NEWS
Prosecutor: No Charges Against Steve Raleigh in Montgomery Inn Assault Investigation
A grand jury will decide the fate of others in the case.
BY MADELINE FENING AND LILY OGBURN
WCPO 9 Chief Meteorologist
Steve Raleigh will not face charges for his involvement in an alleged assault that left two elderly people severely injured in June.
Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve announced on Sept. 17 that there was no evidence Steve Raleigh violated any criminal law during the viral Montgomery Inn parking lot incident.
“During the course of this investigation, it has been determined that criminal charges are not warranted against Mr. Steve Raleigh, as there is no evidence that he violated any criminal law,” Tekulve said in a press release. “Accordingly, as to Mr. Steve Raleigh, this investigation is closed.”
Tekulve added that his office will present evidence to the Hamilton County Grand Jury to determine whether charges will be filed against “others involved in this incident.” Tekulve said results of the Grand Jury investigation will be announced “in the upcoming weeks.”
“This was expected,” said Konrad Kircher, attorney for the Morrow family, the alleged victims in the case. “We never anticipated that Steve Raleigh would be charged with a crime. He exercised very poor judgment and may have committed some civil wrongs but we never suggested that he committed a crime.”
What happened?
It all started the evening of June 22 in the parking lot of the Montgomery Inn Boathouse on Riverside Drive. That’s when Carter Raleigh, Steve Raleigh’s 28-year-old son and the grandson of Si Leis, allegedly hit the Morrow family’s Ford F-150 pickup truck while driving his grandfather’s Cadillac Escalade in the parking lot. Leis is a famous former Hamilton County law enforcement trifecta, having served as a prosecutor, judge and sheriff in the county.
According to a heavily-redacted traffic incident report from the Cincinnati Police Department, 79-year-old Douglas Morrow was driving the Morrows’ truck that
night. His son, Troy Morrow was in the backseat with Allison Scales, 47. Douglas Morrow’s wife, Lois Morrow, 76, was sitting in the passenger seat.
The Morrows allege that Carter Raleigh got out of Leis’ Escalade and began arguing with the Morrow family. It wasn’t long before the Morrows say Steve Raleigh emerged from the direction of the restaurant, asking them not to call the police.
The police report does not provide specific details about the alleged assault, and the names of suspects are redacted from the report. However, CPD officer Shawn Newman summarized witness testimonies in the report, saying, “Suspect approached victim #1 striking him with a closed fist in the head knocking him to the ground causing listed injuries. Victim #2 and victim #3, while attempting to aid victim #1, was struck and shoved down to the ground by the suspect causing listed injuries.”
Speaking to CityBeat after the prosecutor’s Sept. 17 announcement about Steve Raleigh, the Morrow family’s attorney said Kyle Raleigh, Carter’s brother, will be the focus in front of the grand jury.
“The grand jury will convene next week to consider charges against Kyle Raleigh, who’s the one who committed the violent assaults,” Kircher said. “I don’t know that Carter committed any crimes. He was not tested for any alcohol – he was the one who was driving the vehicle but he got away from the scene without having to give a breathalyzer, I’m not sure how that happened. But it does not appear he was involved in the assaults.”
In her July 10 post, Morrow-Stickrod said 76-year-old Lois Morrow was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion, fractured skull, brain bleeding, a contusion on the back of her head that required staples, a detached eye lens and cuts and bruises to her arms and legs. Her father was also knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion, the post said. Additionally, Morrow-Stickrod shared on July 23 that Lois Morrow was told on July 19 that she was showing signs of dementia
as a result of the alleged attack. Cameras at the Montgomery Inn’s Boathouse location weren’t working, but in Morrow-Stickrod’s July 10 Facebook post about the incident, she included a now-viral video that appears to capture the aftermath of the assault.
The over-3-minute video launched this story into the national spotlight, depicting a chaotic scene. The blurry video shows an argument, and as the person filming regains balance, Douglas and Lois Morrow are both seen lying on the pavement, with blood visible next to Lois Morrow’s head.
In the video, Kevin Youkilis, a former UC and Red Sox baseball player, is seen arguing with Steve Raleigh.
Youkilis addressed the viral video in a July 13 Facebook post, saying he was eating dinner with an agent when he saw the incident break out. Youkilis tried to deescalate the situation, according to his Facebook post.
Who is Steve Raleigh?
Steve Raleigh is a local celebrity and a staple to many Cincinnatians’ daily routines. He has appeared on WCPO for almost 20 years.
He’s been a meteorologist for around 40 years, working in other major cities like San Francisco, Charlotte and Memphis. He started at WCPO in 2005.
Once the video of the incident at Montgomery Inn went viral, WCPO released a statement implying there was more to the story and that Steve Raleigh hadn’t been charged with a crime.
“[The incident] is still under investigation, and at this time no charges
have been filed against anyone,” said Jeff Brogan, WCPO vice president and general manager in a July 12 statement. “His account is consistent with the police report, which does not name him, and with what we have reviewed on video. The video does not show the incident from start to finish.”
Steve Raleigh’s social media pages quickly disappeared after the parking lot video started racking up views. Hours later, he was notably absent from WCPO’s 5 p.m. newscast. He remained off the air during the course of the investigation.
Steve Raleigh returns to the air
In the hours following the announcement, WCPO confirmed Steve Raleigh would return to the air in a web story about the prosecutor’s decision.
“Steve will soon return to WCPO 9 as our chief meteorologist. Our responsibility as Steve’s employer was to wait for the investigators’ final determination of his role in the incident. Our responsibility as a news organization has been and will be to report on the incident with fair and impartial coverage. We remain committed to that,” the station wrote.
In the same web story, Steve Raleigh released the following statement:
“I was notified of the special prosecutors’ decision today. I appreciate the validation regarding my involvement. I want to thank family, friends, colleagues and viewers for their patience and support. I look forward to returning to work soon. I’ve missed serving the people of this great city. Because this is now going to the Hamilton County Grand Jury, I will refrain from commenting further at this time.”
WCPO meteorogolist Steve Raleigh
PHOTO: ILLUSTRATION BY LILY OGBURN
Inside Vivek Ramaswamy’s Town Hall about Haitian Immigration in Springfield
BY ROWAN HETZER AND MADELINE FENING
Amid national tension surrounding the impact of Haitian immigration on the local community of Springfield, Ohio, entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy held an invite-only town hall on Sept. 19 to address concerns from residents.
While no longer a presidential contender and not a Springfield resident, Ramaswamy told town hall invitees that this issue is “close to home” for the Evendale native.
“I grew up an hour from here,” told attendees. “This is close to home for me.”
With a sea of American flags and MAGA hats, Ramaswamy’s town hall at Springfield’s Bushnell Event Center drew a capacity crowd and immense local interest, with RSVPs exceeding 2,000 for a venue that could only accommodate 300.
Ramaswamy and his team announced the town hall via X. He invited Springfield community members and Haitian immigrants to attend, saying he “[looked] forward to an unvarnished conversation.” Much of that conversation included campaignstyle musings from Ramaswamy on American policy and culture. The often glitchy YouTube video of the town hall does not show every person in attendance, but none of the speakers
during the 90 minute event identified themselves as part of the Haitian community.
Haitians in Springfield were recently thrust into the national spotlight after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and vice presidential nominee JD Vance alleged in early September that Haitian residents of Springfield “who shouldn’t be in this country” were stealing and eating the pets of other residents.
The influx of 15,000-20,000 Haitian immigrants that have settled in Springfield in the last two years, who city officials confirm are here legally or hold Temporary Protected Status, has reportedly strained Springfield’s resources, even as they fill crucial gaps in the community’s economy.
Ramaswamy began his town hall by establishing two ground rules for the discussion: honesty and respect.
“Be honest, don’t censor yourself, be respectful. Even with those who disagree with me or you or anybody else. That’s how we’re going to get our country back,” he said. “Through open conversations, through actually speaking without fear, we actually not only solve the problems of this country, but dare I say unite this country as well.”
Speakers at Ramaswamy’s town hall touched on a wide variety of topics and concerns surrounding immigration policy. Here are the standout moments:
Denouncement of federal policies
Ramaswamy, from his first X post about the town hall, repeatedly slammed national immigration for policies that “callously [use] these migrants as political pawns to sow division.”
One issue he specifically called out was with those looking to change the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
“If you want to understand where I think the problem is: I don’t think Houdini himself as a magician could have fixed a problem in Springfield if you have federal policies that are permitting millions of illegals and stretch the law to make them legals entering this country, and dumping them into cities like this one. It’s like the equivalent of sending 2 million people to New York City. Can you imagine that? That’s the effect of sending 20,000 people to Springfield,” he said.
At one point, Ramaswamy asked a speaker what he thought the criteria should be for “the kinds of immigrants or migrants that Springfield should want to keep” versus the immigrants Springfield should “expel” or not allow to settle there in the future.
“If it was up to me we’d start all over.
We’d send them away and start all over,” the man said. “If there are people who are working and these are honest jobs, fine, if they’re here just, again, they’re taking up social security.”
“There’s a dishonesty to the current program and the justification for it,” Ramaswamy responded. “The program I’m talking about is Temporary Protected Status, TPS. It was designed as a humanitarian program largely used after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. And I think it is beyond bizarre that we should somehow assume that all of those people organically just decided to come to Springfield, Ohio. [...] If somebody came here through Temporary Protected Status, which is a humanitarian program, and now you’re using an economic justification to keep them, that’s dishonest.”
The blame game
Ramaswamy consistently emphasized that the immigrants and residents themselves were not to blame for the ongoing issues. Instead, he criticized the federal government’s failure to support both newcomers and existing residents amid its push for immigration reform.
He also stated that, upon speaking with Haitian community leaders, he heard “very compelling stories” about their experiences, such as a Haitian doctor who put himself through nursing school post-immigration after his medical license did not transfer from Haiti.
Prior to the town hall, Ramaswamy said he met with a number of the city officials, stating that he understands frustration about how the local government is handling the issue.
“I know many of you may feel that your leadership doesn’t care. I met with them. I don’t think that’s true,” he said.
A woman named Crissy stepped up to the mic to criticize Springfield city leaders who did not attend Ramaswamy’s town hall.
“You came here from your hometown, we have city officials who live right here in Springfield and have not set up a meeting like this for Springfield,” she said.
One woman, who did not provide her name, spoke about an hour into the town hall, stating that she isn’t mad at the Haitian community and that she herself “would have ran here” if she was in their position.
“If we were in their shoes, we’d have done the same thing,” Ramaswamy replied in agreement.
Allegations of racism, navigating hateful language
A man named Brock, who identified himself as a half-Black, said that the hateful language he’s experienced in his years of living in Springfield has worsened
Former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy leads a town hall discussion about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio on Sept. 19, 2024.
PHOTO: VIVEK RAMASWAMY VIA YOUTUBE
since the influx of national attention.
“I can count on both hands how many times a racial slur has been said my whole life. I’ve been called the N-word twice this week by just people who group me [in]…even though my skin may be lighter, I think people just group us together,” he said.
Ramaswamy responded to this by asserting that “the United States of America is not a racist country and the least racist country known to mankind,” and that he had never experienced racism growing up.
“There is a weird uptick in racial tension in this country that did not exist in the 30 years that I grew up right here in Southwest Ohio.” Ramaswamy replied.
The woman who sympathized with the Haitian community also spoke about her disdain for how the local government was characterizing concerned residents.
“We have been called racist by our mayor, by our city council. We have had NGO’s come into our city council, call us racist, put up signs in their church yard [that say] ‘I love Jesus with all my heart,’ but you have to bring truth in the word of Christ, not bits and pieces…” she said.
Ramaswamy said that it’s in America’s culture to be charitable and assist those in need, but that to preserve our strength as a country, politicians need to put US citizens first regardless of the negative language that may be used to describe them.
“That means saying no, when appropriate, even in the face of being called a racist, or a xenophobic person, or transphobic, or whatever it is, the next insult. [...] It’s not because you’re unkind, it’s because you have to be strong enough to protect your kindness in the first place,” he said.
Will Ramaswamy run for office in Ohio?
The woman who said she would have come to Springfield if she was in the Haitians’ position also asked Ramaswamy what the town should do once he leaves, stating that the mayor and local government were pushing against the citizens’ concerns.
“My commitment to you is that I don’t know what comes next for me after these next 50 days…” Ramaswamy began, before a woman interrupted him, calling for Ramaswamy to run for mayor of Springfield, which he politely chuckled at.
Then, someone who identified themselves as an Oregon-based journalist asked a question that sent the room into a roar of cheers and applause:
“One question for you — are you going to run for governor of Ohio?”
“I’m a little more inclined than I was about 10 seconds ago,” Ramaswamy said after the 10 seconds of applause died down.
New County Program to Help Residents Pay for Home Repairs
Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000, and can be used for a variety of repairs.
BY ZURIE POPE
Hamilton County homeowners could soon qualify for a new home repair program offered by the county, according to an announcement from the county on Sept. 24.
The Revive and Thrive Home Loan Repair Program will offer loans to homeowners in Hamilton County, helping pay for home repairs at a 2% interest rate.
Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000, and can be used for a variety of repairs, from health and safety fixes and code violations to general improvements.
“We’re securing homes, and we’re securing futures for these families,” said Hamilton County Board of Commissioners vice president Denise Driehaus at a press conference announcing the program. “The payback is fairly long term, so that people of all different income levels can afford these loans and make these repairs to their homes in a way that they can’t otherwise if they’re just operating in the free market.”
The program is open to homeowners who’ve occupied their residence for at least six months, with income at, or below, 80% of the area median income, which is $75,500 for a family
of three, and $58,700 for a single person.
Notably, home repairs included in this program are considered part of normal maintenance, and, unless they change a home’s physical structure or livable space, will not increase the home’s taxable value.
Revive and Thrive is funded by a $2-million investment from the Hamilton County Commission. Of that $2 million, $1.3 million comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the rest is supplemented through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Greater Cincinnati spearheaded the program, and numerous local organizations, including United Way 211, Working in Neighborhoods (WIN), and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati will assist with the application process and oversee the construction and repairs.
“They’re gonna service this program and be alongside the homeowners at every step,” said LISC Greater Cincinnati executive director Kristen Baker.
“My call to citizens of Hamilton County and the citizens of Cincinnati is to use these tools,” said council member Reggie Harris. “Because we
care about keeping people in their homes and providing a safe place for generations to come, and I just think this is the best million dollars the city could commit to.”
Other cities have implemented similar policies. Detroit launched their 0% Home Repair Loans Program in April of 2015, and Memphis, Tennessee, announced 901 Help, a program providing low-interest loans to citizens for home repairs, in 2023.
A survey released by Today’s Homeowner, including the responses of 1,000 homeowners across the country, found that 60% of homeowners are putting off home maintenance due to costs. A study conducted by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University released in 2022 found lowincome homeowners spend less on average on all types of home remodeling and repair projects because of financial constraints.
Hamilton County homeowners who want to apply must call United Way’s 211 Helpline, and, after they’re found to be eligible, will be contacted by Working in Neighborhoods to complete the full application.
For more information, go to HamiltonCountyHome.org.
Home repairs included in the Revive and Thrive Home Loan Repair Program are considered part of normal maintenance.
PHOTO: KSENIA CHERNAYA, PEXELS
The dining guide BY CITYBEAT STAFF
Inside the greater cincinnati restaurants — old and new — that captivate our palates
While Cincinnati has many honorable distinctions — like being home to the first Major League Baseball team or hosting the largest Oktoberfest in the nation — it’s our food that shows our inimitable charm. Whether you’d prefer to keep things classic with Skyline or enjoy a night of French-inspired fare at Colette, there’s something for every sort of foodie in Greater Cincinnati. In this year’s Dining Guide, CityBeat is diving forks-first into two essential pillars of local dining: new restaurants worth a visit and the tried-and-true
restaurants that keep us coming back for more. Ahead, we are detailing both the new and tried-and-true restaurants that should be on your radar.
the hottest new restaurants in greater cincinnati alara
5410 Medpace Way, Madisonville
Alara is the newest concept from Looking Glass Hospitality and offers fine dining inspired by experiences its owners have enjoyed on their travels. Described
as contemporary American and highend, Alara offers an immersive dining experience and a menu of innovative dishes that encourage exploration and sharing. On the menu, you’ll find a seasonal selection of small plates, ranging from BBQ pork buns to a smoked edamame hummus and sourdough crostinis; a seafood platter; pastas; large plates, which include dishes like branzino tacos, chicken Milanese and Faroe Island salmon; and prime cuts of meat like the Wagyu Sampler, Tomahawk ribeye and lamb chops, all served with rosemary truffle butter, a bone marrow demi and chimichurri.
safi wine bar
1401 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
Chef Jose Salazar operated his self-named restaurant at 1401 Republic St. in Overthe-Rhine for 10 years before announcing at the end of 2023 that he and his wife would be moving the restaurant into the former Saks Fifth Avenue building in downtown Cincinnati. They said they would keep the original Salazar space and introduce a new concept there: Safi, the idea of which came to the couple after a trip to Morocco. Safi opened in June and sports a laid-back atmosphere, with a menu that’s approachable, but still
A collection of dishes from Jose Salazar’s newest venture, Safi Wine Bar
PHOTO: LYDIA SCHEMBRE
offers some “fancier” dishes, as well as small plates. The menu features dishes like chicken pastilla cigars; slow-cooked lamb shank tagine with made-fromscratch Israeli couscous; an eggplant and tomato compote called Zalouk; Briwat, a Moroccan almond pastry; and the trendy “caviar bump.”
wildweed
1301 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine Wildweed opened in its permanent location in Over-the-Rhine this summer, offering a variety of pasta dishes made from regional grains and served with non-traditional sauces. Guests can choose between two different dining experiences, including an à la carte menu and the chef’s counter, which offers a view into the kitchen and each menu offers a story of seven ingredients over about 12 dishes, painting a picture of time and place while the chefs interact with guests and talk more about the dishes. And while the menu is designed to feel extensive, the time commitment is not. The food is also the star of the restaurant, but don’t forget to take time to admire the space’s artwork by local artists, including a colorful mural by Blake Lipper at the entryway and another mural of mushrooms by Maxwell Redder.
the davidson
501 Vine St., Downtown American-style brasserie The Davidson opened in The Foundry in February, taking over the spot formerly occupied by Royce. The menu is described as “a classic American brasserie meets French and Italian influence.” It features dishes like handmade pastas, steak frites, the Davidson Burger (gruyere, caramelized onions, dijonnaise, french fries and bearnaise aioli), bone-in pork chops and a selection of soups and salads.
the green line kitchen and cocktails
25 N. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas Charming and welcoming, The Green
Line Kitchen is an upscale family restaurant that opened in the heart of Ft. Thomas in March. The space is convivial and lively, with a menu of traditional offerings like prime rib, salmon and pork chops, as well as pastas, like the bolognese, chicken parmesan and sandwiches, including the burger, a prime rib dip, turkey club and fried cod. To drink, Green Line offers an extensive list of wines, both cocktails and mocktails, beer, seltzer and champagne.
mainetowne
8143 OH-48, Maineville
Diners can find new restaurant MaineTowne at the village of Maineville’s four-way stop, serving elevated bar food that is crafted with high-quality ingredients and never touches a fryer. Like the restaurant’s location, its menu is an intersection that combines American fare with hints of Mediterranean, Mexican and Thai influences. The menu is divided into appetizers, salads and handheld options. Appetizers include a variety of flatbreads, like the Whipped Feta (served with sweet-and-spicy peppers and honey), the Hot Honey (red sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, provolone and house hot honey) and the Buffalo Chicken. Handhelds feature dishes like the American ever-classic Sloppy Joe, made with smoked brisket, fried onions, pickles and pickled peppers and served on a brioche bun; a chicken tinga torta; and the B.L.M.T. (bacon, arugula, tomato, caramelized onion, pesto mayo and mozzarella on Italian bread).
almost v’gan lounge
34 E. Court St., Downtown
Almost V’gan, a health-conscious eatery with a mix of vegan and traditional dishes, opened downtown in July. The space features a restaurant with bottle service on one side and an upscale bar and lounge on the other. The menu features a similar vegan pairing for every traditional dish, like jackfruit or pot roast tacos, grilled tofu or salmon sliders and grilled
watermelon salad, among others. Diners will also find a selection of handcrafted cocktails and signature drinks.
twelve08
1208 Springfield Pike, Wyoming Visit Twevle08 in Wyoming and let Claudia make you a meal. No, Claudia’s not a person, but the restaurant’s pizza oven. The menu at Twelve08 is pizzaforward, but this isn’t your average pizza joint. Twelve08 says their dishes are made with intention, focusing on healthy and freshly prepared ingredients and inspired by flavors around the world, like the seasonal Street Corn Pizza, which features cilantro, roasted sweet corn, jalapeño and tajin. In addition to pizza, Twelve08 also offers salads, wings and a variety of beer, bourbon, wine and cocktails to drink.
the aperture
900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills
The Aperture is the real deal, a first-rate addition to our city’s dining firmament. Not downtown or in Over-the-Rhine, The Aperture opened in January in the center of Walnut Hills, enriching the up-and-coming neighborhood with a Mediterranean-inspired, palate-thrilling splash. The restaurant says its menu focuses on three pillars — intention, balance and focus — and critical thought is put into every component of each dish. The menu isn’t divided into the traditional appetizers/salads/entrées deal, rather, it flows from lighter to more substantial dishes, beginning with a couple of items that go well with cocktails and proceeding through interesting vegetable preps to pastas and seafood.
mercer social house
6623 Main St., Newtown
Mercer Social House, named after Newtown’s original settlement, Mercersburg, opened in the former Urban Grill on Main space this spring. The restaurant offers a friendly and laid-back atmosphere, born from the owners’ desire to create a place where the
community can gather or you can make memories with friends and family. The seasonal menu features American fare with a modern twist, including handhelds like burgers, grilled cheese and a spicy chicken sandwich, as well as pasta, ribs and bar-fare apps like smoked wings, fried mozzarella and pretzels and beer cheese. Diners can also enjoy elevated wine, beer and cocktail offerings.
san jeanetta’s table
7714 Montgomery Road, Kenwood For some chef-quality comfort food, San Jeanetta’s got you covered. Before opening their brick-and-mortar store in Kenwood, husband-and-wife team Chef Dion and Tiffany Metts were making a name for themselves by selling their famous mac-and-cheese bowls at food and beverage park Covington Yard. The menu at the Kenwood store, which held a grand opening in July, features the mac-and-cheese bowls, grits bowls, all-day brunch and chicken tenders, wings and sandwiches. You can also get Southern-style platters, including blackened salmon, biscuits and gravy, cauliflower wings, chicken thighs and fried cod.
Almost V’Gan Lounge is a perfect foodie stop for the health-conscious.
PHOTO: 3CDC
Alara serves high-end, contemporary American fare
PHOTO: LYDIA SCHEMBRE
Wildweed offers a variety of pasta dishes in Over-the-Rhine
PHOTO: LYDIA SCHEMBRE
court street kitchen
7 E. Court St., Downtown Court Street Kitchen, the first self-created concept from experienced restaurateur Braheam Shteiwi, opened downtown this February. The menu features New American fare, with a focus on steak and seafood, alongside traditional American favorites like the classic hamburger. The restaurant also offers Sixteen Bricks bread service, as well as starters, salads and soups to complement entrées like filet mignon, branzino, roasted chicken and more.
pata roja taqueria
52 E. Court St., Downtown Pata Roja 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. Owner Derrick Braziel opened Pata Roja in a brick-and-mortar space in February. The restaurant 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 and 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.
sweets & meats
3440 Burnet Ave., Avondale
Owners Kristen Bailey and Anton Gaffney bonded over serving others and hosting cookouts for loved ones, and they are now hosting cookouts for the Greater Cincinnati area. The popular Cincinnati barbeque joint got its start in 2014 as a food truck and catering service in Mt. Washington and has now opened a new restaurant to commemorate 10 years of authentic food and service. The new restaurant serves up Sweets & Meats classics, such as its award-winning
smoked ribs, rib tips, brisket, chicken wings, pulled pork and pulled chicken, as well as a variety of “Pitmaster Specials” that are only available for dine-in.
sudova
22 W. Court St., Downtown Opened by Babushka Pierogies owner Sarah Dworak, Sudova fuses together traditional European dishes with modern tastes. The restaurant, which held its grand opening in late August, is located in downtown Cincinnati and welcomes guests with a gated courtyard for outdoor seating, indoor skylights and a fully retractable garage door. The menu features classic Eastern European dishes with modern twists, including rye palemi with salt cod and potato brandade, topped with caviar beurre blanc and
Kulebiaka with salmon, dill rice, crimini mushrooms, puff pastry and bearnaise.
tried-and-true restaurants in greater cincinnati
zip’s cafe
1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Mt. Lookout’s Zip’s Cafe has been serving up classic burgers and fries for over 90 years and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. The restaurant’s no-frills menu, featuring the famous Zip Burger and Zip Coney, sandwiches, salads, soups and sides hasn’t changed much since the cafe’s opening, with the exception of new wine and house cocktail options.
hitching post
4535 Kellogg Ave., East End
The Hitching Post, dating back to the ‘40s, is tried-and-true for all things Southern, including deep-fried chicken with all the fixings and sides. The Kellogg location has been owned and operated by the Beck family since 1968 and is the only location left of the 19 original Hitching Posts. The menu features seafood, chicken, burgers and classic chili and coneys with an array of savory sides. Come find out why they’re known as the “World’s Best Fried Chicken.”
otto’s
521 Main St., Covington
Since it opened in 2003, Otto’s has become a staple for Southern-style cuisine with a modern twist. The restaurant was the first brick-and-mortar location
by restaurateurs Emily Wolff and Paul Weckman, who have since founded Frida’s, The Standard, Larry’s and Mama’s on Main. The menu features brunch, lunch and dinner options, with favorites such as The Flatbread with brie, fig, shaved country ham, microgreens and local honey and the Breakfast Casserole with potatoes, eggs, sausage, artichoke, red peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheddar and spinach with spicy sour cream.
a tavola
7022 Miami Ave., Madeira
This modern pizza joint has been serving signature pizzas and pastas for over 10 years. Owned by Jared Wayne, his brother Nick and friends, A Tavola is a combination of Italian bar and trattorias and timeless family recipes. Wayne opened his first brickand-mortar location in Over-the-Rhine in 2011, with the Madeira location opening in 2014. Additionally, the brothers opened Taglio in 2016 as a fast-casual twist on A Tavola. The menu features crowd favorites such as fig and prosciutto pizza and the artichoke pizza. Want to share the deliciousness with a larger crowd? A Tavola offers make your own pizza and pasta kits for purchase on their website.
incline public house
2601 W. Eighth St., East Price Hill This West Side staple has been serving up delicious pizzas and unforgettable views for over 10 years. Named after the Cincinnati inclined railroad that traveled to Price Hill, the American-cuisine restaurant sits atop a hill providing a
Incline Public House is the perfect place to take your out-of-town guests.
PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER
Zip’s Cafe has been serving up classic burgers and fries for over 90 years. PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER
beautiful view of downtown Cincinnati. Enjoy their signature barbecue chicken pizza or spicy fried chicken and waffles on their all-season patio with a Sweet Heat Margarita or limoncello spritz.
carlo & johnny
9769 Montgomery Road, Kenwood
Carlo & Johnny was opened in Kenwood by Jeff Ruby in 2011 and has been serving up prime steaks, sushi and classic steakhouse sides ever since. Ruby’s locations are all about history, with the steakhouse being named after a detective duo who closed the location down in 1949 for illegal gambling. Try its well-known Freddie salad, USDA Prime Steak and don’t forget the classic Jeff Ruby’s baked macaroni and cheese.
pompilios
600 Washington Ave., Newport
This Newport restaurant has been a staple for Italian food since 1933, and it is best known for its cameo in the popular film Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. Founded by Colonel Pompilio and owned and operated by the Mazzei family since 1982, the restaurant is rich with family and history. Try their homemade lasagna, manicotti or some of Mama Rose’s Raviolis, and pair it with a drink from Pompilios’ attached bar, Colonel Pomp’s Tavern, which has an extensive bourbon list.
camp washington chili
3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Nothing says Cincinnati quite like chili on spaghetti, and Camp Washington Chili has been mastering the craft since 1940. The diner-style joint offers the classic chili in 3-,4- and 5-way options and coneys, and if chili isn’t your style, the menu also features soups, salads, sandwiches and burger options.
island frydays
2826 Short Vine St., Corryville
Best known for its feature on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2014, Island Frydays offers a twist on classic Jamaican dishes. Founded by former University of Football captain Leo Morgan in 2009, Island Frydays was created as a way for Morgan to share the Jamaican dishes he grew up enjoying with the Queen City. Best known for their jerk chicken, savory sides and island-inspired cocktails, you won’t be disappointed by their Guy Fieriapproved menu.
kungfood chu’s amerasia
521 Madison Ave., Covington KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia opened in 2009 and has established itself as a fun and unique spin on traditional Chinese cuisine. With walls lined with movie posters, paper lanterns, vibrant colors and murals, the restaurant has its customers’
extensive wine and cocktail list, you and your guests are sure to be impressed.
mt. adams bar & grill
938 Hatch St., Mt. Adams
This Mt. Adams classic was reported to have come out of a speakeasy owned by Cincinnati bootlegger George Remus and was the first bar and grill in Ohio to receive its liquor license after Prohibition. Fast forward to the present day, Mt. Adams Bar & Grill is serving up classic burgers, chicken sandwiches and pastas. Try one of their signature dishes with something from their extensive beer and wine list or a signature cocktail, such as the Prohibition Manhattan, Prickly Pear Margarita or the Aperol Spritzer — legally, of course.
arnold’s bar & grill
210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
Open since 1861, Arnold’s has been the oldest continuously running tavern in town, complete with dark wood walls, vintage memorabilia and a big ol’ bathtub in the dining room, rumored to have been used to make gin during Prohibition. A Cincinnati classic, it serves up a nice range of lunch and dinner options — pasta, sandwiches and burgers, plus vegan and gluten-free options — at bargain prices. Enjoy a local draft in the outdoor beer garden and almost daily live music. It was also once named as one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine.
attention before they even see the menu. With favorites such as the Spicy Dynamite Egg Roll, Buddha Delight and How Fun Noodles, and a customizable spice level, there’s something for everyone to enjoy — even if your spicyfood threshold is low.
tousey house tavern
5963 N. Jefferson St., Burlington
Since its restoration in 1987 by Judge Bruce Ferguson and wife Elizabeth, everything about Tousey House Tavern has had cozy and comfortable vibes, from its Southern comfort food menu featuring all the classics — fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, fried chicken and shrimp and grits, to name a few — to its historic building dating back to 1832. Warm lighting, comfortable seating and all the homey feelings make this a perfect escape from the loud city for brunch, lunch or dinner.
sotto
118 E. Sixth St., Downtown
This classic romantic Italian restaurant has been a must-stop for both Cincinnati natives and out-of-towners for over a decade. Founded by David Falk, Sotto opened as a sister restaurant to Boca, a French and Italian restaurant, in 2013. With an impressive menu of pastas, antipasto, savory entrees of breaded pork loin and wood-fired quail, and and an
the echo
3510 Edwards Road, Hyde Park
Since opening in 1945, The Echo has become a popular spot for Cincinnatians everywhere. Best known for its breakfast, The Echo has held on to many of their staple items while also adapting to its newer customers, featuring classics like Glier’s German Greats and corned beef hash, with newer additions like the avocado toast and Artisan Wrap. While they may be best known for their breakfast, you don’t want to miss out on their weekly lunch specials with savory soup and sandwich pairings.
Arnold’s Bar and Grill creates delectable food in a (probably) haunted spot in downtown.
PHOTO: LYDIA SCHEMBRE
Rain Man poster at Pompilio’s PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY
The best restaurants in greater cincinnati, according to citybeat readers
every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike decide which bars are the booziest, which people are the coolest and which shops are your best bet for dropping a pretty penny. Choosing where to get dinner (or a drink or brunch or to just grab a donut) is hard enough, but your neighbors across the city have helped narrow it down. Ahead, we’ve outlined a diverse offering from the results of our Reader Picks, including the best restaurants in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana, along with the best new restaurants — all determined by our readers.
best overall restaurant
1. Sotto
2. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct
3. Ivory House
4. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
5. Pepp & Dolores
6. Tuba Baking Co.
7. Boca
8. Agave & Rye
9. Mita’s
10. Incline Public House
best overall restaurant (northern kentucky)
1. Walt’s Hitching Post
2. Pompilios
3. Tuba Baking Co.
4. KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia
5. Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
6. Greyhound Tavern
7. Libby’s Southern Comfort
8. Agave & Rye
9. Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar
10. The Baker’s Table
best overall restaurant (southeast indiana)
1. Third & Main
2. Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria
3. Whisky’s Restaurant
best new restaurant
1. Opal Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
2. Colette
3. Gilligan’s on the Green
4. Shake Shack
5. Five on Vine
6. Amador
7. Atwood Oyster House
8. VV The Italian Experience
9. Al-Posto Italian Ristorante
10. Parkside
Sotto
PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER
ARTS & CULTURE
All’s Well That Ends Unscripted
Improvised Shakespeare Company makes up new works by the Bard — on the fly.
BY RICK PENDER
There are scholars out there who cast doubt on Shakespeare’s identity and speculate as to whether someone else might have written his plays. But there’s another entity that continues to generate Shakespeare-adjacent performances, even though they’re limited editions: The Improvised Shakespeare Company, a merry band of improv artists from Chicago who for two decades have been inventing “new works” based on titles suggested by audience members.
In a recent phone conversation, founder Blaine Swen told CityBeat that he went to the Windy City in the early 2000s to pursue a graduate degree (he earned a doctorate in philosophy from Loyola University in Chicago). While there, he auditioned for legendary improv troupe Second City and was selected for its student stage where young improv performers could experiment. He had been doing short-form improvs (3-5 minutes) in different styles — a Western, for instance, or a musical and occasionally in Elizabethan/Shakespearean style. “I thought I could put together a great improvised Shakespeare show.” That approach really worked.
He called his troupe the Improvised Shakespeare Company. “We ran for five shows, and it was a ball,” Swen explained. “From there, other opportunities opened up for the show to keep running, and now it’s been
going for more than 20 years! Even with those first five shows, everything was completely improvised. All we did was work with the title of a play that had never been written — then we improvised that play.” Swen and his team will entertain Cincinnati audiences with performances on Oct.11 and 12.
Each improviser has some acting experience with Shakespeare’s plays.
“But the core DNA of the show is improv comedy,” said Swen. “You will see as much influence from Monty Python or The Simpsons as from Shakespeare in our show. If you enjoy and love Shakespeare, there are things or references that you will recognize. But even if you don’t love Shakespeare, you’re going to get a ton out of it and understand a lot of the references that we’re making to contemporary pop culture.”
It’s a simple process. Swen asks audience members to shout out a title for a play that’s never been written. In cities where they haven’t performed (this is their first visit to Cincinnati), audiences sometimes wonder, “Do they really want us to shout?” Typically some courageous person sounds off.
“I’ll take that one, the first one we clearly hear,” he explains. “We get all kinds of titles. Sometimes they are references to Shakespearean plays, like ‘Green Eggs and Hamlet’ or ‘Midsummer Night’s Menopause.’ One
of my favorites was the ‘Rocky Hamlet Picture Show.’ Sometimes people just yell out something that’s in their brain: ‘Munchos vs. Funyums’ or ‘Justin Bieber.’ We’ll take one of those titles and make a Shakespeare play out of it.” He encourages everyone coming to see their show to bring a clever title they’re ready to shout out.
Some people have tried to stump Swen and his four fellow performers. For example, “Things that are anachronistic, ‘Robots on Mars,’ or something like that. We always find a way to make it Shakespearean. We’ll reference the god of war, and we’ll start to have a war play. But the great thing about working together as a group of five, even when I’m personally stumped, the chances are that the other players will have an idea and put it out. We play with the spirit of supporting the idea that gets put on the stage. We’re not wrestling with each other. We keep supporting each other and building from that.”
Because the players are improvisers who must work in the moment, they virtually never repeat themselves. “We exercise a very strong short-term memory,” Swen said. “But our long-term memory for the shows is pretty weak. Sometimes people will say they saw us seven years ago and, ‘You did this and this and this.’ And I’ll say, ‘That sounds so fun and so funny, I wish I could remember it!’ Because we’ve done so
many, you just sort of learn to let it go.” The performers really cannot plan in detail for their 80-minute performances. “We are drawing from Shakespeare, so we have a lot of fun Shakespearean archetypes to play with.” For example, “We know that somebody will be desperate for love or hungry for power. They’ll have these deep, driving Shakespearean emotions. But beyond that, we are really doing this in the spirit of improv, building on one another’s ideas and working together to create something entertaining.”
Swen loves the in-the-moment nature of improv. “You can’t dwell on the past, and you can’t plan too much for the future because you don’t know what’s going to happen. The best improv is done when you’re just completely present and really taking in what’s happening onstage so you can react to it and build on it.”
The Improvised Shakespeare Company is on the road for 100-150 days out of the year, so they have plenty of practice. They’re eager to meet Cincinnati audiences for the first time. “One of the most fun things about our show is having a bunch of people together in one room, all laughing together, no matter who you are.”
The Improvised Shakespeare Company will perform at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater on Oct. 11 and 12. More info: cincinnatiarts.org.
The Improvised Shakespeare Company (L-R): Brendan Dowling, Ross Bryant, Blaine Swen and Joey Bland
PHOTO: IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
VISUAL ARTS
Discovering Ansel Adams Premieres at the Cincinnati Art Museum
BY EMMA HELBLING
The Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) has announced its newest exhibit, Discovering Ansel Adams, which will be available for viewing now through Jan. 19 in the museum’s Thomas R. Schiff Gallery.
The exhibition centers around the life and career of Ansel Adams, one of America’s most celebrated and widely known scenic photographers.
Adams dipped his toe into the world of photography when he was just 14 years old after receiving his first camera, and, as an employee of the Sierra Club’s lodge in Yosemite National Park, had the opportunity to get his first taste of landscape and scenic photography — the style that would later be his claim to fame.
After later making the decision to dedicate his career to photography full-time, Adams began to come into his photography style, enjoying more realistic and pure images while wanting to create a community of like-minded artists. In turn, Adams founded Group f/64 in 1923 alongside a group of West Coast photographers who also favored this style.
By the late 1930s, Adams was largely known in the photography community for his images of wilderness, as well as for his writing. He produced a series of articles that would later become a book entitled Making a Photograph, centered around the technical nature of photography that provided tips and tricks to address practical photography problems.
Throughout the remainder of his career, Adams worked tirelessly to have photography recognized as a fine art through presenting his work in a range of places, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and went on to establish the first academic program to teach photography as a profession at the California School of Fine Arts. Shortly before his passing in 1984, Adams was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter due to his devotion to photography and nature.
The Cincinnati Art Museum and The Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona, collaborated to bring Adams’ 60-year career and collection to life.
At the forefront of curation for the exhibition is Nathaniel M. Stein, the curator of photography at CAM. “I’m in charge of building the photography collection, making sure it’s properly taken care of and, most
importantly, bringing it to the public through exhibitions and other kinds of educational events,” Stein told CityBeat. “I produce the exhibitions or work with colleagues at other institutions to produce exhibitions like, in this instance, when it’s primarily from another museum’s collection.”
To bring Discovering Ansel Adams to CAM, Stein has been in collaboration with Rebecca Senf, PhD, the chief curator at The Center for Creative Photography and an expert on all things Ansel Adams.
“This has been a part of her life’s work as a historian of photography,” Stein said. “She started working on him as a graduate student and has been working with his work all the way through her career.”
The Center for Creative Photography was co-founded by Adams and the president of the University of Arizona in the late ‘70s, and now holds nearly his entire archive — Adams’ prints, letters and personal items. If you ever wanted to learn something about Adams, this is the place to be.
The ultimate goal of Discovering Ansel Adams was not only to showcase Adams at the peak of what he could do, but to bring a collection to life that has texture by including things like his letters and
personal items. In doing this, the exhibit gives viewers the opportunity to travel through Adams’ journey alongside him.
“It really allows us to ask different questions and find out different answers about him as an artist,” said Stein.
Believe it or not, Discovering Ansel Adams is an exhibition nearly 30 years in the making. Dr. Senf has been working on curating Adams’ work and studying his technique for nearly her entire career. But, in terms of the amount of time that the exhibition has been in the works for CAM, that’s closer to around two years.
“When we put an exhibition together, we think a lot about, ‘What do we need to tell this story?’ and, ‘What objects are going to enthrall and fascinate people?’” said Stein. “It’s similar to writing something, you know, you have a word count, so you have to think about the units that can be put in — it’s a similar process.”
The process of creating the exhibition is no easy feat. After choosing the focus for an exhibit, and beginning the process of piecing together the work, the biggest part lies in choosing what pieces to include within the gallery space.
“There’s a moment when the work first goes onto the wall, and it looks a million times better than it looked in storage
or sitting on the floor, it’s incredibly rewarding,” said Stein.
The exhibition will feature approximately 80 virtuosic photographs, handwritten correspondence, snapshots, personal possessions and photographic working materials. Adams’ work featured in the collection ranges from small images from his early career to muralsized prints of his most well-known pieces.
Discovering Ansel Adams is also a featured project in the 2024 FotoFocus Biennial: backstories. The FotoFocus Biennial is a month-long celebration of photography, film and lens-based art in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Columbus. This year’s theme, backstories, focuses on telling stories that are not as evident at first glance and provide narratives that have not yet been told or are being told from a new perspective.
“We can look at artists we already know we like and find out new things about them and appreciate them,” said Stein.
Discovering Ansel Adams is on view at the Cincinnati Art Museum through Jan. 19. More info: cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Ansel Adams (American,1902–1984), The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming,1942, gelatin silver print, image 39 15/16 x 51 1/4 in. (101.4 x 130.1 cm), Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Ansel Adams Archive, 76.562.2, © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust
PHOTO: ANSEL ADAMS
FOOD & DRINK
Rise and Dine
CityBeat reviews breakfast sandwiches around Greater Cincinnati to find the best of the best
REVIEW BY
ETANA JACOBI
Having moved to Cincinnati from Columbus two years ago, I’ve yet to find a sufficient local alternative to Fox in the Snow’s nearly perfect egg sandwich. While Cincinnati’s food scene has much to offer and I’ve enjoyed exploring it, I’ve been on the hunt for a delicious, wellbalanced breakfast sandwich that doesn’t necessitate a three-and-a-half-hour round-trip drive. Thus, a tour of seven local spots felt like a good place to start. I tried to select a mix of popular and lesser-known shops that offered various bread options and sandwiches where meat wasn’t necessarily the star of the show
(as I am a vegetarian and firm believer that breakfast sandwiches are a vehicle to let the ever-underrated egg shine).
While I don’t believe I’ve found the perfect breakfast sandwich in the Queen City just yet, my hope is this tour leads you to deliciousness nonetheless. Buen provecho!
The Madison Place
The Kaplan: Tomato slice, over-medium egg and avocado slices served on a Blue Oven Bakery English muffin, $7.50
Perhaps I should just write an ode to the Blue Oven Bakery English muffin instead
sandwich combined with the Blue Oven Bakery English muffin originally enticed me to try it, the sandwich just needed more.
A good breakfast sandwich often needs some kind of delicious sauce to tie all the individual components together or to provide a complement to the other flavors you are getting. Hot sauce and ketchup can provide good acid to balance a simple egg and cheese. Mayo or aioli can serve as a creamy fatty base. Every once in a while, you get a sandwich that has some kind of spicy chutney or sweet jam that acts as a special surprise you didn’t know you wanted or needed, but after you have it, you are in love. Unfortunately, there was no such surprise in The Kaplan. No butter, no aioli, no spicy mayo-ketchup, no cheese, no delicious fatty spread to bind the sandwich together. Overall, it was just too dry and the egg cooked over medium hard didn’t allow for any delicious runny yolk to save it.
The avocado was perfectly ripe and there was a thin slice of tomato that covered the full sandwich and you could taste it in every bite (though not the summer tomato that I dream about every other month of the year and want in every egg sandwich I eat in August and September). There was also some kind of seasoning I could see sprinkled on the egg but could not taste.
The spot itself was cute — Jack Johnson was playing in the background and the servers were friendly. I’d happily meet a friend for coffee here or do some work for a change in scenery, but, sadly, I don’t think I’d come back for the egg sandwich.
Em’s Sourdough Bread
Em’s Incredible Breakfast Sammy: Your choice of candied bacon, avocado or ham, fried egg, pesto aioli, garlic cheddar, sharp cheddar and tomato, $9
of reviewing The Kaplan at The Madison Place because that was what originally drew me to choosing this sandwich in the first place. For those who have not yet experienced the true pleasure of eating a Blue Oven Bakery English muffin, run (don’t walk) to Findlay Market and get yourself one as soon as possible. Bring it home, stick it in the toaster, smear some good butter and strawberry jam on top or, better yet, butter, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of Maldon salt…so good. But I digress — back to the sandwich. It’s simple: avocado, tomato and an egg on a toasted Blue Oven Bakery English muffin. While the simplicity of this
Em’s makes a solid breakfast sandwich. At $9, the Incredible Breakfast Sammy is sizable and leaves you feeling satisfied (but not like you need to take a nap after finishing it). The sourdough roll holds the sandwich together well. It doesn’t taste too bread-y, but provides a nice juxtaposition of toasted crispy exterior with soft fluffy interior of the sourdough they make in-house.
There is a fair amount going on here with generous portions, but the sandwich is able to hold all the individual components together without getting messy. You can taste the avocado, the cheese, the pesto and the bread, but it blends nicely. Unfortunately, the egg takes a bit of a back seat on this sandwich and would be better served over medium to get some jammy yolk in the mix.
The tomato cuts through the cheese well, but I want more of it. There is plenty of cheese and avocado, but a thin
A quest through Greater Cincinnati’s egg sandwiches
PHOTO: ANDREA LACASSE, UNSPLASH
slice of tomato for this sized sandwich just isn’t cutting it. Especially given that I’m eating this sandwich at Findlay Market in late August where local juicy heirloom tomatoes abound. Get it together, Em, and go ask your neighbors for some more tomatoes!
Also, it’s worth noting that while there were two different types of cheese (sharp and garlic cheddar), there was no discernable difference that I could taste either in the sandwich or when I tasted them individually. They did, however, add a delicious cheesiness to the whole experience that I’m not complaining about.
Overall, I’d happily order another sandwich at Em’s. I might ask if they can make nice with their produce pals and add more tomato and maybe try cooking the egg over medium, but that won’t stop me from being a repeat customer.
Eckerlin Meats
Egg and Cheese On A Roll, $4 Eckerlin’s egg and cheese is the only sandwich I had tried prior to this tour, as I often take out of town guests to Eckerlin Meats so they can try goetta. In addition to a full deli, Eckerlin offers their breakfast sandwiches until 2 p.m. on Sundays and 3 p.m. TuesdaySaturday, which is a big plus. You order at the counter and then pick up your food from a window in the hallway, with seating available in the back in addition to Findlay Market’s outdoor tables. The sandwich itself is nothing special or fancy – almost giving Wonder Bread grilled cheese cut on the diagonal vibes. But at $4 a pop, Eckerlin delivers on delicious simplicity.
Served on a slightly sweet North College Hill Bakery white roll with a slice of American cheese, Eckerlin’s egg sandwich comes with zero fixings. I prefer mine with ketchup and hot sauce for a little acid, but other than that, I have no complaints. The egg is cooked over medium, (a rarity for non-homemade sandwiches), allowing for its namesake ingredient to shine through with jammy yolk goodness rather than serving as a mere backdrop to toppings. On the smaller side, you could easily order this sandwich and still save some room for other tasty treats at Findlay. Fast, cheap, simple – Eckerlin’s egg and cheese hits every time. For meat eaters, you can order it with goetta, bacon, sausage, beef bacon or smoked mett for an additional $1.50-$2.50. I suggest ordering the goetta well done so you have a bit more textural diversity from the soft bun. Also, pro-tip, grab yourself a bag of NCH bakery’s cinnamon swirl bread while you’re there for toast or French toast when you get home.
The Bagelry
Bacon Avocado: Fresh cracked scrambled egg, bacon, sliced avocado and sriracha sauce on your choice of bagel with added strawberry jelly and pepper jack cheese, $7.25 plus $1.50 for jelly and cheese
Before diving into the details, it’s worth noting the oddity of reviewing a bacon avocado sandwich without the bacon (I’m vegetarian) – but the pepper jack and strawberry jam optional add-on was too intriguing not to try! I opted for a plain bagel so the sandwich ingredients could shine through, but the mere presence of a bagel in any breakfast sandwich is almost always going to dominate the entire eating experience and this was no exception.
While I was not transported back to NYC, I’m not complaining either. The Bagelry makes a solid bagel for the Midwest. From the first bite, the chewiness slows you down, giving you more time to taste the different ingredients — the creaminess of the avocado, the spice of the sriracha and the sweet surprise of the strawberry jam. Unfortunately, the cheese was more subtle than I’d like and there simply wasn’t enough jam or cheese to go around. Who doesn’t want more cheese and strawberry jam on their egg sandwich!? Especially when you are paying an extra $1.50 for it…
The egg was not scrambled as advertised, but the folded egg was cooked well and did the job just fine. My partner had bacon on his order and while the extra saltiness was appreciated, the bacon appeared to overwhelm, rather than complement the other ingredients. Personally, I prefer a breakfast sandwich where the bread is an element, not the defining feature, but then again, I’m ordering at the BAGELry, so I guess that’s really on me. If you are in the market for a bagel sandwich, the bacon avocado at the Bagelry is a fine choice. The bacon is optional, the pepper jack and jam are not –just ask for a little extra.
Cackleberry
Smalls: Local pasture-raised soft tamagoyaki-style eggs (Japanese rolled omelet), sharp cheddar cheese, caramelized onion aioli and sriracha ketchup in a warm brioche bun, $8.50
Being slightly overwhelmed by the options, I asked for some ordering advice from the friendly attendant in Cackleberry’s 1968 vintage trailer and was told the Smalls and Benny were their two most popular sandwiches. I opted for the Smalls.
Before diving into the sandwich, it’s worth noting that Cackleberry has really nailed the retro hipster aesthetic that they are so clearly after. From the cute egg cartoons to their throwback patio furniture and merch options, Cackleberry is serving up vibes with their “breakfast sammies.”
The aesthetic does not begin and end with their Instagram page and is a clear part of the Cackleberry sandwich eating
experience. Almost like being served a beautifully wrapped present, each “sammy” is half wrapped in black and white checkered paper and then placed facing up in a short white paper bag so you can see each ingredient but not make a complete mess while eating them.
But despite its lovely presentation, the Smalls just didn’t live up to the hype. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a perfectly fine sandwich, but after waiting 25 minutes and spending $8.50 for “the best breakfast sandwich in Cincinnati,” you really want it to sing – the Smalls simply did not sing.
The individual elements of the sandwich were all prepared well, but together they became muddled and uninteresting. I think it came down to a lack of textural and flavor diversity. The Smalls is soft, fatty, creamy, smooth – all perfectly good qualities in their own right, but they don’t make for a complete sandwich. The sharp cheddar cheese wasn’t sharp enough to cut through. The sriracha ketchup blended with the caramelized onion aioli so you didn’t get the desired acid or spice. Both the tamagoyaki-style eggs and the brioche bun were soft and delicious, but neither stood up to the other ingredients. I needed sharpness or acid or crunch or all three, but was left with this muddled soft creamy situation that just didn’t hit the spot.
When you self-describe as the best breakfast sandwich in the city and serve six distinct sandwiches, you’re setting a high bar that I expect you to meet. It’s entirely possible that Cackleberry makes that sandwich and meets that bar, it’s just not with the Smalls.
Brown Bear Bakery
Basic Bear Egg Sando: Souffle egg with cracked black pepper and Maldon salt, zesty dressed arugula, garlic aioli and smoked cheddar on a brioche bun, $9 If you are like me and usually frequent Brown Bear Bakery (BBB) on a lazy weekend morning, you might not even know that they make a breakfast sandwich. Served between 8-11 a.m. MondayFriday, BBB offers their Basic Bear Egg Sandos at $9 a piece. A rarity amongst egg sandwiches, the namesake ingredient was definitely the star of the show with a thick and fluffy souffléd egg that sat atop their house-made brioche bun. The egg is accompanied by a thick piece of smoked cheddar, “zesty dressed arugula,” and while the sandwich description also notes a garlic aioli, I couldn’t distinguish it from the dressing (as they seemed to both blend together in a flavorful dijon-y complement to the sandwich).
Overall, the Basic Bear Egg Sando is well balanced with each ingredient maintaining its own distinct flavor, allowing you to appreciate it in its own right, while still playing well with its neighbors. For example, unlike other sandwiches where you don’t get any heat from the pepper jack or sharpness from the
cheddar, you just taste cheese, here you can taste the smoked cheddar. And while I’m not usually a fan of smoked cheeses, it works, complementing the peppery arugula and egg-forward star quite nicely. But, while it pains me to say it, the downside to this sando is the house-made brioche bun. Don’t get me wrong, BBB makes a perfectly good brioche and they clearly put a lot of time and effort into making the roll, I just don’t think it’s the right fit for this sandwich. First off, it’s messy. As I was eating, my fingers quickly became greasy and covered in poppy seeds. It’s possible this is just too rich of a dough and the sando might be better served with a different bread entirely. I’d happily take a rustic sourdough for some crunch, two thick slices of shokupan if they want to go all in on the airy lightness the sandwich is already serving, or perhaps just a softer brioche more akin to Cackleberry’s. In any case, I need a different vehicle to maximize the eating experience for this otherwise solid egg-forward breakfast sandwich.
Young Buck Deli
Biscuit Sandwich: Nana’s All-Butter Biscuits, molasses and black pepper bacon or sage breakfast sausage, pimento cheese and sunny side up egg, $13
Let me start by saying this is not a first-date sandwich. I repeat, this is not a first-date sandwich. You are going to make such a mess eating this thing that you will need the security of a committed long-term relationship if you are seen just one bite in. And all this mayhem starts with the pop. One of the most satisfying parts of eating an egg sandwich is the pop of the yolk. And my friends, Young Buck Deli’s biscuit sandwich with its perfectly cooked sunny side up egg has that pop. While the runny yolk makes a mess, it’s also what makes it a real egg sandwich. Next up, we have the pimento cheese. Sometimes pimento cheese can be bland or one note, but this one is flavorful and given their generous portioning, oozes everywhere. And what, might you ask, holds together this oozy yolky mess of goodness? Why Nana’s delicious, flaky, all-butter biscuit of course! Well, “holds together” is a bit of a stretch given that the biscuit is also falling apart, but damn is it good. I’ve never had a Nana, but now I wish I did so she could make me these biscuits all the time. And, to top it off, you can choose between the deli’s black pepper bacon or sage biscuit sausage (or go without for a vegetarian version). I had neither and must say the sandwich was still quite good. My partner ordered the bacon, which was reportedly cooked well done, adding a nice salty crispiness to the dish without overtaking the whole flavor profile.
All in all, while I personally prefer a slightly less messy, more contained sandwich-eating experience, when it comes to flavor and texture, Young Buck Deli’s biscuit sandwich won’t let you down. Just be sure to pack some extra napkins.
Restaurateurs Share How they Make their Menus Stand Out in Greater Cincinnati
BY BRYN DIPPOLD EATS
Cincinnati has earned the title of “foodie city.” We already had “beer city,” “pork city” and “chili city” (the last of which isn’t always approved by self-proclaimed foodies), and it was only natural that earning the moniker would come along next.
In a sea of new restaurants (over 50 opened in Cincinnati in the first three quarters of 2023 alone), bars, pubs, coffee shops, delis and old standards, how can a place distinguish itself? And most importantly, distinguish a menu? There are only so many ways to reinvent the wheel (or a hamachi collar).
CityBeat spoke with local restaurateurs José Salazar and Jacob Trevino about this process, and how they are able to stand out from the white-chef-coated crowd.
Trevino, founder and CEO of Gorilla Cinema Presents, says that it all depends on the concept.
“For Lonely Pine, we knew we wanted to create a no-frills, affordable steakhouse, so the menu revolved around steakhouse classics,” he says. “For Video Archive, we had the concept for a Tarantino speakeasy, so the hard part was creating a $5 milkshake. For Tokyo Kitty, the concept of a Neo-Futuristic karaoke bar came first, and the cocktails came later, becoming more Tiki-Club inspired based on the design of the space.”
Trevino also owns and/or co-manages The Overlook Lodge, Covington Yard, Oakley Greens and The Highball, which will be opening this fall.
Salazar, who is chef and owner of Mita’s, Safi Wine Bar and co-owner of Daylily Deli, also considers the “vibe” of a new idea the first and main thing to consider. “The food, honestly, as someone who’s been cooking and designing
menus…for so long, that is the easiest part,” he says.
Salazar finalizes the menu last, usually, though ideas might and do pop up throughout the process of opening a new restaurant. “It sort of comes together in pieces,” he adds.
For his latest concept, Safi Wine Bar, the menu is very small, with about 10 items total. Most are small plates, with the exception of the lamb.
As the owner of many restaurants over the years, Salazar sometimes reinvents his own ideas. After 10 years of operation at Salazar, his namesake restaurant closed back at the beginning of the year in order for a new and exciting concept to take its place. “Salazar 2.0” will move to a larger location, but the original spot at 1401 Republic Street in Over-the-Rhine will take on a new identity.
Like Salazar, Trevino has told CityBeat before that some of his concepts are going to be “flipped every five years,” meaning Trevino makes more menus than most, something he does alone.
“Typically, I create the first cocktail menu solo for each concept,” he says. “I’m creating a sandbox and an identity for the menu, and then, hopefully, you bring on some amazing bartenders to add to the story. It’s a bit like being in a band where I might write the music, and then someone else comes in with the lyrics or puts their own spin on the idea we’ve created with the space.”
While Trevino usually makes his cocktail menus alone, Salazar works with a collaborator, usually whoever is running that kitchen. “Whoever’s in that role is going to be somebody that I lean on,” he says.
Salazar also has a corporate chef, Andy Hiner, who also gives input and helps with logistics and sourcing.
In a world where “trends” rule, especially food trends (see: the recent craze of cucumber salads), Trevino doesn’t try to follow them. To him, food and drink creation is a part of self-expression.
“Most of my inspirations come through travel or the places I have lived, so while I may pick up on trends just by being in the world and experiencing our industry, I am not actively looking online or reading, saying, ‘What are they doing in New York?’” he says. “It’s more than I haven’t seen these flavors before, or I want a cocktail to look like this, so let’s reverse engineer what it would take to create that.”
Salazar feels similarly. “Having a true affinity for something or feeling like there’s some meaning behind whatever it is that I’m doing, it has to speak to me,” he says. “It can’t just be something that I’m doing because I think it satisfies a trend.”
In Cincinnati, and in most cities, it can be hard to differentiate your menu and concept. But restaurateurs and chefs tend to learn from each other and even draw inspiration from each other, which Trevino says can be difficult.
“It is hard to be 100% original anymore,” he says. “The human palate only likes so many combinations of flavors, and at this point in our collective culinary journey, it would be hard to believe that you have come up with something that no one has done.
“However, I think that is part of the fun of this industry. I think it comes back to being true to yourself and your vision.”
While Salazar doesn’t check the menus of other restaurants to draw inspiration, he does go out to eat (not as much as he’d like to, he adds), so he knows what the scene is like. “There’s going to be some overlap regardless,” he says. “None of us are reinventing anything or inventing anything.”
Early in his career, Trevino was driven by making every item innovative and new. But he actually got the best advice of his career from the other voice in this story: José Salazar.
“I pitched him foie gras bourbon with cherry compote,” Trevino says. “His only question was, ‘Is it good?’ Innovative and different is great, but if no one drinks it,
or they can’t connect with the ingredients, it doesn’t matter.”
Salazar expands on this sentiment. “Some chefs make a mistake about leading their decisions with their ego,” he shares. “At the end of the day…it’s about what people want. If I love it and everyone else doesn’t, then it doesn’t really matter.”
Both Salazar and Trevino have been in the bar and restaurant industry for decades, and both know how to craft a good menu. The two of them own and operate some of the most popular restaurants and bars in Cincinnati. In a city teeming with food, nightlife and cocktails, they have managed to stand out without settling in, which Salazar knows is important.
“I think one of the biggest things that holds people back is feeling like they’ve got it all figured out and they don’t make any mistakes,” Salazar says. “If you go into any day with that mentality that you’ve kind of won the game, you are not going to grow.”
For more information about José Salazar and his restaurants, visit instagram.com/chefjosesalazar.
For more information about Jacob Trevino and Gorilla Cinema Presents, visit gorillacinemapresents.com.
Jacob Trevino
PHOTO: PROVIDED BY JACOB TREVINO
Jose Salazar
PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER
MUSIC
Relentless Chaos
Ohio band Miss May I launches a new festival dedicated to showcasing national and local metal acts.
BY LOGAN TURNER
The Queen City better be ready to throw down in the pit because a new heavy metal festival is coming to town. Ohio’s very own Miss May I is showcasing electric rock acts in a new festival, Relentless Fest. The single-day festival will take place at the Madison Theater in Covington on Nov. 3.
The festival will showcase 10 different acts, including national acts like Born of Osiris, In Hearts Wake and Traitors, as well as local acts like Coldharbour, Denihilist and Glassworld. All the action will be wrapped up by Miss May I as they close out the show as the host band.
With so many acts on a single-day bill, there’s bound to be something any metalhead could enjoy. There are even a few things fans of Miss May I can already look forward to as the band has announced that they will be playing their debut album, Apologies Are for the Weak, in full. This album features many highlights from Miss May I’s catalog like “Forgive and Forget” and “Architect ” All this is in support of an announcement the band made back on July 11, when they told their fans that they had plans to re-record their debut album and release it via their new deal with Solid State Records. The re-release is meant to be a celebration of the 15th anniversary of the album. The refreshed tracks are available to stream now, and preorders for anniversary merchandise
are still available on Miss May I’s website.
The festival is being billed as the “First Annual Relentless Fest,” which seemingly implies that the Ohio-based band is looking to set up a long-term future for this annual showcase, and they’re doing it close to home. Not only does hosting the show close to Cincinnati help support the local heavy metal scene, but it also allows local acts to perform with established touring groups, providing them with a platform that includes a larger and more diverse audience.
To get an idea of what something like this can mean to the local rock and metal scene, CityBeat caught up with a few of the local acts featured on the bill.
Jordan Melsop, the lead vocalist of the metal band Denihilist, spoke about what getting invited to perform at a show like this meant to him and his band.
“For us, even being invited to play the fest is an honor and we are very thankful to be a part of it and get to share the night with all the other bands there,” Melsop said. “Our immediate reaction was just the feeling of excitement. Not just because it’s going to be a big fest, but just seeing everyone we grew up playing with and the bands we grew up watching that we all get to be a part of something as cool as this.”
This feeling of excitement and togetherness is shared with others CityBeat spoke with. Jacob Wallace, the
lead vocalist of Coldharbour, explained what he and his band anticipate the most when playing shows like Relentless Fest.
“The comradery you get from performing with fellow metalcore musicians is always such a blessing, especially being able to drive home and sleep in your own bed at the end of the show,” Wallace said. Wallace clarified that having local shows like this is a great way to get more eyes on local acts without having to sacrifice time on the road doing a tour. “We are limited by life circumstances on touring, so being able to play shows like this means a lot.”
Clearly, this show means something significant to the local acts that made the bill. With several mid-sized venues shutting their doors over the past couple of years, it’s gotten increasingly more challenging for local acts to find their way through the Cincinnati music scene. Fewer venues have equated to fewer opportunities. Wallace elaborated on this sentiment and how shows like Relentless Fest could help in some ways.
“Lots of small to medium-sized venus have died out, causing less traffic in our area,” Wallace said. “There are still amazing promoters and bands that live here, so hopefully having this show will remind tour managers that Cincinnati is still on the map, and, in my opinion, one of the strongest markets for metalcore/ deathcore in the whole country.”
This idea the Relentless Fest could go
beyond just a one-year, one-off event was shared by Melsop. He explained that this could be a great opportunity for local acts to showcase all the work they put in and that this could be something that lasts for years to come.
“I think after the fest this would be a cool opportunity for Relentless Fest and Madison Theater to do something like this every year and put smaller bands on the bill that bust their ass. It’s a great showcase of not just the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky scene, but just heavy music in general.”
Relentless Fest seems to already be giving back to the local metal scene in a huge way. All the local acts seemingly can’t wait to showcase their talents in front of a grateful audience, and it seems like the inaugural Relentless Fest is poised to be a night none of these bands will forget.
If you want to support Miss May I and their efforts to bring a new metal festival to the local area, tickets are currently on sale now on relentlessfest.com. You can also find tickets on Miss May I’s website, along with all the merchandise for their 15th-anniversary edition of Apologies Are for the Weak. If you wish to support any of the local acts mentioned, all bands are currently active on social media.
Relentless Fest takes place Nov. 3 at Madison Theater. More info: relentlessfest.com.
Miss May I
PHOTO: RAW POWER MANAGEMENT
Southside Johnny Discusses Impressive Career Ahead of Cincinnati Show
BY GREG GASTON
When you think of New Jersey, certain iconic images are evoked: the Shore and boardwalk, The Sopranos, Atlantic City and a vintage style of horn-fueled rockn-soul music. John Lyon, a Neptune, New Jersey, native, has been playing and exporting this music around the world for almost 50 years now.
Better known as Southside Johnny for his early love of Chicago blues, Lyon and his band, the Asbury Jukes, recorded their classic debut, I Don’t Want to Go Home, in 1976. This influential record shaped the sonic print for all that was to come, melding Steven Van Zandt’s, the Jukes’ guitarist, major role as producer/songwriter, Bruce Springsteen’s key songwriting and liner note contributions and ‘60s singers Ronnie Spector and Lee Dorsey on guest vocals. All this juiced up the Jukes’ trademark sound of tough, raucous R&B-injected rock with the feistiest three-man horn section this side of Memphis.
Lyon spoke by phone with CityBeat from his home on the New Jersey shore about his roots as a performer. “I love listening to music and grew up doing that. But in becoming a great performer, you grow up listening to people like Ray Charles, and you realize that you’re a part of that whole world now. It’s still a thrill to me, and I can’t believe I’ve gotten away with it for so long.”
He explains, “There’s a lot of confidence that comes from people wanting to hear your music. And when they come see you, they know what they’re going to get — which gives you the confidence to be funny or change things in the set every night, but it takes time to develop that. I had a great role model in Bruce Springsteen. He was always changing things, doing different things. I mean, I saw Iggy and the Stooges when they came to Asbury Park, and thought, ‘That’s freedom,’ to do whatever you want onstage. You just learn from the people you watch that it doesn’t have to be the same. There should be some mystery to it, some excitement — you can’t just go through the motions.”
Inspired by this kind of megawatt charisma on the Shore’s club scene at places like the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, Southside evolved into a rousing, magnetic frontman with a gritty blues wail and stage presence to burn. He and the Jukes would play three or four sets a night at local clubs, sometimes with members of the E Street Band sitting in live and on record. With the competitive allure of NYC
and its budding Lower East Side punk scene just over an hour away, some Jersey bands stood on the edge between record deals and oblivion.
But the Jukes’ horn section didn’t exactly make the record labels rush in. Because of their connection to late ‘50s doo-wop and early ‘60s rock and roll — the retro Sha Na Na factor — horns were considered then as nostalgic, dated instruments, despite the success of Stax Records and its Memphis Horns lineup.
“I mean, people would wonder, ‘What are they doing?’ as we added horns,” Lyon says. “A lot of record companies didn’t want to hear anything about horns — if you weren’t Chicago or Blood, Sweat & Tears, they didn’t want to hear it. I remember attending one of the first consultants for radio, way back in ’77, giving a lecture, and he said, ‘Horn bands are dead’. I went, ‘Wow, thanks a lot, I’m just putting out my second album, and now I’m dead.’ That’s the kind of thing you ran into with radio stations back then — they relied on consultants, and this guy was a big Gentle Giant fan (prog rock). So that was a natural thing for him to think, but for me, it was why don’t you just punch me in the mouth?’”
Decades passed and thousands of gigs and dozens of records forged
the Jukes into a tight, big band collaboration, even though many members have come and gone. Lyon’s contagious energy still bounces off the stage; he’s a hyperactive showman, all smiles, sweat and swagger. In gauging his exuberance, it looks like he would rather be onstage than anywhere else.
Cleveland International Records recently released Live in Cleveland ’77, a live record and oft-booted classic, documenting Southside and the Jukes’ live prowess early on at the Agora Club. It’s an exultant showcase of prime originals mixed with soul and blues covers, their standard set, and Spector steps in for a special guest appearance. They encore with Sam Cooke’s “Having a Party,” a familiar closer, and it sounds like the crowd stampedes the stage just to join the party.
Southside has also released solo records without the Jukes, including two recent riveting covers collections: Grapefruit Moon: The Songs of Tom Waits with LaBamba Big Band, and Detour Ahead: The Music of Billie Holiday. It’s a treat to hear Lyon trade vocals with Waits on songs like “Walk Away,” their gruff soul voices swinging low over the jazzy orchestration. His interpretive skills also shine on the Holiday set, and Lyon’s throaty bellow
and bluesy harmonica playing imbue Lady Day’s songs with masculine perspective.
Lyon speaks of the Jukes’ long-term connection with Ohio, always one of their favorite tour stops: “Kid Leo, the Cleveland DJ, was playing the demo and the first record early on, and it got played in Akron, Columbus, so we had great Ohio audiences all over. We always came back, especially when they asked us to play the BBQ contests — we liked that a lot. Jeff Kazee, the Jukes’ keyboardist, is from Lima, Ohio, and he’s a crazy Reds fan. Just what I need: an expert on Ohio!”
Next year will be Southside Johnny and the Jukes’ 50th year as a band. But Lyon would rather not consider its significance as he aptly sums up his credo. “I don’t want to think about it,” Lyon says. “I do what I do for me. I do it because I have a certain loyalty to the band and the audience — and I love getting on stage. I don’t think about legacy. I don’t think about the past, I try to avoid the future and I certainly don’t want to live in the moment, so I’m kind of stuck.”
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes play Bogart’s on Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. More info: bogarts.com.
Southside Johnny PHOTO: JEFF CRESPI
SOUND ADVICE
RAY LAMONTAGNE
Oct. 4 • Andrew J Brady Music Center
On Oct. 4, renowned American singersongwriter Ray LaMontagne will appear at the Andrew J Brady Music Center. In 2004, LaMontagne released his debut album, Trouble, and since then has released a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful records.
The 51-year-old New England native, with a seemingly unending wealth of soulful and accessible songs, has spent the last few decades writing his name in the annals of singer-songwriter history and continues to fill its pages with new material.
Growing up in Nashua, the picturesque “getaway town” in southern New Hampshire, LaMontagne had little interest in school, spending most of his time pursuing various artistic activities, and once he graduated from high school, decided to move to Maine where he began working in a shoe factory.
Just before the dawn of the new century, LaMontagne awoke one morning to the sounds of Stephen Stills emanating from his alarm clock. And it was this moment of enlightenment that made him decide to quit his job and pursue a career in music.
For the next few years, with guitar in hand, and with his signature velvet voice, LaMontagne honed his craft by playing in local venues like the Oddfellow Theatre in Maine and writing his own material. Then, in the early 2000s, LaMontagne appeared at a music festival in Maine and there caught the attention of a business executive named Ron Clayton, who introduced LaMontagne to the publishing company Chrysalis Music. In 2004, after recording the songs for his first album, Trouble, the record was sold to RCA, which then launched LaMontagne into a career that would make him a Grammy-winning international star. Cincinnati has played host to countless singer-songwriters over the years. From local headliners like Over the Rhine to megastars like Bob Dylan, the Queen City has been a magnet for the introspective and melancholic solo artist. But rarely has an iconic musical heavyweight made Cincinnati their international tour kickoff city like LaMontagne did in 2016, performing at Riverbend’s PNC Pavilion.
The local LaMontagne fanbase, which has only grown since that 2016 performance, will be treated to an unforgettable fall evening that celebrates LaMontagne’s new album, Long Way Home, and his long-awaited
return to Cincinnati.
Ray LaMontagne will appear at The Andrew J Brady Music Center, along with Gregory Alan Isakov on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. More info: bradymusiccenter.com. (Eric Bates)
CHROMEO
Oct. 10 • MegaCorp Pavilion
Chromeo’s love of cheesy, ‘80s-style sonics and even cheesier sense of romance keeps on pimp-strutting more than two decades after David “Dave 1” Macklovitch and Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel joined forces. The duo first met in the mid-‘90s while attending a fancy French college in Montreal, eventually joking that they are the “only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture.”
Chromeo’s second full-length album, 2007’s Fancy Footwork, introduced the duo to a wider audience behind electrofunk tunes as catchy as they are absurd (cue “Tenderoni,” which offers this lyrical insight: “For sure if I tell you how to do my dance/Baby, then you’ll let me get in those pants.” But don’t get the wrong idea — these guys are tongue-incheek playful rather than outright lewd. Need touchstones? Think Kool & the Gang, Prince’s Dirty Mind, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Beck’s Midnite Vultures rolled into one ecstatic emission.
“It was really the fact that we both discovered this kind of music at the same time,” Macklovitch said of the duo’s influences in an interview with NPR earlier this year. “You know, being from immigrant families, our parents did not listen to funk music or even, like, any kind of ‘80s-influenced music. Nobody listened to Prince or Sly and
the Family Stone, really. So, when we were teenagers, we kind of discovered all these sounds through hip-hop music and the original samples and so on. We fell in love with it together, and that passion and that fascination never left us. And with Chromeo, the idea was to draw from that to create something of our own.”
Chromeo’s sixth album, this year’s Adult Contemporary, finds the duo
moving into a more — wait for it — mature direction. Album opener
“(I Don’t Need A) New Girl” admits the playboys are ready for a less promiscuous approach: “But, baby, you keep all my attention/Since you stepped in the frame/I feel like this is an education/There’s new rules to the game.”
That’s not to say the hook-laden arrangements aren’t as saucy as ever
Ray LaMontagne
PHOTO: MATTHEW STRAUBMULLER
Chromeo
PHOTO: FIONA GARDEN
— Macklovitch’s sing-speak vocals and glitchy guitar work and Gemayel’s versatile musicality (he handles keyboards, bass, synths and talk box) remain the focal point, driven home via glossy production work so sleek it makes Chappell Roan seem gritty. Chromeo & The Midnight play MegaCorp Pavilion on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. More info: promowestlive.com. (Jason Gargano)
YUNG GRAVY
Oct. 11 • Bogart’s
Yung Gravy is coming to Cincinnati on his “Grits & Gravy Tour,” and his fans, otherwise known as the “Gravy Train,” are eagerly anticipating his arrival. Standing at 6 feet, 8 inches and often sporting a colorful, retroinspired outfit with shades to match, the Minnesota-born rapper has
BEING DEAD
Oct. 27 • MOTR Pub
Being Dead is hard to pin down. Here’s what we know: The band lives in Austin, Texas, and is currently comprised of three people: Falcon Bitch, who sings, sometimes plays guitar and sometimes plays drums; Cody Dosier (also known as Gumball and/or Shmoofy), who sings, sometimes plays guitar and sometimes plays drums; and Nicole RomanJohnston, who plays bass. Falcon and Dosier are the main songwriters and the best of friends. They met at some point in the last decade but getting them to clarify where and when has proven elusive. During a recent live performance at the indispensable KEXP studios, host Cheryl Waters coaxed this out of Falcon, who directed her answer to Dosier: “We met at a chocolate factory. I was doing experimental confectionery stuff, and you were interning. Your last name was Buckets at the time.”
made a name for himself through his breakout hits and eclectic charm.
Originally a SoundCloud rapper, the artist’s “big break” came in 2017 with the growing popularity of his famous songs, “Mr. Clean” and “1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot.” Both feature samples of The Chordettes’s “Mr. Sandman” and Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett’s “Don’t Look Any Further,” respectively. Known for his frequent use of samples from popular tracks from the ’50s-’80s, Yung Gravy interpolates the samples to fit his playful blend of hip-hop, funk and vintage sounds. Pulled together by his smooth and deep-toned voice flowing over the beat, Yung Gravy’s Casanova persona melds with his outlandish lyrics in a fun-loving way.
Gravy has six studio albums under his belt, along with eight EPs, 31 singles and one mixtape released in December 2016 titled “Thanksgiving’s Eve.” His most recent release in early August, Serving Country, switched things up from his previous albums in a big way. The setlist for the “Grits & Gravy Tour” features tracks from the album like “My Garage,” featuring Zac Brown, and “Lone Ranger.” Alongside the newer releases are the oldies but goldies like “Cheryl,” “oops!,” and “Betty (Get Money),” which hit No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 list in July 2022. An easygoing and charming demeanor, paired with somewhat ludicrous but downright catchy lyrics and beats surely makes for a lively performance by Yung Gravy.
Yung Gravy plays Bogart’s at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11. More info: bogarts.com. (Alanna Marshall)
Biographical shenanigans aside, Being Dead is a musical anomaly, an endlessly curious entity that combines rudimentary chops with a playfulness and creativity few can match. For the uninitiated, a melding of The Mamas & the Papas with Parquet Courts comes to mind, as does any number of ramshackle outfits that have reveled in this kind of stuff — catchy garage pop rife with infectious boy/girl vocal harmonizing and lyrics about characters like Godzilla and Frazier Crane to more mundane stuff like bad dreams and the fact that “rock and roll hurts, baby.”
Being Dead’s full-length debut for Bayonet Records, last year’s When Horses Would Run, features addictive tunes that move in fun and unpredictable directions, as if Jonathan Richman blessed Falcon Bitch and Dosier with his goodnatured songwriting secrets. Recorded with the help of ace producer John Congleton, the recently unveiled follow-up, EELS, is even better, 16 songs sure to put a smile on your face on a consistent basis. The mood ranges from pensive to exuberant, often within the same song. See the glorious “Problems,” which laments the end of a party and this unfortunate conundrum: “How can I fix the problem when it is with myself,” as Falcon Bitch and Dosier interweave their vocals with oddly affecting results.
And don’t forget that Being Dead is best experienced in a live setting, wherein their infectious front people trade off playing guitar and drums as both sing sweetly and without shame. Being Dead plays MOTR Pub on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. More info: motrpub.com. (JG)
Yung Gravy
PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/YUNGGRAVY
Being Dead
PHOTO: ATHEN SMITH
HEARING PROBLEM
BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM
Across
1. Zoo chestbeaters
5. Smartphone settings
11. Picnic invader
14. Very dry, to a wine enthusiast
15. Cowboy’s rope
16. Lifelong enemy
17. Strong lagers featured in a miniseries?
19. “Crime Scene Kitchen” channel
20. Percy Bysshe Shelley piece
21. Comprehend
22. “Project Runway” judge Garcia
23. Said an Island off Turkey breathlessly?
27. Fuse unit
30. ___ Lanka
31. Ibbotson who wrote “Which Witch?”
32. Pit with a male deer?
35. “John Wick” star
38. Love personified
39. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” playwright
41. Forgetful actor’s question
42. Soft, glossy fabric
44. Raised the “Come Sail Away” band?
46. Hurricane’s dir.
47. Advisory group to the POTUS
48. Parked it
49. Candies in a horse restraint?
55. Particles with a charge
56. Cartoon scaring word
57. Child’s play
60. Do soundtrack work
61. Casual top worn during a sad time?
65. Founding member of the UN and NATO
66. Prepared, as a salad
67. Enemy’s opposite
68. The “P” of “RPM”
69. Pair for a Senator
70. Footprint part
Down
1. Washboard ___
2. Get ready
3. Italian bread?
4. Filthy quarters
5. The whole shooting match
6. Place to experiment
7. Loomed up
8. Prepares, as potatoes
9. Manufacturer
10. Enhaloed people, briefly
11. Sworn court statements
12. Dismal talk turn-out
13. “A blend of valor and swagger” per Carl Sandburg
18. Pennsylvanian wagon drivers
22. King’s work
24. Response to a pun
25. Notting ___
26. Part of a giggle
27. “Got it!” cries
28. Kiddo’s cry
29. Energy-boosting snack
33. Current fashions
34. Flow back
35. Angel of the WNBA
36. “Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)” singer
37. Privates phone message?
40. Seashore flier
43. Fish that resembles a snake
45. Classic McDonnell Douglas aircraft
49. Raise, in a bridge game
50. Awaken
51. Bit of light reading?
52. “The March King”
53. Poorest possible
54. Epics
58. Capital of Manche
59. Cheer
61. Points of a hiking trip, maybe: Abbr.
62. Miss-named?
63. Door men check them
64. Illuminati symbol
LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS:
