Last Minute

        Free lecture: Marshall Mason, founding artistic director of Circle Repertory Theatre and director of Playhouse in the Park's 20th anniversary production of Talley's Folly (tonight is opening night), will talk about “The Role of the Director in Contemporary American Theater,” 3 p.m. today in College-Conseravtory of Music's Patricia Corbett Theater on the University of Cincinnati campus. Free.

        Free concerts: Margarita's Mexican restaurant/cantinas will hold free salsa concerts from 8-10 p.m. today. Hear Latin dance band Salsa Caliente at the Anderson Township location, 8112 Beechmont Ave., 474-4154. Salsa Caliente is a new 10-man band — four horns, four Latin percussion instruments, bass and keyboards. At the Margarita's in Erlanger, 3218 Dixie Highway, (859) 426-9792, Tropicoso will be playing progressive salsa.

        Matinee Musicale: The 90th season concludes at 11 a.m. today with Hamilton pianist Bryan Wallick in Scottish Rite Auditorium, downtown. Mr. Wallick plays music by Bach, Haydn, Liszt, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff. Tickets: $15 at the door. 961-0622.

        Folk series: Steve Carson's folk concert series continues at Grammer's (Liberty and Walnut streets) with a genuine living legend of the guitar. British folk artist John Renbourn, a veteran of the seminal band Pentangle and an acclaimed solo artist for more than 20 years, will perform 8 p.m. today. $15. 281-9195.

FYI

        PBS debut: The Cincinnati May Festival concert, taped last year in Music Hall for PBS, will air nationwide at 8:30 p.m. June 13, locally on Channel 48; repeating at 3 p.m. June 17. The program, conducted by James Conlon and starring the May Festival Chorus, Robert Porco, director, includes Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms.

        Big bash: “Life's a Gas — Joey Ramone's Birthday Bash” will take place May 19, when Mr. Ramone would have turned 50, at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.

        The lead singer of the Ramones died on April 15 of lymphoma. Since the band's demise in 1996, Mr. Ramone had kept a fairly low profile.

        His mother, Charlotte Lesher, and brother, Mickey Leighm, are organizing the event.

        In a statement, Ms. Lesher said, “In the weeks prior to his death, we often talked about his upcoming 50th birthday, and Mickey and I promised Joey that for this very special day, we would throw the best and biggest birthday bash he ever had. He is going to have that party. It will be a celebration of his life and music and it's gonna be a gas.” More info: www.mrli.com/joeys50thbirthday.

Movies opening Friday

        • The Mummy Returns
        • Nico and Dani

Coming Friday in Weekend

        Greater Cincinnati, with its river and hills, offers many dining rooms that look out over a scene that's dramatic, expansive, sometimes postcard-pretty.

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