Cincinnati Filmmaker’s New Documentary Highlights Touring Musicians’ Struggles and Successes
A new music documentary featuring legendary figures in the local country and rockabilly scenes debuts at the Southgate House Revival later this month. Honky Talkin’: Tales & Travails From The Honky Tonk Trails, a documentary that intimately examines the lives of working musicians, will premiere at the Southgate House Revival on Aug. 23. Longtime Cincinnati…
Sound Advice: 45 Years In, The Smithereens Still Sound Like Themselves
Not every veteran band can survive and still thrive after the loss of their lead singer/songwriter, but in the case of the Smithereens — that’s the frequency, Kenneth. Founded back in 1980 in New Jersey, the Smithereens have delivered bristling, British Invasion-style pop/rock for 45 years now. With the death of leader Pat DiNizio in…
From Cincinnati to Broadway: Kimber Elayne Sprawl’s Star Continues to Rise
Growing up in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood, being onstage came naturally for Kimber Elayne Sprawl. “I was always a performer,” she said in a recent Zoom interview with CityBeat. “As a family, we were active in dance together at the Arts Consortium with the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company. I knew right away I had a passion…
Plans for Newport’s New Bikeway are Open to Public Feedback
Cincinnati and its neighboring city of Newport are connected by many things, from bridges and railways to culture and residents. Now, Newport is looking to make that connection more accessible to one group in particular: Cyclists. Tri-State Trails is partnering with the City of Newport to create a new protected bikeway that would connect Third…
A ‘Flamboyant’ Candidate Wants to be Kentucky’s New U.S. House Representative
There’s a new politician on the scene in Northern Kentucky, though he’s not yet keen on calling himself that. Jesse Brewer, 39, has thrown his hat in the ring to take over Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District. Come November 2026, Brewer wants to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, and he thinks he can. Brewer is…
Cincinnati Band In The Pines Plug in and Power Up on New Single ‘Sunbeam Dream’
Cincinnati-based psych rockers In The Pines have released the second single from their forthcoming album, Sunbeam Dream. The eponymous single, “Sunbeam Dream,” is described as the album’s “most muscular and hard-driving track,” with intersecting guitar melodies that perfectly complement the driving synths, percussion and bassline — a perfect track for fans of King Gizzard & The…
Sound Advice: David Lee Roth Leans Into Van Halen Legacy on Tour
David Lee Roth is a court jester who became one of the most recognizable frontmen in rock and roll with Van Halen. He’s the kind of performer that barely exists today — a shameless, often amusing guy with a toothy smile and a sex drive run amok. Roth is all personality as a singer, his…
Asianati to Host One-Night Screening of Vietnamese American New Wave Documentary
A film exploring the Vietnamese American new wave music scene of the 1980s is being screened at an exclusive event next month. Asianati, the producers of Asian Food Fest and Asianati Night Market, and Lang Thang Group will be presenting a special one-night-only screening of New Wave, a 2024 documentary directed by Vietnamese American filmmaker Elizabeth Ai.…
Coleman vs. Comer? 2 Politicos Fuel Speculation for 2027 Governor’s Race in West Kentucky
Most spectators had their eyes on candidates in Kentucky’s upcoming GOP U.S. Senate primary during events surrounding the Fancy Farm Picnic this weekend. However, a Republican and Democrat encouraged speculation about themselves as candidates in the state’s 2027 governor’s race. While addressing party faithful — Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman at a Democratic dinner and U.S. Rep.…
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy Holds Massive Cash Advantage in Ohio’s 2026 Race for Governor
Ohio’s candidates for governor have filed their first campaign finance reports, offering a glimpse of two starkly different campaigns. Democratic candidate Amy Acton raised $1.35 million — a record, her campaign said, for a non-incumbent Democratic governor this far from election day. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy dramatically out-raised his opponent, bringing in $9.7 million over…
CPD Investigating KKK Flyers Found in Cincinnati Neighborhoods Over the Weekend
The Cincinnati Police Department’s Intelligence Unit is investigating the origin of racist flyers containing Ku Klux Klan propaganda found Sunday morning in several Cincinnati neighborhoods. “We are committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all residents and will continue to take all necessary actions to address and prevent the spread of hate in…
New Genre-Spanning Music and Arts Festival to Debut in Covington This Weekend
A new multi-venue and genre-spanning music and arts festival will debut in Covington this weekend. The Arcade Music Fest will feature 80 artists spanning multiple genres across eight stages, with more than 30 local vendors and a showcase of visual art. The festival takes place on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9. The festival…
Kentucky GOP Senate Candidates Vie for Spotlight with Well-Placed Zingers at Fancy Farm
The top three Republican candidates hoping to represent Kentucky in the U.S. Senate — former Attorney General Daniel Cameron, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and Lexington businessman Nate Morris — have been taking snipes at each other on the campaign trail this summer as they barrel toward the May 2026 primary, but they pulled out the…
As Federal Cuts Finalized, State Lawmakers in Ohio Also Gave Cuts to Public Broadcasting
Millions of dollars in federal budget cuts to public media have been finalized by President Donald Trump, but state lawmakers in Ohio also made budget cuts in funds mean for public broadcasting, including services for the blind. Trump signed away $9 billion in previously approved spending on July 24, which included more than $1 billion to the…
FBI Arrests Dayton Man for Threatening to Kill 30,000 Black Cincinnatians
The FBI arrested a Dayton man Friday morning for allegedly threatening to kill thousands of Black Cincinnatians. The threat was posted to X on Thursday, according to the FBI. The user said they were “organizing mobs” to kill people in Cincinnati with a goal of killing “30k” by Sunday. Cincinnati Police first reported the post…
Popular Brunch Restaurant and Bar to Soon Open New Location in Mt. Lookout
After a long wait, a popular restaurant and bar known for its tongue-in-cheek menu and boozy drinks is opening another location in Cincinnati. Ohio-based HangOverEasy has been serving breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes with saucy names like Sloppy Seconds and Walk of Shame, as well as brunch cocktails like mimosas and Bloody Marys, since it…
When Hippos Fly: Cincinnati Zoo Crew to Participate in Red Bull Flugtag
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is ready to prove to the world, or at least the Queen City, that hippos can, indeed, fly at the Red Bull Flugtag this August. Some of the zoo’s employees will be participating in the contest from energy drink company Red Bull when it comes to Cincinnati on Saturday,…
Art Cafe to Open in Camp Washington This Summer
A new cafe to grab a sandwich, and maybe start a revolution, is opening in Camp Washington later this summer. SWELL is an art cafe from the neighboring art center, Wave Pool. The cafe, to be located in a historic storefront at 2936 Colerain Ave., will serve as a third space and social club where…
Northside Gastropub to Appear on Food Network’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’
It seems like Greater Cincinnati has become one of the Mayor of Flavortown Guy Fieri’s favorite stops on his mission to find the best Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Gastropub Northside Yacht Club is the most recent Cincinnati restaurant to announce that it’s appearing on the popular Food Network show. Northside Yacht Club is best known…
Ohio Equal Rights Will Try to Get Two Amendments on 2026 Ballot, Not Challenge Ballot Board Decision
Ohio Equal Rights is now trying to get two amendments on the 2026 ballot: one to remove the ban on same-sex marriage in the Ohio Constitution, and the other to expand discrimination protections. The second amendment would add language to the state’s constitution protecting citizens from discrimination based on race, color, creed or religion, sex,…
Cincinnati Symphony’s Principal Bassist Finds New Gig with Electric Citizen
Owen Lee was already a rock star when he accepted his new position as official keyboardist for Cincinnati stoner/psych quartet Electric Citizen, their first actual membership addition in the band’s history. Oddly enough, Lee’s stardom was not within the rock realm. Since 1996, Lee has been the principal bassist for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO);…
Congressional Redistricting on the Ohio Legislature’s Fall Docket
The Ohio legislature may have finished its work on the state operating budget, but when it returns from summer break, another significant piece of work lies ahead of them. The congressional map that establishes voting districts for Ohio’s U.S. House representatives must be redrawn before the end of the year. State lawmakers’ first deadline is…
Father Detained by ICE in Kroger Parking Lot to Leave U.S. After Being Denied Bond
A Westside father who was arrested by immigration officials outside an East Price Hill Kroger has opted to return to Guatemala voluntarily rather than remain in detention at the Butler County Jail. Alonzo Tomas Mendez was one of four men arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the Warsaw Avenue Kroger parking lot…
District Judge Orders Cincinnati Imam Ayman Soliman to Remain in Ohio for 14 Days
A federal judge has ruled Cincinnati’s imprisoned imam can remain in Ohio for at least two more weeks, lawyers tell CityBeat. During a Wednesday hearing, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio Jeffery P. Hopkins granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) allowing Ayman Soliman, an immigrant from Egypt, to remain at the Butler…
‘Very Alarming.’ Ohio Housing Advocates Decry Trump’s Executive Order on Homelessness
Ohio housing advocates spoke out against President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that would force those experiencing homelessness off the streets by committing them to mental health institutions or drug treatment centers without their consent. Trump issued an executive order last week titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.” “Shifting homeless individuals into long-term…
Ohio Supreme Court Rated ‘Poor’ When it Comes to Gift Disclosures
When courts — especially the most powerful ones — make decisions, it’s important to know whether the justices are in the back pockets of powerful interests their decisions affect. For that reason, state supreme courts have rules requiring their justices to disclose information about their money and their gifts. But some disclosure practices are more…
CPD Identifies Third Suspect in Connection with Weekend’s Viral Attack, Residents Pack Public Safety Meeting
We now know the identities of three of the five suspects arrested in connection with a viral brawl near Elm and Fourth Streets in Cincinnati’s Downtown neighborhood late Friday night. The brawl became national news after videos blew up on social media depicting a group punching and knocking a man to the ground, where they…
City to Offer New Funding Support for Trans and Nonbinary Youth Mental Health and Safety Programs
Half a million dollars in city funds will be distributed to help support mental health and safety services for transgender and nonbinary youth in Cincinnati. Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati, a federation of social justice charities in the Tri-State area, will be working on behalf of the city to accept funding applications from local nonprofit…
New Community Garden, Bodega in Over-the-Rhine to Offer More Fresh Food Options to Residents
A new initiative to bring more fresh food options to Over-the-Rhine will officially launch this weekend. Cornerstone Renter Equity, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Urban Farming Collective Food System (UFC) teamed up to provide a space to grow fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs at the new Goose Alley Community Garden on Friars Court, near…
Over-the-Rhine’s Ghost Baby Named One of ‘Bars of the Year’ by USA Today
A popular underground lounge in Over-the-Rhine is getting some more national recognition. Ghost Baby, a nightclub and speakeasy located five stories under Republic Street in a 170-year-old lagering tunnel, was recently named one of the 2025 “Bars of the Year” by USA Today. The list celebrates standout watering holes across the country This latest honor…
More Than 80 Ohio High Schools Have Native-Themed Names and Mascots
Four years after the Cleveland Indians announced they would change its name to the Guardians, many Ohio high schools have retained their Native-themed names and mascots. More than 80 Ohio high schools have Native-themed names and mascots, according to an Ohio Capital Journal analysis of high school team names. The “Warriors” and “Indians” were the…
VP Vance Visits Ohio to Tout the Trump/Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Near Canton, Ohio on Monday, more than 300 men and women packed into the Metallus steel mill to see Vice President JD Vance. A sea of brightly colored hard hats cheered and applauded as the vice president touted the administration’s biggest legislative achievement, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Across the street, a few dozen…
Appalachian Regional Commission Funding Restored in Congressional Committee
A major cut to funding to the Appalachian Regional Commission was stopped by a congressional committee after supporters of the commission’s work, which includes areas of Ohio, expressed their outrage at the potential reductions. President Donald Trump’s discretionary budget proposal had included a 93% cut for the commission, which provides grant funding and program assistance…
Ohio Electric Bills Likely to Keep Going Up After Latest PJM Auction
Ohioans can expect their electric bills to keep going up. Last year’s auction to ensure the grid operator serving Ohio could meet demand saw capacity prices shoot up more than 830%. In the most recent auction, prices rose even higher. When the 830% increase came down last year after an auction held by electric grid…
Erykah Badu Brings ‘Mama’s Gun’ 25th Anniversary Tour to Cincinnati
Musician and cultural icon Erykah Badu is hitting the road on a world tour to celebrate one of the most iconic albums in her discography — with a stop at Cincinnati’s Andrew J Brady Music Center. Badu will be bringing her tour, “The Return of Automatic Slim Tour: eryKah Badu Mama’s Gun ’25,” to the…
Tri-State Trails Invites Cyclists of All Ages and Abilities on Community Bike Ride This August
Bicyclists of all ages and abilities can hit the trails as part of a big community bike ride this August. The third-annual Tour de CROWN, hosted by Tri-State Trails, is happening Saturday, Aug. 23. The ride starts and ends at Fifty West Brewing Company in Columbia Township along the Little Miami Scenic Trail, with route…
Southwest Ohio Planned Parenthood Closures to Continue Despite Judicial Order Blocking Trump’s Medicaid Policy
Planned Parenthood’s health centers in Springfield and Hamilton will continue to shut down this week despite a new judicial order blocking the Trump administration from stripping the organization of medicaid funding. On Monday, a federal judge out of Massachusetts extended a temporary block on a Trump administration policy that prevents clinics like Planned Parenthood from…
Skyline Chili Launches Summer Sweepstakes
Skyline Chili has launched a new sweepstakes this summer, giving fans a chance to win prizes ranging from free food to a $1,500 gift card. From now until Aug. 24 (or while supplies last), Skyline guests at participating restaurants in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana can take part in Skyline Fest, an instant-win pull tab game.…
Federal Education Funding Reportedly Being Released Following Outrage from Ohio, National Educators
School districts in Ohio and across the country will now be receiving billions of dollars that were being withheld by the Trump administration — funds that local public education workers and supporters said are critically needed as the new school year approaches. The Trump administration halted distribution of $6.8 billion in funds allocated by Congress…
Local Audio Agency Captures Sounds of Daily Life at the Cincinnati Zoo in New Music Track
The wild sounds of one of Cincinnati’s most iconic attractions have been immortalized in a new track from a local audio agency that’s been capturing the Queen City through music. In November, Play Audio Agency launched PLAY IT, a public-facing series that aims to create music tracks based on iconic spots around Cincinnati. Since its…
Indiana Immigration Arrests Surge Despite Stalled ICE Partnerships
Federal immigration authorities have arrested increasing numbers of people suspected of being in Indiana illegally — but have yet to deputize officer nominees from at least two Hoosier counties in President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign. And Indiana’s state police agency has no plans to seek such U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement duties for its officers,…
Drink Across the Globe at The Banks’ Around the World Bar Crawl This August
You don’t need to buy a plane ticket to drink around the world this summer. Just grab a travel buddy or fly solo down to downtown Cincinnati for the globetrotting adventure of the second-annual “Around the World Bar Crawl.” The Around the World Bar Crawl will take place across 10 bars and restaurants at The…
Cincinnati Wing Week is Back With $8 Deals from Over 50 Local Restaurants
Get ready for all the sauced, seasoned and dry-rubbed wings you can eat with the return of Cincinnati Wing Week Aug. 18-24. Over 50 restaurants across the Greater Cincinnati area will be offering $8 wing deals in honor of the week, with flavors spanning from classic buffalo sauce to Korean BBQ. “Cincinnati Wing Week is…
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[OPINION] Neonics Are Harming Our Environment — Here’s How You Can Fight Back
When you were last outside, did you happen to notice how there aren’t as many bugs as there used to be? Rarer butterfly sightings, fewer honey bees buzzing around — the disappearance of our insects is becoming more noticeable. And it’s not just a suspicion; a shocking 2017 study revealed that insect populations have decreased…
Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Braun Calls for ‘Full Transparency’ on Epstein Files
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said on Thursday he thought the American public deserved “full transparency” when it came to files related to the death of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Speaking from the Statehouse, Braun also touched on immigration. “I think the (U.S. House)…
Art Helps Heal Ohio Survivors of Human Trafficking
Drugs and violence entrapped them; art helped set them free. On a recent summer evening, some survivors of human trafficking gathered in a noisy, crowded restaurant in German Village in Columbus to show their works of art and celebrate liberation from their pasts. The art show sponsored by the SOAP Project — Saving Our Adolescents…
Walnut Hills Restaurant to Appear on Newest Season of ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’
A Walnut Hills restaurant will appear on one of The Food Network’s most popular shows later this summer. The Pickled Pig is best known for its smoked meats, made-from-scratch sandwiches, soups and salads, as well as small-batch fermented and pickled goods. On social media Monday, the restaurant said it recently received a visit from the…
Pins Mechanical to Open New Greater Cincinnati Location This Summer
Ohio bar/arcade Pins Mechanical is opening another location in Greater Cincinnati, bringing its unique blend of retro-inspired entertainment and craft cocktails to Mason later this summer. Pins will open soon at The District at Deerfield on District Park Drive, next to Fifty West Brewing Company and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams’ Mason locations. The bar/arcade was…
March First Brewing Shutters its Fountain Square Businesses
March First Brands has shuttered all of its downtown Cincinnati locations as of Wednesday. The local brewery and distillery brand owned a March First taproom and Laveau, an upscale restaurant with New Orleans-inspired fare and cocktails that paid homage to famous Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau, on Fountain Square. Both locations, as well as the Cincinnati…
Ohio’s Governor, Lawmakers, and Grassroots Organizers are all Wrestling Over Property Tax Reform
Earlier this week, Ohio lawmakers scrapped summer plans to take action on property taxes. “We really need to do something,” State Rep. Bill Roemer, R-Richfield, insisted. “We need to fix property taxes in Ohio.” The state’s tax rates rank eighth in the country, he argued, ahead of New York, California and Florida, not to mention…
A Look at What LGBTQ Bills Ohio Lawmakers Have Introduced so Far
Ohio lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have introduced several LGBTQ-related bills so far this General Assembly. Republicans have put forth a drag ban bill, a piece of legislation that would make it harder for a student to use a different name or pronoun at school, and a bill requiring transgender political candidates to…
Ohio Hospital Association Praises Senators, Won’t Say if Their Vote Cost Hospitals Billions
The Ohio Hospital Association was quick to praise the state’s Republican U.S. senators for a provision in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But it won’t say whether, overall, the legislation will save or cost its member hospitals money. Meanwhile, outside experts say rural and urban hospitals will lose billions. Signed on July…
Gold Star Chili Makes its Spicy Chicken Sandwich a Permanent Addition to the Menu
A formerly limited-time-only menu item at Gold Star Chili is staying. The Cincinnati chili chain announced Wednesday that the Spicy Chicken Sandwich is now a permanent addition to the menu. First launched this spring, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich quickly became a fan favorite, says Gold Star. The sandwich features a southern-style fried chicken breast with…
Right-Wing Dark Money Group Running Misleading Attack Ads Targeting Ohio Democrats
The midterm election is still more than a year away, but that hasn’t stopped one right-wing group from running misleading ads in Ohio attacking vulnerable Democrats. In Akron and Toledo, ads claim U.S. Reps. Emilia Sykes and Marcy Kaptur voted no “when the time came to protect and fund Medicare.” “I have seen it,” University…
Head Back to Summer Camp at Cincinnati Museum Center’s Next Off the Rails Night
Roll up your sleeping bags and make sure you have bug spray, adults of Cincinnati, because we’re heading back to summer camp at the Cincinnati Museum Center’s upcoming 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…
Cindependent Film Festival Announces Official 2024 Film Lineup
Cincinnati’s Cindependent Film Festival returns this September, and organizers have just announced the official selections. The film festival is put on by the nonprofit CIFF, whose mission is to promote independent filmmaking in Cincinnati by bringing professional resources to and creating a community for filmmakers. This year’s festival will feature 73 films and live readings…
