Hopeless Romantics features the romantic and feverish sounds of Mendelssohn, Berlioz and the "Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream." Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos conducts. Champagne bar in the Music Hall lobby before the concert. 8 p.m. $12-$95.  

The Harry Pickens Jazz trio plays your favorite love songs as part of the "Rhythm N Blue Ash" season. Submitted love stories and requested songs will be incorporated throughout the performance. 8 p.m. at Raymond Walters College. $10; $5 students.  

"Race" seems to be a buzzword in the media and on many people's minds these days, and the Cincinnati Museum Center is no exception. Their newest exhibition, 'RACE: Are We So Different?,' challenges perceptions about race and explores a variety of issues connected to that idea like how race differs from biological makeup, when and why the idea of race was invented and how race and racism affect everyday life. There will be lectures and community conversations going on in conjunction with the exhibit. Open daily through April 26.  

Get rid of your unwanted clutter, outgrown clothes, used books, toys and other household items at this giant free swap meet. Bring in at least two contributions of your own, which will be sorted by category, and then start grabbing for others. Grab stuff you need and get rid of the stuff you don’t. This event is a great way to redistribute useful items throughout the community. Any items not taken at the end of the day will be donated to charity. Note: If you have a really, really big item, like a piece of furniture, bring in a picture to put on the oversize board. The event takes places at the North Presbyterian Church. Noon-4 p.m.  

'The Nina Variations' is a funny and poignant study on the final scene of Anton Chekhov's 'The Seagull,' offering 43 different variations on the play's famous final scene. It's being presented concurrently with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's production of 'The Seagull' on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, featuring the Cincinnati Playhouse's acting intern company. Through Feb. 9.  

It's time to celebrate! Get in on the Obamaction by attending any of the myriad parties going on around the Queen City on Inauguration Day. Start the festivities off right with a viewing party and carry the patriotic fun on into the night by stopping by some local bars.  

The Tranny Roadshow has been delighting audiences across North America since 2005 by exploring gender identity using witty, multimedia performances. Myriad transgender artists will be on hand to explore what it means to be you and me. There will be musicians, humorists, spoken word artists, a magician and a puppeteer all using performance art as a form of community outreach and activism. 7 p.m. in room 427 of the Engineering Research Center on the University of Cincinnati campus.  

It's time to celebrate! Get in on the Obamaction by attending any of the myriad parties going on around the Queen City on Inauguration Day. Start the festivities off right with a viewing party and carry the patriotic fun on into the night by stopping by some local bars.  

According to a yearly study from Central Connecticut State University, Cincinnati is (surprisingly) tied with Portland, Ore. for the prestigious title of 10th most literate city in America (Minneapolis and Seattle are tied for first). This is probably because of our great alternative weekly papers like the one you’re reading right now and assorted other things like the Mercantile Library. This membership-only library is a cultural institution that seeks to advance interest in the written word and to celebrate literary achievement. It is also home to The Walnut Street Poetry Society, founded in 2004, which is devoted to the reading and study of poetry. Kick off the 2009 season with a noon session of readings by Kathy Y. Wilson, former CityBeater, current senior editor at Cincinnati Magazine and author of Your Negro Tour Guide, as well as Michael Haney, associate artistic director of the Playhouse in the Park.  

Floyd “Freshdaily” Johnson is a ubiquitous man in Cincinnati’s party scene. He’s the networker, the guy with the nickname who knows what’s going on every night of the week. Floyd supports any and all events, from art openings to house parties and shows at Northside Tavern to events at downtown nightclubs.