City Beat | August 9, 2023

Sen. Sherrod Brown Visits Cincinnati to Promote Bill Reining in Large Investors Who Buy Up Single-Family Homes

Sen. Sherrod Brown Visits Cincinnati to Promote Bill Reining in Large Investors Who Buy Up Single-Family Homes

Those seeking to buy single-family, owner-occupied homes, especially first-time buyers, have struggled within the last few years, with large investors placing their sights on smaller and more affordable or moderately priced homes.

BY KATIE BARRIER

BY KATIE BARRIER

An Ohio senator is introducing legislation to curb the number of single-family homes in Cincinnati and throughout the country being bought up by large investors.

An Ohio senator is introducing legislation to curb the number of single-family homes in Cincinnati and throughout the country being bought up by large investors.

Brown’s bill, the Stop Predatory Investing Act, would prohibit an investor who obtains 50 or more singlefamily rental homes after the bill’s enactment from deducting interest or depreciation on those properties. The bill is also backed by senators Ron Wyden, D-Oregon; Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon; Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island; Tina Smith, D-Minnesota; Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts; John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin.

Brown’s bill, the Stop Predatory Investing Act, would prohibit an investor who obtains 50 or more singlefamily rental homes after the bill’s enactment from deducting interest or depreciation on those properties. The bill is also backed by senators Ron Wyden, D-Oregon; Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon; Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island; Tina Smith, D-Minnesota; Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts; John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin.

The Stop Predatory Investing Act comes as the country faces a growing

The Stop Predatory Investing Act comes as the country faces a growing

housing shortage, especially in terms of affordable housing. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United States is now facing a shortage of 7.3 million affordable housing units. And in Ohio, there are only 40 units available for every 100 Ohioans seeking affordable housing, according to a recent Gap report from the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.

housing shortage, especially in terms of affordable housing. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United States is now facing a shortage of 7.3 million affordable housing units. And in Ohio, there are only 40 units available for every 100 Ohioans seeking affordable housing, according to a recent Gap report from the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.

Those seeking to buy single-family, owner-occupied homes, especially first-time buyers, have struggled within the last few years as well, with large investors placing their sights on smaller and more affordable or moderately priced homes. During the pandemic, large, institutional investors dramatically increased their purchases

Those seeking to buy single-family, owner-occupied homes, especially first-time buyers, have struggled within the last few years as well, with large investors placing their sights on smaller and more affordable or moderately priced homes. During the pandemic, large, institutional investors dramatically increased their purchases

of single-family homes. According to the 2022 State of the Nation’s Housing report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, from September 2020 to September 2021, the share of investor purchases made by large investors with portfolios of 100 or more properties grew from 14% to 26%. And these investors are able to out-compete families with technology and all-cash offers on their side.

of single-family homes. According to the 2022 State of the Nation’s Housing report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, from September 2020 to September 2021, the share of investor purchases made by large investors with portfolios of 100 or more properties grew from 14% to 26%. And these investors are able to out-compete families with technology and all-cash offers on their side.

In a press release, Brown stated two big investors own more than 12,000 homes in just three Ohio markets and other big investors don’t report the number of homes they own. He says his bill aims to dismantle the core of what makes investing in a large number of single-family homes so

In a press release, Brown stated two big investors own more than 12,000 homes in just three Ohio markets and other big investors don’t report the number of homes they own. He says his bill aims to dismantle the core of what makes investing in a large number of single-family homes so

profitable by taking away tax breaks these investors don’t need.

“In too many communities in Ohio, big investors funded by Wall Street are buying up homes that could have gone to first-time homebuyers. So many families who have worked for years saving to buy a house end up getting out-bid over and over by outside investors, and they can’t afford to compete,” Brown said in the release.

profitable by taking away tax breaks these investors don’t need.

“In too many communities in Ohio, big investors funded by Wall Street are buying up homes that could have gone to first-time homebuyers. So many families who have worked for years saving to buy a house end up getting out-bid over and over by outside investors, and they can’t afford to compete,” Brown said in the release.

On Monday, Brown visited Cincinnati to call for passage of the Stop Predatory Investing Act and tour a home once owned by a large out-ofstate investment company before it was bought by the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority to rehabilitate as part of its CARE Homes initiative. He was joined by Cincinnati Mayor Aftab

On Monday, Brown visited Cincinnati to call for passage of the Stop Predatory Investing Act and tour a home once owned by a large out-ofstate investment company before it was bought by the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority to rehabilitate as part of its CARE Homes initiative. He was joined by Cincinnati Mayor Aftab

The Stop Predatory Investing Act comes as the country faces a growing housing shortage.

PHOTO: GOOGLE MAPS SCREENSHOT

Those seeking to buy single-family, owner-occupied homes, especially first-time buyers, have struggled within the last few years, with large investors placing their sights on smaller and more affordable or moderately priced homes.

The Stop Predatory Investing Act comes as the country faces a growing housing shortage.

PHOTO: GOOGLE MAPS SCREENSHOT

Pureval, Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney, the Port’s William Fisher and Robie Suggs, president and CEO of Warsaw Federal Savings and Loan.

“Cincinnati is no stranger to the unacceptable pattern of behavior by some institutional investors – who buy single-family homes throughout our city to raise rents and neglect properties. That is why we are so incredibly grateful to have a leader like Senator Sherrod Brown, who is once again standing on the side of working families,” Pureval said.

A report from the Washington Post this year found, in Cincinnati, 15% of homes were purchased by investors, which is more than those purchased in a typical metro area. In 2015, investors bought just 7% of the housing stock. That same year, a single company bought 29 homes on a single street, according to Brown.

And because of the types of homes large investors go for, some families are being pushed out of the housing market entirely. Vice Mayor Kearney says Cincinnati’s rate of homeownership is far below the national average, especially for low- and moderate-income families.

“Large out-of-state corporate investors that buy up our moderately priced homes decrease the inventory needed for our local families to acquire affordable homes. They prevent our families from building generational wealth through homeownership,” she said.

Suggs of Warsaw Federal Savings and Loan says Hamilton County in particular attracts investors due to lower prices and decent rents compared to the rest of the country.

“Investors are looking to build their portfolios in some of the most disinvested neighborhoods, leaving many renters susceptible to displacement. These investors are predators, more interested in increasing profits and not providing affordable housing, and because there isn’t a deterrent, they are happy to continue this behavior,” she said.

While the Stop Predatory Investing Act would end deducting interest or depreciation on large investors’ properties, if those investors sold one of their properties to a homebuyer or qualified nonprofit, they can deduct the interest and depreciation for the year the property sold. The bill also incentivizes affordable rental housing and construction of new houses by allowing owners to continue taking deductions on properties financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) that are still in their affordability period, as well as on build-for-rent, single-family houses, according to a summary of the bill. Those renting single-family homes now would also be protected as the bill would still allow deductions on homes purchased before its enactment.

New Music Venue Coming to FC Cincinnati Stadium Campus

BY MADELINE FENING

FC Cincinnati is exploring plans to build a brand new concert venue next to the existing TQL Stadium, FCC spokesperson Chad Munitz told CityBeat on July 31.

The new space, set to be located just north of TQL Stadium near Bauer Avenue and John Street, would serve smaller crowds — about 1,500 to 2,000.

“This is a venue size that is missing in Cincinnati,” Munitz, chief development officer for FC Cincinnati, told CityBeat “The venue will have flexible seating for various uses including concerts, comedy shows, special events and private events.”

The venue is just one piece of the 8.5-acre puzzle. The area around TQL Stadium will become a mixed-use district, complete with an 18-story hotel, a 13-story apartment building, office space and 65,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space.

“The district will be in the heart of Cincinnati. We are creating a transformative design that builds on the distinct heritage of the West End. The district will welcome all and include all, bringing new investment, residents, visitors and experiences to the neighborhood with a hotel, apartments,

office space, retail, restaurants, entertainment venues and a public space.”

Cincinnati City Council first approved the zoning plans for the project in 2019, but developers will need to resubmit another zoning plan after it gets approved by the West End Community Council later in August.

Frank LaRose’s Office Promotes Wrong Date for August Special Election in Official Email

BY MADELINE FENING

As Ohio’s top election official promotes the wrong election date, Hamilton County’s early inperson voting numbers tip over 20,000.

At 8:26 p.m. on Aug. 1, an email from Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office was sent to potential poll workers promoting the Aug. 8 special election. Except, the date for the high-stakes election that could cement abortion rights for Ohioans, was wrong.

“Next Tuesday, August 2nd, is the election!” reads the subject line of an email informing subscribers there may be a need for poll workers in their county. The email also reminds recipients to vote, but the only reference to election day was the incorrect Aug. 2 date in the subject line.

The email went uncorrected for approximately 45 minutes before the official info@ohiosos.com email issued a correction.

“CORRECTION: The election date in the previous email subject line was incorrect. The date of the August special election is August 8. We regret the error,” the email reads.

Rob Nichols, a spokesperson for LaRose’s office, told CityBeat the email

was created using the wrong template.

“We regret that an email to poll workers using an old template was sent out this evening before final review and approval,” Nichols said. “A corrected email was sent immediately. The date of the August special election is, of course, Tuesday, August 8. We sincerely apologize for the error.”

The Aug. 2 date referenced in the wrong template may well be a holdover from last year’s August election, when Ohioans voted on state House and Senate primaries.

While the error may seem innocuous, LaRose, who holds a seat that is supposed to be non-partisan, has been leading the Republican’s crusade to pass Issue 1 on Aug. 8.

Issue 1 would make it harder for voters to amend the Ohio Constitution by raising the threshold from 50% to 60%. More specifically, LaRose has repeatedly admitted that Republicans want to prevent voters from amending the constitution in order to make it harder for Ohioans to legalize abortion in November.

As of July 31, Hamilton County’s early

voter numbers have tipped over 20,000 in-person votes, smashing turnout expectations. So far, 9,000 of those votes were cast by registered Democrats, 2,877 were from Republicans, and 8,688 were categorized as unaffiliated, according to the Hamilton County Board of Elections.

FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium

PHOTO: FRANCISCO HUERTA

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who holds a seat that is supposed to be non-partisan, has been leading the Republican's crusade to pass Issue 1.

PHOTO: OFFICIAL PORTRAIT

Trans Starlite Drive-In Customer Alleges Employee Shamed Her Bathroom Use Over Loudspeaker

BY MADELINE FENING

Ariel didn’t expect to be called out when she wore her pinkest outfit to go see the Barbie movie with her friends on July 25.

“I was wearing a pink button up short sleeve shirt with shorts and pink crocs,” Ariel told CityBeat. “I went out to have a good time with friends.”

The Starlite Drive-In theater where Ariel and her friends went was hosting a double screening of Barbie and Legally Blonde. She wanted to wait for the Barbie movie to end before going to the restroom, but instead hurried off to the women’s room with some time left in the movie.

“I was in there for five minutes. I peed, washed my hands and left,” she said. “As I’m walking away with my back towards the concession, I hear a voice go, ‘If you’re not a woman, please don’t use the women’s restroom.’ It sounded like it was said on an intercom of some sort.” Ariel, who is a trans woman, didn’t know what to do.

“I wanted to turn back around and say something but I felt so humiliated and overwhelmed that I just kept walking back to my friend’s car,” she said. “I actually almost had a panic attack from feeling so overwhelmed. It took everything in me not to start crying.”

Morgan Bochenek was back at the car waiting for Ariel to return from the bathroom. When she didn’t come back to the car after 30 minutes, Bochenek went looking for her. She found her looking for the car, frazzled and shaken.

“Her whole demeanor was different, for obvious reasons but she coherently was able to tell us what happened,”

Bochenek told CityBeat. “Based on the optics of the situation (it being dark, us

being three small women and feeling suddenly outnumbered, the seemingly hostile nature of the announcement) we decided to leave and take it up with ownership privately.”

The next day, Ariel said she brought the issue to Starlight’s attention through their email and Facebook.

“All I asked for was an apology and an acknowledgment of the situation,” she said. “Only to be met with silence from the business and pure harassment from two women who made me out to be some predator who harms women and girls.”

The Facebook page for Starlite has limited comments and reviews ever since Ariel made her complaint, which Starlite appears to have deleted.

Starlite did not respond to CityBeat’s request for comment, but the business addresses complaints in a Facebook messenger conversation with one of Ariel’s friends. Screenshots of the conversation obtained by CityBeat show Starlite only denying the fact that the transphobic comment was made over an intercom.

“We did not announcing (sic) anything over the intercom that is incorrect information,” the message from Starlite reads.

After Ariel’s friend pushes further, saying the comment was “still bigotry,” Starlite shuts down the conversation.

“Nothing else will be said about it,” the business writes.

“I believe they are actively attempting to push this under the rug,” Ariel said. “I have been called a rapist, a predator, a man. I have been made out to be some sort of criminal simply for using the restroom.”

A customer is accusing Starlite Drive-In of shaming her for using the women's restroom as a trans woman.

PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/STARLITEDRIVEINAMELIAOH

The Diversity Dog Whistle

Lakota School Board member Darbi Boddy

BY MADELINE FENING

Rachel Zipperian is preparing to send her two daughters back to school this fall, one to her junior year at Butler Tech, the other to her first year at the University of Cincinnati.

“I’m on my way to a concert right now,” she says while on the phone with CityBeat. “So we’re still having fun. She moves out on August 24, so me and her went on a big trip to Europe. We’ve been getting in some good quality time.”

Zipperian is enjoying summer while she can, because she knows there’s a fight ahead as Lakota Local School District parents return their kids to school and refocus their attention on the school board.

“We still have people that are out collecting signatures,” Zipperian says. “The hardest thing is that not a lot of people

are aware of what’s happening.”

The signatures are to remove Lakota School Board member Darbi Boddy, who has made more headlines for her behavior on the board in the past two years than all other members of the board have combined, much of it focused on accusations involving critical race theory and the district’s attempts at diversity, equity and inclusion.

And Zipperian, like other parents and community members in the district, wants her gone.

A timeline of tumult

Boddy was first elected to the school board in November 2021, after running a campaign that railed against critical race theory (CRT), a lens through which scholars explain how racial bias is inherent in many parts of western society, especially in its legal and social institutions, as well as diversity programs and LGBTQ+ student protections in schools. Boddy’s campaign included

a rally at a gun range, titled “Take Back Lakota School Board.”

That should have given parents and other board members a sense of what dealing with her would be like — but even so, Boddy managed to create a whirlwind of controversy:

April 2022: Boddy made national headlines for accidentally posting a link to a porn website on her official Facebook page while speaking out against sex education and CRT. In the now-edited post, she apparently tried to include a link to a website that provides age-appropriate sex education for teens, but made a typo that sent clickers to a porn site instead. Soon after, the board voted unanimously, with Boddy as the lone “No” vote, to censure her. The censure included a motion to ask Boddy to voluntarily resign from the board, but she refused, storming out of the meeting.

May 2022: The Lakota School District issued an order of trespassing to Boddy, alleging she’d repeatedly entered school buildings without following required procedures. Zipperian told CityBeat Boddy has tried to take photos of

has spent two years fighting diversity and critical race theory — and making enemies across the district.

Lakota East High School is one of 23 schools with 17,4000 total students in the Lakota School District.

PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/LAKOTAEASTHIGHSCHOOL

students when she suspects wrongdoing in action.

“She happened to take a picture of a student while she was in there who was one of my former Girl Scouts, and this girl was very upset,” Zipperian says. “Her mom reached out to me and I was like, ‘This is enough.’”

August and September 2022: Months later, during the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Boddy began zeroing in on Lakota Superintendent Matt Miller. Boddy claimed he was personally promoting CRT at Lakota Schools and that he engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct. Complaints from Boddy and community members led to an investigation from the Butler County Sheriff’s department, which found no probable cause for criminal charges against Miller, according to the board. The board conducted its own investigation, which also came up with nothing, but Boddy reportedly pressed the allegations further during school board meetings. Miller ultimately resigned as superintendent, directly blaming Boddy for creating a hostile working environment and alleging she’d promoted threats of violence against him and his family.

“I remain frustrated that the board as a whole did not protect me and my family from Ms. Boddy and her harassment, which has continued to this day,” Miller wrote in his resignation letter to the board on Jan. 20, 2023. “She has outright lied about me in public meetings, executive sessions and in official interactions with citizens. The efforts to which she and others went to achieve my resignation have terrified me and my family. Multiple death threats were made against me as a result of her campaign, and I have good reason to believe that Ms. Boddy was behind an attempt by one of her cohorts to gain access inside my home.”

February 2023: Boddy garnered attention for arguing against suicide prevention in schools, comparing mental health groups to Nazis. “The encroachment into parenting is pure evil and we need to put it to an end. It is comparable to the Nazi handbook and a tactic of the communists is absolutely evil,” Boddy said during a board meeting.

May 2023: Boddy proposed a motion that would restrict trans students’ use of their preferred bathroom and bar trans women from participating on women’s sports teams. Boddy has repeatedly tried to push forward the discussion in board meetings since.

June 2023: While students and staff were out for the summer, Boddy’s confrontations with other board members began heating up. In a June 22 video Boddy posted to Facebook, she confronts fellow board member Isaac Adi for allegedly telling Boddy her “brain is empty.” While following Adi with

FACEBOOK.COM/DARBIFORLAKOTA

her phone in hand, Adi can be seen pushing the phone away, prompting Boddy to tell Adi, “You just assaulted me.” Boddy filed an assault report with Butler County Sheriff’s Office, who ultimately determined the incident was not an assault, closing the investigation.

“Blood libel” controversy

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action on June 29, Boddy again made headlines, this time for using an anti-Semitic phrase to describe diversity programs.

“No more collective judgment, no more ancestral judgments, no more blood benefits, no more blood libels … that Americans are judged as individuals not in or by aggregate,” Boddy wrote on Facebook before later editing the post to swap “libels” for “liabilities.”

Rabbi Ari (Ballaban) Jun, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, tells CityBeat he submitted a letter to the board over Boddy’s use of the word, saying:

“The term ‘blood libel’ has a particular historic meaning, and it is specifically associated with a millennia-old form of anti-Jewish persecution.

According to the American Jewish Committee’s Translate Hate Glossary of terms/phrases linked to antisemitism: ‘As one of the longest-standing forms of antisemitism, blood libels have led to horrific violence, destruction, persecution, and massacres of Jewish people and communities — before, during, and beyond the Nazi propaganda that used it to demonize Jews. Despite its utter falsehood and its disavowal by Jews, the Roman Catholic Church, and other nonreligious authorities, blood libel remains an influential myth in the 21st century.’ Universal experience and Jewish tradition teach us that words have consequences.”

Boddy doubled down on her use of the phrase, saying critics needed to “get a grip,” and that the term is appropriate when criticizing CRT.

“The critical race theory ideology that white people are oppressors is taught

in our government institutions, in our schools across the country, and the corporations. i.e. blood libels,” she wrote on Facebook.

During a July 17 board meeting in which Rabbi Jun’s letter was read aloud by Lakota School Board President Lynda O’Connor, Boddy continued to defend herself, saying, “You cannot take a word and claim it as your own.

‘Blood libel’ in this case is dealing with America, obviously, not Israel.”

Rabbi Jun described his first and only in-person interaction with Boddy after the meeting in his blog, saying Boddy literally turned her back on his request for a meeting:

“I shook her hand and introduced myself as ‘Ari Jun.’

‘Oh, you’re the rabbi.’ She continued, ‘I really can’t talk.’

‘I understand, and it’s nice to meet you. Like I’ve said before, I’d really love to meet in person sometime to build trust, share with each other, and learn from one another.’

‘I don’t think there’s any point, we just disagree about what the words mean.’

‘Still, I think it would be good for us to come together.’

And that’s when she turned her back, walked away, and left the auditorium.”

Boddy tells CityBeat she believes the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati took her words out of context.

“There was never a time I didn’t understand the phrase; it was just taken out of context. Blood libel is pretty self-explanatory. We all know what bloodlines are, and anyone can look up the definition of libel,” Boddy says. “With regard to those who attempted to ignore my statement and take that use of words out of context (as was the case with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati) … ultimately, it sounded like they understood that I was speaking of the blood libel against white people perpetrated by the political left in America.”

An antipathy for diversity

At the heart of Boddy’s nearly two years of clashes with other board members is her belief that the Lakota Schools, and the entire public education system, is using CRT to teach white students they are oppressive racists, and that Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs reinforce this in schools.

“The originators, organizers and purveyors of these programs aren’t hiding their agendas,” Boddy tells CityBeat “They believe the U.S. has advantages and disadvantages by race, and that it has been that way for the entire history of the country, and because the problem is race-based the solutions must be racebased. Does Lakota have DEI? Yes.”

Lakota doesn’t technically have a DEI program, or at least not as Boddy has

Darbi Boddy’s “Boddy for Lakota” school board campaign website claims, “America has given peasants the lifestyle of kings and more liberty and more wealth to minorities than any country in human history.”

“No more collective judgment, no more ancestral judgments, no more blood benefits, no more blood libels … that Americans are judged as individuals not in or by aggregate,” Boddy wrote on Facebook before later editing the post to swap “libels” for “liabilities.”

described. Instead, the Lakota Office of Diversity and Inclusion (LODI) was created in 2018. According to the district’s website, LODI’s mission is to “promote a welcoming and equitable experience and a culture that values diversity in all its forms through inclusive dialogue, interpersonal experiences, intercultural appreciation, and targeted professional development.”

Lakota School District spokesperson Betsy Fuller tells CityBeat that Boddy’s DEI contentions are wholly untrue.

“Lakota follows the learning standards that are set by the Ohio Department of Education. Our teachers are experts in their field and center their instruction around these standards. The district does not have racist policies nor does our curriculum promote racism. To date, we have not received any tangible evidence that would support this accusation,” Fuller says. “At Lakota, we are proud of the diverse makeup of our student community, and we celebrate these differences on a daily basis.”

None of Boddy’s motions to eliminate DEI or CRT in the schools have been embraced by the board, but that doesn’t mean her relentless efforts have not caused change.

Alex Argo is a parent of three Lakota students. He says Boddy has driven out talent from the district while looking for something that just isn’t there.

“Even if most of her motions on the board die, what we kind of see is this trickle of people leaving the school district,” Argo tells CityBeat. “Our superintendent, when he resigned, said that it was because of Mrs. Boddy. We also lost our prior treasurer, our head of curriculum has left. There was a teacher who quit because (Boddy) came into her classroom and was asking all sorts of questions.”

There’s been another notable administrative departure, but it’s unclear if Boddy played any role in their decision.

Elgin Card, the former senior director of LODI, announced this year he had accepted the superintendent position at Princeton Schools, starting in August.

But before Card left Lakota, he proposed the board do away with its traditional diversity committee of five board members, administrators and the superintendent, swapping it out for the Lakota Community Diversity Council.

O’Connor tells CityBeat the new committee will reflect the district’s view that diversity means more than just race and gender.

“Diversity is about barriers to kids, and those barriers to learning,”

O’Connor says.

The new committee will be led by O’Connor and fellow board member Kelley Casper, who tells CityBeat diversity encompasses students of varying learning levels and socioeconomic backgrounds, too.

“It means special ed, it means gifted, it means socio-economic, it means our Latino population, it encompasses all of that. It’s not just race, it’s more than that,” Casper says.

During a July 5 board meeting, O’Connor laid out other groups included in the committee body.

“Areas that were considered for representation on council include various faith groups including the Sikh, Islamic, Christian and Jewish faiths. Other community sectors, Hispanic, African American, LGBTQ, special needs, gifted, senior citizens, elementary and secondary parents, military, business, socioeconomic levels, ESL students, recent graduates, law enforcement and diversity in the political spectrum on the committee as well,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor tells CityBeat an unexpected example of diversity that this new committee will aim to serve includes military families.

“The uprooting of kids, you’re moving from base to base, it’s your family that’s also a part of that service,” she says. “These kids are moving and it’s hard to uproot and go to a new place and make those transitions. Our kids already have transitions, even if you live in Lakota your whole life. You’re transitioning from grade level buildings, but these kids can be moving multiple times throughout their school career. What does that look like for those kids? Do we have a way for those families to connect and integrate, not just their students, but also our parents? So that they’re comfortable and welcomed into the schools and making sure those kids are keeping up?”

Two board members, O’Connor and Casper, and 20 community members selected by Card will make up the committee, leaving Boddy no path to participation. Community members were asked to sign an agreement that their participation last at least one year and that they commit to keeping conversations respectful. O’Connor told CityBeat their input will be valuable, but they’ll have no voting power.

“This will be an advisory group to the board, not a decision-making body,” O’Connor says. “I am really looking forward to an open, honest dialogue about

the needs of our kids and how we best address those as a school district and as a community.”

The first meeting of the new committee will be Aug. 9, according to O’Connor. Adi, who originally campaigned alongside Boddy under the local Republicans’ endorsement, spoke glowingly to CityBeat about the new diversity committee.

“That’s my baby, that’s my baby. I’m one of those that created that. I supported it from the beginning and voted for it and I’m proud that we have that,” Adi says.

Like Boddy, Adi ran a campaign that stood against CRT, but he’s yet to find any proof of a curriculum that matches Boddy’s description of CRT at Lakota Schools.

“Some board members started to create lies, saying some things that are not there,” Adi says. “But the question is, where is it? Show me. Give us evidence. No school is perfect. There could be one or two teachers out there that might be doing things that aren’t right, but I have not found any yet. That doesn’t mean it’s not there, I don’t know, but what I don’t want to do is lie over something when I don’t have proof.”

In addition to the two board members, two staff facilitators and the 20 community members, Capster says Lakota’s new superintendent will sit on the committee. Boddy voted against the board’s recommendation to hire Dayton Public Schools superintendent Elizabeth Lolli for the job.

Once again, she brings up critical race theory as the reason.

“My no vote on this candidate reflected my strong belief that the position not be filled by someone who, I understand, sees the United States as systemically racist, and believes in the philosophy of critical race theory, and the programs that so many parents have been fighting,” Boddy says.

Board member Julie Shaffer tells CityBeat there’s no truth to Boddy’s allegations of racism in the district. She’s looking forward to a restored focus on the board’s priorities.

“As the only board member who currently has a student in Lakota, I can say that the accusations we hear from

the board table are not what I am seeing within our schools,” Shaffer says. “I look forward to working with our new leadership team and focusing on student achievement and preparing students for a productive next step after graduation.”

Casper is also ready for the winds of change Lolli may bring in her new role.

“I’m looking forward to the new school year and I’m confident that Dr. Lolli will bring strong leadership that will ensure that the focus of the board remains on what really matters — every student in Lakota,” Casper says.

The signature campaign

While Boddy will no longer be able to rail against non-existent cases of CRT on the board’s diversity committee, Zipperian and Argo are still pushing ahead with an effort to remove Boddy from the school board.

“We always knew it was a long shot, but it was something that was better than doing nothing,” Zipperian says.

According to Zipperian, many in the community jumped at the chance to kickstart the campaign to remove Boddy even before her term ends in 2025.

“We needed to raise money for a retainer for a lawyer, and we opened that up, and within 24 hours we got all the money we needed,” she says. After making their formal complaint, the group had to get 7,000 signatures, which they started working on in early July of 2022. “After the summer came, I would go every week to the West Chester concerts and have a sign and people would sign the petition. We just started having spots at the library.”

So far, the petition campaign’s website says they have more than 4,000 signatures, more than 60% of what’s needed to advance to the next step, which is a formal legal process before a judge in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas.

With the start of the new school year, Zipperian is focused on getting the 3,000 signatures needed to complete the petition – all of which must come from Lakota voters. She told CityBeat she plans to collect signatures near voting locations on Aug. 8, the day Ohioans will vote on Issue 1. She says she’s hoping to reach new pockets of the Lakota community.

“I think if we can get a few groups who are engaged, that are just new areas, new groups, new audiences,” she said. “If we can get a couple really good collection drives, I don’t think we’re that far.”

As for Boddy, she tells CityBeat she’s not worried about the removal petition. She says it’s just “what the political left does.”

“It’s a misinformation and smear campaign, and if they ever try to advance it will be proven to be just that,” she says.

“My no vote on this candidate reflected my strong belief that the position not be filled by someone who, I understand, sees the United States as systemically racist, and believes in the philosophy of critical race theory, and the programs that so many parents have been fighting.”

ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS & CULTURE

A Colorful Approach

A Colorful Approach

TikTok Influencer Gabbie Egan’s new store, Dicey Dyes, brings a tie-dye lover’s paradise to Covington.

BY MEGAN FINKE

TikTok Influencer Gabbie Egan’s new store, Dicey Dyes, brings a tie-dye lover’s paradise to Covington.

BY MEGAN FINKE

Anew retail experience boasting vibrant colors, a bit of spunk and an interactive, customizable way to shop has come to Covington.

Anew retail experience boasting vibrant colors, a bit of spunk and an interactive, customizable way to shop has come to Covington.

Dicey Dyes, a tie-dye shop on 3634 Decoursey Avenue, is owned by TikTok influencer Gabbie Egan. She started her shop online and was inspired to open a brick-and-mortar location after witnessing the skyrocketing demand of her products from her following of almost 5.3 million across her two TikTok accounts, @bbyegan_ and @ gabbieegan.

Dicey Dyes, a tie-dye shop on 3634 Decoursey Avenue, is owned by TikTok influencer Gabbie Egan. She started her shop online and was inspired to open a brick-and-mortar location after witnessing the skyrocketing demand of her products from her following of almost 5.3 million across her two TikTok accounts, @bbyegan_ and @ gabbieegan.

Egan has shared her life on social media for three years and promotes positivity and creativity daily. She is a mother and stepmother to four children, a wife, a social media influencer, a veteran and a business owner.

Egan has shared her life on social media for three years and promotes positivity and creativity daily. She is a mother and stepmother to four children, a wife, a social media influencer, a veteran and a business owner.

The internet knows Egan for her headline-making battery arrest in Las Vegas in 2021, and for her friendship with “Teen Mom 2” star Jenelle Evans. Egan and Evans, who collaborated on the now-defunct “Girl S#!t” podcast that same year, connected over the experience of having kids at a young age.

The internet knows Egan for her headline-making battery arrest in Las Vegas in 2021, and for her friendship with “Teen Mom 2” star Jenelle Evans. Egan and Evans, who collaborated on the now-defunct “Girl S#!t” podcast that same year, connected over the experience of having kids at a young age.

Egan had her oldest son when she was 13 years old, and graduated high school at 17. Egan said the support she received from her classmates and family helped her adjust and not feel like an outsider, instead just another student.

Egan had her oldest son when she was 13 years old, and graduated high school at 17. Egan said the support she received from her classmates and family helped her adjust and not feel like an outsider, instead just another student.

In a TikTok, Egan said she was homeschooled during 8th grade and had her son that year in January of 2014. She worked evenings and weekends, then returned to public school for 9th grade.

In a TikTok, Egan said she was homeschooled during 8th grade and had her son that year in January of 2014. She worked evenings and weekends, then returned to public school for 9th grade.

that stuff and while I was staying home with four kids at 19 to 20 years old, I was bored, and I didn’t have anything to do. So I started posting on TikTok and that’s where all of this kind of started,” Egan said.

that stuff and while I was staying home with four kids at 19 to 20 years old, I was bored, and I didn’t have anything to do. So I started posting on TikTok and that’s where all of this kind of started,” Egan said.

Since 2020, Egan has been posting vlog-styled content of her discussing her life story, what’s going on in her day-to-day life, fun snippets of family adventures and frequent dancing and lip-syncing videos to trending sounds.

Since 2020, Egan has been posting vlog-styled content of her discussing her life story, what’s going on in her day-to-day life, fun snippets of family adventures and frequent dancing and lip-syncing videos to trending sounds.

Egan said she has always loved to tiedye and wear tie-dye pieces, and what began as a hobby eventually turned into something much more. One day Egan and her mother-in-law made tie-dye shirts for fun and she posted them to her TikTok page and her viewers immediately wanted to buy the pieces.

Egan said she has always loved to tiedye and wear tie-dye pieces, and what began as a hobby eventually turned into something much more. One day Egan and her mother-in-law made tie-dye shirts for fun and she posted them to her TikTok page and her viewers immediately wanted to buy the pieces.

“We started finding out what the best dye brands are, what the best way to do it is, different techniques and we started in her garage. Then we turned her entire shed in the backyard into a tie-dye studio, and we started a full online store,” Egan said.

“We started finding out what the best dye brands are, what the best way to do it is, different techniques and we started in her garage. Then we turned her entire shed in the backyard into a tie-dye studio, and we started a full online store,” Egan said.

In the past year-and-a-half, the two racked up over 30,000 orders and in September 2022 they rented their first space in Ludlow, Kentucky, in the backend of a nail salon owned by one of Egan’s friends, but they began renovations two months prior.

She then went on to the United States Army where she worked as a diesel mechanic for a little over two years.

She then went on to the United States Army where she worked as a diesel mechanic for a little over two years. Egan left the military and moved to Northern Kentucky after becoming pregnant with her youngest daughter at 19 to be closer to family when her husband got out of the military.

Egan left the military and moved to Northern Kentucky after becoming pregnant with her youngest daughter at 19 to be closer to family when her husband got out of the military.

“I was a stay-at-home mom for about a year through the pandemic and all

“I was a stay-at-home mom for about a year through the pandemic and all

In the past year-and-a-half, the two racked up over 30,000 orders and in September 2022 they rented their first space in Ludlow, Kentucky, in the backend of a nail salon owned by one of Egan’s friends, but they began renovations two months prior.

“All of our sales were online for almost a whole year before opening a storefront and at about six months in, we realized that the sales were staying consistent, and people still wanted new stuff, people still wanted to see more. We were like well, maybe we should look into opening up a store,” Egan said.

“All of our sales were online for almost a whole year before opening a storefront and at about six months in, we realized that the sales were staying consistent, and people still wanted new stuff, people still wanted to see more. We were like well, maybe we should look into opening up a store,” Egan said.

The Dicey Dyes storefront opened on March 10, 2023 — almost a year after their first shirt was sold on March 8, 2022. The grand opening hosted over 200 people who lined up outside waiting to get their hands on Egan’s products. Egan says the relationships she has created with her followers on social

The Dicey Dyes storefront opened on March 10, 2023 — almost a year after their first shirt was sold on March 8, 2022. The grand opening hosted over 200 people who lined up outside waiting to get their hands on Egan’s products. Egan says the relationships she has created with her followers on social

media have created the exact environment she wanted in the shop.

media have created the exact environment she wanted in the shop.

“It’s almost like we know each other already. A lot of my customers are people who have followed me, who know who I am — know my life story. I think the reason that my business is doing so well is because I’ve created

“It’s almost like we know each other already. A lot of my customers are people who have followed me, who know who I am — know my life story. I think the reason that my business is doing so well is because I’ve created

Gabbie Egan’s family helps her run Dicey Dyes.

PHOTO: DEVINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Gabbie Egan’s online following eventually inspired her to bring her business to a brick-andmortar space.

PHOTO: DEVINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Gabbie Egan’s family helps her run Dicey Dyes.

PHOTO: DEVINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Gabbie Egan’s online following eventually inspired her to bring her business to a brick-andmortar space.

PHOTO: DEVINE PHOTOGRAPHY

so many relationships with people via social media,” Egan said.

Everything in the shop is tie-dyed by hand so no two pieces are identical. Many of the shirts have screen printings which she has purchased from digital artists. They have recently started to offer screen printings inside the shop to further customize any pre-dyed shirt.

Opening the shop was nothing what Egan expected as it is completely different from running an online business, but the support she has received from the local community, businesses and online has been motivating. She feels as though she fits in here as she has made connections with many neighboring local business owners.

“The sense of community that I’ve experienced makes me emotional. Since opening the store, not only the people from online but the local community here has been like a warm hug. I was expecting for people to be like, ‘Oh, this girl who thinks that she’s better than everybody else with TikTok,’ but it’s been completely the opposite,” Egan said.

She is in the process of opening up another storefront down the street from her current brick-and-mortar location to use as a tie-dying warehouse and to host classes for both kids and adults. She is still working out all of the details but she wants the environment to be both fun and inviting.

Egan hopes that the classes will light up the downtown area and create curiosity among those who pass, making them come in and potentially sign up for a class.

Egan has hosted ten successful classes in the warehouse in Ludlow, where people spent five hours tie-dying, playing games and creating memories that influenced her to continue with classes when the timing was right.

Since a young age, Egan has always been persistent and worked hard to succeed in whatever she does, and Dicey Dyes is no different.

“Failure isn’t an option — whatever

I’m doing I have to make it work,” she said.

Finding a way to balance her business, social media accounts and family life has been difficult because she wants to give her time to those who matter most in her life.

“I have to make sure that I’m creating enough time for the people in my life who deserve my time the most, because it’s super easy whenever you have a social media following, you have so many people who want to meet you and spend time with you and all that stuff, to get wrapped up in that and to give too much of yourself to that,” Egan said.

Her business is family-oriented and family-ran as she works closely with her mother-in-law to manage everything, her husband who works at the storefront full-time, her grandmother-in-law who cuts all of the screens used for pressings and many others who help when they can.

“My mother-in-law quit her full-time job of almost a decade to work for me, and it’s not even for me because I feel like she’s my boss — genuinely she’s the better half of my brain. Everybody on my husband’s side [of the family] is involved, and my parents not so much just because my dad just retired, but he helps me a lot with my kids and I wouldn’t be able to do this without the help that I have from him,” Egan said.

Egan’s colorful, customizable products are just the beginning of what she wants to do. She loves to meet new people, especially those who have been following her life story online for quite some time. The connection she has developed with the community excites her and she can’t wait for what’s next.

“This is just the beginning and I have no idea where it’s going to take us or what I’m doing or what the future holds, but we’re doing it,” Egan said.

Dicey Dyes, 3634 Decoursey Ave., Covington. Info: diceydyes.com.

Gabbie Egan hopes to offer tie-dying classes on a more regular basis in the future.

PHOTO: DEVINE PHOTOGRAPHY

ONSTAGE

Cincinnati Landmark Productions’ Man of La Mancha Brings a Message of Idealism to Theatergoers

PREVIEW BY RICK PENDER

Cincinnati Landmark Productions’ Man of La Mancha Brings a Message of Idealism to Theatergoers

PREVIEW BY RICK PENDER

If you ask a handful of musical theater lovers their top favorite shows, it’s entirely possible that they’ll all name Man of La Mancha, which won the 1966 Tony for Best Musical. Its popularity is certainly why Cincinnati Landmark Productions (CLP) chose it to cap off its four-show Summer Classics Season at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater. Freelance director and choreographer Dee Anne Bryll is staging the legendary musical based on Miguel de Cervantes’ masterwork, Don Quixote. “It’s such an interesting show,” Bryll said in a recent phone interview with CityBeat. “Its concept, how it came about, its structure — and its beautiful message.”

If you ask a handful of musical theater lovers their top favorite shows, it’s entirely possible that they’ll all name Man of La Mancha, which won the 1966 Tony for Best Musical. Its popularity is certainly why Cincinnati Landmark Productions (CLP) chose it to cap off its four-show Summer Classics Season at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater. Freelance director and choreographer Dee Anne Bryll is staging the legendary musical based on Miguel de Cervantes’ masterwork, Don Quixote. “It’s such an interesting show,” Bryll said in a recent phone interview with CityBeat. “Its concept, how it came about, its structure — and its beautiful message.”

Bryll has been directing shows locally for community theaters and area colleges including Xavier and Northern Kentucky universities. She’s also choreographed productions for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. In the past, she staged summer productions for CLP when it operated the Majestic Showboat on Cincinnati’s Public Landing, before that season moved to its Incline Theater, which opened in 2015. “It’s a beautiful space to work in and do a show in,” Bryll says. “Brett Bowling, the resident set designer, really understands how to design for the space.” That’s important for each show, because the summer productions come along one after the other in short order.

Bryll has been directing shows locally for community theaters and area colleges including Xavier and Northern Kentucky universities. She’s also choreographed productions for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. In the past, she staged summer productions for CLP when it operated the Majestic Showboat on Cincinnati’s Public Landing, before that season moved to its Incline Theater, which opened in 2015. “It’s a beautiful space to work in and do a show in,” Bryll says. “Brett Bowling, the resident set designer, really understands how to design for the space.” That’s important for each show, because the summer productions come along one after the other in short order.

The original production of Man of La Mancha followed an unusual path to Broadway success. It was initially a TV drama by playwright Dale Wasserman, I, Don Quixote, that aired in 1959. His teleplay was inspired by Cervantes’ 17th century novel about a well-intentioned but misguided gentleman and tax collector, Alonso Quijano, who imagines himself a chivalric knight-errant. Quixote’s mad quest has given us the adjective “quixotic,” meaning “exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic and impractical.”

Wasserman and his creative team had a hard time marshaling support, and the show’s debut happened in an offBroadway venue in 1965. But it quickly became a hit and moved to the Broadway theater district, leading to a nearly six-year run (2,328 performances) plus a three-year national tour.

The original production of Man of La Mancha followed an unusual path to Broadway success. It was initially a TV drama by playwright Dale Wasserman, I, Don Quixote, that aired in 1959. His teleplay was inspired by Cervantes’ 17th century novel about a well-intentioned but misguided gentleman and tax collector, Alonso Quijano, who imagines himself a chivalric knight-errant. Quixote’s mad quest has given us the adjective “quixotic,” meaning “exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic and impractical.” Wasserman and his creative team had a hard time marshaling support, and the show’s debut happened in an offBroadway venue in 1965. But it quickly became a hit and moved to the Broadway theater district, leading to a nearly six-year run (2,328 performances) plus a three-year national tour.

Wasserman’s script places Cervantes in prison awaiting a hearing during the Spanish Inquisition. His fellow prisoners and guards conduct a mock trial with the promise that, if he proves himself innocent of his acts against the church (foreclosing on a monastery), he can be set free. With nothing more

Wasserman’s script places Cervantes in prison awaiting a hearing during the Spanish Inquisition. His fellow prisoners and guards conduct a mock trial with the promise that, if he proves himself innocent of his acts against the church (foreclosing on a monastery), he can be set free. With nothing more

than a few props and modest costumes from a trunk, plus boxes and barrels in his prison cell, he reenacts the story of the adventurous knight, Don Quixote de La Mancha. He envisions Aldonza, a part-time whore, as his lady Dulcinea, and battles a mortal enemy. The story eventually returns to his prison cell where the show concludes with Cervantes singing “The Impossible Dream,” an anthem of idealism — joined by the prisoners he has convinced of the value of his mission.

than a few props and modest costumes from a trunk, plus boxes and barrels in his prison cell, he reenacts the story of the adventurous knight, Don Quixote de La Mancha. He envisions Aldonza, a part-time whore, as his lady Dulcinea, and battles a mortal enemy. The story eventually returns to his prison cell where the show concludes with Cervantes singing “The Impossible Dream,” an anthem of idealism — joined by the prisoners he has convinced of the value of his mission.

Bryll says that’s the show’s big number. “The scene that goes into it is just a beautifully constructed moment. People love the show for those certain moments. There are so many songs and encounters in it, something for every character. They all have their special moments and musical numbers — all of which are integral to the storytelling.”

Bryll says that’s the show’s big number. “The scene that goes into it is just a beautifully constructed moment. People love the show for those certain moments. There are so many songs and encounters in it, something for every character. They all have their special moments and musical numbers — all of which are integral to the storytelling.”

Community theater veteran Rick Kramer is playing Cervantes/Quixote. Interestingly, he produced the show for Cincinnati Music Theatre in 1996, in the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theatre. “It’s a role he’s always wanted

Community theater veteran Rick Kramer is playing Cervantes/Quixote. Interestingly, he produced the show for Cincinnati Music Theatre in 1996, in the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theatre. “It’s a role he’s always wanted

to do,” Bryll says, “and he is at the perfect time in his life to play it.” She adds that her cast has a broad array of performers — other community theater veterans, regular CLP performers and a number of students from Wright State, Xavier and Northern Kentucky universities. “It’s definitely an ensemble show — people of a lot of different ages, quite a range.” According to Bryll, many of them were not familiar with the show. “They’re learning that it’s a really important, great musical that they haven’t experienced.”

to do,” Bryll says, “and he is at the perfect time in his life to play it.” She adds that her cast has a broad array of performers — other community theater veterans, regular CLP performers and a number of students from Wright State, Xavier and Northern Kentucky universities. “It’s definitely an ensemble show — people of a lot of different ages, quite a range.” According to Bryll, many of them were not familiar with the show. “They’re learning that it’s a really important, great musical that they haven’t experienced.”

Bryll loves the way Wasserman’s script tells the story. “It’s as much a play about Cervantes as it is about Don Quixote. The play within the play, with the prisoners taking part in it, really works. When Cervantes invites the prisoners to take part, some are excited about it; some are sheepish. But as they do it, they start to develop the interest and understand much more about what he’s trying to say — because they are actually performing it. They are learning about these characters in Cervantes’ story.”

Bryll loves the way Wasserman’s script tells the story. “It’s as much a play about Cervantes as it is about Don Quixote. The play within the play, with the prisoners taking part in it, really works. When Cervantes invites the prisoners to take part, some are excited about it; some are sheepish. But as they do it, they start to develop the interest and understand much more about what he’s trying to say — because they are actually performing it. They are learning about these characters in Cervantes’ story.”

“This is a classic American musical,” Bryll says when asked why people should see Man of La Mancha. “It’s not done a whole lot — but many people say, ‘It’s my favorite.’ I have a terrific cast — we have a great production, very collaborative. It has a beautiful message about idealism and hope. Quixote sees the good in so many people. It’s a story about people who have lost hope, but his story shows them that things can be better.”

“This is a classic American musical,” Bryll says when asked why people should see Man of La Mancha. “It’s not done a whole lot — but many people say, ‘It’s my favorite.’ I have a terrific cast — we have a great production, very collaborative. It has a beautiful message about idealism and hope. Quixote sees the good in so many people. It’s a story about people who have lost hope, but his story shows them that things can be better.”

Bryll confesses that she’s not previously worked on a full production of Man of La Mancha. “It’s been a great experience to approach something that is almost new to me.” She loves how it inspires idealism and adds that it’s a perfect, timeless musical to wrap up a summer season.

Bryll confesses that she’s not previously worked on a full production of Man of La Mancha. “It’s been a great experience to approach something that is almost new to me.” She loves how it inspires idealism and adds that it’s a perfect, timeless musical to wrap up a summer season.

Man of La Mancha, presented by Cincinnati Landmark Productions at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater in East Price Hill, opens on Aug. 16 and continues through Sept. 10. Info: cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.

Man of La Mancha, presented by Cincinnati Landmark Productions at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater in East Price Hill, opens on Aug. 16 and continues through Sept. 10. Info: cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.

Renee Stoltzfus (Aldonza), Rick Kramer (Don Quixote/Cervantes) and Douglas X. Berlon (Sancho) in Man of La Mancha at Warsaw Federal Incline Theater.

PHOTO: TAMMY CASSESA

Renee Stoltzfus (Aldonza), Rick Kramer (Don Quixote/Cervantes) and Douglas X. Berlon (Sancho) in Man of La Mancha at Warsaw Federal Incline Theater.

PHOTO: TAMMY CASSESA

FOOD & DRINK

A Celestial Dining Experience

A Celestial Dining Experience

East Walnut Hills’ most recent restaurant newcomer, Solstice, serves up delicious, tropical-inspired fare.

REVIEW BY PAMA MITCHELL

East Walnut Hills’ most recent restaurant newcomer, Solstice, serves up delicious, tropical-inspired fare.

REVIEW BY PAMA MITCHELL

East Walnut Hills just keeps on rolling along, debuting interesting bars and restaurants at a smoking-hot pace.

East Walnut Hills just keeps on rolling along, debuting interesting bars and restaurants at a smoking-hot pace.

Even so, there have been casualties, most recently in the closing of the café/wine bar Symposium. And I still mourn the closure of Branch less than a year ago. But for every loss, the neighborhood picks up a couple of new places. With everything from the simply elegant Le Bar a Boeuf to the unique deli Pickled Pig, Walnut Hills boasts a satisfying variety of restaurants to rival those downtown or in Over-the-Rhine.

Even so, there have been casualties, most recently in the closing of the café/wine bar Symposium. And I still mourn the closure of Branch less than a year ago. But for every loss, the neighborhood picks up a couple of new places. With everything from the simply elegant Le Bar a Boeuf to the unique deli Pickled Pig, Walnut Hills boasts a satisfying variety of restaurants to rival those downtown or in Over-the-Rhine.

The most recent newcomer is the tropical-themed Solstice, which opened late in June. The folks behind Solstice are familiar with the neighborhood, given that their charming cocktail bar, Anjou, is a stone’s throw away, on Woodburn Avenue. For Solstice, they took over the space that once housed Suzie Wong’s Chinese restaurant, invested in significant renovations, and have brought a unique-themed bar and restaurant to serve not only East Walnut Hills but also a whole lot of adjacent city neighborhoods. Prices are mid-range, parking is easy in a free lot behind the building, and the menu offerings hit a sweet spot between familiar and

The most recent newcomer is the tropical-themed Solstice, which opened late in June. The folks behind Solstice are familiar with the neighborhood, given that their charming cocktail bar, Anjou, is a stone’s throw away, on Woodburn Avenue. For Solstice, they took over the space that once housed Suzie Wong’s Chinese restaurant, invested in significant renovations, and have brought a unique-themed bar and restaurant to serve not only East Walnut Hills but also a whole lot of adjacent city neighborhoods. Prices are mid-range, parking is easy in a free lot behind the building, and the menu offerings hit a sweet spot between familiar and

adventurous. The restaurant’s tagline is “Tropical Tacos and ‘Tails” — as in cocktails — which clearly sums up the strengths of this inviting addition to city dining.

adventurous. The restaurant’s tagline is “Tropical Tacos and ‘Tails” — as in cocktails — which clearly sums up the strengths of this inviting addition to city dining.

The owners’ focus on the tropics extends to just about every detail, and realizing their vision took well over a year. Co-owner Chris Wolfe said some of that time was eaten up by supplychain issues as well as equipment they thought was functional that turned out to need replacing. But decisions about flooring, placement of the bar, and lighting sprang from the overall tropical theme. For instance, various light fixtures are placed to represent the sun, sea and sky that you might see in the parts of the Earth between the regions marked by the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.

The owners’ focus on the tropics extends to just about every detail, and realizing their vision took well over a year. Co-owner Chris Wolfe said some of that time was eaten up by supplychain issues as well as equipment they thought was functional that turned out to need replacing. But decisions about flooring, placement of the bar, and lighting sprang from the overall tropical theme. For instance, various light fixtures are placed to represent the sun, sea and sky that you might see in the parts of the Earth between the regions marked by the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.

It’s all very high-concept, and begs the question of whether the effort succeeds as, you know, a place to enjoy a meal. With that in mind, I went with several in-town friends on a relatively quiet weekend night soon after Solstice opened. The dozen or so bar stools were full when we arrived but thinned out quickly. In fact, the crowd was relatively sparse for a Saturday, though it was right after July 4, which tends to be a

It’s all very high-concept, and begs the question of whether the effort succeeds as, you know, a place to enjoy a meal. With that in mind, I went with several in-town friends on a relatively quiet weekend night soon after Solstice opened. The dozen or so bar stools were full when we arrived but thinned out quickly. In fact, the crowd was relatively sparse for a Saturday, though it was right after July 4, which tends to be a

slow restaurant week. Based on the good experience we enjoyed there and positive word-of-mouth I’m hearing, the tables will likely stay full.

slow restaurant week. Based on the good experience we enjoyed there and positive word-of-mouth I’m hearing, the tables will likely stay full.

In contrast to most taco-centric eateries, the cocktail menu doesn’t lean heavily on margaritas or other tequila drinks. That’s in part because it’s not a Mexican restaurant; instead, the focus is more generally on the tropical parts of our planet. Thus, drinks as well as food borrow from flavors developed near the equator — including Africa, southeast Asia and the Caribbean. There is a margarita, and I enjoyed a tequila cocktail they call Baby Sheldon that was quite good. Rum is a more common base for the bar’s inventive offerings; next time, I’ll try something mixed with that tropical spirit.

In contrast to most taco-centric eateries, the cocktail menu doesn’t lean heavily on margaritas or other tequila drinks. That’s in part because it’s not a Mexican restaurant; instead, the focus is more generally on the tropical parts of our planet. Thus, drinks as well as food borrow from flavors developed near the equator — including Africa, southeast Asia and the Caribbean. There is a margarita, and I enjoyed a tequila cocktail they call Baby Sheldon that was quite good. Rum is a more common base for the bar’s inventive offerings; next time, I’ll try something mixed with that tropical spirit.

The food section of this menu is fairly simple, divided into “Sharables” and “Tacos.” Truth be told, I’m pretty much over restaurants telling me I’m supposed to share my food, but you can’t fault Solstice for being off-trend in that regard. Their sharables menu section definitely includes enticing suggestions. Our attentive, helpful server pointed us toward some of her favorites, and we ended up trying ceviche, a papaya salad and fried cauliflower — with minimal sharing, as it were.

The food section of this menu is fairly simple, divided into “Sharables” and “Tacos.” Truth be told, I’m pretty much over restaurants telling me I’m supposed to share my food, but you can’t fault Solstice for being off-trend in that regard. Their sharables menu section definitely includes enticing suggestions. Our attentive, helpful server pointed us toward some of her favorites, and we ended up trying ceviche, a papaya salad and fried cauliflower — with minimal sharing, as it were.

The generously portioned salad was stellar, a combo of green papaya, jicama, crispy green bean, red bell pepper and seasonings, lightly dressed, the crunch and fresh veggie flavors not disturbed by lettuce. The leftovers tasted just as good for lunch at home

The generously portioned salad was stellar, a combo of green papaya, jicama, crispy green bean, red bell pepper and seasonings, lightly dressed, the crunch and fresh veggie flavors not disturbed by lettuce. The leftovers tasted just as good for lunch at home

Tropical-themed Solstice opened in June.

PHOTOS: EMORY DAVIS

Tropical-themed Solstice opened in June.

PHOTOS: EMORY DAVIS

the next day. Their version of ceviche was somewhat controversial at our table. It’s only seafood was shrimp, and we thought it’d be better with a different fish, or perhaps a combo with shrimp. The accompanying yucca chips had both fans and detractors. You might like them just fine, but they seemed bland to me. The fried cauliflower, on the other hand, was a hit; it was cooked al dente and had a touch of sweetness in the saucing.

We didn’t get to the lettuce wraps (either with chicken or tempeh), nor the crispy pork belly. Cheese dip with mozzarella, corn, bell pepper and a few other ingredients served with tortilla chips rounded out the “sharables” I would consider trying on a return visit.

Tortillas are made in house, which is the foundation of credible tacos. Of the eight choices here, half come on corn tortillas and the others on flour. We gravitated toward the corn-wrapped offerings, which I’ve always preferred. They won’t make you think of Mexico,

necessarily, with seasonings and ingredients such as tamarind, fish sauce, garam masala, cardamom and berbere. The ones based on shrimp, lamb or pork stood out, and the two vegetarian offerings were delicious in their own right, as well.

As of our visit, they hadn’t quite figured out dessert. But there’s an ice cream shop a few doors down if your sweet tooth needs attention.

Solstice closes on Sunday and Monday and serves dinner the rest of the week. It’s also open for lunch Tuesday through Friday, which expands the neighborhood’s midday options. Along with the burger-centric Heyday and another new addition, Rusk, Solstice gives city folk a nice choice of places to meet work colleagues or friends at lunchtime. Weekend brunch is on the horizon, too, so stay tuned for that.

Solstice, 1544 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills.

Info: solsticecinci.com.

standard Chinese, like Sweet & Sour Chicken and Szechuan with your choice of protein, as well as Pad Thai and Japanese Udon noodles, fresh-catch meals like the Fish & Chips and Shanghai Scallops and homemade sauces ranging from red pepper chili oil to Yum Yum to plum.

Drunken Tacos

Late-Night Hours: Sunday until midnight, Monday-Thursday until 1:30 a.m. and Friday-Saturday until 2:30 a.m.

200 W. McMillan St., CUF

When you’re still a little tipsy from all the shots you just slammed at Murphy’s and Uncle Woody’s and you just absolutely, 100% NEED tacos like it’s the end of the world, Drunken Tacos’ menu breaks the mold, blending Mexican and Korean cuisine. They have your standard ingredients like beans, steak and queso fresco, as well as extra, unexpected fillings. Try their Daeji Tacos with spicy pork or one restaurant’s most popular dishes: the Bulgogi Tacos.

Drunken Bento

Late-Night Hours: Monday-Thursday until midnight and Friday-Saturday until 1 a.m.

212 W. McMillan St., CUF

Drunken Bento, the Korean and latenight sushi spot of Clifton has its doors open until midnight on weekdays and

1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Located right off of the University of Cincinnati’s campus, this sushi wonder has been giving life to the students and locals for years. We mean, come on — who doesn’t want a Sunday Morning Roll (salmon and cream cheese, deep fried and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo) at the very start of Sunday morning? If you’re not into fish, there’s a great menu of entrées and appetizers to suit most tastes.

Molly Malone’s

Late-Night Hours: Kitchen is open until 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday

112 E. Fourth St., Covington

Molly Malone’s restaurant and pub offers an authentic taste of the Emerald Isle with its menu full of traditional fare and appetizers, such as their popular beer-battered cod served with coleslaw and chips. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, the pub plays just about every soccer and rugby game live and keeps the kitchen open late on Fridays and Saturdays so you can keep the party going well into the night after your favorite team’s win.

Baru

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until midnight

595 Race St., Downtown

This elevated sushi and cocktail concept places most of its focus on

its atmosphere and unique menu, all centered around its bar, which has been strategically placed to be the focal point of the restaurant. The idea behind Baru is stay-and-drink sushi, inspired by izakaya, which are beloved Japanese establishments where guests can stay, drink and unwind long into the night. Its menu is sophisticated but approachable, with fresh fish flown in daily, American and Japanese wagyu and shareable items. It also offers omakase meals, where guests leave dining decisions up to the chef.

Kitchen Factory

Late-Night Hours: Walk-up window open until midnight Friday-Saturday 1609 Chase Ave., Northside

Kitchen Factory prides itself on offering pizza for everyone: that means vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options alongside traditional offerings. On Friday and Saturday nights, Kitchen Factory serves a limited late-night menu from its takeout Pizza Window from 10 p.m. to midnight so you can grab a slice on your way to (or home from) the bars.

Lucky Dog OTR

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 3 a.m.

1210 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

It’s never too late for a cheese coney, and luckily for everyone, Lucky Dog OTR stays open late into the night on

Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant calls itself the “culmination of over 20 years of restaurant experience by founders Ryan Reynolds and Ray Gammouh.” Using hot dogs from Queen City Sausage, chili fans can opt for coneys, chili metts, chili cheese sandwiches, regular dogs or even a coney crate (10 for $25). They also serve their signature chili in 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-Ways and even in a salad with shredded cheddar cheese, Fritos, tomatoes, sour cream and chipotle ranch.

Skyline Chili (Clifton)

Late-Night Hours: Sunday until midnight, Monday-Thursday until 1 a.m. and Friday-Saturday until 2 a.m. 290 Ludlow Ave., Clifton

Oh Skyline, what would we do without you? The Skyline in Clifton serves up Cincinnati-style Chili until midnight Sunday, 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. This faithful Skyline has always been there for us. And until the ‘open’ light turns off, they’re ready to get you to your chili cheesy heaven.

Elephant Walk Indian Bar and Grill

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until midnight

170 W. McMillan St., CUF

Your mom might have told you not to eat spicy food late at night, but we’re

CityBird provides the perfect solution to a late-night chicken sandwich craving.

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Get a no-frills Philly-style cheesesteak at 13th Street Alley.

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

gonna encourage it with Elephant Walk. Not only do they serve up North Indian favorites like samosas, a variety of vegetarian dishes, tandoori specialties and naan burritos — a beloved street food in Mumbai — they also have an Ethiopian menu. Try the Misser Soup (a lentil soup seasoned with herbs and spices), an Injera Roll (Ethiopian, vegan flatbread that’s wrapped around vegetables and your choice of protein), or the Awaze Tibs, cubed beef steak, panseared and sautéed with red onions, bell peppers, cardamom and awaze sauce and served with injera.

Insomnia Cookies

Late-Night Hours: CUF: SundayWednesday until 1 a.m. and ThursdaySaturday until 3 a.m.; OTR: SundayWednesday until midnight and Thursday-Friday until 1 a.m.

216 Calhoun St., CUF; 1126 Main St., Over-the-Rhine

Insomnia Cookies bakes up sweet eats until the wee hours of the morning. The best part is they deliver those delicious disks right to you. What better way to end off a night than with fresh baked cookies that are still warm when they arrive at your door?

Corinthian Restaurant

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 2 a.m.

3253 Jefferson Ave., Clifton

Corinthian Restaurant is reminiscent of the house in My Big Fat Greek Wedding with the way it stands out among Jefferson Avenue’s Italianate-style buildings. Its bright white, green and pink exterior and Grecian-font sign and awning beckons late-night crowds to come in and enjoy a slice of Gyro Pizza. Among the pizza, the menu also features Greek appetizers like spanakopita, American fare like mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers, calzones and stromboli and specialty subs ranging from steak and BBQ to meatball and chicken parm.

Deme Kitchen

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 3 a.m.

627 Main St., Downtown

Hot noodles just hit differently at night. When the craving strikes, Asian fusion Deme Kitchen serves up noodles and more late on Fridays and Saturdays. The menu features a variety of authentic Asian dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and more, from fried tofu and bao buns to their spicy Korean chicken wings and pepper steak. For your sweet tooth, try their Sesame Balls — deep-fried rice flour balls stuffed with sweet red bean paste and coated with sesame seeds.

Bakersfield

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until midnight

1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine

Part bar, part taco joint, Bakersfield specializes in gourmet tacos (pollo rojo, al pastor, huitlacoche, etc.), quality tequilas and whiskeys, of which they have a selection of over 100, and hand-crafted margaritas made the old-fashioned way, not from a pre-made mix.

Dixie Chili (Newport)

Late-Night Hours: Sunday-Thursday until 1 a.m. and Friday-Saturday until 3 a.m.

733 Monmouth St., Newport

Founded in 1929 by “Papa Nick,” Dixie Chili has classic, secret-ingredient Cincinnati-style chili with cheese and onions on spaghetti. Traditionally, Dixie’s offerings are dominated by

Wisconsin cheddar, and the garlic is a great counterbalance to the dairy, making it one of the area’s favorite chili joints, especially when you’re topping off a late night in Newport.

J. Gumbo’s (Clifton)

Late-Night Hours: Monday-Wednesday until midnight and Thursday-Saturday until 1 a.m.

286 Ludlow Ave., Clifton

J. Gumbo’s brings a piece of Bourbon Street to Cincinnati, cooking up po’ boys, gumbo and other Creole and Cajun classics. They put soul into their cooking, and a bowl of their Voodoo Chicken just might put your soul back in your body after a late night.

Cloud 9 Sushi

Late-Night Hours: Thursday until

midnight and Friday-Wednesday until 2 a.m.

1018 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout

This unpretentious sushi joint offers its specialty rolls, sake, martinis and cocktails late into the night. Try a premium roll like the Godzilla (spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber and crab stick inside, with their Hot Mama roll on top with eel sauce and spicy mayo) or the Play Boy (shrimp tempura and crab stick inside topped with tuna, Japanese mayo, eel sauce, masago and tempura flakes), or take part in the half-priced sushi specials that go all day, every day.

Mikey’s Late Night Slice

Late-Night Hours: Sunday-Thursday until 2:30 a.m.; Friday-Saturday until 3 a.m.

2014 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine

Mikey’s is known for its giant, foldable pizza slices and drunk-friendly menu. And whether you’re a plain-ass person who likes their pizza with just cheese and Mikey’s Plain-Ass Pepperoni or you’re looking for a Popular AF pie piled high with toppings, Mikey’s will take care of the late-night, closed-the-bar-down cravings.

Knockback Nats

Late-Night Hours: Every day until 2 a.m.

10 W. Seventh St., Downtown Wings are king at Knockback Nats, whether they’re dry-drubbed or tossed in one of Knockback Nats 12 sauces — including their award-winning bourbonpineapple barbecue and spicy garlic ranch. Enjoy dart boards, video golf, video bowling and a jukebox for extra fun every night until 2 a.m.

Kitchen Factory can even satiate the late-night vegan food cravings.

PHOTO:HAILEY BOLLINGER

Hit up Bakersfield for delicious tacos after your night out on the town.

PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

MUSIC

MUSIC

PHOTO: FRANCES CARTER

Sonic Experts

Elizabeth Stokes of The Beths discusses the band’s New Zealand roots and writing catchy songs.

Sonic Experts

Elizabeth Stokes of The Beths discusses the band’s New Zealand roots and writing catchy songs.

BY JASON GARGANO

BY JASON GARGANO

The Beths write songs that stick in your head days after exposure.

The Beths write songs that stick in your head days after exposure.

The New Zealand quartet’s third album for U.S. independent mainstays

The New Zealand quartet’s third album for U.S. independent mainstays Carpark Records, 2022’s Expert in a Dying Field, is a master class in indierock catchiness, pairing frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes’ wit-infused lyrics about relationships gone haywire with sublime sonic arrangements — played with acumen by drummer Tristan Deck, guitarist/producer Jonathan Pearce and bassist Benjamin Sinclair — at once familiar and utterly unique. Proof abounds via the record’s stacked opening trio of “Expert in a Dying Field,” “Knees Deep” and “Silence Is Golden,” the latter of which careens from pillar to post through buzzing guitars and insist rhythms as Stokes’ modest but convincing voice delivers the following: “Maybe I’ll break/Just shatter, disperse/Like cracks in a glass/ Never hold a drink again!”

Carpark Records, 2022’s Expert in a Dying Field, is a master class in indierock catchiness, pairing frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes’ wit-infused lyrics about relationships gone haywire with sublime sonic arrangements — played with acumen by drummer Tristan Deck, guitarist/producer Jonathan Pearce and bassist Benjamin Sinclair — at once familiar and utterly unique. Proof abounds via the record’s stacked opening trio of “Expert in a Dying Field,” “Knees Deep” and “Silence Is Golden,” the latter of which careens from pillar to post through buzzing guitars and insist rhythms as Stokes’ modest but convincing voice delivers the following: “Maybe I’ll break/Just shatter, disperse/Like cracks in a glass/ Never hold a drink again!”

CityBeat recently connected with Stokes by Zoom from a tour stop in the United Kingdom to discuss the Beths’ current live excursion, her approach to lyrics and the particulars of being a musician in New Zealand.

CityBeat recently connected with Stokes by Zoom from a tour stop in the United Kingdom to discuss the Beths’ current live excursion, her approach to lyrics and the particulars of being a musician in New Zealand.

CityBeat: You’re playing a mix of shows on this tour — festivals, headlining your own shows and doing some opening slots with Death Cab for Cutie and The National. Do you approach shows differently depending on the context?

CityBeat: You’re playing a mix of shows on this tour — festivals, headlining your own shows and doing some opening slots with Death Cab for Cutie and The National. Do you approach shows differently depending on the context?

Elizabeth Stokes: It’s a slightly different approach. Obviously, you get to stretch out more on a headline show. The assumption is that most of the people have at least heard some of your music if not a lot of it, so we kind of tailor the set list to include a few more of the deep cuts and things like that. But there’s an element to both support shows and festivals which is playing to a lot of people who have no idea who you are. We’ve

Elizabeth Stokes: It’s a slightly different approach. Obviously, you get to stretch out more on a headline show. The assumption is that most of the people have at least heard some of your music if not a lot of it, so we kind of tailor the set list to include a few more of the deep cuts and things like that. But there’s an element to both support shows and festivals which is playing to a lot of people who have no idea who you are. We’ve

always found it a fun kind of challenge in the past.

always found it a fun kind of challenge in the past.

CB: How are American audiences different from those in Europe or Down Under?

CB: How are American audiences different from those in Europe or Down Under?

ES: It feels like in America there’s a real culture of enthusiastic music lovers. There’s less embarrassment about liking things. Maybe it’s a British hang-up — or hangover. It’s like, “Yes, hello, I like your band, I’m sorry.” Which is how I feel when I like things. I’m like, “I hope it’s OK that I like this.” It’s nice to be in America where that hang-up doesn’t seem to be as prevalent.

ES: It feels like in America there’s a real culture of enthusiastic music lovers. There’s less embarrassment about liking things. Maybe it’s a British hang-up — or hangover. It’s like, “Yes, hello, I like your band, I’m sorry.” Which is how I feel when I like things. I’m like, “I hope it’s OK that I like this.” It’s nice to be in America where that hang-up doesn’t seem to be as prevalent.

CB: You write songs from an intimate, first-person perspective but it’s not so specific that listeners can’t imagine themselves in the protagonist’s shoes. Why are you interested in writing so directly as opposed to using a more coded or abstract approach to lyrics?

CB: You write songs from an intimate, first-person perspective but it’s not so specific that listeners can’t imagine themselves in the protagonist’s shoes. Why are you interested in writing so directly as opposed to using a more coded or abstract approach to lyrics?

ES: It’s a good question. You try on other hats. I’ve tried to write third-person songs or story songs but the ones that stick, the ones that are the best, seem to be first person. I’ve written songs where the song is first person but it’s about somebody that I know or it’s from the perspective of the person that is dealing with me. But it always ends up coming back to the first person. My songs are often addressing somebody. They’re directed at somebody. I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s that the kind of music that I listen to, the stuff that I click with, does that. It can make it easier to insert yourself into the world of the song, which is something people do to make you feel like you’re not alone in experiencing something.

ES: It’s a good question. You try on other hats. I’ve tried to write third-person songs or story songs but the ones that stick, the ones that are the best, seem to be first person. I’ve written songs where the song is first person but it’s about somebody that I know or it’s from the perspective of the person that is dealing with me. But it always ends up coming back to the first person. My songs are often addressing somebody. They’re directed at somebody. I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s that the kind of music that I listen to, the stuff that I click with, does that. It can make it easier to insert yourself into the world of the song, which is something people do to make you feel like you’re not alone in experiencing something.

CB: On the sonic side, you guys are in a well-defined indie rock tradition of two guitars, drums and bass, but you also put your own spin on it. Why were you

CB: On the sonic side, you guys are in a well-defined indie rock tradition of two guitars, drums and bass, but you also put your own spin on it. Why were you

The Beths

The Beths

PHOTO: FRANCES CARTER

interested in employing that approach to your sound?

ES: I still just really love it. I have a musical bias towards it. I don’t know if that’s because it’s the music I connected with growing up. There are so many ways to make music. But there is something about guitar music and starting a band with your friends. I feel like kids are still using guitars and bass and drums and making noise in their garages. It does feel limiting but I feel like sometimes having some limits is good creatively. It means that you kind of have to keep exploring and reach a little bit to find something that you haven’t done before.

CB: Jonathan seems like the band’s secret weapon — he produces the records and his guitar playing, while not flashy, is creative. He comes up with some unique tones and unexpected leads. How would you describe his role in the band?

ES: So important. We started the band because I used to write songs in high school, and then after university when I was playing trumpet in bands and things, Jonathan emailed me and was like, “Listen, I’m starting to record some

things. You should consider writing some songs so that I can record them.” And I was like, “No.” And then I kind of thought about it for a year and started writing some songs. Then I sent them to him, and he was like, “Cool, let’s start a band!” So, it’s always been him and me — and also Ben. Jonathan’s eye on things is just integral to the band. I feel like he would be humble about his guitar playing because he’s not necessarily a technical shredder, but he has a real, deep love for guitar music and guitar-isms and guitar sounds. He’s always practicing and always trying to get better.

CB: New Zealand has a long history of producing stellar indie rock bands through Flying Nun Records and beyond. Were you aware of that history growing up?

ES: Our generation’s particular experience growing up in New Zealand was in the early internet days, so primarily the way we were experiencing music was through pop radio and our version of MTV. And it just happened that at that time in 2003 and 2004 there were a lot of rock bands on the radio, and there was a lot of international stuff like Green Day and Fall Out Boy. And then there were local bands. I started to learn about that in high school a little bit more and started going to gigs. Now obviously you have the entire world’s music at your fingertips no matter where you are in the world. I’m not sure what it’s like to grow up with it now, I just know that the moment I became a part of the local music scene in Auckland when I was about 15 or 16 and started playing with my first band, I felt a real connection. We’re so isolated in New Zealand, so it creates an interesting music scene. You have inputs coming in from overseas, but only recordings-wise. You don’t have smaller bands coming on tour. I think you start making music with some sort of ear toward the wider world because New Zealand is such a small place.

The Beths play Woodward Theater at 7 p.m. Aug. 21. Info: woodwardtheater.com.

“…I just know that the moment I became a part of the local music scene in Auckland when I was about 15 or 16 and started playing with my first band, I felt a real connection.”

SOUND ADVICE

JD MCPHERSON

records all day long. You know, he’s like, ‘JD do you take requests?’ And then he’ll like want to do a Gene Vincent song, which I’m happy to oblige. And he’s got like eight or nine thousand 45s alone.”

records all day long. You know, he’s like, ‘JD do you take requests?’ And then he’ll like want to do a Gene Vincent song, which I’m happy to oblige. And he’s got like eight or nine thousand 45s alone.”

JD McPherson plays Southgate Revival House at 8 p.m. Aug. 12. Info: southgatehouse.com. (Greg Gaston)

JD McPherson plays Southgate Revival House at 8 p.m. Aug. 12. Info: southgatehouse.com. (Greg Gaston)

OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL

The fest demonstrates the wide-range of talent and genres that Nelson and his producing partner, Blackbird Presents, is able to draw. Because who wouldn’t want to hang out with the toking musician? (It should be noted he sells his weed and weed products, Willie’s Reserve, at the fest’s Outlaw Village, featuring all kinds of vendors).

JD MCPHERSON

Aug. 12 • Southgate House Revival

Let’s hope that after doing double duty for one of the hottest Americana tours around, JD McPherson takes a breather before embarking on his own tour this August, which includes an upcoming date at the Southgate Revival. McPherson not only played lead guitar for Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s band, but he also performed as their Raise the Roof tour’s opening act. Since releasing his debut record, Signs & Signifiers, in 2010, the former school teacher from Oklahoma has been one of the key figures in the retro-roots music scene. With four records, the most recent one called SOCKS, a Christmas-themed collection of originals from 2018, McPherson renders a rollicking blast of rockabilly and garage R&B filtered

Aug. 12 • Southgate House Revival

Let’s hope that after doing double duty for one of the hottest Americana tours around, JD McPherson takes a breather before embarking on his own tour this August, which includes an upcoming date at the Southgate Revival. McPherson not only played lead guitar for Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s band, but he also performed as their Raise the Roof tour’s opening act. Since releasing his debut record, Signs & Signifiers, in 2010, the former school teacher from Oklahoma has been one of the key figures in the retro-roots music scene. With four records, the most recent one called SOCKS, a Christmas-themed collection of originals from 2018, McPherson renders a rollicking blast of rockabilly and garage R&B filtered

through his Southern roots. He’s collaborated with roots stalwarts such as Dan Auerbach, Jimmy Sutton and Butch Walker on various projects, and developed an invigorating, vintage analog style — complete with feisty horns, reverb-soaked guitars and his wailing vocals — all in service of delivering sweaty fun and a workout on the dancefloor. It’s no coincidence that his second record, possibly his best, is titled Let the Good Times Roll. McPherson may seem an unlikely choice to play Led Zeppelin covers with Robert Plant, but their versions of “Rock and Roll” and “Battle of Evermore” are transformed — and partially because of McPherson’s livewire guitar twang and swagger. McPherson explained his bond with Plant to The Current last year, “And like me, he just wants to talk about old

through his Southern roots. He’s collaborated with roots stalwarts such as Dan Auerbach, Jimmy Sutton and Butch Walker on various projects, and developed an invigorating, vintage analog style — complete with feisty horns, reverb-soaked guitars and his wailing vocals — all in service of delivering sweaty fun and a workout on the dancefloor. It’s no coincidence that his second record, possibly his best, is titled Let the Good Times Roll. McPherson may seem an unlikely choice to play Led Zeppelin covers with Robert Plant, but their versions of “Rock and Roll” and “Battle of Evermore” are transformed — and partially because of McPherson’s livewire guitar twang and swagger.

McPherson explained his bond with Plant to The Current last year, “And like me, he just wants to talk about old

OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL

Aug. 13 • Riverbend Music Center

At 90 years old, Willie Nelson is on the road again. Since 2016, Willie and his friends have toured under the banner Outlaw Music Festival, an all-day Americana, rock, blues, country and folk fest with a rotating lineup. It’s become one of North America’s largest touring music festivals. In the past, acts like ZZ Top, Billy Strings, Chris Stapleton, Bob Dylan, Avett Brothers, Margo Price, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and Jason Isbell have joined Willie onstage. For Cincinnati’s summer stop, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, ‘90sera jam band Gov’t Mule, and countrified Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards will perform alongside Particle Kid (Nelson’s son Micah) and 21-year-old newcomer Myron Elkins.

Aug. 13 • Riverbend Music Center

At 90 years old, Willie Nelson is on the road again. Since 2016, Willie and his friends have toured under the banner Outlaw Music Festival, an all-day Americana, rock, blues, country and folk fest with a rotating lineup. It’s become one of North America’s largest touring music festivals. In the past, acts like ZZ Top, Billy Strings, Chris Stapleton, Bob Dylan, Avett Brothers, Margo Price, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and Jason Isbell have joined Willie onstage. For Cincinnati’s summer stop, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, ‘90sera jam band Gov’t Mule, and countrified Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards will perform alongside Particle Kid (Nelson’s son Micah) and 21-year-old newcomer Myron Elkins.

The fest demonstrates the wide-range of talent and genres that Nelson and his producing partner, Blackbird Presents, is able to draw. Because who wouldn’t want to hang out with the toking musician? (It should be noted he sells his weed and weed products, Willie’s Reserve, at the fest’s Outlaw Village, featuring all kinds of vendors). “Outlaw” has two meanings. In the ‘70s, Nelson and people like Johnny Cash rooted themselves in the outlaw country genre, which bucked the Nashville establishment in turn for more creative freedom. In 1976, Nelson released the compilation album Wanted! The Outlaws, with Waylon Jennings making an appearance.

“Outlaw” has two meanings. In the ‘70s, Nelson and people like Johnny Cash rooted themselves in the outlaw country genre, which bucked the Nashville establishment in turn for more creative freedom. In 1976, Nelson released the compilation album Wanted! The Outlaws, with Waylon Jennings making an appearance.

In 2023, Nelson still imbues that outlaw spirit in fighting for the legalization of marijuana and environmental issues. His tourmates — both up-and-coming and legendary — fit into his ethos. Already this year, he’s released the album I Don’t Know a Thing About Love, and in September he’ll release his 74th (!) solo studio album, Bluegrass, a bluegrass record. Thankfully, Willie has shown no signs of slowing down. Outlaw Music Festival takes place at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Riverbend Music Center. Info: riverbend.org. (Garin Pirnia)

In 2023, Nelson still imbues that outlaw spirit in fighting for the legalization of marijuana and environmental issues. His tourmates — both up-and-coming and legendary — fit into his ethos. Already this year, he’s released the album I Don’t Know a Thing About Love, and in September he’ll release his 74th (!) solo studio album, Bluegrass, a bluegrass record. Thankfully, Willie has shown no signs of slowing down. Outlaw Music Festival takes place at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Riverbend Music Center. Info: riverbend.org. (Garin Pirnia)

Willie Nelson

PHOTO: PAMELA SPRINGSTEEN

JD McPherson

PHOTO: LEVI MANCHAK, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Willie Nelson

PHOTO: PAMELA SPRINGSTEEN

JD McPherson

PHOTO: LEVI MANCHAK, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

AL STEWART

Aug. 16 • Memorial Hall

Most folk-pop songwriters explore the big human themes — love and loss, romantic longing, time’s inevitable march toward mortality. And British balladeer Al Stewart does, too. But he often explores those themes through stories and people pulled from history.

Has anyone else sung about French revolutionary Maximilien Robespierre? I can’t recall any contemporary troubadours covering former presidents William McKinley and Warren Harding or midcentury British pilot Amy Johnson. For those tales, we have to go to Stewart.

“To me, without bringing a historical perspective into anything you write, it’s only skin deep,” Stewart explained in a 2018 interview with the Cape Cod Times. “I made a forte out of history because I read history. It was second nature to me.”

Born in Scotland, raised in England and now based in Los Angeles, Stewart began his career as part of the British folk movement in the 1960s. It’s been many years since his biggest hit, “Year of the Cat,” dominated airwaves back in 1976, but if his songs often explore the past, he’s focused today on the present, as he continues to tour America and Europe with his band, The Empty Pockets.

On the current tour, he gives fans a mix of new and old, drawing heavily on the hits of his popular heyday, including “On the Border,” “Time Passages,” “Flying Sorcery” and, of course, “Year of the Cat.” From his most recent studio album, Sparks of Ancient Light, he offers the sweetly fetching, keenly observed “(A Child’s View of) the Eisenhower Years.” Who but Al Stewart could write such a song?

Al Stewart plays Memorial Hall at 8 p.m. Aug. 16. Info: memorialhallotr.com.

(Jack Heffron)

Al Stewart

PHOTO: ELABORATING, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

CROSSWORD

Across

1.  Celebrity chef Nadiya

8.  Skinks and goannas

15.  “When did you arrive?”

MIDDLE MANAGEMENT

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

44.  Places pitches?

47.  Character developers: Abbr.

48.  Fictional setting of “Anne of Green Gables”

50.  Turn red?

4.  Gmail button

5.  Relyvrio treats it, for short

6.  Song played after every Dodgers home victory

7.  Nine-sided shape

16.  Road that is the western border of NYC’s Alphabet City

17.  “Any second, junior”?

18.  Was a Franklin impersonator?

19.  Squeezed (out)

20.  Winemaker’s container

22.  Fictional Brontë governess

23.  It has a lot of screens

27.  Many coll. applicants

30.  Dog drool

31.  Afternoon hour

34.  “Would you like some Indian bread, grandma?”?

36.  Ump in a snorkeling place?

38.  Religious rights org.

39.  What’s cooking?

40.  Very perceptive “Jeopardy!” host Jennings?

51.  Reinforced concrete in some construction

52.  27-Down’s cousins

55.  How the Astors made their money

56.  US Open units

60.  “Didja throw the thing already?”

64.  Tire out dad?

66.  Put forth

67.  Where checked luggage goes

68.  Siberian plains

69.  Winningest manager in Kansas City Royals history

Down

1.  Car-washing necessity

2.  “Well, um, I guess so”

3.  It can hold up to eight decks

8.  Room for experimenting

9.  “___ got work to do”

10.  Middle of a kazoo?

11.  Room off of another room

12.  Red color

13.  Animal caught in headlights

14.  Totally with it

21.  Q neighbor 23.  Website with Outlook

Yuengling alternative, initially

“Beef” director ___ Sung Jin

Poetic conjunction

in Indy

32.  Laura Linney’s “Ozark” character

33.  Handy

35.  She’s a sister

37.  Rock bands?

41.  Actor Penn

42.  “Flamin’ Hot” director Longoria

43.  “Psych!”

44.  Aggresively close to

45.  Close companion

46.  Gentle touch

49.  Letters indicating going into overdraft: Abbr.

51.  Nikon setting

52.  They have it

53.  Provocative pic

54.  Looney Tunes character who woos Penelope

56.  Fix, as a pet

57.  Inarguably Beck’s best single (for crossword purposes only)

58.  Dresses, with “out”

59.  Maid’s challenge

61.  “Couldn’t agree more”

62.  San Diego-to-Phoenix dir.

63.  Commanders’ stats

65.  Condition with fixations, briefly

LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS:

Bertha G. Helmick attorney at law

DISSOLVE YOUR MARRIAGE

DISSOLVE YOUR

DISSOLVE YOUR MARRIAGE

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Starting at $500 plus court costs. 12 Hour Turnaround.

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810 Sycamore St. 4th Fl, Cincinnati, OH 45202 513.651.9666

Starting at $500 plus court costs.

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