Just last week we were celebrating the official start of summer. This weekend, it's already July.
That doesn't mean there's any less to do; just less time to do it in. Luckily, the onslaught of fun local happenings continues, from concerts across parks, timely museum exhibits, and a chance to get fit for free. Welcome to the WVXU "Do" List, a roundup of Tri-State area arts-focused events we think public radio listeners might enjoy. Want more? Check out "Around Cincinnati" host Lee Hay's "Music Notes" column for the week.
Thursday, June 28
- The Oxford Concert Series in Uptown Park (West High Street and Main, Oxford) welcomes the Lisa Biales Band starting at 7 p.m., where the singer-songwriter will play her signature style of "down home blues vernacular with finger style guitar." This event is free.
- This weekend, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (50 E. Freedom Way) begins its showing of the traveling exhibition, "The Columbus Crossing Borders Project," which includes the works of 34 artists responding to stories shared by refugees. The exhibit, included with general admission to the museum, runs through August 19.
Friday, June 29
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah plays Fountain Square's free summer concert series beginning at 7 p.m.
- Starting at 5 p.m., the Cincinnati Art Museum (953 Eden Park Drive) hosts its first Art After Dark of the summer. "Summer Shakedown" will feature live reggae music from The Cliftones (pictured, above), specialty cocktails and food for purchase, and access to the entire museum, including the Terracotta Army exhibit (though access is limited). Admission is free, but visitors must pick up timed tickets in-person beginning at 4:30 p.m
- Local cartoonist Carol Tyler visits Shake It Out Records (4156 Hamilton Avenue) at 7 p.m. for a book launch of her new comic, Fab4 Mania, a facsimile of the diary she kept at age 13 throughout 1965, the height of Beatlemania.
- At 6 p.m., the parking lot of Elder High School (3900 Vincent Avenue) turns into a biergarten for "West Of The Rhine," a beer and wine event that also features German food, live music and games. Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per person, with all proceeds benefitting the school.
Saturday, June 30
- Self-proclaimed rowdy Irish party band The Town Pants return to the Irish Heritage Center of Greater Cincinnati (3905 Eastern Avenue) for a concert starting at 8 p.m. Pre-paid public tickets are $25; $30 day-of.
- Indie band Maps & Atlases plays Fountain Square's free summer concert series beginning at 7 p.m.
- The third annual Barre on the Bridge, open to all ages and fitness levels, kicks off at 8:30 a.m. on the Purple People Bridge. Additional free classes will be held at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with appearances by WCPO anchors Tanya O'Rourke and Ally Kraemer and Cincinnati native and San Francisco 49ers tight end Garrett Celek. Bring no-longer-wanted shoes and accessories to donate to Dress for Success Cincinnati.
Sunday, July 1
- At 1 p.m., Cincinnati Shakespeare Company plays a 45-minute version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at The Carnegie Center (3738 Eastern Avenue), perfect for kids in kingergarten through 5th grade. The event is free with advanced registration; $5 per person day-of at the door.
- It's "Sunday Sun-day Sundae" with Dean Regas at the Cincinnati Observatory (3489 Observatory Place), which will include a short talk about the sun, tours of the building, and safe viewings of sunspots and solar flares from the Observatory's 1845 telescope (weather permitting). And oh yeah, free sundaes (and admission) to those in attendance at this all-ages event. 1-4 p.m.
- The Cincinnati Opera puts on Claudio Monteverdi's 1642 Baroque masterpiece "The Coronation of Poppea," sung entirely in Italian (with projected translation). The final performance is at 3 p.m. at the School for Creative and Performing Arts (108 W. Central Parkway), with tickets starting at $54.
