Accomplished and award-winning fiction writer Lorrie Moore makes a stop at room 427 in the Engineering Research Center on the University of Cincinnati’s Clifton campus for a reading at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Much of Moore’s work deals with grief, terminal illness, the Midwest and other relatively bleak themes with a touch of humor and moments of sublime beauty.  

Relationship counselor Rhonda Audia, MSW, LISW, is the “Guru for Two.” After 22 years developing an expertise in helping couples and their relationships, this self-proclaimed guru — from the Hindu definition as one who has the power to disperse darkness — has some thoughts on love, happiness and the existence of Mr. Right.  

MainStrasse is hosting its 14th annual Mardi Gras event 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. There will be a giant entertainment tent full of live music from the likes of Robin Lacy & DeZydeco and 4th Day Echo, lots of Cajun food booths and a Dunk-a-Cop booth to raise money for the Police Unity Tour. Friday night there's a Big Head Parade and Saturday is the Grande Parade.  

Findlay Market gets in on the action with a family-friendly Mardi Gras party 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. The market will be full of decorations, costumes, food and drinks. Grab free beads from the Friends of Findlay Market and watch a Jazz parade at noon. Merchants throughout the market will be offering up Cajun specialties, George Phelps and his band of pals from the Cincinnati Fire Museum will be cooking a special crawfish boil, Market Wines will be holding a special fundraiser tasting and the OTR Biergarten will be open for business.  

Arnold's celebrates Fat Tuesday with free beads, three different kinds of Hurricanes (from scratch), a full menu of Cajun specialties and Lagniappe will be roving the aisles all night playing traditional New Orleans music. 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. And another Fat Tuesday celebration is going down at the Hofbrauhaus with Enzian Dancers and a special German guest. 6 p.m.  

Got someone you want to impress? Take your 3-Way to the next level when you visit “La Skyline Chili,” Skyline’s Blue Ash location (5005 Cornell Road), for a romantic dinner from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday. For the eighth year, this location and maitre d’chili/manager Scott Callaway will set the mood with candlelight, a violinist and roses for the ladies.  

Cincinnati Art Snob, a blog advocating “elevated discussion of the arts, education and of Greater Cincinnati's vibrant art scene,” run by art historian, writer and critic, Kathy Stockman, is hosting a launch party for its new tour series. 6 p.m. at the Cincinnati Art Museum.  

MoBo Bicycle Co-op doesn’t want to you to forget about your two-wheeled ride while you’re huddled inside. This winter they’re holding a Winter Workshop Series at their headquarters in Northside talking about everything from bicycle fit to bottom brackets to brakes.   

Celebrate the third annual Cincy Winter Beerfest by sampling over 125 unique, cold craft beers inside the warm, toasty walls of the Hyatt Regency Saturday evening. That's over 15,000 square feet of beer! Tickets are going fast! VIP is sold out unless you have a Best of Cincinnati dining card.  

“Marsapalooza” invites the public to participate in nightly classes about Mars, take tours of the observatory’s buildings and peep through the observatory’s historic 1843 and 1904 telescopes. If weather permits, visitors will also be able to see Orion Nebula and the moon. Reservations are recommended. Thursday-Sunday.