21 things to do in Cleveland the weekend of Feb. 27-March 1

Collage of photos: Cat, dance night, film screening.

Find some fun things to do in Cleveland this weekend. (Photos by J. Andrew Thames; STR/AFP via Getty Images; @igotfiveonitparty)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Looking to get out this weekend? There are plenty of Cleveland events worth checking out.

You can see a few movies on the big screen at Short. Sweet. Film Fest, Animation Show of Shows or CatVideoFest. Or, dance the night away at Jukebox Breakdown’s fifth birthday party, Touch Supper Club’s I Got Five On It or an “Austin Powers” themed night at Mahall’s.

There’s also the Cleveland Auto Show, Downtown Restaurant Week, a couple of Leap Day events and more. Here are 20 things to do this weekend in Cleveland.

People in movie theater.

(Photo by J. Andrew Thames)

Short. Sweet. Film Fest

Hundreds of short films will be on the schedule at Short. Sweet. Film Fest, spanning five days of celebration at the Alex Theater in downtown Cleveland. Expect a mix of horror, comedy, animation and documentary films -- and special blocks for films made by students and local filmmakers, too. Tickets $15-$395.

2017 E. 9th St., Cleveland

Feb. 26-March 1

shortsweetfilmfest.com

The annual Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week is scheduled to begin this month

(Photo by David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com)The Plain Dealer

Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week

Downtown Cleveland Alliance organizes the annual culinary event in Cleveland, which runs through Sunday, March 1. Participating restaurants -- like Mallorca, Lola, Cowell & Hubbard and Adega -- will offer prix-fixe, three-course meals. Menus will be $15 for lunch and start at $30 for dinner.

Various locations

Through March 1

downtowncleveland.com

Person tells story.

(Photo courtesy Story Club Cleveland)

Story Club Cleveland

Hear true tales from Clevelanders at this month’s “Leap”-themed Story Club Cleveland event. The show will feature performances by improv actor CJ Cobb and writer L.S. Quinn, with open mic slots for attendees to sign up for. $10 suggested donation.

CLE Urban Winery, 2180 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights

7:30 p.m., Feb. 27

storyclubcleveland.com

People dancing.

(Photo by Andrew Wells)

Jukebox Breakdown

It’s “Time To Dance” on Friday night to the best pop-punk and emo jams of past decades. Jukebox Breakdown will celebrate its 5th birthday with plenty of music, and also free pizza and cake for attendees, on Friday night. Free.

B Side Lounge, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights

10 p.m., Feb. 28

Facebook event

Collage of fish fry photos.

Fish fry events have taken over Northeast Ohio's dining scene. (Photos by Dan Gleiter, dgleiter@pennlive.com; David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com)

Find a fish fry

The Fat Tuesday and packzi fun is done. It’s officially Lent and that means that Northeast Ohio’s legendary frenzy for fish frys is about to begin. Every Friday through April 10, thousands of diners will go forth to churches, schools, fraternal organizations and area restaurants in search of that perfect combo of fried fish and fried potatoes. (Cole slaw is considered an essential ingredient by many fish-fry fanatics, too). But where to go? We’ve got your back. Our annual fish-fry guide is one our most popular features, with details on more than 70 non-profit fish fries, plus some tips on local restaurants getting in on the Lenten action. So dig in! Check out our full guide to Northeast Ohio fish frys.

Event flier.

(Image courtesy Haley Morris)

“Austin Powers” dance night at Mahall’s

Yeah, baby, yeah! A new Club Kidz R Us dance night will take over Mahall’s this Friday, with a “Shag Another Day: ‘90s Meets ‘60s Austin Powers” themed evening. Enjoy a mix of Britpop tunes while drag artists perform as “Spice Girls” characters. Tickets $5.

13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood

9 p.m., Feb. 28

mahalls20lanes.com

People dancing.

(Image courtesy @igotfiveonitparty)

I Got Five On It: Love Edition

Two floors of hip-hop will take over Touch Supper Club on the last Saturday of the month. The love edition of I Got Five On It will include songs about love all night, with DJs spinning classic love songs on the first floor and newer songs and samples on the second floor. Tickets $5 at 10 p.m., $10 after 11 p.m.

2710 Lorain Ave., Cleveland

10 p.m., Feb. 29

Facebook event

Our brunch and breakfast series takes us to Nighttown in Cleveland Heights

(Photo by Marc Bona, cleveland.com)

Leap Year Dance Party at Nighttown

Celebrate the existence of a day that only comes around once every four years. Nighttown will host a leap year dance party on Saturday, Feb. 29, hosted by Neil Slobin, who will spin a mix of motown, funk, soul, disco and R&B all night long. $10.

12383 Cedar Rd., Cleveland

7:30 p.m., Feb. 29

nighttowncleveland.club

Michigan's Best Workouts: Beer City Barre

(Photo by Anntaninna Biondo, MLive.com)Anntaninna Biondo | MLive.com

Leap Year Yoga and Beer

Participate in an all-level vinyasa class at Forest City Brewery, taught by Hikyoga instructors, then join the group for a hike on the Cleveland Towpath. Cap off all that exercise with a beer at the brewery. $22.

2135 Columbus Rd., Cleveland

Noon-2 p.m., Feb. 29

forestcitybrewery.com

Cat on scratching pad.

(Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

CatVideoFest

CatVideoFest, a touring feline-filled film presentation, will stop by the Cedar-Lee Theatre for three unique showings this weekend. Expect lots of cat videos collected from submissions, compiled into one video feature. (And don’t worry: It doesn’t include any CGI creatures from the new “Cats” movie.) Tickets $12.50.

2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights

Feb. 29-March 1

catvideofest.com

Animation Show of Shows

The Cleveland Cinematheque will showcase 10 animated short films from seven countries, including Belgium, France, Russia and Israel, in the touring 2020 Animation Show of Shows. Tickets $8-$11.

11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

7 p.m., Feb. 29; 6:30 p.m., March 1

cia.edu/cinematheque

Kids work on comic books.

(Photo by Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com)

Kids’ Comic Con

Lake Erie Ink will put on its eighth annual kid-friendly comic-con at the end of the month, welcoming kids and teens to sessions about comic books, cosplay, sketching and more. Attendees can also check out the zine exchange to get some new reading materials. Tickets $10.

2843 Washington Blvd., Cleveland Heights

9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Feb. 29

lakeerieink.org

Lead singer Elliott Carter, 15 of Detention from Firestone High School perform

(Photo by Kyle Lanzer, Special to The Plain Dealer)

Tri-C High School Rock Off

The 2020 edition of the Tri-C High School Rock Off comes to a close this weekend with the Final Exam competition. Some of the best young musicians from around the country will compete for $1,000 in cash and other prizes. Tickets cost $12 and include admission to Rock Hall.

6 p.m., Feb. 29

1100 E. 9th St., Cleveland

rockhall.com/rockoff

Millionaires Row at Cleveland Auto Show

(Photo by David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com)David Petkiewicz

Cleveland Auto Show at the I-X Center

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle or just love cars, the Cleveland Auto Show has 1.2 million square feet of exhibits. Check out and even drive the latest models, get a glimpse into the future with the concept cars, dream big on Millionaire’s Row, take a trip down memory lane at the classic cars show or meet local celebrities like Nick Chubb and Stipe Miocic. Tickets, $12-$14.

I-X Center, One I-X Center Drive

Feb. 21-March 1

clevelandautoshow.com

Orchid Mania: Vibrant Vietnam

(Photo by Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer

Orchid Mania at Cleveland Botanical Garden

"Vibrant Vietnam" is the theme of the garden's annual flower show, which celebrates that country's exotic beauty and vibrant culture with thousands of varieties of orchids on display. Tickets, $10-$15.

Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland

Through March 10

cbgarden.org

MOCA Cleveland celebrates folksy, outsider-influenced art of Margaret Kilgallen

(Photo by Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer)Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer

Winter exhibits at MOCA

The Museum of Contemporary Art hosts new exhibits -- Margaret Kilgallen’s “that’s where the beauty is.” and a group interactive multimedia display, “Temporary Spaces of Joy and Freedom” -- until mid-May. Free.

11400 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Through May 17

mocacleveland.org

Sleuth at Great Lakes Theater

(Photo by Roger Mastroianni, Great Lakes Theatre)Roger Mastroianni, Great Lakes T

Great Lakes Theater presents “Sleuth”

Who doesn't love a good mystery? This Tony-winning play is a mind-bending whodunit thriller about a suspense writer who invites his wife's lover and fellow game enthusiast to the house, where a series of events challenges the audience to decipher what's real and what's not. Tickets, $15-$89.

Hanna Theatre, 2067 East 14th St., Cleveland

Feb. 14-March 8

greatlakestheater.org

Cleveland Metroparks Chalet Toboggan Run

(Photo by Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

Cleveland Metroparks Toboggan Chutes

You'll find your thrill in the chill at the Chalet in Strongsville, whooshing down the 700-foot refrigerated ice chutes on an old-timey toboggan. Afterwards, warm up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate. Tickets, $6-$12.

The Chalet in Millstream Run Reservation, 16200 Valley Pkwy, Strongsville

Weekends through early March (weather permitting)

clevelandmetroparks.com

Flanagan's Wake flier

(Photo courtesy Playhouse Square)

Flanagan’s Wake at Playhouse Square

Centered around an Irish funeral, “Flanagan’s Wake” doesn’t sound like a particularly humorous play. But the interactive performance, which has taken place in Cleveland regularly since 1996, involves improvisation based on audience participation, often leading to hilarious results. Tickets, $27.

Kennedy’s Cabaret, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Weekends through April 25

playhousesquare.org

Cleveland Museum of Art brightens dark season with Tiffany lamps

(Photo by Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer

Tiffany in Bloom: Stained Glass Lamps of Louis Comfort Tiffany at Cleveland Museum of Art

This exhibit showcases 20 stained glass table and floor lamps by the famed American designer. The pieces, many of which are recent additions to the museum's permanent collection, are from the turn of the 20th century and represent the artist's finest work.

Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland

Now through June 14

clevelandart.org

Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll

(Photo by Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer

Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll

The single largest exhibit in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's history features more than 130 of the most iconic instruments in music history, from Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen to Elvis and The Beatles. Admission, $18-$28.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard

Now through Sept. 13

rockhall.com

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