Local Janitorial Workers Rally for $15 Minimum Wage
They clean some of the tallest buildings in the city, but make some of its lowest wages. Now, they're pushing for more. Workers with Cincinnati's SEIU Local 1 union rallied on Fountain Square to kick off a campaign pressing for a $15 minimum wage for the union's roughly 600 members, many of whom work cleaning…
What’s The Hops: Beer Fests, Barbecue Buffets and New Brews
Post-Halloween depression is about to set in, but don’t fret: November is overflowing with brewery anniversary parties, Rare Beer Fest and a Friends Fest. These activities should help you ease into the winter days ahead. On Nov. 8 and 9, celebrate Fretboard’s two-year anniversary with two nights of live music and the release of Drummer…
Culture and Cuisine at Cincinnati’s Asian Markets
Food can be a window into another culture, shedding light on unique traditions and flavors. And Cincinnati’s specialty international markets facilitate that experience with everyday access to ingredients, information and products. Here, we’re going to focus specifically on Asian markets. One of the first Asian grocery stores in Cincinnati was Saigon Market (119 W. Elder…
Goose & Elder Offers Chef Jose Salazar’s Creative Culinary Vision with a Lower Price Point and Retro Cocktails
You could almost call me a card-carrying fan of chef Jose Salazar, whose first two Cincinnati restaurants — Salazar, which opened in 2013, and Mita’s, in 2015 — occupy high ground in my ranking of the area’s very best places for an excellent meal. Given that track record, I was thrilled when construction started earlier…
Rhinegeist Hosts a Rare Beer Fest Pouring Some of the Most Unique Brews in the Country
Drink your way across America while staying in one spot thanks to Rhinegeist’s 2019 Rare Beer Fest. Try some of country’s rarest beers from up to 40 participating breweries with origin points ranging from your own backyard all the way to Yakima, Washington. The event is split into two sessions and the VIP options for…
Dent Schoolhouse Hosts a Lights-Out Tour (Where Actors Can Touch You) to Wrap Up the Season
As an adieu to spooky szn, the Dent Schoolhouse bows out with perhaps the scariest iteration of their already scream-worthy haunt: a Lights-Out Tour. This year’s theme is “ZoBo’s Revenge 2.0” — aka the schoolhouse will be filled to the brim with monstrous clowns. Seriously. Maybe don’t wear a yellow raincoat and steer clear of…
The Northside Yacht Club Transforms into ‘SkyRosa’s’ for Halloween, Will Serve Chili-Pizza Hybrids
The Northside Yacht Club is transforming into SkyRosa’s, “Cincinnati’s No. 1 Chizzaria,” just in time for Halloween. For one night only, the bar will be slinging a disgustingly delicious blend of Cincinnati’s favorite regional delicacies: Skyline-style chili and LaRosa’s pizza. The menu will feature a cheese coney wrapped in a slice of pizza (with an…
The Independent Eye: A Look Back at Cincinnati’s 1960s/70s Underground Counterculture Newspaper
On a late summer morning, browned newspapers dated back to the late 1960s through the 1970s lay carefully stretched across a table in the “rare book room” at downtown’s Main Library. Scanning the pages, a single inked eyeball stares back as if to say, “You can’t escape me; I know who you are.” It’s the…
ChainWise Bitcoin & Blockchain Convention Comes to the Sharonville Convention Center
The Sharonville Convention Center (11355 Chester Road, Sharonville) will play host to the ChainWise Bitcoin & Blockchain Convention on Nov. 8 and 9. Learn everything you wanted to know about cryptocurrency from host Jason Appleton, aka Crypto Crow, and a slew of guests. Industry experts including Alex Mashinsky, the VOIP patent holder and CEO of Celsius…
Experimental Electronic Pop Party-Starter Dan Deacon to Play Free All-Ages Concert in Cincinnati This April
Experimental Electronic Pop music superhero Dan Deacon will get the party started in Cincinnati in 2020 with a special springtime concert in Northside. According to a post from show presenters Radio Artifact, Deacon will play a free, all-ages concert at Urban Artifact on April 18. The show is also listed on Deacon’s tour schedule at…
Over-the-Rhine Bar Longfellow Transforms Into ‘Longfellowship of the Ring’ for Halloween
Over-the-Rhine bar Longfellow is doing its annual Halloween costume change and transforming from its typical hip drinking destination into Longfellowship of the Ring, a Lord of the Rings-themed hobbit haunt. Expect karaoke “in the fires or Mordor,” surrounded by homemade boulders, and $4 ales. Partygoers are encouraged to “wear elf ears,” “fight evil” and “smoke…
Cincinnati’s My Artisano Cheese Wins a Bronze Medal at the World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy
Cincinnati cheesemaker My Artisano Cheeses just received some global recognition at the 32nd-annual World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy — "the planet’s biggest cheese-only event," according to a press release. My Artisano took home a coveted bronze award for its Sharon Creek cheese, "a bloomy rind cheese made with cows’ milk." “This is the first time…
Bengals Bench Andy Dalton for His Birthday, Reports Say
The Cincinnati Bengals are having a bad year, to put it lightly. After going winless in eight games this season, the team is now reportedly looking to shake things up at the quarterback position for the first time in nine years. Multiple outlets are reporting that Andy Dalton will be benched in favor of rookie…
Cincinnati Museum Center’s Layers of Wonder Anniversary Celebration is a Time-Traveling Cocktail Party
The Cincinnati Museum Center is celebrating its legacy — which began more than 200 years ago with the founding of the Western Museum Society — with an extravagant party. Layers of Wonder, as the event is dubbed, will bring crafted cocktails, light bites, live music and entertainment to the museum for an enchanting evening of exploration and…
Between Stadium Dates, Garth Brooks Brought His ‘Dive Bar’ Tour to Ohio Last Night
It might be a cliché, but country singer Garth Brooks clearly loves to perform whether he’s playing to a few hundred people or several thousand fans. Currently in the midst of a stadium tour that's reportedly averaging 83,000 fans per stop, Brooks has played a handful of shows at what he calls dive bars across…
Braxton Taps Jubilee Hoppy Holiday IPA with Release Party and Canned Food Drive for Bellevue Independent Schools
Braxton is offering beer drinkers the chance to do good while throwing back a few of their seasonal brew, Jubilee Hoppy Holiday IPA. Jubilee is an 8 percent ABV, 100 IBU hoppy ale with "strong citrus fruit aromas and flavors including orange and grapefruit with subtle fresh pine notes as well as a clean, soft…
Cincy Band Isabelle Helle and the Hell’s Bells Share “Green Ribbon,” a Rocking Spin on Classic Scary Story
Cincinnati rockers Isabelle Helle and the Hell's Bells have delivered a trick and treat just in time for Halloween. For their forthcoming single on Women In Rock Records (due Nov. 8), the band offers their Garage Pop spin on the classic scary short story “The Green Ribbon.” The Hell's Bells also recently unveiled a music video…
Greater Cincinnati Named the Nation’s Eighth Best ‘Cold Destination for Winter Travel’
Website WalletHub has just named Cincinnati the nation's eighth best "Cold Destination for Winter Travel," according to its study of "37 key metrics" of 70 large U.S. cities grouped by both warm- and cold-weather destinations. WalletHub said of the study, "Compared with other rankings that focus on each destination’s scenic quality, this report focuses primarily…
Potential Chabot Challenger Kate Schroder Releases First Ad
The campaign for one of U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot's potential challengers in the 2020 election released its first ad today — and it doesn't mention Chabot by name or even allude much to the long-serving West Side Republican congressman. Instead, the ad featuring Democrat Kate Schroder, a 42-year-old Clifton resident who once served as vice president…
Cincinnati Christian University Will Close After This Semester
A local faith-based university that was in danger of losing its accreditation will close, officials with the school announced yesterday evening. East Price Hill's Cincinnati Christian University, founded in 1924, will shutter after the fall semester. Some of its 547 students enrolled in the school's Center of Adult Learning and Leadership (CALL) program will be able…
Rock Legend Graham Nash to Play Cincinnati in 2020
Graham Nash is coming to Cincinnati in 2020. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (squared) will host “An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories” at Over-the-Rhine’s Memorial Hall on Tuesday, March 31. Tickets for the show ($65-$101.97) go on sale at 10 a.m. this Friday, Nov. 1. There are also VIP/meet-and-greet packages available. Visit…
John Cusack on the Legacy of ‘Say Anything’ Ahead of Taft Theatre Appearance and Screening
John Cusack has appeared in more than 80 movies since 1983. The 53-year-old Chicago-area native has been a distinctive presence in discerning works by directors including John Sayles (Eight Men Out), Stephen Frears (The Grifters and High Fidelity), Woody Allen (Bullets Over Broadway), Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line), Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich and…
Celebrating a Decade of Northside’s Thunder-Sky, Inc.
It’s a Saturday afternoon in the basement of Thunder-Sky, Inc. Strands of holiday lights cast a celebratory glow on artists sitting around a table discussing their work. In a corner, Bill Ross, who co-founded the gallery with Keith Banner, hunches over a brightly-colored canvas of a tentacled figure poised to smash a cupcake with a…
Multimedia ‘On Belonging’ Project Spotlights Findlay Market Area Residents
“How do you preserve the spirit of a changing neighborhood?” It’s a question that Asa Featherstone, a People’s Liberty Haile Fellow, contemplated in regard to the ever-changing Over-the-Rhine community. The answer came through a series of black-and-white photos, videos and written stories packaged as On Belonging. People’s Liberty, a five-year philanthropic experiment that began in…
‘Motherless Brooklyn’ Transcends Time and Place
There is a difficulty with watching period films, in that sometimes I struggle with placing myself in those established moments. There is specificity to a particular place and time, one that generally messes with my understanding of context and history. It often reminds me of the very real limitations and lack of privilege I have…
In Conversation With Cincinnati-Born Comedian Rajiv Satyal Ahead of Capitol Hill Tour Stop
Cincinnati-native-turned-LA-transplant Rajiv Satyal has toured with the likes of Dave Chappelle, Tim Allen, Kevin Nealon and Russell Peters. His latest standup tour, The Man in The Middle, speaks to our politically divisive times — a topic the comic once strayed from. Now, he's diving right in. On Oct. 30 he'll bring the show to perhaps the…
Federal Judge Partially Revises Decision in Sandmann Case Against Washington Post
A lawsuit over coverage by The Washington Post of a March incident in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. involving students from a local private high school and indigenous activists is back on — at least in part. U.S. District Court Judge William Bertelsman issued a ruling that partially walks back his earlier dismissal…
Washington Park Hosts a Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest
Bring your furry friend to Washington Park on Wednesday for a Howl-O-Ween costume contest. Judges don’t care whether the outfit is homemade, store-bought “or somewhere in between,” and there will be prizes awarded for the Best Pair (owner and dog costume), Most Original Homemade Costume, Scared Silly (the scariest costume) and Fan Favorite. You can…
Orange Crushed: Ohio Football Had an All-Around Embarrassing Sunday Against Super Bowl LIII Teams
There were some brief glimmers of hope in the off-season that Ohio’s NFL teams would not be the laughing stock of football during the 2019 season. For the Cincinnati Bengals, that glimmer dimmed fairly early on; the Cleveland Browns were right behind them on the misery train though. The Bengals finally losing head coach Marvin…
Northside Record Fair Returns This Weekend with Cool and/or Rare LPs, CDs, Cassettes and More
The popular Northside Record Fair returns this Saturday (Nov. 2) to Northside's NorthChurch (4222 Hamilton Ave.), once again featuring an array of unique vinyl, cassettes and CDs, as well as music posters, T-shirts and more. "This ain't no Beatles and Elvis fair," a press release for the event states. NRF's website says the fair was…
TriHealth: Nurse on Leave After Allegedly Making Homophobic Facebook Posts
Cincinnati City Council member Chris Seelbach is calling for a boycott of a local healthcare company after an employee for one of its hospitals allegedly wrote homophobic Facebook posts. That employee has since been put on leave pending an investigation, the hospital says. The posts allegedly written by an ER nurse at Bethesda Butler Hospital…
Bevin vs. Beshear: Rivals to Face Off in Kentucky Gubernatorial Debate at NKU
Kentucky's Republican Gov. Matt Bevin will face off against the state's Attorney General Andy Beshear, a Democrat, at Northern Kentucky University tomorrow for the state's final gubernatorial debate. It promises to be a heated discussion likely focusing on tough questions around the region's aging Brent Spence Bridge, the state's ailing pension fund, related "sick-outs" by…
Multi-Genre/Multi-Hyphenate Artist Michael Franti and Spearhead to Play Cincinnati Concert This Week
For the past three and a half decades, Michael Franti has been on the frontlines of changing the world as we know it through music. A consummate hyphenate, Franti possesses a résumé with more slashes than the Halloween franchise: He’s a multi-genre singer/songwriter/political activist/poet/multi-instrumentalist/filmmaker. The San Francisco resident began his music career with the Beatnigs,…
Rock & Soul Fave Boz Scaggs Returns to Cincinnati Following Cancellation Earlier This Year
Seventies Blues/R&B/Rock singer Boz Scaggs was supposed to perform earlier this year at Rising Star Casino in Indiana, but undisclosed health issues caused the show (and other dates) to be canceled on doctor's orders. Now, Scaggs is back on the road and returning to Cincinnati proper for a show in the big room at the…
General Motors, Workers Come to Agreement to End Strike — But Lordstown Plant Will Stay Closed
After almost six weeks of striking by tens of thousands of workers, including some in Greater Cincinnati, the union representing General Motors employees came to an agreement with the company Friday, The New York Times reports. The new contract between United Auto Workers members and GM means wage increases, opportunities for temporary workers to become…
Ohio Lawmakers Mull Two Sports Betting Bills
Roughly a year and a half after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal law against sports betting and ruled that the question should be left up to individual states, Ohio lawmakers are mulling two bills that would make betting on sporting events legal. Now, the debate among lawmakers is about who will regulate the…
Fifty West, Great Lakes Brewing Team Up for the All-You-Can-Eat Great Ohio Brew n’ Que at Fifty West Production Works
Fifty West and Great Lakes Brewing Company are teaming up again for the fifth annual Great Ohio Brew n’ Que, a big ol’ beer and barbecue party. The two breweries have crafted their annual collaboration brew, Pip’s Pale Ale, which will be on tap during the party along with other specialty beers including Fifty West’s…
Clifton’s Esquire Theatre Screens the Campy and Strange ‘Halloween III: Season of the Witch’
John Carpenter’s Halloween is one of the most iconic slasher films to date, with its haunting minimalist score and tale of a crazed masked man killing young women in the American suburbs. It solidified Jamie Lee Curtis as the seminal Scream Queen and birthed not only an entire franchise but also greatly influenced a generation…
Pendleton Street Photography’s ‘GRL PWR’ Exhibition Candidly Addresses Sexism, Oppression
The women in Liz Capote’s drawings exist only partially — they have no heads, no faces. Some are severed through the middle, while others fold over onto themselves, tangled masses of limbs that were once whole beings. They have been broken and cut into; others are simply missing pieces of themselves. There are dozens of…
Federal Judge Rejects Ohio Anti-HB6 Effort’s Request for More Time to Gather Signatures
For legislation that has already passed the Ohio General Assembly and gotten the governor's signature, House Bill 6 — the so-called energy bailout bill — sure has taken a winding road in its afterlife as law. The latest chapter: A federal judge has rejected a request by anti-HB6 group Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts for more…
Columbus-Based Drummer and Composer Dr. Mark Lomax II to Perform With Members of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra this Sunday
Four hundred. In his latest project, that number has radiated through composer and drummer Dr. Mark Lomax II's consciousness, resulting in a 12-album cycle of musical works paying tribute to the past, present and future of Black America. This year marks the 400th since the beginnings of the Transatlantic slave trade in 1619. In a…
Storytelling vs. Accuracy in Playhouse in the Park’s ‘Lifespan of a Fact’
CRITIC’S PICK In an era when “fake news” is a daily, top-of-mind topic, the freshly minted stage comedy The Lifespan of a Fact is a timely exploration of just how far the boundaries of storytelling and journalism can be pushed. The play, well received on Broadway just a year ago, is based on a book…
Cincinnati Artists Join ‘No Music for ICE!’ Boycott of Amazon Over Company’s Ties to the Immigration Enforcement Agency
Over 800 bands, musicians and record labels have signed an open letter to Amazon announcing their intention to boycott the company's events and festivals until it severs ties with various organizations they deem human rights violators. In a notice posted at the website fightforthefuture.org, the 'No Music for ICE!' participants said they would not perform…
Could 16-Year-Olds Vote in City Elections? One Cincinnati City Councilmember Says He’s Looking Into it
If the law lets you drive a car at 16, should you also be allowed to cast a ballot in a local election at that age? One Cincinnati City Councilmember is interested in figuring that out. Councilmember P.G. Sittenfeld yesterday tweeted that he's heard from some city residents that they would like the voting age…
Music Icon Bootsy Collins and Buckethead Scare Up a Funk Rock Banger Version of “Monster Mash”
Cincinnati native and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bootsy Collins has teamed up with longtime collaborator and experimental guitar superhero Buckethead for a Funk Rock banger version of the Halloween classic “Monster Mash.” The duo turns the song into their own, with heavy riffs and funky grooves, plus Bootsy's vocals, which are eerily similar…
Condado Tacos is Opening a Second Cincinnati Location in Oakley
Since 2014, Condado Taco’s build-your-own-taco concept has taken Columbus’ taco loving population by storm, starting with their first location on North High Street. Today, the brand has expanded to 14 locations across Columbus, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Detroit, including its first local location at The Banks, which opened in April 2018. Condado is now opening…
Ale-8-One Introduces Mini-Bottle Six-Packs to Cincinnati Kroger Stores in Original, Cherry and Diet Flavors
Kentucky cult favorite soda Ale-8-One is now available at Greater Cincinnati Kroger stores in mini six-packs. Shoppers can find seven-ounce bottles in six packs of original (a sort of ginger citrus), cherry and diet flavors. “Mini bottles are a nostalgic throwback to the original Ale-8-One which was bottled in six-and-a-half-ounce bottles in 1926, and we…
Scotland-Based BrewDog Brewery is Opening a Taproom in Pendleton
Scotland-based, multinational craft brewery BrewDog is opening a taproom in Pendleton. The brewery, which is located at 316 Reading Road, is slated to open the week of Nov. 11, according to a release. It will be BrewDog's second-largest bar in the United States. BrewDog has American locations in Columbus and Indianapolis in addition to global spots…
Teens Accused in Hocking Hills Death Face Murder Charges, Could be Tried as Adults
Two teens charged in the death of a Chillicothe woman at Hocking Hills State Park last month will face juvenile murder charges for their alleged involvement in the incident, the Hocking Hills County Prosecutor's Office announced today. Prosecutors will also ask that the two 16-year-old boys be tried as adults in the Sept. 2 death…
Holiday Junction Train Display Returns to Cincinnati Museum Center This Winter
A classic local tradition returns to the Cincinnati Museum Center this winter. The 73rd-annual Holiday Junction will transform the museum into a whimsical winter wonderland with toy trains zooming around a mini city, faux snow, custom wintery LEGO creations and a view of the Union Terminal rail yard beginning Nov. 8 and continuing until Jan.…
Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan Drops Out of Democratic Presidential Primary
The crowded field of Democratic candidates vying for the chance to take on President Donald Trump just got a little smaller as U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, who represents Ohio's 13th Congressional District around Akron and Youngstown, bowed out of the race today. In a statement, Ryan said his seven-month campaign accomplished what he intended it…
Graeter’s to Offer Rookwood Ceramic Fiona Ice Cream Bowl
Graeter's Ice Cream and Rookwood Pottery have teamed up for a special collaboration this holiday season. The ice cream shop announced in a press release on Oct. 24 that they will be offering limited-edition ice cream bowls featuring the Queen City's pride and joy, Fiona the hippo from the Cincinnati Zoo. Fiona stole hearts across…
Repeal of Pink Tax in Ohio Now Headed to Gov. Mike DeWine’s Desk
In the Ohio Senate, Democrats and Republicans came together to agree on something … almost unanimously. Yes, nearly every single member (the final tally was 30-1) voted to repeal the so-called "Pink Tax," which unfairly puts sales tax on tampons, pads and other hygiene products used by all who menstruate. Now that proposal, which already…
In the West End, a Unique Center Works to Lift the Emotional Weight of Trauma
This story is part three in the series Youth, Trauma, Trials, Time: a Deep Dive Into Youth and the Justice System. You can read the centerpiece story here and additional coverage here. When Walter Metz, Jr. was struggling to process the shooting of his 18-year-old grandson in the West End, he didn't have to go…
Hamilton’s Roll On In is Expanding With a Craft Beer and Cocktail Lounge
Hamilton's Roll On In is expanding its offering with a craft beer and cocktail lounge this fall. They will celebrate their boozy new addition with a ribbon-cutting event this Friday, Oct. 25 at 11:30 a.m. at 102 Main St. in Hamilton. Roll On In is a fast-casual sushi fusian spot featuring dishes like sushi burritos,…
Country Star Trisha Yearwood Brings Her First Headlining Tour in Five Years to the Taft This Weekend
Country music superstar Trisha Yearwood is currently on her first headlining tour in five years. The 22-date trek brings her to Cincinnati this weekend for a show at the Taft Theatre on Saturday (Oct. 26). Kim Richey opens the concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($50- $128) are still available; visit ticketmaster.com for details. The tour…
Video Premiere: Cincinnati MCs Ronin Halloway, Jay Hill and JayBee Lamahj Team Up for “Babs Forever”
Cincinnati Hip Hop artists Ronin Halloway, JayBee Lamahj and Jay Hill (of the local trio Patterns of Chaos) have teamed up for a new standalone single, “Babs Forever.” The single will be available to stream tomorrow (Oct. 25), but today CityBeat is thrilled to share the music video for the track. Over a trippy, warped…
Cranley Touts Growth, Climate Efforts at ‘State of the City’ Address
In his 2019 State of the City address at Memorial Hall tonight, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, a Democrat, cast Cincinnati as a city prepared to move on progressive agenda items the Republican-controlled state and federal government are unwilling to take up while painting an expansive, if at times somewhat optimistic, portrait of the city's progress…
After Successful First Year, Girls Rock Cincinnati Holds Halloween Fundraiser This Week for 2020 Camp
After a successful first year this summer, Girls Rock Cincinnati will be hosting a special fundraising event this Friday, Oct. 25 at the American Sign Museum in Camp Washington. GRC's Halloween-themed benefit concert will feature live performances from Cincinnati artists like Tweens, Aziza Love and Marjorie Lee, as well as some of the first-year campers…
Move Over, Halloween — the Ice Rink and Holiday Tree Return to Fountain Square
Cincinnati will be taking no time wiping away Halloween next week. It's time to get out the scarves and mistletoe and start prepping for the coming holidays. On Nov. 2, the very, very large Macy's Holiday tree will descend upon Fountain Square. Sorry, Mike Meyers. Your time is over. It's Gremlins season now. If it's…
Cincinnati Native Music Legends Ronald and Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers to Speak at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In honor of the 60th anniversary of the iconic song, “Shout,” 1992 Inductees Ronald and Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers will be at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Friday to participate in an interview. If you're in the area, the free event begins at noon. To mark the occasion, the Rock Hall…
The Iconic Ohio Basket Building is Soon to Become a Luxury Hotel
Ohio's famous basket-shaped building is getting a second lease on life. The Newark, Ohio, site — former headquarters of the basket-making company The Longaberger Co. — will soon become a luxurious new hotel. The nearly 22-acre property and roadside attraction, completed in 1997, is world famous for, well, looking like a basket. And soon the seven-story…
Happy Sixth Anniversary to Deadspin’s Smack Talk about Cincinnati Chili
It was six years ago this week that irreverent sports website Deadspin said mean things about Cincinnati’s trademark dish and the people of the Queen City collectively lost their shit. As part of the site's The Great American Menu: Foods Of The States, Ranked And Mapped roundup, Albert Burneko had some not-so-kind words about our…
Live Music in Greater Cincinnati: This Week’s Concerts and Club Shows (Oct. 23-29)
WEDNESDAY 23 CAFFÈ VIVACE – Blue Wisp Big Band. 8 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $10. HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT – Camile Smith Quartet. 6 p.m. Jazz. Free. KNOTTY PINE – Dallas Moore. 10 p.m. Country. Free. *LUDLOW GARAGE – Marc Roberge of O.A.R. 8:30 p.m. Rock. $35-$60. MADISON LIVE – Bumpin Uglies. 8 p.m. Ska/Punk/Reggae.…
Buzzed Bull Announces Opening Date for Second Location in Maineville
If you love Over-the-Rhine's boozy (and non-boozy) ice cream spot Buzzed Bull Creamery but you live in the 'burbs, well, you may be in luck. After an initial announcement about the expansion this summer, franchisees Jeff and Amanda Whited announced today that Buzzed Bull's innovative, liquid nitrogen-based treats (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be available…
State of Ohio Says Two-Thirds of Medicinal Marijuana Users are Over 40
Who do you picture when you think of your average marijuana user? When it comes to Ohio's state-run medicinal marijuana program, you may want to adjust your assumptions. Data released by the State of Ohio Pharmacy Board reveals that 62 percent of the roughly 64,000 medicinal marijuana cardholders in the state are 40 or older…
Cincinnati City Council Could Vote to Strike Consideration of Minor Marijuana Possession Charges From the City’s Hiring Process
The City of Cincinnati would no longer consider convictions for misdemeanor marijuana possession when making hiring decisions if a motion soon coming before Cincinnati City Council passes. Councilmember P.G. Sittenfeld introduced that motion today. But he didn’t come up with the idea — Leon Washington did. Washington says he once lost out on a "pretty…
Following Summer Riverbend Visit, Americana Darlings Shovels & Rope Return to Cincinnati for Intimate 2020 Concert
Acclaimed Americana duo Shovels & Rope returned to Cincinnati this year as part of the Tedeschi Trucks Band's Wheels of Soul tour, which played Riverbend’s PNC Pavilion in July. This spring, the twosome is coming back to town, this time for a more intimate headlining show at the Ludlow Garage in Clifton. Tickets for Shovels…
Pendleton Chicken Joint CHX Closes to Public, Will Reopen as Special Events Kitchen
Pendleton's fast-casual fried chicken joint CHX closed its doors to walk-in guests on Sunday, Oct. 20 and will be reopening as a special events kitchen moving forward. The eatery, which has been been serving the neighborhood for the past six months, is changing its business model to better cater to the adjoining 3 Points Urban Brewery's…
Days of Knights Is an Authentic Medieval Living History Event in Lancaster, Ohio — Not a Renaissance Festival
We see your Renaissance Festival and raise you Days of Knights: Ohio’s one-and-only and first-ever historically accurate Medieval living event. Located just outside of Columbus in Lancaster, Ohio, Days of Knights takes would-be time travelers on a journey through the Middle Ages with the aid of 150 re-enactors bringing the sights and sounds — but…
Cincinnati’s 21c Museum Hotel Transforms into the Upside Down for a ‘Stranger Things’-Themed Halloween Party
Things are getting strange at the 21c Museum Hotel for a spooky Secret Garden party in the Upside Down. Travel back in time to the summer of 1985 and step inside the world of Stranger Things with projections from C. Jacqueline Wood, music from DJs Northside Nick and PXVCE and free makeup application from local professionals. There…
Hotel Covington Hosts Area 51-Themed Halloween Party
Hotel Covington is taking Halloween to an extraterrestrial level with its Storm Hotel Covington Area 51-themed bash. The party features two creepy and space-themed cocktails and the walk-up window will be open until 2 a.m. for late-night bites. Grab your alien pals, gear up in your coolest costume and dance to live music from DJ…
Macy’s Will End Sale of Furs Next Year
One of the nation's largest fashion retailers will end its sale of fur garments next fiscal year. Cincinnati-based Macy's announced yesterday that it would end sales of furs in its 863 Macy's, Macy's Backstage, Bloomingdale's and other stores after internal feedback and discussions with animal rights groups. “Over the past two years, we have been…
Report: Ohio Was Poised to Mistakenly Purge 40,000 Voters
Almost one in five people slated to be removed from Ohio's voter registration rolls were listed in error during an effort by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office to remove inactive voters, according to a report by The New York Times. Roughly 40,000 names reported by county boards of election on the state's 235,000-name…
Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Micky Dolenz and More to Play The Beatles’ “White Album” at the Aronoff Center
An all-star collection of noted Rock & Roll musicians will be coming to Cincinnati in December to celebrate The Beatles' 1968 self-titled album — better known as "The White Album." The "It Was 50 Years Ago Today: A Tribute To The Beatles’ White Album" tour began in September and features Todd Rundgren (who was recently…
Minimum Gauge: Brandi Carlile Drops Out of Conference Due to Former Trump Official’s Appearance
HOT: No Joke Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile has pulled out of an appearance at a conference in Washington DC because the event will also feature former homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen as a speaker. Carlile was to appear at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit today (Oct. 22) but announced on Monday that she would not…
Some of the Most Interesting Pies You Can Eat During Cincinnati Pizza Week (Nov. 4-10)
CityBeat's Cincinnati Pizza Week is back Nov. 4-10, offering $8 specialty pies from more than two dozen of the area's favorite pizza purveyors like Dewey's, Goodfellas, Catch-A-Fire, Taglio and more. The official Pizza Week passport is off to the printer and while perusing, we noticed some pizza parlors are offering pretty interesting pies. Here are…
Hamilton County Republicans Will Challenge Sales Tax
A sales tax approved last week by the Hamilton County Commission will face some resistance, local Republicans say. Hamilton County Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou today tweeted that the party will hold a news conference to discuss a petition effort to repeal the .25 percent tax the county's three Democratic commission members unanimously approved Oct.…
Japanese Hip Hop Fan Who Made a Pilgrimage to Ohio to Meet Bone Thugs is Sticking Around
This tale, one of the more bizarre stories you're bound to come across this year, begins in June. That's when the local police scanner Twitter account @NEO_Scan tweeted: "Other – E99/St Clair – #thingswehear A very agitated fellow from Japan flew here on promise that he'd meet Bone Thugs 'n Harmony, CPD used translate app…
Report: Black Ohioans Face ‘Architecture of Segregation’
New research shows discrimination and segregation continue to plague Ohio and other Midwestern states. According to the report "Race in the Heartland," while more black Americans live in the 12-state Midwestern region than in other regions, equity metrics here are worse than in other states. Report author Colin Gordon, professor of history at the University…
Drug Companies Agree to Tentative Settlement in Massive Opioid Lawsuit
A major drug manufacturer and the three biggest drug distributors in the country have agreed to a tentative settlement in a lawsuit brought by state and local governments, as well as other parties, over the country's opioid epidemic. The settlement, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, will see drug distributors McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health,…
Northern Kentucky’s Bircus Brewing Company to Host a Haunted Steampunk Ball
Ludlow, Kentucky's Bircus Brewing Company is hosting an extra-special Halloween event: A Haunted Steampunk Ball on Nov. 1. Bircus, pronounced "beer-cuss," is a hybrid both in name and vision of the concepts of beer and the circus — the brewery shares the limelight with carnival performances at the taproom. As one might expect, the Halloween ball fits…
The Newport Aquarium Just Added 24 Baby Alligators to Its ‘Gator Alley’ Exhibit
The Newport Aquarium is now home to some two dozen little baby American alligators, which will be basking and growing on the banks of the Gator Alley exhibit. The new "Bayou Babies" are about one-month old, six inches long and are "smaller than a baby bottle but have big bright eyes and a growing sense…
The Motels, Bow Wow Wow Coming to Cincinnati on the ‘Totally 80’s Live’ Tour
It's been a good year for music fans in Greater Cincinnati who are into ’80s Pop and want to see their heroes of yesteryear in a live setting. In just the past few months, we've been visited by everyone from Rick Springfield to Men Without Hats to Adam Ant. It looks like those good ’80s…
Broadway Musical ‘Mean Girls’ is Headed to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center This November
Wildly popular teen comedy film Mean Girls is headed to Broadway in Cincinnati at the Aronoff Center this November during its national tour. The musical is based on the 2004 movie, which tells the story of a clan of popular teens — dubbed "The Plastics" — who become at odds with an innocent girl that moves…
Cincinnati’s Second-Annual Mac & Cheese Throwdown Takes Over Downtown’s The Phoenix
CityBeat's second-annual Mac & Cheese Throwdown returns to the Queen City this November. The cheesiest event of the year will take place at downtown's The Phoenix from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Local chefs will go head-to-head in a melty, cheesy smackdown competition pitting mac and cheese dish against mac and cheese…
Taft Museum’s Free After-Dark Halloween Party Features Mask-Making, Spooky Tours and a Dance Floor
Cincinnati's Taft Museum of Art is getting in the spooky spirit with a special after-dark Halloween party. The free party will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 5-8 p.m. and invites guests to dance, drink, explore and create in the spirit of the season. "Stroll the gallery halls of our nearly 200-year-old house and…
Multi-Genre Nirvana Tribute Timed to 30th Anniversary of the Iconic Band’s First Cincinnati Concert
The influence of Nirvana is often framed by the effect it had on the music industry — how it blew open the doors for “Alternative” music to invade the mainstream, burying Hair Metal to usher a wave of “Grunge” onto the charts. Talk of Kurt Cobain and Co.’s influence on music itself is similarly often…
Bengals Fan Will Remain on His Restaurant’s Roof Until Bengals Win… So, Maybe Next Year Sometime?
Maybe you don't want to be reminded about this, but… the Bengals lost yesterday. Again. Their 27-17 defeat at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars means they're 0-7 for the season, an exceptionally bad record even for fans accustomed to low expectations. This is an especially dire situation for one fan in particular, who, for…
Former Ohio Governor John Kasich Says He Supports Trump Impeachment
In an appearance on CNN today, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he's seen the "final straw." The admission yesterday by Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney that the Trump administration withheld military aid to Ukraine in part to encourage that country's leadership to investigate uncorroborated allegations that foreign governments helped the Democratic…
In Hamilton County Municipal Court Races, Bail Reform Takes Center Stage
If you get picked up on suspicion that you committed a misdemeanor, whether you get out of county jail while you await trial may depend on how much is in your bank account. And if you can’t pay up, you may find yourself sitting in a cell, risking your job, your housing — even custody…
Jeff Ruby’s Announces Smoked Amber Ale Collaboration with Cincinnati’s Taft’s Brewing Company
Cincinnati's Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse announced on Facebook that they have a special new sippable offering at their restaurants. The steakhouse teamed up with local Taft's Brewing Company to develop Jeff Ruby's Smoked Amber Ale. "The American Amber Ale features a touch of smoked malt and cherry wood that is smooth, sultry, and very approachable to…
State Data: Ohio Lost 1,500 Jobs Last Month
Roughly 1,500 fewer people were working in the Buckeye State last month compared to the month prior, data released today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services suggests. Overall for the year so far, the state has shed more than 11,000 jobs, according to ODJFS numbers, with negative job growth in five of…
Cincinnati Singer/Songwriter Jay Madera Releases Majestic and Moody Debut Single “Curb Appeal”
Cincinnati singer/songwriter Jay Madera has released his first official single, the passionate, emotive “Curb Appeal.” The piano-driven Indie Rock track is available now for streaming. Described as an “archetypal breakup song” and buoyed by an atmospheric mix of melancholy, self-reflection and resilience, the moody theatrics of “Curb Appeal” have a majestic sonic flair akin to…
Chef Christian Gill of Pendleton’s Boomtown Biscuits to Compete in New Show on Food Network
Chef Christian Gill of Pendleton's Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey is returning to the Food Network with yet another cooking competition this fall. Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge invites six of the nation's most talented chefs to compete for the champion title. Hosted by Giada De Laurentiis, the show challenges chefs to a series of competitions to see…
Veteran Cincinnati Songwriter Maurice Mattei Returns with New Double Album, ‘Velvet Lined Room’
Maurice Mattei doesn't really have anything to prove at this point in his life. The Cincinnati-based artist's extraordinary work as a graphic designer and photographer has spoken volumes for itself over the past three decades, and his output as a singer/songwriter over that same period has expanded on his initial Dylanesque direction to incorporate the…
Cincinnati Ranked Among the Best Cities for (Sips Coffee) NFL Fans? (Spits Out Coffee Profusely)
Subjectively, Cincinnati is one of the best cities in America for so many reasons. Great dining scene? Check. World-class arts offerings? Of course. Great parks? Yep. Excellent skyline? Yeah, sure. Excellent Skyline? I mean, yes, we like it. (Well, most of us.) But, objectively, if you are a pro-football fan, living in Cincinnati — and…
Help Name the Cincinnati Zoo’s Adorable New Baby Bearcat
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden made a very small and fuzzy announcement this morning (Oct. 18). The zoo introduced their new, nearly five-week-old baby bearcat who will be the zoo's fourth bearcat to be a mascot for the University of Cincinnati. The most recent UC bearcat mascot, 12-year-old Lucy, retired earlier this year. The unnamed…
Here are Your 2019 Cincinnati Entertainment Award Nominees
After a first round of nominations from the public and input from a panel of local music experts and aficionados, the ballot for the 2019 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards is up and ready for your votes. CityBeat created the CEAs 22 years ago as a way to celebrate the diversity and richness of Greater Cincinnati's music…
Watch All of the Music Videos Nominated for 2019 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards
After the first-round public nominations, the members of the nominating committee for the 2019 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards have submitted their ballots — the entire slate of Greater Cincinnati musical acts up for awards this year will be unveiled tomorrow (Oct. 18). But this evening we're pleased to share the nominees for one category — "Best…
You Must Now Be 21 or Older to Purchase Tobacco and Nicotine Products In Ohio
On July 18, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a budget bill increasing the legal age to buy cigarettes, cigars, vaping supplies and other tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old. This legislation comes after a national campaign, Tobacco 21, was sponsored by the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation and aimed at preventing tobacco addiction in…
City of Cincinnati Announces Rideshare Pick-Up and Drop-Off Zones in Downtown, Over-the-Rhine
If you're out on the town at The Banks, in parts of Over-the-Rhine or downtown and you need a lift home, you may want to consult a map the City of Cincinnati has released. The city has set up nine rideshare zones in the busiest parts of those locations. If you're hailing a Lyft or…
Report: Chabot Campaign Reports $57,000 in ‘Unknown’ Expenses
U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot's reelection campaign spent more than $57,000 with two companies run by former campaign staffer Jamie Schwartz in July and August — just before Schwartz shuttered those consultancy groups and left the campaign amid questions about missing campaign money. According to a third-quarter campaign finance report filed with the Federal Elections Commission…
Indie Pop Heroes Vampire Weekend Thrill Over Two Nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado
Red Rocks Amphitheater just outside of Denver is one of America’s most — if not the most — iconic concert venues. As such, it was the most fitting place for Vampire Weekend to wrap up their 2019 Father of the Bride tour in the U.S. (they'll pick up dates in America in 2020). After a…
Books by the Banks Offers Author Talks, Meet-and-Greets, Writing Panels and Signings at the Convention Center
Books by the Banks is the ultimate bookworm bash, featuring authors of all stripes ranging from children’s writers to memoirists and mystery novelists to scribes who offer some local flair. Meet the likes of Karen Abbott, author of The Ghosts of Eden Park; Catherine McKenzie, author of I’ll Never Tell; and local Jessica Strawser, of…
DesignBuildCincy Brings Vendors, Craftsman and Luxury Retailers to Music Hall’s Grand Ballroom
This design showcase collects over 100 vendors, craftsman and luxury retailers and sticks them all in one place: Music Hall’s Grand Ballroom. If you’re tackling a home remodel, you’ll find everything from architects, contractors and metal fabricators to woodworkers, tile suppliers and kitchen designers. If you just want to shop, hit the DesignMakersMarket for “one-of-a-kind…
Rhinegeist is Throwing a Halloween Party and Costume Contest at Its OTR Taproom
Creep it real at Rhinegeist’s Halloween Party with killer entertainment from DJ Matty “The Joker” Joy and DJ SKG all night. Snap a photo in your clever or sexy costume in the photo booth or show it off for the costume contest. Scary, couple and character costumes will all be judged. Or conjure up some…
Local Acts Pay Tribute to Favorite Bands During Inhailer Radio: INspired Fundraiser at the Southgate House Revival
It used to be that to start a legit radio station, you needed everything from a studio to an FCC license. But these days you can get by with a microphone and a website and broadcast any kind of programming you’d like. Of course, to make and maintain an internet radio station that is designed…
The Cincinnati Art Museum’s Art After Dark Party Gets Spooky with a Tormented Souls Theme
It’s spooky season at the Cincinnati Art Museum, where things get a little devilish at Art After Dark. Explore the new Treasures of the Spanish World exhibit (for free), featuring over 200 works of art and historical documents from Spain and Latin America, including Roman Spain; watch a dance performance from Pones; listen to music…
Ohio Lawmakers Introduce Legislation Barring Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination
Ohio's anti-discrimination laws — designed to protect people from unfair labor, housing and other discrimination based on membership in protected groups — do not include gender identity or sexual orientation. Two members of the Ohio House of Representatives, however, want to change that. State Rep. Michael Skindell, a Democrat representing the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood,…
The Cincinnati Zoo Welcomes 20th Manatee for Rehab — and His Name is Truffleshuffle
The Cincinnati Zoo recently brought back a 435-pound souvenir from its trip to Florida: an orphaned manatee named Truffleshuffle. Truffleshuffle was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in November 2018 after suffering "cold stress" (manatees are especially susceptible to cold water) and has been being treated at SeaWorld Orlando, where he gained 230…
Hauntings, Fires and Other Weird Facts About the Hamilton County Courthouse as It Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary
The current Hamilton County Courthouse — located at 1000 Main St. downtown — was dedicated on Oct. 18, 1919. Future president Warren G. Harding, then a senator, gave the opening address. The present iteration of the county's hall of justice is its sixth — three others have burned to the ground, including the fourth courthouse…
BLINK Draws Record Crowds to Cincinnati
Cincinnati's four-day, light-filled arts extravaganza that spread throughout downtown, Over-the-Rhine and spilled across the Ohio River into Covington drew huge crowds, organizers have announced — even larger than the event's first run in 2017. At least 1.25 million people — and perhaps as many as 1.5 million — attended BLINK this year, according to estimates…
Kings Island’s Vortex to Give its 46 Millionth Ride This Weekend Before Shutting Down Forever
Greater Cincinnati amusement park Kings Island announced in a press release in late September that its beloved Vortex roller coaster will be closed down at the end of the fall 2019 season. This weekend will mark the coaster's 46 millionth ride. "This weekend, Kings Island’s Vortex will celebrate its final rider milestone. Sometime during the amusement park’s…
Live Music in Greater Cincinnati: This Week’s Concerts and Club Shows (Oct. 17-22)
THURSDAY 17 ARNOLD'S BAR AND GRILL – Philip Paul Trio. 7:30 p.m. Jazz. Free. *ARONOFF CENTER FOR THE ARTS – The Mersey Beatles: 50 Years of Abbey Road. 7 p.m. Beatles tribute. $39-$69. BLIND LEMON – Mark Macomber. 8 p.m. Acoustic. Free. *CAFFÈ VIVACE – Brian Charette Trio. 7:30 p.m. Jazz. Cover. DELHI PUB -…
Cincinnati’s Doscher’s Candies and March First Brewing’s Sycamore Distilling Team Up to Release Peppermint Schnapps
March First Brewing's distilling arm, Sycamore Distilling, and local historic confectioner Doscher's Candy have teamed up once again to bring back a holiday spirit: Voltage Vodka brand peppermint schnapps. Back for the second year, this 100-proof schnapps is infused with the peppermint oil that Doscher's uses to make its famous candy canes. The Newtown-based candy…
Cincy Punx Art Fair at the Art Academy to Feature (Mostly) Local Artists Selling Everything from Stickers to Screenprints to Records
If you’ve taken a walk in Over-the-Rhine recently, it’s probable that you’ve seen a black-and-white hand-drawn flyer advertising Cincy Punx Art Fair, complete with a cartoon feline wearing a spiky, patch-covered vest that reads, “All cats are beautiful.” The brainchild of Ally Bachman, a student at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, the art fair is…
Fall Fest Weekend at Washington Park Features Live Music, Local Vendors and Food Trucks
Washington Park hosts a weekend of family-friendly fall fun with vendors and live entertainment. Live music starts at noon each day and runs until 6 p.m. with performances from local acts including Chelsea Ford and The Trouble, Warsaw Falcons, Snaps for Sinners and Comon Center. In between sets, shop seasonal goodies from vendors including Bee…
Quintron and Miss Pussycat Bring Their Surreal Rock & Roll Organ and Puppet Show to Over-the-Rhine’s MOTR Pub
With a few exceptions, in Cincinnati’s underground Rock circuit of the ’90s, there was a period of time where you basically knew what you were going to get when you went to a show — some variation of scruffy Gen X-ers playing loud guitars. But every now and then, an act would come to town…
Twenty One Pilots Bring Their Relentlessly Entertaining Live Show and Emo Circus Swagger to U.S. Bank Arena
Columbus, Ohio’s Twenty One Pilots is the biggest “cult” band in the world. They’ve sold millions of albums worldwide, headlined the biggest music festivals and sold-out huge venues, but they’re not really a household name. And many of those who are aware of them are often dismissive, writing them off as that silly Pop band…
Veteran Singer/Songwriter Rickie Lee Jones Will Play Covers and Classics at Clifton’s Ludlow Garage
Between her excellent new covers record, Kicks, and her fall tour, Rickie Lee Jones has been riding a late-career resurgence this last decade. The veteran singer/songwriter still delivers her brand of magic onstage, whether performing her own classics from over 40 years of recording or doing eclectic covers chosen from the Great American Songbook. Now…
Canadian Synth Pop Quartet Actors Bring an Expansively Cinematic and Yet Intimate Sound to MOTR Pub
By the late ’70s, Punk had upended all perceptions of what constituted Rock, and New Wave was offering a slightly more antiseptic but still anarchic perspective on the same subject. Of particular interest were the chilly Synth Pop bands that combined the aggression of Punk with the broad appeal of Pop and swirled it into…
British Jazz Fusion/Funk Quartet The New Mastersounds Bring a Reverence for the Groove to the Ludlow Garage
If you’re unfamiliar with The New Mastersounds, you’ve got plenty of catching up to do. The British Jazz Fusion/Funk quartet is celebrating its 20th anniversary and touring behind its most recent recordings, the just-released Shake It and last year’s Renewable Energy and The Nashville Session 2. During the group’s two-decade history, the band has released…
Democratic Presidential Primary Debate: Warren Takes Center Stage — and Some Arrows
With a dozen candidates, the stage for the Democratic Party's fourth presidential primary debate in Westerville, Ohio, was vast, and at more than three hours long, the talking seemingly endless. But when the dust cleared, a somewhat new dynamic in the race to take on Republican President Donald Trump for the White House next year…
Ahead of Their Stop at Downtown’s Aronoff Center, We Caught Up with the Crew of ‘That Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody’
Throw a party. Invite everyone you know. That Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody is coming to the Aronoff Center Oct. 19-20 for an evening of cheesecake, Jazzercise, shoulder pads and elderly puppets talking about their sex lives — with all the witticisms that made the mid-1980s sitcom a classic. Directed by Michael Hull and written by…
