What to Do in Cincinnati This Week and Weekend: Nov. 14-20

WEDNESDAY 14

ONSTAGE: Cincinnati King
Six years ago, Cincinnati Playhouse artistic director Blake Robinson asked playwright and director KJ Sanchez to consider creating a show that would tell a “quintessentially Cincinnati story.” With Cincinnati King — about the city’s mid-century recording company, King Records — he got exactly what he asked for. Sanchez took the time to interview musicians and others who were part of King founder Syd Nathan’s enterprise in Evanston. This year marks the 75th anniversary of its founding, and it’s likely that the building where this all happened will become a shrine to local music creativity from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. If you want to know more about why this is an important piece of Cincinnati history, this is the show for you. Cincinnati King, presented by the Playhouse in the Park, continues through Dec. 23. More info/tickets: cincyplay.com.
Photo: Mikki Schaffner Photography

WEDNESDAY 14

ART: Antique Christmas at the Taft Museum of Art
The Taft Museum of Art gets into the holiday spirit with its annual display of antique ornaments, toys and decor. The historic former home will transform with festive garlands, comical 19th-century holiday-themed prints and a dining room set for a feast. Wander the rooms of the museum to see displays of antique German paper nativity scenes and small wooden toys, a historic feather tree with glass fruit ornaments, turn-of-the-century holiday china and other trees “bedecked with fairy figures, Japanese Santas, early wax ornaments and angels.” The exhibit of vintage collectibles changes every year, so what’s old is new again this Antique Christmas. Through Jan. 6, 2019. $12 adult door; $10 adult advance; $10 senior door; $8 senior advance; free for members and 18 and under; free admission for all on Sunday. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org.

THURSDAY 15

ONSTAGE: Rock of Ages
If you wax nostalgic for the 1980s, head to the Aronoff Center for a one-night-only presentation of the Tony-nominated Rock of Ages — back for its 10th-anniversary run with an all-new cast. Jam out to a classic story of small-town gal meets city-slicker boy. As the name implies, the duo falls in loves in a hazy L.A. Rock club. Featuring the tunes and croons of choice ’80s Hair Metal bands like Styx, Poison, Twisted Sister and Whitesnake, it may make you feel like you’re at prom... only this time sans heartbreak. For real though: It’s a silly musical that doesn’t take itself too seriously with characters that have bigger personalities than their hair. 7 p.m. Thursday. $30-$75. Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.

THURSDAY 15

MUSIC: Pet Envy with Jess Lamb & The Factory
There’s an old adage about Cincinnati that essentially states if you don’t care for the weather here, just wait five minutes. The same might be said of Pet Envy, the Nashville-based quintet with more flexibility than a 21-year-old yoga instructor and more range than a monarch butterfly. If you’re not drawn in by the band’s infectious Soul/Pop gyrations, wait for their next song and maybe you’ll be attracted by their Jazz flirtations or their ’70s AM Pop translations or their danceable Electropop solutions or their Folk/Indie Rock mash-ups or any of the other genre weapons in their estimable sonic arsenal. 10 p.m. Thursday. Free admission. MOTR Pub, 1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.
Photo: Beshoy Hanna

THURSDAY 15-SUNDAY 18

COMEDY: Kevin Bozeman
“No one told me I was funny and that I should be on stage,” says comedian Kevin Bozeman. “Once I started doing stand-up, everybody was like, ‘We knew you’d end up on stage!’ ” He describes his life before stand-up as a blur: He played Division III college basketball at Whitewater College and after graduating worked a series of “odds and ends” jobs. “Just a lot of stuff that made me unhappy,” he says. “I think I tried selling life insurance, I think I worked in a home for the disabled and mentally disturbed.” After about five years, he decided to give stand-up a try. “It was just something I always had the urge to try,” he says. “It wasn’t like I lost a bet.” At first his set was pretty basic: "I just yelled about stuff I thought was funny.” Today, he headlines clubs and colleges around the country and has been featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and Comedy Central’s Premium Blend. Through Sunday. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 16

LIT: Jeff Tweedy
“I don’t know — when are you supposed to write a memoir?” That is the simple answer to why — and why now — longtime Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy was interested in writing Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc., which was published Nov. 13 by Penguin Random House. “Somebody asked me if I was interested in writing a book,” Tweedy says by phone from his home on the north side of Chicago. “And I said, ‘I don’t know. Let me think about it.’ And I thought, ‘Yeah, I guess I am.’ I thought it might be kind of an interesting challenge. I’m 51 years old now. Maybe it’s a good halfway point, a way to mark that.” Jeff Tweedy’s book promotional tour comes to Walnut Hills High School on Friday, Nov. 16, presented by Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Tickets/more show details: josephbeth.com.
Photo: Whitten Sabbatini

FRIDAY 16-SUNDAY 18

EVENT: Germania Society Christkindlemarkt
The Germania Society of Cincinnati is hosting its 21st-annual Christkindlmarkt, a recreation of an authentic Bavarian-style Christmas market at Germania Park. Expect heated tents full of German music, German food and imported German gifts. There will be dill pickle soup (a favorite of Germania Society fans), bier, spiced gluhwein, strudels, cream puffs, cookies, candies and a cocktail bar, plus steins, nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, linens and more for sale. Find a petting zoo, carriage rides, a lantern parade and other holiday entertainment, including a visit from Saint Nicholas and Krampus. 5-10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. $3; free for 12 and under. Germania Park, 3529 W. Kemper Road, Colerain, germaniasociety.com.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 16

EVENT: Secret ArtWorks
Secret ArtWorks, the mystery-filled fundraiser — and one heck of a party — which benefits ArtWorks returns after a brief hiatus on Nov. 16 at the former Howl at the Moon venue at The Banks. This nearly annual fall event is one of the organization’s most popular, but has been absent since ArtWorks’ 21st “birthday” party in 2016. For the event, area artists have contributed 1,000 original and unique 5-by-7-inch works of art. Guests bid on their favorite piece — most event tickets include one Secret ArtWorks voucher (there are three different tiers of tickets with different voucher options) — but here’s the twist: The artists’ identities are kept a secret until you receive your art. A preview of works is available online, but where the artwork is laid out at the event to view in person isn’t revealed until 7:30 p.m. the night of. Secret ArtWorks unfolds 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at The Banks. More info/tickets: artworkscincinnati.org.
Photo: Provided

FRIDAY 16

ATTRACTIONS: Holiday Lights on the Hill at Pyramid Hill
The Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is no stranger to outdoor beauty, but why not ramp it up this winter with a holiday-themed display? Load up the van and drive through the looped two-mile glowing hybrid sculpture and light display. This year, Brave Berlin — the creative team behind last year’s BLINK art and light festival and the previous Lumenocity events — has crafted something extra special. Entry fee is by the carload so the kids can bring a friend. $20 per carload Monday-Thursday; $25 per carload Friday-Sunday; $15 for members all days. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org.

FRIDAY 16

MUSIC: Mark Guiliana
Mark Guiliana is one of the biggest young talents in Jazz — he’s often rated highly in “Best Jazz Drummer” polls, most recently earning top honors for the genre in Modern Drummer magazine’s 2017 readers’ poll. But Guiliana’s talents and résumé expand far beyond any single genre. After studying Jazz at William Paterson University in his home state of New Jersey, Guiliana began touring and recording with acclaimed Jazz artist Avishai Cohen, who combined Middle Eastern sounds and music from his native Israel with acoustic and electric Jazz. Guiliana also formed the progressive “Garage Jazz” trio Heernt to explore and incorporate other realms of music, including Electronica. Guiliana made a name for himself doing studio session work with a wide variety of artists, including Matisyahu, Bobby McFerrin and Meshell Ndegeocello. Last year, Guiliana led a quartet on the album Jersey, which All About Jazz said was “a testament to the expansive reach of his artistic vision.” Guiliana’s new band project is called Space Heroes and it features the double-saxophone tandem of Jason Rigby and Mike Lewis, plus bassist Chris Morrissey. Guiliana’s Cincinnati tour stop is part of Xavier University’s Jazz music series, but unlike most series shows, it won’t be held at the on-campus Gallagher Student Center Theater. 8 p.m. Friday. Music Resource Center, 3032 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, mrccinci.org.
Photo: Shervin Lainez

FRIDAY 16

MUSIC: Houndmouth with Philippe Bronchtein and Modern Love Child
Houndmouth is returning to Cincinnati to headline the big room at the Taft Theatre. But venue capacity isn’t the only thing that has changed over that time. Since the group’s last visit to our area, Houndmouth has completely changed its sound. Hailing from New Albany, Ind. (just across the river from Louisville, Ky.), Houndmouth emerged with a bluesy Americana sound often compared to The Band early on. But when singer/keyboardist Katie Toupin left the group in 2016, the remaining musicians didn’t just switch gears — they blew up the bike and bought a blimp to replace it. Houndmouth’s Golden Age is the band’s debut as an electronic-fueled AltPop outfit. The album was reportedly influenced by the trio’s heavy diet of Hip Hop and a decision to start anew. They also had access to new producers and studio gear for their major-label debut (the album was released in August through Reprise/Warner Bros.). 8 p.m. Friday. $30-$35. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org.
Photo: Claire Vogel

FRIDAY 16-SUNDAY 18

COMEDY: Drew Lynch
On some level — even from a young age — comedian Drew Lynch always knew he wanted to be in show business. He just didn’t think he would work in stand-up. Lynch appeared on the 10th season of America’s Got Talent for his comedy routine and received a golden buzzer, finishing second behind British ventriloquist Paul Zerdin. Lynch will perform at the Liberty Funny Bone (7518 Bales St., Liberty Township) Nov.16-18. More info/tickets: liberty.funnybone.com.
Photo: Drew Lynch and his service dog, Stella // Provided

SATURDAY 17

ATTRACTIONS: Festival of Lights
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden does its annual glow-up with the 36th-annual Festival of Lights, the No. 1 zoo light show in the country (as voted by USA Today). More than 3 million LED bulbs will transform the park into a “Wild Wonderland” with festively adorned foliage, glowing animal sculptures, the ever-so-instagrammable rainbow-light tunnel and fun holiday and nature scenes depicted in twinkling bulbs. There will also be a black-light puppet show, Toyland Express train ride, everyone’s favorite synchronized holiday music-and-light display on Swan Lake and assorted s’mores stands. Through Jan. 1, 2019. Free with zoo admission: $19 adult; $13 child/senior; online discounts available. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
Photo: Mark Dumont

SATURDAY 17

EVENT: Pups and Pucks at the Cincinnati Cyclones
Dog breeders around the world know you train wiener dogs for speed in a race, not endurance. Have you been conditioning your beloved dachshund for his/her moment of glory in front of a packed hockey arena? Did you know there’s more to do at a hockey game than build pyramids out of empty dollar beer cans? Bring your four-legged buddy to the U.S. Bank Arena for the Cyclones’ Wiener Dog Races presented by John Morrell. All the good pups whose parents registered their spot in the race (visit the Cyclones’ site for a waiver) will patter across the frozen rink in a life or death (not really) race of a lifetime during the game’s first intermission. Also, Morrell is sponsoring dollar hot dogs all night. And even if your dog isn’t racing, you can bring your them to the game to sit in a designated “Pups and Pucks” area. 7:30 p.m. puck drop Saturday. $15-$29.50 human; $5 dog ticket. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway, Downtown, cycloneshockey.com.
Photo: Provided

SATURDAY 17 and SUNDAY 18

EVENT: Victory of Light
The thing about a psychic festival is, even if you aren’t certain whether you’ll attend, some of the people there already know. The Victory of Light Expo is a gathering of 300 readers, healers and vendors at the Sharonville Convention Center, presenting 90 seminars that explore the spiritual, paranormal and metaphysical fields. Featured guests include Chief Golden Light Eagle, who will discuss his knowledge of 12th and 13th dimensional star knowledge; Rosemary Ellen Guiley, an author slated to discuss her understanding of an interdimensional paraphysical sasquatch; and plenty of other mediums, naturopaths, astrologists and aura photographers for mind, body and spirit. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $15 single day, $25 weekend pass. Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville, victoryoflight.com.
Photo: Ron Esposito // Provided

SATURDAY 17 and SUNDAY 18

EVENT: O.F.F. Market
Every kind of local vendor you can think of — artists, bakers, vintage shops, mobile boutiques, etc. — are coming together for a special two-day O.F.F. Market event in MadTree’s Barrel Warehouse. Get your holiday shopping done early while supporting locally-owned businesses selling goods like hand-painted bowls, one-of-a-kind jewelry and handcrafted chocolate. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free admission. MadTree, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley, theoffmarket.org.
Photo: Provided

SUNDAY 18

MUSIC: Death From Above
Last year, imaginative Canadian Rock duo Death from Above released (and toured heavily behind) its latest album, Outrage! Is Now. Now, the twosome is back on the road on its Heads Up! Is Now tour, named for DFA’s remarkable 2002 debut release, the 2002 EP Heads Up, which they’ll be playing in full (along with other material from throughout their career because Heads Up is only about 15 minutes long). Death from Above’s singular instrumental set-up has resulted in a compellingly unique mix of heavy, noisy, catchy and danceable Post Punk that is among the most enduring “AltRock” of the 21st century. Le Butcherettes open DFA’s show in Cincinnati this weekend. 8:30 p.m. Sunday. $22. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, bogarts.com.
Photo: Vanessa Heins

TUESDAY 20

ONSTAGE: Cincinnati Pops with the Indigo Girls
The Cincinnati Pops orchestra partners with the Grammy-winning Folk Rock duo Indigo Girls for an evening of informed and purposeful music. The Pops will be pairing its sounds with the band’s sonics for a program featuring Indigo Girls’ fan favorites from across the decades, including hits like “Closer to Fine” and “Galileo.” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. $25-$115. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org.
Photo: indigogirls.com