'Waitress' at the Aronoff
"Waitress" is the perfect touring Broadway musical to kick off 2018 at the Aronoff. The musical based on the 2007 movie of the same name tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker in a bad marriage who is yearning for a fresh start. An all-women creative team brought "Waitress" to the stage.
Thursday-Jan. 21. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Tickets start at $30. www.cincinnatiarts.org
St. Vincent Fear the Future Tour
Grammy Award-winning Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, has built a reputation for her inventive guitar play and live stage presence. So expect to be truly engaged and entertained on Thursday at the Taft Theatre. Clark's fifth solo album, "Masseduction," which she released in October, received high praise from fans and critics. The musician is also partnering with national nonprofit PLUS1, an organization that donates $1 from each St. Vincent ticket sale to organizations fighting the current opioid epidemic.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Thursday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. $33.50-$53.50. www.tafttheatre.org
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Everyone knows at least one Bone Thugs-n-Harmony song. The hip-hop group's 1997 Grammy Award-winning "The Crossroads" is a classic. That Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, which started in Cleveland in 1991, is still touring is pretty spectacular as well. Seeing the group perform Thursday at Bogart's should be a no-brainer for most hip-hop fans.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Thursday. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. $28. www.bogarts.com
Mozart + Mahler
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra continues its series of special performances with this weekend's return of May Festival music director laureate James Conlon. He will conduct 19th-century Austrian composer Gustav Mahler’s epic "Titan" symphony. Violinist Jennifer Frautschi will join Conlon and perform Mozart’s "Violin Concerto No. 3."
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $14-$99. cincinnatisymphony.org
Cincinnati Travel, Sports & Boat Show
Is it ever too early to start planning for the summer? I don't think so, and neither do the folks who organize the Cincinnati Travel, Sports & Boat Show. For the next two weekends, Duke Energy Convention Center will offer plenty of chances to plan for summer fun as we trudge through the winter doldrums.
Friday-Sunday and Jan. 17-21. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. $10; children 12 and under free. www.cincinnatiboatshow.com
Jungle Jim's 2018 Barrel Aged Beer Bash
If you love barrel-aged beers, head to Jungle Jim's on Saturday. The international market's annual Barrel Aged Beer Bash will feature more than 80 types of barrel-aged brews to sample and buy.
7-9:30 p.m. Saturday. Jungle Jim's Oscar Event Center, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. $60 regular admission; $15 non-drinker admission. www.junglejims.com
Mascot Broomball Exhibition Game
Organizers canceled this event due to inclement weather. This is one of the most fun local sports events to watch. Many of Cincinnati's most popular mascots will take to the ice rink on Fountain Square for a game of broomball. After the 30-minute match ends, stick around and skate yourself.
10 a.m.-noon Saturday. Fountain Square, 525 Vine St., Downtown. Free. myfountainsquare.com
Make it Better: A tribute to Tom Petty
This is the one weekend show no true fan of Tom Petty or the local music scene will want to miss. Twelve bands, including Wussy and Dawg Yawp, will take the stage at the Woodward Theater to honor Petty, who died last October. Proceeds from the show will go to the Freestore Foodbank.
8 p.m. Saturday. The Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. $5. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Art on Vine at Rhinegeist
It's winter, which means Art on Vine has moved to Rhinegeist's taproom. Browsing the works of local artists and vendors while sipping craft beer is a good way to end the weekend.
Noon-7 p.m. Sunday. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
