Free concerts

The School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions will present pianist Jacqueline Schwab in Cornell's free summer events series, Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Schwab, who has provided music for filmmaker Ken Burns' historical documentaries, will perform music from Mark Twain's America and more.

Also, Annie and the Hedonists will play blues, jazz, folk and bluegrass on the Arts Quad to close out the summer series, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5. Free; ice cream will be served. Rain location: Uris Auditorium. Information: http://www.sce.cornell.edu/ss/about/events/index.php.

Summer cinema

Cornell Cinema's summer schedule continues through Aug. 6 with a film classic, recent releases and Ithaca premieres from the United States and Italy.

The schedule includes Sidney Lumet's "Dog Day Afternoon," starring Al Pacino, on Aug. 2; "Passione," John Turturro's musical tour of Naples, Aug. 1 and Aug. 3; Kenneth Branagh's Marvel Comics adaptation "Thor," with Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman, Aug. 5-6; and the circus tale "La Pivellina," a slice of contemporary Italian neorealism, Aug. 4-6.

All screenings are in Willard Straight Theatre. Information: http://cinema.cornell.edu, 607-255-3522.

History of Plantations

Intern Meredith Kueny '11 will lead a tour through the botanical garden at Cornell Plantations, Wednesday, Aug. 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. The tour is free; visitors should meet in front of the Nevin Welcome Center.

On the tour, titled "A Place Where Things May Grow: The History of Cornell Plantations," visitors will learn how the present-day gardens and landscapes took shape since the university's founding, and includes stories from the Plantations' and Cornell's past.

Cornell Plantations is open to the public year-round. Information: 607-255-2400, http://cornellplantations.org.

Keyboard competition

The Westfield Center for Historical Keyboard Studies, based at Cornell, will hosts its first international keyboard competition Aug. 1-6, and a summer academy focused on the fortepiano, Aug. 7-13.

The 2011 Westfield Fortepiano Competition and the academy are designed to encourage young pianists seeking a deeper understanding and realization of 18th and 19th century keyboard repertoire. All rounds of the competition are open to the public. Preliminary rounds are Aug. 1-4 in Lincoln Hall and the final round is Aug. 6 at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. First prize is $7,500.

The academy will be taught by David Breitman, Bart van Oort and emeritus professor of music and internationally known scholar and fortepianist Malcolm Bilson.

Information: http://www.westfield.org.

'Let's Move' for healthier kids

Cornell Plantations joins a national effort to raise a healthier generation of children with its first "Let's Move!" program, part of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move! Museums and Gardens" initiative, Aug. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Visitors to the F. R. Newman Arboretum can take a leisurely hike around Houston and Grossman Ponds (suitable for families with strollers) or hike through the nearby Fall Creek Natural Areas. The first 50 children will receive a free "Let's Move!" T-shirt. Registration is at 1 p.m. near the Houston and Grossman Ponds parking areas.

The event is free and open to the public. The three-year "Let's Move!" initiative was launched to educate children about healthy food choices and physical activities.

Information: 607-255-2400, http://cornellplantations.org.