Sure signs of springtime in Cincinnati: The Reds are playing (and winning), trees in Over-the-Rhine are covered with white blossoms — and Know Theatre has announced the lineup for the upcoming Cincinnati Fringe Festival. 2013 is a significant year for the Fringe: It's marking the 10th  anniversary of the annual celebration of weird creativity. Last evening a big crowd gathered at Know Theatre's Jackson Street facility to hear what's in store for the May 28-June 8 festival. Eric Vosmeier, Know's producing artistic director, shared the news that, building on a decade of success, the Fringe received a record number of applicants for 2013, with 70 percent of the applications coming from brand-new producers. That's one of the best parts of the Fringe, the fact that a new jolt of energy arrives annually from performers that haven't been seen locally. Sixty-three percent of the 2013 applications were from out of town, including several from international producers. There will be 35 productions in all, by 17 local groups and 18 from out of town. There will be 19 plays, seven solo shows, two dance pieces, two musicals, and five multimedia/variety pieces. Vosmeier said that it was no easy task for the Fringe selection committee to assemble this lineup. The group was made up of theater professionals from Greater Cincinnati: Heather Britt, Michael Haney, Dave Levy, Miranda McGee, D. Lynn Meyers and Torie Wiggins. “The quality of applications continues to get stronger and larger each year," he said. "I'm so happy to have these amazing leaders of the local theatre community as a part of our jury, and we're grateful for their time in deciding the 2013 lineup.” The official CityBeat Fringe Kick-Off Party takes place Tuesday, May 28, at Know Theatre. This year's event will also be a 10th birthday celebration, with many of the festival's founders in attendance. The evening, which kicks off at 6 p.m., will feature Indie rock group Bethesda and food from a half-dozen local eateries. The evening (suggested donation: $5) is an opportunity to meet Fringe artists, staff, volunteers and other audience members.The full Fringe schedule will be published in CityBeat's May 15 edition, but you can get some information at the refreshed website: www.cincyfringe.com. I'm looking forward to return visits by Wonderheads (from Portland, Ore., who did some amazing work with masks in last year's Grim and Fischer; their new piece is titled LOON), Four Humors Theatre (from Minneapolis, whose always creative troupe will be staging Lolita: A Three Man Show) and Tanya O'Debra (from New York City; whose Radio Star was a much admired work in 2012; this time she's in a two-person piece, Shut UP, Emily Dickinson). Performance Gallery, based here in Cincinnati and a regular annual presence every year is staging Mater Facit, "an absurd look at motherhood, nationalism, war, sex and sacrifice." Tangled Leaves Theatrical Collective, another Cincinnati-based group popular with local audiences, will produce Vortex of the Great Unknown. Of course, the real fun of Fringe is being surprised by new material and performers, and this year's lineup offers plenty of that: Poe and Mathews: A Misadventure in the Middle of Nowhere (Los Angeles); Questions of the Heart: Gay Mormons and the Search for Identity (Bloomington, Ind.); The Bubble and Other Displays of Moral Turpitude (from Cincinnati-based North American New Opera Workshop); The Elephant in My Closet (New York City); and a production of Cincinnati playwright Catie O'Keefe's The Space Between my Head and my Body (by Shark Eat Muffin Theatre Company). I could go on and on — Know's announcement news release is 20 pages! Based on a decade of Fringing, I like to say that the festival is "theater roulette": You never know what's going to happen when you show up for a performance, and serendipity is the only predictable element. That's what makes it fun. I don't want to wish away springtime, but is it May 28 yet?

Does this late September weather make you wish you could turn back the clock? Know Theatre is ready to take you back to June and the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe Festival with a brief reprise of several shows and artists who pleased audiences three months ago. Today through Saturday you can stop by the theater on Jackson Street in Over-the-Rhine for performances by Honour Pillow (her Audience "Pick of the Fringe" show On Her Pillow (review here) will be presented tonight and Friday evening) or Dewey Chaffee and Douglas McGeoch (whose Screw You Revue (review here) was the Producers' Pick of the Fringe in June and will be presented on Friday and Saturday). There will also be performances by two favorite Fringe solo performers on Thursday and Saturday — Kevin Thornton and Tommy Nugent. For the schedule and tickets, click here.

This weekend marks the end of the Fringe Festival. If you haven’t seen any shows yet, go here to check out all reviews, show times and ticket info and go see some before Saturday’s final performances. Tonight at Know Theater, local live storytelling collective True Theater presents a special Fringe edition. True Fringe features five Fringe performers who will divulge personal stories of their experiences during this year’s theatrical fest. This is a one-time event, and True Theater shows are always intriguing, so stop by Know or go here for tickets ($12). Stories being at 7 p.m. It’s Northside Second Saturdays time again! Celebrate the funky-fab neighborhood by visiting local shops, salons, bars, restaurants and more between 6-10 p.m. Participating businesses offer sales, extended happy hours, food and drink specials and plenty o’ good times. This weekend, Fabricate opens Oh, Smell the People!, a mixed media exhibition by Michael Reuter, and NVISION presents an exhibit of youthful paintings and drawings by Angela Oster, titled Abandon Ship!. Last Year’s Crosstown Shootout ended in an all-out brawl, and Saturday’s Rollergirls Crosstown Knockdown is sure to bring body-slammin’ action, too — on the rink, that is. If you want to see a badass competition without the worry of getting punched by an athlete, cheer on your favorite chicks on wheels as the Cincinnati Rollergirls take on the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls in the first-ever Crosstown Knockdown at Cincinnati Gardens. Cincy’s B-team, the Violent Lambs will compete against the Little Steel Derby Girls at 7 p.m. and the main event kicks off at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at just $12. If you’ve never experienced a roller derby before, this will be an awesome introduction. Grab tickets here. Cincinnati’s curated urban flea market is back for the summer this Saturday! The City Flea makes its home at Twelfth and Vine streets in the Gateway District this season and it promises to be even bigger and better than last year’s inaugural summer. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, browse the open air market with vendors like Queen City Cookies, Fab Ferments, Brush Factory, Cincy Craft Cartel, Charmingly Modern and lots more local food, arts, clothing and other retailers. Find ‘em all here. People love comedian Aziz Ansari for his many laugh-out-loud roles. Some know him as Tom Haverford from Parks and Recreation, others recognize him from his small-yet-memorable characters in Funny People, Observe and Report or Flight of the Conchords, while longtime fans (ahem) still quote his hilarious sketches on Human Giant, but his stand-up trumps ‘em all. Saturday, the dude who has everyone “treatin’ they selves” performs at the Aronoff Center. From his family to celebrity encounters to everyday observations, Ansari brings the LOLs. Hopefully his alter-ego RAAAAAAAANDY will make an appearance. Go here to get tickets to tomorrow’s show, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Second Sundays on Main also makes a return this weekend. Hop around OTR as you enjoy live music, food, beer and local shopping from noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Highlights this week include a Crafty Supermarket mini-market, Dr. Bongonatti's Art Parade, celebrity chef demos by Executive Chef Jose Salazar and Pastry Chef Russ Wheeler of The Palace and the ever-popular drag races. Follow our music and To Do pages for even more fun weekend stuff.

Streetfilms Film Festival takes over Emery Theatre tonight for a party and showcase of films from locals and creatives from around the world. Since 2006, Streetfilms has been producing short films about how smart transportation design and policy can result in better places to live, work and play. The organization has traveled across the globe documenting solutions to “the problem of automobile dependency.” The films featured at tonight's free event will all fit that theme. The party kicks off at 8:30 p.m. Snacks and drinks (booze) will be available for purchase.The highly anticipated World Choir Games are just over a month away, and the city is celebrating tonight with the premiere of “Cincinnati Singing,” a star-studded, Cincy-centric music video. Nick Lachey, Jerry Springer, Bootsy Collins and others are featured in the video with iconic shots of the city. Check out the video on Fountain Square tonight at 5 p.m. with Mayor Mark Mallory, councilmembers, Cincinnati Pops Director John Morris Russell and more, and take a peek below.. The free event will also feature performances by American Idol's Eben Franckewitz and several area choirs.After that sing-stravaganza, walk over to Live After Five, a new weekly summer street festival at The Banks that kicks off tonight. Freedom Way will close each Thursday (except July 5) from 5-8 p.m. for a free evening of live music and after-work drinks. Check out local faves The Rusty Griswolds as you sip the Leinenkugel mix of the night: “Pink Lemonade,” a mix of Summer Shandy and Berry Weiss. YUM.The Fringe Festival keeps on cranking out the fun and freaky performances tonight. Find the entire festival lineup here.

In celebration of City Council’s repeal of the breed-specific language in Cincinnati’s vicious dog ordinance, Cincinnati Pit Crew invites pups of all sorts to strut the streets tonight. Pitties on Parade is a chance for pit bulls and other breeds to show off their sweet side and display why the May 16 repeal was a good decision. The group walk begins on the West Grove of Fountain Square (pets are not allowed on the actual square) at 5:30 p.m. and will continue on various routes, where participants will break into groups to saunter across the city. Everyone will re-group at Smale Riverfront Park at 7 p.m. Make sure your dog is healthy, at least 6 months old, up-to-date on vaccinations and good-natured (the same should probably go for owners). Meet up at Neon’s Unplugged, the pooch-friendly bar in OTR, for an after-party 'til 9 p.m. Cincinnati E.A.T.S. (Epicureans About Town Society) hosts a Subterranean Picnic Party at Jimmy G’s tonight. Cincinnati E.A.T.S. aims to bring locals to the best independent area restaurants by presenting themed evenings of fixed-price meals. Tonight, Chef Jimmy Gibson has created a three-course menu with shareable sides. Pre-dinner drinks and wine pairings will be available (not included in $44.50 ticket price). There is also a benefit aspect to each event — tonight guests are encouraged to bring several non-perishable food items to be donated to the Freestore Foodbank. Cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m. and dinner will be served at 8 p.m. Grab a last-minute ticket here. Tonight is the first official evening of Fringe Festival performances. Offerings include Breaking Rank, The Sweet, Burning Yonder, METHTACULAR!, Grim and Fischer, Rodney Rumple’s Random Realty, Blown Up, You Will Have 25 Minutes to Complete This Essay, Female Desires and Quake: A Closet Love Story. Whew! Check out the official Fringe guide, with performance descriptions, ticket information and full schedule here.Party in the Park continues tonight at Yeatman’s Cove with Stays in Vegas. Happy hour runs 5-6:30 p.m., offering $2 off beer, wine and cocktails. The free concert runs until 10 p.m.Did you know today is Water a Flower Day? Make sure you're watering your thirsty plants during what's looking like a very hot summer!

The 2012 Fringe Festival kicks off tonight! Performances don't begin until Wednesday, but the Fringe folks start this celebration of freaky performance art with a party at Know Theatre tonight. Doors open at 7 p.m., and guests will enjoy live music from local Rockers (and house band for the recent successful Know production, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) The Duke Are Dead, drinks, eats from local restaurants and the kick-off of Channel Fringe Hard-Hitting Action News Update. This is also a great opportunity to mingle with everyone involved in Fringe and the local theater community — from actors to volunteers to fellow fans. A suggested donation of $5 gets you in the door. The party continues until 1 a.m. Here is the official guide with a full schedule and ticket info. Find our cover story on Fringe here.Brazee Street Studios is home to more than 25 artist studios, a school of glass and an art gallery, and the Oakley organization also offers tons of art classes for newbies and pros alike. Tonight from 5-7 p.m., budding artists will make fused glass channel plates in an introductory class. Put a little creative juice in your Tuesday. Admission is $65. If you haven't already registered, go here to check out more upcoming art classes.Also offering lots of interesting workshops is the Civic Garden Center. If you've wanted to learn how to preserve fruit, jams, jellies, tomatoes or salsa, CGC's class Preserving the Harvest: Water Bath Canning is a perfect how-to. Learn about safe and efficient canning techniques and leave with a tasty product. This summer's garden harvest can last through the winter with these helpful tips. The class runs 6-8 p.m. and costs $15 (free for CGC volunteers).Check out our To Do page for more happenings and follow our music blog for daily concert info.