New Year’s Yet to Come
With everyone looking back over the past 1,000 years or making predictions for the next 1,000, I'd rather consider what folks like you or I might have to look forward to within our own lifetimes — say over the next 50 years. Leaving plans for Armageddon to the pessimistic religious fanatics, with the hope that…
Ad Nauseam: New Millennium: The Real Future
(Editor's Note: As Cincinnati's mainstream media prepared to publish their New Year's Day lists of giddy, glowing predictions of the future from local business leaders, they forgot to explain their "spin" to one executive. His candid assessment fell into our hands.) Hell yeah, the future's going to be great. Never before have the Rules of…
The Bluebirds
As the year turns, national concerts start to pick up again as artists get back out on the road to support their albums after the holiday season. Of course, it hasn't quite picked up yet, so we'll give this week's Gig o' the Week to one of the city's long-running "after work" parties. The…
Music: The Core
My very incomplete list of seminal or near seminal artists (glaring omissions and questionable inclusions as well): James Brown, Elvis Costello, Miles Davis, Brian Eno, Marvin Gaye, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Kraftwerk, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals, Skatalites, Lee Perry, Thelonious Monk, Parliament/ Funkadelics, Prince, Tito Puente, Machito, Max Roach,…
Diner: Dive In
I've always loved dives and diners. I learned the characteristics of a dive from my friends Joyce Miller and Mike Boylan, authors of Diving Out. Floyd's of Cincinnati Inc. fits the classic definition: "Where time seems to have slowed up a bit, food is cheap, talk is easy, and where ambiance is developed over years."…
Music: Gimme My Music
Sonic Youth A few nights ago I found myself in the subterranean, smoky confines of The Cooler, a former Manhattan meat-packing house turned into a club. There in its bowels was photographer/poet Gerard Malanga holding court at his debut party for his Web site which featured his poems and photos of such hip culture…
Cover Story: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Newport officials ready the World Peace Bell for its auspicious debut on Dec. 31, 1999. The front door jingle-jingles with every open and close. The customers line up at the edge of a long metal counter. Their orders are hefty: roasts and ham salad, sliced lunchmeat and barbecue, chops and party trays. It's a…
Pseudoquasiesque: Pseudoquasieque
The decision to get the shaft of my penis pierced wasn't made overnight. I discussed it with my girlfriend, my family, my clergyman, my shrink, my mechanic, the pizza delivery guy and Dr. Laura. All of them were against it. Which was fine. I really just wanted to talk about the shaft of my penis.…
Gay & Lesbian Issues: Gay and Lesbian Issues
As long as I can remember, I've been sure of two things. First, though it took me more than 20 years to admit it, I am gay. And second, I want to live the American dream — get married, raise children, live the good life. You know, have it all. Of course, in my younger…
