Best Of Cincinnati 2019 by Chava Communications

CINCINNATI’S NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY | MARCH 27, 2019 | FREE

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TA B L E OF C ON T E N TS COME TOGETHER FOR THE

19/20 SEASON

IN TR O D UCT I ON

READER & STAFF PICKS

A R TS & CULT U R E

38 E ATS September 17 - 29, 2019

November 5 - 17, 2019

84 SHO PS & SER V I C E S

THE MUSICAL PHENOMENON

December 3 - 15, 2019

February 11 - 23, 2020

Journey to the past.

118 M USIC & N I G H T L I F E

146 CITY L IFE

166 May 12 - 24, 2020

June 9 - 21, 2020

SEASON OPTION

SEASON OPTION JIMMY BUFFETT’S

SPO R TS & R E CR E ATION

PUBLISHER

TONY FR ANK EDITOR IN CHIEF

M AIJA ZUMMO

MANAGING EDITOR / MUSIC EDITOR

MIK E BREEN

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

M ACK ENZIE M ANLE Y NE WS EDITOR

NICK SWA RT SELL

DESIGNER

TAYLOR SPEED

DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR / STAFF PHOTOGR APHER

H AILE Y BOLLINGER

COPY EDITOR /CALENDAR EDITOR

MORGAN ZUMBIEL

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

THE ATER: RICK PENDER FILM: T T STERN-ENZI DINING CRITIC: PA M A MITCHELL CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

BRIAN BAK ER, BILL FURBEE, AUSTIN GAYLE, DEIRDRE K AY E, JAC K ERN, JUDE NOEL, SE AN PE TERS, GA RIN PIRNIA, STE VEN ROSEN, K ATHY SCHWA RT Z, LE YL A SHOKOOHE, SA MI STE WA RT, M A RLENA TOEBBEN, P.F. WILSON EDITORIAL INTERNS

BEN REES, KIA R A REECE, TOMMY MCDONALD, SE TH WEBER CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGR APHERS

SCOT T DIT TGEN, JESSE FOX, PAT T Y SAL AS, BRIT TANY THORNTON, MEGAN WADDEL PHOTOGR APHY INTERNS

PAIGE DEGLOW, IZ Z Y VIOX

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

JOSH SCHULER

ACCOUNT E XECUTIVE

DA RREN WEIGL

OFFICE ADMINISTR ATOR

SA M ANTH A JOHNSTON

E VENT DIRECTOR

THE STORY OF FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS October 15 - 20, 2019

Set Your Mind on Island Time.

April 14 - 19, 2020

SPECIAL ENGAGEM ENT S

CITYBEAT

183

STUFF TO DO

187

ARTS & CULTURE

191

January 8 - February 2, 2020

August 4 - 9, 2020

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MUSIC Illustrations by Taylor Speed using “Pigs are Big” by Edie Harper

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CIRCUL ATION MANAGER

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DISTRIBUTION TE AM

TOM SAND, JOAN POWERS, JERRY ENNIS, DOUG DRENNAN, RICK CA RROL, MIK E SWANGO, ASHLE Y DAVIS, ROWDY WALK ER, CHRIS LOWSTUTER, DAN FERGUSON, DOUG ANNIS EUCLID MEDIA GROUP CHIEF E XECUTIVE OFFICER

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ave you ever sat around wishing there was a publication that would list all of the best things in Cincinnati, as determined by a group of your peers as well as a handful of select staffers at your local alt-weekly paper? Well, your wish has been granted. 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, more than half a million votes were tallied to determine our Reader Picks. Readers logged on to the ballot site to vote for their favorites in broad categories like Best New Restaurant, Best Bartender and Best Pizza, with more niche topics including Best Raw Bar, Best Realtor and Best CBD Selection. You might not need to know who the Best Used Automotive Dealer is right now, or the Best Lawyer, but when you do, we’ve got you covered. For the Staff Picks — selected by a slightly smaller number of humans — we curated an assemblage of and wrote about our favorite Cincinnati people, places and things (and cocktails, and bands, and lunch buffets, and art exhibits, and activists, and off-putting sports mascots…). Stuff we like, appreciate and want other people to know about. Of course, not everything we want to highlight about the city could fit into this issue — that’s part of the reason we have a weekly paper — but at almost 200 pages, we tried to cram as much in here as we could. So if your favorite brewery or FC Cincinnati player or chili parlor isn’t featured, there’s always next year. Voting starts again in early 2020.

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 8

ARTS & CULTURE READER PICKS

ART GALLERY

CHURCH FESTIVAL

ART MUSEUM

FOUNTAIN SQUARE EVENT

1. Contemporary Arts Center 2. 21c Museum Hotel 3. Art Academy of Cincinnati

1. Cincinnati Art Museum 2. Contemporary Arts Center 3. Taft Museum of Art

ARTWORKS MURAL

1. “Cincinnati Toy Heritage” 2. “Charley Harper’s Beguiled by the Wild” 3. “Fiona and Bibi at the Cincinnati Zoo” 4. “Swing Around Rosie” 5. “Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon” 6. “Mr. Dynamite” 7. “Ezzard Charles: The Cincinnati Cobra” 8. “Dream Big and Fly High” 9. “Democracy!” 10. “Homecoming (Blue Birds)”

CHARITY FESTIVAL/EVENT 1. Cincinnati Pride 2. Flying Pig Marathon 3. My Furry Valentine

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1. Panegyri Greek Festival 2. St. Cecilia Family Festival 3. CincItalia

1. Reds Opening Day Rally on the Square 2. Ice Skating 3. Fifth & Vine Live

WASHINGTON PARK EVENT 1. The City Flea 2. Asian Food Fest 3. Summer Cinema

FREE ATTRACTION

1. Cincinnati Art Museum 2. Findlay Market 3. Smale Riverfront Park 4. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County 5. Contemporary Arts Center 6. Washington Park 7. Jungle Jim’s International Market 8. 21c Museum Hotel 9. Tunes & Blooms at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 10. Fountain Square

GALLERY EXHIBIT

1. The Future is Female at 21c Museum Hotel 2. Swoon at the Contemporary Arts Center 3. Let it Grow at Wave Pool

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT 1. @cincinnatizoo 2. @cincylibraryfriends 3. @the513streetart

KID-FRIENDLY ATTRACTION

1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 2. Smale Riverfront Park 3. Duke Energy Children’s Museum at the Cincinnati Museum Center 4. Kings Island 5. Cincinnati Art Museum 6. Newport Aquarium 7. Great Parks of Hamilton County 8. Cincinnati Parks 9. Coney Island 10. Washington Park

LOCAL ACTOR/ACTRESS 1. Bob Herzog 2. Andrew Maloney 3. Terrance Huff

LOCAL ARTIST

1. Courttney Cooper 2. Shay Nartker 3. Kevin Necessary

LOCAL AUTHOR 1. Curtis Sittenfeld 2. J.M. Clark 3. Phil Nuxhall

LOCAL CLASSICAL MUSIC GROUP

1. Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 2. Cincinnati Pops 3. MUSE‚ Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir

LOCAL COMEDIAN 1. Steve Caminiti 2. Gary Owen 3. Josh Sneed

LOCAL DANCE GROUP 1. Cincinnati Ballet 2. Pones, Inc. 3. Cin City Burlesque

Thank You, Cincinnati! www.cincyshakes.com

Voted #1 Theater Company

LOCAL FILMMAKER

MOVIE THEATER

LOCAL IMPROV/SKETCH COMEDY GROUP

MUSEUM

1. Mark Borison 2. Allyson West 3. Evan Holt

1. OTRimprov 2. Improv Cincinnati 3. Future Science

LOCAL THEATER COMPANY

1. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company 2. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park 3. Know Theatre of Cincinnati

LOCAL TOUR

1. ArtWorks Mural Tours 2. American Legacy Tours (Queen City Underground) 3. Brewing Heritage Trail Tours

LOCAL VOCAL ARTS GROUP

1. MUSE, Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir 2. Cincinnati Youth Choir 3. Cincinnati May Festival Chorus

1. Esquire Theatre 2. Cinemark Oakley Station 3. Mariemont Theatre

1. Cincinnati Art Museum 2. Cincinnati Museum Center 3. Contemporary Arts Center

MUSEUM EXHIBIT

1. Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China at the Cincinnati Art Museum 2. Ansel Adams: A Photographer’s Evolution at the Taft Museum of Art 3. Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World at the Cincinnati Museum Center

NEW THING

1. Skystar Wheel 2. Dinosaur Hall at the Cincinnati Museum Center 3. Madcap Education Center 4. Caffè Vivace 5. Liberty Jazz Lab

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Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | Best Local Theater Company PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

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S OU OLD T!

The Ultimate, Intimate, Entertainment Experience!

BON IVER

DANE COOK

FRIDAY, APRIL 5

TIFFANY JENKINS SATURDAY, APRIL 6

BRIT FLOYD

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

BRANFORD MARSALIS SATURDAY, APRIL 13

S OU OLD T!

MARCH 31

MANDOLIN ORANGE w/ CHARLIE PARR

BONEY JAMES

CELTIC WOMAN

APOCALYPTICA

BRETT DENNEN

APRIL 17

APRIL 18

NICK OFFERMAN FRIDAY, APRIL 19

PATTON OSWALT DEREK HOUGH LIVE SATURDAY, APRIL 27

MAY 8

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JOSH RITTER & THE ROYAL CITY BAND w/ PENNY & SPARROW

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HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER

JUNE 10

GLEN HANSARD SEPTEMBER 9

Get tickets at TAFTTHEATRE.org, the Taft Theatre box office, or Ticketmaster.com. All tickets subject to applicable fees and day of show increase. Dates, times and artists subject to change without notice.

TAFTTHEATRE.org

IBEYI

JUNE 12

TOMMY EMMANUEL w/ JORMA KAUKONEN

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

6. Queen City Kings Documentary 7. Bird and Lime Scooters 8. S.W. Clyborne Co. 9. Urban Sketchers Cincinnati 10. Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center at Union Terminal

OLD THING

1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 2. Findlay Market 3. Union Terminal

OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ARTISTS 1. BLINK 2. ArtWorks 3. Cincy Fringe Festival

PLAY (STUDENT/ COMMUNITY)

1. Angels in America at Northern Kentucky University 2. Guys and Dolls at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music 3. Grease at The Footlighters, Inc.

PUBLIC ARTWORK

1. ArtWorks Murals 2. Mosaic Murals at the Cincinnati Museum Center 3. “LED Upgrade (the ring)” by technique2012

PUMPKIN PATCH/FARM

PLAY (PROFESSIONAL)

1. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company 2. Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati 3. 1984 at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

1. Burger Farm & Garden Center 2. Shaw Farms 3. Gorman Heritage Farm 4. Neltner’s Farm 5. Niederman Family Farm 6. Irons Fruit Farm 7. Weber’s Farm Market 8. Blooms & Berries Farm Market and Garden Center 9. Burwinkel Farms 10. McGlasson Farms

BLINK | Best Opportunities for Local Artists PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

REGIONAL ARTS THEATER

1. The Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton, Ohio 2. Actors Theatre of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky 3. Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky

FEATURING THE BEST CLASSIC, CONTEMPORARY, INDEPENDENT AND FOREIGN FILMS

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Learn more at www.artacademy.edu/150

REGIONAL MUSEUM

1. COSI in Columbus, Ohio 2. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana 3. Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio

THIS TIME TOMORROW A New Performing Arts Fesitival

April 11-14, 2019 Tickets on sale now:

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ARTS & CULTURE

STAFF PICKS

BEST TACTILE FAIRY TALE FANTASY The front lawn of the Taft Museum of Art has been transformed into a whimsical willow-tree wonderland via the work of international sculptor Patrick Dougherty. Far Flung is a large-scale “unique fantasy experience” Dougherty (and volunteers) created by manipulating and twisting more than six tons of willow tree saplings into whirling shapes that call to mind hobbit homes, a fairy garden or a Dr. Seuss-style dream manifestation. The best part? Visitors can touch and walk through it. The construction spans the length of the 1820s Palladian-style historic home, providing the opportunity for museum visitors or passersby to duck inside the natural paradoxical space for a quick retreat from the buzzing contemporary world or to peer at the Cincinnati skyline through portals, windows and archways made of bent branches. It provides a new point of view for the area around Lytle Park and a dose of Land Art modernism outside the museum. Far Flung opened in April 2018 and will be on display for 18 months to two years; it is open, for free, during regular museum hours. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org.

BEST BRIGHT RETURN BLINK is making its second appearance in Cincinnati in 2019, with a promise to be bigger and brighter than ever. It was announced that the popular light and art festival — which saw a million visitors during its inaugural 2017 event — will spread across the Roebling Bridge into Covington this year. For the first run, light displays and art events stretched from The Banks to the edges of Over-the-Rhine; in 2019, Northern Kentuckians will get a slice. At the expansion’s announcement in October 2018, Dan Reynolds of production company and architectural projection mapping partner Brave Berlin (other partners include The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, AGAR, ArtWorks and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber) said that the greatest part of the fest is that it’s for everyone. “We designed it to be diverse,” he said. “It is for young and old, gay and straight, it is for people who were born in this nation and for people who are visiting this nation and are making this nation their home. It is for everyone.” BLINK will take place Oct. 10-13, 2019 and will again be free and open to the public. BLINK, blinkcincinnati.com.

BEST PATRON SAINT OF PAPER

Far Flung at the Taft Museum of Art

As the 180-plus-year-old Mercantile Library edits its collection of fiction to make way for new works, paper artist Sara Caswell-Pearce has incorporated pieces of the discards into collages and other treasures that help tell the institution’s story. Her debut exhibition in November as the Mercantile’s first artist-in-residence included four inspirational “santos,” or saints, wearing halos and skirts made out of book spines, marbled endpapers, date-due cards and other literary

ephemera. With thousands of deaccessioned titles to sort through, the former librarian and Cincinnati Enquirer books editor has been living on Cloud 9. The library is similarly elated, extending Caswell-Pearce’s residency through 2019. Her Meet Me at the Merc open houses resume in April 2019, along with collage-making workshops, sales of greeting cards, book plates and bookmarks to benefit the library, and another exhibition in the fall. The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St., 11th floor, Downtown, mercantilelibrary.com.

BEST BIT OF BIG BROTHER ONSTAGE You’d think that George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 (written in 1949) would be so passé that it could no longer scare anyone. But when the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company presented a stage adaptation of it in October, the classic theater company used special effects to frighten the bejesus out of everyone with a ticket. Brave Berlin, the creative minds behind 2017’s BLINK light festival, created videos of rats crawling everywhere — even gigantically visible in the second-floor windows of the company’s new theater facing Washington Park. Some folks in Over-the-Rhine are still twitching. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm St., Over-theRhine, cincyshakes.com.

BEST LITTLE VAULT OF MEMORIES FotoFocus 2018 encompassed more than 90 photography projects in venues stretching from Greater Cincinnati to Dayton and Columbus. The overarching theme of “Open Archive” seemed wide-open to multiple interpretations. But, in the end, a tiny vault belonging to Mark Patsfall of

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

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BEST USE OF WIGS IN AN ART EXHIBITION A survey of the sea, religion and more, Immerse marked local wigmaker and artist Stacey Vest’s first solo exhibition. Vest’s fantastical, towering wigs have appeared everywhere from atop Cincinnati artist and educator Pam Kravetz’s head (in her many parade appearances, including BLINK), at The Carnegie’s annual Art of Food shebang and parties around the world. Housed at Covington’s Pique gallery/Airbnb, Vest took over the space with a multidimensional installation — wall art, costumes, jewelry, lights and music — that went all the way to hell and back. As guests came in, they were greeted by a beach in the front gallery and then a colorful coral reef. Dive deeper and the gallery became an abyss or purgatory, where a fluorescent balloon “anemone” could have been “an enemy.” The final space — an area of reflection with mirrors and a slideshow of the making of this exhibit and Vest’s previous work — was “whatever someone wants it to be,” she said. “It’s like Voltaire meets Salman Rushdie’s kids’ books meets Tim Burton.” And yes: There were live models sporting the works alongside mannequins. Pique, 210 W. Pike St., Covington, piquewebsite.com.

Clay Street Press held everything we really needed to know about this huge event: At its core, this biennial was very much about memory. Patsfall’s autobiographical exhibit Evidence (of a life lived) took visitors on an archaeological adventure via prints of black-and-white photos, ID tags, ticket stubs and other mementos that he had crammed into the small safe during his childhood and adolescence. Though he came of age in the 1960s and ’70s with a draft card and a stint in Vietnam, Patsfall’s story felt like our story — part of a shared archive of timeless experiences like holiday celebrations, ballgames, Rock concerts, first crushes and first cars. Moreover, when Patsfall pried the door to his past, he unlocked a question for our future. In the digital age, what will we be able to hold on to as tangible proof of a life well-lived? Clay Street Press, 1312 Clay St., Overthe-Rhine, patsfallgraphics.com.

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION The visual arts scene in Cincinnati would be substantially poorer without FotoFocus and its determination to present photography and film from around the world, past and present, in multiple venues here every two years during fall. In 2018, its New York-based artistic director and curator, Kevin Moore, organized Paris to New York: Photographs by Eugène Atget and Berenice Abbott at the Taft Museum, and it was a

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Immerse at Pique PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

spectacular, illuminating show. Not only did it display the important work of the seminal French urban-life photographer Atget and the American Abbott, who came under his influence while living in Paris in the 1920s, but it also told a moving story of how Abbott worked tirelessly to save and champion Atget’s work, helping him posthumously attain international recognition as a great photographer. The show is over now, but Moore wrote a worthwhile book based on it, Old Paris and Changing New York: Photographs by Eugène Atget and Berenice Abbott. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org.

BEST TIME TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY Time travel doesn’t require a DeLorean or 1.21 gigawatts of power. Sometimes, all it takes is the collective will to look backward. At least, that’s the concept that drove Jennie Wright’s Sankofa Experience, an immersive art project that used performance, curation and cosplay to transform the People’s Liberty Globefront Gallery into a time-warp portal. The name Sankofa —a Ghanaian phrase that means “go back and get it” — represents a desire to return to happier moments in history while learning from those memories. For the first stretch of Sankofa, which kicked off Feb. 2

and ran through Feb. 24, 2019, the space transported guests to The Cotton Club, a Harlem venue that flourished in the mid-1920s, hosting now-legendary performers like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Josephine Baker. The second half of the event, titled “The Breaks” after a Kurtis Blow single, revived elements of Hip Hop’s golden age — graffiti, poetry, freestyle Rap. During the week, the exhibit functioned as a museum but during the weekends, the storefront transformed into a time machine using “the power of the mind and harmonics” to take patrons to the past to observe, interact and learn about events. A former nationally-ranked slam poet and current booking agent, Wright shares a passion for the arts with the members of her team, Siri Imani and Alexis Thompson, who make up two-thirds of local Hip Hop crew Triiibe. Sankofa Experience, experiencesankofa.com.

BEST VENUE FOR VIDEO ART IN 2018 There was a glorious moment in 2018 — April and May — when the Cincinnati Art Museum’s showings of South African artist William Kentridge’s ecstatic seven-screen film installation More Sweetly Play the Dance, in which a procession of people passes across a charcoal-

#1 ART GALLERY

#2 ART MUSEUM #2 GALLERY EXHIBIT #3 MUSEUM

drawn animated landscape as if moving in a jazzy funeral procession, coincided with the showing of Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson’s nine-channel, hourlong video The Visitors. The latter followed a group of people in different rooms of an old mansion who slowly came together to play a dreamy, elegiac Folk song and then walked off into the endless landscape, as if to greet the start of a new, utopian life. The CAM’s year finished with British artist Gillian Wearing’s FotoFocus-sponsored Life exhibition, which included the powerfully contemplative Snapshot, a seven-channel video installation that showed women of different ages as a narrator shared their memories and insights. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

BEST CAPTURING OF KING RECORDS ONSTAGE

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Six years ago, Cincinnati Playhouse artistic director Blake Robison asked playwright and director KJ Sanchez to consider creating a show that would tell a “quintessentially Cincinnati story.” With Cincinnati King — about the city’s mid-century recording company, King Records — he got exactly what he asked for. Sanchez took the time to interview musicians and others who were part of Syd Nathan’s enterprise in Evanston. Last year marked the 75th anniversary of King’s founding, and it’s likely that the building where this all happened will become a shrine to local music creativity from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. If you want to know more about why this is an important piece of Cincinnati history, this was the show for you. Sanchez and others interviewed dozens of people for the script, but she hit the mother lode with Philip Paul, a session drummer for hundreds of King recording sessions. A colorful storyteller with first-hand information who started working at King in the early 1950s, Paul knew Nathan, the bombastic, opinionated owner, as well as Little Willie John, a talented performer who never quite crossed over the bridge to the stardom he deserved. Paul, Nathan and Little Willie were translated into onstage characters for Cincinnati

King. (On opening night, the real Philip Paul, now in his 90s, was there to watch.) The show is not a comprehensive history, but rather a collection of anecdotes presented chronologically to create a vivid picture of the stew of talent, diversity, ingenuity and mendacity that transpired at the studio on Brewster Avenue. It tells the story of how King really was back in the day — with musical numbers and a live band to boot. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams, cincyplay.com.

BEST USE OF ELECTRIC VIOLIN The great American composer John Adams wrote the two-part The Dharma at Big Sur in 2003 for solo electric violin and orchestra as a tribute to California composers Lou Harrison and Terry Riley, and it magnificently mixes Western avant-garde experimentalism with the swirling, spirited Raga of Indian music. It’s as open and receptive to the universe as Big Sur, itself. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra had previously performed it in 2008 (with Adams conducting), but its October 2018 performance featured the work’s originating soloist, Tracy Silverman. A virtuosic, classically trained violinist who also plays other genres, he commanded the stage — and the work — with his astonishing stamina and lyricism. This was about as close as Classical gets to the thrill of a long, building, cathartic Rock solo. Incidentally, it’d be nice if the CSO could bring Riley here as a guest — he deserves the honor. And how about a whole concert featuring Silverman? Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-theRhine, cincinnatisymphony.org.

BEST CINCINNATI VISIT BY AN ARTS CELEBRITY Artist-writer-filmmaker Miranda July, the biggest name among the guests who appeared at Cincinnati’s 2018 FotoFocus Biennial, was positively inspirational in her conversation at Woodward Theater with filmmaker and Syracuse University film assistant professor Kelly Gallagher.

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BEST SHOW OF ARTISTIC FORCE The Cincinnati Art Museum’s Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China drew in nearly 140,000 visitors — 91, 628 of which came specifically for the blockbuster ticketed exhibition. Those numbers mark Terracotta Army as the highest-attended exhibit to date since 1982’s Treasures From the Tower of London. It was such a hit that Listermann Brewing Company even dedicated a New England Red IPA to the exhibition, dubbed as an ale “fit for a warrior.” Ten life-size terracotta warrior figures from China’s Pre-Qin era (770-221 BC) and throughout the Qin dynasty filled the space, alongside more than 120 objects ranging from leather armor and gold works to ceramics, jade ornaments and more. The Terracotta Army — some 8,000 figures of humans and horses — is roughly 2,200 years old and is an amazing yet haunting human accomplishment. China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, ordered them to be created to guard a vast mausoleum complex where his tomb would be, near the city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. It’s estimated some 720,000 workers spent almost 50 years building an underground city/necropolis. All the objects in this show came from Chinese art museums and archaeological institutes, and the exhibition’s overall aim was to chart “the birth of the Qin empire and cultural diversity in ancient China; the First Emperor and unified China; and the quest for immortality,” said the CAM. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

She primarily devoted her talk to one of her lesser known but enormously important efforts, the Joanie 4 Jackie underground film network she started for girls and women in 1995. It encouraged them to make movies and connect with others doing the same by compiling the submissions on tapes that July sent to participants. It was empowering to hear her talk about how this provided a creative outlet — and an audience — for the women who were involved. Recognizing its importance to feminist and video history, the Getty Research Institute has acquired its archives.

BEST TRAVEL SERIES PILOT TO FEATURE CINCINNATI’S COOL SIDE Yoni Wolf, frontperson of the internationally acclaimed Indie Pop band WHY?, moved back to Cincinnati several years ago after building his musical reputation while based in California. With the pilot of The Wandering Wolf, his proposed video travel series created with Scott Fredette and partly funded by a grant from the People’s Liberty philanthropy lab, Wolf showed that he has fully and lovingly embraced his hometown’s burgeoning arts, music and culinary scenes. The Wandering Wolf (also the name of Wolf’s popular podcast) is 22 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China at the Cincinnati Art Museum

basically a quest to discover the soul of (and cool things about) cities all over the world, presented like an even hipper and artsier version of the late Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Created in 2017 and garnering more attention in 2018 after being shared by WHY?’s record label and others, the pilot is a deep, somewhat philosophical dive into Cincinnati culture featuring interviews and footage with a wide range of local movers and shakers. Like with his podcast, Wolf proves to be the perfect host thanks to an infectious curiosity about what makes people tick. Though the series doesn’t appear to have been picked up yet, Cincinnatians can find the pilot online if they’re ever looking to show off their city’s coolness to skeptical out-oftown friends. The Wandering Wolf, thewanderingwolfpodcast.com.

BEST SOLO EXHIBITION AT A GALLERY To say that “Overview,” the piece by Canada’s Marina Fridman that won Manifest gallery’s desired Manifest Prize, was “expansive” is not to use that descriptor casually. Exhibited from mid-December 2018 to mid-January 2019, the work occupied 64-by-168 inches of space, needing an entire gallery to make its impact. But beyond the physical dimensions, it expansively evoked space. With black charcoal on white paper, it sought to replicate the awe felt by astronauts viewing earth

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

from the cosmos. It did that, but first the viewer felt admiration at the effort that went into its creation. The application of black charcoal was so smooth that you thought small sections of white coloring were put on black paper instead. Once your marvel at that accomplishment hit, you could begin to take in the beauty of the cosmic illusion Fridman created. This piece deserves a home in a museum. Manifest, 2727 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, manifestgallery.org.

MOST EXCITING PROGRAMMING BY A PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTION Cincinnati Opera, under Director of Artistic Operations and New Work Development Marcus Küchle, has distinguished itself nationwide — and attracted a newer, younger audience here — with its cutting-edge programming. In 2018, it had sell-outs for its U.S. premiere of the operatic adaptation of Roger Waters’ Another Brick in the Wall. Its chamber opera As One, a coming-of-age story of a transgender woman with music and concept by Laura Kaminsky and libretto by Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed, won accolades. Meanwhile, its Opera Fusion: New Works partnership with University of Cincinnati’s CollegeConservatory of Music, for which Küchle was co-artistic director, workshopped Rufus Wainwright’s Hadrian; composer Matthew Aucoin

The Longworth Anderson Series at Memorial Hall

and playwright Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice; and Kaminsky and Reed’s new Postville: Hometown to the World in 2018. Küchle has since departed Cincinnati for a conducting job in Austria, but word is that the commitment to Opera Fusion and new work will remain strong. Cincinnati Opera, 1243 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiopera.org.

BEST REVIVAL OF BROADWAY’S YESTERYEAR The Milk Carton Kids w/ Vera Sola

February 27

Lucius

w/ Pure Bathing Culture

May 1

Jimmie Vaughan June 27

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn April 2

The Nils Lofgren Band May 15

Keb’ Mo’ Solo September 15

Get tickets at MemorialHallOTR.com, the Memorial Hall box office or charge by phone at 513.977.8838.

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With scads of talent to perform onstage and in the orchestra pit, productions at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music can authentically replicate productions from the Golden Age of Musicals. The October 2018 staging of Guys and Dolls — which marked the 50th anniversary of the musical theater program’s establishment (the first in the United States) — had a cast of around four dozen for each performance, accompanied by an orchestra with more than 25 musicians. That’s what Broadway used to pull off — but not in the 21st century. The show was a serious blast from the past. Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, 290 CCM Blvd., Clifton, ccm.uc.edu.

BEST MOVIE THEATER POPCORN The Esquire, Mariemont and Kenwood theaters cater to moviegoers with refined tastes for film… and snacks. Offering a vast selection of foreign films and Oscar-shortlisted titles, the Esquire family of cinemas pairs artistry with the best bag of popcorn you’ll find in Cincinnati. Salt and (real) butter flow freely into carbohydrate-stuffed paper sacks, applied carefully enough to harbor the perfect amount of crunch to accompany your cola. It’s classic Americana. If all that popcorn is making you thirsty, each theater is outfitted with a bar to wet your whistle. Visiting film buffs can pour up a star-studded cast of beers, spirits and wines to go with their goodies — the perfect marriage of salt, suds and cinema. Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, esquiretheatre.com; Mariemont Theatre, 6906 Wooster Pike,

Mariemont, mariemonttheatre.com; Kenwood Theatre, 7815 Kenwood Road, Kenwood, kenwoodtheatre. com.

BEST SCENIC DESIGNS (AGAIN AND AGAIN) Regardless of the show you see onstage at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, it’s been the genius work of Brian c. Mehring for more than two decades, during which he’s created more than 100 productions. The son of local community theater parents and a 1996 grad of the theater design program at the University of Cincinnati’s CollegeConservatory of Music, Mehring repeatedly animates ETC’s quirky stage, faced by a steeply sloped array of 182 seats. That means almost everyone is looking down at the action, so floors become backdrops. Mehring’s recent creations range from breathtakingly real (Red Velvet) to sweetly impressionistic (Fly By Night) and fanciful (Cinderella). Go frequently to see amazing examples of imagination and construction. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, ensemblecincinnati.org.

BEST CINCINNATI SESQUICENTENNIAL What do the names Frank Duveneck, Julian Stanczak, Jim Dine, Charley and Edie Harper, Paul Chidlaw, Petah Coyne, John Ruthven, Maria Longworth Nichols Storer, Tom Wesselmann and Elizabeth Nourse have in common? They are all names of artists who have studied, taught or guest lectured at the Art Academy of Cincinnati in its 150 years as a standout design college. Started in 1869 as the independent, downtown-based McMicken School of Design, it later became part of the new University of Cincinnati in 1871, changing its name to the Art Academy of Cincinnati in 1887 after leaving UC to partner with the new Cincinnati Art Museum and have its own building on that institution’s idyllic Eden Park campus. It separated from the museum in 2005 to move to former commercial buildings at 1212 Jackson St. in what was then still-gritty, not-yet-chic

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BEST ART HOUSE AIRBNB “Art house” traditionally has been a term used in the movie business to connote the type of theaters that favor indie and foreign films over Hollywood fare. But Mark de Jong, a trained artist as well as a renovator/ reimaginer of old houses, has a different — and far more literal — meaning for the term. It is a house whose restoration/alteration is done to turn it into, first and foremost, an overall work of art. How people live in it — even whether people live in it — is of secondary concern. De Jong spent three years working on Swing House, a freestanding 1880s three-story residential brick building in Camp Washington, whose location and exterior appearance wouldn’t lead passersby to expect that a major new work of Contemporary art awaits inside. It is called Swing House because de Jong has removed the interior walls and upper floors and built a swing, attached by 30 feet of natural-fiber rope to a newly installed metal beam on the ceiling. The swing is functional in and of itself, yes. But swings are hardly a common inclusion for homes, so this one has far more than a practical use. It represents freedom from architectural convention — it’s a radical departure from our expectations of everyday domesticity. In addition to the swing, the entire space functions as an art house, with layers of past plaster and paint colors communicating with wood furniture that seems to levitate off the ground. The home and its ephemera were the subject of a Contemporary Arts Center exhibit from April to September of 2018 which displayed art objects and material derived or inspired by Swing House, plus new work by de Jong. The exhibit also included special tours of the space. Today, the Swing House is open to the public the first Saturday of the month for tours and is also available to rent on Airbnb. The one-bedroom, one-bathroom home allows guests to stay in and utilize a work of modern architectural art. Swing House, 1373 Avon Place, Camp Washington, swing-house.com.

Over-the-Rhine and is now an anchor in that burgeoning urban neighborhood, an accredited nonprofit independent institution with some 200 undergraduates and big plans for growth. With a new book, Art Academy 150: Make Art. Make a Difference, and an exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Art Academy of Cincinnati at 150: A Celebration in Drawing and Prints, chronicling the history of the academy, many more locals and beyond will know the prestigious and inventive students and work that sprung from the hotbed of talent, including the development of Rookwood Pottery, the creation of the comic strip and iconic names in Modernist wildlife art (the Harpers), Pop art (Wesselmann) and Realism (Nourse). Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St., Over-theRhine, artacademy.edu.

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Swing House PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

BEST WAY TO GET HIGH IN BLUE ASH

Though not the most notable ascent around town, the commute up Interstate 71 from Cincinnati is a gradual incline toward one of the highest points in Hamilton County: Blue Ash. And it’s now gotten a lot higher. The city topped its 850-foot natural elevation by more than 150 feet with the installation of the Blue Ash Observation Tower. Located at the 130-acre Summit Park on the site of the former Blue Ash airport, this sleek and soaring metal-and-glass landmark sticks out of its surrounding literally and figuratively. Its colorful glass canopy throws green and blue-tinted shade below, joining such other features as a vast lawn edged by a walking trail and “Cincinnati’s most creative playground” (as noted by Summit’s website). Yet the tower also stands alone in its appeal and function. A leisurely stroll up 200-plus stairs could land you at the tower’s observation deck in approximately five minutes. And those who need time to acclimate to the elevation gain can settle on the first observation deck, at 26 feet up. What do you get out of it besides being up really high in the center of Blue Ash? After the hard work of the ascent, whether for exercise or leisure, you will be rewarded with a view of regional skyline and other local landmarks like

Kings Island’s Eiffel Tower. Bring binoculars, sunglasses and an extra set of nerves because it’s a bit more of a thrill than it might seem. The observation tower’s glass barriers allow for an on-the-edge experience all the way up. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash, summitparkblueash.com.

BEST CLUBHOUSE CULTURE Since 1925, a Samuel Hannaford-designed house in Walnut Hills has been home to the Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, an organization whose founding predates the NAACP and the Urban League. Built in 1888 by the same architect behind Music Hall, the brick mansion features Rookwood tile fireplaces, brass chandeliers, bay windows and white-enameled spindles on a grand staircase. During the mid-20th century, more than a thousand members of the federation filed into the home’s 17 rooms to discuss clothing drives, scholarships and other efforts toward racial progress. Today, that figure has dwindled to approximately 55 ladies, yet needs in the black community persist. Fortunately, those few good women recently have been joined by A Few Good Men to revive both the historic clubhouse and the federation for future generations. At 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday, the group of black male buddies gathers at the home for breakfast to raise money for clubhouse repairs,

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including a hardwood floor and slate roof, and otherwise support the women as they continue their 115-year-old mission of uplifting others. The meals, $15, are open to the public. Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, 1010 Chapel St., Walnut Hills, 888-823-2922.

BEST TOWN FOR TIFFANY GLASS Tiffany glass was manufactured in New York, but lately Cincinnati has been the place to oooh and ahhh over the studios’ painterly lamps, vases and windows. When Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection opened last February at the Taft Museum of Art, it was the city’s fourth Tiffany exhibit in seven years. And it came barely six months after the closing of Tiffany Glass: Painting with Color and Light at the Cincinnati Art Museum. The Taft was the first stop on a nationwide tour of 60-plus pieces from Chicago’s Driehaus Museum that had never before been displayed outside the Windy City. In addition to seven landscape windows, 16 lamps and 24 blown-glass vases, the exhibit included candlesticks, andirons, inkwells and a chair. Both recent shows built upon the enthusiasm of the Cincinnati Art Museum’s 2011 purchase and conservation of four ecclesiastical Tiffany windows saved from the former St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Avondale. Those are now on permanent display in the museum’s Great Hall. While another Tiffany tour isn’t on the current lineup at either museum, local organizers do recognize the brand’s allure. “It’s Tiffany!” Amy Dehan, the CAM’s curator of decorative arts and design, exclaimed a year ago. “Who can’t have enough?” Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org; Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

BEST RETRO ADVERTISING The wheat-paste mural installed last summer on a boarded-up cinderblock building at Lincoln and Gilbert avenues in Walnut Hills is in tatters now. Its old advertising slogans have

been scattered by the wind. But “Yesterday Today Tomorrow” was never meant to be permanent, artists Janet Creekmore and Ben Jason Neal say. Instead, they wanted to create an appropriately scrappy reminder of the black-owned flower shops, salons, pharmacies, photo studios and other businesses that took care of Cincinnati’s African-American population during segregation. Working with the neighborhood’s historical society and redevelopment foundation, Creekmore and Neal highlighted advertising from the past to help build pride in today’s residents and, especially, spark dialogue about the area’s needs now and in the future. “If it swims, we got it,” Thatcher Poultry & Fish Market promised. Major Federal Savings and Loan told customers that “No one understands the way we do what being black is all about.” When stars like Willie Mays and Count Basie were denied lodging downtown, they knew they would be treated like royalty at the Manse Hotel. This January, there were fresh indications that it pays to advertise. Cincinnati City Council approved historic landmark status for the Manse building and an annex on Chapel Street to protect them from demolition and guide their renovation into affordable senior housing. “Yesterday Today Tomorrow,” 900 block of Lincoln Avenue, Walnut Hills, walnuthillsrf.org.

BEST VIRTUAL RIDE ON THE RAILS Each Saturday from May to October, The Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati is an authentic place to take a trip back in time, even if it doesn’t offer train rides or docent-led tours. For $4 admission ($2 children), visitors can step out to survey a mostly gritty lineup of 70 passenger and freight cars sitting in an old Louisville & Nashville railyard in Covington’s Latonia neighborhood. But if they are lucky enough to approach executive director Tim Hyde or one of his fellow volunteers on the grounds, the rails seem to hum again as the men share stories about the Pullman sleeper that moved World War II troops, the passenger cabins that were “hotels on wheels,” the refrigerator cars that

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BEST ARGUMENT FOR THE SKATEPARK AS ART Ten years since SkateAble vs Non debuted at the now-defunct Feralmade Gallery in Northside, the multimedia skateboard installation returned for a long overdue sequel at People’s Liberty’s Camp Washington Globefront. Arranged by the four members of Cincinnati’s SkateAble collective — a team of scientists, creatives and community organizers who just happen to appreciate skating as an art form — the indoor park doubled as an art installation. Funky cartoons — alligators, cool cats, doggos, scrunched up faces, dinosaurs, jagged skulls — splayed out on quarter-pipes, ramps and spines. The “non” part of the project came in the form of the most chill backyard of 2018, complete with a bat-shaped basketball backboard, wavy pastel pink benches, a skeeball ramp shaped like Fiona the hippo and a literally rocking yellow wooden cow. According to the project statement, SkateAble vs Non provided a skating space “for the community to learn, interact, and experience at all levels.” After the opening, the public was invited to open skate events throughout the run of the event, whether they were a seasoned skate veteran or preferred to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground. SkateAble vs. Non, skateablevsnon.com.

SkateAble vs. Non P H O T O : PAT T Y S A L A S

helped change the nation’s eating habits with fresh meat and produce, and the movie crew that shot scenes here for Eight Men Out. Unfortunately, age is catching up with the collection and the small crew that sands, welds, paints and replaces parts on the outdoor museum’s rusting hulks. By midyear, the nonprofit’s directors plan to introduce a campaign to raise more than $2 million toward building a roofed structure to protect the core pieces and enhance the guest experience. Like the Little Engine That Could, they think they can — or in a decade it could be the end of the line for this collection of Americana. Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati, 323 W. Southern Ave., Covington, cincirailmuseum.org.

BEST “OUT OF THE CLOSET” EXHIBIT The most gorgeous thing about Second Glances at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center was watching how few visitors did a double-take at seeing traditionally feminine clothing and accessories on masculine forms, or blinked at the thought of women challenging long-held notions of beauty and empowerment. Inspired by work she did with transgender adolescents, textile artist and firsttime curator Nancy Gamon set out to explore themes of gender identity through apparel and art. Sea Dax, a non-binary trans artist, bared body and soul in emotional needlework. Pam Kravetz’s bunny ballerina put a new spin on how to be a girly 30 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

girl. Emily Buddendeck, owner of Northside’s NVISION shop, shed the weight of others’ expectations with “The Shoulders of Giants,” a figure sporting wide, colorful butterfly wings made out of the linebacker-style pads common in businesswomen’s suits of the 1980s. The wish from this show is that soon everyone can leave their secret closets and cocoons behind. Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6546 Montgomery Road, Kennedy Heights, kennedyarts.org.

BEST BIT OF BROADWAY ON A CINCINNATI STAGE Thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda, theater fans — and moden day humans in general — now know more than expected about Alexander Hamilton via Hamilton: An American Musical, an unlikely megahit based on the Founding Father’s life. The touring production of this musical smash that came to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the Arts Feb. 19-March 10, 2019 was no modest knock-off of the Broadway original: the talent was top-notch, the production value was on a par with the show’s New York staging and the performers’ passionate commitment to the material was obvious. The action of Hamilton, like its title character, was non-stop. The two-dozen actors/singers/dancers were constantly in motion, thanks to the incredibly inventive choreography of Tony Award-winner

Andy Blankenbuehler, who happens to be a Cincinnati native and a graduate of St. Xavier High School. Because Miranda envisioned this story about America’s founders to be told by a highly diverse cast, the movement ranges from Hip Hop to Broadway choreography, from waltzes to gymnastics. On a scale of 1 to 5, this was a 10 — the rare production that can, as one of Hamilton’s smash musical numbers suggests, “Blow Us All Away.” Broadway in Cincinnati, Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnati. broadway.com.

BEST “LIVING” MURAL For Covington residents, the mural located on the corner of Fourth and Scott streets is now an iconic cityscape feature. But it began in 2010 with single gray-hued dog painted by collaborative street art group The London Police. They returned in 2016 to expand the mural across the entire side of the building and add a series of their bobble-headed lad illustrations. Phase two of the project served as a tribute to Mike Amann — founder of Covington design agency BLDG who died in 2013 at the age of 33 from colon cancer — whose portrait gives a thumbs up as he rests inside his dog Juno’s chest, which doubles as a space shuttle. “Pennies from Heaven” were also added, aka the funky smiling lads leaving Juno’s belly via conveyor belt. A pastel rosy sun peeks up from the corner, rising eternally

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above the streets of Covington. And last fall, thanks to Urban Blooms, the mural entered its third living stage: the bottom of the wall is now bordered by real plants. Lily Turner, Urban Blooms’ director of operations, said they got involved when The London Police decided they wanted to incorporate plants in the mural landscape for the creatures to seemingly land on. The installation is fabricated by what Turner calls a custom system that agrees with the curves of the mural. Fourth and Scott streets, Covington, urbanblooms. org/living-walls.

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In August 2018, local filmmaker and actress Allyson West launched the Cindependent Film Festival, with screenings in various Over-the-Rhine locations. It was a great success, drawing an overall attendance of 2,104. The event arrived with an impressive degree of planning and organization and also debuted with a scoop — the premiere of Elizabeth Littlejohn’s 24-minute documentary Leelah’s Highway, about Leelah Alcorn, a Kings Mills transgender teen, who died by suicide in 2014. West — who CityBeat readers named 2018’s Best Local Filmmaker in the Best Of Cincinnati issue — says “Cincinnati needs a home for independent filmmakers.” At a press conference in February this year, she noted that 2019’s fest is already shaping up to be bigger than last year’s with promises of expanded programing, including a film competition presented by Drive Media House, a local commercial production company. (DMH will partner with the selected winning team to make their idea into reality, culminating in an opening night premiere.) Over-theRhine’s Woodward Theater will become their main hub, which will allow them to accommodate 220 people per screening and provide concert-quality sound. Just a short walk away on Main Street, The Mini Microcinema will become a filmmakers’ lounge, where attendees can connect over coffee, drinks and snacks. And OTR’s Know Theatre — located on Jackson Street — will be home to screenplay readings.

Cindependent Film Festival, cindependentfilmfest.org.

BEST MOVIE STAR AMBASSADOR FOR CINCINNATI Since 2015, Bruce Willis (of all people) has filmed three straight-toDVD/VOD movies in Cincinnati. In 2016, Lionsgate Premiere released Marauders, his first Cincinnati-filmed movie. Willis starred alongside Entourage’s Adrian Grenier in the bank heist film. In 2017, Willis returned to the Queen City to shoot another bank heist-type film, Reprisal. (The same production company as Marauders produced it.) The film took place in Cincinnati and featured aerial shots of the city. Last August, Reprisal briefly played at the Esquire Theatre before fading from view. However, in September 2018, Willis returned for the third time, this time to headline 10 Minutes Gone, about a man who loses his memory after a bank heist (how original!) goes wrong. Sure, these movies haven’t grossed much money, and Willis has found greater success with movies like Glass, but he’s one of the biggest stars in the world and he and the movies represent the best Cincy has to offer — even if it means “blowing up” the Roebling Bridge.

BEST ACTRESSES WHO ARE REPRESENTING CINCINNATI IN HOLLYWOOD The Barry Jenkins-directed If Beale Street Could Talk — based on James Baldwin’s 1974 novel of the same name — is vibrant, poetic and moving with lush colors that meld with each flare of emotion. It explores black love in 1970s Harlem, where Tish is engaged to Fonny, an artist whom she’s been friends with since childhood. She becomes pregnant, but their plans of a life together are derailed when her fiancé is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. Jenkins knows how to compose characters within a frame. Every color, slant of light, music choice and angle feels carefully orchestrated to evoke the feeling needed. Plus, two actresses in the film have Cincinnati ties: 26-year-old

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BEST VAPORWAVE PHOTO OP Malls: These havens of hearty Midwestern consumerism have been on a slow death spiral as innovations like e-commerce and Amazon work to take over the retail world. Humans are losing their lust for large-scale interior expanses of clothing storefronts, food courts and play areas with quarter-machine rockets. This change in consumer habits is possibly no more real — and ominous — than at the skeletal remains of the Forest Fair Mall aka Cincinnati Mills aka Cincinnati Mall. While it has gone by several names, the basically abandoned 2 million-square-foot, almost 30-year-old structure is like an episode of Ghost Hunters meets Life After People meets The Walking Dead (minus the zombies). Today, you can walk the darkened mall and marvel at the eerie shuttered shops, neon debris and empty Orange Julius stands with a gnawing nostalgia and the palpable unease that comes from entering desolate spaces that should be filled with people. Though it feels like you shouldn’t be there, you can be: Cincinnati Mills is still open for mall walkers, curious wanderers and people who like to freak themselves out by traipsing through a dark, vacant building. Opened in the late 1980s as the second largest mall in the state, Forest Fair Mall was renovated in the 1990s and became home to anchor stores like Kohl’s, Bass Pro Shop and Burlington Coat Factory (and eventually an 18+ nightclub called Metropolis... anyone remember that? R.I.P.). In the 2000s, it was renamed Cincinnati Mills and sold a couple more times. As of 2019, it has only a handful of tenants, including the flagship location of the thriving local Arcade Legacy chain. And while you may get chased out by a mall cop, it is a perfect place to take some achingly Vaporwave and supremely strange photos. With a purple and teal color scheme and cruise ship-meets-Dada Surrealism mobiles and light fixtures, it is of a very specific, very lost space and time in Midwestern American culture. Cincinnati Mall, 662 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Springdale.

KiKi Layne, who plays Tish, was raised here and graduated from the School for Creative and Performing Arts in 2009. “I think for a long time Hollywood — and media overall — presented it as if there was only one way to talk about the black experience, so I’m definitely very thankful to be at a time in Hollywood where all of that is being challenged,” Layne told CityBeat of her role in the film. And Regina King, as Tish’s mother, won both a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role. Born in Cincinnati, King’s family later moved to L.A., but she still has family ties here. It’s safe to say that these two have made the Queen City proud.

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Cincinnati Mall PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

BEST TV PODCAST EMPIRE

Run by Cincinnatians Jim Jones and A. Ron Hubbard, the Bald Move podcasting empire has amassed a large cult following with entertaining weekly podcasts. Generally focused on popular television shows (as well as the occasional movie), the pair examines episodes week to week with a charming, fan-centric brand of nerd humor and insight. Bald Move began in 2010 with a focus on comics and gaming culture, but found its groove the following year when the hosts began dissecting TV favorites like Mad Men and The Walking Dead, soon catching fire with a wildly popular Breaking Bad pod. Since then, Jones and Hubbard have released thousands of podcasts that have earned tons of glowing reviews and high entries on Apple Podcasts’ charts, including an especially popular Game of Thrones show and programs that episodically examine Stranger Things, American Horror Story, Westworld, True Detective and more. Developing a tight bond with their listeners (who in turn help fund the shows), Bald Move has become popular enough for its moguls to list “podcaster” as their full-time jobs. And they still find time to give back — in February, the duo did a 24-hour Star Wars viewing marathon that raised over $15,000 for the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Bald Move, baldmove.com.

BEST TERRIBLE FILM (OK, WE MEAN WORST FILM) RELEASED IN 2018 THAT WAS SHOT IN CINCINNATI Not all films shot in Cincinnati can be as good as Rain Man or Carol, but few are as bad as Gotti, which features a statuesque, stentorian, grimly determined performance by John Travolta as the famous New York Mafioso John Gotti. He chews out his tough-guy New York accent and, when Gotti ages, starts to look like a wax figure under his makeup. Travolta’s performance somewhat matches the stiff but rushed martial rhythms that director Kevin Connolly (an actor on the HBO show Entourage) brought to the project. It screams out for life. The most amazing thing about Gotti is that it somehow premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where Travolta’s greatest film, Pulp Fiction, won the Palme d’Or in 1994. Cannes didn’t — couldn’t — help Gotti, however.

BEST REASON FOR INDIE FILM LOVERS TO COME BACK DOWNTOWN It’s been a long time since downtown Cincinnati has had a movie theater of any kind, let alone an art house one screening interesting independent films. But that all changed in 2018 when Cincinnati World Cinema began screening movies again in

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the space vacated by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. It’s a fullcircle return for indie flicks in the Race Street spot — in the ’80s at the same location, the Moviola Repertory Cinema (later just The Movies) was the only place to see new and classic artful or cult-classic films that the big multiplexes wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole, like The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, Sid and Nancy and the Ramones-starring Rock ’n’ Roll High School. Now called the Garfield Theatre, Cincinnati World Cinema has featured a similarly eclectic and esoteric mix of movies, screening everything from the critically acclaimed Oscar-nominated Japanese flick Shoplifters to the music documentary Bad Reputation, about Rock legend Joan Jett. The Garfield Theatre, 719 Race St., Downtown, cincyworldcinema.org.

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Last year, the Cincinnati Art Museum devoted an exclusive gallery to the French-born artist Marcel Duchamp, who — along with Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse — is often hailed as one of the three greatest artists of the 20th-century. Until very recently, the Cincinnati Art Museum hadn’t owned enough by Duchamp to merit his own gallery, but after a gift of one of Duchamp’s rare “Boîte-en-Valise (Box in a Valise),” a kind of portable museum consisting of miniature reproductions of his pre-World War II work, was made by Anne and Jeffrey Harrison, the museum opened Marcel Duchamp: Boîte-en-Valise. And it has strong Cincinnati connections. Around 1964, Duchamp himself gave the work to Agnes and Carl Harrison, who lived on a farm in Clermont County. Agnes, whose Cincinnati family’s name was Sattler, was the older sister of Alexina (“Teeny”), who had married Duchamp in 1954 after first being married to Pierre Matisse, an art dealer and son of Henri Matisse. Jeffrey helped his mother (and Agnes’ daughter-in-law) Anne W. Harrison donate the family’s “Boîte” to the museum after her husband, Robert Sattler Harrison, died in 2012 and she moved from the farm. The “Boîte” Duchamp gave to the Harrisons is from 1963’s Series E. It is

stunning when you come across it in the art museum now, displayed almost like a sacred text. Prints Curator Kristin Spangenberg has dramatically placed it in the center of the room, under a giant see-through protective cover. Its parts, which slide or fold out from the box, reveal 68 finely rendered miniature replicas, photographs and color reproductions — some on paper, some sculptural — of Duchamp’s own work. And on the label of one miniature, “Coeurs volants (Fluttering Hearts),” is a personal inscription in French: “To Agnes and Carl grande affection Marcel Duchamp.” Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

BEST FIONA THE HIPPO MURAL NOT PAINTED BY ARTWORKS Clad in a bubblegum-pink tutu and flower crown, Fiona leaps across the side of Algin Retro Furniture’s building, backdropped in a vibrant blue. It’s a whimsical and downright adorable mural — much like artist, illustrator and Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber event manager Joshua Stout’s other work. “(I like) anything bright,” he says. “I think lots of people go toward gray and muted tones when they’re designing buildings ... so anytime I can add a pop of color, I’m all for it.” The piece is likely inspired by the Cincinnati Ballet’s 2018 production of The Nutcracker, in which the Cincinnati Zoo resident and worldwide celeb’s likeness snagged a spot via a costumed character. Honestly: We love a graceful, body-posi hippo that can dance. Stout’s no stranger to work that dabbles in pop culture — or Fiona. Scroll through his instagram @joshuastoutart and you’ll also see the hippo illustrated as Samantha from ‘80s teen rom-com Sixteen Candles. In case you don’t keep up to date on our city’s growing Fiona mythos, in the artwork she sits across from the San Antonio Zoo’s Timothy — also a young hippo and apparently a suitor of Fiona. Seriously. Fiona Mural, Eighth and Main streets, Downtown.

2019

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M AY 1 7 - 2 5

2019

SINGLE TICKETS

ON SALE NOW! TICKETS FROM $15 “There is something undeniably exhilarating about the sound of hundreds of voices lifted in song. I left [Music Hall] glowing.” THE WASHINGTON POST

M AY F E S T I VA L . C O M | 5 1 3 . 3 8 1 . 3 3 0 0

POULENC

EATS

READER PICKS

NEW RESTAURANT (SINCE MARCH 2018)

1. Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey 2. Sacred Beast 3. Agave & Rye 4. Joe’s Pizza Napoli 5. Lucius Q 6. LouVino Restaurant & Wine Bar 7. Maize (TIE) 7. Revolution Rotisserie & Bar (TIE) 8. Condado Tacos 9. Zundo Ramen & Donburi 10. Crown Republic Gastropub

OVERALL RESTAURANT 1. Sotto 2. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct 3. The Eagle OTR 4. Taste of Belgium 5. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse 6. Boca 7. Incline Public House 8. Taft’s Ale House 9. Mazunte 10. Dewey’s Pizza

OVERALL RESTAURANT (NORTHERN KENTUCKY)

1. Pompilios 2. Hofbräuhaus 3. Walt’s Hitching Post 4. Kung Food Chu’s AmerAsia 5. Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar 6. Otto’s 7. Frida 602 8. Greyhound Tavern 9. Agave & Rye 10. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar (TIE) 10. Keystone Bar & Grill (TIE)

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT (DOWNTOWN/OTR) 1. The Eagle OTR 2. Bakersfield OTR 3. Sotto

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT (NORTHERN KENTUCKY) 1. Pompilios 2. Hofbräuhaus 3. Dewey’s Pizza (TIE) 3. Goodfellas Pizzeria (TIE)

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT (CENTRAL) 1. Adriatico’s 2. Skyline Chili 3. Quatman Café

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT (EAST SIDE ) 1. Eli’s BBQ 2. Mazunte 3. Zip’s Café

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT (WEST SIDE) 1. Incline Public House 2. Price Hill Chili 3. Primavista

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT (NORTHERN BURBS) 1. Sleepy Bee Café 2. Blue Ash Chili 3. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

APPETIZERS

1. Bakersfield OTR 2. Sotto 3. Nada 38 | BE S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9 10 | B

BAGELS

1. Marx Hot Bagels 2. Bruegger’sBagels 3. The Bagelry 4. Lil’s Bagels 5. Panera Bread 6. Einstein Bros. Bagels 7. Big Apple Bagels 8. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli 9. Everything Bagels 10. Skip’s BagelDeli

BARBECUE

1. Eli’s BBQ 2. City Barbeque 3. Montgomery Inn 4. Lucius Q 5. Pickles and Bones Barbecue 6. Pontiac Bourbon & BBQ 7. Sweets & Meats BBQ 8. Just Q’in 9. Midwest Best BBQ and Creamery 10. Big Art’s BBQ Grille

BEER SELECTION (RESTAURANT) 1. Yard House 2. Pies & Pints 3. Taft’s Ale House

Thank you for voting Sugar n’ Spice Best of Cincinnati.

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250,000

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Signature Sandwiches

Over 500,000 brownies, mac n’ cheese bites and cookies, and of course, well over 300,000 rubber duckies!

WINE SELECTION (RESTAURANT)

NEIGHBORHOOD BURGER SPOT (CENTRAL)

BREAKFAST

NEIGHBORHOOD BURGER SPOT (EAST SIDE)

1. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant 2. Unwind Wine Bar & Light Fare 3. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse

1. Sleepy Bee Café 2. First Watch 3. Taste of Belgium 4. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar 5. Sugar n’ Spice Restaurant 6. Hang Over Easy 7. The Echo Restaurant 8. The Main Cup 9. The Original Pancake House 10. Wild Eggs

BRUNCH

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1. Taste of Belgium 2. First Watch 3. Sleepy Bee Café 4. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar 5. Orchids at Palm Court 6. Grand Finale 7. The Greyhound Tavern 8. Hang Over Easy 9. Cozy’s Café & Pub 10. Nation Kitchen and Bar

OVERALL BURGERS (CHAIN) 1. Five Guys Burgers & Fries 2. Red Robin 3. Smashburger

OVERALL BURGERS (NON-CHAIN) Did you know that I once made bagels at the Smithsonian Institute?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! “Best Bagels”

1. Zip’s Café 2. Arthur’s 3. Krueger’s Tavern 4. Nation Kitchen and Bar 5. Tickle Pickle 6. Flipdaddy’s Burgers & Beers 7. Roney’s 8. Bard’s Burgers & Chili 9. Quatman Café 10. Gas Light Café

NEIGHBORHOOD BURGER SPOT (DOWNTOWN/OTR) 1. Krueger’s Tavern 2. Nation Kitchen and Bar 3. Arnold’s Bar & Grill

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1. Flipdaddy’s Burgers & Beers 2. Bard’s Burgers & Chili 3. Mad Mike’s Burgers and Fries

1. Quatman Café 2. Tickle Pickle 3. Gordo’s Pub & Grill

1. Zip’s Café 2. Arthur’s 3. Oakley Pub & Grill

NEIGHBORHOOD BURGER SPOT (WEST SIDE) 1. Incline Public House 2. Chandler’s Burger Bistro 3. The Public House

NEIGHBORHOOD BURGER SPOT (NORTHERN BURBS)

1. Quatman Café 2. Sammy’s Craft Burgers & Beers 3. Flipdaddy’s Burgers & Beers

BURRITOS

1. Gomez Salsa 2. Chipotle Mexican Grill 3. Mazunte

BUSINESS LUNCH

1. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar 2. Nada 3. Skyline Chili

BUTCHER SHOP

1. Avril-Bleh Meat Market & Deli 2. Eckerlin Meats 3. Hyde Park Fine Meats and Catering

CAJUN/SOUL FOOD

1. Knotty Pine on the Bayou 2. J. Gumbo’s 3. Allyn’s Café 4. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen 5. Dee Felice Café 6. Swampwater Grill 7. Alabama Fish Bar 8. BrewRiver Creole Kitchen 9. Mardi Gras on Madison 10. Island Frydays

CHEESE SHOP

1. Jungle Jim’s International Market 2. The Rhined 3. Share: Cheesebar

CHEESESTEAK

1. Penn Station 2. Cincy Steak & Lemonade 3. 13th Street Alley

CHEF (W/RESTAURANT AFFILIATION)

1. Jean-Robert de Cavel (Table, Restaurant L, French Crust Café & Bistro, Le Bar a Boeuf, Frenchie Fresh) 2. Jose Salazar (Salazar, Mita’s) 3. Danny Combs (Sotto) 4. Daniel Wright (Senate, Abigail Street, Pontiac Bourbon & BBQ) 5. David Falk (Boca) 6. Christian Gill (Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey) 7. Alfio Gulisano (Ché, Alfio’s Buon Cibo, The Butcher and Barrel) 8. Frances Kroner (Sleepy Bee Café, Aster) 9. Mark Bodenstein (S.W. Clyborne Co.) 10. Mitch Arens (Hotel Covington)

CHICKEN

1. The Eagle OTR 2. Revolution Rotisserie & Bar 3. Silver Spring House

CHILI (CHAIN)

CHILI (NON-CHAIN)

1. Camp Washington Chili 2. Blue Ash Chili 3. Pleasant Ridge Chili

CHINESE

1. Kung Food Chu’s AmerAsia 2. Oriental Wok 3. P.F. Chang’s

CHOCOLATES

1. Aglamesis Brothers 2. Maverick Chocolate Co. 3. Esther Price Fine Chocolates

COFFEEHOUSE (LOCAL)

1. Coffee Emporium 2. Carabello Coffee 3. College Hill Coffee Co. and Casual Gourmet

COFFEEHOUSE (NATIONAL) 1. Starbucks 2. Dunkin’ Donuts 3. Caribou Coffee

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOP (DOWNTOWN/OTR)

1. Skyline Chili 2. Gold Star Chili 3. Dixie Chili

Aglamesis Brothers | Best Chocolate PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

2. 1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab 3. Deeper Roots Coffee – Findlay Coffee Bar

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOP (NORTHERN KENTUCKY) 1. Carabello Coffee 2. Roebling Point Books & Coffee 3. Fort Thomas Coffee

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOP (CENTRAL)

1. College Hill Coffee Co. and Casual Gourmet 2. The Coffee Exchange of Pleasant Ridge 3. Collective Espresso

1. Coffee Emporium

“Thanks for the LOVE!” Voted 2019 Best of Cincinnati

#1 Overall Bakery (Sweets) #1 Wedding Cakes #1 Desserts (Retail) #1 Neighborhood Bakery (Central) 42 | BEESSTT O OFF C CIIN NC CIIN NN NAT ATII 220 01199 14 | B

#2 Tea Selection #3 Cupcakes #3 Macarons

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOP (NORTHERN BURBS) 1. Kidd Coffee & Wine Bar 2. The Daily Grind & Slice 3. Kitty Brew Café

1. Jungle Jim’s International Market 2. Findlay Kitchen 3. The Learning Kitchen

CREAMY WHIP/SOFT SERVE PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOP (EAST SIDE)

1. Coffee Emporium 2. Deeper Roots Coffee – Oakley Coffee Bar 3. Lookout Joe: Mount Lookout Coffee Roasters

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOP (WEST SIDE) 1. BLOC Coffee Company 2. Muse Café 3. The Coffee Peddlar

2. Emerson’s Bakery 3. The Buttercream Boutique

DESSERTS (RETAIL)

NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY (CENTRAL)

1. The BonBonerie 2. Graeter’s Ice Cream 3. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli

COOKING CLASSES

BLOC | Best Coffee Shop (West Side)

2. Sotto 3. Grand Finale

1. Putz’s Creamy Whip 2. Dairy Queen 3. The Cone

OVERALL BAKERY (BREADS) 1. Blue Oven Bakery 2. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli 3. Sixteen Bricks

OVERALL BAKERY (SWEETS) 1. The BonBonerie 2. Holtman’s Donuts 3. Brown Bear Bakery

CUPCAKES

1. Abby Girl Sweets 2. Gigi’s Cupcakes 3. The BonBonerie

NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY (DOWNTOWN/OTR) 1. Holtman’s Donuts 2. Brown Bear Bakery 3. Blue Oven Bakery

DELICATESSEN 1. Izzy’s 2. Silverglades 3. McAlister’s Deli

DESSERTS (RESTAURANT) 1. The Cheesecake Factory (TIE) 1. O Pie O (TIE)

NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY (NORTHERN KENTUCKY) 1. Graeter’s Ice Cream (TIE) 1. Moonrise Doughnuts (TIE)

1. The BonBonerie 2. North College Hill Bakery 3. Graeter’s Ice Cream (TIE) 3. O Pie O (TIE)

NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY (EAST SIDE ) 1. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli 2. Busken Bakery 3. Beyond Grain Bakery

NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY (WEST SIDE) 1. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli 2. Busken Bakery 3. St. Lawrence Bakery

NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY (NORTHERN BURBS) 1. Holtman’s Donuts 2. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli 3. Bluebird Bakery & Café

Stay. Sit. Savor.

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

OFF CCIIN NCCIIN NN NAT ATII 22001199 | 43 | 15 BBEESSTT O

DONUTS

1. Holtman’s Donuts 2. Dunkin’ Donuts 3. Busken Bakery

FARMERS MARKET

1. Findlay Market 2. Hyde Park Farmers Market 3. Northside Farmers Market

FARMERS MARKET FOOD STALL

1. Blue Oven Bakery 2. Pho Lang Thang 3. Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices

FOOD DELIVERY SERVICE 1. DoorDash 2. Uber Eats 3. Green Bean Delivery (TIE) 3. Grubhub (TIE)

FOOD FESTIVAL OR EVENT

1. Taste of Cincinnati 2. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 3. Cincinnati Food Truck Association Food Fest

FOOD TRUCK

1. Red Sesame Korean BBQ 2. Tacos Locos Food Truck 3. Stellar Street Eats

FRENCH FRIES

1. Five Guys Burgers & Fries 2. Penn Station 3. Senate

FROZEN YOGURT

1. Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt & Treats 2. Yagööt 3. United Dairy Farmers

GELATO/SORBETTO/FROZEN ICE

GOETTA

1. Glier’s Goetta 2. Eckerlin Meats 3. Avril-Bleh Meat Market & Deli

GUACAMOLE

1. Bakersfield OTR 2. Mazunte 3. Nada

HOT DOG/SAUSAGE 1. Senate 2. The Root Beer Stand 3. Eli’s BBQ

ICE CREAM

1. Graeter’s Ice Cream 2. Aglamesis Brothers 3. United Dairy Farmers

INDIAN

1. Ambar India Restaurant 2. Amol India Carry Out Restaurant 3. Baba India Restaurant

ITALIAN

1. Sotto 2. Pompilios 3. Nicola’s Ristorante

JAPANESE

1. Kaze 2. Wild Ginger 3. Ichiban Japanese Cuisine

KOREAN

1. Riverside Korean Restaurant 2. Red Sesame Korean BBQ 3. Bibibop Asian Grill

LATE-NIGHT EATERY 1. Goodfellas Pizzeria 2. Gomez Salsa 3. Skyline Chili

LIVE MUSIC WHILE YOU EAT

1. Dojo Gelato 2. Madisono’s Gelato 3. Graeter’s Ice Cream

1. Arnold’s Bar & Grill 2. Dee Felice Café 3. MOTR Pub

GERMAN

LOCAL FARM

1. Hofbräuhaus 2. Mecklenburg Gardens 3. Wunderbar!

GLUTEN-FREE SELECTIONS 1. Sleepy Bee Café 2. Melt Revival 3. S.W. Clyborne Co.

44 | B 16 | BEESSTT O OFF C CIIN NC CIIN NN NAT ATII 220 01199

1. Burger Farm & Garden Center 2. Gorman Heritage Farm 3. Blooms & Berries Farm Market and Garden Center (TIE) 3. Shaw Farms (TIE)

MACARON

1. Macaron Bar 2. Taste of Belgium 3. The BonBonerie

MACARONI & CHEESE 1. Keystone Bar & Grill 2. The Eagle OTR 3. Eli’s BBQ

MEDITERRANEAN/GREEK 1. Aladdin’s Eatery + Lounge 2. Phoenician Taverna 3. Sebastian’s Gyros

MENU (MOST INNOVATIVE) 1. Please 2. Sotto 3. Boca

MEXICAN

1. Mazunte 2. La Mexicana Restaurante Cantina & Tienda 3. Bakersfield OTR

OUTDOOR/PATIO DINING 1. Incline Public House 2. Eli’s BBQ 3. Cabana on the River

OVERALL PIZZA (CHAIN) 1. Dewey’s Pizza 2. LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria 3. Goodfellas Pizzeria

OVERALL PIZZA (NON-CHAIN)

1. Adriatico’s 2. Chester’s Pizza 3. Joe’s Pizza Napoli 4. A Tavola 5. Trotta’s Pizza & Drive Thru 6. Taft’s Brewpourium 7. Two Cities Pizza Co. 8. Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria 8. Taglio 9. Catch-a-Fire Pizza 10. Fireside Pizza

NEIGHBORHOOD PIZZA JOINT (DOWNTOWN/OTR) 1. Goodfellas Pizzeria 2. A Tavola 3. Harvest Pizzeria

NEIGHBORHOOD PIZZA JOINT (NORTHERN KENTUCKY) 1. Goodfellas Pizzeria 2. Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria 3. Dewey’s Pizza

NEIGHBORHOOD PIZZA JOINT (CENTRAL) 1. Adriatico’s 2. Dewey’s Pizza 3. Taft’s Brewpourium

NEIGHBORHOOD PIZZA JOINT (EAST SIDE ) 1. Joe’s Pizza Napoli 2. Dewey’s Pizza 3. Mio’s Pizzeria

NEIGHBORHOOD PIZZA JOINT (WEST SIDE ) 1. Trotta’s Pizza & Drive Thru 2. Dewey’s Pizza 3. LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria

NEIGHBORHOOD PIZZA JOINT (NORTHERN BURBS) 1. Mellow Mushroom 2. Two Cities Pizza Co. 3. Cassano’s Pizza

PUB FOOD

1. Taft’s Ale House 2. Incline Public House 3. Zip’s Café

RAW BAR

1. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse 2. Kaze 3. Jeff Ruby’s Carlo & Johnny

RESTAURANT DESIGN 1. Taft’s Ale House 2. Sotto 3. Boca

RESTAURANT FOR A FIRST DATE 1. Sotto 2. Incline Public House 3. Taft’s Ale House 4. Bakersfield OTR 5. S.W. Clyborne Co. 6. Nada 7. Primavista 8. Cozy’s Café & Pub 9. Taste of Belgium 10. Dewey’s Pizza

RESTAURANT FOR FINE DINING 1. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct 2. Sotto 3. Boca 4. Orchids at Palm Court 5. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse 6. S.W. Clyborne Co.

Thank you y ou THANK YOU for voting us Best Korean Restaurant again! for voting us Best Korean Restaurant again!

Authentic

Delicious

LUNCH

Mon. - Fri. 11:30am - 2pm

DINNER

Monday ~ Friday Mon. - Thurs. & Sun. Fri. Sat. 5 pm - 10pm 5PM ~ 6:30PM

Fresh

5pm - 9pm

HAPPY HOURS

Half Price Appetizer Mon. - Bottle Fri. 5pmWine - 6:30pm Half Price Half Price Appetizer Half Price Bottle Wine

RiversideKoreanRestaurant.com RiversideKoreanRestaurant.com

EST.1987

RIVERSIDE KOREAN KOREAN RESTAURANT RESTAURANT 512 Madison Ave. Ave.Ave. Covington KY 41011 859-291-1484 512 Madison Covington KY 41011 • 859-291-1484

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9 | 45

7. Nicola’s Ristorante 8. Primavista 9. Jeff Ruby’s Carlo & Johnny 9. Restaurant L 10. Jean-Robert’s Table

RESTAURANT TO TAKE THE KIDS 1. Chick-fil-A 2. Dewey’s Pizza 3. Skyline Chili

RESTAURANT FOR LARGE PARTIES

RESTAURANT TO TAKE VISITORS

1. Montgomery Inn 2. Taft’s Ale House 3. Moerlein Lager House

1. The Montgomery Inn Boathouse 2. Incline Public House 3. Taft’s Ale House

RESTAURANT FOR THE BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

RESTAURANT TO TAKE A FOODIE

SALADS

1. Eli’s BBQ 2. Skyline Chili 3. Mazunte

1. Sotto 2. Primavista 3. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct

1. Dewey’s Pizza 2. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar 3. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant (TIE) 3. Taft’s Ale House (TIE)

1. Sotto 2. Boca 3. Salazar 4. Please 5. Jean-Robert’s Table 6. S.W. Clyborne Co. 7. Joe’s Pizza Napoli 8. The Eagle OTR 9. Abigail Street 10. Taste of Belgium

SEAFOOD

1. Court Street Lobster Bar 2. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen 3. Bonefish Grill 4. McCormick & Schmick’s

5. Pelican’s Reef 6. S.W. Clyborne Co. 7. Mitchell’s Fish Market 8. Eighth & English 9. Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant 10. Chart House

SMOOTHIE/JUICE BAR 1. Rooted Juicery + Kitchen 2. Smoothie King 3. Off The Vine

SOUP

1. Pho Lang Thang 2. Zoup! 3. La Soupe

SPECIALTY FOOD MARKET

1. Jungle Jim’s International Market 2. Findlay Market 3. Trader Joe’s

STEAKHOUSE

1. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct 2. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse 3. Jeff Ruby’s Carlo & Johnny

SUBS/SANDWICHES 1. Penn Station 2. Jersey Mike’s 3. Izzy’s

SUSHI

1. Green Papaya 2. Cloud 9 Sushi 3. Ichiban Japanese Cuisine 4. Mr. Sushi 5. Wabi Sabi 6. Kaze 7. Fusian 8. Wild Ginger 9. Izen’s Drunken Bento 10. E+O Kitchen

TACOS

1. Mazunte 2. Bakersfield OTR 3. Nada 4. TAHONA Kitchen + Bar 5. Agave & Rye 6. Condado Tacos 7. Frida 602 8. Gomez Salsa 9. La Mexicana Restaurante Cantina & Tienda 10. Django Western Taco

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Joe’s Pizza Napoli | Best Under the Radar Restaurant, Best Pizza Joint (East Side) PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

TAKEOUT

1. Gomez Salsa 2. Chipotle Mexican Grill 3. Eli’s BBQ

TAPAS

1. Mita’s 2. Abigail Street 3. Ché

TEA SELECTION

1. Churchill’s Fine Teas 2. The BonBonerie 3. Coffee Emporium

THAI

1. Green Papaya 2. Thai Express 3. Bangkok Bistro

UNDER THE RADAR RESTAURANT

1. Joe’s Pizza Napoli 2. Mazunte 3. TAHONA Kitchen + Bar

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN SELECTION

1. Melt Revival 2. Sleepy Bee Café 3. Rooted Juicery + Kitchen

VEGGIE BURGER

1. Krueger’s Tavern 2. Tickle Pickle 3. S.W. Clyborne Co. 4. Arthur’s 5. Sleepy Bee Café 6. Flipdaddy’s Burgers & Beers 7. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar 8. Arnold’s Bar & Grill

9. Harvest Pizzeria 10. Bones’ Burgers

VIETNAMESE

1. Pho Lang Thang 2. Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro 3. Pho Kimmy

VIEW FROM YOUR TABLE 1. Incline Public House 2. Primavista 3. Moerlein Lager House

WAITSTAFF/SERVICE 1. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct 2. S.W. Clyborne Co. 3. Sotto

WATERFRONT DINING

1. The Montgomery Inn Boathouse 2. Moerlein Lager House 3. Cabana on the River

WINGS

1. Knockback Nat’s 2. Buffalo Wild Wings 3. Northside Yacht Club 4. Wild Mike’s 5. The Oak Tavern 6. Bones Brothers Wings 7. Buffalo Wings & Rings 8. Putters Sports Grill 9. SmoQ 10. Quaker Steak & Lube

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EATS

STAFF PICKS

BEST PLACE TO SAMPLE SQUID INK OK, squid ink is not the only thing you should try at Crown Republic Gastropub, but now that we’ve got your attention, let’s talk about this wonderful eatery’s aquatic defense mechanism-turnedingredient. Squids naturally secrete ink to evade attackers, and though it’s not likely they anticipated anyone would want to eat their excretion, squid ink is high in iron, full of antioxidants and has a unique flavor that doesn’t taste like a pen. Crown Republic incorporates the ink into a housemade pasta for their take on tagliatelle, which includes mounds of crab atop black pasta with lemon, chili oil, breadcrumbs and tomato. It’s creamy with a spicier profile than you might initially infer — definitely one of the more unique pasta options in town. If slurping down inky noodles ain’t your prerogative — or if you are dining with someone less than adventurous — try the chicken gobbets. The name is weird, but the meat isn’t. Gobbets are basically adult chicken nuggets that are soaked in the malt brine the crew makes their pickles in, then fried and served with honey hot sauce on the side. During lunch, the gobbets are also available in Crown Republic’s spin on a po’boy, served with lettuce, tomato, malt pickles and garlic aioli on a hoagie. Something slightly more approachable for a diner who wants to go to Flavortown but isn’t ready to tackle edible ink from a cephalopod’s sac. Crown Republic Gastropub, 720 Sycamore St., Downtown, crgcincy.com.

BEST TASTE OF PHILLY FROM A WALK-UP WINDOW You don’t have to buy a plane ticket to Philly to get a great cheesesteak. You can get a no-frills, tried-and-true cheesesteak at 13th Street Alley in Over-the-Rhine and watch through the window as they scrape a pile of hot, 100-percent sirloin steak and melty cheese off the flattop and into a bun with peppers and onions for under seven bucks. Co-owned by a former Great Steak & Potato Co. franchisee, the menu offers seven types of Philly sandwiches, plus wraps, bowls, baked potatoes and fresh-cut fries. And while the classic OTR Philly comes topped with provolone, the shop does keep Cheese Whiz in the fridge for all the cheesesteak purists out there. If you don’t show up in time to claim one of the three tables outside, you’ll have to eat on the curb in true streetfood fashion. Bonus: The window is open until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday for any late-night steak cravings. 13th Street Alley, 126 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-8138000, searchable on Facebook.

BEST CINCINNATI-MADE BARBECUE CHIPS Crown Republic Gastropub

First off: This pick is not about Grippo’s barbecue chips, although Grippo’s barbecue chips are in fact delicious. They taste like a summer pool party, come in nostalgic 1960s packaging and

have that tongue-coating tang of paprika, heat and MSG. But, if you want something less orange and non-GMO, Hen of the Woods’ Touch of Smoke-flavored kettle chips are possibly the perfect potato chip. Developed by chefs and made from scratch, each all-natural chip is sliced, sorted and seasoned by Hen of the Woods. Here, apple cider vinegar brings a bright acidic punch to a chip dusted with sea salt, leek, red bell pepper and some hickory smoke, which creates a sort of North Carolina backyard barbecue flavor sans any powder coating or food coloring — looks like a chip; tastes like a touch of smoke. Hen of the Woods chips are now carried in over 100 stores across five states and come in flavors other than Touch of Smoke — Buttermilk & Chive, the original Red Wine Vinegar, Chile Con Queso, Sea Salt, Everything — but why stray from the best? Hen of the Woods, henofthewoodsotr.com.

BEST EDIBLE OFFSPRING Last year, the Thunderdome Restaurant Group hatched CityBird, a chicken tender takeout restaurant on Vine Street located right next door to the Eagle OTR, a favorite fried chicken eatery which is owned by the same company. The CityBird menu is built around high-end chicken strips. The strips are made from free-range bird, which is brined, dredged and “fresh fried” in-house. Dip the chicken in one of their six signature sauces — made from scratch every day

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

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BEST AUTHENTIC PERUVIAN CEVICHE If you’ve never had the pleasure of trying it, ceviche is raw seafood cured in citrus juice and spiced with exotic peppers. Angel Batista, co-owner of Maize and a native of Puerto Rico, says it should taste like the ocean — and that’s exactly how you’d describe his restaurant’s dish, constructed with a base of red snapper and shrimp. It is perfect. Crisp, bright, tangy, fresh. The fish are plump and plentiful and complemented by pops of diced mango and serrano pepper — tossed in after the acidity of the lime cures the seafood. Don’t let that juice at the bottom of your glass go to waste; it’s called leche de tigre, or “tiger milk,” which you can drink right out of the container. It’s considered an aphrodisiac, so make sure your date gets a good taste, too. The remainder of the dishes at Maize are excellent as well. The restaurant takes its name from a corn flour dating back some 10,000 years, which serves as the basis for the eatery’s arepas, cachapas and empanadas and acts as an access point for the rich world of Latin American cuisine. To that end, the menu is colorful and varied, with dishes from across the region that complement one another while retaining their traditional roots: Puerto Rican lechonchetta con yucca al mojo, Venezuelan pabellón criollo and Mexican elote topped with cotija cheese, queso fresco and cayenne. Maize OTR, 1438 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, maizeotr.com.

— like lemon thyme ranch or Korean chili barbecue. The tenders boast a full-bodied flavor: mostly mellow and savory but tinged with spice. They’re at their best wedged inside the “Spicy” sandwich, topped with Green Goddess slaw, Sriracha and mayo on a toasted potato bun. And don’t skimp on a side of fries. Dusted with parmesan, parsley and sugar, they’re an addictive base that soaks up the tenders’ spice. CityBird is a quick chicken stop for hungry fans who don’t have the time to wait for a table at the always-busy Eagle. CityBird, 1344 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, citybirdotr.com.

BEST ACTUAL LUNCH ANGELS Sometimes you have days at work when you’re so busy you can barely get up to pee, let alone figure out how or what you’re going to feed yourself. Thankfully, the true angel humans at 53T Courier have been bringing lunch (and dinner) to downtowners (and CityBeaters) via bicycle in the rain, sleet, snow and heat and when they just can’t get up from their desks since 2014. Pronounced “fifty-three tee” — for the number of teeth on a road bike’s chain ring — the company, founded by Ian Bulling and Dave Adams, is rider-owned and operated and “comprised of experienced,

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dedicated cyclists who love what they do.” From 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, these be-spoked saviors deliver food from an ever-growing list of local restaurants throughout downtown, OTR and Northern Kentucky, like Cheapside Café, The Gruff and Pho Lang Thang. They also perform other assorted bike messenger services like delivering parcels, papers and etc. Sure, the restaurant selection may be greater through conglomerates like Uber Eats or Grubhub, but Uber Eats doesn’t have Ian — or his giant backpack — hand delivering your lunch to you at your desk, still hot and intact (even if you get a Vietnamese drip coffee), while you’re trying to make a deadline. It is only a slight exaggeration to say some of us here might starve without him and 53T. 53T Courier, 53tcourier.com.

BEST BARBECUE PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDING OF CINCINNATI There’s a new pitmaster in Pendleton. And while the name of the barbecue joint may look like “luscious” — which isn’t a bad association — the restaurant is actually called Lucius Q (loo-shus q), a moniker taken from a Roman general with special ties to Cincinnati. The Roman association is pulled

Maize’s ceviche PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

through in the branding, created by locals Keith Neltner and Tommy Sheehan: The restaurant logo is a Centurion riding a pig. But the Italian influence stops there. The menu is all about the meat; no pizza or pasta in sight — unless you count the macaroni and cheese waffle. Instead, it draws influence from regional barbecue specialties and the partners’ own backgrounds. Co-owner Aaron Sharpe, formerly of now-defunct, much-missed radio station WNKU, says they were inspired by the best regions in the country to make their Texas brisket, Carolina pulled pork and Memphis-style ribs with sausage from local Avril-Bleh. Everything is smoked in the smoker out back and the sauces — which range from Carolina-style Queen City Gold mustard sauce to Kansas City-style Luscious Lucius sweet and smoky sauce to the unique ‘Bama White mayonnaise-based sauce — are made in house. The only thing not made in house are the buns, which are sourced from Giminetti Baking Company in Walnut Hills. For vegetarians, there’s a mushroom sandwich with barbecue sauce and sides like coleslaw, grits and queso corn or the pie of the day. Drawing on Sharpe’s radio days, the restaurant also doubles as a live music venue. Lucius Q, 1131 Broadway St., Pendleton, luciusq.com.

BEST VEGETARIAN ENCORE

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Clifton coffee shop mainstay Sitwell’s reopened under new ownership last year and a new name: Sitwell’s Act II. Now owned by Florencia Garayoa and her husband Alex Barden, the couple is determined to preserve what made Sitwell’s an iconic Cincinnati hangout while adding their own philosophy and personality. While Barden is a Cincinnati native, Garayoa is from Argentina and she was an employee at Sitwell’s during its last few months of operation under the original owner, Lisa Storie. The couple purchased Sitwell’s and began renovations, giving the interior a complete overhaul. Chef Kyle Scrimsher, formerly of E+O Kitchen in Hyde Park, was hired and tasked with creating a fully vegetarian and vegan menu. Dishes include options like a Greek gyro made with seitan, a glass noodle summer roll and vegan chili. Garayoa’s heritage is also represented on the menu via empanadas, Argentine wine and mate, an herbaceous drink similar to yerba mate tea that’s served in a traditional gourd and sipped through a filtered metal straw. The bohemian bonhomie is still there, as is the eclectic seating and opportunities for local artists and musicians. Sitwell’s Act II, 324 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, facebook.com/sitwells. coffeehouse.

BEST BUILD-YOUR-OWNVEGETABLE-JUICE BAR

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Total Juice Plus has been macerating vegetables into drinkable health beverages for downtowners since 1997. The unassuming little bistro isn’t fancy, but go anytime around lunch and the line is almost out the door with office workers looking for a vitamin-infused pick-me-up. The fresh pressed/squeezed/smushed juices come in sizes from 12 to 32 ounces with any combination of carrot, beet, apple, pineapple, orange, watermelon, celery, cucumber, ginger and kale. Build your own juice or choose from one of their pre-selected blends. And any of you on that celery juice bandwagon — yes, we said celery — we know celery is a pain in the butt to juice at home, so let the friendly staff at Total Juice do it for you. They also have wheatgrass growing on the counter

for shots. Outside of fresh juices, they also make smoothies from flashfrozen fruit (non-dairy by request) and you can opt to add boosters like bee pollen, ginseng, egg protein and brewers yeast. Basically, it’s a build-your-own health beverage. If you want to chew something, they also offer high-protein wraps and tons of vegetarian choices. It’s like a juice bar from before juice bars were a thing. Total Juice Plus, 631 Vine St., Downtown, totaljuicecincy.com.

BEST CREAMY WHIP TO OPEN IN PENDLETON If you’ve ever been savagely addicted to soft serve ice cream (and who hasn’t had to get that monkey off their back?) then you know winter is a dark, dark time due to the fact that all the local creamy whips close for the “slow season.” Well, Pendleton Parlor is the best (or worst) thing that could happen to your severe soft serve withdrawal symptoms, since they’re open year-round. Helmed by the Ganims, Cincinnati’s royal family of soft serve, this is their third ice cream parlor overall and their first downtown — they also own the Mt. Washington Creamy Whip and Old Milford Parlor. Pendleton Parlor’s big draw is their “Side by Side” dish, which is a scoop of edible raw cookie dough (available in four flavors, but core offerings always include chocolate chip cookie and sugar cookie with sprinkles) alongside some ice cream; simple and sweet all year long. Those seeking out a caffeine buzz alongside their sugar rush can also order from a small menu of espresso drinks. Pendleton Parlor, 1218 Broadway St., Pendleton, cincinnatiparlor.com.

BEST EXCUSE TO DROP 50-PLUS BUCKS ON PASTA Sotto is the premier special occasion dining spot in Cincy. From its sexy, low-light ambiance to its menu of fresh pastas and other rustic Italian cuisine (with accompanying price tag), this underground eatery is perfect for holidays, anniversaries, birthdays and more; it was even recently named one of OpenTable’s top 100 best restaurants in America. So when Sotto has a special on the

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BEST TUNA ON CROISSANT SANDWICH In May 2018, part of the Collective Espresso team opened up urban deli and mini grocer The Takeaway across the street from their OTR coffee shop on Woodward and Main Street. The name tells you almost everything you need to know — they sell to-go food — but it’s more than that. The menu contains sandwich staples like a Reuben, BLT and Trail & Swiss (with Troyer’s Genuine Trail bologna), but they also make an excellent “Salad Sandwich.” Choose either tuna, egg or chicken salad on Allez Bakery’s white or rye or a croissant from Mainwood Pastry (also owned by part of the Collective family); we say opt for tuna on a croissant. The Takeaway mixes their housemade mayo with the fish and spreads it on a flaky pastry. Surprisingly, the croissant stays buttery and firm to the last bite; no soggy bottom here. Besides the excellent tuna salad sandwich, they also offer to-go pasta and potato salad, soups, green salads and goods like Hen of the Wood chips, produce and local beers. In the summer, take a dip at neighboring Zeigler Park Pool and get lunch or dinner to go. The Takeaway, 1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, takeawayonmain.com.

menu, you know it’s gonna be out of this world. This past winter, the restaurant got its hands on some primo white truffles from Italy — the staff could even describe the village where the fungus came from — and created a white truffle gnocchi dish that we’re still salivating over. Truffles are the ultimate indulgence, and these bad boys came shaved tableside atop pillowy clouds of potato dumplings smothered in a rich, cheesy sauce. Think silver-dollar-sized funky flakes of truffle paired with mild, ooey-gooey goodness. The dish was sold out within days. White truffles come with a hefty price tag, but if you hear about a truffle special at Sotto, jump on it! Sotto, 118 E. Sixth St., Downtown, sottocincinnati.com.

BEST FUSIAN FUSION SUSHI CUISINE Local fast-casual sushi chain Fusian loves to mix up the idea of traditional sushi recipes. It’s in their name, right? This past year, they not only introduced tasty bowls to their menu, but they also engaged in more collaborations than Ariana Grande. Fusian worked with decidedly non-sushi purveyors including local barbecue joint Eli’s BBQ and national seafood chain Luke’s Lobster to serve some unexpected mash-up rolls, like one packed with pulled pork, jalapeño, barbecue sauce and spice-rubbed tempura. Fusian even featured a Thanksgiving “leftovers roll” with turkey, sweet potato and cranberry in November. Maybe not for sushi purists, but definitely for adventurous eaters — and the not-so-much. With approachable ingredients like cooked steak and chicken, Fusian 54 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

The Takeaway PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

is a great, fresh spot for the sushi newbie who might not want to venture into raw proteins just yet. Fusian, 600 Vine St., Downtown; 3780 Paxton Ave., Hyde Park; 8060 Montgomery Road, Kenwood, fusian.com.

BEST $3 SNACK A few years ago, nibbling on roasted, curried chickpeas in a former strip club while sipping on craft cocktails didn’t seem possible — that is until cocktail haunt The Globe opened on the onceseedy Fifth Street/Madison Avenue strip in Covington in the former Club Venus. (They even have a drink named after the original shower-show destination, made with prosecco and orange blossom water.) Though the focus here is on bourbon — the bar is on the B-Line NKY bourbon tour and their Fifth Street Manhattan is a must-try — they do offer a small snack menu: a charcuterie board, baked brie, a hummus plate and the aforementioned crispy chickpeas. Served warm in a bowl with a dash of seasoning, the savory snack is the right amount of food to fill your stomach enough to handle more cocktails. And during The Globe’s glorious happy hour, cocktails are $2 off… and the chickpeas are lowered from $4 to $3. The Globe, 12 E. Fifth St., Covington, theglobecov.com.

BEST RESTAURANT STRIVING TO BE WASTE FREE If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you’ve no doubt noticed there is a lot of waste in the kitchen. Chef Mitch Arens at Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar at Hotel Covington decided to make a serious effort to reduce the amount of collateral damage most chefs see as admissible by employing a “snout to tail” and “root to stem” approach that utilizes every available scrap. Arens, a Tri-State native, worked at New Orleans’ Cochon Butcher before returning home last year to take the helm of the Northern Kentucky eatery and brought with him that former restaurant’s eco ethos and focus on low-impact food. The menu reflects Arens’ intent with dishes like pesto made with carrot greens — which are often removed as part of cleaning the root vegetable, despite the fact that carrot greens are not only edible, but also impart a deep, delicious flavor. Along with turning pieces of veggies and unconventional cuts of meat into delicious entrées, like lamb neck ragu, there’s an effort to recycle food waste and source everything ethically and locally. Because they don’t have the space to butcher and store in house, Arens is working with local farms to see what meat they’re having a hard time moving to make sure that the entire animal is being utilized. And if you think “snout to tail” sounds barbarous, well, maybe you need to remember who your meal was before it hit your

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plate. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar, 638 Madison Ave., Covington, hotelcovington.com.

BEST DETROIT-STYLE PIZZA Parmesan and red pepper have been thrown amid hour-long debates about which is better: New York or Chicago-style pizza? But few realize the argument isn’t as black and white as it’s so often portrayed. A happy medium is lost in the scuffle — Detroit-style pizza. And no Cincinnati restaurant does it better than Taglio, from the brothers behind Neapolitan pizzeria A Tavola. Taglio’s Detroit-style pizza is rectangular rather than circular and has a touch of depth. But instead of taking the deep dive that Chicagoans favor, Taglio’s version of the Motor City classic features whole milk mozzarella generously layered around a substantial pan crust so that it caramelizes to form a crispy, cheesy edge. Detroit-style pizza is probably closest to Sicilian-style pie, with a thin layer of baked cheese ’round the outside, and Taglio’s toppings like pepperoni and hot honey or a classic bianco are causing a craze. The flagship Columbia Tusculum pizzeria is expanding and adding a second OTR location in the former Lachey’s bar space, offering cocktails, wine, beer and the same favorite Italian- and Michiganinspired food menu. Taglio, 3531 Columbia Parkway, Columbia Tusculum, eattaglio.com.

BEST COD SANDWICH Finding affordable fresh fish in the Cincinnati area is somewhat difficult, especially if you don’t want to pay Whole Foods prices. Tucked next to the entrance to the Florence Mall, Afishionados opened in November after relocating from Friendly Market. Alongside bakery Memorie Makers and olive oil company Kentucky Olive, the three businesses operate as Olde Kentucky Market. Afishionados fishmonger/co-owner John LaFontaine, aka Captain John, cut his teeth working for high-end fish market Keegan’s before opening Afishionados in 2014. In the new space, Captain John has expanded the business into more of a casual restaurant, replete with a dining

room to eat cooked Scottish salmon, bowls of chowda and a cod sandwich. He coats the cod with panko and fries it until it’s extra crispy. Cod can be a boring, flavorless fish, but his exceeds expectations. Priced at only $9 — it comes with a side — it’s one of the best things on the menu. Afishionados, 2164 Florence Mall, Florence, a-fish-ionados.com.

BEST SWABIAN-STYLE SOFT PRETZELS Last year, Drew Rath, owner of Tuba Baking Co., single-handedly introduced modern-day Cincinnatians to Swabian-style pretzels. Swabia borders the state of Bavaria in the southeastern corner of Germany. Unlike Bavarian-style, which Cincinnatians are most accustomed to, Swabian-style pretzels have a higher fat content, contain rye and have skinny “arms.” That way, you simultaneously experience a crunch and a chewiness when you eat them. Another difference: Rath cuts a slit in the formed pretzel’s belly before it goes into the oven, whereas Bavarian pretzels split on their own. Currently, he’s the only baker in town making this type of pretzel. In 2019 he’ll open a brick-and-mortar in Covington, where different types of pretzels and dips will be available. But for now, you can find his pretzels and accompaniments at MadTree’s Catch-a-Fire Pizza, Bauer Farm Kitchen, Share: Cheesebar and Urban Stead Cheese. Tuba Baking Co., facebook.com/tubabakingco.

BEST ROASTED VEGGIE CREAM CHEESE The Bagelry has hit the ground running since opening its brick-andmortar in October 2018, and they’ve done it on the backs of outstanding bagels (duh) and high-effort schmears. Yes, it’s effort — not fancy culinary tricks or rare ingredients — that’s responsible for the Bagelry’s successful spreads, including their improved take on the longtime bagel shop staple: roasted veggie cream cheese. The shop’s owner, Richard Huff, actually takes the time to roast real vegetables, not natural vegeta-

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BEST GOETTA INVENTION Goetta, one of Cincinnati’s signature meats, was invented out of necessity. German immigrants who settled in the area added grains — generally pin-head oats — to a mixture of meats to help stretch their pork and beef supply over multiple servings. The economical solution became a local staple and now goetta is one of our city’s favorite — or at least notable — dishes, with several festivals dedicated to its mushy meatiness. Typically, if a human desires to eat goetta, one can get it at a diner or local restaurant served fried on a sandwich, with a side of scrambled eggs or crumbled up and stirred in gravy on top of Hanky Pankys. But Libby’s Southern Comfort in Covington has come up with an ingenious new and delicious way to serve goetta: in goetta hush puppies, which are basically deep-fried cornmeal balls infused with goetta and served with a side of remoulade. Libby’s owner Brad Wainscott knows his way around a kitchen — his father owns longstanding Kentucky mainstays The Greyhound Tavern and Tousey House Tavern — and he describes his menu as “casual Southern cuisine with a touch of Charleston.” Look for other dishes like oysters on the half shell, fried chicken (get a whole bird for less than $30), a shrimp roll, homemade meatloaf and a Cheerwine bourbon slush with a Bada Bing cherry. Libby’s Southern Comfort, 35 W. Eighth St., Covington, libbyssoutherncomfort.com.

ble flavoring like store-bought brands lean on, before mixing them into his cream cheese. It’s the added effort and added attention to detail that makes their outstanding and perfectly chewy hand-rolled, kettle-boiled and oven-baked bagels stand out from the pack. In addition to roasted veggie, find housemade spreads ranging from beer cheese and strawberry to vegan smoky cheddar cashew to appease all types of dough boys and girls. The Bagelry, 1401 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, otrbagelry.com.

BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR FORTUNE READ WHILE DRINKING COFFEE Last fall, Melissa Aydogan and her mother opened Turkish coffeehouse Rüya Coffee across the street from Findlay Market, inside People’s Liberty’s Globefront Gallery, which gave Aydogan a $15,000 grant to do just that. The duo brewed “strong as death” Turkish coffee from a special Deeper Roots blend in a room filled with ornate rugs and decorative pillows. After downing the delicious, smooth coffee from its small cup and accompanying saucer, sludge-y, undrinkable grounds remained at the bottom. But if you turned the cup upside down on the saucer and placed your finger on the back of the cup for a minute to absorb your energy, either Melissa or her mother 58 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

would then turn the cup over, read the grounds and tell your fortune for no extra cost. “Tasseography” is the term for Turkish coffee fortune telling and the coffee grounds can give insight into the kind of person you are and if there are any calamites foreseeable in your near future. Rüya exited the Findlay space in November 2018 but can be found popping up around town at various events and spaces. If you need a fix now, you can also buy their Deeper Roots coffee blend and Maverick Chocolate coffee/dark chocolate bars on the Rüya website. Rüya Coffee, ruyacofee. com.

BEST CHEESY GNOCCHI Cheese and potatoes are a classic pairing that’s pretty damn hard to screw up, but equally difficult to elevate to Michelin-star quality. Nicola’s, one of OTR’s most esteemed restaurants, does just that with their gnocchi. And while they don’t have a Michelin star, they do have four diamonds from AAA. The potato pasta is made in house daily and served to you smothered in a mouthwatering four-cheese fondue that perfectly balances the best rich, creamy and salty notes of flavor from the dairy wedges melted down to make this heavenly sauce. After adding chives and a charitable drizzling of truffle oil, this piping hot plate makes its way to your table, but before digging in, be sure to have your server grate a generous amount of

Libby’s Southern Comfort (goetta hush puppies on the far left) PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

parmesan on top to achieve maximum cheesy goodness. That may all sound heavy and overindulgent, but amazingly, this bowl of carb nirvana is as light as a cumulus cloud. One bite of this perfectly cooked melt-in-your-mouth pasta is enough to ensure there will be a second. And a third. Nicola’s Ristorante, 1420 Sycamore St, Over-the-Rhine, nicolasotr.com.

BEST VEGETARIAN CHICKEN WINGS The Northside Yacht Club offers better-thanexpected gourmet bar food across both their brunch and dinner menus, with a special focus on meat-free versions of pub grub classics. Their 12-hour slow-smoked chicken wings are a big draw and the thoughtful menu goes inclusive with bonus “boneless” cauliflower wings. Chunks of cauliflower are covered with a PBR batter and your choice of one of six different house rubs — classic buffalo, tangy barbecue, parmesan garlic, cilantro honey lime, sesame ginger or hot habanero garlic. Special attention should be given to the sesame ginger flavor; it’s good. Other vegetarian variations of bar bites include a “Live Mas” veggie burger, featuring a black bean-cashew-chipotle-poblano patty; a tofu banh mi; and lentil chili fries, the yin to the yang of their award-winning duck-fat-gravy poutine. The veggie fries come topped with house vegan lentil chili and Wisconsin sharp cheddar; opt for vegan cheese for $2 extra. And of course, all of

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the delicious food can be enjoyed alongside live music and a list of cocktails — which happens to include a category titled “FUN,” featuring a flaming volcano punch bowl or shot of Old Grand-Dad with a Mountain Dew chaser — and an even longer list of beers. Northside Yacht Club, 4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com.

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BEST NEPALI DUMPLINGS Dumplings are just the best, so when a restaurant really nails this dish the woes of the world become more bearable. Thanks to Bridges Nepali Cuisine in Northside, the world’s getting better every day they serve momos, their take on a Nepalese dumpling. Fried, sautéed or steamed and filled with a smoky combination of herbs and spices, you can have minced chicken or veggie momos served straight up, or with jhol, a flavorful tomato-based soup that really sets the momo apart from other dumpling options around the city. A single order comes with 10 momos for $10, so don’t treat momos like a side dish unless you’re sharing or are prepared for leftovers. Bridges recently announced they are opening a second location on Court Street in the space formerly occupied by Cuban Pete Sandwiches, so hopefully that’ll improve the attitude of some hungry jurors late for duty; you never know when you’ll be on trial. Bridges Nepali Cuisine, 4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook. com/bridgesnepalicuisine.

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Sometimes you need to eat more pizza than the restaurant can keep track of. That’s why pizza buffets are such a joy. Every Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Mac’s Pizza Pub in Clifton hooks it up with a variety of different pizzas with toppings to suit any taste. The pies are thin crust and from dough made fresh daily. There’s also a cookie pizza for lunch dessert, which is a thing... right? Pro tip: If you’re not too hungry at the buffet, you can also purchase individual slices at a discounted price from the lineup, just ask your server for specifics. Otherwise, it’s $10 (or $8 with a student ID) for all-you-can-eat pizza. This is your opportunity to

properly engage in a pizza-eating contest with minimal expense. It’s probably for the best that it’s only once a week. Mac’s Pizza Pub, 205 W. McMillan St., Clifton, macsonmcmillan.com.

BEST UNCONVENTIONAL BEER CHEESE Last year, Urban Stead Cheese opened in the revitalizing Evanston neighborhood. They make cheeses like quark (a chunky German-style cheese), gouda and cheddar curds on the premises. In fact, they’re the only cheesery in Cincinnati that does this. Co-owner Andrea SiefringRobbins worked at restaurant Hall’s on the River, a Kentucky beer cheese staple located in Winchester, Kentucky, the birthplace of cold beer cheese. So it made sense for her to introduce her version of a beer cheese spread. Instead of using cheddar, she integrates quark, local beer and spices, and serves it with Tuba Baking Co.’s Swabian-style pretzels. Urban’s flaxen-colored beer cheese is creamier and thicker than typical beer cheese, but it’s just as good. Their housemade pimento cheese and the beer cheese are available in to-go containers, as are the quark and curds. Urban Stead Cheese, 3036 Woodburn Ave., Evanston, urbansteadcheese.com.

BEST CHEESE CONEY YOU CAN ONLY GET BETWEEN 10 A.M. AND 2 P.M. Well-hidden in Carthage, Cretan’s Chili Restaurant is an EdwardHopper-esque landscape of red vinyl, faded linoleum and woodpaneling, serving Coke in Styrofoam cups and sandwich platters from a menu that’s essentially Arial font on laminated printer paper. George Kyrios and his sister Lilly have worked at Cretan’s since they were kids — their parents, Katina and John, founded the business in 1948. It was originally a candy store that happened to sell sandwiches and evolved into a chili parlor in the 1960s. George makes the chili daily from scratch — cut, ground and blended with spices according to his father’s top-secret recipe. No word

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BEST SALTY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE One is rarely let down by a cookie — whether it is home baked, store bought, too doughy or slightly burnt, a cookie is usually a worthwhile indulgence. Put simply, cookies have a high floor. It’s the cookies that chase the ceiling or, better yet, push the ceiling up a few stories that leave an impact. Enter Brown Bear Bakery’s salty chocolate chip cookie, the new ceiling for the oftattempted yet rarely impactful sweet-meets-savory baked good. And the excellence is two-fold: a perfect ratio of chocolate, salt and cookie dough paired with the perfect exterior crunch protecting a soft, delectable interior. Both the melty chocolate chunks and rocky salt granules are visible before you take a bite, sending a sight cue to your taste buds to prepare for some layers of heavenly flavor. Brown Bear Bakery, 116 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ brownbearbakerycincinnati.

on what those spices are, but there’s definitely a liberal dose of clove mixed into each batch, giving Cretan’s a kick. It’s thicker than some other local chilis, which makes their cheese coneys slightly more stable than those at name-brand chains. You get the standard dog, chili and cheese in a steamed white bun, with the option to order an extra side of cheese if you deem it necessary. The limited hours and cash-only economy make Cretan’s less accessible than some other 24-hourstyle stops, but 70 years of history can’t be wrong. Cretan’s Chili Restaurant, 7039 Vine St., Carthage, 513-821-1203.

BEST TEMPEH CHICKEN PATTY The team behind OTR’s Pleasantry expanded their purview into fast-casual, chef-driven poultry with the launch of Money Chicken, a streamlined fried chicken restaurant offering sandwiches, tenders, wings and salads for less than $10. With heritagebreed chicken sustainably sourced from Joyce Farms in North Carolina (free from antibiotics, hormones, steroids and animal by-products), chef Evan Hartman buttermilk brines his bird before frying it and placing it on a potato bun — topped with pickles, mayo and spicy honey — or in a basket as tenders or wings. But, if you don’t do animal proteins, Money has an excellent alternative. Their vegetarian tempeh sandwich comes outfitted and topped like the real deal, offering the same crunch, heft and flavor as the original. It’s a substantial patty that isn’t pretending to be chicken; it’s just really well-prepared tempeh. The team updated the menu in January after customer feedback and the refreshed offerings feel more in 62 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Brown Bear Bakery‘s salty chocolate chip cookie PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

line with the elevated but approachable take you’ll find at Pleasantry. Money Chicken, 300 E. Seventh St., Downtown, moneychicken.co.

BEST ABSURDLY TENDER SNAPPER In 2009, former University of Cincinnati football player Leo Morgan opened up a restaurant to serve Clifton the authentic Jamaican food he had previously been making for his teammates on a smaller scale. Just five years later, Guy Fieri gave Island Frydays an honorary residency in Flavortown, USA thanks, in no small part, to their snapper dinner. A whole red snapper is fried to perfection, crispy skin and all, and bathed in spicy escovitch sauce — a classic Jamaican condiment — to give the ordinarily mild fish a strong kick. The moist meat glides off its skeleton like an overused cliché (even with the plastic fork you’re given in the to-go box) and supplies a delicate flaky texture with each scrumptious bite. Pick any two sides to go along with this prize catch, like their fried sweet plantains and hearty, well-seasoned jerk fries. After finishing this stunning seafood, you may find yourself looking like the picture of Rick Ross hanging on their wall: arms out, head to the sky in solemn appreciation of your satisfied stomach. Island Frydays, 2826 Vine St., Corryville, islandfrydays.com.

BEST RESTAURANT TO PUT YOUR MOUTH WHERE YOUR MONEY USED TO BE Littlefield Restaurant Group rehabbed a historic building in East Walnut Hills over a two-year period and in December opened Branch and an adjacent downstairs bar called Night Drop. For much of the last century, the building housed a bank, thus the name of both the restaurant and bar. The group and various architects, contractors and artists spent about two years and over $1 million to design, build out and decorate the Art Deco interior of this unique building at DeSales Corner. The dining room graces a relatively long, narrow space that seats 72, including 20 at the bar. Above the bar sits an imposing mural commissioned for the restaurant that fits so beautifully with the original design of the room that it could be vintage 1935 instead of 2018. Executive chef Shoshannah Anderson most recently worked her culinary magic at The Littlefield, but in a tiny kitchen. And one goal of Branch was to give Anderson “a proper kitchen, where she can do even more interesting food” than she produced there. Dinner choices are presented in two columns, “Shares” and “Stocks,” a play on the building’s history. It is the shares — or smaller plates — that are a knock out: pork belly and vegetable dumplings in an umami-rich miso broth; curry roasted cauliflower; chilled Israeli

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chickpea salad; and meaty chilismoked wings. Anderson loves to use a smoker on a variety of meats and sometimes even cheeses, so look for occasional specials with a smoky flair. Branch offers three specials each weekend night, including a dessert special most nights, plus brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The scene here is decidedly hip and urban and has some of the parking issues commuters abhor that go along with that vibe but go ahead and spring for the paid lot, everyone: Branch is the real deal. Branch, 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills, eatatbranch.com.

BEST AUTHENTIC TASTE OF AFRICA From the outside, Darou Salam may seem small — it is set back, nestled underneath trees and shares the same building as the Northside Tavern. You may even miss it at first glance. But although humble in appearance, this is Cincinnati’s best-kept secret for authentic African food. Darou Salam offers Senegalese cuisine ranging from lamb dibi, which is grilled lamb paired with an onion-mustard sauce, to firir, a fried whole tilapia (yes with the head — but don’t be scared, it’s tasty), and bissap sorrel, a famous Hibiscus juice and Senegalese favorite. Darou Salam, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-681-3663.

BEST PROOF THAT FRIES GO WELL WITH EVERYTHING Subtitled episodes of One Piece backdrop your dinner as the bustle of OTR foot traffic surrounds your outdoor table for two. Quan Hapa isn’t just one of the most fun places to eat ramen in the city — it’s also the unlikely home of Cincinnati’s spiciest basket of waffle fries. Coated with sesame seeds and loaded with heat, the fries are just the crunchy, tangy side to go with a warm, hearty bowl of broth. Or the perfect starch to soak up booze, like the hard-to-findat-restaurants Tiger beer and Japanese Chuhai, which Hapa carries. Quan Hapa, 1331 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, quanhapa.com.

BEST GYRO PITA BREAD Warm as a ray of sunlight, soft as a cloud and perfect in every way. This is of course how one would describe the pita at Chicago Gyros & Dogs. This Clifton staple provides the perfect bed of bread for its signature pita sandwiches. Open for 35 years, the pita at this place is durable enough to hold all the juicy gyro meat, tomato, onion and tzatziki in a sandwich and lives up to the flavor of the Mediterranean combinations that it carries. Chicago Gyros and their unpretentious staff prepares their pita perfectly every time and you can get an extra side of it for just a $1.25 when you want to carbo load. Chicago Gyros & Dogs, 201 W. McMillan St., Clifton, chicagogyrosanddogs.com.

BEST KANGAROO TACO Sitting just across the river and around the corner from Braxton Brewing Company is Covington’s Agave & Rye. Equal parts bar and taqueria, this late-night hotspot makes tasty tacos out of everything from buttered lobster to fried avocado to… kangaroo. That’s right, to our knowledge, this is the only place around Cincinnati to get an adorable Australian marsupial inside two fresh tortillas. Every A&G taco comes in both a hard and soft tortilla; the hard shell gives you that satisfying corn crunch with every bite while the flour tortilla on the outside holds everything together. Protein options range from “graze” to “swim” to “grow” (aka vegetarian options) with an interesting monthly feature, like the “Sensei,” made with soy and ginger kangaroo tenderloin topped with crispy rice noodles and veggies before it’s finished off with spicy peanut chili oil. A&G’s wellstocked bar gives you fun cocktails to pair with your meal, like the jalapeño pineapple-rita, or have a can of pinot grigio from their “wines by the can” list. With the Cincinnati Zoo’s 15,000-square-foot “Roo Valley” coming in 2020, there’s never been a better time to celebrate the Outback’s pouched icon in life … and in death. Agave & Rye, 635 Madison Ave., Covington, agaveandrye.com.

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BEST CLASSIC PARISIAN OMELET Sacred Beast is a modern diner-style destination in OTR with a solid menu of comfort-food dishes and Francophile bistro favorites, like matzah ball soup, a double-burger with American cheese and steak tartare with frites. But if you want to try a dish that straddles the best of both worlds and epitomizes the excellence of chef Jeremy Lieb’s motto — “Simple food. Taken seriously.” — try the five-egg omelet. It’s a classic preparation: the eggs are cooked slow and on a low heat to make them impossibly fluffy and delicious. This yellow bit o’ heaven — with a slightly wiggly center, an airy, soft texture and no burnt brown skin — comes filled with a ton of goat cheese and bright piquillo peppers and is served with a lightly dressed bibb salad. It’s a little slice of Saint-Germain on Vine Street that calls up the best of café society, especially when paired with an Aviation cocktail (gin, crème de violette, Luxardo maraschino and lemon). Or go full Lost Generation with a Hemingway Daiquiri and foie gras torchon, served with Blue Oven toast. Sacred Beast, 1437 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, sacredbeastdiner.com.

BEST SECRET PIZZA POP-UP Mysterious Sicilian pizza pop-up party Secret Pizza began last spring at Mainwood Pastry in Findlay Market. Mainwood Pastry already had a reputation for making stellar croissants, cakes and other bready goodness found in some of the city’s best coffee shops, so it’s no surprise that owner Dave Hart (co-owner of Collective Espresso) found success in the ancient art of pizza. Secret Pizza’s special Sicilian-style pie had a thick crust with a crisp exterior and light, airy interior. Their homemade dough, which proofed for 24 hours, was the base for some creative and seasonal toppings, with a weekly rotating menu and vegan-friendly options. Originally held on Monday nights, the pizza party started at 6 p.m. and went until 9 p.m. — or until they ran out of pie, whichever came first. Hart plans to switch the evening to a more desirable one; Findlay Market is mainly shut down Mondays, so there’s not much else going on to attract pizza partiers. When will this elusive pop up resurface? As with most things related to Secret Pizza, that’s also a secret. Follow @secret_pizza_night on Instagram for clues. Secret Pizza at Mainwood Pastry, 113 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, mainwoodpastry.com.

BEST MAKE-YOUR-OWN PIZZA PARLOR If you’ve ever felt restricted by the all-too-vanilla topping selections found in most pizzerias, Zablong is the answer you’ve been waiting for. This Chipotle-style build-your-own pizza joint gives you 66 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Sacred Beast omelet PHOTO:

the freedom to create an oblong ’za (get it?), offering 28 toppings ranging from prosciutto and spicy chickpeas to ghost pepper salami. Fresh mozzarella or their peculiar cheese blend make the perfect melty bed for your desired accoutrements and don’t be afraid to forgo more traditional sauces in favor of their splendid garlic purée or pesto to give each bite a uniquely savory edge. If all these options seem overwhelming, there are also a handful of pre-built quirky signature pizzas to choose from, like “The Tripping Goat,” with mushroom truffle, roasted mushrooms, crumbled goat cheese, fig marsala and red pepper oil. There’s no better place for lunch just after a visit to the Contemporary Arts Center, located right across the street, to channel your creative inspirations into a deliciously nonconformist pizza. Zablong, 23 E. Sixth St., Downtown, zablong. com.

BEST SHAWARMA FROM A HALAL MARKET Cincinnati’s Muslim community is no stranger to the Halal Market in West Chester. With an international grocery and café in the same building, you can find ingredients from many regions in North Africa and the Middle East. Walk inside and take a left under the archway and you’ll enter the Laziz Café, which offers possibly the best

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shawarma the city has to offer. Cut fresh from a turning kebab, the chicken or beef is served hot on pita bread with your choice of toppings. The menu also offers a kofta sandwich (grilled sirloin with onions, parsley, tomatoes, pickles and hummus), and falafel, a tasty vegetarian option made from fried chickpeas. Halal Market, 7755 Tylers Place Blvd., West Chester, searchable on Facebook.

BEST SELECTION OF HERBAL TEAS Walking into Lydia’s on Ludlow is like walking into a little hippie haven. The café features floor-toceiling — including on the ceiling — crystals, cloth painted with yoga-centric art and a variety of work by local artists. There is a lot going on in this bohemian enclave, including in their extensive selection of herbal teas to help heal mind, body and spirit. Think selections like lemongrass vanilla, chamomile and peppermint ginseng. And, don’t overlook their blooming flower tea — yes, it is a glass pot of tea with a beautiful dried flower brewing in the middle. To help with your selection, Lydia’s acts like an apothecary and lists the health benefits of each herb and tea. OK, but you’ve brought a friend who isn’t into the eco stuff? The tea at Lydia’s isn’t even the half of it. They also have a full coffee bar, craft cocktails, a food menu that covers breakfast, lunch and dinner and even Sunday brunch, with live Jazz and a menu created by Melissa Mileto (of Northside’s now-shuttered

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Take the Cake). And if you’re looking for more healing, book a tarot reading or psychic check-in with Lydia herself, a spiritual coach. Lydia’s on Ludlow, 329 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, aquariusstar.com.

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For any artist facing an audition, some general advice is to “play the room,” which means to anticipate and exemplify the subtle expectations of your intended project. MamaBear’s Mac food truck follows this tip to a tee, as its menu of sumptuous elevated macaroni and cheese dishes changes based on its location. When the truck pulls up to a brewery, MamaBear herself, Kimberly Heileman, along with husband Dave, look for dark stout or the hoppiest beer brewed on premises to use as a component in their macaroni and beer cheese, topped with chorizo. If they’re serving outside of a winery, you can expect parmesan and mozzarella cheeses topped with Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and a balsamic glaze. This isn’t blue box macaroni. Another notable offering includes macaroni slathered in gouda and cheddar, topped with pulled pork and housemade barbecue sauce. There’s also mac made with sharp Cabot Vermont pepper jack cheese, topped with breadcrumbs and Glier’s spicy hot goetta, because this is Cincinnati, and MamaBear’s playing the room. MamaBear also took home first prize — and bragging rights — at CityBeat’s Mac & Cheese Throwdown in 2018. MamaBear’s Mac, facebook. com/mamabearsmac.

BEST LOST-IN-TIME DINER TO GRAB BREAKFAST AT MIDNIGHT A neon sign greets Covington’s Anchor Grill customers as they enter: “We may doze, but never close.” Open 24/7 and cash-only, time seemingly ceases to exist here. Known for their goetta, chili, classic breakfast staples and whatever-they-have pie, you’ll find a little bit of everything and everyone here —

from art students to regulars; from families to people nursing hangovers from the night before. When you drop a quarter in the jukebox, you’ll also get a show: In an upper corner of the main dining room, red curtains pull back to reveal dancing animatronic figurines straight out of a David Lynch fever dream. The entire scene is back-dropped by vinyl booths and black coffee. The Anchor Grill, 438 W. Pike St., Covington, 859-431-9498, searchable on Facebook.

BEST PLACE TO CONVERT A PUNK INTO A DEADHEAD Owner Chrissy Antenucci named her Italian-inspired takeaway spot The Wheel after the Grateful Dead song, saying she cooks the way the band plays — highly improvisationally. And the results are, in short, delicious; her creamy roasted carrot sandwich will give you heart eyes. Picture the scene from Ratatouille when top-tier cartoon rat Remy holds up two ingredients — a strawberry and a piece of cheese — and combines them. Fireworks burst into the air and as the flavors roll across his taste buds, different notes of music emerge. That’s how The Wheel’s grub will make you feel. Their pizzas and pastas are made from scratch daily and also gush-worthy. As the sign inside this humble establishment reads: Thank you, Jerry. The Wheel, 3805 Brotherton Road, Oakley, thewheeloakley.com.

BEST LATE-NIGHT SUSHI It’s late, most of the restaurants are closed and you’ve had quite a bit to drink. In the direst of circumstances, you could get a sober pal to pick up something from a drive-through, but what about your unyielding sushi craving? How dare you ignore that? Izen’s Drunken Bento was literally created for this scenario. The kitchen stays open until 2:30 a.m. on the weekends and they also have a full bar to keep that good time going. If you’re not into fish, there’s a great menu of entrées and appetizers to suit most tastes. Just for fun, you could make your way to Drunken Tacos (same owner) right down the street if you’d rather have, well, tacos.

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BEST $1 OYSTER AND $5 BUBBLY NIGHT Rich’s Proper Food and Drink opened in November, adding to Covington’s burgeoning restaurant scene. Located next to Duveneck Square and named after a watch store that used to exist in the space decades ago, Rich’s offers New Orleans-inspired Creole-meetsSouthern food, from muffuletta sandwiches to macand-cheese-stuffed egg rolls. Every Wednesday night, they do East and West Coast oysters for $1 per bivalve. (Note: That doesn’t include specialty oysters, like shooters or fried ones.) To make the deal even better, glasses of sparkling wine are $5 and a bottle is only $25. If oysters aren’t your thing, then sample the red beans and rice burrito, or a cocktail made with gummy worm syrup and coffee grounds (yes, that’s a thing, and it’s delicious). Or if you’re feeling Mardi Gras-ambitious, try the Proper Mule: a bottle of bourbon or vodka mixed with ginger beer and poured into a gallon-sized copper pitcher, priced at $60. To share or not to share — that’s the question. Rich’s Proper Food and Drink, 701 Madison Ave., Covington, facebook.com/richsproper.

Of course, Drunken Bento is open during lunch and dinner time as well, if you have a reasonable bedtime. Izen’s Drunken Bento, 212 W. McMillan St., Clifton, 513-381-5905, searchable on Facebook.

BEST CBD SELTZER Sold at a variety of retailers across the Greater Cincinnati area, Queen City Hemp has been leading the way of CBD products in Cincinnati. For those who have not heard about the growing trend of CBD oil, CBD stands for cannabidiol and is a product of cannabis. Yes, like marijuana. But CBD is labeled non-psychoactive because it does not contain the THC compound of cannabis. So, this is relevant because that means you can purchase it at (some) neighborhood vendors. According to CBD fans and proponents who use it as a health supplement, the oil has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat everything from chronic pain to anxiety and seizures. There have even been some studies that suggest it slows the growth of cancer cells. And in addition to tinctures and salves, Queen City Hemp has started producing a CBD Seltzer. Although it may sound a bit like a bougier version of La Croix reserved for hipsters and hippies, it’s actually more akin to taking your morning vitamins than it is a vice. CBD Seltzer contains 5 milligrams of CBD per serving and comes in blood orange, passion fruit, guava and lemon lavender flavors. There’s no caffeine, no sugar, no sodium and no artificial flavors. You’ll find only four ingredients listed on the can: carbonated water, natural flavors, potassium sorbate (to preserve freshness) and hemp extract, 70 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Rich’s Proper Food and Drink PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

the source of the CBD. You can find Queen City Hemp’s CBD Seltzer at Hemptations, health food stores like Clifton Natural Foods or Jungle Jim’s. Queen City Hemp, queencityhemp.com.

BEST HAM AND BRIE IN A BOOKSTORE The best bookshops are also the ones that feed their customers, it seems. The Booksellers on Fountain Square is a great downtown stop to peruse paperbacks and glossy new magazines, but one could be led to believe its main purpose in this world lies in its café menu. Among other options, it offers a delightful and humble ham sandwich. Brie oozes out the sides with every bite and its composition is complete with a heavy-handed spread of sweet apricot jam. Presentation is sometimes sacrificed, but never taste. Get it on a croissant. The Booksellers on Fountain Square, 505 Vine St., Downtown, facebook.com/ booksellersonfountainsquare.

BEST NONPROFIT RESTAURANT A collaboration between Findlay Market and CityLink Center, which provides integrated services to help individuals break free from poverty, Social OTR offers a working internship in a fine dining restaurant for the community’s unemployed and underemployed talent pool. Students get

fundamental, hands-on culinary training at no cost to them, and all the money the restaurant makes gets funneled back into the program to provide each student with a set of knives and a uniform; it also keeps the stoves on and the shelves stocked. Opened at the beginning of February this year, the space offers two sections: a dining room and a back lounge. The communal dining experience features two large tables for shared seating, as well as several smaller tables and a full bar. Follow an exposed-brick hallway past a kitchen with open windows — where you can watch the chefs and students at work — to the back lounge, The Alley at Social, to find another communal table and bar. The menu — led by executive chef Jennifer Kemplin — consists mainly of snacks and small plates like oysters, charcuterie and a galette, with steak and a duck confit entrée. The cocktail and wine list outpace the eats for an experience that focuses on, as the name suggests, an evening of socializing with friends. Hit up the daily 5-1-3 happy hour for $5 house wines, $1 oysters and $3 draft beers. Social OTR, 1819 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, socialotr.com.

BEST TOKYO-STYLE RAMEN SPOT Luckily, ramen has made a big resurgence in popular eating habits and that means we can progress beyond instant soup in Styrofoam cups and appreciate authentically prepared bowls of

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hearty broth and luxurious noodles. Zundo Ramen & Donburi wants you to eat their ramen with authentic efficiency. The pièce de résistance of the menu is the insider’s version: order the vegetarian miso ramen, request it spicy and add an egg and pork belly. It’s a Frankenstein’s monster of all the other ramens, dragging in each of the best bits of the others and leaving your stomach in a state of near-bliss. Before slurping, you want to give all the delicious ingredients floating in the deep bowl a good mix. You want the doily-like slices of lotus root to mingle with the strips of pork belly, and the rim of red miso paste, the jammy-centered soft-boiled egg and sprinkling of chopped green onions to take a bath in the bottom of the broth. Slurp as instructed. Repeat until done. You have two to three minutes to complete your mission. Zundo opened in September 2018 and droves of hungry patrons have continued to file in to eat their ramen and other menu options like donburi, a Japanese stew served over rice. Stop in for lunch or dinner or just to enjoy a drink at their bar, stocked with upward of 35 different types of sake, soju and Japanese beers. Zundo Ramen & Donburi, 220 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, zundootr.com.

BEST CANDY HOUSE THAT WON’T MELT IN THE RAIN While CityBeat’s official position on candy houses is to be wary, as it’s likely occupied by a witch hoping to lure little boys and girls into her oven, we had to make an exception for Doscher’s Candy Co.’s new digs. Fear not, there are no confirmed cannibalistic witches on the premises, just the nice folks that run Cincinnati’s oldest continuously operating candy company; and the house is not actually made of candy, but it sure smells like it since the scent of vanilla clings to their new base of operations in the Newtown farmhouse. Home of French Chew taffy bars, Doscher’s is also the oldest candy cane producer in the country, and one of only two companies that still makes them in the U.S. They begin churning out peppermint candy canes in the early summer to fill orders for the holiday season, as well as flavors that have

year-round appeal like blueberry, green apple and the ever-popular birthday cake. Fans of Necco Candy Buttons can also thank Doscher’s for saving the sugary specks from extinction, as they acquired the candy after Necco went bankrupt last year. Want to see how the candy’s made? Doscher’s Candy factory tours are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, and after the tour you can visit their quaint retail shop. Doscher’s Candy Co., 6926 Main St., Newtown, doscherscandies.com.

BEST GEOGRAPHICALLYTHEMED FOOD ITEM It takes a monumental meal to represent an entire nation, and La Mexicana’s Flag Burrito is just the dish for the job. Topped with green and red salsas, which are divided by a small border of sour cream, the hefty wrap yields a delicious bounty of pinto beans, rice, cheese, onions, cilantro, lettuce and tomato. Though it comes with your choice of meat, the burrito is equally satisfying in its vegetarian state — paired with chips, salsa and a bottle of Jarritos, this is a flag worth saluting. La Mexicana also offers a slew of other excellent eats and authentic protein options, including birria (goat meat in guajillo sauce), sesos (marinated veal brains), tripe, tongue and veggie choices like pumpkin flower and huitlacoche (seasoned corn truffle). La Mexicana Restaurante Cantina & Tienda, 642 Monmouth St., Newport, 859-261-6112, searchable on Facebook.

BEST NEWS FOR FANS OF EASTERN EUROPEAN EATS Sarah Dworak never thought she would make her living from pierogies. But as the granddaughter of Ukrainian immigrants, she didn’t have a say in whether or not she inherited the gene for pierogi mastery: Her Baba (or grandmother) made sure she learned how to make the little half-moon shaped dumplings, stuffed with fillings like cabbage, potatoes and cheese and served with a generous dollop of sour cream. In 2012, Dworak began selling pierogies to the public and in 2014, her side hustle took over as a

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BEST BRUNCH-SIDE ENTERTAINMENT Brunch serves several functions in our society, foremost being a graceful means to justify a few drinks before noon. Now, there’s the food and fellowship appeal too, but you’re probably getting real sick of your spouse’s friends and hearing about their relationship drama. Luckily, drag queens have stolen the spotlight once again to save us from ourselves at Metropole’s Drag Brunch. Loud music and raucous applause will negate the need for small talk as drag queens dance and lip sync through their routines, so you can soak in all the energy and positivity these catty and fabulous queens exude. A bi-monthly event, registration fills up quickly; $35 will cover your brunch and mimosa, but be sure to bring plenty of singles to tip performers like Amaya Sexton, Jessica Dimon, Lexi Love, Sue Nami, Aaliyah Milian and Nichelle Kartier. Events have pleasantly punny names like “Spring Queening” and “Hallowqueen.” Don’t be surprised if this brunch leaves you hungry for more drag shows (and cocktails); just say yass, Queen City. Metropole, 609 Walnut St., Downtown, metropoleonwalnut.com.

full-time gig when she launched Babushka Pierogies out of Findlay Market. The business recently expanded further into Over-the-Rhine, opening a weekend walk-up window at 1200 Main St. for conquering late night-cravings with kielbasa bowls and pierogies filled with everything from pizza toppings to Cincinnati-style lentil chili. The window has proven popular since opening in December, but its presence is only a sampling of what’s to come at the location. This spring will see the opening of Dworak’s Wodka Bar (the “w” is pronounced like an English “v”), which will be housed in the rest of the space attached to the pierogi window’s kitchen. For Dworak, it’s a passion project dedicated to the patron spirit of Eastern Europe. Wodka Bar will carry an ambitious selection of vodkas, stocking upward of 60 types including many Russian, Polish and Ukrainian brands that are lesser known in the United States, as well as several dozen house-infused vodkas. Bar snacks are mandatory of course, but forget about french fries and beer cheese. Instead, you can chase your shots with bites of caviar, pickled fish and vegetables, smoked meats, cheese and butter on dense, dark rye bread. “Traditionally when you drink vodka you always want to eat something with it. We’re going to have some traditional foods on the menu that hopefully people won’t be too scared to try,” Dworak says. She’s not pulling her recipes from any one country, instead focusing on common cuisines found across Slavic cultures. “It’s nice now to be able to pair the food and the drink of Eastern Europe together. It tells a more complete story.” Wodka Bar, 1200 Main St., Overthe-Rhine, wodkabarotr.com and searchable on Facebook. 74 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Drag Brunch at Metropole P H OTO : PA I G E D E G LOW

BEST STEAMY BUNS

BEST CHEESE CLUB

Two thousand and eighteen shall be known as “The Year of the Walk-Up,” as it seemed like every new business used the concept to sell all types of food. During the summer, 13th Street Alley started selling their Philly-inspired cheesesteak sandwiches to an afternoon and late-night crowd, joining already established Gomez Salsa (always crowded), located a block away. And in December, Babushka Pierogies opened their weekend window on 12th and Main streets as a preliminary run to their upcoming adjacent brick-and-mortar pierogi/ vodka bar, Wodka Bar (see left). But before that, Boom Box Buns opened a weekend walk-up window on Main Street this past fall, selling three types of steamed Chinese buns — two meat and a veggie — on Friday and Saturday nights. Helmed by Please’s part-time sous chef Nathan Friday, the handcrafted and perfectly puffy baozi come filled with rotating combos like a pork bun with hoison, peanuts and radish; a beef bun with mayo, shisho and crispy shallot; or a the veggie bun with sweet potato and Sriracha. A flourescent color scheme (inspired by Friday’s dad’s career as a sign painter) beckons lines of fans for nightly sell-out services so keep on eye on Boom Box’s social media for updated bun counts — or take your chances with the masses in the late-night queue. Boom Box Buns, 1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ boomboxbuns.

There’s that old saying, “I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member.” The Rhined’s cheese club would make even Groucho Marx go back on his word. This cheese of the month club eliminates the need to leave your house to obtain coveted dairy deliciousness. Each month, a box of cheese is delivered to you (you can also head to The Rhined to pick it up, if you aren’t lazy) featuring three hand-picked selections from seasonal, special cheese wheels. It could be a hard cheese! A soft cheese! A blue cheese! A cow’s milk cheese! A sheep’s milk cheese! A goat’s milk cheese! Who knows? You won’t until you open it. Each shipment holds .75 pounds of cheese, plus tasting notes and pairing suggestions. The first box even includes a free special gift: A Boska cheese knife and a cheese tasting journal so you can write your cheese all sorts of secret love notes. Orders are available the first Wednesday of each month and start at $40 per month (more if you want that box delivered to your door). If you’re feeling extra indulgent, opt into the wine and cheese club where, you guessed it, you get a monthly box containing a curated and seasonal cheese and wine pairing. Impress your friends. Impress your fridge. And let cheesemonger Stephanie Webster and her team suprise your tastebuds each month with the gift of artisan cheese. You can also give it as a gift if you are a very, very nice person. The Rhined, 1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, therhined. com.

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The word “baladi” in Arabic means “my country” and introducing Cincinnatians to true Syrian cuisine, culture and hospitality is exactly what the Barazi family is aiming to do with their Clifton eatery Baladi Restaurant & Bakery. Husband and wife duo Sulhail and Hanan Barazi left Syria in 1986, relocating to Kent, Ohio and eventually moving to Cincinnati to be with their daughter, Rana. The family opened Baladi in 2017, serving a broad menu of authentic Arabic eats with an emphasis on delicious desserts and warm and welcoming hospitality. On the list of dishes, you’ll find familiar hits with influences from Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan. There’s hummus, falafel, kebabs and gyros, but branch out and try something you won’t find on other Middle Eastern-leaning menus, like Foul (fava beans, olive oil and lemon juice); Fatayir, a “cheese boat” baked in handmade dough, as the menu elegantly and aptly calls it; or the Syrian flatbread wrap. These are different than your average pita sandwich, with fillings like beef or chicken shawarma pressed inside handmade flatbread — a grab-and-go snack you’d literally be able to find at a Middle Eastern street vendor. Do yourself a favor and save room for a handmade dessert, like kunafa (filo dough, ricotta cheese and cream), or the mint lemonade. It’s not lemonade like we think of the drink — called limonana, it’s like a frozen sweet and sour slush made with fresh mint and lemon juice; super refreshing, very authentic and a rare treat. Eating at Baladi is an immersive and delicous experience. Baladi Restaurant & Bakery, 3307 Clifton Ave., Clifton, facebook.com/ baladirestaurantandbakery.

BEST AS-SEEN-ON-TV PANCAKES Don’t be dismayed if the line is out the door when you arrive at Maplewood Kitchen and Bar downtown. For one thing, it’s worth the wait, but just as importantly, they have a super-efficient operation that moves you along quickly. While you wait, you can ponder your many excellent choices — starting with

cocktails. There’s the roasted tomatillo bloody mary (made with Tito’s vodka, house-roasted tomatillo mix and a super greens cold-pressed juice blend for #health), a coldpressed juice mimosa and a cucumber sangria, made with Sauvignon Blanc, among other excellent options. And if you aren’t just drinking your breakfast/lunch/ dinner, edible options range from fancy toasts to power bowls and a roasted rotisserie chicken. But the dish that will haunt your dreams is the lemon ricotta pancakes with seasonal fruit, berry compote and local syrup. This stack of two flapjacks has enough of a fan following that it found its way to the TODAY Show in September and into the mouths of Carson Daly and Al Roker. Maplewood also made Travel + Leisure’s list of the top 25 places to eat pancakes last year. So go for the pancakes, stay for the drinks and add a side of Daisy Field Farms bacon if you’re in an indulgent frame of mind. A second Maplewood location opened in Deerfield last year for double the fun. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar, 525 Race St., Downtown; 5065 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, maplewoodkitchenandbar.com.

BEST FRIENDLY FINDLAY PRODUCE STAND Roth’s Produce is the first veggie vendor when you enter Findlay Market from Race Street, one booth over from their friendly rival, Catanzaro Produce. Fun history via the Findlay Market website: Mark Catanzaro, of the original Frank Catanzaro Sons & Daughters Wholesale Produce family (they sold to a wholesale distributor in 2006), runs Roth’s. Ron Roth worked at Roth’s Produce for more than 60 years — “ever since he was 5 years old and had to stand on a wooden box to wait on customers.” He took over the family business from his father and ran it with his sister Judy until she passed away in 2013. In 2014, Ron convinced Mark, an old family friend, to get back into the produce business and he took over Roth’s in 2014. (He also runs the Newtown Farm Market.) Roth’s today can be chronicled by telling of their dollar table full of bruised, very ripe treasures out front and their willingness to slice you up a

BEST 1970S-STYLE SZECHUAN SURPRISE Downtown’s Yum Yum feels like a time machine sitting inconspicuously among abandoned-looking storefronts on Race Street, with a fading sign boasting the offer to “eat as if you were in China.” Dinner service is from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday but the business hours are regarded more as a suggestion than a rule. And remember to stop at the ATM beforehand; it’s cash only. Run by Tom and Mei Lin, the Szechuan restaurant opened its doors in 1975 and not much has changed since then: neither the décor — wood paneling, crimson tablecloths and ornate, low-hanging chandeliers — nor the menus, whose yellowed pages have sustained over 40 years of service with price markups penciled in the margins to account for decades of inflation. And the same typewritten dishes on those menus are still served for dinner: Yum Yum Mein, Sichuan Pepper Steak and Ding Dong Chicken are crowd favorites, and prix fixe dinners ($40 for two) haven’t gone out of style just yet. If the front door is locked, give it a good stiff knock and allow yourself to be surprised. Yum Yum Chinese Restaurant, 909 Race St., Downtown, 513-721-7705.

melon and give you a taste, as if they’ve been saving it just for you. If you pick up a slightly wilted bunch of greens, they’ll switch it out for the fresher, perkier one behind the counter. The cost for the quality checks out, but the simple and friendly service is priceless. Roth’s Produce, Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org.

BEST OTR DINER WITH GRIT Originally opened in 1957, Tucker’s Restaurant has been an Over-the-Rhine mainstay for decades. Operated by Joe Tucker and his wife Carla (Joe’s parents opened the diner), the restaurant took about a 14-month hiatus to rebuild after a devastating kitchen fire in 2015, but they are back and better than ever, serving breakfast, brunch and lunch to locals and suburbanites who love not only the anything-goes urban hospitality but also the basic comfort food and all-day breakfast standards. It’s a true gem; the staff greets you like an old friend, the jukebox is free and the food is consistently delicious. Though it may look like a decades-old diner from the outside (and inside), one of the many things that has always separated Tucker’s from a typical greasy spoon is their use of local ingredients from places like Findlay Market, as well as their vast vegetarian options. A BLT comes with veggie bacon, and a couple of years ago Carla added a superfood salad. That being said, most everything gets slapped on the flat top and grilled — the eggs, the hash browns, the flapjacks with no definite shape, but serious fluff — and we definitely aren’t mad about it. Go on a weekend for huevos rancheros and shrimp and grits and remember to 78 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Yum Yum Chinese Restaurant PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

order a side of bacon jam to smear on everything. You can thank us later. Tucker’s Restaurant, 1637 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ tuckersrestaurantotr.

BEST DRAFT MATCHA LATTE Last July, Wendigo Tea Co. and Tokyo Kitty partnered to create the world’s first nitro vegan matcha latte on draft. (Other nitro vegan matcha lattes might exist, though.) Wendigo founder Sky White, keyboardist for the on-hiatus local Rock group Foxy Shazam, infused the highest-grade of ceremonial matcha with almond and coconut milks and then placed the mixture into a keg. Smooth Nitro Cincy stepped in and nitrogenized the drink using top secret technology. White named the drink Kappa Matcha Latte after a Japanese riverdwelling turtle-like monster. Tokyo Kitty hosted the matcha latte release event, dubbed The Future of Tea, and featured the smooth drink in their cocktails and on its own. The latte was a reminder that Cincinnatians are innovative, and that you can transform something simple like matcha into something more profound. And alcoholic. Wendigo Tea Co., wendigotea.com.

BEST ICE BALL One of Newport’s most beloved spots is Sweet Tooth Candies, and its striped red and white awning out front has been a welcome sight for young and old alike for decades. This regional gem is open year-round to keep locals and out-of-town visitors stocked up with handmade candies and ready-to-enjoy seasonal treats. In the summer, customers from near and far line up for ice balls (kind of like a Sno-Cone with the option to add ice cream); in the winter, caramel apples are in season and not to be missed. The shop is also known for its homemade buckeyes, opera creams, molasses chips and chocolate butter. Chocolate butter! Sweet Tooth Candies, 125 W. 11th St., Newport, sweettoothchocolates.com

BEST UGLY SWEATER Skyline really rang in the yuletide cheer last year with a chili-themed “ugly” Christmas sweater. The full-knit acrylic pull-over featured 3-ways lined up in the shape of a Christmas tree and was ridiculous, magical and kind of hideous. Regardless, the marketing masterminds over there hit on a cultural “ugly” zeitgeist and the sweater run sold out, making it one of last season’s most coveted locally themed Christmas presents. Skyline Chili, skylinechili.com.

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On Christmas, finding an open restaurant that’s not Waffle House is scarce in the Cincy/Northern Kentucky area. (Though, dining at Waffle House on Jesus’ birthday is totally acceptable.) But if you seek good food, and maybe food that isn’t honey ham or a pile of cut-out cookies, head to Kung Food Chu’s AmerAsia in Covington. It might seem like you’re trying to live out some sort of A Christmas Story experience (no, they don’t serve “Chinese duck”), but their full menu of crab rangoon, mapo tofu, “fly rice” and “Brocco-Lee” are available. They close on Christmas Eve to give employees the night off but return the next morning and all day to serve those who either don’t want to cook or don’t want to see their families. The restaurant is so crowded that they have to open their upstairs, but you can get the food to-go. Otherwise the alternative might be Aunt Gladys’ inedible fruitcake. Kung Food Chu’s AmerAsia, 521 Madison Ave., Covington, facebook.com/ kungfoodchu.

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BEST PLACE TO WATCH WESTERNS WHILE EATING BISCUITS AND VEGGIE GRAVY Last March, former Hungry Bros. food truck co-owner PJ Neumann opened Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey in Pendleton and hired Food Network alum Christian Gill to head the kitchen (Gill has appeared on Guy Fieri’s Guy’s Big Project and Guy’s Grocery Games). Boomtown’s concept is more than just Southern biscuits and whiskey — it’s meant to evoke the 1800s-era American frontier, hence the name “boomtown.” They play into the concept by showing Westerns on the TV above the bar — both vintage and modern, like the Coen Brothers’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs — and via menu names like the Gold Fashioned craft cocktail or Camp Stew chili. And while the Wild West may be all grit and gunpowder, if you aren’t the type to take your meal with an infusion of animal protein, their classic biscuits and gravy option comes vegified. Order one of their disk-like biscuits and a side of winter

onion veggie gravy (the only vegetarian option), served in a gravy boat meant for dunking the golden nuggets. The signature biscuit isn’t a run-of-the-mill thousand-layer flaked baked good. It’s a buttery, soft disc with a close crumb and a browned, lightly bubbled top that no breakfast chain can compete with. If you do eat meat, try all three other gravies in the Gold Shoes plate biscuit and gravy flight. Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey, 1201 Broadway St., Pendleton, boomtownbiscuitsandwhiskey.com.

BEST BEST OF BOTH WORLDS LUNCH BUFFET Clifton’s Elephant Walk Injera & Curry House does double duty as both an Indian and Ethiopian restaurant. The double-sided menu features cuisine from both countries, which have somewhat similar flavor profiles. If you’ve never eaten Ethiopian food, it’s kind of like Indian — both countries offer stew-style dishes consisting of ingredients like chicken, lentils, cabbage and lamb, but Ethiopian dishes also rely heavily on beef, which you won’t see in Indian cuisine. Both also have their own special breads with which to scoop your food, but instead of naan, Ethiopian food is served with injera, a sourdough flatbread with a spongy texture and slightly tart taste that you will either love or really, really hate. And where Indian dishes rely heavily on curry for flavor, Ethiopian food gets its kick from a spicy berbere blend. The best part of the expansive offerings at Elephant Walk is that they allow for contrasting couples to order from whichever country they prefer. The restaurant also offers a genius daily lunch buffet with both styles of international eats for customers to mix, match and try a bit of both. Slap some saag on a plate with a little doro wat and see which you prefer. Other menu highlights include traditional Ethiopian coffee service, naan wraps and late-night wine and wing specials on Wednesdays (the restaurant is by the University of Cincinnati, after all #collegelife). Elephant Walk Injera & Curry House, 170 W. McMillan St., Clifton, elephantwalkcincy.com.

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SHOPS & SERVICES READER PICKS

NEW STORE (SINCE MARCH 2018)

1. Robot Inside Crafting Company 2. Rivertown Inkery + Apparel (TIE) 2. The Native One (TIE) 3. Cincinnati Open Box Outlet

OVERALL BOUTIQUE (LOCAL) 1. Cincy Shirts 2. Elm & Iron 3. The Library Friends’ Shop 4. Rookwood Pottery Co. 5. Rose & Remington 6. BlaCk OWned 7. HOMAGE 8. MiCA 12/v 9. The Native Brand 10. Queen City Alchemy

BOUTIQUE (DOWNTOWN/OTR) 1. Cincy Shirts 2. Elm & Iron 3. The Library Friends’ Shop

BOUTIQUE (NORTHERN KENTUCKY) 1. Urban Chick Boutique 2. Grainwell 3. Purple Monkey

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BOUTIQUE (CENTRAL)

ANTIQUE STORE

AUTO REPAIR SERVICE

BOUTIQUE (EAST SIDE)

ARTS & CRAFTS CLASSES

AUTO/CAR WASH

BOUTIQUE (WEST SIDE)

ARTS & CRAFTS SUPPLIES

BANK

BOUTIQUE (NORTHERN BURBS)

AUTO DEALER (NEW VEHICLES)

BARBER SHOP

1. The Chocolate Bee 2. Silk Road Textiles 3. Casablanca Vintage

1. Kismet 2. indigenous craft gallery 3. Ten Thousand Villages

1. Treasure Alley: Yesterday Revisited 2. Metallic Giraffe 3. LouLou’s Boutique

1. Rose & Remington 2. Busy Bee Boutique 3. A Village Gift Shop at the Century House

ACUPUNCTURE PRACTICE

1. Caldwell Family Wellness Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine 2. TriHealth Fitness & Health Pavilion 3. Tiny Needle Community Acupuncture

1. Ohio Valley Antique Mall 2. Wooden Nickel Antiques 3. Wild Things Antiques

1. Cheers to Art 2. Cincinnati Art Museum 3. Silk Road Textiles

1. Hobby Lobby 2. Michaels 3. Indigo Hippo

1. Beechmont Subaru 2. Joseph Toyota of Cincinnati 3. Kings Toyota

AUTO DEALER (USED VEHICLES)

1. CarMax 2. Courtesy Automotive 3. Joseph Toyota of Cincinnati

1. Tire Discounters 2. Donovan’s Auto & Tire Center 3. AAA | Bob Sumerel Tire & Service

1. Mike’s Carwash 2. Johnny’s Car Wash 3. AAA Auto Wash

1. Fifth Third Bank 2. PNC 3. U.S. Bank

1. Clifton Barbers 2. Spanky & Co Barber Shop 3. Great Clips

BED AND BREAKFAST

1. The Clifton House Bed and Breakfast 2. Symphony Hotel 3. Gaslight Bed & Breakfast

BICYCLE STORE

1. Montgomery Cyclery 2. Bishop’s Bicycles 3. Reser Bicycle Outfitters

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BIRTHING/MATERNITY CENTER 1. Good Samaritan Hospital 2. The Christ Hospital 3. Bethesda North Hospital

BOOKSTORE (CHAIN)

1. Joseph-Beth Booksellers 2. Half Price Books 3. Barnes & Noble

BOOKSTORE (NON-CHAIN)

1. blue manatee children’s bookstore 2. The Friends’ Used Book Store at the Warehouse 3. Shake It Records

BOTTLED BEER SELECTION (RETAIL)

1. Jungle Jim’s International Market 2. The Party Source 3. Dutch’s

CAMERA STORE

1. Dodd Camera 2. Best Buy 3. Western Hills Photo & Hobby

CANDY STORE

1. Aglamesis Brothers 2. Graeter’s Ice Cream 3. Schneider’s Sweet Shop 4. Maverick Chocolate Co. 5. Fawn Candy Co. 6. Supreme Nut & Candy 7. Esther Price Fine Chocolates 8. Jungle Jim’s International Market 9. OTR Candy Bar 10. Tickled Sweet

CARPET CLEANING

1. Widmer’s Carpet Cleaning 2. Stanley Steemer 3. Apke Total Restoration

CARPET STORE

1. McSwain Carpets & Floors 2. Lowe’s 3. JP Flooring

CATERING SERVICE

1. City Barbeque and Catering 2. Eli’s BBQ 3. Vonderhaar’s Catering

CBD SELECTION

1. Queen City Hemp 2. Ohio CBD Guy 3. AVAIL Vapor

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CD/RECORD STORE (NON-CHAIN)

1. Everybody’s Records 2. Shake It Records 3. The Friends’ Used Book Store at the Warehouse

CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER 1. Verizon Wireless 2. AT&T 3. T-Mobile

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING STORE 1. Once Upon A Child 2. The Spotted Goose 3. Target

CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE/CLINIC

1. King Chiropractic 2. Mt. Lookout Chiropractic & Sports Injury Center 3. Thrive Chiropractic

COMIC BOOK STORE

1. Queen City Comics and Card Company 2. Up Up & Away! 3. Shake It Records

CONSIGNMENT SHOP 1. The Snooty Fox 2. Once Upon A Child 3. Clothes Mentor

COSTUME SHOP 1. Cappel’s 2. Costume Gallery 3. Party City

CRAFT BEER STORE

1. Jungle Jim’s International Market 2. Dutch’s 3. The Party Source

CREDIT UNION

1. General Electric Credit Union 2. Kemba Credit Union 3. Cinfed Credit Union

DANCE CLASSES

1. Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy 2. DANCEFIX 3. Arthur Murray Dance Centers

DAY SPA

FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICE

1. The Woodhouse Day Spa 2. Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa 3. The Spa at 21c

1. Fidelity Investments 2. Edward Jones Investments 3. Fifth Third Bank

DENTAL PRACTICE/CLINIC

FINDLAY MARKET VENDOR

1. Vita Dental 2. Advance Dentistry 3. West Chester Dental Group

1. Eli’s BBQ 2. Blue Oven Bakery 3. Pho Lang Thang

DRIVE-THRU MARKET

FLORIST

1. Trotta’s Pizza & Drive Thru 2. Miami Market 3. Big Daddy’s Liquor Store

1. Adrian Durban Florist 2. Katie’s Blooms 3. Kroger

DRY CLEANER

FRAME SHOP

1. Tide Dry Cleaners 2. Widmer’s Cleaners 3. Springdale Cleaners

1. Michaels 2. Hobby Lobby 3. frameshop

ELECTRONICS STORE

FRESH SEAFOOD STORE

1. Micro Center 2. Best Buy 3. Apple Store

1. Jungle Jim’s International Market 2. Keegan’s Seafood 3. Luken’s Poultry, Fish & Seafood

EYEWEAR STORE

FURNITURE STORE

1. Wing Eyecare 2. LensCrafters 3. Oakley Square Eye Associates

1. IKEA 2. Furniture Fair

3. Bargains and Buyouts

GIFTSHOP

1. Cincinnati Art Museum 2. The Library Friends’ Shop 3. MiCA 12/v

GREEN/SUSTAINABLE GOODS STORE

1. Findlay Market 2. Whole Foods Market 3. Jungle Jim’s International Market

GROCERY STORE

1. Kroger 2. Jungle Jim’s International Market 3. Trader Joe’s

HAIR REMOVAL SERVICE

1. Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center 2. European Wax Center 3. Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa

HAIR SALON

1. Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa 2. Salon Lofts 3. Alba Beauty Studio

HARDWARE STORE 1. Ace Hardware 2. Home Depot 3. Lowe’s

HEALTH FOOD STORE

1. Whole Foods Market 2. Jungle Jim’s International Market 3. Fresh Thyme

HOME ACCESSORIES STORE 1. HomeGoods 2. Bed Bath & Beyond 3. Elm & Iron

HOSPITAL

1. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center 2. The Christ Hospital 3. The Jewish Hospital

HOTEL

1. 21c Museum Hotel 2. Hotel Covington 3. Great Wolf Lodge

HVAC COMPANY

1. Wingate Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

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Voted BEST HAIR REMOVAL & SKIN CARE SERVICES!

2. Apollo Home 3. Hauser Air

INSURANCE AGENCY

1. The Cincinnati Insurance Companies 2. CAI Insurance 3. Albers Insurance Agency

JEWELER

1. The Richter & Phillips Co. 2. Genesis Diamonds 3. Schwartz Jewelers

LASIK SURGERY CENTER 1. Cincinnati Eye Institute 2. Midwest Eye Center 3. LasikPlus Vision Center

LAW FIRM

1. Keating Muething & Klekamp 2. Dinsmore & Shohl 3. Frost Brown Todd

LAWYER (INDIVIDUAL) 1. Scott Knox 2. Shannon C. Smith 3. Cara Stewart

MANICURE/PEDICURE

1. Ambiance Nail Salon & Spa 2. Spruce Natural Nail Shop 3. The Woodhouse Day Spa

MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO

1. Club MMA 2. Cincinnati Martial Arts Club 3. Cincinnati Taekwondo Center

MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE/CLINIC

1. The Woodhouse Day Spa 2. Massage Envy 3. Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa

MEN’S CLOTHING STORE 1. JoS. A. Bank 2. BlaCk OWned 3. Ohio Against The World

MOTORCYCLE/MOTORSPORTS DEALER 1. Harley-Davidson of Cincinnati 2. Cycle Specialties of Cincinnati 3. Eastgate Harley-Davidson

LIGHTING STORE

MOVING COMPANY

LIQUOR STORE

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE

1. IKEA 2. Home Depot 3. Switch

1. The Party Source 2. Jungle Jim’s International Market 3. DEP’s Fine Wine and Spirits

LOCAL INDIE CRAF T MARKET 1. The City Flea 2. O.F.F. Market 3. Art on Vine

LOCAL INDIE CRAF T MARKET VENDOR 1. Stitches & Sass 2. Handzy Shop + Studio 3. Ellebrux

MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPER SELECTION

1. Joseph-Beth Booksellers 2. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County 3. Barnes & Noble

MALL/SHOPPING CENTER

1. Kenwood Towne Centre 2. Rookwood Commons & Pavilion 3. Liberty Center

1. Two Men and a Truck 2. D & R Movers 3. All My Sons Moving & Storage

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WHOLESALE

CATERING

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1. Willis Music 2. Guitar Center 3. Mike’s Music

NEIGHBORHOOD SHOPPING DISTRICT 1. Hyde Park Square 2. Over-the-Rhine 3. Downtown Milford

NURSERY/PLANT STORE 1. Natorp’s 2. Fern 3. A.J. Rahn Greenhouses

OUTDOOR/OUTFITTERS SHOP 1. REI 2. Cabela’s 3. Bass Pro Shops

PAINT STORE

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PAPERGOOD STORE

PLUMBING COMPANY

TOY STORE

PAWN SHOP

REAL ESTATE/REALTOR OFFICE

TREE SERVICE

1. M. Hopple & Co. 2. Handzy Shop + Studio 3. Poeme

1. Ted’s Pawn Shop 2. American Trading Company 3. Facet Jewelry, Music & Pawn

PET ADOPTION SERVICE

1. SPCA Cincinnati 2. League for Animal Welfare 3. Stray Animal Adoption Program SAVE

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PET BOARDING/DAYCARE 1. Animal Care Centers 2. Red Dog Pet Resort & Spa 3. Dogtown

PET GROOMING

1. Tier Haus Pet Grooming Salon & Daycare 2. Animal Care Centers 3. PetSmart

PET RESCUE/SHELTER

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1. Sibcy Cline 2. Coldwell Banker West Shell 3. Comey & Shepherd Realtors

REALTOR (INDIVIDUAL) 1. Jordan Nicely 2. Bobby Metzner 3. Steve Sylvester

SHOE STORE 1. DSW 2. Nordstrom 3. JackRabbit

SKIN CARE SERVICE

1. The Woodhouse Day Spa 2. Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center 3. Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa

1. King Arthur’s Court Toys 2. Coolest Toys on Earth 3. Cincinnati Museum Center Gift Shop

1. Madison Tree Care and Landscaping 2. Gregory Forrest Lester 3. Acme Tree & Landscape Service

VAPE SHOP

1. Cincy Vapors 2. Cloud 9 Vapor Lounge 3. Bluegrass Vape

VETERINARY CARE

1. Animal Care Centers 2. Pleasant Ridge Pet Hospital 3. Noah’s Ark Animal Clinics

VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE 1. Casablanca Vintage 2. Talk of the Town 3. NVISION

SMOKE/TOBACCO SHOP

WEDDING CAKES

1. Hemptations 2. Jungle Jim’s International Market 3. Straus Tobacconist

1. The BonBonerie 2. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli 3. Tres Belle Cakes

1. Pet Wants (TIE) 1. PetSmart (TIE) 2. Pet Supplies Plus 3. Petco

SPORTING GOODS

WEDDING DRESSES

1. Dick’s Sporting Goods 2. REI 3. Bass Pro Shop

1. Bridal & Formal 2. Donna Salyers’ Fabulous-Bridal 3. David’s Bridal

PHYSICIAN/HEALTHCARE PRACTICE

TANNING SALON

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICE

1. League for Animal Welfare 2. Recycled Doggies 3. Joseph’s Legacy

PET SUPPLY STORE

1. The Christ Hospital 2. TriHealth 3. University of Cincinnati Physicians

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1. Holtmeier Plumbing 2. Zins Plumbing 3. Jolly Plumbing

2. Hybrid Image Tattoo & Piercing 3. Skincraft Piercing & Tattoo

PLACE TO BUY YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING

1. The Richter & Phillips Co. 2. Genesis Diamonds 3. Schwartz Jewelers

PLASTIC SURGERY

1. The Plastic Surgery Group 2. Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center 3. UC Health Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

1. Palm Beach Tan 2. Planet Fitness 3. Envy Tan

TATTOO SHOP

1. Silkworm Tattoo 2. Body of Art Tattoo 3. Designs by Dana Tattoo

TEA SHOP/SELECTION

1. Coffee Emporium 2. Churchill’s Fine Teas 3. Essencha Tea House & Fine Teas

THRIFT SHOP

1. Society of St. Vincent de Paul 2. Goodwill Industries 3. Valley Thrift Store

TIRE STORE

1. Tire Discounters 2. AAA | Bob Sumerel Tire & Service 3. Costco

1. Jessica Wiggins Photography 2. Lauren DiFulvio Photography 3. White Lotus Studios Photography

WEDDING RECEPTION HALL 1. Urban Artifact 2. Bell Event Centre 3. Receptions Event Centers

WINE SHOP

1. Jungle Jim’s International Market 2. DEP’s Fine Wine and Spirits 3. Hyde Park Wine & Spirits

WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE 1. Macy’s 2. T.J. Maxx 3. Kismet

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SHOPS & SERVICES

STAFF PICKS

BEST EXPANSION INTO ADORABLE CLOTHING Covington’s Handzy Shop + Studio storefront is cuter than a button with its bright yellow door and panoply of adorable papergoods and accessories, so there’s no reason not to visit. But the ladies behind the brand — owners Brittney Braemer and Suzy King — have made it easier than ever to shop local by taking their boutique online. Last year they expanded Handzy to include both new and “second handzy” clothing. The options are playful, bright and patterned and fall right in the brand’s wheelhouse: polka dots tops, colorful overalls and floral prints. They also hand-select vintage and secondhand items to complement the new, which you can buy at the shop or via their Instagram stories. The duo is planning on expanding Handzy and taking over the space next door in late spring, with gifts, stationery and lifestyle accessories on the first floor and a clothing boutique on the second with a mix of new and vintage items. Handzy Shop + Studio, 15 W. Pike St., Covington, handzyshopstudio.com.

BEST SWEET CERAMICS Artist Susannah Tisue is the maker behind local handcrafted pottery brand SKT Ceramics, a line of porcelain pieces — mugs, vases, dishes, teapots and more — featuring charming illustrations of plants, animals and the occasional bits of architecture. Tisue founded her studio in Brooklyn, New York in 2006 after spending time as a resident artist at Greenwich House Pottery. Now based out of Cincinnati, her one-of-a-kind pieces are made of English porcelain and are either wheel-thrown or pressed and then screen-printed or hand-painted with Tisue’s original and whimsical line drawings. Each piece is then glazed and fired to create sturdy, rustic and food-safe works of daily art. Find a fuzzy bumblebee on a bud vase, a fox on a sake bottle or a grasshopper on a coffee mug — all coated in a calm, cool and signature celadon-colored glaze (other colors exist, too). Find SKT at Findlay Market Thursday through Sunday or at wholesalers like MiCA 12/v in Over-the-Rhine. SKT Ceramics, sktceramics.com.

BEST PLACE TO BUY BABY GIFTS

Suzy King (left) and Brittney Braemer at Handzy Shop + Studio

Over-the-Rhine everything-shop MiCA 12/v has an impeccably curated selection of “things”: things you want, things you need, things that now you’ve seen them you can’t live without. It’s the perfect one-stop giftshop for her, him, home and even small humans, with a wide-ranging collection of items from local and indie designers plus hip and well-known lines. There’s an adorable corner of the space dedicated specifically to kids and baby to make buying for your little ones — and the little ones that belong to friends and family — a super fun experience.

Find “Made in Ohio” onesies from local screenprinter Wire & Twine, mounted felt animal heads for whimsical room décor, wooly woodland creatures, nightlights featuring Fiona’s face, feminist wood blocks and more. They also carry Mat & Nat vegan leather diaper bags for mom (or dad), and locally made cards to congratulate people on their new bundles of joy. Ask about registry options. MiCA 12/v, 1201 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, shopmica.com.

BEST STORE TO FIND AN ATTRACTIVE TOASTER The Findlay Market-adjacent Artichoke OTR brings a fashionable flair to cooking by carrying design-forward bakeware, utensils and appliances. Been binge-watching The Great British Baking Off and feel an itch to mix in your own pastel Mason Cash bowls? Or perhaps you need to simmer something in a red ceramic tagine? Or bake a cake in a decorative Nordic Ware bundt pan? What if you’re looking for something that lives on — and livens up — your countertop? Artichoke also carries a line of small SMEG appliances: toasters, blenders, juicers, kettles and mixers. Started in Italy in the 1950s, this brand is beloved for its retro-colored and Midcentury Modern dreamy domestic accessories. These everyday pieces add a pop of color to the kitchen in options like Pepto pink, Cadillac red and seafoam green so you can live out that Mad Men design fantasy with modern functionality. And if they don’t have an item in the color you want, they can special order it for you. Artichoke OTR, 1824 Elm St., Over-theRhine, artichokeotr.com.

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

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BEST SUPER-SOFT CINCY WEAR Rivertown Inkery + Apparel was launched in 2013 as a screenprinting business before turning into a full-time career in 2014. After being a strictly digital and pop-up presence, owner Doug Burns went brick-and-mortar last year with a fresh storefront in downtown Oakley featuring his small-batch and nostalgia-inducing apparel. His “wearable memories” invoke the style — and literal feel — of thrift-store finds and are made with a supersoft cotton-blend fabric. Rivertown has a line of sports-inspired wear, with orange and black tiger icons and Crosley Field prints, but the shop also offers an entire collection of faux retro pieces. Think ringer T-shirts with 1970s font spelling out “The Queen City,” or a 1990s Saved By the Bell-style “Cincinnati” sweatshirt. Almost everything comes in both a hoodie or sweatshirt and T-shirt style and most are unisex, so everyone can have the comfort of vintage with the durability of new. As the website says, “At the Rivertown Inkery, we design shirts that are meant to last and keep today’s memories from fading away.” Rivertown Inkery + Apparel, 3096 Madison Road, Oakley, therivertowninkery.com.

BEST NEW NIGHT MARKET Market Bleu, held quarterly at the Contemporary Arts Center, is a different approach to the maker pop-up that showcases elevated handmade products and fine arts from local vendors in a museum setting. The more streamlined approach to a modern market focuses on high-quality works from working artists — think an upscale flea with vetted vendors. And the evening hours — the market runs 6-10 p.m. — means it’s a perfect place to pop by before or after dinner or cocktails. The juried show includes some of the city’s top makers and is helmed by the founder of Eliza Dot Design and partners. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, marketbleu.com.

Rivertown Inkery + Apparel PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Market, waxed canvas bags and aprons from Volcano Goods, soap from Orange Fuzz, naturally dyed scarves from Deerhaus owner Sonja Thams’ Eco-Raw Studio and deodorant, beard oil and body butter from nearby Findlay neighbor Queen City Alchemy. They also carry hand-selected industrial-style vintage home items, plenty of cookbooks, the occasional plant and more. Also be on the lookout for their adorable shop dog, Nala, a beautiful white husky. Deerhaus Décor, 135 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, deerhausdecor.com.

BEST PLACE TO FIND LOCAL MAKERS WHEN THERE ISN’T A POP-UP MARKET

BEST WAREHOUSE IN WHICH TO SPEND HOURS SIFTING THROUGH VINTAGE CLOTHING

So you love all the makers you can find at markets like The City Flea or Oakley Fancy Flea, but there isn’t one this weekend. Where can you scratch that shop-local itch? Deerhaus Décor, perfectly situated in Findlay Market, carries one of the best selections of local arts, crafts and apothecary. Founded in 2016, the self-described transparent and eco-friendly boutique has a focus on smallbatch and sustainable goods as manifested through their myriad items from both local Cincinnati artisans and those they find on their many travels. In terms of Queen City favorites, their list of vendors reads like a greatest hits: You’ll find rope baskets and dishes from The Northern

Pixel 19’s appointment-only vintage warehouse is not for the faint of heart. You can schedule a visit day or night. (It’s closed Saturday, but every other day of the week is fair game.) At the helm is Stu Nizny. If you do drop in, make sure you slate a few hours to sift through the behemoth of clothes. Seriously: The 10,000-square-foot space is filled to the brim with handpicked vintage goods. Amanda Hale of Sweet Dahlia Vintage shares the space with Nizny, specializing in women’s fashion from the 1930s through the 1970s. You can find almost anything among their racks and thrones of threads: quirky Hawaiian shirts, ironic T-shirts, classy dresses, worn denim, hip accessories. Thrifters,

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unite! Pixel 19 Warehouse, 2100 Eighth St. West, East Price Hill, pixel19vintage.com.

BEST ARTIST WORKING WITH DISCARDED MUSIC GEAR Lynne & Lucille artist Kelli Fisher has been “making almost nothings into pretty somethings” since 2013. A transplant from Columbus, Ohio, Fisher specializes in jewelry crafted from the retired gear of local musicians. “I’ve always been a huge fan of music but have never been able to grasp the concept of actually playing it,” she says, “so making jewelry from recycled (and) unusable music materials and instruments is the way I have found to make my own version of music.” Check out her Etsy shop for necklaces and earrings made from shaped guitar strings and polished cymbal segments. She also utilizes hand-tooled leather and, occasionally, remains of the natural world: dig her popular rattlesnake vertebrae hoop earrings and African porcupine quill bar necklace. Lynne & Lucille, etsy.com/shop/lynneandlucille.

BEST BEEKEEPING SUPPLIES Cory and Krystle Gaiser have a passion for sustainability and, by extension, bees, and operate Gaiser Bee Co. with the primary goal of educating the masses on the importance of the honeybee. Their

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urban farm is a home not only for bees, but also chickens, peacocks and goats; beginner beekeeping classes on their property — as well as their Host a Hive program — encourage members of the community to join them in their fight to save the bees. If that gets you motivated, nucs (the boxes bees are kept in) and packages of bees, complete with a queen, can be sold to anyone who wishes to make their own colony of pollinators. More everyday purchases such as fresh eggs and beeswax lip balm are also available, and don’t leave without a bottle of their sweet raw honey. Gaiser Bee Co. 3402 Kleeman Road, Monfort Heights, gaiserbeeco.com.

BEST “HOW IS THIS STILL HERE?” BOOKSTORE The unmistakable scent of musty old books hits you like a brick wall the moment you set foot in Duttenhofer’s Books, and aesthetically, it’s like the personal library of a Mensa member with a hoarding problem. Tens of thousands of tomes, spanning nearly half a millennium, eclectically fill the space’s snuggly-fit shelves and spill over into various crates strewn about the floor. An impressive catalog of canonized classics, rare first editions and kooky finds — like 1961’s Let’s Have a Party: Gayer Parties with Paperware Decorations and Games — have made this used bookstore a destination for lovers of worn-out paperbacks and hardcovers with missing dust jackets for over 40 years. Amazon may have nearly wiped indie bookstores from public consciousness, but there’s still nothing like spending a lazy afternoon getting lost in a maze of coffee-stained, yellow-paged publications. Duttenhofer’s Books, 214 W. McMillan St., Clifton, duttenhofers.com.

BEST COMMEMORATIVE WATCH FOR A NATIONAL LANDMARK Our beloved Union Terminal is back in action after having been partially closed for more than two years to conduct a $228-million historic 96 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

restoration. To commemorate the National Historic Landmark’s monumental makeover, Cincinnati Watch Company designed a limitededition Union Terminal Watch modeled after the building’s iconic exterior 18-foot clock. A portion of every $499 watch — or $524 for the version with a chic mesh-steel wristband — sold will be donated to Union Terminal’s current occupant, the Cincinnati Museum Center. The hand-wound timepiece brilliantly recreates the timeless Art Deco design of its outsized inspiration and features a sapphire crystal face with an appropriately understated color palette of silver and gray. The near-exclusive use of metallic hues across the watch make the vibrant scarlet outlines adorning its hands pop, allowing the wearer to easily tell the time — if that’s what you look for in a watch. Cincinnati Watch Company, cincinnatiwatch.com.

BEST ASPIRATIONAL CLOTHING COLLECTION The fact that Continuum has held its own on Vine Street in OTR since 2015 is a prime example of the fact that Cincinnati is home to many humans who are interested in innovative, experimental and individual fashion. Shop owner Ericka Leighton is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning with a passion for embracing creativity and creating a space for others to explore their own, whether they’re makers or shoppers. Recently name-checked in Vogue, the shop’s entire vibe — from the neon pink logo to hanging plants and Vaporwave meets Art Nouveau eclecticism — meets the modern woman at the intersection of aspirational and attainable in style, silhouette and price point. Brands range from Paloma Wool and No 6 to Black Crane and Cold Picnic and run the gamut from boxy tops and 1980s jeans to cult mother apparel. Continuum also carries textiles, candles, jewelry, fragrances and artful publications to round out its lifestyle offerings. Continuum, 1407 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook. com/continuumbazaar.

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BEST MULTI-LEVEL USED BOOKSTORE We see fewer and fewer bookstores — independent and chain — every year and, when a new one does open, it’s likely going to offer a limited selection that occupies little space. Ohio Book Store is like a mecca for bibliophiles, spanning five floors of retail space. It’s easy to get lost among the racks of classic literature and secondhand non-fiction, but if you’re looking for something in particular, you can expect thoughtful and informed guidance from the staff. Walking in, it’d be easy to mistake the first floor as the entire shop since books are on display from floor to ceiling, but the stairs to the basement are your first hint that there’s more than meets the eye. After a little navigation, you’ll find the way leading up three flights of stairs, where it becomes apparent that this bookstore has a massive inventory. Also, keep Ohio Book Store in mind if you ever need to repair a favored book’s binding, a task they’re famous for. This is an essential destination for tourists and deserves all the business our city can offer. Ohio Book Store, 726 Main St., Downtown, ohiobookstore.net.

BEST LOCAL HANGOUT FOR GRAPHIC CONTENT Located on Newport’s Monmouth Street and nestled among other independent businesses like Urban Chick Boutique, Jet Age Records, Reser Bicycle, Pepper Pod and La Mexicana, Arcadian Comics & Games has been a vibrant presence in this community for nearly nine years. More than just a comic book shop, it’s a veritable community hub and gathering spot for the artistically inclined that offers a robust selection of graphic novels, collectible figurines, subversive literature and nostalgic curiosities. You’ll find the readily available titles everyone’s buzzing about alongside local and indie titles that are sometimes hard to find elsewhere. The storefront itself was built in the 1860s and received an Art Deco remodel in the 1920s. If these walls could talk, they’d welcome you to join the storyboard. Arcadian Comics & Games, 627 Monmouth St., Newport, arcadiancomics.com.

BEST PLACE TO GET BRANDED Camp Springs, Kentucky native Keith Neltner cut his teeth at local agencies and quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the design and music worlds, producing work for artists like Shooter Jennings and Hank Williams III. His Neltner Small Batch design group has produced branding and illustrations for some of our region’s favorite spots: Arnold’s Bar & Grill, Braxton Brewing Company, HalfCut, Herzog Music and Lucius Q. He’s created a mural for Cincinnati’s Brewery Trail, collaborated 102 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Ohio Book Store PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

with ArtWorks and recently completed a graphic novel-inspired mural for the new Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center at Union Terminal. The work created by Neltner and his team is self-described as “unearthing a brand’s heart,” and if you fall in love with a certain design, there’s a chance it may be for sale on the Neltner website via a poster, T-shirt or print. Neltner Small Batch, neltnersmallbatch.com.

BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR FREAK ON You can’t usually buy a pickled octopus in a jar in the same transaction as a stack of used vinyl, but that’s what Hail Dark Aesthetics is here for. A second outpost of the Nashville-based oddities shop, the Covington storefront allows shoppers to flip through rows of Rock and Country records and shop everything from new agey supplies like palmistry guides, crystals and winter solstice kits to David Bowie coloring books and the Law Enforcement Guide to Satanic Cults on VHS. Hail is no stranger to taxidermy either: All sorts of creepy little critters (or parts of them) are sold here, including ducklings, bats and tons of bugs and bones. Whether you’re dying for a new ouija board or just want to pick up a Punk album or two, this dark little corner of MainStrasse is about as niche as it gets. Hail Dark Aesthetics, 720 Main St., Covington, hailcincinnati.com.

BEST PLACE TO GET LUCKY Established in 2012, the Lucky Cat Museum in Walnut Hills’ Essex Studios houses over 2,000 cat figurines, collected at the direction of meow-stro Micha Robertson. Sometimes known as manekinekos, the beckoning cats are fabled to attract good luck and fortune. And, lucky us, Cincinnati’s Lucky Cat Museum is one of only a handful of such museums in the world. In Robertson’s collection are interactive maneki-nekos that play music, Hello Kitty maneki-nekos, plush maneki-nekos, porcelain maneki-nekos, clocks, lamps, a giant inflatable maneki-neko, socks, ornaments and even a maneki-neko slot machine. And like any good museum, you can exit through the gift shop, which features tons of lucky cat items. Walk away with branded merchandise like enamel pins, stickers, a “Get Lucky” T-shirt or even hand-sewn cat toys. The meow-seum is open Wednesday through Saturday afternoons and later during Essex ArtWalks. Lucky Cat Museum, 2511 Essex Place, #150, Walnut Hills, luckycatmewseum.com.

BEST ELECTRONICS SUPERSTORE Sure, Micro Center is a chain with about 25 stores nationwide, but the electronics mega-superstore got its start in Columbus, Ohio in 1979. The “large format” layout, for which the store is known, began in 1982. Located on Mosteller Road in Sharonville,

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our local Center features free in-store clinics (upcoming events detail smartphones and tablets and wireless networking) and walk-in tech support. If it’s tech related, you can bet they’ll have it — an estimated inventory of over 30,000 items includes everything from the budget-minded student laptop to gizmos, doo-hickeys and interfaces that haven’t been seen since your neighborhood RadioShack liquidated its backroom inventory to sell phones. They are also an authorized Apple dealer and have plenty of refurbished iPhones, iPads and MacBooks on discount. Micro Center, 11755 Mosteller Road, Sharonville, microcenter.com.

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Local performance apparel company Jumper jumped on the super-soft undies bandwagon last year by launching a line of cozy modal underwear for men and women… with a twist: Their comfy undergarments were made with bonus Peppermint Tech, featuring fabric infused with all-natural peppermint fiber. According to the Jumper website, “Everybody knows the peppermint leaf is cool and fresh, but this abundant and organic fiber adds strength and natural anti-odor properties to textiles as well.” Boxer briefs and bikinis that stay cool, fresh and “action ready?” Sign us up. Jumper spent 18 months designing, sourcing and custom milling the anti-microbial undies and pre-orders went live on Kickstarter in July 2018. The company, founded by former Army Ranger and paratrooper Daniel Redlinger and outdoor apparel designer Andrew Mallett, specializes in functional and fashionable outer apparel. And now functional and fashionable under apparel. Jumper Threads, jumperthreads.com.

BEST LIQUOR STORE TO BUY LITTLE BOTTLES OF BOURBON BEFORE A FLIGHT OUT OF CVG It’s important to save money, especially if you can catch a buzz at an altitude of 40,000 feet in the 104 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

process. As an unprepared consumer, you are at the mercy of the less than benevolent airlines when it comes to onboard refreshments, which means massive inflation. Alcohol is not always a healthy coping mechanism in times of stress, but, say, if you’re on a transcontinental flight, a little nip or two of smuggled bourbon might put you in the right state of mind. If you’re traveling smart, you’ll have stopped at The Party Source on your way to CVG to pick up your favorite liquor, which can be had for a fraction of the price your namebrand airline is charging. The Party Source has an incredible array of 50ml bottles (the same size offered on flights) of any spirits you desire. Larceny can be had for only $2.19, Wild Turkey 101 proof for $3 and, if you really want to save, Jim Beam at $1.39, which would cost $9 on a flight. It’s an airplane, your pilot is the DD. The Party Source, 95 Riviera Drive, Bellevue, thepartysource.com.

BEST LIQUOR STORE TO BUY LITTLE BOTTLES OF BOURBON WHILE AT CVG If you fail to stock up on booze before you fly, Cork N’ Bottle has set up a nice little 200-square-foot kiosk inside Terminal A at CVG offering various sizes of alcohol bottles to taste and buy. This satellite store sells between 200 and 300 different spirits, 85 percent of which are bourbon and whiskey, with a smattering of vodka for good measure. Serving as a start of sorts for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the bourbon-barrel-lined outpost offers fliers a chance to sip both new and antique bourbon brands — everything from Maker’s Mark to Blanton’s, Weller and Elmer T. Lee — at their tasting station before buying something to bring home or slip inside their carry-on. They even have some old dusties for sale, like a $12,000 bottle of Old Hermitage from 1889 or a $1,500 bottle of Seagram’s “83” from 1929. It’s a quick sip of Kentucky hospitality for visitors and a taste of home before takeoff for locals. CVG, 3087 Terminal Drive, Hebron, cvgairport. com.

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BEST PAY-WHAT-YOU-WANT ART SUPPLIES When starting an art project, one never knows what kinds of random materials they’ll need to complete their vision — or how pricey it may become. Indigo Hippo’s staff know this better than anyone, which is why no place caters to Cincinnati’s offbeat artists quite like them. Founded in 2016 by University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning graduate Alisha Budkie, this community-driven art supply store’s inventory consists solely of materials donated by fellow artists and lets the customer decide how much to pay. Ideally, this grants anyone pursuing an artistic passion the means of production to fulfill it, regardless of budget. The store’s charmingly haphazard layout is ever-changing and feels like you’re wandering through a prolific starving artist’s studio apartment; you may find some scraps of wood next to a box of crayons, next to a crate of Snowville Creamery pins, and a random polaroid camera to boot. Indigo Hippo also supports the local art community by participating in Final Friday events with drinks, snacks and artist showcases. Indigo Hippo, 1334 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, indigohippo.org.

BEST SPOT DOWNTOWN TO GRAB EMERGENCY KICKS FOR THE WEEKEND Quick. It’s 5 p.m. You just got off work. You have a date at 6. And your outfit is looking… not so fresh. While some people might think your scuffed up, floppy dad loafers and khakis are attractive, you’re more likely cruising toward deal-breaker town with your business-casual gear. But no fear. UNheardof downtown can fix you right up. Swoop by and upgrade those tired brown leather jams with a pair of nostalgia-worthy Nike Air Max 97s or space-age Vapormax Plus in a rainbow of candy colors. Or go a grittier route with a pair of Vans Sk8-Hi high tops or Doc Martens. Heck, if you feel lucky, you might even try your hand at copping the newest pair of Yeezys. And don’t stop at ground level. The decade-strong streetwear purveyor also has plenty of sweatshirts, T-shirts, button-ups and pants to get you out of that painfully dull polo shirt. Brands like Nike, Adidas and Levi’s are an obvious draw, but you shouldn’t pass up UNheardof’s house brand, either — their recent collaboration with famed skateboard graphic artist Don Pendleton was killer. UNheardof, 15 W. Fourth St., Downtown, unheardofbrand.com.

BEST USED VIDEO GAME RETAILER If you’ve ever found your living room too crowded with video game consoles and accessories (you nerd), you’ve likely wondered how to reduce the clutter and earn a bit of cash or credit toward your next gaming purchase. Of course, there are pawn 106 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

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shops and other avenues for reselling, but for the best deal it’s advisable to consider Arcade Legacy’s two retail spots. (They also have a bar and arcade space in Northside for drinking and gaming sans selling.) The original location at Cincinnati Mills is literally one of the only reasons to visit the vastly vacant skeleton of the once thriving mall. Upon entering Arcade Legacy, the nostalgic audio/video overload of a classic arcade boasting more than 70 cabinets envelops your senses. To your left is the beautiful sight of Nintendo and Sega cartridges on display, along with all the generations of gaming you could hope to find under one roof. The Newport location is equally impressive in its retail and arcade inventory and is perhaps more accessible in its more populated strip mall. Arcade Legacy is the central resource for retro and modern video game enthusiasts in the city. Arcade Legacy Cincinnati Mills, 662 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Springdale; Arcade Legacy Newport, 1765 Monmouth St., Newport, arcadelegacyohio.com.

BEST USED MOVIE RETAILER Though they haven’t reinvented the wheel, the Corryville location of CD/Game Exchange gets extra credit for how they run their movie, music and video game resale shop. The employees put together themed staff picks that are not only timely, but also well curated and indicative of

well-informed film buffs with a passion for the medium. There’s no better selection in town for the price, especially for fans of horror and kung-fu films. There are dollar DVD bins filled to the brim with movies that star Will Smith and Natalie Portman, among other A-listers who have frankly made too many films, but also quite a hefty pick of the Criterion Collection and TV series and anything else that might strike your interest. Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations — that seems to be something the staff loves to provide. CD/Game Exchange, 2601 Vine St., Corryville, 513-281-2006, searchable on Facebook.

BEST PLACE TO BUY PRE-ROLLED CBD JOINTS Yes, medical marijuana has finally been legalized in Cincinnati, but that doesn’t mean everyone who could benefit from it has access to the plant, due to the stricter list of conditions required for a “green card” in Ohio compared to other medical states. The psychotropic (aka gets you stoned) compound THC is still heavily regulated in the state because of political and financial reasons, but there’s another component found naturally in the plant called CBD, which doesn’t mess with your head and provides anti-inflammatory relief, and even increased energy in some folks. CBD has existed in a limbo hovering between full-blown

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legalization and the gray market where you might need to know the shopkeep to buy. Growers can isolate and eliminate the growth of THC in plants and instead encourage the production of CBD, which means cannabis can be smoked mostly legally without a medical license. It’s not super easy to find around the city, but Planet Caravan has done a good job keeping pre-rolled CBD joints on their shelves because, even though CBD can be dosed through tinctures and even enhanced seltzer water, sometimes you just want to spark a J. Just don’t expect the police to believe you’re smoking something legal — always play it safe, smart and discreet. Planet Caravan, 2826 Jefferson Ave., Corryville; 243 W. McMillan St., Clifton, planetcaravansmokeshop.com.

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Dean’s Mediterranean Imports is packed so full of wonderful tastes, smells and textures that it’s hard to fit more than a few folks at a time inside the store’s narrow aisles. Maybe you’ve seen bags of their awesome roasted nuts at bars around town. Maybe you’re a regular patron drawn by the aromatic wall of hard-to-find spices behind the counter. Or heck, maybe you just like dropping by to chat with Dean and his daughters, the charming folks who run this one-of-a-kind gem. Whatever the reason, this Mediterranean shop is the perfect place to pick up Mediterranean spices and Dean’s own unique blends. There’s falafel spice; shawarma spice; a Syrian sevenspice blend; Jamaican, Indian and Pakistani curry; fenugreek; and the list goes on. Find some of those spices on nuts roasted in-house. Cashews, imported from India, walnuts, macadamias, pecans and more are all roasted onsite — everything except the pistachios. Buy them in bulk and buy the spices in whatever amount you need, even itty bitty portions. Dean’s Mediterranean Imports, 108 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, mediterraneanimports.com.

BEST RECORD STORE THAT’S ALMOST OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK Next year Shake It Records will be old enough to buy beer, but this year marks the momentous landmark of two decades in business. Recognized as one of the best record shops in the freakin’ world, Shake It has done much to put Cincinnati on the map of cities driven by music. Co-founded and co-owned by brothers Jim and Darren Blase, Shake It first opened its doors in Northside in 1999; two years later — on, of all dates, Sept. 11, 2001 — the store moved into its current location at 4156 Hamilton Ave. Shake It — which, along with used and new vinyl and CDs, also stocks an eclectic mix of books, magazines, T-shirts and various tchotchkes and other esoterica — began as a record label. Jess Hirbe and Daryl “Doc” Kalmus founded the Shake It label in the late ’70s to release music by Cincinnati-area artists like The Customs. Darren — the “Sam Phillips of Cincinnati” — revived it (with the founders’ blessing) in 1993, releasing a 7-inch single by Cincy Garage Rock greats The Mortals. The Shake It label is still a thriving indie imprint, home to one of the area’s most acclaimed bands, Wussy, and also an outlet for ambitious reissue projects for long out-of-print local classics. Shake It, the store, is also home to a permanent exhibit dedicated to the region’s music scene. Shake It Records, 4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside, shakeitrecords.com.

BEST VINYL RELOCATION In February, Torn Light Records moved their storefront from Bellevue, Kentucky across the river into Clifton — expanding from 625 square feet to 2,000 square feet (plus another 1,000 for storage). Helmed by Alex York and Dan Buckley, the vinyl haven boasts an eccentric collection. You can find the classics — be it The Velvet Underground, John Coltrane or Beastie Boys — but it’s their stock of oddities that sets Torn Light apart. Midwestern 1990s Emo? They’ve got it. Droning Shoegaze? Check. Need some Black Metal to lighten your

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BEST QUICK SUCCULENT STOP Yuliya Bui opened Gia and the Blooms — named after her rescue pit bull Gia — in Over-the-Rhine in 2016. She and her team have a passion for organic floral design; the shop specializes in both building and delivering bouquets (burlap-wrapped daily seasonal selections start at $35) and doing flowers for weddings and events, but they also carry a hearty selection of houseplants in their small, urban storefront. The counters and other surfaces, including whitewashed brick walls, are covered in ferns, fiddle leaf figs, ivy, air plants and tons of succulents. And if you happen to be a brown thumb who wishes they were a green thumb, it’s a perfect quick pit stop to pick up a new Hen and Chicks or two if you’ve happened to kill off your other ones. Little potted plants can go for as low as $5 and selections are abundant: String of Pearls, Donkey’s Tail, jade, cacti and aloe — the names are almost as fun to say as it is being caught in the cycling of constantly buying and killing low-care greenery. And if you want advice (for the first or 30th time) for how to keep your new plant buddy alive, the team at Gia will gladly provide expert care instructions before you bring home your new acquisition. Gia and the Blooms, 114 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, giablooms.com.

day? Yep. Ya like Jazz? You’re in luck. Since their opening, they’ve served as the prime spot for experimental fare and smaller labels that aren’t carried elsewhere. Make sure to peruse their ’zine collection as well. With added space, they’ve also added a movie zone and made room for more CDs. Torn Light Records, 356 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, facebook.com/torn.light.

BEST CONVENIENCE STORE OWNED BY A MARTIAL ARTS MASTER It takes discipline, endurance and patience to thrive in the world of martial arts — the same skills you need to run a small business. So when convenience store owner Reginald Stroud was priced out of his home, business and martial arts studio in Over-the-Rhine in 2015, he was equipped for the mountainous challenge of starting over. Now, Stroud is back. He spends nearly every day behind the counter of Anybody’s Dream, a convenience store in Northside featuring a façade painted by local artist Abby Mae Friend. Not that it was easy. It took Stroud two years to secure his new location. He also had to use his house to teach Jinen-Do — his own mix of martial arts traditions he has perfected over the last four decades. And an annual tournament he holds in Evanston skipped a year after the move as Stroud dealt with his new circumstances. But he’s still standing, still teaching, still selling penny candy, knit caps and essentials like toothpaste in a new neighborhood that needs them. 110 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Gia and the Blooms PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

BEST TATTOO ATELIER Walnut Hills’ White Whale Tattoo is renowned for its artistry in ink. The shop’s crew of highly skilled tattooers (boasting a higher ratio of female to male artists, for what it’s worth) creates individual masterworks on skin for clients with a bespoke mindset and range of styles that includes specialties in linework, pointillism, woodcut and other fine art. Most tattooers’ books are closed and appointments are scheduled months in advance, so unfortunately this isn’t the place for walk-ins. But, every so often, White Whale hosts special Flash Days. People line up around the block for these first-come, first-served events where you can select your design and artsist from pre-drawn sheets. All proceeds from Flash Days benefit White Whale’s ongoing work in Guatemala, where they do cover-up tattoos for former gang members and assist with other outreach efforts in the Central American country. White Whale Tattoo, 650 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, whitewhaletattoo.com.

BEST PLACE FOR A CUT AND COCKTAIL Parlour salon in East Walnut Hills specializes in creative cuts and color, bringing aspirational runway looks to the sidewalks of Cincinnati. Award-winning colorists can achieve everything from natural balayage blondes to neon-yellow art-Punk pixies — and anything in between — with

the finesse of highly trained painter. Whether you want to step out of your comfort zone or hold onto your Type A personality for “just a trim,” you’re in the best hands in the city with this team of hip, professional stylists. If you do hand over creative control, the results are worth it. The team at Parlour can create a cutting-edge look that fits your style, whether that means a sculptural blunt bob, Mia Farrow-mini or modern shag. Using eco-friendly (and delicious-smelling) Davines products — including color — your hair will feel as good as it looks. And each service comes with a complimentary artisan cocktail, if you need that push to try something new. Parlour, 2600 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, salonparlour.com.

BEST G.O.A.T. GOAT YOGA Has a lack of barnyard animals ever prevented you from taking up yoga? If so, say baaahmaste to Yogoat, a local startup that provides at least four baby goats for assorted yoga events. These adorable, well-behaved little livestock may arrive in aww-inducing costumes and will almost certainly climb on top of you in the middle of your cat pose. Yogoat’s trained handlers ensure that everyone present gets ample time with a four-legged yoga partner. There’s never been a better way to get a taste of farm life while practicing a centuries-old stretching routine. Look for Yogoat popping up at breweries like Rivertown and Rhinegeist. You can

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BEST FAST BIKINI WAX Ripping hair out of your body by the root via hot wax is never going to be a comfortable or fun procedure, but the team at Heavenly Bodies makes it as painless as possible. Owner Alesia Buttrey has decades of waxing experience and it shows: Waxes here are fast — like in and out in 15 minutes — complete and compassionate; she and her staff are very aware of sensitive areas and will explain any parts of a wax service you’re worried about. For example, if you’ve never had a full Brazilian and want to try one, Alesia will walk you through the entire process. Or you can watch an educational video on the website. They offer full body waxing, from face to toe, and even options catered to men (chest, back, shoulders, etc.). It’s their 28th year at their cozy East Hyde Park location — more like a house than a strip mall wax place — and online booking services make it easier than ever to be as hair free as you want to be. Heavenly Bodies, 3608 Marburg Ave., Hyde Park, cincyspa.com.

BEST PLACE TO BUY HIP GLASSES

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Picking out the perfect pair of hip glasses is no easy feat. Balancing the need to be in vogue without being shallow and distinct while remaining tasteful is a tough task for even the fiercest of fashionistas. But fear not, online glasses retailer Warby Parker’s sleek brick and mortar location in OTR — only the third in Ohio — makes finding the proper spectacles easier than ever before. Their tight upscale layout has been designed to feel like a library and features an original mural by illustrator Maira Kalman in addition to rows of oak shelves displaying a wide variety of frames starting at $95. The try-before-you-buy business model lets you try on every last set of glasses in their store to find the right pair. Somewhat ironically located in the former local Frameri eyeglasses start-up storefront, Warby Parker has already

made sure this location will keep Cincy’s four-eyed masses chic and stylish. Warby Parker, 1419 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, warbyparker.com.

BEST GERMAN HERITAGE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE Chriskindlmarkt is just one of many annual community-minded events organized by the Germania Society of Cincinnati, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting — surprise — German heritage in our region. A recreation of an authentic Bavarian-style Christmas market, local vendors set up shop under heated tents at Germania Park, but it feels more like a festival than a shopping experience. There’s a petting zoo, lantern-lit parade, roaming carolers, booths serving up traditional German food and drink (including glühwein and the society’s famous dill pickle soup), and Santa Claus himself, along with European counterparts like the German Sankt Nikolaus, Krampus (a seasonal half-goat, half-demon of European folklore) and Christkind (a traditional giver of gifts in Germany, who is not a goat or a demon). Germania Society of Cincinnati, 3529 West Kemper Road, Colerain, germaniasociety.com.

BEST BIKE SHOP THAT DOUBLES AS A COFFEE SHOP Reser Bicycle Outfitters is a specialty bike shop in Newport that carries everything from road and mountain bikes to electric varieties and even BMX. And if you need something to get yourself amped up before you take to Cincinnati’s streets, Reser is also home to Trailhead Coffee, a craft purveyor serving Wood Burl Coffee and assorted pastries from the likes of Allez Bakery and Marty’s Waffles. Sip a pourover while scouting for bike gear or after dropping off your ride for a tune-up; Reser also does repairs, including major overhauls. It’s an underrated Northern Kentucky gem worth checking out — for both their coffee and their bikes. Reser Bicycle Outfitters, 648 Monmouth St., Newport, reserbicycle.com.

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MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE READER PICKS

NEW BAR/CLUB (SINCE MARCH 2018)

1. 3 Points Urban Brewery 2. The Birdcage 3. Pins Mechanical Company 4. Tokyo Kitty 5. Lucius Q (TIE) 5. Wiedemann’s Fine Beer (TIE) 6. Arts’ on the Ave 7. Caffè Vivace 8. Top Cats 9. Amigos Bar and Patio 10. Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom

OVERALL BAR/CLUB 1. Below Zero Lounge 2. Sundry and Vice 3. Queen City Exchange 4. 16-Bit Bar+Arcade 5. The Birdcage 6. Higher Gravity 7. Northside Yacht Club 8. Arnold’s Bar & Grill 9. Queen City Radio 10. MOTR Pub

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BAR/CLUB (DOWNTOWN/OTR) 1. Below Zero Lounge 2. Sundry and Vice 3. MOTR Pub

BAR/CLUB (NORTHERN KENTUCKY) 1. Rosie’s Tavern 2. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar 3. Bobby Mackey’s

BAR/CLUB (CENTRAL) 1. Tillie’s Lounge 2. The Blind Lemon 3. The Overlook Lodge

BAR/CLUB (EAST SIDE) 1. Mt. Lookout Tavern 2. Dutch’s 3. Oakley Pub and Grill

BAR/CLUB (WEST SIDE)

1. Incline Public House 2. The Crow’s Nest 3. Knotty Pine Rock Club & Tiki Bar

BAR/CLUB (NORTHERN BURBS) 1. The Village Tavern 2. Fox & Hound 3. Back Porch Saloon

BAR/CLUB FOR LIVE MUSIC (LOCAL BANDS) 1. Arnold’s Bar & Grill 2. MOTR Pub 3. The Southgate House Revival

BAR/CLUB FOR LIVE MUSIC (NATIONAL ACTS) 1. Bogart’s 2. The Southgate House Revival 3. Madison Theater

BAR/CLUB STAFF

1. Below Zero Lounge 2. Sundry and Vice 3. Queen City Exchange

BARTENDER (FEMALE )

1. Valerie Diehl (Northside Yacht Club) 2. Molly Wellmann (Japp’s) 3. Sara Hutslar (MadTree Brewing)

BARTENDER (MALE)

1. Jeremy Hitch (Below Zero Lounge) 2. Giacomo Ciminello (Night Drop) 3. Nick Squeri (Queen City Exchange)

BEER SELECTION (BOTTLES & CANS) 1. Dutch’s 2. Higher Gravity 3. The Comet

BEER SELECTION (DRAFT) 1. Yard House 2. Higher Gravity 3. Queen City Exchange

BLOODY MARY

1. Crazy Fox Saloon 2. Arnold’s Bar & Grill 3. Hang Over Easy 4. The Eagle OTR 5. Northside Yacht Club 6. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar 7. Higher Gravity 8. Taste of Belgium 9. Redwine & Co. 10. S.W. Clyborne Co.

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BOURBON COCKTAIL

CONCERT VENUE

BOURBON SELECTION (BAR)

DANCE CLUB

1. Tillie’s Lounge 2. Sundry and Vice 3. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar

1. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar 2. Newberry Bros. Coffee & Prohibition Bourbon Bar 3. Wiseguy Lounge

BOURBON SELECTION (RETAIL)

1. Below Zero Lounge 2. The Birdcage 3. Boogie Nights

HAPPY HOUR (DRINKS)

1. Madison Bowl 2. Western Bowl 3. Stone Lanes

1. Queen City Exchange 2. Higher Gravity 3. The Righteous Room 4. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar 5. S.W. Clyborne Co. 6. Bar Louie 7. Rhinehaus 8. Northside Yacht Club 9. 16 Bit Bar+Arcade 10. Gypsy’s

CASINO

HAPPY HOUR (FOOD)

1. Belterra Casino Resort 2. JACK Casino 3. Hollywood Casino

1. Bar Louie 2. Keystone Bar & Grill 3. Nada

CELTIC/BRITISH PUB

HOTEL BAR

1. The Party Source 2. Jungle Jim’s International Market 3. DEP’s Fine Wine and Spirits

BOWLING ALLEY

1. Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant 2. Hap’s Irish Pub 3. O’Malley’s in the Alley

1. Orchids at Palm Court 2. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar 3. Metropole

CLUB/PARTY DJ

1. Below Zero Lounge 2. The Comet 3. Rhinehaus

1. DJ Bjorg 2. DJ Vader 3. DJ Airborne

COCKTAIL BAR/LOUNGE 1. Tillie’s Lounge 2. Sundry and Vice 3. Japp’s

COLLEGE-CROWD BAR 1. 16-Bit Bar+Arcade 2. Uncle Woody’s 3. Dana Gardens

COMEDY CLUB

1. Go Bananas Comedy Club 2. Liberty Funny Bone 3. MOTR Pub

CONCERT IN 2018

1. Zac Brown Band at Great American Ball Park 2. Alice Cooper at Taft Theatre 3. Radiohead at U.S. Bank Arena

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1. Riverbend Music Center 2. Bogart’s 3. Music Hall

JUKEBOX

KARAOKE

1. Below Zero Lounge 2. Tokyo Kitty 3. Tostado’s Grill

LGBTQ BAR

1. Below Zero Lounge 2. The Birdcage 3. Rosie’s Tavern

LOCAL BAND (COVERS) 1. Naked Karate Girls 2. Supertzar 3. The Rusty Griswolds

LOCAL BAND (ORIGINALS) 1. Jess Lamb and The Factory 2. Over the Rhine 3. Triiibe

LOCAL BREWERY

1. Rhinegeist 2. MadTree Brewing 3. Braxton Brewing Company

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4. Urban Artifact 5. Brink Brewing Co. 6. Taft’s Brewing Company 7. Fretboard Brewing 8. Fifty West Brewing Company 9. Listermann Brewing Company 10. Sons of Toil Brewing

LOCAL DISTILLERY

1. New Riff Distilling 2. Northside Distilling Co. 3. Boone County Distilling Co.

LOCAL MUSIC PROMOTER 1. Dan McCabe/Chris Schadler 2. Nederlander Entertainment 3. Jeremy Moore

LOCAL MUSICIAN 1. Jess Lamb 2. Ben Walz 3. Ken Poleyeff

LOCAL TAPROOM

1. Urban Artifact 2. MadTree Brewing 3. Fifty West Brewing Company 4. Rhinegeist 5. Brink Brewing Co. 6. Taft’s Ale House

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7. Braxton Brewing Company 8. Fretboard Brewing 9. West Side Brewing 10. 3 Points Urban Brewery

LOCAL WINERY

1. Revel OTR Urban Winery 2. The Skeleton Root 3. Vinoklet Winery 4. Elk Creek Vineyards 5. Valley Vineyards 6. Henke Winery 7. Harmony Hill Vineyards 8. StoneBrook Winery 9. Burnet Ridge Winery 10. Verona Vineyards

MARGARITA

NO-FRILLS WATERING HOLE 1. Knockback Nat’s 2. Arnold’s Bar & Grill 3. The Comet

OPEN MIC NIGHT

1. MOTR Pub 2. Go Bananas Comedy Club 3. The Crow’s Nest

PLACE TO DRINK WHILE YOU WAIT FOR A TABLE 1. The Lackman 2. Taft’s Ale House 3. Queen City Exchange

PLACE TO SHOOT POOL

1. Cactus Pear 2. Bakersfield OTR 3. Nada

1. Animations 2. Northside Tavern 3. Rosie’s Tavern

MARTINI

PLACE TO THROW DARTS

1. Below Zero Lounge 2. Orchids at Palm Court 3. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar

1. Murphy’s Pub 2. Hap’s Irish Pub 3. Queen City Exchange

MUSIC FESTIVAL/EVENT

ROOFTOP BAR

1. Bunbury Music Festival 2. Cincinnati Pride 3. Cincinnati Music Festival

1. Top of the Park 2. Rhinegeist 3. 21c Cocktail Terrace

Revel OTR | Best Local Winery, Best Wine Bar PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

TRIVIA NIGHT

1. Tillie’s Lounge 2. Queen City Exchange 3. Higher Gravity

WINE BAR

1. Revel OTR Urban Winery 2. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant 3. Unwind Wine Bar 4. 1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab 5. Crafts & Vines 6. Somm Wine Bar 7. Higher Gravity 8. Liberty’s Bar & Bottle 9. Marty’s Hops and Vines 10. Oakley Wines

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

STAFF PICKS

BEST HOUSEMADE MIXERS AND SODA In December, former Metropole chef Jared Bennett and former Maribelle’s eat + drink chef/owner Mike Florea teamed up with MadTree Brewing co-founder Jeff Hunt to open Karrikin Spirits Co., a distillery and restaurant located in an industrial park in Fairfax, near the Frisch’s Mainliner. Onpremises, they distill several spirits, including vodka, gin and apricot brandy. You can get those spirits in a flight, in a craft cocktail — like the Thank You, Next or the Lassi Come Home — or mixed with their housemade sodas. They make cola, key lime, tonic and a grapefruit soft soda (aka sans alcohol) and something known as “hard pop,” a spirited drink with one of their sodas or shrubs mixed with one of their distilled alcohols. Besides the liquor, Karrikin boasts a full and shareable food menu with a focus on Bennett’s specialty — wood-fired bites — like ember-roasted potatoes, charred beets and baked Urban Stead cheese curds. Karrikin Spirits Co., 3717 Jonlen Drive, Fairfax, karrikinspirits.com.

BEST PLACE TO STRIKE OUT FOR A QUARTER Surprisingly, there are plenty of cozy spots and corner bars in Northern Kentucky with vintage electro-mechanical coin-op bowling games, but something about Miller’s Fill-Inn makes it one of our favorites. Enjoy live cover bands or a Blues jam over affordable suds and a basket of popcorn, then head to the side room, past the pool tables, and bowl to your heart’s content at just a quarter per game. Six players at a time can play on the bar’s vintage Champagne machine, which was made by the Chicago Coin company (a noted pinball machine manufacturer) back in 1969. Miller’s Fill-Inn, 52 Donnermeyer Drive, Bellevue, facebook.com/millersfillinn.

BEST MASONIC LODGE TURNED MULTI-PURPOSE ART COLLECTIVE

Karrikin Spirits Co.

The Lodge is a remodeled 9,000-square-foot Masonic Temple that is now bustling with artistic pursuits of all sorts. The space is home to photography, screenprinting and art studios; an electronic repairs service; and a performance and event space. The conversion began when Scott Beseler purchased the Dayton, Kentucky building in 2011 and it has grown steadily ever since. In 2013, Walk the Moon encamped at The Lodge to write their breakthrough album, Talking is Hard. Last year, after Cincinnati music mainstay Ultrasuede Studios was run out of its longtime spot on Spring Grove Avenue in Camp Washington, the recording studio’s owner John Curley (bassist for The Afghan Whigs) announced he was moving operations across the river to The Lodge, augmenting the recording facilities initiated there by co-founder Johnny

Walker of the Soledad Brothers when the space first opened. It’s also become a cool under-theradar live music venue, hosting shows by the likes of Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards, James Leg of Black Diamond Heavies and many others. You never know who will pop into The Lodge — Jack White visited when he was in town last summer. The Lodge, 231 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Ky., thelodgeky.com.

BEST PLACE TO FIND NON-LOCAL AND NON-REGIONAL BEERS A couple of years ago, when Landlocked Social House owners Anne and Andrew Decker opened their coffee and beer emporium in Walnut Hills, they ushered in a new experience of coffee and beer together, so customers could always be caffeinated and buzzed. What sets them apart — besides exclusively using Dayton, Ohio’s award-winning Wood Burl Coffee — is how they source beers from all over the U.S. and even overseas. In fact, they rarely serve any Cincy beers (because you can get those everywhere else). Instead, Landlocked focuses on draft, canned and bottled beers from places like Connecticut (Fat Orange Cat), Chicago (Half Acre, Grimm), Columbus (Wolf Ridge), Florida (Green Bench) and even Japan (Kiuchi Brewery). Occasionally, they’ll also do tap takeovers from the likes of 3 Floyds, Connecticut Valley Brewing Company and Dayton’s Branch & Bone. The beer and coffee aren’t the only reasons to hang out at Landlocked Social House: on select Mondays, they host food pop-ups from local restaurants and culinary artisans like The Rhined, Cilantro, the Pickled Pig and more. Landlocked Social House, 648 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, landlockedsocialhouse.com.

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

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BEST WORTH-THE-WAIT BOTTLE OF BOURBON If patience is a virtue, there may be none more virtuous than Ken Lewis, former proprietor of The Party Source and current owner of New Riff Distilling. In what some might consider an ill-advised business decision, Lewis launched a brand-new venture knowing that his first name-brand product would take four years to hit the shelves; he opened the New Riff distillery and event space in the parking lot of The Party Source in 2014 but had to wait until 2018 to start seeing a return on investment on his own bourbon. From the get-go, it was decided that New Riff bourbon would be “bottled in bond” — a distinction set by an act passed in 1897 that means a spirit is produced in one distillation season, by one distiller at one distillery and aged for at least four years. “It was a baseline of quality,” Lewis says. Along with that distinction, the high-rye, full-bodied, slightly spicy whiskey is also non-GMO and made with water from the Ohio River Alluvial Aquifer — serendipitously located 100 feet below New Riff’s parking lot. With a four-year build-up, New Riff bourbon’s introduction to the masses came with some fanfare via “The World’s Biggest Bourbon Toast” on the Purple People Bridge in July 2018. To say people were excited might be an understatement: A first round of bottles went on sale at the distillery on Aug. 1 and the entire allocation of 2,100 sold out the first day. Today, New Riff bourbon is available at over 500 distribution points. Or you can head to the distillery — which is the northern-most stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour — to take a tour, sample the spirit and learn about the passion behind this worth-the-wait project. As Lewis says, “Our mission statement is to be one of the great small distilleries of the world.” New Riff Distilling, 24 Distillery Way, Newport, newriffdistilling.com.

BEST EXISTENTIAL COCKTAIL DESTINATION

With a name conceived as a playful homage to philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, Frenchish brasserie Sartre OTR sits on the ground floor of the Rhinegeist building and serves up a changing menu of snacks, shareables and mains with a Parisian bistro sensibility. The food is good and interesting. Order whatever “beignet” is on offer; whether it’s sweet potato, butternut squash or Tillamook cheddar, it’s going to be fried, delicate and delicious. But if you don’t feel like investing in dinner, Sartre is a stupendous stop for several cocktails. The bar offers multiple communal seating areas with a shabby chic industrial Art Nouveau vibe, flattering lighting and plenty of space for you and several of your friends. The décor is transportive without artifice, just like the 126 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

drink selection. The wine and whiskey lists are long, with an obviously healthy selection of upstairs neighbor Rhinegeist on tap, plus foreign beer in bottles. But the cocktails are the star. Their riff on a classic Negroni uses Cappelletti instead of Campari for a subtle sweetness, and their Geist Spritz plays on an Aperol Spritz with Rhinegeist Bubbles instead of prosecco. The Sore Wounded — rye, China-China, Cocchi Americano and cigar bitters — is served in a corked vial for a bit of apothecary flair. And the Monkey Gland goes full Belle Époque with absinthe and gin. If freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you, we say opt for a stiff drink. Sartre OTR, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, sartreotr.com.

BEST USE OF BREAST MILK BAGS Northside Yacht Club has always been a step above the rest, whether deciding to “dress up” as Applebee’s for Halloween (nevermind that ceaseand-desist letter), throwing an Airborne movie anniversary party (people wore Rollerblades), hosting a weekly ramen night or creating a surprisingly tasty peanut butter and tequila shooter. Last year, NSYC made their own adult version of a Capri Sun, giving the strong booze-infused drink the punny name: Capri Sun of Anarchy. Like the now off-the-air show Sons of Anarchy, the 16-ounce

Bottle of bourbon from New Riff Distilling

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

cocktail — made with lavender lemonade and vodka — offered a punch to the gut. In order to recreate the Capri pouch experience, NSYC turned to bags normally used to store breast milk — yes, breast milk — and filled them with the cocktail. Northside Yacht Club, 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com.

BEST WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING Oakley Wines started as a boutique bottle shop just off the main drag in Oakley. And then it became more than a neighborhood hang when upward of 100 people started stopping in for Friday-night wine tastings. So, expanding with demand, owner Zach Eidson revamped the basement and turned it into The Cellar bar. In September, big news came when it was announced that the owners of The Rhined cheese shop in Findlay Market, Stephanie and Dave Webster, purchased Oakley Wines from Eidson. Those who frequent Oakley Wines for its wine bar and bottle shop need not worry — those grapes aren’t goin’ anywhere. Instead, the new owners plan to build on the progress of Eidson, offering “reinvigorated retail wine offerings, glass pours, cocktails, events and a new menu featuring select artisan cheeses.” Furthering the love affair between everyone’s favorite fermented combo, the Websters have ramped up the dairy offerings with curated cheese and charcuterie boards,

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assorted toasts (carrot and taleggio, ricotta and blistered cherry tomato, speck and cultured butter) and a whipped goat cheese dip. Friday night tastings haven’t gone anywhere, and they now offer expanded hours on Sunday for additional sipping. Oakley Wines, 4011 Allston St., Oakley, oakleywines. com.

BEST SUNDAY NIGHT HAPPY HOUR Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar at Hotel Covington offers your standard Monday through Friday evening happy hour (some wines and beers are a couple bucks cheaper). However, late last year they also introduced a “reverse happy hour” every Sunday at 8 p.m. and running until midnight. Spirits like Wheatley Vodka, Second Sight Spirits Rum (distilled in Ludlow, Kentucky), Buffalo Trace and Jameson are only $5 per glass. Their draft beers — mainly local ones — are also only $5, as are a couple of their select draft wines and their Old Fashioned. The $5 price tag is a good way to try different spirits and beers, but it’s also a good way to wind down (or up?) the weekend before the starkness of Monday morning hits. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar at Hotel Covington, 638 Madison Ave., Covington, hotelcovington.com.

BEST UNEXPECTED EVENT SPACE Opened in 2017, Taft’s Brewpourium is the laid-back little brother to Taft’s Ale House in Over-the-Rhine. While the latter is housed in a renovated church with lots of dark wood and chandeliers, the Brewpourium is a proper taproom with a more industrial look, darts, cornhole and shufflepuck in the front and a full brewing facility in the back. And if you find yourself attending a special event at the Brewpourium, you might get a peek at the production area. At a show last year featuring comedian and podcaster Stavros Halkias, attendees were whisked back to a small room lined with walls of beer cans on pallets. Definitely not a traditional environment for entertainment, yet it was weirdly 128 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

perfect for a small audience. FYI: There’s no food or glass allowed back there (ask your bartender for a plastic cup), but there are plenty of eats to enjoy before or after the show from a menu of tasty New Haven-style thin-crust pizzas and sandwiches, plus, of course, a full bar with lots of Taft’s beers. Taft’s Brewpourium, 4831 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village, taftsalehouse.com/brewpourium.

BEST BLOODY MARY WE’LL MISS At the end of February 2019, The Anchor-OTR announced it was closing its doors after seven years of slinging super-fresh seafood to Cincinnatians at the corner of 14th and Race streets. It’s always sad to lose a favorite neighborhood haunt, and the loss of the Anchor will be felt quite deeply by fish fans … and bloody mary stans. The restaurant conjured up what might be the city’s most decadent drink via its Longshorman’s Bloody Mary. Named in homage of 1934’s “Bloody Thursday,” when longshoremen went on strike along the Pacific Coast, this drink balanced spice, acidity, sweetness and several sea creatures. The housemade base consisted of tomato juice, horseradish, pickle and olive juice, four different hot sauces, sugar, cayenne, garlic and a touch of umami with Old Bay seasoning. But it went big with the garnish, showcasing the Anchor’s fresh seafood with the option to add a lobster claw, shrimp or an oyster for an upcharge. It was big, bold and beautiful. And its loss is enough to shed a salty tear over.

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BEST NEW HOMETOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL In 2006, Aaron Dessner of The National founded the annual MusicNOW festival in his (and his bandmates’) Cincinnati hometown, bringing to town artists from the Indie Rock and “New Music” worlds for one-of-a-kind events and performances. MusicNOW has featured the likes of Justin Vernon, Sharon Van Etten, Sufjan Stevens, Eighth Blackbird, Philip Glass, Steve Reich and many others, often performing together in different configurations and almost always offering performances you couldn’t see anywhere else. In 2015, Dessner noted in an interview with CityBeat that the unusual, intimate nature of the festival also made it a favorite among his fellow musicians: “The reason most artists play festivals is they pay better than the average gig; in our case it’s really about the experience.” In 2018, MusicNOW spawned a sibling festival, Homecoming, to carry on a similar vision and experience on a bigger scale. Held in conjunction with MusicNOW in April at Smale Riverfront Park near Paul Brown Stadium, Homecoming was more of a “Rock festival” and, by all accounts, it was a big success, drawing thousands of fans from across the region to Cincinnati with two days of Indie Rock heavyweights like Father John Misty, The Breeders and the host band, The National, who performed spectacular headlining sets each night. Homecoming drew a lot of attention to The National’s hometown, with the likes of Billboard, Uproxx, Stereogum and even The U.K.’s Independent sending reporters and running glowing reviews of the event. It also gave Cincinnati Indie Rock lovers an amazing musical experience that was fan-friendly and featured programming (including less high-profile vanguard artists like Alvvays, Moses Sumney, Mouse on Mars and Julien Baker) that helped set it apart from a lot of the huge corporate fests. Before the 2018 event, Dessner told CityBeat that Homecoming (presented with promoter AC Entertainment, which specializes in niche, artist-curated fests while also founding powerhouse events like Bonnaroo and Forecastle) was a test run, with an option of becoming a recurrent showcase; late last year, the band announced Homecoming wouldn’t return in 2019, but organizers said they “look forward to doing it again in the future,” so stay tuned. Homecoming, ntlhomecoming.com.

Longfellow also excels in creating delicious drinks and light bites. Menu staples are the Spruce Goose, with barrel-aged gin, honey, lime, bitters and tonic, and snacks like a Casino egg salad sandwich and late-night pierogies. Because of the popularity of the cozy and kinda tiny original, Longfellow opened a second bar in the back of the building, aptly named “Longfellow’s Other Room,” to create more drinking and hanging space Wednesday through Saturday (with pop-ups and occasional bar hours Monday and Tuesday). The décor is meant to recreate the ambiance of your 130 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

The National at Homecoming P H O T O : B R I T TA N Y T H O R N T O N

grandparents’ basement and boasts Ohio’s largest rum selection and proper absinthe service, complete with fancy spoons and sugar cubes. While you can enter Other Room through the back door of Longfellow, it also has its own separate entrance at 109 E. 13th St. and Brackett Alley for a sort of speakeasy feel. Longfellow and Other Room, 1233 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine, longfellowbar.com.

BEST WOKE CONCERT

Audiences are often reflective of the performers they’re gathered to watch. In the case of Ms. Highly Melanated, Alice in Wondaland herself, the Electric Lady Janelle Monae packed the house at her July concert at the Taft Theatre with colorful individuals from all walks of life. Monae’s 2018 album Dirty Computer was one of the best things to come out of an otherwise depressing year. Dealing with themes of race, gender, sexuality and social issues — and all wrapped up in a sci-fi dystopian box — Dirty Computer also gave us some Funk to dance it out to. So it was no surprise that her local tour stop filled Taft with a vibrant mix of fans ready to share the love. Monae gave it right back, performing the entire album and a sampling of her older hits. It was one of the most diverse concert audiences of the year in Cincinnati, which

was really a beautiful sight. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org; jmonae.com.

BEST PLACE TO HANG OUT WITH JERRY SPRINGER As one of Cincinnati’s most famous residents, Jerry Springer might not have seemed accessible to locals during the heyday of his daytime talk show, when he was an American pop culture icon. But these days, the former Cincinnati mayor is in town often, showing a few different sides of his interests during the regular live recordings of The Jerry Springer Podcast (subtitled Tales, Tunes & Tomfoolery) at the Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, Kentucky. Open to the public (though reservations fill up quickly), Springer and his co-hosts Jene Galvin and Megan Hils talk politics and more every episode, often with a humorous slant, while also hosting performances by numerous musicians, including many from Greater Cincinnati’s Folk/Americana scene, like Maria Carrelli, Dawg Yawp, Daniel Van Vechten and Ben Knight. You can listen to many of the sessions live online as they’re being recorded (visit jerryspringer.com to find out how); all are available through iTunes and other podcasting platforms. Folk School Coffee Parlor, 332 Elm St., Ludlow, folkschoolcoffeeparlor.com.

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BEST TRAVELING TEA PARTY It’s Time for Another Tea Dance is one of the best ways to spend a Sunday Funday in Cincinnati. Once a month, these afternoon parties unfold at a different local bar, inviting the LGBTQ community and allies to get together for cocktails, dancing and to bolster local LGBTQ culture. The “tea dance” is a revived tradition that dates back to the 1940s and ’50s when it functioned as an event in which gay couples could openly interact with one another. “That’s how the tea dances really started, in these tea rooms where same-sex couples could meet, socialize and dance. Back then it was a refined affair,” says Cincinnati Tea Dance co-founder Richard Cooke. “Nice music, maybe a string quartet, there’d be some dancing and if the police came they would scramble and opposite-sex couples would be dancing.” It wasn’t until the Stonewall Riots of 1969 that the modern gay rights movement began to surface into the mainstream. And with it, the dances. In the past, Cooke says tea dances were mainly comprised of white, gay men. When he and his husband Marty decided to bring the tradition back in April 2017, they wanted that to change. One of the goals was to serve the underrepresented community in Cincinnati. And so far, It’s Time for Another Tea Dance has been a resounding success, introducing people to bars they might not frequent — and 400 to 500 new friends and peers. It’s Time for Another Tea Dance, facebook.com/ teadancecinci.

BEST WAY TO SPEND WHISKEY WEDNESDAY The Wednesday night crowd at Murphy’s Pub is drastically different from the crowd you’ll find at this Clifton stalwart on a weekend night. And although it can be fun to spend a Saturday doing Jägerbombs at this Irish-leaning institution, not everyone enjoys being packed shoulder-toshoulder with college students doing late-night trivia. Wednesdays at Murphy’s offer open pool tables, darts, arcade-style basketball and a great jukebox along with $2 Jamesons and $1 bottles of beer. 132 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

That’s $3 for a shot and beer back, all day and all night. Grab a basket of free popcorn, enjoy the backroom or the patio with your friends and pretend it’s a Friday. Murphy’s Pub, 2329 W. Clifton Ave., Clifton, murphys-pub.com.

BEST BIG BIERGARTEN NEWS If there’s one thing Cincinnatians love more than a local brewery, it’s a local brewery with an outdoor drinking area — especially if that drinking area happens to be elevated (cough Rhinegeist cough). So when Braxton Brewing Co. announced a $5 million expansion plan in January, which includes a 5,000-square-foot rooftop deck, it just gave us one more reason to love the Cov and Braxton. The plan permits the brewery to ramp up annual production to 30,000 barrels to allow them to better serve beer drinkers locally and throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Renderings show astroturf, lawn games (aka cornhole), outdoor seating, string lights and fire pits plus a view of the city. The upstairs bar will pour Braxton brews and serve cocktails and the brewery’s new Vive hard seltzer. The rooftop is currently under construction and is expected to open in summer 2019. Braxton Brewing Co., 27 W. Seventh St., Covington, braxtonbrewing.com.

BEST TREND FOR FANS OF LOCAL MUSIC IN THE ’90S Reunions! Two of the best bands to come out of Cincinnati in the 1990s reunited two decades after their glory days and local music fans of a certain age could not have been more thrilled. In late 2018, Garage Rock kingpins The Mortals — who amassed a cult international following with their ’90s albums through Estrus Records and whose 1993 7-inch single, “The One,” was the first release on Darren Blase’s burgeoning Shake It Records — returned for their first show in nearly 25 years. The band was initially non-committal about shows beyond the December reunion at The Woodward Theater (“Not thinking about the future worked well for The Mortals,” guitarist William Grapes

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BEST CURIOUS COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS The day after Christmas, folks from Northside’s The Littlefield opened Branch, a global-inspired restaurant situated in the 1920s-era Central Trust Bank in East Walnut Hills. Their cocktails are named after financial terms, like Reverse Mortgage and Preferred Risk. Downstairs lurks a speakeasy-like bar, Night Drop. It has the same cocktail menu as upstairs, but the vibe is more chill. Accelerated Depreciation, one of several draft drinks, contains bourbon, orange bitters and a curious ingredient: Dr. Pepper syrup, which is extracted from a box of fountain soda Dr. Pepper (without carbonation). The sweet syrup offsets the strong bourbon flavor; then, the bartender adds smoke into the drink by torching a piece of wood. To make things even weirder, for weekend brunch they add the syrup to their super boozy Bloody Sunday Mary, which also contains vodka, gin, tequila, bourbon, lemon and a housemade bloody mix. Other creations include habanero-infused Green Chartreuse, fennel shrub and house-spiced gin. While you’re at Branch, make sure to snap a selfie in the owl-wallpapered bathroom. Branch/Night Drop, 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills, eatatbranch.com.

told CityBeat), but they returned for a MOTR Pub show this winter so it looks like 21st-century Mortals are here to stay (at least for occasional gigs). Also choosing The Woodward for its unexpected comeback concert was Throneberry, which had a solid run of acclaimed releases on Alias Records in the ’90s. The group’s Jan. 25, 2019 show was in honor of the 25th anniversary of its debut, Sangria, which earned the band glowing features in U.K. press outlets like NME and Melody Maker and tours with big-shots like Weezer and The Afghan Whigs. The Woodward concert was the first time Throneberry’s original lineup from its Sangria-period had performed together in public in more than 20 years.

BEST HOLIDAY-THEMED BAR MAKEOVERS Before Jacob Trevino moved to Cincinnati, we were bereft of whimsical pop-culture bars. But since 2015, he and his Gorilla Cinema Presents company have innovated the bar industry by opening The Shining-themed The Overlook Lodge, the Quentin Tarantino-themed The Video Archive and downtown’s Lost in Translation-esque karaoke bar Tokyo Kitty. For Halloween this year, The Video Archive transformed into Yuletide Nightmare, a The Nightmare Before Christmas pop-up, replete with cocktails named after the film’s characters — like Oogie Boogie and Dr. Finkelstein — and scenes from the film shown on a loop. They even made a cocktail with a divisive candy corn syrup, as well as 134 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

The Trust Account cocktail at Branch and Night Drop PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

one served in a “skull.” (It wasn’t a real skull.) In November and December, Overlook became Miracle, a holiday-themed pop-up, serving cocktails inspired by classic Christmas films, like Bad Santa and Die Hard, with ingredients including pumpkin pie spice, gingerbread syrup and warm milk. The Video Archive, 965 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, gorillacinemapresents.com/archive; The Overlook Lodge, 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, thatshiningbar.com.

BEST HOPE FOR NEW GENERATIONS OF JAZZ Cincinnati’s Liberty Jazz Lab concert series wrapped up its inaugural 2018 season with The Bad Plus, one of many contemporary acts that have helped keep Jazz healthy and vital by pushing the music forward and making it appealing to younger audiences in the process. The acclaimed Minneapolis trio was a great closer for the concert series, and not just because they were one of the more widely-known acts to perform. A crossover favorite, The Bad Plus is incredibly reflective of Liberty Jazz Lab’s mission and dedication to modern, boundary-ignoring Jazz. The concerts are held at Liberty Exhibition Hall, a historic former vaudeville theater in Northside that hosts a variety of events by local arts groups like MamLuft&Co. Dance and The Clifton Players, which

purchased the building in 2017. In its first year, Liberty Jazz Lab presented national Jazz acts like Progger, Triptych and Noah Preminger, as well as local groups like Spherical Agenda and Down Home Collective. “One of my missions is to find and cultivate the ‘new’ audience for Jazz in Cincinnati,” guitarist Brandon Coleman told CityBeat (Coleman was brought on by Liberty Jazz founders Craig Brammer and Tim Engle to book the shows). “The overall audience is aging and going out less to their regular haunts. We want to show a new audience how exciting and relevant Jazz can be by presenting an energetic and diverse lineup.” Liberty Exhibition Hall, 3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, libertyjazzlab.org.

BEST LOCAL MUSIC MIXOLOGISTS Cincinnati musicians and mixologists MayaLou Banatwala and Kristen Kreft combined their talents and passions for their 2018 collaborative book project, Rocktails: An Amped Up Spin on Mixology. Kreft and Banatwala, who possess two of the best voices in the local music scene (showcased in their bands The Perfect Children and Heavy Hinges, respectively), were inspired to create the book after hosting regular Rocktail “pop up parties” at local bars, featuring drink menus with handcrafted cocktails inspired by a variety of musical acts, like their tribute to Siouxsie Sioux of Goth-y AltRock pioneers Siouxsie and the

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Banshees, which combines “the grit of pear juice with the sexy notes of round dark rum, bitter Campari, grape soda and a black licorice garnish.” The duo’s local-music roots show in other recipes. The “Dirty Blues” cocktail was inspired by area trio All Seeing Eyes and it’s incredibly imaginative, described as “Absinthe soaked, flamed candy cigarettes affixed into gummy orange slices as garnishes, atop a smokey Laphroaig rinsed whiskey and beer cocktail spiked with Watershed’s Nocino Black Walnut Liqueur.” At the book’s launch party last year, Kreft and Banatwala honored the local bands performing at the event with special new concoctions: “Peace of Mine” — dedicated to Indie Rock group Carriers (and named for one of their songs) — was a ginger-beer cocktail; and “Bottom of the Barrel,” a tribute to Lung (who were celebrating their own new release, the All the King’s Horses album, on the same night) included bourbon barrel gin and lemonade. Find out more about the book or hire the duo for your own party at americanrocktails.com.

“Kurt would have liked that.” We Have Become Vikings, 1355 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, wehavebecomevikings.com.

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The poster art promoting a pre-fame Nirvana’s tiny club show at Murphy’s Pub on Clifton Avenue (one of only two gigs the band would ever do in the Queen City) was put on a T-shirt by local print/design house We Have Become Vikings and sold to raise funds for the local Women Helping Women organization. The shirt featured the photocopied flier for Nirvana’s 1989 appearance at the bar near the University of Cincinnati, which was opened by local band Grinch (led by Bill Alletzhauser, who went on to play with The Ass Ponys and form great local bands like The Hiders and Ruby Vileos). Also on the poster is a photo of the band (this was pre-Dave Grohl; Chad Channing was behind the drum kit) and the admission price — a whopping $3. WHBV donated $5 per shirt sold to the women’s group to honor the memory of Kurt Cobain, a feminist ally. About the donations, writer/ musician Peter Aaron — who designed the flier and booked the show, once estimating it drew a crowd of around 30 people — noted,

Donuts N’ Akahol is the wildly entertaining YouTube interview series hosted by Graval Baehr and Branden Tatum that features insightful chats with various Cincinnati musical acts. It’s also often quite funny. As the title suggests, the hosts gather with musicians (largely from the city’s rich Hip Hop scene) to chop it up over some adult beverages and, well, donuts, creating a casual atmosphere that allows the guests to go deep and/or let their guards down and just be themselves. So far, Donuts N’ Akahol has chatted with local Hip Hop artists like Patterns of Chaos, D-Eight, Triiibe and Lantana (with guest host Matt Scheer from DBLCIN magazine), Soul/R&B singers like Lauren Eylise and Leo Pastel and Indie Pop acts like Moonbeau and Knotts. If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of the Cincinnati music scene’s most vibrant artists, hit that subscribe button ASAP. Donuts N’ Akahol, youtube.com/donutsnakahol; facebook.com/donutsnakahol; @donutsnakahol.

BEST THROWBACK VOCAL GROUP An a cappella group performing yesteryear hits from the 1920s-1960s (with a special focus on the sound of 1940s Swing), Queen City Sisters looks the part with their throwback fashion and old-Hollywood glamour. The ensemble pays infectious tribute to singing icons with area ties, like Rosemary Clooney and Doris Day, and has an obvious affinity for The Andrews Sisters, but they also do shows that cover early Rock & Roll, Doo Wop and more. With a revolving membership, Queen City Sisters perform frequently around the area at an array of events and venues, playing everything from clubs and retirement homes to community festivals and the 2015 MLB All-Star Game. Queen City Sisters, queencitysisters.com.

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BEST EXTENDED BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR A 75-YEAR-OLD With a month-long celebration for most of the 2010s, Cincinnati has honored the legacy of King Records, the locally-based record company whose impact on everything from the music industry to the sound of popular music today cannot be overstated. Last year, the city-wide celebration of King’s outsized influence on American culture was even bigger due to it being the 75th anniversary of the label’s first recording session. King Records Month has been honored each September for the past six years, timed to when founder Syd Nathan put his plan to launch a record label into action, enlisting Country music entertainers Grandpa Jones and Merle Travis in 1943 to record the first music for the venture. For the 75th-anniversary edition of the celebration last year, the events (from musical presentations and film screenings to lectures and panel discussions) couldn’t be contained to September’s 30 days, launching Aug. 25 with “Celebrate the King: The Gala” at Memorial Hall, which featured video tributes, live performances and the doling out of Lifetime Achievement Awards to King greats Bootsy Collins, Henry Glover, Philip Paul and Otis Williams, with the artists and/or their family members on hand to participate in the commemorative festivities. Besides the 75-year tie-in, King Records Month 2018 was also different due the substantial progress being made in both preserving the original King site in Evanston and taking the spirit of King further in the 21st century. In April, the city of Cincinnati took control of the old King building from the property’s owners, who had been threatening demolition. Plans for the site aren’t concrete yet, but various local nonprofit organizations envision things like a museum, studio, educational outpost and community space for the Evanston area. A 2002 album paying tribute to King Records’ artists and recordings was titled Hidden Treasures; nearly 20 years later, King’s crucial history is no longer a buried secret. King’s importance in bridging musical styles like R&B, Country and Rock & Roll is now far more widely acknowledged and its hometown is making sure that it will remain a living, breathing entity for years to come.

BEST INDUSTRIAL DANCE RESURRECTION Last year, long-running Cincinnati LGBTQ bar The Dock was purchased by the Ohio Department of Transportation in order to make room for improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge. With the club’s untimely closing came what seemed like an end to Darkotica, a weekly Goth night that gave local scenesters a chance to flex their existential dread and stomp to classic Darkwave jams. Thanks to Mixwells Northside, however, the event is back 138 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

The original King Records complex in Evanston PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

from the dead. Darkotica takes over the bar every Thursday night, featuring sets of Electro-Industrial and EBM spun by STEPHEN29 and assorted guest DJs, like DJ Impossible and DJ Stylco. If you’re brooding on a budget, don’t fret! There’s no cover charge if you’re over 21, but if you’re 18-20, you do have to scrounge up $7. Just come dressed in your most macabre duds and with a penchant for doom and gloom. Mixwells Northside, 3935 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, facebook.com/darkoticacincy.

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Rebels and Underdogs: The Story of Ohio Rock and Roll offers several great interviews and anecdotes about Ohio’s sometimes underappreciated Modern Rock history. The 2018 book by Garin Pirnia (full disclosure: Pirnia is a regular CityBeat contributor) touches on innovators and pioneers like DEVO and The Pretenders (Akron native Chrissie Hynde graces the cover), and there are also great stories about a range of Buckeye State acts with varying degrees of success on the national Indie Rock and Alternative fronts, from Royal Crescent Mob and Brainiac to New Bomb

Turks and Cloud Nothings to Guided By Voices and Nine Inch Nails. Broken down into chapters by city, the Cincinnati section is a must-read for local music aficionados, but it also offers perspectives and links to the fabric of the city’s history and culture that make it more broadly relatable and entertaining. Through a series of interviews, Pirnia tells the tales of local heroes The Afghan Whigs, Wussy, Heartless Bastards, Foxy Shazam and The Greenhornes, whose Brian Olive talks about the brutal onstage punch-up in St. Louis that marked his final performance with the band. Rebels and Underdogs: The Story of Ohio Rock and Roll, redlightningbooks.com.

BEST LOCAL COMEDIAN WITH A CHEERS OBSESSION Geoff Tate’s sometimes-subdued delivery cloaks a flamethrower wit, which has earned him opening slots for Doug Stanhope; appearances at South By Southwest and Bonnaroo; regular spots on Doug Benson’s Doug Loves Movies, Getting Doug with High and High Court podcasts; and his own Cheers-themed podcast, MSHD PODCASTO, which morphed into a more broadly-themed “podcast network” and his Altered Tates pod with his brother. As a youngster, his family traveled from city to city with alarming frequency, but they eventually rooted themselves in Cincinnati and we,

as a city, are grateful to have such a funny neighbor in town. Tate has been ecstatically praised by outlets like The Huffington Post and The Laugh Button, but his greatest reviews have come from his comedy peers, including Todd Glass, Ryan Singer and author/actor/humorist John Hodgman. On his fourth album, People Are What People Make ‘Em, Tate takes intentionally inflammatory aims at onions (“When did we decide onions are OK in everything and it’s my fault for not liking them?”), the contemporary lack of respect for jugglers (“Have you ever thrown one chainsaw? If I threw a chainsaw to you and you caught it, everyone would be like, ‘That was fucking cool’ ”) and religion in the business community (“I think it’s a way to get people to take your sub-par fucking service just because you have the same favorite book”). People Are further showcases his ability as a storyteller and humorist, solidifying his status as one of Cincinnati’s funniest dudes. Geoff Tate, justanotherclown.com.

BEST WAY TO FIND OUT WHAT ‘BRETTANOMYCES’ IS Only a small crowd of lucky drinkers got a taste of Rhinegeist’s limitedrun String Theory funky blonde ale, which seems to have totally sold out at the brewery and all known retail shelves. (Head to Rhinegeist’s website to check availability on the String Theory landing page.) There’s more than a good chance that you’ve never heard of its special ingredient — brettanomyces — but it is the presence this wild yeast, commonly found in natural wines, that contributes to a unique farmhouse leather impression unlike anything achieved by most beers on the market. The 7.15 percent ABV, 18-month-aged corked and bottled beer is described by the brewery thusly: “pointillist particles of toasted oak propagate through space and interact with avuncular malt constellations.” Buy without hesitation if you see this bottle in the wild. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, rhinegeist.com.

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BEST SECOND PLACE SLUSHIE Imagine those big, constantly churning slushie machines at the grocery store. Now imagine a free-flowing slushie machine filled with bourbon that you don’t have to ask your mom to buy for you. Second Place is your place for a reasonably priced, strong frozen cocktail that tastes good with anything. Especially after your first slushie. Or your second. This drink brings warm, spicy notes of cinnamon forward while allowing you to reminisce about those chilly Cherry cola slushies from your childhood. Kick back, watch whatever game is on TV (especially if you happen to like English Premier League football; they open early for EPL games), order a bacon cheeseburger and be pleasantly surprised at how well Second Place can make a kids’ treat into an adult drink. Second Place, 3936 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, secondplacebar.com.

BEST HOMEGROWN KIDS MUSIC ALTERNATIVE FOR PARENTS Aimed at children ages 3-7, each of the seven silly tracks on The Corner — a Hip Hop-flavored album project from Vernard Fields, Adam Hayden and Charlie Padgett that includes a beautifully illustrated book — is a different vignette dealing with fundamental early life lessons, such as on “Pick Up Your Towel” and “We Like to Share.” While the music is expertly crafted to grab and keep the attention of little ones, adults will likely love it just as much. The creators made a study guide to encourage educators to use the project as a unique way to reach children, and parents will appreciate the obvious talent and musicianship poured into the music, which has the feel of J Dilla or A Tribe Called Quest. If you have young kids who get fixated on, say, Barney or The Wiggles, and you want to shake up the playlist for the sake of your own sanity, revel in the sweet salvation of The Corner, which is available digitally or in vinyl and CD versions packaged with the book. The Corner, thecorner.us.

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BEST SURPRISE SPECIAL GUEST On Nov. 25, the 2018 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards ceremony took place at Over-the-Rhine’s Memorial Hall. The show was founded by CityBeat 21 years ago to pay tribute to the local music-makers who make Greater Cincinnati’s music scene so amazing and the 2018 edition featured one of the Queen City’s most successful artists as a top-secret special guest. Aaron Sharpe (of the late, great WNKU) and Chanell Karr (a DJ for Inhailer Radio who in previous years helped organize the CEAs) were great first-time CEA hosts, presiding over strong live performances by local favorites like Freekbass, Knotts, Lung and Triiibe (who organized an amazing, impromptu cypher featuring several other local Hip Hop artists) and award presentations in 19 genre-spanning categories. After Triiibe was given the Artist of the Year award at the end of the night, WWE ring announcer (and Cincinnatian) Greg Hamilton took the stage to introduce the show’s secret guest performer, Eric Nally of the on-hiatus local Rock heroes Foxy Shazam and a collaborator/tour-partner of multi-platinum rapper Macklemore. Nally showed off his trademark jaw-dropping stage moves as he performed solo song “Black” and, for the first time, a tune he wrote with Macklemore from his forthcoming Full Moon recording project. Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, citybeat.com/music/cincinnatientertainment-awards.

BEST WEEKEND BOURBON BAR Named one of the best bourbon bars in the country by The Bourbon Review, Prohibition Bourbon Bar started as Newberry Bros. coffee and pastry shop before morphing into a speakeasy with one of the largest collections of bourbon and whisky in the world — the bar has more than 2,000 bottles, including Scotch, Irish, Tennessee and Japanese brands, plus more than 50 wines by the glass. Like any good Prohibition bar, access is limited: Owners Peter and Kim Newberry only open their watering hole Friday and Saturday nights. The bar is also on The B-Line, a collection of bourbon-minded Northern Kentucky establishments that has its own passport (download the guide and collect stamps from two distilleries, two bars and two restaurants, then turn it in and get some free B-Line swag). In addition to tending bar, Peter is an accomplished pastry chef and opens the shop third Sundays for a super special pastry party. Get ready to wait in line: From 9 a.m.-1 p.m., the shop serves coffee and espresso alongside a cult-favorite selection of homemade croissants, pastries and cinnamon rolls. They’ve even been known to serve sweets topped with a Pappy Van Winkle barrel-aged maple syrup glaze. So you can drink your bourbon and eat it, too. Prohibition Bourbon Bar, 530 Washington Ave., Newport, newberrybroscoffee.com. 142 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Eric Nally PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

BEST BREWERY FOR ALL DAY DRINKING It’s typically not too difficult to relax once you sit down with a pint in any brewery, but 3 Points Urban Brewery really upped the game by offering daytime coworking hours, similar to how people treat coffee shops as their remote work site. As early as 9 a.m. during the week, you can shuffle in, get a pint of their “Easy Ale” cream ale, or an Urbana Cafe drip coffee if the only buzz you need is a caffeine one, and do your work in the chillest of settings. The taproom is spacious and very open (with free Wi-Fi), so you can stretch your legs before the happy hour hustle is in full swing from 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Predicated on three points — art, experience and beer — and located at the intersection of three points — Reading Road and Liberty and Main streets — Cincinnati artists interested in more exposure should also look up this brewery: 3 Points utilizes art produced by locals to promote each beer in their portfolio and also to decorate the taproom. The brand also just opened the adjacent fried chicken restaurant CHX, serving sandwiches, salads and “bantys” there or inside the brewery. Lunch hours are coming soon, so now you really have no excuse to leave. 3 Points Urban Brewery, 331 E. 13th St., Pendleton, 3pointsbeer.com.

BEST NEW REGIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL Bill Donabedian is a Cincinnati music festival legend, after founding two of our area’s biggest and most beloved musical events of the past 20 years — MidPoint Music Festival and Bunbury Music Festival. In 2018, Donabedian took his talents 45 miles north of Cincinnati to Waynesville, Ohio to debut the Bellwether Music Festival, a two-day AltRock fest featuring acts like The Flaming Lips, Local Natives, Echo and the Bunymen, The Psychedelic Furs, Japanese Breakfast and Dr. Dog, plus Cincinnati artists like Dawg Yawp and Carriers. Reflective of Donabedian’s experience and past success, the two-day festival was expertly executed — even if Mother Nature made it hard on everyone’s footwear, bringing in a big storm that caused opening night headliners MGMT’s set to be canceled. Most other factors that could have caused anxiety (long parking lot, restroom and vendor lines, $12 bottles of water, etc.) were non-existent. In the modern marketing world, talk of making events “immersive” and “experiential” is thrown around at an annoying rate. Bellwether enabled all of that without being overwrought or too try-hard about it, relying on the core performances to deliver the goods, while making sure there were as few obstacles to enjoying them as possible. The fest returns with Beach House, Cold War Kids, Twin Shadow, Real Estate and more for its sophomore event this August, so get your

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Sure, Bobby Mackey’s in Wilder, Kentucky is known for being haunted and for serving up some of the most authentic traditional Country and Honky Tonk music in the area on a regular basis, including appearances by its musician owner/namesake (and his “Best Damn Band”) every weekend. But for many, the real attraction remains the nightclub’s mechanical bull ride, which celebrates its 40th year of bucking patrons in 2019. Legend has it that Mackey traveled south and purchased his first bull — known as El Turbo — from Mickey Gilley in 1979 during the filming of the John Travolta and Debra Winger film Urban Cowboy, the movie that would soon make Gilley’s Texas honky tonk internationally famous. How long can you last? There’s only one way to find out. And get this, tough guy — the bar’s just a few steps away when it’s time to numb your new bruises. Bobby Mackey’s, 44 Licking Pike, Wilder, bobbymackey.com.

BEST BREWERY IN A CONVERTED FUNERAL HOME Cincinnatians who are at least twice the legal drinking age may remember the omnipresence of Wiedemann Bohemian Special Pilsner cans at every family gathering back in the day. Well, “back in the day” is back, so to speak, as Wiedemann’s Fine Beer has reopened under new owners and a whole new recipe book. Betsy and Jon Newberry are responsible for reviving the brand and have converted an unlikely, elegant building in Saint Bernard into one of Cincinnati’s most charming taprooms. The space is on the bottom floor of the former Imwalle Memorial Funeral Home. Vintage Wiedemann signs wash the inner rooms with that comforting barroom glow only attainable from neon luminescence. The full kitchen offers enough to encourage an entire day

to be spent sampling their modernized interpretations of Wiedemann beer, which began brewing in 1870. The original recipes did not come with the trademark acquisition, meaning the Newberrys — and brewmaster Steve Shaw from Cellar Dweller at Valley Vineyards in Morrow — had to come up with their own approach to the iconic brews. “We live in a city built on brands,” says Jon, “and we’re honored to be able to revive one of Cincinnati’s most-storied brands and keep it going hopefully for another 150 years.” Wiedemann’s Fine Beer, 4811 Vine St., Saint Bernard, wiedemannsfinebeer.com.

BEST REASON TO SAY “WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ BLINK-182” Just days before the 2018 edition of the Bunbury Music Festival, news came down that one of its top-ofthe-poster headliners was bailing on the festival. Blink-182 canceled its Bunbury appearance, citing unforeseen circumstances (the band canceled shows later in the year as well, blaming drummer Travis Barker’s medical issues). The festival quickly offered refunds and the group immediately said it was confirmed to headline 2019’s Bunbury. But in January, the band released another statement saying they were too busy working on a new album to come to Cincinnati this summer. Such a big loss would’ve been highly damaging to some fests, but the 2018 cancellation didn’t hurt Bunbury too much, particularly in terms of ticket sales. Thanks to arena-worthy headliners like Post Malone, The Chainsmokers and Jack White, 2018’s Bunbury fest was the first three-day sellout in the event’s history. This year’s festival features a similarly mainstream slate of headliners (Fall Out Boy, Greta Van Fleet, The 1975), so a sellout repeat is definitely in the cards. Bunbury Music Festival, bunburyfestival.com.

Braxton Brewing Company was born out of a garage on Braxton Drive in Union, Kentucky. It’s there where a passion was born, sparked and ignited. The creativity and craft of brewing became a entrepreneurial obsession and now we thrive to create the ultimate experience by celebrating the life, family and communities that build our history. Dreams are born and fermented at Braxton Brewing Company.

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CITY LIFE READER PICKS

APARTMENT COMMUNITY

1. The Lofts at Shillito Place 2. American Can Lofts 3. The Boulevard at Oakley Station 4. Aqua on the Levee 5. Harper’s Point Apartments 6. Alumni Lofts 7. Newberry Lofts on 6th 8. Woodbrooke Apartments 9. The Waldo Apartments 10. The Gramercy on Garfield

BUILDER/DEVELOPER

1. 3CDC 2. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing 3. Model Group

HOME BUILDER 1. Zicka Homes 2. Fischer Homes 3. Drees Homes

BUILDING

1. Music Hall 2. Union Terminal 3. Cincinnati Observatory

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CINCINNATI NEIGHBORHOOD 1. Over-the-Rhine 2. Northside 3. Clifton

NORTHERN KENTUCKY NEIGHBORHOOD 1. Covington 2. Newport 3. Bellevue

SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD 1. Mariemont 2. Wyoming 3. Anderson

CINCINNATIAN

1. Fiona the Hippo 2. Brian Garry 3. Pete Rose 4. Molly Wellmann 5. Tamaya Dennard 6. Bob Herzog 7. Anthony Muñoz 8. Nick Lachey 9. Drew Lachey 10. Cam Hardy (TIE) 10. Chris Seelbach (TIE)

NORTHERN KENTUCKIAN

1. George Clooney 2. Otto M. Budig, Jr. 3. Jean-Robert de Cavel 4. Nick Clooney 5. Cris Collinsworth 6. Colonel De Stewart (In Memoriam) 7. Maryanne Zeleznik 8. Kathrine Nero 9. Amy McGrath 10. Tom Browning

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

1. University of Cincinnati 2. Xavier University 3. Northern Kentucky University

CONSERVATIVE

1. John Cranley 2. John Boehner 3. Bill Cunningham

PROGRESSIVE

1. Aftab Pureval 2. P.G. Sittenfeld 3. Tamaya Dennard

DO GOODER

1. Brian Garry 2. Matthew 25: Ministries 3. The Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

FRIEND TO THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 2. The Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County 3. Cincinnati Nature Center

JOURNALIST

1. Bob Herzog (WKRC) 2. Paul Daugherty (The Cincinnati Enquirer) 3. Jessica Schmidt (WXIX)

LOCAL ACTIVIST

1. Brian Garry 2. Mass Action for Black Liberation 3. Jim Tarbell

LOCAL CAUSE

1. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio 2. The Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County 3. Freestore Foodbank

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LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL

1. Tamaya Dennard (Cincinnati City Council) 2. P.G. Sittenfeld (Cincinnati City Council) 3. Christopher Smitherman (Cincinnati City Council)

LOCAL NEWS STORY OF 2018

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1. March for Our Lives in Cincinnati 2. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis finishes his 16th season without a playoff win 3. Suspects arrested in Pike County murders

MBA PROGRAM

1. University of Cincinnati 2. Xavier University 3. Mount St. Joseph University

PARK (CITY)

1. Washington Park 2. Smale Riverfront Park 3. Eden Park 4. Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum 5. Ault Park 6. Devou Park 7. Mt. Airy Forest 8. Fernbank Park 9. French Park 10. Alms Park

PARK (COUNTY)

1. Cincinnati Nature Center 2. Winton Woods 3. Summit Park

PRIVATE SCHOOL

TROUBLEMAKER

PUBLIC SCHOOL

TV ANCHOR

1. Saint Ursula Academy 2. Saint Xavier High School 3. Cincinnati Waldorf School

1. Walnut Hills High School 2. The School for Creative and Performing Arts 3. Oak Hills High School

RADIO SHOW

1. Jeff & Jenn (Q102) 2. Cincinnati Edition (WVXU) 3. Chris and Janeen Married with Microphones (WGRR)

RADIO STATION

1. 91.7 (WVXU) 2. 101.9 (WKRQ/Q102) 3. 105.1 (WUBE/B-105)

RADIO TALK SHOW HOST

1. Jeff Thomas and Jenn Jordan (Q102) 2. Maryanne Zeleznik (WVXU) 3. Bill Cunningham (WLW)

RELIGIOUS LEADER

1. Brian Tome (Crossroads) 2. Fr. Al Bischoff (Xavier University) 3. Chuck Mingo (Crossroads)

SCENIC OVERLOOK 1. Eden Park 2. Devou Park 3. Ault Park

PHILANTHROPIST 1. Anthony Muñoz 2. Otto M. Budig, Jr. 3. Bootsy Collins

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1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 2. Findlay Market 3. Over-the-Rhine (TIE) 3. Smale Riverfront Park (TIE) 4. Jungle Jim’s International Market 5. Cincinnati Reds Game 6. Cincinnati Museum Center 7. Cincinnati Art Museum 8. Carew Tower Observation Deck 9. The Banks 10. FC Cincinnati Game

PLAYGROUND

1. Smale Riverfront Park 2. Washington Park 3. Summit Park

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1. Vontaze Burfict 2. Bill Cunningham 3. Larry Flynt

1. Bob Herzog (WKRC) 2. Sheree Paolello (WLWT) 3. Jessica Schmidt (WXIX)

TV NEWSCAST

1. WLWT (Channel 5) 2. WKRC (Channel 12) 3. WXIX (Channel 19)

TV SPORTSCASTER

1. Marty Brennaman (Cincinnati Reds) 2. Ken Broo (WCPO; Retired) 3. Elise Jesse (WLWT)

TV WEATHERCASTER

1. Frank Marzullo (WXIX) 2. Randi Rico (WLWT) 3. Steve Horstmeyer (WXIX)

WEEKEND GETAWAY (WITHIN 100 MILES) 1. Hocking Hills, Ohio 2. Red River Gorge, Kentucky 3. Yellow Springs, Ohio 4. Louisville, Kentucky 5. Columbus, Ohio 6. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail 7. Indianapolis, Indiana 8. Lexington, Kentucky 9. Adams County, Ohio 10. Brown County, Indiana

CITY LIFE

STAFF PICKS

BEST ICONIC REBIRTH One of Cincinnati’s most iconic buildings will shine a lot brighter for a lot longer while providing a home to some of the city’s most important cultural institutions thanks to a stunning $213 million restoration that launched in 2016 and wrapped up this year. The massive Art Deco Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is steeped in Cincinnati history. A group of seven railroad companies built the terminal, which opened in 1933, in the face of the Great Depression. And the building’s 106-foot-tall half dome — the largest in the Western Hemisphere — greeted thousands of people as they arrived in Cincinnati every year, including soldiers returning from World War II. At its peak, the terminal offered restaurants, clothing shops, places to shower and a number of other amenities for weary travelers. But over time, a national decline in rail travel presented an identity crisis for the station — by 1972, trains were no longer serving the terminal at all — and the space became a short-lived shopping mall in the late 1970s before falling vacant entirely. Cincinnati wasn’t willing to abandon one of its crown jewels, however. By 1990, county voters had approved a levy allowing the building to become the home of the Cincinnati Museum Center. In 1991, Amtrak resumed limited train service into and out of the building. Union Terminal was back from near-death — but there was much more work to be done. The terminal’s unique structure presented maintenance challenges, and it needed a major overhaul to keep it from crumbling due to the ravages of time, weather and water damage. In 2015, Hamilton County voters approved a levy to fund the massive undertaking of saving the building, and three years later, in November 2018, it reopened to visitors. Today, the Museum Center remains and a new occupant — the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center — has moved into a prominent spot in the terminal’s concourse mezzanine, formerly home to the Cincinnati History Library and Archives. Founded in 2000 by Holocaust survivors and their families, the Holocaust & Humanity Center’s small museum and educational programs were previously located inside Kenwood’s Rockwern Academy, a Jewish community school. The new center now has roughly three times more exhibition space than it had previously, and the location is especially poignant given that Holocaust survivors arriving after World War II got their first taste of the city when they entered Union Terminal. That history — plus countless others — is preserved thanks to the renovation. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org; holocaustandhumanity.org.

BEST EFFORTS SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING Greater Cincinnati has a reputation as an affordable city, at least compared to the soaring, four-figure average rents in places like New York City and San Francisco. But that’s deceptive. Hamilton County has a 40,000-unit gap in affordable housing, according to a study by the Greater Cincinnati Local Initiatives Support Corporation — a huge deficit that Over-theRhine Community Housing is working full-time to address. OTRCH has served its namesake neighborhood for more than four decades by working to ensure affordable housing for low-income residents and has grown to provide more than 470 units of such housing in Cincinnati. And the past year has been a big one: OTRCH has won grants and launched projects with a range of partners to bring new affordable units online. That hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Executive Director Mary Burke Rivers, who has led OTRCH for 25 years, was named one

of 2018’s Women of the Year by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and The Cincinnati Enquirer. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, 114 W. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine, otrch.org.

BEST ACTIVISM AROUND CINCINNATI’S URGENT NEED FOR BETTER BUS SERVICE This year, Cincinnati transit activists the Better Bus Coalition took it up a notch, providing free bus benches, pushing successfully for the city’s first bus-only lane during downtown rush hour and introducing a ballot initiative to boost bus funding. The coalition has done tons of social media activism around Metro’s struggles, highlighting aging buses, riders left waiting in the cold and more in daily posts. But the group takes things several steps further, too. They’ve engaged residents to create their own roadmap to a better Metro, for example. It remains to be seen whether voters will approve their proposed

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

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BEST CINCINNATI SKYLINE REVOLUTION Like a mini version of the iconic London Eye, Skystar is a 15-story “observation wheel” that went up at The Banks downtown at the end of August to celebrate the riverfront development’s 10th anniversary. The Ferris wheel features 36 glass-enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas that take up to six riders on a 12-minute spin for a unique view of the river and Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky skylines. The portable — yes, portable — tourist attraction has been traveling across America, setting up shop in cities including Norfolk, Virginia and Louisville, Kentucky to offer elevated views and a novel pop-up experience. At night, the wheel turns into a glowing orb with more than 1 million colored LED lights and casts a pretty cool neon reflection into the waters of the Ohio River. Skystar became so popular that the company extended its original stay from August to December 2018 through mid-June 2019, which means it will be around for Opening Day, the Taste of Cincinnati and Asian Food Fest. More than 100,000 people have ridden the wheel since its arrival. Skystar, 55 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, skystarwheel.com.

Cincinnati payroll tax increase, which the group estimates would cost a person in Cincinnati making $40,000 a year an extra $6.67 a month. Either way, expect the Better Bus Coalition to stay active in pushing for better transit service. Better Bus Coalition, betterbuscoalition.org.

BEST INTERFAITH HUMANITARIAN EFFORT In 2018, local immigration activists stepped up to help those caught in the political crosshairs of a new, “zero tolerance” immigration push. A multi-generational, multi-organizational, interfaith effort led by organizations like the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, Transformations CDC, immigration attorneys and activists is seeking to provide legal help, shelter, advocacy and other aid for immigrants from vulnerable groups who are seeking asylum in the United States from violence, war and poverty in their home countries. The movement comes after the election of President Donald Trump, who has made intense and often factually-inaccurate claims about immigrants and who has pushed for tighter restrictions on asylum claims and refugee aid. These organizations give us heart that, regardless of the political winds blowing, there are those among us who recognize our shared human dignity.

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Skystar Wheel and the Cincinnati skyline PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

BEST URBAN GROCERY DEVELOPMENT Urbanists and elected city leaders have salivated at the idea of a downtown Kroger for years — the city’s last one, a Kroger on Race Street, closed in 1969 — and now, with the building rising at the corner of Central Parkway and Walnut Street, it’s close to reality. The Cincinnati-based grocer announced it will partner with the city to build a 45,000-square-foot, two-story downtown Kroger location as part of a mixed-used development. That development will also include an 18-story, 139-unit market rate apartment tower and a 560-space parking garage. Kroger says the store is meant to serve customers living in downtown, Over-the-Rhine, the West End and other nearby neighborhoods and will feature a bar, food court and other novel amenities. Kroger, Central Parkway and Walnut Streets, Downtown, kroger.com.

BEST WAY TO BECOME A CINCINNATI CITY GUIDE In coordination with the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program is designed with local economy in mind — and an objective to enhance the

Greater Cincinnati experience for those visiting our region, either for work or recreation. Certification, which is open to anyone, requires attending a one-time interactive class and the successful completion of an “open book”-style exam. These classes are held every couple months and provide students with a wealth of material related to area attractions, including parks, concert venues, galleries, hotels and retail destinations. There is an application fee of $29 and an annual certification renewal fee; you can also get a nifty CTA pin once you graduate and impress your friends and strangers with your in-depth knowledge of Cincinnati tourism. Certified Tourism Ambassador, ctanetwork.com.

BEST NEWS FOR THOSE WHO NEED MEDICAL MARIJUANA At long last, after months of delays, Ohio’s medicinal marijuana program kicked off in the waning days of 2018. The system was supposed to be operational by last September, but the process saw a number of road bumps, including legal challenges from some businesses that applied to grow or dispense medical marijuana. Now, authorized physicians can use the state’s registry,

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which opened Dec. 3, to recommend medical marijuana licenses to patients suffering from conditions like cancer, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder and a number of others. The state then confirms the patient’s identity, after which the patient or their caregiver can sign up for a license that allows holders to purchase marijuana from certified dispensaries. The program has been popular so far — dispensaries sold roughly $1.2 million worth of marijuana product through late February of this year. That’s about 160 pounds of medical marijuana in various forms. As of March, more than 19,000 patients and 973 caregivers had received licenses, and 16 large and small cultivators and nine dispensaries had gained certificates of operation from the state. Ohio medical marijuana, medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov.

BEST OUTSIDE-THE-BOX DEVELOPMENT POLICY IDEA As Cincinnati continues to experience a huge resurgence in development, more and more people have begun to wonder whether the city should be incentivizing things like housing affordability when it makes deals with developers. Cue Over-theRhine community group Peaslee Neighborhood Center’s Equitable Development Rubric, which looks to give Cincinnati’s community councils tools to ask for more of what they need from those pitching big development projects like apartment buildings. Those community councils provide recommendations to City Hall about deals that can erase hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax liabilities for large projects for up to 15 years. Supporters of the rubric say the city should ask for more in return — a percentage of housing units that are affordable to low- and moderate-income people, for example, or fair wages for construction workers building those projects. Will the idea catch on? It could. Some council members have asked the city to study similar criteria for tax deals, and at least a few community councils have already approved Peaslee’s rubric. Peaslee Neighborhood Center, peasleecenter.org.

BEST POLITICAL DRAMA, STATE DIVISION Ohio’s gubernatorial campaign was more staid and policy-oriented than we had anticipated last year and most other big Ohio elections were relatively drama free, save the contest between Aftab Pureval and Steve Chabot for Chabot’s U.S. House seat representing Hamilton County’s West Side and Warren County. That fight got nasty quickly, with allegations that Pureval spent money from his county clerk campaign fund for his congressional race and that a campaign volunteer tried to infiltrate Chabot’s campaign. Pureval’s campaign eventually paid a small fine for the campaign fund slip, but the damage was already done. The issue made a mountain of the already uphill race for Pureval, a Democrat running in a historically Republican district. Chabot weathered criticism of his own around a paucity of public appearances before constituents and large sums of campaign funds he paid a family member for website design, but he easily grabbed enough votes to beat Pureval and win his 12th term representing the district.

BEST POLITICAL DRAMA, LOCAL DIVISION Let’s face it, Cincinnati politics is always a little weird. But this past year was, to put it simply, just plain wild, man. First, there were dueling allegations about gender discrimination and overtime pay malfeasance in the Cincinnati Police Department. That led to the dismissal of a top CPD official by City Manager Harry Black on charges of insubordination. That, in turn, (are you still with us here?) led Mayor John Cranley to ask for Black’s resignation. But Black refused, leading to an unprecedented weeks-long standoff between the city manager, Cincinnati City Council and the mayor. Council, which needed to vote to fire Black, refused to do so before an investigation and also balked at the cost of a proposed severance package. Cranley wanted Black gone as soon as possible, saying that his request that Black resign came after years of complaints from city employees about

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BEST NEW OPTION FOR GETTING AROUND, LOVE ’EM OR HATE ’EM They appeared out of the blue one day last spring, setting up roosts around Cincinnati’s downtown basin. And as the flocks grew, people developed some opinions. Oh, do we have opinions about all those rentable, smartphone app-driven Bird and Lime scooters. Some folks grew to love them faster than you can zip from OTR to The Banks on two wheels. Some folks loathe them with the intensity of a million tiny electric motors all propelling riders right toward your shin bones. There have been a couple reports of injuries due to the scooters and more than a few impassioned defenses of the dockless devices as efficient means of urban transportation. Other cities, including San Francisco and Indianapolis, banned the scooters. But Cincinnati officials have embraced them, at least to a degree, setting down some basic laws in an attempt to keep them off the sidewalks but otherwise letting them glide along. Bird, bird.co; Lime, li.me.

intimidation and retaliation by the city manager. Black protested his treatment at the hands of Cranley, and his supporters on council and among African-American groups like the local NAACP said he was forced out. Prior to Cranley’s request that Black resign, the city manager said a small “rogue element” within CPD was working to undermine the police chief and the city’s Collaborative Agreement police reforms. Black denied he had done anything wrong, alleged the mayor was involved in shady development deals and held on for dear life until there were enough votes on council to usher him out the door. He resigned minutes before a Saturday special meeting of Cincinnati City Council could vote to fire him last spring. Black received eight month’s salary and benefits — a severance package worth about $274,000. Council’s vote ended the bizarre stalemate — but the incident sparked conversations about the city’s unusual form of government, which splits power between the mayor and city manager, as well as a debate about racial tensions within city government. Months later, ghosts from the standoff continue to float around. Texts between five Democratic council members about the situation and other city business were the subject of a lawsuit by conservative activists, who say they represent violations of Ohio’s open meetings laws. The entire incident didn’t exactly buttress public faith in City Hall, nor did a $101,000 settlement the city paid to settle the lawsuit or the harsh words a county judge had for council. Oh yeah, the release of 26,000 texts sent among council members — some of them insulting to others — probably didn’t help either.

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A human on a Bird Scooter PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

BEST MUNICIPAL EFFORTS TO SAVE THE PLANET The City of Cincinnati’s move toward renewable energy is an encouraging, ongoing effort to do our part in avoiding a grim environmental future. The city has achieved an 18.4 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since it started measuring those emissions in 2006, recently built one of the country’s first net-zero energy use police stations, and greatly increased the use of solar panels and other renewable energy technology. Late in the year, city officials signed a contract that will provide 100 percent renewable energy to many city buildings and functions, saving the equivalent of 650,000 trees or 28 million pounds of coal a year. And the efforts aren’t done yet: Officials have set their sights on making all municipal energy use green-friendly by 2035.

BEST REASON TO GET RIGHT WITH THE LORD BEFORE ENTERING KENTUCKY We all know by now that the Brent Spence Bridge needs a replacement. The span linking I-71 and I-75 between the Buckeye and Bluegrass states wasn’t designed to carry nearly as many cars as it does, and it’s 55 years old. Engineers say it’s structurally sound and isn’t about to fall into the river or anything, but that doesn’t necessarily comfort us

when we’re sitting stationary in our cars with traffic snarled up on the bridge’s narrow lanes. Other snarl-ups of a political nature have hamstrung work on a new bridge, which will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.6 billion. Will the federal government provide some funds? Unclear. President Donald Trump didn’t mention the bridge when he visited Cincinnati in 2017 to talk infrastructure. Will tolls be part of the picture? Some local activists hope not, but it seems more and more likely. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has indicated he’s willing to work with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, and has said tolls may be the ticket.

BEST REASON TO GET RIGHT WITH THE LORD BEFORE ENTERING THE WEST SIDE If you were 76 years old and thousands of cars drove over you every day, you’d be tired, too. In 2017, motorists snapped pictures of concrete falling from the literally crumbling Western Hills Viaduct, reminding us that, despite officials’ promises that the bridge is safe, our gateway from the center of the city to Price Hill Chili and Elder High School football games (and, for many of us, our houses) needs some major help. Despite missing out on more than $50 million in three state and federal grants last year, elected officials recently got a little closer to finding enough

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change under the couch cushions for the bridge’s $335 million replacement. Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati, the state of Ohio and the federal government have cumulatively put together about $94 million for the project. That just leaves, oh, about $241 million left to scrape together. Easy!

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What is it with Cincinnati and gorillas? This year, the Cincinnati Zoo fought a pitched legal battle to regain custody of Ndume, a 37-yearold gorilla the zoo loaned to the California-based Gorilla Foundation in 1991. Ndume was supposed to be a boo for Koko, the famous gorilla sign-language prodigy trained by Gorilla Foundation co-founder Penny Patterson. But Koko swiped left, so to speak, and she and Ndume never hit it off. Dating is hard. Koko passed away last year, triggering a clause in a 2015 agreement between the foundation and the zoo for Ndume’s return to Cincinnati. Ndume is the last gorilla at the Gorilla Foundation, and the Cincinnati Zoo and other groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), have suggested he has been isolated and could receive better care and opportunities to engage with other gorillas at a larger facility. In legal filings, the Cincinnati Zoo called his return “urgent.” The only problem? The Gorilla Foundation didn’t want to let Ndume go, saying the trip back to Cincinnati could kill him. (We all have that high school friend who went to college in the Golden State and now feels the same way, right?) But after a lawsuit, a federal judge ordered Ndume’s return to the Queen City. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.

BEST NEW ZOO BABY Move over, Fiona (don’t, really; we still love you): Kendi the black rhino is gunning for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s sassy baby spotlight. In October, the black rhinoceros tot nipped the index finger of a guest who was on a

behind-the-scenes tour with zoo staff. The guy was fine and walked away with minor injuries while the spunky Kendi took the “all publicity is good publicity” idiom by the horns and stole 15 minutes of fame from everyone’s favorite hippopotamus. However, Kendi, whose name means “the loved one” in Swahili, should have a fan club in her own right: Mama Seyia gave birth to Kendi in July 2017 and she was the first black rhino born at the zoo since 1999. Listed as critically endangered, the International Rhino Foundation says there are less than 5,500 black rhinos in the wild because of threats like poaching — the animal’s horns are highly sought after in traditional medicine and to craft accessories — so maybe it’s a good thing little Kendi’s packing some attitude. If you want to help rhino conservation efforts, the zoo sells Rhino Rembrandts, original works of art painted by their Sumatran, black or Indian rhinos as an enrichment activity. Money raised through the artwork directly helps the zoo support conservation initiatives. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.

BEST RESTORED SIGN One of Cincinnati’s marquee music destinations has a new...er...marquee. The Woodward Theater, a popular music and events venue in Over-theRhine, received a $150,000 grant last year to bring back its historic exterior signage — a vital part of the neighborhood’s vibrant, diverse streetscape. Owners of the Woodward used the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Partners In Preservation grant to restore the theater’s original façade and install an electric sign and copper marquee designed by local artist Kate Schmidt. “Cincinnatians understand and embrace our city’s history,” said Woodward Theater co-owner Dan McCabe of the grant. “From our music, our beer, our baseball… to our unique architectural heritage. Cincinnati continues to demonstrate to other cities how to celebrate and leverage their history for future growth.” The Woodward was a movie house from 1913 to 1933. After that, the Beaux Arts-style building was home to an auto dealer, a grocery and an antiques busi-

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BEST DISPLAY OF RESILIENCE (AND GREAT COOKING) Monica Williams spent the last six years cooking soul food at her popular West End take-out spot Just Cookin’, often drawing lines of customers eager for her meatloaf, cornbread, ribs, greens, grilled salmon and other home-cooked favorites. Just one problem: Williams’ spot was in the historic State Theater on Central Avenue, which had to come down to make way for FC Cincinnati’s new MLS soccer stadium. The $250 million facility, helped along by $34 million in infrastructure spending from the City of Cincinnati and another $15-$22 million from Hamilton County for a parking garage, signals big changes likely for the historically predominantly black neighborhood with a median household income of just $15,000 a year. FCC and city officials have promised those changes will bring more investment, more jobs and more opportunity, but they also mean a big transition for the businesses that were once in the stadium’s footprint. Williams’ restaurant held its last day on a Friday in November 2018. The atmosphere was festive, but sad, too — the end of an era for the restaurant’s customers and for Williams, as well as for her mother, father, grandmother, nephew and niece, all of whom worked at Just Cookin’. That correlation between food, culture and family is one Williams subscribes to whole-heartedly. “Authentic soul food started in our grandparents’ homes,” she says. “It was the staple that held the family together. The glue. And we’re losing that. We’re losing our way of cooking in our community.” The move left Williams doggedly lobbying City Hall for help and hustling to find ways to keep her business afloat by catering events and cooking from pop-up locations. FC Cincinnati has pledged to continue working with her to get Just Cookin’ back up and running. What is next for Williams is still unclear, but if her grit and tenacity are any indication, you can bet she’ll still be cooking.

ness. McCabe and his partners started renovating The Woodward in 2013 and reopened it as an entertainment venue four years ago. McCabe says he and his partners always planned to rehab the building’s exterior but had to get the interior in shape first. In addition to the replaced signage, some of the grant money was used to recreate 52 rosettes that housed light bulbs on the original marquee, upgrade wiring, scrub the porcelain brick and other repairs. The Woodward won the PIP grant as part of a nationwide online contest. The Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.

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Monica Williams (right) with longtime customer Daryl Owens on Just Cookin’s last day P H OTO : N I C K S WA R T S E L L

BEST NEWS FROM PUBLIC RADIO

Loyal National Public Radio listeners in Cincinnati are hearing a new voice during their lunch hour — one with a broad knowledge of the Greater Cincinnati region. Longtime news hound Michael Monks grabbed the prestigious gig hosting Cincinnati Edition on WVXU from noon to 1 p.m. on weekdays this year. Monks took the reins for the role from esteemed Cincinnati expert Dan Hurley, who stepped in as interim host when the show’s last permanent host, Mark Heyne, left to pursue other opportunities. As the founding publisher, editor and reporter of Northern Kentucky news website River City News and an instructor at Ivy Tech Community College in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Monks brings a wide-ranging sensibility to a show that has at times been tightly focused on city issues. Monks’ broader scope has been apparent from his very first show: an exploration of the divides — and opportunities for collaboration — between both sides of the Ohio River. WVXU, wvxu.org.

BEST PURPORTED SATANIC TUNNEL Blue Ash is certainly known for many remarkable things — a large 150-foot observation tower at Summit Park, the second location of Over-the-

Rhine’s Senate, etc. — and one of those happens to be a purported tunnel to the netherworld. The story goes, local Satanic groups would meet at a drainage tunnel in Blue Ash to conduct rituals and, in doing so, opened a portal to hell itself. The graffiti tagged abyss has pentagrams and phrases like “Hell lies ahead” sprayed on the walls and lots of stagnant, standing water. Many have also reported screams, trapped spirits and apparitions including “The Shadow Man” — some sort of demon. Wanna check it out for yourself? Alas, Satan’s Hollow is on private property. Instead, you might have to settle for checking out Satan’s Hollow: The Tunnel to Hell, a short, 10-minute paranormal investigation “documentary” about the spot released in 2012. It’s on YouTube.

BEST GIFT FROM MUSSOLINI Yep, the rumors are true: The Capitoline Wolf statue in Eden Park was a gift from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini — and that’s not even the strangest part. The bronze sculpture depicts a she-wolf nursing two young boys, and it’s every bit as intriguing to witness in person as you would imagine. Intended to honor Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, Roman statesman, farmer and namesake of our dear city, the two thirsty boys represent Romulus and Remus, twins whose story relates to the founding of Rome — in fact, various images of the boys suckling a she-wolf have served

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as symbols of the Roman people since ancient times. So how did it get here? Mussolini sent it over for a Sons of Italy convention in 1929… sort of: He gave us an exact replica of one in Rome’s Musei Capitolini, but it was switched out for a larger one in 1931. And that is the one that has remained in place ever since. Inscribed with “Il Governatore di Roma alla Citta di Cincinnati 1931 Anno X” — “from the governor of Rome to the city of Cincinnati in 1931 (year 10 of Mussolini’s reign)” — it sits at Twin Lakes, a former quarry that now boasts two lakes and views of the Ohio River. Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiparks.com.

BEST FUNGUS FORTRESS Architect Terry Brown was a University of Cincinnati professor of architecture and interior design, but to most in our region he’s known as the guy behind Hyde Park’s famed “Mushroom House.” Guests at street level will notice a winding entry staircase and misshapen exterior constructed of metal, glass, ceramic and warped wood shingles, suggesting a fairy tale or bizarre, otherworld-esque appearance that looks like a very large mushroom. The one-bedroom, one-bath 1,260-square-foot structure was built by Brown and his students from 1992 to 2006, and served as a second residence for Brown until his death in 2008. Mushroom House, 3331 Erie Ave., Hyde Park.

BEST UFO ABODE In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed less than 100 Futuro houses, or flying saucer-esque homes — and Covington has one of them. It was purchased in 1973 by Rob Detzel, who first saw it in an issue of Family Circle. He made arrangements for its display at a home and garden show, then took it on a tour of sorts; in 1987, it landed (er, was delivered) to its current location. The community embraces its presence, and the Futuro House has even been included in a mural titled “Love the Cov” by Jarrod Becker, on the wall at Kroger’s Covington location. In 2013 Coving-

ton Mayor Sherry Carran declared Nov. 2 — the 40th anniversary of its purchase by Detzel — “Futuro House Day,” officially naming the property it is on as “Area 89.” Futuro House, 224 Wright St., Covington.

BEST HISTORIC PRESERVATION WINS Cincinnati saw two iconic landmarks — The Manse Hotel and the Mt. Airy Water Towers — protected this year with local historic landmark designations. Walnut Hills’ Manse Hotel, first constructed in 1876 as a single-family home, became a vital stopover for black visitors to Cincinnati when a black businessman named Horace Sudduth purchased it in 1931. At the time, accommodations in the city were still segregated, and black residents of Cincinnati had few places where they could celebrate weddings, hold meetings of social and professional groups or put up distinguished out-of-town guests. It’s hard to overstate the cultural significance Sudduth’s new hotel would come to have for Cincinnati’s black community. The Manse was the site of Ezzard Charles’ post-match press conference after his victory over Joe Louis to claim boxing’s world heavyweight title. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Frank Robinson lived in the Manse in 1956, the year he won Major League Baseball’s Rookie of the Year award. James Brown stayed multiple times in the mid-1950s when he came to Cincinnati to record for King Records, and for a time considered it his second home. Some historians believe Hank Ballard wrote “The Twist” in the hotel before recording his version at King. Now, all that history is protected and the building could soon become affordable housing for seniors. Another Cincinnati landmark also got protection this year: Mt. Airy’s iconic water towers. The 90-year-old structures are a big deal for a few reasons. First, the seven six-story tanks and six seven-story towers (one of which houses a staircase) sit 962 feet above sea level on the highest point in Cincinnati. When they were built in 1927, they represented the first municipal water source for a number of West Side Cincinnati communities, including Cheviot, College Hill, Mt. Airy, North

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BEST OLD BUILDING WEARING SOME VERY CONTEMPORARY ACCESSORIES If you’ve driven on any highways near Queensgate recently, you’ve definitely seen it: the red brick, 1890s-era warehouse with the bright lime green geometric addition on the east face of the building. It’s local firm Elevar Design Group’s new showspace — a home for its 80 employees, yes, but also a way to flex the group’s architectural design skills. That cool green box contains a break room, event space (complete with a kitchen) and sliding garage doors that open up onto a rooftop deck. The unique details continue on the interior: A light-filled, three story atrium featuring the warehouse’s original wooden beams. Visitors and employees can take your standard elevator or custom wooden stairs up, but should probably try the limegreen, curving slide for the ride back down. The new HQ is the perfect spot from which to launch Elevar’s next big project: helping design FC Cincinnati’s new stadium just north in the West End. Elevar Design Group, 555 Carr St., Queensgate, elevar.com.

Fairmount, Price Hill and other nearby neighborhoods, which had previously gotten water from cisterns. The reliable water supply helped spur development of those areas. Then-Water Works Commissioner J.A. Hiller designed the structure. The towers are said to be a nod to another historic Cincinnati landmark — the Elsinore Arch that welcomes visitors to Eden Park, which was completed in 1883. That arch, built as part of the reservoir that used to occupy the park, was the first project by the city’s Water Works to use the distinctive castle-like architecture. The Mt. Airy Towers were the last. The towers are iconic enough that they’ve become the symbol used by the neighborhood’s community council and other civic bodies to represent Mt. Airy. Last year, it seemed like the water towers could face partial demolition. But Greater Cincinnati Water Works announced they have a plan to keep the towers intact and Cincinnati City Council has given them historic protections.

BEST ADULT SWIM The renovated Ziegler Park Pool is turning into not only a community hot spot, but also a hip place to see and be seen. Partly because of the location (across from Alumni Lofts in the former School for Creative and Performing Arts), partly because of the cost (daily admission is $4 for adults, with a sliding fee scale for season passes) and partly because of the features. Helmed by 3CDC, this former Cincinnati Recreation Commission pool has undergone a significant makeover to encompass three distinct sections: a 164 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Elevar Design Group P H OTO : N I C K S WA R T S E L L

zero-depth wheelchair-accessible area, an area with lap lanes and another with a diving board and rock-climbing wall. As a community-first pool, the urban swim club also offers lessons, a swim team and activities like water aerobics. But we’re here for the Adult Swim parties. During these 21-andup nights held monthly during the summer last year, there were DJs, wine, local craft beers (and Bud Light) and food trucks. In addition, Ziegler also hosted a Dog Swim to close out the season, inviting vaccinated and well-behaved canines into the pool for a dip. Ziegler Park Pool, 1322 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, zieglerpark.org.

BEST PARK AT THE CENTER OF THE NEWS IN 2018 In this politically passionate age, any proposal requiring public input can become a burning battle of words and hurt feelings. And there are few places in Cincinnati that have more ardent supporters than Burnet Woods and the Clifton Cultural Arts Center. So when the CCAC floated a proposal to build its new home in the 90-acre park wedged between the University of Cincinnati, Clifton and Avondale, we expected acrimony. But we were pleasantly surprised. Both CCAC supporters and those who want the woods left alone made impassioned, reasonable and civil arguments for their side of things, and as the

public debate went on, it seemed more and more like a win for the city either way. The beloved arts institution needs a new home after Cincinnati Public Schools took back the grand old Clifton School building the CCAC had been leasing. But changes to the woods have been touchy in the past. As land initially leased to the city by wealthy Cincinnatians Robert Burnet and William Groesbeck in 1874, the park encompassed more than 170 acres. After the city purchased most of the land outright, it lopped off 74 acres that in 1895 became home to UC. Half a century later, the city gave UC another 18 acres now occupied by the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning and other buildings. Since then, some fans of the park have been increasingly vigilant about proposed alterations. Voters in 2015 rejected Issue 22, a controversial charter amendment suggested by Mayor John Cranley that would have created a fund for big changes to the woods as well as many other parks. The Cincinnati Park Board of Directors listened carefully and, at least this time around, opted against CCAC’s proposal. “As painful as the Burnet Woods process was, it was a good process,” board member Kevin Flynn said after the vote. “It shows that reasonable people can disagree reasonably.” We agree. Long live the CCAC. Long live Burnet Woods. Burnet Woods, 3251 Brookline Ave., Clifton, cincinnatiparks.com.

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SPORTS & RR E AED CE R RP IEC KAS T I O N

BEARCAT (CURRENT) 1. Luke Fickell 2. Mick Cronin 3. Jarron Cumberland

BENGAL (CURRENT) 1. A.J. Green 2. Andy Dalton 3. Tyler Eifert

COACH/MANAGER HIGH SCHOOL

1. Aaron Hancock (Wyoming High School Football) 2. Joe Stephenson (Notre Dame Academy Softball) 3. Noel Rash (Beechwood High School Football)

COACH/MANAGER PRO/ COLLEGE

1. Alan Koch (FC Cincinnati) 2. Billy Hatcher (Cincinnati Reds) 3. Luke Fickell (University of Cincinnati Football)

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CYCLONE (CURRENT) 1. Arvin Atwal 2. Eric Knodel 3. Michael Houser

FC CINCINNATI PLAYER (CURRENT) 1. Jimmy McLaughlin 2. Corben Bone 3. Emmanuel Ledesma

GOLF COURSE (PUBLIC) 1. Blue Ash Golf Course 2. Aston Oaks Golf Club 3. Avon Fields Golf Course

HEALTH CLUB/GYM 1. Planet Fitness 2. YMCA 3. Mayerson JCC

HIKING TRAIL

1. Cincinnati Nature Center 2. Loveland Bike Trail 3. Sharon Woods 4. Mount Airy Forest 5. Miami Whitewater Forest 6. Devou Park Backcountry Trails 7. French Park

8. Trillium Trails Wildflower Preserve/ Glenwood Gardens 9. Ault Park 10. Boone Cliffs Nature Preserve

JOGGING ROUTE

1. Loveland Bike Trail 2. Eden Park 3. Sharon Woods

MUSKETEER (CURRENT) 1. Naji Marshall 2. Quentin Goodin 3. Tyrique Jones

NKU NORSE (CURRENT) 1. Drew McDonald 2. Dantez Walton 3. Hannah Fischer

OVERALL LOCAL ATHLETE

1. Joey Votto 2. A.J. Green 3. Wheezy (Cincinnati Rollergirls)

PERSONAL TRAINING/CROSSFIT GYM 1. ProForce Sports Performance

2. Cincy 360 Fitness 3. Swing This Kettlebell and Strength

PICK-UP BASKETBALL COURT 1. Blue Ash Recreation Center 2. Cincinnati Athletic Club 3. Corryville Recreation Center

PILATES STUDIO

1. SAW Pilates 2. BodyMind Balance 3. Barre3

PLACE TO CAMP

1. Red River Gorge, Kentucky 2. Hocking Hills, Ohio 3. Hueston Woods

RED (CURRENT) 1. Joey Votto 2. Scooter Gennett 3. Yasiel Puig

RUNNING/BIKING EVENT 1. Flying Pig Marathon 2. Queen Bee Half Marathon 3. Girls On the Run 5K

SOCCER FACILITY

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SPORTS COVERAGE

1. WLW (700 AM) 2. Cincinnati Soccer Talk 3. Pardon The Punctuation Podcast

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1. Cincinnati Rollergirls 2. Covington Street Hockey 3. Black-n-Bluegrass Roller Girls

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1. University of Cincinnati Football

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1. Colerain High School Football 2. Elder High School Football 3. Milford High School Football

TEAM (PROFESSIONAL) 1. FC Cincinnati 2. Cincinnati Reds 3. Cincinnati Bengals

TENNIS COURTS

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VOLLEYBALL COURTS

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YOGA STUDIO

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BEST MAJOR-LEAGUE SPORTS NEWBIES After months of waiting, political wrangling, angst over the location of a stadium that wasn’t for sure going to happen and a few false starts, the news came last year on May 29, when Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber stood with FC Cincinnati leadership and Mayor John Cranley in the cavernous Over-the-Rhine taproom of Rhinegeist, officially welcoming the team into the MLS. FCC beat out larger cities for the distinction, in large part due to its rabid fan base (and their recordbreaking appetite for tickets). The fevered, overjoyed atmosphere in Rhinegeist that day belied the long, arduous process that led up to that moment, including a tumultuous debate about where the team’s stadium should go. Would it be Oakley? The West End? Would FC Cincinnati betray its name and go to a location in Newport? In the end, however, the team, in line with preferences of the league, chose a spot near the urban core — just a block from bustling OTR and right where Cincinnati Public Schools’ Stargel Stadium resided. On the day FCC’s major league hopes were confirmed, Garber revealed that FC Cincinnati’s chosen location for their coming stadium in the West End was the league’s favorite site. “Many years from now, after your club has been launched and playing many years, after many thrills and victories and agonies and defeats, you’re going to remember this day as a truly historic event for the Queen City,” he said. “You should be incredibly proud of your meteoric rise as one of our continent’s major soccer cities.” The announcement marked a high point in the team’s breakneck three-year rise. After playing in the United Soccer League since the team’s founding, FC Cincinnati won one of four expansion franchises from among a dozen cities vying for a spot in MLS. Cincinnati beat out Detroit and Sacramento for its spot. The team began MLS play this March, and will get a new, MLS-approved stadium in two years. There were plenty of complications along the way, of course: negotiations with CPS. Negotiations with Cincinnati City Council. A decisive “no” vote from the West End’s Community Council, followed by efforts from the council’s executive board to put a deal back together, leading to the eventual signing of a community benefits agreement between the team and a few neighborhood representatives. The stadium’s long-term impact has yet to reveal itself, but as hundreds of shovels dug into the ground during a December groundbreaking ceremony, this much was clear: Major League Soccer is coming to Cincinnati this year, and in 2021, a brand-new soccer facility will stand in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. FC Cincinnati, fccincinnati.com.

BEST ETERNAL STEPPING STONE TO A BIGGER JOB

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer announcement on Fountain Square

Thanks to its seemingly endless stream of coaches who have gone on to bigger things, Miami University earned the nickname “The Cradle of Coaches.” But in the past few decades, it seems almost a given that when an NCAA basketball program needs a new coach, they’re not headed to Oxford — they’re going to come sniffing around Xavier University’s campus. From the ’80s through 2001, Pete Gillen and Skip Prosser had good and fairly lengthy runs at X, but Gillen would eventually jump to Providence, then Virginia, while Prosser was poached by Wake Forest. Then Thad Matta did so well at Xavier, he was lured to Ohio State after three years. His successor, Sean Miller (who, like Matta, came out of that Cradle of Coaches), likewise earned a lot of interest from other teams, ultimately leaving for Arizona after five years. Xavier fans fell quickly in love with Chris Mack, the Cincinnati native and X grad who took over

in 2009 and led the team to five Sweet 16 appearances. But after helping X get the first No. 1 tournament seed in school history, Louisville found itself without a head coach after firing school legend Rick Pitino; they opened up their checkbook and hired Mack last March. Fans are hoping new coach Travis Steele will be great… just maybe not too great too soon, so he sticks around and maybe has a career like Mack’s. Xavier University, goxavier.com.

BEST PLACE TO READ ABOUT CINCINNATI SPORTS Although sports and sports coverage are among the top things people like to argue and complain about most in this crazy world, Cincinnati is actually quite lucky when it comes to those who’ve chosen to write about and cover our local teams professionally. Some of that talent got expertly consolidated by The Athletic, a subscription-based sports journalism website that features nearly 50 city-specific sub-sites

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

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BEST HATCHET JOB Good news for people who love throwing axes: There are now multiple places in Cincinnati where you can toss sharpened projectiles at a wooden target. And most even sell booze. The axe-throwing craze hacked its way into the Tri-State last March with the opening of Cincinnati Axe Throwing in West Chester. The first in the region, it introduced the concept of letting random people walk into a room and chuck 1.5-pound hatchets at wooden bullseyes. After that came Flying Axes in Covington, the local extension of a Louisville-based chain, and then Urban Axes in OTR, which opened in January of this year and has locations in Baltimore, Boston, Philly, Austin and Durham, North Carolina. The axe-throwing “game” is based on a Canadian pioneering tradition and while local axe outlets have varying age requirements ranging from 13 to 15 to 21-and-up, all have “axeperts” on hand to teach newbies safety and skill basics before they let you loose with a deadly weapon. Prices, times, tournament styles and group rates also vary at each different company. But, for those looking to double down on danger and increase your competitive edge, both Flying Axes and Urban Axes sell alcohol. And if you get really into it, all three spots have axe-throwing leagues. Cincinnati Axe Throwing, 4814 Peter Place B, West Chester, cincinnatiaxe.com; Flying Axes, 100 W. Sixth St., Covington, flyingaxes.com/covington; Urban Axes, 2010 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, urbanaxes.com/cincinnati.

that cover hometown teams across North America. Adding a Cincinnati hub in 2018, The Athletic enlisted an all-star team of local sports writers that includes Justin Williams (covering UC sports), Shannon Russell (longtime Xavier basketball beat writer), utility man Mo Egger and C. Trent Rosecrans, who left The Enquirer to bring his fantastic Reds coverage to the site. The Athletic’s mix of news, analysis and long-form journalism was created with the belief that if the coverage was great, people would be willing to pay for the content. With the Cincinnati’s site’s stellar lineup and consistently engaging coverage, if the business model doesn’t work here, it probably won’t work anywhere. The Athletic, theathletic. com/cincinnati.

upgrades have been so impressive, every time a new TV announcer comes in to broadcast a UC home game, they can’t help but gush. Bringing Fifth Third into the 21st century, the new-look arena — which took 20 months and $87 million (“privately funded,” the school’s website stresses) to complete — features a wider and larger lower bowl, better views and padded-back seating throughout (no more wooden benches!), more club seats and luxury suites, new concessions (including local favorites like Frisch’s, Skyline and Taste of Belgium) and hospitality areas, new LED stat boards, several giant HD video boards (including one outside of the arena) and much more. Fifth Third Arena, 2700 O’Varsity Way, University Heights, 53arena. gobearcats.com.

BEST BIG BEARCATS HOOPS INVESTMENT

BEST SIGN THE BENGALS MIGHT BE TRYING TO BE BETTER CORPORATE CITIZENS

After playing their 2017-2018 home games at Northern Kentucky University’s BB&T Arena, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team returned to its own campus to play at Fifth Third Arena after an extensive renovation project. The

Despite having its stadium funded by Hamilton County taxpayers under a deal often cited as one of the worst examples of pro-sports corporate welfare ever, the Cincinnati Bengals still seemed to have a hard time not flexing their muscles and

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rubbing the regrettable agreement in citizens’ and city leaders’ faces. But perhaps that tide is turning. After Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Music and Event Management, Inc. (MEMI) was chosen to develop a much-anticipated live music venue at The Banks near the riverfront, a few loose ends needed to be tied up, including approval from the Bengals, whose (taxpayer-funded) stadium abuts the planned new development. The team reportedly threatened to veto the nearly $20-million project because it would infringe on part of one of its parking lots; part of a lease agreement with the county gave the Bengals “right of first refusal” for development at the site as well as the right to block development based on its height. Amazingly, the team acquiesced and, perhaps signifying a desire to become a better corporate citizen, owners renegotiated its deal with the county, putting restrictions on how much the team will receive for repairs and upkeep and ending Hamilton County’s annual $29.4 million “out year payments.” And to ensure the team’s tailgating experience won’t be diminished by that pesky new concert venue, the Bengals also got 15 acres of nearby property upon which nearly 2,000 more parking spots can be added. Bengals, Paul Brown Stadium, 1 Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown, bengals.com.

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Few expected much from the University of Cincinnati’s football team in 2018. Fans had become disenfranchised during the Tommy Tuberville era, which ended in 2016 after a 4-8 record. Luke Fickell came in as head coach in 2017 with solid credentials as a defensive coordinator/associate head coach at Ohio State, but his first year with the team ended with the same record as Tuberville’s last. But the Bearcats found their stride big-time in 2018, becoming a wildly entertaining team to watch on-field, including thrilling come-from-behind wins against Ohio University and Southern Methodist University and the emergence of freshman quarterback Desmond Ridder. After ending an 11-2 season with a win in the Military Bowl against Virginia Tech, Fickell had been upgraded to local hero status. He was rewarded for helping UC to only its third 11-win season in school history with Coach of the Year honors in the American Athletic Conference and consideration for head-coaching openings at Louisville and West Virginia. Luckily for fans, Fickell decided to stay at UC. If the team can rebuild its graduationdepleted offensive line, the Bearcats could be as good or better in 2019. University of Cincinnati, gobearcats. com.

BEST WAY TO EARN YOURSELF AN ICEE WHILE PROTECTING YOUR MOTHER Green Acres Canoe and Kayak Rental offers canoe, kayak and tube rentals for humans to sit in to take a trip down the Whitewater River. Rent the crafts per person for either three, five or eight miles — depending on how long you feel like floating — and sign yourself up for several hours of outdoor adventure (or relaxation). You can bring coolers on the canoes or kayaks but there is a general policy against cabrewing. And if you’re looking to entertain the under-21 crowd, kids (who must be at least 4-years-old and 40 pounds to ride) can become honorary “Litter Gitters” on the river. Green Acres will give kids a plastic bag to fill up with trash — like a kind of cleaning

scavenger hunt. When they hand it in at the end of the trip, they get a free treat: an ICEE. The Whitewater is already classified as one of the cleanest rivers in the Tri-State by the Ohio EPA, but extra little helpers are always appreciated. Green Acres Canoe and Kayak Rental, 10465 Suspension Bridge Road, Harrison, greenacrescanoe.com.

BEST CINCINNATI ROLLERGIRLS’ PLAYER NAME This was a close race. The Cincinnati Rollergirls’ roster is chock full of talented skaters with impressive names, including Hot Slice, MIRDERHER, Sailor Scary and FireBolt. But it’s Pistolwhippin’ Wendy, who made her CRG debut in 2009 and plays pivot, jammer and blocker for the team, that takes the cake. Catch Wendy and the gang in 2019 at their newish home at Xavier University’s Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse. First rolled out in 2006, the CRG are the Queen City’s first all-female, amateur, flat-track roller derby team, and for those interested in trading in their mainstream fandom for something more unique, these girls have you covered. All members of the team — including the coaches, referees and skaters — are volunteers, and the team is primarily owned by the skaters themselves as the girls double as roller derby athletes and #girlbosses. Check the schedule for home games, which all include themes like Superhero Night, Star Wars Night and Pride Night. Cincinnati Rollergirls, cincinnatirollergirls.com.

BEST RETRO RENTAL FOR GROOVY CAMPERS The lure and lore of hitting the open road, of Route 66 and road trips, highways and cross-country adventures is ingrained in the American ethos like Manifest Destiny and Jack Kerouac novels. And part of that idealization is conjured up in wholesome those-were-the-days nostalgia — all-night diners, neon signs and rolled-down windows. Local company Route Fifty Campers captures that feeling with their line of one-ofa-kind refurbished vintage rental trailers. We’re talking a full-blown

BEST BLEND OF SPORTS AND THEATRE Shakespearean drama. Gravity-defying acrobatics. Unitards. You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the spectacle of pro wrestling. The Northern Wrestling Federation offers WWE-sized thrills in the cozier confines of Fairfield’s UAW Hall. Over the past two decades, the indie promotion has garnered a cult following of die-hard wrestling fans and curious locals. Eight dollars scores you a seat closer to the action than any arena will provide, leaving you enough leftover cash to buy a hot dog and enough proximity to feel the rumble of the mat after a leap from the top rope. Though aerial feats and suplexes are never in short supply, NWF’s real draw is its eclectic cast of characters, which includes a D-list actor with a Napoleon complex, a guy who sports a Roman Gladiator mask at all times and a Floridian beach bum. It’s part gymnastics, part improv comedy and part reality TV — all performed live. Northern Wrestling Federation, nwfwrestling. squarespace.com.

1950s Airstream, wood-paneled Winnebago and an adorable teal 1985 Scamp, among others. Rental starts at $80-$185 per night and Route Fifty can deliver a trailer to a campground or RV park (for a fee) or you can tow and go yourself, if you have the right equipment. Different campers have different capacities — all have sinks and stoves, some have toilets — but they’ve all been outfitted with a retro vibe and Midcentury-meets-contemporary décor: lots of teal, yellow and avocado green. Route Fifty also curates experience packages, like the Olive Branch Camping and Zip Line Adventure, which includes camper delivery to Olive Branch Campground in Oregonia for three nights, plus passes to Ozone Zipline Adventure. Route Fifty Campers, routefiftycampers.com.

BEST MICROCOSM OF THE CONTROVERSY OVER NATIVE AMERICAN MASCOTS Thanks in large part to the Cleveland Indians baseball team’s “Chief Wahoo” logo, Ohio has forever been a part of the controversy over Native American sports mascots. And as the culture has gradually shifted away from using mascots some find offensive and racist, high schools have increasingly been dealing with the issue, particularly in Ohio, which reportedly has more high schools with Native American mascots than any other state in the country. Early last year, Cleveland announced it would remove the Chief Wahoo logo from uniforms beginning with the 2019 season and last fall, the Talawanda Schools board in Oxford, Ohio narrowly voted to change its mascot name from the Braves to Brave (Oxford’s Miami University 176 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Northern Wrestling Federation PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

switched from the Miami Redskins to the RedHawks in the mid-’90s). Meanwhile, after a lengthy and contentious meeting over the summer, Cincinnati’s Anderson High School decided that, at least for now, it would keep its “Redskin” name and mascot; in fact, the official Twitter account for the high school remains @AndersonRedskin.

BEST MASCOT NAMED GARY As FC Cincinnati launches headlong into a new league during its first MLS season, the team has also committed to a new mascot. He is orange. He is feline. He is plush. His mane, nose and wingtips (yes, he has wings) are blue — we’re not sure if that’s natural or a dye job. None of our business, really. And oh yeah, his name is Gary. Why Gary? Apparently, FC Cincinnati fans saw that name spelled out in the stylized lion on the team’s crest. And so they spoke it, or really, tweeted it into existence. Not that Gary was born in a day. No, it took five months to call forth this friendly, bluehaired soccer beast. Chicago-based AMAZING!! Mascots designed him with help from FC Cincinnati Vice President of Community Relations Kate Solomon. “We’re thrilled to welcome Gary to the FC Cincinnati family,” Solomon said in a statement. “He is a bright, cheery force of nature that is a perfect reflection of our fans’ presence in the Queen City. Further, with our club pillar of being active and visible in the community, Gary provides

us another way to further our connection to our fans — especially children and younger fans.” Other fans were less than thrilled with Gary’s appearance… and name, calling “Gary” a middle-aged dad, lame and the name of a “sleazy dude who drives a free candy van.” Regardless, the cerulean-maned lion will be out and about on the concourse level of Nippert Stadium during home games, and in the Kid’s Zone on Sheakley Field prior to game time. FC Cincinnati, fccincinnati.com.

BEST OFFENSIVE MASCOT ALMOST EVERYONE CAN GET BEHIND Last October, the Chiefs slaughtered the Bengals in their game in Kansas City. Final score: 45-10. After doing what they do so well and giving a tiny bit of hope with a respectable 4-2 record to start the year, the team ate it and continued a streak that would include only two more wins by season’s end. The game did have one spectacular moment for non-Chief fans. During NBC’s Sunday night broadcast (oh yeah — it was another brutal prime-time game), cameras zeroed in on a sad Bengals fan in the crowd, sporting a yellow tiger mask. As soon as the camera cut to the fan, he raised his orange tiger-striped-begloved middle finger. The fan — Victor Valentino (a veteran local musician who currently sings with the band Bummers Eve) — encapsulated long-suffering

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Bengals followers’ disgust so perfectly, the moment was picked up by sports sites like Fansided and included in coverage on ESPN and in The Enquirer, and Cincinnati print shop We Have Become Vikings put Valentino’s masked face and finger on a “Number 1 Fan” T-shirt, donating proceeds to a charity of his choice.

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Cincinnati weather can make it difficult to keep up a hobby of mountain biking — one day of rain can keep some bike trails closed for many days after because of a lack of maintenance or a lack of effort. But Mitchell Memorial Forest in Cleves has got it together with their handmade and challenging but safe trails, created and maintained to the standards of the Cincinnati Off Road Alliance. Mitchell Memorial is also vigilant about openings and closings: They have an active Facebook page that alerts followers to when trails are closed and when they re-open after bad weather. This is especially impressive because this park has one of the longest mountain biking trail system around Cincinnati, coming in at eight full miles. They even have open events for volunteers to help with trail maintenance. No other park in the Queen City puts this much effort in to make sure that if you crash, it definitely isn’t the trail’s fault. Mitchell Memorial Forest, 5401 Zion Road, Cleves, greatparks.org.

BEST PROOF THAT THE CINCINNATI SPORTS CURSE IS VERY REAL Last year during NCAA basketball’s March Madness, it seemed as if the top hometown teams — the Xavier Musketeers (a No. 1 seed) and the UC Bearcats (a No. 2 seed) — were both on the verge of impressive runs. Then, on March 18, each team suffered such heartbreaking, freakish losses some were calling it the worst night in Cincinnati sports history. The Bearcats had a 22-point lead in the second half of their game against Nevada, but then suffered the second-worst collapse in tournament history when the Wolf Pack took the 178 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

lead with nine seconds left and the ’Cats turned it over on their final possession. Xavier’s loss later that night wasn’t quite as bad —9-seeded Florida only had to overcome a 12-point deficit — but the weirdly similar meltdowns immensely bolstered the funny feeling that Cincinnati sports, as a whole, are cursed.

BEST POTENTIAL NEW PRO FOOTBALL HERO/SCAPEGOAT FOR LONG-SUFFERING BENGALS FANS After another disappointing season, the Bengals finally decided maybe it wasn’t a sign of great leadership to have never won a playoff game after 16 years and fired head coach Marvin Lewis. Zac Taylor was named his replacement, but the team had to wait until Taylor’s previous job ended; he was the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams, whose quarterback scored no points in a losing Super Bowl effort. It was at least an inauspicious way to come into being introduced as the Bengals’ new head coach, if not a fitting one for a team known far and wide as “The Bungles” for a reason. Given the organization’s reputation, the “Welcome to the Jungle” tagline used in the advertising welcoming Taylor to the team had some ominous connotations. But for Bengals fans wanting a fresh start, Taylor is, at the very least, just that. Many see Taylor’s signing as part of a “youth movement” trend in the NFL that has resulted from 33-year-old Rams head coach Sean McVay’s success. Taylor is 35 years old, just four years older than Bengals starting QB Andy Dalton, and he has minimal coaching experience. Still, the Rams had a phenomenal 2018 season, and Jared Goff — and, presumably, Taylor — were a big part of that. If he can accomplish what Lewis did in his first year (i.e. just get to the playoffs), fans will be deliriously hopeful; if Taylor helps the team to another 10-loss season, well, fans will just carry on as they have for decades. Bengals, Paul Brown Stadium, 1 Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown, bengals.com.

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BEST SIGN OF HOPE FOR CINCINNATI SPORTS IN 2019 After an eminently forgettable 2018, the Cincinnati Reds are looking like they are serious about making a run for the playoffs in the coming season, even offering fans hope that the team might just be the one to end decades of bad luck for local pro (and college) sports and win a championship. Though they could have probably coasted through one more “rebuilding” year and distract fans with celebrations around the team’s 150th anniversary and legendary announcer Marty Brennaman’s final season, the Reds anted up. Last fall the team hired popular former player David Bell to be the manager, but it was a late-in-the-year trade that turned fans’ (and division opponents’) heads. Right before Christmas, the Reds did a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers that netted the team productive veteran Matt Kemp and superstar Yasiel Puig. In return, the Reds sent much-maligned (and expensive) starting pitcher Homer Bailey and a couple of young prospects to L.A. The Reds got the better of the trade… by a long shot. Also part of the deal: the hometown squad added left-handed starter Alex Wood to its rotation and received “cash considerations,” which turned out to be $7 million. Reds, Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown reds.com.

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BEST WWE HOST FROM CINCY When locals turn on WWE SmackDown Live, they may see a familiar face in the form of host/ announcer Greg Hamilton. Born Greg Hutson, Hamilton — who chose his stage name after his hometown of Hamilton, Ohio — spent years on the entertainment and hosting circuit in places like Orlando and San Antonio before landing his starring SmackDown gig. Hamilton can be seen every Tuesday night on SmackDown Live as well as in the ring for WWE’s signature events like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and more. He now resides in Cincinnati and when not announcing “Shinsukkkkkeeeeee Nakamuuura,” he can be found casually enjoying a lobster roll at Court Street Lobster Bar. A scroll through his Instagram (@greghamiltonwwe) shows the man as one part super host, one part world traveler and one part foodie, so don’t be surprised to see shots of Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse next to ringside snaps from around the world.

BEST CINCINNATI HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI PERFORMANCE Winton Woods standout turned soon-to-be NFL linebacker David Long Jr. put on a show at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, placing inside the Top 5 in the 40-yard dash (4.45) and vertical jump 180 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

(39.5). And his former rival, Mount Healthy’s David Montgomery, did much of the same at the much-anticipated Indianapolis event. Long — a former Iowa State running back — made Cincy proud, running an impressive 4.63-second 40-yard dash and putting up 15 reps of 225 on the bench. Montgomery and Long represented the Queen City well and should reap the benefits from draft day in April.

BEST BLESSING FOR BASEBALL’S OPENING DAY It was a shocker when we found out last year that the holiest of all holy days in Cincinnati — Opening Day for Reds baseball — would be effectively split in two in 2018. The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade was held four days after the Reds’ home opener against the Washington Nationals, thanks to MLB scheduling changes that moved the season’s start date up a week. “The Reds Opening Day, which has historically fallen on a Monday, is now moved to the Thursday of the preceding week,” Findlay Market said in a statement at the time. “In 2018, this causes a conflict for Findlay Market because the opening week of the baseball season coincides with the Easter holidays. And, in order to operate the parade, Findlay Market needs to be closed.” Contrary to popular belief, the separation of the two events was not a harbinger

of the apocalypse and the parade and Opening Day still occurred without incident. Thankfully, there is no such conflict in 2019, and thus, Reds fans will be spared the intense level of angst last year’s decision engendered. The Reds’ first game and the city’s vaunted Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will once again fall on the same day. The Reds will play their first game of the 2019 season against the Pittsburgh Pirates March 28 after the 100th-annual parade and the Reds Community Block Party. Expect the parade’s 100th anniversary and the Reds’ 150th anniversary — and the reunion of the two — to mark this procession as one to remember. Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-theRhine, findlaymarketparade.com.

BEST BREWERY TURNED OUTDOOR RECREATION DESTINATION Fifty West Brewing Company has turned a stretch of Wooster Pike into a veritable outdoor recreation corridor. Across the street from the flagship brewpub sits Fifty West Canoe & Kayak, Fifty West Cycling and Fifty West Production Works (home to six sand volleyball courts). All are geared toward building community through shared experiences, which include drinking craft beer and going outside: it’s all about an active lifestyle, according to brewery co-owner Bobby Slattery. “Our mission, from a company standpoint is, basically, if you’re

on the barstool, we want to get you off the barstool and figure out a way to add value to your life,” he says. “And if you’re not on the barstool and you’re out there being active, we want to educate you on craft beer and get you to sit on the barstool every once and a while.” Fifty West’s proximity to the Little Miami River and Loveland Bike Trail — arguably the city’s most popular thoroughfares for canoeing, kayaking, running and biking — also added a spark. Most activities are seasonal: running groups, co-ed volleyball leagues and group bike rides take place March through November, and then canoe and kayak rentals start around April or May and run through the fall. Fifty West’s bike shop is open year-round, however, for sales and fittings. They’ve also added a family-friendly Roadside Grill to their seasonal offerings. While the brewpub offers chef-driven, sit-down dining, the Roadside Grill is a place to grab snacks, sandwiches and salads to eat before a bike ride or jog along the trail. Also check the website for official training groups to help you meet your full or half-marathon goals. Fifty West Brewing Company, 7668 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township, fiftywestbrew.com.

BEST INCLUSIVE ICE EVENT Hockey games can be overwhelming for just about anyone — strobe lights, smoke machines, fog horns, toppling towers of dollar beer cans. In October, the Cincinnati Cyclones turned things down a notch for an inclusive sensory-friendly game for those with autism, PTSD and other sensitivities and their friends to enjoy a night out on the ice. Presented in collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the decreased stimulation tactics included no goal horns, strobe lights or pyrotechnics; decreased microphone and music volume; and the lights remained on. They also asked fans to leave their cowbells and noisemakers at home. In addition to providing sensory kits stuffed with things like antiglare sunglasses, an ID wristband, noise-reducing ear covers, a fidget toy, sanitizing wipes and a venue map, they offered a downloadable social narrative to walk people through what they would see, hear and experience

before watching the game. The kits are now a constant and available on a first come, first served basis for fans with visual and auditory sensitivities. “U.S. Bank Arena and the Cincinnati Cyclones are the first venue and sports team in Cincinnati to take the initiative to ensure that athletic events such as hockey games are accessible to everyone including individuals with developmental disabilities and their families,” said Jen Smith, director of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, in a press release. “Our kids and families want and deserve the same opportunities to enjoy sports and other community events.” Now they can. Cincinnati Cyclones, U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown, cycloneshockey.com.

BEST THEME NIGHTS Watching a Florence Freedom game is fun, but it’s even more fun on a theme night. The Frontier League baseball team — housed out of the UC Health Stadium in Florence, Kentucky — has all the drama of a Major League match but with a “fun uncle” kind of attitude. The wide-ranging promo schedule has themes to please both kids and adults, ranging from Pokémon and Marvel superhero nights to a Bourbon Fest and Bark in the Park for humans and their furry friends. Almost every home game has an attached and interactive promo with costumes, competitions or photo ops. And if it isn’t Wrestling Night or Game Show Night, there’s a chance it’s Thirsty Thursday (with $1 Miller Lite and Coors Lite drafts or $4 craft drafts), Fireworks Friday or Rockin’ Saturday with live musical performances after the game. It’s kind of the best bang for your buck — sports with a side of sideshow — and very family friendly. They have a Kids Club membership, which gives little ones access to 13 free games, giveaways and entry to an inflatable play zone featuring a giant slide that looks like the Florence Freedom mascot, Y’all Star, who strongly/strangely resembles the Florence Water Tower. UC Health Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence, florencefreedom.com.

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WEDNESDAY 27

EVENT: Best Of Cincinnati Celebration Best Of Cincinnati gets bigger every year and 2019 is no exception. Our annual bash to fête our favorite people, places and things — be they bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors, hidden gems, hip hangouts, local bands, urban festivals or movements that made an impact — is taking over all three floors of The Phoenix with a plethora of local food and drink samples. Try bites from the likes of The BonBonerie, Eli’s BBQ, Camp Washington Chili, Dewey’s Pizza, Holtman’s Donuts, AmerAsia, Mazunte, Taste of Belgium, Skyline Chili and more while you sip on spirits from New Riff, Tito’s, Basil Hayden, El Tesoro, Roku Gin and George Remus, plus wine from Old 502 Winery and local beer from Braxton and Fifty West. Tickets include a tote bag with Edie Harper’s “Pigs are Big” artwork, filled with coupons and a chance to discover a Golden Ticket; Golden Ticket prizes include access to the Bunbury Music Festival, Forecastle, Bonnaroo and more. 5 p.m. Presidential ticket entry; 5:30 p.m. general admission Wednesday. $42 general admission; $100 Presidential. The Phoenix, 812 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, bestofcincinnati.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO ART: Paris 1900: City of Entertainment at the Cincinnati Art Museum Turn-of-the-century Paris is an inspiration to the world of what a great city is like at its zenith. It was also, especially during the International Exposition of 1900 and fin de siècle, the eternal City of Light — a golden age captured through the arts, images, fashion and events

Best Of Cincinnati celebration PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

of an era. Paris of the Belle Époque is currently available to visit at the Cincinnati Art Museum, where the ticketed Paris 1900: City of Entertainment exhibition will be on display through May 12. Organized by that city’s Petit Palais Museum of Fine Arts, which is in a building originally constructed for the 1900 exposition, the show consists of more than 230 objects drawn from Parisian museums. Sections are devoted to Art Nouveau, the Parisian Woman, the International Exposition and Paris by Night with works ranging from sculpture and posters to furniture and film from notable names like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Alfons Mucha, Camille Claudel and Sarah Bernhardt. Travel back in time to discover this incredibly important

period. The Art After Dark: Passport to Paris event from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, March 29 offers free admission to the exhibit, plus live music from the Faux Frenchman, dance performances from Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French Cancan dancers, food for purchase from Macaron Bar and Urban Stead Cheese, and wine from Skeleton Root. Through May 12. $12; $6 seniors, college students, children 6-17; free children under 5 and members. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum. org. — STEVEN ROSEN ATTRACTIONS: Egypt: The Time of Pharaohs at the Cincinnati Museum Center Ancient Egypt now resides inside the Cincinnati Museum Center via a collection of artifacts dating back more

than 4,500 years. Making its U.S. debut, Egypt: The Time of Pharaohs gives a sweeping look at Egyptian life five millennia ago, from the gods they worshipped to the flourishing arts scene to the everyday lives of both commoners and the ruling class. The show boasts over 350 original artifacts and is heralded as the largest exhibition of ancient Egyptian items to ever go on the road. Upon entering the space, visitors are greeted by a projected image of the Nile River, which stretches across an entire length of wall. The image visually grounds the exhibit and is the backdrop for cases upon cases of artifacts, each adding their own revelation about this culture and people. Notable items on display at the Museum Center include the sphinx head of the pharaoh Hatshepsut, one

of Egypt’s most prolific rulers who presented herself as a king rather than a queen; and a slab stela of lunu, or a horizontal tablet, which is one of the best preserved on display. It depicts an administrator of pharaoh Khufu stretching his hand toward an offering table. Other sections of the exhibit feature a timeline of ancient Egypt’s various historical periods, hieroglyphs, a papyrus fragment with a scene from the Book of the Dead, and impressive miniature replicas of various temples and housing. The sheer amount of artifacts — many in remarkable condition despite their age — are joined by modern replicas and features. Also on display is the world’s first three-dimensional mummy hologram, which is the last thing visitors will see before

leaving the space. Through Aug. 18. $19.50 adults; $17.50 seniors; $12.50 children and member adults; $8.50 member children. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum. org. — MACKENZIE MANLEY ART: Winslow Homer to Georgia O’Keeffe: American Paintings from The Phillips Collection at the Taft Museum of Art Winslow Homer to Georgia O’Keeffe: American Paintings from The Phillips Collection, the Taft Museum of Art’s current temporary exhibition in the third-floor gallery, begins with work from the late 19th century and moves through 100 years, tracing all the way to the 1960s. It includes 54 paintings and CONTINUES ON PAGE 18 4

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ART: Archive as Action at the Contemporary Arts Center Housed on the Contemporary Arts Center’s second-floor gallery, Archive as Action meets three seemingly disparate Cincinnati-based artists — Amanda Curreri, Lindsey Whittle and Calcagno Cullen — at their intersection. Curreri, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, uses textiles to examine issues of labor, class and identity; Whittle, an adjunct instructor at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, uses fashion and performance to bring art into her daily routine; and Cullen, co-director of Camp Washington’s Wave Pool gallery, has created an unconventional office and interactive space to connect visitors to each other. All the art is interactive and invites gallery-goers to explore art and materials through a participatory lens. Use a sewing machine to help repurpose recycled flag material into strands of rope for “RopeWalk,” an artwork that will be unveiled during the CAC’s This Time Tomorrow performance art festival in April. Participants will carry the sewn rope creation across the Purple People Bridge — a site connected to the history of slavery that divides the North and South — to represent public healing. Go to “Coworking with Cal” on Thursdays and use her unconventional office space in the museum, or leave a message on a landline telephone for others to hear. Or rework Whittle’s welded shape creation to make your own. Through June 16. Free admission. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org. — MACKENZIE MANLEY

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one sculpture, all drawn from The Phillips Collection in Washington D.C., which was founded on the private collection of Duncan Phillips. “You’re not only seeing a broad overview of the development of Modernism,” Taft associate curator Tamera Muente says. “You’re also seeing an individual’s vision.” In part, that vision was to set American artists on equal par to their European counterparts. Phillips believed that selftaught artists like John Kane and Grandma Moses, artists of color — both Allan Rohan Crite and Horace Pippin are featured — and immigrants deserved to be supported and represented. One of the sections — “Memory and Identity” — is dedicated to this. You’ll also see two works by Edward Hopper,

offering lonely depictions of modern urban life. By the time visitors enter the last gallery, they’ll be greeted by complete abstraction. But everything else builds to that. And by walking through each room — divided into thematic sections — the road to Abstract Expressionism reveals itself. Through May 19. $9.99 adults; $8 seniors; free 18 and under. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org. — MACKENZIE MANLEY

FRIDAY 29

FILM: Cincinnati Premiere of The Public The Public, written and directed by Emilio Estevez and shot at Cincinnati’s Main Library branch downtown, follows a group of homeless patrons during an arctic cold front who decide to stay at the library for shelter. The

situation boils into a standoff with local police and unravels into a David vs. Goliath tale. Slated to hit theaters April 5, the cast includes Estevez and Jena Malone as two librarians caught in the middle; Michael K. Williams stars as the leader of the homeless group. Other cast members include Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Taylor Schilling, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union and Jacob Vargas. Having already made a festival circuit run, so far The Public has scored a fairly crisp 71 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It is having its local premiere on Friday at the Taft Theatre, with a post-film Q&A with Estevez and star Che “Rhymefest” Smith. 7 p.m. Friday. $40 or $100. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org. —MACKENZIE MANLEY

PHOTO: PROVIDED

THURSDAY 28

EVENT: Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Thankfully, world order has been restored and the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade and Reds Opening Day game are once again taking place on the same day in 2019. Last year, the parade was held four days after the Reds’ home opener against the Washington Nationals because MLB scheduling changes moved the season’s start date up a week. This year, parade activities go back to their regularly scheduled programming, with events stepping off from Findlay Market at noon before the Reds take on the Pittsburg Pirates at Great American Ball Park at 4:10 p.m. This year’s parade is also an exceptionally big deal because it marks several milestones: the 100th anniversary of the parade and the 150th anniversary of the Cincinnati Reds. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred will serve as grand marshall of the parade, riding with Johnny Bench, who will catch the first pitch (thrown by Eric Davis). Among other parade highlights: a Disney-themed Dumbo float, the Budweiser Clydesdales and appearances by Grippo’s (also celebrating 100 years; please throw bags of chips), King Records and multiple marching bands and dance teams. We assume everyone is taking the rest of the week off, right? Noon Thursday. Free. Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-theRhine, findlaymarketparade.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO

MONDAY 01

ATTRACTIONS: Zoo Blooms As one of only two accredited botanical gardens in Ohio, the Cincinnati Zoo has much more to offer than sassy hippos. Zoo Blooms takes over the grounds each April with an explosion of color and elaborate floral displays. Dubbed “Tulip Mania,” the zoo has planted more than 100,000 tulips in a rainbow assortment of colors that will bloom throughout the month, in addition to more than 1 million combined yellow and white daffodils, hyacinths and flowering trees and shrubs. To accompany the event, the zoo hosts after-hours Tunes & Blooms concerts every Thursday evening in April. These family-friendly events are free and feature food (and alcohol) sales. Things kick

off with Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge Band and Shiny Old Soul, followed by Brother Smith (April 11), Honey & Houston (April 18) and Mama Said String Band (April 25). Keep an eye on the weather; concerts can be rescheduled because of rain. Through April 30. $19 adults; $13 children. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo. org. — MAIJA ZUMMO

FRIDAY 05

ONSTAGE: Macbeth at Cincy Shakes Cincy Shakes tackles this bloody and tragic tale of power and ambition as Lord Macbeth succumbs to murder and madness on his reign of terror and tyranny to capture — and keep — the Scottish

throne. A trio of witches reveals a prophecy that Macbeth will one day take the crown from the current King Duncan. Upon hearing the news, Lady Macbeth spurs her husband’s hand and the two concoct a Machiavellian plot to kill Duncan (and some other people) and seize Scotland. It’s a dark, dramatic tale — Cincy Shakes calls it a “heart-pounding thrill ride” — and not suitable for children under 13. Directed by Miranda McGee. Through May 4. $57 adults; $54 senior; $31 student. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincyshakes.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO

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ARTS & CULTURE CSO’s 125th Anniversary Looks to the Future, Nods to its Illustrious Past The Cincinnati Symphony promises special guests, world premieres and more for the coming season BY M AC K EN ZI E M A N L E Y

ome September, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra hits a milestone: It turns 125 years old, which makes it one of only six American orchestras to do so. “There is no better way to kick off this anniversary season than to bring people together through music in the spirit of seeking and sharing inspiration,” said CSO’s music director Louis Langrée at their season announcement in January. In promising a superb lineup — which offers a diverse array of both up-and-coming and established musicians — Langrée noted that in examining the CSO’s past, they must also look to its future. That sentiment drives the 2019-2020 season, which includes musical guests Renée Fleming, Anne Sophie-Mutter, Grammywinner Isabel Leonard and the CSO’s current artist-in-residence, Guy Braunstein. Two new series are also slated for the 125th season, including Look Around. Inspired by the native northern mockingbird’s ability to listen and learn from others, the free event functions as a diverse showcase that will unfold Aug. 3 in various Over-the-Rhine spots, with a special performance at Washington Park. Joining the CSO will be 30 local groups — choirs, ensembles, dancers — who will come together for a parade that will trace its way from Ziegler Park through OTR. Langrée noted that Look Around will culminate with a new collaborative musical work from composer, vocalist and multiinstrumentalist Shara Nova; designer, choreographer and filmmaker Mark DeChiazza; and Siri Imani, a performance poet — and a member of local Hip Hop collective Triiibe — whose poem “Lost Generation” lent the event its title (“I need you to care not about yourself or obtaining your wealth/I need you to look around”). Also new will be CSO Proof, a three-concert series to be presented in Music Hall’s reconfigured backstage area. Described as an intimate experience, it will literally bring audience members onstage with the orchestra. The CSO will collaborate with multiple curators like pianist and composer Timo Andres, visual artist Frédéric Nauczyciel

and choreographer Rosie Herrera, as well as the Contemporary Arts Center. “For an orchestra to evolve, it must innovate,” said CSO president Jonathan Music Hall, home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Martin. “That PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER doesn’t mean we cease performing timeless masterBroadway and classic film tunes; the works pieces of the orchestral canon; that music played the night before by Boulanger and is fundamental to what we do and who we Rachmaninoff will also be included. are. Yet, at the same time, we must take Jan. 18 and 19 are the 125th Anniversary advantage of the extraordinary breadth of Celebration concerts, which include new, eclectic artistic talent and deploy it in a numerous nods to the CSO’s illustrious way that better engages the community we history and alumni. Each night, the serve, and in doing that, draw inspiration program will open with a commissioned from that community.” world premiere by William Winstead, a recently retired CSO bassoonist who performed with the orchestra for 31 The 2019-2020 season will officially open years. He’ll then perform “Exil!,” which Sept. 20-21 with At the Summit, a nod to was composed by violinist Eugène Ysaÿe, the CSO’s “world premieres,” in which the CSO’s conductor and music director from orchestra will perform a pair of works by 1918-1922. Renowned Jazz pianist Aaron Richard Strauss conducted by Langrée: Diehl will make his CSO debut with Duke “Don Juan” and “An Alpine Symphony,” the Ellington’s 1945 composition “New World latter of which had its U.S. premiere in 1916 A-Comin’,” which Ellington recorded with with the CSO. Bryce Dessner — a Cincinnati the CSO in 1970 as part of his Orchestral native and guitarist for popular Indie Rock Works album. Also included in the night’s band The National — will also get some program is George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody love. Pianists and sisters Katia and Marielle in Blue,” featuring the late composer Lebèque will join the orchestra to perform himself on piano. Sort of. A one-time guest the U.S. premiere of Dessner’s “Concerto for artist with the CSO, the orchestra will be Two Pianos.” performing with a player piano and a piano Singer Renée Fleming and the CSO will roll Gershwin made in 1925 of “Rhapsody.” perform Strauss’ “Four Last Songs” on Jan. The January 2020 Anniversary 10, 2020, as well as works by Lili Boulanger Celebration concerts will close with Langrée and Augusta Holmès. Behzod Abduraimov, conducting Russian composer Alexander a pianist from Uzbekistan, will perform Scriabin’s 1910 piece “Prometheus: Poem Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 at the of Fire.” The performances will include the concert. colorful instrument Scriabin invented, the The following night (Jan. 11, 2020) is clavier à lumières (“keyboard of light”), the CSO’s anniversary gala concert and which will be brought to life via a video dinner, dubbed “Timeless.” Along with installation by London-based Israeli artist more Strauss (“Cäecilie,” “Morgen” and and filmmaker Tal Rosner. “Liebeshymnus”), Fleming will sing some Come Feb. 29-March 1, 2020, Music Hall’s

Other Highlights

ballroom will be transformed into a Viennese Biergarten for Beethoven Akademie 1808, the closer of the CSO’s three-year Beethoven Revolution which explored all nine of the famed composer’s symphonies. The night will recreate what is said to be Beethoven’s most legendary — and, some argue, most important — concert. Held in December 1808 in Vienna, it premiered his Fifth and Sixth symphonies and his Fourth Piano Concerto. There will be short intermissions during each performance and a dinner break, where the audience can dine in the aforementioned ballroom-turned-biergarten. The season will come to a close with Mahler 3 + Adolphe Premiere on May 16-17, 2020. “Mahler’s Third” was given its U.S. premiere by the CSO in 1914 at the Cincinnati May Festival; movements include poetic titles like “What the Flowers in the Meadow Tell Me,” and “What Love Tells Me.” In the performance’s fourth movement, Mahler uses text from Friedrich Nietzche’s Also Sprach Zarathustra, or Midnight Song. “The world is deep, and deeper than the day has thought. Deep is its pain — joy — deeper still than heartache,” the text reads. The night will be topped off by a new work from composer Julia Adolphe, signifying — once again — CSO’s mission to peer into its future while still remaining aware of its roots. For more on the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and its 125th season, or for tickets, visit cincinnatisymphony.org.

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Playhouse Announces Its 2019-2020 Season BY R I C K PEN D ER

Even as plans are underway for the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park to evolve and grow dramatically with a new mainstage a few years from now, Artistic Director Blake Robison is announcing the award-winning regional theater’s 60th season. Running from September 2019 to June 2020, it will be presented while fundraising and design work for the new facility are in progress. The 11 productions in the coming season run the gamut from drama to comedy Murder on the Orient Express will be at the Playhouse in 2020 and from musicals to mysteries. As has been Robison’s P H O T O : T O N Y A R R A S M I T H / A R R A S M I T H & A S S O C I AT E S practice, audiences can also expect family-friendly shows for multi-generational audiences. (Nov. 9-Jan. 5, 2020) by Ted Dykstra and Of particular interest will be americUS, Richard Greenblatt, a comedy about two a world premiere from the multicultural pianists in hot pursuit of musical stardom. ensemble Universes that uses theater, Anna Ziegler’s Actually (March 21-April 26, poetry, dance, Jazz, Hip Hop and Blues to 2020) follows americUS. (Ziegler also wrote create a portrait of contemporary America. A Delicate Ship, presented by the Playhouse Robison says, “It will be unlike anything in 2014.) This play from 2017 is about a we’ve produced,” which is saying something couple’s night together that sets off an unexfor a theater that’s been producing shows pected chain of events. The Shelterhouse since 1960. It will unfold on the Rosenthal season wraps up with Becoming Dr. Ruth Shelterhouse Stage Feb. 1-March 8, 2020. (May 9-June 21, 2020) by Mark St. Germain. The mainstage Marx Theatre season The one-woman show explores the harrowbegins with the Tony Award-winning musiing and fascinating details of the life of Ruth cal Once on This Island (Sept. 7-Oct. 6, 2019) Westheimer, who became America’s favorite by Lynn Ahrens and University of Cincinsex therapist in the 1980s and ’90s. nati College-Conservatory of Music grad Subscriptions are available by calling 513and composer Stephen Flaherty. Next is The 421-3888 or at cincyplay.com. An especially Lifespan of a Fact (Oct. 19-Nov. 16, 2019) by affordable offering is the student-oriented Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon “Build Your Own” package, which allows Farrell, a Broadway hit in 2018. Set in the full-time students to pick from four to 10 world of journalism, it’s about a showdown shows for just $15 per production. of fact versus fiction. A Christmas Carol (Nov. 27-Dec. 29, 2019) returns for the 29th time. And Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Jan. 18-Feb. 16, 2020) kicks off the new year, chronicling the 1950s Rock & Roll icon’s While we’re at it, here’s what the Children’s story. Theatre of Cincinnati has planned for its Continuing the Playhouse’s annual four-show season at the Taft Theatre. commitment to female playwrights, Destiny The nation’s oldest professional theater of Desire (Feb. 29-March 28, 2020) by Karen for young audiences kicks off its season with Zacarías is an homage to Latin American Casper the Friendly Musical (Oct. 12-21, soap operas through telling the story of baby 2019). This is a world premiere, adapted by girls switched at birth. (Zacarías’ previous TCT’s artistic director, Roderick Justice. Playhouse productions, Native Gardens For the holiday season, TCT will respond to and The Book Club Play, were both well the hundreds of requests it regularly gets to received). The Marx concludes with Agatha present A Charlie Brown Christmas (Dec. Christie’s classic mystery, Murder on the 7-16, 2019); 2019 is the 54th anniversary of Orient Express (April 11-May 9, 2020). the beloved animated TV special. Playwright Ken Ludwig adapted this tale of Lizards will be leapin’ in 2020 with detective Hercule Poirot solving the mystery Annie JR. (February 29-March 9, 2020), an of a death on board the luxurious train. adaptation of the show aimed at younger In addition to Universes’ americUS, the audiences. “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” for Rosenthal Shelterhouse will present a varied the optimistic orphan as she hunts for her set of shows, beginning with Margaret parents, but she knows the sun will come Atwood’s Alias Grace (Sept. 14-Oct. 27, out “Tomorrow.” The season wraps up with 2019), adapted by Jennifer Blackmer. It’s Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (April a very different murder mystery about a 25-May 4, 2020), the story of another strong16-year-old girl who claimed to have lost the willed little girl with an especially vivid memories of her deed. (Netflix subscribers imagination. Season subscriptions start at might recall that Atwood’s novel was also $43; single tickets go on sale on Aug. 30. Visit adapted into a 2017 miniseries.) The Shelthechildrenstheatre.com for more. terhouse holiday show is 2 Pianos, 4 Hands

Children’s Theatre’s 20192020 Season

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If you’ve been wary of subscribing to a Cincinnati Shakespeare Company season because you had a bad experience with the Bard in high school, the coming season might be worth considering. The company has a very elastic definition of classical plays; two-thirds of the shows for 2019-2020 have classic roots but were written after 2000. Let’s start with the obvious: Three of the 10 productions are, indeed, by William Shakespeare. One is Titus Andronicus (Oct. 11-Nov. 2, 2019), with murder, mayhem Sara Clark as Hamlet and mutilation just in time for Halloween. Expect this one to PHOTO: MIKKI SCHAFFNER PHOTOGRAPHY get beyond speeches: The plan is for a Steampunk-inspired design. Kennedy’s assassination. LBJ was a largerOnce the blood and gore are mopped than-life character from Texas who had up, a sprightly comedy will be in place to keep a fractious nation together as the for the “early” holiday season: The Merry contentious Civil Rights Act became reality. Wives of Windsor (Nov. 15-Dec. 7, 2019), Kate Hamill’s 2017 adaptation of Jane Shakespeare’s concession to the popular Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Feb. appeal of the humor and bombast of Sir John 28-March 28, 2020), staged by Cincy Shakes Falstaff, who was much loved in the earlier veteran Sara Clark, will provide more female Henry VI history plays. Of course, in this perspectives as it retells the story of the story, his schemes are overturned by a pair circuitous path to true love between witty, of smart women. willful Lizzie Bennet and strong-minded, As has been Cincy Shakes’ holiday arrogant Mr. Darcy. tradition for 15 years, there will be another The season concludes with a 2017 play by incarnation of Every Christmas Story Lauren Gunderson, one of America’s most Ever Told (And Then Some!) (Dec. 13-29, current prolific playwrights. (Her work 2019), which pokes fun at “beloved holiday has been seen onstage at the Cincinnati classics.” Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre and Know If Merry Wives doesn’t offer enough of Theatre.) women taking the upper hand, consider Her play, The Book of Will (May 22-June the third Shakespearean production of the 14, 2020), is the story of how Shakespeare’s season: Hamlet (April 10-May 9, 2020). This plays were published in the famous First production, to be staged by Melinda Vaughn Folio of 1623 — after much contention from the Utah Shakespeare Festival, comes between actors, bootleg knockoffs and a with a major twist: The Prince of Denmark printer’s deadline. If not for this volume, will be played by a woman for a freshly many of Shakespeare’s plays would not have contemporary take on one of the Bard’s survived. greatest dramas. A footnote to Gunderson’s production: Beyond those productions, the season is Cincinnati Shakespeare has commissioned stuffed with more broadly defined classics, her to write a new script based on Hamlet, but sustains a feminine point of view. The which will be workshopped here during season’s summer offering, Christopher the 2019-2020 season and possibly be Walsh’s Miss Holmes (July 19-Aug. 4, 2019) included as a full-fledged production in the from 2016, reimagines the master detective company’s 2020-2021 season, as well as by as a woman. With her stalwart companion, their collaborators, California Shakespeare Doctor Dorothy Watson, the pair refuse to Theater and Merrimack Repertory Theatre be contained by Victorian conventions. in Massachusetts. That will be followed by a 2007 classic, Season subscription packages are now on Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County (Sept. sale, starting at $284 (that’s for seven tickets 6-28, 2019), winner of both the Pulitzer Prize to preview performances). and the Tony Award for best play. The funny, The season “extras,” Miss Holmes and vicious and often harrowing story revolves Every Christmas Story Ever Told, are around yet another woman, Violet, the included in some, but not all, subscriptions. pill-addicted, manipulative matriarch of the Single tickets go on sale on April 1. Westin family. It will be a wild ride. For more information on the Cincinnati Even more recent work will kick off Shakespeare Company or for tickets, visit 2020: Robert Schenkkan’s All the Way cincyshakes.com. (Jan. 24-Feb. 15, 2020). The 2012 play is set in 1964, as Lyndon B. Johnson takes on the presidency in the aftermath of John F.

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MUSIC The Family Phratry A new documentary celebrates the music and community fostered by Cincinnati-based indie record label Phratry Records BY B I L L F U R B EE

“I can’t imagine my life without Phratry Records,” says Ringo Jones, singer/guitarist of Mad Anthony. “To us, Phratry was the only record label worth being a part of.” Over the past 15 years, Cincinnati label Phratry Records has issued almost 60 releases in nearly every format possible, working with bands from across North America and Europe. While an experimental, Post Punk spirit unites many of its artists, Phratry is also a home to singer/songwriters and even contemporary Classical performers. Homegrown talent like A.M. Nice, Knife The Symphony and Autumn Rising are comfortably nestled into a roster alongside out-of-town artists like Disguised as Birds (Milwaukee), FOOD (Pittsburgh), The Shanks (Toronto), Joe 4 (Zagreb, Croatia), LKN (Portland, Oregon) and Säh (Marquette, Michigan). Label founder Jerry Dirr says Phratry was initially created out of nothing more than necessity. “I was going to see a handful of bands on a regular basis, but nobody was putting out their music,” he says. “I couldn’t take an album home with me at the end of the night. This was still a number of years away from digital-only releases like we see today, and with the technology available at the time, even just a CD-R self-release could be an expensive and time-consuming chore (for bands).” So, Phratry Records was born in 2004. Later this month, two local filmmakers will debut a documentary film about the label that is six years in the making. “Phratry (the movie) is our first documentary,” says Dave Cornelius of Cincinnati’s Argo One Productions. “But,” he warns, “don’t expect a paint-bynumbers film.” Instead, it’s a film that is told through the perspective of performers and fans. “From the stage, from the mixing console, from their living rooms, from their practice spaces, from their art studios, from their mouths and from the front row as well,” Cornelius says. Argo One was established in 2011 to share the stories of unique, local voices, the same ethos on which Phratry was founded.

Michigan-based Phratry recording artists Säh PHOTO: JEFF ALBERS

Cornelius acknowledges the symbiotic relationship Argo One has the label. “Phratry is one of the key reasons Argo One even exists,” he says. The label had helped line up acts for Cornelius’ hilarious, low-budget Friday Night Fu television program, and the two have been intertwined ever since. Plans for the film crystallized around the label’s ninth anniversary. Director Shane Chaney was testing out some new camera gear during a Phratry anniversary showcase at The Comet in Northside. Considering the footage, Chaney says he “felt like with a little additional effort, I could turn it into something bigger and more representative of the label’s whole story.” That was six years ago and, in one way or another, the new documentary has been in the works since then. “I knew there would be a big blow-out for their 10th anniversary,” Chaney says, “and we could document a lot more bands (that evening), especially more of the out-of-town bands.” Leading up to that 10th anniversary show, he says he tried to film as many Phratry artists as possible when they played in Greater Cincinnati. “I started rolling camera on recording and mixing sessions I was involved in,” Chaney says. “I started gathering up archival stuff wherever I could get ahold of it. At some point between those two anniversaries, I remember discussing the project with Jerry a lot, and the idea grew into a full-length documentary.” “Seeing this movie take shape has been pretty humbling,” Dirr says. Dirr says that the preview clips of the

movie that he’s been privy to during the edit have helped him feel a sense of pride about the label. “(It’s) a nice reminder of what the label and all of the bands have accomplished together over the years, not to mention the friendships that have been forged as a result,” he says. According to Chaney, the final Phratry film contains live performances, interviews with artists who’ve worked with the label, behind-the-scenes looks at the recording process and other aspects of the Phratry community “Viewers should expect to see a lot packed into one movie,” Chaney says, adding that the film also tries to tell the story of “why we all do this thing that we do.” Mike Montgomery has had the fortune of seeing Phratry’s story unfold from dual perspectives: His bands Thistle and Ampline have released material in conjunction with the label, but he’s also helped bring the sounds of other Phratry artists alive as an engineer at his Northern Kentucky recording studio, Candyland. “I’ve worked on scores of Phratry releases at Candyland, recording, mixing or mastering records from Knife The Symphony, LKN, Mad Anthony, Strongest Proof, Full Counts, A.M Nice, Thistle, Covington and Caterpillar Tracks,” he says. He fondly recalls working with FOOD, which features Ed Crawford of fIREHOSE, Mike Watt’s post-Minutemen group. That session, Montgomery says, was “the encapsulation of what Phratry is all about: connecting the dots between artists all around the country and world; creating a community where everyone can share and

thrive; a collective of like-minded artists helping each other make records, book tours and live a life in music.” Singer/guitarist Jones is reuniting with his on-hiatus Mad Anthony to perform at the March 29 Phratry film premiere at the Southgate House Revival, playing alongside Phratry friends Ampline, The Full Counts, Maple Stave, Nonagon and Sleepcrawler, a band featuring members of the Cincinnati group State Song that is named after its 2014 Phratry album, Sleepcrawling. Fittingly, the premiere/showcase will also serve as a release party for new Phratry releases — a Sleepcrawler 7-inch vinyl single and a 7-inch and full-length featuring music from the soundtrack to Argo One’s first feature-length film, the comedy/horror flick Inhumanwich! “I’ve traveled all over the world, attended weddings and received holiday cards all thanks to a mutual love for eccentric, DIY Rock & Roll,” Jones says of his appreciation for his favorite record label. “The things I cherish most about my involvement with Phratry Records are the connections I’ve made with complete strangers and the everlasting friendships we’ve built.” Phratry, Jones stresses, isn’t just a label that puts out great music. It has also created “a community of like-minded musicians and fans where being different (is) accepted and celebrated.” The Phratry documentary screening and music showcase takes place March 29 at the Southgate House Revival. Tickets/more show info at southgatehouse.com. For more on the film or label, visit argooneproductions. com or phratryrecords.com.

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Bunbury Music Festival

May 31-June 2 • Sawyer Point/ Yeatman’s Cove The lineup for this summer’s Bunbury Music Festival was announced at a January event at the Woodward Theater. Returning to Cincinnati’s riverfront May 31-June 2, Bunbury 2019 will feature another Pop/ mainstream-loaded lineup (which proved very successful in 2018, in terms of ticket sales), with headlining acts like Fall Out Boy, Greta Van Fleet, Run the Jewels and The 1975 (which plays a sold-out Cincinnati show at PNC Pavilion on May 12, less than a month before Bunbury). The lineup announcement came just a few of days after Blink-182 revealed it was canceling its Bunbury 2019 appearance, the second year in a row the band has bailed on the fest. Here is the lineup announced for Bunbury 2019: Fall Out Boy, Greta Van Fleet, The 1975, Girl Talk, Run the Jewels, NF, Machine Gun Kelly, AWOLNATION, Stone Temple Pilots, Sublime with Rome, Dashboard Confessional, Clutch, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, lovelytheband, Blue October, Bayside, Streetlight Manifesto, The Aces, Poppy, Joywave, Jeremy Zucker, Jukebox the Ghost, Flora Cash, Reignwolf, Witt Lowry, Lauren Sanderson, The Clarks, SHAED, Halfnoise, Great Good Fine OK, The Blue Stones, The Candescents, Common Kings, bülow, Tropidelic, You vs Yesterday, Taylor Janzen, RADATTACK, The Orphan the Poet and Triiibe. This year’s Bunbury is the first since festival owners PromoWest were acquired by huge promotions company AEG. Last year’s Bunbury fest was the first three-day sellout in the event’s history. Three-day tickets are available through ticketmaster.com for $189. VIP packages are also available. bunburyfestival.com.

Mary J. Blige PHOTO: DENNIS LEUPOLD

Cincinnati Music Festival

July 25-27 • Paul Brown Stadium The long-running Cincinnati Music Festival (known locally as “Jazz Fest”) has announced the lineup for its 2019 event at Paul Brown Stadium. CMF — which provides a huge boost to Cincinnati tourism every summer — returns July 25-27 to Paul Brown Stadium. For the opening-night kick-off event on July 25 — dubbed Vibe’s Party with a Purpose — Hip Hop legends Slick Rick, EPMD and Kid Capri are scheduled to perform. The Friday night lineup showcases the event’s familiar mix of contemporary R&B/ Soul favorites (Maxwell), old-school heroes (Earth Wind & Fire) and relative newcomers (Tamia and Raheem DeVaughn). Also on the July 26 bill is the classic lineup of New Edition, though they are performing under the name RBRM aka “Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike,” due to the fact that early member Ralph Tresvant owns the trademark on the New Edition name (Tresvant has been touring with another former member, Johnny Gill, but not as New Edition).

MEMORIAL HALL

Tickets for 2019’s Bellwether Music Festival are on sale now via bigtickets. com. Early-bird pricing starts at $59 (per day) or $99 for two-day passes. When allotted tickets at that price-point are gone, the prices will increase. There are also a variety of VIP, camping and glamping ticket options. bellwetherfest.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17

More Upcoming Fests of Note Hagfest 2019 | April 6 at the Southgate House Revival This annual Merle Haggard celebration features 18 touring acts and local faves, including Bill Kirchen, Jaime Wyatt, Joe’s Truck Stop and a special appearance by Otis Williams and The Midnight Cowboys. southgatehouse.com.

Beach House PHOTO: SHAWN BR ACKBILL

The July 26 lineup is topped by the iconic Mary J. Blige, who is joined by Cincinnati Music Fest favorites Frankie Beverly & Maze, New Jack Swing stars Blackstreet (featuring Teddy Riley & Dave Hollister), Ohio Funk greats The Ohio Players and Pop Soul vocalist Major. Tickets for Cincinnati Music Festival are $60-$150 ($50-$100 for July 25’s opening party) and available now through ticketmaster.com. cincymusicfestival.com.

Bellwether Music Festival Aug. 9-10 • Renaissance Park (Waynesville, Ohio)

In early March, the Bellwether Music Festival announced the first wave of acts slated to appear at the festival’s sophomore bow in Waynesville, Ohio this summer. The two-day music and camping event returns Aug. 9-10. Bellwether takes place in Renaissance Park, less than an hour north of Cincinnati. This year’s Bellwether will feature performances by Beach House, Cold War Kids, Twin Shadow, Real Estate, Pinback and Caroline Rose. (More acts have been announced since this issue went to press; visit bellwetherfest.com for updates.) Bellwether debuted last summer and featured headliners The Flaming Lips and MGMT, though the latter had to cancel due to weather concerns on the fest’s opening day. Still, the event had a great vibe and laid the groundwork for an excellent fest-going experience, with fantastic performances from Echo and the Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, Japanese Breakfast, Local Natives, Dr. Dog and Erika Wennerstrom.

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Cincy Blues Fest | July 13 at the Schmidlapp Event Lawn First held in 1993, the classic Cincy Blues Fest (believed to be the longest running volunteer-driven Blues fest in the U.S.) is on the move this year, but it’s not moving too far from its longtime Sawyer Point base. Retaining the stripped-back one-night approach the festival returned to in 2018, Cincy Blues Fest will be held this year at the Schmidlapp Event Lawn near Smale Riverfront Park. Lineup TBA (at press time). cincybluesfest.org. Bewilderfest | Aug. 23-24 at Urban Artifact Hosted in and around Northside churchturned-brewery-and-music-venue Urban Artifact, Bewilderfest is described as a “wild culture music and beer festival.” Last year’s Bewilderfest was its biggest yet, featuring hometown acts like Freekbass and Dawg Yawp, as well as several touring groups, including Cults, Saintseneca and Moon Hooch. Lineup TBA. bewilderfest.com. Whispering Beard Folk Festival | Aug. 23-24 at Smale Riverfront Park The hugely popular annual fest has announced it’s moving from its cozy confines in small-town Friendship, Indiana to Smale Riverfront Park, where The National hosted its huge Homecoming music fest in 2018. The 2019 WBFF lineup has yet to be announced, but past lineups have featured Peter Rowan, Charlie Parr, Justin Townes Earle, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers and scores of other beloved local and national Americana acts. whisperingbeard.com. Rhythm Brew Art and Music Fest 2019 | Sept. 28-29 at Wooden Cask Brewery Last year’s Rhythm Brew Art and Music Fest (held in and around Newport’s Wooden Cask Brewing Co.) had headliners like Richie Ramone and Hyryder, but the event is primarily focused on Cincinnati artists. Rhythm Brew’s 2018 lineup was a virtual Localmusicpalooza, with Moonbeau, 500 Miles to Memphis, The Tillers, The Cliftones and several more of the area’s top acts. Lineup TBA. facebook.com/rhythmbrewfest.

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LISTINGS

CityBeat’s music listings are free. Send info to Mike Breen at mbreen@citybeat.com. Listings are subject to change. See CityBeat.com for full weekly listings, which will resume in the print issue next week.

MARCH

Pop Evil – April 10, Bogart’s

Southgate House Revival

Tyler Childers – March 27-28, Madison Theater

Tiny Moving Parts – April 10, Southgate House Revival

San Holo – April 26, Bogart’s

Goatwhore – March 29, Thompson House

Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers – April 10, Thompson House

Kenny Lattimore – March 29, Ludlow Garage Framing Hanley – March 29, Blue Note Harrison Safe and Sound – March 29, Northside Yacht Club Black Stone Cherry and Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown – March 30, Bogart’s Huntertones – March 30, Ludlow Garage Kim Richey – March 31, Southgate House Revival Bon Iver – March 31, Taft Theatre Daikaiju – March 31, Northside Yacht Club

APRIL

Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn – April 2, Memorial Hall Scott H. Biram and The Goddamn Gallows – April 3, Southgate House Revival Brent Cowles – April 4, Top Cats Joe Policastro – April 5, Caffè Vivace The Lacs – April 5, Blue Note Harrison Lucy Wainwright Roche & Suzzy Roche – April 5, Southgate House Revival L.A. Guns – April 5, Riverfront Live The Cybertronic Spree – April 6, Bogart’s Animal Years – April 6, Madison Live Mike Mains & the Branches – April 6, Top Cats The Accidentals and Common Center – April 6, Memorial Hall Ona – April 7, Madison Live Reverend Horton Heat and Legendary Shack Shakers – April 8, Southgate House Revival Sanction – April 8, Northside Yacht Club Robert Earl Keen – April 8, Memorial Hall

Chris Smither – April 10, 20th Century Theater Less Than Jake – April 11, Top Cats

MercyMe – April 26, U.S. Bank Arena Book of Love – April 26, Ludlow Garage Sunny Sweeney – April 26, Southgate House Revival Rockapella – April 27, Ludlow Garage

Guster – April 11, Madison Theater

Elle King – April 29, Bogart’s

Yung Bleu – April 12, The Avenue

Tommy Castro and the Painkillers – April 30, Southgate House Revival

Hatebreed – April 13, Bogart’s Branford Marsalis – April 13, Taft Theatre David Allan Coe – April 13, Blue Note Harrison Ghost Light – April 13, Madison Live David Dondero – April 14, Southgate House Revival The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – April 14, Riverfront Live Mandolin Orange – April 16, Taft Theatre Brad Mehldau Trio – April 16, Gallagher Theater (Xavier University) Boney James – April 17, Taft Theatre Deerhoof – April 17, Woodward Theater SWMRS and The Regrettes – April 17, 20th Century Theater Nellie McKay – April 18, York Street Café Albert Cummings – April 19, Ludlow Garage Desert Dwellers – April 20, Madison Live Gerald Albright – April 20, Ludlow Garage Dale Watson & His Lonestars – April 20, Southgate House Revival Durand Jones & The Indications – April 24, Woodward Theater Jeremy Enigk – April 24, Southgate House Revival Andy Black – April 25, Bogart’s Perpetual Groove – April 25, Riverfront Live Walter Trout – April 25,

194 | B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I 2 0 1 9

Peelander-Z – April 30, Southgate House Revival Todd Snider – April 30, 20th Century Theater The Claypool Lennon Delirium – April 30, Madison Theater

MAY

Ella Mai – May 1, Bogart’s Lucius with Pure Bathing Culture – May 1, Memorial Hall Valerie June – May 1, Southgate House Revival Welshly Arms – May 2, Bogart’s New Kids On The Block with Salt N Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Tiffany and Debbie Gibson – May 2, U.S. Bank Arena

Royal Trux – May 10, Woodward Theater

The Bodeans – June 12, 20th Century Theater

The 1975 – May 12, PNC Pavilion

Josh Groban with Jennifer Nettles – June 12, U.S. Bank Arena

Iration – May 15, Bogart’s The Queers – May 15, Southgate House Revival Nils Lofgren Band – May 15, Memorial Hall Rascal Flatts – May 16, Riverbend Music Center Gangstagrass – May 16, Ludlow Garage Buckethead – May 17, Bogart’s Arturo Sandoval – May 17, Ludlow Garage Eyehategod and Sheer Terror – May 17, Northside Yacht Club Flotsam & Jetsam – May 18, Madison Live Josh Ritter – May 21, Taft Theatre PUP – May 22, Bogart’s mewithoutYou, Cursive and The Appleseed Cast – May 22, Woodward Theater

Tech N9ne – May 30, Bogart’s

JUNE

Epic Beard Men (Sage Francis + B. Dolan) – May 7, Top Cats

Parliament Funkadelic with Fishbone and Galactic – June 1, Riverfront Live EmiSunshine – June 1, Southgate House Revival Judy Collins – June 1, Memorial Hall

Howard Jones – June 18, Bogart’s

Train and Goo Goo Dolls – July 24, Riverbend Music Center

Young The Giant and Fitz and The Tantrums – June 18, PNC Pavilion Darrell Scott – June 21, Southgate House Revival Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Trapt, Saving Abel and Tantric – June 23, Riverfront Live Delta Rae – June 26, 20th Century Theater

Pelican – June 28, Northside Yacht Club Dark Star Orchestra – June 29, Riverfront Live Shooting Star – June 29, Blue Note Harrison Car Seat Headrest – June 29, Bogart’s Bela Fleck & the Flecktones – June 30, Taft Theatre

JULY

Dave Matthews Band – July 2, Riverbend Music Center

The Tallest Man On Earth – May 8, Madison Theater

Travis Tritt and Charlie Daniels Band – June 2, PNC Pavilion

Candlebox – July 13, Bogart’s

California Guitar Trio – May 9, Ludlow Garage

Rob Thomas – June 3, PNC Pavilion

Faster Pussycat & Bang Tango – July 13, MVP Sports Bar

The Mountain Goats – May 9, Woodward Theater

Ozzy Osbourne with Megadeth – June 6, Riverbend Music Center

Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson – July 13, Riverbend Music Center

Hozier – June 7, Taft Theatre

KC & the Sunshine Band – July 13, Riverfront Live

TAUK – May 10, Madison Theater

Ibeyi – June 12, Taft Theatre

Tedeschi Trucks Band – July 19, PNC Pavilion

Alice Cooper and Halestorm – July 23, Riverbend Music Center

Peter Frampton – July 12, Riverbend Music Center

Ruby Boots – May 10, Southgate House Revival

Jimmy Buffett – July 18, Riverbend Music Center

Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band – June 16, PNC Pavilion

Al Stewart – June 1, Ludlow Garage

Overkill – May 8, Bogart’s

Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot – July 17, PNC Pavilion

Hootie & The Blowfish – July 20, Riverbend Music Center

Guided By Voices – June 28, Woodward Theater

Ronnie Baker Brooks – May 25, Southgate House Revival

Sebadoh with Eleanor Friedberger – July 16, Woodward Theater

Vampire Weekend – June 15, PNC Pavilion

Stryper – May 24, Bogart’s

Grass Is Dead – May 3, Stanley’s Pub

Johnnyswim – May 7, Bogart’s

Carrie Underwood – June 15, U.S. Bank Arena

Jimmie Vaughan – June 27, Memorial Hall

Karla Bonoff – May 30, 20th Century Theater

LANY – May 6, Bogart’s

Kottonmouth Kings – June 14, Blue Note Harrison

Bobaflex – May 23, Southgate House Revival

Justin Moore – May 3, BB&T Arena

Combichrist – May 4, Thompson House

Geoff Tate Operation Mindcrime – June 13, Blue Note Harrison

Northside Tavern

Combo Chimbita – July 16,

Uncle Kracker – July 26, Riverfront Live Righteous Brothers and The Temptations – July 26, PNC Pavilion Heart – July 27, Riverbend Music Center moe. and Blues Traveler with G. Love – July 28, PNC Pavilion Jon Bellion – July 31, PNC Pavilion

AUGUST

Florida Georgia Line – Aug. 1, Riverbend Music Center Beck, Spoon and Cage the Elephant – Aug. 2, Riverbend Music Center Joan Osborne – Aug. 2, Memorial Hall UB40 – Aug. 3, Riverfront Live Breaking Benjamin – Aug. 7, Riverbend Music Center JJ Grey & Mofro with Jonny Lang – Aug. 8, PNC Pavilion Santana – Aug. 10, Riverbend Music Center Iron Maiden – Aug. 15, Riverbend Music Center Korn and Alice In Chains – Aug. 18, Riverbend Music Center Why Don’t We – Aug. 25, PNC Pavilion KISS – Aug. 29, Riverbend Music Center Dailey & Vincent – Aug. 30, Memorial Hall

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