More Than the Sum of the Parts
Two weeks ago I wrote about Know Theatre’s plans to work with other theater companies, locally and nationally, to create new works. Collaboration is the byword for many arts organizations today, especially theaters where financial support is tough to obtain and ticket revenues are seldom enough to support the cost of productions. By working together,…
It’s A Jungle In Here
I f Jungle Jim’s huge International Market in Fairfield wasn’t big enough for you, a second location in Eastgate boasts an even larger space at 215,000 square feet. This is the place to get everything from kangaroo meat to hookahs. And if you can’t find, say, the gluten-free eggrolls, either store’s employees will track them…
Focused On The Fringe
P lodding feet and murmuring voices mingle up the gallery stairs. Students Alvin, Ben, Chad and Matt have arrived from local community building organization Starfire and settle in front of laptops loaded with their digital photos as another day of art education begins at Prairie Gallery. Director David Rosenthal has been doing it since 2009.…
Film: Samsara
The term “visionary” gets tossed around way too casually, much like “genius,” but Samsara, Ron Fricke’s documentary (based on the concept and treatment he developed with Mark Magidson) more than earns the tag for sheer scope and scale. Shot over the course of five years across more than 20 countries on five continents, Samsara captures…
Art: Tabula Rasa
Part-handmade craft gift shop, part-art gallery, Fabricate in Northside has led the way for artists of all stripes to exhibit and sell their wares for the better part of three years now. To celebrate their three-year anniversary (only one week before the Crafty Supermarket — another venture from Fabricate co-owner Chris Salley — naturally) it…
Event: Esquire’s 101st B-Day Bash
Jerry Springer returns to the Queen City for a big bash, and I’m not talking about bashing people with chairs. He’s hosting an evening of reminiscing, stories and celebrations as the Esquire Theatre turns 101 years old. See “Mystery Movie” creating and shown for the theatre’s re-opening in 1990, silently bid on art, enjoy coffee…
Event: Taste of the World Wine and Beer Festival
The Taste of World Wine and Beer Festival has been an annual staple for Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. The event has aided and raised money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for a continuous eight years and the LLS is eager to kick off this year’s event. The Fest will take place amongst the…
Onstage: Grim and Fischer
The show’s title sounds a bit like a law firm, or maybe a grotesque vaudeville team. But it’s actually quite literal: “Grim” is Death (aka The Grim Reaper). And in this production that was a big hit in three sold-out performances during the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe, he meets his match in Mrs. Fischer, a tenacious…
Music: Aimee Mann and Ted Leo
After a tough previous week when she was stuck in New York City during and after “Frankenstorm” Sandy, this Friday night at 8 p.m., veteran singer/songwriter Aimee Mann performs in Cincinnati at 20th Century Theatre (3021 Madison Road, Oakley). For 30 years, Mann has built a dedicated core of adoring fans swept away by her…
Comedy: Cy Amundson
If you were in a scavenger hunt and needed to find a “comedian on the rise,” you would do well to bring back Cy Amundson. The Minnesota native was named “Next Big Comic” in 2011 by CMT, is a regular on the Bob & Tom Radio Show and recently made an appearance on The Conan…
Enquirer Mistakenly Reports False Voting Results
The Cincinnati Enquirer earlier today posted fake data on its website showing Mitt Romney with a 92,000-vote lead in a supposed early vote count in Ohio. Editors later posted an apology, explaining that the election-results chart was created as a template and was inadvertently posted early. The Enquirer explained the error: “A Cincinnati.com front-page link…
LISTEN: Mr. Dibbs Salutes Skandal Da Ruckus Man
One of the biggest names in Cincinnati Hip Hop, DJ/producer Mr. Dibbs, yesterday released a tribute EP in honor of late fellow local artist Skandal Da Ruckus Man. Skandal passed away last month after a battle with leukemia, leaving behind a legion of friends, fans, students and family, including his daughter, and conjuring a ton…
Morning News and Stuff
Election Day is today. Find your correct polling booth here . Check out CityBeat ’s endorsements here . After a year of campaigns, the race between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney is almost over. All eyes are on Ohio to decide the presidential election . In aggregate polling, Obama leads Romney by 2.9 points…
Music: Heights Music Festival
Heartless Bastards, The National and Walk the Moon are just a few of the many nationally acclaimed bands that started their musical careers in Cincinnati. Taking advantage of multiple venues in Clifton Heights, the Heights Music Festival creates a stage for more than 40 different acts to build with other artists and gives fans a…
Arts: Muse: Keep Yo Lamps Burnin
Singer-songwriter Melanie DeMore joins MUSE, Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir, for “Keep Yo’ Lamps Burnin,” a program of spirituals and original works in the African-American tradition. An award-winning artist and educator, DeMore is acclaimed for her rich contralto that verges on baritone and her electrifying stage presence. She’ll sing with MUSE, narrate Ysaye Marie Barnwell’s song cycle…
R. Kelly
R. Kelly has taught me a lot of things over the years. On his song, “I Believe I Can Fly,” he taught me “if I can see it, I can do it.” Then on his alleged sex tape, he also taught me that rule only applies to women over the age of 18. On, “Ignition,”…
The Sword
Hating on the haters is one of those hobbies musicians will never get sick of. The Cure, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Nick Cave, Taylor Swift, of Montreal and Sonic Youth are among the many folks who have penned songs aimed at detractors. With “Execrator” off its latest album, Apocryphon, Heavy Metal four-piece The Sword climbs into…
County Commission President Lays Out Budget Plan
The Republican head of Hamilton County’s governing board outlined his own alternative for a 2013 budget on Monday, proposing an austere path forward after rejecting other budgets that would raise some taxes. Board of County Commissioners President Greg Hartmann said his proposed budget would reduce the size of county government by 30 percent, compared to…
Joe Bonamassa
Very few people fit the true definition of prodigy, but Joe Bonamassa could be the poster child for prodigies. By age 7, after three short years of playing guitar, Bonamassa was regurgitating note-perfect renditions of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Shortly thereafter, he was mentored by the late, great Danny Gatton and, at 12,…
Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten’s move from introverted folkie to self-assured front-woman is nearly complete. The 31-year-old New Jersey native’s first two albums — 2009’s Because I Was In Love and 2010’s epic — revealed an emotionally visceral songwriter and performer who wasn’t afraid to explore love gone sour via a voice that’s as moving and expressive…
King Tuff
As time trots forward, the number of Rock & Roll dudes who self-identify as monarchs only increases. With King Tuff's arrival, King Diamond, King Krule, King Khan and King Charles welcome another to their regal ranks. Bred in Brattleboro, Vt., and now based in Los Angeles, Kyle Thomas has been creating music as King Tuff…
Charlie Hunter
Since his emergence from the San Francisco Jazz scene nearly two decades ago, Charlie Hunter has defined his stylistic direction by resolutely refusing to be tagged as any one thing, preferring to embrace and explore whatever captures his imagination. Over the years, Hunter has examined several fascinating musical facets under the Jazz umbrella, including Funk/Rock,…
Morning News and Stuff
Today is the last day of in-person early voting. Find your correct polling booth here . Check out CityBeat ’s endorsements here . Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted is under fire for alleged voter suppression once again. In response to recent court rulings on provisional ballots, Husted sent out a directive on Nov. 2…
Under a Red Moon (Review)
Hannibal Lecter might have taken lessons from John George Haigh, a British serial killer who murdered at least a half-dozen innocent victims in the late 1940s, possibly drank some of their blood and then disposed of their remains with sulfuric acid. The “Acid Bath Killer,” as Haigh came to be known, is the subject of…
Obama Makes Plea to Cincinnati Voters at UC Appearance
Just two days before the general election, President Barack Obama made his case to 13,500 people packed into the University of Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena and 2,000 in an overflow room. Obama cast the race in comparisons to the previous two presidents, comparing his policies with those of Bill Clinton and equating Republican challenger Mitt…
Your Weekend To Do List: 11/2-11/4
Kick off the weekend with some shopping you can feel good about at Ten Thousand Villages’ tenth anniversary event. The O’Bryonville retail store specializes in fair trade gifts, home décor and accessories from around the world. Ten Thousand Villages works with artisan groups from 38 countries and is a founding member of the World Fair…
Music Tonight: Ironfest III, Rumpke Mountain Boys and More
• Ironfest, the multi-act concert event started by friends of late local music booster “Iron” Mike Davidson to benefit his daughter, is set for its third annual event tonight and Saturday at the new Southgate House Revival in Newport. Each night features a staggering amount of solid local bands from a variety of genres. Tonight,…
Stage Door: Non-Political Ad Edition
If you can tear yourself way from TV ads for the presidential election this weekend, you'll find plenty of good theater to distract you, starting with a production at Covington's Carnegie Center opening Friday night. It's Under a Red Moon, a world premiere co-production with Dayton’s Human Race Theatre Company. Michael Slade's taut psychological thriller…
Morning News and Stuff
Only four days left to early-vote in person. Find out where to do that here. U.S. employers hired 171,000 people in October and revised job growth over the previous two months, finding it had been stronger than previously thought. However, unemployment inched up to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent in September, due to more out-of-work…
Worker Mistreatment Alleged at U-Square Development
Some members of city council agreed that the city needs to take a hard look at the way it inspects projects done with taxpayer money, but they took no action during a special joint committee meeting Thursday to discuss allegations that workers were being underpaid at the University Square development in Clifton. Council members Laure…
COAST’s Busy Week in Court
A local conservative group is making a lot of use of member and lawyer Chris Finney. The Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) was involved in two lawsuits filed this week: one regarding the Blue Ash Airport deal and another regarding Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS). Criticism of the Blue Ash Airport deal is…
Music Tonight: Walk the Moon and Bad Veins
A week after The Afghan Whigs played a thrilling homecoming show with fellow local greats Wussy at Bogart's, another pair of local bands making waves are set to play their hometown (or across the river from it). Every time Cincinnati AltPop rockers Walk the Moon come home to play a show, it seems like their…
City Offers Cash Incentive to Local Media Giant Scripps
A deal is expected to be approved next week between E.W. Scripps Co. and Cincinnati could bring about $5.65 million in tax revenue to the city by 2018. It also means that Scripps — which was founded here in the 1800s — promises to expand and keep its corporate headquarters in Cincinnati for at least…
FotoFocus Comes to an End After Many High Points
While there are FotoFocus shows and events continuing into November and even longer, the October festival formally closed Saturday night with a boisterous, picture-perfect celebration, the Carnevil Halloween party at Newport’s Thompson House (formerly the Southgate House). All rooms were jam-packed with people in imaginative costumes, and in the ballroom the DAAP Girls (outfitted for…
I Wanted His Divided Attention
My friend Chad broke his right leg a few weeks ago — fell off a ladder while cleaning out some leaves from his gutters on his house. It was a pretty nasty break. Chad was told he had to totally stay off his right leg for three or more weeks. No walking, not even on…
Morning News and Stuff
In-person early voting is underway in Ohio. Find your nearest polling booth here . If there’s a Democrat-led war on coal in Ohio, it’s not showing in the numbers. PolitiFact checked Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown’s claim that coal jobs and production have gone up in the state since five years ago, and it turns out…
Officials Might Have Mistakenly Rejected Ballots
An error in how voters update their address online caused updated registration records to be delivered late to Ohio’s election officials. With about a week left in Ohio’s voting process, the late delivery might have caused the Hamilton County Board of Elections to mistakenly reject some eligible voters because officials did not have the voters’…
I Just Can’t Get Enough
Hurricane Sandy busted through the Northeastern U.S. this week like a good girl-gone-bad chasing after Danny Zuko. Thankfully, the worst of the weather has passed and we Americans can work on repairing damage, helping those in need and recounting evidence of how our country comes together during crisis. The hurricane-meets-nor’easter was revving up Sunday but…
Carl Lindner Gives GOP Cash 10 Months After Death
For much of the current election cycle, Republicans have been howling that Democrats are potential fraudsters who might send voters from graveyards to the polls. Witness the spate of new GOP-enacted voter-ID laws. But maybe it’s the people yelling fraud who really bear watching. How about getting cash from the dead to finance campaigns? The …
WATCH: Culture Queer’s “U Bummin’ Mr Drummond”
"Aw, hell yeah," indeed! Yesterday, the hugely popular music website Consequence of Sound debuted the brand new, incredibly entertaining music video for Culture Queer's "U Bummin' Mr. Drummond," from the band's stellar, freshly-released new album, Nightmare Band. The clip (which sadly doesn't feature a cameo from Conrad Bain) was filmed locally and directed by CQ's…
Curmudgeon Notes 10.31.2012
• After weeks of dreary campaign coverage and soul-destroying political ads, here’s a day brightener. Jian Ghomeshi’s long-format interview radio show, Q, scored a rare interview with J. K. Rowling. She was in New York promoting her first adult-audience book, The Casual Vacancy. Among other things, Ghomeshi asked why she courts news media criticism…
Election Issue 2012
Here's a link to CityBeat's full election endorsements and coverage. When CityBeat set out to research this year’s slate of candidates and issues, we did so aware of the guiding principles behind our weekly news coverage. We have a long history of covering politics, race, gender, human rights and quality of life issues in Cincinnati…
Fight or Flight
The world will be watching Ohio this week, waiting largely to see which presidential candidate’s weeks of time and millions of dollars spent wooing Buckeye State voters will pay off, likely putting either President Barack Obama or Republican nominee Mitt Romney over the top. But slightly down the ballot is another race nearly as important:…
CityBeat: Yes on Issues 50 and 51
Issues 50 and 51 are levy renewals, so there’s no tax hike, and mental health and senior services stay the same. These are levies that even fiscal conservatives have not opposed. The Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) has taken no position on it. Even with the levy, Hamilton County services will still…
CityBeat: Martha Good, Bruce Whitman for Ohio Court of Appeals
In an era when judges often give the final word against Republican extremism, Democratic judges are more important than ever. That’s why we endorse Martha Good and Bruce Whitman for Ohio’s First District Court of Appeals. Republicans have been doing their best to suppress voters since they were voted into office in big waves in…
CityBeat: Nadine Allen, Stephen Black for Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Reminder: In this race, voters must choose two candidates. The top two candidates win election. Judges play an understated role in the U.S. While legislators write and pass the laws and mayors, governors and presidents enforce the laws, judges interpret the laws. In a sense, this can be just as important as writing the law.…
CityBeat: Democrats for Ohio General Assembly
One of the most striking developments in the past two years is the rising extremism of the Republican party. From privatization to social issues to Senate Bill 5, Republicans have taken Ohio in a hard turn to the right. Here at CityBeat, we’ll take the alternative. We support the Democratic takeover of the Ohio General…
CityBeat: Skindell, O’Neill, Brown for Ohio Supreme Court
Ohio is a swing state, but there is very little in our state government that reflects that right now. Republicans dominate the General Assembly. Republicans dominate the governorship and other executive positions. The Ohio Supreme Court is no different. It is currently dominated by Republican justices in a striking 6-1 margin. To many, this might…
CityBeat: Democrats for Hamilton County Offices
This year, there is a surprising amount of choice in the Hamilton County offices. In the past, a lot of the seats have been uncontested, typically held by powerful Republican incumbents. This year is different. In addition to offering a different perspective than the extremist Republican status quo, each of these candidates offers credibility and…
CityBeat: No Endorsements for Hamilton County Commissioners
We like how Democratic Commissioner Todd Portune tried to keep funding for mental health and elderly services the same with a very minor tax hike that would have made up for property values dropping. We like his support for the streetcar. We like how he can rein in the two Republicans on the Board of…
CityBeat: Yes on Issue 42
CityBeat recently covered Cincinnati Public School’s (CPS) financial problems and what makes the levy renewal a necessity for the school (“Battered But Not Broken,” issue of Oct. 3). Under the broken state funding system for schools, CPS has to rely on levies to sustain and improve its education program. If CPS doesn’t get this levy…
Wrect-It Ralph
An old-school video game villain named Wreck-It Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) lumbers around smashing buildings that the game’s hero Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer) repairs for points and acclaim. But, one day, Ralph desires to have a life beyond where he stays during off-hours — the muddy trash heap right across from Felix’s skyscraper…
CityBeat: Yes on Issue 2
Ohioans might not realize it yet, but Issue 2 could be the most important item on the ballot in 2012. If voters approve Issue 2, it would place redistricting in the hands of an independent citizens commission. Currently, elected officials handle the redistricting process, and they have used it time and time again for politically…
CityBeat: No on Issue 1
Under the Ohio Constitution, voters are asked every 20 years, “Shall there be a convention to revise, alter, or amend the constitution?” That’s what Issue 1 is all about. If voters approve Issue 1, the General Assembly, which is currently controlled by Republicans, will set rules for how constitutional delegates are elected. The delegates will…
CityBeat: First Congressional District is Rigged
Rigged? Wait, what? Truth be told, CityBeat would love to endorse a Democrat for the First Congressional District. Generally speaking, we do not support Rep. Steve Chabot. We don’t like his opposition to Obama’s jobs bills. We don’t like how he went along with the debt-ceiling crisis of 2011 that nearly brought down the entire…
CityBeat: Sherrod Brown for U.S. Senate
Remove Democrat and Republican for a second. Assume there are two candidates outside of partisan labels. Candidate A is the current sitting senator. He has a clear record and policies to run on. Candidate B is the challenger. He has little record and policies, and he’s been caught being dishonest time and time again —…
CityBeat: Barack Obama for President
On March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially became president of the United States. At the time, the new president faced a massive financial crisis and depression. The nation had an outstanding 24.9 percent unemployment rate, and faith in the financial system was nearly nonexistent. But with a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of…
Worst Week Ever!: Oct. 24-29
WEDNESDAY OCT. 24 Anyone who has ever lived in a college town knows that life is very different there: extremely young citizenry with very nice teeth, abundance of ethnic lunch spots and very loosely enforced drunk and disorderly laws, etc. Two Miami University bros have officially mucked up that town’s things-only-college-kids-get-to-do vibe, as the school…
Morning News and Stuff
In-person early voting is underway in Ohio. Find your nearest polling booth here . Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted is asking for an emergency stay on a recent court order on voting. The order lets voters vote in any polling place as long as they’re in the correct county. In his 22-page motion, Husted…
Missing Fandom
There are days I miss being a fan. Saturday was one of those days, and it reminded me what’s different about my chosen profession and most people. I’m not a fan, no matter how hard I try. I’ve tried to keep rooting interests in some sports, although not really those I cover. I went to…
City Manager Suggests Privatizing Parking
It’s nearly budget season in Cincinnati again. In a bit of a head start, City Manager Milton Dohoney has unveiled his plan to look into privatizing the city’s parking services. In a memo to city employees, Dohoney claimed leasing could provide a few benefits to the city: “For example, a third party can invest in…
Probation Department Accused of Sex Discrimination
A 20-year veteran of Hamilton County’s probation department says she was denied a promotion after advising another woman to file a sexual-harassment claim against a boss on the county’s payroll at the time. Cassandra (Casey) DeNoma’s sex-discrimination lawsuit was filed Oct. 26 in Cincinnati federal court. She described the county probation department as a male…
Cintas CEO Emails Romney Talking Points to Employees
It’s no secret that Cintas Corp. CEO Scott Farmer showers part of his wealth on Republican political candidates. Over the years, he has thrown money at George W. Bush, Rob Portman and Steve Chabot. This year, he has given $52,500 to the Mitt Romney campaign. His wife Mary has ponied up $22,500. But votes, not…
Cincinnati vs. The World 10.31.2012
Xavier University has reversed its controversial decision to not pay for employees’ birth control as part of healthcare plans after realizing that since announcing the end of the coverage July 1, the school has actually continued to cover birth control costs. CINCINNATI +2 CNN posted an article exploring the merits of study from the University…
Issue 2: The Facts and Attacks
On Nov. 6, America will be watching Ohio voters to see which presidential candidate we put over the top. But in Ohio, no issue will hold the long-term weight of Issue 2. The little-known issue seeks to reform a redistricting process that has long been dominated by politicized redistricting — also known as “gerrymandering.” Unsurprisingly,…
Checks and Balances
I n the late hours of this upcoming Presidential Election night, one Democrat commissioner and one Republican commissioner from the Hamilton County Board of Elections will tally the final vote to see whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney wins the county. Hamilton County’s final outcome is significant — as in changing the course of world…
Raunchy Comedy Reigns Thursdays on FX
Tag-teaming Thursday nights, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League make FX the weekly spot for quotable comedy and gross-out laughs. In its eighth season, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (10 p.m.) now has a dedicated fan base thanks to the show’s blend of weird humor and social commentary. “The gang,” as they are…
Off the Record, for the Record
The perils of “off the record” were never clearer than when President Obama sought the Des Moines Register endorsement last week. It was a 30-minute Obama call to publisher Laura Hollingsworth and editor Rick Green, a former local editor at the Enquirer. The White House said Hollingsworth and Green couldn’t share what they learned. Agree…
A Daringly Dark ‘Flight’
I’m not certain when the feeling set in for me, but at some point during the Flight screening I attended, I was overcome with the sense of observing the dark days of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the virtuoso Texas guitarist who died in the early 1990s after years of working as a sideman (most notably with…
Yoko Cleared, National Outrage & Nirvana: The Musical?
HOT Yoko’s Fault? Oh No! Although there are surely many old-school fans who will refuse to believe it, according to Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono was not the reason The Beatles’ broke up. McCartney, in an interview with David Frost scheduled to air in November on Al Jazeera English, said Lennon was “definitely going to leave,”…
The State of Rednecksploitation
In my lifetime, there have been a few words that have gone from innocuous to offensive. “Retard” has never really been the nicest of words, but now, as Ann Coulter recently proved, if you say it in public, you’ll be shamed and chastised. Also, at some point over the past 20 or so years, “midget”…
Binders Full of Bigots
This is an all-out race and class war. If you’re voting for the re-election of President Barack Obama then you’re either black; an unthreatened/progressive white; or a minority who’s been offended, discounted or demonized by Gov. Mitt Romney, Republicans and/or the Tea Party. And if you’re voting for Romney then you’re either a wealthy minority…
New Local Releases (and the Parties that Celebrate ’Em)
One of Cincinnati’s most popular bands, Rumpke Mountain Boys , celebrates the release of its new album with a series of release parties in the region, kicking off Friday at Inner Circle (the former Annie’s location). Following the Cincinnati date, the Boys will perform for their growing fan bases in Lexington, Ky., Bloomington, Ind., Columbus,…
Monster Mash
There are simply not enough robots made out of wood these days. Well, that is the brilliant thought that popped into my head as I contemplated the name of the band Hickory Robot, anyway. The Cincinnati-based quartet is known for its acoustic music, blending Bluegrass-influenced grooves with other Roots music fare. However, on the recently…
The Shot Heard ‘Round the Art Museum
On Monday, Todd Pavlisko conducted his commissioned artwork — a video piece he’s calling “Docent” — in which a retired military sniper fired a secured high-powered rifle inside the first floor of the Cincinnati Art Museum. The museum is closed to the public on Mondays. As the bullet moved at 2,700-feet-per-second through the Schmidlapp Gallery…
