Photo By Michael Chanak

Pride Alive Festival

Alive and Well
People will be out for this weekend's festivities -- quite literally -- at the eighth annual PRIDE ALIVE FESTIVAL. This is the third year that the Gay and Lesbian Community Center has taken the reins of the festival, and like past years it promises to be a colorful affair.

Here's a quick preview: drag sumo wrestling, a parade, live DJs, queer Twister and ostrich obstacle races. Curious yet? We sure are.

Harold Keutzer, president of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center's board of directors, estimates that the festival could bring as many as 12,000 attendees. The Pride Alive Festival is the only gay pride event in the Tristate area to make it a multi-day affair.

The weekend kicks off Friday with the Fountain Square rally with speeches on equality, political activism and human rights. Things get a bit lighter and brighter Saturday with the Rainbow Party at Hoffner Park. From 4-10 p.m., XM Radio host Joe Bermudez and the Queen City Rainbow Band will be pumping the park with music. And, as promised, this will be the site of sumo wrestling, ostrich races, queer Twister and more.

Photo By Sean Rouse

Sean Rouse

Sunday's portion boasts a 1,000-participant parade where anything and everything should be expected: singing, shouting, floats, signs, marching bands and plenty of drag attire. Beginning at Burnet Woods at 1 p.m., the group will fill the streets of Clifton and Northside, ending at Hoffner Park on Hamilton Avenue.

The strength of Cincinnati's gay and lesbian community has been on the rise for the past several years, and Keutzer says this is Cincinnati's chance to get out and celebrate the vibrant diversity of the city.

"There are different communities within our own (gay) community," he says. "This is the time when they all come together. There is such an energy of the crowd."

The Pride Alive Festival attracts straight people, too. Keutzer estimates that 80 vendors will be lining the streets with information booths, nonprofit organizations and political activist groups as well as offering merchandise, art and other goodies.

Photo By The Libertines US

The Libertines US

So grab your heels, bring your best drag attire out of the closet (no pun intended) and join in on the action of the Pride Alive Festival. Info: prideisalive.com. (See Events as well as the Cover Story on page 23.) -- ELIZABETH MILLER

THURSDAY 07 FRIDAY 08 SATURDAY 09 SUNDAY 10
SEAN ROUSE looks harmless enough, and his slight drawl further masks the twisted angles of his comedy. On the subject of race for instance, Rouse uses the polite phrase the "n-word" in the course of his act. "I don't use that (actual) word. Some white comics do in order to walk the line, be edgy," he tells an audience. "I don't for a couple of reasons. One, I'm not a racist, and two, my girlfriend is black. She made me promise I would never use that word ever, unless we're making love. I respect that." He describes himself as "a sad, bitter, lazy, fun-loving, energetic stand-up comic," and he's quickly becoming a fixture on Comedy Central. The Texas native has appeared on Dave Attell's Insomniac Tour and most recently posted an appearance on Premium Blend. Sean Rouse performs at Go Bananas in the Festival Marketplace in Montgomery. $7-$12. 513-984-9288. (See Onstage.) -- P.F. WILSON

FRIDAY 08
While the Taft Museum of Art has long had a reputation of being one of the stodgier, antique-y museums in the area, lately it's shaping up to rival the Contemporary Arts Center in hipness. Along with a MySpace page and podcasts, the gorgeous downtown venue is keeping up its newfound en vogue-ness with Indie Rock performances (stellar local songwriters Eric Diedrichs and Peter Adams perform there for "Taft With a Twist" on June 14) and nationally-acclaimed singer/songwriter Erin McKeown (joined by great local Greg Mahan) plays at the Taft Sunday for the museum's "Second Sundays" concert series (see Sound Advice, page 40). On Friday at the Southgate House, local musicians will let it all hang out to promote an exhibition at the Taft of the marble sculptures of Hiram Powers, a Cincinnati-based artist in the 1800s. Playing on Powers' status as Cincinnati's original "classic rock-er" (get it?), CLASSIC ROCK: CINCINNATI BANDS SALUTE CINCINNATI ARTIST HIRAM POWERS features several of Cincy's finest Indie and Rock acts playing a Classic Rock classic (and a tune of their own). Musical artists like The Fairmount Girls, The Seedy Seeds, Wake the Bear, The Libertines U.S. (pictured), Abiyah, 7 Speed Vortex, Lex Paul Project, Little Billy Catfish and Wussy and will be on hand to indulge their classic Rock & Roll fantasies. Finally, a concert besides a Skynyrd show at which you can legitimately yell "'Free Bird'!" and not get rude stares! The $7 cover charge also includes a ticket to the June 14 concert at the Taft Museum. 859-431-2201. (See Music.) -- MIKE BREEN

Photo By Prudence Hunt

The Katie Laur Band

Friday 08
Opening Friday evening from 6-10 p.m. at the Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center is the third annual MAGNITUDE 7, a collection of 50 small works created by 30 different artists from around the world. The work selected came from a pool of 350 entries. After passing through a rigorous curatorial process only the most outstanding works made the cut. This show promises to evoke a sense of one's own physicality. With no piece exceeding more than 7 inches in any direction the exhibition prompts a more intimate viewing experience that invites a closer inspection and approach to the works. Being small, the work fits in many unusual spaces. Be sure to check out works by some of our local favorites: Paul Vogeler as well as Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates Kim Flora and Anna Kipervaser. The exhibition is located in the main gallery and the drawing room. Continues through July 6. 513-861-3638. (See Art.) -- JACQUELYN VAUGHN

FRIDAY 08 SATURDAY 09 SUNDAY 10
Back in the day -- the Elizabethan day, that is -- Shakespeare's works were performed in the Globe Theatre, which was pretty much open to the elements. Perhaps that's why we still enjoy his plays in outdoor settings. That being the case, with summer hard upon us, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is offering a series of free "Shakespeare in the Park" performances of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING in the days and weeks ahead. The first of them are Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park. If you live farther afield, fear not: Performances are planned from Williamstown, Ky., to Middletown during June and July. (In fact, if you know of a park that's in need of a performance, contact them; some tour dates remain.) Much Ado is a very funny romantic comedy about a stubborn man and woman locked in a battle of wits and refusing to admit to their mutual attraction. 513-381-2273. (See Onstage.) -- RICK PENDER

SATURDAY 09
Different forms of art media are all interconnected by the higher pursuit that is creating art. On Saturday evening, one art venue will help another as the Madison Theater hosts the Second Annual MUSIC & ARTS FEST for the benefit of Covington's Frank Duveneck Arts & Cultural Center. Enjoy an evening of Latin, Jazz, Soul and Blues performers, including Bekah Williams, Ricky Nye and The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers. Also witness a salsa dance performance from the Duveneck Center-sponsored Rueda de Casino dance team and a tap performance by Tyler Arlinghaus. A silent auction of donated original art, gift certificates and other unique items will take place as well. The evening kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased beforehand through the Duveneck Center. 859-491-3942. (See Events.) -- KEVIN MICHELL

Photo By CityBeat Archive

Opera Dogs

SATURDAY 09
The Cincinnati Nature Center turns its trails over to local artists from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday for MASTERWORKS OF NATURE, which pulls artists from around the city and asks them to make a work of their own while sitting amongst nature. More than just professionals, though, you'll see artists of all levels and ages foregoing the hike for the process of creation. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own supplies or borrow them from the Nature Center. Finding a comfortable and beautiful spot on the trails shouldn't be difficult. Children are especially encouraged to create en plein air, as Claude Monet put it. Mixing outdoor fun and visual art is an easy way to get kids excited about art -- they're even allowed to hang their finished work in the shop. It's an even better way of letting all visitors see process that is not tied to a studio, gallery or museum. Free for members, $1 for child and $5 for adult non-members. 513-831-1711. (See Art or Events.) -- LAURA JAMES

SATURDAY 09
While far from featuring every Roots/Americana performer in the area (that would take a week-long festival at the very least), Saturday's RIVERTOWN BREAKDOWN showcases a very healthy representation of that scene, spotlighting many of the very best players, songwriters and ensembles in the region. From the Bluegrass strains of Katie Laur Band (pictured) and the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars to the Folk from the prime instigator of the fest, Jake Speed, and his band of Freddies to pure Americana-eclectica (jug band the Cincinnati Dancing Pigs and "Dixieland Marching Band" the Cincinnati Zapatistas), the annual event is a diverse celebration of many of American music's most natural, organic genres, which paved the way for the later development of R&B and Rock & Roll. Other highlights this year include a special appearance by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler (of Over the Rhine fame), Gospel ensemble Bernie Franklin & Disciples in Praise and local Newgrass kings the Rumpke Mountain Boys. (For a complete rundown of performances, go to rivertownbreakdown.com.) It's not just all about the music, as the Breakdown is a benefit for ORSANCO's River Sweep, which each year does some intense late-spring cleaning of the banks of the entire Ohio River (this year's sweep is scheduled for June 16; check orsanco.org for info on how you can help). $10. 859-431-2201. (See Music.) -- MIKE BREEN

SUNDAY 10
Does your bloodhound look alarmingly like Richard Nixon? Or, with a little red cape, could your min pin resemble a mini Satan? Then it's time for your beast to unleash its inner Opera Dog. Sunday, bring your pooch down to historic Washington Park for the OPERA DOGS contest and the SECOND SUNDAY ON MAIN street festival. Dress your dog up to look like an opera star or one of the characters from the Cincinnati Opera's 2007 season line-up (Faust, Cosi Fan Tutti, Nixon in China and Aida) and you could be walking away with a doggy bag full of prizes. Awards will be given for best costume and best singing. And don't let the fun stop there! The celebration continues with a parade, more canine contests, live music from Jake Speed, cooking demos, a wine tasting, a Christian Moerlein Beer Garden and a special demonstration by the Cincinnati Police Canine Unit. It's free. And dogs in costumes are hilarious! The fun (and registration for the costume contest) begins at 11 a.m. 513-241-2690. (See Events.) -- MAIJA ZUMMO

SUNDAY 10
Curious art lovers will get a chance to look at the progress being made on creating a multi-venue regional arts center in Clifton when the first-ever CLIFTONPALOOZA is held. The Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) will hold the free event from 3-7 p.m. Sunday at the historic McDonald Carriage House, located near the intersection of Wood and Middleton avenues. The century-old stone structure is the first of the CCAC's renovation projects for future arts education and exhibition. In addition to tours of the facility, refreshments will be served along with children's activities and live entertainment from eight local performers. Free parking is available nearby at the Clifton Recreation Center, 320 McAlpin Ave. Formed in 2004, CCAC is a collaboration among residents, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, UC's College-Conservatory of Music's preparatory department, Cincinnati Public Schools, the Institute of Lifetime Education and several smaller arts groups. For more information on Cliftonpalooza, check the Web site at cliftonculturalarts.org. (See Events.) -- KEVIN OSBORNE