CINCINNATI — Riddle me this: What's orange and blue and green all over?
Answer: The Queen City as it celebrates St. Patrick's Day and FC Cincinnati's home opener versus MLS rival the Portland Timbers this Sunday.
There are plenty of festivities building up to both throughout the weekend. And if you're neither "Irish" or a soccer fan, don't fret – there's plenty of other things to do too.
FOOD & DRINK
House Party: 5-8 p.m. Thursday. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown. This month's happy hour House Party at the Taft museum celebrates Women's History Month. The evening will include a cash bar and specialty cocktail crafted by mixologist Molly Wellmann and inspired by Annie Taft. Super Heroines, Etc. will also be on hand with trading cards of Taft's fabulous women to color and trade. Queen City Sisters and Aprina Johnson will provide the music, followed by the improv comedy of Two Sketchy Dames. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
St. Patrick's Day Festivities: Mutiple times and locations. St. Patrick's Day celebrations are upon us this weekend. There are so many options for getting your fill of kegs, eggs and plenty of live music to go along with green-colored libations we've created a list of the best parties. Tap here to plan your weekend accordingly.
COMMUNITY
Project Runway Watch Party: 6:30-11 p.m. Thursday. 21c Museum Hotel, 609 Walnut St., Downtown. Join Cincinnati-based designer Tessa Clark and celebrate her debut in season 17 of "Project Runway." Clark will be competing against other fashion designers from across the country on the Bravo network show. Meet Clark and chat with her starting at 6:30 p.m. There will then be a fashion show at 7:15 p.m. featuring Clark's Grind and Glaze clothing line at 7:15 p.m. before the new season of "Project Runway" airs at 8 p.m. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Horror Hound Weekend: 5-10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville. $30 day pass; children 12 and under free. Hey, horror fans this is one convention that you do not want to mis. Horror Hound returns to the Sharonville Convention Center this weekend with special guests Elvira, Christina Ricci, Neve Campbell, Christopher Lloyd, Dylan McDermott and more. horrorhoundweekend.com
St. Patrick's Day Parade: Begins at noon Saturday. Paul Brown Stadium, Mehring Way and Central Avenue, Downtown. Free. Show your Irish pride with the 53rd annual Cincinnati St. Patrick's Day Parade this Saturday. FC Cincinnati General Manager Jeff Berding is the grand marshal for this year's parade, which makes its way down Mehring Way to Joe Nuxhall Way and ends on Freedom Way at Rosa Parks Street. (The Moerlein Lager House will be hosting a special parade watch party along the route starting at 10 a.m.) cincystpatsparade.com
FC Cincinnati Fun: FC Cincinnati will play its first home opener as part of Major League Soccer on Sunday. The team will face off against the Portland Timbers starting at 5 p.m. inside the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium. There will be pre-parties, bar watch events and other fun festivities building up to the game. WCPO contributor Laurel Pfahler put together this comprehensive guide to make sure soccer fans don't miss out on any of the fun.
MUSIC & MORE
Tony Baker: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Liberty Funny Bone, 7518 Bales St., Liberty. 21 and older. $12-$42. Award-winning comic and star Tony Baker will perform six sets this weekend at the Funny Bone. The stand up comedian has appeared on "Last Comic Standing," "Comics Unleashed" and in the movie "Whiplash." liberty.funnybone.com
Freedom Lecture Series with Charles Cobb: 6-8 p.m. Thursday. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Free. Author Charles Cobb will discuss his book "This nonviolent Stuff Will Get You Killed: How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible" as part of the Freedom Center's Freedom 55 programming. The Freedom Center's series includes lectures such as Cobb's, book signings, screenings and musical performances that commemorate the 55th anniversary of Freedom Summer. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Laurie Halse Anderson with Jessica Strawse: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday. Joseph-Beth, 2692 Madison Road, Hyde Park. $5 student ticket; $17.99 book plus ticket. Join author Laurie Halse Anderson at Joseph-Beth as she discusses her new book "SHOUT" with special guest Jessica Strawser. Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. brownpapertickets.com
American in Paris + Amériques: 11 a.m. Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $14-$99. Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Director Louis Langrée and violinist Augustin Hadelich will bring the music of American composer George Gershwin and French composer Edgard Varése to life during this Series 1 concert at Music Hall. cincinnatisymphony.org
Papadosio: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington. $17 advance; $20 day of show; $30 both nights. Touring band Papadosio will perform two nights of shows at the Madison Theater this weekend. The band will be joined by Funk You and Cycles on Friday, followed by Doors, Near Earth Objects and AfterFunk on Saturday. There will be an afterparty at Madison Live both nights. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
The Deplorable Tour: 7:30 p.m. Friday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. $43-$128. This touring comedy troupe takes a conservative slant with its humor. Proud President Donald Trump supporters will definitely enjoy performances by comedians Terrence Williams, Michael Loftus, Steve McGrew, The Deplorable Choir and Brian Hanner. tafttheatre.org
Paula Poundstone: 8 p.m. Saturday. Taft Theatre, 317. E. Fifth St., Downtown. $40-$45. If conservative comedy isn't your thing, then perhaps you'll find Paula Poundstone's brand of humor more appealing. The actress, stand up comedian, author and host has gained a strong following for her wry sense of humor. tafttheatre.org
