Please allow us to fill up your dance card, your movie card, your fine art card, your music card … any card you choose. But that’s the key – you get to choose, so get busy…
Wednesday, Sept. 29
Taft Theatre, Béla Fleck | 8 p.m. 317 E. 5th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. DETAILS: Legendary banjo master, who has explored a broad spectrum of genres, returns to his bluegrass roots. Tickets remain…amazingly.
Washington Park Cinema, “Coco” | 7 p.m. Over the Rhine, 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. DETAILS: It’s the finale of the Summer Cinema series – “Coco.” The bar will be open; food trucks will be on hand. Bring your picnic blankets and popcorn for this fun and free event to end the summer.
https://washingtonpark.org/series/summer-cinema-2
Thursday, Sept. 30
Fountain Square, “Salsa on the Square” | 7p.m. 520 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. DETAILS: Come taco/tostado/guacamole hungry and bring your dancing shoes as this year’s salsa dancing series comes to an end.
https://myfountainsquare.com/series/salsa-on-the-square-brought-to-you-by-pg
Miller Gallery, “Ladies” | 5:30-7:30 p.m. 2715 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Square, Cincinnati, OH 45208. DETAILS: This show tips off a spectacular weekend of visual art in Hyde Park Square. (See Oct. 1st and 3rd below.) René Romero Schuler brings her decievingly simple characters to Cincinnati’s longest established gallery. Opening night events are always a happening.
Friday, Oct. 1
Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center, “Mindful Joy” | 5:30-8:30 p.m. 620 Greenup St., Covington, KY 41011. DETAILS: Highly acclaimed and prolific Cincinnati artist Cedric Michael Cox will showcase over a dozen new pieces. His speciaty is vivid, geometric, acrylic paintings that tell stories and celebrate cultural differences. Runs through Oct. 29.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, “Contemporary Colors” | 7:30 p.m. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. 513-381-3300. DETAILS: This second weekend of the CSO season honors the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial. CSO Creative Partner Matthias Pintscher and Cincinnati favorite, pianist Inon Barnatan, join CSO flutist Henrik Heide in music by Olge Neuwirth (“Aello,” a flute concerto), Helmut Lachenmann and Alexander Scriabin (his “Poem of Ecstasy”), and Pintscher, himself.
Gallery 708, “Impressions of Hyde Park Square” | 6 p.m. 2643 Erie Ave., Cincinnati OH, 45208. 513-551-8171. DETAILS: Advertised as the “largest single collection of Hyde Park-inspired art ever assembled,” this show features 41 works by 28 artists: paintings, sculpture, photography and ceramics. Favorite Hyde Park landmarks rendered by local Cincinnati artists. Door prize drawing at 7 p.m.
Village Players, “The Last Five Years” | 8 p.m. 8 N. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas, KY 41075. 859-392-0500. DETAILS: This story of two young New Yorkers falling in and out of love has an unconventional structure: Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards, while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show. Tickets $20. Friday and Saturdays, 8 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.m. Runs thru Oct. 3 and Oct. 7-9.
www.villageplayers.org/the-last-five-years
Saturday, Oct. 2
Cincinnati Song Initiative, Season Opening Gala | 7:30 p.m. Liberty Exhibition Hall, Northside. DETAILS: Vocalist Amy Burton and pianist John Musto provide a loving tour of The Great American Songbook in launching this new season of song. Unique among local concert series, CSI explores the intimacy and rich diversity of art song from across the globe. Ease yourself in with these time-honored standards.
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Carpool Cinema: “Monster House” | 7p.m. Clifton Recreation Center, 320 McAlpin Ave., Cincinnati OH 45219. 513-497-2860. DETAILS: Kick off the spooky season in your car with film that follows the misadventures of three teens who believe that an old ramshackle dwelling in their neighborhood houses a man-eating entity feasting on locals. Stop by for dinner in Clifton’s Business District before or grab some snacks from the on-site stand provided by the Esquire Theatre. Tickets $5; pre-registration ends Oct. 2 at noon.
https://cliftonculturalarts.org/product/carpool-cinema-monster-house
Gorman Heritage Farm, Sunflower Festival | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 10052 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45241. DETAILS: Visit Evendale for a weekend full of fantastic sunflowers in full bloom. On top of the flowers, enjoy live music, hayrides, pumpkins, craft vendors, food trucks, a corn maze, a farm animal meet-and-greet, a Farm Fun Education Station, mule-drawn carriage rides, a High Grain beer garden, and you can even cut your own sunflowers. Sound fun? To attend, you must register in advance.
Kennedy Heights Arts Center, “Fall Back to the 1960s” | 6546 Montgomery Rd. DETAILS: As autumn approaches, join the KHAC to celebrate some iconic moments of the 1960s such as Woodstock and the Harlem Cultural Festival. At noon, the party will kick off with a drum circle. The rest of the event will feature three musical guests: Siri Imani with Sound the Alarm & Ric Sexton, Destiny L., and No Rain with Roger Klug and Julie Spangler. While listening, enjoy the popular food and drinks of the era. Costumes are encouraged!
Sunday, Oct. 3
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Modern Music in a Timeless Space | 2 p.m. Plum Street Temple, Cincinnati, OH 45202. 513-381-3300. DETAILS: Musicians of the CSO honor Jewish creativity with contemporary chamber music by Matthias Pintscher and others in one of the most visually exotic spaces in Cincinnati. Take advantage of this opportunity to experience this treasure.
Hyde Park Art Show | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. DETAILS: The 55th annual art exhibit and sale will once again fill up Hyde Park Square with a huge range of art and artful items. This is the area’s largest one-day art show, and a magnet for art lovers, dog walkers and people who want to see and be seen. Loads of fun.
Matinee Musicale, WindSync | 3 p.m. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. DETAILS: This series of instrumental and vocal chamber music continues to improve, and has found a suitable home in Memorial Hall. This versatile wind quintet sets itself apart by memorizing its music and actively engaging the audience. Should be a fun way to kick off the 108th season.
Monday, Oct. 4
Montgomery Arts Commission: Live at the Uni | 7 p.m. Universalist Church 9471 Montgomery Rd., Montgomery, OH 45242. DETAILS: The elegant and masterful Rick VanMatre Quintet, with VanMatre on saxophone and flute; Rusty Burge, vibraphone; Kim Pensyl, piano; Aaron Jacobs, bass and Tom Buckley, drums. One of the finest ensembles in the region. What a way to kick off your week.