Lawrence M. Glazer's "Wounded Warrior: The Rise and Fall of Michigan Governor John Swainson" has already won a Michigan Notable Book Award; now, the biography has been awarded an Independent Publisher Book Award.

Wednesday, June 1 — Pay no attention to the weather forecast: One way or another, downtown Lansing will be hot on Saturday. That's when the Lansing Board of Water & Light holds its 16th annual Chili Cook-Off in Adado Riverfront Park, featuring live music, rides on a mechanical bull and the 3rd Annual Duck Derby, in which 1,000 toy ducks will race down the Grand River.

Thursday, June 2 — In 2005, Jackson Browne released his Grammy-nominated "Acoustic, Vol. 1" CD. Three years later, he unveiled "Acoustic, Vol. 2." And now that another three years have passed, he's giving fans the chance to hear what he sounds like unplugged in concert.

The 2011 Pulsars were presented Monday evening at a ceremony held at Connxtions Comedy Club. The night featured selections from the nominated musicals, as well as an opening number — "Hell Block Tango," a parody of the "Cell Block Tango" from "Chicago" — produced by Chad Badgero, Chad DeKatch and Joe Quick. Among the evening's multiple award winners were Williamston Theatre's "While We Were Bowling" (which took best play, best director of a play for John Lepard, best actress in a play for Suzi Regan and best featured actor in a play for Edward O'Ryan), Riverwalk Theatre's "Hairspray" (which won best musical, best actor in a musical for Tony Sump, best supporting actor in a musical for Prince Jerrell Spann, best supporting actress in a musical for Amanda Whitehead, best featured actress in a musical for Tigi Habtemariam and best choreographer for Karyn Perry) and the Peppermint Creek/Riverwalk co-production of "Caroline, or Change" (which won best director of a musical for Chad Badgero, best actress in a musical for Tigi Habtemariam and best featured actor in a musical for Chad DeKatch).

LL Cool J has won Grammys, starred in TV's "NCIS: L.A.," written a fitness book and acted in such movies as "Last Holiday," "Deep Blue Sea" and "Charlie's Angels." Now he's got another title to add to his resume: Common Ground Music Festival headliner.

Don't call it a marathon — it's more of a Harry-thon. Next week, Celebration Cinema will announce the details on its plans to show all eight "Harry Potter" adventures back to back to back to ... well, you get the picture.

July 6 — If you need a refresher course in Hogwartian history before the debut of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two" next Friday, Celebration Cinema is happy to oblige. All seven Potter pictures will be shown in a marathon July 14, concluding with a premiere showing of "Hallows, Part Two" at 11:59 p.m. Tickets are $32.50 and are on sale now at the Celebration Cinema website.

The term "Lansing movers and shakers" might take on a whole new meaning Saturday, as dancers descend on the Capitol lawn to celebrate National Dance Day.

Young people who want to learn stagecraft just got a boost. Earlier this month, the All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre was awarded a $5,000 grant from Jackson National Life in support of its Guild Program, which trains students from 9- to 18-years-old in the arts of directing, ma...

Thursday, Aug. 4 — The Moonlight Film Festival continues tonight with the PG-rated animated comedy "Despicable Me," featuring the voices of Steve Carell, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig and Julie Andrews. The movie begins at 9 p.m. in Valley Court Park, 400 Hillside Court, East Lansing; live music precedes the film. Call (517) 319-6823 for more information.