CityBeat | Jan. 13, 2010 by Chava Communications

CONTENTS VOLUME 16 • ISSUE 10

VOICES

NEWS

TO DO PICKS

MUSIC

DINER

FILM

CLASSIFIEDS

ARTS 27

Rocking the Musical:

Every generation has its groundbreaking rock Broadway musical. First came Hair, then Rent and now Spring Awakening, opening this week at the Aronoff Center.

On the cover: Spring Awakening photo by Paul Kolnik • Design by Jason Kidwell

ONLINE CITYBEAT.COM BLOGS

ONLINE COLUMNS

PODCASTS

MUSIC TOWN MESSAGE BOARD

Heartless Bastards on Austin City Limits, Porp 8 legal showdown in California, making money on the census and looking to cover New York Fashion Week #43: Hiking the local woods with Tamara York

MULTIMEDIA SHOWS

Hanging out at The Tillers’ CD release party

PHOTO GALLERIES

Trey Songz at Bogart’s, plus New Year’s Eve at Know Theatre’s speakeasy and at Northside Tavern

I Shall Be Released: New CDs from Ringo Starr, Freedy Johnston, Laura Viers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, OK Go and Vampire Weekend Registration for The Rock Games now open, debating Dirty Jack’s and having fun with avatars

2009 IN REVIEW

Just wake up, Rip? Catch up on last year’s big moments in movies, local and national music, news, theater, visual art, restaurants and more in CityBeat’s “year in review” stories online

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VOICES

4PORKOPOLIS BY KEVIN OSBORNE

Lt. Gov.’s Tactics Spark Anger

ome local Democrats are upset with Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher over his demands for attending an upcoming political event in Oakley and believe he’s disrespected Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. Fisher and Brunner are squaring off in the May 4 Democratic primary to get the party’s nomination to run for the U.S. Senate this fall. Each wants a shot at replacing Republican George Voinovich, who’s retiring. The Hamilton County Democratic Women’s Caucus invited both candidates to participate in a debate Jan. 20 at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley Square. Brunner accepted almost immediately, caucus members say, but their experience with Fisher was far different. It took weeks for Fisher’s campaign to reply, they say, and when it did, campaign staffers insisted the event not be a debate. Instead, staffers wanted an “informational forum” so the candidates wouldn’t necessarily answer the same questions or be able to reply to each other’s statements. Later still, Fisher’s campaign contacted the caucus to say the lieutenant governor refused to share the stage with Brunner. The event must be restructured so she and Fisher never appear side-by-side before the audience. Officially, the caucus accepted the terms and remains committed to holding the event. Several members, however, were irritated by the demands and some are speaking out publicly. “We felt it was just a slap in the face to Ms. Brunner and very disrespectful to her as a candidate,” says Perry Kane, a Clifton resident who noted she’s speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the caucus. “We had to change the entire event to accommodate him. He’s just a diva. Lee’s behavior toward Jennifer has hurt him among women voters.” Fisher is considered the frontrunner in the race by state party bigwigs, who have tried to convince Brunner to drop out. While it’s true that Fisher so far has been able to raise more money than Brunner, there are valid reasons to question if he can beat a Republican challenger in November’s general election. Chief among them: His mixed record at the polls. Fisher lost his reelection bid as Ohio attorney general in 1994, as well as the 1998 gubernatorial race against Cincinnati native Bob Taft. Also, Brunner is the favored candidate among progressives and her contributors include Caroline Kennedy and Rolling

Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner. In a Quinnpiac poll from November, Brunner began closing the gap with Fisher, drawing mostly from undecided Democratic voters. Fisher got 24 percent to Brunner’s 22 percent, with 51 percent still undecided. That leaves plenty of wiggle room to win in the next four months. Alas, neither Brunner nor Fisher beat the likely Republican nominee, former Congressman Rob Portman from Terrace Park, in the poll. CityBeat asked Fisher or a representative to comment on the demands, but the campaign declined. A spokeswoman instead issued a written statement. “The organizers worked with everyone to ensure this would be a successful event,” wrote Julie Van Eman. “We are pleased to participate in the Hamilton County Democratic forum and look forward to a great discussion about how to create jobs and economic growth in Ohio.” That’s what is commonly referred to in the journalism biz as a “non-denial denial”: an evasive statement that doesn’t directly answer the question posed and really doesn’t say much at all. We hope Fisher is more forthcoming and transparent if he becomes a senator. Brunner’s campaign is taking it in stride. “Jennifer was ready to debate,” says campaign manager David Dettman. “I will let you draw your own conclusions about it.” Regardless, Fisher’s bland statement doesn’t cut it with caucus members like Kane. “I think what it really says about Fisher is he’s scared,” Kane says. “He’s out-raising her in money but her grassroots support is better. I think he’s afraid he’s losing.” ✽✽✽✽✽ Many Democrats have been circling the wagons lately around President Obama’s flawed batch of proposed health care reforms, and I’ve taken some heat for columns criticizing the Senate bill — along with the whole process used by Congress — as sadly lacking. Apparently I’m not alone. A CBS survey released Jan. 11 indicates most Americans think the bill passed by the U.S. Senate is too timid in its scope. The results show that 43 percent of respondents said the

bill doesn’t go far enough in regulating health insurance companies. Also, 39 percent said it doesn’t contain strong enough cost controls. That compares to 18 percent who think the bill is “about right” and 27 percent who responded that it goes too far. Additionally, only 21 percent like the level of cost controls, while 24 percent said it’s too much regulation. In other words, Americans want bolder changes and are clamoring for true change in the health care system, and it’s Obama and elected politicians that are putting on the brakes. To drive the point home, the poll results found that 54 percent disapprove of Obama’s handling of health care reform, 57 percent disapprove of Congressional Democrats and a whopping 61 percent disapprove of Congressional Republicans. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, John Boehner. The reason for the politicians’ hesitancy is obvious: They’re beholden to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries that provide them with copious amounts of campaign cash. Obama received more than $20 million from the health care industry during the 2008 presidential campaign, according to an analysis created for Raw Story, a progressive Web site, by the Center for Responsive Politics. That’s nearly three times as much as given to GOP candidate John McCain, who got $7.7 million. The lesson for voters: It was too audacious to hope for meaningful reform in our fundamentally broken political system. ✽✽✽✽✽ The New York Times reported this week that Sarah Palin has been hired by Fox News to be a regular contributor to the cable news channel. Uh, didn’t she work there already? This is like reporting “Dog bites man.” Maybe she didn’t get paid for it previously, but Palin has certainly filled that role ever since she stepped into the national spotlight as McCain’s running mate in summer 2008. As we’ve already made ourselves feel dirty by mentioning the fact-challenged former Alaska governor, McCain Campaign Manager Steve Schmidt also told 60 Minutes on CBS that Palin felt her vice presidential candidacy was “God’s plan.” Given the election’s outcome, we assume the deity’s plan was to teach Palin some humility. Better luck next time, big guy. PORKOPOLIS TIP LINES: 513-665-4700 (EXT.147) or pork@citybeat.com

january 13-19, 2010

4living out loud

by larry gross

Erin in Springfield I can’t find her. Springfield, Ohio, is on my mind, and I don’t know where Erin is. In the fall of 1993, I moved to Springfield. This was a location transfer from my employer, and in my head I thought it was going to work out fine. I was separating from my wife and looked at Springfield as a fresh start. Winter came quickly that year. It seemed like I was only there for a few weeks when snow and ice storms almost shut the town down. The ice storms were the worst. I remember being stopped at a red light on one of Springfield’s main drags. I could feel my car sliding even when it was stopped. It was scary. I was working at a manufacturing plant as one of the accounting people. I knew no one at work and no one in Springfield. That was OK. Right across the street from the plant was Chuck’s Rockin’ Ranch. I was more in the mood to drink than to have friends. That’s where I met Erin. Turned out we both worked for the same company. She was a factory worker. Erin was maybe 5 feet tall. She had short brown curly hair, a round face and brown eyes. She was plain looking. She was drunk when I met her and was loud and funny. I found myself attracted to this woman who drank Jim Beam and Coke, one after another. Chuck’s had a dance floor and a pretty good jukebox. Erin and I danced. We kissed, too. Sometimes that winter, when the roads weren’t slick or icy, we would go to lunch together at the Wendy’s in Springfield. I would watch Erin’s hands shake as she ate her single with everything on it. I think her hands shook because she needed a drink. We never talked about it. A woman in the office — her name was Beth — took a liking to me and we started going out. She was tall and thin with beautiful black hair and had a lovely face. She was educated, had a nice house and seemed like a good fit for me, or that’s what my head was saying. I didn’t hide Beth from Erin. While Erin said she had no hold on me, I could tell she was hurt. One of her friends in the factory told me Erin knew she had no chance with me. She was too blue collar. Beth and I had dinners out, went to movies and made love in her bedroom. But sometimes when I was with her, I thought of Erin. I would wonder whom she was with and what she was doing. When working, I could see Chuck’s Rockin’ Ranch from my office window. The factory workers got off at 4 p.m., and sometimes on those cold afternoons I would see Erin drive her rusty old station wagon into Chuck’s parking lot. When she went into Chuck’s, she would leave the engine running, I guess to warm up the car. She would only be there for 10 minutes or so. I imagined she was having a few shots to help

stop her hands from shaking. I started seeing Beth less often. Sometimes I would go to Chuck’s looking for Erin. We danced and made out a lot in a back booth. One night, she got too drunk to drive. I offered to take her home. I didn’t know where she lived and it turned out Erin was too drunk to give me directions. Frustrated, I drove back to my apartment and helped Erin out of the car. In my apartment, I laid her on my bed and then went back to the car to get her purse. When I got back to the apartment, except for her socks, Erin had removed all her clothing and was lying naked while passed out on the bed. I looked at her for maybe a minute and then felt guilty about it. I covered her up with a blanket and slept on the sofa. Seeing Beth and my misadventures with Erin continued until winter turned to spring. When the leaves on the trees returned, that’s when I decided to move back to Cincinnati. It turned out my head was wrong. Springfield wasn’t the kind of fresh start I was looking for. I said my goodbyes to Beth, and we both promised to stay in touch. We didn’t. I told Erin after I

january 13-19, 2010

Sometimes that winter, when the roads weren’t slick or icy, we would go lunch together at Wendy’s in Springfield. I would watch Erin’s hands shake as she at her single with everything on it.

got settled in Cincinnati I’d come back to visit her in Springfield. I did. We hung out at Chuck’s. We drank, danced, laughed and afterwards went back to her place. This time, she wasn’t too drunk to find it. We made promises to maintain a relationship. There were Reds games to go to in Cincinnati and I’d show her around the city and I’d continue to see her at Chuck’s. But it was basically just talk. I think we both knew this chapter in our lives was ending. Now, winters later, I find myself thinking of Erin in Springfield in 1993. I don’t know where she is. She’s no longer at her old address. My former employer says she quit her job years ago and moved away. If I ever find her again, I’ll tell her I’m sorry that I didn’t get to know her better. I’ll tell her I should have taken her out on those dinners and to those movies instead of Beth. Maybe I could have somehow helped her shaking hands. I’ll tell her I made a big mistake. When it comes to Erin, I should have followed my heart and not my head. I want her to know that. CONTACT LARRY GROSS: lgross@citybeat.com

4more value for the way you live

Wedding Guide

Worst Week Ever! 4by danny cross

WEDNESDAY JAN. 6 If you are only allowed to have one rule, it’s generally not a good idea to have that rule be that there are no rules (someone will inevitably get poked in the eye). Mayor Mark Mallory today declared anarchy on City Council by delaying a vote on a new set of rules for the upcoming council session. Mallory was reportedly concerned that the new rules — which include the right of one councilperson to make another stop talking after five minutes if he or she is being boring, offensive or inconsiderate of Jeff Berding — wouldn’t pass without a vote from Roxanne Qualls, who was in Columbus following whatever rules the Governor’s office has. A Mallory aide said the mayor considered temporarily imposing the first rule of Fight Club but was afraid Chris Monzel would start trying to sell soap to offset the stadium fund and no one would be able to tell on him.

THURSDAY JAN. 7 It is widely understood that Kroger Co. is a great company that offers its shoppers awesome deals in exchange for an electronic record of everything they purchase (worth it). The Enquirer reported today that despite this fact the Humane Society has taken issue with one of Kroger’s practices: selling eggs that aren’t cage-free. The issue, according to the Humane Society, is that chickens were made by God to walk around clicking, clucking and poking things with their beaks, only occasionally laying an egg, and that Kroger’s current setup of hens in tiny battery cages where they can hardly move is unethical. The shareholder resolution is the third of its kind to have been presented to Kroger, which responded to the previous two by explaining a chicken-and-egg scenario where Kroger’s increased profits are the chicken and the tiny cages are the egg.

FRIDAY JAN. 8

SATURDAY JAN. 9 If you’re a regular reader of The Cincinnati Enquirer, you know that there’s nothing its editors enjoy more than a hilarious account of a desperate person

doing something stupid to try to get money (“Colerain Man Steals Baby Food In Sweat Pants” HAHAHA). Cincinnati’s only favorite daily newspaper couldn’t help itself today when an AP report described a man dressed as a woman robbing a bank in central Kentucky. The incident occurred in some place called “Berea” and was the third such cross-dressing robbery in recent weeks (ha). The local police said they weren’t sure if the robberies were connected but said a couple of their male officers were particularly interested in the suspect so it should be cleared up soon.

SUNDAY JAN. 10 We at WWE! realize that in 17 years things will be a lot different — technology will be increasingly difficult to use and people who are 10 right now will be able to kick our asses. Another thing that’s going to suck is that the $1.9 billion Cincinnati Retirement System is going to be broke unless fundamental changes are made soon. The Enquirer reported today that the system’s benefits and expenses are outpacing its investment returns, largely because City Council has under-funded it for years. A task force has been charged with finding ways to rectify the situation, and the leading choice so far is to bet what’s left against the Bengals in their next playoff game.

MONDAY JAN. 11 We, as humans, have unfortunately subjected a lot of our people to harassment and intimidation during the course of time — women, minorities, homosexuals and certain types of freaks can attest to how horrible white men society can be sometimes. The U.S. Supreme Court today added homophobes to this group of wronged peoples when it blocked video coverage of California’s Prop 8 trial after conservative groups argued that their witnesses could be subjected to harassment and intimidation if all of California watches them testify. Under the court’s rules, lawyers can only seek emergency orders if without action by the justices their clients will suffer “irreparable harm,” which is the same term Prop 8’s supporters use when describing what will happen to the world if gay people are allowed to get married. The high court didn’t explain its reasoning but noted that those interested in the trial could read about it from reporters or watch old footage of Strom Thurmond to get the same effect.

TUESDAY JAN. 12 HOLY SHIT! MARK MCGWIRE WAS TOTALLY ON STEROIDS! DID YOU SEE DANNY CROSS AT KROGER LAST WEEK? CALL HIM A HYPOCRITE: dcross@citybeat.com

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One great thing about the Internet age is that arguments can be settled immediately — if your friend is trying to say there’s no difference between baking powder and baking soda, all you have to do is get on your cell phone and Google “baking” to make him look like a real dick. But everyone doesn’t have cell phone Internet (people who use Cricket don’t even have their own phone numbers), so the public library this week began offering answers to questions via text message. The “Text a Librarian Service” will respond to a wide variety of questions, from general weather inquiries (it’s cold outside) to answers about specific things like skydiving (don’t do it). While the service has been a hit with librarians who enjoy talking to fewer people in real life, others worry that texting information gives people one more reason not to come to the library (to go with TV, video games, the Internet and physical activity).

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4 Letters to the editor

4 say what?

Get Off The Banks’ Back Kevin Osborne wrote that, “Depending on how plans are finalized, many of us might not be able to afford the apartments or shops that will fill The Banks. Despite the use of hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars, many people will never see a direct benefit from those projects.” Seriously? Is this sort of BS reporting necessary? How much more pessimistic and cynical can you be? And where do you get your facts? The Banks is being designed to benefit everyone in the city by making our city a destination for entertainment, shopping and living. As it stands now everyone looking for a night out heads

over to Newport on the Levee. Tourists from out of town will actually have a place to check out while their here. Cincinnati might actually attract and retain downtown residents, who will pay taxes and help the city as a whole. Following them will be businesses who will also pay taxes and help everyone out. Stop being so negative about a progressive plan the city is actually following through on.

Mail: Fax: E-mail:

Cincinnati CityBeat 811 Race St., Fifth Floor Cincinnati, OH 45202 513–665–4369 editor@citybeat.com

Letters policy: Letters must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. Writers may request their names be withheld from publication. Letters might be edited for length and clarity.

Editor’s response: The piece in question was an opinion column, not a reported news story — “BS” or otherwise.

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NEWS

Shaking the Faith in Science Fake DNA prompts change in criminal forensics 4By polly cambron

merica’s fascination with the use of forensic science to solve crimes is best proven by the explosion of TV shows dealing with the topic, from dramas like CSI and Cold Case to reality shows like Forensic Files and The Bureau. During the past two decades, advances in forensics — the use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in courts of law — have led to a seismic change in how police work is conducted and what jurors expect when hearing a case. Although forensic evidence is available only in 10 to 20 percent of all criminal cases, the public places great weight on its inclusion, a fact that’s keenly aware to prosecutors and defense attorneys. Perhaps the main reason is improvements made in DNA profiling, or the analysis of human material like blood, semen, skin tissue or hair that can be used to precisely identify an individual. The best-known example of DNA profiling’s impact is the Innocence Project, a nationwide non-profit group that uses testing to determine if a prisoner has been wrongfully convicted. Since the group began in 1992, more than 240 people in the United States have been exonerated, including 17 who were waiting to be executed on Death Row. Just last month, the longest-incarcerated victim of a wrongful conviction was freed due to the Innocence Project’s work. James Bain

— who had been imprisoned for 35 years for kidnapping, rape and burglary — was exonerated by DNA testing. Before the project’s involvement, his appeal was denied four times by the courts. But forensics came under fire last summer when scientists in Israel were able to create DNA evidence capable of identifying the wrong person, causing profiling’s supposed infallibility to become suspect. The same bio-tech firm that did the research, however, has developed a system to detect the difference between natural and manufactured DNA, based on the lack of methylation — a chemical reaction — in the artificial sample. Local DNA experts say the techniques should be scrutinized to make sure the procedures used are valid and rigidly follow the Daubert Standard, a standard of testing under which a trial judge has a duty to dissect evidence rigorously to determine whether it has been established as reliable and scientifically valid. Some of the procedures that judges must consider include whether valid testing protocols were used, if the evidence has undergone peer review among the scientific community, error rates and acceptability in the general forensic science community. The Daubert Standard came about from the

PHOTO: drunken swami

The advent of artificial DNA may make it harder to prosecute cases in the future.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 144

4 winners and losers CITY COUNCIL: We predicted the current Cincinnati City Council would be even more contentious than the last one, and members aren’t letting us down. In office since Dec. 1, the current group hadn’t agreed as of Jan. 11 on a set of rules to conduct its various meetings, forcing the cancellation of a finance committee session this week. One set of proposed rules would allow the censuring of a council member if at least seven members agree that the person has impugned a colleague’s character or integrity. That’s not a good sign. So far, this council and Mayor Mark Mallory have shown a lack of leadership. Happy 2010, voters!

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI: UC’s College of Medicine recently won a $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund extensive renovations to a laboratory. The money, which comes from President Obama’s economic stimulus package, will be used to overhaul the Kettering Laboratory research complex and is expected to add up to 12 new faculty research jobs and 30 construction-related jobs per year during the renovation. To date, UC has received more than $35 million in grants for research programs from the stimulus package.

THE ENQUIRER: When Cincinnati’s only daily newspaper published an article Jan. 7 about Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra music director Paavo Jarvi leaving his job in spring 2011, there was one glaring omission. Although the piece outlined Jarvi’s tenure here, it failed to mention the conductor’s DUI arrest last March when police found him asleep behind the wheel of a running car in Fairfax. Jarvi was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with all but three suspended. If the article had been about any politician or pro sports player, that detail would’ve been mentioned. Why the double standard for arts figures? Could it be because of their well-heeled contributors and the clout they hold?

january 13-19, 2010

CINCINNATI REDS: With the Bengals blowing their playoff game against the Jets, local sports fans thought they’d spend the long, cold months of winter grumbling over their Hudepohls. Instead, Reds management gave them something to be happy about with the signing of Aroldis Chapman to the roster. The 21-year-old Cuban was star of the World Baseball Classic last spring for his mad pitching skills. Chapman’s $30.25 million, six-year contract is something of a gamble, but it’s a bet worth taking. The Reds’ Opening Day is less than three months away, so start getting your tickets now.

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4Shaking the Faith in Science: FROM PAGE 13

1993 case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, which examined the adequacy of cutting-edge scientific testing techniques. Elizabeth Murray, a Cincinnati-based biological and forensic anthropologist, has been at the forefront of forensic scientific research for several years. She’s written about the importance of conducting research that allows forensic techniques to satisfy current Daubert standards. “Essentially some of us were already seeing that the field needs to test its methods and certify its practitioners,” Murray says. “We simply cannot just be expert witnesses by virtue of years in the field anymore. Our methods need validity and hopefully these mandates will push practitioners and research in that direction.” One example of tightening standards involves how to properly retrieve and identify bullets from crime scenes. John Heile, a criminologist who specializes in ballistics and tool mark analysis for the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, explains the different aspects of evidence retrieval. Heile says, “(T)here are standards we use in order to reinforce our identification which include statistical data, secondary and tertiary verification from colleagues, (and) we reinforce our examination using sufficient objective analysis.” In another case, Heile was called upon to analyze “hatchet marks in the paint on the siding of a house involved in arson. This involved submitting the siding to the lab where test marks and comparisons were made on marks left by the blade until I could begin to identify individual characteristics of the actual tool that was used.” Heile was able to identify the hatchet used to cut the siding away in order to start the fire by examining individual characteristics found on the blade such as rough edges and atypical markings.

Forensics isn’t only changing how criminal cases are conducted. Advances in technology also are being used to solve mysteries caused by even everyday mundane occurrences like fender benders. Dan Aerni, owner of MV Engineering in Oakley and a vehicular accident analyst, credits General Electric for leading the way in “electronic data recorders, known as black boxes, which were originally installed for antilock braking systems. (They) are now a key feature in accident analysis, another piece of the puzzle for us.” The data collected from the black boxes is evaluated with tools including electronic distance measuring equipment, computer-based mapping, laser measurement analysis and mathematical validation. The question of who broke the law or who is at fault in an auto accident can now be answered within computer precision, Aerni says. Digital evidence retrieved from computers is another aspect of forensics undergoing change as it becomes relied on more often by law enforcement. Jim Swauger, of Binary Intelligence in Lebanon, just north of Cincinnati, specializes in computer forensics, electronic discovery and corporate investigations. A court-recognized expert with more than a decade of experience, Swauger has served as senior computer forensic specialist for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Nowadays, criminal suspects shouldn’t rely on simply deleting incriminating information from their computers. “Deleted or damaged evidence can be retrieved from flash memory modules, digital cameras, mobile phones, iPods, DVRs and PDAs, and examiners can find data protected by very strong cryptographic algorithms,” Swauger adds. ©

TO DO

African Dance and Drum at the African Culture Fest

CBRECOMMENDS

MUSIC: The two-night ONE MORE GIRL ON A STAGE benefit concert/festival — featuring a wide range of local female musicians (and bands with a womanly presence) — begins tonight (and continues Saturday) at the York Street Café in Newport, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer research foundation. See Spill It on page 19.

SATURDAY16 4 MUSIC: MARC RIZZO, a guitarist with chops that are informed by everything from Metal and Classical to Latin and Flamenco, performs at Inner Circle (formerly Annie’s) with In Rage and Parable Heresy. See Sound Advice on page 24.

PHOTO: Scott Bowers

WEDNESDAY13 4 ONSTAGE: SPRING AWAKENING, brought to the Aronoff Center by Broadway Across America, is a coming-of-age musical that explores teen sexuality, violence and suicide. See Onstage on page 27. MUSIC: BOWERBIRDS bring their Freak Folk/Acousticana hybrid of Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsome, Clem Snide and Van Dyke Parks to the Southgate House with Julie Doiron. See Sound Advice on page 24.

THURSDAY14 4

FRIDAY15 4 MUSIC: INDIE DANCE NIGHT WITH DJ GREG PONERIS If anyone should understand what beats get a crowd moving, it’s a drummer. It helps if it’s a kick-ass drummer from a kick-ass band that specializes in highly-adrenalized Electro Dance Pop. That’s what you’ll get Friday at Mayday in Northside, as Greg Poneris, the skins-beater for Neo New Wave powerhouse Eat Sugar, mans the DJ booth for a night of Indie Dance music. If you’re a fan of his band, you won’t be shocked to hear that tracks by Crystal Castles, Klaxons, Phoenix, Beck, Ladytron, LCD Soundsystem, Devo, The Faint, !!!, Le Tigre, Justice, Junior Boys, Hot Chip and MGMT are on Poneris’ playlist for the night. Free. www. maydaynorthside.com. — MIKE BREEN MUSIC: SARAH BORGES, last here for the MidPoint Music Festival, performs with her band, The Broken Singles, at the Southgate House. See Music on page 19.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 164

january 13-19, 2010

COMEDY: JIMMY DORE Though he has plenty of material about things like deer not being able to hear car horns and what it was like growing up poor, Jimmy Dore describes his current set as more “current eventsy.” With the success of his DVD/concert special Citizen Jimmy, Jimmy Dore the Chicago native is taking on more of today’s hot-button issues. “Right now I’m talking about the bailout, the healthcare thing. Gay marriage and medical marijuana, the usual topics.” Of course, it’s not all serious subjects. “Jenna Jameson was PHOTO courtesy Jimmy Dore on Oprah,” recalls Dore, “and she said that her goal when she got into porn was she wanted to be the biggest porn star in the world, and do it with dignity. The joke I do is ‘Hey, fellas, take it easy. You’re getting a little jizz on my monocle!’ ” When he’s not doing stand-up, Dore hosts a radio show on KPFK in L.A., as well as the podcast Comedy and Everything Else. The former he describes as a cross between The Daily Show and This

American Life, while the latter is more a look at comedy and pop culture. With his material being so involved in today’s issues, is it hard to stay funny? Not according to Dore. “It’s so ridiculous what’s happening, it is obviously corrupt. Whether it’s the healthcare debate or Wall Street, it’s just so obviously corrupt.” Dore performs at Go Bananas in Montgomery Thursday-Sunday. Tickets are $8-$12. www.gobananascomedy.com. — P.F. WILSON

EVENTS: AFRICAN CULTURE FEST The Cincinnati Museum Center celebrates the 25th anniversary of African Culture Fest and Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a three-day party. This “Passport to the World” event kicks off Saturday with an “African Village” set up in the rotunda; tales from professional storyteller Omope Carter Daboiku; Oh Freedom! (the Cincinnati Opera’s musical tribute to AfricanAmerican history); National Geographic’s giant map of Africa (“Know Africa!”); and a performance by the Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre. Sunday, the storytelling, music and dance continue with a performance by Roger Bacon’s Step-N-Unity Dance Team; a performance by the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company; spoken word by JaHipster; and “Gospel Fest.” Monday, local poet/artist Annie Ruth presents “Dare to Dream,” followed by an African fashion show and Bantaba: Celebrating 25 Years of African Culture Fest, which honors those who have contributed to African Culture Fest over the years (complimenting an exhibit of the same name in the John A. Ruthven Gallery). A dance and drum ensemble will close this year’s festival at 4:30 p.m. Monday. And open all three days is the African marketplace with merchandise, goods, crafts and authentic African cuisine. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. www.cincymuseum.org. — MAIJA ZUMMO EVENTS: PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BULLRIDERS TOUR Is there anything more entertaining than watching people try not to fall off of stuff, like rolling logs or assorted mammals? It’s either going to be really funny or really scary when they actually hit the ground and pretty exciting while they try to stay on whatever they’re on. It’s a very basic concept that can entertain large groups of people from different age groups, places in time, cultures and so on, without technology. On Saturday the Professional Championship Bullriders Tour at the Cincinnati Gardens brings together more than PHOTO courtesy cincinnati gardens two-dozen of the toughest bull

photo courtesy 3CDC

SATURDAY16 4 SPORTS: ALL-MASCOT EXHIBITION BROOMBALL GAME What is “broomball,” you ask? It’s a combination of soccer and hockey where players wear gym shoes, not skates, and use a hockey-stick-like utensil with a broom-shaped head to pass a ball back and forth on an ice rink in order to score a goal. And while Fountain Square has its own Broomball League that plays games four days a week, the All-Mascot Exhibition Broomball Game is very special. Instead of your average recreational athletes, this game will be played by area mascots. Divided into teams of “sports” mascots and “non-sports” mascots, guys and gals in giant fuzzy suits will go head to head for mascot glory. Sporty dudes include Mr. Redlegs and UC’s Bearcat, and non-sporty mascots include P&G’s fuzzy Charmin Bear and Chick-fil-A’s Eat More Chicken Cow. Alcohol and food will be available for purchase. 1 p.m. at Fountain Square. www.myfountainsquare.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO

4TO DO: FROM PAGE 15

riders for a night of angry animals, large hats and falling really hard onto dusty floors. But that’s not all! Country music star Jake Owen will be joining the tour to sing some songs like his rodeo-themed “Eight Second Ride” for a jampacked night of old fashioned, Wild West entertainment. $23-$38 adults; $11.50-$19 kids 12 and under; $53 VIP seating. 8 p.m. www.cincygardens.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO EVENTS: CHRISTIAN MOERLEIN CINCY BEER SHOWCASE There’s always talk of shopping local, supporting local artists and eating locally grown food, but Saturday you’ll have the chance to drink local at Arnold’s as local brewery Christian Moerlein shows off its impressive stable of Cincinnati beer. Sip, sample, taste or chug from your choice of Moerlein brews such as Lager House, OTR Ale, Hudy Delight, Hudy 14-K, Burger and Little Kings. Cincinnati treasure Jake Speed and the Freddies will pump out Cincy-centric Americana music all night long, and there are also promises of “free schwag” and a chance to talk to reps from the brewery (not hot, over-enthusiastic chicks in too-tight Moerlein T-shirts and hot pants, but the real execs from the company). Free. www.arnoldsbarandgrill.com. — MIKE BREEN MUSIC: Power Pop foursome THE SCREAMING MIMES celebrates its new release, Got to Tell the World, with a multi-dimensional blow-out (acoustic set, video screenings and a couple of full-on rockin’ sets) at the Southgate House. See Spill It on page 19.

january 13-19, 2010

SUNDAY17 4

EVENTS: GAZA MASSACRE RALLY When Americans hear the date Sept. 11, 2001, we all think about the same event. It sticks in our minds and hearts with such intensity that we can never forget. The same cannot be said for Dec. 27, 2008-Jan. 18, 2009. What is now being referred to as the “Gaza Massacre” is still unknown to many people in our country. For three weeks at the end of 2008, Israel inflicted airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing almost 1,500 Palestinians. And for many Muslims living in the U.S., the lack of knowledge about this incident is unfortunate.

Cousins Reema Jallaq and Fadi Shalash started the Gaza Massacre Rally event in an attempt to change this. “I have contacted a lot of local news channels but have never heard back,” Jallaq said. “We don’t see a lot of it (Gaza) on the news channels.” The Gaza Massacre Rally starts at 1 p.m. Sunday in front of Hughes High School in Clifton Heights and will go until approximately 4 p.m. Along with the cousins, University of Cincinnati group The Muslim Student Association will be there to spread awareness. “I am a Palestinian,” Jallaq said. “I almost forgot this was the one-year mark and I want people never to forget.” Donations are accepted and T-shirts will be available for purchase for $12. Contact 513-386-7163 for more information. — SAMANTHA BOHNERT

MONDAY18 4 EVENTS: 35th ANNUAL MLK MARCH In the four decades since his death, Martin Luther King Jr. stands as an international symbol of peaceful resistance and the manifest destiny of freedom to triumph over bigotry and oppression. The struggle for worldwide human rights continues while Dr. King’s work is celebrated at MLK Day events around the nation. Locally, a MLK March march commemorating King’s from 2009 work begins at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at 10:45 a.m., proceeding to an 11:15 a.m. prayer service at Fountain Square. Participants can continue on to Music Hall for a memorial program at noon. The Music Hall event has performances by Bishop Todd O’Neal and Dr. Cathy Roma along with the voices of the Martin Luther King Chorale. Free. March starts at the Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. 513-333-7500. — STEPHEN CARTER-NOVOTNI PHOTO courtesy ronny salerno

WEDNESDAY20 4 LITERARY: WRITER’S DIGEST’S 90TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Cincinnati-based trade magazine Writer’s Digest has been offering its literary tips nearly as long as electricity has been in most homes. And, amid a fleeting, fast-paced age in which everyone thinks they’re a writer (type “blog” into a Google search field and see what happens), its advice is (or should be) as vital as ever. “Even though publishing is undergoing massive transformation, one thing has not changed: the passion and persistence of writers to improve their craft and get their work published,” says Publisher Jane Friedman. Over the years the magazine has featured everyone from Hugh Heffner, Sylvester Stallone and Stephen King to Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac and the 90-year-old Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who is interviewed in the freshly redesigned 90th anniversary issue. Writer’s

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TAKE ITFROM US

photo courtesy cincinnati art museum

PHOTO COURTESY movieweb.com

Katy Knowles

Digest is also involved in a variety of other word-nurturing endeavors, including the annual publication of Writer’s Market, which remains a useful tool for freelance/fledgling writers everywhere. The magazine hosts an anniversary party at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Northside Tavern (4163 Hamilton Ave.), where the “WD” team will be on hand to celebrate its literary legacy with cake, ice cream, giveaways and other events. The party is free and open to the public. www.writersdigest.com. — JASON GARGANO

1/14-17

TUESDAY19 4 EVENTS: YOGA WITH THE MASTERS Who knew that Matisse, Picasso, Derain and van Gogh were yoga masters as well as groundbreaking Modernist artists? Starting Tuesday and continuing for four Tuesdays thereafter, Cincinnati Art Museum will hold “Yoga With the Masters” classes from 6-7:15 p.m. in its Modernist galleries, allowing practitioners to stretch and meditate in the after-hours presence of art’s 20th Century Modernist greats, who themselves knew a thing or two about how to inventively stretch bodies and change perceptions. The sessions are led by Katy Knowles, owner of YogaOMe studio, and are among the first in the country set in an art museum’s galleries. If one purpose of yoga is to “touch the soul,” this environment should do plenty to help. Each session costs $12; $6 for museum members. Price includes parking. Call 513-721-ARTS to make a reservation. — STEVEN ROSEN

1/22-23

Eddie Griffin

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show, Last Comic Standing

PLAN AHEAD

PHOTO COURTESY venushum.com

There is a ton of stuff to do this week, and the rest of the month is no different. Nashville band VENUS HUM (pictured) records a live show at producer/musician Ric Hordinski’s Monastery studio/performance space Jan. 22. New Pop star OWL CITY (which is just one dude, on record anyway) plays a sold-out show at the Madison Theater on Jan. 27. And superstar ventriloquist JEFF DUNHAM will stick his hand up the butts of a variety of characters and tell jokes at the Bank of Kentucky Center in Highland Heights on Jan. 31. An “Arena Rock Ventriloquist”? What’s next, superstar spoonbenders and stadium-filling plate-spinners? Ed Sullivan would be proud.

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january 13-19, 2010

John Heffron

Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Undercover Brother, Scary Movie 3, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Date Movie, Norbit

This past week has been full of big-time “no duh” headlines — Sarah Palin is going to be a Fox News commentator (those teleprompters will be working overtime!) and Mark McGwire admitted he used steroids (and Pete Rose is the shame of baseball?). Another unshocking revelation? CityBeat is your source for free goodies! Go to citybeat.com and click on “Free Stuff” to enter to win tickets to sit onstage and watch the acclaimed musical SPRING AWAKENING, movie passes to check out wannabe blockbusters THE BOOK OF ELI and LEGION and concert tickets to see/hear THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT and CALEXICO in Louisville and ANI DIFRANCO in Covington.

january 13-19, 2010

Where: Downtown Delhi When: Saturday, January 9th What: UC Hoops ticket giveaway!

MUSIC

4SPILL IT By MIKE BREEN

Mimes R Us The first time I put on Got to Tell the World, the new album by local Pop/Rock foursome Screaming Mimes, and cued up the first track, “You’re the Kind of Girl,” I listened for about a minute then had to run outside to pay my parking meter. Walking back to the office, I found myself already singing the chorus hook in my head, totally unconsciously. That’s a sign of great songwriting, showing singer/guitarist David Storm’s intuitive grasp of what makes an instantly memorable Pop melody. World (the band’s third LP) is, start to finish, loaded with these kinds of ear-candy hooks. If you don’t have a handful of these melodies in your head after listening to the album once, you should see an otologist. The band can lean toward a “Soft Rock” side at times — the tune “Open” could have made Toto a million dollars — but the sturdy songcraft still shines through. The tracks that feature a strong, upbeat groove seem to work best: “Motion” and “Beating Like a Drum” (among others) infuse Ska rhythms, sounding a bit like The Samples. “The Saddest Girl in the World” has an anthemic quality and Third Eye Blindish jaunt, while the “hidden track,” “It’s Not Over,” gives the band a chance to show off their musicianship as they go nuts during a 10-minute jam. The Mimes show versatility on World and, despite a few down moments, it’s the sort of album you can put on and know that your mood and spirit will be lifted. The band does “An Evening with …”-type show Saturday at the Southgate House, performing the entire night sans openers. They’ll kick things off with an acoustic set, play the new album in full and close things out with a run through of their back catalog (and perhaps some surprises). In between sets, the Mimes will screen their documentary Behind the Mask as well as other new video footage. (www.screamingmimes.com)

Girls’ Nights Out

CONTACT mike breen: mbreen@citybeat.com

PHOTO: jared holder

Sarah Borges rocking out at last year’s MidPoint Music Festival in Cincinnati.

Hot Live Singles! Sarah Borges spreads beloved live presence around on stage and record 4interview by brian baker

hen Sarah Borges appeared in Cincinnati last September on the MidPoint Music Festival’s closing night, she had more than an inkling of what lay ahead for her and the Broken Singles. Borges was ailing (with what she described as “the Mongolian face flu”), they were playing the WASSUP unknown-to-them Know Theatre and they were following SARAH BORGES AND THE BROKEN the rejuvenated Wussy, clearly SINGLES play Newport’s Southgate one of the Cincinnati scene’s House Friday with The Deep Vibration. biggest names. “We had no idea what to expect because it’s a blank canvas — a black box theater — but the festival was obviously so cool, and to get up there and have it wall-to-wall packed was pretty awesome,” Borges recalls from her

Boston home. “But I was afraid to play after Wussy. I did realize at the time, ‘These are the hometown favorites.’ Quite a tough second act.” Of course, Borges and the Singles retained nearly every Wussy fan and rocked the Know to its very foundation. Borges’ comfort in front of unpredictable audiences didn’t come from her band experience. That particular facet of her art was something she brought to the table from the outset. “I did a lot of musical theater in school,” Borges says. “I got the performing element out of the way earlier, in terms of learning how to act good and sing loud.” In relatively short order, Borges turned her Classic Rock exposure through her parents’ record collection CONTINUES ON PAGE 224

january 13-19, 2010

Things seem to have progressed since the Lilith Fair festival began in 1997 as a response to female performers’ exclusion from other big fests of the time. Not that sexism doesn’t still exist — the playing field just seems more level these days. Kelly Thomas, organizer of Friday and Saturday’s “One More Girl on a Stage” benefit concerts at the York Street Cafe, says the idea of putting together a lineup with mostly women isn’t some sort of equal opportunity statement. “This isn’t a series about lack of opportunity for women in the local music scene,” Thomas says. “Far from it. If you have good songs and put on an entertaining show, the music scene will make room for you regardless.” This year’s OMG event again features a broad range of musical styles and some fun additions like the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls lending a hand and chanteuse Vicki D’Salle hostessing. Performers include Thomas (playing with Ryan Malott), Lauren Houston, Tupelo Honey, Wonky Tonk, The Polly Esthers, Raison D’etre, Shiny and The Spoon, J. Dorsey Blues Revival, De Los Muertos, Jenny Ward, Stick Figure Drawings, Carole Walker and Smitten Hicks. Proceeds from the fest go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. An exhibition on the Cafe’s top floor will feature the work of Art Academy student Sarah Baker (among other artists), who has been documenting her mother’s now-terminal breast cancer struggle. Music begins at 7 p.m. both nights. (myspace.com/onemoregirlonastage)

4music listings

Jefferson Hall

CityBeat’s music listings are free. Send info to MIKE BREEN via email at mbreen@citybeat.com or fax at 513-665-4369. Listings are subject to change. See Club Directory for all club locations. H is CityBeat staff’s stamp of approval.

Southgate House (Parlour) — The Pinstripes | The Frankl Project | Stretch Lefty | The Happy Maladies. Rock/Punk/Ska. Cover. Stanley’s Pub — Perfect Norm | Eazy | The Layers. Rock/Jam. Cover. Stockyard Cafe — Sparrow Bellows. Rock. $5. Terry’s Turf Club — Eric Campbell & The Bevadors. Jazz. Free. Win Place or Show — Dallas Moore and the Snatch Wranglers. Outlaw

Country. $5.

For Winters & Losers Wednesday January 13th

Free Play on our Jukebox

Concerts Bowerbirds | Julie Doiron — Folk/Roots Rock. Wednesday, Janu-

The Only Vinyl Jukebox in Northside

ary 13. 9:30 p.m. Southgate House, 24 E. Third St., Newport. $8, $10 day of show. 859-431-2201.

Hard Rock Holiday

Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles | The Deep Vibration — Indie/Roots Rock (see interview, page 19). Friday, January H 15. 8:30 p.m. Southgate House, 24 E. Third St., Newport. $8, $10 day of

Thursday January 14th • 10pm-2am w/ DJ D Cupp Friday January 15th • 10pm-2am

Boom

w/ Kyle Cannon Saturday January 16th • 11pm

Heifers for Heifers Fundraiser Drag Show for Heifer International

FREE Wi-Fi

Look for us on Facebook: C&D Northside

1714 Hanfield Street • 513-541-9881

show. 859-431-2201.

Bowling for Soup | Just Surrender | The Flight Station | Static Vessels | Think Harder — Rock/Pop. Tuesday, January

19. 7 pm. Mad Hatter, 620 Scott St., Covington, $15, $18 day of show. 859-291-2233.

Clubs Wednesday January 13 Arnold’s Bar and Grill — Slyvain. Jazz/Guitar. Free. Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Blue Wisp Big Band. Jazz/Swing. $10. Charlie’s Throttle Stop — Open jam with Sonny Moorman Group. Rock/Blues/Open jam. Free.

Chez Nora — Ricky Nye. Blues/Boogie Woogie. Free. Crow’s Nest — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free. Havana Martini Club — DJ Rudy Alvarez. Dance/Latin. Free. HD Beans And Bottles Cafe — Open mic. Open mic. Free. Jefferson Hall — Fibbion Handful. Rock. Cover. Knotty Pine — Dallas Moore. Outlaw Country. Free. Northside Tavern — Kyle English. Acoustic. Free. Southgate House (Lounge) — Artists in Residence: Sparrow

Bellows. Rock. Free.

Stanley’s Pub — Super-Massive. Reggae. Cover. The Greenwich — Midnight Sun Cafe & Open Mic Jam. Open mic.

— 4th Day Echo. Rock. Cover.

Latitudes — Eric Campbell & The Bevadors. Jazz/Soft Rock. Free. Mad Frog — Yarn | Sleepin Dogs | Eric Tepe. Americana. Cover. The Redmoor — Eugene Goss and Triage. Jazz. Cover. Rohs Street Cafe — Wade Baker Jazz Collaboration. Jazz. Cover. Southgate House (Lounge) — Hillbilly Thursday: Whiskey Bent Valley

Boys. Folk/Honky Tonk/Roots Rock. Free.

Stanley’s Pub — Bubble Life | Eclipse. Jazz/Hip Hop/Funk. Free. Stockyard Cafe — Open Mic with John Redell. Open mic. Free. WIllie’s Sports Cafe (Hidden Valley) — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free. Win Place or Show — Snow Shoe Crabs. Rock/Alternative. Free. Wine Cellar — Gabe Wright. Acoustic. Free.

Friday January 15 Arnold’s Bar and Grill — Cla-zels (6 p.m.); Lagniappe (9 p.m.). Pop. Free.

Bella Luna — Blue Birds Trio. R&B/Soft Rock. Free. Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Vintage Keys (Jack Doll Trio at 4:30 p.m.; Delbert Williams with Blues at midnight). Jazz. $10.

Casey D’s — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free. Charlie’s Throttle Stop — After Midnight. Blues/Classic Rock. Cover. Chez Nora — Greg Litteral. Jazz. Free. Dollar Bill Tavern — Vintage Band. Pop/Dance. Free. Havana Martini Club — DJ Rudy Alvarez/Dance Lessons (Chris Comer Trio with Jazz at 5 p.m.). Dance/Latin. Free.

Jefferson Hall — 3 Day Rule. Rock. Cover. Jim and Jack’s on the River — Blue Stone Ivory. Rock/Pop/Dance.

Cover.

Knotty Pine — Session 9. Rock. Cover. Latitudes — Basic Truth. Funk/R&B/Soul. Free Mad Hatter — Corpus Christi | Behead the Tyrant | Pain Link | Promise to

Cover.

Agony | Gates of Carnivean. Metal. Cover.

Wine Cellar — Tim Hinde. Acoustic. Free.

Mansion Hill Tavern — Blue Ravens. Blues. Cover. Mayday — Indie Dance Night with DJ Greg Poneris of Eat Sugar. Dance/

Thursday January 14

HIndie. Free.

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub (Pleasant Ridge) — The Fabulous Cheap

Wine Cellar — Acoustic Abuse. Acoustic. Free. Woodies Tavern — Jack Squat. Rock. Cover. York Street Cafe — “One More Girl on a Stage” with Lauren Hous-

ton, Tupelo Honey, Wonky Tonk, Raison D’etre, Shiny and the Spoon, Kate Harrelson, Kristen Key, Carole Walker, Audrey Cecil & Amanda Lucas and The Polly Esthers. Various (see Spill It, page 19). Cover.

Saturday January 16 Anderson Bar & Grill — Basic Truth at Anderson Bar & Grill.

Funk/R&B/Soul. $5.00

Bella Luna — Blue Birds Trio. R&B/Soft Rock. Free. Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Jamey Abersold Quartet (Blue Wisp High

School All Star Jazz Band at 6 p.m.; Steve Barone and Ed Felson with Jazz at midnight). Jazz. Cover.

Chez Nora — Greg Litteral. Jazz. Free. Dee Felice Cafe — The “New” Sleepcat Band. Jazz/Swing. Free. deSha’s — The Blues Merchants. Blues. Free. Dollar Bill Tavern — Code-9. Pop/Dance. Free. The Greenwich

— The Beat Lounge. Hip Hop/DJ/Spoken word. admission $5, $15 to enter the competition

Havana Martini Club — DJ Rodger Shands. Dance/DJ. Free. Incahoots — Kevin Fox. Rock/Acoustic. Free. Inner Circle Entertainment Complex — Marc Rizzo | Parable

Heresy | In Rage | Attitude Altitude. Metal (see Sound Advice, page 24). $10.

Jefferson Hall — The Brave Youngster. Rock. $5. Jim and Jack’s on the River — Blue Stone Ivory. Rock/Pop/Dance.

Cover.

The Future Strikes. Rock. Cover.

Mansion Hill Tavern — Jon Justice Band. Blues. Cover. Mayday — Giant Wow | The Bush League All-Stars. Rock/Pop. Free. McCoy’s Place — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free. Molly Malone’s Covington — Chris Staples | Wonky Tonk | Billy Wal-

Arnold’s Bar and Grill — Ricky Nye and Dottie Warner. Lounge.

Suits. Blues. Free.

lace and the Virginia Blues | Matt Swaim. Americana/Folk. $5.

Northside Tavern — The Minor Leagues | The Fairmount Girls | Midstates

Black Angus Burgers & Brew — Sonny Moorman Group. Rock/

Mr. Pitiful’s — The Jones’s. Funk/R&B/Soul. Cover. Northside Tavern — The Mighty | Kentucky Struts | Wake the Bear.

Free.

Blues. Free.

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Brasilia. Jazz/World. $8. Chez Nora — Gary Gorrell Trio. Jazz. Free. Dee Felice Cafe — Lee Stolar Trio. Jazz. Free. Dollar Bill Tavern — Outrayjus. Pop/Dance. Free. The Greenwich — Windau Jazz’tet. Jazz. Free. Havana Martini Club — Jack Doll (5 p.m.). Jazz. Free.

Rock/Indie. Free.

Paxton’s Grill — The Medicine Men. Blues. Free. Play by Play Rock Cafe — Howard Brothers Band. Rock. Cover. R.P. McMurphy’s — Fibbion Handful. Rock. Cover. The Redmoor — No Saints No Saviors. Blues/Classic Rock. Cover. Rick’s Tavern & Grille — Stranger 80s. Rock/80s. Cover. Southgate House (Lounge) — Los Honchos. Garage/Soul. Free.

and the Choir of Ghosts. Rock/Pop/Indie. Free.

Play by Play Rock Cafe — Clubber Lang. Rock. Cover. R.P. McMurphy’s — Core. Rock. Cover. The Redmoor — 8 to 10. Rock/Blues. Cover.

Rick’s Tavern & Grille — Bad Habit. Rock. Cover. Silverton Cafe — Leadfoot Johnny. Rock/Blues. Free. Southgate House — Screaming Mimes (CD release party). Rock/

HPop (see Spill It, page 19). Cover.

& JBM PROMOTIONS present

Southgate houSe 24 E 3 rd St • N ew p o r t, KY

Sarah BorgeS

& the Broken SingleS with

Deep Vibration

January 15 @ 8:30pm

the Fiery FurnaceS January 21 @ 8:00pm

chatham county line January 28 @ 8:00pm

John gorka january 13-19, 2010

February 19 @ 8:00pm

1 1 2 E Fo u r t h St • Cov i n g to n , KY

www.jbmpromotions.com Tickets/Info 513-779-9462

molly maloneS

Willy Porter February 26 @ 8:00pm

Southgate House (Lounge) — Lagniappe. Cajun. Free. Southgate House (Parlour) — Crash Kings | Animal Circles. Rock.

Madison Theater — “Road to Memphis” with Dick & the Roadmasters, Ricky Nye Inc. and Them Bones. Blues. $8, $10 day of show.

Stanley’s Pub — Hickory Robot | Northbound Motion. Rock/Americana.

Mansion Hill Tavern — Open Blues Jam with Them Bones. Blues.

Stockyard Cafe — Kickin’ Dust. Country. Free. Terry’s Turf Club — Eric Campbell & The Bevadors. Jazz. Free. The Underground — Battle 09 Finals with Harmon, Brent Reed Band, Ad-

Zion United Church of Christ Norwood — Leo Coffeehouse

Cover.

vocate SeVen, Irela and special guests Seabird. Various. $10/$13 day of show.

Win Place or Show — The Josh Pilot Band. Rock/Blues. $3. Wine Cellar — Eric Leyton and the Bandits. Acoustic. Free. Woodies Tavern — Jack Squat. Rock. Cover. York Street Cafe — “One More Girl on a Stage” with Keshvar Project,

Jenny Ward, Blue Confessions, Kristen Keft and J. Dorsey, Lyrida Loveless, Kelly Thomas and Ryan Malott, Robin and Joanie Lacey, Smitten Hicks, The Honeycombs, Stick Figure Drawins and De Los Muertos. Various (see Spill It, page 19). Cover.

H Free.

Wedding Guide Saturday, January 16

with John Ford and The Bromwell-Diehl Band, plus open mic. Acoustic. Cover.

Doors @ 8pm | Music @ 9pm

Marc rizzo

Monday January 18

(formerly of Soulfly) with Parable Heresy,

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Jazz Jam Session. Jazz. Cover. Jefferson Hall — DJ Toad. Dance/DJ. Cover. Mad Frog — Tropicoso. Latin/Salsa. Cover. Mansion Hill Tavern — John Redell. Blues. Free. Northside Tavern — The Quartet. Jazz. Free. Southgate House (Lounge) — Open Mic Night: Billy Catfish.

attitude altitude, in rage, Hardcore ritual

Rock/Singer/Songwriter/Various. Free.

Sunday January 17

Sunday, January 24

Stanley’s Pub — Wade Baker Jazz Collaborative. Jazz. Free.

Allyn’s Cafe

Tuesday January 19

Blue Wisp Jazz Club

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Derrek Phillips and Manufactory . Jazz.

— Blue Birds Big Band. Classic Rock/R&B. $3. — Souse. Jazz/Funk. $5.

Cover.

Chez Nora

Claddagh Irish Pub — Sonny Moorman . Blues. Free. Dee Felice Cafe — “Fat Tuesday” with the Royal Palm Orchestra.

— Mary Ellen Tanner. Jazz. Free.

Comet

Jazz. Free.

— Comet Bluegrass Allstars. Bluegrass. Free.

Jefferson Hall — Donny Bray and Dustin Ivey. Acoustic. Cover. Knotty Pine — Josh Powers. Acoustic. Free. Mad Frog — Open Mic with Celebrity Status Ent. Open mic/Various.

Jefferson Hall

— Matt Cowherd and Jamie Combs. Rock/Acoustic. Cover.

The Greenwich — “Purple Lotus”. Various. $5. Knotty Pine

Cover.

R.P. McMurphy’s Irish Pub & Coffee House — Open Mic Night

— Randy Peak. Acoustic. Free.

. Open mic. Free.

Mad Hatter

— All Out Best | Remembering Never | Let It Happen | Foxes on Fire | Barbwire Fist. Rock/Punk. Cover.

Sidebar — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free. Stanley’s Pub — Rumpke Mountain Boys. Bluegrass/Jam. Cover.

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Doors @ 7pm | Music @ 7:30pm

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4HOT LIVE SINGLES!: FROM PAGE 19

4 club directory Allyn’s Cafe — 3538 Columbia Parkway, Columbia-Tusculum. 513-871-5779.

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub (Pleasant Ridge) — 6111 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. 513-531-0700.

The Greenwich — 2442 Gilbert Ave., Downtown. 513-665-4700.

Molly Malone’s Covington — 112 E. Fourth St., Covington. 859-491-6659.

Arnold’s Bar and Grill — 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown. 513-421-6234. Bella Luna — 4632 Eastern Ave., Linwood. 513-871-5862.

Mr. Pitiful’s — 1323 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-369-0202.

Black Angus Burgers & Brew — 10575 Chester Road, 513-772-1500.

Northside Tavern — 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. 513-5423603.

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — 318 E. 8th St., 513-241-9477.

Paxton’s Grill — 126 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland. 513-583-1717.

Casey D’s — 9292 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, West Chester. 513-755-0125. Charlie’s Throttle Stop — 7121 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield. 513-874-6111. Chez Nora — 530 Main St., Covington. 859-491-8027. Claddagh Irish Pub — 1 Levee Way, Suite 2122,Newport on the Levee Newport. 859-581-8888. Comet — 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. 513-541-8900. Crow’s Nest — 4544 W. 8th St., Price Hill. 513-921-2980. Dee Felice Cafe — 529 Main St., Covington. 859-261-2365. deSha’s — 11320 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. 513-247-9933.

Rick’s Tavern & Grille — 5955-5 Boymel Dr., Fairfield. 513-874-1992. Rohs Street Cafe — 245 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights. 513-238-7647. Sidebar — 322 Greenup St. |, Covington. 859-431-3456. Silverton Cafe — 7201 Montgomery Road, 513-791-2922. Southgate House — 24 E. Third St., Newport. 859-431-2201.

Havana Martini Club — 441 Vine St.,Carew Tower 5th & Race Downtown. 513-651-2800.

Southgate House (Lounge) — 24 E. Third St., Newport. 859-431-2201.

HD Beans And Bottles Cafe — 6721 Montgomery Rd, 513-793-6036.

Southgate House (Parlour) — 24 E. Third St., Newport. 859-431-2201.

Incahoots — 4110 Hunt Road, 513-793-2600.

Stanley’s Pub — 323 Stanley Ave., Columbia-Tusculum. 513-871-6249.

Jefferson Hall — 1 Levee Way ,Newport on the Levee Newport. 859-491-6200. Jim and Jack’s on the River — 3456 River Road, Riverside. 513-251-7977. Jim Dandy’s Family BBQ — 2343 E. Sharon Road, Sharonville. 513-771-4888. Knotty Pine — 6947 Cheviot Rd., White Oak. 513-741-3900. Mad Hatter — 620 Scott St., Covington. 859-291-2233. Latitudes — 18 Main St., Milford-Miami Township. 513-831-9888. Mad Frog — 1 E. McMillan St., Corryville. 513-784-9119. Madison Theater — 730 Madison Ave., Covington. 859-491-2444. january 13-19, 2010

R.P. McMurphy’s Irish Pub & Coffee House — 2910 Wasson Rd., Oakley. 513-531-3300.

Dollar Bill Tavern — 8074 U.S. 42, Florence. 859-746-3600.

Inner Circle Entertainment Complex — 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End. 513-321-0220.

Play by Play Rock Cafe — 6923 Plainfield Road, Silverton. 513-793-3360.

Mansion Hill Tavern — 502 Washington St., Newport. 859-581-0100. Mayday — 4227-4231 Spring Grove Ave. , Northside. 513-541-0999. McCoy’s Place — 6008 Springdale Road, White Oak. 513-385-8222.

Stockyard Cafe — 3112 Spring Grove Ave. , Camp Washington. 513-591-2233. Terry’s Turf Club — 4618 Eastern Ave., Linwood. 513-533-4222. The Greenwich — 2442 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills. 513-221-1151. The Redmoor — 3187 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout. 513-871-6789. The Underground — 1140 Smiley Ave., Forest Park. 513-825-8200. WIllie’s Sports Cafe (Hidden Valley) — 19325 Schmarr Dr., Lawrenceburg. 812-537-0512. Win Place or Show — 9933 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, West Chester. 513-777-2920. Wine Cellar — 1101 Saint Gregory St., Mount Adams. 513-241-9009. Woodies Tavern — 10020 Demia Way, Florence. 859-282-1264. York Street Cafe — 738 York St., Newport. 859-261-9675. Zion United Church of Christ Norwood — 2332 Sherwood Lane, Norwood. 513-531-5400.

and her own love of Boston’s Indie scene into a band. “Bands like (Boston’s) Throwing Muses and Buffalo Tom were huge and then I got into bands like X, which were more on the Punk side but still shared a common element with me,” Borges says. “I was in an Indie Rock band for like seven years — I started when I was 17 — and it intersected with this band for the first year, then I quit that to focus on what we’re doing full time.” Borges and the eventual Broken Singles began to coalesce in 2004. Starting with drummer Robert Larry Dulaney and eventually adding bassist/comic and musical foil Binky and guitarist/soon-to-be-husband Lyle Brewer, Borges moved the Broken Singles from side project to full-fledged band within a couple of years. Her first album, 2005’s Silver City on Blue Corn Records, was attributed to Borges alone, as she hadn’t yet solidified the band or fully defined their sound. Silver City did earn Borges comparisons to Maria McKee, hinted at the Country/Indie Rock hybrid that was evolving and earned her a Sugar Hill contract. Two years after Silver City, Diamonds in the Dark was the first album to bear the band’s name and was a slightly more energetic affair. The volume went up even more on last year’s swaggering The Stars Are Out. “We’ve always had this unique problem of being a band that appeals to people in too many different ways,” Borges says with a laugh. “They’re always asking us, ‘Are you a Country band or a Rock band? What the heck is it?’ And this sounds so cliché, but we’re a band from Boston. We’re all of those things. We’re the sum total of what our record collection looks like. “With The Stars Are Out, we tried to focus on one thing a little bit more, which was kind of foreign. We tried to make things more cohesive. And the record is half covers and half originals and part of that was because we were trying to learn how to write songs in just one vein.”

stockyard Cafe

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Open Mic w/ John Redell FRidaY, JanuaRY 15 • 9pm • $5

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Kickin’ Dust (country)

The stylistic diversity of the first two albums was certainly attractive to critics, but when the Broken Singles started evolving as a live entity, they found it hard to back down from their adrenalized intensity to compensate for the slower moments. “I have a special place in my heart for Silver City; it has a lot of slow songs on it,” Borges says. “Live, once you get going, you don’t want to strip the whole thing down to play a slow song. We started Diamonds in the Dark to have an eye toward that a little more, and The Stars Are Out as well — to really think about what we like to do live and what the audience likes to do.” Taking that philosophy to its natural conclusion, Borges and the Singles recorded a two-night stand over New Year’s weekend in Boston as the basis for an upcoming live album. The proposed release, tentatively slated for March, will not be part of Borges’ label deal but is being financed by fan donations (see www.sarahborges.com for details) and will ultimately be available only at shows or through the Web site. “We had basically everyone we know in town come and hang out,” Borges says. “We’re going to cull the best of the two nights and put that into the CD. We tried to do everything that we typically do live; there are a couple of new songs not on any record thus far, so they might end up there, and maybe an odd cover or two that aren’t on a record but we like to play live. But there are a lot of the songs that we know people like and it’s kind of spread out over all three records.” Similarly, during the January tour, Borges and the Singles will be filming a show in Benton Harbor, Mich., for a live DVD they hope will drop around the same time as the CD. The band’s live recording activities have been fueled by fan comments that groups have been hearing since Les Paul channeled electricity into wood and wire. “We’ve heard from our fans that, while they love our records, they haven’t been able to capture the live sound,” Borges says. “It’s pretty exciting. It’s also very stressful, but it’s worth the complete freedom.” ©

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BuBBle life THU 1/14 • Jazz/Funk

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FRI 1/15 • Jam/Rock

peRfect NoRM w/ eazy, & the layers SAT 1/16 • Americana/Rock

hickoRy RoBot w/ Northbound Motion Every Monday

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323 Stanley Ave • 513-871-6249 One Block East of The Precinct

3112 Spring Grove Ave . Cincinnati, OH 45225

4music

The Future Is Unwritten Dreams are great, but temper your excitement, be realistic and enjoy every moment 4by ill poetic

LIVE MUSIC!

Thursday Jan 14

650 North Friday Jan 15

Natalie Wells

Saturday Jan 16

taneity of it all. In May 2008, I dropped a mash-up record that ended up getting covered everywhere from allhiphop.com to Rolling Stone. Wasn’t even my idea to make it, I just did it — knocked it out in a weekend without a second thought. I released it online that Monday and it did more for me than either of my meticulously planned albums. It’s hilarious when you think about it, but it’s also beautiful and annoying as hell. However, it really drove home that lesson to just have fun, be creative and enjoy every moment along the path. All this leads me to my next point: Fuck status. Fuck the idea of status, especially in a local or regional scene. It’s stupid and it’s dangerous. I used to be on it too, which is why I’m trying to throw out this warning. It’s cool to be hungry and want to be great, but if you’re looking at the guy to your left or right to see what he’s doing, you are not looking forward. Being worried about how people perceive your “status” in the scene is stupid, especially in the grand scheme of the national and international scenes. If you go through

your career with the sole intent of trying to get ahead and not for the lessons and good memories sitting all around you, you fail. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be self-aware and make calculated moves toward reaching the audiences you want to reach as well as a money-generating career. Just cut the excess out. It makes it so much easier and enjoyable. Getting to live a life centered on your passion is the most amazing feeling in the world and really puts everything in perspective. It’s not press status, networks, backbiting, shit-talking, DJ payola or radio spins. It’s an outlet for stress, an inlet for joy. It’s a series of moments of real humanity that you get to help create and then share with a group of strangers. It’s a memory for someone you’ve never met and never will. It’s one second played out to infinity. Communal bliss. It keeps us young forever. It’s the closest we’ll ever get to walking on the moon. CONTACT ILL POETIC: music@citybeat.com

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have a theory, and the theory goes like this: Your dream is kind of like the moon — the further away you are from it, the more beautiful it looks. The closer you get to it, the more you see the reality of it: the craters, the flaws, the reality. This theory has led me to another theory: You are not ready to reach your dream until you’re prepared to deal with the full realities of it. If “me” from 2002 could see me now, I’m sure he would be so excited that he finally “made it.” I used to think I’d be set if I ever made it in a certain magazine or collaborated with a certain artist. Shit, sometimes I forget when I reach a goal I’ve set for myself so long ago because I’ve been through the trenches to get there. Once I did reach that goal, it ultimately seemed a lot less luxurious than I had envisioned it from afar. You hear this all the time from your favorite rapper when he finally gets on. Eminem was a big one. Kanye as well. Right now it’s Drake. Listen to his song “Fear” as an example. I don’t say all this to depress you or deter you from your dream. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in years of doing this (possibly the most important) is that you have to enjoy the path more than the goal. I’ll repeat, because, as Lil Wayne says, “Repetition is the father of learning” — you have to enjoy the path more than the goal. This is more important than mix downs, promotions, artwork, Web sites, publicists and touring. It’s more important because it encapsulates all of those things. And without this attitude, all those things accomplished will have been in vein. If you’re not in this industry as an artist for the right reasons, I advise you to stop now. Stop reading this column. Stop writing. Stop recording. Stop performing. Stop all of it. You will become bitter and upset at life and no one needs that energy put into the world. Go do something that makes you happy at being you. But if you are in this game to push your craft forward and create a voice or sound for yourself, then please keep reading. You are the person most likely to enjoy the path more than the goal. Not to say you shouldn’t set goals and enjoy them when you accomplish them — just sayin’ don’t let them hold too much weight on your soul. One thing I’ve learned over the past year is that you don’t always control your career. You can’t perfectly plan your future. You never know what song people are going to definitely react to or how they’ll perceive you on stage. This is what makes it so damn fun — the spon-

4 sound advice

CBrecomMends

Bowerbirds

january 13-19, 2010

photo courtesy Dead Oceans

BOWERBIRDS WITH JULIE DOIRON Wednesday • Southgate House In the wake of the 2005 demise of vaunted indie band Ticonderoga, guitarist/vocalist Phil Moore and keyboardist/vocalist Mark Paulson decided to maintain their working relationship. They invited accordionist/vocalist Beth Tacular to complete their resurrection as a band. It was Tacular who dubbed the newly minted unit Bowerbirds, after an Australian species known for the male’s mating strategy of building beautiful and elaborate nests. The trio relocated to the Raleigh, N.C., scene, honed their Freak Folk/Acousticana hybrid of Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsome, Clem Snide and Van Dyke Parks and spawned a pair of well-received releases, 2006’s Danger at Sea EP and 2007’s Hymns for a Dark Horse. After the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle raved about them on his Web site, Bloomington’s Dead Oceans signed Bowerbirds, reissued Hymns with bonus tracks and set the band on an exhaustive touring schedule both in North America and abroad, including a support slot for No. 1 fan Darnielle and his Mountain Goats. Bowerbirds’ sophomore full-length, Upper Air, was released last July to enthusiastic reviews and resulted in another long touring cycle, but much has happened in the interim. Paulson has largely stepped away from Bowerbirds, leaving Moore and Tacular to do the heavy creative lifting (the pair became personally involved shortly after forming the band), although he continues to help them flesh out their live sound on occasion. Bowerbirds’ road unit continues to shift according to need and availability: Paulson and Megafaun’s Brad Cook have signed on for intermittent tours while drummer Matt Damron has become an important constant since last summer.

Most ephemeral music drifts on the edge of consciousness, but Bowerbirds’ dreamy soundscapes electrify and excite consciousness. It’s old-time music with a freshly forged edge. (Brian Baker) MARC RIZZO WITH IN RAGE AND PARABLE HERESY Saturday • Inner Circle (formerly Annie’s) In the Metal omniverse, there aren’t many purveyors of six-string mayhem that are better or busier than Marc Rizzo. Spending a good deal of his time recording and touring with Max Cavalera’s dual projects — Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy — Rizzo somehow managed to crowbar into his triple stacked day planner a solo career, a couple of side projects (Inpsychlobleedia and Committee of Thirteen) and his label duties as the co-founder/president/A&R swami at Phlamencore Records. An almost supernatural shredder with chops that are informed by everything from Metal and Classical to Latin and Flamenco, Rizzo wrote and recorded his new album, Legionnaire, over the past two years while he toured with Cavalera, utilizing his brief breaks to hit the studio and lay down his new tracks. Rizzo grew up in New Jersey, an outstanding athlete who ultimately became an amateur boxer. He was a founding member of Ill Nino but left after five years due to creative restlessness. Within months of his departure, Rizzo joined Soulfly and started Phlamencore with his brother Luke. Since leaving Ill Nino in 2003, Rizzo has recorded three Soulfly albums, the debut Cavalera Conspiracy and Committee of Thirteen discs, three solo albums (2005’s Colossal Myopia, 2007’s The Ultimate Devotion and the imminent Legionnaire) and a Metal guitar instructional DVD. Rizzo has also been in the studio working on a new Soulfly album. By the time you read this, he could very well have

written a new album, launched a new side project and started a new branch of Metal called Sleep Thrash, because that’s clearly the only time left available for Marc Rizzo to accomplish anything. (BB)

Marc Rizzo

photo courtesy vqrp

4 minimum gauge American Idiots The awesome Web site The Smoking Gun (www.thesmokinggun. com) recently posted documents featuring some of the complaints to the FCC over American Idol loser Adam Lambert’s allegedly shocking performance on the American Music Awards broadcast late last year, during which he made out with a bandmate (who was a dude!) and simulated oral sex with a dancer (who was also a dude!). Considering America’s general homophobia (which will one day be looked upon as shamefully as pre-Civil Rights racial hatred), the FCC complaints are hardly surprising, with comments ranging from comical misspellings (“sensor ship”) to general name-calling (“fudge packer,” “douchebag” and the at-least-imaginative “fagatoni”) to hilarious anecdotes, like the Ohio viewer who said they were happy their elderly grandmother had gone to bed before Lambert’s “disgusting” performance, even though they did have to endure Shakira “pushing

music news tid-bits and other morsels of relative insignificance

her twat in (Grandma’s) face.” The most “disgusting” thing about it all? The complaints make the lousy, plastic karaoke singer seem like the new GG Allin. Gaming to the Oldies The terms “REO Speedwagon” and “groundbreaking” aren’t often used in the same sentence (outside of “REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin’s ‘mull-fro’ — half mullet, half afro — was a groundbreakingly awful haircut”), but the ’70s rockers appear to be on to something with their recent promotional game plan. Last month, business media from Forbes to The New York Times lauded REO’s new video game, REO Speedwagon: Find Your Own Way Home, for its inventive way of trying to engage fans. The downloadable game lets players help find a gone-missing Cronin, who is jumping up and down going “I’m right here! I haven’t gone anywhere!” (oh wait, that’s real life, not the game). The game

also features a reporter from an entertainment TV show who is in on the hunt, which makes it a true “fantasy game,” because there isn’t a TV show on the planet that would cover that story. But it’s a clever marketing scheme, capitalizing (sorta) on the Guitar Hero/Rock Band craze and finding new ways to garner attention and earn a paycheck as outlets like “music television,” radio airplay and CD sales become less and less attainable. Whether anyone outside of die-hard REO fans has even remote interest in an REO Speedwagon videogame is another story entirely, but the reports say the band has made money from it. Never ones to forgo an opportunity — no matter how crass or stupid (see: going Country) — to keep its rotting corpse of a career alive, Def Leppard is also reportedly working on a new videogame as well as a “cartoon TV show,” which will air on … ah, who are we kidding? A network would be more likely to air public executions in prime time than pick up a Def Leppard cartoon.

The End of a Decayed We hate it when our favorite musicians do something that rings false or phony — like Iggy Pop doing car insurance commercials, Bob Dylan making a Christmas record or Bruce Springsteen recording a Rap duet with Lil Wayne. Singer Shane MacGowan recently underwent an image change that might leave fans of his band The Pogues completely dismayed. The man who was once famously booted from The Pogues for drinking too much (which is kind of like getting kicked out of NASCAR for driving too fast) has reportedly had his legendary teeth (ahem) “issues” taken care of. The singer — whose famous grill made a jack-o-lantern’s grin look like Julia Roberts’ Cheshire smile — has been photographed after a “dental health” vacation in Spain with a whole new set of choppers.

Derreck Phillips and Manufactory Tue, January 19

Chicago AfroBeat Project Thu, January 21

Every Wed

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Blue Wisp Big Band

Thu 1/14 8:00pm • $8 Brasilia

Guitarist Steve Barone Vintage Keys 11:59pm • No Cover Blues with Delbert Williams Fri 1/15

4:30pm

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Sat 1/16 6:00pm • $5 suggested donation

Blue Wisp High School All Star Jazz Band 8:30pm Jamey Aebersold 11:59pm • Free

with Steve

Wind Down Softly Jazz

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hosted by Sandy Suskind w/Eddie Felson bass, Ron Enyard drums, Dan Karlsberg piano Play with Pro Jazz Musicians

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ARTS

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‘Reel Art’ Movies Come to CAM

CONTACT STEVEN ROSEN: srosen@citybeat.com

PHOTO: Paul Kolnik

Christy Altomare (left), a CCM grad, and Jake Epstein perform in Spring Awakening at the Aronoff Center.

Wake-Up Call Spring Awakening turns the Broadway musical upside down 4by rick pender

nce every generation or so a Broadway musical turns the complacent world of happy entertainment upside down. That happened in 1968 when Hair adopted the world of Rock music and its many accouterments in clothing, hairstyles, drugs and WASSUP more. Such was the case again in SPRING AWAKENING runs at the 1996 when Rent took an old Aronoff Center for the Arts through story (Puccini’s 1896 opera La Jan. 24. Tickets: $22.50-$64.50. Bohème) and translated it to a contemporary world of Rock musicians, AIDS and life in New York City’s “bohemian” East Village. Despite these shows’ controversial portraits of contemporary counterculture, they were popular productions that audiences flocked to see. Hair ran for four years and Rent for 12. A tour of the latter stopped in Cincinnati just last fall featuring Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp from the original 1996 cast. Both shows won Tony Awards for best musical, Hair in 1969 and Rent in 1996. Both became motion pictures. Through Jan. 24, the current generation’s trendsetter, Spring Awakening, the 2006 Tony winner, is

onstage in a touring production at the Aronoff Center. (It’s worth noting that the leading role of Wendla is played by Christy Altomare, a 2008 graduate of the musical theater program at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.) Like Rent, Spring Awakening is based on a centuryold work, in this case a controversial 1891 German play about adolescents dealing with coming-of-age anxieties. Like Hair and Rent, the show uses an electrifying Rock score that reflects the contemporary idiom. But Spring Awakening departs in a significant way from its predecessors: Rather than modernizing its source material, it’s costumed and set in the late 19th-century era when the play was written, reflecting prevalent social beliefs and behaviors. Juxtaposing 1891 with an aggressive Rock score that sounds like here and now, the show’s creators, composer and former Pop star Duncan Sheik (best known to music fans for his 1996 hit, “Barely Breathing”) and writer Steven Sater, have universalized the story. Frank Wedekind’s play was scandalous in its day, portraying teen sex, violence and suicide. These themes CONTINUES ON PAGE 314

january 13-19, 2010

Cincinnati Art Museum’s Reel Art film series — movies with a strong connection to the visual arts — starts a new season Friday at 7 p.m. with Zabriskie Point. It’s a great lineup … and I don’t just say that because I’ll be the guest speaker after that film’s repeat screening at 1 p.m. Sunday. The series has narrative films so artfully designed and photographed (Zabriskie Point, A Single Man) that they look as much at home in a gallery as a theater. There will also be documentaries (Visual Acoustics) and narrative films about famous artists historic (Caravaggio) and contemporary (Love Is the Devil). Here’s a look at the series: • Zabriskie Point: After the success of his Blow-Up, an existentialist mystery set in mid-1960s swingin’ England, visionary Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni came to America to see our country through countercultural eyes. He made an enigmatic mystery about a campus radical who hijacks a plane to seek shelter in the California desert, joining a young woman alienated from her developer employer. The cinematography (Alfio Contini) and music (Pink Floyd, Jerry Garcia) are terrific, and as the film starts to hallucinate – a love session in the desert, a modernist home blowing up in slow motion – you’ll see why this is definitely a one-of-a-kind take on America as spiritual wasteland. (Friday at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m.) • (Untitled): The Cincinnati premiere of this 2009 comedy — directed by Jonathan Parker and starring the always-acerbic Adam Goldberg — about a relationship between a new-music composer and a Chelsea gallerist. It’s reputed to be wellinformed about today’s art world. (Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 7 at 1 p.m.) • Manufactured Landscapes: Quietly, this artful documentary by Jennifer Baichwal — who follows photographer Edward Burtynsky as he documents global industrialization — has become one of the most influential docs in recent years, largely because of its astounding shots of things like a Chinese factory as big as a town and a river so red it glows like fire. (Feb. 19 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.) • Five Easy Pieces: Rob Rafelson’s 1970 film, connected in its visions and attitude with the museum’s Starburst: Color Photography in America 1970-1980 opening Feb. 13, has Jack Nicholson’s first great starring role. (March 5 at 7 p.m.; March 7 at 1 p.m.) • Caravaggio: The late British director Derek Jarman is one of the giants of independent art cinema. This innovative look at the great Italian painter’s life introduced actress Tilda Swinton to the world. (April 2 at 7 p.m.; April 4 at 1 p.m.) • Visual Acoustics: The local premiere of Eric Bricker’s new documentary about the California architectural photographer Julius Shulman, who died last year at age 98. Dustin Hoffman narrates. (April 16 at 7 p.m.; April 18 at 1 p.m.) • A Single Man: Fashion designer Tom Ford’s first film is an adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s classic of contemporary gay fiction, starring Colin Firth (in what’s touted as an Oscar-worthy role) and Julianne Moore. (May 7 at 7 p.m.; May 9 at 1 p.m.) • Love Is the Devil: John Maybury’s 1998 film is a forceful, powerful study of British painter Francis Bacon’s tumultuous relationship with his model and lover George Dyer. Derek Jacobi and Daniel Craig star. (May 21 at 7 p.m.; May 23 at 1 p.m.) All the Sunday films have guest speakers or a related gallery talk. The entire series costs $70 ($30 for museum members). Individual screenings are $10 or $5 for members, students and seniors. Tickets include free parking. Call 513-721-ARTS for tickets or to make gallery-tour reservations following the Sunday screenings.

4calendar listings To be included: Submit information for CityBeat calendar listings in writing by noon Wednesday, seven days before publication. Mail to: Maija Zummo, Listings Editor, CityBeat, 811 Race St., Fifth Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Phone: 513-665-4700, ext. 145 Fax: 513-665-4369. e-mail calendar@citybeat.com Please include a contact name and daytime phone number. Due to space considerations, we cannot guarantee that all submitted information will make it to print. H is CityBeat staff’s stamp of approval.

4art Openings Northern Kentucky University Art Galleries — FE10

Northern Kentucky University Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition features a variety of artwork by both full and part-time faculty from the Department of Visual Arts. Artist’s reception in main gallery: 5-8 p.m. Jan. 14. ... Magma: Works by Marc Leone will feature the multi-layered paintings of Marc Leone, a recent addition to the Visual Arts faculty. The materials are built up, eroded, and repeated. Connections exist to geologic craters, land masses, satellite maps and magma/lava structures. In the Third Floor Gallery. Artist’s reception: 5-8 p.m. Jan. 14. Through Feb. 5. ... Northern Kentucky University Art Galleries, Fine Arts Center, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, 859-572-5148.

Reed Gallery — Urban Interventions features six artists who source the city as both content and context. Opening reception: 5 p.m Jan. 14. Reed Gallery, University of Cincinnati\’s College of DAAP, Clifton, 513-556-2839.

Galleries & Exhibits Artisan Enterprise Center — Bright Ideas celebrates color

through the works of Baker hunt family artists, including Bob Hebenstreit, Stephen Kenkins, Gilda Horn, Kurt Einhaus, Valma Morris, Lisa Molyneux and David Laug. Through Jan. 13. Artisan Enterprise Center, 25 W. Seventh St., Covington, 859-292-2322.

Bromwell’s Gallery — Represent features a collection of printmaking, abstract paintings, photography and sculpture by various artists. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Through Jan. 16. Bromwell’s Gallery, 117 W. Fourth St., Downtown, 513-315-4622.

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Park + Vine — More Great Cincinnati Families at Home showcases the private residences of the Emery, Longworth-Anderson, Maxwell-Schmidlapp-Graydon, and Werk-Oskamp families, and shares stories about these well-known Cincinnatians. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Through Jan. 24. Park + Vine, 1109 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-721-7275. Phyllis Weston-Annie Bolling Gallery — From Moscow to

St. Petersberg: A New Collection of Russian Impressionism and Realism Paintings features unseen works from the prestigious Union of Russian Artists. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Through Jan. 30. Phyllis Weston-Annie Bolling Gallery, 2005 1/2 Madison Road, O’Bryonville, 513-321-5200.

RoHo Photo Gallery — Body of Work is a juried photo exhibition. Noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Through Jan. 30. RoHo Photo Gallery , 331 W. Fourth St.,Loft #1 Downtown, 513-254-7646. Semantics Gallery — Melanie e. Derrick and Phil Valois exhibit objects and graphics. Derrick presents 11 Biscuits, new work inspired by The Daily Puppy, an online newsletter where owners can create a profile and post pictures of their dogs. Valois exhibits /*Power and Persuasion*/ offers future artifacts as tools to perpetuate new myths. Noon-4 p..m Sundays. Through Jan. 31. Semantics Gallery, 1107 Harrison Ave., Brighton, 513-207-5262. Studio San Giuseppe — Mount Art & Design Faculty Exhibition is

a biennial exhibition featuring recent art works by members of its acclaimed art and design faculty. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 1-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Through Feb. 12. Studio San Giuseppe, 5701 Delhi Road, Delhi Twp., 513-244-4151.

The Frank Duveneck Arts & Cultural Center — New Paint-

ings by Ryan Snow are very subtle, grey or nearly white abstracts. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. Through Jan. 28. The Frank Duveneck Arts & Cultural Center, 1232 Greenup St., Covington, 859-491-3942.

U-turn Art Space — Colony looks at how cultural identity is

revised, stereotyped and mythologized through the work of Adam Longbonz, Travis Meinolf, and two collaborative groups - Maidens of the Cosmic Body Running and Tenthaus. Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Through Jan. 30. U-turn Art Space , 2159 Central Ave. , Brighton, uturnartspace. blogspot.com.

Weston Art Gallery — Live Station is a site-specific installation by Steve Zieverink. ... Painting and Wall Drawing features oil H Paintings from 2009 and a 36-foot wall drawing by artist Rick Mallete.

... Nightfall features installations by paper artist Alice Pixley Young. ... 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Through Feb. 28. Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-977-4165.

january 13-19, 2010

iSSue Date: January 27 SpaCe & art DeaDline: Friday, January 15 | 5pm

Final prooF & CaMera-reaDy art DeaDline: tuesday, January 19 | noon

Call your CityBeat aCCount Manager or Brian KitzMiller, SaleS Manager, ext. 101 513.665.4700

YWCA Women’s Art Gallery — Reflections Over Afternoon Tea

features realistic paintings of MaryBeth Karaus and ceramics by three outstanding ceramicists: Jancy Jaslow, Pam Korte and Brenda Tarbell. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Through Jan. 15. YWCA Women’s Art Gallery, 898 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-241-7090.

Museums Cincinnati Art Museum — Imperishable Beauty features jewelry from the finest American private collection of Art Nouveau jewelry. View over 100 works by the major designers and jewelers of the era, from France, Germany, Austria and the United States including Ren’ Lalique,

Henri Vever, Philippe Wolfers and Tiffany & Co. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Through Jan. 17. ... The Reel Art series screens Zabriskie Point, an epic portrait of late 1960s America, as seen through the portrayal of two of its children: anthropology student Daria and dropout Mark. $10; $5 members. 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and 1 p.m. Jan. 17. ... Fresh Perspective Gallery Talk: Tiffany and Co. takes you on a tour of Imperishable Beauty with Susan Halmie, Store Director of Tiffany and Co., Cincinnati. Free. 1 p.m. Jan. 16. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, 513-721-2787.

Contemporary Arts Center — Soul Within Structure, this UnMuseum

installation, is by local artist Cedric Michael Cox, who uses the historic Cincinnati neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine as inspiration. $.4.50-$7.50. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Through March 8. ... Standard Definition is a multi-sensory experience with a multi-channel sound and video installation by artist/musician C. Spencer Yeh in his first solo museum exhibition. $7.50; $6.50 seniors; $5.50 students. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Through Jan. 24. ... Marilyn Minter: Chewing Color is a solo exhibition of recent paintings and photographs that reveal the sometimes flawed side of glamour. $7.50 adults; $6.50 seniors; $5.50 students. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.Through May 2. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-345-8400.

Taft Museum of Art — Small Paintings features a group of diminutive oil paintings by 18th- and 19th-century artists from France, Holland, Belgium and the United States. $8; $6 students/seniors. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. WednesdaySunday. Through May 23. ... Drawn by New York: Drawings and Watercolors features drawings and watercolors from the New York Historical Society. The works in this exhibition convey the many transitions of the United States, which began as a dependent colony but soon grew to become a frontier nation, then a burgeoning industrial giant and finally a world power. $8; $6 students/ seniors. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Through Jan. 17. ... Explore the exhibition Drawn by New York with either Tamera Muente, curatorial assistant and exhibitions coordinator, or Nancy Huth, curator of education. Free with admission. 1:30 p.m. Jan. 7, 9 and 15. Taft Museum of Art , 316 Pike St. , Downtown, 513-241-0343.

4attractions Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal — Mummies:

Secrets of the Pharaohs follows researchers and explorers in recalling the discovery of ancient Egyptian mummies all while being narrated by awardwinning actor Christopher Lee. Extended through Feb. 11. $5.50-$7.50. Shows start at 1 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. ... In honor of the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s landmark publication,On the Origin of the Species, Museum Center will present an exhibit featuring the personal and scientific aspects of the man who changed the way biologists view the natural world and the history of life on Earth. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Through Feb. 15. ... Ring of Fire is about the immense natural force of the great circle of volcanoes and seismic activity that rings the Pacific Ocean and the varied people and cultures who coexist with them. $5.50-$7.50. 7 and 9 p.m. Saturdays through January. ... Search for the Great Sharks at the OMNIMAX lets viewers accompany expeditions of Dr. Eugenie Clark and Rodney Fox, who have studied sharks since the 1950s. $5.0-$7.50. 7 and 9 p.m. Fridays in January. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., West End, 513-287-7000.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden — Penguin Days offers half price

admission and cool-weather entertainment like “fishing” penguins, elephants breaking frozen blocks of fruit, polar bears and seal lions eating fish-cicles and snow monkeys snacking on delicious frozen treats. $7 adults; $4.50 children. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Through Feb. 28. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, 513-281-4700.

EnterTRAINment Junction — During the month of January, EnterTRAINment Junction offers buy-one-get-one admission. Come inside and see over 80,000 square feet of fun and trains. $12.95 adults; $9.95 kids. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sundays. Through January. EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester, 513-898-8000. Newport Aquarium — During Winter Family Days two children (ages 2-12) will be admitted free with each adult paying full price. $20 adults. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Through Feb. 28. Newport Aquarium, One Aquarium Way, Newport, 859-261-7444. Fountain Square — At 7,000 square feet, the Fountain Square H skating rink is about the size of the one at New York’s Rockefeller Center. Skate rental and storage lockers are available on site. $2.50 admission, $2.50

skate rental 12-6 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 12-8 p.m. Thursday and 12-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through Feb. 21. Fountain Square, Fifth & Vine Sts., Downtown, 513-621-4400.

4classes Art Academy’s Community Education Art Classes — Non-credit

classes and workshops for adults and teens in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and much more. Classes start Jan. 21. Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, Register or get brochures by calling 513562-8748.

Civic Garden Center — Get a jump on this season and bring all your gardening questions, problems and ideas to the Civic Garden Center’s panel of horticulture experts. $10. 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 16. ... Are you interested in growing your own food and would like to learn more about healthy gardening practices? Or is there a vacant lot you and your neighbors would like to transform into a productive and enlivened community garden? If so the Civic Garden Center has a series of classes that may just what you need! To receive

a certificate 10 of the 12 classes must be attended, and the required volunteer hours completed. CGDT participants who have met certificate and site/program requirements are eligible to apply for financial (up to $1,500) and technical support for their new community garden project. Registration required. Free. Through Apr. 24. Civic Garden Center, 2715 Reading Road, Walnut Hills, 513221-0981 ext.16.

Funke Fired Arts — Introduction to Clay will take students through the

basics of every construction technique and help them find what they enjoy most about clay. $215. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Through Feb. 17. ... Sinks and Sconces is a class for intermediate and advanced students at Funke Fired Arts. World famous Patrick Dougherty will teach students to make their own sink and sconce set. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays. Through Feb. 17. ... Learn to create mugs, bowls, plates, simple vases and more on a potter’s wheel in Intro to Wheel. $215. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Through Feb. 17. FUNKe Fired Arts, 3130 Wasson Road, Oakley, 513-871-2529.

Park + Vine — In “The Flu and You,” learn the truth behind the H1N1 virus,

the seasonal flu and what you can do to fight them naturally. 1 p.m. Jan. 17. ... Get some practical and encouraging winter bike riding tips from Katie Vogel of MoBo Bicycle Cooperative in “Bicycling Basics.” 11 a.m. Jan. 16 . Park + Vine, 1109 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, RSVP to 513-721-7275 before Jan. 15.

Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati — In Beginning Weaving,

learn to prepare a loom and weave a scarf and a sampler in three sessions. Looms provided. $30. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays. ... Beginning Spinning at the Weaver’s Guild will teach the basics of spinning-wheel mechanics, drafting fiber and spinning on a wheel. $74 plus materials. Noon-3 p.m. Jan. 4, 11 and 18. ... Spinning for Advanced Beginners teaches you to improve your spinning technique or tricks of spinning yarn to the size and texture you want. $75. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 16, 23 and 30. ... Take your basic weaving skills to the next level by creating a star twill scarf, log cabin placemats, table runner or other project under the guidance of an experienced weaver in Weaving Projects for Advanced Beginners. $115. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 9 and 16. Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati, 4870 Gray Road, Winton Place, 513-591-2500.

4events African Culture Fest — Celebrate the 25th anniversary of African HCulture Fest with the sights and sounds of Africa. There will be a giant traveling map of the continent, an African village, a musical tribute by the

Cincinnati Opera, spoken word performances, a dance performance by B-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre, storytelling, step performances, a performance by the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company and more! 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 16; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 17; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 18. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., West End, 513-287-7000.

Breaking the Silence: Wall of Expression — Xavier students build

a wall to address and diffuse the power of hateful expressions based on differences. From 4-5 p.m. in room 330 of Gallagher, discuss racism, hatefulness and bigotry by examining the Wall of Expression and discuss how to promote an appreciation for diversity. At 5 p.m. on the Greenspace outside Gallagher, tear down the Wall to symbolically break the silence about hatred. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 19. Xavier University Gallagher Student Center, 3800 Victory Pkwy., Evanston, 513-745-4889.

4get involved Art Opportunities Art Academy Admissions Information Session — Come meet Art

Academy of Cincinnati faculty and students and learn about campus and programs offered by the academy. Noon-3 p.m. Jan. 16. Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, RSVP to 513-562-8740.

Fine Arts Fund — The Fine Arts Fund is seeking submissions for their

“Sharing Art” tote bag. Submissions must include flat, solid areas of color; have no more than two colors, plus black; avoid gradients, shading, or mixing of colors; line drawings are best; do not violate any trademark laws; make sure your design is high enough resolution to print (300 dpi). Go online to find out how to submit: http://fineartsfund.org/share-your-art. Submissions are due Jan. 20. The Fine Arts Fund, 2649 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-871-2787.

Manifest Creative Research Gallery — Manifest seeks to present

and document the best painting of the most varied types being made in the world today. PAINT is an exhibit that calls for works of painting from around the world, made by students or professionals, as they carry the tradition forward, or reform it for another day. Postmark deadline for entries is Jan. 22. Manifest Creative Research Gallery, 2727 Woodburn Ave., Walnut Hills, 513-861-3638.

Miscellaneous Hype Magazine Model Auditions — Hype Magazine will hold an open call for artists abd models to feature in upcoming issues. Hosted by Jayce Miguel. 18 and up. $10. 9 p.m. Jan. 15. Dirty Jack’s, 5912 Vine St., Elmwood Place, Call 513-549-6584 for more information.

Music Opportunities Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus — Holding auditions. Music this year

is from Broadway. 10 a.m. Jan. 13. Zion Lutheran Church, 1175 Burney Lane, Anderson Twp., Call Carole at 513-232-7504 for more information.

Theater Opportunities Shadowbox Cabaret — Shadowbox: The Sketch Comedy and Rock &Ω

Roll Club is a non-profit entertainment ensemble holding auditions for singers, actors, dancers, and musicians. Full time, part-time, and intern positions are available. For more information or to schedule an audition contact Tom Cardinal, Recruiting Director at 614-416-7625. Ongoing. Shadowbox Cabaret, 1 Levee Way, Newport, 859-957-7625.

4lectures

Elmwood Inn Tea-Tastings — Celebrate National Tea Month with Elmwood Inn Tea-Tastings. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Through Jan. 30. Kentucky Haus Artisan Center, 411 E. 10th St., Newport, 859-261-4287.

An Evening with Kevin Powell — Writer and activist Kevin Powell

Gaza Massacre Rally — The Gaza Massacre Rally commemorates the violence in the Gaza Strip from Dec. 27, 2008-Jan. 18, 2009, dates in which Israel inflicted airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing almost 1500 Palestinians. 1 p.m. Jan. 17. University of Cincinnati, 2624 Clifton Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-386-7163.

My Prison, My Home: One Woman’s Story of Captivity in Iran

Lift Up Your Voice: A Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr

— Children celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Hear “Martin’s Dream,” sing freedom songs with Deondre (Kamau) Means from ArtReach, a division of the ChildrenÔøΩs Theatre of Cincinnati, and make crafts. 1-4 p.m. Jan. 18. Cincinnati Public Library, Main Branch, 800 Vine St., Downtown, 513-369-6900.

will lecture on servant leadership. 7 p.m. Jan. 19. Xavier University Gallagher Student Center, 3800 Victory Pkwy., Evanston, 513-745-4889. — Haleh Esfandiari, a leading expert on Iran, was for a time imprisoned by the current regime. She is the director of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Middle East Program, the former Deputy Secretary General of the Women’s Organization of Iran, has taught at Princeton University, and has worked in Iran as a journalist. Free. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19. Cintas Center, 1624 Herald Avenue, Evanston, 513-745-3411.

4literary

MLK, Jr. Commemorative Celebration — This commemorative event

features performances by Bishop Todd O’Neal and Dr. Cathy Roma along with the voices of the Martin Luther King Chorale. Noon Jan.18. Music Hall, 1243 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-744-3344.

MLK, Jr. Week Pancake Breakfast with Fr. Graham at Xavier

— Xavier president Fr. Michael Graham and Michael Griffin, coordinator of African-American Student Affairs at NKU, open a week of reflection, service and celebration of Dr. KingÔøΩs life and legacy with a pancake breakfast. $5 per meal per public. 8-9:30 a.m. Jan. 18. Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Evanston, 513-745-3000.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative March — A march

commemorating King’s work begins at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at 10:45 a.m., proceeding to an 11:15 a.m. prayer service at Fountain Square. Participants can continue on to Music Hall for a memorial program at noon. 10:45 a.m. Jan. 18. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, 513-333-7500.

Professional Championship Bullriders Tour — The ProfesH sional Championship Bullriders Tour gets wilder with a performance by Country music hottie Jake Owen. It’s a doubleheader night of buckin’ bulls and

a rocking country concert! $23-$38; $11.50-$19 kids. 8 p.m. Jan. 16. Cincinnati Gardens, 2250 Seymour Ave., Roselawn, 866-800-2828.

Sunday Jazz Brunches in the Park — At the Sweetwine Banquet

Center listen to swinging Jazz piano by the Chris Comer Trio and enjoy a buffet with over 25 items, a carving station and an omelette bar as well as fresh salads, pastries, desserts and other Sunday favorites. $13.95 adults; $6.95 children. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 17, Feb. 7 and 21, March 14. Sweetwine Banquet Center, 600 Nordyke Road, Anderson Twp., 513-563-4513.

Tuesday Night at the Movies — Each Tuesday the bar screens two cult classic movies with all the free popcorn you can eat. 10 p.m. Tuesdays. Grammer’s, 1440 Walnut Street, Over-the-Rhine, 513-421-8300.

Plugged: Dig Out and Get the Right Things Done, which teaches practical lessons on digging out of difficult situations and achieving success. 7 p.m. Jan. 19. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Norwood, 513-396-8960.

Friends of Public Library Used Book Sale — Selection includes

thousands of classical musical LP records, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes section and books. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Jan. 15; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 16; noon-5 p.m. Jan. 17; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 18. Friends of the Public Library Warehouse, 8456 Vine St., Hartwell, 513-369-6035.

Holistic Health Day — Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum kicks off this holistic health

event discussing the 7 Balance Points to a New and Better You. Then local Shaman, lecturer and author Kenn Day will discuss and sign his book Dance of Stones. Finally, Ron Esposito, Janice T. (Sunflower) and Jim Feist will perform sound meditations with Tibetan singing bowls, Native American Flute and tabla. 11 a.m. Jan. 16. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Norwood, 513-396-8960.

Walter Mosley — This best-selling author and playwright will discuss his new play The Fall of Heaven, which is based on his novel The Tempest Tales. The play will be performed at the Playhouse through Feb. 20. 7 p.m. Jan. 14. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle, Mount Adams, 513-421-3888.

4onstage Classical Music Great Music in a Great Space Concert — Paavo Jarvi and the CSO present this concert to honor Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. Guest piano soloist Awadagin Pratt helps perform a selection of Johann Sebastian Bach’s work. Free. 3 p.m. Jan. 17. St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 325 W. Eighth St., Downtown, 513-421-5354. World Piano Competition — The 2010 The World Piano Competition includes world-renowned pianists in performance at the Taft. Contributions

january 13-19, 2010

Travel, Sport and Boat Show — This event has over 400 exhibitors with boats, travel and vacation opportunities, and lots of equipment. $10 adults; free for 13 and under. 5-9:30 p.m. Jan. 15, 20 and 21; 10 a.m-9:30 p.m. Jan. 16 and 23; 11 a.m.-5 p.m Jan.17 and 24; 2-9:30 p.m. Jan. 22. Duke Energy Cincinnati Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, 513-3523750.

Readings, Signings & Events Krissi and Dan Barr — This husband-and-wife team discuss and sign

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4literary

Spencer’s Gift Former local club owner/city council candidate finds his groove in the comics industry 4intervIEw by rich shivener

“N

I’m still trying to figure out if we can work it in ourselves or come up with some clever way where the reader knows that.

ick Spencer Cincinnati” — the results of this Web search yield a litany of news and critical opinions surrounding the now 31-year-old former co-owner of the Indie-flavored bar alchemize and two-time candidate for Cincinnati City Council. It’s easy to learn about his brush with politics, the bar and his Desdemona Music Festival at Sawyer Point in 2006. Buried in that search, though, is news about Spencer’s latest venture: writing comics. After moving to New York in 2008, he broke into the comics scene via Image Comics, publisher of Spawn and the once MTV-hyped comic The Maxx. Spencer’s Existence series was highly acclaimed, while his current series, Forgetless, looks at characters of a coveted New York party scene, including lovely model assassins. The first issue of a planned five-book series came out in December, and No. 2 just dropped. Spencer checked in with CityBeat from his apartment in Brooklyn. CityBeat: I read the first issue of Forgetless. Tell me about your connection with that story. Nick Spencer: It’s a funny thing. I don’t think there is a whole lot of alchemize in Forgetless, which is kind of odd. You would think there would be because it’s familiar territory and I have stuff to draw from there. But Forgetless is very, very much a New York story. It really is about people that move up here from other places and the different ways they respondto that. I think if there’s something that I drew back on from that time, it was that mentality of when you come from some place like Ohio or Michigan or Wisconsin and you move up here, there are people who will take to it right away and then there are people who hate it … and they’ll move back. That is the genesis, believe or not, of Forgetless. None of the characters in this world are from New York. There are some characters in Forgetless who, I think, were slightly inspired by people that were out at alchemize (and in Cincinnati) — people there, clubs I DJ-ed at or shows that I booked. There are some facets of regulars and friends of mine from back then. CB: So did you meet model assassins here? NS: To me, the model assassins thing is a front for that choice of whether or not you’re going to respond to (New York City). It struck me as a good to tie-in to that choice. You see Sara and Sonia — they’re responding to this choice in two very differ-

CB: How do you look back at your activities here in Cincinnati? NS: I doubt I’ll ever move back — I feel very comfortable here. But that said, not a day goes by that I don’t miss a lot of things in Cincinnati. It was an amazing time, we had a lot of fun and the best friends I think I’ll ever have were with (alchemize) and Desdemona. It was an incredible set of experiences to have. I think the stuff that we were doing, it might have been doomed to fail from the start. Maybe some of those things were just not possible to make work there or maybe we weren’t the people to do it. But I’m glad we did them, and I know a lot of people had fun while we were doing them.

PHOTO courtesy image comics

The first issue of Forgetless ent ways. Sara is fine with the idea of killing people for money. It comes very naturally to her. Sonia, on the other hand, she has that great thing that we get when we’re born and raised in the Midwest or the South, where we feel people should be nicer and thinking about other people more. She’s struggling with that choice. CB: Forgetless dances around music with the club setting, so how would you describe the relationship between music and comics? NS: One of the big limitations of the medium is that you can’t play music (within the book) and I do feel bad about that sometimes. It would be nice to have that in the story — we don’t ever actually mention music in the book, and yet there is something about it where people make up their own soundtrack. Obviously, music is a big part of how I write. I tend to write to music, and I tend to come up with scenes to music. CB: Song recommendations for the first issue? NS: I wrote this story listening to a lot of Little Boots. Little Boots’ “New in Town” is probably the theme song of Forgetless as it stands right now. Matt and Kim (the band) are featured really prominently in an issue down the road.

CB: Seems like you’ve taken away a lot from those experiences. Desdemona was huge. NS: A little too huge, my friend! You can look at Desdemona one or two ways. You can say, “Oh, not enough people showed up,” or we had problems with the city, and as a result didn’t make enough money to cover the costs. That’s horrible and ugly and unpleasant. Then you can look on the other side and say thousands of people came to that thing and had an amazing weekend, had an experience that people still talk about. That makes it worth it. In a place like Cincinnati, if you’re into that stuff, it’s a little easy sometimes feel out of place or drastically outnumbered. I think what we did with Desdemona and alchemize was give those folks a nice sense of place. Nobody was thinking of it like a business. CB: On the cover of Forgetless #1, you have a list of “Breakout Bands to Watch for 2010” and (Cincinnati bands) Bad Veins and Pomegranates are there. NS: Bad Veins is purely a typo ... I’m fucking around. Sebastian (Schultz, drummer) — Seb — is one of my best friends in the world. Regardless of that, they’re amazing and are absolutely an incredible band. Everybody should be listening to that (self-titled) record. I cannot be more proud of Ben (Davis, guitarist) and Seb. I used to do shows with Ben when he was in the band Giant Judys, and I loved that band! Pomegranates I really do enjoy a lot. I don’t know those guys at all, but I’ve been enjoying their stuff. When it was time to make that list, I wanted to make sure we had some Cincinnati representation. But, honestly, those bands would be on this list regardless (of location). ©

ONSTAGE appreciated, with admission charged to visit the galleries. 2 p.m. Jan. 13. Taft Museum of Art , 316 Pike St. , Downtown, 513-241-0343.

Comedy Jimmy Dore — Jimmy Dore is the star of several Comedy Central specials, a writer performer for the Off-Broadway hit The MarijuanaLogues, and the host of his own weekly radio show on KPFK L.A. $8-$12. 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday; 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Go Bananas Comedy Club, 8410 Market Place Lane, Blue Ash, 513-984-9288.

John Heffron — John Heffron started his comedy career as soon as he

was old enough to get into the clubs. $16-$18. 8 p.m. Thursday; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Funny Bone on the Levee, One Levee Way ,Suite 3124 Newport, 859-957-2000.

Mixed Media Shadowbox After Dark — Inventive, original sketch comedy pokes fun at the world of dating and relationships and house band Billwho? turns up the voltage with sexy Rock music. $30; $20 students/seniors. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Through March 13. Shadowbox Cabaret, 1 Levee Way, Newport, 859-957-7625. The Jungle Book: The Story of Mowgli’s Fire — Calico Children’s Theatre is a UC Clermont community initiative geared towards families with children ages 3-13 years of age. Mowgli...stolen from his mother at birth and raised in the jungle by wolves, must face his destiny as a man when Shere Khan threatens him and the peace in the jungle. The Frisch Marionette Company presents this musical adventure, adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, featuring an original music score by Steve Frisch. $6; $4 students/ seniors/children. 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 15; 10:30 a.m. Jan. 16. UC Clermont College, 4200 Clermont College Drive, Batavia, 513-732-5200. Toby and the Ice Goblin — Directed by John Lewandowski, Madcap Puppet Theatre’s Artistic Director, the elves who make the winter snow, have been kidnapped by the evil Ice Goblin. Is this the end of snow as we know it? Not if Toby, a snow-loving little boy, has his way. $7. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Jan. 16; 1 and 5 p.m. Jan. 17. Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Evanston, 513-745-3000.

Theater Cyrano — The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park brings Cyrano “off the hill”

to area theaters. This plays tells the story of the famously large-nosed Cyrano who is in love with Roxanne. She, in turn, adores Christian. What Cyrano lacks in beauty he makes up for with his artful words and their effect on the heart of the woman he loves. 3 p.m. Jan. 16. Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center, 6980 Cambridge Ave., Mariemont, 513-651-9220.

Spring Awakening — Broadway Across America brings this groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and Rock that’s awakened Broadway like no other musical in years. $22.50-$64.50. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Through Jan. 24. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-721-3344.

Stage Fright — A much-abused acting couple decides to wreak a

nefarious revenge on the drama critic whose reviews have destroyed their careers. They devise a scheme to lure him into an empty theater where they will force him to reconsider their talents, or else. $17. 8 p.m. Jan. 15-16, 21- 23, 28-29; 7 p.m. Jan. 17; 2 and 7 p.m. Jan. 24; 4 and 8 p.m. Jan. 30; 2 p.m. Jan. 31. Walton Creek Theater, 4101 Walton Creek Road, Mariemont, 513-684-1236.

4sports Spectator All-Mascot Exhibition Broomball Game — The second H annual all-mascot exhibition broomball game features Mr. Redlegs, Gapper and Rosie Red from the Reds joined by Hoxworth’s Buddy the Blood

Drop, Rumpke’s Binny, the Cyclones’ Twister, Kentucky Speedway’s Horsepower and other mascots. Free. 1 p.m. Jan. 16. Fountain Square, Fifth & Vine Sts., Downtown, 513-621-4400.

cincinnati men’s basketball — The Bearcats play basketball against the Notre Dame Irish Stereotypes. $10-$28. 4 p.m. Jan. 16. Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center, 2700 O’Varsity Way,UC campus Clifton Heights, 513556-2287. Xavier men’s basketball — Xavier and Charlotte hoop it up. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13. ... Xavier and Dayton play a weird morning game. 11 a.m. Jan. 16. ... $16-$26. Cintas Center, 1624 Herald Ave., Evanston, 513-745-3411.

Recreational

Yoga with the Masters at the Cincinnati Art Museum — Yoga

with the Masters teaches the ancient art of yoga at the Cincinnati Art Museum with yogi, Katy Knowles, owner of yogahOMe. $12; $6 member per class. 6-7:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Through Feb. 16. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, 513-721-2787.

Open up and say ahh: the cast of Spring Awakening

4SPRING AWAKENING: FROM PAGE 27

were so verboten that the show went unstaged for 15 years. When it was finally produced in 1906 in Berlin, it was heavily edited. It was not performed in English for nearly a century. When the new musical was first presented in New York City at off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theatre Company during the summer of 2006, its fusion of morality, sexuality and Rock & Roll captured young audiences immediately. It moved to Broadway late in 2006, where it ran for 888 performances. The New York Times suggested, “Broadway may never be the same.” Spring Awakening is not a frothy piece of show business. It approaches troublesome issues that teenagers struggle with — then and now. The show portrays a group of high school students evolving from youth to adulthood. In a repressive, provincial town in Germany they struggle with their budding sexuality. The three central characters are Wendla, 14, an innocent girl who has received no sexual instruction from her prudish mother; Melchior, 16, more worldly and knowledgeable but torn by his many emotions; and his friend Moritz, also 16, repressed and frightened by what he doesn’t know and driven to suicide when he learns more. Most of the adults — two actors play an array of parents and other stern authority figures — are unthinking at best and often harshly judgmental. Spring Awakening is definitely not a happy-go-lucky teenage classic in the style of Bye Bye, Birdie or even the cheerfully goofy Hairspray. Instead, this show is a powerful and thoughtful theatrical work, full of emotion and meaningful messages. Spring Awakening’s producer, actor Tom Hulce (Amadeus, Animal House), says, “It was extraordinary how contemporary this story feels more than 100

years after it was first written. Then as now, it illuminates not only the stories of these young people, but also the role that we, as adults, take in raising our teens; the challenges of finding ways to be responsive to their needs, to empower them with the truth and to do all within our grasp to guide them with love and understanding into their adulthood.” Spring Awakening is a cautionary tale but also a love story between Wendla and Melchior, who find themselves at the mercy of a system that works against them. Director Michael Mayer (currently headed back to Broadway to stage a musical based on Green Day’s album American Idiot) staged the original production and this touring production. “I want people to come and have a fantastic time,” he says. “I hope they laugh and recognize themselves. I hope they are moved by the story. Without getting preachy, I think this play can have a positive impact on society as well as provide a terrifically entertaining and very, very moving theater experience.” The show has affected people, Mayer says. “We’ve received so many letters, so many e-mails from people saying, ‘This play has changed my life.’ We’ve gotten cards from kids who were suicidal, or whose friends were, and they say this was a real catharsis for them. I think families across the board have had big important conversations about growing up and sexuality and politics and religion and the family unit and social issues as a result of seeing this play together.” That said, Broadway Across America does include this statement in its publicity: “Spring Awakening contains mature themes, sexual situations and strong language.” The musical numbers are hit-you-between-the-eyes songs delivered with athletic choreography. In “The Bitch of Living,” the boys dance stridently and sing with force about their inability to manage the anxieties of flowing hormones, “the itch you can’t control.” There are softer, more thoughtful numbers,

too, as the teenagers’ emotions ebb and flow. Spring Awakening concludes with a poignantly hopeful number, “The Song of Purple Summer,” expressing the seasonal cycle of nature, the progression from the burgeoning energy of springtime to the fullness of summer, the wonder of evolving life. But the show is laced with cynicism, especially from Melchior, who loses both his friends tragically. When he sees that no matter what he tries to do he’s going to be judged negatively by his small-minded teachers and other adults, Melchior sings a number called “Totally Fucked”: There’s a moment you know — you’re fucked! Not an inch more room to self-destruct No more move — oh yeah, the dead-end zone Man, you just can’t call your soul your own Such words were not likely in the vocabulary of a 16-year-old boy in provincial Germany in 1891, but they resonate with today’s audiences. Melchior and his friends wear the clothing of the period, but the highly charged, dissonant music to which they sing and dance provides a bombastic counterpoint that bespeaks today. The dynamic contrast between the two is the energy behind Spring Awakening’s power. If these songs don’t sound like “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” well, that’s part of the point of this powerful show. Go with your eyes and ears wide open — and be awakened. This could be one of the most meaningful musicals you’ll ever see. A final note: If you would like to experience the unflagging energy of Spring Awakening up close and personal, onstage seats are available for every performance for $25. They must be purchased in person at the Broadway Across America box office (downtown in the Mercantile Center at 120 E. Fourth St.). Specific procedures must be followed, but for those who enjoy theater delivered full-throttle this will be a memorable opportunity. ©

january 13-19, 2010

Winter Hike Series — Hikes will be held on consecutive Saturday mornings and will cover 4 to 5.5 miles of nature trails. Each hike will pay off with a hot bowl of soup at the end of the journey and each hiker will receive a free hiking staff (limit one per person.) At the end of this hike, there will be chicken noodle soup. $5 per person per hike. 10 a.m. Jan. 16. Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, 513-931-1849.

photo: paul kolnik

january 13-19, 2010

DINER

THE LUNCHLINE By ANNE MITCHELL

On the Vine: Solo Lunching Downtown

CONTACT ANNE MITCHELL: amitchell@citybeat.com

PHOTO: brian leckrone

Culinary Merriment in Mariemont The Quarter Bistro makes ‘dinner and a movie’ night almost perfect 4review by karen christopfel

ow that the holidays are over and out-of-town friends and family are sleeping in their own beds, a relaxing dinner out is called for. The Quarter Bistro in Mariemont, with its warm and intimate red décor, answered the call for a friend and THE QUARTER BISTRO me on recent chilly Go: 904 Wooster Pike, Mariemont evening. Call: 513-271-5400 For 6:30 p.m. on Surf: www.quarter-bistro.com a Tuesday, the dining Hours: 5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. room was bustling. Friday and Saturday 5-9 p.m. Sunday Before heading to our Entrée Prices: $11-$32 table, my friend disRed Meat Alternatives: Many. Prix fixe meals can covered the Tuesdaybe vegetarian upon request. through-Thursday Accessibility: Fully accessible; restroom accessed happy hour at the throught the theatre bar, where selected glasses of wine are half off. (On Sundays and Mondays, all bottled wine is sold at retail price.) Settling in at our table, we overheard a group explain to the server that they were in a rush to catch a movie. the Quarter Bistro is next to and, in fact, con-

nected to The Mariemont Theater, where Bistro guests use the theater restroom. Odd, but it works. The Quarter Bistro is suited to meet a variety of diners from moviegoers popping in for a quick bite to couples celebrating an anniversary. The menu offers a full range of casual and sophisticated choices, from pizza and burgers ($11-$13) to Duck Confit Tacos ($17) and 18 Hour Short Rib Stroganoff ($25). Our server pointed out the “prix fixe” menu offered Monday through Thursday. For $35, you have a choice of three appetizer, entrée and dessert options. I couldn’t decide until the Grilled Swordfish on the prix fixe menu won me over. My friend went a different route — South of the Border — and ordered the Guacamole, Fish Tacos and an excellent margarita on the rocks ($7). The Guacamole ($9) was a hearty scoop of delicious, chunky, fresh avocado served on a leaf of lettuce and had a little kick from red onions and garlic. The red and blue store-bought chips came mounded on the side and were a bit over-salted. For the price, homemade chips would have made this appetizer really special. CONTINUES ON PAGE 384

january 13-19, 2010

I hate to eat in restaurants by myself. Yes, I know it’s ridiculous. I mean, I’ve done it … but I’d rather not. When I do, I usually fake that I’m reading some Very Important Report, and that all my friends would have come with me if only I hadn’t had this Major Work to do. But since that’s totally a lie, most of the time it’s easier to get carry out, go back to my desk and read The Onion online. Carry-out means fast food for many of my fellow cubicle dwellers, but I stick to the indies. I have a few tried and trues downtown that I rely on (coincidentally, all on Vine Street). Total Juice Plus (631 Vine St.; 513-784-1666) is my healthy-lunch go-to. I am a believer in the power of vegetable juice, especially if it tastes good enough that I don’t have to hold my nose to swallow it. TJP’s Total Veggie (12 oz. for $3.65) is so nutritionally correct that I can feel vitamins shoot through me like superpowers in a cartoon. The wheatgrass makes my IQ go up by dozens of points — sadly, only temporarily. But if I add in a Vegetarian Heaven wrap (small $4.65, regular $5.95), I’ve got the world at my command. Luckily, I use that power only for good. I can’t stand to be that perfect every day, though, so sometimes I have to choose a lunch that’s meaty. My choice for meaty is a gyro. Years ago, I waited tables at Myra’s Dionysus in Clifton, back when gyros were the main draw there, and they joined my comfort food pantheon. The Supreme ($5.40) at Mythos on the Square (410 Vine St., 513-281-3601) is meatier and spicier than any burger and faster than the fastest McFood. It’s also topped with feta cheese, making it, well, supreme. And a bargain. It’s substantial enough to hold body and soul together through a long afternoon, the trip home and an hour of Pilates at the gym. There’s a big Mythos on 4th Street, but the little one beside the Westin’s valet parking area is carry-out heaven, with a very friendly staff and baklava at the register. Speaking of spicy (and bordering on weird), my exotic carry-out favorite is Korean BiBimBap ($7.49) from Sunny Deli in the Carew Tower (441 Vine St., 513-651-5090). Available on Wednesdays only, “Sunny’s Signature WELLBEING Food” has a cult following. This Styrofoam container of rice, veggies, fried egg, Bulgogi beef and Gochuchang (red pepper paste that packs a punch) lacks the authentic presentation of the stone-bowl version served at Riverside Korean in Covington, but it’s warm and satisfying PHOTO:cameron knight nonetheless. Fred and Gari’s For a deli lunch, Fred and Gari’s (629 Vine St.; 513-784-9000) is perfect since there’s no chance to stay and eat — the place is so small, you’ve got to grab and go. And their sandwiches rock. The gourmet oven-baked chicken sandwich ($7.50 whole; $6.25 half) is made with big hunks of white meat that obviously came from a real bird. It’s bona-fide, and their accompaniments aren’t afterthoughts, either. Any place that offers a brownie as one of your choices of side dish has reached carry-out enlightenment. So loners, enjoy your lunch. You have nothing to lose by passing up those chains.

4RESTAURANT PICKS Stop in for a great time!

SUPERBOWL SPECIALS FEBRUARY 7TH

Complimentary appetizer buffet from 6-8pm All you can eat wings for $9.99 from 5-9pm $10 buckets of domestics $2 aluminum pints Dinner 3-10 p.m. Monday thru Saturday & Bar Open Late Night

Corner of 5th & Monmouth St. • Newport , KY

859-581-3700 • www.mokkaandthesunsetbarandgrill.com

“Japanese Cuisine Perfection... I have to say that it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the past couple of years.” - Heather Smith, CityBeat

Compiled from CityBeat’s 2009 Where to Eat Dining Guide plus recent restaurant reviews, these capsules are listed by area of town. Menues and times are subject to change. “Best of Cincinnati” readers pick winners are listed, as are review dates and reviewers’ initials if applicable. Contact Maija Zummo at CityBeat, 811 Race St., Fifth Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Phone: 513-665-4700. Fax: 513-665-4369. Check out the searchable Dining Guide online at citybeat.com and the restaurant section of our “Best of Cincinnanti” Web site at bestofcincinnati.com.com

North Blind Moose — The Blind Moose has a lodge-y ambiance and ‘90s music that makes you half expect to run into the cast from Northern Exposure. The appetizers are pretty typical (save for the wonton-shelled homemade cheese sticks): Wings, tenders and fries, onion rings, potato skins and chili fries. The menu is simple. There are burgers, salads, chicken and wraps. The Blind Moose’s drink menu boasts that their draft beer is kept just above the freezing point and is served in a frosty Mason jar to ensure utmost coldness (BC 5-20-09). Entrees: $6.99-$8.99. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday- Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday- Saturday. 37 East U.S. Route 22&3, Maineville, 513-677-6673.

Pomodori’s Pizzeria & Trattoria — Wood-fired pizzas take a little longer to bake, but dang are they worth it. Honey-tasting, flakey crust and scrumptious sandwiches along with pastas and salads make this more than a sit-down pizza joint. Perfect for dates and those who enjoy real garlic on their garlic bread. Comfortable and welcoming with a warm wood-burning fireplace and plenty of window seating to people watch if the date goes bad. Entrees: $9-$13. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Sunday; 11 a.m.-midnight FridaySaturday. 7880 Remington Road, Montgomery, 513-794-0080.

Carlo & Johnny — The emphasis at this “1930s gangster steak-

Relish Modern Tapas — With martinis such as the French Kiss topped

house” is on big dry-aged steaks, but the menu also presents dry-aged lamb chops, wood-grilled Atlantic salmon and more. After say, a bone-in filet or a large steak for two, don’t forget dessert — they’re as decadent as everything else in the place and range from Jeff Ruby’s homemade signature cheesecake to the rich, dense Chocolate Tower. The three separate dining rooms — the Emerald, the Ivory and the Grill — are great places to see local celebs and Cincinnati movers and shakers. Entrees: $21-$47. 5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5:30-11 p.m. Friday; 5-11 p.m. Saturday. 9769 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, 513-936-8600.

G. Bailey’s — A new venture by the company that operates the Golden Lamb in Lebanon, G. Bailey’s offers a menu with plenty of fun ‘60s touches- a three-tiered salad of cottage cheese (albeit with garlic), iceberg lettuce and hot slaw; many dishes with rotisserie chicken, such as “rotisserie chicken spring rolls filled with Monterey jack cheese and cabbage”; and, well, s’mores. A cheap place in your neighborhood that has good, fresh food and lets you take a trip back in time with the music and food choices. Though named after George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, this Loveland neighborhood bar rocks hits from the late-1980s. Richard Marx and Cameo go great with Brick Oven Salmon with Boursin Pesto Compound Butter and Portabella Mushroom Veggie Wraps, right? Entrees: $11.99-$23.99. 11 a.m. Monday-Saturday. 9521 Fields Ertel Road, Loveland, 513-683-2011. House of Sun — You can flavor your staycation with authentic

Chinese cuisine at House of Sun, where brunch rivals the best dim sum I’ve had in any city. This no-glamour dining spot is in a small shopping center with a Red Squirrel deli, at the Rt. 42 exit of I-275, right behind White Castle. Newcomers are handed the basic menu filled with familiar General Tso’s Chicken and Pepper Steak, but you can ask for the “other” menu ¬ó the genuine Chinese dishes ¬ó and make your visit an adventure. Authentic dishes include items like Sizzling Rice Soup, Hot and Spicy Tendon and Pork Ears. Entrees: $6-$11. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 11959 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, 513-769-0888.

Lu Lu’s Asian Diner — Noodle soup is the world’s best comfort food and LuLu’s has the best. Favorites on the noodle-intensive menu include Hall Fun (wide rice noodles stir-fried with a ginger soy sauce) and Lard Cha (udon noodles stir-fried in a garlic sauce with bean sprouts, scallions and eggs). Try the Tom Yum soup for a starter (lemongrass, green onion, mushrooms, shrimp and Thai basil seasonings). The Pad Thai is ever popular, and the folks here recommend the curry-spiked Singapore Noodles with chicken and shrimp. Filled with families, especially on the weekends. The dining room is pretty boisterous and has a feel similar to a fast-food joint. The no-nonsense staff will take care of you right away. Entrees: $5.50-$9.50. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 135 W. Kemper Road, Springdale, 513-671-4949. Padrino — Hunter, Richard and Court Thomas, owners of 20 Brix in Milford, have done what any good financial manager advises: diversify. Last March they opened Padrino a few doors down from 20 Brix. Padrino occupies the space that formerly housed DeMeo’s, another family-owned Italian restaurant. Padrino (pronounced “pad-reeno”) is Italian for “godfather,” and while the establishment riffs of this connection, the space doesn¬ít embody a “gangster” feel. The food itself is good quality, stickto-your ribs Italian fare. Padrino offers salads, subs, pasta and pizza. The cuisine and executive chef aren’t the only Italian things about Padrino’s. The wine list is 99 percent Italian. (LA 6-17-09). Entrees: $8-$15. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. 111 Main St., Milford, 513-965-0100. Pitrelli’s Italian Deli and Cafe — This independently owned,

1/2 Price Sushi Special

january 13-19, 2010

Wed-Thu 5pm-1am / Fri-Sat 9pm-2am / Limited Time Only!

Mon-Tues 5pm - 11pm | Wed-Thurs 5pm - 1am Fri-Sat 5pm - 2am | Sun 5pm - 10pm

www.ichibancinci.com

513-321-8686 1020 Delta Ave. Mt Lookout In the former space of Aqua

which occupied the site for over 20 years. Entrees: $7-$30. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday;noon-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. 5035 Deerfield Circle, Mason, 513-701-7656.

family-friendly eatery serves simple, delicious Italian food. Old favorites like spaghetti and homemade meatballs are light and flavorful, and specials are tasty and filling. Pitrelli’s also serves a good pizza with a light crust and toppings that include pancetta and spicy olives. Neither slick nor chic, Pitrelli’s offers instead a bona fide Mom and Pop experience. A reason is the family that runs it: Jim and Linda Pitrelli are wonderful people, retired grade school teachers who make you feel like you’re a guest in their home. The tortellini is always great and be sure to check out Couples Night on Thursdays—a meal for two including salad, wine, pasta and meatballs for $45. Entrees: $14-$18. 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 5-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 312 Reading Road, Mason, 513-770-0122.

Polo Grille — Featuring a focused, fairly priced wine list, Polo Grille

also offers a broad menu of traditional favorites influenced by countries where polo is popular. Look for Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Tandoori Chicken Pizza and Steak Churrasco, a marinated grilled skirt steak, served with garlic chimichurri sauce, tomato salsa and yucca fries. Service is friendly and efficient. The restaurant is spacious and airy, and decorated with polo memorabilia in tribute to the Cincinnati Polo Club,

with creamy pineapple juice and brewing with Stoli Vanilla vodka, Chambord and champagne, it would be remiss not to mention the drinks at Relish Modern Tapas first. Besides, Relish’s martinis are so filling they can be meals in and of themselves. If you’re a more traditional sort looking for something heartier than martinis for dinner, the menu at Mason’s Relish Modern Tapas probably has something for you, no matter your taste. Rather than traditional Spanish tapas, Modern Relish offers New Age tapas, familiar dishes from around the world, but with an emphasis on American and Asian fare with a little Mediterranean and Italian thrown in for good measure (HS 7-30-08). Entrees: $12.25-$16.25. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 5947 Deerfield Blvd.,Deerfield Towne Center Mason, 513-204-6925.

Rue Dumaine — The much-anticipated new restaurant from chef/owner Anne Kearney, a local who made a name for herself in New Orleans working with celeb-chef Emeril Legasse and then running her own place, Peristyle. The French-inspired bistro menu is tightly focused, with just nine starters and six main courses. Weekly and daily specials round out these selections with dishes made from seasonal, local ingredients. The wine list is outstanding, and the service is attentive and professional (MS 1-23-08). Entrees: $16.50-$21. 5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Centerville, 937-610-1061. Sugar ‘N Spice — Impressing guests for over 60 years with good old-

fashionedhome-cookin’, Sugar ‘N Spice still makes some of the best pancakes, hash browns and omelettes around. You can get breakfast here all day or try some of the lunch items like Alotta Bull (1/2-pound roast beef sandwich) or the Red ‘n Yeller (grilled cheese with tomato). But the Breakfast Burrito might just be what you’re looking for. Squeeze into a small booth or scooch up to the counter in the plain and cozy space. Consider this a heads up: weekend mornings are busy! Entrees: $3-$7. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. 4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills, 513-242-3521.

Sukhothai Thai Cuisine — Sukhothai’s menu offers a number of perfectly prepared traditional dishes, including Pad Thai (the unofficial national dish of Thailand), various curries and a wide selection of stir-fries (which can be made with your choice of a protein, including tofu, shrimp, chicken and duck). Want something more exotic? Try the mango prawns stir-fried in a tamarind sauce or the garlic soft-shell crab. Just be sure to order a Singha (Thai beer) to take the edge off the spicy heat from those curry dishes! Hidden down a winding path behind a car dealership off Montgomery Road, Sukhothai is well worth seeking out. The interior might be simple and a bit bare, but the delicious, highly seasoned food creates its own environment. Entrees: $6-$18. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner: 5-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5-10:30 p.m. Friday; 4:30-10:30 Saturday. 8102 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, 513-794-0057. Teranga — Teranga doesn’t tone down its offering of traditional Senegalese and West African dishes to the Cincinnati palate. Order the grilled fish and you’ll see what we mean; out comes an entire tilapia (head, tail, skin, bones and all) swimming in a spicy sauce seasoned with black pepper and Dijon mustard, thick with onions. Located in a strip mall, the ambiance is far from fancy. Lighting is fluorescent and there are just a few bits of art to provide a flavor of Africa. The clientele trends toward French-speaking West Africans who seem genuinely happy to have adventurous Cincinnatians dining in their midst. Entrees: $6$10. 11 a.m.-midnight daily. 8438 Vine St., Hartwell, 513-821-1300. Troy’s Cafe — This unassuming spot resides in a strip mall and its casual, bright linen-clad tables are topped with butcher paper. Owner Troy Meyers comes to Cincinnati by way of Tampa; locally he worked with Paul Sturkey when Sturkey was still part of the Encore group. You just come up to the counter, order, get a number and in minutes tasty dishes are delivered to you. There are appetizer plates, salads, soups and sandwiches like the grilled cheese with tomato, applewood bacon and Brie cheese. There’s also a comfort food category with a daily comfort feature and options like the Smoked Mozz and Chicken Pasta (LA 5-13-09). Entrees: Everything is $9 or less. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 4877 Smith Road, West Chester, 513-860-3206. White House Inn — Serving what it calls “heartland cooking,” the White

House Inn offers a range of salads, sandwiches and main entrees that include Filet Mignon, Fried Chicken, Grilled Porkopolis Chops and Calf’s Liver. Among the house specialties is a strip steak bathed in Jack Daniels sauce. A relic of the West Chester of yesteryear, the White House Inn sits on six acres of former farmland, wedged in among myriad housing developments and warehouses that have blossomed in the past few years. It’s big inside, with seven separate dining rooms. Entrees: $18-$30. Noon-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 4940 Mulhauser Road , West Chester, 513-860-1110.

Wildflower Cafe — It’s hard to get a table at Wildflower; they’re only open for dinner Thursday through Saturday and the tiny space seats no more than 36 people a night. Owner Todd Hudson says this will change in the next 30 days, as he opens his porch for dining and unveils his new wine bar and upstairs

store. Wildflower is an organic, locavore-loving restaurant, with sustainable and (many) local wines. Look for chicken, fish and many vegetarian options. Menu changes nightly (HS 6-10-09). Entrees: $9- $36. Lunch: 11a.m.-2p.m. Monday-Saturday; Dinner: 5:30 p.m.-closing Thursday-Saturday. 207 E. Main St.,Route 42 Mason, 513-492-7514.

Wise Owl — This small plates restaurant and wine bar features a dozen or so compelling choices of reds and whites by the glass. The space itself is small and seating is a mixture of nicely developed conversation areas, alternating between leather sofas paired with upholstered chairs and raised tables with high-back seats. One wall is lined, nearly ceiling to floor, with wine bottles. Expect the wine recommendations to be thoughtful and consistently excellent, but call ahead for the tapas menu if you are planning to make a meal of it. (DD 12-23-09). Small plates: $4-$13; cocktails and drinks by the glass, $8-$15. Noon-1 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 6206 Muhlhauser Road, West Chester, 513-889-2500.

Central Adriatico’s New York Style Pizza — The Bearcat pizza comes in a

box that will not fit in the front seat of your car. Adriatico’s makes their sauce and garlic-laden dough in-store daily, with an inherent spiciness and delicious original flavor. The menu also offers calzones, subs and salads, and this carryout/delivery specialist is open late. Late-night hours (1:30 a.m. during the week, 2:30 a.m. weekends, 12:30 a.m. Sundays) make this place a savior for UC students suffering through late-night study sessions, or for those who are up late and not studying. Winner of “Best Pizza (Non-Chain).” Entrees: $6-$18. 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.12:30 a.m. Sunday 3205 Jefferson Ave., Clifton, 513-281-4344.

Ambar India — Perhaps the classiest of the Indian restaurants along Ludlow Avenue in Clifton, Ambar touts a neat and simple dining room with white table cloths and consistently good service. The Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the best in the city. Wash it all down with cool refreshing Lassi or a bottle of King Fisher. The dining room is airy and bright with plenty of windows. Unlike some other Indian places, they do not offer a buffet. Winner of “Best Indian.” Entrees: $10-$16. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; Dinner: 5-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 5-10:30 p.m. Saturday; noon-10 p.m. Sunday. 350 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-7000. Amma’s Kitchen — Be prepared for flavor, as the one-of-a-kind dishes

here stand out in the Indian crowd. Amma’s serves 100 percent vegetarian cuisine. For newbies, the weekday lunch buffet is a great way to nibble and taste.More interested in food than decor, Amma’s is simple yet comfortable. The service is straightforward rather than warm and fuzzy; these gentlemen are serious about their food. Entrees: $5-$12. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11:30-3 p.m. buffet Saturday-Sunday. Dinner: 5-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. 7633 Reading Road, Roselawn, 513-821-2021.

Amol India — North Indian fare such as Saag Paneer (spinach, onions, ginger, Indian spices and Indian cheese with a hint of cream) and Chicken Korma (pieces of chicken cooked in a cream curry sauce with nuts and raisins). Complete the meal with an order of Naan- there are 10 varieties to choose from including garlic and paneer (cheese filled). The tantalizing smell of aromatic spices will have you salivating as you slide into one of the many booths in the large dining room. Enjoy the tinkling sounds of Eastern music as you point to your entree selections for the server. Entrees: $8-$14. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Dinner: 5-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday. 354 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-3600. Andy’s Mediterranean Grille — Expect maximum Mediterranean

flavor here. From its signature Shish Tawook (a marinated chicken kebab) and the best Dolmas (grape leaves) in town to the divine baklava and Turkish coffee, the fare is authentic, delicious and accessible. The recently added Farrouj — half a rotisserie chicken delicately seasoned and served with a side salad and French fries — is now a permanent menu item. Just the fact that a restaurant with exotic foods has a name as average as “Andy’s” appeals to us, but we think belly dancing, the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and hookah pipes say it all. Winner of “Best Mediterranean.” Entrees: $15-$34. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 5-10 p.m. Sunday. 906 Nassau St., Walnut Hills, 513-281-9791.

Apna Indian Restaurant — Specializing in Indian and Pakistani cuisine, you’ll find the usual favorites like Saag Paneer, Bhartha and Nav Rattan Korma (an almost chocolaty mix of vegetables, cashews and cream), as well as selections such as the Kadai Ginger Chicken and Goat Curry. You can even have it delivered. Quiet and quaint, Apna keeps the buffet up and running for lunch and dinner. For good Indian in a pinch, fill up a container with your favorite selections and take it to go.Entrees: $9-$14. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 341 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-6800. Baba Budan’s — There aren’t many places in Cincinnati that offer both a

full bar and a legit coffee shop. Baba Budan’s offers the best of both chemically dependent worlds, and the sandwich menu offers a little extra as well — hummus, tabouleh and more. Local art and live entertainment in the form of DJs, open mic nights and other down-home performances. Entrees: $5-$8. 7:30 a.m.-midnight Monday-Tuesday; 7:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-midnight Sunday. 239 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton, 513-221-1911.

Betta’s Italian Oven — Pizza’s the word here. Will DeLuca’s wood-fired

oven produces tasty, thin-crust pies like the Quattro Stagioni with kalamata olives, proscuitto, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella and breadsticks, including the spicy pepperoni sticks. If pizza’s not your thing, go for the Eggplant Parmesan; it’s meaty, creamy, smoky and all-around delicious. Serious food for people that work hard and laugh loud. There are plenty of regulars filling the tables every night, always a sign of a consistently good meal. Entrees: $9-$14. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday; 5-11 p.m. Saturday; Closed from 3 p.m.-5p.m. daily. 3764 Montgomery Road, Norwood, 513-631-6836.

Biagio’s Bistro — Owner/chef Biagio Lamassa is best known for his homemade pasta dishes like Penne Boscaiola and Seafood Alfredo, but he sautees a damn fine chicken breast and makes a damn fine spicy Italian sub as well. Don’t forget the Italian Tomato Basil soup, it’s mmm good. If you

haven’t been in a while, check out the new expanded dining room and bar. With an Italian soundtrack, scooters in the front and back of the house and Biagio’s booming voice, you can take a mini Roman Holiday- minus Audrey Hepburn, of course. Entrees: $7-$15. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 308 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-4777.

Blue Jay — For some great-tasting, greasy-spoon, eggs-and-bacon type of breakfast, there’s no place better. Hearty portions of eggs, home fries and goetta are regularly fried on the grill, and meals like cheese coneys, cheeseburgers or ham and cheese sandwiches hit the spot when breakfast won’t. If you’re in the mood for a light snack, order a homemade pie to go. Danny and Kathryn Petropoulos opened this tiny Northside restaurant in 1967, and the couple still spends their days cooking and baking for customers. Regulars drift in and out throughout the day, and the waitresses love to chat with newcomers. Entrees: $3-$7. 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 4154 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-0847. Bravo Cucina Italiana — Although it’s a chain of more than 30

restaurants, Bravo doesn’t lack uniqueness, serving up a varied menu of fresh, well-executed and flavorful Italian food. Try the pizzas and flatbreads or house specialties like Pasta Bravo tossed with grilled chicken, mushrooms and a red pepper sauce. Stylish yet relaxed, with all cooking done in plain sight in an enormous open kitchen. Bravo is accommodating for groups: Set it up ahead of time and they’ll print special menus with your name on it (even for parties as small as two). Entrees: $10-$27. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 12110 Montgomery Road, Multiple Locations, 513-583-0583.

Bronte Bistro — This casual restaurant is all about guilty pleasures. The

smoothies are always tempting, and the dessert case is chock full of chocolate temptations and fruity delights. The entrees are a little more involved- Anjou Pear and Bleu Cheese Salad as well as other light fare- but who needs food after a hefty slice of chocolate cake? Walking into Bronte from the attached Joseph-Beth bookstore, you might start thinking this is just another one of those pretentious cafes. But you’d be wrong. The cafe is doused in rich, aesthetically pleasing colors that elicit good vibes, complete with large, comfy booths that appeal to quiet conversationalists and book lovers alike. Entrees: $8-$15. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. 2692 Madison Road, Norwood, 513-396-8970.

Brutopia — Features an Italian-style espresso bar where employees hand-

build all the drinks. A small daily menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches and baked goods as well. Owned by a co-op, Brutopia serves up locally roasted fair-trade coffee, which helps ensure basic human rights protections and fair payment to small coffee farmers around the globe. They also feature fair-trade tea, sugar and chocolate. Along with doing your part in making the world a better place, you get the hottest cup of coffee on Earth. Entrees: $5-$7. 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. 278 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-4278.

Camp Washington Chili — John Johnson, the patriarch of Camp Washington Chili, won’t divulge the ingredients in his secret spice mix, but he will say that the secret to his success is that he doesn’t use any imitation ingredients. Unlike many of the chili chains, Johnson never freezes the meat he uses, which he’s been buying from the local slaughterhouses since he started his business. He also uses fresh onions, fresh garlic and Wisconsin cheddar cheese. The retro-style dining room is open 24 hours a day, and the customers are as varied as the different ways they order their chili. Winner of “Best Chili (Non-Chain).” Entrees: $5-$8. Open 24/7 Monday-Saturday. 3005 Colerain Ave. , Camp Washington, 513-541-0061. Christy’s/Lenhardt’s — Christy’s/Lenhardt’s is a piece of Cincinnati history. Housed in the once-regal surroundings of the former Moerlein mansion, it now provides a comfortable spot to indulge in some culinary local history. The menu includes typical German fare such as Pork Schniztel, Sauerbraten and Potato pancake and Homemade Sausage with sauerkraut as well as Eastern European dishes such as Chicken Paprikasch and Hungarian Goulash. Along with a cozy dining room to get your schnitzel fix, visit the outdoor Biergarten and the Rathskeller. The basement Rathskeller mimics the feel of an old-style German pub; both spots offer German favorites like Warsteiner. Entrees:

$8-$12. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10:30 am.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday. 151 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, 513-281-3600.

City Barbeque — This regional chain puts out some damn tasty barbeque, including mouth-watering beef brisket and a good and sloppy North Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich. Don’t neglect your sides- the vinegary greens and crusty hush puppies are stellar. The new Pulled Chicken Sandwich is a yummy addition to the fare. Play with your food. City BBQ offers three sauces to mix and match- vinegar-and onion-based Carolina sauce, an original tomato-based sauce and mustard sauce. Entrees: $6-$19. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. MondaySaturday; 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. 3804 Paxton Ave. , Multiple Locations, 513-871-8890. City View Tavern — Still the best view and some of the tastiest burgers in

town, and the prices are from back in the day when Mount Adams was known as a “bohemian” neighborhood with just regular folks. Try City View’s Bloody Mary — it repeatedly wins awards as the city’s finest and hairiest. Stella Artois is among the beers newly added available at the bar. Laid back and genuine, City View has managed to rise above the hype and stay real for generations. Good jukebox, cold beer, friendly folks. One note of caution: Unattended children of any age will be dismissed from the premises. Entrees: $3-$7. 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday. 403 Oregon St., Mount Adams, 513-241-8439.

Currito — Formerly Boloco, Currito serves up “inspired burritos” that draw

on culinary influences from around the world. Offerings range from Cajun to Mediterranean to Bangkok as well as salads, chips and salsa and fruit smoothies. Snackers — their own twist on quesadillas — come with cheese and chicken, steak or even tofu. Tired of wrestling with burritos as big as your head? Currito is a smaller alternative with a sizeable selection. The restaurant also offers healthier choices like brown rice instead of white for burrito fillings as well as organic tofu. Entrees: $6-$10. 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 222 Calhoun St., Clifton, 513-281-1500.

Dewey’s Pizza — Fancy gourmet pizzas and excellent service make Dewey’s a pleasure to eat pizza. Specialty pizzas, colorful salads and fine beers on tap also help. The unusual toppings are also cause for excitement from Amish Chicken to Black Bean Corn Salsa. A welcoming dining room with clean, colorful tables and geometrical wall designs that look like art. There’s also a glass window where you can spy on the folks tossing and creating your pizza. Winner of “Best Pizza (Chain)” and “Best Salads.” Entrees: $7-$20. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 4-11 p.m. Sunday. 265 Hosea Ave., Multiple Locations, 513-221-0400.

First Watch — This “daytime cafe” offers breakfast, brunch and lunch items that range from healthy to hearty. With multiple locations in the area, there is sure to be one close to you. The breakfast options include a Killer Cajun Omelette, stuffed with chicken breast, mushrooms, Monterey Jack cheese and onions. At lunchtime, try a burger, any of their specialty sandwiches or salads. Great place for morning breakfast meetings, as it’s a corporate reworking of a neighborhood diner. Coffee flows readily from large tureens to help jump start the brain. Great for family dining on the weekends. Winner of “Best Breakfast” and “Best Sunday Brunch.” Entrees: $3-$7. 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. 700 Walnut St. , Multiple Locations, 513-721-4744.

Floyd’s — Floyd’s is a modest-looking family owned restaurant that serves all your favorite Mediterranean fare without all the bells and whistles (hookahs and belly dancers). One of their specials is offered each day, and the tabouleh here is all the rave, or is it the garlicky lemony lima beans? Don’t miss the fabulous spit-roasted chicken in its various forms (whole, half or on a sandwich). Sit up front in the casual, small dining room and watch the passersby or make your way to the secluded patio on a warm evening. You’ll find college students, professionals and families gathering here on any given day. Entrees: $7-$13.50. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Dinner. 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday. 127 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-221-2434. Gordo’s Pub and Grill — Owner Raymond Gordo was formerly chef de

cuisine for the Jean-Robert Restaurant Group, which explains the Jean-Robert Burger made with bacon, blue cheese and herbs and topped with goat cheese and a lovely grape compote. Even the loaded cheese fries demonstrate the

chef’s attention to detail by including bacon, scallions, tomatoes and a three cheese blend with a side of ranch. An extensive international beer selection hard to find in most bars. One of the most laid-back, reasonably priced, friendly and creative bars we know. Looks like just another neighborhood joint with neon beer signs in the window, but inside it’s more like a movie set of a neighborhood bar than an actual neighborhood bar, gleaming with polished wood floors and tables. Perfectly shiny Michelob mirrors and Coors signs line the wall. Entrees: $4.50-$14.50. 4-11 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.10 p.m. Sunday. 4328 Montgomery Road, Norwood, 513-351-1999.

Habanero — This homemade salsa haven has quickly established itself as a Ludlow Avenue staple. The burritos are excellent, everything is fresh, and few beers on tap make this place great for a hearty meal or a quick drink and snack before a night out. Signature items include the Mad Max (tilapia, pinto beans, rice, cheddar cheese and cabbage) and the Arroyo Hondo (hand-rubbed spiced flank steak, black beans, rice, caramelized onions and goat cheese). A bright dining room offers space for bigger groups or privacy-seeking booth dwellers. A second location is now open at Newport on the Levee. Entrees: $6-$7. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. 358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-3158. King Wok — The flavor of the China Sea, or something like that, with

all the usual Chinese favorites and a special emphasis on fresh seafood. Treat yourself to a whole lobster stir-fried with slices of fresh ginger and scallions in buttery sauce. It’s heavenly. Or come for the Chinese Dim Sum. As far as the ambiance, look for the neon fish. The atmosphere is casual, perked up by the pink linen napkins, nice china and friendly service. Entrees: $7-$13 (some prices seasonal and by the pound). 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday. 203 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-723-1999.

Krishna — Our mouth waters just thinking about their Indian cuisine. The saag paneer and the samosas are works of wonder. It’s delicious but no-frills, served in a Styrofoam carryout box. Basic, tight quarters are provided, as three small booths sit opposite the cooking and cashier line. Taken to go or eat in, it’s a fine thing to be overpowered by Krishna’s steamy, curried haze. Entrees: $7-$10. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. MondayThursday; 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1-10 p.m. Sunday. 313 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-961-2878. Mecklenburg Gardens — Zinzinnati’s German heritage lives on at Mecklenburg’s — their schnitzel is second to none. With a good selection of traditional German classics and Chef Brett Crowe’s innovations like pan-seared lake perch or roasted lamb over creamy northern beans, alles gut! Mecklenburg Gardens is a Cincinnati landmark dating back to 1865 that owner Tom Harten rescued from abandonment in 1996. Now, as Tom says, they’re “alive and well after 141 years.” There’s live music most Friday and Saturday nights featuring bluesy sounds and traditional German tunes. Entrees: $18-$22. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 4-11 p.m. Saturday. 302 E. University Ave., Corryville, 513-221-5353.

MONDAYS

Seniors Discount

20% OFF on the Entire Bill

TUESDAYS

Taco Day

Chunchy Beef Tacos ONLY 99¢ ALL DAY LONG

WEDNESDAYS Margarita

Day

12oz Margaritas ONLY $2.50 ALL DAY LONG

FRIDAYS

Lunch Fajitas

Chicken or Beef • ONLY $6.50 ‘til 3pm

SUNDAYS

Kids Meal ONLY $1.00

12oz Draft Beer: Domestic 99¢ Imported $1.99 ALL DAY LONG

GRAND OPENING February 17th $10 Gift Certificate for Every Table! (One per table only)

Mariachi Band 5:30-8:30pm 8600 Beechmont Ave 513-429-4195

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Mediterranean Deli — The friendly fellows on Ludlow Ave. will sell you the freshest Arabic baklava and tell you the difference between it and other types of baklava. Lesser known items include Kataifi, Koulourajua and hummus galore. There’s also a wide range of Greek and Middle Eastern salads and pita sandwiches. Dolma, hummus, tabouli and baba ganouj are available by the pound as well as a small selection of Middle Eastern grocery items. The food is ideal for making a small picnic and hiking over to Burnet Woods, but there are also a few tables inside. Entrees: $2-$5. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. FridaySaturday; noon-6 p.m Sunday. 314 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-6060. Mount Adams Bar & Grill — More grub than pub, this Bar and

Grill offers a full menu of sandwiches, salads and entrees. Favorites include the grilled tuna steak and grilled salmon sandwiches as well as the fabulous burgers. Popular with everyone from daytime lunchers to