It’s no secret that Northside is the city’s premiere taco destination. The neighborhood welcomes its third taco joint Friday with the grand opening of Barrio Tequileria. This latest addition comes from the folks behind popular food truck Taco Azul and will specialize in authentic Mexican/L.A.-style street food, tequila and mezcal. Doors open Friday at 5 p.m. and they’ll be serving up tacos and drinks until 2 a.m. Check them out on Facebook. The final installment of Macy’s Art Sampler Weekend takes place Saturday. Enjoy free art activities and performances all day in venues across Greater Cincinnati, including: tours and music at the Contemporary Arts Center, Hip-Hop, spoken word and crafts at the Taft Museum of Art, belly-dancing, toe-shoe performances and Kung-Fu at the Cincinnati Ballet and an Amazing Arts Race from ArtsWave Young Professionals. The sampler send with a Sock-Hop in Washington Park featuring Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati's Marvelous Wonderettes. Look up the full schedule by event, venue or category here. Contemporary Dance Theater celebrates 40 years of bringing modern dance to Cincinnati with the FORTY40Gala Saturday. The evening includes music and dance performances, retrospective displays and videos, a silent auction, complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, all in the historic Emery Theatre. Go here to read our interview with CDT’s founder, Artistic Director and CEO, Jefferson James. Have you been waiting for the opportunity to let you inner Maverick shine? Well, grab your aviators, zip up that jumpsuit and fly on out to SkateTown USA’s Top Gun-themed “Roller SK80s” party Saturday. Whether you’re a regular rollergirl or you haven’t skated since the actual ‘80s, there will be enough fun to go around with music, a photobooth and an all-you-can-drink bar (dangerous much?). Admission is just $10, which includes skate rental and drinks, and proceeds benefit Disabled American Veterans. The party runs 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. and word is there will be a shuttle to a hotel after-party. Go here for details, directions and tips on finding some prime ‘80s garb. The Cincinnati Museum Center wraps up its Passport to the World series with this weekend’s Asian Culture Fest. Visitors will travel across China, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Nepal via cultural displays, hands-on workshops, music and dance performances, an authentic Asian marketplace and much more. The fest runs Saturday-Sunday. Find a full event schedule here.For more stuff to do this weekend, check out our To Do page or full calendar and Rick Pender’s Stage Door for weekend theater offerings.

The ArtsWave creates and supports art programs and opportunities in the city year-round, but three Saturdays each year, the organization kicks its mission into high gear with the Macy’s Arts Sampler. The free event brings visual art, theater, dance, music, crafts and more to venues across Greater Cincinnati. This Saturday’s sampler includes shows and backstage tours at Playhouse in the Park, Madcap Puppets at Cincinnati Art Museum and tons of other fun, creative opportunities for the whole family from Kings High School to Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington, all day long. Find a full schedule of events here. Cincy Blues Society celebrates 23 years this weekend with Winter Blues Fest. The fest takes place at The Phoenix, CityBeat’s across-the-street neighbors, Friday and Saturday with more than 25 local acts. Sonny Moorman and the Stacy Mitchhart Band headline; tickets are $20 per night; $35 for the weekend. Not able to make it to the Big Easy this Fat Tuesday? Celebrate Mardi Gras in MainStrasse Friday and Saturday. Get your fill of beads with parades each night, plus live music and Cajun grub in the entertainment tent open 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Stop by your favorite MainStrasse bar, restaurant or business to keep the party going. Tickets are $10 per night or $15 for the weekend; find more info here. With Valentine’s Day next week, lots of folks are buying up chocolates, flowers, special undies and other goodies for their significant others. You know who could really use some love? The hundreds of adoptable animals that have been abused, neglected or left behind by owners. This weekend, My Furry Valentine brings these lovable critters from dozens of rescues together in West Chester for Greater Cincinnati’s largest animal adoption event. Skip pet stores and breeders and find a pet that needs a home 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at flexi USA, Inc. (8494 Firebird Dr., West Chester). If you can’t make it out to the ‘burbs, check out one of more than 20 participating locations. Each adopted cat, dog, rabbit or other pet will go home with a gift bag of treats, toys, coupons and more supplies. The Mayerson JCC’s Jewish and Israeli Film Festival kicks off Saturday with a screening of Hava Nagila, a comedic documentary that tells the story of this Jewish celebration staple song. This opening night celebration takes place 8-10 p.m. Saturday at the Cincinnati Museum Center and includes dessert, a photo booth and private admission to the museum’s Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. The fest continues through Feb. 28 with films shown at the Museum Center, Esquire Theatre, Kenwood Theatre, Mariemont Theatre and the Mayerson JCC. Go here for ticket information and a full schedule. Whether the word “craft” conjures up thoughts of glitter and glue or bottles and brew, Mt. Caramel Brewing Company’s Art. Craft. Beer. show has something for everyone. The brewery’s gallery will be full of works from area artists with plenty of fresh craft beer to go around, Saturday and Sunday. The event is just one of many happenings coinciding with Cincinnati Beer Week (which continues through Thursday). Get a full schedule and find participating bars and venues here.

Whether you have a great relationship with your boss or you’re dealing with your own personal Michael Scott, we’ve all had a laugh or two at the expense of our employers. And while I’m still perfecting my bit on Danny Cross, there’s group of former senate staffers who turned office jokes into a touring comedy show. The Capitol Steps is a political satire troupe with a cast of 30 members, many of whom have worked on Capitol Hill at some point. It began as a small skit at a Christmas party, but was so well-received that staffers rounded up others and took the show on the road. The Capitol Steps have been at it for more than 30 years, and they’re bringing the show to town for one night only at Mayerson JCC. Reserved seats are sold out, but a limited amount of tickets will be sold at the door for $30 ($25 for J Members). The show begins at 7 p.m. so show up early if you’re looking for tickets. Check out our interview with two "Steps," original member Elaina Newport and Cincy native Bari Biern, here. Caracole provides safe, affordable housing and support services for Southwest Ohioans living with HIV and AIDS. The organization’s offices recently moved to Northside (4138 Hamilton Ave.) and tonight the crew hosts an open house celebration. Learn more about their services and check out the new digs while enjoying music, snacks, artwork and a photo booth from 4-9 p.m. Caracole is looking to stock up its donation pantry, so bring any toiletries and cleaning supplies you can contribute. The Cincinnati Ballet and ArtsWave present “Cocktails and Conversations,” as part of their Friends for the Arts program. Celebrate remarkable women in business and the arts at Cincinnati Ballet’s theater tonight at 7 p.m. Before the Kaplan New Works Series show is a cocktail reception where guests can mingle with influential women from the aforementioned organizations as well as area philanthropists and entrepreneurs. Afterwards, enjoy new dance performances all choreographed by women. Buy tickets here. The Cincinnati Film Festival continues tonight at Esquire Theatre with Man from Orlando, Party Crashers, Shining Night: A Portrait of Morten Lauridsen and Street Paper. The fest closes tomorrow.For more events, including concerts, art shows, theater performances and more, check out our full calendar.

The same folks who present the popular winter beer festival at Duke Energy Convention Center bring the booze outdoors this weekend for Cincy Beerfest at Fountain Square. Celebrate the city’s rich brewing history in the best way — by sampling beer! More than 150 craft brews will be on tap for the fest, running 5-11 p.m. Friday and  3-11 p.m. Saturday. Buy $30 pre-sale tickets here and get automatic VIP status (which includes 24 additional exclusive beers, a souvenir mug and other perks). Walk-up admission is $45. The Cincinnati Film Festival kicked off last night, bringing a bevy of movies to Clifton, Over-the-Rhine and Downtown Cincinnati. Find your new favorite documentary, peep locally produced features, meet up-and-coming directors and attend the world premiere of a James Franco/Winona Ryder thriller, all at various venues across town. Check out our interview with CFF Executive Director Katharine Steele and get tickets and schedule info here. This weekend is Northside Second Saturday. Be sure to check out the grand opening of WordPlay, Michael Hurst’s art show That’s Just a Myth at Fabricate, Dylan Speeg’s paintings at NVISION and the newly-opened Tacocracy in addition to all the extended hours and specials at Northside bars, restaurants, galleries and shops. Whether you’re a fat-bottomed girl or more of a “Killer Queen,” most would agree Freddie Mercury is one of the most amazing entertainers of all time. Celebrate the Queen frontman’s birthday (he would have been 66 Sept. 5) at the fifth annual Freddie Mercury Birthday Bash. The Drinkery will play Queen tunes all night, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., so glitter yourself up and show off that chest hair. Skip your weekend takeout routine and visit the Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati for the Taste of India. Watch traditional Indian dancers, shop for art work, jewelry and spices and, of course, sample the best Indian cuisine the city has to offer. The evening ends with a fireworks display by Rozzi. The free fest runs noon-8 p.m. Saturday.Support a local environmental education nonprofit while enjoying lots of Bluegrass at Imago’s 12th Annual Music in the Woods fundraiser Saturday. Visit Imago’s 16-acre nature preserve for live music, vendors, food and drinks, a silent auction, family hikes, art projects and much more. Music begins at 4 p.m. and runs ‘til 11. Tickets are $12-$20.Shakespeare in the Park is a popular event in most major cities, bringing live theater out in the fresh air, much like when the original shows were first produced. If you haven’t caught any of these free shows, Sunday’s performance of The Tempest at Washington Park is a must-see. ArtsWave presents this special interactive production where the audience will help make the show happen. Participants will create special illusions, noise effects, lighting and more while enjoying Shakespeare’s comedy of magic and monsters. It’s fun for all ages, and a great way to get kids interested in theater. The show begins at 7 p.m., but come early for arts and crafts and face painting.For more to do this weekend and beyond, check out our full To Do recommendations and 41 other suggestions in our Cool Issue.