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The Pet Issue: A Covington Cat Cafe, the Dogs of Cincy, Pet-Friendly Bars and More
The word “pet,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary, has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic word peata (or Old Irish petta), meaning “a tame animal.” But a half century later, the word carries a little more prestige than the suggestion of mere domestication. The modern pet — be it a dog, cat, bird, fish or any of…
Taste Of Cincinnati Is Back This Memorial Day Weekend
Get your waistbands ready: Taste of Cincinnati is returning in 2022. Launched in 1979, this giant and long-running food festival will take over Fifth Street downtown from May 28-30. Full details have not yet been announced, but the event typically includes a weekend of more than 60 restaurants, food trucks and vendors slinging their best…
Meet the Codfather, the Patron Saint of Greater Cincinnati’s Lenten Fish Frys
Roughly 73% of adults in Ohio identify as Christian, and 18% of those consider themselves Catholic, according to a Pew Research Center survey from 2014. And one may wonder if all 18% of those Catholics reside in the Greater Cincinnati area, especially during Lent, when fish fry hysteria descends upon the city. In Christianity —…
Decibel Korean Fried Chicken in Walnut Hills Offers Twice-Fried Deliciousness for Lunch, Brunch and Dinner
From humble beginnings come great things — especially when we’re talking about Decibel Korean Fried Chicken. Brought to Cincinnati by the crew behind Dope! Asian Street Food, Decibel is the city’s first Korean fried chicken joint. The outfit now has a storefront location in Walnut Hills, adjacent to Esoteric Brewing, but Decibel launched in 2021…
22 of Our Favorite Greater Cincinnati Fish Frys and What to Order There
Churches, restaurants and organizations are all getting in on the Lenten action this year. And with so many fish frys in Greater Cincinnati, it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s a list of 22, plus unique items to order there. Events accept different forms of payment, so bring both cash and credit if you’re…
Husband-and-Wife Punk Duo The Dollyrots Talk New Album, Parenthood Ahead of Southgate House Revival Stop
When the husband-and-wife duo Luis Cabezas and Kelly Ogden, aka the Punk Rock band The Dollyrots, began working on the follow-up to their 2019 album Daydream Explosion, they came to a rather startling conclusion: They didn’t have anything particularly interesting to say. The Dollyrots’ condition has been fairly common among musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.…
The Cincinnati Roots of McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Sandwich
Did you know that the McDonald’s Lent- and pescatarian-friendly Filet-O-Fish sandwich was invented in Cincinnati? The year was 1962 and Lou Groen owned and operated the first McDonald’s location in Ohio; it is still open today in Cincinnati’s Monfort Heights neighborhood. Groen’s granddaughter Erica (Groen) Shadoin, who now owns the location, told CityBeat that her…
Columbia Tusculum’s Irish Heritage Center to Host Official St. Patrick’s Day Parade Afterparty
Raise a Guinness and do a jig. The Irish Heritage Center of Cincinnati is hosting the afterparty following the city’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade since the pandemic. Housed in the old McKinley School building in Columbia Tusculum, the Irish Heritage Center of Cincinnati (IHC) opens its doors at 3 p.m. March 12 for authentic…
Grammy-Nominated British Performer Yola Brings Her Country-Soul Sizzle to the Taft Theatre
Stories abound of how musicians navigated the full-stop nature of the pandemic. For English singer-songwriter Yola, the extended COVID-19 pause gave her a chance to do a deep dive into herself with Stand For Myself, the follow-up album to her critically-acclaimed 2019 debut Walk Through Fire. While her introduction to the public came as a Country-Soul…
Cincinnati Government, Entertainment Venues Drop Masking Regulations After CDC’s COVID-19 Guidance Changes
COVID-19 masking requirements are a thing of the past for Cincinnati — at least for now. The city of Cincinnati has lifted masking and testing requirements for city employees as well as for members of the public who enter city facilities. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval announced the change Tuesday morning after the Centers for Disease…
The Dish: Recent Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Openings and Closings
Openings La Cantina The former Cheapside Cafe space downtown has gotten new life thanks to local Crown Restaurant Group (Crown Republic Gastropub, Losanti, Rosie’s Cocktails & Pies). It is now home to La Cantina, a restaurant offering a self-described mix of “contemporary, authentic Mexican cuisine and cocktails.” Chef Johnny Curiel, recently the executive chef at…
21 Recently Announced Greater Cincinnati Concerts
Micky Dolenz – April 9, Andrew J Brady Music Center H.E.R. – April 26, Andrew J Brady Music Center Gavin DeGraw – April 29, Hard Rock Casino Khruangbin – April 29, Andrew J Brady Music Center Breaking Benjamin -May 11, Andrew J Brady Music Center Sum 41 and Simple Plan – May 13, Andrew J…
R&B/Soul Singer Jazmine Sullivan Supports Album ‘Heaux Tales’ at Bogart’s
It doesn’t take long to realize the overarching concerns of stellar R&B/Soul singer Jazmine Sullivan’s fourth and most recent record, 2021’s Heaux Tales — “Bodies (Intro)” is a slinky synth-backed lament about getting fucked up and out of sorts: “Bitch, get it together, bitch/You don’t know who you went home with, who you went home…
Philadelphia’s Grocer Brings Oddball Indie Rock and Pop to MOTR Pub
“Pick A Way,” the recently released track from Philadelphia-based band Grocer’s pending sophomore record, Numbers Game, is yet another flavor on a sonic menu that continues to diversify and evolve. The song opens pensively with plaintive vocals and a mid-tempo beat before layering in keyboards and chiming guitars, eventually culminating in two minutes of fuzzed-out,…
Music Hall Updates COVID Vaccination and Masking Guidance
Changes are coming for those visiting Music Hall to attend a Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops or May Festival performance. Starting March 14, guests will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to enter, and masking will be optional. “Regional COVID-19 data, the advice…
Cincinnati Cyclones to Be Renamed ‘Coneys’ for March 11 Game
Sometimes the Cincinnati Cyclones are good enough to eat. The Cyclones will test that theory on Friday, March 11, when the team becomes the Cincinnati Coneys for a home game against the Wheeling Nailers. The local food theme continues in that night’s giveaway: a bobblehead of Cyclones — er, Coneys — head coach Jason Payne…
Cincinnati Police Officer Shoots Two Dogs, Killing One at the Bockfest 5K
A Cincinnati Police Department officer shot a dog twice, killing it, and hitting another while patrolling the Bockfest 5K this weekend. Public Information Officer Emily Szink said in a statement to the press that the incident took place around 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, near the corner of McMicken and Dunlap streets in Over-the-Rhine. While…
Cincinnati’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Returns After Two-Year Hiatus
The day has come for the Irish of Cincinnati — and those who wish they were — to dance, drink and party through the streets of downtown. And it’s something they’ve been waiting a while for. At noon on March 12, the 54th St. Patrick Day Parade will step off from Mehring Way near Paul…
Art on Vine Hosts ‘Local Madness’ Shopping Event at Rhinegeist This Weekend
If you’re looking for some March madness that isn’t related to basketball, look no further than Art on Vine’s “Local Madness” event this weekend. Over 80 local artisans will set up shop inside of Rhinegeist Brewery from noon-7 p.m. on March 13 for the pop-up market’s first indoor March event since the beginning of COVID-19. Organizers want patrons…
Candle Factory Workers Weren’t Trained for Emergencies Before Deadly Kentucky Tornado Collapse, Lawsuit Claims
Eight survivors of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory collapse have lodged new allegations against the company in an expanded lawsuit filed in Graves County Circuit Court on March 3. The new complaint adds to a previous lawsuit filed by plaintiff Elijah Johnson, who claimed Consumer Products supervisors threatened to fire workers who left the factory…
Masks No Longer Required at Cincinnati Public Schools
Cincinnati Public Schools has updated its masking policy, reflecting changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance for how it reports the severity of COVID-19 cases as well as the prevention tactics members of the public should take. Effective immediately, masks are no longer required in CPS “school buildings, district offices and…
Help the People of Ukraine By Booking an Airbnb You Won’t Stay In
As Russia continues its devastating war on Ukraine, people across the globe are looking for ways to step up and help Ukrainians. One novel way that has emerged to get much-needed money into the accounts of that country’s citizens is by booking an Airbnb — and with no intention of staying in it. Airbnb says…
Danzig, the Dark Lord of Metal, Is Coming to the Andrew J. Brady Music Center in May
Dark Metal group Danzig is stopping by the Andrew J. Brady Music Center this May. The May 14 show will include Cradle of Filth, Crobot and Necrofier. Tickets went on sale March 4 at ticketmaster.com. Glenn Danzig founded his eponymous band in 1987 after stints with the Misfits and Samhain. Known for hits including “Mother,”…
Krohn Conservatory’s 2022 Butterfly Show Will Transport Cincinnatians to Ancient Egypt
The beauty and mystery of Ancient Egypt is descending on Cincinnati’s Krohn Conservatory — or at least its butterflies are. Krohn has announced the theme for its super-popular annual butterfly show: Butterflies of the Nile. The show opens March 19 and runs through June 19. A description provided by Cincinnati Parks (which oversees Krohn) says…
Former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Running Mate Teresa Fedor Tout Social Justice Platform at Columbus Campaign Stop
“There’s no bull crap with them. They tell the truth. They tell it like it is.” That’s the one good thing about prison, Robert McClendon explained. You get a good radar for bull crap. You can see it coming from around the corner, he said, and there’s none of it when it comes to the Democratic…
Barenaked Ladies ‘Last Summer On Earth’ Tour Adds Rose Music Center Stop Outside Dayton This July
Radio-friendly Pop Rockers the Barenaked Ladies already have a summer tour stop slated at Riverbend Music Center (July 20). But if you’re a huge fan and have at least a small percentage of a million dollars to spend, the band has just announced a second nearby stop on their lengthy summer 2022 tour. Barenaked Ladies…
10 Greater Cincinnati Fish Frys Where You Can Drink
It’s the beginning of fish fry season in Cincinnati, which means it’s time to plan out your Friday meals until April 14 — the last Friday of Lent. Cincinnati is chock of Catholics, which also means the city is full of places that love throwing a classic fish fry. Each weekend you can find churches, restaurants…
MadTree Sets Opening Date for its Alcove Bar, Restaurant and Event Space in Over-the-Rhine
MadTree Brewing is set to open a multi-level Over-the-Rhine bar, restaurant and event space next week. Alcove will open its doors at 1400-1410 Vine St. to the public on March 7 after years in the works. MadTree describes Alcove’s main bar and restaurant as containing “a large bar, light-filled lounges, dining areas and an intimate private dining…
Great Parks to Build Interactive Music Garden with Giant Instruments in Woodlawn
A new and immersive sensory experience is coming to one of Great Parks of Hamilton County’s parks. Glenwood Gardens in Woodlawn will soon be home to an interactive music-themed garden, thanks in part to a $150,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks. (The total project cost is estimated at $300,000.) Called the “Music Garden at…
FC Cincinnati’s Themed Match Days at TQL Stadium Include Pride, ’80s Night and Noche Latina This Season
FC Cincinnati is bringing more than just soccer to TQL Stadium this season with a slew of promotional nights slated through 2022. “These platforms provide an opportunity to amplify league-wide initiatives, celebrate members of our fanbase and just have some fun,” says FC Cincinnati’s Director of Marketing Bobby Straka in a press release. This season’s…
A New Brent Spence Bridge Might Be Coming, and 8 Other Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
Will Cincinnati’s ever tire of talking about the wretched Brent Spence Bridge? Probably not, but the notion that something might actually happen to alleviate our traffic woes certainly kept our attention. Below, catch up on that and other important stories from this week. Ohio, Kentucky Governors Reveal Plans to Jointly Fund Brent Spence Bridge Project…
MadTree Launches Canned Cocktail Line
The weather is warming up this weekend and we all know what that means: We need more fruity drinks in a can. MadTree was on top of it with the release of their canned cocktail line, Sway. On tap at MadTree’s Oakley taproom starting Friday, March 5 and arriving on store shelves Monday, March 7,…
10 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (March 4-6)
It’s the Lenten season in Cincinnati, which can only mean one thing: fish fry Fridays are back. (That and someone you know has given up chocolate for the next 40 days.) If you’re looking for a fish fry — particularly ones with alcohol — check out our list. And along with holy haddock, this weekend…
30 Must-Try Fish Fry Feasts in Cincinnati
It’s the Lenten season in Cincinnati, which can only mean one thing: fish fry Fridays are back (that, and someone you know has given up chocolate for the next 40 days). So many churches — plus assorted savvy eateries — in Greater Cincinnati are offering some type of special fried fish dish on Fridays. Here…
Wodka Bar OTR Offering Ukrainian Favorites Meal Kit to Supply Aid to Children Displaced by the War
It’s hard to know how you can best help the people of Ukraine as they resist Russia’s invasion. Sarah Dworak, the owner and operator of Wodka Bar OTR and Babushka Pierogies, whose family hails from Ukraine, is offering one option. She has joined with the global series of fundraising events called “Cook for Ukraine” to direct…
Hamilton County Judge Temporarily Blocks State from Enforcing Ohio’s New Abortion Bill
A Hamilton County judge has blocked the state from enforcing a new abortion-related law temporarily. Common Pleas Court Judge Alison Hatheway said Planned Parenthood groups and the Women’s Med Dayton clinic are “likely to succeed” in their lawsuit, therefore justifying a temporary block of Senate Bill 157. The law would have barred physicians who worked…
Brett Hankison Found Not Guilty on All Counts for Actions During Breonna Taylor Raid
After a six-day trial, former Louisville Metro Police Department detective Brett Hankison was found not guilty on March 3 on all three counts of wanton endangerment related to events surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor. Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment from the shots he fired during the March 13, 2020 LMPD…
Garth Brooks Books Paul Brown Stadium for His Only Tour Date in Ohio
Country fans in Cincinnati have one shot to see superstar Garth Brooks on his new concert tour. Brooks announced Wednesday that he would perform at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, May 14. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 11. The performance will be Brooks’ first at the stadium and his…
Cincinnati, Yellow Springs Public Radio Stations Join The Ohio Newsroom, a New Statewide Public Radio Hub
Two regional radio stations are joining forces with those around the Buckeye State. Cincinnati Public Radio (WVXU-FM, WMUB-FM and WGUC-FM) and WYSO-FM in Yellow Springs are now part of The Ohio Newsroom, the largest daily radio and digital news outlet in the state. With a two-year, $375,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Ohio Newsroom…
Mayor Pureval Honors National Tartar Sauce Day by Declaring March 4 ‘Frisch’s Big Boy Day’ in Cincinnati
Just in time for Lent, things are getting fishy in Cincinnati. Well, fish adjacent. On Friday, March 4 (the day all the fish frys start), Mayor Aftab Pureval is declaring it Frisch’s Big Boy Day in the Queen City. Conveniently, March 4 also happens to be National Tartar Sauce Day — a day that apparently…
Here’s When Greater Cincinnati Creamy Whips Are Opening for the 2022 Season
After a few days of weather above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, some creamy whips have already opened their windows for the 2022 season — and even more are coming soon. That means warmer weather, little league games and balmy evening ice cream runs are right around the corner. Here are the opening dates for Greater Cincinnati creamy…
Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Delayed After MLB Owners, Players Association Fail on Collective Bargaining Agreement
Major League Baseball’s opening day is once again a moving target. This time, however, it’s not because of COVID-19. MLB has canceled the first two series of the 2022 season, including opening day, because team owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) failed to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement…
Hands-On Replicas of Da Vinci Inventions in New Exhibit at Dayton’s National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
The largest hands-on display of replicas of Leonardo da Vinci’s machines is now on view, and you won’t have to go to Italy to see it. Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion is open at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. It features 40 full-size working recreations of da Vinci’s inventions…
Cult Favorite The Root Beer Stand in Sharonville Sets 2022 Opening Day
Cincinnati’s favorite summertime staple has announced its opening date for the 2022 season. The Root Beer Stand in Sharonville will open on March 5. Opened as an A&W Root Beer Stand in 1957, the now family-owned restaurant makes secret-recipe root beer (available by the jug) using water from the property’s well. With its particular minerality, the…
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2022/23 Season Promises Zombies, Little Women and Christmas Cheer
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has announced its upcoming 29th season — eight productions of plays with classic roots of one kind or another. The season includes three plays by Shakespeare and three adapted from American sources, as well as a classic work by a Black playwright and another year of Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And…
Indiana Legislature Finally Acknowledges Three Lynchings In Charlestown’s History
The Indiana State Senate recently adopted Indiana SR 36, a resolution to honor, remember and exonerate three Black lynching victims in the small Southern Indiana town of Charlestown, located near Louisville. The three men, Charles Davis, Squire Taylor and George Johnson, are currently buried in Charlestown Cemetery. In 1871, they were falsely implicated in the murder of…
Ohio House Won’t Release Texts Between Rep Jay Edwards and Indicted Ex-Speaker Larry Householder
Lawyers with the Ohio House of Representatives denied a public records requests for text messages between a sitting lawmaker and the former House Speaker, who was expelled by his peers while under a racketeering indictment related to alleged public corruption. State Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) and Larry Householder regularly exchange text messages and talk on…
Temporary Spending Bill Helping Struggling Ohioans Ends in March; Groups Want Real Funding
Federal programs that help struggling Ohioans are running on a temporary spending bill that expires in 10 days, on March 11, and hundreds of groups say it’s time for Congress to stop “stopgap” funding. Out of nearly 200 federal programs tracked by the Coalition on Human Needs between fiscal years 2010 and 2021, nearly two-thirds have…
Vote for Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium as the Best in the World
Is Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium one of the best in the world? The public now has a say in that. StadiumDB.com, which tracks construction, operations and history for soccer stadiums around the world, has included TQL Stadium on its list of nominations for Stadium of the Year for 2021. The contest is open to soccer facilities…
Rock Icon Blondie to Stop at Andrew J Brady Music Center This Summer
The exquisitely cool Debbie Harry and her band Blondie are making a Cincinnati tour stop this summer. The band and Punk icon The Damned will be at the Andrew J Brady Music Center on Aug. 23. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. March 4 at ticketmaster.com. Known for pioneering genre-bending Rock hits — including…
Ohio Clinics Sue to Stop State from Enforcing New Abortion Bill
A lawsuit has been filed against the newest state abortion restriction and its regulation of doctors’ ability to practice medicine. The ACLU, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region and Women’s Med Dayton are asking a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court to keep the state from enforcing a law to create “onerous and unwarranted” restrictions to health…
Cincinnati Bell Changes Name After More Than a Century
A major Cincinnati company is getting a new name. Cincinnati Bell — founded in 1873 as the City and Suburban Telegraph Association and later called the Cincinnati and Suburban Bell Telephone Company starting in 1903 — will now be known as “altafiber” in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. According to a press release, the name change “reflects…
Former Mobster Who Scammed The Banks with Toby Keith Restaurant Sentenced to Five Years in Prison
Frank Capri, a former mobster turned government witness turned developer who scammed The Banks with a Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill-branded restaurant, was sentenced last week to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Capri…
Watch This Kentucky Construction Worker Wow ‘American Idol’ Judges During Audition
A musically gifted Kentucky man has advanced to the next round of American Idol. Noah Thompson is a 19-year-old construction worker in the small town of Louisa, Kentucky, in Lawrence County, and he submitted a virtual audition for “American Idol” only because his best friend and coworker Arthur Johnson told him to he noted in…
Norwood, Yellow Springs Compete in 2022 Strongest Towns Contest
March Madness is coming up, but there’s a different type of Sweet 16 in Greater Cincinnati that doesn’t involve an orange ball. Two regional towns are vying to be named the strongest in the land. In its annual Strongest Town competition bracket, Strong Towns — a nonprofit focused on helping residents build financially sound, resourceful,…
Ohio Officials Express Solidarity with Ukraine in Sunday Afternoon Prayer Service and Rally in Parma
Sunday afternoon, St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio held a prayer service and rally to support the Ukrainian struggle against Russian invasion. The pews in the nave (body of the church) that seat up to 450 weren’t enough to hold the oncoming swell of support. Still, many found space in the aisles, in…
Ohio Celebrates Its Statehood Day on March 1
Ohio’s heritage is on display as the Buckeye State marks 219 years since its founding. On March 1, 1803, our first governor, Edward Tiffin, and the General Assembly met in Chillicothe to conduct state business for the first time. Zanesville also was home to the state’s capital before the establishment of Columbus in 1816. More…
Suspect Arrested In Shooting of Former Kentucky Lawmaker’s Daughter
A man suspected of shooting and killing a Kentucky lawmaker’s daughter has been arrested, according to Kentucky State Police (KSP). Shannon Gilday, 23, of Taylor Mill, Kentucky was found walking along Barnes Mill Road in Madison County just after 4:30 a.m. this morning by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and he was taken into custody…
Demonstrators Took to the Streets of Downtown Cincinnati During a March for Ukraine
As Russia continues its invasion and destruction of Ukraine, people around the world are gathering via rallies and marches to show their support for Ukrainians. On Monday, Feb. 28, Cincinnatians demonstrated their solidarity during a March for Ukraine event. The march stepped off from Fountain Square at 3 p.m. and proceeded toward Cincinnati City Hall,…
Iranetta Wright to Lead Cincinnati Public Schools as New Superintendent
The Cincinnati Public Schools district has selected its new permanent leader. During a Feb. 28 meeting, the district’s board of education tapped Iranetta Wright as CPS’s next superintendent Wright’s appointment follows a national search and the interim tenure of Tianay Amat since May. Wright currently is the deputy superintendent in the Detroit Public Schools Community District, Michigan’s…
Graeter’s Ice Cream Unveils Salty New Mystery Flavor
For those of you who want a little something salty with your sweet, Graeter’s Ice Cream has unveiled a brand new flavor. Midnight Snack is this year’s mystery flavor and it features ice cream infused with peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered pretzels and brownie bites. The “mystery flavor” designation is a recent annual practice for the 152-year-old…
Review: ‘Queen’ at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Explores Ethics in the World of Scientific Research
In Madhuri Shekar’s Queen, currently onstage at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, a pair of Ph.D. candidates are on the brink of a major research breakthrough regarding colony collapse disorder, a mysterious — and real — plague that is destroying honeybee colonies. At the University of California-Santa Cruz, Ariel Spiegel (Jordan Trovillion) is an impassioned biologist with…
Kentucky, Ohio Governors Reveal Plans to Jointly Apply for Federal Funding for Brent Spence Bridge Project
The Brent Spence Bridge connecting Cincinnati and Covington may finally get its glow-up, thanks to heavy alignment from Ohio and Kentucky leaders. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and officials from both states gathered Monday to watch as the governors signed a memorandum of understanding outlining plans to jointly apply for and use…
Bakery Chain Paris Baguette to Open Location in Cincinnati
A national bakery cafe chain is opening its first Ohio location in Cincinnati. Paris Baguette has over 90 storefronts across the country and its newest one is set to open inside 3CDC’s recent 4th & Race development. Cincinnati restaurateur Ai Lin of Sichuan Chili and Gyu-Kaku BBQ will own and operate the new location, per…
NFL Writer Says Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow Is One of the Best Quarterbacks in the League
Well, the NFL is confirming what Cincinnati already knew: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had one hell of a season. In NFL writer Gregg Rosenthal’s final installment of his quarterback index, which ranks all quarterbacks in the league based on their 2021-2022 regular season and playoffs, Burrow — who just completed his second year for Cincinnati…
Review: With Sara Clark in the Title Role, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Offers New Ways to See ‘Hamlet’
CRITIC’S PICK Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play. If everything he wrote for the work ends up on stage, a production can take nearly five hours. And the role of Hamlet — the conflicted prince of Denmark, wrestling with how to avenge his father’s murder — is the largest Shakespeare created. It is a character almost…
Everything We Saw at the Dua Lipa Show at Schottenstein Center in Columbus
British Pop singer Dua Lipa showed up to Ohio dressed to impress in neon green this weekend. Check out everything we saw at her Future Nostalgia Tour stop on Feb. 26 — with opener Caroline Polachek — at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Related Stories
A March for Ukraine Will Gather in Downtown Cincinnati on Monday Afternoon
As Russia continues its invasion and destruction of Ukraine, people around the world are gathering via rallies and marches to show their support for Ukrainians. On Monday, Feb. 28, Cincinnatians can demonstrate their solidarity during a March for Ukraine event. The march will step off from Fountain Square at 3 p.m. and proceed toward Cincinnati City…
BBQ High Life to Open in Oakley Kitchen Food Hall
Oakley Kitchen Food Hall is getting a new barbecue spot. BBQ High Life is set to open inside of the incubator kitchen Tuesday, March 1. Previously based in Goshen, High Life offered carryout and catering services. Its menu at the Oakley Kitchen will consist of six signature sandwiches and four classic barbecue side options. The…
‘The Batman’ is Hard-Boiled Super Noir That Could Give ‘The Dark Knight’ a Run for its Money
It should come as little surprise that a film directed by Matt Reeves (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes) is extremely cool. And yet, the marketing for The Batman left me uncertain. More than uncertain, actually. Highly skeptical. The casting, the color palette, the odd contouring of the Batman…
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Yanks Russian Standard Vodka From Store Shelves
As President Biden and allies have continued to unleash financial sanctions on Russian banks, companies and certain individuals in response to the country’s war on Ukraine, here in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine has decided to hit the Russians on another front: vodka sales. In a tweet over the weekend, DeWine declared he had told Ohio…
Proposed Kentucky Bill Would Increase Birth Control Access Among Rural Women
Nearly 300,000 Kentucky women live in counties lacking a health center providing contraceptive methods such as the birth-control pill. Advocates in eastern Kentucky say proposed legislation would boost access to the full variety of birth-control methods in rural counties and help lower the number of unintended pregnancies. Mimi Pickering, team leader for All Access EKY,…
Ohio Republicans Jim Jordan, Josh Mandel Continue to Show Reverence to Trump at CPAC Conference
This weekend Ohio Republicans traded Ohio’s chill for Florida sun, and tried to stake out a spot in the reflected glow of their party’s former president. Donald Trump headlined the Conservative Political Action Committee in Orlando. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and GOP Senate candidates Josh Mandel and J.D. Vance got speaking slots as well. Josh…
Taft Museum of Art Hosts Jane Austen: Fashion & Sensibility Exhibition’s North American Debut
Jane Austen’s books are coming to life at the Taft Museum of Art. From June 11-Sept. 4, the museum will present Jane Austen: Fashion & Sensibility, a special exhibition that features costumes worn by Hollywood celebrities in film and television adaptations of Austen’s novel. The costumes are journeying across the Atlantic from Cosprop LTD, an award-winning…
Pothole Season Sucks, and 7 Other Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
It’s been a wet, dreary February punctuated with 55-degree days here and there, and the constant revolving weather has been just as awful for Cincinnati’s streets as it has been for our seasonal affective disorder. But the city’s going to take care of at least one of those things (maybe?). Below, catch up on the…
CDC Eases Mask Guidance, Makes Recommendations for Hamilton County
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated how it is reporting the severity of COVID-19 cases in counties across America. Instead of relying just on infection rates to determine if an area has a “low,” “medium” or “high” instance of COVID-19 spread, the CDC says it is now using three metrics to…
Bengals Publish Open Letter from Grateful L.A. Rams Fan Who Just Became a Cincinnati Supporter
The Los Angeles Rams may have won Super Bowl LVI, but the Cincinnati Bengals came out on top for having the best fans at the game. This week, the Cincinnati Bengals published an open letter from Elliot Kozolchyk, a Rams supporter in L.A. who had attended the Super Bowl on Feb. 13. In his letter, Kozolchyk…
Agave & Rye Team’s Son of a Butcher Steakhouse Sets Opening Date
The team behind Agave & Rye seems to have conquered the eccentric taco world and has now set its sights set on steakhouses. The company’s new Son of a Butcher — colloquially referred to as S.O.B. — is slated to open March 1 in Liberty Center. The restaurant is located in Shindig Park, an event…
Northside Brewery Urban Artifact Launches Line of Fruit Tart Seltzers
Seltzer fans rejoice: the trend is alive and well as Urban Artifact announces the addition of fruit tart seltzers to its portfolio. The seltzers originally debuted as limited releases, but will now be available year-round. Urban Artifact first established their signature beer style — the midwest fruit tart — and then continued in the fruit niche to…
11 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (Feb. 25-27)
Lent kicks off on March 2 and that means it’s time to get ready for all your favorite local fish frys — and it’s time to party like it’s Mardi Gras until then. This weekend, there’s plenty of New Orleans-inspired fun to be had. And if beads and Hurricane cocktails aren’t your thing, there’s also…
FC Cincinnati to Debut New Orange Juncta Juvant Kit at 2022 Season and Home Opener
For the first time in the club’s Major League Soccer history, FC Cincinnati will display a primarily orange kit on the field. The Juncta Juvant Kit replaces the white Heritage Link Kit that the club sported last season and will be alternated with the familiar navy blue Dynamic Kit against this season’s opponents. “Juncta juvant” is the…
Cincinnati Shares ‘Pothole Season’ Repair Plans as Service Requests Mount
The wintry weather continues, ensuring that Cincinnati’s potholes may become even bigger. But the city’s leaders say that they’re ready to do something about it, as long as Mother Nature cooperates. “Put simply, there are just too many potholes on our streets right now, and this has a serious impact on Cincinnati’s ability to feel safe…
Five Greater Cincinnati Mardi Gras Parties for Beads and Debauchery
Laissez les bons temps rouler! The Queen City is channeling the Big Easy this weekend with plenty of Mardi Gras-themed events. Grab your beads, drink some hurricanes and get ready to party. MainStrasse Mardi Gras Parade MainStrasse is celebrating Mardi Gras with a parade and party this Saturday. The traditional parade features a raucous collection…
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Plotting a White Supremacist Attack on Power Grid
Three men — one from Ohio — pleaded guilty to federal terrorism charges after admitting their plans to attack the power grid “in furtherance of white supremacist ideology,” according to documents unsealed Wednesday. Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of West Lafayette, Indiana and of Katy, Texas; and Jackson Matthew…
Viking Adds Cleveland as a 2023 Cruise Stop — We Think
Viking this week announced that Cleveland, which hadn’t been included on the cruise line’s itineraries since the company expanded to the Great Lakes in 2020, will be added as a stop in 2023. With the addition of two new ships, Viking will be offering 15-day trips starting at $13,995 per passenger that will include stops…
Keturah Herron Is the First Openly LGBTQ Member Elected To Kentucky’s State House
Democrat Keturah Herron won Tuesday’s special election to fill the open District 42 House seat, beating out Republican Judy Martin Stallard 1,950 votes to 119, and becoming the first openly LGBTQ member elected to the state House. Herron, an activist and former policy strategist at the ACLU of Kentucky, will fill the vacant seat after…
Report: Thousands of Ohio Kids Risk Losing Medicaid/CHIP Coverage This Spring
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program have been a lifeline for struggling families during the COVID-19 pandemic — and a new report suggests more than 6 million children in the U.S. could needlessly lose that coverage. A “continuous-enrollment” requirement will be lifted at the end of the public-health emergency order, which could be as early…
20 Cincinnati-Style Chili Parlors You Should Have Tried By Now
If you’ve lived in Cincinnati for any amount of time, you’ve likely stumbled into the center of a debate between die-hard fans of Skyline and Gold Star: Which local chili chain is the best? But if partisan chili politics isn’t your thing, you can always take the road less traveled and try your tastebuds at…
Guest Commentary: Here’s How Scammers like Anna Delvey Exploit Human Nature
Maybe she had so much money she just lost track of it. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. That’s how Anna Sorokin’s marks explained away the supposed German heiress’s strange requests to sleep on their couch for the night, or to put plane tickets on their credit cards, which she would then forget to pay…
Smashing Pumpkins Announce New Tour, Will Hit Cincinnati in May
Tuesday was the greatest day we’ve ever known, because the Smashing Pumpkins announced a new tour with a stop in Greater Cincinnati. The Pumpkins announced the limited “Rock Invasion 2” tour on Tuesday, posting dates for the short jaunt on social media. “Rock Invasion 2 tour! Invading select U.S. cities this May,” the band said…
Two Cincinnati Chefs Named Semifinalists in 2022 James Beard Awards
Today, the James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for its prestigious Restaurant and Chef Awards and two Cincinnatians made the cut. Chef Elaine Townsend of Cafe Mochiko is listed as one of America’s “Outstanding Bakers” and Chef Jose Salazar of Mita’s, Goose & Elder and Salazar is once again nominated for “Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL,…
Avril-Bleh Meat Market Opens New Storefront Downtown
A 128-year-old downtown butcher shop has gotten a makeover — and a new storefront. Avril-Bleh Meat Market, open since 1894, has moved from its old 850-square-foot location at 33 E. Court St. a few doors down to 37 E. Court St. The new space will eventually span 3,700-square-feet and include a “larger and newer retail shop;…
Cincinnati Expected to See Freezing Rain Wednesday Night, Thursday Morning
One weather prediction was right for this week. Now Cincinnati is bracing for another one to come true. The National Weather Service in Wilmington continues to forecast wintry conditions for Greater Cincinnati this week. On Monday, the NWS warned of rain for Monday and Tuesday, adding a flood watch through Tuesday night. In a forecast…
Arnold’s Bar and Grill Chef to Appear on Food Network’s ‘Chopped’
The chef of Cincinnati’s oldest tavern will be competing on an upcoming episode of Food Network’s Chopped. Arnold’s Bar and Grill chef Kayla Robison’s episode will air Tuesday, March 1 at 9 p.m. in the 51st season of this long-running, wildly popular TV show. On Chopped, four contestants typically compete for a $10,000 prize through three…
Experts Question Ethics of Gov. Mike DeWine’s Son Sitting on Ohio Supreme Court During State Redistricting Case
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine has said he doesn’t have a conflict sitting in judgment of a case involving a redistricting commission on which his father sits. That’s because the father, according to his son, is acting in only an official capacity. It’s a claim that some ethics experts have bluntly rejected. The claim…
Ohio Democrats, Republicans Urge Tough Sanctions on Russia
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress on Tuesday called on President Joe Biden to impose severe sanctions on Russia after the country declared a broad section of eastern Ukraine independent before sending troops into the region. Members of Congress appear unified, for the moment, that the most the United States should do is restrict Russia’s…
Five Things Every Cincinnati Animal Lover Needs
From lovable pooches to majestic birds, pets in Cincinnati sure are pampered. Below, check out five fun local shops with gifts and experiences that will make humans just as happy as their furry, feathered or scaled friends. Bengals Dog Collar Since the Cincinnati Bengals’ exciting Super Bowl run this season, this city has exploded with…
15 Pet-Friendly Places To Drink With Your Dog
A trip to your local watering hole shouldn’t mean leaving your furry friend at home. Greater Cincinnati is home to dozens of dog-friendly spots, welcoming well-behaved pups to enjoy a day out with their humans. These drinking and dining destinations allow pets in portions of or all of their establishments, as long as they are…
Covington’s Purrfect Day Cafe is a Haven for Adoptable Cats and Punny Cocktails
At Purrfect Day Cafe in Covington, it’s imperative that guests watch where they sit. No, there isn’t assigned seating or a mean girl “cool table” mentality, but in the cat room, there are between 20 and 25 friendly felines making themselves comfortable lounging in pet beds and baskets, nesting on wall perches and even snuggling beneath…
10 Greater Cincinnati Dog Parks for Pups and Their People
Good news for Covington canines: In January, crews broke ground on a new neighborhood dog park that officials say should be open by the spring. Funded by federal sources and a $10,000 donation from the Northern Kentucky Association of Realtors, the park — at Ninth and Philadelphia streets — will take over a site currently…
Instagram Account Dogs of Cincy Shines a Spotlight on the Cutest Canines in the Queen City
While doomscrolling on social media has become the norm these days, there are plenty of accounts injecting our stressed-out cerebral cortexes with some much-needed serotonin in the form of adorable animals. Locally, Instagram account Dogs of Cincy (@dogsofcincy) showers its 19,000+ followers with almost-daily photos and stories of the Queen City’s cutest canine residents. Helmed…
Covington’s Madison Avenue Showcases Dining and Drinking Delights
Relentless winter weather coupled with the Omicron surge didn’t keep me from dining out during these past few months, but I did find myself frequenting the same two or three nearby restaurants. Restless, I finally decided in late January that it was time to widen my horizons and explore new neighborhoods. My first inspiration came…
‘Gatecrasher of Classical’ Missy Mazzoli Premieres Violin Concerto with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Missy Mazzoli is no longer “the 21st century’s gatecrasher of new Classical music,” as NPR proclaimed in 2018. She’s now firmly inside the seemingly intractable fortress — an acclaimed composer whose works are commissioned and performed by major ensembles throughout the world. On March 11 and 12, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will present Mazzoli’s violin…
Cincinnati Classics: Maury’s Tiny Cove Is a Retro Steakhouse Full of Memories and West Side Charm
Matt Huesman, the owner of Maury’s Tiny Cove, doesn’t like the word “regular.” When referring to customers, menu items, staff or anything that perpetuates the timeless charm of one of Cincinnati’s oldest restaurants, he prefers “loyal.” “It makes them sound regular,” he says. “A regular guest might be somebody that gets to use the restroom…
Blues Songstress Samantha Fish Talks Her New Album and Crossover Pop Ahead of Her Riverfront Live Stop
Samantha Fish readily admits she was caught off guard when the pandemic hit in March 2020 and she had to cut short a European tour and return to her home in New Orleans. The shock was undoubtedly shared by many of her musician peers, and Fish never imagined the COVID-19 crisis would be more than…
Industrial Rock Icon Ministry Supports New Album at Madison Theater with The Melvins
Al Jourgensen, whose visage now conjures that of a Mad Max villain, is pessimistic about the future. The enduring frontman for Industrial Rock institution Ministry has long delved into the darker side of life, but his band’s last two records — 2018’s AmeriKKKant and 2021’s Moral Hygiene — take things to a new level. Both…
Singer/Songwriter Lilly Hiatt Brings Countrified Rock & Roll to the Southgate House Revival
It was something of a surprise when Lilly Hiatt dropped Lately, her fifth album of countrified singer/songwriter Rock & Roll in October 2021. It had been just 17 months since her last record, Walking Proof, which drew praise from everyone from Pasteto Pitchfork. Then again, it probably shouldn’t have been a surprise — WalkingProof surfaced…
Review: Playhouse World Premiere ‘Rooted’ Grows from Humor to Understanding
CRITIC’S PICK Deborah Zoe Laufer’s world premiere play, Rooted — a commission presently onstage at the Playhouse in the Park — is a beguiling work. At first, its three offbeat women feel a bit like characters in a sitcom, and they’re certainly the source of much laugh-out-loud humor. But before long, a rather profound message…
