Thursday, May 30
HOT TICKET: Heaven and Hell (On Earth)/The Seven (Deadly Sins) is a regional premiere of a play that puts a new spin on the eternal themes of damnation and salvation. Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. 8 p.m. May 29-June 1, with a 2 p.m. matinee June 2. $10. 513-421-3555 or www.cincyetc.com.
HOT SPOT: The 2002 Mobile Skatepark Series highlights extreme sports. Sawyer Point Park, Downtown on the riverfront. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, May 25-June 2 (closes at 4 p.m. Wednesday). Free. 513-345-3054.
On a related note, you can also check out Ultimate X, an IMAX documentary about extreme sports showing in rotation with The Matrix, Beauty & the Beast and Into the Deep. Firstar IMAX 3-D Theatre, Newport on the Levee, Newport. $9, $8 kids 3-11. 859-491-4629. Four days of fun begins at Milford's Frontier Days, which features frog jumping, pony rides, music (Six Pac headlines on Saturday), crafts and food. 111 Race St., Milford. 5-11 p.m. May 30-31, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. June 1, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. June 2. Free. 513-831-2411.
Friday, May 31
HOT TICKET: The Beard of Avon take audiences on a journey to discover the true identity of the author of Shakespeare's plays. Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, 719 Race St., Downtown. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through June 2. $20 adults, $15 students and seniors. 513-381-2273 or www.cincyshakes.com.
HOT SPOT: UC Spanish professor Susan Durst opens her show The New Latino Immigrant Community in Lower Price Hill, designed to help Cincinnatians learn about their Spanish-speaking neighbors. Also opening: Photos of Over-the-Rhine by Jimmy Heath. Base Gallery, 1225 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. Through June 23. 513-721-2273.
Saturday, June 1
HOT TICKET: Time for Coney Island's moment of frame -- Summerfair, the annual artistic extravaganza which imports 300 painters, artisans and craftmakers from around the country. Artworks on sale at the festival range from paintings, drawings and photography to ceramics, jewelry and woodworking. All entrants were selected by a jury of judges from a field of 900 applicants. There's food and live music, as well, with Elaine & the Biscaynes, the Uncle Dirty Band, Robin Lacy & DeZydeco, Wild Carrot, Gwendolyn Speaks, April Aloisio Trio, Venus Mission, Fred Steffen, Raison D'Etre and others. Other entertainment includes strolling mimes, jugglers, magicians, clowns, banjo players and barbershop quartets. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. 2-8 p.m. May 31, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. June 1 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 2. Admission is $7 for adults, children 12 and under free. 513-531-0050 or www.summerfair.org.
HOT SPOT: One of the nation's largest free festivals for children, the 24th annual Meijer Kids' Fest, features two stages with live entertainment, free activities, Frisbee dog shows, inflatable games and more. Sawyer Point Park, Downtown on the riverfront. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 1-2. Free. 513-621-9326.
Sunday, June 2
HOT TICKET: Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati celebrates Broadway's Tony Awards by hosting a live broadcast dinner party as a fund-raiser. East Club Room, Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown. 5:30 p.m. $25. 513-421-3555.
HOT SPOT: The Blue Ash Summerbration fest stars headliners such as Pablo Cruise, Eddie Money and the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Blue Ash Towne Square, Downtown Blue Ash. All day and evening May 31-June 2. Free. 513-745-8550.
Celtic Heritage Day features bands such as Murphy's Law, storytelling by Sandy Messerly, re-enactments by Clan Desdin and dancing by the McGing Irish Dancers. Miami Whitewater Forest Harbor, I-74 at Dry Fork Road, Harrison. 1-8 p.m. Free. 513-521-PARK.
Monday, June 3
HOT TICKET: Frogs! is a ribbiting 5,500-square-foot exhibition devoted to the weird frogs of the world. From tiny poisonous dart frogs to African claw frogs, just about every toad and salamander is represented. Cincinnati Zoo, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, through Sept. 2. $11.50 adults, $9 seniors, $6 children 2 to 12. 513-281-4700 or www.cincinnatizoo.org.
HOT SPOT: One of Cincinnati's newest theme parks (of sorts), WonderPark, opens with a two-story indoor roller coaster. The family entertainment center features a rainforest theme and 100 video arcade games, amusement rides and more, geared to children 2 to 12. WonderPark, Forest Fair Mall, Forest Park. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Free. (Individual rides priced $1 to $2 per ride.) 513-671-0100.
Tuesday, June 4
HOT TICKET: Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth, former Van Halen lead singers, perform in one of the summer's weirder, yet interesting tours. Riverbend Music Center, I-275 at Kellogg Ave., Anderson Twp. 7 p.m. $26-$55. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the big band music of the Smittie Orchestra. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, June 5
HOT TICKET: If you couldn't get tickets to the Dave Matthews gig at Riverbend, try the Dave Matthews Cover Band. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. 8:30 p.m. $8. 513-872-8801.
HOT SPOT: Absolute performs at Party in the Park. Yeatman's Cove at Sawyer Point, downtown on the riverfront. 5:30 p.m. Free. 513-579-3191 or www.party-in-the-park.com.
Thursday, June 6
HOT TICKET: LeSourdsville Lake, the former Americana amusement park, opens with a $3-million facelift, including new attractions such as a fun house, a swinging pirate ship and a water sports area anchored by an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a children's pool. (See "Amusing Comeback" on page 28 for details.) LeSourdsville Lake: The Great American Amusement Park, 5757 Middletown-Hamilton Road, Middletown. Noon-10 p.m. Thursdays, noon-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and noon-9 p.m. Sundays, through Labor Day, then Friday-Sunday through the end of September. $2.95 (seniors over 60 and children 4 and under are admitted free), with a pay-as-you-play policy (generally, $1 per ride). An all-you-can-ride ticket is available for $14.95 ($9.95 after 4 p.m.) 513-539-2193. Call ahead to confirm this opening date.
HOT SPOT: Other Bodies opens at the Speed Art Museum, joining contemporary works from the museum's permanent collection with local private collections and regional artists. Bodies features a variety of media such as painting, sculpture, photography and video. 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Free. 2035 S. Third St., Louisville. 502-634-2700.
Friday, June 7
HOT TICKET: Cincinnati native Gail Collins, editor of The New York Times editorial page, speaks at the Society of Professional Journalists' awards banquet. Millennium Hotel, Sixth & Race streets, Downtown. 7 p.m. $50. 513-621-6665 or www.cincinnati-spj.org.
The Bluegrass on the River festival features Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers, the Lynn Morris Band, Skinny Lynyrd and more. On the riverfront in Madison, Ind., all evening June 7 and 8. $7 each day, $10 for two days. 800-559-2956.
HOT SPOT: Check out "First Weekend in Rising Sun," a collection of art exhibits, live music and extended shopping hours. There's an artists reception and awards presented by CityBeat's own Rick Pender at 6 p.m. 6-9 p.m. June 7 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 8. Downtown Rising Sun, Ind. Free. 888-776-4786 or www.enjoyrisingsun.com.
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A Batik on linen by Arnelle Dow, one of the thousands
of artistic items on veiw at Summerfair May 31-June
2.
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Saturday, June 8
HOT TICKET: Bears opens at the Omnimax Theater, exploring the most misunderstood predators on the planet. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Varying screening times, through Oct. 11. $6.75. 513-287-7000 or www.cincymuseum.org.
Blue Ash Airport Days promises two days of aerial stunt flying, airplane and helicopter rides, skydiving and the like. The Red Barons, a flying daredevil act, headlines the show. Blue Ash Airport, 4273 Glendale-Milford Road, Blue Ash. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 8-9. $5, children 12 and under free. 513-981-7179 or www.airportdays.com.
HOT SPOT: The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra presents a free concert, "Classical Roots/Spiritual Heights: Linking Cultures Through Music." St. Francis Seraph Church, 1615 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. 3 p.m. Free. 513-381-3300 or www.cincinnatisymphony.org.
Sunday, June 9
HOT TICKET: Concours d'Elegance, a rare car show, motors into Ault Park. The annual auto show revels in rare and exotic cars. Ault Park, Observatory Avenue, Mount Lookout. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $15, $5 children. 513-271-4545.
Sprawl, an installation by a group of international artists, closes today at the CAC, so this is your last chance. Contemporary Arts Center, 115 E. Fifth St., Downtown. Noon-5 p.m. Sundays. $3.50, $2 students and seniors, children under 12 free. 513-721-0390 or www.spiral.org.
HOT SPOT: "Sundays on the Square" is downtown Cincinnati's new summer-long promotion, offering live entertainment, food, street performers and more on Fountain Square. Check out the Folk duo Wild Carrot today at noon-1 p.m. Fountain Square, Downtown. Free. 513-241-TOWN or www.gototown.com.
Monday, June 10
HOT TICKET: Check out Homearama, a collection of designer homes. Buena Vista Drive, South Lebanon. 4-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, through June 23. $8. 513-851-6300.
HOT SPOT: The Art Academy of Cincinnati holds its Community Education Faculty/Student Exhibit, which blurs the line between students and professors by displaying students' work that faculty actually chose to showcase with their own. This show combines all kinds of media, including drawing, painting, watercolor, sculpture, computer media, glass and photography. Opening reception: 3-6 p.m. Free. EXO Gallery, second floor, 1125 St. Gregory, Mount Adams. 513-562-8777.
Tuesday, June 11
HOT TICKET: The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra presents "Bach & Beyond: A Series of Great Music for Small Orchestra." Corbett Auditorium, University of Cincinnati campus, Clifton Heights. 7:30 p.m. $30. 513-381-3300 or www.cincinnatisymphony.org.
HOT SPOT: The Cincinnati Park Board presents its annual "Acoustic Lunch at Piatt Park" series of downtown lunch concerts. Today it's Wild Carrot. Piatt Park, Garfield Place and Vine Street, Downtown. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. 513-731-9111.
Wednesday, June 12
HOT TICKET: Call it "The Sound of Mucus." The science exhibit Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body explores the good, bad and often downright yucky ways your body works. Yep, all things stinky, crusty, oozy and scaly are addressed. Animatronics and imaginative exhibits jump from runny noses to extreme B.O. (See To Do on page 25.) Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 8. $6.75 adults, $5.75 seniors, $4.75 children 3-12, $3.75 children 1-2. 513-287-7000 or www.cincymuseum.org.
HOT SPOT: Be original. Grab a Bud and get down with The Generics at Q102's Bud Party at Sawyer Point. 5:30-10 p.m. Free. P&G Pavilion, Downtown on the Riverfront. 513-699-5026.
Thursday, June 13
HOT TICKET: The Showbiz Players kick off their liberating production of The Civil War, a theatrical concert based on letters written by soldiers, Lincoln and Douglas' speeches and Whitman's poetry. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through June 23. $12, $10 students and seniors. The Salerno Theatre, 711 E. Columbia Ave., Reading. 513-981-7888.
HOT SPOT: That's amore! Pancetta, mascarpone, cannoli, tiramisu ... if any of these words begins to make your mouth water, head immediately to the Newport Italianfest, the region's largest food and music festival devoted to Italy. Highlights include a celebrity pizza-tossing contest, cooking contest, opera performances, an Italian Navy Boat Parade, and even Rozzi fireworks. Restaurants such as Pompilio's, Beppo's, Sorrento's and more serve up their specialities. Riverboat Row on the riverfront, Newport. 5:30-10 p.m. June 13, 5:30-11 p.m. June 14, noon-11 p.m. June 15 and noon-9 p.m. June 16. Free. 859-292-3666 or www.cityofnewportky.org.
Friday, June 14
HOT TICKET: Last chance to see Play Ball at ShadowBox Cabaret, satirizing the worlds of professional baseball, wrestling, bowling and more. Shadowbox Cabaret, Newport on the Levee, Newport. 8 p.m. Fridays, 8 and 11 p.m. Saturdays and 7 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, through June 15. $20-$25, $10 students and seniors. 859-581-7625.
The Bentwood Rockers perform at the Moonlite Garden Parties series. Moonlite Pavilion, Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Twp. 8 p.m. $6. 513-458-3115.
HOT SPOT: The folk band Raison D'Etre, named "Best Raison in the Sun" this year by CityBeat for their outdoor summer fest performances, go inside. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Norwood. 8 p.m. Free. 513-396-8960.
Saturday, June 15
HOT TICKET: The Know Theatre Tribe offers the local premiere of the Reduced Shakespeare Co.'s newest play, The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged). (See "Packing It in" on page 9.) The play will also be part of the Playhouse's 2002-03 season. Gabriel's Corner, 1425 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through June 29. $12, $10 students and seniors. 513-300-KNOW.
HOT SPOT: The Juneteenth Festival celebrates the end of slavery. Music begins at 1 p.m. on two stages, with a dozen Gospel, Blues, R&B and Pop bands. The Delphonics perform at 8 p.m. A children's area features games, crafts and face painting. Mirror Lake and Seasongood Pavilion, Eden Park. Noon-9 p.m. Free. 513-631-7289.
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra opens its "Summer Series in Devou" with "You're a Grand Old Flag," a Flag Day salute featuring patriotic favorites. Devou Park Amphiteatre, Covington. 7:30 p.m. Free. 859-431-6216 or www.kyso.org.
Sunday, June 16
HOT TICKET: Legendary British singer-songwriter Richard Thompson brings his solo acoustic tour to town. 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley. 8 p.m. $30. 513-351-5500.
HOT SPOT: Pig out at the new Rib America Festival, which offers "master grilling teams" from across the U.S. serving up award-winning barbecue. There's also a strong musical lineup that includes Gin Blossoms, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, North Mississippi All Stars, Smithereens and Cheap Trick. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band closes out the event on Sunday afternoon. Setting up on the unused ex-Nordstrom lot, Fifth and Race streets, Downtown. Opens at 11 a.m. June 13-16, with bands playing into the late evening. Free before 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and all day Sunday; $5 after 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and all day Saturday. www.ribamerica.com.
Monday, June 17
HOT TICKET: More than 75 sharks are featured in the continuing exhibit Guardians of the Deep: A Shark Encounter. The aquarium's clear acrylic tunnels allow you to visit nose to snout with the sandtigers, sandbars, nurse sharks, hammerheads, catsharks and more. Newport Aquarium, Newport on the Levee, Newport. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, through winter. $15.95, $13.95 seniors, $9.95 children 3-12. 859-261-7444 or www.newport aquarium.com.
HOT SPOT: Already got the summertime blahs? Get a little Whimsy, specifically, Whimsy III, the Miller Gallery's third show attempting to bring some spice to your life. C.F. Payne, Jay Schmetz and Fay Sciarra delight viewers with their sometimes off-beat eye. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. Free. 2715 Erie Ave., Hyde Park. 513-871-4420.
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Photo By Terry Brueneman
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(L-r) Matthew Pyle, Jon Schwartz and Adam
Ziemkiewicz reduce some famous stories in The
Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged)
presented by The Know Theatre Tribe June 13-29.
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Tuesday, June 18
HOT TICKET: For the 35th time, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band perform in Cincinnati. Some 650,000 local Parrotheads have flocked to Buffett's concerts over the years, making him the most popular Riverbend act ever. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 8 p.m. $30-$59.50. 513-562-4949.
For the first time, Major League Baseball has mixed up the interleague play schedule and the Reds will see new faces at Cinergy Field, beginning tonight with the Seattle Mariners, followed by the Oakland A's. Cinergy Field, Downtown. 7:10 p.m. $5-$32. 513-381-REDS.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the country band Six Pac. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, June 19
HOT TICKET: Treasures from the Taft showcases 90 rare artworks collected by the Taft family over generations: Qing Dynasty porcelains, Limoges enamels of the French Renaissance and notable European paintings such as Thomas Gainsborough's "Edward and William Tomkinson" and James A. McNeill Whistler's "At the Piano." Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, noon-6 p.m. Sundays. $5, $4 for seniors and students, children under 17 free. 513-721-5204 or www.cincinnati artmuseum.org.
HOT SPOT: Admiral Walker performs at Party in the Park. Yeatman's Cove at Sawyer Point, Downtown on the riverfront. 5:30 p.m. Free. 513-579-3191 or www.party-in-the-park.com.
Thursday, June 20
HOT TICKET: Romeo & Juliet opens the Cincinnati Opera's annual summer festival. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 8 p.m. June 20, 22, 28. $12-$90. 513-241-2742 or www.cincinnatiopera.com.
The Broadway in Cincinnati series presents The Music Man. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Sundays, with 2 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays, June 20-22, 28. $35-$58. 800-294-1816.
HOT SPOT: Kay Muir doesn't have a favorite color. Acutally, she does. Any Color, So Long As It's Red, her latest, retrospective painting exhibit, has been hanging since June 14. What's taking you so long? 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Free. Through July 3. Art Academy of Cincinnati, Chidlaw Gallery, 1125 St. Gregory, Mount Adams. 513-562-8777.
Friday, June 21
HOT TICKET: Join Cracker for a crackin' good night of Rock & Roll. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. 8:30 p.m. $12.50. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The Silverton Concert in the Park Series features local Latin luminaries Tropicoso. Ficke Park, 7451 Montgomery Road, Silverton. 7 p.m. Free. 513-936-6240.
Saturday, June 22
HOT TICKET: Ecovention: The Power of Art to Impact the Environment opens at the CAC, along with a second show, Evocations: Sharon Ellis. (See "Environmentally Friendly" on page 10.) Contemporary Arts Center, 115 E. Fifth St., Downtown. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, through Aug. 18. $3.50, $2 students and seniors, children under 12 free. 513-721-0390 or www.spiral.org.
HOT SPOT: "Goettafest" convenes at Covington's MainStrasse Village to celebrate the unique Cincinnati foodstuff that's produced nowhere else in America. Look for every possible incarnation here: goetta omelets, goetta pizzas, goetta hoagies, even a goetta taco. MainStrasse Village's Goebel Park, Covington. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. June 22-23. Free. 859-491-0458 or www.goetta.com.
Sunday, June 23
HOT TICKET: Last chance to check out the annual Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory, featuring hundreds of North American and tropical butterflies against the backdrop of lush indoor gardens. Krohn Conservatory, Eden Park. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, through June 23. $5, $4 seniors, $3 children 5-17. 513-421-5707.
HOT TICKET: Tour the Miller-Wessel House and White Water Shaker Village. Presented by the Cincinnati Preservation Association. 2-5 p.m. CPA members free; non-members $5. Meet at the Miller-Wessel House at 11294 U.S. Route 50, Elizabethtown. 513-721-4506.
Monday, June 24
HOT TICKET: The WEBN Lunatic Fringe Fest features Nickelback, Jerry Cantrell, Default and more. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 3 p.m. $25.25-$32.75. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The Main Public Library wants to increase the peace. Picture Books for Peace and Tolerance, the exhibit of international picture books, makes its way to Cincinnati. Check it out with friends, family or strangers until July 5 in the Main Library Atrium. Free. 800 Vine St., Downtown. 513-369-6959.
Tuesday, June 25
HOT TICKET: The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra presents "Bach & Beyond: A Series of Great Music for Small Orchestra." Corbett Auditorium, University of Cincinnati campus, Clifton Heights. 7:30 p.m. $30. 513-381-3300 or www.cincinnatisymphony.org.
HOT SPOT: The Cincinnati Park Board's annual "Acoustic Lunch at Piatt Park" series presents Good to Go. Piatt Park, Garfield Place and Vine Street, Downtown. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. 513-731-9111.
Wednesday, June 26
HOT TICKET: Check out GameWorks, a 25,000-square-foot entertainment complex that sports hundreds of interactive games and virtual reality mind-benders. The facility features racing in miniature Indy 500 and NASCAR vehicles, old-fashioned midway games such as Skee-ball, karaoke singing, a Las Vegas-style "Wheel of Fortune," a "Jurassic Park" interactive challenge, electronic and video sports and more. There's also plenty of food and drink: GameWorks is part of the final phase of openings at the new shopping/entertainment complex Newport on the Levee, situated next to the Newport Aquarium. Also new and nearby are the Empire Night Club, Brio Tuscan Grille and Claddagh Irish Pub. GameWorks hours are 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-midnight Sundays-Wednesdays. Open to all ages until 10 p.m.; 18 and older after 10 p.m. Games priced individually. 859-581-7529.
HOT SPOT: The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra presents a free "Concert on the Green," featuring the work of Elton John and the Beatles. Union Central Life Insurance Headquarters, Forest Park. 8 p.m. Free. 513-381-3300.
Thursday, June 27
HOT TICKET: Trek up to Dayton for the Indigo Girls' only local appearance this summer. Norah Jones opens. Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Drive, Dayton, Ohio. 8 p.m. $20-$30. 937-296-3300.
HOT SPOT: The Rev. Billy Graham brings his traveling crusade to Cincinnati for the first time in 25 years. Approximately 750 Tristate churches are participating in the event, supplying 20,000 choir members. Bengals Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz is local chairperson for the mission, which expects to attract 200,000. Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown on the riverfront. June 27-30. Free (donations accepted). 513-381-7337.
Friday, June 28
HOT TICKET: The Marriage of Figaro at the Cincinnati Opera's summer festival. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 8 p.m. June 27 and 29. $12-$90. 513-241-2742 or www.cincinnatiopera.com.
HOT SPOT: The Concerts on Towne Square series presents the oldies rock band Hot Wax. Blue Ash Towne Square, Hunt and Cooper roads, Blue Ash. 8 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
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Photo By Doug Trapp
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Guided By Voices say, “Summer is the No. 1 season,”
and play Bogart’s on July 6.
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Saturday, June 29
HOT TICKET: Pita the fool who misses this culinary delight. The 28th annual Panegyri Greek Festival serves up lots of those great American gyros, plus souvlaki, spanakopitas, roast leg of lamb, dolmades, moussaka and Mediterranean pizza. Greek music and dancing abounds, too. Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 7000 Winton Road, Finneytown. 5 p.m.-midnight June 28, 3 p.m.-midnight June 29 and 1-9 p.m. June 30. $1 adults, children 12 and under free. 513-591-0030 or www.panegyri.com.
HOT SPOT: The "Saturday Night in the Park" concert series features Penny and the Loafers, a tribute band celebrating the girl groups of the 1950s. Winton Woods Harbor Pavilion, Winton Woods Park, Forest Park. 7 p.m. Free. 513-521-7275.
Sunday, June 30
HOT TICKET: Last night to catch Chagrin Falls at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. It's a haunting look at capital punishment through the eyes of a town where the primary employers are a slaughterhouse and a prison that carries out the death penalty. Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, 719 Race St.,Downtown. 2 p.m. $20 adults; $15 students and seniors. 513-381-2273 or www.cincyshakes.com.
HOT SPOT: The Hamilton County Park District concert series features the oldies band Four on the Floor. Miami Whitewater Forest, I-74 at Dry Fork Road, Harrison. 7 p.m. Free. 513-521-7275.
Monday, July 1
HOT TICKET: The Cincinnati History Museum is showing off Cincinnati in Motion, a massive model of the city of Cincinnati circa the last century. The miniature city comes complete with working trains, inclines and trolleys -- hence the "in motion" moniker. The Carew Tower, the city's tallest skyscraper, is seven feet tall in this diminutive display, to give you some sense of the scale involved in what's touted as the largest urban model layout in the United States. Cincinnati History Museum, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. $6.75 adults, $5.75 seniors, $4.75 children 3-12. 513-287-7000 or www.cincymuseum.org.
HOT SPOT: Show off your Xanaduesque moves at Sawyer Point. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; 3-8 p.m. Free. Downtown on the Riverfront. 513-352-6316.
Tuesday, July 2
HOT TICKET: Wingfield Unbound, a one-man show by Rod Beattie, opens the Playhouse's summer season. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Eden Park. 8 p.m. Fridays, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, through July 14. $24-$35. 513-421-3888 or www.cincyplay.com.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the big band music of the Cincinnati Brass Band. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, July 3
HOT TICKET: The third annual Balloon Glow is followed by a performance from the U.S. Air Force Band and fireworks. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. 8 p.m. (fireworks at 10). $16.95 for a pass to both Sunlite Pool and rides, children ages 4-11 $14.95, seniors $12.95. After 4 p.m., prices are discounted to $7.95. 513-232-6701.
HOT SPOT: Spiff performs at Party in the Park. Yeatman's Cove at Sawyer Point, downtown on the riverfront. 5:30 p.m. Free. 513-579-3191 or www.party-in-the-park.com.
Thursday, July 4
HOT TICKET: John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops welcome the United States Army Field Band and Chorus for "America the Beautiful." Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 7 p.m. $17 all seats (children 12 and under admitted free to the lawn). 513-381-3300 or www.cincinnatipops.org.
HOT SPOT: The All-American Birthday Party features fireworks, rock climbing wall, bungee trampoline and a Frisbee dog show. A Rozzi fireworks show completes the evening. Bicentennial Commons Park, along the riverfront Downtown. 3-11 p.m. (fireworks at 10). Free. 513-621-9326 or www.wofx.com.
Friday, July 5
HOT TICKET: The "Hot Summer Nights" series presents Violet, a play about an emotional journey a woman takes to see an evangelist, and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, a play about Blues legend Billie Holliday. College-Conservatory of Music's Corbett Auditorium, University of Cincinnati campus, Clifton Heights. 8 p.m. on selected nights, with selected weekend matinees, through Aug. 16. $60 for the HSN series. 513-556-4183.
HOT SPOT: The Concerts on Towne Square series presents the '70s Classic Rock band Blue Stone Ivory. Blue Ash Towne Square, Hunt and Cooper roads, Blue Ash. 8 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Saturday, July 6
HOT TICKET: Lo-fi heroes Guided by Voices return, and they've gone big time with a date at Bogart's. One of Cincinnati's best Garage Rock bands, The Greenhornes, open. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. 8:30 p.m. $15. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The best things in life are free, which is why each weekend Cincinnati Museum Center docents give free Rotunda tours. Check out the intricate, world-famous mosaics. Presented by the Southwest Ohio Heritage Association. Noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Saturdays; 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Sundays. Cincinnati Museum Center Rotunda, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. 513-345-2658.
Sunday, July 7
HOT TICKET: The "Hot Summer Nights" series presents We Tell the Story, a musical revue of such Tony winners as Seussical and My Favorite Year. College-Conservatory of Music's Corbett Auditorium, University of Cincinnati campus, Clifton Heights. 8 p.m. on selected nights, with selected weekend matinees, through Aug. 15. $60 for the HSN series. 513-556-4183.
HOT SPOT: The Victoria Theatre Association's "Hot Times ... Cool Films Series" get even hotter with The Harvey Girls, followed by a free organ concert and a classic Warner Bros. cartoon. And if that's not enough, there's also free popcorn and soda in the lobby. 3 p.m. $4 for film. 138 N. Main St., Dayton, Ohio. 937-228-3630.
Monday, July 8
HOT TICKET: Raid a tomb, pal around with Lara Croft and generally battle the powers of evil inside Paramount's Kings Island's new theme ride, "Tomb Raider." The multi-sensory adventure is set up as a journey into a foreboding ancient temple. Paramount's Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. $41.99, $24.99 for seniors and children 3-6. 513-754-5700.
HOT SPOT: Tropicoso stirs it up at the Mad Frog, mon. 10 p.m. No cover. Corner of Vine Street and McMillan, Corryville. 513-784-9119.
Tuesday, July 9
HOT TICKET: The "Down From the Mountain" concert tour features music inspired by the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and include performances by Alison Krauss & Union Station, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, Norman and Nancy Blake, the Del McCoury Band and other Bluegrass legends. Firstar Center, Broadway at Pete Rose Way, Downtown. 7:30 p.m. $29-$49. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the Simon Winds Concert Band. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
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Tropicoso are one of the busiest local bands this
summer: Check out June 21, July 25 and Monday
Nights at the Mad Frog.
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Wednesday, July 10
HOT TICKET: The Reducers, a roller-coaster ride through world literature, continues the Playhouse's summer season. (See "Packing It in" on page 9.) Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Eden Park. 8 p.m. Fridays, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, through July 28. $30. 513-421-3888 or www.cincyplay.com.
HOT SPOT: The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra presents a free "Classical Roots/Spiritual Heights: Linking Cultures Through Music." Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church, 9991 Wayne Ave., Lincoln Heights. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-381-3300.
Thursday, July 11
HOT TICKET: Native American Folk singer Bill Miller kicks off the Coffee Cup Concert Series at Behringer-Crawford Museum in Devou Park, Covington. 8 p.m. $10 for first admission (includes coffee cup, which gets you half off other tickets in series). 859-491-4003.
An extraordinary production (in English) of Dead Man Walking continues the Cincinnati Opera's summer festival. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 8 p.m. July 11, 13, 19. $12-$90. 513-241-2742 or www.cincinnatiopera.com.
HOT SPOT: Oh, how you wonder what they are. The Cincinnati Observatory Center offers public stargazing through their telescopes with an astronomy lecture to accompany. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. $4 adults, $2 children. 3489 Observatory Place, off Observatory Avenue, Mount Lookout. Call for reservations: 513-321-5186.
Friday, July 12
HOT TICKET: Don't know much about boycotts... If you're still bumming that Smokey Robinson cancelled his Cincinnati date a few months ago due to the boycott, head up to Dayton for his show. Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Drive, Dayton, Ohio. 8 p.m. $20-$32. 937-296-3300.
HOT SPOT: The Queen City Balladeers with the Cincinnati Park Board present the annual Edensong Folk Concert Series at Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park. Tonight is the first of four consecutive Friday night shows that will feature local bands such as Dave Wolfenberger, Silver Arm, Sweet Funk, Chris Collier and Jake Speed. Seasongood Pavilion, Eden Park. 8 p.m. Free. 513-321-8375 or www.qcballadeers.org.
Saturday, July 13
HOT TICKET: Find out if Tom Hanks can play a convincing bad guy for once when his new film, Road to Perdition, opens this weekend. Hanks is supposed to be a 1930s hit man. Ouch! We hear he sports a bitchin' moustache, too.
HOT SPOT: The 86th annual St. Rita Fest -- one of the largest summer festivals in Cincinnati -- kicks off with more than 100 booths and games. The fest is particularly famous for its turtle soup and funnel cakes. St. Rita School for the Deaf, 1720 Glendale-Milford Road, Evendale. 7 p.m.-midnight July 12, 4 p.m.-midnight July 13 and 1-10 p.m. July 14. Free. 513-772-7005 or www.srsdeaf.org.
The Festival in Sycamore features fun, food and Little Feat. The music begins on Saturday with Robin Lacy & DeZydeco, Ricky Nye & the Redhots and the Rusty Griswolds, followed on Sunday by Kelly, Fran & Ollie, The Goshorn Brothers and Little Feat. Bechtold Park, 4312 Sycamore Road, Sycamore Twp. 4-11 p.m. July 13-14. Free. 513-792-8564.
Sunday, July 14
HOT TICKET: The Cincinnati Art Museum opens Weegee's World: Life, Death and the Human Drama, featuring works by one of the first photojournalists, New York's Arthur "Weegee" Fellig. (See "Hot Shot" on page 33.) Weegee's high-contrast photos depict the underside of life in New York in the 1930s and '40s. Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, through Sept. 15. $5, $4 for seniors and students, children under 17 free. 513-721-5204 or www.cincinnati artmuseum.org.
HOT SPOT: Don't know beans about Cincinnati chili? Try a trip to the 20th annual Gold Star ChiliFest, where Cincinnati relishes its legume legacy and pays homage to the four-way, five-way and every-which-way-inbetween. Headlining musical acts have included Badfinger. Spicy music -- Latin, Caribbean, African and Louisiana -- also simmers on an ongoing second stage. Yeatman's Cove, sandwiched between Bicentennial Commons, Sawyer Point and the Serpentine Wall along the Ohio River, Downtown on the riverfront. 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. July 12, noon-11 p.m. July 13 and noon-9 p.m. July 14. Free. 513-579-3191 or www.chilifest.com.
Monday, July 15
HOT TICKET: John Mellencamp hits town with what promises to be one of the biggest concerts of the summer. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 8 p.m. $29.25-$70.25. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: See for yourself why Bishop Cool claims Still Life Does Not Exist, an exhibit sponsored by Suzanna Terrill Gallery. Through Aug. 31. Cody's Cafe, 113 Calhoun St., Corryville. 513-984-1800.
Tuesday, July 16
HOT TICKET: The 151st edition of the Warren County Fair includes parades, clowns, tractor pulls, alligator shows and demolition derbies, as well as farm animals, food vendors and more. Warren County Fairgrounds, 665 N. Broadway, Lebanon. 8 a.m.-11 p.m. July 15-20. $6, free for kids 12 and under. 513-932-2636.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents The Marlins. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, July 17
HOT TICKET: One of the summer's most anticipated club shows arrives with Jimmy Eat World. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. 8 p.m. $17.50. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The Rusty Griswolds perform at Party in the Park. Yeatman's Cove at Sawyer Point, downtown on the riverfront. 5:30 p.m. Free. 513-579-3191 or www.party-in-the-park.com.
Thursday, July 18
HOT TICKET: It's A Grand Night for Singing, at least that's what NKU thinks. Grab some dinner and a musical revue that samples the best tunes from Rogers & Hammerstein's most beloved musicals. Dinner: Corbett Theatre Lobby; show: NKU's Black Box Theatre. Louis B Nunn Drive, Highland Heights. Dinner: 6:30 p.m.; curtain: 8 p.m. $24, $12 show only. 859-572-5464.
HOT SPOT: I think I can. I think I can. You're right. You can! The Cincinnati Railroad Club lays down the tracks with the largest railroad library in history! All aboard! 8-11 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. the third Sunday of the month. Free. Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. 513-651-RAIL.
Friday, July 19
HOT TICKET: The New York Mets come to town for a weekend series, perhaps a playoff preview. Right! Cinergy Field, Downtown. 7:10 p.m. $5-$32. 513-381-REDS.
HOT SPOT: The Silverton Concert in the Park Series features the Bobby Sharp Trio. Ficke Park, 7451 Montgomery Road, Silverton. 7 p.m. Free. 513-936-6240.
Saturday, July 20
HOT TICKET: Elektra closes the Cincinnati Opera's summer festival. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 8 p.m. July 17 and 20. $12-$90. 513-241-2742 or www.cincinnatiopera.com.
HOT SPOT: OK, so dead people reside there, but that doesn't make going to the Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum morbid. With 733 acres (gasp!), Spring Grove also serves as a bird sanctuary and a park. 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Winton Place. 513-681-6680.
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Vin Diesel in XXX, one of the Summer’s potential
blockbuster movies.
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Sunday, July 21
HOT TICKET: Celebrate the music, crafts, dance, games, art, food and drink of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland at the British Isles Festival. Bands performing include Black 47, Eric Rigler, Bad Haggis, Ceol Mhor, Golden Bough, Glengarry Bhoys, Mad Anthony Wayne Pipe Band, and more. Also planned: Highland athletics, a British class car show and a border collie show. Renaissance Park, State Rt. 73, Harveysburg, Ohio. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. July 20 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 21. $10, $15 for two-day pass, $5 children ages 6-12. 513-897-7000 or www.britishislesfest.com.
HOT SPOT: The 153rd Clermont County Fair, a tradition since the days of the Gold Rush, includes monster truck shows, tractor pulls, demolition derbies, livestock exhibitions, auctions and horse races. A parade begins at 1 p.m. Sunday (the only free admission day). Clermont County Fairgrounds, 1000 Locust St., Owensville. All day July 21-27. $5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., $7 from 3 p.m. to close, children $1, children 5 and under free. 513-732-1657.
Monday, July 22
HOT TICKET: The Reds show Pittsburgh just how bad the pits can be. 7:10 p.m. Cinergy Field. $5-$32. 513-381-REDS.
HOT SPOT: Get a taste of Cincinnati's artistic history in Past and Present, an exhibit and sale that looks at local artists who have made (or are making) an impact on the area's art scene. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, through Sept. 7. Free. Patricia Weiner Gallery, 9393 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. 513-791-7717.
Tuesday, July 23
HOT TICKET: Honky Tonk Angels, a play about women Country singers, continues the Playhouse's summer season. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Eden Park. 8 p.m. Fridays, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, through Aug. 18. $28-$39. 513-421-3888 or www.cincyplay.com.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the Cincinnati Civic Orchestra in a "Symphonic Hooray for Hollywood." Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, July 24
HOT TICKET: Willie Nelson teams up with Lee Ann Womack. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 8 p.m. $22.25-$47.25. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The band American Standard performs in the Great Hall of the Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park. 5:30-8 p.m. Free with museum admission, which is $5, $4 for seniors and students, children under 17 free. 513-721-5204 or www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Thursday, July 25
HOT TICKET: Tropicoso performs at the Coffee Cup Concert Series, Behringer-Crawford Museum, Devou Park, Covington. 8 p.m. $10 for first admission (includes coffee cup, which gets you half off other tickets in series). 859-491-4003.
HOT SPOT: Stay home and watch Big Brother 3! Just kidding. We just wanted to see if you're still reading this thing. Actually, instead of letting your muscles atrophy, get up and take a walk along the oh-so-beautiful East Row Historic District in Newport along Linden, Maple, Monroe and Overton streets.
Friday, July 26
HOT TICKET: Nobody does it better -- and that's almost what got Mike Myers in trouble with the latest in his popular spy parody series. United Artists, which owns the rights to James Bond, were a little shaken, not stirred, over Austin Powers in Goldmember. The matter's been discharged, but we still can't wait to check out Myers' Goldmember.
HOT SPOT: What more could you ask for? National musical acts such as the Van-Dells and The Jets, a spectacular Rozzi fireworks show, fun family atmosphere ... and it's all free. It's Greater Anderson Days, fast becoming Greater Cincinnati's largest neighborhood festival. Beechmont Mall, Beechmont Avenue at Five Mile Road, Anderson Twp. 5 p.m.-midnight July 26-27 and 5-10 p.m. July 28. Free. 513-474-0003 or www.andersonparks.com.
Saturday, July 27
HOT TICKET: Can't sit still for an entire Shakespeare play? Well, get them all in one show, with the hilariously manic The Complete Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged). (See "Packing It in" on page 9.) Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, 719 Race St., Downtown. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Aug. 18. $20 adults, $15 students and seniors. 513-381-2273 or www.cincyshakes.com.
HOT SPOT: The Newport Arts & Music Festival returns with a wide array of arts and crafts from national, regional and local artists, plus lots of live local music. Riverboat Row on the riverfront, Newport. Noon-10 p.m. July 27 and noon-7 p.m. July 28. Free. 859-292-3666 or www.cityofnewportky.org.
Sunday, July 28
HOT TICKET: The A-Teens with Jump5 and Baha Men at Timberwolf Amphitheater. Paramount's Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. 6 p.m. $22.99-$39.99 (includes park admission). 513-754-5800.
HOT SPOT: Ex-news anchor and ex-mayoral candidate Courtis Fuller heads a group organizing the 2002 Jazz and Heritage Festival, a week-long event to fill the void left by the cancelled Cincinnati Jazz Festival (which organizers hope to relaunch next year). Local Jazz acts will perform free concerts July 28-Aug. 4 in various venues around Greater Cincinnati. (See "Just Jazz" on page 34.) 513-821-0641.
Monday, July 29
HOT TICKET: One of the most anticipated concerts of the summer is Lenny Kravitz with Pink. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 7 p.m. $27.25-$62.25. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: We know traveling can be a bit of a bear -- and quite costly to boot. But the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has a cost-effective way to add some international flavor to these hot summer months with its "Read Around The World Summer Reading Club". Not only does it endorse reading, the program also rewards it with some way cool prize giveaways. Through Aug. 15. At the Main Library, 800 Vine St., Downtown, or any of the 41 neighborhood branches. 513-369-6959 or www.CincinnatiLibrary.org.
Tuesday, July 30
HOT TICKET: With all the nostalgia running around Cinergy Field as the Reds' final season there comes to a close, who can forget that the L.A. Dodgers were once the Reds' biggest rival? Bring back Tommy Lasorda and let him run his fat ass out to the mound one last time! Cinergy Field, Downtown. 7:10 p.m. $5-$32. 513-381-REDS.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the Irish band Ten Penny Bit. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, July 31
HOT TICKET: The Warped Tour arrives for an all-day emofest, featuring Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Bad Religion, NOFX and others. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. Noon. $29.50. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: Gentlemen, start your engines ... the Hamilton County Fair showcases frenzied demolition derbies and other examples of extreme auto sports. There are also the standard favorites -- 4-H agricultural contests, milking parlors, petting farm, barn tours, dog obedience shows, sheep shearing and rabbit judging. Hamilton County Fairgrounds, Vine Street at Paddock Road (exit 9 off I-75), Carthage. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. July 31-Aug. 4. $7, children 2 and under free, seniors free. (Free admission Friday, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) 513-761-4224 or www.hamiltoncountyfair.com.
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Photo By Sean Hughes/photopresse.com
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“Tomb Raider” is this Summer’s new ride at
Paramount’s Kings Island
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Thursday, Aug. 1
HOT TICKET: The Tennis Masters Series (formerly known as the ATP) serves up at the Sports Center at Kings Island. The likes of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Michael Chang show up for this, one of the nation's premier tennis tournaments. 6140 Fairway Drive (exit 25 off I-71, near Paramount's Kings Island), Mason. All day Aug. 1-11. $8-$40. 513-651-0303.
HOT SPOT: The 10th annual Queen City Blues Fest presents two dozen acts including Blues, Gospel, Ragtime, Bluegrass and Jazz, headlined by Duke Robillard, Roy Book Binder, Joe Duskin, the Jelly Roll Kings and Willie Cobbs. Sawyer Point Park, Downtown on the riverfront. 5:30-10 p.m. Aug. 1-2 and noon-10 p.m. Aug. 3. Free. 513-684-4227 or www.gcbs.org.
Friday, Aug. 2
HOT TICKET: Check out the Jam Grass Festival, which features an eclectic lineup of Bluegrass acts such as Dark Star Orchestra, Sam Bush Band, Yonder Mountain String Band and more. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 1 p.m. $22.25-$32.25. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The Queen City Balladeers' annual Edensong Folk Concert Series at Seasongood Pavilion concludes with Chris Collier, Gwendolyn Speaks, Raison d'Etre, Mark Cormican and Jake Speed. Seasongood Pavilion, Eden Park. 8 p.m. Free. 513-321-8375 or www.qcballadeers.org.
Saturday, Aug. 3
HOT TICKET: Catch a show of The Fantastics at the newly opened 352-seat Performing Arts Center at Xavier University. Gallagher Student Center, XU campus, Avondale. 8 p.m. July 31-Aug. 3. $12, $7 students. 513-745-3205.
HOT SPOT: Looking to combat the sweltering dog days of August without paying commercial waterpark prices? Head to the latest "sprayground" in the Hamilton County Park system, which recently opened at Woodland Mound Park in Anderson Township. "Parky's Wetland Adventure" features a 16-foot tree with two slides, whimiscal and spraying blue herons, frogs and turtles. Spraygrounds at other parks include Parky's Pirate Cove at Miami Whitewater Forest (with spraying alligators, giant octopus and coconuts), Parky's Ark at Winton Woods (spraying snakes, butterflies and lady bugs) and the Ice Age Playground at Sharon Woods (with giant mastodon, saber tooth tiger and some water features). The spraygrounds are open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily during the summer. Free. 513-521-PARK or www.greatparks.org.
Sunday, Aug. 4
HOT TICKET: In rushes Rush, in its first concert tour in five years. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 7:30 p.m. $32.25-$67.75. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The Morning Glory Bike Ride pedals in. Bicentennial Commons, Downtown on the riverfront. Eaaaaaarly morning. Free. 513-841-0111.
Monday, Aug. 5
HOT TICKET: Vin Diesel, come on down. Today you get to play "Star or Flop," the ever-popular Hollywood-based game show where humans who had a hit with their first movie role try to find out if they're actually going to have a career or not. See XXX, Diesel's follow-up to The Fast and the Furious that's just opened, and be the judge yourself.
HOT SPOT: It's the beginning of monk mania week in Cincinnati. Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery use fine instruments to create an intricately-designed mandala made from colored sand to promote world peace. An opening ceremony with chanting and instruments will take place followed by a closing ceremony on the fifth day where sand will be dismantled and distributed among those who want to share in the message. Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, 800 Vine St., Downtown. Aug. 1-5. Free. 513-369-6970.
Tuesday, Aug. 6
HOT TICKET: Ever wonder How Small the World Is? Mexican photographer Manuel Alvarez Bravo explored that very intriging question through his creative, avant-garde lens. See what he saw. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. $5, $4 students and seniors. Through Oct. 28. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park. 513-721-ARTS or www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the Dixieland band Buffalo Ridge. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, Aug. 7
HOT TICKET: The Magic School Bus crew comes to entertain kids. Cincinnati Zoo, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Hours of shows to be announced. $11.50 adults, $9 seniors, $6 children 2 to 12. 513-281-4700 or www.cincinnati zoo.org.
HOT SPOT: A group of Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery visit the Cincinnati Art Museum for five days, beginning today, performing traditional Tibetan dance, music and harmonic prayer. Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park. General hours of the museum are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays (open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays). $12, $10 for seniors and students, children 17 and under free. 513-721-5204 or www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Thursday, Aug. 8
HOT TICKET: The biggest thing going on the concert scene these days, the Dave Matthews Band, graces Cincinnati with their presence. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 7 p.m. $34.25-$49.25. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: Can you hear me now? ... Can you hear me now? ... What about now? That's kind of what it was like in those golden days of radio. The Gray Wireless Communications Museum features Jack Gray's collection of radio memorabilia for a trip back to yesteryear. Can you hear me now? 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Free. Channel 48 studio, Crosley Telecommunications Center, 1223 Central Pkwy., Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-4033.
Friday, Aug. 9
HOT TICKET: The WNKU Richwood Bluegrass Festival presents national and regional bluegrass entertainment, including Gene Thompson & Crossroads, Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers, Rabbit Hash String Band, Ed Cunningham & the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars, Crosstown, Taylor Farley & Blue Rock, Vernon McIntyre & Appalachian Grass and, all the way from the Czech Republic, Fragment. Richwood Flea Market, exit 175 off I-75, Richwood, Ky. 3 p.m.-midnight Aug. 9 and noon-midnight Aug. 10-11. $15 per day, $35 for a three-day pass. 859-572-6500 or www.richwoodfleamarket.com.
HOT SPOT: The Great Inland Seafood Festival features an ocean of live music. National headliners have included The Little River Band, Dave Mason of Traffic, and Otis Day & the Knights of Animal House fame. Nearly 20 local restaurants sell sample-size seafood entrées at the fest, which for the first time in 2002, will be held on both sides of the river. A river shuttle will operate between the dual shorelines. Yeatman's Cove and the Serpentine Wall, Downtown on the riverfront, and Riverboat Row in Newport. 5-11 p.m. Aug. 9, noon-11 p.m. Aug. 10 and noon-10 p.m. Aug. 11. Free. 513-761-9911.
Saturday, Aug. 10
HOT TICKET: Lightning strikes as Frankie Valli, The Association, The Buckinghams and Lou Christie go nostalgic. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. 8 p.m. $22.75-$40.25. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: Take a trip to the observation deck of the Carew Tower -- built in 1930, it's Cincinnati's tallest building at 534 feet and 49 floors -- for a breathtaking view of the downtown/riverfront area. 9:30 a.m-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. $2. Sunday. 441 Vine St., Downtown. 513-579-9735.
Sunday, Aug. 11
HOT TICKET: Michael W. Smith performs in a post-Reds game concert at Cinergy Field, Downtown on the riverfront. 3 p.m. (time approximate). $5-$32 for the game. 513-381-7337.
HOT SPOT: The Sound Body Jazz Band performs Swing and Jazz at the "Second Sunday at Seven Thirty" outdoor concert series. Arlington Memorial Gardens, 2145 Compton Road, Mount Healthy. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-521-7003 or www.arlingtonmemorial- gardens.org.
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The Cincinnati/Hamilton County Library system offers
a summer reading club, “Read Around the World,” July
29-Aug. 15.
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Monday, Aug. 12
HOT TICKET: Summer's not summer around here without a visit to The Beach Waterpark, which features Aztec Adventure (the Midwest's only "watercoaster"), The Cliff waterslide, Banzai racing slides, Typhoon body flumes, Riptide inner tube ride, Hidden Rapids gnarled tube ride, Watusi enclosed, double helix tube, Snake River Rapids tube adventure, Twilight Zoom, The Pearl waterfall and spa area, Thunderbeach wave pool and Lazy Miami River tube ride for those who like slow rides. Jolly Mon Shores is a 10,000-square-foot water and sand area just for the little squirts. Splash Mountain is 30,000 gallons of heated water just for children four feet and under. The Beach, 2590 Waterpark Drive, Mason. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. $24.95, $8.50 seniors and children under 48 inches. $13.95 after 4 p.m., $4.95 children and seniors after 4 p.m. 513-398-7946.
HOT SPOT: Around these parts, he's know as "The Big Man." No, not Clarence Clemmons -- it's William Howard Taft, our 27th president and 10th chief justice. See his boyhood home, a national historic site. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Free. 2038 Auburn Ave., Mount Arburn. 513-684-3262
Tuesday, Aug. 13
HOT TICKET: If the Reds still are in the playoff hunt -- and if Major League Baseball hasn't already gone on strike -- this next stretch of games could be crucial for the home team. First up it's the defending champs, the Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by the Houston Astros. Cinergy Field, Downtown. 7:10 p.m. $5-$32. 513-381-REDS.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the Swing band Jerry Conrad's Rhythm & Brass. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, Aug. 14
HOT TICKET: Check out CityBeat's Spring Dining Guide online (www.citybeat.com) and try one of these new restaurants: A Taste of Julia, Apple on Elm, Aralia Loveland, Arloi Dee Thai Bistro Mason, Asiana Thai Cuisine, Baker's Cafe, Bamboo Garden Chinese Restaurant, Bella,Blake's Seafood Grill, Book Nook Cafe, Brio Tuscan Grille, Claddagh Irish Pub, Doghouse Grille, East African Restaurant, El Pueblito, Famous Dave's Barbecue, Feldy's, Fruities, Grand Buffet, Gretchen's on Vine, Grote Bakery Cafe, Hamburger Mary's, Henke Wine Westwood, Izzy's Covington, Jax Grille at GameWorks, Joe's Crab Shack, Joey & Maria's, Jordan Valley, Junebug's Bar B-Q, King's Inn, Kingfish Grill, Lighthouse Pasta & Grill, Manna Downtown, Mia Sposa, Myra's Kabob Cafe, Old Spaghetti Factory, Pendleton Joe's, Pub at Rookwood Mews, Razzberry's, Reality Tuesday Cafe, Roly Poly Clifton Heights, Shaker's in Town, Shakey's Pub & Grub, Silverglade's Downtown, Simone's, Su Casa, The Empire, The Federal Reserve, The Tousey House and Vito's Cafe.
HOT SPOT: 2 B-Lo performs at Party in the Park. Yeatman's Cove at Sawyer Point, downtown on the riverfront. 5:30 p.m. Free. 513-579-3191 or www.party-in-the-park.com.
Thursday, Aug. 15
HOT TICKET: Can't get enough of TV's newest fab star, Ozzy Osbourne? Check him out in his day job banging heads at Ozzfest 2002. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Twp. $42.50-$78.50. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: The 127 Corridor-Village Treasure Hunt, part of the world's longest outdoor sale, which starts in Gadsden, Ala., and ends 450 miles later in Northern Kentucky, returns to MainStrasse Village. 7 a.m.-dark. Free. MainStrasse Village, Covington. 859-491-0458.
Friday, Aug. 16
HOT TICKET: The area's lone professional soccer team, the Cincinnati Riverhawks, kicks some balls around with Rochester. 7:30 p.m. $8, $5 children. Hamilton Co. Fairgrounds, Carthage. 513-591-GOAL.
HOT SPOT: The Midwest Black Family Reunion features R&B and Gospel concerts as well as ethnic food vendors, children's activities and the Black Inventors Pavilion. Sawyer Point Park, downtown on the Ohio River waterfront. 1-9 p.m. Aug. 16-18. Free. 513-742-9378.
Saturday, Aug. 17
HOT TICKET: Pet a horse, ride a pony, try out the latest in computers and kids' software, go to drawing school, hop aboard a power race car or take a virtual reality ride on a traffic helicopter at the 2002 Kids Expo. The 17th annual Kids Expo (formerly known as the All About Kids Expo) takes place at Cincinnati Convention Center, Fifth and Elm streets, Downtown. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 17 and noon-6 p.m. Aug. 18. $7 parents, $3 children, free for ages 2 and under. 513-684-0501.
HOT SPOT: New Richmond River Days features music (the likes of Shane Daniels, Flatt Rabbit, Hot Henry, Brentwood Rockers, H-Bomb Ferguson and more), helicopter rides, rides, games, food and Clermont County's largest fireworks display on Saturday evening. The Cardboard Regatta races on Sunday feature canoes made from cardboard (guess which lucky contestant wins the Titanic Award). Front Street along the Ohio River, New Richmond. 5-9 p.m. Aug. 17 and noon-10 p.m. Aug. 18-19. Free. 513-684-1253 or www.nrnow.com.
Sunday, Aug. 18
HOT TICKET: The Blues Rock triple-header of B.B King. George Thorogood and the Fabulous Thunderbirds invades the Tristate. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Twp. $42.50-$78.50. 513-562-4949.
HOT SPOT: There's more to German culture than brats and sauerkraut, and The German Heritage Museum aims to drop some knowledge on those who need it. The 19th-century, German-style log home features exhibits which focus on the Tristate's rich German history and culture. They don't call it Zinzinnati for nuthin'. 1-5 p.m Sundays and by appointment. Free, but donations accepted. German-American Citizens League, 6829 Westin Ridge Road, Cleves. 513-598-5732.
Monday, Aug. 19
HOT TICKET: There's no better place to spend a sweltering August day than inside at the Cinergy Children's Museum, where the kids can have fun and you can stay cool. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Prices vary. 513-287-7000 or www.cincymuseum.org
HOT SPOT: Want to buy a book at a bargain price? Check out the Public Library Back to School Sale, where you'll find books by the box (up to 75 paperbacks for $15) as well as volumes priced individually. First editions, rare posters and lithographs are also available. Benefits the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County. Friends of the Public Library Warehouse, 8456 Vine St., Hartwell. 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Aug. 19-21, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 22. Free. 513-369-6035.
Tuesday, Aug. 20
HOT TICKET: Cool off in some serious shade at the Natural History Museum. The old bat cave has been gutted to make way for this all-new glacier cavern. The exhibit pays tribute to one of the planet's last unexplored frontiers and covers 8,000 square feet on two levels, re-creating a cavern with a 22-foot waterfall and cave walls that are kept appropriately chilly. Brrrrrr. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. $6.75 adults, $5.75 seniors, $4.75 children 3-12, $3.75 children 1-2. 513-287-7000 or www.cincymuseum.org.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the country band White Lightning Express. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, Aug. 21
HOT TICKET: The Showboat Majestic presents the charming tale of Elwood P. Dowd and his invisible friend Harvey. 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, through Aug. 25. $15, $13 seniors and students, $12 subscribers. 435 Mehring Way, Downtown. 513-241-6550.
HOT SPOT: The Q102/Bud Party in the Park continues with local Pop rockers Patsy's deCline. 5:30-10 p.m. Free. Yeatman's Cove, Sawyer Point, Downtown on the riverfront. 513-699-5102.
Thursday, Aug. 22
HOT TICKET: The Know Theatre Tribe takes a comedic look behind the scenes of a production of Chekov's Three Sisters with Anton in Show Business. Opens Aug. 15. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, through Aug. 31. $12, $10 seniors and students. Gabriel's Corner, Sycamore and Liberty streets, Over-the-Rhine. 513-300-KNOW.
HOT SPOT: Too hot to venture out? Curl up with a mystery by native Cincinnatian Cora Miller, the latest writer to set her tales of murder here in river city. In books such as Taxes, Death and Trouble and Accrual Way to Die, her protagonist -- financial planner Audrey Wilson -- stumbles from balance sheets to unbalanced killers. The series is loaded with local references, from characters munching Grippo's chips to picnics at Sawyer Point. Fast summer reading and great beach books.
Friday, Aug.23
HOT TICKET: Waterworks at Paramount's Kings Island shows off such rides as the Bonzai, Fast Tracks, Helix, Rushing River, Sidewinder, Ultra Twister, Wipe Out Beach, Kings Mills Run and Surfside Bay wave pool and features the Midwest's only body board surfing attraction, WipeOut Beach. Younger kids will flock to Buccaneer Island, a water slide shallow pool pirate area with geyser and water jets. Waterworks at Paramount's Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Included in price of theme park admission, which is $41.99, $24.99 for seniors and children 3-6. 513-754-5700.
HOT SPOT: Taste of Blue Ash serves up anything from a Burbank's pulled pork sandwich to a Haute Chocolate dessert. Kenwood Road, between Hunt and Cooper roads, Blue Ash. 6-11 p.m. Aug. 23, noon-11 p.m. Aug. 24 and noon-9 p.m. Aug. 25. Free. 513-745-8511 or www.blueash.com.
Saturday, Aug. 24
HOT TICKET: Are you ready for some football? Preseason football? Who isn't? The Bengals dust the cobwebs off of PBS for another go-round, starting with their first home preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown. 7:30 p.m. $35-$54. 513-621-TDTD.
HOT SPOT: Boy, it's been quite an action-packed summer. We're feeling a little bit on the down low. All we want to do is curl up in our jammies, eat some Fruity Pebbles and catch some toons. Oh, but why do that at home when we can head up to Sitwell's Coffe House for their 8 a.m. cereal and cartoon fest? Yeah, it's early, but at least we don't have to look pretty. 8 a.m. Saturdays. Free (except for the cereal). Sitweel's Coffee House, 324 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. 513-281-SITS.
Sunday, Aug. 25
HOT TICKET: Don't forget a trip to Coney Island and Sunlite Pool, billed as the world's largest recirculating pool, complete with a 500-foot water slide and 180-foot water-coaster. Other features include pedalboat trips on Como Lake. Coney Island and Sunlite Pool, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Twp. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Sunlite Pool admission is $12.50 adults, $10.50 children ages 4 to 11 ($17.50 adult pool and rides combo, $15.50 for children). 513-232-8230.
HOT SPOT: The Jazz band Time Market performs in the Great Hall at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park. 2 p.m. Free with museum admission, which is $5, $4 for seniors and students, children under 17 free. 513-721-5204 or www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Monday, Aug. 26
HOT TICKET: Hide from the blazing summer sun inside the new Firstar IMAX 3-D Theatre, the region's only such theater to show large-format films in 3-D. The theater's screen is eight stories wide and six stories tall, and the large-format 70mm films immerse the audience into the movie action, with a booming 11,500-watt, six-channel SurroundSound stereo system -- equivalent to a dozen or so roaring Mack trucks -- that's bound to shake you down to your sneakers. Firstar IMAX 3-D Theatre, Newport on the Levee, Newport. Show times, prices and films vary daily. 859-491-4629.
HOT SPOT: Go to the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and Museum for a little feedback on greats like Beethoven and Bach. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free. Carew Tower, 441 Vine St., Downtown. 513-621-3263.
Tuesday, Aug. 27
HOT TICKET: Tuesday nights are the best time to hit the venerable Starlite Drive-In for bargain first-run flicks. On Tuesday nights only, admission is $10 per carload, so cram your minivan with all the kids in the neighborhood and save. The movie's sound is broadcast over an FM radio frequency, so make sure your car radio works or that you bring a portable radio; otherwise, you'll be in for the silent treatment. Starlite Drive-In, 2255 Ohio Pike, Amelia. Movies begin at dusk. $10 per carload. 513-734-4001.
HOT SPOT: Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops perform a free "Concert in the Park" featuring a "Labor Day Patriotic Celebration" with the United State Army Soldiers' Chorus. Northern Kentucky University campus. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-381-3300 or www.cincinnatipops.org.
Wednesday, Aug. 28
HOT TICKET: It's about your last chance to check out Egypt in the Age of Pyramids, which showcases rare sculpture, aristocratic amulets, hardstone vessels, gold jewelry, stone relief carvings, furniture and other artworks unearthed from the Giza pyramids, dating back to 2675 B.C. Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays (open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays), through Sept. 1. $12, $10 for seniors and students, children 17 and under free. 513-721-5204 or www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
HOT SPOT: Echo Park performs at Party in the Park. Yeatman's Cove at Sawyer Point, downtown on the riverfront. 5:30 p.m. Free. 513-579-3191 or www.party-in-the-park.com
Thursday, Aug. 29
HOT TICKET: Listen, sneak away from work, grab a bag of peanuts on your way down to the stadium, buy four beers as soon as you get inside and plan on a lovely afternoon of "businessman's special" baseball as you witness the Reds battle the St. Louis Cards for the division lead. Cinergy Field, Downtown. 12:35 p.m. $5-$32. 513-381-REDS.
HOT SPOT: If you ever wanted to nuzzle an emu, stroke a llama or encounter exotic pigs, macaws, horses and ferrets, take a drive out to Noah's Ark Farm. Your kids can even bottle feed the smaller creatures or take a pony ride. Noah's Ark Farm, 401 Rt. 1, California, Ky. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays --Sundays. $3 per person (all ages), with an additional charge of $2 for pony rides. 859-635-0803.
Friday, Aug. 30
HOT TICKET: Pride Night 2002 at Kings Island is one of the year's largest gatherings of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and supportive people in the region. The park will be closed to the public for this giant private party and all major rides and attractions, including roller coasters, will be open. Pride Night is The Gay and Lesbian Center's single largest annual fund-raiser. 6 p.m.-midnight. $41 at gate; $36 at The Center's site or at ticket outlets. 513-591-0200.
HOT SPOT: Check out the night sky through the world's oldest operational telescope. Cincinnati Observatory Center, 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout. Friday nights. $2 donation. 513-287-7031.
Saturday, Aug. 31
HOT TICKET: Joey & Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding is a wacky (and scripted) wedding reception where audience members are seated at the same table as the comic players. Characters include the bride and goon, Maria Cavatelli and Joey Gnocchi, godfather Don Ziti, best man Carmine Canolli, his eminence Pastor Fasioli and other offshoots of two crazy Italian families. 1 Riverboat Row Banquet Center. 7 p.m. $49.50 per person, plus tax and tip (includes an all-you-can eat Italian buffet dinner, champagne toast and wedding cake). 859-261-8500.
HOT SPOT: The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra concludes its "Summer Series in Devou" with "The Magic of John Williams," the ubiquitous composer and scorer of major films. Devou Park Amphiteatre, Covington. 7:30 p.m. Free. 859-431-6216 or www.kyso.org.
Sunday, Sept. 1
HOT TICKET: The 13th annual Ohio Renaissance Festival is set in a 30-acre village themed to 16th-century England. There's live entertainment, games and rides, fully armored knights on horseback, jousting tournaments, story-tellers, sword swallowers and strolling jesters, plus crafts from 130 shoppes. Ohio Renaissance Festival, Ohio Hwy. 73 at Harveysburg (exit 45 of I-71). 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays-Sundays, through Oct. 20. $14.95 for adults, $8 for children 5 through 12 and kids younger than 5 get in free. 513-897-7000 or www.renfestival.com.
HOT SPOT: Summer comes to an explosive conclusion when the WEBN fireworks detonate over the Ohio River. Live music and general festivities kick off the day at noon on the riverfront, but it's the pyrotechnics, which lift off at precisely 9:05 p.m., that are the major draw of this final salute to summer. The Rozzi Famous Fireworks Co. provides 30 minutes of synchronized bangs and booms choreographed to the latest Rock chart-toppers as well as classic hits. Cincinnati riverfront, stretching from the Public Landing, Cinergy Field and along the Serpentine Wall to Sawyer Point and Bicentennial Commons (as well as the Newport and Covington riverfronts on the opposite side of the Ohio River). Noon-10:30 p.m. 513-852-5872 or www.webn.com.
Monday, Sept. 2
HOT TICKET: Arnold Palmer headlines the Kroger Senior Classic. Rivers Bend Golf Course, Maineville. All day Sept. 2-8. Pricing to be announced. 513-932-6809.
HOT SPOT: Take a walk on the mild side in one of the area's labyrinths, those circular grass or brick paths constructed to encourage spiritual contemplation and meditation. Three favorites: The Grailville Labyrinth at 932 O'Bannonville Road, Loveland, 513-683-2340; the Labyrinth of Heritage Universalist-Unitarian Church, 2710 Newtown Road, Anderson, 513-231-8634; and the Labyrinth of Mercy Franciscan Holistic Center, 2366 Kipling Ave., Mount Airy, 513-389-5987. The latter labyrinth is based on a Hopi Indian design, painted on the tennis courts next to the former Powel Crosley Jr. mansion. All three labyrinths are free and are open dawn to dusk daily.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
HOT TICKET: Ah, Wilderness! kicks off the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's 2002-03 season, with other works to come such as A Flea in Her Ear, Proof, Pacific Overtures and more. Season tickets range from $204 to $305. 513-241-3888 or www.cincyplay.com.
HOT SPOT: The Tuesday Concerts in the Park series presents the big band music of the Cecil Young Orchestra. Cooper Road Amphitheater, Blue Ash. 7:30 p.m. Free. 513-745-8550 or www.blueash.com.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
HOT TICKET: The Guys opens ETC's 2002-03 season with a moving play about Ground Zero and last Sept. 11. Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 22. $28, $25 students and seniors. 513-421-3555 or www.cincyetc.com.
HOT SPOT: The Q102/Bud Party in the Park continues with those longtime cover-playing darlings, The Menus. 5-10:30 p.m. Sawyer Point, Downtown on the riverfront. 513-699-5102.
Thursday, Sept. 5
HOT TICKET: The La Comedia Dinner Theatre tries its hand at the joyous musical, Godspell. Arrival time 5:30-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, through Nov. 3. $35-$49. Rt. 73, Springboro. 937-746-4554.
HOT SPOT: Next week, the Public Library, in cooperation with the Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists, opens "The Longest Day: Ohio Journalists at Ground Zero," a display examining the on-the-scene coverage generated by dozens of the state's reporters, columnists and photographers. The display includes 100 Ohio front pages, extra editions and special sections from last Sept. 11-16. Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, 800 Vine St., Downtown. Sept. 11-Oct. 15. Free. 513-369-6970.
Friday, Sept. 6
HOT TICKET: Shadowbox Cabaret presents The Lunchbox, a collection of popular skits. Noon Fridays. $10. Newport on the Levee, Newport. 859-581-ROCK.
HOT SPOT: Break out the lederhosen and head to Oktoberfest at MainStrasse Village. The German fest features four city blocks stuffed with ethnic bands, brews and brats, amusement rides, and 75 vendors plying the works of artisans and crafters. The Kinderplatz at adjoining Goebel Park includes activities for children such as pony rides, balloons and games. MainStrasse Village, Sixth and Philadelphia streets, Covington. 5-11 p.m. Sept. 6, noon-11 p.m. Sept. 7 and noon-9 p.m. Sept. 8. An all you-can-ride ticket is $12. 859-491-0458. ©
