Surf's up!

Despite his Florida roots and surfer-dude credentials, the comedic style of Daniel Tosh is more East Coast than Gulf Coast.

Motor-mouthed and hyperactive, he can be suave and geeky in the same New York minute. His nimble trash talk has made him a favorite of MTV and E!, as well as on college campuses. He's set to release his debut CD, "True Stories I Made Up," on Comedy Central Records.

Tosh, who's appeared on Letterman and Leno, thinks about things that would never occur to normal, well-adjusted people. "... If you had to eat another human being to survive," goes one of his jokes, "do you think they'd taste like their ethnic background?"

Want to hear how he weasels out of that one? Check him out at the Pittsburgh Improv, where he plays today through Sunday. Times are 8 p.m. Today, 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $16 to $18. The Pittsburgh Improv is at 166 E. Bridge St. at the Waterfront in Homestead.

Details: 412-462-5233.

-- William Loeffler

Art
Urban inspiration

On Saturday, nearly 40 local young artists will convene at the Brew House on the South Side for a daylong festival-style opening of "What It Is," an exhibition of art inspired by the current "street art" movement both here and across the country.

Beginning at 2 p.m. and continuing until 8 p.m., this free event will allow visitors to see art-making demonstrations and try their hand at several "do-it-yourself" craft projects. Visitors also can purchase works by the artists that will each be set up in their own spaces within the Space 101 gallery. Artists will sell their wares in the form of everything from handmade comic books, T-shirts, buttons and pins to gallery-style paintings and sculpture -- all inspired by the urban art that is all around us everyday.

The exhibition itself will continue through July 30 and features the work of 14 of the artists who will be at Saturday's event. The Brew House is at 21st and Mary streets on the historic South Side.

Details: 412-381-7767.

-- Kurt Shaw

Music
A night of Destiny

The title of Destiny's Child's most recent release, "Destiny Fulfilled," implies the band has reached the end of its run.

And if you look at the multi-platinum albums, the slew of awards and Beyonce Knowles' ascending solo career, it makes sense that the current tour, which hits the Mellon Arena on Wednesday, would be billed as "Destiny Fulfilled & Lovin' It."

But as for this being the last time, don't count on it. Look for the band to reunite in five to 10 years when the solo careers have petered out and nostalgia will allow premium pricing.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. show, which also features Mario, Amerie and Tyra, are $41.75 and $66.

Details: (412) 323-1919 or www.mellonarena.com.

-- Regis Behe

Rock-solid rock

Jakob Dylan, leader of The Wallflowers, says the title of the band's latest CD, "Rebel, Sweetheart," has more to do with the verb than the noun "rebel."

The singer's proclamation on www.thewallflowers.com means his fans should plan on being moved to some kind of action tonight as the band takes the Grey Rocks Amphitheatre stage at Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

Sharing the last name of his legendary father is a pressure many couldn't endure, but through The Wallflowers, Jakob Dylan has certainly made a name for himself. Critical acclaim and popularity followed the release of the 1996 single "One Headlight," and the band has continued to create solid rock records, including the latest single, "The Beautiful Side of Somewhere."

Young pop singer-songwriter Anna Nalick opens the show at 8 p.m. The 21-year-old California native's debut CD, "Wreck of the Day," features the popular single "Breathe (2 AM)."

Tickets are $21 for lawn seats and $33 for reserved seats.

Details: 866-703-7625 or www.7springs.com.

-- Lynn Kuhn

Opera
Golden opportunity

Going for the gold is the name of the game in Richard Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelungs," which will be seen onstage in Pittsburgh for the first time starting this weekend.

Opera Theater of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra have teamed up to present the first two operas of Wagner's four-opera "Ring" cycle in contemporary English composer Jonathan Dove's adaptation. The final two operas will be presented next summer. English Wagnerite Anthony Negus conducts, with staging by Jonathan Eaton.

The theft of a hoard of gold hidden underwater sets off the dramas on Friday night in "The Rheingold." The quest for love, not wealth and power, animates "The Valkyrie," being performed on Saturday night. Both operas will be performed, with a lengthy dinner intermission, on Sunday.

Performances start at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 3 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, at the Byham Theater, Downtown.

Admission: $25 to $55.

Details: (412) 394-3353 or www.proartstickets.org.

-- Mark Kanny