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Despite the iffy weather, there's no doubt summer is here. To help you plan your movements throughout this celebrated season, we've picked a Hot Ticket for each of the next 100 days. We also nominate a Hot Spot for each day, which are typically free or near free (hence, no ticket). On selected busy days, particularly weekends, we've even given you several choices.
Of course, all summer, you can check out the sculptured flower pots on selected city street corners, delivered courtesy of the Flower Power folks (the same people who created the Big Pig Gig). And sometime this summer Cincinnati gets a new theme park: LeSourdsville Lake Great American Amusement Park, the former Americana that closed a few years back, plans to reopen.
It'll be a long, hot summer, so get out there and have some fun.
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
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Despite the iffy weather, there's no doubt summer is here. To help you plan your movements throughout this celebrated season, we've picked a Hot Ticket for each of the next 100 days. We also nominate a Hot Spot for each day, which are typically free or near free (hence, no ticket). On selected busy days, particularly weekends, we've even given you several choices.
Of course, all summer, you can check out the sculptured flower pots on selected city street corners, delivered courtesy of the Flower Power folks (the same people who created the Big Pig Gig). And sometime this summer Cincinnati gets a new theme park: LeSourdsville Lake Great American Amusement Park, the former Americana that closed a few years back, plans to reopen.
It'll be a long, hot summer, so get out there and have some fun.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 pri
