WEDNESDAY 05
Lovers of the written word rejoice: The three-day EMERGING FICTION WRITERS FESTIVAL hits the University of Cincinnati this week. Acclaimed up-and-coming writers Heidi Julavits (see Total Immersion), Victor LaValle, Keith Morris, Alix Ohlin and Josh Russell participate in various readings and panel discussions designed to celebrate the unique art form that is fiction writing -- and reading -- and its place in our reality-mad cultural landscape. The free festival opens Wednesday and continues through Friday at UC. And screw the emerging tag: These guys are already there. For specific times and venues, go to www.uc.edu or call 513-556-1826. (See Literary.) -- JASON GARGANO
FRIDAY 07
The election is over, but you still have a chance to exercise your rights. Vote for your favorite design piece in VERSUS -- A DESIGN CHALLENGE AND EXHIBITION at the Artery. The Art Directors Club of Cincinnati challenged more than 50 graphic artists to create collaborative pieces for competition. Artists convened randomly in groups of two, trading the pieces each week, round-robin style, each adding to -- or subtracting from -- their partner's work. Usually, the co-conspirators worked well together. Sometimes contention entered the competition, and artist pairs went head-to-head. If you only make it to one show before the Artery's space closes, this is it. 7 p.m.-midnight Friday. Through Nov. 29. 859-630-9529. (See Art). -- STACEY RECHT
FRIDAY 07
Love, murder and adultery -- that's the ticket. A new theater group, THE ART & DRAMA CLUB will perform POSSESSION IN THE WAVES by Aaron Delamatre at the Contemporary Arts Center's black box theater. Actors and 16 handmade, life-size puppets enact the story "in a house by the beach on the edge of time." It's a strange world where "people are blessed with immortality and cursed that their heads continue growing in size for as long as they live." I suspect the publicity is true: "like nothing you have ever seen before." For mature audiences. Don't miss the after-party at Publico in Over-the-Rhine. 513-345-8400. (See Onstage.) -- RICK PENDER
SATURDAY 08
We women can't help it: We over-analyze, over-think, over-anticipate for starters -- so it's only natural that we have an overabundance of thoughts to share, vent, scribble or sing. But don't tell Women Writing for (a) Change and MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir; they've already got it covered. Together the two groups have organized SOUNDINGS II, the second weekend performance (the first one was in November 2000) of music and words delving into women's issues, personal and political. Men are welcome too, I think, but guys, don't be surprised when you're blown away by this powerful voice. St. John's Unitarian Church. $15. 513-272-1171. (See Literary.) -- JESSICA TURNER
SATURDAY 08
A lot can happen in 24 hours. CSF actress Taylore Mahogany Scott is counting on it. With THE CYPHER, this talented fireball of energy has conceived her chanciest and coolest project yet. Named for the continuous sounding of a defective organ pipe, The Cypher is a 24-hour open mic showcase for the performing arts beginning at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at The Greenwich. All disciplines are welcome to partake, so expect a healthy dose of poetry, dramatic scenes, skits, musical numbers and coffee. Hey, as stimulating as the arts can be, a cup (or more) of Joe will certainly be in order for this must-see marathon. 513-221-1151. (See Literary.) -- BRANDON BRADY
SUNDAY 09
UNDERNEATH CINCINNATI, an ongoing series of video and film exhibitions at the Mockbee (formerly SSNOVA) performance space in Cincinnati's Brighton Corner neighborhood, debuted in August 2001 as a forum for local emerging filmmakers to show their work. The programs quickly turned into the area's leading avant-garde film series, attracting filmmakers of all levels of expertise from Greater Cincinnati and beyond. The latest Underneath program runs 8 p.m. Sunday and audience winners will be entered in the Best of Underneath Cincinnati Tour in early 2004. The Mockbee, 2260 Central Pkwy., Brighton Corner. 513-251-6060. (See Film.) -- STEVE RAMOS
MONDAY 10
Bred in Athens, Ga., and now living in Omaha, Neb. (to be close to the Saddle Creek collaborative), the duo
AZURE RAY came to wide attention last year after contributing to Moby's album,
18, and they've also put some miles on the van touring with Omaha favorites Bright Eyes. But the twosome's unique full-length,
Hold On Love (released through Saddle Creek), stands on its own as an entrancing fusion of drum programming, ethereal vocal harmonizing, a towering melodic sway and sweeping chamber strings. Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor bring their haunting and sensual siren songs to the Southgate House Monday night, opening for Crooked Fingers, whose frontman, Eric Bachmann, served as producer and arranger on
Hold On Love. 859-431-2201. (See Music.) -- MIKE BREEN
TUESDAY 11
Who needs Carnegie Hall? Several young musicians from Cincinnati will be taped in Music Hall at 7 p.m. for the radio program FROM THE TOP, which features musical kids from across the country. Tuesday's session offers a pianist and a guitarist, both 17, four violinists from the Starling Chamber Orchestra (from 11 to 14), and the Well-Tempered Pans Steel Drum Band from Clark Montessori School, performing Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. The show airs on WGUC (FM 90.9) on Saturdays at 9 a.m., one of 250 NPR stations reaching an audience of 700,000. 513-621-2787. (See Onstage.) -- RICK PENDER
