pick of the week: Doc Severinsen is making the most of his visit to Minneapolis this week with back-to-back shows at Orchestra Hall. First up is "Doc's Classic Play-list: A Severinsen Celebration" at 8 p.m. Friday. The onetime music director of "The Tonight Show," who also served 14 seasons as the Minnesota Orchestra's principal pops conductor, is going to be sharing stories about his classical favorites, which the orchestra will perform under conductor Osmo Vänskä. That will be followed at 8 p.m. Saturday by "Swing On! Doc's Big Band Birthday Bash," in which he'll do triple duty as trumpeter, conductor and guest of honor — not too shabby for a guy who just turned 90. (minnesotaorchestra.org)
life hack: If you check into a motel and the rest of the family beats you to the electrical outlets to plug in their various portable devices, you don't have to let your cellphone die. Remember that the TV probably has a USB port you can plug into.
Day by day: Saturday is national Hammock Day — not that we ever get tired of taking a nap on a warm summer afternoon.
recommended reading: We don't want to put words in their mouths, but hundreds of puppeteers will be gathering in the Twin Cities this week. Read about the National Puppet Festival in Wednesday's Variety.
JEFF STRICKLER • jeff.strickler@startribune.com
