Mad Food Scientist Alton Brown Brings His ‘Beyond The Eats’ Tour to the Aronoff Center
Acclaimed Food Network star and author Alton Brown, famous for mixing his love of science and gourmet food on television, has announced the “Alton Brown Live – Beyond The Eats” tour will be coming to the Aronoff Center on March 4, 2022. Brown’s previous culinary tours — the “Edible Inevitable Tour” and “Eat Your Science”…
Riverfest Fireworks to Return in 2021 with Giant Labor Day Pyrotechnic Display Over the Ohio River
Riverfest is back, baby. Launched more than four decades ago to celebrate the 10th anniversary of radio station WEBN (102.7 FM), this Labor Day bash officially signals the end of summer with a series of colorful explosions in the sky. In addition to food, music, major traffic jams and one of the largest firework displays…
Tuesday Only: Get 2-for-1 Entrees at Chipotle…With One Catch
You know that CityBeat loves highlighting the amazing foodie scene here in Cincinnati. Local chefs are amaaaaaaaaazing. But every once in a while, even we get a craving for chain goodness — especially if it's free. Chipotle dropped a big-old burrito bomb on its fans Tuesday afternoon, offering hungry patrons buy-one-get-one-free entrees for July 6…
‘Grate’ News: Cincinnati Eats the Most Cheese in the Midwest, Research Shows
Life is Gouda here in Cincinnati, where we're apparently the cheese champs of the Midwest. Crystal Farms Dairy Co. recently commissioned research to find out which Midwest cities consume the most cheese. To determine its leaderboard, the dairy manufacturer looked at the number of pounds of cheese sold per capita in 2020 and found 50…
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Hungry for Cincinnati's latest food news? Or just plain hungry? We have a newsletter for that. And we promise it isn't one of those inbox-clogging sucky ones. Each Friday, we deliver the week's breaking Queen City food-scene stories, restaurant openings and closings, reviews and upcoming pop-up information to you in a compact and easy-to-read package.…
On the Impact of the Contemporary Arts Center’s Departing Director, Raphaela Platow
Raphaela Platow, who recently announced her departure after 14 years as director of the Contemporary Arts Center to lead Louisville’s Speed Art Museum, did some of her finest work during the coronavirus pandemic. This may sound a little strange, as the CAC — like all museums — struggled during 2020 and into this year with…
The Burger Issue: Cincinnati’s 29 Reader-Voted Best Burger Joints — For Meat-Eaters and Vegetarians
Is there anything more quintessentially American than a burger? Maybe apple pie or baseball. But nothing says ‘summer’ quite like a juicy meat patty hugged by a bun, whether you grill it yourself or visit any number of Greater Cincinnati’s excellent burger joints. And if you’re opting to leave the burger flipping to someone else,…
Cincinnati Zoo Auctioning Off Original Artwork by Fiona, Kris and Remus and More Animal Artists
The animals at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden are expressing themselves, and not just with a typical lion's roar or trumpeting elephant's trunk. A slew of artistic animals have created a series of paw-painted masterpieces — with the help of their keepers — and they're all up for auction. The zoo's Animal Art Auction…
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live is Coming to the Taft Theatre This November
The Satellite of Love is getting ready to crash land in the Queen City. Mystery Science Theater 3000 is bringing its live tour back to Cincinnati this fall, complete with riffing robot sidekicks GPC (fka Gypsy), Tom Servo and Cro(ooooo)w. MST3K's "Time Bubble Tour" will be stopping by the Taft Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 4. Tickets…
Golf Pro, Former Cincinnati-Area Resident Gene Siller Shot and Killed at Atlanta Country Club
A native Cincinnatian was shot and killed Saturday at an Atlanta-area country club. Gene Siller, originally of Colerain, died from a gunshot wound to the head, police told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The 41-year-old Siller was the golf pro and director at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw, Georgia. Police have not yet found the killer. On…
Cincinnati Is One of the Top U.S. Cities for Recreation in 2021, WalletHub Finds
Cincinnati apparently has one of the “great(est) outdoors” in the entire United States. According to personal-finance website WalletHub, Cincinnati is the No. 4 city in the nation for recreation. WalletHub's 2021 list of “Best and Worst Cities for Recreation” puts the Queen City far above the only other Ohio cities on the list. Columbus comes in at…
Cincinnati Police Continue to Investigate July 4 Shooting at Smale Park That Left 2 Teens Dead, Others Injured
A July 4 shooting at Cincinnati's Smale Riverfront Park became deadly, with two teenagers dying and others injured. Cincinnati Police chief Eliott Isaac said that 16-year-old Milo Watson had died on the scene, while 19-year-old Dexter Wright Jr. died shortly after being hospitalized. Isaac said Monday that Watson and Wright likely had encountered each other before…
‘Carmen’ Kicks Off Cincinnati Opera Season of Classics at Summit Park
Cincinnati Opera is back onstage, returning to its roots with outdoor performances this summer. The series includes three classic operas — Carmen, Tosca and The Barber of Seville — presented in 90-minute productions at Summit Park in Blue Ash, featuring stellar casts, accompaniment by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and a 36-member chorus. All performances will…
Ohio Healthcare Workers Are Fighting COVID-19 Misinformation in Spanish-Speaking Communities
Editor's note: In Cincinnati, Hispanic communities have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Read CityBeat's story about the local nonprofits trying to change that. Wanda knows she’s lucky to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Her three adult-aged children in the Dominican Republic haven’t yet had the chance — there are too few doses for too many people…
Editorial: Pentagon UFO Report Say No Aliens, but Government Transparency Might bring Science to UFO World
On June 25, the Pentagon released a much-anticipated report on UFOs to Congress. The military has rebranded unidentified flying objects as unidentified aerial phenomena — UAPs — in part to avoid the stigma that has been attached to claims of aliens visiting the Earth since the Roswell incident in 1947. The report presents no convincing evidence that…
Western Swing Band The Farmer & Adele Return to the Southgate House Revival with The Quebe Sisters
The Farmer & Adele has cultivated a semi-ubiquitous presence in the Cincinnati area over the past few years, to the extent that they could have been mistaken for a local Bluegrass band. In fact, vocalist/guitarist Grace Adele is a Columbus native, which has led her and musical partner Keenan Wade (The Farmer) to motor up…
Graeter’s Ice Cream Releases Fourth Secret Bonus Flavor of the Summer
Graeter's Ice Cream has a secret this summer — six of them. The company is introducing six limited-time Bonus Flavors and each will be kept a total secret until the day it's released. Each Bonus Flavor will be available for a limited time and once it's gone from Graeter's shops and online, it will be…
Cincinnati ‘Monuments Man’ Walter Farmer Protected European Art After World War II, Featured in New CAM Exhibit
If the title of an upcoming exhibition at the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) has a familiar ring, that’s probably thanks to George Clooney’s 2014 movie, The Monuments Men, which he starred in, wrote and directed. But the CAM’s show — Paintings, Politics and the Monuments Men: The Berlin Masterpieces in America — is significantly closer…
West Side Brewing’s Braille Ale Raises Funds for the Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Reaching into the refrigerator to grab a drink is something that many of us take for granted, since we can simply read the label to know whether we’re choosing a beer versus a soda. The same goes for seeing the difference between our shampoo and conditioner bottles or between our toothpaste and acne cream tubes.…
Josh Mandel’s Ohio Senate Campaign Staffers Reportedly Quit Because He’s Dating His Toxic Campaign Finance Director
Staffers for GOP Ohio Senate hopeful Josh Mandel's campaign have been quitting because of how his campaign finance director — who also is his girlfriend — is treating people, reports say. The Columbus Dispatch reports that three staff members said adios to the campaign in the spring, and sources tell the newspaper that it's due…
Ohioans Apparently Consider Steak Preparation Compatibility When Looking for Love, Survey Says
When it comes to first dates, there’s a lot at stake…or is it steak? If you're in the market for your soulmate in Ohio, you'd better start taking notes. A recent survey conducted by OnePoll for JBS USA, a food processing company that is a subsidiary of the world’s largest beef and pork processor, revealed…
The Rhined to Expand with Next-Door Education/Event Space ‘Bloom Room’
Findlay Market cheese shop The Rhined has announced its expansion. Owners Stephanie and Dave Webster, who also own Oakley Wines, are taking over the space formerly occupied by OTR Candy Bar — right next door to their shop — to open an education/event/production space called Bloom Room. The new facility, which will seat about 25…
Cincinnati Reds’ Nick Castellanos, Jesse Winker Will Start the 2021 MLB All-Star Game for the National League
The Cincinnati Reds have had a fairly mediocre season. As of Friday morning, the team sits at third place in the National League Central, has won 40 games and has lost 40 games. They're right in the middle of the pack, pretty much in every way. But right fielder Nick Castellanos and left fielder Jesse…
Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey Announces Opening Date of New Union Location
You will soon be able to get your buttery Boomtown biscuit fix at two Greater Cincinnati locations. Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey, which opened its original location in Pendleton in the spring of 2018, is expanding with a second location in Union, Kentucky. The eatery will open to the public on Friday, July 9, with weekend…
Cincinnati Gas Prices Are Rising Again, But Here’s Where to Find Cheap July 4 Gas
Well, it was nice while it lasted. As you prepare to drive to multiple cookouts or head out of town to get away from it all, check out what it costs to fill up your gas tank. Cincinnati gas prices recently dipped a bit after steadily skyrocketing in recent weeks, but that's changing during the…
You Can Now Check Out Telescopes From the Cincinnati Public Library
The Cincinnati Public Library is a community institution known for offering more than just books — from vinyl and DVD rentals to its in-house MakerSpace and services like free meals for kids. Now, budding astronomers have the chance to check out telescopes from five different branches. Cincinnati Observatory Astronomer Dean Regas wants to "offer the stars…
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Top State Lawmakers Met with National Anti-Vax Leader in 2019
Gov. Mike DeWine and legislative leaders in the Statehouse met in 2019 with Robert Kennedy Jr., a scion of the American political dynasty and a leading voice of anti-vaccination politics. Kennedy, son of U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, came to the Statehouse to speak in support of legislation prohibiting employers…
Commentary: Critical Race Theory — What It Is and What It Isn’t
U.S. Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana sent a letter to fellow Republicans on June 24, 2021, stating: “As Republicans, we reject the racial essentialism that critical race theory teaches … that our institutions are racist and need to be destroyed from the ground up.” Kimberlé Crenshaw, a law professor and central figure in the development of critical…
Amazon Prime’s ‘The Tomorrow War’ is Easily One of the Top 5 Best Alien Invasion Movies Ever Made
I can still remember standing in line in Tempe, Arizona waiting patiently for the theater doors to open for a sold-out first showing of Independence Day. Even more, I can vividly recall the rush of euphoric emotion when I exited more than two-and-a-half hours later. It remains one of the Top 5 best large-scale, humans-versus-aliens…
Here’s How COVID-19 Vaccines Were Made So Quickly Without Cutting Corners
Six months after the first COVID-19 shots started going into arms in the United States, the pace of vaccination has slowed. That’s prompted White House officials to scale back their goal of getting at least one dose to 70% of all U.S. adults by July 4; they’re now aiming for 70% of those 27 and older. Even…
How a Detroit Woman’s Stripping Saga-Turned-Twitter Thread Became New Film ‘Zola’
At the corner of 14 Mile and Gratiot Avenue in Detroit, wedged between an optometry chain and Jawors Golf Center — a 60-year-old putt-putt spot where you can smack brightly colored balls between the legs of fiberglass dinosaurs, pink elephants, and one menacing off-brand Bugs Bunny — looms a building, nay, a citadel, where thirst, hunger,…
Northside Yacht Club to Host Fourth of July Karaoke Cookout and Party
Pool parties and fireworks aren't your thing? Northside Yacht Club has the Fourth of July celebration for you. The rockin' nautical-themed bar is throwing their third-annual all-day outdoor karaoke party and cookout buffet this weekend, complete with all your favorite backyard grill-out faves. The $15 all-you-can-eat buffet will be stocked from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. with…
Gov. DeWine Signs $74 Billion State Budget, Blocks Expungement of COVID Violation Records for Ohio Businesses
Gov. Mike DeWine signed the $74 billion, two-year state budget into law, keeping in place nearly all of its signature policy positions and spending priorities while once again nixing an effort by Republican lawmakers to counter his administration’s methods of handling the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The governor also vetoed an attempt by Republican lawmakers to…
A Favorite Northern Kentucky Antique Mall Calls It Quits, and 8 Other Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed
The weather may have been miserable this week but there are good times ahead! In case you missed it, check out where to celebrate the Fourth of July in the 513, when to expect Cincinnati’s newest luxury hotel and how to add a beloved furry friend to your family. Here's Where to Find Fourth of…
1 in 4 Greater Cincinnatians Hit by Financial Toll of the Pandemic
Efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 disrupted the lives of Ohioans, and data continues to evolve that is uncovering the far-reaching financial toll. Nearly one-in-four adults in the Greater Cincinnati COVID-19 Health Issues Survey said they experienced at least one financial difficulty. Research Associate with Interact for Health Colleen Desmond explained that includes trouble paying…
Ohio Police Chief Resigns After Leaving ‘Ku Klux Klan’ Note for Black Officer as a ‘Joke’
Sheffield Lake, Ohio Police Chief Anthony Campo retired from the department after 33 years this week after last week leaving a note, apparently reading "Ku Klux Klan," on the jacket of a Black officer, taping it over the "POLICE" wordmark. The incident, caught on camera, was quickly brought to the attention of Mayor Dennis Bring,…
Touring Roundup: Big Freedia, Heartless Bastards, GWAR Will Be in Cincinnati Soon
The calendar for summer concerts in Cincinnati continues to become more complete. Check out this week’s notable concert announcements from all around the Queen City, and mark your calendar for a few additional rescheduled shows. Old Crow Medicine Show, Aug. 13, PNC Pavilion The Americana string band with origins in Virginia will return to Cincinnati…
10,000 Maniacs Kick-Off Cincinnati’s Women-Focused RiseUp Music Series with a Free Show in Washington Park
This summer, Cincinnati will showcase the true impact that women have in the music industry. RiseUp, a global network that strives to advance women's rights, will host a music series in Over-the-Rhine that launches in September and will continue over the next year. With the help of Cincinnati Bell and Procter & Gamble, RiseUp will…
Indigo Girls Coming to Rose Music Center in Dayton for the First Time
The Indigo Girls soon will bring their sincere, plucky songs to Rose Music Center in Huber Heights. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers' influential Folk Rock duo will hit the Dayton-area amphitheater on September 1 for the first time in their 32-year career. The longtime friends will be promoting their 16th studio album, Look Long, which ventures…
Private West Side Amusement Park Stricker’s Grove Opens its Nostalgic Rides for the Fourth of July
Stricker’s Grove is a private family-owned and operated, 25-acre old-fashioned amusement park located near Ross, Ohio. It is closed to the public for most of the year, except for Labor Day, Family Day (in August), Customer Appreciation Day (in October) and the Fourth of July. This year, the park is opening its doors on July 4 for…
Red, White & Blue Ash Brings Fireworks and a Choreographed Drone Show to Summit Park
The city of Blue Ash is celebrating America's independence with a modified version of its popular Red, White & Blue Ash festival — one that includes Fourth of July fireworks, but also comes with a drone show. Yes, drones. This year's party will feature a fireworks display from Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics at Summit Park at…
The Cincinnati Zoo is No Longer Requiring Timed Tickets — But You Still Need a Reservation
As COVID restrictions ease across the state and attractions adjust to a post-quarantine lifestyle, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has decided to end its timed entry policy. Starting today, July 1, the zoo won't require general admission guests to reserve a certain time when they purchase a ticket. However, they'll still be required to…
Ohio Bill Creating New Hurdles for Wind and Solar Projects Heads to DeWine
State GOP lawmakers passed legislation around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning that bestows new powers unto county commissioners, allowing them kill wind and solar projects early in their development. The bill, which now goes to Gov. Mike DeWine for consideration, would also allow commissioners to block wind or solar development in all or part of an unincorporated…
Taste of Belgium Opening New Bistro in Mason in an Old Flipdaddy’s
Cincinnati's favorite waffle purveyor Taste of Belgium continues to expand. After recently opening locations in Kenwood and Crestview Hills, the local chain is poised to open a bistro in Mason this July. “We’re looking forward to bringing the Taste of Belgium experience to Mason. We think everyone will love what we’re doing with the space…
Historic Gwynne Building Downtown to Transform into Pendry Hotel Cincinnati
A new boutique hotel is taking over a historic downtown building. The Pendry Cincinnati is converting the 1913 Beaux-Arts Gwynne Building at Sixth and Main streets — formerly home to ground-floor Richter & Phillips Jewelers, now located across the street, and once used as Procter & Gamble's global headquarters — into a 168-room hotel, slated…
Cincinnati Children’s Museum at the Cincinnati Museum Center Reopens This Week
Kids in the Cincinnati area (and their parents) can rejoice: For the first time in nearly a year and a half, the Children’s Museum in the Cincinnati Museum Center will open to the public on July 1. There will be an official ribbon cutting to reopen the space at 9:45 a.m. As a result of…
Frisch’s Burgers Are Fueling the Brand’s New Esports Team in Cincinnati
Cincinnati is competing with the best in the world — perhaps just not in the way you'd expect. Beloved local burger chain Frisch's Big Boy is putting its best team forward in eSports, which is massively competitive — and often professional — gaming that's watched by nearly 600 million viewers on platforms like Twitch, Discord, YouTube,…
Get Cheerwine Soda Soft Serve for a Limited Time at Libby’s Southern Comfort
Are you a fan of Southern soda Cheerwine? Now you can eat it and not just drink it at one local restaurant. Libby's Southern Comfort in Covington is serving Cheerwine-flavored soft serve for a limited time. "We've done this twice. It's a fan favorite," says Libby's owner/operator Brad Wainscott of the soda-infused dessert. The wild…
Mason’s Popular Sunflower Field by Natorp’s Nursery Will Not Bloom This Year
A local late-summer landmark will look a little different this year. Over recent years, Natorp's Nursery, located in the Greater Cincinnati suburb of Mason, has planted fields of sunflowers in the lot across from Cottell Park in the late summer/early fall. The land was a generous lease from a local farmer who has decided this…
‘Zola’ Gives Life to A’Ziah King’s Viral Twitter Epic in a Lushly Haptic Road Trip Saga
"You wanna hear a story about how me and this bitch fell out? It's kinda long but it's full of suspense." That was the tweet that introduced A'Ziah King, aka @Zola, to the world. And in a 140-character world in which threads had yet to become an art form, it was full of suspense (especially if you…
Ohio Domestic Violence Network Focuses on Housing Options for Survivors
New programs available to domestic violence-prevention groups in Ohio aim to help survivors transition into safe, stable housing. This year, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) launched the Fresh Start Housing Project. It provides 29 organizations in the state with funds for staff to work on linking survivors to housing assistance. The network also has a Transitional…
Budget Includes $250M for Ohio Broadband Internet Expansion: The ‘Great Social Equalizer of Our Time’
Few items in the new state budget will have as direct an impact on Ohioans’ lives as the money to be spent on improving access to broadband internet, what one lawmaker has long championed as the “great social equalizer of our time.” Lawmakers agreed to spend $250 million on broadband internet expansion projects to aid…
Cincinnati Debuts First Named Woman Statue: Pioneering Civil Rights Activist Marian A. Spencer
On what would have been her 101st birthday, Marian A. Spencer became immortalized in Cincinnati’s history when a new landmark statue honoring her life and work was unveiled in Smale Riverfront Park on Sunday. The statue was originally proposed in 2019 by Alice Schneider, chair of the Marian A. Spencer Statue Committee, shortly before Spencer…
Cincinnati Zoo to Host Quiet Day for Visitors with Sensory Sensitivities
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is hosting a day dedicated to welcoming guests with sensory sensitivities on June 30. The quiet day will eliminate or soften excess noises like PA announcements. However, train crossing signals and vehicle reverse noises will still operate normally for safety, and the zoo animals will continue to do what comes naturally. …
Cincinnati Public Schools COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Still in Limbo
Employees within Cincinnati Public Schools won't be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine just yet. During the June 28 CPS Board of Education meeting, members postponed a vote about mandating vaccination to protect employees and students against the coronavirus. A proposed resolution would have required all employees and partners within CPS buildings to get at…
Ales for Trails Passport-Led Brewery Hop Raises Funds for Cincinnati’s CROWN Urban Bike Trail Loop
Get ready to 'cheers' for a cause this July during Ales for Trails. This new beer-focused initiative invites the public to grab a Trial Hop Card passport and drink their way across local breweries to raise funds for the planned 34-mile CROWN urban trail loop. CROWN — an acronym for Cincinnati Riding Or Walking Network — aims…
Airbnb Party Ban Continues in Cincinnati Ahead of July 4th Holiday
If you’re a college student planning to host a party for Independence Day in Cincinnati, your options may have just become more limited. Airbnb announced on June 28 that their initiative to crack down on unauthorized partying in the vacation rental properties has progressed since being put in place one year ago. The initiative restricts…
Florence Antique Mall to Close After More Than Two Decades
A beloved Northern Kentucky establishment will close its doors after more than two decades in business this summer. Florence Antique Mall, which opened in the summer of 1998, announced on Facebook that they will permanently close on July 31, after owners of the property have decided to sell the building and land to redevelopers. "We are…
Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac Announces He’ll Retire in Early 2022
The clock is ticking for Cincinnati's top cop. On Monday's edition of The Lincoln Ware Show on WDBZ-AM, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac announced that he plans to retire in 2022. It is expected that he will leave the Cincinnati Police Department early in the year. "Right now, due to my tenure and how our…
Much-Anticipated Bar Somerset Will Offer an Exotic Oasis Tucked Away in Over-the-Rhine
Something extraordinary is growing roots in Over-the-Rhine, but if you're not looking for it, you just might miss it. Tucked away at 139 E. McMicken Ave., a sprawling new drinking and dining destination will soon open its doors, offering an immersive escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. See a sneak peek inside…
Cincinnati Named One of the Top 5 Best Barbecue Cities in the Nation
We may not have our own particular "Cincinnati" style when it comes to barbecuing meats, but Porkopolis knows its way around the smoker. That's what lawn care website LawnStarter has proclaimed, at least. A recent survey by the company — a group which may or may not be qualified to be jumping into the food…
Ohio May Not Be Quite as Patriotic as You Think, Study Says
Do you think that loyalty to our country just feels kind of ‘meh’ when looking around the Buckeye State? Well, that’s because it is. A new study from WalletHub suggests that Ohio falls right in the middle of the pack in terms of the “most patriotic states,” ranking No. 24 with an overall score of…
Here’s Where to Find Fourth of July Fireworks and Celebrations in Greater Cincinnati
While many of Greater Cincinnati's Fourth of July festivities and fireworks shows were canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Independence Day events have returned for 2021 in neighborhoods across the city. So if you're looking to celebrate #America with a parade or pyrotechnics, here's where go: Friday, July 2 Taps, Tastes and Tunes…
Cincy Summer Beerfest Returns to Smale Riverfront Park This July
Beerfest is back in the Queen City, bringing plenty of brews, bites and live music to Cincinnati's Smale Riverfront Park this July. The fest will feature more than 150 local and craft brews to try, as well samples from new craft wineries and distilleries. The annual event will take place on July 17, with two different…
Marijuana Use Among Teens with Mood Disorders Increases Risk of Self-Harm, Says Ohio State University College of Medicine
Substance misuse prevention experts in Ohio are raising the alarm about the dangers associated with marijuana use among teens with mood disorder. According to research from the Ohio State University College of Medicine, adolescents and young adults with mood disorder who use marijuana are at a significantly higher risk of self-harm, suicide and overall mortality. Bobby…
Ohio House Approves Transgender Sports Ban for Women’s Athletics
Ohio lawmakers approved a bill Thursday to allow college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness, with Republicans adding an unrelated provision to ban transgender girls from competing in women’s high school and college sports. The last-minute addition of a provision dealing with the transgender sports ban set off a chaotic debate on the Ohio…
Controversial Opinion? ‘F9’ Sucks.
If you were wondering whether The Fast and the Furious franchise could stand on its own for a second film without founding member Paul Walker (who died in 2013) or its first installment since 2011 without Dwayne Johnson, then prepare to get your answer with F9: The Fast Saga. Spoiler alert: F9 sucks. Like whoa, really sucks. …
Ohio House Passes Bill Creating New Criminal Charges for Protesters
Ohio House Republicans passed legislation Friday that would expand the definition of “obstruction of justice” broadly enough to capture protest activity, according to social justice activists and civil rights advocates who testified against the bill. The legislation would qualify failing to follow a “lawful order from a law enforcement officer” as the obstruction of justice.…
Ohio Athlete Running 341 Miles from Cincinnati to Cleveland Over 11 Days to Raise Funds for Clean Water Projects
An Ohio endurance athlete is running from Cincinnati to Cleveland — 341 miles — over the course of 11 days to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit H2O for Life. She also hopes to set a world record for the most consecutive ultramarathons run in a row by a female. Katie Spotz, a self-described "clean…
Cincinnati Animal CARE Northside Shelter at ‘Code Red’ Capacity, Offering Name-Your-Price Dog and Kitten Adoptions
Hamilton County humane society Cincinnati Animal CARE is at Code Red. The animal welfare organization, which took over Hamilton County operations from the SPCA in July 2020, is over capacity. And they're offering a special incentive to help get adult dogs and kittens into their forever homes. Starting June 25 and going until further notice,…
Cincinnati City Council Unanimously Passes $1.5 Billion Budget for 2022-2023
After an era of citywide business closures, strained family finances and heartbreaking loss due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cincinnati City Council managed to pass a new budget that avoids layoffs and puts money toward resources that residents have been asking for. Cincinnati City Council approved the $1.5 billion 2022-2023 budget Wednesday night, which includes boosts…
Montgomery Brings Back Traditional July Holiday Fun As Coronavirus Pandemic Recedes in Greater Cincinnati
The city of Montgomery has been starved of the traditional group gatherings for more than a year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but now that the virus' danger is dropping, the Cincinnati suburb finally is ready to get back to what it does best: provide fun for the entire family. “We’re really excited about it.…
Cincinnati Rents Are the Worst, and 9 Other Greater Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
This week has been absolutely rife with Cincinnati news about amazing restaurants and bars, ambitious musicians and athletes, politicians run amuck, and the return of festive traditions. Here's what caught CityBeat's eye: Cincinnati's Rent Increases Are Among the Highest in the Nation for 2021 You're not imagining it. Local rents have been rising since the…
Trader Joe’s Is Opening a Crestview Hills Location This July
The long-rumored Trader Joe's location in Northern Kentucky finally has a confirmed opening date. Now there will be more than one place to grab Everything But the Bagel seasoning, olive oil popcorn and whatever the current creative seasonal cookie offering is (if you haven't tried the Trader Joe's strawberry shortcake sandwich cookie, get some immediately). The…
Barstool Pizza Reviews Graeter’s Ice Cream: ‘This Ice Cream F**ks’
Barstool Sports founder David “El Presidente” Portnoy is well-known for his video series where he visits and reviews pizzerias using his infamous "one bite" rating system to decipher the quality of various slices from across the world (but mostly in the U.S.). And he recently stopped by a pizza joint in Indianapolis, Byrne's Grilled Pizza, for his patented single…
Cincinnati Residents Cleaned Up During Ohio’s Vax-a-Million Drawings
Another Vax-a-Million drawing, another Greater Cincinnati winner. Esperanza Diaz of Butler County won the final $1 million prize Wednesday in Ohio's lottery that incentivizes COVID-19 vaccination. Diaz had initially missed Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's call about her triumph and eventually talked to DeWine's aide Ann O'Donnell, WLWT-TV reports. "I'm excited! I couldn't sleep last night!"…
Ohio Supreme Court: Schools Can’t Arm Teachers Without Proper Training
School districts do not have the discretion to authorize the arming of teachers, according to a Wednesday ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court. The state’s highest court came out with the decision on Wednesday, going against legislative efforts and pro-gun lobbying groups who believed local control should be a part of firearms policies in Ohio…
Meet the Dog Mayor of Rabbit Hash During Fort Thomas’ Paws in the Park Adoption Event and Pooch Parade
Ever wanted to meet the Tri-State's most famous furry public servant? Wilbur, the current mayor of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky — who also happens to be a French bulldog — will be at Fort Thomas' Tower Park on Sunday for Paws in the Park. The event, hosted with Campbell County FURever Friends, will feature vendors, adoptable…
Seltzer Smash Hard Seltzer Festival Takes Over March First, FigLeaf and Woodburn Brewing This Weekend
A citywide hard seltzer festival is taking over Cincinnati this Saturday. Sycamore Township's March First Brewing and Distilling and its sister breweries— FigLeaf in Middletown and Woodburn Brewing in East Walnut Hills — are throwing Seltzer Smash. The fest will of course highlight March First's brand of seltzers, Astra Hard Seltzer, but other Greater Cincinnati and Ohio-based breweries are getting…
14 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (June 25-27)
Looking for something to do this weekend? Find everything from giant dinosaurs and a dog parade to a seltzer fest and superhero scavenger hunt. June 25-27: Rockin Taco Festival A whole weekend devoted to one of the most beloved (and versatile) tortilla-based creations is taking place this weekend (June 25-27) on the recently revitalized Covington Plaza.…
Touring Roundup: Emmylou Harris, The Roots, Brad Paisley and More Will Perform in Cincinnati This Year
Summer's getting hotter — just like the music and comedy stars that have upcoming performances in Cincinnati. But with one recently announced tour, it's already beginning to look a little like Christmas. Below, check out some of the recent touring announcements: Kem, July 22, Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center R&B singer Kem will perform…
Cincinnati Pride Market in Washington Park to Feature Local LGBTQ- and Ally-Owned Vendors This Weekend
Cincinnati Pride’s big festival and parade may be canceled this year, but organizers are still finding ways to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. The organization is planning a variety of smaller or outdoor events for June to celebrate Pride Month, including a Pride Market at the Park on Sunday, June 27. A collaboration with the Greater Cincinnati…
Emmylou Harris and Los Lobos Bring Co-Headlining Tour to Cincinnati’s PNC Pavilion
Two iconic acts are co-headlining a show at PNC Pavilion this summer. 14-time Grammy Award-wining singer/songwriter Emmylou Harris and Grammy-winning Arocho/Norteño/Tejano/Folk/Country/Rock group Los Lobos will in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Aug. 4. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Friday, June 25 via ticketmaster.com and pncpavilion.com. Social activist and premiere songwriter Harris has been in the music…
Balloon Glow Brings Dozens of Tethered and Illuminated Hot Air Balloons to Coney Island
Looking for an illuminating alternative to a traditional Fourth of July parade and party? Balloon Glow is back at Coney Island on July 3, featuring dozens of dazzling and tethered hot air balloons lighting up the landscape from 8-10 p.m. In addition to glowing aircraft, there will be live music, carnival rides and games —…
Adaptive Rock Climber Becomes First Cincinnatian to Compete in Paraclimbing National Championships
On any given day at Climb Time Oakley, Caroline Winstel can be found surveying the gym’s 40-plus-foot walls, studying color-coded routes, or checking tags at the base of each climb while noting its difficulty level. Like many rock climbers, she might plan out a few moves before she even touches the wall; head up, neck…
Cincinnati’s Rose Lavelle Will Compete in Tokyo Olympics with U.S. Women’s Soccer Team
Rose Lavelle can't stop, won't stop. Cincinnati's decorated soccer stalwart is heading to this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Vlatko Andonovski, head coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team, announced the Olympics roster Tuesday morning, with midfielder Lavelle named to the team. Breakout stars Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Carli Lloyd are among those who…
Cincinnati Bar Makes Yelp’s ‘Top 100 LGBTQ+ Bars Across the U.S.’ List
For Pride Month, everyone's favorite aggregate rating site Yelp has put together a list of the "Top 100 LGBTQ+ Bars Across the U.S." — and one Cincinnati bar has made the cut. "While Pride still might look a little different this year, bars and clubs across the United States are finding ways to safely welcome patrons…
Cincinnati Councilman Wendell Young Will Go to Trial on December 6 for Tampering with Records
Cincinnati City Council member Wendell Young will face a jury later this year. The councilman's trial is set for Dec. 6, Hamilton County Commons Pleas Court Judge Robert Ruehlman declared during a hearing Tuesday. Young faces charges of tampering with evidence records during a 2018 texting scandal. In April, Young pleaded not guilty when he…
Watch: Cincinnati Musicians’ NPR Tiny Desk Contest Submissions
Submission are closed for 2021's National Public Radio (NPR) Tiny Desk Contest. The annual contest (now in its seventh year) is an offshoot of NPR's popular Tiny Desk Concert series, for which a wide range of artists perform intimate sets in the network's offices — at host of "All Songs Considered" Bob Boilen's actual desk —…
Rockin Taco Festival Comes to Covington Plaza This Weekend
Taco lovers, rejoice! A whole weekend devoted to one of the most beloved (and versatile) tortilla-based creations is taking place this weekend (June 25-27) on the recently revitalized Covington Plaza. Dubbed the Rockin Taco Festival, the free, three-day event is sponsored by FedEx Ground and will feature menus from five local restaurants, live entertainment all…
25 New and Coming Soon Cincinnati Restaurants to Try This Summer
Hungry? Good. Cincinnati has some buns in the oven. The pandemic appears to be in the rear-view mirror and the Queen City's dining scene is ready to pop off. Many restaurants have opened over the past spring and summer, and there are plenty more slated to open in the coming months. From a German brezelgarden…
Ohio’s New Pandemic Law Takes Effect Today, but Experts Say It Undermines Public Health
As of Wednesday, there are 132 new sheriffs in town. When the new coronavirus emerged in Ohio, state law conferred “ultimate authority in matters of quarantine and isolation” to the Ohio Department of Health. It was the ODH director, and the governor who appointed her, who called the shots. The paradigm shifted Wednesday via the enactment Senate Bill…
Expelled Ohio Rep Larry Householder’s Influence Continues in Bill That Reforms Energy Rates and Preserves Coal Subsidies
A new plan is on the table to phase out rate programs that have let Ohio’s electric utilities collect billions in subsidies over the past dozen years. But the bill aims to continue coal plant subsidies and cuts authority for utility energy efficiency programs. Critics also worry that vague wording will continue cross-subsidies in another…
Cincinnati Museum Center Hosting Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Aimed at Kids 12-17
The Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine pop-up on Saturday, June 26, specifically aimed at those ages 12-17. The clinic — a partnership with TriHealth — will be providing free Pfizer vaccines from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Pfizer vaccine employs a two-dose system. After receiving the first dose this week,…
Rapper NF Brings His ‘Clouds’ Tour to Riverbend Music Center in September
Michigan-born Rapper NF — whose sound has prompted many comparisons to Eminem, another Michigan-born Rapper (and at least a couple diss tracks) — will be bringing his Clouds Tour to Cincinnati in September. NF (government name Nathan John Feuerstein) will be playing Riverbend Music Center on Saturday, Sept. 25 with opener Michl. Tickets go on sale…
CityBeat Parent Company Euclid Media Group Buys Louisville Alt-Weekly LEO
CityBeat's parent company, the Cleveland-based Euclid Media Group, has announced the purchase of Louisville alt-weekly LEO Weekly. The award-winning publication has been around since 1990, covering everything from politics and news to arts, culture and eats, and was formerly owned by Aaron Yarmuth and founded by John Yarmuth. "Like many newsweeklies across the nation, LEO was greatly…
Watch Cincinnati Woman Compete on ‘Jeopardy’ Wednesday, June 23
A Cincinnati resident will show off what she knows about "Potent Potables" and "Historic Names" when she competes on Jeopardy this week. Cincinnati's Danielle Linn is scheduled to compete on the long-running trivia game show Wednesday, June 23. In the Queen City, Jeopardy airs at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on WXIX-TV Channel 19. Jeopardy's…
Cincinnati Is Getting a Hard Rock Cafe This July
Get ready to add to your T-shirt collection. The iconic Rock-memorabilia-infused tourist favorite Hard Rock Cafe is opening in Cincinnati's freshly rebranded Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati (formerly JACK Casino). And, yes, that means you can get your official Hard Rock Cafe Cincinnati shirt. “Hard Rock merchandise has made its mark on the world since the…
Covington’s McK’s Chicks Reopens as McK’s BBQ, with Smoked Meat and Bourbon Slushies
The Covington restaurant formerly known as McK's Chicks has a new look, a new name and a new focus. The restaurant, open since 2017, is now McK's BBQ. Owner Gregg McKinstry, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas, is known for his barbecue talents, taking home the 2019 Taste of Cincinnati award for best entree…
Report Suggests Ohio Child Well-Being Gains Could Decline
An annual report on child well-being in Ohio underscores the need for specific action to repair the damage caused by the pandemic. The Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book found 18% of Ohio kids lived in poverty in 2019, compared with 23% in 2010. Alison Paxson, communications and policy associate for the Children's Defense Fund-Ohio,…
College Athletes Score Big Win in U.S. Supreme Court Decision on NCAA Dispute
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Monday that the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) cannot limit educational compensation to student athletes due to their amateur status. The 9-0 decision in NCAA v. Alston was delivered by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, who said the college athletics body is not exempt from antitrust law. “Put simply, this suit…
Loathed Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan Gets His Ass Handed to Him over Terrible Gas Price Tweet
We're not fans of Jim Jordan. You may have noticed. And when someone expertly puts the smackdown on the Republican Congressman from Ohio, we'll happily watch with a bucketful of popcorn. The latest episode happened Monday, when Jordan attempted to pin high gas prices on U.S. President Joe Biden. He had apparently forgotten that the…
Watch Comedian, Ohio Resident Dave Chappelle Sing Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ with Foo Fighters in NYC
Sometimes we don't even know what we desperately need until we get it. Such was the case this weekend, when Ohio's funniest resident joined one of the world's biggest bands on stage. On Sunday night, Rock band Foo Fighters performed New York City's first full-capacity concert since March 2020. It already was a monumental occasion,…
After Getting Ejected, Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto Still Made a 6-Year-Old Fan’s Day
Building up your anticipation can be almost as fun as whatever you're looking forward to doing. But boy does it stink when rotten timing and bad luck snatch your dream right out of your hands. Luckily, people like Joey Votto know how to deal with such things. During a game this weekend in San Diego,…
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife Issues Warning After ‘Unexplained’ Bird Deaths in Kenton and Boone County
Birds are dying from an unexplained illness in several Kentucky counties. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources is reporting Blue Jays, Common Grackles and European Starlings in Northern Kentucky's Kenton and Boone counties and Louisville's Jefferson County have been getting sick or dying since late May. Symptoms of the unknown illness include "eye swelling and…
The Final Supermoon of 2021, The Strawberry Moon Illuminates the Cincinnati Sky This Week
The fourth and final supermoon of 2021 will rise this week, and it’s going to be a sweet one. The “Strawberry Moon” will appear in the night sky on June 24. (The other three supermoon events took place on March 28, April 27 and May 26.) “Since we can’t see a new Moon (except when…
Singer/Songwriter Jewel and Kroger Bring The Wellness Experience Festival Back to Cincinnati
Singer/songwriter Jewel and local grocery mega-giant Kroger are once again bringing their Wellness Experience to Cincinnati. The Grammy-nominated singer co-founded the event in 2018 as the "Wellness Your Way Festival," a self-described "life-altering weekend experience to kick-start your journey to a healthy lifestyle.” Last year's event went virtual in light of COVID-19 and coincided with World Mental…
Cincinnati’s Rent Increases Are Among the Highest in the Nation for 2021
What, you thought panicked pandemic-era rents would last forever? Many landlords all over the country lowered their rental rates during the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic to cut down on vacancies and lure new annual lessees. But those days are over, it seems — particularly in Cincinnati. A report from Realtor.com shows that Cincinnati…
Proud Hound Coffee to Open Southern-Inspired Cafe in Their Silverton Roastery and Warehouse
After several years of growing their brand through pop-ups, wholesale operations, events and collabs, Silverton-based coffee roasting brand Proud Hound Coffee is ready to welcome the community to their new cafe and kitchen. Launched in 2019 by pup-loving coffee aficionados Daniel Smith and David Holman, Proud Hound focuses on serving ethically sourced beans. Their 4,000-square-foot warehouse…
Nashville Restaurateur’s Pearlstar Oyster Bar Coming to Over-the-Rhine
The former A Tavola storefront in Over-the-Rhine is getting a new occupant. Nashville restaurateur Terry Raley is opening Pearlstar oyster bar in the coveted location this summer. Pearlstar will offer both East and West Coast oysters and other raw delicacies including crudo, ceviche and tartare. The kitchen — overseen by former Senate executive chef Leroy Ansley…
More Than 70 Free Concerts Take Over Cincinnati for Make Music Day on June 21
Not only is June 21 the summer solstice and the longest day of the year, but it's also Make Music Day, a global celebration that launched in France as Fête De La Musique in the 1982. Locally, musicians Hayley and Brandon Voorhees oversee Make Music Cincinnati, which they launched in 2017. This series of free,…
It’s a Miracle! Cincinnati Gas Prices Finally Drop After Weeks of Increases
No, you're not seeing things. After weeks of gas price increases, Greater Cincinnati is finally seeing a little relief at the pump. According to GasBuddy figures posted to the Hamilton County website, the price for one gallon of regular unleaded gasoline at many fuel stations has fallen to around $2.80 — a big drop from…
Here’s What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots
Roughly six months ago, on Dec. 11, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the first COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the United States. What followed was a push to get that shot, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, to those at high risk (SN: 12/1/20). Moderna’s jab wasn’t far behind, securing emergency use authorization just a week after…
Downtown’s CRZY MONK Asian Eatery on Court Street Closes
Downtown eatery CRZY MONK, from the team behind Lalo and the now-closed Hop Ping Hog, has announced it will not reopen in its current space. The restaurant, known for healthy Asian fare, was originally located on Main Street but was forced to find a new home when their landlord asked them to leave at the…
Law, Religion Come Together in Support of Ohio’s Proposed Death Penalty Ban
Supporters of a measure to eliminate the death penalty in Ohio include religious and legal leaders, who say the concept is both a waste of the state’s money and time, and unethical. “The death penalty is the most inefficient government program in existence in Ohio today,” said Timothy Young, Ohio’s state public defender. “I don’t…
Aglamesis Bro’s Hosting Poster Contest for National Ice Cream Day
National Ice Cream Day is July 18 and if you scream for ice cream, get ready to use your design skills to proclaim your love on paper. 114-year-old Cincinnati ice cream parlor and candy shop Aglamesis Bro's is hosting a poster contest to commemorate the holiday. The shop is asking artists to submit poster designs…
Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval
Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Also known as Black Emancipation Day, Liberation Day and Jubilee Day, it's celebrated on June 19, which marks the anniversary of an historical celebration of emancipation which started in…
Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine and Meet Former Bengal Ickey Woods at Cincinnati Public Schools Block Party
Mobile coronavirus vaccinations throughout Cincinnati continue, and Cincinnati Public Schools will host the latest chance to get the shot. The Cincinnati Health Department will offer free COVID-19 vaccinations during a CPS block party noon-2 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at Woodward Career Technical High School, 7005 Reading Road. Both adults and children are eligible for the…
Cincinnati Music Festival Still Postponed, but New Music, Art Events Scheduled for Traditional July Weekend This Year
The full Cincinnati Music Festival may be postponed until 2022, but events taking its place this year will ensure that music and art still will be celebrated. Organizers have announced three music and art events for July 22-24 that could take the sting out of postponing the music fest for another year. The events will…
Cincinnati Reds Legend Johnny Bench Loans Gold Glove, Other Prized Artifacts to Louisville Slugger Museum
Now there's even more incentive to visit one of the nation's greatest museums for baseball, thanks to items from a certain Cincinnati Reds legend. National Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench has loaned three major pieces of history to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, a press release says. Bench is a career Cincinnati Reds…
Kroger Finally Stops Selling Coconut Milk Obtained Via Monkey Labor After Repeated PETA Requests
Cincinnati-based grocery giant Kroger has finally stopped selling a brand of coconut milk that uses captive monkey labor in its production. After an extended campaign by animal rights organization PETA, Kroger has joined 30,000 stores —including Albertsons, Safeway, Wegmans, Costco, Target, Food Lion and Stop & Shop — in suspending the sale of Chaokoh coconut milk. The…
Led by West Chester Politician, Ohio Senate Budget Sneakily Blocks Cities like Cincinnati from Taxing Plastic Bags
The Ohio Senate slid into its state budget proposal a provision to make permanent a temporary ban that blocks cities from taxing the use of plastic grocery bags. Ohio Republicans since at least 2018 have tried to short-circuit cities from restricting the use of disposable, plastic grocery bags. Last year, Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law House Bill…
19-Year-Old Cat at Cincinnati Animal CARE Becomes Internet Famous After Best Birthday Party
One senior feline got a super special birthday party this week at Northside's Cincinnati Animal CARE. And the nation took notice. "Senior Sammy" turned 19 years old on Tuesday, and Cincinnati Animal CARE celebrated him in style with special food, singing and, of course, a jaunty hat. https://www.facebook.com/CincyAnimalCARE/posts/381489146970906 The internet went wild for this sweet…
New Covington Plaza Amphitheater and Trail Hosts Grand Opening Along the Riverfront
A new public space will soon be officially open along Covington's riverfront. The city is hosting the grand opening of Covington Plaza — nicknamed Covington's "crown jewel" — 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 18. The new feature includes two hiking and biking trails connected to the Riverfront Commons trail, two overlooks, canoe and kayak access and a 1,350-seat…
Cincinnati Art Museum Hosts ‘A Happening’ Outdoor Party and Fundraiser on the Art Climb
The Cincinnati Art Museum is hosting "A Happening" at the Art Climb on June 18. Modeled after so-called "happenings" staged by the likes of Andy Warhol and Yoko Ono — which the CAM describes as "live, experiential art events designed to dismantle conventions and facilitate an atmosphere of creativity, self-expression and fun" — this fundraiser will include live…
Grilled Cheese Chain Tom & Chee to Open Sixth Cincinnati Location in Oakley
Get ready to melt: Cincinnati fast-casual grilled cheese chain Tom & Chee is opening its sixth area location this fall. While there aren't opening date details besides the season, the newest storefront will be located in Oakley Station and span 1,400 square feet. The 22-seater destination will be the "latest example of Tom & Chee’s new…
Renovations Begin on Downtown Branch of the Cincinnati Public Library
You might want to pardon employees of the downtown branch of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library if they don’t follow their silence guidelines over the next 18 months. According to a letter addressed to library patrons from Library Director Paula Brehm-Heeger, the first stage of the Cincinnati Public Library’s plan to improve and…
An Attempted Arson Suspect Is Caught, and 8 Other Important Greater Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
Summer is officially swinging, and there’s so much to do! If you’ve been too busy to keep up with the news this week, you may have missed how to score a spot at Cincinnati public pools, where to try a new secret ice cream flavor, how to celebrate Juneteenth and more. Check out our roundup…
21c Museum Hotel Hosts Family-Friendly Pride Block Party and Grill Out in Gano Alley Downtown
Downtown's 21c Museum Hotel is inviting everyone to "party with the yellow penguins" during its Pride Block Party in Gano Alley. From 4-8 p.m. June 26, this event — "inspired by St. James Joy socially distanced disco block parties in Brooklyn this last year," per a release — features family-friendly activities including face painting, sidewalk chalk drawing…
Contemporary Arts Center Director Raphaela Platow Stepping Down in July
Another major Cincinnati arts institution has announced the departure of its director: Raphaela Platow, the Contemporary Arts Center's Alice & Harris Weston Director, will be stepping down from her role effective July 9 to take a new position as the director of the Speed Art Museum in Louisville. (Earlier this year, the Cincinnati Ballet announced Artistic…
Clermont County Launches New ‘Bikes, Brews and BBQ Trail’
Calling all peddling Porkopolis-ers: If you're a fan of barbecue, beer and bikes, there's a new trail for you opening in Clermont County on Friday. The Cincy East Bikes, Brews and BBQ Trail officially launches on June 18 and offers the titular combination of food, booze and cycling (the exercise basically cancels out the carbs,…
Coheed and Cambria and The Used Bring Joint Headlining Tour to the ICON Festival Stage This Summer
Grab your Hollister denim skirt, dust off your Von Dutch trucker hat (they're making a comeback) and get ready to relive some early-2000s Warped Tour memories this summer as Screamo/Emo Rockers Coheed and Cambria and The Used stop by Cincinnati on an 18-city co-headlining tour. They'll be playing the ICON Festival Stage at Smale Riverfront Park…
The Purple People Bridge Connecting Cincinnati and Newport Remains Closed After Part of Structure Crumbled into the Ohio River
There's still no timeline to reopen the Purple People Bridge after portions of it fell into the Ohio River in May. The Newport Southbank Bridge Company, the nonprofit that operates the structure, said earlier this week that engineering firm WSP USA Inc. recommended that the entire bridge deck be fully surveyed before reopening should be considered. WSP…
Postmark Restaurant in Clifton Gaslight Has Permanently Closed
Clifton Gaslight's sophisticated fine dining eatery Postmark has announced its closure. The restaurant, helmed by chef Brad Bernstein of Red Feather Kitchen, opened in 2017, closed briefly in 2019 and reopened after a few months with a focus on private events and dinner series. After the pandemic hit in March of 2020, the restaurant temporarily closed and…
Cincinnati City Council Unanimously Votes to Rename Seventh Street ‘Cincinnati Pride Way’
Cincinnati Pride — and pride in Cincinnati — now will run a little deeper. On Wednesday, Cincinnati City Council member Chris Seelbach announced that the council had voted to rename a portion of Seventh Street downtown as Cincinnati Pride Way. The vote was unanimous, Seelbach said on Twitter. Cincinnati Pride Way will run along Seventh Street from…
Nearly a Year after a Racketeering Indictment, Ohio House Finally Expels Larry Householder
The Ohio House voted Wednesday to expel Larry Householder, arrested on charges of public corruption nearly one year ago, from the chamber his Republican — and even some Democratic — colleagues thrice elected him to control. The expulsion could mark the end of Householder’s decades-long political career, which has included a previous tenure as speaker…
Popular Podcast ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ Brings Live Show to the Taft Theatre Stage
A smooth voice akin to the whir of distant highway traffic rumbles: “Hello, listeners.” It’s the voice of Cecil Baldwin, the host of popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale, which centers on a quirky desert town located in the Southwestern United States. It’s a place where dark-hooded figures lurk, a faceless old woman is always just…
These 13 Cincinnati Public Pools Are Open This Summer — But You Still Need to Make a Reservation
Ready to beat the summer heat and escape to the cooling waters of a Cincinnati pool? The Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) has opened a slew of public pools this summer, offering fun, sun and even free swimming lessons. But you still need to make a reservation as a coronavirus safety measure. As of June 7, the…
Hamilton County to Host Its First Official Juneteenth Flag Raising Outside of County Courthouse June 17
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that enslaved African-Americans were now free and that the Civil War had finally ended — two and a half years after U.S. President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Festivities ensued. And now more than 150 years later, June 19 or…
Touring Roundup: See Brooks & Dunn, Trippie Redd, Chelsea Handler in Greater Cincinnati Soon
Ohio did away with nearly all of its coronavirus pandemic restrictions earlier this month and Kentucky soon will do the same, so concert announcements have been pouring in. Cincinnati already has established a strong Rock lineup for the summer of 2021, and Rap, Country and Comedy acts are beginning to fill in the gaps. Look…
Don’t Release the Hounds: Cincinnati and Ohio Both Top Lists for Mail Carrier Injuries from Dogs
Call off the dogs! A new report from the U.S. Postal Service says that more than 5,800 mail carriers were attacked by dogs in 2020. That's already pretty bad. But it also looks like canines in Ohio — and specifically in Cincinnati — could be blamed for a big chunk of those attacks. Ohio is…
Kentucky Prisons to Reopen for Family Visits June 20 After Closing Due to Coronavirus
Kentucky families soon will be able to visit loved ones in some prison facilities. Gov. Andy Beshear said prison visitations and regular programs and activities may resume the week of June 20. The new policy applies only to prisons run by the departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice. Marcus Jackson, organizing coordinator for Smart Justice Advocates…
Ohio’s Significant Broadband Expansion May Not Happen After All
Funding that would help bridge the digital divide in Ohio is in jeopardy. House Bill 2, signed into law in May, created the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program with an initial $20 million investment. A co-sponsor, State Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said the House then approved $190 million for the program in its version…
Ohio to Use Rescue Plan Education Dollars for Crisis Preparation, Combatting Student Drop-Off
The Ohio Department of Education has submitted its plans for federal education funding, which shows a drop in enrollment throughout the state and stakeholder demands for better preparations for “future learning disruptions.” The U.S. Office of Elementary & Secondary Education awarded states funding as part of the American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency…
New Gulow Street Bar and Kitchen to Open in Northside This June
Northside will soon welcome a new addition to the neighborhood. Gulow Street, a cozy yet sophisticated bar and restaurant located at the corner of Hoffner Street and Gulow — the establishment's namesake — is a family operation, owned by brothers/cousins Jonathan, Danny and Alex Mouch. The trio built the business with hopes of providing an…
Indicted Householder Creates a Circus, Spars with Ohio House Republicans Who Want Him Out
In a show of defiance, indicted Rep. Larry Householder proclaimed his innocence to House leadership Tuesday and rebuffed bipartisan efforts seeking his ouster. Householder, with his criminal defense attorney periodically whispering in his ear, made a two-pronged argument for himself. For one, he said the allegations against him are just that — “unproven” and “one-sided”…
Health Experts Speak Out Against Ohio Bill Prohibiting Vaccine Mandates
Pediatricians and other infectious disease experts issued clear warnings about a proposed bill to weaken Ohio’s vaccination laws: Doing so would put children’s lives at risk and potentially expose the state to a resurgence of deadly viruses. A half-dozen medical experts implored lawmakers to reconsider approving a new law that would prohibit vaccine mandates for…
Cincinnati Police Have a Suspect in Custody After Sunday’s Fire Attempt at Woods Hardware
Cincinnati Police may have caught the man who allegedly tried to start a fire at a downtown business over the weekend. Woods Hardware CEO Matt Woods posted early Tuesday morning on social media that a suspect is now in custody for attempting to set fire to the store's downtown location. He credited the Cincinnati Police…
KISS Will Be in Dayton This September, and We Can’t Wait to Rock & Roll All Nite
As CityBeat has been reporting, tons of fantastic national music and comedy acts are scheduling stops in Greater Cincinnati, thanks to the scientific magic of COVID-19 vaccines. We've got all the performance art we could ever want here. Well, almost. As card-carrying members of the KISS Army, we're not ashamed to say that we're willing…
Cincinnati Gas Prices Are Still Above $3/Gal, Continuing to Steadily Rise
You're not imagining things. It's definitely more expensive to fill your gas tank this summer than it was in the spring — or even last year. The average price for one gallon of unleaded gasoline in Cincinnati is $3.116 as of Tuesday afternoon, according to auto association AAA. That's up from $2.993/gal on June 8…
Hotel Covington to Host Dog-Friendly Bark Brunch and Pool Party on Their Patio
Bringing your pup to brunch may not be a revolutionary idea in Greater Cincinnati, but Coppin's at Hotel Covington is kicking the concept up notch. The Northern Kentucky boutique hotel is throwing a party dedicated to dogs and their humans. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, the hotel restaurant's patio will be transformed into…
Here’s How You Can Celebrate Juneteenth in Cincinnati
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that enslaved African-Americans were now free and that the Civil War had finally ended — two and a half years after U.S. President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Festivities ensued. And now more than 150 years later, June 19 or…
Ohio Taxpayers Footing $1.5 Million Bill for Amazon Expansion Project Near Dayton
The Ohio Senate wants the state to begin “asset testing” for food stamp assistance to ensure government aid only goes to those who truly need it. Meanwhile, Ohio lawmakers agreed Monday to spend $1.5 million in taxpayer funds for an expansion project benefitting one of the most profitable corporations in the world. Lawmakers on the…
Road Trip: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream in Columbus Giving Away Free Scoops on June 21
Now for the age-old questions: Why don't we have a Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream scoop shop in Cincinnati? Well, if you need your Jeni's fix — and you want it for free — prepare for a short road trip up to Columbus (or any other city where Jeni's storefronts are located) to grab a complementary…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: txtshow (on the internet)
Engaging with anything on the internet can feel like shouting into a vacuum and hoping for a response or, at the very least, fleeting validation. Brian Feldman’s hyper-interactive #txtshow (on the internet) places this phenomenon in real time via Zoom. Feldman’s performance was certainly the wackiest virtual gathering I’ve been a part of all year.…
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Nabs More Honors from U.S. News & World Report
A highly ranked Cincinnati institution just earned even more honors. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is among the top medical centers in the nation for kids, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings released Tuesday. The hospital is No. 4 overall due to its many lauded specialties. Children's also is tops in…
Oakley’s Yat Ka Mein Noodle House to Close After 16 Years
An Oakley culinary staple nearly two decades in the making has announced plans to close. Yat Ka Mein, an Asian fusion-style noodle house boasting many popular Chinese dishes, will permanently close its doors at the end of the month. The news was announced via a Facebook post on June 15, explaining that owner Clarence Chan is…
Help Catch This Man Who Tried to Set Downtown Cincinnati’s Woods Hardware on Fire
Bad stuff happens in every neighborhood and in every town. In some regards, it's just part of life, especially in the city. But when that "bad stuff" is actually a fire meant to burn down a longtime Cincinnati establishment, you bet we're going to get angry. A person attempted to start a fire among the…
Dropkick Murphys, Rancid to Visit Cincinnati Together in August
Punk Rock bands Dropkick Murphys and Rancid are bringing their co-headlining “Boston to Berkeley II” tour to Cincinnati this summer. These shows are a sequel to the nationwide tour the bands took together in 2017. The “Boston to Berkeley II” tour — which was originally scheduled to begin in May 2020 but was delayed due…
Drive-Thru Animatronic Dinosaur Adventure Coming to Cincinnati’s Coney Island
Giant animatronic dinosaurs seem like the latest trend in entertainment, with massive roaring reptiles showing up everywhere from local museums to tackling their own tours (presented by a variety of companies like Jurassic Quest and Dino Stroll). Locally, you can drive your way into the Jurassic period with Dinosaur Adventure at Coney Island. The park's grounds…
Legendary Journalist and Humorist Fran Lebowitz Is Coming to the Aronoff Center
Sardonic suit-wearing icon Fran Lebowitz is bringing her iconic blend of social commentary and deadpan wit to the Aronoff Center's Procter & Gamble Hall on April 12, 2022. In an apt description, the press release extolls the journalist, satirist and author's "acerbic views on current events and the media as well as pet peeves including tourists,…
Graeter’s Ice Cream Releases Third Secret Bonus Flavor of the Summer
Graeter's Ice Cream has a secret this summer — six of them. The company is introducing six limited-time Bonus Flavors and each will be kept a total secret until the day it's released. Each Bonus Flavor will be available for a limited time and once it's gone from Graeter's shops and online, it will be…
Like Ohio, Kentucky Lifts COVID Restrictions and Offers Vaccinated the Chance to Win $1 Million
Following in the footsteps of neighboring Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has lifted most COVID-19 restrictions for the state, including mask mandates and capacity limits for bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. As of Friday, the only people who need to continue to mask up in the Commonwealth (per an Executive Order and recommendations…
Ale-8-One Brings Orange Cream Soda Flavor Back to Cincinnati for a Limited Time
Cult favorite Kentucky soda brand Ale-8-One is offering fans a literal taste of summer with the limited-time release of their Orange Cream flavor. Available while supplies last, a press release calls this seasonal soda "a dreamsicle-inspired flavor that evokes a sweet sense of nostalgia, just in time to kick off the Brand’s 95-year anniversary." The…
Comedian Chelsea Handler Is Vaccinated, Horny and Coming to the Taft Theatre in September
America's favorite frequently-topless comedian and queen of cannabis Chelsea Handler is bringing her patented blend of humor, candor and sex talk to Cincinnati this fall. Handler's "Vaccinated and Horny Tour" will make a stop at the Taft Theatre on Sept. 30. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June at 18 via ticketmaster.com and tafttheatre.org. …
Singer/Songwriter/Pop Pianist Andrew McMahon to Play ICON Music Center in October
Singer/songwriter/pianist Andrew McMahon — formerly of Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin — is bringing his "Three Pianos Tour" to Cincinnati this fall. The tour takes its name from McMahon's memoir, Three Pianos. McMahon and guest Zac Clark will be playing the ICON Music Center on Oct. 22. Tickets go on sale to the public 10 a.m. June 18 at…
Is Ohio One of the Most Fun States in the Nation? Maybe, a 2021 Report Says
Would you call Ohio "fun?" Sure, the Buckeye State is beautiful, with a nice mix of urban skylines and rolling, corn-dotted landscapes. But is it fun? A new study from WalletHub points to yes. The finance resource website says that Ohio is among the top 15 "most fun states in America" for 2021, looking at…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEWS CRITIC’S PICK: Sexology: The Musical
Melanie Moseley opens her one-woman show Sexology: The Musical by listing her life’s basic details: She’s a 56-year-old cisgender, bisexual, twice-divorced, solo-polyamorous woman. It’s fitting that she kicks off her performance with what is like a dating profile because an examination of her relationship history follows. More specifically, it’s an exploration of her path from…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Meera’s Kitchen
Meera’s Kitchen, a livestreamed presentation from Beena Raghavendran from Brooklyn, is kind of subversive, with a message that sneaks up on you. The set-up takes us to a similarly livestreamed fundraiser from the home of Meera, a young Indian American woman whose dream is to operate a successful South Indian restaurant in the U.S. (as…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Biodance at Home
Like many of us during the pandemic, Rochester, New York-based contemporary dance company Biodance utilized outdoor spaces for creative expression. This virtual show — Biodance at Home — features a collection of four dances (including two premieres) and marks the company’s Cincinnati debut. Each segment showcases dancers interacting with or mirroring nature in varying ways.…
The Region’s Tastiest Birria Tacos, and 9 Other Greater Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
If you found it hard to read the news this week over the incessant buzzing of the cicadas, don’t feel bad. We’ve rounded up all of the need-to-know stories so you don’t have to! Check out what you missed below: Cincinnati Public Schools to Pay $3 Million in Gabriel Taye Bullying Case Eight-year-old Gabriel Taye…
American Airlines Adds Two Nonstop Service Routes from Greater Cincinnati
As COVID restrictions lift across the country and more and more people are getting vaccinated, the idea of flying somewhere for a vacation is creeping back onto the public's radar. And as interest in air travel reignites, American Airlines has announced two nonstop services out of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) — one is…
More Than Half of Ohio Restaurants Say Finding Workers is ‘Major Concern’
Industries across the county are lamenting worker shortages, and the restaurant industry is no exception. In a recent poll by the Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA), 65% of restaurateurs said staffing is a critical issue for them and another 26% said finding workers is in their top three "most-pressing" concerns. "This problem continues to force restaurants to limit hours,…
Cincinnati Reds’ Rosie Red Ranked One of the Top 10 Most Popular Mascots in Baseball
Although plenty of Cincinnati Reds fans may find the Muppet-like Gapper to be one of the franchise's more endearing (and comically expressive) mascots, another one of our baseball team's four anthropomorphic entities has him outranked. Rosie Red has placed in the top 10 most popular mascots in all of baseball, according to a recent Play…
Touring Roundup: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Pumas, Maroon 5 Heading to Cincinnati in 2021 and Beyond
Summer has just begun, but it's already time to make your fall concert plans, Cincinnati. From the return of old favorites to some newer acts, the Queen City will be getting plenty of entertainment. Here's who's on the way: Harry Connick Jr., Aug. 7, PNC Pavilion Harry Connick Jr.’s second stop of his outdoor “Time…
Sorry, Cincinnati Reds Fans: St. Louis Cardinals Fanatics Don’t Care About Your ‘Rivalry,” NKU Study Finds
All those so-called rivalries in baseball? It turns out that they're not necessarily mutual. A Northern Kentucky University professor and his students have been researching Major League Baseball's biggest rivalries to find out which ones are truly intense and which are… let's just say lopsided. Over the last seven years, Joe Cobbs, Ph.D., a professor…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Safe
Safe opens abruptly, on a dark stage. The set is dark, simple and sparse. You can hear the silence of the room — I’m not sure if it’s intentional or a byproduct of the way sound was set up, but either way, it’s deliciously chilling. There is a solitary person on stage. A nun, Sister…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW CRITIC’S PICK: The Belle and Boone Helm
The Belle and the Boone Helm starts with a prologue. It’s not long, but it’s quiet and solemn. A young woman in frontier-style clothing, staring into the camera, says, “You may have heard of Levi Boone Helm. He ate men.” And that act propelled him into legacy status. That’s how it goes, she continues. History…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Panther Woman
“Black Power” was the mantra in the 1960s at the height of the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of the Black Panther Party. The fight for equality spread across the United States with two distinct, yet popular ideologies with the purpose of empowering Black Americans and denouncing racism, discrimination and bigotry. But what about…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Two Short Films
Race takes center stage again in this hour-long video-on-demand production for the 2021 Cincy Fringe, another attempt at conversation on the racial divide between Blacks and whites in America. While the performance has good intentions, it was hard to connect with. It seemed like an opportunity for racial reconciliation following a tumultuous year where racial…
Catch-a-Fire Pizza in Blue Ash Introduces Weekend Brunch with Day-Drinking Cocktail Menu
Blue Ash's Catch-a-Fire Pizza is expanding its edible arsenal with a new brunch menu. And no, this won't be breakfast pizza. Well, not all of it. Instead, their chef has concocted weekend offerings ranging from sourdough focaccia French toast to Italian baked eggs and skillet pancakes to shrimp and grits. Paying homage to what this wood-fired…
Inhailer Radio Celebrates Four Years of Bringing Indie, Modern Rock Back to Cincinnati
At the lowest point of the Cincinnati music scene just a few years ago, there was no radio arena that showcased independent music artists and local performers. But then Inhailer Radio came along to showcase underground Indie music in Cincinnati and beyond, right when the city needed it most. And now Inhailer Radio is celebrating…
Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance Brings More Than 200 Unique, Vintage and Race Cars to Ault Park
Whether you like cars, love them or are just looking for a reason to get out of the house, this weekend's Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance at Ault Park will have plenty to see. The show takes place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 13. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students and free for kids under 12. Day-of tickets…
Find Weird Trash, Sense of Accomplishment During Ohio River Sweep Clean-Up
June is National Rivers Month and since 1989, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and other interstate environmental agencies have organized a cleanup of the waterway, from its origin in Pittsburgh to its terminus in Cairo, Illinois. This Saturday, June 12, volunteers can get their hands dirty while cleaning up the Ohio River…
Watch Free Movies on the Lawn at Washington Park Every Wednesday All Summer Long
Ditch the car and grab a chair or blanket for Washington Park's free summer cinema series — a "drive-in" or "sit-in" film experience on the civic lawn. Films start at 9 p.m. every Wednesday through Sept. 29 (except during a handful of FC Cincinnati pre-game parties). No tickets are necessary but you can RSVP. The bar…
Shit Happens: Ohio Attorney General Goes After Clermont County Dairy Farm for Massive Manure Leak
There seems to be a literal shit storm brewing on a Clermont County dairy farm. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a temporary restraining order against farm owner Charles Carney for a "massive manure leak" that is polluting Moores Fork stream. “This isn’t a farm right now. It’s a biohazard that needs cleaned up…
Commentary: Investigating Benghazi But Ignoring the Jan. 6 Insurrection
A decade ago, there were more than a half-dozen Congressional committees investigating the attack upon the U.S. Consular Office in Benghazi, Libya. Yet chances are dimming for even a single Congressional investigation of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol itself on Jan. 6, 2021. But Congress should not be barred from investigating an attempt to…
Great Parks of Hamilton County Plans June 10 Hike for Blind and Visually Impaired Residents
Great Parks of Hamilton County is making the outdoors a little more accessible this week. In a collaboration between Great Parks, the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) and Luke5Adventures, mobility experts will guide hikers who are blind or visually impaired on the Kingfisher Trail at Winton Woods on Thursday. Guests will take the 1.1-mile hike near…
Nationwide Bake a Stand: A Bake Sale to End Antisemitism Raises Funds for Cincinnati’s Holocaust & Humanity Center
Bakers across the country have joined together to take a stand — or “Bake a Stand” — against anti-Semitism, with a direct impact on a Cincinnati institution. Organized by Whitney Fisch, a social worker and amateur baker who relocated from Los Angeles to Cincinnati to become the executive director of Hillel at Miami University, this…
Where to Find Free Outdoor Workout Classes in Cincinnati Almost Every Day of the Week
Looking to change up your workout routine? Want to try something new but don't want to commit to a class pass? Parks across Greater Cincinnati are offering plenty of weekly pop-up programs, ranging from yoga and Zumba to line dancing, all led by different studios and instructors. Check event Facebook pages for weather-related cancellations. Tuesday…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Missing 4-1-1
When we think of “Missing Persons,” if we think of them at all, it is probably in the context of photos of missing children posted in the post office, on milk cartons, or in income tax instruction books. They are the theme of the 2021 Cincy Fringe video-on-demand production Missing 4-1-1. Told in a jarring…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW CRITIC’S PICK: Planet of the Grapes Live
"Get your sticky skins off me, you damn dirty grapes!" Stranded astronaut George Taylor's defiant pronouncement to his grape captors perfectly captures the wild and entertaining tone of Peter Michael Marino’s Planet of the Grapes Live. Inspired by the 1968 film Planet of the Apes starring Charlton Heston, this play gives the story a fruity…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW CRITIC’S PICK: Mo-to-the-oncle
This Ain’t No “Full House.” This is what Detroit Prince Jr. laments about his life in Mo-to-the-oncle (pronounced MO-to-the-AWN-uh-kuhl), a video Fringe production by Melissa Cole. A full house also describes the wonderful assortment of characters actress and comedian Cole has create in this delightful and satirical video-on-demand show about a Bronx teenager who must…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW CRITIC’S PICK: Harambe
Stan finds himself at a zoo on the date of a terrible tragedy, one that Cincinnatians — and the world — are likely to recall: the killing of silverback gorilla Harambe when a 3-year-old child fell into his exhibit. Taking a page from Groundhog Day, he must repeat these events as “simulation therapy.” But what…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW CRITIC’S PICK: Betsy Carmichael LIVE at The BINGO Palace
BINGO! For some, those words are like a clean, crisp ray of light brightening the dark dreariness of their lives. For me, they bring up warm fuzzy memories of times I took my mother to BINGO at the nursing home where she stayed before her death. We bonded over BINGO, waiting to see if the…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: An Evening with Gwendolyn
Welcome, welcome! Gwendolyn Crosley is so glad you could make it to her dinner party. I’m sure, since you’re one of the lucky few to have been invited, that you know Gwendolyn well. If not, you might be more familiar with her husband, Powel Crosley, the 1920s-era radio and automobile magnate who once owned the…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW CRITIC’S PICK: Current
Pones’ belief that “art creates powerful change” is evident in its video-on-demand Cincy Fringe production Current. The show leads the audience to examine society’s “current” approach to climate change and its ultimate impact on Earth. As I watched the recorded performance, I couldn’t help but think of this past year on lockdown and media reports…
New Trampoline Park in Warren County Could Make Greater Cincinnati Jump for Joy
This summer, you don’t have to stay ground-bound to have fun, especially once Greater Cincinnati’s newest trampoline park Altitude Trampoline Park celebrates its grand opening June 12. Celebrations will take place 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the new facility at 4786 Fields Ertel Road in southwestern Warren County and will include prizes, giveaways and live entertainment.…
Cult-Favorite Rock & Rollers, Bad Boys Lions Rampant Reunite for Over-the-Rhine Block Party
Take note, geriatric millennials of the Queen City: Cincinnati's favorite bad boys of Rock & Roll are back for a special event this Friday. Beloved purveyors of musical anarchy The Lions Rampant are returning to the stage for local creative agency AGAR's summer block party in Over-the-Rhine, also featuring Young Heirlooms, DJ Prymtime and live painting and…
Here’s How Science Museums Reinvented Themselves to Survive the Coronavirus Pandemic
On January 30, 2020, Science Gallery Dublin assembled a small group of experts to discuss a strange new disease that had recently emerged in China. Four panelists talked about the origins of the new coronavirus, whether it might be airborne and the prospects for a vaccine. While they agreed that it was important to take…
Child Care Leaders ‘Outraged’ at Ohio Senate’s Removal of Quality System in Budget Proposal
The removal of the Step Up to Quality child care standards system as proposed in the Ohio Senate’s version of the budget was not only against the wishes of some child care leaders, but also came without any warning. “It was calculated,” said Dawn Blalock, co-owner of the Little Miracles Early Development Center. “It was…
One Rural County in Ohio Has a COVID-19 Case Rate of Zero, but Vaccination Rates Lag Tremendously
Vinton County in rural Southeast Ohio was the last county in the state to record a positive case of COVID-19. It also appears to be the first without any cases remaining — at least for the time being. The sparsely-populated Vinton County has not been as hard hit by the pandemic as in other places…
Public Health Officials Try to Battle the COVID-19 Misinformation Pandemic
Ohio continues to get good news in its fight against coronavirus. On Saturday, the infection rate dropped to less than 50 cases per 100,000 Ohioans. That’s the rate Gov. Mike DeWine originally set for removing COVID-related health orders, although he backed off of it as federal authorities eased masking guidance. The rate is a far,…
Rent a Boat for Special ‘Float-In’ Movie Screenings at Lake Isabella in Loveland
Great Parks of Hamilton County is putting a novel spin on the summer drive-in movie experience by adding boats. And water. Starting June 25, the park will be screening "float-in" movies at Lake Isabella in Loveland, i.e. you sit in a boat on the water and watch a movie. Boats are available for rent for $40…
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Keeps Federal Unemployment Assistance Program for Now, Bucking National Trend
More than 20 states are voluntarily ending their participation in a federal unemployment program, but Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says he's not ready to do that yet. Experts say prematurely ending the extra $300 a week authorized by the American Rescue Plan could harm Kentucky families and the economy. The extra pay is slated to expire on Sept.…
WTF? Cicada Causes Car Crash in Cincinnati, Police Say
We know we've been talking about cicadas a lot lately. Honestly, do you blame us? We wear ridiculous cicada-proof getups while mowing the lawn. We duck inside for some fun when we can't handle the buzzing swarms anymore. And we even eat the little buggers when we realize there's no escape. But we never expected Brood…
Additional FEMA Staff Will Help Kentuckians Apply for Assistance After Severe February Floods
Discourse in recent months largely has centered around coronavirus vaccines and the easing of restrictions, but many Kentucky residents are still dealing with the fallout from February floods in addition to the ongoing pandemic. It appears that more help may be on the way for affected residents soon, though. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday…
Clifton’s Esquire Theatre is Screening All Fast & Furious Films Before the Release of ‘F9’
First off, apologies for being late to the game sharing this info. Second, buckle your seatbelts and flip that Nos switch. Apparently Clifton's Esquire Theatre has been screening all of the Fast & Furious franchise (aka The Fast Saga) ahead of the cinematic release of F9 (aka the ninth Fast film) in theaters June 25. During Full Throttle…
Cincy-Born Film Critic Nick Pinkerton Talks First Book, ‘Goodbye, Dragon Inn,’ and Importance of Moviegoing
Nick Pinkerton has been a working New York City-based film critic since 2003, but his journey into cinephilia began as a Cincinnati kid informed by everything from Punk Rock to The Little Rascals. And now, nearly 20 years into a writing life he’s made into a vocation, Pinkerton has witnessed the publication of his first…
Counting Crows Are Coming to Cincinnati in August
Fresh off the release of Butter Miracle, Suite One, their first album in nearly seven years, Counting Crows announced the dates for the "Butter Miracle" tour. The jaunt includes a stop at the PNC Pavilion on Aug. 14, with Seán Barna and Matt Sucich as supporting acts. A Counting Crows artist presale and VIP package sales for the…
Toadies To Bring ‘Rubberneck’ Anniversary Tour to Covington in October
The Alt-Rock act Toadies just announced that it will tour this fall to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its platinum-selling debut Rubberneck. Technically, it's the album's 27th anniversary, but the pandemic canceled all the band's tour dates and the Rubberneck 25th anniversary run will be the first Toadies shows since December 2019. The trek comes…
Cincinnati Zoo Is the Best Zoo in America, ‘USA Today’ Readers Say
You did your part, Cincinnatians. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the sixth oldest zoo in the United States, is back on top. According to USA Today’s "10Best" travel information hub, the Cincinnati Zoo has been named the Best Zoo in America for 2021. Readers voted for the Cincinnati Zoo and other nominees after a…
Former Cincinnati Bengals Star Chad Johnson Kind of Kicked Ass in His Boxing Debut
Many people didn't know what to think when former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson announced in May that he'd be stepping into the boxing ring. Was he for real? Why boxing? Would he do well? But just like in the old Chumbawamba song, Johnson got knocked down but got up again in the sport…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Tilted Frame @ Home
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen improv in any form, other than when my girlfriend and I make up new lyrics to existing songs so they’re about our dogs instead. But I digress. I’ve missed it. Improv gets such a bad rap in pop culture for being cringey, and a lot of it…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: True Fictionalist (Special Event)
I’ve said before that Paul Strickland should be declared a local treasure. Apparently that designation can be expanded nationally: At the recent Orlando Fringe, his show Away, Now with Erika Kate MacDonald (reviewed separately) sold out all of its performances and received the Critic’s Choice Award as the 2021 “Best Variety/Specialty Show.” Cincy Fringe-goers first…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Rewind-A-Buddy
Need a friend? Rewind-A-Buddy offers to make it easy: He (or is it “It”?) is a VHS videotape with a hyper host eager to be an “at-your-service” friend. He dances onto the screen to an annoyingly repetitive tune, manically exclaiming, “I want to be your friend. I’m happy to be on your TV today.” His…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: They End Up Together
At the center of They End Up Together is a classic rom-com couple formula: Ray-of-sunshine Dolores meets cynical Robin. Not a spoiler: They totally catch feelings. The set-up checks off another genre hallmark. Upon first meeting they bicker before the inevitable heads-over-heels fall. Swoon! It’s 1961. Dolores (Haley Beggs), dressed in a poufy yellow dress,…
Cincinnati Public Schools to Pay $3 Million in Gabriel Taye Bullying Case
The family of 8-year-old Gabriel Taye likely will receive $3 million from Cincinnati Public Schools in the settlement of a bullying case that ended with Taye dying by suicide. A court reached its decision on Friday. The CPS Board of Education is expected to vote to approve the settlement on Monday. Taye took his life…
FRINGE 2021 CRITIC’S PICK: The Prime of Miss Jen Joplin
So, what’s your next move when you feel that you are in the prime of your life with a great career that’s paused by a global pandemic? This is the predicament that a displaced artist finds herself in with the livestream Cincy Fringe, The Prime of Miss Jen Joplin. Joplin’s 60-minute show takes viewers on…
FRINGE 2021 CRITIC’S PICK: Peculiar, Missouri
If you, like me, are starting to feel that urge to travel again, you may truly appreciate Willi Carlisle’s guided tour of — well, where exactly? The musical travelogue Peculiar, Missouri claims Peculiar, Missouri, is a real city, but Carlisle’s Peculiar is a pastiche of many rural towns you could find yourself driving through, including his…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Twitterhated
Twitterhated is one of the first “live/in person” performances of the 2021 Cincy Fringe. It appeared on one of the outdoor stages adjacent to the Know Theatre, drawing a large crowd simply excited to be in an audience again. Though there were moments of it being very sunny/hot with lots of environmental city and traffic…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Unboxing
When I was in high school my family shared a single computer in our living room, taking turns checking our AOL accounts and printing MapQuest directions. The younger end of the Millennial generation has had a much different experience, as the internet — which they have never lived without — has become more expansive, essential…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Unintentional Significance: A Puppet Show About Everything and Nothing
“Everything is significant. Nothing is significant.” That’s the thesis of Cincinnati-based Autumn Kaleidoscope’s Unintentional Significance: A Puppet Show About Everything and Nothing. The phrase, delivered by a blue light bulb sitting atop a skull, bookends the experimental show. Indeed, it lives up to its name. Helmed by puppeteer Sean P. Mette, each seemingly disparate scene…
FRINGE 2021 CRITIC’s PICK: YOLO
What a beautiful, funny, poignant play! Produced by Feel So Young Theater out of Minneapolis, YOLO embraces the form and gives us a fully produced film with resonant music, editing and photography, much more than a recording of a play and perfect for a Fringe Festival. It’s amazing to watch. YOLO (“You Only Live Once”…
FRINGE 2021 CRITIC’S PICK: You Will Live Under the Sea
It’s hard to imagine a better metaphor for the past year under COVID-19 — and how the arts have been affected — than You Will Live Under the Sea, a wildly imaginative 2021 Cincy Fringe video-on-demand production from Queen City Flash. Directed by Bridget Leak and performed by the wonderful Trey Tatum and Jordan Trovillion…
A Long Legacy of Women Have Changed Politics in Cincinnati and Ohio for the Better
You may not recognize Florence Ellinwood Allen’s name, but you should. In 1922 — just two years after white women were given the right to vote by the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — Allen was elected as a justice to the Supreme Court of Ohio, becoming the first woman on the highest court…
Congrats, Cincinnati Reds Fans: You’re Apparently a Bunch of Swole Hotties
Baseball fans have the comfort of yelling at players' moves and decisions from the comfort of their seats at the stadium and at home. But how many of them might be able to steal second or sprint for a line drive to centerfield themselves? Possibly a lot, if we're talking about Cincinnati Reds fans! Gambling…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: One Easy Lie
It all begins abruptly. A man with long hair and an even longer, shaggy beard sits on a chair in an unfinished basement. It’s dark in the far back corners of the room; the only visible object is a washing machine. Fairly normal for a basement, but the scene is foreboding nonetheless. In a quiet,…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Naughty Bits
Buttocks, vaginas, breasts. Sarah Beth Nelson’s one-woman show is a collection of humorous personal stories about body parts often considered off-limits. A self-described raconteuse, relatability is the key to Nelson’s show as she plumbs her past to expose her experiences with, well, the show’s namesake, Naughty Bits. Filmed in front of a bookshelf in what…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: On Maintenance (How to Keep a Life)
This wordless performance by Leave No Trace Productions from Cincinnati — On Maintenance (How to Keep a Life) — was described as “life-size origami, abstract puppet, theatre of objects.” It also said it would be “a faceted surface (that) expands and contracts in a perpetual dance of construction and deconstruction.” That gives some sense of…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Park Cruising Diaries
Zak Kelley’s solo monologue The Park Cruising Diaries is “Rated R” in the 2021 Cincy Fringe Guide, but that’s too tame. If you are at all squeamish about frank talk about sex — especially when it’s happening as anonymous “cruising” in Cincinnati parks — this is probably not the show for you. That’s not to…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: From Russia Without Love
An “endangered scholar” is how Sufian Zhemukhov describes himself in his 2021 Cincy Fringe show From Russia Without Love. A political scientist who is a refugee from Putin's Russia, Zhemukhov has some fascinating stories to tell about the KGB, espionage, and his experiences writing about Russia as an academic scholar. This is a plus, since…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Horsetale
Hit the Lights Theatre Company is one of those “local kids make good” success stories. The storytelling company was born out of UC’s College-Conservatory of Music and is now well-established in the Big Apple. (Read more about their history here.) Their mission is to “tell simple stories through unconventional means.” In the case of Horsetale,…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Died in a Trailer Park/Woke Up a Mermaid
Died in a Trailer Park/Woke Up a Mermaid is a perfect title for Ariel Pinkerton’s storytelling show, a series of autobiographical tales that marry dark themes with bright optimism. According to her suite of stories, Pinkerton navigated homelessness, drug use, sexual abuse, her mother’s mental disorder and more over the course of her early life.…
FRINGE 2021 CRITIC’S PICK: Continuum
I always expect Performance Gallery to provide Cincy Fringe audiences with “something completely different.” The company has been a contributor to every Cincy Fringe since year one (back in 2003), but it’s never the same thing twice. And it’s always kind of trippy — especially this year, collaborating with Solasta Theatre Lab, which identifies itself…
FRINGE 2021 CRITIC’S PICK: Away, Now
Musical storytellers Erika Kate MacDonald and Paul Strickland have been popular performers for Cincy Fringe audiences for several years. Their contribution for 2021 is a video-on-demand “shot entirely on their phones.” That being said, it has a lot of clever, professional polish, from Strickland’s guitar playing to MacDonald’s clever puppetry, as well as some handy-dandy…
FRINGE 2021 CRITIC’S PICK: The Butterfly Heist
Cincinnati’s Krohn Conservatory made headlines in the spring of 2018 when a rare butterfly was stolen during the popular annual butterfly show. For this 2021 Cincy Fringe outdoor production, history is revisited in The Butterfly Heist, a Dateline parody. Written by Kelly Morton and directed by Caroline Steine, the play is a knee-slapping comedy that…
FRINGE 2021 REVIEW: Instructions for a Habitat Inventory
Instructions for a Habitat Inventory, a presentation from Playable Artworks in Minneapolis, is described as an “interactive meditation on place that you play at home,” an excellent way to put it. Not a play or theatrical piece exactly, it’s more an effort to make people explore the places they live or spend time in, to…
Cincinnati Fringe Festival 2021 Reviews
The Cincinnati Fringe Festival has some big news: They're back. The fest is returning live and in-person with outdoor shows and some digital experiences June 4-19, 2021. And, yes, Fringe did happen last year in the virtual realm due to COVID, but theatergoers will be glad this festival — which is "kinda weird, like you" —…
FRINGE 2021 CRITIC’S PICK: Dangerous When Wet: Booze, Sex, and My Mother
Even without its live video feed, Jamie Brickhouse’s Dangerous When Wet: Booze, Sex, and My Mother is what NPR would call a “driveway moment” — a story so engaging that it just has to be finished in one sitting. Credit can be given to Brickhouse's theatrical delivery. It’s no small feat to keep an audience…
A Cincinnati Man Is Kayaking the Entire Mississippi River to Raise Funds for Local Youth Nature Program Adventure Crew
What’s good for the body is good for the mind and vice versa. A local man who lives by this mantra is taking it one step further by applying it to something bigger than himself: community. After all, what is a community without the small actions of its individuals? And what happens when those small…
Mud Lane Blooms to Be First Vendor at Covington’s New Locally Focused Year-Round Pop-Up Shop
Northern Kentucky revitalization nonprofit Renaissance Covington is bringing home its mission of developing the city's "urban core through creative placemaking, special events, community programming and small business support" — literally. RCOV is transforming its former office at 2 W. Pike St. into a year-round locally focused shop called Pike St. Pop-Up. The storefront will host…
Free Shakespeare in the Park Performances Return to Outdoor Venues Across Greater Cincinnati
If you've missed live theater, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is bringing back its annual Shakespeare in the Park tour, offering free, outdoor Bard classics all summer long. With performances through September, works will be staged at outdoor theaters from Madeira to Covington and Over-the-Rhine to Mason. "Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s free Shakespeare in the Park tour is the only…
Former Pop-Up Bee’s Barbecue Causes a Buzz with its Permanent Storefront in Madisonville
Walk up to Bee’s Barbecue on Chandler Street in Madisonville, and you won’t have to wonder why it has sold out every day since opening on April 17. Bee’s outside patio is reminiscent of a classic barbecue joint, with a smoker and picnic tables. Upon entry, you’ll be greeted by bumble-bee-inspired decor. The restaurant’s namesake,…
Four Outdoor Shopping Pop-Ups and Flea Markets to Explore This Weekend
Ready to brave the cicadas and explore the great outdoors? Well, if your idea of "outdoorsy" is more drinking wine on a patio than going for a hike, here are four fun pop-up shopping markets to visit this weekend, offering locally made and vintage goods plus some food, drinks and even live music. The City…
O’Byronville’s Pampas Argentine Gastropub Serves a Rustic, Gaucho-Inspired Menu in a Beautiful Space
I experienced a jumble of emotions when I noticed the “now open” signage on a familiar brick building along Madison Road in O’Bryonville: happiness and relief that the space had been revitalized, mixed with trepidation that yet another set of hopeful restaurateurs was taking a chance on a location that I’d come to think of…
Ohio Senate Introduces ‘Born Alive’ Abortion Bill Again, Despite Current Law, Low Statistics
Two medical professionals in the Ohio Senate reintroduced a bill that would criminalize physician inaction in “botched abortions,” but say the bill is more about having a reporting system, something that already exists in state law. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), who currently works as a drug addiction treatment physician,…
The 50th Cincinnati Soap Box Derby Takes Over Ault Park This Weekend
If there’s anything essential to know about soap box derby racing in Cincinnati, it’s that no matter how many times it goes away, it always finds a way to make a triumphant return. After a brief cancellation in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Cincinnati Soap Box Derby will be making its 50th run…
COVID Relief Program Offers Kentuckians, Ohioans $50 a Month Toward Internet Bills
The Federal Communications Commission says it's providing $50 a month direct payments toward internet bills to those who sign up for the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, including those in Kentucky and Ohio. Marty Newell, chief operating officer of the Center for Rural Strategies, said if you're eligible, internet service providers will deduct 50 dollars from…
Cincinnati’s Hispanic Community Has Been Disproportionately Affected by COVID. These Nonprofits Are Here to Help
Hispanic people are the fastest-growing immigrant group in Ohio, with a 63.4% increase in population since the year 2000, according to the Greater Cincinnati Latino Coalition. And since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, this same group has also faced some of the highest coronavirus infection rates in the country. The Centers for Disease Control…
Cincinnati Zoo’s Kanga’ Klimb Adventure Course Is Now Open
Kangaroos might not be well known for their climbing ability, but you could be — depending on how you tackle the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s new Dornette Kanga’ Klimb Aerial Adventure Course. This adventure course, located in Roo Valley, comes with a bird's-eye view of the zoo's kangaroo walkabout. So now, not only can you…
Dayton Is Super Horny, and 8 Other Greater Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
This week included Cincinnati Pride’s official kick-off of Pride festivities, reduced COVID-19 health mandates, brand new bar openings and a certain Ohio city that's ready to get down and dirty. If you missed any of it, just check out our roundup of this week’s news stories below. Here’s what you need to know: Ohio's COVID-19…
Multiple States Follow Ohio’s Lead in Announcing Their Own Vaccine Lotteries
What some Ohio lawmakers saw as a wasteful gameshow gimmick, other governors saw as an opportunity. It took only a few weeks after Gov. Mike DeWine announced the Vax-A-Million for other states to introduce their own vaccine lottery programs. There are cash prizes in Oregon, music festival tickets awarded in Delaware and even custom rifles…
Joyful Noise on the Green Presents All-Are-Welcome, Free Outdoor Concerts in Walnut Hills
As live musical performances gradually make their way back into our post-vaccine world, a new local concert series could become a staple this summer. Joyful Noise on the Green — which launched at the end of May — takes place roughly every other Saturday through October on the lawn of the Episcopal Church of the…
CCM-Spawned, NYC-Based Hit the Lights Returns to Cincy Fringe with a Shadow Puppet Country Western
Entering its 18th iteration this year, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival describes itself with an iconic slogan: “Kinda Weird, Like You.” From June 4 to 19, 37 oddball performances will be available, with presentations shaped by the pandemic. A few will be in-person outdoor events on two stages near Over-the-Rhine’s Know Theatre, which puts on the…
Life-Size Animatronic Dinosaurs to Descend on Dayton’s National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Life finds a way, or at least robotics do as Operation: Dinosaur gets ready to descend on Dayton's National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Saturday, June 12. From 4-7 p.m., dino fans and aspiring paleontologists can check out bones, fossils and life-sized animatronic replicas of a Carnotaurus, Velociraptor (an adult and baby), Stegosaurus, Triceratops and…
NKY PrideFest Returns with a Socially Distant Festival and Themed Mini-Golf This Weekend
After going virtual in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Northern Kentucky's PrideFest is back with some live events and socially distant fun this weekend. The 12th-annual festival will take place noon-5 p.m. Sunday, June 6, in MainStrasse Village, with a kick-off party on the rooftop of Braxton Brewing Co.'s Covington taproom 5-7 p.m. Thursday,…
Coney Island Will Finally Open 2021 Season on June 7 — For Real This Time!
Cincinnati summertime staple Coney Island will finally kick off its season Monday, June 7, after a water leak had delayed its original opening date. Originally planned for May 29, the amusement park delayed its opening by more than a week when a leak in the Sunlite Pool's water main needed attention. Officials say that the…
Celebrate National Cheese Day at These Cincinnati Businesses
Cincinnati isn’t just known for its chili; a nice hunk of cheese makes nearly every local dish sing even more. Whether you like grilled cheese, mac and cheese or cheese boards, you can find your favorites at these and other Greater Cincinnati establishments on June 4, National Cheese Day. The Rhined Located in Over-the-Rhine, The…
Cincinnati Ballet Reveals 2021-2022 Season Productions, Including ‘King Arthur’s Camelot’
The Cincinnati Ballet has announced its 2021-2022 season, which will be a mix of old favorites and fresh new performances. What’s notable about this season is that it will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the ballet’s Artistic Director Victoria Morgan and provide a beautiful send-off when she steps down from her position next May. Her…
Touring Roundup: Alanis Morissette, Frankie Valli, Lucero Coming to Cincinnati
This week’s concert roundup is perhaps the biggest of this year, as soon-to-be Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Foo Fighters announced a stop at the all-new Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center, which will make it the first group to perform there. That news comes alongside other major announcements such as Florida Georgia Line…
Cincinnati Is One of the 10 Best Cities in America for a Staycation, Says Study
Hello. Are you looking to get away from it all but not go too far? Great. Don't leave Cincinnati. It's one of America's top 10 best cities for a staycation, according to WalletHub. In its recent study, WalletHub writes: This summer, the U.S. will be far more open than it was last year during the…
Ohio Republicans Are Setting Their Masks on Fire to Celebrate Expiration of State Health Orders
That's Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who is now recovered from his December bout with COVID-19, crouching in his backyard and setting a blue surgical mask aflame after dousing it with lighter fluid. The video, which Yost said was an homage to Jimi Hendrix (who famously set his guitar on fire at the Monterey Pop…
Pandemic Mental Health Help is Out There, Cincinnati Doctor Says
Nearly 20,000 Ohioans have died and more than one million have been infected by COVID-19, but the health impacts of the pandemic go beyond death and illness. In a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey, about one in three Ohio adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Dr. Ashley Solomon, Cincinnati-based clinical psychologist and founder of Galia Collaborative,…
Ohio’s Unvaccinated Might Be in Danger, But the State Can’t Directly Track Them
More than 5 million Ohioans have started getting vaccinated against the coronavirus — and a few lucky ones will win a million bucks or a free ride to college for doing so. That has overall disease, hospitalization and death numbers plummeting as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ended COVID restrictions on Wednesday. But the 64% of Ohioans who haven’t begun their…
Cincinnati Reds ‘Re-Opening Day’ Rained Out Wednesday
It looks like "Re-Opening Day" will stay closed for just a little while longer. Rains washed out Cincinnati's plans to stage a new "Opening Day" for the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. With Ohio's coronavirus restrictions lifted and full capacity restored at Great American Ball Park, community leaders had planned a June 2 do-over for the…
Pride Month in Cincinnati Kicks Off with Flag Raising at City Hall, Virtual Drag Performances
Cincinnati Pride may have scaled back 2021's celebration due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but the LGBTQ+ organization hasn't missed a beat when it comes to supporting the region or building community. To launch Pride Month, which is typically celebrated each June within the United States, Cincinnati Pride shared a video to its social media…
Frisch’s Offering OREO Piebabys and OREO Frappes for a Limited Time
Feel like the concept of a vaxxed and waxed hot girl summer has already gone too far? Cool down with one of Frisch's Big Boy's new OREO frappes. For a limited time, the restaurant chain is offering two new menu items based on the world's best-selling cookie: the aforementioned frappe and an OREO piebaby. “More…
Looking to Hookup? Drive to Dayton, Ohio — One of the Horniest Cities in America
Feeling twirly and looking for some action to get this vaxxed and waxed hot girl summer started? Head to Dayton, Ohio — one of America's top 10 horniest cities, according to a recent study. LawnStarter, a lawn care site which has zero business reporting on our collective sex drive, made a list of the 200 most…
Over-the-Rhine’s New Pour-Your-Own-Drink Bar Copper & Flame Sets Opening Date
A long-anticipated new bar concept has set its opening date on Over-the-Rhine's Vine Street. Pour-your-own-drink concept Copper & Flame will welcome thirsty guests starting Thursday, June 3. The bar boasts 68 different taps of draft beer, plus craft cocktails and wine — all priced by-the-ounce and poured by the individual. Co-owner Kathy O'Connell says this…
Ohio’s COVID-19 Health Orders End Wednesday, But Some People Still Need to Mask Up
Many Ohioans are celebrating the lifting of the majority of emergency health orders put into place to slow the spread of coronavirus. But the state's governor and health experts say that wearing facial masks continues to be important, especially for those who haven't received a COVID-19 vaccine. At 12:01 a.m. June 2, Ohio Gov. Mike…
Kings Island Increases Pay to $18 Per Hour for 900 Seasonal Job Positions
This past week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has confirmed there's a nationwide worker shortage crisis, prompting some businesses to up their hourly pay to entice new employees. For example, Ohio-based fast food chain White Castle is testing a $15 hourly wage in Detroit, where it was having a particularly hard time hiring new workers. …
Cincinnati’s First Drive-Thru Chipotle is Now Open
Do you want to eat Chipotle but don't want to use your legs to leave your car? You're in luck! Cincinnati's first "Chipotlane" has opened at 9430 Fields Ertel Road in Symmes Township. (There are a few already in Northern Kentucky.) The Chipotlane allows customers to pick up orders directly from a drive-thru window. But this isn't…
Cincinnati Zoo No Longer Requires Masks for Fully-Vaccinated Guests
Changes are coming June 2 as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine lifts most COVID restrictions in the state, including mask orders. And the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is following suit. Starting this Wednesday, those fully vaccinated against the coronavirus no longer have to wear masks; unvaccinated guests, however, do. And masks will continue to be…
Foo Fighters to Perform at ICON Music Center’s Inaugural Outdoor Concert
July 28 will mark an explosive night of firsts in Smale Riverfront Park when Cincinnati’s newest music venue Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center celebrates the inaugural concert on its outdoor festival stage. Performing will be iconic Rock band the Foo Fighters, kicking off the first show of a six-city tour in support of the…
The Gathering of the Juggalos is Back for 2021 at Ohio’s Legend Valley
Yeah, yeah, we get it. Nature is “healing” or whatever now that we have some sick vaccines (hopefully) coursing through our veins as events rapidly fill our cobweb-covered calendars. But you know what else is healing? Our hatchetman protected hearts, because the Gathering of the Juggalos is back, baby. Whoop fucking whoop! The annual Psychopathic…
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Up-Close Bird Experience is Back After a Pandemic Hiatus
After a yearlong hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has relaunched its summertime Ameritas Bird Experience at the Wings of Wonder Theater. During the show, guests will be able to see how different bird species — including a penguin, hyacinth macaw, Abyssinian ground hornbill and bald eagle — fly, call, mimic,…
Cincinnati Panegyri to Host Drive-Thru Festival This Summer
As vaccination rates increase and COVID-19 cases diminish, life is slowly returning to pre-pandemic normalcy, but one of Greater Cincinnati's favorite celebrations is not quite ready to join hands and "Opa!" the night away. Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church's annual Panegyri will take place as a drive-thru festival from June 24-26, and will feature a…
USA Today Readers Love Cincinnati’s Street Art, and We Can’t Blame Them
Public art can be an excellent way to get to know the personality of a city, to see how it expresses its culture. And according to USA Today, there are few expressions better than the art that can be found here in Cincinnati. “10Best,” USA Today’s travel information hub that frequently relies on reader input, recently…
Craig Robinson, Melissa Villaseñor, T.J. Miller Coming to Funny Bone Comedy Club in Liberty Township
Just like real in-person concerts are returning to venues across Greater Cincinnati, so is live comedy. And the Funny Bone has a nice roster of headlining stand-ups bringing their acts to the Liberty Township comedy club this month. Big names include Craig Robinson, the keyboard-playing star of The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and more; Melissa Villaseñor,…
A Portion of Norwood Lateral Will Be Closed This Weekend for Repairs
Just a friendly FYI for anyone who regularly uses the Norwood Lateral to get from I-71 to I-75 and vice-versa: A portion of the roadway will be closed on Saturday, June 5 for repairs. Crews will be fixing a bridge seam on the eastbound portion of the lateral, causing the left-hand lane to be closed over…
Hunger Crisis Continues to Take Toll on Kentucky Military Families, Veterans
As the nation observes Memorial Day, advocates for military families and veterans said many are going hungry. A report by the hunger-fighting group Mazon found food pantries operate on or near almost every military base in the country. The House Rules Committee recently held a roundtable highlighting persistent food insecurity in the military and among veterans. Lisa Lieberman, director…
Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow, Jessie Bates Land on ‘Top 25 Under 25’ List for 2021
The Cincinnati Bengals' odds for a Super Bowl run next season may not be great, but experts say the NFL franchise has a bright future, thanks to some younger players serving as building blocks. On May 27, CBS Sports released its annual "Top 25 NFL Players Under 25" list ranking the league's youngest stars, and…
Cincinnati-Based Kroger Launching #CommunityImmunity Giveaways This Week to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccinations
Ohio's Vax-a-Million drawings have captured the nation's attention when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine incentives, but Cincinnati's Kroger is promoting vaccines through its own million-dollar giveaways. The supermarket chain will launch #CommunityImmunity this week, a campaign to encourage residents of Cincinnati and beyond to get vaccinated from coronavirus, a release says. Full details will be…
