Rotary Club Oyster Roast
Feast on raw oysters, fried oysters, oyster stew and more at the Baltimore Rotary Club's 81st Annual Oyster Roast from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the 5th Regiment Armory, Howard and Preston streets. And if you don't like the shelled treasures of the Chesapeake Bay, don't despair. There's also plenty of food for landlubbers. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the event, which last year raised more than $60,000 for charitable works. Tickets are $34 and are available in advance or at the door. Call 410-864-5831.
'The Forty-Seven Samurai'
A collection of prints depicting the tale of 47 loyal Japanese warriors is on view today through April 1 at the Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. "The Forty-Seven Samurai" exhibit is based on events that took place in the years 1701-03. The samurai vowed to avenge the death of their master, Lord Enya Hangan, who had been ordered to commit suicide as punishment for attacking a high official in the palace. The prints are part of the Walters' permanent collection, but are not shown regularly because of their fragile nature. Show hours vary. Admission is $1 to $5 and free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. the first Thursday of each month. Call 410-547-9000.
King tribute concert
"Let Freedom Ring" on Tuesday when the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Maryland Commission on African-American History and Culture present the 15th annual concert in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Maryland's musical tribute to the life and work of the legendary civil rights leader features alto Sherry Hunt performing "Canaan Land" and "Lift Ev'ry Voice" and pianist Christina Anum-Dorhuso in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto. Traditional spirituals and selections by the With One Voice Ecumenical Choir also will be presented. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. Tickets are $5, free ages 6-12. Call 410-783-8000.
Evening of 'Short Plays'
Opening tomorrow at Center Stage: four rarely seen short plays by three-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Thornton Wilder. The works -- "The Wreck of the Five-Twenty-Five," "The Long Christmas Dinner," "Now the Servant's Name Was Malchus" and "Pullman Car Hiawatha" -- lay bare the deepest human realities in the most familiar situations -- family dinners, the commute home from work, the arrival of a new baby. The plays continue through Feb. 18 in Head Theater, Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St. Hours vary. Tickets are $24-$35. Call 410-332-0033.
Charlie Byrd tribute
Pay tribute to Charlie Byrd and listen to some of the late jazz great's favorite music -- from bossa nova to Cole Porter and Irving Berlin tunes -- at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Baldwin's Station, 7618 Main St. in Sykesville. Byrd's younger brother, Joe Byrd, a bassist and vocalist, will be joined by Steve Abshire on guitar and Chuck Redd on vibes for "The Music of Charlie Byrd." Tickets are $15. Call 410-795-1041.
Cat Association show
About 200 felines will try to purr their way to the top this weekend at a cat show sponsored by the International Cat Association at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center, 5625 O'Donnell St. Cheer for your favorite pedigreed, rare or household cat from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday . You can also adopt a kitty and browse displays featuring cat products and feline gift items. And children get to vote for a cat to win the Spectator's Choice Award. Proceeds benefit area cat shelters. Admission is $4 and $6. Call 800-252-3958, code 00.
Midori with the BSO
Members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra present their first concert series of the new year today through Saturday , accompanied by famed violinist Midori and conducted by Yuri Temirkanov. The program features Midori playing on Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances. And in reference to the new year, the orchestra will open each concert with Richard Strauss' "Also sprach Zarathrustra" -- or, as it is more commonly known, the opening theme from "2001: A Space Odyssey." Curtain time is 8 p.m. Tomorrow's performance includes a pre-concert lecture by BSO violinist Gregory Mulligan. Tickets are $30-$68. Call 410-783-8000.