American Visionary Art Museum

Saturday is the day Fifi looks forward to every year. Fifi is the American Visionary Art Museum 's giant pink poodle-with-wheels, who once a year ventures outside to take part in what is clearly Baltimore's funkiest annual event, the Kinetic Sculpture Race . This year, some 36 land- and seaworthy vehicles, all strictly people-powered, will be taking part in the 15-mile race over land, sea, mud and sand. Like Fifi, some are designed to resemble animals; one of last year's crowd favorites was a hookah-smoking caterpillar.

Numbers and art typically don't mix, but both were on exhibit at the American Visionary Art Museum Monday. The Baltimore museum hosted a one-day seminar with PNC Bank on what artists need to know to survive and thrive on the business side of their craft. About 35 painters, musicians, writers and other artists attended the free crash course on budgeting and cash flow. Aspiring writer Carita Ellis-Espola was among them, driving an hour and a half from Harrisburg, Pa., to pick up financial tips.

"The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening had been signing autographs in Baltimore for nearly an hour when a fan asked him to draw on his body. Sam Gallant, a radio personality who works for WTMD and WYPR, wanted Groening to create an image of Herschel Krustofski — also known as Krusty the Clown — on his right biceps. Gallant said he planned to go to a tattoo artist and have Groening's handiwork tattooed on his arm. "Are you sure?" asked Groening, who came to town this fall to celebrate the opening of "What Makes Us Smile?"

Summer's almost over, your money's almost gone, and yet it feels like there's still so much left undone. What's a person to do? We can't help you with the money part. And much as we'd like to, there's no way to expand the calendar. But we can point out what you may not realize: There's plenty to do in and around Charm City in the waning days of summer, even with nary a penny in your pocket. Herewith, an itinerary for the thrifty, offering 50 no-cost activities to keep body and soul engaged over the next month or so. There's a lot to do, so get busy.

Outdoor movies If Baltimoreans love one thing during the summer, it's watching movies outdoors, for free. And there are plenty of chances for them to enjoy the opportunity. One, MovieFest at Cross Keys, ends with Saturday's screening of 2000's "Chocolat" at sunset. Another, the summer film series on Johns Hopkins University's Homewood campus, continues Friday with a sunset screening of Pixar's 2009 "Up." And more are starting in the coming weeks, at the American Visionary Art Museum (July 1)

Baltimore has been called Charm City and the City That Reads. Now boosters believe it's where tourists can find their happy place. "Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore" is the slogan of a $500,000 marketing campaign that the city's tourism agency, Visit Baltimore, is launching this month. It's intended to play off the recessionary blues, with one early web spot asking, "Has the economy got you in a slump?" Created by Baltimore ad agency Carton Donofrio Partners, the multimedia campaign aims largely to draw visitors from nearby states and the District of Columbia as well as other parts of Maryland.

The Johns Hopkins School of Education Neuro-Education Initiative will host its second annual summit and roundtable discussion on the practical applications of brain research on Wednesday at the American Visionary Art Museum. This year's topic, "Attention and Engagement in Learning," will explore current research on attention and student engagement. For more information or to register, go to http://www.education.jhu.edu/nei. liz.bowie@baltsun.com

Have you heard the one about the woman with the ham in the grocery store? It goes like this: A portly woman wearing an overcoat is walking down a supermarket aisle when a full-size ham falls out of her coat and lands on the floor. Fearing she'd be caught shoplifting, the woman looks around and yells, "Who threw that ham at me?" The story, which has gone around for years, was the basis for the new single by B-52s frontman Fred Schneider. Schneider filmed the music video for the song "Who Threw That Ham At Me?"

I t was a star-spangled night at the American Visionary Art Museum, as several hundred folks gathered for the museum's annual gala. Many guests followed the suggested dress code of "broad stripes and bright stars," in honor of the museum's current exhibition, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." "I need a photo with Captain America," said Diana Kim, a Washington-based makeup artist, as she spotted AVAM's communications and marketing manager, Pete Hilsee, in his costume, complete with foam rubber muscles.

The new storm has triggered a new round of closings and cancellations: Government and schools •Most area schools and government offices, including the state government, will be closed today. •Trash and recycling pickup will be suspended. •Mail isn't likely to be delivered. • Gov. Martin O'Malley asked residents to stay off the roads, and state officials will be quicker to close roads where there are disabled vehicles. •The city plans to continue towing cars from snow emergency routes.