CityBeat | May 15, 2024

NEWS

Pro-Palestinian Protesters Assemble in Covington as Israeli Forces Enter Rafah

The Free Palestine movement has been a lifelong effort for some demonstrators.

BY MADELINE FENING

Protestors from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky cities gathered in Covington on May 7 to send a message to politicians and passersby about the latest development in Gaza.

“Shame! Shame!” chanted approximately 50 protestors at the corner of Pike Street and 7th Street. Mohammad Ahmad, head organizer of the Covington for Ceasefire organization, addressed the growing crowd gathered on a wide median:

“You want to pass a public comment ordinance because you don’t want to listen to us? That’s fine! You’re going to hear it from the street!” Ahmad shouted from behind a keffiyeh wrapped around the lower half of his face.

Covington for Ceasefire was not the only organization to brave the threat of severe storms – Cincinnati Socialists, Cincinnati Community Aid and Praxis, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Northern Kentucky University Students for Justice in Palestine and Coalition for Community and Safety all showed up. They were protesting, not only a proposed ordinance in Covington that

could limit public comment at Commission meetings, but taxpayers’ contributions to Israel’s war effort in Gaza.

“Israel just started bombing Rafah, they started their invasion, the one that should not be happening after they literally evacuated over a million and a half people to the most densely populated place on Earth, knowing they’re going to be at risk, knowing that they have nowhere to go,” Ahmad told CityBeat. “The United States is just green lighting it with our tax dollars, including Covington tax dollars. We’re here to say, no, we’re not okay with that.”

Israel’s move into Rafah

According to the Associated Press, Israeli troops seized control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing on May 7. CNN is reporting that the U.S. State Department has described Israel’s seizure of the crossing as a possible “prelude” to a major military operation. The move comes as reports of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has stalled, with Israel’s government saying Hamas failed to meet its requirements.

strategic mistake, a political calamity and a humanitarian nightmare.”

On May 8, U.S. President Joe Biden told CNN that, should Israel initiate an all-out assault on Rafah, that the U.S. is “not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.” Biden still maintained that the U.S. is committed to Israel’s defense and would fund other defensive weapons. As of press time, Biden said Israel’s actions in and around Rafah had “not yet” crossed the line.

Listening to Palestinian voices

Hatem Dahleh is a Palestinian-American who turned out for the Covington demonstration. He wants people to pay attention to the voices of Palestinians, especially those living in fear in Gaza.

“I’m here because I’m a Palestinian,” he said. “With our voices being here at protests or reposting what people in Palestine show us everyday on social media, we’re showing it to the people here in the United States.”

Jack Fogle is also a PalestinianAmerican. He may have grown up in Kentucky, but he’s had decades to learn the history of his mom’s far-flung side of the family.

“My mother is Palestinian, she’s from the West Bank. My father’s from Appalachian Kentucky,” Fogle said. He’s used his family history and connection with the pain experienced by Palestinians to write a play that will debut at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival in June.

Israel has reportedly sent a delegation to Cairo where negotiations continue, but Egypt has also condemned Israel’s move into Rafah as “a dangerous escalation,” according to NPR. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters on May 7 that Israel’s invasion of Rafah would be “a strategic mistake, a political calamity and a humanitarian nightmare.”

According to the Associated Press, Israeli troops seized control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing on May 7. CNN is reporting that the U.S. State Department has described Israel’s seizure of the crossing as a possible “prelude” to a major military operation. The move comes as reports of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has stalled, with Israel’s government saying Hamas failed to meet its requirements. Israel has reportedly sent a delegation to Cairo where negotiations continue, but Egypt has also condemned Israel’s move into Rafah as “a dangerous escalation,” according to NPR. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters on May 7 that Israel’s invasion of Rafah would be “a

“I was just kind of writing it for fun, and then when Oct. 7 happened, I decided I needed to write it,” he said. “My play got picked to the primary lineup and it’s about a Palestinian family. They’re grieving the loss of their mother, who’s from Palestine, and it’s kind of the process of their grief and how they deal with it and when they’re preparing for the funeral. [...] Everybody who plays a Palestinian is of Arab descent, so I tried really hard to be conscientious about the voices that are represented in the show.”

A portion of the proceeds from Fogle’s show will go to Palestinian charities, including the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. Fogle said his play is only one small moment of education in a wide array of voices that can teach about the life of Palestinians.

“Listen to the voices of Palestinians and highlight their voices, amplify their voices,” he said. “I could recommend books, I could recommend movies, I could recommend documentaries. But at the end of the day, if you seek out the voices of Palestinians, you’ll hear the truth.”

The hashtags about the ongoing war in Gaza are immeasurable at this point

Demonstrators from six Greater Cincinnati organizations gathered in Covington on May 7 to protest the U.S.'s support of Israel as defense forces move into Rafah.

PHOTO: MADELINE FENING

– #Palestine has 5.6 million hits on TikTok alone – Fogle doesn’t want the newfound mainstream spotlight on Palestine to fade, but he wants people to advocate consciously, not just because it’s a popular cause for young people.

“It’s really cool to see it entering the collective consciousness. I have to say, there’s a little part of me that’s afraid that it might be like a fad,” he said. “ I hope that this awareness continues into the future, and I’m really hopeful that it will.”

Thurman Wenzel showing up to protest in Covington shows how the Free Palestine movement is a lifelong effort for some. The most senior demonstrator, Wenzel said he’s inspired by the youth’s turnout for Palestinians.

“My main focus is encouraging young people who have just gotten involved to understand the history, to understand that its history did not begin on Oct. 7,” Wenzel said. “I’ve been doing this for approximately 50 years – there have been previous generations of Palestinian activists. The Israeli government is totally off base in suggesting that they can, quote-unquote, ‘win the war against Hamas.’ Even if they kill every member of Hamas, another Palestinian group is going to pop up and be even more angry. Their only solution is to find a ceasefire and negotiations to share the land.”

Many U.S. leaders with the power to effect change for Palestinians are going to be on the ballot in November, including President Joe Biden. Biden has lost considerable favor among young liberal and leftist voters for his handling of the situation in Gaza. According to CNN polling, Biden’s approval rating for his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict skews lower among young voters: 28% approval to 71% disapproval, with an 81% disapproval mark among voters younger than 35.

Ren, who didn’t want to share their last name, is an organizer for Cincinnati Socialists. They said, for young voters, the threat of another Donald Trump presidency just isn’t enough to overlook Biden’s foreign policy after Oct. 7.

“The two party system will not save us. This is not a democracy, this is fascism,” Ren said. “There is no place within government, bourgeois government, for them to ever cease to our demands. A vote will not bring any form of justice or peace to us, no matter who we vote for.”

Young leaders

Laila Shaikh is president of the University of Cincinnati’s Students for Justice in Palestine organization (UC-SJP). She’s been leading the way for UC students, but UC SJP hasn’t held any of the widely-reported student protests on its Clifton campus. Shaikh told CityBeat

that UC’s semester wrapped earlier than most universities in Ohio. She said UCSJP has been joining other SJP chapters across the state instead, protesting in encampments on their campuses and building strength in numbers.

“We thought it’d be most powerful to do it in the state capital, you know, Columbus, just because Ohio as an entire state is the second largest investor in Israeli bonds right after New York,” she said. “We wanted to make sure that our voices are heard, not just by our administration, and not just by OSU, but also the Statehouse.”

One of the protests that took place on OSU’s campus resulted in the use of force by law enforcement against protesters, including Shaikh, who said she was beaten while praying.

“I was a part of the people that was praying while the state trooper started beating us, like I still have bruises up and down my back,” she said. “Literally there’s nothing more peaceful than praying. And I got beat for doing one of my five daily prayers where I can’t control the time of when we have to do that.”

Shaikh works closely with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). She said she can feel the increase in Islamophobia since Oct. 7, especially in the way law enforcement responds to protests.

In Ohio alone, CAIR reported a 600% increase in Islamophobic incident reports between Oct. 7 and Nov. 4, 2023, with incidents ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults.

“[It’s] because of anti-Palestinian rhetoric and because of Islamophobia, and this is even more than during 9/11,” Shaikh said. “It feels like we’re going backwards in time. It just feels like they’re trying so hard to criminalize us and make us feel almost like we’re doing something wrong for existing.”

Antisemitism has also seen a spike in recent months. In April, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released their 2023 statistics for antisemitic incidents in the U.S., reporting a 140% increase in assaults, harassment and vandalism, the highest level recorded since ADL started tracking incidents in 1979. Included in these incidents are “antiIsrael demonstrations,” which, according to the ADL, tip into the definition of antisemitic when protestors use words and phrases like “genocide,” “from the river to the sea” or when protestors call Zionism a racist endeavor.

“I’m sorry they feel uncomfortable by the truth,” said Ahmad. “I’m sorry they’re uncomfortable by the fact that the truth hurts, but it’s a genocide and Zionism is racism. I’m not worried about their feelings. I’m worried about the fact that people are being wiped off the face of the earth.”

Cincinnati’s Potter’s Field is Officially on the National Register of Historic Places. Now What?

BY MADELINE FENING

Cincinnati’s Potter’s Field was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places two weeks ago, but city leaders aren’t talking about next steps for the site.

Potter’s Field, located in West Price Hill, is a long-neglected historical burial ground where people (often poor or unidentified) were buried from the mid-1800s to 1981. The graves, most of which are unmarked, stretch across roughly 26 acres at the northwest side of Guerley Road into Rapid Run Park. In an October cover feature, CityBeat detailed the extensive efforts of local historians who are identifying the backstories of those who ended up in Potter’s Field, including cholera patients, Civil War soldiers, bodies used for medical science, people who were involuntarily committed to institutions and individuals whose families were unaware of their burial location. Once the city stopped burying people in Potter’s, the site was all but abandoned. Invasive overgrowth, trash and time have buried the once-visible grave markers, swallowing the evidence of thousands of lost lives.

After a community push to investigate just how far into Rapid Run park the unmarked burials stretched, the site was recommended to join the

register in December during an Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board meeting. The application for the honor was submitted by Mike Morgan, an attorney and adjunct horticulture instructor at the University of Cincinnati. He told CityBeat the state’s recommendation for the site to join the list was the biggest hurdle for the site, but he’s glad the National Parks Service (NPS) approved Potter’s across the finish line.

“There’s always some possibility that there’s an objection there, but we got through it,” he said. “It was mostly a matter of waiting. But nevertheless, it wasn’t official until it’s official. And now it is.”

Potter’s Field advocates, including family members of those interred at the site, have pushed for years to see the cemetery cleaned up and properly maintained. Sandy Rice, an amateur genealogical researcher and historian, has been researching the mass gave site for more than 10 years. Her efforts are outlined in CityBeat’s October cover, including her passion for restoring dignity to the ground that houses her own great-grandfather.

“All of us want the same thing,” Rice told CityBeat in October. “We’d like to see the cemetery put back into a state of respect.”

A photo of an unidentified possible Potter's Field resident sits within the overgrowth that consumes the historic cemetery to this day.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

Now that Potter’s has joined the National Register of Historic Places, Morgan said there’s a chance the site could see improvements, but it’s not a guarantee.

“The National Register doesn’t force any particular behavior,” he said. “It’s really kind of voluntarily compliant. But what it does is it makes it clear to the city that there is significance to this site. But the most important aspect is that, aside from bringing attention to it, and bringing some respect to it, just in that way, it opens up additional grant funding.”

CityBeat reached out to Cincinnati Parks, the department that oversees Potter’s Field, to ask if there’s a plan for the city to apply for these grants. Cincinnati Parks spokesperson Rocky Merz told CityBeat that Cincinnati Parks director Jason Barron was unavailable for an interview, but provided a statement on the historical status recognition for Potter’s.

“We are grateful that Potter’s Field has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. This designation will help us continue our commitment to protecting and preserving this area to honor the memory of all those buried in there,” reads a statement from Barron.

CityBeat has requested interviews with Barron to discuss Potter’s Field repeatedly since October; requests which have been met with silence or canned statements.

In CityBeat’s previous reporting on Potter’s, City Manager Sheryl Long told CityBeat that there are “no plans to develop or change Potter’s Field.”

Cincinnati’s Potter’s Field is only the second cemetery that was reserved only for the unidentified and poor to make the National Register of Historic Places. The first was City Cemetery in Hot Springs, Arkansas, according to the Department of Interior’s online catalog of historic places.

According to the City of Hot Springs website, City Cemetery was added to the register in 2021, but cleanup efforts to improve landscaping around the graves started years earlier.

“Through a citizens’ driven initiative to uncover the history of the cemetery, the city began the monumental task of restoring the property,” the site reads.

According to a report from KARK, an NBC affiliate out of Little Rock, that monumental effort was spearheaded by Hot Springs locals Karen White and her husband, Brian White.

“Actually, we brought in a herd of goats,” Hot Springs City Manager Bill Burrough told KARK. “It’s hallowed ground.”

CityBeat reached out to Hot Springs officials to inquire about the cost of maintaining City Cemetery, but officials did not respond by press time.

Attorneys for Clermont County Father Accused of Executing 3 Young Sons File Motion to Exclude the Death Penalty

BY MADELINE FENING

Attorneys for Chad Doerman, the Clermont County man accused of shooting and killing his three sons in June 2023, have requested the court take the death penalty off the table due to Doerman’s “serious mental illness” on the day of the killings.

Doerman’s attorneys filed the motion in conjunction with a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, saying two expert psychologists had determined Doerman had a “severe mental disease” on the day he allegedly gunned down his three young sons, ages 3, 4 and 7. The psychologists’ evaluations differed though on Doerman’s “appreciation of the wrongfulness of his actions” that day.

Doerman faces nine counts of aggravated murder, all with capital specifications as prosecutors have made it clear they are seeking the death penalty in this case. In their motion, lawyers for Doerman say that, should a jury convict Doerman of aggravated murder, their client is aware that he may receive a life

sentence without the possibility of parole.

“Executing the seriously mentally ill is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of both the Ohio and the United States Constitutions,” the motion reads. “Persons suffering from [serious mental illness] at the time of the alleged commission of the offense are not morally culpable to the same extent as others.”

A hearing on the motion will be held on May 3. Doerman’s attorneys have agreed to submit an expert’s report supporting the mental illness claim by June 3.

Background

Doerman is accused of shooting and killing his three young sons, ages 3, 4 and 7, on June 15, 2023. He faces nine counts of aggravated murder, eight counts of kidnapping and four counts of felonious assault.

Clermont County investigators said Doerman originally confessed to the murders soon after his arrest, saying he planned the murders,

lining up his three children and executing them with a rifle. Prosecutors said one of the boys tried to run away into an open field before Doerman chased him down, dragged him back to the house and killed him.

Sheriff’s deputies said they arrived on scene to find 32-year-old Chad Doerman sitting outside the home. The three boys who had been shot were in the yard. First responders practiced “life-saving measures” but were unsuccessful. All three children died at the scene. The boys’ mother, 34, was also outside the home with a gunshot wound to the hand. She was transported to UC Medical Center for treatment where Sheriff Robert Leahy said he informed her that her three sons had died from their gunshot wounds.

Prosecutors said Doerman initially confessed to the murders, but he later pleaded not guilty to the charges in front of a judge.

Doerman remains incarcerated at the Clermont County Jail on a $20 million bond. His trial is scheduled for July.

Chad Doerman, 32, has been charged with nine counts of aggravated murder for the shooting deaths of his three young sons, ages 3, 4 and 7.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY CLERMONT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

A BDSM convention sheds light on the booming kink culture in Cincinnati BY KATIE GRIFFITH

Somewhere between a Pure Romance party and a full-blown orgy, a world exists in which kinky people gather to socialize and play. In Cincinnati, this kink culture is thriving right under your nose, and the only thing anyone can do to stop it is exclaim one of the universal safe words: “yellow” or “red.” “Yellow” is a warning. It calls for a soft stop or brief pause of the situation in order to make an adjustment. Maybe someone’s handcuff is too tight or they’ve been spanked too hard in the same spot one too many times. “Red” is a full-stop command.

In the world of BDSM there are plenty of kinky situations that might require a safe word. BDSM is an erotic acronym that stands for sexual preferences involving bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism and masochism. A lot of BDSM practices are centered around roleplaying. The stereotypical BDSM scene includes lots of leather (outfits and toys), with anywhere from one person to a group of people practicing rough or soft play with toys like whips, ball gags or handcuffs. But really, BDSM is about making a fantasy come to life, which can transpire consensually without limits and according to an individual’s wildest imagination.

One of the more advanced props some people employ is called a vacuum bed, or “vac bed” for short. Basically, it’s a latex sleeping bag in which the air is completely sucked out. The willing participant crawls

inside the bag with a breathing tube that fits in a single opening over the mouth. Sometimes other toys make their way into the bag, too — think toys of the vibrating variety.

Inside the spaces curated for Cincinnati’s kink and BDSM community, pleasure (or pain) is the aim, but climax isn’t always the end game. Sensory deprivation is a tool often used to derive pleasure, cathartic release, dissociation or pain, and the vac bed provides an ideal atmosphere for this type of play. When the bed is in full suction mode, senses sharpen. Inside the latex covering, the participants’ sight, hearing and sense of smell are taken away, so touch becomes magnified — very magnified. The simple stroke of a finger can send a chill down the spine. One can imagine how this sensory deprivation situation might enhance sexual pleasure; it also creates the optimal circumstances for a D/s (dominant/submissive) power exchange.

So, what’s the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done?

On a scale of blindfold to bondage, where would your most uninhibited sexual fantasies lie? While many people condemn fetish, kink and BDSM practices, it’s pretty hard to imagine everyone is out there just doing it missionary style.

If you’ve ever fantasized about being tied up or blindfolded while participating in consensual sex, you’re not alone. In fact, these are introductory BDSM or fetish fantasies, and there’s a welcoming culture of kinky events, people and places to explore locally.

Two of Cincinnati’s most enthusiastic kinkers are a

power couple who make love — and a living — with BDSM.

Known as Helmsly and Mistress Lotus (owners of the vac bed), the two BDSM connoisseurs created the Grand Fetish Affair event in April, which was basically Comic Con for kinky folks. The duo also hosts bi-weekly “play parties” and produces professional content for OnlyFans and LoyalFans.

“BDSM is a normal thing that actually a very large percentage of the population engages with,” Helmsly tells CityBeat. “A lot of people think, ‘Could I be into BDSM?’ And I ask, ‘How many people have had sex with a blindfold?’ That is your first journey into BDSM. And that is a very acceptable thing. Probably over 50% of the population has done it. That is classic sensory deprivation. That’s your first step into sensory deprivation and the wonderful enjoyment that comes from that world. As you get deeper and deeper into it, you get more and more nerdy and the toys get more elaborate, that’s pretty much where it goes. But it is a very neat and normal thing that has been stigmatized for a long period of time.”

There are different categories of play that fall under BDSM, and each can be practiced on a sliding scale of intensity and are always up to individual discretion. On the less intense end of the scale could be a blindfold. The opposite end might be a mask, then what starts as handcuffs could progress to bondage. Helmsly and Mistress Lotus prefer to pick from their healthy selection of gas masks, straight jackets, bondage rope, leather whips and collection of other seductive props and toys.

The kink community has a tendency to (consensually) push the boundaries of BDSM practices. But how could it get more intense than bondage? Suspension

Mistress Lotus stands with shelves of toys.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

bondage is a thing, too.

In a feat of exhibitionism, individuals will practice specific bondage styles and masterful knots and then suspend themselves from a ceiling or another piece of hardware. There’s also longterm bondage, in which an individual stays bound for hours at a time; this can be a meditative practice that allows mindfulness and acceptance to flow. It’s also just downright sexy for some people. Helmsly says his personal record for long-term bondage is 14 hours, and that it’s a practice that can be satisfying in itself, and one that doesn’t have to be accompanied by any other act.

“For a lot of people it can be hard to understand that the cathartic release of just engaging in the kink that you want can be completely and wholly satisfying in and of itself,” he says. “A lot of people who do rope play or suspension, when they come down from a 30-minute scene, a lot of them are just wholly satisfied with having that experience. And while definitely it can have some erotic nature to it, that experience of doing the thing, engaging with it and being up in the air, that is the fulfillment.”

Mistress Lotus and Helmsly have been hosting by-weekly play parties –social gatherings that allow members to carry out their kink-related fantasies — in various places around Cincinnati for about a year. Locations of parties are kept confidential so that only people who are genuinely interested have access to the culture. Helmsly and Mistress Lotus say that some people have strong opposition to BDSM, mostly because they misunderstand the culture or find it taboo. To ensure a safe, sex positive space for all, it’s best to not make certain information like location available to the general public.

Their events were so well-attended and received that the pair decided to create a celebration of the culture in the form of one giant event. After meticulous planning and securing a location, the first-ever Grand Fetish Affair was born.

The Grand Fetish Affair

In April, the inaugural Grand Fetish affair attracted almost 700 attendees. The event, completely developed by Mistress Lotus and Helmsly, took place at an anonymous local hotel. With about 8,000 square feet of space for the BDSM convention, Helmsly and Mistress Lotus curated entertainment, vendors and classes for the hundreds of guests who came from 26 states and Canada, they say.

“We like to have big ideas,” Mistress Lotus tells CityBeat. “[The Grand Fetish Affair] was a continuation of what we do for the community, but on a larger scale. We’ve gone to conventions nationally and we were just like, what if we did that here?”

After two months of searching for

a hotel that would agree to host their event, the Grand Fetish Affair (GFA) landed its first official site for operation. There aren’t many local events on this scale that cater to BDSM or fetish life, so Mistress Lotus and Helmsly set out to satisfy that need.

“Cincinnati hadn’t had anything like this in a long time; it was over 10 years [since the last convention], is what I understand,” Helmsly says. “So being able to do something like this and bring a larger type of it to our community, and to bring the regional community together, it seemed like a good idea. And something to really help put Cincinnati a little bit more on the map as a location for people to come to for fetish-type events.”

The Affair hosted 23 presenters, which included professional dominatrixes, fetish models, photographers, content creators, exhibitionists, teachers and even a kink-friendly certified public accountant firm were among the presenters.

Snap and Run & Runs for Snap, who taught a class about consent at the GFA, are a local pair of bondage and rope instructors who lead monthly “rope jams” and offer a variety of classes. Through Snap and Run & Runs for Snap, GingerSnap and RunsforSnap explore self-suspension and rope play, which for them is both a physical and mental challenge and allows creative expression, according to the GFA website.

The convention held various attractions like the Explorers Lab, in which different stations were set up for

curious attendees to experience new kinks and explore fetishes. At the various stations, individuals could quickly learn if the fetish at hand was something of interest. Watching or participating in a category such as impact play (striking with hands or toys), guests could figure out if it was a fantasy they’d like to make reality.

Some of the more intense experiences that require complex props — like the vac bed — were provided by Helmsly and Mistress Lotus. And vendors like The Dungeon Store, Wealded Items and Blush Industries were also there selling everything from kinky jewelry and paddles to floggers (sexy whips), apparel and chainmail. If participants were exposed to a toy or prop they liked, they could go buy it on the spot.

“Kinky people are very much nerds — we’re very nerdy about what we do,” Helmsly says. “And we love our toys. And I can say all this because I’m very much one of those people. My approach to BDSM toys is like Pokemon: Gotta catch ‘em all.”

Fetish artists Visual Sanctity created an art gallery for visitors to enjoy at the convention. The Cincinnati couple creates works of art based on erotic scenes. Their black and white works reveal intimate moments that are taken from BDSM acts or fantasies.

One charcoal bichromate print depicts a person in fishnet stockings wearing a stiletto shoe like a strap-on. The caption of the artwork on Visual Sanctity’s Instagram reads, “Our art is at its best when we can check multiple fetish boxes in one image.”

The Grand Fetish Affair offered 30-plus instructional classes to attendees. The variety of classes ensured that anyone from a novice to a professional could come to the convention and learn or be entertained. Some of the topics included beginner knife play, how to turn a side hustle into a business, consent, safety, orgasm control, creating boundaries, decorative bondage and polyamory.

According to Mistress Lotus and Helmsly, the first-ever Grand Fetish Affair was a hit, and they are already working on next year’s convention.

“It was really cool to get feedback from our attendees who said it really didn’t feel like this was our first event,” Mistress Lotus says. “Everything went really smoothly. Everybody was socializing and the parties at night were completely packed. Every station was completely packed in a good way.”

Play parties

While the GFA was a first-time experience for Helmsly, Mistress Lotus and eventgoers, it was inspired by the duo’s bi-weekly “play parties,” which they have been hosting for more than a year.

A Mistress Lotus and Helmsly branded play party attracts regulars and newcomers alike. The duo curates the gatherings according to a few continuing themes. Whatever space the party is occupying is typically divided into different areas of play. “Scening,” is what kinkers call it when they make fantasy a reality by roleplaying or acting out a desired fetish. The scene could be made up of any amount of people — even just one.

CityBeat writer Katie Griffith in the vac bed with Mistress Lotus on her left side. PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

There’s a very strong voyeurism aspect to a play party, as BDSM participants are eager to see how others play.

“Every room has a bunch of different, what we call, stations. When we set up the dungeon, there will be eight or nine different stations where people could set up to do a scene. So what you’re going to see is five or six of those stations with people doing their scenes and a good number of people standing around watching and enjoying what’s going on. Then there’s other open spaces for anyone who wants to start a scene. They grab a partner or partners and go there and start doing whatever kinky fun they want.”

There’s always a neutral or social space available, where participants are able to socialize and “negotiate” a scene, Helmsly says. Upon negotiation, kinkers talk about their fantasies, boundaries and how to act them out together. They also might discuss where they want to be touched (or not), their spank limit, their desired amount of clothing and possible triggers to avoid. The participants might be lovers, partners, strangers or even platonic friends.

Regular play party participant Kashi says her first experience at a play party wasn’t as scary as she’d anticipated.

“The first thing I remember thinking after walking into my first play party was, ‘Wow, I thought it would be scarier.’ Most people have this idea that BDSM dungeons are dark and dangerous. The ones I’ve been to are full of laughter and joy. We’re really just a bunch of sexy nerds roleplaying. We engage in these activities because we enjoy them. We get off on them.”

But naturally, dungeons are scary. And that’s part of the kink. Helmsly and Mistress Lotus create spaces for the dungeon that are dimly lit and full of life-sized restraints. Whips and chains pale in comparison to the equipment set up for fetish play in a Helmsly and Mistress Lotus dungeon.

Cages and heavy duty chainswith handcuffs await willing kinkers between parties. A version of the vac bed, called a vac cube, is a kink special. The individual is suctioned into a cube and demeaned, punished, whipped or teased while their head is the only free part of their body. Helmsly says a play party sounds like a lot of human noises happening at once – grunts, moans, screams in harmony – while Mistress Lotus and Kashi add that those desperate sounds are typically followed by laughter.

“Sure you hear screams of pain, sometimes even crying, and lots of rage yelling,” Kashi tells CityBeat. “But oftentimes these sounds are in tandem with or followed by laughter and happy, satisfied noises, too.”

But every kinker is into something different. Maybe there’s a participant

who likes sensual, soft play. There’s a room for that, too. Really, any room can become a space that the scene calls for. If the rubber room — complete with handfuls of gas masks and whips — is occupied by a scene in which the participants want it to be sensual, they create that atmosphere themselves while employing toys as they wish.

To keep kinkers safe, every scene and room comes with at least one “PSM” or play space monitor. The PSM ensures that everyone is enjoying themselves in a safe and consensual way. They also guide kinkers if they find themselves curious about a toy or situation and need to learn the ropes. The PSMs wear large, neon necklaces so they can be easily identified and located.

“We have PSMs that are actively in the space and watching what’s happening. And they are wonderful eyes. And they’re there to also help people if people don’t know how to use a particular toy or something like that,” Helmsly explains. “As we say, they’re not just the police, they’re there to help everyone. But they’re also there specifically to watch over and make sure what is happening is happening in a safe, sane and consensual way.”

Contrary to the ironically innocent but suggestive name, every aspect of a play party isn’t rated X. Mistress Lotus says most play parties don’t allow intercourse, and there are other reasons people attend the parties, like socializing or just having a good time.

“When we say we have play parties, people automatically assume sex party,” Mistress Lotus tells CityBeat

“Actually most play parties don’t allow sex. One of the preconceived notions is that BDSM parties are always sexual endeavors, when really a lot of people have many different reasons for going, sometimes it’s meditative or healing trauma, others are in a sexual space, which is totally acceptable but it’s not everything.”

Kashi says a lot of the time, gratification comes from performing the kink itself and the release of endorphins, not an orgasm. And she likes to watch scenes just as much as she likes to create them. Sometimes, she watches in awe at acts she would never try. Other times, when she’s feeling less sexual, she likes to participate in “rough body” scenes, or intimate wrestling. Kashi says feeling connected to the other person(s) in the scene is key and even though she has multiple scene partners, she’s never had intercourse with any of them — even if the scene includes an orgasm.

“I’ve done forced orgasm bondage scenes where I’m tied down to a Sybian (a masturbation saddle) and forced to orgasm more times than I could keep track of,” Kashi tells CityBeat

Play parties attract all kinds of people, Helmsly says. The culture is diverse, welcoming and accepting. Participates range in age, Mistress Lotus says, with the older crowd lovingly referred to as the “old guard.”

“There’s a bunch of the most friendly, wonderful, normal people you’re ever going to meet coming to one of these events, and they all just enjoy this particular same thing together. It’s not a weird thing that happens in the dark

shadows in the corners of the world, this is just a normal thing,” Helmsly says. While a large portion of the kink lifestyle exists only online, Helmsly and Mistress Lotus have managed to create hands-on experiences for anyone willing. They rely on the Fetlife social network app, or the “Facebook of fetish and BDSM lifestyles,” to advertise and organize their events and classes. Fetlife is the online destination for kinky people to socialize, meet up, share content and find events near them.

“Kink events allow me to fully feel like myself. I walk around completely naked, I walk around in lingerie, I walk around wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket and big sweatshirt. All of these are me,” Kashi says. “I can come as anything I want to be and no one there will judge me for it. I bring to life all of these fantasies I’ve had for years and always carried so much shame over. And people accept those, too. It’s hard to not share this bond with others when the rest of the world tells you there’s something wrong with you and labels you negatively.”

Helmsly and Mistress Lotus have created space for BDSM and fetish folks to liberate their deepest desires. The GFA and play parties are proof that there’s a booming BDSM culture in Cincinnati where everyone gets what they want and no one gets hurt — unless they want to.

For more information about the Grand Fetish Affair, visit grandfetishaffair.com. To find a play party or instructional class, visit fetlife.com.

Mistress Lotus holds up a straitjacket used for play.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

ARTS & CULTURE

Bright Lights, Big City

How Cincinnati’s growing film industry has created more opportunities for local talent

BY LOGAN TURNER

Hollywood has found a foothold here in Cincinnati. History has shown that all the lights and cameras tend to be concentrated in the rolling hills of Los Angeles, a far cry away from the Midwest charm of Cincinnati. However, due in large part to government initiatives and the hard work of various individuals and organizations, producing Hollywood films in Cincinnati has become a regular occurrence in recent years.

Cincinnati and its surrounding suburbs have recently seen the likes of many famous faces, like actors Austin Butler and Mark Ruffalo, who have starred in various projects in the Cincinnati area. Even big-name filmmakers like M. Night Shyamalan and Yorgos Lanthimos have brought their films to Cincinnati. Major productions like this are likely to only increase as the state of Ohio aims to increase the tax credits awarded to film and television productions.

As great as this all sounds, how does this help the people of Cincinnati? For starters, this provides the local acting talent something to sink its teeth into. Moving to Los Angeles to realize their dreams of working on a major film is a stretch for many. With films moving productions into Cincinnati, the chances of getting a role as an extra or a

featured extra can become a reality for many.

CityBeat spoke with D. Lynn Meyers, Cincinnati’s most prominent casting director, about the work that she does with major film productions coming to Cincinnati, and how working as an extra fits into the filming process. As a casting director, it’s Meyers’ job to fill all the extra roles on a film set.

“My job is to find the actors to fill the roles that are needed to be filled and work with the director and producer at times to do so,” Meyers said. “It’s like finding the exact pieces to make the puzzle of a film complete. We have a file from people who have sent in pictures and their contact information, and we also post on D. Lynn Meyers Casting [Facebook page] when we are looking for special background players. I highly recommend doing this if anyone has an interest. We are always looking for new faces and it’s a great experience to be on set for a film.”

Meyers knows exactly what it’s like for local talent to work on set. While working on films like Wise Guys and Bones and All, Meyers filled the roles needed on set. Meyers spoke about how the demands on set can be high, but the rewards are special.

“It’s long hours and small pay,” Meyers said. “However, film makes you

extra was in Bones and All, and I was on set for six hours and the scene ended up being a one-second shot of the actress walking down the street.”

Despite the long set times, Varney says it was cool to see how much effort goes into every second of filming. It’s these experiences that benefit talent like Varney and others in the local acting community. The benefits of these films extend even beyond just the local actors and actresses.

Kristen Schlotman, current president of Film Cincinnati, knows exactly how these productions impact Greater Cincinnati as a whole. Film Cincinnati is a nonprofit who uses the Ohio film tax credits to bring productions into the city.

“It’s our job to attract, promote and cultivate productions in Cincinnati,” Schlotman said.

Schlotman was able to provide CityBeat with figures that demonstrate the economic impact these productions have on Cincinnati and the surrounding area. According to Schlotman and Film Cincinnati, between 2019 and 2022, feature films and television shows brought in a total economic impact of $258 million to the Cincinnati region. During that same period, an estimated 1,873 jobs were created from these film productions. This demonstrates not only the impact these opportunities create for local talent but also for the local economy as a whole.

immortal. If you are in a shot in 2024, that remains forever. Someone will see it ten days or ten years from now. You will also never watch a film in the same way; you will be aware of why background people are so essential to telling a story and you will understand that aside from red carpet glamor there is so much work to make a film.”

Alexia Varney, a local actress who recently worked as an extra for the New Line Cinema film Turtles All The Way Down, has worked on several local productions. Varney has also been cast through Meyers’ casting agency. When it comes to what an extra could expect on an actual set, Varney gave CityBeat her insight.

“It was a really positive experience,” Varney said. “We were very COVID safe and tested every day when we got to set. The crew was absolutely amazing. I have worked with multiple of the local hires on a few other films and they were super nice and always thank us for our time.” Varney also went into detail about the time commitment needed on set.

“Something that surprised me was how much time it takes to plan, light, set up and practice every take. Even the simple takes of a microsecond shot can take some serious time to set up and shoot. The first time I worked as an

Schlotman and her team essentially create these opportunities for the city. Film Cincinnati has worked with every major production to come through Cincinnati. Schlotman explained that without their effort the work in film within the city would be limited.

“If we don’t bring the work, people don’t have the work. We try to create these opportunities for those working in film.” Schlotman hopes her team can continue bringing in work using the Ohio tax credit, and looks forward to when that investment is increased. The Ohio tax credit is a refundable tax credit on production cast and crew wages, plus other eligible in-state spending. Essentially, any money spent by a film production in Ohio gets a tax credit for their expenses.

For those in Cincinnati looking to work on major film productions, you can start looking for work by joining the Southern Ohio Actors and Extras Facebook page. You can also contact D. Lynn Meyers at lynnmeyerscasting@gmail.com with a photo of yourself, as well as your contact information. This will put your information on file with Cincinnati’s premier casting director.

For more information about Greater Cincinnati’s film industry, visit filmcincinnati.com.

Film Cincinnati’s ‘70s-themed Backlot Fundraiser in October PHOTO: BRYAN HOUSTON

CULTURE

TCollege Hill Comic Shop Manga Manga to Host Anime Film Festival This Summer

BY KATIE GRIFFITH

he inaugural Cincinnati Anime Film Festival is coming this summer with a lineup of screenings for all ages that span two months. The festival lineup is set to be released during a launch party at Woodward Theater on June 3.

College Hill comic book shop Manga Manga is hosting the festival, which will be held at the Hollywood Drive-in Theatre with weekly screenings beginning July 11 and running through Aug. 8. At the launch party, Manga Manga will screen Ghost in the Shell (1995), directed by Mamoru Oshii. The film will be screened in Japanese with English subtitles. The Cincinnati Anime Festival (CAFF) shares Manga Manga’s mission of celebrating Asian culture and is eager to screen films that began as comics, according to a press release.

“Manga and anime go hand in hand. We are excited to expand the shop’s reach and present films to the community that celebrate the art of Japanese animation,” C. Jacqueline Wood, owner of Manga Manga and founder of CAFF said in the release. “Many anime films originated as comics, and we are

excited to present films that started out on the page. Movies bring people together, and the Cincinnati Anime Film Festival is just another exciting project in our mission to build community and celebrate Asian art and stories.”

Tickets for the launch screening are on sale now. The launch screening begins at 7 p.m. on June 3 at the Woodward Theater. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door; find them at cincyanimefilmfest.com. Individual festival tickets go on sale June 4 at noon and the

first festival screening will be July 11.

Follow the Cincinnati Anime Film Festival on Instagram @cincyanimefilmfest and @manga_cincinnati for up-to-date information.

Owner C. Jacqueline Wood in front of Manga Manga

PHOTO: SEAN M. PETERS

This Event Coming to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in 2025 Sounds Like a Tall Stacks Revival

BY KATHERINE BARRIER

Details of a big event celebrating Greater Cincinnati’s river culture and heritage were announced at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on May 1 — and Cincinnatians who were around in the era of Tall Stacks may find them particularly exciting.

America’s River Roots will be a celebration of inland river culture to kick off the U.S.’s 250th birthday, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Newport and Covington from Oct. 9-12, 2025. The Ohio River has played a vital role not just in Cincinnati’s history, but the history of the U.S. — from providing energy and industry to being a beacon of hope to those seeking freedom — and River Roots aims to showcase the multicultural art, history, music and cuisine that has come from the river connecting people to the region.

“America’s River Roots will focus attention on the Ohio River Valley region and its impact on the nation’s growth and shaping of our diverse cultures,” event co-chair Rick Greiwe said in a press release. “The event will deepen this awareness with roots music, river cuisine and cultural experiences along our world-class riverfront. Area residents will connect with our common roots and visitors will discover the heritage of America’s inland river culture.”

At the announcement on May 1, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said the city is an ideal location to celebrate

America’s river roots.

“We have a world-class riverfront parks system, second to none, designed for world-class national events. And with roots music on both sides of our river, riverboats going in and out and great, multicultural food throughout the venues, this could be something that everyone can enjoy and take pride in,” said Pureval. “River Roots has the potential to bring so many new eyes and dollars to our region’s beauty, our river heritage and the common roots that have made us so strong for so many generations.”

“When we talk about river roots, I think the word ‘roots’ is so important because there are roots. We’re not just coming up with this because we have a great birthday to celebrate, but because we’ve had a longstanding history here in bringing people together and celebrating on the Ohio River,” said Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece.

While more details will be announced in the future, organizers offered a preview of what will be hitting the Ohio River banks in 2025:

Music

Cincinnati native and Grammy Awardwinner Bryce Dessner of The National will curate nationally known artists in all of the roots genres of music. These performers will be featured on multiple stages throughout the riverfront, and The National will perform a special

tribute to roots music at the event.

Kathy Wade, a local jazz musician, regional Emmy Award-winner jazz performer and co-founder of Learning Through, is producing “Sounds of the River,” an interactive educational program that will trace the historical flow, cultural sounds and stories from along the Ohio River, from the first drumbeat in Africa to spirituals, gospel, blues and more.

Finally, a River Roots Gospel Revival, as well as educational programs, will spotlight the “Freedom Journey” and the Freedom Center. It will also help educate audiences about Ohio’s musical legacy, including King Records.

Food & drink

Cincinnati’s Paul Sturkey, the product and project development chef at Kroger, will lead the charge on food at River Roots. Organizers say he’s inviting celebrity chefs to craft cuisine of America’s river regions and recruiting small businesses, food trucks, restaurants and caterers to offer a variety of eats at the event.

On the beverage side, Amy Tobin & Company will be recruiting emerging distillers for bourbon tastings. Ohio brewmaster tastings and Cincinnati’s historic brewing tours in Over-theRhine will also be featured. And on the Purple People Bridge will be the Good & Rooted Local Market, featuring food and cultural artisans selling regionally made products.

Riverboats

And this is what Tall Stacks fans have been waiting for. For those who don’t remember or weren’t around for Tall Stacks, this was a special event held every three to four years in Cincinnati from 1988 to 2006 that celebrated the city’s riverboat history. It featured numerous riverboats that offered tours and cruises and even raced each other. There was also plenty of food and live music. And River Roots appears to be somewhat a revival of that special event, especially as Tall Stacks was also launched to celebrate a big birthday — Cincinnati’s 200th, in fact.

River Roots will bring in 12 riverboats to the region from other inland river cities, with B&B Riverboats Capt. Alan Bernstein coordinating the logistics and working on the theme for the riverboats to showcase the food and music of our region. There will also be a River Cities Expo Pavilion showing off cultural tourism attractions.

River Roots has also been endorsed as an official event of the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial or America 250-Ohio. Organizers are working with the U.S. America 250 Commission to secure designation as a national signature event.

America’s River Roots will be held Oct. 9-12, 2025. For more information and to stay updated on the details, visit americasriverroots.com.

Twelve riverboats will be brought to the Cincinnati area for the event PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/BBRIVERBOATS

EVENTS Out & About

DJ & Dance

Line Dancing Classes

Greater Cincinnati’s events calendar

Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m.; Shiners on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport

The Awakening - the Return of LOTUS

May 18, 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.; Bircus Brewing Company, 322 Elm St., Ludlow

Big Bubble Rave (18+)

May 24, 9 p.m.; Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville

Cincy Silent Disco Pajama Party

May 25, 8:30 p.m.; Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington

MORTAR’s ‘10 for 10’ Happy Hour & Birthday Party

May 15, 6-8 p.m.; Esoteric Brewing, 918 East McMillan St., Walnut Hills

Oculta Latin Dance Event

May 18, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.; Farm Haven, 10259 Tadpole Ln, Union

OMNIAFRICA: Cincinnati’s Africa Day Celebration

May 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown PANGEAUX DE MAYO - Pangeaux w/John Carlo$, Ival L, Grandace, Levi Bloom, DJ EZ, Gately Friday

May 24, 8 p.m.; Madison Live!, 734 Madison Ave., Covington Summer Escape

May 25, 4-8 p.m.; The Righteous Room, 641 Walnut St., Downtown

Karaoke

“Shine On Karaoke”

Thursdays, 9 p.m.-midnight; Shiners on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport Karaoke at Urban Artifact

Thursdays, 7-10 p.m.; Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock St., Northside Karaoke Night at the Other Side of Paddy’s On Main

Thursdays, 8:30 p.m.-3 a.m.; Paddy’s On Main, 520 Main St., Covington Karaoke with Rae Renee

Tuesdays, 6-11 p.m.; Voodoo Brewing Cincy, 120 Eighth St. E., Downtown Kick Out The Jams Karaoke w/ Rob Weil

Thursdays, 8 p.m.-1 a.m.; The Taproom On Ludlow, 360 Ludlow Ave., Clifton

MoPoetry Phillips Presents: Hit the Mic Cincy’s Open Mic

May 18, 8-11 p.m.; The Oasis at Grace, 5501 Hamilton Avenue, College Hill

MOTR Pub Monday Karaoke + Industry Night

Mondays, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

Festivals

Kids Soft Play Event

May 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Epic Event Gallery, 811 Race Street, Over-the-Rhine

Ali Siddiq: I Got A Story To Tell May 18, 7 p.m.; Taft Theatre, 317 East 5th St., Downtown

Comedy

Brad Sativa | Comedy @ The Comet

May 18, 7-11 p.m.; Bombs Away! Comedy Club, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside

Clue (Touring)

May 16, 7:30 p.m.; May 17, 8 p.m., May 18, 2 p.m. and May 19, 1 p.m.; Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown

Comedy @ Commonwealth Presents: BRIAN BAHE

May 17, 7-8:30 p.m.; 522 5th Ave., Dayton

Comedy @ Commonwealth Presents: EMILY CATALANO

May 18, 7-8:30 p.m.; Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 5th Ave., Dayton

Comedy @ Commonwealth Presents: GARRETT TITLEBAUM’S THE GREATEST COMEDIAN

May 17, 9:30 p.m.; Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 5th Ave., Dayton

Comedy @ Commonwealth Presents: MONSTER MONSTER: Comedians Playing D and D

May 24, 9:30-11 p.m.; 522 5th Ave., Dayton

Dave Ross | Comedy @ The Comet

May 17, 7-9 p.m.; Bombs Away!

Comedy Club, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside

Dead Low Summer Comedy Series

May 16, 8-9:30 p.m.; Dead Low Brewing, 5959 Kellogg Ave., California

DeAnne Smith | Comedy at The Comet

May 25, 7-11 p.m.; Bombs Away!

Comedy Club, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show

May 18, 6-9 p.m.; Embassy Suites Cincinnati Rivercenter, 10 E. Rivercenter Blvd., Covington Stand-Up Comedy

May 18, 7-8 p.m.; Darkness Brewing, 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue

Museums

Family Day: Signs of Summer

May 18, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington

From Shanghai to Ohio: Woo Chong

Yung (1898–1989)

Tuesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Eden Park

Private Collection of Antique Vehicles for a Great Cause Fridays, Saturdays; The Car Barn, 21 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger Whitfield Lovell: Passages Through May 26, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Eden Park

Performance

AfroSwag Hair and Fashion Show

May 25, 6-11 p.m.; Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown Comedy @ Commonwealth Presents: DEREK SHEEN

May 16, 7-8:30 p.m.; 522 5th Ave., Dayton

Dominatrix Bingo

Third Thursday of every month, 7-10 p.m.; Alice, 1432 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

The Greenwich Presents: Wednesday Night Open Mic Wednesdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.; The Greenwich, 2442 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills

May Festival: Anthems

May 18, 7:30 p.m.; Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine May Festival: Her Story May 25, 7:30 p.m.; Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine May Festival: Voices of the Earth May 23, 7:30 p.m.; Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Music Hall Indoor Tours

Thursdays 1-2:30 & 3-4:30 p.m., Fridays 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Shape Up With Belly Dance Mondays, 6:45-7:45 p.m.; University of Cincinnati - Victory Parkway Campus, 2220 Victory Pkwy., Mount Adams

The Play That Goes Wrong

May 22, 7:30 p.m., May 23, 7:30 p.m., May 24, 7:30 p.m. and May 25, 7:30 p.m.; Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine

Theater

The Ghostlight Stage Company Presents: “Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood” by Ken Ludwig May 17, 7-9 p.m., May 18, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. and May 19, 2-4 p.m.; Keehner Park Amphitheatre, 7246 Barret Road, West Chester

The Murder Mystery Company Presents: “Death of a Gangster”

May 18, 6:30-9 p.m.; The Old Spaghetti Factory, 6320 South Gilmore Road, Fairfield

Sex N’ The City: A (Unauthorized) Musical Parody

May 19, 2 p.m.; Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown

Visual Art

African Modernism in America Through May 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown Art Night

Fourth Thursday of every month, 5-7 p.m.; Roebling Books & Coffee Newport, 601 Overton St., Newport Artisan Fair

May 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; ArtsConnect, 9158 Winton Road, Winton Woods

A Breath of Fresh Air: Nature Inspires Rarely Seen Works from the Taft Collection Through May 19; Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown Comics and Illustration Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m.; University of Cincinnati - Victory Parkway Campus, 2220 Victory Pkwy., Mount Adams Crafty Supermarket Spring Show

May 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Create & Play | Musical Moments May 15,10:15-11 a.m.; Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown Cross Currents: An Exhibition of Artwork by Stewart Goldman Ongoing, 5-8 p.m.; Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine Delicate Ecologies, Painting Selections From: Kelley Booze, Katherine Colborn, Samantha Haring Tuesdays-Saturdays, 6-9 p.m.; Indian Hill Gallery, 9475 Loveland Madeira Road, Indian Hill Hearts of Liberation: A Celebration of Radical Black Love as Collective Care

Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6546 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge Lead Panel Class

May 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; University of Cincinnati - Victory Parkway Campus, 2220 Victory Pkwy., Mount Adams A New World: Ohio Women to Watch 2023

Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sundays, 12-5 p.m.; Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown Paint and Sip in Cincinnati - “Campfire”

May 28, 7-9 p.m.; Cartridge Brewing,

1411 Grandin Road, Maineville

Paint and Sip in Cincinnati - “Santorini, Greece”

May 26, 1-3 p.m.; Nine Giant Fermentorium, 6111 Ridge Ave., Pleasant Ridge

Paint and Sip in Downtown Cincinnati - “Dazed Daisy”

May 15, 7-9 p.m.; Voodoo Brewing Cincy, 120 Eighth St. E., Downtown Paint and Sip in OTR Cincinnati - “Wildflowers”

May 25, 1-3 p.m.; Queen City Radio, 222 W 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Paint and Sip in OTR - “Enchanted Forest”

May 16, 7-9 p.m.; Rhinegeist Brewery, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Saturdays on Planet Love

Saturdays, 10 a.m.; The Well, 2868 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington Summer Art Camp

Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown

Literary

Open Mic

Third Thursday of every month, 6-8 p.m.; Roebling Books & Coffee Newport, 601 Overton St., Newport Peripatetic Poetry

Fourth Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m.; Muse Café, 3018 Harrison Ave., Westwood

See the Story Book Club: We Are Not Yet Equal by Carol Anderson

May 18, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Eden Park

Attractions

Free Findlay Market Tour

May 25, 10 a.m.; Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Mermaids at Newport Aquarium

May 25, 9 a.m., May 26, 9 a.m. and May 27, 9 a.m.; Newport Aquarium, 1 Levee Way, Newport Wheel Of Fortune Live!

May 22, 7:30 p.m.; Taft Theatre, 317 East 5th St., Downtown

White Water Shaker Village Open House

May 26, 2-5 p.m.; White Water Shaker Village, 11813 Oxford Road, Harrison

Food & Drink

“Wing Night” Mondays Mondays, 4-10 p.m.; Shiners on the Levee, 1 Levee Wy., Newport $3 Martini Happy Hour at BrewRiver Creole Kitchen

Wednesdays-Sundays, 4-6 p.m.; BrewRiver Creole Kitchen, 4632 Eastern Ave., Mount Lookout

Brunch at Catch-a-Fire Pizza in Blue Ash

Saturdays, Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Catch-a-Fire Pizza - Blue Ash, 9290 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash

A Date with Jane featuring Molly Wellmann

May 16, noon; Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Hyde Park Farmers’ Market

Sundays, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Hyde Park Square, 2700 Erie Ave., Hyde Park

I Dos & Brews: A Craft Wedding Experience by Rhinegeist Brewery

May 18, midnight-3 p.m.; Rhinegeist Brewery, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine

Jamba Thursdays at BrewRiver Creole Kitchen

Thursdays, 4-9 p.m.; BrewRiver Creole Kitchen, 4632 Eastern Ave., Mount Lookout

Kolsch Night

Third Tuesday of every month; Northern Row Brewery and Distillery, 111 W. McMicken, Over-the-Rhine

Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom

Barrel Aged Tasting and Taproom Tour

May 25, 1-2:30 p.m.; Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom, 1727 Logan St., Over-the-Rhine

Test Batch Thursdays

Thursdays; Northwood Cider Company, 2075 Mills Ave., Norwood

Thursday Game Night

Thursdays, 8 p.m.-midnight; The Orbit Room, 1833 Vine St., Downtown

Trivia Tuesdays at Catch-a-Fire Pizza in Lebanon

Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Catch-aFire Pizza - Lebanon, 11 N. Broadway St., Lebanon

Trivia Tuesdays at Catch-a-Fire

Pizza - Blue Ash

Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Catch-aFire Pizza - Blue Ash, 9290 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash

Weekend Brunch at Catch-a-Fire Pizza - Oakley

Saturdays, Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Catch-a-Fire Pizza - Oakley, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley

Wine Down Wednesdays at Catch-aFire Pizza - Blue Ash

Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Catch-aFire Pizza - Blue Ash, 9290 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash

Wine Tasting

Fourth Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m.; Marty’s Hops & Vines, 6110 Hamilton Ave., Northside

Community CLASSES

Bright Blooms Sugar Cookie Decorating Class

May 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Northwood Cider Company, 2075 Mills Ave., Norwood

Free Community Yoga Saturdays, 11-11:45 a.m.; Burnet Woods Bandstand, 3298 Clifton Ave., Burnet Woods

Mandolin for Beginners

Wednesdays; University of Cincinnati - Victory Parkway Campus, 2220 Victory Pkwy., Mount Adams Photo Workout

Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; University of Cincinnati - Victory Parkway Campus, 2220 Victory Pkwy., Mount Adams Puppy Prep School: “Walk This Way”

May 25, 10-11:30 a.m.; Heart of Northside, 4222 Hamilton Ave., Northside Puppy Prep School: Puppy

Elementary

May 18, 10-11:30 a.m.; Heart of Northside, 4222 Hamilton Ave., Northside Swing Dance and USO Show to Honor Veterans

May 25, 6-10 p.m.; Moonlight Pavilion, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Sycamore Township

Taste of Cincy Cocktail Class

May 22, 6:30 p.m.; Fifty Fifty Gin Club, 35 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine

GET INVOLVED

Bird Banding with Adam McCosham

May 18, 8-10 a.m.; Kirby Nature Center, 2 East Main St., Addyston Bird Walk with Kathi Hutton

May 26, 8-11 a.m.; Kirby Nature Center, 2 East Main St., Addyston Calvary Chapel Cincinnati of OTR Tuesdays, 7-8 p.m.; Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati Walks for Kids

May 18, 9 a.m.-noon; Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown Community Great Outdoors Swap

May 19, 3-5 p.m.; Fibonacci Brewing Company, 1445 Compton Road, College Hill

COVID, Flu, RSV, and Strep Testing every Thursday and Friday at the Sharonville Branch Library Thursdays, Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sharonville Branch Library, 10980 Thornview Dr., Sharonville Fierce Ladies Monthly Meetup –Connector Crawl

May 18, 12-5 p.m.; Over-the-Rhine Get Golf Ready

Thursdays, 7:15 p.m.; Sharon Centre @ Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville

Health and Wellness Fair

May 18, 1-5 p.m.; Peace Baptist Church, 652 Rockdale Ave., Over-the-Rhine Heritage Preserved Tour of Historic WWII Aircraft Coming to Lunken Airport

May 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and May 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Cincinnati Municipal Airport - Lunken Field, 262 Wilmer Ave., Liberty Township

Night to Remember

May 16, 6:30-9 p.m.; Drees Pavilion, 790 Park Lane, Covington Oakley Celebration Of Community Cleanup

May 18, 9-11 a.m.; Oakley Recreation Center, 3882 Paxton Ave., Oakley Par-Tee For Hope 2024

May 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Topgolf, 9568 Water Front Dr., West Chester Township

Tai Chi for Beginners

Thursdays, 7-8 p.m.; University of Cincinnati - Victory Parkway Campus, 2220 Victory Pkwy., Mount Adams Views & Brews

May 17, 6-10 p.m.; Jacob G Schmidlapp Event Lawn & Stage, 124 E. Mehring Way, Queensgate

Lectures

Happy Hour History Speaker Series: Current Research at ARI

May 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Lawrenceburg Public Library Main Branch, 150 Mary St., Lawrenceburg

Sports

Outdoors

Cornhole Tournament @ Urban Artifact

May 18, 1-5 p.m.; Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock St., Northside Family Campout

May 18, 6 p.m.; Imago, 700 Enright Ave., Price Hill

FC Cincinnati vs. Atlanta United FC May 15, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.; TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Pkwy., West End

FC Cincinnati vs. St. Louis City SC May 18, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.; TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Pkwy., West End

Sports & Fitness

Barre & Brews at Dead Low Brewing May 18, 11 a.m.-noon; Dead Low Brewing, 5959 Kellogg Ave., California Black-n-Bluegrass Roller Derby Bout May 18, 7-9 p.m.; Hits Indoor Baseball and Sportsplex, 3785 Lake Park Dr., Covington

TNA Wrestling Presents iMPACT! May 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. and May 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; MegaCorp Pavilion, 101 W. 4th St., Newport

FOOD & DRINK

Court Street Convenience

Daruma provides a niche Japanese market experience in Downtown

BY LOGAN TURNER

Cincinnati is always diversifying its palette when it comes to restaurant options. With the recent success of the Asian Food Festival and new spots opening that feature menu items from around the world, it’s apparent that there is a desire for a more inclusive food scene. Despite this, access to food and grocery items from other countries remains limited. Daruma, a newly opened Japanese convenience store, is looking to change that.

Daruma models itself after convenience stores found throughout Japan. Blending together both convenience and quality food items, the store sells Japanese sodas, snacks and lunch items like onigiri and poke bowls. All these items and more can be grabbed, self–scanned and paid for in seconds. The unique blend of quick service and Japanese food makes for a great destination in downtown Cincinnati.

Hideki Harada, who owns Kiki and Sen by Kiki, is the brains behind Daruma, which opened in February.

“We’re filling the void with the convenience factor with things like the grab-and-go items and just having an Asian market in downtown,” Harada tells CityBeat Harada also explained how his storefront differs from others currently operating out of Downtown. “Our options are on the healthier side of things. It’s just a grab-and-go with the

rice balls and sushi rolls, so it’s just a lighter option compared to what else is around Court Street.”

As someone who’s always moving, quick and convenient food options are a staple. It’s also a staple for those living and working in the busy downtown area. There may be plenty of quick bite options around Cincinnati, but the added health benefits of fresh ingredients and simple food sets Daruma apart from the rest. The takeaway items are all prepared by hand in the kitchen attached to the storefront, so freshness is guaranteed.

If you’re not in the mood for fresh sushi or poke, Daruma also offers plenty of sweet and savory treats, like candy and chips, normally found in Japan. The store also features a hot noodle station where guests can select their favorite cup of ramen in the store and prepare it there. Need something to wash all these delicious snacks down with? Daruma also sells Japanese juices, sodas and alcoholic beverages.

With so much to choose from, how can one possibly decide which items to indulge in? Do you go for exotic snacks or fresh food items? Harada shares the more popular selections in the store with CityBeat

“The most popular items are the rice balls. We do sell a lot of Japanese snacks. Seems like a lot of office workers around here tend to grab snacks to just eat at the office to enjoy on their

breaks. We also sell a lot of the Japanese drinks.”

Harada hopes the warmer weather will bring in even more patrons.

“We opened at the end of February,” Harada says. “Things have been good. We’ve been seeing an increase in traffic after the weather breaked [sic]. It’s nicer out. We had some snow days, some rainy days. It’s definitely weatherrelated in this neighborhood.”

With things off to a good start for Daruma, it continues the trail of success Harada has paved in Cincinnati. Harada is also the owner of two other local establishments — Kiki in College Hill and Sen by Kiki inside Findlay Market. Kiki is a full-service restaurant that emphasizes Japanese street food and ramen. Sen by Kiki is a fish market that focuses on sourcing fresh and sushigrade seafood. Sen also offers oyster service for those looking to enjoy fast and fresh seafood in Findlay Market.

With so many different business ventures you’d think each would come with its own set of challenges. However, Harada seems confident in Daruma and believes that the store’s uniqueness will carry it to success. When asked if he’s faced any new challenges with the convenience store, Harada told CityBeat, “No, I think if anything I filled a gap. I filled a spot in downtown for the dwellers that live here that don’t really have a place to buy staples for if they want to do any Japanese food at home.”

This brings attention to some of Daruma’s more interesting items. Aside from just snacks and ready-to-go food, the store also offers a variety of Japanese ingredients like store-branded rice and different specialty sauces. These items, which might be a little less obtainable to those living in the downtown area, can be used to prepare Japanese-style dishes at home. Harada hopes Daruma and his fish market inspire more people to try Japanese home cooking.

It’s no wonder Daruma is already creating a name for itself. Not only does the store offer a unique selection of items, it also offers a unique experience. The store is wall-to-wall organized with Japanese products. Starting with the Japanese snacks as soon as you walk in, you can take your pick of pantry items until you reach the fridges. There, you will find the prepped lunch items like sushi and rice balls. Then you will circle to the Japanese drink selection, which will carry you to the ingredients and self-checkout space. Between the self-scanning and tiny layout, the whole process feels extremely streamlined.

“For the people that are thinking about coming down, don’t expect a full-blown convenience store. It’s very small, quaint. Really, we just want to be there for the people living downtown, working downtown. We have really great food that’s grab-and-go. We’re just a cute convenience store.”

If you’re interested in checking out Daruma, the storefront is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Daruma, 31 E. Court St., Downtown. Info: instagram.com/darumacincy.

Owner Hideki Harada at Daruma PHOTO: PROVIDED BY 3CDC

SEATS

31 Restaurants in or Near Downtown Cincinnati to Spend Your Lunch Hour

BY CITYBEAT STAFF

ure the workday can be a drag, and maybe your boss sucks, but if you work in or near downtown Cincinnati, there’s always the promise of a delicious lunch to give you hope. There are so many good lunch options in the city or neighboring communities, it can be hard to pick. And while this is by no means a complete list (there really are way too many good lunch options in Cincinnati), CityBeat has curated for you a selection of some diverse and solid options for when the inbox gets too full and the hanger begins to kick in.

From classic delis with mouthwatering sandwiches to inventive street eats and taquerias that bring the flavor, here are some essential restaurants in or near downtown Cincinnati where you can spend a delightful lunch hour.

Silverglades

118 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine; 236 E. Eighth St., Downtown

What better place to stop in for lunch than Cincinnati’s oldest family-owned deli? This downtown deli has been serving hungry lunch-goers since 1922. The chicken salad is a must-try and it comes in three varieties: walnut-grape, smoked and Buffalo-style. Silverglades also offers a long list of gourmet sandwiches, including paninis and wraps, and a menu of pizzas and salads, both of which have a create-your-own option. You can also stop in for a bottle of wine or some snacks for later.

The Rhined

1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine

The Rhined is really about the cheese — well, the cheese and wine — but it’s also a good place to throw in your lunch rotation. The Rhined is great for graband-go (there are 50ish artisan cheeses to choose from) but it also does have some seating, including the indoor bar and outdoor patio. Guests can choose from assorted cheese board options or from a variety of snacks, including a sandwich menu.

Allez Bakery

1208 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

Allez Bakery may be best known for its nationally praised artisanal bread and pastries, but it also crafts spectacular sandwiches. Whether you’re looking for something meaty or veggie-heavy, you’ll find good options when you step up to the counter. A particular favorite is the decadent meatball sandwich, which is only available on Fridays. It features fluffy ciabatta bread loaded with red sauce, pesto, provolone and

some gratuitous meatballs. Stock up on napkins for this saucy stack.

Kanji

1739 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine

Kanji focuses on sushi and Korean cuisine inspired by local restaurateur Inho Cha’s desire to offer Cincinnati a glimpse into the culture and flavors of his home country, South Korea. The menu features some familiar rolls from Drunken Bento — another of Cha’s restaurants — including the Big Baller, Sunday Morning and Zen Garden. In addition to sushi and nigiri, the menu boasts familiar Korean dishes like dolsot bibimbap — Cha’s favorite dish — served in a hot stone bowl with crispy rice, vegetables, choice of protein and a sunny-side-up egg, as well as chicken, pork or fish katsu; bulgogi; and tempura udon.

Pata Roja Taqueria

52 E. Court St., Downtown

Pata Roja Taqueria got its start in 2019 as a food truck that could typically be found behind Bar Saeso in Pendleton. From there it grew in popularity, becoming known for its authentic street tacos and Mexican dishes. With this success, owner Derrick Braziel decided to put down roots in downtown Cincinnati, opening Pata Roja in its new brickand-mortar spot in Court Street Plaza. Pata Roja’s new space is modeled after the iconic taquerias of Mexico City, with colorful tiles and a central focus of the trompo, a meat rotisserie that’s front and center in the kitchen, which is used

to roast pork for the authentic tacos al pastor. On the menu, guests will find a variety of street tacos, including the al pastor and the popular campechano, which combines several meats into one taco, as well as frozen margaritas and fresh salsas.

Flatiron Cafe

1833 Sycamore St., Mt. Auburn

Flatiron Cafe is an adorable coffee and wine bar located just up the hill in Mt. Auburn. The cafe is located in a historic flatiron-style building and offers a

menu of coffee, including seasonal drinks; tea; sandwiches and pizza for lunch. If it’s a nice day, be sure to grab a seat on the outdoor patio.

Fortune Noodle House

349 Calhoun St., CUF

You know your noodles are made with love when a restaurant dedicates an entire employee just to their production, but here’s the thing: Everything else at Fortune Noodle House is delicious, too. Inspired by classic Chinese noodle houses, Fortune serves a La

Goose & Elder is chef Jose Salazar’s comfort food restaurant

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Get a delicious bowl of pho at Pho Lang Thang

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Mian-style of handmade noodles, a practice that dates back to the 1500s. The noodles are hand-pulled and stretched out into strands, then paired with everything from vegetables to squid and minced pork to lamb.

Harmony Plant Fare

1801 Race St., Unit 105, Over-the-Rhine

This New York City-inspired vegan deli offers a variety of cold cuts, salads, dips, housemade seitan and vegan cheese (that melts!), plus sandwiches and vegan pantry essentials. The addictive

Italian sandwich is full of housemade seitan ham and pepperoni.

Krishna Indian Restaurant & Carryout

313 Calhoun St., CUF

Krishna Indian Restaurant is the Clifton area’s best-kept secret. The tiny restaurant offers both carryout and dine-in, with about a handful of booths to choose from. It dishes out plates such as saag paneer, a vegetarian spinach dish filled with onions, spices and a hint of cream, and chicken tikka

masala, tandoori chicken in a creamy tomato sauce. Be careful: The food can get spicy with the spice scale ranging from 1-7.

Fesslers Legendary Pizza and Hoagies

343 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue Originally named Pasquale’s, this affordable and tasty pizza joint is family-owned and -operated, bringing in steadfast customers since 1963. They’re known best for their fast service

— perfect for those lunch rushes — thick crust and legendary hoagies.

Lalo

26 W. Court St., Downtown Lalo refers to itself as “Chino Latino” cuisine because Asia has a lot of Spanish and Latin influences. The menu is divided into a delicious, eclectic mix of those influences, with dishes ranging from tacos, burritos and mofongo to noodles and the fusion of Cubano Bahn-Mi and the Mexi Bibimbap.

16 Lots Southern Outpost

1 Levee Way, Newport

Stop by this nautical-themed brewery if you’re looking for a relaxing lunch with a riverfront view. 16 Lots Brewing Company in Mason opened its Southern Outpost in the spring of 2023, where it serves up craft beer, cocktails, adult slushies and pub food like sliders, burgers and tenders. Service is fast an easy with its QR code menu and ordering system, leaving you more time to enjoy the view and your lunch.

Pho Lang Thang

1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Pho Lang Thang is a Vietnamese spot that serves up delicious bowls of pho and banh mi for lunch and dinner. The restaurant also features an upbeat vibe where customers can feel free to slurp loudly.

Milkman

1106 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Milkman serves up nostalgic vibes

Lalo offers an eclectic mix of Asian food with Latin influence

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Fortune Noodle House has a dedicated employee to make their homemade noodles

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Eat an Hawaiian lunch at Onolicious

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

along with its unique take on diner food with smash burgers; fried chicken sandwiches that range from the classic to a spicy version, as well as “not a burger” options like hot dogs, salads and Italian beef sandwiches. There are also options for non-meat eaters, including tofu nugs, plus the meat for any of the chicken sandwiches can be switched out for fried tofu. You also can’t leave without trying one of their milkshakes. (Go for one of the boozy ones; we won’t tell your boss).

The Arepa Place

131 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine

This Findlay Market storefront space offers up a menu of South American staples for lunch, including authentic Colombian eats like the stuffed arepas — a pocket-like food made from a corn dough and filling — being the main star of the menu. Fillings range from a classic chicken and cheese combo to a vegetarian one stuffed with black beans, fried plantains and cheese and even a build-your-own option. You can also opt for the empanadas and a host of sides, like plantain chips with guacamole or salsa and fried sweet plantains.

Taqueria San Miguel

812 Madison Ave., Covington San Miguel Taqueria is quiet and unassuming on the outside — that’s how you know it’s gonna be good. The menu packs a punch of authentic Mexican flavor, with classic tacos that come with your choice of meat on a corn tortilla, with onions and cilantro piled high. (Try the al pastor; you’ll thank us). There’s also a good selection of sopes, burritos and tortas, or try a plate, served with your choice of protein and a Mexican salad (tomato,

onion, avocado, rice and beans).

Goodfellas

1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 603 Main St., Covington

Goodfellas Pizzeria features New York-style pizza by the slice in a 1920s-inspired setting. The quick-moving line makes it an ideal stop when you’re in a hurry to get to the good part of your lunch break. Alongside their giant slices and pies, other menu items include calzones, salads and their signature meatball sub. For an extra dose of carbs, grab a breadstick the size of your arm, plus a side of their housemade ranch dressing.

Riverside Korean

512 Madison Ave., Covington

Come to Riverside Korean for lunch if you’re looking for award-winning Korean food made in a family-owned establishment. The owners have curated the menu with dishes that have passed their authenticity taste test, including their traditional, ricebased, steaming-hot dolsot bibimbap, which features mixed vegetables, a sunny-side-up egg and your choice of beef, chicken or tofu. All entrées are served with a delightful selection of traditional side dishes called ban chan.

Saigon Subs and Rolls

151 W. Fourth St., Downtown Walk into Saigon Subs & Rolls and you’ll likely be hit with the smell of fresh cilantro. The refreshingly minimal Vietnamese eatery is an underrated and often overlooked lunch destination that serves spring rolls, rice plates, vermicelli noodle bowls and pho, but its banh mi are true works of art: Between slices of baguette smeared in creamy homemade butter

sit pickled carrots, daikon and your choice of beef or chicken. It’s also got some of the best tofu in town.

Mazunte Centro

611 Main St., Downtown

Mazunte has been long-hailed as a “hidden gem,” offering a mix of casual order-at-the-counter dining with authentic, high-quality Mexican cuisine. The tacos are a solid go-to option, but don’t sleep on the memalitas (thin masa cakes that have been grilled and can be topped with chicken, chorizo, pork or vegetables) or the pozole (a traditional Mexican soup). It’s also a cheap lunch stop, with an authentic Mexico feel, all the way down to the cinder blocks and milk crates for furniture.

Hello Honey

725 Race St., Downtown

For when you just want to spend your lunch break enjoying a sweet treat, stop by Hello Honey. Opened by husband and wife team Brian and Pook Nicely, Hello Honey crafts homemade ice creams using fresh ingredients, free from artificial flavor and color. They offer creative flavors like the charcoal sesame or the banana honeycomb. Opt for a freshly-made waffle cone and a house-made toasted marshmallow.

Onolicious

1005 Walnut St., Downtown

Onolicious’ authentic Hawaiian BBQ is made with organic and locally sourced ingredients, and their mission is to evolve Hawaiian cuisine Malama

Grab a spectacular sandwich at Allez Bakery

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Fesslers Legendary Pizza and Hoagies serves up a speedy and delicious lunch

PHOTO: LIZ DAVIS

Mazunte Centro is a hidden gem restaurant with authentic Mexican cuisine

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

honua-style, which means to do so by taking care of the Ear th. Its menu features plate lunches like Loco Moco — a popular Hawaiian dish made with rice, burger and a fried egg — burgers and sandwiches, pupus (appetizers) and desserts.

Bee’s BBQ

1403 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine

Bee’s believes good barbecue takes time and that smoking meat is an art – one they practice every day with patience and passion, using highquality and locally sourced ingredients – even the wood they use is locally sourced. What results from that patience and dedication is a menu filled with tender, fresh barbecue you can buy by the half-pound or pound,

on a sandwich. Sandwiches are served on amoroso rolls and pair well with Bee’s sides, like the creamy mac & cheese, coleslaw or honey cornbread. If you have any room left for dessert (or if you just want to power through), you won’t want to miss Bee’s Bourbon Peach Cobbler, crafted with bourbonand brown sugar-laced peaches with a sugar crumble crust, or proprietor Bee’s personal favorite: the banana pudding – made with fluffy layers of fresh bananas, whipped cream and vanilla wafer cookies.

Poke Hut

1509 Race St., Over-the-Rhine

Poke Hut offers fast-casual Asian fusion cuisine. Try a signature poke bowl, of which you can choose a base

Goose & Elder

1800 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Goose & Elder is local chef and restaurateur Jose Salazar’s comfort food eatery. The restaurant is described as “mid-century grandma,” sourcing colors and patterns that evoke a sense of the ‘70s and ‘80s. The restaurant offers a menu of American comfort food ranging from traditional dishes to new takes on classics. Goose & Elder is also now open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day for brunch and lunch. Try a stack of the Speckled Goosecakes (two chocolate chip pancakes with bananas and peanut butter buttercream) or the breakfast sandwich, featuring two eggs, American cheese and maple and chipotle mayo on ciabatta.

O’Malley’s in the Alley

of sushi rice, brown rice, zucchini noodles, lo mein noodles or lettuce, or opt to build your own. The menu also features hibachi items and stir fry with udon noodles. Poke Hut also doubles as a bubble tea shop, so you can grab something sweet for your walk back to the office.

Raya Lebanese Restaurant

801 Elm St., Downtown

Raya Lebanese offers delicious and authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in a relaxed and welcoming setting, perfect for when you just want to decompress and enjoy a good meal before heading back to the office. This spot’s shawarma is incredibly flavorful, hitting on all the desirable trademarks of the sandwich. It’s a little more compact than usual, leaving you with plenty of room to enjoy some lentil soup, a Greek salad and, for dessert, some baklava.

Lucky Dog OTR

1210 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

Lucky Dog founders Ryan Reynolds (no, not that one) and Ray Gammouh say their eatery is a culmination of over 20 years of restaurant experience. Not only does Lucky Dog offer classic hot dogs, but also a Cincinnati favorite: chili. Using hot dogs from Queen City Sausage, chili fans can opt for coneys, chili metts, chili cheese sandwiches or even a coney crate. They also serve their signature chili up to a 5-Way and also offer a salad with shredded cheddar cheese, Fritos, tomatoes, sour cream and chipotle ranch. And if you’re so impressed by your lunch that you want to come back later after a few drinks, Lucky Dog is also a late-nighteat destination, open Fridays and Saturdays until 3 a.m.

25 W Ogden Place, Downtown O’Malleys in the Alley is a straightforward imbibing experience with homemade dishes that have stood the test of time, like the beer-battered fish sandwich, fish and chips or wings. Accessible via the shaded alleyway on Ogden Place, the bar offers drink specials and its proximity to Great American Ball Park makes it a must-stop lunch spot before an afternoon Reds game.

The Gruff

129 E. Second St., Covington

Located near the riverfront in Covington, you can get pretty much anything you want at The Gruff — from brickoven pizza to pints of ice cream to local bourbon, craft beer and wine in its attached bottle shop. The Gruff offers a full bar and eat-in restaurant that serves up dishes like a fried chicken sandwich on a brioche bun and smoked brisket pizza.

Dixie Chili

733 Monmouth St., Newport

Founded in 1929 by “Papa Nick,” Dixie Chili has classic, secret-ingredient Cincinnati-style chili with cheese and onions on spaghetti. Traditionally, Dixie’s offerings are dominated by Wisconsin cheddar, and the garlic is a great counterbalance to the dairy, making it one of the area’s favorite chili joints, especially when you’re on the hunt for a fast and filling lunch.

Hawkers Alley

28 W. Court St., Downtown

For something fun and different, Hawkers Alley offers an inventive menu of Asian fusion street eats. Try the specialty Chino Taco, a scallion pancake topped with your choice of protein, ranging from curry chicken to honey pork belly and teriyaki tofu and mushrooms, or opt for a bahn mi or burger. Hawkers Alley also offers a variety of bowls, whether you want salad, soup or noodles.

Dig into some cheese or a great sandiwch at The Rhined PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

The Arepa Place is a Findlay Market staple PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

MUSIC

A Midwestern Savant

CityBeat sits down with legendary musician Don Was to get his take on the transformative power of music

BY JASON GARGANO

Don Was is a musical savant. At age 71, he has spent the last halfcentury immersed in an art form that has given him as much as he’s given it. Was came of age in a suburb of Detroit during the ‘60s, a city awash in dynamic sounds that resonated far beyond its specific environs. Local record labels Fortune and Motown were in their heyday. The Stooges and the MC5 began making a glorious racket. And Was started his first band, The Saturns, a rock and roll outfit that was as informed as much by jazz greats John Coltrane and Miles Davis as it was by what was happening in Detroit.

Flash forward more than 50 years and Was has done just about everything one can do in the music industry — producer of heralded albums by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, The B-52s, The Rolling Stones, Lucinda Williams and so many more; player of bass on multifarious projects, including his own band Was (Not Was); musical director of various TV shows and specials; documentary filmmaker; president of iconic jazz label Blue Note Records; and radio host.

There is also his reemergence as a live player with Wolf Brothers — a band fronted by former Grateful Dead guitarist and singer Bob Weir — which has toured off and on since 2018. And now there is the freshly minted live project Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, which features nine members playing a mix of covers and originals that lean heavily into the jazz realm.

CityBeat recently connected with Was via a fuzzy cell phone connection to discuss how Detroit has informed his musical journey and the importance of continuing to move forward artistically and beyond.

CityBeat: Why has Detroit yielded so much interesting and dynamic music over the years?

Don Was: I think it’s that — at least in the era I grew up, post-World War II — the city

attracted people from all over the world who wanted to work in the auto factories, and it was booming. They all brought their cultures with them, so you had this extreme jambalaya of all kinds of music being fused together. That becomes part of your roots — everything from polka to country to John Lee Hooker.

Speaking of John Lee Hooker, I think that he captures the essence of Detroit music, and also the people who live in the city of Detroit. It’s very unpretentious, raw music. There is something about growing up in a one-industry town where everybody’s in the same boat and there is no point in putting on the airs because we know that everybody’s fate is tied to the success of the auto business. There is no point in putting a sheen on things.

To me, John Lee Hooker is just about as raw as music can get without falling apart. Yet it grooves like crazy and he’s as soulful as they come. I think if you go through all genres in Detroit, whether it’s Fortune Records — Motown has some gloss to it but it’s still very raw music — MC5, The Stooges, Mitch Ryder, it’s all raw, honest music.

CB: This is a pretty short tour, so it was interesting to see that Cincinnati was one of the nine stops. Why did you want to play Cincinnati as opposed to anywhere else?

DW: It feels like Detroit. I haven’t spent a whole lot of time there but I’ve been there a few times to play. It feels like Detroit. It’s the same Midwestern, semiindustrial kind of place. The audiences are real and pretty open-minded. They’re music people. They’re not jaded. In L.A. — I’ve lived there for a long time — they see it all every day. It’s harder to turn them on.

CB: You’re obviously known for your studio work as a producer, but what is it about playing live that still gets you going?

DW: The interchange with an audience. It’s an incredible thing that happens. The thing that re-whetted my appetite for playing was Bob Weir. The Grateful Dead audience is one of the greatest audiences in the world. Those kinds of bands, it’s all about the inner conversation between the musicians. Everybody is listening and reacting. The audience is part of it. You can feel them on the receiving end, and they send the energy back. And then the energy starts cycling. I would say it happens two or three times a night, invariably, when I played with Bobby, where everything connects, and you can feel the audience and you can feel the whole thing become one. That’s the allure of it.

CB: You’ve talked about music being a source of joy in troubling times. Why does music resonate with us in such a visceral way?

DW: The part of the brain that processes music is activated in ways that allow us pre-language communication. We’re faced with a crazy world, and not just in troubled times politically or all kinds of natural crises. It’s tough being a human. You don’t know why you’re here. You don’t know if you or your loved ones are going to die in the next 10 seconds. You don’t know if you’re going to get fired. You don’t know if you’re going to get divorced. Anything can happen to you. It’s really tough to make sense out of it. Music helps you understand who you are and what you’re here to do.

The album that’s been most helpful in my life is a Blue Note album called Speak No Evil by (jazz saxophonist) Wayne

Shorter. I started listening to that when I was in college at the University of Michigan in 1970. I was pretty lost. And when I’d lose my way, when I was depressed, I put on side two of that record. When I’d listen to Wayne play, I didn’t hear the saxophone. I didn’t hear reeds or instruments; I heard the guy talking to me. He was basically telling me to keep grooving in the face of adversity.

CB: You’ve also talked about the fact that you always need to keep searching artistically. Why are you, at the age of 71, still so restless, still so interested in moving ahead?

DW: (Laughs) I don’t know, man. The minute you think you’re at the goal, you’re dead. It’s over. I took a bass lesson from (jazz great) Ron Carter a year and a half ago. He showed me something to do with my fingers. It’s so nuanced, the difference of like a millimeter and a little different angle and a little different movement. It’s microscopic but it opened up a whole universe of new approaches. That’s the other thing too — I like playing differently every night. That’s another thing I picked up from Bobby (Weir), and that’s what jazz is all about — or any kind of improvisational music — the only wrong way to play it is to play what you played last night. You want to approach it with a beginner’s mind every night and just go where it goes. It’s a new adventure every day. You’ve got to be kind of fearless about fucking it up. It’s OK. Wherever it goes, it’s not a mistake. If it goes someplace you didn’t intend it to go, keep going. That never gets old.

Don Was plays Memorial Hall at 8 p.m. on May 25. Info: memorialhallotr.com.

Don Was PHOTO: MIRYAM RAMOS

SOUND ADVICE

21 SAVAGE

May 22

• Riverbend Music Center

21 Savage is a successful rapper bringing his raw and vulnerable work to the stage this summer. Born in London, 21 Savage’s birth name is Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph. The name 21 Savage came from an incident in which he was shot six times on his 21st birthday and survived. Savage moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his mom at just seven years old. At 21 years old, he began releasing music independently. After collaborating with huge successes in the industry, such as Metro Boomin and Drake, and putting out multiple EPs of his own, Savage signed a record deal with Epic Records in 2017.

Last year, Savage toured with Drake after collaborating on their album Her Loss. After releasing his own recent project and third studio album, american dream, Savage will be touring solo this May through June. Savage is likely to perform hits from this album, including “redrum” and “née-nah.” He is also set to play some of his well-known collaborations such as “Rich Flex,” “TOPIA TWINS” and “Broke Boys.”

21 Savage plays Riverbend Music Center at 7 p.m. on May 22. Info: riverbend.org. (Hayley Garr)

BRAINIAC

May 31 • Woodward Theater

In the 1990s, Brainiac (stylized as 3RA1N1AC) was one of the biggest bands to come out of the Dayton music scene alongside Guided by Voices and The

Breeders. The trifecta established Dayton as a viable music destination, to the extent that Spin Magazine wrote a feature on it. In 1997, the band opened for Beck at a festival in England, and they were on track to sign to major label Interscope. But in a cruel twist of fate, on May 23, 1997, Brainiac’s lead singer Tim Taylor died in a car accident. The tragedy broke up the band and upended the local and national music scene.

When all seemed lost, a sort of miracle occurred. Daytonian Eric Mahoney filmed a documentary about the band called Brainiac: Transmissions After Zero. In April 2019, it premiered at The Neon movie theater in Dayton, and the band — including original member Michelle Bodine — reunited for a show in Dayton. Prior to this, Brainiac reunited for a fundraiser in Dayton back in 2017. Since then, the band has released EP The Predator Nominate, had a feature written about them in the New York Times, toured Europe, and will play Woodward Theater on May 31. (On Memorial Day, Woodward Theater will screen Brainiac: Transmissions After Zero.) This month, J-Card Press releases the book Brainiac, written by fan Justin Vellucci.

Brainiac’s ongoing legacy is a testament to the power of the band, whose music is indescribable, though superfan Griffin Hamill described them as “James Brown meets Devo on acid, an utterly beguiling and dangerous concoction” in the book Rebels and Underdogs: The Story of Ohio Rock and Roll. Even though many years have passed, it’s reassuring to know

Brainiac, Breeders and GBV are still at it. Brainiac now leaves behind three fulllength albums, three EPs, several singles, a documentary, memorable live shows

and a strong place in music history. Brainiac plays Woodward Theater at 8 p.m. on May 31. Info: woodwardtheater. com. (Garin Pirnia)

21 Savage

PHOTO: RALPH ARVESEN, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Brainiac

PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/BRAINIACOLD

EVENTS The Set List

Greater Cincinnati’s live music calendar

21 Savage: American Dream Tour

May 22, 7 p.m.; Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California

42 Dugg & Friends

May 18, 10 p.m.; OTR Live, 209 East 12th St., Over-the-Rhine

Alpha Wolf: Half Living Things

May 21, 6 p.m.; Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville

American Tune: Simon, Croce & Taylor - ‘70s Singer-Songwriter Tribute

May 24, 7 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Ben Stalets, Matt Rouch

May 19, 6 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival - The Lounge, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Bluegrass Wednesday Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.; Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant, 11069 Colerain Ave, Oxford

Buck & The Dollar Bills

May 18, 8 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival - The Lounge, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Cabal - Born A New - Float OmenHostile Vision

May 17, 7-11:30 p.m.; Legends Bar & Venue, 3801 Harrison Ave., Cheviot

CARDIEL (Mexico City)

May 16, 9-11:30 p.m.; MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

Chris Cornell Tribute Night Benefiting AFSP

May 18, 8 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Cin City Burlesque (18+)

May 25, 8 p.m.; Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville

Cincy Jazz Train Duo Live at Louvino OTR

Every other Tuesday, 6-8 p.m.; Louvino OTR, 1142 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

Don Was & The Pan Detroit Ensemble

May 25, noon; Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine

ERIC MCM

May 17, 10:30 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival - The Lounge, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

An Evening with Omari Dillard

May 18; Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle, Mount Adams

Extend The Weekend With Blues & Rock from The Twirlers

Sundays, 6-9 p.m.; BrewRiver Creole Kitchen, 4632 Eastern Ave., Mount Lookout

Free Memorial Day ConcertBlue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra

May 27, 7-9:30 p.m.; Blue Ash

Nature Park, 4337 Cooper Road, Blue Ash

George Clinton & Parliament/ Funkadelic

May 28, 8 p.m.; The Andrew J Brady Music Center, 25 Race St., The Banks

Goldpine

May 23, 7:30 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Jesse DeNatale

May 23, 10 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival - The Lounge, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Jim Duff with family and friends at the Southgate House

May 17, 7:30 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Jims, Royal Holland, Stephen Kuffner

May 15, 9 p.m.-midnight; MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

Jon B.

May 24, 7:30 p.m. and May 25, 7:30 p.m.; Ludlow Garage, 342 Ludlow Ave., Clifton

Kamelot - Awaken The World Tour

May 23, 6 p.m.; Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville

Langhorne Slim & Oliver Wood

May 19, 7:30 p.m.; Ludlow Garage, 342 Ludlow Ave., Clifton

Laura Jane Grace

May 26, 8 p.m.; Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington

Live At the Fillmore, the Definitive Tribute To the Original Allman Brothers Band

May 17, 7:30 p.m.; Ludlow Garage, 342 Ludlow Ave., Clifton

Loudmouth, Toon Town

May 25, 8 p.m.; Madison Live!, 734 Madison Ave., Covington

Oakley Beer Fest 2 at Element Eatery

May 18, 2 p.m.-midnight; Element Eatery, 5350 Medpace Way, Madisonville

Open Mic Show & Tell with Adam Flaig

Wednesdays, 7 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival - The Lounge, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Orchestral Rendition of Dr. Dre: 2001

May 20, 7 p.m.; Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville

ORGY: Candyass 25th Anniversary Tour/COLD Spring Tour

May 23, 7 p.m.; Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington

Palladium Entertainment Presents BRIT FLOYD

May 18, 8 p.m.; Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California

Parker Millsap / Robert Ellis - Live & In Concert (Solo Acoustic)

May 15, 8 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Pure Prairie League

May 18, 7:30 p.m.; Ludlow Garage, 342 Ludlow Ave., Clifton

Quotah, The Dolly Daredevils, Just Francis

May 22, 9 p.m.-midnight; MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

Saxon & Uriah Heep: Hell, Fire & Chaos Tour

May 17, 7 p.m.; Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville

Spy - Jivebomb - Destiny BondPiss Flowers - No Shot

May 16, 7-11:30 p.m.; Legends Bar & Venue, 3801 Harrison Ave., Cheviot

Symphony X

May 16, 7 p.m.; Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville

Tab Benoit, Larry McCray

May 24, 8 p.m.; Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington

Teddy and the Rough Riders

May 15, 8:30 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Teeth Marks, The River City Diamonds

May 16, 8 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival - The Lounge, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

The Blender Bash 3: Class of 2024 Edition - Roadrunner TB May 18, 9 p.m.; Madison Live!, 734 Madison Ave., Covington

The Broken Relics

May 24, 9 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival - The Lounge, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Whiskey Bent Valley Boys

May 25, 8 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

The Secret Sisters

May 17, 8 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Two Nights with They Might Be Giants: The Big Show Tour

May 14, 15 at 8 p.m.; Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington

Violent Femmes

May 17, 6:30 p.m.; Riverfront Live, 4343 Kellogg Ave., Riverfront

Webb Wilder’s 70th Birthday Bash

May 19, 7 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

Woorms, Future Hate

May 26, 8 p.m.; The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport

COUNTRY MUSIC

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

Across 1.  Big chunk

5.  You’d better believe it

10.  Needs to return things

14.  ___ Libre

15.  Indian bread?

16.  She always replies when spoken to

17.  Ewan : prequels :: ___ : originals

18.  Girl from Tehran?

20.  Holding walls

22.  Ship among the reef

23.  Swiftie or a member of the Bey Hive, e.g.

24.  Corrupts

25.  Physicians from Madrid?

31.  Baller Caitlin

32.  Easily offended sort

33.  Letters on a blue lizard bottle

36.  Hard to find

37.  Bad guy

38.  Morally-challenged TV lawyer Goodman

39.  One of Eve’s grandsons

40.  Up to

41.  Vega’s constellation

42.  Flushed-looking

43.  Itch from Athens?

45.  Close one

46.  Go back to square one

47.  Thread follower?

50.  Very entertained

53.  Timber wolves from Vientiane?

55.  Electric battery inventor Alessandro

59.  See 7-Down

60.  Can-do

61.  C-3PO worshipers

62.  Still life container

63.  Loaves from a deli

64.  Get into someone’s business

Down

1.  Non-union representative

2.  Real something or other

3.  World’s first dead person, according to the Bible

4.  Has the undesired effect

5.  Close one

6.  Star’s certain something

7.  With 59-Across, they run under taps

8.  Change for a hundred

9.  Waver

10.  Green-skinned god of Ancient Egypt

11.  Grow bigger

12.  Standing upright

13.  Bathroom showroom fixtures

19.  Up to date

21.  David’s “Californication” role

24.  “Bluey” watchers

25.  Threaded fastener

26.  First line of attack

27.  Judge of the Yankees

28.  Have an idea

29.  Its capital is Heraklion

30.  Forum covering

33.  Decline

34.  More untouched

35.  It holds a few shots

37.  Fold up, as sails

38.  “You’re going too fast!”

43.  Attitude

44.  Valet in P.G. Wodehouse stories

45.  Big crew

47.  Prague resident, e.g.

48.  “Proud” family member

49.  “Did I do that?”

50.  Soccer legend Wambach

51.  Red sauce that may be made with chocolate and chilies

52.  A Leatherman has a lot of them

54.  Propulsion implement

56.  Camden crapper

57.  Fighter-protecting decision, briefly

58.  One of Daddy Warbucks’s bodyguards, with “The” LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS: