A Series of Mild Strokes
Greenback Harbor Country Club, 8:45 a.m. I am not a golfer. Which is exactly why Clay, Trey and Dave asked me to shoot a round with them this morning. Today I will be playing the role of the buffoon. The schmuck. And considering the raves I've received over the years for my portrayals of "Teen…
All the Money in the World, but Not a Prayer
As of a few weeks ago, the George W. Bush juggernaut reported that it had raised nearly a gazillion dollars in contributions for his presidential campaign. The actual figure was more like $50 million, but when you're talking that kind of money, it might as well be a gazillion. Maybe two. At this point, it…
Cover Story: Believe It. Or Not.
Some tall tales are uniquely Cincinnati. Be they truth, fiction or merely wishful thinking, the Queen City overflows with stories that have been passed around so many times at the lunch table they've got chili stains on 'em.Well, it's about time someone pinned down these rumors. Or, at the least, had some fun while perpetuating…
Diner: Louisiana Lowdown
As a Cincinnati girl, born and raised on the west side, I'm no expert when it comes to Cajun or Creole food. Growing up, I thought I was tasting some exotic Cajun concoction when Maury's Tiny Cove started offering "blackened" seasonings for chicken and steak. Sure, I've expanded my horizons somewhat since then with an…
Film: The Old Ballgame
Kevin Costner The biggest mistake that screenwriter Dana Stevens (adapting from the Michael Shaara novel) and director Sam Raimi make in their baseball weepie, For Love of the Game, is one of general structure. The film begins at the end, with aging Detroit Tigers pitcher Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) starting in what may his…
A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste; TV Doesn’t Do It Alone
Late this summer, the American Association of Pediatricians (AAP) issued new guidelines for children watching television. The thrust of the report was that children under the age of 2 should watch no TV. This, of course, has been a topic of debate for generations, particularly since we fear our minds might have been turned to…
Prescription Conniption
I'm not in the habit of popping pills, not even the legal ones. And I haven't been to a doctor in three years — not since the night I caught some asshole rifling through my old Escort in Over-the-Rhine, helping himself to my cassettes like a Halloween grabbag, and I ended up with a shattered…
Music: Royal Truck Ups
Royal Trux Musicians, as a rule, are eccentric. Fine. But Royal Trux do more than dress weird, take drugs or pine for an acting career. Jennifer Herrema, half of the bluesy sludge/noise band is one part Britney Spears, one part Martha Stewart, one part Don King and a whole lot of Keith Richards. Like…
Re: Synchronizing Kids’ Taste at Riverbend From: Dr. Tom
I had a chance recently to take two of my pre-teens to a concert at Riverbend. The band, although I use the term loosely, is a popular group of young men who have been, shall we say, packaged. I had heard my daughter playing their album at home and pointed out that the music seemed…
