The Dating
Have you ever thought you received a compliment from a boyfriend or girlfriend only to discover upon further reflection it really wasn't such a flattering remark at all? That's how I feel about comments like "I can't live without you" or the variation "I don't want to live without you." I've only heard these pseudo-compliments…
Diner: A Hidden Gem
I was a sushi virgin. I even traveled to Japan last year. Yet I somehow managed to avoid traditional Japanese fare while there. (In fact, I lost six pounds.) Imagine my anxiety when I was asked to review Jo An, a Japanese restaurant known for its sushi. I did what any picky eater would do:…
News: Mixed Reviews of Reds Stadium Designs
The new Reds facility, as envisioned by HOK Sport, features a modern stadium behind brick administrative buildings. While fans generally welcomed the Reds' ballpark designs unveiled May 11 to the press and public, several local architects were a little more skeptical about what they saw. The latest drawings and models revealed more intimate seating…
Disappointing Reds Designs: Go to Jail, Do Not Pass ‘Go’
If there's been a single positive theme throughout the long, tortuous stadium-building process here — something that's given taxpayers reassurance that our money is going to a greater good — it was the pledge from county politicians that the effort isn't simply about new ballparks. It's about revitalizing the riverfront, reconnecting downtown and re-energizing the…
Healing with Nature
Earlier this spring, our family traveled to Belize in Central America. What an adventure. The country is filled with vast forests, a unique history and mystique. We were fortunate to walk through a rain forest with a guide, native to the area. It was apparent how comfortable he was discussing the utilization of indigenous plants…
Music: So Put Away Your Make-Up…
KISS Back in 1971 in a drafty practice space tucked away in a nondescript corner of New York City, two minds came together with an idea that would change the future of music. At the time they were in a band called Wicked Lester, sloughing their way through the local bar scene. But the…
Formal Requirements
The cusp of summer is near, the beasts are in mad rut and a sweet scent of Clearasil fills the air. There can be little doubt — prom season is upon us. Of course, this end-of-an-educational-era ritual is a watershed event. For most guys, the prom is the first time they'll wear rental pants. For…
Bound for Conflict
Political correctness has a way of making strange bedfellows. In the maniacal rage to eliminate anything that could possibly be offensive to anyone, liberal advocates of PC propriety end up on the same side as their conservative counterparts in denying the liberties of free speech, free expression and free association. Both camps believe that the…
Demand More from Your Roast Beef Sandwich
My brother, who I affectionately refer to as the Human Garbage Disposal, walked into Arby's recently and ordered three roast beef sandwiches, large curly fries and a fruit turnover. The HGD doesn't eat so much as consume. He's like a forest fire. The HGD took his two trays of grub and found a seat. To…
Gig of the Week: : Big Daddy Kane, Prince Paul
Prince Paul While live Hip Hop is enjoying a resurgence in Cincinnati, it's still rare for creative and legendary national acts to come to town. So it's especially unique that Big Daddy Kane (the legend) and Prince Paul (the innovator; pictured) would pull in to Cincy on their current tour — not to mention…
Would Firing Shirey Improve City Hall Leadership?
During the last couple of years, Cincinnati City Manager John Shirey has survived a few periods when his job seemed in jeopardy. Most recently, Councilman Charles Winburn led an open attempt to oust him. Winburn's campaign began behind closed doors but spilled into the media after other council members hesitated to join him. Winburn faxed…
