The dog days of summer explained to you by the top dog himself - Byron Kerman. This month, lots of movies - indoor, outdoor, and sing-a-long.

That bluegrass concert at the World Bird Sanctuary sure was mellow – right up until the golden eagle swooped down and made off with my cheeseburger. I had a cow (Hee hee). Thursdays in August, check out Birds in Concert raptor flight demos with live music at the Sanctuary (www.worldbirdsanctuary.org, 636-225-4390).

Eric Victorino’s prose poems have been compared to those of the great Charles Bukowksi, though to be fair, Hank was a boozer nonpareil, and Victorino is more of a pill popper. Still, the simple retelling of real-life misadventures that belie perplexing moments may owe their style to that of the pockmarked master. Victorino, the lead singer of Strata, signs books, reads a poem or two, and strums a few acoustic tunes at Vintage Vinyl (Aug. 2, www.vintagevinyl.com).

You had me at “gooey-butter-cake eating contest.” The idea of ingesting a pound or more of this supremely dense dessert at a rapid chaw manages to simultaneously fascinate and repel. Watch the savagery and pray the contestants will keep it down at Schlaffenfest, a KDHX-FM benefit featuring the aforementioned eating contest, plus the ever-embarrassing air-guitar contest, and live music by national acts the Black Diamond Heavies and Bobby Bare Jr. at the Schlafly Tap Room (Aug. 3-4, www.kdhx.org).

Korean comics – are they as cute as Japanese manga? Or could they possibly be… even cuter??? No way. Way, dude! Check out Korean Comics: A Society Through Small Frames at Wash. U.’s Kemper Museum (Aug. 31-Nov. 5, kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu)

Thursdays in Aug.: Birds in Concert raptor flight demo with live music at World Bird Sanctuary (www.worldbirdsanctuary.org, 636-225-4390)

Fridays in Aug.: Jungle Boogie free concerts at St. Louis Zoo (www.stlzoo.org)

Aug. 1: Screening of Animal Crackers at Strange Brew at Schlafly Bottleworks (www.webster.edu/filmseries.html)

Aug. 1-5: Walking with Dinosaurs live spectacular at Scottrade Center (www.ticketmaster.com)

Aug. 2: Author of tranny coming-of-age novella Dahlia Season Myriam Gurba reads from & discusses her work at Left Bank Books (314-367-6731, www.left-bank.com)

Aug. 2: The Red Alert children’s White Stripes tribute band performs in-store concert at Vintage Vinyl (www.vintagevinyl.com); plus Eric Victorino of Strata performs acoustic set & reads from his book of Bukowski-esque poetry same day

Aug. 3: The Blasters play free in-store concert at Euclid Records (www.euclidrecords.com)

Aug. 3: Puffin Pedal 5-mi. family bicycle ride through Forest Park with special activities for riders at St. Louis Zoo plus bike-safety tips (314-416-9930, www.trailnet.org)

Aug. 3: Sadness and Beauty: Films by Kenji Mizoguchi series presents Utamaro and His Five Women at St. Louis Art Museum (314-721-0072, www.slam.org)

Aug. 3: First Friday Gallery Walk downtown (www.downtowngallerywalk.com)

Aug. 3: Elsinore performs in-store concert at Vintage Vinyl (www.vintagevinyl.com)

Aug. 3-4: Schlaffenfest featuring air-guitar & gooey-butter-cake eating contests plus live music by Black Diamond Heavies & Bobby Bare Jr. to benefit KDHX-FM at Schlafly Tap Room (www.kdhx.org)

Aug. 3-5: Tivoli Midnights cult series presents Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/St.Louis/St.Louis_Frameset.htm)

Aug. 3-5: North American Science Fiction Convention / Archon at Gateway Center in Collinsville (www.archonstl.org)

Aug. 3-30: Flight Risk featuring art by LJ Lindhurst, Timothy Meehan, and Jennifer Weigel at Mad Art (www.madart.com)

Aug. 3-Sept. 1: Jessika Miekeley video-art exhibition Airport, 2001 kicks off 24-hr. street-viewing series Next Door Video, plus one-night-only Aug. 3 photo exhibition on voyeurism Who Watches the Watchers? at Ellen Curlee Gallery (314-241-1299)

Aug. 3-Sept. 21: DIY Skateboard Deck Art Show at Drive Agency (314-436-8880, ext. 322)

Aug. 4: Author of The Secret Servant & bestselling spy novelist Daniel Silva reads from & discusses his work at St. Louis County Library HQ (314-367-6731, www.left-bank.com)

Aug. 4: 'Stache Bash 2007 "moustache festival" to benefit Challenger Baseball charity at Al Hrabosky's Ballpark Saloon (www.myspace.com/stachebash2007, 877-STACHE-1)

Aug. 5: Echo Theatre Company Hit Parade Karaoke Party and Contest at rBar (4054 Chouteau Ave.) with Hit Parade Posse of Beefcake and Beauties corralling the crowds in vintage 1950's swimwear, raffles & silent auction to benefit upcoming production of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, Imagination over
Limitations children's hospital outreach program, and their free
monthly play-reading series (echotheatrecompany.org)

Aug. 5: Cowboy Cabaret featuring burlesque dancers, live music by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra trumpeter & friends, plus pole-dance supahstars Gravity Plays Favorites at Atomic Cowboy (www.atomic-cowboy.com)

Aug. 6: Author of On Kingdom Mountain and Vermont scion Howard Frank Mosher reads from & discusses his work at Left Bank Books (314-367-6731, www.left-bank.com)

Aug. 7: National Night Out with canoe & hay rides, bonfire & treats at Spanish Lake Pk. (www.stlouisco.com)

Aug. 7: Author of The River Wife Jonis Agee reads from & signs her novel at Left Bank Books (www.left-bank.com, 314-367-6731)

Aug. 9: Experimental Art Thursdays at Mad Art (www.madart.com)

Aug. 10: Planetary Pedal family bicycle ride exploring St. Louis' role in history of manned flight, with finish at St. Louis Science Ctr. Planetarium Star Show & telescope fun (www.trailnet.org)

Aug. 10: The Hiberanuts perform in-store concert at Vintage Vinyl (www.vintagevinyl.com)

Aug. 10: Sadness and Beauty: Films by Kenji Mizoguchi series presents Sisters of the Gion at St. Louis Art Museum (314-721-0072, www.slam.org)

August 10: LOMA Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre concert series presents band followed by movie: Javier Mendoza and Shrek 2 (www.laumeier.org)

Aug. 10-12: Hot City Theatre GreenHouse New Play Festival with free staged readings at Centene Ctr. For the Arts (www.hotcitytheatre.org)

Aug. 10-12: Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival at Soldiers Memorial Pk. (www.hispanicstlouis.com, 314-837-6100)

Aug. 10-12: Tivoli Midnights cult series presents Dead Alive (http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/St.Louis/St.Louis_Frameset.htm)

Aug. 10-19: St. Louis Shakespeare presents Tom Stoppard farce Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoots Macbeth at Grandel Theatre (314-534-1111)

Aug. 11: Amy Stewart signs copies of Flower Confidential at Mo. Botanical Garden gift shop (www.mobot.org)

Aug. 11: Great Stone Hill Grape Stomp at Stone Hill Winery in Hermann (www.stonehillwinery.com)

Aug. 11: Grand Outdoor Summer Films Series screens The Goonies on the side of the Bruno David Gallery at 3721 Washington Ave., preceded by live music, with concessions (www.grandcenter.org)

Aug. 12: Hydeware Pre-Macbeth Fundraiser Extravaganza with Extraordinary Shakespeare Amateur Performance Games plus 7-minute sneak preview of upcoming 3-person production of Macbeth 4146 Flora Place, www.hydewaretheatre.org)

Aug. 12-19: Used Book Sale at Jewish Community Ctr. (www.jccstl.org, 314-442-3281)

Aug. 16: Elvis Birthday window display/concert at Blueberry Hill (www.blueberryhill.com)

Aug. 16: Author of Devils in the Sugar Shop Timothy Schaffert reads from & signs his novel at Left Bank Books (www.left-bank.com, 314-367-6731)

Aug. 17: Sadness and Beauty: Films by Kenji Mizoguchi series presents The Story of Last Chrysanthemums at St. Louis Art Museum (314-721-0072, www.slam.org)

August 17: LOMA Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre concert series presents band followed by movie: Ultra Violets and The Birds (www.laumeier.org)

Aug. 17-19: Mo. Black Expo at America's Ctr. (www.missouriblackexpo.com)

Aug. 17-19: Festival of the Little Hills at St. Charles’ Frontier Pk. (www.festivalofthelittlehills.com)

Aug. 17-19: Tivoli Midnights cult series presents Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D (http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/St.Louis/St.Louis_Frameset.htm)

Aug. 17-19: Safari Club Intl. Sensory Safari Wildlife Trailer Exhibit at Bass Pro Shop in St. Peters (www.basspro.com)

Aug. 17-29: Sing-Along Grease screened at Galaxy 14 Chesterfield Wehrenberg Theatre

Aug. 18: NatureSweet Tomatoes Homegrown Tomato Challenge judging at Missouri Botanical Garden (www.mobot.org)

Aug. 18: Grand Outdoor Summer Films Series screens Ghostbusters on the side of the Bruno David Gallery at 3721 Washington Ave., preceded by live music, with concessions (www.grandcenter.org)

Aug. 18: CommUnity Days in Fairground Park includes kids’ activities, sponsored by Mo. History Museum, at Fairground Pk. (Natural Bridge & Grand, www.mohistory.org)

Aug. 20: River Styx presents Hungry Young Poets reading series with live music at Duff's (314-533-4541, www.riverstyx.org)

Aug. 22: Jammin’ at the Zoo party with live music & tastings of more than 200 varieties of wine (www.stlzoo.org)

Aug. 23: The Ditty Bops with Maid Rite at Mad Art

(www.madart.com)

Aug. 24: Paris through the Looking Glass: Jacques Rivette film series presents Céline and Julie Go Boating at St. Louis Art Museum (314-721-0072, www.slam.org)

Aug 24: LOMA Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre concert series presents band followed by movie: My Friend Mike and Harry Potter (www.laumeier.org)

Aug. 24-26: Tivoli Midnights cult series presents Troll 2 featuring movie cast appearing live Fri. only (http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/St.Louis/St.Louis_Frameset.htm)

Aug. 25: Grand Outdoor Summer Films Series screens Young Frankenstein on the side of the Bruno David Gallery at 3721 Washington Ave., preceded by live music, with concessions (www.grandcenter.org)

Aug. 25: Archaeology Day with demonstrations of ancient crafts, artifact washing and processing, hands-on activities, tours of excavations, storytelling, and food & refreshments at Cahokia Mounds (www.cahokiamounds.com)

Aug. 25: Hostelling Intl. Moonlight Ramble midnight bicycle ride (www.moonlightramble.com)

Aug. 25-26: Midwest Salute to the Arts art fair at Longacre Park in Fairview Hts., IL (www.midwestsalute.com)

Aug. 25-26: Festival of Nations featuring Parade of Nations, live music & dance, intl. food & market, kids’ fun, craft demos & sports participation in Tower Grove Park (314-773-9090, www.iistl.org)

Aug. 26: Holocaust Museum & Learning Ctr. Film Series presents film on Hungarian love triangle during Nazi era Gloomy Sunday (www.hmlc.org)

Aug. 26: Aaron "Strayhorn" Parker Ensemble with Erma Whiteside present jazz versions of music from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at Ivory Perry Park free concert series (800 Belt Avenue, www.union-avenue.org/ipp.html, 314-727-2309)

Aug. 30: Author of children’s adventure All the Cats of Cairo Inda Schaenen reads from & signs her book at Left Bank Books (www.left-bank.com, 314-367-6731)

Aug. 31: Paris through the Looking Glass: Jacques Rivette film series presents Northwest Wind at St. Louis Art Museum (314-721-0072, www.slam.org)

Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Tivoli Midnights cult series presents The Shining (http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/St.Louis/St.Louis_Frameset.htm)

Aug. 31-Sept. 3: St. Louis County Fair & Air Show at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield (www.stlcofair.org)

Aug. 31-Sept. 9: St. Louis Shakespeare presents Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities at Grandel Theatre (314-534-1111)

Aug. 31-Nov. 5: Group exhibitions Window / Interface and Korean Comics: A Society Through Small Frames at Wash. U.’s Kemper Museum (kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu)