Planet Weekend Picks, Jan. 20-22

Cuban jazz legend Chucho Valdés, winner of five Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards, returns to McCarter Theatre tonight at 7:30 to open his U.S. Tour. Photo courtesy of McCarter Theatre.

Friday, January 20

Seeing the Light Art Exhibit, Present Day Club –  An exhibit of paintings and photography by Meg Brinster Michael of Princeton, on view until Feb. 24. Present Day Club located at 72 Stockton Street, Opening reception 5:30-7 p.m., free.

Wine Tasting at CoolVines – Learn how to pair wine with Italian food at the Spring Street shop. 5-7 p.m., free.

Revolution in the Air: The Arab Spring and a World in Motion – The Princeton Middle East Society hosts Tariq Ali, a British Pakistani historian, novelist, journalist, and activist. Princeton University, McCormick 101, 7 p.m., free.

Chucho Valdes and the Afro-Cuban Messengers at McCarter Theatre – Latin, jazz, and classical piano with special guest is Alfredo Rodriguez. Matthews Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20-$56.

Fire: Light and Legend, with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra –  Jacques Lacombe conducts Haydn’s Fire,  Saariaho’s Notes on Light, and Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus. Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University, 8 p.m. Tickets $20-$82.

The Convert, McCarter Theater – World premiere of Danai Gurira’s new play set in the region that would become Zimbabwe circa 1895. Directed by Emily Mann. Berlind Theatre, 8 p.m. Pre-show talk in Berlind rehearsal room, 7:15 p.m. Tickets $20-$60. (Also showing Saturday at 3 and 8, Sunday at 2, with pre-show talks 45 minutes before each show.)

Saturday, January 21

Princeton Canal Walkers – Meet at Turning Basin Park on Alexander Road for a three-mile walk on the towpath. Bad weather means no walk. 10 a.m., free.

The Phoenix Woodwind Quintet visits the Princeton Public Library – The quintet performs Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf with an actor illustrating the music with masks and mime, 11 a.m., free.

Planned Parenthood Celebrates the 39th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade – Activists, staff, donors, and volunteers gather at Monument Park to commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal, 12-1 p.m.

Wine Tasting at CoolVines – Learn all about sherry at the Spring Street wine store. 2-5 p.m, free.

Peace Gathering with Peace Weavers – Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and author of “Legacy of Love: My Education in the Path of Nonviolence” will be the speaker. Princeton University Chapel, 7 p.m., $15 suggested donation.

Sarah Donner’s Indie Music Night at the Arts Council of Princeton – Anne Mironchick, Dylan Roth, Jessy Tomsko, and the Bella Birds share the stage, 7 p.m., $5 suggested donation.

Mavis Staples at McCarter Theater  – The rock and roll hall of fame artist and lead singer of the Staples Sisters performs at the Matthews Theatre. 7:30 p.m., tickets $35-$45.

Rainbow Fresh at Small World Coffee – Eclectic and characterized by members this way: “Our sound is hard to describe, but if you pictured Led Zeppelin’s little brother playing Steely Dan songs, threw in a little bit of Latin groove and Disco, you’d be close.” 8:30-10:30 p.m., free.

Sunday, January 22

Bach Cantata Fest with the Dryden Ensemble – All Bach program with Tenet vocal ensemble, Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary, 3 p.m.,  Tickets $35.

The Snitzer Quartet at the Princeton Public Library – Ensemble of Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School includes Chase Goldfinger, Beatrice Hsieh, Zachary Mowitz, and Amy Semes, 3 p.m., free.

Volanti Flute Quartet, Nassau at Four Series– The Volanti Flute Quartet with Jill Crawford, Katherine McClure, Ellen Fisher Deerberg, and Barbara Highton Williams performs works by Faure, Mendelssohn, Dorff, and Schocker. Reception follows. Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, 4 p.m., free-will offering.

The Volanti Flute Quartet performs Sunday at Nassau Presbyterian Church (l-r): Katherine McClure, Jill Crawford, Barbara Highton Williams, Ellen Fisher Deerberg.