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VOL. 26 | ISSUE 17 PUBLISHER TONY FRANK

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DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Units of COVID-19 convalescent plasma collected at Hoxworth Blood Center P H O T O : P R O V I D E D BY H OX W O R T H BLOOD CENTER

Greater Cincinnati’s Blood Bank is Using a Promising Tool to Fight COVID — But There Are Limits Early evidence suggests that antibodies in convalescent plasma can help others with COVID recover. But they may not mitigate the virus’ serious aftereffects. BY N I C K S WA RT S E L L

hristine Wilson’s first clue that something wasn’t right came when she couldn’t taste the birthday cake she baked for her son one day in mid-July.

A week later she was in the hospital battling pneumonia from COVID19. The 47-year-old communications professional would spend 11 days at Good Samaritan Hospital in “surreal”

isolation battling the novel coronavirus that continues to rage across Ohio and the rest of the United States. As Wilson teetered on the cusp of needing ventilation — a measure that is something of a last resort for serious COVID patients — the mother of five received a dose of convalescent plasma from Cincinnati’s Hoxworth Blood Center. That plasma contained antibodies from others who had recovered from the virus. The next day, she received a second dose. “There was a marked improvement after both days I took the plasma,” she says. “The best I can say is that it made me feel stabilized. I could tell I was heading in a better direction.” Soon after, she was doing well enough to leave the hospital — though months later and COVID-free, the aftereffects continue to cast a heavy shadow on her day-to-day life. Wilson had to return to the hospital twice in the months after her initial visit, is still on oxygen and heavy doses of steroids to aid her breathing, and says she experiences neurological symptoms

like numbness and tingling in her face and elsewhere. “It makes me feel like I’m wearing someone else’s skin,” she says. “It’s a very unnerving feeling.” Wilson’s post-COVID symptoms, likely caused by immune response, mirror those experienced by thousands of other so-called “long haulers” across the country. They illustrate the long-term dangers of the novel coronavirus just as much as Wilson’s quick stabilization at the hospital seems to show the promise of convalescent plasma in treating it. “The whole thing continues to feel precarious,” she says. “How I felt that day (I left the hospital) is how I feel now.” The efficacy of the treatment Wilson received hasn’t been fully proven by clinical trials yet. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization this summer after initial studies suggested it was safe and could prove effective. That authorization allows doctors

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and hospitals to request the treatment. Convalescent plasma was first used to treat COVID patients in China in February this year, and blood centers like Hoxworth have been administering it since April on a more limited basis for clinical trials. “COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma may be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 and it is reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits…outweigh the known and potential risks,” reads the FDA’s Aug. 23 memo approving emergency use of the therapy. The memo notes that the treatment seems most effective when applied early on in the course of the illness. Hoxworth Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Oh says initial data from studies like one conducted by the Mayo Clinic make him cautiously optimistic about the therapy’s effectiveness, especially given the lack of other treatment options. He is also encouraged by stories like Wilson’s. “We hear anecdotal stories about this all the time, which is why I’m a proponent of use — that it was touch and go, and as they got close to getting on a ventilator they received the plasma and they made a really rapid turnaround,” he says. “It’s hard to attribute that all to convalescent plasma…but it’s a story we’re seeing repeatedly.” The treatment has also been used to fight other infections prior to the current pandemic. “This is a therapy that has been around for over 100 years,” Oh says. “There are reports of it being used for the flu of 1918, actually.” Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood. When blood centers collect plasma from donors, they draw blood into a machine that separates the lighter plasma from the heavier blood cells and platelets via a centrifuge-like device. The blood cells and platelets are then returned to the donor’s body. Hoxworth’s first COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors were exposed to the virus in March and donated plasma in mid-April. Since then, Hoxworth has distributed more than 2,500 units of COVID-19 convalescent plasma to local hospitals. An average donor can provide between one to three units of plasma. Each unit is about 200 milliliters. Mohammed Alagha was the first COVID-19 plasma donor in Greater Cincinnati when he donated in midApril. He has donated plasma five times since. He contracted a mild case of COVID19 while traveling on business in early March. After recovering, he had to wait 28 days before he could donate.

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“It was a very easy process,” he says. “It takes about 45 minutes. I was scared the first time, but after I did it, I wanted to go back and donate more. I’m happy I did, because they use it for critical patients. You don’t know — it could save a grandparent’s life or a neighbor’s life. Who knows? Someday I may need it.” Cincinnati emergency room nurse Lindsey Hayko has donated plasma five times since she caught and recovered from COVID in mid-March. Her case was relatively mild, but it did involve days of extreme fatigue, loss of taste and smell and a “chest-rattling” cough. After Hayko recovered, a co-worker sent her an article about convalescent plasma. She donated in late March in Dayton and to Hoxworth in April. “I think I was the second person in Ohio (to donate),” she says. “I donated to the Community Blood Center in Dayton. They were the first to do convalescent plasma in Ohio. When I did it, there wasn’t a lot of data saying whether it was helpful or not. But being a health care professional and everything, I felt it was part of my duty to help contribute to that research. It was like, if it works, great, if it doesn’t, we can move on to something else.” Sometimes, the process of finding appropriate plasma is difficult. Wilson, for example, has a rare blood type. Her Mohammed Alagha, an early Cincinnati convalescent plasma donor, at Hoxworth Blood Center P H O T O : P R O V I D E D BY M O H A M M E D A L A G H A family had to start a social media campaign to find donors supplies plasma to 31 hospitals in 19 COVID-19 pandemic. who had both recovered from counties, including all the hospitals in Like blood centers around the COVID-19 and who had compatible Cincinnati. country, Hoxworth says demand plasma to give. “The use has been really rapid for plasma mirrors the arc of the There are other complications for recently,” Oh says. “We’ve been trying pandemic’s impact on Greater some looking to donate plasma. A to increase our collections with this Cincinnati. controversial FDA policy requires men recent spike, which is so dramatic. Ohio has seen a skyrocketing in same-sex relationships, or women We’re working to avoid shortages as increase in new COVID-19 cases in who have had sex with a man who has much as possible.” recent weeks. also had sex with a man, to abstain Wilson says she’s very thankful for By the end of November, the state from sex for 30 days before giving convalescent plasma, which she credits had reported more than 410,000 cases blood or plasma. Critics, including with helping her defeat the COVID-19 and 6,399 deaths, including a recordsome blood centers, point out that virus. But she also thinks most people high 11,885 new cases reported on Nov. this policy is discriminatory and that aren’t aware of the potential aftereffects 23 alone (Gov. Mike DeWine did say, there is no reason for the delay — those of the disease, treatments or no. however, this spike was partially due to in heterosexual relationship can Her family has even started a a lab reporting delay). also contract blood-borne sexually crowdfunding effort to help provide That’s a huge increase. The state only transmitted diseases and all donors are necessities. reported 903 new cases on Sept. 23 and screened for blood-borne illnesses. “I’m a highly-functional human being,” 2,516 on Oct. 23. Until April of this year, the FDA she says. “I’m not sickly. But I’ve gone Hamilton County had reported directed gay men to abstain from samefrom someone who was hustling to more than 32,000 cases by the end of sex sexual contact for a full year before someone who can only do things from November and more than 370 deaths. donating. That restriction and similar her couch. It disrupts my whole family, Through September, Hoxworth was ones for women who have had sex my whole community. All we’re talking averaging about eight units of plasma with a man who has also had same-sex about is new cases. We’re not talking a day for COVID patients. In the first sexual contact, as well as anyone who enough about the long haul.” two weeks of November, that number has received tattoos and piercings, were spiked to 50 units a day. Hoxworth reduced to three months due to the

DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

One-Third of Cincinnati’s City Council is Facing Bribery Charges. The Rest are Figuring Out How to Move On. BY DA N N Y W I C E N TOW S K I

Betsy Sundermann knew Cincinnati City Council had a troubled reputation when she was sworn-in on March 4. But she’d barely made it through the first week at her new office at City Hall when quarantine orders sent everyone home amid the coronavirus shutdown. “What a crazy way to start a new job,” Sundermann says now. That’s one way to put it. For Sundermann, the craziness wasn’t just being forced to meet her new staff over Zoom as a pandemic spread across the city. There was another thing: the corruption. Just one day before Sundermann’s swearing-in ceremony, council member Tamaya Dennard had resigned amid pending charges for bribery and extortion. Sundermann had been a probate court magistrate before leaving that job to take the council seat vacated by Amy Murray. The career switch from judge to politician has put Sundermann in a tricky position: Fixing a culture of corruption that’s been on the job a lot longer than she has. But Sundermann says she wasn’t blind to that culture. She’d followed the 2018 “gang of five” scandal that had exposed and embarrassed council members whose private texting group violated the state’s open meetings law; a judge had ordered that their texts be released to the public, revealing the council members bashing the mayor and their own colleagues. The case cost taxpayers more than $100,000 in fines. “I definitely went into the council being very wary of who I could trust,” Sundermann says of the scandal. “Like everybody else who’s interested in politics, I read all the stories, I read all the texts. How do you trust someone after they do something like that?” Sundermann isn’t alone in that wariness. She’s part a bloc of three new council members appointed in the shadow of Cincinnati’s latest season of corruption: After Dennard’s arrest in February, federal prosecutors in November brought cases against council member Jeff Pastor. One week later, the feds came for council member P.G. Sittenfeld, the ringleader of the 2018 texting scandal and a frontrunner for the 2021 mayoral race. The news hit Sundermann hard. Her husband, assistant city solicitor David Laing, had worked as an aid to Sittenfeld in the past. Even after the fall of Dennard and Pastor, she says, Sittenfeld’s arrest was particularly “terrible.” “This was someone who wanted to run our entire city,” she says. “It just breaks people’s faith in government.” Since May, Sundermann says she’s been working on a proposed charter amendment to strengthen Cincinnati’s ethics rules for its city council members — though the list keeps getting longer. “I keep adding things as people keep getting indicted,” she says. One of her proposals is ripped from

the pages of the ongoing controversy around Sittenfeld’s refusal to resign. Sittenfeld was arrested Nov. 19 on charges of honest services wire fraud, bribery, and attempted extortion by a government official. He’s accused of accepting $40,000 in campaign contributions — still considered a bribe — for votes on a development deal. And although the federal indictment features transcripts of Sittenfeld’s remarks to an FBI informant — including the line, “Don’t let these be my famous last words, but I can always get a vote” — he took to Facebook four days later to protest his innocence. In the Nov. 20 video, Sittenfeld’s last public statement, he vowed to “keep fighting these false allegations, fighting as your elected council member, and fighting for our city and its future.” Meanwhile, councilman Pastor, who faces charges for accepting $55,000 in a separate bribes-for-votes scheme (though it involved the same developerturned-FBI informant), didn’t make the same protest. On Nov. 23, he agreed to go on paid suspension while his criminal case is pending. Sundermann points out that there is no mechanism for the city to suspend its own council members. Instead, it must rely on the state Attorney General to make the first move, and, even then, the process starts with a just a request — which an accused public official can turn down. If they refuse, the AG has to kick the issue to a special commission to determine whether the public official’s role in government “adversely affects the functioning of that office or adversely affects the rights and interests of the public.” Under the timeline laid out in state statute, getting a suspension order that way could take more than a month. For Sundermann, Pastor’s agreement to take the suspension came as a relief. She notes that days after his arrest, the city council had convened for a regular meeting. Pastor was scheduled to attend. “We all sat there at a council meeting, and were like, ‘Is Jeff coming? Is he showing up? What are we going to do if he tries to vote?’” They never had to find out. An aid working for Pastor ended up alerting the council that he would not attend the day’s meeting, according to Sundermann. But Sittenfeld’s claims of innocence have thrust the council right into the same position. The next council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 16. What if Sittenfeld insists on maintaining his innocence through city lawmaking, or voting? “It’s very possible that Mr. Sittenfeld will show up to a meeting, and that’s going to be a huge problem,” Sundermann says. “What Jeff Pastor is doing now, he’s suspended with pay, which is fine, we just don’t want

Cincinnati City Hall P H OTO : N I C K S WA RT S E L L

them to show up and vote while they’re under indictment for taking bribes. We should not be in that predicament, where we’re just hoping people voluntarily resign.” This predicament could be avoided under Sundermann’s proposed charter amendment. It would immediately suspend council members “if charged with a felony or crime of moral turpitude involving duties of their job on council.” Convictions would trigger removal. The amendment would also require restitution payments from “Members of council who commit crimes against the City,” a measure Sundermann says was inspired by the “gang of five” scandal that left taxpayers with the six-figure bill for the court-ordered fine. On Nov. 16, Sundermann held a press conference to announce the details of her proposed charter amendment, which would need to pass as a ballot initiative in a future election. That same day, however, at a separate news conference, councilman Greg Landsman was holding a very similar news conference, announcing his own plan to file legislation creating a local ethics commission and reforming the city’s campaign finance laws. “We hope that this commission will go beyond what the Ohio Ethics Commission requires in terms of disclosure, in terms of training, in terms of oversight and accountability,” Landsman told reporters, though, he added, “it would build off of, not supersede in any way, the state’s ethics commission.” Landsman joined council in 2017, part of a fresh class of electeds that included the now-indicted council members Pastor and Dennard. But it would be a texting group that formed between five council members — Landsman, Dennard, Sittenfeld, Chris Seelbach and Wendell Young — that became a kind of prologue to Cincinnati’s present public shame. Now, two years after the “gang of five”

controversy ended without criminal charges for the five council members involved, Landsman says he is doing his duty to clean up damage left by the trio of indictments. “We’ll fix it,” he tells CityBeat in an interview, adding that corruption cases against three-out-of-nine members of the city council in a single year “hurts the city and makes our jobs much harder.” Landsman is now a member of a very different looking city council. Along with Sundermann, the council now features two new members: Steve Goodin, appointed to replace Pastor; and Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, who took over Dennard’s council seat in March. If Sittenfeld steps down, it would mean city council would proceed with four brand-new members untainted by Cincinnati’s previous culture of corruption. In addition to the three remaining members of the “gang of five,” the new council composition is rounded out by Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman and David Mann, who on Nov. 18 introduced a motion to create “detailed written development policies laying out when and under what circumstances it is proper for a developer to approach Members of Council about a new development agreement with the city.” More ideas for reform are sure to fly at future council meetings and as the 2021 elections approaches. In the meantime, though, the council will have to move forward — and they’ll have to figure out how to do that together. “I think it’s important to understand that this all happened in a City Hall culture that for too many is about power, at all costs,” Landsman points out. It’s a culture, he continues, “where people are either allies or enemies, where lines are crossed and the FBI has to get involved. We have to end this culture too.”

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DECEMBER 2020

hile this is called the Holiday Issue, it should probably just be called the “things to do in December” issue. It’s a wintry mix of activities happening across the Tri-State — some are kind of Christmasy, most are non-denominational, none of them are overtly religious (oh, except our listing for the Creation Museum’s ChristmasTown walk-thru light display, but that has a zip line), and some of it you can do at home while you stream cheesy made-for-TV movies. In addition to the assorted events and attractions, we’ve also got a list of warm cocktails, cozy recipes, ways to give back, light shows and some streaming theater. (If you missed our November Gift Guide, visit citybeat.com to check out the digital issue as well as a slideshow with a starter list of local stores to support this season.) On the pandemic front: The Ohio Department of Health has a whole guide with recommendations for how to celebrate the season safely while we wait for the vaccine. (Visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or just Google “Holiday Celebrations Guide Ohio Department of Health;” it’s pretty comprehensive.) So please take current COVID precautions into consideration before making any plans and check each website for the most up-to-date safety and visitor info.

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BONBONERIE GINGERBREAD MEN // PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Yes Virginia, There are Local Holiday Shows in 2020 Cincinnati theaters are streaming shows and presenting socially distanced performances this December BY RICK PENDER "THE DRUNK SANTA X-MAS SPECTACULAR" // PHOTO: CINCINNATI SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

’T

is the season when Cincinnati theaters usually present their holiday shows. This summer, plans were announced to stage a one-man performance of A Christmas Carol at the Playhouse in the Park, and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company was expected to mount a safely-presented production of the zany send-up Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!). Alas, the coronavirus Grinch spoiled those annual winter favorites — one more disappointment to a very sad year. Recently, Broadway tours of Frozen and Hamilton, promised for early 2021 at the Aronoff Center, were also postponed. While the coronavirus casts its shadow over “the most wonderful time of the year,” local theaters have cobbled together a few holiday offerings. The Playhouse will present The 12 Dames of Christmas at 8 p.m. Dec. 18, Dec. 19 and Dec. 20. The live show (with no intermission) features musical theater award-winner Angela Ingersoll impersonating a dozen musical divas. She’s won accolades for her spot-on portrayal of Judy Garland, and she’ll range through the likes of Julie Andrews, Janis Joplin and others. The Marx Theatre will sell 30% of its seating to allow for proper social distancing. Face masks will be required. Call 513421-3888 for ticket availability; tickets start at $39. Unwilling to venture into a theater with strangers? Other entertainment can be enjoyed from home. Actor Bruce Cromer, whose beloved embodiment of Ebenezer Scrooge has anchored A Christmas Carol at the Cincinnati Playhouse for more than a decade, recently recorded a one-man rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story about a miser who is taught the true meaning of Christmas by ghostly visitations. With recording and sound effect assistance from Matthew M. Nielson — the sound designer of many Playhouse Mainstage shows — Cromer used a 60-minute adaptation of the script that Dickens created for his own speaking engagements in the 19th century. Blake Robison, the Playhouse’s artistic director, said, “Until it is safe to bring back the full ensemble for the Playhouse’s annual production,

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we invite the community to celebrate the spirit of the holidays from the comfort of home with A Christmas Carol on the radio. Bruce Comer is beloved as Scrooge, and now we’ll get to experience his immense talent and this holiday favorite in an imaginative new way.” It airs (for free) on 91.7 WVXU at 8 p.m. on Dec. 23 and repeats at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24. It will be archived on wvxu.org after the 24th. Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, recognizing that young audiences are especially starved for live entertainment, put together a holiday production of The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams’ classic tale of a stuffed toy rabbit made real by a child’s enduring love. It’s being performed live through Dec. 13 using 44 of the seats in the theater’s 152-seat Showtime Stage (at 4015 Red Bank Road, Madisonville). Actors are masked and pantomiming to pre-recorded sound, reducing possible viral spread; the theater will be deepcleaned between performances. The production has also been captured on video and can be ordered for at-home viewing via thechildrenstheatre. com. Theater tickets cost $25-$30 and streaming costs $15 (plus a service charge). “Our mission (to educate, entertain and engage audiences of all ages through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming) has helped us last for 100-plus years through many challenges, but we have prevailed,” says Roderick Justice, Children’s Theatre’s producing artistic director. “Our young audiences need us now more than ever. They need the arts and storytelling.” To that end, the theater has also adapted its visually and technologically imaginative touring production of Scrooge’s story, Bah, Humbug: A One-Man Christmas Carol, for video streaming. Actor Chris Carter has done the role on tour, and Justice says he offers a lively retelling with lots of humor that kids will enjoy. Less than an hour, it is also available for purchase ($15) throughout December. While Cincinnati Shakespeare Company can’t present its annual holiday satire, the creative team of Miranda McGee, Justin McCombs,

DECEMBER 2020

Geoffrey Warren Barnes II and Maggie Lou Rader has reassembled for a pre-recorded video offering, The Drunk Santa X-mas Spectacular. This production is definitely not suitable for true Santa believers, since Drunk Santa’s sack is full of irreverent holiday hijinks with special guests, musical numbers and more. Streaming admission via cincyshakes.com is $20 per person (“honor system”) or you can view it on the big screen at the Esquire and Mariemont cinemas for the same price. A DVD is also available for purchase ($50). Covington’s Carnegie Theatre has two holiday offerings that can be attended safely in the Otto M. Budig Theatre: On Friday, Dec. 18, DeAndré Smith will perform an evening of seasonal music ($25). On Sunday, Dec. 20, an audience can enjoy a screening of the classic movie musical, Singin’ in the Rain (free but RSVP required). Tickets are available at thecarnegie.com. While it’s not quite theater fare, The Nutcracker is truly a beloved holiday classic. For 2020, the Cincinnati Ballet is offering its annual production as a re-envisioned virtual show titled “The Nutcracker at Home.” The free digital experience will include a one-hour version of the ballet recorded at Music Hall — with dancers following all COVID protocols. “All those magical moments we share together each year remain in this production,” Artistic Director Victoria said in a release. “Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, plus we’ve added a few surprises for this digital version.” Dates are TBA. Get more details — and a special Nutcracker-themed gift box — at cballet.org. A long-held holiday performance event at Christ Church Cathedral, The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival, has been canceled for the first time in 81 years. The festival is rooted in the Middle Ages, performed with musicians and enacted by church members who play lords, ladies, knights, historical characters, cooks, hunters and pages. The performance is typically ticketed (and sold out); this year, anyone interested can watch online. A video of the January 2020 pageant will be offered on Saturday, Jan. 2,

and Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. Check cincinnaticathedral.com later this month for details. For those who prefer theater or storytelling without holiday trappings, numerous streaming offerings are available: Know Theatre livestreamed Christian St. Croix’s Zack in November (until a coronavirus positive diagnosis shut it down). Inspired by Saturday morning sitcoms from the early ’90s — remember Saved by the Bell? — this one satirically takes on race and tokenism from the rose-colored point-of-view of two teens of color in a very white high school in Southern California. A previously captured performance of Zack is online through Dec. 13 for $20 at knowtheatre.com. Know’s website has several other video-on-demand offerings. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s free one-hour, updated radio-play version of The War of the Worlds, adapted by Jeremy Dubin and Brian Isaac Phillips, is available for streaming. Performed by Cincy Shakes actors, it’s true to H.G. Wells’ original tale about an alien invasion and Orson Welles’ scary 1938 radio script, but several timely and thought-provoking modern twists have been added. Find it at cincyshakes.com. For fans of Cincinnati Fringe Festival favorite Paul Strickland and his tall tales with music, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival from Lindon, Utah, has put together a Holiday Encore. Featuring Strickland and others, it’s available from Dec. 26 to Jan. 3 (for $25) at timpfest.org. Three of Strickland’s singular performances can be downloaded from the same site for $10 each. Northern Kentucky University’s theater program recently livestreamed Edges, a song cycle by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the composer/lyric-writing team that created Dear Evan Hansen. These numbers are about young adults wrestling with classic questions about coming of age. NKU obtained permission to extend its availability through the holidays and beyond. It’s a 48-hour rental for $3 via showtix4u. com/events/nkusota.

NANA'S LATKES // PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Nana’s Latke’s Emily Frank of Pleasant Ridge’s Share: Cheesebar shared her family latke recipe with us — and the traditions behind it. “Growing up, we had latkes once a year for one night of Hanukkah — we certainly don’t do them for all eight nights! These days we do it on Christmas Eve when we have our annual cousins’ sleepover. “My cousin Ben and his family, as well as my sister, her family and I have a sleepover where we make latkes and celebrate Hanukkah together (regardless of when on the calendar it actually falls). “Here is the latke recipe to the best of my knowledge. We just kind of wing it when it comes to latkes. A little too wet? Put in more flour or put it through the colander again. Need a little more salt? Put it in. That’s how Jewish grandmothers roll — nothing is precise! “Our recipe is done on the grill, but you can go old school for sure and do it on the stove. Same method, just prepare for your house (and hair and clothes) to smell like latkes for the next week if you stay inside! It’s not a difficult recipe, it’s just a long process and not something we make regularly.”

Ingredients: 5 pounds of potatoes — russet, nothing special 4-ish eggs 3 to 4 heaping Tablespoons of all-purpose flour or ¼ cup matzo meal 1 teaspoon Kosher salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Canola oil (enough to fill a skillet with 1 inch of oil) Sour cream or applesauce, for serving

Instructions: Peel the potatoes and either shred by hand or with a food processor. Put shredded potatoes in a colander and get out as much liquid as possible! SQUEEEEEZE! Add potatoes to a bowl and stir in 4 beaten eggs, a teaspoon of Kosher salt, ¼-ish teaspoon pepper, ¼ cup matzo meal or 3 to 4 heaping tablespoons of all purpose flour. Mix well. If it seems too wet, add more flour or matzo meal. Heat the grill on high and place a skillet with 1 inch of Canola oil on the grill. Drop a couple of pieces of potato in the oil to check when it’s hot enough (it should bubble rapidly). When it’s hot enough, drop a large forkful of potato mixture into the oil and flatten. Fill the pan with 4 to 6 latkes (depending on pan size). Resist the urge to flip them until you see the edges starting to turn brown. Gently flip and brown on the second side. When cooked on both sides, place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels or brown bags to absorb grease. Sprinkle with Kosher salt. Enjoy with a dollop of sour cream and/ or applesauce!

BONBONERIE GINGERBREAD MEN // PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

two classic holiday recipes to bring you comfort and carbs this winter

The BonBonerie’s Gingerbread Recipe

Ingredients:

O’Bryonville’s BonBonerie bakery is a Cincinnati institution. The femaleowned sweeterie — renowned for its cult-favorite Opera Cream Torte — has been in operation since 1983, handcrafting everything from tea cookies and fine pastries to elaborate wedding cakes and decorative Bûche de Noël with fresh and indulgent ingredients. (They also offer a tearoom and cafe with plenty of savory options.)

2 Tablespoons cocoa

Over the holidays, the BonBonerie focuses on festive creations — like the aforementioned yule log cake — along with Christmas cookies, including these gingerbread men.

1 pound butter

Tracy Daugherty, general manager of the BonBonerie, says this is the recipe they use to make their gingerbread houses and gingerbread men. “It is important to note that this is a very versatile recipe — meaning it can be baked for a shorter period of time for a soft cookie, a little longer for a traditional crispy gingerbread cookie and even a bit longer to make a gingerbread house,” she says.

¼ cup corn syrup

7 ¼ cups of all purpose flour

The BonBonerie is currently accepting holiday orders and operating via curbside pick-up only. Visit bonbonerie. com for more.

3 Tablespoons ground ginger 1 Tablespoon ground cloves 1 Tablespoon & 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1½ teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon ground black pepper 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 cup molasses

Instructions: In a small bowl, mix all dry ingredients together. Cream butter and sugar in a stand mixer. Add eggs, mix well. Add molasses and corn syrup mix until blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add dry ingredients. Mix until everything is incorporated. Cover and chill dough 3 to 4 hours. Roll until desired thickness. We prefer ¼-inch or slightly less. Bake at 325 degrees for 6-8 minutes.

Note: This yields 54 cookies.

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Journey Borealis Transforms Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park with Art and Light This illuminated drive-thru display, overseen by BLINK’s Brave Berlin, uses light-based and new media artists, plus original music, to create an immersive experience

JOURNEY BOREALIS // PHOTO: VINCENT DIFRANCESCO

BY CARRIE MICHAELS

amilton’s Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park is lighting up the holiday season with a brand new drive-thru show: Journey BOREALIS. For the last 20 years, Pyramid Hill has offered a drive-thru experience that is often ranked among the region’s best holiday light displays. But this year, Holiday Lights on the Hill has done a glow-up into Journey BOREALIS, an illuminated spectacle and “visual art experience that showcases local and regional new media and lightbased artists,” says a release from Pyramid Hill. Overseen by light design company Brave Berlin — part of Cincinnati’s BLINK art and light festival — for the past three years, Pyramid Hill’s light show has previously included 2-and-a-half miles of creative, glowing scenes and projection-mapped sculptural installations. This year’s multimedia drive-thru has expanded to include more than 1 million lights and immersive holiday art installations, soundtracked to music by the Cincinnati Boychoir and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Some may remember that Journey BOREALIS was slated to open last year, but it was pushed back because “we realized that in order to forward the scope of the project we wanted to present, we needed more time for development,” says Gabi Roach, art and programming manager at Pyramid Hill. She says the extra year of concept development gave the show what it needed to be truly spectacular. An immersive experience, Journey BOREALIS is divided into different zones that tell a story — through light and music — as you move through the park. Pyramid Hill partnered with Daniel Nail, a University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music grad, to create the show’s original soundtrack. Brave Berlin helped bring the score to life — which was no small feat because COVID-19 meant the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and Cincinnati Boychoir couldn’t meet in person to rehearse. “Our solution was to compose the six pieces of music via Zoom calls, in essence creating a virtual choir,” says Dan Reynolds of Brave Berlin. Brave Berlin also helped arrange for the specially created music to be streamed utilizing the free ECHOES app. The app uses geo-located audio that can be played through your car’s stereo, which will allow the music to change as you make your way through the show route.

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(Download it via Google Play or Apple before you go so you don’t miss any music.) In addition to creating something unique with Journey BOREALIS, the folks at Pyramid Hill were also interested in forging stronger partnerships with local art organizations. “(We are) giving these organizations the chance to remain visible during a time when many arts organizations have had to slow or completely stop their programming efforts due to COVID-19,” Roach says. As such, many hands and hard work have helped make this show possible. “The amount of community participation and involvement in Journey BOREALIS this year is inspiring,” says Sean FitzGibbons, executive director of Pyramid Hill. Not only does the show feature projections from Brave Berlin, it also includes installations from Pam Kravetz and the Bombshells of Cincinnati, Vincent Lighting Solutions and For Lula Girl yarn bomber. Even the Ross High School Art Club got involved, as did Journey BOREALIS Artist in Residence Sarah Rodriguez and her team of community volunteers. “The yarn bombers are over-the-moon excited to get the band back together for Journey BOREALIS at Pyramid Hill,” says Kravetz, part of the Bombshells of Cincinnati and an artist in her own right. “We are knitting and crocheting a cluster of delightfully seasonally celebratory and colorful tree wraps to install along the show route.” This year, more than ever, the team at Pyramid Hill is excited to help raise morale during the holidays and offer a COVID-friendly way to get out of the house. “The entire Pyramid Hill team is proud to present Journey BOREALIS, an event that is focused on collaborative partnerships with regional arts organizations,” says FitzGibbons in a release. “Presenting a safe, drivable, holiday light experience that stands as a creative outlet for local artists is extremely important to the park.” Journey BOREALIS takes place 6-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 6-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday through Jan. 3. $20 Monday-Thursday; $25 Friday-Sunday; $15 for Pyramid Hill members; free for Hamilton residents on Tuesdays (must bring proof of residence). 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, journeyborealis.com.

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10 More Drive-Thru — and Walk-Thru — Light Displays BY CITYBEAT STAFF

Here’s some additional festive fun you can enjoy from the warmth of your car, or while you’re all bundled up outside. Pro tip: Some displays may be closed Christmas Eve or Christmas Day; check their websites.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO The PNC Festival of Lights — which has been named the No. 1 light display in the nation by USA Today for the past two years — returns. This year, the fest will feature “socially-distanced outdoor visits with Santa” at 4 p.m. daily (through Dec. 23); three s’more stations; North Polar Express train rides; Fiona fairy statues in Fiona Fairyland; giant animal lanterns; and fun and festive photo ops throughout the park. Visitors ages 6 and up are required to wear masks while inside in the park and timed tickets are required. The zoo says to make reservations between the hours of 1-5 p.m. if you want to see the animals. 1-9 p.m daily through Jan. 3. Bonus nights Jan. 8-10 and Jan. 15-17. 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.

LIGHT IN THE FOREST AT THE CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER This 1-mile walk-thru light display will “sparkle with gentle lights reflecting a theme of peace, tranquility, and inspiration,” says the Cincinnati Nature Center. Walking trails and nature paths have been artistically lit and will feature three light installations by OBLSK, a creative agency that took part in the BLINK art and light festival. The Krippendorf Lodge and Abner Hollow Cabin will also be decked-out in “period-specific decorations.” This will all be complemented by live music, bonfires and shopping opportunities. Guests need to pre-register for a certain time slot. Capacity limits are in place due to COVID and the center says “all adults and children Kindergarten age and up must wear masks.” 5-9 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through Jan. 3. $12 adults; $7 children. 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, cincynature.org.

HOLIDAY IN LIGHTS AT SHARON WOODS Featuring more than 1 million lights decorating over 250 vignettes along a woodland path, “the holiday-themed displays showcase everything from Santa Claus and his elves, to every animal on the ark,” says Holiday in Lights. The park is also offering walkable tours of the lights. Walks are by reservation only and take place every 15 minutes on Dec. 2 and Dec. 30. No cars will be allowed on those nights. The show is going cashless this

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year due to COVID, and all tickets are available in advance online. There’s also an option online to buy some special effects glasses to enhance the drive. Santaland will be closed this year (for health and safety reasons). 6-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 2. $15 per vehicle; $45 for buses; $5 walkthru tickets. 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, holidayinlights.com.

the summer — transforms into a drive-thru holiday light display this winter. Christmas Glow offers “over 3.8 million lights at the 2-mile long Christmas Around the World drive-thru experience,” as well as a mobile petting zoo, Christmas Village (with hot cocoa, fire pits and a 45-foot Christmas tree), Santa’s workshop and a gift shop. 6-10 p.m. daily through Dec. 30. $7 per person. 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown, landofillusion.com/glow.

WINTER NIGHTS, RIVER LIGHTS

LIGHT UP MIDDLETOWN

Winter Nights, River Lights illuminates the Purple People Bridge with 1,000 purple-and-white lights, a 25-foot Christmas “wish” tree, projections and seasonal music played over speakers spanning the bridge. North American Properties, the team behind Newport on the Levee’s redevelopment, and some other local contributors stepped up to secure the funding for the illumination. Through Jan. 15. Free. 425 York St., Newport, facebook.com/ newportonthelevee.

This “fantasy drive-thru light display in Middletown, Ohio’s downtown 100-acre Smith Park” not only decks the halls with tons of glowing holiday displays, it also serves as a fundraiser for Middletown City Parks. 6-10 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. Admission is by cash donation; you set your own price. 500 Tytus Avenue, Middletown, lightupmiddletown.org.

CHRISTMAS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AT CONEY ISLAND

CHRISTMASTOWN AT THE CREATION MUSEUM

Enjoy the warmth of your car while lights manipulated to resemble dancing candy canes, glowing snowmen, colorful tunnels and giant holiday trees are synchronized to Christmas tunes both classic and new, available via your car radio. The 2-and-a-half-mile long display features more than 1 million lights. Dusk-10 p.m. daily (with extended hours weekends) through Jan. 9. $7 per person; free 3 and under. 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, christmasnightsoflights.com.

The Creation Museum transforms its botanical gardens into a special ChristmasTown each year. Discover thousands of lights and displays along the garden trails — including several life-size dinosaurs — a live nativity, a petting zoo, an ice skating rink, gift shop, holiday food and a zip line (to get a bird’s eye view of the lights). 5-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday through Dec. 20. 5 p.m.8:30 p.m. daily Dec. 21-30. The outdoor exhibit is free; skating is $7.99 and parking is $10. 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, Kentucky, creationmuseum.org.

LIGHT UP THE FAIR

THE CHRISTMAS RANCH

Located at the Boone County Fairgrounds, this Northern Kentucky drive-thru light display spans 2 miles with over half a million dazzling lights, synchronized to music through your car radio. 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 2. $6 per person; free 3 and under. 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington, lightupthefair.com.

Take a drive up to Morrow to visit the Christmas Ranch, a winter wonderland that features 1 million lights synchronized to music. Drive along an animated, illuminated route or park the car to visit the Christmas village with seven shops, a bakery and café, and a toy factory. A portion of proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Little Miami Food Pantry, Neediest Kids of All and Shriners Hospital for children. Check their website for hours. Through Dec. 23. $15 per carload; $30 for vehicles with 10 or more. 3205 S. Waynesville Road, Morrow, thechristmasranch.com.

CHRISTMAS GLOW AT LAND OF ILLUSION Land of Illusion — a haunted horror town during Halloween and a family-friendly splash zone during

MIRACLE AT OVERLOOK LODGE // PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

Warm Cocktails for Cold Nights Area bars are offering special steamy spiked drinks this winter COMPILED BY GRACE LAWLER

Need some spirits to put you in the holiday spirit, or help warm you from the inside out? These local bars are offering seasonally themed heated cocktails to keep you cozy while you sip — whether that’s at home, at the bar or on one of their heated patios.

HOMEMAKER’S BAR

KON-TIKI’S FIRE LOUNGE

JERRY’S JUG HOUSE

39 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, homemakersbar.com

1 Levee Way, Bridgeview Box Park, Newport, kontikionthelevee.com

44 E. Seventh St., Newport, jerrysjughouse.com

HomeMakers offers a handful of warm cocktails: the Penicillin (whisky, lemon, honey, ginger); Some Like it Hot (aged cachaça, almond milk tea, saffron, burdock, honey or available spirit-free); and the Firebird (spirit of choice, cocoa, green cardamom, cinnamon, orange peel or available spirit-free). Carry-out? Available on-site and to-go. Heated patio? “We have a huge outdoor area we refer to as our Outpost. We have tents, heaters and fire pits. Starting in December we are turning the whole space into a ski lodge! We will be selling Christmas trees for Findlay Market and we will have igloos, which will be heated,” says co-owner Julia Petiprin.

OVERLOOK LODGE’S MIRACLE POP-UP 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, thatshiningbar.com Overlook Lodge’s holiday bar pop-up Miracle returned this November, gracing us once again with a festively immersive yuletide celebration — and boasting a socially distant spin. The all-inclusive and ticketed event offers two themed cocktails and one shot per guest for a one-hour duration throughout its run. One of the cocktails you can try? The Bad Santa: mulled red wine, tawny port, orange liqueur and Christmas spices, served hot in a winking Santa mug. Carry-out? Available on-site and to-go. Heated patio? "We designed Miracle this year to be as safe as possible,” says co-owner Katie Fraser. “We offer tables of two, four and six that are separated by festive custom-designed barriers so you can feel secure, but maybe forget about the outside world for a while. The experience lasts one hour and you can expect to enjoy safely seated table service.”

THE VIEW AT SHIRES GARDEN 309 Vine St., 10th Floor, Downtown, theviewatshiresgarden.com Head to this rooftop bar for a hot spiced cider made with your choice of spirit, plus cinnamon, vanilla, orange and nutmeg. Carry-out? Available on-site or to-go. Heated patio? “Heated garden igloos, greenhouses and a tented space (are) all available by reservation via our website,” says Lisa Colina, director of communications and events for Ignite Entertainment, which operates the bar.

This new Tiki spot at Newport on the Levee’s Bridgeview Box Park offers many warm drinks: hot mulled wine (Kon-Tiki’s “secret wine blend” enhanced with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and other natural spices); hot spiced cider (vanilla vodka, Absolut Juice Apple, spiced rum, cinnamon, orange, clove and nutmeg, garnished with a dollop of whipped cream and an apple slice rolled in cinnamon and sugar); Rump it Up (hot coffee and Rumple Minze, whipped cream and a crushed peppermint); hot buttered rum (housemade buttered rum and spiced rum, garnished with whipped cream and nutmeg); and Hot Chocolate Bombs (drop a housemade bomb into your choice of milk, toasted marshmallow syrup and toasted marshmallows). Carry-out? Only available on-site. Heated patio? “We will have the entire bar tented and heated. We are also offering igloos for our guests, by reservation,” says Colina of Ignite.

LITTLE MIAMI BREWING COMPANY

Stop by this Newport bar for a hot spiced cider with bourbon or rum. They’re also currently slinging both meat and veggie panini. Carry-out? Available on-site or to-go. Heated patio? Jerry’s offers a heated outdoor tent.

NORTHSIDE YACHT CLUB 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com With a nod to its punny landlocked nautical theme, the Yacht Club offers both a Yacht Toddy, with bourbon, house-spiced local honey and fresh lemon juice, or a house-spiced hot cider with Navy-strength rum or bonded bourbon. Carry-out? Available on-site or to-go. Heated patio? Bar co-owner Stuart MacKenzie says, “(The) Yacht Club has indoor seating and has turned the music room into a socially distanced ‘indoor patio’ where you can eat where you used to see your favorite band play, including the stage!”

208 Mill St., Milford, littlemiamibrewing.com

NOMAD

Sip a hot cider or cocoa, infused with your choice of booze, by the brewery’s namesake river.

225 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, facebook.com/nomadky

Carry-out? Available on-site and to-go. Heated patio? “We have a special heated patio with a fire pit, and our rooftop has Plexiglas winter sides to keep the wind down,” says Dan Lynch, co-founder and CEO.

E19 LOUNGE BAR & DISCOTHÈQUE 1905 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/e19bar Founded by owner Richard Cooke, the organizer of Cincinnati’s LGBTQ+ Tea Dance series, the nightclub and bar — located across from Rhinegeist — offers a “safe, diverse and inclusive entertainment space.” Plus hot cocktails. Grab a hot toddy with Tullamore Dew Cider Cask whiskey, lemon and honey while you sit by their fireplace. Carry-out? Only available on-site. Heated patio? “We do not offer outdoor seating at this time but we will be adding a streetside patio in the future,” says general manager Justin DeJohn. “Our Neighborhood Lounge Bar boasts a cozy fireplace that provides plenty of heat.”

The space in which the new Nomad sits — located across from Bellevue’s Darkness Brewing — was formerly home to bakery Mama C’s Buttercream & Sprinkles. Now, helmed in part by the owners of nearby boutique Coda Co., the space has been completely transformed with a string-lit garden and chic redesigned interior. They offer two hot cocktails: a bourbon caramel cider (hot cider, caramel and Bulleit Bourbon topped with whipped cream) or a classic Irish Coffee with Deeper Roots espresso. Carry-out? The bar recently started offering booze bags to-go. Heated patio? Nomad’s outdoor seating comes equipped with outdoor heaters.

LOST & FOUND 22 E. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine, lostandfoundotr.com Stop by OTR’s Lost & Found for a hot mulled cider with your choice of bourbon or rum. Carry-out? Only available on-site. Heated patio? “We have heaters inside of our patio as well as two free-standing heaters outside,” says co-owner/operator Steven Clement.

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Giving Back Freestore Foodbank // Photo: Freestore Foodbank Facebook

Fallout from the pandemic means local nonprofits need more support than ever this year BY MAIJA ZUMMO

COVID hasn’t been easy on anyone. From literal illness and financial strain to unemployment and isolation, the virus has wreaked havoc on all parts of our everyday lives, including our relationships and sense of stability. As infection rates continue to hit an all-time high in America, nonprofits and social services are doing their best to offset the impact. So, in this season of giving, we reached out to several area agencies to see how you can give back, whether you favor in-person volunteering or other acts of kindness. (Obviously, monetary donations are always welcome, if that’s something you can afford.) If there’s a cause you care about, there’s most likely a nonprofit out there with a similar mission who needs your support this holiday — and beyond.

FREESTORE FOODBANK

BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES

The Freestore Foodbank is “the largest emergency food and services provider to children and families in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana,” and since the start of the pandemic, they have distributed more than 24 million meals to those in need in partnership with more than 600 agencies across 20 counties. That’s a 46% increase over their typical numbers and Trisha Rayner, chief development officer, says they provided 419,476 meals to 8,400 families in November — “an increase of over 2,400 families this holiday season compared to last year.”

Bethany House is dedicated to holistically assisting families facing homelessness by offering emergency shelter and other housing programs along with case management “provided by staff trained in traumainformed care and focused on empowering families to reach self-sufficiency.”

The Ohio National Guard has been assisting food banks across the state — including the Freestore — via federal funding since March, but their time is up Dec. 17 (unless that funding is extended). The Freestore’s Volunteer Communication Specialist Carolyn Frank says, “Without them we would not have been able to keep up the demand of the emergency boxes.” The guard has helped pack food boxes to last the Freestore until early January, at which point they will need physical volunteers at their Liberty Street Market and distribution center. But, Rayner says, “The best way to support the work in the community is to donate at freestorefoodbank. org or donate to your local pantry. With COVID restrictions, we have minimized canned food drives and are using virtual food drives, where people can spark ‘virtual food donations’ with their company or family and friends.” She says with the added impact of grocery stores being unable to donate as much as they would in a typical year, funding to purchase food is imperative. “Every dollar can help provide up to three meals,” Rayner says. Learn more and donate at freestorefoodbank.org.

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Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator Gage Woolley says Bethany House had to shut down its two communal-style shelters in March in order to ensure appropriate social distancing for their families. They have since relocated to a hotel in Sharonville, where 23 families are staying. “We need help providing dinners to the folks staying there,” says Woolley. “We look for volunteers to help cook — or cater — full meals for either all of the families (23, with an average of four per family) or about half the families (12).” Adding, “We do ask to avoid pizza and pasta if possible as our families get that more than other food.” They are also accepting “Bethany Basics,” which are items to help families transition from the shelter into their own homes. The list includes everything from sheets and pillows to can openers, silverware and laundry detergent. You can find the full list under the “donate” tab at bethanyhouseservices.org, which also shows what your cash donation can do. There is also a contact form online to get available dates and full details about providing meals.

Gregg, chief communications officer, has highlighted a few. “Our Virtual Product Drive offers a safe and easy way to give. Complete a short form (at unitedwaygc. typeform.com/to/X3EZlHHB) and you’ll receive a link to needed items, powered by Amazon Registry, which we’ll distribute to local organizations supporting food pantries, after-school programming, temporary housing for families, services for older adults and more. You can also choose United Way of Greater Cincinnati as your AmazonSmile charitable organization.” “Our Notes of Encouragement to isolated seniors is another creative way of helping. Pen an encouraging letter to lift the spirits of someone who may be alone over the holidays because of the pandemic. We’ll make sure they get into the right hands. (The United Way has) put out more than 10,000 Notes of Encouragement and is now doing a Holiday Notes of Encouragement, where all the notes will be sent to people through Meals on Wheels and the YMCA.” “Our Wish List partnership with The Cincinnati Enquirer offers tangible ways to see your donation in action. You can give to a specific cause, such as a child who needs a wheelchair.” Learn more or give at uwgc.org.

CINCINNATI ANIMAL CARE HUMANE SOCIETY It’s not just people who need help this holiday season.

The United Way is a community-focused health and human services nonprofit that serves 1.8 million people across the Tri-State through its assorted partnerships.

“The biggest thing people can do to help the animal shelter during the holidays — and beyond — is adopt or foster an animal,” says Ray Anderson, media and community relations manager. “Fostering is going to become the future of animal sheltering as it allows us to expand our capacity.”

If you visit uwgc.org/#Volunteer, you’ll be able to scroll through tons of different opportunities, but Brian G.

Anderson says that in the past several weeks, they have had more than 80 stray dogs come through their

UNITED WAY OF GREATER CINCINNATI

If fostering isn’t for you, you can also donate directly or order supplies from their Amazon Wish List. Anderson says their most-needed items are “wet and dry dog and cat food, cat litter and cleaning supplies, particularly paper towels.” Cincinnati Animal CARE, now Hamilton County’s official animal welfare agency, is also accepting volunteer dog walkers. Learn more at cincinnatianimalcare.org.

STRATEGIES TO END HOMELESSNESS Strategies to End Homelessness oversees “the work of 30-plus local nonprofit organizations that provide homelessness prevention, street outreach, emergency shelter and housing services,” says Stacie Berger, communications director. At the start of the pandemic, Berger says they had to close their congregate shelters to keep residents safe and helped move them into hotels and motels via government funding. But, as winter approaches, Berger says they could use assistance. “Winter weather is dangerous for people experiencing homelessness. Providing shelter is critical to prevent hypothermia or even death. But, the pandemic has made it more important than ever,” she says. “Due to the reduced availability of shelter (for social distancing), there are already 35% more people unsheltered or on the streets compared to the first 10 months of last year.” She also notes that homelessness is expected to spike in January as CARES Act Funding and the Centers for Disease Control’s eviction moratorium both expire. “Each year we raise money for agencies and groups that work to increase shelter capacity during winter,” she says. “If your readers are in a position to provide support, and would like to be sure that their donations go right to where the rubber meets the road providing basic shelter during the winter, we’d ask that they consider a donation to wintershelter.org.”

While Strategies to End Homelessness doesn’t take volunteers directly, they can connect you with one of their partner agencies for opportunities. Berger also says “one of the most important parts of our work is to dispel myths around homelessness.” She says you can help that cause by signing up for their email updates or engaging on social media. “In Greater Cincinnati, 25% of all people experiencing homelessness are children, under age 18. And a full 55% of all people experiencing homelessness are under the age of 35. Small, collective social actions can change public perception, inform and influence conversation,” she says. Learn more at strategiestoendhomelessness.org. (And if you need help finding shelter or other homelessness-related services, call their Central Access Point Helpline at 513-381-SAFE.)

BRIGHTON CENTER Launched in 1966, the Brighton Center is a local organization with the mission to “create opportunities for individuals and families to reach self-sufficiency through family support services, education, employment, and leadership.”

assistance with rent, mortgage and utility payments. “Families have had to navigate unchartered territory (as a result of COVID),” Copeland says. “Parents have lost their jobs, families are navigating distance education with schools being closed, families are struggling to meet their basic needs, and are having to make difficult decisions between paying for rent, utilities, putting food on the table, and childcare.” Brighton Center works to help with all of those concerns and says they could use both monetary contributions as well as volunteers to assist with their daily food pantry operations and their home delivery program (a good choice for those who want to volunteer but are not comfortable being on-site). The center is also hosting an “Adopt a Child” event, where you can buy items off their Amazon Wish List to gift to a family. Or you can make blankets or personal care packages to donate, host a food drive, or make greeting cards for “older adults, homebound customers and women in our recovery center,” Copeland says. If you can donate your time, contact volunteer@brightoncenter.com or visit brightoncenter.com/get_involved/ volunteer for their various opportunities. And visit brightoncenter.com to find out how to give financially.

Lauren Copeland, development director, says last year they “partnered with 46,445 individuals from infants to older adults through 41 different programs on their journey to self-sufficiency.” As a result of COVID, the center has seen a 300% increase in the number of families accessing their emergency services (which includes a food pantry), as well as an increase in the amount of people who need

CINCINNATI ANIMAL CARE // PHOTO: CINCINNATI ANIMAL CARE

Northside shelter — and they only have 100 kennels. “Fostering quite literally saves lives and it’s how we’re able to achieve our no-kill mission,” he says. “It also gives us a better understanding of how the animal behaves in a home, rather than the overwhelming environment of the shelter, and makes them better candidates for adoption.”

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A jaunty list of holiday fun BY CITYBEAT STAFF

FOUNTAIN SQUARE ICE RINK Visitors have two ways to glide on ice this year: via skates or bumper cars. Guests can enjoy the Fountain Square ice rink by reservation only in one-hour increments and can choose either the split ice sessions, where guests can enjoy both the skating and bumper car rink; or the full ice session, for ice skating only. Both tickets include skate rental, and the split-ice option includes unlimited bumper car rides during the hour-long session. RSVP and masks are required. Through Feb. 15. $10-$15; free for ages 4 and under. 520 Vine St., Downtown, myfountainsquare.com.

HOLIDAY JUNCTION AT THE CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER This annual train display has been a Queen City tradition since 1946, and this year’s exhibit features over 300 rail cars and 60 locomotives. View the snowy rail yard from track level or take a bird’s-eye view via an elevated walkway and see the city unfold with the skyline in miniature. This year, children will not be able to sit on Santa’s lap, but they will be able to have a fireside chat with him. Through Jan. 3. Included with museum admission: $14.50 adults; $13.50 seniors; $10.50 ages 3-12; free for members. 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AT THE TAFT MUSEUM OF ART Downtown’s Taft Museum of Art typically decks its halls in vintage fashion for the holiday season, but this year they’re offering something more modern. They’ll be creating livestreams of their historic

fireplaces — cozy and flaming — which you can access via YouTube 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24. Instead of their traditional Antique Christmas show, fiber artist Cynthia Lockhart is transforming the Taft’s Music Room with a “site-specific Joyful Expressions holiday tree (to offer) a renewed sense of hope this holiday season." Through Jan. 3. $12 adults; $10 seniors; free for members and free for all on Sundays. 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org.

WASHINGTON PARK WINTER MARKET

SCUBA SANTA’S WATER WONDERLAND AT THE NEWPORT AQUARIUM

FIFTY WEST BREWING COMPANY SKATING RINK

Scuba Santa trades in his reindeer for a herd of seahorses at the Newport Aquarium. The man in red will be underwater in the 385,000-gallon tank exhibit, Surrounded by Sharks, to give kids a chance to interact with him and tell him their holiday wishes. See magic bubbles and costumed elves and drop a letter in Scuba Santa’s post office. Through Dec. 24. $25.99 for adults; $17.99 for children. 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, newportaquarium.com.

A VERY MERRY GARDEN HOLIDAY AT KROHN CONSERVATORY Krohn’s holiday show is “laced with lush green foliage, beautiful red poinsettias, holiday trees and, of course, the unforgettable train displays,” according to Cincinnati Parks. The show is slated to run through Jan. 10, but Krohn temporarily closed its doors on Nov. 24 due to the COVID spike in Hamilton County. Visit the website for the most updated info. 1501 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park, cincinnatiparks.com.

Regional artisans, makers and crafters are taking over a slew of cute holiday huts in Washington Park every weekend through Dec. 20. Masks are required while you wander and on The Porch if you plan to grab a cocktail. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (except for City Flea weekend Dec. 12 and13, which has its own hours) through Dec. 20. Free. 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.

You can head to the brewery, pop on some skates and glide around a 40-foot-by-80-foot rink near their new Fifty West Burger Bar. Admission includes skate rental and one hour on the ice. Tickets will be reserved on a timed basis, to ensure social distancing and capacity limits, and masks are required. Currently slated to be open until January. $10; free for children under 4. 7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township, fiftywestbrew.com.

FOUND This month-long event will span from The Banks all the way to Findlay Market, transforming the city with ArtWorks-decorated store windows, dazzling Christmas trees to represent each Cincy neighborhood and weekly scavenger hunts. The FOUND website also offers an online destination to find holiday-related events happening across the city, like trivia, art shows, restaurant specials, holiday markets, activities and more. Through Dec. 24. foundcincinnati.com.

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WALK THIS WAY FOOTWEAR FROM THE STUART WEITZMAN COLLECTION OF HISTORIC SHOES

February 27–June 6, 2021

Advance tickets available now at taftmuseum.org

This exhibition has been organized by the New-York Historical Society.

EXHIBITION SPONSOR

The Sutphin Family Foundation

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SEASON FUNDERS

OPER ATING SUPPORT

DECEMBER 2020

EXHIBITION SUPPORT GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY

View all sponsors and funders at taftmuseum.org.

ABOVE: Seymour Weitzman (1910–1965), designer, Mr. Seymour (founded 1950s), maker, Pointed-toe Lace-up Pumps, about 1964, suede and grosgrain ribbon, Stuart Weitzman Collection, no. 269. Photo credit: Glenn Castellano, New-York Historical Society

ARTS & CULTURE

Keep Her Wild founder Megs Gelfgot P H OTO : P ROV I D E D

Fiercely Made, Wild by Nature Keep Her Wild is a Cincinnati women’s skateboarding initiative focused on overcoming fear and taking bold steps toward pursuing your passion BY J E S S I CA BA LT Z E RS E N

ast year at TEDxCincinnatiWomen, Megs Gelfgot rode her skateboard onto the stage with gusto. She wore black leather pants, platform sneakers and her long, wavy hair was effortlessly tousled to the side. Her

presence alone commanded attention, but it was her story that resonated with many in the audience. At 29, Gelfgot had recently moved from Tucson, Arizona to Cincinnati. She was a new mom, a new wife and in

a new state. Although she had already launched a successful fitness brand (Hustle & Lift), she knew the monotony of her routine wasn’t something she wanted, nor was it what she had envisioned for her life. “Women have to check things off the box,” Gelfgot says. “We get the house, the partner, the kids. Then what? The transition can be so tough and many women are left going through a big pivot of ‘finding ourselves,’ because we were tamed to be otherwise.” That’s why Gelfgot founded Keep Her Wild (KHW), a Cincinnati skate initiative that empowers women to overcome their fear of starting something new when barriers like age, gender and social stigma may prevent them from doing so. Gelfgot didn’t grow up on a

skateboard. For her, skateboarding was something she was always interested in, but the fear of what people would think and the fear of being a beginner held her back from taking the risk. Until one day it didn’t. “I had just dropped my daughter off, and I looked at all of the domestic activities on my list of things to do that day, including a list of fitness duties for my company — but none of it was lifegiving. Nothing about me was about taking risks or exploring potential,” Gelfgot says. “Everything had become predictable and muted.” So she grabbed the skateboard that was collecting dust in her garage, chucked it in her car and drove to an empty, tree-shaded parking lot — free from judgement and the commentary

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KHW helps empower women to overcome their fear of starting something new. P H OTO : P ROV I D E D

FROM PAGE 21

of passersby. “Oh yeah, I fell,” she says. “But I felt alive.” “My friends and family thought I was crazy,” she continues, with a laugh. “It was a hard thing — trying to reclaim my identity — but I was so afraid of my life on autopilot.” Gelfgot started an Instagram page documenting her skateboarding journey and the ripple effect it had in other areas of her life. She acquired grit, capacity and unearthed the wild side she had long ago suppressed. Soon, other women began reaching out, sharing similar stories of wanting to skateboard but being too afraid of not knowing how or where to start. KHW became a community of skate meetups, retreats and member support, helping people chase what they thought might be out of reach. Gelfgot not only teaches women how to skate, but she also makes learning accessible, championing the mindset that anyone at any age can explore something new. Now, KHW spans seven countries, with a base of 1,500 members and counting. The initiative, though, has also

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been met with some criticism. “Whenever we are met with pushback, it’s from the narrative that pure skateboarding culture is for those on the social fringe. Now factor in that it’s a heavily male-dominated sport with high schoolers claiming most skateparks. At a glance, soccer moms represent the opposite. Until you take a closer look and see that not everything is as straight and narrow as it appears,” Gelfgot says. The very essence of skateboarding rebellion is what has made the movement of KHW so popular. “I think skateboarding is for everyone. There’s lessons it teaches us that anyone can benefit from. Though I appreciate the facets and struggles many endured to help skateboarding become more mainstream,” she says. KHW has expanded to include an online initiative called #ChasingStoke, which features stories of men and women finding the extraordinary in their everyday lives. The stories celebrate those brave enough to try new things and grow via new experiences, whether it’s losing 100 pounds, scaling a mountain, going back to college at the

DECEMBER 2020

Gelfgot not only teaches women how to skate, but she also makes learning accessible. P H OTO : P ROV I D E D

age of 65 or leaving the aerospace field to become a florist. “No matter where life takes you, we all have something rolling around in the back of our mind we’ve always wanted to try. So many people dismiss it as something trivial, unimportant to the demands of our daily to-do-list-filled lives,” Gelfgot says. “Now, more than ever, this message of ‘it’s not too late to change the course’ has resonated with these audiences I present to.” In lieu of all that is happening in the world, KHW has added a barrage of online events to keep the community connected. They’re offering digital workshops, virtual meetups and tons of interactive video content.

On Dec. 15, KHW is also launching scholarships and mentor opportunities for high school girls with an interest in entrepreneurship. The program coincides with their broader mission of empowering women to be brave in big and small ways by fostering the development of women in leadership and innovation. “The power of our message is simply that your skateboard, your outlet, your passion is out there,” Gelfgot says. “If you’re having trouble finding it, get around people who can help inspire your creativity.” Learn more about Keep Her Wild at keepherwildhq.com

CULTURE

The Cincinnati Type & Print Museum Offers Employment Training and Entrepreneurship Opportunities to Women in Recovery BY K AT I E G R I F F IT H

Several times a week, the artifacts housed in Lower Price Hill’s Cincinnati Type & Print Museum are put to work. Metal pieces of moveable type — stored alphabetically and organized by font in vintage letterpress cabinets — are ready to be set and inked. Dense and sharply defined, each block of type holds infinite possibilities and has an equally impressive shelf life. A collection of hundred-year-old machines lines the working museum, along with their original instruction booklets and photos of them in their prime. The printing presses range in size, some weighing tons, some small enough to fit on a table. It’s as if the room were sepia-toned — except for the two very focused women at a workspace in the center, surrounded by blocks of type and images, cans of ink and blank paper. “Time to re-ink,” Tiffany Cupp says, as she stops pulling the impression lever on a tabletop letterpress mid-pump. “What do you think?” Red ink solidly outlines the image, which shows Santa Claus stuffed halfway down a chimney and font that reads “Merry Christmas,” but it’s getting spotty at the center. Olivia Palmore looks up from hole-punching the decorative gift tags and agrees. They’ll keep the patchy image, though, as the tiny imperfections create a novel artisan effect. Cupp and Palmore are enrolled in the Redeemed Home program, an initiative launched by BLOC Ministries in 2016 that serves women struggling with addiction, as well as former prostitutes and survivors of trafficking. Gary Walton, founder and owner of the Cincinnati Type & Print Museum, partners with BLOC to offer the women training and employment in the printing industry — an area in which Palmore incidentally had a pre-existing interest. “The first day I came in here I was almost crying because it was like Disney World to me,” she says as she carefully lifts embellished gift tags and places them on a table to dry. Cupp inspects the ink plate and scoops a thick, red blob of rubberbased ink onto a palette knife. The squeal of the press rings throughout the room, clanging intermittently as Cupp hand prints each tag. A rhythm begins as the ink rollers reveal a cheerful holiday scene and Palmore ensures the finished products are in organized rows. “It’s been amazing to be able to feel proud of myself and confident

in my work,” Palmore says. “Having a (greeting) card business of my own has been a personal dream of mine for many, many years and I really didn’t know how or what to do with it. So for me to be a part of Redeem, this is a personal dream come true.” Palmore has been working on her sobriety since 2018, she says. She joined Redeem in July after exiting a toxic relationship and jumped at the opportunity to work for the museum. She began brainstorming business models with her roommates and co-workers, who thought a greeting card operation could be both fulfilling and successful. By September, The Redeemed Letter Press was official and already seeing its inaugural Christmas card project come to life. The women designed more than 1,000 cards and gift tags, which will be sold at BLOC Coffee Company in Price Hill and at other local churches and holiday functions. All profits are fed back into the Redeemed Home program. Palmore hopes a “quarantine card” project will follow the holidays, while normal operations are sustained with the production of generic greeting cards. “The thing about Redeem is they really partner with you and come alongside you with everything you need,” Palmore says. “It’s not just sober living because sober living is just kind of a bed. Redeem provides different therapy, financial counseling, work experience, we do Bible studies together, we have weekly meals together. There’s a whole group of women who are going through similar experiences, and then women who are volunteers and staff who have come out of it and it’s just a whole tribe.” BLOC has more than 20 programs that benefit people experiencing hardship in urban communities. While the initiatives are faith-based, participants don’t have to identify with a certain religion to qualify. Redeem assists 10 women at a time and goes above and beyond typical recovery programs by providing housing, basic needs, therapy and life skills, such as money management and job training. The unlikely pair of printing and recovery stemmed from the museum’s Walton’s lifelong love of print and devotion to his faith. In 2011 he was ready to retire from full-time teaching at Cincinnati State. While he hasn’t been able to give up teaching altogether — he teaches printing — moving to parttime allowed his ideas for a museum to materialize.

Tiffany Cupp and Olivia Palmore printing holiday gift tags P H O T O : K AT I E G R I F F I T H

The Cincinnati Type & Print Museum celebrated its fourth anniversary this November and operates under a mission with three main purposes: to preserve the history of printing in Cincinnati and raise awareness of its importance, to give artists opportunity to create and learn letterpress and printing operations, and to provide training and jobs to people in Price Hill struggling with addiction. “Our goal (with BLOC) is to flip Lower Price Hill to someday be, again, a very good blue collar community,” Walton says. “There’s a hundred and some museums out there that do demonstrations and displays and so forth, but without Redeem, it’s not a ‘working’ museum. Now, that arm of redemption is always there. I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I do if we didn’t have the Redeem program.” A lifetime of connections to the printing industry allows Walton to furnish the museum with dozens of letterpresses and other related machinery and supplies strictly through donations. Walton says his donors want to remain anonymous but that they represent several profit-leading printing companies in Cincinnati who see the value of having a letterpress museum. Last year, the museum received $47,000, according to Walton, and because he doesn’t take a salary, that number is high enough to sustain operations. He says his expenses include rent, the Redeem women’s salaries, and the salary of his recently appointed Assistant Director and Curator, Jacob Simpson. Each of the museum’s purposes is equally important to Walton, but he

really leans into preserving history and raising awareness. He loves to dust off his apron, straighten his posture, and pronounce, “This city was once the second-largest printing center in the United States.” And, of course, he yearns to see it rank there again. In hopes that his adoration for printing will be contagious, he graciously hands out copies of The Life and Works of Johannes Gutenberg, a book Walton authored about Gutenberg’s hand in inventing the moveable-type printing press in the 1400s and launching the printing revolution. “I believe in giving things away,” he says, “and it will come back to you tenfold.” A prime example of how this motto works in his favor is the museum itself, which saw 600 visitors in 2019. Even with the threat of a pandemic and temporary closures, the number of visitors this year is trending to surpass that 600 mark. In November, tragedy befell the museum when a car crashed into the building, damaging the foundation and second-floor office space. No one was injured, the presses were spared, and the establishment closed only briefly. Walton looks at the incident as an opportunity to rebuild and expand, highlighting his plans to create a men’s program, too. The Cincinnati Type & Print Museum is located at 2307 W. Eighth St., Lower Price Hill. Schedule a visit by calling 513-914-5722. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. More info: facebook.com/ cincitypeprint.

DECEMBER 2020

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FOOD & DRINK

Assorted local beers and cider to sip P H OTO : H A I L E Y BOLLINGER

Drink Local Brews to Fight the Winter Blues Several Greater Cincinnati breweries shared their favorite cold-weather brews with us. We drank them. Here’s what we found. BY S E A N M . P E T E RS

here’s no wrong beer to drink in the winter — all beer is good — but there are certain styles that people tend to want when the temperature drops. The general consensus seems to be this: When it’s warm out, the average beer drinker wants something light-bodied, with a lower alcohol by volume (ABV), that pairs well with barbecue; it’s hot outside and you need

something refreshing. In the colder months, however, the focus shifts toward more syrupy, malt-forward beers that really pack a wallop on the booziness and come loaded with a potpourri of aromatics. People want a beer they can hunker down with as they stare into a fire while snow falls outside. Several local breweries shared their favorite winter beers (and ciders) with us, so treat yourself and the ones you

love to a few six-packs this holiday. Greater Cincinnati breweries need your support more than ever this season. And you most likely need their beer.

BRINK BREWING CO. 5905 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, brinkbrewing.com Moozie // Milk Stout (5.8% ABV) If you’ve ever been put off by how acrid some stouts tend to be, Moozie is a great path to conversion for a fledgling stout devotee. “We call Moozie our chocolate milkshake without the straw,” says Andrew McCleese, founder and co-owner of Brink. “It features chocolate and coffee notes and is almost chewy thanks to the addition of lactose and oats.” Creamy and rich, it’s a snack in itself that’ll leave you hungry (actually, thirsty) for more. For the past two years, this brew has also taken home the gold medal in the Sweet Stout or

Cream Stout category at the Great American Beer Festival. Hold the Reins // English Mild (4.5% ABV) Pleasantly light and quaffable thanks to the low ABV — but with a depth of flavor as robust as its gorgeous coffee hue — Hold the Reins is more an invitation than a demand. Take a sip of this ale and you’ll appreciate how simply beer can achieve excellence when produced intentionally with high-quality ingredients.

RHINEGEIST 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, rhinegeist.com Barrel Aged Ink // Imperial Stout (13% ABV) Perhaps the closest thing to a magic potion you can drink this winter, Barrel

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Wooden Cask Brewing Co. P H O T O : PA I G E D E G L O W

Brink Brewing Co.

Rebel Mettle

P H OTO : H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

FROM PAGE 25

Aged Ink is profoundly revivifying to the spirit. There’s a slight shoyu presence on the nose and with one sip you’ll flash between oak, dark vanilla and stewed stone fruit. This stout is aged one year in barrels selected from New Riff Distilling, making it a perfect gift for the ardent beer localvore. Snug // Hard Cider (5% ABV) Like biting into a dish of Southern-style baked apples at the family table, this cider is the perfect accompaniment to any traditional Western holiday dish. Snug is a good bet for those sensitive to gluten who’d still like something crisp and bubbly to toast with at the family table. Seasoned with anise, fennel, cinnamon, clove and black peppercorn, fans of chai lattes will get a kick out of what Snug accomplishes on the palate. Slangria // Fruited Ale (5% ABV) Hate the cold reality of winter? Wistful for summer? This is the drink for anyone who’d rather wear sandals than overcoats. Fruity, incredibly crushable and easily indulgeable, Slangria is the kind of ale that you would never

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suspect of being an ale. While perfectly enjoyable straight from the can, pour Slangria into a clear glass to appreciate its vibrant plum hue.

WOODEN CASK BREWING CO.

Winter Ale // American Strong Ale (7.5% ABV) “We call it a winter warmer,” says Karen Schiltz, co-founder of Wooden Cask. Loaded with cinnamon and molasses, this dark amber ale is fragrant with baking spice and, if you want to drink all night, a sixer should do you well past fine. As far as ales go, this winter selection should easily make you feel warm inside. Maple Corruption // Double Barrel Scottish Stout (10% ABV) With a heavy bourbon presence from the barrel in which it first aged, this dark stout has a short finish and a strong, heady punch in every sip. It’s jet-black with an alluring whiskey aroma and has a slight sweetness, perhaps in part derived from the maple barrel where it enjoyed its secondary aging. If you plan to have this with your pancakes on a lazy Sunday, be sure to sip slowly and eat plenty of breakfast

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lest the Maple Corruption corrupt your day-drinking and send you to an early bed thanks to its generous alcohol content.

REBEL METTLE 412 Central Ave., Downtown, rebelmettlebrewery.com Volume // Juniper Schwarzbier (8.5% ABV) “It’s a strong, slightly herbal and roasty dark lager that pairs well with fireside quaffing,” says Joshua Deitner, director of brewing at the recently opened Rebel Mettle. You wouldn’t know from first sip Volume has a hefty ABV compared to common lagers, which is to say the palate is not overwhelmed by any single component. Juniper berries are prized for their medicinal value across the globe, so Volume is perfect to sip on when you’re not feeling a hundred percent, or whenever, really. Preventative medicine? All Moussed Up // Chocolate Milk Stout (6.2% ABV) Seriously smooth, creamy and delectable, this is one of the easiest drinking stouts around. If you’re looking to

treat someone who’s ready to venture into the intimidating world of stouts, you’d do well to gift them a growler of All Moussed Up. It’s both rich and robust, but does not taste like it’s got training wheels, something aficionados and novices will both find more than agreeable.

SONDER 8584 Duke Blvd., Mason, sonderbrewing. com Otto // Double Tiramisu Stout (11% ABV) Just like a good shot of espresso, Otto slaps you in the face and follows up with a kiss. This is a heavy hitter of a stout — something you need to psych yourself up to face head on — but once it hits your lips, you’ll savor each sip (and, seriously, sip slowly: it’s twice the potency of a common lager). “Hints of creamy chocolate, rich cocoa, and balanced coffee are prevalent when sipping on Otto,” says Danny Herold, director of marketing for Sonder. “Enjoy one as a delicious night cap, drink it as a dessert after dinner, or sip on one to warm you up on a cold night.”

DRINK

Petite Cocktail Bar Saeso is an Otherworldly Escape Tucked Away in Pendleton BY SA M I ST E WA RT

If you’re looking for an otherworldly escape without leaving the city, or a cocktail menu that takes the work out of ordering, Saeso might just be your new neighborhood bar. “When you walk through the door, your experience starts. You don’t have to figure it out,” says Christy Wulfson. She’s one half of Guilfoil & Wulfson (Michael Guilfoil is the other), the design duo behind Saeso and The Carriage House, a posh Pendleton Airbnb just off 13th Street that sits adjacent to the bar. Saeso opened for service in October and has been operating at limited capacity since. (The 900-square-foot space typically seats 12 at the bar, but less now for safety.) Having designed bars for clients, they’re no stranger to the build-out process. But this is their first time being on the ownership end of a bar. “Up until our doors opened, we knew what we were doing, but now we’re just making this up as we go,” Wulfson says, laughing. The idea to open a bar called “Saeso” had been simmering in their minds for over a year. The name is a nod to Caeso, Lucius Cincinnatus’ rebellious son. The alternative spelling was born out of necessity, after far too many people mispronounced it. “It’s C-A-E like Caesar, but people were saying ‘queso,’ and we just couldn’t do that,” says Guilfoil. After finishing up The Carriage House, they acquired an adjacent building on Sycamore. They had been working out of the upstairs during lockdown and decided it was time to realize their dreams of creating Saeso in the downstairs space. They compiled a small team and contracted the place themselves. Guilfoil has experience hosting events, which overlaps a good bit into the food and beverage industry, but his first time pulling a shift behind the bar was the day Saeso opened. The backbone of Saeso’s bar program is efficiency. An uncomplicated menu makes for a manageable shift for the bartenders, which in turn makes for faster, more focused service for guests. The front and back bars were designed in such a way that the employees would never need to cross paths, which means they have enough space to work without bumping into one another when it’s busy — and, currently, the set-up allows for better social distancing behind the bar. For now, they’re only running the front bar to minimize capacity, so it must be able to be run as a one-man

show. No beer taps means no frantic dash to the basement to address a blown keg during a rush. An ice machine in both bars nixes the need for mid-shift refills and keeps each bartender at their station. “We eliminated those problems with design,” Guilfoil says. “The more important thing is being a good host, not ‘where’s the ice?’” No kegs doesn’t mean The 900-square-foot Saeso is operated by the duo behind the adjacent Carriage House, a posh Pendleton Airbnb P H OTO : B R I A N R I N E A I R no beer. But if you’re looking to drink local cheesecloth, beer, you’ll have to go down the street. leaving behind all Luckily, you won’t have to travel far. color and curd. Saeso is sandwiched between BrewDog “What comes out and Braxton and they know their place. looks and feels “We were never planning on being a like a pinot grigio,” beer bar,” Wulfson says. Wulfson says. You can still grab a can or bottle It’s crystal-clear, from a limited rotating selection. Saeso sparkly almost, stocks some classics: Peroni, Red Stripe, thanks to the curds. High Life and the like. It’s a mainstay on The house cocktail menu is, as the menu, but Guilfoil puts it, “no gimmicks.” There will be adjusted are six house cocktails — $12 a pop seasonally. The — each centering around one liquor, current punch mostly straightforward with a twinge The house cocktail menu is straightforward and “no gimmicks” situation swaps an of creative freedom. Tequila pairs well P H O T O : R O S S VA N P E LT orange spiced tea with smoky-sweet and spicy; rye whisky for Earl Grey and with tartness; gin and fizz. But what reminiscent of many places all at once. adds cranberries. about a dirty martini with pepperoncini “Everyone who walks in here (says) “It’s going so fast I can hardly keep up juice instead of olive? Or a splash of it reminds them of somewhere they’ve with it,” she says. Malbec atop a rye whiskey sour? been, and no one ever says the same The most time-consuming part “It’s not that you’re here to taste place; Argentina, Mexico City, Lisbon, of the development process wasn’t something you’ve never had before,” Rome, all across the globe,” says concocting the cocktails, “it was the Wulfson says. “If the bartender comes Wulfson. lighting and the music,” Guilfoil says, up and asks, ‘Do you want another In a time when travelling is limited, which is to be expected from a pair of one?,’ you don’t have to stop and think, Saeso offers a brief escape from the designers. “Usually when the lights are ‘No, maybe I want to look at the menu here and now, where guests can stop in low, you look good, there’s no shadows, some more.’” for a glass of beer or a cocktail and “feel the music’s loud — you just want to be And then there’s the clarified milk like they’re somewhere else,” Wulfson there longer.” punch. This cocktail doesn’t use milk as says. “People aren’t going out as much, They’ve created a space where they’d a flavor component so much as it uses so when they do go out, they want it like to sit and enjoy a cocktail and milk as a clarifying tool. Suspend your to be special, and they are always so invited you to join. You can linger, say sense of disbelief for a moment. The grateful.” yes to that second cocktail and bask in first iteration was a batch of Earl Grey the terracotta glow. tea, lemon juice, rum and vodka. The There’s a quality about Saeso that’s milk curdles upon contact with the Saeso is located at 1208 Sycamore hard to place. It’s vaguely nostalgic acid from the lemon juice and then the St., Pendleton. Open daily. More info: and equal parts familiar and foreign, whole concoction is strained through barsaeso.com.

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MUSIC

Zach Evans P H O T O : S U N F I E N D. B A N D C A M P. C O M

Here Comes the Sunfiend Automagik guitarist/vocalist Zach Evans debuts his solo alter ego, Sunfiend, with a trio of pandemic-year albums BY B R I A N BA K E R

his spring, local Indie Rock stalwarts Automagik released Fluorescent Nights, a danceably logical extension of their magnificent 2018 album, Goldmine. In conversation prior to Fluorescent

Nights’ release, guitarist/vocalist Zach Evans mentioned his work on two projects under the musical identity Sunfiend while quarantined in his newly purchased home. Evans was vague about the projects, saying they

would come out eventually. That might stand as the understatement of an overstated year. One week before the release of Fluorescent Nights, Evans posted his solo debut, Staycation, on his Sunfiend Bandcamp page. “I’d been making music independently for years but had never put a name to it,” says Evans via phone from his Newport home. “I wanted to call it something that wasn’t my name, not to distance my identity from it but to make it more about the music. That’s how I landed with Sunfiend.” Staycation was a gentle escapist fantasy created in the early shadow of the COVID-19 lockdown. It was also

Evans’ songwriting challenge project. “I did a song a day for 10 days, just for my own sanity, to occupy my days with something. I figured music was the best outlet I’ve got,” Evans says. “I actually bought myself a ukelele. I didn’t think about what I was doing or what was good enough.” Three months later, Evans posted Reflector, Sunfiend’s sophomore album. Reflector was more atypically typical of Automagik’s smart Indie Pop Rock — cleverly humorous nudge/ wink lyrics, rhythmic music rooted in New Wave and ‘80s Dance Pop, equally comfortable in settings both anthemic and balladic — and showcased Evans’

DECEMBER 2020

CONTINUES ON PAGE 30

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Schizophrenia Study

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FROM PAGE 29

impressive home studio abilities. Parts of Reflector dated to when Evans was writing new Automagik music, resulting in ideas he set aside as being not-quite-right for the band. In transforming those music shards into songs, he envisioned a second conceptual set; Staycation represented Evans picturing himself on a Hawaiian beach, and Reflector became his musings on interpersonal connections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The theme of Staycation was escapism; the Reflector was purely emotional,â&#x20AC;? says Evans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a reflection on relationship experiences of mine and my friends, things Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve witnessed in love and entanglements. I got into a sentimental mindset and let that take me where it would.â&#x20AC;? Evans completed his unintentional quarantine trilogy with the effervescent and slightly skewed Funky Butter, which may stand as the best of the three. The new Funky Butter is the most pandemically focused of the trio, as Evans portrays an off-world spectator with a ringside seat to a world held hostage by viral terror. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This one is about feeling alienated in crazy times and this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extreme tensions,â&#x20AC;? Evans says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s me feeling like I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a place in this world but staying positive. At times, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve felt like I wanted to be a little too happy to compensate, or maybe a little too bummed out about how heavy things are. I leaned into the character of this almost alien being on the sidelines of society whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s writing about and reacting to it, not really with an opinion, just commentary. But I think, whether I like it or not, my opinion makes its way into these songs.â&#x20AC;? Funky Butterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conceptual framework is immediately evident. The album is bookended by the Foxy-Shazammeets-Bootsy-Collins ebullience of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at the Partyâ&#x20AC;? and the boozy, laconic regret of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Left the Party.â&#x20AC;? Everything in between is ostensibly â&#x20AC;&#x153;the party,â&#x20AC;? but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an unnerving queasiness leading to the inevitable conclusion that, even when the mood is lightened, things are pointedly wrong, as though the partygoers are dancing while the world burns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve felt very confused this year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; like everybody â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so the record itself is a little confusing,â&#x20AC;? Evans says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even making it, I was breaking my own rules, experimenting with my tendencies and preferences for what music should and shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sound like. There are moments where I intentionally made bad decisions. I had my fiancee Audrey do a verse on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Human Zoo.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; She doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sing, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not musical, I just wanted her to be involved because it was funny. I was

like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Say, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a funky bunny bear.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; We improvised the entire verse from there.â&#x20AC;? While Staycation and Reflector were performed solely by Evans, Funky Butter features several cameos: the aforementioned Audrey Moore; Evansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; workmate, Kara Henry, who provided vocals on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Man;â&#x20AC;? former Automagik drummer Teddy Aitkins, who sings and drums on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at the Party;â&#x20AC;? and current Automagik drummer Andy Cluxton, who plays on â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Name in Lights.â&#x20AC;? Evans had more ambitious plans for Funky Butter, but they never came to fruition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first two were done in a vacuum and Funky Butter was my effort to shake that because I was getting bored,â&#x20AC;? Evans says with a laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I initially intended to bring in as many people as I could for guest vocals. It was going to be this big cameo/collaborative record, but nope, that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen because of the pandemic. The worst time ever to decide to make a collaborative album.â&#x20AC;? Evans also credits his friend and photographer Tyler Isaacs for influencing all three projects with the impactful images he contributed to the process. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tylerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photography captured the spirit I was trying to evoke with each release,â&#x20AC;? Evans says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The art definitely inspired some of the music choices. That was one way I was able to collaborate on these releases outside of the music.â&#x20AC;? Sunfiendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sound isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dramatically different from Automagikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sonic fingerprint, as it all represents Evansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; long-standing spectrum of influences and his translation/incorporation methodology. The main departure is that Sunfiend is Evansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; creative id unbound. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The solo stuff is more free in terms of rules, which can be total chaos,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Me and Devin (Williams) have been writing together for so long, I feel like I have a built-in Devin voice in my head. But now I think maybe I just have multiple personalities. Funky Better is probably a good indication of that, song to song; there are a lot of characters I get into. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Project to project, Automagik is really just me and Devin having fun. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like playing ping-pong with music. We keep the game going and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very back and forth. With Sunfiend, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing pingpong with myself. Hard to play, harder to win.â&#x20AC;?

AC R O S S

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BY B R EN DA N EM M E T T Q UIG LE Y

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Learn more about Sunfiend and listen at sunfiend.bandcamp.com.

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DECEMBER 2020

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