The 10-day annual LGBT festival Pride is in full bloom, and there's plenty to keep every color of the rainbow busy. The week's highlights include the TransPride Celebration at Cattivo, in Lawrenceville, and a seminar, "What are you rights as a buyer or seller in the LGBT community?" at Regent Square's Square Café, both on Thu., June 9. Get pumped for the weekend during a nighttime tour of the city's bars and clubs during the chauffeured June 10 pub crawl. On June 11, stop by the University of Pittsburgh's The Book Center, in Oakland, for the signing of American Heroes Coming Out from Behind the Badge, a collection of stories of the transgendered in law enforcement and emergency services. Local contributor and transgender South Hills EMT Jessica McGuinness will attend to share her story. That night, don your best rainbow outfit for the Pride in the Streets party, 6 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Downtown on Liberty Avenue, featuring R&B legend Patti Labelle. On Sun., June 12, join the Pride Awareness March, which starts at noon Downtown. The short march ends at Liberty Avenue, where Pridefest takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. While that's this year's final official Pride event sponsored by the Delta Foundation, the Dyke and Trans March takes place on Sat., June 18, in Bloomfield. For a full schedule of events and ticket information, see www.pittsburghpride.org. Lauren Daley
Thu., June 9 -- Opera
For atmosphere and thematic aptness both, Opera Theater stages a modern version of the Orphic myth in Lawrenceville Cemetery. Orpheus and Euridice is by Ricky Ian Gordon, the contemporary composer acclaimed for works including his Grapes of Wrath opera. This dramatic song cycle for music and movement, to be performed in the picturesque hollow surrounding the cemetery's lake, is a collaboration with Attack Theatre, whose dancers complement music by soprano Laura Very, clarinetist Ricky Willams, pianist Rob Frankenberry and The Freya Quartet. Bill O'Driscoll 7:30 p.m. Also 7:30 p.m. Fri., June 10, and 7:30 p.m. Sat., June 11. 4734 Butler St., Lawrenceville. 412-456-6666 or www.operatheaterpittsburgh.org
Thu., June 9 -- Stage
For two weeks, theater fills Lawrenceville's Grey Box. Tonight's the Pittsburgh premiere of Violet Sharp, by area playwright William Cameron. The award-winning 2007 play depicts the true story of the British domestic suspected in 1927's Lindbergh-baby kidnapping. Cameron directs this Terra Nova Theatre production; Theo Allyn stars. Meanwhile, on Mon., June 13, at Grey Box, Terra Nova launches Underground Readings, a reading series for six new plays by local writers, featuring professional actors. First up is Gab Cody's Tea Party comedy The 2nd American Revolution. BO Violet Sharp: 8 p.m. (show continues through June 25). Underground Readings: June 13-22. 3595 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $10-20. 412-394-3353
Fri., June 10 -- Art
Milestone Centers, which serves adults with developmental disabilities in Allegheny County, today reopens Lawrenceville's former Everyone an Artist gallery as The Art Market, a shop featuring work by Milestone clients. The store features handmade crafts and T-shirts custom-made on site. The store is done up as an old-school neighborhood market, with T-shirts displayed in deli cases. Proceeds benefit the artists and give some of them retail experience. BO 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 4128 Butler St., Lawrenceville. 412-621-2951
Sat., June 11 -- Festival
Among the local park system's hidden gems is Riverview Park, home to both an extensive series of hiking trails and the historic Allegheny Observatory. Today's free activities accent the North Side park's charms. From noon to 4 p.m., Riverview Park Heritage Day offers rare birds from the National Aviary, a hands-on program from the Frick Environmental Center, the CitiParks Roving Art Cart, observatory tours and more. Tonight, the Stars at Riverview Jazz Series features Mark Lucas (7 p.m.), while Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park screens Batman at dusk, on Observatory Hill. BO 412-255-2493 or www.citiparks.net
Sat., June 11 -- Architecture
Frank Lloyd Wright was an evangelist for organic architecture -- design based on natural properties and integration with its surroundings. Fallingwater, the house built for the Kaufmann family overhanging a waterfall on Bear Run, is his greatest testament. Contributors to Fallingwater, a new volume of photography and essays released for the building's 75th anniversary, visit the Carnegie Museum of Art theater today for a book-signing and symposium on the building's architectural importance and recent restoration. Fallingwater editor Lynda Waggoner will lead a question-and-answer session with presenters. Brendan Sullivan 1 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. Registration required at 724-329-8501
Sat., June 11 -- Words
Paris is the quintessential destination for American expatriates, the place anyone could go to learn, as David McCullough puts it, "how good they were." The American in Paris is the subject of the Pulitzer-winning historian's new book, The Greater Journey, in which he endeavors to remind Americans about how much of their history took place in France. McCullough, a Pittsburgh native, visits the Heinz History Center today to talk about the book and sell some signed copies. BS 2 p.m. Sen. John Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Strip District. $10. www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Sat., June 11 -- Comedy
While the titles of John Pinette's comedy specials and CDs -- from Show Me the Buffett to I'm Starvin' -- suggest, well, a motif in the hefty comedian's oeuvre, don't be fooled. His act isn't about food so much as it is about Pinette's hilariously irascible persona, which can turn on a dime from doleful ("My friends took me camping to see what would happen to me") to comically raging. Pinette -- who years ago played the carjack victim in the final Seinfeld episode -- appears tonight at the Byham Theater. BO 8 p.m. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $34.50. 412-456-666
Sun., June 12 -- Festival
Studies show that students who read over the summer are more prepared for the school year. Studies also show that everybody likes free activities and entertainment. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's main branch, in Oakland, combines the two for today's 11th Annual Summer Reading Extravaganza, where families can sign up for the library's summer reading program, see music and dance performances, play games, browse the crafts of I Made It! Market in Schenley Plaza, and learn how to keep the library in their lives this summer and into the future. BS Noon. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. www.carnegielibrary.org
Mon., Jun 13 -- Words
There's something to be said -- environmentally, psychologically, socially -- for a city that moves its people not by car but by bike, on foot or with public transit. But how do we get there? Gil Peñalosa, renowned livable-city expert and executive director of the Canada-based, pro-bike, pro-pedestrian group 8-80 Cities, has some ideas on the subject. Tonight at the New Hazlett Theater, he and local expert panelists speak at cityLIVE! 37: Moving People, Not Cars. BS 6:30 p.m. 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. Free. www.newhazletttheater.org
Thu., June 16 -- Comedy
After the incredible success of his Comedy Central special Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening, Aziz Ansari is ready to get back on the horse. Ansari, who stars on NBC's Parks and Recreation, brings his new act, the Dangerously Delicious Tour, to the Carnegie Library Music Hall of Homestead tonight, daring viewers to stay in their seats as he emanates the kind of hilarity that can only come from a 10-foot personality in a tiny little body. BS 7 p.m. Carnegie Library Music Hall of Homestead, 510 East 10th Ave., Munhall, Pa. $38-40. 412-462-3444 or www.librarymusichall.com
