(Things to do while deciding which Blue team to root for in the World Cup Final.)

Friday, July 7
Gallery Crawl, 5:30 p.m., Downtown
Normally I don’t actually crawl at these things, at least not at first. It really depends on what they’ve got at any complimentary bars that I may stumble across. This thing is chock full o’ art, so anywhere’s a good place to start, but I’d have to go with SPACE where music will be provided by the brilliantly-named The Sexes.

All-Star Fan Fest, Various Times, All Weekend, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Over 40 baseball-themed attractions which, sadly, does not include any “Re-enact the 1985 Coke Trial that even involved the mascot” booth, but hey, maybe next time. Mayor Bob’s been redding up the city, so that means company’s coming. Hose off your sidewalk and clean up the kitchen chair you use to reserve the space in front of your house. Also, be nice to all these out of towners who may not speak our language. They’re probably going to talk really slowly and loudly if they don’t understand us, which is normal. Just explain to them calmly, rationally, and cooly that the cole slaw is indeed supposed to be on the sandwich.

Saturday, July 8
All-American Beer Fesival, 2:00 and 6:00 p.m., The Priory, North Side
If you missed the big shindig last month up at Sharp Edge, you can still get in touch with your inner beer snob at the Grand Hall. Craft and micro-brews abound, and if you get out of hand, well, the Priory rents rooms too, which is way better than trying to sleep in the park next to the Aviary, ’cause those birds’ll keep you awake all night, and you’ll be all beer-muscled up and try to fight the Eagles, which is never a good idea. Trust me on this one.

Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show, 911th Air Wing Base
Blue Angels flying around in formation, which is a great thing to see, but I hope it doesn’t give all the people I commute with any ideas. Seriously, I’m going down Washington Blvd. and the guy in the left lane is running formation with the guy in the right lane the whole friggin’ way, even past the bike loop. Dude! It’s the passing lane! That means pass! Gah!

Sunday, July 9
Cat Power and the Memphis Rhythm Band, 7:30 p.m., Hartwood Acres
“Indie Folk Darling” which seems cliched, but my friend Matt (No, the other one) really digs him some Cat Power, err, Chan Marshall. The latest album has help from former members of Booker T. and The MG’s, so it’s well-pedigreed, that’s for certain. Go see her and the band for free at tasteful Hartwood Acres..

Electric Six, 8:00 p.m., Mr. Smalls, Millvale
Jack White favorites The Electric Six wing in (ok, probably van in) from Detroit to give us here in Pittsburgh their signature good-time party vibe. This is a show you don’t want to miss if you like good dance/rock/funk. I saw them earlier this year down in DC, and it was one of the most high-energy shows I’ve ever seen. Bonus points if they do their cover of Radio Gaga at this show, which is fantastic.

Flick: Fever Pitch, 9ish, Flagstaff Hill
FREE! FREE! FREE! The Flagstaff movie catches all-Star Fever with the baseball-themed Romantic Comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. This is based on a British film of the same name which was based on a novel by Nick Hornby that was about football, soccer, which I’m thinking might’ve been better because it probably had hooligans using cockney rhyming slang, but what do I know? I mean, I’m the kind of person that thinks every movie would benefit from having wire-fu karate fight scenes, so don’t take my word on anything movie-related. Seriously, how much better would Titanic have been if Dicaprio flew throught the air all crane-style and attacked Billy Zane with a mystical sword from the Shaolin Temple? Tons better, that’s how much.