BLINK Art and Light Festival Will Expand into Covington in 2019
As the sun dipped below the Roebling Bridge, Dan Reynolds of Brave Berlin spoke of BLINK's expansion into Northern Kentucky. In 2019, the popular light and art festival — which Brave Berlin produced and which saw a million visitors last year — will spread across the bridge into Covington. The announcement came atop downtown Cincinnati's…
Council Overrides Mayoral Vetoes on Liberty Street, Budget Closeout
After some bipartisan deal-making over the past few days, a supermajority of Cincinnati City Council today overrode two vetoes issued by Mayor John Cranley. The deals involved Republican Councilman Jeff Pastor and Democrat Councilman Chris Seelbach effectively agreeing to vote on legislation each had voted against at last week’s council meeting. At that meeting, Pastor…
October’s Second Tea Dance Takes Over the American Sign Museum for an LGBTQ-Friendly Afternoon Party
October’s second Tea Dance takes place at the American Sign Museum. The tea dance is a revived LGBTQ tradition that dates back to the 1940s and ’50s. Richard Cooke and his husband Marty Wagner brought them to Cincinnati in April 2017 with new life. Each month, the dances unfold at a different bar, but always…
The Burlington Antique Show Closes Out its 2018 Season on Oct. 21
The Burlington Antique Show continues its 37th season this weekend. With more than 250 dealers selling everything from vintage jewelry and architectural elements to Americana, primitives and one-of-a-kind antiques, this outdoor event is worth an all-day excursion. For dedicated diggers and historic hunters, early bird admission starts at 6 a.m. This event is held rain…
This Saturday is the Last City Flea in Washington Park Before December’s Holiday Market
It’s the final City Flea of the regular season before the holiday market in December so if you want to stroll and shop, Saturday’s the day. Check out unique items from hundreds of vendors, from handmade crafts and vintage finds to artisan food items and plant studios. 10 a.m. Saturday. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230…
Rookwood Pottery and the Cincinnati Zoo Combine Forces to Release a Limited Fiona Footprint Ornament
The Cincinnati Zoo has partnered with local Rookwood Pottery to release a special Fiona ornament just in time for the holidays (or at least just in time for those of us who put up decorations the day after Halloween…). The new Fiona footprint ornament is a limited-edition custom disc featuring an actual mold of Fiona's…
Nerds Rejoice: Books By the Banks Takes Over the Convention Center for a Day of Free Readings, Signings and Workshops
Whether you love cookbooks, fiction, comic books or have a child who loves reading, fans of any and all book genres can find something they’re looking for at the Books by the Banks festival. Check their website for a list of attending authors and the schedule for panel discussions — a chance to pose questions…
All the Hard-To-Get Beers You Can Drink at Rhinegeist’s Rare Beer Fest This Weekend
Weird brews aren’t only found in witches’ cauldrons; they’re also found in brewery taprooms. Rhinegeist is hosting Rare Beer Fest, which will showcase the most “extraordinary, unobtainable and unexpected” beers from across the country — like The Lost Abbey of San Diego, Indiana’s Upland Brewing Co., Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Co. and Other Half Brewing…
What To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend: Oct. 18-21
THURSDAY 18 ONSTAGE: RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World Tour For one night only, the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race take over the Aronoff Center for the Werq the World Tour. Host Bob the Drag Queen will be joined by Season 10 winner Aquaria, plus Asia O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, Eureka, Kim Chi and Voilet Chachki. Werq the World is…
Cincinnati Food and Drink Events and Festivals This Week (Oct. 17-23)
WENDESDAY 17 An Early All Hallows Eve at Krohn — This is for the grown-ups. Adults can head to Krohn for a night of mini-pumpkin carving, a lantern-lighted tour of the conservatory, Halloween-inspired games and pumpkin spice beer. 6-8 p.m. $12; $15 door. Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincyparks.com. THURSDAY 18 Date…
Check Out the Winners of the Over-the-Rhine Film Festival
Last month’s 2018 Over-the-Rhine Film Festival drew sold-out crowds; the five-day event saw more than 5,000 patrons spread across multiple venues and screenings. Yesterday, the winners of the fest—which featured nearly 65 short and feature films—were announced. In total, there were 10 categories films could snag the ‘best’ title in, which were chosen by jury.…
Seeing ‘the Other’ and Ourselves in FotoFocus Exhibits
We are the Other at the Kennedy Heights Center Minnesota-born street photographer Wing Young Huie recalls one of the best comments he’s received about his pictures: “Your photos gave me the chance to stare.” So take a good, long look at We Are the Other, Wing’s exhibit at Kennedy Heights Arts Center. And take a…
The Dining Guide: 119 of the Best Places to Eat in Cincinnati Right Now
Hello. Are you hungry? You probably will be at some point today or in the near future (unless you’re a robot). And when you’re ready to eat, you may need a restaurant recommendation. That’s where we come in. This year, CityBeat’s handy annual Dining Guide is a collection of some of the best places to…
Cincinnati Police Launch Increased Traffic Enforcement Efforts in High-Complaint Areas
Cincinnati Police today (Oct. 16) launched a new initiative to increase traffic enforcement in problem areas around the city after numerous concerns around pedestrian safety have surfaced over the past couple years here. CPD Chief Eliot Isaac, community leaders and representatives from Children's Hospital outlined the effort today at a news conference in Pleasant Ridge.…
29 Recommended Greater Cincinnati Concerts for the Week Ahead (Oct. 17-23)
WEDNESDAY 17 20TH CENTURY THEATER–Fruition with Daniel Rodriguez. 8 p.m. Roots/Rock/Various. $15, $17 day of show. TAFT THEATRE–Ray LaMontagne with Liza Anne. 7:30 p.m. Singer/songwriter. $39.50-$75. THURSDAY 18 MADISON THEATER–Lovelytheband, Ocean Park Standoff and Brynn Elliott. 8 p.m. Pop/Various. $35. MEMORIAL HALL–The Tillers and Honey and Houston. 7 p.m. Folk/Americana. $25. MOTR PUB–The Peaks with…
Recommended Greater Cincinnati Concerts: Avi Buffalo with Haunted Summer and Big Hit at MOTR Pub (Oct. 20)
Avi Buffalo is not quite a band, not quite a man — it’d be more accurate to call it the disembodied inspiration of Los Angeles’ Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg, imbuing whichever musicians cross its path with a taste for vintage Folk Rock stylings and a hint of College Rock crunch. Named for Zahner-Isenberg’s appetite for peppery chicken…
Recommended Greater Cincinnati Concerts: Social Distortion at Bogart’s (Oct. 19)
Punk Rock and Country have long shared a deep ethos that goes beyond any outward differences. While each genre may seem to be at opposite ends of the sonic spectrum, they are defined by an uncompromising adherence to doing things the “true” way and never backing down. Whether the stories of endless trials and thumbing…
Recommended Greater Cincinnati Concerts: Ray LaMontagne with Liza Anne at the Taft Theatre (Oct. 17)
Listening to the music of Ray LaMontagne is an act of self-care. His newest album, Part of the Light, is an all-new indulgence with which to spoil yourself. It’s like stretching across your bed in a beam of Sunday-morning sunlight and petting your cat until she falls asleep. It’s like letting your friends go out…
Ohio All-Star Rockers Cool Life Host Album Listening Party at Northside Yacht Club
Over the past several months, a new Ohio Rock all-star band project called Cool Life has released a pair of singles and music videos to set the stage for the release of its debut album. Cool Life features Foxy Shazam’s horn player/singer Alex Nauth, who’s currently also fronting The Skulx; Chris Harrison (guitar) and Kamal…
Recommended Greater Cincinnati Concerts: Four Aces Guitar Fest at Madison Theater (Oct. 20)
Four acclaimed Cincinnati-based Blues Rock guitarists are joining forces Saturday (Oct. 20) for the Four Aces Guitar Fest at Madison Theater (730 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky., madisontheateronline.com). The event features celebrated Blues Rock players Sonny Moorman, Jay Jesse Johnson, Johnny Fink (who is representing Cincinnati in January at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee)…
Recommended Greater Cincinnati Concerts: The Tillers and Honey & Houston at The MEMO (Oct. 18)
Since its renovation and reopening in late 2016, Over-the-Rhine’s Memorial Hall (1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, memorialhallotr.com) has become one of the best mid-size concert venues in the city, offering a theater-like setting with an intimate feel. Since reopening, the 560-seat facility with state-of-the-art sound (built to complement the well-designed natural acoustics) has hosted shows by…
Rickie Lee Jones Performs an Intimate Concert at Clifton’s Ludlow Garage (Oct. 20)
If renowned singer/songwriter Rickie Lee Jones had her way, she’d never sing a song that had been written before she and her musical collaborators walk out on stage. “To be honest, my best songs are probably improvised on the spot,” she says. “While I can do that, taking the other (musicians) along is a challenge.…
Cincinnati Public School Serving Many Immigrant and Refugee Families Gets a New Health Clinic
Students and the community around a Cincinnati Public School in Evanston will have an easier time accessing vital health services via the school's new Academy of World Languages Schiff Wellness Center unveiled today. AWL, a K-8 CPS school specializing in language, offers Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian classes as well as English as a second…
WOW Airlines Ending Services Out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
WOW airlines has announced it is canceling service out of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Its final flights from CVG will be this month. Disappointing news for those of us who were excited about cheap flights to and from Iceland and Europe. WOW, which launched service from CVG in May, offered one-way flights to Iceland…
Learn How to Start a Fire (and Other Pioneer Skills) at This Weekend’s Big Bone Lick Salt Festival
Big Bone Lick Historic Site encompasses 512 acres of Kentucky parkland named after the Pleisotocene megafauna fossils found there, including mammoths, sloths and bison. The park is nicknamed the “birthplace of American paleontology” and is an official Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail Site. To celebrate its history, the annual Salt Festival features demonstrations of pioneer…
Legendery Tenor Andrea Bocelli Performs at U.S. Bank Arena with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chours
Legendary and Grammy-nominated tenor Andrea Bocelli takes the stage at U.S. Bank Arena on Friday for an evening of song, accompanied by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chorus. Bocelli has been performing for more than 20 years and has sold more than 90 million records globally. 6:30 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. show Friday.…
RuPaul’s Werq the World Tour is an Over-the-Top Eleganza Extravaganza at the Aronoff Center with Host Bob the Drag Queen
For one night only, the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race take over the Aronoff Center for the Werq the World Tour. Host Bob the Drag Queen will be joined by Season 10 winner Aquaria, plus Asia O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, Eureka, Kim Chi and Voilet Chachki. Werq the World is a theatrical extravaganza featuring lip-sync performances,…
L.A. Chef Robert ‘Bean’ Castaneda Brings His ‘Living, Breathing Kitchen’ Secret Pop-Up to Over-the-Rhine
Everybody likes surprises, right? Los Angeles-based Chef Robert “Bean” Castaneda (son of chef Robert Castaneda of the legendary Melvyn’s Restaurant and Lounge in Palm Springs) brings his latest pop-up dinner series — Living, Breathing Kitchen — to Cincinnati this month. Hosting weekly pop-up dinners in surprise locations, Castaneda is bringing a little bit of the…
Nick Offerman Takes Over the Taft Theatre with Beards and Comedy in April 2019
Calling all fans of Parks and Recreation, bacon and beards: Comedian, actor, writer and woodworker Nick Offerman is headlining the Taft Theatre April 19, 2019. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Friday (Oct. 19). If his Netflix special American Ham is any indication expect storytelling, stand-up and song. Offerman, possibly best known as Ron…
Hotel Covington Screens ‘Halloween’ and ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ in its Courtyard for a Creepy Double Feature
“It’s Halloween; everyone’s entitled to one good scare.” But you get two. Hotel Covington is hosting a cozy-creepy movie night in their courtyard. Two of the most iconic slasher films will be screened: Halloween (1978) and Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Bring a blanket (maybe two — one to hide your face) and munch on…
City Councilman Proposes Regulations on Cincinnati Airbnb Rentals
Operators of short-term rental units, including those offered on sites like Airbnb, could face new regulations soon if an ordinance by Councilman David Mann gets enough support on council. Airbnb, and other sites like it, allow property owners to rent rooms or whole buildings for short-term stays, similar to a hotel. The companies don't own…
The ‘Guys and Dolls’ at CCM are Golden this Fall
Fiftieth anniversaries are celebrated as “golden” and that’s what is happening at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music as its Musical Theatre program hits the half-century mark this school year. Underscoring this noteworthy moment, a production of Guys and Dolls — one of the best “Golden Age” musicals — is onstage at UC’s Corbett Auditorium…
REVIEW: Ensemble Theatre’s ‘St. Nicholas’ is Ghostly, Obsessive
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s limited-engagement production of Conor McPherson’s St. Nicholas may invoke nostalgia for the one-man-show’s star, Bruce Cromer, who has had a longstanding role as Scrooge in Playhouse in the Park’s A Christmas Carol. Much more of a spooky modern gothic tale than a Victorian Christmas story, St. Nicholas follows a jaded Dublin theater…
It’s a Christmas Miracle: Skyline is Selling a 3-Way ‘Ugly’ Holiday Sweater
Skyline is very smart and has decided to really ring in the yuletide cheer with a chili-themed "ugly" Christmas sweater. Yes. You can own an "ugly" sweater featuring 3-Ways lined up in the shape of a Christmas tree all season long. Have an ugly-sweater-themed pub crawl to go to? How about a work holiday party?…
Creator and Original Host Joel Hodgson on Mystery Science Theater 3000’s 30th Anniversary Tour
Talking in a movie theater used to get you escorted out of the building by officious ushers. But in 1976, The Rocky Horror Picture Show made talking to screens a cultish national pastime. A decade later, former stand-up comedian Joel Hodgson converted cracking wise at quirky films into an eventual 30-year career with Mystery Science…
Renacci and Brown Hold First Senate Race Debate; More News
Hello all. Here’s a quick news rundown to start your week. A group of faith leaders, elected officials and others will gather today (Oct. 15) to protest Mayor John Cranley’s veto of funding passed by Cincinnati City Council for controversial nonprofit The Center for Closing the Health Gap. Among the speakers at the 5:30 p.m.…
The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah is Coming to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center Next February
Trevor Noah, aka the host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, will make a stop at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center next February as part of his Loud & Clear tour through North America, launching Jan. 11 in Toronto, Ontario. The tour will land in 28 cities, including Tampa, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh and more. The host’s…
Cincy Shakes’ ‘1984’ is a Visceral Gut Punch
CRITIC'S PICK It should come as no big surprise that early in 2017, just weeks after the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, sales of George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, spiked monumentally — growing by 9,500 percent. The rise of right-wing authoritarian rule in nations around the world certainly seemed to have echoes…
British AltPop Group The 1975 Coming to Riverbend’s PNC Pavilion in May
On Nov. 30, popular UK AltPop band The 1975 is slated to release its anticipated new album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships. Today the group's 2019 North American tour in support of the album was announced and it includes a date in Cincinnati. The 1975 will play Riverbend's PNC Pavilion on May 12. Pale…
Minimum Gauge: Prince’s Family Asks Trump to Stop Playing “Purple Rain” at Campaign Rallies
HOT: Another Playlist Deletion In this month’s edition of “Stop Playing My Music at Your Rallies, Mr. President,” there’s a surprise special guest star — Prince! Actually, it was the late superstar’s estate that requested Donald Trump no longer playlist “Purple Rain” to get his supporters hyped before campaign appearances. The Trump team started using…
At Greater Cincinnati Appearance, Trump Promotes Chabot, Asks for Black Votes, Tells Tricky Historical Parable
President Donald Trump dropped by Greater Cincinnati on Friday (Oct. 12) to promote a couple Ohio GOP congressional contenders. While he was here, he touted the economy, urged African-Americans to vote for him and also told a somewhat convoluted parable that involved Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Trump’s main purpose in holding a rally at…
Alan Yang’s ‘Forever’ Explores the Nagging Comfort of Relationships
Sometimes it’s best to go into a new series blind. That’s what I took away from Alan Yang (Master of None) as he promoted his new series Forever (Amazon Video) by sharing reviews, but also encouraging folks not to read them until they watched the entire season. Created, written and produced by Yang and Matt…
Attorneys Say Cincinnati Residents from Mauritania Face Slavery if Deported
Greater Cincinnati residents who fled oppression in their native country of Mauritania are at risk of being deported by the U.S. government back to that country, attorneys and advocates said in a news conference call yesterday. Ohio has the largest population in the country of black Mauritanians, who face slavery, torture and lack of basic…
Trump Visits Cincy to Support Chabot re-election bid; A Look at Cranley’s Vetoes; More News
Hello all. Here’s a quick news rundown to round out your week. President Donald Trump will speak this evening in Lebanon to rally support for fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, who faces a tough reelection battle against his challenger Aftab Pureval, a Democrat. Chabot and Pureval are locked in a pitched battle over the…
Halloween Haunt at Kings Island Was Just Named the Best Halloween Theme Park Event in the Country
Kings Island's Halloween Haunt just took the title as spookiest theme park event in America, edging out competitors like King Dominion, multiple Six Flags parks, Cedar Point and Busch Gardens. The “Best Theme Park Halloween Event” was compiled as part of USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award. Local experts teamed up with ‘Haunt…
Arrangements Made for Colonel De Stewart’s Celebration of Life
Cincinnati food icon Colonel De Stewart — of Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices and the recently opened Colonel's Kitchen in Fort Thomas — passed away of an apparent heart attack in his Fort Thomas home early Thursday morning. A celebration of Stewart's life will take place Tuesday, Oct. 16 at The Mess Hall at…
Go on a Camping Adventure with Local Chefs During ‘Red River Gorge Yourself’
Red River Gorge Yourself is a one-of-a-kind camping/dining experience that brings together some of the very best things in life; food, friends and the great outdoors. Three local chefs — Elias Leisring of Eli's BBQ, Jackson Rouse of Bauer Farm Kitchen and Christian Gill of Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey — will prepare a gourmet campfire…
Downtown Cincinnati’s 21c Museum Hotel Hosts Secret Garden-Themed Halloween Party
Downtown's 21c Museum Hotel gets in the spooky spirit again this season with its second-annual Secret Garden-themed Halloween party: Secret Garden Redux: Creatures of the Night. This dance party — "inspired by other-worldly animalia" — will feature a mystical garden theme with music from DJs Planet Venus and CJ Wood and pop-up dance performances by…
Wussy’s Mark Messerly Releases Unique Collaborative Album Project, ‘INERT’
Since the late ’90s, with his duo/band project Messerly & Ewing, longtime Cincinnati musician Mark Messerly has showcased his ample talents as a singer and songwriter, alongside his equally talented partner Brian Ewing. In the early ’00s, Messerly gained a new outlet to show off another skill-set, serving as a kind of utility player with…
Cincinnati’s Pedal Wagon Introduces ArtWorks Mural Tour Route
Pedal Wagon — the sort-of people-powered pedal party (some wagons have an electric assist function) that you frequently see cruising around Over-the-Rhine and downtown on weekend (or weekday; we aren't judging) bar crawls — has introduced a new, non-booze tour: the Cincinnati Mural Tour. According to the wagon's website, this mobile urban artwork jaunt takes…
Buses, Bridges and Bikes: Local Projects Get Millions in OKI Grants
Projects in Cincinnati and neighboring Northern Kentucky will see millions of dollars in support from federal grants distributed by the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments. OKI today announced 24 winners of the $41 million in federal Transportation Alternative and Surface Transportation Block Grants, including several in and around Cincinnati. The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority…
Cincinnati Drops Off ‘Best Bike Cities’ List
After appearances in both 2014 and 2016, Cincinnati has fallen off a list of best cities for cyclists compiled by a top national magazine. Bicycling compiles its list of “Best Bike Cities in America” every two years, culling the top 50 cities in the U.S. for cycling based on safety, accessibility for all riders, political…
What’s Next for Liberty Street After Cranley Veto?
The future of a road-calming project in the works for more than six years in Over-the-Rhine is unclear after Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley today vetoed a Cincinnati City Council ordinance funding it. Cranley said the ordinance introduced by Councilman Chris Seelbach and approved with votes from council members Tamaya Dennard, Greg Landsman, Seelbach, P.G. Sittenfeld…
Cranley Vetoes Cincinnati City Council Spending Plan
Usually, the sweltering summer months are when battles over the City of Cincinnati’s budget come to a head. But the wrangling will continue a little longer into October after Mayor John Cranley today vetoed an ordinance approved by five members of Cincinnati City Council closing out some big budgetary loose ends. Cranley vetoed a $5.3…
What To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend: Oct. 12-14
FRIDAY 12 ONSTAGE: 1984 at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company George Orwell’s classic political thriller has resurfaced into modern pop culture as of late because, er, many are drawing parallels to current-day issues and 1984’s horrific dystopian future. Big brother is watching. Rediscover this classic via a play, where protagonist Winston Smith stumbles upon a resistance movement against a bleak…
Beloved Cincinnati Food Icon Colonel De Stewart Passes Away at Age 71
Cincinnati food icon Colonel De Stewart — of Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices and the recently opened Colonel's Kitchen in Fort Thomas — passed away of an apparent heart attack in his Fort Thomas home early Thursday morning. “It is with great sadness that we announce that The 'Colonel' De Stewart, Founder of Colonel…
