For anyone who visits The Banks’ Web site, it appears the $800 million taxpayer-funded project along Cincinnati’s downtown riverfront is progressing smoothly, on schedule and under budget. What the flashy Web site fails to mention, however, is the ongoing saga of workforce-related issues that have plagued the project since construction began in April 2008.  

Free beer is indisputably a cornerstone of the music community, and Live Love Studios in Amelia is well stocked for their first annual open house. Operated by College-Conservatory of Music grads Noah Smith and Ross McAllister, Live Love Studios strives to bring the highest sound quality to Cincinnati's music, even on the smallest level and for the youngest bands. 3-10 p.m. Saturday.  

Due to limited funding, the Drop Inn Center has eliminated its clinical recovery program for alcoholics and narcotics users. In its place, they've instituted a peer-based recovery approach that will expand its scope from the former 18-person residential recovery program to a program covering the entire shelter.  

More than 700 independently-owned record stores in the U.S. are participating in the third annual Record Store Day Saturday, including three of Cincinnati's finest sources for local music: Shake It (live music starts at 4 p.m., headlined by The Seedy Seeds), Everybody's (music at noon with Magnolia Mountain and Kim Taylor) and Mole's (throwing down a cook-out and hopefully some live music).  

Record Store Day debuted in April 2008 and has since served as the one day a year for store owners, musicians and faithful supporters of independent record stores to gather and celebrate their mutual efforts to keep the record business alive and well. More than 700 independently-owned record stores in the U.S. are participating in the third annual cekebration, including three of Cincinnati's finest sources for local music: Everybody's, Mole's and Shake It.  

Home to more than 35,000 residents, Westwood is one of Cincinnati’s oldest suburban neighborhoods. Distinguished by its historic charm, the area represents roughly 10 percent of the city’s total population within only six square miles, which officially makes it the largest neighborhood in the city. But is it big enough for everyone — and their concerns?  

Like Xerxes the Great in ancient Persia, local developer Ed Horgan is pursuing a vision to build an awe-inspiring empire of sorts in Cincinnati. Unlike Xerxes, though, he isn’t organizing far-reaching military conquests or invasions to make his vision a reality.  

Maybe mom’s constant advice about always washing your hands isn’t so annoying after all. UC students and staff received an e-mail Aug. 24 from University Health Services informing the campus community of two confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, also know as “swine flu.” As of a week ago, the number of confirmed cases had doubled.  

Tree huggers, city slickers, hippies, beard enthusiasts and plain folk will unite in hordes to attend the Whispering Beard Folk Festival, a three-day music event that showcases local and regional talent in a laidback, rural setting. The tranquil lakeside pastures of Thorn Hill Farm, located in Morning View, Ky., will be pulsating with fresh Folk vibes and dancing feet as more than 25 bands perform an entire weekend’s worth of tunes. Musical acts include local favorites like The Tillers, Buffalo Killers, Jake Speed and the Freddies, Rumpke Mountain Boys and Wonky Tonk, plus national headliners Peter Rowan and The Hackensaw Boys.  

The tranquil lakeside pastures of Thorn Hill Farm, 30 minutes south of Cincinnati, will be pulsating with fresh Folk vibes and dancing feet as more than 25 bands perform an entire weekend's worth of tunes. Musical acts include local favorites like The Tillers, Buffalo Killers, Jake Speed and the Freddies, Rumpke Mountain Boys and Wonky Tonk, plus national headliners Peter Rowan (pictured, Saturday) and The Hackensaw Boys (Friday).