Cover Story
Take a Bow: CityBeat Speaks with Louis Langrée as he Concludes his Tenure as Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 1 print edition. As the New York Times noted last July, Louis Langrée concludes “a quietly transformative era” as the maestro ends his 11-season tenure as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s music director with two sets of concerts in May. It’s the end of an era for me, too.…
Ohio Attorney General Joins US Justice Department to Bring the Hammer Down on Ticketmaster, Live Nation
The Biden Justice Department, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and a bipartisan group of 29 state attorneys general are accusing the company that owns Ticketmaster and Live Nation of violating federal antitrust law. The company is already well known for insulting customers by labeling its steep ticket charges “convenience fees,” but the suit seeks to…
Guest Commentary: Ohio Senate Republicans Make Biden Ballot Fix Conditional on Attacking Voter Ballot Initiatives
They’re playing dirty. Again. Turns out underhanded, undemocratic schemes to consolidate unilateral power are a feature, not a bug of Ohio’s one-party tyranny in the state. You and I are being systemically disempowered as an electoral check on imperious partisans who seek to rule not represent. Ohio Republicans, who control every branch of state government…
You Can Own a Piece of The Jungle as Hamilton County Sells Paycor Stadium’s Old TVs
Cincinnati Bengals fans: Here’s your chance to own a little piece of The Jungle. Paycor Stadium began a multi-million-dollar renovation of the 24-year-old facility earlier this year. In with new means out with the old, and for you that could mean a new (used) television straight from the stadium itself. Hamilton County is selling 200…
New Bar Ziggy’s to Open Next to Ziegler Park, Just in Time for Summer
A new bar is opening just steps from Ziegler Park in Over-the-Rhine. Ziggy’s, described as “not your average dive bar,” has moved into the space formerly occupied by Yoli’s Poolside Bar at 213 Woodward St. in 3CDC’s Willkommen project, adjacent to the park and pool. The bar will hold its grand opening opening at noon…
Graeter’s Releases Second Limited-Time Bonus Flavor of 2024
We’re getting a celebratory taste of the tropics with Graeter’s Ice Cream’s newly released second bonus flavor of 2024. Each year, the local favorite French pot ice cream maker typically releases five secret bonus flavors over the summer, and it has just unveiled the second in line: Hawaiian Wedding Cake. Graeter’s describes the flavor as…
Guest Commentary: A Fledgling Drinker Succumbs to Margarita Madness
I pregamed for Margarita Madness by visiting the Cincinnati Public Library, which tells you both how little I belonged at a drinking festival and why CityBeat’s Madeline Fening thought it would be funny to invite me. I was a D.A.R.E. success story as a teenager. St. James Catholic Church and an unmedicated anxiety disorder made…
Plans Advance for Corporate-Funded Expansion of Kentucky Republican Party Headquarters
The Republican Party of Kentucky plans to expand its headquarters in Frankfort by adding a 6,800 square foot building designed to look like a “separate residential structure.” The new building will be built on a vacant lot adjacent to the current headquarters at Third Street and Capital Avenue. In addition to new office and meeting…
More Than $310M Settlement Reached with Norfolk Southern After East Palestine Train Derailment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice reached a more than $310 million with Norfolk Southern Railway Company for last year’s East Palestine, Ohio train derailment. If the settlement is approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Norfolk Southern would have to improve rail safety, pay for health…
New ‘Taste of the Levee’ Celebrates Newport on the Levee’s Restaurants
Foodies can indulge in all the flavors Newport on the Levee has to offer at the first-ever Taste of the Levee this June. Taste of the Levee is happening Sunday, June 9 and will showcase the Levee’s distinct and ever-growing and evolving restaurant lineup. From 4-7 p.m., ticketholders can visit the Levee’s Riverwalk — near…
Guest Commentary: Ohio Statehouse Republicans Stand Determined to Prove How Toxic Gerrymandering Is
To paraphrase Cicero, how long, O’ gerrymandered Ohio lawmakers, will you continue abusing our patience? How long is that madness of yours still to mock us? Ohio Statehouse Republicans stand determined to make a lurid, revolting example of themselves on just how toxic, misrepresentative, and destructive gerrymandering can be. In our top three stories in…
Moms Demand Action Push for Common-Sense Gun Legislation in Ohio During Advocacy Day
Audrea Hickman’s son Jarrin was murdered on April 17, 2020. She shared her story during a rally as part of the Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Annual Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse on Wednesday. About a hundred people donning red shirts gathered for a rally Wednesday morning at the Trinity Episcopal Church to…
Cincinnati Opera, City Leaders Announce Campaign to Bring Paul McCartney to Cincinnati
A community-wide campaign was launched on Wednesday to bring Sir Paul McCartney to the Queen City this summer. Mayor Aftab Pureval and Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney joined with leaders from Cincinnati Opera and other regional partners to debut the campaign, titled, “Come Together, Cincy! Get Paul to Music Hall!” The campaign’s goal is to…
City of Cincinnati Sues Real Estate Investment Company Accused of Allowing Squalid Living Conditions at Apartments
In an ongoing effort to hold out-of-town landlords accountable, the City of Cincinnati has filed a lawsuit against a Florida multifamily real estate investment company that owns hundreds of housing units in the city. REM Capital, headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, has a housing portfolio that extends across nine states, according to its website. That portfolio…
A New ‘Extreme-Value’ Grocery Store is Opening in Greater Cincinnati
An “extreme-value” grocery retailer is opening its first Greater Cincinnati location this summer. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market will expand to Eastgate, opening at 650 Eastgate South Drive on June 20. Grocery Outlet says this expansion will help make high-quality and affordable groceries more accessible to more people throughout the Midwest. It’ll also bring over 30…
Paycor to Move Headquarters into Downtown Cincinnati’s Former Saks Fifth Avenue Building
A big Cincinnati company is moving its headquarters to downtown. 3CDC said Wednesday that human capital management software company Paycor, which is currently based in Norwood, will occupy the second floor of the former Saks Fifth Avenue store on Fifth Street, which 3CDC just purchased. The new space will serve as a hub for training,…
Lebanon Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Charge Teachers, Librarians with Felonies for ‘Pandering Obscenity’
A Republican-led bill just introduced in the Ohio House would charge teachers and librarians with a felony offense for distributing material deemed “obscene.” The problem is, the bill does not explain what materials would be considered obscene, despite laying a fifth-degree felony on the feet of teachers and “public school librarians” who may possess or…
Ohio Legislative Leaders Say Biden Ballot Fix Won’t Happen Through Lawmakers
Ohio lawmakers are confident President Joe Biden will be on the November ballot, but how exactly that will happen remains the question. The fix won’t happen through the legislature, said Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, and Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, during separate gaggles Tuesday morning. “There’s just not the will…
New Festival at Factory 52 Celebrates BBQ and Bourbon
Things are about to get saucy in Norwood this summer with the launch of a new festival celebrating bourbon and barbecue. “Sauced: A Bourbon and BBQ Festival” is happening Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30 at Factory 52. The weekend promises unforgettable experiences fusing community, culture and craftsmanship together in pools of BBQ sauce and glasses…
It Feels Like Summer: The Legendary Peach Truck is Making its Way to Greater Cincinnati
The Peach Truck tour is a favorite part of summer for peach fans, and the Nashville-based operation will again be making its way to the Greater Cincinnati area this summer. Stephen and Jessica Rose will be bringing farm-fresh Georgia peaches to stops across the United States. All stops feature online pre-ordering — that means no…
Two Companies Selected by Ohio Commission to Lease Parts of Ohio Counties for Fracking
The “highest and best bidders” were selected to lease parts of Noble and Monroe counties for fracking during Monday’s Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission meeting. Colorado-based company Antero Resources Corporation was the sole bidder to lease eight parcels for drilling in Noble County for $4,713.60, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Antero…
Madeira Social Worker and Professor Jodi Whitted is the Newest Member of the Ohio House
Earlier this month, the Ohio House voted to appoint Democrat Jodi Whitted to a vacant Hamilton County seat. The Madeira social worker and professor will serve until the end of this year. But due to a coincidence of redistricting, she’ll be living in a different district, already represented by a Democrat, in the coming term…
You Could Win $10K Worth of Bourbon and Support Older Adults With This New Raffle
A Cincinnati nonprofit is raffling off a collection of rare bourbon worth more than $10,000 to help in its mission to improve the health of older adults. An anonymous donor gave the Giving Voice Foundation an extremely rare five-bottle collection of Buffalo Trace Antique bourbon, which includes the highly coveted 2023 Eagle Rare 17. The…
Transgender Ohio Statehouse Candidates Line Up Behind Bill Allowing People to Run Under Legal Name
This year a handful of transgender candidates filed to run for state office in Ohio, but they faced challenges to their candidacies over the names they used on their paperwork. Under Ohio law, candidates must list any prior name they’ve used in the last five years on their petitions. Notably, the form itself makes no…
Ohio’s Congressional Dems Demand Vote on Contraception Protection
Democrats from Ohio’s U.S. Congressional delegation want the right to contraception codified into federal law, an effort that’s now in its third attempt on Capitol Hill. U.S. Reps. Joyce Beatty, Emilia Sykes, and Greg Landsman met on a Tuesday press call to talk about the measure, and to demand a vote from the Republican majority.…
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Signs Legislation to Limit Cell Phones in Schools
At a Dublin middle school Wednesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation ordering school districts around the state to develop written policies for cell phones on campus. The state education department will write its own model policy that districts may adopt, but so long as they come up with something to keep cellphone use “as…
New Ohio Senate Resolution Asks Feds Not to Include Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity in Title IX
A recently offered resolution in the Ohio Senate urges the federal government to keep sexual orientation and gender identification out of anti-discrimination rules used in education funding. State Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, brought forth the resolution, Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, on Tuesday, asking the United States Department of Education to “exclude sexual orientation and gender…
Please, Don’t Shoot the Wild Pigs. It Only Makes Them More Educated.
Because an “educated” pig is harder to track or trap, Kentucky is taking steps to prevent the hunting of feral hogs known to damage crops and woodlands and potentially spread disease. Kentucky wildlife management officials are finalizing a ban on the hunting of wild pigs in an effort to more easily capture them. Under the…
Cincinnati Observatory Announces Dr. Wes Ryle as New Head Astronomer
The Cincinnati Observatory has a new head astronomer on staff. Dr. Wes Ryle, a veteran astronomer with 16 years of public outreach and education experience, comes to the observatory from Thomas More University where he served as director of the university’s observatory and a professor of physics. “Wes brings to this key role experience [and]…
Cincinnati Open Announces Major Transformation of Campus Ahead of 2025 Tennis Tournament
Some major transformations are coming to the campus of the Cincinnati Open, one of the longest-running tennis tournaments in the United States, as its owners seek to improve both fan and player experience ahead of the expanded tournament in 2025. In a press release, the Cincinnati Open, formerly known as the Western & Southern Open,…
Ohio Medical Marijuana Companies Prepare to Apply for Dual-Use License to Sell Recreational
Ohio medical marijuana companies are gearing up to begin the process of entering the recreational marijuana business. The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) recently approved regulations from the Division of Cannabis Control — meaning dispensaries can start applying for a recreational license in the coming weeks and sales could begin as soon as…
Amid Lawsuits on Ohio Abortion Laws, Researchers Study Impacts on Care
Researchers from several Ohio universities have found that state laws that regulate abortion services are “harmful” to patients and make it harder for those patients to receive proper care. Members of the Ohio Policy Evaluation Network, a group made up of researchers from The Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati, and Case Western Reserve…
New Spark in the Dark Series to Bring Dazzling Nighttime Fun to Great Parks’ Miami Whitewater Forest
Great Parks is lighting up the night at its biggest park with some illuminated fun this summer. Miami Whitewater Forest in Crosby and Whitewater townships will transform into a dazzling showcase of glowing boats; campfires; nighttime nature adventures and more with the new Spark in the Dark event series. At Spark in the Dark, the…
Grammy-Nominated DJ Diplo Joins West Chester’s Voices of America Country Music Fest Lineup
West Chester will be getting a little bit country again this summer with the return of the Voices of America Country Music Fest. From Thursday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 11, some of the biggest names in country music will be hitting the stage at Voice of America MetroPark for the second-annual festival, and organizers…
Sound Advice: Dayton Indie Rock Band Brainiac Returns to Woodward Theater This Month
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 15 print edition. In the 1990s, Brainiac (stylized as 3RA1N1AC) was one of the biggest bands to come out of the Dayton music scene alongside Guided by Voices and The Breeders. The trifecta established Dayton as a viable music destination, to the extent that Spin Magazine wrote a…
Sound Advice: 21 Savage Brings Raw, Vulnerable Sounds to Riverbend Music Center
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 15 print edition. 21 Savage is a successful rapper bringing his raw and vulnerable work to the stage this summer. Born in London, 21 Savage’s birth name is Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph. The name 21 Savage came from an incident in which he was shot six times on his…
Bright Lights, Big City: How Cincinnati’s Growing Film Industry Creates Opportunities for Local Talent
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 15 print edition. Hollywood has found a foothold here in Cincinnati. History has shown that all the lights and cameras tend to be concentrated in the rolling hills of Los Angeles, a far cry away from the Midwest charm of Cincinnati. However, due in large part to government…
Legendary Musician Don Was on the Transformative Power of Music
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 15 print edition. Don Was is a musical savant. At age 71, he has spent the last half-century immersed in an art form that has given him as much as he’s given it. Was came of age in a suburb of Detroit during the ‘60s, a city awash…
Daruma Provides Niche Japanese Market Experience in Downtown Cincinnati
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 15 print edition. Cincinnati is always diversifying its palette when it comes to restaurant options. With the recent success of the Asian Food Festival and new spots opening that feature menu items from around the world, it’s apparent that there is a desire for a more inclusive food…
Kings Island Announces Camp Snoopy Opening Date, New Food and Wine Festival
Kings Island is giving the details on everything new coming to the park this summer, including the opening date of its newest themed area, Camp Snoopy. Camp Snoopy will expand Kings Island’s award-winning kids’ play area with an immersive adventure play space, as well as Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers, Kings Island’s first family boomerang coaster.…
The Hartwell Gold Star is Celebrating Reopening With Free Cheese Coneys
The Gold Star Chili in Hartwell is celebrating its grand reopening this weekend with free cheese coneys and the chance to win free burgers. Gold Star’s Hartwell location underwent extensive remodeling both inside and outside after a fire damaged the building and forced the restaurant to close in 2021. In honor of reopening, on Saturday-Sunday,…
Sample From Over 70 Beers and Spirits at the Second-Annual Oakley Beer Fest
You can enjoy a day of drinks, entertainment and music at the second-annual Oakley Beer Fest this weekend. Element Eatery in Madisonville is hosting the festival Saturday, May 18 starting at 3 p.m. Oakley Beer Fest will feature beverages from over 70 breweries and spirits providers, including MadTree and Little Kings; samples from nine food…
Trail That Would Connect Lunken Airport to Sawyer Point Gets Green Light
An agreement has been reached between Hamilton County’s Great Parks, the City of Cincinnati, Metro and the Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) on the construction of a new trail that would connect the nearly five-mile span between Lunken Airport and Sawyer Point. The Oasis Trail will be a shared-use, paved trail linking the two landmarks…
An Mpox ‘Outbreak’ Was Declared in Ohio. But What Does That Mean?
This story was originally published by the Buckeye Flame and republished here with permission. On April 25, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health issued an alert for an outbreak of mpox. Formerly referred to as monkeypox, mpox is an infection caused by the mpox virus. It is characterized by lesions on the skin that start…
Ohio Abortion Rights Groups Add Challenges to Other Laws to a 2021 Telehealth Lawsuit
A long-standing lawsuit challenging Ohio law with regard to telehealth abortions might now challenge other abortion-related laws in the state, according to a new filing. The ACLU, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and two other law firms filed an amendment to their original lawsuit, asking a Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas judge to…
UPDATE: Felony Disguise Charges Dropped Against Xavier Pro-Palestinian Protesters
Felony charges against two pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested on Xavier University’s campus over the weekend have been ignored by a grand jury, according to an update to court documents on the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts website. Sophia “Soup” Dempsey, an XU student, and XU alum Julia Lankisch, both 22, faced felony “conspiracy while…
You Can Try Out to Become an Honorary Cincinnati Bengal For a Day and Meet Sam Hubbard. Here’s How:
Miller Lite and Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive end Sam Hubbard are teaming up in a new initiative that will give Ohio sports fans a chance to prove they have the pride and spirit it takes to make the team. Miller Lite launched its series of “Proudly Brewed in Ohio” sweepstakes Monday. The sweepstakes offer fans a…
Pro-Palestinian Protesters Slapped with Felony Charges for Wearing Masks Outside Xavier Commencement
Two pro-Palestinian protesters are facing felony charges for attempting to demonstrate on Xavier University’s campus just hours before a commencement ceremony over the weekend. The arrests On Saturday, May 11, Sophia “Soup” Dempsey, an XU student, and XU alum Julia Lankisch, both 22, were arrested by campus police around 7:30 a.m. outside the Cintas Center…
Immersive Gaming Experience Activate to Open Cincinnati Location
A new, adrenaline-packed, live-action gaming venue is opening in Cincinnati this month. Activate, an immersive gaming experience that uses state-of-the-art technology and has been going viral on TikTok, will open its first Ohio location in Oakley on Friday, May 31. The brand has 11 locations and a global player base of 2.5 million people, according…
Is Delta-8 Legal in Indiana? The Answer is Actually Hazy
In the nearly six years since a federal law appeared to open the doors to delta-8, the marijuana-like drug has grown into a billion-dollar Hoosier industry. But it’s done so on shaky legal ground, leaving retailers and law enforcement officials alike seeking legislative clarification: is delta-8 allowed in Indiana? “The legislature needs to act to…
DeWine Talks Abortion, Ohio Redistricting, Seat Belts During Columbus Metropolitan Club Forum
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine answered questions about abortion, redistricting, lawmakers overriding his vetoes and the power struggle in the Ohio House during the most recent Columbus Metropolitan Club weekly forum. Statehouse News Bureau reporter Jo Ingles asked DeWine several questions during the hour-long forum and here is a rundown of what the governor had to say. …
Factory 52’s Hi-Wire Brewing to Host Weekly Summer Concert Series
Norwood’s Hi-Wire Brewing is hosting a brand-new concert series at its home at Factory 52 this summer. Wild Card Wednesdays will offer a summer of musical discovery with a concert each week from May 29 through Sept. 4. From 6-9 p.m. each Wednesday, Factory 52 will transform its lawn into a vibrant stage, hosting bands…
Guest Commentary: Public Funds for Private Purposes. How Vouchers are Undermining Democracy
Take a moment to look around your neighborhood and beyond. In your observations, have you noticed an increasing number of children out and about during school hours? If you have, you’re witnessing the warning signs of future societal instability. And yes, those warning lights are blinking red. Surprise? Not really. It’s been coming for decades.…
Ohio Lawmakers Approve Cell Phones in School Measure
Ohio lawmakers signed off on changes to the military seal for high school diplomas on Wednesday. But the bill’s most notable provision was a last-minute amendment regarding cell phones in K-12 schools that caught a ride on the non-controversial measure. Recently, Gov. Mike DeWine urged lawmakers to address cell phones in classrooms during his State…
Guest Commentary: Senator Sherrod Brown Puts Politics Aside to Keep Our State Safe
Last year in CityBeat, I called for the passage of Senator Sherrod Brown’s FEND Off Fentanyl Act, a bipartisan bill to help Ohio law enforcement keep the dangerous drug fentanyl out of our communities and combat the ongoing addiction epidemic facing our state. Today, I’m proud to write that Senator Brown’s FEND Off Fentanyl is…
Review: Maya Hawke Transforms and Delivers a Nuanced Performance in ‘Wildcat’
I am most charmed by what I call “little movies,” film projects that feel like the makers channel them from beyond, compelled by something better than money — the fiery need to tell an intimate, heartfelt story. Movies like Dogfight, Gas, Food, Lodging and Tangerine, to name a few. Tiny budgets are key, since the restrictions…
Bakery Sebastian Bakehouse to Move from Mariemont to New Storefront
A popular Greater Cincinnati bakery is getting a new home. Sebastian Bakehouse says it will be moving from its first brick-and-mortar location in Mariemont to a larger space in Blue Ash. The bakery specializes as a viennoiserie —a French word for “things from Vienna” — which refers to breakfast pastries that bridge pâtisserie and French…
Ohio Lawmakers Insist Biden Will be on November’s Ballot, But They’re Fuzzy on Details
In a surprise move, the Ohio House decided not to take up legislation to ensure President Joe Biden appears on the November ballot in Ohio. But elected leaders from both parties insist Biden will appear on voters’ ballots. They have said so many times. But the thing is, they’re not exactly sure how, and an…
Ohio’s Gerrymandered Maps ‘Diminishing the Voting Power of Black Voters,’ Groups Say
Ohio’s gerrymandered maps take voting power away from Black communities, fair map advocates said this week on a media call. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU’s law school found that about 77% of Ohio (about 9.1 million people) lives in “districts where elections for state representatives are not in serious dispute,” according to their…
Pro-Palestinian Protesters Assemble in Covington as Israeli Forces Enter Rafah
Protesters from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky cities gathered in Covington on May 7 to send a message to politicians and passersby about the latest development in Gaza. “Shame! Shame!” chanted approximately 50 protesters at the corner of Pike Street and 7th Street. Mohammad Ahmad, head organizer of the Covington for Ceasefire organization, addressed the growing…
Win Some Pricey and Hard-to-Find Spirits at the KSO’s Annual Rare Bourbon Raffle
You could win some rare spirits and help fund free concerts with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s (KSO) annual Rare Bourbon Raffle this month. The Party Source, a neighbor of KSO and long-time supporter, donated a six-bottle set of the November 2023 release of Rip & Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon, a five-bottle set of Buffalo Trace…
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost Says Student Protesters May Face Felony Charges Due to 1953 Law
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sent a letter Monday to Ohio university presidents saying recent protesters who were arrested may have committed a felony by wearing a mask. A 1953 Ohio law says it is a felony to commit a crime — even a misdemeanor — with two or more people “while wearing white caps,…
Tech Industry Group Wants Judge to Block Ohio’s Social Media Consent Law Permanently
Ohio’s social media parental consent law has been on hold since January. Now, a tech company trade group is asking the judge to block the law permanently. At the same time, momentum appears to be building for alternative approaches meant to reduce the amount of time kids spend on social media. How we got here…
College Hill Comic Shop Manga Manga to Host Anime Film Festival This Summer
The inaugural Cincinnati Anime Film Festival is coming this summer with a lineup of screenings for all ages that span two months. The festival lineup is set to be released during a launch party at Woodward Theater on June 3. College Hill comic book shop Manga Manga is hosting the festival, which will be held…
Cincinnati Distilling Brings Home Seven Medals from Prestigious Spirits Championship
A Greater Cincinnati distillery is bringing home the gold (along with some silver and bronze medals too) from a prestigious spirits competition. Cincinnati Distilling, located on Mill Street in Milford, won seven medals total at the US Open Whiskey and Spirits Championship, which judges whiskeys, rum, gin, cocktails and more from distilleries across the United…
‘Emergency Protest for Rafah’ Happening in Covington
A protest rally in support of Palestinians has been announced for Tuesday evening in Covington. Covington for Ceasefire announced the May 7 protest earlier the same day, saying six different student- and community-based groups will rally at the corner of West Pike Street and 7th Street in Covington starting at 6:30 p.m. The protest is…
Guest Commentary: The Awful Primary Campaign Season is Giving Indiana What it Deserves
French philosopher and statesman Joseph de Maistre is credited with saying it first: “Every country has the government it deserves.” In America, we more often credit the sentiment to Thomas Jefferson, who specifically said, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.” Ouch. Regardless of the version or the originator, it hurts more than…
Guest Commentary: Ohioans Know What They Voted For Last November. Yost’s Legal Fights Don’t Change That.
It was plain what Ohio voters approved last November with Issue 1. An overwhelming majority of Ohioans voted for a reset on abortion rights after relentless government assault on reproductive freedoms under the state’s patriarchal theocratic rule. The consensus of 57% of the electorate was to enshrine the fundamental right to abortion in the Ohio…
Crown Restaurant Group Announces Concept for New Restaurant, and It’s Smashing, Darlings
In January, Crown Restaurant Group (CRG), the owners behind some of Cincinnati’s most popular restaurants, announced it would be opening its sixth eatery in The Foundry in downtown Cincinnati. Now, CRG is revealing the concept behind it: a London-style public house. CRG owners Chef Anthony Sitek and his wife, Haley Nutter-Sitek, plan to open their…
Graeter’s Releases First Limited-Time Bonus Flavor of 2024
In one of the first true signs that summer is approaching, Graeter’s Ice Cream has released its first bonus flavor of the season, and we’re going nuts over it. Each year, the local favorite French pot ice cream maker typically releases five secret bonus flavors over the summer, and it has just unveiled the first…
Great Parks to Receive $500K to Fund Trail Connecting Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods
Hamilton County’s park system received a big boost to connect two of its most popular parks. Great Parks says it will receive $500,000 from the Ohio Department of National Resources (ODNR) Clean Ohio Trail Fund program for a trail that will link Winton Woods to Glenwood Gardens. The funds will add to the $6.47 million…
Guest Commentary: ‘Wanting to be Free Does Not Insinuate Violence’
History has a way of vindicating student protests — civil rights, Vietnam, apartheid — but it can take a while. I was thinking about this while trudging up Woodland Avenue on a sunny afternoon last week to a pro-Palestinian rally at the University of Kentucky. Along the way, I passed a group of college women…
Humble Monk Brewing Announces Move From Northside Location
Northside brewery Humble Monk Brewing announced over the weekend that it will be moving from its current location next month. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Humble Monk is in search of a new home for our taproom and brewing operations,” the brewery shared on social media. “We plan to continue sharing our craft brews with our…
Ohio Abortion Law Court Cases Moving Slowly Forward After Amendment
The road toward the November general election will include many more debates about abortion and reproductive rights in Ohio. The conversation is taking shape in the form of campaigning candidates and their stances on upholding the constitutional amendment approved by 57% of voters last November, and the potential for a national abortion ban floated by…
Cincinnati’s Potter’s Field is Officially on the National Register of Historic Places. Now What?
Cincinnati’s Potter’s Field was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places last week, but city leaders aren’t talking about next steps for the site. Potter’s Field, located in West Price Hill, is a long-neglected historical burial ground where people (often poor or unidentified) were buried from the mid-1800s to 1981. The graves, most…
Young Buck Deli Announces Opening Date in Over-the-Rhine
A Cincinnati delicatessen is opening its first brick-and-mortar store this month. Cincinnati culinary couple and butcher/chef duo Brian and Caitlin Young, who met on the set of season 16 of Bravo’s Top Chef, have brought their Young Buck Deli to the former Holtman’s Donuts shop in Over-the-Rhine. They’re also partnering with Crown Restaurant Group to…
Guest Commentary: Kentucky Derby at 150 is Bucket-List Americana. But Can it Outrun Racing’s Woes?
To paraphrase a wiseguy I once knew, this Saturday’s Kentucky Derby — the 150th edition of the famed horse race — is made history. From its first running in 1875 as the feature race at a just-opened Churchill Downs in Louisville to its current place atop a sports and culture pinnacle, its narrative has been…
Ruby’s Chocolates Celebrates Relocation to Findlay Market With Grand Opening
A Cincinnati chocolate shop celebrated its relocation with a grand opening Friday. Ruby’s Chocolates, formerly located on Isabella Avenue in Oakley, can now be found at Findlay Market. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks Friday morning kicked off Ruby’s Chocolates’ grand opening. The family-owned and -operated business specializes in gourmet chocolate treats like truffles and truffle…
Hundreds of Ohio College Students Protest Israel-Hamas War
Ohio colleges and universities have been the site of recent protests over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, Oberlin College, Ohio University, Miami University and Denison University have all had campus protests the past couple of weeks as the semester winds down. Kent State University has a protest planned…
Attorneys for Clermont County Father Accused of Executing 3 Young Sons File Motion to Exclude the Death Penalty
Attorneys for Chad Doerman, the Clermont County man accused of shooting and killing his three sons in June 2023, have requested the court take the death penalty off the table due to Doerman’s “serious mental illness” on the day of the killings. Doerman’s attorneys filed the motion in conjunction with a plea of not guilty…
New Riff Distilling Wins 10 Medals at Prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition
A Northern Kentucky distillery is bringing home the gold — and double gold — from a prestigious spirits competition. New Riff Distilling in Newport says it recently won 10 medals at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), a renowned event that features a thoughtfully curated list of judges conducting blind tastings. Winners range…
Nation Kitchen + Bar Announces Closure of Pendleton Location
A popular Cincinnati burger joint announced it’s officially closing its flagship location permanently. Nation Kitchen + Bar posted on social media Wednesday that it would not be reopening its Pendleton location. The Broadway Street restaurant — which opened in 2015 and was Nation’s first location — first closed in October for renovations. “Thank you to…
Indiana Attorney General Rokita Weighs in on Pronouns in the Workplace
In a politically charged and, at times, inflammatory Facebook event, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita waded into a recent discussion on pronouns in the workplace. Earlier this week, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that repeatedly misgendering an employee or denying them access to a bathroom consistent with their gender identity amounts to workplace…
Ohio Dealing With STI Increase, Health Departments Strategize Outreach Efforts
Regions in Ohio have been tracking an alarming increase in sexually transmitted infections, with some areas more than doubling in syphilis rates specifically, according to recent data. Groups including Columbus Public Health, the Cleveland Department of Public Health, and Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio reported overall increases. From 2016 to 2021, the Ohio Department of…
Wave Pool’s Upcoming Exhibit Sees Two Artists’ Connection to Ohio River Valley Region
Two artists from the Ohio River Valley Region explore their connection to place through photograph, sculpture and other media in an upcoming Wave Pool exhibit. Kith and Kin: Things Well Known runs from May 11 to June 22 at the Wave Pool gallery in Camp Washington. The two-person exhibition was curated by Wave Pool’s curatorial…
HighGrain Brewing Co. Prepares to Open Second Location in Former Springfield Township Bowling Alley
A popular Cincinnati area brewery is expanding to a second location inside a former bowling alley. HighGrain Brewing Co., which opened its first taproom and restaurant in Silverton in 2019, will soon open a new location in the former Brentwood Bowl in Springfield Township. The brewery says it will move the majority of its brewing…
Cincinnati Artist Collective Creates Sculptural Series that Spells Out Black Lives Matter
A giant sculpture will soon rise in Roselawn at the corner of Reading and Section roads as part of a citywide art installment. The 10-foot “R” sculpture, created by Annie Ruth, is the first installation of 16 giant-letter sculptures and an exclamation point that will appear in various places around Cincinnati, eventually spelling “Black Lives…
Trump, Sen. J.D. Vance to Speak at Cincinnati Fundraiser as Running Mate Rumors Swirl
Former President Donald Trump will take a break from lashing out in court to campaign in Cincinnati this May, with a little help from Senate Republican and Middletown native, J.D. Vance. According to an invitation obtained by NBC news, Vance has been billed as the “special guest” for a May 15 “lunch discussion” fundraiser at…
This Event Coming to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in 2025 Sounds Like a Tall Stacks Revival, and We’re Freaking Excited
Details of a big event celebrating Greater Cincinnati’s river culture and heritage were announced at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Wednesday — and Cincinnatians who were around in the era of Tall Stacks may find them particularly exciting. America’s River Roots will be a celebration of inland river culture to kick off the U.S.’s…
Bathroom Bill and Parents’ Bill of Rights See Recent Movement in the Ohio Statehouse
Two anti-transgender bills have recently been moving through the Ohio legislature. House Bill 8 would force educators to out a student’s sexuality to their parents, require public schools to inform parents about sexuality content materials ahead of time and give them the option to request alternative instructions. The bill passed in the House over the…
Ohio Bill Would Limit the Ability of Employers to Punish Employees for Not Taking Vaccines
A proposed Ohio House Bill would restrict the ability of an employer to punish employees for not taking vaccines, or other medical treatments. The sponsors of the bill laid out their case during the bill’s first hearing earlier this month. Ohio House Bill 319, also known as the “Conscientious Right to Refuse Act,” was introduced…
New Film about Cincinnati Creators of Autobiographical Comics Gets Screening Here
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 1 print edition. Ever since it had a premiere screening in Silver Spring, Maryland, last year, people in Cincinnati have been eagerly awaiting a chance to see John Kinhart’s new, long-in-the-works documentary Married to Comics. It’s an intimate, perceptive and artfully deep look into the lives of two…
Cincinnati Musician ANNIE D Discusses Her Musical Journey Ahead of a String of Releases this Year
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 1 print edition. With a new EP and a live recording, ANNIE D (Ann Driscoll) will grace this spring and summer with her amazing music. ANNIE D began her musical journey at the age of seven, beginning with guitar lessons. Then, at the age of 11, she began…
Sound Advice: Rufus Wainwright Returns to the Queen City for a Ludlow Garage Performance
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 1 print edition. On May 7, celebrated singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright will appear at Ludlow Garage in Clifton. In 1998, Rufus, son of famed folk singers Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle, burst onto the music scene with his self-titled debut album, released by DreamWorks Records. Rolling Stone named the…
Sound Advice: The Elusive Kraftwerk Pays a Visit to MegaCorp Pavilion
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 1 print edition. Electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk will bless Cincinnati with their robot pop music this May ahead of a nine-date residency in Los Angeles. With just two U.S. dates outside of their residency — one at MegaCorp Pavilion in Newport and one in Columbus — Ohio fans…
Cincinnati Photographers Enjoy the Resurgence of Film Photography
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 1 print edition. There’s no denying the popularity of photography as an artistic medium. Whether it’s the barrier of entry or the meshing of technology with artistry, it seems like photography grows in popularity every year. With this growing popularity, photography, much like fashion and storytelling, has found…
Pianist Brianna Matzke’s Tremors are at the Heart of The Response Project’s Newest Exhibit
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 1 print edition. The body is the conduit for creating all art, but Brianna Matzke is taking it one step further for TREMOR, the latest installment of The Response Project. This unique commissioning initiative seeks responses from composers and artists to a certain idea or piece of existing…
