In case you haven’t heard, Mabel Simmons (a.k.a. Madea) is coming to the Petersen Events Center Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and she’s bringing quite a few relatives and even some friends.

“Madea’s Big Happy Family”—Tyler Perry’s 12th stage play—arrives in Pittsburgh, on the second leg of a nationwide road tour. After a five-year hiatus, the Hollywood A-list star will don wig and fat-suit to portray his original, masterful creation—Madea.

TYLER PERRY AS MADEA

Perry’s signature character always delivers her own brand of wisdom in a bold and brash, hilarious fashion. In his No. 1 New York Times Bestseller: “Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings—Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries On Life and Love,” he describes the matriarch whose name is commonly translated in the south as “mother dear:”

Thursday 16

New exhibit

The August Wilson Center for African American Culture presents the “In My Father’s House” exhibit from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. This is a mixed-media exhibition of five rooms in a house with each room highlighting the way people of African descent preserve and display visual art and material culture. It also tells the story of a fictional Pittsburgh family’s hopes, dreams, struggles and triumphs. Along with the rooms are several short films. For more information, call 412-258-2700 or visit www.AugustWilsonCenter.org.

This week I visited Whim Pittsburgh in Station Square, The Melange Bristo Bar in Downtown, Pittsburgh, The Red Onion in the Hill District, The Drum Bar at the Rivers Casino on the North shore, Babylon aka The Yacht Club in the Strip District and Tim’s Bar in the Hill District.

My first stop was at the Red Onion in the Hill District where karaoke was in full effect with everyone coming out to show there skills on the microphone. People sang oldies, but goodies and the latest hits and it was a great time for everyone.

Casey Hampton fans came out in full force to wish him a happy birthday.

When the word magician is mentioned, images of David Copperfield, Criss Angel and David Blaine are instantly conjured up.

But in actuality, there are a crop of African-Americans who are holding it down in the world of illusion and sleight of hand.

JOHN HAMILTON

Some of those magicians include master illusionists John Hamilton and Kenrick “ICE” McDonald.

Hamilton was the first and only Black American in 1979 to represent the United States in the World Congress of Magic in Brussels. In 1986, Hamilton, who is originally from Cleveland, created “Magic With A Message,” a school assembly program enjoyed by over two million children of all ages.