A s th e weat her b eg i ns t o chang e i n Ci nci nnat i and we all star t to b rea k ou t o u r co z i es t ’80s -i ns p i red s weat ers , t ho ugh ts tur n to a p p le c id er, p u mp ki n p i e and …whi ch t el eki net i c p o w e r s w e c an use to hel p deci mat e mo ns t ers f ro m o t her di mensions. F o r th is y ear’s Fa l l Gu i de, we’v e drawn f ro m t he no s talgic Ne tflix c ult h it St r ang er Thi ng s t o f i nd t he Ri g ht s i de Up o f se asonal fun. I n sid e thes e p ag es , u nl o ck y o u r cu ri o s i t y do o r t o disc ove r a slig h tl y s t rang e g u i de t o au t u mnal eat s , s o me of th e most c o lo rf ul di s p l ay s o f chang i ng f al l l eav es , g eeky gaming h ubs a n d b i ng ewo rt hy TV , p l u s 100 t hi ng s t o do t hi s fall. F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6 // 0 1
B ik e , h ik e o r d r ive to s e e th i s s e as o n ’s c han g i n g le ave s
0 2 // F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6
BY AS H L E Y E L I Z A B E T H T H O M AS
As the days begin to shorten and the fall season looms, Cincinnati’s coordinates have an advantage, providing the perfect opportunity to embrace and explore a vivid natural color palette over the next couple of months — fiery reds, golden yellows and warm oranges. Whether by foot, bike, golf cart or car, there are myriad ways to see leaves change and the colors of autumn take hold during what could arguably be the most beautiful time of the year for our region. Check out the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ fall foliage report (fallcolor.ohiodnr.gov) for weekly fall color updates at state parks and nature preserves starting the final week in
September, along with a changing fall color report map. W alk : S pr i n g G r o v e C e m e te r y & A r b o r e tu m
Spring Grove spans 773 acres, 450 of which are impeccably landscaped green space, rivaling New York’s Central Park or Paris’ Père Lachaise. By 1850, the cemetery’s horticulturists — yes, it has its own horticulturalists — listed 4,300 ornamental plant varieties and a stock of 11,300 nursery plants, and by the 1860s, Spring Grove had a more diverse collection of trees than any other landscape in the nation, apart from the aforementioned Central Park. Today, it’s recognized as a level III accredited site by the Morton
Arboretum, one of only 10 cemeteries to achieve the distinction in the United States. Spend an afternoon walking the grounds and you’ll recognize many notable burials, along with an almost unparalleled collection of woodsy plants and gardens of both native and non-indigenous Midwestern species. Spring Grove holds several events year-round to admire its changing foliage, including a Fall Plant Identification event (1 p.m. Sept. 24) and the Autumn Color Walking Tour (1 p.m. Oct. 16). 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village, springgrove.org. W al k (o r A rt C a rt): Pyrami d H i l l S c u l ptu r e Par k & Mu seu m
One of the few parks of its kind in the
country, Pyramid Hill features a colorful array of more than 60 outdoor monumental contemporary sculptures on its 265 acres of gardens, woodlands and lakes. If you don’t feel like exploring the grounds on foot, simply rent an “Art Cart” — basically a golf cart — which is available at the visitors center ($20 per hour for nonmembers). In juxtaposition to the modern artwork, the park also features an impressive 10,000-square-foot Ancient Sculpture Museum featuring Greek, Roman, Etruscan and Egyptian works dating as far back as 1550 B.C. Outside groups like the Tri-State Hiking Club host fall colors walking tours, and Pyramid Hill hosts events throughout the season, including the upcoming 14th-annual open-air
a l w a y s w e a r p r o t e c t i v e g e a r w h e n l e a f h u n t i n g / / P H OTO : shay n a r t k e r
ind Fall FFoliage
Pyramid Hill Art Fair (Sept. 24 and 25), highlighting a juried show of over 60 artists, as well as a Zombie Ball costume party (7 p.m. Oct. 15). 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org. Walk or B ike: Eden P a r k
Eden Park, originally owned by Nicholas Longworth and designed by Spring Grove’s renowned landscape architect Adolph Strauch, spans 186 acres between Walnut Hills and Mount Adams. Among an array of unique architecture and sculptures — the whimsical Spring House Gazebo, Mirror Lake, Elsinore Tower, a bronze Capitolene Wolf statue (a gift from Rome in 1932) — Eden Park is perhaps most well known for its sweeping views of the city, Ohio River and rolling hills of Northern Kentucky. Bike or walk around former quarry Twin Lakes, home to one of Cincinnati’s 50-plus scenic overlooks, then stop by Krohn Conservatory for its Victorian-inspired fall floral show Fall Back in Time (through Oct. 23). 950 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park, cincinnatiparks.com. Walk or B ike: Devou P a r k
With more than 700 acres and perhaps one of the best views of the Cincinnati skyline in the area, Devou Park sits on a forested hill high atop Covington. If you decide to skip the 18-hole golf course, instead enjoy eight miles of mountain bike trails as well as miles of paved trails and backcountry trails through some pretty amazing foliage (visit devouparktrails.com for trail forecasts). 790 Park Lane, Covington, Ky., covingtonky.gov. D r ive (B ike or Hike): Ho cki n g Hills Sta te P ark
D r ive (B ike or Hike): M a mm o t h Cav e Natio nal P a r k T r a il s
The world’s longest system of chambers and subterranean passageways isn’t the only astonishing thing that this national park has to offer: A short road trip to the hills of south central Kentucky will
CAN THESE GUYS SEE COLOR? // PHOTO: JESSE FOX
D r i v e : Re d R i v e r G o r g e & S ce ni c B y w ay
This scenic byway weaves through 46 miles of Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest and Red River Gorge. Red River Gorge offers trails to bike or hike, as well as infamous arches such as Natural Bridge to take in the stunning view of changing treetop canopies. The region is marked as a National Natural Landmark, a National Wild and Scenic River and a National Geological Area and is a relaxing mustsee during the fall. For an immersive experience, book one of the gorge’s popular secluded treehouses, like the offthe-grid Sylvan Float, minutes from Gray’s Arch scenic trailhead (thecanopycrew. com). Robbie Ridge Road, Stanton, Ky., redrivergorge.com. D r i v e : Ke n tu c k y R o u te 8
Kentucky Route 8 makes for a nice and easy afternoon drive, running 114 miles east to west along the Ohio River. Consistently surrounded by tunnels of trees, it weaves through several small river towns and beautiful countrysides. Be sure to stop by McGlasson Farms (5832 River Road, Hebron, Ky., mcglassonfarms. com) for some apple cider on the way. Kenton and Campbell County. Drive: Ohio River Scenic Byway
If you’ve ever wanted to say you’ve traveled the entire Ohio River and contemplated your existence, here’s your opportunity to do so. The Ohio River Scenic Byway runs along the coast of the entire 943 miles of the Ohio River. Stop along its many scenic viewpoints for lush views of the changing foliage or into a number of small river towns dotting your trek. ohioriverscenicbyway.org. D r i v e : B l u e R i d g e M o u n tai n P a r kwa y
Choose your own adventure among the winding 469 miles that connect the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Shenandoah National Park. There are plenty of biking and hiking trails along the way as well as many unique stops, including historic sites, museums, orchards, outdoor tours, wineries and vineyards. Since leaves begin changing color at the highest peak of elevation, it’s suggested to travel anywhere from mid to late October. blueridgeparkway.org.
Color correction BY ASHLEY ELIZ ABETH THOMAS
If you’re looking to enhance your fall foliage experience and are color-deficient, don’t worry — Frameri x EnChroma has an antidote. The Cincinnati-based eyewear company and online retailer Frameri officially partnered with EnChroma, a California-based colorenchancing lens manufacturer, last September. Color blindness affects approximately one in 12 men and one in 200 women, and there are three known types: red-green color blindness, blue-yellow color blindness and complete color blindness. EnChroma lenses — which come as both sunglasses and indoor lenses — use high-tech optics to enhance color before it reaches the eye. They work best for those with red-green color blindness. Red-green color blindness results from a genetic condition in which the light-sensing function of the red and green cones in the eye overlap more than usual. By filtering a narrow region of the spectrum where overlap is present, normal separation can be restored, improving vision for about 80 percent of wearers. During your Frameri appointment, you’ll spend 20 to 30 minutes walking through Washington Park wearing EnChroma sunglasses and then move to the storefront to test the indoor lenses. Frameri optician and shop director Halie Schottelkotte also notes, “These lenses are great for everyone — not just those with color deficiency. Anyone looking for a high-definition experience would benefit.” The Frameri x EnChroma collection starts at $349, and the lenses, like all Frameri lenses, are interchangeable with Frameri frames. Learn more at frameri.com or enchroma.com.
F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6 // 0 3
A short road trip to southeast Ohio will bring you to this magical destination where you can camp, hike, canoe, zipline or go horseback riding. Cliffs, gorges and waterfalls make up some of the stunning landscapes of this state park. Visit the Hocking Hills website for suggested fall foliage driving routes or book a ride on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway. During Fridays in October, the trains run twice a day for colorful two-hour foliage trips. For full fall spirit, stock up on allthings apple during the Jackson Apple Festival (Sept. 20-24), which features three parades (including the largest lighted parade in Ohio), rides, games, bobbing for apples and apple-peeling contests, and plenty of fried fair food, along with apple cider, apple butter, apple pies, candied apples and more. 19852 Ohio 664, Logan, Ohio, hockinghills.com.
take you to 84 miles of backcountry and frontcountry trails, nearly all of which are bike, horse and pedestrian friendly. Other options for optimum foliage viewing here include canoeing down the Green River and camping underneath the stars. Mammoth Cave National Park also offers a variety of beginner to expert fall cave tours as well as free surface walks and programs, like a bi-weekly fall nature hike led by a local naturalist. Fall events held through Oct. 29. Mammoth Cave, Ky., nps. com/maca.
FOTOFOCUS BIENNIAL 2016 OCTOBER 1–31, CINCINNATI, OHIO
FotoFocus Biennial Program: October 6–9 ABOUT THE BIENNIAL The FotoFocus Biennial is a month-long celebration of lens-based art held throughout the greater Cincinnati region. The 2016 Biennial is anchored by eight major exhibitions curated by FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator Kevin Moore exploring the documentary nature of photography, including solo exhibitions of Roe Ethridge, Zanele Muholi and Jackie Nickerson. With 60 exhibitions and four days of events, lectures and screenings, FotoFocus brings together the community to celebrate October as the Month of Photography. Roe Ethridge, Durango in the Canal, Belle Glade, FL, 2011. C-print, 51 x 76 inches. Courtesy of the artist, Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York, and Greengrassi, London
16 17
#FOTOFOCUS2016
#UNDOCUMENT
FOTOFOCUSBIENNIAL.ORG
Bruce Cromer (left) and Michael Gerard Carr in The Legend of Georgia McBride. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.
season
the legend of georgia mcbride by matthew lopez
now through sept 26! brownsville song (b-side for tray) by Kimber lee
oct 11 – 30 cinderella: after ever after
by Joseph mcdonough, david Kisor & fitz patton
nov 30 – dec 30
first date
book by austin winsberg music & lyrics by alan Zachary & michael weiner
Jan 17 – feb 5 When We Were Young & unafraid
by sarah treem
0 4 // F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6
feb 21 – march 12 BloomsdaY
by steven dietz
april 4 – 23
season presenting sponsor
season funder
operating support
for tickets:
513.421.3555 or www.ensemblecincinnati.org
are you watching tv or is tv watching you? // PHOTO: JESSE FOX
Seasonal Screen Time Fall TV for your binging pleasure BY JAC K E R N
Did you miss out on summer because you were busy staying inside, trying to understand the Upside Down? Don’t worry! Stay in there and check out these addictive series. It’s going to get cold soon anyway because, like a second season of Stranger Things, winter is coming. On Now:
Chef’s Table (Netflix) – There’s certainly no shortage of cooking and dining shows these days, but Chef’s Table offers a rare, cinematic look into some of the world’s finest restaurants, profiling a different chef in each episode. From classic French fine dining to ethically minded farm-to-table fare, Chef’s Table has something for every appetite. Three seasons are now available for streaming.
Co m i n g S oon :
Westworld (Series Premiere, 9 p.m. Oct. 2, HBO) – Based on the 1973 sci-fi Western thriller film, Westworld centers on an amusement park where the rollercoaster and restroom lines are the least of your problems. In a dystopic but not too distant future, fun-seekers can experience a Wild West populated by hyper-realistic androids. Guests can pay to engage in a good, oldfashioned shootout or spend the night with
the finest girl in the brothel. That is, until the artificial intelligence gets a little too smart. Think Jurassic Park (also from O.G. Westworld creator Michael Crichton) meets Ex Machina. Black Mirror (Season Premiere, Oct. 21, Netflix) – When we power down our screens — cellphones, computers, tablets, TVs, laptops, smart watches — what are we left with? Some expensive-ass black mirrors. That’s the idea behind this cult-favorite U.K. anthology that’s been scooped up by Netflix. The common pitch: Twilight Zone with technology. And as lazy as “X meets Y” descriptions of shows are (sorry, Westworld), it’s pretty accurate. Each episode feels like a mini film, with different directors (Joe Wright and Dan Trachtenberg), writers (creator Charles Booker and, surprisingly, Parks and Recreation’s Mike Schur and Rashida Jones) and actors (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Bryce Dallas Howard, Alice Eve, Kelly MacDonald, Mackenzie Davis) exploring some disturbing facet of contemporary life, from social media and video games to A.I. and smart houses. It’s not necessary to watch all previous episodes for continuity, but as addictive and limited a series as it is, you physically won’t be capable of watching just one. Go ahead and plan on binging on the first two seasons and Christmas special in addition to these six new episodes.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (Season Premiere, Nov. 25, Netflix) – The quaint, comforting corner of Connecticut that is Stars Hollow, the endless cups of coffee, the love interests, the mile-a-minute dialogue sprinkled with pop culture references — Lorelai and Rory are back! There’s plenty of time to recap on the original seven seasons before this four-part special that catches up with the ladies Gilmore 10 years later. L ook i ng A head:
Making a Murderer (Netflix) – During a time when America seems more divided than ever, it’s kind of comforting to know that we can all agree on one thing — that Making a Murderer was a pretty good show. Whether you’re certain Steven Avery is an innocent victim of a corrupt judicial system or you believe he’s guilty of killing Teresa Halbach, nearly everyone with a Netflix login was bitten by the true-crime bug after it premiered last December. No word on when we can expect another season, but Netflix has confirmed it’s in the works, as events continue to unfurl in real time. Stranger Things (Netflix) – Season 2 is a go! Creators recently granted fans a teaser ambiguous enough to keep us speculating through 2017, when the next season will premiere. In the meantime, keep your Barb prayer circle in tact.
F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6 // 0 5
American Horror Story (Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Wednesday, FX) – The popular horror anthology series is switching things up this fall, keeping fans in the dark about the details of the upcoming sixth season. In past years, seasonal themes like Asylum, Freak Show and Hotel were revealed in advance, along with information about new and returning stars and the characters they’d be portraying (AHS boasts a bevy of actors that have played varied roles in many different seasons of the show). There have been zero trailers featuring actual footage
or characters, only teasers that allude to various tropes in the horror genre — everything from evil children to aliens to swamp creatures and creepy-crawlies — with an emphasis on the number six, which refers to the numeric season but is also tied to the occult. AHS lends itself to fantastical fan theories — creator Ryan Murphy frequently plants Easter eggs as clues about the next season’s theme, sparking lots of speculation — and one running idea is that all the seasons, whose storylines have spanned from the 1700s to present day, are actually connected and are not just separate anthological installments. We’ve seen some minor character crossover, but this could be the nail in the coffin, so to speak. And considering the show’s self-referential nature, could the theme/setting actually be the set of a horror production? We’re calling it now: American Horror Story: Meta.
Demogorgon Embrace your inner geek at thesE gaming hubs BY E M I LY B E G L E Y
0 6 // F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6
Ah, the Demogorgon. The powerful, two-headed demon prince is largely regarded as one of the greatest villains in Dungeons & Dragons. The Stranger Things kids refer to the show’s slime-dripping beast by the same name — one of many D&D references they use to try and make sense of the events unfolding around them. Storytelling is the meat and bones of the hugely expansive role-playing game, originally published in 1974; rounds last hours at a time as players assume the role of wizards, orcs, clerics and more, narrating their characters’ actions through quests for treasure, daring rescues and battles with deadly foes. Take on the monster yourself or go on a boozy gaming binge and embody a mythical character at these eclectic local gaming hubs. 16-BIT BAR+ARC A DE
It’s on like Donkey Kong at this boozy retro hangout, where the 1981 Nintendo classic is one of 50 vintage arcade games on the floor. The best part? Gameplay is free with the purchase of a drink. Boot up Q*bert, Pac-Man, Centipede, Mario Bros., Space Invaders and many others while imbibing a variety of old-school and game-themed cocktails like Game Over, a magical mix
of eight liquors, Hawaiian fruit punch, lemonade and Sprite. Also on the menu: the Bill Nye, the Macho Man and the Kevin Bacon, with Jim Beam maple bourbon, ginger ale and real bacon jerky. The bar also serves more than 20 craft beers on tap, plus specialty cans, bourbon, whiskey, rye and scotch. If you’re looking for a more nostalgic option, opt for a boozy Slush Puppie. Go online for a calendar of tournaments and special events; this week kicks off with Wayback Wednesday, with screenings of ’80s flicks like Mortal Kombat and $2 off craft drafts until 8 p.m. Free to play with drink purchase. 1331 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-381-1616, 16-bitbar.com. A R CA D E L E G AC Y
Don’t be fooled by this arcade’s unassuming location in the Cincinnati Mall: inside is 7,600 square feet of more than 70 arcade and pinball cabinets and 20 different game stations. Play classic arcade games like Millipede, Tetris, Galaga and Arkanoid; side-scrollers and puzzle games like Battletoads; fighting games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat II; and sports and lightgun games like Silent Scope, NBA Jam Tournament Edition and Point Blank 2. Try your hand at three
different pinball machines (and be on the lookout for a new Fire Pinball machine coming soon). A console area has 20 different stations, ranging from Atari 2600, NES and Sega Genesis to the PS4 and WiiU. The arcade also buys and sells all types of video games, board games, manga and action figures and hosts frequent tournaments (Magic the Gathering, anyone?) Daily rates: $10 ages 12 and up; $6 kids 4-11; free children under 4. Hourly rates: $5 one hour; $8 two hours. Cincinnati Mall, 662 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Fairfield, 513-874-8766, arcadelegacyohio.com. AR C AD E L E G AC Y : B A R EDI T I ON
This boozy take on Arcade Legacy “combines three of your favorite things: video games, alcohol and food.” And honestly, what could be better? The Northside location opened its doors in August 2015 and features many of the same elements as the original Fairfield location: about 50 arcade games, pinball machines and a lounge with current and classic consoles. The big difference here is Bar Edition’s creative and extensive menu, on which hot dog concoctions are the stars. Begin with an all-beef or veggie dog and choose
from 12 themed creations like the AntiHero, with fried egg, bacon and mayo; the Sweet Tooth, with goetta and maple syrup; and the vegan Jessica Rabbit, with hummus, carrot, leafy greens and Dijon balsamic (a custom dog menu is also available). Although the bar is typically 21+, all ages are welcome 4-8 p.m. Sundays. Free with purchase of food or drink. 3929 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, 513429-3180, arcadelegacyohio.com. A RK HA M HOU S E GA MES
Dungeons masters, prepare thyselves: Beginning Oct. 7, Arkham House Games hosts D&D Encounters every Wednesday night. But newbies, fear not: starting on Sept. 15, the store will hold a D&D 5thedition Dungeon Master mentorship program for players of all experience levels. Learn about the game from some serious experts; participating Dungeon Masters — the D&D player who organizes the game, creating details and challenges for other players — have decades of experience and have run tournaments at major conventions like Columbus, Ohio’s Origins Game Fair and Indianapolis’ GenCon. But that’s not all the store has to offer: weekly onsite tournaments feature games like Magic:
r p g a n d t a b l e t o p g a m e s a b o u n d a t a r k h a m h o u s e g a m e s / / P H O T O : A L e x a n d r ia D U P O N T
Unleash the
The Gathering, and a large lending library beckons customers to try their hands at something new. You can even bring in your own food and drink — including alcohol — to fortify you while you game. 1609 Madison Road Suite B, East Walnut Hills, 513-818-9936, arkhamhousegames.com. GAME SWA P
This mecca of vintage games and trading cards is difficult to miss: Keep an eye out for a life-size window painting of Super Mario hurling a fireball. Inside, an entire wall is dedicated to video games and consoles of yore: Gameboy Color, Nintendo 64, NES, you name it. But the real passion here is for Magic: The Gathering: players nearly always fill the lengthy in-store tables, and the store stocks too many Magic trading cards to count — many of them rare. Game Swap frequently hosts tournaments onsite, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff is always willing to discuss game mechanics, address questions and introduce players to new games. Customers can also grab unique board games from the lending library before purchasing one (or three) to take home. 1065 Reading Road, Mason, 513-770-0170, gameswapstores.com. T H E ROOK OTR
With nearly 600 games to choose from in-house, boredom is banished at Cincinnati’s first-ever board game parlor. Get your hands on nearly any title imaginable: Catan, Battleship, Cards Against Humanity, Trouble, Connect Four, Yahtzee, Sorry, Bingo — the list goes on and on. If that seems a little overwhelming, head online before arriving at the bar. An online library allows users to search for specific titles or by categories like genre, difficulty and number of players. Tournaments take place every Tuesday; a King of Tokyo competition takes place Sept. 20, and a Dominion faceoff follows on Sept. 27. Euchre Nights are also held every Sunday. Although Dungeons & Dragons isn’t currently on the roster, the bar plans to implement a user-friendly version in the near future. 1115 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-954-8191, therookotr.com. SC I- FI CITY
Video Store BY E M I LY B E G L E Y
In the heyday of video stores, driving to a brick-and-mortar to rent a movie from a limited selection of titles didn’t prompt guffaws — instead, business was booming. Netflix didn’t exist, computers and tablets hadn’t made their appearance and “streaming” held no meaning. Fast-forward to the present: Blockbuster cards are obsolete and news of an imminent video store is pretty much unheard of — until now. Gorilla Cinema, the group behind The Shiningthemed bar Overlook Lodge in Pleasant Ridge, is putting the finishing touches on The Video Archive, a rental store inspired by Quentin Tarantino. “We’ve all loved having movies in our life so long that we can’t remember a time when we didn’t,” says Gorilla Cinema co-founder Jacob Treviño. Scheduled to open in October, the shop will offer everything from mainstream hits to cult classics and indie darlings on DVD and VHS in the hope that it will appeal to and be explored by a new generation of viewers. The Video Archive is an homage to the video store where Tarantino got his start and wrote modern classics like Reservoir Dogs, True Romance and Pulp Fiction. And like the best Tarantino films, much of the project is shrouded in mystery. The Archive will open i at 965 E. McMillan St. in Walnut Hills, and according to the Cincinnati Business Courier a liquor license is attached to the address. “For us, it’s always been about projecting wonder and hiding secrets within all of our concepts,” Treviño says. “This one is no different. As with all of our concepts, there’s more than meets the eye.” More info at gorillacinemapresents.com.
F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6 // 0 7
Wander into the secret labs at Sci-Fi City, “the highly classified Cincinnati research facility” that makes no attempt to conceal its love of gaming. Play Xbox games on the store’s four large TVs — up to eight players can join in — while reclining in a plush theater chair complete with individual sound and vibration. Bring your own games to play or select from the wide variety available in store. Sci-Fi City also features six tables for in-store gaming, complete with stocked miniature terrain. Every Wednesday, the store hosts new-player-friendly D&D Encounters from 6-9 p.m. — perfect for getting your feet wet as a wizard or a cleric. Northgate Mall, 9501 Colerain Ave., Colerain, 513-245-9105, sci-fi-city.com.
A Strange New
i n s p i r e d b y e l e v e n : a HAPPY CHICKS BAKERY CUPCAKE o n e g g o w a f f l e s / / P H O T O : J E S S E F O X
All Treats,
No Tricks There’s more to fall fl avor on autumn menus than just pumpkin spice BY M A D G E M A R I L
Turn on your # SweaterWeather playlist and sew your cut-off jean shorts back into pants: Fall is here, and that means it’s time to eat your weight in comfort food before hibernating for the winter. For the next few months, use this handy-dandy dining list to explore Cincinnati’s seasonal goodies. Ha p p y Chicks B a ke r y ’ s fall Cup ca kes
Happy Chicks Bakery opened with a mission greater than just providing delicious food and sweets, including 100-percent vegan options. “Our thing is creative flavors,” says co-owner Jana Douglass. “We’re way more than just a vegan bakery.” Creative flavoring abounds in their Caramel Apple Cider cupcake. With Angry Orchard hard apple cider baked into the cake and a dollop of apple butter hiding under the generous I-can’t-believe-it’snot-buttercream icing, this cupcake will delight even diehard dairy fans. The caramel drizzle on top kicks up the sweetness without being overpowering. The Fall Dream cupcake, also featuring the aforementioned apple butter, is surprisingly spiced with orange and topped with pumpkin-butter icing. Orange might not be a standard fall flavor, but the citrus ties the mix of pumpkin and spice together in a new way, cutting through some of the heavier autumn flavors. Pro tip: Take the time to let one of the Happy Chicks bakers warm up your cupcake. On a cold day, nothing beats a warm cupcake. 4035 Hamilton Ave., Northside, happychicksbakery.com.
0 8 // F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6
C offee Emp o ri u m ’ s P um p ki n Pie La tte
Move over pumpkin spice latte: The pumpkin pie latte from Coffee Emporium is the new sheriff in espresso town. Snowville Creamery’s whole milk, sourced solely from grassgrazing cows, gives the latte a silky smooth texture. Topped with housemade whipped cream, the latte’s espresso comes from beans sourced directly from South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Coffee Emporium will also be securing a new round of coffee beans from Papa New Guinea, so in theory you could warm up this fall with a Papa New Guinea pumpkin pie latte.
Looking to try something totally new? While it’s not on the menu, customers frequently ask for a pumpkin chai latte, blending Coffee Emporium’s signature chai tea with the pumpkin pie latte ingredients. 110 E. Central Parkway, Downtown, coffeeemporium.com. Sch n e i d e r ’ s S w e e t Sho p’ s Ca r am e l C an d y
If you haven’t felt the urge to sit down on a kitchen floor and pile drive through a pound of sugar since you came home from trick-or-treating as a kid, try Schneider’s Sweet Shop’s homemade caramel candy. Each individually wrapped piece tastes like warm autumn sunshine. The sweet shop was founded in 1939 and still uses the same recipes for its candy today. They sell their caramels by weight — one usually costs all of 34 cents. To shake things up a bit, the sweet shop offers cherry-, vanilla-nut- and licorice-flavored caramels along with traditional vanilla. (They also use the same caramel in their version of turtle candy, known as pecan carmelettes.) The unique cherry caramel has a vanilla base, which lets the natural cherry flavor shine. And it’s no wonder that nothing tastes artificial: Schneider’s makes almost every type of candy and ice cream on the menu in-house themselves with fresh ingredients and old-fashioned recipes. 420 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky., schneiderscandies.com. The E ag l e ’ s S w e e t P o tato Cr o c k
While everyone else is swapping out their menus for seasonal delights, Over-theRhine’s Eagle isn’t making a single change to its soul food selection. And it’s easy to see why — the menu already reads like Thanksgiving at Grandma’s (minus the turkey, plus chicken). With the winds getting a bit colder, stop in for their sweet potato crock. The dish’s use of toasted mini marshmallows mimics my Southern mother’s recipe so closely it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were hiding her somewhere in the back of the kitchen. All the normal notes of sweet potato are there — the sweet, the potato — but with one special ingredient: ginger. While it might sound strange, the mix of the ginger with black pepper in the mash
pairs perfectly with the sentimentally sweet marshmallows to create a dish sophisticated enough for OTR and instantly nostalgic to anyone who grew up eating soul food. 1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, theeagleotr.com. as s o r te d S e as o n al Si p s
Rumor suggests that looking for fall-themed brews at midnight on Sept. 1 while trying to finish an article for a local alternative weekly is “strange.” If donning a pumpkin hat and dancing to the Ghostbusters theme song while drinking spiced ale is wrong, who wants to be right? Forget those haters and head to Northside if you need your seasonal sips when it’s still 80 degrees outside. The Northside Tavern is #blessed with Rhinegeist’s Oktoberfest Franz and Cidergeist Dry Hopped Hard Cider, along with Rivertown’s Pumpkin Ale. Franz embodies the soul of the ideal Oktoberfest beer, meaning that at 5.4 percent ABV, it is devilishly easy to drink. It’s lighter on the hops with a rich aftertaste and something uniquely “fall” about it. While there isn’t necessarily a signature flavor, there are notes of caramel and cider woven throughout each sip. If you want a true cider experience, order Rhinegeist’s Dry Hopped Hard Cider.
Weighing in at a sturdy 6.2 percent ABV, the cider is as crisp and juicy as the first bite of a handpicked apple. Rhinegeist sources its cider apples from Washington state and brews the drink here in Cincinnati. The first sip of Rivertown’s Pumpkin Ale tastes like warm pumpkin cookies. The addition of molasses adds a deeper body than run-of-the-mill seasonal pumpkin beers — nothing new for Rivertown, which consistently explores old flavors in new ways. Also coming soon to Northside: Urban Artifact will be revealing a seasonal beer at the end of September named Orgone. “The name came from our interest in historic pseudo-sciences — we have other beers named Palmistry and Phrenology,” the brewery’s Scott Hand says. Orgone will be an apricot crumble ale, flavored to taste like pie using bready yeasts and malts. Also returning is the Northside Yacht Club’s droolworthy hot apple cider. The bar sources the cider from family-owned McGlasson Farms in Northern Kentucky. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., northsidetav.com; Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock St., artifactbeer.com; Northside Yacht Club, 4231 Spring Grove Ave., northsideyachtclub.com.
Fall in love with local productions, spooky at tractions and dozens of local events this season C o m p iled by Madi s o n A s h le y, K y le r Dav i s a n d Maggie F ul m e r
SEPTEMBER
t h e s o u n d o f m u s i c / / PHO T O : Matt h e w Mu r r a y
Director’s Cut: A Celebration! Cincinnati Ballet CEO and artistic director Victoria Morgan has selected a group of all-star performers to celebrate her 20th season with the company to showcase some of her favorite works and choreographers, plus two world premieres. 8 p.m. Sept. 16; 2 and 8 p.m. Sept. 17. Tickets start at $32. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cballet.org. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Oktoberfest is Zinzinnati’s giant, weekendlong German street party with Bavarian food, wiener dog and beer stein races, the world’s largest chicken dance, a brat-eating competition, a “larger-than-life” Glockenspiel, German dancing and more. 5 p.m.midnight Sept. 16; 11 a.m.-midnight Sept. 17; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 18. Free admission. Second and Third streets between Walnut and Elm streets, Downtown, oktoberfestzinzinnati.com. The City Flea This curated urban flea market hosts one of its final outdoor markets of the season. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 17. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, thecityflea.com. Fifty Fest 2016 Fifty West hosts three stages of live music, featuring 10 bands, and more than 20 breweries. Enjoy meals from all over the city, including food from Fifty West’s scratch kitchen. Noon-midnight Sept. 17. $10. Fifty West Brewing Company, 7668 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township, fiftywestbrew.com.
The S o u n d o f M u s i c Na t i o n al To u r The hills are alive! Broadway in Cincinnati presents the spirited musical tale of the Von Trapps, Maria and Nazi-occupied Austria. Sept 27-Oct. 9. Tickets start at $30. The Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
Music in the Woods The Imago Earth Center hosts the 15thannual Music in the Woods festival, featuring live music, food and a silent auction. Imago is committed to the preservation of urban nature, and this fest provides a perfect opportunity to support the center’s environmental programs. 4-11 p.m. Sept.
Cincinnati Beer Run Celebrate craft beer with a 2.5-mile run from Newport through downtown Cincinnati. Enjoy samples of craft beer along the course. Walkers welcome. 7:30 a.m. Sept. 23. $30$60. Newport, Ky., cincinnatibeerrun.com. Cincinnati Zombie Walk Dress like a zombie, go on a walk, bring a canned food item to donate to the Freestore Foodbank. The walk ends at Duke Energy Convention Center, where an after party will be sponsored and decorated by the Dent Schoolhouse. 7:15 p.m. Sept. 23. Free to walk; $10 after party. Walk starts across from the Freestore Foodbank, 1141 Central Parkway, Downtown, facebook.com/ cincinnatizombiewalk. Cincinnati Comic Expo A comic expo featuring famous sci-fi and fantasy film and TV stars like Dr. Who’s John Barrowman, legends like Stan Lee, panels, costume contests, zombie walks and more. Sept 23-25. Tickets start at $25. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, cincinnaticomicexpo.com. MidPoint Music Festival This Indie music festival features local, national and international acts, including Band of Horses, Wolf Parade, Future Islands, Reggie Watts and Lucero. Sept. 23-25. $50 per day. Various venues, mpmf.com. Newport Oktoberfest A Munich-style Oktoberfest featuring authentic German food and drinks, live continuous German entertainment and a giant festival tent. Sept. 23-25. Free admission. Festival Park, Riverboat Row, Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky., newportky.gov. Fire Up the Night Watch the Philippines, South Africa and Greece take on America in a global fireworks competition over Lake Como. The winner will be determined by a judging panel and audience text vote. Sunlite pool will be empty so that there is plenty of seating to view the light show. Tickets include parking, classic rides and admission. Gates open at 4
F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6 // 0 9
Hudepohl 14k Brewery Run “The race that thinks it’s a party.” This 8.7-mile course takes participants past the city’s old breweries. 8 a.m. Sept. 17. $45$55. Mehring Way, next to the Moerlein Lager House, hudy14krun.com.
17. $25; free children 12 and under. Imago Earth Center, 700 Enright, East Price Hill, imagoearth.org.
p.m.; fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 24. $25 per carload. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, coneyislandpark.com. OFFF Cincinnati 2016 Engage with artists and designers from around the world through inspirational talks and workshops. Héctor Ayuso returns to Cincinnati to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the OFFF design conference. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sept. 24. $25-$50. School for Creative and Performing Arts, 108 W. Central Parkway, Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org, contemporaryartscenter.org. The Rocky Horror Picture Show The Denton Affair hosts an every-otherSaturday interactive screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live cast. Viewers are encouraged to come in costume and to bring flashlights, noisemakers and bells. 11:55 p.m. Sept. 24 and every other Saturday. $9.75. Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, esquiretheatre.com. Romeo and Juliet at CCM University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music musical theater students take on this Shakespeare classic. Witness the deadly feud between the Montagues and the Capulets in a subversive retelling of the Bard’s iconic story. Sept. 29-Oct. 2. $15-$31. Patricia Corbett Theatre, University of Cincinnati, Clifton, ccm.uc.edu. Weekend of Fire This steamy Jungle Jim’s event celebrates spicy foods by filling the Oscar Event Center with the hottest sauces, marinades, rubs and everything in between. Feeling brave? Enter the Arena of Fire to truly challenge your taste buds. 6-10 p.m. Sept. 30; 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Oct. 1; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 2. $10 two-day pass; $6 general admission. Jungle Jim’s, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, junglejims.com. Cincinnati Remodel & Design Show Discover the latest trends, products and companies for your next remodeling projects. Noon-7 p.m. Sept. 30; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 1; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 2. $8. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, hartproductions.com.
1 0 // F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6
Porkopolis Pig & Whiskey Festival The second-annual Porkopolis Pig & Whiskey Festival Cincinnati will descend upon downtown for two days of pork, whiskey and craft beer. Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, citybeat.com. Donauschwaben Oktoberfest Featuring live music, authentic German dancing, and over 25 beers, this fest welcomes fall with a wunderbar time. 6 p.m.12:30 a.m. Sept. 30; 1 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Oct. 1; noon-8 p.m. Oct. 2. $3. Donauschwaben Park, 4290 Dry Ridge Road, Colerain, cincydonau.com. A Prayer For Owen Meany at the Playhouse in the Park Based on the novel by John Irving, this tale of friendship and faith set in the 1960s
follows Owen and childhood friend John. Linked through tragedy, John and Owen walk different routes of discovering their faith and losing it. Through Oct. 1. $35$68. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams, cincyplay.com.
“ R u t h ” / / P H O T O : J a c k i e N i c k e r s on : A u g u s t at the F r eedo m C e n te r
Da Vinci - The Genius at the Museum Center An in-depth look at the work of Leonardo da Vinci, comprised of more than 17 themed galleries with more than 200 pieces and life-size reproductions of 70 inventions. Through Oct. 9. $19.50 adults; $17.50 seniors; $12.50 kids. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org. Old West Fest Step back in time and mosey into an authentic Wild West town dating back to 1878. Come in your best period attire (there’s a costume contest each day) for cold sarsaparilla, a covered wagon ride, can-can dancers and (fake) gun fights. The final weekend, Oct. 15-16, is a Halloween Ghost Townthemed event. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 16. $12.00$24.99. 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg, Ohio, oldwestfestival.com. Ohio Renaissance Festival Prepare thyself for adventure. The Ohio Renaissance Festival’s recreated 30-acre, 16th-century village crams 400 years of fun into one day, with human-powered rides, hearty food and drink (turkey legs, beef stew in a bread bowl, mead), games of skill and unique arts and crafts. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 23. $21.95; $9.95 children. 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville, renfestival.com. Covington is Haunted Tour A bit of history and horror in a 90-minute walking tour. Learn about neighborhood feuds and haunted mansions. Through Oct. 29. $20. Tour starts at Molly Malone’s, 112 E. Fourth St., Covington, Ky., americanlegacytours.com. Newport is Haunted Tour Led by a cloaked guide, tour the streets of Newport by night to learn about tales of murder, suicide and even a decapitation or two. Through Oct. 29. $20. Tour begins at 18 E. Fifth St., Newport, Ky., americanlegacytours.com. Queen City is Haunted Tour On this guided walking tour of downtown and OTR, hear stories of grisly murders, ghastly deaths and other disturbing tales buried deep within Cincinnati’s storied past. Through Oct. 29. $20. Tours begin at 1332 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, americanlegacytours.com. Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride and Farmers Revenge Ride a wagon into haunted horrors of cinemas past and present. Through Oct. 29. $20 combo tickets. Sandyland Acres, 4172 Belleview Road, Petersburg, Ky., sandylandacres.com.
Foto Foc u s bi enni a l 2 0 1 6 This month-long arts biennial features the finest in contemporary photography and lens-based art. FotoFocus features exhibitions, film screenings, lectures and performances by artists, curators, critics and art world professionals, all based on one theme: “Photography, the Undocument,” which explores the boundaries between facts and fabrications. Oct. 1-31. Various venues, fotofocusbiennial.org.
Country Pumpkins Fall Festival A fall fest on a 25-acre dairy farm with hayrides, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, straw-bale maze and more. Leashed pets are welcome. Through Oct. 31. Free admission. 1835 Sherman Mount Zion Road, Dry Ridge, Ky., countrypumpkinsky.com. Jack-O-Lantern Junction A Halloween exhibit at EnterTRAINment Junction with a trick-or-treat maze, kid-friendly ghosts, a mini Halloween train display, an indoor pumpkin patch and more. Through Oct 31. $13.95 adult; $11.95 senior; $9.95 kids. EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester, entertrainmentjunction.com. Kinman Farms Fall Fest Adventure Hay rides, a corn maze, pony rides, a bonfire, fall décor and more. Weekends through Oct. 31. Prices vary. Kinman
Farms, 4175 Burlington Pike, Burlington, Ky., kinmanfarmsfallfest.com. Dent Schoolhouse A haunted house in a haunted school (the janitor did it). Lights-out tour on Nov. 4 and 5. Through Nov. 5. $20-$35. 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com. Glenn Brown at the Contemporary Arts Center The first solo museum exhibit to display the work of London artist Glenn Brown, who creates abstracted representational paintings. Through Jan. 15. Free admission. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org.
OCTOBER
DevouGrass Festival Features live Bluegrass music, artisan vendors, hands-on creative stations for kids and food trucks. Benefits the Children’s Home of
Northern Kentucky. Noon-dusk Oct. 1. Free. Devou Park Bandshell, 1700 Montague Road, Covington, Ky., devougrass.com. Mermaids Return to Newport Aquarium For a limited time, see mystical mermaids swim through the aquarium and get to know them during daily meet-and-greets. Oct. 1-16. Free with admission. Newport Aquarium, 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, Ky., newportaquarium.com. Mercantile Library’s Niehoff Lecture Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prizewinning author Doris Kearns Goodwin will deliver the 29th Niehoff Lecture, a series that features prominent authors, in the Westin Hotel’s Presidential Ballroom. 7-10p.m. Oct. 1. $175 Mercantile members; $200 general admission. The Westin Hotel, 21 E. Fifth St., Downtown, mercantilelibrary.com. Hyde Park Art Show Celebrate the 50th-annual art show by purusing more than 200 booths of local art at the largest one-day art show in the Greater Cincinnati area. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 2. Free. Hyde Park Square, Hyde Park, hydeparksquare.org. Kentucky Wool Festival A festival that promotes sheep and wool products complete with homemade craft vendors, live Bluegrass and Americana music, cloggers, county festival food, sheep-shearing and border collie-herding demonstrations, plus a tent full of wool. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 7-9; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 9. $5. 48 Concord Caddo Roaf, Falmouth, Ky., kywoolfest.org.
Pulp at Know Theatre A “genre-bending literary noir comedy” about a washed-up private investigator whose life soon begins to imitate literature after taking on a case of suspects who all write for different pulp magazines. Oct. 7-Oct. 29. $25. Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, knowtheatre.com. Oak, Toast & Two Aging Barrels A celebration of Kentucky’s bourbon heritage with tastings, dinners, education and more. Oct. 7-9. Sixth and Main streets, Covington, Ky., mainstrasse.org.
BRAND NEW LUXURY POST-ACUTE CARE UNIT BRAND NEW LUXURY NOWCARE OPEN POST-ACUTE UNIT NOW OPEN
Amy Schumer Live Stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer and director Amy Schumer kicks off her first live tour at the BB&T Arena. 6:30 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. Oct. 8. $42-$102. Bank of Kentucky Center, 500 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Ky., thebbtarena.com.. Fall-O-Ween Coney Island’s annual family-friendly fall festival. Enjoy trick-or-treat trails for kids, a Fright Lights musical show, barnyard friends and more. Weekends Oct. 8-23. $11. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, coneyislandpark.com. Ohio Sauerkraut Festival Since 1970, the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival has celebrated sauerkraut with a full festival featuring everything from sauerkraut pizzas, fudge, donuts, cookies and pies. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 9. Free admission. 10 B N. Main St., Waynesville, Ohio, sauerkrautfestival.com.
460 Juried Craft Exhibitors. Entertainment and Sauerkraut…
T h e u s s N i g h t m a r e / / P H O T O : cit y b eat a r chi v e
Served in Many Traditional and Some Very Unusual 460 Juried Craft Exhibitors. Entertainment andWays! Sauerkraut… Saturday October 8th 9am - 8pm Sunday October 9th 9am - 6 pm Served in Many Traditional and Some Very Unusual Ways! No pets please, service animals only! www.sauerkrautfestival.com
Saturday October 8th 9am - 8pm Sunday October 9th 9am - 6pm Columbus
SR 73
I-70 Columbus Dayton
Columbus
SR 73
I-7
1
I-7I-75 1 RT 4 2
GERMAN SUN DAE
RT 42
1
I-75
I-70 Dayton
I-7
I-75
RT 4 2
I-70 Dayton
SR 73
No pets please, service animals only!
Area Chamber of Commerce Area Chamber of Commerce I-70 Columbus
Area Chamber of Commerce
Dayton
1-800-791-4FUN OhiosLargestPlayground.com
www.sauerkrautfesetival.com 1
I-7
I-75
RT 42
Cincinnati
Cincinnati Cincinnati
SR 73
Area Chamber of Commerce
Cincinnati
460 Juried Craft Exhibitors. Entertainment and Sauerkraut… 1-800-791-4FUN Served in Many Traditional and Some Very Unusual Ways OhiosLargestPlayground.com Saturday October 8th 9am - 8pm Sunday October 9th 9am No pets please, service animals only!
Cincinnati
1-800-791-4FUN OhiosLargestPlayground.com
C
I-
I-7I-75 1 RT 4 2
GERMAN SUND AE
SR 73 Area Chamber of Commerce
I-70 Columbus Dayton
SR 73 Area Chamber of I-70
Dayton
Cincinnati Cincinnati
RT 4 2
SR 73
RT 4 2
I-75
I-70 Dayton
I-75
Columbus
I-7 1
I-75
I-70 Dayton RT 4 2
t he U S S N i g ht m a r e Nicknamed the “Death Dredge” by the retired steamboat’s cursed crew, the USS Nightmare has been the site of 112 historic, mysterious and accidental deaths. Find out if angry spirits still roam the eerie ship during a half-hour, two-floor tour. It’s dark, it’s sinister and it’s been consistently ranked one of the top haunted attractions in the area for more than two decades. Come aboard, if you dare. Through Nov. 5. $28-$30. 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, Ky., ussnightmare.com.
www.sauerkrautfestival.com F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6 // 11
Sponsored By
SR 73
Cincinn
Customer Appreciation Day at Stricker’s Grove Stricker’s Grove is a family-owned and -operated private amusement park (only open to the public four times a year), featuring classic amusement park rides with free popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy (and booze available for purchase). Noon-8 p.m. Oct. 9. $12.50. Stricker’s Grove, 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton, strickersgrove.com. Iron Fork CityBeat hosts this food competition in which local chefs battle it out to win a Golden Fork award. 5-8:30 p.m. Oct. 9. Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State 3520 Central Parkway, Clifton, citybeat.com. Vanessa Williams with the Cincinnati Pops Classical meets contemporary during this one-night-only, sure-to-sell-out performance by multi-talented artist Vanessa Williams and the Cincinnati Pops. Known for her roles on Desperate Housewives and The Good Wife, Williams has also released chart-topping R&B hits. 7 p.m. Oct. 9. $25-$125. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
Across from Kenwood Towne Centre
7599 Kenwood Road 513•891•2020
Everybody sleeps better down on the farm.
1 2 // F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6
Introducing The Inn at Walhill Farm
the area’s newest, most celebrated inn perfect for those who want to escape & experience the many reasons why life is better in the country.
Cincinnati Chocolate Festival A festival for chocolate-lovers of all ages, featuring samples from local sweeteries, celebrity chef demos, contests and more to indulge your chocolate cravings. Admission includes five tasting tickets, and proceeds benefit the Isaac M. Wise Temple
Sisterhood. Noon-5 p.m. Oct. 11. $10. Xavier University’s Cintas Center, 1624 Herald Ave., Evanston, cincinnatichocolatefestival.com. Cincinnati Craft Brewers Oktoberfest Listermann Brewing Company has teamed up with Cincideutsch, a group of local German-speakers, to host this craft beer event. Kids and dogs welcome. 5 p.m.midnight Oct. 14; noon-11 p.m. Oct. 15. Free admission. Listermann Brewing Company, 1621 Dana Ave., Evanston, listermannbrewing.com. Dada Rafiki: I See You Sister Join international respected and award-winning poet Annie Ruth as she presents one of the most inspirational multi-cultural celebrations of music, dance, spoken word,and song in Cincinnati. 7 p.m. Oct. 14. $22.25$32.25. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. The Elephant Man at Cincy Shakes The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company presents Bernard Pomerance’s Tony award-winning play about the life of Joseph Marrick, whose physical deformities lead him to see a life of beauty, as well as harsh cruelty. Oct. 14-Nov. 5. $38-$42. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 719 Race St., Downtown, cincyshakes.com. Heritage Village Haunted Village The headless horseman rides at the historic Heritage Village. Oct. 14-29. $8. Heritage Village Museum, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, heritagevillagecincinnati.org.
h a l l z o o w e e n / / P H O T O : k ath y n e w to n
Walhill Farm R E S TAU R A N T
•
GUEST SUITES
farm fresh artisanal cuisine
www.walhillfarm.com 857 Six Pine Ranch Rd, Batesville, IN 47006 812.934.2600
Ha l l Z OOw een Trick-or-treat around the zoo and participate in themed activities like special animal encounters and Hogwarts Express train rides. Select weekends in October. $18; $13 kids; $10 parking. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
s u n f l o w e r f e s t i v a l / / P H O T O : go r m a n he r itage fa r m
• Lunch • Dinner • Catering
Outdoor Enclosed Deck & Tented Event Space
Ohio’s first draft beer was served here
t Wed & Sa
210 Years
Su n f l o we r F e s t iva l Stroll through fields of tall, golden sunflowers, pick some for yourself, take a hayride and enjoy food from food trucks, plus music, crafts and local artisans. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. $8 adults; $5 children. Gorman Heritage Farm, 10052 Reading Road, Evendale, gormanfarm.org.
Nightly Live Music
of business & still going strong
• Outdoor patio & Fountain w/fire pit
Outdoor Sand Volleyball CourtLeagues & Open Play
10675 Springfield pike L o c a t e d o n S p r i n g f i e l d P i ke wh e re 7 4 7 a n d R o u t e 4 S p l i t .
Van Gogh: Into the Undergrowth at the Cincinnati Art Museum Centered on the Cincinnati Art Museum’s “Undergrowth with Two Figures,” the exhibition explores the significance of the forest interior to the art of Vincent van Gogh. Oct. 15-Jan. 8. $10; $5 children; free for members. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Zombie Ball Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite undead characters — zombies, vampires and mummies — or creatively interpret the theme. Open bar from 7-10 p.m. 7-11 p.m. Oct. 15. $75 couple: $40 single. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org. Coppelia A story of how a toy-maker’s latest creation comes to life, as told in this comedic ballet that is returning back to the Cincinnati Ballet for the first time since 2001. Paired with the melodic music of Leo Delibes played by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Oct. 21-23. $32-$103. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cballet.org. Ubahn Fest A literal underground music festival — located in a Metro Transit center underneath Second Street — featuring an eclectic lineup of EDM and Hip Hop performances
in Jo
Us At The
Hosted At
Benefitting
Taste Celebration! Monday October 3rd, 2016 5 - 10PM @ Four Bridges Country Club Featuring Premium Craft Beer Samples BBQ Dinner, Live Music & More! The
BREWERS
Charity Golf Classic
Tickets Just $25 In Advance. Available Online @ www.BrewersOpen.com. Proceeeds Benefit ProKids.org
F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6 // 1 3
Books by the Banks For all the bookworms looking to get cozy — and educated — this fall, the 10th-annual Books by the Banks festival celebrates reading and literacy with a variety of book talks, panels and discussions by local, regional and national authors and illustrators. Meet more than 100 local writers and national bestselling authors while celebrating the tenth anniversary of the festival. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 15. Free. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, booksbythebanks.org.
Northern Kentucky Wine Festival Tastings from Kentucky wineries, food and entertainment. Tickets include four drink samples. 3-10 p.m. Oct. 15. $10. MainStrasse Village, Main St., Covington, Ky., mainstrasse.org.
CinCinnati, OH 45215-1120 pHOne: (513) 771-4816
m e
Third-Annual Oakley Masquerade With a silent auction, photobooth, a beachstyle night club, costume party and a fourhour open bar included with the purchase of a ticket, this is a premier Halloween party. All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. 8 p.m. Oct. 14. $33$48. 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, oakleymasquerade.com.
Cincinnati Halloween Masquerade The Pandora Society invites you to party with the most elegant ghouls, goblins, witches and wizards (or whatever else you’d like to dress as). Caberet, belly dancing, live music, vendors and a costume contests. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 15. $15-$20. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, Ky., thepandorasociety.com/halloween.
Co
Johnny Mathis The longest-running artist on Columbia Records is celebrating his 60th year in the music industry. 8 p.m. Oct. 14. $52.50$132.50. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
JOB FAIR We are looking to fill multiple positions at the following locations: Residence Inn Cincinnati Airport 2811 Circleport Drive Erlanger, KY 41018 859-282-7400 Hampton Inn Cincinnati Riverfront 200 Crescent Ave. Covington, KY 41011 859-581-7800 Hampton Inn Cincinnati Airport South 7379 Turfway Road Florence, KY 41042 859-283-1600 Courtyard Cincinnati Airport 3990 Olympic Blvd. Erlanger, KY 41018 859-647-9900 Springhill Suites Cincinnati Midtown 610 Eden Park Drive Cincinnati, OH 45202 513-381-8300
Positions Include:
• Guest Service Agents • Night Audit • Room Attendants • Breakfast Host • Front Office Manager at Hampton Inn Cincinnati Airport South
If you are interested in working for our growing company, we would like to invite you to attend one of our
JOB FAIRS Tuesday, September 27th 10AM – 7PM
Located at: Residence Inn Cincinnati Airport 2811 Circleport Drive • Erlanger, KY 41018 For Directions: (859) 282-7400
Thursday, September 29th 10AM – 7PM
Located at: Hampton Inn Cincinnati Riverfront 200 Crescent Avenue • Covington, KY 41011 For Directions: (859) 581-7800
Everyone’s Favorite Place FOR FALL!
1 4 // F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6
OCTOBER 1-2 Young’s Dairy Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival OCTOBER 8 Yellow Springs Street Fair OCTOBER 15 Art Stroll OCTOBER 16-17 Yellow Springs Open Studios
For all event info visit: yellowspringsohio.org
f
937.767.2686
Young’s Dairy
across two stages. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 21 and Oct. 22. $49-$89. 220 Central Ave. between Pete Rose Way and Third Street, Downtown, ubahnfest.com. Picturing the West: Masterworks of 19th-Century Landscape Photography at the Taft Museum of Art The 41 photographs in Picturing the West capture the scenery and spirit of America’s western frontier during the second half of the 19th century. This exhibit is presented in part with FotoFocus. Oct. 22-Jan. 15. $20 adults; $15 children. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org. Guided Ghost Tour of Music Hall The Cincinnati Research & Paranormal Studies team leads guided paranormal tours to explore, investigate and document the otherworldly. Bring your own equipment. 7 p.m. Oct. 23. $25. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiarts.org. MainStrasse Dog Costume Pawrade Costumed dogs parade around MainStrasse Village. Oct. 23. Free. Sixth Street, Covington, Ky., mainstrasse.org. CPI New Voices The Cincinnati Playwright Initiative, a grassroots art organization of local playwrights, directors, actors, and theater supporters interested in bringing new plays to the Cincinnati stage, presents two new shorts written by Robert Cooperman. 7:30 p.m. Oct 25. $8. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. John Witherspoon at Funny Bone Known as one of America’s funniest onscreen dads, John Witherspoon is known
for his roles as “Pops” on The Wayan’s Brothers, or as Craig’s father from the Friday trilogy. 7:30 p.m. Oct 28. $25. Liberty Funny Bone, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township., liberty.funnybone.com. Halloween Gala Music by Naked Karate Girls. Benefits the Children’s Dyslexia Centers of Cincinnati. 6 p.m. Oct. 29. $50; Cincinnati Masonic Center, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, halloweengala.org. Fall Fest Brought to you by 3CDC, Washington Park is kicking off the beginning of autumn with a weekend full of family fun and attractions. Oct. 29-30. Free Admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-theRhine, washingtonpark.org. Halloween Skate Party A costume party at Fountain Square’s ice rink. Noon-11 p.m. Oct. 29. Free. Fifth and Vine streets, Downtown, myfountainsquare.com. The Malice Ball An Over-the-Rhine masquerade party. Proceeds benefit the Over-the-Rhine Chamber’s Business First Grant Program. 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29. $30; $25 advance. Christian Moerlein Brewery, 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, otrchamber.com. Burger Farm Pumpkin Festival A family-friendly fall festival with pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides, pickyour-own pumpkins and more. Weekends in October. $3 admission. Free parking. Burger Farm and Garden Center, 7849 Main St., Newtown, burgerfarms.com.
t h e n u t c r a c k e r / / P H O T O : ci n ci n n ati ballet
Yellow Springs Open Studios
Yellow Springs Street Fair
T he Nu tc ra c k er The Cincinnati Ballet presents its annual performance of the famous holiday classic. The ballet performs Tchaikovsky’s most popular work set to live instrumentation by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Dec. 9-18. $32-$85. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiarts.org.
J e n n i f e r K o h / / P H O T O : J uergen F rank
Altius Quartet Chamber Music Cincinnati presents a rising-star quartet every two years in honor of LaSalle Quartet violinist Henry Meyer, this year’s choice being the Altius Quartet. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15. $30. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. The Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new Broadway production of the hit musical comes to Cincinnati as part of its North American tour. Nov. 15-27. $44-$135. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. Forgotten Cincinnati: Photographs from the 1880s at the Taft Museum of Art A time capsule of late-19th-century Cincinnati, captured on film by an unknown photographer. Nov. 18-Feb. 26. $20 adults; $15 children. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org. Holiday Lights on the Hill This drive-through experience features more than a million lights and lasers in their holiday displays. Nov. 18-Jan 1. $20-$25 per car. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org. Crafty Supermarket Holiday Show This handmade holiday market features more than 100 craft vendors and makers. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 19. Free admission. University of Cincinnati Recreation Center, 2820 Bearcat Way, Clifton, craftysupermarket.com.
N or t hern L ig ht s Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali makes his CSO debut with violinist Jennifer Koh as the orchestra captures the beauty of the Northern Lights via music. Nov. 18-19. $22-$87. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., cincinnatiarts.org.
NOVEMBER
Octonauts Live and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure The Disney Jr. series brings their live stage show to the U.S. for the first time. 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2. $29.50-$39.50. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
Billy Elliot: The Musical by Cincinnati Music Theatre The show named by TIME Magazine as the “Best Musical of the Decade”’ comes to the Aronoff and tells the story of a young boy’s struggle to make his dreams come true. Nov. 4-12. $20-$24. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiarts.org.
Best of Baroque: Handel & Bach Experience the music of the Baroque period, led by Ton Koopman and featuring soloists from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Nov. 11-13. $23-$107. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market More than 100 different vendors sell gifts, apparel, home décor, gourmet food and more. Nov. 11-13. $9; free for kids. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, hartproductions.com.
Joe Bonamassa Recognized as one of the greatest guitarists of his generation, Bonamassa brings his Blues-Rock style to Cincinnati in support of his solo album, Blues of Desperation. 8 p.m. Nov. 30. $82.50-128.50. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
DECEMBER
Holiday Pops with Melinda Doolittle Cincinnati’s holiday tradition is back with John Morris Russell’s Home for the Holidays program — a blend of holiday favorites featuring American Idol contestant Melinda Doolittle. Dec. 2-4. $25-$95. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. Eamonn McCrystal & Chloë Agnew in Concert Emmy award winning Irish tenor Eamonn McCrystal and Celtic Woman Chloë Agnew, join forces for an evening to celebrate Irish culture, great music and Christmas. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13. $35-$55. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiarts.org. Christmas Town The Creation Museum’s annual event presents a look at the story behind Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. The event features a live nativity scene and a garden of festive light displays. Dec. 16-30. Creation Museum. 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, Ky., creationmuseum.org.
Christkindlmarkt Sip hot mulled wine and browse vendors with handmade nutcrackers, ornaments, toys and more. Nov. 20-22. $3. Germania Park, 3529 W. Kemper Road, Colerain, germaniasociety.com.
Christmas with Over The Rhine Folk duo Over The Rhine bring their unique voice and musical style to holiday favorite songs with the Cincinnati Pops. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20. $25-$99. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown., cincinnatiarts.org.
Victorian Christmas Visit Christmas past at the Hillforest Historical Foundation. Nov. 20-Dec. 30. $6; $3 kids. 213 Fifth St., Aurora, Ind., hillforest.org.
Straight No Chaser The 10-piece, male acappella group brings its tour to Cincinnati to celebrate 20 years as a group. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20. $39.50$69.50. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
A Christmas Carol at the Playhouse in the Park The classic Dickens tale returns to charm holiday audiences. Nov. 23-Dec. 31, $30$85, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams, cincyplay.com. One City, One Symphony Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is center stage for this year’s One City, One Symphony performance. Featuring all-American music the show is tied together with the theme of home. 8 p.m. Nov. 25-26. $23$107. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
Shen Yun 2017 With a goal of reviving 5,000 years of lost Chinese culture, Shen Yun brings the spirit of this lost civilization to life through celebration, music and dance. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22-23. $67-$147. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. The Snowman with the Pops The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra performs Howard Blake’s score live as the movie The Snowman plays over the stage. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23. $15-$20. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6 // 1 5
American Voice featuring Sara Evans Sara Evans brings her hit songs to life with the help of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. 8 p.m. Nov. 4; 8 p.m. Nov. 5; 2 p.m. Nov. 6. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
Holidazed & Confused Revue by The Second City The Second City offers a holiday experience full of seasonal sketches to prepare you for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and everything in between. Nov. 5-Dec. 31. $30-$68. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams, cincyplay.com.
PNC Festival of Lights The Cincinnati Zoo continues one of the Tri-state’s favorite holiday tradition: the 34thannual PNC Festival of Lights. Check out more than two million LED lights that illuminate the zoo all winter long. Nov. 19-Jan. 1. Free with zoo admission. $18 adults; $13 children. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St, cincinnatizoo.org.
Darkest Night at the Gnarly Stump at Know Theatre Residents of a secluded Appalachian town gather on the darkest night of the year at the local pub, The Gnarly Stump, to share songs and ghost stories. This year, an outsider arrives and reports the disappearance of her sister, blurring the lines between story and reality. Nov. 26-Dec. 17. $25. Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, knowtheatre.com.
BE A CULINARY TOURIST IN YOUR OWN CITY E X PE R I E NCE T H E CU ISI N E T H AT DE F I N ES T H E A RT OF DI N I NG I N GR E AT E R CI NCI N NAT I W I T H $ 35 T H R E E- COU R SE PR I X-F I X E M E N US F ROM T H E CI T Y ’ S BEST R E STAU R A N TS . Select dining destinations will feature specially curated lunch and dinner menus for one or two guests (excluding tax, gratuity and beverages).
S P O N S O R E D B Y:
BUCKEYEVODK A.COM
1 6 // F A L L G U I D E 2 0 1 6
WOODBOT TOMQUAIL.COM
GREATERCINCINNATIRESTAURANTWEEK.COM
PA RT ICI PAT ING RE STA
UR AN TS:
Banana Leaf Behle Street by Sheli Boi Na Braza BrewRiver GastroPub Brown Dog Cafe The Capital Grille Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restauran t Eddie Merlot’s Embers Firebirds Wood Fired Grill The Golden Lamb Jag’s Steak & Seafood / Piano Bar Jeff Ruby’s Carlo & Johnny Jeff Ruby’s Precinct Kaze OTR La Petite France The Melting Pot The Mercer National Exemplar The Palace Pitrelli’s Italian Risto ranté The President’s Room Primavista Prime 47 Prism Steak Quan Hapa Seasons 52 Stone Creek Dining Company Tano Bistro & Catering Trio Bistro