10 Cincinnati Bars, Breweries and Restaurants Open on Christmas
Ah, Christmas — the perfect day for cozying up inside with your near and dear and watching the gentle snowfall from in front of a fireplace. Just kidding. It’s supposed to hit 60 degrees in Cincinnati on Christmas Day, and who says you have to spend your holiday cooped up inside, anyway? Not CityBeat, that’s…
The Forest Fair Mall Apparently Still Decorates for Christmas and Reddit is Creeped Out
The Forest Fair Mall — also known as Cincinnati Mills — is apparently still in the holiday spirit, despite being nearly abandoned, save for Arcade Legacy, Kohl's, B Adventurous Inflatable Party Place and Bass Pro Shop. And Reddit is sufficiently creeped. A photo posted on the Cincinnati Subreddit Dec. 20 sets the eerie scene. A decked out…
Where to Eat, Drink and Party on New Year’s Eve in Cincinnati This Year
There's something fun for everyone this New Year's Eve in the Queen City. From live music and a Bourbon Street feast to a mid-century-style celebration, dance parties, indoor fireworks and more — Cincinnati knows how to send off a decade in style. Glow Vision New Year’s Eve at 3 Points One of Cincinnati's most popular…
With Todd Portune’s Chosen Temporary Replacement, Hamilton County Commission Could Be All-Female Soon
As Hamilton County Commission member Todd Portune gets set to retire Dec. 31 due to his battle with cancer, his preferred temporary replacement could make history. Portune has recommended his chief of staff Victoria Parks to fill his seat until at least the Democratic Party's March 17 primary. Should the Hamilton County Democratic Party's central…
Comedy Icon Carol Burnett Adds Second Show at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center Due to Popular Demand
People in Cincinnati really love Carol Burnett. Tickets to see the comedy legend at the Aronoff Center on May 5 just went on sale this past Friday (Dec. 20) and they're already close to being sold out. The ticketing site says there are currently only single seats available. But local fans excited to see Burnett's…
The Year in News 2019
If you expected 2019 to be anything else other than a wild ride news-wise, well, you haven’t been paying attention. But several stories in the national and local news landscapes were enough to surprise even the most jaded news junkie. Here are some of the major ones in no particular order — plus some of…
Portion of Cincinnati Homeless Camp Ban Overturned by Appeals Court
A ban on encampments by those experiencing homelessness can only apply to public property within the limits of the City of Cincinnati, the Ohio First District Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 20, limiting the scope of the ban a Hamilton County judge ordered in August of 2018. The ban came after the city ordered a…
Esquire Theatre is Screening Laughably Bad ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’ This Christmas
Maybe you're the kind of family that heads to the cinema post-Christmas celebrations. Or maybe you just don't partake and need something — anything! — to do on your day off. Either way, a wealth of films have hit the silver screen this holiday season, from the vibrant and warmly rendered remake of Little Women to…
Sunday is Quarterback Andy Dalton’s Last Game as a Cincinnati Bengal. Probably.
If you are a Bengals fan, what did you wish for more going into the holiday season? Winning every game before the end of the year to possibly avoid having the worst record in the NFL? Or losing every game and ensuring the team would get the top pick in the 2020 NFL draft? Getting…
Canadian Company Will Acquire Cincinnati Bell
A Canadian infrastructure company is acquiring Cincinnati Bell, the latter announced today. Toronto-based Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is paying $2.6 billion for the local communications and technology services company, pending shareholder and federal government approval. Shareholders will receive $10.50 per share when the deal closes — likely by the end of next year. Cincinnati Bell's board…
EMMA: Wine With Friends Now Open in Cincinnati’s East End
EMMA: Wine With Friends* is an approachable new wine bar and shop located in Cincinnati's East End. The bar opened on Dec. 17 and features over 40 different wines on tap that are available via a self-service platform so that visitors can explore and taste at their own pace. In addition to wine, guests can…
Harlem Globetrotters Trot Back to Cincinnati This Weekend for Some Family-Friendly Basketball Shenanigans
The basketball acrobats and magicians in the Harlem Globetrotters may trot the globe, but the team is a uniquely American entertainment phenomenon, from their red, white and blue color scheme to the entrepreneurial ingenuity that spawned them. The Globetrotters’ origins stretch back to 1926, when a team was created to play exhibition basketball games before…
Christmas Music Machine Mannheim Steamroller to Perform Concert in Cincinnati This Week
Mannheim Steamroller is a Christmas music machine. And that well-oiled machine is currently on its 35th-annual holiday tour, which, according to a press release, makes it the “longest running consecutive tour in the entertainment industry.” The project first came together in the mid-’70s when composer Chip Davis needed an alias under which to release his…
The WWE Live Holiday Tour Comes to Cincinnati for a Post-Christmas Bash Fest
’Twas the night after Christmas and all through downtown, several creatures were stirring and ready to pound. Each other, that is. Several of the WWE’s biggest stars are spending the holidays on the road, performing for fans from New York’s Madison Square Garden to L.A.’s Staples Center. The post-Christmas Cincinnati show will be headlined by…
‘Uncut Gems’ is a Raging Hurricane with Adam Sandler as Its Eye
Uncut Gems is the explosive, razor-edged followup to Benny and Josh Safdie's 2017 masterpiece Good Time. Like that film, which starred Robert Pattinson as a man on a frantic chase to rescue his mentally disabled brother from a trip to Rikers Island, Gems plays out in a whirling, manic, jittery New York City, with a…
Ensemble Sparkles in ‘Bombshell,’ a Tale of Hens in the Fox House
Bombshell, the new film about the culture of sexual harassment at Fox News under Roger Ailes, belongs to a cinema lineage that includes the likes of The Big Short and VICE. These films are gimmicky dashes through very recent history, jam-packed with info and Oscar-worthy performances. Screenwriter Charles Randolph, who penned the script for both…
Rap Artist Tech N9ne to Bring His Extensive ‘ENTERFEAR Tour 2020’ to Cincinnati
Rap artist and entrepreneur Tech N9ne has announced an extensive U.S. tour in 2020 that will bring him back to Cincinnati in May. Joined by special guest JellyRoll (as well as King I.S.O and Maez301), Tech N9ne is set to perform at Bogart's on May 12. Tickets go on sale next week via livenation.com. In the…
In the Spirit of New Year Resolutions, It’s Time for a Reset on Haze in Theater Productions
It’s 7:30 p.m. Or 8. Or 2:30. I don’t know what theater you’re going to, OK? This is a company-and-city-agnostic essay and you’re reading this at work anyway, so suspend your disbelief this one time, I’m begging you. OK, so… it’s 8 p.m. on a Saturday night and you’ve walked into the theater, ready to…
Cincinnati Theatre We Loved in 2019
Cincinnati saw its fair share of impactful theatre this year. Here are a few excerpts from reviews CityBeat writers sealed with a critic’s pick in 2019. In the Heights at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Sun up on a hot, early July morning. Usnavi (Ryan Alvarado) opens his bodega, a stop-and-shop that deals mostly in…
Louisville Power Pop Rockers White Reaper Announce 2020 Concert in Newport
Before heading out on tour in Europe with Pearl Jam next summer, Louisville Pop Rock group White Reaper will be performing all over the U.S., including a March visit to Newport, Kentucky. The group — which released their highly accessible major-label debut, You Deserve Love, in October — will play the Southgate House Revival on…
Top 10 Films of 2019
Every year-end review is another mixtape of scenes, themes and performances. The films that endure become moving snapshot memories of the year, an age already old and begging to not be forgotten. Right now, I say (and mean), not a chance. 10. The Nightingale (Jennifer Kent) With the twitchy shocks of The Babadook in mind,…
Double Vision: A Film Awards Season Spotlight
During film festivals, usually opportunities emerge to catch performers in multiple films, granting audiences the thrill of watching said performers displaying multifaceted, chameleon-like abilities in the service of truly diverse filmmaking visions. It can be a wonder to behold such recognizable faces blend and morph into divergent characters and narratives with the greatest of ease.…
The Best Television of 2019
In a year with so much new and notable TV, a top-10 list just won’t suffice. So here is a sampling that still doesn’t cover everything from 2019 worth watching. Whether you savor or binge, stream or stick to cable, there’s more content than ever to tune into. Intertwined with the Internet Some of the…
‘The Rise of Skywalker’ is Visually Breathtaking, but Wimps Out in Service to Fans
There are so many sequences of explosive, spectacular action in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that it's easy to be distracted from the fact that you're watching the conclusion to the largest pop-culture franchise of all-time. Finales bear many burdens: to satisfyingly land major character arcs and tie up narrative loose ends, for starters. But in…
Despite Its All-Star Cast, ‘Cats’ Falls Flat
There was probably a time and place when it made sense to turn Cats, the musical that made its debut in 1981, into a theatrical release. But that time and place has placed. Even though the musical continues to draw crowds wherever it plays, the songs and storyline in the Andrew Lloyd Weber play clearly feel dated…
Four in 10 Cincinnati Children Live in Poverty, New Census Estimates Show — Well Above National Average
Roughly four in 10 Cincinnati children live in poverty, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau — a ratio much higher than the national average. The estimates from the American Community Survey also show that roughly one in four children in Hamilton County are living below the poverty line, which is about…
House Leader: Ohio Lawmakers Are Considering Ending State’s Death Penalty Law
As the state struggles to find drugs for lethal executions, Republicans in the Ohio House of Representatives are discussing an end to the state's death penalty laws, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder told reporters in Columbus today. The state hasn't carried out any of its scheduled executions in 2019. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine delayed several…
Limp Bizkit, Weezer and Blink-182 to Headline Third Annual Inkcarceration Festival at Ohio’s ‘Shawshank’ Prison in July
Yesterday, promoters of Inkcarceration, the annual metal festival that takes place at the Ohio State Reformatory that’s also known as the Shawshank prison in Mansfield, Ohio (between Columbus and Cleveland) on July 10, 11, and 12, announced that Limp Bizkit, Weezer and Blink 182 will headline the third iteration of the festival. “We are extremely…
Rootsy Cleveland Rockers Whiskey Daredevils Return to Greater Cincinnati This Weekend
Once upon a hell of a long time ago, like the mid-'90s, there was a little old band out of Cleveland called the Cowslingers. They weren't quite Country or Garage or Americana or Rockabilly or Punk — they were kind of like all of that and not quite like any of that, and they were…
Celebrate “Spliffmas” with Hip Hop Cult Hero Afroman This Weekend at Riverfront Live
Hip Hop cult hero Afroman returns to Greater Cincinnati this holiday season to host and headline another “Merry Spliffmas” concert. The L.A. native singer/rapper/multi-instrumentalist broke through in a big way in 2001 with his hit “Because I Got High,” a c’est-la-vie tale of stoner’s remorse that became a cultural phenomenon, earning slots on soundtracks like…
Bellevue’s Fairfield Market to Host a Sparkling Wine Tasting Ahead of New Years Eve
New Years Eve is almost here, which means it's about to get extra bubbly over at Bellevue's Fairfield Market. The wine bar is hosting a special tasting event on Dec. 19 where guests can try five different sparkling wines from across the globe for $15. There will also be paired snacks available for purchase that…
Dates Added for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Musical Comedy ‘2 Pianos, 4 Hands’
If you haven't caught Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's current production 2 Pianos, 4 Hands, you now have more time — performances have been added through Jan. 12, a week longer than its original run date, at the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre. Having opened in mid-November, upon seeing the play, CityBeat theatre critic Rick Pender awarded it a…
Hyde Park’s Keystone Bar & Grill Announces It’s Closing
Keystone Bar & Grill, a local comfort food chain by hospitality group 4EG, announced that it will be closing its Hyde Park location on Dec. 28 after almost 10 years. The restaurant is well-known for its over-the-top mac and cheese creations and has two other Cincinnati locations — one in Clifton and another in Covington.…
OpenTable’s 100 Best Restaurants in America Recognizes Two Cincinnati Eateries
OpenTable's annual list of the 100 best restaurants in America is out and two of the nation's top eateries are in Cincinnati — for the second year in a row. The list, which OpenTable says is created by analyzing "12,000,000+ reviews of more than 28,000 restaurants across the country" from verified diners, features both downtown…
Five Cincinnati City Council Members Could Face Misdemeanor Charges Over Texting Controversy
Five members of Cincinnati City Council caught up in controversy around their text messages could face misdemeanor charges after a recommendation from Ohio Auditor Keith Faber. Faber, a Republican, suggested the charges for Tamaya Dennard, Greg Landsman, Chris Seelbach, P.G. Sittenfeld and Wendell Young, all Democrats, to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office after looking into…
U.S. House of Representatives Votes to Impeach President Donald Trump
In a vote largely along party lines, the U.S House of Representatives this evening agreed to impeach Republican President Donald Trump on accusations that he abused his power in office and obstructed Congress. In a 230-197 vote, all but two Democrats moved to impeach Trump on the abuse of power charge. A third Democrat demurred…
Cincinnati City Council Approves 15 New TIF Districts
Cincinnati City Council today approved the creation by the city of 15 new tax increment finance (TIF) districts in neighborhoods that have experienced significant disinvestment and poverty. The districts allow gains in property tax revenue to be funneled into public projects — a necessary tool to incentivize development, the city's Department of Community and Economic Development…
Philadelphia Noise Punk Band Empath Talks About Their Acclaimed Debut Album Ahead of Free Cincinnati Concert
Empath’s full-length debut, Active Listening: Night on Earth, opens with the calming sound of crickets and birds chirping. Moments later, drums, bass and keyboards crash the proceedings. The song, “Soft Shape,” then introduces the ethereal vocals and texture-adding guitars of Catherine Elicson, yielding a jarring juxtaposition that is simultaneously soothing and disorienting. The collision of…
Remember When Keanu Reeves and Drew Barrymore Sang This Cincinnati Christmas Song?
Once upon a time, in 1986, a pre- Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure Keanu Reeves and a young Drew Barrymore starred in the not-so-much-a-holiday-classic made-for-TV movie Babes in Toyland , a role in which they sang a totally bodacious Christmas-coated Cincinnati tune. Directed by Clive Donner, the musical flick also stars Richard Mulligan and Eileen Brennan…
Test Your Dunder Mifflin Knowledge at ‘The Office’-Themed Trivia Night at Cincinnati’s Tin Roof Bar
An evening devoted to NBC's cult-television series The Office will take over Cincinnati's Tin Roof bar at The Banks on Wednesday, Dec. 18 for a themed trivia night. Grab some friends and test your knowledge against other teams to find out who is truly the biggest fan of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton crew. Teams are limited…
Voting for the Best Of Cincinnati Reader Poll is Live
It's time for the 24th annual Best of Cincinnati Readers Poll. Your votes will determine the area's best restaurants, bars, arts organizations, retail stores, services, parks, media personalities, sports teams, politicians, causes and urban experiences. The ballot is organized into six major sections: Eats, Shops & Services, Arts & Culture, Music & Nightlife, Sports and…
Covington’s Lil’s Bagels Plans to Expand Inside With Full Cafe and Bar
Lil's Bagels is a spunky little bagel shop with a whole lot of chutzpah in Covington. Nestled beside Roebling Point Books, visitors order their bagels through a walk-up window (windough) along with sandwiches, salads and sweets. Lil's was born when shop owner Julia Keister moved to Covington from NYC and was on the search for a…
The Mötley Crüe/Def Leppard/Poison Stadium Tour is Coming to Cincinnati in 2020
Despite signing an alleged legally-binding contract promising to never tour again just a few years ago, Mötley Crüe is heading up an ambitious 2020 stadium tour with Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. According to a press release, several of the initial tour dates sold out instantly (in Milwaukee, Atlanta, Seattle, Charlotte,…
Live Music in Greater Cincinnati: This Week’s Concerts and Club Shows (Dec. 18-24)
WEDNESDAY 18 BLIND LEMON – Thom Stephenson. 8 p.m. Acoustic. Free. CAFFÈ VIVACE – Blue Wisp Big Band. 8 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $10. THE COMET – The Steve Schmidt Christmas Schmidtacular. 7 p.m. Holiday Jazz. Free. HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT – Carlos Vargas Trio. 6 p.m. Jazz. Free. KNOTTY PINE – Dallas Moore. 10…
Kings Island’s WinterFest is Now Open Daily For the Holiday Season
WinterFest has returned to Kings Island for the 2019 holiday season, transforming the park into a nostalgic winter wonderland. And beginning Dec. 17, visitors will have even more opportunities to enjoy the festive park. WinterFest is now open daily until Dec. 31 (with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). To celebrate their kick-off, Kings Island…
FotoFocus Announces Film Curator at Large, Rolls Out New Monthly Series ‘Second Screens’
A new monthly film series spearheaded by Cincinnati-based film specialist and artist C. Jacqueline Wood and presented by FotoFocus will kick off in January, with Wood being named as film curator at large. Titled Second Screens, the series will host screenings at various venues across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky every second Tuesday of each…
Kentucky Governor Beshear Rescinds Bevin Medicaid Work Requirements
Newly-elected Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear yesterday blocked a move by prior Gov. Matt Bevin to impose work requirements for some able-bodied Medicaid recipients. After signing an executive order reversing the coming work requirements, Beshear told reporters the change is the "faith-driven thing to do." Beshear's order will keep roughly 95,000 Kentuckians on the state's Medicaid…
Snow Banks at The Banks Will Transform Cincinnati Into a Winter Wonderland This January
Cincinnati's riverfront will transform into a full-on winter wonderland this January, with a new attraction called Snow Banks at the Banks. Every weekend in January, visitors can enjoy a multitude of wintery fun, including a ski lodge-inspired happy hour, snow activities, special food and drink menus at participating restaurants and live snow features from an…
10,000 Maniacs — with Longtime Singer/Violinist Mary Ramsey — to Play Intimate Cincinnati Concert This Week
Formed in 1981 in Western New York, 10,000 Maniacs emerged from the same College Rock scene that had pushed bands like R.E.M. — who they’d tour, collaborate and become friends with — into superstardom. With a breezy, earthy mix of Folk and Pop, the group’s breakthrough came with their second major-label album, 1987’s In My…
Enjoy Some Tropical Flavor with Your Christmas Tunes at the Fourth-Annual ‘Island Christmas Holiday’ Concert
If you like (or think you might like) a little tropical flavoring in your holiday music, the fourth-annual Island Christmas Holiday show returns to The Redmoor (3187 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout, theredmoor.com) on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. The event is headed up by Scotty McEvoy (of The SunBurners and Mark Becknell (of the…
University of Cincinnati Board Votes to Strike Slave Owner’s Name From College
Following recommendations from a task force and University of Cincinnati President Neville Pinto, the UC Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to remove the name of a controversial slave owner from UC’s College of Arts and Sciences. Charles McMicken deeded land to the City of Cincinnati that was used to found UC. The university’s McMicken…
New Over-the-Rhine Italian Restaurant Pepp & Dolores is Now Open
Over the past decade, Over-the-Rhine's Vine Street has become a treasure trove of tasty dining destinations. From sophisticated diner food to Japanese cuisine, pizzerias and Mexican food to sharable tapas spots, fancy hot dogs… the list goes on. If you were having trouble choosing before, your decision will soon get a little bit more complicated.…
Cincy Shirts is Selling a Duct-Taped Cheese Coney T-Shirt in the Name of Charity
A banana was duct-taped to a wall at Art Basel Miami, sold for $120,000 and went viral when artist David Datuna posted a video of himself ripping it off the wall, peeling it and eating it in full view of visitors. All in the name of art. The artwork, titled Comedian, is by Italian artist Maurizio…
Ms. Lauryn Hill Announces Cincinnati Concert in 2020
Acclaimed Hip Hop/Soul singer/songwriter Ms. Lauryn Hill has announced a handful of 2020 tour dates that include a return visit to Cincinnati. The Grammy-winning vocalist is scheduled to perform at the Taft Theatre on March 10, 2020. Tickets ($56-$251) go on sale this Friday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. via ticketmaster.com. Hill last performed in…
Cincinnati World Cinema Hosts Annual Screening of the British Arrow Awards Winners
In the realm of cinema, anything is possible. A basketball player can float in midair while dunking a shot. Dancers break physics and step into mirrors for duets with their reflections. Kung-Fu fighters roundhouse kick their foes through walls. When these scenes meet the world of advertising, they become striking ads that envelop audiences in…
City of Cincinnati Could Seek Extension on Expiring Abatement Deal with Cincinnati Public Schools
The City of Cincinnati wants more time to work out a deal with Cincinnati Public Schools around a replacement for an expiring 20-year-old agreement on the way the city writes tax incentives for developers. Cincinnati City Council could consider a 90-day extension on the current deal between the two. Councilmember David Mann indicated today (Dec.…
Cincinnati Jazz Great Steve Schmidt Celebrates 20 Years of His Christmas Residency at The Comet
The Steve Schmidt Christmas Schmidtacular is taking over The Comet (4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, cometbar.com) again this year for another three nights of holiday-themed Jazz music. Local Jazz pianist/organist Steve Schmidt will again lead his Organ Trio — with guitarist Brad Myers and drummer Marc Wolfley — on Dec. 18, 19 and 20. Music begins…
Cincinnati Brewery Building Claimed by Fire Has a Long, Sometimes Dramatic History
If you listened closely early Sunday morning, you could hear the pained groans of Cincinnati's historic preservation community as northern Over-the-Rhine's Jackson Brewery warehouse building lay smoldering. A large fire in the early hours of Dec.15 caused the roof to collapse at about 5:30 in the morning and led Cincinnati firefighters to declare the building…
Acclaimed Philly Rockers Mannequin Pussy Play Cincinnati This Week
Mannequin Pussy frontperson/creative maestro Marisa Dabice isn’t shy about putting her feelings on display. The Philadelphia-based band’s latest record, Patience, is a roller-coaster ride of emotions, 10 songs in 26 minutes that nevertheless feels like an epic journey. (The length is actually an evolution from the brevity of their previous record, 2016’s equally stellar Romantic,…
A Holiday Film Guide for Your Streaming Pleasure
We’ve got a week’s sleep till Xmas, y’all. Our country may be embroiled in impeachment trial proceedings and war is in fact — sorry, John Lennon and Yoko Ono — not over, but merry and bright content persists. If you’re planning to binge-watch Christmas flicks over the holidays, here are a few good ones available for streaming…
Pornhub’s 2019 Year-in-Review Reveals Ohio Women Are Way Into Feet Porn
Porn giant Pornhub recently released its annual roundup of data insights, and amid the dizzying array of global wanking trends, a state-by-state breakdown of users' smut preferences revealed something, uh, interesting about the way women in Ohio look at porn. Namely, that women in the Buckeye State are very much into foot fetish porn. Now,…
Ways to Reduce Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder as Winter Solstice Nears
The winter solstice is nearly upon us, and for hundreds of thousands of Ohioans, the shorter days and falling temperatures can trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. As a clinical psychologist who treats SAD, Sally Weinstein from the University of Illinois at Chicago explains the symptoms can be distressing, and include a lack…
Cincinnati Chili Champ Eats His 1,000th Cheese Coney of the Year Over the Weekend
Earlier this year, we introduced you to a fella named Patrick Kaple. Kaple has a love affair with Cincinnati-style chili, especially when it's poured atop a steamy hot dog, sandwiched between a cozy bun and covered in a mound of cheese. The man likes cheese coneys. A lot. So much so, that he challenged himself…
5 Over the Rhine Christmas Songs to Get You Ready for This Weekend’s Holiday Concerts
One of the coolest uniquely Cincinnati holiday traditions are the annual Christmastime shows performed by local music legends Over the Rhine. The band — led by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler — has had a busy 2019. In their 30th year as a musical entity, OTR released the acclaimed Love & Revelation album, hosted its…
Over-the-Rhine’s Historic Jackson Brewery Warehouse Suffers Massive Fire Sunday Morning
Over-the-Rhine's historic Jackson Brewery caught on fire early Sunday morning. Cincinnati Fire Department reported the "two alarm fire" at around 4:25 a.m. on Sunday morning via their Twitter account and crews have been battling the flames since. 2 Alarm at the old Jackson Brewery still under fire conditions after thousands of gallons of water applied…
Sitting Down with The Mini Microcinema’s C. Jacqueline Wood
On a recent morning at The Mini Microcinema, C. Jacqueline Wood takes a sip of coffee as her dog skitters across the space’s wood floors, later claiming a spot in the theater’s front window, a red-and-white sign that reads "CINEMA" pointing down at her. The Mini — an experimental film and video hub — is…
Comedian Dave Chappelle To Perform in Ohio on Dec. 30
After retiring from his popular comedy sketch series Chappelle’s Show, comedian Dave Chappelle has returned to doing standup comedy and continues to have a huge following even though his show no longer airs. He’s recently announced that he’ll perform at 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, at Connor Palace in Cleveland. Tickets are on sale now, and there…
Coast Guard: Ludlow Bromely Yacht Club Collision Caused by Barge Navigator Asleep at the Wheel
The U.S. Coast Guard yesterday released the results of an investigation into the Oct. 2 collision on the Ohio River that sank part of a popular river restaurant. According to that investigation, a worker on the tow ship The Dale Antigue tasked with navigation duties fell asleep, causing the barge to collide with the Ludlow…
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens’ PNC Festival of Lights Wins Best Zoo Lights from ‘USA Today’
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens' PNC Festival of Lights has won USA Today's Best Zoo Lights contest for the second year in a row. "Each winter, zoos across the U.S. get into the holiday spirit with their own festive seasonal displays. Once the sun sets and the animals go to bed, these 10 U.S.…
Garth Brooks Sells Out Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium in 75 Minutes
If you didn't get your tickets this morning to see Garth Brooks at Paul Brown Stadium next year, you're out of luck. All tickets are sold out. According to a press release from Nancy Seltzer & Associates Public Relations, "the Garth Brooks Stadium Tour set the all-time record for entertainment in Cincinnati, Ohio in 75 minutes…
Hamilton County is Ohio’s Third-Largest Economy, New Federal Data Shows
Hamilton County has Ohio's third-largest economy, data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released yesterday shows — the lowest among counties containing the state's three major urban areas. At $88.7 billion, Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located, had the largest gross domestic product of the state's 88 counties last year. Franklin County, home to…
Wall Street Journal Names Contemporary Arts Center’s Robert Colescott Exhibition Among the Best Art of 2019
The year is coming to a close, which means, among other traditions, most publications are rounding up their favorite things — events, films, shows, etc. — of the past 365 days. A Cincinnati arts institution has secured a spot on one such high-profile rundown. The Contemporary Arts Center's current exhibition, Art and Race Matters: The…
Over-the-Rhine’s Panino Has Closed With Plans to Reopen Elsewhere
Over-the-Rhine eatery and deli panino. announced in mid December that it would be closing the doors to its current location. Their last day open was Dec. 14. The restaurant opened in 2016 after owner Nino Loreto ran an Italian-style charcuterie and meat-sandwich food truck for three successful years. The restaurant posted on their Facebook page on Dec. 13 that 3CDC…
Cincinnati Asks Judge to Dismiss Lawsuit From Family of Kyle Plush
Kyle Plush, a 16-year-old student at Seven Hills, died while pinned under the bench seat of his Honda minivan in April 2018 after two 911 calls. Whether the city could be held liable under a civil lawsuit brought by the teenager's family is in the hands of a county judge, who is set to rule…
Explore Cincinnati’s Punk Rock Past on New Compilation Album from HoZac and Shake It Records
A new compilation album put together by former local musician/club booker/DJ Peter Aaron offers a fascinating glimpse into the earliest days of Punk and “Alternative” music in Greater Cincinnati. Outside of that, it’s an excellent document of how Midwestern outsiders absorbed and translated the new, odd and exciting music of the mid-’70s/early-’80s into their own…
Cincinnati Indie Singer/Songwriter Molly Sullivan Premieres New Song, “Into the Vessel”
"Into the Vessel" is the newest recording from Cincinnati singer/songwriter Molly Sullivan. The tune drives on a simple rhythm layered with unnervingly beautiful vocals, simultaneously dangerous and inviting. It sounds like a funeral dirge with its somber foundation, but unfurls into a dramatically effective choral high note, like sunbathing in a cemetery. Fans of her…
Did You Google “Should I Quit My Job” This Year? AT&T Said A Lot of Ohioans Did
According to AT&T, a lot of Ohioans turned to the internet in 2019 for employment advice. The communications company analyzed Google search data to determine the most searched “should I” question in each state. In Ohio, they determined it was "Should I quit my job." Apparently, people often use Google like a Magic 8 Ball.…
70 Years Ago This Week, Bluegrass Classic “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” Was Recorded in Cincinnati
On Dec. 11, 1949, one of the most important, influential and well-known Bluegrass songs of all time was recorded in Cincinnati. Shortly after leaving Bill Monroe's band and forming the Foggy Mountain Boys, banjo player Earl Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt — better known as Flatt & Scruggs — recorded a few times at downtown Cincinnati's…
Cincinnati’s Winter Shelter Opens for Those Experiencing Homelessness
A cold-weather shelter for Cincinnatians experiencing homelessness opened its doors yesterday — after bitter cold weather had already rolled into the region. The opening of the 10,000-square-foot Shetlerhouse cold weather shelter was delayed by renovation work updating its security systems and expanding bathroom facilities, its leaders say. The shelter also has to be careful about…
Cincinnati Hemp Company to Open in Over-the-Rhine’s Findlay Market
Over-the-Rhine's Findlay Market will soon be adding another retail offering to its lineup of local shops. Cincinnati Hemp Company, an upscale hemp boutique, will officially open its doors on Friday, Dec. 13. The shop will offer a variety of eco-friendly and sustainable apparel pieces made with hemp, bamboo and other natural materials. In addition to…
Ohio House Mulls Bill Critics Say Will Chill Environmental, Other Protests
Is a bill currently being considered in the Ohio House about protecting the public, or curbing protest? That's the debate between supporters and opponents of Senate Bill 33. The House Public Utilities Committee yesterday held its seventh hearing on the legislation, which would increase penalties for those who physically damage or tamper with critical infrastructure facilities.…
Ohio House Passes Bill Forbidding Municipalities From Banning Plastic Bags
Municipalities in Ohio would be prohibited from banning plastic bags under a proposed law the Ohio House of Representatives passed yesterday. Supporters of the legislation — mostly Republican lawmakers and business groups like the Ohio Chamber of Commerce — say it will keep business owners from having to navigate a "patchwork" of regulations and fees…
Cincinnati’s Freekbass Funks Up John Lennon on New Holiday Single “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
Freekbass and his band The Bump Assembly celebrated a fruitful 2019 by releasing a special holiday single to help close out the year. The powerhouse Funk ensemble — which again scored the Funk/Soul/R&B trophy at this year’s Cincinnati Entertainment Awards — put its groovy spin on "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," the 1971 single by…
Cincinnati Won’t Host NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2022 After All
If you were fired up about the prospect of Cincinnati hosting March Madness in 2022, well, get ready for some March sadness. It's not going to happen. Citing renovations it would like to see to the 44-year-old, 18,000-seat Heritage Bank Center (called U.S. Bank Arena when the NCAA tapped Cincinnati for the tournament in 2017),…
Clint Eastwood Takes the Mass Media to Task With ‘Richard Jewell’
Director Clint Eastwood has said that his interest in the story of Richard Jewell, the security guard falsely accused of planting a bomb at Centennial Park in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics, stems from the fact that it's a "great American tragedy." That might well be, but despite a great performance from I, Tonya's Paul Walter…
Now Streaming on Netflix, ‘Atlantics’ is One of the More Original and Surprising Films of 2019
The French-Senegalese director Mati Diop's debut film Atlantics is one of the more original and surprising films of the year. Though it begins as a conventional third-world realist drama — construction workers in Dakar, Senegal, without wages for months, flee by boat to Spain to seek a better life — the film transforms midway into…
Cincinnati Indie Rock Band Blossom Hall Release Christmas-Themed “Midnight Mass” Single
Cincinnati Indie Rock band Blossom Hall has released a new original Christmas song, “Midnight Mass.” The chiming, folksy track sways like boots strolling across crunchy snow and is described by the group as “a smoky, meditative dirge of spiritual doubt” that is “more in the vein of Charlie Brown than Wham,” in terms of holiday…
Each Cincinnati TIF District, by the Numbers
As the City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools continue to search for a new agreement to replace a 20-year-old deal expiring at the end of the year around the degree to which the city can offer developers tax incentives, tax increment financing districts have become an increasingly large part of the conversation. TIFs, as…
Director Greta Gerwig’s Vibrant Retelling of ‘Little Women’ Triumphs
There is no singular way to be a woman. Within each of us exist different ambitions, passions and ways of being. That’s the credo at the core of Greta Gerwig’s soulful and vibrant take on Little Women. In weaving together moments of girlhood and burgeoning adulthood, each March sister stands distinct. When Louisa May Alcott’s…
Annual Santamania Music-a-Thon Returns to Northside Yacht Club This Weekend with a Shit-Ton of Bands
The popular Santamania music-a-thon returns Dec. 13-15 to Northside Yacht Club (4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com). Other than the name and being timed to the holidays (and probably a few boozed up Kris Kringles running around the joint), the three-day fest isn’t explicitly a Christmas-themed event, but with nearly 100 acts performing on five…
Comedy Legend Carol Burnett is Coming to Cincinnati in 2020
Legendary comedian Carol Burnett will be performing in Cincinnati in 2020. The American icon is bringing her one-woman show, An Evening of Laughter and Reflection Where the Audience Asks the Questions, to the Aronoff Center in May. Tickets for the May 5, 2020 show go on sale Friday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m via cincinnatiarts.org.…
Mindy Rosen Named Cincinnati Music Hall’s First-Ever Executive Director
Mindy Rosen will become the first-ever executive director of Music Hall, the Board of Friends of Music Hall — having just wrapped up a two-year strategic planning process — announced on Tuesday. She will step into the newly created role starting Dec. 30 of this year. Rosen previously worked for 12 years as nonprofit Downtown…
Cincinnati Moves Up Ranking of Immigrant-Friendly Cities
Cincinnati moved up three places this year on an index of immigrant-friendly cities, landing in the top 15 on that list. Last year, the Queen City was number 18 on the New American Economy Cities Index, which ranks the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas on 51 factors related to the socioeconomic status of immigrants and…
Name Announced for New Concert Venue at The Banks on Cincinnati’s Riverfront
At a press conference, Music and Event Management Inc. — aka MEMI, the concert arm of the non-profit Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra that runs Riverbend Music Center and Taft Theatre — announced the name of its forthcoming music venue at The Banks on Cincinnati's Riverfront. MEMI announced at a press conference at Paul Brown Stadium that…
Cincinnati’s Graeter’s Ice Cream Announces Limited-Edition UC-Inspired Flavor
Cincinnati's Graeter's Ice Cream announced a new limited-edition flavor collaboration which will debut in January of 2020. The partnership celebrates the University of Cincinnati's bicentennial. The flavor will be called Boldly Bearcat and will feature a base of creamy vanilla ice cream, red velvet sandwich cookies and Graeter's signature chocolate chips. Yum. "Boldly Bearcat is…
Live Music in Greater Cincinnati: This Week’s Concerts and Club Shows (Dec. 11-17)
WEDNESDAY 11 BLIND LEMON – Tom Roll. 8 p.m. Acoustic. Free. CAFFÈ VIVACE – Blue Wisp Big Band. 8 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $10. HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT – Jim Connerley Trio. 6 p.m. Jazz. Free. KNOTTY PINE – Dallas Moore. 10 p.m. Country. Free. MEMORIAL HALL – Jim Brickman. 8 p.m. Christmas Jazz/Pop. $45-$65.…
FOP President Drops Out of Hamilton County Commission Race
It was a short-lived, if splashy, foray into electoral politics. Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Sgt. Dan Hils announced yesterday he will withdraw from his bid to challenge Democratic Hamilton County Commission member Denise Driehaus for her seat next year just a week after jumping into the race. Hils, who was running as a…
