Best Bets: 10 things to do this weekend include World Cup qualifier, concerts, cheering

We've almost made it to the weekend!

And if the past few frigid days — and the forecast for the weekend — have you seeking things to do indoors, we have you covered.

If a great meal will bring you some comfort, consider that more than 100 venues are participating in 614 Restaurant Week. Some are offering dine-in and carryout service, so depending on which eatery you choose, you can enjoy the delicious treats at home.

Or if you find the cold weather invigorating, then, bundle up and head to Lower.com Field Thursday night for the World Cup qualifier. Just be sure to take along your heated mittens and drink plenty of hot chocolate!

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40 years of cinema chills

A quartet of famous horror movies are entering middle age: the comic book-inspired “Creepshow,” the twisted tale “Basket Case,” the suburban supernatural chiller “Poltergeist,” and the alien adventure “The Thing,” starring Kurt Russell, were each first released in 1982 and turn 40 this year. To celebrate the unnerving cinematic anniversaries, the Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St., will screen the films at various dates and times from Jan. 28 through Feb. 3. Masks are required to attend. Tickets cost $9.50 to $12.50. (www.gatewayfilmcenter.org)

'Mean Girls'-inspired production

CATCO will present “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play,” the acclaimed off-Broadway comedy hit by Ohio State University graduate Jocelyn Bioh about high school girls struggling with body image, beauty and colorism at an elite Ghana boarding school while competing in a beauty pageant. Performances, suggested for suggested for ages 12 and older, are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27, Feb. 3 and Feb. 10; 8 p.m. Jan. 28-29; and 2 p.m. Jan. 30; and various times through Feb. 13 in the Riffe Center’s Studio Two Theatre, 77 S. High St. Masks and proof of vaccination or negative PCR COVID test required. Tickets cost $45. (614-469-0939, www.cbusarts.com)

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Take a gander at gobblers

Bring your binoculars and a warm jacket: At Blendon Woods Metro Park, 4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road, turkeys are said to roost in the trees each night. Those curious to take a gander at the gobblers can check out “Turkeys in the Treetops,” a free 2-mile trek through the park from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 28. Other wildlife can also be spotted at night. (614-62901861, www.metroparks.net)

Short-play festival

Stage Right Theatrics will present its Sixth Annual Conservative Theatre Festival, with four short new plays: “Banned,” a drama about a young man suspended by Twitter; “Honor Flight,” a drama about an aging Vietnam vet’s flight to the Vietnam War Memorial; “Paul Blinder,” a drama about a school district’s athletic director involved through guilt by association in a sexual harassment case; and “Underneath,” a portrait of a family dealing with aging, loss and the dignity of making one’s own life choices. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28-29 and 1:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Abbey Theater of Dublin, 5600 Post Road, Dublin. Tickets cost $10 to $12 (in-person or streaming). Masks encouraged. (614-233-1901, conservativefestivaloh.com)

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Cheer on U-S-A! U-S-A!

Columbus plays host to yet another World Cup qualifier when the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team takes on El Salvador at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Lower.com Field, 96 Columbus Crew Way. The new stadium held the national squad’s match against Costa Rica in October. While the squad sits in good position to qualify for November’s World Cup in Qatar, this match is an important one. Tickets start at $90 on www.ticketmaster.com. More information on the game can be accessed at www.ussoccer.com.

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Buckeye cheerleading championships

Young cheerleaders from around the country will descend upon the Ohio Expo Center, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue, on Jan. 29 for a spirited competition featuring all the flips, chants and dance routines one can handle. The Buckeye Cheer and Dance Championships, put on by U.S. Cheer, will showcase the talents of cheerleaders of all ages, ranging from youth to high school. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with spectator tickets costing $20, or $15 for students and senior citizens, $10 for children ages 4 to 7 and free for children 3 and younger. The expo center recommends masks for all attendees. (www.uscheerproductions.com)

The history of music

Fior Angelico, a Columbus-based chamber chorus of 16 singers dedicated to performing early music, will be celebrating 15 years of singing in central Ohio with a concert at 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St. Titled “Ad libitum: A Singer’s Choice Concert,” the special performance will feature some of the choir member’s favorite repertoire from the Renaissance and Early Baroque periods. Part of the Early Music in Columbus concert series, this will be the first time Fior Angelico will perform in public since the start of the pandemic. A pre-concert talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30, or $25 for senior citizens and $12 for students. Masks and proof of vaccination or a negative test taken within 72 hours required. (www.earlymusicincolumbus.org)

The Wombats concert in Columbus

British indie-pop trio The Wombats will bring some hook-laden dance music at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 to the Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St. Expect heavy coverage of their album “Fix Yourself, Not the World” on their stop on an extended tour that will cover the United States, Europe and Australia. Opening will be local indie rockers Clubhouse. Masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required. Tickets: $20 (614-461-5483, promowestlive.com)

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Restaurant Week drawing to close

Grab a taste of what Greater Columbus restaurants have to offer during 614 Restaurant Week, which runs through Jan. 29. More than 100 venues will offer three-course specials ranging from $15 to $40. About a third of them also offer a carryout option. Restaurants participating include Columbus Fish Market, Gogi Korean BBQ, Khaab Indian Kitchen and Bar, Greenhouse Canteen + Bar and the Keep. Visit the website to view menus, most of which offer several selections for each course, and to narrow the options by price or by whether the restaurants offer vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options. (614now.com)

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Tribute to President William McKinley

Red Carnation Day, Jan. 29, recognizes the life and legacy of President William McKinley, who also served as governor of Ohio, and whose favorite flower was the red carnation, now the official state flower. A free public tour at noon on Jan. 28 will start in the Rotunda of the Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, and focus on McKinley's role in Ohio and the United States. An exhibit will be on display in the Rotunda Jan. 28-31, and those dressed in scarlet or wearing a red carnation will receive a 20% discount (with some exclusions) at the Statehouse Museum Shop on Jan. 28. (614-752-9777, ohiostatehouse.org)

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What are the best things to do in Columbus the weekend of Jan. 27?