Legendary Cincinnati Bar Arnold’s is Switching Ownership in 2020… But It’s Staying in the Family
Ronda Breeden, who has owned one of Cincinnati's most well-known and beloved bars — Arnold's Bar and Grill — since 1999, will be retiring at the end of this year. She's giving up ownership of the famous downtown watering hole/restaurant, but don't worry — she's keeping it in the family. In a press release it…
Hard Rock Trio Chevelle Returns to Cincinnati This Week
It's been said many times, particularly by me in these pages, that Rock & Roll makes strange bedfellows. One sterling example would be trio Chevelle, initially a band of brothers from metropolitan Chicago whose personal faith rarely leaks over into their musical presentation. Still, their 1998 demo release led to them signing with contemporary Christian…
Pianist George Winston, a Cornerstone of the Pioneering Windham Hill Label, to Play Intimate Cincinnati Concert
On the precipice of his 70th birthday later this month, renowned pianist George Winston has once again provided glorious evidence of his astonishing ability to inhabit and reinterpret the work of others with the ears of a composer and the hands of a genius. On his recently released Restless Wind, Winston combines a couple of…
Ohio Farming Event Focuses on Creating Climate for Change
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After a planting season plagued by extreme weather, Ohio farmers now have an opportunity to better explore the concept of agricultural resiliency at an upcoming event. Registration is open for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association's 2020 Conference, a three-day event in Dayton that kicks off Feb. 13. This year's theme…
In Ohio, the Poorer Your Neighborhood, the Shorter Your Life
While no one is guaranteed a long and healthy life, where a person resides in Ohio could be one determining factor. According to a new report from The Center for Community Solutions, as poverty rates increase by census tract in the state, life expectancy decreases. Kate Warren, research associate at the center, noted there are…
Watch The Messthetics — Featuring Fugazi’s Rhythm Section — Rock Out at Northern Kentucky’s Candyland Studio (Premiere)
There are names in contemporary music that loom so large it's difficult to get through or around the shadow they cast, and few are as impenetrable as Fugazi. Although the band has done nothing since its announced 2003 hiatus and has never officially broken up, the Washington DC quartet remains one of the most influential…
Over-the-Rhine’s Brown Bear Bakery is Now Open on Tuesdays
Great news for Brown Bear Bakery lovers — the Over-the-Rhine shop announced earlier this week that it will now open for business on Tuesdays, which means you can get your hands on those decadent salty chocolate chip cookies six days out of the week. The bakery posted on their Facebook page about the new schedule,…
Celebrating the Holidays in Greater Cincinnati: A Complete Guide
It's time for CityBeat’s annual Holiday Issue, a complete guide to all things seasonal in Greater Cincinnati in 2019. From food and drinks to music, books and boozy bar crawls — if there's nothing in the following roundups to your liking, you may very well have a Grinch heart. CityBeat's 2019 Holiday Issue • Survive…
Singer/Songwriter Brandi Carlile Tweets Support for Northern Kentucky Children’s Choirs’ Highwomen Cover
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile showed her support for two Northern Kentucky children's choirs who did a sweet cover of her song "Crowded Table." Last night (Dec. 9), Alison Peeno, choral music director at Turkey Foot Middle School in Edgewood, Kentucky, shared on Twitter a video of the school's choir performing the song with The Treetop…
Seven Christmas Music Concerts in Cincinnati
A Christmas Evening with Over The Rhine — Local Folk/Americana superheroes Over the Rhine create Christmas magic with their annual performance featuring a wintry mix of holiday classics and songs from their oeuvre. The group will be performing multiple shows, with special guest Lucy Wainwright Roche. 8 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21; 2 p.m. Dec.…
Theater for the Holidays: Eight Seasonal Stage Shows in Greater Cincinnati
A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Taft Theatre — Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati presents this play, based on Charles M. Schulz’s characters and the classic TV special. Through Dec. 16. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org.Awaited at the Aronoff Center — Awaited is a “creative retelling of the Christmas story” featuring original choreography…
Brazilian Steakhouse Boi Na Braza Announces Plans to Reopen in Cincinnati
Meatlovers, rejoice! Brazilian steakhouse chain Boi Na Braza announced that they will be making a Cincinnati comeback. The downtown steakhouse was formerly located Carew Tower and closed its doors in March 2019 after serving the Queen City for 11 years. The restaurant announced its closure via a sign posted to the front doors of the steakhouse…
Seven Dazzling Cincinnati Light Displays for the Holidays
Christmas Glow at Land of Illusion — This haunted Halloween attraction transforms for the season; instead of ghosts and ghouls, find “Southwest Ohio’s largest Christmas lights drive-thru event.” See three million lights strung across a mile-and-a-half, then visit the Christmas Village Santa Workshop to see the man in red. A 45-foot-tall Christmas tree lights the…
Nine Holiday Pop-Up Markets and Craft Shows in Greater Cincinnati
Winter Market on Fountain Square — Fountain Square will be decked out with little holiday huts full of maker-made goods. The vendor list includes the likes of Daisy Jane’s Flower Truck, Little Patch Alpacas, Oat and Honey Bakery, Sweet Jazz Treats and more. There will be full concessions available, including beer and wine. 4-9 p.m.…
Create Your Own Made-for-TV Holiday Film with Cincinnati Author Riane Konc’s ‘Build Your Own Christmas Movie Romance’
Riane Konc spent this April checking out dozens of made-for-TV Christmas specials from her local library. Yes, she watched them all — or at least, most of them. No, she wasn’t going through a bizarre crisis that only heaps of ham-fisted sentimentalism could cure. She was writing Build Your Own Christmas Movie Romance. If you…
Survive and Thrive in the Cold Weather with These Warming Winter Cocktails from Cincinnati Bars
When the temperature drops, it’s always nice to have a warm drink — not only to serve as a temporary hand warmer, but also to raise your spirits. Speaking of spirits: While it’s not necessary that a winter tipple be made with alcohol, if someone else is going to steer the sleigh, why not fortify…
Cincinnati Chefs Share Their Favorite Wintertime Recipes for the Holiday Table — or Any Table
While it might get stressful to have the whole family around a holiday table, one of the best parts of the winter season is what we eat together. Nobody can argue politics when their mouth is full of delicious food. Some of Cincinnati’s favorite chefs sat down with CityBeat to describe winter dishes they can’t…
Cincinnati Book Fairies Give the Gift of Reading
It was Emma Watson leaving copies of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in Paris that inspired Cincinnatian Amanda Moore to become a book fairy. Moore, a social media and public relations specialist at Sibcy Cline, saw a post about Watson on Facebook and thought it was a unique way to give back to one’s community.…
12 Whimsical Wintry Cincinnati Attractions for the Holidays
ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum — Check out a reenactment of the birth of Christ at the Creation Museum’s holiday nativity. In addition to watching the arrival of Jesus, get a 360-degree view of the Garden of Lights multicolored display as you take a zip line through the park or visit the Eden Animal Experience…
Digging Deep With Comedian Paul Mecurio
Comedian Paul Mecurio has several projects on his plate: he’s a guest commentator on major cable news channels such as CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, and has a regular gig on CBS’ Sunday Morning. Add to that Permission to Speak, a one-person show that has been running on Broadway for over a year. Its interactive…
This Year’s Ever-Growing Cincinnati Art Book Fair Unfolds at The Carnegie
In 2017 Rebecca Steele and Lydia Rosenberg had just moved back to Cincinnati from Portland, Oregon. As artists with roots in the Queen City, they had been given the opportunity to set up a gallery and event space on the first floor of the Hoffner Lodge in Northside, which they dubbed Anytime Dept. “I didn’t…
39 Holiday Bar Crawls, Movie Sing-A-Longs, Drag Shows and Solstice Celebrations to Attend in Cincinnati This Holiday Season
Overlook Lodge — Miracle, a national nostalgic holiday bar pop-up experience, returns to transform Pleasant Ridge’s Overlook Lodge into a winter wonderland full of themed cocktails and ugly sweaters. The Overlook will be decked out with a ton of classic Christmasy decor and feature a Miracle cocktail list with drinks like the Christmapolitan, Run Run Rudolph and…
17 New Holiday Albums to Spin This Season
It’s been a rather prolific year for holiday albums — the 17 titles covered in this column even omit a few 2019 releases. And there aren’t any real duds, either. Here’s a look at this year’s best selections. Idina Menzel – Christmas: A Season Of Love If one 2019 Christmas album is likely to become…
After Uncertainty, Covington’s Roebling Point Books & Coffee Thinks About Expansion
It’s 7:30 a.m. Gray November clouds slink outside and a biting wind blows through the front door, briefly upsetting the cozy warmth of Roebling Point Books & Coffee. Bits of red and yellow leaves sneak in just before a mailwoman enters. “I just came in to hang out before work,” she says. “I’m already caffeinated.” …
A Festive Flash Mob Will Erupt With Holiday Cheer on the Steps of Cincinnati’s Smale Park This Month
The steps of Cincinnati's Smale Park will erupt with holiday cheer on Tuesday, Dec. 17, when a festive flash mob will appear and sing the classic Christmas song "Silent Night." A promotional poster for the event has been circulating on Instagram, directing those throughout the Cincinnati area to bring a friend… and a candle. "Let's…
SORTA Board Approves Bus Levy Ballot Language
The board of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority today unanimously approved ballot language for a .8-percent sales tax to fund improvements to the region's Metro bus service, clearing the way for voters to weigh in on the sales tax next year. Three-quarters of the estimated $130 million a year the 25-year the levy would…
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s ‘The Frog Princess’ Weaves a Whimsical Fairytale
Look past the quirks (and warts) and you might just find love. And, more importantly, kindness. At least, that’s the moral center of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s whimsical production of The Frog Princess. No, it’s not a take on that Disney princess tale. With music/lyrics by David Kisor and a book by Joseph McDonough, this Russian…
Cincinnati Ballet’s Annual Christmas Tradition ‘The Nutcracker’ Returns with Sugar Plum Fairies, Princes and Fiona in a Tutu
A favorite family tradition is back onstage at Music Hall as the Cincinnati Ballet presents their annual rendition of The Nutcracker. It’s Christmas Eve, and Clara and her nutcracker prince must wage war against an evil mouse king and journey to the Land of Sweets, where a Sugar Plum Fairy and dancing delicacies from around…
The Cincinnati Museum Center Brings Different Cultures’ Winter Solstice and Holiday Celebrations to Union Terminal
Honor the winter solstice, lunar new year, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas at Union Terminal. There will be hands-on activities to explore holiday traditions around the world. Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. Free members; included with Discovery Ticket. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, facebook.com/cincymuseum.
The Festive and Slightly Grossly Named Egg Nog Jog Takes Runners Through the Scenic Streets of Mount Adams
There may be nothing you want to do less after drinking egg nog than jog but thankfully gulping the creamy yuletide drink is not a requirement for this race — despite the name. The 28th-annual Egg Nog Jog takes festive runners through the frigid and scenic streets of Mount Adams and Eden Park. It’s a…
Cincinnati Singer/Musician Jess Lamb to Debut New “Gospel-Industrial” Project Hynterlands This Week
This Friday, Dec. 13, Jess Lamb and Warren Harrison — who've played steadily around town for the past couple of years with Jess Lamb and the Factory — will be debuting their new "Gospel-Industrial" project, Hynterlands. The new act will make its live debut Friday night with a free show at MOTR Pub. They'll be joined…
Catch a Mischievous Christmas Double Feature When ‘Gremlins’ and ‘Gremlins 2’ Screen at Clifton’s Esquire
Catch a double feature of Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch at the Esquire. It’s Christmastime and Billy gets a new fuzzy pet, Gizmo — an adorable mogwai — who comes with three very important rules: don’t get him wet, don’t feed him after midnight and don’t expose him to bright light. After breaking…
Comedian Tammy Pescatelli Brings Her Stand-Up Act to the Liberty Funny Bone
Though she’s on the road a lot, headlining clubs and theaters across the country, Tammy Pescatelli still makes it back to her home state of Ohio every now and then. “I don’t make it back to work as often as I’d like, but I’m there,” says the Perry, Ohio native. She’s still a Midwestern gal…
The Mini Microcinema Ends Its Run and Shutters Its Over-the-Rhine Theater with a Holiday/Closing Party Celebration
After over three years at its current Main Street location, The Mini Microcinema announced earlier this fall that it would be closing at the end of December. An experimental, independent and local film hub, it has given a space for filmmakers — especially in the local scene — working outside of the mainstream to share…
Shop Local, Sip Local at the Art on Vine Holiday Market in the Rhinegeist Taproom
Support local vendors at Art on Vine at Rhinegeist. Enjoy fine arts and homemade goods from more than 70 regional artists. If you work up an appetite perusing the art and meeting the artists, try some food brought to you by downstairs bistro Sarte OTR. And grab a beer from the taproom. Noon-7 p.m. Sunday,…
Sugar Plum Fairies Take Over 21c Museum Hotel’s Metropole Restaurant for a Festive, Themed Drag Brunch
The queens get festive this holiday brunch. Naughty and nice "sugar plum fairies" will be stomping it out in this seasonally inspired drag show and brunch featuring family-style dining and your favorite local drag stars. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. $35 per person; includes brunch, a show and a welcome mimosa. Metropole, 609 Walnut…
The City Flea Holiday Flea Takes Over Washington Park with Vendors and Festive Refreshments
City Flea turns Washington Park into one big shopping cart with local makers, crafters and artisans plus festive refreshments. It’s a great place to do last-minute shopping or pick up something for yourself if you’ve been good this year. 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, thecityflea.com.
Cincinnati Zoo Hosting Book Signing for New ‘A Very Fiona Christmas’ Book
New York Times bestselling illustrator Richard Cowdrey will be at the Cincinnati Zoo on Thursday, Dec. 12 to sign copies of the picture book A Very Fiona Christmas, the follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Fiona the Hippo. The event will take place at the Zoo's main gift shop on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Visit…
Black Santa Claus Visits the Cincinnati Art Museum for Photo Ops and Christmas Wishes
The Voice of Black Cincinnati brings Black Santa Claus to the Cincinnati Art Museum. He will be on hand to greet children of all ages, listen to their Christmas wishes and have pictures taken. Bring your own camera. 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Free. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, facebook.com/thevoiceofyourcustomer.
Market Bleu Brings Regional Makers to the Contemporary Arts Center for an Evening Holiday Shopping Pop-Up
Head to the Contemporary Arts Center to peruse fine arts and crafts at this quarterly night market. Market Bleu features a hand-selected collection of local and regional artisans from cities like Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington and Virginia. Grab a drink from the CAC bar while you shop. 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Free admission. Contemporary Arts…
Covington Bars and Business Host the Second-Annual Ugly Sweater & Reindeer Games Pub Crawl
Head to Covington for an ugly sweater-themed interactive pub crawl. Don your worst holiday outfit for fun and games (and prizes) at stops including Parlor on Seventh, Hotel Covington, the Hannaford, Rich’s Proper Food & Drink and Braxton Brewing Co. There will be games at each bar and a chance to win prizes. 7 p.m.-midnight…
Practice Your ‘Frag-ee-lay’ for a Special ‘A Christmas Story’ Interactive Event at the Esquire Theatre
The Esquire Theatre (and its sister theaters in Mariemont and Kenwood) came up with the brilliant idea this year of hosting screenings of holiday movie classics that are on TV 24/7 during the season. How is that brilliant? Because the screenings are “interactive events,” where hardcore fans of the flicks can participate in sing-a-longs, yell…
The Mount Adams Reindog Parade Features Tons of Really Cute, Costumed Dogs in a Festive Holiday Procession
Is your canine imbued with the Christmas spirit? Dress your pet in their finest and most creative holiday gear to participate in the 30th-annual Mount Adams Reindog Parade. The festive procession features dressed-up dogs competing in multiple categories including best small dog costume, best large dog costume and best dog/owner look alike. Prizes will be…
Shop, Sip and Ice Skate at the Winter Market at Fountain Square
Eat, drink and be merry at the Winter Market on Fountain Square. With a changing list of vendors, shop for holiday gifts in the heart of Cincinnati while snacking on food and beverages (even alcoholic ones). To work off the calories, ice skate at Fountain Square’s ice rink. When you’re tired, visit the artist huts…
‘Wicked’ Star Megan Hilty Joins the Cincinnati Pops for a Show of Seasonal Classics
Broadway and TV star Megan Hilty (Wicked, Smash) hits the Music Hall stage with the Cincinnati Pops for an evening of classic Christmas tunes. There will be favorite holiday songs, supported by characters in costume, choirs and even Santa himself. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14; 2 and 7…
Tipsy Santa Returns as Cincy Shakes Sends Up Holiday Classics in ‘Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)’
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s high-octane holiday romp Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) is back onstage with your favorite festive characters and a boozy Santa. The comic tale begins with a production of A Christmas Carol before spiraling into “beloved holiday classics,” which are retold with irreverent wit. The cast sends up the likes…
Head to Braxton Brewing Co. on Christmas Eve for the Annual Latkapalooza YP Party
Head to Braxton Brewing Co. on Christmas Eve for a full-blown party hosted by the Mayerson JCC, the Jewish Federation’s Young Adult Division and Cincinnati Vine — "an interactive, grassroots, and inclusive young adult website and app for everything Jewish in Cincinnati." There will be drinks, a DJ and dreidels, plus a cash bar, Kosher eats…
See Antique Christmas Items and Drink Hot, Spiked Cider at the Taft Museum of Art’s Holiday House Party
The Taft Museum of Art is hosting an after-hours house party with a celebration theme. Partnering with the Cincinnati Young Black Professionals group, expect ornament and card crafting, hot spiked apple cider and a cash bar, a preview of the Taft’s Journey to Freedom: Art Quilts by Cynthia Lockhart and access to Antique Christmas. Journey…
‘Last Comic Standing’ Winner Jon Reep Talks Beer, Football and Porch Furniture at the Liberty Funny Bone
Long before he scored top prize on Last Comic Standing, Jon Reep was just a redneck from tiny Hickory, North Carolina, which the locals call “the furniture capital of the world.” “(And that’s) not including all the stuff on the front porches,” says Reep. “Even our one homeless guy has a nice living room set.” As…
Narrated by Brie Larson, Documentary ‘Fantastic Fungi’ Features Awesome Time-Lapse Shroom Footage at the Esquire
Portobello, cremini, shiitake — there are hundreds more mighty mushroom varieties than these, and they’re capable of greater feats than simply adding umami to your dinner plate. Connected to every earth-bound organism through a vast underground network, the humble ‘shroom has the power to feed, medicate, solve ecological problems and alter human consciousness itself. Narrated…
Cincinnati Blues Singer/Pianist Ben Levin Sings of Christmas Remorse on Playful “Forgot Mrs. Claus”
Young Cincinnati Blues singer and pianist Ben Levin — who got his start busking in Mount Washington when he was just 11 — is showing his holiday spirit in song form this season. Now a UC freshman, Levin has released the playful Christmas single, “Forgot Mrs. Claus.” The track has an early Rock & Roll…
Pleasant Ridge’s Holiday Shop Hop Returns for Third Year
Pleasant Ridge's third-annual holiday shop hop returns Dec. 14, with over 40 participating businesses and vendors. Take a stroll down Montgomery Road and Ridge Avenue to explore and shop more than a dozen Pleasant Ridge boutiques, restaurants and bars, each with at least one local vendor inside. All participating shops are members of the Pleasant Ridge…
Tuba Baking Co. Crafts Swabian-Style Pretzels and Other Authentic German Dishes in Covington
As Cincinnatians, we like to think of ourselves as German 2.0 — distantly but still authentically connected to das vaterland through our love of goetta, our many breweries, Oktoberfest, etc. Yet so much of the focus on German food is on that which comes from Bavaria, leaving a world of German cuisine unexplored. Drew Rath…
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Kentucky Abortion Law
The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected arguments by abortion rights groups against a Kentucky law requiring doctors to administer and describe an ultrasound and share the sounds of a fetal heartbeat with those seeking an abortion. The state of Kentucky argued that the law is "straightforward" and simply requires that abortion-seekers are presented with "truthful,…
Over-the-Rhine Steakhouse Losanti Offers a Meat-Centric Menu in the Former Anchor-OTR Space
For at least the past few years, it seems like every type of food or drink I could possibly want has been available in Over-the-Rhine. It’s a cornucopia of gustatory delights for all tastes, right? But a new place has come along to remind me that, in fact, something important has been missing. Billing…
Rare 1869 Cincinnati Reds Baseball Card Sells for $22,800
An early baseball card featuring the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings — America's first professional baseball team — went for $22,800 at auction yesterday in California, according to New Jersey-based Robert Edward Auctions. The team, assembled and managed by British-born player/manager Harry Wright, won 52 games during a six-month coast-to-coast tour in 1869, two years before…
Wizardly Underdog Tale ‘Puffs’ is Know Theatre’s Best-Selling Show in 22-Year History
Mischief has been managed at Over-the-Rhine's Know Theatre. Their current mainstage production Puffs, or seven increasingly eventful years at a certain school of magic & magic has drawn sold-out crowds, nearly doubling the theater's goal in the first three out of five weekends of its run. Accio tickets! "Fans of a particular British boy wizard whose…
BLINK Artist Will Have Laser Light Display at 21c Museum Hotel’s New Year’s Eve Party
The 21c Museum Hotel is playing up the dawn of 2020 by inviting New Year's Eve partygoers to celebrate the new decade with their sights set to a 20/20 future, says a release. And part of that future includes lasers. Lapis Laser Display, which installed "a 'light ceiling' made up of lasers, mirrors, and fog…
Emo/Pop Punk Heroes The Get Up Kids Play Northern Kentucky This Week
Problems, The Get Up Kids’ first full-length album in eight years, opens with lightly strummed acoustic guitar as frontman Matt Pryor’s pensive, high-whine voice relays the following: “By myself/I don’t think anybody else even cares if all is well/You’re only thinking of yourself/It’s a long way down for me.” It’s a stark contrast from “Holiday,”…
Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Wheels of Soul Tour Returning to Cincinnati with St. Paul and The Broken Bones
The sixth-annual Wheels of Soul tour — hosted, curated and headlined by Tedeschi Trucks Band — is coming back to Cincinnati in 2020. This year's tour will feature Alabama Soul ensemble St. Paul and The Broken Bones and TTB keyboardist Gabe Dixon (with his trio) as special guests. The 2020 Wheels of Soul tour will…
Cincinnati-based Gold Star Chili’s Hilarious Response to a Tweet By Netflix is Why We Love Them
While Cincinnati-style chili may not for everyone, a clever social media manager behind a great local brand is something we can all appreciate. A recent Tweet by Netflix asked, "What's something you can say during sex but also when you manage a brand Twitter account?" Cincinnati-based fast food restaurant Gold Star Chili's response was perfectly…
Last Year Was the Longest Flu Season in a Decade. So Yeah, You Should Probably Get a Flu Shot This Year
Last year's influenza season was far more mild than the one previously, but it wasn't without its own set of troubles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the 2018-2019 flu season was the longest in a decade, running for a terrible 21 weeks. So even though far fewer people died or were hospitalized from the…
Akron, Ohio Cannabis Cultivation Facility Wins in Architect Newspaper’s Best of Design Awards
Architect Newspaper announced the results of their annual Best of Design Awards and Ohio is home to one of the winners. Akron's Galenas Medical Cannabis Cultivation Facility was given the top recognition in the "Green Building" category. In total, AN received over 800 submissions; this year the publication expanded to 47 categories. Designed by Urban Green…
FC Cincinnati Releases Contracting Inclusion Numbers
As FC Cincinnati's coming $250 million Major League Soccer stadium rises in the West End, the team says it is working to include goals for minority and small business hiring included in a community benefits agreement between the team, the Port of Greater Cincinnati Redevelopment Authority and neighborhood representatives. With about a third of contracts…
Sleepy Bee Cafe to Open Quick-Service Eatery Called Waggle in Avondale
Cincinnati's favorite local breakfast chain Sleepy Bee Cafe is opening up a new concept in Avondale on Dec. 9. The quick-service eatery will be named Waggle Breakfast and Bowls, which refers to a special dance that honey bees perform when searching for their food. "This amazing performance — which involves flight patterns resembling figure-eights — is…
UC Bearcats Women’s Basketball Team Gets ESPN Love After Stunning Last-Second Win
UC's women's basketball team finished off its game against VCU last night (Dec. 5) in thrilling fashion, scoring four points — and notching a key steal — in the final 8 seconds to claim victory in Richmond, Virginia. With just 14 seconds left, the Bearcats found themselves down 56-54. Freshman guard Chellia Watson hit a…
City of Cincinnati Hearing on Fare-Free Streetcar Postponed
A hearing on a proposal to make Cincinnati's streetcar free to ride has been postponed. The city earlier this week sent out a news release saying it would hold a public input session at City Hall Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. during Cincinnati City Council's Major Projects and Smart Government Committee to gauge public opinion…
East Row Historic District’s 25th-Annual Victorian Christmas Home Tour Returns to Newport This Weekend
A Northern Kentucky holiday tradition returns this weekend as the 25th-annual Victorian Christmas Tour takes over Newport's East Row Historic District. On Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8, ticket holders can explore participating homes throughout the historic district, which happens to be the second largest in Kentucky. Homes within the district represent Queen Anne and…
Fresh Off Black Keys Tour, The Gabbard Brothers Release ’60s-Flavored Pop Nugget “Sell Your Gun Buy A Guitar”
Middletown natives Zachary and Andrew Gabbard recently wrapped up three months of touring as part of the extended lineup of The Black Keys on that band's North American arena tour supporting their latest LP, Let's Rock. (Check them out with the Keys on Jimmy Kimmel Live last month here.) Today (Dec. 6), The Gabbard Brothers…
Southwestern Ohio Alternative Rock Band This Pine Box Releases Expansive New Single, “What Can I Say”
Dayton-based Alternative Rock band This Pine Box — a Cincinnati favorite — has released a great new single, "What Can I Say," which points to a more expansive direction for the quartet. Singer/guitarist Jake Knight says the catchy song, which features horns, strings and extra percussion, is the group's "most extensive arrangement to date." "We’ve…
The Cincinnati Cyclones Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of ‘Phantom Menace’ During ‘Star Wars’ Weekend
May the force be with the Cyclones as they pay tribute to the 20th anniversary of Episode I – The Phantom Menace (hopefully sans Jar Jar Binks). The team will be wearing special Star Wars jerseys on Friday (vs. the Kalamazoo Wings) and Saturday (vs. Toledo Walleye), which will be auctioned off after Saturday’s game.…
The Cincinnati Art Museum Hosts an Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon
Surprise: There’s a gender gap in Wikipedia content. But international campaign Art+Feminism is out to close that divide via events like the Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon, which aims to “improve content on women and the arts on Wikipedia, and to encourage women to participate in the online encyclopedia,” says an event description. Bring a laptop to the…
Northside’s Urban Artifact Brewery is Re-Releasing Barrel-Aged Pickle Beer Just in Time for the Holidays
Important news, pickle fans: Urban Artifact is re-releasing its special Epicurean barrel-aged Pickle beer, just in time for the holidays. Get your hands on it first at the Ohio Explored Maker Mart held at the brewery on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8. Barrel-aged Pickle will be available in a gift set with a dimple pickle…
Environmental Protests Against P&G Toilet Paper Continue; ‘Santa’ Arrested
Dressed as elves and reindeer and singing Christmas carols mocking Procter & Gamble's Charmin brand toilet paper, roughly two dozen local and out-of-town environmental activists assembled downtown today to protest the use of Canadian forests for the production of P&G's bath tissue. P&G has said it takes sustainability seriously and has made efforts to ethically…
Morrow’s Nationally Recognized The Christmas Ranch Features One Million Dancing Lights and a Drive-Thru Display
Take a drive up to Morrow to visit the Christmas Ranch, a winter wonderland that features one million lights synchronized to music. Drive along an animated, illuminated route or park the car to visit the Christmas village with seven shops, a bakery and café, train and wagon rides and a toy factory. A portion of…
Musical Comedy and Broadway Classic ‘Hello, Dolly!’ Hits the Stage at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center
Touted as a must-see revival of the original 1964 musical of the same name, Hello, Dolly! is a four-time Tony Award winner that lives up to its predecessor. Based on the book by Michael Stewart and paying tribute to the original choreography by Gower Champion, Hello, Dolly! tells the story of sassy, strong-willed matchmaker and widow…
With Deadlines Looming, Cincinnati’s Abatement Debate Intensifies
As the expiration of a 20-year-old deal between the City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools around tax incentives nears, the battle over those tax breaks and financing districts for developments in some city neighborhoods continues. The city's teacher's union, educational advocates and Cincinnati Public Schools say the abatements and tax increment financing (TIF) districts…
Bill Would Provide $28 Million to Protect Ohio’s Endangered Species
More than a third of America's fish and wildlife species are at increased risk of extinction, but a bill advancing in Congress this week could help. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act is scheduled for markup in the House Natural Resources Committee Thursday. According to Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, the bipartisan bill would…
Local Group Krampuslauf Zinzinnati Brings Krampus the Christmas Beast to Life at Cincinnati Holiday Events
If you’ve paid attention to pop culture over the past several years, chances are you’ve heard of Krampus, perhaps from the 2015 holiday horror film of the same name or perhaps you’ve avoided being stuffed into his sack while visiting one of Cincinnati’s German-themed Christmas markets. Krampus — a sort of mythical furry, horned goat-demon…
Over-the-Rhine’s HomeMakers Bar is Hosting a Holiday Shopping Pop-Up with Unique Drinks and Local Makers
Shopping plus craft cocktails? Yup. HomeMakers Bar is hosting a shop and sip holiday night market featuring goods from locally owned businesses plus their own "PoP Up Bottle Shop, featuring unique aromatized wine, vermouths, bitters and handy bar tools," says the event description. In addition to boozy gifts, find cross stitch creations from Parchment Petal Design, natural…
College Hill Plant Shop Fern is Hosting a Holiday Pop-Up with Local Makers Una Floral, The Rhined, Rosebud CBD and More
Favorite College Hill plant, apothecary and decor destination Fern is hosting a holiday pop-up with a plethora of local, indie makers. On Friday, Dec. 6, stop by the shop to find handmade seasonal wreaths from Una Floral, small-batch jam from Prospect Jam Co., wearable art and jewelry from Sidney Cherie Studio, coffee from Proud Hound…
Chicken Salad Chick to Open Third Cincinnati Location in Oakley This December
Good news for those of you who enjoy chicken salad: Chicken Salad Chick, the fast-casual restaurant devoted to the poultry creation, is coming to Oakley. Slated to open Dec. 18, Chicken Salad Chick is an Alabama-based chain that literally specializes in different variations of chicken salad: traditional white meat with celery and mayo; Old South…
Pink Talking Fish, the World’s Only Pink Floyd/Talking Heads/Phish Combo Tribute Band, Play Cincinnati This Weekend
In the wild world of tribute bands, standard operating procedure is to pick a group that you revere, learn their material inside out, come up with an engaging and entertaining stage presentation and attract the original band’s hardcore followers. Pink Talking Fish has taken a slightly different tack. As their on-the-nose name would indicate, the…
Palindrome-Crazy Jam Band Faves Dopapod Pull Through Covington This Weekend
Dopapod began just over a decade ago as a keyboards/drums duo with fellow Berklee School of Music wonks Eli Winderman and Michelangelo Carubba. Over the next two years, the pair added guitarist Bruce Compa, bassist Chuck Jones and percussionist Neal Evans (who switched to drums with Carubba’s departure, and then was replaced by Scotty Zwang,…
Band of Friends Returns to Celebrate Irish Blues/Rock Guitar Legend Rory Gallagher in Newport This Weekend
Irish Blues/Rock guitarist and singer Rory Gallagher died in the mid ’90s following a liver transplant, but his legacy lives on in the artists inspired by his music. Gallagher — who reportedly turned down a gig playing guitar with a little band called The Rolling Stones in the early ’70s — is still the source…
Covington’s Former YMCA to Transform into Bourbon Distillery Experience and Luxury Suites
Downtown Covington's former YMCA and Gateway Bookstore will get new life with luxury suites, a "bourbon distillery experience" and office space with a $22.5 million-plus renovation, according to a recent announcement by the City of Covington, Salyers Group and vR Group. The 72,000-square-foot space is split between two three-story buildings and is located on the corner of…
Blue Ash’s Buckabee Brownies Giving Away Free Brownies On National Brownie Day
National Brownie Day is Dec. 8 and Blue Ash's Buckabee Brownies is honoring the occasion by giving away free sweets. Visit the shop at 4756 Cornell Road on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7 to receive one free brownie per patron. Those over the age of 18 can also enter to win a box…
Study: Trump Administration Rule Tightening SNAP Restrictions Could Affect Thousands of Ohioans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Dec. 4 announced new restrictions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that analysts say could cost hundreds of thousands of Americans their food benefits during an average month. The new rule announced today sets new requirements for states seeking waivers to a rule that limits able-bodied adults between…
It’s Hard to Look Away From the Unblinking Honesty of ‘Honey Boy’
The mercurial former child star Shia LaBeouf (Even Stevens, Transformers), who wrote what became the script for Honey Boy while in rehab, has dealt with no shortage of negative publicity. Prone to vile outbursts and drunken misbehavior, LaBeouf was for many years a cautionary tale about peaking in Hollywood too soon. At best, he had become a…
Acclaimed Musicians Meshell Ndegeocello and Aoife O’Donovan Announced for 2020 Longworth-Anderson Series at Memorial Hall
The multi-genre Longworth-Anderson Series at Over-the-Rhine's Memorial Hall returns for a fourth year in 2020, and the first concert announcements for the season indicate that it will be picking up right where it left off in terms of presenting intimate concerts with some of the most acclaimed artists in the world. The series has previously…
Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling Named On Top 20 Whiskies of 2019 List
Northern Kentucky's New Riff Distilling earned a coveted spot on Whisky Advocate's top 20 list of the best whiskies of 2019. The annual list is compiled by reviewers from whisky-based publication Whisky Advocate and highlights the best bottles of the year. "These include rare and extremely limited releases, as well as new and emerging labels — including New…
City of Cincinnati Seeks Public Input on Move Making Streetcar Fare-Free
The City of Cincinnati wants your thoughts on whether the streetcar should be free to ride — something sure to elicit a few opinions. Currently, the 3.6 mile rail transit loop through downtown and Over-the-Rhine costs $1 for a single ride. An all-day pass costs $2. City officials will hold a public input session at…
Live Music in Greater Cincinnati: This Week’s Concerts and Club Shows (Dec. 4-10)
WEDNESDAY 04 *20TH CENTURY THEATER – Livingston Taylor with Rebecca Loebe. 8 p.m. Folk. $30-$35. *BOGART'S – Big Hairy X-Mas with Steel Panther. 8 p.m. Rock. $26. CAFFÈ VIVACE – Blue Wisp Big Band. 8 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $10. *MOTR PUB – Madqueen with Feral Friends and War on TV. 10 p.m. Indie Rock.…
Pop Hitmakers Maroon 5 are Coming to Cincinnati in 2020
Pop hitmakers Maroon 5 have announced a big 2020 U.S. tour that includes stadium shows at Chicago's Wrigley Field, Boston's Fenway Park and New York's Citi Field. The tour — featuring special guest Meghan Trainor — will also include a Cincinnati date. Adam Levine and company will perform at Riverbend Music Center on Sept. 1.…
Country Superstar Garth Brooks to Play Paul Brown Stadium This Spring
Country music superstar Garth Brooks will be coming to Cincinnati this spring. Brooks will perform at Paul Brown Stadium on May 16, 2020. It is the singer/songwriter's only date on "The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour" in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, so it should attract a lot of regional fans. Tickets go on sale Friday,…
The Who to Play First Cincinnati Area Concert Since 1979 Tragedy
It’s been exactly 40 years since The Who last performed in Cincinnati. That show, on Dec. 3, 1979, at Riverfront Coliseum, resulted in one of the worst concert tragedies of all time, as 11 people were killed in the push to get into the arena. Near the end of WCPO’s documentary The Who: The Night…
Blue Ash Chili Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary with $1 Cheese Coneys
Blue Ash Chili has been a Cincinnati-style chili destination for half a century, and they are celebrating their anniversary with a week's worth of deals — including a day of $1 cheese coneys on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Over the past 50 years, the chili parlor has opened up two additional locations after their original in…
Cleveland Company to Acquire Greater Cincinnati’s AK Steel
AK Steel, one of Southwest Ohio's largest employers, will likely be acquired by a Cleveland company known for ore production, officials with Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. announced today. Cleveland Cliffs, the nation's largest producer of iron ore pellets, is seeking to acquire the local company in a deal believed to be worth roughly $3 billion. AK Steel,…
Over-the-Rhine’s Brown Bear Bakery to Host Pop-Up Pasta and Pizza Dinner
Over-the-Rhine's Brown Bear Bakery is carbing up for the winter season with a special Friday night dinner pop-up on Dec. 6. The bakery will transform into a cozy dining room offering a three-course meal with two dinner sessions, one at 6 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. Brown Bear Bakery's Connor Frenck will be preparing…
Hip Hop Star Cam’ron is Coming to Cincinnati in February
Hip Hop star and entrepreneur Cam'ron is releasing his latest album, Purple Haze 2 (a sequel to his acclaimed 2004 album), on Dec. 16. Today he announced the first post-release tour dates for the album and they include a Cincinnati stop. Cam'ron will perform at Bogart's on Feb. 24. Tickets go on sale this Friday…
Ohio Could be Hit Hard by Plan to Cut Food Stamps
As Ohioans prepare big holiday feasts, others brace for a possible hit to their food budgets. The Trump administration wants to cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by $4.5 billion over five years by changing how states use household utility costs to determine SNAP benefit amounts. Analysts say Ohio would be among the states to see the…
Alternative Rock Pioneer Bob Mould to Bring Solo Tour to Cincinnati in 2020
In October, Alternative Rock pioneer Bob Mould announced that at the beginning of 2020, he'd be embarking on a "solo electric" (ie just Bob and likely one of his Strats) tour. Following that initial run of January/early-February shows, today it was announced that the Hüsker Dü co-founder will pick up the tour in March with…
Work to Resume at Site of Fatal Building Collapse in Downtown Cincinnati
Work is resuming today at downtown's Fourth and Race project a week after a partial collapse at the construction site killed one worker and injured four others. The Nov. 25 incident killed 58-year-old Preston Todd Delph, who worked at the site for Gateway Concrete Forming. It took crews 30 hours of searching through the rubble…
Party in Plaid with Your Pops During Rhinegeist’s Fifth Annual Dad Day Holiday Beer Release Party
Rhinegeist hosts the brewery's fifth annual Dad Day on Dec. 7. From noon-6 p.m., wear plaid and bring your dad to the brewery to enjoy the release of Dad, a hoppy holiday ale. Rhinegeist says, "Stop in and have a Dad on Dad Day with your Dad while you dance awkwardly to bygone boogies and learn…
Experimental Cincinnati Electronic Trio FLOCKS Releases New Single, “CNX”
Experimental Cincinnati Electronic trio FLOCKS recently released a new single. The instrumental band's "CNX" is its first new music since last year's self-titled full-length debut. Recently nominated for a Cincinnati Entertainment Award in the Electronic category for the second year in a row, the group features three skillful, creative technicians — drummer Tom Buckley, guitarist/bassist…
Ohio is the Nation’s Fifth Most Charitable State
Credit score website WalletHub has produced yet another study, this time ranking each state in America by how charitable they are. The study looked at 19 different "indicators of charitable behavior" across all 50 states — broken into "volunteering and service" and "charitable giving" categories — including volunteer rate and volunteer hours per capita; the share of…
Cincinnati Singer/Songwriter Elsa Kennedy Drops Latest Single, “Strawberry Hill”
In September, Cincinnati singer/songwriter Elsa Kennedy released the exquisite track "Redwoods," the first of four songs set to release each month through the end of the year. Following the next song's release later this month, the four tunes will be collected as an EP titled Cadmium. Last week Kennedy dropped the third Cadmium cut, "Strawberry…
FOP President Dan Hils to Challenge Denise Driehaus for Hamilton County Commission Seat
The Hamilton County GOP announced that Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Sgt. Dan Hils will challenge Democrat Hamilton County Commission member Denise Driehaus in next year's election. Hils has served as the police union's president since 2015 and has been a police officer for more than three decades. He has a reputation for tough…
Just in Time for the Holidays, Taft Museum’s Duncanson Murals are Up for Adoption
Ever wanted to adopt a mural? Now you can, thanks to Taft Museum of Art's newly launched crowd-funding initiative "Adopt-the-Murals Giving Challenge." Well, at least symbolically. (Sorry if your dream is to take home a chunk of wall to play catch in your backyard and read bedtime stories. If that's the case, I'm most definitely…
Pendleton’s 3 Points Urban Brewing to Host Black Light New Year’s Eve Party
One of Cincinnati's most popular New Year's Eve parties, "First Midnight," returns to Pendleton's 3 Points Urban Brewery on Dec. 31 — and this year, they're bringing a black light. Hosted by Cincy Music, 3 Points and CityBeat, the Glow Vision-themed event will kick off at 9 p.m. and feature live entertainment, complimentary craft beer and…
The Cincinnati Zoo Decides on a Name for Its New Baby Giraffe
On Nov. 23, a baby giraffe was born at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden — the calf of 8-year-old Cece and 12-year-old Kimba, the zoo's male giraffe who passed away after complications from foot surgery on Nov. 17. The new calf, the 17th born at the zoo since 1889, is Cece's second and Kimba's seventh. And…
Rian Johnson’s Clue-Style Mystery Film ‘Knives Out’ Carves Up Expectations
There’s a reason why Clue is such a popular parlor game. It places players in a confined setting and lets their imaginations run wild as they test their deductive reasoning skills. Details and hunches have equal weight in the proceedings as you race against the clock, so to speak, because you don’t want to let…
CityBeat’s Art & Culture Editor on Why She Got Into Journalism in Today’s Print Climate
My entire lifespan has been a witness to the decline of traditional print media. I was born the same year as Craigslist went live — 1996. And while many in the decades since have blamed the site for snatching away classified ad revenue — newspapers’ most reliable cash cow — and thusly shuttering papers, it’s more…
America’s Beloved, Internet-Famous Cat Lil BUB Has Passed Away
Lil BUB passed away peacefully in her sleep on Dec. 1, according to a Facebook post by her owner. The internet sensation, referred to online as a “perma-kitten” due to her cartoon-like baby cat appearance, was as unusual and hypnotically adorable as she appeared on her daily Facebook photos that reeled in an average of 15,000…
An Unexpected Twist on ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Playhouse in the Park
I’ve been attending the opening nights of A Christmas Carol at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for nearly three decades. I did so on Friday, Nov. 30 with every expectation of seeing Charles Dickens’s familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s Christmas Eve conversion from angry miser to loving benefactor, thanks to the visitation of his…
Cincinnati’s Tom & Chee Returns to Fountain Square for 10th Birthday, Will Serve Birthday Cake-Filled Grilled Donuts
Tom & Chee first appeared outside the ice rink on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati a decade ago. It was then, underneath a tiny food tent, that the very first griddles sizzled with every flip of a grilled cheese sandwich and the very first helpings of steaming tomato soup were ladled into the bowls of…
Proposed Ohio Abortion Ban Sparks Widespread Scrutiny
A bill proposing a total ban on abortions now before the Ohio House of Representatives has drawn media coverage from as far away as England over a provision that some say requires doctors to perform the impossible — or potentially face murder charges. House Bill 413 isn't the first time conservative Ohio lawmakers have tried…
Sitting Down with Photographer Tyler Shields at Hyde Park’s Miller Gallery
Hyde Park’s Miller Gallery is currently filled with works that evoke whimsy and dreamlike wonder. One photograph features a pair of vibrant ruby slippers. In another, a woman flees from a plane, North by Northwest style. But it all started with the slippers, L.A.-based photographer Tyler Shields tells me in a recent interview. His current exhibition…
Cincinnati’s Gold Star Chili Celebrates Bengals Win with BOGO 3-Ways
After 11 losses, the Bengals brought home their first win of the season Dec. 1 while playing against the New York Jets at Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium, winning 22-6. This isn't just great news for Bengals fans — or that guy in Indiana who's been camping out on his bar's roof until the team won…
Here’s an Excellently Odd List of Things ‘Prominent Cincinnatians Would Appreciate for Christmas’ from 1899
Sometimes, perusing historical newspapers yields fascinating and odd nuggets of information. One such example is this article: "Some Things That Some Prominent Cincinnatians Would Appreciate for Christmas," published in the Dec. 24, 1899 edition of The Cincinnati Enquirer. It is literally just a list of of names with a wished-for item next to each. And…
The Farmer & Adele Put a Western Swing Spin on the Holidays in Newport This Week
Keenan Wade and Grace Adele, doing a brisk business as The Farmer & Adele (hi-ho the derry-o… get it?), have become the latest Nashville denizens to simultaneously honor and update the Western Swing tradition. The pair got together with an ear toward contemporizing the singing cowboy/cowgirl routine and came up with a whole lot more…
New York’s HiHi Room Attempts to Make ‘Cincinnati-Style’ Chili with Duck Organ Bolognese
The minds behind New York's Court Street Grocers — which specializes in "championing America's overlooked hometown specialties" — have decided to recreate a version of Cincinnati-style chili at their new full-service eatery HiHi Room. Matt Ross (of New Jersey) and Eric Finkelstein (of Queens) "have a particular thing for Ohio’s unofficial state food," according to a…
That Guy Who Was Stuck on His Roof Until the Bengals Won Can Finally Come Down Now
Yesterday afternoon, the Cincinnati Bengals won their first game of the season. In December. After losing 11 previous games. They beat the New York Jets 22-6 at Paul Brown Stadium. For most people, there is probably little joy in this win — especially those rooting for worst-record status at the end of the season, so…
Alanis Morissette’s 25th-Anniversary ‘Jagged Little Pill’ Tour is Coming to Cincinnati This Summer
On June 13, 1995, Alanis Morissette released Jagged Little Pill, which would go on to become one of the best selling albums of all time, turning the Canadian singer/songwriter into a superstar almost instantly. To mark the album's 25th anniversary, Morissette has announced a 2020 summer tour that includes a July 24 stop at Riverbend…
Hugely Popular Hard Rockers Five Finger Death Punch to Headline Cincinnati’s Heritage Bank Center This Spring
Hugely popular hard rockers Five Finger Death Punch have announced a 2020 arena tour that includes a visit to Cincinnati this spring. The Platinum-selling band will hit the Heritage Bank Center on May 8, joined by special guests Papa Roach, I Prevail and Ice Nine Kills. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Dec. 6 at…
Cincinnati Indie Pop Band Culture Queer Returns with Brilliant New LP ‘Fantasy Farm’
Longtime Cincinnati Indie Pop/Rock band Culture Queer is adding another great entry to their spectacular discography. Named for a bizarre former amusement park in the Middletown area, Fantasy Farm is the quartet’s fifth album and it once again showcases the group’s many strengths — expertly- and artfully-crafted Pop arrangements, an engaging (but never overbearing) quirkiness…
These People Met Through CityBeat
Baby Beat Are there many humans who would not exist if there were never a CityBeat? I know of at least one. Many of the best things in my life have come as a result of me working at CityBeat, including the very best thing — my daughter, Nico. About a year after the paper…
CityBeat’s 25th Anniversary Issue
The first issue of CityBeat was published Nov. 17, 1994 — the same year Pulp Fiction hit theaters, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan took their rivalry off the ice and we all watched O.J.’s white Bronco lead police on a really low-speed car chase along the freeways of Los Angeles. Helmed by editor/co-publisher John Fox…
Lexington R&B Powerhouse Joslyn Hampton and Her Sweet Compression Come to Cincinnati’s Ludlow Garage
Lexington, Kentucky native Joslyn Hampton has a powerfully emotive R&B voice, reminiscent of early Patti LaBelle, Etta James and Jill Scott. And, like her predecessors, she’s not afraid to use her expressive instrument across a broad range of Blues, Soul and Funk settings. Those settings are perfectly provided by Hampton’s backing band, the Sweet Compression,…
25 Things That Were Here When CityBeat Started, but Aren’t Here Anymore
When the first issue of CityBeat was published in late 1994, Cincinnati was not what it is today. Sure, it was the “Queen City,” a river town on Ohio’s border with Kentucky with a couple of frustrating sports teams and an odd proclivity for meat soup poured over spaghetti and drenched in shredded cheese. But…
Todd Rundgren, Micky Dolenz and Christopher Cross to Play The Beatles’ ‘White Album’ and Their Own Hits This Weekend in Cincinnati
The “It Was 50 Years Ago Today: A Tribute to the Beatles’ White Album” tour features Todd Rundgren (who was recently announced as a nominee for the next class of the Rock and Roll of Fame), Monkees legend Micky Dolenz and Soft Rock hitmaker Christopher Cross, as well as Jason Scheff of Chicago and Joey…
How to Cover a Music Scene in 25 Easy Years
My daughter was born in 1994. So was CityBeat. They both turned 25 this year. Holy crap on a communion cracker, I’m old. When John Fox recruited me for his new venture back in ’94, he changed my life in a significant way. I had written album reviews for him when he was the editor…
On and On: Some of the Cincinnati Musicians Covered in CityBeat’s First Years Are Still Going Strong
In the IRL music world, keeping a band together on a DIY level isn’t easy. Making it to five years is a milestone. So there aren’t a ton of original bands still active today that were around when CityBeat published Issue 1 in 1994 (read it for yourself here). But there are a few, and…
25 Important Moments in the Greater Cincinnati Arts Scene from the Past 25 Years
In the past three decades, Cincinnati’s art scene has undergone an evolution of sorts, with new galleries, theaters and organizations making their mark and Queen City stalwarts finding innovative ways to stay relevant. Founded as an altweekly with a focus on arts and culture, a piece of CityBeat’s mission has always been to delve into…
These Cincinnati Grocery Stores are Open on Thanksgiving for Last-Minute Shopping
Imagine this nightmare situation: You prepared for weeks — or at least a couple of days — for your special Thanksgiving dinner, just to realize you don’t have a key ingredient like milk, butter or even a turkey (it's happened). Certain Cincinnati grocers are closed on Thanksgiving, but others have you covered with limited hours…
25 Huge News Stories That Have Happened Since CityBeat Was Born
For a midsized city in what some folks derisively call “flyover country,” Cincinnati has seen more than its fair share of major news stories over the past quarter-century. This isn’t an exhaustive list — each Cincinnatian has their own ideas about what is and isn’t huge news — but these are some of the major…
Hip Hop Heavyweight Rick Ross is Bringing His ‘Port of Miami 2’ Tour to Over-the-Rhine This Week
Respected Hip Hop artist and entrepreneur Rick Ross has been touring steadily this year in support of his tenth album, Port of Miami 2, which was released in August through Ross’ Maybach Music Group and Epic Records and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart. The tour, including dates with DaBaby and Jeezy,…
‘Queen & Slim’ is the Outlaw Story America Needs Right Now
So many of the crimes we see splashed across the nightly news in this country raise a question: What are the motivations of the people involved? And Queen & Slim gets right into the heart of the matter. No more than seven minutes into the film, after an incredibly blah first date at a diner, a black…
Save Some Room: Funksgiving with Freekbass and the Bump Assembly Returns for Another Post Thanksgiving Groove Feast
Veteran Cincinnati Funk artist Freekbass has had an especially busy and fruitful 2019. The bassist/vocalist and his band The Bump Assembly — including singer Sammi Garett of Brooklyn-based group Turkuaz — have kept up their usual steady touring schedule, while also clocking studio time. This spring, Freekbass’ All the Way This. All the Way That…
Duke Energy Reporting 27,500 Customers are without Power in the Greater Cincinnati Area
If you were planning on getting some cooking done early for Thanksgiving, the wind may have other plans for you. Duke Energy is currently reporting there are upward of 27,500 customers without power in the Greater Cincinnati area. You can view a map of outages online and track the restoration efforts there as well (if you…
Stuffed Mushrooms are an Ohio Thanksgiving Favorite?
For Thanksgiving dinner this year, you'll likely be pulling up to a plate of turkey (or tofurky or the protein of your choice) with some green beans, potatoes, marshmallow-covered sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and maybe a few rolls. And if you're in Ohio, according to Google, there's a very good chance you'll also be eating…
Santa Will Arrive at the Cincinnati Museum Center Via Helicopter on Black Friday
Santa is heading to the Cincinnati Museum Center in a different flying apparatus. The man in red will be visiting the holiday attractions at Union Terminal, arriving by helicopter instead of reindeer-drawn sleigh. On Friday, Nov. 29, kids (and parents) can watch the UC Health helicopter land and then visit with Santa, who will be…
The Second Sunday on Main Holiday Market Moves Indoors to Over-the-Rhine’s Woodward Theater
The monthly second Sunday Over-the-Rhine street fair is moving indoors in December for a holiday pop-up. From noon-5 p.m. Dec. 8, shoppers can purchase fresh Christmas trees and wares from more than 50 different local vendors. In addition to shopping ops, there will also be live music from the Queen City Sisters and a Tis'…
Nine Cincinnati Pop-Up Maker Marts and Craft Shows to Shop Local This Holiday Season
If you're looking to shop local this season, these artisan maker marts offer unique and handcrafted goods from multiple vendors in one location — and frequently with warming winter cocktails. Crafty Supermarket This biannual show hosts 100 vendors touting jewelry, fine art, apothecary, ceramics, artisan edible goods, housewares and more. On Nov. 30, the city’s…
Know Theatre’s ‘Puffs’ is a Wizarding Underdog Tale
CRITIC’S PICK Magic is real and growing up is just as awkward for teenage wizards as it is for muggles: that’s what we learn in the hilarious play Puffs, or seven increasingly eventful years at a certain school of magic and magic. Fans of a particular British boy wizard whose adventures first captivated international readers…
Shop Local at the Ohio Explored Holiday Maker Mart at Northside’s Urban Artifact
Website Ohio Explored is hosting its annual Cincinnati maker mart weekend. Head to Urban Artifact to shop from hand-picked vendors who will be offering everything from apothecary items and artisan eats to jewelry, ceramics and fiber art. You can preview a full list of vendors who will be present online. Noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7…
Meet Your Favorite Reds Players and Alumni at the Redsfest 2019 Fan Event at the Duke Energy Convention Center
Reds fans have a chance to get up close and personal with some of their favorite players during Redsfest 2019. Major leaguers, minor leaguers, coaches, broadcasters and alumni slated to appear include Luis Castillo, Joey Votto, Kyle Farmer, Marty Brennaman, Eric Davis, Todd Benzinger, Thom Brennaman, plus tons more (see a full list online). There…
Northern Kentucky Rock Band Frontier Folk Nebraska Explores Nostalgia on Latest Album, ‘Freaks’
Four years ago, Northern Kentucky’s Frontier Folk Nebraska booked two shows at the Southgate House Revival in Newport with the intent of recording the performances for their 2016 live album, This One’s for the Kid in the Back. Then there was the album’s actual release and the supporting tours that had to dovetail with the…
Live Music in Greater Cincinnati: This Week’s Concerts and Club Shows (Nov. 27-Dec. 3)
WEDNESDAY 27 ARNOLD'S BAR AND GRILL – The Tillers. 8 p.m. Folk/Americana. Free. BLIND LEMON – Tom Roll. 8 p.m. Acoustic. Free. BOGART'S – Grunge Tribute with Bronson Arroyo Band, Lift The Medium, Hollow and Rootbound. 6 p.m. Grunge. $13. CAFFÈ VIVACE – Blue Wisp Big Band. 8 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $10. FRETBOARD BREWING…
