Meet a queen
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Queen Pageant is 7 p.m. Thursday at the Canton Palace Theatre. A queen and six court members will be crowned.
The court will represent the community at all Enshrinement Festival activities from July 19 through Aug. 5.
All seats are reserved at $20. Tickets can be purchased at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Canton Auto Club and Massillon Auto Club. For information, contact Kathy Lindenberger at 330-458-2056 or email kathyl@cantonchamber.org.
‘Iron Chef’ tournament
Food Network today begins its first-ever Iron Chef America: Tournament of Champions.
The five-episode series will feature Cleveland’s own chef Michael Symon.
The show will run tonight at 10 p.m., May 12 at 9 p.m., May 19 at 9 p.m., May 26 at 9 p.m. and June 2 at 10 p.m. Symon’s first appearance is May 19.
Pick up some plants
Secrest Arboretum’s Plant Discovery Day on Saturday is a great opportunity to find unusual plants for your yard.
The plant and art sale is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the campus of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Before then, you can go to http://secrest.osu.edu to peruse the list of annuals, perennials, herbs and woody plants that will be offered for sale.
Make time for one of the guided arboretum walks at 10 and 11 a.m., and let the kids visit the Bug Zoo.
Admission and parking are free.
Required reading
The latest screen version of The Great Gatsby arrives in theaters Thursday (with even more showings on Friday), with Baz Luhrmann directing and Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire starring. So isn’t it time to read (or re-read) F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel? It is one of the great American literary works and, in its magical way, difficult to capture onscreen. The Luhrmann film, after all, follows several other attempts, including one with Robert Redford in 1974 and a TV production in 2000. But Fitzgerald’s words are the foundation.
Smooth jazz duo
Come “Lay It on the Line” with singer/guitarist Rik Emmett of 1970s/’80s Canadian power trio Triumph at 8 p.m. Thursday and/or 9 p.m. Friday at The Winchester Music Hall, 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood.
Emmett is currently touring as half of a smooth jazz duo called the Strung-Out Troubadours, featuring guitarist Dave Dunlop. The duo’s 2007 album won Album of the Year and Group/Duo of the Year at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, and both Emmett and Dunlop were nominated for best guitarist.
Tickets are $20. Call 216-226-5681 or go to www.thewinchester.net.
