FRIDAY
ONSTAGE: THE BOOK OF MORMON Back by popular demand, the record-breaking The Book of Mormon endeavors to replicate the hit show from Broadway, where it won nine Tony Awards. This tour takes no shortcuts, with an energetic cast of 30 performing the book, music and lyrics created by South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, co-creator of Avenue Q. Scott Pask’s vibrant scenic design (piously framed by the outline of the Mormon temple in Salt Lake City) shifts cinematically from a wasted village in Uganda to reverent Biblical scenes to a “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream,” replete with tap-dancing devils. Don’t doubt — just go see The Book of Mormon. You’ll be converted. Through April 3. Tickets start at $44. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-621-2787, cincinnatiarts.org.
ATTRACTION: ZOO BLOOMS
While the Cincinnati Zoo is known for its diverse collection of animals, it’s also home to one of Ohio’s two accredited botanical gardens. Now is the time to catch the garden at its finest with Zoo Blooms, a display of more than one million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, flowering trees and shrubs blooming throughout the park. Although these flowers don’t sing like those in Alice in Wonderland, the accompanying Tunes & Blooms series allows guests to check out the fantastic florals after hours with live music from some of Cincinnati’s favorite bands on Thursday evenings; concerts start April 7 with Honey & Houston and Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle. Zoo Blooms on display through April. Free with admission; $13-$27. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
MUSIC: CIRCUIT DES YEUX
Circuit des Yeux is the brainchild of singer/songwriter/sound-sculptor Haley Fohr, who began mixing experimental soundscapes and evocative Indie/Psych Folk songs during college in Bloomington, Ind. before moving to Chicago in 2012. Recording and performing exclusively as a solo artist for years, Fohr’s touring isolation and immersion in Chicago’s avant-garde music scene helped open her up to more collaboration, resulting in last year’s striking In Plain Speech, Circuit des Yeux’s first album for Thrill Jockey Records. While still full of mystique and experimentation, the album is Fohr’s most resonant work yet, with her riveting baritone vocals surrounded by Chamber strings and oscillating atmospherics. Circuit des Yeux’s Cincy stop also features Seattle’s Mammifer, local cellist/singer/songwriter Kate Wakefield and a solo set from Tweens’ driving force, Bridget Battle. 10 p.m. Friday. $5. Northside Yacht Club, 4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com.
ART: A PURPOSELESS PLAY AT WAVE POOL
“A purposeless play” is a term the great experimentalist John Cage coined to describe the joy of music, and it’s being used as the title of a Wave Pool exhibit in which Cincinnati artist Mark Harris and San Franciscan Guillermo Galindo display work inspired by Cage’s embrace of the avant-garde in music. The show opens Friday with two performances. At 7 p.m., Harris’ “Messthetics” presentation will involve playing Post-Punk DIY vinyl records. At 8 p.m., Galindo — also a composer — will give a mock medical trial/experiment called “The Primal Acoustics Healing Method” involving sonic therapy. Opening reception 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday. On view through May 7. Free. 2940 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, wavepoolgallery.org.
EVENT: PISTON SOCIETY GRAND OPENING
Cruise by the grand opening of the new Piston Society motorcycle shop in Over-the-Rhine this April Fools Day. No joke, there will be a 10 percent-off sale Friday and Saturday along with free beer, soda, wine and snacks, plus a Biltwell Gringo helmet up for grabs as a door prize. The urban boutique sells unique riding gear along with local goods and offers a variety of motorcycles and urban scooters for rent — they’ll even design the perfect route for you to explore. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Free. 1428 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, pistonsociety.com.
ART: UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI DAAP MASTERS OF ART THESIS EXHIBIT AT THE CAC
As the only local art school that offers an advanced degree in Fine Art, the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning’s MFA program has long been part and parcel of the area’s arts scene. Several years ago, the CAC began exhibiting the thesis work of DAAP MFA grads — a demonstration of commitment by an art institution that in the past had struggled with engaging the city’s artistic community, but now models collaboration over competition, a refreshing and needed change of pace. On Friday, 15 soon-to-be graduate artists will exhibit their thesis artwork inside the only museum in town that was built expressly for showing and fostering the work of living artists. Opening reception 6-10 p.m. Friday. On view through April 17. Free. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org.
SATURDAY
EVENT: NORTHSIDE RECORD FAIR The Northside Record Fair brings vinyl nerds together to buy, sell, trade and geek out. Hundreds of collectors and vendors from across the Midwest will gather to hawk thousands of records, CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks, reel-to-reels, posters, concert DVDs, zines and other music memorabilia. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. $5; $10 early-bird 10 a.m. entry. Northside Presbyterian Church, 4222 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsiderecordfair.com.
EVENT: OVER THE MOON VINTAGE MARKET SPRING SHOW
Whether your decorating style is Parisian, shabby chic, industrial, bohemian, prairie or rusty, Over the Moon Vintage Market has something for you. The market’s 35-plus vendors sell vintage, new and upcycled items, including furniture, décor and artisan jewelry for designers, vintage fashionistas, DIY experts and repurposers alike. 4-9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, U.S. 50 and Hollywood Blvd., Lawrenceburg, Ind., facebook.com/overthemoonvintagemarket.
GET INVOLVED: STATE ROADWAY CLEANUP
Join forces with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful to give some of the city’s dirtiest roadways a much-needed makeover. The nonprofit’s annual State Roadway Cleanup brings hundreds of volunteers together to pick up litter along Interstates 71 and 75. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful hopes that keeping these heavily traveled highways clean will make a positive impression on visitors and encourage them to “live, work and play” in Cincinnati. Volunteers will be divided into groups and assigned to specific portions of the highways, including entrance and exit ramps. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Free; online registration required. Meet at the Ohio Department of Transportation, 1400 Seymour Ave., Downtown, keepcincinnatibeautiful.org.
MUSIC: BLACK TUSK
Savannah, Ga. is well-known for its rich Southern traditions, its gorgeous architecture and public squares, and its amazing array of historical homes, churches and cemeteries. One of Savannah’s lesser-known points of interest is its healthy crop of Stoner Metal bands, including Kylesa, Baroness, Circle Takes the Square and Black Tusk. Black Tusk formed 11 years ago when guitarist/vocalist Andrew Fidler, bassist/vocalist Jonathan Athon and drummer/vocalist James May simultaneously found themselves without bands after the implosion of their Punk outfits. Since they all lived on the same street, Fidler and Athon simply walked down the block and asked May if he wanted to jam with them. Read more about the band in this week's Sound Advice. Black Tusk plays the Southgate House Revival Saturday with The Well and Cephalocoitus. More info/tickets: southgatehouse.com.
SUNDAY
MUSIC: FRED HERSCH
Cincinnati native Fred Hersch is one of the most respected and celebrated artists in Jazz today. The imaginative and versatile pianist, bandleader and composer, who has lived in New York City since the mid-’70s, boasts a remarkable discography that includes releases for labels like Nonesuch, Concord, Chesky and Angel/EMI. Those releases have notched Hersch eight Grammy nominations and a stack of glowing reviews that could reach the moon. Fred Hersch plays a solo concert Sunday as part of Xavier University's Jazz/Swing Series. More info: xavier.edu/musicseries/.
EVENT: DUTTENHOFER'S BOOKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Clifton landmark Duttenhofer’s Books — an independent purveyor of rare, old and used books on topics ranging from literature and architecture to poetry, philosophy, history and more — is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend with a sale and party. Take 20 percent off your purchase, and celebrate with cake and refreshments on Sunday. The shop features more than 40,000 volumes, so you can literally spend two days searching for a perfect tome. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Free. 214 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, duttenhofersbook.com.
ATTRACTION: BUTTERFLIES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Krohn Conservatory’s annual extremely popular and extremely beautiful International Butterfly Show returns with Butterflies of the Caribbean. The Caribbean is a collection of cultures and colorful islands connected by a bright blue sea, and the flora, fauna and free-flying butterflies of this exhibit reflect that whimsical seaside attitude. Find white sand, a coral reef, palm trees and an island-inspired floral display in the pinks and yellows of a Caribbean sunset. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Through June 19. $7 adults; $4 children. 1501 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park, 513-421-5707, cincinnatiparks.com.
MONDAY
EVENT: FINDLAY MARKET OPENING DAY PARADE Opening Day might not be an official local holiday, but we take our season opener pretty damn seriously, so be prepared to wrap up work early on Monday and head downtown ASAP. The celebration begins promptly at noon with the 97th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, led by grand marshal Lou Piniella, manager of the Reds’ 1990 World Championship team. Participants from more than 200 businesses and groups will make their way from the market down Race Street and east onto Fifth, walking, marching, biking, driving and operating floats all the way to the Taft Theatre. Fountain Square is one of the best spots to watch, offering both a great view and a beer-centric (and philanthropic) after party. The 14th-annual Rally on the Square (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) is community service group Give Back Cincinnati’s biggest fundraiser of the year; members will pour concoctions from MadTree Brewing all afternoon, so drink up for a good cause. Just make sure to arrive at Great American Ball Park no later than 4:10 p.m., when the Reds take the field and face off against the Phillies. Play ball! Parade begins noon Monday. Free. Route begins at Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-500-7554, findlaymarketparade.org. See more opening day events here.
