Photo By Joshua White

People are lining up for the Festival of the New, including this crowd at the new Contemporary Arts Center. Actually it's "Chappie 33" by Groovisions, part of the CAC's Somewhere Better Than This Place.

There's never been a better time to celebrate new things here in Cincinnati than right now. As a CityBeat reader, we suspect you already know about a lot of these -- we do, after all, tell you about everything that's hot and hip on a weekly basis. But just in case you've not been paying attention, let us point out to you that all summer long there will be a regular refresher course available to local residents and visitors from out of town: THE FESTIVAL OF THE NEW.

On selected weekends starting Saturday and continuing through the middle of October our arts and cultural community will be showcasing events, performances and exhibits by 52 organizations. Of course, the biggie is the new Contemporary Arts Center, the epicenter and inspiration for the festival. As of Saturday the CAC's cutting-edge new facility -- which has garnered international attention -- is open to one and all who want to see a thought-provoking opening exhibition, Somewhere Better Than This Place.

The CAC's director, Charles Desmarais, says the true story of the new CAC facility isn't just about a building. "It's the triumph of core values shared by the CAC and many people throughout the region. These values -- innovation, diversity and free inquiry -- are the basis, also of the Festival of the New. Our colleague institutions are celebrating that, primarily, and it is a great honor for CAC to play a part."

For the beginning weekend, the Festival is pointing people to the Cincinnati Art Museum's new Cincinnati Wing (which includes a contemporary installation by Cincinnati artist Mark Fox that will make you see CAM in whole new ways); performances of The Gingham Dog at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival and The Syringa Tree at the Cincinnati Playhouse; lots of interesting art work at area galleries -- Linda Schwartz Gallery (Downtown), Carl Solway Gallery (Brighton), Weston Gallery (Downtown), Arts Consortium (West End), DAAP Galleries (Downtown), Reyne Gallery (Downtown) and Semantics Gallery (Brighton). And don't miss Bein' Round Natti Town: The History of Black Cincinnati at the African American Museum, within the Museum Center, where you can also see Liberty on the Border: The Civil War and the Ohio River Valley.

There's no way you could cover them all -- and it's right here in our home town. Residents of Detroit, Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Lexington, Louisville and Indianapolis are getting the word through advertising in their cities. Next time somebody asks you, "What's new?" the simplest answer might be Cincinnati. www.cincinnatiarts.com. -- RICK PENDER

Saturday 07
As summer approaches, so do plenty of run/walk fund-raisers. Yet this week has something a little different: the first ever PAWS FOR THE CAUSE K-9 WALK. Sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, this 5K dog/human collaboration goes to benefit the MDA in its quest to eradicate muscular dystrophy and a host of other neuromuscular diseases. The day of canine-related festivities also includes a dog/owner lookalike contest, a top dog costume contest and pet readings by MOJO 94.9 FM's "Psychic Jill" Bruner. 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Joyce Park in Hamilton. Yes, you read that correctly -- a dog/owner lookalike contest. 513-231-2222. (See Sports.) -- JASON GARGANO

Saturday 07
One should always dress up for opera. This much we know. However, what to wear is often the larger issue -- which might or might not be why Middletown's SORG OPERA chose to title Saturday's ANNUAL FUND-RAISER, "Dress Up For Opera." But they don't mean your personal opera chic, necessarily; dress as your favorite star (black tie, gargantuan ball gowns -- SORG's even renting out some from their collection) or opera goer. For the more daring supporters, why not suit up as your favorite character (not exactly a suggestion of SORG's)? As always, the night wouldn't be complete without silent and live auctions, dining and surprise entertainment. $75 per person; $600 for tables of eight. At Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon. 513-425-0180. (See Events.) -- JESSICA TURNER

Saturday 07
I don't want to hear any more snickering about Cincinnati being 10 years behind everywhere else. I was at the CAC opening, and I know the truth: We can be pretty damn hip. If you need more evidence, UC's top-ranked College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (aka "DAAP") presents its 52nd annual FASHION SHOW on Saturday evening, showing off cutting-edge creations from some of tomorrow's most promising designers. At the corner of Clifton Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive, you can also preview DAAPWORKS (opening Sunday) -- hundreds of projects by this year's creative grads: painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, photography, printmaking, electronic art, architecture, interior design, fashion, urban planning projects. 513-556-5465. (See Events.) -- RICK PENDER

Monday 09
Familiar with the U.S. Constitution? In our current climate of political uneasiness, you'd better be. Organized by Los Angeles artist Linda Pollock, MY DAILY CONSTITUTION IN CINCINNATI is a weeklong series (June 9-15) of discussions with one goal in mind -- to better inform the public of our ever-important document of democracy, and do so in less "formal" environs. Here's proof: Among the participating venues are Plush, SSNOVA, York Street Café and Media Bridges. The series opens Monday at The Artery (913 Monmouth St., Newport) with "The Right to Vote and the Future of American Constitutional Democracy," a discussion led by American University Professor of Constitutional Law Jamin Raskin. All discussions are free. For an entire schedule of events, call 513-557-7315. (See Events.) -- JASON GARGANO

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