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NEWS NEWS

CityBeat’s CityBeat’s Top 10 Top 10 News News Stories of Stories 2023 of These are some of the 2023 biggest news stories that These are some of the made in 2023. biggestheadlines news stories that BY MADELINE FENINGin 2023. made headlines BY MADELINE FENING

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t CityBeat, national and local headlines seemed to be one t CityBeat, national and local and the same this year. Between headlines seemed to be one Damar Hamlin’s astonishing moment and the same this year. Between at Paycor Stadium and a historic vicDamar Hamlin’s astonishing moment tory for abortion rights, the spotlight at Paycor Stadium and a historic vicseemed to shine on Ohio and Cincintory for abortion rights, the spotlight nati frequently in 2023. For better or seemed to shine on Ohio and Cincinworse, there are other stories you may nati frequently in 2023. For better or have missed this year that stand out worse, there are other stories you may as important, inspiring or downright have missed this year that stand out shocking. as important, inspiring or downright shocking.

First Responders Save Damar Hamlin’s Life First Responders Saveat Paycor Stadium Damar Hamlin’s Life at

The new year started with a terrifying Paycor Stadium moment in sports history, but it soon The new year started with a terrifying turned into an inspiring legacy for Bufmoment in sports history, but it soon falo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin. On Jan. turned into an inspiring legacy for Buf2, about halfway through the first quarfalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin. On Jan. ter of the Bengals vs. Bills game at Pay2, about halfway through the first quarcor Stadium, wide receiver Tee Higgins ter of the Bengals vs. Bills game at Payhit Hamlin in the chest during a routine cor Stadium, wide receiver Tee Higgins play. Hamlin stood up right after — but hit Hamlin in the chest during a routine a few seconds later, collapsed. play. Hamlin stood up right after — but Medical personnel attended to a few seconds later, collapsed. Hamlin for 19 minutes on the field, Medical personnel attended to performing nine minutes of CPR. Hamlin for 19 minutes on the field, Commentators oscillated between performing nine minutes of CPR. commercial breaks and shots of the Commentators oscillated between packed-yet-hushed stadium. Players commercial breaks and shots of the from both teams could be seen openly packed-yet-hushed stadium. Players weeping and praying while emergency from both teams could be seen openly crews worked to restart Hamlin’s heart. weeping and praying while emergency Hamlin was placed on a stretcher, given crews worked to restart Hamlin’s heart. oxygen and transported to the UniverHamlin was placed on a stretcher, given sity of Cincinnati Medical Center where oxygen and transported to the Univerhe was intubated. The remainder of the sity of Cincinnati Medical Center where Bills-Bengals game was postponed. he was intubated. The remainder of the News stations from across the counBills-Bengals game was postponed. try camped outside of UC Medical in News stations from across the counthe days following as Hamlin showed try camped outside of UC Medical in steady signs of improvement. His first the days following as Hamlin showed message to medical staff when he steady signs of improvement. His first message to medical staff when he

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A sign showing support for Damar Hamlin outside of the University of Cincinnati's Medical Center. AHsign P O T Oshowing : M A D E L Isupport N E F E N for I N GDamar Hamlin outside of the University of Cincinnati's Medical Center. P H OTO : M A D E L I N E F E N I N G

awoke became a catchphrase emblazoned across t-shirts in a fundraiser awoke became a catchphrase emblacampaign for first responders and the zoned across t-shirts in a fundraiser UC Medical Center: “Did we win?” campaign for first responders and the Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation UC Medical Center: “Did we win?” raised more than $9 million for youth Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation sports programs and partnered with the raised more than $9 million for youth American Heart Association to educate sports programs and partnered with the teens and adults about CPR and autoAmerican Heart Association to educate mated external defibrillators, both of teens and adults about CPR and autowhich saved his life in Cincinnati. mated external defibrillators, both of which saved his life in Cincinnati.

The East Palestine Train Derailment’s Unexpected The East Palestine Train Impact on Cincinnati Derailment’s Unexpected

The disastrous Feb. 3 derailment of a Impact on Cincinnati Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, The disastrous Feb. 3 derailment of a Ohio, was one of the nation’s biggest Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, stories of 2023. Fear and insecurity Ohio, was one of the nation’s biggest continue to permeate in the small Eaststories of 2023. Fear and insecurity ern Ohio village near the Pennsylvania continue to permeate in the small Eastborder as residents push for financial ern Ohio village near the Pennsylvania restitution from the rail giant. Unbeborder as residents push for financial knownst to most Americans, the East restitution from the rail giant. UnbePalestine disaster sent a political shockknownst to most Americans, the East wave straight to Cincinnati in 2023. Palestine disaster sent a political shockCincinnati voters started 2023 knowwave straight to Cincinnati in 2023. ing that, come November, they would Cincinnati voters started 2023 knowneed to decide whether to sell the Cining that, come November, they would cinnati Southern Railway (CSR) – the need to decide whether to sell the Cinnation’s only multi-state railway to be cinnati Southern Railway (CSR) – the owned by a city – to Norfolk Southern nation’s only multi-state railway to be for $1.6 billion. But the East Palestine owned by a city – to Norfolk Southern disaster sent corporate resentment for $1.6 billion. But the East Palestine (and trace hazardous chemicals) down disaster sent corporate resentment the Ohio River where advocacy groups (and trace hazardous chemicals) down quickly organized a “Vote NO” camthe Ohio River where advocacy groups paign against the sale. quickly organized a “Vote NO” camSpeaking to CityBeat in a sit-down paign against the sale. interview, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Speaking to CityBeat in a sit-down Pureval assured voters that transferring interview, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab ownership of the 336-mile commercial Pureval assured voters that transferring ownership of the 336-mile commercial

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Oscar Wright, 87, addresses community members, reporters and city leaders about his experience living through the traumatic postwar razing of the West End. Oscar P H O T OWright, : M A D E 87, L I Naddresses E F E N I N G community members, reporters and city leaders about his experience living through the traumatic postwar razing of the West End. P H OTO : M A D E L I N E F E N I N G

rail line would release the city of derailment liability and fill the gap in Cincinrail line would release the city of derailnati’s growing capital deficit. Vocal ment liability and fill the gap in Cincinopponents from “Derail the Sale” and nati’s growing capital deficit. Vocal “Save our Rails” weren’t buying it, sayopponents from “Derail the Sale” and ing the rail line was undervalued at $1.6 “Save our Rails” weren’t buying it, saybillion and that public ownership of the ing the rail line was undervalued at $1.6 CSR would be safer for residents. billion and that public ownership of the The once-in-a-lifetime nature of the CSR would be safer for residents. ballot issue, coupled with mixed opinThe once-in-a-lifetime nature of the ions from city leaders and labor unions, ballot issue, coupled with mixed opinmade it difficult to predict an outcome ions from city leaders and labor unions, for Issue 22 with any certainty. Ultimade it difficult to predict an outcome mately, Cincinnati voters passed Issue for Issue 22 with any certainty. Ulti22 with a narrow victory of 51.68%. mately, Cincinnati voters passed Issue Come January, the mayor-appointed 22 with a narrow victory of 51.68%. board that oversees the CSR will select a Come January, the mayor-appointed money manager for the new $1.6 billion board that oversees the CSR will select a trust fund. money manager for the new $1.6 billion trust fund.

Northern Kentucky Air Hub Workers Forward NorthernPush Kentucky Air Hub Union Efforts Workers Push Forward

From Hollywood Union Effortswriters to Midwestern auto workers, union organizing From Hollywood writers to Midwestwas one of 2023’s most defining moveern auto workers, union organizing ments. Research from Cornell Univerwas one of 2023’s most defining movesity shows the United States saw eight ments. Research from Cornell Univertimes the number of workers involved sity shows the United States saw eight in labor strikes in 2023 compared to times the number of workers involved the same period in 2021, and nearly in labor strikes in 2023 compared to four times that number compared to the same period in 2021, and nearly 2022. four times that number compared to Northern Kentucky’s air cargo 2022. workers – those who load, unload and Northern Kentucky’s air cargo process packages delivered by aircraft workers – those who load, unload and – pushed forward with their own labor process packages delivered by aircraft organizing in 2023. – pushed forward with their own labor organizing in 2023.

CPD Says Goodbye to District 5

Ohio resoundly passed both Issue 1 and 2 on Nov. 7. P H OTO : A I DA N M A H O N E Y

Employees at Amazon’s KCVG air hub in Hebron, Kentucky, launched their union drive in November 2022, but efforts ramped up in March of this year when organizers joined forces with the broader Amazon Labor Union (ALU). Chris Smalls, president of the ALU, famously led the effort to organize the Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York. During a March 18 rally outside KCVG, Smalls urged the crowd of air hub workers and supporters to keep pushing ahead. Organizing employees at KCVG are asking for a pay bump, expanded paid time off and more. Most recently, employees have railed against a second holiday peak season without peak pay, the extra $2 per hour incentive which was offered in 2021. An Amazon spokesperson told CityBeat that pay is up across the board for Amazon employees at $20.50 per hour on average. The holiday rush of packages is no different at DHL-CVG, where employees voted to join the Teamsters union in April. Organizers told CityBeat that ramp associates make $20 per hour working life-threatening jobs using dangerous and outdated equipment. Kenton County Airport Board records show there were at least 22 workplace injuries at DHL-CVG in 2022, including broken, crushed and dislocated limbs. A contract agreement has not yet been reached between the Teamsters and DHL-CVG, causing the Teamsters to authorize a strike on Dec. 3. DHL representatives told CityBeat the company remains committed to reaching a deal with the union, but they’re still preparing for a strike with supplemental staff.

Jerry Springer, King of Cincinnati and Our Hearts, Dies at 79 Jerry Springer, the provocative, daytime talk show legend and former mayor of Cincinnati, died after a battle with pancreatic cancer at his Chicago home on April 27. He was 79. Before Springer was “Jerry! Jerry!” he spent a decade in Cincinnati politics, serving on city council and as the city’s 56th mayor in 1977. He then spent another ten years as WLWT’s nightly news anchor where Springer earned several Emmys. Starting in 1991, The Jerry Springer Show debuted to a limited audience as a political talk show. Springer’s namesake show quickly evolved into a shocking daytime display of conflict between everyday people. Springer would facilitate paternity test reveals, marriage confessions and in-studio brawls that blurred the lines between reality and scripted television. Chants of “Jerry! Jerry!” from audience members soon became an iconic battlecry for messy drama in America. The Jerry Springer Show ran for 27 seasons with nearly 5,000 episodes and countless censorship bleeps. Before the show officially wrapped in 2018, Springer returned to his roots as a political and cultural commentator with The Jerry Springer Podcast (subtitled Tales, Tunes & Tomfoolery) which was recorded at the Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, Kentucky. Cincinnati remembered Springer in a celebration at Memorial Hall that was broadcast to pedestrians at Fountain Square. Attended by local leaders, family and fans, guests were given t-shirts featuring his signature catchphrase: “Take care of yourself and each other.”

The boundaries that define the Cincinnati Police Department’s districts began to change shape in 2023. On May 9, CPD Chief Teresa Theetge announced plans to eliminate the District 5 headquarters in College Hill, reducing the number of police districts from five to four, along with the Central Business District. City Manager Sheryl Long said the move was part of a long-term strategy based on crime data analysis and feedback from District 5 officers. Theetge assured the city that the restructuring would not impact police services or response times, but Fraternal Order of Police president Dan Hils said the change makes officers less safe on the job. Hils said in a July 25 press release that nearly 100 FOP members voted to demand CPD keep District 5, citing concerns after a CPD officer was attacked with his own baton and struck with his own taser. “It’s painfully obvious that we need more officers and more patrols in Cincinnati neighborhoods, not fewer,” Hils said. By the end of the year, College Hill, Mt. Airy, Northside and Camp Washington will be reassigned to District 3. Winton Hills, Spring Grove Village and Clifton will be reassigned to District 4. CUF will move to District 1. Other adjustments will include moving Mt. Auburn from District 4 to District 1, Walnut Hills will be reassigned from District 4 to District 2 and Mt. Adams will be reassigned from District 1 to the Central Business District.

City Apologizes for Racist 1948 “Master Plan” Cincinnati city leaders called a press conference on June 13 to make a rare proclamation condemning the actions of past politicians who systematically displaced tens of thousands of Black Cincinnatians. Standing alongside council members and other city leaders, Mayor Aftab Pureval issued a public apology for the destructive consequences of the 1948 “Master Plan” that saw the dismantling of the historically Black lower West End neighborhood to make way for the expansion of I-75 and the Queensgate industrial area. The apology acknowledged the racist actions and long-term damage inflicted on the predominantly Black community, where over 2,800 homes, businesses, churches and other buildings were leveled. Approximately 25,000 residents, mostly Black, were forcibly displaced, with promises of relocation assistance unfulfilled. During the press conference, Oscar Wright, now 87, recalled his experience as a 13 year old in the West End. He said the 30-day deadline his family faced felt like an “evacuation.” “That was traumatic,” Wright said.

“It always stayed in my head, ‘Mother, where are we going? Daddy, where are we going?’ ‘We don’t know yet.’” The apology emphasized ongoing efforts to reinvest in the West End, including pedestrian safety measures, a $20 million federal grant for road improvements, a $7 million investment to address pollution in the Mill Creek corridor and support for local businesses. The city also plans to pursue a $50 million choice grant with the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority to revitalize housing on Linn Street and transform the historic Regal Theater into an African-American multicultural center.

The Doerman Children Murders Editor’s note: The details in this story may be disturbing to some readers. Shock, outrage and grief gripped the Clermont County community this summer in a murder case that captured national attention. On June 15, deputies with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to a Monroe Township home, about 30 minutes east of downtown Cincinnati, for reports of a man “killing everyone.” Deputies arrived to find 32-year-old Chad Doerman sitting outside the home, his three sons, ages 3, 4 and 7, shot dead in the yard. Prosecutors said Doerman lined up the boys at their home and executed them with a rifle, a plan he allegedly had for months. Court documents show Doerman “hunted” the oldest boy down after he tried to flee in an open field behind the home, but Doerman “dragged” him back to the house and killed him. Rachel Brown, the aunt of the Doerman boys and their mother’s sister, told CityBeat she wants the world to know how “amazing these babies were.” “They are not only this tragedy,” Brown told CityBeat. “They were happy and funny, so very funny, goofy, kind, loving boys.” Brown raised more than $280,000 for her sister and niece, the boys’ sister, to pay for funeral costs, trauma therapy and other expenses. Doerman is being held at the Clermont County Jail on a $20 million bond, his trial scheduled to begin July 8. He faces 21 charges, including nine counts of aggravated murder. Doerman could face the death penalty if convicted.

Dismembered Woman Found in North Fairmount A gruesome mystery out of North Fairmount remains unsolved at the year’s end. Investigators are still trying to identify the dismembered remains of a woman found in the woods off Baltimore

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Father Chad Doerman killed his three sons, ages 3, 4 and 7, in June. P H O T O : R A C H E L B R O W N , FA C E B O O K

Avenue near Beekman Street on Nov. 5. The Cincinnati Police Department responded to the scene after a passerby called to report the remains, with the coroner listing her death as a homicide. No tattoos, no birthmarks, no scars – the remains don’t even give investigators the options to run fingerprints or dental records. “There are no teeth to investigate,” said Hamilton County coroner Dr. Lakshmi Kode Sammarco. She described the victim as a Black woman, likely in her late 20s to early 30s, about 5 feet tall and weighing around 120 pounds. It’s estimated she sustained at least one pregnancy in her lifetime. The investigation is still ongoing, with Cincinnati Police and the coroner working to identify the mystery Jane Doe.

Ohioans Vote YES on Abortion Care and Recreational Marijuana In perhaps the most significant off-year election Ohio has ever seen, voters passed Issues 1 and 2, protecting abortion access and legalizing recreational marijuana. Both issues passed with more than 56% of the vote, a crushing defeat for Republicans who railed against the measures with the full support of the state’s top election official. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose reportedly allowed several anti-abortion groups to assist in writing the ballot language for Issue 1, inserting misleading language such as “unborn child.” Once it became clear that Issue 1 would pass, Republicans vowed to undo the will of voters one way or another, with Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens saying the legislature has “multiple paths to [...] protect innocent life.” Still, abortion access in the state remains untouched with access still legal up until the point of viability, or about 22 weeks. On the other hand, the future for recreational marijuana is still hazy.

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Despite strong support from voters, lawmakers in the Ohio Senate are pushing to make sweeping changes to the new law, including cutting home growth, lowering THC levels, increasing the tax rate, changing who sees those tax dollars and more. Nevertheless, the results of Issues 1 and 2 shine a purple light on the question of if Ohio can still be considered a swing state.

UC Medical Student Murdered on Western Hills Viaduct The Cincinnati Police Department is still searching for the person responsible for the death of a 26-year-old University of Cincinnati doctoral student who was shot while driving on the Western Hills Viaduct. CPD said officers were dispatched to the Western Hills Viaduct around 6:20 a.m. on Nov. 9 for reports of an “auto accident and a person shot.” The responding officers found Aaditya Adlakha, 26, suffering from a gunshot wound inside his car. He was transported to UC Medical Center where he died from his injuries on Nov. 11. His death is being investigated as a homicide. According to UC, Adlakha was an award-winning fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in UC’s Molecular and Development Biology graduate program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Adlakha’s research on the immunomodulatory role of nociceptive neurons in ulcerative colitis earned him an award and stipend from the medical college in 2022. “He was much-loved, exceedingly kind and humorous, intelligent and sharp, whose research was described as novel and transformative,” reads a Nov. 13 news release from UC Medical College. Police have yet to confirm if the shooting on the Western Hills Viaduct was random or targeted at Adlakha. The investigation is ongoing.

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These 10 Weird News Stories Make Cincinnati Look Cool, Awful and Strange at the Same Time BY M A D E L I N E F E N I N G

asten your seatbelts for a wild ride through corn and the quirkier side of 2023, Cincinnati! From a stolen wolf statue making a roaring comeback to the most ironic court date imaginable, this year’s bizarre headlines make the depressing ones go down a bit easier. From Joey Votto invoking aliens to “cocaine cat,” it’s time to dive into the weirdest tales that had Cincinnati shaking its head in disbelief in 2023.

Stolen Wolf Statue Returns with Italian Fanfare In a saga fit for an Italian soap opera, the Capitoline Wolf Statue, a stolen gem from Cincinnati’s Eden Park, has made a triumphant return – or rather, its replica has. After the original disappeared under mysterious circumstances in June 2022, officials held a grand unveiling of the replacement on Nov. 3, complete with the Cincinnati chapter of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America (OSIA). The timing, they say, is as rare as a she-wolf in someone’s closet, with the replica’s dedication falling near the 100th anniversary of OSIA. The stolen original, a gift from Benito Mussolini in 1929, had quite the journey – switched out for a larger replica in 1931, it stood in Eden Park until snatched by vandals in 2022. Despite city council member Jeff Cramerding’s $50,000 reward offer, the police are still playing catch-up with the statue-nappers. OSIA swiftly secured funds for a replacement, incorporating “security enhancements” this time around. The unveiling, complete with Italian crooners and treats, turned the whole affair into a beautifully cheesy Italian-American spectacle, reminding everyone that Cincinnati’s got history, both stolen and recreated.

Trump Cancels on Freedom Fest Surprisingly enough, former President Donald Trump does NOT want to go to “the Bulldog’s” backyard barbecue after all. It was announced in August that Trump left conservative YouTuber and part-time conspiracy theorist Eric “the Bulldog” Deters in the lurch by pulling out of the much-hyped 2023 “Freedom Fest” in Northern Kentucky. The festival, organized by Deters, a suspended lawyer, had Trump headlining alongside other members of the Trump clan and a cast of conservative characters,

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including Dog the Bounty Hunter. Alas, Trump had other priorities – namely, campaigning in Iowa – leading to the festival’s abrupt cancellation. Deters, with a flair for the dramatic, expressed the difficulty of the decision, citing disappointed ticket holders who were promised a Trump spectacle. Meanwhile, Trump, amidst his presidential campaign pursuits and facing a collection of legal woes, left Deters to deal with the fallout. The suspended lawyer, known for his rants against Hunter Biden, transphobic memes and vaccine conspiracy theories, quickly dusted off his troubles, hinting at a sequel – “Freedom Fest” 2024.

Kid Rock Was Caught Drinking Bud Light After Fit About Trans UC Alum In a spectacular display of “cancel culture” hypocrisy, Kid Rock threw a tantrum over Bud Light’s partnership with trans activist and University of Cincinnati Alum, Dylan Mulvaney, only to be caught casually sipping a Bud Light at a Nashville show months later. Kid Rock first got his panties in a twist because Anheuser-Busch sent Mulvaney a can with her face on it to celebrate her first “365 Days of Girlhood,” her TikTok series chronicling her first year post-transition. In fact, that flimsy aluminum beer can upset the washed up “rock star” so much that he posted a video of himself shooting cases of the beer with a semiautomatic rifle while looking like he was going to cry. From emotionally using rice beer as target practice to a newfound love for Bud Light, Kid Rock’s journey suggests he’s had a change of heart. Welcome to the acceptance party, Kid! And cheers to the unexpected twists in his journey to gender enlightenment.

Vivek Ramaswamy Lost Himself in … Rapping? Vivek Ramaswamy, the Cincinnatinative and “anti-woke” Republican presidential hopeful, made the wise choice to stop performing Eminem sing-alongs for voters. During an Aug. 12 campaign stop at the Iowa State Fair, the 38-year-old near billionaire launched into a cover of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” while shaking hands with supporters. The C-SPAN moment felt ripped out of a lost Veep script, with Ramaswamy as our Jonah Ryan.

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The newly rectified Capitoline Wolf Statue was unveiled in Eden Park on Nov. 3, 2023. P H OTO : M A D E L I N E F E N I N G

But Slim Shady himself (who was once questioned by the Secret Service for his anti-Trump freestyle rap at the 2017 BET Awards) quickly sent a cease and desist to the Ramaswamy campaign. A spokesperson from the campaign told CityBeat that Ramaswamy had just “cut loose” at the fair, and that he’d leave the rapping to the “real Slim Shady.”

Bus Stolen, Police Chase Ensues Through Corn Field Where we’re going, we don’t need roads. Just corn. On May 30, a man found himself in police custody after swiping a school bus from Cincinnati and embarking on a wild journey westward to Shelbyville, Indiana. The bus, purloined from East Walnut Hills, took law enforcement on a winding chase through the heartland, with the driver careening through cornfields as officers followed. The cinematic pursuit eventually concluded in southern Shelby County, Indiana, where the driver, the sole occupant, was apprehended without fuss. The bus belonged to Universal Transportation Services, who clarified to CityBeat that the bus hailed from their “Yellow Bus Division,” primarily serving students, though the exact purpose at the time of its impromptu journey remains a mystery. Luckily, Cincinnati Public Schools had just kicked off summer break, so no students or programs were involved.

Black Market Botox and Fillers Found at CVG Inflation sucks, but not when it’s in the right areas. The black market for injectable cosmetic products is booming in the U.S., and Cincinnati is no exception. Two Cincinnati Customs and Border Protection (CCBP) officers intercepted thousands of unapproved cosmetic injectables in April and May, including popular brands like Botox and Juvéderm. Most shipments originated from Bulgaria, Spain, China, Hong Kong and Korea, according to CCBP. A single shipment from Hong Kong contained enough Botox for 1,500 injections, making the combined value of the seized injectables $175,399. Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie warned against the lure of cheap injectables in the announcement, saying it’s not worth compromising health and safety. “Cheaper is not always better,” he said. “Especially when it concerns your family’s health and welfare.” The department urges consumers to consult licensed medical professionals for cosmetic injectables to ensure product quality and monitor for potential adverse effects.

Joey Votto Said What About Aliens? Looking back on this far-out prediction from Joey Votto is bittersweet. For one,

aliens did not give the Reds the help they needed this season, and two, we miss him already. On Feb. 27, Major League Baseball’s Instagram account urged users, “Drop your boldest NL Central prediction” and tagged players from the division’s teams to answer, including Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto. And yes, Votto’s thoughtful, reasonable, not-atall-batshit theory was as glorious as you’d hope: “Extra terrestrials arrive on earth, April 15th. The 12-2 Reds and the rest of the planet learn from, communicate with, and befriend our alien friends,” Votto commented below the post. “This process takes 5 months. Play resumes in October. The Reds sweep the playoffs and are World Series champs.” This, sadly, did not happen. The Reds went 82-80 and the 40-year-old Votto became a free agent after he had his $20 million club option declined by the Reds. But, Votto did make a side note in that wonderfully weird Instagram comment, saying: “The aliens ask if I would like to accompany them on their ship back to their plant. I oblige. Never to be seen again”

Cocaine Cat! A big cat with a small cocaine problem became a “cat ambassador,” one of Cincinnati’s more unexpected outcomes of the year. News broke on March 9 that Cincinnati Animal CARE (CAC), the non-profit that operates Hamilton County’s dog warden, received a call on Jan. 28 about a “leopard” stuck in a tree in Oakley. Turns out, after an encounter with Cincinnati Police, an illegal serval escaped from an apartment and ran up a tree. Crews retrieved the “grumpy” 35-pound cat, named Amiry, bringing him back to CAC’s Northside shelter. CAC told CityBeat a big cat expert confirmed Amiry was in fact a 100% pure-bred serval, adding he’d “rather deal with a tiger.” Servals are native to savannas in more than 35 African countries. They’re illegal to own in Ohio but legal in Indiana with a special permit. In addition to a DNA test, the team also ran a drug test on the cat, which CAC said is standard protocol for strange or exotic cases. The test came back positive for cocaine, making the ”cocaine cat” nickname a viral hit after Elizabeth Banks’ horror/comedy Cocaine Bear was released in February. After receiving treatment for a broken leg at CAC for a couple of days, Amiry was transferred to the Cincinnati Zoo for continued treatment. On March 10, the zoo announced on Facebook that Amiry was on the mend and transitioning into a new role at the zoo as a “cat ambassador.” The zoo’s Cat Ambassador Program started in 1980 with the goal of raising awareness about

helping cheetahs, but expanded in 2021 to include servals, ocelots, domestic cats and dogs, a crested porcupine and a red river hog. It’s still unclear if charges will be filed against Amiry’s former owner, but the serval is thriving at the zoo among new drug-free friends.

“Because I Got High” Rapper Afroman Appears in Adams County Court on 4/20 This court date had to be selected with the explicit intent to be funny. Rapper Afroman, known for his 2000 hit “Because I Got High,” appeared in court on April 20 (yes, 4/20) to defend himself against seven Adams County deputies who allege he’s ruined their reputations. Afroman, given name Joseph Edgar Foreman, is being sued by seven members of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for publishing his own security footage of a raid on his home by the department from August 2022. The raid, which Afroman said caused extensive damage to his home, recovered only cash, a few joints, a vape and some hemp. Officials at the time said the raid was part of an “ongoing investigation” into possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia, money and weapons associated with drug trafficking and kidnapping. No charges were ever filed against the artist, but the deputies involved in the raid are suing the rapper for using his own security footage of the raid on Instagram, on t-shirts and in music videos for a new album titled Lemon Pound Cake. The case is still ongoing.

The Summer of Shit Air Quality We’re used to weird weather in Ohio, but the weirdest atmospheric event of 2023 had to be the summer of shitty air quality. While some western states are used to such a haze from California wildfires, it was actually Canada that sent the visible smoke our way. Crews battled sweeping, rampant wildfires across Canada starting in May, an early start to the typical wildfire season. By July, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre said it was battling 881 active wildfires across the country, 578 of which were considered “out of control.” Smoke, ozone and tiny particles, known as PM2.5, blew straight down to Cincinnati and across the Midwest. The smoke was so thick at times the Cincinnati skyline was barely visible from typically clear vantage points. While air quality alerts have expired, hazy days such as these are expected to become a common occurrence in a warming climate.

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10 Cover

Stories From 2023 That CityBeat Is Proud Of 10

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CityBeat covered the secret lives of Cincinnati musicians, a social group for men who like to masturbate (together) and more scintillating tales throughout 2023. In 2023, CityBeat launched two inaugural special issues that included a deep-dive cover feature on two of the most intimate pillars of human existence — sex and death. The cover features included in the Sex Issue and the Death Issue — one about a local mutual masturbation group and the other about the quest to identify thousands of bodies resting beneath Potter’s Field — display what CityBeat has become so adept at since its inception in 1994: giving life to the important, often obscure or taboo parts of Cincinnati life. These are some of the staff’s favorite cover features from 2023.

“Swingin’ Schwartz’s Point,” by Russell Hausfeld Jan. 25 issue

“The New Blue Line,” by Madeline Fening Though beloved Cincinnati jazz fixture Ed Moss passed away back in 2016, his presence is still felt at his jazz club, Schwartz’s Point. In this feature, writer Russell Hausfeld, using prior interviews with Moss and musings from his friends and other journalists, painted a picture of Moss’ legacy in Cincinnati’s music scene. Though he’d owned a few different establishments throughout his lifetime, Moss told Hausfeld that his favorite by far was Schwartz’s, which is now owned and operated by his daughter Zarleen Watts and her mother Caryn Watts.

Feb. 22 issue Shortly after Teresa Theetge transitioned from her role as the interim police chief to the official chief of the Cincinnati Police Department, CityBeat’s news reporter Madeline Fening spoke with her about the city’s anti-slur policy. The policy, the final version of which was released in Oct. 2022, was created in response to CPD officers making headlines for using racial slurs while on the job. In her article, Fening examined how Theetge was going to address the use of racial slurs on the job during her tenure as police chief.

“The Secret Lives of Cincinnati Musicians,” by Nick Grever March 8 issue Do you ever find yourself wondering what your favorite local musician does for a living? Or what sort of interesting hobbies they have when they’re not strumming an acoustic guitar on stage? Well, you’re in luck — Nick Grever uncovered the secret lives of Cincinnati musicians for a CityBeat cover story in March of 2023. In the story, Grever spoke with Phantom Queens’ Tina Sullivan, who owns and operates Bang Bang Hair Salon in Clifton and Siegelord’s Austin Wolfe, who participates in an armored combat group for fun, among other local musicians who lead interesting lives outside of the stage.

From left to right: Dead Man String Band’s Rob McAllister, Schwartz’s Point jazz club; a closeup of Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge’s badge; and Siegelord’s Austin Wolfe participates in armored combat groups. P H O T O S O F R O B M C A L L I S T E R , S C H WA R T Z ’ S P O I N T A N D AU S T I N W O L F E BY A I D A N M A H O N E Y A N D T E R E S A T H E E T G E ’ S B A D G E BY M A D E L I N E F E N I N G

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“The Underdogs,” by Madeline Fening March 22 issue

officials, area leaders and citizens can combat climate change at the local level. Cincinnati is part of the 2030 Districts Network, a group of urban cities that have publicly committed to reducing energy consumption, water use and transportation emissions by at least 50% before 2030. In this latest update of the Green Cincinnati Plan, Cincinnati City Council Member Meeka Owens leads the charge to craft strategies to help address the biggest obstacles to tackling climate change and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 — housing and transportation. The new plan aims to reduce utility costs and encourage more citizens to switch to homes that are powered by electricity rather than methane gas. On the transportation front, the plan hopes to encourage Cincinnati residents to use public transit instead of driving. exists simply because he feels trans men and cisgendered men have different levels of comfortability with sexuality). Members of the Cincy Jacks meet at private locations to engage in mutual masturbation. Ace feels that being a part of a group like Cincy Jacks is safer than attempting to meet their sexual needs on sketchy online platforms or dating apps.

In this cover feature, Fening spoke with Cincinnati Animal CARE about the unique challenges they’ve faced as Hamilton County’s only open-intake animal shelter. SPCA Cincinnati was previously Hamilton County’s designated animal shelter, and Cincinnati Animal CARE admitted that this recent change in leadership in 2020 has created some confusion for the public. Apart from messaging issues, Cincinnati Animal CARE spoke of the need for a new, bigger building to address the overcrowding of animals in their current location. The cover feature also highlighted a bit of the historical context behind the transition from SPCA Cincinnati to Cincinnati Animal CARE. According to Cincinnati Animal CARE, they are working to bring the euthanasia rates down significantly from what they were under SPCA Cincinnati’s tenure as the Hamilton County animal shelter.

“Airborne at 30,” by tt stern-enzi Aug. 23 issue

“The Show Must Go On,” by Killian Baarlaer and Brent Stroud May 31 issue As Greater Cincinnati music venues finally returned back to normal operations for the first time since the height of the Covid pandemic, CityBeat music writers Killian Baarlaer and Brent Stroud spoke with large and small venues about how they’ve managed to bounce back from Covid-related challenges. Unlike other major cities, Cincinnati did not lose a single independent venue as a result of the Covid pandemic. Instead, against all odds, two new music venues opened in Cincinnati directly following the height of the pandemic — MegaCorp Pavilion and the Andrew J Brady Music Center. In the aftermath of the pandemic, venues are still facing several unique obstacles to success, including rising artist fees, increased customer demand and, on the flip side, hesitancy from some customers who aren’t fully comfortable yet with attending large in-person events.

“All Hands on Deck,” by Katie Griffith July 12 issue

“Going Green(er),” by Sami Reed April 5 issue Ahead of its public unveiling, CityBeat writer Sami Reed analyzed the content of the fourth iteration of the Green Cincinnati Plan, a detailed report on how city

For CityBeat’s inaugural Sex Issue, arts and culture staff writer Katie Griffith profiled the Cincy Jacks, a private men’s club for group masturbation founded by Ace, an expert in the field of intimacy. Inspired by similar organizations in other cities, the Cincy Jacks group was created to foster body and sex positivity for consenting cisgendered men in the Greater Cincinnati area (trans men are not permitted in the group, a rule that Ace says it not meant to be exclusionary and

For the past few decades, the Cincinnati film industry has grown in significance, fostering talent and serving as the backdrop for numerous popular films — including Airborne, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023. Starring Seth Green and Jack Black, Airborne marked a pivotal turning point in Cincinnati’s impact on the national film industry. In his feature, film critic and Overthe-Rhine International Film Festival Artistic Director tt stern-enzi details several successful films, like Carol and Traffic, that have been filmed and produced in Greater Cincinnati since Airborne’s debut in 1993. Stern-enzi argues that Cincinnati’s unique charm and beauty have led to its prominence in the national film scene.

“Strip Mall Eats,” by CityBeat Staff Oct. 4 issue Foodie destinations aren’t always housed in elaborate downtown buildings. Sometimes, the best foodie spots are located in the most unassuming strip malls. In CityBeat’s annual Dining Guide, contributors detailed

Clockwise from upper left corner: A puppy with a Hamilton County dog warden; MOTR Pub; stock image; Shane McDermott in Airborne; and the Cincinnati Streetcar. P H O T O C R E D I T S , C L O C K W I S E F R O M U P P E R L E F T : M A D E L I N E F E N I N G ; A I D A N M A H O N E Y; A R M I N R I M O L D I , P E X E L S ; C I N E M AT I C , A L A M Y; A N D A I D A N M A H O N E Y

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their favorite strip mall restaurants — both dive-y and posh, and everything in between — that should be on every Cincinnatian’s radar. Strip mall restaurants like Marx Bagels, Tavern on the Bend and Jot India earned a spot on the list of some of the best strip mall eats in the city, according to CityBeat contributors.

“Into the Woods,” by Madeline Fening Oct. 18 issue In another inaugural issue for CityBeat, the Death Issue, Fening reported on the fascinating story behind Potter’s Field, the 26-acre “potter’s field” in Price Hill’s Rapid Run Park. A “potter’s field” is a common historical term for a place where communities

would bury the poor (otherwise called “indigent”), the unidentified, the incarcerated, infectious disease victims and others who were “unwanted.” In her piece, Fening recounted the stories of many people buried in Price Hill’s Potter’s Field and how a few people

From left to right: Red Squirrel Restaurant and a grave marker at Potter’s Field. P H O T O C R E D I T, F R O M L E F T T O R I G H T : A S H L E Y M O O R A N D A I D A N M A H O N E Y

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and organizations have pushed for the identification and protection of the thousands of unidentified and unmarked graves spread across these 26 acres — an effort that is still ongoing today.

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ARTS & CULTURE 10 Arts & Culture Stories That Made an Impact on Greater Cincinnati in 2023

Frogman Festival at the Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center in Mason P H O T O : K AT I E G R I F F I T H

These Arts & Culture highlights from 2023 touch on everything from the Loveland Frogman to a celebration of fashion history and major local film news. BY K AT I E G R I F F IT H

Cincinnati’s Inaugural Frogman Festival Celebrates Local Lore By Katie Griffith Feb. 22 issue If Ohio is a weird state (it is), then Cincinnati is its cryptid capital. From the Mothman to Bigfoot and “The Hollow Earth Theory” to countless haunted sites, Ohio’s got plenty of weirdness – and Cincinnati has a claim on a good part of the lore. The Loveland Frogman is a 4-foot-tall, lizard-like creature that allegedly roams around on its hind legs and inhabits the Little Miami River. The Frogman even got its own festival this year. The Frogman Festival creator Jeff Craig curated an event full of enthusiasts, ghost hunters, scientists and authors to celebrate. Cincinnati reveled in its weirdness that day, and the Frogman was etched into Cincinnati history permanently.

Former Middletown Bar Plans Renovations and Reopening after Hollywood Movie “Bikeriders” Filmed There By Katie Griffith March 22 issue The Lakeside Inn is an old Middletown

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Corporate’s Jordan Air Ship sneakers

Drag queen Hope Sexton at Old Street Saloon

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establishment that was a popular bar and restaurant before it closed over eight years ago. The local hub’s storied past includes gambling, gangsters, family gatherings and even a connection to the infamous criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde. The location became even more well known when Hollywood producers scoped it out for the filming of Bikeriders starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy. Bikeriders producers liked The Lakeside Inn’s name so much, they ditched the fictional name for the movie and kept the original. Inn owner Brian Mack saved props and memorabilia from the filming and plans to use them for decor in the renovated space. Bikeriders premiered in August 2023.

Drag Queens in Rural Ohio React to Drag Satanic Panic By Madeline Fening April 15 issue Queens of a nearly 30-year-old gay dive bar and performance venue in Monroe talked to Fening about performing and the drag queen life after Tennessee’s Senate Bill 3 passed in February. The bill made it a misdemeanor for a person

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to perform “adult cabaret” in public or where a performance could be seen by a minor. Though Ohio does not currently have any such law, there was a bill introduced in July 2023 that would have the same effect — Ohio House Bill 245. It has not passed. Old Street Saloon is home to many queens, who shared life stories and precious moments at the saloon with CityBeat.

Cincinnati Music Theatre Celebrated Women Composers and Lyricists in “Musicals She Wrote” By Rick Pender June 14 issue Women have been writing musicals since the 19th century, a fact that Rick Pender explored with his story on Musicals She Wrote, a Cincinnati Music Theatre production that reveals the importance of women in theater. Director and Cincinnati native Joe Stollenwerk created the cabaret-style revue, which traces more than a century of women’s contributions to music and lyrics. “People don’t realize how many musicals were written by women,”

Stollenwerk told CityBeat. Honoring musical theater’s “golden age” to the present, Musicals She Wrote premiered in the summer of 2023.

Travel + Leisure Names The Lytle Park Hotel One of Top 500 Hotels in the World By Katherine Barrier The Lytle Park Hotel was the only hotel in Ohio to rank on Travel + Leisure’s top 500 list for the second year in a row. To be the only hotel in Ohio on a list that compares hotels around the world is seriously impressive. The 3-year-old hotel has 106 guest rooms, including 18 suites, a lobby bar, an Italian restaurant on the first floor and a rooftop bar with stunning 360-degree views.

Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center Got a New Executive Director, Celebrated 20 Years of Iconic Building’s Location By Katie Griffith July 12 issue Christina Vassallo became the CAC’s

executive director in March, looking ahead to “new strategic plans” and the 20-year anniversary of the museum’s residence at Sixth and Walnut Streets downtown. The CAC’s architect, Zaha Hadid, was the first woman to design an American museum. Hadid was a worldrenowned architect, evidenced by the iconic CAC structure inside and out. Vassallo expressed pride in being part of an era of women leaders in the art world.

University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning Celebrates 70 Years of Fashion Show By Katie Griffith An annual fashion show that highlights capstone projects of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) fashion students turned 70 this year. MegaCorp Pavilion hosted the show, which featured 48 theses from graduating seniors. The projects ranged from zero waste concepts to cultural nods and tales of family history. The fashion creations represent years of hard work from DAAP students and are showcased in a New York Fashion Week style event.

ArtWorks Honors 50 Years of Cincinnati Pride with Brand New Mural By Katherine Barrier ArtWorks contributes handfuls of murals to Greater Cincinnati every year, but honoring 50 years of Pride in the Queen City was among its most notable of 2023. Love Wins was designed by artist Matthew Dayler of Chroma Projects and painted by 12 apprentices. The mural spans the brick facade atop Queen City Radio’s bar and beer garden and depicts protests, triumphs and celebrations in the LGBTQ+ community.

Major Motion Picture Filmed at Arnold’s Bar & Grill By Deirdre Kaye In January of this year, rumors swirled about what movie could be filming at and causing the temporary closure of one of Cincinnati’s oldest bars, but the film’s identity was kept under wraps. For six weeks this year, Arnold’s Bar & Grill was closed to the public and transformed into a movie set. Reportedly, the movie in question was Wise Guys, starring Robert DeNiro. During filming, DeNiro was spotted at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse.

Christina Vassallo, executive director of the Contemporary Arts Center P H O T O : K AT I E G R I F F I T H

Arnold’s Bar & Grill was closed from Jan. 16 through Feb. 21.

Cincinnati Sneaker Boutique Partners With Jordan on New Shoes By Katherine Barrier The Midwest retailer Corporate is a sneaker and clothing boutique that has been serving Cincinnati (Hyde

Park), Dayton and Indianapolis for 15 years. In September, the Corporate Jordan Air Ships dropped and included design nods to Cincinnati, including the city’s iconic skyline. The teal shoes were a symbol of founder Matt Tomamichel’s journey, a tribute to Cincinnati and a show of excellence in a rare collaboration opportunity with the Jordan brand. The shoes are now sold out.

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FOOD & DRINK

Cafe Mochiko has brought a unique foodie destination to East Walnut Hills. P H O T O : F R A N C I S C O H U E R TA

2023 Dining in Review

The Cincinnati restaurant industry experienced incredible growth this year — but not without some growing pains. R E V I E W BY PA M A M IT C H E L L

ot to get all Dickensian on you, but “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times” could apply to this year’s Cincinnati restaurant community. Still emerging from the pandemic and dealing with inflation and ongoing supply issues, the industry endured an array of closures this year, going back to February with the sudden demise of Royce and PearlStar. Higher prices at the wholesale level meant that restaurants either had to raise prices for diners or cut into already slim profits. And while, by most accounts, the labor crisis for restaurant workers continued to ease in 2023, owners still engage in the age-old struggle to recruit and retain kitchen and service teams. But on a decidedly brighter note, our city’s restaurant community was buoyed by the announcement in

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Mid-City Restaurant is helping to redefine the restaurant scene downtown. P H OTO : A I DA N M A H O N E Y

January that five local establishments had received preliminary James Beard Award nominations, an unprecedented bounty of recognition. Three of those nominees later were named finalists in the categories of Outstanding Restaurant (Mita’s), Best New Restaurant (Nolia Kitchen) and Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker (Elaine Uykimpang Bentz, Café Mochiko). Each was up against nominees from the entire United States, and although none won their category, they scaled unprecedented heights in what’s been called

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the Oscars of the dining world. It was a great showing for our mid-sized, Midwestern city. The additional preliminary nominees were in the category of Best Chef, Great Lakes region for both Mid-City Kitchen chef de cuisine Francisco Alfaro and Hideki and Yuko Harada, chef/owners of Kiki. An optimist by nature, I can’t help but focus on this good news. The accomplishments of the nominated chefs, baker and restaurant owners made 2023 a notable year for Cincinnati

dining. If not exactly the best of times, then, on balance, pretty darn good. Jeffrey Harris, chef/owner at Nolia Kitchen, said the Beard nomination took him by surprise when a friend called to ask if he’d seen the announcement, which he hadn’t. When that call ended, he said his phone just kept ringing with well-wishers and media folk seeking his reaction. “It was surprising and humbling,” he told me recently. “And it gave me hope, letting me know how far the Cincinnati dining scene has come.” The

Nolia has earned both local and national attention this year. P H OTO : H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

nomination made an “extremely big impact” on demand for seats at his restaurant. “It was like Friday night every day, but I’m happy it’s subsided some.” Oops. Soon after we spoke, Nolia Kitchen received another accolade when it made Esquire Magazine’s list of 50 “Best New Restaurants in America 2023.” A week or so later, OpenTable put Nolia on a list of “most beloved” restaurants in the state. Looks like Harris will once again fill his small, OTR restaurant as if every day was a Friday. Most of the Beard-nominated Cincinnati establishments have in common a stripped-down, casual vibe housed within relatively small physical footprints. The outlier is Mita’s, which another restaurateur admiringly referred to as “a big-city restaurant.” But Mita’s does share these other restaurants’ ability to surprise us, to invite patrons to be open to cooking styles and ingredients we may find unfamiliar. Their menus aren’t necessarily organized in courses, and at least some seats are left open for walk-ins — or the place might not take reservations at all. They’re likely to be tucked away on smaller streets (Nolia), off-the-grid neighborhoods (Kiki in College Hill; Cafe Mochiko in East Walnut Hills)

or pioneering a newly redeveloped downtown ‘hood (Mid-City Kitchen on Court Street). Again, Mita’s doesn’t exactly fit that description. Located in the heart of the city’s business district, Jose Salazar’s Latin-inspired restaurant opened in 2015 and “already had a following,” Salazar said, when it was nominated as one of the best restaurants in the U.S. “We did see a sizable boost in sales,” he added, “but just a temporary boost.” A more consistent factor this year probably was the effect of economic headwinds. “I think we’re in a bit of a recession,” Salazar said. “People are spending less, going out less, are more cautious about spending money.” Even so, he expressed confidence about the overall vitality of downtown, noting that the parking garages are busier at night now than they were before COVID. He stressed the “at night” part since the recent transition to more people working remotely caused a significant drop in lunch traffic downtown. Hideki Harada, co-owner of Kiki College Hill with his wife, Yuko, summed up 2023 as “a somber, bittersweet year for all of us in the restaurant community.” Although he called the year “decent” for Kiki, he noted that “accolades don’t put money in the bank. It’s a tough business that takes a lot of hard

work.” And yet he is on the verge of opening Daruma, a grab-and-go bodega on Court Street that will offer lunch options to nearby workers in a neighborhood where there still are a fair number of office workers. Harada also oversees Sen, a popular fresh fish and oyster stall at Findlay Market run by his partner, Ben Long. Both Salazar and Mid-City owner Mike Stankovich said they looked forward to the opening of Daruma, which Stankovich welcomes as an enhancement of the developing Court Street mini-neighborhood. Cafe Mochiko and Kiki also thrive on serving its neighbors in East Walnut Hills and College Hill, respectively. “We love the neighborhood,” Mochiko co-owner Elaine Uykimpang Bentz said. “There’s a lot of foot traffic [and] a tight-knit community. People like what we do, and our prices are fair.” She and her husband, co-owner Eric Bentz, spent a couple of years putting together a “stronger-than-ever team,” Elaine Bentz said. “People can see that everybody working here is happy where they are.” As the New Year dawns, several noteworthy restaurants are expanding the city’s culinary offerings. In the heart of OTR, you’ll find the “mostly French” bistro, Colette, near

Washington Park, and over on Vine Street, the oyster bar Atwood is up and running in PearlStar’s former space. For outside-the-box pasta creations, look for Wildweed to move into its digs on Walnut Street as soon as the space is ready. Chef Jordan Anthony Brown will be at the helm of Aperture in Walnut Hills early in 2024, and Derek Brazile will move Pata Roja Taqueria from its food truck and nearby-bar operation to its own Court Street storefront. Keeping a restaurant going has never been an easy task, at least not as long as I’ve been patronizing them. But we can look back on ’23 with satisfaction and be assured that many delicious meals lie ahead.

Some of my favorite restaurant dishes this year: • • • • • •

Callaloo at Nolia Kitchen (Over-the-Rhine) Chickpea and Cucumber Salad at Al-Posto (Hyde Park) Pozole Verde Con Mariscos at Mita’s (Downtown) Fattoush at Abigail Street (Over-the-Rhine) Valrhona Dark Chocolate Crème Brûlée at Via Vite (Downtown) Profiteroles at Colette (Over-the-Rhine)

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10 Appetizing Food and Dining Stories That We Devoured in Greater Cincinnati in 2023 EATS

The top food and dining stories from 2023 include new restaurants, themed pop-ups and even the arrival of Malört in Ohio. BY K AT H E R I N E BA R R I E R

Nicola’s was recognized with a four-diamond status from AAA in 2023. P H OTO : A I DA N M A H O N E Y

Star Wars-Themed Pop-Up Bar Galactic Cantina Lands in Over-the-Rhine By Katherine Barrier In April, Gorilla Cinema brought a den of scum and villainy to its bar behind its comic book store, Cosmic Gorilla. The pop-up drew intergalactic bounty hunters from all over Greater Cincinnati to post up, enjoy some libations and snacks and wager their ships in heated card games. While the bar has since transformed back into the Harry Potterthemed Pennifold’s Pub, we’ll never forget those months exploring the galaxy just steps away from Findlay Market.

By Madeline Fening Malört, a liquor with a botanical bitterness courtesy of wormwood (think of it as if someone watered bitter herbs with gasoline and then bottled the runoff ), finally made its way onto Ohio shelves this April. Production of Malört started in Chicago in the 1930s before bouncing to Kentucky

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Graeter’s released five limited-time bonus flavors in 2023 — including the pictured Hot Honey Crunch. P H O T O : P R O V I D E D BY G R A E T E R’ S

Ohio Held its Nose With the Arrival of Malört on its Shelves

and received praise on national TV for its oxtail dish, with Fieri saying, “If you don’t like oxtail, come here for the Oxtail Conversion Program.” Not only that, but Big Jays also hosted America’s Best Restaurants (ABR), a national media and marketing company that focuses on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants. ABR brought its roadshow to the restaurant in November to film an episode, which will be aired on its website at a later date.

and Florida, but the hard-to-find spirit has most commonly been found in Chicago, where it developed a cult following. Chicagoans have been throwing back shots of the stuff with an Old Style beer for years, calling the boilermaker a “Chicago Handshake.” Ohioans can now get a taste of the unruly spirit, thanks to a partnership between Jeppson’s Malört and Heidelberg Distributing.

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Greater Cincinnati Caribbean Soul Food Restaurant Finds the Spotlight By Katherine Barrier It was a big year for Big Jays Place, a Caribbean soul food restaurant in Finneytown. The eatery hosted a visit from Mayor of Flavortown Guy Fieri when it was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Cincinnati Brewery Closes its Flagship Location in Over-the-Rhine By Katherine Barrier Taft’s Brewing Company shocked many when it announced it would close Taft’s Ale House, the brewery’s flagship location in Over-the-Rhine, after eight years in business. The brewery says the pandemic, a decline in tourism and the increase in the cost of goods contributed greatly to its decision to close, but owners say, ultimately, Taft’s Ale House could not compensate for a significant loss

technique. Hunley, meanwhile, is behind the full dessert menu and also collaborates with Ridgill to introduce creative concepts to the savory side of the menu. Guests can also enjoy Atwood’s full bar, which offers a diverse menu of classic and creative house cocktails. The wine list features 16 wines by the glass and 80 bottles, all of which were selected to complement the restaurant’s seafood and vegetarian dishes.

Sister Restaurants PearlStar and Royce Close Abruptly

PearlStar (pictured) and Royce closed in 2023. P H O T O : C AT I E V I OX

in sales since COVID began. Taft’s Brewporium in Spring Grove Village, however, remains open.

Boca and Nicola’s Recognized With 4-Diamond Status from AAA By Katherine Barrier Two of Cincinnati’s most popular, fine-dining restaurants had their culinary talents recognized on a national scale this year as they were once again awarded 4-Diamond status from AAA. According to AAA, 4-Diamond restaurants offer “distinctive fine dining,” and Diamonds operate under the “4Cs”: cleanliness, comfort, cuisine and consistency. Boca was first honored with 4-Diamond status in 2007, and Nicola’s received its first designation in 2008.

Graeter’s Opens a New Scoop Shop in Union By Katherine Barrier Graeter’s Ice Cream opened a new scoop shop in Union, but it isn’t just

any ordinary shop. This Graeter’s is part of a collaboration with other popular Greater Cincinnati brands, Braxton Brewing Company and Dewey’s Pizza, which will soon be opening their own spots next to the new Graeter’s. The dining project, a place for “beer lovers, foodies, families and everyone in between,” according to a 2022 press release, will create a new dining and entertainment hub in Northern Kentucky, which will be centered around a 20,000-squarefoot greenspace and beer garden. The companies say in addition to being a foodie destination, they want to have specialty programming, music and events.

Graeter’s Launches Five, Limited-Time Summer Bonus Flavors By Katherine Barrier This summer, Graeter’s brought back its popular summer bonus flavor offerings, with a selection of five new ice creams. Graeter’s released them one at a time for a limited time, starting with Dough’licious, “a caramel

brownie batter ice cream loaded with peanut butter dough, cookie dough and brownie pieces.” That was followed by sweet and spicy Hot Honey Crunch, tart and crunchy Lemon Meringue Pie, salty and sweet Buttery Popcorn and a trip to the tropics with Passion Fruit Guava Sorbet.

Atwood Oyster House Opens in Former PearlStar Location By Katherine Barrier After PearlStar shuttered abruptly earlier this year, 3 Pigs Hospitality (who also own The Pony and Liberty’s Bar & Bottle) announced it would be opening a new oyster and seafood-focused restaurant in the Vine Street space. Atwood Oyster House opened in November and is helmed by executive chef Seth Ridgill, who most recently worked under chef Hideki Harada at Kiki College Hill, and pastry chef Kayla Hunley, formerly of Pleasantry. Ridgill’s menu is both playful and elegant, characterized by a Southern accent and rooted in French

By Katherine Barrier PearlStar and Royce, both formerly owned by Nashville restaurateur Terry Raley, closed without warning in February and their respective social media pages quickly went offline. PearlStar opened in the fall of 2021 in the former A Tavola space on Vine Street. The restaurant, highly anticipated at the time, offered both East and West Coast oysters and other raw delicacies such as crudo, ceviche and tartare. The kitchen also featured a wood-burning grill to create (non-raw) burgers and steak sandwiches, and the menu included items for vegans and vegetarians. Atwood Oyster House now occupies the space. As for Royce, the French brasserie was open for just six months before closing, taking its French-leaning menu and raw bar with it. Thunderdome Restaurant Group is now leasing the space, where it plans to open an Americanstyle brasserie.

Lil’s Bagels Reopens Inside Roebling Point Books & Coffee as Lil’s Kitchen By Katie Griffith Fans of bagel and sandwich shop Lil’s Bagels were heartbroken when the eatery closed in late 2022 after failed lease negotiations. But not long after the closure, Lil’s announced it would return, this time as Lil’s Kitchen and now located inside the Newport and Dayton locations of Roebling Point Books & Coffee. While the new menu has moved away from bagels and more toward sandwiches and other cafe offerings, everything is still made with the same chutzpah.

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MUSIC MUSIC

Northern Kentucky musician Jordan Smart P H OTO : A N T H O N Y S I M P K I N S

10 Music Stories from 2023 that Struck a Tune 10 Music Stories from 2023 that Struck a Tune with Cincinnatians with Cincinnatians Cincinnati music fans enjoyed a monumental 2023, from the iconic visit from Taylor Swift to The National’s Fest and more. CincinnatiHomecoming music fans enjoyed a monumental 2023, from the iconic visit from Taylor Swift to The BY K AT I E G R I F F IT H National’s Homecoming Fest and more. BY K AT I E G R I F F IT H

CityBeat Reviews Taylor Swift at Paycor Stadium CityBeat Reviews Taylor Swift at Moor Paycor By Ashley and Stadium Madeline Fening A non-Swiftie and a Swiftie walk into By Ashley Moor and Madeline Fening a sold-out Taylor Swift show and A non-Swiftie and a Swiftie walk into recount their appreciation for the a sold-out Taylor Swift show and spectacle. CityBeat’s editor-in-chief recount their appreciation for the Ashley Moor was hesitant, mostly spectacle. CityBeat’s editor-in-chief on account of the enormous crowd, Ashley Moor was hesitant, mostly but was delighted by the dedication on account of the enormous crowd, and love she witnessed among the but was delighted by the dedication thousands of people. Moor realized and love she witnessed among the an appreciation for the power of thousands of people. Moor realized Swift’s music. CityBeat’s news reporter an appreciation for the power of Madeline Fening reported an “assSwift’s music. CityBeat’s news reporter shaking, razzle-dazzle time,” recalled Madeline Fening reported an “assmoments from each Swift era and her shaking, razzle-dazzle time,” recalled experience growing up listening to the moments from each Swift era and her pop star’s music, all while learning life experience growing up listening to the lessons in the process. pop star’s music, all while learning life lessons in the process.

Black Music Walk of Fame Opens on TheWalk Banks Black Music of Fame Opens on The Banks By Katie Griffith

Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia By Katie Griffith Reece had been planning the debut Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Reece had been planning the debut Fame since 2021. After two rounds of of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of inductees, the Cincinnati Black Music Fame since 2021. After two rounds of inductees, the Cincinnati Black Music

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Walk of Fame opened with an impressive initial eight stars for musicians Walk of Fame opened with an impresBootsy Collins, the Isley Brothers and sive initial eight stars for musicians other Cincinnati legends, along with Bootsy Collins, the Isley Brothers and an interactive park and huge plans for other Cincinnati legends, along with the future. The Cincinnati Black Music an interactive park and huge plans for Walk of Fame isn’t just a lane of stars the future. The Cincinnati Black Music embedded on a path, it’s a way of honWalk of Fame isn’t just a lane of stars oring Black-made music with Cincinembedded on a path, it’s a way of honnati roots that has impacted the world. oring Black-made music with CincinThe Walk of Fame includes numerous nati roots that has impacted the world. interactive entertainment options and The Walk of Fame includes numerous during the July grand opening event, interactive entertainment options and Reece buried a time capsule on site that during the July grand opening event, includes memorabilia and a letter to Reece buried a time capsule on site that the future. includes memorabilia and a letter to the future.

The National Bring their Homecoming Festival to The National Bring their Cincinnati for a Second Homecoming Festival toTime By Ashley Moorfor a Second Time Cincinnati On the ICON Festival Stage in Smale By Ashley Moor Park, the National headlined both On the ICON Festival Stage in Smale installments of the two-day festival. The Park, the National headlined both indie rock band played albums High installments of the two-day festival. The Violet on Sept. 15 and Trouble Will Find indie rock band played albums High Me on Sept. 16 from start to finish. They Violet on Sept. 15 and Trouble Will Find also brought a star-studded roster of Me on Sept. 16 from start to finish. They musical acts with them like Patti Smith, also brought a star-studded roster of musical acts with them like Patti Smith,

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The Walkmen, Pavement and Weyes Blood, among others. The National The Walkmen, Pavement and Weyes shared stories with the audience about Blood, among others. The National growing up in Cincinnati, moments that shared stories with the audience about emphasized the importance of home growing up in Cincinnati, moments that and a “shared sense of place,” as Moor emphasized the importance of home says in her review of the show. and a “shared sense of place,” as Moor says in her review of the show.

Mole’s Record Exchange – Cincinnati’s Oldest Record Mole’s Record Exchange – Store – Closes Cincinnati’s Oldest Record By Katherine Barrier Store – Closes

Just before its 49th birthday, Mole’s By Katherine Barrier Record Exchange closed for good on Just before its 49th birthday, Mole’s June 3. Ric Hickey, a Mole’s employee Record Exchange closed for good on at the time, said the closure was due to June 3. Ric Hickey, a Mole’s employee the University of Cincinnati’s expansion at the time, said the closure was due to to Calhoun Street, where the store was the University of Cincinnati’s expansion located. Owner Dean Newman reportto Calhoun Street, where the store was edly didn’t think the business would located. Owner Dean Newman reportsurvive obstruction to the store’s main edly didn’t think the business would entrance because of nearby construcsurvive obstruction to the store’s main tion. “Regardless of your age or taste entrance because of nearby construcin music, if you wandered into Mole’s tion. “Regardless of your age or taste you would find something to your liking in music, if you wandered into Mole’s 99% of the time. … Mole’s was always you would find something to your liking a store with character and characters,” 99% of the time. … Mole’s was always Hickey said in a blogpost about the a store with character and characters,” store’s closing. Hickey said in a blogpost about the store’s closing.

Cincinnati Music Festival Lands Snoop Dogg, Al Green Cincinnati Music Festival Lands By AshleySnoop Moor Dogg, Al Green Around 80,000 people came to CinBy Ashley Moor cinnati just for the Cincinnati Music Around 80,000 people came to CinFestival, which brought hip-hop cinnati just for the Cincinnati Music and R&B legends to the Queen City Festival, which brought hip-hop this year. Three days in July featured and R&B legends to the Queen City performances from vibrant acts like this year. Three days in July featured headliners Al Green, Jill Scott, Jodeci, performances from vibrant acts like Midnight Star, Gerald Albright, Snoop headliners Al Green, Jill Scott, Jodeci, Dogg, Babyface, P-Funk ConnecMidnight Star, Gerald Albright, Snoop tion, Avery Sunshine and Norman Dogg, Babyface, P-Funk ConnecBrown. According to a press release, tion, Avery Sunshine and Norman the festival has a $107 million annual Brown. According to a press release, economic impact. the festival has a $107 million annual economic impact.

Bootsy Collins Performs for the FirstCollins Time in Four Years Bootsy Performs for theDeirdre FirstKaye Time in Four Years By One of the most renowned kings of By Deirdre Kaye funk graced a Bengals halftime show One of the most renowned kings of this year. Bootsy Collins also released funk graced a Bengals halftime show “The Icky Shuffle” on Jan. 13, a tribute this year. Bootsy Collins also released to former Bengals player Elbert L. “The Icky Shuffle” on Jan. 13, a tribute “Ickey” Woods. The song aims to unify to former Bengals player Elbert L. listeners and promote sportsmanship “Ickey” Woods. The song aims to unify and peace. Cincinnati and the Bengals listeners and promote sportsmanship had a lot to celebrate at that time, and and peace. Cincinnati and the Bengals had a lot to celebrate at that time, and

Fan holding sign outside of Taylor Swift’s concert at Paycor Stadium P H OTO : K E V I N L U S H

they did it in the most Cincinnati, funkadelic way possible.

Louis Langrée’s Begins Final Season at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra By Anne Arenstein March 8 issue Louis Langrée has been the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s (CSO) music director for the past 10 years. In his final season, Langrée is debuting new works from composers with whom he has collaborated in the past, honoring American composers and exploring French opera — just a few ways he will make the season well-rounded and unforgettable. Langrée’s grand finale in May will feature new work from Anthony Davis, which Arenstein describes as a fitting summary of his career at the CSO. In November, Langrée was appointed as CSO’s music director laureate.

Cincinnati’s May Festival and 150th Anniversary By Anne Arenstein The May Festival is the oldest choral festival in the Western Hemisphere. In May, it celebrated 150 years of community choral singing. The festival saw specialty programming that included world-class conductors and soloists and various world premiere performances. The May Festival concluded with Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, the “Symphony of a Thousand.”

Jordan Smart Wins GemsOnVHS Songwriting Contest By Katherine Barrier Folk singer-songwriter from Ludlow, Kentucky, Jordan Smart won a contest from one of YouTube’s most popular music channels, GemsOnVHS. Smart won GemsOnVHS’s 2023 Gems in the Rough Contest after the competition saw more than 1,000 entries, a record number for Gems in the Rough submissions. Smart was awarded a Gold Tone guitar. The GemsOnVHS announcement video revealed that Smart won because of his musicianship, humanity in writing and beautiful performance. His winning submission was “Apple Don’t Fall,” a tuneful example of the folk revivalist movement.

Walk the Moon Featured on Jeopardy! Question By Katherine Barrier What is: Shut Up and Dance? In March, Cincinnati’s Walk the Moon was the subject of a Double Jeopardy question. The indie band’s hit song, “Shut Up and Dance,” appeared under the category “Walk the Line” for $400. The question was: “Walk the Moon recounts a night at the disco: ‘I said, ‘You’re holding back’, she said’ this title.” The band posted on Instagram in celebration of the Jeopardy! appearance, saying “what is: omg we’re on jeopardy!!”

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The 20 Best Songs Released by Greater Cincinnati Musicians in 2023

MUSIC

BY B R E N T ST RO U D

his list is in no particular order — only what seemed to flow the best when (hopefully) listened to completely as one long mix of some of the best new music Greater Cincinnati musicians released in 2023. Some of these songs were released either as a single from an EP or album, and some are just standalone releases by artists either currently located in Cincinnati or native to the Queen City. This list should be evidence of what the city has to offer when it comes to original music and an example of the scope of variety working within Cincinnati’s many music communities. Hopefully you discover something new and support these artists in whatever way you can. Go to shows, buy records or downloads, listen with your windows down in summer, hum the songs walking the halls at school or work. This

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community of music matters as much as any other. Whether you know every artist here or none, we hope you listen to all of the tracks here as one long varied playlist of Cincinnati sounds in 2023.

soul-pop mixed with Americana songstress vocal delivery brings the song to life and carries it through to each section of the song, equally endearing at every turn, so you fall in love with the band all over again.

“Green Chartreuse” by Tweens

“Eye Wanna Be Ur Dog” by KAE Savage

Cincinnati favorites Tweens released a handful of new songs over the last year and each one could be on this list, but “Green Chartreuse” shows multiple sides of the band’s sound, all at once. At times defiant and at times tender, the new recording packs all the candy-sweet pop delivered with punk attitude that fans fell in love with to begin with, along with the slowed down bridge that shows the lesser-heard, more vulnerable side of the band. Leader Bridget Battle’s ‘60s

This catchy reworking of The Stooges classic “I Wanna Be Your Dog” was destined for a spot as one of the best songs of the year the day it came out over the summer. KAE Savage blends grunge and psychedelia with a touch of R&B using drum machine beats, backing call and response guitars that perfectly blends the swagger of hip-hop with the rawness of punk — all cooked up single handedly into a catchy three minutes of bedroom pop bliss.

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“Jefferson Highway” by Maura Weaver Everything about this song says that it deserves to be on a “best of” list — the songwriting, harmonies, production and video all work perfectly together. The emotional sweep of what sounds like a pedal steel leads a layer of instrumentation that kicks in and complements Weaver’s melodic vocals, blending to make up a recording and song on par with anyone in this city and well beyond it. It was released as a single in the fall of 2023 and taken from Weaver’s album, I Was Due For a Heartbreak, that came out in September on Don Giovanni Records. The lush and melody-heavy song is as colorful as the video that accompanies it, featuring Weaver as a pastel clown running from (or chasing) something. Not since Smokey Robinson and The Miracles have the tears of a clown sounded so sweet.

“Eggshells” by Mol Sullivan Mol Sullivan is one of the most writtenabout and, deservedly, praised artists in the city. She has put out a handful of vibrant and imaginative videos that do well to match her inventive and effortlessly pleasant songs over the last year. “Eggshells” is contemplative baroque pop of the highest order and features Sullivan displaying her power of melody with lush vocals coloring the sound over top spare instrumentation. The track will be featured on her upcoming full length, GOOSE, out in January 2024.

“Motorbike” by Motorbike Motorbike formed and released their self-titled debut album this year, featuring members of Vacation, Tweens, The Drin and more backing Welsh transplant Jamie Morrison on vocals. The band is at once nuanced and immediate. The interlocked drums and guitar-driven punk swim around Morrison’s vocals, sometimes adding counter melody, but most often, punches of rhythm like cylinders of an engine that push the songs further into flame.

“Motor of the Universe” by Spiderhand “Motor of the Universe” touches on the fears and anxieties of recent times with the urgency and perfectly unsettled tension and immediacy of the work that singer Vivien Rusche did with her band The Dents in the first generation of punk. The Dents are featured on the cover of the compilation of early punk from Cincinnati released in 2019, We Were Living In Cincinnati: Punk and Underground Sounds from Ohio’s Queen City (1975-82). Rusche is as vibrant and charged as ever on this record, and several songs on the album could have fit on this list. “Opposite” or “Wednesday” are great and deserve a listen; go ahead and listen to the rest of the record, Monkey Back Guarantee, while you’re at it. It’s more than worth it.

“Magic Mystery Love Song” by Annie D Displaying her talent as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Ann Driscoll, now known as Annie D, builds an ethereal and inspired piece of pop mastery with this recording. Not only does she show her depth and scope as a songwriter, but also the level of ingenuity a pop song can contain.

“Till There’s Nothing Left” by Eric Stein Cincinnati musician Eric Stein has had a storied career as part of The Griefs, The Greenhornes and his Grotesque Brooms over the years, but his songwriting has never wavered, only becoming more and

more potent with time, honing the craft to levels likely not touched by many local artists outside of Guided By Voices or a handful of other celebrated local legends. This song, like many other recordings that pass through the walls of his home studio, will stick in your head for days, to much delight. Each part is catchier and more distinct than the last.

“Gimme More” by BEEF The fuzzed-out and angular but danceable rock and roll drive of “Gimme More’’ is indicative of BEEF’s spaced-out garage punk sound. The band quickly made a name for itself after a move from Richmond, Virginia, in recent years. The track is from the band’s self-titled record released on Feel It Records in August.

“Take It Back” by Leggy One of the city’s most celebrated bands, Leggy released Dramatica earlier this year. The record is their most realized to date, taking their punk-infused pop sound to another level with higher production, layering overdubs of vocals, keyboards, guitar parts and effects. “Take It Back” has the same lustrous feel as the earlier album single “Lipstick on the Mic” but with more moving parts and layers like a decoupage collage of sound. Singer/guitar player Veronique Allaer’s guitar is much more limber than usual, and her vocal parts are painted throughout, giving an accented glow here and there, all anchored by her lush lead vocal and the deceivingly hardhitting and angular rhythm.

“It’s Too Quiet..’!!” by Pink Siifu and Turich Benjy feat. Pher, Nick Hakim, and Kamilah Cincinnati hip-hop-connected artists, Pink Siifu and Turich Benjy, joined forces to release the well-received It’s Too Quiet..’! on Oct. 31. The collaborative album got high-profile write-ups from publications like Pitchfork and Stereogum, and the two can be seen in recent social media posts with the album cover being advertised in Times Square. This song, the title track off the album, features the two each taking their own distinct sections and melding them together as one, like two segments or chapters of a story. The first, featuring Turich Benjy in full force, star-making rapid-fire delivery before an abrupt transition that flows right into Pink Siifu’s laid-back, nonchalance filtered through slight distortion and backed by a digitized slow-burn melody and accompaniment like some sort of harmonious, futuristicsounding dystopia.

“Kitchen” by Strobobean Local art-pop band Strobobean released this song in the spring around a string

of tour dates. The layered kinetic pop of “Kitchen” builds with each turn from one section to another, never taking any overly conventional paths while simultaneously going down as easily as a late-night snack. The song moves onward like a trance before crescendoing into more harmony and background vocals than you can count, with Katrina Eresman’s lead vocal and guitar countering the seemingly now untethered rhythm section of bassist Rae Fisher and drummer Jake Langknecht.

“I Tried To Warn You” by Cold Stereo Cold Stereo has perfected guitar and electric organ heavy nuggets of power pop bliss. The band, backed by drummer Tommy Biddle’s driving metronomeperfect drums, propels this less than two-minute track right into near anthemic territory. Just like leader Todd Uttley asks the band at the start of the recording, “do you feel good?” you can now also answer, “yes.”

“Domination Dominique” by Mary Henry One of the newest bands on this list, Mary Henry blends guitar, bass and drumsdriven, pop-adjacent punk rhythm with horror show synthesizer and organsoaked dissonance. This song touches on the explosiveness of other standout tracks like “Toast” while demonstrating their often dark, atmospheric sound. It’s also an inventive, dynamic and catchy song, hopefully an introduction for even more people to one of the city’s rising bands.

“Company Man” by Choncy Another one of the youngest and newest bands on the list, Choncy released their debut full length album, Community Chest, on local label Feel It Records in February of 2023. This frenetic and explosive track edges from garage punk to near full-blown hardcore. The peaking, in-thered bass and guitars counter each other in punchy, staccato driving rhythm backed by near-dance-punk drums, with vocals getting looser and looser while the band pushes harder and harder. With songs like “Company Man,” Choncy shows potential to move right on up the ranks.

“Eyes Only For Space” by The Drin The Drin has found a fair amount of success in recent years. This track, from the band’s record, Today My Friend You Drunk the Venom, released at the beginning of the year on Feel It Records, shows some of the experimental elements the record incorporates. The dark, cold wave, industrial sound the band is known for is all present, with the addition of an atmospheric, reverb-soaked, dub reggae

rhythm with a contemplative vocal set to a slow burn that’s all atmosphere, like slipping into a fever.

“I Guess” by Hello Sapien Hello Sapien, the project from multiinstrumentalist Adam Stone, brings a complete vision and ready-made sound to Cincinnati music with this song and the accomplished debut album it comes from, The Casual Observatory. The piano and acoustic guitar driven songs are often storytelling adventures with grand instrumentation and well crafted turns of phrase and tune.

“Traffic” by Fruit LoOops “Traffic” is the latest single off the band’s recently released record, You’re Somebody’s World, from Torn Light Records. It’s in line with the band’s unhinged and combustible noise rock sound that seems to pull from industrial clatter and noises from the digital age as much a generation of punk and rock and roll.

“RnB Vibe” by Siri Imani feat. Auntie JoJo and Cleocrt Siri Imani heads up a community-defining operation with her Imani Productions, hosting events all over town on a regular basis and with Triiibe Foundation, an organization that helps feed those in need and empower the community through outreach. As an artist she also guests on shows and recordings across genres, such as with harpist Victoria Lekson or with singer/songwriter Jess Lamb. This track, featuring Auntie JoJo and 2023 breakout singer Cleocrt, is a throwback to R&B slow jams with Imani handling the hook.

“Beverly Hills Kentucky” by Toon Town Toon Town’s sound is soaked in muddy Ohio River water and lit by the lights of Northern Kentucky‘s past excess in gambling and nightlife. This recording seems as informed by all the living that happened in the Beverly Hills Supper Club that stood in Southgate, Kentucky, as much as the disaster that was its fate. The video, shot in the historic gem the Hilton Netherlands Hotel and riverside with river boats going by, only adds to the storied charm. Scan the QR code below with your smartphone to listen to our accompanying playlist containing these songs:

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AI CROSSWORD

BY B R EN DA N E M M E T T Q U I G L E Y W W W. B R E N DA N E M M E T TQ U I G L E Y.C O M

Across

41. What to wear

Down

31. Day after day after day ...

1. Engaged, as an alarm

42. Cheer of support in El Clásico

1. Music royalties org.

32. Brute in bedtime stories

6. Toronto Raptors star ___ Porter Jr.

43. Baloney distributors

2. It’s a hands-on experience

33. Spa covering

10. Droid seller

44. Souper’s creation

3. Olympian’s pride

34. Reason for boarded-up windows

14. “I’m ghost”

45. Became more predictable?

4. Interior designer’s talent

35. Smart Justice Campaign org.

15. Do another stint

48. Acquire gray hairs

5. Lifeguard’s pride

36. Swerve off course

6. Airport that is the hub for Transavia France

40. Swerve off course

16. Cleaner in a green can

49. Lizard that can change color

17. Apple drink holder? 19. Wind-powered tool

53. “Pelléas et Mélisande” composer Claude

20. Name-clarifying letters

57. Whale watch spot

21. Vital

58. Bursting sound

22. Not given the job

59. Awkward people to find on dating apps

41. Mentor

7. Drink served with shortbread

43. Durability

8. Outfit for those en pointe 9. Holes in decorative art

44. Creature that carried Zeus’s thunderbolts

10. Actor Bardem

46. Mal de mer

11. Allowing for some air to come in

47. Bleacher feature

60. Fast-moving bathroom floor finisher?

12. Subside

50. Related to 55-Down

63. Weapon with a V-shaped groove

13. Laid off

51. Bo-o-o-ring

64. Like some fails

18. Certain garnish

52. As is fitting

37. “Futuristic Since Forever” tech company

65. Penske rival

23. Pueblo Revolt tribe

53. Home page?

25. Served well

54. Event with booths

38. Sense of self

67. Hit but good

28. Gently wash against, as the shore

55. Members of a colony

29. “Now And Then” drummer

56. “This can’t be good!”

30. Bones near the fibula

57. Holy rollers?

24. Hand-washer of the Bible 26. Poetic sadness 27. Shouts at stand-up Richard? 34. Black hue

66. Chennai crepe

39. ___ latte

68. ___ Angel (Japanese cherub figurine company)

40. Start of an idea

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62. It’s a personal question

LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS:

61. Rapper ___ Durk

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We’re saving a seat for you!

Metro is hiring operators. • Great pay and benefits • Paid training including CDL training • $2000 bonus paid after training We can’t fill the rest of the seats until we fill the driver’s seat, so apply today. www.go-metro.com/careers