NEWS
Welcome to the ICE Age: How Immigrant Advocates are Preparing for Trump’s Mass Deportations
Spotting ICE agents can be difficult. Knowing what to say when immigrants encounter them is even harder.
BY MADELINE FENING
This story is the first in CityBeat’s “ICE Age” series about the Trump administration’s crackdown on community members who are undocumented.
Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has unleashed a slew of executive orders that seek to make good on his campaign’s most ominous promise: to carry out the “largest deportation in the history of our country.”
Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, have detained at least 4,500 people across the country since the Trump administration’s crackdown, according to publicity from ICE on X. Most of those arrests are coming out of cities like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Denver, Miami, Atlanta and various cities across Texas, according to NBC News. The outlet compiled a list reflecting both confirmed ICE operations from officials and videos of arrests not yet confirmed by ICE officials.
Arrests have started popping up in parts of Ohio, including more than 50 arrests in Geauga County and six in Cleveland Heights, according to Axios.
ICE did not respond to CityBeat’s request for information on operations happening in the Greater Cincinnati area. There has been no verified evidence of targeted ICE raids in Greater Cincinnati yet, but speculation over ICE operations in and around the Queen City has already begun popping up on social media.
“ICE was spotted in Delhi today at the delshire apartments,” someone posted to a local Facebook group on Jan. 30.
“ICE WAS SPOTTED IN READING OHIO,” said another Facebook user on Jan. 29.
But the alleged ICE spotting that gained the most traction in recent days was a rumor that agents are staying in Northern Kentucky and planning a “raid” of two major warehouses.
“ICE agents spotted in a hotel in Newport, KY staging for raids in the area targeting major workplaces likely including DHL and Amazon,” reads a post shared over 100 times on Facebook.
CityBeat viewed several different versions of this same warning shared across varying social media platforms between Jan. 26 and Jan. 31; some
a lot of incorrect statements I’ve seen online that are declared as fact, and then there’s been a lot of very accurate information that clearly somebody knew the person involved. [...] It’s helpful for people to report ICE sightings, particularly if they can share photos and specific times and specific locations.”
Samantha Searls is the Immigration Justice program director at Ignite Peace, a Cincinnati-based social services organization. She told CityBeat that some members of the immigrant community have told her the warning posts on social media are helpful and appreciated.
“I was talking with some leaders from the immigrant community last night about the ability for families to make decisions in regards to their safety and what’s best for them, and so they have appreciated [the tips],” Searls said. “Just so they can make educational decisions about where to go, so that they can be empowered as much as they can to protect themselves.”
Spotting ICE, teaching procedures
But spotting ICE agents can be difficult – they’re not always obvious.
posts differed in where they allege ICE agents were staying ahead of the alleged raids. CityBeat asked Amazon KCVG Teamsters, the labor organizers working to unionize Amazon’s KCVG facility in Hebron, Kentucky, to respond to these social media reports.
“Yes, we have heard reports and are monitoring the situation,” a spokesperson for the union said.
Amazon corporate officials did not respond to CityBeat’s request for comment by press time.
Sharing information
CityBeat spoke with immigration advocates about social media reports like these, asking what people should keep in mind while posting about potential ICE sightings.
Lynn Tramonte is the director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance. She told CityBeat these social media posts aren’t always correct, but that it’s important to share what you see.
“I do think it’s important to document what’s happening around the state,” Tramonte said. “I just want to make sure we’re spreading good information that’s accurate and not third-hand information. There’s been
“It’s complicated, because sometimes ICE doesn’t wear the identifying clothes,” Searls said. “Sometimes it says police or sometimes they’re in plain clothes. I believe that some people have been mistaking, like, service vans and vehicles as ICE. But, it’s important to write down what people think they saw, just in case something did happen and people were detained.”
“ICE comes in unmarked cars, typically,” Tramonte said. “The way you can tell who they are is because they are these overblown, tough-looking guys with vests on and guns – usually their vests say police instead of ICE. Sometimes it says police and ICE. That’s how people identify that it’s ICE when they see agents traveling in a pack.”
Tramonte and Searls told CityBeat how advocates are educating residents on ways to prepare themselves and family members for encounters with ICE agents.
“If you’re an immigrant and ICE approaches you, you can ask them who they are and they are supposed to tell you that they’re ICE,” Searls said. “It’s also important for folks to know that ICE cannot detain you unless you have a warrant signed by a judge with a specific name on it. Often ICE ends up detaining people because they willingly share information in what seems like a casual conversation. So it’s really important
The Know Your Rights Red Cards were created to help people, including the immigrant population, assert their constitutional rights. PHOTO: REDCARDORDERS.COM
for people to invoke their right to remain silent.”
“The only warrant that people are required to open the door for is one issued by a judge, but ICE is very tricky,” Tramonte added. “They create their own warrants and bring them and then they tell people, ‘We have a warrant.’ And then they’ll say things like, ‘We just want to talk to [name], that’s all.’ Once you open the door to law enforcement, you’ve given them entry to your house. And even if they say they’re just looking for me, they can question my daughter, they can question my friend, they can question, you know, anybody, but we always have the right to remain silent.”
Trump was reportedly “disappointed” with the number of arrests so far, according to The Washington Post, prompting the administration to set quotas for ICE agents of at least 75 arrests per day.
“In Ohio, this is what’s happening. They are asking anybody that they come across while looking for this quote-unquote person on their list to show their papers, and then they’re taking them in because they have a quota,” Tramonte said. “They’re literally sweeping the area and arresting people. It’s definitely quantity over quality.”
Red cards
Remembering your rights, knowing what to say or what not to say – it can all be difficult to remember in the face of a distressing ICE encounter. That’s why advocates for immigrant communities are distributing informational cards, known as red cards.
“There is a really great resource
that is colloquially known as red cards that people can carry on their person,” Searls said. “If they come in contact with ICE they can give them this red business card and it asserts their right to remain silent and also demands to see a warrant.”
Red cards can vary with their language across organizations, but they generally list basic rights for immigrants to know in the event of an ICE or law enforcement encounter. Ohio Immigrant Alliance has a website called OhioisHome.org that links to options to order red cards or download a printable version in one of 16 languages.
The card also gives holders a script of what to say if questioned by ICE:
I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.
I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door. I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.
I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.
Searls said these cards have been widespread across immigrant communities, but now they’re more helpful than ever.
“We’ve been hearing reports already from other locations around the country that it’s working when
people stand up for their rights,” Searls said. “They are protected because there are certain rules that ICE has to follow, however they can sweep anybody up if they admit that they’re here without papers or even that they’re here from another country. So it’s really important that people remain strong in such a scary moment to assert their right to stay silent.”
How advocates encourage you to help
Beyond sharing detailed information about ICE sightings on social media, Searls said there are options for people who want to help community members who could face deportation. Donations to Ignite Peace will help to fund the organization’s rapid response team, which provides rapid assistance to families affected by deportation, including basic necessities and legal aid.
If you’re unable to make financial contributions, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance has set up a hotline for both reporting possible ICE sightings and connecting with volunteer opportunities.
“People can email the hotline if they aren’t sure how to get involved and we will try to help connect them. So we’re using that hotline as a very broad way for people to report what is happening,” Tramonte said. “The best way to get involved is locally. You’ll have the most impact. And there’s such a need. There’s so many things people can do. There’s driving, there’s accompaniment to ICE check-ins and [United States Citizenship and Immigration Services] appointments at court hearings.”
Shifting the tone
New White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Jan. 28 that the Trump administration sees all undocumented immigrants as “criminals,” even if they’ve never committed any crime in the United States.
“I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal, but that’s exactly what they are,” Leavitt told reporters.
Asked by a reporter how many of the immigrants recently detained by ICE have criminal records, Leavitt said, “All of them. Because they illegally broke our nation’s laws.”
But entering and residing in the country illegally is not technically a crime — it’s a civil violation.
“All of the people that are in ICE jail or ICE custody are being held on civil immigration charges, not criminal charges,” Tramonte said.
Beyond financial donations and acts of service, advocates say it’s important to shift the narrative on immigrants, who studies show are less likely to commit crimes than native-born residents.
“People who want to help, speak up and to push back against these harmful narratives,” Searls said. “We’re being drowned out right now, and we all have a responsibility to stand up for each other, because our freedoms are tied in with one another, and the over policing of the immigrant community is also terrorizing other vulnerable communities, so it’s important to speak up for each other right now.”
Suburban Father Charged with Murder for Shooting Death of Daughter
BY MADELINE FENING
ASycamore Township man is facing murder charges for the death of his daughter, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said deputies responded to a call for a person not breathing at a home on 6th Avenue in Sycamore Township on Jan. 27 around 1 a.m.
The call was made after a young woman returned home to find her sister near the home’s front room, not breathing, according to officials. The young woman attempted CPR on her sister until deputies arrived. EMS transported her to Bethesda Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Hamilton County has identified her as 24-year-old Heather Thompson.
The sheriff’s office said deputies later found Heather Thompson’s dad, 64-year-old
Franklin Thompson, in the home’s neighborhood and in possession of a gun.
“He is the father of the two women and they all live together in the home,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Public Information Officer Kyla Woods.
The shooting allegedly was prompted by an argument between Heather and Franklin over smoking inside the family home, according to Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor David Hickenlooper.
“It apparently revolved around smoking in the house,” Hickenlooper told reporters.
“The defendant then shot the victim multiple times and left the house immediately thereafter.”
Franklin Thompson has been charged with one count of murder and is being held on a $1 million bond.
The investigation is ongoing. Officials say more information will be released as it becomes available.
PHOTO: KAT WILCOX PEXELS
Middie Pride Takes Center Stage at JD Vance Inauguration Watch Party
BY MADELINE FENING
JD Vance, the “native son” of Middletown, Ohio, has been sworn in as vice president in President Donald Trump’s administration. While the turnout for an inauguration watch party in Middletown was low, city leaders are drawing on the historic moment to celebrate Vance and Middletown.
“Congratulations to Middletown’s native son, J.D. Vance, who is officially Vice President of the United States of America!” wrote Middletown’s official Facebook page after Vance’s swearing-in.
A public watch party of the inauguration was held at Berachah Church in Middletown, organized by parents of marching band students who traveled to Washington D.C. to perform during the ceremonies.
“[Berachah Church] is a place of blessing and we just wanted to open this place up,” said Lamar Ferrell, lead pastor at Berachah Church. “And we are celebrating the beautiful accomplishments of the band, but we’re also celebrating a native son, JD Vance, who is the vice president.”
Only about 25 people turned out for the watch party, which was promoted by the city on Facebook, but the majority of Middletown voters — 62% — voted for Trump-Vance in November.
Jen Grams, a Middletown band mom, told CityBeat this day was not about politics – she’s proud to celebrate the historic moment for Middletown and her daughter, Melody.
“She plays tenors, which is the quad drums, so the biggest, heaviest instrument,” Grams said. “It’s really, it’s just to be a part of history. These kids, whether they support Democrats or Republicans or independents or nobody at all, they’re excited and they know they see the magnitude of this. I mean, my daughter kept saying, ‘My gosh, Mom, I’m going to be screened by the Secret Service at the Pentagon!’ They’re super excited.”
Bitterly cold temperatures forced the inauguration parade inside Capital One Arena, but Grams said the venue change actually places a bigger spotlight on Middletown’s students.
“There were originally almost 50 groups scheduled, and they canceled 40 of them, so there’s only seven groups performing, one of which is the Middletown Marching Band,” Grams said. “They’re going to be coming into the arena one group at a time. They will march in, turn and face the president and vice president up on a stage and perform directly to them.”
Rebecca Johnson is another Middie
parent. She told CityBeat her daughter, who is in the Middie Color Guard, was nervous but excited.
“She’s nervous that she’s gonna drop her flag in front of the President,” Johnson said. “But she’s really good, and they’re just excited about every aspect of it.”
CityBeat asked Johnson what it’s been like watching the Middletown students prepare for the inauguration performance.
“Overwhelming,” Johnson said. “It’s been a lot. It’s very overwhelming, but they’ve been doing it just like they have for our competitions throughout the year, and they know that this is a big thing, but we’re comparing it to any competition that we go to, just on a bigger stage.”
The Middletown City School District needed to raise thousands of dollars to send 148 students, staff members and chaperones to Washington D.C. As of Jan. 8, the district told CityBeat that Middletown had received nearly $174,000 in donations, exceeding the minimum $140,000 needed to cover the trip.
Early public donors included Ohio Sen. George Lang (R-West Chester Township) and Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also arranged a GoFundMe
campaign that raised more than $29,000 as of Jan. 20.
Vance has a net worth of around $10 million, according to Forbes, and the controversial book he wrote about Middletown — Hillbilly Elegy — is no small part of this fortune. A Middletown City School District spokesperson told CityBeat that Vance, a multimillionaire, had not contributed to the band’s DC visit.
Ferrell told CityBeat he thinks the invitation was enough.
“I’m not here to disparage JD, I’m here to say thank you. Thank you for the invite,” Ferrell said. “What an incredible, incredible opportunity. Very thankful. And I’m very thankful for everyone that put in money to be able to see that these kids have [an opportunity of a lifetime.] And so I don’t think that an invitation rests on the back of really the financial responsibility. I think the opportunity was given. He gave the invite. They’re going and so many people make it happen. That’s the beauty of Middletown.”
Around 5:30 p.m., after hours of waiting, Middie parents, family members and supporters watched in awe as their students marched in neat, careful lines through Capital One Arena.
“We now welcome the Middletown High School Marching Band and cheerleaders,” the event announcer bellowed. “They’re traveling all the way from Middletown, Ohio, to proudly represent their school, our nation and outstanding alumni, including our new vice president of the United States, JD Vance!” Parents screamed and cheered, pointing at glimpses of their students on the big screen and wiping tears to the tune of the Middie fight song.
“That was pretty much the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Grams told CityBeat following the quick performance. “I got to see my baby up there, playing for the president. I’m a little bit choked up right now. I’m probably going to go home and cry. It was pretty cool when I saw her on the camera, I was like, ‘Oh my god! That’s my baby!’”
Johnson’s voice trembled as she spoke to CityBeat after the Middies’ national appearance.
“We’re just so proud of them and they did a great job,” she said, adding that the Middie fight song was a surprise addition to the parade set.
“It was the best, we didn’t expect that,” she said. “We thought they would do that at first but then we were told they wouldn’t, so now that they did it, it’s awesome.”
Middie parents watch as the Middie Marching Band and cheerleaders perform in the 60th Presidential Inauguration.
PHOTO: MADELINE FENING
ADVICE COLUMN
Bad Advice
In his new column, Bad Advice, writer Collin Preciado will be giving you the worst advice you’ve ever heard.
BY COLLIN PRECIADO
Dear Collin,
For the past couple Valentine’s Days my girlfriend has gifted me with toys to spice up our bedroom routine. At first it was kind of fun, but the devices have been trending in a direction I’m uncomfortable with. Last year’s gift was a ball gag. The year before it was handcuffs. I’ve gone along with it but I believe I’ve reached my limit. If her gift goes too far beyond this year, I’m worried it will affect our relationship as she will either feel rejected or, worse, I’ll be freaked out by how far she is wanting to go. How do I beat her to the punch and avoid this scenario altogether?
Sincerely, Vanilla Waver
Dear Vanilla Waver,
You’ve got it absolutely right. You need to beat her to the punch on this. You need to put her in a position where she’s the party who wants to initiate a talk about boundaries, and the best way to do this is to give her a gift that will absolutely ensure that conversation.
The gift would need to be something that an overwhelming amount of people would immediately be revolted by. Something that even the “don’t-kink-shame” weirdos would hesitate to defend. Now fortunately for you I’ve thought long and hard about what such a gift could be, and I believe I’ve landed on a failsafe solution. You need to buy your girlfriend a gerbil.
Now if you or your partner are under the age of 30 and are wondering what the gerbil is for, allow me to vaguely explain. In the ‘90s, before the age of the internet, all rumors were taken at face value and believed to be fact. We believed Marilyn Manson had one of his ribs removed, and we were also pretty sure Tupac was
still alive. One of the more random and enduring rumors from that time was that the actor Richard Gere had once been hospitalized to remove a gerbil from his, uh, person. The story goes that the gerbil was placed inside the actor by another person in a mutual act of intimacy.
Now if you need more details than that, feel free to look it up on your own. Snopes says Richard Gere definitely didn’t do this. Dan Savage says there’s no way anyone has ever done this, and that the whole idea of someone engaging in an act like this is a homophobic myth that only stupid people with adolescent brains talk and/or write about.
But if we assume your girlfriend opens up your gift on Valentine’s Day and immediately knows what the gerbil is for, one of two things will happen. 1). Your girlfriend will balk
Valentine’s Day than at the Cheesecake Factory.
As you know, the Cheesecake Factory’s menu is a weighty tome, rich with authentically prepared meals from all seven continents. While everything listed is the most delicious food you could possibly get at a restaurant, it is worth mentioning that they also have a secret menu.
The secret menu mostly contains variations on items from the main menu, like instead of Glamburgers they have Clamburgers, which just replace the bun with a super thick clamshell, but the real gems can be found in the exotic category. Items like the Shredded Coconut Chimp or the Lab-Grown Grilled Cheese are winners, but my personal favorite is the Mammoth Sandwich. It’s a sandwich where the protein is a genetically engineered wooly mammoth that the Cheesecake Factory scientists brought back to life Jurassic Park-style, and then they slaughter and cook it to order so you can eat like your caveman ancestors.
and a conversation will naturally arise about boundaries, or 2). She’ll be totally into it. If the latter happens you’ll want to get the hell out of there; she’s a serial killer. Or she’s somehow Richard Gere.
Dear Collin,
Every year my husband takes me to the Cheesecake Factory for Valentine’s Day, and I absolutely love it! They have everything: Cocktails, appetizers, free bread. They even have dessert (haha!). Now usually I get the Thai Lettuce wraps, but I want to switch it up a bit this time. What should I get?
Sincerely, Dr. Bernadette Rugchair
Dear Bernadette,
Congratulations for having such an incredible husband. There is no more romantic restaurant to spend your
For an additional fee, they’ll even let you hunt the beast yourself. They sail you to a secret snowy island where you’re met by a muscular and handsome dark-eyed hunting guide named Claw. You spend five days with the mysterious man tracking the majestic creature across the island. During that time, as Claw teaches you how to survive in the icy wilderness, you start to develop feelings for him as you get glimpses of his soft-hearted nature under all his rugged exterior. On the fifth and final day, after the beast is slain, the tension finally snaps and you rip each other’s clothes off and make love for hours. As Claw holds you close in a postcoital glow, he begs you to stay on the island with him forever, and for a moment you briefly consider it, but then you realize your husband and two kids are back at the Cheesecake Factory waiting for you to order, so with tears in your eyes you bid him farewell. When you get back to your table you realize you forgot the mammoth meat back on the island, so you just order the Buffalo Blasts instead. That night, as you lay wide awake in the dark listening to your husband gurgle through his sleep apnea machine, you wonder if you’ve made a mistake; you should have gotten the Factory Nachos instead. It’s a feeling you spend the rest of your life trying to shake. At your funeral, a mysterious stranger with profoundly sad eyes stands in the back, wondering what could have been.
Send me your unsolvable problem at badadvice@citybeat.com. What’s the worst thing that could happen? I’ll be sure to let you know.
Richard Gere
PHOTO: ARIELAORTIZB, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Looking For Love Before and After The Internet
Before Tinder and Hinge, there were personal ads — and CityBeat is bringing them back
By Brent Stroud
The search for love is an eternal struggle and each era of mass media has played a part in finding it.
Before smartphones and dating apps, newspapers and print publications played the part of matchmaker. The personal ad was a way to write in anonymously and place an ad in a paper’s “classifieds” section, and, later, a designated “personals” section, looking for a relationship.
Along with personal ads, there were also “missed connections,” where entries recall an encounter with an elusive love or passing person of interest with the hope that the subject will see it and they’ll be reconnected. Missed connections have found a new life on Craigslist, where people recall situations in varying degrees of style, romance, humor or plain craziness.
CityBeat had its own personals section, titled “CINgles,” that was retired years ago — until now. Last month, we put a call out for personal ads and missed connections, and you guys delivered. In the pages that follow, we’ll publish these personal ads and missed connections with the hope that we can bring some Valentine’s Day fun and provide an alternative to dating apps. Even if personal ads and missed
connections aren’t completely recognizable at first, you’re probably more familiar with the concept than you think — they’re referenced all over pop culture. From plot points in movies like Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Single White Female (1992) and Ghost World (2001), to topics in episodes of Sex and the City and Friends
Music also has a long-running relationship with the subject. Songs like the 1971 hit “Want Ads” by The Honey Cone featured in a recent commercial, or the 1962 song and album Dear Lonely Hearts by legendary singer Nat King Cole, make direct references. The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band may even be a reference to Great Britain’s favored term for personals, the “lonely hearts column.”
The most directly recognizable reference in song may be the personal adthemed 1979 soft rock hit people love to hate: “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes. The song’s central character places a personal ad in the paper after his relationship has grown cold, only to find that his own wife unknowingly answers the ad, leading to the couple rediscovering their love: “I never knew that you liked Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain…,” and so on.
Take a minute to refresh and get that song out of your head. Proceed.
How CityBeat served Cincinnati “CINgles”
CityBeat has its own history connected to the personal ad that’s woven into the story of the paper from the beginning. CityBeat co-founder Dan Bockrath tells the story of how personal ads found their way onto the pages of the new Cincinnati alt-weekly early on, and their role in the history of not only CityBeat, but alt-weeklies, in general.
When co-founders John Fox and Bockrath launched the paper in November of 1994, Bockrath moved from San Diego and a role at that city’s alt-weekly, The Reader, bringing an updated concept of the personal ad with him.
By the late ‘80s, the 1-900 number was commonly used for things like phone sex, psychic hotlines and to connect singles while making a profit in the process. Publications could move from physical correspondence by mail to a 1-900 number phone service that charged a rate per minute to responders answering the ad, and alt-weeklies, including Bockrath’s former employer, were at the forefront of this method.
“There was a service provider that we
worked with and they had the relationship with the phone company,” Bockrath says. “We entered into a relationship with the service provider and we kept the majority of the revenue. I can’t remember exactly what the percentages were, but it was an unbelievable cash cow for the alternative weekly business because we were the groundbreakers in the industry.”
The new phone service allowed callers to respond to personal ads for 99 cents per minute and the ad placer could review the responses in a voicemail box. Bockrath says, “They could just call back and, at the end of conversations, decide if they wanted to meet for coffee or a walk on the beach or whatever and it was just wildly successful right out of the gate.
“So, when I came to Cincinnati and started CityBeat with John (Fox), that was one of the concepts I brought with me. I think we launched our version of it in 1995.”
The personal ads section was called “CINgles” and was placed in the classified ads portion of CityBeat’s print issue, laid out next to relationship editorials from contributors like Erma P. Sanders and her “Dating Diva” column, and Dan Savage’s “Savage Love” column. The section was also placed alongside
romance-adjacent advertising, like phone sex hotlines.
Bockrath says the new phone service personals weren’t quite as lucrative in Cincinnati as they were early on for The Reader because, by 1995, the Enquirer, Cincinnati Magazine and even the more business-oriented Downtowner had them. “It was always a fun thing — it was all part of audience engagement and gave our readers another reason to pick up the paper from Kroger or the bookstore or wherever they were, because in the free weeklies, everyone knew about the back of the book where the classifieds were, the personal ads and the massage parlor places and the phone sex and all that. That was literally our domain. That was in stark contrast to what you’d find in the daily newspapers,” Bockrath says with a laugh.
“The reason that our industry was so successful is, it would be fair to say, that we were kind of the original social media before social media went digital. So, our publications like CityBeat, like The Reader in San Diego, were a resource for places to go and things to do, primarily. So, very popular with younger audiences and an extension of that was there were a lot of single people who wanted another option than meeting someone at a bar or at a club and hooking up.”
Bockrath also addresses the possibility of going back to personal ads: “The concept of personal ads for meeting people — I don’t know if things are gonna go retro and people wanna go back to the old school ways because everyone complains about bad profiles and people misrepresenting themselves, not to say that they didn’t do it back when this all first started, but I think there was some authenticity to what it is that we did. I think people were very genuinely interested in using the platform for its intended purpose.”
The move to the internet slowly dried up 1-900 advertising and people moved over to online dating, ending an era and a connection between readers and publications.
“I think it was a more innocent time back then and it was fun because that was all part and parcel to CityBeat’s overall success, was having interesting content from the front of the book, where we had our reporting and our news and opinion stuff, to the back of the book which was fun,” Bockrath says. “You know, ‘What’s the coolest new restaurant to go to?’ and ‘Hey, let’s place a personal ad; maybe we can meet somebody.’”
Unplugging to connect Time will tell if the personal ad makes a comeback. Either way, it’s clear singles are looking for options. Local
organization Date Cincy offers another alternative to digital dating and has seen interesting results.
Date Cincy hosts events for people to meet through in-person events that feature activities, games, giveaways and more in varying sizes and settings across the city.
Founders and childhood best friends Paige Braley and Logan Moore came up with the idea after Moore attended one of Braley’s programs for another organization she’s involved with, The Beauty Boost, which helps women find community and friendships.
Attending an event in support of her best friend sparked an idea. Moore says she thought, “Why doesn’t this exist for singles, people trying to find their person?” Within a few months, they made an Instagram page, started hosting events and Date Cincy began.
“What’s really cool is we had our first
of people say, ‘Thank you so much for having these events because it gives me another option rather than just having to go through the apps and swipe, swipe, swipe.’”
Cincinnati’s dating community seems to have taken notice. Whether it’s one of their average events with 250-300 people, a smaller event for 60-100 or a “mass mixer” with 6-800 people, all of Date Cincy’s events have sold out.
The two bring up the New York Times article published in December 2024 that placed Cincinnati among the top 10 cities in the U.S. for dating. “I think it’s cool because I feel like Cincinnati is such a people’s city,” Braley says. “People love connecting with other Cincinnati people. So, it seems like as soon as people had the chance to get off the apps and try something in person, they’ve met capacity for every single event.”
They say they’ve heard a number of success stories, proving it isn’t all just fun and games. The most recent one came from a response to an Instagram post. “We had a guy reach out to us. We shared a post like, ‘If you come to our January event this could be you next year cuddled up on the couch with your significant other after a year of dating.’ And he commented on it and he said, ‘This is me right now,’” Moore says. He had met someone at a Date Cincy event the previous January and says he’s thankful because the two might not have swiped on each other in the apps, but they’re now talking about the future together.
event back in August of 2023 and we were just kind of like, ‘Hey, whatever happens, happens. Let’s provide this space, whoever shows up will show up. It’s gonna be a good time.’ Right? And it sold out, at capacity,” Braley says. “And then every single event we’ve had since has met the capacity of whatever the venue is.”
Braley tells CityBeat they’ve heard great feedback about not only the dating aspect of Date Cincy, but also helping people get out more socially. “People have said it just really helps with their social confidence, in general, when it comes to making friends, potentially dating, even outside of Date Cincy.”
“And the fact that people are fed up and done with the dating apps and the online dating,” Moore says. “Just the time wasted and disappointment and the frustration and everything that comes along with those. So, we’ve heard a lot
“It’s so rewarding,” Braley says of these success stories. “It’s one of the best things about holding these events, seeing people actually meeting their people and finding their person. Our slogan is ‘Meet your person, in person.’ When that happens, it’s really exciting.”
In addition to offering another alternative to dating apps, personal ads may play a role in Date Cincy’s process soon, as well. They’ve been asked to add a type of personal ad component to their Instagram and say they are “still tinkering” with how they could do it, but they like the idea.
Missed connections have also come into play. “After our last event, we did a missed connections thing,” Braley says. “We were like, ‘Hey, did you see somebody at the event and you didn’t get a chance to get their number? Let us know.’ And it was crazy how many people were like, ‘There was a guy in a red jacket but I never got his name, can you put this out there?’ There were quite a few that we were able to connect.”
In the true spirit of missed connection serendipity, they were able to make a connection from a random video
PEXELS
post. “One girl had a dance partner and we posted a video and she was like, ‘Hey, that’s me and that was the guy I was dancing with but I didn’t get his number.’ So, we posted this story and the guy she was dancing with didn’t have an Instagram, but his friend saw it and ended up giving us his number to connect them,” Moore says.
Who knows what the future of dating holds — perhaps a new technology will emerge to connect people, or past methods will be rediscovered or rejected by future singles. Either way, the search will never end, and, chances are, some form of media will be there trying to help you find your soulmate. Until then, feel free to take a trip back in time with us and look over the personal ads printed below — just like it used to be. Who knows, maybe you’ll find just what you’ve been looking for all along.
If your CityBeat personal ad experience doesn’t work out, no need to worry — Date Cincy hosts events regularly with three coming up this month: A singles karaoke night Feb. 6 at Tokyo Kitty (150 capacity), a Valentine’s Daythemed takeover of the Cupid’s Corner pop-up at Cobblestone in Over-theRhine Feb. 12 (150 capacity) and a Feb. 21 single parents’ night out at Chasing Cali Collective (60 capacity).
CityBeat asked readers to submit their very own personal ads and missed connections last month to try something different for Valentine’s Day and an alternative to dating apps. Here are the submissions broken up into sections based on the specified audience.
Personal Ads: Women Seeking Men
Single white female, 50, seeking single male, 48-55. Natalie Wood seeking her James Dean. Friendship and possibly romance. Must be a Christian. WSM#1
Female, 25, seeking fun, down-toearth 25-34-year-old. Enjoys music, outdoor activities, cooking or trying new foods. Looking for someone likeminded, thoughtful and down to try new things! WSM#2
Female, 60, seeking fun 45-65-yearold. Likes music, concerts, nature hikes, thrifting and the local food scene. Looking for someone like-minded and kind. WSM#3
Kathryn, 24, graduate student, seeking 24-30-year-old-man. I like cycling, cats, legos, reading and concerts (saw Glass Animals and Cage the Elephant in Cincinnati and Noblesville last summer!!). There’s nothing specific that I’m looking for, except that you must be on the left. WSM#4
Female, 47, seeks Male, 37-57, for dating and relationship. I like going to music concerts, FC Cincinnati soccer games and hiking in nature. Must have a spiritual or religious faith. Lives near the Hamilton or Mason area. Must be healthy, smart, kind and loving. WSM#5
No MAGA, no addicts or drinkers, just a normal, educated, caring guy would be great. Me: East sider. Singer, educator, over 50. WSM#6
Female, 59, who looks and acts much younger, is seeking an energetic and fun 45-65-year-old. Likes live music, athletic events, local food scene and more. Girls just want to have FUN! WSM#7
Female, 31, seeking 28-34-year-old. Loves people, new travel/adventures or a chill game night, enjoys trying new restaurants or a new recipe, going to the gym or doing something active. Looking for a biblical leader who wants to be a husband and father. I am a lover of deep dinner convos, hanging with friends, God, cooking and hot pilates. WSM#8
Female, 29, seeking extroverted 28-35-year-old. Likes reading, baking, fitness, traveling, dancing and Sunday football. Looking for someone kind, humorous and progressive. WSM#9
Female, 23, seeking someone 20-25 who shares a love for anime, video games, reading and good conversation. Into exploring new shows, gaming sessions and diving into a good book when I have the chance. Looking for a like-minded, kind person who’s up for some fun and enjoys similar hobbies! WSM#10
Independent and fun-loving, I have my own life and am looking for someone who has theirs, too. I enjoy the finer things — great food, wine and travel — but don’t take myself too seriously. If you’ve got a strong work ethic, love to travel but also enjoy a chill day binging TV, and can handle a big family and friends while rolling with life’s punches, we might just be a match. Let’s make it fun and see where it goes! WSM#11
28 y/o Latina ready for her forever salsa partner. Loves tinned fish, expensive workout classes and being caffeinated. Known for her class, sass and big… heart. Seeking 26-32 y/o man with a plan (and 401K.) WSM#12
Female, 40, seeking stable male, 38-45. Must be comfortable around kids and co-parenting situations, established in a profession, intelligent, open-minded, kind-hearted. Likes include Bengals, local food scene, current events, bargain shopping. Seeking partner for life’s experiences, big and small. WSM#13
Female, 30, seeking a fun-loving man (28-35) who is kind, respectful and ready for a long-term adventure. Must enjoy a balance of cozy nights in and spontaneous outings — bonus points if you are up for roller coasters and axe throwing! Open to building a future that includes love, laughter and my two 5-year-old daughters. Let’s make life exciting together. Serious inquiries only! WSM#14
Female, 26, seeking active, professional 25-35-year-old. Bourbon/beer/ coffee/bakery family businesses, friend to art and farmers market scenes, consultant during week, runner and barre girly, mother to Great Dane and Basset. Looking for a smart and funny man who knows how to dance. WSM#15
Female, 43, seeking 40+ male. I like pina coladas, but not getting caught in the rain. I am not into yoga; I do have half a brain. I would love to get “caught out” at midnight in the dunes on the cape — on vacation since we live in Ohio. I hope I am the love that you look for. Write to me and let’s escape. WSM#16
Female, 39, seeking fun 35-50-yearold. Has a great career and no crazy exes. Likes international travel, comedy shows, tennis and finding new restaurants to try. Looking for someone ambitious, outgoing, quick-witted and loyal. WSM#17
Female, 46, seeking extroverted introvert 34-50ish. Loves long walks, last-minute adventures, local anything. Drives an Outback and works in real estate. Looking for my peace to be disrupted by a healthy hottie who is financially adept, emotionally available and who will cook while I clean. Let’s grow together. WSM#18
Female 32, seeking a sweet 30-38-year-old who enjoys an active, adventurous and fun lifestyle! Looking for someone who is kind and independent. WSM#19
Female, 27, seeking a fun 26-36-year-old male. Enjoys live music, Adam Sandler movies, pickleball, Sunday Fundays and outdoor activities. Looking for someone who is kind, always down for late night milkshake runs and easygoing. WSM#20
Female, 32, seeking 30-41-year-old. Loves hanging out at home, watching shows and movies, video games, trying new foods and traveling. Frequently spotted at Target, CVG and TJ Maxx. Looking for someone who thinks dressing up for Halloween is the bee’s knees. WSM#21
Smart, driven and compassionate 30-year-old woman seeking a similarly driven and funny man who values intellect, kindness and making the world a better place. Interests include deep conversations, reading and being involved in social activism. If you’re someone who enjoys a good laugh, meaningful discussion and shares a passion for helping others, we’ll get along great. WSM#22
Female, 41, seeking fun and adventurous 40-50-year-old. Enjoys travel, outdoors, the arts, live music, dive bars and trying new restaurants. Looking for someone genuine to share experiences with. WSM#23
Female, 22, seeking kind and artsy 22-29-year-old. Likes books, thrifting, movies, coffee shops and the occasional heart-wrenching handwritten letter à la Pride and Prejudice. Looking for someone witty with good style (preferably one of those film bro mustaches too). WSM#24
Female, 28, seeking a man of a similar age who loves bookstores, stays active, can reach the top shelf, watches classic movies and doesn’t mind me styling your hair like ‘80s/’90s heartthrobs. I’m a law student who enjoys playing sports and wearing dresses (usually not at the same time!). WSM#25
Female, almost 29, looking for humorous and handy 28-36-year-old. Likes volunteering, dining out and anything outdoors. Looking for someone employed and not racist. WSM#26
Living it up as a 40-year-old mom with grit and a colorful spark. Looking for a partner who believes in social justice, has passion and has a thirst for knowledge and growth. I like making out, dirty martinis and sleeping in on the weekends. Let’s cuddle! WSM#27
I’m a 28-year-old pediatric nurse practitioner originally from North Carolina who’s always on the hunt for new restaurants/bars and travel destinations (with my dog, Poppy, of course.) I’m a strong Christian, a bit too organized for my own good and I love deep conversation. Looking for someone who is also a foodie, up for adventure and can handle Poppy as your sidekick, too! WSM#28
Woman, 27, seeking intelligent, creative 25-39-year-old. Likes travel, live music, literature, dive bars and art. Looking for someone interesting and kind. Are you the one? WSM#29
Female, 27, seeking 25+-year-old who appreciates cultural outings, has a friendly demeanor and values a healthy combination of success and happiness. Cincinnati/NKY transplant, moved here
3 years ago after growing up in Minnesota. Loves theater, fashion, desserts and traveling whenever possible. Looking for someone compatible who can accept an intense personality at times and who doesn’t mind the TV to be temporarily bogarted by a silly reality show. WSM#30
Female, 38 seeking fellow nerd who has also never been married, no kids. Collects postcards. Loves the weather, cars and cats. Seeking kindness, gym partner, food dates and fun! WSM#31
Female, 37, seeking fun, outgoing, ambitious 30-37-year-old. Likes outdoor activities, traveling, staying fit and metal/ hardcore shows. Looking for someone like-minded, emotionally available and who wants a long term relationship. WSM#32
Female, 24, seeking fun 24-29-yearold. Independent and creatively driven. Likes live music, local bar and food scene, thrifting and traveling. Looking for someone intelligent and outgoing. WSM#33
Female, 30, seeking confident 28-37-year-old. Loves country music, anything outdoors, her chocolate lab and cozy nights in. Looking for someone similar who is truly ready for the real deal! WSM#34
26-year-old female, child-free, looking for a man 28-43 that is also child-free. I am into movies, the Bengals. Seeking someone patient and kind. WSM#35
Affable female, 25, seeking authentic 25-30-year-old. Likes engaging conversation, live music, newspaper subscriptions, comedy, fantasy football and trying new foods. Looking for someone open-minded, kind, resourceful and willing to pump my gas for me. WSM#36
Women Seeking Women
Monogamous woman, 32, seeking an adventurous and romantic counterpart (between 28 and 35 years old) who loves the outdoors, coffee shop dates and thrifting. Must love dogs, trying new restaurants and forehead kisses. Where’s my Midwest cottage core forever crush? WSW#1
Women Seeking Men or Women
Female, 30, bisexual history librarian with a wild side seeks funny, openminded, educated 30-40-year-old with a zest for life. Must love dancing, food, film and kids. Conservative squares need not apply. WSMW#1
Men Seeking Women
Lost in translation? Not with me!
Bilingual man in healthcare, 35, seeking a partner who appreciates science and culture. Let’s explore the world, one conversation and one adventure at a time. Open to the possibility of family. MSW#1
Rutherford, 38, seeking 35-41 Tendi (green skin optional). Likes cooking, board games and general nerdery. Looking for someone curious and thoughtful. MSW#2
Male, 32, seeking adventurous and authentic 27-35-year-old. Likes EDM, traveling, music, sports and fitness, exploring our wonderful city’s food scene. Looking for someone likeminded and professional! MSW#3
Nonbinary
Seeking
Nonbinary
Enby, 24, seeking charismatic 21-28-year-old. Likes arts and crafts, graphic novels and silly movies. Looking for a kind person to match my vibe. NBSNB#1
Missed Connections: Looking For My Concert Seat
Buddy
Female, 55, with super-short platinum blonde pixie seeking my handsome, blue-eyed seat buddy ‘Tim’ from the 9/13/2024 ELO concert at Heritage Bank Center. We had a great time enjoying the show next to each other in the middle of the last row of the floor seats, and you would tell me when my favorite songs were coming up next because you had checked out the setlist online beforehand. MC#1
Loveland Bike Trail Rollerblade Boy
To the beautiful man with a mustache rollerblading on the Loveland Bike Trail on July 10, 2024 — I wish I had asked for your number after we grinned at each other and you skated past me.
- A girl who’s moved to Denver now MC#2
My Hinge Soulmate
Female, 22: A year ago, a man popped up on my friend’s Hinge describing his ideal date: burning your money, driving to Alaska, living in a bus and dying from poisoned berries — my friend swiped left, but I would’ve swiped right. MC#3
The Cutie in the Baseball Cap
Female, 22: Looking for the man in the baseball cap I ran into outside of Japp’s the night of Jan. 17 who was next to the street performer with the guitar — you know who are. MC#4
Parking Garage Hottie
We had the most insane eye contact in the Metropolitan Club parking garage. Beep beep! MC#5
Interested in one of the singles listed above? Email love@citybeat.com, include the ad number you’re responding to, and grant CityBeat permission to share your email.
PEXELS
ARTS & CULTURE
Off to Great Places
Carnegie and CCM’s Seussical is set to be a match made in heaven
BY NOAH MOORE
The Carnegie in Covington, with its sweeping, historic proscenium, has long been a venue where musical magic comes to life. From classic hits like Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Hello, Dolly! and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the theater has earned a reputation as a destination for both timeless musicals and high-energy jukebox productions. These shows often brought together a dynamic mix of local stars, theater students and talented dancers. However, it wasn’t until the past year that The Carnegie forged a formal partnership with the University of Cincinnati’s CollegeConservatory of Music (CCM). With a shared commitment to providing students with valuable, real-world experience while nurturing emerging talent, the two organizations are continuing their inaugural season of collaboration with Seussical, a whimsical exploration of Dr. Seuss’ beloved worlds. Seussical, which premiered in 2000, follows Horton the Elephant’s journey to save the tiny Whos living on a speck of dust, and navigates the wide range of Seuss characters living in the Jungle of Nool, from the Sour Kangaroo to the hopeless romantic Gertrude McFuzz. Featuring music by Tony-winning CCM
graduate Stephen Flaherty, the production will showcase a cast of 12 student performers, bringing the boundless power of imagination to life, alongside student technicians. The creative team features a blend of CCM faculty — Rachel Stevens as director and Julie Spangler as music director — and several members of The Carnegie’s design team, including Artistic Director Tyler Gabbard, who also serves as the scenic designer and producer.
This marks the second collaboration between The Carnegie and CCM, following the November production of Witch. But, as Gabbard points out, the relationship between the two has been evolving for years.
“Back a little over 10 years ago now, when Josh Steele was the managing director, he did some co-productions with CCM. But it really started when we launched our first summer season in 2022 and saw a ton of auditions from CCM students,” Gabbard said, reflecting on his third year at The Carnegie. “We had this opportunity to cast them, and they were great and professional and, of course, really raised the caliber.”
The Carnegie has long been rooted in arts education. Founded in the 1970s by a community-driven effort
its magic reaches patrons of all ages. While The Carnegie has long produced family-friendly musicals, Seussical feels uniquely poised to captivate both children and adults. The central character, JoJo, an imaginative Who child, drives the narrative forward with boundless creativity, while the notorious Cat in the Hat serves as a witty, jazzy emcee.
“I wanted something that really was a true family show, one that kids could come out in droves to. And we’ve really built a great cross-generational audience at The Carnegie in the last couple of years,” Gabbard said. “It was a perfect show for that reason — super familyfriendly. I also love the show.”
But the production also delves into deeper themes, namely, access to creativity and the transformative power of the arts — core values of The Carnegie’s mission, according to Gabbard.
“Our education program is not only interested in training the next great theater artist. It’s interested in teaching all kids, all people, how to use the arts in their daily lives to be empathetic, understand differences, make creative choices and solve problems,” he said. “So, we’re telling a story about access to the arts for this kid in Seussical, but it really mirrors how we try to use education as an organization.”
to preserve the historic building, The Carnegie has grown into a cultural hub, offering everything from visual art to theater and dance. Through continued collaboration with CCM faculty and connections with former Carnegie performers now at CCM, the partnership has created a vital bridge between academic training and professional practice, providing a launchpad for the next generation of artists.
With Seussical, this collaboration comes alive in a world brimming with creativity and imagination. While many productions of the beloved musical embrace bold neon hues and extravagant sets, Gabbard’s scenic design takes a fresh approach, inspired by Dr. Seuss’ economic use of line and color.
“We wanted to allow the audience to be part of the creative process, and so we’re setting ourselves in kind of this empty theater, with the ghost of the theater coming to life and telling the story,” Gabbard explained. “(The Carnegie) was never a Vaudeville house, but it was built in that era. So, we’re leaning into that time period and keeping things feeling a little turn-of-the-century in the 1910s, ‘20s and ‘30s.”
The production’s unique design and cross-generational appeal ensures
As the theater continues to grow its audience, Gabbard is committed to creating a welcoming space for everyone, ensuring that The Carnegie is a place where people feel comfortable coming as they are. To make this experience accessible, Gabbard has implemented affordable pricing options, including discounted youth and student tickets and limited-view seats.
“I want people to come here and feel like they can wear jeans or a t-shirt or dress up, you know, and come as you are,” he said. “I don’t want any pretense or stuffiness around my work or around the experience here. We really try to make it a great place to come for your first show, if you’ve never been to the theater before.”
As Seussical takes the stage, it represents more than just a vibrant celebration of Dr. Seuss’ cherished characters. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration and the limitless creativity nurtured through partnerships like that of The Carnegie and CCM. By bridging the gap between professional opportunities and educational growth, the two organizations are helping young artists thrive while delivering unforgettable experiences to audiences of all ages. And, as Dr. Seuss himself might say, the more you’re willing to imagine, the more you’ll find to explore.
Seussical runs through Feb. 16 at The Carnegie in Covington. More info: thecarnegie.com.
The Carnegie and CCM’s Seussical PHOTO BY THE CARNEGIE
VISUAL ARTS
AContemporary Arts Center Exhibit Shines Light on Artist Vivian Browne’s Work
BY GARIN PIRNIA
rtist and activist Vivian Browne’s name might not ring a bell with a lot of people, but she was and still is important to the Black arts movement.
Beginning in the 1960s and ending in her death, in 1993, Browne cultivated more than 100 works, including abstract paintings. She traveled to China, Africa and California, and those places are reflected in her work. She was a founder of the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition and of the women’s art cooperative SOHO20. She also joined Where We At, a Black women’s art community, in NYC. Though she’s not an undiscovered artist, over the years her work had fallen off the radar. Thankfully, the Contemporary Arts Center and D.C-based The Phillips Collection have introduced her work to a new generation through the exhibition, Vivian Browne: My Kind of Protest
Co-curator Amara Antilla, who until 2023 was CAC’s senior curator at large but is now based in D.C, had the initial idea. “Amara’s idea was probably to take a look at this important artist, look at what she did and investigate what the issues were,” Adrienne L. Childs, co-curator of the exhibit and senior consulting curator of The Phillips Collection, told CityBeat. “Amara and the museum felt it was a great idea to do an exhibition that’s outside of the commercial realm to put her back on the map again.”
Childs and Antilla sifted through Browne’s California-based archives, which her family kept.
“Both of us would go through and talk about what we saw, what we liked, what we didn’t, what themes are coming out and it was a very collegial kind of thing back and forth,” Childs said.
As a historian, Childs was interested in looking at Browne’s past in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
“What we have come to think of as that era is mainly stories about Black life, Black figures about a sort of resistance and civil rights and all of those things that were very important,” Childs said. “But we kind of left out those people who were working in abstraction, or those people who were not interested in necessarily telling those stories. They wanted to tell something very personal.”
As Childs put it, Browne “had the freedom to move beyond identity politics,” and was a great painter.
“She had a beautiful sense of color and a wonderful way of communicating,” she said. “It’s a really tragic time to think of a California landscape, but she was documenting it there. She was looking at how the power lines and technology
were encroaching on nature and those tensions so that Black artists can be part of these discussions and are not framed by that one aspect of their identity — that’s what I want people to see, and to just introduce them to a new artist. I think there’s always room for that.”
Browne’s 1960s Little Men series focuses on grotesque white men and the patriarchy; Childs referred to the works as “gusty at the time.” Most of her works are devoid of Black figures. Browne once said, “Black art is political. If it’s not political, it’s not Black art,” which raises the question: What is Black art?
“Being a Black artist who is an abstract artist is a political statement because it’s carving out a space that works against a lot of different issues going on — that she can have a career and represent themes and ideas that are sort of outside of the
box,” Childs said. “But at the time, there was pressure from your own people, your own groups, to have something to say about the plight of Black people in America. In some ways, people thought you were wasting your voice if you didn’t talk about those issues.”
Today, more women of color are represented in museums and galleries across the country. In 2017, Brooklyn Museum featured Browne and many other WOC artists in the exhibition We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965–85 — the first of its kind. Now, with the rollback of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion programs), the art world needs to make it a priority to keep including artists like Browne in their permanent and temporary catalogues.
“Certainly, the doors have been opened, and I sometimes get concerned
whether or not it’s a bubble and whether the bubble will burst,” Childs said. “I do wonder whether or not things will change as people and institutions start questioning whether or not diversity is an important part of moving forward, not just arts institutions. Many of these artists were ignored simply because they were Black, and now we can’t just put them forward simply because they’re Black. There’s got to be more to it than that. But I think that building on these artists’ careers and lives and works will make the contemporary art world more stable to have a good record of these artists.”
Vivian Browne: My Kind of Protest is on display at the Contemporary Arts Center through May 25. More info: contemporaryartscenter.org.
Vivian Browne in her studio with Little Men and Africa Series, 1974.
PHOTO: PHOTO BY JEANIE BLACK. COURTESY OF ADOBE KROW ARCHIVES, LOS ANGELES AND RYAN LEE GALLERY, NEW YORK.
FOOD & DRINK
A Recipe for Love
Cincinnati couples at the helm of Greater Cincinnati restaurants discuss their unique work-life balance.
BY CAROLINE BECKMAN
It’s common wisdom not to take your work home with you, but that can be difficult when you are married to your business partner. For two couples, the Jackmans and the Siteks, who own several local restaurants, the balancing act between the professional and the personal can be difficult at times, but it can also make the trials and tribulations of the restaurant industry worthwhile.
David and Lydia Jackman own Wildweed, the critically acclaimed, pastacentric restaurant recently named on Esquire’s list of “America’s Best New Restaurants.” The Jackmans’ marriage has its roots in the food world; they met in 2018 at a Nashville bar called Dino’s. David, who had previously worked in Nashville, was visiting from Vancouver, while Lydia worked at Dino’s but was preparing to move to Cincinnati.
“Lydia was working at both Dino’s and Henrietta Red,” David said. “She made me a cheeseburger. We got talking and the rest is history.”
After Lydia moved to Cincinnati, David came to visit her and loved the Queen City as much as she did. During the pandemic, they opened a restaurant in Nashville, but when they had their daughter, they realized that they wanted to raise her in Cincinnati. The community they’d had in Cincinnati made that decision easy.
After running the Wildweed pop-ups since 2018, the Jackmans opened the restaurant Wildweed in 2024 — but the restaurant’s roots go much further back. Both Jackmans have several years of restaurant experience — 22 years for David and 12 for Lydia — so the journey from working in restaurants to owning one was a natural progression. To the Jackmans, ownership means creating ideas as well as executing them. The Jackmans are involved in both aspects, but they have different roles according to their strengths.
“David definitely is creative with culinary. We can both cook but he’s definitely a little more skilled than I am in that regard so he takes over a lot of the creation,” Lydia said. “My role is more guest relations. I help with production.”
Cincinnati culinary power couple Anthony Sitek and Haley Nutter-Sitek echo that sentiment. Anthony handles back-of-house operations, such as creating recipes, while Haley has traditionally handled front-of-house operations
New Jersey upbringing; Crown Cantina, a Mexican restaurant with an entirely gluten-free kitchen; Five on Vine, which combines elevated techniques and comfort foods, like Crown Republic Gastropub; Young Buck Deli, which serves casual, accessible lunch options; and the soon-to-be-opened Marigold, a British-style public house with English and Indian flavors. The diverse options found within Crown Restaurant Group focus on foods that are at once familiar and accessible and unique and elevated.
“The only way to sustain ourselves, really, is to grow,” Anthony said. “If we were to only have Crown Republic to this day, we would go out of business, due to the ebbs and flows of the market. We have been really blessed with our staff. They have grown with us and want to grow further.”
Running a restaurant with one’s spouse can be wonderful, as it means having a support system to depend on. However, it can be challenging, especially with children in the mix. Any relationship, be it romantic or business, comes with conflict.
“I think the biggest challenge can be finding separation from work,” David said. “Making sure work stays at work and doesn’t come home with you.”
“I try not to ask him about every single thing that happened during services as soon as he gets home from work,” Lydia said.
To keep their work life separate from their family life, the Jackmans set up strict boundaries. Sunday is the day where they leave work at work and focus on family life.
before stepping back a bit to raise the couple’s children. Together, they can see their vision come to life and understand each other’s stressors.
“If he has a bad day, I mostly know what caused that. It’s a deeper depth of understanding because I get it because I was also there,” Haley said.
Haley is a Cincinnati native, and after meeting in culinary school and moving around a lot, the Siteks finally settled in Cincinnati. They felt that in Cincinnati, they could achieve the work-life balance they needed, and they wanted to get in on the rising food scene. They opened Crown Republic Gastropub in 2018, expecting to stick to one restaurant, but diners liked their made-from-scratch approach so much that they agreed to take over space after space, and piece by piece their empire grew. The Siteks are at the helm of Crown Restaurant Group, which owns Losanti, a steakhouse that prides itself on effortless elegance; Rosie’s Italian, a nod to Anthony’s Italian heritage and
The Siteks are still learning to balance their business partnership and their marriage and parenting their three children. Although they spend a lot of time together at work, they don’t always have time to connect. The Siteks live near Kings Island, and the commute allows them to decompress, talk about their days and discuss their needs and expectations.
“We need that 35-minute commute because it gets us ready to get to work, and then that decompressing time to get home,” Haley said.
“With the state of the industry, that’s probably put the most strain, because it’s hard for us to step away, especially me, from operations if they’re not going well and allowing the team we’ve put in place to fix them,” Anthony said. “With the ebbs and flows over the past couple of years, it has made it difficult, but we have figured out how to navigate it together.”
Wildweed, 1301 Walnut St., Over the Rhine. More info: wildweed-restaurant.com.
Crown Restaurant Group, crgcincy.com.
Crown Restaurant Group owners
Anthony and Haley Nutter-Sitek
PHOTO: CROWN RESTAURANT GROUP
David and Lydia Jackman of Wildweed PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY
EATS
OCityBeat Embarks On a Mocktail Bar Crawl on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine
BY NADYA ELLERHORST
n a recent night, post-snowstorm and pre-yet another, I slipped and slid my way down the icy sidewalks of Main Street in Over-the-Rhine, fighting the urge to look up at the stalactite-size icicles hanging from the fire escapes. I’m on a bar crawl, and I’m looking for something to drink, but this time, I’m being particularly selective.
It’s Dry January, but the question has been gnawing at me for months — what’s the non-alcoholic scene like in our decidedly bar-filled city? Having moved back to Cincinnati last spring from a college town with an impressive repertoire of booze-free drinks at its many establishments (even despite its party school notoriety), I took advantage of this time of year to explore where Cincinnati lacks in spirit(s).
For this no ‘hol crawl, I chose Main Street in Over-the-Rhine. While I plotted out my crawl in advance, I consciously avoided looking at any menus ahead of time. I also made a rule for myself that, if an establishment had some specialty non-alcoholic drink to offer — even if it wasn’t a house drink — I’d take it.
I’ll note a few caveats here. I didn’t get to try The Pony, because I simply couldn’t find a place to sit the night I visited. Rudimentary research for an online menu of drinks yielded nothing, so I can’t speak to their nonalcoholic offerings. Mistakes were also made. I didn’t visit Liberty’s Bar & Bottle Shop or LouVino. With the former having “Bottle” in its name and the latter advertising itself as a wine bar, I just didn’t have the guts to go in and ask for something non-alcoholic. While I couldn’t find an online menu for Liberty’s, I subsequently discovered that LouVino has three “SpiritsFree” cocktails on their menu as of Dec. 11, 2024. Lesson learned.
On the night I embark on this adventure, even in spite of the rough weather, I’m surprised how many bars are veritable ghost towns. In a few places, I’m the only patron, and the colored lights and signs become all the more vibrant as the sugar rush I undergo gradually sinks in. Nevertheless, I half-trudge, half-skate on.
Here’s what I found.
Pins Mechanical Co. – My Little Mule ($10)
I’m pretty sure I’m the only person in this place who didn’t come to bowl, but that’s okay. There’s a dedicated Dry January menu featuring cocktails both zero-proof and low-proof, and a variety of alcohol-free cans. I note that this Dry January menu is featured just as prominently as the standard cocktail menu.
The bartender recommends the 0% ABV My Little Mule, with Lyre’s Dry London, ube, winter citrus and ginger.
I don’t register the “ube” listed as part of its ingredients and do a full doubletake when the Barney-purple drink arrives, but I love it. The drink is mellow and fruity, but not deathly sweet. It has a nice tart bite to it — think of flat tonic water, but in the best way possible.
Japp’s – Beehive Jive ($13)
At Japp’s, non-alcoholic selections are included as part of the regular menu, with two house cocktails. Here, the bartender suggests the Beehive Jive: CleanCo non-alcoholic gin, chai, honey, pineapple, lemon juice and orange blossom water.
The mix of sweet honey and crisp pineapple in the Beehive Jive is a delightful combination made all the better by the drink’s overarchingly creamy flavor. It has numerous distinct things going on at once, but it works.
The Setback – Can of O’Doul’s ($4)
Here, I’m given two options by the bartender – a can of O’Doul’s or a soda. I have no idea what it is, but I go for the O’Doul’s.
It’s your rudimentary non-alcoholic beer — in other words, very basic flavor-wise. As someone honestly not that into beer of any ABV, I do not enjoy it. By absolutely no fault of the establishment, this drink sets me back. But so as to not insult the kind bartender, who had no involvement in the brewing, I manage to drink about half of it. Next time, I will go with a soda.
Alice – How Do You Like Them Apples ($9)
Alice has a non-alcoholic section to its menu, with two cocktails and a variety
of canned options, including three drinks from Untitled Art and Red Bull (“Hold the vodka!”).
I go for the How Do You Like Them Apples (and I still regret not ordering it in the manner of Matt Damon). The blend of apple juice, lemon, maple syrup and salted caramel syrup feels like drinking a caramel apple. It’s a simple, familiar flavor, but it’s effective, and despite being iced, it’s a very cozy drink.
A row of Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirits catches my eye from behind the bar, and while I don’t ask, I wonder if the bartenders here can just make a variety of mocktails to order. The empty dance floor gives me even greater pause — with no people, Alice feels like some discotheque liminal space.
MOTR Pub – Can of Athletic Brewing Co. Non-Alcoholic Brew ($5)
At MOTR, the bartender verbally lists a lot of non-alcoholic cans, and I can’t keep up. Suppressing a heavy sigh, I go for their suggestion of the Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild IPA. Again, I don’t finish it (nothing personal, my MOTR friends), but I’ll concede that it would have gone superbly with some tater tot chasers.
Mr. Pitiful’s – Nada (No money spent)
The bartender was upfront — they have nothing. Not even a can of fake beer (at this point, I’m honestly a bit relieved). They offer to improvise, which I appreciate, but getting a tad concerned about my blood sugar levels, I declined.
Wiseguy Lounge – “The Tumbler” ($8)
When I ask for something sans booze, the bartender is honest with me — they have a mocktail menu (it rotates seasonally), but they have a limited amount of necessary ingredients on hand, and they wouldn’t recommend the one they’re in a position to make. They do offer to make me an unlisted one they’ve been working on. Secret menu item unlocked! Not one to turn down the chance to be a mixology guinea pig, I accept. “The Tumbler,” named after an unfortunate patron who fell down the bar’s stairs after a particularly productive night (he’s fine), contains Seedlip, lemon juice, “spicy grapefruit cordial” and ginger syrup.
As a grapefruit lover, I’ve been waiting all night for a drink featuring my choice citrus. The drink is a perfect level of sweet — no bitterness — kept in check by the ginger, whose mild, spicy bite arrives fashionably late. It’s ideal for the winter weather. If you visit, ask Harrison to make you one.
My Little Mule from Pins Mechanical Co.
PHOTO: NADYA ELLERHORST
The Tumbler from Wiseguy Lounge PHOTO: NADYA ELLERHORST
The Beehive Jive from Japp’s PHOTO: NADYA ELLERHORST
MUSIC
Queen City Music Spotlight
Catch these 10 Cincinnati concerts featuring local acts in February
BY BRENT STROUD
Grab your Valentine or get out and find one at these local music events this month. Like a heart-shaped box of candies, there’s a show for everyone’s taste, including a local hip-hop party, a showcase of some of the best local songwriters on one bill, two benefits with a parade of local bands for different causes at each, an experimental-leaning electronic music residency and plenty more. Show your love for local artists and check out one or all of these shows this month.
Camel Jam Residency at The Comet
Experimental electronic artist Camel Jam blends the sounds of early-era electronic music with bright melodies and immediate, catchy and danceable
rhythm. The residency features appearances from a who’s who of like-minded locals, such as contemplative ambient musician Umin, cellist Planchette, forward-thinking electro-pop singer and songwriter Sappha, synth sound architect Fritz Pape and many more every Tuesday over the course of the month.
“I wanted to book people that have either inspired me or that have guided me on my path on this journey so far,” Camel Jam told CityBeat. “It was critical to me that each invitee brings something that I may draw inspiration from. I know and care deeply about each performer in this residency. My hope is to curate something special and memorable.” The full lineup consists of Mr. Watt, 8OH20, Star Silk and AJ Dallas on Feb. 4 followed by Fox the Paradox, MC Freeman, Senseless, Robot Juice, Danbient and Sappha on Feb. 11, Deniz Ozani, Max Vignola FC, Planchette, Sarah Gorak and Innerspace Collective Feb. 18 and UFH Backdrop, Nineball, Blood Puppet, Umin and Fritz Pape for Feb. 25. 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Free. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, instagram.com.
Marsha Residency at MOTR Pub
Another recurring event this month will feature newer locals Marsha appearing with guests on Wednesdays at MOTR Pub all month long. The all-female trio will welcome local greats like the
expertly executed blend of rock and roll and pop from Madqueen, multi-instrumentalist Paige Beller and local garage rock queen Roxie Daredevil, along with touring artists passing through. 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.
Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra featuring Walfredo Reyes Jr. at The Redmoor
The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra will be joined by special guest percussionist and current drummer for Grammy Award-winning band Chicago, Walfredo Reyes Jr., who will be performing the music of Chicago. The set will feature songs like “Saturday in the Park,” “25 or 6 to 4” and “Beginnings.” Reyes has also toured or performed with greats like Smokey Robinson, Carlos Santana, Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan and Christina Aguilera, among many more.
7 p.m. Feb. 5 and 6. Adults $20-35, kids $10. The Redmoor, 3187 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout, cincinnatijazz.org.
Dark Wave Covers Benefit for Freestore Foodbank at Woodward Theater
This local all-star benefit will raise money for the Freestore Foodbank and features some of Cincinnati’s essential
bands across various genres, styles and eras. The groups will contribute to the cause and perform dark wave covers from punk and new wave’s darker side. The show is 16+ with a parent or guardian present. The full list of performers includes Wussy, Tweens, Spiderhand, Darlene, Leggy, Fairmont Girls, Static Falls, IdleAires, Yusef Quotah, Aaron Madrigal, Oyoxoyo, Inert, Disaster Class, Reaper on Red and Nevernew. 8 p.m. Feb. 8. $10 suggested donation. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Overthe-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.
Jess Lamb and Friends Jam Session at MOTR Pub
Celebrated local singer/songwriter Jess Lamb is often backed by her band of collaborators and friends with guests stepping in and out. With this event, dubbed a jam session, the band should be all the livelier for it. Lamb’s powerful and emotive songwriting and perfomances, informed by contemporary pop, R&B and classic singer-songwriter energy, fills the room with its given meaning and feeling all propelled by her driving voice and energy. Lamb is an instructor on songwriting for the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, as well as the Grammy Recording Academy. Consider this a free lesson.
8:30 p.m. Feb. 13. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.
expertly executed blend of rock and roll and pop from Madqueen, multi-instrumentalist Paige Beller and local garage rock queen Roxie Daredevil, along with touring artists passing through.
p.m. Wednesdays. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.
Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra featuring Walfredo Reyes Jr. at The Redmoor
The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra will be joined by special guest percussionist and current drummer for Grammy Award-winning band Chicago, Walfredo Reyes Jr., who will performing the music of Chicago. The set will feature songs like “Saturday in the Park,” “25 or 6 to 4” and “Beginnings.” Reyes has also toured performed with greats like Smokey Robinson, Carlos Santana, Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan and Christina Aguilera, among many more.
p.m. Feb. 5 and 6. Adults $20-35, kids $10. The Redmoor, 3187 Linwood Ave., Lookout, cincinnatijazz.org.
Dark Wave Covers Benefit for Freestore Foodbank at Woodward Theater
This local all-star benefit will raise money for the Freestore Foodbank and features some of Cincinnati’s essential
bands across various genres, styles and eras. The groups will contribute to the cause and perform dark wave covers from punk and new wave’s darker side. The show is 16+ with a parent or guardian present. The full list of performers includes Wussy, Tweens, Spiderhand, Darlene, Leggy, Fairmont Girls, Static Falls, IdleAires, Yusef Quotah, Aaron Madrigal, Oyoxoyo, Inert, Disaster Class, Reaper on Red and Nevernew.
8 p.m. Feb. 8. $10 suggested donation. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Overthe-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.
Jess Lamb and Friends Jam Session at MOTR Pub
Celebrated local singer/songwriter
Jess Lamb is often backed by her band of collaborators and friends with guests stepping in and out. With this event, dubbed a jam session, the band should be all the livelier for it. Lamb’s powerful and emotive songwriting and perfomances, informed by contemporary pop, R&B and classic singer-songwriter energy, fills the room with its given meaning and feeling all propelled by her driving voice and energy. Lamb is an instructor on songwriting for the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, as well as the Grammy Recording Academy. Consider this a free lesson.
Toon Town, Sarah and the Safe Word (Atlanta), Everybody’s Worried About Owen (Miami) and Machinery of the Human Heart (New Jersey) at The Comet
Local trio Toon Town has a sound informed by American music, rock and roll, blues, a touch of jazz and cabaret — a sound as varied and murky as the junkyard of culture we all inherit, reminiscent of neon lights, crossroads and smokefilled rooms. They appear with Sarah and the Safe Word out of Atlanta, Everybody’s Worried About Owen from Miami and Machinery of the Human Heart on tour from New Jersey.
8 p.m. Feb. 13. $10. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside.
KISS Off! at Southgate House Revival
This one-night-only yearly fundraiser features local musicians and KISS fans who come together to raise money for local Newport venue Southgate House Revival’s expenses. There will be a costume contest and performances from over a dozen groups performing KISS classics and deep cuts alike. Professional concert photographer Steve Ziegelmeyer captures the energy and camaraderie each year.
8:30 p.m. Feb. 13. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.
8 p.m. Feb. 13. $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. 6th St., Newport, southgatehouse.com.
Poor
Little
Critters and The No Not Yets at Northside Tavern
Poor Little Critters is a new(ish) group of local music veterans, featuring members of The Dolly Daredevils and Siren Suit. The group is fronted by married couple Francis Popsil and Roxie Daredevil who share vocals — often simultaneously — and sing songs full of poetic rock and roll. They appear with another crew of longtime local greats The No Not Yets. Feb. 16. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside.
Young Heirlooms, Mol Sullivan and Annie D at Northside Tavern
Another highlight of the month, this show’s lineup makes it easy to appreciate the range and level of talent Cincinnati has to offer. Two of the city’s best singer/ songwriters, Mol Sullivan and Annie D, are on the same bill, along with the newlyreformed and reworked group Young Heirlooms, to celebrate the birthday of the band’s guitarist/vocalist and collaborator extraordinaire, Chris Robinson. CityBeat spoke with Annie D on her collaborative beginnings with Robinson: “I have been a fan of Chris’s since I moved back to
Cincinnati in 2017 and saw him and Kelly (Fine) play in the Young Heirlooms. Every time, I was transfixed by the focus, passion and beauty that his vocals and guitar playing brought to that ensemble. When I finally got the courage to ask him if he’d be interested in performing with me, I was over the moon when he agreed!
“Chris is such an in-demand performer because he sees the holistic picture of the song in the context of its vocal, tone, melody, structure, arrangement, theatricality and genre. Everything he does on guitar and vocally is in support of the song. As a songwriter, you never have to explain yourself or your choices. He gets it immediately.”
CityBeat also spoke with Sullivan about her experience playing with Robinson. “While I’ve called Chris a friend for well over a decade, I’ve had the distinct (and often hilarious) pleasure of playing music with him for the last several years. It has been very impressive witnessing his growth as a person, an artist and performer. There aren’t many players that can play almost any genre you throw at them (and play them well!). He has really become a staple in the community and I’m also super happy he and Kelly are back in the saddle with Young Heirlooms — it’s about damn time!”
The press release for the show reads, “After four years of reworking our band personnel and crafting new music, we’re thrilled to announce the debut of our fresh lineup at Chris Robinson’s upcoming 40th birthday celebration!” Robinson performs regularly with Sullivan and Annie D and will be appearing in all three sets.
8 p.m. Feb. 20. $10. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside.
Sons of Silverton, Brandon Isaac, DJ Rare Groove and Noahimean at MOTR Pub
This concert features some of the poster children for Cincinnati hip-hop, with local essentials Sons of Silverton headlining. “There’s a pretty diverse mix of sounds coming from the city right now,” the duo says of the current state of Cincinnati hip-hop. “Thankfully the venues are way more open to hip-hop as a whole and it’s allowing for more artists to be seen.” Sons of Silverton has been a top-bill hip-hop act for a matter of years. “We are definitely the elder statesmen in the scene but we love the culture and love performing which plays a major factor in why we keep making music.” The lineup also features experimental hip-hop with a touch of soul from Brandon Isaac, along with local master MC Vibe-One, DJ Rare Groove and Noahimean spinning records before and after live sets.
9:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.
SOUND ADVICE
WALLOWS
Feb. 12 • The Andrew J Brady Music Center
The Andrew J Brady Music Center will be stop number six on Wallows’ “Model & More Tour” this month. Kicking off at The Astro in Omaha, Nebraska, the band will make their way through North American cities, joined by Porches and special guest Deb Never for the February run. They will then go on to perform as a supporting act for My Chemical Romance at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August.
The three bandmates — Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston — have been best friends since they were 11 years old. Though the band is based out of Los Angeles, only one of the members, Preston, was born in the Golden State. Minnette is from Evanston, Indiana, and Lemasters is from Warren, Ohio. Minnette and Lemasters moved to L.A. around the same time and met Preston while taking part in a music program in San Fernando Valley called Join the Band. After deciding to form their own band, they performed under a few different names before settling on Wallows in 2017.
This was when they released their first single, “Pleaser,” which ended up reaching No. 2 on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 chart. The song’s built-up tempo is only complemented by the relatability of the lyrics, drawing attention from all people-pleasers and general indie-rock music listeners alike.
Their debut album, Nothing Happens, was released in 2019 and included songs like “Remember When” and the instant bedroom pop hit “Are You Bored Yet? (feat. Clairo),” which reached triple platinum status in 2024, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2022, the band followed up with their second studio album, Tell Me That It’s Over, where songs like “I Don’t Want to Talk” showcased the band’s range by including more of a variety of instruments in their music production.
With the release of their latest album last year — Model — came “Calling After Me,” the catchy tune that depicts the thrill of a new, secret love. Wallows’ growing success in the alt-rock scene continues to open the band up to bigger audiences, right in time for the start of their “Model & More Tour.” Wallows, with special guest Deb Never, plays the Andrew J Brady Music Center at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 12. More info: bradymusiccenter.com.
(Alanna Marshall)
MDOU MOCTAR
Feb. 13 • Woodward Theater
“I want to make everyone happy,” Nigerian guitarist, singer and songwriter Mdou Moctar (whose given name is Mahamadou Souleymane) said in a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone about the reason he makes music. “I want to give a smile for the world.” If the success (creatively and in terms of increased attention) of Moctar’s most recent album, 2024’s Funeral for Justice, is any indication, his initial mission is closer
to completion. Yet, as the album’s title might suggest, a smile is not necessarily the goal this time out; the new songs tackle the various injustices happening in Moctar’s native Africa, delivered through lyrics sung in a Tamasheq language foreign to most western listeners. The music is also more feral than anything in Moctar’s previous output — which encompasses various recordings over the last decade, including 2021’s Afrique Victime, his debut for Matador Records — conjuring Santana on amphetamines.
“The album is really different for me,” Moctar said in the press notes upon its release. “Now the problems of terrorist violence are more serious in Africa. When the U.S. and Europe came here, they said they’re going to help us, but what we see is really different. They never help us to find a solution.”
Moctar’s parents discouraged his interest in rock music for religious reasons, leading him to make his first guitar from various parts he found in his Nigerian village, which included using bicycle cables as strings. That kind of persistence and ingenuity couldn’t help but influence his psychedelic guitar playing, an effortlessly fluid style that somehow seems both improvisational and precise. Moctar’s current tour is in support of Tears of Injustice, a rerecorded and rearranged version of Funeral for Justice using acoustic and other traditional instruments, which will drop Feb. 28.
“We wanted to make a separate version of Funeral for people to hear,” Mikey Coltun, who plays bass in Moctar’s band and produced both albums, said in a press release announcing the tour. “We’re always playing around with arrangements at shows. We wanted to prove that we could do it on a record, too. And there’s a whole other side of the band that comes out when we play a stripped-down set. It becomes something new.”
Mdou Moctar plays Woodward Theater on Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. More info: woodwardtheater.com. (Jason Gargano)
Wallows
PHOTO: AIDAN ZAMIRI
Mdou Moctar
PHOTO: NELSON ESPINAL
CROSSWORD THANK YOU, MAIN
BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM
Across
1. Supreme Court with a recusal, e.g.
6. “Don’t need it!”
11. Funky fresh
14. Actress Scott of the live-action “Aladdin”
15. Brown shade
16. Rock in a vein
17. Yarn made with Bitcoin and Ethereum?
19. One of sixteen in a game of Boggle
20. Non-album track releases
21. G-rated
22. Bolted forward
24. Mule’s cargo
25. Cousin of a 38-Across
26. Makes gravy?
29. British mid-size luxury car
32. Felt sore
33. Check fattener
34. “___ Know” (De La Soul single)
35. Thing in Nestea’s logo
36. “Careless Whisper” band, only if you change it the way you do with the all the other theme answers
37. Strasbourg sons
38. Cousin of a 25-Across
39. Titular opera character who jumps off a parapet to her death in the end
40. Protections for some tomato plants
41. Reddish-brown steed
43. “No surprises, please”
44. Declutter
45. Ramadan fasting, e.g.
46. “Give me some more time”
48. Cries of terror
49. Snowboarding legend Chloe
52. Ornamental pond fish
53. Smuggle old magazines that were similar to Sassy?
56. Really big stretch
57. Judah’s wife in the Old Testament
58. Line from the heart
59. Jurist Fortas
60. Strong glue
61. Hose material
Down
1. Never before done
2. Be overcritical
3. Play things
4. Roadie’s box
5. Copied
6. Start of the chorus for “Anti-Hero”
7. Create
8. Seek damages
9. Words after the story
10. Weak or insubstantial
11. Abdicate the throne?
12. Lake in mysteries?
13. Cater
18. Stately trees
23. Cybersecurity dept.
24. Sous ___
25. Food from heaven
26. Bears QB Williams
27. Amtrak express train
28. Unreliable Senator Tim
29. “Dubliners” author
30. Tree tissue
31. Eisenberg of “A Real Pain”
33. Low man in the chorus
36. It automatically moves text to the next line
37. Uber cost
39. Simple flute
40. Kind of x-ray image
42. Cooperstown, NY or Springfield, Mass. attraction
43. User-edited information site
45. Prepare frijoles refritos
46. Global chain whose name is an acronym
47. First-time gamer
48. Legal transmission online
49. Lagerfeld of fashion
50. Really intrigued by
51. Nasty
54. “Hang on just ___” (“Almost done”)
55. Elation LAST PUZZLE’S ANSWERS:
