19 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Week (May 16-21)

THURSDAY 16

EVENT: Wild About Wine
Part of the Cincinnati Zoo’s Toast to the Wild series, Wild About Wine is a super-popular after-hours party that invites the public to wander the zoo grounds while sipping on glasses of vino. After listening to feedback, the zoo has expanded the always-sold-out event, offering longer hours, more space, more animals and more tickets. Each ticket includes access to zoo exhibits, 12 drink samples, a commemorative wine glass, a welcome drink, food for purchase, animal encounters, live music from cover band Linus Tate and a meet-and-greet with Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) scientists. VIP tickets include early access to the event, complimentary food samples, additional drink tickets, private animal encounters and access to exclusive air-conditioned areas. 6:30-9:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. entry for VIP Thursday. Tickets are $50; $45 members; $80 VIP; $75 member VIP. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
Photo: Provided

THURSDAY 16

MUSIC: Tank and the Bangas
The Underworld Jazz Festival — curated by Cincinnati native and international touring artist Napoleon Maddox (known best locally as the creative mind behind progressive Jazz/Hip Hop project IsWhat?!) — is back for its second annual celebration and examination of Jazz, Hip Hop, Soul and other styles of music, featuring special guests from all over the world. The showcase of everything from “survival songs to rebel music (and) from Spirituals to Trap” continues through May 25. One of the marquee events of UJF this year is the In Her Voice show at the Woodward Theater in Over-the-Rhine on May 16. The showcase is described as a celebration of “black women through performance and poetry” and is a collaboration between UJF and Queens Village, which works with Cradle Cincinnati and is described as a “supportive community gathering of powerful Black women who come together to relax, re-power and take care of ourselves and each other.” The lineup for the event includes local favorites Lauren Eylise, Jennifer Simone, MC Jori An Cotton and DJ Apryl Reign, as well as New Orleans’ Tank and the Bangas, the widely acclaimed band that won the 2017 Tiny Desk Contest and has become a high-profile touring act, appearing recently on The Tonight Show. The event will also feature poetry from the In Her Voice North College Hill Poetry Crew. Tickets for the In Her Voice show ($15) are available at eventbrite.com. (Most of the UJF events are free.)
Photo: Alex Marks

FRIDAY 17

EVENT: Breakfast on the Bridge
May 17 is National Bike to Work Day and Tri-State Trails — “an alliance of trail advocates advancing a vision to connect and expand Greater Cincinnati’s trail network” — is celebrating with the 10th-annual Breakfast on the Bridge. Head to the Purple People Bridge on your bike between 7 and 9 a.m. Friday for free Trailhead Coffee and breakfast bites like waffles from Taste of Belgium, bacon, donuts and more — all over the Ohio River. First-timers, casual riders and die-hard commuters are all welcome. 7-9 a.m. Friday. Free. Purple People Bridge, 1 Levee Way, Newport, facebook.com/tristatetrails1.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 17

ONSTAGE: Twice The First Time
In 2017, award-winning artist and musician Napoleon Maddox debuted Twice the First Time at the Contemporary Arts Center’s Black Box performance space. The multimedia work tells the story of his great-grandaunts Millie-Christine McKoy, conjoined twins who were born into slavery in North Carolina in 1851 and later became a sideshow circus act, touring the world and eventually learning multiple languages, meeting Queen Victoria and making enough money to support their family (and their manager’s family). Now, back by popular demand, Maddox is performing his work at the Woodward Theater after touring it across festivals and theaters in France and Italy. Watch as Maddox highlights the twins’ experiences with exploitation, captivity and liberation through Hip Hop, performance art, Jazz and video. Featuring special guest Marc Cary as part of the Underworld Jazz Festival.7-10:30 p.m. Friday. $10. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.
Photo: John H. Fitzgibbon

FRIDAY 17

MUSIC: Buckethead
Talk about truth in advertising: When Brian Patrick Carroll was 19 and already an accomplished guitarist, he stuck a Kentucky Fried Chicken tub on his noggin, slapped an emotionless white mask over his face to shield his identity, looked in a mirror and said, “Buckethead.” Thus was born one of the most inventive and uniquely talented guitar shredders, a player who routinely shifts between Funk, Metal, Prog, Blues, Ambient, Bluegrass and experimental Art Rock and has been cited by numerous publications and august organizations as among the best, fastest and weirdest guitarists on the planet. 7 p.m. Friday. $25. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, bogarts.com.
Photo: Jhayne

FRIDAY 17

EVENT: Art on Vine TGIF Summer Celebration
Art on Vine is TGIF-ing with this after-work summer celebration. The makers’ market will be popping up at Washington Park with more than 70 vendors selling handmade art and goods. There will also be food from OTR eateries and wine, beer and cocktails available from the park concession stand. This will be the only time to catch Art on Vine at Washington Park this season — they head to Fountain Square every first Sunday this summer starting June 2 through Sept. 1. 4-10 p.m. Friday. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/artonvinecincy.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 17

ONSTAGE: Tiny Houses
There’s a kind of time warp going on with the Cincinnati Playhouse’s world premiere production of Chelsea Marcantel’s Tiny Houses. At the outset, Bohdi (Peter Hargrave), the optimistic half of a couple who recently relocated from New York City to northern Oregon, is enthusiastically convinced that he can complete the construction of a 200-square-foot house in three months, maybe four. His girlfriend of four months, Cath (Kate Eastman), a banker who has abandoned employment but is financing the project, is more pragmatic and dubious. Help of questionable value comes from two of Bohdi’s past acquaintances. Ollie (Michael Doherty) is hosting the project in his backyard since Bohdi has not yet purchased the necessary land; the plan is to trailer the house into the woods when (or if) it’s completed. Jevne (Nandita Shenoy), a loony girlfriend from Bohdi’s Oregon past, turns up to help, full of second guesses about construction and clearly wangling for Bohdi’s affections.Director Laura Kepley, the artistic director at the Cleveland Play House — the show is a co-production with that Northeast Ohio theater — has highlighted the humor in Marcantel’s script by using spotlighted monologues for each actor to show off his or her comic chops. This gives us deeper insights into their characters’ offbeat personal psyches. They’re self-absorbed in ways you might recognize, and that’s the fun of this show, even if the message is kind of muddy. The confines of a tiny house pressurize the play’s entertainment quotient, even if these characters are more caricatures. Tiny Houses is like watching exotic animals in a crazy zoo. Tiny Houses, presented by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, continues through June 2. More info/tickets: cincyplay.com.
Photo: Mikki Schaffner Photography

FRIDAY 17

ONSTAGE: May Festival
Proclaimed as “a celebration of the human voice,” the 2019 Cincinnati May Festival takes place this month with four performances at Music Hall exploring the Great Beyond: The Immortal (May 17), Silences Between (May 18), Mahler & Mussorgsky: Games of Thrones (May 24) and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion (May 25). Complementary programming throughout the city is intended to engage and entertain as well. The May Festival takes place May 17 to May 25 at various venues across Cincinnati. More info/tickets: mayfestival.com.
Photo: Michael Novak

SATURDAY 18

EVENT: OTR 5k
The 13th-annual OTR 5k rings in summer in the city with a run/walk and party. The race kicks off at 9 a.m. with a route that winds participants from 13th and Republic streets past Findlay Market, down Liberty, up into Pendleton and back into the heart of OTR. There will be Rookwood Pottery medals awarded to the top male and female runners in a variety of age categories, plus top three overall in each gender, and first male and female with a stroller and first male and female with a walker. After the race (which includes a T-shirt, Taste of Belgium waffle and drink ticket), head to Washington Park for the after party, which includes the season’s first City Flea. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. $40. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/OTR5K.
Photo: Facebook

SATURDAY 18

EVENT: The City Flea
The City Flea is kicking off its summer shopping season Saturday in Over-the-Rhine when hundreds of vendors will gather at Washington Park to create an urban flea market that lets you meet a myriad of Cincinnati artisans and makers. Shop their wares ranging from art, and vintage finds to jewelry, ceramics, plants, fancy foods and more. Experience it all in one place while supporting small and local businesses. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, thecityflea.com.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

SATURDAY 18

EVENT: A Crawl of Ice and Fire
The Game of Thrones series finale is on Sunday, so Pleasant Ridge businesses are prepping the masses with a themed Crawl of Ice and Fire. Dress in your best GoT cosplay and enter to win the costume contest or just take your photo on a replica Iron Throne. A scavenger hunt will take you through the seven kingdoms of Pleasant Ridge, guided by a Westeros-style map of the area. Stop by Revolution Rotisserie, which is acting as House Targaryen, for a Red Wedding punch, deviled dragon eggs and a Mother of Dragons collaboration beer with Nine Giant. Nine Giant, aka House Stark, will have its own specials, including oysters, clams and cockles and Red Wedding wings, plus four themed beers. Overlook Lodge will be transforming into a Red Wedding-themed bar and Casa Figueroa, Gaslight Café and Share: Cheesebar will have deals and themed eats and cocktails as well. Tickets include wristbands that get you food and drink specials, punch card raffle tickets and a map; opt for VIP to get a photo op with the Iron Throne and two drink tickets. Starts at 3 p.m. Saturday. $10; $20 VIP. Check in at Revolution Rotisserie, 6063 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, facebook.com/revolutionrotisserie.
Photo: Helen Sloane/HBO

SATURDAY 18

EVENT: Cincy VegFest
VegFest returns to Cincinnati for the first time since 2012 for what organizers are planning as an annual local event. On its website, Cincy VegFest is described as “a variety of talks, classes and workshops with national and internationally known presenters, musicians, authors, artists and chefs unfolding a path to a more peaceful world through compassionate plant-sourced vegan living.” Several vendors will offer “plant-sourced meal choices” for attendees and the day will be filled with live music. Yogis and environmentalists will also be on hand for Cincy VegFest, as will several chefs, including Cincinnati’s Danny Korman, former owner of Park + Vine. The event has been held for the past five years in Cleveland; in 2018, it attracted more than 13,000 attendees. (Cleveland’s 2019 VegFest will also be held May 18.) The first VegFest in Cincinnati in 2012 was held in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Burnet Woods Bandstand, 280 Burnet Woods Drive, Clifton, cincyvegfest.com.
Photo: Ja Ma

SATURDAY 18

LIT: The FRINGE Bookstore
A contemporary art fulfillment center, Wave Pool's current project, The FRINGE Bookstore is pop-up bookshop — the brainchild of Andrew McKinley, who first came to the area from San Francisco as an artist in residence at Wave Pool nearly two years ago. He stayed there for about a month and turned the downstairs gallery into a bookstore/community living room. Christened “The Gathering Space,” it was a hit. McKinley decided to make Cincinnati his new home and bought a house across the street from Wave Pool. With their help — and an ArtsWave grant — he has since transformed his shed into a colorful bookstand. The pop-up bookshop is open every Saturday through June 1. A special performance of It Can Only Be As Beautiful As We Make It takes place on May 18, as part of the Contemporary Arts Center’s current exhibition, Archive as Action. The FRINGE Bookstore (2931 Jessamine St., Camp Washington) is open on Saturdays through June 1. For more information visit wavepoolgallery.org.
Photo: Provided

SATURDAY 18

EVENT: Queens & Canines
HART Cincinnati, Furgotten Dog Rescue, SPCA Cincinnati and your favorite local drag queens are teaming up to bring you some fabulous furry fun. Below Zero Lounge is hosting Queens & Canines — an afternoon of drag shows and adoptable pups, all raising funds for those onsite rescue organizations. Come for the entertainment; leave with a new four-legged friend. 4-7 p.m. Saturday. Free admission; donations accepted and tips for queens appreciated. Below Zero Lounge, 1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/belowzerolounge.
Photo: Provided

SUNDAY 19

EVENT: Burlington Antique Show
As the Midwest’s premier antique market, the Burlington Antique Show is celebrating almost four decades of bringing the best antiques and vintage collectibles to the Boone County Fairgrounds. More than 200 dealers converge the third Sunday of the month (through October) to exhibit and sell their authentic wares — Midcentury Modern, Art Deco, pre-war, Industrial and more. It’s generally pretty crowded, so if you’re a real hunter, aim for early-bird admission ($6; 6-8 a.m.) 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. $4 starting at 8 a.m. Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington, burlingtonantiqueshow.com.
Photo: Provided

SUNDAY 19

FILM: Alien at the Mini Microcinema
Ridley Scott’s Alien is turning 40 and the Mini Microcinema is celebrating with a special screening. As part of the cinema’s The Anniversary Show monthly fundraiser marking historical film milestones throughout 2019, these ticketed events include themed drinks and snacks and help support the mission of the Mini. On their way back to Earth, the crew of the commercial space ship Nostromo gets a distress signal from a nearby moon, prompting their computer to wake them from stasis to investigate. They do. Things don’t go well: faces get sucked, chests explode, etc. 7 p.m. doors; 7:30 p.m. show Sunday. $25. The Mini Microcinema, 1329 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, alien40th.eventbrite.com.
Photo: Promo photo

TUESDAY 21

MUSIC: Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band
Idaho native Josh Ritter has been sharpening his ample songwriting skills for two decades. On his recently released 10th album, Fever Breaks, he decided to stretch outside of his comfort zone and worked with Jason Isbell, the acclaimed Roots artist who has certainly benefited from the artistic trails Ritter has helped blaze through the Americana world over the passed 20 years. Fever Breaks has a darkness to it that is reflective of the current political/social climate. Ritter recently told the Boston Globe that the tone harkens back to his beloved 2006 album, The Animal Years. “It’s a record about the anxiety of the moment, the preoccupations of the moment you’re in,” he said. “There’s a lot of violence on the record, and there’s a lot of desperation.” 8 p.m. Tuesday. $29-$39. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org.
Photo: Laura Wilson

TUESDAY 21

ONSTAGE: YPCC: Radiance
The Young Professionals Choral Collective will be performing the world premiere of PRISM, a choral orchestral work composed by Cincinnati native William Menefield, paired with Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna. Held in the Cincinnati Museum Center’s rotunda and accompanied by players from Collegium Cincinnati, this work “gives voice to the voiceless, illuminating truths where the spoken word can fall short. Radiance will shine a light on how people’s stories are seen, heard and refracted and how we can all fight for justice and understanding.” Radiance is part of the YPCC’s collaboration with the Cincinnati Opera and its production of Blind Injustice, based on the work of the Ohio Innocence Project. 7:30 p.m. concert. $25; $12 youth. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, facebook.com/ypccsing.
Photo: Facebook