Nightlife -- 9.21.15

September 2015 • Nightlife Issue

Cincinnati brew review | pg. 3 Pizzerias you knead to visit | pg. 4 Clifton’s best mixed drinks | pg.10

Nightlife and Dining Issue

Sept. 21, 2015

EDITOR’S NOTE: The News Record does not encourage irresponsible drinking. Our staff reccomends readers to pace drinks, not drive under the influence and be safe.

DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR

With options like Order Up, Grub Hub and Eat24, students can have more than just pizza delivered for late-night cravings. Mitchell Milum, a driver for Jimmy John’s, delivers a lettuce sandwich to a student.

Apps diversify delivery services NICK RIDDICK | STAFF REPORTER

Whether it is the aftermath of a snack-less weekend party, a response to the midnight munchies or the product of a study groups’ consensus, the call for immediate late night food delivery options must be satisfied without the college cliché of pizza.

No late night foodie is adequately suited for eating without access to delivery options such as Eat24, GrubHub or OrderUp mobile applications.

Eat24, reachable on any mobile device, is a delivery service dedicated to providing an easy connection to local restaurants that offer delivery and take-out options late into the night.

The delivery service recently merged with Yelp, Inc. in the hopes of accessing reputable customer reviews, which allow for more userfriendly ordering platforms.

GrubHub, the Google of food delivery, can narrow food searches down to specifics for all kinds of late night cravings with its databases, 24/7 support and meticulous search tools.

While its tools are great, GrubHub’s brings complexity to its interface, causing the app to be less user-friendly than its competitors.

GrubHub app’s broad range of choices

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could also dissuade those looking for quickness or more popular local eateries.

OrderUp tackles a different vein of food delivery, and perhaps most important to the college student — the price.

Unlike other options, OrderUp has a flat delivery price for all orders, making it versatile for large online orders and very user-friendly.

The independent delivery company uses its own drivers to pick up and deliver orders, while opening access to a myriad of small businesses who could not otherwise deliver, according to OrderUp’s official website.

For students who are not routine connoisseurs in food delivery, there are plenty of options outside of the larger food delivery platforms.

Some reliable, go-to delivery places with a nice balance between speed, quality and price are Jimmy John’s and Insomnia Cookies – both of which have inexpensive deals and reliable service.

While many other quality restaurants such as J. Gumbo’s, Orange Leaf and even Cincinnati’s infamous Skyline Chili will also deliver late at night, most of them charge delivery fees ranging anywhere from $3 to $5 in addition to the registered order.

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Sept. 21, 2015

Nightlife and Dining Issue

New brewery expands selection Top four: Fall craft beers to celebrate MATT NICHOLS | COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR

A back corner of an extensive shopping center is hardly the place to build an awardwinning craft beer brewery and tap room, yet the young Ei8ht Ball Brewing Company has done it — and done it well.

The almost 2-year-old addition to Newport’s Party Source is locally renowned for its vast selection of quality craft beers.

Ei8ht Ball Brewing serves the infamous Reintarnation, a barrel-aged golden ale that earned the local business a gold medal win at the 2014 Festival of Wooden Barrel Aged Beers in Chicago.

Reintarnation has garnered much respect in the brewing community for successfully combining light golden ale with a bourbonbarrel aging process, providing a richer and fuller ale.

“As far as the tap room goes, we feel that we have the best beer selection in the area, by a pretty good margin,” said Mac Harris, a bartender at Ei8ht Ball. “We try to keep things unique, rare and have just really highquality beers.”

Ei8ht Ball currently has a selection of 11 beers on tap, but in no way does the limited selection prove a lack of creativity.

One of the more interesting beers on tap is Ei8ht Ball’s Daltons Krick, a sour-cherry flavored brew.

The bold, light-amber beer has a Sweet Tartlike flavor that is surprisingly smooth and very drinkable.

For more festive drinkers, seasonal brews are also available.

Ei8ht Ball’s Ei8htBucks is a coffee and pumpkin beer that manifests rich pumpkin pie flavors with very subtle coffee aftertastes.

The brewery also features Sell Out, a

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pumpkin ale with a fitting title for the seasonal flavor.

“As far as the brewery goes, we have a solid brewery,” Harris said. “A lot of places specialize in IPA’s or stouts or something like that, but we try to get a good, full spectrum of beers.”

The Kentucky-based brewery proves the claim by supplying customers with a range of exotic craft brew options, including a red IPA, a Czech pilsner and a Session IPA. Until New Riff’s barrelaged brews are ready, that is just the beginning of the selections available in Ei8ht Ball’s taproom.

New Riff is a neighboring brewery under the same management as Ei8ht Ball.

The brewery is currently preparing a wide rand of barrelaged brews to be ready for sale in three years, Harris said.

“As soon as we get our hands on those barrels we’re going to do a lot of barrel-aged stuff,” Harris said. “Specifically bourbon barrel, but not entirely.”

Management at Ei8ht Ball is also preparing for the brewery’s two-year anniversary with Party Source, which will take place in late November.

“It’s been an awesome two years,” Harris said. “In December [2013], when we first opened, we were actually all the same company. But it turns out Kentucky law states you can’t produce, distribute and sell retail out of the same place, so we had to separate.”

While separation split ownership of the pair, the business officials still share a passion for good brewing.

“We’re hoping for another medal this year,” Harris said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Cincinnati’s rich German background

STEPHANIE SMITH | CONTRIBUTOR

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati may have wrapped up Sunday, but the party continues in our sister city, Munich, through Oct. 4.

Be sure to celebrate our city’s German heritage by trying these beers.

MadTree Brewing The Great PumpCan Located in Pleasant Ridge, MadTree Brewing has earned a reputation for making consistently delicious, exclusive craft beers.

Its fall seasonal offering pays a tribute to Charlie Brown. Much like his friend Linus, people are anxious for a visit from The Great Pumpkin — or rather The Great PumpCan – every year.

This full-bodied ale pours as a deep, reddish copper with a thin, tan head, which quickly fades.

Traditional fall spices of cinnamon, molasses and nutmeg blend together with brown sugar and caramel malts. With this spice combination, one would expect a glassful of sweetness, but that is not the case.

Pumpkin complements the ale, rather than dominating it. The finish is dry with hints of cinnamon and brown sugar. Address: 5164 Kennedy Ave. Rivertown Brewery Pumpkin Ale Lockland-based Rivertown Brewery not only has the recognition of being one of the oldest breweries in the area, starting production in 2009, but also is one of the first locally to create Pumpkin Ale in 2010.

Pumpkin pie served in a pint glass, Pumpkin Ale generates great anticipation every year and is one of Rivertown’s bestselling beers.

This autumnal ale pours a hazy, burnt orange with moderate carbonation and a head that disappears as soon as the liquid hits the glass.

The aroma is light and faint, but breathe deep enough and warm pumpkin pie consumes the air — first comes butter, then little whiffs of nutmeg and pumpkin with a touch of graham cracker.

Drinking it is even better – blackstrap molasses mingles with malt and more pumpkin, followed by a slight buttery aftertaste, representative of pie crust.

With a low alcohol content at 5.2% ABV, Rivertown Pumpkin Ale is a refreshing alternative to the heavier imperial pumpkin ales dominating the market. Address: 607

Shepherd Dr. Moerlein Fifth and Vine Oktoberfest Marzen Christian Moerlein Brewing Company began producing beer between 1853 and 1919, closing due to prohibition.

Hudepohl Brewing Company resurrected Moerlein in 1981, but then sold it to out-oftown owners in 1999.

The company finally returned home in 2004, when Cincinnati resident Greg Hardman purchased it with the goal to “return to Cincinnati’s grand brewing traditions.”

Those traditions are evident in Christian Moerlein Fifth and Vine Oktoberfest Marzen.

This festive beer will put you in the mood to dance, through its reminiscent colors of golden wheat with effervescent carbonation throughout.

On the nose, there’s floral scent with bready undertones. The carbonation tickles the lips and tongue, yet it is smooth for having a medium body.

There is an initial sweetness, then toffee-malt blends with toasty bread and ends with a subtle smokiness, making its drinkers crave a good mett or bratwurst.

Address: 1621 Moore St. and 115 Joe Nuxhall Way Rhinegeist Franz Rhinegeist means “ghost of the rhine” in German — a fitting name for the brewery’s location: the old Christian Moerlein bottling plant, located in the heart of Over The Rhine’s brewery district.

Even though the building is dated back to 1865 and seeped in beer history, Rhinegeist is a newbie to the Cincinnati beer scene, beginning operations in June 2013.

Upon first whiff this clear, amber brew with a hearty golden head is packed with floral hops and honeysuckle with faint nutty malts — surprising for a beer that is meant for fall.

The initial taste of toasted caramel malt gives it an overall sweetness that is not overpowering.

Traces of wheat and unexpected apple picks up in the middle, topped with a pecan finish.

For those new to Oktoberfest beers, Franz is a good introductory one. It is a crisp, refreshing beer that does not want to let go of summer, but is also eagerly anticipating fall. Address: 1910 Elm St.

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Nightlife and Dining Issue

Sept. 21, 2015

Top six: Cincinnati pizzerias switch up pie flavors, routine ALEX STONE | CONTRIBUTOR

Finding a pizzeria in Cincinnati is easy.

Finding mouth-watering, out-of-the-ordinary pizza is a different story.

Here is The News Record’s list of pizzerias that are just around the corner from the University of Cincinnati, but are sure to deliver just as much taste as a deep-dish pizza from Chicago or a thin-crust pizza from New York.

Fireside Pizza Located on E. McMillan Street, Fireside Pizza has become a top pizza destination in Walnut Hills since opening its doors in 2014.

The restaurant resides in the shell of the oldest firehouse of the city. Memorabilia of the building’s past is shown proudly, giving the pizzeria a truly unique atmosphere.

Fireside boasts a menu as rich as the location’s history. Fan favorites include the Margherita and Redlegger pizzas, but its White Pie combination remains the most popular.

The White Pie is comprised of a perfectly baked, wood-fired crust topped with a simple combination of olive oil, garlic, rosemary and fresh cheeses.

Fireside also prides an accommodating bar, which has a full arsenal of microbrews, hard liquor and wine. Address: 773 E. McMillan St. A Tavola A small slice of Italy by the name of A Tavola resides just a short walk from Washington Park. Known for fine pizza and bruschetta, this restaurant serves up authentic Italian flavors out of its wood-fire stoves.

The classic Margherita pizza reigns supreme and never fails to satisfy even the pickiest pizza fan.

This pie starts with a hand-tossed dough and an even spreading of tomato sauce, followed by the addition of a blend of fresh cheese and basil — the red, white and green staples of Italian cuisine.

To further expose Cincinnati to Italian tradition, A Tavola also creates its own house-made gelato. This gelato, as compared to its European model, is just as delectable and mirrors the frozen treats found in the streets of Rome. Address: 1220 Vine St. The Kitchen Factory Eccentric is a perfect adjective for The Kitchen Factory in Northside. The small storefront opened in 2012 and has since been colloquially established as a hidden gem.

When entering the Factory, one can expect to see mismatched and untraditional restaurant décor, which gives the place an endearing, kitschy ambiance.

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FILE ART

The pizzerias of the greater Cincinnati area have something for all tastes and appetites, from exotic toppings at The Kitchen Factory to the colossal 26-inch pizza challenge at Ramundo’s Pizzeria.

A big draw to this pizzeria is its proficiency in vegetarian cooking. The Kitchen Factory offers many vegan and vegetarian options such as the Vegan Veggie pizza and the Dig the Fig pie, which comes complete with golden figs, arugula and goat cheese.

The crowd-pleasing award goes to the Factory’s Chicken Saag pizza. Inspired by the Indian dish, the Chicken Saag combines curry chicken and spinach atop a Neapolitan style crust. Address: 1609 Chase Ave. Goodfellas New York City is just around the corner thanks to Goodfellas Pizzeria.

With several locations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, the pizza chain has climbed through the ranks to become a local favorite.

Pictures of Frank Sinatra and New York City adorn the walls, but attention for the decor is often interrupted by the impressive show of flying, twirling dough performed by

the chefs.

Goodfellas boasts a large variety of pizza, ranging from the vegetable-based Wiseguy to the famed Fuhgetaboutit, which includes every topping available at the time.

The most popular pie goes by the same name as the restaurant, The Goodfella, and includes pepperoni, bacon, sausage and beef along with fresh mozzarella and a tomato sauce to add a kick. Address: 1211 Main St. Lucy Blue Lucy Blue perfected late-night pizza when the chain began as a small pizza window in Over-the-Rhine.

Now with five locations, Lucy Blue is a staple to the OTR community due to their renowned pizza and late night availability.

Pizzas are made with fresh ingredients and its large selection of flavors range from Hawaiian to Thai. Lucy Blue also has a full bar complete with top-notch bartenders and drinks. Loyal customers say the pizza and

price cannot be beaten. Address: 1126 Main St. Ramundo’s Pizzeria Ramundo’s Pizzeria began business in Mt. Lookout in 2000, with the goal to bring authentic New York-style pizza to Cincinnati.

Owner Gino Ramundo even brought his old family cooking secrets along with him.

The pizzeria succeeded due to its use of bold, home-tested flavors and the creation of the 26-inch pizza challenge.

According to the rules, two people have 10 minutes to devour a colossal pie consisting of one and a half pounds of dough, one pound of sauce and two pounds of cheese with the addition of two toppings.

Along with the chanting of the pizza challenge audience, expect fantastic customer service. The waiting staff’s kindness and sincerity makes the experience at Ramundo’s one of a kind. Address: 3166 Linwood Ave.

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Sept. 21, 2015

Nightlife and Dining Issue

The Pub serves soccer, rugby fans JOEY LAURE | STAFF REPORTER

For soccer and rugby lovers looking for some English flavor in the Cincinnati area, The Pub in Rookwood Commons is probably your best bet.

In an attempt to bring a London ambiance to the restaurant, The Pub features classic English dishes like fish and chips and a central bar with a mural of the English Premier League.

With the Rugby World Cup beginning Friday and continuing through Oct. 31, groups are already calling about watching matches at The Pub. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, The Pub saw a big difference in the customers showing up for matches.

“We have a big showing whenever the USA national team plays,” said Kevin Malone, the general manager of The Pub. “We also get a big showing for whenever Brazil plays.”

College students in town for school also factor into the bar atmosphere.

“Once UC and Xavier start with classes and until the end of May is our busiest time,” Malone said.

This time period revolves towards the center of the soccer season as well.

The English Premier League starts in midAugust and goes on through May. “Any European tournaments for soccer that is going on we have a lot more volume than at other times,” Malone said. “The MLS is definitely getting bigger as well, so we have more people coming in during games.”

FC Cincinnati’s winning of an expansion team in the United Soccer League in August will also means a higher customer base at The Pub. FC Cincinnati is expected to begin playing in Nippert Stadium starting in 2016. “[FC Cincinnati] is housing a lot of players in the Norwood, Oakley area and we have started a relationship with the [USL] corporate office already,” Malone said. “We also have some meet and greet opportunities for the fans and also some other stuff planned down the road.”

Despite the English not being known for their food, the appetizers and entrees set The Pub apart.

“The Shepherd’s Pie is definitely the big seller here,” said Nadia Nasrella, a waitress at The Pub. While the appetizers surpass expectations, The Pub’s selection of draft beers adds character to the restaurant.

“People that come in here love Guinness,” Nasrella said. “Another option our customers like is Carlsberg, it’s a lighter beer and different where the beer isn’t your actual meal.”

Nasrella said the restaurant’s busiest time during the day is happy hour, with lot of guests staying for dinner.

The Pub’s happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays with $3.95 appetizers as well as drink specials.

The Pub has a unique feel and atmosphere that any sports fanatic must check out.

DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR

The Pub in Rookwood features an array of domestic and imported beers, as well as traditional pub foods like fish and chips, bangers and mash.

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ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Hang Over Easy lives up to its name as a popular destination for breakfast and beverages that help cure hangovers.

Top four: Hangover breakfast picks MACKENZIE BOWER | STAFF REPORTER

In the midst of morning-after blues, many students need greasy, substantial food to cure hangovers after a night out.

While there will always be people true to more simple breakfast staples like Waffle House or leftover cold pizza, The News Record compiled a few delicious alternative breakfast options in Clifton to save the day.

Hang Over Easy The name speaks for itself, and its motto “Breakfast Cures All” is sure to lift hungover spirits. Hang Over Easy offers classic breakfast favorites with gourmet twists and silly names.

Its trendy atmosphere is in close proximity to campus and complemented by an outdoor patio, a full bar and intriguing bathroom sinks.

A heaping plate of biscuits, sausage gravy and eggs will turn anyone’s hangover around. Address: 13 W Charlton St. Bagel Brothers If you crave a good heaping of carbohydrates the morning after a night out, look no further than Bagel Brothers.

The family-owned, local business has the fresh baked goodness your stomach demands at a college-friendly cost.

Bagel Brothers has homemade doughnuts that are piled with cream cheese, making it a quick go-to Saturday morning breakfast

option.

Not to mention, the small business delivers.

Bagels in bed are great for mornings when walking somewhere seems nearly impossible.

Address: 347 Calhoun St. Taste of Belgium Starting out of Findlay Market in 2007, this establishment gained its title for authentic Belgian waffles.

Crepes, omelets and other sweet Belgianinspired entrees are also menu options that will make students happy they got out of bed.

For caffeine lovers, Taste of Belgium also offers espressos, cappuccinos and other options to accompany any elegant breakfast plate.

The Belgian restaurant is far from conventional, and its food will make anyone forget about their hangover in no time.

Address: 2845 Vine St. and 1135 Vine St. Keystone While many may know the restaurant for its half-price mac and cheese Mondays, the weekend brunch menu at Keystone draws crowds.

With items like the Hangover Burrito, this college favorite will cure hangovers with upscale, quality foods.

The comfort food at Keystone is made from scratch and the restaurant partners with local companies. Address: 255 Calhoun St.

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Nightlife and Dining Issue

Sept. 21, 2015

Opinion: Powerful symbolism in Cincinnati’s skyline CASSIE LIPP | NEWS EDITOR

After an enchanting trip to Washington and being stranded in the Seattle airport for nearly two days, I wondered how happy I would be when I finally crested the Interstate-75 hill to see the famous Cincinnati skyline once more.

Crouched on the floor of my friend’s apartment as the time approached for my boyfriend and I to make our journey back home, I was almost in tears. Everything there just seemed too beautiful to leave behind.

Taking a stroll through one of the city’s many parks feels like walking through a forest. On the other side of the bay, pastel-colored lights shining from the tops of tall buildings surrounding the Space Needle emitted a celestial feeling. The progressive city almost felt like the setting of a story about a Utopian society.

Despite the problems that exist in Cincinnati, I still feel pride in my hometown, and just one more look at our skyline proved it.

More than a group of buildings by the Ohio River bank, it is the city’s livelihood. The area is the cultural center of our city, namesake for a Cincinnati-style chili franchise and most famous symbol of our identity.

Much like the site served as a symbol of hope for former slaves crossing the Ohio River to freedom, our skyline is a glimmer of hope among a city in need of healing and progression.

The skyline is a heart uniting all of Cincinnati, for there is no one in our community who can deny it is a beautiful sight to

behold.

Perhaps its majestic splendor is enough to instill the desire in Cincinnatians to fight for the change their homeland needs.

It is true that there is no perfect city. Gun violence is at a 10-year high in Cincinnati, and the heroin epidemic claims citizens’ lives everyday.

While I believe there are many things that need improvement in our city, like race relations and a greater investment in public transportation, there is no doubt Cincinnati is a homeland to be proud of.

My crossing the bridge to see the city for the first time in a week symbolized that pride.

The river was no longer the brown water I have seen since I was a little girl. Instead, I watched blue waves ripple across the surface. I was happy to see my home, happy to be in the place where I began.

I have many fond memories down by the riverbanks that make up this scenery.

Gathering with my closest friends after a show to write down our worst fears on small scraps of paper, setting them on fire and throwing them in the river under the moonlight was so surreal.

I would give anything to be back on my uncle’s boat floating down that river, looking up to see the architecture that defines Cincinnati’s brush strokes against the horizon canvas.

Most recently I have seen Cincinnati show its strength in the wake of local tragedies.

The outpour of community support inundates the city like the Ohio River Flood of 1937 — even if I was not alive then.

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I watched half of Cincinnati pitch in to search for my missing coworker in May of 2014. I saw the streets filled with banners honoring fallen Officer Sonny Kim. The community then went on to mourn the death of Samuel DuBose.

Although Cincinnati was the site of yet another death of an unarmed black man at the hands of police, it was not the site of riots such as those that have occurred in communities like Ferguson, Missouri.

I remember listening to Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell during a press conference following the indictment of former UC Police Department officer Ray Tensing, as he talked about the improvements our community has made following the 2001 race riots.

Cincinnati’s ability to learn from its mistakes, as well as its strong leaders, has helped the city rise above tragedies.

Looking at the Cincinnati skyline makes me proud of my roots.

The crown jewels that twinkle along the river remind me of the beloved string of Mickey Mouse Christmas lights my family hangs on our Christmas tree every year. They have been there as long as I can remember, and I look at them a different way each year as my experiences mold me into a new person.

Seeing our skyline holds the same power as those Mickey Mouse lights, as I look at it differently each time through the streets of this wonderful city.

The feeling it evokes in me changes each time I return from a trip to see the skyline again. As I will ultimately move away from Cincinnati after graduation, I know the sight will always welcome me back to feel at home.

To advertise, contact Natalie Sehweil Business and Advertising Manager P: 513-556-5902 F: 513-556-5908 newsrecordbiz@gmail.com newsrecord.org/advertise

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Sept. 21, 2015

LYFT

UBER

24 hrs/days, 7 days/wk

24 hrs/days, 7 days/wk

• 59+ U.S. cities

• 300+ Cities • 56 countries • 6 continents

Surge Pricing increases fare cost 25-200%

Prime Time Pricing increases fare cost 20-800%

Lyft Pricing (standard) • Base Fare: $1.80 • Trust & Safety Fee: $1.55 • Min. Fare: $4 • Cancellation Fee: $5 • $0.27/min • $1.26/mile

Uber X (low-cost Uber with ride sharing) • Base Fare: $1.80 • Safe Rides Fee: $1 • Min. Fare: $4 • Cancellation Fee: $5 • $0.18/min • $1.20/mile

Lyft Plus Pricing • Base Fare: $1.80 • Trust & Safety Fee: $1.55 • Min. Fare: $4 • Cancellation Fee: $5 • $0.27/min • $1.26/mile

Uber XL (low-cost rides for large groups) • Base Fare: $3 • Safe Rides Fee: $1 • Min. Fare: $7 • Cancellation Fee: $5 • $0.35/min • $2.15/mile

OHIO: Total Traffic Deaths

Uber SELECT (a step above the everyday) • Base Fare: $4 • Safe Rides Fee: $1 • Min. Fare: $10 • Cancellation Fee: $10 • $0.35/min • $2/mile

42.3%

57.7%

2014

27.4% 72.6%

Uber BLACK (the original uber) • Base Fare: $7 • Min. Fare: $15 • Cancellation Fee: $10 • $0.50/min • $2.35/mile Drunk driving fatalities (0.08 BAC, or higher) Other

2015

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*According to Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, (MADD)

Nightlife and Dining Issue

Smartphone apps encourage safe student transportation are subject to a $5 cancellation fee if they cancel the ride after requesting it.

In an effort to keep drunk drivers off Both systems have also established “hot the road, companies and organizations in spot” and “spike” hours, which typically take Cincinnati are promoting self-manageable place on weekends and nearly doubles ride smart phone applications for safe fees. transportation.

Stephen Young, 27, is a former Uber driver Among some local affiliates are Uber, and current Lyft employee who began Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), working for the companies because of Lyft and the University of Cincinnati’s convenience.

Department of Public Safety.

“You get on the app, turn the driver mode Uber, an international transportation on and you are ready to work,”Young said. network business established in 60 countries, “You just start driving.” included Cincinnati in 2014.

Young said he noticed Uber’s customer MADD recently joined forces with Uber base consisted of mid-aged adults, but Lyft’s in an effort to promote smart and safe clientele is more student-based. transportation across U.S. UC Public Safety instituted cities through the hashtag NightRide, a free studentNow with all of #ThinkandRide. ran transportation system A collaborative study these campaigns operating within a milebetween the two found radius of campus, in 2012 for out there people customer demand for Uber UC students. think, ‘is it cool to peaks around bar closings, After taking down its alongside reoccurring times of recently launched app due go to jail, or is it drunk-driving collisions. to technicalities, NightRide cool to spend $30 Since 2014, Ohio’s drunk has been working to feature driving fatalities from bloodto get home?’ — I a smart phone application for alcohol contents of .08 and its service — similar to those don’t know about higher has dropped 30.3 of Uber and Lyft. you, but I would say percent, according to MADD “I know the students want — Ohio’s official website. the 30 bucks. an app for NightRide,” said Lyft is another option for Nightride Coordinator James Cincinnatians interested in Vestring. “And I know that if booking transportation through use of smart it would have worked right the first time — it phone applications. would be rolling.”

The business found similar results after NightRide averages over 400 rides on a survey it conducted on drivers and Thursday, Friday and Saturdays, but when passengers of Lyft across U.S. cities, said the app launched, the same days averaged Mary Caroline Pruitt, a communications and 360, according to UC Public Safety records. public relations advisor at Lyft.

“It’s very convenient for the students, Pruitt said results found 84 percent of but you don’t want to put something into passengers are more likely to avoid driving production if you’re going backwards,” while impaired because of these up-to-date Vestring said. options.

Vestring suggested Uber and similar “Expanding access to reliable businesses as transportation options for transportation options benefits everyone,” students leaving NightRide’s boundaries, but Pruitt said. “Including students who can live recommended precaution. car-free without worrying about a safe ride “Ask questions,”Vestring said. “Know a little home.” bit about the business and make sure you are Kristina Lane, a fourth-year communication getting into the correct vehicle.” student at UC, stated her preference of using Both businesses allow drivers to use their Uber over other transportation options. personal vehicles, but place strict restrictions “It’s just our culture now,” Lane said. “We on automobiles as rider-safety cautions. do everything through apps, phones or Lyft requires drivers to be at least 21 years technology and Uber is a new service. It’s of age, possess a four-door car that is year so much faster than NightRide, and easier, 2003 or newer, have a clean background cheaper than a cab.” check and driving record, matching driver’s Both Uber and Lyft allow its drivers to keep license, in-state insurance, plates with 80 percent of rider’s fare, while profiting off current registration and be established as 20 percent. a licensed driver in the U.S. for at least one Through these apps riders are able to get a year, Pruitt said. fare estimate before requesting a ride. Riders RENEE GOOCH | MANAGING EDITOR

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Nightlife and Dining Issue

Sept. 21, 2015

Top three: LGBTQ bars in Cincinnati CASSIE LIPP | NEWS EDITOR

ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

The largest Oktoberfest celebration in the country, with over 500,000 people, opened its 39th year Friday through Sunday Downtown. The event celebrates Cincinnati’s rich German culture with food, drinks and dance.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati celebrates German culture KAILEY SCHNEIDER | STAFF REPORTER

Lederhosen clad men, German folk music and endless amounts of German beer painted the scene Friday through Sunday at the 2015 Zinzinnati Oktoberfest in Downtown Cincinnati.

The festival began in 1976 and has become a Cincinnati tradition as one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the nation, rivaling only the celebration held in Germany.

Held on six blocks of Fifth Street between Vine Street and Sentinel Street, the German festival brought diverse selections of food, activities and even rides.

A variety of beers were available for purchase at the festival, including selections from Samuel Adams, Christian Moerlein and several German breweries like Weihenstephan and Erdinger.

The event also featured live performances of German folk music from lederhosen sporting folk bands, which ranged from a

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spirited rendition of the chicken dance to a spin-off of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” but instead singing “you’re my German girl.”

Bands were not the only ones who whipped out their lederhosen for the weekend.

The streets were packed with men, women and children who all flaunted their German heritage in German-inspired clothing, which included chicken and wiener dog shaped hats.

Ludwig Noll, a chef at Mick Noll’s Covington Haus booth, was one of many proud Germans celebrating his heritage at the festival.

“My father started the restaurant back in the ‘70s, and he was actually one of the first people to start Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest,” Noll said.

According to Noll, his father worked with several other founding fathers of Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest to create the first festival. Noll said he carries on his father’s tradition through his food.

“They got together with the brewers and now he we are 40 years later,” Noll said.

Oktoberfest is a symbol of tradition and family, especially for those with a deep German heritage, Noll said. “[Oktoberfest is] a big giant party, a lot of money, a lot of publicity, and a lot of festive atmosphere,” Noll said. “What I hope it means to a lot of people though, is the German heritage of it all.”

While Over the Rhine was not completely settled by Germans, the neighborhood received its name after several Germans wanted to be reminded of where they came from, Noll said.

Sophia Grollmus, a third-year fine arts student, re-united with her German family at Oktoberfest.

“It’s fun to come down because my family is very German and this is the closest that we can get,” Grollmus said. “You get to experience your heritage without having to fly to another country. It’s kind of like regaining old memories with family.”

Whether you are looking to experience live drag show, dance or just kick back and have a few beers with your friends, there are several LGBTQ bars and clubs around the University of Cincinnati campus that offer just that.

Below Zero Lounge Guests who are 21 year old and older can come enjoy Showtune Sundays, Karaoke Thursdays and Disco Inferno: the best of the ‘70s, ’80s and ‘90s on Wednesdays.

“Whether you want to dance your troubles away or experience a real, live drag show, this bar is the place for you, LGBTQ+ or straight,” said John Barno, a former UC student. “The drag show, hosted by the aptlynamed Penny Tration, is just that— a show, and should not be missed.”

Barno advised newcomers to bring plenty of one-dollar bills and avoid crossing the runway and using a cellphone in front of the queens.

For those looking to support UC Alliance, a social campus organization that supports the LGBTQ community, Below Zero will host a drag show 9 p.m. Oct. 22. as a fundraiser for the group’s Be An Ally campaign. Address: 1120 Walnut St. Rosie’s Tavern Across the river from Cincinnati, Covington, Kentucky offers a great place to relax with free pool and shuffleboard.

“This place is definitely more of a relaxed environment than Below Zero and perfect for a night of casual drinking with a few of your closest friends,” Barno said. “The bartenders are super friendly and the drinks are tasty, which makes it hard not to become a regular.”

Rosie’s Tavern location in Kentucky allows guests to smoke inside, although only those who are 21 years old or older may enter the establishment. Address: 643 Bakewell St. The Dock Complex Those who are 18 years old and up can enjoy The Dock, which is the longest-running gay club or bar in Cincinnati.

Barno said the club, which is very much embedded in the community’s history, gives guests the best of both worlds with a bar and pool table in the front and a dance floor in the back.

“It’s open until 4 a.m. on the weekends if your goal is to dance until you drop, and trust that you will,” Barno said. “Jessica Dimon and the rest of her drag sisters tear it up every night, and Wet Wednesdays provide some scantily-dressed men to the scene.”

The Dock also hosts events like foam and paint parties. Address: 603 W. Pete Rose Way

newsrecord.org/nightlife

Sept. 21, 2015

Nightlife and Dining Issue

Dominic Marino talks Urban Artifact, beer, Cincinnati jazz RUSSELL HAUSFELD | ARTS EDITOR

Cincinnati boasts a strong, slightly unknown jazz culture that comes to life when the streetlights turn on in Over-the-Rhine, Northside and Downtown Cincinnati.

Dominic Marino, a local jazz musician and former professor at the College-Conservatory of Mu-sic, spoke with The News Record about his personal experience with the genre, Cincinnati’s jazz history and his own jazz venue — Urban Artifact.

TNR: Do you play jazz around Cincinnati?

Dominic Marino: Yep, yep. I’m a trombone player — I play with the Blue Wisp Big Band every Wednesday.

I taught the University of Cincinnati’s CCM jazz studies program for three years prior to this — directed jazz lab band, taught jazz composition arranging, taught jazz history.

So, yeah, I’m a jazz musician by trade.

TNR: Did you grow up in Cincinnati?

DM: I grew up in Fairfield, Ohio.

TNR: What introduced you to jazz around here?

DM: I just got into it when I was in the band program up there in Fairfield and I sought out some teachers. Brian Hogg, a local jazz player and head of jazz studies at NKU, was my first jazz teacher in like 2000.

TNR: Did you play at The Blue Wisp club when it was still open?

DM: The last two Blue Wisps. I joined the band about six years ago, so there was one that was on Eighth, but that is now a parking lot.

Then we moved to a spot on Race, then we went to Jap’s for a little bit and then The Pirate’s Den, and the band has been here at Urban Artifact for about 22 weeks straight now.

TNR: What are your thoughts on Cincinnati jazz in general, after playing in a band and teaching it as a subject?

DM: Well, I think Cincinnati has a really strong, talented and historic jazz scene, both in the older generation and the new generation.

TNR: Can you talk a little about the older and newer generations of jazz in Cincinnati?

DM: The Blue Wisp started in the early ’80s — they’re sort of the elder statesmen around here.

Ed Moss has his little Schwartz Point venue on Vine. That place takes you back in time — I played in that band for almost two years.

There is that generation, and then there is

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DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR

With only a handful remaining, the jazz clubs of Cincinnati continue to showcase quality performances as well as local artists such as Sonny Moorman (right).

the generation sort of between the new cats and the older cats. People like Dan Carlsberg, Brad Myers — he’s a guitarist around here.

Cats like that.

And then there’s the new generation that is like 30 and under. I guess I am a part of that group, even though I am lucky to play with all of these cats, older and newer.

TNR: Urban Artifact is an old church, what kinds of things do you take into account when redesigning a space for a performance?

DM: Mostly, it has to sound good.

It’s a nice community here and the young cats really dig the older cats and the older cats are into what the young guys are doing.

We started here with a big square room with concrete floors and brick walls, so we had to do a lot of acoustic diffusion both on walls and the ceilings, we put a shell behind the stage, we also built a shell behind the audience that separates the bar and the listening lounge.

TNR: What are some other jazz venues around here?

TNR: Urban Artifact hosts a wide range of music, but you have a whole lot of jazz, right?

DM: There is the weekend series that happens at Washington Platform. Then, The Greenwich is a classic club that is still operating and has some big shows a few times a year. It’s a place for a lot of jazz musicians to play. It has great sound in a classic room that has a lot of history.

DM: We have Blue Wisp Big Band every Wednesday, and then we have jazz — a lot of it local and some national — every Thursday.

TNR: And then, of course, there is your bar and venue — Urban Artifact. What all do you do there?

I’m in charge of the church. So, I am the bar manager. I book all the acts for the listening lounge, as well as managing the employees and the inventory. I run sound most of the jazz nights and some of the other nights.

Then when we have really big jazz acts, we might put them in a Friday or Saturday slot.

TNR: Do you brew your own beer here at Urban Artifact?

DM: Our brewery is a 30-barrel system. We distribute with Cavalier out to over 100 bars right now. We have 12 taps of our own and we focus on wild and tart beers.

For instance, the Rock n’ Roll Carnival in Northside, we made a double IPA. And the latest one we released is called Hearth, and

it’s a wild dark beer. It’s got nice, deep smoky flavors — a hearth is a fireplace fixture from days of yore.

Urban Artifact is located at 1660 Blue Rock St. It is open 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 1:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

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Nightlife and Dining Issue

Sept. 21, 2015

CLIFTON’S BEST MIXED DRINKS

Uncle Woody’s — Surfer on Acid Uncle Woody’s offers a wide selection of popular cocktails, most of which are listed on the bar’s infamous liquor wheel.

Surfer on Acid fills a small plastic shot glass with a mix of Jägermeister, coconut rum and pineapple juice for $4.

Address: 339 Calhoun St.

Murphy’s Pub — The Bearcat Bomb Murphy’s is not known for its mixed drinks, but the pub’s Bearcat-themed shot is an interesting twist to the menu.

The Bearcat Bomb consists of a Jägermeister shot poured into a halfglass of Barq’s Red Soda.

Address: 2329 W. Clifton Ave.

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The St. Clair — Liquid Marijuana While not necessarily the St. Clair’s most popular request, the liquid marijuana is an eerie, new beverage with a deep-green color to accompany its tropical taste.

The mix contains pineapple juice, spiced rum, coconut rum, Midori, Blue Curacao and sweet and sour mix.

For $8, Liquid Marijuana is a musttry delicacy near campus.

Address: 245 Calhoun St.

Dive Bar — Thunderpunch With a short selection of mixed drinks, the Dive Bar holds quality.

The Thunderpunch, a local favorite, is a tangy, yellow cocktail made up of Deep Eddy vodka, lemon, Razzmatazz liquor, grenadine, a splash of sour mix and Sprite.

For $4, the Thunderpunch is easy on the wallet and taste buds.

Address: 2608 Vine St.

Mac’s Pizza Pub — The Combo There is a wide range of shots and mixed drinks available at Mac’s Pizza Pub, including mixed-drink fish bowls and Cinnamon Toast Crunch shooters.

Regulars at the pub know to order The Combo, which is simply a shot of Kentucky bourbon accompanied by a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, priced at $4.

Address: 205 West McMillan St.

newsrecord.org/nightlife

Sept. 21, 2015

Nightlife and Dining Issue

Horseshoe Casino’s rooftop enhances tailgating events DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR

RANDALL CLARK | CONTRIBUTOR

Hosted at Rohs Street Café, The Cincinnati Showcase provides a venue each month for new local artists.

Rohs Street Cafe invites fresh talent NICK RIDDICK | STAFF REPORTER

In perhaps one of the most intimate atmospheres around Cincinnati, budding local artists were given the opportunity to display their untapped musical talents Friday at Rohs Street Café.

Drew Himes, a part-time business promoter for the Thompson House in Newport, has been hosting these monthly Cincinnati Showcase events as a way to grant new musicians some stage time with a supporting audience.

“The idea behind it was that I get a big Cincinnati act to come out and headline the show, which brings in an audience for the smaller acts in the lineup,” Himes said. “I had to do a lot of footwork [for the first one], but ever since that, people contact me almost instantly after each show and ask if they can perform next time.”

September’s lineup consisted of Brian Lee, Stephanie Boling, Austin Wallace, Solomon Booth, Angelica Franco and a grand finale from headlining artist Jeremy Myint, a guitarist for Cincinnati jazz group Jazz For Kids.

Each artist had their own conceptions of style, bringing a variety of unique styles onto the stage and into the ears of audience members.

Angelica Franco, a UC Blue Ash student, discussed her experience as a new performer in Cincinnati.

“I want to be that jazz lounge girl with the band playing behind her, singing somber and making everybody feel, because I feel, and so I want everyone else to as well,” Franco said.

“Sitting when I perform makes me feel calm.

I suffer from a lot of anxiety and sitting down grounds me into a sense of presence.”

Brian Lee, another Blue Ash student who opened the show, contrasted Franco’s heavy aura with an intensely hectic delivery reminiscent of the garage-band era, which he attributed to his artistic influences growing

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up.

“I listened to a lot of punk, you know, like MC Five, the White Stripes, the Upholsterers, and even some Nas and Beethoven,” Lee said. “But I like to keep my personal image separate from my musician image, because if I acted myself up there, I’d probably get taken down with horse tranquilizers.”

It is common that true expressive talent comes from dark places and a history of overcoming struggle, a narrative familiar to Solomon Booth, one of the only two high school student performers.

“My guitar and my voice have been avenues through which I can tell the story of my life,” Booth said. “It’s made me turn most of my suffering into something constructive, where I can maybe even reach out to somebody else in the form of a one night of perfor-mance.”

While they all started out playing music in confused adolescence, searching for an outlet, many of the artists have matured through writing and poetry.

“Usually, I write a poem when I’m sad,” Franco said. “And if it becomes so powerful that I really need to extract or release it, it’ll become a song.”

Jeremy Myint, a jazz composition student and headlining feature guitarist for the night, spoke meaningfully about the value of community and the necessity of events like Cincin-nati Showcase.

“There are a lot of reasons to come out to the Cincinnati Showcase, the biggest of them be-ing to help give a boost to some really talented up-and-coming artists,” Myint said.

“First gigs are usually horrible — I mean, I know mine was — but some of these kids who aren’t even out of high school are incredible.”

The next showcase will be held in late October at Rohs Street Café and admission is $5.

“Every gig is a learning experience and for a beginner, this is one that’s pretty lowpressure,” Myint said.

With Cincinnati’s skyline as a backdrop, the Horseshoe Casino introduced its Terrace Rooftop Bar September for customers to enjoy specialty drinks, cigars and entertainment while tailgating.

After a $450 million investment to establish the casino in March 2013, officials appointed the rooftop as a tailgate spot for visitors looking to enjoy the preparation and duration of football games.

“Our goal is to create a variety of distinct entertainment and nightlife experiences for our guests,” said Stephanie Sheikh, the vice president of hospitality at Horseshoe Casino. “The Terrace Rooftop Bar will offer guests a sleek environment where they can enjoy drinks, cigars, entertainment and the beautiful city skyline.”

Gayane Makaryan, a public relations specialist at Horseshoe Casino, said employees roll out televisions and grills during the tailgate parties.

“It is a really fun atmosphere,” Makaryan said. “There is a mix of all types of groups and people. There are girls together for a girls outing, couples hanging out together, guys hanging out and more.”

The rooftop holds a distinct bar appearance with unique LED lighting options for 8-foot-

tall table lamps and heaters, a circular bar and round bar tables.

A large selection of scotch, bourbon and cigars are sold at the circular bar.

Makaryan said space on the rooftop has always been available and that, after receiving ideas from guests, it advanced the opportunity.

While the casino is relatively new, it has received great feedback as to the establishment of the top-tier bar.

Makaryan believes there are many reasons why the casino is the best place to tailgate in Cincinnati, but one stands above all.

While many tailgating locations ask customers to pay to park their vehicles, the casino offers free parking, Makarya said.

On top of tailgating explicitly for NFL games, Makaryan said officials are open to other sports program options for the roof.

The casino is also home to several businesses and attractions, including Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant, Rock Bar Lounge, Café Italia, Starbucks, Bobby’s Burger Palace by famed Chef Bobby Flay, 2,000 slot machines and a 31-table poker room.

“If you don’t like one option, you can move on to the next one,” Makaryan said. “There is an option for every kind of atmosphere.”

After its debut in early September, the Terrace Rooftop Bar at the Horseshoe Casino offers a unique environment for fans to tailgate and watch NFL games with the Cincinnati skyline in view.

PROVIDED

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Sept. 21, 2015

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