Weekly roundup · Sept 14–20
Hey neighbors — here's the week
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati takes over the riverfront Thursday through Sunday, and it's free to walk in. If you only do one thing this week, that's the one. Also inside: a Glendale café the whole village shows up for, 20 things to do from Middletown to Florence, and five deals worth the drive.
Business Highlight
The café Glendale I can't stay out of
Black Squirrel Cafe opened last fall at 15 W Sharon Road, on Glendale's village square, named for the black squirrels that have run this town since the 1940s. The owner grew up here. The coffee is locally roasted, the danishes come from North College Hill Bakery, the bagels from Marx, and there's a pup cup for the dog. It holds 4.8 stars across 53 Google reviews — the neighbors have spoken.
Mon–Fri 6:45am–3pm · Sat 8am–2pm · closed Sun
"Bringing people together over great coffee in a place that feels just like home."
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Things to do this weekend
20 for your Friday through Sunday
From the riverfront to Middletown, Harveysburg to Florence — everything below happens Sept 18–20, inside about 50 miles of downtown. Every name links to the official page.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
Thu–Sun · Sawyer Point & Yeatman's Cove · free entry
The nation's biggest Oktoberfest, four days on the river. Bring cash for the brats.Reds vs. Cubs
Fri–Sun · Great American Ball Park
A September series against Chicago with the wild card in reach.The City Flea
Sat · Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine · free
100+ local makers and vintage sellers. Coffee first, then browse.Ohio Renaissance Festival: Pirates Weekend
Sat–Sun · Renaissance Park, Harveysburg
Jousting, turkey legs and pirate crews, 40 minutes up SR-73.Cincinnati Tacos & Tequila Festival
Sat 1:30pm · Florence Y'alls Stadium, Florence KY · GA from $58
T.I., Ginuwine and Trina headline. There is also a Chihuahua beauty pageant. We're serious.Brooks & Dunn: Neon Moon Tour
Sat · Riverbend Music Center, Anderson Twp
Boot Scootin' Boogie on the river lawn.Air Supply
Sat 8pm · Hard Rock Casino, downtown · 21+
All out of love, one night only.Hofbräuhaus Newport Oktoberfest
Fri–Sun · Newport KY
Liter steins, live brass, pretzels — Bavaria done properly.A Fair of the Arts
Sat 4–8pm · Beech Acres Park, Anderson Twp · free
The fair's 25th year: fine jewelry, stained glass, painting and ceramics, with live bands and local food.Dog Day Downtown
Fri 5–8pm · Central Ave, downtown Middletown · free
Free treat stops, a dog talent show and DJs. Bring the leash.HorrorHound Weekend
Fri–Sun · Sharonville Convention Center · day passes at the door
Three days of horror vendors, collectibles and celebrity guests.NightLight 513: Project Hail Mary
Fri · Covington Plaza, 1 Madison Ave · 21+
Outdoor movie with a DJ, food trucks and the skyline behind the screen.Underwater Pumpkin GLOW
Opens Fri · Newport Aquarium · included with admission
Glowing pumpkin sea creatures and an underwater pumpkin patch. October came early.Fifth Third Community Days
Sun · Freedom Center · free admission
A free day at one of the city's most important museums.Fall Food Fest
Sun 10am–4pm · Findlay Market, OTR · tasting tickets in bundles
The market's merchants go all-in on fall small bites. Pre-buy tickets — they go fast.Burlington Antique Show
Sun · Boone County Fairgrounds, Burlington KY
One of the region's biggest antique markets, one Sunday a month.Chico Bean
Fri · Funny Bone, Liberty Township
The Wild 'N Out veteran, 30 minutes north of downtown.The Scandinavian Home — final day
Through Sun · Taft Museum of Art, downtown
A quiet, lovely show. Go say goodbye this weekend.LEGO Jurassic World: The Exhibition
All weekend · Cincinnati Museum Center, Union Terminal
Life-size brick dinosaurs in the great rotunda.Yayoi Kusama: All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins
All weekend · Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park
The mirrored pumpkin infinity room. Worth the timed ticket.
For more events
Local events
On the calendar
Everything further out than this weekend. Grouped by date, one line each. Links go straight to the venue, never to an aggregator.
Monday 9/14
Pitbull & Lil Jon — Riverbend Music Center, 7pm. Mr. Worldwide on a Monday.
Jazz at the Park — Washington Park, OTR, 6–9pm. Ease into the week.
Tuesday 9/15
Reds vs. Dodgers — Great American Ball Park, 6:40pm. Series runs Tue–Thu; Thursday is a 12:40 day game.
The Great Gatsby — opens at the Aronoff Center, runs through Sept 27. The Tony-winning Broadway tour; tickets from $41.
CCM Philharmonia: Russian Giants — UC College-Conservatory of Music, Clifton.
Wednesday 9/16
Boyz II Men with the Cincinnati Pops — Music Hall, OTR.
Cindependent Film Festival — Memorial Hall, OTR, Sept 16–20. 80+ indie films, screenings and masterclasses.
Thursday 9/17
Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler & Spin Doctors — Riverbend Music Center. The whole '90s radio dial, one lawn.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati opening day — the riverfront kicks off four days of festbier.
Restaurant Week kickoff party — The Merchant's Club, Bellevue KY, 5–8pm.
Looking ahead
Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week — Sept 21–27. Three-course menus across dozens of restaurants; details in the deals block.
Kings Island Halloween Haunt — opens Sept 25, select nights through Halloween. The Conjuring returns.
BLINK — Oct 8–11. Thirty blocks of light art and projection mapping, downtown through OTR, 7–11pm nightly. Free.
Best deals around town
Worth your money this week
$26 gets you three courses. Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week runs September 21–27, with set menus at $26, $36, $46 and $56 across dozens of restaurants in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Book your table this week — the kickoff party is Thursday in Bellevue. A dollar from every meal goes to Cincinnati Children's.
$1 Moscow mules, all month. Doubt It — the '90s-themed bar in Covington's Mainstrasse — is celebrating its first birthday with dollar mules through September 30.
Free cheeseburgers Friday. September 18 is National Cheeseburger Day: McDonald's gives app members a free double cheeseburger with any $1 purchase, Burger King does a free cheeseburger with $1+, Dairy Queen has a free Stackburger in the app through Friday, and Buffalo Wild Wings goes buy-one-get-one. Full list here.
Half-price wine bottles, Thursday nights. Governor's House Wine Bar & Italian Kitchen, 314 Greenup St in Covington. Every Thursday.
$5 pints, Tuesday–Thursday. Dead Low Brewing, 5959 Kellogg Ave on the East Side, 4–6pm. Tuesday adds $1.25 wings.
New openings & closings
Doors open, doors closed
Doors open
Mi Cozumel — 310 Straight St., Clifton Heights. The local Mexican family's seventh location takes over the big corner spot at The District. Margaritas within walking distance of campus.
Last call
The Scandinavian Home at the Taft Museum wraps its run Sunday, September 20. A quiet, lovely show — go say goodbye this weekend.
That's it for this week.
Thanks to Black Squirrel Cafe for the warm welcome to Glendale. If we missed something worth knowing about, reply to this email — we read every one.
— The Formed In Cincinnati team 🐷
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