VOL. 28 | ISSUE 45
PUBLISHER
TONY FRANK
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ASHLEY MOOR-MAHONEY
DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR
KATHERINE BARRIER
STAFF WRITER
MADELINE FENING
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
HAIMANTI GERMAIN
GRAPHIC DESIGNER ASPEN SMIT
CONTRIBUTING CRITICS
THEATER CRITIC: RICK PENDER
DINING CRITIC: PAMA MITCHELL
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
NADYA ELLERHORST
DEREK KALBACK
LILY OGBURN
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
HAILEY BOLLINGER RON VALLE
CATIE VIOX
SENIOR DIGITAL MARKETING CONSULTANT
MARK COLEMAN
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
MK MCGUIRE
DISTRIBUTION TEAM
TOM SAND, STEVE FERGUSON
BIG LOU HOLDINGS
DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
ELIZABETH KNAPP
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHRIS KEATING
NEWS
Cincinnati Imam Ayman Soliman’s Upcoming Trial: Here’s What We Know
The former journalist and spiritual care provider is still being held in Butler County Jail as his legal team fights for his release.
BY LILY OGBURN AND MADELINE FENING
Former Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Imam Ayman Soliman will go to trial on Sept. 25 and 26 in Cleveland, a significantly sooner timeline than the original Dec. 15 trial date.
The trial date was modified in early September in congruence with the court’s understanding of new rules put in place by the federal government to hold certain hearings for cases like Soliman’s within 60 days of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issuing a notice to appear, according to Franchel Daniel, an immigration senior staff attorney part of Soliman’s legal team at the Muslim Legal Fund of America. Soliman’s NTA was issued at the time of his asylum termination in June.
However, the 60-day deadline appears to have already passed, Daniel said. Soliman’s attorney, Robert Ratliff, told WLWT that the rule was “arbitrary.”
“It supposedly is a policy that DHS has put in place, but (the MLFA) doesn’t have a copy of it. We have not seen it. We’re just being told about it,” Daniel said.
Soliman remains in the Butler County Jail, where he’s been held since a July 9 check-in at the Homeland Security Office in Blue Ash ended in his arrest. The former journalist had asylum status and worked as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, but that status was revoked in June. Soliman’s trial will determine whether the government had grounds to terminate his asylum status and whether he is “removable,” Daniel said.
The trial will start at 8 a.m. on Sept. 25 and 26, and it’s expected to last the entirety of both days. Soliman’s legal team originally requested the trial be four days, and there is a possibility the
trial will take longer than the currently scheduled two days, Daniel said.
Soliman’s trial will take place before Cleveland Immigration Court Judge Jennifer Riedthaler-Williams.
Background
Soliman, who has no criminal record, fled to the U.S. from Egypt in 2014, according to immigration advocates at Ignite Peace Cincinnati. Soliman has said he was “escaping death” when he left his family in Egypt more than a decade ago. Soliman was reportedly jailed as a freelance journalist for his coverage of events related to the Arab Spring, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. While in jail, the MLFA, one of Soliman’s legal representatives, alleges he was “beaten and tortured for days at a time.” He applied for asylum status in 2015 and was approved in 2018. He then filed for his wife and child to join him in the U.S. under the same asylum case. He also applied for a green card shortly after being granted asylum; that application remains pending.
But in June 2025, Soliman’s asylum status was officially revoked after federal authorities started looking into his case in December 2024. Before Soliman’s July 9 arrest, advocates said he was extensively questioned by immigration and other federal authorities about his political affiliations.
In 2021, Soliman discovered there was an “FBI flag” on his record when he was offered a position at the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) as an Islamic chaplain in 2021. His first background check showed an FBI flag, which caused the Department of Corrections to take back the job offer. Soliman sued the FBI and the Terrorist Screening Center in 2021, claiming his fingerprints did not match prints in the government’s
terrorism screening database.
In Soliman’s most recent lawsuit filed against the federal government regarding the termination of his asylum status, he argues the government revoked his asylum due to past ties with the group Al-Jameya al Shareya (also written as Al-Gam’iyya al Shar’iyya) when he lived in Egypt. Soliman said his involvement as a board member of the organization was disclosed to DHS when he was granted asylum. The U.S. government alleges Al-Jameya al Shareya supported the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt has called a terrorist organization. International experts and Soliman’s lawyers have pushed back on the designation.
“Al-Jameya al Shareya is not a terrorist group,” Soliman’s legal team said in July. “It is a nongovernmental organization that provides medical services and charitable community services. Neither the U.S. government nor the Egyptian government has designated AGS/AJS a terrorist group.”
Soliman’s case has garnered
widespread attention and support from local leaders and community members, including many faith leaders in the Cincinnati area. After immigrating to the U.S., Soliman became a board member for the Clifton Mosque, the Islamic Association of Cincinnati and the Initiative on Islam and Medicine. According to his bio on the Clifton Mosque’s website, Soliman holds undergraduate degrees in Islamic studies, Qura’n and Islamic Da’wah. He holds a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Divinity in Islamic Studies and Muslim Chaplaincy, as well as a PhD in Islamic Studies.
Tala Ali, chairperson of the Clifton Mosque and the Islamic Association of Cincinnati, addressed reporters alongside several community advocates just hours after Soliman’s arrest. She said Soliman serves families of all faiths in the Cincinnati community.
“He not only serves Muslim families, but families of all backgrounds and faiths,” she said. “He holds presence and pastoral care for all people.”
Imam Ayman Soliman immigrated to the U.S. more than a decade ago from Egypt and was granted asylum status, according to immigration advocates at Ignite Peace Cincinnati.
PHOTO: VIA LAW OFFICE OF NAZLY MAMEDOVA
Rep. Greg Landsman’s Event Against Youth Violence Met With Protests For Gaza
BY LILY OGBURN
Rep. Greg Landsman and community partners organized an event at Cincinnati Fitness & Boxing on Sept. 6 aimed at encouraging kids to put their “gloves up” and “guns down” after a surge of violent incidents in Cincinnati this summer.
But the event was met with protesters angered by Landsman’s support for Israel amid the war in Gaza. The Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition posted on Instagram after the event, stating that protesters “disrupted” Landsman’s event with the message, “Gloves Up, Bombs Down. Stop Killing Kids in Gaza, Greg.”
The event, called “Gloves Up, Guns Down,” was the first of its kind. Its goal was to show kids and parents that boxing can be an outlet for stress and an alternative to fights and violence outside the gym.
Dozens of people showed up for the event, which included music and boxing lessons.
“The event was beautiful — packed with kids and parents and coaches and all these folks excited to be together and to be investing in one another. It was one of my favorite events,” Landsman told CityBeat in a statement.
Outside the gym, protesters from the Coalition held signs that criticized Landsman’s position on the war in Gaza. “Every time Greg lies, a child in Gaza dies,” one sign read.
“How can Landsman hold an “antiviolence” event when he works for Israel’s genocide machine” the Coalition’s
Instagram post asked.
Landsman supported House Resolution 894 in December 2023, which states that “anti-Zionism is antisemitism,” and that pro-Palestinian demonstration chants, including “From the River to the Sea,” are antisemitic.
Landsman also voted to formally censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for using the phrase.
Landsman recently visited Israel with a group of House Democrats to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, which the Coalition called attention to in its Instagram post. In discussing the trip with Jewish Insider, Landsman said he thinks it’s “appropriate” to put
pressure on Israel, Qatar and Egypt to end the war. He previously told CityBeat that he is in favor of a two-state solution to ensure lasting peace in the region.
While the Coalition’s post on Instagram claimed the “Gloves Up, Guns Down” event ended early as a result of the protest, Landsman’s team confirmed the event lasted the full duration it was scheduled for.
“The people outside showed up after the event was mostly over. It’s funny that they think they ended the event early, and that somehow that would have been a success?” Landsman told CityBeat in a statement. “It was an event to lift up children. If they had an
Mike Brown And 2 Other Ohio Billionaires Make Forbes’ List Of The Richest Americans
BY LILY OGBURN
Afew Ohioans made the cut for this year’s Forbes 400, which lists and ranks the 400 richest people in the U.S.
The people on the list are worth a combined $6.6 trillion, a record-setting sum. The 2025 Forbes 400 is $1.2 trillion richer than last year’s list, according to Forbes.
Ninety-year-old Mike Brown, who owns the Cincinnati Bengals, and his family, come in at No. 301 on the list with a net worth of $5 billion. Forbes valued the Bengals at over $5 billion this year. Brown and family’s net worth jumped over $1 billion from 2024 to 2025.
The richest person in Ohio, according
impact, it was to annoy the parents and participants. People found it disrespectful as they were walking their children to their cars.”
Landsman has been vocal about violence in Cincinnati this summer. His office recently submitted several projects to be reviewed for federal funding as part of draft appropriations bills, including a request for over $1 million for the Cincinnati Police Department to bolster camera technology and the response team for mental health calls. However, with a Republican majority in Congress and nationwide federal funding cuts, it’s unclear whether the project will be funded.
to Forbes, is Les Wexner. He and his family come in at No. 137 on the list with a net worth of $9.3 billion.
Wexner founded L Brands, a retail brand that owned Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, and he served as the company’s CEO for more than 50 years.
The third Ohioan on the Forbes 400 list is Denise York and her family, who own over 90% of the San Francisco 49ers. York and family are worth an estimated $8.4 billion, putting her at No. 163 on the list.
York lives in Youngstown, Ohio. The 49ers are the NFL’s sixth-most valuable team, according to Forbes, securing York’s spot on the list.
Topping the list this year are household names like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos. The number one spot belongs to Elon Musk, with a net worth of $428 billion.
Greg Landsman PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER
Paycor Stadium
PHOTO: KEVIN LUSH
A riverboat on the river
PHOTO: EMILY WIDMAN
America’s River Roots runs from Oct. 8-12 and serves as the signature event to kick off the U.S.’s 250th birthday celebrations.
BY KATHERINE BARRIER
A NEW FESTIVAL CELEBRATING
inland river culture and kicking off even more celebrations to come in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday is taking over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s riverfronts this October.
America’s River Roots will take place Wednesday-Sunday, Oct. 8-12, along the banks of Cincinnati, Newport and Covington, with up to 1 million visitors expected.
“America’s River Roots will focus attention on the Ohio River Valley region and its impact on the nation’s growth and shaping of our diverse cultures,” event co-chair Rick Greiwe said in a press release in May 2024 when the event was first announced. “The event will deepen this awareness with roots music, river cuisine and cultural experiences along our world-class riverfront. Area residents will connect with our common roots and visitors will discover the heritage of America’s inland river culture.”
The Ohio River has played a vital role not just in Cincinnati’s history, but the history
of the U.S. — from providing energy and industry to being a beacon of hope to those seeking freedom — and America’s River Roots aims to showcase the multicultural art, history, music and cuisine that has come from the river’s connection to the people of the region.
“We have a world-class riverfront parks system, second to none, designed for worldclass national events. And with roots music on both sides of our river, riverboats going in and out and great, multicultural food throughout the venues, this could be something that everyone can enjoy and take pride in,” Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said at the 2024 announcement. “River Roots has the potential to bring so many new eyes and dollars to our region’s beauty, our river heritage and the common roots that have made us so strong for so many generations.”
From food and bourbon to music and riverboat races, here’s everything you can expect from the America’s River Roots festival this October:
MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
It wouldn’t be a celebration of river culture without homages to the musical genres that sprang from their banks. From gospel and blues to folk, country and roots music, America’s River Roots will feature performances from nationally and regionally acclaimed artists across three free stages in Newport, Yeatman’s Cove and the Schmidlapp Gardens at The Banks. Signature acts include:
• Cincinnati Jazz All Stars, Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. in Newport
• Over the Rhine, Thursday from 8:30-10 p.m. at Yeatman’s Cove
• Band of Heathens, Friday from 9:30-11 p.m. in Newport
• Noah Wotherspoon, Saturday from 9:30-11 p.m. in Newport
• Zapp, Saturday from 9:30-11 p.m. at Yeatman’s Cove
• Lauren Eylise, Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at Yeatman’s Cove
America’s River Roots will also feature special musical experiences to complement the stage lineup, like:
Sounds From the River: An interactive educational concert and curriculum from local music icon Kathy Wade that will “trace the historical development and migration of music from the diverse populations that traveled along the Ohio River.” You can catch performances at the festival and the Aronoff Center. It will also be performed for sixth-graders in Cincinnati Public Schools.
The Spirit of America Gala: An evening to honor artistic achievement and cultural storytelling, featuring Cincinnati’s world-class performing arts, including Cincinnati Pops, Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Ballet. This will be held at Music Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Tickets are on sale now.
King Of Them All: River Roots Edition: Hosted in partnership with afrochine, this experience offers a look into Cincinnati’s iconic King Records, created from stories and footage behind the full-length documentary.
While main stage headliners Weezer, Janelle Monáe, Maren Morris and Mt.
Joy were initially scheduled to perform ticketed concerts, those shows have since been canceled as organizers say they wanted to focus more on free entertainment that’s accessible to all attendees. Ticketholders for those main-stage concerts have been sent refund information.
RIVERBOAT CRUISES & RACES
If you were in Cincinnati during the ‘80s, ‘90s or early 2000s, you probably remember Tall Stacks, a festival celebrating the Queen City’s riverboat heritage. The festival featured numerous riverboats that paraded and raced on the Ohio River, and America’s River Roots will be bringing back some of that nostalgia.
During America’s River Roots, nine steamboats and riverboats from Cincinnati and six other river cities will offer cruises and take part in parades and races during the five-day festival. Boats include:
• Belle of Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
• River Queen (Cincinnati)
• Steamboat NATCHEZ (New Orleans)
• Belle of Louisville (Louisville)
• Mary M. Miller (Louisville)
• Celebration Belle (Moline)
• Belle of Memphis (Memphis)
• Three Rivers Queen (Pittsburgh)
• Anson & Betsey Northrup (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
With all these boats heading to Cincinnati, that means there will be over 175 cruise experiences available across the nine ships. Organizers say there will be brunch, lunch, dinner and late-night cruises, as well as the Riverboat Races and parade cruises.
Cruises will also include sightseeing opportunities, as well as family-oriented cruises, themed adventures and history lessons, including:
Mascot Mania on the Celebration Belle: A one-of-a-kind, family-friendly cruise featuring FC Cincinnati’s Gary the Lion, the Bengals’ Who Dey, Xavier University’s D’artagnan, the Cincinnati Reds’ Gapper and Mr. Red, Northern Kentucky University’s The Norse and more. Mascots will roam the deck, taking part in all the fun, as well as taking pictures with fans.
Graeter’s Ice Cream Social on the Belle of Cincinnati, Celebration Belle and Three Rivers Queen: A sweet adventure with Mr. Cincinnati himself, Jim Tarbell and live music. As you enjoy the sights, you’ll also get to enjoy
a scoop of Graeter’s handcrafted ice cream, with a choice between Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip and Madagascar Vanilla Bean.
Princesses, Pirates & Superheroes
Family Sightseeing Cruise on the Celebration Belle and Belle of Cincinnati: Kids will get to meet and take photos with their favorite princesses, pirates or superheroes in person while learning the secrets of royalty, pirate skills and superhero powers with games and sing-alongs.
Dueling Pianos on the Celebration Belle: Sing, laugh, clap and dance during this part-comedy, part-concert cruise. The cruise will feature two pianos and two powerhouse entertainers battling it out on the keys and taking passengers’ requests from seven decades’ worth of music.
The History of Baseball & The River Sightseeing Cruise on the Three Rivers Queen: Presented by American Legacy Tours, this history-infused cruise will share how riverboats helped spread baseball across the country and ultimately led to the creation of the first professional baseball team right here in Cincinnati.
A riverboat cruise on the Ohio River PHOTO: PROVIDED BY GAME DAY COMMUNICATIONS
Harbor History: Stories from the Ohio River Sightseeing Cruise on the Mary M. Miller: Indulge in some river history and lore aboard the ship named after America’s first female licensed steamboat captain — “the perfect backdrop for stories of the boldness and gumption of individuals and communities associated with The Great River,” according to the event description.
Themed cruises also include a bourbon-tasting and history cruise with New Riff Distilling; a coffee and beignets cruise on the Steamboat NATCHEZ; an Underground Railroad Freedom Journey sightseeing cruise on the Three Rivers Queen; Visions from the Queen, in which you’ll learn more about how the Ohio River shaped the growth of the region, on the Mary M. Miller and Three Rivers Queen; and a football pre-game sightseeing cruise on the Celebration Belle.
Tickets are available at americasriverroots.com/cruise and range from $20 to $95, depending on the cruise.
An opening parade of riverboats will take place on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 2:30 p.m. Riverboat races will happen in the afternoons on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival. And to close out the festival, there will be a Parade of Lights finale with fireworks on Sunday from 6-9 p.m.
FOOD & BOURBON
During America’s River Roots, you’ll be able to try cuisine from America’s river regions, with dozens of local food trucks serving up eats. Guests can also visit the Kentucky Boardwalk at the Ovation, where you can stroll and sip your way through pop-up bar The B-Line Speakeasy, as well as the Braxton Bier Garden. Food from The B-Line restaurants Purple Poulet, Greyhound Tavern and Smoke Justis will also be available for purchase.
Beyond food, America’s River River Roots will also toast to Kentucky’s most iconic export: bourbon. Newport will be home to the Kentucky Bourbon Experience, which will be located within a 200-foot tent at Newport’s Festival Park (100 Riverboat Row) and feature three distinct spaces, including the Bourbon Bottle Shop & Bazaar, the Bourbon Experience and the Merchant’s Club.
“We designed the Kentucky Bourbon Experience to be a full sensory journey into the heart of bourbon culture,” Amy Tobin, bourbon curator for America’s River Roots, said in a press release. “From the moment you step into the tent, you’ll be immersed in the stories, craftsmanship and flavor that make Kentucky bourbon world-renowned.” In the tent, attendees can visit the Bottle Shop Bazaar, powered by Party Source, the official bourbon retailer of America’s River Roots. The open
marketplace will be a one-stop shop for those looking to sample and buy bourbon or discover new favorites. There will also be gifts and bourboninspired goods for sale. And, the Merchant’s Club will offer a luxurious, speakeasy-style lounge space overlooking the river that will allow you to escape the crowds and sip on handcrafted bourbon cocktails.
The tent will also feature the Bourbon Experience, ticketed, 90-minute events that will take guests on a journey into the heart of bourbon culture. There will be bourbon blending, the chance to create your own custom bottle and the opportunity to select from single-barrel offerings.
Some of the ticketed experiences include:
Bourbon & Boats: A Spirited Journey with Molly Wellmann: Join one of Cincinnati’s favorite bartenders, Molly Wellmann, as you enjoy a curated bourbon flight and live cocktail demonstration. While you sip, Wellmann will share stories on topics like the birth of bourbon and its journey down the Ohio River, historic distilleries, Cincinnati’s Public Landing and tales of smugglers, pioneers and larger-than-life legends of the river.
Step Into the Green River Candy Bar Experience — A Bourbon & Candy Pairing Like No Other: Whiskey meets candy in this one-of-a-kind flavor journey. Green River will pair its Core Four whiskies with beloved candies like Mike & Ike, Andes Mints, Toblerone and Ring Pops, taking you on a sensory ride through the bold flavor combinations. Guests can also take part in the “Shoot the Shoe” challenge and leave with cool giveaways.
Bourbon Blending Experiences with Wenzel Whiskey and Willow Run: Taste from several kinds of bourbon and learn how to craft your own signature blend to take home.
Across the river at Yeatman’s Cove, you can also try the Craft Brewmaster Experience, featuring craft brews of both Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The experience offers both self-guided and expert-guided tastings, as well as 18 kinds of beer from local breweries like Braxton, Fifty West, MadTree and Rhinegeist, so there will be something for every palate. You can see more experiences and buy tickets at americasriverroots.com/ cuisine.
ART, HISTORY & CULTURE
To immerse guests in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s river culture, there will also be a variety of art and history experiences available to take part in, both during the festival and outside of it.
During the festival, guests can visit the Purple People Bridge, where they’ll find the Good N’ Rooted artisan market, featuring over 100 local vendors selling handcrafted items, art, jewelry and more. The market will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday-Sunday of the festival.
There will also be a daily speakers series called “River Talks,” with renowned speakers hosting discussions on topics like civic leadership, arts, music and film. Some events include spoken word poets, a Harriet Tubman play with Brandi La’Sherrill and a conversation with King Records filmmaker Yemi Oyediran.
On Friday and Saturday of the festival, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will offer free admission, and guests can see its new exhibit as well as take part in family activities. While at The Banks, guests are also encouraged to visit the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, a free and interactive attraction that highlights Cincinnati’s Black music history.
There are also several app-based experiences inspired by America’s River Roots that you can take part in now. One includes Freedom Journey, which brings the history and stories of the Underground Railroad to life via an immersive, GPS-based app. This storytelling platform explores the accounts of courage and resistance along the Underground Railroad, featuring over 160 points of interest along the Ohio River, including historic sites and people. The app also acts as a historically accurate guide, tracing the routes of people seeking freedom and Underground Railroad conductors in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
The trail begins at the Freedom Center and follows the Ohio River to places like New Richmond, Ripley, Portsmouth and Marietta, as well as spots in Northern Kentucky and western West Virginia. Along the way, users can learn more about notable people like Levi Coffin, Sarah Fossett and John Rankin, as well as historic sites like Cincinnati’s Harriet Beecher Stowe House and Ripley’s Rankin House.
While you can customize your route using the “Build Your Own Freedom Journey” tool, the app also offers curated tours:
The Heart of Freedom (3 hours) Crossing Boundaries (full day) Along the Journey (2 days) You can download the app from both the App Store and Google Play. Organizers have also announced the Riverwalk Trail experience, a selfguided tour and animated web-based app featuring a 3.2-mile walk through parks, cultural landmarks and districts along the Ohio River, as well as games and activities.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
America’s River Roots runs WednesdaySunday, Oct. 8-12. You’ll be able to find festival activities all along the riverfronts in Downtown Cincinnati, as well as Covington and Newport.
Apart from ticketed experiences like the riverboat cruises and bourbon tastings, the festival is free to attend. All ages are welcome, though, there may be some ticketed experiences that are strictly 21 and older. The festival is also rain-or-shine, but in the event of severe weather, you can find updates on America’s River Roots’ official website and social media channels.
America’s River Roots organizers will launch an official app in the coming days of the festival to compile everything you need to know in one place. In the meantime, here are some practical matters to expect:
PARKING & RIDESHARES
You’ll be able to find parking at surface parking areas throughout the riverfront areas on both sides of the festival. These nearby garages also offer thousands of spaces:
• The Banks (Cincinnati)
• East Riverfront Garage (Cincinnati)
• Newport on the Levee (Newport)
• Ovation (Newport)
• Corporex Parking Garage (Covington)
Rideshare drop-offs will be located along East Pete Rose Way at Mehring Way in Downtown Cincinnati. You can also utilize public transportation, as Metro has stops throughout Downtown Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati Connector streetcar can take you from Over-the-Rhine to The Banks and vice versa. TANK bus services in Northern Kentucky will also be available.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Large bags, framed backpacks and luggage will not be allowed at the festival. Personal bags are permitted, but will be searched. No weapons of any kind, including pepper spray, will be allowed. Outside food and beverages, including alcohol, as well as cans, glass or metal containers, are prohibited, but you can bring empty, plastic reusable water bottles. Coolers, unless they’re medically required and are individual-sized and soft-sided, will not be permitted.
Inflatable items like balloons and beach balls are prohibited, as are fireworks and other incendiary devices. You’re also asked to leave animals and pets, unless they’re service animals under ADA regulations, at home. You can find a full list of prohibited items, as well as more information on what to expect at americasriverroots. com/faq.
ARTS & CULTURE
The Economics of Photography
FotoFocus to offer snapshots into material and social economics at its 2025 Fall Symposium
BY NADYA ELLERHORST
FotoFocus makes it a point to look at Cincinnati — and the world at large — through different lenses. On Oct. 4, the organization will host its all-day Fall Symposium, Photo-Economics, at Lightborne Studios.
FotoFocus’ symposiums occur during the off years of its trademark biennial. These events convene experts spanning a variety of disciplines and backgrounds to explore a given topic and its place in the broader sphere of lens-based arts. This year’s iteration will center on the industrial history of photography, and the role photography plays “in the shaping of social narratives.”
“Every Biennial theme, every Symposium theme is very much about photography, but it’s also about something that’s very current in the world,” FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator Kevin Moore explains.
According to Moore, Photo-Economics explores the broader topic of resources via two themes: material economics and social economics. The former denotes the physical materials used in the practice and creation of photography, from silver to materials found in modern smartphones, while the latter constitutes the actual documentation of resource extraction and its human repercussions across time.
The material economics portion of the event will take place during the morning session, and the social
economics portion will take place in the afternoon.
”In the morning session, they’re teaching people kind of to think about, you know — we take photography, like so many things, we take it for granted,” Moore says. “You don’t really think about what it’s made of? Where does that come from? Who produces it?”
“In the afternoon, there’ll be a very interesting series of conversations about people’s lives in relation to these phenomena.”
FotoFocus was founded in 2010 with a mission “to present and support photography and lens-based projects that are accessible, enriching and engaging to a diverse public.” FotoFocus may remain fresh on Cincinnatians’ mind for its 2024 backstories Biennial, and it’s this and other events that Moore sees as carrying on founder Tom Schiff’s endeavor to “create a democratic idea of photography programs around town.”
“We have the Biennial, which is a kind of very democratic festival of photography,” Moore says. “We fund lots of people and support them to do art projects. But then we also — I feel like I’m also kind of in the tower, in the sense that we bring very high-level artists and exhibitions to Cincinnati too. So I like to think of it as very kind of like boots on the ground, but also, like, beacon in the sky.”
“We have this structure that sort of transmits between very high-level kind of international things, but also supports very local artists and institutions.”
Indeed, this year’s Symposium will bring in experts representing Princeton University, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and more. Speakers and panelists include professors, museum professionals, photographers and researchers.
For example, in the morning, Los Angeles-based artist Lauren Bon will discuss her involvement in a project that explores mines from which silver used in Kodak photo paper was sourced. A conversation between Museum of Modern Art photography conservator Lee Ann Daffner and photographer Alison Rossiter will focus on all things paper.
In the post-lunch hours, attendees can hear critic and researcher Danielle Jackson, who is currently based in the Bronx, New York, speak about her current focus on the ramifications of the oil boom in ‘70s Tulsa, Oklahoma. Arizona State University Professor Benjamin Young will moderate a panel on key photography scholar Allan Sekula, and photographer Katy Grannan will give a talk on some of her work from California.
Following a keynote conversation between photographer Mitch Epstein and New York University Professor
Robert Slifkin, the Symposium will culminate with an evening reception featuring music by the Red Cedars, made up of Patrick Kennedy and Dinah Devoto, both Kentucky natives. According to Moore, this performance also ties into event themes — the duo’s “Mountain That Eats Men” is a song about mining.
Moore stresses that the event, which is free to attend at any point throughout the day, is meant for everyone. He encourages the featured experts to approach their presentations like “a dinner party” instead of an academic lecture.
“This is a place where I’ve been able to kind of cultivate this culture of people thinking about history and the world we live in an unintimidating and hopefully entertaining or pleasurable way,” Moore says.
Moore likewise emphasizes that contemporary relevance is a key component of the experiences he and FotoFocus curate, regardless of the precise subject matter or its historical context. “ I’m hoping that throughout the day, the audience will feel like they have a history lesson, but a tool set, for thinking about the world we’re in now.”
The FotoFocus Photo-Economics Symposium takes place at Lightborne Studios on Oct. 4 at 9 a.m. More info: fotofocus.org.
2023 FotoFocus Symposium at NURFC
PHOTO: JACOB DRABIK
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Returns to the Historic Emery Theatre
BY RICK PENDER THEATER
The city’s vibrant theater scene will crank up another notch as the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT), America’s oldest professional theater for young audiences, is about to move into a historic space: Over-the-Rhine’s Emery Theatre. It’s a homecoming of sorts, since TCT’s shows for children were produced there from 1949 to 1969. In 1970, it moved to the Taft Theatre on Fifth Street, where thousands of local schoolkids came annually on yellow school buses to see four kid-friendly performances.
Now, thanks to a $51.5 million renovation of the historic Emery space, TCT will move into what it’s calling “the most technologically advanced prosceniumstyle theater in the United States.” With a Gilded Age pedigree, the Emery opened in 1912 as a new home for the 17-year-old Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Leopold Stokowski, the CSO’s legendary music director from 1909 to 1912, compared the venue to New York’s Carnegie Hall. The CSO performed there until returning to Music Hall in 1936.
The adjacent classroom building (today’s Emery Center Apartments on Central Parkway), built for the Ohio Mechanics Institute, was absorbed into the University of Cincinnati in 1969. The theater ceased to be used regularly in the 1990s, after which it fell into disuse and disrepair. Starting in 1999, Cincinnati architectural firm GBBN worked with a few prospective buyers on plans for the theater’s possible renovation. Ownership eventually went to developers Dave Neyer and Chris Frutkin, who facilitated the sale of the entire building to TCT.
The venerable theater company conducted a period of due diligence before acquiring the theater in 2023. Although some had deemed it beyond repair, TCT and GBBN, with considerable experience designing arts facilities venues across the U.S. (including the new homes locally for the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Cincinnati Ballet), determined that the building was actually in good structural shape, just sorely in need of cosmetic improvement and modern technology.
According to Kim Kern, TCT President and CEO, in a conversation with CityBeat, “We could have gone out to the suburbs and built something new, but that didn’t feel right. Cincinnati’s theater district is downtown, and TCT has always been downtown. We were the only ones that could make the Emery work. As the oldest professional theater for young audiences in the country, we already had a model that worked.” TCT began providing
theater for children and parents in 1919. Today, its annual attendance for Taft Theatre productions has exceeded 110,000.
“We are a professional theater,” Kern explained. “Our audiences are children, not our actors. Our productions are Broadway quality.” She said TCT’s shows are typically one-hour “junior” versions — including The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, the debut production in October. (It was also TCT’s very first stage production in 1919, 20 years before the 1939 movie.)
“Our productions are designed for the attention span of a child,” Kern added.
“We are inspiring and engaging children in theater in an age-appropriate way that we believe instills a love of the arts that will pay forward to our sister organizations in town and create future audiences for our city.”
A CityBeat conversation with GBBN architects Marcene Kinney and Steve Karoly revealed some of the ingenuity required to convert a century-old concert stage and auditorium into a state-of-theart theater facility. “The ‘front of house’ features were in rough shape,” said Karoly. “There were no dressing rooms. The stage was just 36 feet deep. There was no wing space on either side. … The stage was half the size that TCT typically used [at the Taft Theatre]. We addressed this by putting in a stage lift.”
That required excavating a deeper basement to accommodate an innovative
“elevator” with a built-in turntable, capable of pushing scenery up to the stage level. According to Kinney, “Creativity was essential. Our architectural design had to accommodate projectionmapping technology. To fit everything together, we worked with theater planners for projection locations. That meant coordinating with construction contractors, since these locations were in the arch and walls.”
All this was accomplished while honoring the Emery’s historic design. But with GBBN’s expertise as well as Apeiro Design (a national expert that designed the Michael Jackson Experience and the Beatles LOVE Theatre in Las Vegas) and acoustical designers, TCT’s renovation touched and modified virtually every aspect of the facility. A narrow lobby is significantly expanded; a new elevator makes three levels of seating fully accessible. The hall was originally designed for 2,200 people with benches on the third level; now there are 1,600 contemporary seats on all levels with unobstructed views of the stage.
A new canopy now shelters the entrance, topped by a yellow crown that symbolizes TCT. The theater has been updated with 21st-century technology, including the automated stage lift, mechanical systems for moving scenery, a rear stage wall that’s a digital LED screen and projection-mapping lighting
for the proscenium and walls, creating an immersive experience for young theatergoers.
TCT’s future seems bright: “We are eager to be an anchor in OTR,” said Kern. “In the past [at the Taft], we had only eight weekends of performances. Once we have year-round programming, we can be an attraction to tourists and area residents.” TCT’s production schedule for 2025-2026 is similar to past seasons. Following Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, TCT will present Elf The Musical JR. (Dec. 5-21), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical (Feb. 20-March 8, 2026) and How to Train Your Dragon: The Musical JR. (April 17-May 3, 2026).
Kern plans to slowly ramp up. “There will be a third weekend for each production,” she said, “so there will be 12 weekends, up from eight.” More shows will be added, one season at a time. The first year, there will be one for very young audiences, then one aimed at middle schoolers. In 2028, Kern anticipates adding a summer production. TCT’s longawaited return to the renovated Emery marks an exciting new chapter for Cincinnati’s oldest theater company.
The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, presented by the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati at the historic Emery Theatre, will be performed from Oct. 10-26. More info: thechildrenstheatre.com.
Outside of the newly-renovated Emery Theatre
PHOTO: EMILY WIDMAN
Eats Briefs
The latest food and dining stories in Greater Cincinnati
BY KATHERINE BARRIER
Over-the-Rhine Restaurant Wildweed Named ‘One of the Best Places in America’ by the New York Times
Anationally lauded Over-theRhine restaurant is being hailed as one of “the 50 best places in America right now,” according to the New York Times
Wildweed, an upscale pasta-centric establishment from Chef David and Lydia Jackman, was recently named in the NYT’s “The Restaurant List 2025” by contributor Brett Anderson.
“The descriptions accompanying each course served at Wildweed’s chef’s counter are filled with action,” writes Anderson. “Mr. Jackman, who owns Wildweed with his wife, Lydia, is cooking like Southwest Ohio lit a fire inside him. Long may it burn.”
The NYT praise follows a long trail of success for the OTR restaurant, which has only been open for a little over a year. Last year, Wildweed was named one of the best new restaurants of the year by Esquire,
Taste of Belgium Permanently Closes Over-the-Rhine Bistro
It’s the end of an era: Taste of Belgium has closed its Over-the-Rhine bistro after 14 years.
Sunday, Sept. 7 was the last day in business for the embattled Taste of Belgium’s Vine Street location. The restaurant shared that, recently, the number of guests it’s been serving has faced a significant decline.
In a press release, Taste of Belgium says that when it first opened its bistro at The Banks in 2015, it was to help serve the thousands of GE employees who supported lunchtime and happy hour business and having one location in OTR and another near the riverfront made sense. However, with the closure of GE downtown and a shift to more remote work, creating less office density and traffic in the area, having two restaurants a mile apart was no longer sustainable.
Jean-François Flechet, the founder of Taste of Belgium, says The Banks location, unlike OTR’s, is showing slow growth and will remain open. It will celebrate its 10th anniversary next month.
“Closing our Over-the-Rhine bistro is heartbreaking,” Flechet said. “This was our very first full-service restaurant and has been part of the OTR neighborhood for 14 years. It holds a special place in
our history and Cincinnati’s history as a gathering place that contributed to the energy and revitalization of OTR. We hope that people will continue to frequent our bistros at The Banks and Rookwood, as well as their other favorite locally-owned restaurants, since so many continue to struggle.”
Taste of Belgium opened its Vine Street restaurant in August 2011 after a successful start at Findlay Market. It was the restaurant’s first full-service location, serving its famous Liège-style waffles for breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends. It was also part of a series of restaurants that opened during OTR’s revitalization of the area south of Liberty Street.
“For more than a decade, we’ve had the privilege of working in partnership with Jean-Francois Flechet, whose vision for Taste of Belgium helped ignite Over-theRhine’s culinary revival,” said Christy Samad, 3CDC’s executive vice president of Civic and Commercial Space Activation. “He, along with other trailblazers in the industry, like Jean-Robert de Cavel, Dan Wright, Thunderdome Restaurant Group and 4EG, laid the foundation for what OTR has become — a vibrant, diverse, and eclectic neighborhood. While we are sad to see Taste of Belgium
and earlier this year, David Jackman was named a nominee in the James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards in the category of Best Chef in the Great Lakes region.
“The harder we work, the luckier we get,” David Jackman said in a press release. “We’re so grateful to be part of and supported by the community we represent.”
Wildweed started in 2019 as the Sunday Sauce pop-up in Oakley and has gone through a few iterations — and over 225 pop-ups and private events — before opening in its permanent brick-and-mortar space in July 2024. The menu features nontraditional pastas and sauces that you can enjoy à la carte in the dining room or via a tasting menu experience at their chef’s counter.
Wildweed, 1301 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine. More info: wildweed-restaurant.
go, we are forever grateful for the role Jean-Francois played in reshaping OTR. His commitment to the area helped transform it from a place once known for its challenges into one of Cincinnati’s most dynamic dining and cultural destinations.”
In recent years, Taste of Belgium has had to shut down all but now three of its 11 locations that were located across the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky
and Dayton regions. The restaurant group has also faced mounting legal trouble following its spate of closures, including lawsuits for unpaid rent and loans, according to court documents.
Taste of Belgium, 3825 Edwards Road, Norwood; 16 W. Freedom Way, The Banks; 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine (Findlay Market). More info: tasteofbelgium.com.
David and Lydia Jackman of Wildweed
PHOTO: AIDAN MAHONEY
Taste of Belgium’s last day of service at its Vine Street location was Sunday, Sept. 7.
PHOTO: PROVIDED BY TASTE OF BELGIUM
MUSIC
Melody as Resistance
Northern Kentucky musician Jordan Smart channels his activism into Confessions of a CEO, an album of protest songs about Gaza, policing, healthcare and more.
BY ASHLEY MOOR
Northern Kentucky musician
Jordan Smart keeps a folder of the most harrowing images he’s seen from Gaza — a private archive that fuels both his outrage and his art. Since the war began, he has turned his platform into a rallying cry for Palestinians while also speaking out against ICE raids and other social justice issues closer to home.
“For better or worse I’ve never been too good at keeping my mouth shut,” Smart wrote in an Instagram post in November of 2023. “I know most of y’all are here for music and I don’t share much often, in fact lately it’s been nothin’ but awful news…it’s just that I can’t in good conscience see unjustified atrocities carried out in our world for 50+ days on end and just look away and try to self promote. These platforms we have are powerful tools that enable us to make positive change.”
Smart has also used his unique ability to craft compelling, stark portraits of truth to pen blistering protest songs about the war in Gaza, the fatal police shooting of Ryan Hinton in Cincinnati, the American healthcare system and other social justice issues that will appear on his upcoming album, Confessions of a CEO. Smart, a singer-songwriter based in Ludlow, Kentucky, has been releasing original music for over a decade.
Whether he’s singing about pickles or humanitarian crises, Smart’s Dylanesque vocals and folk stylings perfectly complement his insightful and powerful storytelling. In 2023, his song “Apple Don’t Fall” — a poignant, honest portrait of living with addiction — earned him the top prize in the prestigious Gems in the Rough contest, hosted by the YouTube channel GemsOnVHS.
Long before penning protest songs about the war in Gaza, Smart was using his platform to advocate for the issues — and people — he believes in. Back in 2016, Smart opened twice for Sen. Bernie Sanders on his presidential campaign trail.
Shortly after the Oct. 7 attack and the start of the war in Gaza, Smart began posting videos and original songs about what numerous international human rights organizations have described as a genocide against Palestinians.
“I’ve always written politically conscious [music] and I guess I’ve written from a humanitarian perspective, like, that’s always been a thing,” Smart told CityBeat. “I’ve been posting songs on social media that are relevant to current events and news headlines and articles that I would read for like 10 years or something. I think that I have been more active in doing that in the last 18 months because I think that this
genocide,” Smart said. “There was a video of a grandfather with his granddaughter who was killed, and she’s got pom-poms in her hair, and she just looks so perfect and innocent and peaceful and just like a little child that is dressed the way my daughter would have been. And I saw this Palestinian grandfather, holding her and kissing her eyelids, and he looked shockingly at peace. And there was something about that image that I was just like, whatever I’m afraid of, whatever I’m afraid of losing, whatever I’m afraid of encountering in my personal life or business-wise or anything, it’s nothing compared to what people in Palestine are facing.”
In June of 2024, Smart released his most popular protest song to date, “Who Would Jesus Bomb,” a straightforward folk song that asks, “Who would Jesus bomb?/Tell me who would Jesus bomb/Would it be kids in Palestine, or how about Vietnam?” It was that song that ultimately helped grow his platform and gain him the attention of notable people in Hollywood and Washington, D.C.
“Who Would Jesus Bomb” also helped shape his forthcoming album, Confessions of a CEO
issue and the genocide in Gaza, as a parent, that some of the stuff that I’ve seen has just deeply affected me. … To me, it just it feels like [the war in Gaza] is kind of like the crux of all the things that are wrong with society and the world, all meeting in one just absolutely abysmal scenario.”
“We’re seeing human rights being stripped away from people in so many different ways, shapes and forms, all over the place — whether it’s here or abroad,” Smart continued. “And I know that it is inherently political to speak about it, but it also just feels inherently human to stand up for it and against certain things, you know?”
Smart first used the word “Palestine” in his song “Hope That I Don’t Dream,” which appears on Quiet Skies Vol. 1, a benefit album with songs from local and international musicians released on Aug. 6. The proceeds go directly to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
He first debuted the song on Instagram in November of 2023. Smart says that the song is inspired in part by a photo he saw of a Palestinian grandfather holding his dead granddaughter. That photo also inspired him to abandon his fear of speaking out about the war in Gaza.
“Yeah, that that was kind of the turning point, and the first verse of the song talks about the early [days of] the
Across 11 songs, Smart transforms his outrage at current events into urgent, soulful protest anthems that echo the spirit of Woody Guthrie, Nina Simone and other voices of resistance. Smart’s storytelling prowess is on display on “Can’t Padlock An Idea,” a song about the Highlander Research and Education Center, a social justice leadership training school and cultural center in New Market, Tennessee. He recounts the events of March 29, 2019, when a white supremacist set fire to the center.
There’s a bit of levity and humor in the fifth track on the album, “Talking Second Coming Blues,” where Smart plays the part of an intolerant and racist bigot waxing poetic about liberal yard signs, illegal immigrants and JD Vance. “Flicked my television on and there my hero stood/I clapped my hands and messed my jeans and shouted, ‘God is good!’/The camera panned, to my dismay, away from JD Vance/There sat the true embodiment of Satan’s evil plans — yep, you guessed — the Pope!”
The album ends with Smart asking for an end to the war in Gaza. “I’m screaming into the void, end the genocide,” Smart sings on the aptly-titled “End the Genocide.”
Confessions of a CEO will be released in September.
For more information about Jordan Smart, visit jordansmartmusic.com. You can stream Smart’s music on Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal.
Jordan Smart
PHOTO: LISA SULLIVAN
SOUND ADVICE
ROB MOHAN, GLENN JONES & LIAM GRANT
Sept. 25 • SWELL Art Cafe
On Sept. 25, local guitarist Rob Mohan will join Glenn Jones of Cul De Sac for a special solo performance at SWELL Art Cafe, an art space set to open later this month in Camp Washington.
Mohan released his debut album, A Sign of Things to Come, a collection of eleven 6- and 12-string guitar pieces, in late August. It’s a gorgeous and self-assured record. For those who have heard him around Northside at spots like The Comet or Tillie’s, Mohan’s ability to captivate an audience is already well known. On A Sign of Things to Come, some pieces unfold slowly, like flowers opening, the drone of his 12-string carrying the full weight of each somber strum as notes vibrate and fade like ripples across disturbed water. Others dive directly into a bright melodic phrase, like the fittingly titled “Glenn’s Tune.” Dedicated to Jones, the track mimics his distinctive use of multiple capos on different frets to create hybrid tunings.
There are subtle nods to John Fahey throughout. Just as Dostoevsky claimed that all Russian writers emerged from Gogol’s overcoat, one could say all solo acoustic players emerge from Fahey’s shadow. The album also gestures toward landscapes and journeys with evocative titles like “The Avenue of Giants” and “The Great Golden Coast.” It ends with the brooding, sevenminute title track, which dissolves into the sound of an eerie wind. If this is a
sign of things to come, the future may appear bleak. Yet, through Mohan’s music, a glimmer of hope cuts through the darkness.
Jones, meanwhile, has been shaping the world of solo acoustic guitar for decades. Best known for his work in the experimental rock group Cul De Sac during the ’90s and early 2000s, he has also built an acclaimed solo career with records like The Wanting and Fleeting, showcasing nimble fingerpicking and a style that moves between folk purity and raga-like improvisation. With his most recent album, Vade Mecum (2022), Latin for “come with me,” Jones invites listeners to join him on an exploratory, semi-autobiographical journey through song.
Additionally, Mohan and Jones will be joined by fellow guitarist and Boston native Liam Grant, whose excellent Prodigal Son was released in February of this year. Grant’s music moves fluidly between traditional folk and droning, overdriven improvisations, making his set well worth experiencing live.
Not knowing, prodigal sons and fleeting signs of things to come — Mohan, Jones and Grant all work within this space of mystery, crafting music as quiet revelations of the spirit. Together at SWELL Art Cafe, they promise an evening where the unknown becomes not a source of fear, but of beauty, curiosity and renewal.
Rob Mohan, Glenn Jones and Liam Grant play SWELL Art Cafe on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.. More info: swellartcafe.com. (Derek Kalback)
SWELL opened on Colerain Avenue in early September.
PHOTO: PROVIDED BY SWELL
