Kaleidoscope

I'm a devoted worshipper at the altar of American Idol, but I'll be the first to admit the ninth season is below normal standards. There's been no definitive moment — like Kelly Clarkson's "Natural Woman" or Adam Lambert's "Mad World" — just a lot of karaoke champs parading around as artists. But that doesn't mean the Idol producers won't throw the gross national product of a small country at the May 25-26 finales. Despite (or because of) mismatched duets and endless Coke product placement, these are the episodes to watch.

Looking for Eric (see Sam Adams' review) director Ken Loach's films have long explored the lives of working-class Brits. In 1991's charmingly funny Riff-Raff , Robert Carlyle stars as ex-con Stevie, trying to make a life in London as a builder. Lucky for you, it's one of the eight Loach films currently streaming on YouTube (search for user KenLoachFilms).

There's something intensely low-key about the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival (May 22, noon-5 p.m., trentonaveartsfest.blogspot.com). Maybe it's the cheaper-than-usual goods sold by laid-back vendors; maybe it's the sprawling layout, encouraging water-ice wandering. Or maybe everything just seems relaxed after you've watched a bunch of costumed Kenzos slicking jacked-up bikes through giant mud pits. (What the hell am I talking about? The Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby. See p. 41.)

The most eye-catching work I discovered at last weekend's Art Star fest also happens to be the most profane. Asheville, N.C.-based Betsy Carr, proprietress of the Found*ling jewelry line (thefoundling.com), finds simple words in storybooks, dictionaries and maps and pairs them up to create sweet and/or sassy phrase jewelry — think "blue grass" cuff links (pictured), "little flash" drop earrings and my personal favorite, "the shit" necklace. Here's to being cocky and precious at the same time.