Hard to believe that this is the last weekend of the month. Don't despair - you don't have to wait until Spring Break to have a fun filled cultural weekend. Just check out what's happening this weekend out of town...

Catch the latest American epic from the film-maker who brought you Forrest Gump. This weekend Lorain County Community College presents Contact at the Stocker Center Cinema Hall. The showing begins at 8 p.m., admission is $4.00.

This weekend, the Cleveland Cinematheque has an exciting and varied bill. Tonight the 1998 Black Maria Film Festival highlights a diverse selection of animation and other film and video shorts, at 7:30 p.m. Also tonight, the are premiere of The Bandwagon, a favorite at the 1996 Sundance Festival, showing at 9:20 p.m. Showing Saturday at 7:30 p.m. is the dark independent film Eye of God and at 9:15, Jacques Tati's Playtime.

The Canton Symphony Orchestra this weekend highlights the work of Mozart, in Everything Mozart. Soprano Nanette Canfield will perform selections from The Magic Flute and other Mozart masterpieces. The concert is tonight at 8:00 p.m. in the Cable Recital Hall. Admission is $9.00 for students. For more information, call (330)452-2094.

There's nothing like a little Mahler to enhance your seasonal affect disorder. This weekend, the Akron Symphony Orchestra will perform his Symphony No. 6 (Tragic). The orchestra performs under conductor Alan Balter. The performance is Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and will run without an intermission to heighten the dramatic effect. Tickets range from $11.00 to $31.00. For more information, call (330)972-7570.

Opening today at the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art is the exhibit Bruce Nauman: 1985-1996. This major exhibition of the internationally renowned artist will run through April. Admission is free. Call (440)421-8671 for more information.

W.C. Fields comes to the Cleveland Museum of Art this weekend. Tonight at 7:00 p.m. his films Never Give a Sucker an Even Break and The Barber Shop will be shown. Admission is $6.00. At 7:45, the CMA will present The Music of Seicento Italiano, in conjunction with the Vatican Treasures exhibit. Admission is $12.00-$16.00. For more information, call (440)421-7350.

On Tuesday March 3, the Cleveland Playhouse premieres a new production of Lorca's Yerma, the Barren Land. This production is directed by Pavel Dobrusky, an internationally known designer and director. Tickets are between $26.00 and $36.00. For more information, call (440) 795-7000.

Arts...Out of Town is compiled weekly by Rumaan Alam. If you want to complain, or you just want to chat, give him a call at X8123.