WEDNESDAY 12
Sugar Rush — We've all heard the phrase "Like a kid in a candy store," but you don't have to be a child to indulge in a smorgasbord of sweets. Join CityBeat at the Playhouse in the Park Wednesday for our annual Sugar Rush party. You'll feel like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory as you explore a colorful candy extravaganza. Several local sweeteries will provide samples of their best cupcakes, ice cream, donuts, pies, pastries and more. Guests will vote for their favorite treat of the night and a portion of ticket sales benefits the Cincinnati Ballet. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday. $20; free for children 8 and younger with adult admission. Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams, citybeat.com.
Downtown Cincinnati Restaurant Week — Dine at some of the area’s top eateries, which will be offering three-course, prix-fixe menus. Participating restaurants include Zula, Metropole, Jeff Ruby’s, Nicola’s and Via Vite (to name a few). Through Aug. 16. cincinnatirestaurantassociation.com.
Canning Classes — Learn how to preserve your garden’s harvest with this canning class. Workshop features the latest recommendations based on USDA guidelines on safely canning fruits with a water bath. 6-7:30 p.m. $15. OSU Extension Office, 5093 Colerain Ave., Mount Airy, hamilton.osu.edu.
WingFling! — Washington Platform serves up more than 40 different types of wings, bone-in or boneless, with sauces ranging from mild to hot to stupid. Through Sept. 5. Prices vary. Washington Platform, 1000 Elm St., Downtown, washingtonplatform.com.
Dinner in a Flash — Learn recipes for quick-cooking meals, including breaded chicken cutlets, stir-fry beef and more. 6-8 p.m. $75. The Learning Kitchen, 7659 Cox Lane, West Chester, thelearningkitchen.com.
THURSDAY 13
Great Inland Seafood Festival — While there might not be any lobster in the Ohio River, there will be 10,000 of them — imported from Maine — on the banks of the Ohio all weekend for the 28th annual Great Inland Seafood Festival. The fest features more than 15 local and national eateries and vendors selling everything from super-fresh shrimp and crawfish to crab legs, oysters, salmon and more. Along with the crustaceans and other marine life, there will be live music, alcohol and more entertainment. 5-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Festival Park, Riverboat Row, Newport, Ky., greatinlandseafoodfest.com.
Wine School: Flight Night — Learn to compare new-world and old-world wines. This guided tasting will take you through five wines. Includes a small tasting plate. 6:30-8 p.m. $25. New Riff, 24 Distillery Way, Newport, Ky., newriffdistilling.com.
Pay It Forward Celebration and Fundraiser — Head to Dewey’s for dinner and do-gooding. A portion of West Sixth beer sales will be donated to The Cure Starts Now. 5-7 p.m. 11338 Montgomery Road, Symmes Township, 513-247-9955.
Igby’s Cin City Cigar and Flight Night — Flights of 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.
An Elegant Summer Table — Seasonal dishes like grilled pork tenderloin, roasted corn and Challah bread pudding, wild mushroom and green bean salad and almond cake with fresh berries. 6-8:30 p.m. $50. Jungle Jim’s, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, junglejims.com.
FRIDAY 14
Crayfish All-You-Can-Eat Party — A Swedish tradition focusing on enjoying food and socializing with friends and family, featuring crayfish and other Swedish dishes and desserts. 4-8:30 p.m. $9.99; $2.49 ages 11 and under. IKEA, 9500 Ikea Way, West Chester, 513-779-7100.
Light Summer Pasta — Farfalle with caramelized onions and pan-roasted cherry tomatoes, cavatappi with sugar snap peas in lemon citrus sauce, then finish with orzo pasta salad with spinach and prosciutto. 6-8 p.m. $65. The Learning Kitchen, 7659 Cox Lane, West Chester, thelearningkitchen.com.
Hoots and Hops — Stroll trails at night stopping at hands-on education stations while tasting beer from Mt. Carmel Brewing Company, 50 West, Rhinegeist and MadTree along with sampling from more than 12 eateries. 7-11 p.m. $35. Cincinnati Nature Center at Rowe Woods, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, 513-831-1711.
Anniversary Celebration for the Ohio River Foundation — Meet the staff of the Ohio River Foundation, hear stories and more. $1 of every pint sold benefits the organization, which aims to protect and restore the Ohio River and its watershed. 5-8 p.m. Free admission. Rivertown Brewing Company, 607 Shepherd Drive, Lockland, ohioriverfdn.org.
SATURDAY 15
The Food of Love with the CCO — Kick off the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra’s Summermusik series in style at Food of Love: Fête, an elegant Art Deco-inspired soirée preceding Summermusik’s opening concert Saturday. Begin with cocktails in the Music Hall Ballroom, followed by a sumptuous dinner and a performance — “The Food of Love,” a play on a quote from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night — featuring a collaborative performance from the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. An intermission featuring chocolate dessert sets the stage for the second half of the program, a premiere performance from the National Chopin Piano Competition winner Eric Lu. Cocktail attire recommended. Cocktails 5:30 p.m.; dinner 6:15 p.m.; concert 8 p.m. $150; includes tickets to the opening night concert. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, ccocincinnati.org.
Fire and Ice Craft Beer Festival — Fire = high-gravity beers/IPAs/smoked and spiced beers. Ice = lower-gravity beers/fruit beers/session beers. Drink both types from a selection of 50 beer provided by more than 25 different breweries. 3-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Firehouse Grill, 4785 Lake Forest Drive, Blue Ash, 513-733-3473.
Date Night, Spiced Pork — Brined pork chops with chipotle jalapeno barbecue sauce, risotto with roasted poblano and sweet-heat sugar snap peas with bacon. 5- 7 p.m. $155 per couple. The Learning Kitchen, 7659 Cox Lane, West Chester, thelearningkitchen.com.
SUNDAY 16
Cincy Sundaes — Make sundaes with Dojo Gelato and then listen to four presentations on innovative community ideas. Audiences vote on their favorite and the winner receives the door money. 3-5 p.m. $5. New Riff, 24 Distillery Way, Newport, Ky., cincysundaes.com.
MONDAY 17
Chef’s Table: Summer Brunch with Cincinnatian Chef Nathan Sheatzley — Get to know area chefs and watch them prepare their best dishes via an up-close camera. Enjoy a carefully paired tasting menu and take home recipes each chef prepares, like chef Sheatzley’s summer brunch with Dutch apple pancakes, BLT benedict, a waffle donut and more. 6-8 p.m. $50. New Riff, 24 Distillery Way, Newport, Ky., newriffdistilling.com.
TUESDAY 18
Savoring Summer — Cold potato and cucumber soup; spinach salad with mango; salmon with sesame; pasta with mascarpone; and creamy lemon tart. 6-8:30 p.m. $50. Jungle Jim’s, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, junglejims.com.
Hot Summer Nights: Miami — Work at your own induction stove to create pollo agriculce (sweet and spicy chicken) with mango, arroz azafran (saffron rice) and tender green beans with ham and mustard. 6-8 p.m. $70. The Learning Kitchen, 7659 Cox Lane, West Chester, thelearningkitchen.com.
