This weekend features a bonanza of craft beer, runners running in their undies and people crawling for wings while others sing the blues.
(Tap here for Valentine's Day specific "things to do" suggestions.)
FOOD & DRINK
MadTree’s Seventh Anniversary Bonanza: Noon-1 a.m. Saturday. MadTree Brewing Co., 3301 Madison Road, Oakley. $30 for a set of five beer tickets. MadTree is celebrating another successful year in the beer business with a lineup of music, food trucks, family fun and special tappings including the brewery’s seven-year Cuvée specialty blend. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Whiskey & Wings Bar Crawl: 4 p.m.-midnight Saturday. Below Zero Lounge, 1120 Walnut St., Downtown. Get ready to savor some of the best wings in the Queen City during this unique bar crawl event. Fiery Hen, Holiday Spirits and Queen City Exchange are serving drink specials and wings throughout the day. The cost of the crawl will get you two complimentary drinks, a chance to win $500 and professionally shot photographs to remember the event, along with food and drink specials. www.crawlwith.us
COMMUNITY
“Shine a Light on Slavery” Day: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Created by the END IT Movement, "Shine a Light on Slavery" Day encourages modern-day abolitionists worldwide to draw a red "X" on their hands and share the symbol on social media as a representation of those still enslaved in the world today. In honor of the day, the Freedom Center is hosting a full day of programs to bring awareness to human trafficking. A sampling of those activities include the center’s special exhibition “Motel X” and “Motel X Gallery Talk: Survivor Story” featuring trafficking survivor Kim Belew. freedomcenter.org
House Party: Cincy Love: 5-8 p.m. Thursday. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown. Free. This Galentine’s Day, the Taft will stay open after hours for cocktails, crafts and free Skyline Chili coneys. The museum invites everyone to also toast to their love of Cincinnati with a walk-away custom Taft shirt by DIY Printing, a cash bar serving specialty cocktails and Graeter’s Ice Cream. taftmuseum.org
Cupid Undie Run: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday. Galla Park, 175 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Up to $45. This weekend take part in a fundraiser that allows you to run outside in your underwear and not get arrested. The mile(ish)-long Cupid Undie Run is an annual event to help find a cure for neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic tumor disorder that affects one in every 3,000 births. Take note: The run location has moved from its usual location in Mount Adams to the Banks this year. This Saturday's Undie Run party starts at noon inside Galla Park and continues after you dash down Mehring Way at 2 p.m. my.cupids.org
Art on Vine - Local Love: Noon-7 p.m. Sunday. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. Art on Vine started as a college project and has grown into a monthly local fine art and handmade goods market featuring more than 70 local makers. The theme for this month’s market is “love.” www.artonvinecincy.com
MUSIC & COMEDY
Little Big Town: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Over-the-Rhine. $49-$119. The Grammy Award-winning country music group is bringing its “Nightfall” tour to the Queen City this weekend. The evening likely will feature performances of some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone” and “Day Drinking.” Singer Caitlyn Smith will join Little Big Town on stage. tafttheatre.org
Cincy Winter Blues Experience II: 4:30 p.m.-midnight Saturday. Manor House Event Center, 7440 S. Mason Road, Mason. $20 advance; $25 at the door. This musical event will feature 12 acts in two ballrooms. The lineup will include Blues Music Award winner Danielle Nicole and IBC Albert King Award recipient and Canadian Blues Hall of Fame inductee Stacy Mitchhart. www.brownpapertickets.com
Rod Paulette: 7 p.m. Sunday. Liberty Funny Bone, 7518 Bale St., Liberty Township. $15-$35. Ages 21 and older. Rod Paulette has made his living as a professional stand-up comedian, touring clubs and colleges across the United States and a week or two in England. He has appeared on "Evening at the Improv," Showtime's "Comedy Club Network," Comedy Central's "Short Attention Span Theater" and "Premium Blend. liberty.funnybone.com
THE ARTS
“Les Misérables”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Tickets start at $31. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, “Les Misérables” tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion and sacrifice. The touring Broadway musical also features scores and songs including “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and many others. Show dates continue through Feb. 23. www.cincinnatiarts.org
Valentine’s Day Weekend Concert: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. University of Cincinnati Corbett Auditorium, 290 CCM Blvd., UC Main Campus. $12.50-$29.50. The UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) welcomes Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Director Louis Langrée for a special concert with the CCM Philharmonia this Valentine's weekend. Langrée will lead the orchestra in a program of romantic French works by Debussy, Ravel and Berlioz. ccmonstage.universitytickets.com
