If you want to do something fun and get out of town for a few hours head for the river and enjoy these Cincinnati area entertainment options.

Seether and Flyleaf

• When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21
• Where: The Madison Theater, 728 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky.
• Directions: Take I-75 South toward downtown Cincinnati and cross the bridge into Kentucky. Take the first exit right across the bridge (Exit 192 Fifth Street/Covington/Newport) toward Covington. Turn right on Russell Street. Turn left on West Pike Street. Continue on West 7th Street. Turn right on Madison Avenue.
• Cost: $30 (day of show), $33 (advance)
• More info: (859) 491-2444 or www.madisontheateronline.com
• The Scoop: Seether is a hard rock/alternative act from South Africa and a member of the popular if relatively interchangeable post-grunge S-Club (also including Staind, Shinedown, and Saliva). Flyleaf is a Christian hard rock act from Texas.
• Verdict: Seether released a new album a few months ago, producing another reliable list of radio-friendly tunes. Flyleaf consistently produces crisp songs of tender longing that put you in touch with your inner 15-year-old.
• Worth the trip?: Catchy anthem-style rock providing a visceral release, which is traditionally the primary purpose of a rock concert, particularly if you are, in fact, 15.

"Glengarry Glen Ross"

• When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, May 15-17
• Where: Columbia Performance Center, 3900 Eastern Ave., Cincinnati
• Directions: Take I-75 South to Cincinnati. Take I-275 East. Take I-71 South to Cincinnati. Take Exit 9 (Red Bank/Fairfax) and continue onto Red Bank Road. Turn left onto US-50/Columbia Parkway. Take ramp onto Eastern Avenue toward OH-32.
• Cost: $20, $15 for seniors, $12 for students
• More info: (513) 321-9050 or www.newedgecliff.com
• The Scoop: This David Mamet play was adapted into an acclaimed, well-known 1992 film starring Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Al Pacino and a pre-superstar Kevin Spacey.
• Verdict: Using Mamet's signature rat-tat-tat dialogue, this is a chillingly authentic portrait of a group of aging and embittered working men.
• Worth the trip?: Especially if you've only seen the movie.

MOBO Bicycle Co-Op 2nd Annual Fundraiser

• When: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17
• Where: Off the Avenue, 1546 Knowlton Ave., Cincinnati
• Directions: Take I-75 South toward Cincinnati. Take Exit 2A (Western Avenue/Liberty Street). Take a slight left onto Western Avenue. Turn left at West Liberty Street. Turn right on Vine Street.
• Cost: $8 (members), $10 (nonmembers)
• More info: (513) 542-0088 or www.mobobicyclecoop.org
• The Scoop: MOBO is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization devoted to giving the community access not only to the vehicles themselves but also bicycle maintenance and education.
• Verdict: Food and ale are provided, along with a full lineup of live music to accompany the activity-filled evening.
• Worth the trip?: If you're a devoted rider and are seeking an enthusiastic, friendly environment with like-minded folks, you couldn't do much better.

"Isabella Rossellini: Some of Me"

• When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15
• Where: The Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
• Directions: Take I-75 South toward downtown Cincinnati. Take Exit 1E (Seventh Street) onto West Seventh Street. Turn right on Walnut Street. The Aronoff will be on the left.
• Cost: $36.25 to $66.25
• More info: (513) 977-4123 or www.cincinnatiarts.org/aronoff
• The Scoop: The daughter of Ingrid Bergman and the great Italian neorealist filmmaker Roberto Rossellini comes to Cincinnati to share her story and personality.
• Verdict: Although best known as a model and actress, she's also (as the program notes point out) a photographer, author, entrepreneur and — despite being born into "cinema royalty" — a plain mother.
• Worth the trip?: Yes, but this is part of the Smart Talk Women's Lecture Series, so prurient male adolescent recollections regarding her role in David Lynch's "Blue Velvet" are probably not welcome.

"Long Day's Journey Into Night"

• When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, May 15-17
• Where: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 719 Race St., Cincinnati
• Directions: Take I-75 South to Exit 1E (Seventh Street). Merge onto West Seventh Street and take it into downtown. Turn left on Elm Street. Turn right on Garfield Place. Turn right on Race Street. The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will be on the right.
• Cost: $20 to $26
• More info: (513) 381-2273 or www.cincyshakes.com
• The Scoop: Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical play is centered around the day in the life of his family, rendered dysfunctional by disappointment, alcoholism and drug addiction.
• Verdict: This won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1957 and is considered O'Neill's masterpiece, next to "The Iceman Cometh."
• Worth the trip?: O'Neill was among the first American playwrights to use realism, such as portraying downtrodden characters using authentic American vernacular. He could be seen as a forerunner to David Mamet.

Tantric, with Framing Hanley, Fosterchild

• When: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17
• Where: Bogarts, 2621 Vine St, Cincinnati
• Directions: Take I-75 South to Cincinnati. Take Exit 6 (Mitchell Avenue) and turn left on West Mitchell Avenue. Turn right on Vine Street. Bogarts is on the right.
• Cost: $10.27 (advance), $12 (day of show)
• More info: (513) 281-8400 or www.livenation.com
• The Scoop: This popular hard rock band from Louisville released its much-belated third album, "The End Begins," just last month.
• Verdict: A record label collapse led to nearly all the original members leaving the band (and thus shelving what would've been its third album). With vocalist Hugo Ferreira the last man standing, he rebuilt Tantric from the ground up. "The End Begins" was written and recorded according to the style and personality of the new lineup.
• Worth the trip?: Early indications report that the new album, predictably, doesn't sound like the old Tantric. Fans seem to view this as a bittersweet package. Seeing the new band perform live is arguably the best way to make up your own mind.

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Compiled by Aaron Epple