WEDNESDAY 8
Wednesdays are for fried Snickers bars! The South Carolina State Fair begins today and runs through Oct. 19, bringing with it rides, games and a holy host of fried confections, from elephant ears to fried Pepsi to the aforementioned fried Snickers. A brief synopsis of this year’s musical performers can be found on page 
52; for more information, check out scstatefair.org.

Wednesdays are for new movies! Need we remind you of the Nickelodeon Theatre’s Premiere Night, in which the ultra-swank indie theatre will be closing down its production of Lee Atwater biopic Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story — screenings at 3 and 6 p.m. — and opening up black-and-white indie comedy In Search of a Midnight Kiss with a screening at 8:30 p.m.? We didn’t think so. Midnight Kiss, by the way, has received generally favorable reviews, including one from ReelViews, which calls the film “wonderfully romantic and romantically bittersweet.” Call 
254-3433 or visit nickelodeon.org for more information.

Grammy-winning vocal group Chanticleer performs at Newberry Opera House Oct. 14.

THURSDAY 9
Thursdays are for headless horsemen! The City of West Columbia and the River Alliance present the opening of High Voltage Theatre’s production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a multimedia adaptation of Washington Irving’s classic short story. And while the tale does include ghosts and some decapitation, all parties insists the production is family-friendly. Bring: folding chairs, blankets, towels; don’t bring: food, alcohol. The production runs at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheatre on select dates through Nov. 11. Visit sleepyhollowontheriver.com for more information.

Thursdays are for chatting about China! The Columbia World Affairs Council hosts yet another of its Distinguished Speaker Luncheon Series today at the Palmetto Club; this installment’s guest is U.S. special envoy to China Alan Holmer, who’ll be delivering a presentation entitled “Economic Engagement with China: Why It Matters to South Carolina.” The luncheon begins at noon; admission is $20 for members and $27 for guests of members. Call 777-1177 or visit columbiawac.org for more information.

Thursdays are for free music! The Five Points After Five concert series continues tonight with traveling troubadour Joal Rush and popular local party band The Soul Mites. The concert kicks off at 5:30 p.m. across from the Five Points fountain; call 748-7373 or visit fivepointscolumbia.com for more information.

What do you mean, am I cold or just happy to see you?: The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series brings Salome to Regal Sandhill Cinema 16 on Saturday.

FRIDAY 10
Fridays are for torch songs, which Wikipedia define as “sentimental love song[s], typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, where one party is either oblivious to the existence of the other, or where one party has moved on.” Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services hosts TORCH 2008: An Evening of Music of the Heart tonight at the CMFA ArtSpace; the benefit gig kicks off with a reception at 6:30 p.m., and the singing begins at 7:30 p.m. The suggested donation is $50; call 779-7257 or visit palss.org for more information.

SATURDAY 11
Saturdays are for onions, chili powder, cumin and juicy ground chuck! The 14th annual Columbia Blues Festival kicks off at noon just outside of Five Points in Martin Luther King Jr. (see page 54 for details), but those of you who like your weekends less artsy and more fartsy are in for a doozy. The 22nd Annual Group Therapy Chili Cook-Off hits Five Points today, and cooks from the Carolinas and beyond will show off their recipes, any of which will make steam shoot out of your ears. (Well, your ears if you’re lucky.) The cooking begins at 10:30 a.m., but the most important part — the eating — begins at 1 p.m.; The Soul Mites, 88 Rewind and Lefty at the Washout provide the musical accompaniment. Admission is free, and so are the smells and tastes. Call 256-1203 or visit grouptherapybar.com for more information.

Saturdays are for lighting the way! Light the Way with Music and Art hosts its second concert to aid Midlands-area homeless folk at 7:30 p.m. at The Church of the Good Shepherd; the concert features the classical music talents of mezzo soprano Helen Tines, soprano Tina Milhorn Stallard, pianist Charles Fugo and bassist Klaus Schuermann. Donations are $10, and all proceeds benefit the Homeless Transition Center. Call 799-2881 for more information.

Saturdays are for opera! The Regal Sandhill Cinema 16 Theatre gets you as close are you’re going to get to the Metropolitan Opera in the Capital City, as the theatre screens a live broadcast of Salome at 1 p.m. as part of the Met’s Live in HD series. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for children; call 1-800-638-6737 or visit metopera.org for more information.

We are merely exchanging long protein strings! If you can think of a simpler way, I’d like to hear it!: In Search of a Midnight Kiss opens tonight at the Nickelodeon Theatre.

SUNDAY 12
Sundays, too, are for opera! The East Village Opera Company combines the electric sounds of powerhouse rock with classic opera arias, infusing some much needed sturm und drang into works by Puccini, Bizet, Rigoletto and more. The nine-piece rock-opera outfit comes to the Newberry Opera House at 7 p.m.; tickets are $35. Call 803-276-6264 or visit newberryoperahouse.com for tickets and more information.

Sundays are for chamber music! Local alt-chamber colossus The Upton Trio debuts new compositions during its performance at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, which begins at 4 p.m. Admission is free; call 779-0030 for more information.

MONDAY 13
Mondays are for going above and beyond the call of duty! That’s what Ed Artis, James Laws and Walt Ratterman do, taking desperately needed food and medicine into the world’s most forbidding yet naturally beautiful places, often at the front lines of war. The three middle-aged badasses are the subject of Beyond the Call, which screens at 6 p.m. at the Nickelodeon Theatre as part of the Southern Circuit film series. Call 254-3433 or visit nickelodeon.org for more information.

We’re gonna make Puccini squeal like a pig!: The East Village Opera Company performs at the Newberry Opera House on Sunday.

TUESDAY 14
Tuesdays are for vocal music! The University of South Carolina Graduate Vocal Ensemble performs at 5:30 p.m. at the School of Music Recital Hall. The performace is free; call 777-5369 for more information. Out Newberry way, Grammy-winning 12-piece vocal group Chanticleer takes the stage at the Newberry Opera House at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35; call 803-276-6264 or visit newberryoperahouse.com for more information.

WEDNESDAY 15
Wednesdays are for the devastating tuffoons of unbridled karaorgasms! Yes, reader, the mid-week hump is much easier to get over with a visit to Art Bar for Mr. B’s Goodtime Karaoke Explosions. The doubleplus whirlwind goodtimes begin circa 9 p.m., and admission is free. Call 929-0198 or visit artbarsc.com for more information.