Sittenfeld Wants Police Recruit Class
Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld wants his colleagues to approve a police recruit class for next year, the first since June 2008. There currently are 1,022 sworn officers in the Cincinnati Police Department, along with 115 non-sworn staff. The high-mark during the past decade occurred in 2008, when there was a total of 1,148 sworn…
Shameless’ Gallaghers: Not Your Average Modern Family
American remakes of British television shows tend to be hit or miss. The Office certainly found a place in America’s heart, but countless others just didn’t quite make the trip across the pond. Showtime’s Shameless gives an award-winning Brit series a Chicago-style makeover, resulting in one of the grittiest portrayals of lower class family life…
Saharan Spring In Cincinnati Winter
“T he Arab Spring actually began in autumn in a small camp in Western Sahara,” says Salka Barca. Barca doesn’t note that this fact is known by too few, but it is implied in a facial expression that is equal parts pride and exasperation. In October of 2010, after years of stalemate over independence for…
Ohio Connections Plentiful In L.A. Art Shows
Sometimes you have to leave Ohio — and Cincinnati — to discover how many interesting and unusual connections there are between the Buckeye State and the larger world of modern/contemporary arts and design. That was brought home to me, in varied and stimulating ways, when I ventured to Los Angeles recently to see Pacific Standard…
BackBlog: Music You May Have Missed
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Because it's so good, we've decided to spread around the music reviews from our Brian Baker's regular I Shall Be Released column, so keep a look out for regular reviews of recent releases throughout the week. Brian's reviews of older titles released in the past several months that readers may have missed will…
Film: Oscar Shorts 2012
Cincinnati World Cinema treats local cineastes to a program featuring this year’s Oscar Shorts along with a bonus — God and Vodka — that marries romance and longing in equal measure with the staying power many of Hollywood’s dramatic features can only dream of achieving in three times the narrative length. Shorts, in their purest…
Event: Cincinnati International Wine Festival
The grape vines have begun to bud, the wildflowers blossoming in California wine country. Here, it's snowing outside and even with your eyes squeezed shut it’s hard to evade the cold. There’s no way to bring spring out our windows any faster; however, you can experience the sensation of warmth and delight through the aromas…
Cincinnati Music’s Unprecedented SXSW Invasion
I attended my first South By Southwest festival in Austin, Tex., over 15 years ago to cover local Funk group SHAG's appearance at the festival for a much younger CityBeat. It seemed exciting back then that one of Cincinnati's biggest bands was invited to showcase at SXSW. This year, the amount of acts from the…
Additional Wild Cards Are Good For Baseball
The Reds’ playoff odds got a bump last week. Without adding a player or any injury to a rival occurring, the playoffs got that much closer for Cincinnati. That said, they did for every other team as well. Bud Selig got his playoff expansion, adding another wild card to the playoffs in each league. Now…
Event: Cinsation
How do you take your martini? Shaken? Stirred? The Junior League of Cincinnati, an organization comprised of women with a focus on promoting volunteering, working to improve the community and developing the potential of women, invites you to find the spy within you at CinSation: Shaken, Not Stirred. Enjoy live entertainment by Soul Pocket, dinner…
The Smiths, 2Pac and Humperdink
[HOT] This Charmless Man Since you woke up this morning, 500 bands reunited. But one group that has yet to re-team is, notoriously, The Smiths, the influential British Proto-Indie band featuring a braintrust (guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Morrissey) that would prefer a weeklong root canal to performing on stage together again. But Marr gave…
‘I’ on the Prize
I t’s been three years since my introduction to The Pinstripes, interviewing the band in the cramped rehearsal space they dubbed “The Good Stuff.” We discussed their love of Ska, Reggae, Dub, Soul and all points between and beyond, as well as their recordings to that point (Higher Ground and The Decay) while downing a…
Bakersfield OTR (Review)
How lucky would you have to be to live in the Gateway District right now? We’ve raved about so many great places that have opened recently. Now it’s Bakersfield’s turn. Bakersfield OTR just opened in February. We usually try not to hit places when they’re brand new. Sometimes new restaurants need time to get up…
Comedy: Neal Brennan
Comedian Neal Brennan is probably best known as the co-creator of Chappelle’s Show. “That’s what will probably be in my obituary,” he says. Not like that’s the worst thing they could say about a guy. “No, no, no,” he agrees. “I have come to grips with the fact that I may never top it. But…
The Great Eight Debate
If you listen to many native Cincinnatians, they will tell you their hometown is different from other cities. Special. Unique even. What works everywhere else doesn’t always work in the Queen City, and vice-versa. Whether the provincial attitude is due to a sense of pride or a neurotic inferiority complex, its accuracy ultimately is a…
Strangely Sentimental
S mall Potatoes, a strangely sentimental exhibit at Thunder-Sky Inc., is like a heapin’ helping of Grandma’s comfort food. It’s unapologetically lumpy, undeniably homemade and served without fancy presentation but with a whole lot of love. Even those with refined palates can appreciate the dinner-table discussion if not the actual buffet of “self-made (and…
11/22/63
If you had a way to travel back in time and change the course of history, what would you do? If you’re Jake Epping, the mild-mannered Maine high school teacher who discovers a portal to the past in Stephen King’s latest classic, 11/22/63, you’d go back half a century and try to prevent the assassination…
The Real Romney
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is a political chameleon: a man of many faces and a past shrouded in mystery, half-truths and secrets. That’s according to The Real Romney, by Boston Globe reporters Michael Kranish and Scott Helman, the first comprehensive biography of the man many believe will be the 2012 Republican presidential nominee. Their…
Your Tuesday To Do List
Happy Super Tuesday! The No. 1 item on today's To Do list is to get your tush to a voting station and participate in Ohio's primary. Those living in Hamilton County can go here to find your polling locations. Occupy Cincinnati is hosting a primary watch party at C & D Northside from 8-11 p.m.…
This Date in Music History: March 6
On this day in 1970, a Cincinnati native (whose "celebrity" we do not celebrate locally, Nick Lachey-style) released one of the few albums we will gladly tell you to seek out and download illegally, should you need to hear it. Lie: The Love and Terror Cult, the "debut album" from singer/songwriter/cult leader/convicted murderer Charles Manson,…
Local Chefs Honored by National Magazine
Food & Wine magazine has named two of Cincinnati’s finest young chefs as runners-up for the title of "Most Talented New Chef in America." Daniel Wright of Senate (and Abigail Street) and José Salazar of The Palace are both outstanding, talented chefs who do Cincinnati proud and can truly hold their own against the other…
Music Tonight: Ex Norwegian and More
Floridian Indie Rock band Ex Norwegian performs tonight at The Comet in Northside with new local all-star crew The Stealth Pastille (featuring Seth Bender, Jonathan Blackburn, Wil Talbert and Nicholas Vogelpohl). Ex Norwegian has been a buzz band for the past couple of years based on the strength of their Power Pop catchiness and colorful…
Morning News and Stuff
Hey, I want to let you in on a secret: There's an election in Ohio today. Super Tuesday is finally here, with more delegates at stake in the race for Republican presidential nominee than any other single day in the 2012 campaign season. There are seven primaries (Ohio, Georgia, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia)…
Event: Canstruction
Remember canned food drives in elementary school? Harken back to the days when one can meant saving the world and get inspired by giant works of art made entirely from cans. Canstruction, a national non-profit, fosters awareness for the fight against hunger by holding citywide can art competitions. Each year, local architects, engineers and designers…
Event: Seismologist Susan Hough
Two hundred years ago the New Madrid earthquakes shook up our part of the world and still hold our interest. Research scientist Susan Hough, whose books make science accessible to us all, will speak on the massive New Madrid earthquakes at the Mercantile Library in a program jointly sponsored by the Library and Betts House.…
Art: Inside Out
When my grandfather returned from service in 1946, he and his new bride were lucky to find an apartment for rent. Four years of war production had left the U.S in the midst of a housing crisis, but unlike today’s calamitous market, this crisis was spawned by a lack of housing. The solution? Suburban development.…
Music: The Spits, TV Ghost and Vacation
Seattle-based underground heroes The Spits bring their riotous roadshow to Mayday for an evening of face-melting, over-the-top Punk Rock theatrics, sure to please anyone who feels “Punk” ain’t what it used to be. Joining the melee is the progressive Punk band TV Ghost, a sludgy but no less abrasive crew from Lafayette, Ind., that, like…
Onstage: Afghan Women’s Writing Project
For something completely different, I urge you to take in a performance of this unusual effort. Know commissioned playwrights Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek to create theatrical monologues from writing posted on a website by Afghan women who gather online and in “writing huts” in undisclosed locations in Kabul and Heart where they are mentored…
CityBeat Acquired by SouthComm
Sometimes you come to work, fire up the ol’ coffee maker and get straight to all the funny websites you like to read before you get started. Other times the boss calls a staff meeting and informs you that you work for a different company now and that new firewalls are going to block your…
ACLU of Ohio Protests Privatizing State Prisons
There are certain institutions in the U.S. that we don't like to think of as strictly profit-seeking endeavors. It can be difficult to swallow that (supposedly) do-good establishments like retirement homes, textbook companies and hospitals exist to bring in revenue rather than serve the needs of a community without waiver. In Ohio, one state prison…
This Date in Music History: March 5
On this day in 1982, comedian John Belushi died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin. Belushi came to prominence as an original "Not Ready For Prime Time Player" on Saturday Night Live, where he debuted his tribute to classic American Rock & Soul with cast mate Dan Aykroyd, The Blues Brothers, and later pushed…
Your Monday To Do List
St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner and in preparation for this celebration of all things Irish/alcohol-related, Molly Malone's hosts a Guinness Perfect Pour Contest tonight. The competition at the Covington pub kicks off at 7 p.m. Bartenders have already signed up online, so go to cheer on the best pour-fessional. These bartenders will…
Review: The Black Keys/Arctic Monkeys at US Bank Arena
There are concerts that are fun and there are concerts that kick your ass. If you were at the sold-out U.S. Bank Arena Friday night for the opening date of The Black Keys first headlining arena tour, you probably got your ass kicked. First up, Arctic Monkeys caused a ruckus on the floor. Most (but not…
Just Announced: Radiohead at Riverbend
Those who were contemplating heading to Indio, Calif., this summer purely to catch British experimental music kingpins Radiohead at Coachella can save a little cash and drive to Riverbend instead. This morning, the local outdoor shed announced that Radiohead will perform June 5 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets run $30 (for lawn seats) to $69.50 (plus…
Morning News and Stuff
Even though more than 250 buildings were damaged in the small Clermont County town of Moscow by Friday's tornado and severe weather, Gov. John Kasich so far is standing by his decision not to seek federal aid. Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin assessing damages in Northern Kentucky and Indiana today,…
Familiar Faces and Fantastic Tales at Cincy Shakes
A bunch of classic characters will be showing up at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company to entertain us for the 2012-2013 theater season, announced today: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson; Atticus Finch; Romeo and Juliet; Lady Bracknell; Nick Bottom and Puck. Oh, and a few kings and generals — Richard II and the bloody Titus Andronicus —…
Your Weekend To Do List: 3/2-3/4
Bockfest is upon us! The annual celebration of Cincinnati's beer brewing history kicks off tonight with the Bockfest Parade, stepping off at 6 p.m. Organizers are keeping an eye on the weather, so check back with their site and Facebook page just in case. Even if the weather gets real ugly, just stop by one…
CPS Board Member to Bring Up Taft Erasure Analysis
Following CityBeat's Feb. 22 cover story outlining test-score discrepancies at Taft Information Technology High School, a Cincinnati Public Schools board member tells CityBeat that she plans to raise those questions as a topic of discussion at the board’s next meeting. The article, “Miracle or Mirage? ACT scores and a mysteriously ended cheating probe raise questions…
A Musical Guide to Breaking the Law
As you know, the Bengals aren’t the only celebrities that have been busted for illegal activities. Actors and actresses have certainly had their share of run-ins with the po-po, too. No one, though, is more ballsy about their lives of crime than those in the music industry. They also enjoy broadcasting their vices. While most…
Queen City Hoops: Selection Sunday Nears
The regular season is drawing to a close as Cincinnati and Xavier each have one game left before conference tournament time. Cincinnati will hear their name called on "Selection Sunday" — as for Xavier, only time will tell. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has Xavier as one of his first four out, and I tend to…
Review: Ben Kweller – ‘Go Fly a Kite’
In a discussion of lives spent making music, Ben Kweller’s name has to warrant a prominent mention. His father, a doctor who counted Nils Lofgren as a friend and former neighbor, taught Kweller how to play drums at age 8, which led to his first band, Radish, at 12, his first major label contract at…
Twelve Year Anniversary: Kenyon Martin Goes Off
The year 2000 seems like only yesterday — everyone all hunched up in our bomb shelters assuming the bank was going to turn our life savings into some kind of repeating decimal instead of the hundreds of dollars we had in there, all because a computer doesn't know how to count above 1999. Once we…
This Date in Music History: March 2
On this day in 2003, proto-Rock & Roll singer/songwriter Hank Ballard died after a battle with throat cancer. One of the under-heralded heroes of the development of Rock & Roll, Ballard's career is inexorably tied to Cincinnati, where he recorded for locally-based King Records (as well as the related Federal imprint). Ballard was a member…
Stage Door: CCM Talent and Sondheim
A lot of Stephen Sondheim’s shows are kind of heady, but Into the Woods — a bunch of fairytales put through a blender — is perhaps his most approachable. Given the delightful treatment, overflowing with talent you’ll find in this production at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music, tickets might be in short supply but try —…
Music Tonight: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and More
It's another Friday full of quality options for those wishing to experience music in a live setting tonight. If Jazz is your thang, the Blue Wisp is your Friday night spot, as Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey performs at the downtown club's new space at the corner of Race and Seventh streets. JFJO — which has…
Questions for Charlene
If I ever see Charlene again, I have a few questions I’d like to ask. Whether I actually ask them is anybody’s guess. I noticed her about a year ago. I was living in Westwood and had gotten a ride to downtown Cincinnati to catch a T.A.N.K. bus to Kentucky. We were waiting at the…
Marty Stuart
Legend seems like a soft a word for Marty Stuart. Self-taught on guitar and mandolin, Stuart had played professionally for two years when he joined Lester Flatt’s Nashville Grass in 1972. Stuart was 14. Over the next seven years, Stuart played with Vassar Clements, Doc Watson, became a member of Johnny Cash’s band and released…
We Came as Romans
Detroit has spawned some oddities in its musical history but none as sonically brutal yet lyrically positive as Metalcore sextet We Came as Romans. Launching as This Emergency in 2004, shifts in personnel and philosophy inspired the name change the following year. WCAR’s lineup remained malleable until founding members Joshua Moore (lead guitarist/lyricist) and David…
I Just Can’t Get Enough
Blues Night at the White House No, it wasn’t a somber night of the Obamas watching the GOP race progress. Blues Night brought B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Mick Jagger to Washington for a night of great performances! The trio, along with many other performers, played classics like “Let the Good Times Roll,” “I Can’t…
Morning News and Stuff
O’l girl Leslie Ghiz is back on local government’s payroll after being hired by Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, which will allow her to run in a judicial race as a badass crime-fighting prosecutor (The Enquirer’s words, not mine). Deters, of course, is the former chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party and Ghiz is…
Martin Sexton
When you come from a family of 14, it no doubt takes effort if you want any attention. For Martin Sexton, that attention came almost immediately after picking up a guitar.Sexton’s music has been described as Folk, Soul and Rock. He plays all of those and much more. Traveling and performing mostly with just his…
Young Jeezy
Like many rappers, Young Jeezy has spent a good deal of his career collaborating with other performers. On his 2008 release, The Recession, his first single off the album, “Put On,” featured Kanye West. The song earned him a Grammy nod and kicked his career into overdrive. After a Top 10 hit with Akon on…
Candidate Scolded by Judicial Hearing Panel
A judicial conduct panel ruled this week that the primary election opponent of a local Municipal Court judge knowingly misrepresented himself in campaign materials. The panel decided that retired appellate court judge William O’Neill from Cleveland left the impression that he is a current judge in a two-sided campaign card he distributed. In fact, O’Neill…
Review: Chuck Prophet – ‘Temple Beautiful’
Chuck Prophet has more Rock cred than any one man should have a right to claim. His eight-year run in Green on Red in the ’80s resulted in some of the most influential sounds to emanate from Southern California’s Paisley Underground scene and his subsequent solo catalog has notched an impressive level of critical acclaim…
Kick off Spring in Cincinnati
For better or for worse, Cincinnati is infamous for its fickle weather patterns. This week's weather has been quite the anomaly — after a 70-degree day, weather forecasters are predicting snow this weekend. It's anybody's guess what next week will hold — don't listen to the groundhog — but take some time today to get…
Your Thursday To Do List
Comedian Doug Stanhope is performing at Go Bananas in Montgomery nightly through Sunday. Known for his sharp tongue and boozy performances, Stanhope is a comedy giant. He has released a number of comedy CDs and DVDs, toured around the globe and recently played a seriously deep character in an episode of Louie. Expect plenty of…
Music Tonight: Catie Curtis and UV Hippo
Folk/Rock/Pop singer/songwriter Catie Curtis performs tonight at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center on Clifton Avenue at 7:30 p.m. Working out of Boston, the Maine native was discovered while performing a New York's Bottom Line club and scored a deal with EMI/Guardian Records, which re-released her album Truth from Lies in the mid-’90s (after a few…
The Ups and Downs of Indie Video Games
I love video games. Always have, always will. I grew up watching Mario stomp koopas, Link slay moblins and Kirby inhale enemies to copy their powers. Games will always have a special place in my heart. As much as I like the classics and the stuff being released by the big name companies, however, recently…
This Date in Music History: March 1
Were it not for the Grim Reaper, two celebrated musical couples would be celebrating wedding anniversaries today. Country music superstars Johnny Cash and June Carter (soon-to-be Carter Cash) tied the knot on this date in 1968 in a Franklin, Ky., church. The bride wore light blue; the groom wore (duh!) black. Their relationship was the…
Morning News and Stuff
It's not exactly the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow, but we'll understand your confusion if you mistake the event for the old Lollapalooza favorite. Mike Huckabee, the ex-Arkansas governor, one-time presidential hopeful and current Fox News commentator, will host a forum Saturday in Southwest Ohio that features the three frontrunners for the Republican presidential nomination. Mitt…
11 Places for Wine
Restaurants and wineries alike offer a great selection of some fine fermented grapes. Whether you have a more refined taste and enjoy the dryness of a Cabernet or still have a sweet tooth, surely you can find a bottle or two to stock the wine rack. For those who lack experience in the wine department,…
12 Sports Bars
As long as you’re not rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers any one of these places could be your new favorite place to catch the Bengals, Reds, UC or Xavier. Get off the couch and park in front of the nearest flat screen or projection TV and throw a few back. Paint your face, wear that…
2 Bars with Dueling Pianos
Dueling piano bars add a different dimension compared with most local watering holes. This makes such fine establishments a welcome change for both entertainment thrill-seekers and weekend warriors. There is still booze, food and music, but piano bars take the experience to a new level. Listen, dance and sing along as the pros tickle the…
14 Neighborhood Bars
These area pubs are exactly as described — comfortable and cozy gathering places to have a drink and shoot the breeze with the regulars and neighbors you may have never met. Don’t feel obligated to dress over-the-top or spend half of your weekly — or bi-weekly for many of us — paycheck on an outrageous…
9 Bars for Live Music
These bars offer everything for the area music connoisseur from smooth Jazz to bust your eardrums Rock. Find local favorites or broaden your horizons as you discover a new international sensation. Explore the great food, drink specials, diverse music and varying ambiances of Cincinnati’s live music scene. MOTR Pub 1323 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-381-MOTRA…
9 LGBT-Friendly Spots
LGBT communities are a second star to the right for many, a place where one can feel safe, supported and free to enjoy whatever types of cocktails they please. This collection of LGBT-friendly bars is just a slice of such drinkeries the Queen City offers. Crazy Fox Saloon 901 Washington St., Newport, 859-261-2143A fine…
New Barons of Brewing
Nestled among the houses, busy streets and skyscrapers of Cincinnati lay the ruins of what was once the lifeblood of the city. Above and below ground sit empty breweries, some left abandoned since Prohibition. On Sixth Street just east of I-75 downtown, a smokestack bearing the Hudepohl name can be seen jetting into the sky.…
8 Bars for Jazz
Jack Kerouac’s “Essentials of Spontaneous Prose,” instructed one to write “as a jazz musician drawing breath between out-blown phrases.” I like to imagine that jazz notes fit perfectly in-between the spaces of each of our inhales and exhales. We need jazz to become whole. Cincinnati is a city so uniquely tied to music, that it…
9 Irish Bars
Guinness, Shepherd’s Pie and hooligans are all staples of the typical Irish bar. The capacity of the aforementioned staples vary depending on which bar you choose; more upscale places like Nicholson’s and Claddagh’s lean toward the “first date” atmosphere. If you’re looking to get rowdy — with enough of the dark stuff you most certainly…
4 German Bars with Food
The two things I am most proud of after working in a German bar for a year are being able to carry three liters of beer in each hand and taking a warm sauerkraut juice and Jager shot without letting out a whimper. If you like pickled things, meat and carbs then German cuisine should…
13 Bars for Food + Drink
Sometimes the goal of an evening at the bar isn’t to partake in a liquid diet — sometimes the drinks are simply a compliment to a fare one particular bar has become known for (OK, sometimes you’re just running late and need a place where you can jam a burger while you drink). Either way,…
6 Entertainment Destinations
These establishments offer more than just your average beer and a burger. You can still enjoy your favorite food and some excellent beverages in addition to a little something extra. Dance, gamble, laugh, play and sing as you venture outside your standard weekend night out. Bobby Mackey’s Music World 44 Licking Pike, Wilder, 859-431-5588A classic…
14 Dance Clubs
No one really knows which came first — human interest in dancing or drinking. But it’s obvious now that we’re in the 21st century that the two go together quite well. Whether you’re drinking to quell dance-floor anxieties or the sauce just takes a hold of you and makes you start bobbing your head, Cincinnati…
8 College Bars
College bars are the types of places that run the gamut of the bar experience — loud, happening, fun and, often, drunken and messy (probably still fun). The University of Cincinnati’s Clifton Heights is heavily represented by such establishments, while Xavier’s lone hangout is the go-to spot for the private schoolers. The following are eight…
9 Coffee Bars
Too much time in the bar scene can make a person feel overwhelmed — too noisy, expensive and health threatening. Area coffee houses offer a nice break from the craziness, with creative coffee-inspired cocktails to enjoy while reading a book or enjoying a draught beer during some WiFi downtime. Bowtie Café 1101 Saint Gregory St.,…
2 Brewpubs
Prior to the Prohibition Era, OTR was at the heart of Cincinnati’s rich brewing history. At one point the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company took up three city blocks dedicated solely to producing that fine golden beverage. Morelein is back today and its new place on the Banks along with other microbreweries look to make Cincinnati…
13 Big City Bars
Some of the more happening spots around town — some have outrageously creative drink menus, others have some of the freshest and most mouth-watering food around and others still encourage you to dance your ass off. Find the place that has a combination that fits you best and and enjoy it — big city style.…
Senior Night for UC Hoops!
Last week’s win over Louisville has gone a long way toward moving the Bearcats off the NCAA Tournament bubble and into the 10-seed area of most projections. A win at South Florida last Sunday would have all-but-secured the invitation, but the dudes lost by a point on the road, 46-45. [UPDATE: The Bearcats whooped on…
Where Nobody Knows Your Name
There’s nothing wrong with hitting up your standby local drinkery, but it’s not always appealing to run into every old high school jock, boss or college nemesis when you’re just out hoping for a good time. Luckily, there’s a solution outside of drinking home alone. Hotel bars are oft-unappreciated gems with staffs engrossed with hospitality…
Oh, the Places You’ll Drink!
Matt Distel , Visionaries and Voices Executive Director and former co-director of Country Club Gallery “I’m really fond of Madonna’s downtown. It seems like it’s kind of the last of the downtown bars that stands in opposition to clubs with more of a club atmosphere. The staff is usually fun and friendly … I don’t…
A Gentleman’s Guide to Bar Etiquette
You don’t have to have a penis to drink alcohol, and you don’t have to have a penis to be a dick, either. Polite society functions on ground rules passed down throughout history, and in regards to respecting the bar, etiquette is indifferent toward gender. To avoid looking like a drunk asshole, one should always…
Dude, Where’s My Bar?
It seems like in the past, Cincinnati had a reputation for being the kind of place you could move away from for a decade knowing that when you returned, the gas station, grocery store and drinking establishments would be there waiting for you, exactly as you left them. But the Greater Cincinnati area has been…
Forecastle and Pitchfork Fests Announce Lineups
The Bunbury Music Festival in Cincinnati falls on the same weekend as two other big regional music fests, one 100 miles to our south and the other about 300 miles northwest of the Queen City. Like Bunbury, the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and the 10th annual Forecastle fest are happening July 13-15. In theory,…
Survey: Gen Y Benefits, Suffers From Tech
A survey of more than 1,000 technology experts, critics and students has revealed a split about how the Internet and other technological advances are affecting “Generation Y.” The Pew Research Center’s survey, released today, found a majority of respondents believed the technology would create a generation of nimble decision-makers, while almost as many feared it…
OTR Chamber Announces Award Recipients
The Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce today announced the winners of its annual Star Awards, which recognize organizations and individuals whose outstanding accomplishments contribute to the revitalization of its five distinct neighborhoods: Washington Park, Mohawk, Central, Pendleton and Findlay Market. This year’s award winners: Chairman’s Award: Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3cdc.org) Norma Petersen Award: Topic…
Pet Peeve: The Lorax and Greenwashing
When I was a little kid, reading Dr. Suess’s The Lorax made me feel something that typical 8-year-olds don’t feel too often: guilt. I remember reading the book and watching the TV special and coming close to tears. How could the Once-Lers be so selfish? Was I a metaphorical Once-Ler? How could Dr. Suess betray…
This Date in Music History: Feb. 29
Since this date only occurs every four years, there are fewer birthdays and notable happenings in the history books. But things have indeed occurred on Feb. 29 throughout time — even a few related to music. Here's a quick roundup: • Buddy Holly's famous glasses were found at the Mason City Sheriff's office in Iowa,…
Anti-Health Care Fight Is Un-Christian
There are protesters who have been standing outside of a pediatrician’s office almost daily since at least the summer. Why? Someone else in that same tiny complex is offering abortions. A woman who has taken her special needs daughter to that pediatrician’s office for more than 20 years was recently told by her minister’s wife…
Your Leap Day To Do List
Leap Day means different things to everyone (like those with rare Feb. 29 birthdays), but we suggest spending this extra day exploring all the fun events our city has to offer. Or this: Do you love the true storytelling style of This American Life and live groups like The Moth and Cincinnati's True Theater? Head…
MidPoint 2012: Submissions Open Tomorrow
Though it feels like it was only yesterday that we cleaned up the final beer cup from MidPoint Music Festival's wildly successful 10th anniversary event last September, submissions to perform at MPMF.12 open tomorrow. This year's MidPoint is set to return to various venues in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood Sept. 27-29. The early submission deadline is…
Oscars Give Short Shrift to Foreign, Documentary Categories
Now that Sunday night’s Oscars are over, the Internet is full of catty stories and tweets parsing every last second of televised coverage, from Angelina Jolie’s exposed leg to Adam Sandler’s participation in a taped segment in which actors discussed why they love movies. (If he really loved movies, he’d stop making them, some have…
Morning News and Stuff
One headline about Tuesday's bitterly-contested primary in Michigan summarizes events succinctly: “Mitt wins ugly.” Mitt Romney won the contest in his native state, giving him the edge in the battle over the Republican presidential nomination, but not by a large margin. Romney received 41.1 percent of the vote to Rick Santorum's 37.9 percent. They were…
The Story of Joe, Prodigal Ministries and CityBeat
“Joe” was a married father of two who for an unspecified amount of time engaged in anonymous sex with hundreds of men. But with the help of Prodigal Ministries, the local organization offering support for unwanted same-gender attractions, Joe was transformed from a highly successful man-sexer to back-to-normal husband/father. This anecdote, which is offered on…
Worst Week Ever! Feb. 22-28
WEDNESDAY FEB. 22 In response to a stunning show of disrespect for the office of the President of The United States, State Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) today called for Ohio House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) to apologize for joking over the weekend at a Republican Lincoln Day dinner that the leader of the free world…
