1. 1212 House Party: A Celebration of the Opening of Site 1212
The Art Academy of Cincinnati is throwing a house party this weekend to celebrate a significant campus expansion with the unveiling of Site 1212 – it's new center for community impact – and everyone is invited. Festivities happen along the 1200 block of Jackson St. in Over-the-Rhine and the former site of BarrelHouse Brewing Co. Get a sneak peek at the new space from 6-10 p.m. Friday, which features live music by Wussy Duo and receptions for the new Constance McClure exhibit Never a Day Without Drawing, as well as House Party: Reunion, an exhibition showcasing work of Art Academy alumni.
The party resumes from noon to midnight Saturday with music performances by Cincinnati Music Accelerator and Inhailer Radio, as well as a headline performance by Young Heirlooms. Fans of the former BarrelHouse Brewing co. will get to enjoy micro-crafted vanilla stout created by original BarrelHouse brewmasters Rick Debar and Brian Sprance while viewing a showcase of work by Jim Effler, the original illustrator for BarrelHouse's bottled beer. There will also be vendors, a burlesque show, a fashion show by Lindsey Whittle, and OTR mural tours provided by ArtWorks. You'll find food for purchase from Taste of Belgium, Banging Burgers and Hoff's Pretzel Co. The house party is free and open to the public both days. artacademy.edu.
2. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins Preseason Game
Here's your chance to get an in-person first look at the team as the Cincinnati Bengals host a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at 4 p.m. Sunday. You can cheer on the team along with other fans at Paul Brown Stadium (One Paul Brown Way, Downtown), or if you aren't quite ready for a stadium setting, you can watch the game on CBS at home or your favorite watering hole. Tickets to the game start at $35. bengals.com.
3. The Bill Keating Jr. Great Ohio River Swim
This is your opportunity to take a plunge into the Ohio River from the public landing in Downtown, swim to the Kentucky side of the river and back – a distance of approximately a half-mile – while the river is closed to motorized traffic. The Bill Keating Jr. Great Ohio River Swim is a fundraiser for Adventure Crew, a local nonprofit that offers outdoor recreation opportunities for city teens.
