Heart: Led by the Wilson sisters, Heart has been a classic rock mainstay since the mid-'70s. Songs like "Crazy On You," "Barracuda" and "Magic Man" tore up FM radio, and though the band slipped in popularity in the late '70s, the self-titled '85 album launched Heart back into the mainstream. It was quite the comeback and turned a younger generation of fans on to Heart. Younger sister Nancy's the guitar-slinger, while Ann's the primary singer. Heart is still working on fresh material, and plans to release a new album, "Red Velvet Car," Aug. 31. On Sunday, Heart will be at Pier Six Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave. Gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $30-$75. Call 410-244-1131 or go to piersixpavilion.com.
Otakon: For the average Baltimorean, Otakon means a weekend full of people in funny costumes walking around the Inner Harbor. But for Japanese anime fans, it's much more than freaky outfits and samurai swords. Otakon, which takes over the Convention Center this weekend, has hundreds of events, from movie screenings and sneak previews to panels and a vendor room. It's the ultimate geek-out. The folks with the best costumes become mini-celebrities, proudly posing for pictures. When it started in 1994, Otakon drew about 350 people. Last year, more than 25,000 rolled in. Otakon runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. today and tomorrow and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. Go to otakon.com. Read more on Pages 14 and 15.
Dinner for Schmucks: This remake of the French film "The Dinner Party" promises plenty of laughs from the likes of Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and Zach Galifianakis. Ever the straight man, Rudd plays Tim, a businessman whose boss invites him to a monthly "dinner for idiots." Each of his co-workers brings a dum-dum to the party, and the person with the biggest loser wins the boss' favor. Tim finds the ideal candidate in the bumbling IRS employee Barry (Carell). In theaters today. Read the review on Page 17.
Paramore: Even if you're not a Paramore fan, chances are you've heard lead singer Hayley Williams — she sings the chorus on the B.O.B. hit "Airplanes." The alt-rock quintet from Tennessee scored a spot on the Warped Tour in 2005 and soon after sprung onto the charts with the 2005 debut, "All We Know is Falling." Their follow-up, "Riot!" went platinum and Paramore hasn't looked back. Their most recent album is last year's "Brand New Eyes," and Saturday, the Honda Civic Tour brings them to Merriweather Post Pavilion, along with Tegan and Sara and New Found Glory. Doors open at 5 p.m. at Merriweather,10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Tickets are $21-$36. Call 877-435-9849 or go to merriweathermusic.com. Read more on Page 5.
Lilith Fair: The '90s might be long gone, but many of the raw, emotional female singer-songwriters who were popular then are back with the revived Lilith Fair tour, which hits Merriweather Post Pavilion on Tuesday. Sarah McLachlan, who just released her first new studio album in seven years, and the Indigo Girls top the lineup, which also features newer faces Cat Power and Sara Bareilles. Gates open at 2:30 p.m. at Merriweather, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Tickets are $57-$127. Call 877-435-9849 or go to merriweathermusic.com.
Vagabond Opera: Vagabond Opera, out of Portland, Ore., brings its eclectic musical mix and outrageous onstage theatrics to the Creative Alliance, all sung in 15 languages, accompanied by top hats, burlesque, even a local Gypsy Balkan brass band, Balti Mare. Show starts at 8 tonight at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. Tickets are $12-$15. Call 410-276-1651 or go to creativealliance.org. Read more on Page X.
Grease singalong: When the classic "Grease" song "You're the One That I Want" comes on the car radio, how often do you sit there and sing along? Cinemark Egyptian 24 theater at the Arundel Mills mall in Hanover is tapping into the John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John love with regular screenings of the '70s film. Patrons are invited to sing along with the movie as the words to the songs flash across the screen. Tickets are $7-$10.50. Call 443-755-8992 or go to greasemovie.com. Read more on Page 16.
The Savannah Disputation: This spirited new comedy by Evan Smith centers on a pair of Catholic sisters, Margaret and Mary, who are visited by a Pentecostal missionary. The visit causes Margaret to question her faith while Mary mounts a spiritual intervention to save her sister's religious devotion. The resulting dinner party turns into one serious religious scuffle. "The Savannah Disputation" runs through Aug. 22 at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney. Tickets are $26-$49. Call 301-924-3400 or go to olneytheatre.org for showtimes.