What To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (Sept. 7-9)

FRIDAY 07

MUSIC: Jukebox the Ghost
Formed 15 years ago while the members were college students in Washington, D.C., Jukebox the Ghost’s discography is one of the most consistent in contemporary Alternative Pop. The trio — pianist Ben Thornewill, guitarist Tommy Siegel and drummer Jesse Kristin — moved to Philly after graduation and its debut album, Let Live & Let Gives, caught a lot people’s attention, including Ben Folds, one of the band’s more obvious influences (Queen is the other artist referenced in every single JtG write-up, including, now, this one) who took the group on tour. The wait for new recorded material was over this year; in late March, the band dropped Off to the Races, its fifth full-length effort.
8 p.m. Friday. $20 advance; $22 day of. Taft Theatre Ballroom, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 07

EVENT: SkyStar
SkyStar, a temporary 15-story "observation wheel" (aka Ferris Wheel), is going up at The Banks downtown from Aug. 31-Dec. 2. The wheel consists of 36 enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas, which can hold up to six passengers. The ride takes about 12 minutes and includes four revolutions.
The wheel is open 4-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-midnight Friday; 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12.50. Skystar is located at 55 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. More info: skystarwheel.com.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 07

EVENT: Greater Cincinnati Tattoo Arts Convention
The inaugural Greater Cincinnati Tattoo Arts Convention is happening this weekend, hosted by Villain Arts, the “world’s largest and most successful tattoo arts convention tour.” While at the convention, guests can walk-up and get a tattoo or book an appointment to get some fresh ink from the 150-plus artists in attendance. Tattoo contests covering a range of categories including Best Portrait, Best Lettering and Best Traditional will take place throughout the weekend, and sideshow-style entertainment acts like Alakazam: The Human Knot and Live Human Suspension will be there to distract you from the pain.
2 p.m.-midnight Friday; 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. $20 per day; $40 for a three-day pass. Northern Kentucky Convention Center, 1 W. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington, Ky., villianarts.com.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 07

EVENT: Ruya Coffee Grand Opening
A good cup of coffee can transcend culture. At least, that’s the premise behind Ruya Coffee, the brainchild of Melissa Aydogan, one of People’s Liberty’s 2018 Globe Grant recipients. She’s a first-generation Turkish-American. Through Ruya — a pop-up Turkish coffeehouse — she hopes to lend a positive voice to a generation of Middle-Easterners marginalized by the media. Attend the grand opening and you can expect cozy ground seating, warm Turkish rugs, dangling lanterns and traditional music. Oh, and really robust, thick black coffee.
Opening reception 6-9 p.m. Friday. Through Nov. 18. Free admission. Ruya Coffee, 1805 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, ruyacoffee.com.
Photo: Provided by People's Liberty

FRIDAY 07-SUNDAY 09

CLASSICAL: Star Wars: A New Hope with the Cincinnati Pops
In a galaxy far, far away there was really, really rad music. Scored by composer John Williams, the music of Star Wars: A New Hope soundtracked the childhoods of an entire generation. Sink into nostalgia as the Cincinnati Pops perform the score live as Leia, Luke and Han Solo fight for the resistance on the big screen.
7-10 p.m. Friday; 7-10 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $25-$105. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org.
Photo: cincinnatisymphony.org

FRIDAY 07-SUNDAY 09

EVENT: Listermann Brewing Co. 10th Anniversary Party
Listermann is celebrating its 10th birthday with a weekend’s worth of events and activities. Things kick-off with a ticketed event on Friday, featuring brews from more than 20 of the brewery’s “distinguished, delightful and stupendous friends” from around the country to provide a special and rare beer list. Friday’s event also features food vendors. Tickets (there are only 300 of them available) include 30 four-ounce drinks, two food items and a commemorative glass. Saturday, Listermann gets into the Oktoberfest spirit with a Bavarian taproom takeover; expect local brews, German food, games and more. Then on Sunday, events get family-friendly with games, activities, face painting, beer (for grown-ups) and visits from the Cincinnati Zoo’s animal ambassadors (12:30-1:15 p.m.).
6:30 p.m. early bird and 7:30 p.m. regular admission Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $79.99 early bird for Friday and $59.99 regular admission; free for Saturday and Sunday. Listermann Brewing Co., 1621 Dana Ave., Evanston, listermannbrewing.com.
Photo: Listermann Brewing Co.

FRIDAY 07-SUNDAY 09

EVENT: Art & Wine Festival
Vinoklet’s annual Art & Wine Festival turns 20 this year as live bands and more than 60 art vendors get ready to take over the vineyard grounds all weekend. Friday’s kick-off event features MC Steve Sommers, music from Red Hot Dancing Queens and Vernon McIntyre & Appalachian Grass and food and wine. There will be more Bluegrass and Americana-inspired acts playing music all weekend, while shoppers can browse the art booths or purchase tickets to sample wine, cheese and more. Reservations are required for the restaurant, but there will also be a special Sunday fried chicken dinner ($12) available in the on-site gazebo.
7-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free admission; tickets required for tastings and food. Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant, 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain, vinokletwines.com.
Photo: Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant

FRIDAY 07-SUNDAY 09

EVENT: Harvest Home Fair
“The Biggest Little Fair” in Ohio is back and taking over downtown Cheviot for the 159th year. The four-day fest starts with a parade on Thursday from the intersection of Harrison and Frances avenues to Harvest Home Park, where the rest of the weekend’s activities take place. Through Sunday, fairgoers can check out live entertainment, carnival rides, 4-H animal and horticulture exhibits and horse, flower and art shows. There will be quaint contests with cash prizes for the best homemade beer, chili, salsa and wine, as well as prizes for the best in show in both sweet and bread baking, canning, needlework and more. Check out the fair kitchen for classic snacks like hot dogs, french fries and LaRosa’s by the slice, plus a Friday fish dinner, Saturday roast beef special and Sunday three-piece chicken dinner from nearby favorite Ron’s Roost. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome and, don’t worry, there will be alcohol available for sale.
6 p.m. parade and fair 7 p.m. Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-9:30 p.m. Sunday. Free Thursday; $5 adults and free for children 12 and under the rest of the weekend. Harvest Home Park Fairgrounds, 3961 North Bend Road, Cheviot, harvesthomefair.com.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 07-SUNDAY 09

COMEDY: Sam Evans
Sam Evans is a native of Perrysburg, Ohio. He moved to the Queen City to major in English at the University of Cincinnati but soon discovered he liked stand-up comedy much more than any career path his degree could have led him down. After performing around the Tri-State for a few years, including some time in the sketch comedy show called Underbelly, he headed to New York City where he is currently based. At first his jokes centered on his post-graduation struggles. Now, he’s expanded into jokes about relationships and his family.
Through Sunday. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 07-MONDAY 10

FILM: Indian Film Festival
This festival is Greater Cincinnati’s only film fest focused specifically on Indian cinema. Catch premieres of feature, documentary and short films either made in the Indian subcontinent — aka Southern Asia, which includes countries like India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tibet Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutun and Sri Lanka — or about the people that reside there. Things will kick off Wednesday and continue until Sept. 10. Beyond flicks, peep some post-watch chats and award ceremonies. The festival is organized by Cincinnati Sister Cities and the Cincinnati Art Museum with the objective of bringing awareness to Indian culture within the Greater Cincinnati community.
Through Sept. 10. Various prices and locations, iffcincy.com.
Photo: Still from Heat and Dust

SATURDAY 08

EVENT: Red Bull Soapbox Race
Red Bull’s Soapbox Race returns to Mount Adams for an afternoon of daring downhill racing. Experienced and amateur racers are invited to construct their own vehicles out of whatever material they have available. Use your imagination to create the fastest or most interesting racer. Points will be awarded based on speed, creativity and showmanship. Sixty teams have already been selected to participate. If you aren’t racing, secure a spot on the sidelines to watch the action. The family-friend (but not pet-friendly) event features all-day racing, with an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. Food and beverage vendors will be on hand serving up snacks so do not bring your own food, water, alcohol or coolers.
Pits open 10 a.m. Saturday; racing begins at 11 a.m. Free. Eden Park, Mount Adams, soapboxrace.redbull.com.
Photo: Rooted Media House

SUNDAY 09

EVENT: Second Sunday on Main
Over-the-Rhine’s monthly summer street festival gets a King Records upgrade this month with a special Second Sunday on Main celebration during September’s King Records Month. As per usual, there will be vendors, food and beer stops, live music and other arts programming lining the street, but keep an eye out for a special pop-up record fair as well as performances from the likes of the Afrochine Studio Orchestra and Comet Bluegrass All-Stars.
Noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Main Street between 12th and Liberty streets, Over-the-Rhine, secondsundayonmain.org.
Photo: Max Larson

SUNDAY 09

ART: War Gastronomy at the CAC
War Gastronomy will be on view at the CAC from Sept. 5-22, in partnership with Camp Washington’s Wave Pool gallery and The Welcome Project, a nonprofit that sets out to help refugee and immigrant women via art classes and community-building. However, the exhibit isn’t simply a food cart, a couple tables and people serving up grub to whoever walks by. It’s a hub for people to share their relocation stories — whether that be a physical move, a culture shock or a state-of-mind transition.
Through Sept. 22. Free admission. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org.
Photo: Collective Action Studio