Best Bets for April 29-May 1, 2011: Check out the Festival of the Arts, hear Jane Monheit, listen to Kinky Friedman

Jane Monheit

Here are my picks for the top 5 events in Oklahoma this weekend. For more options, go to www.wimgo.com:

1. Celebrate the arrival of spring and the visual, performing and culinary arts at the annual Festival of the Arts from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Festival Plaza, around Stage Center, on Hudson Avenue and at the revamped Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City. Information: 270-4848 or www.artscouncilokc.com.

2. Hear humorist and singer-songwriter Kinky Friedman at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.

3. Listen to retro jazz vocalist Jane Monheit sing with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. And hear the philharmonic play its “Salute to Superheroes,” a favorite program in its family-friendly Discovery series, at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org.