Last minute

        July For Kings: Be one of the first to hear “Normal Life,” July for Kings' first single, before it goes out to radio stations in July. The local band previously known as Swim performs today at Top Cat's, 2820 Vine St., Corryville. “Normal Life” is from their debut CD for MCA, due out in September. It's a 21 and older show. Doors open at 9 p.m. The music starts with Denial at 10 p.m. $5. 281-2005. More info about the band: julyforkings.com

— Ann Hicks

        "Love' in Dayton: Dating and mating games are the musical subject of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. The crowd-pleasing revue is being performed by the musically adept Human Race Theatre Company. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday through June 29. Loft Theatre, Metropolitan Arts Building, 126 N. Main St. (adjacent to the Victoria Theatre), Dayton. Tickets $28, seniors $26, students half-price at the door. (937) 228-3630.

— Jackie Demaline

Countdown

        Soulfest at Firstar: Firstar Center will stage Cincinnati Soulfest 2002 at 7 p.m. July 27, and Frankie Beverly and Maze, the Isley Brothers and Lakeside will perform. Tickets $27-$52 go on sale Saturday at the Firstar box office (no service charge) and Ticketmaster outlets, phone 562-4949 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

        This year's Jazz Festival held at Cinergy Field was canceled in April because producer Joe Santangelo had no corporate sponsor, faced possible headliner cancellations due to the entertainment boycott, and drastically slumping ticket sales. It was Cincinnati's largest and longest-running annual concert and held in late July. However, Mr. Santangelo called the cancellation a “hiatus” and hopes to bring back the festival in 2003 at the Great American Ball Park.

— Ann Hicks

FYI

        Paintings on view: An exhibition of Nora Sturges paintings, Disgusting Nature, is on view at Miami University's Hiestand Galleries, School of Fine Arts. Also from Miami, Ann Barrott Wicks, professor of Asian history has published Children in Chinese Art (University of Hawaii Press) in which experts in Chinese art, religion, literature and history introduce and explain the use of pictures as reinforcement of social values and as talismans to encourage the birth of sons. Ms. Wickhas also published in the areas of Qing and modern Chinese painting, including Painting Paradise: The Art of Ting Shao Kuang (China Books).

— Marilyn Bauer

        New magazine: A new arts magazine focusing on the written, visual and performing arts in the Cincinnati area is due to hit the streets this week. ArtSpike (www.artspike.com), a twice monthly published by Arie Vandenberg, who recently stepped down as manager of Xray Cincinnati, is dedicated to bringing “artists and patrons closer together and expanding general awareness of great arts and cultural resources in our town.”

— Marilyn Bauer

        Direct to TV: Director Billy Bob Thornton's long-awaited Daddy and Them starring Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Kelly Preston, Andy Griffith, Brenda Blethyn, Ben Affleck, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jim Varney (in his final appearance before his death) — will go directly to television, Screen International reports. Miramax shelved the film, which Mr. Thornton also wrote and stars in, for three years before making the decision to debut it on Showtime next year.

— Zap2it.com

Movies opening Friday

        • Cherish
        • The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
        • Juwanna Man
        • Lilo & Stitch
        • Minority Report

Coming Friday in Weekend

        Kid Rock: The rapper on traditional American music, hislastest CD, Cocky, Pamela Lee and more.

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