Newspaper Endorsements
Editor & Publisher has been running updates on daily newspaper endorsements in the presidential race here. The journalism industry magazine has the tally, as of today, at 121 endorsements for Barack Obama and 42 for John McCain and notes that in 2004 the spread was much closer, with John Kerry edging out President Bush 213-205.…
Planting the Seeds of New Musicals
When you see a show like Emma, the Jane Austen musical recently presented at the Cincinnati Playhouse (pictured), do you ever wonder where it came from? If you paid attention to some of the Playhouse’s publicity, you might know it premiered at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, Calif., where it was a big box-office hit. In…
Junction Nightmare and Jack-O-Lantern Junction
EnterTrainment Junction is a model railroad entertainment complex, but its haunted house has nothing to do with trains. Instead, visitors find themselves thrown back in time to Jack the Ripper’s London, creeping through city streets that are deserted except for Jack and his victims. The second half of the haunt is a well-crafted maze with…
Get Scared
Halloween Pub Parties Adonis: Disco Inferno Halloween party 9 p.m. Nov. 1. $15 for ages 18-20, $10 for 21 and up. 4601 Kellogg Ave., East End, 513-871-1542. Annie’s: Halloween Hell IV 8 p.m. Oct 17. $15, $10 in advance. 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End, 513-321-2572. Bang!: Annual Halloween Bash with all-you-can-drink beer, costume contest and…
Music: Method Man and Red Man
Hip Hop stars Method Man and Redman make such great music, they can be forgiven for their silly, unfunny movie and TV careers (though maybe not for those deodorant commercials). The duo each had success in their own right when they formed their partnership, Method Man as a part of the Wu Tang Clan and…
USS Nightmare
Being the only haunted house that floats has its advantages. The USS Nightmare is a B&B Riverboat that’s docked just below Newport on the Levee and takes on a decidedly waterborne theme, complete with crazy captain and some whacked crewmembers who apparently killed some of their passengers. Sounds like some rather unpleasant cruises reported on…
Onstage: Guys and Dolls
Director Greg Procaccino might have had a lucky streak with his production of Guys and Dolls, currently at Covedale Theatre — but I suspect he didn’t leave it to chance. Guys and Dolls is a classic musical from 1950, one that I’m wagering most of the audience had seen in the past, either onstage or…
Mayhem Mansion
Take one huge old house, drop it into a secluded location and fill it with aggressive ghouls and creatures, and you’ll have Mayhem Mansion. It’s entered through a shuttered second story window and immediately plunges hauntgoers into stygian darkness. Voices, screams, inhuman laughter, taunts and ghostly whispers seemingly exude from every corner. You’ll be locked…
Music: Lost in Holland
Lost in Holland, made up of Josh Hisle (U.S. Marine) and Michael Ronstadt (son of Linda) plays Baba Budan’s to support their albums Hearts and Minds and the unreleased The Last Great Loss. Recently, Young’s label, Vapor Records, announced that they’ll distribute Lost in Holland’s albums. The new one, The Last Great Loss, is in…
Land of Illusion
Virtually a theme park of haunted houses, Land of Illusion is an illusion itself: Not one haunted anything, it’s four, and each is better than the one before it. The Middletown Haunted Trail ($15), Temple of Terror ($12), Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate ($10) and Killer Klowns ($10) make up the four separate haunts. Go through…
St. Rita’s Haunted House
Situated on a hilltop overlooking St. Rita’s School for the Deaf, this Cincinnati favorite is in its 33rd year and continues to provide an excellent evening of fright. Once you enter the house you’re transported into all the classic scary movies. Rooms are dedicated to Frankenstein, Dracula, Poltergeist and most slasher films your parents wouldn’t…
The Chambers of Horror
The Chambers continues to earn its reputation as a haven for hardcore, confrontational haunting. Costuming is minimal, the event uses lots of masks and rooms are decorated with the bare basics, but the ghouls and demons delight in pursuing hauntgoers and herding them into one trap after another. There are rooms full of doors that…
Art: Children in American Art at the Dayton Art Institute
In what could easily have become an exhibition larded with cuteness, Children in American Art at the Dayton Art Institute instead provides an unusual journey through changing concepts of childhood in America. The show provides a fine mix of acknowledged masters and works by anonymous or little-known artists. “Child in a Rocking Chair” (1876), by…
Springboro Haunted Hayride & Black Bog
Now in its 19th year, this perennial Halloween fave might be the only in the Tristate to warrant its own county directional sign — and with good reason. Split into two distinct attractions, it’s worth the countryside trek. The Hayride lumbers through cannibalistic outposts and asylums-gone-wild, with ghouls assaulting the trailer on all sides, sometimes…
The Halloween Haunt
Greater Cincinnati’s largest amusement park opens its gates for this hit-and-miss nocturnal event that features 11 haunted attractions and two live stage shows. Some of the attractions miss their mark and aren’t worth waiting in the long lines for, but the ones that work do very well indeed. Those include the new “Urgent Scare,” which…
Loveland Castle Scary Knights
Restrictions from local government have caused Loveland Castle’s annual Halloween event (now in its 23rd year) to adopt a tour format. This has actually helped, extending the tour time and increasing character interaction with hauntgoers. The first part of the tour takes you through the game room, ballroom, bedroom, breezeway, chapel, armor room and round…
Haunted Miniature Golf
For those who enjoy the Halloween season but prefer it served with a cute pumpkin as opposed to a headless horseman, Town and Country offers the solution. The Haunted Mini Golf course allows kids of all ages to play 18 holes while listening to “Monster Mash” and the theme to Ghostbusters. Hidden in the trees…
SandyLand Acres
A haunted hayride just scary enough for adults but probably not too scary for older kids, the SandyLand Acres hayride (and corn maze, though I didn’t go through that) is a fun family-run ride on the back of a tractor through fields and forest on a rural farm. Scares are sometimes predictable, but not always.…
Dungeons of Delhi
I was told that the cast of the Dungeons of Delhi is mainly children. I assumed that meant that it would be mild and even kid-friendly to the younger ones. I was wrong. Run by the Delhi Township Police Explorers as a fundraiser with an all-volunteer crew, it’s one freaky tour. The house is located…
Dent School House/WEBN Haunted House
The Dent School House encompasses the true spirit of Halloween: unrestrained fear. Not for the weak-hearted, it’s perfected the art of the scare. While waiting in line a film explains the history of the school and what brought such horror to a place intended to teach and nurture. It keeps the guest entertained during what…
Mount Healthy Haunted Hall
The best scare for the buck, the Mount Healthy Haunted Hall delivers on scares despite its lower-than-many price tag. Run by a group of Boy Scouts, it’s more Blair Witch Project than some goodie two-shoes happy haunted house to raise a few bucks for a less scarier camping trip or service project. In other words,…
A Couple of Burning CEA Quesions Answered
I've been receiving a lot of questions about the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards so I thought I'd take a minute to clear a few things up. The big question: Can people vote more than once? While the voting program online allows you to vote as much as you want, your first vote is the only one…
High Places, Burning Star Core and Me or the Moon…
The Since You've Been Gone Publico exhibit at the Weston Art Gallery welcomed musicians Me or the Moon, Burning Star Core and High Places from Brooklyn on Saturday night. Let's take a few moments to look at some photos…
Y’all Ride?
Just another reminder about tomorrow night's Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee public hearing regarding bike and pedestrian access across the soon-to-be-way-different I-75 corridor. Cincinnati is generally regarded as a crappy place to ride bikes (see my recent CityBeat cover story "No One Rides for Free"), save for our lovely park trails and a couple of East…
Concert Review: TV on the Radio at Bogart’s
For a band with three properly released, critically acclaimed albums, a lot has come to be expected of TV on the Radio. They are on a major label, Interscope, for which they have now released two full-length albums. They recreate their entire discography live, reimagining the layered songscapes they are known for on record into…
Some More Great Shots From The National’s Fountain Square Show
OK, I think this is the last we'll mention the "Vote Early, Rock Late" concert Thursday on Fountain Square. Our Keith Klenowski took some great shots, like the ones on this page. For more of his pics, go here.—- Keith also had his photos from the concert/rally showcased on Pitchfork; check ’em out here. Congrats…
Beyond Pictorialism (Review)
Critic's Pick At just 15 photos, Beyond Pictorialism: The Photography of Doris Ulmann at Over-the-Rhine’s designsmith gallery is one of the largest exhibitions mounted in the past 15 years of this little-known photographer’s work. The exhibition reveals Ulmann’s historical and aesthetic significance through 12 portraits and three architectural photographs and demonstrates how she bridged two…
The Seafarer (Review)
Critic's Pick One Irishman might entertain you for an evening with yarns. When playwright Conor McPherson brings five of them together in The Seafarer and fuels their conversation with pints of Harp and shots of poteen (Irish moonshine), the opportunities expand exponentially. With a sterling ensemble directed by D. Lynn Meyers at Ensemble Theatre, it’s…
Children in American Art (Review)
Critic's Pick In what could easily have become an exhibition larded with cuteness, Children in American Art at the Dayton Art Institute instead provides an unusual journey through changing concepts of childhood in America. It begins with a strange and stiff little figure from the 17th century, “Robert Gibbs at 4-1/2 Years.” Young Gibbs appears…
Make a Difference
Make a Difference Day is a “national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors,” according to its originator, the national newspaper USA Today. The annual event takes place every year on the fourth Sunday in October, and this year Public Allies, a program of the Bridges for a Just Community and the…
18 Things a New Homeowner Should Do Immediately to Save Money
So you’ve just moved into your nice new home. You’ve unloaded the boxes, unpacked most of your stuff and are just starting to settle into your residence. Right now is the perfect time to walk through a checklist of ways to save money on your home. Starting on these things as early as possible will…
More Images from Vote Early, Rock Late…
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Tis the Season … For Voting BS
As Election Day draws near, the rumors and lies about what is and isn’t allowed at a polling place begin to swirls. In addition to the usual anti-immigrant rhetoric (yes, you can take a translator into the voting booth if you need one) and the hate-all-criminals mantra (ex-felons are allowed to vote, as not all…
Colin Powell Backs Obama
As you've likely heard by now, former Secretary of State (and longtime Republican) Colin Powell announced on Meet the Press yesterday that he would be voting for Barack Obama for president. Powell made a strong and persuasive argument as to why Obama could be an “exceptional” president, praising his “intellectual vigor” as well the inclusive…
Stage Door: Deal with the Devil
There's a lot of good theater around right now. Lots of people are telling me they've enjoyed Durango at the Playhouse (which closes on Sunday), and everyone who sees Know Theater's Reefer Madness: The Musical seems to come away laughing. But if there's one show that's a must-see right now, I'd point you to The…
Supreme Court Helps New Voters in Ohio
This morning the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a verdict by the 6th District Court of Appeals in Cincinnati that would have thrown a monkeywrench into newly-registered voters in the state having their ballots count in the presidential race. The Republican Party had sued to force Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner — who has made…
Local Musicians Aid Music Fan
Sometimes musicians use their talent to try to make big change (see: The National, Breeders at Fountain Square yesterday). But even more often, musicians will use their gifts for more modest reasons, helping friends in need. It's still about "change," but it's on a much more tangible level when the change is aimed at helping…
The Rise of The Panderers
I befriended frontman Scott Wynn of The Panderers on MySpace a year and a half ago, not much expecting to be friends outside of that space. The bang, the clak, the lo-fi chemical makeup of his music flowed in my ears and captured my mind. I wanted these guys live on stage in front of…
Concert Review: The National and The Breeders on Fountain Square
Photo by Joe Lamb – View a gallery of images from the event here. It’s a great time of year to live in a swing state like Ohio. At least if you’re a music fan. Last night, popular Ohio-affiliated bands The National and The Breeders played a free rally/concert for Barack Obama and packed Fountain…
Homemade Cleaning Products
I have three shedding dogs and two twentysomething male roommates, so I end up cleaning my house more than most people. This means that I’m always on the hunt for new, effective cleaning products that are a) cheap and b) environmentally-friendly. This is a difficult combination to come by even though most companies are hopping…
All Together Now Gets One-Night-Only Screening
In advance of Tuesday's DVD release of All Together Now, a documentary about how Cirque du Soleil collaborated with The Beatles and their surviving families to create the hit Las Vegas show Love, there will be a one-night-only national theatrical screening on Monday, Oct. 20. The film features new interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr,…
Ahead of the Curve
As a theater fan in Cincinnati, do you wonder if you’re missing works that other cities get to see? Let me calm your fears. Based on the list of “The Season’s Top 10” productions reported in the October 2008 issue of American Theatre magazine, we’re definitely ahead of the curve. Many of the works onstage…
Joe the Plumber? Not So Quick
Everyone’s talking about “Joe the Plumber” today, a.k.a. Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, a Toledo area worker and single father mentioned several times during Wednesday night’s presidential debate. Republican presidential nominee John McCain—- used Wurzelbacher as an example of the type of person who might oppose the tax proposal by Democratic rival Barack Obama. In turn, Obama…
‘Truth Squading’ in OH-1
This week’s issue of CityBeat profiles three of the candidates in the hotly contested race for Ohio’s 1st Congressional District seat. Not surprisingly, two of the candidates are claiming that the other misrepresented or distorted his views. The campaign of Republican incumbent Steve Chabot took umbrage at a paraphrased statement from his Democratic challenger, Steve…
Guys and Dolls (Review)
Theater is a crap game. The director of a show often doesn’t know who will audition, what the chemistry of the eventual cast members will be or even what the sets and costumes will look like. Director Greg Procaccino might have had a lucky streak with his production of Guys and Dolls, currently at Covedale…
I Love Natalie Portman…
Mike Breen just posted a schedule of events on the music blog, so I won't do that here, but the schedule goes something like this: Mark Mallory, The Breeders, speeches, Natalie Portman, The National. I know people are really excited about seeing The National and The Breeders, for free, on a lovely autumn evening. And…
Schedule of Events for Today’s National/Breeders Rally for Obama
If you're attending this evening's rally/concert Vote Early, Rock Late on Fountain Square featuring Cincy natives The National and Dayton's The Breeders, here is the schedule of events: Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory will kick things off with a few words at 5 p.m. The Breeders are scheduled to take the stage at 5:15 p.m. (maybe…
Greg Dulli Goes Solo, Acoustic
One of Cincinnati’s favorite sons, Greg Dulli, is slated to release a live album on Oct. 28. The album will be credited to just Dulli (only his second “solo” release, following the studio project, Amber Headlights) and will feature some acoustic versions of songs from throughout his career. Live At Triple Door is being released…
Stop the Presses! CityBeat Backs Obama!
It what might be the least surprising election endorsement since The Enquirer backed every area Republican Congressional incumbent last Sunday, CityBeat today officially endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president. Despite lacking any suspense, believe me when I say the decision to recommend Obama was undertaken seriously and is offered enthusiastically. I'm honored to be have…
For Cintas, It’s Business As Usual
Two proposals by institutional shareholders designed to increase independent oversight at Cintas Corp. failed to gain a majority of votes Tuesday at the company’s annual meeting. The proposals included one by the North Carolina Retirement Systems, which represents the pension investments of unionized North Carolina state government workers. It sought to have an independent chairman…
Race in the Race for the White House
The New York Times published a series of stories today dealing with the issue of race in the presidential election. In one of the pieces, entitled “In Generation Seen as Colorblind, Black Is Yet a Factor,” a Times reporter interviewed students at the University of Kentucky and the University of Cincinnati, several of whom said…
Events: Vote Early, Rock Late with The National
The National and The Breeders come to Fountain Square to rally support for democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and running mate Joe Biden. The National, along with local Democratic Party supporters Allan and Jennie Berliant and Scott Durban of Lightborne, have organized this event to promote "Change we can believe in." Speakers include actress Natalie…
Barack the Vote
This Thursday, Cincinnati native sons The National, a now wildly-popular Indie band based in Brooklyn that just toured with R.E.M., is coming home for a cause … and a Rock show. The National will be joined at Fountain Square by Dayton’s Kim Deal and The Breeders for what is being called “Vote Early, Rock Late.”…
Seedy Seeds (Profile)
The Seedy Seeds have set some astonishing benchmarks for themselves in just three years. Arising from a chance meeting between Mike Ingram and Margaret Weiner at a friend’s birthday party, the Seeds have quickly become a scene favorite. Buzz on the duo’s early shows made them one of the city’s most anticipated new acts, and…
Militant Language (Review)
Critic's Pick Know Theatre of Cincinnati makes a habit of pushing boundaries. The company often stages unfamiliar plays, scripts about topics sometimes tough to discuss. Such productions might not be best-sellers in a particular theater season, but they are important catalysts for essential conversations. One of those is onstage right now with Know’s world premiere…
Absinthe Makes My Heart Grow Fonder
Long before frat boys started doing shots of J
The Next Stage
The Cincinnati Playhouse’s Marx Theatre resembled a boxing ring on Oct. 6. The foundation for a new set was a roped-off floor of raw plywood. And combat was on the minds of many in the crowd of 250 at a town hall meeting about the Playhouse’s need for a different kind of facility. Producing Artistic…
Another Seven Days of Racist Dogs and Mean Squirrels
WEDNESDAY OCT. 8There are drawbacks to living in a battleground state during election season, and The Enquirer today detailed one of the big negatives that comes with the consideration that politicians pretend to have for us: This shit costs us money! Every time a presidential or vice presidential candidate comes to Cincinnati to preach change…
Karl Rove Still a Turd
When President Bush, one of Karl Rove’s best friends, gave Rove the nickname of “turd blossom,” it spoke volumes about both men. Just as the name implies, a turd blossom is a flower that grows out of a pile of shit. Specifically, it’s a desert wildflower in west Texas that flourishes among cow droppings. Surely,…
‘Good Government’ Groups
Election Day approaches, and Tristate residents once again have multi-page ballots to consider. Who has time to fully research every issue and candidate, especially when ballots are getting longer, not shorter? A lot of nonprofit organizations do. Utilizing the passion and commitment of volunteer members and limited staff, they often choose up sides and shout…
Sacked in the City?
Popular taste is often cultivated and pruned in New York City. The city ostensibly excretes popular culture into the atmosphere on a regular basis and the rest of the nation invariably adjusts to what Manhattanites inform them is cool. Many of the television shows and movies you watch are filmed in Manhattan. Many of the…
Events: Matt Dolan Service Fund Gala
The American Sign Museum in Clifton is not usually counted amongst the Tri-state's most happenin' night spots, but on Saturday the much-loved museum, home to more than 150 vintage neon signs, will transform into the bustling streets of New York City — complete with international food vendors and live music—as the Matt Dolan Service Fund…
Music: Publico Music at the Weston
Live music was a part of what made Publico so memorable, and now founders Paul and Matt Coors bring it to the Weston Art Gallery’s Since You’ve Been Gone exhibit about Publico’s impact on Cincinnati arts. Publico exhibit space had a good run in Over-the-Rhine from 2003 to 2008 and Since You’ve Been Gone creates…
Cincinnati Entertainment Awards Nominees Announced
With the MidPoint Music Festival a glorious memory, we turn our attention to the next big local music event — the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards. The nominees have been announced; go to citybeat.com to see the full list. Vote now before you start worrying about that other little voting thing coming up in November. The nominees…
Flobots With Losanti
Leave it to Denver, that beehive of hippie Jam activity, to birth a new spin on Hip Hop in the form of Flobots, a quintet that welds socially conscious rhymes to live instrumentation with a swinging Indie Rock ethic. The sextet’s roots go back to 2004 when MCs Brer Rabbit and Jonny 5 hooked up…
The Office Season 4 (Universal)
Arguably the show’s best season, viewers are again compelled to get the DVD in order to pick up on all of the subtle gags that might have been missed the first time around. It’s odd, but the audio both on the network run and DVD sets is sometimes muffled, causing a potentially great line to…
Lit: Nikki Giovanni
Cincinnati-raised poet Nikki Giovanni comes to Joseph-Beth to discuss and sign her two children’s books: Hip Hop Speaks to Children and Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship. Hip Hop Speaks to Children launches young ones on a voyage of discovery through readable and audible poetry- with a beat. There are 51 selections from 42 poets,…
Illusion and Reality (Review)
Critic's Pick The sheer beauty of the work is reason enough to pay a visit to Illusion and Reality: Prints by Jirí Anderle, but the perceptive viewer will find much to think about beyond the skill of this Czechoslovakian artist. Turning adversity into a virtue is something artists are good at. The adversity of being…
Real World Vs. Washington
The differences between Sen. Mitch McConnell and Bruce Lunsford are being played out in TV ads, on Web sites and via a host of other places using all the usual tactics employed by politicians. McConnell, the Republican incumbent, touts his record as the longest serving U.S. Senator in Kentucky history, playing up his experience and…
Monster Camp (Lifesize Entertainment)
Across the country, proud misfits gather in wooded areas, football fields and other public places to create real-life costumed fantasies where elves, orcs, knights, wizards and other Dungeons and Dragons/World of Warcraft-inspired creatures interact, adventure and, most importantly, battle to the “death.” These are LARPers, an acronym for Live-Action Role Players, and their weekend warrior…
Still Need Capable Journalists
Still Need Capable Journalists I want to thank Joe Wessels for his well written and much needed column on today’s newspaper journalism (“Read All About It While You Can,” issue of Oct. 1). My wife and I have seen a continuing decline in the quality and abundance of good journalism in newspapers today. As Wessels…
Events: Cincy World Cinema
The Cincinnati World Cinema is back with its rescheduled Shorts Fest. Each night presents a different slate of acclaimed shorts from across the world in every imaginable genre. Proof? Try John Harden's Le Vie D'un Chien (The Life of a Dog), a playful, aesthetically unique and oddly poignant look at what happens when humans take…
Halloween: Ghost Walks of Dayton Lane
For anyone seeking an atmospheric time hearing about the lingering spirits of the dearly and not-so-dearly departed while walking among historic homes located on small tree-lined streets, a trek to Hamilton may be in order. For the sixth year, the Dayton Lane Historic Area will offer “Ghost Walks of Dayton Lane,” a lantern-led evening stroll…
Lots of Questions, Few Answers
One major party candidate — the incumbent Republican — is known more for her frequent public flubs, like calling a disabled former Marine “a coward” for disagreeing with her on the Iraq War, than for offering any sort of coherent legislative agenda. Another major party candidate — the Democratic challenger — is a physician who’s…
W. (Review)
Oliver Stone’s unpolished but finely tuned biopic of Western Civilization’s most controversial leader is a straight-ahead dramatized biographical film that pedals between George W. Bush’s misspent youth and his days in public office. Josh Brolin is exceptional as Bush in a deeply personal portrayal of an ultimately tragic figure. Thandie Newton is spot-on as National…
Rights to Protection
Eight weeks ago Jin (not her real name) escaped a violent relationship with a Korean man, and she now has thoughts of suicide because of the shame and guilt she feels. What upsets her most of all are the lessons her daughter has learned from watching her mother do everything Hyo (not his real name)…
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour: The Best of Season 3 (Time Life)
It at first seems odd, now that the Smothers Brothers’ famous late-1960s CBS television series finally is being released on DVD, that it begins with the third season in 1968-1969. After all, Tom and Dick Smothers’ most popular years were the first two seasons, when their Sunday night mix of political-protest humor, Rock music and…
Mixx Ultra Lounge (Review)
Think New York City circa 1990. The clubs are hopping, music throbbing and the velvet ropes define the line between cool and uncool, who gets in and who stays out. Each person in our foursome went through this time warp when we had dinner at Mixx Ultra Lounge, the newest restaurant in Over-the- Rhine. I’ve…
Crossing the Line
Mention September 11, 2001, and rooms become quiet. A gaping quiet. Hit by a thought bullet, people freeze. Then eyes look down, around. We remember the moment we heard. Eyes look up. Up. That day, musician Josh Hisle signed up for the Marines, entering “The War on Terror.” Now 26, Hisle relaxes at Curtis, Inc.,…
Halloween: Ghosts of Pirate Cove
The Newport Aquarium gets in the Halloween spirit with the Ghosts of Pirate Cove. There will be underwater sword fights, pumpkin decorating, underwater pumpkin decorating, underwater pirate shows that tell the tale of Captain Dubloon and his crew, treasure hunts and more. Toss in a few sharks for thrills and pirate storytelling, and you've got…
Q&A: Brooks Jackson of Factcheck.org
A consistently bright spot in any presidential election is the negative print and broadcast ads. Attacking an opponent’s performance and proposed policies is wholly appropriate. I wish there were more. The best of these ads and the responses often tell me more than candidates’ repetitive, soporific speeches and vote-for-me appeals. Many other ads are so…
Halloween: Laser Spooktacular
Celebrate Halloween with more than just the usual candy and costumes. The Drake Planetarium offers up a fantastic display of laser lights and music under the planetarium sky. Laser Spooktacular, the fall laser light show, changes the "sky" into an ever-changing universe of astronomical imagery and animations set to "monster" hits like Michael Jackson' "Thriller."…
The Big 1
Buoyed by a huge surge in new voter registrations prompted by Barack Obama’s historic candidacy and the anti-incumbent fever sweeping the electorate, Democrats believe this is the year they’ll finally unseat U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, the longtime Republican incumbent. Chabot, however, isn’t going down without a vigorous fight. Facing term limits in the Ohio Legislature,…
College Football Season Already Full of Surprises and Suspense
Though the situation at the top is every bit as fluid as last year, college football is returning to normal. Look at the top three teams: Texas, Alabama and Penn State. It’s 1970 again. By mid-December, it’s always 1970, even if the mix includes a slightly different group like Ohio State, Southern California, Louisiana State…
Comedy: Killers of Comedy
If you were to do a poll asking people if they enjoyed Howard Stern and his radio show, chances are you’d get the same kind of skewed results that polls asking whether a voter would vote for a black man end up with. Closet Stern fans probably number in the hundreds of thousands (if not…
Music: Flobots
Leave it to Denver, that beehive of hippie Jam activity, to birth a new spin on Hip Hop in the form of Flobots, a quintet that welds socially conscious rhymes to live instrumentation with a swinging Indie Rock ethic. The sextet’s roots go back to 2004 when MCs Brer Rabbit and Jonny 5 hooked up…
The Boys Next Door (Review)
Tom Griffin’s 1983 play The Boys Next Door is about four mentally challenged men in a group home. Falcon Theatre is staging the heartwarming drama with a cast of talented local actors directed by Jared Doren. (The show was a 1980s off-Broadway hit, a production at the Cincinnati Playhouse in 1990 and a 1996 made-for-TV…
Reflecting Over Crab Rangoon and Smiles
I’m sitting at the bar in Buddakhan restaurant at 713 Vine St. downtown. It’s late Thursday afternoon, and I’m having my usual vodka and tonic. I’m starting to feel more relaxed, less grumpy. Maybe the surroundings have something to do with my improving mood. I like the eclectic approach at the Buddakhan — the Buddha…
Death of a Salesman (Review)
Critic's Pick Being that it’s a role of epic, near-Lear proportions — dreams yearning above, damnation yawning below — there are as many “right” ways to play Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s timeless Death of a Salesman as there are able actors who take on the killer role. Inevitably, each actor must find his own…
Events: Dog Costume Paw-rade
Halloween can be a pretty adorable time if you have small children or small dogs because babies and puppies in pumpkin costumes are cute. Babies and puppies in any costume are cute, really, and just imagine a place where multitudes of dressed-up dogs, and probably children, convene and parade around. This magical place is Sixth…
Barack Obama for President
As Election Day creeps ever closer, it’s time for CityBeat to start publishing election endorsements and help those remaining undecided voters get their act together. Given our niche in Greater Cincinnati as a voice for progressive causes, we’ve recommended candidates and ballot issue positions since our founding in 1994 and take that role seriously. Let’s…
Halloween: HallZOOween
This event, for kids ages 12 and under, puts the creepy and the crawly in Halloween. Put the kids in costumes and head over to the zoo for some trick-or-treating and family-friendly events. Kids will be able to visit different habitats and have Halloween fun with the animals living there. There will be events including…
Music: TV on the Radio
For TV on the Radio, the New York-based Punk Jazz Rock fusion quintet, gathering steam in such a city creates a problem, especially when you live in one of its boroughs. The band has been creating a steady, but low buzz since their debut album OK Calculator in 2002, and while they have been on…
Little Brother
Like many Hip Hop outfits, Little Brother is part of a larger collective that releases music under a variety of banners. Little Brother’s three original members, Phonte Coleman, Thomas Jones and Pat Douthit (Phonte, Big Pooh and 9th Wonder, respectively), assembled a decade ago as students at North Carolina Central University, first forming the Justus…
CEA Voting Begins
Check it out — the new Cincinnati Entertainment Awards site is up and the ballot is ready. Get your vote on now — the window is a little shorter than normal this year. Voting ends Nov. 10. Let us know what you think of the nominees and categories. Be nice! Legendary Bluegrass musician Ralph Stanley…
Mallory
Mayor Mark Mallory says there is no room for debate over whether or not Cincinnatians should keep supporting the Bengals. He's going to hang out before Sunday's game against Pittsburgh and grill food and act like he's one of us. The concept got Mr. Mayor laughed at by reporters at his weekly news conference yesterday.…
This Week In Wellness
Learn about the services available to persons in Ohio struggling with mental illness, their legal rights and more. Free. 7 p.m. Oct. 16. Workforce One of Warren County, 300 E. Silver St., Lebanon, 513-695-3650. There’s still time to register for Recycling & Beyond: What YOU Can Do!, a single-day conference on recycling, energy conservation and…
Learn to Relax at Local Wellness Centers
Between workdays extending well beyond the old school eight hours, children’s extracurricular activities and the enigma of how to pay all of the bills while still having money left over for vacations and college funds, who has time to relax? To this day, when my mother is sick and you tell her to relax, her…
Drinking and Hijacking Don’t Mix
Wow. I wonder if he was really trying to hijack the plane or just a drunk who didn't know when to shut his mouth.
