So what if you've got a cumulative Chinese Art History midterm on Thursday? Who cares if your Cell Molec professor has deemed you a slacker for life? Take pride in your procrastination, and do something good for yourself. Arts...Out of Town can show you the way, baby...

Tonight, the Folklore Dance Company presents Gibaro de Puerto Rico, a touring cultural dance troupe founded 24 years ago under the sponsorship of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. Join them in their first Ohio performance tonight at the Lorain County Community College's Stocker Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, call (216) 366-4040 or (800) 995-5222, extension 4040.

No partner necessary! The Cleveland Swing Dancers continue their 1997-98 Jitterbug Series tonight at the Lakewood Masonic Temple with big band hipsters Swing Tom Tom. Dance is from 8 - 11 p.m. or come early for lessons at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for anyone under 21 years old, and $7 for others ($1 extra for lessons). For more information, call (216) 932-4773.

The Cleveland Museum of Art's weekly Music in the Garden Court tonight features jazz musician Trisha O'Brien. Performance runs from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more informantion, call (216) 421-7340.

Also at the Cleveland Museum of Art tonight, the film Paris Was a Woman (Britain, 1995) shows at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Greta Schiller, rare footage delves deep into the lives of expatriate women artists in post-WWI Paris. Admission is $5 for non-CMA members. For more information, call (216) 421-7340.

Jabali Afrika, from Nairobi, Kenya, visits the Cleveland Museum of Art this evening for an 8 p.m. concert of cultural music. Tickets are $15 for non-CMA members. For more information, call (216) 421-7340.

Though it's not exactly out of town, the Esqueleto Gallery's new exhibit, Autumn Show, opens today and runs through Nov. 21. Featuring ceramics, jewelry, sculpture and folk art carvings. Gallery hours are Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (216) 775-2238.

The Wooster Group's House/Lights premiered Oct. 8 and runs through Oct. 12 in the Wexner Center for the Arts' Performance Space. The Group is an ensemble of artists known worldwide for their theatre and media productions, and won the 1997-98 Wexner Center Residency Award in the Performing Arts. Tickets are $13.50 for Wexner Center members, and $18 for the general public. For tickets and more information, call (614) 292-3535. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at (614) 431-3600 or Ticketmaster at (216)

-5555.

Greg Mottola's comedy, The Day Trippers, shows at the Cleveland Cinematheque Oct. 11. When Stanley Tucci (Big Night)'s character is caught having an affair, the insulted wife (Hope Davis) and family pile into the family station wagon for a road trip of payback. Winnner fo the Grand Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival. Showtime is 9:45 p.m. FOr more information, call (216) 421-7450.

Attention punksters: if you can afford to miss Bippy's reunion this weekend, make the trek to the Euclid Tavern to see Down By Law and Anti-Flag Oct. 11. For more information, call (216) 229-7788.

The Canton Symphony Orchestra welcomes 19-year-old violinist virtuoso Leila Josefowicz back for a second seaon for their opening concerts Oct. 12 and 13. Works to be performed include Barber's First Symphony and the Hovhaness Second Symphony, aka Mysterious Mountain. Tickets are $13-$23. For more information, call (330) 452-3434, extension 6605.

Grover Washington, Jr. along with Earl Klugh fill the Playhouse Square Center's Palace with renowned jazz Oct. 12. For more information, call (216) 771-4444. Single ticket sales available through ADVANTIX at (216) 241-6000.

Alt-country rockers Old 97s play Peabody's Down Under Oct. 12. For more information, call (216) 241-2604.

The King And I, starring Hayey Mills (and Hayley Mills), shows in all its Tony Award-Winning, Broadway production glam. The show runs on a limited engagement only, from Oct. 14 - 26. Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $26.50 - $47.50; a bit pricey, but hey - it's Hayley Mills! For tickets or more information, call (21) 241-6000 or (800) 766-6048.

One of the newer bands on the female-fronted ska scene, Safe Ferris, play Peabody's Down Under Oct. 14 with Goldfinger and Kara's Flowers. For more information, call (216) 241-2604.

Oh, The Bloody Child! Don't be frightened ... until you see the film by this name showing at the Cleveland Museum of Art Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. A Gulf War veteran's murder and burial of his wife in the desert is the grizzly setting for this 1996 film directed by Nina Menkes. Intrigued? The LA Times named said it was "One of the year's top five films." Admission is $5 for non-CMA members. For more information, call (216) 421-7340.

Academy Award-nominee The People vs. Larry Flynt visits the Lorain County Community College Stockton Center Oct. 17. at 8 p.m. Starring Woody "Cheers" Harrelson and Courtney "Hole" Love, the flick is sure to raise questions post-view, concerning both morality and law. Tickets are $4. For more information, call (216) 366-4040.

Arts...Out of Town is compiled weekly by Lauren Viera. Do you have anything to declare? Call x8123 to add out of town events to the Review roster post-Fall Break. You'll be glad you did.