The First Fridays series in downtown Youngstown returns this week, with events at several locations from 5-8 p.m.
Most of the action will be at Ballet Western Reserve, 218 W. Boardman St., and Concept Studio, 217 W. Federal St. Guests can catch mini-performances, take part in short classes and browse through a vendors market. Admission is free.
Click HERE for the full schedule.
There will also be live music at The Avalon, Draught House and Penguin City Brewing.
It’s all within walking distance of Powers Auditorium, where R&B icon Keith Sweat will perform at 8 p.m. Click HERE for tickets. Sweat is the champ at smooth R&B and does it the old-school way. There’s no cursing in his tunes, he says, because that would defeat the purpose. R&B, as Sweat puts it, “is foreplay.”
There are a few other things worth mentioning this weekend – and none of them will interfere with watching the Super Bowl on Sunday.
“Dating Sucks: The Musical” returns for another year, presented by Rust Belt Theater. It’s a raunchy musical about the dating scene, with four fresh songs added to the show this year. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Youngstown Playhouse. Call 330 507 2358 for reservations ($15). Click HERE to read about the production.
Youngstown State University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have a doubleheader Saturday, with the women taking on Green Bay at 2 p.m. and the men battling Robert Morris University at 4:30 p.m. For tickets, go to YSUSports.com or call 330 941 1978.
Artists of the Rust Belt will present the annual Winter Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at B&O Station banquet hall, 530 Mahoning Ave., near downtown Youngstown. It’s a unique way to shop for some of the finest decor, jewelry, artwork and foods, all made by local artisans. Admission is $1.
For a complete look at everything going on in the Mahoning Valley, check out The List.
Pictured at top: Keith Sweat.
