FAMILY
The Oval opening
It's about time this summertime pop-up park popped up. Seasonal highlights include psychedelic 3-D art by Candy Coated, live music, lots o' food trucks. Tomorrow, meet the Philadelphia Freedoms tennis team (2-4 p.m.).
Eakins Oval, 26th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, open Wednesdays-Sundays, free, theovalphl.org.
Franklin Flea
Takin' it to the schoolyard, this upscale, occasional shopping event will surely attract an aficionado crowd with vintage wares, and small-batch foods.
McCall School, 324 S. 7th St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow, free to enter, franklinflea.com.
Family Day at AAMP
Once a month, this museum's galleries get even family-friendlier, via craft workshops, storytelling, music-making and history lessons aimed at kids.
African American Museum, 701 Arch St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow, $14 ($10 youth, students, seniors), 215-574-0380, aampmuseum.org.
FOOD
Reading Terminal Market
Philly's biggest indoor market takes it outside, with a baker's dozen of merchants serving ribs, fried bologna sandwiches and turkey legs, plus live music.
Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Filbert streets, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. tomorrow, free (pay as you go), 215-922-2317, readingterminalmarket.org.
Hot dog cook-off
When 20 local chefs compete with their frankfurters, that's one big wienie roast.
Headhouse Square, 2nd Street between Pine and Lombard streets, 1-4 p.m. tomorrow, free (pay as you go), southstreet.com.
Old City Restaurant Week
Every other part of town does it. Why shouldn't Old City? High on Market, Cuba Libre, Bistro 7 and the Red Owl Tavern are among 28 participants who've devised multicourse lunch and/or dinner menus for $15, $25 and $35.
Various locations in Old City, Sunday-July 27, oldcitydistrict.org.
MUSIC
Lancaster Avenue Jazz
& Arts Festival
Seasoned saxophonist Azar Lawrence and his quintet headline People's Emergency Center's eighth annual jazz fest. Also on tap, fusion, rhythm, smooth and Caribbean jazz.
Saunders Park Greene, 39th Street and Powelton Avenue, noon-7 p.m. tomorrow, free, lancasteravejazzfest.com.
O.A.R.
Jam band rows to shore, after Phillip Phillips (last of the "American Idol" stars?) lands the opening slot.
Festival Pier, Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street, 6:30 tonight, $39.50, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The one band that doesn't get ticked off when some wise guy yells for "Free Bird." Co-billed with Bad Company. Opener is Steve Rodger and the Dead Daisies.
Susquehanna Bank Center, One Harbour Blvd., Camden, 7 tonight, $26-$119, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Royal Blood
While just a duo, buzzed-about Brits explode like a "led" dirigible. Bad Seed Rising blooms, too.
Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St. 7:30 tonight, $10, undergroundarts.org.
Philadelphia Orchestra
+ 'Gladiator'
The orchestra accompanies another blockbuster film, this time playing Hans Zimmer's score to the Academy-winning 2000 flick "Gladiator" (rated R). Justin Freer conducts, with the Anglo-Spanish singer Clara Sanabras as soloist.
Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 8 tonight, $14.50-$85, 800-745-3000, manncenter.org.
Puss n Boots
Folksy rockin' femme trio features one talent you surely know - Norah Jones - and two you should - Sasha Dobson, Catherine Popper.
TLA, 334 South St., 8 tonight, $25, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Toni Braxton & Babyface
Two of America's foremost R&B hit makers croon about "Love, Marriage & Divorce" and maybe even "Breathe Again."
Borgata, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, 8 tonight, $49-$79, 866-900-4849, theborgata.com.
Cheers Elephant
One of our fave ex-Philly bands serves up tight harmonies. You're also buying local with the soulfully rockin' Toy Soldiers and low-fi minded Cheerleader.
Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8:30 tonight, $14 (all ages), 215-232-2100, utphilly.com.
Philadelphia Freedom Fest
The fest's grand finale, "Gospel Meets Symphony," celebrates the legacy of local civil-rights pioneer Octavius V. Catto, debuting a symphonic tribute written by Uri Caine and performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Tickets are free, but all are accounted for (sorry).
Mann Center, 5201 Ave., 8 p.m. tomorrow, sold out, 800-745-3000, manncenter.org. (A "Philadelphia Celebration of Gospel" is also on the Mann schedule for Sept. 14.)
John Fogerty
For decades, the guiding light behind Creedence Clearwater Revival was MIA. These days, you can't keep him off the stage.
Borgata, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $49-$69, 866-900-4849, theborgata.com.
Lenape Chamber Ensemble
For their middle summer concert, musicians tackle a Haydn String Quartet, Tchaikovsky's expansive Piano Trio and the Flute Sonata of Hindemith.
Delaware Valley College, 700 E. Butler Ave., Doylestown, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $18, 610-294-9361, lenapechamberensemble.org.
The Wiyos
Artful dodgers hop between acoustic ragtime, swing, swamp, stompin' blues, surf rock, beatbox and more.
Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $12, 215-928-0770, tinangel.com.
Queens of the Stone Age
Progressive rock, laced with paranoia. With Brody Dalle, Unlocking the Truth.
Skyline Stage, Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 7:30 p.m. Sunday, $45, 800-745-3000, manncenter.org.
MOE.
The popular jam band sets up shop on the Boards.
House of Blues at Showboat, Boardwalk at Delaware Avenue, Atlantic City, 9 p.m. Sunday, $29 & $39, 609-236-2583, hob.com.
Neutral Milk Hotel
Rarely touring/recording folk rock legends of "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" check into the "big room" at the Mann. How suite.
Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 7:30 p.m. Monday, $29.50 & $36, 800-745-3000, manncenter.org.
OOIOO
Percussion-centric experimental group (fronted by Yoshimi P-We) merges ancient/indigenous musical forms, rain forest sound effects and modern electric tones in original, hypnotic fashion.
Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 9:15 p.m. Monday, $15, 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.
James Taylor
Role model of simplicity, sensitivity and blue-eyed soulfulness for a gazillion singer-songwriters, JT is still melting hearts.
Susquehanna Bank Center, One Harbour Blvd., Camden, 8 p.m. Tuesday, $30-$99.50, 800-745-3000, livenation.com.
Mipso
Winsome North Carolina string band is earthy and polished!
Upstairs at World Cafe Live, 8 p.m. Tuesday, $8-10, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.
Veruca Salt
The original team of Louise Post, Nina Gordon, Steve Lack and Jim Shapiro revels anew in a "Museum of Broken Relationships." First, swirling, propulsive BattleMe tools 'round the stage.
TLA, 334 South St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, $25-$28, 800-745-3000, livenation.com.
Lionel Richie
Promising nothin' but hits, "All Night Long." And CeeLo Green in opening slot? Just as enticing.
Susquehanna Bank Center, One Harbour Blvd., 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, $25-$140, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Philadelphia Orchestra's Beatles tribute
The classiest cover band ever combines with Fab Four clone Classical Mystery Tour to deliver symphonically enlivened Beatles splendors. Martin Herman conducts.
Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 8 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday, $20-$105, 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org.
Sarah McLachlan
Folk chanteuse fumbles on toward ecstasy.
Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 8 p.m. Thursday, $35-$72.50, 800-745-3000, manncenter.org.
Purling Hiss, Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band
Philly bands play real good for free at this new riverfront hang. Plus sculptures and more from Vox Populi Gallery.
Spruce Street Harbor Park, Columbus Boulevard at Spruce Street, 7:30-10 p.m. Thursday, (rain date Sunday), free, 215-629-3200, delawareriverfront.com.
Roberta Flack/Peabo Bryson
Laid-back jazz-, soul- and pop-fusing artists were almost "too good" to become stars, and yet they did, "Killing Us Softly" with their "Quiet Storm." With Bloodstone and New Birth.
Dell Music Center, 2400 Strawberry Mansion Dr., 8 p.m. Thursday, $20-$65, 215-685-9566, mydelleast.com.
STAGES
Philadanco
Multicultural performance from our local treasures (at a superdiscounted price!) features a kinetic salute to "Suite Otis" (Redding) by George Faison. Comedianne J'Vonne Pearson hosts.
Dell Music Center, 2400 Strawberry Mansion Dr., 7:30 tonight, $10-$45, 215-387-8200, mydelleast.com/community-events.
'Defending the Caveman'
Rob Becker's franchised one-man show is an extended stand-up routine.
Penn's Landing Playhouse, Independence Seaport Museum, Columbus Boulevard at Walnut Street, through Aug. 24 (8 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Thursday), $45-$65, 855-448-7469, plplayhouse.com.
'Do Black Patent Shoes Really Reflect Up?'
The perennial favorite takes a humorous, not necessarily nasty, look at Catholic school.
Broadway Theatre, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman, N.J., today-Aug. 3, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday (also 7 p.m. show July 27), $28 & $50, 856-384-8381, thebroadwaytheatre.org.
'Fiddler on the Roof'
Has it really been 50 years since Tevye the Milkman first hit the stage with his tales of Jewish life in 19th-century Czarist Russia? See it again, seaside, or closer by, in South Jerz.
Moorestown Theater Co., William Allen Middle School, 801 Stanwick Rd., Moorestown, N.J., 7 tonight and Thursday, 2 & 7 p.m. tomorrow and July 25-26, 2 p.m. Sunday, $15, 856-778-8357, moorestowntheatercompany.org; Surflight Theatre, 201 Engelside Ave., Beach Haven, show times vary through July 27, $45, 609-492-9477, surflight.org.
Brave New Voices
Poetry Slam
At a time when spoken word couldn't be cooler, 500 youth poets have alighted on Philly, taking workshops and taking over stages throughout the city. Finals happen tomorrow and are sold out, but if you see a poet, offer praise.
Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St., 7 p.m. tomorrow, sold out, youthspeaks.org.
Koresh Dance Festival
Rennie Harris Pure Movement, Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble, Nora Gibson Dance Project and more share the stage with the Koresh company dancers in five programs spread across five days.
Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. July 25-27, $35 (discounts available), 215-751-0959, koreshdance.org.
- Compiled by Jonathan Takiff, Lauren McCutcheon, Tom Di Nardo, Chuck Darrow