Vice President Kamala Harris Visited Downtown Cincinnati’s BlaCk Coffee Lounge Today
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Downtown's BlaCk Coffee Lounge Friday afternoon during her trip to Cincinnati. Harris was at the shop with Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and ordered a house "Wakanda" coffee. Wakanda is the fictional African country in Black Panther and other Marvel Comics/Marvel Entertainment properties. https://www.instagram.com/p/COTTK_9lo7C Harris’ visit reportedly revolved around public…
Steller Street Eats Food Truck to Open Brick-and-Mortar in Anderson Township
Fans of Stellar Street Eats soon can stop hunting down the food truck’s next location online, because the eatery-on-wheels is expanding with a static brick-and-mortar in Anderson Township. Operated by husband-and-wife duo Ashlee Rose and Ryan O’Neil, Stellar Street Eats is known for its burgers, wraps, steak sandwiches and cult-favorite pimento cheese. In fact, it's been…
Feds Seize Nearly $8 Million in Fake Tiffany, Gucci, Cartier Jewelry in Cincinnati
Feds don't care if you're prepping your formal outfits for weddings, proms or the red carpet — fake Tiffany jewels are a no-no. This week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Cincinnati seized a haul of counterfeit high-end jewelry worth about $4.26 million. A shipment that originated in China contained thousands of jewelry pieces marked…
Ohio Republicans Push Bill to Ban 5 Transgender Athletes from Women’s Sports
Of about 400,000 Ohio high school athletes, five transgender girls opted this school year to follow their gender identity and compete in women’s sports. Ohio High School Athletic Association policy, developed with experts from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, allows transgender girls to compete if they have either undergone a year of hormone therapy, or obtained special permission…
Cincinnati City Councilman Wendell Young Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Tampering Charge
Cincinnati City Council member Wendell Young is pleading not guilty to federal charges of tampering with records. He entered the written plea Thursday. Young was indicted about two weeks ago by a Hamilton County grand jury, according to court records. He could get up to three years in prison if convicted of the felony. "The Grand Jurors…
Vice President Kamala Harris to Talk Transit in Cincinnati on Friday
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Cincinnati on Friday (April 30) as part of the “America Back on Track Tour." Harris’s visit reportedly will revolve around public transit as an economic driver. Details of the itinerary are scarce, but Sen. Sherrod Brown, of Cleveland, will moderate a discussion with Cincinnati Metro, the Enquirer reports.…
Cincinnati’s Anti-LeBron-James Bar Now Demands Your Support for Law Enforcement on Its Website
The Cincinnati-area bar owner who wants to ban LeBron James from the NBA has a new condition for connecting with him via the business’ website: you must affirm that you support law enforcement. Jay Linneman, who owns Linnie’s Pub in Delhi Township, made waves in recent days with a Facebook post targeted at former Cleveland…
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Wants to Pay for Your Guacamole This Saturday
Want to enjoy some guac on The Rock? You won't be physically eating your avocado dip off the torso of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but he will reimburse you for your guacamole May 1-5, but only if you order it at a participating restaurant with some of his Teremana Tequila. The initiative is a way…
Yes, You Still Need to Wear Your Mask at the Cincinnati Zoo
If you’re heading to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, don’t forget to bring your mask. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines this week to say that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks outdoors, unless they’re in large groups or crowds. The CDC considers a “fully vaccinated”…
Bootsy Collins Releases ‘Funkship Area 51’ NFT to Raise Funds for MusiCares
Bootsy Collins, Cincinnati's favorite master of Funk, is jumping into the digital art world. Collins has launched a "Funkship Area 51" NFT (a non-fungible token) to raise money for the nonprofit MusiCares. A cause near and dear to Collins' heart, MusiCares provides "preventative, recovery and emergency assistance to safeguard the well-being of music people in need," per…
Cincinnati Is One of the Nation’s Most Walkable Cities for 2021, Study Says
Go take a walk, Cincinnati — after all, this apparently is one of the best cities for it. CommercialCafe, a commercial real estate blog, ranks the Queen City as No. 10 in the United States for walkability and outdoor leisure potential. Cincinnati also is No. 8 for natural and improved walking trails and No. 9…
Here’s How COVID-19 Affects Your Brain
For more than a year now, scientists have been racing to understand how the mysterious new virus that causes COVID-19 damages not only our bodies, but also our brains. Early in the pandemic, some infected people noticed a curious symptom: the loss of smell. Reports of other brain-related symptoms followed: headaches, confusion, hallucinations and delirium.…
McDonald’s Offering Free Treats to Educators During Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 3-7, and McDonald's is saying thanks to our educators by offering them free bakery treats. Caveat: Teachers must also purchase another menu item to redeem the complimentary goodie. "Whether teaching virtual, in-person, or a combination of both, teachers have remained a vital backbone of our Cincinnati communities, and…
DeWine Loosens Quarantine Rules for Ohioans with Full COVID-19 Vaccination
Fully vaccinated Ohioans are getting a bit of a break in the state’s latest health orders, Gov. Mike DeWine said this week. Residents who are fully vaccinated no longer have to quarantine after being exposed to someone who has COVID-19 unless symptoms develop, DeWine said. The state lifted the 14-day quarantine guidance upon advice from…
Historical Lynching Markers Aim to Educate, Foster Healing in Shelbyville, Kentucky
Six historical markers have been erected in downtown Shelbyville, the first in the state to recognize the victims of racial-terror lynching in Kentucky. The markers are part of the nationwide Community Remembrance Project by the Equal Justice Initiative. Janice Harris, president of the Shelbyville Area NAACP and chair of the Shelby County Community Remembrance Coalition, said over…
Cincinnati’s Krohn Conservatory Reopens This May With ‘Butterflies of Bali’
Last spring, Eden Park's Krohn Conservatory kicked off its annual spring butterfly show Butterflies of Bali, but due to the rising pandemic, the show was ultimately cut short. Over the summer and fall, the greenhouse teetered between open and closed to the public, eventually closing for an extended period of time around Thanksgiving when COVID-19 cases…
Going to an NFL Draft Event in Cleveland? You’ll Need to Show COVID-19 Vaccination Proof
When the NFL draft opens in Cleveland on Thursday, people will have to show proof that they’ve been fully vaccinated to be in most rooms where the action is taking place and to attend part of the fan event. Also, the league is requiring team employees who are medically eligible to get vaccinated or lose…
Milford Man Pleads Guilty to Making Several Giant Dumps
The Milford man known for his gigantic dump has admitted that he did, indeed, shit all over his property. Donald Combs has pleaded guilty to three counts of illegal open dumping of solid waste, two counts of illegal operation of a solid waste facility without a license, two counts of violating Ohio EPA director of…
Cincinnati Joins Consortium Advancing Gun-Safety Technology Development
Toledo and Cincinnati officials are leading the Gun Safety Consortium, a group of cities across the United States that is calling on the gun industry to bring improved gun-safety products to market. Gun-safety advocates point out that most smartphones are more secure than firearms. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said "smart" gun technology could help prevent…
University of Cincinnati Says No to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Students, Employees
Most Ohio’s colleges and universities say they will not require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to return to campus next fall. All the largest institutions in the state — Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati, Ohio University and others — said via spokespeople they have no plans to require students and employees to…
Trial Pushed Back for Cincinnati Priest Geoff Drew’s Child-Rape Case
A Cincinnati-area priest accused of raping a 10-year-old boy will not stand trial until October, officials said Monday. Geoff Drew originally was expected to go to trial Monday for nine counts of rape, but the trial was postponed to Oct. 25 after Drew's attorneys requested more time to build their defense. If convicted, Drew faces…
Dunkin’ Giving Away Free Coffee for a Year to 53 Lucky Cincinnatians
Pay It Forward Day is Wednesday, April 28, and coffee and donut franchise Dunkin' is celebrating by giving away a whole lot of coffee. The chain will grant one lucky customer at each of its Cincinnati locations the gift of free coffee for a year. All you have to do is stop by one of…
Dave Matthews Band and My Morning Jacket to Headline Kentucky’s Railbird Festival
UPDATE: Railbird is now requesting the following of fans attending this weekend's festival: The safety of our patrons and our staff is our number one priority. As such, a full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results will be required to attend Railbird 2021. For patrons who are not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result…
Crawl Through Colorful, Life-Size Duct Tape Sculptures at Washington Park
A home-repair essential meets interactive art in a new exhibit coming to Washington Park and CampSITE Sculpture Park. The Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) has once again partnered with Duck Brand Duct Tape for an inventive art display. Blossoming of a New Era features 15 tape sculptures that range in size "from 6 feet to 10 feet," says Amanda…
Rent a Floating Tent at This One-of-a-Kind Campsite an Hour From Cincinnati
Located just a little over an hour away from Cincinnati, Float Troy is bringing back its unique (and slightly daring) way to camp. As you might ascertain from its namesake, the attraction is located in Troy, Ohio, and features a campsite with floating tents on the levy of the Great Miami Riverway. Float Troy, which opened last…
Cincinnati’s Our Harvest Cooperative CSA Provides Produce from Local and Sustainable Farmers
Many people discovered their green thumbs last year, stuck at home during the pandemic with spare time to dedicate to new backyard gardens. As the season shifts into full spring, the time for planting is well underway. Newcomers are often anxious about what to pursue for their garden plots and windowsills this time of year,…
A Delhi Township Bar and LeBron James Are in a Social Media Fight
A Cincinnati-area bar owner looking to have an Ohio-born NBA star literally cancelled over tweets about systemic policing problems now has gone private. Jay Linneman, who owns Linnie’s Pub in Delhi Township, reacted strongly on Facebook after former Cleveland Cavaliers/current Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James shared a now-deleted tweet targeted at the Columbus police officer…
Ohio Loses One Congressional Seat After Census Results
Ohio’s sway in Congress ain’t what it used to be. The Buckeye State will lose one congressional seat when the map is redrawn ahead of the 2022 elections, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Monday. Ohio will go from 16 seats to 15. The U.S. House of Representatives has 435 total seats that are divided up…
Local Group Asianati Brings Asian Food and Cultural Awareness to the Forefront of Cincinnati
Asianati, a local website and organization dedicated to promoting Asian food, restaurants and culture in the Greater Cincinnati area, started as a shared vision between founders Koji Sado and Bao Nguyen. When Sado moved to the Queen City in 2007 from Indiana, he says he noticed the Asian American community was not very large here.…
Machine Gun Kelly to Play ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park This Fall
Ohio's own Machine Gun Kelly is coming to the ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park on Sept. 22 as part of his nationwide tour to support his latest album, Tickets to My Downfall. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 30 at ticketmaster.com and ICONMusicCenter.com, with pre-sale available April 27. "Praise for the artists 5th studio album Tickets…
Cincinnati Cyclones Alum Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Shines in NHL Debut
A former Cincinnati Cyclones goalie made his debut in the NHL on Friday, and he made it count. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 36 saves for the Buffalo Sabres in the team's 6-4 win against the Boston Bruins. It was the first time the Sabres beat Boston since Dec. 16, 2018. "Ukko has worked very hard for…
Kroger Introduces New Program to Recycle Plastics and Packaging
Kroger has announced an expanded program to provide consumers with a new way to recycle some packaging and plastics not currently accepted by curbside programs. In collaboration with TerraCycle waste management company, Kroger's expanded Our Brands Recycling Program will now be able to recycle "flexible plastic" items like "potato chip and snack bags, shredded cheese bags, frozen…
Cincinnati Zoo to Start Selling Its Animal Poo for Your Garden
The Cincinnati Zoo — the greenest zoo in America — is looking for more ways to get to Net Zero by 2025. And one of those ways involves poop. According to the zoo, they produce more than 2 million pounds of organic waste (aka animal poo and other compostable material) a year. “Organic waste accounts for…
Nashville’s Famous Peach Truck Will Return to Greater Cincinnati This Summer
The Peach Truck tour is a favorite part of summer for fruit fans, and the Nashville-based operation will again be making its way to the Greater Cincinnati area this summer. Stephen Rose and his wife, Jessica, will be bringing farm-fresh Georgia peaches to stops at 25 states across the United States, including Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio,…
Belterra Park in Anderson Township Kicks Off Live Racing This Week
If you've been itching to play the ponies, this week is your time to shine. Belterra Park (formerly known as River Downs) in Anderson Township/California kicks off its live racing season Thursday, April 29. Races are scheduled Tuesdays through Fridays, with a daily first post set for 12:35 p.m. The season will run through October,…
Rock Legends REO Speedwagon to Perform at Dayton Metro’s Rose Music Center
Live music lovers are beginning to see a hint of post-pandemic normalcy returning to their lives as performance announcements have begun making headlines across the nation. Locally, Riverbend Music Center has publicized some anticipated shows for 2021, as has the forthcoming Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center at The Banks. And up in the Dayton…
DeWine Says Ohio Can Resume Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine, Per New CDC Recommendation
Ohio is once again using the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine in its fight against coronavirus. After nearly two weeks of investigating extremely rare blood clots associated with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday that the vaccine remains safe…
World War II Artworks Recovered from a German Salt Mine to Be Focus of New Cincinnati Art Museum Exhibit
Art, intrigue, Nazis and World War II are the subject of a forthcoming exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM). Paintings, Politics and the Monuments Men: The Berlin Masterpieces in America — on display July 9-Oct. 3 — will take visitors through a lesser-known period of art history via the "Berlin 202." These 202 paintings, which were originally on…
Commentary: Isaac Wright is the Newest Victim in Cincinnati’s Long History of Mistreatment of Photographers and Outsider Artists
As a photographer and writer born and raised in Cincinnati, and now seemingly an expat of Porkopolis living in New York City, I have memories of both the wars waged on the “arts world" against Robert Mapplethorpe in 1990 and Thomas J. Condon in 2002. It’s no surprise that Isaac Wright of DrifterShoots fame is…
Cincinnati Will See a Full Pink Supermoon on Monday
April’s very own “Pink Moon” — otherwise referred to as the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon or even Fish Moon — will appear in the sky this Monday, April 26. The full moon — the second of four supermoons to happen in 2021 — will be visible after sunset and will reach peak illumination around…
Frisch’s Shares Ketchup-Free Meatloaf Recipe… with Tartar Sauce
Apparently there's a ketchup shortage in America, or so say media outlets like CNN. This dearth seems to apply more to those little foil packets than bottles of Heinz, but still. Frisch's Big Boy is taking the threat seriously and the local diner chain's Chef John Zenk has several suggestions for how people can cope…
Soccer-Themed Sports Bar The Pitch Cincy to Open Across from FC Cincinnati Stadium
When the West End was chosen as the location for the new FC Cincinnati soccer stadium back in 2018, the idea of Central Parkway lined with bars and restaurants wasn’t far behind. One of the first will be soccer-themed sports bar The Pitch Cincy, located directly across from the recently renamed TQL stadium. FCC will be playing their…
Republicans Reject Updating Language in Ohio Law to Say That LGBTQ+ Couples Can Adopt
Although it is legal in Ohio for LGBTQ+ couples to adopt, some GOP legislators want the state law to only acknowledge the adoption rights of heterosexual couples. A dispute over a single line in the 2,057-page state budget bill — passed by the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday — has some civil rights advocates…
Josh Mandel Tweeted the Word ‘Freedom’ with Giant Text Art. Twitter Reacted Hilariously.
Ohio politician Josh Mandel, lately debasing himself in another Senate candidacy while grinding down whatever is left of his soul, proclaimed "Freedom!" on Twitter yesterday using some text art to make a big old "F" to start the word. This isn't the first time Mandel — who is a Republican with conservative views — has…
Cincinnati Animal CARE to Host ‘Kitten Shower’ at Wiedemann’s Beer in Saint Bernard
It's officially kitten season, which means shelters and rescues across the country — and right here in Cincinnati — are about to see an influx of those cuddly little creatures. And while they may be cute, a flood of kittens means an increase in need not only for adoptions, but also fosters and other animals…
Remembering the Wild 1980 Van Halen Show at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum
Van Halen may have been “Hot for Teacher,” but when the band played in Cincinnati more than 40 years ago, police demanded that they and their fans cool down. As Van Halen launched its “World Invasion Tour” in 1980, the band was well on its way to becoming one of the biggest Rock acts in…
Nominate a Cincinnati Mom Who Survived This Crap Year to Win a $1,000 Basket of Local Goodies for Mother’s Day
The pandemic hasn't been easy on anyone, but parents may have had to juggle more than most, from managing changes in their own work lives and stress levels to adapting to a virtual school year and modified child care. Parents have had to be caretakers, teachers and employees while holding on to their own sanity.…
Cincinnatians Have a Gazillion COVID-19 Vaccination Options This Weekend, Including at Paul Brown Stadium
The Cincinnati Bengals’ Paul Brown Stadium is Greater Cincinnati’s newest mass vaccination site — one of many COVID-19 vaccine opportunities that can be found throughout the region this weekend. The stadium will launch its first vaccination clinic 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 25, as part of the region’s “Get Out the Vax” weekend. About 5,000…
Cincinnati’s Asian Food Week Returns This May
Last year, after COVID canceled the super popular Asian Food Fest, the Asian American Cultural Association of Cincinnati (AACAC) — the group that produces both the Asian Food Fest and the Daspo Lunar New Year party — decided to launch the inaugural Asian Food Week. And people loved it. Well, Asian Food Week is back…
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month This May With Events Across Cincinnati
This May, restaurants, organizations and artists across the Greater Cincinnati area are celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM). From May 1-31, the Asian American Cultural Association of Cincinnati (AACAC) — the team behind Asian Food Fest, Asian Food Week and the Daspo Lunar New Year Party — and its partners have planned a wide range of…
Dave Matthews Band Will Play Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center This Fall
The Dave Matthews Band has officially rescheduled its stop at Cincinnati's Riverbend Music Center. The cult-favorite Jam Pop band will be playing Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021 instead of June 16. If you already bought tickets to the previous show date, they'll be good for this rescheduled event. If you haven't bought a ticket and want…
Dump Expired Prescriptions This Saturday During National Drug Take Back Day
You probably don't need to hold onto the Percocet leftover from the surgery you had five years ago. But what on Earth should you do with it? Clean out those medicine cabinets, because the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will take expired and unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medications off your hands during National Drug Take Back…
Kat Von D Hosting Estate Sale Featuring Antiques from Her Historic Indiana Mansion
Want to own a piece of history, tied with a tad bit of pop culture? During next month's living estate sale for Kat Von D's recently purchased Schenck Mansion, you can do just that. Celebrity tattoo artist, reality-television star and make-up/shoe brand entrepreneur Kat Von D and her family purchased the historic Vevay, Indiana mansion…
‘Cincinnati Soccer Talk’ Podcast Scores a Goal with Robust FC Cincinnati Discussion
To help keep readers plugged into Cincinnati life even as we continue to physically distance from each other due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, CityBeat is highlighting a series of local podcasts and their creators every week. Read previous installments about "When Pigs Fly," "West End Stories," "Cincinnati Zoo Tails," "Cincy Brewcast," "Nature Vs. Narcissism",…
Beloved Cincinnati Chef Jimmy Gibson Has Passed Away at Age 63
Cincinnati chef and beloved community member Jimmy Gibson passed away Wednesday at the age of 63. The Pennsylvania native arrived in Cincinnati in 1989 when hospitality industry executive Carl Bruggemeier brought him in to be the executive chef at The Phoenix downtown. After a little more than a year, he left to start the Ciao…
Get a Free Tree Sapling from Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s Drive-Thru This Friday
As part of Earth Week, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful is giving away free tree saplings to anyone who wants one (as long as supplies last). From 3-6 p.m. Friday, April 23, they'll be handing out limited quantities of Northern Red Oak, Chestnut Oak and Bitternut Hickory saplings with bare roots. "Our only hope is to be…
ACLU’s Mobile Justice App Helps Witnesses Hold Bad Cops Accountable
All it takes is just one person filming an interaction with police to change the course of one case, or even history. As we saw with the Derek Chauvin verdict, video evidence played a crucial role in getting legal justice for George Floyd — and all because Darnella Frazier, a teenager, stopped to record the…
Cincinnati’s FotoFocus Photography Biennial Announces Theme, Initial Programming
Cincinnati's FotoFocus Biennial — considered America's largest celebration of lens-based art — has announced its theme and initial programming for the month-long October 2022 event. Applications for venues to submit proposals for inclusion are also now open. According to a recent press release, the theme is "World Record," and it “considers film and photography’s extensive…
Local Bootlegger George Remus Gets the Broadway Treatment with New Outdoor Musical from Covington’s Carnegie
Infamous Greater Cincinnati bootlegger George Remus — rumored to be the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby — is getting the musical treatment by local theater company The Carnegie. With music and lyrics by Janet Vogt and Mark Friedman and a book by Joseph McDonough, George Remus: A New Musical blends murder, mobsters, millionaires and plenty of…
Great Parks of Hamilton County to Turn Gamble Homesite in Westwood into Community Park
Through a contract between the Great Parks of Hamilton County and Greenacres Foundation, the former homestead of the James N. Gamble family is being turned into a park. The 22-acre site, located on Werk Road in Westwood, is composed mainly of greenspace and will house a future urban ecology center, a community garden and greenhouse,…
FC Cincinnati’s West End Stadium Gets a New Name
FC Cincinnati (FCC) and Total Quality Logistics (TQL) have announced a multi-year partnership meaning FCC's new West End stadium, set to open on May 1, 2021, will take on TQL’s name. FCC President Jeff Berding called it one of the "biggest naming rights deals in Major League Soccer" during today's announcement. “We are thrilled to partner…
Last Night’s Snowfall Across Greater Cincinnati Broke a 120-Year-Old Record
It comes as nearly no surprise to well-seasoned Cincinnatians that we woke up to some snow across the Queen City in late April — unpredictable weather is kind of our thing. But last night's snowfall was actually slightly significant in that it broke a 120-year record. The National Weather Service in Wilmington tweeted this morning…
Kenwood Theatre Celebrates Reopening With Week of Free Movies, Including ‘The Goonies’
After many movie-less months, films will return to the big screen at Kenwood Theatre this April. And to celebrate its re-opening, the cinema is welcoming guests to enjoy a week of free "repertory film favorites" from April 23-30. "Our free movie week at the Kenwood, along with our distinctively featured programming at both the Esquire…
Want to Sell Your Cincinnati House? List It Next Week, Research Says
If you want to sell your home in Greater Cincinnati, next week might be your big chance. Realtor.com predicts that the week of April 25 will be the best time for Cincinnatians to list a house, based on its data from 2018-2019 (data from 2020 was not analyzed because of COVID-19 disrupting the market). Nationally,…
This Cincinnati Man Was Not Actually a Federal Agent, Charges Say
If you’ve recently run into a man in Cincinnati who was claiming to be a federal agent, watch out — he may have been an imposter. A federal grand jury has charged David Lomache with impersonating a federal employee, says a release from the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio. Lomache, who is…
Columbus Police Shoot Black Teenager Just Before Derek Chauvin Was Found Guilty of Murdering George Floyd
Police in Columbus shot and killed a Black teenage girl Tuesday, just as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, a white man, was about to receive a guilty verdict for murdering George Floyd, a Black man, in 2020. Family members identified the girl as 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant, who died last night after being taken to a hospital in critical…
Ohio’s Professional Sports Teams Want in on Legalized Sports Betting
Ohio’s professional sports teams are in favor of legalized sports gambling and want in on the action. A coalition of eight pro teams (plus the Memorial Golf Tournament in Dublin) announced support for a legislative effort to legalize sports gambling in the state. A group of lawmakers spent the early months of 2021 hearing testimony…
Bellevue’s Fairfield Venues to Host ‘Shop Small Market’ on Earth Day
Earth Day is Thursday, April 22, and Bellevue's Fairfield Venues is offering a way to celebrate while supporting small local businesses. The venue is hosting a Shop Small Market with five eco-conscious vendors from 5-9 p.m. in their chic second floor space, The Platform. Local vendors including plant and flower shop Buds Cincinnati; grain-, gluten-…
Ohio Officials React to Verdict in Derek Chauvin Trial
On Tuesday, a Minneapolis jury convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin on all counts for the May 2020 death of George Floyd. Chauvin was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin has been taken into custody and will be sentenced in eight weeks. According to CNN, "the maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional…
Everything But the House Celebrates Earth Day with Resell, Donate or Recycle Event
Cincinnati based e-commerce site Everything But the House (EBTH) is celebrating Earth Day with a special "resell, reuse, recycle" event 4-8 p.m. April 22. Hosted in partnership with locals New Life Furniture Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, Matthew 25: Ministries and Junk King, shoppers will be able either consign, donate or resell secondhand goods. Donations of décor,…
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested on Child Porn Charges
A deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office appears to have forgotten his oath to serve and protect. Deputy Ronald Vest has been arrested on multiple charges related to child porn, Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey says in a news release. He is charged with pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and seven counts of pandering…
Cincinnati’s Grainworks Brewing and Holtman’s Release Collaboration Lime Coconut Donut Gose
Grainworks Brewing Company in West Chester has a sweet and sour new beer release. The brewery is debuting a collaboration with Holtman's Donuts: a Lime Coconut Donut Gose. The gose is a German-style sour brew featuring flavors of lime, toasted coconut and a "few other secret ingredients to create a 'donut-like' taste," says the brewery. …
Greater Cincinnati Bookstores Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with Special Deals and Limited Releases
This Saturday (April 24), indie bookstores around the Greater Cincinnati area will feature special deals, limited release items and engaging events to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day. “It's a great opportunity for us to celebrate what being an independent bookstore means, both for us as the booksellers but also for the people who love bookstores in…
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Simplifies Health Orders but Pleads for Younger Residents to Get Vaccinated
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is loosening the state’s COVID-19 restrictions while highlighting the rise in coronavirus cases among younger residents. “Let’s be clear. We will have a fourth wave of this virus unless we get everybody out and get vaccinated and we continue to engage in safe practices until that happens,” Beshear said during an…
New Riff Distilling Shares Its Unique Mint Julep Recipe
The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on May 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. And while seating and capacity are limited there this year due to COVID-19, you can still don some seersucker and a giant fascinator while downing a mint julep at home. Don't know how to make a mint julep? No, worries.…
Cincinnati Fringe Festival Announces Live Lineup and Outdoor Shows for 2021
The Cincinnati Fringe Festival has some big news: They're back. The fest is returning live and in-person with outdoor shows and some digital experiences June 4-19, 2021. And, yes, Fringe did happen last year in the virtual realm due to COVID, but theatergoers will be glad this festival — which is "kinda weird, like you"…
Woodburn Brewery in East Walnut Hills Sets Reopening Date
A familiar East Walnut Hills hangout will once again be open to the public starting this April. Woodburn Brewing is officially reopening its doors 4-11 p.m. April 29, with an updated look, favorite brews and a few new ones, too. Back in December 2020, Sycamore Township's March First Manufacturing — the company that oversees March…
New Pavilion in Mount Washington’s Stanbery Park Named for Kyle Plush
There’s a new pavilion in Mount Washington's Stanbery Park, named for the Cincinnati teen who died in 2018 before emergency personnel arrived. Cincinnati Parks recently showcased the new Kyle Plush Pavilion on its Facebook page, saying that the structure “represents hope and community and will be a place of gathering, celebration and remembrance.” The pavilion…
Walk-In COVID-19 Vaccinations Now Permanently Available Through Hamilton County
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine just became even easier. Hamilton County Public Health introduced its first walk-up vaccination clinic last week to reach more people who were having trouble making online or phone appointments. The clinic was held at the county’s Board of Elections building in Norwood. The clinic was a success, so the department now…
Cincinnati Bengals Finally Reveal ‘New Stripes’ Uniforms
The Cincinnati Bengals finally shared the team’s new uniforms with a roar on Monday. After several years of development, a few months of teasing #NewStripes and a presumed leaked jersey design on eBay in March, the Bengals revealed the real thing on April 19. It marks the Bengals’ first major uniform change in 17 years,…
Nursing Homes Spent at Least $6 Million on Ohio Politics in Five Years
Ohio’s nursing home industry poured at least $6.1 million into state politics and an array of dark money political groups between 2016 and 2020, an Ohio Capital Journal investigation has found. The surge in spending comes as the state has steadily increased its payments to nursing homes through Medicaid, a state and federally funded insurance…
Country Star Chris Stapleton Brings His ‘All-American Road Show’ Tour to Riverbend Music Center This Fall
Country superstar and recent Academy of Country Music (ACM) Album of the Year winner Chris Stapleton is making a tour stop in Cincinnati this fall. Stapleton will be bringing his All-American Road Show tour to Riverbend Music Center on Oct. 21 with special guests The Marcus King Band and Yola. Tickets go on sale for…
Nan Whaley Announces Bid for Ohio Governor, Vows to Bring “Dayton Toughness” to Columbus
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley announced Monday that she will once again run for Governor of Ohio in 2022. In a video launching her campaign, she said she would bring the toughness of Dayton to Columbus, which she said has been controlled by corrupt politicians for far too long. “The people of Ohio deserve better," she…
WATCH: Maxine Waters, Anthony Fauci Blast Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan in COVID-19 Hearing
During a coronavirus subcommittee hearing in the U.S. House last week, Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio repeatedly interrupted witness Anthony Fauci, M.D., who is the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden. Jordan went over his allotted time in questioning Fauci, pressing…
Kentucky Ranked One of the Least Green States in America
As Earth Day approaches (on April 22), financial website WalletHub has once again released a timely report. In their "2021's Greenest States" rankings, the site looked at all 50 states to uncover which ones are the most environmentally friendly. "On top of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the U.S. also had a record number of…
Hamilton County Fair Will Happen in 2021, but COVID-Era Events Require Extra Considerations
The show, as they say, must go on. But organizing and hosting events as the coronavirus pandemic presses on is no easy task. Canceled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Hamilton County Fair in Cincinnati’s Carthage neighborhood is a go in 2021. Organized by the Hamilton County Agricultural Society, the fair is set for…
New Infrastructure Plan Would Fix Some of Ohio’s 1,377 “Structurally Deficient” Bridges
Five miles from the Ohio River in Lawrence County stands a small bridge on Sugar Creek-Johnstown Road. Only about 20 feet long, the bridge overtop Turkey Fork Creek aids residents of this very rural area in Southern Ohio reach the closest stores, restaurants and school buildings in nearby Coal Grove and Ironton. First built in…
Sexual Abuse Prevention Proposed for Ohio Schools in New Bill
A bipartisan bill seeks to mandate child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention education in Ohio schools. The bill was introduced this week, and requires “age-appropriate instruction” in child sexual abuse prevention for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The education would include resources and available counseling for children who are sexually abused. For grades seven…
Ohioans’ Eviction Records Could Be Expunged Under New Bipartisan Bill
When a tenant faces eviction, the filing can stay with them for years — potentially impacting their ability to find stable housing again. A bipartisan bill (SB158) introduced by Sens. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) proposes to allow eviction records to be expunged under certain circumstances. A tenant would be able to request to have…
Thunderdome Restaurant Group to Host COVID Vaccine Pop-Up at Bakersfield OTR for Employees and Local Hospitality Workers
Thunderdome Restaurant Group — the team behind such eateries as The Eagle, Pepp & Dolores and Maplewood Kitchen and Bar — is hosting a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic at its Over-the-Rhine taqueria Bakersfield. In partnership with Mercy Health, the clinic will be focused on vaccinating Thunderdome employees as well as other area hospitality workers. From…
Here’s How Much Gate Revenue the Cincinnati Reds Lost in 2020
The Cincinnati Reds are back in business with fans in the stands once again at Great American Ball Park. But the COVID-19 pandemic took a big toll on teams in 2020, as many lost ticket, food and merchandise revenue when state restrictions cancelled many games and prevented packed houses. PennBets, a gambling news and information…
Milford-Based Sustainability Company Responsible Products Offers Compostable Carry-Out Containers
Responsible Products, a company located in Milford dedicated to selling plant-based, compostable goods, has partnered with around 75 restaurants in Greater Cincinnati to offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional packaging. In providing biodegradable bags, to-go containers, cling wrap, utensils and trash bags — to name just a few products — the company aims to make a…
Pregnancy-Related Deaths Higher Among Black Women in Kentucky
Racial gaps persist in pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths across Kentucky, and advocates say solutions to the problem lie beyond the doctor's office. According to the latest state data, 50% of maternal deaths were pregnancy-related in 2017, and 46% involved a substance-use disorder. Nearly 80% of cases were deemed to be preventable. Obstetrician & Gynecologist and…
Cincinnati Pride Plans Pride Market in Washington Park, Other Activities for June
Cincinnati Pride’s big festival and parade may be canceled this year, but organizers are still finding ways to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. The organization is planning a variety of smaller or outdoor events for June to celebrate Pride Month, including a Pride Market at the Park on Sunday, June 27. A collaboration with the Greater…
DeWine Rules Out Additional Restrictions as COVID Variants Spread in Ohio
Even with rising levels of vaccination, coronavirus cases are starting to surge in Ohio. The increase seems largely due to a faster-spreading variant spilling over the border from Michigan, but Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday wouldn’t call for increased restrictions in either state. The faster-spreading B.1.1.7 variant is playing a big role in fueling a rise in…
Jeff Ruby’s Offering Derby Day Meal Kits
Steakhouse chain Jeff Ruby's is celebrating the "most exciting two minutes in sports" with a special Derby Meal Kit. The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on May 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. And while seating and capacity are limited this year due to COVID, you can still don some seersucker and…
Cincinnati City Council Member Wendell Young Indicted
Cincinnati City Council member Wendell Young is the latest member of the "Gang of Five" to be charged after a 2018 texting scandal. Young was indicted Thursday when a Hamilton County grand jury charged him with tampering with records, according to court records. He could get up to three years in prison if convicted of…
New Report Makes Case for $15 Minimum Wage in Ohio
A new report makes the case that Ohio workers deserve a higher minimum wage. According to Policy Matters Ohio, nearly 30% of Ohio's workforce — or 1.5 million people — would benefit from raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. Ohio's current minimum wage is $8.80 an hour. Michael Shields, a researcher for…
The Art Climb Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Music from the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra
Work out both your creativity and your legs while enjoying the Cincinnati arts scene. The Cincinnati Art Museum’s Art Climb is celebrating its one-year anniversary with the help of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. CCO musicians — including a cellist and three quartets — will be placed along the zig-zagging staircase, which climbs roughly 450 feet.…
Brothers Osborne to Perform at Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center in September
The Nashville-based Country act Brothers Osborne just announced the dates of their upcoming We're Not for Everyone tour, which is set to stop in nearly 50 markets this fall. The jaunt supports the group's third studio album, Skeletons. The duo will perform Sept. 9 at the Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center downtown. Tickets go on sale…
Weston Art Gallery’s ‘Material Messages: Photographs of Fabric’ Artfully Examines Our Relationship to Textiles
We’re surrounded by it, but we hardly give it a second thought: Fabric literally covers our bodies and homes, and it can change, represent and even help create our identities. To explore this relationship, the Weston Art Gallery is showing photographs and other works, curated by Mount Vernon–based photographer Marcella Hackbardt, beginning May 15. The exhibition title, Material…
Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week Offers Discounted Three-Course Meals — for Dine-In and Takeout
Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week is back April 19-25, with select area restaurants offering special $26, $36 and $46 three-course prix fixe menus. The exclusive chef-crafted creations will be available for dine-in, with some restaurants offering takeout as well. [PHOTOS: A taste of what you can try at Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week this April.] And not only…
Ohio Apparently Has Gonorrhea — A Lot of Gonorrhea
Look, Ohio, we obviously have to have a talk. A birds-and-bees talk. A safety talk. Because, Buckeyes, we’ve got a lot of gonorrhea. According to the Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ohio is No. 14 in the country for cases of gonorrhea. Data from the 2019…
Cincinnati Zoo’s New Baby Wallaby Makes Its Debut
Pouch Watch 2021 is over: The new baby wallaby at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has made its debut. The zoo posted to its Facebook page yesterday that wallaby Ava's joey popped out of her pouch for the first time. And then the little tyke immediately went back into his cozy carrier. The zoo…
CDC Postpones Decision on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the agency needs more data to fully assess any risk from the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. The 13 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for about four hours Wednesday to discuss the cases of unusual, severe blood clotting…
Eli’s BBQ Creates NFT of a Pulled-Pork Sandwich to Benefit Restaurant Industry
One local barbecue purveyor is embracing the digital age. Elias Leisring of Eli's BBQ says he has commissioned an NFT — or non-fungible token — of one of his famous pulled-pork sandwiches. The animated artwork, by local artist Jason Mann, "changes as you look at it over time," says Leisring. Mann describes the image as…
In Advance of Her Riverfront Live Show, Samantha Fish Talks About Honing Her Songwriting Chops for Latest Album
A few months before the pandemic shut everything down, singer-guitarist Samantha Fish released her latest album, Kill or Be Kind. Frustratingly, Fish, who usually spends the majority of the year on the road, couldn’t tour as much as she would’ve liked in support on the disc. Last month, however, she booked a few dates in Texas…
New Breakfast Pop-Up Cackleberry Serves Filipino- and Cincinnati-Inspired Dishes Out of a Vintage Trailer
Squeezed into a bite-sized vintage trailer, husband-and-wife duo Nate and China Kautz are serving up mobile breakfast sandwiches as the owners of the new Cincinnati-based pop-up Cackleberry. Cackleberry currently offers six unique sandwiches ranging from Cincinnati staples to Filipino-fusion cuisine. The food truck opens every Sunday at 9 a.m. — primarily parking in various locations throughout…
As Ohio Legislators Propose Anti-Trans Bills, NCAA Says It Will Withhold Events From States That Discriminate
In an apparent warning to Ohio and other states considering anti-transgender legislation, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) said it will only stage events in places where transgender student-athletes won't face discrimination. "The NCAA Board of Governors firmly and unequivocally supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports," the college sports league said…
LaRosa’s Giving Away Free Pizza When Reds Pitchers Strike Out 11 Batters
Prepare your appetite, Cincinnati — LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria promises free pizza if Cincinnati Reds pitchers can strike out 11 batters in a game. LaRosa's revamped “Strikeouts to Slices” promotion applies to all games, both home and away, and will be honored for the first 2,000 fans who follow LaRosa’s promotional instructions. To be eligible for the…
Art on Vine Pop-Up Market Returns to Fountain Square
Art on Vine is returning to Fountain Square for another round of showcasing local artists and their wares. Art on Vine began in 2012 as a class project for a college course that James Jenkins was taking, with the intent of being a way to provide a unique, customer-to-artist buying experience. After pitching his idea…
Hamilton County Plans First Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Thursday
Hamilton County is introducing a new way to get a COVID-19 vaccine — one that doesn’t rely on navigating website after website. The county’s public health department will hold its first walk-up vaccination clinic Thursday, April 15, at the Board of Elections office, 4700 Smith Road., Norwood. No appointments are needed. During a briefing Wednesday,…
Summerfair Cincinnati Will Return to Coney Island This June
Summerfair Cincinnati is making its comeback after transitioning to a virtual platform last year due to the pandemic. Returning to Coney Island, Summerfair Cincinnati will take place June 4-6. This will be the 54th-annual festival. Launched in Mount Adams in 1968, the nonprofit aims to support young artists and community-based art programs through exhibitions, scholarships and…
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Announces New Managing Director
There will soon be a fresh face at the Playhouse in the Park as the theater has appointed a new managing director. Abby Marcus — currently the managing director of the Orchard Project "performance laboratory" in Saratoga Springs, New York — will be taking over for Buzz Ward when he retires in July. Ward will…
John Hiatt and The Jerry Douglas Band to Play Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine
On Nov. 9, 2021, Memorial Hall will host John Hiatt and The Jerry Douglas Band as part of the Longworth-Anderson Series. Tickets go on sale at noon on April 16 via memorialhallotr.com or 513-977-8838. Hiatt and the Jerry Douglas Band just collaborated on a new album, Leftover Feelings, which will be released May 21, 2021 on New West…
Ohio Parents Willing to Pay $500+ to Get Away from Their Kids, Partner
Parents who want to escape their families just might be willing to pay big bucks. During the Indoor Times (thanks, coronavirus), family members have been pushed together for longer than most people normally can tolerate, so it’s no wonder that parents are craving a break. Real estate service ISoldMyHouse.com surveyed more than 3,000 people in…
Ohio State Infectious Disease Specialist Calls Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Blood Clots ‘Interesting and Rare’
The blood-clotting issue raised by Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine is severe, but it’s not something most people will have to deal with, an Ohio State University expert says. Dr. Susan Koletar, the director of OSU’s division of infectious diseases at the Wexner Medical Center, explained the situation during Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s briefing Tuesday,…
Down Syndrome Abortion Ban Stands in Ohio Appeals Court Ruling
A court of appeals said an Ohio law banning abortions in Down syndrome cases can continue, reversing the decision of a lower court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit said a group of clinics who provide abortions across the state “failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success” in challenging the constitutionality of…
Mt. Joy and Trampled By Turtles Co-Headline Cincinnati Stop at Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center
On Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, Indie Rock band Mt. Joy and Folk/Bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles will play at the new Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center downtown. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 16 via ticketmaster.com and iconmusiccenter.com. Mt. Joy began as a musical venture between two Philadelphia friends, Matt Quinn and Sam…
Ohio, Kentucky Leaders Temporarily Halt Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Administration
State and local officials are urging residents to remain calm as health leaders learn about and respond to new data showing that six women have developed rare blood clots after receiving the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. As CityBeat reported earlier, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration…
Cincinnati’s Hard Rock Casino Opens ‘Rock Shop,’ Reveals Local Merch Design
The recently rebranded Hard Rock Casino, located in downtown Cincinnati — formerly JACK Casino — has revealed its new merchandise hub "The Rock Shop," filled with a diverse collection of clothing, accessories, and souvenirs, including items unique to the Cincinnati location of the national brand. In addition to unveiling the new shop, Hard Rock also…
Biden White House Gives Ohio a ‘C-‘ for Infrastructure While Pitching American Jobs Plan
A new "Infrastructure report card" from the White House gives Ohio a C- on a variety of various infrastructure needs — notably, the pseudo-report card doesn't just target the conditions of roads and bridges, but also a slew of shortcomings including lack of affordable housing, broadband access and childcare. Released Monday, the state-by-state reports arrive as the…
Northern Kentucky Health Department Halts Use of J&J COVID Vaccine, Switches to Moderna
Due to recent information posted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Northern Kentucky Health Department has decided to halt the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, they'll be switching to Moderna. In a joint statement issued early Tuesday, the CDC and FDA say…
LaRosa’s Partners with Freestore Foodbank to Help Stock School Pantries Throughout Tri-State
Local pizzeria chain LaRosa's has partnered with the Freestore Foodbank to help stock school pantries across the Tri-State. The Freestore operates 60 school food pantries in 20 counties, providing shelf-stable and frozen food items along with health and hygiene products to those in need. LaRosa's is helping keep those pantries full by offering a special…
Cincinnati Opera to Stage Its 2021 Season Outdoors at Blue Ash’s Summit Park
For the first time since 1971, the Cincinnati Opera’s (CO) entire summer season will be outdoors. Two weeks ago, the company announced its 2021 season is being held in Blue Ash’s Summit Park, a 130-acre complex of recreation areas that includes a stage platform at the base of a 153-foot observation tower. The decision to…
Clifton’s Tea ‘n’ Bowl Launches Mookie Cookie Malaysian Bakery Side Venture
Tea 'n' Bowl has been a Clifton Heights staple for 15 years. The restaurant is a mainstay in the university neighborhood, serving bubble tea and noodles to hungry University of Cincinnati students and authentic Malaysian dishes from owner Yvonne Chew's home country. But the pandemic’s capacity rules hit this tiny restaurant hard. With student traffic nearly non-existent, Chew…
Rhinegeist Makes the Brewers Association’s Top Craft Brewing Companies List
Cincinnati’s very own Rhinegeist Brewery landed itself at spot No. 25 on the Brewers Association’s Top 50 Brewing Companies by Sales Volume list. Each year the Brewers Association, a nonprofit aimed at small and independent breweries, compiles information regarding the nation’s beer sales and production. On March 30, they released their top 50 list for 2020.…
CDC, FDA, DeWine Recommend Immediately Pausing Distribution of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
Agencies throughout the United States are calling for an immediate pause on the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. In a joint statement issued early Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say experts are reviewing data showing six cases of a “rare…
Apparently Ohio Allows You to Secretly Carry Knives and Brass Knuckles Now
Ohioans can now secretly carry knives under a new law that took effect Monday. Prior law prohibited anyone in the state from carrying a concealed “deadly weapon” other than a handgun. House Bill 140 codifies into the law that knives, razors, or cutting instruments not used as a weapon do not count as a “deadly weapon.” Similarly,…
Even CNN Knows the Brent Spence Bridge Probably Will Never Get Better
Will the congestion and maintenance issues on the Brent Spence Bridge ever truly get solved? Here in Greater Cincinnati, we’re used to folks telling us that help is on the way, that new plans are being made, that budgets are increasing. And then when all of those promises evaporate with no relief in sight, we…
Clermont County Judge Calls Milford Man’s Giant Dump ‘Extraordinary’
You can’t make a dump anywhere you’d like, a Clermont County judge says. Married couple Donald and Anita Combs were ordered to pay $1.5 million in civil penalties after a Clermont County Common Pleas Court judge ruled that they had been illegally dumping significant amounts of solid waste near their home while doing business as…
Post-COVID Stress Lingers In Younger Ohioans
As Ohioans welcome spring temperatures, many hope to put the coronavirus pandemic in the rear-view mirror. At the same time, research shows some will face post-COVID stress disorder for months to come. In Ohio, 2.6 million people are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, which is about 20% of the state's population. Scott Keeter, senior survey advisor at the Pew Research…
Oakley Fish House, from the Team Behind Teak OTR, Offers a Menu of Fresh Seafood with Options for Landlubbers, too
As we inch our way toward post-COVID (or at least post-vaccination) life, my thoughts keep returning to The Beatles tune, “Here Comes the Sun.” Yes, “it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter” and yes, “I feel that ice is slowly melting.” One of the most joyous signs that we’ve turned the corner back to normality has…
Cincinnati Pop Rocker Jay Madera Thrives on Contrast for His Debut Album ‘Anxious Armada’
The contrasts in Jay Madera’s life and music couldn’t be more pronounced. He grew up in Cincinnati, the son of a liberal Jewish father and a conservative Catholic mother; his extremely faith-based upbringing led to his agnosticism. He’s a young man in his mid-20s, but his musical inspirations are the emotion-laden work of 1970s singer/songwriters…
Dawes Brings Their ‘Good Luck With Whatever’ Tour to Cincinnati’s Taft Theatre This Fall
Los Angeles-based Folk Rockers Dawes are bringing their new Good Luck With Whatever Tour to the Taft Theatre this fall. The show, with guest Erin Rae, is slated for Sept. 26. "To our beloved audience, it is with excitement and delightment, that we are prepared to announce our first tour dates in for F#$@ing ever!"…
Cicadas Are Coming: Your Guide to the Soon-to-Emerge Brood X
Following a 17-year residency underground, billions (yes billions, not a typo) of cicadas soon will emerge throughout Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The class of periodical cicadas, “Brood X,” will begin surfacing in early May to partake in what Gene Kritsky, Ph.D. calls a “generational event” for many residents in the area. Brood…
How to Eat Cicadas
Eating locally grown food is an important way of life for many people. But how many locavores’ diets will include the forthcoming Brood X cicadas, which are soon due to emerge after 17 years underground? The cicadas of the 17-year Brood X are edible for humans, prominent entomologist and local cicada expert Gene Kritsky, Ph.D.,…
Cincy Shirts Lets You Wear Your Cicada Love On Your Tee
During Brood X’s time underground, a lot has changed in Cincinnati. We’ve elected two new mayors, built a soccer stadium and became collectively obsessed with a hippopotamus. Since opening in 2014, Cincy Shirts has been reflecting Cincinnati’s cultural shifts via apropos tees referencing the likes of Graeter’s, Skyline Chili and, of course, that hippo. The…
Kentucky’s Largest COVID-19 Vaccination Site Opens Today at the University of Louisville
Kentucky’s COVID-19 vaccination rate could rise quickly, as the state’s largest mass vaccination site opens today. The University of Louisville’s Cardinal Stadium serves as the Commonwealth’s newest vaccination location and will distribute up to 4,000 doses per day over seven weeks, a press release says. The new drive-through clinic features 28 vaccination lanes in the…
Cicada Basics: Answering Your Top Questions About Cincinnati Cicadas
What is a cicada? According to Merriam-Webster, they are “any of a family (Cicadidae) of homopterous insects which have a stout body, wide blunt head, and large transparent wings and the males of which produce a loud buzzing noise usually by stridulation.” Basically, they’re those loud black insects with transparent orange wings and red eyeballs…
FC Cincinnati to Drop Mini Soccer Balls from Helicopter into West End Stadium
FC Cincinnati will be dropping a horde of mini soccer balls from a helicopter into its new home, the West End Stadium, on May 2. There will be no fans in the stands as these tiny projectiles hurtle toward the ground. Instead, the stunt is part of the FC Cincinnati Foundation’s Ball Drop raffle to…
Ohio Ranked No. 8 for States with Most Pandemic-Proof Small Businesses
The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly placed a harsh strain on the economy, among the many other areas of life it has impacted. But, despite the government-mandated restrictions and the repercussions that followed, a lot of small businesses held strong and fought their way through to the light at the end of the tunnel. And, according…
‘Looking Up’ Podcast Explores Cincinnati’s Connection to Space, the Final Frontier
To help keep readers plugged into Cincinnati life even as we continue to physically distance from each other due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, CityBeat is highlighting a series of local podcasts and their creators every week. Read previous installments about "When Pigs Fly," "West End Stories," "Cincinnati Zoo Tails," "Cincy Brewcast," "Nature Vs. Narcissism"…
The New Clifton Avenue Bike Lane Paves the Way for a Safer Commute
The new, two-way bike lane that opened at the end of March along Clifton Avenue has the potential to become a permanent addition to Cincinnati’s infrastructure. In August, Cincinnati City Council will decide whether or not to provide additional funding to make the protected bike lane perpetually available to pedestrians and bikers alike, so they…
AJR to Play New Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center at The Banks
Big news for music fans (and for the slow and steady return to "normal"): Indie Pop trio AJR will play the outdoor stage at the Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center at The Banks (officially referred to as the ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park) on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Tickets for the show go on sale…
Kyle Plush’s Family Reaches $6 Million Settlement with City of Cincinnati after Wrongful Death Suit
The family of a local teenager has received a $6 million settlement and a commitment to long-term emergency improvements in a wrongful death suit against the City of Cincinnati. The settlement for Kyle Plush’s family was announced April 9, the day before the third anniversary of Plush’s death. The settlement includes an agreement that the…
Commentary: As Dr. King said, It’s ‘Time to Break Silence’
On March 22, I was in the public square in front of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and stood with the crowd protesting against hate and violence directed at Asian Americans. Many speakers of every race and color took turns to break the silence to speak out against hate based on race and national…
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted Offers Non-Apology to Asians Angry About His ‘Wuhan Virus’ Remarks, Cancels Group Meeting
A meeting between Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and state residents of Asian descent did not take place Friday — one day after Husted mentioned the meeting during a press briefing and two weeks after tweeting what’s largely viewed as a racist term regarding the coronavirus. Husted reportedly canceled a private April 9 meeting intended…
Details Emerge on Proposed Bill to Restrict ‘Vaccine Passports’ in Ohio
Republican-sponsored legislation will seek to prohibit the Ohio government from instituting a “vaccine passport” program, but the drafted proposal does not appear to restrict private businesses from doing so. Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, is soon introducing this bill in the Ohio House of Representatives. It has already received support from fellow Republican lawmakers. The term…
Ohio Supreme Court to Hear Case of Woman Charged with Drug Possession After Newborn Tests Positive
The Ohio Supreme Court is taking up a case in which a woman was convicted of drug possession, but the only drugs she possessed were in her blood system and the blood system of her newborn. Kelly Foreman was charged in Seneca County on felony drug possession charges “despite the fact that she was never…
Tom & Chee Offering Free Grilled Cheese During National Grilled Cheese Month
Shark Tank-favorite local grilled cheese chain Tom & Cheese is taking National Grilled Cheese Day seriously by expanding the April 12 holiday to a full month. During National Grilled Cheese Month (aka April), guests can get one free grilled cheese — or, as Tom & Chee calls them, "melts" — with the purchase of three.…
Oh, Did You Want the Super-Limited Dolly Parton/Jeni’s Ice Cream Flavor? Too Bad
Folks hungry for the big collaboration between Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Dolly Parton went unsatisfied Thursday when website issues prevented people from ordering the limited-edition ice cream online. Ohio-based Jeni’s began teasing its partnership with Parton in early March, eventually revealing that the flavor Strawberry Pretzel Pie would be released in extremely limited quantities…
Ice Balls Are Back at Bellevue’s Schneider’s Sweet Shop
Ice Balls have made their annual return to Schneider’s Sweet Shop in Bellevue, ushering in the warmer months and the frozen treats that come with them. Since 1939, Schneider’s has been serving up homemade candies, ice cream and other sweet treats. Current owner Jack Schneider says that they've been making Ice Balls since before he was born, when his father…
Ohio State Fair Cancelled for 2021. Will Other Fairs Follow?
The show won’t go on for the Ohio State Fair, which has canceled public admission for its 2021 installment in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. On April 8, the Ohio Expositions Commission announced that the annual event in Columbus will open only in a very limited capacity to agricultural competition exhibitors and families. Members…
An Estimated 37,000 American Kids Have Lost a Parent to COVID-19, Study Finds
An estimated 37,000 to 43,000 American children lost a parent to COVID-19 as of February, according to research published this week. Among the findings, which appeared in JAMA Pediatrics, children aged 0 to 17 experienced a surge in what’s known as “parental bereavement” of somewhere between 17.5% and 20.2%. Of those 37,000 who lost a parent,…
Parts of Cincinnati Now Smell Like Semen, Which Means the Bradford Pear Trees Have Bloomed
If you've been out enjoying the beautiful spring weather the Queen City has graced with this past week and have gotten confused because your eyes confirm that you're in fact in Cincinnati but your nose seems to hint that you're on a Brazzers studio set, you're not alone. That semen-y smell, also described by many as…
Deadly Coronavirus Variants Becoming More Dominant in Ohio, Nation
Variants of the coronavirus continue to be a concern in Ohio as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations again rise — and these variants are more deadly than the original virus, experts say. During an April 8 briefing with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health chief medical officer Bruce Vanderhoff said that the B117 variant…
Surprise! Ohio Resident Geraldo Rivera Said a Racist Thing Again
Outspoken political commentator, talk-show host and — unfortunately for us — Ohio resident Geraldo Rivera asked a racist question of a Black man on a FOX News show Thursday. Rivera, who lives in Cleveland, was on the conservative cable channel to discuss Tishaura Jones, who is the first Black woman to be elected mayor in…
Explore Cincinnati’s Mill Creek by Canoe During a Livery Pop-Up This May
If you're looking for a unique canoeing experience, mark your calendar for the Mill Creek Alliance's first pop-up livery 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on May 1. The Mill Creek Yacht Club — a group of urban stream adventurers — has previously hosted events leading paddlers on guided experiences, but this new pop-up lets the public explore…
Get Free Entry into Great Parks of Hamilton County Select Days This Spring and Summer
If you're looking for more ways — and places — to get outside this spring, Great Parks of Hamilton County is offering an incentive: Free Entry Days. Free Entry Days are just what they sound like: You don't have to pay a for a motor vehicle permit (basically a parking pass) to enter any Great…
Cincinnati Reds Offering Discounted Tickets to COVID-Vaccinated Fans
If you have received at least one shot of your COVID-19 vaccine, here’s a nice little bonus for helping to stop the spread. As part of Hamilton County's efforts to reach an 80% vaccination rate by July 4, the Cincinnati Reds are offering discounted tickets to fans who show their COVID-19 vaccination card (with at…
As Billions of Cicadas Get Ready to Emerge, a Cincinnati Company Releases a Wearable Bug-Screen Pod
With the billions of cicadas in Brood X set to emerge this May across 15 states — including right here in Ohio — one local company is thinking ahead. Cincinnati's Under the Weather has a solution to keep the insects off of you while you enjoy the great outdoors. The company started out making pop-up…
Pink Floyd Legend Roger Waters Sets New Date for Cincinnati Stop
Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters has announced a new date for his Cincinnati tour stop. Waters' This Is Not A Drill tour — in which he and his band will perform "in the round" style, with the stage centered in the middle of the arena — was slated to come to Heritage Bank Arena on Aug. 1,…
Vote for Cincinnati Murals as USA Today’s Best Street Art
We love it when national publications recognize the cultural things that make Cincinnati special. “10 Best,” USA Today’s travel information hub that frequently relies on reader input, has included the “Faces of Homelessness” mural in Over-the-Rhine among its nominees for best street art in its readers’ choice poll, and your vote could help it nab…
Bengals to Induct Four Players into Its New Ring of Honor This Season
The Cincinnati Bengals have a new way to pay tribute to football legends. On Thursday, the team announced its "Ring of Honor" that will recognize former players, coaches and individuals who have significantly affected the franchise. The first two Ring of Honor members are Paul Brown, the Bengals’ first head coach and general manager, and…
Monkeys Are Reportedly on the Loose in a Cincinnati Cemetery
Price Hill residents caught a glimpse of a truly wild sight on Wednesday evening, as five monkeys were reportedly seen at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Cincinnati Police responded to the situation around 10 p.m. April 7, according to FOX 19. Police said they believe the monkeys may have escaped from a private home collection. As of 6:30…
Hamilton County Judge Blocks Telemedicine Abortion Ban, Marking Second Win for Clinics
For the second time in a week, a Hamilton County judge ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood and against a recently passed state law on abortion services. Hamilton County Judge Alison Hatheway gave Planned Parenthood a two-week restraining order, preventing a law banning telemedicine abortion services from taking effect as planned on April 12. The…
Ohio Has the Best-Paying Cities for College Grads — Including Cincinnati
Graduating from college kind of sucks — especially in the current climate. These days, grads typically have thousands of dollars worth of loans, are competing for jobs against just about every age bracket due to the pandemic and shrinking middle class, and are lonely because friends went back to their home states to live with…
Three Super-Limited Reds Bobbleheads Go On Sale Today
Sports merchandise company FOCO is releasing a trio of super-limited Reds bobbleheads. Starting today (April 8) at 10 a.m. EST, they'll be releasing bobbles of Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas and Eugenio Suarez for pre-sale. Only 144 of each design are made, and they cost $50 each. But why did FOCO picked these three? "Votto was a…
Former Bengal Chad Johnson Leaves $1,000 Tip at Cincinnati Restaurant
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson visited Rookwood's Redlands Grill and left more than just an impression with a $1,000 tip for the staff on April 6. In a post on Twitter, Johnson took a photo of the receipt and captioned it, “Proverbs 11:25 (Cincinnati edition).” The bible verse reads, "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be…
After Plateau, COVID-19 Cases Trickle Upward in Ohio
Despite an accelerating vaccination effort, COVID-19 is on an upswing in Ohio. As of April 7, there are 1,140 Ohioans in the hospital with COVID-19, compared to 839 on March 21. Similarly, in mid-March, about 1,400 Ohioans were contracting COVID-19 per day on average. By the end of the month, the figure hit 1,700, according…
Jack Hanna, Ohio’s Most Beloved Zookeeper, Has Dementia, His Family Says
Famed zookeeper and conservationist Jack Hanna has been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and will no longer participate in public appearances, his family says in a statement Wednesday. Hanna, 74, served as director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium from 1978 to 1992. After his tenure, he became director emeritus and continued to advocate…
New Ohio Bill Would Prevent ‘Discrimination’ Against Unvaccinated People
Sixteen Ohio House Republicans, six of whom have publicly announced their declination to take a COVID-19 vaccine, proposed legislation this week to build legal protections for people who decline vaccinations. Under the bill, governments, schools and private businesses could still impose a vaccine requirement. However, the bill would force them to exempt anyone who submits…
Fairfax’s Karrikin Spirits Co. Releases a Spicy Sparkling Cocktail in a Can
Karrikin Spirits Co. is turning one of their cocktail classics into a sparkling spirit, just in time for warmer weather. Made with Karrikin’s own Blaze Agave Spirit and mixed with strawberry, jalapeno and coriander, the Un Poco Loco has been a favorite on the cocktail menu since December 2018. Now, it’s the inspiration behind Karrikin’s…
Hamilton County Targets 80% COVID-19 Vaccination Rate by July 4
Hamilton County has a big goal for the spring and summer — to ensure that 80% of the county’s population is vaccinated for COVID-19 by July 4. Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus announced the “Get Out the Vax” effort’s goal during a briefing April 7. Efforts will include vaccination clinics, discounts and education. Driehaus notes…
Here’s How a Powerful State Law Blocks Ohio Cities Like Cincinnati from Gun Regulation
The Ohio Supreme Court declined Wednesday to review an appellate court’s decision, letting stand a ruling that the city of Cincinnati cannot ban “bump stocks” on assault weapons. Cincinnati tried to ban use of the mechanical attachments, designed to increase rifles’ rates of fire, in 2018 after a shooter used one during a 2017 massacre in…
Memorial Hall OTR’s Jazz at the Memo Will Take Over Washington Park This Summer
Over-the-Rhine's Memorial Hall has extended its popular weekly Jazz at the Memo music series through the end of the month, and has announced its plans to move across the street to Washington Park starting in May. On Monday nights, the city’s preeminent artists in the jazz scene perform in Memorial Hall's Anderson Theater for up…
Kentucky Resumes In-Person Unemployment Insurance Assistance
This month, Kentucky will resume in-person unemployment insurance assistance for the first time since 2017. Beginning April 15, staff at Kentucky Career Center locations will be available for in-person assistance by appointment only. KCC locations stopped providing in-person unemployment assistance in 2017 during former governor Matt Bevin’s administration, a press release from Kentucky Gov. Andy…
Frisch’s Introduces New Big Boy Sliders and Brings Back Strawberry Pie and Frappe
In the spirit of spring, Cincinnati-based restaurant chain Frisch's Big Boy is introducing some tasty (and tiny) bites to their menu. The eatery is bringing the ballpark to you with their new sliders, offered as baby Big Boys or Bad Boys (with pepperjack and spicy tartar sauce). Orders are available in either three or six…
Dr. Amy Acton Announces She Will Not Be Running for Rob Portman’s U.S. Senate Seat
Former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton, who presided over the state's early rapid decline in coronavirus cases and served as both science teacher and soother-in-chief during daily press briefings alongside Gov. Mike DeWine, announced Tuesday that she will not be seeking the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Rob Portman. In a prepared statement…
Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine? Cincinnati Metro Will Give You a Free Ride There
Time to hop onto that COVID-19 vaccination train. Or, bus, rather. Cincinnati Metro and Access paratransit service once again will provide free rides this month as part of a “Get Out the Vax” event. Service will be free on all routes on the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays for the next two months to…
Over-the-Rhine’s 16-Bit Bar+Arcade to Join Pins Mechanical Co. on Main Street
Over-the-Rhine arcade bar 16-Bit Bar+Arcade will be joining forces with another entertainment drinking destination this month, as the establishment moves into Main Street's Pins Mechanical Company. The two bars are under the management of Columbus-based Rise Brands, which also has locations in Nashville, Charlotte, Indianapolis and other regions. 16-Bit made the announcement via a Facebook…
Dayton, Ohio Hosts Inaugural Potatoes N’ Such Potato Festival This Summer
While not everyone loves their vegetables, there is one oblong, starchy root veggie that folks can't seem to get enough of: potatoes. And for a foodie fest that celebrates all things totally tater, look no further than the first-ever Potatoes N' Such: Dayton Potato Festival. Pre-pandemic, potato festival founder Janelle Henderson was dismayed by Dayton,…
Free Blockbuster Boxes Are Popping Up Around Greater Cincinnati with a “Take a Movie, Leave a Movie” Ethos
Blockbuster-themed newspaper boxes are now found in Covington and Northside, filled with old video games, VHS tapes and DVDs that are free for the taking. A third box is expected shortly in Clifton. Whether you keep the media, return it to the box after you’re done or even bring some old tapes of your own…
Sorry, Ohio Restaurants and Bars: COVID-19 Restrictions Remain in Place for Now, DeWine Says
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine shared Monday that the state would lift its ban on mass outdoor gatherings and loosen other restrictions. The move is expected to provide Ohioans with hope for more spring and summer activities as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. But bar and restaurant owners in Ohio are asking when restrictions for their…
Hamilton County Judge Blocks Ohio’s Abortion Disposal Law
A Hamilton County judge has blocked an Ohio law regulating disposal of surgical abortion tissue that was set to take effect Tuesday. Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Alison Hatheway granted a preliminary injunction Tuesday pausing the enactment of the law temporarily. The judge said because the state has not created forms, rules and regulations…
Despite Rising COVID-19 Numbers, Parties, Proms, Festivals Are Allowed in Ohio Again
If you’ve been yearning for a “pandemic party” without rebuke, it looks like you’ll finally have your moment. In an address on Monday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a “simplified” set of health orders for the state that includes an end to the ban on mass gatherings during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But there’s still…
Chicken Salad Chick to Open Fifth Greater Cincinnati Location, Offering Free Chicken Salad for a Year
Greater Cincinnati will soon be welcoming its fifth Chicken Salad Chick location — and will be celebrating by offering some lucky folks free chicken salad for a year. The fast-casual chain's new location in Western Hills is hosting its grand opening starting on Wednesday, April 21 and lasting until Saturday, April 24. According to the…
Listermann Brewing Co. Mimics Novelist Jane Austen’s Family Recipe to Brew New Spruce Beer
It’s not the usual thing these days to promote beer consumption for the purposes of good health, but toss in some spruce tips (the new, lime green growth on spruce trees each spring) and your beer becomes a tonic against scurvy with its natural load of vitamin c. Perhaps not your first concern in the…
Welcome to Springtime in Cincinnati: Is it Allergies or COVID?
Allergy season is upon us, which unfortunately means every breath of fresh air could be met with a drippy nose and itchy eyes. In a non-COVID year, you’d probably pop an antihistamine and move on with your day, but now it's hard not to think that the coughing, sneezing, sore throat and fatigue could be…
Harrison’s Green Acres Kayak Rental Sets Season Opening Date
The unofficial cue of summer has been signaled. Harrison's Green Acres Kayak Rental has announced their anticipated season opening date. And there is quite possibly no better cure for the rough year we have all endured than sippin' on an ice cold beverage while floating on the Whitewater River in the sunshine. Get your koozies,…
Cincinnati Fashion Designer and ‘Project Runway’ Star Tessa Clark to Be Featured on New Reality TV Show
Local fashion designer and 2019 Project Runway contestant Tessa Clark is being featured on a new live reality TV show called The Collective, which debuts this summer in Cincinnati. The Collective — per its description — is a "new show about staging multi-city, high-tech fashion weeks with a select group of celebrity designers from the…
All Adults in Kentucky and Ohio Are Now Eligible for a COVID-19 Vaccine
As of this week, all adults in both Ohio and Kentucky are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Kentucky lowered its eligibility tier Monday, allowing all residents ages 16 and up to get a vaccine if they want one. COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer are approved for ages 16+, while those from Moderna and Johnson…
Today Is the Last Day to Register to Vote Before the Cincinnati Mayoral Primary
Ready to make your voice heard, Cincinnati? Today’s the final day to register to vote in time for the upcoming mayoral primary. The deadline for voter registration is 30 days prior to an election in Hamilton County. Because Cincinnati’s mayoral primary is scheduled for May 4, the deadline to register to vote is today, April…
Playhouse in the Park Announces In-Person Performances and Streaming Shows for Spring 2021
Even though traditional onstage theater still seems a way off, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has announced a series of limited-time events featuring nationally recognized theater artists. Plans include socially distant performances in the Marx Theatre, as well as several outdoor events, a pair of streaming productions and two "pod plays." Artistic Director Blake…
‘Person of Interest Podcast’ Highlights Cincinnati’s Compelling Characters
To help keep readers plugged into Cincinnati life even as we continue to physically distance from each other due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, CityBeat is highlighting a series of local podcasts and their creators every week. Read previous installments about "When Pigs Fly," "West End Stories," "Cincinnati Zoo Tails," "Cincy Brewcast" and "Nature Vs.…
New Jimmy Buffett-Inspired Private Tiki Cruise Sets Sail on the Ohio River
Calling all Parrotheads: There's a new tiki tour boat hitting the Ohio River upon which you can live out your best Margaritaville fantasies. Helmed by SS Tiki Tours, the Feeding Frenzy — named after the Jimmy Buffett album — is an 18-person party boat complete with its own bar, bathroom and solar-powered tiki torches, all decorated with…
Ohio’s Economy Ranks Fourth Worst in America for States Hit Hardest by the Pandemic
While the COVID-19 vaccination rollout has allowed us to finally see a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s safe to say folks will still feel the aftershocks of the pandemic for the foreseeable future. For over a year now, COVID has caused job loss and shutdowns throughout the country, the consequences of which…
Florence Y’alls Announce Season Schedule, Promotional Events
The Florence Y’alls have unveiled the schedule for their “first true season,” which includes auxiliary events such as live music performances, firework shows, Marvel’s superhero days and more. The season begins Memorial Day weekend on May 29, and tickets are now available for purchase. The recently rebranded Northern Kentucky Frontier League baseball team — previously known…
Remembering the 1989 R.E.M. Show at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum
Where were you on April 4, 1989? If you were anything like other music-loving Cincinnatians, you might have been at the R.E.M. concert at Riverfront Coliseum, now known as Heritage Bank Center. On Sunday, the now-defunct Athens, Georgia, band shared a setlist on Facebook from that Cincinnati show that occurred more than 30 years ago.…
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s Holocaust Commemoration Slated for April 8
The 41st annual governor’s Holocaust commemoration will take place online Thursday, April 8. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will host the memorial event that will include a conversation about Holocaust education. Speakers will include Holocaust survivor Dr. Al Miller as well as Dr. Stephen Smith, executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for…
Ohio Republicans Claim Public Health Practices = ‘Nazi Germany’
To Ohio lawmaker Kris Jordan, the mask requirement and the roll out of optional COVID-19 vaccines are two steps toward an American genocide like that of the Holocaust during World War II. “It’s just a mask, wear it. It’s just a shot, take it,” reads a March 31 Facebook post from Rep. Jordan, a Republican…
Amid Wave of Anti-Asian Violence, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted Continues to Call COVID the ‘Wuhan Virus’
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Thursday continued to insist that in calling it the “Wuhan virus,” he was only raising questions about the Chinese government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic — not blaming the disease on Asians. At the same time Husted, a Trump supporter, wouldn’t address the former president’s handling of the pandemic…
Graeter’s and LaRosa’s Locations Giving Out Free Pollinator Seed Packets on Earth Day
Local chains LaRosa's and Graeter's Ice Cream are celebrating Earth Day with a special giveaway. In partnership with the Cincinnati Nature Center, all LaRosa's and Graeter's locations will be giving away free seed packets filled with an assortment of milkweed, coneflower and black-eyed Susan on April 22. The goal is to encourage people to plant native…
Ohioans Deal with Pandemic Gloom Through Booze and Shopping, Survey Says
Many of us have joked about using retail therapy and booze to get through the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But it looks like that may not be a joke at all. In a March survey from Rehabs.com, a directory of addiction centers across the United States, people are admitting to “emotional spending” — buying something you…
Taste of Belgium Offering $100 Incentive for Employees to Get COVID Vaccine
Taste of Belgium is offering all current and future employees their own version of a stimulus: a $100 "thank you" to any of them who get the COVID-19 vaccine. “It’s been a long year and we’re as anxious as anyone to be out from under the pandemic. Our staff, as well as the rest of…
Proposals Call for Expanded Passenger Rail Service in Ohio
The possibility of expanded passenger rail service in Ohio has some residents brainstorming how it might impact their lives. A Columbus resident imagines being able to take a train to Chicago, a place they haven’t been “in ages.” A baseball fan from Dayton thinks he’d be able to attend games at Cleveland’s Progressive Field more…
Pig Candy BBQ Kitchen and Carryout Opens in a Historic Jail Near Coney Island
Local couple Paul Montgomery and Christina Goehrig opened their restaurant Pig Candy BBQ on March 26, but the idea has been marinating for a little over five years. Montgomery and Goehrig bought the Kellogg Avenue building in which the restaurant sits — near Dead Low Brewing and the Lunken Airport bike path — five years…
Fairfax’s Adults-Only Swim Club Opens for the Season This Month
Cincinnati Sports Club’s adults-only outdoor resort opened on April 15; the earliest opening date of any outdoor pool in Cincinnati and a much-needed getaway for those looking for a sweet escape. The new 2,000-square-foot outdoor pool is only for those 21 years of age and older and includes a poolside bar and café (opening Memorial…
Six Local Bars Capitalize on Ohio’s Now-Permanent Alcohol To-Go Law with Novel Drinking Experiences
Early in the pandemic, a slew of COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions threatened the livelihood of local bars and restaurants. But April 2020 saw an opportunity for financial and operational relief when the Ohio Liquor Control Commission passed an emergency rule allowing the sale and delivery of to-go alcohol. The rule was set to last 120…
FC Cincinnati Re-Signs eMLS player Gordon “Fiddle” Thornsberry
Cincinnati is home to one of the most promising and accomplished players in Major League Soccer’s electronic division (aka their esports team). Gordon “Fiddle” Thornsberry represents FC Cincinnati on the pixelated soccer field as their premier eMLS signing, a role he adopted in 2019. Thornsberry is magnificently good at FIFA video games, so much so…
Three New Refilleries and Zero-Waste-Living Shops Make Going Green Easier in Cincinnati
The joke is that Cincinnati is always 10 years behind the times, but with the launch of three new zero-waste boutiques, this sustainable lifestyle movement is infiltrating the Queen City. According to CNBC, the first American zero-waste grocery store opened in Austin, Texas in 2012. The idea behind these refilleries is to prevent waste by…
Japanese Pop-Up Mochiko Is Poised to Thrive in 2021 with a New Brick-and-Mortar in East Walnut Hills
In what’s been a turbulent 12 months for the restaurant industry, it’s refreshing to get some good news from a flourishing culinary team that was just planting its roots in Cincinnati before the pandemic. Mochiko, a Japanese-style pop-up run by Elaine Townsend and Erik Bentz, is getting ready to open the doors to its restaurant…
These Cincinnati Eats and Drinks Sustained Us Over the Last Year
We’ll admit it — we’ve totally been stress-eating our way through the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re not ashamed. How could we be, when there’s so much fantastic food in Cincinnati? We know that the restaurant and bar industry has been hit hard over the past year, but so many of our favorite places have found ingenious…
COVID-19 Vaccination Site Opens at Kenwood Towne Centre
The Jewish Hospital – Mercy Health has partnered with the Kenwood Towne Centre to open a new, temporary COVID vaccination site in the mall. “The Jewish Hospital and Mercy Health have enjoyed a great relationship with Kenwood Towne Centre for many years,” Pat Davis-Hagens, president of The Jewish Hospital, says in a release. “The Mall…
We Spent Our Stimulus Deposits on These Cincinnati Shops and Services Over the Last Year
You know that “Shut up and take my money” scene from Futurama (or, if you’ve never seen the show, the related meme)? That’s basically us. We love giving Cincinnati businesses all of our journalism dollars, meager as those funds may be. And thanks to the recent stimulus deposits from the U.S. government, we’ve had a little more…
Piper’s Cafe in Covington Rebrands as Piper’s Ice Cream Bar with Boozy Milkshakes and Soft Serve
After more than a decade, MainStrasse's walk-up creamy whip window Piper's Cafe has rebranded as Piper's Ice Cream Bar, with a new menu full of alcohol-infused treats, artisan coffee drinks and family-friendly desserts. A grand reopening will take place April 9, with live music from Kyle Knapp starting at 6:30 p.m. in the adjacent Hamelin Square…
These Aspects of Cincinnati Life Have Kept Us Going During the Last Year
It’s not easy to maintain a city that’s emerging into a national powerhouse while trying to keep the so-Cincinnati flavor of individual streets, blocks and neighborhoods intact and developing amenities that help residents thrive. But you know what? Folks in Cincinnati keep trying to do it. And we love them for it. Living in Cincinnati…
Light on IOWA — a Conversational Film with Photographer Nancy Rexroth — Gets Local Debut at Cincinnati Art Museum
The Cincinnati Art Museum is hosting the Queen City debut of a new film from local Ann Segal centered on iconic photographer Nancy Rexroth. Light on IOWA is the 10th in Segal's "Conversations with Photographers" series and features an intimate exchange with Rexroth about her childhood summers and how they influenced her work. A free virtual screening…
Moderna and Pfizer COVID Vaccines May Block Infection as Well as Transmission
Vaccines against COVID-19 are about 90 percent effective at blocking coronavirus infections, real-world studies of health care workers, firefighters, police, teachers and other essential workers suggest. Even after just one dose of the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, the vaccines reduced the chance of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, researchers report March 29 in Morbidity and…
Chipotle Wants You to Win Burritos or Bitcoin for National Burrito Day
Chipotle has now become the first U.S. company to offer cryptocurrency as a giveaway to customers, according to a media release from Chipotle. Today, on National Burrito Day, it will give away $100,000 in free burritos and $100,000 in Bitcoin. The National Burrito Day game, called “Burritos or Bitcoin,” requires users to guess a six-digit…
Forget April Fool’s Day and Join Akron, Ohio In Celebrating Devo Day Instead
While some folks attempt to "celebrate" April Fool's Day today you can opt to make better use of April 1st by celebrating Devo Day like the city of Akron. Proclaimed in an effort to whip fan votes to get the band, which was formed in Akron, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the…
This Time Tomorrow Performing Arts Festival Returns to the Contemporary Arts Center
Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center is hosting its second This Time Tomorrow performing arts festival April 7-11. (The inaugural fest took place in 2019; last year's event was canceled due to COVID.) Over the course of five days, local and international artists will bring a wide range of vanguard projects and experiences to Cincinnati audiences. The…
Over-the-Rhine’s HomeMakers Bar, Longfellow and Lost & Found Play “Catch” with Opening Day Specials and Literal Baseballs
Over-the-Rhine bars HomeMakers, Longfellow and Lost & Found are playing a special game of catch this Opening Day. The game, nicknamed #LostHomeFellow, asks patrons to show up to one of the bars and then "sign and pass (a) baseball or flash your challenge coin for a special treat." "There will be three baseballs in play.…
Here’s What to Expect During Easter Mass at Cincinnati Catholic Churches During a Coronavirus Pandemic
Easter Mass at Catholic churches typically is an occasion for fellowship in close proximity with many people. But as the coronavirus pandemic continues, traditions look a little different. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati provides guidelines for safely worshipping in person at area Catholic churches. The guidelines are in place for every Mass and other holy day…
Lil’s Bagels Is Celebrating Opening Day with a Special — and Super Limited — Cincy Chili Bagel
Happy Opening Day, Cincinnatians! While the annual Findlay Market Opening Day Parade is once again on hold this year due to COVID safety concerns, we can still celebrate in plenty of ways. (Here's a roundup of 10 Opening Day events and parties.) And Lil's Bagels in Covington is making sure people are fed — at…
Ohio’s Nuclear Bailout Bill Closer to Full Repeal, State Senators Urged to Finish the Job
Parts of a bill embroiled in possibly the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history will soon be repealed. However, some groups say the job's not yet finished. Ohio energy customers were footing the bill for millions of dollars in subsidies for the state's two nuclear power plants under 2019's House Bill 6. Not long after passage,…
Beginning April 5, All Kentucky Residents Ages 16+ Are Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccines
OK, Kentuckians — if you’ve been jealous of all these Ohio residents getting their vax on, it’s now your time to shine. Beginning Monday, April 5, all Kentucky residents who are age 16 and up are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Ohio began vaccinating residents over age 16 earlier this week. Kentucky Gov. Andy…
