This week included Cincinnati Pride’s official kick-off of Pride festivities, reduced COVID-19 health mandates, brand new bar openings and a certain Ohio city that’s ready to get down and dirty. If you missed any of it, just check out our roundup of this week’s news stories below.
Here’s what you need to know:
Ohio’s COVID-19 Health Orders Ended Wednesday, But Some People Still Need to Mask Up
June 2 marked the official end of most coronavirus-related mandates in Ohio. Although operations are more or less back to pre-pandemic standards, vaccinated people must still wear masks on public transportation, and unvaccinated people are still required to mask up in nonresidential indoor locations. Read CityBeat’s story about the state’s COVID-19 guidance.
Pride Month Kicks Off in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
Pride Month, usually set during the month of June, launched in Cincinnati on Tuesday with an inclusive Pride flag raising atop Cincinnati City Hall and virtual drag performances by local entertainers. Cincinnati Pride may have canceled its traditional parade and festival this year, but there are still plenty of virtual celebrations and smaller in-person events uplift the city’s LGBTQ+ community this month. Over in Northern Kentucky, in-person PrideFest celebrations return this weekend with drag performances and socially distant parties. Read CityBeat’s stories about Cincinnati Pride events and NKY PrideFest events.
Kings Island Increases Pay to $18 Per Hour for 900 Seasonal Job Positions
Due to a recent labor shortage, local amusement park Kings Island will now offer $18 for its 2021 seasonal positions, which includes jobs in security, food service and lifeguarding. This announcement comes as the park is forced to reduce its hours through June 10. Read CityBeat’s story about the park’s decision to raise employee pay.
Foo Fighters to Perform at ICON Music Center’s Inaugural Outdoor Concert
The Foo Fighters will kick off a six-city tour supporting its latest album Medicine at Midnight on the festival stage at the Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center. The band, which is a 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, will be the venue’s first outdoor concert. Read CityBeat’s story about the Foo Fighters and how to get tickets.
Cincinnati Is One of the 10 Best Cities in America for a Staycation, Says Study
It’s a great time to be a homebody in Cincinnati! A recent study by WalletHub ranked the city No. 10 out of 182 cities for the best places for a staycation. Read CityBeat’s story about the study.
Over-the-Rhine’s New Pour-Your-Own-Drink Bar Copper & Flame Sets Opening Date
OTR’s long-awaited bar Copper & Flame finally opened on Thursday. The bar boasts an extensive draft list of rare brews, and guests will be able to try them all with the bar’s self-serve taps. Central/South American and Southeast Asian fusion street food are also on the menu. Read CityBeat’s story about the neighborhood’s newest hotspot.
Coney Island Will Finally Open 2021 Season on June 7 — For Real This Time!
After a water leak in its iconic Sunlite Pool delayed opening by more than a week, Coney Island will finally welcome guests for the season this Monday. Officials say that tickets purchased for before June 7 will be honored during any public operating day this year. Read CityBeat’s story about the park’s reopening.
Looking to Hookup? Drive to Dayton, Ohio — One of the Horniest Cities in America
LawnStarter, a lawn care site that has zero business reporting on our collective sex drive, made a list of the 200 most libidinous metropolises in the U.S., and Dayton is ready to rock. It turns out that after spending the past year and a half largely cooped up, Daytonians have a lot of, er, energy to expel. Read CityBeat‘s story about what everybody’s ready to do after being alone together for so long.
Cincinnati Panegyri to Host Drive-Thru Festival This Summer
Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church’s annual Panegyri is coming back this year after a brief hiatus — but not in its usual format. From June 24-26, enjoy a drive-thru festival featuring classic Greek favorites like gyro, spanakopita and baklava. Guests must order online in advance for pickup at a specific time. Read CityBeat’s story on Panegyri.
This article appears in Jun 1 – Jul 6, 2021.
