CityBeat Does Taste of Cincinnati
CityBeat is hosting a stage at Taste of Cincinnati this Memorial Day weekend. The lineup for Sunday, May 30's "CityBeat Stage presented by Riverbend Summer 2010" features a stellar collection of national up-and-comers and local heroes. Below is the schedule and some links so you can check 'em out before you check 'em out. —-…
Local Theater Awards: How Much Is Enough?
Greater Cincinnati has two awards programs that recognize our excellent theater scene. Perhaps that’s good news, but you might wonder if this kind of competition between competitions is the best way to go.—- First, a bit of history and background. The Cincinnati Entertainment Awards (CEAs) were established by CityBeat in 1996, using theater critics from…
Events: CincItalia
There are a lot of Italians on the West Side. Many of them are likely to congregate (or as my Uncle Wose Gargano calls it, “get our Dean Martin on”) at the first-ever CincItalia, which takes over Harvest Home Park in Cheviot this weekend. The three-day cultural celebration features food from local restaurants (Gabby’s Café,…
Events: MoBo Fundraiser
MoBo is throwing their fourth annual fundraising party at Mayday with a variety of performers including The Tillers, DJ Grover, The Chocolate Horse, DJs Northside Nick, Fishfischer and harpist Elizabeth Motter. Food and snacks are provided and drink specials run all night. Silent auction until 10 p.m. $8 for co-op members or $10 for non-members.…
Onstage: Curtains
The overture to Curtains, the final show created by the team of John Kander and Fred Ebb (who also wrote Cabaret and Chicago among other great musicals) announces that the Golden Age of Broadway hasn't ended. It’s bold and brassy and full of melodies that make you feel like it’s 1959 or thereabouts. Curtains, which…
Does the Media’s Obsession With 24/7 Breaking News Compromise Law Enforcement?
In the Good Old Days, journalists generally held a story if authorities said it could compromise the stakeout, chase or anticipated capture of a suspect. Even if we knew where agents were headed or stood with them outside a motel where a kidnapper and victim were hidden, we responded with silence. We shared the agents’…
Art: Sentimental Journey at Country Club
Gary Lee Boas has become one of the country's more unusual collectible contemporary photographers since the 2000 publication of his book Starstruck: Photographs from a Fan. Beginning in his teenage years, he started taking snapshots with a simple Brownie camera of celebrities during New York's decadent 1970s, a time when Warhol, Liza, Michael Jackson, Bianca…
Curtains (Review)
Critic's Pick The overture to Curtains, the final show created by the team of John Kander and Fred Ebb (who also wrote Cabaret and Chicago among other great musicals) announces that the Golden Age of Broadway hasn't ended. It’s bold and brassy and full of melodies that make you feel like it’s 1959 or thereabouts.…
Events: Bike-to-Work Week
May is Bike Month! This week you can embrace bicycle commuting and share the road with cars and busses. Queen City Bike has worked with others in the bicycle community to organize bike commuter stations around town which will be open from 7-9 a.m. May 17-21. The stations will include free air, chain lube, coffee…
Events: Mississippi Chicken Screening
In 2004 filmmaker John Fiege spent the summer and 400 rolls of Super 8 film recording life among the mostly immigrant workers in a deep South chicken factory. His “gritty depiction of mileu and moment” (Austin Chronicle), Mississippi Chicken, has a one-time Cincinnati showing at 7 p.m. Thursday at Su Casa, followed by a panel…
The French Connection
There’s nothing out of the ordinary about a band doing a string of local dates to celebrate the release of an album. It is unusual when the album is nearly two years old and the band has to fly in from France for the shows. For Cincinnati’s Boogie Woogie Blues piano master Ricky Nye, it’s…
Onstage: Legally Blonde: The Musical
The hit movie from 2001 is all about a seemingly ditzy young woman who so wants to be taken seriously that she decides to go to law school. Powered largely by the comic talents of actress Reese Witherspoon, the film garnered big box office numbers (and spawned a sequel), so naturally Broadway — where producers…
Ill Poetic and Approach
The talented Hip Hop producer/MC/mash-up king/CityBeat Hip Hop columnist is coming back to Greater Cincinnati Thursday for a bash celebrating the re-release of his nationally-issued and acclaimed 2007 solo album, The World Is Ours, and the new album by Kansas MC Approach (which Ill Poetic produced), Aloe Park. The show at Covington’s Mad Hatter is…
Lectures: Over-the-Rhine Tenements
Learn about “Over-the-Rhine Tenements: Historic Foundations for a Greener Future” from Mike Morgan of the OTR Foundation at the Mercantile Library at 6 p.m. Thursday in a lecture expanding on the Betts House’s exhibition From Tenements to Townhouses: Multi-Family Housing in Cincinnati. Some of the grand old apartment buildings that inspire the Betts House show…
Onstage: Of Mice and Men
Most opera composers count themselves lucky if they get more than one production. By that reckoning, Carlisle Floyd’s two major works are off the charts. Susannah is an American classic, performed by major companies throughout the world, and this weekend, CCM presents Of Mice and Men in a production by Nic Muni. John Steinbeck’s bleak…
Events: MainStrasse Maifest
Spring is here, and that means it’s time for the Tristate’s first major summer festival, the 31st annual MainStrasse Village Maifest. Based on the German tradition of welcoming the first spring wines, Maifest offers arts and crafts, rides, German and internationally inspired food and beverages and live entertainment from bands like DV8, 4th Day Echo,…
Music: Ill Poetic and Approach
The talented Hip Hop producer/MC/mash-up king/CityBeat Hip Hop columnist is coming back to Greater Cincinnati Thursday for a bash celebrating the re-release of his nationally-issued and acclaimed 2007 solo album, The World Is Ours, and the new album by Kansas MC Approach (which Ill Po produced), Aloe Park. The show at Covington’s The Mad Hatter…
Comedy: Hackamania
“There’s a really good stand-up comedy scene around here,” says comic Brad Thacker. “There are probably 15-20 (nationally recognized) comics I could name off the top of my head … that hail from here.” Indeed, names like Josh Sneed, Greg Warren, Gary Owen, Kat Williams and many more have ties to the Tristate. To showcase…
Silver Spring House (Review)
When you give your restaurant a tagline like “The Chicken Joint,” you damn well better make some kick-ass poultry, right? Well, that’s the gauntlet thrown down by Symmes Township stalwart Silver Spring House, which has stood on the corner of Kemper and Snyder roads since 1988. That 20-plus year history represents an eternity in the…
Events: Live Love Studios Open House
Free beer is indisputably a cornerstone of the music community, and Live Love Studios in Amelia is well stocked for their first annual open house. Operated by College-Conservatory of Music graduates Noah Smith and Ross McAllister, Live Love Studios strives to bring the highest sound quality to Cincinnati’s music, even on the smallest level and…
Events: Alpacas 4 You Spring Fling
Springtime is just more springy when your life is filled with baby animals, and perhaps no cuter animal exists than a baby alpaca. Cincinnati is particularly wealthy with alpaca farms, five of which comprise the coalition Alpacas 4 You. This Saturday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Breezy Hill Acres in New Richmond hosts the coalition's…
Medical Marijuana Bill Takes Root in Ohio
Depending on how you read the tea leaves, support for some sort of marijuana legalization might be at an all-time high among Americans. The results of an Associated Press/CNBC poll released in April showed 55 percent of Americans opposed an end to prohibition. But when those polled were asked to compare the hypothetical regulation of…
Ethiopian
EmanuFlavor: Many Cincinnatians might be unfamiliar with the slow-cooked, aromatically spiced delicacies of Ethiopia and Eritrea, like Kilwa Sega (strips of marinated beef sautéed with onions, green pepper and spices); Tsebhi Beghie (lamb simmered in red pepper sauce with onions and flavored with spices); and vegan Ahmelti (collard greens and lightly spiced cabbage cooked with…
New American
Aroma Restaurant and SushiFlavor: Star chef Chef Romuald Jung’s latest project is another homerun venture. The menu makes you slow down long enough to appreciate the importance of smell, texture and memory in your dining experience. Chef Romy puts his unique, masterful spin on yummy offerings like Salmon Sliders, Sourdough Bruschetta and a wide variety…
Cajun
Dee Felice CaféFlavor: New Orleans-style right in Covington with a Portabella Etouffée for that rarest of dining species, a Cajun vegetarian. Chef’s specialties include traditional offerings of Crawfish Etouffee, Jambalaya, Deep Fried Oysters and daily specials. Frou-frou cocktails like the Pomegranate FruityTooty Tini or the Tootsie Rolltini will help you get your funk on.Flair: Jazz…
Soul Food
A Taste of Julia’sFlavor: Julia Pitts, owner of A Taste of Julia’s, loves cooking and loves people. You can taste her passion in her sultry collard greens, her crispy Southern fried chicken and, of course, while sipping Julia’s Famous Tea Punch. Menu staples include chicken prepared four ways — pan-fried, barbequed, baked or smothered in…
Bistro Cafe
Arthur’sFlavor: Cincinnati’s version of Cheers — your quintessential neighborhood bar. Even if the food was bad, you’d still go. Of course, it’s not. Some of our favorites are the slightly garlicky Spinach Pizza and Burger Madness on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Toppings are free and include everything from blue cheese to chili. For vegetarians, there’s…
Stick Men
When Tony Levin debuted the Chapman Stick on King Crimson’s “Elephant Talk” from 1981’s Disciple album, the combination guitar/bass/ukemandocello (OK, maybe not that last one) that plays like a mutation of a guitar/bass neck, a keyboard and a drum was an immediate sensation, as far as pure curiosity is concerned. While the Stick struck a…
Comedy: David Brenner
Over the years David Brenner has proven to be one of the most influential comics in America. One of the first to embrace so-called “observational” humor in the 1970s, his quick wit spawned a legion of like-minded comics. A fixture on TV ever since, he holds the record for the most talk show appearances in…
Sandwiches
IngredientsFlavor: Part Manhattan coffeehouse, part upscale college cafeteria commons, Ingredients offers casual grab-and-go fare. With a menu focused on fresh ingredients with minimal processing, health-conscience diners can nosh on breakfast or lunch sandwiches, panini and brick-oven pizzas. Salad fixings are innovative, including golden beets, roasted peppers and hearts of palm. Build your own or choose…
South American
Argentine Bean Flavor: A tapas and wine bar, the Argentine Bean features the ever-popular Hanger Steak and Salmon over Beluga Lentils, as well as many other offerings. Check out the new summer tapas menu.Flair: The Argentine Bean might have white tablecloths, but with live music on Friday and Saturday and half-price wine on Wednesdays, the…
Mediterranean
Andy’s Mediterranean Grill Flavor: Expect maximum Mediterranean flavor at Andy’s, from the signature Shish Tawook, a marinated chicken kebab that’s won awards at Taste of Cincinnati, to authentic stuffed-grape leaves and many varieties of baklava and Turkish coffee. Guests rave about the Labneh (Lebanese yogurt spread) and the crisp Macedonian Tzatziki Salad. There are lots…
Onstage: Shadowbox’s The Bash
The cast of Shadowbox invites you to become a part their annual fundraising event, The Shadowbox Bash. The Bash combines blind-bidding silent auctions, raffle drawings and short, high-energy live auctions into one fast-paced event designed to raise critical operating funds for the company. An upscale dinner banquet, cash bar and live entertainment from the Shadowboxers…
Music: Stick Men
When Tony Levin debuted the Chapman Stick on King Crimson’s “Elephant Talk” from 1981’s Disciple album, the combination guitar/bass/ukemandocello (OK, maybe not that last one) that plays like a mutation of a guitar/bass neck, a keyboard and a drum was an immediate sensation, as far as pure curiosity is concerned. While the Stick struck a…
Russian
Red Square Restaurant & DeliFlavor: Authentic Russian fare, including stuffed cabbage rolls; Moscow potato salad; arabat with cabbage, carrots, dill and roasted nuts; gribnoy with mushrooms and garlic; borscht; exotic sausages; and stroganoff. The large perogis, which resemble a 12-inch, double-crust pizza, come stuffed with your choice of potatoes, cheese, ground beef or cabbage. Also…
Music: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings play the Southgate House Monday and also headline the Nelsonville Music Festival (at Hocking College in southeast Ohio) on Saturday night. The nine-piece band, complete with horn section, is touring in support of their fourth album, the new I Learned the Hard Way. Their last album (2007’s 100 Days, 100…
Midlake
The music media has loudly and deservedly trumpeted the incredible accomplishments of The Shins and The New Pornographers in sustaining impressive streaks of quality across consecutive albums (the first three for The Shins and the first five for the Pornographers). Perhaps less noticed among their similarly toned Indie Rock peer group, Midlake put together an…
Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Review)
While watching the opening night of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the Cincinnati Playhouse, I kept wondering, “How could so much of the Fats Waller revue seem so perfunctory, mechanical and tired of itself?” Well, here’s a point to ponder: Director Arthur Faria, music director and pianist William Foster McDaniel and four of the five singer/dancers (Eugene…
Italian
Barresi’sFlavor: When Sarah Wagner took over for long-time owners Sal and Odessa Barresi a few years ago, she freshened the decor but she didn’t want to run the risk of upsetting her loyal guests by changing the traditional menu. She does mix things up a bit with wine tastings and cooking classes, events that include…
Breakfast/Lunch
Annabel’sFlavor: You’ll be glad to hear that breakfast is served all day at Annabel’s. Where else can you get cornmeal pancakes with honey crunch butter and homemade syrup, or carrot cake French toast topped with cream cheese and roasted pecans? Even the light lunch fare sounds amazing, including a Japanese salmon salad. And all of…
Casual
Allyn’sFlavor: The sheer number of menu items you’ll find at Allyn’s will surprise you. There are Cajun specialties like Blackened Gator, jambalaya and red beans and rice; slow-cooked ribs; Tex-Mex treats like enchiladas and chimichangas; and standard pub grub like hot wings, fries and sandwiches. There is also a menu for the kids and beverages…
Burgers
Black Angus Burgers & BrewsFlavor: Bustin’ out must-try burgers made of 100 percent Angus beef and topped with the freshest ingredients. Specialties include the Black n’ Blue and Chipotle Burgers, Hell’s Fury Wings, Hand-Battered Onion Rings and the chef’s favorite, the signature Triple Dog Dare. More than 3 pounds of shaved ribeye, sautéed onions, banana…
Indian
Akash India RestaurantFlavor: Akash’s lunch buffet is so addictive, so undeniably tantalizing, that we somehow find ourselves walking in even we don’t intend to. Of course, there are plenty other options to satiate your Indian fix, including a nice version of Chicken Tikka Masala and a variety of lamb-based dishes. There’s also a nice selection…
National Observer
Over the years David Brenner has proven to be one of the most influential comics in America. One of the first to embrace so-called “observational” humor in the 1970s, his quick wit spawned a legion of like-minded comics. A fixture on TV ever since, he holds the record for the most talk show appearances in…
Senegalese
TerangaFlavor: Teranga doesn’t tone down its offering of traditional Senegalese and West African dishes for the Cincinnati palate. Order the grilled fish and you’ll see what we mean: Out comes an entire tilapia (head, tail, skin, bones and all) surrounded by a spicy mustard sauce thick with onions and seasoned with hot and black pepper.…
Wanda Jackson and the Lustre Kings
If the ’50s had been a more enlightened and progressive period in music history, Wanda Jackson’s name would be accorded the same reverence as Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. But because the music industry adhered to the misguided notion that no one would accept a Rockabilly girl playing as hard, loud and…
It’s Good to Be Kings
In a feature in The New York Times Magazine, Gabriel Roth — co-owner of Daptone Records and creator, songwriter, arranger and bassist (under the name Bosco Mann) for the increasingly successful retro-Soul/Funk band Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings — recalled the great music he listened to in college. That was in the early 1990s; he’s…
Takeout/Specialty
Alabama Fish BarFlavor: Cod, perch or whiting battered, deep-fried and handed over in a more-than-generous portion on a bed of fries with a slice of bread. Slap some condiments on it and eat as much as you can stuff in!Flair: Don’t be put off by the line out the door — that’s a good thing.…
Pizza
Adriatico’s New York Style PizzaFlavor: You’re in big trouble if you live, work or go to school near Adriatico’s and get in the habit of eating there. And you will. The spicy garlicky sauce, oversized pepperonis and super-thick crust can’t be found anywhere else in the Tristate. Good luck finding calzones like theirs, too. It’s…
The Best Thing I Ever Ate In Cincinnati
What makes the perfect mouthful? With a crisp apple or a perfectly ripe peach, it’s elemental. Or maybe it’s the quality of the ingredients. When people compliment my pot roast, for instance, I tell them, “Thanks, but the cow did the work.” Still, the skill, knowledge and techniques of a chef improve and enhance most…
German
Christy’s/Lenhardt’s Flavor: Christy’s/Lenhardt’s is a piece of Cincinnati history. Housed in the once-regal surroundings of the former Moerlein mansion, it now provides a comfortable spot to indulge in some culinary local history. The menu includes signature German fare such as Pork Schniztel, Sauerbraten and Potato pancake and Homemade Sausage with sauerkraut, as well as Eastern…
The Soprano
When locally based soprano Kara Shay Thomson takes the stage during this year’s May Festival, she’ll be notching a number of significant firsts. Most importantly, she'll be making her May Festival debut, which will also mark her first opportunity to work with Maestro James Conlon, now in his 31st year as music director of the…
Vegetarian
MeltFlavor: A funky neighborhood gourmet sandwich shop with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. The Avocado Bliss sandwich is a blissful stack of garlicky avocado, smoked mozzarella, tomato, onion, romaine and baked tofu on rye bread. Sunday brunch is a delicious Northside tradition.Flair: Melt is a healthy and eco-friendly cafe with a lot to offer.…
Coffeehouses
BrutopiaFlavor: Italian espresso and a small daily menu that includes soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches and excellent baked goods from Take the Cake, as well as inventive smoothies with fresh ingredients. The More Amore is made with strawberries, banana, organic dark chocolate and cream and the Red Riding Hood includes strawberries, blueberries, organic vanilla yogurt and…
British/Celtic
Claddagh Irish PubFlavor: Big portions of solid food nod to the Irish, like mussels simmered in Harp Lager; Jameson Irish Whiskey-glazed sirloin steak; and baby back ribs with Guinness Stout BBQ sauce. Not much into the cuisine of fair Éire? They also offer wings, Caesar salad and balsamic chicken. Flair: Here’s the place to be…
Mexican
Cactus PearFlavor: They pay attention to the details here. For instance, the addictive salsa is black because they roast the tomatoes. And they’re willing to mix it up a little, too, hence the Chipotle Hummus a “Southwest version” of the Middle Eastern dip. And Caribbean Fajitas with jerk BBQ chicken, sweet potatoes and pineapple salsa.…
French
Lavomatic Café & Urban Wine BarFlavor: Urban fare with a twist, like tater tots with truffles, salad on the grill or cupcakes made of meatloaf. Featuring local, seasonally sourced ingredients whenever possible, Lavomatic has been a revelation to the local dining scene. If you like to graze and are looking for staff that can give…
BBQ/Ribs
BBQ RevueFlavor: The smell of hickory wood hits your olfactory senses before you even make it in the door. Once inside you’ll find all the necessities of a good neighborhood BBQ joint. The ribs are good, and the beef brisket wins praise as the “best outside of Texas.” Go for a side of mac and…
Music: Wanda Jackson and the Lustre Kings
If the ’50s had been a more enlightened and progressive period in music history, Wanda Jackson’s name would be accorded the same reverence as Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. But because the music industry adhered to the misguided notion that no one would accept a Rockabilly girl playing as hard, loud and…
Music: Midlake
The music media has loudly and deservedly trumpeted the incredible accomplishments of The Shins and The New Pornographers in sustaining impressive streaks of quality across consecutive albums (the first three for The Shins and the first five for the Pornographers). Perhaps less noticed among their similarly toned Indie Rock peer group, Midlake put together an…
Seafood
Bonefish GrillFlavor: Bonefish Grill is a nice, upscale chain of fresh seafood restaurants in the South and Midwest. Their fish is certainly top quality — both in the year-round and seasonal varieties they feature — and the preparations can be quite minimal and delicious, like wood-grilled grouper with mango salsa or fresh fish tacos.Flair: Both…
Homestyle
Anchor GrillFlavor: All the food that goes great with the cigarette you will most certainly smoke after eating it. You’re not living if haven’t tried a GLT (goetta, lettuce and tomato sandwich) at least once. Traditional breakfast food makes up most of the menu: fried eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy and, of course, goetta…
Eastern European
Iron SkilletFlavor: Did you even know that there are eight kinds of schnitzel? At the Iron Skillet, there’s a schnitzel for every day of the week and then some, as it celebrates traditional Eastern European cuisine. The best sauerbraten and goulash in town, and wonderful desserts like a six-layer Dobosch torte filled with chocolate buttercream…
Asian
Amarin Flavor: Amarin has an extensive menu (actually three small ones) featuring just about any Thai or sushi dish you’ve ever come across and several signature items. Most dishes are big enough to share, like the Soft Shell Crab appetizer — tempura fried and served with a chili dipping sauce. We also love the Amarin…
Steakhouses
Anthony’s Bar & GrilleFlavor: Formerly a cigar bar, Anthony’s still features a walk-in humidor and you are welcome to enjoy your cigar on the patio. But good food and drink is available, too. An extensive menu of sandwiches, steaks and seafood accompanies a good selection of scotches, bourbons and wines.Flair: Classy yet casual enough to…
Glendale Hosts Wine, Beer and Food Festival
This weekend (May 14, 15 and 16) historic Glendale Square will be the site of the town’s first-ever Wine, Beer and Food Festival. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Harry Whiting Brown Community Center, which supports community cultural and artistic activities and programs. —- Events connected to the Festival happen all week. Among them,…
AMOS Seeks More Local Hiring
A group of clergy say Hamilton County’s recent analysis of workers on the massive Banks project along Cincinnati’s downtown riverfront vindicates its concern that not enough local residents are being used. During a Hamilton County Commission meeting Wednesday, Banks project manager John Deatrick unveiled an analysis that revealed the numbers of people employed who live…
Bengals Give Pacman Another Chance
The Cincinnai Bengals are back at it again with their recent signing of troubled cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones. Jones agreed to a two-year deal with the club on Thursday, making the Bengals his third team in his short and troubled NFL career. Thankfully, the Bengals made sure to include language in the contract to protect…
5 Reasons To Experience a Commandos Game
I attended my first Cincinnati Commandos game at the Cincinnati Gardens Arena on April 24. The Commandos were host to the Miami Valley Silverbacks. To say the least, my first professional indoor football game was a very satisfying one. The nail-biting 58-50 win gave the undefeated Commandos their fifth straight win, leaving them in first…
‘SistaHood’ Returns to WAIF
Ending a seven-month suspension from the air, The SistaHood Show is returning to its weekly berth at WAIF (88.3 FM) beginning today. The program, co-hosted by Victoria Straughn and Crystal Allen, was a casualty of the ongoing strife at the community radio station between many longtime volunteer programmers and Board Chairman Donald Shabazz, about how…
The Eyes of Oedipus (Review)
There aren’t many stories that have been around longer than the tragedy of Oedipus, a man who tried to escape fate but ran directly into it. The Greek playwright Sophocles’ version of the tale from 2,500 years ago is the most familiar, but the story has fascinated and horrified audiences for millennia. A new version…
A Town Called Panic (Review)
This whimsical, thoroughly Belgian import imagines a primary-colored world in which the tiny toy cowboy, Indian and horse figures we all had as children (well, those of us who grew up in a pre-Transformers world) come alive and find themselves in all manner of goofy yet compelling adventures. The subtitled French-language film has won a…
One Solid Mutiny
We follow local artist Zach Rawe through the process of preparing for his solo show at U-Turn, One Solid Mutiny. Rawe also spoke with us about his work.
Star Chefs, Great Wine at Second Sunday
Second Sunday on Main is now called Second Sunday OTR. I guess they’re making the point that there are shops and galleries open and participating throughout the downtown neighborhood, even beyond the confines of Main Street where specialty vendors and entertainment attractions set up monthly for the hip, eclectic Street Fair. The event kicks off…
Friday Movie Roundup: Summer’s Here!
The summer movie season kicks off this week with Iron Man 2, yet another sequel that seems to have succumbed to the Hollywood notion that bigger is better. Director Jon Favreau and lead dude Robert Downey Jr. are joined this time by a lengthy list of intriguing supporting actors (Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Samuel L.…
Sheriff Settles Suit for $30,000
It seems Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. doesn’t like speaking under oath in a court of law, and wants taxpayers to pay to help him avoid it. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a former Justice Center inmate over an August 2007 incident in which he…
Qualls: Bortz’ Claim Is Wrong
In this week’s Porkopolis column, I wondered how Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls felt about “being continually used as a human shield” by City Councilman Chris Bortz on an issue of a potential conflict of interest. Apparently, the answer is, “Not too good.”—- While discussing his possible conflict of issue involving voting on matters related…
Iron Man 2 (Review)
Director Jon Favreau and writer Justin Theroux deserve credit for trying to infuse the sequel to 2008’s Iron Man with equal parts pleasure, wit, intelligence, silliness, self-awareness and steely action-movie grit. In other words, Favreau tries to make it a worthwhile vehicle for the acting ability of his star, Robert Downey Jr. — once again…
Art: TEMPO at Manifest Creative Research Gallery
Time has no shape, color or texture. It's non-spatial, constantly changing and invisible. How on earth could an artist hope to capture it in a two-dimensional canvas or a three-dimensional sculpture? Nevertheless, for as long as humans have made art, they've made art about time. Temporal subjects exist everywhere. They're in the decaying fruit of…
Getting Past ‘The Very Worst Thing’
On the morning of Feb. 28, 1958, a school bus carrying 48 elementary and high school students ran over an embankment and plunged into the Big Sandy River in Prestonsburg, Ky. Twenty-six kids and the bus’ driver lost their lives in the crash, forever altering the small, close-knit Floyd County town’s inhabitants. Michael Crisp’s appropriately…
TEMPO (Review)
Time has no shape, color or texture. It's non-spatial, constantly changing and invisible. How on earth could an artist hope to capture it in a two-dimensional canvas or a three-dimensional sculpture? Nevertheless, for as long as humans have made art, they've made art about time. Temporal subjects exist everywhere. They're in the decaying fruit of…
Wagner Blues
April has been the cruelest month as far as Cincinnati Opera is concerned. Within a two-week span, the highly anticipated production of Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nrnberg lost three of its star performers: Celebrated conductor and Cincinnati native James Levine cancelled due to back surgery, followed by bass James Morris (for health reasons) and…
The Most Miserable Man in Cincinnati
I’m downtown on the No. 6 bus heading home to Westwood. As the bus stops on Sixth Street, I watch this guy get on. I know him, and I’m hoping like hell he doesn’t see me sitting in one of the front-row seats. I’m not in the mood to deal with Lee. I haven’t seen…
Ordinary Girl
It’s clear that onstage is where Jessica Dimon feels most comfortable. On a recent Friday night, she struts through Northside’s Club Nonta, lip-synching to a Ke$ha/P!nk/ Katy Perry mix, pausing to snatch dollars from admirers lining the periphery of her performance area. She rocks a tight, black bedazzled jumpsuit that skims one shoulder, and big…
Art Chicago Surveys (and Sells) Contemporary Visual Arts
Last weekend’s Art Chicago, with about 150 international galleries displaying (mostly) contemporary art in their individual booths, is the best way for us Midwesterners to get a handle on what’s new and important in the art world regionally and around the world. It was held at the city’s massive Merchandise Mart concurrently with NEXT: The…
Bryan Madison [Madison’s Markets]
Keeping it local is important to Bryan Madison, whether it’s offering Madison’s Ridgeview Farm’s locally-grown, farm-fresh produce at Madison’s Markets (at Findlay Market) or dining with family at a Cincinnati institution. CityBeat: What was the last great meal you ate and where did you have it?Bryan Madison: (My wife) Carolyn and I recently celebrated my…
Reform or Retreat?
As women, we are entitled to certain enjoyments including, but not limited to, facials, chocolate, lying about our age, “girls’ night out” and (insert stereotypical pleasure here). But we also have the freedom to play sports, be the president of a multi-million dollar franchise, dress ourselves in something other than long skirts (thanks for the…
Bigger Than Life (Review)
Because of the gentle family sitcoms of the period — Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet — most of us think of the 1950s as a golden era for life in middle-class America. No secrets, no child abuse, no drug addiction or crime, no questioning of values. We…
Magnums, IP and Revenge of the Nerds
[HOT] Size Is EverythingTrojan’s “Magnum” condoms would seem to be a product that sells itself. A tagline like (and we’re paraphrasing here) “For the big-dicked man” should be all the marketing needed for the extra-large condom brand (or any product, for that matter — it’s worked wonders for companies that make oversized trucks and SUVs,…
A Perk for the Powerful No More
For a long time, one of the perks of being well-connected and, typically, well-to-do in Hamilton County was a divorce proceeding was insulated from public view. Until three or four years ago, it was a common practice among Domestic Relations Court judges to seal divorce files simply because the parties wanted to keep their aborted…
Coaching Courage
Despite her tiny stature, bubbly personality and unabashed kindness, Debbie Gardner could kill a dude. Not the average mother, Gardner believes telling her kid “Call me when you get there” is a set-up for failure. She doesn’t consider walking alone at night an abomination. And if she had the power, McGruff the Crime Dog would…
Baby Mama With a Mother’s Day Feast
Honor thy mother, dear readers, and that means you’ve got until Sunday to get your act together. Now here’s the rub: Everyone wants to take their mom out to eat for Mother’s Day, thus making it a classic overcrowding situation. Here are a few suggestions, with one caveat: Make reservations when possible. You might have…
Mount Airy Forest
Key At-A-Glance Information Length: 1.9 milesConfiguration: LoopDifficulty: ModerateScenery: Woods and streamsExposure: ShadedTraffic: LightTrail Surface: Soil, exposed rocks and rootsHiking Time: 45 minutes – 1 hourDriving Distance: 10 minutes from downtown CincinnatiSeason: Year-roundAccess: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.Maps: USGS Cincinnati West; Mt. Airy Forest mapWheelchair Accessible: NoFacilities: NoFor More Information: (513) 352-4080 or www.cincinnati-oh.gov/parksSpecial Comments: This…
Peter Frampton, Hole, Jesse Malin, Caribou and More
I’m still recovering from one of those crazy weeks that creeps up every so often. As previously reported, in order to give my working wife a bit of a break I’ve started getting up at 5:30 a.m. to get my daughter out the door at 6:20 to catch her bus. It’s been a bit of…
Bortz Bungles Ethics Disclosure, Harms Streetcars
As all good Catholics know, an omission is a failure to do something one can and ought to do. If it happens intentionally, it’s considered a sin. I’m not sure if Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Bortz is Catholic, but I do know he should have been more forthcoming to CityBeat and local residents about the…
’10 Rules
In the modern day mating dance, a lot of things can permanently put the brakes on a burgeoning relationship. Still, everything your mom and the nuns at Catholic school taught you about sex and dating is not true. Barfing in a front of a dude on a first date isn’t necessarily a relationship death sentence.…
A New Road to Recovery
Tim Britton has practiced the same daily routine for the last month on his path to recovery at the Drop Inn Center downtown, the largest homeless shelter in Cincinnati. As one of nine current residents of the clinical recovery program, Tim wakes up each morning at 6 a.m., serves three meals a day alongside his…
David Pepper and Courtney Combs
[WINNER] DAVID PEPPER: Maybe he’s feeling emboldened because he’s not seeking reelection as a Hamilton County commissioner, but Pepper recently proposed the best and most common sense solution to cover deficits in the county’s stadium account. Pepper wants the commission to cap the benefit received from a property tax rebate that began when voters passed…
She Said, She Said
Kristi Capps, Cincinnati Ballet principal dancer This is the season for change for longtime Cincinnati Ballet Principal Dancer Kristi Capps: She’ll soon retire from the company that’s been her home since 1996, marking one of the longest tenures of any dancer with Cincinnati Ballet. Her final performances with the company will take place as part…
April 28-May 4: Worst Week Ever!
WEDNESDAY APRIL 28 There are good reasons for sports fans to hate certain professional baseball teams: Racist mascots, steroid-using players and the self-importance that results from once having Babe Ruth on your team are all grounds for wishing ill will on a team and its fans. But a new algorithm that analyzes how people feel…
