Nov 22-29, 2017
A City Made New: The New Deal left local landmarks and a complicated, increasingly relevant legacy
The Never-Ending Story of ‘Neverwhere’
Neil Gaiman’s novel Neverwhere, as staged by Know Theatre using a theatrical adaptation by Robert Kauzlaric, is a nearly three-hour-long epic fantasy that follows the misadventures of a Scotsman named Richard Mayhew. He is an unremarkable financier who plunges into the illusory world of London’s underground — here called “London Below.” In Neverwhere there are…
Honoring an Avant-Garde Giant
John Rich and Jon Lorenz, the creators of the No Response music festival, have a mission: To bring as many of the giants, the elders, of the avant-garde to Cincinnati as they can. As Rich explains it, it’s an honor for the city to be able to host them while it can — not unlike…
What a Week!: Nov. 22-28
New Fam, Who Dis? Last year, a Mesa, Ariz., woman trying to text her family Thanksgiving dinner details accidentally included a wrong number in a group chat. That unknowing recipient, a Phoenix teen named Jamal, had a little fun with her, asking who she was and to send a photo. When she told him she…
Minimum Gauge: Lewd KISS dude banned for life from Fox News
HOT: Fox News Says Kiss Off KISS bassist Gene Simmons recently caused a ruckus while visiting Fox News (he was also to appear on the Fox Business Network). While at Fox HQ, Simmons reportedly defended and joked about Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual assaults, while also ripping his shirt open and yelling, “Hey chicks, sue me”…
Minimum Gauge: RZA protects future dog-walking prospects by suing “Woof-Tang Clan”
HOT: Wu-Tang v. Woof-Tang Jon Wurster, in-demand drummer (Superchunk, The Mountain Goats) and all-around funny dude (radio’s The Best Show), regularly posts photos sent to him of signs and ads on his social media accounts that include cringe-worthy puns in the names of products and businesses. Probably the best was a truck for a Welsh…
Notable Regional Books for 2017
It’s been a busy year for books either with regional subject matter or by local authors — and those that fit both categories. There are so many that no single story can cover everything, so this is a selective look at some of the most notable. Or, one might say in the case of Dann…
Considering Crosstown Shootout Allegiances
On Crosstown Shootout day, I used to love Xavier and hate the University of Cincinnati. Later on, I loved UC and hated Xavier. And this year? Ha — I’ll make you wait a few paragraphs for that. I know you wanna know, and ain’t it great? Ain’t this rivalry one huge hoot? We may not…
Morning News: UC police chief leaves; Ohio’s unemployment system could be broke in five years
Good morning all. Hope your Thanksgiving was grand. Mine was awesome, but I also ended up in the emergency room briefly because I ate too many hot peppers in some guacamole. I’m fine, but I now know that the cool, soothing taste of avocado and lime can’t save you from the burn of the Carolina…
Council Committee Approves FC Cincinnati Stadium Plan
A dedicated soccer stadium for FC Cincinnati is one step closer to coming to Oakley. Or somewhere else. Maybe. Cincinnati City Council’s budget and finance committee voted Nov. 27 to advance a deal drawn up by Mayor John Cranley. The offer is $37 million in city funds toward infrastructure at the former CastFab site in…
Your Weekly To Do List (11/29-12/05)
Twinkle Time The advent of long winter nights (and the approaching holidays) means it’s time for elaborate light displays — both drive-through and walkable — to bring a little glow-worm cheer to kids, cozy couples and those with encroaching seasonal affective disorder. Cincinnati Zoo’s Festival of Lights — The 35th annual Festival of Lights is…
Holiday Ales and Ugly Sweaters
The holidays are in full swing, which means you’re going to need a lot of beer to get through awkward family gatherings, stressful holiday shopping and the literal dark days of winter. This season, local breweries have got you covered. MadTree’s famous Thundersnow — made with local ginger grown at Carriage House Farm — is back on tap and…
Planting Deeper Roots
Local coffee roaster Deeper Roots recently opened its second coffee bar — a space with all the bells and whistles, adjacent to Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine. The shop has a full range of seating both inside and out, something not available at the kiosk and mobile-style coffee shops within Findlay Market itself. Deeper Roots started…
Two Soutwestern Ohio Bands — Brainiac and 12 Rods — Get the Documentary Treatment
Two former bands with origins in the ’90s and just north of Cincinnati — 12 Rods and Brainiac (formed in Oxford, Ohio and Dayton, Ohio, respectively) — are the subjects of a pair of intriguing music documentaries. Finding their groove on a club circuit that also included many Cincinnati visits, both groups had interesting, Behind…
Sound Advice: Turkuaz with The Suffers (Dec. 2)
A rolling stone gathers no moss, and neither does nine-piece Funk/Rock collective Turkuaz. Between its frenetic live presentation and rigorous coast-to-coast touring, the Brooklyn band is constantly in motion. After forming in 2008, Turkuaz hit stages with a vengeance, amassing a fervent local following for a solid three years before dropping a debut album, 2011’s…
Sound Advice: Dustin Thomas (Dec. 1)
If you bemoan the fact that there aren’t enough protest singers these days — especially during a period in world history when they seem most needed — you probably should give singer/songwriter Dustin Thomas a listen. Thomas’ modernized Folk songs often go straight to the heart of political and societal issues, rallying against injustice with…
Sound Advice: Blank Range with Tyler Childers (Nov. 30/Dec. 1)
Nashville continues to be a hotbed of Indie Rock invention, and Blank Range is just the latest example of Music City’s sonic expansion in recent years. The quartet is a particularly fascinating example of the scene’s hybridization, partly because the band represents the city’s acceptance and absorption of talent beyond the city limits — Blank…
