Fun stuff to do this week

WEATHER — OR NOT?

After the crazy-warm winter we just had, it's obvious our climate's in flux. But what does that mean? Ice core researchers Ellen Mosley Thompson and Lonnie Thompson join a team of experts for a multimedia planetary climate tour Tuesday at the Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St. Activities begin at 5 p.m.; presentation at 7 p.m. Part of the Philadelphia Science Festival; free, but requires preregistration. philasciencefestival.org.

PUNCH & JESCA

The Punch Brothers are more likely to sing about whiskey, but we'll have whatever they're drinking if it's what sets this five-piece to strumming and harmonizing on those bluegrass-punk tunes. Jesca Hoop, who's sung backup for Peter Gabriel, opens at TLA (334 South St., livenation.com) 7 p.m. Tuesday. $29 or $19 each for a four-pack.

HEAVENS WHAT A NOISE

The intimate Act II Playhouse (56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-654-0200, act2.org) takes on its first musical with "My Fair Lady." Eileen Cella "ah-ah-aw-aw-oo-oo's" Eliza Doolittle, while newly minted Act II artistic director Tony Braithwaite (one of our favorite Philly faces) plays Professor Henry Higgins. Tuesday-June 3. $27-$41.

A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY

Princeton's Sarah Miles describes herself as "a Jersey girl with a bit of a twang," but the singer-songwriter plays it more indie than Nashville. She drops by Live From Lowes at 8 p.m. Thursday at Loews Philadelphia Hotel (12th and Market streets, 215-231-7300, loewshotels.com).

DANCE STEPS TO AFRICA

A diverse group of local dancers — including Rennie Harris RHAW, Germain Ingram and Bobby Zankel, the Cachet Ivey Performing Arts Collective and Kariamu & Company: Traditions — share African and African-influenced movement at African Dance! 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Penn Museum, 3260 South St., 215-898-4000, www.penn.museum. Free with museum admission.

PLAY THINGS

Check out some local playwrights' progress during the Philadelphia Playwrights Showcase at Plays & Players (1714 Delancey Place, 800-595-4TIX, playsandplayers.org). Jeremy Gable, Brian Grace-Duff and Jeff Stanley are the artists in residence whose work will be read. 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, $12.

— Compiled by Daily News staff