Pittsburgh Weekend Guide: Pens Play Caps, Donnie Iris Turns 75

PITTSBURGH, PA - The Super Bowl? Uh, no thanks. Although we’ll tacitly root for the Philadelphia Eagles to defeat the New England Patriots, we don’t think the birds have the wherewithal to withstand both the Pats and the refs who always seem to cut the cheaters from Boston a break.

We’ll get our big weekend sports fix before Sunday’s game. The Pens take on the Metropolitan Division leading Washington Capitals, and we’d like to see Sidney Crosby put a few in the net. No one’s ever accused him of having pucks deflated to gain a competitive advantage.

The game is Friday at 7 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena or about an hour before the Super Bowl pregame show begins.

Pens-Caps tickets start at $70.

Other weekend highlights:

• 3rd Annual Imbibe North Side, Feb. 3, 6 p.m., Mattress Factory, North Side

The Mattress Factory and War Streets Brewery present the third annual Imbibe North Side, featuring unlimited tastings of local libations from Allegheny City Brewing, Penn Brewery, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Spring Hill Brewery, War Streets Brewery, Threadbare Cidery, Wigle Whiskey and Pittsburgh Winery. Live music will be performed by neighborhood bluegrass favorite Shelf Life String Band.
3rd Annual Imbibe North Side tickets start at $40.

• Donnie Iris 75th Birthday Bash, Feb. 3, 7 p.m. Palace Theater, Greensburg

Legendary local rocker Donnie Iris might be turning 75, but you’d never know it from his still raucous live performances. Iris, who scored a number one hit, “The Rapper,” with The Jaggerz in 1970 and had hits such as “Ah! Leah!” and “Love Is Like A Rock,” on his own, will celebrate his birthday with a concert that undoubtedly will prove he’s not yet ready to spend his days playing bingo at the senior center.
Donnie Iris 75th Birthday Bash tickets start at $24.

• “Wicked," Feb. 2, 3, 8 p.m.; Feb 4, 1 and 6:30 p.m., Benedum Center, Downtown.

You probably already know this, but this PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh production focuses on the goings on in the Land of Oz, but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships - until the world decides to call one "good" and the other one "wicked."
"Wicked" tickets start at $44.

Phil Kessel photo: Associated Press.