WEDNESDAY 12 ART: From Rituals to Runways: The Art of the Bead at the Behringer-Crawford Museum Covington’s Behringer-Crawford Museum has basically found a way to turn back time by displaying four of superstar singer/actress Cher’s detailed and glittering beaded costumes from the 1960s and 1970s. Worn by the mononymous Goddess of Pop during concerts as well as appearances on the Sonny & Cher Show, the outfits were designed by the legendary Bob Mackie — the fashion icon who has created looks for seminal divas of stage, screen and song including Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, RuPaul and Elton John. The dazzling vintage numbers will be exhibited as part of the museum’s From Rituals to Runways: The Art of the Bead, which examines “the art and integral roles that beads have played in society over the centuries, from prayer and devotion, to art, fashion and d?cor.” It’s the perfect Mermaids-style appetizer to Cher’s Cincinnati stop of her “Here We Go Again Tour,” which comes to downtown’s Heritage Bank Center on April 7. Through May 10. $9 adults; $8 seniors; $5 kids; free for members. The Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Road, Devou Park, Covington, bcmuseum.org. Photo: Provided by the Behringer-Crawford Museum
WEDNESDAY 12 ONSTAGE: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at the Playhouse in the Park The Playhouse in the Park’s Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story tells the tale of the Rock & Roll sensation via mini concerts and vignettes. Through Feb. 16. Tickets start at $30. Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle, Mount Adams, cincyplay.com. Photo: Mikki Schaffner Photography
WEDNESDAY 12 MUSIC: Rakim Iconic MC Rakim exploded onto the Hip Hop scene in the mid-’80s with his partner Eric B. The duo’s first single, “Eric B. is President,” dropped in 1986, followed by their 1987 debut album, Paid in Full, a cornerstone Hip Hop classic that was included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Eric B. & Rakim released three more albums — 1988’s Follow the Leader, 1990’s Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em and 1992’s Don’t Sweat the Technique — before splitting up. In 2016, the pair — who were on the shortlist of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees in 2011 — reunited for a run of live dates. Acclaimed for his lyricism and rhyming technique and cited by some all-time greats (including Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Nas and Jay-Z) as a prime influence, Rakim has released only a handful of solo albums outside of EB&R — the most recent was 2009’s The Seventh Seal. Last year he published the book Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius, which is described as “part memoir, part writing guide,” as he shares stories from his life while also exploring his own artistic approach in depth. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. $20-$99. Riverfront Live, 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End, riverfrontlivecincy.com. Photo: Micheal Wong
THURSDAY 13 MUSIC: New Bomb Turks Ohio Garage Punk heroes New Bomb Turks bring a tornado of no-frills Rock to the Southgate House Revival. 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. $18 advance; $20 doors. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com. Photo: Epitaph Records
THURSDAY 13 MUSIC: Mike Doughty Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing plays the 20th Century Theater. 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. $22 advance; $25 doors. 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, the20thcenturytheatre.com. Photo: Rachel Hurley
THURSDAY 13 MUSIC: Highly Suspect Popular AltRockers Highly Suspect play Madison Live. 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. $38 advance; $40 doors. Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington. madisontheater.com. Photo: Provided by 300 Entertainment
THURSDAY 13 EVENT: One Night One Craft: Cladies Night Celebrate Galentine’s Day with your hands in some clay. Cincinnati ceramic artist Julia Lipovsky heads to the Contemporary Arts Center for an evening of crafting, plus wine and cheese. Make your own air-dry clay necklace while snacking on a cheeseboard from The Rhined and sipping on sparkling wine. 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. $35-$70. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org. Photo via Facebook.com/cincycac
THURSDAY 13 EVENT: Taft House Party Bring your lover or friend to the Taft Museum of Art for this after-hours House Party with a theme of Cincy Love. During this bash — which indeed falls on Galentine’s Day — attendees can indulge in cocktails, crafts and free Skyline Chili coneys (while supplies last). In addition to the complimentary chili, you can also grab some Graeter’s Ice Cream (for purchase) and screenprint your own T-shirt at a DIY printing station. It’s also a great chance to catch current museum exhibits N.C. Wyeth | New Perspectives and Journey to Freedom: Art Quilts by Cynthia Lockhart. 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Free admission. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org. Photo: Provided by the Taft Museum of Art
THURSDAY 13 EVENT: Galentine’s Day at the Righteous Room Leave your husbands and boyfriends at home: The Righteous Room is going full Parks and Rec for this party, which includes games like Pin the Mustache on Ron Swanson, a Pawnee-themed photo booth and a guest appearance by Li’l Sebastian (Pawnee’s famous mini horse). There will also be $3 champagne flutes and roso pours in the Snakehole Lounge (aka literally the Righteous Room) and a special raffle to win a waffle pack from Taste of Belgium, a $50 4EG Gift card, a Parks and Rec wine glass, a bottle of syrup and more silly Parks and Rec-themed and friendship-themed prizes. 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Free admission. The Righteous Room, 641 Walnut St., Downtown, facebook.com/therighteousroom. Photo via Facebook.com/therighteousroom
THURSDAY 13 ONSTAGE: All the Way Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s All the Way is a political thriller set in 1964. Though February 15. $56 adults; $52 seniors; $28 students. The Otto M. Budig Theater, 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincyshakes.com. Photo: Mikki Schaffner Photography
FRIDAY 14 MUSIC: The Infamous Stringdusters The Infamous Stringdusters play Bogart’s. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Tickets start at $20. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, bogarts.com. Photo: Aaron Farrington
FRIDAY 14 EVENT: Loveapalooza at Know Theatre If you’re looking for something non-traditional to do this Feb. 14, head to Know Theatre’s Valentine’s Day party where there will be “drag queens, speed-friending, love-themed improv, cheeky craft cocktails, lite bites and so much more.” The admission fee enters you into the night’s raffle for a chance to win prizes and also gives you access to the theater’s silent auction. The night is full of chances for you to feel the love. Or not. Presented with The Cincinnati Sisters and OTRImprov. Ticket sales benefit the mission of Know. 7-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. $15 per person. Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/knowtheatre. Photo via Facebook.com/knowtheatre
FRIDAY 14 MUSIC: Little Big Town Country stars Little Big Town are in the midst of a tour of historic theaters this year. The Grammy-winning vocal quartet began the tour on Jan. 16 — the day before the release of their new album, Nightfall, which debuted at No. 1 on the Country album chart — at Carnegie Hall, which, according to a press release, is the first time a “mainstream Country” act has played the venue since Alan Jackson performed there in 2013. Among the other notable theaters — The Apollo in New York, The Chicago Theatre, Seattle’s Paramount Theatre — is Cincinnati’s own Taft Theatre, where the group will play a two-night stand just in time for Valentine’s Day. Singer/songwriter Caitlyn Smith opens both shows. Nightfall, Little Big Town’s ninth album, has been well received by critics, including the vintage Country Rock vibe of the title track and the LP’s first single, “The Daughters,” a song that examines gender inequality and earned the group a 2020 Grammy nomination. While many use “Pop” in a dismissive way when referring to a Country act, Little Big Town embraces the bridge their music creates for mainstream Pop audiences. “A lot of people tell us we’re kind of like a gateway drug to Country music,” LBT’s Phillip Sweet recently told the New York Post’s Chuck Arnold in an interview. “If you’ve never heard Country before, they’re like, ‘Oh, listen to Little Big Town! They’ll introduce you to Country.’ We take that as a badge of honor.” 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15. $29-$109. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org. Photo: Provided by Taft Theatre
FRIDAY 14 MUSIC: A Night of Music and Conversation with Rodriguez Singer/songwriter Rodriguez — a cult favorite and subject of the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man — is coming to town for a rare local appearance. Sixto Rodriguez was a Detroit-born Folk Rock artist who released a pair of albums in the early ’70s that garnered little attention. By the mid-’70s, he’d largely packed it in, went to college and settled down in Detroit doing construction work and other jobs. But his music took on a life of its own — as did rumors about his life — and Rodriguez became a cult hero in countries like Australia (he came out of “retirement” to tour there in the late ’70s and early ’80s) and South Africa, where his songs were embraced as anti-apartheid anthems. In the late ’90s, Rodriguez was reportedly able to retire from his construction job thanks to his belated success. Searching for Sugar Man told the story of two South African fans’ mission to track down the elusive singer. The acclaimed documentary revived Rodriguez’s career again — to say the least. According to Rolling Stone, in the span of about two years, Rodriguez — who is now 77 — went from playing the 190-seat capacity Joe’s Pub in New York to performing at the Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn. A new Rodriguez studio album has been hinted at over the years since the film but has never materialized. The concert LP Rodriguez Rocks – Live In Australia was released in 2016 on Light in the Attic Records. Last year, Universal Music reissued his early ’70s albums on vinyl and CD. Searching for Sugar Man is streaming on Netflix. 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. $50-$85. Ludlow Garage, 342 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, ludlowgaragecincinnati.com. Photo: Universal Music Group
FRIDAY 14 EVENT: Couples Open Wheel Make like Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in Ghost and get ya’ hands all up in some wet clay with someone you love, lust after or even hate this Valentine’s Day. Queen City Clay is hosting a special couples open wheel event where you can spin your own pottery while nibbling on some chocolate and sipping on some fine wine. It’s a sexy, slightly dirty evening for two. Ghost will of course be playing in the background. 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14; 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. $75 per couple. Queen City Clay, 3130 Wasson Road, Hyde Park, facebook.com/queencityclay. Photo via Facebook.com/QueenCityClay
FRIDAY 14 EVENT: Night Circus: Cabaret Prepare for a classical take on Valentine’s Day with a cabaret. Magical cirque performances, “lovely madames” and a full bar are waiting to make your Valentine’s night with your partner one you won’t forget. Your ticket includes full access to the bar, vendors, seating for the show and, if you’d like, stick around for the afterparty. 7-10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. $20 balcony only; other ticket options sold out. 18+. The Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/passionproductionscincy. Photo via Facebook.com/passionproudctionscincy
SATURDAY 15 MUSIC: Soul Asylum Soul Asylum plays Riverfront Live with Local H. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Tickets start at $28. Riverfront Live, 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End, riverfrontlivecincy.com. Photo: Jenn Devereaux
SATURDAY 15 COMEDY: Robert Kelly “I’ve definitely softened since I had a kid,” says comedian Robert Kelly. “Growing up in Boston and coming up as a comedian there in that era, it was a very blue-collar comedy school. It’s not a blue-collar thing now. It’s more nerdy dudes.” Kelly learned from some of the best. “When I was coming up it was Lenny Clarke, Steve Sweeney and Denis Leary. We were really aggressive. We were assholes.” In the early part of his career, his comedy was very instinctual, but then he realized he had to grow. “You learn to do comedy better,” he says, “and you can tell what stinks, what’s hack, how to tell a joke and put stuff together.” 8-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. $15 early bird; $20 general admission. Taft’s Brewpourium, 4831 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village, facebook.com/bombsawaycomedy. Photo via Facebook.com/RobertKellyLive
SATURDAY 15 EVENT: Cupid’s Undie Run Cupid’s Undie Run for charity returns to Cincinnati — and it’s exactly what it sounds like: Strip down to your skivvies to raise funds and awareness to fight neurofibromatosis. According to Cupid’s Charity (the nonprofit that hosts the run), “NF is a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and may lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. NF affects 1 in every 3,000 births across all populations, ethnicities, and genders equally.” The idea behind the pants-less and pantied run is because those with NF cannot hide their disease or tumors, so runners who want to support the mission of finding a cure can bare all, too. One hundred percent of the net proceeds go to NF research via the Children’s Tumor Foundation. There will be a pre-party at Galla Park starting at noon and the mile-long race starts at 2 p.m. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. $40. Galla Park, 175 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks, cupids.org. Photo via Facebook.com/CupidsUndieRunEventPage
SATURDAY 15 EVENT: My Furry Valentine My Furry Valentine, Cincinnati’s largest pet adoption event, will feature more than 1,000 adoptable pets — dogs, cats and other little critters of all ages — from more than two dozen different rescue and shelter groups from around Greater Cincinnati. With everyone under one roof, it’s easier to find your perfect pet. Please note: Every group has a different adoption process and different fees. Every adopted animal will go home with some swag. 10 a.m.-noon early bird and noon-5 p.m. general admission Saturday, Feb. 15; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. $25 early bird; $5 general admission; free children 5 and under. Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville, myfurryvalentine.com. Photo: Paige Deglow
SATURDAY 15 ONSTAGE: The Office! A Musical Parody Imagine a paper salesman’s joy on pretzel day. Now take that joy and multiply it by keleven because The Office! A Musical Parody is coming to the Aronoff Center. Described as “the world’s most elaborate inside joke,” the Off-Broadway musical follows everybody’s favorite people person’s paper people at Dunder Mifflin Scranton. According to Mashable, the musical takes viewers back to the beginning of the series when a camera crew inexplicably arrives at the paper company to film a documentary. From there, references to classic scenes like Kevin’s famous chili and Sprinkles’ death are dispensed at rapid fire. Original songs such as “That’s What She Said” and “Marry Me, Beasley” add to the mix to make for a new yet nostalgic Scranton adventure. 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16. $25-$45. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. Photo: Russ Rowland
SATURDAY 15 EVENT: MadTree Seventh Anniversary Bonanza MadTree is turning seven with a big-ass bash. The brewery and taproom is celebrating the seven-year-stretch with a family-friendly afternoon activity and rare and specialty draft tappings. Get your tastebuds ready for Sprye and Pilgrim releases plus a seven-year Cuvée specialty brew. Food trucks Empandas Aqui, Beerded Pig and Red Sesame Korean BBQ will be there to keep you satiated, along with in-house Catch-A-Fire Café. Live music starts at 2:30 p.m. with bands including Hickory Robot and Soul Pocket. DJs begin at 10 p.m. Expect a crowd. Noon-1 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Free admission. MadTree Brewing, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley, facebook.com/madtree. Photo: Provided by MadTree