CityBeat | April 5, 2023

PUBLISHER TONY FRANK

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ASHLEY MOOR

MANAGING EDITOR

ALLISON BABKA

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KATHERINE BARRIER

STAFF WRITERS

MADELINE FENING

KATIE GRIFFITH

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ANNE ARENSTEIN, BRIAN BAKER, BRIAN CROSS, MEGAN FINKE, JASON GARGANO, GREGORY GASTON, KELSEY GRAHAM, NICK GREVER, JACK HEFFRON, DEREK KALBACK, DEIRDRE KAYE, MACKENZIE MANLEY, JUDE NOEL, KATHY SCHWARTZ, MARIA SEDA-REEDER, LEYLA SHOKOOHE, SAMI STEWART, STEVEN ROSEN, P.F. WILSON

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Cincinnati Fire Chief Michael Washington Fired for Workplace Culture That City Manager Calls 'Unwelcome to Women'

An organization tasked with gender-based training at the fire department said Washington rushed and misrepresented the training to staff.

BY MADELINE FENING

Cincinnati fire chief Michael Washington has been fired from the Cincinnati Fire Department (CFD) for allegedly creating a workplace culture that is “unwelcome to women,” city manager Sheryl Long’s office announced March 24.

According to a press release, Long said the city’s administration and fire department will work to pursue “long-term, sustainable workplace culture change." Long said she does not believe Washington is capable of implementing or overseeing those changes.

“I want to be clear that I do not tolerate discriminatory, hostile, or unfair working environments in any city department,” said Long. “Cincinnatians place their trust in the fire department, which is tasked with keeping all of us safe. If the workplace culture within the department is unhealthy, that’s a violation of the community’s trust.”

According to public documents, multiple women working for CFD

voiced concerns during Washington’s tenure as chief, saying the workplace culture allowed women to be disrespected and treated unfairly.

Based on the complaints, Long invited social services organization Women Helping Women (WHW) to deliver training to CFD staff in November. Training started on Dec. 15 to outline goals and expectations, but WHW said in a summary report that Washington rushed the timeline of the program and misrepresented the purpose of the training to department employees.

“Impacted by the short timeframe, there was initial misrepresentation of the engagement as sexual harassment training, which impacted the way some participants showed up in the space or their openness to engage in the content, feeling like it was punitive or that it was in response to actions others had engaged in, and now they were being disciplined for those actions,” the summary said.

Training and engagement sessions

between WHW and the fire department also were sporadically attended, with some meetings having only one participant and eight sessions having no attendees.

The summary report from WHW said that those who attended the training sessions “had positive change in each of the three learning outcomes, with significant increase (82%) in individuals' ability to provide resources for survivors of gender-based violence.”

Still, written survey feedback from CFD employees who participated in the program showed “concerns and frustrations that such training, while objectively effective, cannot be taken seriously when problematic behaviors are modeled by [current leadership’s ‘boys club’ mentality.]”

According to reports, women in the department also complained of not being engaged or present in leadership decisions – including promotional panels – and multiple staffers called the WHW hotline directly for support after training.

“Every employee deserves a safe and fair workplace, and we have to unequivocally reject and rectify violations of that environment,” said Cincinnati mayor Aftab Pureval. “I fully support City Manager Long’s decision, and we will continue to support her during our work to make CFD a healthy and welcoming place for women.”

Washington was first hired by the department in 1993. He’s served as a mentor at University of Cincinnati and is on the board of trustees at the Cincinnati Fire Museum. CityBeat reached out to Washington for comment but did not hear back by press time.

Assistant fire chief Steven Breitfelder has stepped into the role of interim fire chief as the city begins a nation-wide search for the next chief.

Breitfelder is expected to hold staff meetings with the department to “discuss the workplace issues and set expectations,” a release said. He’ll also address Cincinnati City Council’s Public Safety and Governance Committee.

Fire Chief Michael Washington was first hired by the department in 1993.

PHOTO: TWITTER.COM/CSX

Lawmakers Approve Language for Potential Cincinnati Southern Railway Sale

BY MADELINE FENING

Voters in Cincinnati will be reminded on the ballot that Norfolk Southern is the potential purchaser of the Cincinnati Southern Railway, thanks to language added to House Bill 23, the state’s transportation budget.

Ohio lawmakers recently reached an agreement to allow the proposed sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway, the only city-owned multi-state railway in the country, to move ahead to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk. Once DeWine signs off, Cincinnati voters will decide whether or not to sell its railroad to Norfolk Southern as early as November.

The sale to Norfolk Southern was contingent upon changing a state law to specify how Cincinnati could spend the revenue from the sale – repairing existing infrastructure only – but more language changes were worked into the final bill by lawmakers who were concerned with Norfolk Southern's recent track record.

Those changes include:

• The ballot language must identify the “buyer” of the railway specifically as “Norfolk Southern.”

• The sale can only appear on the ballot once in 2023 or 2024. If voters reject the sale, a second attempt would need to be approved by state lawmakers in order to appear on the ballot again.

• If the principal amount falls below 25%, all payments to the city must stop until the fund accumulates enough interest that it reaches the previous level.

Currently, the city receives $25 million annually to lease the railway to Norfolk Southern. Under the proposed sale, the city would receive $1.6 billion which would be fed into a trust fund known as the "Building Our Future" trust fund. That trust would dole out no less than $25 million to the city each year after the sale, but Cincinnati mayor Aftab Pureval has said that the annual payout could more than double during some years.

The trust fund from the sale would be managed by the Cincinnati Southern Railway board of trustees, whose bylaws mandate that no more than three members of the same political party can sit on the board. Trustees serve five-year terms, and there are no term limits.

The disaster in East Palestine

A Norfolk Southern train derailed in the small Eastern Ohio village of East Palestine on Feb. 3, igniting a chain of events that ended in a controlled burn of the train’s toxic load of chemicals, mainly vinyl chloride.

The plume of thick black smoke soared above homes and waterways, painting a dark picture for the weeks to come. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quickly took over managing the cleanup, promising to hold the multi-billion dollar rail giant accountable for the disaster.

However, recent polling of Ohioans about the disaster showed overwhelming distrust of the government's handling of the explosion cleanup. Researchers at WaterFilterGuru.com surveyed 503 Americans and 343 additional Ohioans about the train derailment in East Palestine.

Of the 846 respondents, 83% did not believe the government had taken appropriate measures to clean up the spill and prevent future incidents. Moreover, 65% of Americans did not believe government reports saying that the water and air in the East Palestine area were safe.

The chemicals emanating from the controlled burn in East Palestine included butyl acrylate, vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and ethylhexyl acrylate. The chemicals are

used in industrial processes including the production of lacquers, enamels, inks, adhesives, paint thinners and industrial cleaners, and plastic manufacturing. The colorless vinyl chloride has been associated with an increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers, according to the federal government’s National Cancer Institute.

Of the Ohioans who participated in the survey, 97% were concerned about the long-term environmental impacts of the spill, and 19% had started drinking only bottled water as a result of the incident.

Only 2% of Ohio parents who responded to the study said that they would let their children bathe in East Palestine’s tap water.

On March 27, EPA inspector general Sean O’Donnell announced in a memo that he had launched a formal inquiry into the agency’s handling of the cleanup. The inquiry will include interviews, data collection, analysis of hazardous waste disposal, air and water monitoring, soil and sediment sampling, and risk communication.

Despite the toxic disaster caused by Norfolk Southern in East Palestine, executives have told Cincinnati City Council that the company will be able to fulfill its financial obligation to the sale.

Cincinnati's new ballot language must identify the buyer of Cincinnati Southern Railway as Norfolk Southern.

PHOTO: 4300STREETCAR, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Long-Retired Ken Griffey Jr. Still Gets Big Chunk of Reds' 2023 Payroll

BY ALLISON BABKA

Many fans bemoan the Cincinnati Reds' payroll regularly being so much lower than that of other MLB teams, but here's the curveball – a guy who hasn't played in nearly 15 years is still collecting a major portion of it in 2023.

According to figures by sports contract database Spotrac, Ken Griffey Jr. has the fourth-highest salary on this season's payroll. Despite retiring from Major League Baseball in 2010, Junior will receive $3,593,750 of the Reds' $82,624,500 projected budget without lifting a bat in uniform at Great American Ball Park. Griffey's salary is behind only contracts for injured first baseman Joey Votto ($25 million adjusted, or more than 35% of the budget), new one-year outfielder Wil Myers ($6 million adjusted) and veteran infielder Mike Moustakas, who the Reds released in January and was picked up for a Colorado Rockies minor-league

contract ($22 million adjusted for the remaining year of his contract).

Griffey played 2000-2008 for the Reds but chose in 2016 to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as a Seattle Mariner, where he'd spent his best playing years. But the Reds are still on the hook for more than $3.5 million due to a nine-year contract in 2000. That year, The Kid's overall contract totaled more than $112.5 million plus a $4 million buyout.

But Griffey agreed to defer some of his big payout – $57.5 million at 4% interest, which would be divvied up and paid annually from 2010 through 2025. That means the 53-year-old former outfielder will remain on the Reds' payroll for a couple more seasons yet.

The combination of Votto's contract, Griffey's deferred salary and team owner Bob Castellini's tight wallet could spell trouble for the Reds. According to Spotrac, the Reds' 2023 projected payroll of $82.6 million is the fifth-lowest in the MLB and well under the league average of $147.837,561.

The Reds' payroll was about $112 million in 2022, about $131 million in 2021, about $57 million in 2020 (largely due to COVID-19), about $132 million in 2019 and about $101 million in 2018. With a big drop in spending, it's been harder for the Reds to make moves and remain in contention. Castellini had said in 2022 that he was interested in cutting payroll and taking on more rookies instead of investing in veteran power.

Ahead of opening day in 2022, frustrated fans raised funds to erect a billboard urging Castellini to sell the team. The Reds proceeded to post their second-ever 100-loss season, ending with a record of 62-100. The losing also kept more fans at home, with the team experiencing its lowest season attendance since 1984; just 1,395,770 people saw the Reds play at Great American Ball Park in 2022, according to attendance records.

Cincinnati last won the National League Central in 2012 and 2010. Before that, the team won the Central in 1995. The Reds haven't won the division or the World Series since 1990.

Meanwhile, Griffey has remained busy, kicking off the MLB Field of Dreams pre-game activities with his father Ken Griffey Sr. in August and coaching Team U.S.A. to a secondplace finish in the World Baseball Classic in March.

Ken Griffey Jr. played 2000-2008 for the Cincinnati Reds.

PHOTO: RYOSUKE YAGI, FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS

Griffey left the majors in June 2010, hitting 630 home runs before doing so.

Hunter Greene Seemingly Hits 105 MPH in Opening Day Start

BY ALLISON BABKA

Opening day for the Cincinnati Reds typically is magical for fans and players alike. But the kickoff to the 2023 season brought new aspects to the game that will be scrutinized through October.

The Pittsburgh Pirates eked out a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds during the March 30 season opener at Great American Ball Park. Both teams dealt with violating pitch clock regulations – something that had been implemented in the minor leagues and brought to the majors this year to speed up the game (pitchers have 15 seconds with nobody on and 20 seconds if there is a baserunner to start their delivery).

Reds starter Hunter Greene notched his violation in the third inning, while Pirates starter Mitch Keller had his in the fourth.

Greene had eight strikeouts over 83 pitches but landed in trouble and came out after three and a third innings. But the 2022 rookie phenom known for his fastball broke 100 MPH on several pitches and even fired off a 105.2 MPH heater. Or did he?

"Was that number right? Did that number say 105 [MPH]? Is that

right?" Reds broadcaster John Sadak exclaimed on air.

Statcast validated the speedball (which was called for a ball) at first but then later removed it from the record, as noted on Twitter by statistician Joel Lackhaupt.

"Statcast has scrubbed 105.2 from the record," Lackhaupt said.

The opening day excitement over 105.2 MPH was just an error, Statcast ultimately ruled.

But how would that velocity have compared to other validated heaters? Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman threw 105.8 MPH in 2010, the fastest pitch on record. Elsewhere on 2023's opening day – which saw all 30 franchises competing simultaneously for the first time since 1968 – St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks threw 103.8 MPH, good for the day's high mark.

With more playing time, Greene could come close. During the April 16 game last year alone, the rookie Greene threw 39 pitches that reached 100 MPH or higher — including several at 101 and 102 — setting a record for the most triple-digit heat in a single game since pitch tracking began in 2008.

Many spectators and announcers questioned Hunter Greene's 105 MPH fastball during the Reds' opening day game.

PHOTO: RON VALLE

Second baseman Jonathan India takes a swing on opening day.

PHOTO: RON VALLE

Going Green(er)

Cincinnati researchers are focusing on the climate challenges that intimately affect residents.

BY SAMI REED

Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens is responsible for refreshing the Green Cincinnati Plan.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

The number of eco-minded businesses – from plant-based delis to secondhand clothing stores to zero-waste refilleries – is growing in Cincinnati. These establishments make it easy (and, for some, fun) for consumers to reduce their carbon footprints.

But what about the region’s sustainability efforts behind closed doors, when direct profit isn’t even in the equation?

A member of the 2030 Districts Network, Cincinnati is one of 23 (and counting) urban cities across North America that have publicly committed to reducing energy consumption, water use and transportation emissions by at least 50% before scientists say it’s too late. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2030 is the year that “unprecedented” action would need to take place to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.

The Cincinnati district features a group of 49 member organizations that include breweries, museums and universities, all pledging to do their part. The group’s 18 founding members like the Cincinnati’s government and the Cincinnati Zoo collectively are committing more than 7 million square feet to the district.

So why isn’t Cincinnati’s climate efforts common knowledge?

“I think other parts of the world acknowledge our climate progress more than Cincinnatians do,” Ollie Kroner, director of Cincinnati’s office of environment and sustainability, tells CityBeat

In a February story in The Guardian, Cincinnati is noted as one of the global cities using Panorama, a national climate action plan tool designed to connect climate action to financing and ultimately to turn ideas into a plausible course of action.

This is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the city’s current efforts, Kroner says.

“We are laser-focused on the climate crisis – how it will impact city government, how it will impact the quality of life of the people that live here and what we’re gonna do about it,” Kroner says.

A new green plan

The latest iteration of the Green Cincinnati Plan is slated to be revealed this spring. Spearheaded by the city’s office of environment and sustainability, it’s an all-encompassing environment plan for the city that has been reimagined and updated every five years since 2008.

“The Green Cincinnati Plan is an action plan. It analyzes where all our carbon emissions come from and then presents a strategy to move toward carbon neutrality by 2050,” Kroner says.

“Cincinnati was actually among the early U.S. cities to adopt climate action back in 2008, so we have some practice of this.”

This will be the fourth iteration of the plan, updating on a five-year rhythm.

“As you might imagine, the science keeps improving, politics evolve, the technology we have available to think about continues to progress,” Kroner says, noting that carbon neutrality is a big goal.

According to the Green Cincinnati Plan, committing to carbon neutrality is a goal, but in the fight for climate justice, the environment isn’t the only factor.

In partnership with Groundwork Ohio River Valley and Green Umbrella, two esteemed sustainability allies, Cincinnati’s office of environment and sustainability has created a climate equity indicators report that looks at 55 different metrics, helping the office understand how the climate crisis plays out differently from one community to the next. The data collected from this report reveals how some communities are more vulnerable than others.

“We had some funding to actually pay members from that community to come forward and treat them as the subject matter experts on their community and the way that climate is impacting them,” Kroner says. “As our data improves, we are able to zoom in at the city level, zoom in at the neighborhood level, we’re starting to zoom in at the block level – and when you have that kind of data paired with the lived experience of our community members, you can develop realworld practical solutions.”

neighborhoods have held feedback sessions.

“We are doing the work of continually getting this message out there and really focusing on communities that have not been a part of the climate conversation and being really intentional there,” Owens says.

Feedback gathered from the sessions was woven into a draft of a cohesive action plan that the public then reviewed and commented on in January and February. Residents provided more than 600 comments, and Owens and the office of environment and sustainability now are integrating that feedback into a final plan to be unveiled later in April.

Kroner says residents can expect to see a focus on housing in the Green Cincinnati Plan.

“Housing is a loud theme from the community. Why would I care about climate when I’m being evicted next week?,” Kroner says. “Designing programs to help reduce utility costs, specifically for people who are renting, is one of our core focuses.”

Kroner says he anticipates a major challenge ahead.

“All of the climate models show that we need to begin to electrify everything. What can we do to help encourage or incentivize the move to electric homes that can be powered by clean renewable energy?” he asks.

We have strong leadership from the mayor-council, we have tremendous community support, and the federal government is making funding available in a way that we’ve never seen before. In some ways, the stars are aligning right now and we feel like we have to make the most of this window of opportunity.”

Cincinnati’s local climate challenges

Some experts assert that a human health perspective is important when studying climate change. That’s what Susan Pinney, the director of the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Environmental Genetics, is doing.

“We feel we’re one of the best-kept secrets of Cincinnati,” Pinney tells CityBeat. “The focus is research on the health effects of environmental exposures.”

Cincinnati faces a number of climate challenges, Pinney says, adding that addressing how these issues affect residents’ health is crucial for the researchers at the Center for Environmental Genetics. She says there are two significant weather events exacerbated by climate change on her radar: floods and tornadoes.

“Floods can actually stir up waste deposits along the river, and we especially worry about the Ohio River. Floods can also cause mold in homes, which is a huge health problem,” Pinney says, noting that with the high traction brought in by activities like boating and kayaking, it’s imperative for the Ohio River to be safe.

After experiencing a flooding disaster in her own home in New Richmond, Pinney says she understands first-hand how time-consuming and costly it can be to repair a flooded home and actually rid it of all debris, from the carpet to the walls.

Kroner says the climate conversation can’t exist without considering those who are affected by it.

“Our steering committee embraced an equity commitment acknowledging inequities [that] government has helped drive historically, addressing those and committing to community voice in the process,” Kroner says.

Leading this steering committee is Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens. In kickstarting the Green Cincinnati Plan refresh, Owens says the framework has revolved around sustainability, resilience and equity.

Owens and other officials kicked off the Green Cincinnati Plan’s refresh last May, and 42 community engagement events took place shortly after. Since then, 50 out of Cincinnati’s 52

The plan also prioritizes transportation.

“About a third of our emissions in Cincinnati come from transportation,” Kroner says. “We’ve just passed this momentous bus study, so we have funding to really make major improvements. What can we do as a city to maximize those [state] dollars and encourage development along transit corridors to help connect communities, help reduce that transportation carbon footprint?”

Kroner says that to accomplish the goal of a greener Cincinnati, climate change must be approached from its effects on the environment and the people living in it. It’s a transition that could take decades, but it’s an opportunity he feels must be maximized now.

“We really feel like this is our moment.

“People who don’t have a whole lot of resources can’t do that. Although the visible mold may be gone, there is mold that is invisible and they’re living with that the rest of their lives and the health effects of that,” Pinney says, adding that her team at UC is working to change that.

With climate trends and their deviations vital in helping inform future decisions at theCenter for Environmental Genetics, Pinney notes that the characteristics of tornadoes has begun to shift.

“Data seems to suggest the number of tornadoes has not changed throughout the years, but what has changed is the power of the tornado – the intensity of these tornadoes – and where they’re located,” Pinney says, mentioning tornado touchdowns in irregular locations like Philadelphia in recent years. “What are the airborne exposures that are created by a tornado?” We wanna get into that. A tornado comes around, buildings are demolished and such, houses have asbestos in them, they have metals like lead in the paint, and now it’s in the

“We can’t be a sustainable city without everybody participating, but also making sure we’re addressing equity at its root – that our decisions then become those that help us to truly become a resilient city,” Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens tells CityBeat. “Ultimately, every issue I am focused on is really about quality of life for residents in this city.”

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Pinney says she especially is concerned about the rain that follows a tornado.

“Things get saturated. Buildings that have been damaged but are still standing, [they] don’t have a roof and get saturated with rain, and then later on they end up with mold,” Pinney says.

Pinney’s department is able to carry out its mission through its partnership with the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, which provides necessary funding.

”It’s money to improve our capacity to do research, by improving our labs, by improving the expertise of our scientists, by encouraging young faculty, giving them some salary support so they can build their research program.”

Pinney notes the department’s recent work on air pollution.

“We’ve got around the problem of school buses idling while they’re waiting to pick up kids – that’s an example of something that research drove the change and then members of the general public insisted on the change, and so that’s made a substantial change in exposures to kids.”

Pinney says it’s important to her to make Cincinnati’s air and water safer.

“If we’re encouraging people to use our bike trails, to use our walking trails, to run in marathons here, we really have to pay attention to our air quality,“ she says. “In clean air, people can participate more in sports. In clean air, we have more fun.”

Looking to the future

Studying and teaching net-zero energy building at the University of Cincinnati and its College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, Anton Harfmann designs homes to be energy efficient from layout to materials to appliances.

To help combat climate change, he combines his architectural engineering background with design.

“Architectural engineering is that middle ground between the very creative side of architecture and the very practical side of engineering and tries to bridge that chasm between ideas and materials,” Harfmann says.

Harfmann studies and teaches netzero energy building – designing homes to be energy efficient from layout to materials to appliances. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, residential and commercial buildings account for 40% of all U.S. energy consumption. Putting his expertise and passion into practice, Harfmann has turned his 1834 farmhouse into somewhat of a lab, challenging himself with converting it into a net-zero residence while preserving its historic charm.

His architecture and engineering students were able to visit this “lab” to gain hands-on learning, helping them prepare for future net-zero projects and, ultimately, do this work on a much larger scale in the community, Harfmann says.

“Teaching this next generation, I have 50 voices now that are out there clamoring for this kind of stuff and who understand it and are able to then move forward with it on their own, as opposed to me doing one thing right. I can do my house, but that’s only one,” Harfmann says.

Harfmann says there’s a difference between greening up older and newer homes, though.

“The older homes are really difficult to solve this energy equation on,” Harfmann says. “New construction, it’s not as difficult because we have double-pane or triple-pane windows with low emissivity coatings and argon filled in between, and they’re extremely efficient compared to single-pane glass that is 170 years old.”

While building new has its eco

advantages, Harfmann acknowledges that not everyone has the resources to do so. In fact, he says that using buildings that already exist in Cincinnati can be the most energy-efficient option, so he was determined to prove that a sustainable old home was possible.

“The idea is to match energy being consumed with energy being produced. If we can bring the energy consumption down as far as we possibly can, then that’s less we have to produce,” Harfmann says. “With the 1834 farmhouse, the problem is there’s only so much you can do in terms of energy consumption before you hit a brick wall – literally, because the walls there are just two or three [layers] with some brick.”

Harfmann says he even found horsehair that was sprinkled into the plaster, which was used to prevent cracking as it expands and contracts.

To make this older home more energy efficient, Harfmann started with LED bulbs and insulated where he could before moving on to the windows.

“There were no storm windows when I moved in, so now suddenly I have two panes of glass and a little bit of air space, which helped tremendously. The windows are your weakest spot,” Harfmann says. “The windows are your weakest spot.” Harfmann says he patched the gaping holes and insulated his windows, reducing the amount of energy flowing through the walls, coming in from the summer heat or escaping the winter.

Harfmann notes while many individuals are interested in making the switch to renewable energy options like solar, they often don’t see it as a good financial investment. To him, that’s a flawed model. While paying off a solar array could take years, Harfmann claims that adopters still save more in a year than they’d be accumulating in interest from money sitting in a savings account.

“If you rethink, when will it pay off and

think alternatively, how much interest am I making every year? How much am I not paying in utilities? This is tax-free income, and it’s immune to future energy cost rises,” Harfmann says.

“The incentives that they’ve put out to insulate your home, buy better appliances, get storm windows, get a better water heater, buy an induction stove, buy an electric car are all there,” Harfmann continues, noting that the federal Inflation Reduction Act offers a rebate of up to $14K per household for converting to sustainable energy options.

Back in City Hall, council member Meeka Owens says she believes that no effort is too small in the fight against climate change.

“We’ll start at the micro level because it’s important that we’re all doing our part – are we recycling? Are we avoiding tonnage to the landfill by doing so? Are we composting?” Owens asks.

Over at the office of environment and sustainability, director Oliver Kroner is working on large-scale changes throughout the community and agrees that everyone has an important role in addressing the climate crisis.

“I think a lot of people think corporations are causing climate change and they point at corporations as the responsible party. Corporations definitely play a role, but absolutely individuals do also,” Kroner says.

He urges individuals to consider the environmental impact of their day-today lives, from their purchases to their food.

“Those small daily choices do accumulate in a very major way, and I think that we need to own that as individuals and make the right choices, and the organizations we’re a part of will follow suit,” Kroner says. “Behavior is contagious, so leading by example is where we need to be.”

Around one-third of Cincinnati’s emissions come from transportation. |

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

New Green Cincinnati Plan Focuses on Equity

BY MADELINE FENING

Cincinnati’s plan to move the city towards a greener future soon will have a refresh.

The Green Cincinnati Plan is a comprehensive sustainability plan designed to reduce carbon emissions and make Cincinnati a more environmentally-friendly city. The plan has been updated every five years since it was first introduced in 2008 by city council, and its newest form will be reviewed and implemented this month.

Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens, who is chair of the Green Cincinnati steering committee, says the 2023 plan is more ambitious than ever.

“Because the science is always evolving and changing, every five years it gets updated.” Owens says. “We now have an aggressive goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030.”

According to a draft, which had not yet been finalized as of press time, the 2023 plan is broken into eight focus areas:

• buildings and energy

• city operations

• community activation

• food

• mobility

• natural environment

• resilience and climate adaptation

• zero waste

Reducing carbon emissions

The primary source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States comes from transportation, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Owens says tackling the way residents get around is obvious.

“The more cars are burning fossil fuels, the more the earth is heating

up,” Owens says. “That’s why we need the opportunity to develop a city that’s going to support electric vehicles, meaning that infrastructure is there, meaning that the consumer who is looking to buy an electric vehicle can actually move around the city easily because we’ve created infrastructure to do so.”

Electric vehicles are a strong suggestion to citizens but a requirement for city departments – at least in the future – according to the 2023 plan. A draft shows that Cincinnati has set a goal of 400 electric vehicles in the city’s fleet by 2028, with 100% of employees having access to sustainable transportation options. That also means electrifying buses, and Owens says the city is working closely with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA).

“SORTA is also having their internal conversations around electric buses and electrifying their fleet as well. That is a stakeholder that has a huge role to play,” Owens says.

Beyond electric cars and buses, the Green Cincinnati Plan sets a goal for increasing public transit usage by 25% by 2030. The draft says this will only be possible by providing more reliable, convenient public transit options for its riders.

While Owens says she would love to see more citizens opt for public transportation rather than cars, she says the best solution for drastically reducing carbon emissions is supporting walkable neighborhoods. This, however, is best addressed through city policy on zoning laws, she says.

“It’s about having the conversations about zoning changes that will help us to get there. We need to incentivize the development to be able to produce

these types of affordable communities,” Owens says.

Listening to the community

Owens says the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan is not only more aggressively targeting carbon emissions, it’s also more inclusive than ever before. Out of Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods, members of the plan’s steering committee were able to engage with 50 of them – 87% of the city’s zip codes – Owens says.

“Climate change is impacting communities differently. We’ve got the data, we’ve got the resources. It’s giving us a more granular focus on how to make changes,” Owens says. “We are really hyper-focused on communities that we would call front-line communities – those who have historically not been a part of the conversation around climate change and understanding its impacts are the folks that are at the table.”

The effort to gather the community’s feedback on the plan resulted in 4,000 hours of community engagement with more than 4,000 residents. Of those, a total of 1,600 residents participated in 42 public meetings and contributed 3,000 ideas through spring, summer and fall of 2022.

The number of participants was higher for the 2023 plan than for the 2018 plan, which Owens attributes to a rising concern for local environmental issues and more community partnerships.

“All of the numbers are trending in the upward direction, which means people are learning about the Green Cincinnati Plan and also getting involved more,” Owens says.

Funding the plan

Owens says the responsibility of the Green Cincinnati Plan is to establish the city’s goals and how officials can maximize sustainable options for city operations and citizens’ habits, and not to be the solution-maker for how everything is exactly paid for. This is done by establishing partnerships with stakeholders like building developers and transportation leaders who will allocate their own resources to help make the goals happen, Owens says.

“It really is about the goals and then everyone is playing their part in terms of stakeholders to take on a certain area to make sure those goals are happening,” Owens says. “A large majority of the GCP isn’t necessarily policyrelated, it’s not necessarily coming out of City Hall, but it’s really what our other partners are going to be doing.”

One of the areas of the plan in which climate equity does enter the city budget is in the form of Justice40, which ensures that at least 40% of federal spending benefits “priority communities.” This year’s plan draft says that this becomes more possible with the help of new federal incentives and grants, which will be managed by staff contractors who can do grant tracking, implementation and management.

Another way Owens says the plan seeks to level out access to green technology is with the Green Cincinnati Fund.

The fund, which developed out of the 2018 plan, focuses on the needs of lower-income renters and homeowners to help them lower their energy costs and thus decrease fossil fuel usage. The Green Cincinnati Fund doesn’t come straight from the city budget but is supported by stakeholders who make contributions.

One of the programs supported by the fund include WarmUp Cincy, which supports low-income renters, homeowners and landlords of affordable housing with weatherization for hot and cold months as well as energyefficient home upgrades. Another priority of the fund is to establish a solar panel program for lower-income homeowners and landlords.

“We often forget the conversation about what you’re spending on your utilities has everything to do with affordability,” Owens says. “Really being able to think in an innovative way about how we’re going to address these things in non-traditional ways, that also means we need folks to contribute to this fund.”

Cincinnati City Council is expected to review and finalize the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan in early April.

Anton Harfmann designs buildings to be sustainable. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF ANTON HARFMANN

ARTS & CULTURE

Rural Queen

BY MADELINE FENING

Hope Sexton’s hands used to shake before going on stage, but not anymore.

“I had a lot of guilt because of my religious background. I would try to calm myself and my hair would be literally shaking on my head, you could see it physically move,” Sexton tells CityBeat “Now I emcee shows.”

Sexton is getting ready to go on stage for his first performance of the night at Old Street Saloon, a nearly 30-year-old gay dive bar and performance venue in Monroe that, according to its owner, used to be surrounded by corn.

After 20 years of performing at Old Street, Sexton can expertly tease the anticipated crowd with what’s to come from behind a curtain like the great and powerful Oz – all while applying finishing touches to a five-foot-wide feathered costume in a closet-sized dressing

room occupied by three queens and two CityBeat staffers.

Sexton emerges on stage to gasps from the crowd, floating under a blanket of carnival lights and disco balls. Brides-to-be, birthday boys and regulars galore line up with dollar bills. The crowd is eating out of the palm of Sexton’s steady hand.

There’s nothing overtly sexual about Sexton’s performance, or about many performances in general, but that hasn’t stopped lawmakers in nearby states from targeting drag shows while implying –or outright claiming – that drag queens are sexually grooming child audience members.

Tennessee’s Senate Bill 3 passed in February, making it a misdemeanor for a person to perform “adult cabaret” on public property or in a location where the performance could be viewed by a

minor. The bill defines an “adult cabaret performance” as adult-oriented performances that are “harmful to minors,” such as ones featuring go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, or male or female impersonators. A first violation could result in a Class A misdemeanor, and a second violation is a Class E

felony.

The broadly defined “male or female impersonators” is what effectively outlaws some forms of drag in the state. It was the last straw for Wendy Williams, a drag bar owner and performer from Tennessee who was crowned Miss Old Street in 2015 during the bar’s annual

Here’s what performers in an LGBTQ+ dive bar in Monroe think about the latest drag satanic-panic.

Hope Sexton has been performing at Old Street Saloon for 20 years.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

Hope Sexton previously had guilt for performing in drag due to his religious background.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

beauty pageant.

“We just recently had another distillery that had a drag brunch and white supremacists with swastikas [protesting], saying they were grooming children. I finally decided at that point to put the bar on the market,” Williams tells CityBeat

Ohio has not been immune to neonazi protests at drag events. In December, a “Holi-Drag Storytime’’ event organized by Red Oak Community School in Columbus was supposed to feature three fully-clothed drag queens reading to children and performing holiday music. Instead, the event was interrupted by far-right hate groups the Proud Boys and Patriot Front, whose members flashed nazi salutes and chants while touting guns and tactical gear. In March, a drag story hour in Wadsworth was shut down by agitators from these same neo-nazi groups, far outnumbering the event’s supporters. At Old Street Saloon, children under

the age of 18 are not permitted to come inside, and they never have been.

During CityBeat’s visit, the youngest audience member, 18-year-old Aarron Moore, was escorted to the bar with his mother. CityBeat remarked to the pair about how progressive Christy Mormino’s decision to bring her son to the bar seemed.

“You have no idea!” Moore quickly replies, a Sprite in hand. “You know, of course on the internet you can meet more people, but it’s different when it’s actually, like, a face-to-face conversation. COVID did kind of ruin a lot of that for me, some of the most important social years of my life, so having this ability now is just really nice.”

Mormino knows there are people out there who would raise an eyebrow – or even a pitchfork – at the idea of a mother bringing their child to a drag bar, even if they’re a legal adult at age 18. But she doesn’t care.

“My dad and his wife are coming to visit us in a couple of days and they’ll tell me how wrong this is and how I’m going to burn in hell, but I feel like it’s important to give my children the outlet to be who they are,” Mormino says without hesitation.

One of Old Street’s most seasoned queens is quick to talk about damnation while talking to CityBeat about drag’s latest satanic-panic moment. Ashley West has been performing drag for 40 years. She was the second Miss Old Street, and she wants lawmakers to read their Bibles.

“You’re so dead-set on what’s good and what’s Godly, read your Bible. The Bible says, ‘Judge ye not lest ye be judged.’ Being a hypocrite is a horrible thing, you’ll go to hell for that quicker than anything else,” West says, her strong Southern accent elongating the presence of her petite stature.

On stage, Mr. D glides side to side to Barry White’s “Practice What You

Preach.” Mr. D is Old Street’s only drag king performer of the night, a comparative newcomer for only having performed at the bar for two months.

Her inspiration to start came from her friend Tyese Rainz, Miss Old Street’s 2017 pageant queen. Rainz died in May 2022 from a medical episode after a performance at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton. Rainz was known for raising money for animal shelters through charitable performances, which Mr. D said was her softlaunch into drag.

“He’d say, ‘You’re getting up there. It’s for the puppies,’” Mr. D recalls. “I didn’t know I had all this hidden inside me until I got up on that stage.”

Barry White, The Temptations, The O’Jays; these are the old school musicians Mr. D’s parents played growing up. She says that not all of her friends and remaining family know about her newfound weekend persona, which she isn’t necessarily hiding.

“If they show up, they know. If they don’t, they don’t,” she says.

Kimberly Lourainne’s parents show up to almost all of their son’s performances, but it wasn’t always this way.

“At first my mom was against it,” Lourainne, Miss Old Street 2019, tells CityBeat. “Then my dad was actually one of the first ones to come to my shows. And now every time we have something they’re like, ‘Tell us when,

we want to be there!’”

Lourainne’s father Cecilio Acevedo imparts a message to parents who may be alarmed to learn their child is a drag queen, especially if their only understanding of drag comes from conservative news accounts.

“That’s your son no matter what,” Acevedo says with a shrug. “I had a hard time with it at first, but I came around and I love my son no matter what.”

Ashley West says she wants audience newcomers to keep an open mind and remember that drag is not as serious as some legislators want people to think.

“It’s just entertainment!” she says laughing, her hands gesturing to the diverse set of customers dancing to “The Electric Slide” during the night’s break in between shows. “When you start infringing on people’s rights, their beliefs and what they enjoy doing, then we go back 50 years, and the gay community is not going to stand for that.”

Editor’s note: many drag performers use different pronouns in drag than they use in their day-to-day lives. CityBeat confirmed the preferred pronoun use with each performer and customer interviewed for this story. Old

oldstreetbar.com.

Drag performer Kimberly Lourainne gets ready for the show backstage.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

Local LGBTQ+ icon Tyese Rainz inspired drag king performer Mr. D to finally hit the stage.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

A customer named Tex tips a queen during a group performance.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

CULTURE

Local Artist Brandon Hill’s Coloring Books Fuse Mental Health and Fun as Works of Art

BY MACKENZIE MANLEY

Cincinnati-based digital artist

Brandon Hill’s line of coloring books fuse anime, hip-hop, western comic books and pop culture influences, and they’re created with mental wellness in mind. Flip through volume 3, Bad and Bushido, for example, and you’ll find uplifting affirmations interspersed with samurai philosophy, trivia and journaling prompts.

Sold under the business moniker

In Fly We Trust, each coloring book volume speaks to a different era of Hill’s own mental health journey.

“When we talk about mental health, in a lot of communities, there’s a stigma attached,” Hill tells CityBeat during an interview at Downtown’s blaCk Coffee Lounge. “This is well known, right? Especially in men, who may not be apt to speak about what’s going on inside of them. The response oftentimes is, ‘I’m good.’ But we’re not good. We’re in pain like everybody else, and it’s unresolved and we’re trying to figure it out.”

On July 26, 2018, Hill was hit by a car while riding his bike in Cincinnati. The accident left him partially disabled for a few years – he says he had to use his father’s cane. In the following years, Hill also went through a divorce, which he says affected his children. Hill explains that with these changes came fear, depression and anxiety. The first volume, Weed and Zen, released in June of 2021, is a culmination of years processing that heavy anxiety.

“You come to a conclusion – or no, a decision – that you’re either going to let it bring you down or build you up,” says Hill. “Those are your options. Like,

that’s what the options are. And I had the thought that ‘I’m not going to let this break me down, it’s going to build me up.’ And I didn’t understand how that was actually going to happen.”

Hill says that newfound purpose came partially after he moved back to his hometown of Louisville in the summer of 2021. There, Hill began selling postcards at events like MELANnaire, a pop-up marketplace that champions Black-owned businesses and was founded by Nachand Trabue. (Hill moved back to Cincinnati in October 2021 so that his son and daughter could live in the same city). Postcards eventually evolved into coloring books, though he still sells plenty of the former, along with other items like canvas prints and t-shirts. According to Hill, the initial move to Louisville, and selling at popup fairs and marketplaces, was the push he needed to change.

“The people that bought the coloring books and came back and saw me later and told me the impact that the books were having on their lives was mindblowing,” says Hill. “I didn’t understand how necessary it is for people to have resources and see positive images.”

At the time of the interview, Hill had self-published three volumes: Weed and Zen, Hustle and Motivate and Bad and Bushido; he’s aiming for the fourth, Capes and Come-Ups, to be released in May. There’s also Love and Lou, a love letter to Louisville in coloring book form, and Scribble and Scrawl, an activity book aimed at children with an emphasis on emotional development.

Hill describes Capes and Come-Ups as a resource for kids around the age of

10 that adults can enjoy as well; similar to Scribble and Scrawl, it aims to help build emotional and mental skills in youth and encourage self-discovery.

“You don’t have to wait until you’re an adult to be an amazing person that helps other people and also yourself,” says Hill of the Capes and Come-Ups goal to show children their value. In fact, Hill says his own children –16-year-old daughter, Assata, and nineyear-old son, Ausar – have been there since In Fly We Trust’s inception.

“One of the things I wanted to do with art was to create a legacy for my children,” says Hill. “And my son and daughter have been a part of that legacy.”

A Cincinnati-themed coloring book is also in the works; Hill says that it will spotlight the Queen City’s businesses, urban landscape and people. Four of Hill’s coloring books have been translated into Spanish, with the intent to release translated versions of each, a decision Hill made to be more inclusive to often-overlooked and -marginalized Spanish-speaking communities.

The coloring books can be ordered at inflywetrust.com, at Rookwood’s Joseph-Beth Booksellers, and art fair events throughout the year, including at Findlay Market. Hill’s business will also get its own retail space at 5846 Hamilton Avenue starting April 15 via OurShop College Hill, a program that allows local entrepreneurs to test out a brick-and-mortar space rent-free for six months. He will share the space alongside fellow OurShop recipients Brent Hodge and Zonieke Alston Betts.

“I’m excited and I’m also nervous,”

says Hill. “It’s one thing to do pop-ups and be all over the place but it’s another thing to have a dedicated retail space but the program is very supportive. They work with you and show you how it’s done. And it’s something I hope to understand better. It’s like the universe has aligned itself properly.”

Hill holds a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies and African American art from Northern Kentucky University. While he says he has done graphic design professionally since around 2012, Hill notes that if he takes college experience and his activist work during the 2001 Cincinnati riots into account, his design experience goes back 20 years.

“I did flyers for demonstrations and for protests around the university and within the community of Cincinnati and in Covington as well,” says Hill. “Those skill sets that I learned early on really helped create the foundation for what I’m doing right now.”

Another important piece of Hill’s work is accessibility. From larger canvas prints all the way down to postcards, Hill says he wants his art to be accessible to all. Whether it’s a small piece, postcard, coloring book or larger canvas print, Hill wants everyone to have the opportunity to bring art into their homes.

“It’s been a blessing, to be honest. I’m much more for inclusivity in the arts. I don’t want to be economically exclusive,” says Hill. “Also, I want the average individual to feel like they can do it. And this is how you do it. This is how I did it.”

Brandon Hill’s coloring books and other products are available at brandonhill.us and inflywetrust.com.

Selling his art at pop-up fairs and marketplaces was the push that Brandon Hill needed to pursue his passion more aggressively.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY BRANDON HILL

Hill is in the process of creating a Cincinnati-themed coloring book.

PHOTO: MACKENZIE MANLEY

Northern Kentucky Artist Devan Horton Finds Inspiration in Nature — and its Destruction

BY MEGAN FINKE

by the variety of trash she noticed while hiking. But it was only after watching someone throw an empty pack of cigarettes out their car window, when they were just feet from a garbage can at a trash station, that she knew she wanted to express her concern through art.

Her favorite piece, “Wade,” a nighttime scene of trash, has a stillness to it that she hopes is a reflection of the destruction human beings have caused by leaving trash throughout nature.

With “Penchant” on the move, Horton has been trying to give up things in her life that create waste, including her artwork, making this year a time of experimentation and learning.

Deploying walnuts, poke berries and onion skins, Horton has been using nature to create waste-free art.

of a house in the 1880s, which the community will be able to walk through and view art all around them.

“There’ll be different rooms of this house that you can take pictures in … or there’s different things you can scan with your phone,” Horton says. “There’s a bunch of easter eggs and all kinds of things that you can find in the mural.”

Horton is also curating artwork for the Green Umbrella Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, which will take place May 12 at the Duke Energy Convention Center. It’s given her another opportunity to combine environmental activism and artwork.

Devan Horton finds inspiration for her oil paintings while hiking through local parks like Mount Airy, Mount Echo and Ault Park, but more recently the Northern Kentucky artist has taken her environmental activism to new heights by experimenting with natural resources to create art.

Growing up outside of Asheville, Horton was raised in a family that always felt a special connection to nature. It was only after she moved to Northern Kentucky that she realized not everyone cherished the land in the same way. The realization inspired her to create paintings that call attention to the various ways humans have corrupted the natural world.

“Coming from that to Cincinnati, and finding the trash everywhere and realizing that people don’t have that same respect—so that just became my passion and what I wanted to push out there into the world,” Horton says.

Horton received her BFA in painting from Northern Kentucky University and has since had her artwork featured in various local and national galleries. She has taken inspiration from swarms of insects or plants, which she represented through series titled “Swarm,” “Impinged,” “Apophenia” and “Pulchritudinous.”

“I was really interested in invasive species and this idea of the swarm, and I just really liked the idea of how all these tiny little individuals could come together and become something really fierce,” Horton says. “Like the ants. You

don’t really think about the significance of a tiny little ant, but in a swarm, it could become something big.”

More recently, though, it’s the swarm of trash left by humans that inspired her series “Penchant.” The series is part of an exhibition and fundraising event called Trash Talk, in which she partnered with Paul Kroner.

She first showed the work at Studio Kroner in Cincinnati in November 2022. Recently, Trash Talk traveled to a gallery in Dayton, Ohio, to benefit Waste-Free Dayton. It concluded its showing at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery on March 25.

“The city of Dayton got really involved and the commissioner gave a speech at the opening. So it was really cool to get the people who go to art galleries, the people who will know this organization but don’t really go to art galleries, and also the city—and bringing all those pieces together,” Horton says.

Horton wasn’t sure if Trash Talk would have more life after its Cincinnati showing, but involving different organizations helped give the exhibition traction.

“A lot of commercial galleries don’t want to fill their gallery with trash,” she says. “They don’t want to get political, and it can be kind of a scary thing for galleries. But I think it’s the incorporation of the organization and offering an anecdote, like, ‘Here’s an answer.’ It makes it a lot easier to kind of get into places.”

The “Penchant” series was inspired

“I’ve been experimenting with a lot of botanical dyes and walnut inks … the walnut so far is amazing because it’s really rich. It’s a really pretty sepia color, and walnuts are everywhere, so it’s this free source that I can find to create artwork. I’ve also experimented a lot with indigo dye and, obviously, the blue is stunning, it’s gorgeous. Indigo is a fermented matte so it’s something that lasts forever,” Horton says.

Using botanicals in art is an ancient practice, so Horton has spent time researching indigenous art practices and using history to inspire her practices.

Coming up, Horton will collaborate with fellow artists Gabrielle Siekman and Jazmina Robinhawk to paint a mural in an alleyway in Covington, starting in May. Amy Milburn, who with her husband Tony has businesses surrounding the alleyway, approached the artists, asking them to create something beautiful with the space. They’re now planning an augmented reality version

“Our theme for this year is ‘imagine what’s possible,’ because we’re trying not to dwell on climate doom, which is so funny because my latest series was all trash,” Horton says. “But we’re looking at this other side of art dealing with climate change, and learning how to move forward through art, or inspiring innovation through a new way of looking at something.”

Horton attended the summit last year just to see what it’s all about. Now she’s a part of the planning process and has been able to make connections with people who have the same passion as her.

“I felt like I was always searching for those people in the city, but the city is so big, and it’s hard to find those people. So the sustainability summit is a perfect place for people to meet, and if you’re trying to volunteer, there’s tons of opportunities there and it’s just a great place to become aware of all that stuff,” Horton says.

View Devan Horton’s work at devanhorton.com/gallery and instagram.com/hortondevan.

Devan Horton in front of her series “Penchant.”

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY DEVAN HORTON

The opening of Trash Talk in November at Studio Kroner on Court Street.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY DEVAN HORTON

FOOD & DRINK

A Taste of Togetherness

Conserva offers a taste of Spain, with classic tapas alongside gluten-free and vegetarian offerings.

BY KELSEY GRAHAM

If you haven’t been to Ludlow, Kentucky, recently, you’re missing out.

Less than five miles from downtown Cincinnati, this little river town is the area’s best-kept secret, with scenic views of the Ohio River and lively bars and restaurants that bring family and friends together. Challis Hodge, owner of Taste Food & Wine Group and the newly opened Conserva, is ready for the secret to get out.

Conserva isn’t Hodge’s first business in Ludlow; he and his wife, Lauren, opened Taste On Elm in 2019 to much success. For Hodge, food has been a passion for as long as he can remember, but it wasn’t always his profession. Hodge worked as a designer and engineer before switching to the restaurant industry. “Food has always been that nagging sort of passion in the background since I can remember,” he says.

Planning for Conserva was two years in the making, but Hodge says that focusing on Spanish tapas returns to the

foundation on which he builds all his businesses. “It’s about my core belief that sharing food cultivates community, and that’s really what I look to do every day of my life,” says Hodge. “It’s why I love making food for people: bringing them together around food and wine.”

Traditionally, tapas can be found throughout Spain. In their simplest form, they’re small plates and appetizers meant to be shared. “We just feel closer to people when they eat the same food as we do and when we share that food,” says Hodge. “That’s where relationships are built.” To Hodge, they’re about gathering and community. “The Spanish tapas culture is probably, in my mind, one of the most amazing art forms in terms of bringing people together around food.”

Conserva officially opened in November with Hodge as head chef. Before opening, Hodge studied Spanish tapa cuisine to recreate an authentic experience. In Spain, a given town

would generally have multiple tapas restaurants, each specializing in particular dishes. But since most cities in the U.S. don’t offer a full array of tapas eateries, Hodge knew Conserva needed to represent various Spanish regions and offer a medley of options.

One popular dish on the menu is a Spanish national favorite, Tortilla Española, made using potatoes, egg, olive oil and salt. “It’s such an amazing, simple dish, but if it’s done well, it’s really delicious,” says Hodge. Another

Spanish classic on the menu is the patatas a la riojana, or chorizo potato stew, seasoned with onions, paprika and garlic. “It’s kind of a comfort food that people just want more and more of,” Hodge says. And if you’re a fan of dips, the gambas al ajillo, or Spanish garlic shrimp, is made using sherry and guindilla pepper and served with dippable crostini.

The menu includes vegetarian and gluten-free options, which iHodge says is important, as he suffers from gluten

Conserva’s owners want to create a space where sharing food is encouraged.

PHOTO: CATIE VIOX

Conserva’s menu includes an extensive list of cocktails and wines.

PHOTO: CATIE VIOX

intolerance. The primary bread, pico, is gluten-free and a recipe Hodge worked hard to perfect. The menu also offers an extensive list of wines and cocktails, including seasonal sangria and sparkling and red wines.

Along with the menu, creating a welcoming and cozy environment was top on Hodge’s list. When you walk in, you’ll hear a mix of tango music, Spanish classical guitar, and café music, all adding to the relaxing aesthetic. “There’s something about music that really just tops off the experience,” says Hodge. The space also features an outdoor eating space that Hodge looks forward to using when the weather gets warmer.

Hodge also hosts educational events at the restaurant, including a sherry dinner that focuses on the fortified Spanish wine, how it’s made, and what to pair it with, as well as Tapas 101 and paella classes. “We love to share, learn and teach; that’s what it’s all about,” he says.

Hodge is excited that the restaurant is getting more people to visit Ludlow. “It’s funny how you have to train people to get off the bridge and turn right instead of going left to Covington,” he laughs. But food lovers are starting to learn.

“We’re getting so many people, not just from three or five minutes away from Cincinnati, but the suburbs, who have heard of us and are coming down.”

And though Hodge is often in the kitchen cooking up dishes for patrons, he can feel the positive and electric energy from the dining room all the way to the back of the restaurant.

Conserva, 225 Elm St., Ludlow. Info: conservatapasbar.com.

Conserva’s menu features classic Spanish tapas.

PHOTO: CATIE VIOX

“How I know a night is going well: I can hear the noises all the way back in the kitchen,” Hodge says. “The laughter, the conversation. Lots of laughter—I always know that’s a really good thing.”

The 25 Best Restaurants in Northern Kentucky Right Now, According to Yelp

BY KATHERINE BARRIER

21. Nittha Siam Kitchen

2415 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights

“In my travels, I have NEVER found a place that offered Sushi & Thai and did both well but my choice to try takeout of both here was a result of the Thai menu not calling Pad Ki Mao “Drunken Noodles” as most do, which to me suggests more authenticity. The sushi menu resembles many standalone sushi places so I sampled the Cincy roll and salmon sashimi.

At CityBeat, we know a thing or two about finding solid restaurants in Greater Cincinnati, but Yelpers have some hot takes of their own that are worthy of attention. From places serving up phenomenal steaks and authentic Thai food to the ones with monster burgers featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Northern Kentucky is home to plenty of highly praised restaurants these Yelpers can’t stop talking about.

Editor’s note: This was Yelp’s list at the time of publication. Based on ongoing user input, restaurant information in this Yelp list may change. Reviews may have been shortened or edited slightly for clarity and grammar.

25. KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia

521 Madison Ave., Covington

“Amazing food and fun atmosphere!

Everything we’ve tried so far has been delicious. Definitely recommend the imperial beef stew, howfun, and sesame chicken. Service is fast even though they are always super busy. Our go-to Asian place!”

-Victor P.

24. The Well

8 W. Seventh St., Covington

“Really cute spot with ample seating and an airy feel. There are large televisions above the bar for watching sports, will definitely return if there’s a game on to watch!

Worth mentioning, the bartending

staff were so kind and had such positive vibes! This was my first time in and they explained to us that the food is entirely separate from the bar. You order your food at a window at the back of the restaurant and the entire restaurant functions separately from there. It worked smoothly as they weren’t busy and we didn’t have to wait in multiple lines.” -Morgan

C.

23. Knotty Pine on the Bayou

6302 Licking Pike, Cold Spring

“We always love eating here! The service is usually really good, and the food is always on point. The Cajun sampler is my all time favorite. The steak tips, chicken, and shrimp are perfection. It also comes with red beans and rice, and jambalaya. It’s a lot of food but it reheats really well, so I say go for it and enjoy leftovers tomorrow! The Bayou-tini is also delicious. If you’re into oysters, their Bienville is really good.” -Angela

22. Frida 602

K.

602 Main St., Covington

“The atmosphere is full of bright colors on the walls and tables. Even the bathroom is colorful.

I love their guacamole with jicama and radishes. Their chips are crispy and airy. In other words, I ate a lot of them. Spicy pineapple margarita with Al pastor taco and cauliflower taco made for a perfect meal.”

-Eileen B.

The sashimi was a 9/10 for quality and cut. The roll was perfect. The texture, the size, the quality, the price. … Also, the eel is cooked and the rest of the roll is not. This provides a great taste profile. When asked, the server said Thai was the dominant cuisine for the restaurant so with such a good sushi experience, I had pretty high hopes and was not disappointed. Spiced at 3, the pad ki mao was exactly how I like it.” -Mark S.

20. Fort Mitchell Public House 2053 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell

“Love this place! Menu has a Cajun inspired feel. Great alcohol selection although I always end up getting Anita Purple Haze there because it goes with all the food options. They have a great outdoor patio with string lights and lots of space inside. I have tried multiple items from the menu but I tend to always go back to their pasta options. This is a great local spot with a delicious menu!”

-Stephanie J.

19. Walt’s Hitching Post 3300 Madison Pike, Ft. Wright “Our dinner was absolutely perfect from start to finish. We kicked things off with a 1/2 dozen oysters, some escargot, and the bourbon burnt ends. We’d had the first two appetizers in the past - and they lived up to how much we loved them on our last visit. The bourbon burnt ends were phenomenal - crispy, smokey, and coated with Walt’s famous BBQ sauce. What more could you ask for?

We decided to order one of their nightly specials - the 10 oz. Bison Steak - along with one of their classics - the Braised, Bone-In Pork. The bison was tasty and tender - but our favorite bite of the night was definitely the pork. Every morsel melted in our mouths, and when paired with their creamy orzo, it was

truly show-stopping. For dessert, we ate as much as we could of their Bananas Foster, which is a huge portion, even for two people.”

18. Bard’s Burgers & Chili

-Bailey D.

3620 Decoursey Ave., Covington

“First time here and now we’re customers for life! Their burgers are absolutely delicious! I had the Bard Burger and it was seasoned and cooked to perfection! My husband had the 5 Way and loved it! We also ordered their fries, which are homemade, they were delicious too! They have a full bar with craft beer, wine, and liquor. Their bourbon selection is great and the prices are good. We were full so had no room for dessert, but plan to order it next time. I highly recommend Bard’s! It definitely is ‘the dive that’s worth the drive!’” -Lori S.

17. Bouquet

519 Main St., Covington

“** Vegetarian Review**

Farm to table restaurants are usually meat centric but this place had a few vegetarian/vegan options that we could enjoy. The restaurant and the staff take your dining experience seriously, do everything possible to make it worthwhile eating at their establishment. A unique thing I saw here was that the waitress intentionally changed the silverware after every course. That’s what I’m talking about!

The menu changes almost every season, it’s worth revisiting during summer to enjoy the next season’s menu. For vegetarian protein, meat can be replaced with tofu and occasionally they have a veggie burger which they were out of when we visited.” -Vandana M.

16. Sweet Basil

2520 Hazelwood Drive, Crescent Springs

“Been a long-time customer of Sweet Basil starting out out their original location across the street. They always have consistent fresh delicious sushi. Paired with an ice cold Saparo makes the perfect dining experience. If your wanting better than the average sushi in Cincinnati, Sweet Basil is a place to try.” -Jeff M.

15. Grassroots & Vine

1011 S. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas “Such a hidden gem in the heart of

According to Yelp reviews, customers adore Frida 602’s tacos and margaritas.

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Ft. Thomas. Great ambiance, service, food and drinks! Went for a gals’ brunch today and everything was delicious. The hummus board was delicious along with the BLT, B&V omelet and Margherita flatbread. Highly recommend!” -Alyssa

14. La Torta Loca

G.

8645 Haines Drive, Suite A, Florence

“Great little dive for Venezuelan and Mexican food! The chips, guacamole, and queso cheese are tasty! Chips are thick and crispy. Had frozen strawberry margaritas which are strong and good! We had the Torta Loca, Birra Taco and shredded beef empanadas. Delicious and good portions. Lots to take home! Service was great and timely.”

F.

13. Rich’s Proper Food and Drink

701 Madison Ave., Covington

“A caramel old fashioned?!?! Oh my what an amazing experience. Plus a couple of vegan food offerings to eat while having cocktails with friends. Love the vibe and space. Just fun and a cool place to hang out. The bar is a bit small but the dining room is a bit more spacious. Service was topnotch. Our server knew the menu and made recommendations to help us make our decisions as to what to order. I will definitely return. Highly recommend.” -Wendy

12. Blinkers Tavern

K.

318 Greenup St., Covington

“Blinker’s Tavern is an institution in Covington. KY. They serve up an excellent crusted steak and delicious sides. Also one of the few steakhouses in the area that can provide Worcestershire sauce for your steak. I’m not a huge fan of sirloin steaks, but theirs are thick and juicy. Nice decor, friendly staff, well stocked bar. Come on Tuesday for steak night and get a great deal.” -Rick

H.

11. Governor’s House Wine Bar & Kitchen

314 Greenup St., Covington

“Governors House has the same owners as Blinkers next door, so we stopped in to check it out. They did a fantastic job renovating this old house into a very quaint bistro-like experience. I have been back twice now and the service is fantastic. Jake is the bartender and has a LOT of knowledge with drinks. Last night we decided to try a few appetizers. We ordered the Nachos and the Antipasti Platter. This was PLENTY of for four people to share. I was very impressed with the food and the portion sizes. The old fashioned is probably one of the best I’ve had in the Northern Kentucky area.” -Brandon G.

10. Pensive Distilling Co. + Kitchen

720 Monmouth St., Newport

“We had the pleasure of experiencing the brunch menu. Our group had the Animal Kingdom, the biscuits and gravy, and the Real Quiet (dishes all named after famous Derby horses) and had zero complaints!

The fries are a modern take on steak fries, thinner and crispier, and when dipped in the Avocado aioli, they become the star of the dish. The bacon was crispy and sweet and paired perfectly with the cheesy eggs. And the biscuit gravy has pure magic in it with a savory sweetness that should be bottled and sold right alongside the bourbon! This place may be focused on the Bourbon, but the food is 5 stars.” -Hannah B.

9. Sake Bomb Sushi

3072 Dixie Highway, Erlanger

“Sake Bomb loves and values their customers 100%. Their service and care in their food and service blows me away every time. I recommend very spicy ramen, add beef, no vegetables... Blows me away. This is the kind of food that keeps you up at night craving it. This place is just different. Good food where you can taste the love. Treated like family. The small business of all small businesses.” -Reese F.

8. Maki Mono Covington

715 Madison Ave., Covington

“Great quality sushi/nigiri/sashimi and meat portion size! My husband and I got the sushi moriawase which tasted super delicious and fresh. I liked the soy sauce and sushi rice flavor too. Honestly so good that it can compete with sushi on the coasts. Did not expect to get this at Covington! I will be coming back and bringing more friends and family here! Service and owners here are also very friendly and give off very modern comfy vibes!” -Carolyn

W.

“Highly recommend this place! We ordered the shrimp & grits, Chicken Biscuit with Mac & the goetta balls for an app. Everything had soooo much flavor & felt so unique to the area! The food leaves you wanting more!” -Brooke D.

5. Camporosso

2475 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell

“Love the atmosphere! Great service, awesome wine selection. We had charcuterie (suggestion-offer just a cheese board), wedge salad (OMGwe shared and it was still huge) and buffalo chicken pizza. Crust was amazing. Will definitely return.”

-Kelly L.

4. Baker’s Table

1001 Monmouth St., Newport

“The Baker’s Table continues to impress me. We recently signed up for and attended one of their wine pairing menus, the Beaujolais and Duck dinner. It was superb. From the five course meal to the wines, it was perfection. They do an absolutely spectacular job with ingredients and taste profiles. Just, wow. We also thoroughly enjoyed the service, attention to detail, and enthusiasm of, well, everyone! I adore this restaurant and I am so pleased to call it part of our neighborhood community. Love, love, love!” -Theresa S.

3. Otto’s

521 Main St., Covington

“Stopped in for lunch on our way south for a getaway. When I looked at the reviews I had decided to try the tomato pie. When we were seated the waitress told us the special and I was hooked. Artichoke bacon grilled cheese and it was awesome! High quality bacon and large pieces of artichoke. I very much enjoyed the butternut soup, so sweet and spicy all at the same time. The cinnamon

garnish on it was a pleasant surprise as well. My better half had the short rib sandwich and fries. … If you want superb food and service give them a try.” -Christy D.

2. Wunderbar

1132 Lee St., Covington

“When I lived in London, my husband and I had a “local,” a neighborhood pub where we felt welcome at any time. I’m so excited that Wunderbar is our new local! The staff is wonderful and quickly set out to get to know us. It’s got a lovely outside patio area for warm sunny days and a cozy inside space. I’ve sampled the burgers and the sausages and the food is really, really good! My mushroom Swiss hit the spot and the side of zucchini was remarkable. Doggies are allowed outside … There’s a fabulous rotating beer list and so many vegan and vegetarian options. Bonus points for all the great bands that play inside and out. Recommended!”

-Nannette B.

1. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar

638 Madison Ave., Covington

“When the hotel restaurant’s bar menu is twice the size of the food menu, I get a little nervous tbh. But, we quickly learned they just focus on doing what they do really well. Try the Liquid Knowledge cocktail. Essentially a mule, but next level. It was served in a custom Rookwood Pottery mug with a gorgeous floral garnish. Our gnocchi was perfectly prepared as was the salmon added on top. Presentation was gorgeous! Their best seller had to be the burger. We saw so many being delivered to nearby tables. They’re HUGE. Imagine a burger piled as high as Marge Simpson’s beehive. Yup. If you go after dark, the magical, twinkling lights add so much charm.” -Susan O.

7. York Street Cafe

738 York St., Newport

“Best burger out there with the quirkiest decor in Newport. Their standard burger is hand-molded, fresh meat, juicy on the inside, and a tad crisp on the outside. I’ve only been there with larger groups, but would love to sit at the little tables for two. They look so cozy. I’m not a dessert person, but we’ve had dessert both times I’ve been there. The peanut butter cup pie is excellent. York Peppermint Patty cake and Key lime pie are out of this world. And everyone there serving is super friendly. Can’t say enough about this place.” -Sonnie

6. Libby’s Southern Comfort

35 W. Eighth St., Covington

W.

Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar is the highest-rated restaurant in Northern Kentucky on Yelp.

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Fiercely Independent

MUSIC

to modern rock’s evolution. It began during the Memorial Day holiday in 1989 and continued, with one break, until 2009, and it’s back in a special edition this year.

As CityBeat’s Allison Babka has previously reported, it will be broadcast on Inhailer Radio’s website and app as well as on WGUC 90.9-HD3 in Cincinnati. The countdown will air in five 100-lap segments May 22-26 and will be repeated May 27-29. It had previously aired on 97X between 1988 and 2003 and continued on WOXY. com from 2005 to 2009.

James says she has kept the station in her mind and heart for all these decades, even as she went on to become a philosophy professor at University of North Carolina-Charlotte, an editor for philosophy and media & culture studies at publisher Palgrave Macmillan, and a busy writer who specializes in music, pop culture and the contemporary politics of gender, race and sexuality.

their thoughts. One of things people said was no one was playing the new wave they were seeing on MTV, James says.

“So that connection was there in beginning,” she says.

But 97X went way beyond that video-music cable station. Really, James says, 97X’s guiding light wasn’t MTV but rather the Clash. The British band with punk roots ironically all but formally ended in September 1983 — the same month 97X’s modern rock format began — when its critical member Mick Jones was fired.

When Robin James was a student at Hopewell Junior School in West Chester Township, she loved the B-52’s and their massively successful, danceable 1989 hit, “Love Shack.”

When she shared that information with a school friend, she was told about a low-wattage FM radio show out of nearby Oxford that only played that kind of music and was an alternative to the hard-rock and classic hits played on bigger Cincinnati stations. That station not only spun lots of B-52’s, but also other sometimes-edgy and thoughtfully inventive modern voices like Talking Heads, R.E.M, Siouxie and the Banshees, Tracy Chapman, the Smiths, the Cure and many more.

And so, James discovered WOXYFM, an Oxford, Ohio-based station better known as 97X for its 97.7 FM frequency. It used the exciting slogan “97X––The Future of Rock and Roll” and positioned itself to the left of Cincinnati’s often-staid and conservative popular culture. That slogan became even better known as “97X— BAM! — The Future of Rock and Roll” after Dustin Hoffman’s character in the 1988 film Rain Man, filmed in Cincinnati, vocalized the short, punchy musical break between “the” and “future” in the station’s promos.

“I thought, ‘This is really cool.’ It really is the kind of music I liked,” James tells CityBeat

To say James still likes it would be an understatement. When she realized the 40th anniversary of modern rock station 97X would occur in 2023, she decided the time was right to pursue a book on its long history. The result, The Future of Rock and Roll: 97X WOXY and the Fight for True Independence, will be released May 2.

In her book, which CityBeat previewed, WOXY’s history is a proud and memorable one, though the FM station struggled to be heard in the metropolitan Cincinnati and Dayton areas because of its limited 3,000-watt power. In 2004, after the terrestrial radio station was sold, WOXY.com continued as an early adopter of internet-only broadcasting, finding an international audience but facing ongoing funding problems and ownership changes that forced it to cease operations in 2010. In the book, James does an excellent job of following and explaining all the twists and turns of the station’s legacy.

But she’s not the only one celebrating the station’s 40th anniversary. Perhaps the station’s signature event was its annual “Modern Rock 500” countdown, drawn from songs that the station’s staff believed to be influential

In her book, James celebrates how the station’s owners — Doug and Linda Balogh, Chicagoans with experience in television and advertising who paid $375,000 for the existing station’s license in 1981 and sold it in 2004 — set a role model for good radio that is still valuable today. They listened to their staff, their station’s followers and their community, James asserts, and they took seriously the spirit and lyrical, progressive pointedness of many of the “alternative” songs the station played by the likes of U2, Elvis Costello or the Pretenders. Those acts did have occasional hits on more mainstream rock stations, but WOXY did more than play them — it identified with the artists.

As part of finding out what listeners wanted, Linda Balogh in 1982 asked a group of Miami University students

“Their music is the quintessence of the future of Rock and Roll,” James writes in her book. “First, the Clash has released songs in many of the various genres featured on WOXY’s regular and special programs: punk (obviously), hip-hop (‘Magnificent Seven,’ ‘Lightning Strikes’), disco (‘Ivan Meets G.I. Joe,’ ‘Lost in the Supermarket’). And second, the Clash’s music expresses a worldview that resonates with WOXY’s philosophy themes of anti-racism and anti-imperialism, critiques of the mainstream music industry, and the importance of collective action and shared struggle recur throughout the band’s work.”

WOXY also brought support to a local segment of the Cincinnati population that was suppressed — young people “on the losing side of the culture war,” as James says. She came to recognize that when Hamilton County’s conservative political leaders fought against Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center in 1990 because that art museum showed some sexually controversial photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe (A jury acquitted the museum of obscenity).

“I found it really interesting to think about the Mapplethorpe obscenity trial from the perspective of Patti

A new book details how WOXY-FM bucked the norms of the day while cultivating community.

BY STEVEN ROSEN

“Because the station always had low figures as its audience was split over markets and not capable of reaching all the listeners in them, it had to get really creative about how it represented itself to advertisers,” Robin James says. “It wasn’t about the quantity of listeners, but the quality of the listenership. It attracted people who were very dedicated and interested in new and different things.”

Robin James

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY ROBIN JAMES

Smith and Mapplethorpe being best friends,” James says. “She’s one of the foremothers of modern rockers, one of the original punk artists in New York. The local government literally took to court the kind of art related to the music 97X was broadcasting. That was really informative for me. I was getting a sense of what the (local) atmosphere was like politically and culturally.”

Besides being a remembrance and celebration of WOXY’s history, the book also is something more. It’s a thesis, in a way, that in its ownership, programming and outreach, the station was a role model for how to ethically seek independence in America today. According to James’ research and remembrances, it requires creating a community, not rejecting one in order

to go it alone. It also requires progressivism and development of support systems, not anti-community lonerism.

“In the tons of archival material, there are people saying that 97X represented independence — it’s a value people associated with the station,” James says. “I thought this is what they mean: It’s independence to as opposed to independence from. It’s an independence that requires support. What WOXY’s history shows is the idea of ‘independence to’ really works.”

Robin James will speak about her book at 6 p.m. May 11 at Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St., Downtown. Info: mercantilelibrary.com.

Robin James’ new book, The Future of Rock and Roll, will be released May 2.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY ROBIN JAMES

SOUND ADVICE

LEWIS CAPALDI

April 17 • Andrew J Brady Music Center

Boy oh boy has Lewis Capaldi whipped up a whirlwind of success. The Scottish singer-songwriter broke into the pop music scene in 2019 with his wildly popular debut single “Someone You Loved” and it’s been a non-stop Lewis Capaldi party ever since. Literally everyone is invited.

But while Capaldi’s soulful music brought him to the center stage of pop music, it’s just about everything else about him that’s kept him there. Taking a noholds-barred approach to life, he’s often on social media making fun of himself, and he’s honest, yet lighthearted, about the attention his diagnosis with Tourette syndrome has brought. His cheeky, even flirty, attitude continues to forge his image as an “everyman” type, even as he rubs elbows with some of the biggest names in pop music (he’s now kissed at least two members of One Direction).

One of the most intriguing things about Capaldi may be how he manages to write serious music yet offers it up to the masses in the least serious way possible. Amid mental health struggles and all the pressure that comes with writing a sophomore album, for example, Capaldi also took time to pose as a nearly naked Cupid. His newest album, Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent (out May 19), will come on

the heels of his Netflix documentary Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now. It documents everything he’s dealt with in the last year and a half, teases the emotional release his concerts offer and still promises to keep viewers in stitches.

Lewis Capaldi plays the Andrew J Brady Music Center at 8 p.m. April 17. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Emi Beihold will open the show. Info: bradymusiccenter.com.

(Deirdre Kaye)

MARC BROUSSARD

April 19 • Memorial Hall

With his rugged, old-school rasp, Marc Broussard has become one of the foremost artists of Bayou Soul, a gritty gumbo thick with blues, soul, funk, R&B and pop that boils up out of Louisiana and the South. With the recent release of S.O.S. 4: Blues for Your Soul, the fourth installment of Broussard’s S.O.S. (Save Our Soul) series of covers, he lets loose with 11 blues covers and one original song. Fellow guitar aces Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith co-produced the project and both add their guitars to several songs.

The native of a small Louisiana town, Broussard is the son of acclaimed Louisiana Hall of Fame guitarist Ted Broussard. Music is the family’s lifeblood; like his father and grandfather, Broussard’s oldest son Gavin is developing into a fine guitarist. Broussard’s love for family and home inspires his philanthropic side, as his four S.O.S. record releases generate charity proceeds for Habitat for Humanity, hurricane clean-up and other worthy causes. He explains to Newsweek, “This project is raising money for people coming out of prison. The blues seemed right on the money for it. I called up Joe Bonamassa because he knows more about the blues than anybody I know.”

Broussard’s brawny baritone drives blues covers like Little Milton’s “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” John Lee Hooker’s “Locked Up in Jail” and Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Asked for Water,” in which he shares steely vocals with J.J. Grey. In concert, Broussard and his band mix covers with his originals, but blues and soul are the main focus on this tour.

Marc Broussard plays Memorial Hall at 8 p.m. April 19. Doors open at 7 p.m. Nicotine Dolls will open the show. Info: memorialhallotr.com (Greg Gaston)

SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE

April 19 • Bogart’s

If you had cut your teeth on early Midwestern emo — think the Get Up Kids,

Lewis Capaldi

PHOTO: JUSTIN HIGUCHI, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Marc Broussard

PHOTO: J AUGER

American Football, Cursive — you’ll likely relish the opportunity to see trailblazers Sunny Day Real Estate. While originally from Washington, Sunny Day Real Estate went on to perfect the Midwest emo sound with arguably one of the greatest albums in the genre, 1994’s Diary. Bridging the gap between the post-hardcore of the late ’80s and early ’90s and the emo of the early 2000s, which the album strongly influenced, Diary was a polestar for veterans of the scene and newcomers alike. With songs as indelibly part of the emo canon as “Seven” and “In Circles,” Diary perfectly fused melodic, intricate playing and time signatures that turn on a dime to create a lasting and hugely influential classic. Sunny Day Real Estate are currently on their fourth reunion tour after the recent departure of founding member Nate Mendel, who has been the bass player for Foo Fighters since their debut album. The band’s future has seemed uncertain in recent years despite a surprise appearance on Jimmy Fallon and the release of a few singles, with new material apparently recorded only to be quickly shelved. Whatever the band’s future, we still have Diary, The Pink Record, How It Feels to Be Something On and The Rising Tide—the last two records released after their first breakup and reunion. And now we also have the chance to see them live and relive the experience of hearing a band that altered the emo landscape as soon as Jeremy Enigk sang, “When time is poetry/ And stolen the world outside/The waiting could crush my heart” on opening track “Seven.” If you feel like you’ve waited long enough and your heart is still intact, catch Sunny Day Real Estate headlining Bogart’s with the Appleseed Cast.

Sunny Day Real Estate plays Bogart’s at 8 p.m. April 19. Doors open at 7 p.m. Info: livenation.com. (Derek Kalback)

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND

April 21 • Memorial Hall

When the Robert Cray Band takes the stage at Memorial Hall this month as part of their national tour, they’ll likely keep the crowd guessing. “It’s best to be in the moment,” Cray told the Arizona Republic in January. “I just like the idea of being up there and not knowing exactly how everything’s going to pan out.”

They’ll no doubt deliver at least a few cuts from Cray’s most recent album, 2020’s Grammy-nominated That’s What I Heard, a peppery blend of new originals and covers of long-lost soul tunes he grew up loving.

Cray and his signature Fender Stratocaster have kept us guessing for nearly 40

years, during which he’s won five Grammy Awards and amassed a global following. He won his first Grammy in 1986 for Showdown!, an album with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland, and he played in Chuck Berry’s band in the iconic documentary Hail, Hail Rock and Roll

But his true breakthrough occurred later that year when he released Strong Persuader, which earned him a second Grammy. Key to the double-platinum album’s success was “Smoking Gun,” a surprising crossover single that grabbed a mainstream audience with soulful hooks and a propulsive, mid-tempo groove.

Now with 20 studio albums and three more Grammys on his résumé, Cray continues to draw new fans. Through the years, he’s expanded from roots-based blues to soul, funk and R&B, exploring and fusing various genres to maintain a fresh, dynamic sound. While his Strat has lost none of its sting and his voice none of its force, both have gained a wizened texture that deepens their effect. No matter what song he’s playing, Cray remains as persuasive as ever.

The Robert Cray Band plays Memorial Hall at 8 p.m. April 21. Info: memorialhallotr.com. (Jack Heffron)

Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate

PHOTO: IAN T. MCFARLAND, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Robert Cray

PHOTO: ALEX G, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

CROSSWORD

Across

NORTH BY NORTHEAST

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

1.  Apple ___ (aggregator app)

5.  Put in a locker

9.  Some Korean rice drinks

14. First in a subset

15. Carry around

16. “Don’t make me”

17. Dragon’s home

18. Latin lover’s love

19. ‘60s jacket style

20. Announcement that you’re surrounded by those who have scarlet letters?

23. Workout cover up

24. Rain-___ (gumball brand)

25. Game console that used a Nunchuk attachment

26. CBS show with a blood-spatter specialist

27. Cover story

29. Maker of the Matriarch synthesizer

31. What’s coming to you

32. German city on the Danube

34. St. Louis City SC league

35. Very long times

36. MIT played a prank on Yale, say?

40. Dirty slime

41. “What up, ___?”

42. Urban decay

43. Paths that go up as much as they go down

44. Computer that comes with Thunderbolt ports

46. Indy 500 competitor

50. Govt. property overseer

51. Actress ___ de Armas

52. Intention

54. Tree chopper

55. Became a superobsessive fan over a 2016 Beyoncé album?

59. Extremely skilled

60. They’re part of the food pyramid

61. Fully engrossed with

62. Stuff to sell

63. Capital city with the Frogner and Grønland suburbs

64. “The Tragedy of Macbeth” director

65. Her mom “has got it goin’ on” in a 2003 hit

66. Stink

67. sûr (“to be sure,” in French)

Down

1.  Lower Manhattan neighborhood

2.  Tooth covering

3.  Chinese artist/activist Ai with a reduplicative name

4.  Holi covering

5.  Reporter Lesley

6.  Drum on the floor

7.  “But have we considered,” initially

8.  Silver bullet victim

9.  Mideast peninsula

10. Grady of the “Jurassic World” series

11. His “4’33”” composition is entirely silent

12. Still beat

13. Crams for a test, say

21. Government investment option

22. California region between Carmel and San Simeon

28. Swells (up)

30. Watch company whose name is a letter

31. Drink that comes in orange, strawberry, and pineapple flavors

33. “Funky Cold ___”

36. Hurled a few f-bombs towards

37. Like those in a Zoom meeting

38. Fall head over heels over

39. Bellini opera

40. They prohibit free speech

45. Protect the king, in a two-piece chess move

47. Is unable to

48. Devon cathedral city

49. Fixed anew

51. Eager to move

53. “No sweat”

56. Barrel-regulating org.

57. Simplicity

58. “I’m impressed”

LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS:

Bertha G. Helmick

attorney at law

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