BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Failure will be the topic of conversation at the Science & Art Cabaret on Wednesday, as area thinkers meet to discuss everything from Einstein's most famous mistake to a nearly botched performance at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

The event, titled "Fail," is free and open to the public.

It begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the Ninth Ward at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Guests will enjoy a night of entertaining conversation and a cash bar.

The Buffalo Science & Art Cabaret presents several events a year where members of the public are invited to grab a drink and listen to top university scientists and creative minds talk about their work. The series is organized by the University at Buffalo, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center and Buffalo Museum of Science, with support from Greatbatch Medical.

Co-founder Will Kinney, a UB associate professor of physics, describes the event as "an entertaining mash-up of cutting-edge science and technology with art, music, poetry and performance."

"Fail" is the 11th cabaret held since 2009. The lineup for the night will include:

- Salvatore Rappoccio, UB assistant professor of physics, on "Error Analysis"

- Gary Nickard, UB clinical associate professor of visual studies, on "Failure at the Albright-Knox" (which will describe how he dealt with unforeseen problems during a piano destruction performance)

- Scott Watson, assistant professor of physics at Syracuse University, on "Einstein's Biggest Blunder"

- A screening of videos on art and failure created by New York City-based artist David Kramer

For information on the Science & Art Cabaret and past events, visit http://www.buffalo.edu/news/13376 and http://www.hallwalls.org/science-art.php.