WEDNESDAY 26 EVENT: Cincinnati Negroni Week Feeling thirsty? Have a cocktail for a cause. The Negroni is an Italian cocktail made of one part gin, one part vermouth, one part Campari and garnished with an orange peel. Negroni Week is an initiative launched by liqueur manufacturer Campari and Imbibe Magazine in 2013 to, yes, celebrate the cocktail, but also raise funds for a variety of charitable causes. Negroni Week is now hosted in more than 10,000 bars, restaurants, etc. around the world and has raised more than $2 million. Cincinnati Negroni Week takes place through June 30 and participating venues will be offering special Negroni variations for charities of their choice. For example, Sotto will have six different Negroni and Negroni-inspired cocktails to benefit Slow Food International, Lonely Pine Steakhouse will be slinging a mezcal Negroni to benefit the Arbor Day Foundation, LOCOBA by Platform will have four different Negroni variations to benefit Lambda Legal and so on. To find venues participating in the rest of Negroni Week, visit negroniweek.com/venues and search “Cincinnati.” Photo via Unsplash
THURSDAY 27 COMEDY: Bang! Pow! Comics & Comics It’s been quite a year for locally based comedian Tabari McCoy. “I was recently in Oklahoma and Kansas doing shows,” he says, “and I’m back home for a short stint before I hit the road to do shows in Little Rock.” Earlier this year he featured for both Tig Notaro and Jen Kirkman at the Taft Theatre. He also continues to host Bang! Pow! Comics & Comics, the comedy show held once a month at the Up, Up & Away comic book store in Blue Ash. “We might have some promo items and such that comic book and movie fans might like as an enticement to come out to the show,” he says. “And, of course, you’ll hear six good comics from throughout the Tri-State.” With all this success, it may be harder for McCoy to keep up his guise as the “black Charlie Brown” — at least one would think. “Oh, if only you knew. It’s actually getting much easier, sadly.” But at least he can laugh about it. 7-9 p.m. Thursday. Free but tipping is encouraged. Up, Up & Away Comics, 5885 Pfeiffer Road, Blue Ash, facebook.com/uuablueash. Photo: TabariMcCoy.com
THURSDAY 27 ONSTAGE: Cincinnati Opera: Romeo and Juliet Cincinnati Opera tackles Shakespeare’s tragic romance. With music by Charles Gounod and a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carr?, this tale of star-crossed lovers from dueling families is sung in French with projected translations. Soprano Nicole Cabell sings Juliet to her Romeo, rising opera star Matthew White, in his CO debut. Called “sparkling and stylish” with “captivating visuals” by the Twin Cities Arts Reader, this production — rated PG — features classic and opulent costuming. After Saturday’s performance of Romeo and Juliet, Cincinnati Opera is celebrating its 13th-annual Pride Night at 10:30 p.m. with a party featuring drinks, music, snacks and decor by Joe Rigotti; tickets for Pride Night are $30. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. $35-$190. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiopera.org. Photo: Provided by Cincinnati Opera
THURSDAY 27 MUSIC: Esham A pioneering figure in Detroit Hip Hop, Esham’s musical life began in the late 1980s, as he formulated a gritty, dark and aggressive style that laid the groundwork for Motor City big-timers from Eminem to Insane Clown Posse, while providing inspiration for countless others in the broader Hip Hop underground. With a switchblade-sharp delivery and viscerally violent and raw imagery in his lyrics, Esham is the self-proclaimed originator of Acid Rap and he was also an early influence on the Horrorcore genre. The MC began as a successful DIY artist (starting his Reel Life Productions label when he was just 15) and his career has taken him through label stints with the TVT-distributed imprint Overcore and ICP’s Psychopathic Records. Through it all, Esham has been unwaveringly prolific in terms of recorded output, featuring with other artists (including Kool Keith and ICP) and rarely going more than a couple of years between his own releases. Beginning with 1989’s Boomin’ Words from Hell, his solo discography includes more than 30 albums, EPs, mixtapes and compilations. Last year Esham released the full-length Dead of Winter and just a couple of months ago he dropped the single “Under Surveillance,” on which he growls, “They want me dead but I am not/I can’t rock ice, I’m too damn hot.” On his current Afraid of the Dark tour, Esham is performing with a live Hard Rock band. $12; $15 day of. Northside Yacht Club, 4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com. Photo: Reel Life Productions
FRIDAY 28 EVENT: Panegyri Greek Festival Spend the weekend in Greece without paying for an international flight. The Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Finneytown is hosting its annual celebration of this ancient culture, complete with exhibits, cooking demos, live music, carnival rides and folk dancing. You can also munch on myriad Greek eats. Get in line in the main hall to take home a box of baklava, kataifi, kourambiethes and melomakarona handmade by church patrons; or get your fill of Greek pizza, full Greek dinners, baklava sundaes, Yia Yia’s mezethakia and Skyline outside. Don’t skip the taverna, with Greek wine by the glass and bottle. 5-11 p.m. Friday; 3-11 p.m. Saturday; 1-8 p.m. Sunday. $2; free 12 and under. Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 7000 Winton Road, Finneytown, panegyri.com. Photo: Mackenzie Frank Photography
FRIDAY 28 EVENT: Pop-Up Gallery at Brick OTR Five local artists create a pop-up gallery at Brick OTR. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Free. Brick OTR, 1237 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, brickotr.com Photo via Facebook.com/BrickPopUpShops
FRIDAY 28 EVENT: Art After Dark: Kimono My House Celebrate the opening of Kimono: Refashioning Contemporary Style with J-Pop music, Taiko drum performances, food from FUSIAN and Graeter’s, cocktails and a live kimono dressing workshop from Ohio Kimono. The workshop will include how to tell the gender and type of a kimono, cover kimono formalities and “debunk many myths about kimonos.” Kimono: Refashioning Contemporary Style, on view through Sept. 15, highlights the garment’s effect on fashion and culture and includes classic Japanese kimonos as well as modern takes by Japanese, European and American designers including Coco Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Rei Kawakubo, Junya Watanabe, Yohji Yamamoto, Tom Ford and more. Harajuku (aka American/Japanese street style from Shibuya, Japan) and kimono costumes are encouraged. 5-10 p.m. Friday. Free admission. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Photo: Takashi Hatakeyama
FRIDAY 28 ART: Cincinnati Gateway Revisited at Weston Art Gallery Discover the origin of Cincinnati’s famous flying pigs. Sculptor Andrew Leicester’s “Cincinnati Gateway” sculpture was created in 1988 as the entry adornment to Sawyer Point’s Bicentennial Commons. Controversial at the time of its unveiling, the flying pig statue is marking its 30th anniversary of inspiring a city’s identity. The Minneapolis-based Leicester has returned to the city to build a new installation at the gallery, with photo documentation of the Gateway project and others. On Sunday, art historian Erika Doss will give a lecture about Leicester’s and other artists’ approaches to “public art and public space.” Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Friday. Through Aug. 25. Free admission. Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. Photo: Photo courtesy of the artist and the Weston Art Gallery
SATURDAY 29 EVENT: Urban Artifact Pickle Eating Contest Urban Artifact is celebrating the release of its deliciously briny Pickle Gose, a dill pickle brew wherein every 30-barrel batch is made with 1,000 pounds of cucumbers, nine pounds of sea salt, two pounds of fresh dill and 567 grams of coriander. And yes, it tastes like pickles. Brews went on sale in six pack cans on June 25, but the brewery is marking the occasion with a now-annual pickle-eating contest. Starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, up to 40 contestants will be competing to see who has the stomach and the sodium tolerance to take down the most pickles in one sitting. Each contestant will have five minutes to eat as many pickles as possible. Competitors will be divided into heats. The winner will be awarded a pickle trophy and Urban Artifact gift card. Go Go Buffalo’s Jeremy Moore will emcee. In addition to the contest, pickle fans can partake in fermented goods from the Pickled Pig, Fab Ferments and Skinny Piggy kombucha or a pickle pizza from the in-house WildFire Pizza Kitchen. If you feel like kicking it up a notch, four pack cans of a special Epicurean Spicy Pickle gose will be available, infused with peppers. A true dream for all pickle lovers and a true nightmare for those who abhor these vinegary vixens. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock St., Northside, facebook.com/urbanartifactbrewing. Photo: Brittany Thornton
SATURDAY 29 EVENT: Rhinegeist Sixth Anniversary Party Rhinegeist is turning six with a summer-themed party. The brewery will be activating the taproom with “cool treats,” live bands, DJs, a giant pi?ata and plenty of rare beers, including special anniversary brew Hang Six, a brut IPA brewed with fruit tea. Summer-themed photo ops and decor include things like spray-painted lockers. Who knows, you may even see an ice cream man. Noon-midnight Saturday. Free admission. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, rhinegeist.com. Photo via Facebook.com/Rhinegiest
SATURDAY 29 CLASS: Afghanistan: An Evening of Cuisine, Culture and Conversation There’s more to Afghanistan than the mostly bad press it gets in America, and Dean’s Mediterranean Imports and Stir want to share it with you. The landlocked country is surrounded by China, Iran and the Indian subcontinent, a location that has made it a nexus of trade routes and cultural exchange for years. Its position as a cosmopolitan crossroads has contributed to its amazing cuisine, which you can try at this special homemade dinner prepared by an Afghani family who recently immigrated to Cincinnati. Enjoy an evening of nuanced conversation and community building with a delicious meal. 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $65. Ascension & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 334 Burns Ave., Wyoming, facebook.com/culturecusineconversation. Photo via Facebook.com/DeansMediterannean
SATURDAY 29 EVENT: Hyde Park Blast Join the fight against cancer by staying active. The Hyde Park Blast offers events for people of all running and cycling skill levels, opening with a four-mile run/walk at 7:30 a.m., followed by a kids’ fun run at 9 a.m. and cycling races for all ages and skill levels beginning at 1 p.m. Celebrate a successful workout by indulging in the first ever Beer Wine Food Festival at 3 p.m. featuring live music, food and more than 60 types of beer and wine. Pro cyclists close out the day when they take on Hyde Park Square at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit The Cure Starts Now. 7:30 a.m. Saturday. $20-$75 registration. Hyde Park Square, facebook.com/HPBlast. Photo: Cincy Photography
SATURDAY 29 MUSIC: Car Seat Headrest Car Seat Headrest heads to Bogart’s on their Twin Fantasy Summer Tour with Naked Giants. 7 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. show. $22.50. Photo: Mikeal Beland
SATURDAY 29 EVENT: Anime Ohio Anime lovers should do their best Naruto run and Pokémon GO to this event. Guests include voice actors from Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Naruto among other popular anime programs. There will also be workshops, panels and vendors, including comic artists. Cosplay guests will also be joining, so don’t be afraid to show up dressed as your favorite characters. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. $15. Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville, animeohio.com. Photo via Facebook.com/OhioAnime
SUNDAY 30 EVENT: Adult Swim at Ziegler Pool Gone are the noisy kids and splashing — at least on Sunday night. Ziegler Pool hosts Adult Swim this weekend for those 21 and up. There will be a bar with brews from Rhinegeist and a DJ on-site so rest assured your night will go swimmingly. 7:30-10 p.m. $10. Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, zieglerpark.org. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
SUNDAY 30 MUSIC: Dan Stuart of Green on Red at MOTR Pub Dan Stuart of Green on Red supports his extraordinary The Unfortunate Demise of Marlowe Billings at MOTR Pub. 8 p.m. Free admission. Photo: David Barajas
SUNDAY 30 MUSIC: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones Newgrass masters Béla Fleck & The Flecktones head to the Taft Theatre. $35-$55. 7 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. show. Photo: Jim McGuire
MONDAY 01 MUSIC: Courtney Barnett at the Madison Theater Witty Australian singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett plays the Madison Theater. 7 p.m. show; 8 p.m. doors. $28 advance; $30 door. All ages. Photo: Mia Mala McDonald