Soapicks February 23-March 1

Modern Spaces
February 23
Who hasn't taken a seat and pretended to watch the cardboard television, or sprawled out on the bed in one of Ikea's pre-fabricated rooms? Well if you like taking strolls through Ikea to get room design ideas, then you'll love the special exhibit moving into the University of Cincinnati this weekend. See pioneering corporate interior design from architect and designer, Florence Knoll, in Florence Knoll: Defining Modern. This exhibit features pieces from Knoll's personal collection, assemblages that would go on to make modernist American design an international style in the 1950's. Knoll went beyond functionality to create interior spaces that combined spare forms with rich textures and vivid colors. Join UC for the opening reception for Florence Knoll: Defining Modern this Tuesday in Room 5401 at DAAP. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a discussion on "What is Modern" by senior director of Research, Strategy & Media at Knoll, Inc. and UC interior design alumnus, Tracy Wymer. Then stay for a reception that will immediately follow in the Reed Gallery. Exhibit continues through April 14.

Venetian Soap Opera
February 24
Before Iago was a parrot in the Disney classic Aladdin, he was a villain in William Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice. The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company proudly presents, for the 16th season, the story of the scheming ensign Iago who sets out on a mission to wreak havoc on his general Othello's charmed life. It's a regular soap opera in Venice when this sizzling tale of twisted love, corruption, deceit and bonds of vengeance hits the stage this Wednesday. The preview performance is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and the show runs through April 3; tickets are $26 adults, $22 seniors and $20 for students. So for the little villain in all of you, don't miss seeing one of the masters, Iago, in Othello. Click here for performance times and tickets.

Kings & Queens
February 26
There's the Drama Queen, the Diary Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody's Queen and the meatier, Sausage Queen. Yes that's right, the "Little Kings" Sausage Queen. And it's not too late to be a contender in the Bockfest 2010 Sausage Queen Competition - there are still two preliminary rounds left before the March 6th "Little Kings" Sausage Queen Finals at Bockfest Hall. The last two prelims take place this weekend, Friday at 9:00 p.m. at the Blue Bar in Covington and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday at Milton’s Prospect Hill Tavern in Cincinnati. All in good fun, this competition is judged on personality, presence and talent-all of which are open to interpretation. The competition involves an array of activities including very short catwalk turn while sporting a string of bockwurst and displaying admirable Sausage Queen traits such as a love of bock beer, a sense of humor and a taste for meat. There is no pre-registration, no admission and no restrictions limiting the competition to females - the only solid rule is you must be 21+ to compete. So ladies AND gentlemen, grab your bockwurst and get down to one of the preliminary rounds this weekend for a chance to be the next "Little Kings" Sausage Queen.