CityBeat | May 2021 by Chava Communications

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25 ways to win this summer in Cincinnati by citybeat staﬀ * bingo card inside *

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NEWS

The new vending machine at Caracole. P H OTO : CA R AC O L E

Find Condoms, Narcan, PPE in Ohio’s First Health Vending Machine Cincinnati HIV/AIDS service organization Caracole aims to reduce infectious diseases with new “harm reduction supply machine” BY M A I JA Z U M M O A N D A L L I S O N BA B K A

eople looking for condoms and other supplies in Greater Cincinnati can find some in a novel vending machine that HIV/AIDS service organization Caracole has installed at its Northside headquarters.

The new “harm reduction supply machine” delivers health and safety supplies to “help reduce the transmission of infectious diseases — including HIV and hepatitis C — prevent overdoses and promote long-term recovery,”

says the nonprofit. The machine is stocked with Narcan/Naloxone (for injection and nasal spray), safer injection kits (sans syringes), pregnancy tests, condoms, safer smoking kits, PPE, bandages and sharps containers. Those who wish to access the supplies can do so contact-free, 24/7, by calling 513-399-6969. A trained Caracole staff member will provide an access code to retrieve specific items and provide information about other health and safety services. “We hope our dispenser will be a lifeline for those who are looking to practice harm reduction but are either unable to physically visit existing syringe service program sites or fear legal retribution, stigma and mistreatment from medical professionals,” says Caracole Executive Director Linda Seiter. Funded by a grant from Interact for

Health, the dispenser is the first in Ohio. Caracole marketing director Tricia Bath says they know of only eight other similar machines, and those are all located in Las Vegas. According to statistics, Ohio has one of the highest opioid-related overdose death rates in America, with an average of 14 deaths per day. Hamilton County specifically is “identified as an HIV hot spot,” with a 250% increase in “newly diagnosed HIV infections among people who inject drugs” in 2016 and 2017, says Caracole. In 2018, 34% of those who tested positive for HIV in the county were intravenous drug users compared to 10% in 2013. Additionally, the recently released Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that Ohio is No. 14 in the country for cases of gonorrhea. CONTINUES ON PAGE 07

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CITY DESK

Pureval, Mann to Face Off in November in Race to Become Mayor BY A L L I S O N BA B K A

Aftab Pureval and David Mann are the presumed winners of Cincinnati’s May 4 primary election and will continue their quests to become the city’s next mayor. If election results hold up, Pureval, Hamilton County’s current Clerk of Courts, and Mann, a Cincinnati City Council member and former U.S. Representative, will be on the ballot for the Nov. 2 general election. Pureval earned about 39% of eligible Cincinnati votes on May 4, while Mann scooped up about 29%. The remaining candidates didn’t fare as well. Cecil Thomas finished with about 16% of the vote, Gavi Begtrup with about 9%, Raffel Prophett with about 3% and Herman J. Najoli with about 2%. As of press time, more than 41,400 ballots had been cast, out of more than 270,000 registered voters. Results are unofficial until the Hamilton County Board of Elections certifies the count later in May. Current mayor John Cranley has been mayor since 2013 and is ineligible to run again due to term limits.

Aftab Pureval could become Cincinnati’s next mayor. P H OTO : C H R I ST I N B E R RY B L U E M A RT I N I P H OTO G R A P H Y

Cranley’s New Coalition Wants to Pay for Your Smart-Gun Tech Ideas BY A L L I S O N BA B K A A N D N A D I A R A M L AGA N

Ohio officials are leading the Gun Safety Consortium, a group of cities across the United States that is calling on the gun industry to bring improved gun-safety products to market. Gun-safety advocates point out that most smartphones are more secure than firearms, and Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said “smart” gun technology could help prevent the availability and access to guns that would otherwise, at a moment’s notice, lead to fatalities. “We’ve confiscated thousands of guns over the last year, and that is working and bringing down our homicides,” he said during a press briefing. “Having said all that, the vast majority of innercity violence is happening by lost or stolen guns, usually out of a glove compartment.” In April, the coalition formally issued a request for proposals for more and better products they can test to help keep guns safe and secure. Cranley noted that since last year, police officers also have begun evaluating emerging gun-security products while off duty. The consortium will act as a product development accelerator of sorts, exploring and advancing safety technology ideas and bringing them to market. Cranley said that the government buys four out of every 10 guns in the United States, so the consortium wants to fund and purchase ideas that police, military and individuals can adopt. “Smart-gun technology is a consumer option that doesn’t exist now and needs

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to exist,” Cranley said. “When you combine military and law enforcement, it made sense that we could have a consumer revolution. A public sector’s buyers ought to organize and leverage our buying power.” Right now, smart-gun technology largely isn’t available for purchase, said Daryl Green, chief of the Lansing (Michigan) Police Department. But the consortium is eager to accelerate products that police officers have been testing, in addition to finding new, in-development products. “Each one of the four products we’ve been looking at will be a good thing to have on store shelves, but what we’re trying to move to now with the release of the (request for proposals) is a full scan of the market, “ Green said. “So whether you’re a global gun manufacturer or a startup in your garage or basement, we want you to bring us what you’ve got. If you’ve got a product that can help gun owners secure their firearms, we want to know about it. We want the opportunity to fully evaluate it, and we may want the opportunity to purchase it.” Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said the coalition was formed from the perspective of harm reduction. “We know we’re not going to eliminate gun violence in the United States with this initiative, but we’re going to reduce it,” he said. “We’re not going to save every life that is lost to gun violence in this country, but we’ll save many lives. Just because we can’t do everything doesn’t mean we should do nothing.”

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After decades of federal inaction on gun control, local cities, counties and states have an opportunity to take the reins, said the Rev. Richard Gibson of Greater Cleveland Congregations. “We’re bringing all the collective power we can to assemble, to attack this problem in a new and productive way,” he said. Research has shown that more than half the nation’s gun owners do not store their guns securely, and an estimated 400,000 guns are stolen — from homes, cars and businesses — each year. More than 1,500 Ohioans died by gun violence in 2019, according to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun

Violence. Kapszukiewicz noted that the consortium is advocating for consumer products, not pushing new gun control laws. “There’s not going to be a bunch of laws and restrictions. That’s not what we’re doing,” Kapszukiewicz said. “We’re trying to create a market that will promote the kind of responsibility that we think can make a difference.” “People are going to say, ‘Hey, what about personal responsibility?’” Kapszukiewicz continued. “We think good technology can encourage more personal responsibility.”

Smart-gun technology could save lives, the new Gun Safety Consortium says. P H OTO : ST E V E WO O D S, U N S P L AS H

CITY DESK

Cincinnati Bengals Reveal ‘New Stripes’ BY A L L I S O N BA B K A

After several years of development, a few months of teasing #NewStripes and a presumed leaked jersey design on eBay in March, the Cincinnati Bengals finally shared the team’s new uniforms with a roar in April. This marks the Bengals’ first major uniform change in 17 years, with only the iconic striped helmet left untouched. There are three new jersey designs from Nike: primary black, primary white and an orange alternative, along with matching pants. The recognizable stripes on the jersey’s shoulders were simplified and the color blocks were removed. “Utilizing the fan-favorite, floodedwhite Nike Color Rush uniform as the base, our goal was to modernize the Bengals’ uniform as a bold, aggressive and timeless design,” Nike representatives say in a news release. “We observed real-life Bengal tigers in motion and redrew the uniform’s stripes to mirror the tiger’s movements while stalking its prey. The result is a faster on-field expression for one of the league’s most distinctive uniforms.” The release notes that the design features “Bengals” across the chest and includes a nod to Paul Brown, the team’s founder, first head coach and FROM PAGE 05

Data from the 2019 calendar year, which was released in April, shows that there were 26,065 reported cases in the Buckeye State, at a rate of 223 per 100,000 people. Ohio also is not doing too well with chlamydia. In 2019, the state had 65,393 cases of chlamydia, at a rate of 559.4 cases per 100,000 people — good enough for No. 22 on the CDC’s national list. Kentucky had 7,379 cases of gonorrhea and 20,911 cases of chlamydia in 2019, according to the report. Using latex condoms during vaginal, anal and oral sex significantly lowers your risk of getting or spreading sexually transmitted infections, the CDC says. But apparently, that’s not happening often enough, because STD cases throughout the nation reached an alltime high for the sixth consecutive year, the CDC reports. Gonorrhea cases increased 56% between 2015 and 2019, numbering 616,392. Chlamydia saw a 19% increase, or 1.8 million cases. And syphilis, which creates sores on your sexy parts or mouth, increased 74% since 2015, to nearly 130,000 cases in 2019, according to the CDC. There were more than 2.5 million reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in 2019 — a sharp increase over previous years, which has health officials concerned. “Less than 20 years ago, gonorrhea

former president, at the back neck of the jersey. “The jersey numbers are classic with a twist, with inspiration drawn from the Bengals’ uniforms of the 1980s. The team preserved the outline of the numbers, while adding a sharp angle to mimic the modern design of Paul Brown Stadium and the claw marks of a ferocious Bengal tiger. And in keeping with a sleek and simpler thematic, the stroke from the The Bengals’ “New Stripes” uniforms will debut during the 2021 season. nameplate was P H O T O : C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S removed,” the release says. Tyler Boyd, D.J. Reader, Jared Murphy said. “These new stripes come with new The Bengals saturated social media and Joe Mixon — wearing the designs. standards and new goals. We’re looking channels with the new uniforms upon “I love the new look. Hopefully these forward to a lot of great things.” release, showcasing photos and videos jerseys bring energy, not just to our of team members — including Joe fan base, but to the city overall,” Bates Learn more at bengals.com. Burrow, Jessie Bates III, Sam Hubbard, rates in the U.S. were at historic lows, syphilis was close to elimination and advances in chlamydia diagnostics made it easier to detect infections,” Raul Romaguera, acting director for CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, says in a press release. “That progress has since unraveled, and our STD defenses are down. We must prioritize and focus our efforts to regain this lost ground and control the spread of STDs.” In its expansive report, the CDC notes that Black people, gay and bisexual men, and other minority groups experienced the sharpest increases in STDs in 2019 due to systemic health inequities. “Focusing on hard-hit populations is critical to reducing disparities,” Jo Valentine, associate director of the Office of Health Equity in CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, says in the release. “To effectively reduce these disparities, the social, cultural and economic conditions that make it more difficult for some populations to stay healthy must be addressed. These include poverty, unstable housing, drug use, lack of medical insurance or regular medical provider, and high burden of STDs in some communities.” Learn about Caracole’s services at caracole.org. Read the CDC’s full report at cdc.gov.

The machine dispenses safer injection supplies, Narcan, PPE and more. P H OTO : CA R AC O L E

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S C H NI E DE R’ S S WE ET S H O P : : HA I LE Y B O LLI N GE R

Summer is here, and it’s finally time to shake off that COVID-19 ennui and safely mingle with your pals outside. Greater Cincinnati has an abundance of activities for all interests and ages, but there are a few that every resident needs to try. So why not make a game of it? Tear the bingo card of local entertainment options from page 36 of this guide, carry it with you as you explore the region, mark each one that you do and nab a BINGO in the Queen City. 9

B LUE CR E A M Y W HI P : : JE S S E F OX

EAT BLUE CREAMY WHIP

If you’ve lived in Cincinnati for any length of time, chances are you can distinctly evoke the taste of blue ice cream. A blueberry-based soft serve, the actual name of the flavor is known simply as “blue.” Introduced by Kings Island in 1982 to promote a then-new Smurfs ride in the park’s Hanna-Barbera Land, it’s become a quintessential Queen City summer treat. Thankfully the cult following for the dessert is as rich as its flavor, so you can grab a cone at most local creamy whip windows, like Putz’s Creamy Whip in Westwood. Although blue creamy whip varies slightly at each location — with many shops implementing special (and secret) twists — the treats taste nearly identical, staying faithful to the amusement park’s true-blue recipe. Putz’s Creamy Whip, 2673 Putz’s Place, Westwood, putzscreamywhip.com.

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SOAK UP CULTURE AT SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company kicked off its 2021 Shakespeare in the Park series in early May with performances listed online through May 23 (information for performances for June through August will be announced soon). Locations for the events span across the Greater Cincinnati area in beautiful destinations like Devou, Eden and Washington parks. Admittance is free and open to the public. Visit individual venue websites for COVID protocols. cincyshakes.com.

SEE (AND HEAR) A CONCERT FROM THE LAWN AT RIVERBEND

After a long, live concertless year, Riverbend Music Center is loading its summer and fall schedules with a star-studded lineup. Currently, the venue is anticipating performances by Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morissette and (parrotheads, rejoice) Jimmy Buffett. In 2019, the venue made it even easier to see live music from the lawn seats by removing support beam towers that have been part of the pavilion structure since 1984. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California, riverbend.org.

GET FIT FOR FREE AT WASHINGTON PARK

Ditch the gym membership and head to Washington Park on Wednesdays and Thursdays this summer for the park’s weekly free Workout on the Green series. Spring sessions include yoga, HIIT and dance fitness; summer session dates and workouts have not yet been announced. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.

AMBLE AMONG ART AT PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK & MUSEUM

Art appreciation and fresh air aren’t mutually exclusive, at least at Hamilton’s Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum. Since 1997, the 300-acre nonprofit outdoor art park features more than 80 gargantuan sculptures displayed among rolling hills, lakes and hiking trails. If the weather’s not to your taste, head indoors to explore the ancient sculpture museum, which houses Greek, Roman, Syrian and Egyptian art, as well as rotating exhibitions of more modern work. The park rents out special Art Carts (aka golf carts) on a first-come, first-served basis. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org.

PUT YOUR TOES IN THE SAND AT CAESAR CREEK STATE PARK BEACH

STEP BACK IN TIME AT A DRIVE-IN THEATER

Greater Cincinnati has two drive-in theaters — Holiday Auto Theatre in Oxford and Starlite Drive-In in Amelia. And both, like drive-ins across the country, have seen renewed interest since the advent of COVID. Sporting vintage vibes and cheery concession stands, the theaters offer an opportunity to hang in your car while you watch first-run films and classic cinema with sound beamed straight to your radio. Starlite, open since 1947, and Holiday, open for more than 60 years, both offer double features for the price of one (and an option to pay an additional $5ish to bring in your own food). Holiday Auto Theatre, 1816 Old Oxford Road, Oxford, holidayautotheatre.com. Starlite Drive-In, 2255 Ohio Route 125, Amelia, starlitedriveinohio.com.

The Queen City may be landlocked, but when you’re in need of some sand between your toes, there are a few beach-boasting state park lakes within a onehour drive from downtown, such as Caesar Creek State Park, Hueston Woods State Park and East Fork State Park. Caesar Creek offers a 1,300-foot beach that is open during daylight hours. After a day of hiking, mountain biking, fishing or boating, visitors can hang out on the beach or take a dip in the lake. Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 Ohio Route 73, Waynesville, Ohio, caesarcreeknatureassociation.org.

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I C E B AL LS AT S WE ET TO OT H CA N DI E S : : ZAC GI LL

Scoop an Ice Ball to Mark the Region’s Official Start of Summer BY: HANNAH GWYNNE

As summer approaches, a seasonal favorite is making its way back to Northern Kentucky sweet shops — ice balls. A combination of finely ground ice with rich, flavored syrup generously poured on top, this dessert has become a seasonal staple in Northern Kentucky. Local food etymologist and historian Dann Woellert writes on his blog that Ann Wolburn opened Ann’s Iceball in 1919 behind the former Green Derby restaurant in Newport. In the 1940s, Wolburn moved her stand to Ninth and Orchard streets. She seemingly was the push behind ice ball-mania within the region. “Ann originally sold her ice balls without ice cream for 3 cents in 1919, then it was 5 cents in the 1950s and 1960s and for 15 cents you could get a scoop of ice cream in the center,” Woellert says. Wolburn’s shop, now closed, continued running into the 1990s, using her original recipe. Her legacy continues at places like Schneider’s Sweet Shop in Bellevue and Sweet Tooth Candies in Newport, where you can pair your favorite flavored ice with smooth ice cream to further enhance the experience. These popular, seasonal desserts returned

to Sweet Tooth on April 7, and thousands of customers responded with excitement to the joyous announcement on social media. “We are actually extending our hours to 8 p.m. to accommodate all of our ice ball fans,” says Zac Gill, owner of the candy shop. Gill says the irresistible syrups poured over each ice ball are homemade, and the team’s unique way of cutting their ice elevates the sweet treat even further. “If you haven’t ever tried one, we suggest getting a Nectar Ice Ball with ice cream,” says Gill. “It may just change your life.” Sweet Tooth opened in 1972 and offers homemade chocolates, candy, and ice cream. In addition to its famous seasonal crowd-pleaser, the shop also is known for pecan turtles and opera creams. Nearby in Bellevue, Schneider’s Sweet Shop has been selling ice balls since the 1940s, says Jack Schneider, whose father Robert founded the shop in 1939. Like Sweet Tooth, Schneider’s sells the famous, tristate-area opera cream chocolates and also has a special way of preparing the ice for ice balls. Schnider purifies the water to ensure the best tasting ice and freezes it at the shop in five-gallon buckets to

form ice blocks. “It doesn’t have to be with ice cream,” Schnider explains. “An actual ice ball is ice with syrup in it. It’s not shaved ice. Shaved ice is super fine, and when you put the syrup on it, it starts to melt immediately. Ours is really fine ground ice. We use the old fashioned ice ball grinders.” Schneider’s sells ice balls from the day after Easter until Halloween, and the shop goes through around 200 pounds of ice per day in the heat of summer,. “Usually when you come here in the summertime, the line is around the corner,” says Schneider. “It’s lined up the sidewalk. What makes our [ice balls] better, in my opinion, is we make the syrups, we make the ice, and we make the ice cream.” Along with Schneider’s fine-tuned method of preparing the ice, he has also perfected all 18 syrups, with cherry being the fan favorite. He has been making each flavor to taste for the past 40 years.

Find ice balls and other desserts from Sweet Tooth Candies at sweettoothchocolates.com and Schneider’s Sweet Shop at schneiderscandies.com.

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DO A CANNONBALL IN THE ZIEGLER PARK POOL

Located in Ziegler Park, this renovated Over-theRhine pool is not only a community hot spot, but also a hip place to see and be seen. It’s popularity largely is due to the location (across from Alumni Lofts in the former School for Creative and Performing Arts), the cost (daily admission is just $4 for adults) and the features, including a zero-depth entry, lap lanes and a rock climbing wall that arcs out over the water. Due to capacity restrictions, the pool is offering three twohour swimming sessions per day with a maximum of 175 swimmers per session, split between season pass holders and reservations. Guests must reserve their visit at least one day in advance; walk-up ticket sales are currently unavailable. Ziegler Pool, 216 Woodward St., Over-the-Rhine, zieglerpark.org.

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TAKE A SELFIE WITH A CINCINNATI MURAL

Since its inception in 2007, the ArtWorks mural program has been a boon to public art along the streets of Cincinnati. The nonprofit organization — dedicated to employing and training local youth and other creative individuals to achieve community impact through art — has created nearly 200 of them. Download or print a map from online and build your own tour, or purchase a ticket for a ArtWorks-guided tour. artworkscincinnati.org.

VISIT FIONA AND THE ‘ROOS AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN

The Cincinnati Zoo’s new Roo Valley habitat is an interactive experience that allows visitors to wander a 15,000-square-foot green space where red and grey kangaroos roam about. In this land down under (it is technically down under — located where the zoo’s Wildlife Canyon used to be and currently below the local-beer-serving Hops Beer Garden), adorable marsupials may even come up and interact with you. Another zoo superstar to check out? Fiona the hippo, the Queen City’s perfectly plump princess. Since being born six weeks early in January 2017, Fiona has become a bona fide celebrity. Initially weighing just 29 pounds, she inspired the hashtag #TeamFiona as well as plenty of international media coverage, books and mountains of themed merchandise. Visit her and her mom Bibi in the zoo’s Africa exhibit, or check out the other animal tots who steal our hearts on the regular, especially during Zoo Babies month in May. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.

GET YOUR FLOAT ON AT GREEN ACRES KAYAK RENTAL

Harrison’s Green Acres kayak rental has officially opened for the season. If you didn’t get a chance to visit the livery last summer, traditional operations have shifted a bit to allow for safer trips for their guests. You must book your date and pay for your trip online in advance. The outfitter is only offering the 8-mile trip, and guests must weigh more than 75 pounds to participate. No dogs or large coolers are permitted, and only single kayaks are available. Trips start at $26.75 and increase by $8 on weekends or holidays. Green Acres Kayak Rental, 10465 Suspension Bridge Road, Harrison, greenacrescanoe.com.

13 ZIG-ZAG UP THE ART CLIMB Starting near the intersection of Eden Park Drive

and Gilbert Avenue, the new and expansive Art Climb is a flight of 164 steps that ascends from the sidewalk and zig-zags its way up to the Cincinnati Art Museum. At nine stories high, the stairway includes 16 landings and is flanked on either side by greenery and modern light beam structures. If the climb seems daunting, don’t fret: not only are benches placed throughout, but users can also check out artworks placed at four different plazas. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

SHOP LOCAL AT A THE CITY FLEA

This “curated urban flea market” pops up monthly from May to October — with a special winter holiday market — in Washington Park. Small businesses and independent makers sell everything from vintage duds and air plants to apothecary items and artisan pizza. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-theRhine, thecityflea.com.

T HE R O OT B E ER STA ND : : DA N IE L L E SC H U STE R

VISIT SHARONVILLE’S THE ROOT BEER STAND

Opened as an A&W Root Beer Stand in 1957, the now family-owned restaurant makes secret-recipe root beer (available by the jug) using water from the property’s 280-foot-deep well. But don’t miss out on the food — the secret-recipe chili for the eatery’s famous foot-long coney dogs is to die for. Open seasonally. The Root Beer Stand, 11566 Reading Road, Sharonville, therootbeerstand.com.

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Devour the Meat Cone at Great American Ball Park BY: ALLISON BABKA

With its leisurely pace, foam-fingered cheers and Hammond organ interludes, baseball is the quintessential summer sport. There’s just something special about singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and root, root, rooting for the home team with 40,000 other rabid fans. But honestly? Sometimes we just want the food. Ballpark fare can make anyone salivate. The comforting aroma of hot, salty peanuts. The mouth-watering nostalgia of ice cream in miniature batter’s helmets. The tantalizing

siren call of tangy relish on a foot-long hot dog.

coleslaw, all loaded up into a squishy bread cone.

And those are all great. But we really want the good stuff. The weird stuff.

That’s right: this delicious Frankensteinesque creation is literally a fist full of meat and drippy toppings that you can nibble just like you would some Ben & Jerry’s (or you could use a fork, if you’re a bit more refined). Find it in section 137 of Great American Ball Park at Montgomery Inn.

The new meat cone at Great American Ball Park scratches that itch. Ok, ok, the dish’s name actually is Montgomery Inn’s Smokehouse Parfait, but we can’t imagine that Cincinnati Reds fans will say that over “meat cone” throughout a game. New for 2021, the item is exactly what you’d imagine: BBQ pulled pork, mac & cheese and

A little indulgent? Sure. But what’s summer without barbecue and baseball? For more information, visit reds.com.

S M OK EH O US E PAR FA I T : : H A I LE Y B OL LI N GER

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Caring For Our Watersheds is a program that empowers students to imagine, develop and create solutions in their local watersheds. The program promotes watershed awareness and stewardship, values student ideas and offers support when turning theoretical ideas into action. Judges in the environmental field score student entries and the top ten projects are selected to compete in the final competition. $10,000 in implementation funding (up to $1,000 per project) is available to all participants, allowing each and every idea to be turned into a reality. This year because of COVID-19 closures, we were unable to hold a final competition, but students were still awarded the final prize money along with awards going to the winning schools as well. It is our hope that these projects will be able to be implemented in the future.

Caring For Our Watersheds is a joint program of the Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District, Nutrien Ltd, and the Nutrients For Life Foundation, with additional funding from the Ohio Soybean Council.

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CARING FOR OUR WATERSHEDS FINALISTS

UT OF OVER 130 ENTRIES submitted this year, these teams placed in the top 10 and will equally share the $12,000 in awards for themselves and their schools. Learn more about our top 10 entries below, listed in no particular order: Project: WE NEED A SOLUTION TO WASTE: PERIOD Student: Marianna Dionysiou School: Wyoming High School Description: Realizing the amount of plastic waste generated from feminine hygiene products, Marianna began to investigate reusable solutions. Pairing up with the University of Cincinnati Environmental Club, she began to develop educational outreach programs to engage and encourage women on campus to shift their perception about reusable menstrual cups and pads. Marianna hopes to distribute Dot Cups as part of this programming so that others can begin to reduce their waste without breaking the bank. Project: ELECTRONICS DRIVE TO A HEALTHIER LITTLE MIAMI WATERSHED Students: Mia Prasinos, Rebecca Specht School: Ursuline Academy Description: Mia and Rebecca became aware of the lack of electronics recycled and reused in the Little Miami Watershed. The toxic waste that resulted from this upset them, so they planned to hold an electronics drive at school to benefit the Ohio River Foundation. The electronics collected will be sent to be recycled at EcoPhones, who will send back the money that will ultimately be donated to ORF’s Adopt a Mussel Program. Project: PEE IS NOW FREE Students: Riley Lingen, Eli Meyung, Mason Allen School: Wyoming High School Description: Toilets and urinals, if not efficient, waste a lot of water. Riley, Eli and

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Mason wanted to reduce the amount of water used at Wyoming High School and proposed to install waterless urinals. By doing this they would not only be saving water, they would be saving the school money too.

existing greenhouse, adding rain barrels and gutters and planting native species. To extend information outside of just the school, Haomi planned to educate the community about the importance of the new space as well.

Project: HABITATS FOR BATS Student: Clara Conover School: Mount Notre Dame High School Description: Bats are often thought of as pests, but Clara saw the need to protect them. By building small, clean habitats for bats, she is trying to ensure the livelihood of these creatures that increase pollination and reduce harmful insects. Preserving the little brown bats will ensure biodiversity within the Little Miami Watershed with a fairly simple solution.

Project: CARING FOR OUR COSMETICS Students: Lexi Beke, Angelina Tran School: Ursuline Academy Description: Lexi and Angelina saw an opportunity to reduce the amount of cosmetic related waste going into their local landfill. To do this, they would hold a collection for empty skincare, haircare, and cosmetic packaging at their school to see which two homerooms could collect the most waste. The winning groups would receive stainless steel water bottles as a reminder to reduce the amount of plastic used in all aspects of life.

Project: BUCKETS OF BLISS Students: Sydney North, Shelby Kuhn School: Wyoming High School Description: In Cincinnati, there is a large population of people experiencing homelessness and they often use five gallon buckets to carry their items. Sydney and Shelby saw an opportunity to assist this group while also reducing waste, as painters use these same types of buckets yet they frequently end up in landfills. The duo planned to repurpose the old paint buckets, cleaning them out and filling them with small essential items to leave those receiving the buckets with a little more than they started with. Project: BUILDING A SCHOOL RAIN GARDEN TO MANAGE RUNOFF Student: Haomi Lee School: John Marshall School of Engineering (Cleveland) Description: Polluted runoff from parking lots and sidewalks getting into the Lake Erie Watershed is an issue that Haomi felt that she and the sustainability club at her school could begin to address. She planned to build this garden by an already

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Project: KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FROM LEAD CONTAMINATION Students: Jadiel Perez, Emeraude Katusevanako, Eh Thyu Say, Jasmin Garcia School: John Marshall School of Engineering (Cleveland) Description: Lead is an extremely harmful contaminant that has continued to be a problem for residents along the Cuyahoga River. Jadiel, Emeraude, Eh Thy, and Jasmin had practice testing lead levels in water during their chemistry class and saw an opportunity to help their community. They planned on passing out lead tests to residents in Cleveland with specific instructions to ensure accuracy and then they would double check results in their lab at school. This outreach would also be educational, as many residents may not fully know the impacts lead has on air and water. Project: GOING GREEN WITH GREENER LAWNS Student: Joshua Parker, Elliot WilsonWoodrow, Alex Rhodes

School: Wyoming High School Description: The ideal lawn is thought to be green, short and free from anything besides grass, but Josh, Elliot and Alex saw how harmful this notion was to the environment. They collaborated with their Civic Center to hand out native seed packets and information on how to reduce the environmental footprint of your lawn. Josh, Elliot and Alex found that while they may not be able to convince their neighbors to let their lawns go wild, they could at least persuade them to better strategize fertilizer use and how and when they water them. Project: THE FATBERG PROBLEM Students: Mariah Jackson School: Winton Woods High School Description: When bathrooms at her school became unusable due to peers flushing the wrong things down the drain, Mariah knew she needed to do something. As non-biodegradable solid matter (like wet wipes and grease) are flushed down drains, fatbergs form that result in clogged pipes and floods. By creating an informative ad and collaborating with their surrounding naturalists and school community, Mariah hoped to raise awareness and create action so that the fatberg problem would be reduced.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Hawk Nesting Platform Breanna Bauer Mount Notre Dame High School The Green Dress Project Cameron Coburn and Caroline Walsh Mount Notre Dame High School Garden of Eden Recycling Program Kiana Bernard and Gabby Starks Wyoming High School

Garden of Eden Recycling Project Recycling poses many distinct questions throughout different communities. It raises questions like, “Does it do more harm than good?” and “What even happens once you put everything into a recycling bin?” Gabby Starks and Kiana Bernard from Wyoming High School implemented a project through the Caring for Our Watershed contest to answer questions like these and others. Gabby and Kiana decided to create the Garden of Eden Recycling Program which focuses on teaching young students in low-income communities how to recycle and improve their local watershed overall. The students plan to go to low-income schools in the Avondale and Bond Hill neighborhoods where they believe recycling is not a daily habit. Gabby and Kiana want to teach kids that recycling is one of the best ways to help their local watershed. With the help of their mentor Gwen Roth, Gabby and Kiana came up with a plan and developed an informative PowerPoint, hands-on games, pamphlets and posters that are all designed to advise

students in 1st - 3rd grade about the world of recycling and how they can be a positive advocate for the Ohio River watershed. Their proposal encourages students to be hands on and work productively throughout their sessions so they can use their new skills and abilities outside of the classroom and share with friends and family. This program will be able to give knowledge about recycling to over 200 students and allow them to be more active in helping their communities. Many people ask why they specifically geared their project toward children and families in low-income communities. Gabby and Kiana believe that families in suburban areas already participate in recycling at a higher rate and current recycling statistics in low income communities are fairly low. Reports show that low-income areas like these are not getting the education and informative lectures on recycling that they need. Gabby and Kiana wish to change that and in turn increase recycling rates in these communities.

We Need a Solution to Waste: Period Plastic has become a global problem. It has contaminated the water and it continues to be a menace to wildlife. Menstruation products are essential for women but they do not have to be the plethora of plastic that pads and tampons contain. Not only do these products contain plastic, but they often include cotton. As a water-thirsty crop, cotton can deplete local water supplies and often uses pesticides and insecticides. When it rains, these can run off into the water and cause pollution. One solution to the plastic problem is a reusable silicone cup that significantly reduces plastic waste and can last for ten years. With the average user throwing away 125-150 kg of menstruation products a year, this project would encourage an eco friendly solution for women so they can have the comfort they have with pads and tampons while protecting the environment. Wyoming High School student Marianna Dionysiou developed a plan to target University of Cincinnati stu-

dents. She developed a poster that promoted the reusable menstrual cups and showed the benefits that it provided for the environment. The Dot Cup Company agreed to provide the silicon cups and even offered to reduce the price so that more could be bought. This project would benefit more than UC Students because, for every cup bought, another one is donated to a female in a third world company. Marianna planned to distribute the reusable cups to any interested student. In addition, she planned to email a survey to encourage recipients to describe their experience with the reusable cup. Marianna also planned to record a YouTube video showing the environmental and economic benefits that come with reusable menstruation products. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hindered the ability to implement the project this spring, but she hopes to implement it later this year.

A Solution to Fatbergs Fatbergs are a huge problem in the Mill Creek watershed that many residents don’t know anything about. When people flush or dump the wrong things down the drain, blockages can occur. A fatberg is a congealed mass in a sewer system formed by the combination of flushed non-biodegradable solid matter, such as wet wipes, and congealed grease or cooking fat. Fatbergs are a problem because grease and fat blockages can cause sewer overflows and stoppage resulting in raw sewage being discharged into the environment without treatment. Fatbergs occur around the world and can cost thousands of dollars to clean out and fix. Mariah Jackson, a Winton Woods High School senior, was challenged by her teacher to develop a solution to a local watershed problem. As part of the Caring For Our Watersheds contest, Mariah chose to tackle the fatberg problem in the Mill Creek Watershed. She developed and presented a survey to local residents and found that 53% of respondents said they often put grease in the drain.

Mariah worked to develop a campaign, including flyers and pamphlets, to show local residents the harmful effects of fatbergs and encouraged people to stop flushing improper materials down the drain. She also developed a website with information about fatbergs and ways to help reduce the problem and save local communities money and resources. Mariah believes that once people understand the problem, they will work to implement alternative ways of disposing grease, fats and other items, so that they don’t end up causing issues in our sewer systems. Without fatbergs there will be fewer clogs in drainage pipes. Breaking up a fatberg is like breaking up concrete; it is hard work and it takes time and money to break up. In the span of five years, New York City spent $18 million fighting fatbergs. The education campaign Mariah developed has great potential to educate people on fatbergs and she can’t wait to begin the process.

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CARING FOR OUR WATERSHEDS

PARTNERS

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION Organizations dedicated to creating the next generation of land stewards in Ohio

utrien, the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Nutrients for Life Foundation understand the importance of protecting our watersheds and conserving natural resources. But it’s equally important to cultivate future land stewards and tomorrow’s advocates for the environment. That’s why the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Nutrients for Life Foundation have partnered with Nutrien to establish Caring For Our Watersheds, a unique program that enhances classroom learning through the practice of environmental research, writing skills, public speaking and hands-on stewardship. The program asks high school students to propose ideas on how to improve local watersheds. Students with strong proposals will then have the opportunity to put those ideas into action. As projects are planned and implemented, students develop strong leadership skills, learn sustainable practices and contribute to creating a healthier ecosystem. Students also have opportunities to connect with environmental professionals who volunteer and mentor the students as they learn new skills and develop deeper connections with the community in which they live. Caring For Our Watersheds is open to all high school students who live in or go to school in Ohio.

Caring for Our Watersheds is sponsored by Nutrien, a worldwide producer and retailer of fertilizers and other agricultural products and services. As the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services, Nutrien plays a critical role in Feeding the Future by helping growers increase food production in a sustainable manner. With nearly 20,000 employees, operations and investments in 14 countries, Nutrien’s crop inputs and services reach every major growing region of the world. The Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) is responsible for the conservation of natural resources within Hamilton County, Ohio. They have a special emphasis on soil and water with a focus on assisting landowners in planning and applying conservation practices on the land. HCSWCD is dedicated to the sustainable use of our natural resources and to encouraging positive behavioral changes that produce a higher quality of life for our citizens. The District assists all Hamilton County residents, schools, and jurisdictions through their services and dynamic partnerships that continually provide innovative solutions for the challenges of our region. The Nutrients for Life Foundation is a global organization consisting of members and collaborative partners that develops and distributes science-based materials to improve plant nutrient literacy, soil health knowledge and promotes fertilizer’s role in sustaining a growing population. Plant nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are also required to keep our parks, gardens, playgrounds, sports fields and golf courses green and healthy in communities from coast to coast.

CARING FOR OUR WATERSHEDS is dependent on community support. Teachers, parents, government, business and non-profits come together to support students in their quest to improve their local watershed. Thank you to everyone who made this contest year successful and for adapting when the unexpected happened! A special thank you to Emma Brandt, Katie Nainiger, Gwen Z Roth and Chloe Sprecker.

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PARTICIPATING TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS Deborah Brookbank - Winton Woods High School Mary Brown - John Marshall School of Engineering Sunitha Chiluka - School of One Bill Crow - Perry High School Mary Dennemann - Archbishop McNicholas High School Mary Dudley - James N. Gamble Montessori High School Kelly Dye - West Holmes High School Melissa Harlow - Milton-Union High School Nate Hatton - Miamisburg High School Purnima Jaiswal Cheruvu - Cleveland School of the Arts Dr. Anees Khanam - MC2STEM Melissa Kowalski - Put-In-Bay High School Dr. Vivian Lee - Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School Kirsten Mahovlich - Cleveland Metropolitan School District Tracy Majors - Wyoming High School Monika Nuñez - Ursuline Academy Deep Paul - Max S Hayes High School Mary Beth Rieth - Mount Notre Dame High School Anthony Rodgers - Rhodes School of Environmental Studies Juana Sanchez - Max S Hayes High School Michelle Shafer - Indian Hill High School Kathryn Sickinger - The Summit Country Day School Bridget Sparks - Princeton High School Taylor Richardson - Rhodes School of Environmental Studies Akshayaa Venkatakrishnan - Dater High School

JUDGES AND VOLUNTEERS Cassandra Anderson - Cleveland Metropolitan School District Jim Bader - Case School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University Chris Cann - TRC Solutions Phil Conley - Greenacres Foundation Rachel Cranmer - Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Rita Duda - Cleveland Metropolitan School District Gayle Gadison - Cleveland Metropolitan School District Nancy Ellwood - CDM Smith Elise Erhart - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Sara Fehring - Hamilton County SWCD Kevin Harrison - NE Ohio Regional Sewer District Ebony Hood - NE Ohio Regional Sewer District Sarah Kitsinis - TRC Solutions Adam Lehmann - Hamilton County SWCD Christen Lubbers - Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati Kara Luggen - Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Dr. Terri Lyles - Cleveland Metropolitan School District Anne Lyon - The Mill Creek Alliance Heather Mayfield - FORE Sarah Orlando - OH Sea Grant Brad Owens - Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati Emily Pickett - Greenacres Foundation Samantha Plante - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Marcia Roach - Cleveland Metropolitan School District Francine Scharver - Chagrin Valley Engineering Ella Sedacca - Greenacres Foundation Dorothy Smith - Robert Bosch Automotive Steering Emily Spooner - Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati Mike Sustin - West Geaugua Local Schools Dr. Dennis Taylor - Learning Streams International, Professor Emeritus Hiram College

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FI NDL AY M A RK E T : : HA I L E Y B OL L IN GE R

STROLL THROUGH FINDLAY MARKET

We already knew Findlay Market is great, but one of the best in the world? OK, we kinda knew that, too. In 2019, Newsweek affirmed our love for the 165-year-old outdoor market — the oldest continually operated public market in Ohio — by declaring it one of the top 10 food markets in the world as well as the only market in the United States to make the list. More than 50 full-time merchants at the 19th-century landmark sell everything from meat, cheese and fresh-baked bread to produce, flowers and international eats. Stop by for a pint at the newly opened Jane’s bar (a partnership with Karrikin Spirits taking over the former biergarten), a local farmers market and plenty of arts and crafts vendors. Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org.

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18 RIDE THE LOVELAND BIKE TRAIL

Spanning more than 70 miles along the Little Miami River, the Loveland Bike Trail is a haven for cyclists, runners and walkers alike. The paved, flat trail was developed in 1983, replacing what was once the Pennsylvania Railroad. Now, visitors pedal through to immerse themselves in the landscape of Little Miami State Park, grab ice cream at Loveland Sweets or Loveland Dairy Whip, and maybe even learn a thing or two at the Loveland History Museum. Loveland is also a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) district, so if you grab a brew from Narrow Path Brewing, you can take it with you while you wander the quaint downtown. And if you don’t own a bike, don’t worry — rentals are a phone call away. Loveland Bike Trail, lovelandbiketrail.com.

SHOP VINTAGE AT THE BURLINGTON ANTIQUE MARKET

Midwest’s premier antique market kicked off its 2021 season in April and has monthly dates slated through October. Visitors can expect to hunt through authentic wares — mid-century modern, Art Deco, pre-war, industrial and more — from more than 200 dealers offering the best antiques and vintage collectibles. If you’re a real hunter, aim for early-bird admission ($6; 6-8 a.m.), or just browse until 3 p.m. General admission is $4. Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington, burlingtonantiqueshow.com.

BUMP, SET, SPIKE AT FIFTY WEST BREWING COMPANY’S SAND VOLLEYBALL COURTS

Fifty West has turned a stretch of Wooster Pike into a veritable outdoor recreation corridor with several sand volleyball courts (register online for leagues), plus running groups, the Fifty West Cycling Company and more. All are geared toward building community through shared experiences, which include drinking craft beer and getting outside. The brewery hub also added its popular new Burger Bar to the sprawling campus, with a menu of bread-and-butter diner specialties like classic cheeseburgers, flat-top hot dogs and loaded crinkle cut fries. Don’t miss the 12 specialty burgers named for the 12 states that U.S. Route 50 runs through. Grab a house-made root beer or orange soda to wash it all down, or choose from a wide range of Fifty West canned, bottled or draft beers. Fifty West Brewing Company, 7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township, fiftywestbrew.com.

21 SLIDE THROUGH THE TWISTER AT CONEY ISLAND

Cincinnatians have been splashing around in the world’s largest recirculating pool at Coney Island amusement park since 1925. The 200-foot-by401-foot Sunlite Pool has plenty of space for small children, teenagers and lap swimmers to cool off during the summer, in addition to water slides like The Twister, a Typhoon Tower and adjacent Cannonball Cove, which has three diving boards (the tallest one is 9 feet high). Coney Island Amusement Park, 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, coneyislandpark.com.

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KI N GS I S LA ND : : KI NGS I SL AN D

Explore Kings Island NEW BOOK KINGS ISLAND: A RIDE THROUGH TIME TAKES READERS ON A GROOVY RIDE FROM THE 1970S TO THE PRESENT BY: J. CALEB MOZZOCCO

Evan Ponstingle might know more about Kings Island than anyone else on the planet right now. What’s novel about that is he’s a teenager. Ponstingle, 18, has worked at the Emporium gift shop at the popular amusement park for four summers now, and one of the questions customers ask him most often is if Kings Island sells books about the history of the park. Until now, the answer had always been no. But this season, Ponstingle can give them a different reply, thanks to his own book. When Ponstingle was just 15, he began writing the history of Kings Island, realizing there was a demand that no one else was meeting. This year, Rivershore Creative published Ponstingle’s Kings Island: A Ride Through Time, just ahead of the start of the season.

A NEW DISNEY COMPETITOR

Heavy on interviews with park employees past and present, the book reads a bit like an oral history of Kings Island, going all the way back to before the park’s 1972 founding — and long before Ponstingle was even born. Gary Wachs had the idea for Kings Island during the flood season of 1964 while dealing with another Cincinnati property. At the time, Wachs was the general manager of Coney Island, the city’s centuryold, family-run amusement park, and he wanted to relocate the park from its perch near the Ohio River to somewhere a little less prone to flooding. He also had plans to update Coney Island from a traditional amusement park into a newer, more grand theme park — the sort that Disneyland had popularized. Coney Island leadership didn’t start fast-tracking Wachs’ ideas until actor Fess Parker, who had played Davy Crockett on television, announced plans to build Frontier Worlds, his own theme park in Boone County, Kentucky. To keep the market to themselves, Wachs and his family partnered with Taft Broadcasting Company, and Coney Island closed while employees moved its rides to a new plot of land northeast of Cincinnati in Mason. Eventually, the new park became Kings Island, while Coney Island reopened in its original location a few years later. The rest, as they say, is history. And Ponstingle’s book collects it all.

FAMOUS FRIENDS

FUMBLES AND FIRSTS

Kings Island has seen a lot of crazy things over the years, and not every idea that park officials had worked, Ponstingle’s book shows. In 1976, the park added 50 baboons to the two-yearold Lion Country Safari attraction — or at least it tried to. The park built an 8-foot fence around the baboon enclosure, with another 14-foot fence around that. The baboons didn’t want to stay, though. Upon being dropped inside, the first two baboons immediately scaled both fences and escaped. The park electrified the enclosure before adding the other 48 baboons — all of which followed the first two over the fences, completely undeterred. At other times, the park hit upon a gem. In 1982, Kings Island needed fresh ideas but had little money for a big new attraction. Walt Davis, then the director of park operations, told Ponstingle that during a brainstorming meeting, someone had suggested running a roller coaster backwards. With nothing to lose, employees reconfigured one set of tracks for the Racer to do just that, making it the world’s first backward-running rollercoaster. The change proved to be popular, giving the park a “new” attraction that ran backwards until 2008. Kings Island: A Ride Through Time also includes the original design and layout of the park, which was largely inspired by Wachs’ travels to Europe (and the reason you’ll still find the iconic one-third-scale Eiffel Tower near the entrance). The book also notes the changes in park characters over the years, from Taft’s Hanna-Barbera lineup to Paramount Pictures’ movie characters to Nickelodeon’s cartoon stars to members of the Peanuts gang.

RIDES WORTH REMEMBERING

In Kings Island: A Ride Through Time, Ponstingle pays special attention to the roller coasters, which he says are “the heart of any amusement park.” He lovingly details the creation, characteristics and occasional problems of 1972’s The Racer, widely credited with reigniting worldwide interest in roller coasters. Then there’s The Beast, the world’s tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in 1979 and still the world’s longest. And who could forget 1981’s The Bat, the world’s first suspended roller coaster, and 1984’s King Cobra, the first original stand-up roller coaster? Ponstingle also dives into Kings Island’s more experiential endeavors, like 2017’s Mystic Timbers and 2020’s $30-million giga coaster Orion. The

Kings Island appears in many iconic television and film moments. How many have you seen?

1973: The Bradys lose Mike’s blueprints at the park in The Brady Bunch episode “The Cincinnati Kids.”

1973: The Partridge Family episode “I Left My Heart in Cincinnati” features Reds catcher Johnny Bench as a waiter at the park’s inn.

1975: Daredevil Evel Knievel jumps his motorcycle over 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island, setting a world record.

park also had plenty of movie-themed rides after Paramount bought the property from Taft, bringing to life Tomb Raider and The Italian Job (which had to be re-themed and renamed when the park was later sold). Of all Kings Island’s rides, though, Ponstingle most wishes he could have experienced the 1992-2002 Phantom Theater. During the indoor “dark ride,” visitors were seated in cars on a track that wound through an area made to look like a behind-thescenes tour of a haunted theater, complete with creepy characters and old-school illusions. “One of my favorite things ever is the Haunted Mansion at Disney, and I would have loved an elaborate and creative dark ride in the same vein in my backyard,” Ponstingle says. “Unfortunately, it closed a year before I was born.” Phantom Theater has been remade and rebranded repeatedly over the years. Inspired by Disney’s everfamous It’s A Small World ride, the attraction began life in 1972 as Enchanted Voyage, an indoor boat ride that featured Hanna-Barbera characters and an original theme song. William Hanna himself worked on the song, Ponstingle says, hammering out the melody on an organ with Kings Island’s general manager Dennis Speigel as they hung out on Hanna’s yacht in California. The song mentioned Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones and Yogi Bear, Wacky Races and other Hanna-Barbera creations. Enchanted Voyage was reskinned for The Smurfs in the 1980s, and, after its Phantom Theater phase, later rebranded as Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle. It’s currently known as Boo Blasters on Boo Hill and incorporates ghost-shooting animation. As Kings Island approaches next summer’s 50th anniversary, Ponstingle thinks amusement parks will remain a unique and relevant entertainment option in the modern era. “You can’t get the roller coaster experience anywhere else. There is nothing else in the world that even comes close to the feeling of Orion’s first drop,” Ponstingle says. “The uniqueness of the park itself is also something that Kings Island offers that you can’t get anywhere else. There’s not many other places in the world where you can grab a delicious bite to eat, see a fabulous live show and then go ride some of the world’s greatest roller coasters.” Buy Kings Island: A Ride Through Time at rivershorecreative.com/kingsisland.

1977: Actor Dick Van Dyke becomes the park’s celebrity spokesman and films a series of commercials.

Mid-1990s: Nick Lachey performs in a Kings Island barbershop quartet before becoming a member of 98 Degrees.

1988: Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy film portions of Fresh Horses at Kings Island.

2008: Robbie Knievel, Evel’s son, jumps his own motorcycle over 24 Coke Zero delivery trucks.

Chill Out at Cincinnati’s Best Rooftop Bars BY: CITYBEAT STAFF

Sweet, sweet summertime is upon us, which means it’s time to figure out which local rooftop bars you should plan to visit for all your breezy sunshine and sipping needs. And this year, we’re taking the guesswork out of the equation. CityBeat has been in the business of curating the Best Of Cincinnati® for more than two decades, highlighting the city’s most outstanding selections in Eats, Arts & Culture, Shops & Services, Music & Nightlife, Sports & Recreation and City Life. And the responsibility of selecting these exceptional entities is divided between our readers and staff. This year, readers logged on to the ballot site in droves to vote for their favorites in broad categories, including the top 10 rooftop spots to enjoy your brew with a view. Here are the winners:

RHINEGEIST BREWERY

Rhinegeist has worked quickly over the past near decade to become one of the city’s favorite local brewers. Its 25,000-square-foot warehouse tucked away on the north end of Elm is home to boozy alchemy and big house parties. Head upstairs to the weather-dependent giant patio. This very chill wooden rooftop deck features ample seating and an upstairs bar with more than a dozen draft beers and ciders, plus a selection of wine and draft cocktails. Rhinegeist Brewery, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, rhinegeist.com.

BRAXTON BREWING COMPANY

Braxton Brewing Co.’s 5,000+ square-foot seasonal patio features a living wall and some pretty neat views of Covington and downtown Cincinnati. Guests can expect plenty of seating, shady umbrellas and a full bar. Braxton Brewing Company, 27 W. Seventh St., Covington, braxtonbrewing.com.

TOP OF THE PARK AT THE PHELPS

THE VIEW AT SHIRES’ GARDEN

On the roof of this downtown hotel, catch 360-degree views of the city and the river from its vantage point at the base of Lytle Park. Amenities include tabletop fire features, TVs and live music, plus a tapas menu of shareable bites. Top of the Park, 506 E. Fourth St., Downtown, topoftheparkcincinnati.com.

Located on the 10th floor of downtown’s City Club Apartments, this spacious rooftop eatery features an indoor dining room, outdoor patio, two full bars, outdoor dining and cocktail tables with impeccable views. Reservations are strongly encouraged, and masks are required. The View at Shires’ Garden, 309 Vine St., 10th Floor, Downtown, theviewatshiresgarden.com.

BISHOP’S QUARTER

PINS MECHANICAL COMPANY

Bishop’s Quarter not only offers full service on the rooftop patio, but also regular live music entertainment. Outdoor seating is also available on two more patios that wrap around the building (yes, that’s three patios total!). Bishop’s Quarter, 212 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, bishopsquarterbar.com.

21C MUSEUM HOTEL’S COCKTAIL TERRACE

21c Museum Hotel’s swanky and seasonal Cocktail Terrace opened for the season in April, allowing guests to watch spring turn into summer. Guests can look forward to washing down their city views with a boozy summer slushie in hand while partaking in a raw bar crafted by Metropole’s Chef Vanessa Miller. Cocktail Terrace, 609 Walnut St., Downtown, 21cmuseumhotels.com/cincinnati.

CITY VIEW TAVERN

Indulge in a spicy bloody mary while at this fine lowfrills neighborhood bar that offers panoramic vistas of our fair metropolis and some locally loved burgers. City View Tavern, 403 Oregon St., Mount Adams, cityviewtavern.com.

Catch some rays and take in the views at Pins. Sip on cocktails, like the aptly named Pinball Wizard, while you enjoy their rooftop patio, or choose from one of the 36 beers on tap. From the Columbus-based Rise Brands, the group behind 16-Bit, this Over-theRhine bar has pinball machines and duckpin bowling lanes, plus other old-school entertainment options like foosball, bocce ball and shuffleboard. Pins Mechanical Company, 1124 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, pinsbar.com/cincy.

AC UPPER DECK

On top of Cincinnati’s AC Hotel at The Banks, the Upper Deck boasts excellent views of the riverfront and Great American Ball Park. Lounge under string lights while gorging on Cincy Style Chili Dip and sipping a local craft beer or craft cocktail. AC Upper Deck, 135 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown, acupperdeck.com.

THE BLIND PIG

This downtown pub features a rooftop patio on top of Lola’s coffee shop. The bar is located just across the street from The Banks and serves a full menu of bar food and daily drink specials. This is a perfect stop for a Reds pregame party. The Blind Pig, 24 W. Third St., Downtown, blindpigcincy.com.

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ASH CAV E, H OC KI NG H I LL S : : ALWAYS S H OOT I NG , C C BY 2 . 0, WI K I-

Get Away from It All (But Stay Close to Home) BY: MEGHAN MALAS

If you’re looking for the chance to escape the bustle of the city this summer, there are plenty of peaceful getaways within a three-hour drive of Cincinnati. Recharge your batteries by exploring the backwoods of Ohio and Kentucky, basking in the sun and listen to the birds. Don’t forget to grab a board game, dig out the bug spray and throw some Rhinegeist brews into a cooler to complete your summer journey.

THE CONCORD

Flemingsburg, Kentucky; 1.5-hour drive The Concord, a renovated tiny home available on Airbnb, lets guests experience luxurious cozy living while relaxing among the rolling hills -- all under the clear blue sky and without trading in modern amenities. This one-bedroom stay has an upstairs loft perfect for extra friends or any little ones along for the ride. The tiny home is a short walk away from the vineyard and restaurant owned by the hosts, which means the view is fantastic and the wine is even better. Searchable on airbnb.com.

THE BOX HOP

Hocking Hills, Ohio; 2-hour drive For the outdoorsy folks with a passion for sustainability, the Box Hop is a treehouse built from three shipping containers. High up among the branches, up to eight guests can savor morning coffee or mimosas on the deck and later enjoy the twinkling lights once the sun goes down and the stars come out. The modern, sleek interior doesn’t let you forget you’re on vacation, and neither does the six-person hot tub. The rooftop patio is perfect for sunbathing with a refreshing cocktail after a hike through Hocking Hills. Searchable on airbnb.com.

CONESTOGA WAGON

Logan, Ohio; 2-hour drive Experience one of Hilltop Resort and Campground’s newest additions while immersing yourself in American history. The Conestoga Wagon is an 18-foot covered wagon converted into a quirky four-person getaway. Covered wagons were a large part of early American transportation, both for goods and for people, but Laura Ingalls Wilder definitely didn’t have amenities like a king size bed, twin bunks beds, air conditioning or Wi-Fi. Bathrooms, showers and laundry can be found throughout the campground. Searchable on campspot.com.

CHARMING CREEKSIDE CABIN WITH DOCK

Ripley, Ohio; 1-hour drive Nestled between Eagle Creek and the Ohio River, this waterfront cabin gives guests the chance to dip their toes in the water, glide along the river on a pedal boat or relax in a lawn chair around the firepit. There’s no wifi here, but within a 20-minute drive, guests can find “award-winning wineries, antique shopping, many excellent restaurants, and four golf courses,” according to the Airbnb listing. Catfish and bass reside in the river, making this cabin one of the best spots for deepwater fishing in southwestern Ohio. Searchable on airbnb.com.

THEODORE TINY CABIN

Red River Gorge, Kentucky; 2-hour drive Named the Theodore Overlook after President Theodore Roosevelt, the creator of the U.S. Forest Service, this tiny house is burrowed within the Daniel Boone National Forest. It’s perfect for vacationers who want to spend their days hiking the hills of Kentucky before returning to a quaint, but modern abode. This tiny house has two queen beds, multiple deck areas and a hot tub to rest those sore muscles. Be prepared to climb a ladder to one sleeping area! Searchable on airbnb.com.

THE LAVENDER HOUSE IN YELLOW SPRINGS

Yellow Springs, Ohio; 1-hour drive If you prefer a town getaway, The Lavender House is within walking distance of downtown Yellow Springs. Stocked with coffee and tea, and equipped with a private back deck, this quaint, pale-purple dwelling is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway with your favorite person. Enjoy all that a small town has to offer before returning to your colorful abode. According to CityBeat readers, Yellow Springs is the third-best place to visit within a 150-mile radius. Searchable on airbnb.com.

THE HUMMINGBIRD YURT

over the weekend. Within the 20-foot Hummingbird Yurt, there is a queen bed, kitchenette, bathroom and shower. End your night sitting by the campfire, chilling in the hot tub, or partaking in giant Jenga and shuffleboard games. Searchable on airbnb.com.

THE ROUNDABOUT CABIN

McDermott, Ohio; 2-hour drive This circular cabin is perfect for fans of open-concept homes. Immerse yourself among the trees at this rustic lodge that has walls of windows that fully connect you with nature. The centerpiece of the home is the towering, stone fireplace where guests can snuggle up. There’s also an outdoor firepit that gives a stellar view of the stars. Just ten minutes away is downtown Portsmouth, where vacationers can find restaurants if they don’t want to use the in-cabin kitchen. Searchable on airbnb.com.

CABIN PINE RIDGE

Pine Ridge, Kentucky; 2-hour drive Situated among sandstone bluffs sits a cabin just minutes from Natural Bridge State Park, Red River Gorge and the Daniel Boone National Forest. Grill out on the porch or gather around the firepit in the shadows of a rock shelter. With three beds, up to eight people can accompany you on your journey to nature, and at 1,800 square feet, there’s plenty of room to spread out. Searchable on vrbo.com.

LAUREL RUN FARM

Hocking Hills, Ohio; 2-hour drive If you’re looking to bring along more than just a few friends — or maybe celebrate a post-COVID family reunion — this 17-person cabin in Hocking Hills can accommodate. Complete with a game room, threetier theatre and a heated pool, this is where nature meets luxury. Hike around Hocking Hills and take in all it has to offer, before retiring to the firepit to play bocce ball and cornhole. With seven bedrooms and five bathrooms, you can trust that everyone will be comfortable. Find it at laurelrunfarm.com.

Logan, Ohio; 2-hour drive This giant yurt is part of Hillside Retreats’ campground, which is perfect for those who want “a getaway of both relaxation and recreation,” according to the listing. Your friends surely will be jealous when you tell them you lived in a unique, rounded structure

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THEATER

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ARTS & CULTURE

A rendering of the stage at Summit Park. P H O T O : C I N C I N N AT I O P E R A

Opera in the Great Outdoors For the first time since 1971, the Cincinnati Opera’s entire summer season will take place outside — at Blue Ash’s Summit Park BY A N N E A R E N ST E I N

or the first time since 1971, the Cincinnati Opera’s (CO) entire summer season will be outdoors. The 2021 season will be held in Blue Ash’s Summit Park, a 130-acre complex of recreation areas that includes a stage platform at the base of a 153-foot observation tower. The decision to move performances

outside came in the wake of COVID spikes at the end of 2020, says CO Artistic Director Evans Mirageas. Although the CO presents an annual season preview in Washington Park, this summer marks the first outdoor season since the company decamped from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to Music Hall five decades ago.

Working with a team of staff, board and community members, the CO explored several outdoor options including the Cincinnati Zoo, the company’s original home. Summit Park was a last-minute addition to the list. “We went out there in January to meet with their team and we were blown away by their enthusiasm and by the space itself,” Mirageas says. Blue Ash officials are equally enthusiastic, says Dan Guthrie, the city’s recreation superintendent. Located on the site of the former Blue Ash Airport on Glendale-Milford Road, Summit Park’s first phase opened in 2014 and has grown to include restaurants, upscale housing and a catch-and-release pond, as well as playgrounds and the expanse of the Great Lawn. It’s a win-win for both organizations,

an opportunity for the CO to bring new audiences to opera and for Blue Ash to work with a ticketed event for the first time, something the city and the park are eager to try out, according to Guthrie. “I’m very impressed with their organization, ensuring that we have a partnership that is fair in terms of sharing expenses and ticket costs,” Guthrie says. Examples of shared costs include fencing to cordon off the audience area, as well as event staffing and signage. “We’re helping them to pave new ground and they’re helping us with working our way through the logistics,” says Joe Peacock, CO’s director of patron engagement, who is overseeing the venue details with Guthrie.

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Pods on the Great Lawn at Summit Park. P H O T O : C I N C I N N AT I O P E R A

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And the logistics are formidable. A total of 388 10-foot-by-10-foot pods have had to be painted on the Great Lawn (“That took almost 1,400 gallons of paint,” Guthrie says). And the stage itself is huge: 120 feet by 80 feet. Access, parking, emergency procedures, ticketing, seating, bathroom facilities and maintaining Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) safety protocols are being worked through every day. “In one of our first meetings, we drew up a list of initial concerns and it ran to four or five pages of bullet points,” Guthrie says. “We want to provide a safe and viable space for performers and audience and the park staff wants to make sure there’s access and room for people to enjoy the public spaces that will be open during performances.” It’s starting from scratch for the CO. “During a normal summer season, we’d partner with Cincinnati Arts Association to handle details with Music Hall and (the School for Creative and Performing Arts),” Peacock says. “In this new venue, working with the Summit staff is critical and we’re all on the same page.” Scheduling was one of the first issues. Summit Park’s summer events range from a farmers market and outdoor fitness classes to free films and an annual Fourth of July celebration — Red, White & Blue Ash — which in pre-pandemic years drew up to 70,000 people. “We couldn’t have performances on Wednesday because an evening

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yoga class meets on the great lawn,” Mirageas says. The CO summer season begins on July 17 and runs through July 31 featuring nine performances of three operas — Carmen, Tosca and The Barber of Seville — over a three-week period. Each performance starts at 8:30 p.m. and runs 90 minutes, with no intermission. Carmen will be staged July 17, 22, 26 and 30, with J’Nai Bridges singing the title role; Puccini’s Tosca takes over the park July 23, 27 and 31; and the comic The Barber of Seville will have performances July 24 and 29. Every detail is determined by public health and safety guidelines. In January, the CO appointed veteran stage manager Andrea Shell as COVID compliance officer, overseeing everything from rehearsals to parking. The Summit’s concrete stage platform provides ample space for a 40-piece orchestra upstage, spaced six feet apart. The 40-member chorus will be on steps flanking both sides of the stage, with singers downstage, facing the audience. Video monitors will be positioned so both singers and the conductor can see each other. Singers will be miked and an elaborate sound system will be utilized “so you’ll hear everything,” Mirageas says. He adds that cuts to the operas are minimal and that the important arias and ensembles remain. Staging is another matter. No costume changes, no scenery. The company plans to place a canopy

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structure over the stage to provide lighting installations and to project sound. “We’re playing it by ear to see how much staging we can actually do,” Mirageas says. “It depends on our singers’ comfort levels and other factors. We’re letting science be our guide.” Rehearsals are scheduled off-site and COVID tests are part of the routine. Science will guide seating, as well. With 388 projected pods accommodating up to four people each, the audience could total over 1,500. But that number may decrease as patrons opt for a smaller pod and pods are eliminated due to placement issues. Audience members will be required to wear masks throughout the performance. Ticket prices range from $15 to $50 for a single performance, well below the cost of an orchestra seat in Music Hall. Subscribers will be given priority, and general admission tickets will go on sale in June. Certain pods prices will include chairs, but Peacock encourages audience members to bring their own, or blankets. Cicadas shouldn’t be a problem in mid-July, but in the event of bad weather, three rain dates are built into the schedule. A major selling point for Summit Park is ample free parking. “This isn’t our first time dealing with a large-scale event, but now we’re dealing with COVID and ticketed access to the Great Lawn,” Blue Ash’s Guthrie says. Golf cart shuttles will be available,

but the distance from the overflow parking area to the lawn is roughly the same as that from the CET garage to the Music Hall entrance. Add to the mix port-o-lets, whether or not to allow food and drink, access points and directional signage. Another challenge for Guthrie and his team is maintaining the park and accessibility to the non-performance spaces during shows. Given that the pandemic is far from over, everyone acknowledges that plans may have to pivot, but optimism is carrying the day. For both the CO and Blue Ash, there are unexpected benefits. “I’ve never been to an opera and I don’t think many of my staff have,” Guthrie says. “I’m really looking forward to this immersion.” “I hope that other arts organizations will see and learn that this location and this venue are incredible performance spaces. Summit Park has a great performance venue, accessible from both interstates,” Peacock says. For everyone involved — performers, staff and especially the audiences, it’s all about the communal aspect: creating and hearing live music in real time with a group that can respond. Applause will be encouraged, even if hugging and handshakes aren’t. The Cincinnati Opera’s summer season will take place at Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash. For performance dates and ticketing, visit cincinnatiopera. org.

CULTURE

Brick Gardens Turns Vacant Buildings and Lots into Urban Farms That Feed Greater Cincinnati Communities BY M AC K E N Z I E M A N L E Y

Domonique Peebles walks along a mulched path hemmed in by raised plant beds at a garden site in Madisonville. The founder of local urban farming nonprofit Brick Gardens points out what’s growing in each container. “Right now, we already have some (produce) like swiss chard, mustard greens, broccoli. In those far beds over there is a lettuce mix,” Peebles says. “You see the beds that just have soil? Those already have seeds in them. We’ve got carrots, radishes, beets.” It’s a breezy spring day, and volunteers from MadTree Brewing are milling about the property, helping Peebles and his team prepare the beds for the growing season. Soon they’ll have summertime grub: corn, zucchini, squash. There’s hops and a raspberry bush along the perimeter, and cherry and pear trees around the corner. And just across the street is Brick Gardens’ greenhouse. Inside, sun streams through its slanted roof and onto trays of seedlings. Brick Gardens operates four different plots to help feed residents in Madisonville, Bond Hill, Evanston, Avondale, Norwood and Roselawn. The organization’s mission is to provide fresh produce to those living in Cincinnati’s food deserts by converting vacant buildings and lots into outdoor urban farms and indoor hydroponic/ aquaponic grow spaces — all with a focus on neighborhood involvement and education.

Planting an Idea Founded in 2016, the idea for Brick Gardens first took root while Peebles was living in Over-the-Rhine. When the Kroger on Vine Street closed, he found himself traveling across the river to Newport, the closest grocery store at the time, to buy food not only for himself, but also for those who didn’t have reliable access to a car. A farm-raised native of Louisville, Kentucky, Peebles knew how to grow vegetables. “But I lived in OTR, so I didn’t have a backyard. I just had a slab of concrete,” he says. That’s when he learned about hydroponics, a way of growing plants without soil. Similarly, aquaponics — used by Brick Gardens — relies on waste produced by fish to supply plants with nutrients to grow in water. With a possible solution in front of them, the same neighbors for whom he grocery shopped became interested in establishing their own growing system. He brought his idea to philanthropic investment lab People’s Liberty, became a 2016 grantee and received additional funding in 2017 to continue the project. It’s been a full-time job ever since. “My first neighborhood was Roselawn at New prospect church,” Peebles says. “We started farming outside;

we had chickens out there. And then we were growing hydroponically in their basement. Other neighborhoods started hearing about it. Community councils started reaching out saying, ‘Hey, can you build this here? We have this vacant space.’” Now Brick Gardens has a site on Xavier University’s campus, two in Madisonville and another at Bond Hill’s St. Aloysius, a mental health and education center. The latter, Peebles says, will take five years to completely build out. Boasting eight acres, it will become the home of their “true urban farm.” “We’re slowly working on the soil. But we’ve partnered with that school to where agriculture is integrated into the daily schedule,” he says. “We have classes that will come out throughout the day and they’re actually going to get their science, math and reading while they’re in the garden, and the teachers will correlate those things together.” When Peebles first received the People’s Liberty grant, he didn’t foresee what Brick Gardens would ultimately become. But organizations and neighborhoods continued reaching out with interest. “Every day that I woke up and was like, ‘Oh, looks like this project is over!’ I’d get an email or phone call or something that just kept it going. Now I literally get up every day and I laugh,” Peebles says. “I’m like, ‘At least I still get to do this because it keeps happening.’” And the Brick Gardens model may expand beyond Cincinnati. Peebles says exciting partnerships are brewing, and organizers from other cities like Cleveland and Louisville have been indicating their interest.

Cultivating Community Sitting by the Madisonville greenhouse, a few workers stop to ask Peebles a question or give a simple hello. The workday is about halfway over, and the afternoon sun is still bright. Along with volunteers from MadTree, some of the workers on this particular day come from Groundwork Ohio River Valley, a nonprofit that centers on racial environmental justice — specifically, the group’s Green Team, an initiative designed to instill job skills and a greater understanding of the surrounding environment for high school students. Most of the Green Team members working on this site come from Madisonville or the surrounding area. That’s intentional. “When we go into a neighborhood and we look at blight, one of the things we try not to do is go into that neighborhood assuming something that they need,” Peebles says. “Even if you are doing a community garden to get rid of that blight, it doesn’t mean that that neighborhood wants you there. What we try to do is, in addition

The produce in this Brick Gardens greenhouse will feed Madisonville and beyond. P H OTO : M AC K E N Z I E M A N L E Y

to removing blight, put a meaningful project behind it.” The Madisonville site is one such example. Once a vacant spot, it now grows thousands of pounds of food. Members of the Green Team live in the neighborhood, and the garden itself is meant for the community at large. “When you’re employing people in the community, it gives them a sense of ownership,” Peebles says. “So now we are leaving behind, ‘That’s a club I’m not invited to,’ because you’re actually being employed to be in there. And you get food access.” The produce is sold within Madisonville at Brick Gardens’ farmstand, where two youths who live in the neighborhood are employed for the summer. They sell it inside Madisonville and keep the dollar circulating within the community, Peebles says. There are also vegetable beds that are free for picking, no questions asked. In the

future, Peebles hopes to implement a system where residents can order seasonal produce to be dropped off at their doorstep, delivered via bicycle. Brick Gardens also engages with residents to ensure that the produce grown is what the surrounding community enjoys and wants. After all, every neighborhood has its own demographics and, therefore, tastes. Is it really for the community if you’re growing produce they wouldn’t buy or eat, Peebles asks. “People always tell you what they need if you listen, right? We try to make our job easy because everybody has to eat,” Peebles says. “So just grow good food, and then educate people on how to do it and why they should do it. And then if you offer a job in that same breath of air, then I think that’s the circle that needs to be closed.”

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Voted Best Smoke Shop

Voted Best Green / Sustainable Goods Store

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FOOD & DRINK

Khora’s chocolate caramel tart P H OTO : H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

Save Room for Dessert Downtown’s hotly anticipated Khora lives up to expectations with its ancient-grains pasta dishes — but dessert is where the restaurant really shines R E V I E W BY PA M A M IT C H E L L

ost-vaccine life keeps getting better. My first indoor restaurant outing after vaccination was with a former work colleague at a casual neighborhood place. We had good drinks and mediocre food and felt liberated from the worry that a deadly, invisible killer might be lurking close by.

A couple weeks later, four of us tried a newish restaurant in another neighborhood, and that experience moved me even closer to what felt like pre-COVID dining. Then I made it to downtown’s Khora, one of the truly hot spots in this year’s foodie firmament. That night, out with

a larger group of friends, everything came together to remind us all of why dining out can be so much fun. It was a taste of what we are all longing for: “back to normal” social life. On a warm Friday evening the restaurant was fully booked and lively with young couples on dates, pairs and foursomes of friends and the occasional family group. The décor is thrillingly modern — open, accented with greenery and bold artwork, and beautifully lit with natural light augmented by different-sized hanging lamps that almost seemed to float above our heads. Banquettes and other surfaces are covered in a rich and soothing deep-purple palette, contrasted with neutral tones elsewhere in the space.

The restaurant occupies part of the ground floor of the new Kinley Hotel, one of only two in the boutique chain thus far; the other is in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Khora garnered a lot of advance publicity before its October 2020 debut, thanks to the track record of its owner, Louisville restaurateur Edward Lee, and the culinary team he had assembled. But the unfortunate timing of the opening was worrisome and I hoped the new venture could weather the miserable COVID winter and emerge ready to wow us. Judging from the full house we joined in late April, I think they made it. Across the hotel lobby there’s a bar and cafe called the Exchange, which

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Gemelli “Cincinnati style” P H OTO : H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

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operates daily from early morning until 10 p.m. and provides coffee and light meals, mostly for hotel guests. The inspiration for Khora’s dinner menu, according to Executive Chef Kevin Ashworth, builds on the Midwest’s culinary history. They wanted to focus on pasta, but did not intend to open an Italian restaurant. Instead, they use unusual grains that look like typical semolina pastas but have their origin in whole-grain flours milled in small batches by Ohio farmers. The duo’s research found that these flours from ancient grains make especially tasty noodles. In addition to Lee and Ashworth, Khora has attracted an outstandingly talented pastry chef, Megan Ketover — formerly of Orchids at Palm Court under AAA five-diamond chef Todd Kelly, among other prominent kitchens. Whatever you do when you dine at Khora, absolutely save room for dessert. We resisted any urge to order dessert first and had a couple of savory courses before the sweets. We chose four (out of five) pasta dishes as our main course and two items listed as “Entrees,” which was a fair sampling of the restaurant’s offerings. We shared four of the six starters, too. With the help of these five genial friends, I therefore was able to taste more than half of what’s on the menu. The kitchen sent out many more hits than misses, with one or two outstanding successes at each course. Dry-aged beef tartare ($18) topped the starters; the meat was properly chewy and seasoned with smoky notes and a pop of acidity from sauerkraut kimchi mixed into the ground beef. A salad of berries and goat cheese ($12) tossed with arugula and a light poppyseed

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vinaigrette was refreshing, and we were surprised by how much Khora’s modern, open dining room we liked P H OTO : H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R the French onion dip and chips, which was dressed up (and priced accordingly) with a topping of caviar ($22). Fried feta ($11) over mint, cucumber and yogurt suffered from an overload of super-spicy harissa, though. A delicate agnolotti made from buckwheat flour and stuffed with sweet and savory ingredients ($33) outshone the other pastas. It featured morel mushrooms, that seasonal treat, and piled on with mascarpone cheese, salty pancetta and another springtime delight, English peas. Garganelli with sausage, red pepper and broccoli rabe ($23) is a preparation I love but this version was too light on the broccoli rabe for my taste and made the dish heavier than it needed to be. One of the restaurant’s signature pastas is gemelli “Cincinnati style,” which the staff has called their take on a 3-way ($25). With lamb ragout, pumpkin seeds and caramelized goat Dry-aged beef tartare cheese, I wouldn’t mistake it for a chili P H OTO : H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R parlor meal, but it’s quite delicious. The one pasta that we didn’t finish waffle, apple slaw and Brussels sprouts. was bucatini, listed as sauced with And then, dessert: four were offered, spring flowers, cheese and pepper and we ordered one of each ($13). It ($23). got a little confusing on my small plate Seared scallops ($31), an entrée, crowded with portions of the tarts were slightly undercooked, and I didn’t and cakes that we passed around. Yet care for the couscous (with green olive, I zeroed in on two standouts. The pickled blueberries and watercress) chocolate caramel tart nailed every preparation that it came with. In element you’d want in a sweet treat, contrast, the Atlantic black bass ($26) with a deeply chocolate, creamy came together nicely with a variety of filling and the contrasting textures accompaniments, including a potato of toffee puffed grains and cocoa nib

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bark. Completely different but equally enticing, the cornmeal cake is not to be missed, with each ingredient subtly spiced to create a veritable symphony of fragrant tastes. My mouth waters as I recall that delectable ending to a meal that felt like another giant step toward pre-pandemic “normal.” Khora, 37 W. Seventh St., Downtown, khorarestaurant.com.

THE DISH

Cackleberry Serves Filipino- and Cincinnati-Inspired Breakfast Sandwiches Out of a Vintage Trailer BY R AC H E L S M IT H

Squeezed into a bite-sized vintage trailer, husband-and-wife duo Nate and China Kautz are serving up mobile breakfast sandwiches as the owners of the new Cincinnati-based pop-up Cackleberry. Cackleberry offers six unique sandwiches ranging from Cincinnati staples to Filipino-fusion cuisine. The food truck opens every Sunday at 9 a.m. — primarily parking in various locations throughout Walnut Hills — and operates until all sandwiches are sold. China is the primary cook; Nate manages the ordering system. China tells CityBeat that this shop has been seven years in the making from her initial idea to the fully-formed business model it is today. China previously worked in a cafe, which is where she was first drawn to breakfast. “One thing that I really loved creating (in the cafe) was breakfast, because we did serve breakfast and lunch. I think I just loved being able to get a different egg sandwich out the door really quickly,” she says. “I feel like eggs are such a versatile ingredient. You really can do so much with such a simple, versatile thing as an egg.” And that’s where Cackleberry got its name: it’s a whimsical term for a hen’s egg. Even though China didn’t want to lease a space for a brand new business, the idea of the shop lingered in her mind until she stumbled upon a rundown, 1968 trailer on Craigslist. When she and her husband went to see it, it was in disrepair with bright flames spray-painted on the sides. But China saw potential. After revamping the trailer, she and Nate now “dance” around each other in the 11-foot-by-7-foot space. Moving about the trailer is still a workin-progress. At Cackleberry’s grand opening in April, disaster struck during their first-ever order. “We had our first order come through, and I made the sandwiches. Then, I was bending over to get something out of our fridge and my husband turned with both of our sandwiches to put out the service window, and I bumped him,” China says. “The first sandwich just flew out the window and onto the floor.” But that didn’t deter customers. Within three hours of opening, Cackleberry sold out. Their menu offers traditional breakfast sandwiches with a twist as well as unique dishes. Cackleberry’s “Benny” bacon sandwich has chipotle ketchup and caramelized onions, and the shop also serves up a Cincinnatiinspired goetta sandwich called the “Porter.” Nearly every sandwich is named after their dogs to add another level of personalization. The menu also has two Filipinoinspired sandwiches to honor China’s grandparents, who are from the Philippines

China and Nate Kautz launched Cackleberry in April. P H OTO : CAC K L E B E R RY

“I pretty much grew up with them cooking for me and learned a lot of cooking techniques, especially Filipino cooking techniques, from them,” she says. The “Lolo” sandwich, named for her grandfather, has a Filipino longganisa (sweet sausage) paired with achara (a relish or coleslaw) over a medium egg and garlic aioli; it, like all of Cackleberry’s sandwiches, is served on a brioche bun. Though it is a mobile shop, China says she wanted people’s experience with Cackleberry to be memorable, so they play music near the truck and sell merchandise, including T-shirts and ceramic egg cups. “I didn’t want our food truck to just be something that you just walk up to and like, ‘OK, here’s the food.’ I wanted it to be more of an experience for people,” she says. Cackleberry was originally slated to open last year but, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the opening was postponed until April. However, launching a pop-up eatery at this time has had its advantages. “I think, with how restaurants are transitioning right now with more takeout, I kind of see it as like a little blessing that we did open a food truck instead of a restaurant,” she says. China also hopes Cackleberry will be used as a resource and partner to other local businesses, specifically in Walnut Hills. “My goal was to, since we are mobile, work with other local businesses in the

Cackleberry serves breakfast sandwiches every Sunday. P H OTO : CAC K L E B E R RY

area. We could park out front of their shops and get more foot traffic to those other small businesses interested in supporting one another,” she says. “We live in Walnut Hills, and we’ve seen growth of this area for the past few years that we’ve lived here, and I just

thought it was important to at least be here for some weekends just so we can start to bring more people to this area.”

M AY 2 0 2 1

Follow Cackleberry at instagram. com/eatcackleberry to see where they’ll be next, and view the full menu at eatcackleberry.com.

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DRINK

Soccer-Themed Sports Bar The Pitch Cincy to Open Across from FC Cincinnati’s New Stadium in the West End BY B RY N D I P P O L D

Soccer fans will feel at home in The Pitch Cincy. P H OTO : K E Y U R J O S H I

Once the West End was chosen as the location for FC Cincinnati’s soccer stadium back in 2018, the idea of Central Parkway lined with bars and restaurants wasn’t far behind. One of the first will be soccer-themed sports bar The Pitch Cincy, located directly across from the recently named TQL Stadium. FCC will play its first home match of the 2021 Major League Soccer season — and the first game in the new stadium — on May 16. The Pitch — and its rooftop patio — is slated to open its doors the day before, on May 15. Bar co-owners Keyur Joshi, Kidus Tadele and Ohm Patel signed the lease for the 8,000-square foot space in November 2020. Luminaut, a local architecture and design firm that worked on Over-the-Rhine’s Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge and Standard Beer, was brought on shortly after. “What (is) important in sports, whether it’s soccer, football, baseball, it’s the energy in the stadium. And with the stadium directly across, we wanted to make sure that energy was brought across the street into the space,” says Luminaut’s Amanda Searfoss, The Pitch’s lead project designer. “We didn’t want a sticky old bar vibe. We wanted

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

to bring the life of the (field), so the patterns, the textures, the energy.” TQL Stadium is located at 1500 Central Parkway, and The Pitch is at 1430 Central Parkway, housed in the former two-story Metropolitan Baptist Church space. Luminaut’s Jeremiah Hahn worked with Searfoss as lead architect to transform the building. Walking into The Pitch, one of the first things you notice is the artificial turf on the ceiling, echoing TQL Stadium’s field (a “pitch” is another name for the field upon which soccer is played). Other designs are inspired by patterns from FCC’s jerseys and fan apparel. For example, the second floor features a scarf wall. Another wall is dedicated to general Cincinnati sports memorabilia. And yet another wall of The Pitch is literally TVs, spanning the first and second floor. Joshi says the two-story “4K Samsung Video Wall” is 9 feet wide and 7 feet tall. In a follow-up email to CityBeat, Joshi says the bar has “every soccer and sports package that is out there to show Champions League; MLS Direct Kick; English Premier League on Peacock; NBA League Pass; NFL Sunday Ticket; Spanish, Italian and South American

M AY 2 0 2 1

Leagues on Sling TV; ESPN+ for all the German and other leagues; MLB TV.” And if that wasn’t enough screen time for you, The Pitch has another 50 TVs spread throughout. “We are trying to give the best experience for any sport, not just soccer,” Joshi says. “Yes, our location is next to a soccer stadium, but we will be rooting and supporting all of our local teams — Reds, Bengals, Cyclones, USL (Kings Hammer FC), golf, etc. And, most importantly, customers are empowered to request their favorite match or event, whether it be the Olympics, women’s NCAA, women’s volleyball or any pop-culture events. If you want to watch the Grammy’s on a big-screen, The Pitch Cincy will be the place, as well.” While a section of the second floor has been removed to make space for the aforementioned TV wall, the rest stands as another bar space and entryway to the coveted rooftop. From that elevated viewpoint, patrons will almost be able to see into the stadium. Joshi, Tadele and Patel, who — along with three other partners — opened Cobblestone OTR in November 2018, saw the opportunity for a sports bar by the FCC’s home stadium last year.

“It was a combination of seeing an opportunity and then all of us living in OTR and just wanting to be part of (FCC),” Joshi says. The Pitch’s second floor and connected rooftop has already been booked for private events like graduation parties, rehearsal dinners and Fantasy Football drafts. The Pitch won’t be serving food, instead focusing on local craft beers, cocktails on-tap and a selection of wine. The alley behind The Pitch is set up to accommodate two food trucks, so patrons will be able to step outside and order if they get hungry. And even while construction is ongoing for The Pitch and Central Parkway outside TQL Stadium, the May 16 home game date is the goal in everyone’s mind. Even if you can’t score tickets, a cold beer and good company at The Pitch will be your next best option. With front windows, a rooftop patio and a marquee of televisions, you can’t miss any of the action. The Pitch Cincy is located at 1430 Central Parkway, West End/OTR. For more info, visit thepitchcincy.com.

“

MUSIC

A live performance at MOTR Pub P H OTO : H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R .

The Return of Live Music As COVID regulations relax and more people are vaccinated, local music venues look to reopen BY JAS O N GA R GA N O

“I

n a year like 2020, it’s imperative that we build community, because if we don’t, we will have no

communities left. It’s the communal aspect of people getting together in a room to have this shared experience

where everybody is there because they love live music. There’s nothing like live music. That’s what we all live for.” — Bob Mould, former Husker Du frontman and longtime touring solo artist. The above quote is from an interview CityBeat did with Bob Mould in March 2020, just days before COVID-19 put a halt to his and every other musician’s live bookings. The pandemic shut down music venues across the country literally overnight, affecting the entire live-music infrastructure from top to bottom. Mould’s quote was an answer to a question about why he, a guy who has

brought his trademark brand of guitar fury to venues for nearly four decades now, still gets juiced to perform live. His phrase “in a year like 2020” was in reference to our contentious political climate and an election season that turned out to be even more anxietyinducing than anticipated. Then COVID hit, a gut punch that has challenged communities far and wide like no other event in more than a century. Bars, restaurants, theaters and music venues were especially vulnerable given the nature of how they operate: large indoor gatherings of

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CONTINUES ON PAGE 47

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FROM PAGE 45

people in close proximity. Some venues reduced operations radically. Most closed down completely. Yet there is finally some light on the horizon as vaccines become readily available and restrictions begin to loosen. National acts have announced tours for this fall, and multiple local venues have announced plans to reopen. Dan McCabe has been a staple on the local live music scene for nearly 30 years, most recently as the owner and operator of MOTR Pub and The Woodward in Over-the-Rhine. “We may soon start booking The Woodward for this fall,” McCabe says when asked about the possibility of opening in the near future. “Several touring opportunities are available, including some strong local releases in need of celebrating. There are already a lot of 2022 fall bookings happening. That’s unusually far out into the future for agencies and bands to be pursuing. Being open-floor rooms, we are prone to the social distancing mandate at both MOTR and The Woodward. We are hoping vaccines help Ohio lift this requirement soon so we may announce and put shows on sale with confidence.” Perhaps the most noted local venue development is the brand-new Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center, which looks to open its doors by late summer. Located at The Banks just east of Paul Brown Stadium, ICON is a versatile state-of-the-art venue that features both indoor (at a capacity 4,400) and outdoor (at a capacity of 8,000) stages. “It kind of fills a niche that isn’t being filled right now in the marketplace,” says Rosemarie Moehring, director of marketing at MEMI, which will manage shows at ICON and has long handled the Taft Theatre and Riverbend Music Center. “There’s no indoor capacity venue that is intimately built for 4,400, so we expect to see a range of acts. We can do multiple configurations. We can do just an all-general attendance floor; we can do an all-seated floor and close off the balconies. It allows us to do everything from comedians to some of the smaller club acts or a bigger act.” (As of press time, ICON’s announced lineup includes Machine Gun Kelly on Sept. 22 for its outdoor stage and the Flaming Lips on April 5 for its indoor stage.) In a nod to post-COVID realities, Moehring says ICON features a special ionized HVAC system to improve indoor circulation and touchless bathroom fixtures and concession stands. But, otherwise, the audience experience is likely to be much as it was before the shutdown. “We need it to be 100% capacity in order for it to make financial sense for us to start doing concerts again,” Moehring says. “Some venues have been able to do social distancing and things like that, but at Riverbend or the Taft Theatre, it doesn’t make sense. (Ohio Governor Mike) DeWine has been lifting restrictions gradually and increasing capacities at a regular rate as cases continue to go down, that’s why our target is to open in mid-to-late summer.”

Across the river, the Southgate House Revival reopened last summer at limited capacity, hosting mostly local and regional acts. The venue’s general manager, Morrella Raleigh, has done the best she can to keep things positive over the last year. “Small venues have always faced a lot of challenges, and I think in some ways, we were better prepared to handle this than some other businesses,” Raleigh says. “It did serve as a big reminder that we all need to be flexible and work toward new ways of bringing live music to people. It’s been a huge reminder to stay on our toes and not take anything for granted.” That said, Raleigh is ready for things to get back to as close to “normal” as possible — not only for her venue and its employees, but also for audiences and the general music community. “Live music is truly magical,” Raleigh says. “It connects people on a deep and real level that doesn’t happen very often in our world today. When you’re at a great show and everyone is really getting into it, there’s a special energy in the air that just makes you feel good.” Ian Bolender, who books shows through locally based Nederlander Entertainment, also is eager for live music to work its magic again. Nederlander handles the Madison Theater and Madison Live in Covington, as well as the 20th Century Theater in Oakley and the Heritage Bank Center (formerly U.S. Bank Arena) downtown. “The live music community is all I know,” Bolender says. “In addition to booking and promoting shows for Nederlander, I run cincymusic.com with my brother and sister. When I was a young musician, this community welcomed me with open arms. I found a lot of mentors along the way, and we try our best to provide that same sense of community to young aspiring artists and music fans. We have been doing livestreams and holding benefits to help make sure some of our local treasures don’t go out of business. We all need to make it to the other side. I’m hopeful that we are close, but until we can open up at 100% safely, we aren’t out of the woods.” Bolender believes the local music community is resilient and might even grow closer than ever through the adversity. “At the end of the day, we are all music lovers, and no one wants to see a venue shut down or a promoter stop doing shows,” he says. “We’ve been fighting for each other for the past year, and I think we will see a bit more comradery in the months and years to come.”

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For upcoming concerts and other music news, visit each venue’s website: woodwardtheater. com, motrpub.com, memi. biz, southgatehouse.com and nederlanderentertainment.com.

Visit us online to learn more! Junglejims.com/ChefCreations M AY 2 0 2 1

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

DELIVERY CONTRACTORS NEEDED

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PUZZLE 1. Systemic Equality org. 5. Wave off the coast of Rio? 8. Spit (out) 13. Lane out of Smallville 14. Up to the minute 15. Piece of cake, for a dieter 16. Scarlet Witch, for Wanda Maximoff 18. Down to earth

40. Carlo who produced Fellini’s “La Strada” 41. Vowel-heavy papal name 42. They’re found under layers 45. “It’s not a tumor!” speaker, fondly 48. Make like those in “Nomadland”

19. Motherfucking problem

49. Jemison in space

21. “Anybody seen my hoodie?”

50. Rock genre possibly named after the sound the guitar makes

22. Comic routine 23. Tee-___ 24. “___ Année Sans Lumiére” (Arcade Fire song) 25. Human rights attorney Clooney 27. Response to a slow server, say 29. Wagers 30. Ledecky who stays in her lane! 32. First route of attack

51. Great leveler 53. Small pill? 54. Trying location? 58. Needing no introduction 59. Return fire on social media, or this puzzle’s theme

31. Zero-waste pref.

66. Macerates flax

33. Coyotes’ domain, in short

1. Copying 2. Bright way to see the world? 3. Book club? 4. Secondhand 5. Target of many a strike 6. Smoothly, on the keyboard 7. Man not on a mission 8. “Deenie” author 9. Not firm 10. Vodka brand with a raspberry flavor 11. Show mercy 12. Scary dinos 15. Heavy waterproof boot 17. BBQ morsel

61. “You dig it?”

20. Take a personal day, say

62. Some Bandcamp purchases

21. Smoke a bowl

63. Floride, e.g.

28. Rapper who runs the Nappy Boy record label

64. Mortise fitter

26. Vocal coach challenges

29. Eddie ___ (outdoor brand)

35. Currently passionate (about) 36. Letter-shaped plumbers part 37. Number on a hotel door 38. Animal whose poop is used in gourmet coffee beans 39. Went like mad

65. ___ jam

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