Does this say ‘love’ to you? Hear Eric Goodman’s story “Cicadas” on this week’s episode of The Signal

***THE SIGNAL AIRS ON FRIDAY AT NOON AND AGAIN AT 7 O’CLOCK P.M. ON 88.1 WYPR***

(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.)

• Many a florid metaphor has been penned about the buzz of young romance, but Eric Goodman may be the first to compare it a seething horde of insects. He joins us with a skeptic’s love story called Cicadas
• We learn some secrets about Baltimore’s notorious literary skeptic, H.L. Mencken, when we talk with biographer Marion Rodgers
• And from a legendary writer to a celebrated historical president, we hear about how a life-long struggle with depression came to define Abraham Lincoln, when we talk with Joshua Wolf Shenk, author of Lincoln’s Melancholy
• We also meet Bonnie Jones and Jackie Milad, co-curators of Los Solos, a new performance series that showcases the talents of female artists

HELPFUL LINKS:

Writer Eric Goodman

“New Lines from the Old Line State: an Anthology of Maryland Writers”

City Lit Project

“Lincoln’s Melancholy,” by Joshua Wolf Shenk

“Mencken Day” at the Pratt Library

“Los Solos” performance art series

If you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors this weekend, you might want to check out the opening celebration of Art on the Trail, where more than 20 local artists are exhibiting their open-air installations and environmental sculptures in the Winans Meadow along Baltimore’s Gwynns Falls Trail. Things kick off Saturday morning (09.06) at 11 o’clock, with guided tours and do-it-yourself art activities, and you’ll find the trailhead at 4500 Franklintown Road. More information is at www.gwynnsfallstrail.org.

The irreverent comedy Hamlet 2 has been entertaining movie-goers, but it isn’t the only game in town… There’s an original locally-written sequel to Hamlet happening on-stage this weekend at Baltimore’s Theatre Project. What’s a Little Death? is the name of this comedy that brings the murdered royal family back as reanimated zombies wondering what to do with themselves. It’s a production of the theatre company 3 Hands Clapping and shows run this weekend and next. Theatre Project is at 45 West Preston Street, and details are at www.theatreproject.org.

And Sunday evening (09.07), it’s your chance to Irish music played live by the highly acclaimed button accordion master Billy McComiskey, joined in performance by Liz Carroll on fiddle and Mick Maloney on tenor banjo. Other luminaries of Baltimore’s thriving traditional Irish music scene are rounding out the bill, and the sets promise to be followed by a monster jam session open to all comers. The show is happening at the Creative Alliance’s Patterson Theatre Sunday night at 7, and more information is online at www.creativealliance.org