Ice Cream Wars, Penn State Documentary, Music: Your Weekend

1. Meet an Author Thursday. Join local author Thomas K. Tate at the Parkland Community Library in South Whitehall for a talk and book signing of his newest book General Edwin Vose Sumner, USA: A Civil War Biography on Thursday evening.  This book emphasizes General Edwin Vose Sumner’s role in developing the U.S. Army cavalry. Books will be available for purchase at the event, which starts at 7 p.m. RSVP.

2. Join the Ice Cream Wars. Visitors to the Da Vinci Science Center will be able to taste ice cream and vote for their favorites in the center's annual Ice Cream Wars, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Nine Lehigh Valley companies are competing in the colorful and popular culinary events, in which ice cream recipes are activated with liquid nitrogen.  PPL Corp. is the defending champion.

3. Strike a Pose. Join the Wildlands Conservancy in Lower Macungie a playful yoga session from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday.  "Don’t you think turtle, downward facing dog and flamingo sound like a whole lot of fun? We do," the Wildlands posted on its website. You’ll learn about the animals and then assume the poses. Bring a mat or a towel. Cost: $10/adult-child team. For more information, call 610-965-4397, Ext. 136.

4. Help preserve land in the Amazon Rainforest. Proceeds raised during a "Cut-a-Thon"—1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Suddenly Samantha hair salon in Easton—will go to a year-long fundraising campaign. Hair cuts that are normally $60 will go for $30. There will light refreshments and a DJ. The salon is at 140 Northampton St., suite E.

5. Enjoy a tribute to George Gershwin. Todd Ellison—director of the version of Annie currently on Broadway—pays tribute to George Gershwin at the State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., in Easton Saturday at 8 p.m.

6. Take in a Penn State documentary. A documentary film about life in State College in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal is getting a second screening at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. 365Days: A Year in Happy Valleys old out its first screening at the Banko on Sunday. So the theatre will show the film again this coming Sunday, Jan. 12, at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $12 each and on sale now at www.artsquest.org 610-332-3378.

7. Listen to live music, at Grumpy's Bar-B-Que Roadhouse in South Whitehall. On Friday, Jake Kaligis and the New Constitution performs. On Saturday, Primevil Atom performs. 

8. Go skiing. Upper Macungie Township carries discounted lift tickets for township residents to Bear Creek and Blue Mountain ski areas. Tickets can be picked up at Upper Macungie Township Municipal Building at 8330 Schantz Road, Breinigsville between 7:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.