1. Zoo Blooms
See one of the largest tulip displays in the Midwest as the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden explodes in a riot of color this spring. As well as an incredible display of more than 100,000 tulips, you'll also find millions of other beautiful blooms, from daffodils and hyacinths to flowering trees and shrubs, throughout the park.
Tunes & Blooms looks a little different this year, too. Instead of live bands performing each week at the zoo, there's a curated Spotify playlist of favorite local artists that you can listen to at home or while walking around the zoo. Zoo Blooms runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily April 1-30 at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (3400 Vine St., Avondale). cincinnatizoo.org.
2. Oscar-Nominated Shorts
The Garfield Theatre will screen this year's Oscar-nominated short films, starting Friday and running every weekend through April. This weekend kicks off with an at-home viewing option for those who would rather watch virtually, and then in-theater screenings start on April 9 and run for three consecutive weekends for those wishing to watch on the big screen. The first two in-theatre weekends (April 9-11 and April 16-18) are allocated for only those who are fully vaccinated, with the final weekend (April 23-25) open to everyone.
There are three separate programs to choose from: Program A screens documentary shorts and runs approximately 135 minutes; Program B is animation shorts clocking in at 92 minutes; and Program C shows live-action shorts, running approximately 124 minutes. If you want to see them all, opt for the $36 combo ticket, which covers all three programs. If you're only interested in a single program, they run $15 each. Garfield Theatre is located at 719 Race St., Downtown. 859-957-3456; bit.ly/CWC_OscarShorts2021
3. Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches
Catch this socially distant, staged reading of Tony Kushner's masterpiece inspired by mid-1980s America when it comes to The Carnegie this weekend. The play, set against a backdrop of the HIV-AIDS crisis and President Ronald Reagan's administration, details the lives of New York City residents as they grapple with the juxtaposed extremes of life and death, love and sex, and heaven and hell.
The reading, featuring actors from the Greater Cincinnati area as well as New York, happens at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Due to the nature of the play, it is recommended for adult audiences only. The Carnegie is located at 1028 Scott St., Covington. Tickets are $10. thecarnegie.com/events.
4. Historic Walking Tours
Several guided walking tours resume this weekend, each offering a unique slice of Cincinnati history. There's the Brewers & Barons Tour, part of the Brewing Heritage Trail operated by the non-profit Brewery District CURC, which features an outdoor tour chronicling the stories of the workers, brewmasters and beer barons of the 19th and early 20th century. Tours begin at the new Brewing History Tour Center (1941 Race St., Over-the-Rhine) and last approximately 90-minutes. $25. brewingheritagetrail.com.
American Legacy Tours restarts its popular "1919: The Year That Changed Baseball" tour, which is a favorite for baseball fans of all ages. This tour focuses on the events and activities surrounding the controversial 1919 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. Tours begin at the Cincinnati USA Visitor Center at Fountain Square (511 Walnut St., Downtown). $29. americanlegacytours.com.
Outdoor tours of Music Hall also take place weekly at 4 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Saturday. While anyone can view the structure, this tour explores Music Hall's history, the symbolism and design of the architecture, and tells the stories of those who made it happen. Tours run approximately one hour and start on the steps of Music Hall (1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine). $15, $5 ages under 12. 513-621-2787; friendsofmusichall.org.
5. This Time Tomorrow Festival
After being canceled last year due to the pandemic, this year's five-day performance art festival is back, but with some format changes designed to deliver remarkable experiences in spaces that are accessible and safe. The 2021 This Time Tomorrow Festival features four intimate projects: Three live engagements created with safety in mind, and one digital, international collaboration.
Major projects this year include the North American premiere of Begum Erciyas' "Letters from Attica;" the regional premiere of "Worktable" by Kate McIntosh; the North American premiere of Portuguese artist Raquel Andre's "Spectators Festival;" and "Red Tent Revival'' by Move X, a powerful performance installation designed to address the collective strength of Black women. The festival runs from noon-9 p.m. April 7-11 at Contemporary Arts Center (44 E. Sixth St., Downtown). contemporaryartscenter.org.
Honorable mention: A Report of Gunfire
In the mid-aughts, a rising-star journalist accepts a posting as a war correspondent in the Middle East. As the stories he's pursuing unfold, he must grapple with the moments when news of international importance becomes deeply, devastatingly personal.
"A Report of Gunfire" joins 10 other audio dramas currently available for download from The Know Theatre. The audio drama stars James Creque and is directed by Zach Robinson. $5. knowtheatre.com.
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