with the garden tractor pull at 1 p.m. in the grandstand. The agricultural fair opens at 7 a.m. each day, and features truck pulls, demolition derby, amusement rides, harness racing and a concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday by country singer Chuck Wicks. The fairgrounds are at 225 Lee Ave., Lisbon. Go to columbianacountyfair.org.
Stephen Sondheim’s cautionary tale “Into the Woods” gets a turn on the Salem Community Theatre stage. It opens Aug. 7. The theater is at 490 E. State St., Salem. Call (330) 332-9688.