Baltimore spoken word poet, LOVE. She’s one of the featured performers at an upcoming poetry and music showcase called Signs of the Times: Volume I

(Click here for mp3’s of some recent stories from the show. And PODCASTERS, click here for a link to subscribe to The Signal’s weekly podcast.)

• Poet Michael Salcman reflects on science, art, and the mysteries of the human mind. When he’s not writing sonnets, Dr. Salcman is working his day job… as a practicing brain surgeon.
• A conversation with novelist Madison Smartt Bell and poet Wyn Cooper about their current collaboration, a series of songs written by Bell and inspired by Cooper’s latest book of poetry, Postcards from the Interior.
• A story from Baltimorean Matt Fisher, recorded recently at The Stoop, a live storytelling event at the Patterson Theatre, about just how strange life can get when you’re forced to share a home with a complete stranger.
• And spoken word poet LOVE and event organizer Shane Tanzymore talk about what audiences can expect at an upcoming poetry and music showcase called Signs of the Times, Volume I.

This evening, The 14 Karat Cabaret presents another Shattered Wig Night, its regular showcase of avant-garde music and poetry. Tonight they celebrate the event’s longstanding featured poet, Blaster Al Ackerman, who’s set to publish a new volume of poetry called, Corn and Smoke. The evening’s musical entertainment features a husband and wife country soul duo called The Lockhorns, the experimental quartet Metal Food Brains and Babies, and a solo performance by Daniel Higgs of the band Lungfish. Spoken word performers include David Franks, Batworth, Megan McShea, and John Eaton. The show gets underway at 9 o’clock and The 14 Karat Cabaret is located at 218 W. Saratoga St. More information is on the web at www.normals.com.

For those who can never agree what movie to see, there’s something for everyone this weekend at the Johns Hopkins Film Festival. Highlights include Buckle Brothers, a documentary about a mentoring program that immerses at-risk inner city youth in the rodeo circuit, loudQUIETloud, a film that explores the lives of The Pixies shortly after the iconic band’s 2004 reunion, and a screening of 1977’s The Hills Have Eyes, hosted by director Wes Craven. As always, there are excellent blocks of short films, including documentary, comedy, and animation. The festival runs through Sunday in Shriver Hall at the Hopkins Homewood Campus. For ticket information and a full schedule of films, visit www.hopkinsfilmfest.com.

And Rodney Henry, rebel pie baker and former Glenmont Popes’ frontman, has announced that his Canton-based business, Dangerously Delicious Pies, is moving to better digs in West Baltimore. He’s going out in style this Sunday with one final pie shop rock ‘n roll show blowout. Eddie Spaghetti of The Supersuckers performs, and he’s also raffling off an IPOD shuffle programmed by his band. The show kicks off at 2, and Eddie goes on at 4. Dangerously Delicious Pies is located at 2400 Fleet Street… for now. For more information visit www.dangerouspies.com.