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LETTERS

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Gun-Free Zones Are Important I just want to thank you for the article, “Go Away Gun-Free Zones” (CityBeat issue of Oct. 18). I have three granddaughters in CPS and one in pre-school, and this bill, if put into law, would put them in more danger. It would be a Sandy Hook waiting to happen. God forbid this should pass. — P.J. Abell, Clifton Heights

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Dear Mr. Jack Brennan. Thank you for the article on the National Anthem (“Honor the National Anthem by Playing It Less,” issue of Sept. 25). I too think it is played too often — or at least for me it was played often enough the meaning became lost and I began to merely submit and comply with the gestures and motions “expected” of me. Now, I have to admit that as a former member of the USAF, member of the American Legion and statistician for countless numbers of NCAA volleyball, football, basketball and baseball games, I have been exposed to more National Anthems than most, so maybe I just got “National Anthem’ed out.” — Alex Grim, Fairfield

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UPCOMING EVENTS Nov. 06-12 Cincinnati Pizza Week Nov. 19 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards Dec. 06 Bourbon & Bacon

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What A Week! BY T.C. B R I T TO N

Everybody Scream Now In the most egregious recent case of “haters gon’ hate,” it was reported this week that Canadian police fined a man for singing too loudly in his car last month. Taoufik Moalla was driving around Montreal, jamming to his tune of choice — C+C Music Factory’s “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” — when police pulled him over. Four cops surrounded a befuddled Moalla. After all, he wasn’t speeding or driving recklessly; he was simply following the lyrics’ instruction to let the music take control, let the rhythm move you. Police did not wish to commend Moalla’s appreciation of ’90s jams, but instead wrote him a ticket for screaming in a public place, which is a violation of “peace and tranquility.” Of course Canada has peace and tranquility laws. How loud do you have to be shouting “Everybody dance now!” in America for it to be considered a disturbance? Maybe Canadians have sensitive ears. One thing’s for sure: If you’re north of the border, C+C gonna make you sing ’til you’re fined!

Friday’s Nerd Media Frenzy Friday was dubbed Nerd Christmas as a number of new media — games, shows and movies galore — dropped Oct. 27. Apparently, if you’re excited about electronics, television, video games or movies, you are a nerd. #WeAreAllNerds What debuted that day? The highly anticipated second season of Stranger Things on Netflix; Jigsaw, the 34th Saw sequel; video games Super Mario Odyssey, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus and Assassin’s Creed Origins; and the iPhone X. All that was missing was a surprise Beyoncé album! For a certain group of consumers (read: NERDS), this weekend was a pricey one, marked with very little fresh air or natural sunlight.

JT Returns to the Super Bowl Stage

This Week in Questionable Decisions… 1. Kid Rock crushed many dreams, admitting to Howard Stern, “Of course I’m not running for Senate.” 2. Select Wisconsin Taco Bell locations surprised customers with a new Kit-Kat Chocoladilla, just in time for Halloween. Side note: “ladilla” is Spanish for crabs. Not the shellfish kind. 3. Cup Noodles maker Nissin introduced a $130 slurp noisecancelling fork for ramen. 4. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: An upcoming Woody Allen film features a relationship between a 44-year-old man (played by Jude Law) and 15-yearold girl (Elle Fanning). 5. An app called Drop tried to spark a viral marketing campaign by promising free money and a unicorn but delivering a sad animal being dragged across New York City. 6. New Zealand’s National Party breached copyright law by using a tune that sounds just like Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” in a 2014 ad. 7. Glitter tongue is the latest internet trend stupid thing six people documented on social media, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: people gluing glitter to their tongues. 8. Multiple women accused George H. W. Bush of groping them, telling them his favorite magician was “David Cop-a-feel.” Kind of a hot pick-up line for a 90-year-old. 9. Starbucks’ Zombie Frap is the new Unicorn Drink: Lots of sugar, zero coffee, 100 percent obnoxious. 10. A Wisconsin man who got locked in a convenience store beer cooler made the best of the situation by drinking booze until a customer found him six hours later. After consuming a tall boy and three Four Lokos, the man ran from police but was captured. He was on probation that required him to be sober at the time.

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Justin Timberlake will headline the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show, it was confirmed this week. The triple-threat performer should serve up an entertaining show: Maybe we’ll see an *NSYNC reunion and special appearances by his collaborators from over the years. The announcement sparked discussion about the last time Timberlake performed at the event — 14 years ago — when the term “wardrobe malfunction” entered our collective vocabulary. In the early 2000s, the trend for Super Bowl performances was a mash-up of popular acts. In 2004, that included Jessica Simpson, P. Diddy, Kid Rock, Nelly, Timberlake and Janet Jackson. When

the latter two were singing a duet of JT’S our Halloweekend antics. (Still hun“Rock Your Body,” the earth stood still as gover; please send Gatorade.) Justin uttered the line, “gonna have you Fake Cloud Gate Events naked by the end of this song,” ripped off Jackson’s patent leather top and revealed Flood Facebook one breast adorned with an interestIf you’ve ever been to Chicago, you’ve ing sun-shaped piercing. The FCC likely visited Cloud Gate, the public art clutched their pearls, setting America installation located in Millennium Park back a few decades in terms of debate that’s also known as The Bean, because over indecency in broadcasting. Worst it looks like a giant silver legume. A of all, everyone blamed Ms. Jackson Facebook event inviting folks to Windex even though it was Justin who exposed The Bean went viral, with more than her nip. Classic patriarchy. Now fans are calling for #JusticeForJanet! The queen is currently on tour, so she is in performance mode. This would be the perfect opportunity for her vindication. Whip out his D, Janet! You have to wonder, will the Super Bowl pack as big of a punch this year now that the actual president of the United States is urging fans to boycott the NFL? Between competitive contact sports, the worshipping of capitalism via big-budget commercials and Velveeta-doused NSYC reportedly sold 69,420 cheese sticks over the weekend. junk food buffets, there’s PHOTO: PROVIDED nothing more American than the Super Bowl. 3,000 RSVPs and 25,000 others “interNorthside Yacht Club ested” in attending. Other Bean-related Wins Halloween social events began popping up, includIt’s the Halloweekend, baby, and I hope ing “Paint the Bean black so they can’t you had you some fun. Ahead of TuesWindex it,” “steal the original bean and day’s trick-or-treating, adults across the replace it with a fake,” “Help The Bean city, country and globe celebrated HalTurn Back into Alex Mack,” “Release loween this past weekend with costume the Hamsters Sleeping Inside the Bean,” parties and bar-hopping. Quintessen“Mansplain to the Bean, at the Bean, it’s tially 2017 costumes included PennyCloudgate, actually ;0” and “Paint the wise from It, pregnant Kylie Jenner, the Bean ‘Pinkest Pink’ to annoy sculptor meme-worthy Salt Bae, Wonder Woman Anish Kapoor” — a nod to The Bean’s and even “fake news.” But the best creator owning exclusive rights to use costume award goes to Northside Yacht Vantablack (the blackest substance Club, which dressed up as the infamous known) for artistic purposes. (Fun fact: Northside Applebee’s this weekend! British artist Stuart Semple created A couple years ago, Northsiders lost the “world’s pinkest pink” pigment in their damn minds when rumors of the response to Kapoor owning the blackest neighborhood-friendly restaurant chain shade of black. Kapoor is legally banned infiltrating their ~hip and local~ digs. Of from purchasing Semple’s Pepto-Bismol course, it was just a prank (actual fake shade). Fake Cloud Gate events are news, one might argue), but no one quite officially a meme. And now it seems the got past it. NSYC transformed into an trend is making its way to the Tristate: Applebee’s for Halloweekend, complete “Sneak an Iceberg into Kentucky and Sink with signage, a host stand, new website the Ark” is scheduled at the Ark Encounand a menu of Appleteasers, ’Bee’ster in Williamstown, Ky., for Nov. 5. Per inspired craft cocktails and desserts. the Facebook description, “shhhh don’t Patrons could check out the temporarily tell Ken Ham.” transformed bar Friday and Saturday. Contact T.C. Britton: letters@citybeat.com By Sunday brunch, the Yacht Club was back in its original form, as if it was all a dream. If only the same could be said of

SPORTS!

1329 Main Street Cincinnati, OH 45202

November 2017 Thursday, November 2nd Whose Streets?(2017) A film by Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis Saturday, November 4th Lil’s + Lils Films for Kids (11AM) Sunday, November 5th Sacred Spaces of Greater Cincinnati Presented by Voyageur Media Tuesday, November 7th A Man Escaped (1956) Directed by Robert Bresson Presented by Walter E. Langsam Thursday, November 9th Wittgenstein (1993) Directed by Derek Jarman Sunday, November 12th Open Screen Like Open Mic Night but with Movies Tuesday, November 14th The City (1939) Presented by the Cincinnati Preservation Collective Wednesday, November 15th Le Capital/Capital (2013) Directed by Costa Gavras Presentation by Constantin Parvulescu, Presented by the UC Center for Film and Media Studies (UC Film) Thursday, November 16th Selections from Electric Objects Art Club (Sound by Galen Tipton) Saturday, November 18th The Wandering Wolf A Travelogue by Yoni Wolf Screenings at 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM

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Sunday, November 19th Moonlight (2016) Directed by Barry Jenkins Presented by Black Folks Make Movies (BFMM)

Tuesday, November 21st Animations by Kimberly Burleigh Tuesday, November 28th War At A Distance (2003) Directed by Harun Farocki Presented by UC Film Thursday, November 30th Playtime (1967) Directed by Jacques Tati

For showtimes and more information go to: mini-cinema.org

The Joy of the Game BY JAC K B R EN N A N

This really happened: An important pro football game drew 65,000 fans — and nobody arranged for the metal detectors! The cops with wands didn’t show, nor the people to enforce the “clear bag” policy, nor the bomb dogs, nor about 95 percent of those many hundreds of same-shirted daily security employees. They just put three or four people at each gate to rip tickets. And then they just started letting everybody in, if you can believe that. And they didn’t need ushers, because even though these tickets were highend pricey in the city’s entertainment market, there weren’t any special sections where only a few could go. None of the sections had even a number designation. And no row or seat numbers on the tickets, because it was all just general admission, for goodness sakes. And so a good 40,000 or so of the fans got there really early, knowing that those arriving less than two hours before the 8:30 p.m. kickoff would find space only in the higher and less centered rows of the massive concrete bowl. There was nothing doing on the field pregame — no cheerleaders or Frisbee dogs or check presentations or even recorded music. But there was music in the stands, at least, during the dark and chilly hours folks had to wait for the game. A huge bunch of fans, 5,000 or more, were going nonstop with some serious drumming and chanting, and areas outside this core had sprinklings of fans joining in. The beat and sound reverberated festively into the upper deck. But fans couldn’t buy a beer, even at $10 or $15 a cup, just to pass the time and/or get properly torqued. Alcohol was not permitted in the stadium. And even if getting drunk wasn’t all that important, there was precious little other beverage or food for sale. The immediate gate entry areas had high-school type stands — no cash registers — where you could buy a burger or sausage sandwich and get a Coke or Sprite from a glass bottle, poured into a paper cup with no ice. The upper concourse on the south side had one stand manned by a weary looking lady, offering candy bars, popcorn and gum. But even though the points of concession sales were microscopic in relation to the throng, they weren’t crowded at all. The fans just didn’t seem to care about concessions. They stayed pretty packed in the stands and mostly contented themselves with the only two items sold by roving vendors — brightyellow bags of Lay’s regular potato chips, and cellophane sacks of caramel popcorn.

The stadium did have one video board, but it was so small that most of the locations offered a poor view at best of its images. The sound system was terrible, barely audible from the upper stands. When it came time for the national anthem, it was performed not by a band or a featured singer, but rendered instead on a tinny recording. But no one failed to pay attention. Every soul, seemingly, considered it a joy and a privilege to sing the anthem with spirit and reverence, even though there was no giant flag, no military personnel to be lionized and certainly no military flyover. It was all just clearly for ebullient national pride, with no tie to any other symbolism. And when the game finally began, everybody was really excited, but nobody got mad or aggressive. No one with kids — and there were plenty — had to complain about uncouth rowdies. There was quiet and evident concern when the favored home team fell behind early, but soon the fans resumed cheering and chanting and dancing, and there was joy for all when the home team came back to win. After the game there were fireworks, lots of fireworks, and some of them not really all that high in the sky. Some embers seemed to be falling on the crowd. But no one acted concerned. And the victorious home team stayed on the field for a good 20 minutes or more, hugging each other, assembling for team photos and saluting the fans. And then the crowd good-naturedly filed out, with no one trampling the smaller folks in a desperate dash for the urinals. Out they went into the night, seemingly in 10,000 different ways, as this inner-city venue did not offer any discernible parking lots. Cars, almost all of them tiny, were parked everywhere, and there were lots and lots of busses. And that’s the way it was at the pro football game I recently attended. It wasn’t the NFL, as gentle readers have discerned, but it was indeed a big pro futbol game. It was the World Cup qualifier match between Bolivia and Uruguay, played two weeks ago in the 87-year-old Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, a metro area just under the size of Greater Cincinnati. The result clinched a Russia 2018 berth for the Uruguayan

team. And the entire scene was so amazingly unlike any big game this American has ever attended, I must twist a French phrase to Spanish and say, larga vida a la diferencia! It was primitive in so many ways but captivating and refreshing in so many others, particularly in the lack of oppressive “security.” Indeed there were huge moats separating most of the stands from the field — a striking visual — because South American soccer has had its share of bad crowd incidents. But in this crowd there was only wholesome excitement. Admittedly this was not a big rivalry game, as visiting Bolivia came with a poor record and few supporters. But the lack of rampant testosterone was striking in comparison with NFL crowds, and maybe that has something

“It was primitive in so many ways but captivating and refreshing in so many others.” to do with booze being banned and the country’s legal marijuana being OK to bring in. Soccer fans here are disappointed that Team USA recently failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and that FC Cincinnati got bounced from its league playoffs. But it’s nothing that could match what Montevideo would have felt had its team stumbled against the Bolivians and missed the World Cup. When my wife asked an Englishspeaking fan in our row if Uruguay had any other sports it was passionate about — something in the Olympics, perhaps — his reply was, “No, not really. Here, everything is futbol.” That will never be the case in the U.S., but sure as we know, soccer is catching on big-time in Cincinnati. So keep on pushing, FC Cincinnati, because based on what I just experienced, the joy of “the beautiful game” in our town may have many rungs still to climb. Contact Jack Brennan: letters@ citybeat.com

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A Bill in Sheep’s Clothing Debt settlement companies recruit a veteran Cincinnati legislator to shield them from Ohio’s caps on fees BY JA M ES M c N A I R

“T

oo many of these companies pick the last dollar out of consumers’ pockets — and far from leaving them better off, push them deeper into debt, even bankruptcy.” — former Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz, July 29, 2010

“With the average American carrying thousands of dollars in credit card debt, debt settlement services can seem very appealing. But far too many of these businesses fail to deliver on their promises and leave consumers in a worse financial situation.” — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, March 12, 2012

P H O T O : O hio H o u se

But the debt settlement industry, led by its American Fair Credit Council trade group, has been ramping up its lobbying effort to repeal the fee caps. It has not just a couple, but eight registered lobbyists working on its behalf in the Ohio Legislature. House Bill 182 and its twin Senate Bill 120 would give the industry what it wants. As long as debt-relief companies comply with federal law, they would be completely immunized against Ohio’s 2004 fee caps. What lawmakers determined that Ohioans need greater access to debtrelief hucksters that can charge whatever they want? In the House, that would be Bill Seitz, R-Green Township. He introduced the same bill as a senator in 2015, but his colleagues took a pass. The AFCC was thankful, though, and made Seitz its keynote speaker at a conference the following April — in New Orleans. The two-day affair took place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in the French Quarter. The AFCC picked up Seitz’s $929 travel and lodging tab. The 2017 edition of the bill is making most headway in the Senate, where another Green Township Republican, Lou Terhar, is the lone co-signer to bill sponsor John Eklund of northeast Ohio. The Senate Insurance and Financial

Institutions Committee has held three hearings, but hasn’t scheduled a vote. CityBeat asked Seitz and Terhar why they would eliminate the state’s debtrelief fee caps. Terhar never responded. Seitz, by email, took the position that the Ohio Debt Adjuster Act and, thus, the fee caps, don’t apply to debt settlement companies. That’s contrary to previous interpretations. The Ohio Legislative Service Commission, which analyzes all bills, reviewed a similar industry-friendly House bill pushed out in 2013 by Terhar and Dale Mallory, a Cincinnati Democrat no longer in office. It wrote that debt settlement services likely fall under the definition of “debt adjusting” and are subject to Ohio’s fee caps. Ohio case law also contradicts Seitz’s position. In a 2012 lawsuit against California debt settler Jeremy Nelson, Attorney General DeWine cited the Ohio Debt Adjuster Act when he accused Nelson of charging fees higher than the law allowed. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell ruled in the state’s favor in 2014. In her 11-page order, she found that Nelson met the definition of a “debt adjuster” and violated the statute.

Colorado restored fee caps

The absence of news coverage of the Ohio

bills belies the notoriety of the debt settlement industry. The U.S. Justice Department has cracked down on rogue players. The Consumer Federation of America likens the hiring of debt settlers to playing the lottery. The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says debt settlement can leave people deeper in debt than they were. The Center for Responsible Lending says fees can be high, even when all or most of the debt isn’t negotiated away. Pamela Maggied, a Columbus bankruptcy lawyer, testified against Senate Bill 120 on Oct. 3. “These harassed and desperate people are not always able to separate the unscrupulous and the greedy from the legitimate,” she said. “They frequently don’t think they have time to shop around and investigate and evaluate alternatives; they just grab the closest rope. “Lifting the state limits on fees that can be charged by debt adjusters may just make their plight worse,” Maggied said. “It could make Ohio be a better place for an unscrupulous debt adjustment company to ply its trade, and put more desperate Ohioans into a financial dead-end.” In 2011, Colorado did what Seitz and Terhar are asking the Ohio Legislature to do today: It did away with its fee caps, CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

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Slithering through the Ohio Legislature, not drawing a word of news coverage, is a bill that would plop down a Buckeye State welcome mat to an industry riddled with quick-buck artists. So-called “debt settlement” companies are among the many would-be saviors to people drowning in credit card debt. In this system, clients are typically told to stop making debt payments, but to build up sums of money in escrow that the companies can dangle to creditors in return for a lower payoff amount. Only after they succeed are they supposed to charge fees. But abuses soared in the late 2000s during the Great Recession. The U.S. General Accounting Office identified allegations involving “hundreds of thousands” of consumers nationwide complaining of “fraudulent, abusive or deceptive practices.” The FTC banned debt settlers from charging up-front fees in 2010. By 2013, more than half the states had curbed the fees of companies hired to help dissipate debt. Ohio was far ahead of the pack. In 2004, its Republican-controlled legislature and Republican Gov. Bob Taft enacted fee caps on companies that help people “effect the adjustment, compromise or discharge” of their debts. One limits “consultation fees or contributions” to $100 a year. Another caps debt-management or similar plan fees to 8.5 percent of a person’s monthly debt payments, or $30, whichever is greater.

State Rep. Bill Seitz

city desk

‘Enquirer’ Apologizes for Story After NAACP Admonishment By N I C K SWA R T S EL L

Should a dustup with the taxman over a few hundred dollars land a candidate on the front page of the daily paper? How about six African American candidates? The Cincinnati branch of the NAACP recently slammed The Cincinnati Enquirer for a story the daily ran Oct. 23 about tax woes of nine Democratic Cincinnati City Council candidates. Seven of those candidates are black and two are white. Six of the candidates, all black, were featured on the front page. “The Cincinnati Enquirer should be ashamed of their racially insensitive and divisive hit piece,” a statement from the civil rights group read. “The Cincinnati NAACP calls on all Cincinnatians to demand better. If the Enquirer can’t provide balanced information maybe others will begin to get real informative news from more reputable news sources.” Some candidates and incumbents owe significant amounts in taxes, according to the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts website. Councilman Wendell Young, for example, has almost $25,000 in tax liens open with the state of Ohio. His office says he is on a payment plan to resolve those issues. Other candidates highlighted in the article, however, once owed minor debts that have been paid off for years. One candidate, Erica Black-Johnson, owed less than $300 almost a decade ago. She paid that debt, records show. “The fact that the Cincinnati Enquirer took the time and ink to release the tax history of a $280.46 state lien that was paid off in 2009 shows the depths they will go in a veiled attempt to smear,” the statement reads.

By N I C K SWA R T S EL L

Another candidate in the article, Lesley Jones, owed $207 on a lien issued in 2010. She says she has paid that debt, which was the result of a correction on previous tax returns. Another candidate, Ozie Davis III, says the almost $3,000 he owed in 2015 has been paid off. Jones and Davis ended up on the Enquirer’s front page under the headline “Tax Troubles Dog Council Candidates,” while Brian Garry, a white candidate who has owed as much as $15,000 in tax liens between 2006 and 2016, didn’t. Garry says his taxes are paid off as well. The Enquirer today published a note on its front page apologizing for its presentation of the story. “I want to apologize profoundly for the front-page design in Tuesday’s newspaper,” Enquirer interim editor Michael Kilian wrote in a separate statement. “It was an approach hurtful to many. It was racially insensitive. This is not how we should have illustrated the news story. We have had numerous internal conversations about this to ensure we avoid such an approach in the future. Anyone wishing to have a dialogue on this is welcome to email me at mkilian@ enquirer.com. We will do better. Separately, we will reach out to the NAACP and others regarding their dismay and concerns.” Rob E. Richardson, a prominent labor leader with ties to the Democratic Party, is the local NAACP president. His son, Rob Richardson, Jr., ran as a Democrat in Cincinnati’s mayoral primary and is currently seeking the party’s nomination for Ohio state treasurer. The story came days after a poster calling himself Jack Todd began posting the

tax information on the Enquirer’s Greater Cincinnati Politics Facebook page. Todd’s posts caused big debate in the online community, with many users saying they were trolling. Others, however, supported them. The Enquirer says its story is unrelated and that it was working on the story before Todd’s posts. “I feel like all this is doing is pointing out just how easy it is to have a mistake made in filing taxes at some point in your life,” a user with the handle Dina Krause Schmid wrote on one of Todd’s posts. “It happened to my husband and I with a paid preparer when we lived overseas. Those who are willingly trying to avoid paying taxes will have more than one infraction from years ago.” A frequent commenter on the forum, Todd has in the past made edgy statements about race. A group of prominent black leaders, including Bishop Bobby Hilton, Councnilman Charlie Winburn, former Cincinnati mayors Mark Mallory and Dwight Tillery and NAACP’s Richardson, called a news conference for Oct. 30 to condemn the story and what the group says is a history of racial bias. “This ongoing institutional racism and biased reporting from our city’s flagship media outlet must stop,” Hilton said in a statement. “Story after story, year after year, the Enquirer promotes racial division, vilifies our black leaders and misrepresents our collective story. It’s wrong, and the time has come for us to speak up once again and demand change.”

2018 Opening Day Parade Won’t Be on Opening Day By N I C K SWA R T S EL L Let’s just extend the festivities and call it opening week. One of Cincinnati’s most venerable traditions, the opening day parade, won’t precede the Cincinnati Reds’ first baseball game next year.

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The parade, which is staged at Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine before proceeding through downtown to the riverfront, will take place April 2, four days after the Reds’ first game March 29.

That game is on a Thursday instead of a Monday, when the Reds normally open their season. Findlay Market is usually closed on Mondays, making it an ideal time to stage an insanely huge parade from the historic gathering spot. Next year’s first game is also just a few days before Easter, when a flock of deliveries and shoppers hoping to grab provisions for their Easter dinners swarm the market. Market vendors said they debated for weeks about how to handle the situation before voting to move the parade. The Reds opened their season on the Thursday before Easter in 2012, when the parade went on as scheduled from Findlay Market. But merchants at the market say the logistics are too challenging this year. The parade shuts down streets and the market itself the day of the event.

Mallory Vocal in Lead Up to Mayoral Election

“We had to consider the small independent businesses that make up Findlay Market and the loyal shoppers who rely on the market being open for their family gatherings,” parade committee chairman and market vendor Neil Luken said in a press release. “We have made our best effort to reconcile the 2018 schedule with the needs of shoppers, business owners and baseball lovers.” It’s the first time since 1995, the year the MLB player’s strike postponed the season until late April, that the parade will take place on a different day than the Reds’ first game. The Reds will play that day — a 4:20 p.m. home game against the Chicago Cubs — but they’ll play the Washington Nationals for their first game days prior due to the fact the MLB pushed back the season’s start to create more days off for teams. “No question that the Findlay Market parade is a huge part of what makes the start of the baseball season a celebration,” Reds COO Phil Castellini wrote in a statement. “We understand the dilemma faced by the merchants and respect the decision made by them and the Parade Committee to hold the parade on Monday. We will embrace the parade with the same enthusiasm we do every year and make sure the game on April 2 has some special festivities at the ballpark to round out the day.”

Former Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory continues to wade into this year’s election unabashed. He has endorsed Councilwoman Yvette Simpson in her mayoral bid and also threw his support behind first-time council candidate Derek Bauman. Oh yeah — he has also been trolling Simpson’s opponent, Mayor John Cranley, on Facebook and in real life. A favorite metaphor Mallory has repeated: Cranley is like a restaurant that brags about doing the dishes when diners want to know what the weekly special is. “Cranley says he brought/retained 7,500 jobs in the last four years,” he wrote in a Facebook post last week. “Kudos! My administration attracted/retained 24,000 in eight years during the biggest recession since the Great Depression. Good luck catching up!” Another post pointing out that Ohio law requires municipalities to balance their budgets every year — a response to Cranley’s claim that he has structurally balanced the budget when Mallory didn’t — got a polite response from the mayor himself. “ ‘Structurally’ balanced over past 4 years,” Cranley wrote in response to Mallory’s post. “But I loved working with you as your appointed budget chairman — we passed great budgets together…We don’t agree on everything, but I always respected and enjoyed working with you.” That’s a departure from the mayor’s usual tone on Mallory. He has criticized the former mayor’s administration often during his tenure on the streetcar and other issues. Outgoing Councilman Kevin Flynn also waded in on that debate, saying that Mallory’s budgets weren’t structurally balanced because they paid for some things with one-time funding sources like TIF funds. “There is balancing a budget and structurally balancing a budget,” Flynn, who was elected to council in 2013, wrote. “None of the budgets discussed were structurally balanced.” Mallory fired back. “We put together some budgets with shoe strings, bubble gum and popsicle sticks because we had to,” Mallory replied, nodding to the massive recession during his tenure. “And even though there was pressure to layoff police and firefighters, I never let that happen.” Mallory has said he doesn’t anticipate making many more endorsements in the upcoming election. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be active. You might keep an eye on Facebook for last-minute mayoral feuding before Nov. 7.

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which had been set at 18 percent of the total debt owed. After the repeal, fees rose to as high as 25 percent, the state observed. Now, under a new law, “debtmanagement” companies must comply with rigorous standards on registration, disclosures, business practices and fees. “The data from Colorado showed more than half the consumers who entered the program did not complete it — and terminated within two years,” said Kalitha Williams, of the liberal thinktank Policy Matters Ohio, before the Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee on Oct. 3. The most common ways of dealing with overwhelming credit card debt are hiring a consumer counseling firm, which are typically nonprofit, and filing bankruptcy. Consumer counselors’ fees are subject to the state fee caps. Lori Pollack, executive director of the Financial Counseling Association of America, says fees are routinely waived or reduced for distressed clients.

‘Poverty profiteers’

Randy Williams, president of A Debt Coach in Florence, Ky., is one of those credit counselors. He was stupefied by the measure to open the floodgates to debtrelief companies by eliminating fee caps. The biggest companies, he says, honor the rules and provide a legitimate service.

The rest he considers “fly-by-night.” Williams offers his take on the debt-settlement method in a video on his website. Removing the cap on fees, he says, would be like releasing a lion on a herd of sheep. “I find it interesting that people’s elected representatives are trying to change law to hurt the people they represent,” Williams says. “I guarantee you nobody ran for office on this platform. West Side people need to know what’s going on.” Dr. Troy Jackson, director of The AMOS Project, a nonprofit social justice group in Walnut hills, praises Seitz’s work on mass incarceration, but says his bill for the debt settlement industry is misguided. “At a time when our nation is calling for protections for consumers who are suffering from poverty profiteers, Rep. Seitz has the audacity to go to bat for those profiting off the poor,” Jackson says. “Far too many in Cincinnati, in Ohio and around the United States find themselves in a perpetual spiral of greater debt and higher interest, calling to mind the days of sharecropping and company stores,” he says. “When it comes to his defense of poverty profiteers, Rep. Seitz is on the wrong side of justice, the wrong side of his district and the wrong side of history.” Contact James Mcnair at jmcnair@citybeat.com, 513-914-2736 or @jmacnews.

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i l l u s t r at i o n : d a v i d w i l s o n

The Election Issue Fresh picks for mayor, city council and school board party, reining in Trump and bringing about a semblance of civility the GOP couldn’t muster back when the president was black. Still waiting on that to happen. At least our local elections offer some hope for positive change. As Cincinnatians take to the polls Nov. 7, we are lucky to be choosing from among a bevy of competent, forward-thinking local politicians. You’ll find our picks for the mayor’s office and city council on page 16, with state and local issues on page 19. During an important year for Cincinnati Public Schools, we’ve

also outlined all 13 candidates for four open school board seats on page 18. Like most readers, we’ll never agree with every position of any elected official. But Cincinnati has been changing for the better for years, and many of the people you’ll read about on the following pages have been part of its resurgence. There is much work to do, to be sure, which is why we’ve outlined how each candidate’s record, platform and personal beliefs align with the causes CityBeat has championed for the past 23 years. If a

candidate didn’t end up among our collection of endorsements, the short answer is that he or she needs to pick up the pace on making Cincinnati a more diverse, equitable and progressive city. (We stopped short of listing obvious reasons for discounting candidates, such as insulting gold star families, committing sexual assault, etc.) The leaders we choose this week will have a lot to work with, and they’ll shape the direction of Cincinnati in big ways over the next four years. Choose wisely. — Danny Cross, Editor in Chief

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Last year, during the several days it took to accept that America had elected a disgusting real estate tycoon turned reality TV star to the nation’s highest office, we at CityBeat did our best to summon a positive outlook. Perhaps Donald Trump would embarrass himself from the start with something as trivial as aggrandizing his inauguration crowd size and then play golf so much that casual observers would view him as the exaggerating hypocrite he’s always been. Eventually, even the most self-serving of Republicans would put country in front of

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Yvette Simpson for Mayor

In the aftermath of a second Ray Tensing mistrial this summer, Mayor John Cranley sat behind his desk at City Hall, telling reporters he was heading to Over-the-Rhine for dinner with his wife and that the city would remain open for business. His opponent, Yvette Simpson, was out in a rainstorm, talking to Cincinnatians who were angry or worried about what was coming next. Both were acts of political theater, no doubt, but they illustrate the choice between Cranley and Simpson. A city’s mayor should represent and be present for the people at large, no matter how uncomfortable that job becomes. That’s one of the reasons we’re endorsing Simpson for mayor. Simpson has a holistic, bottomup outlook on many of Cincinnati’s challenges that we find compelling. We like her Ready, Set, Go plan for putting more city investment into neighborhoods. She has put forward promising proposals on workforce development and plans for bringing more jobs to Queensgate — long a shamefully underutilized area — and Bond Hill. We’re intrigued by her ideas on public transit, though we’d like to see more detail from her. Beyond these policy points, we like Simpson because she has taken bold stances supporting those who don’t have friends in City Hall. Simpson took a stand for Avondale residents who will have to live with the effects of a half-billion-dollar development in their backyards and have had to struggle with decades of pervasive poverty and disinvestment. Her effort to aid neighborhood groups as they sought more from Children’s Hospital wasn’t politically wise or especially effective, and, from now on, we hope she works on these issues earlier in the process. But we hope she is there to advocate for those who might otherwise not be heard. With our current mayor, there’s a pattern of top-down decision-making and waffling on core values that concern us. Recall the time Cranley called for a temporary halt to Syrian refugees, then reversed himself and declared Cincinnati a sanctuary city. Or the tumultuous, poorly managed firing of Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell. (And his cringe-worthy email to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel in which he boasted about how he went about firing Blackwell after telling the public he wasn’t responsible for that firing.) There was the whole episode with Cranley’s proposed charter amendment to raise money for parks projects he would hand-pick, and then the fallout after the Park Board was caught funneling money to the campaign to pass it.

Yvette Simpson P H O T O : n i c k s w a r ts e l l

One of Cincinnati’s most treasured assets is its historic architecture. But Cranley appointed to the city’s Historic Conservation Board a developer, Shree Kulkarni, who has demolished historic buildings — and given lavishly to Cranley’s campaign. Questions have also arisen about deals involving public land in which developers have donated to Cranley’s campaign sought to buy on the cheap. The buyers in one deal uptown — Kulkarni and Dan Neyer — have together donated roughly $32,000 to Cranley’s campaign and an associated political action committee through various LLCs. Another potential deal in Oakley had similar apparent conflicts of interest. The mayor’s campaign has taken $300,000 from such LLCs, which allow big money donors to give the $1,100 limit multiple times over. Simpson’s campaign has received only $30,000 this way. Yes, Cranley’s forcefulness has netted some very good things for the city. He surely helped attract the glittering General Electric building at The Banks, the coming downtown Kroger location and more. And credit where credit is due — Cranley has made some efforts to fund affordable housing, though a few million dollars here and there won’t solve the region’s

40,000-unit deficit when it comes to attainable places to live for low- and moderateincome families. We wish Cranley had used his iron will to better the economic status of everyday Cincinnatians more often during the past four years, instead of driving for signature development deals that involve high-rises full of luxury housing or high-level corporate jobs. This is especially pertinent when considering that those big deals come with big property and earnings tax abatements. The upshot: Everyday taxpayers aren’t seeing most of the benefit that could have accrued to the city’s coffers from the flurry of development. And these shining victories aren’t all Cranley’s, either — the U.S. is seeing a generational shift back toward urban areas, something that started in Cincinnati before Cranley’s tenure as mayor. Some developers have even cited the streetcar — which Cranley campaigned against — as one reason for their big investments in the city. While these developments might shore up Cincinnati’s economy in some ways, it’s hard to see how they’ve moved the needle to help the 31 percent of the city who lived in poverty in 2016, or the 46 percent of children who did.

Yes, that’s down slightly from past years. But the state’s poverty rate as a whole is also dropping — it was at 15 percent last year. We can do better, and Cranley’s ideas haven’t gotten us there. His Hand Up Initiative, for example, took millions of dollars in federal block grants but resulted in just 500 low-wage jobs. Simpson, meanwhile, has fought tooth and nail for every cent available in the city’s human services fund, often against budgets drawn up by Cranley’s administration. She has also pushed some worthy programs like the Homeless to Work initiative. That approach includes help with housing, jobs and counseling and has had great results in other cities. We’d like to see it expanded. Simpson’s work with youth — her efforts on youth employment, the annual Youth Summit and getting into the weeds with the Youth Gap Analysis to find out exactly what low-income children in the city need — has also been consistently excellent. In the long run, we believe it will make a positive difference. Cranley touts his focus on the basics, including a balanced budget. But that is required under state law, and his own city manager said the city’s last budget came “within millimeters” of requiring layoffs. And despite adding new officers to the Cincinnati Police Department, crime has spiked at times during Cranley’s tenure and hasn’t declined significantly overall. As of Oct. 14, murders in the city were up 7 percent and assaults up 14 percent year-to-date over the three-year average, according to CPD reports. His fault? No. But it’s time to try something new. Simpson has proposed more holistic efforts to lowering the crime rate, including one that would seek to treat trauma from neighborhood violence in an attempt to prevent further violence. Again, that method has been tried in other cities with success. Simpson isn’t perfect. A few of her proposals have lacked the meat such vital issues deserve. She has also bent the truth about Cranley a few times during a rather acrimonious campaign, though the mayor has done the same. The bottom line is that Cincinnati must do better to harness the big resurgence happening in urban areas in ways that empower all of its citizens, including those with the least. The city’s greatness doesn’t hinge on its ability to defer to a few big corporations or developers to keep them around. Cincinnati’s greatness comes from all of its residents. Yvette Simpson understands this, and that’s why we support her bid for mayor.

Cincinnati City Council Endorsements Cincinnati’s city council race has a big crowd of contenders, including a number of promising new faces. This year, we’re endorsing a lively mix of incumbents and newcomers. They won’t all agree on everything — which is how it should be — but we think they represent perspectives that can move the city forward. We hope an influx of new energy will up council’s commitment to issues like transit and affordable housing and that the experience the incumbents offer will translate into meaningful legislation to those ends.

Newcomers Derek Bauman Over-the-Rhine resident Derek Bauman has never been shy about telling people what he thinks. The retired suburban police officer has proven a tireless activist for public transit in all forms, from his work pushing for the streetcar to his spot as vice chairman of commuter rail boosters All Aboard Ohio to his role as the Cincinnati NAACP’s transportation committee chairman. He has also shown himself to be an advocate for historic preservation during the knock-down, drag-out fight over the Dennison Hotel. During that debate and others, Bauman has shown a willingness to ask tough questions of the powers that be in City Hall. He clearly has the energy and grit to push for worthy causes that can benefit a wide swath of Cincinnatians, and his big picture vision — a more connected, walkable and dense Cincinnati — is one we whole-heartedly agree with. That vision has netted Bauman endorsements from the city’s Charter Committee and a number of labor groups.

Tamaya Dennard

Michelle Dillingham When it comes to walking the walk, no one has more credibility than Michelle Dillingham on the biggest issues facing the city’s most vulnerable citizens. The Kennedy Heights resident’s work with the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition, the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati and more have prepared her to serve as an advocate for the city’s lowincome residents and everyday Cincinnatians. We think the endorsed Democrat’s focus on affordable housing, education and economic opportunity, as well as her mix of policy smarts and real-world experience, will serve Cincinnati well. We look to her to help reign in the city’s use of tax abatements and bring about smarter, more equitable development policies.

Lesley Jones You would be hard pressed to find a person who has done more for inclusion in Cincinnati — in all its stripes — than Mount Airy’s Lesley Jones. She has led the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, building bridges and healing racial wounds in the city. She was instrumental in engaging people of faith in the effort to dismantle Cincinnati’s embarrassing and retrograde anti-gay Article 12 ordinance. She has done vital work on voter registration and job training for Cincinnati residents. The list goes on. Jones, an endorsed Democrat, is tireless when it comes to making sure everyone has a seat at the table. That’s why we want to see her get a seat on council.

Greg Landsman Mount Washington’s Greg Landsman has not held elected office before, but you might already know his name. He narrowly missed a spot on council in 2013, but rebounded and became one of the driving forces behind Preschool Promise, a wildly popular effort to pass a tax levy to extend free preschool to the district’s most underserved children. Sixty-two percent of voters said yes to that request in part because of Landsman’s energetic promotion. The city will need an advocate for youth on council to fill Yvette Simpson’s place, and we think Landsman, a former teacher and endorsed Democrat, is just the candidate for that role.

Incumbents David Mann Vice Mayor David Mann of Clifton has walked a fine line in his role as an elder statesman for council’s Democrats. Sometimes, he has been on Mayor John Cranley’s side in some of council’s more contentious battles. Other times he’s siding with the council Democrats most vocally opposed to the mayor. We haven’t always liked his individual stances — he greatly disappointed us with his punt on Indigenous Peoples’ Day over the past two years — but we appreciate his ability to navigate conflict. We’re also hard pressed to find a council member who has done more to find money for affordable housing. For those reasons, we think Mann is worth keeping.

Chris Seelbach Over-the-Rhine’s Chris Seelbach works hard — no one on council has more legislative wins than he does. And he fights hard — he has probably gotten into more debates during council meetings than any other council member. Seelbach gets things done, but he also isn’t afraid to stir the pot. We like

that. Seelbach has fearlessly championed LGBTQ rights issues, has been instrumental in preserving and expanding the city’s human services funding and generally has a voting record that favors everyday Cincinnatians. We would like to see him get elected one more time before term limits kick in.

P.G. Sittenfeld You’ve probably already seen P.G. Sittenfeld’s impressive resume — Ivy League education, fellowship at Google and so forth. It propelled him to two council terms and the most votes of anyone on council last election, even though he’s the youngest member of the deliberative body. But it’s what he has done while on council that has us hoping he gets one more term. Sittenfeld has pushed legislation incentivizing companies in Cincinnati to pay living wages and worked to hold large corporations like Duke Energy accountable to Cincinnati residents. He has also embraced technology, helping to lead data-centric efforts at City Hall. It’s clear Sittenfeld has his eye on bigger things (see: his bid last year for a U.S. Senate seat) but in the meantime, he’s doing good work here.

Wendell Young It’s true that Wendell Young is a reliable vote for policies we at CityBeat generally think benefit Cincinnatians, especially those with less money and clout. But there’s another reason we would like to see Young back in his council seat: No one does more out in the community. When Mount Auburn residents were worried about the code violations and citations they received, it was Young who was at their community council meeting with fellow council member Yvette Simpson to try and clear up confusion. When city inspectors found deplorable conditions at The Alms low-income apartments in Walnut Hills, Young was there to meet with residents. He has taken some fire for being absent for pivotal council meetings — a valid concern — and has had some health issues of late. But we’re hoping Young will be healthy and back in his council seat next term.

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Camp Washington’s Tamaya Dennard, endorsed by both the Democratic Party and the Charter Committee, is a rare combination of things we like to see in a council candidate. She has City Hall experience from working in P.G. Sittenfeld’s office and nonprofit experience working for social innovation firm Design Impact. Normally, those attributes alone wouldn’t be enough for an endorsement,

but Dennard also has an independent, unapologetically progressive streak that impresses us greatly. She knows how City Hall works, but also knows how to get outside of it — literally. We’re very interested in her proposal that would bring city council meetings to the neighborhoods on a rotating basis. We also like her push for more economic and racial equity in Cincinnati, including her support for measures like community benefit agreements, which could hold developers more accountable to the wishes of the neighborhoods around their projects while boosting affordable housing and economic inclusion.

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Cincinnati Public School Board

It is a pivotal election for the board that appoints Cincinnati Public Schools’ superintendent and treasurer and serves as the public face for the district. There are four open positions on the seven-member board. Among the 13 candidates, there’s a wealth of experience in education as well as enough thoughtfulness and varying perspectives to tackle some of the district’s biggest challenges. With three decades of public school experience at CPS and other local districts, Renee Hevia is endorsed by the Hamilton County Democratic Party, the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO. She receives high marks from the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition, a group that advocates for educational equity and supports public schools over charters. Among other priorities, Hevia wants to increase investment in the district’s Community Learning Centers. Retired educator Jacqueline Amos began teaching at CPS in 1973 and has served there and at other public school districts. Amos says she’s focused on making neighborhood schools every bit as attractive and high-performing as their more attentiongrabbing magnets. Amos gets high marks from the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition and she scored an endorsement from the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. First-time board candidate Kareem Moffett has some fresh ideas to address CPS’s struggles with community engagement. She has taught math at Cincinnati State for the past four years and has also taught math and science classes at CPS. Moffett got an endorsement from the Greater Cincinnati branch of Our Revolution. A former teacher and head of UpSpring, a nonprofit dedicated to removing hurdles to education faced by homeless children, Mike Moroski is endorsed by the Hamilton County Democratic Party. He has promised to work to improve the district’s lottery system for its in-demand magnet schools, help create and implement a new community engagement plan driven by goals and metrics and push the district to hire more teachers. Incumbent Melanie Bates has served on the Cincinnati Public School board since 2002 and is currently the board’s vice president. She has also held a number of other administrative roles, including the State Board of Education from 1995 to 2001. Bates strongly supports Vision 2020, an effort to get all public schools in Cincinnati up to the high performance levels its magnet schools enjoy. Coming from outside the education field, David Brenner has more than three decades of experience in management, including seven years at Kroger and 11 at Fidelity Investments. Brenner wants to change the way Preschool Promise and the district’s magnet school lottery are implemented to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

Current Cincinnati Public School Board President Ericka Copeland-Dansby, a non-profit administrator, has served on the board since 2014. She is endorsed by Democratic Party and Charter Committee. During her tenure on the board, the district saw increasing enrollment, the implementation of its lottery program for magnet school enrollment and the passage of Issue 44, the school tax levy increase that included Preschool Promise. Special education teacher Gary Favors has been with CPS for 21 years. If elected to the board, Favors says he’d push for more policies that closely monitor the progress of Preschool Promise to make sure it is being effectively implemented. He’d also like to hold board meetings in neighborhood schools and regular public forums on the state of CPS. Another candidate from the business world, Christine Fisher has worked in finance at Procter & Gamble for the last 12 years. She’d like to bring her financial and analytic chops to the Cincinnati Public School Board by carefully monitoring the implementation of the district’s magnet school lottery and Preschool Promise. Fisher is endorsed by the Charter Committee. Financial services professional Marcia Futel wants to improve accountability and communication between CPS and its stakeholders, especially when it comes to magnet school enrollment. Before her 12-year career in finance, Futel spent two decades in information technology. She is endorsed by the Charter Committee. A regional business director at Johnson & Johnson, Ryan Messer has also served two terms as the president of the Over-the-Rhine Community Council and other public service roles. He’s pledged to bring to improve CPS’ communication and transparency with the communities it serves. Messer won high marks from the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition as well as an endorsement from the Cincinnati Teacher’s Federation and the Hamilton County Democratic Party. Incumbent Daniel Minera works for City Gospel Mission as its director for Hispanic outreach and is a pastor for Amigo Ministries. He’s seeking his second term on the CPS board, where he’d like to improve the district’s transparency and communication and work to better serve its increasingly-diverse student population. Retired CPS teacher Kathy Young spent 35 years teaching special needs students in the district. She says she’s focused first and foremost on improving CPS’ neighborhood schools through the district’s Vision 2020 initiative. She’s won endorsements from the Friends of the Sentinels, Cincinnati’s black police union, as well as Equality Cincinnati PAC and the Cincinnati Women’s Political Caucus.

State and Local Issues Vote NO on Issue 1 At first glance, a “victims’ bill of rights” looks like a no-brainer: Who doesn’t support the rights of victims of crime? But a closer look at so-called Marsy’s Law reveals that the proposed constitutional amendment is mostly duplicative of already-existing protections in Ohio. What’s worse, legal professionals say it could make the justice system less fair. The amendment is named for Marsy Nicholas, a California woman killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Her killer, out on bail, ran into the victim’s family in a grocery store later. Her family lobbied for the constitutional amendment to protect other families from similar experiences, and it passed in California in 2008. But California and Ohio are different. In 1994, Ohio voters approved adding a set of victims’ rights provisions into the constitution and legislators have added to those rights in subsequent years. These measures attempt to ensure that victims have many of the rights enumerated by Issue 1. These items alone wouldn’t be enough to sink Issue 1 for us. And the effort has some high-profile supporters, including Hamilton County’s Joe Deters and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. But both the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys are opposed to the measure, saying it could create situations in which victims are able to suppress evidence, interrupt trials and create other impediments to a fair, speedy trial for the accused. Look, you don’t see these organizations agree on anything, really, but they agree that Issue 1 is a bad move. So do the Ohio State Bar Association and Ohio State Public Defender Tim Young. We agree with these prominent legal groups.

Vote YES on Issue 2

Vote YES on Issues 3, 4, 5 and 24 These issues are all slam-dunks. Issue 3 renews the Hamilton County levy that funds addiction services and mental health facilities. Issue 4 renews a county levy that funds health services through facilities like University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Issue 24 renews a district levy that funds Cincinnati Public Schools. None of these levy renewals will raise taxes, and they all go to worthy and vital programs. Issue 5 is a renewal and increase (about $11 extra in property taxes for a $100,000 home) for a county levy that funds care for senior citizens. The increase would fund three new programs — homelessness respite care, a visiting nurses program and a health university initiative. Hamilton County already lags behind many other counties when it comes to funding care for senior citizens, and without the renewal the county’s Elderly Services Program would have to close.

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First off, let’s get this out of the way: It’s hard to tell what Issue 2, which seeks to net state medical programs the same deals the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs gets on prescription drugs, will do to that end. But we’ve seen the tens of millions of dollars in ads against Issue 2 entirely paid for by the pharmaceutical industry — $58 million to be exact — and that makes us want to go out and vote for the damn thing right now. Further, we absolutely agree with Issue 2’s supporters that drugs must get cheaper, and that the soaring profits drug companies make are obscene. Voters must do something. The group Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue — funded entirely by pharmaceutical companies — reminds us that the state could be on the hook for millions of dollars in legal fights. To which we say: Let’s go to court, then.

Yes, there is nothing in this proposal’s language that makes it clear how Ohio officials will compel the VA to divulge the deals it currently gets on prescription drugs above and beyond the 24 percent discount it gets automatically. Even if it did, the state already gets similar deals, which are negotiated and renegotiated all the time behind the scenes. On the other hand, claims against Issue 2 run in the ads funded by pharmaceutical companies say that if drug companies lose revenue from state medical programs, prices for drugs purchased by Ohioans with private insurers will go up. They also say taxpayers will be on the hook for any legal costs caused by lawsuits against the law. That may be true. But you have to remember that the people doing the suing and price-raising in this instance are the same people funding those negative ads. These are weird threats — you’re going to have to pay for the lawsuits we file and the markups we impose to preserve our profit margins. We don’t like being threatened when it comes to policy decisions. The best time and place to take steps toward lower drug prices will be when Ohio and the nation as a whole select new legislators, since many of the ones we have seem uninterested in working on holding drug companies accountable. Let’s fire them if they don’t bring solutions to the table. In the meantime, it’s unclear that Issue 2 has any weight behind it. But it could bring about court cases in which the inner details of drug companies’ business are litigated in public. It could also inspire other states to pass similar legislation, putting more pressure on the federal government to divulge the deals the VA gets. That seems worth it, as does learning exactly why drug companies fear the legislation so badly.

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Albrecht Dürer: The Age of Reformation and Renaissance

November 17, 2017–February 11, 2018

Free admission Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), Germany, Knight, Death and the Devil, (detail), 1513, engraving, Bequest of Hebert Greer French, 1943.199

J O I N U S I N PAY I N G HOM AGE TO ALL T H I N GS ‘Z A!

# C I N C Y P I Z Z AW E E K C I N C I N N AT I P I Z Z AW E E K .C O M

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P R E S E N T E D B Y:

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Small Dishes * Salads * Burgers * Pizza

Across from Findlay Market

CONTENTS

1739 Elm St. Cincinnati , OH 45202

Great Toppings Make the Pizza PAG E 05

Official Pizza Week Locations & Menus PAG E 0 8

Pizza Week Commandments PAG E 11

The Past, Present and Future of Pizza PAG E 13

at MadTree Brewing

Serving our beer inspired, wood-fired specialties for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday at 3301 Madison Road. catchafirepizza.com

Private event catering available on site, or let us bring our FOOD TRUCK to YOU!

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For seven straight days, restaurants across the Tristate will bake up their own spin on the wheel — from signature pies to secret menu specialties and more — for only $8! It’s an amazing deal, no matter how you slice it!

Catch-a-Fire Cafe

Authentic Irish Pub Outdoor Dining Live Music NFL Sunday Ticket FREE Shuttle to Reds & Bengals Games EPL Soccer mollymalonesirishpub.com

112 east 4th street • covington, ky 41011

(859) 491-6659

WATCH ANY GAME OR HOST AN EVENT

This is Neapolitan Done Right Cincy Pizza Week: Enjoy the classic Margherita -or- the Buffalo Chicken & Bacon for just $8! Pair with a Braxton Pint, on special all week! Plus: Plus: -Wide -Wide Selection Selection of of Fine Fine Wines Wines -Signature -Signature Cocktails Cocktails and and Full Full Bar Bar -Coffees -Coffees and and Espresso Espresso Imported Imported from from Italia Italia -Authentic -Authentic and and Creative Creative Desserts Desserts

• Great Beer Selection • Large Food Menu • Private Party Room • 47 TVs • Great Outdoor Patio with City View

houseoforangesportsbarandgrill.com

Visit during pizza week to have the carbonarza for only $8

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Rich, s w ee t h o u se - made ‘s outheRn c Re am’ sau c e an d mozzaRell a base . t o p p e d wit h hand pulled R o ast e d c h ic ke n b Reas t, s m o ke d an d se aso n e d poR k belly, an d sl ic e d c h e RRy tomatoes

Read us on your phone when you’re at the bar by yourself.

23 E. 6th St., Downtown on Fountain SquarE

(513-639-3733

(513) 351-0064 Liberty Way | 7240 Outfitters Way West Chester, OH 45069 (513) 755-0678

the all-new

CItYBeat.COM

Oakley | 3208 Vandercar Way Cincinnati, OH 45209 (513) 351-0064

modpizza.com

Great Toppings Make the Pizza BY S T EPH EN N OVOT N I

Local pizzarias offer up a wide selection of tastes and styles of pie to please their patrons. But whether a pizza is exotic or simple, consistency and quality remain the No. 1 goal. Variety is the soul of great pizza.

too much of a hassle to stay as a regular menu item, Westrich says. Another unusual pie Westrich created and still serves is his Cincinnatus Pizza. “People love it,” he says. “That’s the one with Cincinnati chili on top. Cincinnati chili pizza. A cream cheese is the base, and then Cincinnati chili with no beans and sharp cheddar cheese on top. You can get it with red onions or without. It’s a dynamite pizza.” Even though he enjoys presenting a kaleidoscope of flavors, there’s a limit to how much he can load onto his crust. Westrich says his rule is no more than eight different toppings. “We’re a thin-crust pizza place,” Westrich says. “That’s about what I can get on it before it starts to break down.”

I D E A S COM E FROM E V E RY W H E R E

Josh Freid is chef and owner of Mac’s Pizza Pub in Landen, near Loveland and Mason. Freid draws on all of his life experiences to come up with interesting pizza ideas. Mac’s locations are offering a pizza topped with meatballs, pepperoni and banana peppers for this year’s Pizza Week. “Ideas come from everywhere,” he says. “Seasons. Commercials on TV and radio. Magazines. Past trials. What my kids like.” Freid says he has no bad stories about trying out new topping combinations. “I don’t order things I know I don’t like,” Freid says. “My thoughts are, if I’ll eat it on bread, in a burrito or in a pita, it’ll be good on a pizza crust. I did have a designer pizza once in L.A. that was finished with a shaved fennel salad topping. It was not good. But, I also despise fennel, so it’s all I remember about the pizza.”

TR AV E L IS G O O D FO R TH E S O U L , BE T TE R FO R TH E PIZ Z A

The eponymous Mac Ryan, who founded Mac’s, says he travels frequently and gets his ideas for pizza topping combinations from sampling the pizza in every city he visits. “I was just in Italy a couple of weeks ago and came back with a notebook full of ideas,” Ryan says. One notable pizza Mac’s presented recently was the Bee Sting Pizza, which was topped with locally sourced honey, spicy soppressata salami and jalapeño peppers. Besides being an entrepreneur, Ryan is very much a bon vivant and speaks matter-of-factly about how he experiments with one taste or another when away from home. Maintaining a lively palate is second nature to him. “I had never had (honey) on a pizza, either,” Ryan says. “But I was in New York, had it on a pizza and it was really good.” Mac’s also offers buffalo pizza — not buffalo sauce, but actual buffalo meat. He says he’s interested in ingredient quality over how unique it is, but often these go hand in hand. “We also use real Kalamata olives,” Ryan says. “It’s just a better flavor. It’s European and it’s the real deal.” The Mac’s Clifton location has a buffet on the weekends and will try to make almost any type of pizza that can be imagined. Ryan says one of his more unusual requests was for a Reuben-style pizza. “One guy, a student, for a while, he kept bringing in sauerkraut,” Ryan says. “I thought that was weird. He was having us make an imitation Reuben with some corn beef and some carraway seeds in the dough, and thousand island dressing. We can make anything.” ©

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Newport Pizza Co. owner Mike Westrich’s deep, gravelly voice is reminiscent of Johnny Cash. He’s been in the restaurant business for going on 40 years and you can tell he’s been around the block by the way he speaks. Westrich says he makes high-quality pizzas by rolling up his sleeves and preparing the food on site. Nothing frozen or canned. Whole foods are processed in the kitchen of the Monmouth Street restaurant. “Besides being the owner, I’m also the manager,” Westrich says. “We grate our own cheeses; we make our own sauce. I buy whole produce and actually cut it every day. I don’t buy frozen toppings for my pizzas. I buy raw meats and then cook them. So, I cook the sausage every day for the pizzas and then cut it up and use it that day. I cook the hamburger for the toppings and use it that day. Besides the pepperoni, all my meats are cooked. Being a restaurant owner, you just have to be there all the time to make sure you know what’s going on.” Westrich’s pizza for Pizza Week is called The Wiseguy. It’s Newport Pizza Co.’s gangster pizza, he says, covered in salami, capocollo, pepperoni, feta cheese, provolone, mozzarella and parmesan and finished off with fresh basil and Westrich’s homemade pizza sauce. “It’s a really good piece of pizza,” Westrich says. “People really like it. At Italianfest, it was our bestreceived pizza.” And while he enjoys experimenting with unusual toppings, Westrich says he wants to make his pizza accessible to everyone during Pizza Week. This is why he chose one of his most popular pies and didn’t go with something exceptionally exotic. Newport Pizza Co. once offered a goetta pizza that included fresh goetta, gravy and scrambled eggs. It was delicious but labor intensive to get right. It was

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k i c k- o ff pa r t y N OV E m b E r 1 5:30pm-8:30pm Br a xton Brewing company pizz a Sa mpLeS Mac’s Pizza Pub, Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, Pies & Pints, and more!

Beer SpeciaL S Live entertainment from INHAILER and Artists & Models

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O F F I C I A L L O C AT I O N S C A M P O ROSS O WO O D FI R E D P IZ ZE R I A Camporosso.com 2475 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell, KY

H O US E O F O R A N G E S P O R TS BA R & G R I L L HouseOfOrangeSportsBarandGrill.com 433 Johnson St., Covington, KY

12” Margherita: Long-proofed Neopolitan dough, crushed San Marzano tomatoes, housemade mozzarella, fresh basil, EVOO, finished with Parmegiano Reggiano

12” Bitterballen Flatbread: Housemade curry ketchup base covered with our delicious homemade Bitterballen mix, green peppers, and gouda cheese. Topped with panko sprinkle and whole-grain mustard drizzle

12” Buffalo Chicken & Bacon: Housemade buffalo sauce, Amish free-range chicken, applewood smoked bacon and mozzarella

C ATC H -A- FI R E P IZ Z A CatchAFirePizza.com MadTree Brewing, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley

BR A X TO N BR E W I N G COM PA N Y BraxtonBrewing.com 27 W. Seventh St., Covington, KY Buy a beer and have Mac’s Pizza Pub delivered to the Braxton Taproom!

B R I C K OV E N LOV E L A N D BrickOvenLoveland.com 390 Loveland Madeira Road, Loveland Delivery available 16” Large 1 Topping : Housemade dough and our own red sauce prepared with fresh tomatoes, topped with our three cheese blend and your choice of one topping 12” Teriyaki Chicken Pizza: Housemade dough with teriyaki sauce, mild cheeses, chicken, onion, fresh mushroom, red bell pepper and shredded carrot topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds. (Vegetarian option: sub pineapple for chicken.)

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B R I X X WO O D FI R E D P IZ Z A BrixxPizza.com 9640 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason 10” Cincy BBQ Pizza: Thin crust artisan-style pizza with housemade BBQ Sauce, smoked gouda cheese, smoked pork, topped with candied bacon and garlic dill pickles 10” The Veggie: Thin crust artisan-style pizza with a basil pesto base, fresh Roma tomatoes, housemade mozzarella, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions and broccolini

B ROW N D O G C A FE BrownDogCafe.com 1000 Summit Place (Summit Park), BlueAsh 12” The Flyin’ Hawaiian: House-smoked pork belly with pineapple, red onion, cheddar, and Texas-style BBQ sauce

10” Buffalo Soldier: (Buffalo Chicken) signature buffalo sauce, spiced chicken, red onion, four cheeses + gorgonzola topped with celery and ranch 10” Natural Mystic: (Margherita) traditional red sauce, basil, roasted tomato, fresh mozzarella, sea salt

D E L I C I O C OA L FI R E D P IZ Z A DelicioCoalFiredPizza.com 3701 Montgomery Road, Norwood 13” Cheddar Mac: Zesty creme fraiche base, cavatappi pasta, sharp cheddar, formaggio-fusione cheese

D I C K M A N N’S K E N T U C K Y S P O R T S C A FE DickmannsCafe.com 479 Orphanage Road, Fort Wright, KY 12” BarnFire: A shout out to our firefighters who came up with this recipe. The BarnFire is a thin-crust pizza topped with marinara sauce, ground beef, sausage, pepperoni, Franks Red Hot sauce, crushed red pepper and mozzarella cheese

GOODFELLAS PIZZERIA GoodfellasPizzeria.com 1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine 603 Main St., Covington, KY 12” Frankie Pickles: Spicy pepperoni paired with zesty dill pickle chips finished with a buffalo ranch drizzle. Pickles and pizza is not traditional, but it packs a punch in flavor and will leave your taste buds watering for that next bite 12” Zucchini Gagootz: A “crazy in the head” Italian or a delightful yummy hanging squash? Thinly sliced zucchini layers rest on a bed of 100% whole milk mozzarella cheese, sprinkled with airy, crisp panko breadcrumbs, fresh parsley and finished with a dusting of parmesan. This pie is GAGOOTZ!

H A RV ES T P IZ ZE R I A OT R HarvestPizzeria.com 1739 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine 9” Any House Specialty Pizza

I N C L I N E PU B L I C H O US E InclinePublicHouse.com 2601 W. Eighth St., Price Hill 10”-12” BBQ Chicken Pizza: BBQ sauce, red onions, grilled chicken, pepper jack cheese, house blend cheese, fresh cilantro (pizza available every day except Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

M AC K E NZI E R I V E R P IZ Z A , G R I L L & PU B MackenzieRiverPizza.com 2905 Dixie Highway, Crestview Hills, KY 12” Fresh Tomato Basil: Classic tomato sauce, fresh basil, tomatoes, garlic and mozzarella

M AC’S P IZ Z A PU B MacsPizzaPub.com 205 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights 6309 Wooster Pke., Mariemont 2920 W. US-22 & 3, Mainville 604 Main St., Covington, KY Delivery to Braxton Brewing Co. 12” The Don: Fresh handmade pizza dough topped with red sauce, housemade meatballs, pepperoni, banana peppers, fresh basil, and a hand-shredded mozzerella and provolone cheese blend finished off with a brush of garlic butter on the crust

M O D P IZ Z A ModPizza.com 7240 Outfitters Way, West Chester 3208 Vandercar Way, Oakley 5225 Cornerstone North Blvd., Centerville 11” Mad Dog: Artisan thin-style crust, housemade red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, mild Italian sausage, and ground beef 11” Dillon James: Artisan thin-style crust, housemade red sauce, mozzarella, garlic, fresh chopped basil, tomatoes, and asiago cheese Top either pizza off with a fountain drink or hand spun milkshake. The choice is yours!

• $ 8 P I ZZAS • ci n ci n n at ipi z z Aw e e k . c o m • M o l ly M a lo n e’s I r i s h Pu b & R es tau r a n t MollyMalonesIrishPub.com 112 E. Fourth St. Covington, KY 6111 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge

P iz ze l ii Pizzelii.com 7639 Wooster Pike, Mariemont

T wo C i t i es P iz z a C o. TwoCitiesPizza.com 202 West Main St., Mason, OH

10” Spiral Margherita: Red sauce, housemade basil infused mozzarella finished with garlic-infused olive oil

12” any Pizza: Our hand-tossed dough and sauce are made fresh daily and baked in a brick oven for the perfect thin-crust pizza

P iz ze r i a Lo c a l e PizzeriaLocale.com 7800 Montgomery Road, Kenwood 9540 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason

12” The Cabbie-Thin Crust: Gouda, bacon, red onion, potato, scallions, chipotle aioli drizzle, and garlic crema drizzle on our housemade New York-style crust

N e w p o r t P iz z a C o mpa n y NewportPizzaCompany.com 601 Monmouth St., Newport, KY 12” Wiseguy: For the gangster in all of us! A combination of salami, capicola, and pepperoni with feta cheese, fresh basil and a three-cheese blend atop a New York-style dough 12” Pepperoni: A traditional pepperoni New York-style pizza

Pa lomi n o Palomino.com 505 Vine St., Downtown 12” Fresh Roma & Mozzarella: Housemade San Marzano marinara, fresh basil, shaved garlic 12” Incredible Pepperoni: Aged mozzarella, housemade San Marzano marinara 12” Housemade Hot Italian: Sausage & Mushroom, Aged mozzarella, red chili flakes, housemade San Marzano marinara

P i e o lo gy P iz ze r i a Pieology.com 128 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights 7578 Beechmont Ave., Anderson 11” Custom Pizza; Unlimited Toppings + Drink, Pie Rise Thick Crust or our Original Thin Crust. Unlimited toppings of your choice. Pizza deal includes an Alta Palla organic craft soda

10” Any one-topping pizza

P iz z a C u ci n ova PizzaCucinova.com 8060 Montgomery Road, Kenwood 10” Craft Your Own: Craft your own pizza with unlimited toppings and a chocolate chunk cookie

P os t O ffic e Pl ac e (P O P) PostOfficePlace.com 3923 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum 10” BBQ Chicken: A crispy, thin-crust pizza topped with Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, blackened chicken, and red onion

R a pi d Fi r e d P iz z a RapidFiredPizza.com 12096 Montgomery Road, Loveland 720 Eastgate South Drive, Eastgate 3583 Dixie Highway, Middletown 7555 Mall Road Florence, KY Any Craft or Build-Your-Own: Choose any craft or buildyour-own pizza with your choice of toppings on thin, pan or No-Doh crust, plus a medium fountain drink. Glutenfree crust is available for an additional charge

S t ro n g’s B r ic k Ov e n Piz ze r i a StrongsBrickOvenPizza.com 336 Monmouth St., Newport, KY 1 East High St., Lawrenceburg, IN 1990 N. Bend Road, Hebron, KY 10” Pizza Alla Vodka: Strong’s famous vodka cream sauce, mozzarella, seasoned fresh mushrooms, spinach and prosciutto

Ta f t’s B r e w p o u r i um at Ta f t’s B r e w i n g C o. TaftsBeer.com 4831 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village 10” BBQ Pork Pie: New Haven-style Apizza topped with cherrywood amber pulled pork, housemade BBQ sauce, smoked white cheddar, fresh jalapeños, red onion, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and cilantro (Open Wednesday-Sunday)

Tag l i o EatTaglio.com 3531 Columbia Parkway, Columbia Tusculum 14” Bianco: Extra virgin olive oil, garlic, parsley, fresh ricotta, aged mozzarella

Z a b lo n g Zablong.com 23 E. Sixth St., Downtown 12” Oblong CarbonarZA: Rich, sweet housemade ‘Southern Cream’ sauce and Mozzarella base. Topped with hand pulled roasted chicken breast, smoked and seasoned pork belly, and sliced cherry tomatoes

S n a ppy To m ato P iz z a (22 lo c at i o n s) SnappyTomato.com Alexandria, 8248 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria, KY Bright, 2005 Jamison Drive, Lawrenceburg, IN Burlington, 6111A Burgundy Hill Drive, Burlington, KY Cold Spring, 4140 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY Dent, 7074 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati Downtown, 330 Walnut St., Cincinnati Dry Ridge, 118 School Road, Dry Ridge, KY Eastgate, 960 Kennedy’s Landing, Cincinnati Erlanger, 643 Stevenson Road, Erlanger, KY Fairfax, 6016 Wooster Pike, Cincinnat Fairfield Township, 3917 Tylersville Road, Hamilton Falmouth, 1300 Ridgeway Ave., Falmouth, KY Florence, 8450 U.S. 42, Florence, KY Ft. Thomas, 1177 S Ft. Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, KY Ft. Wright, 485 Orphanage Road, Ft. Wright, KY Maineville, 6647 Ohio 48, Maineville New Richmond, 1041 Old US 52, New Richmond Richwood, 311 Richwood Road, Walton, KY Rising Sun, 624 N High St., Rising Sun, IN Ross, 3755 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton Walton, 3 N Main St., Walton, KY Warsaw, 310 E Main St., Warsaw, KY 12” (Medium) Loaded Potato Pizza: The Loaded Potato Pizza begins with a base of creamy ranch dressing, topped with thick pieces of potato, crisp bacon, and topped with extra cheese. (Excludes gluten-free crust)

= Bra x ton Special

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P i es & P i n t s PiesandPints.net 56 W. Freedom Way, The Banks, Downtown 5901 E. Galbraith Road, Kenwood 7621 Gibson St., Liberty Township

11” Pepperoni & Budino: Personal pepperoni pizza and budino pudding dessert

9” Pepperoni-Deep Dish: Chicago pepperoni, fresh chunky tomato sauce, and whole milk mozzarella on our housemade Chicago-style crust

e Pizza l y t S n e v a H & New n e v O d e r i F l Coa eryWeek Only! w e r B A n I g n Liviecialty Pie for Pizza ork Sp $8 BBQ P

4831 Spring Grove Ave Cincinnati, OH 45232

www.taftsbeer.com

390 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 brickovenloveland.com (513) 677-1234

NEAPOLITAN PIZZA IS THE BETTER PIZZA

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Enjoy it the true Italian way, with a knife & fork. Coming Soon to Downtown Cincinnati 595 Race Street | 84.51 Building | 513-273-4333 MidiCiCincinnati

mymidici.com

Pizza Week COMMANDMENTS

Cincinnati Pizza Week creates such strong, lusty — even insane — feelings that we decided it needed its own manifesto. Please read on…

TH E Y W I LL RU N O UT We expect that these restaurants will be extremely busy. So, if a place runs out toward the end of a shift, please handle it like an adult: Go back the next day, earlier, order your pizza, and thank them for working so hard to do this for you. Please be nice to our restaurants.

10” Pizza Alla Vodka Strong’s famous vodka cream sauce, mozzarella, seasoned fresh mushrooms, spinach & prosciutto.

TH ERE W I LL BE WA ITS People have been talking about Cincinnati Pizza Week 2017 for weeks. Don’t be surprised if restaurants have waits. In fact, be surprised if they don’t.

336 Monmouth St. Newport, KY 1990 N Bend Rd. Hebron, KY 1 E. High St. Lawrenceburg, IN

YO U W I LL TI P LI K E A PRO $8 brings out the cheap in all of us, but, really, you’re getting a $12-plus pizza — many restaurants go way overboard with ingredients, trying to outdo each other — so please tip generously. The people who are serving you are working harder during Pizza Week than during many other times of the year. A kind word will also be welcome — these people are our friends and neighbors.

YO U RE A LLY SH O U LD BUY A D RI N K A N D/O R OTH ER FO O DS Purchase of sides and extras is not a requirement. But we think it says a lot to those working to bring you an extraordinary experience. Grab some breadsticks, a Braxton brew and say thanks!

Visit during Pizza Week to have the 10" Spiral Margherita for only $8 Red sauce, house-made basil infused mozzarella finished with garlic infused olive oil 7639 Wooster Pike, Mariemont 513-407-3007

D I N E- I N These pizzas are amazing deals — many restaurants are making them dine-in only, unless the restaurant is carryout-only. So please check with the individual restaurant if you plan on carrying out.

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C H EC K T W IT TER/FAC EBO O K/I NSTAGR A M Restaurants are encouraged to post their waits and remaining pizza for the day. Go to cincinnatipizzaweek.com, and don’t forget to tag your Instagram photos and tweets with #CincyPizzaWeek.

Clifton USqUare: 128 W McMillan Street 45219 (513) 221-1300

anderSon towne Center: 7578 Beechmont Ave 45255 (513) 231-1919

w w w . p i e o l o g y. c o m

Specialty and traditional pizzas, salads, hoagies, appetizers and a large selection of beer and wine! 601 MonMouth St. newport, KY 41071 859-261-4900 newportpizzacoMpanY.coM

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Stay. Visit during Pizza Week & have our BBQ Chicken Pizza for only $8

Sit.

Savor.

BBQ sauce, red onions, grilled chicken, pepper jack cheese, house blend cheese, fresh cilantro (pizza available every day except Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

2601 W 8th Street • Cincinnati, OH 45204 (513) 251-3000

4335 Glendale-Milford Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 794-1610 • browndogcafe.com

The Past, Present and Future of Pizza BY S T EPH EN N OVOT N I

It is one of the most customizable, transportable, addictive and popular foods. You can get it by phone, app, on foot or drive-through. You can find high-end versions at fine dining establishments and glacial miasmas of sauce and bread caked in mountains of cheese in your grocer’s freezer.

You can get it on a train, on a plane and eat it on the sly in the bus and the car. You can reheat it or nuke it or gulp it down cold from the fridge on a late-night binge. You can make it yourself even if your cooking skills are limited to burning toast. It’s self-empowering, sharable, mobile and unique. And, in this way, pizza is the food that gave birth to the 21st century. Before there was video on demand or day-of-purchase deliveries by Amazon Prime, there was Dominos. Before the instant gratification of Snapchat, there was microwavable pizza. And before there was a cellphone in your hand, distracting you on urban streets, there was a slice of pizza. Life on the go, the way you want it.

W H E R E D I D PIZ Z A COM E FROM A N Y WAY?

PIZ Z A I N TH E U. S .

Pizza was a pretty niche item in the United States during the Victorian era. It was popular among Italian immigrant communities in New York and Chicago but had little reach beyond those neighborhoods. During the Gangs of New York era, it was sold on the street by the slice and hadn’t yet earned its place as a respectable meal. The first American Pizzeria opened in 1905 — Lombardi’s in NYC. They sold it by the slice for 5 cents and are still operating today using the same recipe. Later, there was a divergence and a competition of styles — New York crust versus Chicago crust. Chicago’s deep-dish pizzas had heft and were derived from Sicilian-style pizzas. Even today, it’s almost a bread bowl filled with toppings. New York retained pizza’s

Neapolitan roots. It was another cultural battleground between the First and Second Cities. Pizzeria Uno (originally named Uno’s because it was going to offer Mexican food) opened in Chicago in 1943, serving deep dish, Chicago-style pizza. The nation’s pizza craze was really starting to ramp up during this time. The end of World War II brought soldiers home, along with their newfound taste for Italian food.

TH I RT Y M I N UTES O R LESS

The real modernization of pizza started with the innovation of pizza delivery. Pizzerias delivered before 1961 but typically only when they first started, as a promotional gimmick. But Dominos, located just outside of Detroit, took what was promotional and made it their mainline — they even invented the “30 minutes or less” delivery concept. And then pizza delivery became our country’s mainline, too. Pizza became part of the service economy and the convenience factor of the modern world. Dream of it, dial it up (or now punch it in on an app) and it arrives at your door, hot and ready. It’s the Caligulan/pax Romana/me-centered paradigm that is the forerunner of everything from Amazon to Uber. Snap your fingers and — bam! There it is. Today, pizza is nearly as American as the cheeseburger — an essential element of a movie night in with the kids or watching a ballgame with buds, or a night out at myriad styles of restaurants, from fast-casual to gourmet and beyond. The same tenets that made pizza a hit in the U.S. in the early 20th century — convenience, simplicity, deliciousness — have positioned the fare to be just as integral to the next century of U.S. life and dining. ©

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The first thing to resemble pizza is known to have been created in ancient times. The ancient Greeks made a dish called “plakous” — baked bread topped with herbs, onion and garlic. This was called “focaccia” by Italians. The traditional round shape of the pizza pie supposedly comes from the soldiers of Persian king Darius I, who, in the sixth century, baked bread topped with cheese on shields to make field rations. The idea was and is pretty simple: bread as a plate. Remember that tomatoes are a New World food, and because they are related to the deadly nightshade family of plants, they were first thought to be poisonous. Via the Columbian Exchange, the tomato found its way to Italy. The first thing Americans would recognize as a modern pizza originated in 18th-century Naples. It was a peasant food that combined cheese and tomatoes on a thin, round crust — Neapolitan pizza.

Street vendors sold this pizza to workers, who could pick it up and eat it on the go. Cheap, portable and no plate required. The Sicilians merged the tomato with the focaccia bread and birthed the thick-crust Sicilian pizza. Theirs was square or rectangular, but still portable. Pizzas were hustled entirely by street vendors until 1830, when Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba opened in Naples — the world’s first pizza restaurant. They served (and still serve) two types of pizzas: marinara and margherita. Marinara pizza is literally “the mariner’s” pizza because it was traditionally prepared by the families of fishermen. It was topped with tomato, oregano, garlic and olive oil. The margherita omits the oregano and garlic but includes mozzarella cheese and basil. It was supposedly a favored dish of the 19th-century Princess Margherita of Savoy and bears her name.

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t o n s ’ t I , s u o i c i l e d t s u j ! o i c i l e it’s D

University Station at Xavier 3701 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45207 513.429.5855

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STUFF TO DO

Primo Promo Nights The Cincinnati Cyclones are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their first Kelly Cup Championship on Saturday, welcoming back select players and giving the first 3,000 fans a commemorative poster. While this is exciting for both fans and players alike, there are several other possibly more exciting promotions happening this Cyclones season, including multiple dollar beer nights (Whoop! Whoop!). • Nov. 22: Kick off the biggest bar night of the year — Thanksgiving Eve — at dollar beer night. The Cyclones will be playing the Toledo Walleyes while you drink multiple cans of beer for $1 each. Other dollar beer nights take place Nov. 29; Dec. 7, 13 and 27; Jan. 6; Feb. 8 and 28; and March 22, 30 and 31. • Dec. 5: Do you turn your nose up at Hudepohl and Miller Light but are also interested in kind-of-cheap beer? It’s $5 craft draft night with affordable pours from MadTree and Christian Moerlein. Taa-daa! • Dec. 9: In a galaxy very near by, inside the U.S. Bank Arena, it’s Star Wars night. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is slated for release Dec. 15. Nerd out with the team — they’ll be in special jerseys and you can take photos with multiple people dressed like Star Wars characters. • Dec. 15: Winter hat giveaway time! • Dec. 31: Ring in the New Year early with some family-friendly on-ice fireworks. This special NYE game against the Brampton Beasts kicks off at 6:05 p.m. so kids can make it home in time for bed. Fireworks happen after the game, not during, although that would be very interesting. • Jan. 6: Throwback night. Get in, get drunk and eat a hot dog for less than $20! Tickets are $10 and hot dogs, pizza, soda and beer are only $1 each. • Jan. 27: Is this the most important promotion of the year? Yes. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film The Mighty Ducks. Coach Gordon Bombay, aka noted Cincinnati fan Emilio Estevez, better make an appearance. Quack, quack, quack, quack… • March 3: Next most important promotion: Wiener Dog Races. Dachshunds compete during intermission to see which of the short-legged little freaks is the fastest on the ice. Bring your own dog — wiener or not — to the game with special Pucks & Pups tickets. Fittingly, it’s also $1 hotdog night.

WEdnesday 01

ONSTAGE: Know Theatre presents two spooky productions: 13 Dead Dreams of “Eugene” and A Zombie Odyssey. See feature on page 27.

THURSDAY 02

MUSIC: Turbo-charged Philly quartet Beach Slang play the Southgate House Revival. See interview on page 34. COMEDY: Chad Daniels One worry many parents have these days is whether or not their kids fit in at school. Comedian Chad Daniels has no such worries. “I let them handle it,” he says. “I remember back in high school thinking,

FRIDAY 03

FILM: The Cincinnati-filmed The Killing of a Sacred Deer opens Friday. See feature on page 24. EVENT: Fall Bourbon Dinner Cruise It’s finally starting to feel like

P H O T O : jesse fo x

fall in Cincinnati, and what better way to warm yourself up than by sipping some bourbon on the Ohio River? Hop aboard BB Riverboat’s Fall Bourbon Dinner Cruise and raise a glass to cooler temperatures. Sample a selection of bourbon and indulge in a dinner buffet featuring bourbon-glazed salmon, carved porkloin with apple chutney, au gratin potatoes, green beans and more — all topped off with bread pudding and cheesecake. Although alcohol takes center stage on the cruise, all ages are welcome to set sail for fall fun and (non-alcoholic) flavors. 6:30 p.m. boarding; 7:30-10 p.m. sailing Friday. $60 adults; $40 children; $27 adult sightseeing ticket; $18 children sightseeing ticket. BB Riverboats, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, bbriverboats.com. — EMILY BEGLEY

Ongoing Shows MUSIC: Blues & Boogie Piano Summit Fats Domino’s recent passing has turned the spotlight back on the foundational Rock & Roll icon’s musical and historical importance, which was largely fueled by the early, dominant influence of Boogie Woogie Blues piano players like Pinetop Smith and Meade Lux Lewis. Domino’s blockbuster success is the biggest example of how crucial Boogie Woogie was to the development of Rock & Roll. Veteran Cincinnati musician Ricky Nye has become one of the more renowned modern pianists helping to keep the lively Boogie Woogie style alive and well. Along with international touring, one of the cornerstones of his mission has been the Blues & Boogie Piano Summit, a crown-jewel musical event that attracts a large number of local and out-of-town

VISUAL ART: A Loaded Conversation Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Clifton (through Nov. 3) ONSTAGE: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Mount Adams (through Nov. 11)

music fans with its annual roster of international performers. For this year’s twonight 18th-anniversary event, the summit presents four Boogie Woogie duos: Nye and regular partner Bekah Williams will be joined by San Francisco’s Wendy DeWitt and Kirk Harwood and the Netherlands’ Martijn Schok and Geta Holtrop, as well as Liz Pennock and Dr. Blues, Ohio natives now based in Saint Petersburg, Fla. 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $20-$30 per night. Southgate House Revival,

111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com, rickynye.com. — MIKE BREEN EVENT: Monsters in the Sky Planetarium Show Burnet Woods’ cozy Trailside Nature Center opens its Wolff Planetarium for an evening of legends and stargazing. Adults (and children ages 5 and older) can learn about constellations and the stories behind them, including monstrous tales of gorgons, the wrath of ancient gods and the release of the Kraken. The Wolff Planetarium is one of Cincinnati Parks’ best-kept secrets: The oldest planetarium west of the Allegheny Mountains, it seats 20 under a 12-foot dome. RSVP required. 7-8 p.m. Friday. $5. Wolff Planetarium, Trailside Nature Center, 3400 Brookline Ave., Clifton, cincinnatiparks.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO CONTINUES ON PAGE 22

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ONSTAGE: The Earth is Flat at CCM tells the story of young adults’ search for identity. See feature on page 26.

‘Oh, my God, am I popular enough? Am I hanging out with the right people?’ Then I remember being 30 and realizing none of that matters even a little bit.” And while you must watch out for things like bullying, Daniels feels a little struggle is probably a good thing. He likens it to professional sports. “You don’t send someone who has never played football right into the NFL.” Showtimes Thursday-Sunday. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com. — P.F. WILSON

It’s hockey season!

FROM PAGE 21

ART: The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection at the Freedom Center Over four centuries’ worth of African American culture is documented in The Kinsey Collection, a compilation of artifacts, artwork and historical documents that tell the story of African American life since 1600, showcasing art from the likes of Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence and Richard Mayhew, with archival materials from historical figures Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X. The collection has been displayed in over 24 cities and viewed by over 6 million visitors and was compiled over the course of four decades by Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, who will be speaking at the opening reception on Friday. Opening reception 6 p.m. Friday; on view through March 4. $5 with general admission. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, freedomcenter. org. — ERIN COUCH

SATURDAY 04

ONSTAGE: Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical Her nephew George is the big Clooney name in today’s entertainment world, but long before he stepped up, his aunt Rosie was topping the music charts with a career that lasted nearly five decades. She grew up in Northern Kentucky, so it’s fitting that this biographical show by Janet Vogt and Mark Friedman is being presented at the Carnegie. It was a big hit for the Cincinnati Playhouse back in 2014, and with local theater veterans Dee Anne Bryll and Ed Cohen staging it, you can be sure it’s going to be an entertaining evening. Through Nov. 19. $30; $27 members; $23 students. The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington, thecarnegie.com. — RICK PENDER EVENT: Mount Washington Pumpkin Chuck Mount Washington is celebrating more than a decade of launching past-theirprime Halloween pumpkins into Stanbery Park. Using three unique trebuchets,

jack-o-lanterns will sail into the ravine while attendees enjoy live music, food and beer. Noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Free admission; $3-$5 pumpkin launch fee. Stanbery Park, 2221 Oxford Ave., Mount Washington, mwcc. org. — MAIJA ZUMMO LIT: Niehoff Lecture XXX Zadie Smith, multi-awardwinning author of Swing Time, NW, White Teeth and On Beauty, comes to Cincinnati Saturday as the Niehoff XXX Lecturer. Hosted by the Mercantile Library, the lecture series is a black-tie dinner and fundraiser that celebrates distinguished writers and benefits library operations. NPR describes Smith’s latest work Swing Time, about two mixed-race best friends who meet in 1982 in a tap-dancing class in London, as breaking “the idea that we can ever come to a concrete identity, or reach the safe plains of selfknowledge.” 7 p.m. Saturday. $175 Mercantile members; $200 non-members. Westin Hotel, 21 E. Fifth St., Downtown, new.mercantilelibrary. com. — EMILY BEGLEY

SATURDAY 04

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CLassical music: The Storm that Built Music Hall It was a dark and stormy season for the May Festival Chorus in 1875 when endless rainfall pounding on the tin roof of their performance hall, Saengerhalle, overpowered their singing voices. In response, Music Hall was born (and was intentionally constructed without a pesky tin roof). The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the May Festival celebrate the inception of Music Hall by performing monumental pieces from that historical season, including Bach’s Baroque Magnificat, Brahms’ Romantic Triumphlied and the world premiere of Julia Adolphe’s Equinox, rendered in a cappella. 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $14-$107. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiarts.org. — ERIN COUCH

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PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

MONDAY 06

EVENT: Cincinnati Pizza Week Cincinnati Pizza Week has returned, offering seven days of $8 pizzas at eateries across the Tristate. Participating restaurants from Brick Oven Loveland and Catch-a-Fire Pizza to Goodfellas, Taft’s Brewpourium and a ton more will bake up their own specialty pies to celebrate, from signature staples to secret-menu items. Grab a Cincinnati Pizza Week passport to guide you as you hop from shop to shop snagging discount eat-in pizzas, and turn stamped passports in for a chance to win a pizza lover’s prize package. Through Nov. 12. Find more details, passports and a list of participating restaurants at cincinnatipizzaweek.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO

Downtown, jlcincinnati.org. — EMILY BEGLEY ART: Tiger Lily Press OneDay Print Sale Once a year, this nonprofit fine-art printmaking studio offers a sale of work by regional printmakers. On display will be framed and unframed original etchings, screen prints, woodblocks, collagraphs, monoprints, letterpress, lithographs and linocuts. All are limited-edition and handmade and include prints, cards, artists’ books, journals, fine art papers, fabric items and more. Besides the participating Tiger Lily artists, there will be work by members of other regional studios, clubs and co-ops.

Artists will be present to discuss their work. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 3711 Clifton Ave., tigerlilypress. org. — STEVEN ROSEN

SUNDAY 05

Music: Regina Spektor plays a rare solo show at the Taft Theatre. See Sound Advice on page 36.

TUESDAY 07

Music: Shilpa Ray brings visceral Rock & Roll to Junker’s Tavern. See Sound Advice on page 36. music: Milk Carton Kids play new-millennium Folk at the Taft Theatre. See Sound Advice on page 37.

YOUR WEEKEND TO DO LIST: Local.citybeat.com

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EVENT: Tour of Kitchens Peek inside the lives of top Cincy chefs by taking an up-close look at where the mouthwatering magic happens. The seventh-annual Tour of Kitchens, hosted by the Junior League of Cincinnati, examines the kitchens of homes, vendors and services, exploring unique entertaining spaces in Over-the-Rhine and downtown — all with additional small bites and sweet treats provided by chefs and caterers. The event also includes chefs’ demonstrations, beverage tastings and local decorators showcasing home-design ideas. 10 a.m. registration; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. tour Saturday. $35 general admission. Begins at Junior League of Cincinnati, 35000 Columbia Parkway,

ARTS & CULTURE

Nothing Is Sacred Cincinnati-filmed Killing of a Sacred Deer skewers an American family and all it holds dear BY T T S T ER N - EN ZI

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teven Murphy (Colin Farrell) has the perfect life. He’s a successful heart surgeon married to the beautifully icy Anna (Nicole Kidman). They have two children — daughter Kim (Raffey Cassidy), an emerging teenager, and the younger Bob (Sunny Suljic) — who are the new molds of their parents, just waiting to be broken. The Murphys, in their successful family-values lifestyle, are such throwbacks to the 1950s that audiences of The Killing of a Sacred Deer, the new release from Greek director/co-screenwriter Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster), might want to check early on whether maybe the film’s setting is that bygone time. But it isn’t. The real treat for the attentive regional filmgoer will be to spot the Cincinnatispecific markers letting them know that not only does the city serve as the location, it is allowed to portray a contemporary version of itself and not some time-displaced version of New York. But beneath the familiar sites, Lanthimos certainly toys with the city we know and love, twisting it into an alternative version of itself, one as radical as the dystopian-nightmare locale of The Lobster. That film dared to create an adult parallel to young-adult fantasy films like The Hunger Games, in which the only way to remain safely in The City was to take on a romantic partner in 45 days. Otherwise, you get transformed into an animal and released into The Woods. Fear of that renders the less critical into a docile society. A similar trick gets employed in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and it has the same chilling effect. One might view this film, too, as a vision of a dystopian future. But there are none of the visual tropes associated with post-apocalyptic cinematic fantasies. They are replaced with the monotony of the everyday — sick patients, school choirs and the listlessness of married sex (the attempts to spice up the latter fail to rise above the sense of being highly choreographed and woodenly executed). There is an artful, surreal remove on display in the interactions of nearly everyone in this off-center dreamscape. It feels like a blank canvas populated by mannequins with their heads screwed on at less than full tightness. Characters struggle to keep from flopping about, lest the least bit of stress will result in everyone losing control.

Colin Farrell (left) and Barry Keoghan P H O T O : j i m a ( ats u shi nish j i m a ) co u rtesy of A 2 4

This, then, is the environment in which Sacred Deer’s story — a screenplay by Lanthimos and writing partner Efthymis Filippou — plays out. Steven has an uneasy friendship with Martin (Barry Keoghan), a mysterious teenager whose father died as a result of Steven’s surgery. Martin is using this relationship to inveigle his way into the doctor’s life. It is difficult to ascertain how long this has been going on, but there is a creeping escalation of gamesmanship on the part of Martin. He wants something from Steven — something more than the things Steven is offering, such as an occasional lunch at a neighborhood diner or a chance for a tour around the hospital. Steven, perhaps blinded by a general sense of guilt, fails to recognize Martin’s true intentions. In an unthinkable moment, Martin visits Steven’s home and meets the family. Lanthimos plays the scene like a menacing comedy of manners, with Martin as the “other woman” or a vampire being invited across the threshold. It is a weird and cunning twist. There is also a strange scene in which Steven visits Martin and his mother (Alicia Silverstone) in their home, and finds himself alone with her as she admires his beautiful hands and implores him to stay. It’s unsettling because the

Cincinnati Locations Featured in Killing of a Sacred Deer • Steven’s house is in an East Side neighborhood in the hills above California Woods Nature Preserve. • Martin’s home, which he derides as being in a run-down neighborhood, is in Hyde Park near Wasson Road. • Steven and Martin meet at Northside’s Blue Jay restaurant. They also are at the Covington riverfront. • The hospital scenes were shot at the new Joint & Spine Center building at Christ Hospital. • Anna has an uncomfortable meeting with one of Steven’s colleagues at downtown’s Red Fox Grill.

mother-and-son relationship seems so surreal. For that matter, so does the mother, herself. It’s a hard scene to forget. And then the world becomes maddeningly real, in what would otherwise be a crazy moment. Steven’s son Bob falls prey to a mysterious physical ailment, losing control of his body and becoming unable to walk. His parents, these two accomplished and controlling people, can do nothing to cure him, much as they try.

Martin issues a chilling curse. Steven must kill one family member to atone for the death of Martin’s father. Otherwise his whole family will fall ill and die. Our dread about what might happen next builds. Martin’s curse on the American family features a doozy of a psychological dilemma. In our current reality, the notion of owning and atoning for one’s own sins seems to be at the forefront of everyone’s attention. Every word in every statement and social media utterance gets parsed beyond recognition for contrition. But what if words of apology are not enough? We all worry about that. Lanthimos and Filippou are ahead of the curve in thinking what might come next. They take us back to the God of the Old Testament. One can imagine hearing his tough questions: “How much do you love me?” “How guilty do you feel about the bad things you’ve done, the harm you’ve caused to others?” “How much are you prepared to suffer?” And, as we know, suffering through the consequences of a bad decision or mistake is never limited to just one individual. The Killing of a Sacred Deer shows us that the nature of suffering and the stain of guilt looms over us all. (Opens Friday.) (R) Grade: B+

Big picture

Animated Film Stars Vincent van Gogh BY S T E V EN R O SEN

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There’s actually a very practical reason live-action film with actors so footage could why the first feature to be animated from be used as reference material. hand-produced oil paintings is titled LovStorywise, Loving Vincent uses a familing Vincent. Opening Friday at the Esquire iar Citizen Kane narrative structure that Theatre, it’s about Vincent van Gogh and should appeal to those interested in the is told mostly by using painted recreations tragic aspects of his life. A year after van of his Post-Impressionist masterpieces. As Gogh’s death, young Armand Roulin — son the film’s narrative points out, he closed a of a postman — travels to the French town letter to his beloved brother Theo with the where van Gogh died, Auvers-sur-Oise, signature, “Your loving Vincent.” with the painter’s last letter to his beloved But, looking at the artist’s legacy, there’s brother, Theo. It’s been undeliverable a broader reason why that’s such a good because Theo died shortly after Vincent. choice for a title. We love van Gogh. The But in that town, Armand becomes interCincinnati Art Museum’s 2016-17 ticketed ested in the mysterious circumstances exhibition Into the Undergrowth, inspired by the museum’s restoration of its “Undergrowth with Two Figures” painting by the artist, proved to be its highest-attended show (per day) since 2000. Over the course of 73 days, it attracted 784 people per day — a total of 76,615. Ironically, the show was chosen by its European curator Esther Bell, who had departed two years before it opened. By comparison, only nine special exhibitions at the museum in the past 10 years had even 400 visitors per day. Spurred by Into A painting-inspired image of the artist from Loving Vincent the Undergrowth and also P H O T O : co u r t e s y o f g oo d d e e d e n t e r ta i n m e n t the very popular, free exhibition Tiffany Glass: Painting with Color and Light, the museum of Van Gogh’s death, so the film takes on just had its largest attendance — 253,935 — something of a whodunit nature. in the past six fiscal years (Sept. 1-Aug. 31). This storyline gives an ample opportuIt perhaps could have been predicted that nity to bring figures well-known from van an animated movie about van Gogh, one Gogh’s paintings to animated life — postthat tried to find an innovative way to use man Joseph Roulin and son Armand, Dr. his art to tell his story, would be successful. Gachet and daughter Marguerite, Adeline After all, the interest in his art and life keeps Ravoux and the wild-haired “Young Man getting stronger. The rich colors, prowith Cornflower,” to name several. It also nounced brushstrokes, enhanced details weaves glimpses of other famous van and sometimes-skewed perspectives of his Gogh paintings such as “Starry Night” and paintings appeal both visually and psycho“Wheatfield with Crows” into its visions of logically for what they may say about the the landscape. artist. That the Dutch-born, France-based So what is the overall result? I found the artist suffered — possibly selling just one artwork very convincing and the animapainting during his lifetime, severing a part tion often evocative, for the most part. The of his ear in a moment of rage, using a gun story can be very poignant, especially to kill himself at age 37 in 1890 — makes when dealing with van Gogh’s depression him all the more compelling today. and despair. Nonetheless, sometimes the But Loving Vincent is a risky project noneplot mechanics seems contrived. This is theless, because of the arduous and expenclever and thoughtful, but I prefer looking sive work involved in bringing it to fruition. at the artist’s paintings and imagining According to its U.S. distributor, Good Deed what the lives of his subjects were like. Entertainment, Polish director Dorota But it’s a film I plan to see more than Kobiela first thought of the idea (as a short) once, especially in a theater. And nominain 2008. Before the feature-length movie tions are open for what artist Kobiela and was finished by Kobiela and her husband/ Welchman may want to tackle next. I’d co-director/co-writer Hugh Welchman, it like to see Jackson Pollock, but I doubt this required 125 painting animators and 65,000 approach would work very well with an frames of individual oil paintings on canvas abstract painter. Or would it? — each second of the film requires 12 frames. Contact Steven Rosen: srosen@ Some 120 of van Gogh’s artworks are refercitybeat.com enced in Loving Vincent. It was first shot as a

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ONSTAGE

Todd Almond’s New Play Debuts at CCM BY R I C K PEN D ER

Todd Almond has a history with Cincinnati. The current chapter culminates this weekend with a production of The Earth Is Flat, a play he wrote with acting students at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music in mind. Almond is a 1999 CCM grad. After graduating, he had memorable engagements playing the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati in 2001 and 2003. He was back at ETC in 2005 for the oneman show, I Am My Own Wife. And he will be back again at ETC on Wednesday, for a special 9:45 p.m. concert with Michelle Shocked to raise money for the theater’s recent expansion. Tickets are $20. Almond has worked in New York City for many years now, expanding his multifaceted career as a writer, musician and performer. But he never lost touch with Cincinnati. In 2016, his play Girlfriend, featuring songs by Matthew Sweet, had a well-received run at Know Theatre. CCM drama professor Brant Russell invited him to participate in a new playwriting seminar that would put an experienced writer together with aspiring writers. “He asked if I’d be the seminar’s first playwright in 2016, and I thought that sounded great,” Almond says. “The only requirement was that it had to be a play that CCM students could act in.” Almond thought back to his own days at UC. “I got excited about specific memories and feelings I have. This play is not autobiographical, but I plucked little things from my experience that interested me and worked them into the story. I tried to trust my emotional memories of being a student and what that felt like. It’s autobiographical emotionally but not factually.” The play focuses on the awkwardness that permeates the college experience when young adults are searching for identity without knowing where they’re headed. He calls the story of purplehaired Ethan’s first tentative steps toward self-knowledge an “unexpected comedy.” Ethan tells Derek, his new roommate, that his bold hair color was his sister’s idea. “That’s kind of Ethan’s way through college,” Almond says. “He gets talked into different personalities while he’s trying to figure out his own.” A tragedy back home pulls him out of college shortly after he arrives and we learn more about his background. Returning to campus he meets a young filmmaker whose conspiracy theories are played out in YouTube videos. In particular, she’s a “Flat Earther,” convinced that we’ve all been lied to our entire lives. That’s the source of the play’s title. Ethan and Derek talk about what it would mean if the earth really were flat. Almond says these conversations focus on “what it would mean and how it would change our entire view of ourselves and each other and why we’re here. It gave me something to talk about as a metaphor for what the

truth means and how it’s not a thing you can actually grasp.” As a working theater professional in New York City, Almond has focused more on his writing and music arranging for a decade or so. But he is thinking seriously about some performing opportunities. He’s been writing plays with director Lear deBessonet at the Public Theater, musical adaptations of classic stories includ-

1999 CCM grad Todd Almond P H O T O : at i sha pau l so n

ing Shakespeare’s The Tempest and The Winter’s Tale and Homer’s The Odyssey for presentation in the outdoor Delacorte Theatre in New York’s Central Park. But he stays in touch with CCM and often meets theater students whenever he’s back in Cincinnati or they’re in New York. He’s especially pleased to be working again with Richard Hess, the head of CCM’s acting program who directed Almond in a central role in a 1998-99 production of Angels in America during his student days. Almond mentions a recent email exchange with Hess about whether The Earth Is Flat might benefit from an intermission. “I thought how great that I’m having this artistic discussion with a director that I admire so much and who happens to be the head of the drama department.” Being connected with Cincinnati continues to be an important aspect of Almond’s artistic life. The Earth Is Flat, presented by CCM Acting at the University of Cincinnati, will be performed Thursday through Saturday. Admission is free; reservations required. More info: ccm.uc.edu.

ONSTAGE

Halloween-Season Creepiness at Know BY R I C K PEN D ER

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If you like to be spooked, Know Theatre A parallel yearning for understanding is is ready to serve up several servings of at the core of Coates’ A Zombie Odyssey, a extended Halloween-season creepiness, one-actor monologue. A man named Brian courtesy of veteran Fringe Festival perdies in a car accident, but strange forces formers. 13 Dead Dreams of “Eugene” was resurrect his body. Some of his consciouscreated and is performed by Paul Strickland ness remains, and he vacillates between and Erika Kate MacDonald, a pair of popubeing horrified by what he has become lar Cincy Fringe and Know regulars. Ricky and driven toward flesh-eating behavior. (I Coates was part of the Fringe in 2016 and his saw this episode following Dead Dreams contribution for this seasonal double-bill is on opening night; these performances three Zombie tales: A Zombie Odyssey, Ides are presented in rotating repertory with of Undead March and Daughter of the Dead. Coates’ other two episodes. Each perforFringe artists tend to be willing to push mance is separately ticketed. themselves and their materials farther than traditional theater, and that’s certainly true of these pieces on Know’s MainStage. Dead Dreams is presented in almost total darkness, using a few lamps and a sheet to provide spooky shadow effects, plus small handheld flashlights for further ghostly images. MacDonald and Strickland narrate the piece as if it’s been a personal experience — and it was, at least partially. They happened on Sabina, Ohio, an hour from Cincinnati, a Ghostly shadows permeate the production of Dead Dreams. few years back and learned about the embalmed body PHOTO: PROVIDED of an unidentified man, found dead in a rural ditch in 1929. For 35 years his body was on display Coates is a vividly physical performer, in a funeral home outbuilding, theoretically and his show is enhanced with wincein hopes someone might identify him. But inducing visuals and sound effects. His he became a roadside attraction for curiosportrait of zombie behavior involves eating ity seekers. Eventually local residents took discarded diseased tissue and worse, pity and buried him in 1964. replete with dripping gore. (In fact, Know Dubbed “Eugene” — although his real is issuing a warning to ticket-buyers about name and history were never located — his the “splash zone” in the front row, includstory continues to be told and Strickland ing laundry instructions for the removal of and MacDonald use it as a springboard for stage blood. their show, never drawing a firm boundary I know that the TV series The Walking between the facts and their inventive overDead — and all things zombie — are eaten lay. They explain that residents of Sabina up (forgive me) by enthusiastic fans, and shared dreams that might have been I expect they will relish the stories Coates motivated by the ghost’s restless search has created. (Daughter of the Dead features for identity. A dozen dreams, told with Sadie Bowman, another Fringe veteran flickering lights, fevered narration and and a former Know Theatre employee.) A several original songs (“I Lost My Mind,” Zombie Odyssey was over-the-top for me, “Sometimes Everything’s Supposed to Feel but Coates is an accomplished actor and Strange,” “The Jacket” and “Water Under he delivers a no-holds-barred 60 minutes the Bridge”) are threaded together in the of terrifying action. If such tales are your 60-minute performance. The 13th dream thing, you’ll want to see all three episodes. has special meaning. I happen to prefer the subtle creepiness Some dreams are impressionistic pieces of Dead Dreams, telling stories that worm without words; in one, we travel into a pint their way into your subconscious and linof beer and a crystal ball. Others relate fanger long after the lights come up. One way tastic tales, including the story of a whistleor another, Know’s seasonal-entertainmaker who carves skulls into whistling orbs ment offering has some tantalizing tricks and another about a mother and father who and treats in store. cry tears of 80-proof alcohol. Dreams are 13 Dead Dreams of “Eugene” and A linked by rangy, recorded narration by a Zombie Odyssey are in rotating repertory man claiming the ghost of “Eugene” posat Know Theatre through Saturday. Tickets/ sessed him and guided his hands to type his more info: knowtheatre.org story. His repeated query: “Who am I?”

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Thank You for Your Acting, Miles Teller BY T T S T ER N - EN ZI

Miles Teller, star of Thank You For Your Service, the new film directed by American Sniper screenwriter Jason Hall, finds himself in the midst of an inspired moment. He’s co-starring in a pair of real-life narratives about ordinary men in extraordinary situations, harsh and potentially deadly environments where they have everything to lose. As a featured performer in the firefighter-drama Only the Brave, Teller not only braved the heat of forest fires but also captured the desperate reality of a man struggling to overcome addiction while dealing with unplanned parental responsibilities. And now, as Sgt. Adam Schumann, he heads home from Iraq with none of the physical scars many veterans of these new conflicts bear. But in no way is he unscathed by the harrowing experience. Schumann suffers from the crushing weight of responsibility. On patrol, he sat shotgun, ever vigilant for roadside bombs. His men extoled his genius by remarking that Schumann didn’t “see” bombs, he sensed them and, apparently, was rarely wrong. But Hall shows us, in heartwrenching fragments, one of the times that Schumann’s abilities failed him and his crew. On a detour based on a bad feeling, they find themselves trapped in a rooftop ambush. Without warning, a soldier named Michael Emory (Scott Haze) takes a round to the head and Schumann, while attempting to carry him down the stairs to their vehicle, chokes on the man’s blood and drops him on his head. It matters little to Schumann that his efforts saved Emory’s life; he cannot shake his guilt over dropping an already wounded brother in that scenario. And then there’s the fact that he has to face the wife (Amy Schumer) of a fallen soldier who took Schumann’s place on a fateful patrol. Everyone tells him that if he had been out that day, things would have turned out differently, but Schumann sees only the reality that someone died in his place. Casualties of war litter the frames of Thank You For Your Service. The most telling aspect of the film is the realization that the battlefield is everywhere. Iraq is obviously one front, a decidedly hostile territory. But in the fleeting instances when we see Schumann back home, sitting shotgun as his wife Saskia (Haley Bennett) drives him around or in their bedroom having sex, it is obvious that his sense of potential threats encompasses any and every environment. What’s a person to do, when there is no longer a safe retreat from the horrors of war? Schumann wants to do the right thing at all times, but what happens when no one knows right from wrong? Yet Schumann is a hero, because when he realizes that something is off in the way he and close comrades relate to civilian life, he seeks aid. We watch him

valiantly embrace veteran support services, even when the bureaucratic process throws roadblocks in his path. We see that Schumann is a survivor and he’s doing the best he can to care for his men, particularly Solo (Beulah Koale), a SamoanAmerican soldier who longs to return to the front but can’t due to brain trauma. Solo loses focus and direction, which leads this proud man into a corner that

Miles Teller in Thank You For Your Service P H O T O : F r a n c ois d u h a me l / d re a m w or k s pi c t u res

he’s ill-equipped to escape on his own. And just as he did in the field, Schumann steps in to offer support. Teller has been an actor to watch since his starring role in 2014’s Whiplash as a jazz student at a prestigious conservatory who wants to be a great drummer. He finds himself pushed to his limits by his instructor (J. K. Simmons). Teller in this film deserves real thanks for daring to inhabit a role occurring in such a haunted space without resorting to the typical twitchy tics or vacant stares we’ve come to expect from actors playing veterans. His quiet demeanor is a façade, but a far sturdier one than the heroic poses we normally get in war films or comic-book adaptations. Both here and in Only the Brave, Teller finds the strength of his characters by slowing things down and staring straight into the dangerous void. And each film works for similar reasons, because they appreciate that the thing to fear is not just the fury of the blaze or the heat of battle, but also the aftermath, when we start to question the meaning of life and survival. That’s when real heroes lead the way. (Now playing.) (R) Grade: B+

Mapping the Early Days of Criminal Psychology BY JAC K ER N

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The idea of exploring the mind of a killer Tench become not only the go-to crew to is nothing new in TV or fi lm. And in many examine incarcerated serial killers, but ways, Mindhunter (now on Netflix) does to investigate any new gruesome murder. employ familiar tropes found in detective Law & Order fans: These guys might be dramas as it follows two FBI agents workthe fi rst Special Victims Unit. ing to understand what makes psychosexWhile the hardened Tench has enough ual murderers tick. But what sets the series going on in the field and in his home apart — aside from phenomenal acting life to keep him from dwelling on their and David Fincher’s direction — is that it’s disturbing work, the squeaky-clean Ford set in the 1970s, when psychological profi lis deeply affected by his close interacing was just a cutting-edge theory and the tions with these criminals. Unsurpristerm “serial killer” didn’t even exist in the ingly, the more he begins to understand recognizable sense that it does today. how they think, the more their sinister Young FBI agent Holden Ford (Jonanature infi ltrates his own thoughts. Ford than Groff ) and his veteran partner Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) teach criminology to local police across the country. It’s a classic pairing — new to the agency, forwardthinking Ford is quick to develop innovative teaching methods often snuffed out by his superiors, while the experienced Tench has an excellent track record and an established relationship with their boss. It’s not necessarily good cop-bad cop, though they do play that role to some success when interviewing killers and suspects. Jonathan Groff (left) and Happy Anderson in Mindhunter Ford has great ideas but a P H O T O : P AT R I C K H A R B R O N / N E T F L I X one-track mind. He needs help finessing them into something a little more palatable for their obviously has a keen sense for asking the boss to OK, which is where Tench shines. right questions to get killers to shed light Th is is how they get approval to into their messed-up reasoning, but he interview convicted killers to try to gain becomes obsessive. insight into some of the most unexplainCompelling storytelling gives Mindable crimes. One by one, we meet creepy, hunter binge-watching potential, but the cringe-inducing criminals — all based on cinematic quality begs for viewers to savor actual ’70s sadists, like the genius giant the details. Executive producer Fincher Ed Kemper. The casting and costuming is directs several episodes, his camera style spot-on when you see the real-life killers pulling us in as it moves with each characthey play (in fact, nearly all Mindhunter ter. The subject matter is familiar territory characters are fictionalized versions of for him, having directed Se7en and Zodiac, real figures). both of which are about serial killers. While Ford and Tench have different One questionable element threaded approaches, they share a common goal. into each episode is a mysterious character There’s a great dynamic between the two presented with very little context. These characters — and actors — as they push scenes feature an ADT serviceman (which for their work to be legitimized. They’re is how he’s credited — he’s still unnamed) asked to prove their theories without who certainly seems sinister, though having permission to do what it takes to we never see his potential crimes. We’re gather this information. The red tape of teased into thinking he’ll be the culprit bureaucracy often forces them to take two each time Ford and Tench are faced with steps back after each step forward. But a new murder, but the connection is never little by little, the duo gain more credibilmade and left dangling through the season ity within the FBI and get closer to each finale. Certainly this will be explored more killer they interview. in Season 2, for which Mindhunter has As their tiny Behavioral Science Unit already been renewed. of two grows to include both an inexperiMindhunter absolutely has long-term enced agent hired to transcribe interpotential with its ample source mateviews and help around their tiny baserial. After all, in Ed Kemper’s eerie words, ment office and an esteemed psychology “There’s a lot more like me.” professor, so do the stakes of the project. Contact Jac Kern: @jackern In their study of heinous crimes, Ford and

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FOOD & DRINK

Creative Classics The Royal OTR offers refreshing new lunch and late-night eats on Main Street BY L E Y L A S H O KO O H E

Farro grain bowl P H O T O : ha i ley boll i n g e r

The Royal OTR 1200 Main St., Over-

the-Rhine; facebook. his Taste 513 catering soup — one of the best com/royalotr. Hours: service. soups I’ve ever tasted. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday“One of the things we’ve The braised cabbage Saturday; 10 p.m.-3 a.m. always focused on is, one, and pork are the main Friday and Saturday. making things a little bit ingredients, but the different, but two, focusroasted carrots and ing on what the neighborroasted celery root were hood is missing,” Moore my personal MVPs in says. “We’ve all lived in OTR for collecthis dish. There was a sweet nuttiness to tively, I think, probably over 30 years, and the celery root that was an ace complewe always ask ourselves, ‘What would ment to the flavorful, full-bodied broth. we want to see in the neighborhood?’ We Even without a hangover, the Deep built this place because we wanted sandSouth chili dog is a big winner. Starwiches on Main Street, a place you could ring Avril-Bleh’s andouille sausage and just get a quick bite.” Kasak’s housemade pork étouffée on a Speaking of sandwiches, the aforesolid bun topped with garlic jack cheese mentioned eggplant caponata is a very and onions, this chili dog delivers the interesting dish. Kasak’s Uncle Gino perfect amount of zing and heat. helped inspire it, with the Old World They recently started offering a trunbrine-y flavors of capers and black olives cated late-night menu until 3 a.m. on playing nicely with Kasak’s addition of weekends. crunchy cashews and queso fresco, piled “We’re going to focus on having three or atop cilantro-flaxseed bread from Sixteen four different types of grilled cheese and Bricks. The verde pork is not something then three different types of chili dogs,” I’d normally order, but Kasak’s in-house Moore says. 24-hour salt-cured pork and melange The restaurant itself takes after the miniof pickled onions and carrots made it a malist vein of independent corner shops worthwhile step outside of my comfort prevalent these days. Sleek white walls, a zone. (Kasak and his crew go through 30 hand-lettered chalk menu behind the quarts of pickles a week.) granite counter, gleaming wood accents. The pork used for this sandwich and the That’s not to say it doesn’t have its own Peruvian ham melt can also be found in personality. When I stopped by to chow the excellent braised cabbage and pork down — I mean, “do research” — I was

pleasantly surprised by the lack of pretension at The Royal. They offer LaCroix by the can, but their coffee is just good old coffee. They make a health-conscious grain bowl, but can also help sop up the remnants of an all-night bender with a chili dog and chips. Some dining spots know their personalities so well they don’t really make it an option for newcomers to get to know them. The team behind The Royal knows who they are and they’re comfortable in their identity, but they welcome others to get to know them, too. “We really try to make environments available to everybody, while simultaneously understanding what the feel and vibe of each part is going to be,” Moore says. “Knowing your identity in each particular space — we need to accept and embrace that and try to create an environment that everybody can enjoy.” That’s the kind of egalitarian attitude that makes the restaurant’s name a fun, tongue-in-cheek misnomer. The Royal OTR is a great equalizer in restaurant land — enjoyable, delicious, attractive and affordable, all in one.

Find more restaurant NEWS AND reviews at CityBeat.com/ food-drink

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ou don’t have to be a member of any monarchy to feast like a king or queen at The Royal OTR. The new “sandwiches + greens” spot in Over-theRhine opened in mid-September, offering a (refreshing) new dining option for lunchgoers and sandwich-seekers alike amidst the myriad pizza slices that pepper Main Street. Sandwiches are indeed the bulk of the menu, with inventive takes on classics like chicken adobo grilled cheese and beef dip. But if you came for the sandwich, you’ll probably stay for the farro grain bowl. The concept is self-explanatory enough: Start with a bowl of farro — a chewy cooked grain in the quinoa family of healthy stuff with which to replace rice — then layer on tons of customizable topping options like pickled carrots, sunflower seeds and roasted sweet potato. Add chicken or chopped pork for $3, top with a dressing, et voilà. The simplicity of the process belies the refreshing taste. Seriously, the pickled vegetables alone are enough to make one weep with joy. In a world full of customizable bowls, chiefly found in chains — from the ubiquitous Chipotle to new contenders like Piada Italian Street Food — The Royal OTR stands out. “The idea behind the whole menu was if you want to eat clean and you want something healthy during the week, we’re going to have that,” says Tom Stephen, one of the restaurant’s owners. “But at the same time, if you have a hangover and you need two chili dogs, a bag of chips and a Coke, who’s to say those two people aren’t going to lunch at the same time?” Stephen and fellow owners Jeremy Moore and Garth Lieb are also the masterminds behind another Main Street staple: Liberty’s Bar & Bottle. Following closely on The Royal OTR’s heels is their third endeavor together, The Pony, a neighborhood bar with an abbreviated menu, taking up shop in the former H&R Block location at the corner of Main and 14th streets. The group’s close-knit relationship began in the days of yore when Neons was still open. Moore was a manager, Stephen ran the beer offerings and The Royal’s executive chef, Mike Kasak, was on-hand serving up burgers on the patio through

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Ferrari Brothers’ Coffee and Cuts BY AU S T I N G AY L E

For more than 50 years, Fausto and Tony and Austin didn’t go crazy renoEmilio Ferrari left their mark on Cincinvating the space, preferring to maintain nati one haircut at a time. The Italianthe nostalgia it started with. All three born immigrants operated a three-chair barber chairs have been reupholstered for barbershop on Garfield Place downtown a clean look and feel, but the walls are still where Queen City natives flocked to covered with old photos and postcards receive the Ferrari treatment. that speak to the shop’s history and the Fausto retired shortly before Emilio two barbers who started it all. died in 2015, leaving the future of the Unlike the Ferrari brothers before them, shop up in the air. Without the two men Tony and Austin will not cut hair at the who started it all, the family considered selling it. Eventually, two of Emilio’s grandchildren, Austin and Tony Ferrari, decided Ferrari to step in. Their idea? Barbershop Introduce an authenand Coffee Co. tic Italian coffee menu to the space to 5 Garfield Place, bring business into Downtown the retro downtown ferraribarberbarbershop. coffeeco.com. “We want to keep Espresso bar open 8 the love going,” Tony a.m.-4 p.m. Mondaysays. “I mean, my Friday; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. family here knew Saturday. Barber everybody. Fausto starts Nov. 7; hours and Emilio took care TBD. of the community, took care of all the city officials. So we just want to keep that going.” Austin and Tony grew up in Cincinnati before college and business ventures took them out west. They’re entrepreneurs in their own right — Tony owns a highly regarded Italian restaurant in San FranThe Ferrari family barbershop now offers coffee. cisco called Hillside Supper Club, where PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER Austin works as a sommelier. The two also own Provender Coffee & Food in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill. barbershop — they’ll give other barbers Carrying their coffee expertise over an opportunity to rent the three chairs. to the Queen City, Tony and Austin have The two will instead split their time added an Italian La Marzocco espresso between San Francisco and Cincinnati machine in the window of the barberto manage the shop and maintain their shop. They won’t serve food, instead responsibilities in the Bay Area. focusing on Italian classics — espresso, A few local barbers have already lined cappuccinos, lattes — using local roster up to start cutting hair for the Ferrari Deeper Roots Coffee. brothers and are expected to begin using “We support them; they support us,” their shears in the next few weeks. RunAustin says of Deeper Roots. “We’re ning a majority of the day-to-day options, happy supporting Cincinnati and the Ferrari’s barbers will be dishing out community.” straight-razor shaves, cappuccinos and Pulling from a classic at the San Franmemorable conversations to anyone and cisco coffee shop, the menu will include a everyone. drink called the Gibraltar — a double shot “Everyone is welcome in this place,” of espresso poured over milk, similar to a Tony says. “Come in for a haircut, come cortado. in for a coffee, come look at the memoThe brothers believe adding coffee to the rabilia. Just come in chat with us about mix will bode well for the shop’s success, memories. We love that.” allowing them to continue what Emilio Aaron Mucha, a recent graduate of the and Fausto started without hardship. Cincinnati School of Barbering, will man They’ve updated the business’s name to his barber chair Tuesday through SaturFerrari Barbershop and Coffee Co. day starting the fi rst week of November. “We just looked at it as not only keeping Haircuts start at $20 for a standard cut. it open, keeping the family legacy, but we “They’re great guys,” Mucha says of the also wanted to make it a business venture,” Ferrari brothers. “They almost seem like Tony says. “If the doors are going to be family already.” open, we might as well make it successful.”

CLASSES & EVENTS WEDNESDAY 01

Wine Appreciation 101 — This three-week course will teach you the basics of wine appreciation, just in time for the holidays. Review different types of wines, various fermenting processes, grape varietals, notable wines form other countries and how harvesting to bottling affects taste. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Nov. 15. $65. UC Victory Parkway Campus, 2220 Victory Parkway, Eden Park, uc.edu/ce/ commu.html. Crab Carnival — Washington Platform hosts its 17th-annual Crab Carnival with an entire menu devoted to steamed or chilled crab; crabbatizers; crab soups, salads and sandwiches; and crab in other creative iterations. Through Nov. 12. Prices vary. Washington Platform & Saloon, 1000 Elm St., Downtown, washingtonplatform.com.

THURSDAY 02

The Foods of Ireland with Diane Phillips — It’s not all corned beef and cabbage! Chef Diane Phillips will prepare a hearty Irish meal of dishes including cottage pie, roasted cod with shrimp colcannon and Guinness chocolate cake. 6:30-8:30 p.m. $70. Cooks’Wares, 11344 Montgomery Road, Harper’s Point, cookswaresonline.com.

SATURDAY 04

Lawrenceburg Whiskey City Festival — Discover Lawrenceburg’s history and its ties with the distilling industry. There will be plenty of whiskey-related activities, educational displays, live music, food and tastings from local craft breweries and wineries. 7-11 p.m. $30; $40 at the door; $50 VIP. Lawrenceburg Event Center, 91 Walnut St., Lawrenceburg, Ind., thinklawrenceburg.com. Barons Brew Bus Tour — This four-hour tour takes you to four popular Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati breweries: Taft’s Ale House, Braxton Brewing Co., Christian Moerlein and Wooden Cask Brewing Co. Sample more than 14 locally made craft beers and take tours of the beer making process, with bonus info about local beer history. Noon. $65. Tour begins at Taft’s Ale House, 1429 Race St., Overthe-Rhine, americanlegacytours.com.

MONDAY 06

TUESDAY 07

Chef’s Table: Teeny Pies with Teeny Morris — Author

S o u t h A S i A A n d n e p A l e S e c u i S i n e

WEDNESDAY 08

Pasta Workshop — Learn how to make authentic Italian pasta like ravioli with roasted tomato sauce, linguine with clams and maltagliati con pollpettone. Wine or beer is included. 6-9 p.m. $65. Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State, 3520 Central Parkway, Clifton, cincinnatistate.edu.

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THURSDAY 09

Murder and George Remus on the Menu — Queen City History’s Michael Morgan spins tales of 1920s bootlegger and murder suspect George Remus as you enjoy a four-course dinner paired with craft cocktails featuring locally distilled George Remus Whiskey. 6-9 p.m. $60. Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant, 1000 Elm St., Downtown, washingtonplatform.com. Around the World with Eight Teas — This fourweek course will take you around the world through different types and cultures of loose-leaf tea. Learn, taste, blend and take home teas from each session, which will include an introduction to each tea, a tasting and hands-on blending experience. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 7. $69. UC Victory Parkway Campus, 2220 Victory Parkway, Eden Park, uc.edu/ce/ commu.html. Pizza Workshop with Tablespoon Cooking Co. — Get hands-on experience making pizza from start to finish. All skill levels are welcome and beer and wine will be provided. 6-9 p.m. $65. Findlay Kitchen, 1719 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, fi ndlaykitchen.org/classes.

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Cincinnati Pizza Week — CityBeat brings you $8 pizzas from Cincinnati’s most popular pizza joints. Each participating Cincinnati Pizza Week restaurant will bake up their own spin on the wheel — from signature pies to secret menu specialties and more. It’s seven days of paying homage to all things ’za, no matter how you slice it. Through Nov. 12. $8. More information at citybeat.com.

and pie-maker Teeny Morris hosts this event, which is part pie primer and part pie-lover’s dream come true. Learn how to make a flaky pie pastry with delicious fillings like root veggie and goat cheese, rosemary caramel apple and more. 6-8 p.m. $39.50. New Riff, 24 Distillery Way, Newport, Ky., newriffdistilling.com.

The Art of Pastry — Spend the evening with pastry chef Pam Sturkey. Learn her fundamental techniques to make beautiful and delicious cakes and desserts. This class is hands-on. 6-9 p.m. $75. Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State, 3520 Central Parkway, Clifton, cincinnatistate.edu.

FRIDAY 03

The Foods of Sicily with Diane Phillips — Sicilian food features influences from North Africa, Spain, Greece and the Normans. The menu for tonight’s class features arancini, fish soup with couscous, roasted swordfish with eggplant caponata and cannoli stuffed with fresh ricotta cream, among other dishes. 6:30-8:30 p.m. $70. Cooks’Wares, 11344 Montgomery Road, Harper’s Point, cookswaresonline.com.

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Soups and Sandwiches with Tablespoon Cooking Co. — Learn how to make hearty fall soups and delicious sandwiches to pair with them. This is a handson class for all skill levels, with provided local craft beer, wine and water. 6-9 p.m. $72. Findlay Kitchen, 1719 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, fi ndlaykitchen.org/classes.

Most classes and events require registration and classes frequently sell out.

MUSIC

Dimmed But Sill Burning Bright James Alex dials back Beach Slang’s distorted thrust, but not its ardent passion BY JAS O N G A R G A N O

C i t y B e at. c o m | n o v. 0 1 – 0 7, 2 0 1 7

t’s been an interesting year in the life of Beach Slang. The Philadelphiabased quartet was riding high on the back of a pair of turbo-charged Rock & Roll records (2015’s The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us and 2016’s A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings) when things imploded onstage during a live show in October 2016. By the end of last year, only frontman James Alex and bassist Ed McNulty remained. Beach Slang’s first post-lineup-shift effort, the recently released four-song EP We Were Babies & We Were Dirtbags (Quiet Slang), is a serious tonal reconfiguring when compared to the previous releases, moving from the punky, guitar- and heart-swelling bombast of anthems like “Bad Art & Weirdo Ideas” and “Future Mixtape for the Art Kids” to a more modest, stripped-down approach. To the point, Quiet Slang opens with piano- and strings-driven versions of the aforementioned songs and closes with fairly straightforward takes on a pair of already-stripped-down classics — The Replacements’ “Androgynous” and Big Star’s “Thirteen.” Yet one thing remains the same: Alex’s yearning voice is a centerpiece no matter the instruments involved or the volume with which they are delivered. As We Were Babies & We Were Dirtbags’ cover songs suggest, Alex’s impassioned vocal rattle is like Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg crossed with Big Star’s Alex Chilton. The band — which added guitarist Aurore Ounjian and onetime Afghan Whigs drummer Cully Symington at the beginning of this year — is clearly in a transitional phase. Will they return to the Hüsker-Dü-byway-of-Jawbreaker thrust of their earlier work, or will the Quiet Slang approach win out? CityBeat recently connected with Alex to find out how he sees things going, as well as his feelings on social media, finding his voice and the cult resurgence of the cassette. CityBeat: You’re calling this the “Drunk or Lust Tour.” Does it have to be one or the other?

Beach Slang’s James Alex P H O T O : C har l i e Lo w

James Alex: It rarely is, right? But, look, most nights my heart limps more than my liver. I’m working on fixing that. CB: What can we expect in terms of a setlist this time out? JA: We’re playing stuff off everything, but hardly adhering to a set-list. Enough stuff in life is figured out and thought through — Rock & Roll deserves better. CB: I noticed you were soliciting song suggestions for the tour on Facebook. As someone who came of musical age before the proliferation of social media — or even the internet — what are your thoughts about the impact of Twitter and Facebook and all the rest on what you do as a band? JA: I suppose it depends on how you approach being a band or a singer or whatever. I mean, for Beach Slang, (social media is) pretty tailor-made in one pivotal way — it smashes distance between band and listener. I dig that. CB: You’ve played everything from tiny rooms to large festivals in the last couple years. Do you approach them differently? JA: No, not a bit. There’s an importance to shooting straight. Whether I play the big time or busk in the gutter, it’s going to be relentless and tender, drunk and desperate — with everything I’ve got.

CB: As its title would suggest, the Quiet Slang EP is a stylistic departure from the last two LPs. Why were you interested in going in a more stripped-back direction? JA: Mostly because (1) Stephin Merritt (of The Magnetic Fields), (2) my throat hurts and (3) I’m trying to soften the world a bit. CB: What can we expect of the next album? How has your songwriting process changed over the course of Beach Slang’s existence? JA: I suppose I’m still figuring that out. I am steering towards a pretty decent shift, or maybe it’s clumsy evolving. What I’m sure of is two things: I want to write honestly about whatever is digging into me, and I don’t want to Xerox anything I’ve done before. What that means exactly, I’m not sure. Forethought has never really suited me. CB: You’ve not been shy about namechecking your influences. Do you see what you do in Beach Slang as a continuation of those influences, or do you consciously try to find your own voice — do you say to yourself, “This sounds too much like so and so” — beyond what those influences have given you? JA: Voice-finding is always the aim. All those bands I adore, I see that stuff as a loose blueprint or something. I mean, look, The Replacements already exist

and do that thing far better than anyone trying to knock it off so why try to, right? More so, why would you want to? Inspiration and theft are very different things. I hardly have either figured out. CB: You’re releasing Quiet Slang on cassette, a format that seems to be enjoying a mini-resurgence. In this age of streaming and digital music, you seem to have a keen interest in having what you do be represented in the physical world. Why? JA: Riffling through record store bins is how I fell in love with music. It’s still dumbly romantic to me. There is something necessary and human to holding a record or a tape — a tactile piece of art that’s built to stick around and remind you. Too much stuff is built to be tossed away, to exist temporarily. Art deserves permanence. CB: There is a strong, often anthemic, emotional thrust to Beach Slang’s music. Where does that come from? JA: A really busted childhood and too many friends who never thought they were enough. This is me shaking us and saying we were, are and will always be. I hope we listen. Beach Slang plays Thursday at Southgate House Revival. Tickets/more info: southgatehouse.com.

SPILL IT

Maurice Mattei is Back with ‘Jealous Wreck’ BY M I K E B R EEN

Elsewhere on the album, the plodding slow-burner “You Had Other Plans” simmers and stews in lovelorn loneliness, while the galloping “Beautiful Bride” (as in, “She’d make a beautiful bride”) is a bit more playful in its thirstiness and wordplay (“Skintight leather, sailor suit/ Cracker Jacks and a hula hoop”). The album closes with “Bound to Fall,” a heartsick reminiscence that is alternately wistful, grateful, bitter and fatalistic. Mattei celebrates the release of Jealous Wreck Saturday in the intimate Lounge

Maurice Mattei’s Jealous Wreck PHOTO: PROVIDED

room at Southgate House Revival (111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse. com), with The Cousin Kissers opening the night at 9 p.m. The show is free and everyone who attends (well, the “fi rst 5,000” through the doors, as the show fi ler clarifies) gets a complimentary CD copy of the new album. For more on Mattei’s music (and his work in other disciplines), visit mmattei.com.

CEA Tickets on Sale Now

Amid a flurry of defensive statements from musicians in response to public accusations of sexual harassment and assault, Jesse F. Keeler of Death From Above recently responded to allegations of a different (though also sadly timely) sort. After a post on Medium pointed out that Keeler appeared to be friends with Gavin McInnes, an “alt-right” leader who founded the troubling Proud Boys organization, the bassist released a statement denying he is a “White Nationalist.” Keeler (whose mother is from India) said he met McInnes when his band was featured in Vice magazine (which McInnes co-founded) and he had appeared on more recent Proud Boys video podcasts, but after noticing increasing violent and radical tendencies, he distanced himself from McInnes shortly after the 2016 election. Despite McInnes’ claim otherwise, the “deeply heartbroken” musician said he isn’t a Proud Boys member, though he admitted that he went to an electionnight party with McInnes and other members due to his “morbid curiosity.”

wed 1

landlady, ian chang, blakkr

thu 2

levee : record release

fri 3

black signal, moira

s at 4

bumpus, the new royals

sun 5

zuli

mon 6

truth serum : comedy game show

tue 7

writer’s night w/ dave

toxic brewing co. beer tasting w/ aaron collins

dupont brothers

free live music now open for lunch

Everything to ‘Lose’

Not long after New Zealand’s National Party lost its parliamentary edge to the opposing Labour Party, a court ruled that it must pay Eminem’s publisher more than $400,000 after finding that a song used throughout a 2014 campaign was “substantially” and “sufficiently similar” to the rapper’s “Lose Yourself” and violated copyright. Besides the blatant musical similarities, the rip-off’s title — “Eminem Esque” — probably didn’t help the party’s case.

Even Coldplay Knows It’s Ludicrous

Outside of news reporting and commentary (which they perhaps do “well” in an evil, deceptive, Karl Rove-type way), Fox News is exceptionally bad at comedy and, as of late, music criticism. After being widely ridiculed for describing Radiohead’s music as “just elaborate moaning and whining over ringtone sounds” following the announcement of the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination, alleged comedian Kat Timpf returned to Fox’s “hip” Greg Gutfi eld Show to, I guess, capitalize on the publicity, further insulting the British group by stating, “Radiohead is a fine band, but they stole everything from Coldplay.” Which, actually, is pretty hilarious.

1404 main st (513) 345-7981

11 /2

11 /21 11 /5 11 /24

the skull hawkbill, mollusk

pere ubu

johnny dowd

the cincy brass eric harland’s rude unkal

psychodots annual thanksgiving show

buy tickets at motr or woodwardtheater.com

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Contact Mike Breen: mbreen@ citybeat.com

1345 main st motrpub.com

Bassist Says He’s Not a Nazi

Public voting has ended for the 2017 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, the CityBeat-produced celebration of Greater Cincinnati’s local music scene, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year on Nov. 19 at Over-the-Rhine’s Memorial Hall. Some exciting performances and tributes have been lined up; stay tuned for a full lineup announcement. Tickets for the 2017 CEAs are on sale now through the Memorial Hall website (memorialhallotr.com). A portion of ticket proceeds benefits the Greater Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation. Keep an eye on citybeat.com/music/ cincinnati-entertainment-awards for the latest updates.

BY M I K E B R EE N

N O V. 0 1 – 0 7, 2 0 1 7

Veteran Cincinnati singer/songwriter Maurice Mattei has covered a lot of lyrical ground in his career, using a variety of literary and thematic devices throughout his impressive and bountiful discography, which kicked off in earnest with his 1995 debut album, Grandview. Though a few of his releases have been fleshed out by his sometime-backing band The Tempers and other musicians, most have been truly “solo” efforts, with just Mattei’s acoustic guitar and vocals. Returning to the more minimalist format in 2015 with Girl Jungle, Mattei’s new album, Jealous Wreck, continues the motif, which he has proven works exceptionally for his style. Mattei’s lyrics are often the main draw, loaded with compellingly detailed and often darkly hued characters, stories and slices of life, and the naked, unfussy presentation and production of his best solo acoustic work gives them more impact. Th roughout Mattei’s songwriting career, the sonic and tonal qualities of his music have been anchored in the essential elements of foundational Rock & Roll, Pop, Folk and, occasionally, Country music. Most of those are evident on Jealous Wreck, but it’s also hard not to think of the Blues — both the emotional condition and the musical style — when fi rst diving into the album. Palpable sadness and heartbreak are threaded throughout the album’s songs, which are built on top of percussive, expressive acoustic guitar work. While not simply or overtly “Blues” (it’s far from rote and repetitive 12-bar jamming and often wanders away from it completely), some of Mattei’s playing on Jealous Wreck carries the genre’s early spirit and connects well with the emotional tenor of the lyrics. Likewise, many of the album’s best tracks aren’t simply clichéd sad-sack songs for the brokenhearted — they’re more multidimensional, as Mattei cleverly plays with the complexities, layers and nuances of love and loss. While many of the characters in Mattei’s songs have been presented from an observational standpoint, Jealous Wreck shows his strength with the fi rst-person narrative. The album opens with the title track, a highlight and tone-setter in which the line between “yearning, spurned lover” and “obsessed, delusional stalker” are blurred. Though the narrator pines for the object of his desire with a sense of honest despair, in the details we deduce that his situational awareness is out of whack. Th is “jealous guy” is a “wreck,” but the relationship with the woman he’s in love with is clearly one-sided. A “gypsy” tells him she’s the one for him and he sings of staring at her in a shopping mall; things take an even creepier turn as a sense of ire surfaces because the woman — an apparent stranger — turns away from him, “unimpressed.”

MINIMUM GAUGE

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KIRKMAN

NOVEMBER 16 TAFT THEATER Visit CityBeat.com/win-stuff to enter for a chance to win tickets to this upcoming show!

Regina Spektor PHOTO: SHERVIN L AINEZ

tours. Her fifth album, 2009’s Far, was even more successful, nearly topping the U.S. charts and leading to Spektor’s debut appearance as musical guest on Saturday Night Live. That success continued with 2012’s What We Saw from the Cheap Seats, which was promoted with a world tour that took her to Moscow for the first time since she and her family left in 1989. In 2013, Spektor wrote and recorded “You’ve Got Time,” the theme song for Orange is the New Black, which received a Grammy nod for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Last year saw the release of album No. 7, Remember Us to Life. Spektor has also made a name for herself as a dedicated philanthropist, raising funds for causes like Darfur relief, human rights in Tibet, Planned Parenthood and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, among many others. Regina Spektor is one of those rare artists whose multicultural background and truly broad range of influences have legitimately resulted in a beautiful and compelling style that defies mere genre tags. (Brian Baker)

Regina Spektor

Sunday • Taft Theatre

NOVEMBER 3 Red & 10 Years 4 Chase Rice

JaNuaRy

9 The Lacs

5 Southern Accents

10 Sixteen Candles

6 Resolution

11 Dopapod & The Motet

11 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

15 Dirty Heads

13 The Four Horsemen

17 Jack & Jack

19 Black Label Society

21 Jackyl

20 Tonight Alive & Silverstein

22 90’s Grunge Night

27 Chippendales

25 The Ragbirds 29 21 Savage

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

N O V. 0 1 – 0 7, 2 0 1 7

DECEMBER

fEBRuaRy 15 Badfish

9 Puddles Pity Party

16 Blues Traveler

13 Brett Young

27 Why Don’t We

23 Thunderstruck 29 Saved By The 90’s

BOGART’S BOX OFFICE | TICKETMASTER | 800.745.3000 CONTACT MINDYGOFF@LIVENATION.COM FOR VIP INFO /BOGARTSSHOWS

Somewhere between Tori Amos’ conversion of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” into a piano Pop torch song and the rise of keyboard balladeers like Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson, Russian émigré Regina Spektor created a hybrid of traditional, Classical and contemporary music and turned the Pop scene on its proverbial ear. Spektor (whose current tour is a purely solo venture, featuring no backing musicians) learned piano at age 6 on an upright that her grandfather gifted to her mother, a college music professor. Spektor’s father, a photographer and hobby violinist, introduced her to The Beatles, Moody Blues and Queen, in addition to Russian classicists and the standard complement of Classical composers. At age 9, Spektor and her family left the Soviet Union due to pervasive discrimination against Jews. Although initially interested solely in Classical music, Spektor’s teenage focus turned to Hip Hop, Rock and Punk, and then, after hearing Joni Mitchell and Ani DiFranco, writing her own songs. Her varied education included piano studies at the Manhattan School of Music during high school and a music composition degree from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. While in college, Spektor self-released a trio of albums — 2001’s 11:11, 2002’s Songs and 2003’s Soviet Kitsch — and opened for The Strokes, Kings of Leon and Keane, among others. In 2004, Spektor signed with Sire Records, which reissued Soviet Kitsch. Her fourth album and major label debut, 2006’s Begin to Hope, hit Billboard’s Top 20 and was eventually certified gold, clearly assisted by Spektor’s road work at numerous festival appearances and on headlining

Shilpa Ray PHOTO: EBRU YILDIZ

Shilpa Ray

Tuesday • Junker’s Tavern

A New Jersey native, Shilpa Ray has lived in New York City for 17 years, scraping by as a visceral Rock & Roll performer with a small but passionate fan base. Her latest album, Door Girl, centers on her experiences as, yes, a door girl at Pianos, the noted Indie Rock club on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It’s the story of one woman’s economic, creative, physical and psychic fight to survive in an unforgiving city. Door Girl opens with “New York Minute Prayer,” a brief, piano-based ditty in which Ray comes off as Fiona Apple in Doo Wop mode. “Morning Terrors Nights of Dread” is a mid-tempo rocker anchored by Ray’s escalating vocal hysterics, which culminate in a ferocious mess of yowls and yelps. The jaunty, beat-driven “Revelations of a Stamp Monkey” rides on Ray’s continual plea, “You wanna know where my heart

859.431.2201

Future Sounds Ellis Paul – Nov. 9, The Redmoor Justin Townes Earle – Nov. 10, Memorial Hall Eleanor Friedberger – Nov. 16, MOTR Pub Juvenile – Nov. 17, Madison Theater

Milk Carton Kids

Tuesday • Taft Theatre

Open Mic w/ Amy & Billy 8-11

Thursday 11/2 Friday 11/3

98° - Dec. 15, Aronoff Center

Mandy Gaines with The Steve Schmidt Trio 8-12

saTurday 11/4 The Steve Schmidt Trio 8-12 CoCktails

Wed. - Fri. open @ 4pm | Sat. open @ 6pm 125 West Fourth st. | CinCinnati, ohio 45202

www.BromwellsHarthLounge.com

11/1 michael moeller, dan zlotnick, redleg husky; noah smith - nov. artist in residence, randy steffen; wvwhite, dinge 11/2 beach slang, dave hause & the mermaid, pet symmetry; austin lucas, arlo mckinley, adam lee; the howlin’ brothers 11/3 & 11/4 18th annual blues & boogie piano summit 11/4 maurice mattei cd release, the cousin kissers 11/5 jerry jam 11/8 keeps, carriers, this pine box; noah smith - nov. artist in residence, eric bolander 11/9 ryan joseph anderson; zated lifestyle presents for the community show; eric bair, kevin fox 11/10 & 11/11 ironfest viii

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to it. They recorded a gig in Ventura, Calif. and released it in 2011 under their own names, ironically titling the album Retrospect. Weeks after the release, the duo performed at South by Southwest, which led to an opening/backing band gig for singer/songwriter Joe Purdy. Adopting the name Milk Carton Kids, the duo released Prologue, its debut studio album, later on in 2011. NPR quickly cited the track “There By Your Side” as its Song of the Day, and Pop sensation Sara Bareilles tweeted her admiration for Prologue, which attracted the interest of her sizable fan base. To capitalize on the exposure, MCK offered its first two albums as free downloads, where they remain available. To date, the two releases account for nearly a million downloads. Since then, Milk Carton Kids’ trajectory has been a sharp upward spike. Fueled by praise from the likes of T Bone Burnett, Billy Bragg and Garrison Keillor, the band signed to Anti- Records for 2013’s The Ash & Clay, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album. In 2014, MCK did the score for indie fi lm Refuge and appeared at the magnificent Inside Llewen Davis concert organized by the fi lm’s creators, the Coen brothers, and Burnett, who executive-produced the soundtrack. 2015 was a busy year for the increasingly in-demand twosome — they played the “Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris” tribute concert (and featured on the subsequent live release taken from the show), collaborated with Country singer Chely Wright for her 2016 album I Am the Rain and issued their universally acclaimed full-length Monterey. It must be time for new Milk Carton Kids music, because it’s always time for new Milk Carton Kids music. (BB)

fireplaCes

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHGATE HOUSE LOUNGE OR TICKETFLY.COM

N O V. 0 1 – 0 7, 2 0 1 7

Over the past six years, Milk Carton Kids has become one of the primary standard bearers for the new millennium perspective on traditional Folk, earning them glowing comparisons to fellow duos like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel. Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan began their journey in Eagle Rock, Calif., where both had begun pursuing individual solo careers. Neither had achieved much success alone, but when Ryan saw one of Pattengale’s performances, he introduced himself and the pair merged their ambitions to form what would become a fruitful partnership. The chemistry between Pattengale and Ryan was immediate, as was the reaction

Wednesday 11/1

21 Savage – Nov. 29, Bogart’s

P H O T O : R YA N M A S T R O

went?/My heart went straight to makin’ the rent” and sounds like Soul Coughing fronted by Patti Smith — which is nowhere near as bad as that description might seem. Speaking of Smith, “EMT Police and the Fire Department” is a Horses-esque barnburner, with Ray ranting about a hot summer night on the Lower East Side, one marked by rats and roaches crawling out in droves and tension that can be cut with a knife. Yet the final third of Door Girl is more wistful than one might expect. “After Hours” is a dead ringer for one of Sharon Van Etten’s beautifully rendered mood pieces (though Sharon has never reveled that she pissed herself on 168th Street). Most curious of all is “Manhattanoid Creepazoids,” another stripped-back ode to Doo Wop that sounds sweet — until you realize it’s told through the point of view of a male pig on the make. (Jason Gargano)

no Cover

Todd Hepburn & Friends 8-11

The Steel Wheels – Dec. 14, Southgate House Revival Milk Carton Kids

live MusiC

Pere Ubu – Nov. 21, Woodward Theater

Exhumed – Dec. 3, Northside Yacht Club

111 E 6th St Newport, KY 41071

LISTINGS

CityBeat’s music listings are free. Send info to Mike Breen at mbreen@citybeat.com. Listings are subject to change. See citybeat.com for full music listings and all club locations. H is CityBeat staff’s stamp of approval.

Wednesday 01

Brewriver Gastropub - Old Green Eyes and BBG. 6 p.m. Standards. Free.

Corbett Center For The Performing Arts “Kenton with John Von Ohlen” featuring The CCM Jazz Orchestra. 8 p.m. Jazz/Stan Kenton Tribute. $20.

Knotty Pine - Dallas Moore. 9 p.m. Country. Free. The Liberty Inn - Stagger Lee. 7 p.m. Country/Rock. Free. Mansion Hill Tavern - Losing Lucky. 8 p.m. Roots. Free. MOTR Pub - Landlady with Ian Chang and Blakkr. 9 p.m. Indie Rock/ Various. Free.

Northside Tavern - Strange Creature. 9 p.m. Rock/Blues/ Jazz/Folk/Various. Free. Southgate House Revival (Lounge) Noah Smith with Randy Steffen. 8 p.m. Country/Roots. Free.

Southgate House Revival (Revival Room) - WVWhite with Dinge. 9 p.m. Rock. $5-$7. Southgate House Revival (Sanctuary) - Michael Moeller with Dan Zlotnick and Redleg Husky. 7:30 p.m. Country/Folk/Americana. $8. Urban Artifact - Blue Wisp Big Band. 8:30 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $10.

Thursday 02

Common Roots - Open Mic. 8 p.m. Various. Free.

The Greenwich - Mike Wade Quintet featuring Carl Allen. 8 p.m. Jazz. $15. Henke Winery - Chris Lee Acoustic. 7 p.m. Acoustic. Free. Knotty Pine - Kenny Cowden. 9 p.m. Acoustic. Free.

MOTR Pub - Levee (album release show) with Aaron Collins. 9 p.m. Soul/Funk/ R&B. Free. Northside Tavern - Karaoke Fantastic. 9 p.m. Various. Free. Southgate House Revival (Lounge) - The Howlin’ Brothers. 9:30 p.m. Bluegrass/Blues/Americana. Free. Southgate House Revival (Revival Room) - Austin Lucas with Arlo Mckinley and Adam Lee. 9 p.m. Country/Folk. $12, $15 day of show. Southgate House Revival (Sanctuary) - Beach Slang with Dave Hause & The Mermaid and Pet Symmetry. 8 p.m. Rock. $18, $20 day of show.

Urban Artifact - Krystal Peterson & The Queen City Band, Airpark and Ponce. 8 p.m. R&B/Soul/ Various

Woodward Theater - The Skull with Hawkbill and Mollusk. 7:30 p.m. Metal. $12, $15 day of show.

Friday 03

Arnold’s Bar and Grill - Buffalo Wabs and The Price Hill Hustle. 9 p.m. Americana/Folk. Free.

Bogart’s - Red with 10 Years. 7 p.m. Altrock. $22. Bromwell’s Härth Lounge - Mandy Gaines with The Steve Schmidt Trio. 8 p.m. Jazz. Free. Celeberties - Money Bagg Yo. 10 p.m. Hip Hop. $35-$60. Gallagher Student Center Theatre - Eric Harland and Voyager. 8 p.m. Jazz. $30-$35. The Greenwich - Rollins Davis Band featuring Deborah Hunter. 9 p.m. R&B/ Jazz. $5.

Live! at the Ludlow Garage - Kevin Griffin. 8 p.m. Rock/ Pop. $20-$45.

Jim and Jack’s on the River - Whiskey Town. 9 p.m. Country. Free.

The Mad Frog - Los Ghost with Dirty D and More. 9 p.m. Hip Hop. Cover.

Knotty Pine - Bloodline. 10 p.m. Rock. Cover.

Live! at the Ludlow Garage - The Summit

with The Vegabonds. 8 p.m. Rock. $15. Madison Live - Aqueous. 9 p.m. Rock/Jam. $12, $15 day of show. Mansion Hill Tavern Sonny Moorman. 9 p.m. Blues. $4. MOTR Pub - Black Signal with Moira. 10 p.m. Electronic/Dance/Indie Pop/ Post Rock. Free.

Peecox Erlanger - Saving Stimpy. 9:30 p.m. Rock. $5. Pirates Den (Western Hills) - Pandora Effect. 9:30 p.m. Rock Radisson Cincinnati Riverfront - Basic Truth. 8 p.m. Funk/R&B/Soul. Free (In The Fifth Lounge).

Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant Steve Houghton and Steve Alee. 9 p.m. Jazz. $10 (Food/Drink Minimum).

Plain Folk Cafe - Vaughn & Co. 7:30 p.m. Acoustic/Rock/ Various. Free.

Saturday 04

Rohs Street Café - Saturday Night Spirituals. 6 p.m. Bluegrass

Arnold’s Bar and Grill Cincinnati Dancing Pigs. 9 p.m. Americana/Jug band. Free.

Bogart’s - Chase Rice with Sam Riggs. 8 p.m. Country. $30. Bromwell’s Härth Lounge - Steve Schmidt Trio. 8 p.m. Jazz. Free. Cincinnatian Hotel - Philip Paul Trio. 7 p.m. Jazz. Free. The Greenwich - Kelly Richey. 8 p.m. Blues/ Rock. $10.

The Redmoor - A Big Phat Concert with Wayne Bergeron and The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. 7 p.m. Jazz. $30.

Jerzees Pub & Grub - Pandora Effect. 9 p.m. Rock

Rick’s Tavern - Blackbone Cat with Freak Mythology. 10 p.m. Rock. $5.

Knotty Pine - Lt. Dan’s New Legs. 10 p.m. Pop/Dance/Hip Hop/Various. Cover.

Rohs Street Café - Black Arts Collaborative. 8 p.m. Various

Live! at the Ludlow Garage - Tim Reynolds with TR3 and Matt Schneider. 8 p.m. Rock/ Funk/Jazz/Various. $17-$40.

Silverton Café - Kick Start. 9 p.m. Rock. Free. Southgate House Revival (Sanctuary) - 18th-Annual Blues & Boogie Piano Summit with Martijn Schok & Greta Holtrop, Wendy Dewitt & Kirk Hardwood, Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues and Ricky Nye & Bekah Williams. 9 p.m. Blues/Boogie Woogie. $20-$30.

Symphony Hotel - Philip Paul Trio. 8 p.m. Jazz. Free. Taft Theatre - Primus. 8 p.m. Altrock. $53.50-$39.50.

Thompson House - The World I Knew. 8 p.m. Metalcore/Rap. $10. The Underground - Clayton Jones with Kylie Miller and Glass Leopard. 7 p.m. Pop/ Various. Cover. Urban Artifact - Timbre, Common Center and The Bellowing Pines. 9 p.m. Folk/ Rock/Alt/Various

Jim and Jack’s on the River - Jamison Road. 9 p.m. Country. Free.

Madison Live - Sever The Ties (EP release party). 8 p.m. Rock. $8, $10 day of show.

Madison Theater - Lift The Medium, One Degree From Mande, Ron Fletcher and The Southern Edge, Blue Rock, Soda Gardocki and The Infamous Trio. 6:30 p.m. Rock/Various. $10 (benefiting veterans’ organizations).

Mansion Hill Tavern - Noah Wotherspoon. 9 p.m. Blues. $4.

Rick’s Tavern - Empty Garden. 10 p.m. Rock. $5.

Silverton Café - Dejavue. 9 p.m. Various. Free. Southgate House Revival (Lounge) - Maurice Mattei with The Cousin Kissers. 9:30 p.m. Rock/ Roots/Country/Various. Free.

Southgate House Revival (Sanctuary) - 18th-Annual Blues & Boogie Piano Summit with Martijn Schok & Greta Holtrop, Wendy Dewitt & Kirk Hardwood, Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues and Ricky Nye & Bekah Williams. 9 p.m. Blues/Boogie Woogie. $20-$30.

Thompson House - For The Fire. 8 p.m. Rock. $10. The Underground - Battle Of The Bands 2017 Round 2 with Saving Escape, Rb3, The Bassless Chaps and More. 7 p.m. Various. Cover. Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant Pat Kelly and Eugene Goss. 9 p.m. Jazz. $10 (Food/Drink Minimum).

Westside Venue - Halloween Hangover Metal Fest. 8 p.m. Metal. Cover.

Sunday 05

BrewRiver GastroPub - Todd Hepburn. 11 a.m. Blues/Various. Free. The Listing Loon - Chris Lee Acoustic. 9 p.m. Acoustic. Free. Mansion Hill Tavern - Open Blues Jam with Jimmy D. Rogers. 6 p.m. Blues. Free.

Sonny’s All Blues Band. 8 p.m. Blues. Free. Southgate House Revival (Lounge) - Jerry Jam: Celebration/Benefit For Jerry Hedge. 3 p.m. Various. Free (donations encouraged).

Taft Theatre - Regina Spektor. 8 p.m. Pop. $32.50-$62.50.

Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant - Traditional New Orleans Jazz Brunch with 2nd Line Trio. 11:30 a.m. Jazz. $10 (Food/ Drink Minimum). Woodward Theater The Cincy Brass & Eric Harland’s Rude Unkal. 8 p.m. Funk/Soul/Pop/Rock/Jazz/ Brass. $10, $15 day of show.

Monday 06

Muggbees Bar & Grill Karaoke DJ. 8 p.m. Various. Free.

Northside Tavern - Northside Jazz Ensemble. 10 p.m. Jazz. Free. Taft Theatre - Dream Theater. 8 p.m. Prog Rock. $39.50-$74.50.

Tuesday 07

Arnold’s Bar and Grill John Redell. 7 p.m. Blues. Free.

Junker’s Tavern Shilpa Ray. 9 p.m. Rock.

MOTR Pub - The Dupont Brothers. 9 p.m. Indie/Roots. Free. Northside Tavern - The Stealth Pastille. 10 p.m. Psych Rock. Free. Northside Yacht Club - Lil Debbie, Raven Felix, Nati Kid, J-Phunq and DJ Wavy Moe. 9:30 p.m. Rap/Hip Hop. $20, $23 day of show.

Northside Tavern - Sexy Time Live Band Karaoke. 8:30 p.m. Various. Free.

MOTR Pub - Zuli. 8 p.m. Rock/Pop. Free.

Stanley’s Pub - Trashgrass Tuesday featuring Members Of Rumpke Mt. Boys. 9 p.m. Bluegrass. Cover.

Northside Tavern - Bulletville. 8:30 p.m. Country. Free.

Peecox Erlanger - Saving Stimpy. 9:30 p.m. Rock. $5.

Plain Folk Café - Re-Tread Bluegrass Band. 7:30 p.m. Bluegrass. Free.

Sonny’s All Blues Lounge Blues Jam Session featuring

MOTR Pub - Bumpus with The New Royals. 10 p.m. Funk. Free.

Octave - Satsang. 8 p.m. Folk/Soul/Rock/Hip Hop. $8, $10 day of show.

Taft Theatre - Milk Carton Kids with Sammy Miller & The Congregation. 8 p.m. Folk/Americana. $28.50-$38.50.

Urban Artifact - Lipstick Fiction with Stella, Dadderall Rx and Mariner. 9 p.m. Rock/ Indie/Alt/Punk/Various. Free.

PUZZLE

Next Level Shit

CLASSIFIEDS

By B rendan E mmett Q uigley

Across

LEGAL

68. Strongsmelling 69. Took no risks Down

1. Call from the PD 2. Apple ___ 3. Messi’s nat. 4. Strabismus 5. Actor Bob of “Brazil” 6. Leaded gas 7. Pen name 8. Creole veggie staple 9. Zoo favorite 10. Dough that can yield a lot of bread? 11. Gem measure 12. The second blank in Carrie ___ ___ (“Dancing With The Stars” judge) 13. Concession stand purchases 19. StubHub’s owner 21. Collector’s coup 23. “Real Time” host 24. “You whupped me” 25. Like river bottoms 26. Microsoft tablet 30. Holding official 31. Hardly trivial

33. Pulitzer Prize winning author James 35. Whitaker who will be the next Doctor Who 36. Part of a Buddhist title 37. Like taskmasters 40. The first blank in Carrie ___ ___ (“Dancing With The Stars” judge) 41. Fired shells on, as enemy trenches 43. Brother product 45. Off the beaten

path 46. Unoccupied 47. Boozer’s sound 49. G# 50. Small hint 51. Singer whose fans are called “Claymates” 53. “Of course!” 55. Green room tantrum thrower 56. Arsenal owner Kroenke 59. Squid defense 61. Get down on one’s knees, say 62. Zoo favorite 63. Approving motion

L AST WEEK’S ANSWERS:

PUBLIC NOTICE: Division of the State Fire Marshal Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations Pursuant to the rules governing the remediation of releases of petroleum from underground storage tank (UST) system(s), notice to the public is required whenever there is a confirmed release of petroleum from an UST system(s) that requires a remedial action plan (See Ohio Administrative Code 1301:7-913(K)). Notice is hereby given that a confirmed release of petroleum has occurred from the UST system(s) located at: SUNOCO #0043-9208 901W 8TH ST CINCINNATI, OH HAMILTON COUNTY Release #31000569-N00001. A remedial action plan (RAP) dated February 25, 2016, was submitted by the owner and/or operator of the UST system(s) for the review and approval of the State Fire Marshal (SFM). Once the SFM has reviewed and approved the RAP, the owner and/or operator of the UST system(s) will be required to implement the RAP. A copy of the RAP, as well as other documentation relating to this release and the UST system(s) involved, is maintained by the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR), and are available for inspection and copying by the public. Please make all requests for copies of the RAP or for inspection of the RAP and other related documentation in writing to BUSTR, P.O. Box 687, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. The SFM will accept written comments on this RAP for a period of 21 days from the date of publication of this notice. You may submit any comments regarding this site and the RAP, in writing, at the above address. For further information, please contact Ralph Mertz at (614) 752-7097. Please reference release # 310 0 0 5 6 9 - N 0 0 0 01 when making all inquiries or comments. Notice is hereby given that Extra Space Storage will sell at public auction, to satisfy the lien of the owner, personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at location indicated: 525 W 35th St Covington,

KY 41015 (859) 2611165 on November 21, 2017 on or after 12:00 pm: Pamela Henry, 04132, household items; Harold Schmidt, 02132, Appliances furniture; Todd Clark, 07112, Furniture household items; Cathy Martin, 03338, Household goods, furniture; Daniel York, 02209, Household goods; George Semple, 05141, Household goods, furniture; Walt Preston, 02235, 15 boxes and car seat; April Peters, 03318, couch table, household; Tiffani Johnson, 03201, Boxes, queen bed, box spring, small chair, tables,; Angela Thompson, 03124, bed, washer, dryer, dining room set, household; Kristin Scheve, 03231, Gen. household items; Shirley Rosenbalm, 03255, Baby stuff and personal items; George Ball, 03133, Misc household items; Stephanie Edmondson, 04604, Misc household items; Anthony Anness, 06111, clothes, tools; Maggie Mcdaniel, 03431, Household Furniture; Extra Space Storage 2526 Ritchie Ave Crescent Springs KY, 41017 November 21, 2017 at or after 11:30 am: Kevin Summe, Unit 345, Household Items; Jalil Rasheed, Unit 312, chairs, tables, items for daycare; 5970 Centennial Circle, Florence, KY 41042, 859-4085219, November 21st, 2017, 10:30 am: Helen Branham, 958, Household; Anna York, 929, Furniture, appliances and boxes; Brittany Thornberry, 853, Small furniture pieces and boxes; Dave Turner, 703, Clothes, household items, beds; Madeline Bell, 854, Totes, washer and dryer; Robert McMurray,818, Household items; 2900 Crescent Springs Rd, Erlanger, KY 41018 on Tuesday, November 21st at 11:00 AM: Regina Ruth, Unit 228, Household items; Brittany Webster, Unit 239, Household goods/Furniture; Agnes Diaz, Unit 246, 2 Couches, dining table, twin beds; Mark Beiser, Unit 503, Household goods; William Poore, Unit 631, Household goods/Furniture; Juan Arango-Jimenez, Unit 906/927, Household goods; Extra Space Storage, 8080 Steilen Dr. Florence, KY 41042 on November 21, 2017 at or after 10 am: Gregory Williams, Unit 1524, Household Goods; Michael L Grob, Unit

1601, Household Goods; Cindy Edwards, Unit 2702, Household Goods; Stacie Kinnett, Unit 705, Household Goods; Kristi Austin, Unit 740, Household Goods; Kristi Austin, Unit 1710, Household Goods; Elbert “Skip” Eubank, Unit 2122, Household Goods; Marlene Harvey, Unit 615, Household Goods; Plantation Point Master Assn Susan Cobb, Unit 1711, Household/Office Furniture; Sierra Turner, Unit 722, Clothes; Stevie Harris, Unit 733, Household Goods; Tiffany Janos, Unit 218, Household Goods; Tiffany Janos, Unit 227, Household Goods; Rahul Patel, Unit 5, Household Goods; Russell Gibson, Unit 223, Household Goods; David Dye, Unit 206, Household Goods. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

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n o v. 0 1 – 0 7, 2 0 1 7 | C i t y B e at. c o m

1. Geronimo’s people 7. Still life fruit 11. Straight 14. Mindlessly copy 15. Maker of the Ektorp sofa 16. Calendario period 17. “Heavens to Murgatroyd!” 18. Some next level shit 20. Pitch that runs along the side of a webpage 22. China’s biggest online commerce company 23. War game pieces 27. Cheerios 28. Not from around here 29. Some next level shit 32. Easter eve 34. Irish dance 35. 3Ls of yesterday 38. Where el sol rises 39. Verbal faux pas 41. It can hold water 42. Daisy’s “Star Wars” character 43. Angels pitcher Felix 44. Some next level shit 46. Toy from Europe 48. Thorny plant 49. Tech company that’s still somehow a thing in “Blade Runner: 2049” 52. Brainiac 54. Show with the Central Perk coffeehouse 57. Some next level shit 58. It borders Bolivia and Peru 60. Sikh’s cover 64. With 67-Across, blackjack winner 65. “American Horror Story” actor Peters 66. Scumbag 67. See 64-Across

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Seeking registrar/receptionist with computer, website management, social media and writing skills. Knowledge of contemporary art history essential. Send resume to: office@solwaygallery. com. No Phone Calls, Please.

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CityBeat needs contractors to deliver CityBeat every Wednesday between 9am and 3pm. Qualified candidates must have appropriate vehicle, insurance for that vehicle and understand that they are contracted to deliver that route every Wednesday. CityBeat drivers are paid per stop and make $14.00 to $16.00 per hr. after fuel expense.

Please reply by email and leave your day and evening phone numbers. Please reply by email only. Phone calls will not be accepted. sferguson@citybeat.com

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

N O V. 0 1 – 0 7, 2 0 1 7

5:30pm-8:30pm Br a xton Brewing company

pizz a Sa mpLeS Mac’s Pizza Pub, Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, Pies & Pints, and more!

Beer SpeciaL S Live entertainment from INHAILER and Artists & Models