Fall is harvest time. Fortunately, we don't have to wander far afield in order to pile a table high with wonderful things to eat. This weekend offers two opportunities to celebrate and sample the region's bounty. Plus, when evangelizing about carbon footprints, eating delicious regional food is more effective than talk. This weekend, it's dessert first. Saturday, bite into the Fourth Annual Western PA AppleFest at Highland Park's Union Project. Taste and buy apples and cider from the region's many orchards. If you're a baker, enter your apple pie in the contest. Entries will be dished up with a dollop of locally made Oh Yeah! ice cream. Watch juggling and live music, or compete in a "pie-ku" contest. Sunday is Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture's Sunday Supper Jamboree. The family-style meal at noon features local cheeses, breads, chicken, lamb, root veggies and Brussels sprouts, plus more local apples. And there's plenty more fall stuff to do: Carve a pumpkin, press some cider, even swing yer pardner and do-si-do. It all takes place at Latrobe's Jamison Farm, the local spot for lamb. Melissa Meinzer AppleFest: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Oct. 24 (Union Project, 901 Negley Ave., Highland Park; Free; www.buylocalpa.org).
PASA Sunday Supper Jamboree: 11a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Oct. 25 (Jamison Farm, 171 Jamison Farm Lane, Latrobe; $55/$10 kids under 12; 412-697-0411 or www.pasafarming.net/west).
Thu., Oct. 22 -- Scares
Station Square offers two sets of macabre thrills. Starting tonight, just seven chances remain to experience The Nightmare at Station Scare, with its two haunted houses, a cemetery and more taking over the lot, courtesy of the folks who brought you Fright Night. And tonight only, the Buckhead Saloon hosts the nationally touring Full Moon Horror Road Show. The extravaganza is ringmastered by Charles Dance, the mind behind low-budget horror and fantasy cult films like the "Puppetmaster" and "Trancers" series. It's scary puppets, film clips, flashing lights -- plus "boobs and gore," enthused one fan. "I've always wanted to die in a movie," exclaimed another. Well, here ya go. Bill O'Driscoll Nightmare: 7-11 p.m.; continues Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 31 ($15-20; www.ampstationsquare.com). Full Moon Horror: 8 p.m. ($10; 18 and over; www.trashcityentertainment.com). South Side
Thu., Oct. 22 -- Comedy
While Bill Scott sometimes covers familiar comic turf, he does it with a unique twist. Addressing airport limits on liquid carry-ons, for instance, he recommends freezing them into solids. Scott's dry manner suggests Robert Schimmel without the bestiality jokes. Tonight at the Funnybone, Scott promotes his new album I'm Still Thinking ..., in which he tackles subjects like the dangers of petting killer whales. Though he's opened for Chris Rock and Lewis Black, the Pittsburgh-born comic is this evening's featured attraction. Lucy Leitner 7:30 p.m. Also 9 p.m. Fri., Oct. 23, and 10 p.m. Sat., Oct. 24. Station Square, South Side. $8-15 (plus two-drink minimum). 412-2813130 or www.funnybonepgh.com
Thu., Oct. 22 - Rock
Somewhere on the border between funk, hip hop and jam-rock there stands Galactic. The band -- formed in Washington, D.C., in the '90s, and now calling New Orleans home -- has collaborated with artists from Juvenile to the Neville Brothers. Its most recent record, From the Corner to the Block, came out in 2007, but like a good jam band, it hasn't stopped pounding the pavement since. Get ready to dance when the group appears tonight at Mr. Small's Theatre along with Corey Henry and The Hood Internet. Andy Mulkerin 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $20. 866-468-3401 or www.mrsmalls.com
Since forming in Chicago a decade ago, the bombastic, distorted-organ-driven oh my god has suffered through divorce, spousal cancer, massive instrument theft and a devastating high-speed collision. And just weeks after the band's conception, a fire destroyed its equipment. "Oh, my God" is right. Critics have described the group's eclectic sound as somewhere between Queen and art rock. Tonight, the exclamatory band performs its melodic frenzy of hard-rock disco in Bloomfield, where, hopefully, the musicians will not be eaten by zombies. LL 9 p.m. Howler's Coyote Café, 4509 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. $8. 412-682-0320 or Howlerscoyotecafe.com
Fri., Oct. 23 - Rock
The Damned are among the punk-rock originals. The band, formed in Britain in 1976, is credited with the U.K.'s first punk-rock single (if you buy that sort of branding). Through myriad lineup changes, it's worked with Motörhead's Lemmy, Robert Fripp among many others. Like American contemporaries The Misfits, the band combines basic poppy punk rock and smooth vocals with a Halloween aesthetic -- and like The Misfits, the gang is in Pittsburgh for a show just before the big holiday. The Damned appear tonight at Diesel; Danko Jones opens. AM 7 p.m. 1601 E. Carson St., South Side. $20-23. 888-71-TICKETS or www.liveatdiesel.com
Who's your diva? Where do you turn for inspiration, glamour and star power? A classic like Cher or Bette? A quirkier choice, like Julia Child? Michael Montlack (who claims Stevie Nicks) has collected short, inspirational tales from gay men about the magnificent, iconic women who've helped them negotiate life's challenges fiercely and with grace. Tonight at LaFond Galleries, Montlack and contributor Jeff Oaks (Wonder Woman) read from My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who Inspire Them. MM 7:15 p.m. (6:30 p.m. reception). 1711 E. Carson St., South Side. Free. 412-431-3337
Say what you will of Conor Oberst, his Saddle Creek Records is still at it: Old Canes is the current project of The Appleseed Cast's Chris Crisci. Lushly orchestrated yet slightly lo-fi, Old Canes' new album, Feral Harmonic, at times recalls Elephant 6 bands of a decade ago rather than anything that was coming out of Omaha at the time. The band finds itself at Brillobox tonight; if pop songs with a bit of atmospheric tension and sweet, laid-back hooks are your thing, you might want to find them there, too. With Signal to the Ocean Estate, Hand Drawn Mountains. AM 9 p.m. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. $7. 412-621-4900 or www.brillobox.net
Sat., Oct. 24 -- Words
Wendell and Florence Minor open this year's Black White & Read All Over lecture series by imagining If You Were a Penguin. No, Pittsburgh sports fans, they mean the actual waterfowl. Filled with educational facts, the husband-and-wife team's latest children's book is 2009's PA One Book selection to encourage early literacy. Florence's words are complemented by Wendell's vibrant illustrations, recalling his famous cover for To Kill a Mockingbird. The Minors will sign copies after the Carnegie Lecture Hall talk. LL 10:30 a.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $10 adult/$8 children. 412-622-8866 or www.pittsburghlectures.org
Sat., Oct. 24 -- Opera
On the heels of Russian tragedy Eugene Onegin, the Pittsburgh Opera lightens up with the comic tale of everyone's favorite Shakespearean sot. Falstaff, Verdi's comedy, focuses on the obese knight in The Merry Wives of Windsor period, as an aging, would-be ladies man. After an ill-conceived attempt at gold-digging, Falstaff (sung by Met baritone Mark Delevan) is subject to an elaborate joke concocted by the wealthy Alice Ford (Veronica Villarroel). LL 8 p.m. Also 7 p.m. Tue., Oct. 27; 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 30; and 2 p.m. Sun., Nov. 1. Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $10.50-140.50. 412-456-6666 or www.pgharts.org
Sat. Oct. 24 -- Music
For those who considered Ren Fest a bit too contemporary, The Medieval Beasts string ensemble takes audiences back to that plague-ridden time when the iron maiden was just a torture device. Playing such instruments as the lute, the harp and its distant cousin the psaltery, the group performs Flame of Love: The Legend of Tristan & Iseult. With narration by esteemed spoken-word artist Patrick Ball, the Beasts tell the tragic tale of the adulterous lovers whose story has endured centuries. And this may be your only chance to see a live vielle performance. LL 8 p.m. Synod Hall, 125 N. Craig St., Oakland. $10-35. 412-361-2048 or www.rbsp.org
Sat., Oct. 24 -- Rock
If Pittsburgh were a college for rockers -- and who says it isn't? -- this would be homecoming weekend. Tonight, singer-songwriter Rich Jacques, founder of popular '90s 'Burgh band Brownie Mary, returns from Los Angeles with his new group, Right the Stars, performing as an acoustic duo. A self-titled debut album of Jacques' classically styled pop is forthcoming, but Club Café tonight also marks his musical reunion with fellow local faves Bill Deasy and former bandmate Kelsey Friday. Meanwhile, down the street, at the Rex, native son Ter Dines returns (also from L.A.) with his own acclaimed and busy three-piece, Lemonwilde. Dines hails from McKees Rocks; the group's moody, melodic rock with an experimental edge summons Radiohead name-checks. BO Right the Stars: 7 p.m. (56-58 S. 12th St., South Side; $10; 412-431-4950). Lemonwilde: 8 p.m. (1602 E. Carson St., South Side; 412-381-6811).
Thu., Oct. 29 -- Words
Peter Bosselmann is a big name in urban design. The Berkeley, Calif., professor founded the Environmental Simulation Laboratory to connect theoretical work about how we perceive our surroundings spatially to practical work in city planning. His latest book, Urban Transformation: Understanding City Design and Form, examines a framework for studying and interpreting changes in cities over time. That's the subject of tonight's talk at the Carnegie Museum of Art, at the eighth annual David Lewis Lecture on Urban Design. AM 6 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. 412-263-5200
