Taste of Cincinnati

Memorial Day Weekend:
Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26, 12 noon to 12 midnight;

Monday, May 27, 2013, 12 noon to 9 pm.

On six blocks of Fifth Street, from Race Street to Broadway in Downtown Cincinnati.

Special kick-off today at Fountain Square – goVibrant presents the Veggie Races from noon to 1 p.m. Similar to Soap Box Derby races, contestants will be provided vegetables to build and race a veggie-fueled vehicle in a round-robin style tournament.

Sample the 2013 Best of Taste Winners: Silver Ladle, Mahogany’s at The Banks, and Blue Wisp all were winners from Downtown.

Begun in 1979, Taste is now the nation's longest running culinary arts festival. Approximately 500,000 now attend the annual food extravaganza, making Taste one of the nation's largest street festivals.

Taste features more than 40 restaurants, serving up delicious and delectable menu items. In the weeks leading up to Taste each year, menu items are previewed and judged for prestigious Best of Taste Awards.

Taste of Cincinnati is also a music festival, with continuous live entertainment featuring local and national recording stars performing on multiple stages throughout the event. There are five stages for entertainment, with more than 30 performers – including bands and comedians.

NEW!  This year, guest can enjoy The Taste Experience. This offering will feature the area’s finest restaurants and unique food purveyors for a limited time, offering limited menu. Restaurants include Jack Binion's Steak, The Palace, Palomino’s, Orchids, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and ice cream from Greater’s. The Taste Experience will take place in the beautiful P&G gardens, under a white tent, complete with high top cocktail tables, a selection of fine wines, craft beers. The Chamber will be donating a portion of the Taste experience proceeds to Cincinnati State’s Midwest Culinary Institute.

NEW! Take a free one-hour tour of the new Christian Moerlein Production Craft Brewery, at 1621 Moore Street in Over-the-Rhine. Buses will run continuously to and from Fountain Square during Taste. Guests can register at the Christian Moerlein Beer Garden.

NEW! Food Truck Alley on North Broadway

Local food trucks will take over North Broadway off of Fifth Street, live music and seating. Food trucks include C'est Cheese, EAT Mobile Dining, the Gold Star Chili Mobile, Mellow Mushroom, Sugarsnap! and more.

It’s easy this year to find your favorite dishes, who’s playing, and where to find drinks with the updated Taste of Cincinnati App.

Info at www.tasteofincinnati.com

Cincinnati Reds v. Chicago Cubs

May 24-26

Cincinnati Reds v. Cleveland Indians

May 27-28

Great American Ball Park

The Reds face off against division and in-state rivals. These should be fun games, with plenty of fans coming in for the opposing teams.

On Sunday, the legendary Beach Boys will be performing after the 1:10 game. And they will be joined by actor/producer/musician John Stamos! This is your chance to get the summer kicked off right with The Beach Boys, highlighting a beach party you won't forget. We'll have plenty of fun after the game for the city's largest beach-themed party, with thousands of beach balls, a Hawaiian dancing exhibition, hula hoop contests and more!

This part of Celebrate Sundays by the Reds. The Reds offer fun and family-friendly options for Sunday games, to make it a great experience at the ballpark the whole family.

Tickets and info at http://cincinnatireds.com.

The Dream is Real Weekend

Horseshoe Casino

May 24-26

Presented by Operation Step Up, which is a not-for-profit founded in 1968 and incorporated in 1990 to focus on youth & community development, The Dream is Real is weekend devoted to community building and fundraising for their scholarship program.

The mission of Operation Step Up is to provide resources and training to urban youth and adults and inspire them to dream beyond their circumstances.

Friday night kicks off the events with the ALL WHITE CASINO ROYALE PARTY. Featured Artists Celebrity DJ Biz Markie, Dj Vader Mixx, Sound Stage with 2nd Wind Band, Spoken Word Recording Artist Symana She Speaks, Line Dance Room/Old School Room with Dj Rashawn Ghost, VIP & Platinum Lounges, giveaways and more!! 

Events throughout the city on Saturday and Sunday, ending with a Reds game on Monday afternoon. The party kicks off at noon, and features a DJ, giveaways, dancing, and family fun at GABP.

Tickets and info at www.thedreamisrealweekend.com

The 10th Annual Fringe Festival

Various venues in OTR

May 28 - June 8, 2013

The Cincinnati Fringe Festival, produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati, celebrates it's 10th Anniversary this year May 28 - June 8, 2013. The Festival is a collaborative organization striving to provide opportunities and exposure to artists who are willing to take a risk. Our artists push the boundaries of the “norm” and continually experiment with style and content. During the festival local, regional, national and international artists invade downtown Cincinnati for 12 days of artistic celebration in both traditional and non-traditional spaces. These artists represent a variety of media including theatre, dance, music, poetry, visual art, film and beyond.

34 different performance groups, with 17 coming to Cincinnati from around the country and the world! The festival occurs in 10 different venues, all within a walkable distance of our headquarters at Know Theatre of Cincinnati. In honor of our 10 years, we’re very excited to welcome back most of the original founders that started this festival in 2004. If you’ve never Fringed before, stop by, get your feet wet, and check out a few shows. They are only $12 each!

Info at http://www.cincyfringe.com/

Forever Plaid

Showboat Majestic

Through June 2

This deliciously goofy revue centers on four young, eager male singers killed in a car crash in the 1950's on the way to their first big concert, and now miraculously revived for the posthumous chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the show that never was.  Singing in the closest of harmony, squabbling boyishly over the smallest intonations and executing their charmingly outlandish choreography with over-zealous precision, the "Plaids" are a guaranteed smash, with a program of beloved songs and delightful patter that keeps audiences rolling in the aisles when they're not humming along to some of the great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950's.

The Showboat Majestic is the LAST of the floating theaters, currently celebrating its 90^th anniversary.

Now, under the administration of Cincinnati Landmark Productions, in cooperation with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, the Majestic is a professional summer stock theatre utilizing local performers, providing them opportunity and experience in a theatre rich with history, nostalgia and river romance!

Tickets and info at http://www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/.