OTRImprov Brings Irreverent Holiday Dinner Show ‘The Naughty List’ Back to Arnold’s Bar & Grill
OTRImprov is bringing its “unscripted holiday dinner show” back to Arnold’s Bar & Grill for the eighth year. The improv comedy troupe will be lambasting everything we love and hate about the holidays using audience suggestions. OTRImprov (a Best Of Cincinnati Best Improv Troupe winner multiple year’s running) will be creating scenes on the fly…
Greater Cincinnati Winterfair Arts & Crafts Show Takes Over the Northern Kentucky Convention Center
The 36th-annual Winterfair juried fine art and craft event invites shoppers to explore a plethora of work by more than 200 artisans from across America. Head to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center to discover ceramics, jewelry, photography, wearable art and more. A marketplace on the second floor will also feature specialty gourmet food items. 10…
Bring Your Phone or a Boombox for an Evening of Unconventional Caroling During Unsilent Night at Washington Park
Head to Washington Park for an evening of unconventional caroling. Things kick off around the fire pits on the porch, where hot chocolate and boozy beverages will be available along with crafting supplies to create some wearable art. Then, at 6 p.m., grab your phone (or a boombox) and press play on Phil Kline’s original…
25 Cincinnati Restaurants That Are Still Worth Writing About After 25 Years
The local food scene has been a cornerstone of CityBeat coverage since the beginning, albeit originally in slightly more obtuse ways — like we used to discuss the merits of baguettes versus rye and listed restaurant health code violations (a gross but informative early column). It wasn’t until later in 1995 that dining writer Polly…
Small-Town Tennessee Comedian Billy Wayne Davis Heads to Montgomery’s Go Bananas Comedy Club
“I’m originally from a small town in Tennessee,” Billy Wayne Davis tells an audience. He now lives in L.A. “When I tell people in Los Angeles that, it confuses them. ‘Oh, like Chattanooga?’ No, you have no idea do you? When I was in fifth grade my older cousin went to field party, got into…
Decaying Architecture is the Subject of Exhibit ‘Total Facade’ at Bunk Spot Gallery
Decaying, disheveled architecture will be the focus of Bunk Spot Gallery’s Total Facade, a joint show between Cincinnati natives Jim Swill and Ben Brown — the latter being a curator for the gallery and local art collective Bunk News. Both Swill and Brown have lived in California and much of the featured work was created during their respective time…
Clifton’s Esquire Theatre and the Mariemont Theatre Host Interactive ‘White Christmas’ Sing-a-Longs
If you’ve been dreaming of singing about a white Christmas, the Esquire and Mariemont theaters are transforming into an interactive White Christmas event, where crowd participation — and belting the lyrics to “Sisters” — is highly encouraged. The 1954 holiday classic stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as two musical World War II soldiers who…
The Dent Schoolhouse Transforms into a Holiday House of Horrors During Christmas Nightmare
The ghouls of favorite horror attraction the Dent Schoolhouse get in the holiday spirit with A Christmas Nightmare, a freaky yuletide take on the classic haunt. Dent’s classrooms and hallways will be illuminated with lights, garlands and Christmas trees, while willing participants wander through scenes staffed with evil Christmas creatures. Krampus and his twisted cohorts…
The Covington Winter Night Bazaar Has Vendors, Hot Buttered Rum and a Krampus Theme
The Covington Winter Night Bazaar is a descriptively named outdoor maker mart with fire pits and festive lighting. This year’s event has a Krampus Night theme, so expect the horned goat-man of European Christmas lore to be wandering the fest with a couple of wooden switches and a bag to carry off naughty children (or…
Dress in Your Tackiest Holiday Gear for Over-the-Rhine’s Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
Dress in your best, worst holiday sweater and join the fourth-annual Ugly Sweater Crawl through Over-the-Rhine. Think tacky and get ready to toss back a few discounted drinks at participating bars including 16-Bit Bar+Arcade, MOTR Pub, Mr. Pitiful’s and more. Tickets include your very own ugly sweater crawl T-shirt, a koozie, DJs playing holiday tunes…
Behind the Scenes of Cincinnati’s 110th-Annual Thanksgiving Day Race
Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and football in Cincinnati — it’s about the annual Thanksgiving Day Race, which this year will celebrate its 110th anniversary. One of the oldest races in the country, the event has become a staple in many local Thanksgiving Day plans. “There’s something traditional about it,” says race director Julie Isphording.…
Cincinnati-Shot Film ‘Dark Waters’ Will Seep into Your Consciousness
Upon exiting an early screening of the Cincinnati-shot Dark Waters, I found myself trembling — the terror it conveyed was so real that I had to take a few moments in my car to calm down. Stripped of metaphors and instead steeped in realism, Todd Haynes’ film may be his most conventional yet, but it’s…
Country Music Great Dallas Moore Just Accepted His Cincinnati Entertainment Award… from 2003
Dallas Moore is the definition of a perennial Cincinnati Entertainment Award nominee. CityBeat has hosted the annual celebration of Cincinnati-area music makers since 1997 (take a look back at the show's first 20 years here). In that time, a handful of local favorites have earned nominations over several consecutive years. But few have been nominated…
A New Chef, New Menu for Northside’s The Littlefield
Every neighborhood should have a place like Northside’s The Littlefield. While you might not drive across town to eat, drink or hang there, if it’s close to home, you might just make it your third place. That is, the spot you’re most likely to be found when not at home or work. I’m not…
City of Bellevue, Kentucky Receives Approval for Entertainment Destination License
Bellevue, Kentucky's Fairfield Avenue is about to get a little bit merrier beginning this holiday season. The city's request for an Entertainment Destination Center License was approved by the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control on Nov. 13, legalizing the consumption of alcohol while walking throughout the specified boundaries of the business entertainment district (BED) during the…
Queen Rock Musical ‘We Will Rock You’ Will Rock You at the Taft Theatre
The massive success of the film Bohemian Rhapsody — which fared surprisingly well at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, winning four Oscars (the most of any movie) — has led the way for a major resurgence of interest in the music of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Queen. That says a lot considering the…
Cincinnati Pop Rock Greats The Newbees Celebrate The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ (and More) at Memorial Hall
The Newbees have been flexing their impressive songwriting muscles in the Greater Cincinnati music scene for 15 years now. Like most great Pop Rock bands, the Newbees’ well-constructed, highly-melodic songs show the influence of The Beatles. Led by Jeff and Misty Perholtz, the group also shows its Fab Four love in more overt ways. The…
Cincinnati Jamgrass Band Highly Likely Debuts “Never Left Here” Music Video Shot at Loveland Castle
Cincinnati Jamgrass/Americana outfit Highly Likely came together just last year. The musicians decided to combine their talents after knowing each other from their various other projects and bumping into each other on the local music circuit. The group of songwriters — Char Bowling (guitar/vocals), Andy Tracy (drums/harmonica/vocals), Brian Bowling (banjo), Jeff Roades (bass/vocals) and Mark…
Rüya Coffee to Host December Pop-Ups at Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center
Cincinnati's favorite Turkish coffee pop-up Rüya Coffee will be opening up shop in downtown's Contemporary Arts Center Fridays and Saturdays during the month of December. Aydogan Rüya owner Melissa Aydogan will be collaborating with local watercolor artist Joya Logue to create and display mesmerizing visuals of Turkey, Aydogan's home country. Rüya and its caffeine and culture was first presented to the…
Go Full-Buddy at the Esquire Theatre’s Interactive ‘Elf’ Movie Event in December
You'll soon be able to catch the modern holiday classic film Elf on cable television 24 hours a day. But if you've ever wondered if viewing the film might be enhanced by sitting in a packed theater full of strangers and screaming "Santa! Oh my God! Santa here? I know him!" at the screen in…
Big “Get Stuffed on Local Music” Concert Returns for Pre-Turkey Day Bash
Before you gather with your family and/or friends this Thursday, gorge on something that won't help expand your waistline. The annual "Get Stuffed on Local Music" concert returns for some Thanksgiving Eve (aka the busiest bar night of the year) musical merriment on two stages at the Southgate House Revival in Newport this week. As…
Crafty Supermarket Celebrates 10 Years
It seems like a single weekend in Cincinnati doesn’t go by without a craft fair taking over a brewery, art space or park, but the city wasn’t always such a hotbed for independent makers. Crafty Supermarket first entered the scene a decade ago, originally setting up shop in the Northside Tavern. Now, the biannual show…
Cincinnati Art Museum’s Art After Dark Cocktail Party Celebrates Girl Power
The Cincinnati Art Museum is celebrating revolutionary women in art along with ArtsWave’s Power of Her initiative, a city-wide arts project to mark the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment in 2020. Get in the spirit with a performance by Cincinnati Lush Punk royalty Leggy and docent-led tours of the museum’s new Women Breaking Boundaries exhibit,…
Krohn Conservatory’s ‘A Zinzinnati Holiday’ Show Features Seasonal Foliage and German History
The Krohn’s annual holiday display’s theme is A Zinzinnati Holiday and the conservatory’s cache of tropical and lush green plants will be complemented by “representations of Cincinnati’s historical architecture,” fragrant holiday floral displays, model trains and mini Cincinnati buildings constructed out of whimsical natural materials. Expect a few callbacks to our German heritage as well…
Retro Arcade ‘Wondercade’ to Open in Westwood Early Next Year
Cincinnati's Westwood neighborhood will soon be home to a vintage/future-themed arcade called Wondercade. Slated to open early next year, the all-ages arcade will feature a large collection of games including classics like Asteroids, pinball and Pac-Man, along with rare gems like Tron and Dig Dug and group-play games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or NBA…
Bengals Announce Andy Dalton to Start at QB Again
The Ryan Finley experiment appears to be over (for now). The Cincinnati Bengals have announced that Andy Dalton will be the starting quarterback when the team plays the New York Jets this coming Sunday. Backup QB Finley was named the starter on Oct. 29 — Dalton's 32nd birthday. Finley replaced Dalton for three games but…
Multiple People Injured in Partial Building Collapse in Downtown Cincinnati
According to reports from the Cincinnati Police Department and Cincy Fire & EMS, a building at 151 W. Fourth St. has partially collapsed, with at least two confirmed victims. They have been transported to nearby hospitals. Cincy Fire & EMS said it was still searching for more victims and "building professionals" are on the scene to…
Covington’s Score on the Human Rights Campaign’s LGBTQ Municipal Equality Index Jumps to 94
The Human Rights Campaign's LGBTQ Municipal Equality Index has just scored the City of Covington a 94 out of 100. The city scored a 74 last year, jumping 20 points in 2019. The index measures cities based on their non-discrimination laws, employment practices, inclusion when it comes to city services and programs, community engagement and response…
Hitmaking Producer/Composer David Foster to Play Cincinnati with Katharine McPhee This Spring
Hitmaking producer/composer David Foster is bringing his "Hitman Tour" to Cincinnati next year. Foster will be joined by singer Katharine McPhee when he performs at the Taft Theatre on May 7, 2020. Tickets for "An Intimate Evening with David Foster" ($22.50-$85) go on sale Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. via ticketmaster.com. According to a…
New Asian Eatery E+O Kitchen Set to Open Second Location in Downtown Cincinnati
e+o Kitchen is opening its New Asian eatery downtown at 645 Walnut St. in "early winter." The concept continues the theme of the original Chicago location with "The Food Buddha," aka chef Rodelio Aglibot, overseeing "the conception, creation and launch" of the downtown restaurant, says a press release. He will also be executive chef of both…
Beloved Cincinnati Indie Pop Band Pomegranates Return for Post-Thanksgiving Hometown Concert
Pomegranates — featuring multi-instrumentalists Isaac Karns, Joey Cook and Pierce Geary, and drummer Jacob Merritt — were one of the Cincinnati scene's most passionately loved and respected outfits during their initial seven-year run in the mid-’00s/early ’10s, producing five studio albums and a live reputation that helped earn them plum opening slots on a number…
Scuba Santa Returns to the Newport Aquarium
Santa has many skills. He can fly around the globe delivering presents to all the world's children in a single night. He can shrink his massive belly to fit down a chimney. He can consume a weird amount of dairy (in milk and cookies). And the Newport Aquarium proves he can also scuba dive. You…
The Cincinnati Preservation Association Honors CityBeat’s Nick Swartsell for His Coverage of Historic Greenhills
The Cincinnati Preservation Association, which promotes the "appreciation, protection and appropriate use and development of the Cincinnati region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes," honored CityBeat reporter and News Editor Nick Swartsell for his coverage of the Village of Greenhills. He was given the Cincinnati Preservation Journalism Award on Nov. 24. The CPA's Annual Meeting and Preservation…
Over-the-Rhine’s Senate Will Be Featured on Cooking Channel’s ‘The Best Thing I Ever Ate’
Over-the-Rhine and Blue Ash-based eatery Senate will be featured on the Cooking Channel's The Best Thing I Ever Ate TV show. According to a post on Senate's Facebook page, Leroy Ansley, executive chef of the Queen City Hospitality Group, which encompasses Senate, Abigail Street, Forty Thieves and Pontiac, will appear on the program. It airs…
Kids Ride the SkyStar Wheel at The Banks for Free for the Rest of the Year
Happy holidays, kids. SkyStar at The Banks is "gifting" free rides to children 12 and under (with a paying adult) for the remainder of 2019. “This is SkyStar’s gift to the Cincinnati region,” said SkyStar’s Todd Schneider in a release. “The community has welcomed and embraced SkyStar and we’re saying ‘thank you’ with this holiday present.”…
Here’s Who Won What at the 2019 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards
Tonight (Nov. 24), the 22nd annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards party/ceremony returned to Over-the-Rhine’s Memorial Hall. Local musicians and the supporters who love them once again turned out to show their support for — and sing the praises of — each other. The 2019 CEA show was exploding with love for the richness and depth of…
New Baby Giraffe Born at Cincinnati Zoo, the Calf of Cece and Recently Deceased Kimba
A baby giraffe has been born at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the calf of 8-year-old Cece and Kimba, the zoo's 12-year-old male giraffe who passed away after complications from foot surgery on Nov. 17. The baby is Cece's second and Kimba's seventh. “We’re all sad that Kimba isn’t here to meet his seventh…
The Feisty Female Gaze of HBO’s ‘Mrs. Fletcher’
Kathryn Hahn is comedic gold. Early in her career, she stood out for her scene-stealing sidekick characters in TV and movie comedies like Step Brothers, Parks and Recreation and, in one of her first roles, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Bawdy and ballsy, Hahn seems like she would fit right in with…
Meet Dani McClain, the Cincinnati Library’s 2020 Writer-in-Residence
Award-winning local journalist and author Dani McClain will serve as the 2020 Writer-in-Residence for the Library Foundation of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. A reporter on race, reproductive health and activism, McClain has published work in Time, Slate and EBONY, in addition to her work as a freelance reporter for The Nation magazine and as a…
Cincinnati Entertainment Awards 2019: Live Stream, After-Party and Other Updates
This weekend, it's finally time for the 2019 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, CityBeat's long-running celebration of local music-makers, now in its 22nd year. The show will feature live performances from Maria Carrelli, Go Go Buffalo, Bla’szé, Patterns of Chaos, Multimagic and Soften and awards will be doled out in 19 categories, including 13 genre-specific ones and awards…
United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s Fundraising Campaign Surpasses Last Year’s Total
With more than a month left to go, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati's annual fundraising campaign has surpassed the total it brought in last year, ending three years of declines in fundraising. As of Nov. 20, the nonprofit had raised a projected $49.5 million — well above its $48 million final total last year. …
Portune Endorses Former State Rep. Pillich in Primary Race for His Seat on Hamilton County Commission
Retiring at the end of the year as he faces a battle with cancer, Hamilton County Commission member Todd Portune at a news conference Nov. 21 endorsed former State Rep. Connie Pillich in her Democratic Party primary bid to replace him. “Connie Pillich best epitomizes what I have brought to the commission,” Portune said. “From…
Disheveled Architecture Spotlighted in Bunk Spot Gallery’s Upcoming ‘Total Facade’ Exhibit
Disheveled architecture will be the focus of Bunk Spot Gallery's Total Facade, a joint show put on by Cincinnati natives Jim Swill and Ben Brown (the latter being a curator at the gallery and local art collective Bunk News). A mix of photographs and collages will be on display — the imagery of weathered, fading, crumbling architecture threaded throughout.…
“Undie-Rock” act The Skivvies Bring Their “I Touch My Elf” Tour to Ludlow Garage
Nick Cearley and Lauren Molina — both halves of musical act The Skivvies — perform stripped-down takes of today’s hits and past classics. Literally: While performing, they sport nothing but their underwear. Once described as treating the stage “like a glorified sandbox for grown-up children” and both “paradoxically sophisticated and innocent” by The New York…
Mason’s Duck Donuts and Sonder Brewing Collaborate on Donut-Inspired Beer
Two of life's greatest creations will come together in a delicious collaboration on Nov. 29. Mason's Duck Donuts, a made-to-order donut franchise, and Sonder Brewing are working on a special donut-inspired beer called Sunrise Lemon. The Berliner Weisse beer will feature hints of lemon and raspberry and is inspired by the popular Sunrise donut at…
Report: University of Cincinnati Should Rename McMicken College of Arts and Sciences Due to Association with Slaveowner
Charles McMicken was a Cincinnatian who bequeathed land to the City of Cincinnati for what would become the University of Cincinnati. The university's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences bears his name as a result — though that could change soon: McMicken also owned slaves and stipulated that the college created on his land should…
Details About City of Cincinnati’s Massive Solar Array Announced
The City of Cincinnati will get a lot more green under an ambitious solar energy contract announced Nov. 21. A 1,000-acre, 310,000-panel array will power buildings across the city, including all of the city's municipal facilities, and provide 25 percent of energy used by municipal functions from 40 miles away in Highland County, Mayor John…
On-the-Rise Rap Star Ski Mask The Slump God Brings His Stokeley Tour to Cincinnati This Weekend
Stokeley Clevon Goulbourne is a South Florida rapper with a mouthful of a moniker: Ski Mask The Slump God. However, that can provide good preparation for Ski Mask’s delivery, which is crammed with syllables over idiosyncratic but not unattractive beats. With track lengths that seldom breach the 3-minute mark, it’d be easy to declare it…
Cincinnati Pop Rock Band Van Echo Releases Debut Single, “Nobody Else”
A quartet of veteran local musicians who have been playing together in various formations over the past several years has reconfigured once again. Van Echo features former Ass Ponys bassist Randy Cheek, former Middlemarch guitarist Wes Pence, former Ray's Music Exchange and Sparrow Bellows drummer Brian Kitzmiller and singer/guitarist Ed Shuttleworth of Granville, Ohio-spawned Rock…
Cincinnati City Council to Consider Legislation Requiring Landlords to Offer Security Deposit Alternatives
Affordable housing has been a hot topic in Cincinnati recently — but one under-appreciated barrier to decent rental housing often flies under the radar for policy-makers. Security deposits can present a daunting expense for those looking to rent an apartment or house. But Cincinnati City Council will soon consider an ordinance that would offer an…
WCPO To Air Documentary About Cincinnati Who Concert Tragedy on 40th Anniversary
WCPO has announced that its documentary The Who: The Night That Changed Rock — about the 1979 Rock concert at Riverfront Coliseum that left 11 area fans dead — will air on the 40th anniversary of the tragedy. The film features interviews with The Who's Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, as well as survivors and…
Cincinnati’s First Acai Food Truck BOL to Open Early Next Year
A fresh, new food truck concept is slated to open early next year in the Queen City. BOL will specialize in acai bowls, offering five different varieties to choose from, plus "pops" and build-your-own bowls. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Michael and Angel Moore, they wanted to take their passion for acai and share it with…
Americana-Turned-Alternative Pop Band Houndmouth to Play Two-Night Stand at Southgate House Revival This Weekend
Houndmouth’s first two records, 2013’s From the Hills Below the City and 2015’s Little Neon Limelight, conjured the majestic charm of none other than Americana masters The Band. Frontman Matt Myers’ affected croon cut through jangly guitars and atmospheric organ on tunes like the quartet’s breakthrough song, “Penitentiary,” which drew internet buzz and eventually perked…
Cincinnati’s AC Upper Deck at The Banks to Offer Cozy, Rentable Rooftop Igloos This Winter
The upcoming season isn't stopping this downtown rooftop patio from keeping the party going. AC Upper Deck, located at The Banks, has transformed into a winter wonderland, offering cozy, illuminated igloos until the end of February. The rooftop bar features four heated igloos which seat up to 8 guests each. The "igloos" are not made…
Cincinnati Rockers Leggy Release Dreamy New Music Video for “Not What You Need”
Cincinnati rockers Leggy have just released a new music video for "Not What You Need," one of the standout tracks from the trio's full-length album debut, Let Me Know Your Moon, which was released on Sheer Luck Records in March. The clip — shot in the basement of Over-the-Rhine club MOTR — was filmed and…
Pop-Up Dining Experience The Aperture is Opening a Restaurant in Walnut Hills’ Historic Paramount Building
Pop-up restaurant experience The Aperture is getting a brick-and-mortar in Walnut Hills, the eatery announced on its Instagram. The restaurant is slated to open in spring 2020 in the historic Paramount Building at Gilbert Avenue and E. McMillan Street. Chef and owner Jordan Anthony-Brown will highlight the "techniques, flavors, and ingredients from countries such as…
Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animals: Cincinnati SantaCon is Expanding into Northside, Mount Adams and Covington
Ho, ho ho. The annual hibernal holiday pub crawl (or horror show, depending on whether or not you appreciate 10,000 drunk Santas on the streets) known as Cincinnati SantaCon is back Dec. 14 — and it's bigger than ever. Last year, those dressed like Santa and other Christmasy characters met at the "North Pole" and…
Council Passes Two Key Approvals for Music Venue at The Banks
Cincinnati City Council gave approval to two measures that clear the way for a music venue and other development at The Banks. Council voted to approve a development agreement that will shuffle air rights on Lot 27 — where Music and Event Management Inc. will build the music venue — from the county to MEMI…
Cincinnati Alternative Rock Veterans Return with Witches Meadow
This Saturday, Nov. 23, new Cincinnati band Witches Meadow will celebrate the release of their sublime debut album, Aztec Sea Snakes, at the Northside Tavern. The free show starts at 9 p.m. But while the group itself is new, if you've followed the original local music scene at all over the past three decades, you'll…
Local Filmmaker Mark Borison’s Latest Sci-Fi Short to be Screened at Urban Artifact
An unhappily married couple finds themselves trapped together during a mysterious quarantine. As tensions mount, their relationship begins to unravel — as do their minds. But what lurks beyond the confines of their house? That's the conflict explored in the short film Subject Six-Alpha Two. If all that sounds very Black Mirror, that's because, well,…
Mt. Healthy Police Need Help Solving an Animal Cruelty Case Involving a Puppy in a Garbage Bag, Left in the Road
The Mount Healthy Police Department needs the public's help solving an animal cruelty case involving a puppy, who was sealed in a garbage bag and left in the road. According to a post on their Facebook page, the police department was called at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 after someone spotted a garbage bag on…
Cincy Shakespeare Company’s ‘Merry Wives of Windsor’ is Enjoyable, But Unfocused
Jealousy, sex and revenge abound in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s production of Shakespeare’s farcical The Merry Wives of Windsor. Widely regarded as one of the playwright’s weaker and hastier efforts, Merry Wives has the propensity to feel over-the-top and rambling. Cincy Shakes’ production is no different. The play follows the antics of the boorish and lascivious…
Over-the-Rhine Nightclub ‘Ghost Baby’ to Open in a Historic Subterranean Lagering Tunnel
A new subterranean nightclub/music venue is slated to open beneath the streets of Over-the-Rhine this winter. Ghost Baby is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Josh Heuser, founder of AGAR, the creative marketing and event agency known for its work on local experiences including the Ubahn Fest, BLINK, Danger Wheel and more. The venue will hold…
The Tiff Over Cincinnati’s Proposed New TIF Districts
On its face, the concept seems simple and uncontroversial: Use increased money property owners pay in taxes as their property values rise to improve the areas around those properties. But in reality, so-called Tax Increment Financing districts (TIFs) are more complicated — and contentious. Next month, Cincinnati City Council is set to consider the addition…
Cincinnati Again Earns Perfect Score on Human Rights Campaign’s LGBTQ Municipal Equality Index
The City of Cincinnati has again achieved a perfect score when it comes to LGBTQ rights, a national group says. The city has again scored 100 on Human Rights Campaign's eighth-annual Municipal Equality Index. The index measures cities based on their non-discrimination laws, employment practices, inclusion when it comes to city services and programs, community…
Here are the Rare Holiday Brews You Can Drink During Arnold’s Bar & Grill’s Black Friday ’12 Beers of Christmas’ Tapping Event
Arnold's Bar & Grill is tapping its "12 Beers of Christmas" on Black Friday. Starting at 6 p.m. Nov. 29, they'll be tapping "a collection of some of the finest, rarest and sought after Holiday brews," says a release. The 12 beers are: Great Lakes Christmas Ale with honey, cinnamon and ginger flavors. Three Floyd's Alpha…
Rare and Special Black Friday Beer Releases at Greater Cincinnati Breweries
The best part of Thanksgiving is the day after, aka Black Friday (Nov. 29). Several breweries will be selling rare and special bottles of beer — and it’s an excuse to escape your family. On Black Friday, Grainworks will release Brewer’s Breakfast, an English oatmeal stout-style brew, in four packs. Also, merchandise will be 30…
Louis Langrée and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Nab Grammy Nomination
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has once again been nominated for a Grammy. Music director/conductor Louis Langrée and the CSO scored a Best Orchestral Performance nomination this morning for their Transatlantic album. The album, which was released this summer, features works by George Gershwin, Edgard Varèse and Igor Stravinsky. The CSO's version of Gershwin’s "An American in Paris"…
Patti Smith, Sylvan Esso, Of Monsters and Men, Local Natives and More to Play The National’s 2020 Homecoming Music Festival
The Homecoming music festival — presented by Indie Rock giants (and Cincinnati natives) The National and in conjunction with the long-running MusicNOW fest — returns to Smale Riverfront Park May 8-9, 2020. And just like in the event's inaugural year in 2018, the fest will showcase some of the most acclaimed and popular artists in…
The HU Brings Mix of Mongolian Folk, Throat Singing and Hard Rock to Cincinnati for Sold-Out Show
Rock music has always made strange bedfellows. I’m still amazed the universe didn’t implode after the matter/anti-matter pairing of David Bowie and Bing Crosby on “Little Drummer Boy.” The latest stylistic mash-up taking the heavy music world by storm is the unlikely combination of traditional Mongolian throat singing and instrumentation and the guitar/bass/drum structure of…
Live Music in Greater Cincinnati: This Week’s Concerts and Club Shows (Nov. 20-26)
WEDNESDAY 20 BLIND LEMON – Thom Stephenson. 8 p.m. Acoustic. Free. CAFFÈ VIVACE – Blue Wisp Big Band. 8 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $10. HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT – Marc Wolfley Trio. 6 p.m. Jazz. Free. THE LISTING LOON – Ricky Nye. 8 p.m. Blues/Boogie Woogie. Free. *LUDLOW GARAGE – Corey Smith. 8:30 p.m. Singer/songwriter.…
Two Downtown Cincinnati Businesses, 37 Individuals Allegedly Connected to Multi-Million-Dollar Federal Drug Sting
Two downtown Cincinnati businesses are allegedly connected to a massive federal drug sting that included 37 arrests, large amounts of narcotics and millions of dollars in asset seizures, an unsealed federal indictment reveals. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio's office says that Tri-State Jewelers' Race Street storefront was used to hold $2.5…
Democratic Primary for Hamilton County Commission Heats Up
As long-time Hamilton County Commission member Todd Portune retires at the end of the year, expect a battle to replace him. Former State Rep. Connie Pillich has announced she is wading into the race. The Air Force veteran has about $540,000 from a gubernatorial primary bid that election laws allow her to use in the…
SORTA Board Approves ‘Streetcar Divorce’
Members of the board of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority voted this evening on a plan that will, pending Cincinnati City Council approval, formally cede control of and responsibility for the Cincinnati Bell Connector over to the City of Cincinnati. The move separating the 3.6 mile transit system from the transit authority comes as…
Sorry, Parents: ‘Baby Shark Live!’ is Coming to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center
Hello, parents of small children, and welcome to your waking nightmare. Baby Shark Live! is coming to Cincinnati's Aronoff Center on March 7 and there is nothing you can do to escape the "doo doo doo doo doo doo." The stage show is a "fully-immersive live concert experience" based on Pinkfong's song "Baby Shark." Based…
Upcoming Holiday-Movie-Themed Trivia Nights at Greater Cincinnati Breweries
Through the end of November and all of December, various breweries are hosting holiday-themed trivia nights — many with a movie slant. Listermann Brewing Co. hosts Elf trivia on Nov. 20 and A Christmas Story trivia on Nov. 27. West Side Brewing hosts Christmas Vacation trivia on Nov. 21. Streetside Brewery is hosting Elf trivia on…
Have Your Cake and Drink It, Too at Braxton Brewing Co.’s Fifth-Annual Dark Charge Day
Braxton Brewing Co.'s fifth-annual celebration of bourbon-barrel-aged stouts is back on Dec. 7 for Dark Charge Day. For 2019, the brewery is releasing multiple barrel-aged Dark Charge variants coinciding with a winter block party featuring live music, food and limited beer bottle sales. Braxton says the beers "have been derived from classic Braxton experimentation, some tried-and-true favorites…
The Doobie Brothers are Bringing Their 50th Anniversary Tour to Cincinnati This Summer
Last night (Nov. 18), The Doobie Brothers played the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. During the show, the group performed their early ’70s albums Toulouse Street and The Captain and Me in full, then brought out surprise guest Michael McDonald to play "Takin’ It to the Streets." McDonald will be playing a lot more Doobies music…
Sibling AltPop Trio AJR is Coming Back to Cincinnati in 2020
AltPop trio AJR — featuring brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met — recently announced 20 North American tour dates for 2020. Dubbed Neotheater World Tour Part II, the springtime road venture is the sequel to AJR's 2019 American tour, which included sold-out shows at Colorado's Red Rocks amphitheater and Radio City Music Hall. The trio…
Rock Legend Elvis Costello Plays Cincinnati Tonight
If you are a fan of Elvis Costello and you’ve never seen him live, you need to make amends for that tragedy, pronto. You will not be disappointed. I have never been more confident in such an endorsement in all my life. Yes, the EC songbook contains some of the best songs ever written, but…
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Brings Its New Age Holiday Music and Light Spectacle to Cincinnati
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is bringing its long-running Christmas "multi-sensory extravaganza" back to Cincinnati this holiday season. The group's all-new musical/theatrical "Christmas Eve and Other Stories" tour comes to town on Nov. 29 for two shows. Founded by musician/composer Paul O’Neill (who died a few years ago), Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Prog/New Age holiday spectacle has played in over 80…
Kentucky Man Wins Lawsuit to Get ‘IM GOD’ Vanity License Plate
The ACLU of Kentucky announced Nov. 13 that Kentucky man and Postal Service retiree Ben Hart has won the right to obtain/display an "IM GOD" vanity license plate. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern Court of Kentucky ruled that the denial of the plate by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet violated Hart's First Amendment rights. Hart filed a…
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to Host Event Calling for Justice in Mauritania
Ohio has one of the largest concentrations in the U.S. of immigrants from Mauritania, an African country that saw brutal repressive measures against its black populations in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, local Mauritanian groups will hold an event observing the 30th anniversary of that tragedy and demanding justice for what they say…
Peeling Back 187 Years of History at Walnut Hills’ Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Archaeologists and historians from the Ohio History Connection — a nonprofit focused on preserving and sharing the Buckeye State's history — have been researching Walnut Hills' Harriet Beecher Stowe House in order to restore the property and, within the last four months, have brought the project to the site's exterior. The homestead's namesake, famed author…
‘Food Network Magazine’ Names OTR’s Please One of America’s Most Instagrammable Restaurants
Food Network Magazine recently put together a list of America's most Instagrammable restaurants — one for each state — and for Ohio, an Over-the-Rhine eatery received the spotlight. Please, helmed by chef Ryan Santos, is indeed a very beautiful restaurant. The interior space is one cozy, long, open room with sort of a chic, industrial-rustic…
Playhouse’s ‘2 Pianos, 4 Hands’ is a Breathtaking Evening of Music and Acting
CRITIC’S PICK Being an accomplished professional actor is one thing. Being a Classical musician is another. But being both? It’s hard to imagine. You don’t have to imagine — you can witness not one but two such performers onstage at the Cincinnati Playhouse’s Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre through the holidays: Jefferson McDonald and Matthew McGloin are showcasing…
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Beloved Giraffe Kimba Has Passed Away
Kimba, a 12-year-old giraffe from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, passed away early Sunday morning (Nov. 17). "The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is sad to announce that beloved male giraffe Kimba passed away early this morning," a press release on the zoo's site reads. "The Zoo Volunteer Observer (ZVO) team has been monitoring…
Tensions Continue Over Housing As Key Votes Approach for West End FC Cincinnati Stadium
Revelations that residents are being asked to leave two properties in the West End purchased by FC Cincinnati in January continue to stir controversy as key zoning approval votes the team says it needs to continue construction of its coming $250 million Major League Soccer stadium approach. Those residents say they will hold a news…
Democratic Presidential Hopeful Pete Buttigieg Slated for Cincinnati Fundraiser
Democratic Party presidential primary contender and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg will be in the Queen City on Friday, Nov. 22 for a fundraiser, hosted by Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. Mayor @nanwhaley and I are thrilled to announce that Mayor @PeteButtigieg is coming to Cincinnati next Friday (Nov 22)…
Awkwafina Tells ‘New York Times’ Travel That Cincinnati is One of Her ‘Favorites Cities’…and She Likes Our Chili
Actress and rapper Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, Paradise Hills) — and recent Time 100 Next listee — recently chatted with The New York Times Travel section about "traveling to Asia and Staycationing in New York." And the conversation about her recent vacations, hotels and travel habits took an interesting turn — one could…
Bengals’ Super Bowl LIV Dreams Dashed
The Cincinnati Bengals were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs today. After a relatively valiant effort against the Raiders in Oakland — which saw the team lose a squeaker 17-10 — the Bengals became the first team to have no possible chance of playing an NFL playoff game in 2019. The Bengals are winless this season…
Vote for the Cincinnati Zoo to Win No. 1 in USA Today’s Best Zoo Lights Contest
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is once again in the running to win the best zoo light display in America in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice poll . They took home the No. 1 spot last year for the Festival of Lights. “We’re thrilled to be nominated again this year,” said Cincinnati Zoo Director…
Tortilleria Garcia Announces a Third Location is Opening in Mason This Spring
In a rather short but sweet Facebook post on Nov. 15, Tortilleria Garcia dropped some major news for its loyal fans. They will be expanding with a third location in Mason. The restaurant currently has two locations — one in Springdale and another which recently opened in College Hill. Known for their hand-crafted corn tortillas…
The Splendid Simplicity of Director Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’
Martin Scorsese operates on a narrative plane beyond heroes and villains; his characters live in moral compromise, where even the idea of the anti-hero fails to define them. And at no time is that plainer than in his latest film, The Irishman. Take Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), as a World War II veteran and…
Fairfax’s Karrikin Spirits Co. Celebrates One-Year Anniversary This December
It seems like only yesterday that a beautiful new distillery/restaurant opened its doors in Fairfax. But, alas, an entire year has passed since Karrikin Spirits Co. first began gracing the fine people of Cincinnati with its house-made hard sodas, beers, spirits and top-notch eats. They're celebrating with a One Year Revelry on Dec. 7, featuring…
Cincinnati’s Immersive Pan Am Pop-Up Lounge and Cocktail Experience is Taking Flight to Columbus This December
Cincinnati's sold-out Pan Am Layover Lounge pop-up is taking flight to Columbus, offering another immersive experience this winter. After their inaugural event at Tokyo Kitty downtown in October, the Gorilla Cinema Presents team (the minds behind Tokyo Kitty, Overlook Lodge, The Video Archive and Lonely Pine Steakhouse) are making a few changes in order to…
Spanish-Language Play ‘The Political Jungle’ Gets U.S. Premiere at Northside’s Liberty Exhibition Hall
Mar Gámez García first wrote La Fauna Del Poder (The Political Jungle) in the fall of 2013 while studying for her masters at the University of Cincinnati. Inspired by the political climate in Spain, which at the time was in an economic recession, the play weaves together a story of love, power and ambition. Cincinnati-based theater company Catársis Teatro…
Ludlow Garage is Hosting “Scrantonicity,” a ‘The Office’-Themed Holiday Party
Is your office having a "Secret Santa" this year? Instead of a nutcracker or a teapot (unless it's for your crush), you can say "Happy birthday, Jesus" and blow your co-worker's mind by giving them tickets to "Scrantonicity," a The Office-themed holiday party/trivia night at The Ludlow Garage in Clifton on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The…
Alt Hip Hop Sensation Hobo Johnson is Playing a Sold-Out Concert at Bogart’s This Weekend
A millennial on the cusp of Gen Z, Hobo Johnson’s sound and style is suggestive of how music is consumed and regurgitated in the current era. The hodgepodge is a hyper-sensory blend of Hip Hop, Emo, Pop, Folk, Jazz and AltRock whipped together and given distinctiveness and singularity thanks to Johnson’s colorfully multifaceted personality. That…
Marilyn Manson to Open for Ozzy Osbourne at Riverbend in 2020
Marilyn Manson has been added as the opening act for Ozzy Osbourne when the Rock legend plays Riverbend Music Center this coming summer. Part of Osbourne's farewell "No More Tours 2" road trip, the Cincinnati show was first announced last fall. But the 2019 tour had to be postponed after Ozzy reportedly re-aggravated an old…
Country Star/Hootie Singer Darius Rucker to Play 2020 Benefit Concert at Elder High School
Country star Darius Rucker was in Cincinnati this summer when his band Hootie & the Blowfish played a sold-out show at Riverbend Music Center. Rucker is returning to the Queen City in 2020, this time to headline a stadium gig. Rucker will headline a benefit concert on May 7, 2020, for Elder High School's Altiora…
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Complete Ban on Abortions
For years, conservative Ohio lawmakers have enacted stricter and stricter provisions limiting abortions. Now, a group of Republicans in the Ohio House say they're taking their opposition to abortion all the way. A bill sponsored by State Reps. Candice Keller and Ron Hood would extend full legal protection to unborn fetuses and level murder charges…
Cincinnati City Council Approves Cranley-Portune Deal for The Banks
Cincinnati City Council today approved a deal between the city and Hamilton County around a music venue and other future projects at riverfront development The Banks. Mayor John Cranley, who fought the county for months before working out a deal last weekend with Hamilton County Commission member Todd Portune, called the agreement a “win-win” in…
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin Concedes Election to Governor-Elect Andy Beshear
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has conceded a close defeat to Attorney General Andy Beshear in the state's razor-thin gubernatorial contest. Beshear received roughly 5,000 more votes than Bevin in the Nov. 5 election — a margin small enough among the race's 1.4 million votes that Bevin requested and received a recanvass, or a check of…
Holiday-Themed ‘Miracle’ Pop-Up Returns to Pleasant Ridge’s Overlook Lodge with Christmas Cocktails
Miracle, a national nostalgic holiday bar pop-up experience, is returning to transform Pleasant Ridge's Overlook Lodge into a winter wonderland full of themed cocktails and ugly sweaters. Starting Monday, Nov. 25, the Overlook will be decked out with a ton of classic Christmasy decor — think garlands, tinsel, lights and vintage holiday tunes — and…
After Protracted Battle, Ohio Grants Dayton Abortion Provider License to Stay Open
After a lengthy series of court battles, a women's clinic in suburban Dayton received a license Nov. 12 from the Ohio Department of Health that will allow it to continue to provide surgical abortions. Women's Med Center in Kettering had been unable to secure an operating license since 2016 that is required under 2013 changes…
The Road’s Not Ending Anytime Soon for KISS’s ‘End of the Road’ Tour
Some fans have been expressing disappointment in various band "reunions" of late — sometimes because it feels too soon to make a comeback (like My Chemical Romance); other times because it's not really a band reunion (see: those Black Crowes dudes). Music lovers seem to be disappointed because it can sometimes feel like a long…
Theatrical Indie Pop Juggernaut Of Montreal to Return to Cincinnati This Spring
Theatrical Indie Pop juggernaut of Montreal will return to Cincinnati this coming spring. The band is slated to perform at Over-the-Rhine's Woodward Theater on March 13. Lily And The Horse will open. Tickets are on sale now for $17 via cincyticket.com. The group — headed up by mastermind Kevin Barnes — will be touring behind…
Cincinnati Black Restaurant Week Returns for Second Year
Cincinnati Black Restaurant Week returns for its second-annual event, celebrating 24 black-owned and -operated restaurants and offering dining specials across the city. Hosted by Urban League Young Professionals of Southwestern Ohio and Cincy Soul, the event will take place from Nov. 18-24. During that period, participating restaurants will offer discounted menu items and prix-fixe meals…
Fun and Funky Local Music Faves The Cincy Brass Celebrate 10th Anniversary This Weekend
One of Cincinnati's most fun and funky musical acts turns 10 years old this year. And this Saturday, Nov. 16, they'll be celebrating in style with a free party/concert at Fretboard Brewing in Blue Ash. Showtime is 8 p.m. The Cincy Brass first came together in 2009 as a party band… with a horn-y twist.…
Secret ArtWorks ‘Under the Stars’ is an Evening of Celebration, Fundraising and Mystery with a Galaxy Theme
Secret ArtWorks is an evening of celebration, fundraising and mystery. The crux of the event centers on the fact that each attendee (limited to 1,000 guests) will receive a piece of 5-inch-by-7-inch artwork crafted by an artist whose identity won’t be revealed until that night. Each ticket includes a work of art, and proceeds go…
The O.F.F. Market Takes Over MadTree’s Barrel Warehouse for Two Days of Local Shopping and Local Beer
The O.F.F. Market is going big with a two-day maker mart inside MadTree’s Barrel Warehouse. The winter shopping op will feature “artists, bakers, chefs, scavengers, mobile boutiques and everything in between,” which you can peruse and purchase while sipping on a craft beer from MadTree. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 24.…
Endure ‘Two Minutes of Self-Inflicted Torture’ at Clifton’s Straight Street Hill Climb Race
The .36 miles of Straight Street in Clifton is one of the city’s steepest inclines. The Straight Street Hill Climb was started in 1976 by the Clifton Track and, according to its website, is “two minutes of self-inflicted torture.” The climb is divided into a running race, a bike race and a duathlon. Need tips?…
East Walnut Hills’ Taste of Lebanon Features Tons of Middle Eastern Eats, Sweets and Culture
St. Anthony of Padua is hosting a fall version of its popular summertime Taste of Lebanon food and culture festival. Expect to be entertained by music and dance performances while you gorge on Middle Eastern eats including stuffed grape leaves, kibbe sandwiches (both fried and as tartare), falafel, shawarma, tons of sweets — including “Arabic…
The Contemporary Arts Center Opens Three New Exhibits with a Public Party
A triple-header of exhibitions will open at the Contemporary Arts Center on Nov. 22. Cincinnati-based photographer Tom Schiff has traveled the country capturing exterior and interior spaces, specifically of museums, by utilizing a panoramic format to explore the architecture he has encountered over the years. As a release cites, he turns these museums into a…
The Taft Museum’s After-Hours House Party Features Spiked Cider, Guided Meditation and a Glimpse of ‘Poetry of Nature’
Head to the Taft Museum of Art for an after-work happy hour and house party, co-hosted by the Civic Garden Center’s Young Professional Green Team. Think calm and lean into green with “soft jams” by DJ Mowgli, spiked hot apple cider, food from the Cheesecakery, a chance to create your own light-up peony and a…
Ali Siddiq Brings His Comedy from Prison to the Stage at the Liberty Funny Bone
Some comedians started as the funniest person in school, or as a cut-up on the job. Ali Siddiq was the funniest guy in the Texas state penitentiary system. While serving six years of a 15-year sentence for drug trafficking, he entertained his fellow inmates by reenacting entire sitcom episodes and commenting on life in prison.…
Ohio’s Suicide Rate Has Risen 45 Percent Over the Last 11 Years
An average of five people in Ohio commit suicide every day, a new report from the state says — more than 1,800 people in 2018 alone. The Ohio Department of Health's annual suicide report charts a large increase in the prevalence of suicide among Ohioans — part of a larger national trend — and shows…
Cincinnati’s Transgender Day of Remembrance Takes Place at OTR’s Woodward Theater
Local groups including the Transgender Advocacy Council, GLSEN Greater Cincinnati, Greater Cincinnati Human Rights Campaign, Heartland Trans Wellness and the Leelah Alcorn Memorial Highway, among others, are hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance at the Woodward Theater. Free Mom Hugs Ohio is also involved. The goal of the event is to “come together and remember transgender…
Cincinnati Acoustic Rockers Dead Fish Drop In Get Weird with Freerunners, Aerial Dancing in New Video
Dead Fish Drop In is a new Cincinnati band made up of some longtime local musicians who describe their sound with pinpoint accuracy as "grinding swampy pop songs about murder and spaceships." Fronted by Derek Stinson (on vocals and guitar), the band follows in the similarly oddball footsteps of his previous outfits, like Paper Doll…
ArtsWave’s Upcoming ‘Flow’ Series to Spotlight African-American Artists
On Nov. 12, ArtsWave unveiled Flow, a new performing arts series that will spotlight nationally and internationally acclaimed African-American artists and ensembles throughout 2020. "I believe we are in a community that is separated by black and white — if I can simplify that separation — and I think one of the opportunities here is…
As the U.S. Supreme Court Weighs DACA Repeal, Local Immigrant Communities Rally for the Program
As a group of nine black-robed men and women in Washington, DC consider the fate of an Obama-era program granting rights to young undocumented immigrants, some Cincinnatians are feeling the legal battle's high stakes. The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday heard arguments over Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a 2012 program that temporarily let…
Cincinnati’s Moerlein Lager House to Host Eighth-Annual Holiday Beer Extravaganza
Cincinnati's Moerlein Lager House is getting in the spirit of the season for its eighth-annual Holiday Beer Extravaganza. On Saturday, Nov. 16, head to the downtown microbrewery for a day devoted to holiday beers, bites and giving. The wintery event will offer tastings of 16 local, national and international brews alongside food pairings, plus live…
Indie Folk Artist Gregory Alan Isakov Talks Music, Poetry and Horticulture Ahead of Sold-Out Local Concert
On a sunny, fall day outside of Boulder, Colorado, Gregory Alan Isakov must decide whether to harvest a row of organic lettuce on his three-acre farm or record a song in his barn studio. Or should he do both? We should all have such choices to make once in a while. The South African-born singer/songwriter…
The Gift Guide: Presents at Every Price Point from Local Cincinnati Boutiques
November is here, which means the holidays aren’t far behind. And with most celebrations — Hanukkah, Christmas, the office Secret Santa pool, etc. — people will be expecting to give and receive gifts. And whether you believe presents are a physical sign of caring or of capitalism, you’ll most likely be buying something for someone…
United Way Says it Will Step Away from City of Cincinnati’s Human Services Funding Process Next Year
For a decade, the City of Cincinnati has decided how to divvy up the money it uses to fund outside human services organizations tackling poverty, neighborhood violence and other issues by relying on recommendations from a board administered by the United Way. That will likely change soon, however. Discussions in Cincinnati City Council's Budget and…
Damon, Bale Reign in ‘Ford v Ferrari,’ a Movie With a Very Stupid Name
Ford v Ferrari is a movie title, much like 2016's execrable Batman V Superman, designed for the social media era. It is not clever or memorable, it doesn't effectively convey what the movie is about, and it's unclear how to say it. Are we meant to say "versus" or just "V"? The whole point seems…
Greater Cincinnati’s Perfect North Slopes to Open Early This Season
The winter season is arriving a little earlier than usual to Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The ski, snowboarding and tubing park will open for the season on Friday, Nov. 15, the earliest opening in the parks's 40-year history. Perfect North will be open for skiers and snowboarders from noon to 9:30 p.m. on…
‘The Warrior Queen of Jhansi’ is Better Suited to a Classroom Than a Movie Theater
The new biopic The Warrior Queen of Jhansi tells the true story of the Rani of Jhansi, a feminist icon in India who went to battle with the British army in the 19th century. The real events resemble a David and Goliath-like story about how an unlikely insurrection shifted the balance of power in the…
Much-Maligned Smashing Pumpkins Mastermind Billy Corgan Should Be Less Maligned
Those who say to “never meet your idols” have clearly never met Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan. Here’s the thing: Corgan gets a bad rap from people like me in “the media,” some of whom have heard cautionary tales about the musicians’ gruff interactions with their peers. That reputation snowballs with more “bad interviews,” because if…
Ginuwine, Jagged Edge, 112 and More to Play This Week’s Cincy’s R&B Fest
Several turn-of-the-century R&B stars will be on hand for the first Cincy's R&B Fest, showcasing artists primarily from the Atlanta and Texas areas. Jagged Edge had its biggest success in the early ’00s, with hits like "Where the Party At" and "Let's Get Married," which won a 2001 Soul Train Music Award (as did their…
Scott Z. Burns’ Film ‘The Report’ Searches for Truth in Redaction
On the heels of my screening of The Report at the Toronto International Film Festival, I zeroed in on the presence and performance of Annette Bening as California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who tasked her ambitious staffer Daniel J. Jones (Adam Driver) to investigate the CIA’s post-9/11 Detention and Interrogation Program. It was a luxury to…
‘Silicon Valley’ of the Shadow of Death
The opening scene of Silicon Valley’s (10 p.m. Sunday, HBO) sixth and final season is all too familiar: an awkward tech founder addresses congress about the implications of our interconnected world and the tools we use to navigate it. Days ahead of the comedy’s premiere, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg testified before the House Financial Services Committee,…
Cincinnati Victory of Light Psychic Festival Founder on Rise of Clairvoyant Community
In its 27th year, the Victory of Light Psychic Festival returns to the Sharonville Convention Center on Nov. 23 and 24. (The fest also occurs every April.) Billed as the “Midwest’s Largest Body, Mind and Spirit Event,” it will feature psychic readers, artists, animal communicators, holistic healers and numerous vendors selling all manners of metaphysical…
Live Music in Greater Cincinnati: This Week’s Concerts and Club Shows (Nov. 13-19)
WEDNESDAY 13 BLIND LEMON – Tom Roll. 8 p.m. Acoustic. Free. CAFFÈ VIVACE – Blue Wisp Big Band. 8 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $10. HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT – Jim Connerley Trio. 6 p.m. Jazz. Free. *LUDLOW GARAGE – Marcia Griffiths with Lady G and Rayzalytion. 8:30 p.m. Reggae. $25, $30 day of show. *MEMORIAL…
Senator Sherrod Brown on His New Book ‘Desk 88: Eight Progressive Senators Who Changed America’
The floor of the United States Senate contains 100 desks, most of which were handcrafted from mahogany more than a century ago. Desk 88 belongs to Ohio’s Sherrod Brown, a Mansfield native who was elected to the Senate in 2006. Inspired by predecessors who sat at (and often carved their names into) the desk over…
Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist Makes ‘Paste’ Magazine’s List of the Top 50 American Breweries of the 2010s
Paste has released its rundown of the "50 Best American Breweries of the 2010s" and a Cincinnati favorite is on the list. Rhinegeist Brewery was declared one of the top 50 breweries of the decade, coming in at No. 49. Rhinegeist was the only Ohio brewery to make the list. Firestone Walker Brewing Company in…
