13 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Week (Jan. 15-21)

WEDNESDAY 15

EVENT: Science on Tap: Beekeeping
Catch the buzz on beekeeping at Urban Artifact, as hosted by Science on Tap, a monthly event spearheaded by March for Science Cincinnati that brings working scientists to pubs across the city. This month, local business Bee Haven Honey will discuss the pollinators’ importance and their various hives — some of which are tucked in the countryside of Clermont County, while others call neighborhoods within the Queen City home. Learn about the inner workings of these fascinating creatures — and the people who keep them — while sipping on a brew. 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. Free. Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock St., Northside, marchforsciencecincinnati.com.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

THURSDAY 16

COMEDY: Murray Valeriano
A lot of comics pick up TV-writing gigs after they’ve been doing stand-up for a while. For Murray Valeriano, it was the opposite. “I was doing a weekly show at a comedy club with my two partners,” he says. “It was a mix of stand-up, sketch and improv.” The trio got a pilot deal from that, but it didn’t go anywhere. The production company hired Valeriano for another show, though, and it was around that time he started doing stand-up. It’s been a career trajectory similar to the late, great Garry Shandling’s. “The only nice thing Mitzi Shore, the late owner of the Comedy Store, ever said to me was, ‘You’re a good writer. You remind me of Garry Shandling.’ Of course she was 112 when she said that. She probably thought she was talking to her cat.” Valeriano also hosts the podcast Road Stories and is a rotating co-host of the Rock Solid music podcast. Showtimes Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 16-19. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.
Photo: Provided by Murray Valeriano

THURSDAY 16

EVENT: Women’s March Sign-Making Workshop
Raised fists. Lady Liberty. Pink uteruses. These are some of the symbols that dominated protest signs in over 700 women’s marches worldwide the day after President Trump’s inauguration in 2017. Organize with fellow change-makers ahead of this year’s Cincinnati Women’s March with a sign-making workshop at the Kennedy Heights Art Center. KHAC will provide craft supplies like markers, glue, paint, tape, scissors and fabric scraps — just bring your own cardboard, poster, foam board or other signage material. Sign-makers can also visit the gallery’s new exhibition REVOLUTIONARY: Being American Today, which explores “the notion of citizenship and its definitions through personal and community-based stories.” Whether you plan on painting a powerful slogan or a clever caricature of a certain politician, don’t leave home without a sense of creativity and perseverance. 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16. Free. Kennedy Heights Art Center, 6546 Montgomery Road, Kennedy Heights, facebook.com/UWSCincy.
Photo: NICK SWARTSELL

FRIDAY 17

SPORTS: Cincinnati Cyclones Marvel Weekend
Beyond the (ingenious) $1 beer nights, the Cincinnati Cyclones have always done a great job of drawing in fans by mixing the on-ice hockey action with various themed promotions that make the games fun for the entire family. This year already, the ’Clones have hosted games themed around things like Batman, Star Wars, Disney princesses and the WWE. For the team’s second homestand of 2020, young (and young at heart) fans can meet some of their favorite superheroes during Marvel Weekend. For those not in the know, the Marvel comics universe includes the likes of Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man and Black Panther, though it’s unclear which heroes will be on hand for the Friday and Saturday night games. The Cyclones play the Fort Wayne Komets on Jan. 17 and the Rapid City Rush on Jan. 18. Special ticket packages include Cyclones/Marvel posters and the players will be sporting special jerseys during the game that will be auctioned off. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17 and 18. $18-$30. Heritage Bank Center, 100 Broadway St., Downtown, heritagebankcenter.com.
Photo: cycloneshockey.com

SATURDAY 18

CLASSICAL: CSO’s 125th Anniversary Concert
Celebrate the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s 125th year at their special anniversary concert, which will feature both new and classic works. The sounds of George Gershwin, who performed with the CSO in 1929, will return via a special performance of Rhapsody in Blue recorded for player piano. Also on deck is Scriabin’s Symphony No. 5. Based on the creation myth of Prometheus, the piece imagines a new instrument — a light organ. Through a video by Tal Rosner, the fictitious instrument will be given life. The composer experienced synesthesia, a condition in which one sense is perceived simultaneously as another; in his case, sound allegedly caused him to hallucinate color. William Winstead’s CSO-commissioned Passages in Time will get its world premiere at the anniversary concert and conductor Louis Langrée will summon “gigantic orchestral forces” for the CSO-commissioned Collider, a work by Daniel Bjarnason. Attendees can also expect performances of Ysaÿe’s Exil! and Duke Ellington’s New World A-Comin’. Pianists Aaron Diehl and Vadym Kholodenko will perform, as well as the CSO Youth Orchestra and the May Festival Chorus. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19. $14-$130. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

SATURDAY 18

EVENT: Remus Revival
Jan. 20 marks 68 years since the death of German-born, Cincinnati-based criminal defense lawyer George Remus and several area revelers will be joining together to raise a glass in his honor. As a lawyer, Remus was considered a pioneer in the use of the “by reason of insanity” defense, but that’s not why he’s being toasted. Remus was better known as “the King of the Bootleggers” thanks to his role in keeping booze flowing during Prohibition in the 1920s. Remus used his sharp legal mind to exploit loopholes in the law banning alcohol sales and consumption — namely the one that allowed liquor to be used for medicinal purposes. He moved to Cincinnati in 1920 because it was centrally located near distilleries and pharmacies that manufactured and sold bonded whiskey; Remus bought those companies, then sold the supply illegally, amassing a vast fortune in the process. The Remus Revival is an annual party presented with help from Lawrenceburg, Indiana-based George Remus Bourbon that features an exploration of Remus’ bootlegging exploits, light bites from Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey, plenty of Remus-themed cocktails, dancing and more. There’s a 1920s theme (logically), so attendees are encouraged to dress accordingly. 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. $10. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, memorialhallotr.com.
Photo: Public Domain

SATURDAY 18

MUSIC: Morgan Wallen
Rising Country star Morgan Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses Roadshow” tour finds the singer getting back to headlining for the first time in a while after working the circuit as an opening act. The tour comes on the heels of Wallen’s summertime stint touring with Florida Georgia Line, as well as his latest No. 1 Country hit, “Whiskey Glasses.” Nominated for a 2019 New Artist of the Year CMA, the Tennessee native also found success last year with two very different songs — the EDM-tinged “Heartless” (with Diplo) and “Cover Me Up,” a cover of a popular Jason Isbell tune. Wallen capped off the biggest year of his career by surprise-releasing the reflective new single, “This Bar,” in late December. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. $35-$65. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org.
Photo: John Shearer

SATURDAY 18

EVENT: Cincinnati Women’s March
Cincinnati will once again join other cities across the country in hosting a women’s march protesting gender-based inequities and promoting progressive causes related to issues like economic justice and environmental stewardship. After remarks from local activists and leaders, a one-mile march will wind through downtown. After the march, more speakers will address attendees. The event will include a performance by progressive choir MUSE, information tables for various nonprofits and activist groups, plus food trucks. The original Women’s March was held in January 2017 in Washington, D.C. to protest the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has received heated criticism for his remarks about women, including some seeming to condone sexual assault. Local organizers helped put together a Cincinnati iteration of the march that year and in 2018. Both of those events drew roughly 14,000 people, organizers say. Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. Free. Sawyer Point, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown.
Photo: Nick Swartsell

SATURDAY 18

EVENT: Onesie Bar Crawl
If New Year’s Eve was for dressing to the nines in glitter and Roaring Twenties party favors, then what is Jan. 18 for? Decking out in pseudo-pajamas and rolling up to Over-the-Rhine destinations for “the comfiest party of the year,” apparently. Dress in your coziest onesie and enjoy drink and food specials at bars like 16-Bit Bar+Arcade, Holiday Spirits, MOTR Pub, Mr. Pitiful’s and more. 4 p.m.- midnight Saturday, Jan. 18. Free with promo code; follow event instructions. Check in at Below Zero Lounge, 1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/crawlwithus.
Photo: Facebook.com/crawlwithus

SUNDAY 19

EVENT: Art on Vine
A craft market mingles with craft beer at Art on Vine’s indoor winter market beneath the vaulted ceiling of Rhinegeist’s Over-the-Rhine taproom. Once a small college project, shoppers can now browse the wares of up to 70 local artists, crafters and creators peddling fine arts and handmade goods while sipping on something sudsy. Noon- 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19. Free. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, artonvinecincy.com.
Photo: Provided by Art on Vine

MONDAY 20

EVENT: Pursuing His Dream: MLK Day at the Cincinnati Museum Center
The Cincinnati Museum Center will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by “Pursuing His Dream,” a day of musical performances, vendors and lectures celebrating the iconic civil rights leader and activist. Activities include black history trivia, storytelling with Omope Carter Daboiku, a D.R.U.M.S. percussion performance and workshop and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20. Free for members; included with Discover Pass, $5.50-$14.50; free kids under 1. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

MONDAY 20

EVENT: MLK Day 2020 at the Freedom Center
Martin Luther King Day kicks off at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center with the sold-out King Legacy Awards Breakfast in the grand hall. The keynote speaker is businesswoman Betty Daniels Rosemond, a Freedom Rider during the 1960s who advocated and fought for equality. (The Freedom Riders consisted of African-American and white civil rights workers who rode buses in the South in protest of segregation and the Supreme Court’s lack of enforcement, despite having ruled segregated buses illegal.) Other special events include a coalition march, which will start at 10:30 a.m. outside of the Freedom Center, and film screenings at 1 and 3 p.m. of True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality. The annual blood drive will run from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and a mobile mammography bus will be located in front of the center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Freedom Center will be free and open to the public from noon-5 p.m. For an additional $5, visitors can check out the Rosa Parks Experience or Motel X exhibitions. Monday, Jan. 20. Free. Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, freedomcenter.org.
Photo: Nick Swartsell

TUESDAY 21

MUSIC: Yola
British singer/songwriter Yola has been deemed the “Queen of Country Soul” and she’s been attracting more and more subjects to her kingdom — sorry, queendom — since the release of her widely acclaimed debut album, Walk Through Fire. Produced by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, the album was released last February through Easy Eye Records (Auerbach’s Nonesuch Records-distributed imprint) and it instantly became a critical darling, with glowing reviews from Rolling Stone, NPR Music, The New York Times and many other major outlets. A gifted blender of elements of Country, Soul and Rock sounds, Yola has been turning heads on the road of late as well, popping up for shows with the Americana supergroup The Highwomen (Brandi Carlile says she’s an honorary member of the band) and opening arena concerts overseas for Greta Van Fleet. Yola will be joined at the Taft Theatre by special guest Amythyst Kiah. “She has an incredible voice and her songs are next level — she is gonna blow you all away,” Yola said of Kiah in the tour announcement press release. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21. $20; $25 day of show. Taft Theatre Ballroom, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org.
Photo: Alysse Gafkjen