Surf’s Up! A Tribute to the Beach Boys, conducted by music director finalist Timothy Hankewich, featuring guest artists Phil Dirt and the Dozers, opens the Wheeling Symphony 2018-19 season, Friday, Sept. 21, at The Capitol Theatre. Hankewich will conduct the WSO and Phil Dirt and the Dozers who will perform such favorites as California Girls, God Only Knows, Help Me Rhonda and Surfin’ USA. Prior to the concert, patrons can purchase tickets to a pre-concert Party in the Alley catered by Sarah Lydick from Sarah’s on Main starting at 6 p.m. The Party in the Alley will feature food, beer, wine and more, and will take place in the alley adjacent to the Capitol Theatre. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Following the performance, attendees are invited to a free post-show reception with Maestro Hankewich and other members of the symphony orchestra. 304-232-6191; wheelingsymphony.com
PLEIN AIR
Open air painters invade Wheeling Thursday, Sept. 20, through Sunday, Sept. 23, as they bring their paint boxes and easels to assemble for the Paint Historic Wheeling Plein Air event. Organized by Artworks Around Town, Paint Historic Wheeling is an ideal opportunity for plein air painters to recreate on canvas the visual feast of nature’s beauty and for the public to watch art in progress. It is open to all artists and offers a unique opportunity to paint in the historic Centre Market area, Victorian Wheeling, the riverfront area or Oglebay Park. Chris Leeper will conduct a watercolor workshop, and Brian Fancl will offer a workshop on urban drawing. On Friday evening, there will be a free lecture, open to the public, from a member of Friends of Wheeling on an aspect of Wheeling’s architectural past. There is a nominal fee for the weekend with an additional fee for the workshops. For more information, go to the Paint Historic Wheeling website or contact Michael Turbanic at 304-280-7718 or mturbanic@yahoo.com.
THIRD FRIDAY HAS A DIFFERENT SPIN
Because Third Friday at Artworks coincides with the annual Paint Historic Wheeling event, artists will be treated to music by noted classical guitarist Brett Weisenborn as they return to Artworks at the conclusion of the day’s painting. Weisenborn will perform at 4 p.m. in the Studio Gallery. He graduated from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, earning degrees in both classical guitar and in recording arts and sciences. He has participated in numerous master classes, competitions and music festivals. After the artists have eaten dinner, a member of Friends of Wheeling will speak about the architecture of Wheeling’s historic structures. This lecture, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 5 p.m. in the Studio Gallery.
DON’T GIVE UP THE DINNER
On Friday, April 14, 1912, wealthy Pennsylvanians George and Eleanor Widener hosted a celebratory dinner in honor of Edward Smith, captain of the Titanic, who was scheduled to retire following the ship’s maiden voyage. It was later that evening that tragedy struck, costing the lives of some 1,500 people. A Titanic dinner will be recreated beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Centre Cup Coffee in the Centre Market district of Wheeling. The dinner menu will feature items typical of the Titanic at the Widener dinner, and diners will assume the roles of many of passengers who were traveling on that ill-fated, “unsinkable” ship. $50; 304-233-0085 or 740-579-1541
NEVER FORGET
Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre opens its 50th season of community theater with the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play “The Diary of Anne Frank” Sept. 21-23 and 28-29. One of the most famous and haunting stories of the 20th century, the play brings to life the memoirs of a young Jewish girl who was forced to hide in an attic for nearly two years to escape Nazi persecution. As relevant today as when it was first written, Anne Frank’s diary is an essential part of how we remember one of the darkest periods in human history. Evening performances of “The Diary of Anne Frank” take place at 8 p.m. Sept. 21, 22, 28 and 29. A matinee performance takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23. 304-242-7700; www.oionline.com
CANINE CARNIVAL
The Ohio Valley Jaycees will sponsor a mini pet expo, a Canine Carnival, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Fitzsimmons Family Dog Park, Tunnel Green Complex; trophies for costumes, tricks and more; and raffles. Dogs will be presented for adoption.
SHOW OF HANDS
Step up and vote for your favorite young business of Wheeling at the Wheeling Heritage’s Show of Hands event, Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Wheeling Artisan Center, third floor, 1400 Main St., Wheeling. Community members will be presented four projects that would positively impact Wheeling. Then, attendees (for a $5 donation) vote on their favorite. The winner gets at least $3,000 to complete the project. The project with the most votes receives all of the money raised at the door plus the $2,500 prize from community partners. Sarah Lydick from Sarah’s on Main, who won the crowd-funding event’s most votes in the spring, will talk about her newly opened restaurant/bakery. Happy hour at River City from 5-6 p.m.; doors open to Show of Hands at 6 p.m., with presentations to begin at 6:30 p.m. The winner will be announced around 8 p.m. A $10 or more donation gets you 60 seconds to make an announcement regarding something you or your organization is doing. 304-232-3087; wheelingheritage.org
SIP AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN
Follow the path of the ancient Phoenicians and Sardinians and sip around the Mediterranean at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21. From their homelands of Lebanon and Sardenga, and on to Greece, Spain and mainland of Italy, guests will taste an array of reds and whites full of the Mediterranean sun at the wine tasting at Good Mansion Wines. Served with Mediterranean cheeses and French baguettes. $15 at the door, no reservations needed. Occupancy limited to 40. www.goodmansionwines.com
AUTUMN TEA
The Eckhart House will host an Autumn Tea Luncheon at noon Saturday, Sept. 22, offering assorted tea sandwiches/savories, scones with sweet cream and jam, seasonal fruit, tea confections and gourmet tea selections. The event is open to the public. Reservations required, 304-232-5439; www.EckhartHouse.com