Nobody Beats the Biz
“You, you got what I neeeeeeeeeeed, but you say he's just a friend. And you say he's just a friend, oh baby …” All my ’80s babies remember this song. “Just a Friend” is a Biz Markie classic, and it has endured the test of time. Biz is a beatboxer, rapper, DJ, icon -- he has been in the game a long time. So please believe, when he performs at Bogart’s on Thursday, he’s going to put on a great show. Because nobody beats the Biz.
8 p.m. Thursday. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. “Decades Collide-80's v. 90's.” Also featuring Cherry on Top and Devils Due. $15. www.bogarts.com
‘Double|Sided’
MamLuft&Co. modern dance company opens its ninth season with a premiere of a new work, “Double|Sided,” presented in collaboration with the Clifton Cultural Arts Center. During the show, the audience will be split in half, facing each other, and will be enveloped by the performance. Be warned: It’s an immersive experience.
7 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 3711 Clifton Ave., Clifton. $13.60-$28. MLCo.org/doublesided
Celebrate MLK Day
Celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend with a visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. There are several activities in the works but I can’t wait to see Friday’s exhibition debut of a rare, handwritten copy of the 13th Amendment, the federal law abolishing slavery. (Bonus: The Freedom Center will be open on Monday with free admission to the permanent exhibitions and family programming. A $5 fee is required to view special exhibitions and historic freedom documents.)
Exhibit opens 11 a.m. Friday. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Included with admission: adults, $15; seniors ages 60 and up, $13; children ages 3-12, $10.50; children under 3, free. http://freedomcenter.org/13Amendment. For full list of MLK Weekend events at the Freedom Center, visit http://freedomcenter.org.
Beer, Part I
Jungle Jim’s is celebrating the art of barrel aging this weekend at its Barrel Aged Beer Bash. More than 80 types of barrel-aged beer will be available for the tasting, many coming from brewers’ personal cellars and aged in a variety of barrels -- whiskey, wine and others -- to create interesting flavors.
7-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Jungle Jim’s, the Oscar Event Center, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. $40 per day, $15 non-drinker per day. www.junglejims.com/barrelagedbeer
Beer, Part II
“Local Local Local 7” is, not surprisingly, a celebration of all things local, especially beer, art and music, according to its press release. The event, at Arnold’s Bar and Grill on Saturday, will feature beers from 20 breweries within 60 miles, a mini craft market with local artisans and music from Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle. Sounds like it’s time to drink up.
Starts at 6 p.m. Saturday. Arnold’s Bar & Grill, 210 E. 8th St., Downtown. Free admission. www.facebook.com/arnoldsbar/
Is It Spring Yet?
I know, I know. Winter just settled in, and the bone-chilling cold doesn’t put anyone in a spring frame of mind. Krohn Conservatory’s spring floral show will help you pretend for a little while, though. Expect to see yellow daffodils, purple hyacinths and pink hydrangeas, as well as trees decorated with hundreds of painted eggs to celebrate the upcoming season. It’ll help you hold on until warmer weather arrives.
Opens 10 a.m. Saturday. (Regular hours 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.) $4 admission; $2 ages 5-12; free ages 4 and under. www.cincinnatiparks.com
Get Your Shop On
If you didn’t spend all your money during the holidays, Art on Vine offers the perfect opportunity to empty your pockets. The monthly fine arts fair brings more than 60 local artists to Rhinegeist Brewery, with plenty of wares for the browsing and buying.
1-7 p.m. Sunday. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free admission. For more details, visit the event's Facebook page.
These ‘Boots’ Are About to Walk
It’s your last weekend to see “Kinky Boots” before the hit Broadway musical leaves the Aronoff stage. It’s been getting rave reviews (including several I personally heard while perched at the bar at Nada last night), so run, don’t walk, to get tickets.
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. $35.75-$110.75. www.cincinnatiarts.org
Let’s Eat!
So many new places have opened since December. Use this weekend as a chance to try someplace you haven’t been before. El Camino, the new Mount Lookout restaurant with Latin-inspired flair and fare, celebrated its official grand opening this week. If you like burgers, Americano, BRU and ZBGB are the newest burger bars in town. And Che, the long-awaited Argentinean restaurant and bar from the owner of Hyde Park’s Alfio's Buon Cibo, is finally opening at 3 p.m. Friday in Over-the-Rhine. (The empanadas look delicious!) Click here to check out some of the most recent restaurant openings you might’ve missed.
