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BEST BETS: Sept. 24 to Oct. 1

Comic book heroes weekend at Strong

Marvel Comics' official Iron Man and PBS Kids' WordGirl (shown with her sidekick Captain Huggy Face) zoom into the Strong National Museum of Play to help celebrate Comic Book Heroes Weekend. Special events are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Come in costume, bring a camera and get up close and personal with these two popular American heroes. Dorothea Gillim, creator of the Emmy-winning "WordGirl" series and executive producer at WGBH Children's Programming in Boston, will sign autographs and chat with guests. Other veteran comic book artists will share drawings and writing tips, display art and sign autographs. Visit museumofplay.org for details.

Pet festival

The annual Barktober Fest fundraiser of Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, is Saturday at Egypt Park and Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road, Perinton. Aiming to raise at least $135,000, the event features a five-mile race or 1.5-mile nature walk, dog competitions, vendor booths, kids' activities and food. There also will be a microchipping clinic and demonstrations of flyball relay racing, weight pulling and Frisbee for dogs. All proceeds directly benefit the shelter animals at Lollypop Farm. Visit lollypop.org.

On the big screen

Is greed still good? In "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," the global economy teeters on the brink of disaster and a young Wall Street trader (Shia LaBeouf) partners with disgraced former Wall Street corporate raider Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) to alert the financial community to the coming doom and to find out who was responsible for the death of the young trader's mentor. The sequel to the 1987 film is directed by Oliver Stone. "You Again" is about a young woman who realizes her brother is about to marry the girl who bullied her in high school. Its cast includes Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver and Betty White. Find movie times.

Professional cyclocross races to Rochester

The Full Moon Vista Cyclocross Series kicks off Saturday and Sunday at Ellison Park. The weekend features biking events full of obstacles and other spectator-friendly features. Cyclocross began in Europe early in the 20th century as an off-season event for dedicated riders. It combines the smooth surfaces of road riding with the trails and mud of mountain biking and man-made obstacles that require riders to carry their bikes. Saturday's meet is for men, women and junior amateurs at all levels. They'll be racing from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Between races, spectators can send their kids to the bounce house, enjoy some Sticky Lips Pit BBQ and kick back with a pint in the Rohrbach's Brewery beer garden. Sunday's races feature pro riders in the Union Cycliste Internationale. To learn more, visit fullmoonvista.com.

Not your average fundraiser

If you enjoy live music and want to support a good cause, this event is for you! It's a benefit concert for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. Folk-inspired singer/songwriter Eilen Jewell will headline. The L.A. Daily News describes Jewell as "sometimes as darkly damaged as Lucinda Williams, at others as defiant and teasing as prime Peggy Lee and always authentically Americana in the Gillian Welch tradition." Local favorites Teagan and the Tweeds and Nick Young (of Burning Daylight) will open the show. Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday and music starts at 7 p.m. at the German House Theatre, 315 Gregory St. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Visit bccr.org for details or to buy tickets.

Mercury Opera presents 'Pirates of Penzance'

Mercury Opera Rochester launches its sixth season with Gilbert and Sullivan's perennial crowd pleaser, "The Pirates of Penzance," on Friday and Sunday. Artistic adviser Gerard Floriano will conduct the full orchestra and cast of internationally recognized singers in this timeless comedy. The cast includes young, up-and-coming American singers Sarah Calinan as Mabel and Brandon McReynolds as Frederic. Performances are at the new Penfield High School Auditorium. For tickets, visit mercuryoperarochester.org.

 

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