Locals Only: : Hot Wired
Dale M. Johnson The Light Wires It's an overcast weeknight on a Northside tavern patio as three members of The Light Wires wait for Jeremy Pinnell to show up. The three — Andy Hittle (guitar), Rick McCarty (drums) and Mike Montgomery (bass) — are getting worried about their elusive frontman's whereabouts. "I think he's…
Three Corners: Searching for spots that matter in the wake of the Fountain Square shooting
I have good news for Cincinnati movers-and-shakers scrambling to provide damage control over the fatal shooting on Fountain Square last weekend. People still want to come to Cincinnati. In fact, I'm taking credit for the six-person boost in tourism this weekend and hoping that the folks over at the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau…
Cover Story: Finding a Good Thing
"WOW!" That's what I said to myself on that fall day in 1985 in UC's Armory Fieldhouse when I saw you at the top of that pyramid of bodies as I gawked at you during your cheerleading practice. The vision of your athletic legs and tight butt indelibly printed on my mind as I…
Cover Story: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
"Don't wreck your shit." Yeah, right. Kathy Y. Wilson — Women's Issue editor and my Negro Tour Guide — asked me to write about sibling relations and expects me to not "wreck my shit." Don't get me wrong. I love my sister. Despite the 11 years difference in age, we know each other pretty…
Cover Story: ‘M’ Is for It’s Finally Alright
I don't remember crying at my mother's funeral on June 30, 2000. It took a bottle of gin that evening, sitting alone at my dining room table, to help make the tears flow. That night I picked up my old mandolin and started playing, thinking maybe she could hear me. I looked at the…
Music: Gomez Your Own Way
England's Gomez are using their current U.S. tour to road-test new material for their release, which is due to the label in October. There's going against the grain, and then there's not even knowing that a grain exists. Extraordinarily hyped English quintet Gomez is on tour this summer, despite the fact that they're in…
Home Work
If asset building is good for the wealthy, why not find or encourage policies whereby all Americans can benefit? We've done it before. Students of history will recall the Homestead Act of 1862, for example, that offered 160 acres of land to all Americans regardless of income if you were willing to occupy it and…
News: It’s All Up to Taft
Jymi Bolden Family members and supporters of Jerome Campbell rally before delivering petitions asking Gov. Bob Taft to grant him clemency. Jerome Campbell should live, according to the Ohio Adult Parole Board. For the first time since the state of Ohio reinstated capital punishment in 1981, the board has recommended clemency for a prisoner…
Cover Story: The Courtship of Julianne’s Father
Writing about women is difficult for men. Actually, almost everything about women is difficult for men. I feel lucky to have been blessed with wonderful women in my life, all of whom I'd be happy to put in the spotlight. My mom, who raised seven kids. My two immigrant grandmothers. My patient wife. My…
Whirlygig: 76: Out on the Town
Super Friends Last week was my friend Andrea's birthday. As part of the celebration activities, she decided to get a bunch of her friends together for Saturday afternoon's Reds game at the Great American Ball Park. There was a catch, however. It was a requirement to go the game dressed as a superhero. The invitation…
Diner: Woman in the Kitchen
"A chef! That's not a career, kitten; it's not even a real job for a girl. How many female chefs have you ever heard of?" It was 1974 and I had called my father to tell him I was being offered a training position in New York with a retired pastry chef willing to…
Cover Story: Napoleon and His Sisters
Napoleon Maddox: With so many sisters, how did this inform your outlook on women? Napoleon Maddox: Having eight sisters affects my outlook on women in so many ways that I've yet to identify them all. One thing I know is that my sisters are different from each other in very unique ways. The most…
Writer’s Block
Emerging writers need an outlet. And I need a way to express my inner Simon Cowell. THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY SHORT STORY COMPETITION serves both purposes. Aspiring authors have their work judged while I explore layer after layer in hopes of finding the jewel of the Nile. In actuality, there aren't that many servings. At least,…
News: Measuring Ourselves
Imagine a region where public policy decisions are based more on logic, statistics and the public good instead of fear, ignorance, re-election strategies or campaign contributors' interests. That's the goal of Sustainable Cincinnati, a three-year civic project by 59 social, business and government organizations. The first step was to come up with 10 to 20…
News: Mothers Acting Up
Jymi Bolden Preparing to act up are (L-R) Elizabeth Cochran, August & Alicia Beck, Kristin Barker and Maya Valasquez. Last winter August Beck wore a sign to a peace rally in Washington, D.C., declaring, "My parents teach me to use words, not bombs." It was a powerful message coming from a 6-month-old boy. A…
Events: When in Cincinnati …
Jim Rome Something seems different these days. It's indeed odd that a glimmer of positivity, a fair shake, a dose of national limelight is on the menu for Cincinnati. Everything seems so discombobulated. It's as if up is down, cats love dogs and City Council has a clue. A precious few turns have gone…
Three Barbecues gets things cooking
Three Barbecues Three Barbecues "Making an independent film is kind of like buying a lottery ticket," says Cincinnati producer Molly Donnellon. "I have a shot at something. I know the odds. They aren't good, but at least I have a shot at it." The lottery ticket Donnellon refers to is the independent comedy Three…
