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Top 9 things to do this weekend

Posted at 10:32 AM, Apr 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-16 09:52:17-04

Stop and Smell the Flowers

If you just can’t get enough of beautiful blooms, the Cincinnati Flower Show runs through Sunday at Yeatman’s Cove. The annual Cincinnati Horticultural Society event features floral displays, gardening demos, lectures, wine and bourbon tastings and live entertainment.

Runs through Sunday. Yeatman’s Cove, 705 E. Pete Rose Way. For a full schedule and event prices, visit cincinnatihorticulturalsociety.com.

Calling All Comic Book Fans

Is the anticipation of waiting for September’s Cincinnati Comic Expo too much for you to handle? Luckily, the expo’s organizers heard the call and are offering a second event this year. The inaugural Queen City Comicon takes place this Saturday at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Former Marvel Comics artist Frank Brunner, other artists and vendors will fill the hall and hopefully fans’ desire for another gathering of wonderful comic book geekery.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Duke Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. $5 entry fee. queencitycomicon.com

Kings Island Opens for Season

It’s that time of year again -- Kings Island opens for the 2016 season on Saturday. Although the park’s new seven-story water slide won’t open until Memorial Day weekend, the rest of the thrill rides and coasters you’ve loved for years are primed and ready for riders. Here’s a look at new features to expect at KI this year.

Opens 10 a.m. Saturday. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive. For ticket prices, www.visitkingsisland.com.

Celebrate Record Store Day

Saturday is Record Store Day and local record shops will be celebrating with in-store performances and special releases. At Shake It Records in Northside, the celebration starts at 8 a.m. with breakfast eats from Tickle Pickle. Rhinegeist will be on hand with free samples of its new B-Side IPA, and bands Honey & Houston and Queen City Silverstars will perform from 9 to 11:30 a.m. At Everybody’s Records, there will be free live music all day. And that’s just a couple of the events planned.

For a list of participating local record stores, visit www.recordstoreday.com.

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Constella Festival

Here’s a recommendation from arts writer David Lyman: The Constella Festival, which launches its sixth season Friday, is built around new music and unexpected pairings of music and musicians. There is dance, as well, and a visual arts component to round it all out. But at the heart of everything the festival stands for is a spirit of collaboration, of top-flight artists coming together to see just what their combined talents can generate.  This year’s program includes everything from new works from choreographers James Cunningham (Cincinnati Ballet) and Crystal Michelle (Dayton Contemporary Dance Company)to an evening of U.S. and world premiere works by British composer/pianist Michael Csányi-Wills.

Starts Friday. For a complete schedule, visit www.constellafestival.org.

Celebrate Earth Day

The annual Cincinnati Earth Day Celebration will bring live music, farm animals, recycled sculptures and educational activities to Sawyer Point on Saturday. There will be a scavenger hunt, recycled costume contest and a kids area with inflatables, games and a climbing wall, as well as vendors offering Earth-friendly products for sale. 

Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Sawyer Point, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown. Free. www.cincinnatiearthday.com

Drink Beer, Then Repeat

Listermann Brewing hosts its annual Starkbierfest this weekend. The festival, featuring beers from nearly 20 local craft brewers, carries on the tradition of German monks from the 1700s who brewed nutritional beers that were at least 7.5 percent ABV or higher during Lent when the monks would fast. There will be live music and food trucks at the festival, too.

That’s not the only beer festival this weekend, though. BB Riverboats will host Craft Beerfest II aboard the Belle of Cincinnati on Friday, with more than 15 craft breweries and 60 different beers available to sample. Bonus: WCPO Insiders get $15 off a general admission or VIP ticket.

  • Starkbierfest: 5 p.m.-midnight Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday. Listermann Brewing, 1621 Dana Ave., Evanston. Free admission. Beer: $3 per sample, $5 per 12-ounce pour, $7 souvenir mug refill, $10 for a souvenir mug with fill. See the Facebook event for updates.
  • Craft Beerfest II: 9-11 p.m. Friday. 101 Riverboat Row, Newport. $50; $75 VIP. www.bbriverboats.com

Myrtle’s Launches New Menu

I spent a good portion of last weekend sipping cocktails with a friend at Myrtle’s Punch House. They went down nice and easy and the only thing I craved was some food to pair with the drinks. On Friday, I’ll get my wish: Myrtle’s will debut its new menu. Expect to see shareable plates, including artisan vegan, vegetarian, meat and fish options. (You might recognize the bites from fellow Wellmann’s Brands businesses Melt and Picnic & Pantry.) The menu’s launch coincides with Walk on Woodburn, a block party showcasing the surrounding businesses in East Walnut Hills.

4 p.m. Friday. Myrtle’s Punch House, 2733 Woodburn Ave. For details, visit the event’s Facebook page.

Cocktails Outdoors, Anyone?

With the weather slooooooowly warming up, we’re this close to patio season. A couple of great rooftop patios have opened already --- hello, Top of the Park and Rhinegeist -- and this Friday the Cocktail Terrace at 21c Museum Hotel will join them. Head up for a relaxing view of downtown Cincinnati and enjoy a poptail (popsicles submerged in cocktails).

Opens 5 p.m. Friday. Cocktail Terrace at 21c Museum Hotel, 609 Walnut St. Free admission. For updates, follow the Cocktail Terrace on Twitter. 

Bonus: A Night at the Movies

The Chimp Tent, the Cincinnati chapter of the International Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society, is hosting its eighth annual showcase of silent films on Saturday, featuring screenings of six silent comedies produced between 1925 and 1929. Expect to see "Feed 'Em And Weep," starring Anita Garvin and Marion Byron; "Jewish Prudence," starring Max Davidson; "His Wooden Wedding," starring Charley Chase; and Laurel & Hardy’s "Duck Soup," "We Faw Down" and "Liberty.”

6:45 p.m. Saturday. E.T. Carson Lodge, 218 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. $5 adults, free for kids age 12 and under. www.thechimptent.com