The UC Bearcat football team has taken care of its Big East business and is two wins away from winning the league and millions of dollars and playing in one of the nation’s four most-heralded postseason games. The biggest game of the season — thanks to the ‘Cats beating West Virginia and Louisville the past two weeks — is Saturday against Pittsburgh at Nippert Stadium. If the Bearcats, who are ranked No. 19, can beat No. 20 Pitt, they’ll have lowly Syracuse to defeat in order to claim the league title and a trip to a sweet BCS Bowl game in January. With a great defense and about 16 usable quarterbacks, UC will be slightly favored to win, thanks in part to home-field advantage. Look for the century-old stadium to be “rocking” for the biggest college football game in Cincinnati in decades. 7 p.m. $35 adult; $20 children (limited availability).

Philadanco, also known formally as Philadelphia Dance Company, stands out as one of the country’s top primarily African-American modern dance ensembles. This weekend, Contemporary Dance Theater brings Philadanco’s powerhouse performers to the Aronoff Center for a pair of shows. Being a repertory company — one that performs works by various choreographers rather than by a single namesake leader — has enabled Philadanco’s Founder and Executive Artistic Director Joan Myers Brown to work with some of the best in the business. They are often compared with Alvin Ailey’s legendary company because they use some of the same choreographers. 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

This is neither the last nor the least of Arthur Miller's plays — although it arrived later (1968) and is certainly a lesser effort than the two seminal plays that elevate him to the very pinnacle of American playwriting. Now Blue Chips Players are airing out the piece in a sometimes rambling, mostly vigorous, ever contentious production that's not unlike beating the dust out of an old carpet. Through Nov. 23 at the Madisonville Arts Center.

The Jockey Club was Greater Cincinnati's CBGB's in a lot of ways. On Saturday night, the Southgate House hosts "Jockey Club Reunion '08: A Tribute to Shorty." Still-standing bands The Libertines US, SS-20 and BPA will be joined by reformed Jockey regulars The Thangs (a precursor to The Tigerlilies) and living-beer-can-targets The Reduced. Profits from a companion book will go to LINKS (Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids), which helps young people interested in studying music obtain instruments.

Don't mistake this production for "Wicked" (although surely the presenters hope that mega-hit show's magic rubs off on this one), but this has its own appeal, including dazzling sets and costumes by Tim McQuillen-Wright. His inspiration is the glamour and elegance of Art Deco Hollywood, in full bloom when the film was made in 1939, plus the stunning Technicolor hues that made the film a timeless visual hit. All of Harold Arlen's popular songs are used in the stage show (from "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" to "If I Only Had a Brain"). Through Nov. 23 at the Aronoff Center.

The wonderful light boxes of Matthew Shelton are on display at Northside’s NVISION (4577 Hamilton Ave.) beginning with an opening reception from 6-10 p.m. Friday featuring music by DJMCMLXXIII. Shelton’s technique for making light boxes evolved from a method that involves first incorporating photographs, then poking countless holes into mirror board. The effect is similar to tin-punch art, which can be used to make lanterns. Shelton attaches small pieces of color gels to the mirror board. When held up to a light source the effect is stunning. Tiny jewel-like rays of color shine through. Images such as the Vegetation Goddess resemble Aztec art. Some of his shapes could be mandalas or an Aztec calendar. His work will remain on display until Feb. 1, 2009. Opening reception: 7-10 p.m. Friday.

The desire for love is a fundamental urge, but perhaps as basic is the drive to remake the object of your affection. That's the funny and poignant premise of Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts' off-Broadway musical, which Cincinnati Playhouse staged it successfully in 2000; it's back for a second run in the Shelterhouse through the holidays. It's a perfect date-night show but also one for mature audiences. Tuesday-Sunday through Dec. 31.

Elia Einhorn got a lesson in music journalism with the release of his first album under the banner of the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir six years ago. The Welsh born/Chicago reared singer/songwriter found some interesting feedback in a local review. “One critic here in Chicago, who I had idolized and loved his column, hated it and the reasons he didn’t like it was he thought we sounded too much like other groups -- specifically Belle and Sebastian -- and he said it was too British a record for a Chicago band." SYGC plays the Northside Tavern Saturday with Cash Flagg and Nathan Holscher.

Antonio Adams, one of the founding artists of Visionaries & Voices, along with his mother, three brothers and sister, lost their home and everything they own in a fire on Oct. 24. Visionaries & Voices is a “non-profit organization that provides artistic and cultural opportunities for artists with disabilities.” In order to help the Adams family get resettled into another home, Rhino’s Bar & Grill (11473 Chester Road, Springdale) is holding a fund-raiser with live music from Ms Jaz, JAMSET, Encounter, Jeffrey Sexton and a silent art auction by V&V artists. The evening costs $10. And then on Nov. 22, Shake It Records (4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside) will donate 10 percent of the day’s total sales to The Antonio Adams' Family Fund (Hamilton County ARC, 801 A W. Eighth St., Suite 400).

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s delivering flowers to all the good little boys and girls. This year the Krohn Conservatory is celebrating 75 years of their Holiday Floral Show with An Old Fashioned Holiday. Designed by landscape-extraordinaire Tim Young, this season’s winter wonderland reflects the amazing history of Cincinnati through Young’s replications of neighborhood street parks, all decked out for the holidays. Visitors can spot new varieties of poinsettias on display along with traditional plants like pines, spruces, bayberry and boughs of holly … fa, la, la, la, la, la, la! In addition to the holiday foliage, mini Cincinnati landmarks and historic park architecture will be placed in and around the community square. Show is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Jan. 4.

Setting fire to gas usually isn’t the kind of thing your local fire department wants to see happen, but when that kind of flame lights up a hot-air balloon, people come from miles around to watch the spectacle. On Saturday (“weather date” for Sunday) the Balluminaria Festival will features a dozen hot-air balloons glowing in the sky and reflecting in the lake. There will also be carolers, musicians, balloon twisters, Santa Claus with Candy Canes for kids, model sailboat demonstrations, hot chocolate and roasted almonds. To avoid parking hassles, use the free shuttle service from The Parking Company of America lot next to the Greyhound Station on Gilbert Avenue. 4-6 p.m.

Procter & Gamble is known worldwide as a producer of soap, healthcare products and … comedians? Yes, you can add Fairfield-native Rajiv Satyal to the list of former- P&G employees turned comics. That list also includes, of course, national headliners Josh Sneed and Greg Warren. Satyal, though, is moving up fast. Satyal performs for the grand reopening of The Funny Bone on the Levee in the old Pacific Moon space. Both shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday will have SNL alum Kevin Nealon as the feature. $25.

The Jockey Club was Greater Cincinnati's CBGB's in a lot of ways. Saturday sees the release of a book commemorating the historic venue, "Stories for Shorty: A Collection of Recollections from the Jockey Club 1982-1988" (Shorty was the club's lovably curmudgeon bartender). Shake It Records hosts the release party, with characters and musicians from the era — including Billy Blank, Jimmy D, Handsome Clem Carpenter and Uncle Dave Lewis — expected to attend.