Cover Story
Grassroots Activism Took Fernald from Bomb Factory to Birder’s Paradise
Every year thousands of visitors head to Fernald Preserve to hike, bird watch and learn about the history of this former uranium processing plant. The 1,050-acre nature preserve is located just a short drive from Cincinnati, in Hamilton, and has everything — forests, prairies, wetlands, grasslands and open water. On the eastern boundary of the…
Sound Advice: TORRES Moves in Her Own Way
TORRES (aka Mackenzie Scott) continues to move in curious directions on her sixth full-length studio album, What an enormous room, jumping from bombastic electro dirges to acoustic-driven atmospherics with equal dexterity. Album opener “Happy man’s shoes” sounds like English doomsday outfit Clinic fronted by Alison Goldfrapp, an effortless melding highlighted by an oddly spooky spoken-word…
Sound Advice: Tate McRae to Perform Sold-Out Show in Cincinnati
Canadian triple threat Tate McRae – singer, songwriter and dancer – will be stopping in Cincinnati on her “Think Later World Tour” on July 24. Tate McRae started her rise to fame at only 13 years old, becoming the first Canadian finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2016. The rise of her…
Hurray for the Riff Raff’s Alynda Segarra Discusses Musical Evolution Ahead of Cincinnati Show
Hurray for the Riff Raff’s latest album, the aptly titled The Past Is Still Alive, is among the most enthralling statements to surface in this complicated year of 2024 — the creative apex of its fearless leader and only constant Alynda Segarra’s journey from street-informed rabble-rouser to a songwriter and performer of uncommon power and…
Hollywood Bar The 513 Returns Home to Hamilton
The city of Cincinnati has seen its fair share of highs over the past couple of years. A high that will forever be ingrained in the minds of its citizens is when the Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl in 2022. The Bengals going to the Super Bowl was memorable because the adventure…
Icons of the ‘80s Discuss New Wave Origins Ahead of Totally Tubular Festival
The Totally Tubular Festival is coming to Riverbend on Saturday, July 27, and some of the biggest acts of the ‘80s will be transporting you back in time on an excellent adventure. The festival is like a time-traveling pop music DeLorean to the beginning of big hair, bright colors, MTV and a new era for…
Summermusik Festival Celebrates Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra’s 50th Anniversary
In 2015, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra launched Summermusik, an annual music festival featuring concerts and events throughout August, traditionally a downtime for most music series. Nine years later, Summermusik is an anticipated part of the summer music schedule, and this tenth season celebrates the CCO’s 50th anniversary with a spectrum of music ranging from world premieres…
Madisonville’s Alara Offers Unforgettable Fine Dining Experience
Over the past six months or so, more than a few new restaurants have opened in the city and nearby suburbs. Some have been instant hits. Try getting a table at Colette near Washington Park on less than two weeks’ notice, or finding seats at Safi, Jose Salazar’s wine bar-style lounge, where they don’t take…
New Escape Room Coming to Cincinnati Drops Players in the Middle of the CLUE Board
The ultimate whodunnit is being brought to life in Cincinnati this summer, allowing you to thwart a killer’s plan while trying to break out of the famous rooms of this bloodthirsty board game. Breakout Games is teaming up with Hasbro to launch the first official “CLUE: The Escape Room.” In this interactive experience based on…
Adopt a Dog for Just $15 at Cincinnati Animal CARE in July
If your heart is begging for a new friend to add to your family, now might be the best time to adopt from a local shelter. Cincinnati Animal CARE (CAC), Hamilton County’s only open-intake animal shelter, has partnered with the BISSELL Pet Foundation for Summer National Empty the Shelters, an event geared towards ending animal…
Help Break a World Record at Cincinnati’s Main Library Reopening This Weekend
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Cincinnati world record attempts
Cincinnati Distilling Releases Bourbon Celebrating History of Findlay Market
Cincinnati Distilling is teaming up with a historic Cincinnati institution on a limited-edition bourbon. The Findlay Market Reserve bourbon celebrates the rich history of Cincinnati’s famous public market with a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malted barley and comes in at 93 proof. “Cincinnati Distilling loves to work with local organizations…
3CDC Unveils Branding for Entertainment District Around Fountain Square
The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) has unveiled new branding for the heart of downtown Cincinnati. “The Fountain District” helps identify the area around Fountain Square that features a collection of uniquely Cincinnati restaurants, bars, arts and entertainment institutions and civic spaces. 3CDC says while working on projects around downtown’s Central Business District (CBD),…
Indiana Department of Health Seeks Dismissal of Abortion Records Lawsuit
The Indiana Department of Health is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit against the agency that was filed by an anti-abortion group over related records. The lawsuit in question was filed in May by “Voices for Life,” which seeks to regain access to Terminated Pregnancy Reports (TPRs) that are no longer being released by the state…
Project 2025 Looks to Impose Publicly Funded Religious Education on America. Ohio Already Has That.
If you haven’t heard about Project 2025, the dystopian blueprint for a second Trump administration, Google it. There’s a reason the felon angling for a get-out-of-jail-free card with another White House romp pretends ignorance about the Handmaid’s Tale regime his former senior officials and allies created for him. It’s straight-up authoritarian rule under God. Besides…
Rep. Landsman Introduces Bill Allowing Section 8 Vouchers for Eligible College Students
Some current and prospective college students may qualify for free on and off-campus housing for the first time in nearly 20 years. Congressman Greg Landsman, who represents Ohio’s first district in the U.S. House, held a press conference on July 8 announcing the Campus Housing Affordability Act. The legislation would allow emancipated youth and current…
Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market Announces Venue for 2024 and 2025 Events
A popular Cincinnati holiday tradition is moving to a new, temporary home this year. Marketplace Events (MPE) produces the Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market, which hosts hundreds of local and regional boutiques and vendors for a weekend of holiday and gift shopping each November at the Duke Energy Convention Center downtown. Because the convention center is…
Graeter’s Gets Nostalgic With New Bonus Flavor
Graeter’s Ice Cream is getting a little bit nostalgic with the ice cream parlor’s newly released fourth 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 fourth in line: Banana Pudding. Graeter’s describes the flavor as…
Aglamesis to Open New Location in Hamilton
A beloved Cincinnati ice cream parlor and chocolate shop is expanding north. Aglamesis Bros’ says it will open its third retail location in the historic Main Street Business District in downtown Hamilton, saying with the opening of its new chocolate production facility on Central Avenue in downtown Cincinnati, it can better meet growing demand and…
Miles Robinson Becomes First FC Cincinnati Player to Compete at the Olympics
An FC Cincinnati player will soon be competing on the biggest stage for athletes in the world. In a press release on Monday, FC Cincinnati announced that defender Miles Robinson has been named to the U.S. roster for the Paris 2024 Olympics. According to the release, Robinson is the first player in FC Cincinnati’s history…
Study: Increasing the Minimum Wage Will Save 4,000 Ohio Lives
There may be some drawbacks, but increasing Ohio’s minimum wage to $15 an hour would save 4,000 lives and create a $25 billion benefit to the state economy by 2036, according to a study released last month by Scioto Analysis. A group proposing to increase the minimum wage from the current $10.45 an hour to…
‘She’s Not Going in the Boys Bathroom.’ Ohio Mom Speaks out Against Transgender Bathroom Ban Bill
Bradie Anderson fears she will be physically harmed if she uses the boys bathroom at her Northeast Ohio high school. The 14-year-old sophomore is transgender and her mom Anne said she has never had any issues with using the girls restroom at school. “She’s not going in the boys bathroom,” Anne said. “If my daughter…
All the key points you need to know about gold in World of Warcraft and how to get it
WoW is a complex and multifaceted project that consists of many game aspects that are important to know and master in order to truly progress and gain experience, earn WoW gold and approach the final level 70, from which the study of current content continues. Gold is important Many players think that weapons and armor…
President Biden Condemns Vandalism in Cincinnati Jewish Cemeteries
President Joe Biden has spoken up about a recent attack on two Cincinnati Jewish cemeteries, saying local investigators will have the support of his administration. Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati (JCGC) announced on July 1 that 176 gravestones at the Tifereth Israel Cemetery and the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Cemetery, both at the Covedale Cemetery complex,…
Putin Foe: Ohio’s Vance is Repeating Kremlin Talking Points on Sanctions
Few westerners know what a bad guy Vladimir Putin is better than Bill Browder — or what it’s like to get on the Russian autocrat’s bad side. And Browder says that Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance’s positions regarding Russia sound eerily like Putin’s own. Browder is the co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management, and was declared…
What Happens Next if U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance is Tapped for Vice President?
In two weeks, the Republican National Convention meets in Milwaukee, and it may shake up the political landscape here in Ohio. Although there’s no doubt about the top of the ticket, former President Donald Trump has indicated he plans to select a Vice President before or during the nominating convention. U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-OH,…
Baristas at Anderson Township Starbucks File for Union Election
Union activity is steaming up at a Starbucks in Anderson Township. According to a July 2 press release, Starbucks baristas (referred to as “partners” by the company) at the Beechmont & Five Mile Starbucks location have filed a petition for a union election. “Unionizing is our stand for fair treatment and respect. The Starbucks I…
Lawmakers Want to Rename the Norwood Lateral After Brigid Kelly
A vital expressway in Hamilton County may soon bear the name of former Hamilton County Auditor Brigid Kelly, who died after a two-year battle with cancer in March. She was 40 years old. During a June 20 Hamilton County Commissioners meeting, a resolution was passed to support Senate Bill 254, which was introduced in the…
Over-the-Rhine Restaurant Wildweed Sets Opening Date in Permanent Location
Pop-up-turned-restaurant Wildweed is getting ready to open its doors in its permanent location in Over-the-Rhine this July. Wildweed got its start as Sunday Sauce, a pop-up in Oakley, in 2019 and has gone through a few different iterations since, including most recently serving dinner from the former Pleasantry restaurant on 15th Street. It’s now set…
Graeter’s Celebrates National Ice Cream Month With Fruity Flavors
Graeter’s Ice Cream is helping Cincinnati beat the heat this summer with some special fruit-inspired flavors in celebration of National Ice Cream Month. “Fruit Fest” is Graeter’s seasonal take on fruity ice cream flavors that are offered through the Bonus Flavor program in scoop shops. Throughout the summer, Graeter’s unveils a selection of new, limited-time…
Father and Son Among the 3 Men Killed in Shooting Near UC Campus
Cincinnati Police have identified the three men who were shot and killed in Corryville on July 1, just blocks away from the University of Cincinnati’s main campus. The Hamilton County Coroner’s office has listed Shawn McDaniel Sr., 44, Shawn McDaniel Jr., 22, and Laurenz Nixon, 21, as the three men killed in the shooting at…
Ohio Redistricting Reform Group Submits More Than 731,000 Signatures
Reporting more than 731,000 signatures submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, Citizens Not Politicians said it cleared a massive hurdle in their plan to reform the state’s redistricting process by replacing politicians with a citizen commission. The group hoping to get a citizen-led redistricting commission inserted as an amendment to the Ohio Constitution was required…
Despite Resistance, Lebanon Pride Builds Support and Hope
James Reynolds had a theory. “If there was a Pride festival in Lebanon, Ohio, there would be more people protesting than attending,” he said. Reynolds grew up in Lebanon, a small city of around 20,000 people just 30 minutes northeast of Cincinnati, but left in 2000 to attend Morehead State University in Kentucky. Reynolds described…
Over 170 Jewish Graves Vandalized in Covedale, Police Investigating
Police are investigating after gravestones were vandalized at two prominent Jewish cemeteries on Cincinnati’s west side. According to a press release from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, 176 gravestones at the Tifereth Israel Cemetery and the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Cemetery, both at the Covedale Cemetery complex, were found damaged on July 1. “This act of…
Ohio Light Opera Has a Knack for Classic Musicals
Fans of musical theater with slightly old-fashioned tastes have visited Ohio Light Opera for 45 seasons. Just three hours northeast of Cincinnati, OLO is in its 45th professional season at the College of Wooster. Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas were its initial impetus, but today its repertoire has expanded to traditional Golden Age musicals in a…
Three Cincinnati Restaurants Earn Prestigious Wine Spectator Award for First Time
Three Cincinnati restaurants have for the first time landed on a prestigious list that recognizes excellence in restaurant wine service. Wine culture magazine Wine Spectator released its 2024 list of Restaurant Award recipients last week, which features over 3,700 restaurants across the globe that offer outstanding wine programs. Ten Cincinnati-area restaurants are among the award…
5 Shot, 3 Killed Near University of Cincinnati’s Campus Early Monday
Cincinnati Police are investigating an early morning shooting that left three dead and two injured just blocks away from the University of Cincinnati’s main campus in Corryville on July 1. According to CPD, officers responded to the 300 block of East University Avenue for a report of a shooting around 2:45 a.m. Officers arrived to…
Modern-Day ‘Comstocks’ Look to Police Travel, Information as Another Strategy to End Abortion
Mark Lee Dickson says he’s been home maybe once in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court vanished federal abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The 38-year-old director of Right to Life of East Texas in Longview has been on an endless road trip trying to set legal traps for people…
Review: Chappell Roan Creates a Safe Space for Queer Joy
Strutting onto the stage at the Big Four Bridge Lawn in a floor-length blaring red gown — inspired by the character “Divine,” the famous drag queen who appeared in the cult sensation Pink Flamingos — Chappell Roan knew exactly what she was doing. The singer regularly pays homage to the queer and drag communities through her…
Seven Northern Kentucky Craft Distilleries Added to Official Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Seven Northern Kentucky craft bourbon distilleries are now officially a part of the illustrious Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Last week, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) announced that, in honor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s 25th anniversary, it would add the 28 members of its ancillary Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour to the main trail to form…
Ohio House Lawmakers Introduce Voting Laws to Fix Dubious Problems
Two potentially consequential election measures got their first hearing last week in the Ohio House, but it’s not clear the problems those measures seek to address are truly problems in the first place. The first proposal would require watermarks on ballots, a move that would cost millions and one that even the sponsor acknowledges no…
Mike Love of The Beach Boys Discusses Group’s History and More Ahead of Dayton Show
The Beach Boys, a band that manages to capture the sounds of summer perfectly, are coming to the Fraze Pavilion on Monday, July 1 for their “Endless Summer Gold” tour. The Beach Boys are among the most recognizable groups in rock and roll and pop music history, with many hits and standout songs immersed in…
Cincinnati Police Identify Stabbing Suspect Who Was Shot and Killed by Officers
The Cincinnati Police Department identified the stabbing suspect who was fatally shot by officers near Music Hall on June 27 as 48-year-old Juan Mack at a press conference on Friday. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said the shooting happened on Thursday evening after police pursued Mack, who is suspected of stabbing a woman multiple times…
‘My Beautiful and Wise Queen’: Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s Wife Rhonda Massie Dies
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced Friday morning that his wife, Rhonda Massie, died on June 27. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican given the nickname “Mr. No” for his contrarian voting tendencies, posted a memorial for his wife on X, formerly known as Twitter, on the morning of June 28. According to the post, Massie and…
The ‘R’ in Spiral: Divorce the Republican Party
You know what’s more embarrassing than Trump? The average white American man. Think Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson who are upset about divorces. Late Millennials and Gen X’ers with an axe to grind about their own parents’ failings. Vance’s mother married at least three times. Johnson, who was the product of a teen…
“Absurd and Unnecessary,” Transgender Ohioans React to Passage of Bathroom Bill
Transgender Ohioans and allies are outraged the Ohio House passed a bathroom ban bill at the 11th hour of a marathon session Wednesday night before going on summer break. The bill would require Ohio K-12 schools and universities to mandate that students only be able to use the bathroom or locker room that matches their…
Ohio Senator J.D. Vance Accused of Playing Putin’s Game
And just as Trump has a history of taking positions that align with those of Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin, Vance’s critics say the Ohio senator’s words about Ukraine must be music to Putin’s ears. This year, Vance has taken to the New York Times, the Senate floor and even flown to Munich to blast American…
J.D. Vance Could be Trump’s VP, First Debate Could Offer Clues
We’re inching closer to knowing whether or not Ohio Senator (and Middletown native) J.D. Vance will win former President Donald Trump’s veepstakes. Vance, who won his first Senate race against Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan in 2022, is rumored to be Trump’s VP frontrunner to take on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris this…
Sample the Best Bourbon in the Region at the Bourbon Baron Bash
Finally, there’s an extra reason to sip bourbon while listening to excellent jams: benefiting humanity. Yes, we’re talking about the Bourbon Baron Bash. The second annual event returns to MegaCorp Pavillion (101 W 4th St, Newport, Kentucky) on Saturday, Sept. 7, with an evening of bourbon tastings and bluegrass. From 6 to 10 p.m., attendees…
Ohio House Passes Sextortion Bill, and Four Other Bills You Should Know About
The Ohio House passed a slew of bills during a marathon session on Wednesday before going on summer break. Enact Campus Act The Enact Campus Act bill (House Bill 606) was woven into Senate Bill 94 earlier this week during House Finance Committee. State Sens. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, and Al Landis, R-Dover, introduced S.B. 94,…
Ohio House Passes Transgender Bathroom Ban for Schools and Colleges
The Ohio House passed a bill late Wednesday night amid its last session before going on summer break that would ban transgender students from using the bathroom and locker rooms that match up with their gender identity. House Bill 183 was added to Senate Bill 104 as an amendment on the House floor Wednesday night,…
Sound Advice: Earth & Elsewhere Creates ‘Heavy Music for People Who Like Soft Music’
Self-proclaimed “dream metal” band Earth & Elsewhere is gearing up to bring their gutwrenching tones to Cincinnati. The Cleveland-based four-piece has hit the ground running since its inception in 2022. Fortunately for fans of heavy breakdowns, melodic riffs and ambient sequences, they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Earth & Elsewhere offers a…
Sound Advice: Legendary Rapper Ghostface Killah Brings Tour to Greater Cincinnati
Let the record show that Ghostface Killah can still rhyme with the tenacity and sharpness true of his prime. The prolific rapper is best known for his membership in the legendary rap group Wu-Tang Clan, whose debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is regarded as a classic. Ghostface Killah established him as one of…
Third Eye Blind Discusses their Gen Z Appeal and More Ahead of Cincinnati Show
In 1997, the California-formed rock band Third Eye Blind released their first and seminal self-titled record. With hits like the Billboard Music Award-winning “Semi-Charmed Life,” the angsty “Motorcycle Drive By,” “How’s It Going to Be,” and “Graduate,” the quartet infiltrated the airwaves and soundtracked movies like Can’t Hardly Wait. Atypical for a rock-pop group, songs…
Contemporary Arts Center Unveils Exhibitions in 2024-25 Season
Last Spring the Cincinnati Art Museum introduced a new executive director, Christina Vassallo. Since then, Vassallo has unveiled a new strategic plan for the future of the museum that aims for it to be “a lab for understanding ourselves, others, and the world around us through the experience and creation of all contemporary art forms,”…
Loveland Venue and Flower Farm Shares Insider Tips for Crafting your Perfect Garden
Have you ever thought about how dreamy it would be to wander through a field of flowers — or better yet, to sit by rows of beautiful blooms with a bottle of wine and some friends? At The Marmalade Lily, your cottagecore dreams can come true. With around an acre-and-a-half of the nine-acre estate dedicated…
The Magic of Long-Running Cheviot Diner Santorini Family Restaurant
Nothing quells a mid-week slump like a diner breakfast. So on a Thursday in February, I rally my husband with the promise of pancakes, and we drive west to Cheviot. Santorini Family Restaurant has been serving Greek diner classics on Harrison Avenue for decades. The hungry folks of the West Side can stop in for…
Calm, Conservative: What GOP Senators Want in Trump’s VP Pick
Republican members of the U.S. Senate striving for a takeover of their chamber in the November elections have a wish list for what they’d like to see in Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick. A “little calmer” than Trump. Confident. Conservative. Military experience. Good relationships with senators. Ready to take over as chief executive if needed,…
Ohio House Lawmakers Consider Gun Bills With Different Agendas
Ohio lawmakers are rushing headlong into summer recess, but on the way out the door, one committee took up two firearm provisions aiming in different directions. Given the timing of their introduction, both measures face an uphill climb for passage before the current session ends. Still, as political messaging goes, the bills stake out important…
