Cincinnati Entertainment Awards Voting Opens
On Jan. 31, 2016, the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards winners will be announced at the 19th-annual ceremony/show/party at Covington’s Madison Theater. Recently, CityBeat (which presents the CEAs) announced the nominees for this year’s program, which honors Greater Cincinnati’s rich and eclectic music scene. This year’s nominees include several artists who have previously been nominated for (or…
Dream Werks
F rom the outset, The Werks have been content to be impressive contributors to the Jam scene, earning adoration from their loyal fan base and respect from the community’s critical arbiters. Since their official 2007 formation, through a handful of personnel changes and a quintet of studio/live releases, the Dayton, Ohio quartet — now comprised…
No Charges for Officers in Tamir Rice Shooting
Cleveland police officers involved in the shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice will not face criminal charges related to the child’s death, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office announced today. A grand jury has been deliberating for months about the case, which has grabbed national attention as debate continues over police-involved shootings of people of color. Rice…
New Year’s Eve Dinners
Reservations are required for pretty much all of these events. Please call to reserve space and make sure the evening isn't sold out. BB Riverboats New Year’s Eve Cruise — Sail into the new year full-steam ahead. The cruise includes a three-entrée buffet, party favors, entertainment, a late-night snack buffet and the main event — a…
Morning News and Stuff
Good morning all. Hope your holidays have been good and, if you’re into the giving and receiving gifts thing, that you got and gave some good ones. So what’s up with news? Greater Cincinnati’s transgender community will gather this morning at 10 a.m. at the Woodward Theater in Over-the-Rhine to remember Leelah Alcorn, the teen…
Primary Cheat Sheet: Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush (Republican) Fun fact: Jeb Bush isn’t his actual name, his first name is an acronym for his full name, John Ellis Bush. Oh, and as of right now JebBush.com forwards you to Donald Trump’s official campaign site. What’s up with the campaign? Former Florida governor Jeb Bush was to be the Republican front-runner.…
Primary Cheat Sheet
What are the primaries? They are elections in which the parties pick their strongest candidate to run for president. For instance, if you are a Republican, you will pick from your field of candidates (Trump, Rubio, Carson and so on) to challenge the Democratic candidate. When are the primaries? In Ohio, Election Day is Tuesday,…
Sports: Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating their 90th anniversary, and they’re bringing the party to the Queen City. This isn’t your average basketball game; expect tricks, bits, stunts and suspense as the team delves into the match with its iconic artistry and humor. Make sure to stick around after the game — the Globetrotters’ stars will sign…
Art: The Cincinnati Art Museum’s Reopened Third-Floor Galleries
The Cincinnati Art Museum opened galleries 103-105 on the first floor to the public for the first time this past fall, providing curators with another dedicated space to showcase artwork from the institution’s vast permanent collection. The Antiquities and Cincinnati Wing galleries on the first floor were also recently renovated, but the big recent to-do…
Comedy: Gabe Kea
Gabe Kea is excited to be headlining shows during Christmas week at Go Bananas. “Those shows tend to always be good shows,” he says. “People are in town, family and friends go out together.” The St. Louis native has been based in Cincinnati for several years now and recently started a family. “My girlfriend and…
Music: The Guitars
There aren’t many live music options on Christmas night, which is great for the hard-working bar/club employees who deserve a night off, but not awesome for those looking for a respite from their family or those spending the holidays alone. But MOTR Pub will be rockin’ with the holiday spirit again this year as Cincy…
Holiday: Kwanzaa Extravaganza
The Cincinnati Citywide Kwanzaa Committee hosts a seven-day Kwanzaa celebration to honor the family values of remembering the past, repairing the present and preserving the future. The pan-African celebration of ancestry, family, culture and community was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of African studies, activist and author, who encouraged the observance…
Event: Latkapalooza
Got plans Christmas Eve? The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s Young Adult Division and the Mayerson JCC host their annual Latkapalooza party. When everything else is closed, skip the Szechuan and sweats and head to Taft’s Ale House for drink specials, door prizes and mixing and mingling with the Chosen People. Open to ages 21-45. Text…
Holiday: Santa’s Workshop Featuring the Shillito’s Elves
A piece of Cincinnati nostalgia is on display again for the holidays. The Shillito’s Elves, first displayed in Shillito’s Department Store windows in 1979, are back and helping Santa build toys in his workshop. These handcrafted figures — both animatronic and stationary — are sweetly nestled in a holiday vignette, open for public viewing to…
Attraction: Emancipation Proclamation Exhibition at the Freedom Center
For a limited time, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is exhibiting a rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln. Penned by then-president Lincoln in 1863, the document states that “all persons held as slaves … are, and henceforward shall be free,” paving the way for the ratification of the 13th Amendment,…
Holiday: Krohn by Candlelight
Twinkling and whimsical lights take over Krohn Conservatory at night as guests enjoy the current The Poinsettia Express exhibit by candlelight during select evening hours. There will be live music, a visit from Santa, free holiday photo opps and holiday greeting-card-making stations. The Poinsettia Express sets the stage with a festive floral display, with toy…
Art: Look Here!
Look Here!, an outdoor site-specific photo installation project throughout Over-the-Rhine, features 70 captioned historic photographs juxtaposed with their current locations to allow viewers to compare the past and present of the neighborhood. The images turn OTR into a large-scale outdoor museum, encouraging historic preservation and adding to the existing cultural vibrancy of the neighborhood. According…
Holiday: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)
If you’re weary of the avalanche of “beloved holiday classics” this time of year, here’s your show. A couple of actors revolt and refuse to perform another retelling of A Christmas Carol. Instead, they trot out every “BHC” — aka “Beloved Holiday Classic” — they can think of and (for 90 minutes) poke fun at…
Premieres, Finales and Returning Faves of 2015
Best New Shows The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst – If 2014’s Serial podcast whetted America’s appetite for long-form investigative journalism and the true crime genre, HBO’s The Jinx couldn’t have premiered at a better time. Exploring the life of eccentric Robert Durst and the various crimes he’d been accused of over…
The Top Films of 2015
Let’s get right to it. Youth – Italian writer-director Paolo Sorrentino, who won the Foreign Language Oscar for The Great Beauty, returns with Youth, the story of a retired conductor (Michael Caine) seeking to enjoy a holiday retreat with his best friend (Harvey Keitel) while fending off an invitation to perform for Queen Elizabeth II.…
This Year’s Winning Classical Collaboration
There’s nothing “alleged” about my choice for 2015’s most exciting Classical music event. No other performance came close to concert:nova’s collaboration with Elementz’s Studio Kre8v for brilliant musical and dance performances of John’s Book of Alleged Dances by John Adams in April. It was one of the first performances at the newly renovated Woodward Theater.…
Eye-Catching Companies and Performers of 2015
It was a busy year for dance in Cincinnati. Last February, Cincinnati Ballet’s imaginative, family-friendly Alice (in Wonderland) boasted the largest paid attendance in the company’s history of subscription-series productions. In March, Adam Hougland’s Mozart’s Requiem, a serious, full-length contemporary ballet, was memorable to me for its passion and virtuosity. When asked for her…
Shows You Should Have Seen in 2015, Plus New and Expanding Theaters
If you went to see theater locally during 2015, you had a lot to choose from. Here are the shows that I particularly admired and some of the reasons why. If you didn’t see them, I hope this inspires you to add some productions to your 2016 calendar at our excellent local theaters. The Cincinnati…
Year in Review: Visual Arts
O f all the things that occurred in the visual arts here during 2015, the one that stands out the most for me isn’t a museum exhibition or gallery show, but rather a statistic. In November of this year, the Contemporary Arts Center sold 100 new memberships, compared to just 40 for the same month…
Let the Countdown Begin
BARS/BOOZEAn Elegant Affair: Igby’s New Year’s Eve CelebrationWelcome the new year in style. Get a bottle of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne for $65, raise your glass and toast to 2016. 9 p.m. $20. Igby’s, 122 E. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-246-4396, igbysbar.com.Bobby Mackey’s New Year’s Eve PartyDo ghosts celebrate the New Year? Find out at…
Year in Review: The Biggest News of 2015
C incinnati saw huge news events this year, including a number that caught the eyes of the nation. Some of these were triumphant, including the Supreme Court’s decision in a case with roots in Cincinnati extending same-sex marriage rights to all states. Others, however, like the police shooting of an unarmed black motorist, were dark…
Morning News and Stuff
Good morning, all. Here’s a quick rundown of the news before a retreat into a hole to finish all the things I need to finish so I can then finish my holiday shopping. Some people like Joe Deters, Hamilton County’s prosecutor. That’s none of my business. But do they like him enough to check his…
Worst Year Ever!
John Boehner’s Blog Team Uses GIFs, Surprises Everyone John Boehner likes being rich and suntanned, and he also likes driving for show and putting for dough. He’s played more rounds of golf in the past year than most ham-and-eggers do in their entire lives, yet he somehow plays the card of knowing what’s best for…
The Year in Local Recordings
A s always, numerous albums, EPs and singles by musical artists from Greater Cincinnati caught our ears in 2015. But know that the list you are about to read is just a snapshot. Perhaps you’ll find something you haven’t heard of before on here, and hopefully you’ll look up artists that sound like they might…
