Carnegie’s ‘Rocky Horror Show’ is Raucous, Ribald Fun
The Rocky Horror Show in its many incarnations — onstage, film, musical, audience participation — has been a cultural phenomenon for more than a half-century. It’s kicking (and I do mean KICKING) off the Carnegie’s summer season, a highly entertaining production that’s perfectly suited for Pride Month in Greater Cincinnati. In fact, the show’s opening…
Many Ohio Dispensaries Move One Step Closer to Being Able to Sell Recreational Marijuana
Ohioans will likely be able to legally purchase recreational marijuana sooner than initially expected. The state Division of Cannabis Control recently awarded about 60 dual-use provisional licenses to various medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivators, laboratories and processors, according to the state’s online database. Thirty-one dispensaries, 15 cultivators, 11 processors and five laboratories received licenses. However, a…
Ohio Bill Would Require Colleges Adopt Racial, Religious, Ethnic Harassment and Intimidation Policy
Lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill in response to the recent rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses last school year after the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Reps. Justin Pizzulli, R-Scioto County, and Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, recently put forth House Bill 606 — also known as the Enact Campus Act — which would require public and private…
It’s a Femininomenon: What Chappell Roan’s Success at Kentuckiana Says About Her Red State Appeal
Chappell Roan wasn’t supposed to headline Kentuckiana Pride on June 15, but she did anyway. Icona Pop, the Swedish synth-pop duo originally scheduled to close out the fest on the main stage, called out sick the night before. “Kentucky! We have some not so fun news. Aino is feeling super unwell, so we unfortunately last…
How to Get Free Ice Cream Downtown on Monday Afternoon
Stop whatever adult thing you’re doing and go get some free ice cream. Hudsonville Ice Cream, the nearly 100-year-old ice cream maker out of Michigan, is hosting a free ice cream pop-up in downtown Cincinnati on Monday from 1-3 p.m. According to a release from the company, you should look out for people wearing yellow…
Ohio Lawyer: Accusations of ‘Grooming’ Can be Defamatory
Nine years after the Supreme Court recognized the human rights of same-sex couples to marry, I never thought that I would be attending city council meetings where members of my northeast Ohio community are trying to place bureaucratic hurdles to appease the demands of residents wanting to cancel Pride in Broadview Heights. I am appalled…
Ballot-Initiative Could Put Equal Rights Amendment in Ohio Constitution
A new committee is trying to get an equal rights amendment enshrined in the Ohio Constitution. Ohio Equal Rights is in the early stages of trying to create a citizen-led ballot initiative that would constitutionally protect Ohioans from discrimination based on race, color, creed or religion, pregnancy status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,…
Republican Lawmakers Working on Sweeping Changes to Ohio Election Administration
Legislation in the Ohio House and Senate would make sweeping changes to the way Ohioans vote and how those votes are counted. Despite sterling post-election audits in Ohio and the arrival last year of strict new photo voter ID requirements, backers insist more must be done to secure the state’s elections. Among their demands are…
Corrupt or Incompetent? What is DeWine’s Deal?
No matter how I slice it on the role of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in the biggest public corruption scandal in Ohio history, I’m forced to conclude he is either knee-deep in the corruption, or he is so wildly incompetent he let it all happen right under his nose without suspecting a thing. To catch…
Cincinnati Museum Center Looking for Volunteers to Set Off 100 Baking Soda Volcanoes Friday
The science experiment to end all science experiments is bubbling up at the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) — and you can help them make the grade. CMC says on Friday, June 21, it’s looking to set off a total of 100 baking soda volcanoes in the Rotunda at 10 a.m., and it needs all hands…
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Makes Largest Drug Bust in Division History
This week, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said agents made the largest drug seizure in the office’s history. On June 20, the sheriff’s office announced that 81 pounds of methamphetamine was intercepted and seized by detectives with the Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit (RENU). The office said the drugs were coming in from California. “A drug…
Historic Middletown Bar Featured in ‘The Bikeriders’ Hosting Live Music for Film’s Opening
A local historic bar-turned-movie-set will soon see the fruits of its grand transformation in Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders, premiering June 21. In summer 2021, Brian Mack purchased the 100-year-old Lakeside Inn in Middletown, which hadn’t been open for business in nearly a decade. A litany of necessary repairs loomed until six months into the restoration…
BLINK Releases Lineup of Local Artists for 2024 Festival
We’re just several months out from Cincinnati’s premier arts and lights festival, BLINK 2024, and organizers are giving us a glimpse of what we can expect from the dazzling showcase of art installations, murals, projections and more. BLINK announced its artist lineup Thursday, which includes 32 local artists: Muralists Chroma Projects, Cincinnati, OH Gee Horton,…
Ohio Democrats Seek Regulation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers
A new Ohio bill would take aim at facilities not regulated by the state but receive millions in state funding to promote “pregnancy and parenting.” Democratic state Reps. Anita Somani, D-Dublin, and Michele Grim, D-Toledo, brought House Bill 565 to the chamber’s Finance Committee on Tuesday, in hopes “guaranteed standards and a certain quality of…
Have You Had a Hospital Bill Sent to Collections? Price Transparency Could Help.
Last Wednesday, the Ohio Senate passed a bill to require hospitals to publish the cost of their services for the public to see. The Senate version of the bill requires hospitals to publish estimates of the prices of their services. This is in contrast to the House version of the bill which would require hospitals…
Man Who Recorded Viral CPD Arrest Heads to Court for Obstruction
The man who recorded the now-viral arrest video that sparked backlash against the Cincinnati Police Department has been charged with obstruction, but a civil rights attorney tells CityBeat that it could be tough for the state to prove Eddie Lee’s actions interfered with CPD’s arrest. Lee and his friend, Johnny Taylor, were among a group…
Rhinegeist to Throw Toga Party for 11th Anniversary
All the gods and goddesses of Cincinnati are invited to celebrate Over-the-Rhine brewery Rhinegeist’s 11th anniversary with a special toga party next weekend. On Saturday-Sunday, June 29-30, Rhinegeist will be hosting “Stairway to Eleven,” an epic party that would make even Dionysus jealous. The party’s theme will be a blend of rock-and-roll and ancient mythology…
Graeter’s Releases Third Bonus Ice Cream Flavor of 2024
Things are getting a little zesty at Graeter’s Ice Cream with the ice cream parlor’s newly released third bonus flavor of 2024. Each year, the local favorite French pot ice cream maker releases several secret bonus flavors over the summer, and it has just unveiled the third in line: Strawberry Lime Fiesta. Graeter’s describes the…
Kentucky Judge Blocks Biden Title IX Rules Meant to Protect LGBTQ+ Students
A federal judge has blocked new Title IX rules, including those aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students from discrimination in K-12 schools, and sided with Republican attorneys general in several states — including Kentucky. Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the U.S. District Court in Eastern Kentucky on Monday issued a ruling siding with Republican Attorney General…
Ohio GOP Politicians Refuse to Accept Accountability for Voucher Boondoggle
My way or the highway may be your boss’s motto and your cross to bear. But if that is the mantra of publicly elected officials in a representative government — as it sure seems to be in Ohio — all of us have a problem. A big one. The political bosses in Ohio conduct the…
Cincinnati Bengals to be Featured in New Season of Reality Series ‘Hard Knocks’
A new kind of Game of Thrones will come to HBO this winter as the Cincinnati Bengals battle for the AFC North crown on the sports documentary series Hard Knocks, which is expanding to feature an entire NFL division for the first time in its 23-year history. Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North…
Review: Sarah McLachlan’s Live Show Was a Beautiful, Nostalgic Ride
At a sold-out show on June 14 at Riverbend, Canadian singer-songwriters Feist (aka Leslie Feist) and Sarah McLachlan converged (separately) on stage to share their intimate songs and musings with the crowd. The purpose of the tour is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of McLachlan’s breakthrough global album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, which sold 2.5 million…
Northside’s Studeō PAR to Host Juneteenth Eve Celebration
There’s a party in Northside Tuesday night to celebrate both art and freedom. Cincy Nice, a collective that focuses on bringing the community together and co-producers of BLINK 2024, and nonprofit fine arts organization PAR Projects are teaming up to host Juneteenth Eve at The Gallery at Studeō PAR on June 18. The event will…
A White Mob in Ohio Denied Land to Hundreds of Former Slaves, a Lawmaker Wants to Right That Wrong
During the height of summer in 1846, a mob of white Mercer County residents surrounded a group of nearly 400 Freedpeople who’d just taken a boat up the Miami Canal to New Bremen. The former slaves had been traveling for more than a month, making a nearly 300-mile trek across Virginia and the Allegheny mountains…
Cincinnati Funk Legend Bootsy Collins to Release New Album
Cincinnati’s favorite funkateer Bootsy Collins is releasing a new studio album ahead of his 73rd birthday. The funk legend’s 23rd studio album, Album of the Year #1 Funkateer, will be released by Bootzilla Records/Equity Distribution in October, but the groove-filled, exploratory title track is out now. Rolling Stone premiered the track alongside an exclusive interview…
Why are so Many People Failing the Indiana Driver’s Test?
Indiana has the highest failure rates for its driver’s license test in the U.S., with more than 1,362,100 Hoosiers failing the test from 2020 to 2023, according to a recent USA Today report. The inability to pass the test can harm residents in Indiana, one of the most car-dependent states in the country. “Everybody gets…
The Party Source Cuts Prices on Over 1,000 Items
Times are tough and money tight for many in the Cincinnati area, but a Bellevue superstore is providing a little relief and making it easier to celebrate the good times and fight for your right to party this summer. The Party Source, a local, employee-owned company that’s been providing a one-stop shop for liquor, beer,…
Ohio House Passed Bills OKing Feral Pig Open Season
The Ohio House passed more than a dozen bills during Wednesday’s session — ranging from one that allows people to shoot feral pigs to another that provides supports during pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of life. Infant mortality State Reps. Andrea White, R-Kettering, and Latyna Humphrey, D-Columbus, introduced House Bill 7 last year and…
Ohio Lawmakers Discuss Long-Shot Constitutional Convention
This week state lawmakers introduced a measure setting the guidelines for a hypothetical future constitutional convention. The obscure process laid out in Article V of the U.S. Constitution has been embraced in recent years by activists to impose congressional term limits, balanced budget requirements or place new limits on money in politics. But there are…
Review: Tommy James Visits the Ludlow Garage, Talks Career and Upcoming Film
The intimate basement theater setting of the Ludlow Garage was filled to the brim with energy and a lifetime of memories associated with the timelessness of Tommy James and The Shondells’ music on an early summer night on June 1. Tommy James and The Shondells produced a surprising amount of hit records in the ‘60s,…
City Council Moves Forward on Plans to Relocate Residential Bomb Squad Facility
For years, residents living in neighborhoods around the Mill Creek Corridor have been rattled by disruptive noises and plumes of smoke emerging from Cincinnati Fire Department’s Fire Training Center in Millvale. CFD performs fire training exercises, as well as bomb training and explosives disposal, at special facilities on the Millvale training campus at 1898 Mill…
Review: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s ‘Hands on a Hardbody’ Tells a Story of Yearning Competition
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati calls itself a “premiere theater” because its productions are almost always new to Greater Cincinnati audiences. That was the case back in 2014 when it presented the regional premiere of the musical Hands on a Hardbody, a 2013 Broadway show inspired by a 1997 documentary about people in a Texas town participating…
Bill Banning Natural Hair Discrimination in Schools Passes Ohio House
The Ohio House passed a bipartisan bill that would ban discrimination against natural hair in K-12 schools with a 83-7 vote during Wednesday’s session. State representatives Juanita Brent, D-Cleveland, and Jamie Callender, R-Concord, introduced the CROWN Act — which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair — last year. The bill…
You’re Invited to a Sing-Along at Smale Riverfront Park for Paul McCartney’s Birthday
Cincinnati is planning a special birthday party for Beatles singer Paul McCartney as it continues its quest to woo the superstar into visiting the Queen City. In honor of McCartney’s 82nd birthday, the Cincinnati Parks Foundation and Moerlein Lager House are inviting the public to Smale Riverfront Park the morning of Sunday, June 16 for…
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Attempt to Limit Access to Abortion Pill
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a much-anticipated decision Thursday that mifepristone, one of two pharmaceuticals used in medication abortion, can remain available under current prescribing guidelines. The high court unanimously rejected attempts by anti-abortion groups to roll back access to what was in place more than eight years ago, writing that they lacked standing to…
Jason and Travis Kelce Become Part Owners of Covington-Founded Garage Beer Co.
NFL superstars, podcasters and brothers Jason and Travis Kelce can now add “business owners” to their resumes as the pair teams up to become the owners of a Covington-founded beer brand. The brothers announced on their New Heights podcast Wednesday that they are now significant owners and operators of Garage Beer Co., a brand of…
Sound Advice: Janet Jackson Brings Us Together Again
A quick glance at the setlists from Janet Jackson’s current tour, dubbed “Together Again,” reveals a show in four acts. The theme of each act is not exactly clear, as they feature songs from across her recorded history — hits like “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” “Miss You Much,” “Love Will Never Do…
Sound Advice: It’s Another Good Year for Kurt Vile
Kurt Vile is a busy guy. The 44-year-old Philadelphia-bred singer/songwriter has released nine full-length albums and a torrent of EPs over the last 16 years, an evolving body of work marked by his laconic voice, searching guitar and fertile mind. As if Vile’s most recent album — 2022’s stellar 15-song, 70-minute (watch my moves) —…
Songs by Cincinnati Musicians Perfect for your Summertime Soundtrack
Now that summer is finally here, it’s time to update your playlists. Ahead, we’ve crafted an immaculate playlist featuring some of the best summer-y tunes released by Greater Cincinnati musicians throughout the years. The playlist features recent releases alongside songs from the city’s past, with up-and-coming artists or current favorites sitting side-by-side with some of…
Housing and Equity Symposium to Host Homeownership Workshops
OWN BLK CINCY, a two-day housing and equity symposium happening at the end of June, is hosting two workshops ahead of the event that will focus on how homeownership can help build generational wealth and reduce the wealth gap, particularly in minority communities. The first workshop, Unlocking Your Home’s Equity, will be held Thursday, June…
The Rooftop at 21c Opens for the Season With a New Menu
21c Museum Hotel’s The Rooftop at 21c is now open for the season, offering a new menu from its new executive chef. The rooftop bar in downtown Cincinnati features a menu of sharable Peruvian-style dishes crafted with bright flavors and seasonal ingredients, as well as coastal-inspired cocktails. Kam Losonsky, the recently appointed executive chef of…
Indiana Dept. of Health Ignores AG, Hires Private Lawyers in Abortion Lawsuit
Amid an ongoing legal battle over abortion-related records, the Indiana Department of Health has clarified its legal representation in the case. At issue is a lawsuit filed last month by anti-abortion group “Voices for Life,” which seeks to regain access to Terminated Pregnancy Reports (TPRs) that are no longer being released by the state health department. Court…
Trump, Vance Blame Fentanyl on the Undocumented; Here are the Facts
Following the lead of former President Donald Trump, some Ohio Republicans are saying that undocumented migrants are bringing the deadly scourge of fentanyl with them. Several experts say such statements are highly misleading. And anti-hate groups say such statements paint yet another target on the backs of a population that’s already been victimized by racist…
Cincinnati Opera’s 2024 Season Includes Original Work by Paul McCartney
Cincinnati Opera’s 2024 season spans three centuries with Mozart’s 1787 masterpiece Don Giovanni, followed by Verdi’s La Traviata. The season concludes with the first staged production of Liverpool Oratorio, composed by Paul McCartney and American composer Carl Davis, which had its world premiere in 1991. The intimate studio sessions in Music Hall’s Wilks Theater offer…
College Hill’s Manga Manga to Host the First-Ever Cincinnati Anime Film Fest
In early June, College Hill’s Manga Manga launched its first-ever Cincinnati Anime Film Fest (CAFF) with 1995’s cult classic Ghost in the Shell at The Woodward Theater. Now, fans of Japanese comics and animation can feast on six screenings this July and August — all at The Hollywood Drive-In Theatre, located in the parking lot…
