24 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Week (Oct. 2-8)

WEDNESDAY 02

FILM: Over-the-Rhine Film Festival
The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival that runs Oct. 2-6 serves as the Cincinnati debut for filmmaker Ya’Ke Smith, Taft Museum of Art’s 2019 Duncanson Artist-in-Residence. The residency program, established in 1986, honors the fact that arts patron Nicholas Longworth in the mid-1800s commissioned the African-American painter Robert S. Duncanson to create murals for his home, which is now the Taft Museum. The residency has been for contemporary African-American artists. The Over-the-Rhine Film Festival, which features over 80 films in various genres, will present Smith’s five-episode web series The Beginning and Ending of Everything twice — at 3 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and at 3:45 p.m. Oct. 5 at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s Harriet Tubman Theater. (Additionally, Smith will appear at a Freedom Center workshop, “Realities of Micro-Budget Filmmaking,” at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 5. He is also a jurist for the film festival’s awards, to be announced at a 7 p.m. ceremony on Oct. 5 at 3 Points Brewery.) Over-the-Rhine Film Festival, Oct. 2-6. Passes start at $75; individual screenings at $10. Find full details at otrfilmfest.org.
Ya'Ke Smith // Photo: Courtesty Taft Museum of Art

THURSDAY 03

FILM: Fright Nights at Washington Park
Washington Park hosts film screenings Thursday, Friday and Sunday night to start October off with some family-friendly frights. First up is Hocus Pocus, the Disney favorite featuring the witchy 17th-century Sanderson sisters, who are brought back from the dead after a virgin lights the black flame candle. On Friday, it’s Halloweentown, a ’90s Disney Channel romp about some siblings and their witch grandmother who have to save the mortal world from supernatural powers and keep the spooky citizens of Halloweentown safe. On Sunday, it’s Beetlejuice (…Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice), everyone’s favorite crusty poltergeist. Concessions will be open with wine, beer and drink specials. Films start at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3; Friday, Oct. 4; and Sunday, Oct. 6. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, https://washingtonpark.org/events/.
Photo: facebook.com/WashingtonParkOTR

THURSDAY 03

EVENT: Friends of the Public Library Used Book Sale
The Friends of the Public Library, which is an independent organization supporting the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, is putting on its annual fall book sale. The warehouse holds over 100,000 titles, but thousands more will be available to purchase so make to check your shelf and your wallet. All of the books are either library discards or private donations, so don’t be surprised if you find notes or writing in your purchase. Daily markdowns, clearance bins and discount carts will be available throughout the sale, as well as a large selection of non-library science fiction novels. All mass-market paperbacks will be 50 cents. The books are organized by categories like self-help, fiction, horror, sci-fi and local. More books will be on tables outside, if the weather permits. Restocking will take place daily and volunteers are happy to guide you to a specific section and answer questions. Members get 50-percent-off purchases on Sunday. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 and Friday, Oct. 4; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5; noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. Free admission. The Friends’ Used Book Store at the Warehouse, 8456 Vine St., Hartwell, cincylibraryfriends.org.
Photo: facebook.com/cincylibraryfriends

FRIDAY 04

ONSTAGE: AC2 Live: An Intimate Event with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper met on a blind date more than 25 years ago and have been close pals ever since, their comedic chemistry on display on social media, Cohen’s late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live and CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live, which the pair has hosted since 2017-18. And over the past four years, they’ve taken their friendship and all its stories on the road as part of their show, AC2 Live, which stops in Cincinnati on Oct. 4. The tour offers an unscripted, unfiltered and informal fireside chat with the two silver foxes, with a Q&A portion and embarrassing old video clips to boot. “It’s like going out to a bar with us and hearing our stories,” Cohen says. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. $58.75 -$353.75. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
Photo: Mckay Calderon // Icon Concerts

FRIDAY 04

MUSIC: Com Truise
Synthwave provocateur Com Truise moves from an interstellar storyline to an earthbound tale with Persuasion System. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. $19. Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington, madisontheater.com.
Photo: EFFIXX

FRIDAY 04

EVENT: CliftonFest
This annual fest takes over Ludlow Avenue for a weekend of art, music and shopping. The eighth-annual CliftonFest captures the spirit of the neighborhood with a plethora of live music — everything from Rock and Reggae to Blues and R&B — along with popular live sidewalk chalk drawing artists and a mural unveiling. Friday night features live Jazz and a wine tasting on Clifton Plaza. Saturday keeps the party going with street performers; beer tents; kids games; more live music from the likes of The Cliftones, IsWhat?! and the Tracy Walker Band; a costumed pet parade (with prizes for best Pet/Owner Lookalike, Pet Floats and Most Mysterious Heritage). Note: Ludlow Avenue will be closed to traffic between Clifton and Middletown avenues on Saturday. 6-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4; 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, Oct. 5. Free admission. Ludlow Avenue, Clifton, cliftonfest.com.
The Cliftones // Photo: Joelle Gueguen

FRIDAY 04

EVENT: All Hallows Eve Terror Town
The former grounds of the Old West Fest have been transformed into a Dodge City ghost town — literally. Well, almost literally. A prop fabrication and haunted attraction team has transformed the space into an immersive 19th-century Terror Town with shops, vendors, restaurants, bars and an outdoor theater screening classic horror films. There are also theater performances, games and a 30-minute haunted trail based on Wild West folklore. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7 p.m.-midnight Sundays through Nov. 3. $25. 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg, allhallowsevellc.com
Photo: Provided by All Hallows Eve

FRIDAY 04

EVENT: Kentucky Wool Festival
Drive through winding country roads before landing at the Kentucky Wool Fest; be greeted by the wafting scent of fried food, twangy banjos, a petting zoo and vendor booths with handcrafted items selling everything from threads to keep you warm to goat-milk soap and lots and lots of wool. Watch sheep herding and sheep shearing demos as well as artisans turn wool into yarn and fiber works. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. $5. 48 Concord Caddo Road, Falmouth, kywoolfest.org.
Photo: Provided by KY Wool Festival

FRIDAY 04

MUSIC: Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet
There are few family dynasties as prominent — in any field — as the Marsalises are in Jazz. The New Orleans clan includes patriarch Ellis Marsalis and an all-time Jazz supergroup in sons Wynton (trumpet), Branford (sax), Jason (drums) and Delfeayo, one of the greatest trombonists in music today. Delfeayo Marsalis was inspired to take up trombone due to early influences like Tommy Dorsey, Curtis Fuller and, of course, J.J. Johnson. Also an accomplished producer, Marsalis has worked the boards on recordings by artists like Harry Connick, Jr. and Terence Blanchard and he played in the bands of legends like Art Blakey, Slide Hampton, Max Roach and Elvin Jones. As a composer, his work has long had a big-picture, conceptual edge. For Marsalis’ two Cincinnati shows on Oct. 4, he’ll be joined by alto saxophonist Khari Allen Lee, pianist Richard Johnson, bassist David Pulphus and drummer Willie Green III. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. $15-$30. Caffè Vivace, 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, caffevivace.com.
Photo: Zack Smith

FRIDAY 04

MUSIC: Legends of Hip Hop
The Legends of Hip Hop tour is like a living Spotify playlist made up of some of the more influential Rap artists of the past 30 years. It also serves as a great exhibition of localized Hip Hop scenes from that same time period. Representing the Bay Area are E-40 and Too Short. Too Short rose to prominence in the late ’80s, became involved in the Southern Hip Hop scene at the turn of the century and collaborated with a wide range of artists throughout his career — from Tupac Shakur to Lady Gaga. Memphis’ 8Ball & MJG are two of the most respected rappers to ever emerge from the South; the duo has two entries — Comin’ Out Hard and On Top of the World — on Complex’s Best Rap Albums of the ’90s list. Along with his solo work, Houston MC Scarface became a Hip Hop legend with the Geto Boys and is considered one of the best lyricists to ever hold a mic. Rounding out the Legends of Hip Hop Cincinnati tour stop is another Texan, Bun B (who rose to prominence as one half of the duo UGK), Atlanta’s Pastor Troy and New Orleans’ Mystikal, who broke through to the mainstream in 2000 with his James Brownian hit “Shake Ya Ass.” Some of the artists in the lineup have worked together in the past, so don’t be surprised to see some onstage crossover throughout the night. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. $63-$129. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway, Downtown, usbankarena.com.
Scarface // Photo: Jeremy Perez Photos

FRIDAY 04

EVENT: Haunted Brewery Tour
The collaboration between Christian Moerlein, the Brewing Heritage Trail, Cincinnati Escape Room and Cincinnati Landmark Productions takes guests on a trip back in time, through a darkened brewery and into an abandoned cellar, where they must work to solve puzzles to discover a secret combination to crack a safe. According to lore, "In 1880, brewer John Kauffman sent his brewmaster on a two-year journey though Europe where he brought back a secret recipe that allowed his brewery to become one of the most successful in Cincinnati. That secret recipe is locked away in a safe, your goal is to survive your trip through the haunted brewery and solve the puzzles to figure out the combination." A guide will lead you through the Kauffman Brewery and into the current Christian Moerlein Brewery/Malt House Taproom and into the underground cellars, where you will have to work to uncover the crack the safe. They’ve added lights-on tours this year. Starting at 7 p.m. Fridays and 6 p.m. Saturdays in October. $25. Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom, 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, hauntedbrewerytour.com. Starting at 7 p.m. Fridays and 6 p.m. Saturdays in October. $25. Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom, 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, hauntedbrewerytour.com.
Photo: facebook.com/OTRBreweryDistrict

SATURDAY 05

EVENT: Sunflower Festival at Gorman Heritage Farm
Please note this update from the farm's Facebook page: We are working hard to create a fun experience for you at the 22nd annual Sunflower Festival. Due to a variety of unfortunate circumstances, our large fields of sunflowers will not be in full bloom at the time for the Festival. Some cut sunflowers will be available for sale.
If you follow ‘hip’ folks on Instagram, they probably post an annual #candid of themselves in a field of sunflowers. And most likely, it was taken at Gorman Heritage Farm’s Sunflower Festival. Honestly: totally worth it for the cute pics alone. This autumnal celebration will put you in the seasonal spirit — crisp, early fall weather (one can dream, right?); harvest hues of red, orange and yellow; cute hayrides; and, duh, sunflowers. As you imagine what wearing a sweater might actually be like, sway to live music or munch on grub from a selection of food trucks and vendors. The fest includes hayrides, a sunflower field maze and pumpkin picking. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 and Sunday, Oct. 6. $8 adults; $5 kids 3-17/seniors; free kids under 3. Gorman Heritage Farm, 10052 Reading Road, Evendale, gormanfarm.org. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 and Sunday, Oct. 6. $8 adults; $5 kids 3-17/seniors; free kids under 3. Gorman Heritage Farm, 10052 Reading Road, Evendale, gormanfarm.org.
Photo: Gorman Heritage Farm

SATURDAY 05

EVENT: HallZOOween
HallZOOween is more about the treats than the tricks. Kids and animals alike will be treated to special themed activities. Kids can trick-or-treat at stations scattered throughout the grounds, catch a show from Phil Dalton’s Theater of Illusion and even hop on the Hogwarts Express. Be magically sorted at the Transfiguration Station, board the Scare-ousel and enjoy special animal encounters. Costumes are encouraged, as is bringing along your own treat bag to help the zoo go green. Noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27. Free with zoo admission: $15 adults; $9 kids. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
Photo: Erica J. Hill

SATURDAY 05

EVENT: Weekend of Fire
Calling all spice lovers: Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire presents all things hot, from salsas and dry rubs to sauces, marinades and mustards. There will be hundreds of foods to sample as well as an Arena of Fire competition with newly imagined contests and showdowns to see who can eat (or create) the spiciest items. Bring a friend — or foe — who can handle the heat and peruse over 50 vendors, see who will win the WOFI awards, build your own extremely wicked bloody mary at the Singe Bar and get ready to burn a hole in your belly. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. $10 adults; $2 kids. Jungle Jim’s, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, junglejims.com.
Photo: Provided by Jungle Jim's

SATURDAY 05

MUSIC: Cripple Creek Music Festival
This weekend sees the return of Northern Kentucky’s Cripple Creek Music Festival, a day-long outdoor concert that features touring and local acts and raises money for a good cause. The idea for the festival sprung from the formation of the nonprofit Winning With ALS, which Tom Miller established in the wake of his own ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) diagnosis in 2015. Created to assist young children who have parents with the disease, Miller also wanted to do something unique as a fundraiser, so he and his group of volunteers launched the festival last year and brought in popular touring outfit Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe to headline the inaugural Cripple Creek event. This year’s fest has another Jam-band-scene favorite as a headliner — singer/keyboardist Melvin Seals, who worked extensively with the Jerry Garcia Band. Seals and his JGB crew will be playing with another Grateful Dead affiliate, John Kadlecik, the guitarist for elite Dead tribute ensemble Dark Star Orchestra who also played with Bob Weir and Phil Lesh in the band Furthur. The rest of the 2019 Cripple Creek festival’s lineup includes Brooklyn Soul Rock group Revel In Dimes and Lexington, Kentucky Blues Rock quintet Magnolia Boulevard, plus area acts like Trauma Illinois, Blue Moon Soup and Casey Campbell. 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. $36. DCCH Fairgrounds, 75 Orphanage Road, Fort Mitchell, winningwithals.org.
Melvin Seals // Photo: David Gans

SATURDAY 05

EVENT: Wizard Pub Crawl
Accio, alcohol! The third-annual Wizard Pub Crawl through Over-the-Rhine invites muggles, wizards, witches and everyone in between to imbibe many potions as they make their way from 16-Bit Bar+Arcade to partner drinking destinations including MOTR Pub, Mr. Pitiful’s, Below Zero, Drinkery OTR, Revel OTR Urban Winery, OTR Live and more. Tickets include a signature wand and wand box, a Hogwarts house certificate at the end of the crawl, a best dressed competition, house-colored wristbands for sorting purposes, a wizard backdrop for photo-ops, themed drink specials at each destination, ticket-only access to several bars and DJs. VIP tickets include shirts while supplies last. 3-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. $20; $40 VIP. Check in at 16-Bit Bar+Arcade, 1331 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/barcrawlusa.
Photo: facebook.com/BarCrawlUSA

SATURDAY 05

EVENT: Northside Flea
This open-air flea market is hosted by Building Value and features a variety of handcrafted items from regional vendors. The focus here is on sustainability and upcycled items made from reclaimed, recycled or salvaged materials, along with natural goods. Vendors include Queen City Alchemy, ReVamper Vintage, Crafty Delinquent, Applehead City Pet, Unsung Salvage Design Company and more. The event is family-friendly and leashed dogs are welcome. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. Free admission. Building Value, 4040 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, facebook.com/northsideflea.
Photo: facebook.com/northsideflea

SATURDAY 05

COMEDY: Matt Stanton
Florence, Kentucky native Matt Stanton just celebrated his 15th year in stand-up comedy. In that time he has lived in Chicago, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and now San Diego. Along the way he’s soaked up the comedy scene in each town. Currently, he oscillates between featuring for other comics and headlining his own shows. “If I’m headlining your city, you probably have a minor league AA baseball team,” he notes. On Saturday, he’ll celebrate a homecoming of sorts as he headlines a show at Taft’s Brewpourium for Laughs at Taft’s from Bombs Away! Comedy. “I booked the entire line up, and they’re all comedians regionally that I really like,” he says. “You’re not going to hear the same type of voice over and over because there are enough suburban white guys in comedy — and I’m white enough for everybody.” Other comics include Johnnie Johnson, Paige Polesnak, Kelly Horan, Phil Pointer and J. Patrick McCoig with host Wayne Memmott. Ticketholders get $2 off each beer they drink all night. 7 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. shows Saturday, Oct. 5. $10. Taft’s Brewpourium, 4831 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village, facebook.com/bombsawaycomedy.
Photo: Provided by Matt Stanton

SUNDAY 06

MUSIC: Man Man with GRLwood and Go Go Buffalo
Birthed in Philadelphia and based in Los Angeles, Man Man is the brainchild of Ryan Kattner, aka Honus Honus, the pianist/lead vocalist/songwriter extraordinaire whose Art Folk/Rock conglomeration answers the unasked question: “What would result from a songwriting round that featured Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart, Jimbo Mathus, Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz and Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner?” The spectacularly weird and wonderful response is “The kitchen sink orchestra that plays bohemian Indie Rock for a carousel that features animatronics designed by Salvador Dali and Stan Winston.” 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 . $17. Top Cats, 2820 Vine St., Corryville, topcatscincy.com.
Photo: Anti- Records

MONDAY 07

LIT: An Evening with Blondie
Iconic Blondie singer Debbie Harry is coming to Cincinnati to discuss her anticipated memoir, Face It. The book, Harry said in an interview with Rolling Stone in February, tells Blondie’s story “from my sort of warped little perspective.” Presented by Joseph-Beth Booksellers, the event, dubbed “An Evening with Blondie,” will also feature Harry’s bandmate Chris Stein and the book’s creative director, multidisciplinary artist Rob Roth. There will be a discussion about Blondie’s career, as well as a video presentation created by Roth. 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7. $32.50. Walnut Hills High School, 3250 Victory Pkwy., Walnut Hills, josephbeth.com.
Photo: William Kaner/Harper Collins