There is a ventriloquist convention in town this week. Seriously! The Vent Haven ConVENTion takes over Cincinnati Airport Marriott daily through Saturday, and it’s got a full bill. Learn about the art of ventriloquism, browse puppets from dozens of vendors and enjoy entertainment from pros (the convention culminates with comedian Jeff Dunham speaking Saturday afternoon). The event is a product of Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, the only ventriloquist museum in the world.

If you want to skip the creepy puppets and cut straight to the comedy, see Dunham tonight at The Bank of Kentucky Center. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $47.40.

It’s Founders Brewing Co. Night at The Lackman, where three Founders’ beers will be tapped: Devil Dancer triple IPA, All Day IPA session ale and Dry Hopped Pale Ale. Swing by after work to give ‘em a taste.

Over in Northside is Projectmill’s Slurring Bee at Mayday. Sign up at 9 p.m. and pay $5 to compete. It’s pretty simple: take a shot, spell a word. Every word you spell correctly grants you another shot. It’s like an alcoholic workout for your cranium!

You don’t need to stay in the city to have a fun Thursday — the Warren County Fair keeps truckin’ tonight with harness racing at 6 p.m., "Warren County Has Talent" at 7 p.m. and karaoke at 9 p.m. Admission tonight is $15 per carload.

Tonight and Friday, the CAC offers the rare chance to see a multimedia performance piece about LGBTQ oppression in Uganda. Artist Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine combines photographs, video and live performance in A Missionary Position  to portray the homophobia running rampant in Uganda, through a wide scope of perspectives. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20, $14 for members.

Popular PBS series and appraisal show pioneer Antiques Roadshow has come to Cincinnati to film an episode locally. Film crews can be seen at various area landmarks such as Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the American Sign Museum and the appraisal site, Duke Energy Convention Center.

Host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Lark Manson were scheduled to visit the zoo today to discuss the rhino population crisis and its relation to antique trading. The crew will stop by the American Sign Museum Friday with Walberg and appraiser Leila Dunbar to cover 20th century vintage signage and get some vibrant shots of the local attraction.

Saturday is the big day for the lucky 6,000 expected guests in attendance. From 8 a.m.-5 p.m., more than 70 appraisers will be on-site at the Duke Energy Center to assess the value of more than 12,000 vintage toys, antique furniture, knick-knacks and plenty of other items. Of all stops on Antiques Roadshow's six-city tour, Cincinnati's show received that highest number of ticket requests (more than 37,000). Antiques Roadshow attendees are selected at random prior to the event.

The episode is set to air on PBS in 2013. The show previously filmed an episode in Cincinnati in 1998.

Watch July 21st, 2012 -- ROADSHOW Comes to Cincinnati, OH! on PBS. See more from Antiques Roadshow.

If you’re still upset you couldn’t make it to San Diego’s epic Comic-Con this year, share your woes with other local lovers of SciFi, fantasy TV shows and literature, comics and more at Cincinnati Geek Club. The informal group meets at Roxx Electrocafe from 6-9 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month. All nerds welcome! Find more geeky-chic events and meetups from Pandora Promotions here.

The Warren County Fair kicked off Tuesday in Lebanon, and tonight’s activities include a garden tractor pull at 6 p.m. Get your fill of corn dogs and funnel cakes, Ferris wheels and farm animals through Saturday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Tickets are $8 (kids 12 and younger get free admission). Yehaw!

The Newport Secret Six perform on Fountain Square as part of Reggae Wednesdays. Grab a snack or an icy beverage and relax to some island jams from 7-10 p.m. The free, weekly concert continues every Wednesday through Aug. 29.

The World Choir Games have come to an end, but Cincinnati continues to welcome talented artists from around the globe with this week’s World Piano Competition. More than 200 pianists compete through Saturday to be named champion musicians. Tonight’s quarterfinals begin at 6 p.m. at the Aronoff Center. Tickets are $12 through Friday; admission to Saturday’s artist finals are $17.

via kurtbraunohler.tumblr.com

There’s been a lot of focus in recent years on adopting green eating habits: buying organic, supporting local restaurants, eating seasonally, etc. Behind the Kitchen Door exposes an aspect of food/restaurant ethics too often ignored: the exploitations of service industry workers. The documentary, set to be released next year, exposes the "political, economic and moral implications of eating out." Read more and find the trailer here.

When I was 12, it was 2000. I had just been fitted with headgear, graduated from Hanson to *NSYNC, and my AOL screennamed had “pRiNcEsS” in it. And, obviously, I was nowhere as cool as Jeremiah McDonald, who was watching Doctor Who and creating a video for his future self to watch one day. Twenty years later, McDonald created a video where he "interacts" with his preteen self.

It seems everybody (and not just hipsters) love Instagram, the now-Facebook-owned camera app. And soon, people may be able to buy an actual Instagram Camera. The model's features include 16 GB storage, touch screen, social media sharing, filters (of course) and an internal printer, providing tangible, instant, Polaroid-esque photos.

And now, six-year-old Albert Roundtree's rapping debut, "Booty Pop." Warning: NSFL(ife). Although the director says it was all a joke, he stands by the decision to put the hernia-shakin' child in a pool with half-naked adult women. And fans, worry not: a new Albie video is on the way, called “Girls, Girls, Girls.”

The historic Washington Park’s renovations are finally complete and the eight-acre space is now open to the public! The new park features a performance stage, interactive musical fountains, dog park, playground, underground garage and more great additions. Peruse the grounds, grab a free treat from Streetpops or Taste of Belgium, and check out a free World Choir Games Friendship Concert at 5 p.m. Saturday will kick off a weekly program for children featuring interactive appearances by Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati Art Museum and more, noon-2 p.m. each Saturday. The park is open 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily and will host several weekly free concerts and other events.

Make your way through Downtown Middletown restaurants, galleries and shops for the popular First Friday Art Walk. Participating businesses include The Loft Gallery, Bella “a unique boutique” and Hollywood Dance Attire. Get your arts and shopping fix from 5-9 p.m.

The Newport Motorcycle Rally continues tonight through Sunday on the Levee. Mingle with bikers, soak up some sun and enjoy live music and games all weekend.

When the temperature shoots above 100 degrees, sometimes you just want to strip down and take a relaxing swim. At Paradise Gardens, nudity isn’t just allowed, it’s required! One of the city’s two nudist camps hosts an open house Saturday from noon-6 p.m. Go for a swim, sunbathe, go fishing and maybe even conquer some body shyness all in one day! Go here for more information, location details and FAQs.

It’s time for the monthly dance party at Northside Tavern, Projectmill’s Dance_MF. Saturday’s theme celebrates all things woman: Dance_FemmeF. Get down to some music by female artists and DJs and donate what you can to the Anna Louise Inn, a safe and affordable housing option for local women in need. Parties for a cause are the best kind of parties.

Sundays are for relaxing, day drinking and taking a break before the work week. What better place to spend this special day than Rabbit Hash? The quirky, tiny town, known to many as the “Center of the Universe,” hosts Folksiders Market each second Sunday. Vendors will be selling fine art, pottery, paper goods, unique found objects, vintage knick-knacks, food and more. Play with the town dogs, grab a beer or sarsaparilla from the wonderful General Store and enjoy a calming view of the river. The market runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

There are dozens of World Choir Games competitions, free concerts, events and workshops across the city this weekend. Find a full lineup here.

Cincinnati native Geoff Tate and In Living Color alum Tommy Davidson both perform in town this week. Tate made his national television debut this year on Craig Ferguson and recorded a CD/DVD at MOTR in April. His show at Go Bananas begins at 8 p.m. Davidson performs at Funny Bone on the Levee through Sunday; his show tonight also starts at 8.

With the World Choir Games in full swing, there are lots of performances around the city today:

Free Friendship Concerts (5 p.m., Bellarmine Chapel; 7 p.m., Schmidlapp Event Lawn at The Banks; 7 p.m., Village Green Park; 7:30 p.m. Newport on the Levee; 8 p.m., Blue Wisp)
Folklore Open Competition ($15-$40, 4 p.m. Aronoff Center)
Musica Sacra Celebration Concert ($28-$42, 7:30 p.m., Fountain Square)
Youth Choirs of Equal Voices Open Competition ($15-$40, 7:30 p.m., School for Creative and Performing Arts - SCPA)
Global Harmony Celebration Concert ($28-$42, 7:30 p.m., Cincinnati Masonic Center)
Folklore Champions Competition ($15-$40, 8 p.m. SCPA).

Go here for a full schedule of WCG concerts, competitions and events.

Going even further back into my embarrassing past, my inner 10-year-old squealed with glee with the announcement of a Spice Girls musical: Viva Forever. If you missed out on the Girls’ 2007-2008 reunion tour, you can see all five reunited on stage in London this December. Related: For a period of several months, I would sign my name and only answer to Posh Kern at home.

In more ‘90s dance-pop music news, music video experimenters cdza created a tribute to the ABBA of my generation, Sweden’s Ace of Base. With the help from some very talented upright bass players, they produced Aces of Bass:

Back in May, photographers were invited to the 2012 Team USA Media Summit to get some shots of the country's finest athletes. With the Olympics less than a month away, these photos have been released and — wait a minute, these were taken by a professional? Yeah, they’re pretty awful and people, especially photographers, are pissed.

Apparently, a lot of people don’t see the harm in tweeting photos of their debit cards.

Since Adele is knocked up, she’s outsourced her talent to this adorable pooch. I give you Pawdele, “Digging in the Deep”

And just for reference, here’s the original. Uncanny.

What better weekend for the opening of an exhibit called Fly Your Own Freak Flag? Northside's Thunder-Sky, Inc. will display 60 flags created by funky artists from across the city, country and world, beginning with a reception from 6-10 p.m. Friday. The exhibit runs through Aug. 11 and some flags will be featured in Wednesday's Northside Fourth of July Parade.

The Contemporary Arts Center hosts an interactive film screening and dance party Saturday at 9 p.m. Set to the music from Girl Talk's All Day album, Girl Walk / / All Day is a long-form music video follows three dancers in New York City. After you watch the pros turn the urban landscape into their own stage, bust out your own moves at a DJ dance party. Arrive early for a pre-screening dance class at 8 p.m., where choreographer Heather Britt will teach the routines seen in Girl Walk. Doors open at 7:30. Free for members, all others pay CAC admission.

In September 2011, ArtWorks was awarded funds from ArtPlace, an organization of foundations, federal agencies and banks that invests in art and culture programs across the country. ArtWorks put these funds toward SpringBoard, their business planning and development program for artists, artisans and creative entrepreneurs. ArtWorks celebrates SpringBoard artist-entrepreneurs, a new space and local creativity tonight with an open house 6-8 p.m. Check out the new digs at 20 East Central Pkwy.

Across the river, the Friends of Baker Hunt celebrate the Covington Art and Cultural Center’s 90^th anniversary at their annual gathering tonight. Members of this auxiliary organization and anyone who has special memories about the center or wants to get involved is welcome to attend a 6 p.m. meeting followed by a potluck dinner with music by the Cincinnati Chamber String Quartet. Bring a dish to share and be sure to RSVP to info@bakerhunt.com or call 859-431-0020. The Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center offers classes in language, yoga, dance, photography and more for kids and adults.

Ready to get in Pride mode? After you check out our Pride Issue (complete with a LGBTQ year in review timeline, stories and official Pride 2012 guide), mosey downtown to Shooters’s Young Buck night beginning at 10 p.m. Thursdays mean nothing but dance music at this no-frills watering hole, so saddle up for a fun night. David DeWitt will have a special Technicolor projection Pride photo booth — strike a pose!

It may be hot outside, but Live After Five at The Banks has icy beverages and cool music to keep you lifted after work tonight. Freedom Way downtown turns into a free street festival every-other Thursday from 5-8 p.m. Tonight, the Pinstripes perform. Nearby, Son del Caribe takes over Fountain Square for Thursday’s free Salsa night from 7-10 p.m. Professional dancers are on-hand each week to help you with your moves. Afterwards, grab dinner or keep drinking at one of many surrounding bars and restaurants to keep the party going.

As part of that initiative, the city of Cincinnati on Tuesday announced an agreement signed by Cincinnati city manager Milton Dohoney Jr. as well as city managers of Newport and Covington, Ky., agreeing to allow licensed taxicabs to freely commute and transport passengers across city lines from July 1-15. This differs from normal taxi law, in which a Covington driver who picked up passengers in Covington and transported them to Cincinnati, for example, would be barred from picking up another group of passengers within Cincinnati limits, instead required to go back to Covington to seek business. 

Licensed taxi drivers who wish to take part of the integrated system are required to attend a "Hospitality Session" hosted by the City of Cincinnati, which will offer recommendations for interacting with international visitors and offer drivers World Choir Games schedule information. With completion of the session, drivers will earn a purple World Choir Games placard for their car, signifying their ability to commute across the river. 

In May, City Council voted to approve a number of changes to the Cincinnati taxi system, to be implemented over a series of three stages, beginning July 1 to coincide with the influx of the World Choir Games. Changes included increased fares, an expanded arsenal of taxi stands and improved signage.