Soapicks September 29-October 5

Name Game
September 29-October 4
Can you name the book? Written in 1982, this novel by Alice Walker won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Need more? Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and the ever-charitable Oprah joined forces to take this novel from paper to the silver screen. So which book is it? If you answered The Color Purple, bravo and if not, head to the library immediately. You could however bypass the 288 pages of text and just catch the Broadway Across America presentation of The Color Purple as it hits the Aronoff Center this week. Gary Griffin directs an all-star cast to tell the compelling tale of Celie and her journey towards the strength she needs to overcome the hardships in her life. This emotional musical, which boasts a Grammy-nominated score, is in town from Tuesday through Sunday so reserve your seat early. Performance times vary; click here for a complete show schedule and tickets.

Devil’s Run
October 1
What better way to kick-off October than getting in the Halloween spirit a little early with the Run Like Hell registration session on Fountain Square this Thursday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. In the true Run Like Hell spirit, there will also be a mini-party during registration with giveaways and beer available for purchase. The 5K run, which will be held October 30, benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Cincinnati chapter. This is a great opportunity to register early and start planning your costumes, that’s right, Halloween costumes are the attire of choice for this hell of a good time. For more information on registering or the Run Like Hell event and after-party, click here.

Set Sail
October 2
“In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Columbus Day is just around the corner so channel your inner Christopher this month and discover all the marvels that Covington's arts and gallery district has to offer. Join fellow explorers this Friday from 6:00-10:00 p.m. for Hyper Gallery Hop which kicks-off the month-long Full Spectrum event. Full Spectrum is a celebration of the arts which showcases over 50 venues throughout Covington. Hyper Gallery Hop is your chance to be introduced to these galleries, businesses and other spaces and is part of the weekend activities which comprise Full Spectrum. It all begins at Artisans Enterprise Center located at 7th & Washington, and stops along tour include Joe Ruh Photography, Greenup Café, Motch Jewelers, Down Under Café, and Leapin’ Lizard Gallery, among others. As an added bonus Johnny Chu, owner of AmerAsia, will host a noodle-making demonstration where Chef Rich Chu will be rolling homemade dough. So come get a sneak-peek at all Covington has to offer and plan future voyages for the month of October. Click here for detailed list of October events.

Shhhhh Don’t Tell Mummy
October 3
Forget boys dressed as mummies, wrapped head-to-toe in toilet paper, because the Cincinnati Museum Center has the real deal. This Saturday they’ll unveil Secrets of Egypt featuring the exhibit, Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science along with the OMNIMAX film, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs during Pharaoh Fest. In honor of this ancient exhibit’s arrival the museum has planned a full day of events at Union Terminal showcasing the talents of some of the best young performers, chefs, designers and artists in the area. Events include Cincinnati’s Got Talent competition, Cincy Runway Fashion Show put on by University of Cincinnati DAAP students and Cincy Chic, an “Iron Chef” style cooking contest and The Sphinx Sessions with featured artists The Sundresses, Kentucky Struts and more. Come hangout in Cleopatra’s Lounge and party like an Egyptian with special guests including Bootsy Collins, Jean-Robert de Cavel and many more. Pharaoh Fest begins at 2:00 p.m. and lasts until 10:30 p.m. when the last sarcophagus closes.