FRIDAY 22
EATS: GREATER CINCINNATI RESTAURANT WEEK Be a culinary tourist in your own city with CityBeat’s inaugural Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week. Do you like eating? Do you want to try some multi-course meals for cheap? Restaurants throughout the Tristate will be offering $35 three-course meals to delight the palate and impress your date. Participating eateries include Harvest Bistro & Wine Bar, Pompilios, Kaze, The Palace, Parkers Blue Ash Tavern and more. Check out menus and more info online. Through April 24. $35 plus tax and gratuities. Find participating restaurants at greatercincinnatirestaurantweek.com.
ONSTAGE: DISNEY’S BEAUTY & THE BEAST
The story of Belle, a smart young woman, and her romance with a Beast (a handsome prince under a spell) is a “tale as old as time,” but its tour stop in Cincinnati is short — only five days. Kids will enjoy this one, but the special effects are fun for everyone, especially the dancing dishes and furniture. Based on Disney’s Academy Award-winning animated film, the stage adaptation has been a Broadway hit since 1994 (it’s the ninth longest-running musical in history). This production has toured all 50 states, performing more than 1,500 times. By now, they’ve got the magic down pat. Through Sunday. $29-$107. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-621-2787, cincinnatiarts.org.
ONSTAGE: PRESENT TENSE IMPERFECT
As part of the ongoing celebration of the Weston Art Gallery’s 20th anniversary, the gallery is offering Present Tense Imperfect, a performance series of spoken word, music and film held in the Aronoff Center’s Fifth Third Bank Theater. Artists include Jay Bolotin, Jack Burton Overdrive, Elese Daniel, Mark Flanigan, Matt Hart, Desirae Hosley and the Teen Poets of WordPlay Cincy Scribes, The IdleAires, Yvette Nepper, Steven Proctor, Kathy Y. Wilson and Terri Ford. Also offered will be excerpts from the late Aralee Strange’s film project The Peach Mountain Psalms (formerly This Train) as a work in progress. 8-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $12 one night; $20 weekend pass. 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
EVENT: EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AT KROHN
Enjoy free-flying butterflies in underwater-themed decor. The first 300 visitors will receive free tree seedling. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $7; $4 children. Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park, cincinnatiparks.org.
EVENT: CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
The Nature Center is free Friday through Sunday, where you can explore the center’s trails or participate in some planned activities. April 22-24. Free. Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, cincynature.org.
SATURDAY 23
EVENTS: EARTH DAY OTR Celebrate Earth Day at Washington Park. 3CDC has partnered with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful to offer eco-friendly activities for kids and adults, like the opportunity to climb an inflatable rock wall, join a recycling drive and listen to live music all day from bands including Elementree Livity Project. Eli’s BBQ will serve up classic barbecue and vegetarian sides, and several environmentally conscious vendors will be setting up in the park to offer unique goods. Noon-7 p.m. Saturday. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.
EVENT: LEBANON BREWHAHA Frauen and herren are invited to break out their lederhosen and dust off their beer steins (or wear their normal attire) for the second-annual Lebanon BrewHAHa. Educate yourself about craft beer and expand your palate, whether you’re a beer aficionado or novice; represented breweries include Fifty West, Warped Wing, Moerlein, MadTree, Mt. Carmel, Rhinegeist and more. There will also be live music and entertainment, plus food trucks. Families be warned: no kinder allowed; this party is 21 and up. 5-10 p.m. Saturday; 4 p.m. VIP. $40-$55; $10 designated drivers. Warren Country Fairgrounds, 655 North Broadway, Lebanon, lebanonbrewhaha.com.
EVENT: SECOND TIME AROUND ADULT PROM
Want to relive the excitement of prom without the teenaged awkwardness? The Second Time Around Adult Prom lets you do exactly that while living out the star-studded theme of a Hollywood awards show. Hosted at the Contemporary Arts Center, the event stays true to the essentials of prom — food, a DJ, dancing until your feet hurt — along with additional surprises and booze (which we definitely didn’t drink in high school). Raise a glass to the past and dance all night long, with entertainment provided by multiple DJs and local R&B, Soul and Hip Hop group Deuces Musik. 9 p.m.-2 a.m.; 8:30 p.m. doors Saturday. $55; $85 VIP. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, adultpromcincy.com.
EVENT: WORLD CULTURE FEST
Take a trip around the world within the walls of the historic Cincinnati Museum Center during Saturday’s World Culture Fest. Performers and presenters celebrate cultures around the globe by showcasing some of the most unique and traditional practices from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. The event also explores the extensive history of immigration in Cincinnati through music, dance and education. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free in the rotunda. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.
MUSIC: KIEFER SUTHERLAND
Kiefer Sutherland is, of course, best known as the star of numerous films and the TV show 24. But music has also long been a part of Sutherland’s life. He and singer/songwriter Jude Cole created the Ironworks label/studio to support independent artists, releasing albums by Rocco DeLuca & the Burden, Ron Sexsmith and Lifehouse. Sutherland also wrote some songs to shop around to other artists, but Cole convinced him he should make his own album, resulting in the Americana/Country-flavored Down in a Hole, which is due this summer. While actors-turned-musicians are often viewed cynically, Sutherland has been receiving glowing reviews so far on his tour (after a recent gig in Milwaukee, digital magazine OnMilwaukee ran a rave review with the headline, “Guys, the Kiefer Sutherland Concert Last Night Was Actually Pretty Good”). 10 p.m. Saturday. $20; $25 day of show. Taft Theatre Ballroom, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org.
EVENT: SPRING FEST IN THE WOODS
Celebrate spring with wild edible cooking demos, crafts, vendors, live animals and more. Also features live music and face painting, plus education bout Ohio’s native plants, wildflowers and habitat registration. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Trailside Nature Center, Burnet Woods, 3400 Brookline Drive, Clifton, 513-861-3435.
SPORTS: DOGWOOD DASH
The annual scenic springtime 5K run/walk takes you through the Boone County Arboretum. 9 a.m. $22-$32 registration. 9190 Camp Ernst Road, Union, Ky., bcarboretum.org.
MUSIC: WOODYFEST
For the past several years, Cincinnati Folk singer Jake Speed has headlined a tribute to American music icon Woody Guthrie. Speed and WoodyFest return Saturday for the annual celebration at Mount Saint Joseph University’s Recital Hall (5701 Delhi Road, Delhi). Joining Speed for the 7 p.m. performance are local Folk/Americana faves Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle. Admission is $10 at the door (the event is free for Mount Saint Joseph students with ID).
SUNDAY 24
TV: GAME OF THRONES
So you want to talk about Game of Thrones? Would you like spoilers with that? Whether you read every book, interview and fan theory before each season or you have the Spoiler Shield app installed to prevent seeing even the most innocuous set photos, fans can’t help but speculate about what’s coming next, especially after the season finale last year (spoiler alert). Stannis was cornered by Brienne, Theon and Sansa jumped off a castle wall, Arya was punished for misusing her gift, Daenerys found herself alone (with a Dothraki horde), the brothers finally turned on Jon Snow — and that’s just a glimpse at all the action. Of course, that final development is what’s on the forefront of everyone’s minds going into Season 6: What is going to happen to Jon? The show’s storyline has now moved past the books — last season covered events in the fifth book in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series; Martin is still working on the sixth. That means for the first time all viewers are pretty much in the dark about what’s to come. (Everyone, of course, except President Obama, who famously requested and received advanced access.) But HBO’s press release describing the episode doesn’t mince words — there are just four: Jon Snow is dead. Now, this is a universe where people shape-shift, raise dragons and create Frankensteinian zombie warriors. Anything is possible. Or maybe we’re all in denial. And because everybody’s doing it, there will now be a Game of Thrones after-show. After the Thrones (real original), hosted by podcasters Andy Greenwald and Chris Ryan, will be available every Monday following new episodes on HBO GO, NOW and On Demand. Season 6 Premiere, 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO.
EVENT: THE DARCY AND LISA SHOW WITH THE KUZAK SISTERS
Sequential artist and illustrator Dame Darcy and writer Lisa Crystal Carver (aka Lisa Suckdog) will be performing raucous scenes from their collaborative new book The Jaywalker on Sunday evening at the Ice Cream Factory. In the brutal spectacle tradition of Carver’s underground band Suckdog (Darcy was also a member), the performers, together with sisters Maddie and Genevieve Kuzak, will embody the archetypal characters of the Dead Mother, the Revolutionary Daughter, the Dish on the Side and the Man, engaging audiences in an action-packed, funny and disturbing performance. All ages. 8 p.m. $5. The Ice Cream Factory, 2133 Central Ave., Brighton, thedarcylisashow.com.
EVENT: MAINSTRASSE BAZAAR
The weather calls for sun, shopping and a load of vintage items on Sunday when MainStrasse Village comes to life during the monthly Village Bazaar (every fourth Sunday through October). Peruse the Sixth Street Promenade for furniture, home goods, decor, architectural elements, tools, jewelry, clothing, gadgets, collectibles and more. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Free. Sixth Street, Covington, Ky., mainstrasse.org.
ATTRACTION: ZOO BLOOMS
While the Cincinnati Zoo is known for its diverse collection of animals, it’s also home to one of Ohio’s two accredited botanical gardens. Now is the time to catch the garden at its finest with Zoo Blooms, a display of more than one million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, flowering trees and shrubs blooming throughout the park. Although these flowers don’t sing like those in Alice in Wonderland, the accompanying Tunes & Blooms series allows guests to check out the fantastic florals after hours with live music from some of Cincinnati’s favorite bands on Thursday evenings; concerts start April 7 with Honey & Houston and Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle. Zoo Blooms on display through April. Free with admission; $13-$27. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
EVENT: GOODWILL EARTH DAY ELECTRONIC RECYCLING
Drop off unwanted computers, keyboards, mouse systems, monitors and other electronic equipment. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. All 31 Goodwill Donation Centers, cincinnatigoodwill.org/donate.
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