winter blooms

Phipps Conservatory’s Winter Flower Show and Light Garden opens Friday, November 27. The Conservatory will remain open until 11 p.m. for Candlelight Evenings throughout the show. The Winter Flower Show and Light Garden runs through Sunday, January 10. Also, stop by Phipps on Friday, November 20, for Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes, a special family-friendly event that will bring the magic of The Nutcracker to Phipps’ historic glasshouse. After the show, visitors can stick around for a meet-and-greet session and photo opportunity with the dancers, and then explore the conservatory for a sneak peek at the winter show. Performances at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $26 for adults and $13 for children. Reservations required. Register online  or call 412/454-9107.

horses with hope

Horses With Hope is a very cool organization that gives people with special needs the opportunity to learn to ride and spend time with horses on a 95-acre farm in Bethel Park.  The group is holding a fundraiser from noon to 3, Sunday, November 22, at Meadow Lanes Bowling at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino. $30 a person or $150 for a 6-person team. Please register by November 12 by calling 412-576-4154, or by emailing laslappo@verizon.net.

wings and wildlife

The National Aviary’s Wings & Wildlife art show returns after a 10-year hiatus, Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free with admission to the Aviary, Wings & Wildlife showcases the work of 46 local and national artists working in paint, photography, textiles, jewelry, metal, ceramics, paper, wood and more. Featured artist is Johno Prascak, whose work hangs in the Presidential Library, the U.S. Naval Academy and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Wings & Wildlife is included in the price of admission to the Aviary, so you also get to look at the very cool birds. One year walked a hawk around the exhibits. A hawk on a walk? You don’t want to miss that. Tickets to the preview Black Tie Soirée and Benefit Auction, Friday, November 6, are $100, and are available by emailing Ted Bartlett, ted.bartlett@aviary.org. For more information, visit www.aviary.org or call 412-258-9433.

holiday bells

The Mt. Lebanon Percussion Ensemble’s Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums concert celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. That’s the china anniversary, which on the surface seems like a dicey choice for a group dedicated to striking things, but there you go. If you’ve never been, you really owe it to yourself to check out one of these concerts, especially this year, in the revamped high school fine arts theater. Concerts are Friday, December 18, at 7  p.m. and Saturday, December 19, at 2 and at 7 p.m. Tickets for the evening shows are $12 for adults and $9 for students. Matinee tickets are $9 for everyone and can be purchased online at www.MTLPercussion.com/tickets.