In 2023, CityBeat launched two inaugural special issues that included a deep-dive cover feature on two of the most intimate pillars of human existence — sex and death. The cover features included in the Sex Issue and Death Issue — one about a local mutual masturbation group and the other about the quest to identify thousands of bodies resting beneath Potter’s Field — display what CityBeat has become so adept at since its inception in 1994: giving life to the important, often obscure or taboo parts of Cincinnati life. These are some of the staff’s favorite cover features from 2023.

“Swingin’ Schwartz’s Point,” by Russell Hausfeld Jan. 25 issue Though beloved Cincinnati jazz fixture Ed Moss passed away back in 2016, his presence is still felt at his jazz club, Schwartz’s Point. In this feature, writer Russell Hausfeld, using prior interviews with Moss and musings from his friends and other journalists, painted a picture of Moss’ legacy in Cincinnati’s music scene. Though he’d owned a few different establishments throughout his lifetime, Moss told Hausfeld that his favorite by far was Schwartz’s, which is now owned and operated by his daughter Zarleen Watts and her mother Caryn Watts. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
“The New Blue Line,” by Madeline Fening Feb. 22 issue Shortly after Teresa Theetge transitioned from her role as the interim police chief to the official chief of the Cincinnati Police Department, CityBeat’s news reporter Madeline Fening spoke with her about the city’s anti-slur policy. The policy, the final version of which was released in Oct. 2022, was created in response to CPD officers making headlines for using racial slurs while on the job. In her article, Fening examined how Theetge was going to address the use of racial slurs on the job during her tenure as police chief. Photo: Madeline Fening
“The Secret Lives of Cincinnati Musicians,” by Nick Grever March 8 issue Do you ever find yourself wondering what your favorite local musician does for a living? Or what sort of interesting hobbies they have when they’re not strumming an acoustic guitar on stage? Well, you’re in luck — Nick Grever uncovered the secret lives of Cincinnati musicians for a CityBeat cover story in March of 2023. In the story, Grever spoke with Phantom Queens’ Tina Sullivan, who owns and operates Bang Bang Hair Salon in Clifton and Siegelord’s Austin Wolfe, who participates in an armored combat group for fun, among other local musicians who lead interesting lives outside of the stage. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
“The Underdogs,” by Madeline Fening March 22 issue In this cover feature, Fening spoke with Cincinnati Animal CARE about the unique challenges they’ve faced as Hamilton County’s only open-intake animal shelter. SPCA Cincinnati was previously Hamilton County’s designated animal shelter, and Cincinnati Animal CARE admitted that this recent change in leadership in 2020 has created some confusion for the public. Apart from messaging issues, Cincinnati Animal CARE spoke of the need for a new, bigger building to address the overcrowding of animals in their current location. The cover feature also highlighted a bit of the historical context behind the transition from SPCA Cincinnati to Cincinnati Animal CARE. According to Cincinnati Animal CARE, they are working to bring the euthanasia rates down significantly from what they were under SPCA Cincinnati’s tenure as the Hamilton County animal shelter. Photo: Madeline Fening
“Going Green(er),” by Sami Reed April 5 issue Ahead of its public unveiling, CityBeat writer Sami Reed analyzed the content of the fourth iteration of the Green Cincinnati Plan, a detailed report on how city officials, area leaders and citizens can combat climate change at the local level. Cincinnati is part of the 2030 Districts Network, a group of urban cities that have publicly committed to reducing energy consumption, water use and transportation emissions by at least 50% before 2030. In this latest update of the Green Cincinnati Plan, Cincinnati City Council Member Meeka Owens leads the charge to craft strategies to help address the biggest obstacles to tackling climate change and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 — housing and transportation. The new plan aims to reduce utility costs and encourage more citizens to switch to homes that are powered by electricity rather than methane gas. On the transportation front, the plan hopes to encourage Cincinnati residents to use public transit instead of driving. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
“The Show Must Go On,” by Killian Baarlaer and Brent Stroud May 31 issue As Greater Cincinnati music venues finally returned back to normal operations for the first time since the height of the Covid pandemic, CityBeat music writers Killian Baarlaer and Brent Stroud spoke with large and small venues about how they’ve managed to bounce back from Covid-related challenges. Unlike other major cities, Cincinnati did not lose a single independent venue as a result of the Covid pandemic. Instead, against all odds, two new music venues opened in Cincinnati directly following the height of the pandemic — MegaCorp Pavilion and the Andrew J Brady Music Center. In the aftermath of the pandemic, venues are still facing several unique obstacles to success, including rising artist fees, increased customer demand and, on the flip side, hesitancy from some customers who aren’t fully comfortable yet with attending large in-person events. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
“All Hands on Deck,” by Katie Griffith July 12 issue For CityBeat’s inaugural Sex Issue, arts and culture staff writer Katie Griffith profiled the Cincy Jacks, a private men’s club for group masturbation founded by Ace, an expert in the field of intimacy. Inspired by similar organizations in other cities, the Cincy Jacks group was created to foster body and sex positivity for consenting cisgendered men in the Greater Cincinnati area (trans men are not permitted in the group, a rule that Ace says it not meant to be exclusionary and exists simply because he feels trans men and cisgendered men have different levels of comfortability with sexuality). Members of the Cincy Jacks meet at private locations to engage in mutual masturbation. Ace feels that being a part of a group like Cincy Jacks is safer than attempting to meet their sexual needs on sketchy online platforms or dating apps. Photo: Armin Rimoldi, Pexels
“’Airborne’ at 30,” by tt stern-enzi Aug. 23 issue For the past few decades, the Cincinnati film industry has grown in significance, fostering talent and serving as the backdrop for numerous popular films — including “Airborne,” which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023. Starring Seth Green and Jack Black, “Airborne” marked a pivotal turning point in Cincinnati’s impact on the national film industry. In his feature, film critic and Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival Artistic Director tt stern-enzi details several successful films, like “Carol” and “Traffic,” that have been filmed and produced in Greater Cincinnati since “Airborne’s” debut in 1993. Stern-enzi argues that Cincinnati’s unique charm and beauty have led to its prominence in the national film scene. Photo: Cinematic/Alamy Stock Photo
Tavern on the Bend 5471 N. Bend Road, Green Township Craving craft beer, mac & cheese and a stacked burger? Tavern on the Bend is your spot. This pub may appear modest with its paper plates and plastic cutlery, but quality ingredients and a creative bar menu keep people coming back. Mac & cheese varieties include Philly steak mac and lobster mac, while burgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches come topped with everything from jalapeño bacon to roasted Mexican street corn. (KE) Photo: Ashley Moor
“Into the Woods,” by Madeline Fening Oct. 18 issue In another inaugural issue for CityBeat, the Death Issue, Fening reported on the fascinating story behind Potter’s Field, the 26-acre “potter’s field” in Price Hill’s Rapid Run Park. A “potter’s field” is a common historical term for a place where communities would bury the poor (otherwise called “indigent”), the unidentified, the incarcerated, infectious disease victims and others who were “unwanted.” In her piece, Fening recounted the stories of many people buried in Price Hill’s Potter’s Field and how a few people and organizations have pushed for the identification and protection of the thousands of unidentified and unmarked graves spread across these 26 acres — an effort that is still ongoing today. Photo: Aidan Mahoney

Ashley Moor is the editor-in-chief of CityBeat. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Ashley previously worked as a reporter for the Dayton Daily News and as the editor-in-chief of the now-defunct Dayton City...