Enjoy upcoming events

This weekend

Philly eats - and eats!

If gas and traffic woes are keeping you home for the holiday weekend, make the most of your "staycation" by visiting the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing as Taste of Philadelphia brings dozens of the city's restaurants out so visitors can sample a variety of cuisines. Traditional picnic fare - burgers and hot dogs, corn on the cob - will be available, too.

Plus, there's the Super Scooper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival, where for $5 you can feast on Ben & Jerry's, Edy's, Bassett's, Turkey Hill . . . you get the picture. Start screamin' for ice cream at noon.

Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. today, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. tomorrow. 215-629-3200, www.pennslandingcorp.com.

You and the Boyz

Satisfy your appetite for entertainment with a concert by Philly's own Boyz II Men followed by a "Colors of Summer" fireworks extravaganza that will light up the waterfront.

Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut street, 6:30 p.m., 215-629-3200, www.pennslandingcorp.com.

Gospel Fest 2008

New Covenant Church is hosting a two-day festival of gospel and jazz music featuring dozens of performers, including some of the top names in the business. Today, the music plays from 2 to 9 p.m., and concludes with fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. Tomorrow, from 1-6 p.m., there's an outdoor jazz concert with Regina Belle, Jonathan Nelson and Denise King, among others.

This kid-friendly festival - there's a moon bounce, face painting and room to play on the church campus - brings in local restaurants and chefs to keep everyone well fed. Co-sponsored by CLC Ministry International, WPPZ-FM (Praise 103.9) and the New Covenant Church.

New Covenant Church, 7500 Germantown Ave., 2-9 p.m. today, 1-6 p.m. tomorrow, free.

Next week

Stunt casting

Experience a subversive evening of theater at the Wilma on Monday, when the Philadelphia Dramatists Center presents "Anonymous Theatre." Actors are auditioned and cast secretly, then rehearse by themselves with the director, so that they never know who else is in the play.

On show night, actors arrive at the theater and take their seats in the audience, chatting with their neighbors and behaving like regular theatergoers until the house lights dim and it's showtime. Not until the first lines are delivered - from seats in the audience - do the actors learn each other's identity. This obviously only works once, so don't miss it.

Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., 8 p.m. Monday, $15-$20, 215-546-7824.

Fairytale theater

The Keswick Theatre's family theater series kicks off with the Pushcart Players' presentation of "Little Red Riding Hood," formulated for the youngest (4 and up) theatergoers. Two more tales - "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "Princess and the Pea" - round out the show. The series continues, with new plays, on Tuesdays through the summer.

Keswick Theatre, 291 Keswick Ave., Glenside, 10:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, $7.50, 215-572-7650.

Marx your calendar

"A Night at the Opera" is considered by most critics to be the Marx Brothers' best film. This madcap satiric gem is being screened as part of the Hollywood Summer Nights series at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute.

Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, $9.25.

A dozen days of movies

The 14th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival kicks off next Thursday and continues through July 22 with more than 140 films from around the globe. The opening event is Todd Stephens' "Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!," reprising the over-the-top comedy fave from last year, "Another Gay Movie."

This opening-night screening is followed by an over-21 dance party at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing. (Check out the festival's Web site for a complete list of all the films and late-night parties at www.philly

fests.com.)

Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 7:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency Philadelphia, 201 S. Columbus Blvd., 10 p.m.-1 a.m., combo ticket $55, film only $15 (sold day of show at The Prince), party only $45 at the door, 267-765-9700, ext. 4, or www.phillyfests.com.

Renaissance Mayer

John Mayer is a super guitar player in both rock and blues styles, and a heart-piercing singer-songwriter. Plus, the dude's got great taste in jammed-up covers, too, in concert doing up the likes of "Wait Until Tomorrow" and "I Don't Need No Doctor." This time around, he's giving a helping hand to openers Colbie Caillat (who bears a remarkable resemblance to Mayer's gal pal Jennifer Aniston), and Brett Dennen (who doesn't).

Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, $26.25 (in four-pack purchases), $35 and $59.50, 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.