WEDNESDAY 04 ART: Selections from the Seagrave Museum Selections from the Seagrave Museum at the University of Cincinnati’s Reed Gallery exhibits real works inspired by fictional artists. The show’s premise and details are a fiction. I hesitate to call it a put-on, although there are times I laughed. But when some of the labels got really Twilight Zone creepy, I realized how uncomfortably deep the impulse to create can be for some artists and how tenuous our understanding of an artwork’s meaning can be. Selections from the Seagrave Museum was inspired by a new novel, The Ambrose J. and Vivian T. Seagrave Museum of 20th Century American Art, by Matthew Kirkpatrick, an associate professor of creative writing at Eastern Michigan University. It was published by Acre Books, a 3-year-old literary press affiliated with UC’s creative writing program. Kirkpatrick’s novel is largely in the form of exhibit labels, but every now and then, the description for a specific (imaginary) artwork expands and allows bits of mysterious narratives — the disappearance of the Seagraves’ daughter during a violent storm, the life of the Seagrave family and the strange artists they knew, the musings of a troubled curator (and unreliable narrator) who is in love with an artist’s ghost. Through March 29. Free. UC’s Reed Gallery, 2624 Clifton Ave., Clifton. Photo: Courtesy of DAAP Galleries
WEDNESDAY 04 LIT: The Ghosts of Eden Park: An Evening with Karen Abbott Author and historian Karen Abbott is coming to The Mercantile Library to discuss her book The Ghosts of Eden Park. Abbott is from Philadelphia, not Cincinnati, although the topic of her vivid historical fiction is the Queen City’s infamous bootlegger George Remus. The New York Times best-seller tells the tale of the murder of Imogene Remus, wife of George, who begins an affair with the FBI investigator who imprisoned her husband for violating the Volstead Act. The duo betray George in more ways than one. Abbott will discuss her book and sign copies. Cincinnati’s own Molly Wellmann will lead a bourbon tasting for an additional cost. 5:30-6:30 bourbon reception; 6:30 p.m. program Wednesday, March 4. Book talk free and open to the public; bourbon reception is $15 members, $25 non-members; registration required. The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St., Downtown. Photo: Karenabbott.net
THURSDAY 05 ONSTAGE: Pride & Prejudice at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company The most popular of Jane Austen’s novels is getting the stage treatment. Witty, highly-quotable, and oozing with romance, Pride & Prejudice will grace Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s stage. Directed by Sara Clark and adapted by playwright Kate Hamill, the work has been hailed as “unlike any adaptation of Jane Austen one has seen before.” In a director’s note, Clark writes that Hamill wanted to take female-centric classics and write them for modern audiences. And what better place to start than with Austen — an author whose work, despite being one of the most beloved and widely-read women authors of her time, has mostly been adapted to the stage by men? Clark writes that, personally, what she loves about Hamill’s take is that it mines at something often missed by screen and stage treatments: “how FUNNY Jane Austen was and how keen her satire of the society in which she lived.” Revisit the tale of headstrong Elizabeth Bennet and the aloof Mr. Darcy as they frustratingly deny their obvious chemistry, letting romantic (and sexual) tension run high. In case you don’t know the ending to this 1813 novel, we won’t give it away — but it’s a happy one. Through March 28. $38-$66. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincyshakes.com. Photo: Mikki Schaffner
FRIDAY 06 EVENT: Zip Dip Opening Day Creamy whip Zip Dip is opening its doors for its 70th season on March 6, which means warmer weather, little league games and balmy evening ice cream runs can’t be too far off. A West Side family tradition, Zip Dip’s old-school neon sign, featuring a lightning bolt striking an ice cream cone, is instantly recognizable — a nostalgic, glowing reminder of summer since 1950. And just like every Cincinnatians has their favorite creamy whip, every creamy whip has their own quirky specialties. If you’re a Zip Dip first timer, try a face cone (soft serve with a candy face), an extra thick malt or a classic Zip Dip Bar. The first 500 customers will get a special Zip Dip koozie. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, March 6. Zip Dip, 4050 Drew Ave., Bridgetown, zip-dip.com. Photo: Sami Stewart
FRIDAY 06 EVENT: Cincy Winter Beerfest The 13th annual Cincy Winter Beerfest is one of the biggest beer extravaganzas of the year, featuring more than 400 different craft beers from more than 130 breweries, including 110 from Cincinnati-area breweries alone. If you don’t want to drink on an empty stomach — or need to lay down a base layer — look for concessions from local food trucks. Live music will set the mood both nights. Event tickets include unlimited beer samples and a souvenir mug. Attendees can buy tickets to one of three sessions (or all three). Other ticket options include early admission or the Connoisseurs Reception ticket, which includes a reception area, private restrooms, a coat check, catered appetizers, premium and large-format beers and a special snifter to take home. Proceeds from Beerfest will benefit the Big Joe Duskin Music Education Foundation. 7:30-11 p.m. Friday, March 6; 1-4:30 p.m. or 7:30-11 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Regular admission tickets start at $50; early admission starts at $60; $90-$95 Connoisseurs Reception; $20-$25 DD. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, cincybeerfest.com. Photo: Byron Photography
FRIDAY 06 ART: Women and Nature in the Arts, Sciences and Letters at the Lloyd Library As the United States celebrates the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, the Lloyd Library and Museum opens an apt exhibition: Women and Nature in the Arts, Sciences and Letters. Described as a “tribute to the female scientists, authors, artists and illustrators in the Lloyd collections,” the show features works by the likes of Maria Sibylla Merian and Elizabeth Blackwell, both of whom were pioneers in the field of scientific illustration. Also showcased is the work of Gertrude Jekyll, who designed over 400 gardens in her lifetime. In a more modern turn, guests can also take in the photography of Cincinnatian Rama Kasturi. Her series — compiled in a book and to be displayed at the Lloyd’s gallery — Four Seasons at Burnet Woods, was created after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. Members of MUSE, Cincinnati Women’s Choir, will perform at the opening. Opening reception 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, March 6. Through May 22. Free and open to the public. Lloyd Library, 917 Plum St., Downtown, lloydlibrary.org. Photo: Courtesy of Lloyd Library
FRIDAY 06 FILM: CWC 2020 Oscar Nominated Live-Action and Animated Shorts This year’s batch of Academy Award winners may have been unveiled in February, but moviegoers still have a chance to see 2020’s Oscar-nominated short films made larger than life on the Garfield Theatre’s silver screen. This marks Cincinnati World Cinema’s 19th consecutive year of hosting its Oscar-nominated shorts program and the first in its new 719 Race St. theater space. While the documentary shorts screened there earlier this year, the live-action and animated nominees will be spread across two weeks starting March 6 and running through March 15, with eight days total of showtimes. Hailing from countries across the globe — France, Belgium, China, the Czech Republic, Guatemala and a Tunisia-Canada-Qatar-Sweden polyglot — the films collectively mine at a broad inventory of themes, from family relationships to survival to hope. Multiple showtimes through March 15. $11-$22. The Garfield Theatre, 719 Race St., Downtown, cincyworldcinema.org. Photo: Courtesy of ShortsTV
SATURDAY 07 MUSIC: OHMME The best installments in NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts series are the sets that defy their cramped space, not merely stripping down the artists’ studio sound, but opening up new avenues of sound. In OHMME’s case, though, the inverse is true. Armed with two electric guitars and a drummer, the Chicago-based duo of Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham recreate the cavernous, surreal atmosphere of their sophomore record Parts with a precision you’d never think was possible. 10 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Alexa Viscius
SATURDAY 07 MUSIC: LANCO Brandon Lancaster is literally living his dream. The frontman of LANCO has seen the hit single “Greatest Love Story” top the Country charts. But having the hit isn’t the dream he’s talking about. It’s what he sees onstage night to night, as an outgrowth of the single’s success, that has Lancaster smiling. “We had this dream that we would take these songs and they would be just as meaningful to other people as they are to us and in the past year, we’ve gotten to experience that,” Lancaster says. “I think the biggest change is we’re not singing to people anymore as much as we’re singing with people, which is the ultimate dream come true.” 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7. $25. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, bogarts.com. Photo: Jim Wright
SATURDAY 07 ONSTAGE: Baby Shark Live! at the Aronoff Center Baby Shark Live! is coming to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center on March 7 and there is nothing you can do to escape the “doo doo doo doo doo doo.” The stage show is a “fully-immersive live concert experience” based on Pinkfong’s song “Baby Shark.” According to an event description, “Fans of all ages will delight as Baby Shark joins up with his friend Pinkfong to take an adventure into the sea, singing and dancing through new and classic songs including ‘Five Little Monkeys,’ ‘Wheels on the Bus,’ ‘Jungle Boogie,’ ‘Monkey Banana Dance’ and, of course, ‘Baby Shark!’” “Baby Shark” is literally just a series of song verses you will never be able to get out of your head about different members of a shark family (from baby to mommy, daddy, grandma and grandpa) with the words “doo doo doo doo doo doo doo” over and over again. 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7. $30-$65; limited number of post-show meet-and-greets are available for $50. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. Photo: Provided by the Cincinnati Arts Association
SATURDAY 07 SPORTS: Cincinnati Cyclones Pucks N Pups + Wiener Dog Races If hockey games weren’t exciting enough for you, you may not have considered adding dogs to the mix. Don’t worry: The Cincinnati Cyclones are way ahead of you. On Saturday, March 7, the Cyclones host Pucks N Pups; a special night for you and your good boy or good girl to watch the game together, presented by John Morrell. You can grab a ticket for your dog for only $5, and a ticket for yourself for $15. You and your furry friend can watch the players chop up the ice while feasting on $1 John Morrell hot dogs all night long. Also, if you can handle the cuteness overload, there will be wiener dog races on the ice during intermission. Dollar wieners; racing wieners — the Cyclones are on to something. In order for your dog to attend the game, you must complete the waiver on the Cyclones website and purchase a special dog ticket in advance. 7:30 p.m. puck drop Saturday, March 7. $5 dog; $15 human companion; other tickets start at $18. Heritage Bank Center, 100 Broadway St., Downtown, cycloneshockey.com. Photo: Provided by the Cincinnati Cyclones
SATURDAY 07 MUSIC: American Originals: The Cincinnati Sound with Paul Shaffer and the Cincinnati Pops In 2017, ahead of his scheduled (and ultimately cancelled) show at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Paul Shaffer — longtime band-leader for David Letterman’s late night talk shows — was asked by CityBeat’s Steven Rosen about some of his most memorable moments from his time on TV and he cited backing up James Brown as “the most significant” performance. Shaffer will get to pay tribute to Brown and other legends who recorded for Cincinnati’s King Records when he returns to Ohio to collaborate with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for a pair of special concerts celebrating the Queen City’s rich musical history. A part of the Pops’ American Originals series, The Cincinnati Sound concerts will celebrate the music of Brown, the Isley Brothers, Hank Williams, Mamie Smith, The Stanley Brothers and other artists who either hailed from Cincinnati or recorded seminal music here at King and downtown’s Herzog studios. At Music Hall for the shows will be a special exhibit honoring King’s legacy and the concerts will be followed by a dance party in Music Hall’s foyer where DJ Bryan Dilsizian will spin some legendary Cincinnati-related platters. Shaffer will handle keyboards and vocals for the shows and, along with the Pops orchestra, he’ll be joined by guest vocalists and musicians like his old Late Show bandmate Felicia Collins on guitar and local multi-instrumental wiz Bradley Meinerding on guitar and mandolin. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 7; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8. $25-$115. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org. Photo: Courtesy of CBS
SUNDAY 08 EVENT: International Women’s Day at Listermann Brewing Co. Listermann Brewing Co. hosts their fourth annual International Women’s Day celebration on Sunday, March 8. Starting at 2 p.m., the brewery will feature their special all-female brewed beer on tap to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment. Named “100 Years of Change,” Listermann will also be debuting the brew in special, locally designed cans. The cans will be available in four packs and have been designed by local female artists Emily McNamara, Savannah Bryant, Pinky Anderson Sivrais, and more. In addition to the good beer and good times, there will be live screen printing, a photo booth and a raffle with proceeds benefitting Women Helping Women. 2-8 p.m. Sunday, March 8. Free admission. Listermann Brewing Co., 1621 Dana Ave., Norwood, facebook.com/listermannbrewing. Photo: Megan Waddel
SUNDAY 08 EVENT: Womenfolk Market In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, the organizers behind Cincinnati’s City Flea have planned a special maker pop-up dedicated to female-owned businesses. The Womenfolk Market will take over Over-the-Rhine’s The Transept, bringing more than 40 vendors together under one roof; ticket-buyers can browse, shop and support local ladies and their ventures. Expect to see Greater Cincinnati favorites including Parlour, Fern, Grateful Grahams, Lucca, Coda Co., Charnee’s Doughnuts and Handzy. In addition to shops, the event will also have a full bar and an auction with pieces from Rookwood Pottery and a large-scale work from The Diggingest Girl. A portion of the proceeds will benefit nonprofit organization Women Helping Women, whose mission is to prevent gender-based violence and empower survivors. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 8. $11. The Transept, 1205 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, thecityflea.com. Photo: Brittany Thornton
TUESDAY 10 MUSIC: Steve Aoki Of all the fascinating bullet points on Steve Aoki’s curriculum vitae — son of late Benihana founder Rocky Aoki, owner/operator of renowned independent label Dim Mak, in-demand producer/remixer/collaborator, author and tireless philanthropist — perhaps the one that stands out in the boldest relief would be “one of the world’s most acclaimed DJs.” Over the past quarter century, Aoki has become a global EDM phenomenon, routinely playing for immense festival crowds numbering in the tens of thousands. But his current tour supporting his imminent new album, Neon Future IV (so far, no specific date has been set beyond sometime this year), will include a number of club dates like his appearance at Bogart’s in Cincinnati. While he appreciates the inherent differences in those two situations, Aoki has designs on keeping the experiences relatively similar, whether it’s for 1,000 or 100,000 people. 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. $38.50. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, bogarts.com. Photo: Provided by Bogart’s
TUESDAY 10 MUSIC: Ms. Lauryn Hill Though she has done impressive work before and after, acclaimed Soul/Hip Hop singer/songwriter Lauryn Hill’s timeless and masterful The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was brilliant enough to anchor a still-going-strong career that enables her to headline theaters and major festivals all over the world, including the upcoming Lovers & Friends fest in Los Angeles more than two decades after its release. Of course, before going solo, Hill was a member of Hip Hop trio Fugees, which itself released one legend-making album, The Score (and an underrated debut, Blunted on Reality). And though her releases since Miseducation have been extremely scarce, when she does put something out, it’s solid — Hill was dazzling on the 2015 Nina Simone tribute album, Nina Revisited. In November last year Hill released her first new solo song in five years, “Guarding the Gates,” a track on the Queen & Slim soundtrack. When Hill last performed in Cincinnati — in 2017 at the Aronoff Center — she treated fans to lots of Miseducation material, a handful of Fugees hits and covers of songs by Sade, Bob Marley and Frankie Valli. 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. $56-$251. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org. Photo: Provided by Taft Theatre