I just started dating this guy, and he's really sweet and cute and all that stuff. Problem is, he is very dedicated to his band and making it big in music. It consumes a lot of his free time and he works really, really hard at it, which is fine. The issue is I HATE HIS BAND.  

Dear Maija, I am a 30-year-old man with a decent job (almost six figures) and I’m interested in a woman at work. She’s about my age (maybe just a bit younger!) and we have a great work relationship. The thing is, this other dude just got run right out of the company for slapping a different woman on the ass after giving her some instructions.  

This eclectic monthly neighborhood festival (in OTR) goes global with the theme “Global Groove,” focusing on, as you can imagine, World Music. There will also be Drag Races aka men running in heels, unique shopping, a celebrity chef demo with the chef from the Iron Horse Inn, City Cellars wine tastings, a Christian Moerlein beer garden and vintage clothing from Megpie Vintage. Noon-5 p.m.  

If you don’t like kids, cultures, critters or crafts, I probably wouldn’t go to this festival. The “kids” part is up to you or your friends. Find some children and bring them here. And then the Zoo provides the “culture,” “critters” and “crafts.” There will be belly dancing, a Samba parade, live music from Robin Lacy & DeZydeco, a bird show, Menhdi art, face painting, a portable circus, create-a-craft, music from DJ Pillo, everyone’s favorite educator/comedian/folk musician Zak Morgan and more. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Zoo.  

Dear Maija, My friends and I recently spent an entire Saturday drinking Coors Light and whacking golf balls against a rental property. This week we found out that the owners of Coors are super-dick Republicans who support awful political causes (I don't know what kind of run-in Pete Coors ever had with the gay community, but boy is he uncomfortable with it). How are we supposed to get wasted without feeling guilty?   

The St. Rita Festival, which has been going on since 1916, focuses on family, fun, rides, Texas Hold’em and turtle soup. Located on school grounds, the St. Rita Fest serves as a major fundrasier to help educate students. Live entertainment will include performances by The Remains, The Rusty Griswolds and After Midnight. Friday-Sunday.  

Dear Maija, I'm a young professional man, and I have a best friend who is a woman. She's also a young professional, and we've known each other since high school when we were the only students in the smart classes who smoked weed. We often enjoy eating sushi and shopping for fixtures that are very geometric in their look, so things are good between us.  

The LaRosa’s Balloon Glow, now in its 10th year, features as many as 20 glowing hot air balloons in every color tethered to the Moonlite Mall at Coney Island. They’ll be there, all lit up, from 8-10 p.m. for your viewing pleasure. And along with glowing balloons, there will also be live music from the Anderson Township Symphony Orchestra and the Bearcat Jazz Ensemble; entertainment from the guys who turn balloons into different animals and hats, stiltwalkers, jugglers and wake boarders; not to mention Coney’s classic rides. And, of course, at 10 p.m. there will be a gigantic fireworks display provided by Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks.  

Fountain Square takes their Saturday night movie event to a whole new level for this American holiday with the addition of live music and a whole lot of fireworks. Starting at 7 p.m., listen to some patriotic tunes by the New Sousa Band. After that, check out a larger-than-life screening of the 1996 alien apocalypse flick, Independence Day. And to make this movie even better, every time there’s a big explosion, the square’s going to be setting off some fireworks.  

Dear Maija, I flunked out of UC last month but didn’t tell my dad because he’s going to seriously F me up. I only went to college because my parents know I’m good at math and think when the economy picks up there will be many new jobs for engineers (they really think the stimulus package is going to work)...