CityBeat Is Hiring an Editorial Intern for the Spring Semester
Come learn with us! CityBeat is looking for an exceptional student journalist to join our newsroom this spring. You’ll get a chance to take the pulse of the city, interview creative people and even confront the powers that be. Working closely with an editor, you’ll get to write. You’ll get to take photos. You’ll get…
Mama’s Mornings in Covington Slings Italian-Inspired Pastries from Former Rose&Mary Bakery Chef
There’s a new weekend hot spot in Covington. Mama’s Mornings is an Italian-style pastry and espresso bar helmed by Chase Maus, baker/owner behind the recently shuttered rose&mary bakery. Only open on Saturdays and Sundays, his menu of baked goods includes offerings like tiramisu donuts, buns with polenta custard and fruit jam, and pine nut croissant…
Braxton and Graeter’s Release Special Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Beer on Dark Charge Day
Braxton Brewing Co.’s seventh-annual celebration of bourbon-barrel-aged stout is back. Dark Charge Day is ‘hoppening’ on Dec. 4. According to a release from the brewery, there will be four variants introduced this year: a barrel-aged Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee brew from Braxton Builder, Coconut Cream Puff and Barrel House Orange Curacao developed by Braxton Labs, and the…
Moonbeau’s Christian Nicholas Gough Kickstarting Solo Album Release on Best Friend Records
Greater Cincinnati musician Christian Nicholas Gough of Moonbeau and The Yugos has created his first solo album, Repeating Circles, and is asking fans for help to bring the physical copy to fruition. Gough has already dropped several singles from the forthcoming album, including “Happier Now” and “Rebel Love.” His Kickstarter, which has a goal of $8,000,…
Hiding Drugs in Diapers Was a Shitty Idea, Feds Say After Cincinnati Bust
The way babies eat, you never know what might end up in their diapers — but it's typically not drugs. Earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Cincinnati recovered a shit-ton of narcotics that were hiding within a shipment of diapers. The big load was intercepted on its way to Australia. Within…
Ohio Schools Work to Give Kids a Safe Space to Learn
Ohio schools continue to adjust to the evolving impacts of COVID-19, which means addressing both the academic and mental-stress issues faced by students. Playing catch-up from nearly two years of interrupted learning is a challenge in itself, said Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, but the pandemic also exacerbated many students' social and…
Upcoming U.S. Supreme Court Rulings Could Further Restrict Kentucky Abortion Access
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling related to the Texas six-week abortion ban this week, and hears arguments Dec. 1 in a Mississippi case experts say could challenge the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. Tamara Weider, Kentucky state director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, said Kentuckians' already restricted access to abortion is at risk. She…
Thanksgiving Miracle: Ohio’s Gas Prices Are Going Down
Motoring around for Thanksgiving or Small Business Saturday? You just might save some cash when you fuel up. Gas prices have been dropping both nationally and locally over the past couple of weeks, just in time for this week's eat-a-thon and spend-a-thon. The national average stands at $3.403 per gallon of regular gasoline, according to…
Paid Leave Advocates in Ohio Still Hopeful of Federal Spending Bill, State-Level Support
Paid leave has been on the minds of advocates in Ohio for many years, and they’re seeing the possibility for better leave options as federal legislation heads from the U.S. House to the Senate. At a meeting of the Ohio Children’s Legislative Caucus, members of the General Assembly heard from those who want to see…
Ohio’s Favorite Cake Flavor Is… Predictable
We are firmly in dessert season now, with carbs and sugar forming the blanket that will keep us cozy and happy — or at least possibly less seasonally depressed — all winter long. And where there are desserts, there are cakes. National jewelry chain Shane Co. recently conducted an investigation to see what each U.S.…
Groups Say Ohio Needs to Strengthen Rules for Disposal of Oil and Gas Waste
Groups say new draft rules proposed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) do not go far enough to properly regulate oil and gas waste facilities, or injection wells, used to dispose of liquid waste. A hearing is set for Dec. 6. Megan Hunter, senior attorney for Earthjustice, said the rules lack transparency, and fall short…
Local Graphic Designer Climbs into the Ring to Help Those Wrestling with Effects of the Pandemic
From a young age, Northern Kentucky native Ricky Henry was enthralled with professional wrestling. “You’re 7 or 8 years old, and you see guys like Hulk Hogan, Macho Man and the Ultimate Warrior in their neon outfits, and they’re like walking, talking superheroes,” he says. Little did young Ricky know that he would one day…
Cincinnati’s USA vs. Mexico Match Was Region’s Biggest Tourism Weekend Since COVID-19 Started, Officials Say
Cincinnati loves soccer — and so do the thousands of people who come here from elsewhere to see it. The Queen City scored big earlier this month when it hosted the World Cup qualifying match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Mexico. Not only did it bring hot national players and international stars to town,…
Drunk Santa is Back Onstage for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s ‘Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)’
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s annual send-up of Christmas classics is back onstage after taking a year off due to COVID. Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!) transforms a production of A Christmas Carol into an irreverent and fast-paced skewering of other holiday favorites ranging from It’s a Wonderful Life to How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas.…
Cincinnati Named One of the 10 Best Cities in the U.S. for Remote Workers
During the pandemic, remote work became the norm for a large swath of American employees — a boon for those in search of a better work-life balance and those conducting Zoom calls with a business suit on top and sweatpants on the bottom. There are plenty of memes and jokes out there about people not…
New Bill Would Bring ‘Safer Abortions,’ Ohio Republican Claims
A physician and co-sponsor of an abortion bill said the legislation could bring about safer abortion procedures for those choosing to have them. Senate Bill 157’s aim is to create a database of what bill sponsors call “botched abortion” cases and criminalize physician inaction. Doctors who don’t follow the proposed law could face first-degree felony…
Cincinnati Animal CARE Adoption Fees Reduced to $9.99 for Black Friday
Cincinnati Animal CARE — Hamilton County's shelter and humane society — has taken in 1,249 animals since Oct. 1. That's a whole lot of animals and they are currently at -30 kennels, which means "there are 30 more dogs in the facility than there are places to put them," says Cincinnati Animal Care in a…
Graze + Gather Charcuterie Board Company Wants to Make Extravagance Accessible
When Liz Sheeks and Kalisa Mora started arranging meat and cheese boards together during quarantine, they thought it would be a clever way to impress friends and family at future get-togethers. Working from home and living together as roommates in Oakley, the pair’s creative outlet of neatly designing decadent cheese boards gained the attention of…
Roebling Point Books & Coffee Is Opening a New Location in Newport, Just in Time for Small Business Saturday
Two years ago, Covington’s only bookstore and coffee shop almost closed for good. The decade-old store — cherished by locals and visitors alike — was threatened by a significant rent increase, constant construction and closure of its main thoroughfare, the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Luckily for Roebling Point Books & Coffee, high market rates…
Cincinnati is Vrbo’s Top-Trending Destination for 2022, Surprisingly
Sure, we know that Cincinnati is a pretty awesome city. But a top travel destination? Really? But that's what a new report from vacation rental agency Vrbo says. Its annual trend report looks at travel demand from a 12-month period to forecast which destinations will be hot for the following year. Travel was … well,…
Legendary Rockers Blue Oyster Cult — Playing Ludlow Garage — Are More Than Their Classics
More than a half-century after bubbling up out of Long Island, New York, Blue Oyster Cult still exists, and not just as a perpetually touring oldies act — the band released its first album in nearly two decades, the well-received The Symbol Remains, in October 2020. BOC originally formed as Soft White Underbelly in 1967…
Kentucky Humane Society Takes In 15 Dogs After They Were Rescued From Abuse
Last week, the Kentucky Humane Society announced on Facebook that they had taken in 15 dogs, all of whom were victims of abuse and neglect. The group of dogs included both adult dogs and puppies. Ten of them came from a breeding mill in Seymour, Iowa, where breeder Daniel Gingerich racked up at least 100 citations in six months…
Enigmatic Rapper Playboi Carti Brings His King Vamp Tour to Northern Kentucky’s BB&T Arena
The internet made Playboi Carti. But, unlike most contemporary rappers, he isn’t interested in revealing his every move on social media. The 25-year-old Atlanta native prefers an enigmatic approach, mixing various, sometimes disparate influences — 1970s Punk Rock, Prince, vampire movies, Lil Wayne, Givenchy — to cultivate an evolving persona that is as much about…
Fillo Greek Bake Shop Brings a Slice of the Mediterranean to Over-the-Rhine
Serving up an assortment of flaky, buttery pastries and a robust menu of Mediterranean offerings, Fillo Greek Bake Shop is bringing a slice of Greece to Over-the-Rhine. Entrepreneurial — and husband-and-wife — duo Evan and Evi Papanikolaou quietly opened the European-style café earlier this month next to Taft’s Ale House. While cooking and baking Greek…
Watch Cincinnati Police Officers Chase a Pig in Bond Hill
Cincinnati Police Department officers recently responded to mayhem, but this time the perpetrator was a pig, not a person. In a Nov. 18 Facebook post, CPD shared a video of two officers trying to capture a skittish, squealing pig in Bond Hill. Officers Grant Perry and Roland Pansch responded to a Nov. 17 call from…
Recreational Marijuana Nearing Enough Signatures to Force Ohio Lawmakers to Act
A direct-democracy attempt to force the state legislature to act on recreational marijuana will have enough signatures by the month’s end to set a plan in motion, an organizer projected Friday. Ohio attorney Thomas Haren, a representative of the “Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol,” said he expects that enough signatures will be gathered to…
John Schnatter Just Won’t Stop Talking, Reacts to Papa Johns Rebranding
To absolutely no one’s surprise, John Schnatter had thoughts to share after Papa Johns restaurant underwent a slight rebranding last week — dropping the apostrophe in their logo (they had been "Papa John's"), and announcing a modernization of the stores. Schnatter, who quit the company in 2018 after he used the n-word on a call with an ad…
Wu-Tang Clan Member Teams Up With Black-Owned Kentucky Alcohol Company
A member of the superstar Rap group Wu-Tang Clan has joined forces with a Black-owned Kentucky wine and spirits distributor. The Legacy Wine and Spirits group has welcomed Wu-Tang's Raekwon The Chef to their group. Raekwon’s Licataa sparkling wine will join their growing portfolio. The Licataa sparkling wine comes from Raekwon’s love for Italian culture and cuisine. He found Cantine Ceci…
Ohio Senate Candidate JD Vance Pushes Donald Trump’s Lies During Debate
What does Donald Trump's endorsement mean to Republican candidates? Plenty, which probably is why Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance continues his reversal of his previous criticism of the former U.S. president. Vance, a Middletown native, is running in a crowded Republican field for Ohio's Senate seat that Rob Portman will vacate in 2022. During a…
The Bengals Defeated the Las Vegas Raiders, So You Get BOGO Gold Star 3-Ways Today
The Bengals brought home a win last night, which means Gold Star is offering buy-one-get-one “Who Dey Ways” today. Cincinnati beat the Las Vegas Raiders 32-13 yesterday, so there is free chili today, Nov. 22. As the “Official Chili of the Cincinnati Bengals,” Gold Star serves up a special deal every time the Bengals triumph…
Amazon to Open Brick-and-Mortar Store in Cincinnati
Amazon will be opening one of its “4-star” stores in Cincinnati at the Kenwood Towne Centre. There are currently 32 4-star stores across the country, with 11 coming soon, according to the company's website. That includes the Cincinnati store, which will be the only Ohio brick-and-mortar for Amazon. A 4-star store carries products rated four…
Cincinnati Stoner Jazz Band Sylmar Kicks Down Genres and Climbs ‘Glass Ladders’ with New Album
There are odd similarities between Indie Soul band Sylmar, who self-identify as “Stoner Jazz,” and Fiona, the Cincinnati Zoo’s irrepressible kindergarten hippopotamus. They were born in 2016, they have outsize personalities and they’re incredible ambassadors for their hometown. They depart in one very significant aspect: Fiona doesn’t have an amazing new album to publicize and…
Newport’s New The Baker’s Table Bakery Celebrates Local Food in Every Bite
Dynamic husband-wife duo Dave Willocks and Wendy Braun of The Baker’s Table are staking their claim on the corner of Monmouth and 10th streets in Newport. Directly across the street from their flagship restaurant, they’ve opened The Baker’s Table Bakery, an establishment that’s a bakery by day and a pizza joint by night — and…
Get Your Holiday Tree Before They’re All Gone, and 7 Other Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
Even though Cincinnati Mayor-Elect Aftab Pureval won't take office until January, he's already beginning to usher in his new leadership team. And just in time for the upcoming food holidays, Justin Bieber is collaborating with Tim Hortons on what surely will become everyone's favorite snack. Catch up on these and the week's other major news…
Time Is Running Out to Apply for a Food Entrepreneur Artisan Grant from Incubator Kitchen Collective and Kroger
Since 2013, the Incubator Kitchen Collective (IKC) has been living its mission to help people start their small business dreams. Launched by Rachel DesRochers, owner of vegan graham cracker powerhouse Grateful Grahams, the goal was to create a "nonprofit commercial kitchen space that supports food entrepreneurs," DesRochers says in an email to CityBeat. More than 160 "foodpreneurs," as IKC calls them, have…
These Major Stores Will Be Closed on Thanksgiving
If you’ve ever worked retail, you know that Black Friday is one of the worst days of the year. And, in recent years, Black Friday has slowly but surely crept its way into Thanksgiving. While everyone is supposed to be stuffing their face and spending time with family and friends, some people are out shopping…
Ohio House Approves Congressional District Maps Largely Along Party Lines, Gets an ‘F’ from Princeton Gerrymandering
The Ohio House has approved new congressional districts that will give Republican candidates a significant electoral advantage for the next four years. The map will only be in place for those two election cycles because not a single Democratic member voted for it. The map now heads for Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk. If DeWine signs…
Ohio House GOP Passes Vaccine Mandate Ban After Months of Effort
After nearly six months of sustained efforts from anti-vaccination lawmakers and activists, Ohio House Republicans passed legislation Thursday prohibiting schools, colleges, and employers from requiring vaccination from employees and students. The legislation also extends a broad immunity for people and businesses against lawsuits alleging they negligently spread COVID-19. It passed with a nearly party line,…
Journey BOREALIS Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show Returns to Pyramid Hill with New, Longer Route
Hamilton's Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is upping the wow factor once again with its second-annual Journey BOREALIS drive-thru light display. The immersive illuminated experience includes "light art, installation art, and projection mapping," says a release, with new features from BLINK designers Brave Berlin and regional artist Sam Dorgan. They've also switched up the route,…
Ohio and Kentucky are Two of America’s Fattest States, Says New Report
Ohio has claimed top 15 honors in a new report — but it's an accolade we may not want. According to a study from WalletHub, Ohio is America's 12th fattest state. "According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than seven in 10 U.S. adults aged 20 and older are…
An Ice Skating Rink Is Now Open at Summit Park
Is there anything more quaint than an ice rink in winter? If you're interested in ice skating in Cincinnati, there is now one more addition to the rink scene: the Warm 98.5 Ice Rink at Summit Park. Housed underneath the colorful glass canopy at the park, the rink offers two- and three-hour skate sessions for…
Xavier University Announces End to Indoor Mask Mandate for Students, Faculty and Staff
When colleges were gearing up to welcome back students at the start of the school year in August, many implemented COVID safety protocols, including masking. Now, one Cincinnati area university has announced an end to its mask policy. Starting Dec. 1, Xavier University will no longer require anyone to wear a mask indoors on campus.…
Cincy Winter Beerfest’s Two Day Beer Extravaganza Is Returning to Cincinnati in February
This February, the 14th-annual Cincy Winter Beerfest is brewing to kick off at the Duke Energy Convention Center Feb. 11-12, 2022. After a year off due to COVID, the celebration of all things hops-related is returning. Over 400 local and regional craft beers from 130 breweries will be featured at the “biggest party of the…
Top 11 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Week (Nov. 19-21)
This weekend, more light displays are opening and holiday theater is hitting local stages. There's also a Taylor Swift-themed party, a live tattooing event at Rhinegeist and the O.F.F. Market returns to Summit Park. Friday, Nov. 19 Journey Borealis Hamilton's Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is upping the wow factor once again with its…
Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney Will Be Cincinnati’s Next Vice Mayor
A familiar face will step into the vice mayor role when Cincinnati Mayor-Elect Aftab Pureval's administration takes over in January. During a Nov. 18 briefing with reporters, Pureval announced that Cincinnati City Council member Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney will serve as vice mayor. The announcement comes just days after Pureval named his administration's transition team of…
Swifties: Dress in Your Best Taylor Costume for the ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ Release Party at e19 in Over-the-Rhine
Taylor Swift just released her version of her iconic album Red and fans are going wild. And, if you aren't going wild, you are at least very aware of the pop culture impact of Swift — and the 10-minute short film for song "All Too Well," that seems to catalog her relationship and breakup with Jake Gyllenhaal.…
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Journey Coming to Heritage Bank Center with Toto
If you're ready for an evening of belting out classic hits like you're on a karaoke stage, mark your calendars for April 24, 2022, when Journey and Toto head to Cincinnati's Heritage Bank Center. The Freedom Tour kicks off Feb. 22 in Pittsburgh before heading to 40 cities across North America. Toto hops on as…
‘Red Hat’ Kid from Covington Has Opinions on the Kyle Rittenhouse Trial
The young man from Covington Catholic High School who made waves in 2019 during an altercation with a Native American man in Washington, D.C. has apparently become a Daily Mail pundit, commenting on the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. In a Nov. 16 column for the Daily Mail, a tabloid in London, Nicholas Sandmann compared himself to…
Local Health Officials Talk Kids’ COVID-19 Vaccines, Brace for Holiday Uptick in Cases
COVID-19 continues to circulate within Hamilton County and the surrounding region — something that likely will affect upcoming holidays as well as hospital staff, officials say. "It's important for folks to remember that while we're tired of COVID, it is still here, and we need to continue to exercise caution when we are out and…
Kentucky Lawmaker Wants To Completely Ban Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving
While testifying before the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation on Monday, Rep. James Tipton (R-Taylorsville) said that he intends to file a bill during the 2022 legislative session that would make it illegal in the state to handle a cell phone while driving, although the hands-free use of personal devices would still be allowed. “We’re…
Gov. Beshear OKs COVID Booster Shots for Everyone 18 and Older in Kentucky
Gov. Andy Beshear just signed an executive order expanding the eligibility for COVID booster shots in Kentucky. Now, everyone in the Commonwealth who is over 18 years of age and at least six months past the second dose of a Moderna of Pfizer vaccine or two months past the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is approved for…
Kenwood Towne Centre to Close All Day Thanksgiving
If you’ve ever worked retail, you know that Black Friday is one of the worst days of the year. And, in recent years, Black Friday has slowly but surely crept its way into Thanksgiving. While everyone is supposed to be stuffing their face and spending time with family and friends, some people are out shopping…
SNL Alum Ana Gasteyer Brings ‘Sugar & Booze’ Swinging Holiday Singing Tour to Cincinnati’s Memorial Hall
Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer does more than comedy — she's also a highly accomplished singer. Renowned for her Martha Stewart impersonation, Schweddy Balls skit and playing Cady's mom in Mean Girls, Gasteyer also played Elphaba in the original Chicago cast of Wicked before taking over on Broadway in 2006-2007. Gasteyer also hit the…
This Weekend, Experience a Colorful, Nonsensical Wonderland… in the Dark
When Alice visited Wonderland in Lewis Carroll's series of novels, she was dazzled by unexpected sights, bizarre characters and whimsical food. But what would Alice have experienced had she been blind? CABVI (Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired) aims to give attendees a taste of just that during its Dining in the Dark…
39th-Annual Festival Of Lights Illuminates the Cincinnati Zoo with More than 4 Million LED Lights
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is transforming into an illuminated wonderland once again this year for the 39th-annual Festival Of Lights, ranked the No. 1 zoo light show in America by USA Today for three years in a row. This year's display will feature 4 million LED lights spread throughout the park, as well…
OMNIMAX’s New Film Goes Underwater into Ancient Caves Across the World
Journey to the center of the Earth without leaving your theater seat with the OMNIMAX film Ancient Caves. On view at the Cincinnati Museum Center Nov. 20 through March of 2022, this film "takes you alongside scientists as they seek to better understand Earth’s climate history by studying some of the world’s most hidden realms,"…
In Ohio, Advocating For Paid Leave Policies Isn’t Only About Working Moms
Congress is close to passing the Build Back Better plan, and policy groups are hopeful a provision to ensure more Ohioans can access paid leave will remain. The social-spen≥÷…"ding plan initially offered 12 weeks of paid leave for workers, which has since been scaled down to four weeks. Elizabeth Brown, executive director of the Ohio Women's Public…
Cincinnati Reds’ Jonathan India Is the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year, So Here’s a New Bobblehead
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India already has a cabinet full of hardware recognizing his outstanding 2021 season. But now he's landed the big, big one. Monday night, the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced that India is the 2021 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year for Major League Baseball's National League. Tampa Bay Rays…
Cincinnati Ballet Offers Dance Classes to People Living with Parkinson’s Disease
Cincinnati Ballet is now providing therapeutic dance classes for those living with Parkinson’s Disease. The ballet company announced in a press release that this program —CB Moves for Parkinson’s— was developed by choreographer Mark Morris in collaboration with the Cincinnati Ballet and Dancing with Parkinson’s Cincinnati. Morris created this dance methodology for Parkinson’s with a…
Northside AIDS Service Org Caracole Hosting Annual Christmas Tree Sale — But With a Limited Supply
Northside AIDS service nonprofit Caracole is hosting their super popular annual Christmas tree sale and fundraiser this year, but the tradition is facing some challenges in 2021. In an email, Caracole says they'll only have about half of their usual tree haul due to this year's top holiday Grinch: supply chain issues. "We suggest visiting…
Jaden Smith, Téo to Join Justin Bieber in Cincinnati Next Year
We weren't expecting two days in a row of Justin Bieber news, but here we are. Just a day after finding out that the Biebs and Tim Hortons are teaming up on special donuts and merchandise, we've learned exactly who will be joining him when he performs in Cincinnati next year — and we're not…
Flu Shots, COVID-19 Boosters Go Hand-in-Hand, Kentucky Health Experts Say
Kentuckians are being urged to check with their healthcare providers about getting a flu shot, to help protect them from illness during the holiday season. Seasonal flu activity dropped dramatically last year at the height of the pandemic, but as life gets back to near normal, researchers are also expecting a return of influenza. The Centers for Disease…
Guest Commentary: Yes, Unfortunately, the GOP Can Take Away LGBTQ+ Marriage Equality
In late 2016 I published an op-ed entitled “Trump and LGBTQ rights: Your worst nightmares unlikely to come true.” The premise of the piece was basically what you’d expect from the title. People were freaking out about Trump and his cronies reversing the progress made in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and I wanted to…
McConnell, Trump Continue To Fight — This Time Over Biden’s Infrastructure Bill Signing
Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump’s relationship continues to deteriorate post presidency, with the latest barbs being thrown by Trump, who called the senator an “Old Crow” in a statement over McConnell’s support of Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill. Trump is mad at Senate Minority Leader McConnell for voting for the infrastructure bill — something…
National Columnist Calls For Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear To Run For President… but Really?
Would Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear be a better 2024 presidential candidate than Joe Biden or Kamala Harris? A national opinion writer, Joe Concha, thinks so — enough to have written a column that appeared on The Hill’s website Sunday afternoon titled “Meet the red-state governor Democrats should nominate in 2024 instead of Biden or Harris.” But,…
Ohio Republicans Split Hamilton County into Three Districts in Latest Terrible Map
Statehouse Republicans introduced a newly drawn map for Ohio’s districts in U.S. Congress Monday night that maintains a firm GOP majority. While amendments are possible, the map is poised to pass out of a Senate committee Tuesday with a full Senate session to follow, and House sessions planned for Wednesday and Thursday. Data behind the…
Ohio’s COVID-19 Cases Rising Again Because the State Has So Many Unvaccinated Residents
COVID-19 cases are once again ascendant in the 10th least vaccinated state in the nation. State data shows infection rates are climbing and the workloads are reupping at hospitals, where more than 2,700 Ohioans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. An analysis of state data shows that 11 months into the vaccine rollout, the ground is still fertile…
Taylor Swift Sent a VERY Limited Number of Signed ‘Red’ CDs to Shake It Records in Northside
If you spent your weekend watching and rewatching Taylor Swift's short film, All Too Well, and explaining the lore of the scarf to all of your idiot friends who aren't Swifties, this news from Shake It Records may interest you. Queen T signed some copies of the just-released Red (Taylor's Version) and sent it to the Northside…
Ohio Senate Candidate Mark Pukita Brags About Being Unvaccinated from COVID-19, Disparages Josh Mandel for Being Jewish
One GOP candidate in the U.S. Senate race for Ohio has apparently decided that he has nothing left to lose in being even worse than Josh Mandel. During a Nov. 11 Senate candidate forum in Columbus, Republican Mark Pukita boasted that he was not vaccinated against COVID-19, something the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
Senators Call on President Biden to Pardon All Nonviolent Cannabis Offenders
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon sent a letter to President Joe Biden last week calling on him to use his executive authority to issue a blanket pardon for all nonviolent federal cannabis offenders, whether currently or formerly incarcerated. In the letter, the Senators, all Democrats, called America's war…
This Is Ohio’s Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish
Thanksgiving is fast-approaching — Nov. 25 to be exact — and while turkey may be the centerpiece of the dinner table, side dishes play an important supporting role. With a little more than a week left to plan the menu, many are taking to Google to find the best recipes for everything from casseroles and mashed potatoes…
No, COVID-19 Vaccines Won’t Make You Infertile, But Getting Coronavirus Can
The World Health Organization has warned that the globe is dealing with two pandemics. One is the spread of the coronavirus, but the other, equally dangerous, is the spread of misinformation and disinformation. False or misleading information has sprung up about the virus, treatments, vaccines, masks and just about every other aspect of the pandemic…
Cincinnati Mayor-Elect Aftab Pureval Names Transition Team, Looks to ‘Implement Big Ideas’
Cincinnati Mayor-Elect Aftab Pureval says that in winning a decisive victory during the Nov. 2 general election, voters gave the city a "mandate" for racial equity and prosperity for all residents. During a briefing with reporters Monday, Pureval discussed his plans to transition city leadership from outgoing eight-year mayor John Cranley to his own administration over the coming…
Cincinnati Area Christmas Tree Farms Facing Tree Shortage Following National Trends
Headlines have been popping up about live and artificial Christmas tree shortages all over the U.S. And it looks like those issues may have made their way to the Cincinnati area. Rossmann's Christmas Tree Farm in Blanchester said in a Facebook post that the farm won’t be opening for the 2021 season. They cite low…
Give Back This Holiday Season with a Coat Drive at Findlay Market
Get in the holiday spirit this year by giving back and donating to a Cincinnati winter coat drive. Findlay Market has partnered with St. Vincent de Paul again this year to help those in need stay warm this upcoming winter season. They say they are looking for new and gently used coats, gloves, hats and…
Ohio Gubernatorial Hopeful, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley Pledges Universal Pre-K If Elected
Democrat Nan Whaley is promising to take the universal preschool plan approved by Dayton voters in 2016 statewide if she’s elected governor. The Dayton mayor made a campaign stop Friday in Columbus emphasizing the importance of early childhood education alongside U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Universal pre-K is one of the provisions included in the…
Justin Bieber and Tim Hortons Join Forces to Release Limited-Edition Timbiebs Timbits Mini Donuts
Tattooed and sometimes-mustachioed former teen idol and current Pop star Justin Bieber appears to love several things: hooded sweatshirts, his wife Hailey, god and Tim Hortons. As a born-and-bred Canadian, it's only natural that the Biebs loves Tim's. And Tim's loves the Biebs. The two have consummated this relationship by introducing limited-edition Timbiebs Timbits. Yes, in…
Report: Cincinnati Residents Love Fast Food (Duh)
Yeah, yeah, we know. Why would Cincinnatians go for fast food when the region has so, so much delicious local fare of every type? But you know what? Almost everybody gets a hankering for a McRib or an Impossible Whopper at some point during the year. Some of us just crave it a wee bit…
City Says Yes to More Horse Poop, and 9 Other Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
What a year the past week has been! There's been so much sports drama and chatter about horse manure that we almost forgot — the Brent Spence Bridge is open! Our nearly-infinite "infrastructure week" nightmare is finally over (for now)! Catch up on this and the week's other major news stories below. Commercial Horse Carriages…
There’s A Chance of Snow in Cincinnati This Weekend. Are You Ready?
This weekend will have some of the coldest temperatures we’ve had this season, possibly along with something we haven’t seen yet this fall — snow. Now, if there turns out to be no snow, please do not get mad at CityBeat. Don’t tell your kids they’ll be off school Monday only to leave them disappointed…
Great, Now White-Tailed Deer — Ohio’s State Mammal — Have COVID
The coronavirus pandemic isn't over yet, no matter how exhausting it is. And woodland creatures around our homes now are proving it. According to a report from NPR, scientists say white-tailed deer are increasingly carrying SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The deer are picking up the virus and carrying it with them across the…
How to Choose a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot
It’s been a little over six months since I got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, and a phone call from my state health department over the weekend reminded me that I am eligible for a booster. But do I really need to get a third COVID-19…
Tears for Fears Kicks of May 2022 Tour at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati
Eighties act Tears for Fears has just announced the first leg of a 2022 world tour with the Alternative Rock act Garbage as support. The run will mark the group's first U.S. tour since 2017. The trek kicks off at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati on May 20. “We couldn’t be more excited to start…
Nick Castellanos Wins MLB Silver Slugger Award, Says ‘Of Course” He’d Consider Another Cincinnati Reds Offer
Will it be the foundation for more awards as a Red or just a parting gift? Cincinnati Reds outfielder-turned-free-agent Nick Castellanos picked up a 2021 MLB Silver Slugger Award Thursday night, celebrating an offensive season that positioned him for a much better contract. It was his first Slugger win. The Silver Slugger Award from Major…
Cincinnati Cyclones President Ray Harris Gets Nod for 2022 ECHL Hall of Fame
The Cincinnati Cyclones have a new Hall of Famer among them. Cyclones president Ray Harris was named Wednesday to the 2022 ECHL Hall of Fame class. The ECHL announced Harris along with three other soon-to-be inductees: former players Brett Marietti and Joel Martin plus on-ice official Tim Nowak. Harris, who has run the Cyclones for…
Married Duo Shovels & Rope Bring Roots-Fortified Tunes to Ludlow Garage in Advance of New Album
South Carolina-based husband-and-wife duo Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent initially had no intention of making Shovels & Rope a permanent music-making union. Yet here we are 13 years and multiple albums later, each effort a slight creative shift following a self-titled debut that announced the presence of two voices with grit and grace, delivering…
Commercial Horse Carriages Can Stay, Cincinnati City Council Says
Commercial horse-drawn carriages will continue to operate in Cincinnati as they presently do, despite issues with the manure business owners say the animals leave. On Nov. 10, Cincinnati City Council voted against changes to a city ordinance that would ban any horse-drawn carriage from operating in Cincinnati, with exceptions for events like weddings or parades…
Fifty West Brewing Co. Adds an Ice Rink to Become a Family-Friendly ‘Winter Wonderland’
Fifty West Brewing Company is adding another attraction to its list of ever-growing fun things to do at its Production Works brewery: an ice rink. They launched the idea last year and, because it was so successful, are bringing it back again, starting Nov. 13. The family-friendly rink will be 80-feet-by-40-feet and tickets ($10) include…
Sam Adams Releasing Extremely Limited Beer This Weekend, Illegal in 15 States
Cincinnati's Sam Adams taproom is celebrating its third anniversary with a very, very rare and very extreme beer release. The brewery is bringing back its biennial Utopias, a 28% ABV beer with a retail price (which includes a special copper brew kettle decanter) of $240. The top-shelf brew's alcohol content is so high that it's illegal…
Ben Folds Brings His Solo Piano Tour to Cincinnati’s Taft Theatre on Nov. 18
If you want to see one of Gen-X’s most creative minds at work, go to a Ben Folds show. Folds has slowly, teasingly peeled back the layers of his brilliance in the decades since we first got to know him with the Ben Folds Five in the late ’90s. The same man who shouted about…
12 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (Nov. 12-14)
November is steadily creeping onward, which means more and more holiday attractions are opening. This weekend, multiple drive-thru light shows are kicking off their season, with more to come next week. There are also several local shopping opportunities for those who want to start checking names off their gift list. Here are 12 things to…
Report: Racial Disparities in Kentucky Are Affecting Kids’ Well-Being
A new analysis of county-level data sheds light on how systemic racial disparities are affecting the well-being of kids in the Commonwealth. The 2021 Kids Count County Data Book released this week by Kentucky Youth Advocates found while the state has made strides in reducing child poverty, rates remain much higher for Black and Latino children, compared…
Nick Castellanos Misses Out on Hank Aaron Award, Rejects Cincinnati Reds Offer
It's looking like the Cincinnati Reds are in Nick Castellanos' rearview mirror. The All-Star outfielder has rejected the Reds' Nov. 7 qualifying offer this week. The QO is set across Major League Baseball at $18.4 million for the 2022 season. In return for making the offer, the Reds will receive draft picks if Castellanos signs…
REVIEW: King Records Star Little Willie John Comes Back to Life in Playhouse’s ‘Need Your Love’
CRITIC'S PICK Antonio Michael Woodard vividly reincarnates early Rhythm & Blues performer Little Willie John in Need Your Love, a world premiere production by playwright KJ Sanchez at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Born in 1937 in Arkansas, William Edward “Little Willie” John’s entire but brief recording career was with Cincinnati’s King Records. Sanchez also…
All the Free Things Cincinnati Service Members Can Enjoy This Veterans Day
Veterans Day is Thursday, Nov. 11, and several local and national organizations are offering special discounts to active military members and veterans to say thank you for your service. Be sure to provide proper identification. And note that not all locations of national chains have to participate, so it's best to check with your nearby…
Braxton Hosts Seventh-Annual Celebration of Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Stouts — Dark Charge Day
Braxton Brewing Co.'s seventh-annual celebration of bourbon-barrel-aged stout is back. Dark Charge Day is ‘hoppening’ on Dec. 4. According to a release from the brewery, there will be four variants introduced this year: a barrel-aged Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee brew from Braxton Builder, Coconut Cream Puff and Barrel House Orange Curacao developed by Braxton Labs, and…
Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market Returns to the Convention Center After Going Digital Last Year
The Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market brings upwards of 300 vendors to the Duke Energy Convention Center for a weekend of shopping. Last year, the event went digital due to COVID. But the market is back, in-person, this year from Nov. 12-14. Hundreds of Greater Cincinnati boutiques, artisans and craftspeople will be set up with booths…
Local Countrified Roots Musician Jeremy Pinnell Is Playfully Upbeat in New Album ‘Goodbye L.A.’
“Big Ol’ Good,” the first track on singer/songwriter Jeremy Pinnell’s latest record, Goodbye L.A., opens with Honky Tonk shine — a jaunty backbeat and tasty slide guitar set the scene before Pinnell’s signature soulful voice kicks in, cresting with the refrain, “I get by ’cause my baby found a good fishin’ hole/I get high on…
Ohio Protest Bill: Anti-Civil Disorder or Anti-Civil Rights?
An Ohio bill dubbed by opponents as "anti-free speech" is up for a possible vote. House Bill 109 increases the penalties for rioting and creates the offenses of riot assault and riot vandalism. It also increases the penalty for disorderly conduct when the offender hinders the movement of people during a riot or illegal protest. David…
Ohio’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to Open New Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Exhibit
On Nov. 19, Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will open You Don’t Know How It Feels, a new Tom Petty exhibit that will celebrate the November anniversary of the Wildflowers album and the worldwide release of the award-winning documentary film Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers. The exhibit will feature artifacts surrounding the Wildflowers era sessions and…
Cincinnati’s Dean Regas Named Grand Canyon’s Next Astronomer in Residence
Cincinnati is the birthplace of American astronomy (it's true), and soon visitors to Grand Canyon National Park will get the full Queen City educational experience when Cincinnati Observatory Astronomer Dean Regas takes over as the park's Astronomer in Residence. Regas will take on that role for one month, starting Nov. 16. He'll be stationed at…
A ‘Survivor’ Winner Is Running For Kentucky State House
Nick Wilson, a Kentucky attorney who won “Survivor: David vs. Goliath” in 2018, is running for a seat in the state House of Representatives. In a public statement, Wilson said, “I am running for State Representative of the 82nd District, because I feel led to public service and I love Whitley County. […] Being away…
No Game Ticket? Watch the Hot USMNT vs. Mexico World Cup Qualifier from The Banks
The USA vs. Mexico soccer match at TQL Stadium — the hottest ticket in Cincinnati — may be sold out, but you can still experience the thrills. There will be a watch party for this week's hotly anticipated 2022 World Cup qualifier Friday night at the Banks in downtown. The party starts at 7 p.m.…
Cincinnati Fountain Square Holiday Tree ‘Understood the Assignment’ by Looking Normal This Year
In true 2020 fashion, last year’s Fountain Square holiday tree was very Charlie Brownish. This year, however, the tradition has returned to its full glory. The 2020 65-foot Norway Spruce apparently had a rough voyage to the Queen City and looked slightly sparse, causing an influx of light-hearted buzz on the social media channels including…
Ohio Residents Hate GOP’s State Redistricting Plans, Based on Meeting Comments
The last of the General Assembly’s congressional redistricting public hearings in individual committees are this week, just as a joint committee starts work. In Senate Local Government and Elections Committee on Tuesday, the last scheduled hearings on GOP and Democratic bills to change the congressional district maps in the state occurred, with much of the same criticism…
A Q&A with Dominique Khoury, the Chef Behind Local Lebanese Pop-Up Looqma
Dominique Khoury, the woman behind pop-up restaurant and bakery Looqma, moved to Greater Cincinnati last November. Lucky for us, she brought with her her family’s Lebanese cuisine — rich with spiced, aromatically seasoned meat; earthy stews; bright, citrusy fruits; elegant pastries; and nutty breads. Looqma has been spotted around the city since May, making appearances…
Warren County Judge Declines to Dismiss ‘Guns at Meetings’ Lawsuit Against City of Lebanon
A Warren County judge denied a motion Monday to toss out a lawsuit over a local ordinance that allows residents to carry concealed firearms into city council meetings. Common Pleas Judge Timothy Tepe ruled against the city of Lebanon, declining its request that he dismiss a lawsuit that three residents filed earlier this year. On…
