The Queen City is hopping this week, with goings on from Covington to Lincoln Heights. Cincinnati Opera raises the curtain on “Fiddler on the Roof.” Get your fill of goetta in Newport. The Sign Museum is lit up. Queen City Clay is fired up. The Mercantile hosts author Katie Yee and Patsy Cline is “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Have fun.
Wednesday, July 23
Cincinnati Opera, “Fiddler on the Roof” | 7:30 p.m. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-241-2742. DETAILS: Cincinnati Opera concludes its summer season with one of the best-loved musicals of all time. Tevye, his wife Golde, and five daughters tell us a story of life, love and resilience in the poor Jewish town of Anetevka. Wanting better lives for his daughters, Tevye watches as they break with tradition, each in her own way. Max Hopp and Victoria Livengood star as Tevye and Golde. Rachel Kobernick, Rachel Blaustein and Jennifer Zetlan are the daughters. You know the songs. You know the story. You’ve always loved that violin player on the roof, right? (It’s CSO violinist Charles Morey!) Runs through July 27.
American Sign Museum, Curator Talk – Glow & Behold: Cincinnati Historic LGBTQ+ Bar Signs | 6 p.m. 1330 Monmouth St., Camp Washington. 513-541-6366. DETAILS: Join exhibit curator Jacob Hogue as he discusses the historic signage of LGBTQ+ bars going back to the 1800s. Hogue specializes in the region’s LGBTQ+ history and is preparing to publish his first book, “The Untold Queer History of the Queen City.” Wonder of wonders, if there isn’t more history here than we thought.
Thursday, July 24
Glier’s Goettafest | 5-11 p.m. Festival Park, Newport on the Levee, Newport. DETAILS: Do you love me? Do I WHAT? Either you love goetta or you don’t; there’s little in-between, for sure. What is goetta, you may ask? A German breakfast sausage that combines the flavors and textures of pork, beef, whole grain steel-cut oats, onions and spices. For lovers of this very-Cincinnati concoction, enjoy not one, but two weekends to getta your goetta. Did we see there will be a goetta vending machine? Goetta mac, goetta BBQ, burritos, corn dogs and – wait for it – a goetta donut sandwich? Um, OK. Lots of live music and family fun along the river. Enjoy. Repeats next weekend through Aug. 3.
Washington Park, Roots Revival | 7 p.m. 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. DETAILS: Bluegrass, roots, Americana and much more. Ben Turner & Tie Dye grace the bandstand, tonight. Enjoy good music as you wander across the park to your car or on your way to dinner. Stop for a few, have a drink and soak up the beauty of one of the most beautiful parks around.
Friday, July 25
Queen City Clay, “Tactile” | 5-8 p.m. opening reception, 2760 Highland Ave., Norwood. 513-871-2529. DETAILS: Glossy, slippery, gritty, crunchy and juicy. Did you know a piece of pottery could be slippery or gritty or even juicy? Visit Queen City Clay for this invitational exhibition of functional and sculptural ceramics. Pushing the boundaries of all that is clay, these pieces will tempt your fingertips to touch and consider all that ceramics can be. Runs through Sept. 5.
Cincinnati Art Museum, Art After Dark | 5-9 p.m. 953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park. 513-721-2787. DETAILS: Vive la France! CAM kicks off the weekend with an evening of great music, food and run of the museum. Madame Gigi’s Cancan Dancers and Cincinnati favorite Faux Frenchmen are on tap along with delicious food from the Terrace Café and docent-led tours. Get there early for the best parking spot.
Findlay Market, Patterns of Care: Honoring the Past, Building the Future panel discussion | 6-9 p.m. Findlay Kitchen, 1719 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-665-4839. DETAILS: The Findlay Market community cares. Cares for each other. Hear a panel discussion that shines a light on how this community feeds each other, supports budding entrepreneurs and works to make a welcoming, inclusive gathering place. Panelists include owners Kate Zaidan of Dean’s Mediterranean Imports, Seena Chriti of Paktli, Issis Arrieta-Dennis of The Arepa Place and Tiffany Biddle of Sweet Mae’s Cookie Co.
Ziegler Park, “Dive-In Movies” | 7:30 p.m. 1322 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. DETAILS: Have fun in the pool (Yes, that’s right.) while you watch “Migration,” the 2023 animated adventure comedy directed by Benjamin Renner. The story follows a family of mallards who try to convince a rigid, overprotective father to go on a grand adventure, migrating from New England to Jamaica. Soon, I’ll be a stranger in a strange new place, searching for an old, familiar face, Mack Mallard seems to say. All turns out well in the end. The talented voice cast includes Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina and Danny DeVito.
The Carnegie, “Always . . . Patsy Cline” | 7:30 p.m. 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington. 859-491-2030. DETAILS: The friendship between Patsy Cline and her biggest fan, Louise Seger, is legendary. “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces” and “Crazy” are just a few of the familiar tunes you’ll hear in this tale of love, longing, friendship and heartbreak. Runs through Aug. 3. Some nights are selling fast. Get your tickets, soon.
Saturday, July 26
Cincinnati Shakespeare, Shakespeare in the Park | 7 p.m. Serenity Park, 1201 Steffan Ave., Lincoln Heights. 513-381-2273. DETAILS: Shakespeare in the Park continues its run in parks across the region as the curtain rises in Lincoln Heights on “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Mischievous fairies and young lovers and a host of secrets, mistaken identities and questionable dreams take one comedic turn after another, finally ending in good fortune for all. Cin-cin-nat-i. Where else could sabbath be so sweet?
Sunday, July 27
Woodward Theater, “The Last Class” | 7:30 p.m. 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-345-7981. DETAILS: Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich is profiled in this documentary directed by Elliot Kirschner. Reich is best known for his public service, best-selling books and viral social media posts, but this deeply personal portrait focuses on education and what he feels is his true calling, teaching. In this, his last class at UC Berkeley, Reich confronts his own aging, finality and the critical necessity of our world’s transformation. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears.
Monday, July 28
Washington Park, Jazz at the Park | 6 p.m. 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. DETAILS: Estrada do Sol performs “musica popular Brasileira, which is a trend in post-bossa nova urban popular music in Brazil revisiting popular Brazilian styles such as samba and baiao.” That sounds interesting. Enjoy Brian Cashwell and Andrea Cefalo and friends as they perform this unique sound.
Tuesday, July 29
Mercantile Library, Maggie; Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar: An Evening with Katie Yee | 6 p.m. 414 Walnut St., downtown. 513-621-0717. DETAILS: Transforming personal tragedy into a form of comedy is Brooklyn author Katie Yee’s modus operandi in this book about grief, motherhood and myths. She leads us through a Chinese-American woman’s journey of resilience and healing. If you haven’t seen the Mercantile’s beautifully renovated space, you’re in for a treat.
Fountain Square, Jazz at the Square | 6 p.m. 520 Vine St., downtown. DETAILS: Cincinnati trumpeter, arranger, bandleader, composer and arranger Miles Ellington Twitty and his band play you home after a long day-at-the-desk. Enjoy friends and a drink before you head home or, as we frequently recommend, break with Tradition, tradition! and have Graeter’s. For dinner.
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