When you feel mildewed by the muggy midsummer, dive into the cool and crisp sounds of Grammy-winner Diane Schuur at Learning Through Art Inc.'s Crown Jewels of Jazz cabaret, or sit back and marvel at equestrian razzle-dazzle at the $75,000 Carl H. Lindner Family American Jumping Classic.

        • Crown Jewels of Jazz, the grand finale of the seventh annual Hood is Bigger than You Think summer concert series, will begin with a 5:30 p.m. reception Aug. 11 at Music Hall Ballroom.

        An expected 500 jazz aficionados will nibble specialties created by Chef Paul Sturkey. When the lights dim, Ms. Schuur and jazz artist Kathy Wade will sing.

        International artist and writer Carolyn Mazloomi and arts patron Barbara Gould will accept the 2001 Heart of the Arts awards designed by Tiffany & Co.

        Co-chairs: Joanie Lotts and Yvonne Robertson.

        Cost: $100 and $125 (includes dinner and concert) $150 (includes dinner, concert and a 6 p.m. Aug 10 cocktail reception with Ms. Schuur at Tiffany & Co., downtown). Deadline: July 30. Reservations: 242-6028. Concert: $35 at the door.

        Major sponsors: Backley and Gingrich Advertising and Time Warner Cable.

        The summer concert series was produced by gala beneficiary Learning Through Art Inc., an agency that takes the arts and artists into classrooms and community centers.

        • The $75,000 Carl H. Lindner Family American Jumping Classic, part of the 2001 Greater Cincinnati Classic Horse Show, will be a pas de deux of riders and steeds 8 p.m. July 28 at John Galbreath Field, north of Paramount's Kings Island in Mason.

        The 20th annual classic is one of the nation's top grand prix competitions and each year has drawn more than 10,000 fans.

        Cost: $15 (center seating), $10 (side seating) and children under 13 half price. Tickets at Ticketmaster: 562-4949.

        At 5 p.m., Grand Prix patrons will be wined and dined in a flower-filled tent enhanced with a strolling string quartet. Co-chairwomen are Edyth Lindner and Julie Myers. Cost: $1,500 (table for six, box seating and a champagne reception in the winners' circle following the event).

        At the same time, Hunt Club patrons will be served wine and a light supper on the patio. Co-chairs: James and Kit Petricone. Cost: $350 (table for four and stadium seating).

        Reservations for both patron parties: 369-3679. Deadline: July 21.

        The event will benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children and local scholarship.

Take a swing at winning a car
               Ready to take your golf swing public? If you're good enough for holes-in-one, you could earn new cars at the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati's fifth annual golf classic, beginning with an 11 a.m. luncheon July 16 at Maketewah Country Club, 5401 Reading Road in Bond Hill.

        Amenities: driving range privileges, on-course snacks and beverages, cocktail reception, dinner and awards ceremony.

        Amin Akbar is event chairman.

        Cost: $500, $1,000 community foursome, $2,000 corporate foursome. Reservations limited: 559-5440.

        Sponsors: Philip Morris Co. and Dillard's.

Beat heat with salsa music

        An expected 300 young art patrons will transcend the heat to the salsa beat of Latin X-Posure at the Taft Museum of Art's Hotter the Better, a Club 316 party, 8-11:30 p.m. Aug. 3 in the museum gardens, downtown.

        Guided by instructors, guests can merengue likemavens. sip cold beer from BarrelHouse Brewing Co., nibble tapis-like hors d'oeuvres and slip into the galleries for a cool viewing of the exhibition: Modern Masters: From Corot to Kandinsky.

        Cost: $10 members, $15 non-members, $20 at the door. Admission includes one drink. Information: 241-0343, Ext. 24.

        Proceeds will benefit museum educational programs for children.

        Sponsors: Cincinnati CityBeat and WNKU-FM (89.7 MHz).

        Club 316, a support organization of professionals ages 21-45, sponsors parties that complement Taft exhibits.

March honors champions

        A blue ribbon roster of amateur and professional sports champions will march through rows of cheering sports figures and fans at the March of Dimes' March of Champions banquet 6:30 p.m., Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium, downtown.

        CBS Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel will introduce honorees, chosen for contributions that “often go well beyond the playing field.”

        Honorees: Cincinnati Reds broadcasters Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall, Ron Grinker Lifetime Achievement Award; Danny Graves, Red of the Year; Corey Dillon, Bengal of the Year; Marc Rodgers, Mighty Duck of the Year; Xavier coordinator of academics-athletics Sister Rose Ann Fleming, Unsung Hero; Xavier men's basketball player Romain Sato, FDR Inspirational Award; Xavier women's basketball coach Melanie Balcomb, Coach of the Year; former Bengals Louis Breeden, Isaac Curtis and Bigg's CEO Pierre Wevers, Community Service; Olympic silver medal boxer Ricardo Williams Jr., Amateur Male Athlete; Olympic gymnast Morgan White Amateur Female Athlete, and Sue Boone, Healthy Beginnings Award for rearing children who became outstanding athletes.

        Cost: $100. Reservations: 769-3588. Deadline: Tuesday.

        Proceeds will benefit research to aid the more than 150,000 babies born with disabling birth defects each year.

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