Weekend Beat

Talking points for the weekend:

• Reds take on the Cleveland Indians starting tonight. Danny Cross discusses interleague play at my urging.

• Stop by Fountain Square before or during the game tonight and all weekend for live music, baseball movies and free ice cream.

• Several recommended music shows this weekend: Avett Brothers at the Southgate House, X at Bogart's, Patty Larkin at Molly Malone's, The Host (this week's Locals Only profile) doing the CD release party thing at the Madison Theater and more.

• Rick Pender has two live theater picks for the weekend, and Jason Gargano reports on the new movies opening today.

• For more recommended events, check out CityBeat's To Do picks.

• President Bush is being criticized for inferring that Barack Obama is a "Nazi appeaser" during a speech he gave in Israel, where attacks on Nazis and Hitler go over well. John McCain is being criticized for his hypocrisy in saying the U.S. shouldn't negotiate with Hamas, as Obama has suggested.

• Give your kids good local music for a change.

• Get out and join friends to oppose the Iraq war.

— John Fox