Sound Advice: The Mars Volta is Finally Back After Decade-Long Absence — and Performing in Cincinnati Later This Month
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. The Mars Volta resurfaced in 2022 after a decade-long absence that seemed like it might stretch on forever. And, boy, did the unpredictable Texas-bred outfit deliver something unexpected: The Mars Volta is a fittingly concise album title for their return: 14 sleek and accessible songs,…
Sound Advice: Ohio Musician Paige Beller to Perform Soulful Set at Northside Tavern
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. A musically and visually engaging set of honest, heartfelt songs is what local singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Paige Beller will bring to Northside Tavern on Sept. 22. Surrounded by a modern art-like display of musical instruments and pedals, Beller delivers her songs in real time by…
Sound Advice: The Brian Jonestown Massacre Brings Psych-Rock Experience to Greater Cincinnati
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. In 1990, Anton Newcombe formed The Brian Jonestown Massacre, named after former Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones — who died by “misadventure,” AKA he drowned — and the 1978 cult in which hundreds of people “drank the Kool-Aid” and died. So for a band to…
Hyde Park Square’s Parkside Boasts Welcoming Atmosphere Alongside Latin-inspired Menu Items
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. Hyde Park Square recently welcomed a new neighborhood restaurant, Parkside, that’s serving food and drinks alongside a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Parkside may remind you of another restaurant a few minutes away in Mount Lookout, Delwood, and that’s because they’re both owned and operated by…
Sound Advice: Indie Rock Band Speedy Ortiz is Heading to Cincinnati’s MOTR Pub
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. Speedy Ortiz has been a household name in indie rock for the past decade. Their 2013 debut Major Arcana was critically acclaimed and featured the heartfelt single “No Below.” With lively compositions and thoughtful lyrics that foreshadowed frontwoman Sadie Dupuis’ future as a published poet,…
Mt. Joy’s Latest Effort ‘Orange Blood’ Further Sets Them Apart From Any Comparison
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. Ever since Mt. Joy made a big splash in the music world with “Silver Lining,” the single from the band’s 2018 self-titled debut album that became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Triple A charts, the band has been widely labeled as a folk-rock…
Covington’s Second Story Bar is an Artistic, Southern Gothic Oasis for Every Sort of Reveler
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. A new bar in Covington brings to life the latest vision from Lost Co. hospitality group. The company, which has created some of the area’s most captivating and creative bar concepts, like Somerset and Alice in Over-the-Rhine, opened Second Story on April 28 in partnership…
Hear from Poet Emily Jungmin Yoon at UC’s Visiting Writers Series
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. University of Cincinnati’s Visiting Writers Series has returned, bringing five speakers — including Emily Jungmin Yoon — to campus this fall. The poet currently resides in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, where she caught up with CityBeat via phone. Yoon is planning to primarily read from her second…
Cindependent Film Festival to Stage Triumphant Return at Memorial Hall
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. In 2018, local filmmaker Allyson West launched the annual Cindependent Film Festival, dubbed “an indie film festival for movie people.” The fest — which took place at Woodward Theater and now-defunct The Mini Microcinema in Over-the-Rhine — featured works from all over the world and…
The Well’s True Body Project Aims to Foster Connection, Community and Healing Among Cincinnati Teenage Girls
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 20 print edition. In 2005, the iPhone had not yet been invented. Facebook was still only available to holders of college email addresses. Instagram wouldn’t be launched for another five years. For all that the extreme toxicity of social media hadn’t yet permeated youth culture, there were plenty…
Everything You Need to Know About Mindful Drinking at This Year’s Kroger Wellness Festival
One of the biggest global trends in the drinks sector today is moderation. Americans are reevaluating their consumption habits, and the rise of non-alcoholic options is reshaping the landscape. Cincinnati is no exception to this trend, as Kroger continues expanding non-alcoholic options. Among these new choices, Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc takes the lead as the…
Move Over Pumpkin Spice Lattes; Dewey’s Now Has a Pumpkin Pizza
The seasonal pumpkin craze has commenced, and Dewey’s Pizza is getting in on the autumnal fun with their new Smashing Pumpkin pizza. The new pizza joins the menu on Sept. 19 along with the return of the fan-favorite Harvest Salad. The pizza will be available through Halloween and the Harvest Salad will stay on the…
Get Your Collectible Ohio Pint Day Glass at These Greater Cincinnati Breweries
Sixteen Greater Cincinnati breweries will be selling collectible pint glasses as part of the fourth annual Ohio Pint Day next week. Ohio Pint Day, put together by the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, serves as a fundraiser for the brewing industry advocates. On Tuesday, Sept. 26, more than 180 breweries across the state will be offering…
Help Support Community Art at ArtWorks’ Art Off the Walls Fundraiser
Support local artists and become immersed in Cincinnati’s art community at the second annual ArtWorks Art Off the Walls fundraiser. The fundraiser will be held Saturday, Sept. 30 at the First Financial Club at TQL Stadium in the West End from 6-10 p.m. A celebration of creativity, Art Off the Walls offers the opportunity to…
Ohio Democrats Introduce Bill That Would Raise the State’s Minimum Wage
Ohio Democratic lawmakers have once again introduced a bill that would raise the state’s minimum wage. Ohio Senators Kent Smith, D-Euclid, and Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus, recently introduced Senate Bill 146, which would gradually raise the state’s minimum wage one dollar each year until it was up to $15. Under the bill, minimum wage would increase…
Analysis: Paying to Warm the Planet. Corrupt Utility Law Forces Ohioans to Make Climate Worse
It seems crazy that people would be forced to pay to make themselves and their planet sicker. But thanks to a crooked utility law that the Ohio General Assembly refuses to repeal, that’s just what’s happening in the Buckeye State. The notion that rising greenhouse gasses could warm the planet goes back at least to…
Official Cookie of the Bengals Offering Special Treats Ahead of Monday Night Football Showdown
The Cincinnati Bengals will break out their white uniforms for the first time this season for their Monday Night Football match against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 25. To celebrate, Montgomery bakery — and makers of the Official Cookie of the Bengals — That’s So Sweet! will be baking up some special treats to…
J.D. Vance Won’t Say What He Thinks of the Potential Norfolk Southern Sale in Cincinnati
Weeks after Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) called out Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) for putting in minimal work on the Railway Safety Act of 2023, Vance still won’t comment on the potential sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway to the rail giant at the center of his own bill. Fetterman is a co-sponsor on Vance’s Railway Safety…
Annual Corgi Meetup Corgipalooza Coming to Florence This Fall
Florence will soon be overrun with stubby legs and fluffy butts as the annual Corgipalooza returns this October. Corgipalooza is an annual meetup put on by local group Cincy Corgis that brings in over 150 corgis from all over the Midwest. This year, it will be held at The BARk Park and Patio in Florence…
Coen Brothers Collaborator to Talk About the Art of the Storyboard at the Mercantile Library
Women in Film Cincinnati and the Mercantile Library downtown are hosting a special event with one of the creatives behind some of cinema’s biggest cult classics. J. Todd Anderson, a native of Dayton, Ohio, has crafted the storyboard for every Coen Brothers movie since Raising Arizona. He worked with other big names, including George Clooney,…
Guest Commentary: Census Bureau Releases New Poverty Numbers
On Tuesday, the U.S. Census Bureau released its annual report on the state of poverty in the United States. Every year, this is the biggest moment in poverty statistics as we get a snapshot of what poverty looked like in the previous year. While statewide information is forthcoming, with the national numbers we can come…
Frank LaRose Signs Voter Data Sharing Agreements With Three Republican-Led States
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has struck a deal to share voter data with three other Republican-led states. The agreement comes roughly six months after LaRose chose to exit a much larger, bipartisan interstate compact known as ERIC. Ohio’s new agreements give the state access to interstate voter information on its own terms. When…
uGOgelato Owner and Chef Continues Run for World’s Best Gelato
A Cincinnati gelateria won big at a prestigious gelato competition earlier in September. María Liliana Biondo of uGOgelato at Findlay Market recently won third place at a gelato competition semi-final in Los Angeles, which is part of the bigger Carpigiani Gelato Festival World Masters. Biondo got to advance to the semi-finals after placing third in…
Animal Rights Documentary About Harambe’s Life and Death is Coming to the Esquire
A famous gorilla will return to Cincinnati in spirit this month with the release of the animal rights documentary Harambe. Harambe was a lowland silverback gorilla who lived at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. He was shot and killed May 28, 2016, after a child fell into his enclosure and zoo officials feared for…
Ohio Sec. of State LaRose’s Office Move Amid U.S. Senate Candidacy Raises Ethical Questions
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has decided it’s a good idea to both oversee Ohio’s U.S. Senate election as the state’s chief elections officer and house part of his campaign for the seat in the same building. But the arrangement, which LaRose has done little to explain, raises serious questions about potential conflicts of…
What’s Different About This Year’s Effort to Legalize Marijuana in Ohio?
Ohio voters will once again have the chance to legalize marijuana on Nov. 7 — eight years after Ohioans overwhelmingly rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have made cannabis legal. But there are some key differences between the two. Issue 3 in 2015 was a proposed constitutional amendment and today’s Issue 2 is a…
It’s a Clothing Swap, Talent Show, Block Party … It’s the OTR Neighborhood Yard Sale
A handful of Over-the-Rhine bartenders came together in the name of community and entertainment to create The Neighborhood Yard Sale. Monday, Sept. 18, the first-ever Neighborhood Yard Sale will take place at Northern Row Park. The OTR location will host a daylong event with music, a clothing swap and a lineup of vendors selling handmade…
Go on a Mystery Beer Date With Greater Cincinnati Breweries at MadTree Brewing
Think of Mystery Beer Date at MadTree Brewing tonight like speed dating, mixed with blind dating – but with a lot more craft beer and better outcomes. The Ohio Craft Brewers Association launched its new event series, Mystery Beer Date, this week during the inaugural Ohio On Tap Week. Cincinnati’s Mystery Beer Date will be…
Review: Kenneth Branagh Takes a Liberal Hand with Britain’s Best-Loved Author in ‘A Haunting in Venice’
Although now dead for nearly 50 years — she expired in 1976 at age 85 — Agatha Christie remains as mysteriously ubiquitous as ever. Rivaled in sales only by William Shakespeare — and let’s acknowledge that he received a 330-year head start — Christie has conservatively moved more than 2 billion books since The Mysterious…
Learn to Skate Like a Cincinnati Rollergirl at Their Boot Camp
One of Cincinnati’s most exciting and badass sports organizations is hosting a boot camp series for the next consecutive six Sundays. Starting on Sept. 17 and occurring every Sunday until Oct. 22, the Cincinnati Rollergirls are offering boot camps to anyone 18 and up who is interested in the sport. Think you have what it…
Ohio Senate Committee on Rail Safety Releases Recommendations
The Ohio Senate’s Select Committee on Rail Safety unveiled its final report Sept. 13. The Senate set up the panel in the wake of the East Palestine derailment in February of this year. The report offers a limited set of recommendations — in no small part because federal authorities take precedence in regulating rail lines. It’s…
Classical Ballet Meets Black, Queer Excellence at Cincinnati’s Revolution Dance Theatre
This story was originally published by the Buckeye Flame and republished here with permission. While surfing the streaming services during the pandemic, I stumbled across a documentary titled “Black Art: In the Absence of Light.” It focused on the lack of representation of Black artists in the art world historically, while showcasing some of the…
Cincinnati’s Downtown Surface Parking Lot Ban Extended Through March
A ban on new surface parking lots in Cincinnati’s urban core has been extended while the city continues to study their impact. During a Sept. 13 council meeting, council members unanimously voted to extend the ban another six months to March 21, 2024. Council first approved the temporary ban, proposed by councilmember Mark Jeffreys, in…
Cincinnati’s Maurice Mattei Sees the World (and Then Some) on ‘Jungalingle’
If one were to observe Maurice Mattei from a clinically calculated distance, the superficial conclusion would be that he’s a folk-centric troubadour with a PhD in Dylanology. That is certainly one component of Mattei’s potent musical arsenal and it appears on his new digital-only, double-length release, Jungalingle. But Mattei has never been a one-trick singer/songwriter.…
Olivia Rodrigo is Bringing Her New Tour, GUTS, to Columbus and Lexington
Grammy-award-winning pop star Olivia Rodrigo announced she’s bringing her new world tour “GUTS” to Columbus and Lexington in 2024. The tour is in support of the “drivers license” artist’s critically acclaimed second studio album, GUTS, released on Sept. 8. Rodrigo will kick off her 57-date run Friday, Feb. 23 in Palm Springs, California, at Acrisure…
Cincinnati Animal Care Lowers Dog Adoption Fees to Just $5
You can find your new furry best friend for just a few dollars at Cincinnati Animal CARE (CAC) this week. From Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 14-17, adoption fees for dogs over the age of 6 months will be just $5. CAC says this comes after it took in more than 230 animals in 11 days. “Two hundred…
Ohio GOP Effort Introduced to Make All State Board of Education Positions Elected and Partisan
An Ohio Republican bill that would eventually make all members of the State Board of Education in Ohio elected officials with party labels was introduced Tuesday. But House Bill 235’s sponsor, state Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, R-Ashtabula, told the Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee that the bill also addresses what she claimed is…
Guest Commentary: Why I’m Very Worried About Daniel Cameron Becoming Kentucky’s Governor
In Alabama, the governor earlier this year forced out the state’s early childhood education director, who is a Black woman, over the use of a teacher training book that the governor deemed “woke.” In Arkansas, the state’s education department, led by appointees of the governor, recently announced students could not get credit towards graduation by…
Breaking Down the “Parental Rights” Argument Against Ohio’s Abortion Amendment
“Are you a boy or a girl?” Larkin Overton was climbing a tree at Hoffner Park in Northside as a young kid when he first heard this question. He stared back at the curious peer, unsure of what the question even meant. He answered back with the only truth he knew at the time. “I’m…
Cincinnati Fire Department Named Grand Marshals of Oktoberfest’s Chicken Dance
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati this year is honoring local heroes through its traditional Chicken Dance. Each year, organizers choose a person or group to be the Grand Marshal(s) to lead the festival’s crowd in the Rich Walburg World’s Largest Chicken Dance. For 2023, the Cincinnati Fire Department (CFD) will be shaking its tailfeathers as the Grand Marshals.…
New Cincinnati Fire Chief Named, Previous Chief’s Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Continues
Cincinnati has named a new fire chief, six months after the previous chief was let go for alleged discriminatory behavior. In a Sept. 12 press conference, city manager Sheryl Long announced Frank McKinley, former assistant chief of the Dallas Fire Department, has been named the newest head of the Cincinnati Fire Department (CFD). “My first 30…
Wine Enthusiast Magazine Names Oakley Wines as One of the Best Shops in the U.S.
An Oakley wine bar and bottle shop is celebrating after being named one of the best wine shops in the country. Oakley Wines was recently highlighted on Wine Enthusiast magazine’s prestigious “Best Wine Shops of 2023” list. The list features wine shops that serve as community hubs that pave the way for new kinds of…
Braxton Brewing and Graeter’s Pumpkin Pie Ale is Back, and That Means Fall is Here
Fall is almost here, and that means the quintessential flavors of the season are returning to taps, store shelves and coolers across Cincinnati. And that includes the squash-tastic, beloved local collaboration between Braxton Brewing Co. and Graeter’s Ice Cream: Pumpkin Pie Ale. The seasonal brew is as autumnal as you can get, with its deep…
Mermaids to Make a Splash at Newport Aquarium
For the first time in three years this fall, mermaids will be flipping their fins around Newport Aquarium. Guests can meet and interact with the mermaids on select days from Sept. 23 to Oct. 22. The mermaid experience begins in the Shark Ray Bay Theater where you can meet a mermaid on her throne and…
As Ohio Statehouse Redistricting Begins Again, Mixed Opinions on Whether Things Will Change
The Ohio Redistricting Commission will meet on Wednesday for the first time since May 2022 to discuss Ohio Statehouse voting districts. After well over a year of inaction, and five different Ohio Supreme Court rejections, the commission comes back to work with heavy criticism of previous maps and a mixed amount of optimism among anti-gerrymandering advocates…
Guest Commentary: Jim Jordan Uses Weaponization of Government Committee to Weaponize Government, Persecute Prosecutors
Bullies expect their targets to cower and comply. When the bullied show backbone their intimidators often buckle. That’s how it’s done. Last week it happened to Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, (R-Urbana). The MAGA Republican got owned by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for his outrageous abuse of power. She tore into the jacketless…
Opinion: Sinclair Broadcast Group Gives a Platform to Ideas that Harm Trans People and Other Marginalized Groups
In today’s world, few people are actively paying attention to where their news is coming from. Folks may be aware of the news stations they watch and how they relate to those favored by political opponents, but there isn’t much attention paid to the companies behind the scenes. As they often have significant control over…
Over-the-Counter Narcan Becomes Available as Overdoses Soar in Ohio
Drug overdoses are popping up more frequently in Ohio, and bad-batch drugs are again to blame. The SOAR Initiative (SOAR stands for Safety, Outreach, Autonomy, Respect) alerts subscribers via text or app about deadly batches of drugs, often laced with unknown amounts of fentanyl. On Sept. 8, after a string of near daily alerts about hot…
Cincinnati’s UnderWorld Black Arts Festival Celebrates and Amplifies Black Creativity
A three-day festival celebrating Black creativity returns to Cincinnati for its fifth year this fall. The UnderWorld Black Arts Festival (UBAF) will be held Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 19-21 at several venues across the city. UBAF blends poetry, art, music and activism to amplify Black culture. The event is curated by Cincinnati native and multidisciplinary performer Napoleon…
BBB Warns of Debt Relief, Credit Repair Company Scams
Ohioans seeking help from companies promising to reduce or eliminate debt or fix their credit scores are getting duped, and often are left financially worse off, according to a new report. Judy Dollison, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, said the rise in student loan, medical and credit card debt has increased…
Five on Vine Hosting Dinner Featuring Wine Pairings and Books
Crown Restaurant Group’s (CRG) Five on Vine in Over-the-Rhine is blending literature with wine and fine dining for a special dinner event this month. Plates & Pages will feature a one-night-only prix fixe menu from new executive chef Patrick Bowling, with wine pairings from Kobrand Wine & Spirits and a curated selection of books, ranging…
A Look Inside Classes at an Ohio Prison
Dexter Bass earned his bachelor’s degree from Ashland University behind bars. The 60-year-old was sentenced to prison in 1990 for murder and was recently granted parole. Before prison, his highest academic attainment was graduating high school. “What education does is it opens up a whole other world to a person and makes them just more…
Cincinnati Labor Council Comes Out in Support of Norfolk Southern Sale
The Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council (CLC), a labor union representing thousands of Cincinnati-area workers, has come out in support of the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway (CSR) to Norfolk Southern. In a statement released Sept. 7, CLC said the decision was a long time in the making. “After a great deal of internal discussion…
Review: The ‘Big Fat Greek Wedding’ Cast Reunites for a Third-Rate Adventure
You know these are strange times for moviegoers when legacy sequels borne of the 2000s and 2010s are now old enough to get legacyquels of their own. The concept dates back to at least the 1980s, with Psycho II (1983) and The Color of Money (1986) re-introducing a new generation of viewers to iconic characters…
Opinion: Adding Layers of Exclusion to Transgender Students is Harmful — So Let Them Participate in Sports
Of course I abhor the right wing attacks on transgender people, particularly transgender kids. I’m on the transgender spectrum myself, having self-identified as a cross-dresser at age 3. And even were I totally straight (whatever that might amount to), I’d like to think I’d see through the right’s B.S. about gender being immutable, or about…
Party Like It’s 1999 at Cincinnati Museum Center’s Off the Rails Night
Don your JNCO jeans and neon, roll up your NSYNC and Backstreet Boys posters and revive your Tamagotchi for a bomb diggity night at the Cincinnati Museum Center’s (CMC) ‘90s-themed Off the Rails night. Off the Rails is a new, 21+ series that allows guests to explore the museum after hours and enjoy themed programming…
You Can Get a Free Ice Cream Cone During Graeter’s Cones for the Cure Fundraiser
Graeter’s Ice Cream is again teaming up with Cincinnati-based charity The Cure Starts Now to raise funds via their Cones for the Cure promotion to fight pediatric cancer. From now until Sept. 17, Graeter’s locations will be offering single scoop sugar cone coupons of their seasonal Elena’s Blueberry Pie ice cream to Sweet Rewards loyalty…
Millions Enrolled in New Student Loan Repayment Program
More than 4 million federal student loan borrowers are enrolled in the Biden administration’s new repayment program, according to figures released Tuesday by the Department of Education. This includes 181,400 Ohioans. With the pause of more than three years on federal student loan repayments coming to an end in October, and the Supreme Court’s summer…
An Arkansas Social Media Parental Consent Law Was Halted. How is Ohio Impacted?
A federal court ruling in Arkansas has cast doubt on one of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s policy priorities. The governor urged lawmakers to require most minors get parental consent before using social media. They agreed to include the proposal in the budget. But this week, a judge in Arkansas halted a similar law from taking…
Review: Smashing Pumpkins’ Cincinnati Show was an Equally Nostalgic and Fresh Experience
The first two times I saw the Smashing Pumpkins in concert was July 2010, first at Forecastle Festival and then at Metro in Chicago, where they started their career. But seeing them the day after Labor Day at Riverbend not only felt nostalgic but also fresh. This year marks the 30th anniversary of their sophomore…
