Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez {thanks, AP}

1. ACC Tournament
(Thursday-Sunday on RAYCOM and ESPN): If you’re not hardcore enough to travel to Greensboro, N.C., to see if Gary Williams’ Terps can win their first ACC tourney since 2004, I guess you’ll have to tune in on TV. The downside: Duke players won’t be able to hear your boos. MATT VENSEL, B

2. ARTBus Tour
Six hours on a bus is rough, no matter your destination. But we make an exception for the annual Evergreen Museum and Library’s ARTBus, with artist/indie curator Jason Hughes leading an insidery look at the rising stars of Baltimore’s arts scene. Stops include AREA 405 and the H&H Arts Building, and feature artist and gallery owner meet-and-greets and chances to buy artwork. Originates Saturday from Evergreen (4545 N. Charles St., Charles Village) at 9:30 a.m., returns at 4 p.m. $80 (also includes box lunch, snacks and receptions). museums.jhu.edu or 410.516.0341. JORDAN BARTEL, B

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Work by Val Lucas of Bowebox in Ellicott City {thanks, Val Lucas}

handy work ‘American Craft Council Show’
BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER
A big reason we love this show (now in its 34th year) is that we in no way could ever glaze a bowl to perfection, knit a scarf anyone will love or design a necklace we’d actually feel good about giving someone.

So, yeah, we don’t attempt anything artistic. This is the chance to live through the craftiness of others.

More than 700 of the nation’s top crafters show off their goods during the four-day show.

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nathan a. cooper and christopher ashworth in “playing dead” {thanks, Single carrot}

from russia with love ‘Playing Dead’
SINGLE CARROT THEATRE
There’s a little model U.N. action happening over at Single Carrot.

Working with Towson University and the Center for International Theatre Development’s New Directors-New Voices Project, leading Russian playwrights are setting up shop in Baltimore.

In the Presnyakov brothers’ acclaimed “Playing Dead,” a 30-something slacker makes his living by “playing dead” in not-always accurate police murder reconstructions.

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Hail, hail, the Mormon fundamentalist gang’s all here: the “Big Love” clan {thanks, HBO}

1. ‘Big Love’ season premiere
There’s an end to my TV drought (no thanks, “Jersey Shore”). And this season, the controversial story line about polygamy grows to include a controversial story line about creepy Alby’s closeted homosexuality. I’m breathless. 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO. ANNE TALLENT, B

2. CA Talent Show
We expect the board, staff and resident artists at Creative Alliance to be talented, because, well, they work at a place called Creative Alliance. So don’t miss this free night of poetry, film, music and “avant sound-scapes.” Oh, and there’ll be puppets and musical saws. 7 p.m. Thursday. 3134 Eastern Ave., Highlandtown. creativealliance.org. JORDAN BARTEL, B

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thanks, stock.xchng --- NOTE: NOT A CONTESTANT

We received a lot of holiday-cheer-filled photos, but there can only be eight finalists. Vote on your favorite holiday photo until noon Sunday, Dec. 20. The winner — and another winner as chosen by the b staff — will win a Nikon D60 camera courtesy of Ritz Camera and Image, as well as have their picture appear in an edition of b. Good luck to everyone!
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thanks, stock.xchng

You take all sorts of photos during the holidays. Why not win something for it?

Enter your holiday-themed pics in b’s holiday photo contest and the two best will win a digital camera from Ritz Camera and Image.

Pretty sweet, huh?

E-mail your entries along with your name, town, age and phone number to contests@bthesite.com by noon Dec. 16.

Good luck to everyone!

(Full contest rules here.)

Poe gets a fresh remix in “Poe Project” {thanks, Single Carrot Theatre}

macabre mash ‘Poe Project’
SINGLE CARROT THEATRE
Another weekend, another Edgar Allan Poe-themed event.

But even if you’re going through Poe overdose (Poeverdose?) this year, this one is worth your time.

In “Poe Project,” Genevieve de Mahy pulls multiple parts of the Poe oeuvre into a mish-mash of words and themes. The seating arrangement will transform throughout the play and actors will speak directly to audience members. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Load of Fun, 120 W. North Ave., Station North. $5 Sunday, all others free. singlecarrot.com.

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A bone-chilling sight at the Lantern Parade {thanks, The Baltimore Sun}

1. Lighting up Halloween
Before things get too crazy Saturday, check out the Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival at Eastern and Linwood avenues at Patterson Park. The festival goes from 3-9 p.m. Parade starts at 7:30 and there will be over 1,200 paper lanterns to light the way. creativealliance.org. ALISIA KRASTEL, B

2. Fell’s Point Haunted Pub Walk
Most of our Fell’s Point walks are haunted — by our alcoholic outbursts. Heh. Seriously though, this inebriated historic jaunt gives you the lowdown on spooked drinkeries in town. Get tickets early (21 and older). 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 28. $20. fellspointghost.com/pubwalk.html. JORDAN BARTEL, B

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Get the idea? {thanks, Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts}

Since Free Fall Baltimore is back, we could make countless Tom Petty-related puns.

Instead, we’ll just help you decide what to check out arts-wise in October. The free events take place through Oct. 31 at dozens of area venues (for a full list, head to freefallbaltimore.com).

Here are a few of our favorite FFB outings. Your bank account will thank you. And we’re guessing you’re thanking us right now for not making that Petty pun. JORDAN BARTEL, B

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Dan Dudrow’s “II Gatto Santo,” 2008, from MICA’S “Faculty Exhibition” {thanks, MICA}

profs shine Faculty Exhibition
MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART
MICA makes us happy. It’s like a blast of fresh artistic air in our sometimes-grimy cityscape. We also enjoy how students and faculty are given equal exhibition time.

After the wonderful “Foundation Exhibition,” which showcased work from first-year students, it’s the professors’ time to shine.

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