Improv Group

OUTDOORS SAILING AWAY Watch the oldest and longest overnight race on the Chesapeake Bay and then take part in a celebration of the St. Mary's College of Maryland Governor's Cup Yacht Race. The race begins tomorrow at the entrance to Annapolis Harbor and finishes Saturday on the shores of St. Mary's College. The post-race bash, with live entertainment, food and a silent auction benefiting Special Olympics of Maryland, begins at noon Saturday. .................... The post-race bash for the Governor's Cup Yacht Race is noon-11 p.m. Saturday at the St. Mary's College of Maryland campus, 18952 E. Fisher Road, St. Mary's City.

FRIDAY BALTIMORE SUMMER RESTAURANT WEEK STARTS: Close to 100 restaurants participate in the latest incarnation of this now oft-repeated tradition. Select Baltimore-area restaurants offer three-course lunches for $20.09 and three-course dinners for $30.09. Scour the list on the Web site to spot the best deals, then make your reservations and enjoy a meal at a restaurant you've never ventured to before. Runs through Aug. 16. Go to baltimorerestaurantweek.com. For reservations, go to opentable.

LOS ANGELES -- More than 150 clowns were expected to attend the New York premiere of Bobcat Goldthwait's new film "Shakes the Clown" and then march down Third Avenue to a premiere party.When they heard Shakes was an alcoholic clown, they pulled out of the engagement without ever seeing the film.Mr. Goldthwait -- who wrote, directed and starred in the film -- expected the clowns to protest, so he beefed up security for Monday's event."There will be no drive-by pie-ings from the clowns in the 'hood," he said last week.

InsideToday What they're saying Today's Sun Columnists Good golfer, bad husband? Should Tiger Woods be applauded for his high level of play at the U.S. Open after he left his pregnant wife in a hospital room after she developed complications? Sports baltimoresun.com/maese City Council slow to act If it's an emergency, why isn't there more action? The City Council takes on police understaffing. Maryland baltimoresun.com/marbella other voices Michael Sragow on `Harry Potter'Movies Today Junkyard SaintsThe band performs a free summer concert at Belvedere Square, York Road and Belvedere Avenue, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call 410-534-2353.

Christmas is a sacred day to many, a time to celebrate with friends and family. You'd think comedians would make fun of it at their own peril. But no less an authority than John Waters, an unabashed Christmas fan who will be bringing his "A John Waters Christmas" to the Lyric on Dec. 21 , says that's simply not true. Audiences — at least his audiences — love it when he takes on Christmas, Waters promises. The only stipulation, he says, is that he had better be funny. "If you're coming to see 'A John Waters Christmas,' you pretty much know what to expect," says Waters, who's been touring the world with his yuletide celebration the past few weeks.

Baltimore Improv Festival lineup includes The Amie & Kristen Show/The Kristen & Amie Show from Philadelphia, Nobody's Token from New York and the Lodge from D.C. "These are people we would pay money to see," says Michael Harris, artistic director of the Baltimore Improv Group. He's referring to the acts filling up the Creative Alliance 's space at the Patterson this weekend as part of the fourth annual Baltimore Improv Festival, which Harris also directs. "What's exciting is to see really the best performers from this region, the whole D.C.-to-Boston corridor," he adds.

The weekend of Feb. 17 and 18, drama students from around the region participated in the fifth annual North East Theatre Festival at Bel Air High School. The students and their teachers joined theater professionals and college professors for various workshops, competitions and performances for each other. Participating schools included: Aberdeen High School, Bel Air High School, C. Milton Wright High School, Clarksburg High School, Edgewood High School, Harford Technical High School, John Carroll School, North Caroline High School, North Harford High School, Old Mill High School, Patterson Mill High School and Towson High School.

Arena Players, Four Queens, No Jacks, a visit with four friends who, in the course of their weekly card game, discuss the challenges of modern dating. 8 p.m. Oct. 26, 801 McCulloh St. Reservations required; arenaplayersinc.org or 410-728-6500. Baltimore Public Works Museum, "Heavy Metal: Big Truck Day," featuring the city's fleet of big trucks. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 6, 751 Eastern Ave. ci.baltimore.md.us/government/dpw/museum/ or 410-396-5565. Baltimore School for the Arts, open house featuring workshops in dance, music, acting, stage production and visual arts.