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Cincinnati has a number of theater companies, ranging from musical theater, to Shakespeare, to avant guard.  Many, if not all, have joined forces under the League of Cincinnati Theater. 

And, for the first time, they're holding a cattle call together.  They're accepting auditions for roles, and for technicians, March 17th and 19th, at the Playhouse in the Park, on Eden Drive.  Find more information on their website.

What is B-Fest, you ask?  It's a bad film festival, held annually at Northwestern University, near Chicago.  They lock about 250 fans of lousy cinema in a theater for 24 hours, and, and... and that's about it.  Well, that's not exactly right.  There's audience participation.

The audience mocks the movies.  Like an enormous Mystery Science Theater 3000.  It's not for everyone.  But, for those of us who enjoy riffing on bad flicks, it's a lot of fun.

This was only my second B-Fest; the first was in 2008, where I first saw the Olivia Newton-John classic "Xanadu".  I fell in love with the movie, and all its glorious cheesiness.  I also blame Stockholm Syndrome.

I enjoyed it so much, my friend Kat Steele and I turned it into a Rifftrax, a sort of DIY Mystery Science Theater.

So imagine my surprise, when today, I saw this poster:

More information here.

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So, what crazy/stupid/cool thing is next for me?  I'm jumping in cold water for the Special Olympics this Saturday.  And I need help, because it is a fund raiser.  Please give!

One of my foremost rules as a reporter is: don't become part of the story.  But, this happened, and I suppose, had I not Tweeted about it, it wouldn't be a story.  So here's what happened.

Wednesday night, just after 6, I decided to walk over to Neon's Unplugged for a beer.  I had just crossed Vine at Court, and was headed east and I heard footsteps coming up fast behind me.  Then, I felt a pressure on my back.  The voice behind that said "Give me your money."

I turned around, half thinking it was someone I knew. 

I didn't.  It was a young man, with his arm outstretched, his hand pulled back into his sleeve.  "Give me your money, or I'll shoot," he said.

"What money?"  I asked, knowing I didn't have a dime on me.

"Give me your money," he repeated.

"You don't have a gun," I said.

"I'm gonna shoot you."

"Okay, go ahead."

He took his hand, and reached around behind his back, as if he had tucked a gun back here.

"Go ahead.  Shoot me."

His swung his hand out quickly, and I hoped I was right.  I even flinched when he pointed his empty hand at me.

I took a step toward him, and he stepped back.  I reached into my pocket for my phone, and called the non-emergency number for Cincinnati Police: 765-1212.  Then he ducked into the gap between the buildings and ran off. 

The dispatcher took my description of the suspect, and sent Officer White.  A few seconds after he arrived, a deputy on duty at the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Public Library was there, and two other Cincinnati Police officers. 

The deputy got the description of the perp, relayed it back so they could check the cameras outside the library.

Officer White got all the relevent information, and sent me on my way.  But, not 2 minutes after walking into Neon's, he was there.  They had a suspect, and wanted me to I.D.  the guy.  (I always knew I'd get escorted out of Neon's in the back of a police cruiser someday.)

Long story short: they made an arrest.  Within 45 minutes.

Reflections: I didn't feel threatened, and I think he was more frightened than I.  (He was several inches shorter, and many pounds lighter.)  He could have actually had a weapon, but, I didn't think so.  Even giving him a head start, I could have followed him, to get a direction of travel for the police, but, he could have had friends. 

I've lived Downtown for four years, and this is the first encounter like this I've had.   Have I felt safe until now?  Yes.  Do I still feel safe?  Absolutely.

Returning to Neon's, at the end of the bar, I saw former City Councilman Jim Tarbell.  He got "mugged" a couple of years ago.  As I recall, he was walking to a City Council meeting when two youngsters stepped in front of him, pulled a knife and demanded his money.  If I remember correctly, he chuckled and didn't break stride.

There are a number of ceremonies and activities today to honor Dr. King, and his spirit of working for social change:

Hoxworth Blood Center has a blood drive until 4pm, at the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, at 1740 Langdon Farm Road.

Volunteers for the Freestore Foodbank are making "power pack lunches" for kids at risk of chronic hunger.  That's at Fountain Square, from 12:30 to 3.

The Occupy Movement, specifically, Occupy the Hood-Cincinnati, is holdinga  demonstration at the MLK Park in North Avondale, to draw attention to the foreclosure crisis.

And, Matthew 25 Ministries is distributing winter coats, to the homeless, and to anyone else who may need one.  They're dropping off coats at the Drop Inn Center, and St. Vincent DePaul.

Pardon the crummy photo, but if you've spent any amount of time in Downtown Cincinnati, you've probably seen Avtar Gil,, better known as the Hat Guy. 

This photo was taken around Christmas.  It was cold.  And as you can see, he doesn't have a coat. He's wearing a pink, child's blanket. 

I don't know him that well.  I don't know where he lives.  But, I'd like to get him a coat, before he freezes to death.  Does anyone know his address?