FRIDAY 06
EVENT: CAVALCADE OF CUSTOMS
Do you like shiny cars? What about babes and WWE celebrities? If you answered yes to any of those questions, visit the Duke Energy Convention Center to check out the Cavalcade of Customs, a weekend-long car show featuring custom cars, hotrods and motorcycles, plus appearances from the likes of Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison, WWE superstar Dean Ambrose, Dukes of Hazzard’s Ben Jones and more, including a pin-up contest on Saturday and live chop and custom demos from the iconic Gene Winfield all weekend long. 3-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. $17; $6 kids; discounts at KOI stores. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, koiautoparts.com/cavalcade/index.html.
COMEDY: GEOFF TATE
Going from town to town is what you do when you’re a stand-up comedian, at least in the early stages of your career. For comedian Geoff Tate, that came naturally. Born in Inglewood, Calif., the son of a preacher man, Tate lived in seven different places before he was 8 years old. “Yeah, my dad was always having to switch churches,” he says. “He does this thing where he reads the Bible and tries to figure it out and people don’t seem to like that. They like to be told what they’ve already been told. These people go to church to have their beliefs reinforced, not challenged or inspected.” It’s fitting, then, that Tate now does something very similar, albeit from the stage as a stand-up comedian. Show times Thursday-Sunday. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, 513-984-9288, gobananascomedy.com.
EVENT: ASTRONOMY FRIDAY
Take a trip to the stars at the Cincinnati Observatory. Weekly Astronomy Fridays include short presentations on a wide variety of topics and a tour of the building — the oldest professional observatory in the U.S. When the sun goes down, peer into the galaxy through the building’s historic 1845 telescope (weather depending). 7-8:30 p.m. Friday. $7 adults; $5 kids under 18; free for members. Cincinnati Observatory, 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout, cincinnatiobservatory.org.
ART: ONCE UPON A TIME: THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF CHILDREN’S STORIES
Now through Sunday you can explore the fantastic and fanciful world of children’s books at the Main Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Visit the Joseph S. Stern Jr. Cincinnati Room to view four centuries’ worth of strange and wonderful storybooks featuring traditional fables, chapbooks, nursery rhymes and fairy tales, with whimsical illustrations, pleasantly bizarre topics (e.g. The Art of Swimming Rendered Easy; with Directions to Learners. To Which is Prefixed, Advice to Bathers) and even foreign translations. The entire collection has also been digitized for online viewing. Through Sunday. Free. Main Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine St., Downtown, cincinnatilibrary.org.
ONSTAGE: A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER
Lord Monty Navarro, the ninth earl of Highhurst, is heir to a significant family fortune, but eight other family members stand between him and a life of ease. He decides to jump the line of succession — by any means necessary. Complicating matters are a mistress and a fiancée (who happens to be his cousin). Adding to the hilarity, one actor plays each one of the eight eccentric members of the D’Ysquith who are blocking Monty’s path. The witty musical comedy, based on a 1907 novel, received 10 Tony Award nominations in 2014 and won four, including Best Musical. Through Sunday. $35-$96. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-621-2787, cincinnatiarts.org.
SATURDAY 07
EVENT: GLOBAL BITES: CULTURE OF NEPAL
Global Bites is a local multimedia and multi-sensory initiative that engages storytelling and food as tools to bring about understanding. During the series, immigrants tell their stories, demonstrate their personal relationships to Cincinnati and invite the public to be part of an intimate experience. First up is chef Manish K.C., who will transport the audience to Nepal via the smell of sandalwood and sounds of the madal and bansuri. Manish will teach guests to make an authentic meal consisting of dal, rice, vegetables, meat and a dessert, served in several courses as he explains the importance of each spice used. Attendees will also have the chance to make momos, a famous Nepalese dish. 7-10 p.m. Saturday. $55. Findlay Kitchen, 1719 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, globalbites.org.
ART: THUNDER-SNOW EXHIBITION OPENING RECEPTION AT THUNDER-SKY
For the upcoming group show at Thunder-Sky, Inc., Thunder-Snow: Artists Remember the Blizzard of 1978, artists from across the region share their memories of the historic severe winter storm that struck the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions for several days, nearly 40 years ago. According to the gallery’s press release, “Memories of being ‘snowed in’ become fodder for remembrance and even an odd sort of celebration of calamity.” Participating artists include Emily Brandehoff, Dale Jackson, Pam Kravetz, Matthew Waldeck Sr., and Mike Weber — just to name a few. Opening reception 6-10 p.m. Saturday; exhibit through Feb. 4. 4573 Hamilton Ave., Northside, raymondthundersky.org.
EVENT: CINCINNATI WEDDING SHOWCASE
Say “I do” to 30,000 square feet of all things wedding at the Sharonville Convention Center. This extravagant showcase is a perfect opportunity to begin bringing your dream wedding to life, whether or not you currently have an engagement ring on your finger. Explore exhibits from more than 100 of the industry’s top wedding professionals — showcasing everything from invitations, attire and photographers to honeymoon destinations and hotel accommodations — and catch three fashion shows throughout the weekend. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. $10; children 10 and under free; $15 weekend pass. Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville, sharonvilleconventioncenter.com.
MUSIC: CONSIDER THE SOURCE
With an entrancing style accurately self-described as “Sci-Fi Middle Eastern Fusion,” New York City instrumental trio Consider The Source is one of the more engaging modern Progressive Rock bands going. While listening to some Prog groups is like the aural equivalent of doing a long math equation, Consider The Source stands out by imbuing its technically dazzling musicianship with emotive textures and shades of varying music styles, resulting in a sound that works on multiple levels. The group’s fusion of genres — the music is steeped in Jazz, Prog, Classical and Middle Eastern concepts — is done so imaginatively and skillfully, Consider The Source has attracted a devoted fan base that is accordingly diverse; its global tours attract Jazz enthusiasts, metalheads, Jam-band scenesters and other generally curious and open-minded listeners. The band’s local tour stop is a New Year’s Eve opening slot for popular improvisational Electro/Rock/Funk/Jam/Etc. adventurers Dopapod, which also plays Madison Theater on Friday night. 9 p.m. Saturday. $20-$30. Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington, madisontheateronline.com.
SPORTS: AMSOIL ARENACROSS
AMSOIL Arenacross is the real-life version of Excitebike for NES — without any of the safety that comes behind the controller of a video game. This high-speed, high-flying race features fearless athletes competing across 13 states as they vie for the brand-new Ricky Carmichael Cup, named in honor of the rider dubbed the “greatest of all time.” Arrive early at 5 p.m. for the Monster Energy Fueled Track Party, an exclusive opportunity to walk on the field for an up-close look at obstacles, machines and riders. 7 p.m. Saturday. $17-$62. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown, arenacross.com.
EVENT: DAVID BOWIE BIRTHDAY BASH
The passing of David Bowie was one of the many tragic cultural realities of 2016, and 2017 will be the first year the local David Bowie Birthday Bash will be thrown without the glam Starman being a member of this swiftly tilting planet. The seventh-annual iteration of this dance-party-meets-live-show-meets-costume-party will pay homage to the legend with two sets of live music from Bowie cover band The Spiders, sandwiched between Glam Rock DJ sets featuring the best of Bowie and friends, epic dancing and hopefully epic outfits. Bring out your best to salute Ziggy Stardust. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday. Free admission. Northside Yacht Club, 4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com.
SUNDAY 08
CLASSICAL MUSIC: MELISSA ETHERIDGE WITH THE POPS
Melissa Etheridge wants to come over to Cincy — and so she is. The Cincinnati Pops accompany the Grammy- and Academy Award-winning Rock artist for a one-night-only appearance at the Taft, during which Etheridge will perform ’90s hits like “I Want to Come Over, “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window.” Tickets are expected to sell out, so snag some ASAP. 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $25. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, cincinnatisymphony.org.
EVENT: CIN CITY REPTILE SHOW
Meet all manner of scaly, slimy and cold-blooded creatures in the area’s largest showcase of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The monthly Cin City Reptile Show features more than 40 vendors specializing in supplies, feeders and exotic animals from snakes to frogs to lizards to tarantulas, all sold at or below wholesale retail price. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. $5; kids 10 and under free. 74 Donald Drive, Fairfield, cincityreptileshow.com.
EVENT: BOMBSHELLS’ PUSSYHAT PROJECT CRAFT NIGHT
In protest of president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, millions of women all over the country are planning to participate in the “Pussyhat Project,” which visually unites women and allies with pink cat-ear hats as they protest for women’s rights. In support of the project, a group of local lady crafters called the Bombshells, who juxtapose vandalism with fiber art, are hosting a craft night at Wave Pool. Join the group as they knit and crochet the hats, share patterns and discuss the Jan. 21 Women’s March on Washington. Participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Free. Wave Pool Art Center, 2940 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, wavepoolgallery.org.
MUSIC: ORGY
Electro Rock band Orgy entered the public consciousness in the late ’90s with its harrowing, hard-hitting cover of “Blue Monday,” a 1983 hit by legendary Electro Pop group New Order. Fronted by enigmatic frontman Jay Gordon, Orgy caught the attention of Korn singer Jonathan Davis, who signed the band to his Reprise-distributed Elementree Records and released Orgy’s debut album, Candyass (which featured the New Order cover), in 1998. On the road, the band’s tightrope walk between heavier Rock and textural Electronica allowed Orgy to play for a wide range of audiences — it may be the only group to ever open for both Korn and Love and Rockets. Orgy plays The Mad Frog Sunday with Powerman 5000, Death Valley High and Knee High Fox. Click here for tickets/more show info.
This article appears in Jan 4-11, 2017.
