Imperishable Beauty (Review)
Critic's Pick It’s taken a couple unwanted delays for Cincinnati Art Museum to get Imperishable Beauty: Art Nouveau Jewelry open, but it’s been worth the wait. The museum has done a wonderful job displaying it; Cynthia Amnéus, the museum’s associate curator of costume and textiles, has really made it look sparkling. The show, up through…
Hip Hop (Un)scene: What About Your Friends?
For anyone who’s been reading these columns, I hope you’re catching on to the natural progression of the format. We started at the earliest stages for a new artist and are leading up to the more advanced business and musical aspects of the industry. With that said, at the end of my last column I…
Music: The Seedy Seeds
If anything was learned by the recent Cincinnati Entertainment Awards ceremony, it’s that people think it’s funny when you have an event in Kentucky called the “Cincinnati” Entertainment Awards. It’s why people can’t stop laughing when they get off of a plane at the Cincinnati airport but have to travel 20 minutes to actually get…
Holiday: Light Up the Square
Five-foot tall red stars, personalities and bands; all will shine in the glow of 20,000 lights when Cincinnati brings in the holiday season with “Light up the Square,” the Queen City’s annual lighting of the holiday evergreen at Fountain Square on Fifth and Vine. Re-elected Mayor Mark Mallory and special guest, actor and Bengals fan…
Holiday: Holidays in the Bag
Are you looking for a unique gift for someone special? The Gateway Quarter’s "Holidays in the Bag" is a great place to start your search. Grab a Gateway Quarter shopping bag on the corner of 12th and Vine streets and shove as many goods as you can in the bag to receive 20 percent off…
Truth Emergency
Peter Phillips, director of Project Censored for 13 years, says he’s finished with reform. It’s impossible, he said in a recent interview, to try to get major news media outlets to deliver relevant news stories that serve to strengthen democracy. “I really think we’re beyond reforming corporate media,” says Phillips, a professor of sociology at…
Attractions: Fountain Square Ice Rink
The ice skating rink on Fountain Square is open again, and whether you're a Brian Boitano look-alike on the ice or just one of those people who fall every 15 seconds it's sure to be a good time. This year’s rink is nearly 7,000 square feet in size, comparable to the one in New York’s…
Art: C.F. Payne at the Cincinnati Art Museum
C.F. Payne, an in-demand editorial illustrator and Cincinnati native, has more than 20 portraits on display at Cincinnati Art Museum now through Jan. 10 in the show Famous Faces, Average Joes. These include President Obama as FDR, Hillary Clinton, John Belushi and Bud Selig. Payne's work has appeared in Time, Sports Illustrated, Esquire and Mad…
Sports: Thanksgiving Day Race
Most of us wouldn’t consider waking up early on Thanksgiving to run several miles before a long day of relaxing ensues. We’d do it any other day, of course, because exercising is, like, really good for you and it’s great to run outside in November. But on this Thanksgiving Day, much like the previous 100…
Freedom Writer
Before I could even fully ask the question, Chuck Prophet — the Petty-with-an-edge Americana singer/songwriter/guitarist — was laughing. I said the word “Wikipedia,” and he instantly knew I was heading to this paragraph in his entry: “Chuck Prophet parted with New West Records in 2005 after a restaurant tab argument involving an extra order of…
psychodots with The Tempers
The amazing local Power Pop trio psychodots hasn’t been a “full-time” band for several years, but Ohio fans always know that, come Thanksgiving, they’ll have a chance or two to catch ‘em. The group’s annual shows (by the band’s account, this will be the 666th) happen Wednesday at Canal Street Tavern in Dayton (canalstreettavern.com) and…
Roots Rock
“Vegetables make me mad.” This is how a friend, who, like me, spends way too much time and energy on such things, recently summed up her holiday meal planning progress. And I fully empathized. Specifically she was referring to the disproportionate amount of effort spent on preparing root vegetable dishes. What exactly is a root…
Music: Attack Attack!
Although only together for four years, Attack Attack! has weathered much turmoil and notched some significant accomplishments along the way. The Columbus area quintet got started in 2005 with a major in Metalcore and a minor in Christian-centered lyrics (although the band doesn’t align itself with the “Christian Metal” movement). Within months, they installed new…
Events: Thanksgiving Eve Massacre
If you’re feeling estranged (or even just strange) this holiday, the Blue Rock Tavern’s Thanksgiving Eve Massacre/State of the People Music & Spoken Word Showcase is the place to connect with others who share your queasy discontent. The party kicks off with spoken word performances by Abiyah (Hip Hop poetess), Nathan Singer (A Prayer Before…
Nov. 18-24: Worst Week Ever!
WEDNESDAY NOV. 18In the national news’ “You bet your ass I will” department, local intellectual and House Minority leader John Boehner joined what a silver-tongued reporter referred to as a “legal crusade” to keep the phrase “In God We Trust” inscribed above the visitors’ entrance to the U.S. Capitol. People who don’t believe in God…
If I Were a Betting Man
If I were a betting man, I’d bet the approval of Issue 3 on Nov. 3 points Cincinnati in a new direction. I’d bet that a gambling casino at Broadway Commons makes this city a bit more progressive. If I were a betting man, I’d guess that the good with this approval outweighs the bad.…
Rosemary Device CD Release Party
On Wednesday night at Covington’s Mad Hatter, local Rock foursome Rosemary Device celebrates the release of its self-titled debut CD. Openers for the Thanksgiving Eve show are The Brothers and The Sisters, Famous Mr. Nobodies, The Lions Rampant and Crashing Plains. Rosemary Device formed when guitarist Brett Scharf — then trying to keep his band…
How Did You Get Here?
Over the weekend I attended a musical theater cabaret at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music, featuring a selection of CCM alumni from the past two decades who have gone on to noteworthy careers on Broadway, touring and the cabaret scene. I could have written a whole column about the pleasures of that program, the culmination of…
Michael McIntire and the Marmalade Brigade (Profile)
Vocalist/guitarist Michael McIntire and I met a long time ago (double digits) in a faraway land (a Clifton street corner). There, he busted out Acoustic/Blues/Gypsy Jazz with his Tom Waits-ish, down and dirty voice. Lately, his vocals have shifted. “I think I’m finding a happy medium in between that character voice that turned everybody’s heads…
Holiday: Festival of Lights
This event has been lighting up the Cincinnati Zoo during the holiday season for 27 years. They’re still “glowing green” this year with more than one-million LED lights set up in environmentally-friendly displays. New to this year’s festivities is the “Wild Lights Show on Swan Lake,” where lights on a giant tree flicker in time…
Fresh Rosemary
Wednesday night at Covington’s Mad Hatter, local Rock foursome Rosemary Device celebrates the release of its self-titled debut. Openers for the Thanksgiving Eve show are The Brothers and The Sisters, Famous Mr. Nobodies, The Lions Rampant and Crashing Plains. Rosemary Device (pictured) formed when guitarist Brett Scharf — then trying to keep his band Spindle…
Sanders Family Christmas (Review)
Sometimes those with the least to offer bestow the greatest gifts. Ask O. Henry or Charlie Brown — or Jesus himself (born in a barn). No wonder the best performance in Sanders Family Christmas comes from the one character who supposedly has no talent for music: June (Tess Hartman), the plain, non-singing daughter of the…
Teachable Moment on Censoring Objectionable Messages
NKU’s student paper, The Northerner, was wrong to cancel ads for Resistance Records because the advertiser’s racism offends the editor. And Editor Tim Owens was wrong to publish an apology for carrying the ads. If he were going to apologize, it should have been for invoking his beliefs to justify silencing an advertiser. When student…
Attack Attack! with Our Last Night, The Color Morale and I Set My Friends on Fire
Although only together for four years, Attack Attack! has weathered much turmoil and notched some significant accomplishments along the way. The Columbus area quintet got started in 2005 with a major in Metalcore and a minor in Christian-centered lyrics (although the band doesn’t align itself with the “Christian Metal” movement). Within months, they installed new…
Not Bad at All
The music of Cincinnati — past, present and future — was on glorious display at Covington's Madison Theater Nov. 22 at the annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for Music. Yes, we realize it's a little weird to have the CEAs (which celebrated its 13th birthday last night) in Kentucky. But the Madison provided a more casual…
Tommy Castro
Tommy Castro is one of those guys who's been around so long and has so many incredible affiliations it’s astonishing he’s not a household name. The San Jose, Calif., native began playing guitar at 10 and drew inspiration from every permutation of the Blues (Chicago, electric, Soul, West Coast, as well as classic ’60s Rock),…
The Seedy Seeds
If anything was learned by the recent Cincinnati Entertainment Awards ceremony, it’s that people think it’s funny when you have an event in Kentucky called the “Cincinnati” Entertainment Awards. It’s why people can’t stop laughing when they get off of a plane at the Cincinnati airport but have to travel 20 minutes to actually get…
2009 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for Music [Photos]
Photos by Emily Maxwell. See Mike Breen's report on the CEA show (plus all the winners and nominees) here. See Rick Bird's feature story on the significance of Herzog Studios here.
CEA Music Winners
Last night, the music of Cincinnati — past, present and future — was on glorious display at Covington's Madison Theater. Yes, we realize it's a little weird to have the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards (which celebrated its 13th birthday last night) in Kentucky. But the Madison provided a more casual "Rock & Roll" atmosphere than past…
CityBeat Podcast 36: Appalachian Trail Adventures
Local hiker Jeff Alt shares stories from his 2,160 mile journey along the Appalachian Trail. —- If you like what you hear, please support our podcast by subscribing to our podcast in iTunes or via our RSS feed. Also, please tell your friends and share this link on Facebook and MySpace.
Friday Movie Roundup: Parsing Precious
Lee Daniels’ Precious, which won audience awards at both the Sundance and Toronto film festivals, has drawn largely positive reviews for its unblinking look at a 16-year-old black female dealing with myriad challenges, including but certainly not limited to a serious weight problem, a monstrous mother, an incestuous father and an ineffective school system. Yet…
A Walk (and Talk) Down the Aisle
Aisle Gallery, 424 Findlay St., 3rd Floor in the West End, is presenting a gallery talk with artist, curator and Citybeat contributor Matt Morris this Saturday from 1-3 p.m. —- Matt will discuss his working processes and influences in a presentation/conversation about his installation, Pairs Well With, currently on view at Aisle. And there will…
Stage Door: Wild “Hair”
If you can get a ticket this weekend for Hair at UC's College-Conservatory of Music, that's the show to see this weekend. It's an intentional trip down memory lane — if your memory goes back 40 years. (The show that turned the world of Broadway upside down in the late 1960s is being presented as…
An Education (Review)
Lone Scherfig’s An Education is certainly that for the film’s central figure, Jenny (newcomer Carey Mulligan), a gifted student from the London suburb of Twickenham who dreams of studying English at Oxford University. It’s 1961, and Jenny is the product of well-meaning parents (played by Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour) who want nothing but the…
The Blind Side (Review)
The true story of Baltimore Ravens rookie Michael Oher (played by newcomer Quinton Aaron) gets the big-screen treatment from writer/director John Lee Hancock (The Rookie), who at this stage appears to be the only filmmaker in Hollywood who understands that in real-life dramas about athletics sometimes there is no big game moment that changes lives…
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Review)
I’ve never read any of the Twilight novels. That fact didn’t matter much when experiencing the first Twilight movie — like the rest of the book series’ hardcore devotees, I got swept up in the love story of an emotionally fragile teenage girl, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), and a moody, uncommonly restrained vampire, Edward (Robert…
Q&A With the Ladies of Fabricate
Despite the fact that three businesses have called it quits in Northside in the past month or so (Ali’s Boutique, Shoe-topia and the Northside Art Gallery), two ladies are trying their hand at opening something. Aileen McGrath and Chris Salley are celebrating the opening of their new gallery/boutique/supply store, Fabricate, tonight with an exhibition of…
The Hunted and the Hunters
Having Country Club’s West End gallery space in walking distance of my home was a luxury I didn’t fully appreciate until it moved across town to Oakley. But while it is now further away from downtown and many like-minded arts organizations, it is worth the trek. Now located on the second floor above the high-end…
‘Getting Outside of Myself’
I’ve always been able to find art in Cincinnati. From seeing the paintings created by an art class at SCPA, where I’m currently a senior, to being inspired by exhibits at the Cincinnati Art Museum or the Contemporary Arts Center, it’s been fairly easy to nourish my passion for art in my hometown. But then…
Senior Bowl, Trees, Where’s the Boss?
[HOT] Senior Bowl Sports Illustrated is reporting that iconic Rock band The Who will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in February. Now in the year 6 A.T. (“After Titty”), halftime organizers continue to distance themselves from the horrifying Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake tragedy of Super Bowl XXXVIII, when the world nearly ended because viewers…
CEA Show Details
The 2009 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for Music will be handed out Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Madison Theater in Covington. Live performances include The Lions Rampant (pictured), Magnolia Mountain, You You're Awesome, II Juicy, Small Time Crooks and Brian Olive. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door and are available here. During…
What 21c Might Mean for Art in Cincinnati
Since Louisville’s 21c Museum Hotel has announced a planned expansion into downtown Cincinnati, the discussion has centered on two issues: What does snagging an award-winning boutique hotel, a first for Cincinnati, mean to economic development, and what will happen to the low-income residents of the Metropole Apartments at 609 Walnut St., which is slated to…
Shoring Up The Banks
With the first phase of construction on The Banks winding down in June, Cincinnati and Hamilton County leaders are happy with the way the $800 million project is finally starting to take shape along downtown’s riverfront. One local watchdog group, though, is decidedly unhappy about how The Banks is shaping the local workforce. In October,…
A Nightmare Before Thanksgiving
For some people, it’s the time of year for calls to start pouring in from distant relatives who want to know whether to bring stuffing or deviled eggs. But for others, like Nathan Hanneman, editor-in-chief of HorrorHound Magazine, this Thanksgiving season is a bit nontraditional. For the first time since HorrorHound was conceived in 2005,…
Prosecutor, Judges Need to Brush Up on Law
Here’s yet another example of why one-party rule of any institution is usually a supremely terrible idea. The local Republican Party has long dominated the little-scrutinized Hamilton County Courthouse, making it a bastion of patronage for friends and campaign workers, along with serving as a launching pad for up-and-coming politicians. Clearly, it’s who you know…
A Little Bit Louder Now
After a year of existence, Loudmouth experienced the gamut of local band emotions in a fairly compressed time frame. For starters, Loudmouth would never have existed if former Now Entering Rehab guitarist/vocalist Mike Ulanski had opted for a Florida teaching job. An encounter with drummer Bret Summe convinced him that he should try to assemble…
Bus Riders, Krikorian, Chiquita, Barnett
[LOSER] Bus Riders: Merry Christmas! People who use the Metro bus system for transportation in Cincinnati and Hamilton County are going to have to dig deeper in their pockets beginning Dec. 27. Due to cuts in federal funding, Metro is raising its fares. People who travel within the city of Cincinnati will see the base…
Winter’s On
Where I grew up in New Jersey, there were plenty of ski areas within easy driving distance, but the quality of the trails and the length of the lift lines always left something to be desired. It might take 15 minutes to hurtle down a dangerously crowded, icy slope from the summit, and then you’d…
Nov. 11-17: Worst Week Ever!
WEDNESDAY NOV. 11 If Mel Gibson isn’t evidence enough that some Christians are more than just a little crazy (what’s worse, his movies or his real life?), today’s news that a billboard land owner was threatened for an advertisement it sold might make you wonder if Deuteronomy 23:2 is as wild as Christianity can get…
Sohio (Profile)
I head down narrow roads past Hamilton, Ohio, passing striking trees, cornstalks and soybean fields. It’s gorgeous, the houses are few and the moon looms above, the only streetlight around. I have an address, but it’s tricky dark, so the search is on to find vocalist/guitarist Mark Houk’s house, affectionately named the “Comfort Zone,” the…
Letters to the Editor
Hold the Olive Jacob Baynham makes an important observation in “Blowing Their Tops” (issue of Nov. 11) that nothing but Russian Olive has grown back on an eastern Kentucky mountain that was mined and reclaimed 20 years ago. It is also worth noting for readers who are unaware that Russian Olive is an invasive plant…
Precious (Review)
Do you need to know Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe) or an inner city girl (read: a young black teenager) like her? Does it matter how “real” she is, both as a character and an embodiment of a socio-cultural dynamic that we haven’t been able to overcome, mainly due to a profound and disturbing…
CEAs R 4 U
This Sunday, local musicians and the fans who love them will be getting gussied up for the 13th Cincinnati Entertainment Awards honoring local musicians. The CEAs will be presented at a 7 p.m. ceremony at Covington’s Madison Theater, a first for the event. Tickets are available here. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Cincinnati…
Green Dog Cafe (Review)
Green Dog Cafe is exploding on the scene and so far has been met with mixed reviews. Why? Because it’s different. Seeing as it was started by veteran restaurateurs Mark and Mary Swortwood, who also started the Brown Dog Cafe in Blue Ash and Tinks Cafe in Clifton, the decision to forgo conventional table service…
Unemployed: My View
I’m Lucy Plum’s boyfriend. Some weeks ago, you got to read her story in this space about being unemployed. It’s a difficult, if not devastating, situation to be in. I was there for almost two years, and she put up with me, and I’ve been trying my best to put up with her. Neither side…
