Matt Bischoff: He’s a Survivor, He’s Not Gon’ Give Up
Survivor starts its 26th(!) season this week and the Queen City will see one of its own on the show as local BMX rider, entrepreneur and musician Matt Bischoff joins the “Fans vs. Favorites” showdown (Season Premiere, 8 p.m. Wednesday, CBS). This is the second time Survivor has selected famed alumni to compete against super…
Clifton’s Fab Pho Landmark
E at well. Eat fresh. Eat often. These three sentences serve as both tagline and personal philosophy for local restaurateur Darren Phan, owner of Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro, Clifton’s 9-year-old brothy, herby, vermicelli-filled landmark. Cilantro relocated late last year to a larger space on West McMillan Street, just a few doors down from its old address. The move marks…
Keep Covington Awesome
A s you may or may not know, there’s a group of Kentuckians out there trying to rebrand Kentucky’s state slogan from “Unbridled Spirit” to “Kentucky Kicks Ass.” The program has gone so viral that even Conan O’Brien made a joke on his show about it. In an unrelated but equally clever initiative, a group…
Music: Shivering Timbers with Darlene
Performing songs written for your baby daughter at a grown-up’s birthday party might not be the most typical way to kick off a career in music in earnest. But when the birthday party is for one of today’s most successful music stars, it definitely ups the ante on your chances for success. That’s how things…
I Just Can’t Get Enough
Some believe that thousands of years from now, when people examine the things we post and share on the Internet (the horror!), our collective obsession with cat photos will mimic the Egyptians' feline-friendly hieroglyphics. While I’d hate to see this century remembered for I Can Has Cheezburger, our cat fancy cannot be denied. Further proof:…
Event: The Red Party
So your Valentine’s Day holiday comprised a less-than-stellar night alone eating cold Thai leftovers and drinking a $3 bottle of red wine… in bed… alone… with your laptop. Sweet, that’s pretty close to what I do every year, too. This is your chance (and mine) for glorious, dancy redemption. The Red Party, which gets down…
Art: Bear Boy Performances at Brazee Street Studios
Local artist Jesse Mooney-Bullock’s hand-carved wooden puppets allow the multidisciplinary artist (who works in woodworking, sculpture, painting, performance and sound), to create a completely new, one of a kind theatrical event. The graduate of the School of Art Institute of Chicago, who has worked in set design and puppetry, created movable wooden sculptures for his…
Dance: Love Letters
Exhale Dance Tribe’s newest offering as a resident company at the Aronoff Center spotlights this Cincinnati-based company’s 14 lithe dancers with choreography skewed toward modern dance from diverse choreographers, hailing from New Zealand to New York City. Challenged to celebrate the romantic and sensual nature of spring (think Valentine’s Day), expect to see dances inspired…
Onstage: Dangerous Liaisons
Perhaps you’ve seen the cinematic version of Christopher Hampton’s Dangerous Liaisons, the story of manipulative seduction by a pair of idle 18th-century aristocrats in pre-Revolutionary France who cynically decide to indulge in duplicity and passion to pass the time and amuse themselves. The 1988 film featured Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Uma Thurman and Michelle Pfeiffer.…
Qualls Urges HUD to Stop Sale of Housing Units
Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls is asking the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to stop the sale of 748 housing units to a New York company — potentially preventing a repeat of a similar sale back to 2007 that led to dropping property values in the area. In a press release Tuesday, Qualls…
Event: Cincy Winter Beerfest
The saddest realities we must face right now about the Cincy Winter Beerfest include two facets: 1) It cannot last forever, and 2) Even Andre the Giant wouldn’t be able to handle samples of all 365 craft beers available for tasting. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you can start executing a detailed game…
Event: World Sound Healing Day – A Sonic Valentine for the Earth
This Valentine’s Day, you want to be able to show your loved ones how much you really care: that you respect, appreciate and cherish them with all your heart. So, why not do that same thing for your planet? Keep sharing the love the day after Valentine’s Day at the 11th annual World Sound Healing…
Event: Valentine’s Day Open Wheel Session
What’s more romantic than getting your lover’s hands wet with slip and glaze? Pottery is probably one of the most sensual, fun and dirty forms of art one could get involved in, so go get your clay on at FUNKé Fired Arts! FFA has been giving ceramic art education classes for more than 15 years;…
Comedy: Marc Maron
Marc Maron returns to Cincinnati this Thursday on his Out of the Garage Tour. Instead of playing one of the area’s comedy clubs, he’ll perform at Bogart’s, an unusual venue of sorts for the veteran comic, but not totally foreign. “I’ve done a few Rock clubs,” Maron says from his home in Los Angeles. “Some…
Anna Louise Inn, Western & Southern Returning to Court
The Anna Louise Inn and Western & Southern will meet again in court in April to begin the next chapter of the ongoing zoning dispute between the longtime neighbors. In a Feb. 8 ruling, the Ohio First District Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that Cincinnati Union Bethel, which owns the Inn, filed…
Morning News and Stuff
A Purcell Marian High School administrator was fired for declaring his public support for same-sex marriage. Mike Moroski, who was the assistant principal at the Catholic school, wrote about his support for LGBT equality on his personal blog . Following the blog post, Moroski claims he was given an ultimatum by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati…
Testing Faith
E ven though he was given a couple days to think about it, Mike Moroski knew on Monday, Feb. 4 what he had to do. That’s when the Archdiocese of Cincinnati gave him an ultimatum: Remove a blog he posted to his personal website supporting gay marriage or be fired from his job as an…
James Crump Resigns as Cincinnati Art Museum Chief Curator
On Monday, Cincinnati Art Museum announced the resignation of James Crump, its chief curator and photography curator. He arrived at the museum in 2008. A press release said he would "pursue independent projects." The press release also included high praise for Crump from Aaron Betsky, museum director: "We are so grateful for the great work…
Audit Finds CPS, Winton Woods Scrubbed Attendance Data
A new report from the state auditor found Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) and Winton Woods City Schools were manipulating attendance data for the 2011-2012 school year, but the report seems to lay much of the blame on state policy, not just irresponsible school districts. CPS and Winton Woods were cited among nine school districts by…
Dierks Bentley with Miranda Lambert
While some musicians seem to think no one wants to listen to old school Country anymore (ahem … Blake Shelton), Dierks Bentley has always embraced the past. Heck, he even made a whole album of Bluegrass tunes to pay tribute to his musical forefathers. Bentley’s fifth album, Up on the Ridge, was loaded with picking…
Mod Sun
Mod Sun works a feel-good genre angle he’s dubbed Hippy Hop that runs on sunshine, positive vibrations and righteous herb. His infectious positivity and zest for living makes him Hip Hop’s Andrew WK. While Mod Sun raps ecstatic about riding high in Holland (“Went to Amsterdam”), his search for the perfect hippie chick (“Stoner Girl”)…
Tumbleweed Wanderers
If you've been hunting for a young band that plays music associated with decades before the members’ births and have a fine go at it, step up and retrieve your prize with Tumbleweed Wanderers. The boyish, genuine Oakland, Calif., five-piece specializes in multi-person harmonies, string instrumentation and a blend of Country, Folk, Rock and Gospel…
When the Rain Stops Falling (Review)
Critic's Pick Know Theatre is just now launching its 2012-2013 season with the opening of a five-week run of When the Rain Stops Falling by Australian playwright Andrew Bovell. I have to say it was worth the wait. This dense, provocative script is a challenging work, but director Brian Isaac Phillips (whose day job is…
Morning News and Stuff
In response to Democratic mayoral candidate John Cranley’s call for a debate, the campaign for Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls, another Democratic candidate for mayor, is calling both campaigns to schedule a series of debates. Jens Sutmoller, Qualls’ campaign manager, said in a statement, “Vice Mayor Qualls believes the citizens of Cincinnati deserve a robust series…
Ohio Against the World at The Grammys
Despite Frank Ocean's deft leg-syncing and Taylor Swift's torture-porn-disguised-as-wholesome-circus, Akron, Ohio's Dan Auerbach and The Black Keys were The Grammys' big story last night, winning five trophies, the most of any artist. While the Keys won the Grammys for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance, Auerbach scored two solo Grammys for…
Old 97’s
The photos included within the liner notes for 1997’s Too Far to Care — the Old 97’s’ breakthrough third album and first for the big boys at Elektra — make the band members look like a bunch of fresh-faced geeks on leave from a test-cramming session at a college library. Lead singer Rhett Miller looks…
Anna Louise Inn Could Be Back at Square One
The latest appeals court ruling did not give the Anna Louise Inn much peace of mind in its ongoing feud with Western & Southern. On Friday, the Ohio First District Court of Appeals affirmed most of a lower court’s ruling against the Anna Louise Inn, but it sent the case back down to the lower…
Battle of the Bohemian Rhapsodies
"Bohemian Rhapsody," one of the trademark songs by legendary rockers Queen, was fittingly released on Halloween in 1975 and its strange, epic Rock operatics were an instant success across the globe (it only reached No. 9 on the U.S. singles charts initially, but a re-released version on the heels of its appearance in Wayne's World…
Your Weekend To Do List: 2/8-2/10
The ArtsWave creates and supports art programs and opportunities in the city year-round, but three Saturdays each year, the organization kicks its mission into high gear with the Macy’s Arts Sampler. The free event brings visual art, theater, dance, music, crafts and more to venues across Greater Cincinnati. This Saturday’s sampler includes shows and backstage…
Morning News and Stuff
Damaged parking meters in Over-the-Rhine are causing problems for residents and local businesses. For months, thieves have been cutting off the top of meters to steal change. The vandals directly steal revenue from the city, ensure the damaged meters won’t collect revenue until they’re fixed and force the city to shell out more money to…
Stage Door: Something Old, Something New
A new round of shows comes your way this weekend (while several good ones remain onstage, including Freud's Last Session at Ensemble Theatre and Abigail/1702 at the Cincinnati Playhouse). Here are a few choices that are just opening: Know Theatre is finally getting around to its first full-fledged production of the season, Andrew Bovell's award-winning…
Kasich Tax Cut Favors Wealthy
Gov. John Kasich says he’s cutting everyone’s taxes in his 2014-2015 budget, but an analysis released Thursday found the plan is actually raising taxes for the poor and middle class. The Policy Matters Ohio report reveals the poorest Ohioans will see a tax increase of $63 from Kasich’s budget plan, while the top 1 percent…
Cincinnati Music Industry Trade Show TONIGHT
Tonight at Rohs Street Café in Clifton Heights, local musicians get an industry trade show of their very own. The “Locally Insourced: Cincinnati Music Industry Trade Show” is being presented at the venue at 6 p.m., organized by the Counter Rhythm Group and presented in conjunction with the MidPoint Music Festival. Along with being able…
CPS Still Loses Funding Under Kasich Administration
Gov. John Kasich touted a rosy, progressive vision when announcing his education reform plan Jan. 31, but reality does not match the governor’s optimism. It’s true Kasich’s proposed 2014-2015 budget will not reduce school funding, but under the Kasich administration, local schools will still have a net loss in state funds. The governor’s office released…
Morning News and Stuff
Gov. John Kasich’s school funding plan may not be so progressive after all. In his initial announcement , Kasich promised the program will be more progressive by raising funding to poorer schools, but this fact from StateImpact Ohio seems to contradict that claim: “Under the projections released by the state, a suburban district like Olentangy…
The Love List: Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton, 27 Jeansmith and creative director, Noble Denim nobledenim.com Why We Love Him: For handcrafting really attractive men’s jeans out of 100 percent responsibly sourced, all-American supply. Chris Sutton, owner and creative director of Noble Denim, didn’t go to school for fashion or business. In fact, he studied theology. But he always liked clothes…
The Love List: Sirui Liu
Sirui Liu, 22 Corps member dancer, Cincinnati Ballet cballet.org Why We Love Her: She left the Shanghai Dance Academy, her family and China for the experience of dancing with the Cincinnati Ballet Company. Currently in rehearsal for Romeo & Juliet, which opens on Valentine’s Day, Cincinnati Ballet Company corps member Sirui Liu spends most of…
The Love List: Jason Roeper
Jason Roeper, 33 CEO and brewmaster, The Rivertown Brewing Company rivertownbrewery.com Why We Love Him: He has a passion for making great beer, and we have a passion for drinking great beer. As Rivertown Brewing Company CEO and brewmaster, Jason Roeper spends most of his time on the road in the company’s four main sales…
The Love List: Libby Hunter
Libby Hunter, 44 Executive director, Wordplay Cincy wordplaycincy.org Why We Love Her: For engaging youth in meaningful activities that target literacy through tutoring and creative writing programs. As an EcoBroker representing community development corporations providing sustainable housing options in areas of urban blight, Libby Hunter was used to seeing interactions between different social, economic and…
The Love List: Hideki Harada
Hideki Harada, 30 Chef and co-owner, Kaze OTR kazeotr.com Why We Love Him: For bringing authentic Japanese cuisine to Cincinnati. And for the delicious and humorously named ‘Wa’ Castle turkey sliders. A twist of fate landed Hideki Harada behind the sushi table when he applied for a part-time job at a Japanese restaurant while in…
The Love List: Abby Artemisia
Abby Artemisia, 34 Native plant specialist, Carriage House Farm carriagehousefarmllc.com Why We Love Her: For her ability to create a public passion and respect for native plants — as well as teach us what we can (and cannot) eat in our own backyard. After spending several months cooped up inside, immobilized, recovering from a…
The Love List: Jessie Hoffman
Jessie Hoffman, 27 Owner and stylist, Parlour salon salonparlour.com Why We Love Her: She cuts almost every lady on the CityBeat team’s hair and gives the best shampoo scalp massage ever. “From as early as I can remember I wanted to be a hairstylist,” says Jessie Hoffman, owner/stylist at Parlour salon. “I always had my…
The Love List 2013
Google “What is love?” and Wikipedia will present you with at least nine different songs — including the one from A Night at the Roxbury, which is probably stuck in your head right now, sorry — and an album by the same title. Try to define it on merriam-webster.com and you’ll find it has roots…
My Bloody Server Crash
Bloody Outage Outrage The announcement that reunited British music legends The Stone Roses were to be a headliner at this year’s Coachella festival ignited another “Who the hell are those old dudes?” barrage on social media. But old-timers took control of the conversation this past weekend when Irish cult heroes My Bloody Valentine suddenly released…
Media Slacks on Calling Out Undocumented Quotes
A little old lady in running shoes leaned on her walker and insisted that Hitler registered and confiscated Germans’ personal weapons. “I read it in a book by some guy from Kentucky.” Typically, invoking a Great Man to settle an argument involves Lincoln, Twain, Stalin, Churchill, Chief Seattle, etc. Hitler is a provocative new favorite. …
Call Me Just to Talk
The other day, you called me just to talk, and it scared the shit out of me. You scrolled through your phone and skipped over names and names and names, just to get to mine. You sat down, somewhere quiet and alone, gambling a little bit of your evening hoping I’d pick up and gamble…
Side Effects
On the cusp of a self-imposed retirement from moviemaking, Steven Soderbergh delves into psychological drama with screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (The Informant! and Contagion). Side Effects examines the unexpected consequences of a new anxiety medication on Emily (Rooney Mara) and her relationship with her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) and Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), the…
Identity Thief
Identity theft is a major issue in American (and global) society due, in part, to technological advances that make acquiring personal and financial data frustratingly simple, but director Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) seeks to make light of the problem with Jason Bateman as a beleaguered everyman who hits the road to bring in the woman…
Worst Week Ever!: Jan. 30 – Feb. 5
WEDNESDAY JAN. 30 The Food Network will soon film an episode of its reality show Chef Wanted at Jeff Ruby’s Precinct, to air at the end of March. The steak magnate and his employees can’t talk about the show until it airs. Despite the gag order, information was leaked which suggested that Ruby only agreed…
Living and Undead Present Equal Threat Post-Apocalypse
The current group of survivors in The Walking Dead (Mid-season Premiere, 9 p.m. Sunday, AMC) looks much different from the Atlanta camp introduced in 2010. New faces have emerged, many have been lost — whether at the mouths of the undead or the hands of one another — and those who remain represent the greatest…
Grumpy Old Warriors Shuffle off the Box Office Radar
Danny Glover was 41 years old when he first expressed exasperation over his age in Lethal Weapon, although it should be noted that Glover’s Roger Murtaugh was a veteran cop with a large brood looking forward to reaching retirement age (which was not that far off in his future at the time). The line, repeated…
Dusty on Reds’ Offseason Moves
Forget whatever Punxsutawney Phil saw on Groundhog Day, it’s more important that Punxsutawney, Pa.’s Devin Mesoraco will see his shadow in Goodyear, Ariz., soon enough. The Reds’ pitchers and catchers, including Punxsutawney-native Devin Mesoraco, report for spring training on Feb. 11, signaling the start of yet another baseball season. Despite every team having reason for…
Curmudgeon Notes 2.06.2013
Be suspicious of statistics that suggest a reporter doesn’t understand, doesn’t care or knowingly isn’t telling us everything the numbers do. For instance, we have tens of thousands of firearm deaths every year in our country. Uncritical reporting suggests these are homicides that buybacks or proposed federal gun controls could prevent or reduce. Nope. The…
Education Plan Seeks Funding Equality, Expands Vouchers
Speaking in front of Ohio school administrators Jan. 31, Gov. John Kasich unveiled a surprisingly progressive-sounding education reform plan that seeks to diminish school funding inequality, but it also expands Ohio’s flawed voucher program. Kasich said the plan will not cut any school district’s funding, but it will work to reduce gaps between the wealthy…
Court to Decide Dispute over Streetcar Utility Lines
The city on Feb. 1 bypassed another hurdle in the ongoing struggle to make the streetcar a reality when Mayor Mark Mallory and City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. announced that after months entangled in a gridlock, Duke Energy and the city have finally reached an agreement over who will pay for the relocation of utility…
Kasich Budget Expands Medicaid, Alters Sales, Income Taxes
Gov. John Kasich’s 2014-15 budget contains a few surprises for progressives — some pleasant, some not — including a proposal to take up the Affordable Care Act’s incentive to expand Medicaid. The budget proposes state income and sales tax cuts, which would come with some trade-offs. The income tax would be lowered by 20 percent…
Winter Blues Fest Gets New, One-Stop Home
The Cincy Blues Society’s Winter Blues Fest (a more locally focused sister event of the group’s outdoor summertime Cincy Blues Fest) has moved around quite a bit the past few years, from various venues in Covington to last year’s multi-venue affair in Over-the-Rhine. The Winter Blues Fest is on the move again for this year’s…
Cincinnati vs. The World 02.06.2013
Fast-food giant Burger King admitted that some of its beef patties sold in the U.K. contained traces of horsemeat thanks to a negligent supplier, although it insists those patties never made it to restaurants. WORLD -2 Cincinnati car commuters spent a combined $947 million on traffic congestion in 2011, according to a study released by…
Governor’s Budget Ignores Troubled Past
Facing an election in 2014, Gov. John Kasich released a more moderate budget proposal for the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years, but the budget fails to make up for the governor’s history of massive spending cuts and the state’s faulty social welfare programs. The Kasich administration proudly touted its budget to the media on Feb.…
Not Legal Enough
E ver Portillo is legally allowed to live and work in the United States, but the state of Ohio won’t let him obtain a driver’s license. The discrepancy shows the local side of the illegal immigration issue, even as a broader battle rages in Washington, D.C. Portillo and Brian Hoffman, Portillo’s attorney, went to the…
Morning News and Stuff
Council Member P.G. Sittenfeld is circulating a small business petition to stop Cincinnati from privatizing parking services. Sittenfeld threw his support behind the petition in a statement: “Individual citizens have made clear that they are overwhelmingly against outsourcing our parking system. Now we're going to show that small businesses feel the same way. I hope…
Art: Northside International Airport Second Saturday: Doug Korfhagen
The Northside International Airport’s “most unique miniature art gallery” (actually a converted bathroom) also shares space with a vintage clothing store, a bike shop, makeup studio and a taqueria. While that may seem random (it is), the alliance also allows a group of people who might not otherwise be able to afford a live storefront…
Film: Mayerson JCC Jewish and Israeli Film Festival Opening Night
The Mayerson JCC Jewish and Israeli Film Festival will open with a special presentation of the film Hava Nagila, a humorous documentary showing a different side of the famous Jewish party song by the same name. Mazel tov! The film features interviews with Connie Francis, Leonard Nemoy, Harry Belafonte and Regina Spektor (this article’s “hip…
Event: Bridalrama Winter Showcase
Every year around this time, fashion shows are on the runway in “far-off places” like Paris, Milan, London and Florence. (And no, not the little Kentuckian city just south of us.) But why travel all around the globe when you can experience haute couture shows right here in Cincinnati? If you’re looking to get hitched…
Event: Art. Craft. Beer.
Get your buzz on with the makers of some of the best local beer money can buy and with the people who brew it. Artists from around the area will showcase their work around Mt. Carmel Brewery for one of the first events during Cincinnati Beer Week. It might be a bit cold for porch-sitting,…
Event: My Furry Valentine Adoption
Anyone who’s ever been simultaneously single and had a pet knows that animals tend me much more reliable — and far more willing to hang out under covers with bedhead in favor of an expensive excursion — than most romantic human counterparts. Each February just before V-Day, there’s a “super adoption” weekend, where you can…
Onstage: When the Rain Stops Falling
Some critics termed Andrew Bovell’s recent play the best of 2010. (Last season Cincinnati Playhouse staged his Speaking in Tongues, a complicated tale of murder, romance and intrigue.) Know Theatre, which has been quiet through the theater season so far, has gathered an array of powerful resources for the regional premiere of When the Rain…
Dance: Cinderella
Cinderella is not only a classic rags-to-riches fairytale; it’s also one of the most beloved classical story ballets, featuring a lively Prokofiev score. But de la Dance Company’s Artistic Directors Mario de la Nuez and Meridith Benson want to make sure their production — taking place at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater this Friday and…
Comedy: Sean Patton
“I was never a class clown,” says comedian Sean Patton. “I was more of a smokin’-weed-with-his-friends-in-the-backyard-while-skipping-school clown. I was pretty shy, believe it or not. I knew I had a sense of humor, I just didn’t think anyone would get me.” It was after seeing Mr. Show on TV that Patton realized maybe his sense…
Music: Jeff Coffin and the Mu’tet
Though Jazz is the music with which saxophonist Jeff Coffin is most closely identified, his experience and passion extends well beyond the genre. Coffin and his Mu’tet make dynamic, progressive sounds, drawing from mainly modern and vintage Jazz, but Coffin first came to many music fans’ attention when he joined Bela Fleck’s Flecktones in 1997,…
Yogurt Goes Greek
In my lifetime, I’ve seen yogurt become a health-conscious-treat phenomenon in the ’70s, a frozen health-conscious-treat (usually loaded with unhealthy toppings like crushed Oreos or M&Ms, basically overriding any possible health advantage over regular ice cream) phenomenon in the ’80s and ’90s and, today, an industry that seems to just throw as many different styles…
Water Is the Core of AEC’s Collaborative, International Exhibit
Domino 02: Aqua, an exhibition at Covington’s Artisans Enterprise Center (AEC), features an “international collaboration” by 12 artists, each one creating a painting on half of two canvases, which are then distributed to another artist to finish the other side. The exhibition title, no doubt, is an allusion to the final look of the works…
Days Gone By
Before Matthew Milia and David Jones shared a rehearsal for the very first time, Milia had to complete a challenge — find Jones’ house. Jones lived on a street called Grosse Pines. Instead of simply handing Milia clear directions to his residence, he gave Milia a map with pine trees drawn on it and expected…
The Love List: Mike Gibboney & Jason Snell
Mike Gibboney & Jason Snell, 35 & 36 Chief strategist & designer/creative thinker, We Have Become Vikings wehavebecomevikings.com Why We Love Them: For turning their passion into a career. And using the word “viking” in their company name. After working for a variety of different creative agencies in town, Jason Snell decided he wanted to…
