FRIDAY 29
EVENT: GREATER CINCINNATI RESTAURANT WEEK
Be a culinary tourist in your own city with CityBeat’s Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week. We’ve gathered together a plethora of participating restaurants — from BrewRiver GastroPub and Somm Wine Bar to Trio Bistro, Metropole and many more — to present curated prix-fixe menus for $35 or less. Menus are viewable online (and in the GCRW insert in this newspaper) so you can make an itinerary to dine from Over-the-Rhine and downtown to the ’burbs. Keep your eyes peeled for special bourbon cocktails from sponsor Maker’s Mark. Through Sunday. Prices vary. Find a full list of participating restaurants at greatercincinnatirestaurantweek.com.
COMEDY: PAUL MERCURIO
You can add “movie star” to Paul Mecurio’s lengthy résumé, which includes, of course, stand-up comedian as well as writer, commentator and host. He was recently in Chuck, the film about boxer Chuck Wepner, who almost beat Muhammad Ali and was the basis for the Rocky franchise. “This may be your last chance to talk to me,” he says. “Next time you’ll have to go through my people.” It was an enjoyable experience for him. “I got to dress in ’70s disco clothes and got to act with Liev Schreiber, who is pretty intense.” Mecurio still regularly appears on the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as well as several of the cable talking-head shows. Showtimes Thursday-Sunday. $8-$16. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.
ONSTAGE: HAMLET
This Shakespeare guy is getting a lot of exposure locally. If you’ve developed an appetite, how about his greatest tragedy delving into family disillusionment, lost romance, betrayal, murder and suicide? Prince Hamlet’s existential brooding about what it means to be human is as timely today as it was four centuries ago. Susan Felder, a professor of acting and movement at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, makes her mainstage directorial debut with a production set in the Roaring Twenties. It frames the play in relatable contemporary terms — the death of a father, shifting friends and unrequited love. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $15-$31. Patricia Corbett Theatre, CCM Village, University of Cincinnati, Clifton Heights, ccm.uc.edu.
HALLOWEEN: DENT SCHOOLHOUSE
When seven Dent Schoolhouse students went missing in the 1950s, an unusual smell drew concerned citizens into the basement. The school’s janitor, Charlie McFree, had stuffed their corpses into barrels — or at least that how the legend has it. Dent is back for another year of jump scares, unique characters and movie-set-quality scenes, which include more than 75 animatronics throughout the attraction. The experience is different every season thanks to new characters and sets; this year, you’ll float with a hoard of IT-inspired clowns. Get an up-close look at Dent’s impressive details during a Lights On Tour on Oct. 29. Oh yeah, this place is really supposed to be haunted — ghost tours take place every Wednesday in October, during which a guide will explain the history of and recorded hauntings in each of the building’s rooms. Through Nov. 4. Tickets start at $20; $35 ghost tour (online purchase only). Dent Schoolhouse, 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com.
ART: SOME DRAWINGS AT 1305 GALLERY
This Final Friday, 1305 Gallery hosts an opening for the work of Cincinnati-based Art Academy of Cincinnati alum Aaron Delamatre. Delamatre will exhibit more than 100 pieces made over the past decade, including miniature pencil-and-ink drawings, panels from a silent comic, limited-edition prints and a series of large watercolors. Delamatre works as an art handler during the day for the Carl Solway Gallery and Contemporary Arts Center, so it comes as no surprise that the artist hand-framed his own works. Opening reception 6-9 p.m. Friday. Through Oct. 22. Free. 1305 Gallery, 1305 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/1305gallery.
EVENT: ART AFTER DARK: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
Discover a world of art like you’ve never seen before at the Cincinnati Art Museum’s Art After Dark. This after-hours party Friday night will feature music by the psychedelic Playfully Yours, Venezuelan food from Empanadas Aqui and specialty cocktails that mirror artwork, especially the connections found in nature on display in Ana England: Kinship. Guests will also have access to the entire museum, including the current Anila Quayyum Agha’s light-box-based All the Flowers are for Me and William Kentridge’s More Sweetly Play the Dance film installation. Read a review of Kinship on page 22. 5-9 p.m. Friday. Free admission. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
ATTRACTION: MERMAIDS AND PIRATES AT THE NEWPORT AQUARIUM
Ever wished you had long, flowing, beautiful hair, an elegant floppy fish tail and an excuse to wear a seashell bra? Well, we can’t all be mermaids. According to a certain overprotective Disney crab, the seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake. But, you can go to the Newport Aquarium’s newest exhibit and ogle at some of these bathing beauties by immersing yourself in its tunnel of fish tanks. Stick around to get Ariel’s autograph (or Ursula’s, if you’re into that) at a meet-and-greet in the Shark Ray Bay Theater. If you’re looking for some above-water seafaring characters, a few pirates will be anchoring at Stingray Hideaway to tell you all about their nautical adventures. The Mermaids and Pirates exhibit kicks off with a costumes-encouraged Mermaids & Pirates Ball 6 p.m. Friday ($45.99) featuring food, drinks, dancing and more. Through Oct. 15. $24.99 adults; $16.99 children. Newport Aquarium, 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, Ky., newportaquarium.com.
SATURDAY 30
MUSIC: BETH HART s
A good many people became aware of Beth Hart six years ago when her profile was significantly raised, first through her 2011 appearance on renowned guitarist Joe Bonamassa’s Dust Bowl album and their subsequent duet album, Don’t Explain. The following year, she released the Introducing Beth Hart EP — a misnomer if ever there was one — and the full-length My California to very favorable reviews and then sang Etta James’ stone classic, “I’d Rather Go Blind,” with Jeff Beck on guitar as part of the Buddy Guy tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors. Hart received even more attention when Guy invited her to sing “What You Gonna Do About Me” on his 2013 album Rhythm & Blues, followed by Seesaw, her second duet album with Bonamassa, and the U.S. release of her Jazz/Soul/Pop/Blues hybrid Bang Bang Boom Boom. Read more in this week's Sound Advice. Beth Hart plays Taft Theatre Saturday. More info: tafttheatre.org.
EVENT: COUNTRY APPLEFEST
Help celebrate 35 years of community, entertainment, food and crafts at Lebanon’s annual Country Applefest. Local farms and food vendors will be on hand hawking all things apple — apple pies, apple fritters, apple dumplings, cider and more, plus dipped desserts, barbecue, caramel popcorn and anything else to satisfy fall food cravings. All participating crafters must make their work, so there will be plenty of pottery, candles, quilts and a wide variety of household decor for sale. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Warren County Fairgrounds, 665 N. Broadway St., Lebanon, countryapplefest.com.
EVENT: THE O.F.F. MARKET
Do you like to shop local? If so, the O.F.F. Market is a perfect paradise for you featuring a slew of independent crafts, clothes, art, artisan food and even beer vendors at a monthly pop-up community marketplace. Held the last Saturday of the month, this is O.F.F’s final outdoor market of the season in Oakley Square before moving indoors to MadTree 2.0. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Oakley Square, 2890 Madison Road, Oakley, theoffmarket.org.
EVENT: THE COV ABIDES 2 SCAVENGER CRAWL
Looking for a scavenger hunt experience unlike any other — possibly with bonus White Russian cocktails? The Cov Abides fast-paced Big Lebowski-themed scavenger hunt doubles as a bar crawl through Covington’s entertainment district. Participants will be given a map with a list of challenges to complete, including finding various landmarks, visiting local bars to take shots and completing obstacles like challenging a stranger to a dance off. Players with the best costumes and teams with the most points will be given awesome prizes. The hunt ends at Braxton Brewing Company, where staff will be tapping a special White Russian firkin. 6-11 p.m. Saturday. $15 online; $20 at the door. Starts at Mac’s MainStrasse, 604 Main St., Covington, Ky., keepyourshirtoncovington.com.
SUNDAY 01
EVENT: PLANT SALE AT FERN
Head to College Hill’s très-Instagrammable plant lab and design studio Fern for 60 percent off select houseplants, 20 percent off sale merchandise and additional discounts and giveaways throughout the day. The plant sale celebrates Fern’s expanded hours — they’ll now be open on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Snag some cocktails and snacks while you shop; additional discounts include buy-two-get-one-free cacti and succulents. Noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Fern, 6040 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, fern-shop.com.
