Cover Story
Missing in Plain Sight: The Inequity Behind Cincinnati’s ‘North Fairmount Jane Doe’
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition. Jamie Turner was walking home from church on Nov. 5, 2023, when he first encountered the police tape blocking him from his apartment. “It was total and complete chaos,” Turner told CityBeat, his arms outstretched, eyes like dinner plates. He said he flashed his ID…
Drink Unlimited Wine for a Good Cause at the Cincinnati International Wine Festival This March
The Cincinnati International Wine Festival will return for its 34th year this March with three days full of tastings, fine dining, auctions and more wine than you can imagine, and tickets go on sale this Friday. The festival will be held Thursday through Saturday, March 6-8 and will feature over 800 wines from across the…
Falcon Theatre’s ‘Breaking the Code’ Explores the Complicated Life of Mathematician Alan Turing
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. If Alan Turing’s name is familiar to you, it’s probably because you saw Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game a decade ago. Winner of the 2015 Academy Award for its “adapted screenplay,” the film was based on Andrew Hodges’s biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma (1983).…
Sound Advice: Shovels & Rope Bring Foot Stompin’ Good Time to Cincinnati
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, the husband-and-wife duo behind Shovels & Rope, possess voices primed with grit and grace, their intermingling vocals occasionally bursting forth with enough yearning and emotion to make Joe Cocker blush. The South Carolina-based duo delivers rootsy tunes that nod…
Cincinnati Band The Raisins Discuss Unique Musical Legacy in the Queen City
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. The Raisins’ self-titled 1983 debut album might have been the quartet’s only official release, but that 11-song, 43-minute effort was just the most obvious touchstone in a legacy that continues to reverberate in the Queen City. Proof surfaced again this month: The Raisins’ prime-era ’80s…
Sound Advice: Zach Nugent Brings the Music of the Grateful Dead to Ludlow Garage
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. The Grateful Dead’s music has brought joy to many people for decades. When Jerry Garcia passed away in 1995, the band came to an end, leaving fans wanting more and more. Zach Nugent, guitarist and vocalist, now leads the Dead Set, a cover band carrying…
Sound Advice: Margo Cilker’s Music Revels in the Messy Nature of Modern Life
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. With Valley of the Heart’s Delight, her second record, Margo Cilker delivers a rich travelogue of roots music that puts her on the map, literally and figuratively. Cilker is part of her family’s fifth generation born in California’s Santa Clara Valley — the same one…
Cincinnati Film Historian Joe Horine to Host Series About Corruption Ahead of Election in Latest ‘Deep Dive’ Special
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. Stepping into a movie theater can feel like the ultimate escape, going on a journey of light and sound exploring the human condition, reveling in the human spark. Cincinnati has a vibrant and evolving film community that expands on the moviegoing experience. There are a…
Nice-Nice Noodles and Rice Serves Pan-Asian-Inspired Cuisine at The Gatherall
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. The Gatherall, a food hall located at Factory 52 in Norwood, is a melting pot of delicious cuisines and flavors. Walking among the stalls, you’ll find American favorites like burgers, loaded fries and barbecue to internationally inspired dishes, including Vietnamese rice bowls and Filipino chicken…
Sound Advice: Palm Ghosts’ Moody Shoegaze Tunes Heading to Cincinnati
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. Palm Ghosts are a curious case. What began in 2013 as the solo project of Joseph Lekkas has morphed into a full band effort with rotating members and collaborators moving in and out over the last decade. Lekkas is the lone constant, handling songwriting duties…
Cincinnati Photographer Romain Mayambi Captures the Beauty of Movement in Unconventional Places
This story is featured in CityBeat’s March 6 print edition. It’s late January at a coffee shop in Clifton, and I’m waiting for Romain Mayambi. The Cincinnati-based photographer, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is on his way to becoming a self-taught great, and has agreed to tell me his story. I pull…
Northern Kentucky University Introduces Direct Admit Program to Streamline Enrollment
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is set to launch its news Direct Admit Program, becoming the first public university in the Tri-State and Kentucky to offer direct admission. In an effort to ease the complexity and time-consuming nature of traditional college admissions, the program allows eligible students to skip the standard application process and fees, receiving…
Deeper Roots is Opening a Coffee Bar in Montgomery
A Cincinnati roastery is expanding north with plans to open a new coffee bar in Montgomery this spring. Deeper Roots, which owns coffee bars in Oakley, Findlay Market and downtown Cincinnati, as well as a roastery in the West End, announced this week that it will open its fourth store location at 9340 Montgomery Road…
Newport on the Levee Brewpub 16 Lots Southern Outpost Announces Grand Re-Opening
A Newport brewpub on the verge of closing for good is getting a second chance. In January, Mike Burton and Del Hall, owners of 16 Lots Southern Outpost at Newport on the Levee, announced that week may be their last in business, writing on social media, “Hey, friends, many of you know, things aren’t looking…
New Data Shows Indiana Averaging 15 Abortions a Month Under New Ban
The Indiana Department of Health posted the fourth quarter terminated pregnancy report Monday, finding 46 abortions occurred between October 1 and Dec. 31. It is the first report in which the state’s abortion ban was fully in effect the entire quarter. In comparison, there were 1,724 abortions in the fourth quarter of 2022 — before…
Clinics Ask Court to Declare Ohio Six-Week Abortion Ban Unconstitutional After Amendment Passage
Clinics across Ohio who provide abortion services asked a Hamilton County court to declare Ohio’s six-week abortion ban unconstitutional in light of the Ohio Constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights passed by 57% of voters in November. Planned Parenthood clinics in the state, along with Preterm-Cleveland, Women’s Med Group Professional Corporation, the Northeast Ohio Women’s Center…
Cincinnati Ranks First for Street Art in 10Best Readers’ Choice Poll
Cincinnati’s public art is getting some national love after the city was voted the best in the country for street art. Cincinnati took home the No. 1 spot in USA Today’s 10Best Cities for Street Art 2024 reader poll. Over four weeks, the public was able to vote on their favorite street art from a…
Urban Artifact’s March Science on Tap to Feature Eclipse Adventures from Astronomer Dean Regas
Are you ready for the coolest show in the universe? We’re a little over a month away from a rare total solar eclipse — one of which will actually put its path of totality within the Greater Cincinnati area — and a Northside brewery is offering the chance to learn more about it from an…
Cincinnati City Council Member Mark Jeffreys Launches Task Force to Address Recent Property Tax Increases
Many homeowners across Cincinnati and Hamilton County experienced sticker shock after seeing major increases in their property taxes this year — with bills doubling or even tripling for some, despite just a 10.4% average increase in Hamilton County. With concern over a potential wave of foreclosures and evictions, Cincinnati City Council member Mark Jeffreys has…
Cincinnati’s LGBTQ+ Jewish Organization to Hold Purim Drag Showcase
Elech, Cincinnati’s queer “Jew-ish” community organization, will hold their second-annual Purim drag showcase this March. Event organizers said in a press release that Purim, the annual commemoration of the deliverance of Jews in ancient Persia, traditionally features raucous parties where men have dressed up as women for generations. Elech co-founder Elliot Draznin said in a…
Report Shows Ohio One of Many States Still Prosecuting ‘HIV-Related’ Crimes
A new report from two Ohio organizations shows more than 200 cases of “HIV-related prosecutions” in Ohio. Researchers from Equality Ohio and the Ohio Health Modernization Movement looked at data from 2014 to 2020 to analyze six statutes still in Ohio law “that criminalize or create penalty enhancements for people living with HIV.” In dissecting…
Critical of Big Tech, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance Stakes out Antitrust Position in Line with Biden Admin
Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance wants to see a new, more aggressive approach to antitrust enforcement. That stance puts him at odds with many in his own party and at least somewhat in line with Biden administration officials and prominent liberal lawmakers like U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA. Break them up? At an event…
Review: ‘Spaceman’ Gives Adam Sandler Another Meaty Role, but Without a Script to Match
Nearly 30 years after Billy Madison, an early Adam Sandler vehicle that bravely explored the complicated relationship between man and gargantuan penguin, the comedian-turned-actor once again finds himself facing a colossal creature that just won’t leave him alone. Sure, Spaceman swaps the man-child sent back to K-12 schooling for a lonely astronaut journeying into deep…
Independent Black-Owned Pharmacy Opens in Avondale Town Center
A new pharmacy in Avondale is filling a years-long health care void. Emmanuel Ayanjoke opened the Altev Community Pharmacy in December at the north tower of the Avondale Town Center. Since opening, Ayanjoke told CityBeat he’s helped many residents of Avondale, a predominantly Black neighborhood, reconnect with their health care needs. “People come in for…
The Baker’s Table in Newport Launches Take-and-Bake Pizza Program
Pizza lovers, rejoice! The popular Newport restaurant The Baker’s Table is launching a new Take & Bake Pizza program. “You asked, they listened – The Baker’s Table has recently started a new Take & Bake Pizza program!” the restaurant said in a press release. “Now you can enjoy the warm aromas and a fresh taste…
Greater Cincinnati Chefs to Compete Head-to-Head in SCRAPS Rescued Food Cook-Off
There’s going to be a throwdown in the kitchen at Over-the-Rhine this month as some of Cincinnati’s favorite chefs duke it out for a good cause. The SCRAPS Rescued Cook-Off is happening at Rhinegeist Brewery on March 10 from 2-6 p.m. The cook-off will benefit Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen and see which of the…
Fiscal Panel Advances Contraceptive Bill Despite IUD, Medicaid Concerns
A dispute about whether birth control causes abortions — along with fallout from a pricey Medicaid forecasting error — colored debate over a bill meant to help women on Medicaid access long-acting contraceptives. A finance-focused Senate committee on Thursday advanced the proposal promoting subdermal birth control implants but declined to similarly push intrauterine devices (IUDs).…
Guest Commentary: Now or Later? Ohio’s Marshmallow Test on Legal, Adult-Use Recreational Marijuana
The Stanford marshmallow test stands as perhaps one of the most famous psychological experiments of the last 50 years: Put one marshmallow in front of a child and tell them that if they wait 15 minutes before eating it, they’ll get more marshmallows; but if they eat that one marshmallow before time is up, no…
Know Theatre Is Evolving Again as the Search for a New Artistic Director is Underway
Cincinnati’s array of theaters is small compared to New York or Chicago, or even the Twin Cities. But we have a full spectrum of theater, enough choices to satisfy most theater lovers’ appetites. All the bases are covered. The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is a Tony Award-winning regional theater. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents regional…
Hamilton County Still Needs Poll Workers for the March 19 Primary
Early voting in the presidential primary election, which will determine which candidates will appear on November ballots, is currently underway, and the Hamilton County Board of Elections (BOE) is actively hiring registered voters to work as Election Day poll workers. “Poll workers are a vital part of every election and approximately 2,400 are needed to…
Feds: Cincinnati Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Assaulting Asian American Student
A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in federal court on Feb. 28 to federal hate crime charges for the 2021 assault of an Asian American college student. Darrin Johnson, 27, admitted to physically attacking an Asian American man on Calhoun Street at the University of Cincinnati on Aug. 17, 2021. The Southern District Attorney’s office said…
Statue Commemorating Abolitionist Harriet Tubman to be Displayed Outside the Freedom Center
A Beacon of Hope will stand watch outside the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for a limited time this spring. The Beacon of Hope is an 11-foot-tall bronze statue commemorating Harriet Tubman, the unshakeable abolitionist and most famous Underground Railroad conductor, who helped rescue dozens of enslaved people. The statue will be unveiled at a…
Zest Cincy is a Champion of Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Bars
Some people may know Zest Cincy as a one-stop shop for finding happy hour deals. Or, as an Instagram account with vibrant, hunger-inducing photos of food from local bars and restaurants. If you own a bar and restaurant, maybe you know it as the brand that produced your marketing photography. Zest Cincy is a dynamic…
History’s Hateful Echo in Ohio: Century-Old Klan Resurgence Resonates Today
He was a crooked, gaslighting sadist who a jury found guilty of sexually attacking a woman he’d chewed so savagely that the wounds he inflicted helped to kill her. He led a white-nationalist drive so successful that it could have landed him in the White House. And much of what he did happened right here…
Guest Commentary: Let’s Get the Facts Straight on Ohio Public School Funding
As a high school social studies teacher, I was always struck by what the then-future U.S. President John Adams said during the criminal trial following the Boston Massacre: “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” …
Laugh and Learn at This Stand-Up Comedy Science Show at Commonwealth Sanctuary
Commonwealth Sanctuary is offering the chance to nerd out this weekend at a stand-up comedy show that promises to fuse laughter with science. Ben Miller, a scientist-turned-comedian based in New York City, is bringing his multimedia Stand-Up Science show to Northern Kentucky Saturday, March 2. The show will be hosted by Cincinnati comedian Ossia Dwyer…
Cincinnati Officer Accused of Using Police Database to Access Woman’s Phone Number
A Cincinnati Police Officer has been reassigned to desk duty following criminal allegations related to accessing the personal information of a 19-year-old woman. Officer Timothy Lutz, 56, was indicted on Feb. 26 on two felony counts of unauthorized use of the Regional Crime Information Center (RCIC), the database officers use during traffic stops. Prosecutors told…
Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance’s Bike and Trail Expo to Take Over MadTree
The Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance (CORA) is gearing up for its second annual Bike and Trail Expo this weekend. The aim of the expo is to showcase Greater Cincinnati’s vast biking infrastructure and foster its thriving outdoor community. CORA works to build and maintain sustainable, multi-use trail systems around the region that connect communities and create…
Hamilton County Commissioners Allocate Extra Funds to Help Homeowners Pay Past-Due Mortgages, Property Taxes and Utilities
There’s now relief available for some Hamilton County homeowners who may have fallen behind on paying their mortgage, property taxes and utility bills. On Wednesday, the Hamilton County commissioners approved the reallocation of $701,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide payment assistance to eligible homeowners. With this reallocation, commissioners say the Hamilton…
Northside Bourbon Bar and Restaurant The Littlefield to Close Permanently
A Northside bourbon bar and restaurant is closing its doors for good. The Littlefield made the announcement on social media Tuesday. “Littlefield friends, Well. We are pretty sad to inform you this Saturday will be our final dinner service,” the bar and restaurant wrote. “After nearly 10 years of enjoying your company, we came to…
Ohio LGBTQ+ Youth Struggle to Find Help for Eating Disorders
This story was originally published by the Buckeye Flame and republished here with permission. Up to 50% of LGBTQ+ youth report having an eating disorder. The sobering statistic from Accanto Health, a national healthcare company treating eating disorders, mirrors the fact that LGBTQ+ people of all ages have higher incidences of eating disorders than heterosexual…
Focus on Test Scores Could Raise Risk for Violence Against Teachers, Ohio State Study Shows
A study by researchers from Ohio State University found that the likelihood of violence against teachers could be greater in schools that focus primarily on grades and test scores. The study, which was published in the Journal of School Violence, surveyed 9,000 teachers in the nation, particularly before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only…
New Board Game Bar ‘Free Parking’ Coming to College Hill
A new place to grab a beer and turn your friends into enemies with an intense game of Monopoly is coming to College Hill. Free Parking is a new board game bar setting up shop in the College Hill Business District along Hamilton Avenue. The bar plans to open this summer. Owner, manager and Cincinnati…
Local Small-Batch Soy Sauce Maker CinSoy Shuts Down
Cincinnati soy sauce and Asian condiments business CinSoy is shutting down operations. CinSoy owner Sam Pellerito told CityBeat in 2020 that he started making soy sauce in his basement as an experiment. He opened CinSoy in 2020 and started crafting small-batch soy sauce, miso, tofu, tamari and more from a production facility in Over-the-Rhine. The products were known for their…
Petition to Remove ‘Big Indian’ Sign from Local Car Dealership Heading to City Council
A petition calling for the immediate removal of the infamous so-called “Big Indian” sign in Cincinnati’s Carthage neighborhood is heading to city council. The 42-foot tall metal sign has stood outside a car dealership located at the high-traffic intersection of Vine Street and Paddock Road since 1957. Werner Lange created a Change.org petition in December…
Former Reds Players Dmitri Young and Pokey Reese to be Grand Marshals in Findlay Market Opening Day Parade
The first real sign of spring in Cincinnati is here: We now know who will be the grand marshals of the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade. The Opening Day Parade steps off from Findlay Market at noon on Thursday, March 28 ahead of the Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day game against the Washington Nationals at 4:10…
Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Southern Avenue to Join Willie Nelson at Cincinnati’s Outlaw Music Festival Stop
The Outlaw Music Festival is riding into town again this September, this time with an unprecedented lineup that promises the biggest and best show in the music festival’s eight-year history. Headliners include Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Southern Avenue. You can catch them at Riverbend Music Center on Wednesday, Sept. 11.…
GOP Lawmaker Files Bill to Add Rape, Incest Exceptions to Kentucky Abortion Ban
Citing his affection for his daughters, a Louisville Republican has filed a bill that would expand exceptions to Kentucky’s abortion ban, including for rape and incest. Rep. Ken Fleming’s House Bill 711 would leave it up to the physician to determine if rape or incest had occurred, allowing an abortion “if, in the physician’s best…
Guest Commentary: National and Ohio Republicans Desperately Pretend They Haven’t Been Attacking IVF
Don’t believe a word. The same extremists lining up to support a federal abortion ban, that would override hard-earned reproductive freedoms in states like Ohio, are now tripping all over themselves to profess their support for IVF and personal choice. Yeah right. The truth is freedom-killing MAGA Republicans were caught off guard after the Alabama…
Urban Artifact’s “World’s Most Expensive Beer” Astronaut Food is Back and We’re All ‘Berry’ Excited
Northside brewery Urban Artifact is again releasing “the world’s most expensive beer to brew,” in 2024, but this time in a whole new flavor. The freeze-dried fruit tart Astronaut Food will launch into orbit Monday, this time in strawberry. This is the fourth iteration of Astronaut Food. The brew first hit shelves in 2021 as…
Reminder: Early Voting is Underway for Ohio’s 2024 Primary Election
Ohio is a week into early voting in an election that will determine which candidates will appear on November ballots. The March 19 primary election will include several important state and national primary races, including the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate and the Democratic nominee for the Ohio Supreme Court. When to vote Early…
Sam Adams Cincinnati and Makers Bakers Co. Team Up for Return of the Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Bock
Beer for breakfast? Sign us up. It’s nearly time for the 32nd-annual Bockfest, Cincinnati’s favorite debaucherous celebration of dark beer, springtime and goats. And, for the second year in a row, the Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom is collaborating with Findlay Market bakery Makers Bakers Co. on a sweet brew. The Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Bock will…
Get Up to a Few Shenanigans With Factory 52’s Inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Beer Run
Factory 52, a mixed-use development in Norwood on the site of the former United States Playing Card Company factory, is celebrating its first St. Patrick’s Day with a fun beer run and a few shenanigans. The inaugural Sham-ROCK and Run at Factory 52 will be a mile-long race (yes, beer is involved, say organizers), along…
GOP Lawmakers Push “Mind Boggling” Bill to Make Adding Fluoride to Water Optional Against Advice of Kentucky Dentists
As a dental hygienist working with low-income schoolchildren in Louisville, Jennifer Hasch said the untreated tooth disease she saw was shocking. Some teens had decay so severe they had to have all their teeth pulled and be fitted with dentures. Middle school kids reported being unable to sleep because of pain from infected and abscessed…
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost Slams Trump’s New York Fraud Judgment as “Weaponizing Justice”
In saying Donald Trump is being treated unfairly, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost seems to be advocating treatment for the former president that he won’t advocate for his own constituents. Yost took to X in to express his outrage in the wake of a civil-fraud judgment against Trump totaling $350 million — nearly $450 million if…
Rep. Greg Landsman Tells CityBeat What He Said to Benjamin Netanyahu During Middle East Trip
Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) has returned safely from a trip to the Middle East where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ministers of defense in Egypt, Jordan and Israel as part of a House delegation for “strategic discussions on the Israel-Hamas war.” Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attacks that killed upwards of 1,200 people…
Greater Cincinnati Concerts We’re Looking Forward to this Summer
Along with blue creamy whip and trips to the Cincinnati Zoo, a visit to one of Greater Cincinnati’s many concert venues is a summertime staple. Whether you’re into obscure punk or mainstream country, the Queen City’s music venues are sure to have a concert that strikes your fancy. Below, we’ve included a list of concerts…
Here’s Who’s Coming to the 2024 Voices of America Country Music Fest in West Chester
West Chester will be getting a little bit country again this summer with the return of the Voices of America Country Music Fest. From Thursday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 11, some of the biggest names in country music will be hitting the stage at Voice of America MetroPark for the second-annual festival. The festival’s headliners…
The First Black Ohio Lawmaker Was Also the First Black Author to Write a History of Black Americans
On the first floor inside the limestone edifice of the Ohio Statehouse sits the George Washington Williams Memorial Room, adorned with two oil paintings and a large, bronze bust of Ohio’s first Black lawmaker: George Washington Williams, who served 1880-81, in Ohio’s 64th General Assembly. A soldier, Baptist minister, lawyer, politician, and journalist, Williams accomplished…
Guest Commentary: What’s Driving Attacks on Books, Diversity, Even History? Fear of Losing Control
Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. It’s hard to accept that such lofty principles, known as DEI, are part of some sinister plot to poison minds and destroy this country. After all, America’s prosperity, along with its status as a beacon of civil liberties, is rooted in its blend of peoples from across the world. Yet, the reality…
BlaCk OWned Outerwear and University of Cincinnati Launch Inaugural Collaboration
Cincinnati-based clothing company BlaCk OWned Outerwear and the University of Cincinnati have officially launched their historic collaboration. In a press release on Feb. 19, the University of Cincinnati announced the launch of the university-branded clothing line, BlaCkOWned™ x UC™. This is the university’s first collaboration with BlaCk OWned. “At the heart of [BlaCk OWned]’s mission lies…
The Officer Arresting Chad Doerman Did Not Read His Rights in Full, Now the Defense Wants His Confession Thrown Out
A Clermont County judge has yet to decide whether a confession made by Chad Doerman, the man accused of killing his three children, should be used as evidence at his trial. Doerman is accused of shooting and killing his three young sons, ages 3, 4 and 7, on June 15, 2023. He faces nine counts…
The Indigo Girls Bring Tunes Old and New to Dayton’s Victoria Theatre
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition. Most musicians found their activities curtailed during the pandemic. However, for the Indigo Girls, the past three years were a particularly busy season. The musical group, consisting of duo Emily Saliers and Amy Ray, recently released a livestream project, “Look Long: Together.” They’re also the…
The Frogman Festival Leaps Back to Cincinnati
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition. Since the ’50s, there have been three sightings of the Loveland Frogman on record. The tale of a 4-foot-tall frog-like man has been told to generations, lending another personality to the cryptid universe of Mothmans, Bigfoots and Loch Ness Monsters. An alleged Frogman run-in with…
Eat Cheese Coneys This Weekend to Help Save Coney Island’s Sunlite Pool
A grassroots effort to save the historic Sunlite Pool at Coney Island is coming to an Anderson Township restaurant this weekend with Coneys for Coney. The Save Coney Islanders is a group dedicated to working with the Coney Island property’s new owners, Music and Events Management Inc. (MEMI), a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra…
Cincinnati Opera Announces $5 Million Black Opera Project
Cincinnati Opera announced today a new initiative that will underwrite the creation and production of three operas by Black creators celebrating the resilience and vibrant facets of Black cultural experiences. According to the press release, the Black Opera Project is the first of its kind, rooted in an earlier project funded by the Andrew Mellon…
Review: The Epic ‘Dune: Part Two’ Tackles the Perils of Playing with Faith, Politics and Power
When it finally touched down in theaters three years ago, the most notable characteristic of Denis Villeneuve’s first Dune film was probably the fact that it existed at all. A properly monumental adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel had been something of a cinematic white whale (or worm, if you will), defeating filmmakers as illustrious…
Religious Liberty Bill Worries LGBTQ+ Advocates Who Say it Targets Fairness Ordinances
A bill that backers say is meant to strengthen religious freedom in Kentucky, but which opponents say will weaken fairness ordinances in the state, passed out of a House committee Wednesday despite bipartisan concerns. After an hour of debate, the House Judiciary Committee approved the measure 14-6. Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, joined Democrats in voting…
More Than 48,600 18-Year-Olds are Registered to Vote in Ohio, a 35% Increase From Late August
Ohio has seen a recent spike in young voter registration. More than 48,600 18-year-olds are registered to vote in Ohio as of Jan. 6 — a 35% increase compared to late August, according to data analyzed by the Civics Center, a nonpartisan organization trying to increase voter registration. “What we typically see is that registration…
Dedication Ceremony to be Held for Memorial of Northern Kentucky Woman Killed in Hit-and-Run
Gloria San Miguel would have been proud to know that part of her legacy included safer roads for cyclists and pedestrians. A cyclist herself, as well as a mother, partner, neighborhood friend and Roebling Point Books & Coffee employee, San Miguel was a beloved member of the Northern Kentucky community. On Aug. 20, 2022, San…
Covington Author Christen Randall to Release Debut LGBTQ+ Novel ‘The No-Girlfriend Rule’
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition. Covington, Kentucky-based author Christen Randall has, in her own words, “always secretly wanted to be an author.” Now, that dream is reality; her debut young adult novel The No-Girlfriend Rule releases on March 5 through Atheneum Books, a publishing arm of Simon & Schuster. The…
Review: Walnut Hills’ New Restaurant The Aperture is a First-Rate Addition to Cincinnati’s Dining Scene
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition. The Aperture is the real deal — a first-rate addition to our city’s dining firmament. Not downtown or in Over-the-Rhine, The Aperture is located in the center of Walnut Hills in a refurbished building on the corner of Gilbert Avenue and McMillan Street. The Aperture…
GOP Bill Would Give Kentucky Teachers 20 Days of Maternity Leave
If a Republican-backed bill passes, Kentucky public school teachers would gain maternity leave, something not currently available to them. Senate Bill 205, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, of Smithfield, would provide 20 days of maternity leave to public school employees after giving birth. Under the bill, employees could begin to use sick leave after the…
Sound Advice: R&B Singer Destin Conrad and His Smooth Romantic Style are Coming to Bogart’s
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition. While Destin Conrad is making waves in the R&B scene now, the Tampa-born singer originally gained his following on Vine where he amassed over a million followers. Conrad was raised by his single mother who emigrated from Jamaica and got his start singing in the…
Sound Advice: Singer-Songwriter Aimee Mann to Play Memorial Hall This Month
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition. Has it really been four decades since Aimee Mann broke into wider consciousness with the MTV hit “Voices Carry?” Mann wrote the tune for her band at the time, ’Til Tuesday, a Boston-based pop-rock outfit with a penchant for ear-wormy, synth-aided hooks and glossy overproduction.…
Corruption Tax? Policy Expert Says That’s Basically What Ohio Utility Consumers Have Been Paying
Many politicians — especially conservatives — are loath to approve anything that could be construed as a tax increase. But since 2009, Ohio’s leadership has gone along with a number of questionable rate hikes demanded by regulated utilities. They’ve functioned in the same manner as tax increases — regressive ones with unsavory origins. There were…
Sound Advice: Jonathan Richman to Bring His Ever-Expanding Musical Style to Antioch College
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition. One of the most unique and original voices in modern music, Jonathan Richman makes a local appearance at the end of the month at the Foundry Theater in Yellow Springs. Richman has generated a cult following over the course of his career that began with…
