CityBeat | September 6, 2023

Hamilton County Elections Officials: “CHOOSE LIFE” Signs are Campaign Signs on Nov. 7

Hamilton County Elections Officials: “CHOOSE LIFE” Signs are Campaign Signs on Nov. 7

amendment opens the door to anyone under 18 having an abortion, or even beginning cross-sex hormone treatment, without parental consent or notification,” Shnurr said. “Some may insist that the Catholic Church should not be involved in politics. However, the defense of life and care for women compels our participation in this critical moral issue.”

amendment opens the door to anyone under 18 having an abortion, or even beginning cross-sex hormone treatment, without parental consent or notification,” Shnurr said. “Some may insist that the Catholic Church should not be involved in politics. However, the defense of life and care for women compels our participation in this critical moral issue.”

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati told CityBeat the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs aren’t campaign signs, and that Catholic churches and schools will continue to sport them on election day.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati told CityBeat the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs aren’t campaign signs, and that Catholic churches and schools will continue to sport them on election day.

“There are no plans to remove the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs from polling locations on Nov. 7,” said Jennifer Schack, director of media relations for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. “The Catholic Church will always work to uphold the dignity of all human life, this includes supporting women and families in need of help and being the voice of the unborn child encouraging all to choose life.”

“There are no plans to remove the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs from polling locations on Nov. 7,” said Jennifer Schack, director of media relations for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. “The Catholic Church will always work to uphold the dignity of all human life, this includes supporting women and families in need of help and being the voice of the unborn child encouraging all to choose life.”

When asked if the BOE plans to tell polling locations they cannot place “CHOOSE LIFE” signs within 100 feet of polling location entrances on Nov.7, Linser said it’s in the works.

BY MADELINE FENING

With abortion rights and recreational marijuana on the November ballot, elections officials are preparing for an election day with big turnout and big emotions.

BY MADELINE FENING

The white and black “CHOOSE LIFE” signs that have dotted countless Cincinnati yards, fences and windows for years will now be considered official campaign signage during the Nov. 7 election.

The white and black “CHOOSE LIFE” signs that have dotted countless Cincinnati yards, fences and windows for years will now be considered official campaign signage during the Nov. 7 election.

Alex Linser, deputy director of elections for the Hamilton County Board of Elections (BOE) told CityBeat that, like any campaign signage, “CHOOSE LIFE” signs will need to remain at least 100 feet from polling place entrances come Nov. 7, including the dozens of churches that double as polling locations.

Alex Linser, deputy director of elections for the Hamilton County Board of Elections (BOE) told CityBeat that, like any campaign signage, “CHOOSE LIFE” signs will need to remain at least 100 feet from polling place entrances come Nov. 7, including the dozens of churches that double as polling locations.

“The rule is that a sign is a campaign sign or campaign paraphernalia when it is advocating for or against a candidate or issue that is currently on the ballot,” Linser told CityBeat. “With a constitutional amendment about abortion on the ballot, I have a hard time understanding how a ‘CHOOSE LIFE’ sign could be anything other than a political statement.”

“The rule is that a sign is a campaign sign or campaign paraphernalia when it is advocating for or against a candidate or issue that is currently on the ballot,” Linser told CityBeat. “With a constitutional amendment about abortion on the ballot, I have a hard time understanding how a ‘CHOOSE LIFE’ sign could be anything other than a political statement.”

Why now?

Post-viability abortions, which are already extremely rare, could still take place if the pregnant patient’s physician believes it’s necessary to protect the life of their patient. Abortion access has been in flux in Ohio and across the country since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

Post-viability abortions, which are already extremely rare, could still take place if the pregnant patient’s physician believes it’s necessary to protect the life of their patient. Abortion access has been in flux in Ohio and across the country since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

Where do all the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs come from?

Where do all the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs come from?

The “CHOOSE LIFE” signs may pop up in some neighborhoods more than others, but they’re ubiquitous in Cincinnati – displayed prominently on the fences of Elder and Seton High Schools, zip tied to light poles outside some gas stations, and a large version of the sign hangs on the side of Downtown’s Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains.

The “CHOOSE LIFE” signs may pop up in some neighborhoods more than others, but they’re ubiquitous in Cincinnati – displayed prominently on the fences of Elder and Seton High Schools, zip tied to light poles outside some gas stations, and a large version of the sign hangs on the side of Downtown’s Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains.

There’s little variation to the sign seen around town; that’s because they’re mostly coming from one place.

There’s little variation to the sign seen around town; that’s because they’re mostly coming from one place.

She also said the organization doesn’t know exactly how or when the Cincinnati Right to Life’s “CHOOSE LIFE” sign campaign started in Cincinnati.

She also said the organization doesn’t know exactly how or when the Cincinnati Right to Life’s “CHOOSE LIFE” sign campaign started in Cincinnati.

“No one can quite recall the exact origin of the movement of the signs and how and who began printing them or how many,” Strietmann said. “It is just part of the fabric of the pro-life movement and has been for many years.”

“No one can quite recall the exact origin of the movement of the signs and how and who began printing them or how many,” Strietmann said. “It is just part of the fabric of the pro-life movement and has been for many years.”

The Catholic component

When asked if the BOE plans to tell polling locations they cannot place “CHOOSE LIFE” signs within 100 feet of polling location entrances on Nov.7, Linser said it’s in the works.

“Yes. We are working on that,” Linser told CityBeat. “We are working on a communication to our polling locations to just remind them of these rules as we anticipate a lot of questions about it this November.”

“Yes. We are working on that,” Linser told CityBeat. “We are working on a communication to our polling locations to just remind them of these rules as we anticipate a lot of questions about it this November.”

Once CityBeat relayed Linser’s statement on the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs to Schack, she said “leadership at the pastoral center is researching the requirements of state law to ensure adherence at all of our institutions that are polling locations.”

Once CityBeat relayed Linser’s statement on the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs to Schack, she said “leadership at the pastoral center is researching the requirements of state law to ensure adherence at all of our institutions that are polling locations.”

Religious polling locations

The Catholic component

A longtime power figure in that local movement is the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, which is Cincinnati’s network of Catholic churches. Cincinnati’s Archbishop, Rev. Dennis Schnurr, has been actively campaigning against the November abortion amendment.

A longtime power figure in that local movement is the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, which is Cincinnati’s network of Catholic churches. Cincinnati’s Archbishop, Rev. Dennis Schnurr, has been actively campaigning against the November abortion amendment.

by

the numbers

Religious polling locations by the numbers

When analyzing the BOE list of polling places, CityBeat found nearly half of all polling locations in Hamilton County are religiously-based.

When analyzing the BOE list of polling places, CityBeat found nearly half of all polling locations in Hamilton County are religiously-based.

Why now?

Ohio voters will vote “Yes” or “No” on a constitutional amendment regarding reproductive health on Nov. 7. The amendment, titled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom With Protections for Health and Safety,” would protect a patient’s right to get an abortion before fetal viability, or when a fetus has a “significant likelihood of survival outside the uterus with reasonable measures.”

Ohio voters will vote “Yes” or “No” on a constitutional amendment regarding reproductive health on Nov. 7. The amendment, titled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom With Protections for Health and Safety,” would protect a patient’s right to get an abortion before fetal viability, or when a fetus has a “significant likelihood of survival outside the uterus with reasonable measures.”

Cincinnati Right to Life, a branch of the anti-abortion Ohio Right to Life organization, distributes the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs for free from their North College Hill office on Galbraith Road.

Right to Life, a branch of the anti-abortion Ohio Right to Life organization, distributes the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs for free from their North College Hill office on Galbraith Road.

Cincinnati

Laura Strietmann, executive director of Cincinnati Right to Life, declined to tell CityBeat how many signs their office routinely passes out.

Laura Strietmann, executive director of Cincinnati Right to Life, declined to tell CityBeat how many signs their office routinely passes out.

“I would never share how busy our office is peacefully and legally promoting the protection of pre-born people,” Strietmann told CityBeat

“I would never share how busy our office is peacefully and legally promoting the protection of pre-born people,” Strietmann told CityBeat

“Ohio does not need a constitutional amendment that only perpetuates violence and a culture of death. I urge Catholics and all people of goodwill to pray earnestly for the defeat of this extreme amendment; to educate yourselves and your family and friends about the dangers of the proposed amendment; and to vote NO on November 7,” Schnurr wrote in an Aug. 12 press release.

“Ohio does not need a constitutional amendment that only perpetuates violence and a culture of death. I urge Catholics and all people of goodwill to pray earnestly for the defeat of this extreme amendment; to educate yourselves and your family and friends about the dangers of the proposed amendment; and to vote NO on November 7,” Schnurr wrote in an Aug. 12 press release.

The Archbishop goes on to echo the repeatedly debunked arguments of “Protect Women Ohio,” an anti-abortion organization campaigning for “No” votes this November, specifically about “parental rights.”

Of the 296 polling locations in Hamilton County, 138 are churches or private religious schools, and 21 of those are listed online as Catholic.

Of the 296 polling locations in Hamilton County, 138 are churches or private religious schools, and 21 of those are listed online as Catholic.

Not all churches in Cincinnati have a “CHOOSE LIFE” sign on their property – several denominations of Christianity view abortion as a choice made by the pregnant person, and much of the Jewish faith believes life begins at first breath.

Not all churches in Cincinnati have a “CHOOSE LIFE” sign on their property – several denominations of Christianity view abortion as a choice made by the pregnant person, and much of the Jewish faith believes life begins at first breath.

Linser said the reason so many polling locations are churches is because of the long list of requirements polling locations need to fulfill.

Linser said the reason so many polling locations are churches is because of the long list of requirements polling locations need to fulfill.

“The vague language in the

The Archbishop goes on to echo the repeatedly debunked arguments of “Protect Women Ohio,” an anti-abortion organization campaigning for “No” votes this November, specifically about “parental rights.”

“The vague language in the

“We need a little over 300 polling locations in each county,” Lisner said. “There are a series of requirements that we need to make sure those buildings

“We need a little over 300 polling locations in each county,” Lisner said. “There are a series of requirements that we need to make sure those buildings

A "CHOOSE LIFE" sign sits outside St. William Church in Cincinnati's Price Hill neighborhood.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

With abortion rights and recreational marijuana on the November ballot, elections officials are preparing for an election day with big turnout and big emotions.

A "CHOOSE LIFE" sign sits outside St. William Church in Cincinnati's Price Hill neighborhood.

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

have sufficient parking, that there is a big enough space to hold the voting equipment and for the voters to be able to get in and get out easily. And those buildings have to be compliant with the Americans for Disabilities Act. So finding a facility essentially in every neighborhood in Hamilton County that meets those requirements, means that a lot of times a church or religious building is going to be the only building in the area that hits those key requirements.”

Campaigning around the 100 foot rule

Just because the “CHOOSE LIFE” signs will be considered campaign signs on Nov. 7 doesn’t mean they can’t be on display at polling places; there are just limits as to where anti-abortion advocates can plant them in the ground.

“Ohio law prohibits political campaigning within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling location,” Linser told CityBeat. “The voters must be able to come and go without any campaigning or

interference.”

The 100 foot rule applies to anything campaign related: signs, protesters, even a voter wearing a button in support of their issue or candidate will be asked to cover it up while voting. If a campaigner steps within 100 feet of the polling location entrance, or if a sign is left within that 100 feet, an elections official will ask them to move.

“When those buildings are serving as polling locations, they are serving a public function, and it’s really important that any citizen who wants to engage in political campaigning is able to exercise their free speech rights without harassment,” Linser said. “It is our responsibility as the Board of Elections to enforce that 100 foot rule. Our poll workers are the first line in enforcing that. So, if they see someone campaigning in the electioneering zone, they will ask them to move.”

Preparing for a big election

With abortion and recreational marijuana on the Nov. 7 ballot, Linser said

the BOE is preparing for a big turnout, and potentially more campaigning than usual.

“We know that issues really motivate voters to turn out. And these are two highly controversial issues that a lot of voters have passionate opinions about,” Linser said. “We are planning for a very high turnout this November. Normally in odd numbered years when it’s municipal elections we don’t see a lot of voter participation, but we’re treating this like an even numbered year in terms of what we’re planning for.”

Linser said the Hamilton County BOE is in need of more poll workers in order to pull off a smooth and successful Nov. 7 election. Some of those poll workers are known as “troubleshooters” who are specially trained to de-escalate conflict at polling locations.

“It’s pretty common for us to receive a call on election day that there is a dispute over where campaigners can stand outside the polling location,” he said. “We’ll send a troubleshooter out there, they have a tape measure, they will measure 100 feet from the door,

they will make a definitive ruling over where the campaigners can stand. They’ll talk to all the parties there to make sure they all agree on what the rule requires. They’re trained on deescalating conflict.”

Just because there are rules about where people can campaign outside of polling locations doesn’t mean you can’t stump for your cause or candidate publicly, including at polling locations on private properties. Linser said it’s important to remember this ahead of an election with heightened emotions.

“I do expect it will be more controversial in November,” he said. “Campaigning is a part of the democratic process and we have always asked our polling locations, especially the ones that are on private property, on the days when they are serving as polling locations, they’re serving a public function to facilitate democracy. We ask them that they treat all campaigners the same. We cannot be in the business of deciding who gets to exercise their free speech rights and who does not.”

Mason Company Webhelp Americas to Lay Off Up to Half of Workforce

BY MIRA LAZINE

Atech company based locally has recently announced plans to lay off up to 150 staff members over the course of the next two months out of their approximately 300 total employees.

Webhelp Americas, which is originally based in Paris, France, but has a branch locally in Mason, Ohio, primarily works in the field of social media content moderation. The Mason branch specifically is contracted with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. Content moderation refers to tracking instances of user-generated content and making determinations as to whether they violate the policies of the company that the moderator is employed with. As reported on by The Verge in regards to Facebook, this often results in employees facing illegal content, which can be extremely traumatic. Things like intense gore, child pornography, graphic fighting and hateful slurs are run of the mill in the industry, according to The Verge. Throughout the industry, content moderators have reported facing post-traumatic stress disorder due to what they have seen. The recent layoffs at Webhelp were announced in a move to reduce overhead costs, as per the wishes of ByteDance. Some of the employees may, however, be chosen to remain on staff as part-time employees or for reduced hours, though it’s unclear to what degree this will affect their ability to afford living costs.

“They want as few full-time employees as possible, and I can’t afford to only have a part-time job. I’ll either need to go find a second part-time job or a new full-time one...And that’s if I get chosen, which I know I won’t be,” says one employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, about how these layoffs will affect their wages.

Complaints abound before layoffs

Employees already were dissatisfied with Webhelp’s payment and benefits, saying they weren’t sufficient for the cost of living.

“The benefits are bare minimum, expensive and don’t cover gender affirming care. Management isn’t reliable on any level, and the high levels of uncertainty and irregularity in reliability from our leaders is horrible for my anxiety,” the anonymous employee told CityBeat. “It also creates this environment of mistrust between us lower level workers in regards to the higher ups. They promised so much when I was interviewed for the job and almost none of it was true.”

According to publicly available job listings, employees make between $18$21.50 an hour in addition to benefits such as a 401(k) and health insurance. Many employees are left worried for their jobs as a result of this forthcoming insecurity, in particular due to the difficulties many report with finding a stable

job in the current market.

This goes in tandem with issues employees cite about the work culture, which often was extremely demanding, causing additional mental strain and stress on the workforce.

“They said no one is guaranteed a job if you’re a lower totem pole worker like myself. I have limited availability due to having a home business and I’m chronically ill which affects my attendance,” said the anonymous employee. “They’re looking to keep only the closest to perfect employees and I know I’m not one of them thanks to my illness…the day the layoffs were announced I immediately went and started applying for new jobs. I know I’m not going to make the cut.”

Layoffs are to be implemented on

Oct. 8, although employees are expected to receive a reduction in hours much sooner, with many reporting that the process is already taking place.

Webhelp’s response

A representative for Webhelp responded to CityBeat’s request for comment by saying, “Markets are rapidly changing, and the needs of our strategic client partners are continually evolving so, when any reduction in workforce is necessary, we always try to minimize the impact on our people by offering redeployment opportunities within Webhelp wherever possible. We remain committed to the Mason site and will support our people throughout.”

Employees of the Mason branch of Webhelp Americas primarily do content moderation for ByteDance, TikTok's parent company.

PHOTO: SOLEN FEYISSA, UNSPLASH

Campaign Officials: Vivek Ramaswamy Will Stop Rapping “Lose Yourself”

BY MADELINE FENING

Campaign officials for presidential candidate Vivek

Ramaswamy tell CityBeat the Cincinnati native will stop performing Eminem songs during campaign stops after the rapper told the Republican to back off.

The 513 native

The 38-year-old “anti-woke” tech entrepreneur who wants to dismantle the Department of Education has surged in the polls recently. Through mostly self-funded campaigning, the millionaire Republican has tried to appeal to younger voters, even though he says climate change is a hoax and wants to raise the voting age to 25.

Ramaswamy’s how-do-you-do-fellow-kids approach included a performance of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” during an Aug. 12 campaign stop at the Iowa State Fair.

According to the Daily Mail, the performance caught the attention of Eminem, who sent a cease and desist to the Vivek 2024 campaign. In a letter dated Aug. 23, a representative for music licenser Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) told the campaign’s lawyers that the label had “received communications from Marshall B. Mathers,

III, professionally known as Eminem, objecting to the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign’s use of Eminem’s musical compositions (the “Eminem Works”) and requesting that BMI remove all Eminem Works from the Agreement.”

Snap back to reality

CityBeat asked the campaign for comment on Slim Shady’s request. A spokesperson with the campaign said Ramaswamy had just “cut loose” in the moment.

“Vivek just got on the stage and cut loose,” said Tricia McLaughlin, communications director for Vivek 2024.

“To the American people’s chagrin, we will have to leave the rapping to the real slim shady.”

It’s unclear if Ramaswamy will leave the rapping to the pros entirely during his presidential campaign. After graduating from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ramaswamy was known by his rap persona “Da Vek” while studying biology at Harvard. Even then, “Lose Yourself” was Ramaswamy’s theme song.

In a Dec. 2006 interview with the Harvard Crimson, Ramaswamy said of Eminem’s seminal song that he thinks “children should be forced to listen to it. The edited version, of course.”

Cincinnati-Area Letter Carriers Demand Protections from Violence on the Job

BY MADELINE FENING

Local letter carriers for the United States Postal Service (USPS) are demanding more action to protect mail carriers from on-the-job violence.

In an Aug. 30 press release, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 43, the union for Cincinnati-area USPS workers, said letter carrier attacks are on the rise locally.

“Since January of 2022, there have been 17 assaults or robberies of Branch 43 members,” said Ted Thompson, president of NALC Branch 43. “As they risk their health each day, letter carriers have become increasingly angry and frustrated by the accelerating number of assaults and armed robberies targeting them in an attempt to gain access to the public’s mail, which they safeguard.”

More reports of mail carriers being

robbed at gunpoint have started to pop up recently. In January 2022, a mail carrier was reportedly held at gunpoint in his van in Norwood; the thief was after the carrier’s collection box keys. In September 2022, another mail carrier was robbed at gunpoint, this time in Over-the-Rhine. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offered up a $50,000 reward for information on the suspect.

“These crimes need to stop now,” Thompson said. “The Postal Service needs to protect us and prosecutors need to send a clear message through their actions by aggressively pursuing harsh federal penalties to these criminals and letting the public and letter carriers know these attacks will not be tolerated.”

A USPS spokesperson told CityBeat the department launched a new program to protect mail carriers earlier

this year.

“The Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service have seen an increase in robberies of letter carriers and mail theft, as crime has risen across the country,” said USPS spokesperson Naddia Dhalai. “This is why Project Safe Delivery was launched on May 12, 2023, to keep our letter carriers and the mail safe from criminals. We look forward to sharing our progress on Protect Safe Delivery with the American people soon.”

One of the Project Safe Delivery measures includes replacing tens of thousands of arrow locks on blue collection boxes with electronic locks.

“There has been an increase in letter carrier robberies nationwide where criminals are targeting letter carriers for their arrow and modified arrow lock (MAL) keys,” USPS said in a March

press release. “To make arrow keys less valuable for criminals, the Postal Service will replace 49,000 antiquated arrow locks with electronic locks. New locks have been installed in select cities with installation to occur in additional major metropolitan areas soon. The Postal Service and the Postal Inspection Service are also increasing Arrow Key accountability reviews in select high Postal crime areas.”

Vivek Ramaswamy

PHOTO: GAGE SKIDMORE, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

More reports of mail carriers being robbed at gunpoint have started to pop up recently.

PHOTO: ARNET, XAVIER PEXELS

FALL ARTS

The National’s Homecoming Festival is back, along with new theater productions, art exhibits and classical music performances

BY CITYBEAT STAFF

School is back in session, pool season is coming to a close and the annual Riverfest firework display has signaled the official end of summer in Cincinnati over Labor Day weekend. As we wave goodbye to one season, it’s time to welcome another — fall — and the flurry of art activity that comes with it.

In CityBeat’s Fall Arts Preview, we take an in-depth look at the return of the highly anticipated Homecoming Festival and explore fall offerings from local arts organizations.

HOME AGAIN

The National bring back the Homecoming Festival five years after the inaugural event

BY JASON GARGANO

The National need little introduction at this point in their long-running existence. The band — which, as ever, features frontman Matt Berninger, guitarists Aaron and Bryce Dessner, drummer Bryan Devendorf and bassist Scott Devendorf — has been a fixture on the musical landscape for two decades, in the process moving from indie rock upstarts to widely renowned veterans with a rabid fan base that now spans multiple generations.

It’s been quite a ride for five Cincinnati natives who, back at the turn of the century, had modest aspirations beyond playing gigs at the Mercury Lounge while they held down day jobs in their adopted home of New York City. Flash forward to 2023: The National’s ninth studio album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, dropped in April, accompanied by a tour that finds the band in typically dynamic live form.

Better yet for those in The National’s Ohio hometown, the aptly titled Homecoming music festival returns to the riverfront Sept. 15 and 16 (this time at the Andrew J Brady Music Center’s ICON festival stage at Smale Park) following a hiatus due to the pandemic. Conceived and curated with unsurprising acumen by the band’s well-connected members, the first installment in 2018 was a success on every level, delivering an impressive two-day lineup featuring the likes of Alvvays, Julien Baker, Big Thief, The Breeders, Father John Misty and Moses Sumney. And, of course, there were rousing sets by The National, which anchored each day by playing the albums that broke them to a wider audience — 2005’s Alligator the first night, 2007’s Boxer the next.

The original conception was for Homecoming to be a biannual event — but COVID had other ideas. Rumors had been swirling over the last year about the

festival’s possible return, and this May the band finally announced its resurrection: “When we launched Homecoming in 2018, we were overwhelmed by the response from the community and by our renewed sense of connection to our hometown. It was such an exciting, memorable weekend and we’ve long hoped to bring it back. We’re honored to return to Cincinnati five years later and be joined by so many of our favorite musicians and friends,” The National said in a press release.

The National see Homecoming as a chance to expose out-of-town attendees to Cincinnati’s plentiful cultural pleasures. The guys also see it as an excuse to bring in a bunch of killer artists for locals to experience over a two-day span.

“There are no corporate spreadsheets involved,” drummer Bryan Devendorf says, laughing, in a recent phone conversation with CityBeat. “It’s very much an artistic thing. It’s not an attempt to be relevant. It’s the stuff that we like. We make a list, and then make the offer. Some say yes, some say they can’t do it. We were fortunate to have a lot of yesses.”

The yesses this time include a pair of artists that influenced The National long before the fivesome formed in 1999 (iconic singer, songwriter and poet Patti Smith and indie rock legends Pavement); a band that came up with them in

the NYC scene of the early aughts (The Walkmen); a set of artists who’ve made their names in recent years (Arooj Aftab, Julia Jacklin, Snail Mail, Bartees Strange and Weyes Blood); and a quartet of emergent Cincinnati area acts (Ballard, Carriers, The Drin and Leo Pastel).

The lineup is drawn from friends as well as those they admire from afar. Smith, who was originally slated to play the festival in 2020, has long been on their wish list. The admiration seems mutual.

“We’re fortunate in that we have through Aaron and Bryce a lot of connections with people that become collaborators and fans of the band,” Devendorf says. “I was blown away that we have Patti Smith and her band playing. Apparently, what happened was we did an annual event called the Tibet House benefit concert at Carnegie Hall in New York many, many years ago. Patti Smith was there with Michael Stipe, just as friends of the Tibet House organization. They were watching our sound check when we played ‘Bloodbuzz (Ohio),’ and Bryce saw Patti and Michael enjoying themselves. Afterwards, Patti actually spoke with Bryce and said to him, ‘We really enjoyed listening to you. It looks like you guys are also enjoying yourselves. Keep on doing what you’re doing.’ They were words of encouragement.”

Pavement, which has been on a triumphant reunion tour over the last year-plus, was another obvious lineup choice. The band’s early landmarks Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain had a potent impact on Berninger and Scott Devendorf when they met as students at the University of Cincinnati in the early 1990s. Berninger has long cited Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus as one of his favorite lyricists, an influence that might come as a surprise given their largely divergent writing styles.

Then there is The Walkmen, an early 2000s New York City contemporary

known for their fiery live shows and a similarly lanky frontman who mixes urgent shouts with more reserved vocal tones.

“The Walkmen are hugely important for us,” Devendorf says. “That was the band that kind of showed us how to do it. Not that we’re copying them musically but more the passion and intensity that you have to bring to the performance. Otherwise, it’s just boring. I feel like we were a very boring band until we saw them play. It was like, ‘Ok, let’s do what they do. That sounds and looks amazing.’ So, we’re super stoked to have them.”

The rest of the Homecoming lineup features artists that have emerged in the wake of The National’s rise over the last decade-plus. Some are obvious stylistic descendants, others less so.

“We don’t really have a concept,” Devendorf says of their curatorial approach to booking the festival. “I guess unintentionally we have an ethos and a sensibility which I think informs the decision making. We like people like a Bartees Strange, who is very self-made and idiosyncratic; the creativity is just next level. We like singular voices like Weyes Blood and Snail Mail, bands that have a sound or artists that are identifiable.”

Strange has long been an admirer of The National, going as far as releasing a covers record featuring National songs that ended up being his entrée to wider success through a pair of stellar, genrejumping albums of his own material in 2020’s Live Forever and 2022’s Farm to Table

“I remember watching them play the first time and just being like, ‘What is this band and what are they all doing with each other?’” Strange says in a recent phone interview with CityBeat. “I felt like I was falling in love with each of them as characters. Scott and Bryan on the rhythm section, and Bryan playing the drums the way that he plays the

The National play Homecoming Festival on Sept. 15 and 16.

PHOTO: JOSH GOLEMAN

drums. Watching Aaron and Bryce on the wings playing guitar the only way they can play guitar. Watching Matt just kind of float among all of it and let you into his world in a way that not a lot of frontmen authentically do anymore. Matt is one of the frontmen that can take you on a journey. These are all things when you are an aspiring musician that you want to fall in love with. You want to see people doing music at the highest level. You want to be inspired. I remember seeing them and it just totally inspired me, because I was like, ‘Yo, this shit is real!’”

Strange has gone on to open shows for The National over the last year, a fact he still has a tough time believing.

“I feel so lucky,” he says. “I think the coolest part is getting to meet them, and then playing with them and realizing you are kind of like them. You all share this passion for music. It’s like a life-affirming, nice feeling to know that you weren’t crazy all those years wishing you were playing at Primavera (music festival) or whatever. It’s like, ‘Nah, you’re going to get to do that.’ It makes you feel like you weren’t crazy, which is nice, because I felt crazy for a long time.”

The National will again play a pair of fan-favorite albums front to back to close each day’s Homecoming festivities — 2010’s High Violet the first night, 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me the next. Devendorf finds it an interesting live challenge to revisit different eras in the band’s winding history. Asked to pinpoint why he thinks their songs have resonated with so many for so long, he singles out Berninger.

“We’re a song-based band with, I think, a generational talent writing lyrics,” he says. “To me the lyrics are the whole enchilada. That’s where it all begins, and then we all have our own little unique ways of playing and things that just kind of work. But it’s just guys who’ve grown to really like each other’s idiosyncrasies.

“I lean into Matt’s cadences and the kind of steady-rockin’ nature of Aaron’s playing from a foundational approach,” Devendorf continues. “And Bryce chugs along, but then he has these flourishes like a babbling brook. It’s all kind of a mixture, and I don’t want to step on their toes. It’s really just staying out of people’s way and keeping time but also keeping it interesting and not cliché.”

Toe-stepping is inevitable when a band has been together as long as The National. Berninger has had a particularly rough go in recent years, admitting to a bout of writer’s block that had the band’s future in doubt. One way out of the rut was to invite more outside

collaborators, which began in earnest on 2019’s I Am Easy to Find and continues on First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which features vocal contributions from Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers.

The fresh voices have introduced the band to a new generation of listeners, but it also has some old-school fans pining for The National’s edgier early days. Devendorf hints that the band’s new material has some of the propulsive flair of the past while also injecting unexplored elements into their sonic approach. Things are looking promising if the two new songs released Aug. 17 are any indication of where they’re headed. “Space Invader” opens in typically languid fashion as Berninger relays an existential story about a relationship impacted by small, seemingly inconsequential decisions. Then, about halfway through its seven-minute running time, something happens — an ambient tone shift marked by Devendorf’s steadily building drums, surging keyboards and strings and an eerie, mumbling Berninger in the background as the Dessners weave dissonant guitar lines to an epic finale. “Alphabet City” is unexpected in a different way, a brief mood piece floating by on Berninger’s restrained baritone and a richly textured soundscape that culminates with a satisfying use of twinkling piano.

Devendorf is optimistic about The National’s future but admits it’s not always smooth sailing.

“I don’t know any other thing to compare it to,” he says, laughing, when asked what it’s like to play as a rhythm section with his brother for so long.

“I feel freer to criticize, I guess, and that’s great because we’ve been playing together forever. Same with the (Dessner) twins — we’ve been playing together since we were 14-year-olds, so there are all these intuitive tendencies. We’ve all kind of improved in a way. We’ve been lucky since we’ve stayed together that we can refine what we’ve always done. But we obviously want to change things and stretch.”

Given the nature of the world today, the future of Homecoming is still in flux. But Devendorf — who is the only National member to move back to Cincinnati permanently — says the band has every intention of making it a regular affair.

“I guess that would be the theme — interesting music that we like, and we hope other people will too,” he says, summing up what they’re attempting to do with Homecoming. “We want to shine a light on Cincinnati and be ambassadors for the rest of the country — and the world, really.”

The National’s Homecoming Festival takes place Sept. 15 and 16 at Andrew J Brady Music Center’s ICON festival stage at Smale Park. Info: americanmary.com/homecoming.

AN ARTSY AUTUMN

A number of artistic adventures, from opera to ballet and fashion history, await Cincinnatians this fall

BY LEYLA SHOKOOHE

Fall might mean the days are getting cooler, but inside Cincinnati’s venues, the temperatures are rising. We’ve had all spring and summer to get excited about the respective season lineups for Cincinnati’s performing arts organizations, and finally, the time is nigh. From world premiere choreography to kick off Cincinnati Ballet’s diamond anniversary season to a once-lost Tchaikovsky opera to a twelve-foot puppet to a real-time piano play-off and more, autumn in the Queen City is about to be hot, hot, hot.

Here are the top ten performing arts events we’re looking forward to this fall.

Tobi Ewing: The World Is (Not) My Home; M. Carmen Lane: In This House (We Forgot About the Cycle of Things); Rebecca

Nava Soto: Ritual of Imagination and Reconnection

Sept. 15 | Weston Art Gallery

Three powerful exhibitions by Ohiobased artists of color open Sept. 15 at the Weston Art Gallery. Place and the concept of home are themes each artist explores using their respective cultural heritage and experience to create three wholly unique representations of origin stories. Ewing’s work examines home through the context of the Black Indigenous experience. Lane’s work is inspired by a month spent in the Everglades National Park. Soto explores rituals, language and landscape, drawing on her indigenous Mexican roots. The multifaceted exhibitions stand on their

own but also promise a compelling unified narrative arc. Info: cincinnatiarts. org/weston-art-gallery.

Little Amal in Cincinnati

Sept. 22 | Various locations and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

A twelve-foot puppet representing a tenyear-old Syrian refugee girl named Amal is making its way to the Queen City, after traveling through 13 other countries. Her journey is a sweeping, multinational celebration of the hope, resiliency and indefatigable spirit of immigrants, refugees and displaced people. The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra is presenting Amal’s visit and performing in an invite-only event at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Earn an invite by volunteering for the walk or partake in a pre-walk workshop.

Info: ccocincinnati.org.

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s “The Rite of Spring”

Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 | Music Hall

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra opens its season with Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring,” one of the most infamous classical compositions in history. When Stravinsky’s dissonant rumination on an ancient pagan ritual premiered in 1913, the opening night crowd went wild, breaking out in a riot. The ballet and orchestral piece went on to find great success over time and was a forebear of modern classical music. While the audience will likely stay seated this time, the music remains as propulsive, primal and evocative as ever. Info: cincinnatisymphony.org.

Cincinnati Ballet’s Kaplan New Works Series, More Room to Play

Sept. 15-24 | Aronoff Center for the Arts

Cincinnati Ballet’s fan-favorite Kaplan New Works series returns to open the company’s 60th anniversary season, and second under the leadership of artistic director Jodie Gates. This annual showcase of fresh and emerging choreography features five works in total: a world premiere each from freelance choreographer Houston Thomas and Cincinnati Ballet favorite choreographer David Morse; a piece by Smuin Ballet artistic director Amy Seiwert; work by Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic collaborator Jennifer Archibald; and a world premiere by New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck. Innovative and distinct, the Kaplan New Works series always sets the tone for an

Behind the scenes of Taft Museum’s Sporting Fashion, piloting ensemble with Abercrombie & Fitch skullcap and mittens, 1930s.

PHOTO: BRIAN DAVIS, © FIDM MUSEUM. COURTESY AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ARTS.

invigorating season. Info: cballet.org.

Contemporary Arts Center’s A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure

Sept. 22-Jan. 28, 2024 | Contemporary Arts Center

The Contemporary Arts Center’s current home was the first American project designed by the late renowned architect Zaha Hadid and opened in 2003 to much acclaim. The museum was also the first in the United States to be designed by a woman. A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure reflects the multifaceted legacy Hadid’s design ushered in. The exhibit features newly commissioned site-specific work from eight international artists in a variety of media, as well as artifacts and ephemera from Hadid’s own career. Info: contemporaryartscenter.org.

University of Cincinnati Musical Sweet Charity

Sept. 28-30 | CCM Musical Theatre, Patricia Corbett Theater

The classic musical Sweet Charity gets the CCM Musical Theatre treatment this fall. With American repertoire hits like “The Rich Man’s Frug” and “Big Spender,” this crowd-pleaser follows optimist Charity Hope Valentine as she seeks love in the Big Apple during the groovy 1960s. CCM’s Musical Theatre department is consistently one of the best in the country, producing several big names in the industry, so why not take in a show at a very affordable price, get a quality production, and potentially be able to say that you saw them before they made it big. Info: ccmonstage.universitytickets.com.

Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls

1800-1960 at Taft Museum of Art

Oct. 14-Jan. 14, 2024 | Taft Museum of Art

Athleisure is socially accepted attire for anyone in any location now, especially women, but clothing designed for physical motion was often off-limits for women — as was physical activity and sport itself. Indeed, for much of history, clothing restricted women’s movement, literally and figuratively, especially when it came to sports and physical activity. Sporting Fashion takes a magnifying glass to the evolution of women’s fashion in the world of sports, examining the balance of style with function that typified women’s athletic attire. This exhibition features over 60 fully accessorized ensembles. Info:

taftmuseum.org.

Nina Simone Piano Concerto Competition Finals

Oct. 6 | Music Hall

The Nina Simone Piano Concerto Competition returns with its thrilling conclusion as the three artist finalists compete for the grand prize on stage at Music Hall live, with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Louis Langrée. The inaugural competition elevates African American pianists, giving them a platform of high visibility and opportunity for more widespread support. The gold medalist and grand prize winner will receive $50,000 and performance opportunities. Info: cincinnatisymphony.org.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre at Aronoff Center for the Arts

Oct. 20-21 | Aronoff Center for the Arts

Kicking off a season celebrating women dance artists and women-led companies, Mutual Arts Theatre and the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series present the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Led by artistic director Melissa M. Young, the 14-person ensemble comprises the oldest continuously operating professional dance company in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Dallas Black Dance Theatre will perform a mixed repertory of modern, ballet, jazz and ethnic work by a variety of choreographers over two nights. Local dancers are invited to take an afternoon masterclass with Young on Oct. 21. Info: mutualdance.org.

Queen City Opera’s “Tchaikovsky: Undina”

Oct. 7-8 | Finneytown Performing Arts Center

Queen City Opera is known for taking traditional operas and presenting them through a contemplative, considerate and often contemporary lens, and Tchaikovsky’s “Undina” is no different. In 1869, the famed composer created sketches for an opera about a community that disrespects the sea and consequently experiences catastrophic flooding, though he never completed the work. Artistic director Dr. Isaac Selya picked up the mantle, spending three years reconstructing the opera, using other works of Tchaikovsky to devise a pastiche, 85-minute world premiere production focusing on ocean conservancy and sustainable energy production. Info: queencityopera.org.

CURTAIN CALL

Greater Cincinnati theater companies and universities are slated to present well-rounded offerings throughout the fall

BY RICK PENDER

If you’re a theater fan, September is welcomed as the month when Cincinnati’s local theaters launch their new seasons. If you’re someone who’s just been thinking about checking out a show or two, well, you’re in the right place, too.

Already under way is Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (through Oct. 1). Cash’s timeless country songs are arranged to create a portrait of 20thcentury America. For a more contemporary category of music, we have the touring production of MJ The Musical, the story of Michael Jackson’s early career, at the Aronoff Center for the Arts through Sept. 17.

If you prefer drama, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has a classic thriller Gaslight, running from Sept. 8-24. Based on the 1944 movie, it’s the story of a young wife whose reality is twisted by her manipulative husband, leading her to question the truth and his intentions. The story of a manipulative husband who tries to drive his young bride mad through psychological abuse has been newly adapted for the stage by prolific playwright Steven Dietz. This play’s world premiere is produced in partnership with the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Massachusetts, where it had its first production earlier this year.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati will stage What the Constitution Means to Me (Sept. 9-Oct. 1). Playwright Heidi Schreck based her critically acclaimed play from 2017 on her experience as a 15-year-old who earned her college tuition by winning constitutional debate competitions across the U.S. It’s both hilarious and hopeful, asking big questions about America’s next generation with a dose of humor and optimism.

Know Theatre is the venue for off-beat scripts. Monsters of the

American Cinema (Sept. 22-Oct. 8) is a heartwarming, two-character drama about race, sexuality and family in which a gay Black man struggles to raise his late partner’s straight White teenage son. By Christian St. Croix, a fast-rising playwright from San Diego, the play debuted there in 2019.

Musical theater choices include Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Bright Star at Cincinnati Landmark Productions’ Covedale Theatre. Bright Star (Sept. 7-Oct. 1) tells a true story of love and redemption in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in 19451946, with flashbacks to the 1920s. The 2016 Broadway production received five Tony nominations, and its bluegrass score recording won a 2017 Grammy.

The 1966 musical Sweet Charity at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (Sept. 28-30) gets a short run later this month. With a book by playwright Neil Simon, it’s about the romantic ups and downs of Charity Hope Valentine, an optimistic prostitute who works as a taxi dancer in a Times Square dance hall. Gwen Verdon originated the role on Broadway, and Shirley MacLaine filled it in a 1969 movie.

In October local stages will have productions that are both provocative and

entertaining. The Cincinnati Playhouse will present Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s (Oct. 14-Nov. 5), the most-produced play on American stages during the 2022-2023 season. It’s set at a truck-stop sandwich shop that gives its once-incarcerated kitchen staff a shot at reclaiming their lives. An unusual musical, the national tour of Girl from the North Country (Oct. 17-29 at the Aronoff Center), uses songs by Bob Dylan to tell the lifeaffirming story of wayward travelers in a boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1934. It was well-received on Broadway in 2020, interrupted by the COVID pandemic but returned in 2021-2022.

If you prefer something brand new, there will be the world premiere by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company of Wrecking Ball (Oct. 13-28). In this caustic contemporary comedy, a team of TV screenwriters struggle to adapt a beloved but controversial classic play. Playwright Zina Camblin is a Cincinnati native and a graduate of the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Her plays have been produced nationwide, but this is her first work to be staged for Cincinnati audiences.

Don’t lose track of productions at local universities. They are affordable and offer both traditional works and

new plays. UC, Northern Kentucky University and Xavier University have fine theater programs to train performers for the professional stage. Catch them now, and it’s likely you’ll see them again on local professional stages or even on Broadway.

Xavier University will stage three shows across an interesting spectrum. Up first will be Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information (Sept. 15-17), a fastmoving, avant-garde kaleidoscope with more than a hundred characters trying to piece together what they know. It will be followed by the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about a singing nun and a family of musical kids, The Sound of Music (Oct. 19-22), and then one of Shakespeare’s loveliest romantic comedies, Twelfth Night (Nov. 17-19).

NKU has two offerings. It will present The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Sept. 28-Oct. 8) by Simon Stephens, the fascinating story of an autistic teen who investigates the death of a neighbor’s dog. Later NKU will offer 9-5 The Musical (Nov. 3-11), with tunes by Dolly Parton, based on the 1980 hit movie about three women coworkers who conspire to teach their misogynistic boss a lesson.

At UC, in addition to the musical theater program’s already mentioned production of Sweet Charity, the CCM acting program will present two interesting dramas. Everybody (Oct. 5-7) is a modern riff on the 15th-century morality play Everyman. Life is determined by chance, and so is the cast: Roles are reassigned at each performance by lottery. Later in the month, Let the Right One In (Oct. 19-28) by Jack Thorne is a collaboration with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company: Four professional actors will join a cast of UC student actors for this unusual vampire myth that’s also a coming-of-age love story. It’s about a bullied teenage boy and a strange girl who lives next door who has been a teenager for a very long time. It will be staged by Brian Isaac Phillips, Cincy Shakes’ artistic director. Get ready. Here comes a season of theater!

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Gaslight is a story of psychological abuse.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY CINCINNATI SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

ARTS & CULTURE

What do we want our cities to be? Why are they the way they are and how can we make them better for everyone?

These questions seem broad, but when Sarah Mayorga asks them in her latest book Urban Specters, the reader is urged to think about them in a definite way. More importantly, Cincinnati readers can zone in even further, as the book intimately compares and contrasts two local neighborhoods — Riverside and Carthage — and their residents while exploring the topic of racial capitalism.

The Harvard Law Review defines racial capitalism as, “The process of deriving social and economic value from the racial identity of another person.” It goes on to say that the “harmful” practice affects individuals and society as a whole. In Urban Specters –published Aug. 29 by The University of North Carolina Press – Mayorga points to racial capitalism as, “the ‘formation’ that produces poverty in Cincinnati and the United States.”

On a grand scale, Mayorga says sociologists tend to focus on their particular genre of study when defining a wide-ranging topic like racial capitalism; so a historical sociologist might cite slavery as a prime example of racial capitalism and even the beginning of racial capitalism in the United States. A medical sociologist may look at health outcomes of different people suffering from similar afflictions, she says. As an urban sociologist, Mayorga named gentrification as a common example.

“For me as an urban sociologist thinking about cities, when I’m thinking about racial capitalism, it’s like, how does racism — the dehumanization of racism, the devaluing of certain groups — facilitate capitalist accumulation? We can think of gentrification as an example of how racial capitalism functions in cities,” Mayorga tells CityBeat. “There is this disinvestment from predominantly Black spaces. There is disinvestment from poor neighborhoods and that disinvestment then facilitates capitalist investment later on.”

Sociologist Studies Cincinnati Neighborhoods to Explore ‘Racial Capitalist Harm’

BY KATIE GRIFFITH

The story that circulates about these neglected neighborhoods is one that shifts blame to residents, condemning them as the culprit of their circumstances, while the ways that “policymakers, developers and other actors” facilitate certain conditions are ignored, Mayorga says. This “made up” story tends to create division between people when in reality what we need is connection, understanding and a sense of community, she says.

In the book, Mayorga uncovers everyday manifestations of racial capitalism through the eyes of Cincinnati residents. She calls these examples

Sarah Mayorga is the author of Urban Specters

PHOTO: KRISTEN RENNEKER

“urban specters,” and whether the residents are aware of it or not, Mayorga concludes that they are victims of this systemic practice. Urban specters are descriptions people use to make sense of or describe their living conditions and everyday life, often recognition of the harm being done as a result of racial capitalism. She conducted interviews with residents of Riverside and Carthage, examining how they interpret their lives and neighborhoods.

As a former professor at the University of Cincinnati from 2012-2016, Mayorga developed an interest in Cincinnati’s many neighborhoods and what was happening in them, specifically pertaining to the intersections of race and class, she says.

“The project often transforms by what you find in the field,” she tells CityBeat. “So in speaking to other people in that data residency, it turned into this book kind of chronicling people’s experiences. And what I think are really inequitable experiences, sometimes painful experiences. And trying to make sense of that within the larger Cincinnati context. What’s interesting is, I picked Riverside and Carthage in part because there’s similarities in terms of some demographics but also really important, different ones, particularly thinking about the racial and ethnic composition.”

Mayorga says the striking fact of the narratives was how similar they were despite different contexts. Between 2014 and 2015, she interviewed 117 people from Riverside and Carthage as well as some from surrounding neighborhoods, according to the book. She chose the neighborhoods for their economic and demographic profiles and size.

In Urban Specters, she describes the two neighborhoods as historically “white and working class” while today Riverside is “predominantly white” and Carthage is “multiracial” and has the largest Latinx population in Cincinnati.

She introduces “working class” as a meaningful definition to residents, with 52% of them identifying as such, according to Urban Specters. While class is a tough category to define, the remaining residents identified as lower class (17%), middle class (18%), upper class (10%) and the rest didn’t select an identifier, the book says. Some occupations in Carthage and Riverside were

listed as social worker, delivery driver, mechanic, housekeeper or paralegal.

From her qualitative research, Mayorga deduced three main “urban specters” that were identified and repeated among Riverside and Carthage residents as neglect, trash and security.

“People use this metaphor of trash a lot,” she says. “So sometimes it was actual physical trash on the ground but other times it was this differentiation between themselves as honorable, worthwhile, worth investing in. And then who they identified as either the people who ruined the neighborhood or the people who are bringing it down were ‘trash.’”

She employs word clouds in the book as an effective way to directly convey how residents see their neighborhoods. Words like “quiet, convenient, unsafe, forgotten, inaccessible and hopeful” were used to describe Riverside and “needs guidance, tranquillo (calm), mixed, declining, disconnected and multigenerational,” were used for Carthage. Each word cloud has an abundance of words conveying varying emotions.

Mayorga noticed ways that residents combatted signs of “racial capitalist harm” through self-policing and neighborhood gatherings. She says that they found ways to make meaningful connections instead of isolating or condemning neighbors when problems arose. She called this “enacting care in the face of racial capitalism.”

Again, the question arises: what do we want for our neighbors and neighborhoods and how do we achieve that? Mayorga says, if creating places of care is the aim, we have to care about each other, an exercise that can be applied anywhere.

“I think this is very much a Cincinnati story,” Mayorga says. “But I think it points us to ways to understand what’s happening in other cities as well. So, what are residents saying about what their experiences are, and how can we zoom out to understand how to situate that within the broader history and current dynamic of a city? So while the story might not be exactly the same [in a different place], I think it gives us at least a way forward.”

To learn more about Urban Specters and to purchase the book, visit uncpress.org.

“People use this metaphor of trash a lot,” Mayorga says. “So sometimes it was actual physical trash on the ground but other times it was this differentiation between themselves as honorable, worthwhile, worth investing in.”

‘Rain Man,’ the Film that Propelled Cincinnati’s Film Industry,

‘Rain Man,’ the Film that Propelled Cincinnati’s Film Industry, Turns 35

BY STEVEN ROSEN

BY STEVEN ROSEN

When Fathom Events — the presenter of special cinematic screenings in North American movie theaters — announced its upcoming 35th anniversary presentations of Rain Man, it didn’t mince words about the 1988 film’s legacy.

When Fathom Events — the presenter of special cinematic screenings in North American movie theaters — announced its upcoming 35th anniversary presentations of Rain Man, it didn’t mince words about the 1988 film’s legacy.

It’s worth remembering as a “Powerful and Poignant film,” the media alert says. Fathom Events and co-presenter/ film distributor Park Circus bring it to theaters on September 17 and 20.

It’s worth remembering as a “Powerful and Poignant film,” the media alert says. Fathom Events and co-presenter/ film distributor Park Circus bring it to theaters on September 17 and 20.

Directed by Barry Levinson, Rain Man stars Tom Cruise as a fashionable but financially imperiled and hottempered Los Angeles car dealer who discovers he has an autistic savant older brother in Cincinnati poised to inherit their father’s substantial estate. Cruise’s Charlie Babbitt comes here to intervene by leading Dustin Hoffman’s Raymond through unusual encounters in Greater Cincinnati and on the road to L.A.

Directed by Barry Levinson, Rain Man stars Tom Cruise as a fashionable but financially imperiled and hottempered Los Angeles car dealer who discovers he has an autistic savant older brother in Cincinnati poised to inherit their father’s substantial estate. Cruise’s Charlie Babbitt comes here to intervene by leading Dustin Hoffman’s Raymond through unusual encounters in Greater Cincinnati and on the road to L.A.

Released as a prestige title in December of 1988, it won four Academy Awards for that year, including Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay (by Ronald Bass), and Best Actor for Hoffman’s memorable performance as a man who can’t meaningfully interact with the outside world, but is a veritable genius with numbers and esoteric facts.

Released as a prestige title in December of 1988, it won four Academy Awards for that year, including Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay (by Ronald Bass), and Best Actor for Hoffman’s memorable performance as a man who can’t meaningfully interact with the outside world, but is a veritable genius with numbers and esoteric facts.

In Cincinnati at the time, the film won the enthusiastic support of a local populace thrilled to not only see

In Cincinnati at the time, the film won the enthusiastic support of a local populace thrilled to not only see

Greater Cincinnati sites on the big screen, but also to have a major hit movie with a script specifically set in Cincinnati. It also increased local (and national) awareness of autism.

Greater Cincinnati sites on the big screen, but also to have a major hit movie with a script specifically set in Cincinnati. It also increased local (and national) awareness of autism.

And it helped set in motion the city’s establishment of a film commission which, over the decades, has lured such

And it helped set in motion the city’s establishment of a film commission which, over the decades, has lured such

notable movies as Traffic, A Rage in Harlem, Carol, The Fits, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Ides of March, Miles Ahead and Dark Waters to be at least partially filmed here.

notable movies as Traffic, A Rage in Harlem, Carol, The Fits, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Ides of March, Miles Ahead and Dark Waters to be at least partially filmed here.

“It is what prompted the need for a film commission,” says Kristen Schlotman, Film Cincinnati’s executive

“It is what prompted the need for a film commission,” says Kristen Schlotman, Film Cincinnati’s executive

director, of Rain Man

According to her, Levinson and his team had gotten in touch with Ohio’s head for film production, Eve Lapolla, and asked for a local contact to see Cincinnati. “She got in touch with (the late) local television producer Lori Holladay and asked if she could help tour these filmmakers around Cincinnati,” Schlotman explains. The Greater Cincinnati Film Commission was established in 1991. “It was the first film office to be incorporated as a 501(c)(3) anywhere in the country,” she says.

director, of Rain Man

According to her, Levinson and his team had gotten in touch with Ohio’s head for film production, Eve Lapolla, and asked for a local contact to see Cincinnati. “She got in touch with (the late) local television producer Lori Holladay and asked if she could help tour these filmmakers around Cincinnati,” Schlotman explains. The Greater Cincinnati Film Commission was established in 1991. “It was the first film office to be incorporated as a 501(c)(3) anywhere in the country,” she says.

In a way, Schlotman says, the film commission has come full circle from the huge boost it got from Rain Man Levinson recently completed filming here of Wise Guys, starring Robert DeNiro in a dual role as warring mobsters. “It is the largest budget feature film to ever come to Cincinnati,” she says.

In a way, Schlotman says, the film commission has come full circle from the huge boost it got from Rain Man. Levinson recently completed filming here of Wise Guys, starring Robert DeNiro in a dual role as warring mobsters. “It is the largest budget feature film to ever come to Cincinnati,” she says.

There were quite a few significant local sites used in Rain Man — St. Anne Convent in Melbourne, Kentucky, served as Wallbrook, the care facility that was home to Raymond; also seen are the Roebling Suspension Bridge, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and more.

There were quite a few significant local sites used in Rain Man — St. Anne Convent in Melbourne, Kentucky, served as Wallbrook, the care facility that was home to Raymond; also seen are the Roebling Suspension Bridge, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and more.

But there are two particular scenes in Rain Man that have come to be regarded locally as iconic. They both involve beloved Cincinnati institutions:

But there are two particular scenes in Rain Man that have come to be regarded locally as iconic. They both involve beloved Cincinnati institutions:

Pompilio’s legacy employee Frank Mazzei standing next to the phone booth featured in Rain Man

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

A large portion of Rain Man was filmed throughout Greater Cincinnati.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF FATHOM EVENTS

Pompilio’s legacy employee Frank Mazzei standing next to the phone booth featured in Rain Man

PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY

A large portion of Rain Man was filmed throughout Greater Cincinnati.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF FATHOM EVENTS

Newport’s Pompilio’s restaurant, which serves old-fashioned Italian food; and Oxford’s WOXY FM radio station, which in the 1980s had a pioneering modern rock sound that it famously called The Future of Rock and Roll.

In the film, Charlie and Raymond stop in for breakfast at the gracefully aged front dining room of Pompilio’s — which dates its history back to a saloon called Kettenacker’s that started in 1901 at the corner of Washington Avenue and E. 6th Street. A server, trying to find toothpicks for Raymond, spills a box on the floor by the handsome wooden bar. To her and Charlie’s stunned amazement, Raymond almost instantly counts the number, revealing how brilliantly swift his brain can compute.

Today, Pompilio’s still has framed memorabilia from the film in the room where the two Hollywood stars sat. And, on a wall is a colorful mural with sculptural elements depicting aspects of the film. People still come to see where a key Rain Man scene was filmed.

The second iconic Rain Man moment for locals is a spoken one-liner as much as it’s a colorful scene visually, while Charlie and Raymond are in a beautifully preserved 1949 Buick Roadmaster along Columbia Parkway. Charlie’s radio, tuned to WOXY, plays a station promo (or liner) that goes: “97 X…the Future of Rock and Roll,” There is a short synthesizer sound between the two parts. Raymond quickly repeats it, adding a “Bam!” between the parts, and then starts repeating his altered version on the spot. As soon as the station learned that scene would be in the film, it made the promo its official ID, say both Doug Balogh, the station’s former co-owner (with his wife Linda), and manager Steve Baker in separate interviews.

(There is also an account of the promo’s creation in Robin James’ recent book, The Future of Rock and Roll).

Baker had originally recorded the promo and it is his voice on it. Though WOXY as a modern rock station is long gone, that station ID and its Dustin Hoffman-created variant remain a powerful symbol of Cincinnati life in the 1980s. “I still run into more people who remember me for that than for the Miami University football and basketball calls I’ve been making for 35 years,” says Baker, the school’s assistant athletic director and director of broadcasting.

After the movie came out, Doug Balogh got an Ohio custom license plate that said “97X BAM” and drove it with pride. After selling the station and eventually moving to California, he wanted to get a new one there. But there was a surprise.

“I was trying for 10 years and somebody had it,” he says. “Finally, my daughter said to try to get it with two Ms rather than one. So, I ordered that and I’ve now had it for about three months.”

He wonders if that somebody who has a California 97X BAM license is Hoffman, and if they’ll ever run into each other at a streetcorner. But he’s happy with his BAMM plate. And he knows he’s doing his part to keep alive WOXY’s modern rock legacy, which Rain Man played a key role in creating.

“It really looks cool with the colors black and yellow,” Balogh says of his license plate. “And I have a dark gray car, so it looks really nice on there.”

For more information about where and when the Rain Man screenings will take place across Greater Cincinnati, visit fathomevents.com.

Rain Man helped stir interest in filming in Cincinnati.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF FATHOM EVENTS

ONSTAGE

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Play Asks ‘What Does the Constitution Mean to You?’

PREVIEW BY RICK PENDER

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Play Asks ‘What Does the Constitution Mean to You?’

PREVIEW BY RICK PENDER

In the contentious world of politics in 2023, our American Constitution is often a tangled thicket to dive into. Many people don’t have a firm grasp of what it says, where it came from and how it should be applied to our nation today. As a 15-year-old debater, playwright Heidi Schreck traveled to numerous American Legion halls where she delivered an award-winning speech about her sense of America’s founding document. The cash awards she collected at these outings financed her college education at the University of Oregon. Schreck went on to a career as an actor and writer. She spent a decade converting her adolescent experience into an endearing and unusual play, What the Constitution Means to Me, a civics lesson disguised as theatrical entertainment. She performed it on various stages in New York City in 2017 and 2018, winning an award from the Dramatists Guild of America and drawing audiences that included Gloria Steinem and Hillary, Bill and Chelsea Clinton. In 2019 it moved to Broadway, running for a few months until the COVID pandemic shut everything down. Nevertheless, her script was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize and nominated for a Tony Award. Amazon turned it into a streaming production that aired on its Prime platform during the runup to the 2020 presidential election. But Schreck’s stage show, in the form of Heidi’s adult recollections about her teenage experience, is surely most powerful in a live performance. That’s what local audiences can see at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) later this month.

In the contentious world of politics in 2023, our American Constitution is often a tangled thicket to dive into. Many people don’t have a firm grasp of what it says, where it came from and how it should be applied to our nation today. As a 15-year-old debater, playwright Heidi Schreck traveled to numerous American Legion halls where she delivered an award-winning speech about her sense of America’s founding document. The cash awards she collected at these outings financed her college education at the University of Oregon.

Schreck went on to a career as an actor and writer. She spent a decade converting her adolescent experience into an endearing and unusual play, What the Constitution Means to Me, a civics lesson disguised as theatrical entertainment. She performed it on various stages in New York City in 2017 and 2018, winning an award from the Dramatists Guild of America and drawing audiences that included Gloria Steinem and Hillary, Bill and Chelsea Clinton. In 2019 it moved to Broadway, running for a few months until the COVID pandemic shut everything down. Nevertheless, her script was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize and nominated for a Tony Award. Amazon turned it into a streaming production that aired on its Prime platform during the runup to the 2020 presidential election. But Schreck’s stage show, in the form of Heidi’s adult recollections about her teenage experience, is surely most powerful in a live performance. That’s what local audiences can see at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) later this month.

“I’ve been looking at this show for five years,” says D. Lynn Meyers, ETC’s artistic director, in a news release about the show. “The Constitution was a document that was meant to unify our new nation when it was written. When I heard about this play, I thought it was such a great idea to dive into how this document has morphed, changed and amended over the years the same way our country has. This show is a love letter to what our nation has aspired to be, what it has failed to be in some ways, and what it possibly can become.”

“I’ve been looking at this show for five years,” says D. Lynn Meyers, ETC’s artistic director, in a news release about the show. “The Constitution was a document that was meant to unify our new nation when it was written. When I heard about this play, I thought it was such a great idea to dive into how this document has morphed, changed and amended over the years the same way our country has. This show is a love letter to what our nation has aspired to be, what it has failed to be in some ways, and what it possibly can become.”

Professional actor Connan Morrissey is stepping into the role of Heidi as an adult and a teenager. She previously appeared in ETC productions of A Doll’s House, Part 2 (2019) and Pipeline (2020). In a recent phone conversation with CityBeat, Morrissey said, “I think Lynn is really smart about

Professional actor Connan Morrissey is stepping into the role of Heidi as an adult and a teenager. She previously appeared in ETC productions of A Doll’s House, Part 2 (2019) and Pipeline (2020). In a recent phone conversation with CityBeat, Morrissey said, “I think Lynn is really smart about

presenting this for an Ohio audience. It’s about all the questions that we are asking ourselves politically. But it does it in a way that is appealing and funny. It allows a window into what is so powerful about being an American and why the Constitution is a kind of sacred document to us.”

presenting this for an Ohio audience. It’s about all the questions that we are asking ourselves politically. But it does it in a way that is appealing and funny. It allows a window into what is so powerful about being an American and why the Constitution is a kind of sacred document to us.”

Morrissey points out how Schreck’s talents as both an actress and writer benefit the play. “She has that fabulous language that is connected to her adolescent self, and her adolescent belief in the document comes through. For so many of us, the Constitution seems aloof, dry, complex legal language. Her play kind of breaks it down so an audience can understand it.” There’s no need for a legal scholar to translate.

Morrissey points out how Schreck’s talents as both an actress and writer benefit the play. “She has that fabulous language that is connected to her adolescent self, and her adolescent belief in the document comes through. For so many of us, the Constitution seems aloof, dry, complex legal language. Her play kind of breaks it down so an audience can understand it.” There’s no need for a legal scholar to translate.

ago the framers of the Constitution were all white men, who never thought about anyone but themselves, mostly landowners and some slaveholders.” Inviting the audience to listen to a young person and consider arguments for a new perspective is disarming, even for people who might think it’s wrong today to tinker with the Constitution.

ago the framers of the Constitution were all white men, who never thought about anyone but themselves, mostly landowners and some slaveholders.” Inviting the audience to listen to a young person and consider arguments for a new perspective is disarming, even for people who might think it’s wrong today to tinker with the Constitution.

the recent example of young people in Montana who won a landmark lawsuit about the state failing to consider climate change when approving fossil fuel projects.

the recent example of young people in Montana who won a landmark lawsuit about the state failing to consider climate change when approving fossil fuel projects.

In the play’s second act Heidi matches wits with another high-school debater (played by Sydni Charity Solomon, a senior in UC’s College-Conservatory of Music’s acting program). “That’s actually part of the magic of the show,” Morrissey says. “She recreates a contest and asks the audience to take on the part of the old white guys who were her American Legion audiences. Two hundred and thirty-four years

In the play’s second act Heidi matches wits with another high-school debater (played by Sydni Charity Solomon, a senior in UC’s College-Conservatory of Music’s acting program).

“That’s actually part of the magic of the show,” Morrissey says. “She recreates a contest and asks the audience to take on the part of the old white guys who were her American Legion audiences. Two hundred and thirty-four years

Morrissey says, “The title of the play is ‘What the Constitution Means to Me.’ But the question Schreck is asking is, ‘What does it mean to you?’ What is worth fighting for in your life today? Is it about protection under the law for all of us? Is it about Native American rights and how they were completely left out of the Constitution? Is it about some sort of religion? What is important to you? The point is that we are all in this together, and we have to work together to make tomorrow a better place for us.” That’s how we continue to advance toward a “more perfect union,” as the Constitution tells us.

Morrissey says, “The title of the play is ‘What the Constitution Means to Me.’ But the question Schreck is asking is, ‘What does it mean to you?’ What is worth fighting for in your life today? Is it about protection under the law for all of us? Is it about Native American rights and how they were completely left out of the Constitution? Is it about some sort of religion? What is important to you? The point is that we are all in this together, and we have to work together to make tomorrow a better place for us.” That’s how we continue to advance toward a “more perfect union,” as the Constitution tells us.

The young debater represents another generation, one who understands the Constitution and is hopeful about making it work in the future. Morrissey shares this optimism, citing

The young debater represents another generation, one who understands the Constitution and is hopeful about making it work in the future. Morrissey shares this optimism, citing

“I hope people come and laugh,” Morrissey says about this engaging piece of theater, being staged by local director Brian Robertson. Schreck cites some of her female ancestors and how America treated them. Morrissey hopes those stories cause audience members to “reflect on their own family’s journey in this country, whatever perspective they come from — how Black folks have made their way in this country, to German immigrants, to all our citizens.” She adds, “I hope they are all registered to vote! It’s about being empowered and wanting to get involved.” That’s what the Constitution should mean to all of us, and that’s the lesson of Heidi Schreck’s important play.

“I hope people come and laugh,” Morrissey says about this engaging piece of theater, being staged by local director Brian Robertson. Schreck cites some of her female ancestors and how America treated them. Morrissey hopes those stories cause audience members to “reflect on their own family’s journey in this country, whatever perspective they come from — how Black folks have made their way in this country, to German immigrants, to all our citizens.” She adds, “I hope they are all registered to vote! It’s about being empowered and wanting to get involved.” That’s what the Constitution should mean to all of us, and that’s the lesson of Heidi Schreck’s important play.

What the Constitution Means to Me, presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, opens on Sept. 13 and continues through Oct. 1 at 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. Info: ensemblecincinnati.org.

What the Constitution Means to Me, presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, opens on Sept. 13 and continues through Oct. 1 at 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. Info: ensemblecincinnati.org.

Connan Morrissey portrays Heidi in Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s production of What the Constitution Means to Me

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI

Connan Morrissey portrays Heidi in Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s production of What the Constitution Means to Me

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI

FOOD & DRINK

On Cloud Wine

Annata Wine Bar & Cellar and Ripple Wine Bar have helped transform O’Bryonville into a wine-lover’s paradise.

REVIEW BY PAMA MITCHELL

Seemingly overnight, O’Bryonville has become something of a winelover’s paradise. The neighborhood now boasts not one but two bona fide wine bars, each helmed by savvy oenophiles who are adept at connecting with both novice and experienced wine drinkers—and everyone in-between.

Annata Wine Bar & Cellar opened in May 2022. It’s in the very spot that longtime Cincinnati residents will remember as Chateau Pomije, a super fun gathering place that graced Madison Road for over 30 years. With Annata, Chateau Pomije owner Tim Shumrick has recreated much of what made the original spot so inviting. The space itself oozes charm and comfort, with

its lovely outdoor deck and spacious indoor seating. The deck is in the back of the building, making a quiet oasis that avoids the bustle of busy Madison Road. There are several tables that sit a couple of stories above the street, a perch that should be especially pleasant over the next couple of months.

Adjacent to the bar, a retail wine store stocks a few hundred different wines for

purchase. These include not only the wines served at Annata’s bar but also an array of domestic and international choices. At the bar, you can taste the featured wines as part of a three-pour flight as well as by the glass or bottle.

Within the white/red/rose/sparkling categories, the selections are listed by grape varietal. They range from familiar varietals, such as chardonnay,

sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio among white wines, to pinot noir, merlot and cabernet in the red-wine section. But there are also plenty of less common choices, such as a delicious falanghina (white wine from Italy) or a hearty petit verdot from France. Don’t hesitate to question the staff about any wine that interests you.

When Annata first opened, there were a few food accompaniments, such as a hummus plate and a charcuterie board. The food menu has expanded this year, and now includes salads, three flatbreads, hot dips and a couple of paninis. On my most recent visit, we ordered the Mediterranean Platter, with housemade hummus, fresh cucumber slices and other veggies, olives and feta cheese, served with a generous portion of toasted pita triangles.

The most popular menu items, according to Shumrick, are the Baked French Brie (with fig jam, chopped pistachios and plenty of toast points to slather with the cheese) and three flatbreads. And there’s still a quite credible charcuterie board — never a bad choice when sampling wines.

I find it hard to resist wine flights, and here you can pick any three wines on the list for the same $15 price. Depending on how much alcohol you want to consume in one sitting, you might try a

Owners of Ripple Wine Bar opened a second location in O’Bryonville earlier this summer.

PHOTO: NOAH HINES

Annata Wine Bar and Cellar caters to both the expert and novice wine drinkers.

PHOTO: MAGGY MCDONEL

flight, followed by a glass of your favorite. The flights consist of three threeounce pours. Full pours are offered either in six or nine ounces.

Across the street from Annata, Ripple Wine Bar is its brand-new neighbor. The folks behind it are equally serious about wine, but there are differences between the two establishments that I think should make them more complementary than competitive. Ripple doesn’t include a wine shop, nor do they offer wine flights. Ripple’s small kitchen manages to produce a wider array of hot and cold foods than you’ll find at Annata.

I live near O’Bryonville and watched with curiosity as the building that now houses Ripple was converted from a bank. I had no idea what was going in its place, but knew it wasn’t going to be another bank when the workers closed off the drive-through. It was only a couple of weeks before they opened when I learned that the owners of the Covington wine bar, Matt and Kathleen Haws, were setting up shop in this Cincinnati neighborhood. As much as I’ve enjoyed squeezing into their Pike Street hole-in-the-wall, their O’Bryonville location is not only a lot more convenient for Cincinnatians but also has roomier seating options, including multiple tables on a patio.

One of the more memorable aspects of my visits to the Pike Street location was making the acquaintance of Ripple’s sommelier, Gabriella Divincenzo, whose wine knowledge is matched by her welcoming personality and from-the-heart enthusiasm about her profession. Imagine my delight when one of the first people we encountered upon stepping into the new place was Gabriella, who told me that she’s splitting time between the two locations.

Ripple has invested in a wine-preservation system that keeps each bottle fresh, so that each glass or half-glass

tastes like it’s from a newly opened bottle. With over 40 pours to choose from — heavy on the reds but no slouch on white wines, either — unless you know your favorites, you might want to ask Gabriella or another staff member for guidance. The list represents the wide world of wine: as I write this, only one of the 14 white wines come from the states (a California chardonnay), as do just four of the 46 red wines, mostly California cabernet sauvignons. There’s also a separate list of by-the-bottle choices.

As much for simplicity’s sake as anything else, Ripple’s owners decided to use the same food menu in O’Bryonville that they’ve developed in Covington. As is true with many wine-centric establishments, they offer a lot of light, shareable dishes. That includes everything from truffle popcorn to beef wellington popovers and a Mediterranean plate, along with charcuterie and several flatbreads. But you can get entrées here, such as shrimp and grits, pan-seared salmon or scallops, and a small filet mignon. I’ve enjoyed the popovers and the filet, as well as the salmon. An entrée called ‘Shroom Pasta, however, was over-the-top in richness and portioning, and I was only able to eat about a quarter of it. I’d suggest lightening the sauce, or maybe substituting the orzo with something less dense, such as penne or even linguine.

Both Annata and Ripple are wonderful additions to in-town drinking and dining that should draw from Clifton to the west all the way to Hyde Park and beyond on the east side. I can’t choose between them, really. What a nice dilemma, right?

Annata Wine Bar & Cellar, 2021 Madison Road, O’Bryonville. Info: annatawinebarandcellar.com.

Ripple Wine Bar, 2000 Madison Road, O’Bryonville. Info: ripplewinebar.com.

Both Annata Wine Bar and Cellar and Ripple Wine Bar offer a range of complementary treats on their menus.

PHOTO: MAGGY MCDONEL

A New Way to Dine: A Look at Meal Prep Services in Greater Cincinnati

BY KELSEY GRAHAM

BY KELSEY GRAHAM EATS

A New Way to Dine: A Look at Meal Prep Services in Greater Cincinnati

It’s no secret Cincinnati has a vibrant food scene, offering a range of culinary delights from diverse global inspirations to cherished local cuisines. And the good food doesn’t stop with just restaurants: the Queen City is also home to locally owned meal prep businesses that make it easy to produce chef-created meals at home with little to no preparation required on your end.

It’s no secret Cincinnati has a vibrant food scene, offering a range of culinary delights from diverse global inspirations to cherished local cuisines. And the good food doesn’t stop with just restaurants: the Queen City is also home to locally owned meal prep businesses that make it easy to produce chef-created meals at home with little to no preparation required on your end.

While meal prepping at home on Sundays for the upcoming week ahead has gained popularity through social media, sometimes schedules — or preferences — don’t allow for this. Whether it’s a busy life schedule or you don’t like cooking, professional meal prep services can lend a helping hand. Professional meal prep services can be beneficial if you’re starting a new diet, whether it’s becoming a vegetarian or vegan, gluten-free, starting to count macros or just trying to eat a more wellbalanced diet and searching for a bit of direction. Many even provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and in-between meal options like snacks and desserts to make it even more convenient.

While meal prepping at home on Sundays for the upcoming week ahead has gained popularity through social media, sometimes schedules — or preferences — don’t allow for this. Whether it’s a busy life schedule or you don’t like cooking, professional meal prep services can lend a helping hand. Professional meal prep services can be beneficial if you’re starting a new diet, whether it’s becoming a vegetarian or vegan, gluten-free, starting to count macros or just trying to eat a more wellbalanced diet and searching for a bit of direction. Many even provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and in-between meal options like snacks and desserts to make it even more convenient.

Jackie Djordjevic started her business, Heirloom Chef, out of a need to gain control of her health and wellness after being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a teen. She used her culinary degree and over 13 years in the food industry to create meals catering to special dietary restrictions, including a variety of gluten- and dairyfree options. Heirloom Chef is also a Whole30-approved partner.

Jackie Djordjevic started her business, Heirloom Chef, out of a need to gain control of her health and wellness after being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a teen. She used her culinary degree and over 13 years in the food industry to create meals catering to special dietary restrictions, including a variety of gluten- and dairyfree options. Heirloom Chef is also a Whole30-approved partner. And they’re not just for individuals, but families, too. “Many of our customers are busy families looking for easy and healthy weeknight dinners,” Djordjevic said. Djordjevic offers a weekly rotating menu where customers can order entrées, with past offerings including pork fried rice, Greek chicken burgers and vegan Tuscan bean & artichoke salad, along with seasonal soups and specialty snacks, like the glutenand dairy-free peanut butter honey chewy granola bars.

fat and carbs in all my dishes by creative use of ingredients.” These proteinpacked meals include a Philly cheesesteak quesadilla and Buffalo chicken salad to turkey, sweet potato chili and apple bottom crumble cake. Many meals are also gluten- or dairy-free, conveniently noted on their website when ordering.

fat and carbs in all my dishes by creative use of ingredients.” These proteinpacked meals include a Philly cheesesteak quesadilla and Buffalo chicken salad to turkey, sweet potato chili and apple bottom crumble cake. Many meals are also gluten- or dairy-free, conveniently noted on their website when ordering.

tenderloin with chipotle aioli, classic lasagna, Brussels sprout salad and cherry pie bars.

tenderloin with chipotle aioli, classic lasagna, Brussels sprout salad and cherry pie bars.

And they’re not just for individuals, but families, too. “Many of our customers are busy families looking for easy and healthy weeknight dinners,” Djordjevic said. Djordjevic offers a weekly rotating menu where customers can order entrées, with past offerings including pork fried rice, Greek chicken burgers and vegan Tuscan bean & artichoke salad, along with seasonal soups and specialty snacks, like the glutenand dairy-free peanut butter honey chewy granola bars.

Kathleen “Mimi” Borne started a specialty meal prep business, Mimi’s Macros, after beginning her own fitness journey two and a half years ago. She used the knowledge she gained through her own personal weight-loss journey to create meals that help balance macros and boost protein. “All of the meals come with a nutritional label and a listing of the grams of protein, carbs, fat and fiber in each dish,” said Borne. “I try to boost the protein and lower the

Kathleen “Mimi” Borne started a specialty meal prep business, Mimi’s Macros, after beginning her own fitness journey two and a half years ago. She used the knowledge she gained through her own personal weight-loss journey to create meals that help balance macros and boost protein. “All of the meals come with a nutritional label and a listing of the grams of protein, carbs, fat and fiber in each dish,” said Borne. “I try to boost the protein and lower the

And local meal prep services aren’t just great for specialty diets but also excellent choices for everyday meals that provide a tasty mix of healthy and indulgent foods. Family Thyme Kitchen was founded by a mother-daughter duo, Emma Werle and her mom, Heidi Lancaster, who use family recipes and locally sourced produce to create everything from family-friendly sheet pan meals to freshly prepared mason jar salads topped with homemade dressings. “We believe in balance — and so we like to ensure we are offering a perfect balance each week,” said Werle.

And local meal prep services aren’t just great for specialty diets but also excellent choices for everyday meals that provide a tasty mix of healthy and indulgent foods. Family Thyme Kitchen was founded by a mother-daughter duo, Emma Werle and her mom, Heidi Lancaster, who use family recipes and locally sourced produce to create everything from family-friendly sheet pan meals to freshly prepared mason jar salads topped with homemade dressings.

“We believe in balance — and so we like to ensure we are offering a perfect balance each week,” said Werle.

In addition to meal prep services, Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio also hosts cooking classes for aspiring chefs of all skills. “I love to cook, but it’s really about working with people and providing services that provide comfort and sustenance,” said Carmody. “Whether it’s a take-home meal, a dinner party to celebrate a special occasion or a cooking class teaching clients new culinary techniques, there is a strong personal connection.”

In addition to meal prep services, Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio also hosts cooking classes for aspiring chefs of all skills. “I love to cook, but it’s really about working with people and providing services that provide comfort and sustenance,” said Carmody. “Whether it’s a take-home meal, a dinner party to celebrate a special occasion or a cooking class teaching clients new culinary techniques, there is a strong personal connection.”

Family Thyme Kitchen, offer customers the flexibility of opting for recurring weekly meal plans, they also provide à la carte choices. This no-commitment model holds true for the other establishments previously mentioned, making it easy to try new places, select your favorite dishes from various meal prep businesses or even rotate one or two offerings with an at-home meal plan.

Family Thyme Kitchen, offer customers the flexibility of opting for recurring weekly meal plans, they also provide à la carte choices. This no-commitment model holds true for the other establishments previously mentioned, making it easy to try new places, select your favorite dishes from various meal prep businesses or even rotate one or two offerings with an at-home meal plan.

If you’re looking for a more personalized chef approach, Chef Jaime Carmody started Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio after years of working in restaurants and hotels for most of her culinary career. “We can provide the full personal chef experience, where meals are delivered on the client’s schedule to their home or office,” Carmody said. “Or clients can pre-order and pick up ready-to-heat meals.” Some of the weekly meal offerings include pork

If you’re looking for a more personalized chef approach, Chef Jaime Carmody started Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio after years of working in restaurants and hotels for most of her culinary career. “We can provide the full personal chef experience, where meals are delivered on the client’s schedule to their home or office,” Carmody said.

“Or clients can pre-order and pick up ready-to-heat meals.” Some of the weekly meal offerings include pork

Not only are most of the local meal prep services flexible in their offerings, but they also make it reasonably convenient to get the items. If you need a week’s supply of meals, there are several options, like Heirloom Chef, Mimi’s Macros and Family Thyme Kitchen. These services require customers to place weekly orders a few days before the desired delivery date. Once the order is set, all the items for the entire week are delivered to the customer’s address on a specific day.

Not only are most of the local meal prep services flexible in their offerings, but they also make it reasonably convenient to get the items. If you need a week’s supply of meals, there are several options, like Heirloom Chef, Mimi’s Macros and Family Thyme Kitchen. These services require customers to place weekly orders a few days before the desired delivery date. Once the order is set, all the items for the entire week are delivered to the customer’s address on a specific day.

Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio offers both weekly meals and the opportunity for a bit more flexibility, where customers can place orders by 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and the food will be prepared and ready for pick up the following day after 3 p.m.

Meal prep services also make it easy to deal with different dietary preferences in a household. For example, Heirloom Chef offers dairy-free and plant-based soups and meat options to please both herbivores and carnivores. And many of these businesses believe in sourcing ingredients locally when possible. Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio and Mimi’s Macros use several local businesses for protein and produce. Family Thyme Kitchen sources as many ingredients as possible from local businesses, especially during the summertime, when almost all of their produce is locally grown. “We believe in supporting our local food system,” said Werle.

Meal prep services also make it easy to deal with different dietary preferences in a household. For example, Heirloom Chef offers dairy-free and plant-based soups and meat options to please both herbivores and carnivores. And many of these businesses believe in sourcing ingredients locally when possible. Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio and Mimi’s Macros use several local businesses for protein and produce. Family Thyme Kitchen sources as many ingredients as possible from local businesses, especially during the summertime, when almost all of their produce is locally grown. “We believe in supporting our local food system,” said Werle.

Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio offers both weekly meals and the opportunity for a bit more flexibility, where customers can place orders by 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and the food will be prepared and ready for pick up the following day after 3 p.m.

While some businesses, such as

While some businesses, such as

Heirloom Chef, 1719 Elm St., Overthe-Rhine. Info: heirloomchefcincy. com. Mimi’s Macros, mimismacros. com. Out of Thyme Kitchen Studios, 11915 Montgomery Road, Loveland. Info: outofthymechef.com. Family Thyme Kitchen, familythymekitchen.com.

Heirloom Chef, 1719 Elm St., Overthe-Rhine. Info: heirloomchefcincy. com. Mimi’s Macros, mimismacros. com. Out of Thyme Kitchen Studios, 11915 Montgomery Road, Loveland. Info: outofthymechef.com. Family Thyme Kitchen, familythymekitchen.com.

Greater Cincinnati is home to a number of meal prep options for every sort of eater.

PHOTO: ELLO, UNSPLASH

Greater Cincinnati is home to a number of meal prep options for every sort of eater.

PHOTO: ELLO, UNSPLASH

MUSIC

Stepping Out

Cincinnati band Young Eyes’ album, All These Steps Lead Us the Wrong Way, is a triumphant, genre-bending debut.

BY NICK GREVER

Heavy is a word thrown around nonchalantly in today’s music world. Anything with an amplified guitar and an angry frontperson seems to qualify and it has quickly become nothing more than a reductive description. It would be simple, and apt, to describe the Cincinnati-based quintet, Young Eyes, as heavy but doing so would ignore what makes the band so special. Why settle for heavy when chaotic, oppressive, frenetic, discordant, uneasy and, above all, vital can do the trick?

Young Eyes first formed in 2018 when Kevin McNair (bass) moved back to town and got in touch with former Banderas and Honeyspiders bandmate, Chris Harrison (guitar). The two longtime collaborators began working on demos, with Rick McCarty (drums) quickly coming aboard. The trio needed another guitar player to fill out their sound, so McCarty contacted his former Shivs bandmate, Casey Beagle, and the group continued writing what would be the tracks for their debut album, All These Steps Lead Us the Wrong Way There was only one problem: they didn’t yet have a vocalist.

“We got to a point where we didn’t have a singer and we thought, ‘We’ve got to make a next step.’ It was either, get somebody to sing or… [I suggested] we go to the studio and record what we have, which is what we ended up doing.” McCarty expands. “So, we recorded all the basic tracks for the record in October of 2019.” When the group received the rough mixes the search for a vocalist began in earnest. Scot Torres, formerly of State Songs, eventually joined in January

of 2020, just in time for COVID to halt the band’s plans.

“In hindsight, it did offer us a lot of latitude and it took a lot of pressure off Scot because he had time,” McCarty says. “We basically handed him this record and said, ‘Here’s what we have,’ which is not the easiest thing for anybody to do.”

Torres was put in a unique situation where the music was largely written when he joined and was therefore tasked with writing lyrics to fit a structure he had no say in.

“I picked one [song] and just tried to nail it down. I was the primary writer in all of my projects prior to this. So, I took one and deconstructed it, because I didn’t write it. I actually had to block it out on paper to figure out what they were doing because I wasn’t there,” Torres explains.

When it came to the lyrics, Torres tried to pull away from genre conventions. Elements like classic horror and the writings of Charles Bukowski flavored his output, with the real-life hazards of working in the medical field during COVID also playing a part. “I’m describing movies that play in my head but I’m trying to make them digestible and open-ended enough where anyone can get on board,” Torres says. “Things are a tinge darker but not hopeless.”

The band took advantage of the one thing COVID provided: time. Partnering with accomplished sound engineers Mike Montgomery and Steve Wethington at Candyland Studios, Young Eyes fleshed out the rough tracks with synth lines, atmospherics, layered guitar and feedback, and added Torres’ vocals.

“It really turned out to be a good thing to take that much time off because then, from the guitar standpoint, we got to write so much different stuff to go over these basic tracks,” Beagle says.” “[Torres is] very melodic so Casey was able to come up with a counter melody, which opens it up even more,” Harrison expands. “We got even more experimental. We were able to perfect our craft when it came to writing.”

What began as rough tracks in October of 2019 were finalized in summer of 2022. All These Steps Lead Us the Wrong Way is a tight, eight track album with layer upon layer to discover, decipher and dig into. On top is Torres’ vocal delivery: a pained wail that sounds like every word is ripping past broken glass on the way out of his throat. Behind him, his bandmates shift and morph their output on a dime.

In one section McNair’s subterranean rumble may be joined by Harrison’s throaty guitar chug. Others have Beagle and Harrison twist their guitar lines around one another in a warped tangle while McCarty and McNair shake the very foundation of the track together. The songs frequently slide and crash from one style to another with no time for the listener to settle in. This is largely due to their focus on organic songwriting rather than slavish devotion to a genre or influence.

McNair explains, “A lot of bands, when they write, they come up with an endgame of where they want to be. With us, we took the approach of, ‘That’s cool, let’s try that.’”

The endurance exhibited in the writing and recording process carried over

to Young Eyes’ live performances. The band’s first show was at Iron Fest 2021 and the band has only played four other shows since then.

“We’ve turned down three or four times as many shows since that first Ironfest date,” McCarty says. “We’ve intentionally tried to be patient, not rush things. Now it feels like the right time; there was a lot of planning that went into how the record was going to be released.”

Every band member agreed that prior projects may have jumped the gun on album releases and were dead set on doing this one the right way and at the right time. This is likely due to the band not waiting four years to release their follow-up record. “We have another record basically written that we’re talking about when we’re going to record it. We’ve been writing and writing and writing constantly,” McCarty says.

The push-pull inherent in Young Eyes: from the car crash intensity followed by soft introspection to spending four years to craft a first album while having a second nearly ready for recording, has helped form a band and album that is perfectly balanced in its imbalance. Every decision was made to benefit the creative output of the members and no corner was cut along the journey. It is for this reason that All These Steps Lead Us the Wrong Way and Young Eyes are understandably heavy but also undeniably vital to Cincinnati music.

For more information about Young Eyes and their debut record, visit instagram.com/weareyoungeyes.

Young Eyes

PHOTO: NIKITA GROSS

SOUND ADVICE

KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND

BEING DEAD

BEING DEAD

Sept. 15 • MOTR Pub

Being Dead reminds us that music can be oodles of fun. From their debut full-length When Horses Would Run, to their colorful Instagram, to their library of delightfully unhinged music videos, the Austin band welcomes you into a merry and strange universe.

Sept. 15 • MOTR Pub

Being Dead reminds us that music can be oodles of fun. From their debut full-length When Horses Would Run, to their colorful Instagram, to their library of delightfully unhinged music videos, the Austin band welcomes you into a merry and strange universe.

Core members Falcon Bitch and Gumball seem to lean into the fiction of performance. They take their role as musicians a step beyond the norm and perform an entire world, reveling in the knowledge that people are watching. It’s a sort of peacocking reminiscent of early Of Montreal performances.

Core members Falcon Bitch and Gumball seem to lean into the fiction of performance. They take their role as musicians a step beyond the norm and perform an entire world, reveling in the knowledge that people are watching. It’s a sort of peacocking reminiscent of early Of Montreal performances.

Beach Fossils’ label Bayonet Records released When Horses Would Run this past July. The album was well received. Paste called it “the most exciting debut of 2023 so far,” Pitchfork gave it 7.5 stars, and Post-Trash praised it for being “endlessly fun to listen to.”

Beach Fossils’ label Bayonet Records released When Horses Would Run this past July. The album was well received. Paste called it “the most exciting debut of 2023 so far,” Pitchfork gave it 7.5 stars, and Post-Trash praised it for being “endlessly fun to listen to.”

The album kicks off with “The Great American Picnic,” composed of surf

The album kicks off with “The Great American Picnic,” composed of surf

rock guitar, reverb-drenched harmonies and breezy lines like “Joy is everlasting wine/Pick a little baby flower place it on your bride.” In the music video, Falcon Bitch and Gumball appear as giants who destroy a village, gobbling up its occupants like hotdogs, before an even bigger giant Falcon Bitch and Gumball destroy them.

From there, the band moves through songs about buffalo, a hippie town that worships trees and an anthem called “We Are Being Dead.” All the while, the music stays playful and imaginative, bringing together components of boppy art rock, sweet melodies and candid recording moments. It calls to mind indie acts like Dehd and the Moldy Peaches, and ‘60s bands like The Kinks and The Beach Boys. Being Dead is weird and wonderful, catchy and cool and the perfect soundtrack for late-summer merriment.

rock guitar, reverb-drenched harmonies and breezy lines like “Joy is everlasting wine/Pick a little baby flower place it on your bride.” In the music video, Falcon Bitch and Gumball appear as giants who destroy a village, gobbling up its occupants like hotdogs, before an even bigger giant Falcon Bitch and Gumball destroy them. From there, the band moves through songs about buffalo, a hippie town that worships trees and an anthem called “We Are Being Dead.” All the while, the music stays playful and imaginative, bringing together components of boppy art rock, sweet melodies and candid recording moments. It calls to mind indie acts like Dehd and the Moldy Peaches, and ‘60s bands like The Kinks and The Beach Boys. Being Dead is weird and wonderful, catchy and cool and the perfect soundtrack for late-summer merriment.

Being Dead plays MOTR Pub at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Info: motrpub.com.

Being Dead plays MOTR Pub at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Info: motrpub.com.

(Katrina Eresman)

(Katrina

Eresman)

KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND

Sept. 15 • Hard Rock Casino

Cincinnati

Sept. 15 • Hard Rock Casino

Lennon’s “Whatever Gets You Through the Night,” according to the former Beatles member.

Lennon’s “Whatever Gets You Through the Night,” according to the former Beatles member.

Quintessential disco band KC and The Sunshine Band “keep it coming” and turn the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati lawn into a full blown ‘70s dance club on Sept. 15.

Cincinnati

Quintessential disco band KC and The Sunshine Band “keep it coming” and turn the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati lawn into a full blown ‘70s dance club on Sept. 15.

With some of the biggest songs of the 1970s, mixing dance music, funk, potent pop and atmosphere to spare, KC and The Sunshine Band’s string of hits encapsulates a time and place evoking the colorful glow of dance halls and figures in polyester, plaid and platforms shimmying back and forth.

With some of the biggest songs of the 1970s, mixing dance music, funk, potent pop and atmosphere to spare, KC and The Sunshine Band’s string of hits encapsulates a time and place evoking the colorful glow of dance halls and figures in polyester, plaid and platforms shimmying back and forth.

The group was formed in 1973 by Harry Wayne Casey near Miami, Florida, where he was working at the band’s future label, TK Records. Casey eventually formed a working relationship with TK Records producer Richard Finch that would give way to the band’s flow of success.

The group was formed in 1973 by Harry Wayne Casey near Miami, Florida, where he was working at the band’s future label, TK Records. Casey eventually formed a working relationship with TK Records producer Richard Finch that would give way to the band’s flow of success.

The duo wrote and produced the enormously successful floating groove magic of “Rock Your Baby” in 1975 with vocalist George McCrae, who happened to be in the studio during the session, and handled vocals. The song became an international success and features an early example of a drum machine on record. ABBA named it as an inspiration for their smash hit “Dancing Queen” and it served as inspiration for John

The duo wrote and produced the enormously successful floating groove magic of “Rock Your Baby” in 1975 with vocalist George McCrae, who happened to be in the studio during the session, and handled vocals. The song became an international success and features an early example of a drum machine on record. ABBA named it as an inspiration for their smash hit “Dancing Queen” and it served as inspiration for John

KC and The Sunshine band’s debut album, Do It Good, was released in 1974 and had some success, but the band’s 1975 self-titled sophomore record was their breakthrough. It features three of the most recognizable songs of an era, the upbeat funk drive of “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “Get Down Tonight” and legendary Saturday Night Fever soundtrack classic “Boogie Shoe.”

KC and The Sunshine band’s debut album, Do It Good, was released in 1974 and had some success, but the band’s 1975 self-titled sophomore record was their breakthrough. It features three of the most recognizable songs of an era, the upbeat funk drive of “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “Get Down Tonight” and legendary Saturday Night Fever soundtrack classic “Boogie Shoe.”

They followed their breakthrough that same year with a stellar all-instrumental dance record titled The Sound of Sunshine which featured an instrumental version of “Rock Your Baby” before another major success in 1976 titled Part 3. The record contains the instantly recognizable hits “(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty” and soaring funk jam “I’m Your Boogie Man,” both further cementing KC and the Sunshine Band as a musical force.

They followed their breakthrough that same year with a stellar all-instrumental dance record titled The Sound of Sunshine which featured an instrumental version of “Rock Your Baby” before another major success in 1976 titled Part 3. The record contains the instantly recognizable hits “(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty” and soaring funk jam “I’m Your Boogie Man,” both further cementing KC and the Sunshine Band as a musical force.

They scored one last chart-topping hit in 1979 with the ballad “Please Don’t Go” before the Finch and Casey partnership ended. The band charted without Finch in 1982 with “Give It Up.” Their star has been kept alive on radio, in dance halls, on endless spots in TV and movies and in memory ever since.

They scored one last chart-topping hit in 1979 with the ballad “Please Don’t Go” before the Finch and Casey partnership ended. The band charted without Finch in 1982 with “Give It Up.” Their star has been kept alive on radio, in dance halls, on endless spots in TV and movies and in memory ever since.

They’ll be celebrating 50 years of era-defining music this month in Cincinnati. Bring you “boogie shoes” and

They’ll be celebrating 50 years of era-defining music this month in Cincinnati. Bring you “boogie shoes” and

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band

PHOTO: BRADP, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Being Dead

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM.COM/BEINGDEAD

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band

PHOTO: BRADP, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Being Dead

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM.COM/BEINGDEAD

experience the dance-crazed disco era for yourself.

KC and The Sunshine Band plays the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Info: hardrockcasinocincinnati.com. (Brent Stroud)

CLEM SNIDE

Sept. 17 • Southgate House Revival Singer-songwriter Eef Barzelay founded

Clem Snide as a trio out of Boston in 1991. They steadily gained notice — as well as a couple more band members — through a series of albums powered by a playful, often rollicking songwriting style touching on rock, pop, folk and country, cresting with 2005’s excellent End of Love. But by 2010, amid a series of band-member defections and label and management issues, Barzelay was the last man standing. He soldiered on

by himself, playing acoustic gigs in a variety of small-scale venues, including intimate living-room shows.

His most recent endeavor was a podcast, A Life in Song with Clem Snide, in which each episode opens with an ordinary person sharing an often extraordinary, life-altering experience, culminating in an original song written and performed by the man still best known through his long-running band name. The results are typically stark, songs about death and loss, anchored by Barzelay’s distinctive, ache-infused voice. Yet he often leavens things through his wry sense of humor and singular way with words, a troubadour who can’t help but keep going for both himself and his audience.

“Ten years ago, the band became untenable,” Barzelay said in a 2022 interview with Columbus Monthly. “The label went out of business. The booking agent was gone. The publisher was gone. After doing this for 10 or 15 years, everything pretty much went away for me. Starting then, I had to rebuild myself, and part of rebuilding myself was writing those more personal songs for people. And the more I wrote for other people, the more I wrote for myself, too. And the more I opened myself up and the more I put out, the more came in.”

One of the songs he wrote in the wake of the podcast series is the

haunting “Kamikaze Cockpit Blues,” which opens with this observation, “Oh, I feel like death, I feel like death is not failure/Oh, I feel like death is not, death is not surrender.” Barzelay utters the words “failure” and “surrender” with a curiously plaintive delivery, suggesting he’s not so worried about what might happen beyond our current consciousness.

Clem Snide plays the Southgate House Revival at 7 p.m. Sept. 17. Info: southgatehouse.com. (Jason Gargano)

JOHN HIATT

Sept. 22 • Memorial Hall

Indiana has spawned its fair share of first-class music artists, from Hoagy Carmichael to the Jackson Five to John Mellencamp, but its best music export may just be John Hiatt. The Indianapolis-born singer-songwriter has been delivering stellar roots rock since the mid-’70s, with countless records to his name. He’s considered a songwriter’s songwriter, and his material has been covered and championed by Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Nick Lowe and Willie Nelson, for starters; he has also been inducted into the Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame.

Often compared to Elvis Costello for his prolific output and witty songcraft, Hiatt keeps pumping out his earthy blend of folk-rock with rarely a dip in quality. Leftover Feelings, his latest from 2021, expands his perennial hot streak with a bluegrass-inspired collaboration with Jerry Douglas, Nashville’s resident dobro master, and his band.

One of Hiatt’s core strengths is his robust, expressive voice, and new songs underscore that like the record’s opening, double-shot combo of “Long Black Electric Cadillac” and “Mississippi Phone Booth,” which fuse Hiatt’s love for the South, the past, and roadtrip romps; you can feel the backroads blur by in his dreams of eight-cylinder escape. “I’m in Asheville” traces a wanderer’s regret for leaving his partner behind, and Hiatt’s acoustic fingerpicking plucks the poignance in six-string cadence.

Summing up his career with Glide Magazine in 2021, Hiatt says, “I’ve gone beyond my wildest dreams. I mean, I’ve played with people I’ve wanted to play with, I’ve had songs recorded by people I’m just flabbergasted they would even record one of my songs. It’s all gravy.”

John Hiatt plays Memorial Hall at 8 p.m. Sept. 22. Info: memorialhallotr. com. (Greg Gaston)

John Hiatt

PHOTO: FOTOPERSBUREAU DE BOER, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Clem Snide

PHOTO: CRACKERFARM

CROSSWORD

Across

1.  It sucks a lot, for short

THE GREATEST

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

4.  The Used singer McCracken

8.  Old cellphones, e.g.

14.  Carrier that provides chopsticks with their in-flight meals

15.  Fired

16.  ___ media

17.  Evening apparel

18.  Nazarene region sandwich served with bacon?

20.  Promises to return?

22.  Twelve cans of beer

23.  Sephora rival

24.  Good and evil visits?

28.  Bean town?

29.  “Let’s go, pardner!”

33.  DIY video, e.g.

35.  E.T.’s race?

38.  “Anytime you ___ ready”

39.  Mideast leaders

40.  Boat’s pronoun

41.  What’s used to print enhanced driver’s licenses?

44.  Group belief 46.  Lettuce or cheddar 47.  Indonesian meat soup

LSD that will kill you? 54.  Help out 57.  Green in the office

58.  “Let me summarize that article for you”

59.  Prominent armor?

63.  “The Greatest,” and what’s been added to this puzzle’s theme

64.  Romantic request 65.  Never repeated

Take in

Christ the Redeemer, e.g.

Air Max company

Sch. group that pulls a major prank

Down 1.  Intellectually wanting 2.  Pear variety 3.  Gear for lounging

4.  “Single or double?” item 5.  Track bet

6.  Race for a team

7.  Keurig : K-Cup :: Tassimo : ___

8.  Hurricane’s path dir.

9.  Melodramatic misery

10.  Defendant

11.  Window part

12.  Pulled tight

13.  Napoleon’s isle

19.  Area outside a cote

21.  Mini-cut

25.  “Here’s my two cents,” in short

26.  Caustic soaps

27.  “Steal My Sunshine” one-hit wonders who are probably due for the nostalgia circuit around now

30.  Is unbelievably rude

31.  Arthur ___ Award for Courage (ESPY)

32.  Hone

33.  Like trying to lick one’s own elbow, e.g.

34.  Cookie sometimes served deep fried

35.  Tours friend

36.  Horror actress Shaye

37.  Bother

39.  Make a long story short, e.g.

42.  Ultra-liberal

43.  Either blank in the Radiohead lyrics “But ___ creep, ___ weirdo”

44.  Delivery from 47-Down

45.  Coup d’___

47.  End-of-the-year VIP

49.  Fore partner

50.  Lozenge flavoring

51.  Isfahan man

52.  One doing nothing

53.  Helps with the dishes

54.  Seeks answers

55.  Ant trap stuff

56.  Blonde character with a French braid

60.  LiMu in Liberty Mutual ads, e.g.

61.  “You might remember me as”

62.  Citizens of Humanity rival

LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS:

Bertha G. Helmick attorney

DISSOLVE YOUR MARRIAGE

DISSOLVE YOUR MARRIAGE

DISSOLVE YOUR MARRIAGE

Dissolution: An amicable end to marriage. Easier on your heart. Easier on your wallet.

Dissolution: An amicable end to marriage. Easier on your heart. Easier on your wallet.

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

Dissolution: An amicable end to marriage. Easier on your heart. Easier on your wallet. Starting at $500 plus court costs. 12 Hour Turnaround.

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

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

Starting at $500 plus court costs.

12 Hour Turnaround.

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