This Just In

The music of Motown
Cincinnati Black Theatre Company is presenting a benefit performance of “A Tribute to Motown” Friday and Saturday, March 12 and 13 at Xavier University’s Gallagher Theater.
The show, directed by Don Sherman, relives the ’60s and ’70s through the music of the Temptations, Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and Gladys Knight and the Pips. Tickets are $35 for 6 p.m. reception and 7:30 p.m show Friday; $20 for show only. Call 241-6060 or www.cincyblacktheatre.org

Eat! Drink! Be Italian!
“Be Italian!,” a fun series of classes in la dolce vita, will be sponsored by The Taft Museum of Art and School AMICI. The classes in Italian language, culture and heritage will be at places such as Biagio’s Bakery in Clifton and Oakley Wine, where no bottle is more than $20. The Saturday classes start March 20, with the language of romance as taught by three young Italians, and finish May 1 with tips on traveling in Italy without breaking the bank. Call 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org.

Top chefs cooking for Kindervelt
What’s happening in Cincinnati will be delicious! Indian Hill’s Kindervelt 50 will present a cooking demonstration and luncheon on Friday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Midwest Culinary Institute. Observe the inventiveness of Cincinnati’s local top chef, Jean Robert de Cavel, and Bravo TV’s Top Chef Chicago Season 4 Winner, Stephanie Izard. Co-chairs are Sia Ruppert, Kristen Ackermann and Tamara More. Tickets are $65 and space is limited. Contact Sue Streit at sstreit62@aol.com or 833-4800.

’90 World Series champs honored
The 1990 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds will be honored on a limited edition Maker’s Mark bottle. Release of the bottle is part of the leadup to  Turfway’s Kentucky Derby prep race, the Lane’s End Stakes. The bottles go on sale Friday, March 19, and will retail for about $24. Proceeds benefit the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. A bottle signing is 8-11 a.m. Saturday, March 27, at Turfway Park. Go to www.turfway.com for details. The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will also host a grand opening celebration of its new exhibit: “1990 – A Celebration of the 1990 World Champion Cincinnati Reds” on March 25 at the museum. Reds Hall of Famers and members of the 1990 team will attend. Call 765-7923.

Who’s reading what?
Ever wonder what books inspire and influence top business leaders? Pencil in these dates for Mercantile Library’s “By the Book” and find out. March 9: Stuart Aitken, COO of dunnhumbyUSA. April 29: Jerry Kathman, president/CEO of LPK. May 19: Doug Bolton, publisher of the Business Courier. Programs, which include lunch, begin at noon and last for one hour.  Reservations required; call 621.0717 or email mercantileinfo@mercantilelibrary.com.

Kitefest volunteers needed
The sponsoring Otto M. Budig Family Foundation is looking for volunteers to help staff the 90.9 WGUC Airwaves Kite Fest on Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11, at Voice of America Park in West Chester. It’s noon to 5 p.m. each day and will feature kite flying, kite making for the kids, kites to buy, the Chicago Fire choreographed kite team, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo, and a food court. Visit www.wguc.org/kitefest.

CSO in benefit at Princeton
Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will perform a special fundraising concert for Princeton City Schools on Tuesday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. The concert at Princeton High School features the CSO’s principal trumpet, Robert Sullivan. Proceeds will benefit music education and instrumental music programs. CSO musicians will also visit Princeton schools and work with students.
The Queen City Chapter of The Links, Inc. will provide funding for students and families from Lincoln Heights Elementary and Woodlawn Elementary schools to attend.
Tickets are $10 for students, $20 for adults, $40 for family of four.
Go to www.seatyourself.biz/princeton or call 864-2061.

Walk Club forming
Walkers over age 50 can join a new Walk Club sponsored by the Hamilton County Park District. Walks will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:30 a.m. at Miami Whitewater Forest, Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve, Sharon Woods, Winton Woods and Fernbank Park. Kickoff is 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 10, at Winton Centre Auditorium in Winton Woods.
Sponsors are the park district, The Christ Hospital Senior Care Preferred Plus and the American Heart Association. Walks are fun and friendly, led by Park District volunteers. Call 521-PARK x 240.