Carrie Underwood
She has come a loooooong way from “American Idol.” Country superstar Carrie Underwood is bringing her “Storyteller Tour" to U.S. Bank Arena on Thursday, with guests Easton Corbin and the Swon Brothers.
7 p.m. Thursday. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway. $46-$76. usbankarena.com
Ubahn Fest
Nas. (NAS!!!!) Machine Gun Kelly. Girl Talk. And a chance to dance deep into the night. Ubahn Fest will bring nearly two dozen hip-hop and EDM artists to an underground Metro transit tunnel this weekend. This edition again also will feature DJs, live art installations and skateboard demos.
Bonus: Activist/poet/rapper Malcolm London will perform live in the WCPO Digital Lounge at 3 p.m. Friday to promote his new album and his Ubahn Fest performance later that night. Watch his performance live on WCPO’s Facebook page.
7 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Cincinnati Metro Transit Center, 220 Central Ave., Downtown (between Third Street and West Pete Rose Way). All ages. $89 for two-day passes, $49 single-day. www.ubahnfest.com
Proof: Cocktail and Spirits Festival
Festivals Unlimited, the company behind the Cincy Winter Beerfest, is hosting its inaugural Proof: Cocktail and Spirits Festival on Saturday at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Proof will occupy a single hall in the convention center divided into four themed "pop-up bars," a VIP guest area, local and national distillers sections and a main stage. The four bars -- Tiki, modern mixology, log cabin lodge and "cocktails and dreams" themed areas -- will offer live music and two cocktails tailored to each respective station.
7-10:30 p.m. Saturday. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. $65 general admission, $95 VIP, $35 VIP designated driver. www.prooffestival.com
Video Archive grand opening
Here’s details on Walnut Hills’ newest bar from WCPO contributor Gil Kaufman: Jacob Trevino is obsessed with movies. If you haven't already figured that out by visiting his “Shining”-inspired Pleasant Ridge bar Overlook Lodge, you'll definitely get the message on Saturday, when the bar-preneur unveils his latest cinema-inspired video store bar, Video Archive, in Walnut Hills.
A specially rigged movie case with a hidden switch opens to a secret passageway, leading into the cozy 40-person space. Video Archive is littered with clever references Tarantino-philes will instantly get, from a wall of Uma Thurman headshots to the “Pulp Fiction” movie posters and magazines spread throughout the interior and, of course, the drinks menu.
Opens at 6 p.m. Saturday. 965 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. Free admission. www.facebook.com/videoarchivecincinnati
'Coppelia'
For the first time in 15 years, the Cincinnati Ballet will stage a production of “Coppelia,” running Friday through Sunday at the Aronoff Center. The comedy tells the story of a toymaker who creates a lifelike doll with whom a villager falls in love. Naturally, this upsets the villager’s fiancee, who decides to act as the doll and pretend to come to life. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Carmon DeLeone, will perform the score during performances.
8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St. $32-$113. cballet.org
Jungle Jim’s Fall Smash
This sounds like a delicious fall bounty. Jungle Jim’s is hosting its second annual Fall Smash event, where you can sample dozens of pumpkin beers and hard ciders and fill up on eats from local food trucks. Expect to taste national and regional offerings, including some rare options. And if there are some samples you enjoy more than others, head over to the beer and wine department to buy some to take home.
4-8 p.m. Saturday. (Food trucks available 11 a.m.-8 p.m.) Greenhouse at Jungle Jim’s, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. Advance tickets: $21.30 for 20 sample tickets; day of event: $25 for 20 sample tickets. Junglejims.com
Beer Baron Ball
The Beer Baron Ball at Jack Casino offers a great reason to get dressed up this weekend. The annual fundraiser for the Cincinnati Brewing Heritage Trail features live music, craft beer, a silent auction, dinner and a dessert buffet. Organizers also will discuss the state of the Brewery District and the Brewing Heritage Trail before inducting the newest members to the Beer Baron Hall of Fame.
6 p.m. Saturday. Jack Casino Cincinnati, 1000 Broadway St., Downtown. $150. www.beerbaronball.org
Mainstrasse Village Dog Pawrade
Dogs in costumes. What more do you need to know? Mainstrasse Village will host its 14th annual Dog Pawrade on Sunday. This year's parade theme is “favorite fairytail,” so expect some creative doggie costumes. There will be food and drinks for humans at Goebel Park.
12:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday. (Pawrade begins at 2:30 p.m.) Starts at Goebel Park, 501 Philadelphia St., Covington. Free to watch, $5 registration fee for dogs. www.mainstrasse.org
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra will open its 25th season on Saturday with an all-overture program including composers such as Wagner and Verdi. You will hear a mix of both familiar and unknown music, and a post-concert reception will allow guests to mingle with the KSO’s new musicians.
8 p.m. Saturday. Greaves Concert Hall, Northern Kentucky University, 1 Nunn Drive. $19, $27 and $35. kyso.org
Bonus: Show your political spirit
Want your voice heard this election -- and want free pizza, too? WCPO, in partnership with NKU's Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement, will film an election-themed exercise at noon Friday at NKU's MAC Court in the Campus Recreation Center.
The exercise will explore where participants stand on key issues. WCPO is looking for participants who are Democrats, Republicans or neither. Democrats should come wearing a blue shirt, Republicans should come wearing a red shirt, and if you are neither, come wearing a white shirt. Please RSVP using this survey.
