Friday, March 20: Sweet Stuff – Spring is officially here. Unofficially, we might not be able to start wearing shorts until May. But to celebrate spring’s so-called arrival, the Sweet Spot will offer one free scoop of gelato to patrons who stop by today from noon to 10 p.m. Co-owner Celeste Blau says she’s excited the event, now in its second year, has become an annual event at the shop known for using local and/or organic ingredients in its “American gelato.” The shop offers classic gelato flavors like strawberry, chocolate and Tahitian vanilla, but also offer funkier flavors such as chocolate mint cayenne and Earl Grey tea gelato. Local favorites include pistachio, dark chocolate with sea salt and a cinnamon caramel swirl gelato. (Niesel) Photo via Facebook.
Friday, March 20: A Time for Wine – Now in its 19th year, Heinen’s/WVIZ Grand Tastings and Seminars gives you a chance to sample wines and learn something in the process. The event, which takes place today and tomorrow at the Cleveland Convention Center Ballroom. will feature more than 400 wines paired with hors d’oeuvres. Both nationally and internationally acclaimed winemakers and their representatives will be present to pour their wines, answer questions and offer wine and food pairing tips. Tonight’s event takes place at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow’s events take place at 1 and 7:30 p.m. Admission is $75 and that includes a souvenir crystal wine glass, an official Wine Tasting Program and access to the Silent Auction featuring exceptional wines and additional gifts. (Siegel) Photo via Facebook.
Friday, March 20: Piston Power – Hot on the heels of the International Auto Show, the annual Summit Racing Equipment I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama offers a more comprehensive look at vehicles of all makes and models. Films will screen on what’s billed as “the world’s only piston-powered drive-in theater.” Expect to see custom cars, trucks, bikes, tractors and military equipment. Today’s hours are 3 to 10 p.m. and the event runs through Sunday at the I-X Center. Tickets are $16. (Niesel) Photo by Emanuel Wallace
Saturday, March 21: Arts and Crafts – Crafters, artists and “those who love the indie-arts scene” will be on hand for the the two-day Rocky River Spring Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show that takes place today at the Rocky River Memorial Hall. The show will feature more than 100 vendors who specialize in “creating unconventional and innovative crafts for the modern shopper.” Expect to see eveything from custom silver jewelry and original photographic prints/collages, to hand-dipped adult beverage truffles. The show takes place today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. A portion of the show’s proceeds from the Rocky River event will be donated to Drink Local. Drink Tap., a not for profit organization that inspires individuals to recognize and solve our water issues through creative education, events and providing safe water access to people in need. Tickets are $3. (Niesel) 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River. Photo via Facebook.
Saturday, March 21: Studio Session – In conjunction with their new Majority Rising exhibition, the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve (AAWR) are hosting a series of studio visits with some of the participating women artists. Majority Rising is an exhibition of archived, women artists. The show celebrates Women’s History Month. Majority Rising includes Shirley Aley Campbell, Lee Heinen, Kathleen McKenna, Marsha Sweet, Lynn Szalay and Judy Takacs, who curated the exhibition. From 1 to 2:30 p.m. today, the AAWR hosts a studio visit with Lee Heinen at her studio in Little Italy. Space is limited, so register soon by visiting the AAWR website or contacting the AAWR directly. Admission is $20, $15 for AAWR Members. (Usmani)
Saturday, March 21: Swing’s the Thing – From the mid-’30s through the mid-’40s, the sounds of swing reigned supreme in America. The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra brings the sounds of swing to life once again on Saturday during Swing’s the Thing, an event hosted by Bill Rudman, Paul Ferguson and Joe Hunter.The performance will feature rare film clips of Big Bands in musicals, creating jazz on stage and on screen. The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra has been Northeast Ohio’s premier jazz voice for 30 years. The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, led by Sean Jones, is compiled of gifted jazz musicians, arrangers, composers and educators reflecting Cleveland’s diversity. The concert takes place at 8 tonight at the Ohio Theatre, and tickets are $30 to $50. (Siegel) Photo via Facebook
Saturday, March 21: Beer Bash – Tonight, Bedford Heights’ Winking Lizard is hosting its second annual Game of Thrones party in partnership with New York’s Brewery Ommegang, which is releasing its fifth series-inspired beer. You can indulge in a medieval feast prepared by the Winking Lizard crew and sample Brewery Ommegang’s latest Game of Thrones brew, the Dark Saison Three-Eyed Raven. “Last year this event was so fun and brought so many laughs,” Winking Lizard’s John Lane says in a press release. “We are excited to be able to host another Game of Thrones-inspired series release. The beer brings the people together but the entertainment pieces make this such a unique event.” This year, folks can expect a slew of festive entertainment, a magician, and a costume contest, among other things. Tickets are $35 and are on sale now at 216.831.0505. (McConnell) Photo via Facebook
Sunday, March 22: Dirty Dancing – DIRTY DANCING – The Classic Story On Stage is an unprecedented live experi-ence, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sen-sationally sexy dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash-hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds, who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring hit songs, including “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.” Dirty Dancing is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series. $10-$80. Today’s shows are at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Connor Place. Photo via IMDB.
Sunday, March 22: Galactic: Straight outta the bayou, Galactic brings a funky energy that few other bands replicate with any sort of authority. Theirs is a sound that dwells hundreds of miles away from our frozen Cleveland terra, making tonight’s show more of a vacation than anything. G’head and cue up Carnivale Electricos and take in the New Orleans-inspired vibes of “Magalenha” and “Carnivale Time.” Hell, even the interlude “Guero Bounce” is a danceable highlight (and fully capable of morphing into a longer jam segment, clearly). In between albums, the band drops singles pretty frequently. Last year’s “Higher and Higher,” featuring JJ Grey, drips with the one-two soul-funk combo we’ve all come to know and love. Here, and throughout the band’s tenure, drummer Stanton Moore just absolutely shines. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Beachland. (Sandy) $25. Photo by Scott Sandberg
Sunday, March 22: Michael Stanley – Local hero Michael Stanley has been on a roll lately. Last year, he released The Ride, which came on the heels of The Hang, an introspective album he’s referred to as his darkest release yet. The Ride presents a much more positive perspective and so does the just-released The Job, an album that suggests Stanley has hit upon a particularly rich vein of new songs. Expect to hear MSB favs as well as a good sampling of Stanley’s solo material as Stanley plays his annual multi-night stand at the Tangier. (Niesel) $45-$85. Photo via Wiki.

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