Events to make a memorable Memorial Day

IF MEMORIAL DAY, the unofficial start to Philly's summer, is all about remembering, then why do so many of us forget to plan for the long weekend? No worries if you haven't made a single reservation, packed a picnic basket or marked your calendar.

We've got you covered.

The possibilities we're laying out for your consideration include visits to the city's least-explored spaces, a funky (and free) Pakistani jazz concert, stand-up by some of your favorite "SNL" alums, patriotic karaoke, fireworks and a checklist of fun stuff to do downashore, should you choose to make your way to the ocean.

Of course, Memorial Day is really about honoring our nation's heroes. So, if you do nothing else this weekend, when you see a member of our military or a vet, do us a solid, and give 'em a smile.

FAMILY

The Amistad

The schooner named for the movie offers daily deck tours, starting today, and two-hour Delaware sails, tomorrow through Tuesday. The 129-foot Baltimore Clipper was built circa 2000, but she still holds plenty of stories that reinforce the Seaport Museum's current exhibit, "Tides of Freedom, African Presence on the Delaware River."

Independence Seaport Museum, Walnut Street and Columbus Boulevard, various times through Wednesday, deck tours $12-$15, river sails $35-$65, 215-413-8655, phillyseaport.org.

National Constitution Center

Extended hours, admission discounts and special events - including "Patriotic Karaoke" - mark the NCC's long-weekend celebration. Don't miss make-and-take crafts (including poppy pins, a symbol of Memorial Day), a flag-etiquette workshop, giant flag folding and an interactive program about U.S. memorials.

National Constitution Center, 5th and Arch streets, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. tomorrow, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, $8-$14.50 (free to active military and kids under 3), constitutioncenter.org.

Garden Railway

Please everyone in the fam with Morris Arboretum's quarter-mile of meticulously planted railway track and the train that runs through it. This year, the garden line features a dozen mini architectural marvels, from the Great Wall to Machu Picchu. Opening party with free ice cream is tomorrow, 1-3 p.m. (The Big Bugs exhibit's still there, too.)

Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through September 2, $7-$16, 215-247-5777, morrisarboretum.org.

Camden Riversharks

The Riversharks game starts early - so the kids can catch the postgame fireworks without missing their bedtime.

Campbell's Field, 401 N. Delaware Avenue, Camden, 5:35 p.m. Monday, (buy online and enter promo code MEMORIAL for $5 tickets), 866-SHARKS9, riversharks.com.

ART

Hidden City Festival

Philly's full of crazy-beautiful empty buildings. And this kinda world-famous event opens them up and lets artists in to have at it. The result: stunning transformation, including a South Philly synagogue, Fairmount Park's old Kelly Natorium and Globe Dye Works. There are nine spaces and 10 projects to explore over the next six weeks.

Various locations, through June 30, $20 (for a one-day pass), $70 (for all-festival), hiddencityphila.org.

MUSIC

Philadelphia Orchestra

Yannick Nezet-Seguin leads the Orchestra's season finale in three Dvorak Slavonic Dances, Janacek's explosive Sinfonietta and the majestic Brahms Violin Concerto, with Gil Shaham as soloist.

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 2 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday, $42-$116 (seats extremely limited), 215-893-1999, philorch.org.

Girls Girls Girls

+ Motley Crue

Want a new take on some thunderous metal-clad tunes? Consider Girls Girls Girls, an all-female Crue tribute Band. Even weirder, at least on paper, is the co-billed High Five and Tragedy, an all-clad-in-metal tribute to the Bee Gees.

Not willing to accept substitutes? Go cruisin' for a bruisin as the not-so-gracefully aging real Crue plays AC tomorrow.

Girls: TLA, 334 South St., 9 p.m. tonight, $10, 800-745-3000, livenation.com. Crue: Mark Etess Arena, Trump Taj Mahal, Boardwalk at Virginia Avenue,Atlantic City, 8 p.m. $69.50-$149.50, tomorrow, 800-736-1420, ticketmaster.com.

The Thermals

Portland trio aims to rouse the rebel-rebel in you with their danceable punk rock. Hop Along and Cayetana kick butt, too.

Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8:30 p.m. tomorrow, $15 (all ages), 215-232-2100, utphilly.com.

Brooklyn Qawwali Party

You know it's summer when 40th Street kicks off its Summer Series. First up: This thumping, pumping, hip-bumping brass band that jazzes up 700-year-old Pakistani Sufi music. Prepare to sweat.

Behind Walnut Street Free Library, 40th and Walnut streets, 6 p.m. tomorrow, free, 215-243-0555, universitycity.org.

Prince Royce

Sugar-voiced contemporizer of the heart-tugging, shoulder-swaying, bongo beat Latin-pop style called bachata hopes you'll "Stand by Me" and "Rock the Pants." This Bronx-born Royal headlines the El Zol Fest.

Festival Pier, Columbus Boulevard at Spring Garden Street, 7 p.m. tomorrow, $32.50-$35, 800-745-3000, livenation.com.

Bio Ritmo

Cha-cha and merengue the night away with these lively, funny exponents of danceable Afro-Cuban and Latin styles. It's salsa (and more) peppered with swaggering horns, dancing piano pyrotechnics, snappy timbales and cheery, keening voices. DJ Bongo Head warms up the show.

Upstairs at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 9 p.m. tomorrow, $13-$16 (all ages), 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

The Wailers

More than 30 years after the death of reggae deity Bob Marley, his spirit and music live on with The Wailers, a version of the band that backed him during most of his groundbreaking career.

Sands Event Center, 77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem, 5 p.m. Monday, free admission, 800-745-3000, pasands.com.

Dudu Fisher

Israeli singer, PBS-special star and portrayer of Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" serves up "In Concert For Israel." The Hebrew/English language songathon is equally indebted to folk music, his cantorial roots, Broadway and the Bee Gees.

Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday $38-$78, 215-572-7650, keswicktheatre.com.

Filligar

The Mathias brothers - Johnny, Pete and Teddy - and their good buddy Casey Gibson crank out a jovial down-home rock that's winning favorable comparisons to Kings of Leon and Wilco. With The 4onthefloor, Something like a Monument and Mo Lowda and the Humble.

Northstar Bar, 27th and Poplar streets, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $8-$10, 215-787-0488, northstarbar.com.

ON STAGE

Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon

They may have a shared background as "Saturday Night Live" cast members, but stylistically these three funny guys have little in common. Carvey likes to engage in celebrity mimicry, Nealon is a more of an observational comic and Miller is a political gadfly with a distinct conservative bent.

Tropicana Atlantic City, Boardwalk at Brighton Avenue, 9 p.m. tonight, $85-$250 (includes meet-and-greet), 800-736-1420, ticketmaster.com.

- Compiled by Chuck Darrow, Tom Di Nardo, Lauren McCutcheon and Jonathan Takiff