Daily News picks for what to see & do the weekend of Sept. 17-18

MUSEUMS

224 CANDLES

The Constitution is the political buzz topic du jour, so it figures that the National Constitution Center is the place to be today, when the big doc celebrates its 224th birthday - and admission is free. Starring in the all-civics bash is retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the highest court's first woman judge and one-time swing vote. At 8:45 this a.m., O'Connor reads the document's famous preamble ("We, the people . . . ") to 224 students. At 10:30, she speaks at a naturalization ceremony. Other highlights: the presentation of a rare document considered the Constitution's "birth certificate," the addition of "Strange Fruit" author Abel Meeropol to the American National Tree, a story by faux George Washington and Constitutional arts and crafts.

National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., today, 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m., free admission; tomorrow 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., general admission, $12 adults, $11, students and seniors, $8, children 4-12, 215-409-6700, constitutioncenter.org.

AFRICAN ROOTS

To kick off its 25th year, the Philadelphia Folklore Project presents Cultural Exchange, an exhibit of four Philly artists with roots in the African diaspora, Rashie Abdul Samad and Sharif Abdur-Rahim (of the African Cultural Art Forum), Frito Bastien and Isaac Maefield. These works chronicle their original and adopted homelands in works on paper, such as Bastien's paintings that capture the spirit of Haiti and Philadelphia, and sculpture such as Maefield's carved chessboards and canes. The exhibit continues through Dec. 17.

Folklore Project, 735 S. 50th St., opening reception, 6-8 tonight, free, 215-726-1106, folkloreproject.org.

TELEVISION

EMMY'S LYNCH PIN

Jane Lynch has promised to leave her tracksuit back on the "Glee" set as she hosts "The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards," but expect her to take a victory lap, at least, if "Glee" pulls out a win for outstanding comedy (or if Lynch herself wins for supporting actress).

8 p.m. Sunday, Fox 29.

CASINOS

THE APOLOGIST

Some people are apparently born without the self-editing gene that keeps most of us from saying just anything that crosses our minds. Judging from his apologized-for homophobic screed at a Nashville, Tenn., comedy club earlier this year, comic Tracy Morgan is one of the afflicted. Even if he weren't the co-star of "30 Rock," one of the funniest - and smartest - TV shows currently on the air, Morgan's gig tomorrow night at Borgata's Music Box would be noteworthy because of the element of "what is he going to say next?" that he brings to the stage, along with his often X-rated take on life.

Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, 9 p.m., $69.50, $65, 866-900-4849, theborgata.com.

MUSIC

KEMISTRY LESSON

Start a quiet storm in your heart with romantic R&B singer KEM. Soulful chanteuses Melanie Fiona and Kelly Price also entertain.

Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue, 8 tonight. $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $29.50, 215-893-1999, www.manncenter.org.

FAVORITE SON

One of the city's enduring gifts to the jazz world, Jimmy Bruno works his guitar skills this time in an organ quartet setting - and how Philly is that?

Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 8-11:30 tonight, $15, 215-568-3131. www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

STUFF OF DREAMS

Legendary rock DJ Michael Tearson is now a recording artist, too, and celebrating with this "Stuff That Works" album-release party/performance. Tom Hampton, who produced the set, leads the band, the Working Stuffs, and also opens "solo."

Steel City Coffeehouse, 203 Bridge St., Phoenixville, 8:30 tonight, $15, $23 (with dinner entrée, served from 7 p.m.), 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com.

THE WHOLE TRUTH

Call 'em retro, if you dare, for their sin of loving well-turned (and well-sung) melodies and making lots of pop cultural references. But R&B Motion City Soundtrack, these emo- and punk-infused Minnesota rockers, will be reveling in it this weekend. Their two shows offer complete performances of all four Motion City Soundtrack albums (two per night) in chronological order.

TLA, 334 South St., 6:30 tonight and Sunday, $29.50, $50 (two-day pass), 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.

MOVING EXPERIENCE

On his newest album, "Lasers," skateboard rapper Lupe Fiasco shoots for the big radio hit, something he's largely avoided until now. Fiasco got the radio play with "The Show Goes On" and "Out of My Head," but lost favor with critics. But when it comes to getting down, who cares about all that? It's impossible not to move to "I Don't Wanna Care Right Now." Joining Fiasco at the Mann Center is Miguel, Big Sean and Tinie Tempah, the British rapper who recently made headlines for dropping $37,500 on the first pair of Nike Air MAGS, exact replicas of the shoes Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly wore in "Back to the Future II." (We're secretly hoping for a cameo from John Legend, who shows up on "Laser's" final track, "Never Forget You.")

Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave., 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, $29.50-$48.50, 215-878-0400, manncenter.org.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Sloan, the seasoned alt-rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, shares a strong bill with power pop/rockers Taylor Rocke and the Roughs - Rocke fondly recalled as guitarist of Rooney.

North Star Bar, 27th and Poplar streets, 9 p.m. tomorrow, $15, 215-787-0488, www.northstarbar.com.

THE BOYZ ARE BACK

Sessions for Boyz II Men's new album ("Twenty," due out next month) are complete, the set "just mastered," said a spokesman. Now the Boyz are back in their hometown, to deliver a special show also timed and themed to the 20th anniversary. It's happening in a relatively intimate (1,400-seat) setting, with backing by a huge orchestra. Some proceeds will benefit their new Boyz II Men House charity project.

Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 N. Broad St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $89.50, $200 (VIP, includes gift bag). Ticket holders also gain admission to a postshow party and "Twenty" listening session. 215-627-1332, www.comcastTix.com.

BENEFITS

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE

"Wings of Hope" is what they are calling the Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia's benefit concert event. Here's your chance to support a good cause - cancer research and survivor services - while enjoying an afternoon of music at the organization's recently renovated headquarters in Fairmount Park. Singer-songwriter Mike Brun, music therapist and composer Julia Haines and Mark Seaman's drumming provide the tunes. Then 100 monarch butterflies will be released in memory of loved ones lost to cancer.

Suzanna Morgan Center at Ridgeland, 4100 Chamounix Drive, 1-4 p.m. tomorrow; rain date Sunday, $25, $10 for children under 14, 215-879-7733, cancersupport-phila.org.

FAMILY

SOCK IT TO 'EM

Looking for something your kids will enjoy that won't make you want to rip out eardrums? The Dirty Sock Funtime Band performs at Sesame Place this weekend. Citing influences as diverse as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and The Muppets, these are real musicians who just happen to perform for little music-lovers.

Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, concerts held in Abby's Paradise Theater at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday, Meet and Greet available for Big Bird and Super Grover season passport members at 12:45 p.m. www.sesameplace.com.

COMEDY

SPOTLIGHTING

DAVID KOECHNER

Poor David Koechner. His "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" co-stars - that would be Paul Rudd and Steve Carell - are now leading men, but Koechner, who played the KVWN sportscaster who liked Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy a little too much, is not a man meant for stardom. He excelled in supporting roles in "Thank You For Smoking" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," and has carved a niche playing the arrogant hick. He got his showbiz start doing improv and it's that stand-up experience that brings him to Philly this weekend.

Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St., 8 and 10:30 p.m., today and tomorrow, $15, $22, 215-496-9001, heliumcomedy.com.

Chuck Darrow, Molly Eichel, Lauren McCutcheon, Ellen Gray, Danielle Miess and Jonathan Takiff contributed to this calendar.