Favorite Folk Duo Over the Rhine Brings Annual Christmas Concert Back to Memorial Hall
Yes, we know, we’re still hanging on to what’s left of our blink-of-an-eye summer and now we’re already talking about our plans for the holidays. Well, it’ll be here before you know it. And you have something pretty special to look forward to this year. After shifting their annual Christmas concert to a virtual performance…
This Weekend’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Fest Canceled Due to Heavy Rain
Organizers behind Tennessee's beloved Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival announced on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 31) that the 2021 event is canceled due to recent heavy rains impacting the festival site. The fest was scheduled for Sept. 2-5 and featured headliners Foo Fighters, Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, Tame Impala, Tyler, the Creator, Rufus du Sol and…
Rappel Down a Covington Skyscraper to Raise Funds for a Local Nonprofit
Has this year (and last year) been almost pushing you over the edge? The Life Learning Center is offering people the opportunity to literally go for it during its "Over the Edge" fundraiser. Seventy people — who raise $1,000 for the Covington-based nonprofit that helps "people transform their lives for long-term success" — can rappel down the…
Heads Up: The Roots Have Canceled Friday’s Show in Cincinnati
Questlove giveth and Questlove taketh away. The Roots have canceled the group's Cincinnati show that was scheduled for this Friday, Sept. 3, at the Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center. An Aug. 31 email from Music & Event Management (MEMI) says that the cancellation is due to "scheduling conflicts." Ticketholders can get refunds from their…
CANCELED: Folk Chanteuse Neko Case Plays Memorial Hall with The New Pornographer’s A.C. Newman
UPDATE: This event has been canceled, with this statement posted to the venue website: The September 3 Neko Case performance at Memorial Hall has been cancelled due to a positive COVID-19 test in the touring party. The performance will not be rescheduled at this time. If you would like to receive a refund, no action…
St. Vincent Supports Album ‘Daddy’s Home’ with a Candy Darling Blonde Wig and 1970s Vibe at ICON Festival Stage
Ever since she began writing, recording, and performing as St. Vincent, Annie Clark has found a way to be seriously good at what she does without taking herself too seriously. The title of her first album, Marry Me, was taken from a recurring joke in the series Arrested Development. In 2017, she paired up with…
Cincinnati Cyclones Announce Jason Payne as New Head Coach, Pro Hockey’s Only Current Head Coach of Color
It's a new era for the Cincinnati Cyclones, with one coach departing and another taking the reins. The Cyclones announced Tuesday that Jason Payne will become the team's newest head coach. Payne, who until today had been the Cyclones' assistant coach, replaces Matt Thomas, who will become the assistant coach for the Providence Bruins. "We…
Singer/Songwriter Katy Kirby Brings Post-Folk to MOTR Pub in Support of Her Debut Album
Katy Kirby was not raised on The Beach Boys, The Beatles, nor any of the Classic Rock bands that so many of our parents have passed down to our ears. For her evangelical Christian family in Spicewood, Texas, the house music was a little different. “My parents don’t know bands, but my dad loves barbershop…
Everything You Can Eat at This Weekend’s Smoke on the River BBQ Fest at Covington Plaza
If your mouth waters for meat, grab a pile of napkins for this weekend's Smoke on the River BBQ Festival at the new Covington Plaza. The three-day event takes place 5-11 p.m. Sept. 3, noon-11 p.m. Sept. 4 and noon-9 p.m. Sept. 5 along the riverfront with free live music and enough barbecue to give…
Inside Cincinnati’s Ventriloquism ConVENTion, Hosted by Local — and World’s Only — Ventriloquism Museum
Picture it. It’s 1979 at the Vent Haven ventriloquism ConVENTion in Erlanger, Kentucky. I’m 8-years-old and I’m surrounded by kids my own age who — like me — are aspiring “vents.” The experience is magical, full of performances by professionals who make the whole thing look easy. Even at this age, I know that Northern…
The Nonprofit Covington Street Hockey League Does More Than Play
Last fall, the Covington Street Hockey League (CSHL) seized an opportunity that allowed its game and philanthropic initiatives to grow. All it took was a crew of 24 people, some serious muscle, various power tools and a fleet of personally-owned trailers and trucks. One trip to Dayton and two days of work later, the crew…
Huzzah! Ohio Renaissance Festival Returns This Fall to Waynesville
Grab your stein and your corset: the Ohio Renaissance Festival will return to Waynesville's Renaissance Park this fall. The annual event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but — despite cases growing once again due to the Delta variant — the outdoor fest, "like a phoenix," will rise again this year, the website…
Erika Wennerstrom and the Heartless Bastards Are Back with a New Album and Cincinnati Tour Stop
For much of the past two decades, Erika Wennerstrom’s musical identity has been exemplified by the Cincinnati-spawned, now-Austin-based entity known as the Heartless Bastards. Since the band’s formation in 2003, the Bastards have been known for their blistering performances, with Wennerstrom as the ferociously intense focal point and lead singer, captivating audiences with her unique…
Q&A with Executive Chef Leroy Ansley of Over-the-Rhine’s Forthcoming Pearlstar Oyster Bar
Cincinnati’s newest oyster bar is nearly ready to open, soon set to offer fresh tastes from the ocean (and much more) in Over-the-Rhine. Executive Chef Leroy Ansley will oversee the kitchen at Pearlstar, located at 1220 Vine St. While the interior undergoes a redesign, Ansley is no stranger to this building — he was culinary…
Miami University, Xavier University to Require COVID Vaccines for Students
UPDATE: The University of Cincinnati has updated its COVID policy and will now require students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated. As the Delta variant surges through Ohio and the fall semester begins, colleges and universities are looking at how best to protect their students and staff. And Miami University and Xavier University have decided…
Aug. 31 Is the Inaugural Ohio Overdose Awareness Day
Ohio leaders are calling attention to drug overdoses in a new way. The Buckeye State is observing its first Ohio Overdose Awareness Day today, Aug. 31. Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 30 in June designating the observance. Flags are lowered to half-staff today in acknowledgment. According to the Ohio Department of Health, 4,028 Ohioans…
OTR’s Ziggy Whip Walk-Up Window Offers Intriguing Ice Cream Flavors, Hot Hand Pies and Vegan Treats
David Jackman was sitting at the bar at Collective Espresso in Over-the-Rhine when he got wind that the nearby The Takeaway was reopening. The Main Street deli and bottle shop had been hibernating for the winter and opened up again at the start of this summer. Since its inception, The Takeaway has doubled as a…
Cincinnati Children’s Joins National Pediatric Hospitals to Urge COVID-19 Vaccinations, Masks, Staff Relief
A local hospital is asking everyone to think of the children as COVID-19 becomes more dangerous than ever. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and several dozen pediatric healthcare facilities throughout the United States are joining forces this week to champion coronavirus protocols that could help protect children from contracting or succumbing to the virus. Michael…
Ohio Moves Closer to Legalizing Recreational Marijuana as State Gives OK for Petitioners to Gather Signatures
A state board gave the green light for organizers to begin gathering tens of thousands of signatures to inch closer to legalizing the sale of marijuana for recreational use in Ohio. Should they gather the roughly 133,000 signatures needed, the so-called “Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol” organizers would give their proposal to the Ohio General Assembly.…
Van Leeuwen Is Bringing Back Kraft Mac & Cheese Ice Cream, and Some Cincinnati Stores MIGHT Have It
Cincinnati, your tastebuds are in for something really awesome or really questionable. And since we're dairy fanatics here at CityBeat, we're going with the former. Earlier this summer, a flavor from Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream became the toast of the internet. Yes, bright yellow-orange macaroni & cheese ice cream…
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 2021 Will Now Last Four Days. Here’s The Schedule
Dust off your dirndl because Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is back in 2021 and it's bigger than ever. After last year's giant public party was canceled due to the pandemic, organizers are making up for it this year by adding an extra day (with festivities starting on Thursday) and extra hours. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati will run 5 p.m.-midnight…
Want to See Kacey Musgraves on Tour? You’ll Probably Have to Drive to Cleveland
Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves just announced special North American headlining tour dates in support of her new record and film, star-crossed. Kacey Musgraves' limited 15-city tour kicks off on Jan. 19 in Saint Paul and includes a Jan. 23 stop at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. King Princess and MUNA are confirmed as support artists for the…
These Cincinnati Arts Organizations and Venues Will Require Audience Masks and Vaccinations or Negative COVID-19 Test
In order to ensure that the show(s) can go on, Cincinnati arts organizations and venues have banded together to present uniform COVID-19 precautions going into the fall season. The announcement comes on the heels of new regulations at Cincinnati music venues, which have taken a similar stance against COVID. Audience members for upcoming productions at the…
Great, Hamilton County Has West Nile in Addition to COVID-19
Do you know what Greater Cincinnati didn't ask for this year? Mosquitos. Specifically, mosquitos that carry the West Nile virus. But that's what's happening, according to Hamilton County Public Health. In a news release late last week, the department said that mosquitos found in a compost facility in Columbia Township had tested positive for West…
The ‘World’s Biggest Bounce House’ is Coming to Cincinnati in September
A beam of light in a rather dark year: The Big Bounce America is headed for the Queen City this fall to offer a little bit of youthful jubilance to both kids and kids at heart. The touring attraction will bring the "world's biggest bounce house" and other extravagant inflatables to Cincinnati's Heroes Sports Park (2175 Springdale…
Pop-Punk Band All Time Low Headlines Cincinnati’s ICON, Adds New Hit Single to Repertoire
“We’ve been out (touring) for a couple of weeks now, and it’s feeling absolutely amazing,” says All Time Low front man Alex Gaskarth, who’s set to headline the ICON Music Center with his band on Sept. 12. “The way the songs are connecting with fans and getting to play some of these new songs that we…
Ohio Redistricting ‘Listening Tour’ Ends, With Proposed Maps as Next Step
Members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission ended their week in Mansfield as constituents continued to give input on legislative district map-drawing, and share their thoughts on the process. Throughout the week of two-a-day meetings, starting in Cleveland and winding through the state to Youngstown, Dayton, Cincinnati, Zanesville, Rio Grande, Lima, Toledo, Akron and Mansfield, commission members and/or their…
Local Judge Orders Cincinnati Hospital to Treat COVID-19 Patient with Animal Drug Ivermectin, Despite CDC Warnings
A Butler County judge ruled in favor of a woman last week who sought to force a hospital to administer Ivermectin — an animal dewormer that federal regulators have warned against using in COVID-19 patients — to her husband after several weeks in the ICU with the disease. Butler County Common Pleas Judge Gregory Howard ordered West…
Get Drunk, Build a Terrarium at Over-the-Rhine’s New Tipsy Terrarium Storefront
Is there anything better than a DIY project where you can BYOB? Over-the-Rhine's new Tipsy Terrarium opens Aug. 28 and will offer build-your-own terrarium classes, like a sip-and-paint party but with succulents and sauvignon instead. Owner Ravee Elmer got into terrarium making during the pandemic and decided to share her hobby with the rest of the…
Five Greater Cincinnati Thrift Stores That Give Back
From vintage and antique shops to secondhand stores, the Queen City is jam-packed with dozens of thrifting gems. While thrift stores can be the perfect spots to find inexpensive household items and clothes, some stores also donate a portion of their proceeds to community members in need. Here are five Cincinnati thrift stores that give…
The Empanada’s Box and Herban Vegans Open at Findlay Market via Findlay Launch Storefront Accelerator
Two new dining options are opening at Findlay Market next week: The Empanada’s Box and Herban Vegans. And not only does this mark a couple of fresh places to grab a bite, it's also the official debut of Findlay Launch — "the first Storefront Accelerator of its kind in our region, with a specific focus…
No One Asked For It, But Mountain Dew Is Releasing a Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Soda Anyway
It's a safe bet that for many folks, a soda combining the flavors of Mountain Dew and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos will end up tasting like indigestion and regret. Just the same, the iconic junk food brands have teamed up on a collaborative beverage dubbed Mtn Dew Flamin' Hot that purportedly combines “sweet, citrus DEW (sic)”…
Campbell County and Cincinnati Public Libraries Go Permanently Fine Free
For any bookworm out there who loses their sense of time when wrapped up in a good novel, the Campbell County Public Library (CCPL) says not to worry. The library system has decided to go permanently fine free after adopting that model in March 2020 because of COVID. CCPL says in a release that they…
How Coronavirus Vaccines Still Help People Who Already Had COVID-19
Some people who have been infected with coronavirus have questioned whether they really need vaccines. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people get vaccinated regardless of whether they’ve already had COVID-19. That’s in part because it’s still unclear how long immunity lasts after an infection. Studies have shown that antibodies hang around…
Cincinnati Public Schools Considers COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Employees
A proposed policy from a Cincinnati Public Schools committee could require COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees within the district. The CPS Board of Education's Policy and Equity Committee recommended the mandate during its Aug. 26 meeting. It would require all district teachers, staff and support employees to get one of the three COVID-19 vaccines currently…
COVID-19 Engulfs Ohio and Kentucky, and 8 Other Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
The summer COVID-19 spike continues, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) labeling every county in Greater Cincinnati — as well as throughout much of the nation — as high risk. Keep reading for the latest depressing figures, plus find a few fun local things to do to keep pandemic fever at bay.…
Another ‘Karen’ Causes a Congee Controversy, but Cincinnati Restaurants Have the Traditional Asian Dish
Congee is an understated staple of many Asian communities. So who could have predicted that the humble rice porridge would become the centerpiece of America’s latest conversation about cultural appropriation? Media and others became aware of an Oregon-based company called Breakfast Cure after a tweet from the company went viral in July claiming to "improve" on traditional congee…
Ohio COVID-19 Cases Leap by 900% Over a Month, Health Department Says
More than 3,000 Ohioans per day are contracting COVID-19 on average, the highest the rate has been since early February. Over the last month, hospitalizations increased by between 83% and 375% by age group, according to data from the Ohio Hospital Association. As children go back to school, more students are testing positive. Comparing the…
Amador Cuban Restaurant and Rum Bar Coming to Newport on the Levee
Nick Pesola of chicken joint Revolution Rotisserie is tapping into his love of Latin American culture for his newest venture: Amador, a Cuban restaurant and rum bar at Newport on the Levee. Basing the concept off of a Cuban "paladar" — "an independently-owned, local restaurant where the best food and drinks are often found," says…
Cincinnatians Can Open Their Homes to Afghan Refugees Through Special Airbnb Program
Want to help refugees from the current crisis in Afghanistan but aren't sure exactly what to do? Global rental platform Airbnb has stepped up to not only provide free temporary housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees across the world, but also make it easy for anyone to open their own house to those in need. Via…
Top 10 Things To Do In Cincinnati This Weekend (Aug. 27-29)
Eat an Oktoberfest chicken, swim the Ohio River or "FastForward" to the future at the Contemporary Arts Center's dance party and fundraiser. Or adopt a ton of puppies. FRIDAY, AUG. 27 Germania Society's BIG Biergarten Experience Instead of hosting a traditional Oktoberfest weekend, the Germania Society of Cincinnati is making things bigger with a "BIG…
Art Academy of Cincinnati Celebrates Expansion into Former BarrelHouse Space with Weekend Block Party
The Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) is throwing a house party this weekend to celebrate its expansion into Over-the-Rhine's former BarrelHouse Brewing Co. The AAC moved from its one-time home in Mount Adams to its current building at 1212 Jackson St. in 2005. At that time, the space was attached to the iconic BarrelHouse —…
LGBTQ+ Residents in Ohio Look for Fair Representation in Redistricting Maps
Ohio leaders are drawing new voting district maps, with help from data from the 2020 census, but advocates for LGBTQ+ political representation say the census figures lack key information. Sexual orientation and gender identity are topics not included on the census form. Kathryn Poe, public policy organizer for Equality Ohio, explained people who live with…
Public Universities in Ohio Prepare for Another Fall Semester of COVID-19
As the Delta variant sweeps across the state, Ohio's public universities are taking a range of protective measures for the upcoming fall semester, from requiring students to report their vaccination status to implementing incentive programs to motivate students to get vaccinated. All 14 state universities are requiring masks indoors for the fall semester, according to…
Eat a Crispy Oktoberfest Chicken at the Germania Society’s BIG Biergarten Experience This Weekend
Instead of hosting a traditional Oktoberfest weekend, the Germania Society of Cincinnati is taking things bigger with a "BIG Biergarten Experience" spread out over two weekends — and this is the final weekend to enjoy it. Enjoy all the typical gemütlichkeit you've come to expect, plus eight German beers on tap, tons of German-style food (including Oktoberfest…
Cincinnati’s Kings of Leon Concert Is Happening on Aug. 31 After All
We're safe, Cincinnati! After a COVID-19 scare had put Kings of Leon's upcoming Cincinnati show in jeopardy, the band says that most concerts on its tour will remain in place — including the Aug. 31 stop at Riverbend Music Center. On Aug. 19, Kings of Leon announced that it would not take the stage that…
FCC Proposes $5.1 Million Fine for Right-Wing Fraudsters Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman for Election Robocall Scheme in Ohio
The FCC announced this week it will seek a $5.1 million fine for Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman for a robocall scheme that flooded urban areas in Ohio and Midwest states with disinformation prior to the 2020 election in an effort to suppress voter turnout. Targeted to Black voters, the robocalls, one of which you can…
Beshear Yanks Kentucky’s School Masking Order after State Supreme Court Ruling
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has rescinded a statewide order for those in schools to mask up, just two weeks after putting the order in place. The Kentucky Supreme Court shared an opinion Aug. 21 that the state's General Assembly could limit what a governor can and cannot do on his or her own. In practice,…
Clifton’s Burnet Woods to Host Free Cincy VegFest This Weekend
Cincy VegFest returns to the Burnet Woods Bandstand in Clifton this weekend (Aug. 28) for a day devoted to plant-based living. The event is free and family-friendly, and will celebrate vegan lifestyle with "world-class" bites and food demos, film screenings, educational speakers, live music and yoga. Cincy VegFest kicks off at 10:45 a.m. with yoga…
Texas Puppies, Small Dogs Rescued from Euthanasia by Cincinnati Animal CARE Available at ‘Puppypalooza’
Almost 50 puppies and small dogs from Texas will be available for adoption at this Saturday's Puppypalooza at Cincinnati Animal CARE's shelter in Northside. Puppypalooza takes place noon-6 p.m. Aug. 28. The local animal welfare group took in 46 dogs after the Texas shelter was about to have to start euthanizing animals for space. The dogs…
Key West-Inspired Bar Pilar to Open on Downtown’s Revitalized Court Street
Downtown's recently revitalized Court Street is getting tropical with the addition of Key West-themed bar Pilar. The new drinking destination, from Four Entertainment Group (4EG) hosts its grand opening celebration on Saturday, Aug. 28. Located across the street from Kroger on the Rhine, the bar takes inspiration from famed American author Ernest Hemingway — the bar's namesake…
Cincinnati Parks Giving Away Free Trees to Plant in Your Yard to Help Urban Tree Canopy
For the 33rd year, Cincinnati Parks is giving away free trees as part of its ReLeaf effort to help build the city’s tree canopy. The “tree canopy” is a term used to describe how many trees and how much coverage they provide in order to offset the “impacts of air pollution, urban heat island effect,…
Toadies Cancel ‘Rubberneck’ Anniversary Show in Covington and Elsewhere Because of All the COVID
Sorry, Cincinnati, but you'll have to wait a bit longer to see the Toadies. The Alt-Rock band from Texas recently announced that it's canceling nearly all of its concerts on its 25th-anniversary tour for Rubberneck, the 1994 album that spurred the band's popularity. The band was set to play Madison Theater in Covington on Oct.…
Kentucky Legislators Ask State to Help Relocate Afghan Refugees
State Democratic leaders are urging Gov. Andy Beshear to offer a permanent home to Afghan refugees in Kentucky. At least a dozen other governors so far have pledged to help people leaving Afghanistan relocate to their states. Rep. Joni Jenkins (D-Shively) said she and her colleagues have sent a formal letter to the governor and the congressional…
Jason Isbell Schedules Back-to-Back Shows in Cincinnati at ICON Music Center for December
Alt-Country stalwart and COVID-19 vaccination advocate Jason Isbell and his band the 400 Unit are on their way to Cincinnati. Isbell will perform back-to-back shows at the Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center on Friday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 11, a press release says. Grand Ole Opry star Marty Stuart will be the featured…
Hundreds Demonstrate Outside Ohio Statehouse to Support Vaccine Choice Act
One day after the Ohio House Speaker announced a “pause” on a sweeping anti-vaccination bill — House Bill 248 — the House Health Committee spent five hours Tuesday fielding testimony laden with medical claims about vaccines that are diametrically opposed to guidance from state and federal health officials. While the hearing, the bill’s sixth, was ostensibly about…
POSTPONED: More Than 200 Humans Will Jump Into the Ohio River During This Weekend’s Great Ohio River Swim
UPDATE: This event has been postponed to Sept. 19 due to river conditions. “The safety of swimmers is our top priority,” said Miriam Wise, associate director of Adventure Crew, which organizes the event. “In advance of the Swim, we evaluate river stage, velocity, presence of debris, algae, bacteria and ambient weather. If river conditions do not…
Hip Hop Star Nelly Teams Up With ‘Country Music’s Biggest Rising Stars’ for Tour with a Cincinnati Stop
When two great things collide, we're often rewarded with something extra great. For instance, chocolate and peanut butter, a margarita and a pool to float in, or in the example of this article, Country and Hip Hop music. Sure, that last one could garner some debate, but that isn't stopping Nelly and his nationally touring …
Monthly Rent in Cincinnati Still Could Become an Even Bigger Burden Than It Is Now, Reports Say
That old rule about keeping your housing costs under 30% of your pay? For renters, that's going out the window this year — that is, if it hasn't already. According to a new report by Zillow, renters will give more than 30% of their income to their landlords by the end of 2021, which is…
Break Out the Cheesecake: The Golden Girls Are Coming to the Big Screen in Cincinnati for a Special Engagement
Thank you for being a friend, Fathom Events, and bringing the beloved Golden Girls to the big screen for a special September engagement, "Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls." On Sept. 14 and 21 select local theaters wills screen two hours of classic episodes featuring the ever-entertaining antics of Bea Arthur (Dorothy Zbornak), Betty White (Rose Nylund), Rue…
Victim in Ride Accident at Cedar Point — Same Company that Owns Kings Island — Is “Fighting For Her Life”
The victim in an Aug. 15 ride accident at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio is "fighting for her life," according to a statement released by her family. The woman, a 44-year-old resident of Michigan identified as Rachel Hawes, was struck in the head while waiting in line by a part of the Top Thrill Dragster ride that became…
Local Owners Can Rehome Pets without Surrendering Them to Shelter with New Cincinnati Animal CARE Website
For any number of reasons, a pet owner may need to find a new home for their animal. And that reality can be as traumatic for the owner as the pet, especially if it means the animal has to relocate to the shelter while they await their new forever home. To help "give pet owners…
Eric Deters Wants to Celebrate Donald Trump on 9/11 with a ‘Freedom Fest’ in Kentucky, Because America
Ousted Greater Cincinnati attorney Eric Deters doesn't think there are enough pro-Donald Trump events these days, so he's planning one himself. Deters, who has been suspended from practicing law in Kentucky due to ethical violations, is organizing Freedom Fest, a "kid-friendly" event in Morning View, Kentucky, about 30 miles south of Cincinnati. The honorary guest…
Ohio School Vaccine Records Missing for Tens of Thousands of Students
School vaccination records were missing or incomplete among roughly 1 in 5 sampled Ohio middle and high school students last year, despite state law requiring local boards of education to track immunizations records of all enrolled students. All Ohio students, per state law, must be vaccinated against mumps, tetanus, polio, measles, Hepatitis B, chicken pox and…
Fountain Square Opens New Drinking Hub ‘The Container Bar’ in a Shipping Container
Downtown's Fountain Square just welcomed a boozy new addition to its vibrant entertainment destination. Fountain Square announced the opening of The Container Bar on Facebook on Aug. 24, welcoming folks visit the 20-foot-by-8-foot shipping-container-turned-bar located on the bustling square. https://www.facebook.com/MyFountainSquare/posts/10159080426848880 The new drinking spot, across from the restrooms, features a full-service bar, as well as…
Ohio Brewery Dealing with Online Backlash Created by Dumbass Tweet by Noted Dumbass Josh Mandel
Josh Mandel last week did what he's been doing ever since he launched his campaign to fail up into the U.S. Senate: He visited an Ohio business and tweeted a picture with an employee, teasing out some detail from the moment into a grand proclamation on AMERICA. This time, however, it wasn't about some dude…
Woodward Theater and MOTR Pub Latest Venues to Require Proof of Vaccination, Negative COVID Test for Entry
As a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic washes over Ohio and the rest of the country thanks to the Delta variant, more and more local music venues are looking toward implementing safety measures to help cut down on transmission risk while continuing to embrace the return of live music. The latest venues to join…
FDA Grants Full Approval for Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine
People who have avoided getting a COVID-19 vaccine have one less excuse as of Monday morning. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval for Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine on Aug. 23 — the first approval among the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States. The approval replaces the emergency use authorization that the…
Purple People Bridge to Host ‘Boom on the Bridge’ During Labor Day Fireworks Show
The annual Western & Southern/WEBN fireworks display will return to the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky riverfront on Sept. 5, after taking a pandemic-induced hiatus of the full-scale event last year. And this year, you can experience the epic show with a front row seat to the action while helping fund repairs to a beloved pedestrian…
Pandemic Forced Women in Restaurant Industry to Reevaluate How It Values Their Work, Says Study
In a series of studies from last year, economists documented the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and its financial fallout on women, particularly in service professions. As they inventoried the damage, they adopted the term “She-Cession” to describe the devastating, long-term impacts on women in the restaurant industry — financial and otherwise. “We’ve seen long-term…
Is Cincinnati Really for Dog Lovers? A 2021 Study Says Not So Much
With Greater Cincinnati's many parks and trails, you'd think the region would be one of the best for dogs, right? Wrong, says lawn-care service LawnStarter. In a new study released Aug. 20, LawnStarter ranks Cincinnati as only the No. 69 city for dog lovers. The 2021 report includes the largest 200 U.S. cities. To determine…
As Classes Return, 62.5% of Eligible 12-18 Year Olds Unvaccinated in Ohio
Nearly two in three age-eligible teenagers in Ohio remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 as summer ends and the disease looms over its third consecutive school year. Spokespersons for the state departments of health and education said they did not know what percentage of students enrolled in public schools are vaccinated. However, looking at the total population…
Vegan TikTok Influencer Tabitha Brown Stops by Harmony Plant Fare in Findlay Market on a Visit to Cincinnati
Singer/songwriter Jewel's The Wellness Experience event, co-founded with Kroger, is taking place at The Banks this weekend (Aug. 20-21). [READ: CityBeat's interview with Jewel] The fest includes more than "100 experiences focused on four core pillars of transformation: health, activity, nutrition and inspiration," according to a release. And along with an anxiety workshop led by…
New Studies Hint That the Coronavirus May Be Evolving to Become More Airborne
Small aerosol particles spewed while people breathe, talk and sing may contain more coronavirus than larger moisture droplets do. And the coronavirus may be evolving to spread more easily through the air, a new study suggests. But there is also good news: Masks can help. About 85% of coronavirus RNA detected in COVID-19 patients’ breath…
Ohio House Rep Who Called Vaccines “Poison” Protests Vax Mandates Outside Kettering Health Hospital
An Ohio House representative joined a protest last week outside a Miamisburg hospital that announced a requirement that caregivers receive vaccination against COVID-19. Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) said he joined the demonstration because vaccines should be a matter of personal choice, and it’s not an employer’s place to require them. In an interview, he…
State Agriculture Department Wants Ohioans’ Help Finding Invasive Spotted Lanternflies
Ohio's Department of Agriculture wants help from nature enthusiasts or anyone else who can assist in eradicating an invasive insect that can do significant damage to plants and crops. The spotted lanternfly, a plant-hopper native to Asia, was discovered in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. In Ohio, it was first spotted in Jefferson County last…
Joey Votto Smacks 2,000th Hit, and 7 Other Important Stories You May Have Missed This Week
Baseball fans have got to be loving this week, with Joey Votto hitting yet another milestone and the Cincinnati Reds heading to Iowa to pay tribute to one of the best baseball films of all time. Catch up on those and other Cincinnati stories below. Kentucky Health Commissioner: If You're Spreading False COVID-19 Information, You're…
Simone Biles and Gold Over America Gymnastics Tour Head Everywhere but Cincinnati in October
If you're already jonesing for a taste of Olympic mastery, there's another helping just around the corner, and G.O.A.T. is on the menu. That is, if you're in one of the nearby cities not named Cincinnati. Serving up Olympic gold realness via the Gold Over America Tour, are decorated gymnasts Jordan Chiles, MyKayla Skinner, Grace…
Co-Founder Jewel Talks Mental and Physical Health Ahead of This Weekend’s Wellness Experience at The Banks
Grammy-nominated singer, actress and two-time New York Times bestselling author Jewel co-founded Cincinnati's The Wellness Experience in 2018 with Kroger. The annual event features nationally known and local musicians, health-focused speakers, food demonstrations (with a focus on plant-based eating) and workout classes — all free to visitors with the donation of a non-perishable food item. The…
Upcoming Kings of Leon Concert in Cincinnati May Be in Jeopardy Due to COVID-19 Infection
Last night, the Kings of Leon show at Blossom Music Center in Cleveland was postponed, and fans are waiting to see if upcoming concerts — like the one in Cincinnati — may be next. The band announced Thursday afternoon on its Twitter account that it would not take the stage that evening after one of…
Sardonic Superhero and Author David Sedaris Bringing All New Readings and Q&A to Music Hall This Fall
Everyone's favorite humorous misanthrope David Sedaris is spending an evening with Cincinnatians on Nov. 30. Starting at 7:30 p.m. at Music Hall, Sedaris will be reading from his new books The Best Of Me and A Carnival of Snackery. The Best Of Me is a collection of previously published works, which novelist Andrew Sean Greer…
With COVID on the Rise, Ohio Cities Revive Mask Mandates as New State Law Stops Health Departments
First the Mount Vernon City School District opted against requiring masks for students. Then Gambier, a small village of 2,400, mandated masks indoors in town — where one of the district’s elementary schools happens to exist. Finally, the sheriff said neither he nor his deputies would enforce the law. It’s August 2021 and the mask wars are back — if they…
Cincinnati Library Renovation Continues with Skylight, Elevator Work This Weekend
Things may get loud in the Cincinnati Public Library this weekend, but people aren't being rude. The downtown branch of the local library system is in the first phase of its big renovation and plans to work on the skylight and elevators in the South Building this weekend. On Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22,…
Top 12 Things To Do In Cincinnati This Weekend (Aug. 20-22)
From a free festival focused on health and wellness — and live music — to the Midwest Black Family Reunion and an immersive digital Vincent van Gogh show, here's what's happening this weekend. FRIDAY, AUG. 20 The Carnegie's Little Shop of Horrors The horror-flick-inspired cartoonish musical Little Shop of Horrors, with a Motown-style score by Alan Menken, has…
Burlington Antique Show Offers Sunday Funday Vintage Shopping in Northern Kentucky This Weekend
The Burlington Antique Show, the Midwest’s premier antique market, is back this Sunday, Aug. 22. "It’s the best and safest place with it being outside, under the sun with fresh air all around," said show manager Tony Pham in a press release. Expect to hunt through authentic wares — Midcentury Modern, Art Deco, pre-war, Industrial…
Poll: More Than Half of Ohioans Want to Know Colleagues’ COVID-19 Vaccine Statuses at Work
Knowledge is power, as the saying goes, and Ohioans are seemingly craving more knowledge as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. In a recent survey, background check company IProspectCheck found that more than half of Ohio residents — 55% — think that it should be mandatory for workers to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status to their…
Wildlife Art of John A. Ruthven to Be Exhibited on Hiking Trails at Cincinnati Nature Center
The Cincinnati Nature Center is offering an immersive way to enjoy the art of late local wildlife painter and conservationist John A. Ruthven. Through Nov. 14, the center will be displaying prints from the artist for the "John A. Ruthven Tribute on the Trails." The nature center says the artworks were picked and placed along…
Wave Pool’s Pool Party Block Party Is Back with Live Music, Carnival Games and an Inflatable Waterslide
Camp Washington's Wave Pool art gallery and community space is taking its name literally this weekend with a Pool Party fundraiser and block party. Wear your bathing suit and be prepared to careen down an inflatable waterslide in between sets of live local music and carnival games, all located along the street and grassy lots…
Cincinnati’s Rose Lavelle, USWNT Will Play Paraguay at TQL Stadium in September
The country's Olympic soccer darling is coming home. Fresh from her effort at the Tokyo Olympics, Cincinnati's own Rose Lavelle is bringing the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) with her to the Queen City on September 21 for a FIFA match against Paraguay. The match at TQL Stadium in the West End is part of the…
Ohio House Republicans Propose Voter Photo ID Law, Prohibiting Ballot Drop Boxes, Ending Most Absentee Voting
Republicans in the Ohio House of Representatives proposed sweeping voting restrictions last week that would impose new hurdles for voters to register and cast a ballot. The legislation, if passed, would require voters to present state issued photo identification to vote, eliminate no-excuse absentee voting, prohibit the use of ballot drop boxes and more. House…
Touring Roundup: Underoath, Over the Rhine, Dennis Quaid Announce Cincinnati Concerts
A dreary winter can definitely be improved with live music, so thank goodness holiday shows are being scheduled all over the Queen City. However, before you head out to your concert, check your venue for mask and vaccination policies. Memorial Hall, Riverbend Music Center, Bogarts, Taft Theater and other venues have announced that they will…
Contemporary Arts Center FastForward Gala on Aug. 28 Encourages Futuristic Fashion Choices
The past few years may not be something we necessarily want to look back on, which is why the theme of the Contemporary Arts Center’s annual gala this year might be so fitting. The FastForward Gala encourages guests “to reimagine the present moment and lean into the unknown with vibrance and optimism,” according to the…
Garth Brooks Cancels Paul Brown Stadium Concert and Four Other Upcoming Shows Due to COVID Wave
Country superstar Garth Brooks is canceling five of his upcoming The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour shows due to the recent spike in COVID-19. And one of those dates is at Paul Brown Stadium. Brooks' Sept. 18 show at Paul Brown Stadium is now off, as are his upcoming shows in Charlotte, Baltimore, Foxborough and Nashville. In…
Cincinnati Bengals Goes Cashless for Full-Capacity 2021-2022 Season
The Cincinnati Bengals are setting new fan expectations as the team returns to an expected full season in Paul Brown Stadium. But its COVID-19 safety protocols may look a little different from other teams in the NFL. The Bengals announced on Aug. 17 that Paul Brown Stadium would be operating at full capacity for the…
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Return to Music Hall with MusicNOW, Nightmare Before Christmas and More
After more than a year of virtual performances, outdoor events and scheduling uncertainty, the classical arts are returning to Cincinnati in a big way. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops return with all-out seasons of performances in Music Hall with full orchestra, including the May Festival Chorus. The CSO announced its 2021-22 season in…
Live Audiences and Multiple Genres Mark the Return of Theater in Cincinnati This Fall
As the fall theater season readies for a start in the weeks ahead, Cincinnati is welcoming audiences back with engaging slates of drama, comedy and music. These scheduled productions were accurate as of press time, but with the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the region and the uncertainty of live theater performances since March…
Taft Museum of Art Begins Restoration of 200-Year-Old House, Reinterprets Collection ‘In a New Light’
A treasured, historical painting needs proper care to continue to tell its story sharply and accurately. A viewer might be attracted to the deep hue of delicate clothing on a famed king or the fine brush strokes of a rolling landscape’s blades of grass. An experienced eye could even note the era in which a work…
Without the Pandemic, Cincinnati Americana Band The Hiders’ New Album, Forever at the End, Might Never Have Happened
With a laugh, Billy Alletzhauser fields the compliment that his band The Hiders’ new album, Forever at the End, will cement his reputation as a master of mid-tempo, sad-bastard Americana. He then admits to a bit of pre-interview planning prior to our meeting in his studio, dubbed the Belfry. “When I brought you up here,…
Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs to Play MLB Field of Dreams Game in 2022
It looks like the Cincinnati Reds will be part of one of the most beloved events in baseball next year. Multiple reports say that the Reds will take on the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball's Field of Dreams game in 2022. NBC Sports Chicago first reported the story on Aug. 16, saying that the…
Immersive Vincent van Gogh Installations Are Flooding the Country, Including a Show at Indianapolis’ Newfields
Throughout the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have longed for the return of shared public arts experiences that can bring us together. To that end, Vincent van Gogh is coming to the rescue. The Dutch-born painter — who changed art with the vividly colorful Post-Impressionist landscapes, still lifes and portraits he created in the…
Kentucky Health Commissioner: If You’re Spreading False COVID-19 Information, You’re Killing People
On Tuesday, Kentucky's health leader did not mince words: "Those who are passing along lies — they are lies — about these vaccines are killing people." That was the latest COVID-19 message from Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner for the Kentucky Department for Public Health, during an Aug. 17 briefing with Gov. Andy Beshear. Stack and…
Officer Involved In Breonna Taylor Shooting Splits from Publisher After Company Refused to Distribute Book
Jonathan Mattingly, one of the officers who fired his gun in the Breonna Taylor raid, is parting ways with the publisher he was working with on his upcoming memoir because of Simon & Schuster’s refusal to distribute it, according to Post Hill Press. Mattingly wrote in a blog post on the conservative American Thinker website that he…
Cincinnati Psych Rock Band Pop Empire Plays Fountain Square with The Harlequins and Slow Glows
In the Roman Catholic tradition, a novena is a ritual that takes place over nine consecutive days in which participants dedicate prayer to a particular saint or holy figure. If you’re talking about Cincinnati Psych-Rock bands, though, Novena refers to the nine tracks that make up Pop Empire’s most recent LP. Arriving mid-2019, the record…
Kentucky Child COVID-19 Hospital Admissions Have Hit a Record High
Seventeen children were hospitalized on Aug. 16 for COVID-19 — the highest number ever in Kentucky. The previous high was 12 admissions in December, according to Gov. Andy Beshear’s office. COVID cases in Kentucky children increased more than 400% last month, from 133 on July 16 to 548 on Aug. 16. “COVID-19 isn’t just hitting…
