There's a certain cache about artwork by a rock star; no matter how crude or naïve, it's surrounded by an aura that evokes the artist's music. Debonne Vineyards (7743 Doty Rd., Madison, 440.466.3485) is bringing together 100 pieces by "artists" such as Carlos Santana, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett and Jimi Hendrix in its Debonne Vineyards Rock & Roll Art Show, running from noon-8 p.m. today and Saturday, and noon-midnight Friday. There'll also be photos from sessions with Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, the Grateful Dead and Coldplay, among others, plus concert posters, album cover art and handwritten lyrics. The festiveness of the event will be enhanced by live music Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and the opportunity to purchase homegrown, homemade Ohio wine. It's free and all artwork is available for purchase. — Anastasia Pantsios

Thursday, March 22

Peking Acrobats

By the standards of Chinese acrobatics, the Peking Acrobats troupe is a newborn infant — founded in 1986. But the Chinese acrobatic tradition goes back a couple of millennia, giving deep roots to the troupes that have been thrilling the Western world since the middle of the 20th century. The feats they perform, predicated on stretching the limits of the human body or human bodies in interaction, spawned the currently popular Cirque de Soleil-type attractions, making similar use of elegant, evocative costumes and props such as chairs, hoops, balls and ribbons. The Peking Acrobats will do one 7:30 p.m. performance at Playhouse Square's Allen Theatre. Tickets: $10-$30. Call 216.241.6000. — AP

Buckeye Regional Robotics Contest

In the future, when the Terminators, Transformers and Cylons wage all-out war against humanity, you can say you knew robots when they were just cute li'l things. Be at the Buckeye Regionals FIRST Robotics contest at the Wolstein Center (2000 Prospect Ave.) to watch approximately 45 Ohio schools have a go at competitive robot design, programming and problem-solving. Components are uncrated at 7:45 a.m. today, and a "pit" and "machine shop" open. After afternoon practice rounds today, and opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. tomorrow and Saturday, contestants go to the judges, with 3 p.m. awards conferring honors for creativity, sportsmanship, leadership and other Asimovian virtues. It concludes at 5 p.m. Saturday, whereupon all mankind will be enslaved in the Matrix. Okay, just kidding about that last part — maybe. It's free. Go to grc.nasa.gov or call 216.875.9657 for info. — Charles Cassady Jr.

Death Penalty Lecture

The topic of capital punishment is too important to be left to right-wing AM-radio talkers, Texas governors, and drunk Southern white frat boys partying outside the death house (oh, there's a difference?). So today's Criminal Justice Forum at CSU's Cleveland-Marshall Law School brings in DePaul University's Susan Bandes to discuss the death penalty, especially in cases of the most horrific and unforgivable crimes. How should raw emotions, the grief of victims' families and public outrage factor in passing the ultimate punishment using "rational deliberation"? With DNA evidence exonerating many death row inmates on one hand and pay-per-view and Fox reality-TV executions seemingly around the corner on the other (Saddam practically got prime time), it's not a subject that's going away anytime soon. The 5 p.m. forum is in the Bartunek III Moot Court Room, E. 18 and Euclid Ave. It's free and open to the public. Call 216.687.2344 for info. — CC

Friday, March 23

PEKING ACROBATS Tell the kids it's like Jackass.

Chagrin Cinema Film Series

Submitted for your approval: a small Ohio town, frozen in time. Where words like "iPod" and "YouTube" mean nothing. Where movies are shot on actual wet-chemical-process celluloid film that you can touch, look at and see pictures through. Where Kevin Costner is huge, really. Look! There's a sign up ahead. You've just entered — Chagrin Falls, in the '80s zone. The all-powerful beings running Cleveland Cinemas have chosen the Chagrin Cinema multiplex (8200 E. Washington St.) to perform nefarious experiments on average moviegoers, subjecting them to a "Retro '80s Movie Series" on select weekends. What's the worst that could happen? (A return of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, maybe?) Find out when Field of Dreams unreels at 10 tonight and 2 p.m. tomorrow, with displays of original memorabilia from the Costner baseball tearjerker. Future episodes include The Goonies on April 6 and 7, and Back to the Future (with a DeLorean cruise-in planned) on April 20 and 21. What, no Gleaming the Cube or Porky's Revenge or Howard the Duck? Must be booked already for the Cedar Lee. Chagrin Cinemas box office: 440.543.2022. — CC

Sharon Allen

Growing up in Boise, Idaho, it's doubtful that Sharon Allen foresaw the day when she would be chairman of the board of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, one of the country's major accounting firms. How she got from there to here is a story she'll tell in a program at the City Club of Cleveland (850 Euclid Ave., 216.621.0082). Part of its Women in the Game series to celebrate Women's History Month, Allen will talk about how corporate culture can be changed to attract talented women and the benefits to all involved from drawing on a wider range of talents than simply those of pale males. It's at noon; tickets are $18 members, $30 non-members, and include lunch. Reservations required 24 hours in advance. Future programs in the series include Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, at the City Club at noon Monday, March 26, and women's tennis pioneer Billie Jean King at the Wolstein Center on Friday, March 30. Call the City Club for info and reservations. — AP

Saturday, March 24

Ballroom Blitz

As Dancing with the Stars has proved, anyone can dance, even Z-level celebrities. So if you've dreamed of sailing around a dance floor, as you gaze deeply into the eyes of your dashing partner, it's time to take that first step. Starting at 11 a.m. today, Playhouse Square Center is offering Ballroom Blitz Boot Camp with dancer Rebecca Sweet at its Idea Center (1375 Euclid Ave.). A series of one-hour classes will offer instruction on four different styles of ballroom dance: waltz/fox trot (11 a.m.-noon), Argentine tango (noon-1 p.m.), mambo/cha cha (2:30-3:30 p.m.) and swing (3:30-4:30 p.m.). Potential Fred Astaires and Ginger Rogerses can sign up for any one class ($15 each) or all four ($55), either singly or as a couple, by calling 216.771.4444, ext. 3338. — AP

Sunday, March 25

Seder Spectacular

This month's Family Day at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage (2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood, 216.593.0575) will be devoted to the upcoming celebration of Passover, which starts with the traditional ritual Seder supper at sundown April 2. The "Seder Spectacular" will include drop-in Seder plate-making for all ages from 1-4 p.m. and, at 2 p.m., actual get-your-hands-messy matzo-making, led by Rabbi Yossi Marozov, who will show participants how to create the signature unleavened wafers in less than 20 minutes. All activities are free with museum admission: adults $12, students and seniors $10, kids 5-11 $5. — AP