John Sebastian Discusses Rare Life and Career Ahead of Cincinnati Appearance
John Sebastian helped define an era at a turning point in popular music and culture in the ‘60s as a member of the rock and roll/folk-blended group The Lovin’ Spoonful. With the band, Sebastian put out a number of hits, like “Summer in the City,” “Do You Believe in Magic” and “You Didn’t Have to…
Lierer’s Market Offers Low-Waste Grocery Shopping in Northside
Neighbors Bryan Lierer and Alex Heppner were living in Northside in 2022, disappointed in the area’s lack of walkable and sustainable grocery stores. While the two were working in different industries at the time — Lierer in video production and Heppner in social work — they took it upon themselves to find a solution. According…
Queen City Opera’s ‘Super Flute’ Blends the Worlds of Mozart and Mario
Isaac Selya has spent countless hours with Zelda, Mario, Big Boo, Luigi, Princess Peach, and all the other inhabitants of the Mario universe. So it makes sense that Selya’s Queen City Opera presents Super Flute, Mozart’s comic masterpiece reimagined as a video game from the Mario era. And though Selya is a gaming fan, as…
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Brings ‘Hamlet’ to a Park Near You — No Ticket Required
There’s something so 1600s about watching Shakespeare in the open air, just as he once did in the round of the Globe Theatre. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is delivering just that as it kicks off its next season, dubbed “Project Hamlet,” by hitting the road with its free, touring production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The production…
Sound Advice: Now is the Time to See Warren Haynes’ Live Show
Modern guitar virtuoso Warren Haynes brings his solo outfit to PNC Pavilion on Sunday, July 28 as part of his “Now Is the Time” tour. The tour features an added component titled “Dream and Songs Symphonic Experience” that features local orchestral players backing the band to reimagine his varied career, along with new material. Haynes…
Sound Advice: Legendary Troubadour Steve Earle to Perform in Cincinnati
Steve Earle is an enduring force, a troubadour who can’t help but relay his thoughts and feelings through the country, folk and rock music that infected his Texas childhood. Earle has been writing, recording and performing songs for a half-century, a winding career that didn’t take off until his full-length debut, Guitar Town, surfaced in…
New LGBTQ+-Friendly Bourbon Week, Bourbon & Belonging, Releases Event Calendar
A new event aimed at showcasing Kentucky’s bourbon and hospitality culture to LGBTQ+ visitors has announced its official entertainment lineup. Bourbon & Belonging, from LGBTQ+-run nonprofit Queer Kentucky, is happening Oct. 2-6. The inclusive, week-long event features a variety of activities, tastings and gatherings that are designed to foster safety, belonging and community. “Queer Kentucky…
Here’s How You Can Get Free Cheese Coneys From Gold Star This Week
Gold Star Chilis across Cincinnati will be celebrating National Chili Dog Day this week by giving away some free cheese coneys. You can scoop up this deal by visiting any Gold Star on Thursday, July 25. You’ll get one free cheese coney with the purchase of any regular-sized Coke product, and the deal is good…
Tech Billionaires Signal Support for Trump’s VP Pick, J.D. Vance
Former President Donald Trump’s decision last week to choose Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, as his running mate was lauded by prominent investors and donors in the tech industry. David Sacks, the former CEO of Yammer and a vocal supporter of the ex-president, touted Vance as an “American patriot” in a social media post on X, while…
Political Rhetoric About Third Trimester Abortion is Misleading, Experts Say
It’s an oft-repeated talking point of anti-abortion rights groups and Republican politicians, before and after the June 2022 Dobbs decision — that those who are supportive of abortion rights also must be in favor of abortions that happen during the last weeks of pregnancy, or even “after birth.” Former President Donald Trump brought it up…
Know Theatre Announces 2024-25 Season Lineup
Since being named producing artistic director at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Bridget Leak has been busy. She began her new role, which began on July 1, with a big clean-up project, literally emptying the theater’s hoard of old scenery, props and more into a dumpster that fans helped to fill. On July 19, 20 and…
CityBeat is Searching for a Music News Intern for the Fall Semester
CityBeat is looking for a fall 2024 music intern to assist in the paper’s music coverage. If you’re interested in learning more about the world of music journalism, this internship is for you. The music intern will be fully immersed in CityBeat’s day-to-day editorial operation as it relates to music coverage, ranging from writing quick-turn…
These Current and Former University of Cincinnati Athletes are Heading to the Olympics
The 2024 Olympics in Paris kicks off Friday, July 26 with the opening ceremony, and several current and former University of Cincinnati student-athletes will be competing this year. UC says six Bearcats total — four former and two current — will be representing five different countries, including the United States, Canada, Saint Kitts and Nevis,…
Cincinnati Museum Center’s Next Off the Rails Night is Happening in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Beam us up, Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Museum Center is going interstellar for its next Off the Rails night. Off the Rails is a 21+ series that allows guests to explore the museum after hours and enjoy themed programming and food, as well as a cash bar. “Off the Rails: Intergalactic Edition” will feature lightsaber battles…
MadTree Beer Named ‘No. 1 IPA Worldwide’
A Cincinnati brewery is getting some global attention after it took home the title of “No. 1 IPA on the planet” from the prestigious World Beer Competition. The World Beer Competition is put on by the Tasting Alliance, the same organization behind the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The competition began in late 2023 and…
Ohio Supreme Court: Open Meetings Laws Must be Reassessed in Voting Machine Decisions
The Ohio Supreme Court enforced the laws of grammar to reject a lower court decision that allowed closed-door discussions by the Stark County Board of Elections on the purchase of new voting machines. The county board and other county officials were sued by an out-of-state entity, accused of violating state open meetings laws in 2020…
Ohio Republicans Introduce Bills to Restrict Adult-Use Hemp Products
As Ohioans wait to legally purchase recreational marijuana, Republican lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly are trying to regulate adult-use hemp products. State Rep. Sara Carruthers, R-Hamilton, introduced House Bill 642 on Thursday, which would require the Ohio Director of Agriculture to issue recommendations for adult-use hemp products. If the bill were to…
CityBeat Speaks with Middletown Educators Ahead of Vance’s Alma Mater Rally
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) will visit Middletown High School on Monday, July 22 for his first official campaign stop in his hometown as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. While accepting his nomination for Vice President at the Republican National Convention on July 17, Vance promised voters he will be “a vice president who never forgets…
Catch-a-Fire Pizza to Open New Location in College Hill
Local pizza joint Catch-a-Fire has announced that it’s opening a fourth location, this one in College Hill. Catch-a-Fire is best known for its wood-fired pizzas and selection of craft beers, wine and cocktails. In a press release Friday, College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CURC) said the pizzeria will open its new location in the…
Cincinnati Selected as Finalist to Host Sundance Film Festival
Cincinnati could be seeing stars after it was named a finalist to host future Sundance Film Festivals. The Queen City is among six finalists for the honor, alongside Atlanta, Georgia; Boulder, Colorado; Louisville, Kentucky; Park City/Salt Lake City, Utah; and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Members of the Sundance Institute selection committee will visit each city…
Rep. Greg Landsman Calls for Biden to Step Aside from Presidential Campaign
Politics, elections, Greg Landsman, Biden, Trump
Indiana SAT Scores Continue Downward Trend, Latest Test Results Show
Only a quarter of Hoosier high schoolers who took the SAT during the last academic year earned college-ready scores in both reading and math, according to newly-released results. More than 80,000 high school students, primarily juniors, took the test in 2023-24. Of those, about 24% of students met the readiness benchmark on both subject portions,…
Vance, Moreno Blame Democrats’ “Fascist” Rhetoric for Trump Shooting
Just after a 20-year-old shooter made an attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life last Saturday, a host of Republicans rushed to blame Democrats and the media for the shooting. They include Ohio U.S. Senator and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno. They also include Sen. Tim Scott of…
Opinion: J.D. Vance Has Nothing to Offer Working People
Earlier this week, I was reminded of the screenshots that leaked a while back from the X group chats where J.D. Vance earnestly tests out what he calls “cool kid lingo” with teenage Republicans. Most of us got that kind of thing out of our systems when we ourselves were teens, but Vance in his…
Voting Rights Advocacy Organizations Sound the Alarm on Ohio
Voting rights advocacy organizations are calling on the Ohio secretary of state to create consistency within the county boards of elections when it comes to voter registration challenges. The urgency comes in particular because of one group, the Ohio Election Integrity Network, which advocates say has been approaching multiple Ohio counties with lists of hundreds…
Ohio Lawmaker from West Chester Shares Video Featuring White Nationalist
In a now deleted X post, Republican state Rep. Jennifer Gross shared a video on June 28 featuring Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist, known for his antisemitic views and admiration of Adolf Hitler, and claiming undocumented immigrants are hurting the U.S. The video comes from an X account called “socksgrypr,” and was originally posted on…
Police Respond to Protest at P&G Conference Downtown
Procter & Gamble’s annual Signal Summit was disrupted when four climate protesters locked themselves down in the outer lobby of the company’s Cincinnati headquarters on July 17, according to a press release from the Rainforest Action Network (RAN). The demonstrators chained themselves to soundboxes playing audio from Indonesian forests in order to call out P&G’s…
Rhinegeist to Celebrate Cincy Light Beer With Anniversary Party
Rhinegeist is throwing a party to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its beer that’s been helping Cincinnati student-athletes. Last summer, the Over-the-Rhine brewery teamed up with name, image and likeness (NIL) organization Cincy Reigns to create the Cincy Light lager. Cincy Reigns is a NIL fundraising collective that helps student-athletes at the University of Cincinnati…
Six Greater Cincinnati Restaurants to be Featured on ‘America’s Best Restaurants’
Several Greater Cincinnati restaurants will be stepping into the spotlight after being selected to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants (ABR). America’s Best Restaurants is a national media and marketing company that focuses on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants. Its ABR Roadshow is a web series that highlights individual restaurants across the country, including…
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown Leads Fundraising Ahead of Crucial Senate Race in Ohio
This week, while the American political conversation was focused on the Republican National Convention and Donald Trump’s pick for vice president, political campaigns turned in their campaign finance reports for the second quarter. In Ohio’s marquee U.S. Senate race, Republican challenger Bernie Moreno’s campaign said it brought in about $6.8 million between a pair of…
Sen. J.D. Vance Voted Against His Own Anti-Fentanyl Bill This Year
Newly named GOP vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance made his mother’s struggles with opioid addiction a part of his public story, and he started a nonprofit to fight the scourge in 2017. But earlier this year, the Republican senator from Ohio voted against an anti-fentanyl bill that he had co-sponsored. When asked why, Vance’s office…
Two Films Shot in Northern Kentucky Receive Acclaim on Film Festival Circuit
Two new films that were produced and shot in Northern Kentucky are getting praise and international acclaim as they make their way around the film festival circuit this summer. McVeigh, which is about Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, and Dandelion, the story of a Cincinnati singer-songwriter who…
Trump Pick of J.D. Vance as Running Mate Opens New Battlefront in Presidential Race
Republicans on the floor of the Republican National Convention cheered Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance becoming their vice presidential nominee Monday, as Democrats slammed his opposition to abortion rights and called him inexperienced and a “clone” of Donald Trump. Reaction from all corners of American politics poured in as GOP delegates inside the Fiserv Forum…
Applications for Cincinnati’s Property Tax Relief Program Now Open
Relief is on the way for Cincinnati residents who have fallen behind on property tax payments. Applications are now open for the city’s new property tax relief program, HomeSafe. Many homeowners across Cincinnati and Hamilton County experienced sticker shock after seeing major increases in their property taxes this year. Bills doubled or even tripled for…
Friday’s Your Chance to Get More Free Ice Cream in Downtown Cincinnati
If you missed the free ice cream pop-up in downtown Cincinnati on July 1, you’ll get another chance to grab a sweet summertime treat on Friday, July 19. Hudsonville Ice Cream, the nearly 100-year-old ice cream maker out of Michigan, is hosting another free ice cream pop-up in downtown Cincinnati on Friday from 2-5 p.m.…
Proposed First-Ever Federal Standards for Maternal Care Met with Mixed Response from Hospitals
As part of President Joe Biden’s initiative to reduce maternal mortality rates and improve health outcomes in underserved communities, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced new policy proposals that would require hospitals to adhere to more rigorous maternal care standards or risk losing their ability to participate in Medicare. According to the proposed rule, the…
Lawyer Speaks Out: ‘We Want the Raleigh Family to Come Forward and Tell the Truth’
An attorney representing the family involved in the now-viral Montgomery Inn parking lot incident is speaking out. Konrad Kircher, of Maineville-based Kircher Law, addressed reporters on Monday on behalf of the Morrow family. His clients allege that members of the Raleigh family assaulted elderly members of the Morrow family after a vehicle crash on June…
Review: ‘Longlegs’ Has Us Running Back to Our Childhood Fears
What was the first thing that ever scared you? You probably recall your younger years being rattled by something going bump in the night. The first scene of Longlegs evokes this nightmarish nostalgia when a young girl comes face to out-of-frame face with our unsettling antagonist. Unnerved by the voice of Nicolas Cage (“Longlegs”) and…
BREAKING: Trump Names Sen. J.D. Vance as Vice President Running Mate
Donald Trump has chosen Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his Vice President for the 2024 race. Trump told Fox News he would be announcing his pick on Monday, July 15, the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. After the attempted assassination of Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend, Ohio…
Sting to Headline Thursday Night at Louisville’s Bourbon & Beyond Festival
Rock legend Sting will make his debut at Louisville’s Bourbon & Beyond Festival this year, performing as the new Thursday night headliner, replacing Neil Young. Sting will take the stage Sept. 19 with his new power rock trio, STING 3. The band features guitarist and longtime collaborator Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas, and they’ll…
Third Eye Brewing Named Best Brewery in the Country at U.S. Open Beer Championship
A Greater Cincinnati brewery won big at the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship this month. Third Eye Brewing didn’t just bring home several medals, but also the title of best brewery in the U.S. — the first Ohio brewery to win the prestigious award. This year, the U.S. Open Beer Championship in Oxford, Ohio, judged…
Affidavits Seek to Spell Out Hardships from Ohio’s 24-Hour Abortion Waiting Period
Double the costs, double the travel, double the child care. Those were the stories of some who struggled to receive abortion care because of Ohio’s 24-hour waiting period and two-visit mandates, according to a new court brief in a lawsuit attempting to eliminate the regulations. The Ohio Women’s Alliance submitted a “friends of the court”…
Ohio Democrats Unify Behind U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown Amid Uncertainty at the Top of the Ticket
In a couple weeks Kemba Live will host Taking Back Sunday in Columbus’ Arena District. But on Saturday morning, the concrete dance floor was lined with folding chairs and Democrats from around Ohio instead of elder millennials reliving past glories. The Ohio Democratic Party billed the gathering as a family reunion, pairing official business like…
Carter Raleigh, Son of WCPO’s Steve Raleigh, Involved in Violent Incident
Twenty-eight-year-old Carter Raleigh, the son of WCPO Chief Meteorologist Steve Raleigh and grandson of former Hamilton County sheriff and attorney Simon L. Leis, Jr., was involved in a traffic crash that turned into an assault on June 22. Carter Raleigh was listed as a motorist involved in a crash with 79-year-old Douglas Nathaniel Morrow in…
Cincinnati’s West Side is Getting a New Dairy Queen
The West Side of Cincinnati is set to get a whole lot sweeter as a new Dairy Queen DQ Grill & Chill gets ready to open its doors. The new Dairy Queen, located at 4243 Bridgetown Road in Cheviot, will hold its grand opening Monday, July 15. This will be the second local Dairy Queen…
Cincinnati Health Department Detects West Nile Virus in Bond Hill and Madisonville
As summer heat rises, so do hordes of everyone’s least favorite summer pest: mosquitoes. The Cincinnati Health Department recently reported that mosquito samples in Bond Hill and Madisonville tested positive for West Nile virus, which is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. “Whenever we find West Nile virus in our local mosquito…
Black Women Are Paid Less and Experience Higher Maternal Mortality Rates, Report Finds
At the intersection of racism and gender inequality, Black Ohio women are most likely to be harmed by systems that are currently in place, according to a new report. Policy Matters of Ohio recently released a report called ‘Black women can thrive in Ohio’ that demonstrates how low pay, limited health care and the criminal…
U.S. House Speaker Cites Unproven Ohio Evidence in Support of New Proof-of-Citizenship Voting Bill
This week the U.S. House approved the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, Act, which contemplates dramatic changes to the way Americans register to vote and cast their ballots. The measure is a priority for House Speaker Mike Johnson, and he invoked dubious reports of noncitizens on Ohio’s voter rolls in a white paper backing…
So Zinzinnati: Rookwood Pottery to Make Official Oktoberfest Beer Stein
One of the most iconic local artisan companies is teaming up with one of the most popular festivals in Cincinnati for a collaboration that is so “Zinzinnati.” This year, for the first time ever, the Rookwood Pottery Company will be crafting the official commemorative beer stein for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, set to happen in September. It’s…
One Fair Wage Continues to Collect Signatures to Get $15 Minimum Wage on Next Year’s Ballot
Minimum wage won’t be on Ohio’s ballot this year, but it could be on next year’s. After a day of mixed messaging last week, One Fair Wage ultimately failed to submit the necessary signatures to the Ohio Secretary of State to get their initiative on the November ballot. But One Fair Wage is continuing to collect signatures across Ohio…
Emails to Bill Sponsors Show Opposition to Ohio Drag Ban Proposal
Constituents writing to the sponsors of an Ohio bill seeking to regulate and ban most drag performances largely spoke out against the bill, though there were some who praised the effort. Documents obtained by the Ohio Capital Journal through a public records request show many criticisms of House Bill 245, including several Ohioans who said…
Artists Kiwi the Duck and L.D. Nehls Team Up for Special Exhibit at Rhinegeist
Two of the best local artists are teaming up to showcase some of their work and raise money for a good cause. Domestic waterfowl rescue Longbottom Bird Ranch’s resident artist, Kiwi, and Cincinnati artist L.D. Nehls will be putting on the “Art of Ducks” exhibit at Rhinegeist Brewery on Saturday, July 20. The rescue’s founder,…
Ohio and Kentucky Democrats Weigh in on Biden Ahead of DNC
As the Democratic National Convention quickly approaches, many Democrats remain uneasy about President Joe Biden’s potential nomination. After his shaky debate performance on June 27 spotlighted Biden’s struggle to maintain focus and articulate his ideas, Democrats became split on their support for the current president. While some continue to back his nomination, others are calling…
Gorilla Cinema to Close Findlay Market Comic Book Shop, Rebrand Space as a Cocktail Bar
Cincinnati’s Gorilla Cinema, the immersive and thematic experience group behind bars like Overlook Lodge, Tokyo Kitty and more, will be closing its comic book shop near Findlay Market to pursue a new concept for the space. The company says the decision to close the shop, Cosmic Gorilla, comes after comic book sales dipped 70% year…
Checking in on Ohio Nursing Legislation as Lawmakers Break for Summer Recess
Shortly before Ohio lawmakers left for summer recess, the House passed a bill aimed at reducing violence in health care settings. To the Ohio Nurses Association, it’s an important step toward improving safety. It’s also doesn’t address what the nurse union sees as a much greater threat — lack of adequate staffing. A measure to…
Opinion: The Link Between Covington and Palestine
Let’s rewind to January 2019: Covington Mayor Joseph Meyer penned an op-ed in the Cincinnati Enquirer addressing the national controversy swirling around videos of Covington Catholic High School students who were seen mocking Native Americans during the Indigenous Peoples’ March in Washington D.C. In his piece, Mayor Meyer emphasized that the videos did not reflect…
How Can We Do Capital Budgeting Better in Ohio?
Late last month, the Ohio Senate sent a $4.2 billion capital expenditures budget to the Governor’s office. Ohio’s capital budget is a budget of long-term investments in projects and infrastructure across the state mostly financed by debt. This year’s version of the capital budget includes $3 billion in new debt taken on by the state…
