CityBeat | November 13, 2024 by Big Lou Holdings

NEWS

CityBeat ’s ‘Elegy’ Podcast Hosts Roundtable Following Trump-Vance Win

A panel of political experts joined the final episode of “Elegy: The Many Myths of JD Vance” to talk about the presidential election outcome.

BY MADELINE FENING

A panel of political experts joined the final episode of “Elegy: The Many Myths of JD Vance” to talk about the presidential election outcome.

BY MADELINE FENING

CCityBeat’s limited-series podcast about JD Vance, “Elegy: The Many Myths of JD Vance” released its final episode on Nov. 8, featuring a roundtable discussion on the Republican presidential victory.

ityBeat’s limited-series podcast about JD Vance, “Elegy: The Many Myths of JD Vance” released its final episode on Nov. 8, featuring a roundtable discussion on the Republican presidential victory. The roundtable was hosted by CityBeat’s Madeline Fening, “Elegy” host Ashley Paul, University of Cincinnati political scientist David Niven, Ohio Capital Journal Editor-in-Chief David DeWitt and the host of Appodlachia, John Isner.

The roundtable was hosted by CityBeat’s Madeline Fening, “Elegy” host Ashley Paul, University of Cincinnati political scientist David Niven, Ohio Capital Journal Editor-in-Chief David DeWitt and the host of Appodlachia, John Isner.

Keep reading for highlights from the roundtable discussion, and visit

the “Elegy” feed on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to hear the full episode.

This episode was recorded on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Madeline Fening: Former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance, a Middletown native, will be the next President and Vice President of the United States. Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, winning every swing state and the popular vote. Harris has conceded the race at this point.

Polling was showing a slight lead for Harris before Election Day, or at least a race that was much closer than what we ended up seeing. Did the polls get it wrong in the same way we saw in 2016? What’s the difference here?

David Niven: Well, I think the bottom line is, polling is more art than science than we’d like to admit. And polls are inherently built around a projection of exactly who’s going to vote. And you don’t know. The secret sauce of it is you’re mixing the respondents that you get with a waiting factor to try and

account for who’s going to vote and who doesn’t.

You know, 2016 and 2024 underweighted the Republican vote, and 2022 underweighted the Democratic vote, it’s not an easy thing to do. And in a country that is closely divided, it makes all the difference in terms of our expectations.

David DeWitt: Speaking of trying to predict who will vote and who will not vote, there was a significant drop-off in voting between 2020 and 2024. And I think people staying home had a big

JD Vance holds his first solo campaign rally as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee at Middletown High School on July 22.

PHOTO: LYDIA SCHEMBRE

JD Vance holds his first solo campaign rally as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee at Middletown High School on July 22.

PHOTO: LYDIA SCHEMBRE

effect on the results that we’re seeing.

Fening: Speaking of polling, this question is for Ashley Paul: Exit polls are showing that slightly more men were likely to be Trump voters in 2024 versus 2020, but there was also a jump in male Latino voters – in 2020, 36% of male Latino voters chose Trump over Biden, but that number jumped to 54% in the Trump versus Harris race this year. We also saw a big jump in young voters choosing Trump. In 2020, 36% of voters between the ages of 18-29 voted for Trump, but that number jumped to 42% in 2024.

We cannot understate how much alternative media and influencers played a key role for both campaigns, but especially the Trump-Vance campaign. Like, when Trump and Vance went on Joe Rogan’s podcast and Theo Von’s podcast – which voters do you think Trump and Vance connected with the most in these spaces?

Ashley Paul: There are two kinds of perspectives I want to bring in. One, as someone who’s worked in marketing and obviously storytelling here with you guys, but also just seeing things in my own life.

It’s who the New York Times calls “target persuadables and low propensity voters.” Obviously, the target persuadables in this case were young, some say under 30, all races but specifically non-white males that they were trying to target with these kinds of social media strategies or invade those spaces. I think Hasan Piker kind of talked about how like these spaces have been commandeered by Republicans and at least right-leaning sort of politics and culture, right? So, it’s not just specifically men who have voted who are in those spaces. It’s men who haven’t voted – low propensity, right? I know in my own life, personally, someone very close to me and my family has never voted. They are also a non-white 30-year-old male who hangs out in these kinds of spaces. And for most of the election cycle, they thought they were voting for RFK Jr. Or not voting. And at the last minute, decided to vote for Trump. I think what’s so interesting about that is that it’s not that we should have seen it coming or it was super unexpected or anything like that. It’s just that, how clear and defined and targeted and laser-focused Vance specifically and Trump have been in this specific demographic I think showed huge returns when it comes to the voting numbers.

John Isner: I mean, I’m in that demographic. I don’t listen to Theo Von, but I’m a 30-year-old. I’m a white male, but still in that male category that they deem persuadable. And if you think

about it, look at the narrative that they created throughout – made Democrats look like the anti-man party, the party against men. And what does that do? It riles people up.

That’s the entirety of a presidential election. It’s not to just convince people to vote for you, it’s also to convince people not to vote for the other guy. That’s the biggest issue that we saw in this election. Donald Trump and JD Vance did a fantastic job of coming out and saying, it’s not what I’m going to do for you. It’s what they’re going to do to you. And that’s the difference that we saw between the two. And I think that’s where Donald Trump, just like in 2016, was able to capitalize.

DeWitt: Just something that stuck out to me was how effective it was to go for this online, this very online strategy compared to previous cycles. I think of the vaunted Obama ground games of 2008 and 2012. Kamala had a billion dollars compared to 380 million for Trump. Trump exported his ground game to third-party vendors and focused a lot of his efforts on doing these online forums, these online town halls and things like that. And I don’t know if it’s a long term shift in campaigning toward fully digital like this, but I think it was very effective, especially in the demographics you mentioned, just young people in general, especially young men, but even young women made a more rightward shift this election. And I think that that very online type of culture we’ve got going is not going away anytime soon.

Fening: Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy was held up as sacred text to make sense of Trump’s win in 2016. That book then propelled Vance to eventually become Trump’s 2024 running mate in an election that has many Americans asking the same question they originally turned to Hillbilly Elegy to answer: Why did Trump win? What do you think is different this time around?

Isner: If you look back at the 2016 election, it was easy to pinpoint the states that flipped to Trump. And a lot of people started to narrate that it was only Appalachian and only rural voters that voted for Donald Trump, which we know when you look down the demographics of the voters, that’s not true, but it was easy for the national media to take that from that book and say, ‘Aha, we got it! This is why they won.’ And it’s just an easy running point. In 2016, you had Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton, both non-incumbents, right? This year you have Donald Trump and

Harris. There’s an interesting dynamic there because once you strip Biden off the ballot, you create this new power struggle: Does Trump then become almost an incumbent-like politician at that point? Because he’s the one who has something he can run on. Not to mention a massive difference is we’ve never seen a presidential campaign switch in July of that election year and then all of a sudden put someone new on the ballot.

Trump did a much better job of connecting deeper with voters because he had four years to campaign. That’s all he’s been doing for four years. She had three months. Big difference, right? Another key issue here too is if you go back to the 2016 election, just look at rural voters in general, right? When it came to ballot initiatives, they stayed on the conservative side. If they voted for Donald Trump on ballot initiatives, they voted conservatively. That’s not what we saw in this election. In the 2024 breakdown, if you look, people split tickets when it comes to who they voted for for the presidency and who they voted for for ballot initiatives. Look at Nebraska. It’s a great example, right? Nebraska went heavily for Donald Trump. They just supported raising the minimum wage there and being able to have paid leave. Missouri, same thing — raising minimum wage, paid leave. In general you saw ballot initiatives that in 2016 would not have passed that did this time. So that tells you more about the politicians on the ballot than it does the voter, I think.

Paul: For me, I’m looking at what’s happening in Michigan. I’m from Northwest Ohio. I grew up in Toledo, very close to Michigan. And Michigan flipping, for me, I think, was the biggest shock of the night, truly. And also not a shock, because if you look at the breakdown, so the largest shift –it’s the 9.2% Republican gain – was in Wayne County, and that’s where Dearborn is. That has an 8% Arab American population, so it’s blue, it’s very blue. And it had a 9.2% Republican shift. That is the largest Republican shift in all of Michigan. So all of these rural Michigan voters who voted for and against their Democratic governor, they didn’t change nearly as much towards Republicans as the bluest part of the state. That is because there were people not turning out or they were voting for the other, you know, the other candidates, the third party candidates, which was 161,000 of them. So this whole idea, as John was saying, of the rural voter and that’s the people we need to really dig into, it’s bigger than that. It’s that people are voting for Trump who ostensibly for no other reason are Democrat, and it’s

that they’re connecting on something else, and that something else is the cultural element that Vance was so keen to pinpoint.

Fening: David Niven, what do you think about the third party element in this race? Because I felt like we had, maybe for the first time in a while, a third party candidate that people knew about just in general. I mean, RFK Jr. eventually came out in support for Trump, but he was on that radar last night. I’m just curious if you have anything on that.

Niven: So certainly the reality is a lot of Americans say they’d like third party candidates and say they’d like alternatives, but then never actually vote for that third party candidate. And the fortunes of third parties are inextricably tied into the prominence of whatever candidate they’re able to come up with. Third parties have had their moments in the sun at the state level. Jesse Ventura gets himself elected governor of Minnesota a couple of decades ago based on being famous and running as kind of the outsider in the system. I don’t think ultimately it mattered much in 2024 in the outcome. If you look to sort of expand on, what happened? Well, this thing happened everywhere. And it’s not just the states that Trump won, it’s the margins that declined in the states that he lost. You look at it, New Jersey was shockingly close number in a state that doesn’t really have rural people. You know, this is a top to bottom triumph of a campaign that was run on the capacity to state their own reality and to sort of perpetuate Trump’s approach, not just to politics, but to life, that there shall never be a consequence to anything one does.

Fening: I want to turn to a couple key issues here that were popping up in this campaign. A big one in this campaign on both sides was immigration. David Dewitt, this question is for you. Since immigration was such a big issue pushed not only by the TrumpVance campaign, but cited by many voters on both sides as one of their biggest factors in who they decided to cast a ballot for in this election, I’d like to know how did the Haitian migrant population in Springfield, Ohio become such a lightning rod for this conversation? And, as a Springfield native yourself, what sort of fallout can we expect to see in Springfield now?

DeWitt: Well, to be clear, I grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio, but my parents are both from Springfield and four of my grandparents lived their whole lives in Springfield. I’ve spent a lot of time in Springfield and I keep going there

because I have a lot of family there. But to answer your question, how did Haitians in Springfield, Ohio become a big topic? Republican politicians ran with that to use as an example of one of these cities where immigrants are “overrunning the city.” Tim Alberta did a great piece in the Atlantic just right before the election where he kind of gave the backstory to where JD Vance blew this up into a national firestorm the day before the debate. So that Monday, JD Vance, according to Tim Alberta’s reporting, he wanted to put his mark, his stamp on the campaign. And he had been marinating in this kind of right-wing agitprop in Springfield about pets supposedly being eaten by the Haitian migrants there, which was first raised by a white supremacist at the city commission meeting. So JD Vance is kind of marinating in that and he decides, you know, let’s go for it. Let’s tweet this out on a Monday and accuse Haitians of eating people’s pets in Springfield. And he does that and Trump’s campaign, according to Alberta, was trying to run a very disciplined campaign, but that was like catnip to Trump, right? So we got to the debate the next day and this had blown up into a national firestorm. And Trump couldn’t resist, and he does that, “they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs” during the debate and it turns into a real kind of tragedy for Springfield. Of course, they doubled down, they lied. They were factually proven wrong and they kept repeating it. Eating the cats and then raising the disease rates and then committing murders – none of that was corroborated, none of it was true, according to local elected officials.

What they’ve promised to do now, we’ll see how much they carry out, but they’ve promised to revoke the legal status of the migrants in Springfield. They’ve promised to obviously deport everyone. They want to send the 12,000 temporary status Haitian immigrants in Springfield back to Haiti. Which is riddled with violence, by the way, right now. Gang violence and the government’s been toppled there and it’s very chaotic. That’s why the people are fleeing Haiti. But there’s also 300,000 other Haitians in the United States that they want to round up and deport, along with the 20 million other immigrants in the country.

And that’s what they’ve said that they’re going to do. Obviously people have raised the factual reality that this is going to be a massive scale operation that’s going to cause a lot of chaos. We’re going to be seeing a lot of crazy things on our TV sets at night and the news if they do try to carry this out. We’re going to be seeing American police kicking down doors and

"So ideally, it’s kind of weird to say, but ideally, Trump just accepts the fact that he’s being handed a really strong economy and doesn’t do too much to mess it up," David Dewitt says. "And again, his plans for the across the board tariffs and stuff, economists, most respected economists say that that’s going to be inflationary. His policies are kind of in conflict there. "

hauling families out of their homes if they carry this out. For Springfield, if they carry that out, they’re going to lose 12,000 factory workers and whatever they’re contributing to the economy, as well as a bunch of restaurants and population.

Fening: Speaking of the economy, perhaps the other biggest issue for voters in this election was the economy, it was our pocketbooks. We know that the cost of living and interest rates, it’s all a very real problem that voters live with every day. But how did Trump and Harris engage in honest solutionoffering on the economy? And why do you think that Trump is perhaps more poised to really rally voters behind his idea of a better economy?

Niven: Selling discontent is Trump’s approach to virtually anything. So, you pick at whatever the point is that you think folks can get riled up about. This objectively is a remarkable economy in terms of low unemployment. This is objectively. Harris was part of an administration that took on a country treading water because of COVID and took it forward. But, you know, they’re not selling a plan so much as they’re selling an attitude. They’re selling a perspective on things. And it would be a lot harder for Trump to sort of run in a celebratory context. So this is the natural playbook for him.

DeWitt: I think one thing that’s significant to point out is that we’ve had reporting in the last week that there’s enormous economic headwinds behind the next administration. And there are, but there has been a lot of discontent. So ideally, it’s kind of weird to say, but ideally, Trump just accepts the fact that he’s being handed a really strong economy and doesn’t do too much to mess it up. And again, his plans for the across the board tariffs and stuff, economists, most respected economists say that that’s going to be inflationary. His policies are kind of in conflict there. I do think that there is a very strong element of this election that was a reaction

against the incumbent administration over how people perceive the economy over the last four years.

Fening: Dave Niven, could you walk us through the process of choosing Vance’s Senate replacement. Who’s gonna be in charge of that?

Niven: Well, Ohio gives that power entirely to the governor, as most states do. Some have taken it away and forced a special election, but here in Ohio, the governor has the power. He can choose anyone who’s eligible to serve in the Senate. So 30-year-old Ohioans, raise your hand, you’re eligible to serve in the Senate. I think the choice that he faces is to either kind of advance, for possibly the last time, a Republican in the traditional Ohio Republican mold that he is of, which is somebody who’s conservative, but might give you a hug rather than somebody from the fire-breathing Trump wing that’s obviously taken over. The other option for him, if he doesn’t want to go in the direction of somebody like a Matt Dolan from his wing of the party, the other option is to try and head off the next nasty Republican primary fight. So for example, right now it looks like the Lieutenant Governor and the Attorney General are on a collision course in a gubernatorial primary. Pick your Lieutenant Governor, put him in the Senate, and you head off that nasty primary.

DeWitt: Other names that I’m hearing that are possible for consideration: We know Secretary of State Frank LaRose. He ran in the primary for Senate as well. We know that he definitely wants it. He’s probably lobbying the governor for it. I don’t know what DeWine thinks about that. Other names that I’ve heard mentioned are Vivek Ramaswamy. He’s looking to do something. He’s making himself very well known after his presidential run. He definitely wants to stay. I think that he’ll be lobbying as well. And then some other just names that I’ve heard are the former GOP chair, Jane Timken, and Congressman Mike Carey,

who just won reelection as well to the U.S. House. So those are basically the names I can think of that I’ve heard mentioned.

Isner: I think that makes it a very interesting race in 2026 because essentially Sherrod Brown could run once again for a Senate seat in Ohio, only two years removed from the Senate. So if the Republicans fumble the bag, so to say, Sherrod Brown has something to run on in 2026 and get back into the Senate, only two years removed. So I think that that’s a very interesting race that could be headed to Ohio.

Fening: We talked earlier about how many in America today are asking the question again, why did Trump win? Why is he going to be the next president? But I’d love to hear from everyone after eight years of Hillbilly Elegy and failed startup ventures and weird interview moments, no bills passed in the Senate…Why is Vance going to be our next vice president?

Niven: Well, I think the most direct answer is he was chosen to never say no to Trump. That’s his main qualification. And he certainly demonstrated that in the campaign. And I think that’s the expectation in the administration. And obviously, as we’ve discussed, he not only echoed Trump during the campaign, he advanced some of the, you know, the angriest, loudest rhetoric of the campaign. In some sense, he is Trumpier than Trump because he’s a little bit more creative. Trump is relying on a lot of things handed to him. Vance helped sort of blow Springfield up single-handedly.

DeWitt: He became really good friends with Donald Trump Jr. And he displayed his willingness to toe the Trump line and be Trump’s strongest defender. And then he proved that he could win an election in 2022. And people like Elon Musk and Don Jr. were promoting Vance. Whereas some more traditional Republican types like Rupert Murdoch and others were promoting somebody like Tim Scott. And Trump went with the Elon Musk, Don Jr. crowd and then went with Vance.

Isner: And Peter Thiel, the guy from PayPal. I mean, that’s the other guy who swayed this entire election and did so out of just pure greed. And rightfully so. I mean, he picked the right winner, right? JD Vance. Make no mistake about it. He has a lot of terrible, terrible traits and qualities and a lack of morals. But all of those things don’t matter when you’re very good at strategy. JD Vance is that.

the gift guide

GREATER CINCINNATI GIFTS FOR EVERY PERSONALITY ON YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING LIST

BY KELSEY GRAHAM

The holidays are here, and we hope to help make gift-giving a breeze with our 2024 Gift Guide. This year, we’ve broken down the list into sections for all the personalities on your list. From foodies, creatives and stoners to sports fans, thrill-seekers and those obsessed with the internet, we hope to make the holidays merry and bright with these gifts you can find in Greater Cincinnati.

for the foodie

Gifts from Findlay Market

1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine; findlaymarket.org

Findlay Market is a foodie haven with shops and restaurants featuring products from around the globe. Spend a day browsing at the market and create a personalized gift basket for the food lovers on your list. For starters, check out the spices at Colonel De, a variety of cold-pressed, flavored olive oils at Kofinas or grab some freshly roasted coffee beans at Urbana. For ultimate flexibility, they even offer gift certificates that can be used with 50 full-time vendors at the market.

Cooking Class at Tablespoon Cooking Co. 1731 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine; tablespooncookingco.com/classes

Tablespoon Cooking Co. offers interactive and flavorful cooking classes for all skill levels. So, whether your recipient is a budding chef or a cook with a plan, this welcoming community makes an excellent gift for any food-loving giftee. With classes focused on making tacos and margaritas, as well as curry and roti, you can find a class that pleases every palate.

Tickets for the Cincinnati Dinner Train

Cincinnatidinnertrain.com

All aboard for a dinner and a show on the Cincinnati Dinner Train! For those on your list who love food and the Queen City, this exciting ride is for them. The dinner train operates from March through December and takes reservations on its website. The menu includes appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts, along with drinks, of course. The train takes guests on a 25-mile round trip, passing sites such as Bond Hill, Lunken Airport, Riverside Drive, Theodore Berry Friendship Park and more.

Food-Inspired Candles from Hoste Shoppe

737 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills; hosteshoppe.com

Foodies will love the asparagus taper candles from Hoste Shoppe in Walnut Hills made of beeswax. Not a fan of asparagus? There are a bunch of other food-related candles, like croissants, an heirloom tomato, avocado and even a farfalle pastashaped candle. They’re the perfect addition to any kitchen or dining room.

Marble and Acacia Wood

Serving Tray from Lucca

126 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine (Findlay Market); luccaworkshop.com/kitchen/ smallwhitemarble Got someone on your list who loves to

Tablespoon Cooking Co. offers a variety of fun cooking classes for the foodies in your life.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

entertain? This marble and acacia wood serving tray from Lucca is an excellent choice. Whether used as the base for a delicious charcuterie board or a means to serve crackers and dip, this engraved serving tray comes in 18 different patterns that are all finished with beeswax so they’re food-safe. They can even double as a stylish jewelry holder.

for the chronically online

Skincare from Launch Party 114 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine; shoplaunchparty.com/collections/skincare

If your giftee is obsessed with scrolling TikTok, there’s a good chance they’re also obsessed with all of the skincare recommendations they find there. Launch Party is your local one-stop shop for all indie beauty and skincare needs. You can find everything from lip tints and cleansers to eye masks and spot patches. They also have a wide selection of makeup, bath and body care items on their website and in their brick-and-mortar store in OTR.

Baked Goods from Sebastian Bakehouse 10269 Summit Parkway, Blue Ash; sebastianbakehouse.com

For those who are food and social mediaobsessed, a gift card to Sebastian Bakehouse is the ideal present. Their selection includes delectable sweet and savory croissants that look as good as they taste. While their brick-and-mortar location at Summit Park is still under construction, they’re hosting pop-ups, which are announced on their Facebook page.

for the stoner

The O-H Chocolate Bar from Story Cannabis 3950 Edwards Road, Oakley; storycannabis.com

Chocolate is almost always a muchappreciated gift, and this Ohio-themed bar enhanced with 100% pure cannabis oil is a winning choice. Each bar is crafted with a milk and dark chocolate blend featuring toffee pieces. And for those who appreciate a little buzz, it’s made with 100mg of THC broken down into 10 mg pieces.

CBD Bath Bomb from the Ohio CBD Guy 2817 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills; ohiocbdguy.com

Treat someone on your list to the ultimate self-care essential: CBD bath bombs from the Ohio CBD Guy. Made with CBD and essential oils, these bath bombs are available in scents to uplift, invigorate, comfort and refresh, and are made with 300 mg of full-spectrum CBD. Even better, they’re made without artificial dyes or preservatives, so they won’t stain your bathtub.

favorite CBD and green stores. Their Thrive MycoMatrix Mushroom Blend is an excellent gift for those who are always looking for the latest and greatest in wellness. Made with a mix of lion’s mane, cordyceps, reishi, chaga, shiitake, turkey tail and maitake, these gummies promote focus and cognitive function, stress relief and boost overall immune wellness.

A Cannabis-Scented Candle from The Candle Lab 1325 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine | 7454 Beechmont Ave., Suite #308, Anderson Township; thecandlelabcincy.com

Looking for a gift outside of edibles? Go for this cannabis-scented candle from The Candle Lab. Made with a soy-wax blend, these hand-poured candles burn for up to 80 hours with a clean cottonpaper wick. You can purchase it online or visit one of their shops to create your unique scent for someone special.

A Book by a Local New York Times Best-Selling Author from Downbound Books

4139 Apple St., Northside; downboundbooks.com

For rom-com-loving friends and family, fellow Cincinnatian Emily Henry’s latest New York Times bestseller, Funny Story, makes an excellent gift. The story follows Daphne as she searches for love after ending her engagement because her fiance realizes he’s in love with his childhood best friend (yikes). This book is a superb read for someone who loves lighthearted stories with twists and turns.

Matcha Tea from Churchill’s Fine Teas 3438 Edwards Road, Hyde Park | 122 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine (Findlay Market); churchillsteas.com

Matcha tea is having a moment on the internet. If you’ve got a matchaobsessed friend on your list, one of Churchill Teas’ matcha blends is sure to be a welcome surprise. From the rich Japanese and Kenyan blend of Izu Green Matcha to a spicy and sweet spiced chai matcha, these loose-leaf teas are always a delight and come highly recommended by tea lovers all over the city. They also have a traditional matcha bamboo whisk to make matcha lattes at home like a pro.

Decorated Glassware from Handzy Shop + Studio 421 W. 6th St., Covington; handzyshopstudio.com/products/ colorful-bows-glass-cup

Cute home and kitchen decor is another winning gift idea, and this etched bow glass is no exception. Whether used for an iced latte, a fizzy cocktail or a refreshing glass of water, this adorable drinking glass will delight anyone who receives it. Plus, there are more designs, including one with colorful smiley faces and another with a floral cowboy theme.

Relax Gummies from Cincinnati Hemp Company 101 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine; cincinnatihempcompany.org

Give the gift of relaxation with Astria Farm’s Creative Chill Delta 9 Gummies from Cincinnati Hemp Company. Each chewy and fruity gummy is made with 10 mg of 100% hemp-derived DELTA 9. These gummies are available in a variety of flavors, including mixed packs, orange, watermelon and blue razz.

Thrive - MycoMatrix Mushroom Blend from Kentucky Botanical Co. 406 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky. | 266 Main St., Suite A, Florence, Ky.; kybotanicalco.com

Kentucky Botanical Co. always tops our Best of Cincinnati lists as one of the voters’

for the thrill-seeker

Season Pass to Kings Island 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason; visitkingsisland.com/season-passes

A Kings Island season pass is a nobrainer for those on your list who can’t get enough of theme parks and roller coasters. All three season pass levels allow the user unlimited visits to the park in 2025 through Labor Day, with the gold and prestige passes giving them access to Halloween Haunt and WinterFest.

Tour of Underground Beer Tunnels Brewingheritagetrail.org/tours Give the gift of history and excitement

Give the gift of relaxation with relaxation gummies from the Cincinnati Hemp Company. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

Find that special person their next favorite read at Downbound Books. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

with a tour of Cincinnati’s underground beer tunnels. The “Built on Beer” tour offers an above- and below-ground experience through the historic Brewery District on the West Side of Over-the-Rhine. Starting at Findlay Market, this tour requires less than half a mile of walking and reveals hundreds of years of Cincinnati’s brewing history.

Walking Cincinnati Book

Josephbeth.com

Thrill-seekers will enjoy months of inspiration and adventures with the Walking Cincinnati: 35 Walking Tours Exploring Historic Neighborhoods, Stunning Riverfront Quarters, and Hidden Treasures in the Queen City. This book includes 35 self-guided tours with a mix of short and long routes. It also provides details about each area’s history and tips on where to eat, drink and shop.

Climbing Fun at Climb Time 4460 Orkney Ave., Oakley | 10898 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; ctoba.com

Give the gift of reaching new heights with a gift card to Climb Time in Oakley or Blue Ash. These rock climbing gyms are open to beginners, intermediate and advanced climbers and offer rental climbing shoes and harnesses. The Blue Ash location is a 7,000-square-foot space specializing in bouldering, while the Oakley facility features a full-service, 50-foot-tall climbing facility.

Book a Haunted Tour with Cincinnati Ghost Tours

Cincinnatighosts.com

Ghost stories, hauntings and more. For anyone on your list with a fondness for the supernatural, the gift of a Cincinnati Ghost Tour will be a sheer delight. Tours are held all year round and start at 8 p.m. for an even spookier feel. It starts at Memorial Hall and takes participants around some of the most haunted places in Cincinnati.

for the sports fan

Engraved Wood Bengals

Coasters from Grainwell

33 W. Pike St., Covington; grainwell.com

Spread Who Dey spirit with these engraved Bengals coasters from Grainwell. Each coaster has a cork backing to protect table surfaces and is finished with a water-resistant poly finish to help prevent wear-and-tear. These coasters can be purchased individually or in packs of two or four.

Cincinnati Recreation Center Golf Gift Card

Cincygolf.org/gift-cards

Give those who enjoy the warmer months something to look forward to with a Cincinnati Recreation Center

(CRC) golf gift card. These gift cards can be redeemed at any CRC golf facility and are good for green and cart fees and balls at the driving range. Note: They are physical cards, so you may need to order online ahead of time to ensure they arrive on time.

FC Cincinnati T-shirt from Cincy Shirts

2709 Observatory Ave., Hyde Park; cincyshirts.com

Cincinnati is home to many rivalries, but one team most Queen City residents can agree on is FC Cincinnati, which makes FC Cincinnati a safe bet for Cincinnati sports fanatics on your list. Featuring FC Cincinnati’s shield logo on soft, screen-printed cotton fabric, this t-shirt is the perfect way for fans to show their pride.

Tickets to a Cincinnati Cyclones Game

100 Broadway, Downtown; cycloneshockey.com

The Cincinnati Cyclones are another beloved team that even East and West Siders can agree on. Whether you’re a hockey fan or not, almost everyone who’s gone to a game has enthusiastically described how fun they are, making this an excellent gift for all ages and interests. They also have a lot of fun theme nights, like Pups n’ Pucks Night, where fans can bring their canine companions, and Throwback Night, which celebrates the Cyclones’ history.

All Over Ohio Socks from Originalitees

Originalitees.com

Do you have someone on your list who is passionate about Ohio sports? Then they need a pair of these Originalitees All Over Ohio socks. With color combos like white and black, red and gray, and blue and orange, these socks are ready to show off anyone’s Buckeye pride no matter what sport they’re watching.

For the Artsy Person

Ornament from Rookwood Pottery

1920 Race St., Over-the-Rhine; rookwood.com

Give the art lovers on your list a piece of history with an ornament from Rookwood Pottery. These tiny delights are elegantly crafted with no detail overlooked. These will look great hung on a tree or used to decorate a wreath to spread good tidings. Choose from cheerful designs, like the Queen City Pig, a happy elephant, a frolicking Fiona the Hippo or a beautiful blue jay.

Charley Harper Print

Charleyharperartstudio.com

The gift of one of Charley Harper’s colorful and geometric prints will surely be a winner for those obsessed with the Queen City and art. This A Day in Eden Park poster is an excellent choice that features Harper’s well-known red cardinal, but there are also a handful of other options to cater to the recipient’s preferences, like prints of national parks.

Cincinnati Art Museum Membership

953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park; cincinnatiartmuseum.org/give-join/membership For the person who has everything, give the gift of almost constant access (when they’re open, of course) to majestic works of art with a membership at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Not only does each membership give recipients free access to all paid exhibits at the museum, but they also get to enjoy Member’s Morning hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Members also get exclusive invitations to special events and discounts on shopping and dining at the museum.

Tickets to a Show

Cincinnati is home to a thriving arts scene, so why not give the gift of a show to a friend or family member? With options including a revolving list of traveling Broadway shows to stunning performances by the Cincinnati Ballet, you’re sure to find a show to mesmerize everyone on your list.

Creative Classes at Silk Road Textiles

6106 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; silkroadcincinnati.com/collections/classes For creative kids and adults, a class at Silk Road Textiles will be a welcome surprise to help them fine-tune a skill or learn something new. With classes like Get to Know Your Sewing Machine, Learn to Crochet, Introduction to Embroidery and more, the artists on your list will enjoy this hands-on experience that will spark inspiration and joy.

Reach new heights with your gift-giving with a gift card to Climb Time.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

Give the artsy person on your list an ornament from Rookwood Pottery.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

ARTS & CULTURE

Hello, Gorgeous!

Funny Girl heads to Cincinnati, cast in tow

Hello, Gorgeous!

Funny Girl heads to Cincinnati, cast in tow

BY NOAH MOORE

AActor Stephen Mark Lukas has seen a lot of the country as a member of the national tour of Funny Girl, playing love interest Nick Arnstein. Originally in the 2022 Broadway revival as an understudy, Lukas’ journey with the show has taken him all over the country. Just last year, the classic musical kicked off its first national tour in decades, playing everywhere from Omaha to New York City, and soon, Cincinnati, telling the story of one charismatic performer, Fanny Brice.

With a score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, the 1964 musical chronicles the rise to fame of comedian and singer Fanny Brice, a real-life figure from the Lower East Side of New York who dreams of fame. She became one of the most well-known Jewish performers of the time, and as her life unfolds, she meets Nick Arnstein, eventually eloping. Through the ups and downs of her career, interspersed with some of the most iconic music of the theater, her charisma and resilience propel her forward in an inspiring and comical gem of musical theater.

ctor Stephen Mark Lukas has seen a lot of the country as a member of the national tour of Funny Girl, playing love interest Nick Arnstein. Originally in the 2022 Broadway revival as an understudy, Lukas’ journey with the show has taken him all over the country. Just last year, the classic musical kicked off its first national tour in decades, playing everywhere from Omaha to New York City, and soon, Cincinnati, telling the story of one charismatic performer, Fanny Brice. With a score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, the 1964 musical chronicles the rise to fame of comedian and singer Fanny Brice, a real-life figure from the Lower East Side of New York who dreams of fame. She became one of the most well-known Jewish performers of the time, and as her life unfolds, she meets Nick Arnstein, eventually eloping. Through the ups and downs of her career, interspersed with some of the most iconic music of the theater, her charisma and resilience propel her forward in an inspiring and comical gem of musical theater.

The classic musical is perhaps bestknown for Barbra Streisand’s star-making performance in the 1968 film version, or more recently for Lea Michele’s

journey from Streisand-obsessed Glee character to full-on Fanny on Broadway in 2022. It was during this production that Lukas got his first dose of Funny Girl, as the understudy for Nick Arnstein.

“I was on stage eight times a week in my ensemble track and then I got to understudy Ramin Karimloo, who was playing Nick Arnstein, and ended up getting to do a run of about three weeks in the role of Nick, opposite Lea,” said Lukas, whose Broadway credits include the hit musical Book of Mormon. “That was really good to get to do it as an understudy, that’s sort of the dream.”

His intermittent performances paid off when he was cast as Nick Arnstein full-time when the show launched its tour last year. Since then, it’s been through several rounds of edits and tweaks, including reinstating Fanny’s song, “People,” and contracting Broadway veteran Harvey Fierstein for book edits. The end result, Lukas says, is something that captures the spirit of the original show with a fresh and new lens.

“It has changed a little bit since Broadway, just because of the practicalities of touring. Harvey Fierstein revised the book and made it very fresh and very funny and very sort of fastpaced,” he says. “There are new songs in

the show that were cut from the original that are all written by Jule Styne. But it is a new Funny Girl. It is really a Funny Girl for the 21st century.”

Beyond the script, Lukas also had the task of portraying a character whose reputation precedes him, with actors such as Omar Sharif and Sydney Chaplin playing the role before him. As an actor, he says, sometimes audiences have expectations of the role before he even enters the stage, but it’s authenticity that really makes a performance.

“There is a trap, I think, with roles in a show like this that people know the movie, they love the movie, they have a portrayal of it in mind. (In a theater), the scale of the performance just has to be different,” he says. “I’ve played opposite six different Fannys by this point and each one brings something new to the role. I’m there to support her and to make sure that I’m honestly responding to what I’m being given from her.”

Providing that support along with the demanding vocals and choreography, plus travel, can take a toll on performers; but for Lukas, it instead presents a unique opportunity to focus on mind, body and spirit, while also taking in the new sights, like art museums.

to find the best coffee and a good gym to help me stay in shape for the show. So that’s my first day. My first, usually, Tuesday morning I’ll go out and try to take a nice long walk around the city that we’re staying in,” he says. “But art museums really have been sort of my saving grace on tour, because I can go be quiet and rest my voice, and get a new perspective of the city that we’re in. It’s just very restorative for me.”

Whether the Cincinnati Art Museum or Skyline Chili, you’re bound to find the 27-member cast and numerous crew members around the city during the show’s two-week run. Audiences itching for a big, classic musical will find their cravings satisfied in this glitzy revival, he says.

“(This show is) a love letter to Broadway and to the Broadway musical and I think that anybody who has an affinity for the big Golden Age classic musicals will really, really enjoy this show,” says Lukas. “It really is an evening that I think has sort of the best of Broadway all in one evening.”

“First off, (in a new city) I always have

Funny Girl comes to the Aronoff Center for the Arts’ Procter and Gamble Hall Nov. 19 through Dec. 1. More info: cincinnatiarts.org.

Hannah Shankman and Stephen Mark Lukas in the National Tour of Funny Girl

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY FOR MURPHYMADE

Hannah Shankman and Stephen Mark Lukas in the National Tour of Funny Girl

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY FOR MURPHYMADE

CULTURE

IIRomance, Resilience and Holiday Magic

Romance, Resilience and Holiday Magic

Cincinnati author Jenna Beall Mueller celebrates the release of her first full-length fiction book, Pop, Fizz,

Clink.

BY KELSEY GRAHAM

Cincinnati author Jenna Beall Mueller celebrates the release of her first full-length fiction book, Pop, Fizz, Clink.

BY KELSEY GRAHAM

f you’re into fun and cozy romantic comedies with a heavy helping of pop culture references, then Pop, Fizz, Clink deserves a spot on your to-be-read list. With an added dose of holiday magic sprinkled throughout, it’s the perfect time of the year for this debut fiction novel by local writer Jenna Beall Mueller to be released.

The plot unfolds over the threemonth holiday season, beginning on the eve of protagonist Bea Parker’s 30th birthday, just days before Thanksgiving. Readers are quickly drawn into Bea’s anticipation as she awaits the results of her latest medical exam, where she quickly learns about her Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. The story takes the reader through Bea’s thoughts and feelings as she digests this information — especially at the same time as she’s about to enter a new decade of life — and shows how she navigates her career, love life and self-image with this new diagnosis. Bea is quirky, creative, hopeful and imperfect, all making her highly relatable and likable, along with her penchant for savvy thrift and antique shop finds. She makes mistakes. She misjudges situations. But she takes the time to self-reflect. And overall, she knows her worth, even if sometimes she loses sight of it.

Composed of short and easy-todigest chapters, it’s easy to get sucked into the plot of this novel and feel as if you’re actually having a conversation with the author. Aside from Bea, the book features a cast of supporting characters that are each unique, down to earth and (mostly) likable in their own way. Bea’s leading love interest is Chris Little, an environmental enthusiast and high school science teacher. While sparks fly almost immediately between Bea and Chris, the reader is left to wonder, along with the leading lady, if Chris is a walking red flag, due to just getting out of a seven-year relationship, or a suitable chase that could happily end in love.

While the novel is a love story, it explores more than just romantic love. Bea’s love life and diagnosis are central to the story, but her relationships with her immediate family members, coworkers and neighbors also play a significant role throughout the novel. One of the most complicated relationships depicted throughout the book is with Bea’s straight-laced and seemingly perfect older sister, Mattie, who Bea goes back and forth between trusting and keeping at arm’s length.

Author Jenna Beall Mueller

However, the true hero of the story is Bea’s blind dachshund, Tony Soprano, who is a symbol of unconditional love and affection that helps carry both Bea through the ups and downs.

Bea’s journey with MS was inspired by Beall Mueller’s own diagnosis of the disease. “I was diagnosed with MS the day before Thanksgiving in 2019,” she said. “My MS was caught early (like Bea’s) thanks to my primary care doctor.” But it wasn’t always obvious to Beall Mueller that’s what the story should be about. “The very first draft was actually my attempt to write a chick-lit version of Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto,” she remembers. “I had the entire novel take place over a single night when all of the guests get stranded at an engagement party during a snowstorm. After another few failed drafts, I realized it was my MS story I wanted to tell, and things finally started to come together.”

From the very first draft to the last one, it took about two years for the novel to fully come to life. While Beall Mueller had success with an agent selling her children’s books, the Fairy Tales as Told by Clementine series, none of her women’s fiction manuscripts sold. “It was a tough decision

PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

ending our contract, but I had to rely on my brain instead of my heart — which doesn’t come naturally for me,” she said. “I started querying other agents with a different women’s fiction manuscript I had written, but I found myself distracted with Pop, Fizz, Clink. I decided to go the indie publishing route and was inspired by fellow Cincinnati author Jessica Booth’s journey and success. She’s been a wealth of knowledge for me and very generous with her time.”

as Cincinnati acts as the setting and heart of the story. There are callouts to cherished and well-known landmarks, like the Krohn Conservatory, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and The Netherland Plaza, along with Pleasant Ridge-specific favorites, like the Gas Light Cafe and Goodfellas Pizzeria. “One of the very first things I learned as a creative writing major was to write what you know, and I certainly know Cincinnati,” she said. “Honestly, I think Cincinnati is underrated and that there should be more midsized, Midwestern towns as novel settings. We’ve got a lot to offer.”

Overall, Pop, Fizz, Clink will bring you moments of laughter, contemplation and hope. Millennials will love it for all of the late ‘90s and early 2000s pop culture references that bring back both nostalgia and laughter. And while the book deals with the heavy topic of chronic illness, there’s a lightness to it.

Beall Mueller didn’t just decide to go the independent route with publishing but with releasing the book, too. She partnered exclusively with The Bookery, a locally owned independent bookstore in Columbia-Tusculum, for preorders of the book. “I cherish independent bookstores, and I wanted to do my preorders exclusively with one of them,” she said. “I mean, can you think of many more aspects of real life that are just as magical as they are in the movies?

Sierra Hollabaugh is one of my literary guardian angels, and the Bookery is one of my favorite local bookshops. I feel so fortunate to get to work with Sierra and be available at her shop!”

Beall Mueller’s love for her hometown is evident throughout the book,

“It sounds sort of funny for a book about a chronic disease, but the main message is this: sometimes life can surprise you in all the best ways,” said Beall Mueller. “Something I’ve found to be true throughout my own life is how much can change over the course of a single year. Sometimes the absolute best, most wonderful thing is just around the corner, and you simply don’t know it yet. Hang in there!”

Pop, Fizz, Clink can be found at The Bookery in Columbia-Tusculum, Barnes & Noble, the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, Amazon or the author’s website, jennabeallmueller.com.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

Pop, Fizz, Clink deserves a spot on your to-be-read list.

PHOTO:

Author Jenna Beall Mueller

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

Pop, Fizz, Clink deserves a spot on your to-be-read list.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

CULTURE

AABooks by the Banks Returns with Literary Oasis for Readers and Authors

BY JASON GARGANO

Books by the Banks Returns with Literary Oasis for Readers and Authors

BY JASON GARGANO

t this point it’s hard to imagine life before the internet, even for those of us who inhabited the earth long before screens dominated our existence. There are advantages to having access to so much information at a moment’s notice. But, for a considerable number of us, little is more satisfying than the ability to crack open a book and immerse oneself in its tactile, uniquely transportive pleasures.

Books are a balm for those looking to take a break from the chaotic, often anxiety-inducing aspects of modern living, which is why Books by the Banks is such a satisfying fix for lovers of the printed word. The annual festival debuted in 2007, a literary oasis for a cavalcade of authors and the readers who appreciate what they do. The latest edition returns Saturday, Nov. 16, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a new home following a long run at the Duke Energy Center. Admission, as ever, is free.

“One of the big things this year, if not the biggest, is that the festival will be at the newly renovated Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library downtown,” David Rippe, president of Books by the Banks’ board of trustees, writes by email. “We’re very excited to use this venue because it gives us naturally lighted space, covers two floors and is set in a place dedicated to books and reading. We feel it’s going to be our best festival yet.”

Books by the Banks again offers panel discussions, author readings and signings and activities for kids. The festival features works in an array of genres — from biography, fiction, teen and poetry to fantasy, romance, historical and local interest. More than 120 authors are set to take part, including a typically robust lineup of local and regional writers.

Among the book discussions of interest is Michael D. Morgan and Bret Kollman Baker’s endlessly entertaining Tanked in Cincinnati: Fortune & Calamity in the Beer Business. (They appear at 3 p.m. as one of 10 “Author Stage Talks” on the library’s second floor.) The duo’s collaboration dives into Cincinnati’s rich beer-brewing history and features interviews with a host of contemporary craft-beer luminaries based both in the Queen City and out. Morgan is no stranger to books about libations, previously serving up 2010’s Over-theRhine: When Beer was King and 2019’s Cincinnati Beer. A champion of historical preservation, Morgan wrote the first book to shine a light on Over-theRhine’s roots and the neighborhood’s need for revitalization.

“I found that beer was a way to get people to listen to things that they wouldn’t ordinarily listen to,” Morgan says by phone. “And then just the history itself is fascinating in the ways that beer is intertwined with American history. It’s changed, it’s morphed. The focus is no longer historic preservation in this last book by any means, but that broader concept of beer and the industry telling broader stories about society and business patterns and just a kind of the way we live and enjoy life, that’s a big part of what Bret and I do with this book.”

Perhaps the highest profile of the panel discussions features longtime Rolling Stone staffer Rob Sheffield, one of the best music critics of the last 30 years. (Sheffield’s conversation with Cleveland-based journalist Annie Zaleski begins at 1:30 p.m. on the library’s third floor.) His just-published Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music examines the rise of an artist few anticipated would become the cultural juggernaut she’s become today. Sheffield was a Swiftie from the get-go.

“I’ve been writing about her music for such a long time, back when she was a teenage country singer with a couple

of hits and nobody knew she was going to be anything more than that,” Sheffield says by phone from his apartment in Brooklyn. “I still remember hearing ‘Our Song’ the first time and just being knocked totally sideways by it.”

No ordinary fan, Sheffield — whose previous books include the excellent Love Is a Mixtape and the even better Dreaming the Beatles — has crafted a running list for Rolling Stone ranking every song Swift has ever written. For the curious, he has “All Too Well” at No. 1.

“I wanted the book to be a story about the music as it has moved through the world,” he says. “There’s just never been a career like this one. For someone to be at this level for 18 years, there’s just no precedent for that. The Beatles lasted half this long. I wanted to tell the entire story of her career, of this artist, and how she’s built it song by song, album by album, into something that’s never existed before. I can’t say I solved this mystery of how this happened or how she does this, but I wanted to try to understand it a little better because it looms so large.”

Another local author taking part in the festivities is Jessica Strawser, whose latest novel, the recently published

Catch You Later, is getting props from across the literary landscape. (Strawser is part of a panel discussion dubbed “Buzzworthy Books” at 12:30 p.m. in room 1SC.)

“I’m always surprised by how many Cincinnatians have never heard of Books by the Banks!” Strawser writes by email. “We’re so fortunate to have an event that brings talented authors from all over the country to town for a full day of programming for kids, teens and adults — all for free I look forward to it every fall.”

Strawser believes books remain as vital as ever.

“I’ve been noticing an uptick in readers lately who’ve made a point of approaching me at my events to say they recently rediscovered their love of reading after years of not picking up a book. My hunch — and my hope — is that books satisfy a craving for something focused and substantial in a world where we’re all being pulled in so many directions at once.”

Books by the Banks takes place Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library downtown. More info: booksbythebanks.org.

Books by the Banks will take place this year at the newly renovated Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library downtown.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY BOOKS BY THE BANKS

Books by the Banks will take place this year at the newly renovated Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library downtown.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY BOOKS BY THE BANKS

FOOD & DRINK

Eggs-tra Special

15 under-the-radar brunch spots in Greater Cincinnati

Eggs-tra Special

15 under-the-radar brunch spots in Greater Cincinnati

BY CITYBEAT STAFF

GGreater Cincinnati is no slouch when it comes to fantastic brunch spots like the ever-popular Sleepy Bee, Maplewood and Taste of Belgium. But while those places are most definitely worth the wait, there are also many other restaurants and bars that may not be as high on your brunch-time radar, offering laid-back and low-key experiences along with delicious food. From live music venues where you can rock out all Saturday night and roll in the next morning for some hangover-curing food to a German eatery tucked away in the West End and Pleasant Ridge cafe offering healthy, satisfying Mediterranean dishes, here are some brunch spots in Greater Cincinnati that may not yet be on your radar.

reater Cincinnati is no slouch when it comes to fantastic brunch spots like the ever-popular Sleepy Bee, Maplewood and Taste of Belgium. But while those places are most definitely worth the wait, there are also many other restaurants and bars that may not be as high on your brunch-time radar, offering laid-back and low-key experiences along with delicious food. From live music venues where you can rock out all Saturday night and roll in the next morning for some hangover-curing food to a German eatery tucked away in the West End and Pleasant Ridge cafe offering healthy, satisfying Mediterranean dishes, here are some brunch spots in Greater Cincinnati that may not yet be on your radar.

The Comet

The Comet’s Instagram early on Sunday mornings for their full menu.

Comet’s Instagram early on Sunday mornings for their full menu.

Allyn’s Cafe

3538 Columbia Parkway, ColumbiaTusculum

The

Comet

4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside

You may know neighborhood bar The Comet as a great spot to hang out, enjoy some drinks and burritos and watch live music or comedy, but they also offer a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu features a rotating selection of dishes prepared by chef Robert Kochanowski, with offerings like biscuits and gravy, shakshouka (a pepper and onion stew with poached eggs) and quiche. Plus, there’s always hot coffee, mimosas, Bloody Marys and a full bar. Check

Allyn’s Cafe originally opened as a corner bar in Columbia Tusculum in 1991, but has grown and evolved with the neighborhood. The restaurant now offers eclectic Cajun fare, along with vegan dishes and beer, wine and cocktails, as well as a vibrant, community-centric atmosphere that has made it a neighborhood staple for over 30 years. Their under-the-radar Sunday brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a small but mighty menu of eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, Texas toast, French toast, a brunch burger and the delicious huevos rancheros, which can also be made vegan.

alReddy Cafe

11083 Reading Road, Sharonville Family-run since 2003, alReddy Cafe offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and a full-serve espresso bar, perfect for those brunch-time cravings. Dishes are crafted with healthier, fresh and high-quality ingredients, with brunch specials focusing on eat-on-the-go items like avocado toast, a fresh-fruit “sundae” and a breakfast wrap. If you can stay a little longer,

try the crème brûlée French toast, made with Sixteen Bricks challah bread soaked in a Grand Marnier custard and served with fresh berries and your choice of a side. To drink, try a classic offering from the espresso bar like the cappuccino or americano, or opt for one of alReddy’s smoothies.

Kantine

1220 Harrison Ave., West End

Kantine offers Southern German fare from an off-the-beaten-path spot in the West End. For brunch, this beer garden and eatery, try the Paar Weißwürst — white sausages served with sweet mustard and a pretzel — or the Frühstücksbrett, a breakfast board with an assortment of cold sausages, cheese and fruit and served with marmalade, butter, a hardboiled egg, a German-style hard roll and Blue Oven Bakery bread. For something a little sweeter, find a friend to split the Kaiserschmarrn with you. It’s a fluffy, lightly sweetened pancake with raisins that’s topped with powdered sugar and served with applesauce.

Alcove

garden-like atmosphere perfect for a low-key weekend brunch with loved ones. The menu features farm-to-table dishes, including their sharable brunch board of local pastries and seasonal jam or the beet and goat cheese salad. For a heartier dish, opt for the loaded potato hash, stuffed with short rib, roasted red pepper relish, red onion and cheddar, or the mouthwatering goetta sandwich. Add the mimosa flight to your meal to round out the brunch experience.

6 ‘N The Mornin’

1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills

You can get your day started right with breakfast or brunch at 6 ‘N the Mornin’. Dishes are inspired by classic Southern favorites with a twist, and their menu names feature cities from across that region, like the New Orleans Shrimp ‘N Grits or the Nashville Kickin’ Chicken with waffles (which can also come as red velvet). Add one of their specialty mimosas to complete the most important meal of the day.

Cafe Alma

6111 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge

Alcove

1410 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine

Brimming with live greenery and living feature walls, Alcove creates a secret

Health-focused Mediterranean restaurant Café Alma offers delicious but healthy dishes that use high-quality

6111 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge

Health-focused Mediterranean restaurant Café Alma offers delicious but healthy dishes that use high-quality

The

alReddy Cafe’s brunch items are crafted with healthier and fresh ingredients.

PHOTO : FACEBOOK.COM/ALREDDYCAFE

ingredients packed with good flavors. Breakfast offers everything from a build-your-own omelet to four different options of the Middle Eastern breakfast favorite shakshuka. Heading into lunch, they have salad, bowls and sandwiches all packed with fresh ingredients. The restaurant is also certified Kosher.

MOTR Pub

1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

One of the best parts about MOTR Pub is that you can rock out to live music all night on a Saturday and roll back in for brunch on Sunday morning. The live music venue offers their Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a selection of dishes designed to cure your hangover woes, including the Smash Bagel Burger; the Trucker Casserole, stuffed with savory breakfast goodness of whipped eggs, potatoes and cheddar and topped with green onion, tomatoes and salsa; and the BLT, G(oetta)LT and T(ofu)LT. And, if you want to keep the

party going from the night before, don’t leave without trying MOTR’s Bloody Mary.

West Shine Restaurant

3245 Westbourne Drive, Green Township

Family-owned West Shine serves up hot, fresh breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes. The menu features recipes handed down for generations, as well as some creations from the diner’s culinary team. For breakfast, try one of their omelets, which you create by selecting your veggies, cheese and meat. They also have a selection of breakfast sandwiches, called Shinewiches, which includes their Breakfast Coney (sausage or goetta, with homemade sausage gravy and cheddar). And for lunch, you can pick from a variety of sandwiches or burgers, or try their Gripp’en Chicken as a sandwich, strips or in their homemade mac and cheese. West Shine now also offers Bloody Marys, mimosas and beer.

Coppin’s Restaurant

638 Madison Ave., Covington

Coppin’s Restaurant is located inside luxury Hotel Covington. Brunch is offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a menu featuring lighter fare like Greek yogurt, seasonal frittata or the crisp wedge salad, as well as filling dishes like the Porkopolis omelet (Glier’s goetta, local smoked ham and gruyère) and hearty breakfast sandwich of bacon, fried egg, red wine onion, cheddar and honey mustard on Texas toast. If you have to wait for a table, head out to the patio to play lawn games and relax. Coppin’s also has a unique cocktail menu, featuring imaginative and picture-worthy drinks for a beautiful morning-turned-afternoon.

Mid City Restaurant

40 E. Court St., Downtown

Helmed by the same team as popular Over-the-Rhine bar Longfellow, Mid City Restaurant describes itself as intimate and relaxed, with a menu of savory small (but hearty) plates. The restaurant features cafe-style seating and walls lined with traditional-style oil paintings, as well as a calming beige, white and green color palette for a laid-back dining experience. And while it’s a popular dinner spot, Mid City also offers brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a menu of elevated dishes. For a sweeter meal, try the corn fritter, with pumpkin butter, maple syrup and powdered sugar, or the bread pudding with benedictine glaze and seasonal fruit. On the savory side, Mid City has the salmon gravlax, their version of bagel and lox, with an everything bagel, herb cream cheese, pickle, dill and onion, or the fried sandwich: yam, leek, black garlic and Manchego cheese with egg on top.

Bellevue Bistro

313 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue

Bellevue Bistro is a cozy breakfast and lunch spot in the heart of historic Bellevue. The space offers an eclectic and vintage vibe, from the pressed-tin ceilings to the striped awning out front. And while the eatery is on the smaller side, the menu features wholesome dishes with big flavors. There’s an assortment of breakfast bakes, like the goetta/cheddar jack/sautéed onions Bellevue option or the vegetarian-friendly Mediterranean, made with mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, spinach, basil, feta and mozzarella. You can also opt for one of the benedicts or hot browns or try the avocado toast or spicy breakfast tacos. For lunch, Bellevue Bistro serves up a variety of sandwiches, including paninis, wraps and even a cinnabread one topped with fried eggs, cheddar jack and American cheese, with pepper jelly and potatoes on the side.

The Park Pour

4815 Cooper Road, Blue Ash

For a savory brunch paired with wine in a relaxed atmosphere, head to The Park Pour in Blue Ash. This wine bar offers a seasonal brunch menu featuring items like quiche, Spanish crepes and eggs Florentine, along with a selection of sharables like hummus and whipped goat feta; salads and sandwiches. Along with hot and iced coffee drinks, tea and soft drinks, The Park Pour also has a selection of wines by the glass and specialty cocktails available for brunch.

Ché

1342 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine; 2038 Madison Road, O’Bryonville

Argentine restaurant Ché may best be known for their empanadas, but they also have a brunch menu available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dishes are a blend of classic brunch fare with South American twists, like the Steak & Eggs, featuring skirt steak, over-easy eggs, breakfast tots, green chimi and salsa criolla, or the Choripan Completo, with chorizo, fried egg, romaine, tomato, salsa criolla, chimi and breakfast tots. You can also order dishes with their popular empanadas, including the La Trifecta (any three empanadas with breakfast tots).

Luca Bistro

934 Hatch St., Mt. Adams

Simple and French cuisine make up the unlikely duo at Luca Bistro. The menu is filled with cozy, flavorful and laid-back dishes that Chef Frédéric Maniet says are common in French foods. Breakfast offers familiar favorites like omelets, tartine and croissants. For lunch, the menu changes to include salads and sandwiches, like a classic Niçoise salad and a mouthwatering croque monsieur layered with delicious ham, gruyère and béchamel.

Dishes at 6 ‘N The Mornin’ are inspired by classic Southern favorites. PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/6NTHEMORNINCINCY

West Shine Restaurant serves dishes with recipes handed down for generations. PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/WESTSHINERESTAURANT

EATS

Food & Dining Bites

The latest food & dining stories in Greater Cincinnati

Food & Dining Bites

The latest food & dining stories in Greater Cincinnati

BY KATHERINE BARRIER

BY KATHERINE BARRIER EATS

New Italian Restaurant Carmelo’s Opens in Covington

AAnother Five Greater Cincinnati Frisch’s Restaurants Have Been Ordered to Close

Another Five Greater Cincinnati Frisch’s Restaurants Have Been Ordered to Close

AFnew Italian restaurant helmed by two Greater Cincinnati dining and hospitality veterans is now open in Covington.

new Italian restaurant helmed by two Greater Cincinnati dining and hospitality veterans is now open in Covington.

Carmelo’s recently opened at 434 Madison Ave., near the former IRS site, which will soon be going under development to create apartments, townhomes and retail space. The concept is a collaboration by former Thunderdome Restaurant Group director of food and beverage Billy Grise and Chef Mitch Arens, who has helped create concepts like Beard & Bellies BBQ and Grub Local and is the founder and executive chef of Southernly, a local private chef company.

Named after Grise’s grandfather — an Italian American immigrant, family man and restaurant owner himself — Carmelo’s offers Italian American classics in an inviting, rustic yet modern space. The atmosphere is reflective of Nono Carmelo’s warm and jovial spirit, carrying on the legacy of all the beloved grandfathers who came before us, says the team.

“Growing up, I worked in my grandfather’s restaurant where he taught me the value of hard work, the power of persistence and the importance of sharing a meal together,” Grise said in a press release. “We can’t wait to share our vision with you.”

Grise and Arens have been longtime friends and colleagues, first meeting while working together 16 years ago at Nada, where Arens was the sous chef and Grise a line cook.

PHOTO: HATSUE/PROVIDED BY PB&J

The two say they spent hours dreaming up culinary concepts after work.

“The journey to opening has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life,” Arens added. “I had been searching for the next big thing in my culinary career and linking back up with one of my best friends, Billy, to create Carmelo’s was something we used to always talk about while working alongside one another in kitchens across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. It feels surreal now that it’s all actually happening.”

At Carmelo’s, diners can expect quintessential Italian American dishes, including some selections that will “push their palates,” with regional

staples from Italy. Menu highlights include the Mozzarella, hand-pulled to order with grilled focaccia and olive oil, and the 101-layer Lasagna, which is a whole pound of lasagna, panseared until the edges are crispy and served with red gravy and parmesan. As for the beverage program, Carmelo’s features classic cocktails with a spin, as well as an all-Italian wine list that highlights Italian varietals. Carmelo’s is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 4-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4-10 p.m.

Carmelo’s is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 4-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4-10 p.m.

Carmelo’s, 434 Madison Ave., Covington. More info: eatatcarmelos.com.

Findlay Market Launches Thanksgiving Pre-Orders on Shopping App

FFindlay Market is making it easy to do all your Thanksgiving shopping on their app, with pre-ordering for the big feast day now available.

indlay Market is making it easy to do all your Thanksgiving shopping on their app, with pre-ordering for the big feast day now available.

our more Greater Cincinnati Frisch’s Big Boy restaurants will close after a Hamilton County magistrate granted their evictions at a hearing on Nov. 6.

Four more Greater Cincinnati Frisch’s Big Boy restaurants will close after a Hamilton County magistrate granted their evictions at a hearing on Nov. 6.

The following Hamilton County restaurants were ordered to close and vacate the premises within seven days:

The following Hamilton County restaurants were ordered to close and vacate the premises within seven days: Anderson Township (7706 Beechmont Ave.)

Anderson Township (7706 Beechmont Ave.)

Forest Park (11990 Chase Plaza)

Harrison (1181 Stone Drive)

Forest Park (11990 Chase Plaza) Harrison (1181 Stone Drive)

Montfort Heights (5351 North Bend Road)

On Nov. 5, a Butler County judge also ordered the Frisch’s located on Germantown Road in Middletown to vacate. These evictions are the latest in a spree of Frisch’s closings that began last month. In October, a total of 10 Greater Cincinnati locations closed or were ordered to vacate:

Montfort Heights (5351 North Bend Road)

• Blue Ash (9070 Plainfield Road)

• Bridgetown (4227 Bridgetown Road)

• Blue Ash (9070 Plainfield Road)

• Bridgetown (4227 Bridgetown Road)

• Colerain Township (9830 Colerain Ave.)

• Delhi Township (5202 Delhi Ave.)

• Norwood (4765 Montgomery Road)

• Delhi Township (5202 Delhi Ave.)

• Norwood (4765 Montgomery Road)

• Symmes Township (12150 Mason Montgomery Road)

• Loveland (1283 SR-28)

• Symmes Township (12150 Mason Montgomery Road)

• Bethel (551 W. Plane Road)

• Loveland (1283 SR-28)

• Lebanon (1330 Columbus Ave.)

• Bethel (551 W. Plane Road)

• Franklin (3560 S. Dixie Highway)

• Lebanon (1330 Columbus Ave.)

• Franklin (3560 S. Dixie Highway)

In September, Frisch’s landlord, Orlando real estate company NNN Reit, filed eviction notices for more than 20 Southwestern Ohio Frisch’s locations, including 17 in Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, Warren and Highland counties. According to Hamilton County court documents, in February, NNN sent notice to Frisch’s that its rent, totaling over $4.5 million, was overdue and failure to pay would result in being in default under the lease agreement. A notice of default was sent to the restaurant chain in August, followed by a three-day notice to leave the premises at affected restaurants in September.

Findlay Market Launches Thanksgiving Pre-Orders on Shopping App

“For years, Findlay Market has been a prime location to source essential Thanksgiving dishes and ingredients, and this year is no exception. With specialty butcheries and expert bakeries, Findlay Market Merchants bring their best to the table for Thanksgiving,” the market said in a press release. From now until Thursday, Nov. 21, you can pre-order your Thanksgiving turkeys, pies, sides and more on the Findlay Market Shopping App. Findlay Market is also offering extended pickup and delivery hours during the week for shoppers who can’t make it

From now until Thursday, Nov. 21, you can pre-order your Thanksgiving turkeys, pies, sides and more on the Findlay Market Shopping App. Findlay Market is also offering extended pickup and delivery hours during the week for shoppers who can’t make it

to the market during normal business hours. Customers can order pickup or delivery for 2-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday every week, and service and delivery fees will be waived for customers using SNAP benefits. The market will also be open the Monday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Several Findlay Market merchants will also be selling whole turkeys this year, including:

• Barlion’s Poultry & Seafood

Several Findlay Market merchants will also be selling whole turkeys this year, including:

• The Country Meat Co.

• Barlion’s Poultry & Seafood

• Eckerlin Meats

• The Country Meat Co.

• The Gourmand Group

• Eckerlin Meats

• Mackie Quality Meats

• The Gourmand Group

• Neil Luken Meats

• Mackie Quality Meats

• Neil Luken Meats

For more information on vendors and merchants selling sides, pies and

everything else you could need for your holiday meal, visit findlaymarket.org.

And on Black Friday (Nov. 29), Findlay Market will launch its annual Christmas Tree Sale, located on the Race Street Esplanade and running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 22. The market will have three sizes of trees, as well as garland, wreaths, tree stands, Findlay Market Playing Cards and commemorative Findlay Market ornaments. Hours for the Christmas Tree Sale are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. More info: findlaymarket.org.

According to Hamilton County court documents, Frisch’s says it tried to work with NNN to avoid evictions, including the suggestion to work together to close stores on a schedule, but states NNN rejected those efforts.

Other locations scheduled for eviction hearings include Batavia, Fairfield and Hillsboro.

Frisch’s is also facing more legal woes after FC Cincinnati filed a lawsuit alleging the restaurant chain breached a sponsorship agreement and owes the soccer organization $156,500.

Frisch’s was acquired by NRD Partners I, a private equity growth and expansion fund based in Atlanta, in 2015. Since then, over 40 of Frisch’s locations have closed, with just 38 left in the Greater Cincinnati area now, according to its website.

Carmelo’s

Carmelo’s PHOTO: HATSUE/PROVIDED BY PB&J

MUSIC

Smiling in the Sunshine

Cincinnati musician Ric Hordinski gets personal on his latest effort, Flesh and Ghost.

like a little love letter to Cincinnati, and especially to his adopted neighborhood of Walnut Hills. Having raised a family there and built Monastery Studio just across the street from his home, this historic area of the Queen City is near and dear to his heart. That love is felt in the song, “Very Smiling in the Sunshine,” which features sampled sounds of the neighborhood.

Reflecting on the subjects of life’s transitions, and grappling with outward and inward conflicts, Hordinski brings two songs in particular to the album that speak to his personal thoughts on these matters. In the song “Golden Hour,” Hordinski touches on the feelings one gets before a transition. From the passing of a loved one or a child leaving home, to even the end of a single day, “Golden Hour” emotes a sense of sweet melancholy that radiates from a glow of surrender. “Benediction” is a song inspired by a Chinese proverb about when bad news turns out to be good news, and vice versa, and a favorite quote of Hordinski by George Bernard Shaw that says, “There are two great disappointments in life: Not getting what you want, and getting what you want.” A meditation on life’s challenging unpredictability, Hordinski refers to the song as being an unconventional benediction.

BY ERIC BATES

Cincinnati musician Ric Hordinski gets personal on his latest effort, Flesh and Ghost.

BY ERIC BATES

RRic Hordinski, one of Cincinnati’s most admired musicians, will release his long-awaited and highly anticipated solo album, entitled Flesh and Ghost, on Nov. 24. This new collection of songs showcases not only his instantly recognizable guitar playing, but also his wide range of musical styles. From heartfelt folk ballads to heavy-hitting R&B spoken word anthems, Hordinski lays out a veritable musical banquet of everything that makes up his artistic world.

ic Hordinski, one of Cincinnati’s most admired musicians, will release his long-awaited and highly anticipated solo album, entitled Flesh and Ghost, on Nov. 24. This new collection of songs showcases not only his instantly recognizable guitar playing, but also his wide range of musical styles. From heartfelt folk ballads to heavy-hitting R&B spoken word anthems, Hordinski lays out a veritable musical banquet of everything that makes up his artistic world.

Joined by many incredible artists and musicians, Flesh and Ghost, recorded and mixed by Hordinski himself at his legendary Monastery Studio in Walnut Hills, delivers songwriting, arranging and performances at the highest level, all of which the public has come to expect and appreciate over the years. Hordinski, a resident of historic Walnut Hills in Cincinnati, didn’t begin his musical journey as a guitarist. Though he did have a deep admiration for guitar, he started out playing the drums. Coming from humble economic means, playing the drums at school meant he only needed to purchase drumsticks, bypassing the need to invest in a full

kit. It was during these early years that, while taking a break from drumming in the school band room, he opened one of the lockers and came upon a neglected Japanese electric guitar. “I literally dreamed about that guitar later that night,” Hordinski tells CityBeat Then, at a yard sale, he purchased an acoustic guitar for $3. Determined to turn it into an electric instrument, Hordinski modified the guitar by taking apart an old dial-telephone and using the mouthpiece as a pickup. From there, his admiration grew into an obsession that carries on to this day.

Hordinski, a resident of historic Walnut Hills in Cincinnati, didn’t begin his musical journey as a guitarist. Though he did have a deep admiration for guitar, he started out playing the drums. Coming from humble economic means, playing the drums at school meant he only needed to purchase drumsticks, bypassing the need to invest in a full

In 1989, Hordinski, along with his college friend, Linford Detweiler, formed the band Over the Rhine with vocalist Karin Bergquist and drummer Brian Kelley rounding out the quartet. Hordinski would go on to perform many shows and release several albums with the band. Grateful for the time making music with Over the Rhine, Hordinski feels those years of making music were not only cherished moments of collaboration with friends but also an invaluable musical education that has played an enormous part in the evolution of his own music.

Inspired by the Dylan Thomas poem “Before I Knocked,” Flesh and Ghost showcases Hordinski’s musical evolution and hints at where it may lead him next. Songwriter, composer, arranger and producer — all facets of Hordinski’s artistry are captured in this deeply personal album. Finding the balance between spontaneity and craftsmanship is something Hordinski is always searching for. Taking elements from his live performance practices and braiding them with meticulously arranged pieces of music has been a welcomed challenge for him over the years.

Most comfortable performing music live, Hordinski is at ease being in front of a crowd. At the beginning of each performance, he usually turns to the band and looks at them as if to say, “Here we go. I have no idea what’s coming next, but let’s go together,” Hordinski tells CityBeat. Then, on the flip side, he takes writing and arranging as both a challenge and a craft to be approached.

“It’s a life’s work to keep the subconscious/in-the-moment stuff happening while trying to do a journeyman’s work,” he says.

Flesh and Ghost, for Hordinski, is

Flesh and Ghost will be released in three different versions: A vinyl LP, a streaming version where the songs are separated and can be listened to individually and a third version Hordinski is calling FLESH + GHOST, where the songs can be heard in two long tracks, with “FLESH” being track one and “GHOST” being track two.

A wealth of talented musicians helped make Flesh and Ghost. While Hordinski performed all the guitarwork on the album and sang most of the lead vocals, he was also joined by other peak-level vocalists and instrumentalists. Vocalists Sage Rose, Chaya Jones, Andrea Summer, Elsa Kennedy and Erica Bostick lend their voices to songs throughout, with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra members Paul Patterson and this author on violin, Ted Nelson on the cello, Craig Dockery on the piano and Matthew Wallenhorst on the saxophone. An impressive who’s who of bass players also perform on various songs on the album, including Amos Heller (the bassist for Taylor Swift) and David Labruyere (former bassist for John Mayer). Drumming brilliantly across the record is Hordinski’s dear friend and long-time collaborator, Josh Seurkamp.

Ric Hordinski plays the Woodward Theater on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. You can pre-order Flesh and Ghost at richordinskimusic.com.

Ric Hordinski

PHOTO: MADELINE HORDINSKI

SOUND ADVICE

BABYMETAL

Nov. 23 • Andrew J Brady Music Center

On Saturday, Nov. 23, Japan’s kawaii metal band, BABYMETAL, will appear at the Andrew J Brady Music Center. This Japanese idol band, with its J-pop trio and heavy metal combination, will deliver a musical experience like no other, giving the audience a jawdropping show that will shatter all expectations.

Nov. 23 • Andrew J Brady Music Center

BABYMETAL, produced by Kobametal, burst onto the Japanese music scene in 2010, and from its inception, has since exploded into an arena headlining phenomenon. The original trio lineup, Su-metal, Moametal and Yuimetal, who emerged from the Japanese idol group Sakura Gakuin, joined forces with producer Kobametal to develop a new genre of music, combining catchy melodic tunes with extreme heavy metal support. Having released four studio albums, twelve live albums and videos on YouTube with views reaching into the millions, BABYMETAL is a musical experiment that’s taken root and grown into a genre all its own that’s spread like wildfire all over the world.

Throughout the last decade, BABYMETAL has seen some lineup changes in its trio of core members, with various singers and “screamers” moving on to other endeavors. But the J-pop sound, look and aesthetic have remained consistent. The heavy metal band, made up of various session musicians who go by the name Kami Band, is a veritable virtuosic metal machine that elevates the live experience to heights unheard of.

The BABYMETAL live show is a spectacle like no other. For anyone who’s into anime and Japanese pop culture, the look and feel of the BABYMETAL experience will tug at your heartstrings. Anime classics like Death Note and Haikyu!! and extreme metal giants like Cradle of Filth and High on Fire all boil in a cauldron of epic staging, light shows, costumes and tight choreography, creating a concoction that will quench the thirst of any anime and metal enthusiast.

BABYMETAL, with special guest Scene Queen, will appear at the Andrew J Brady Music Center on Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. More info: bradymusiccenter.com. (Eric Bates)

THE PLOT IN YOU

Nov. 24 • Bogart’s Melodic metalcore outlet The Plot in You is bringing their aggressively ambient tunes to Cincinnati. The band, originally

from Hancock County, Ohio, will make their last tour stop on Nov.24 at Bogart’s.

The Plot in You originally started as nothing more than a side project of former Before Their Eyes member Landon Tewers. Tewers, vocalist of The Plot in You, would later commit fully to the band and his solo project. The band has further ties to Ohio, as their first EP Wife Beater was released through InVogue

Records, a well-known alternative label based in Findlay.

The Plot In You saw quick success due to Tewers’ ability to write music for the project while still a part of Before Their Eyes. Shortly after releasing their first EP, the band signed with Rise Records and put out their first fulllength effort in 2011, First Born. The band has continued to put out music consistently, with their third album

Happiness In Self Destruction being their most famous and commercially successful. This album showcased some of their most popular singles like “Take Me Away” and “My Old Ways ” The Plot in You’s sound is rooted in metalcore and post-hardcore. Heavy riffs over passionate harsh vocals are a staple of theirs. What separates The Plot in You from other heavy outlets is their ability to create a hauntingly beautiful

Happiness In Self Destruction being their most famous and commercially successful. This album showcased some of their most popular singles like “Take Me Away” and “My Old Ways ”

The Plot in You’s sound is rooted in metalcore and post-hardcore. Heavy riffs over passionate harsh vocals are a staple of theirs. What separates The Plot in You from other heavy outlets is their ability to create a hauntingly beautiful

BABY METAL

PHOTO: ZACHARY CHICK

The Plot in You

PHOTO: DERRICK AUSTINSON

BABY METAL

PHOTO: ZACHARY CHICK

The Plot in You

PHOTO: DERRICK AUSTINSON

atmosphere within their songs, utilizing ambient distortions and chilling vocal lines. It’s truly a unique take on what could’ve been a traditional metalcore group, and it’s done the band plenty to earn the interest of fans.

The Plot in You won’t be alone when they make their final stop in Cincinnati. The band will be joined by other rock and metal outlets Currents, Zero 9:36 and Wind Walkers. If you’re into heavier music that will hit you in the feels, this is certainly the show for you.

The Plot in You plays Bogart’s on Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. More info: bogarts.com. (Logan Turner)

STATE CHAMPS

Nov. 27 • Bogart’s Pop punk veterans State Champs are bringing their antics to Bogart’s with a few of their friends. The evening is geared up to be a fun night filled with cold riffs, two-stepping and plenty of crowd surfing.

State Champs has been releasing music since 2010, but they really emerged with the release of their debut album The Finer Things in 2013 The album was their first on Pure Noise Records and featured such singles as “Elevated,” which helped propel the band into the mainstream. They would continue to put out records through Pure Noise with their biggest being Around The World and Back. The 2015 album features hits like “All or Nothing” and “All You Are Is History.” Following all this

success, State Champs released a new self-titled album on Nov. 8, featuring the single “Silver Cloud,” and is available for purchase on the band’s website.

State Champs has cultivated a sound that pop-punk fans have come to know and love. Ever since their inception, the band has been able to fuse uptempo riffs with catchy chorus lines to great success. Many fans liken their sound to pop punk greats like Blink-182 and Sum 41. That likening has been a driving force in the band’s success as they’ve been able to bring back a nostalgic sound and morph it into something that more modern fans love. Essentially, if you’re a fan of 2000s punk and pop punk, then maybe a trip to see State Champs is something for you.

A lot of exciting things seem to be brewing for State Champs as they embark on their tour that will see them come to Cincinnati. With a new album coming out, fans can obviously expect to hear some new tunes from the band — all the more reason to make sure to catch them at the show. To make things even sweeter, they will also be joined by other notable pop punk and emo acts Knuckle Puck, Meet Me @ The Alter and Daisy Grenade.

State Champs play Bogart’s on Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. More info: bogarts.com. (LT)

JACK KAYS

Nov. 29 • Bogarts

Cincinnati’s Jack Kays is again visiting Bogart’s to bring back his “Jack’s Jam” concert series. This will be the second

after releasing his breakout hit, “Morbid Mind,” Kays was quickly picked up by Columbia Records. After signing with the major label, Kays released his first official album, Mixed Emotions. The album was then followed up with two EPs, voice memos and My Favorite Nightmares. Kays would then collaborate with Travis Barker, the drummer of acclaimed poppunk outlet Blink-182.

Jack Kays’ sound has evolved drastically since starting his music career. After graduating high school, Kays released rap music on Soundcloud. He’s also ventured into the realms of indie, rock, pop-punk and folk rock. A lot of the instrumentals in Kays’ music are guitarcentric. As a multi-instrumentalist, it’s clear that Kays takes pride in writing catchy riffs that act as earworms for the brain. Kays is also lauded for his ability to touch on sensitive subjects bluntly and aggressively. Topics like drugs and mental health are common themes in many of his lyrics. These words have resonated with his fans, as Kays now has millions of streams and views across multiple platforms.

time the solo artist has played Bogart’s as a part of Jack’s Jam as he seemingly hopes to make it an annual event in his home city.

Kays has seen plenty of success since beginning his music career after graduating from Sycamore High School. Kays has released multiple EPs, albums and singles dating back to 2020. Shortly

The growing popularity hasn’t made Kays forget where he’s from, though. Despite the ongoing success, Kays will again bring back his annual hometown show — and he won’t be alone. Kays will be joined alongside other artists like Peter McPoland, Evan Honer and Massie. This lineup hits on multiple genres, spanning from country to rock. Clearly, Kays is looking to make an event where everyone and anyone can come out and have a great time.

Jack Kays plays Bogart’s on Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m. More info: bogarts.com. (LT)

Jack Kays

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

State Champs

PHOTO: VINCE EVANS

CROSSWORD

Brendan Emmett Quigley

Across 1. Volcanologist topic

5. Buds for eternity

9. Kind of committee

14. Track’s shape

15. Old time in legends

16. Soul singer Marie

17. Covered in gold

18. Band of brothers?

19. Bills QB Josh

20. Words about coffee? 23. Polished off 24. Treasure on the Spanish Main

WHAT THE RED DEVILS?

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

35. Grazing space

36. Rice on a shelf

37. Juiced-up former Chicago mayor Rahm?

42. Pianist Thelonious

43. Earlier, in bedtime stories

44. Take a chair

45. Change, as code

46. Second-stringers

48. Table-hops at a reception

52. Well-chosen

53. Turn bad

54. Put to work

56. Australian cassowary

57. Smearing shit on a President?

25. Day of the wk. when albums drop

26. Clean (up)

28. Inter Miami’s all-time leading goal scorer

30. Merchandise

32. Abbr. in a help wanted ad

33. Grp. offering Military Virtual Programming

61. Argue against

62. Order option

63. Had on

64. Fancy home

65. Capital with the boroughs Grünerløkka and Østensjø

66. Chowderheads

67. Tackle box item

68. Hold on to

69. “Keep it,” in printing

Down

1. Work bottleneck

2. Get to the chopper

3. Flow regulators

4. Utah ski resort that prohibits snowboarding (plan accordingly)

5. Without question

6. As a stopgap

7. Mannheim Mrs.

8. Releases

9. Breakout machines?

10. Corned beef establishment

11. Drop down on the far right

12. Perfectly matching

13. Food drive piece

21. Slightly wet

22. Beats to a pulp

27. Drink garnish

29. Fail, big-time

31. Big bauxite miner

34. Loud speaker

36. Opposing side

37. Jane Austen novel set in the village of Highbury

38. “I need to be kept up to date”

39. Spot for some lamps

40. “No need to keep talking, all right?”

41. Sculpted by ___ (cosmetics brand)

46. Not, not good

47. Either of Hermione Granger’s parents, e.g.

49. Put a line through

50. Come to light

51. Most confident

55. Single-master

58. Zero

59. Plane part

60. Woodworking tools

61. Spots for some hookups, briefly

LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS: