10 Things Going on this Weekend in Cleveland

Friday, April 3: Identity Issues - April’s MIX Happy Hour theme at the Cleveland Museum of Art is Identity. The theme will be explored through exclusive tours of the museum’s current exhibitions, Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa and Constructed Identities. The CMA’s curator of Photography Barbara Tannenbaum will lead a special tour through Constructed Identities. Throughout the evening, the museum’s atrium will be filled with the sounds of West African music spun by DJ Dongo. There will be a mancala tournament. Stop by today from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance; $10 day of event; free for CMA Members. (Usmani, photo by Emanuel Wallace)

Friday, April 3: Art Walk - April’s Walk All Over Waterloo takes place today from 6 to 9 p.m. (individual business hours vary). You’ll want to stop by Waterloo Arts for I Am: A Trans Art Exhibit. The show features 15 artists from around the country commenting on transgender experiences. Represented media includes painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography and more. Opening night includes outdoor light installations, live music by Christine Louis, performance art by Christine Howey and an after party at the Beachland Ballroom courtesy of Ohio Burlesque and DJ David Tasslehoff. Gallery One Sixty debuts Creatures of Flight by Kerry Lange, with special musical guest We Can Never Leave. Also, you’ll have another opportunity to see mixed media collaborations by Kristin Rogers and Pita Brooks at the Maria Neil Art Project, and In Orbit, the latest collection of installation art at Loren Naji’s Satellite Gallery. All exhibitions and related events are free and open to the public. (Usmani, photo by Ashley Taylor)

Friday, April 3: Here Come the Canadians - After losing three games in a row in mid-March, the Lake Erie Monsters recovered with a 4-3 win at home against Grand Rapids. The Monsters, who’re playing .500 this season, finish up a three-game home stand tonight against the Toronto Marlies. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets start at $10. In support of Autism Awareness Night, the players will wear special jerseys. It’s also dollar dog and dollar soda night so feel free to bring the family. And stick around after the game for a postgame skate. (Niesel, photo via Facebook)

Saturday, April 4: The Smithereens - Way back in the late '80s and early '90s, the Smithereens broke big out of their native New Jersey. Songs such as "Only a Memory," "Blood and Roses" and "A Girl Like You" effectively channel '60s pop; their catchy choruses and sharp hooks helped the songs crossover from college to commercial radio. The band's track record in the '00s has been spotty at best. At one point, singer-guitarist Pat DiNizio held down a gig on the Vegas Strip where he performed "Confessions of a Rock Star," a show that featured songs and stories from throughout his life. The band doesn't have a new album to push but it'll undoubtedly draw fans who remember it from the days when MTV actually helped break new bands. (Niesel, photo via Wiki)) $30 ADV, $35 DOS

Saturday, April 4: Death Becomes Him - Drawing from real life, Uzumasa Limelight tells the story of an aging movie extra Seiichi Kamiyama (Seizo Fukumoto) who specializes in being killed in “jidaigeki” films (period films involving sword fighting). It shows Seiichi deal with the new generation coming into film and the passing of the “chanbara” (sword fighting) heyday. Actor Seizo Fukumoto so happens to be the most killed stunt man (kirareyaku or “sliced man”) in Japanese cinema history in real life. Fukumoto has fallen victim to the sword in cinema more than 50,000 times. Drawing inspiration from his life, Uzumasa Limelight tells the story of the passing of the torch from one generation to the next. It plays tonight at 8:45 at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. Tickets are $9. (Harp, Photo via Flickr CC, Jessica Diamond)

Saturday, April 4: Akron Art - Join more than two dozen artists today in Downtown Akron for the Downtown Akron Art Walk. On the first Saturday of each month, this event features hand-blown glass, pottery, ceramic, paintings, textiles, jewelry and more. Live bands will play too. The city of Akron’s free trolley service will be running the entire route allowing for flexible and painless parking. Plenty of galleries will also be having openings so be sure to check them out as well. The events start at 5 p.m., and most vendors will be opening up shop from 5 to 10 p.m. Galleries are located in the Northside District, North High Street, and East and West Market Street. The event is free. (Paige Magulies, photo via Instagram, Scott Kline)

Saturday, April 4: Fo/Mo/Deep - “Best known for their sizzling live performances, the fo/mo/deep groove is rooted in the experimental school of the 70s…a time when jazz, soul and funk were one and the same. Seeking to defy the ordinary, this diverse collective of seasoned pros keeps things stirred up with unpredictable energy that moves. Tonight's show starts at 8 p.m. at Nighttown. (Photo via Facebook)

Sunday, April 5: Easter Brunch - The monthly Gospel Brunch has been a spiritual Sunday staple for years at the House of Blues. Curated by famed gospel singer Kirk Franklin, the recently reinvigorated show puts a bit more emphasis on the music. Today, the local group Lafayette Carthon and Faith performs. Band leader Carthon has performed with acts such as Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Marvin Winans, Mary J. Blige and Vickie Winans. With seatings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., the all-you-can-eat musical extravaganza features Southern classics like chicken jambalaya, biscuits and gravy, and chicken and waffles. Tickets range from $18 to $38. (Niesel, photo via Flickr CC, Arnold Gatilao)

Sunday, April 5: Beat the Bulls - The NBA's Eastern Conference features only five teams playing above .500. The Chicago Bulls are one of them. Even without superstar Derek Rose, the Bulls are a formidable opponent and threaten to take the No. 2 seed from the Cavs. Expect today's game to be a real battle. Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m. at the Q and tickets start at $25. (Niesel, photo via Instagram, Cavs)

Sunday, April 5: Showtime - Siblings Vanya and Sonia are contentedly discontent to pass into their twilight years sipping coffee and watching for blue herons. However, their unremarkable but stable lives are about to be upended when their fading B-movie-star sister descends upon their quiet country home with a revelation—and sexy boy toy Spike—in tow. Existential, Chekhovian despair and family-squabbling has never been as funny as in Christopher Durang’s zany, Tony Award-winning comedy that questions our ability to age gracefully in an era of iPods and Twitter. Today's show begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Allen Theatre (Photo via Instagram, stage_and_screen)