THURSDAY 11
Newport Italianfest — Celebrate the history of Italian families that settled in Newport at the 24th annual Newport Italianfest. Spend your evening surrounded by authentic Italian food from local restaurants including Pompilios, Roma’s and Bella Luna, with live music featuring performers from all over the nation and the “old country,” including the Italian harmony trio Tre Bella. And if that’s not enough, the festival will have other activities such as a cooking contest, a pizza-eating contest, games, Rozzi’s fireworks and even rides to keep the little ones busy. 5-11 p.m. Thursday; 5-11:30 p.m. Friday; noon-11:30 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday. Free. Festival Park, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, Ky., newportky.gov.
Izzy’s Craft Beer Dinner — A paired dinner featuring Izzy’s classic dishes and Widmer Brothers craft beer. 7 p.m. $25. Izzy’s, 1965 Highland Pike, Fort Wright, Ky., 859-331-4999.
Igby’s Cin City Cigar & Flight Night — Features Four Roses bourbon and Johnnie Walker Scotch paired with cigars from Straus Tobacconist.
5:30-8 p.m. Prices vary. Igby’s, 122 E. Sixth St., Downtown, igbysbar.com.
Mike Czech Pilsner Party — For every beer sold at Ei8ht Ball, 50 cents will go to the Amann Family Benefit Fund.
6 p.m. Free. Ei8ht Ball Brewing outdoor patio, 18 Distillery Way, Newport, Ky., ei8htballbrewing.com.
A Taste of Duveneck — One of Cincinnati Art Museum’s most popular fundraisers, A Taste of Duveneck, celebrates its 25th anniversary Thursday in the museum’s courtyard and Great Hall. Sponsored by Dewey’s Pizza, it will feature more than 20 food vendors, including BonBonerie, Brio, Eddie Merlot’s Steakhouse and Seasons 52, plus craft beer and premium and sparkling wine. The band Soul Pocket will perform. 6-9 p.m. Thursday. $80; $55 young professional. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, 513-639-2962, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
FRIDAY 12
'Calorie Accounting' author Mandy Levy
Photo: Provided
Mandy Levy Book Release Party — “Buy a thing of arugula from the store. Dump it in a bowl.” This is the beginning of Mandy Levy’s Buffauxlo Chicken Salad recipe from her new book Calorie Accounting: The Foolproof Diet-by-Numbers Plan for a Skinnier New You, a humorous and self-deprecating weight-loss book that feels more like your best friend telling you about her new meal plan than your typical holier-than-thou diet tome. Levy consciously nudges the concept toward something more lighthearted. “It takes itself so seriously, the dieting world,” she says. “And I just wanted everybody to lighten up.” CityBeat recently caught up with Levy via phone as she was driving from Austin to Phoenix on her current Calorie Accounting book tour, which makes two stops in the Queen City this week. Read the interview here. Mandy Levy’s Calorie Accounting tour makes a stop 5:30 p.m. Friday at Kaze in Over-the-Rhine and 2 p.m. Sunday at Barnes & Noble West Chester. More info: calorieaccounting.com.
St. James Mediterranean Food Fest — A church festival featuring the flavors and culture of the Mediterranean … without having to cross the ocean.
5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; 4-9 p.m. Sunday. Free. St. James Orthodox Christian Church, 6577 Branch Hill, Loveland, stjamesloveland.org.
Lobstapalooza — Lobster soups, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, cocktails, quesadillas, curries and more.
Through July 3. Prices vary. Washington Platform, 1000 Elm St., Downtown, washingtonplatform.com.
Midsummer Smorgasbord — An all-you-can-eat Swedish buffet. 5 p.m. $16.99; $4.99 kids. IKEA, 9500 IKEA Way, West Chester, 513-779-7100.
Dress Bright to Finish the Fight Wine Tasting — Wear bright colors to support cancer and get rewarded with red and white wine tastings, hors d’oeuvres and raffles. 7-10 p.m. $35. Taft Center at Fountain Square, 425 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-365-2694.
SATURDAY 13
Urban Wine Festival — Wine isn’t for snobs anywhere. At least that’s the concept behind Over-the-Rhine’s first Urban Wine Festival, which is presented by 1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab and takes place in their adjacent parking lot. Whether your palate prefers red or rosé, all styles of vino will be represented via 24 selections from local distributors. In addition to a public tasting, the fest includes live music, food and a noon seminar featuring regional winemaking professionals. The philosophy behind it all is that wine should be social, and for everyone. And we should all drink to that. Noon-10 p.m. Saturday; tastings start at 2 p.m. $6 glass pours; $48 to taste all 24. 1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab, 1215 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 1215vine.com/urban-wine-festival.
A Moveable Feast — Think beyond sandwiches for summertime meals on the go. Make these dishes that can be served cold or at room-temperature for picnics: chilled tomato and red pepper soup, salmon terrine, summer corn and grain salad and more.
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $50. Jungle Jim’s, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, junglejims.com.
Blues, Brews and BBQ — Five drinks, seven courses and live music.
4-7 p.m. $30; $35 door. The Art of Entertaining, 2019 Madison Road, O’Bryonville, cincyartofentertaining.com.
Sayler Park Sustains — In an effort to foster neighborhood engagement and to educate residents in sustainable earth-first practices, Sayler Park Sustains invites everyone to witness the green initiatives of local community members. In addition to eco, there will be plenty of food trucks, local beer, vendors and raffles, along with music by The Tillers, Mamadrones, The Part-Time Gentlemen and many more. Anticipate music demos with the Rabbit Hash String Band, as well as info on soil composting, how to green your home and DIY personal care products.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. Free. Nelson Sayler Memorial Park, 6600 Gracely Drive, Sayler Park, saylerparksustains.org.SUNDAY 14
Clambake in the Park — Get your grub on, Louisiana style! This beach-themed party in the park will not only be serving up steamy bowlfuls of seafood goodness from Washington Platform, but also feature games and live music from Cajun rockers Robin Lacy & DeZydeco. For only $12 a bowl, you can dig into a dish full of clams, shrimp, mussels and potatoes, along with corn on the cob and a dinner roll on the side. Other options are available, offering steamed Maine lobster and chicken with waffles fries. Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Noon-6 p.m. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.
Mahrajan Lebanese Festival — The bounty of the Mediterranean comes to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Walnut Hills. Mahrajan features all sorts of Mediterranean eats, from fresh kibbee and hummus to grape leaves, falafel and baklava. Gorge yourself while belly dancers and Arabic bands take the stage, or watch a Middle Eastern Abaye fashion shows and modern Dabke folk dancing. Noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Free. St. Anthony of Padua Church, 2530 Victory Parkway, Walnut Hills, stanthonyofpaduachurch.com.
Second Sunday on Main — Everyone’s favorite Over-the-Rhine block party returns. Every second Sunday, Main Street turns into a themed fiesta with a beer garden, kids area, tons of vendors, food trucks, live music, specials at OTR shops and restaurants and, this month, doggie friendly activities. It’s the “Dog Days” of summer Sunday, with a contest, dog parade and more, including live chef demos at Mr. Pitiful’s, an appearance by Clifford the Big Red Dog, adoptable dogs from Save the Animals, Cincinnati Pit Crew and VITAS Paw-Pals, and a grand opening celebration for GOODS, a thematic retail store celebrating “adventure.” Noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Free. Main Street between 12th and Liberty, Over-the-Rhine, secondsundayonmain.org.
WEDNESDAY 17
Margarita Madness — Do you take your tequila, lime and triple sec frozen or on the rocks? Either way, celebrate summer’s official cocktail — the margarita — at Newport on the Levee with CityBeat’s annual Margarita Madness party. Local bars and restaurants, including El Rancho Grande, Django Western Taco, Redondo Taqueria and Longworth’s, compete in a booze throw-down to win best margarita, as voted by the public and a panel of special guest judges. There will also be a guac-off, so you aren’t drinking on an empty stomach. Must be at least 21. Rain or shine. Proceeds benefit Cincinnati Opera Pride Night. 5:30-8:30 p.m. $40.; $125 VIP includes complimentary valet, early entry, an exclusive Milagro Tequila tasting, covered patio seating and more. Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky., citybeat.com.
