Weekend Warm-Up: August 1 – 3

My recommendations for something to do this weekend

So much going on this weekend, I am posting on Wednesday to make sure you can properly plan ahead. Oh, and I wanted to make sure you can get your tickets to Kenny Chesney’s concert at Riverbend on Thursday night.

General Weekend:

Final weekend for Jerry Springer: The Opera. Check the New Stage Collective’s website for show times and details.

Western & Southern Financial Group Masters Open ends this weekend with Quarterfinal matches on Friday, semifinal matches on Saturday, and the finals on Sunday. I am not a huge tennis fan but I think attending this event at least once is a must for all locals.

ARCHITREKS walking tours of Downtown. Downtown tours begin at 2:00 PM from the CAC both Saturday and Sunday.

Holy Cross – Immaculata Festival is from 5:30 PM to midnight both Friday and Saturday nights. Park in the lot at Parkside & Martin Drive with free shuttle.

Glier’s Goettafest goes all weekend along the Newport waterfront, below the Levee.
Check website for specific times and activities.

August 1:

There is the Camp Washington Chili Coney Eating Contest at noon on Fountain Square. Check out the Fountain Square website for details.

Downtown Dash & Block Party at St. Xavier is Friday evening.
"Race into downtown’s biggest block party! 2008 marks the second year of the St. Xavier Church block party and the kickoff of the Secret & Old Spice Downtown Dash 5k run. Whether you are a runner or not, the Downtown Dash has something for everyone including the Moerlein cornhole contest, live music by the Rum Runners, and food from local Cincinnati favorites -- Arnolds, Graeters, Izzy’s and LaRosa’s. All proceeds will benefit downtown charities." Check website for details on the 5k run and the party after!

August 2:

Over the Rhine Community Festival is Noon to 6:00 PM at Washington Park.
"Opportunity to celebrate the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, its culture, and its residents’ talents. Food, games, prizes, entertainment and other activities. Call 513-381-4242 for information."

Then there is the ARCHITREKS tour of Mt. Adams beginning at 11:00 AM on Saturday. Tour leaves from the Mt. Adams Piazza. A great way to spend a Saturday would be the tour followed lunch at the Mt. Adams Bar & Grill (or Art Museum Café) and then a trip to the Art Museum to catch their latest exhibits. There look to be a couple of good ones that I need to catch before they close:

Long Time, No See; Until 7/31
Building Books; Until 9/7
Beneath the Roses; Until 10/5

After all that you can head to the Holy Cross – Immaculata Festival!

August 3:

Early Sunday, at 4:30 AM! is the Sierra Club Morning Glory Ride. Another one of those things that I consider a "Must" for any local to at least attempt once in their lifetime.
"The 27th Annual Morning Glory Ride is an annual early morning bicycle ride that takes you on a sunrise tour of Cincinnati's beautiful neighborhoods and parks, then caps it off with breakfast by the Ohio River. Proceeds support the local activities of the Miami Group Sierra Club."

The Ride begins at 4:30 AM for the quintessential Cincinnati tour taking in Columbia Parkway, Mt. Lookout, Hyde Park, Walnut Hills, and Eden Park. If I can be up, I plan on attending. Kelly to the Max takes photos while she runs. I wonder if I can take pictures while I bike?

There is actually a ton of more stuff like the Cincy Blues Fest, Blue BBQ at Findlay Market all weekend and the King Records Summer Concert on Sunday. Pick up a CityBeat for a great run-down of all the weekend activities.