Cincinnati Magazine - April Edition 2025

BODY ROLL Caroline Nymberg from Mutual Dance Theatre

GIL KAUFMAN

Behind the Scenes

Meet Our Dermatology Physician Assistants

What education and training is required to become a Physician Assistant?

Megan: To become a Physician Assistant (PA), you need to earn a bachelor’s degree, typically with a focus in science, followed by completing a Physician Assistant master’s degree program. PA programs usually take around 27 months to complete. This includes both classroom instruction and clinical rotations, and finally passing the PA National Certifying Examination to become licensed to practice. Most PA programs also require prior healthcare experience with direct patient care.

Why did you choose Dermatology as compared to other specialties?

Jessica: I am an extremely visual person. I love that the skin is an organ we can view almost entirely with our eyes. I can save a life by catching melanoma in its earliest stages. I perform a wide array of medical and cosmetic procedures in the office, which appeals to a desire to both think and do. Dermatology often lends itself to long term relationships with my patients, of all ages and backgrounds. When growing up I had a hard time deciding whether I wanted to pursue science and health versus art. I have found a profession that combines the two in the best way.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Megan: I love taking care of my patients and developing relationships with them. I enjoy the variety that comes with being a medical and cosmetic dermatology PA. Medical dermatology is important to me, especially when it comes to skin cancer screenings, as I myself have been previously diagnosed and treated for melanoma. With my surgical background, I love using my hands to perform surgeries for skin cancers and a wide range of cosmetic procedures such as Botox and filler. As a PA I enjoy autonomy and the ability to collaborate with my peers. Dermatology allows me to enjoy a fast-paced, constantly changing job that keeps me on my toes—but one that I love.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career as a PA or in Dermatology?

Jessica: Get immersed in health care! In many ways, it is its own language and culture. The more facets you see the better. Volunteer at hospitals or clinics. Shadow health care professionals who are willing. Read, read, read. I gained my experience as a scribe to an ER physician who was an amazing inspiration to me and gave me a front row seat into how medicine really works. Once you become a credentialed professional, take every learning and networking opportunity you can in dermatology and aesthetics, if that is your desired specialty. It is a highly competitive field, so be ready to roll up your sleeves!

Jessica Watkins, PA-C

Jessica attended the University of Kentucky followed by the Medical University of South Carolina, and has been a certified Physician Assistant since 2009. She began her career working in emergency medicine and family practice before joining the Mona Dermatology team in 2016.

Fast Facts:

◊Favorite treatment: Botox and filler

◊Favorite product: TNS Advanced+ Serum and sunscreen

Megan Niese, PA-C

Megan began her career as a Physician Assistant in 2010 and worked in several specialties including trauma surgery/plastic surgery. Through this, she discovered her passion for general and cosmetic dermatology and joined the Mona Dermatology team in 2019.

Fast Facts:

◊Favorite treatment: Filler and Fraxel laser

◊Favorite product: TNS Advanced+ Serum and Silymarin CF

Barton Branam, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist

P. 30

DANCING THROUGH LIFE

The people of Cincinnati love to move. Whether you’re looking to learn some steps or watch the masters at work, here’s a look into the local world of dance.

SHEDDING A LITTLE LIGHT P. 46

Cincinnati’s gaslights: Iconic symbols of the city’s 1800s glory? Yes. Methane-producing environmental hazards? Yes. Are they here to stay? Likely.

BY J. BESL

SHAUNA MURPHY IS HERE FOR KIDS P. 50

The new Cincinnati Public Schools leader—a surprising and controversial internal promotion—hopes to end the district’s revolving door of superintendents.

BY CARRIE BLACKMORE

12 / CONTRIBUTORS

12 / LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

FRONTLINES

15 / DISPATCH

Bootsy Collins’s funk carries on

16 / SPEAK EASY

Rich Robbins brings music and culture to Cincinnati

16 / POP LIFE

Floral designs at the Cincinnati Art Museum

18 / ESSAYS

Alphas Comedy’s allfemale improv group

20 / REAL ESTATE

An eco-friendly Ft. Thomas home

21 / STOREFRONT

Buy $5 art at ArtWorks’s new Art-O-Mat

22 / DR. KNOW

Your QC questions answered

COLUMNS

24 / LIVING IN CIN

Recounting the 1975 World Series national anthem singers BY JAY GILBERT

96 / OBSCURA

Party in the Northside Yacht Club bathrooms BY

CLAIRE LEFTON

DINE

80 / ROAD TRIP

Silas Creative Kitchen, Versailles, Ohio

82 / OFF THE MENU

Local foodies offer international food and drink tours

85 / HOT PLATE

Wayfarer Tavern, Dayton

85 / TAKE 5

Carrot dishes for International Carrot Day

86 / DINING OUT

Greater Cincinnati restaurants: A selective list

ON THE COVER photograph by HATSUE

Extra servings of our outstanding dining coverage.

Decoding our civic DNA, from history to politics to personalities.

Tracking what’s new in local real estate, artisans, and storefronts.

Early season coverage of the Reds and FC Cincinnati

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ADVERTISING SECTIONS

PAGE 55

Top Dentists 2025

The list of the region’s best dentists, as chosen by their peers. Learn more about some of those chosen and how they can improve your smile.

PAGE 69

Health Watch: Back Pain

It’s easy to feel isolated when back pain forces you to skip regular activities with friends, family, and coworkers. Experts from Beacon Orthopaedics, The Christ Hospital, and UC Health share essential insights.

As one of the nation’s leading mental health centers, we understand each person’s journey is deeply personal. Bringing together unparalleled expertise, profound insights, approach, we provide life-changing care and support, infusing every interaction with the underlying belief that lasting well-being is possible. We see beyond diagnoses — we see you.

• Children

• Adolescents

• Adults

LINDNER CENTER OF HOPE

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OH 45040 513-536-4673

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Fox DESIGN DIRECTOR Brittany Dexter

DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL OPERATIONS

Amanda Boyd Walters

SENIOR EDITOR Aiesha D. Little

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Emma Balcom

DIGITAL EDITOR Claire Lefton

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Brianna Connock

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jim DeBrosse, Jay Gilbert, Lisa Murtha, Laurie Pike, John Stowell, Linda Vaccariello, Jenny Wohlfarth, J. Kevin Wolfe

EDITORIAL INTERNS Emily Krintz, Brooke Robinson, Denisse Visoso

DIGITAL INTERNS Addison Burke, Will Coffman

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Emi Villavicencio

ART DIRECTOR Stef Hadiwidjaja

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTORS Carlie Burton, Jessica Dunham

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Sophie Kallis, Matthew Spoleti

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Lance Adkins, Wes Battoclette, Aaron M. Conway, Andrew Doench, Devyn Glista, HATSUE, Chris von Holle, Jeremy Kramer, Ryan Kurtz, Lars Leetaru, Marlene Rounds, Jonny Ruzzo, Dola Sun, Catherine Viox

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SENIOR OUTSIDE ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

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BUSINESS

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Together, we can do more in

Cincinnati Parks

The acorns we plant today become the great oak trees of tomorrow. Look at all we accomplished in 2024.

Removed Conserve

We increased neighborhood tree canopy coverage by more than 40% in 2024.

Our obLITTERator events in Owl’s Nest, Eden, Burnet Woods, MLK Jr., Seasongood Square, Stanbery and Mt. Airy kept our parks clean.

Create

We raised funds towards improvements in Glenway Park in East Price Hill.

1

We replaced one sword broken off of the Black Brigade sculpture in Smale Riverfront Park.

We raised thousands to support improvements and capital projects in our parks.

raised for conservation in Cincinnati Parks.

We funded the new Conservation Stewardship program for Cincinnati Parks with Civic Garden Center.

36 CPACS

We support Cincinnati Parks Advisory Councils (CPACs) to program their neighborhood parks with familyfriendly events. people attended stereo, the second annual DJ Festival in Sawyer Point.

Connect

We awarded grants to Cincinnati Parks Advisors Councils (CPACs) across 21 different neighborhoods.

1,500

Over the past 5 years, be.well has brought 1,500 kids of all abilities into Cincinnati Parks in pursuit of

raised for programming and events in Cincinnati Parks.

Program fundraising supported Family Fun Days, Burnet Woods Yoga and Krohn

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

hours of work from Cincinnati Park Foundation volunteers active in tree planting, invasive species and litter removal, roller skating, special events and more.

1,000 bike helmets, 300 storybooks and 700 popsicles

We made our Family Fun Days in Smale Riverfront Park extra fun, thanks to partnerships with the Cincinnati Fire Department, Cincinnati Fire Foundation and Queen City Book Bank.

100 Dogs

We’ve met lots of dogs, one of whom will be named the mascot of Cincinnati Parks in our Cincy Barks Contest.

Let’s keep planting acorns and see what more we can do together in Cincinnati Parks. Donate today

Small, impactful actions blossom into thriving community spaces.

D

DO YOU WANNA DANCE AND HOLD MY HAND? TELL ME I’M YOUR LOVER MAN. OH

baby, do you wanna dance? We can dance if we want to. We can leave your friends behind. Cuz your friends don’t dance, and if they don’t dance, well, they’re no friends of mine. Do you love me (do you love me) now that I can dance? Watch me now, huh!

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life. Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene, diggin’ the dancing queen. Oh, I wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody. Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody who loves me. I’m happy just to dance with you.

Calling out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer’s here, and the time is right for dancing in the street. Let’s dance, put on your red shoes and dance the blues. Dance with me, I want to be your partner. Can’t you see, the music is just starting. Night is calling, and I am falling. Dance with me.

Hold me closer, tiny dancer, count the headlights on the highway. Last dance, last chance for love. But don’t forget who’s taking you home and in whose arms you’re gonna be. So darlin’ save the last dance for me.

You should be dancing. Just dance. It’s the land of 1,000 dances. (For proof, see “Dancing Through Life” on page 30.)

Dancing in the moonlight, everybody’s feeling warm and bright. It’s such a fine and natural sight. You can’t start a fire, you can’t start a fire without a spark. This gun’s for hire, even if we’re just dancing in the dark. When there’s nothing to lose and there’s nothing to prove, well, I’m dancing with myself.

And we danced like a wave on the ocean, romanced. We were liars in love, and we danced, swept away for a moment by chance. And we danced and danced and danced.

Dance like no one is watching. “Don’t you dare look back, just keep your eyes on me.” I said, “You’re holding back.” She said, “Shut up and dance with me.”

JOHN FOX EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CONTRIBUTORS

GIL KAUFMAN

As a senior contributing writer and editor at Billboard Magazine, Gil Kaufman didn’t have to look far for his latest on funk legend Bootsy Collins (page 15)—although that didn’t make him any less eager to reconnect with the hometown icon. “I want to tell his story in a way that could be his legacy,” says Kaufman. “It’s important to the history of Cincinnati.” A lifelong ParliamentFunkadelic fan, he vowed to celebrate the city’s musical legends— and feels he’s doing just that.

Freelance writer Jeana Harris has loved good architectural design since childhood. “My mom would drive us around glorious, historic neighborhoods and we’d imagine the grandeur waiting inside,” she says. It’s what makes her so adept at covering real estate on the market for Cincinnati Magazine and Indianapolis Monthly. In “Easy Green” (page 20), Harris captures the efficiency and beauty of a LEEDcertified Ft. Thomas home.

Based out of west Ireland, Cayla O’Carroll brings the beauty and energy of dance to life with delicate lines and soft colors in her illustrations. “I’ve always been drawn to figurative art,” she says. “There’s something fascinating about capturing the human form and distilling motion into a single frame.” For “Dancing Through Life” (page 30), O’Carroll brings ballet, Salsa, and vintage ballroom scenes to life, and hopes readers can feel the energy beyond the page.

JEANA HARRIS

CAYLA O’CARROLL

Photography by Jenny Walters

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

BOOTSY IS FOREVER THE NO. 1 FUNKATEER

Our Rock & Roll Hall of Famer puts the funk in more than just music.

GIL KAUFMAN

HEN YOU APPRENTICE WITH THE Hardest Working Man in Show Business, you’re going to pick up a few pointers about how to conduct business on- and off-stage. Luckily for Bootsy Collins, 73, after studying at the temple of funk’s biggest star, James Brown, he’s taking those lessons and shaping them into the latest, greatest chapter of his star-spangled career.

“For me, ‘Bootsy’ is bigger than just music,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bass player says of his many brand extensions and offshoot projects. “I want to show other musicians that being a musician is not a curse, it’s a blessing. You have to work it and you have to hustle because music will sometimes get you there, but what will you do once you get there?”

Hence the “Star Berry Boogie” Poo-Pourri toilet spray, the Bootsy Brewski collaboration with Fretboard Brewing, the Funkship Chardonnay and Bootzilla Cabernet, Bootsy’s Body Slam hot sauce, and Bootzilla Blend coffee, CONTINUED ON P. 16

among others. Most importantly, this month Collins is releasing his 23rd studio LP, Album of the Year #1 Funkateer , which features guest spots from players including Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Musiq Soulchild, Ice Cube, and Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart. Collins hopes having lots of merch will keep his fans fully funked up. “If younger artists see me do it, then they’ll feel more inspired,” he says.

Collins had lessons on the importance of the business end of the music biz from Brown, who shared the adage It’s 75 percent business, 25 percent music. Though he bristled at the math as a 19-yearold who just wanted to jam, he gets it now—and he’s paying it forward.

In late 2024, Collins released an homage to two of Brown’s drummers, Jabo Starks and Clyde Stubblefi eld (“The JB’s Tribute Pastor P”), that featured Brown’s trombone player Fred Wesley, a tip of the starspangled hat Collins says was his way of keeping the funk torch lit. As part of that project, Collins tapped Jack White’s Grammy-winning drummer Daru Jones to recreate Stubblefield’s signature “Funky Drummer” beat. “He was in town for a gig and wanted to go to King Records, so I had one of our guys let him in at the site and he took his drum kit and actually played the ‘Funky Drummer’ in what we’re trying to restore as the main recording studio,” Collins says.

Letting Jones into the King Records space was a major part of keeping the

project to revitalize the historic site on track. “We’re getting ready to start restoring it,” Collins says.

Getting control of the Evanston site was the fi rst and most crucial step to the years-long effort to reclaim the spot where Syd Nathan’s label made history in the 1940s and ’50s. City council approved a $205,000 payment to the King Records Legacy Foundation in 2024 to get the project moving.

Collins believes it remains his duty to “give up the funk” for himself because it’s the “right thing to do” but also for his late collaborators in Brown’s band and in Parliament-Funkadelic. He also sees the new album as a ray of hope and joy on which he serves as more of a mentor/ coach than center of attention. “ It was more like I’m changing with the times and how I feel, which is a good thing,” he says of stepping back from performing due to some issues with his right hand. “You can’t fake the funk, man. If you can’t do what you used to do and give it all up the way we used to, then I can’t funk with it. How can I fake all that energy on stage? I’m 73. I’m not using that as an excuse, but time changes you and your energy levels aren’t like that anymore.”

That’s why, on the new record, Collins is setting up the next generation to keep funk music vibrant. “I’m still getting this music vibe, and if I can’t do it myself then I’ll have someone else do it,” he says. “It’s still coming through me.”

NO PAINT, ALL PETALS

Inspired by galleries throughout the Cincinnati Art Museum, fl oral installations and designs created by artists from around the globe for Art in Bloom are on display April 24–27. cincinnatiartmuseum.org

RAPPER IN RESIDENCE

Chicago is known for its robust art scene, but Cincinnati is no slouch in this department either. Its reputation for supporting the arts attracted Rich Robbins to the area, and it’s why he’s excited to spend April making the rounds as the Taft Museum of Art’s 2025 Duncanson Artist-in-Residence. Robbins sits down to discuss his multifaceted career in the arts, what led him to Cincinnati, and what he’s most excited to experience in the Queen City.

When did you discover performance art? I was a sophomore in high school when I joined my school’s Spoken Word Club. I was playing sports at the time but knew writing was more my calling. I became a leader within the club under the tutelage of my mentor Peter Kahn. We went on to work together for some years as Spoken Word educators at my alma mater. His guidance, along with later support from my parents, gave me space to establish myself as a full-blown artist.

How did you become an artist-in-residence in Cincinnati as a Chicago-based artist? A good friend of mine, Ajanae Dawkins,

recommended the residence to me. I saw her for the first time in some years at a mutual friend’s wedding. That run-in gave us a chance to catch up; she was a [Duncanson] resident a couple years ago and sent me the application. [The residency is] such an esteemed opportunity and I had reservations on if I was deserving of it. Hip-hop artists don’t tend to have many opportunities like this; I’m fortunate to have a strong community that reminds me of my value on a regular basis.

What can Cincinnati expect from Rich Robbins as a Duncanson Program honoree? We plan to put on creative workshops centering songwriting, hip-hop, and poetry; activations such as live conversations unpacking Black fatherhood through the lens of sons of Black fathers; and of course music performances. I can’t wait to bring projects like the Soft & Tender series, my music, and my modes of teaching to the city, and I hope to bring pieces of Cincinnati back home with me.

—SARAH M C COSHAM

READ A LONGER INTERVIEW WITH RICH AT CINCINNATIMAGAZINE. COM

SPEAK EASY

Funkateers, don’t miss the date. Collins’s funktastic new album drops on April 11.

Light Up Blue in April

For Child Abuse Prevention Month

LightUpBlueinApril ForChildAbusePreventionMonth

presented by:

presentedby:

FUNNY GIRLS

The all-female Alphas Comedy troupe, which turns three this month, is on a mission to prove the future of comedy is female.

REPORTER WALKS into a bar. Except, it’s not a bar; it’s a basement comedy club in Clifton. And there’s no bartender serving corny one-liners; it’s a group of women serving actually funny punchlines.

Perhaps I should stick to reporting and leave the jokes to the professionals?

It was a rainy night in December when I attended an Alphas Comedy variety show. I didn’t know what to expect. Would it be funny? Crass? Cringey? I’m no comedienne (as we’ve established), but I do consider myself a bit of a comedy connoisseur. (OK, I attended Saturday Night Live once and follow Nate Bargatze on Instagram. So.)

But as the city’s first and only all-female comedy troupe, Alphas Comedy is doing something new and bold—and honestly, that’s all I need to give it my endorsement.

That said, they’re also actually funny. Between improv, sketch, and standup bits, my giggles were genuine. Especially during this improv scene about an old woman and a candy jar and…well, I guess you had to be there. But let’s just say the female quotient added something special, and that’s what was most notable to me.

“Sometimes having

male-dominated spaces, especially in comedy, makes it harder for women to shine and to express ourselves, because often men are frankly louder and exude more confidence,” says Patricia Mullins (holding mic, above), who founded the troupe in 2022 after a stint at Second City’s Conservatory program in Chicago. “Women can certainly steamroll in a scene, but I find it’s much more common that it’s men. Removing the male element has just allowed people to be in a space where there’s less judgment.”

There’s an archaic assumption that women aren’t

as funny as men, but misogyny in comedy is no laughing matter. At the first Alphas Comedy performance in April 2022, Mullins says it was “a magical experience for all of us.” They had created something supportive, encouraging, and, most importantly, safe. “I feel like it’s the presence of more women, and not necessarily the absence of men, that makes performing with an all-women comedy group such a positive experience,” says Mullins.

Three years later, Alphas Comedy includes a rotating roster of about 20 women. Monthly shows feature seven or so performers.

Most members come via invitation, but Mullins says auditions are on the horizon for 2025. The members’ ages and lifestyles are diverse: from twentysomethings to sixtysomethings, students to professionals. Many have studied theater or acting, but some are novices. “I love that everyone brings their own perspective into what they’re doing,” says Mullins, a former public school teacher. “It’s important to have different backgrounds.”

The audiences are an equally diverse casserole of ages, genders, races, and lifestyles. A desire to laugh, it seems, is the only com-

mon thread.

You can catch an Alphas Comedy show at the Clifton Comedy Club, Know Theatre, the Falcon Theatre, or various other venues around town. You can also hire them for private events. Think you’re funny? Try one of their stand-up or improv classes, which are open to all female-identifying students over 18.

So, what is funny? In many ways, it’s a matter of taste, but according to Mullins, “Funny is the unexpected.”

And that’s exactly what Alphas Comedy is.

alphascomedy.com

—ELIZABETH MILLER WOOD

EASY GREEN

AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HOME IN FT. THOMAS BOASTS GORGEOUS VIEWS, MODERN DESIGN, AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY. —JEANA HARRIS

KKERMIT THE FROG LAMENTS THAT IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN, BUT for this modern marvel in Ft. Thomas, efficiency could not be more effortless. It was the first home in Northern Kentucky to receive the prestigious LEED gold level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council upon its completion in 2011.

From its hilltop perch of more than an acre, 180 Burnet Ridge sits amid mature trees, offering premium privacy paired with the serenity of seasonal river views. Landscaping was carefully selected—native, drought-tolerant plants complement limited turf to enhance water conservation. The exterior is contemporary, with its rectangular shape, crisp lines, and flat roof.

Because LEED homes are designed to use less energy and maximize fresh air indoors, there’s no skimping on material quality. Encased in durable Apex fiberglass siding with premium insulation, an air infiltration package ensures minimal air leakage, better ventilation, and fewer moisture issues. A geother-

mal HVAC system and solar panels further optimize efficiency and energy savings. In other words, the home is airtight and comfortable, no matter how wild the Midwestern weather.

The modern design carries through to the sun-drenched interior. Light pours through high-performance windows, offering an energizing contrast to the home’s warm wood tones. A large eat-in kitchen opens into the main living space, a layout that welcomes togetherness and ease of entertaining. No one will be in a rush to leave the living room thanks to the warmth of a stone fireplace. All four bedrooms are generously sized, and the primary suite comes complete with a sitting room, walk-in closet, and expansive bathroom. Within the 4,400 square feet of living space, there are three and a half bathrooms, plus a finished lower level. As Glover notes, the energy efficiency in this home is truly unparalleled. And, like Kermit, you’ll soon discover that green is a beautiful thing.

AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE

THE ART-O-MAT SELLS ORIGINAL PIECES BY LOCAL ARTISTS FOR JUST $5. —JOSEPH FRYE

Since the 19th century, vending machines have provided consumers with two enticing qualities: choice and convenience. While they may bring to mind high-calorie, lowquality products, a new addition to the city’s art scene looks to challenge this notion.

Late last year, ArtWorks installed an Art-O-Mat in its new Walnut Hills headquarters building. A repurposed cigarette vending machine that sells cigarette pack-sized artwork at $5 a piece, the machine’s objective is to “maintain accessible, affordable art,” says ArtWorks CEO and Artistic Director Colleen Houston.

First conceived in 1997 by Clark Whittington, the original ArtO-Mat sold Polaroids for $1 each at an art show in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Following the success of the event, Whittington expanded the concept to include 200 machines globally with more than 400 participating artists.

The unveiling of the machine was a homecoming of sorts for ArtWorks. Having installed its first Art-O-Mat in 2004, the organization returned the machine due to a lack of space in its old headquarters. As its new Walnut Hills home offers more space, Houston saw an opportunity to bring it back.

“We realized nobody else was hosting one in Cincinnati,” she says. Designed by artist Teresa Villegas, the new machine is loosely “in-

spired by la lotería,” the Spanish-language card game, and features art in the form of miniature sushi boards, fruitshaped earrings, small hand-painted blocks, and more.

One of the appeals of the Art-O-Mat, according to Houston, is the novelty of the experience. As smoking has decreased in prevalence, fewer people are familiar with the experience of buying cigarettes from a vending machine.

“There’s this aesthetic experience of pulling the knob and the piece [falling out],” she says. As such, the machine pays tribute to its past life—all products are wrapped in cellophane, much like a cigarette pack would have been.

More than just a fun gimmick to take part in, the Art-O-Mat has come

to represent something bigger, says Houston. “It’s not this capitalist model.” This is reflected in the fact that the price point has stayed at $5 since the last time ArtWorks housed an Art-O-Mat. “The artists are participating out of the love of bringing joy to someone,” she says. “It’s not about artists getting rich, or, frankly, probably even making a living wage.”

According to Houston, the emphasis on buying art has proven successful. ArtWorks booked several appointments to the machine throughout the winter and will open it to the public this month. “It’s kind of like buying flowers, something that brightens your day,” Houston says. “People just love buying art.”

ARTWORKS, 2429 GILBERT AVE., WALNUT HILLS, (513) 333-0388, ARTWORKSCINCINNATI.ORG.

QI drive past the Walnut Hills Post Office every day, and there’s been an old Cadillac Deville parked in front for almost a year. I’m an aficionado (pretty sure it’s a 1972) and wonder if somebody owns it or it’s abandoned. I don’t have the time to stop and inspect it, but I hope you do.

—DUDE, WHAT’S MY CAR

Dr. Know is Jay Gilbert, radio personality and advertising prankster. Submit your questions about the city’s peculiarities at drknow@cincinnati magazine.com

for commuting, because our last winter snowstorm had recently fallen and the vehicle was untouched. A later browse through Google Street View showed that it’s been parked there since at least July 2024.

It is a 1972 Cadillac four-door Sedan Deville, colored deep-brass and sporting an emblem from Thomson-MacConnell Cadillac (now Cincinnati Cadillac, the dealership is nearby). Curiously, however, its Ohio license plate will have expired by press time. More curiously, it’s tagged as Montgomery County (Dayton), and an online search of the license number says we’re looking at a 2010 Mercedes. If you feel brave, start thinking about booking a tow truck.

There’s a little sign I see on some buildings. Maybe it’s for the building’s WiFi, because there’s a red drawing of a tower with emanating waves. But it also has the letters ERRS. Does that mean the WiFi makes errors? I see this sign on some public buildings, but not others. What is it? —TO ERRS IS HUMAN

DEAR HUMAN:

What? You mean you don’t know that a building’s ERRS needs a proper BDA for its DAS that’s FCC-GROL certified and meets UL-2524 1st Edition requirements? Where have you been?

DEAR DUDE:

The Doctor is not insulted by your presumption; his very purpose is for investigating such profound local mysteries. His first strategy was to visit the Walnut Hills Post Office and ask if the Cadillac outside belonged to an employee; it did not. The car clearly is not used

The Doctor kids. He also admits to having no clue what the previous paragraph means. But he knows this much: During a fire or other emergency, first responders depend on the Emergency Radio Response System (ERRS) to communicate when they’re inside large public and multi-story buildings. Transmitters send signals top to bottom (not exactly WiFi) to make sure that all firefighters and rescue crews—no matter where they are inside while risking their lives—can tune in their favorite classic rock station.

The Doctor kids. A positive result of 9/11 was the development of these systems; all new construction in recent years

DR. KNOW

has required ERRS. Older buildings that have installed a retrofitted system post the sign to let responders know it’s available. They’ll rescue you faster if they’re able to hear their favorite Aerosmith song. The Doctor kids?

Mosteller Road in Sharonville is mostly a bunch of warehouses and industrial businesses. Next to the UDF at Crescentville Road there’s a stately but shabby old mansion. It’s had an “Available” sign outside ever since I’ve worked in the area. I’m sure it’s got a story, and I’ll bet you already know it.

—MANSION OF GORY

DEAR GORY:

You are a Sharonville “newbie,” according to the Doctor’s youth phrasebook, and have some catching up to do. You’re also probably a newbie to this magazine, because long-time subscribers have seen numerous articles and pictorials about this once-glorious mansion that’s been through times of magnificence, decay, near-death, and rebirth.

Today’s industrial mass in Sharonville was once dozens of acres of farmland growing the ingredients for one of Cincinnati’s many beer baron families: the Haucks. They added the mansion on the corner in 1904 as a summer escape from downtown’s famous squalor and stench. A century later, the estate had shrunk to less than four acres and the mansion was vacant. The wrecking ball loomed in 2008, but investors brought back the home’s glory and turned it into a place for events and/or offices.

Success ran hot and cold in recent years. Since 2020, UDF has owned not only the adjacent store on the corner but the mansion itself. If you want a shorter commute to work, make an off er and maybe you’ll get a free ice cream cone.

LIVING IN CIN

BY JAY GILBERT

Banner Year

THE ANTHEM SINGERS OF THE 1975 WORLD SERIES.

I SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT A CINCINNATI CYCLONES GAME IN 2008, A GREAT MEMory. I really love to sing and was undaunted by the musical and political challenges “The Star-Spangled Banner” so famously poses. I didn’t fear showing up in video montages of national anthems gone wrong, because I’m good at remembering song lyrics. My enthusiastic performance that night undoubtedly helped push the Cyclones past the Dayton Bombers, 3–2.

But enough about me and hockey, because baseball season is here! This year we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the greatest Cincinnati Reds season ever: 1975, when the Big Red Machine beat the Boston Red Sox in the ninth inning of the seventh game of the most exciting World Series in baseball history. (ESPN ranks it only second, those fools.) But enough about the games themselves. I want to highlight the most forgotten and ne-

glected parts of that historic series: people like me, performers of our national anthem! Do not laugh. Every Major League Baseball game features someone belting out “The Star-Spangled Banner,” immediately followed by someone complaining about it. The grumbling started in 1968, when José Feliciano’s unusual interpretation sent brains bursting in air. Performances have varied widely ever since. The 1975 Reds postseason had its share of national anthem wins, losses, and errors, which we shall now recall. Please remove your hats.

TRUTH BE TOLD, I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL next year to do this remembrance. The Reds not only repeated their World Series victory in 1976, but did so in a four-game sweep. More importantly, the Reds beat America’s most famous team from its most famous city, the New York Yankees, and thus attracted a more famous roster of national anthem singers. The previous year’s matchup didn’t have the same gravitational pull for celebrities willing to sing about the perilous fight. But that doesn’t mean things weren’t interesting.

The first interesting thing I discovered during my research is how few people think this topic is interesting. Baseball historians passionately log the particulars of each game—the venue, attendance, weather, game length, box score, spit trajectories, etc.—but almost none register the many thousands of national anthem performers unless they sounded unusually bad. But enough about Roseanne Barr; she sang during a regular season game and doesn’t qualify for this story.

I’m proud to report that after digging deep into my internet bookmarks and media sports contacts, I managed to claw out the names of 10 of 11 national anthem performers from the 1975 and 1976 postseasons, earning me a batting average of .909. And this one belongs to me.

The 1975 World Series began at Boston’s Fenway Park on Saturday, October 11, just hours before the premiere of Saturday Night Live. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed by Jane Morin, a well-known Boston jazz singer. Morin had been born blind, so it was somewhat ironic that she was handed a deaf microphone. The bad connection eventually sparked to life and gave proof to the stands that her voice was still there.

TWILIGHT TOSS

At the Healing Center, we strive to address the whole person—physically, socially, educationally, and spiritually—to bridge gaps in Cincinnati’s community. For over 15 years, we have seen that wholeness is about more than just meeting basic needs; it’s about embracing the complexity of our shared humanity.

The Healing Center is now working to add mental health services to our holistic care approach. Through a partnership with mental health professionals, we aim to provide individual counseling for adults and teens, as well as support groups, to strengthen community bonds. Our vision is to build on the

foundation we’ve established and expand our services to address the mental health needs of our guests. We have begun our search for a mental health partner to start providing services by year-end. To kickstart this

Healing Center,” a disc golf event on July 11, 2025. With three sponsorship tiers, local businesses and community members can help make mental health services a reality. Event proceeds will fund startup costs, and monthly pledges will sustain operations, including staff and therapy services. To Learn more about:

Healing Center Twilight Toss Sposnsorship Opportunites

Contact Randy Henson at 513-346-4080 or randy.henson@ healingcentercincinnati.org with questions.

Marty Brennaman doesn’t remember Jane. That’s no surprise, because he was the Cincinnati Reds play-by-play announcer for 46 years, has witnessed “The StarSpangled Banner” 8,000 times or so, and at that moment was about to call his first World Series. Morin’s brief problem didn’t make the cut in Marty’s memory bank.

“Joe would yell at anybody he saw nearby who hadn’t stood up or taken off their hat,” he tells me. And while Marty appreciates that the teams on the field are laser-focused on winning the game, he gets annoyed when he sees a player disrespecting the anthem’s brief performance. “If I was down there in a uniform knowing that a TV camera might

BASEBALL HISTORIANS PASSIONATELY LOG THE PARTICULARS

He remembers only a few particulars from a lifetime of national anthems...but enough about Roseanne Barr. He does, though, clearly recall those two-minute performances always standing apart from everything else. Marty and his on-air partner, Joe Nuxhall, took the anthem seriously.

focus on me, I would never chew gum or stare down at the ground or smirk.”

OK, back to Fenway Park. The second game’s national anthem came from the U.S. Navy Band and a sailor soloist. Yawn. This is what I mean when I compare 1975 performers to the ones who showed up the fol-

lowing year. The first two games of the ’76 Series featured country star Charley Pride and singer/TV star Della Reese, so you see my point. And the third pair of games compare only slightly better.

When the 1975 Reds came home to Cincinnati for their first World Series since 1940, the national anthem singer couldn’t have been a better choice: Marian Spelman. Younger readers won’t recognize that name, but she was one of Cincinnati’s most beloved entertainers. She hit it out of the park—and, by the way, so did Bench, Concepción, and Gerónimo. Compare that with the third game in 1976, featuring opera star Robert Merrill, a regular at Yankee Stadium who was so beloved the stadium kept playing recordings of him long after he was dead. And they say parochial old Cincinnati can’t let go of its past.

With one huge exception, the performers from both years were less interesting from Game Four onward, so I’ll just skim them. There was a minor league Sinatra

CYCLE THRU!

The Art of the Bike

named John Gary, and some more military bands. The 1976 World Series ended at Game Four, and 1975’s Game Five was the one where I couldn’t find the singer. That brings us to the huge exception: Game Six. You true baseball fans have been waiting for me to get here since we started, so let’s go.

GAME SIX OF THE 1975 WORLD SERIES IS considered by many to be the greatest single game in the history of professional baseball. Twelve innings. Twelve pitchers. Back-andforth scores. Heart-stopping plays at the plate, and a game-winning homer that’s included in every collage of baseball’s greatest moments. But there’s one thing from that incredible night I’ll bet you don’t know, and you should, because it’s a sports cliché come true: An ailing major star was replaced at the last minute by a rookie, whose performance launched him to lifelong fame.

It all happened before the fi rst pitch.

Kate Smith, the world-famous singer, was supposed to do a special performance of

her signature song, “God Bless America,” in place of the national anthem. Smith took sick, however, sending Fenway Park management scrambling. They found a local opera singer, Rene Rancourt, and he wisely demurred to perform Kate’s song. His over-the-top rendition of “The StarSpangled Banner” (it’s on YouTube; gird your loins) got the attention of the Boston Bruins, who quickly snagged him as their hockey team’s official vocalist. Rancourt sang at every Boston Bruins home game for the next 42 years. Thanks, Kate.

Brennaman was a witness to the very best baseball game ever played and 15 years later to the very worst national anthem ever sung (last mention of Roseanne, I promise). You may be surprised to know that he enjoyed José Feliciano’s controversial rendition and has no problem with singers who tailor the song to their own musical style. “As long as it’s respectful and not too over the top, I’m fine with it,” he says. I’m sure Marty would have liked

my straight-ahead performance at the 2008 Cyclones game. Let’s remember that the Cyclones won after they heard me, but the Reds lost after hearing Rene and Roseanne (sorry, I lied).

Many Americans don’t like “The StarSpangled Banner” because of its melody and/or lyrics. People often suggest replacing it with “God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful,” or “God Bless the USA,” but church/state opponents have the usual problem with those songs mentioning God (which the complete lyrics to “The StarSpangled Banner” also do). Maybe someday our national anthem will be replaced by a deity-free song with less controversy, like “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

I’m still OK with the song we’ve got, even as I increasingly struggle with those high notes. At sporting events I always do Marty and Joe proud by standing and doffing my hat. I hope you’ll now notice America’s song more, too, at every Reds game you attend this season. Play ball!

PRESENTED BY

SUSTAINIBILITY PARTNER

A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THESE WORTHY NON-PROFIT PARTNERS

SPONSORS

Our lavish four-night dinner series returns to a new venue, and a new format: themed dining evenings, culminating in Friday’s exclusive Grand Savor Experience. Limited tickets available.

through dancing life

HATSUE O’CARROLL

COMPANY TOWN

These local professional companies are at the heart of Cincinnati’s dance scene.

—CLAIRE LEFTON

Exhale Dance Tribe

Earth-based philosophy is at the core of this modern dance company led by Missy Lay-Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard. Emotional and physical connection are at the heart of the Tribe, which seeks to tell stories through grounded, rhythmic movement. exhaledancetribe.org

Pones Inc.

Pones is all about community engagement and creating change through art. Utilizing its signature “pedestrianinspired” movement, dancers bring their cutting-edge contemporary choreography anywhere and everywhere—from schools to parks, museums, buses and beyond. pones.org

Revolution Dance Theatre

This ballet company is the only African American dance company in residence at the Aronoff and one of only a few professional Black ballet companies in the country. It’s best known for its annual Christmas concert and Nutcracker adaptation, David Choate’s Hot Chocolate revodance.com

Mutual Dance Theatre

In 2021, Contemporary Dance Theater merged with MamLuft&Co. Dance to form Mutual Dance Theatre. The resident company at MDT performs newer and more established works by both regional and national artists. MDT also presents guest performers and companies through the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series. mutualdance.org

De La Dance Company

Meridith Benson and Mario de la Nuez created De La to bring fresh, diverse perspectives to dance in both contemporary choreography and classical full-length ballet . They also perform original ballet works like Nuez’s 2024 premiere of Frankenstein deladancecom pany.org

How Jefferson James’s Contemporary Dance Theater made Cincinnati a modern dance destination. —CLAIRE LEFTON

FROM THE GROUND UP

When Contemporary Dance Theater founder Jefferson James fi moved to Cincinnati with her husband in 1964, there was no real dance scene in the city. “There was sort of a society of ballet studios that developed into Cincinnati Ballet. There was one modern dance teacher at the University of Cincinnati,” says James. “But there weren’t any studios teaching modern that I knew of.”

James trained as a dancer at Julliard and studied under some of the founders of modern dance—Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and José Limón—so she got plenty of work teaching classes at CCM and the JCC. But she wasn’t doing what she really wanted. “My goal at that point was to dance. We just wanted to dance.”

In the spring of 1970, James and fellow dancer Holly Schwein created Dance ’70, the city’s first ever modern dance group. Two years later, Schwein left, and James changed the name to Contemporary Dance Theater. With very few dancers and little money, the company couldn’t afford a physical theater space, so performances often took place in more unorthodox locations.

“There was a program that went around the city called the show wagon, that in the summertime, went and gave free performances in parks, so we danced on a little bus with a built-out little stage,” says James. “We danced on the Serpentine Wall. We danced on the steps of the courthouse. We danced at the zoo. We were kind of everywhere. There was no way we could get audiences.”

So James turned to her modern dance network. She began to book visiting artists and companies, bringing national talent to the city, which helped CDT start to gain an audience. She even created a summer dance festival featuring choreographers from all over the country. In 1985, CDT became one of the first partners in the National Performance Network, a network of artists and organizations funding art that advances cultural justice.

James always knew that modern dance would find a space here. “Each choreographer offers a different aesthetic, a different point of view. Something that they want to say or present. It was a reaction to a very elitist approach to life. The younger generation wanted to do something that talked about the human condition, what was going on in the world,” she says. “We danced barefoot. We danced much more equally. Maybe it was an attempt for a classless society.”

Many of her own dancers and associates went on to form companies of their own, including Jeanne Mam-Luft and Shawn Womack. In 2021, Contemporary Dance Theater merged with Mam-Luft’s company, MamLuft&Co., to form Mutual Dance Theatre, and James stepped down after more than 50 years of building the dance scene in the city. “I worked with some really wonderful people. Everybody in the arts thinks that the people in their field are the best, but I really worked with some amazing people here in the city.”

“ We d a n c e d o n t h e S e r p e n t i n e Wa l l We danced on the Serpentine Wall.

We danced on the steps of the courthouse.

We d a n c e d a t t h e z o o We danced at the zoo. ”

MISSY LAY ZIMMER: Service Through

Dance

This professional dancer with a lengthy Broadway résumé uses her talent to give back to dancers in her hometown. —EMMA BALCOM

Professional dancer and choreographer Missy Lay Zimmer was working shows on Broadway when she decided to move back to her hometown. Now she and her husband Andrew Hubbard work to put the Queen City on the map in the world of dance.

What brought you back to Cincinnati? At one point I was signing autographs at the stage door and doing things I never thought I could even dream of. It felt amazing, but very self-serving. My husband Andrew and I started teaching at the acclaimed Broadway Dance Center in New York City and fell in love with teaching, and with the idea of giving back. We landed in Cincinnati because a lot of work had opened up here. We choreographed for the Cincinnati Ballet and did 10 years with them, then we started building our own brand, Planet Dance and the Exhale Dance Tribe, both celebrating 20 years.

What does Planet Dance offer? We created Planet Dance, a mini Broadway Dance Center of the Midwest. We bring in choreographers from all over the world to teach our kids—Andy Blankenbueler, who choreographed Hamilton; Ebony Williams, from Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” We have students who have graduated and they’re now associate Broadway choreographers. They’re coming back and looking for talent and performers from our dance studio. This bridge that we’ve created to the professional world is unmatched.

What about the Exhale Dance Tribe? Exhale is our nonprofit organization, a place for adult professional dancers and educators in the region to land if they still want to perform, but don’t want to take that big leap to New York or L.A.

What do you love about dance? It chose me, and it still chooses me 50 years later. It’s such a blessing to have movement and dance in anyone’s life, I think. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without [my parents’] constant support and love.

Kirsten Kramer’s knees needed a break. After years of long-distance running, she needed to find something low impact that would keep her moving. She decided to check out a few different dance groups around Cincinnati through the MeetUp app.

After trying a few different dance styles , she discovered ballroom and was intrigued by the focus on technique and body mechanics, something she says made the dance stand out.

“When I first got into ballroom, I swore I’d never compete,” says Kramer. “That quickly faded, because competing is actually really fun.”

Kramer was 43 years old when she first stepped into the world of competitive ballroom, otherwise known as DanceSport. Competitions are structured so dancers compete against others their own age and skill level whether they’re 6 or 80.

“It’s unlike any other competition I can think of,” says Leigh Bradshaw, co-owner of Cincinnati Ballroom Company. “Any age can do it. You are never too old to start—ballroom is very encouraging about that.”

Bradshaw started as an ice skater but after seeing a competitive ballroom performance, she fell in love. Every dollar she had went into training, and she opened her own studio in 2009. Since then, her love for the sport has deepened her teaching.

“[Ballroom] made me reconnect to my own self,” says Bradshaw. “You will find a new part of you that you didn’t know existed, and that is a guarantee.” In addition to building connections between partners, Bradshaw emphasizes that ballroom is great for those with brain injuries and Parkinson’s. “It fires up all parts of the brain,” she says.

The fusion of the dancing is what attracted Bonita Brockert to ballroom. With an extensive dance background, she immediately recognized what makes the dance style unique.

“It looked like all forms of dance wrapped up into one picture,” she says. “It pulled all elements of dance into one art form. That’s why I liked it.” Brockert is now a private ballroom dance instructor and a competition judge with years of experience.

So, how do you start? Just do it. Take a group class, watch a competition, or schedule a lesson with an instructor.

“For someone like me who is a little shy and introverted, it’s allowed me to get out there and connect with someone without having to have witty conversation skills,” says Kramer. Just start. Your future self (and knees) will thank you.

STRICTLY COME

Brian McNamee conducts a private lesson.

Back in Time

Dance steps of the past are reborn, thanks to Flying Cloud Academy of Vintage Dance. —AMANDA BOYD WALTERS

If your Bridgerton fandom has you wishing you could join the ton at lavish Regency balls, then Flying Cloud Academy of Vintage Dance is your time machine. Founded in 1981, the academy researches, reconstructs, then re-creates ballroom social dances (non-competitive partner dances meant for socializing) that would have been popular between 1800 and 1930.

In practice, that means, “We teach classes to the public, perform historical dance, and host period balls two or three times per year,” says Tamara Anderson, the academy’s artistic director. That includes this month’s General Lafayette 200th Anniversary Ball, celebrating the Frenchman’s 1824 visit to Cincinnati. (Yes, that’s post-Regency, but still well within Flying Cloud’s area of expertise.)

The teaching part of the academy’s mission comes into play during the six weeks leading up to the ball. Weekly lessons at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center allow you to brush up on the steps. “There are people who say to me, Oh I can’t dance,” Anderson says. “I’ve been doing this 30 years or more, and I have never run into anyone who can’t dance. The set

The Breakdown

Competitive ballroom dancing is divided into four styles: International Latin, International Standard, American Rhythm, and American Smooth.

Each style contains multiple dances—for example, International Standard, the oldest form, includes the Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, and Quickstep.

The Competition

Ballroom dancing competitions are long, yet fastpaced. Typically taking three to four days, (the largest in the area, Ohio Star Ball in

Columbus, is nearly a full week) the competitions must cover all the styles.

Most couples compete Pro-Am, where one of the duo is the professional instructor of the other dancer, their amateur student. Couples can also compete Am-Am if two amateurs want to dance together.

Competition begins with dancers doing single dance heats, where they perform and are judged on one style of dance (like the foxtrot).

Following the single dance heats come the multidance and scholarship heats. This is where the four style categories come back into play, and dancers are judged

dances are simple footwork. There isn’t anybody who can show up and not feel successful.”

Take note: Most of those who show up, dress up, Anderson says. “I love dance, I love history, and I love dressing up,” she adds. “With a ball, it’s all those things. People who come regularly to our classes and to our balls, they do love to dress up.”

in totality based on the style they are competing in. All dance styles follow a syllabus that professionals teach their students and judges will follow.

The Costuming

Bright colors. Swarovski Crystals. Slicked back, perfect hair. We’ve all seen the intense and beautiful costuming that is iconic to ballroom dancers. Every element of the outfit has a reasoning behind it, and it’s all about drawing attention to and making the female dancer look her best.

Top-of-the-line dresses can cost thousands of dol-

D A N C I N G

lars, and are custom-made to fit the dancer’s body. They will have features that highlight the parts of the dance the judges want to see (tassels and fringe for a dance with sharp hip movements, for example). The crystals are there to attract light and catch the judge’s eye.

The dancer’s hair must stay in place and out of her face, and heaps of gel and hairspray are used to achieve this. “Your hair is basically a hard helmet when you get home,” says Kramer. Stage makeup is applied to bring out the dancer’s expression, so a heavy eyelid and dark lip are commonly seen.

Inside the complex world of competitive ballroom dance. —BRIANNA CONNOCK

STE P R I G HT UP

Get involved and celebrate worldwide cultures with these local groups.—JOHN FOX

YEYE FUNMILAYO AJAMUFUA:

Teaching & Performing Artist at the Bi-Okoto Cultural Center

Fostering connection through traditional West African dance. —BRIANNA CONNOCK

McGing Irish Dancers

For almost 50 years, the school has taught under the auspices of Ireland’s official dance governing body. It became the first North American school to produce female, male, and team world champions. mcgingdancers.com

1. Hills of Kentucky Cloggers

Proudly carrying on traditions of what they call “Kentucky’s state dance,” this allages group can be found kicking around community parades, festivals, and park events across the region. facebook.com/ HillsofKentuckyCloggers

3 1 2

2. Cincinnati Baila Dance Academy

Children as young as 4 learn different Hispanic dance styles, including flamenco and salsa, as well as Latino heritage at this Mason-based academy. cincinnati baila.com

3. Cincy Brazil Samba Dance

Color, costumes, and rhythm are names of the game for this energetic troupe that performed in BLINK’s opening parade last fall. facebook.com/CincyBrazil SambaDance

What types of dances do you teach at the Bi-Okoto Center? Primarily we focus on traditional West African dance. We also have Afro-Pop classes, which is a combination of Afrobeats and Hip-Hop. What makes traditional West African dance unique? There are many different dances from different tribes and

countries of West Africa. They have very playful movements and a lot of nuances. Where the focus point is and what part of the body you’re using, your facial expression, every movement tells a story. It’s a sequential, story-telling form of dance.

Why did you become a Teaching Artist at the center? I see this as an

6. Hellenic Dancers of Cincinnati

Associated with Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and its iconic Panegyri Festival, this adult dance group celebrates Greek culture and music yearround. facebook.com/htsnchurch

7. UC Dhadak International Dance Team

This Bearcat-based student organization does Bollywood fusion in all of its colorful, chaotic glory at competitions around the country, bridging Eastern and Western cultures. facebook.com/UCIDT

Bing Yang Chinese Performing Arts Center

This West Chester school teaches children up to age 18 in a variety of traditional Chinese dance forms, with performances at Asian Food Fest, Lunar New Year, and other public events. facebook.com/bycpacdance

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opportunity to change the narrative about African dance or Africans in general. For some people it seems weird and they make fun of it. For me, it’s a moment to connect with them. I also love to teach and share everything that is involved in this form of dance. I have to pass it on to the next generation. I found my voice in this.

Why do you think preserving and promoting this art form is important? It’s about keeping the cultural heritage alive—the oral traditions, the rituals, and the storytelling. It is necessary to carry this wisdom on. People also need to understand that people on the other side of the world are not so different from you. It’s a

teachable moment and an opportunity to build cross-cultural understanding. Why do you recommend that everyone try a West African dance class? Taking part in the process and being exposed to the authentic experience is a way to connect. It’s a way to release your energy and experience joyful movement.

ELEMENTZ’S HIP-HOP DANCE PROGRAM

PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

How the Creative Futures Initiative readies youth for the world. —MILDRED C. FALLEN

Since 2002, Elementz has provided young people with safe spaces to express themselves through hip-hop culture and gain knowledge of its history. Founded in response to the 2001 death of 19-year-old Timothy Thomas who was shot and killed by a police officer, the nonprofit became an outlet for the urban core to recharge creatively.

According to Executive Director Damian Hoskins, Elementz now offers programming in about 16 different schools across five districts. In the last two years, more than 2,000 youth throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky participated in the cultural arts center’s programming.

“We have a dance area which is sort of multi-use, but that’s about 2,000 square feet—almost three times any size of space that we have ever had historically,” says Hoskins.

Additionally, he says Elementz’s programming centers around exposing youth to the historical evolution of the artform. Beyond learning movements, instructors teach how hip-hop dance derived from the B-boy element, and is a multi-faceted expression represented by styles that emerged from various coastal influences.

“We inspire our young people to understand those historical contexts because having an understanding of the history also

JULIUS JENKINS: Preserving Street Dance Culture

This choreographer-historian-professordancer is the face of street dance in Cincinnati. —MILDRED C. FALLEN

gives them the freedom to be more creative in how they’re engaging in it in the present,” Hoskins says. “There is dance as art therapy—movement as art therapy helps people battle depression and anxiety and things like that, and a lot of people would never have equated that to a career pathway.

“We’re going to make sure that these kids are not just seen as performers, but as thought leaders in this work,” Hoskins stresses. “You can’t exploit a thought leader. We have to empower our young people to say This is what we are.”

As the founder of street dance crew Millenium Robots, B-boy Julius “Eclypse” Jenkins’s mechanized style of popping is his signature hip-hop dance technique. For 25 years, Jenkins has upheld the artform as a battle competitor, performer, and instructor. His nonprofit, Heroes Rise Street Dance Academy, seeks to preserve the authentic movement, culture, and histories associated with Black American vernacular dance.

Who were your early inspirations in street dance? We would see the people who were most accessible as far as media presence. From Breakin’, Shabba Doo and Boogaloo Shrimp, a.k.a., Ozone and Turbo, those are probably the first people I’d seen doing street dance. And then later seeing Mr. Wiggles—Steffan Clemente—he was my gateway into what high-level street dancing could look like. Mr. Wiggles was known for having made tutorial videos for popping. My first breaking inspirations were a guy named Iron Monkey, Remind, the whole Style

Elements Crew, Rhythm Bugz’ crew, [and] the old Rock Steady Crew.

What inspired you to do robotic animation style dancing? After I transitioned to popping, I got deeper into it and I was doing the most popular style, Electric Boogaloo. About 2005, I met a dude named Tempo, this crazy dope popper, and I didn’t know who he was, but they said he was on Star Search, and he trained with the best in L.A.

Are there some dance styles that originated in Cincinnati? Not necessarily a dance style, but we have The Down the Way; that’s really the main thing that I guess Cincinnati can claim. But there’s always been strong representation for street dance here in Cincinnati. Like if you talk to [crews] Murder Rock or Cold Crush, they’ll tell you stories about how they were dancing so good here that crews from New York were calling them up talking about, “We’re coming down there to battle y’all.”

Dancers can take classes at Elementz’s new 5,000-square-foot building.

P U T Y O U R PUT YOUR

CERVILIO MIGUEL AMADOR: A Lifelong Love of Dance

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P P E R S O N SLIPPERS ON

Looking to learn ballet? These organizations offer programs for students of all sorts. —EMMA BALCOM

Cincinnati Ballet

Seasoned professional dancers at Cincinnati Ballet offer instruction for dancers of all ages and experience levels, from toddlers looking to tap their toes to collegiate athletes refining their technical skills to adults who want to try out a new hobby.

1801 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, (513) 621-5219, cballet.org

Queen City Dance Academy

Experienced dancers teach proper technique and discipline to students, preparing them for annual recitals and other events throughout the year to show off their new talents and accomplishments to friends and family. 7900 E. Kemper Rd., Sycamore Twp., (513) 489-7575, queencitydance academy.com

CCM Prep

The University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music offers “drop-in” and “try-it” classes for children, teens, and adults, instructed by professionals. Students can also audition to enroll in ballet companies, with the opportunity to participate in performances across the tristate. 290 CCM Blvd., Corryville, (513) 556-6638, ccm.uc.edu/arts 4all/prep/dance

Cincinnati Dance and Movement Center

Leveled classes for children and adults teach proper technique on barre and center floor through education on proper body placement, technical skills, and professional terminology. Class sessions run September through January and February through June.

Going from Cuba to worldwide audiences to artistic director at Cincinnati Ballet. —JOHN FOX

How and when did you fall in love with dance? As a child in Cuba, my two older sisters attended the town’s arts school—one played the violin, the other played the guitar. I was 9 years old when it was my turn.

The teachers told my parents that I was good enough to get into the school for music, but I was way more talented in dance. I said I’d give it a try. I just wanted to be in the same school with my sisters. I remember my mind shifted right away about ballet and I was like, Oh, my God, this is really hard. It was physical, but it was also very much mental and I loved the music and the whole atmosphere. It was so challenging, and I was drawn to that. From there on, I was, I love this. This is what I want to do.

880 Compton Rd., Springfield Twp., (513) 521-8462, cincinnatidance.

com

Was it a natural transition for you to become a professional dancer? Being a dancer in Cuba is a high-level position supported by the government. It was known that if you could make it as a professional dancer you’d travel the world representing Cuba, and traveling the world meant everything to us because very few Cubans got to do it. The big challenge growing up was whether or not I was going to make it into the National Ballet of Cuba, and there weren’t many spots for high school graduates. By then I just had all my eggs in that basket, and I was fortunate to be accepted. I had nothing else in my head that I was going to fall back on.

Your dance career was a lot like a professional athlete. When I think back to being a kid, ballet really captivated me right away. A big part of the attraction was the physicality. But then you add the music to it, and you express yourself by moving to it. It really becomes an adrenaline rush that you want to keep seeking. And when you add the performance aspect of it—being in the theater, the magic of the lights, the acting, becoming the characters—it’s magic.

CATEGORY IS...

CincyVogue is bringing it to you at every ball.

—CLAIRE LEFTON

If you go to a ball thrown by CincyVogue, you won’t see any waltzes or string quartets. You will see some of the most creative and talented members of the local queer community work the runway. “Ballroom is essentially a competitive party born of the drag balls and drag pageants of the early ’50s and ’60s,” says co-leader of CincyVogue, Flowy Diesel Ebony. “It’s a subculture born out of racism and a need for marginalized groups to have their own space.”

There are two primary ball groups in town: the mainstream scene and the kiki scene. While the kiki scene is usually artsier and smaller, balls in the mainstream scene can feature 40 competitive categories in one night. Categories found at balls focus

“ At t h e e n d o f t h e d a y, At the end of the day,

o u r g ro u p i s a l w a ys our group is always

a b o u t a h u g a f te r about a hug after

t h e b a t t l e , t h e s h a d e the battle, the shade

i s l e f t o n t h e f l o o r is left on the floor.

We ’re a c o m m u n i t y, We’re a community,

w e ’re a c u l t u re , we’re a culture, we’re a family. ”

on particular looks, movements, attitudes, and performance typically involving hand choreography and vogueing. “I don’t think Performance was originally a category, but now it’s usually the biggest of the night,” says Ebony. “Everybody wants to see somebody slam their back.”

Vogue evolved in Black and Latino Harlem ballrooms from the 1960s to the 1980s, but the dance form is constantly growing and changing as new generations take to the runway. Ebony says that when you’re around ballroom enough, you learn how to vogue. “Ballroom as a dance style is mostly about a feeling. We call it ‘speaking the language.’ Once you learn the language, you can speak a little gibberish back and then you start to put together words and sentences.”

Some of the city’s biggest balls are thrown by CincyVogue, run by Ebony and DJ Jay. The group started around 2014, but it really exploded after COVID. At their balls you’ll find both individuals and “houses” (like teams with much closer emotional bonds) like Ebony and Jay’s House of Diesel battling it out for cash prizes. “At the end

of the day, our group is always about a hug after the battle, the shade is left on the floor. We’re a community, we’re a culture, we’re a family,” they say.

And the families inside those competing houses are inclusive, safe spaces for members. “We have trans women of different races. We have nonbinary people; we have cisgender people. That’s what ballroom should look like,” Ebony says. “We’re blessed that with how diverse we are as a city we can cultivate that kind of space.”

Ebony knows how important their role in Diesel and CincyVogue is currently. “It’s cool to see everyone come out, have a drink, be gay. At this time, what’s more revolutionary than that? They don’t want us to do it. So we should do it. We should do it twice as loud.”

Fifi LeFay opens the ball with a special performance.

Duckwalking is a popular and difficult Vogue Fem move.

Dips or death drops are the most dramatic voguing moves and often punctuate a performance.

YOU BETTER WORK Ball competitors face off in a voguing battle to win the Performance category. A panel of judges decides if they get their 10s and make it to the next round or get chopped.

Get a Move On

Dance classes aren’t just for toddlers in tutus. Here are some studios for all the grown-ups who want to learn how to dance. —CLAIRE LEFTON

B E L LY BELLY

D A N C E DANCE

Habeeba’s

Levels: Beginner to Advanced The three-month beginner’s course includes twice-a-week classes. Curriculum includes cabaret and folkloric styles. Where: 7028 Plainfield Rd., Silverton habeebas.com/cincinnati

Emily Marie

Levels: Beginner to Advanced Six week sessions available both online and in person with focuses on technique and choreography.

Where: 11256 Cornell Park Dr. #504, Blue Ash emilybellydance.com B O L LYBOLLYW O O D / WOOD/ S O U T H SOUTH

Dheem Dance Company

Bollywood style dance-fitness classes inclusive of all ages and experience levels. Where: 9076 Cox Rd., West Chester dheemdancecompany.com

H E E L S HEELS

REDifined Studios

Levels: Beginner/Intermediate Officially called “Confidence Builds in Heels,” this weekly class teaches people of all genders how to dance and feel powerful in high heels. Where: 9529 Pippin Rd., Colerain Twp. redefinedstudioscincy.com

Cin City Burlesque Academy

Cultural Center of India

Traditional Indian Dance training (Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, and Bollywood styles) takes place on weekends separated by seasonal quarters. All levels and background are welcome. Where: 9462 Hopewell Rd., Symmes Twp. culturalcenterofindia.com/ classes

Levels: Beginner to Advanced Producer and choreographer of Cin City Burlesque, Ginger LeSnapps, runs these 18-andup gender-inclusive bootcamps that teach you how to dance with confidence and sensuality in high heels. Check CCB’s Instagram for dates. Where: Arthur Murray Dance Center, 10792 Montgomery Rd., Sycamore Twp. instagram.com/cincity burlesque continue for more dance classes

The Center of Everything

Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) membership is a great deal—$25 per year for adults and $10 per year for seniors—and membership offers access to a wealth of programming from arts classes to day camps. That includes instruction in a variety of styles of dance for students of all ages. CincyTap instructors lead popular classes at Westwood Town Hall, ballet, tap, hip-hop, jazz, and musical theater classes take place Mondays and Tuesdays at CRC Westwood Town Hall, and Meridyth Kues teaches modern dance in Westwood. That’s just a sample of what’s available, so get your dance card ready. cincinnati-oh.gov/recreation

Ballroom Blitz

The Cincinnati chapter of USA Dance puts on monthly social dances—with lessons!—and hosts balls twice a year at Music Hall Ballroom. (There’s one on April 5.) The organization promotes ballroom dancing, and is the governing body for DanceSport, competitive ballroom dancing in the U.S. usadance.org/members/group.aspx?id=88022

Walk the Line

Country line dancing didn’t disappear when the ’90s ended (you know about TikTok dances, right?). If you want to update your skills past the Boot Scootin’ Boogie, you have options. Shiners on the Levee hosts instructors from Ritz Ballroom Dance Studio on Wednesdays at 7 (with open dance at 9). Jim & Jack’s in Sedamsville also offers line dancing on Wednesdays, plus an open dance night on Tuesdays. Lori’s Roadhouse in West Chester is a 24,000-square-foot entertainment destination featuring live country acts—and line dancing lessons on Tuesdays. shinersonthelevee.com, jimandjacks.net, lrhlive.com

Turn Up Dance Fitness

The local branch of this national dance fitness organization hosts weekly pop-ups all around town at local recreation and fitness centers. No dance experience is required. Find the monthly schedule of classes on their Instagram @turnup_cincy_nky.

Jazzercise Norwood

There are eight different class types to choose from at the Norwood Jazzercise location, from HIIT to low impact to stretching. Incorporating dance cardio with strength training, you’ll get a full body workout that is friendly to all fitness levels. 2039 Sherman Ave., Norwood, (513) 276-3077, jazzercise.com/studio/oh/ Norwood

DANCEFIX by HBDC

Looking to try out some new choreography? DANCEFIX’s high energy classes range from jazz to lyrical and everywhere in between. Founded by a professional dancer and choreographer, students here will learn new moves from the Heather Britt Dance Company teachers while continuing to master nine other dances. 934 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills and 9514 Kenwood Rd., Blue Ash, (513) 238-9714, dancefixcincinnati.com

Dance Factory Fitness

Founded by a celebrity fitness instructor, Dance Factory Fitness has classes designed for those with no dance experience. From dance cardio to hip-hop yoga to barre, it’s a one stop shop that “is not your mama’s Zumba class.” 6011 Madison Rd., Madisonville, (513) 271-7111, dancefactoryfitness.com

Posh Fitness Boutique

Posh Fitness Boutique's intro pole class is best suited for those who want to learn the basic moves and spins, mixed pole is for learning more advanced skills, and Pole Climbmax is a strength and conditioning class for all skill levels. 1216 Sycamore St. #12, Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-7674, poshfitnessboutique.com

SWT Dance HIIT

Get sweaty at the Dance HIIT classes offered at SWT (Strong. Women. Thriving.) Fitness. The HIIT classes contain three different routines under the same SWT acronym: Sparkle (low to mid-level intensity), WURK (mid- to high-level intensity), and Twerk (high-level intensity focusing on core). 5260 Crookshank Rd., Green Twp., swtfitness.com

Oh Foxy Pole Dance Studio

Oh Foxy offers multiple pole fitness classes based on skill level where you’ll learn to master pole tricks, enhance flexibility, and build your strength. In addition to group classes, private lessons are available for those looking for personalized instruction. 320 W. Fourth St., downtown, (513) 480-8393, ohfoxy.com

Belly dancing students at Habeeba’s have the opportunity to become performers in the studio’s professional company.

S W I N G SWING

SwinGallery

Levels: Beginner Cincinnati’s longest running Lindy Hop venue holds beginner swing lessons before the weekly dance. No partner is required. Where: Liberty Exhibition Hall, 3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside swingallery.org

Swing N’ Cincy

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Social

West Coast Swing enthusiasts can hone their craft in courses preceding social dances three days a week, primarily at Wooden Cask Brewing. Where: Wooden Cask Brewing, 629 York St., Newport Swing N’ Cincy on Facebook

TA N G O TANGO

Tango Northside

Levels: Beginner to Advanced At this specialized studio, students move up through three

Sock Hop

The first weekend of August really swings, thanks to CincyHop Exchange, a four-day celebration of swing dance and live music. CincyHop’s mission is preserving and cultivating swing dance culture in the city, and the Exchange is just one of the group’s events—the New Year’s Eve Dance jumps and jives past midnight. cincyhop.squarespace.com

comprehensive Argentine tango foundations courses followed by a post-grad class focused on refining technique. No partner required. Where: 4120 Hamilton Ave., Northside tangonorthside.com/classes

Tango Del Barrio

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Experienced

This nonprofit tango studio offers eight-week skill-building classes with no partner required. Be on the lookout for pop-up events featuring guest choreographers and musicians.

Where: 6110 Hamilton Ave. Second Floor, College Hill tangodelbarrio.com/classes

TA P TAP

CincyTap

Levels: Multi-level and Advanced

Regular and drop-in adult classes are available twice a week; one advanced and the other multi-level. Cincinnati Recreation Commission memberships are required for registration.

A Dance Multiverse

Social Dance Mania brings workshops, open dancing, and entertainment to the Quality Hotel on Pfeiffer Road in Blue Ash this August. Whether you’re into West Coast Swing, line dancing, or ballroom, there’s something for every dance enthusiast here—including a VIP package that includes dinner, a red carpet photo session, and a dinner show. socialdancemania.com

HIPS DON’T LIE

Where: Westwood Town Hall, 3017 Harrison Ave., Westwood cincytap.com

Clifton Cultural Arts Center

Levels: Advanced Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced These six-week sessions taught by local tap master Gloria Esenwein focus on both building step repertoire and improving dancers’ musicality. Aspiring students can call Esenwein at (513)

541-7443 to sign up. Where: 3412 Clifton Ave., Clifton cliftonculturalarts.org/ classes

R U M B A RUMBA

The Ritz Ballroom Dance Studio

Levels: Social Group rumba classes are offered several times a month

in addition to regular dance parties, though individual private lessons are recommended for beginners. Check the studio’s calendar for specific dates. Where: 8150 Mall Rd., Florence northernkentuckydance studio.com

Chévere LF

Levels: All This multi-lingual studio holds weekly classes in both English and Spanish with

Getting Saucy

live percussion. All levels are welcome to come and learn both about the dance style and Afro-Cuban culture. Where: 2000 Central Pkwy. 2nd Floor, Over-the-Rhine facebook.com/ChevereLF

Putting together the city’s biggest dance event, Salsa on the Square.—EMMA BALCOM

Every warm and sunny Thursday, hundreds of Cincinnatians take to Fountain Square to dance. The crowd is diverse in experience—some are seasoned professionals, others are just learning the steps. A few prefer to simply sit and enjoy the energy of the moment, the live Latin music, and the tasty tacos. One thing everyone has in common: A love for song, dance, and Salsa.

Salsa on the Square takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. every Thursday evening from May to September, weather permitting. The free event is a staple of downtown Cincinnati summers, dating back to 2008. At the time, Bill Donabedian, then-director at 3CDC, sought to redevelop Fountain Square with new community programming, and asked friend and Latin music performer Nicholas Radina to help him create a Latin night on the square. The pair envisioned live music and dance instructors to help guide the crowd in between songs. In its first year, the event was a resounding success, and the vision remains the same today as it did 17 years ago.

On a stage above the crowd of hundreds, live bands perform Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, and Latin jazz music. While some performers travel cross-country for a spot on the Square, Radina prefers to keep most of the talent local, featuring bands such as Son del Caribe, the Dayton Salsa Project, La Formula, Zumba Latin Band, the Amadore Sisters, and Radina’s own band, Tropicoso.

The music is accompanied by instructors, who take to the stage themselves to teach the crowd how to dance one step at a time. They encourage everyone to take a crack at Salsa, no matter their experience.

“I really break it down so it’s simple, it’s understandable, and it’s great for everyone, just really concentrating on the music and where it is,” says Diana Hoffman, an instructor

with Salsa on the Square since the very beginning. “If you feel intimidated, just come down and observe. Don’t feel pressure to get out there and dance until you’re ready. And then when you do get out, know that you’re trying something new. Just enjoy moving to the beat.”

In the nearly two decades since Salsa on the Square’s start, Radina feels confident that between the newcomers and the regulars, the event has a long future in Cincinnati. “I’ve seen children grow up in all these years, babies that are now dancing. I’ve seen all these generations grow up and experience this, younger musicians coming onto the scene and carrying the torch, keeping the music alive and the local musicians inspired,” says Radina. “It’s amazing how much an event like that can really impact people’s happiness and reason to stay in Cincinnati. It goes so far beyond just music and dancing.”

SHEDDING A LITTLE LIGHT

By J. BESL

Cincinnati’s gaslights: Iconic symbols of the city’s 1800s glory? Yes. Methaneproducing environmental hazards? Yes. Are they here to stay? Likely.

Photograph by JEREMY KRAMER

Amy Townsend-Small and Sacha Brewer photographed on Greenbriar Place in Roselawn on February 24, 2025.

SACHA BREWER SPENT A GOOD PART OF HER SENIOR YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI ON TOP OF A LADDER, HOISTING A METHANE SAMPLER OVER GASLIGHTS IN VARIOUS CITY NEIGHBORHOODS

The stately lampposts are a local landmark. When she perched next to one with a tinfoil funnel, people tended to notice. “We got some strange looks,” she says.

The city of Cincinnati still has 1,126 of these gaslights, the last remnants of a oncesprawling system. Many are from the 1890s. The oldest might be from the 1850s. No one really knows anymore. Along with some cobblestone alleys and a few underground water mains, the gaslights are the oldest functioning pieces of public infrastructure in the city.

The fact that they’re still burning is impressive. But it’s also a concern. The outdated lamps run on natural gas, and since the 1950s, have been turned on 24 hours a day. It’s why Brewer was on the ladder in the first place, looking for leaks in the superfluous system.

Natural gas also fuels stoves and water heaters across the city, but there’s one major difference, says Townsend-Small: “A stove isn’t on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

To some, the gaslights’ flickering flames and low hiss add charm, elevate property values, and define certain city neighborhoods. To others, they’re dim, dangerous, and relentless round-the-clock polluters. Townsend-Small and her team aimed to test the city’s lamps and quantify the emissions. The gaslights are part of the fabric of the city, but is the mood lighting worth the constant release of methane?

GASLIGHTS POP UP ALL OVER Cincinnati, not just in Clifton. They aggregate in Avondale and cluster in College Hill.

The research project is led by Amy Townsend-Small, an environmental studies professor in UC’s newly formed School of Environment and Sustainability who primarily focuses on emissions and the environmental impact of the oil and gas industry. The flickering lamps down the hill from UC’s campus caught her attention.

They line side streets linking Hyde Park Square to Oakley Square. Gas Light Café in Pleasant Ridge sits in the middle of a square mile of gaslights. There’s even a lonely strip in East Westwood.

The total of 1,126 gaslights may seem slight compared to the city’s 30,000 electric street lights, but they make Cincinnati one of the last metropolitan holdouts of this old-town tech in the world.

Globally, Berlin is the gaslight kingpin with 43,500 lights. Dusseldorf has around 14,000, Boston 2,800, and London 1,500, though those cities are actively navigating modern-day calls for replacement. The last serious pushback against Cincinnati gaslights was the late 1970s.

Prior to the dawn of gaslights, city streets were generally dark and dangerous after sunset. Lights provided safe navigation and security against crime. Gaslights first illuminated the streets of London in 1807 and then swept across Europe. Baltimore

A Glowing Tribute Sacha Brewer (right) doing a methane reading. Functional gaslights can be found today in a number of Cincinnati neighborhoods (opposite page), not just Clifton.

was the first American city to form a gas utility, installing its initial lamps in 1817. Public gaslights were in Pittsburgh, Boston, Louisville, and Philadelphia soon after. Cincinnati didn’t establish its gas utility until 1837, 20 years behind the times.

That’s not entirely fair. Industrious Cincinnatians quickly capitalized on the technology. There are records of William Green installing a set at his flour mill in 1816. In 1825, Thomas Lawson designed bird- and elephant-shaped lamps to illuminate the street outside his tinsmith shop. These early lamps were powered by coal gas, which had to be burned close to the source. But gas lamps were a huge leap forward over the stench and inconvenience of kerosene.

In 1837, Cincinnati Gas Light & Coke Co. incorporated to burn coal and deliver fuel to the city’s growing gaslight demands. The company would later become Cincinnati Gas & Electric, predecessor to Duke Energy. The company built its first gas works in 1842 at Rose Street and today’s Mehring Way, near where the Bengals’ indoor practice bubble now stands.

Cincinnati’s first set of 100 public street lamps ignited on September 27, 1843. There was no on/off switch. Lamplighters spread across the city igniting the bulbs each night and extinguishing them each morning. Many gaslights still have a crossbar where early lamplighters would rest their ladders.

The city was on the rise at the time, which may help explain the popularity and proliferation of gaslights today. “The Cincinnati high water mark, as far as its relationship to urban America, would be in the 1840s and early 1850s,” says David Stradling, a professor of urban and environmental history at UC and a collaborator on the gaslight project. Cincinnati had 46,000 residents in 1840, and by 1850 its population was 115,000; it was the sixth largest U.S. city in both census rankings. There weren’t suburbs at the time, Stradling says. Everyone lived either in the city or the country, and gaslights were a clear delineator between the two.

The roster of gaslights increased incrementally street by street and block by block. By 1860, nearly 2,000 gaslights flickered in Cincinnati. By 1892, there were 9,512. That was the likely peak.

In the 1880s, cities started to invest in electricity technology and shift away from natural gas. San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter now runs on electric. Baltimore extinguished its final 55 lamps in 1957; some of its lampposts now stand on Main Street U.S.A. in the heart of Disneyland.

Not Cincinnati. Builders kept adding the now-outdated technology to 20th century neighborhoods like Pleasant Ridge. By World War I, however, electricity was so cheap and widely available that it made no sense to keep plugging into

the gas network, Stradling says.

The lamps have been on a steady retreat ever since. The last lamplighters turned in their torches in 1930. The city experimented with timed automation instead, but by 1956 it was cheaper to keep the natural gas flowing than to maintain the timers and hire someone to check every night.

“I think a lot of people have no idea they’re actually just on all the time,” says Stradling. “That’s an indication of how cheap natural gas is, but it’s also an indication of just how much natural gas is wasted.”

There’s an environmental expense to our neighborhood ambiance. Natural gas began replacing coal gas in Cincinnati in 1907, providing cheaper rates and wider supply networks— but natural gas is mostly made of methane, a greenhouse gas that’s particularly good at trapping heat in the atmosphere. A large-scale reduction of methane—which also gets released from farms, oilfields, and landfills—could have major beneficial effects on the climate.

Cincinnati is on a gradual path to decarbonization. Between 2006 and 2015, the city reduced emissions from street lights and traffic signals by nearly 44 percent, thanks in part to replacing older electric lamps with high-efficiency LEDs. But signals and lights still produced 7 percent of all municipal emissions in 2015, more than all city-owned vehicles and Metro buses combined.

* CONTINUED ON PAGE 74

Shauna Murphy

Is Here for Kids

THE NEW CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTROVERSIAL INTERNAL TO END THE DISTRICT’S SUPERINTENDENTS.

By Carrie Blackmore

Photographs by Devyn Glista

WWhen Shauna Murphy was a girl, she often played school with her sister and cousins on Garden Lane in Bond Hill. During those hours of make-believe, she was always the teacher, creating lesson plans or monitoring lunch activities.

“I enjoyed school, and I loved every single teacher I had,” says Murphy, naming each of them, grade by grade, on a recent afternoon in the administrative offices of Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS). “I can recall what every one of my classrooms looked like, what every school I attended was like. All of it. I knew from day one I wanted to be a teacher.”

Murphy officially became superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools—the region’s largest school district and the state’s second largest—in November. She’s responsible for the education of more than

35,000 students in 66 schools, almost the same size as the region’s second and third largest districts combined, Boone County Public Schools (20,200) and Lakota Local School District (17,700).

She served as interim superintendent for six months after Iranetta Wright resigned in May 2024 following a no-confidence vote by all six CPS unions. The district was facing a $26 million budget deficit at the time.

Murphy’s appointment to the permanent role was contentious, splitting the elected Board of Education 4–3. Several board members had wanted to conduct a national search for the superintendent position, but a slim majority gave her and Interim Deputy Superintendent Alesia Smith two-year contracts at the meeting.

And so the education veteran finds herself in charge of a $637 million budget this year, more than the combined annual budgets of the cities of Dayton, Ohio ($576.5 million); Norwood ($29.3 million); and Newport ($28.2 million). She leads a workforce of 6,000 full- and part-time employees and faces a sea of challenges, including another brutal budget season,

This is what I love. This is what I was built for. When you’re passionate about something, it isn’t work. “ “

union contract renegotiations, legislative and transportation hurdles, and a massive restructuring plan.

The CPS Growth Plan involves creating an East/Central/West corridor system that district leaders say will save money and improve student outcomes. The plan, which has been unpopular with various stakeholders, including parents and teachers, involves the creation of middle and junior high schools, redraws many elementary school boundary lines, and shifts the locations of or shutters some schools and programs based on under-enrollment or overcrowding. Phase 2 of the plan begins next school year, while the final phase is currently taking shape.

While her start was a bit bumpy, Murphy says her 26 years at Cincinnati Public Schools have prepared her to lead. She has many supporters, including former CPS Superintendent Mary Ronan—currently superintendent of Norwood City Schools— who worked with Murphy for many years. “I truly believe she has the heart and the tenacity to lead Cincinnati Public Schools forward,” says Ronan. “I know she had the respect of the principals when she was an

assistant superintendent, and she had great rapport with parents and staff.”

Murphy says her leadership style hinges on collaboration, community, and a focus on student outcomes. Her motto, “Here for Kids,” is always on her lips.

“Truly, even in the toughest situations, I have a lot of people who are supporting me in this work,” she says. “People who want to see our kids do well and want to support families in a community that’s happy and pleased with the public education school system. This is what I love. This is what I was built for. When you’re passionate about something, it isn’t work.”

One of Murphy’s clearest childhood memories involves sitting on her front porch reading to her mother. Her mother, Doris Tucker, was a supervisor at the U.S. Post Office on Dalton Avenue, and she demanded that each of her four daughters read to her on her days off. “We’d have to summarize what we read, so we weren’t just reciting words but comprehending what we were reading,” says Murphy, the second youngest of her sisters. “It was my mother who taught me to have a strong work ethic, and our education was no joke.”

Murphy’s biological father was not around, she says, but she grew up with “an amazing stepfather” who did things like teach her how to drive.

Her younger sister, Angela Winkfield, says Murphy was a natural leader, never demanding attention but sliding instinctively into leadership roles as head cheerleader on a youth squad for their neighborhood baseball team or in youth ministry at Southern Baptist Church in Avondale. “She’s always upbeat and positive about whatever it is,” says Winkfield. “She’s dedicated. She’s loyal. Willing to listen and offer good advice. A good mentor.”

Murphy attended CPS elementary schools before switching to Catholic middle and high schools. She was a cheerleader at Purcell Marian High School, where she excelled in English and writing. Her mother would watch the news and tell Murphy she’d be the next Al Schottelkotte, a beloved local television anchor.

“I was a kid,” Murphy recalls. “You don’t say no to your mother. So I said, That’s what I’m going to do then.”

Murphy was accepted to Ohio Univer-

sity’s Scripps School of Journalism, earned a degree in broadcast journalism, and returned to Cincinnati. After writing for Applause Magazine for a short stint, Murphy determined that she actually wanted to be a teacher, so she enrolled in graduate school at Xavier University, earning a master’s degree in secondary education and a teaching certificate. Her first job was substitute teaching for Cincinnati Public Schools.

“That was quite an experience,” Murphy says, “where you learn a lot about different ways people run their schools and run their classrooms.” Her first full-time position was teaching English, journalism, and African American studies at her alma mater, Purcell Marian. Within a few years, she was promoted to academic dean and enrolled in a master’s program in education administration at the University of Cincinnati, which earned her a license to become a principal.

With that, Murphy interviewed for and was selected to become an assistant principal in CPS at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts, where she worked for two years before serving as principal at Hyde

HEAD OF THE CLASS (PREVIOUS SPREAD AND LEFT) SHAUNA MURPHY, PHOTOGRAPHED AT CPS DISTRICT OFFICES, FEBRUARY 27, 2025. MURPHY AND HER SISTERS (LEFT TO RIGHT) LYNNE MURPHY, ANGELA WINKFIELD, AND DARLENE MURPHY.

Park Elementary School and then principal of (now closed) Quebec Heights Elementary School.

were building me to what I have before me today. The experiences in elementary, in high school, in our neighborhood schools, and in our magnet schools put me in a place where I could be the leader of this school district.”

Carmen Gaines worked under Murphy for a decade at Woodward High School as career and technical education program specialist. They developed a strategy to improve employment opportunities for students around advanced manufacturing, construction, and health care and graduated more than 5,000 students. Murphy grew the number of external partners— like General Electric, Messer Construction, and TriHealth—from zero to 40 or so. Both women then moved to administrative roles at the CPS Central Office and were asked to roll out the career tech pathway at other district high schools.

That move wasn’t easy, Murphy says. She loved the classroom and relished leading a school. “But a mentor explained to me,

When district leaders approached her in 2008 to be principal at Woodward Career and Technical High School, Murphy says she jumped at the opportunity to work again with high schoolers, with whom she’d always felt the most connected. “I saw that as an honor,” she says. “And I think, quite frankly, all these things

Shauna, you don’t work with kids anymore. You work for kids, and that keeps me going,” she says. “What I say to my staff, and I don’t care about their role or position, is, I appreciate you being here today. I need you here today. Because if you don’t do what you’re doing today, that rolls down to the schoolhouse, rolls down to the classroom, and rolls down to the kid.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 76

202

region, 212 professionals in

Our annual list of the top dentists in the Cincinnati seven specialties who are making smiles brighter.

TOP DENTISTS

TOP DENTISTS 2025

ENDODONTICS

VAISHALI AGARWALA

Yonchak and Agarwala, DDS, MS Inc, 5180 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH 45014, (513) 829-1935

BENJAMIN R. BLUMBERG

University Pointe Endodontics, 7760 W. VOA Park Dr., Suite A, West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 759-2700

ERIC M. BRAMY

Endodontics North - Eric M. Bramy, DDS, 6900 Tylersville Rd., Suite C, Mason, OH 45040, (513) 754-0900

RICHARD BROERING

Crestview Endodontics, 340 Thomas More Pkwy., Suite 130, Crestview Hills, KY 41017, (859) 331-2800

ERIC D. BROWN

Eric Brown Endodontics, 810 Plum St., Cincinnati, OH 45202, (513) 241-0018

MICHAEL D. FULLER

University Pointe Endodontics, 7760 W. VOA Park Dr., Suite A, West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 759-2700

ADAM HADSELL

Greater Cincinnati Endodontics, 4050 Cottingham Dr., Sharonville, OH 45241, (513) 786-0260

CAREY M. HEIN

Carey Hein, DDS, 4030 Smith Rd., Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45209, (513) 321-5353

ZACHARY A. IMPERIAL

Imperial Endodontics - Zachary Imperial, D.D.S., M.S., 10597 Montgomery Rd., Suite 100, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 583-5700

TIMOTHY J. KREIMER

Tim Kreimer, DDS, 3560 Blue Rock Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 385-9859

DARYL KWAN

Kenwood Endodontics, 8250 Kenwood Rd., Suite A, Cincinnati, OH 45236, (513) 394-6299

G. ROBERT LAWLEY

Lawley Endodontics, Inc., 748 State Rte. 28, Suite C, Milford, OH 45150, (513) 248-0300

HARISH K. MALYALA

River Valley Endodontics - Harish K. Malyala, DDS, 809 Wright’s Summit Pkwy., Suite 110, Fort Wright, KY 41011, (859) 780-2550

ALEX K. MIHAILOFF

Alex K. Mihailoff, DDS, MSD, 9200 Montgomery Rd., Bldg. F, Suite 22A, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 793-6500

ROBERT S. SCHNEIDER

Schneider Endodontics, 5420 N. Bend Rd., Suite 100, Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 661-7668

PAUL F. SIEGEL JR.

Paul F. Siegel Jr., DDS, Inc., 9403 Kenwood Rd., Suite B205, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 821-2668

CLAIRE F. SIEGEL GERHARD

Paul F. Siegel Jr., DDS, Inc., 9403 Kenwood Rd., Suite B205, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 821-2668

J. ERIC WALDEN

Northern Kentucky Endodontics, 8729 US Hwy. 42, Suite A, Florence, KY 41042, (859) 647-0006

WILL YODER

Crestview Endodontics, 340 Thomas More Pkwy., Suite 130, Crestview Hills, KY 41017, (859) 331-2800

THOMAS YONCHAK

Yonchak and Agarwala, DDS, MS Inc, 5180 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH 45014, (513) 829-1935

LAUREN M. ZOLLETT

Zollett Endodontics, 7661 Beechmont Ave., Suite 140, Cincinnati, OH 45255, (513) 231-1500

GENERAL DENTISTRY

ABDUL ABRO

West Chester Dental Group, 5900 W. Chester Rd., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 942-8181

MALLORY ADLER

Wolf + Adler Family Dentistry, 10475

Reading Rd., Suite 408, Cincinnati, OH 45241, (513) 563-8188

LAURA M. ARNOLD

Charles P. Debbane, D.D.S. & Laura M. Arnold, D.D.S., 518 Park Ave., Hamilton, OH 45013, (513) 887-6654

ANNE G. BANTA

Anne G. Banta, DDS, 5680 Bridgetown Rd., Suite B, Cincinnati, OH 45248, (513) 574-2444

ANDREW F. BARTISH

Velle Dental, 5916 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247; 6822 Wooster Pke., Cincinnati, OH 45227, (513) 661-5800, https://velledental.com

KATHERINE BEITING

Beiting Family Dentistry, 2617 Legends Way, Suite 200, Crestview Hills, KY 41017, (859) 341-2234

JOHN BENNET JR.

Bennet Family Dental, 5606

Bridgetown Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45248, (513) 662-2000

RYAN BENSON

Benson Family Dentistry, 3801 Sharon Park Ln., Suite 100, Cincinnati, OH 45241, (513) 563-6262

CHAD BIERBAUM

Chad Bierbaum DDS LLC, 8974 Columbia Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 683-5405

JEREMY J. BORSKY

Jeremy J. Borsky, DDS, 7521 State Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45255, (513) 995-6847

LEE BROWN

Drs. Brown, Gettings & Gade, 8191 Beckett Park Dr., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 457-6146

MARIA I. BUSTAMANTE, DMD

Seven Star Dental, 7 W. 7th St., Ste. 1, Cincinnati, OH 45202, (513) 241-7827, www.sevenstardental.com

JONATHAN D. CONOVER

Conover Family Dental, 9312 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231, (513) 7904823

JEFF CRONLEY

Cronley Family Dental, 7852 Camargo Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45243, (513) 271-6611

JOSEPH DAGHER

Dagher Family Dental, 5954 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 3855607

CHARLES P. DEBBANE

Charles P. Debbane, D.D.S. & Laura M. Arnold, D.D.S., 518 Park Ave., Hamilton, OH 45013, (513) 887-6654

TYLER “TJ” DELAET

DeLaet Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, 7601 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 741-8223

REBECCA DONALDSON

Advance Dentistry, 5823 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227 (513) 272-9009

SHAWN DORNHECKER

Patel & Dornhecker Dentistry, 5520 Harrison Ave., Suite A, Cincinnati, OH 45248, (513) 815-3188

ANDREW DORR

Andrew Dorr Family Dentistry, 3473 North Bend Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45239, (513) 661-6800

MICHAEL P. ELLIOTT

Smith & Elliott Dental Associates, 265 Main St., Florence, KY 41042, (859) 371-4620

ELEANOR ENDRES

Endres Gateway Dentistry, 9380

Montgomery Rd., Suite 204, Montgomery, OH 45242, (513) 644-5154

STEVEN B. ERBECK

The Cincinnati Dental Group, 300 Third Ave., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 398-7051, www.thecincinnatidentalgroup.com

NATHAN FENNELL

Fennell, Yoxthimer and Associates, DDS, Inc., 5451 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45212, (513) 631-6600

ANTHONY E. FORTE

Anthony E. Forte, DDS, 3475 N. Bend Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45239, (513) 6616100

MEGAN M. FREW

Fred H. Peck, DDS, FAACD, 8251 Cornell Rd., Suite 130, Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 621-7666, www.pecksmiles.com

SAMA GADE

Drs. Brown, Gettings & Gade, 8191 Beckett Park Dr., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 457-6146

MARK E. GEROME

Gerome & Patrice Family Dentistry, 6378 Branch Hill-Guinea Pike, Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 647-4973

NICOLE GETTINGS

Drs. Brown, Gettings & Gade, 8191 Beckett Park Dr., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 457-6146

BEN T. GOSNELL

Mt. Lookout Dentistry, 3197 Linwood Ave, Suite 1, Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 871-2852

PATRICIA HANNAHAN

Advance Dentistry, 5823 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227 (513) 272-9009

TARA N. HARDIN

Hardin Advanced Dentistry, 5350 Socialville-Foster Rd., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 216-2935

REBECCA W. HAYDEN

Hayden Family Dental, 9200 Montgomery Rd., Bldg. G, Suite 20B, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 791-4500

CHRISTOPHER F. HECK

Montgomery General DentistryChristopher F. Heck, DMD, 9370 Main St., Suite B, Montgomery, OH 45242, (513) 794-1884, www.christopherheckdmd.com

DAN HILLIS

Mason Dental Care, 6499 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 336-8510, www.MasonDentalCare.com

TOP DENTISTS 2025

KEITH JACKSON

Madeira Dentistry, 7113 Miami Ave., Madeira, OH 45243, (513) 561-5318

LAURA JACKSON

Madeira Dentistry, 7113 Miami Ave., Madeira, OH 45243, (513) 561-5318

RICHARD L. JACKSON

Richard L. Jackson D.D.S., Inc., 3650 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 321-3037

STEVEN W. JOHNSON

Dental Wellness of Milford, 1170 OH-28, Milford, OH 45150, (513) 575-9600

ANDREW JORDAN

Vita Dental, 5841 Snider Rd., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 777-9117

DANIEL KELLEY

Eastgate Dental Excellence, 3241 Mount Carmel Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45244, (513) 548-3990

RUCHIKA KHETARPAL

Cincinnati Area Dentist, 3012 Glenmore Ave., Suite 206, Cincinnati, OH 45238, (513) 661-6576

JOEL R. KOCH

Joel R. Koch, DDS, 9655 Cincinnati Columbus Rd., West Chester, OH 45241, (513) 779-2200

CAMERON LAYER

Meier, Layer & Yu, 8712 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45212, (513) 521-8900, www.cincinnatidentists.com

STEVEN A. LEVINSOHN

Anderson Ferry Dental, 411 Anderson Ferry Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238, (513) 922-8500

CHRISTOPHER MARTINEZ

Martinez & Martinez Family Dental Care, 5374 Cox-Smith Rd., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 229-8609

KRISTINA S. MARTINEZ

Martinez & Martinez Family Dental Care, 5374 Cox-Smith Rd., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 229-8609

JANE R. MAYS

Jane R. Mays, D.M.D., 2631 Erie Ave., Suite 14, Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 689-3808, www.janemaysdmd.com

MELISSA MEIER

Meier, Layer & Yu, 8712 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45212, (513) 521-8900, www.cincinnatidentists.com

ROBERT SCOTT MEUSELBACH

Meuselbach Family Dental, 7200 Tylersville Rd., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 342-8162

DREW MEYERS

Advance Dentistry, 7655 Five Mile Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45230 (513) 231-1973

A. REZA MIREMADI

Center for Facial & Oral Surgery, 576 N. Main St., Springboro, OH 45066, (937) 748-8814

ERIN MORELAND

Moreland Family Dentistry, 1820 Florence Pike, Burlington, KY 41005, (859) 586-7570

ASHLEY J. MOSER

NKY Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, 2047 Centennial Blvd., Independence, KY 41051, (859) 356-5100

SUNNY PAHOUJA

Lifetime Smiles - Sunny Pahouja, D.D.S., Inc., 5205 N. Bend Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 661-8586

MIKE PALMER

Palmer Dentistry, 6895 Burlington Pike, Florence, KY 41042, (859) 344-1185

JESAL A. PATEL

Patel & Dornhecker Dentistry, 5520 Harrison Ave., Suite A, Cincinnati, OH 45248, (513) 815-3188

JERRY PAUL

Southwood, Paul & Pope Family Dentistry, 5601 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 741-0900

FRED H. PECK

Fred H. Peck, DDS, FAACD, 8251 Cornell Rd., Suite 130, Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 621-7666, www.pecksmiles.com

JORDAN PELCHOVITZ

Kenwood Cosmetic Dentistry, 5050 E. Galbraith Rd., Suite C, Cincinnati, OH 45236, (513) 531-5050

JEFFREY D. PETER

Peter Family & Cosmetic Dentistry -

Jeffrey D. Peter, DMD, 2025 Declaration Dr., Independence, KY 41051, (859) 429-1327

TIMOTHY L. POHLMAN

Dr. Timothy Pohlman, D.D.S., 2761 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 871-2989

BRIAN POPE

Southwood, Paul & Pope Family Dentistry, 5601 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 741-0900

DEENA RASSENFOSS

Rassenfoss Family Dentistry, 3014 Washington St., Burlington, KY 41005, (859) 689-9225

ROB REINECK

Milford Dental Excellence, 1188 OH-131, Milford, OH 45150, (513) 831-1446

MICHAEL D. ROLFES

Rolfes Dental, 7729 Montgomery Rd., Kenwood, OH 45236, (513) 793-1241

TANYA SACKRIDER

HealthSource West Clermont Dental, 1341 Clough Pike, Suite 150, Batavia, OH 45103, (513) 732-5082

SCOTT E. SAYRE

Advance Dentistry, 5823 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227 (513) 272-9009

LAURA SCHILLER

Schiller Dental, 5330 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45238, (513) 922-7111

JAMES SEIBERT

Seibert Complete Dentistry, 1149 Fehl Ln., Cincinnati, OH 45230, (513) 231-9300

CHERIE A. SENGER

Conover Family Dental, 9312 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231, (513) 7904823

AARON SHAFTEL

Vita Dental, 5841 Snider Rd., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 777-9117

SHELLEY SHEARER

Shearer Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, 1335 Hansel Dr., Florence, KY 41042, (859) 647-7068

MARC SILVERMAN

Silverman Family Dental, 4464 Carver Woods Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 984-3700

RICK M. SINGEL

South Coast Ohio Dentistry Inc., 2752 Erie Ave., Suite 8, Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 871-4200

HUBBELL J. SMITH

Hubbell J. Smith, DDS, 3427 Glenmore Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45211, (513) 6624555

STEVEN SOUTHWOOD

Southwood, Paul & Pope Family Dentistry, 5601 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 741-0900

MONICA B. SWOPE

Kingdom Family Dentistry, 772 Waycross Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45240, (513) 742-2322

ALEC TACKETT

Ivy Dental, 7201 Main St., Cincinnati, OH 45244, (513) 231-3990

COLLEEN TEPE HOFSTETTER

Tepe Dentistry, 3507 Glenmore Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45211, (513) 481-5885

RACHEL TEPE TWYMAN

Hyde Park Square Dentistry, 2712 Erie Ave., Suite 2, Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 321-3231, https://hydeparksquaredentistry.com

CLAIRE TONNIS

Velle Dental, 5916 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247; 6822 Wooster Pke., Cincinnati, OH 45227, (513) 6615800, https://velledental.com

JOHN V. UNGER

John V. Unger, D.D.S., 1270 Ebenezer Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45233, (513) 9221455

DAVID L. VORHERR

David L. Vorherr, DDS, 5968 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 385-2411

JANE WALKER

Dr. Jane Walker, DDS, 27 Water St., Suite 1, Milford, OH 45150, (513) 831-4133

ALAN R. WEINSTEIN

Alan R. Weinstein, DDS, 7835 Remington Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 793-1977

MEGAN WEISENBERGER

Weisenberger Dental, 1017 Delta Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 321-7300

RICHARD A. YAUSS

Richard A. Yauss, DDS, 7779 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45239, (513) 521-6874

JODIE YILDIRIM

Eastgate Dental Excellence, 3241 Mount Carmel Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45244, (513) 548-3990

ROB YOXTHIMER

Fennell, Yoxthimer and Associates, DDS, Inc., 5451 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45212, (513) 631-6600

JENNIFER YU

Meier, Layer & Yu, 8712 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45212, (513) 521-8900, www.cincinnatidentists.com

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

V. RUSSELL BOUDREAU JR.

Thatcher & Boudreau, DDS, Inc., 800 Compton Rd., Suite 20, Cincinnati, OH 45231, (513) 521-0110

TIMOTHY W. CONLEY

Affiliates in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 5188 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH 45014, (513) 829-8080

Chestine G. Toth DMD, MS; Baker Square Periodontics and Implant Dentistry

Our office is committed to providing compassionate and exceptional care. Specializing in advanced periodontal treatment, gingival grafts, and dental implants, we treat each person as family. We strive to make each person feel heard, valued, confident, and comfortable in their journey to oral health.

With 20 years of dedicated experience, Dr. Toth, a military veteran and current Army Reservist who is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, brings integrity, precision, and a personal touch to every patient interaction.

5032 Appaloosa Circle, Morrow, OH 45152, (513) 899-7186, https://tothperio.com

TOP DENTISTS 2025

BABAK EMAMI

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Ohio, 7462 Jager Ct., Cincinnati, OH 45230, (513) 232-4600

MELISSA H. FISHER

Cincinnati Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Inc., 2852 Boudinot Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45238, (513) 451-7300

JIMMIE L. HARPER

Cincinnati Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Inc., 2852 Boudinot Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45238, (513) 451-7300

KHURRAM A. KHAN, BDS, DMD, FACS (513) 232-8989 7523 State Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45255 www.aboutfacesurgicalarts.com

DEEPAK KRISHNAN

UC Health - Holmes Oral & Maxillofacial, 200 Albert Sabin Way, Suite 2119, Cincinnati, OH 45267, (513) 584-7910

ROBERT WADE LUCAS

Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of Cincinnati, 11438 Lebanon Rd., Unit F, Cincinnati OH 45241, (513) 769-5545, https://cincinnatioralsurgeons.com

CHRISTOPHER A. MCDANIEL

Affiliates in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 5188 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH 45014, (513) 829-8080

DAVE MORRISON

UC Health - Holmes Oral & Maxillofacial, 200 Albert Sabin Way, Suite 2119, Cincinnati, OH 45267, (513) 584-7910

ERIC MURNAN

Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of Cincinnati, 11438 Lebanon Rd., Unit F, Cincinnati, OH 45241, (513) 769-5545, https://cincinnatioralsurgeons.com

J. PATRICK NALL

Affiliates in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 5188 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH 45014, (513) 829-8080

MATTHEW F. PAGNOTTO

Tri-State Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2300 Conner Rd., Hebron, KY 41048, (859) 586-4825

MARK SCHIBLER

Cincinnati Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery, 7140 Miami Ave., Suite 202, Cincinnati, OH 45243, (513) 271-5900

GARRETT SEGHI

Oral Surgery & Dental Implant

Specialists of Cincinnati, 11438 Lebanon Rd., Unit F, Cincinnati, OH 45241, (513) 769-5545, https://cincinnatioralsurgeons.com

HANK W. SLEET

Northern Kentucky Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Associates, 20 Medical Village Dr., Suite 196, Edgewood, KY 41017, (859) 331-2100

NATHAN SPENCER

Cincinnati Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery, 7140 Miami Ave., Suite 202, Cincinnati, OH 45243, (513) 271-5900

RANDALL D. STASTNY

Blue Ash Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Inc., 4350 Malsbary Rd., Suite 201, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 984-2100

FREDERICK L. STEINBECK

F.L. Steinbeck, DDS, MD Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 627 Highland Ave., Fort Thomas, KY 41075, (859) 781-0500

SCOTT L. THATCHER

Thatcher & Boudreau, DDS, Inc., 800 Compton Rd., Suite 20, Cincinnati, OH 45231, (513) 521-0110

GLENN S. WATERS

Oral and Facial Surgery Associates, LLC, 11655 Solzman Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 791-0550

YAVUZ YILDIRIM

Oral and Facial Surgery Associates, LLC, 11655 Solzman Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 791-0550

ORTHODONTICS

ROBIN BAKER

Cassinelli, Shanker & Associates Orthodontics, 4881 Cooper Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45242, (513) 777-7060

SPENCER BOLEY

Boley Braces, 5530 Muddy Creek Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238, (513) 347-9222

DARCIE R. BRADLEY

Dr. Darcie R. Bradley, 5947 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 385-2161

ALEX CASSINELLI

Cassinelli, Shanker & Associates

Orthodontics, 4881 Cooper Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45242, (513) 777-7060

JERROD DEMPSEY

Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics, 9675 Montgomery Rd., Suite 100, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 697-9999

TERRY GRUELLE

Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics, 9675

Montgomery Rd., Suite 100, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 697-9999

STEPHEN HAVERKOS

Haverkos Family Orthodontics, 5754 Bridgetown Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45248, (513) 481-8000

ERIC W. HICKMAN

Hickman Orthodontics, 3116-L Montgomery Rd., Maineville, OH 45039, (513) 697-9772

KEVIN J. ISON

Orthodontic Specialists, 1499 Main St., Suite A, Hamilton, OH 45013, (513) 772-6500

GERALD F. JOHNSON

Johnson Orthodontics, 1010 Ohio Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45245, (513) 752-2400

GRACE KERR

Hyde Park Orthodontics, 2706 Observatory Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 533-4200

BILL LANGE

Lange Orthodontics, 9157 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 791-0777

JIM LOGEMAN

James W. Logeman, D.D.S., M.S. & Associates Orthodontics, 5240 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236, (513) 540-3266, https://orthodude.com

FERNANDO L. MARTINEZ

Martinez Orthodontics, 6381 Bridgetown Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45248, (513) 598-9800

ASHLEY MENCARELLI

Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics, 9675 Montgomery Rd., Suite 100, Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 697-9999

KENT MORRIS

Kent Morris Orthodontics, 9573 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 683-3900, www.kentmorrisorthodontics.com

DON MURDOCK

Murdock Orthodontics, 5420 N. Bend Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 662-2100

ANTHONY RINALDI

Rinaldi Orthodontics, 5987 Meijer Dr., Milford, OH 45150, (513) 831-6160

MONA RINALDI

Rinaldi Orthodontics, 5987 Meijer Dr., Milford, OH 45150, (513) 831-6160

BRIAN ROMICK

Romick Orthodontics, 7655 Five Mile Rd., Suite 207, Cincinnati, OH 45230, (513) 643-6493

SHIVA SHANKER

Cassinelli, Shanker & Associates

Orthodontics, 4881 Cooper Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45242, (513) 777-7060

JACOB STADIEM

Northeast Orthodontic Specialists, 9380 Kenwood Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 793-4770

JANICE STRUCKHOFF

Struckhoff and Britt Orthodontics, 1944 Declaration Dr., Independence, KY 41051, (859) 356-6630

JERI L. STULL

Dr. Jeri Stull Orthodontics, 637 Highland Ave., Fort Thomas, KY 41075, (859) 781-2662

PETER M. SUFFIELD

Precision Orthodontics, 8154 Montgomery Rd., Suite 102, Cincinnati, OH 45236, (513) 891-4324

JAMES “JIM” N. THACKER

Thacker Orthodontics, 1057 Nimitzview Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45230, (513) 8029360

MARYEVAN THACKER

Hellebusch

Thacker Orthodontics, 1057 Nimitzview Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45230, (513) 8029360

BRYAN R. WIRTZ

Bryan R. Wirtz, D.D.S., M.S., 11329 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45246, (513) 772-1671

EDWARD J. WNEK

Wnek Orthodontics, 2712 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 871-0324

JAMES J. ZETTLER

Zettler Orthodontics, 417 Park Ave., Hamilton, OH 45013, (513) 863-1984

JAMES R. ZETTLER JR.

Zettler Orthodontics, 417 Park Ave., Hamilton, OH 45013, (513) 863-1984

STEVEN M. ZETTLER

Zettler Orthodontics, 417 Park Ave., Hamilton, OH 45013, (513) 863-1984

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

ALLISON BAILEY

Westside Pediatric Dentistry, 6558 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45211, (513) 450-3411

KATIE BLOMER

Hyde Park Pediatric Dentistry, 3136 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45209, (513) 979-6998

MARIE CALLEN

Marie Callen, DMD Dentistry for Kids, 11306 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 376-8200

Dr. Steven Erbeck, The Cincinnati Dental Group

Few offices in Cincinnati boast as rich a history as The Cincinnati Dental Group. Founded in 1926 by Dr. Clyde Erbeck as Erbeck Family Dentistry, the practice has been a trusted provider of dental care to the Cincinnati community for nearly a century. Now in its fourth generation of leadership under Dr. Steven Erbeck, the office has grown into a full-service, state-of-the-art group practice with offices in Mason and Montgomery. From its humble beginnings, the practice has kept pace with advancements in dental technology and treatment methods, while always staying true to its core value of providing a patient-centered environment. In an era dominated by corporate dentistry, this family-owned practice continues to uphold the values of personalized dental care and tradition. The Cincinnati Dental Group invites you to experience the exceptional care and warmth that has defined their practice through the generations.

300 Third Ave., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 398-7051; 7775 Cooper Rd., Montgomery, OH 45242, (513) 891-1007; www.thecincinnatidentalgroup.com

LAUREN CAPOZZA

Loveland Pediatric Dentistry, 10570 Loveland Madeira Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 806-2060

LAURA DOSS

Village Pediatric Dentistry - Laura Doss, DDS, 8179-H Princeton Glendale Rd., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 844-0046

JOHN GENNANTONIO

Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, 1319 Nagel Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45255, (513) 474-6777

WILLIAM A. GREENHILL

Union Pediatric Dentistry, 2012 Callie Way, Suite 202, Union, KY 41091, (859) 384-6050

SARAH HUSTED

Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, 1319 Nagel Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45255, (513) 474-6777

KAITLIN JENNISON

Union Pediatric Dentistry, 2012 Callie Way, Suite 202, Union, KY 41091, (859) 384-6050

DENNIS LAMBERT

Cincy KidsTeeth Pediatric Dentistry

- Dennis Lambert, DDS, 5534 Muddy Creek Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238, (513) 574-8100

JOHN R. LIU

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229, (513) 803-3841

TRISHA MCNAMARA

The Pediatric Dentist, 5177 N. Bend Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45211, (513) 662-5203

CINDY PONG

Smiles 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry, 11350 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45246, (513) 771-5231

RONALD L. POULOS

Pediatric Dentistry of AndersonRonald L. Poulos, DDS, LLC, 7655 Five Mile Rd., Suite 214, Cincinnati, OH 45230, (513) 232-0550

DAVID RIDER

Kelty McLaurin Pediatric Dentistry, 1809 Alexandria Pike, Suite A, Highland Heights, KY 41076, (859) 781-1500

LISA RUDOLPH

Montgomery Pediatric Dentistry, 4881 Cooper Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45242, (513) 891-0660

BRAD SKELTON

Fairfield Pediatric Dentistry - Chew Chew Junction, 945 Deis Dr., Fairfield, OH 45014, (513) 858-6575

ERIC M. SOPER

Pediatric Dental Center, 5495 N. Bend Rd., Suite 102, Burlington, KY 41005, (859) 534-7926

KATIE STEWART

Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, 1319 Nagel Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45255, (513) 474-6777

ADEL M. TAWADROS

Dr. Adel M. Tawadros, 420 Ray Norrish Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45246, (513) 671-1666

PETR VAUGHAN

Westside Pediatric Dentistry, 6558 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45211, (513) 450-3411

BRACKEN WEBB

West Chester Pediatry Dentistry, 3215 Cincinnati-Columbus Rd., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 777-2313

PERIODONTICS

ANDREW BAKER

Shapiro and Baker Periodontics and Dental Implants, 8350 E. Kemper Rd., Unit C, Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 984-4867

CHRIS W. BECKNER

Christopher W. Beckner, DDS, 5850 Boymel Dr., Unit 2, Fairfield, OH 45014, (513) 856-8253

STACEY BLUME

Periodontics & Implantology at Cornerstone, 4030 Smith Rd., Suite 225, Cincinnati, OH 45209, (513) 8718488

RAYMOND BONOMO

Bonomo Periodontics, 6208 Muhlhauser Rd., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 671-0222, www.bonomoperiodontics.com

ALLISON (MARLOW) DISNEY

Southern Roots Periodontics and Dental Implant Specialists, 8136 Mall Rd., Florence, KY 41042, (859) 371-6543

Dr. Rachel Tepe Twyman, Hyde Park Square Dentistry

Dr. Twyman has been practicing dentistry in the Cincinnati area for the past 14 years, most recently opening a new practice in Hyde Park Square. She is the daughter of two dentists and appreciates the patient-doctor relationship that patients have historically had with their dentist. With a conservative approach in practice, Dr. Twyman takes the time to explain the individual needs of each patient. All ages welcome! Concierge dentistry where you are seen when you would like to be seen! No waiting for 4-6 months for a cleaning when your schedule changes. Dr. Twyman will accommodate your needs right away.

2712 Erie Ave., Suite 202, Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 321-3231, https://hydeparksquaredentistry. com

RYAN P. ESTES

Southern Roots Periodontics and Dental Implant Specialists, 8136 Mall Rd., Florence, KY 41042, (859) 371-6543

MARY ANN HANLON

Mary Ann Hanlon, DDS, MS, 7074 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45247, (513) 662-4867

RYAN HARRIS

Harris Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, 5138 Cedar Village Dr., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 336-8100

TIFFANY HARRIS

Harris Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, 5138 Cedar Village Dr., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 336-8100

NEAL LEMMERMAN

Lemmerman Periodontics, 6950 E. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 851-9292

ROBERT J. LIMARDI

Periodontal Visions, Inc., 3174 Mack Rd., Suite 1, Cincinnati, OH 45014, (513) 870-9672, www.periodontalvisions.com

LARRY S. MARTIN

Martin Periodontics, 6410 Thornberry

Ct., Suite C, Mason, OH 45040, (513) 445-4282

MATTHEW M. PARKER

Parker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, 8000 Five Mile Rd., Suite 350, Cincinnati, OH 45230, (513) 474-4486

VLAD SHAPIRO

Shapiro and Baker Periodontics and Dental Implants, 8350 E. Kemper Rd., Unit C, Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 984-4867

MARK J. SILVERS

Mark Silvers, D.D.S., M.S., 7710 Shawnee Run Rd., Madeira, OH 45243, (513) 271-1101

SCOTT SILVERSTEIN

Ohio Valley Center for Periodontics & Implants - Scott Silverstein, D.D.S., M.S., LLC, 748 State Rte. 28, Suite A, Milford, OH 45150, (513) 854-0338

MICHAEL C. TOMS

Michael C. Toms, DDS, MS, 5532 Muddy Creek Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238, (513) 922-7300

CHESTINE G. TOTH

Baker Square Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, 5032 Appaloosa

Circle, Morrow, OH 45152, (513) 899-7186, https://tothperio.com

MICHAEL VIETH

Parker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, 8000 Five Mile Rd., Suite 350, Cincinnati, OH 45230, (513) 474-4486

MARGARET “MAGGIE” WEBER

Shapiro and Baker Periodontics and Dental Implants, 8350 E. Kemper Rd., Unit C, Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 984-4867

JEFFREY R. WESSEL

Wessel Periodontics, LLC, 8221 Cornell Rd., Suite 430, Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 891-3933

PROSTHODONTICS

DAVID D. CARRIER

David D. Carrier, DDS, FACP, Ltd., 121 William Howard Taft Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45219, (513) 961-8113

MANNY CHOPRA

Center for Dental Health - Dr. Manny Chopra, 2752 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Medical Art Bldg., Suite 1, Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 871-4411

ROBERT F. FAULKNER

Cincinnati Prosthodontics, 6355 E. Kemper Rd., Suite 150, Cincinnati, OH 45241, (513) 489-8070

Dr. James W. Logeman, DDS MS INC

Dr. Jim Logeman, second generation orthodontist, widely known as “Orthodude,” has been in practice for the past 30 years. At our office we pride ourselves on taking your entire experience into consideration. All of your questions about cost, time, treatment options, and choice of next steps will be addressed in the complimentary consultation. Our philosophy is to see each patient as a family member and offer ease in choosing what is best for your orthodontic goals. Spend LESS time in braces.

Benefit from State of the Art Technology. Enjoy Stress Free Visits....Meet Cedar (our emotional support dog).

5240 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236, (513) 791-0260; 318 Reading Rd., Mason, OH 45040, (513) 398-0133; https://orthodude.com

Dr. Dan Hillis, Mason Dental Care

Your Smile. Your Story. Our Expertise. At Mason Dental Care, Dr. Dan Hillis believes your smile deserves care as unique as you are. Recognized as a Top Dentist by CincinnatiMagazine, Dr. Hillis combines advanced training from The Dawson Academy, Ivoclar Vivadent, Arrowhead Dental Lab, and Zimmer Implant Institute with a patient-first approach where you are always the priority.

We redefine comfort through licensed IV sedation for stress-free visits and personalized treatment plans designed to fit your lifestyle. Our patients say it best: “Dr. Hillis didn’t just transform my smile—he changed how I feel about dentistry.”

Experience care designed around you.

6499 Mason-Montgomery Rd., Suite B, Mason, OH 45040, (513) 336-8510, www.MasonDentalCare.com

Dr. Jane Mays

The office of Dr. Jane Mays sets itself apart from other dental practitioners by actively working with patients on whole-body well-being through the practice of Oral-Systemic Health. The correlations between oral diseases and systemic conditions are broadly accepted. Inflammation and/or bacteria in the oral cavity can be connected to seven of the 10 leading causes of death. The experienced staff at Mays Dentistry utilizes patient education, has implemented screening protocols and tools, and collaborates with local medical professionals to effectively manage the oral manifestations of systemic diseases. OralDNA Labs’ MyPerioPath saliva testing is one tool utilized in Dr. Mays’ office to diagnose the specific underlying oral pathogens causing periodontal disease and inflammation and leading to a higher incidence of chronic systemic diseases. This allows you to effectively manage your health, well-being, and longevity as our office guides you to the goal of a longer and more active life.

2631 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208, (513) 321-1102, www.janemaysdmd.com

Meier, Layer and Yu

The dental office of Melissa S. Meier, D.M.D., Cameron R. Layer, D.D.S., and Jennifer Yu, D.M.D., offers a unique dental experience. From the minute they walk into our warm, friendly environment, our patients know they are not just at the dental office, they are at home. Located centrally in Cincinnati, we have been serving our community for nearly 45 years. From a regular checkup to a complete smile makeover, our doctors’ top priority is the comfort and health of our patients. Drs. Meier, Layer, and Yu offer the most state-of-the art dental procedures available. With a focus on same day treatment, we have incorporated the latest technologies in digital dentistry, from digital X-rays and impressions to fully guided implant surgeries and same-day CEREC crowns. We strive to give our patients the best treatment possible. Our patient reviews speak for themselves. Our doctors and dental team are committed to giving the most professional, compassionate care for a lifetime of dental health.

8712 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231, (513) 521-8900, www.cincinnatidentists.com

Christopher F. Heck, DMD Montgomery General Dentistry

Dr. Heck and the team at Montgomery General Dentistry provide precision dental care with a personal touch. They are focused on caring and comprehensive management of your oral health with a hometown feel. Positive outcomes, no matter the severity or complexity of dental issues, come with experience and training. Whether it’s family dental care, cosmetic dentistry, or emergency treatments, Dr. Heck is focused on you and those outcomes. They treat you like a friend and want to build a relationship of reliability, compassion, and fairness. Dr. Heck specializes in providing a safe, judgment-free zone for those with complex dental issues.

9370 Main St., Suite B, Montgomery, OH 45242, (513) 794-1884, www.montgomerygeneraldentistry.com

Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of Cincinnati

Robert Lucas, MD, DMD; Garrett Seghi, DDS, MD; Eric Murnan, DDS, MD

Drs. Lucas, Seghi, and Murnan at Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Specialists of Cincinnati are dual-degree, board certified Oral Surgeons providing surgical services across the Greater Cincinnati area. Uniquely qualified with both medical and dental training, our doctors are specialized in dental implants, full-mouth implant reconstruction, wisdom teeth removal, and IV sedation. With a patient-centric approach, coupled with state-of-the-art facilities in Mason, Sharonville, and Western Hills, our team is ready to deliver exceptional care and results for you and your family.

Sharonville, (513) 769-5545 Mason, (513) 677-3003 Western Hills, (513) 661-7410 https://cincinnatioralsurgeons.com

Dr. Fred Peck, DDS, FAACD, and Dr. Megan Frew, DMD

Discover the ART of COSMETIC DENTISTRY with Cincinnati’s dynamic duo! Dr. Peck, an AACD Accredited Fellow with over 30 years of experience, and Dr. Frew, a fellow Kois Center graduate on her way to AACD accreditation, have a special focus on smile transformations, porcelain veneers, and dental bonding. Together, they provide world-class dentistry by blending precision and artistry, while staying at the forefront of the latest research and technology through continuous education. Whether restoring one tooth or transforming an entire smile, their approach to creating dentistry that lasts stems from a deep understanding of esthetics, function, and the balance between the two. Mastering this balance requires a high level of training that goes beyond dental school! Since 1931, the Peck family has provided exceptional dental care, and Dr. Peck proudly continues this legacy alongside Dr. Frew.

8251 Cornell Rd., Ste 130, Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 621-7666, www.pecksmiles.com

Andrew F. Bartish, DDS, and Claire Tonnis, DDS, Velle Dental

Velle Dental provides cutting-edge, concierge dental care at two locations—one in White Oak and one in Mariemont—servicing patients from Greater Cincinnati and beyond. Velle Dental offers a complete spectrum of general and restorative dental services, ranging from routine preventive care visits to full mouth dental rehabilitations. In addition, Velle Dental provides full service aesthetic dentistry solutions, including: whitening, clear aligners, and veneers. Velle Dental’s doctors are also extremely proud to be at the industry forefront of 3D printed dentistry, enabling them to offer the fastest, highest quality treatment available today for our patients.

5916 Cheviot Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45247; 6822 Wooster Pke., Cincinnati, OH 45227, (513) 6615800, https://velledental.com

Dr. Raymond Bonomo

After 24 years of private practice we have become highly specialized in the placement of dental implants, teeth in a day (implant supported dentures), treating periodontal disease and gum recession. We pride ourselves on treating our patients like family by making each visit as pleasant as possible and offer two convenient office locations. We also offer a variety of sedation options to ease dental anxiety!

Our pillars: 1. We Serve 2. We are Honest and Trustworthy 3. We Work Hard 4. We are Innovative 5. We Seek Excellence

6208 Muhlhauser Rd., West Chester, OH 45069, (513) 671-0222; 34 Remick Blvd., Springboro, OH 45066, (937) 886-9940; www.bonomoperiodontics.net

Kent Morris Orthodontics

Dr. Kent Morris has been serving the Cincinnati area for over 20 years. Being an orthodontist is not just his career, it is his passion. When he is not in the office, he enjoys running, swimming, playing his guitar, and spending time with his family.

9573 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 683-3900, www.kentmorrisorthodontics.com

HEALTH WATCH 2025 BACK PAIN

Back Pain Handled

It’s easy to feel isolated when back pain forces you to skip regular activities with friends, family, and coworkers. Experts from Beacon Orthopaedics, The Christ Hospital, and UC Health share essential insights.

clumsier, tripping over your own feet, or dragging a foot when you walk all deserve serious attention. “We look out for neurological symptoms like pain running down the back of your leg or numbness,” says Rani Nasser, M.D., a complex spine neurosurgeon with UC Health. “These are signs of nerve impingement, which could come from a disk herniation or spinal stenosis.”

According to an article published in The American Journal of Public Health, Americans lose more than 101 million workdays due to back pain every year.

“Back pain will come for almost all of us,” says Jared Crasto, M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon with The Christ Hospital. “Back problems can arise from various factors. It could be something you’re born with, like a congenital anomaly of the spine. It could come from injuries that have started a degenerative cascade. Then there are systemic diseases, like autoimmune conditions. It could also be an infection you had throughout your body that settled in your spine and started degeneration of a disk.”

“I ask patients what caused their pain, and a lot of them will say they don’t know,” says Michael Rohmiller, M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon with Beacon Orthopaedics. “You don’t need to fall off a roof to have back pain.”

Pain in your back isn’t the only indicator that something may be wrong. Numbness, tingling, and weakness are also signs of potential problems. Suddenly becoming

Mild issues are common. Anyone who’s been too ambitious hauling groceries or moving furniture has likely dealt with some level of temporary back pain. If it fades in a few days with over-the-counter pain treatments, it probably doesn’t require professional However, there are several things to watch for that suggest you need immediate attention.

“If early symptoms are constant or worsening over one or two weeks, it’s time to see a doctor,” Crasto says. “Red flag symptoms are intractable pain, being unable to get off your couch for hours or a day, progressive weakness, or incontinence. It may be time for a trip to the emergency room.”

There are as many treatments for back issues as there are causes. Patients can expect a variety of tests depending

Dr. Matthew Hummel, M.D., Explains Total Joint ReplacemenT

How you can know when it’s time to explore surgical options to heal your joint pain.

For many people, the idea of surgery can be daunting, but Dr. Matthew Hummel, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine explains the ins and outs of total joint replacement—a procedure that can ease chronic pain, restore mobility, and greatly improve quality of life.

What is joint replacement surgery and why do people have it?

Joint replacement surgery replaces a damaged joint with a new one made of metal, plastic, or ceramic. That artificial joint is smooth and durable, and it can mimic the movement of a healthy joint. The goal of surgery is to get people back to enjoying life and being as active as they want to be.

Most people who have joint replacement surgery suffer from osteoarthritis. This common condition causes the cartilage—the flexible, rubbery tissue that protects joints and helps bones move

smoothly—and tissues in the joints to break down. When cartilage breaks down, you can have symptoms such as:

• A feeling that the joint is unstable

• Crackling, popping, or locking in the joint

• Joint stiffness

• Pain or swelling in the joint

• Reduced range of motion

The most common joint replacement surgeries are for knees and hips. The average age for a joint replacement in the U.S. is about 65.

When should people consider joint replacement surgery?

Joint replacement surgery may be a good option if your symptoms interfere with your ability to enjoy life. For example, the pain may keep you up at night, or you can’t walk your dog or play on the floor with your grandkids.

If you are dealing with joint issues, I encourage you to see an orthopaedic specialist. The specialist will do a physical exam and take X-rays of your painful joint. Surgery usually isn’t the first treatment option. Your doctor may prescribe conservative therapies—nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines and pain-relief injections. If symptoms persist, it may be time to consider joint replacement surgery.

Are new advancements leading to better outcomes for joint replacement?

Joint replacement surgery is evolving quickly. We’re seeing great improvements in technology, instrumentation, and knowledge. A few examples include:

• Better pain control strategies

• Evidence-based exercise strategies that restore range of motion faster than previous methods

• New information about how nutrition and supplements can enhance healing

• Robotic surgery systems that improve accuracy

Minimally invasive techniques continue to evolve as well. These procedures use smaller incisions and specialized instruments. The result is shorter recoveries and less post-operative pain than traditional “open” surgeries. Many patients can return home on the day of surgery.

Dr. Matthew Hummel is an orthopaedic surgeon at OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. He sees patients at OrthoCincy’s Edgewood location.

How can patients make sure their joint replacement surgery is successful?

I can think of three ways. First, find an orthopaedic surgeon you like and trust. Request a referral from your primary care doctor or ask friends for their recommendations.

Second, do everything you can to optimize your health before surgery. This can reduce your risk of complications and help you heal faster. Your doctor can give you specifics, but some good steps include losing weight if you are overweight and, if you smoke, trying to quit.

Third, remember that the days and weeks after surgery are critical. You will need to have physical therapy. It’s important to follow the rehabilitation plan carefully. Effort, a positive attitude, and communication with your care team lead to better outcomes.

What’s one more thing you wish patients knew about joint replacement surgery?

Many people cope with their symptoms for years before deciding to have surgery. Ironically, these are often the same people who say they wish they hadn’t waited so long. Joint replacement surgery can give you a new lease on life. An experienced orthopaedic specialist can help you find out if it’s a good option for you.

Don’t wait to get back to what you love—scan the QR code to learn more about our services.

on their unique symptoms and medical history.

“You’re probably going to get some X-rays as an initial step to see if there’s a bony problem,” Rohmiller says. “If that’s not the case, we’ll consider getting an MRI. We’ll occasionally perform nerve tests like an EMG. You may or may not be offered a CAT scan. Those are really the mainstay of the tests we use.”

Informed by the results of all necessary tests, doctors can begin working to personalize individual treatment plans, and it rarely starts the way patients expect.

“I treat human beings, not MRI screens,” Crasto says. Even when patients come to him with imaging showing clear skeletal anomalies, the scalpel isn’t the first tool he selects.

This approach isn’t unique to Crasto. “Most of the patients I see do not have spine surgery,” Rohmiller says. “When a patient comes to see me, they’re going to hear five options: living with the symptoms, taking oral medication, going through physical therapy, having injections, and then surgery. Just because a person has walked through the other steps doesn’t automatically mean they qualify for surgery.”

This conservative approach to back and spine treatment prioritizes therapies with the lowest risk of side effects. “Physical therapy is a good first-line treatment for back pain,” Nasser says. A study published in Health Service Research showed patients who went through physical therapy early in their treatment plans had less back pain and took fewer opioids than patients who

went to physical therapy later in their treatment. Other low-risk physical interventions include therapies like chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. If all other options fail to bring a patient’s pain or neurological symptoms under control, doctors may reexamine surgery as a viable alternative.

“I would broadly categorize spinal surgery into three concepts,” Crasto says. “The first is decompression of the nerves. If there is a disk herniation or a narrowing of the spinal canal suppressing the nerve or spinal cord, we try to un-pinch the nerves.

“The second concept is a fusion procedure. If I have to take so much normal anatomy out to decompress a nerve that the spine is unstable, we typically add screws and a rod and then lay down a bone graft between the bones in

that joint.

“The third concept is correction of alignment or deformity correction. Sometimes because of trauma, or a tumor, or infection, or just aging and arthritis, the overall harmony of the spine is disrupted. People with these problems can’t walk for very long. They can’t stand for very long, because it takes exponentially more energy for them. Correction of alignment aims to restore that harmony so you can stand upright and interact with the world.”

“A common myth is that everyone with back pain needs a fusion. That’s not true,” Nasser says. “Even when patients don’t improve with conservative care, we can often treat them without a fusion through minimally invasive decompression techniques. Think of it like a root canal, essentially, where we

make room for the nerve.”

Minimally invasive procedures utilize smaller incisions with less collateral damage to surrounding tissue. Their benefits include reduced blood loss, shorter recovery times, and less risk of secondary complications. This all leads to a better experience for patients.

“We try making the smallest incision possible to get the access we need,” Rohmiller says. “We can access the spine through the front, through the side, or through the back. We use all of those approaches depending on where the pathology is.”

The advances over the past few decades have already made a world of difference for patients, but Cincinnati’s doctors continue to seek better options.

“I think there’s a lot of room for growth in spine surgery,” Crasto says.

“As we grow to learn more about the spine and technology advances, I think we’ll have all kinds of new procedures that can target just the one problem and not have so much collateral damage.”

With their fingers on the pulse of developing therapies and an emphasis on personal treatment plans, local experts are ready to help. “Neurosurgery in general is a very intimidating thing for a lot of people,” Nasser says. “We do our best to inform patients about their options and get that stress off the table.”

It all begins with a conversation and a long list of options.

“You are not alone. There are many treatments that can be tailored to you, and many are not surgery. Don’t despair, don’t fret. Help is out there,” Crasto says.

SHEDDING A LITTLE LIGHT

In the Green Cincinnati Plan 2023, the city announced its aim to be carbon-neutral by 2050. Removing gaslights would assist with those ambitious goals.

TOWNSEND-SMALL DECIDED TO measure the methane footprint of Cincinnati’s gaslights. But fi rst she had to fi nd them.

When she asked the city’s Department of Transportation & Engineering for a list of lamps, they sent several yellowed maps from the 1970s. That was, until quite recently, the best available resource. After some Google-sleuthing and in-person investigating, Townsend-Small built a free digital resource on Google Maps that pinpoints every Cincinnati gaslight.

The map shows obvious clusters and intriguing outliers. There are hot spots like Avondale, Clifton, Roselawn, and Oakley. But as the city gradually replaced gaslights with electric, islands of orphaned illumination got left behind.

There’s a final trio still flickering on Francis Lane in Walnut Hills. The UC frat houses on University Court have an isolated handful as well. And there are curious cul-de-sacs like Lindell Lane in Mt. Lookout and Weron Lane in East Westwood, both nowhere near another gaslit street. There’s no historical context to explain why some streets kept their lights and others didn’t, says Curtis Hines, Cincinnati’s traffic engineering division manager.

Townsend-Small found gaslights dotting 10 different city neighborhoods and decided to sample emissions from each region. Throughout the school year, she’d meet Brewer and other students in UC’s Geology/Physics Building to calibrate equipment and head out for sampling.

On research days, they’d load up Townsend-Small’s little electric car with methane detectors and pile inside. They

took back roads, driving cautiously with a 10-foot ladder poking out of the hatchback. They’d park near lamps they had randomly pre-selected, then unfold the ladder and set up their mobile methane testing shop.

First, a student—often Brewer—would climb a few rungs and turn on a gas rover, the same handheld tool used to look for home gas leaks. One end of a long rubber hose faced the gaslight vents. The other end connected to a digital device, roughly the size and shape of a ping-pong paddle, that provided a readout of methane.

If the device detected elevated methane, the team moved to step two: the beefier high-flow sampler. Brewer placed a steel funnel and tinfoil over the lamp, which was connected by a long vacuum tube to the sampler, housed in what looks like a metalsided suitcase. The sampler is an industry tool which captures the gas emitting from a source and determines its emission rate.

The team tested 82 lamps across the 10 neighborhoods and found that Cincinnati’s average gaslight emits 1.7 grams of methane per hour. In comparison, water heaters typically release 0.2 grams and gas stoves release only 0.07 grams per hour. While the team’s research is not yet peer-reviewed, they presented their findings at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting in December and are now working on having it published in an academic journal.

Spread across the city’s system, that means the gaslights could be emitting a total of 16,700 kilograms of methane. That’s the equivalent emissions of 468 tons of carbon dioxide or 1.1 million miles driven by a gas-powered car, according to the EPA.

The team also found that Cincinnati’s gaslights had an average loss rate of 4 percent, meaning that 96 percent of the natural gas is most likely burned and 4 percent is emitted as methane. Three lamps emitted zero methane; they successfully converted all of the natural gas into less potent pollutants like carbon dioxide. In contrast, the highest-emitting lamp wasn’t even burning; natural gas was leaking straight into the atmosphere instead.

That range didn’t surprise TownsendSmall. “In every segment of the oil and gas supply chain, a few sources are responsible for the majority of emissions,” she says.

Unlike homes, Cincinnati gaslights aren’t metered. “The city just pays one gas bill for all 1,126 gaslights,” she says, so officials don’t know which light is using more gas than another.

Cincinnati pays a fixed fee with Duke Energy, Hines confirms. Any gas leaks or anomalies would be included in that citywide usage report.

Gaslights receive special attention, however, to prevent leaks. For maintenance, the city contracts with the Cincinnati Gas Lite Company, an Erlanger business that sells and services gas products like grills and fireplaces. Technicians evaluate each gaslight every two months, replacing burned-out burners and damaged globes. Then, every three years, city staff complete an extra inspection to see which lamps need painting or stabilizing. Any citizen can report a burned-out lamp by calling 311 or using the 311Cincy mobile app.

The gaslights require a bit more time and attention than typical electric lights. They also come at a higher cost. According to the Department of Transportation & Engineering, last year the city spent $2,153,000 to keep 30,000 electric streetlights running; that’s roughly $71 per light. The annual natural gas budget for gaslights is $136,500, or $124 each.

Those costs are spread across all city taxpayers. “It’s an amenity that some get an advantage from and everyone has to pay for,” says Stradling.

SO GASLIGHTS ARE DIMMER, DIRTIER , and pricier than their electric companions. But, Townsend-Small notes, “there’s a lot of identity in them,” which makes sweeping changes unlikely.

The last major push to remove Cincinnati gaslights was the late 1970s. The city episodically replaced lamps as needed, with little public pushback. In renter-heavy neighborhoods like Westwood and Overthe-Rhine, residents were more concerned with street safety than property values, says Stradling, and replacing the gaslights was a net benefit. But in other neighborhoods, “people got up in arms,” he says.

Resistance was fierce in Clifton, home of today’s Gaslight District. Stradling found dozens of letters from Clifton-based boosters in UC’s Archives and Rare Books Library

protesting replacement in the 1960s.

Residents wanted to keep the lights on because they provide character and charm, the letters argued. They separate the city from car-focused suburbs that were draining Cincinnati’s population at the time.

“Maintaining gaslights becomes a way of staking a claim to staying in the city,” says Stradling. “The lamps themselves become emblematic of a type of neighborhood that’s quaint and middle-class and urbane in a way that no other kind of street lighting could have.”

During his research, Stradling found letters from City Hall addressing “misunderstandings” and “rumors.” “It is the stated policy of the Council that the gaslights will not be removed unless we are petitioned to remove them by residents on a street and to replace them with electric lights,” wrote Councilman John Gilligan, later governor of Ohio, in a letter to a concerned Cliftonite in 1962. The city had no deal with Clifton to preserve the lamps, but also no intention of removing them.

That basically remains the case today. The gaslights were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 partly in response to community interest, but also to preempt clean energy legislation from the Ohio Statehouse and federal government. The city, as owners of the lights, supported the historic listing. When a pole is hit or damaged today, the city will attempt to salvage material and weld it back together to keep the existing pole intact, says Hines. “We try to maintain the infrastructure as best as we can, considering the fact that it’s more than a century old,” he says.

But the National Register doesn’t promise protection. Just like in the 1960s, any citizen can ask the city to remove their gaslights today. When City Hall receives a request, officials send postcards to property owners and poll the neighborhood. If enough people on the street vote to remove the gaslights, the city meets the request, so long as it has support from both community and city councils as well. The last time that happened was 2007, on Kirkup Avenue in Kennedy Heights.

It’s pragmatic preservation. “Currently we’re maintaining gaslights unless a neighborhood or street petitions to remove

them,” says Hines.

The UC team met so many strangers while sampling gaslights, it almost seemed like they were sampling public opinion, too. Brewer recalls a conversation with a woman in Clifton. “We told her a little bit about the project, and she was shocked to find out it was burning on natural gas,” she says. The woman had recently replaced her gas stove, an environmentally friendly move that reduced her home’s emissions. She said she actually wished for more gaslights to better illuminate her driveway.

That’s a stark contrast to an interaction in Roselawn, where a woman hoped the team was removing the gaslights completely. “It’s dangerous out here, and we need better lighting,” Brewer recalls her saying.

Another conversation popped up in Mt. Adams when a curious stranger approached and Townsend-Small asked the woman if she knew of any other gaslights in the area. “Oh yeah, the next street over, the whole street has them,” Townsend-Small recounts her saying. When they walked over to investigate, everything was an electric replica. In fact, only three of Mt. Adams’s lampposts still run on gas.

“People really love the gaslights,” says Townsend-Small, “but I don’t know if people really know what they are.”

The decoys in Mt. Adams are called decorative post-top lights, and they pop up across the city, says Hines. That includes Ludlow Avenue, the business anchor of Clifton’s Gaslight District. That streetlight outside the neighborhood’s Gaslight Bar and Grill? It’s electric. The city has a responsibility to brightly light high-traffic corridors, says Hines, and Ludlow Avenue would be too dark if it was still lit by gas.

If you’re not actively looking, you might not notice the difference between a gaslight and a decoy. If there’s anything she wants people to take from her study, TownsendSmall says, “I hope that people understand this is natural gas.” It’s a limited resource providing a limited light source.

BREWER LEARNED A LOT FROM HER talks with strangers on the sidewalk. When she moved to Cincinnati for college, she was startled to discover the gas-burning lamps. She’s now more surprised how little people know about natural gas, where

it comes from, and what it’s made of. “I really started to understand natural gas in a different way and started to understand how to communicate to people about it,” she says.

Brewer graduated in May 2024 with degrees in environmental studies and Spanish and hopes to continue studying methane in graduate school. Townsend-Small’s project provided hands-on research and direct mentorship. “It was a great experience for so many different reasons,” says Brewer.

Stradling, the historian, thinks the gaslights are here to stay. Natural gas is the most efficient and cost-effective way to heat homes in the region, he says, so the grid will remain intact. And it’s unlikely city managers will advocate for the wholesale removal of a prized city treasure. “Getting rid of all the gaslights would be a terribly expensive endeavor,” he says, adding that streets would need underground electric cables and completely new hardware. “My guess is that they’ll persist for quite some time.”

The fact that these landmark lamps, some of which could be nearing 175 years old, are still functional is a testament to generations of support. Yet electrification would provide a big step toward meeting the city’s stated climate goals. City Hall has long known the lamps are expensive and inefficient, though in the big picture of government infrastructure the yearly cost to pump natural gas to them is .00007 percent of the city’s annual budget.

The gaslights remain an emblem from another era, when Cincinnati was a cultural and economic powerhouse. “Gas lamps take on this romantic aura of when Cincinnati was prosperous and sophisticated,” Stradling says. “Few cities would ever think about tying their identity to archaic technology, but Cincinnati managed to do it.”

The gaslights symbolize Cincinnati, regardless of your perspective. For supporters, they’re a throwback to the glory days, a proud memento of our earliest successes. For detractors, they’re a totem to the city’s begrudging reputation. Cincinnati was behind the times installing the lamps in 1843 and seems behind the times in removing them. What could be more Cincinnati than that?

During her time in Central Office, Murphy has been both assistant superintendent and chief of student, family, and community engagement. In 2015, she completed her superintendent licensure at the University of Dayton.

Catherine Kemme is team leader and teaches English and math courses at the Zoo Academy, a CPS career technical program housed within the Cincinnati Zoo where students explore interests in horticulture, veterinary science, animal science, and environmental science while doing hands-on service learning. She’s

parted in 2017. The others were and are experienced executives: Laura Mitchell is now CEO of Beech Acres, Tianay Amat is now CEO of Cincinnati Works, and Wright came to Cincinnati after school district leadership roles in Florida and Michigan. Running an urban public school district with dwindling state and federal funding (and possibly a gutted U.S. Department of Education) while still recovering from COVID disruptions is the very definition of “tough job.”

MURPHY’S GOAL FOR EACH CINCINNATI

Public Schools student is to become one of the “Three Es”: employed; enlisted (in some sort of service, military or otherwise); or enrolled in college or a post-graduate trade program. “With this job, I have a direct opportunity to develop good citizens in our community,” she says.

To achieve that vision, CPS—which is rated 2.5 out of 5 stars on the state report card and has one of the top-rated high

CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER EVE BOLTON

CALLS MURPHY A STRAIGHT SHOOTER AND IS EXCITED ABOUT THE DISTRICT’S FUTURE UNDER HER LEADERSHIP.

always appreciated Murphy’s dedication to career and technical programs like the Zoo Academy.

“She seems to value students, parents, teachers, and partnerships and not only listens to feedback but takes action,” says Kemme. “The teachers I know like her and feel heard and supported. I do, too. She seems organized, thoughtful, and proactive.”

Gaines says that Murphy should get credit for forecasting the opportunity for public schools to engage with community partners and private companies and for being a team player and a huge advocate of others. “I’m excited to see the work she does for the school district,” says Gaines. “She’s going to give everyone a sense of stability, and it’s been a very long time since they felt that.”

Murphy is the fourth CPS superintendent in the eight years since Ronan de-

schools in Ohio (Walnut Hills)—is tackling a host of goals set by the Board of Education such as:

• Increasing the percentage of thirdgraders who are proficient in reading on the Ohio State Test from 47.5 percent in June 2023 to 61 percent by June 2027;

• Increasing the percentage of proficient scores for first-time Algebra I test takers from 30 percent in June 2023 to 50 percent by June 2027; and

• Improving the percentage of students who meet the requirements for graduation from 81.4 percent in June 2023 to 94 percent by June 2027.

Kareem Moncree-Moffett was elected to the Board of Education in 2021 and recently became president of the board, but she was a self-described helicopter parent when she first met Murphy. She’d been co-president of the Parent Teacher Organization at Withrow High School and a

constant attendee at board meetings. “Ms. Murphy has heard my mouth for a long time,” she says, laughing.

Moncree-Moffett was one of four board members who voted to give Murphy the permanent role. “Looking back, I wish we had begun the process a little earlier to engage the community more,” she says. “But our district was suffering at that moment and needed some consistency.”

The vote came near the end of a threehour long board meeting on November 18, during what was listed on the agenda as a routine update on the ongoing superintendent search. To the surprise of some board members and Murphy herself, member Jim Crossett made a motion to forgo the search and offer Murphy and Alesia Smith the permanent positions.

“I think we’ve been very lucky to have a strong interim superintendent and interim deputy superintendent and management team,” Crossett said before making the motion. “I’ve been visiting schools and gotten a lot of positive feedback from teachers and principals and from community members and retirees.”

Board member Brandon Craig countered. “This is not to take away from the hard work that both the interim superintendent and the deputy interim superintendent have done,” he said. “But the process we used to select them—the time and effort we took to meet with them, which speaks more to what we did as what they did—was very minimal.... We spent 10 minutes with both candidates. I couldn’t support that process.”

Board member Ben Lindy also couldn’t either, despite Murphy and Smith doing a “remarkable job” with some of the challenges they’d faced. The board must conduct a job search, he said.

Moncree-Moffett supported the motion but asked for a two-year term. “Our district is hemorrhaging,” she said. “We’ve had to close a huge gap and made some significant changes. I would like to give our community, our students, our staff some semblance of stability.”

Longtime board member Eve Bolton said she didn’t like the process either or selecting a superintendent without unanimous support, but “the reality is we have to negotiate six [union] contracts. We have to

change the way we’re doing business. There is trust in the district with who we have.”

Lindy says he ultimately voted against the motion because the board missed an important opportunity to strengthen public trust. “We owe it to the public and to our employees to have an open, transparent process that’s announced in advance and then followed,” he says.

Bolton calls Murphy a straight shooter and is excited about the district’s future under her leadership. “I think she’s really done more in the last six months than we’ve had done at the district for six years,” says Bolton. “She’s at the helm of implementing the biggest reorganization effort in the district in more than 25 years.”

THE REORGANIZATION BOLTON DEscribes is officially called the District Performance, Redesign, Sustainability, and Growth Plan. It was created by the Board of Education’s Ad Hoc Committee in 2023 and 2024 with three goals: improving operational efficiency, removing barriers so that every student can access everything CPS offers, and focusing on initiatives to equip students to become one of the “Three Es” after graduation (employed, enlisted, or enrolled).

The plan calls for reorganizing the district into East, Central, and West corridors so that each provides a similar variety of school and educational options such as magnet, Montessori, and neighborhood schools. Schools of choice with districtwide open enrollment (School for Creative and Performing Arts, Walnut Hills, Zoo Academy) would be located in the Central corridor.

“We had community input, staff input, parent input,” says Moncree-Moffett. “One thing that came out really early was the request to get seventh and eighth graders out of the high schools because the data showed they were suffering in a high school environment.”

So the plan also includes the creation of grades 6–8 middle schools and grades 7–8 junior highs and redraws elementary school boundary lines to deal with overcrowding and under-enrollment. All CPS high schools will continue to offer open enrollment.

The district’s finances are commanding

these changes, says Moncree-Moffett. A large number of students switch corridors within the 91-square-mile district each year, and CPS is required by law to provide transportation to every qualifying student in the district, including private and charter school students. CPS has stopped receiving Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds awarded by the federal government to help students and schools rebound after COVID. Those funds added $112.8 million to the CPS budget in 2024.

Over time, the Growth Plan should help CPS assume a more neighborhood-like model, Murphy and Moncree-Moffett say, saving money and better serving students, their families, and neighborhoods. All enrollment procedures will be done at Central Office away from individual schools.

The plan is being conducted in three phases. Phase 1 was implemented this school year with the creation of Shroder Junior High in Madisonville, the phased dissolution of Riverview East Academy due to declining enrollment, and the move of the Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students into the former Riverview East Academy building, where that program would have room to grow. The district also changed Mt. Washington Elementary School into a Pre-K to eighth grade school, reflecting a long-time request from the community.

“Next year we’ll have more junior highs and more middle schools by repurposing some of our high schools and some of our elementary schools,” Murphy says. “Pleasant Hill will be a middle school. South Avondale will be a middle school. Evanston will be a junior high school. Hartwell will be a middle school.”

Phase 2 involves drawing new boundary lines for almost every CPS elementary school, which the Board of Education approved during a seven-hour meeting in December. Before the vote, roughly 50 public speakers offered input, most of them unsupportive of the plan for reasons ranging from increased class sizes to ruining the fabric of an existing school community to dismantling a system that was working.

For those with questions or wanting to talk specifics about the district’s direction, Murphy hosts monthly “Sundae with

Shauna” events on Sunday afternoons at a rotating school. She occasionally hosts “Open Office,” a web-based meeting where she takes questions from viewers.

Lindy says he has every hope that Murphy and Smith will lead the district out of many of its predicaments. One of the most pressing challenges will be next school year’s budget deliberations, which he expects to be more painful than the last.

Uncomfortable conversations are coming, says Murphy, and they won’t be easy. She often considers something her mother told her when she thinks about her approach to each CPS student, employee, parent, and critic. “When my mom got ill, I asked her, Tell me your greatest life lesson,” she says. “I thought she was going to say something about being independent or something about the importance of education. She said, Treat people the way you want to be treated.”

The Rev. Dan Larkin Jr., pastor of Southern Baptist Church, has known Murphy for 40 years or so, meeting her when he was about 12 and she was 17 or 18. He remembers her being kind and counseling him and other young members of the congregation. The two became friends over the decades and work together often, as Murphy is also superintendent of the church’s educational programs and helps keep men’s and women’s groups, Sunday School, and more on track.

“She’s a ball of energy, always with that rah rah team spirit,” says Larkin. “When she became the interim, I was like, They’re going to know that they have their next superintendent. There may be people who perceive her as an enemy, but she’s not seeing them as confrontational. She’s going to get to the crux of how much this has to do with making our students better.”

Moncree-Moffett says she knows one thing about Murphy: She looks at each student as if they were her own. “I think people don’t know that she really is a human person behind these decisions, good or bad,” she says. “And she’s not making those decisions in a silo.”

Murphy stresses a team approach. “There’s no problem that can’t be solved,” she says. “Might be hard to get there, but if you have the right people you can do anything you put your mind to.”

FOOD OASIS IN VERSAILLES P. 80 FOOD AND DRINKS ABROAD P. 82

PIZZA IN DAYTON P. 85

CARROT DISHES P. 85

BAR NONE

Belly up to the bar at Wayfarer Tavern and enjoy a glass of beer, wine, or a cocktail crafted with one of the restaurant’s housemade syrups.

Flavor Town

This sleek eatery makes its mark in Darke County.

SILAS CREATIVE KITCHEN MAY BE LOcated in a small town, but it has big farmto-table flavor. Named after Versailles’s founder, pioneer Silas Atchison, the restaurant focuses on sustainably sourced ingredients and creative culinary takes. Although it’s located inside of a boutique hotel, the place easily shakes off the“hotel food” label.

Guided by Aaron Allen, the former executive chef at Coppin’s Restaurant and Bar in Covington, the menu starts with small plates worth sharing. Like the apple and walnut salad, a healthy plate of arugula tossed in vadouvan walnut butter and roquefort mousse with an unexpected scoop of green apple sorbet for a flavor combo that’ll make your tastebuds sing. The squid ink pasta and the red shrimp in the seafood spaghetti made a lovely pair, the shrimp’s briny taste wrangled into submission by garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes. And don’t miss out on the housemade Bavarian pretzels; the red dragon mustard, beer cheese, and honey mustard give them a spicy kick that you won’t want to pass up.

On the entrée side of the menu, there’s more seafood than one would expect for a restaurant that’s not too far from the Indiana-Ohio border (Heron Point crab cake, grilled sea bass, pan-seared scallops), all of which is a testament to fresh ingredients. But if you’re looking for dishes with more bite, go for the Snake River Farms Wagyu short rib or the chorizo and cornbread–stuffed chicken thigh with Appalachian style dumplings. They will make the beef lover in you proud. —AIESHA

D. LITTLE

Silas Creative Kitchen, 21 W. Main St., Versailles, Ohio, (937) 526-3020, hotelversaillesohio.com/silas-creative-kitchen.

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Yummy Travels

Check out these food- and drink-focused global getaways.

—RODNEY WILSON

WITH LOCAL CHEFS PULLING DOWN NATIONal recognition left and right, Cincinnati has an incredible dining scene these days. You don’t have to leave the city limits for a memorable meal crafted by recognized food artisans. Dining abroad, however, is an extra special experience and one of the key reasons people travel to parts unknown. For those who crave culinary globe-hopping with a local touch, gastronomic galivanting alongside local experts can be a particularly satisfying experience.

As if establishing his own restaurant dynasty wasn’t enough work, Jose Salazar quickly said yes when Modern Adventure, an experiential travel company, approached him in 2021 with an offer to lead food-focused tours abroad. So far, he’s conducted three: Morocco in 2023, and Peru and Mexico City last April and October, respectively.

“I think traveling with someone who has a deep understanding of ingredients and cooking techniques is a great way to learn,” he says. “Guests are always really excited to have the ability to ask questions and get tips and tricks that maybe they wouldn’t get from, say, reading a cookbook.”

Modern Adventure takes its travelers through flavors and cultures of various destinations. And while Salazar serves to enhance the dining experience on these tours, even cooking alongside other guests, he’s very much an eager participant in the journey as well, recalling a transformative five-hour hike to Peru’s Machu Picchu on his most recent trip that bonded him to travel mates.

Another sacred memory naturally involves food. “It was an afternoon spent in the Atlas mountains of Morocco,” he says,

recalling his first Modern Adventure tour. “We spent a day with a group of women who rolled couscous by hand. They taught us how to make it and cooked us the most delicious tagine featuring their amazing product.”

And though he’s re-opening his expanded flagship restaurant Salazar this summer, the Colombia-born chef will make time this September for a seven-night trip to Portugal through Modern Adventure. “We will explore Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro Valley,” he says. “I can’t wait!”

For Yvette Simpson, a passion for wine led her to establish a private wine label, Vette’s Vineyards, as well as an education and tasting experience called Wine Inculturated that also features educational and entertaining trips abroad. “Wine education is a deep passion of mine,” she explains, “and I was trying to find a way to help people realize that wine is culture and is reflected across our entire world.”

People had been asking her to host winecentered trips abroad for some time, but she lacked time to plan extensive experiences. Through a partnership with a college friend, the former attorney took her inaugural Wine Inculturated trip last fall. The six-night trip to Southern Portugal featured five-star accommodations, breakfast, a long lunch or dinner, admission to cultural landmarks, and, of course, wine tastings.

“Your wine experience is going to be exemplary because you’re going to do a tour of the winery and the wine operations,” she explains. “And we layer with this food experience. In Portugal, we met with some of the most up-and-coming chefs, including one of the youngest Michelin-star chefs in Alentejo.”

Simpson’s tours include stops at beloved local mom-and-pop shops, cultural tours with historians, and fellowship with travel mates united by common passions—many of whom have stayed in touch following the Portugal trip. “We stay connected,” she says. “A bunch of the folks from the first trip are coming and bringing friends and family

CONTINUED ON P. 84

Cincinnatians are venturing out internationally and finding food, drinks, and fun in places like Peru, Germany, and Portugal.

GLOBE TROTTING

to the next trip, too. And we build relationships with people there.”

Wine Inculturated has a second trip to Southern Tuscany and Umbria in October, with plans for two annual trips starting in 2026.

If wine isn’t your thing, you can have a similar experience with beer.

The Germania Society of Cincinnati’s stated purpose is to “maintain and perpetuate German heritage in the Greater Cincinnati region”—an important cultural service in a city that hosts the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the U.S. For many years, this included trips abroad, though society president Kevin Luken explains those trips of decades past often involved first-generation Cincinnatians traveling together only to leave the group for familial visits that lasted the duration of the trip.

In recent years, younger society members have shown a more genuine appetite for group travel, which heartens him. In fact, the society raffled off a German trip, a promotion that was so successful he’s already planning raffles for future trips. This year’s raffle was for a Bavarian tour hosted by Munich resident Scott Stephens, whose wife formerly lived and worked in Cincinnati (his master brewer son got his first brewing job at Newport’s Hofbräuhaus).

Stephens and his wife, Voina, operate BayernTrips in Bavaria (the preferred service of the Germania Society) and offer a handful of beer-centric tours that should interest a good number of Queen City residents.

The business benefits from Stephens’s relationships with Bavarian pubs and brewers, and guests experience tours with brewers and proprietors that usually aren’t accessible to solo travelers. As a Munich resident, he’s also able to guide guests to Bavaria’s best food and drink spots.

“My forte is to expose my guests to the richness of the Bavarian culture, history, and tradition,” he says. “This is an integral part of understanding a culture, and also the most memorable and fun.”

Eyes on the Pies

AST COAST MEETS DETROIT AT WAYFARER TAV-

ern. Located in Dayton, Kentucky’s historic Burton Building, exposed brick, a custom-built dark wood bar, and homey, checkered tablecloths make visitors feel like they’re about to find their new comfort food. While you’ve probably come for the pizza, don’t skip the appetizers. Whether you’re looking for an upscale starter like the Wagyu beef carpaccio or something tried-and-true like garlic cheese sticks, you may want to order a few for the table.

The pizza is no doubt the star. The hybrid-style, square-cut pizza crafted by owner Mike Dew features a crispy, cheesy, thin crust with many topping combinations to choose from: Those who want a more classic pizza may opt for the pepperoni (crispy pepperoni, house-made red sauce, and five-cheese blend) or the veggie (mushroom, onion, banana peppers, red sauce, and five-cheese blend). If you’re feeling more adventurous, try the Pickle Power (white sauce, pickles, onion, three-cheese blend, dill, chive, house-made ranch, and ridged potato chips) or the Korean corn cheese (white sauce, three-cheese blend, corn, sweet and spicy pickled jalapeño, Gochujang BBQ sauce, and green onion).

Save room for dessert. The Half-Dip Cookie (chocolate chip bacon cookie, peanut butter mousse, half-dipped in chocolate) ends the meal on the sweetest of notes.

—BRIANNA CONNOCK

Wayfarer Tavern, 635 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky, (859) 360-0943, wayfarertavern.com

Veggie lovers, rejoice! April 4 is International Carrot Day, so take your pick from these local carrotbased dishes.

—AIESHA D. LITTLE

KOREAN CARROTS

Sold by the pound, these sweet-and-sour fermented carrots can be eaten as a side dish or used as a garnish on your protein of choice. The Pickled Pig, 645 E. McMillian St., Walnut Hills, (513) 748-7114, smokedan dpickled. com

CHARRED CARROT

PARISIAN CARROT

SALAD

CARROT CAKE

Seasoned with ras el hanout (cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric) and dukkah (an Egyptian spice blend with toasted nuts and sesame seeds), this carrot is a Middle Eastern dream. The Aperture, 900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, (513) 872-1970, theapertu recinci.com

This fresh acidic carrot salad, featuring toasted hazelnut, parsley, and cider vinaigrette, is the perfect crunchy primer for Colette’s “mostly French” menu. Colette, 1400 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 381-1018, coletteotr. com

ROASTED CARROT SANDWICH

1 2 3 4 5

Not interested in carrots as a side or on a salad? The garlic yogurt, sauce romesco, kale, and focaccia that make up this sandwich give the vegetable some heft. The Wheel, 3805 Brotherton Rd., Oakley, (513) 271-0291, thewheeloakley.com

Made with fresh carrots and cream cheese-infused frosting, this rich cake is adorned with walnuts, carrot-shaped which chocolate, and a dusting of cinnamon. The BonBonerie, 2030 Madison Rd., O’Bryonville, (513) 321-3399, bonbonerie. com

AMERICAN 86

BARBECUE 87

CAJUN/CARIBBEAN 87

CHINESE 87

ECLECTIC 88

FRENCH 90

INDIAN 91

ITALIAN 91

JAPANESE 93

KOREAN 93

MEDITERRANEAN 93

MEXICAN 94

SEAFOOD 94

STEAKS 94

THAI 94

VIETNAMESE 95

DINING GUIDE

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE’S

dining guide is compiled by our editors as a service to our readers. The magazine accepts no advertising or other consideration in exchange for a restaurant listing. The editors may add or delete restaurants based on their judgment. Because of space limitations, all

AMERICAN

BOOMTOWN BISCUITS & WHISKEY

Boomtown leans hard into the Gold Rush theme: prospector-style overall aprons on servers, bluegrass tunes humming, and rustic decor details. And the dense grub isn’t for the faint of heart. Arrive with an empty belly, ready for a carbo load. The biscuits are all they’re cracked up to be, and the gravy’s not playing around, either. Sample its biscuits and gravy styles with a gravy flight. Or try The Yukon, an anytime breakfast sandwich, featuring fried chicken on par with the best the city has to offer. By the end of the meal, you’ll feel a little out of place without your own denim getup.

9039 U.S. Route 42, Suite H, Union, (859) 384-5910, boomtownbiscuitsandwhiskey. com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Wed–Sat. Breakfast and lunch Sun. MCC. $

MR. GENE’S DOGHOUSE

Cumminsville is home to arguably the best hot chili cheese mett and chocolate malt in Greater Cincinnati. A family-owned business that began as a simple hot dog stand more than 50 years ago, Mr. Gene’s still attracts lines of loyal customers at its windows. Can’t stand the heat? Order the mild chili cheese mett—more flavor, fewer BTUs. And if you still haven’t embraced Cincinnati-style coneys, try the Chicago-style hot dog with pickles, onions, relish, mustard, tomato, sport peppers, and celery salt; a pork sandwich; or wings (a sign proclaims “So hot they make the devil sweat”). Although the chocolate malt is the biggest seller, we love the $4.75 pineapple shake, made with real pineapple. 3703 Beekman St., South Cumminsville, (513) 541-7636, mrgenesdoghouse.com. Open Feb–Oct for lunch and dinner Mon–Sat. MC, V. $

Top10

IVORY HOUSE

The menu here generally doesn’t reinvent dishes or introduce outlandish fl avors, but simply pays attention to enough little things to make the results unusually good. All steaks are premium and hand-selected, the star player being the Japanese A5 Wagyu. The

ROMANCE CENTRAL

Four Greater Cincinnati restaurants—Boca, Jag’s Steak & Seafood, Primavista, and Carlo & Johnny— recently made

OpenTable’s “100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America” list for 2025. The list is created from more than 10 million reviews from verified

OpenTable diners and dining metrics, including diner ratings, the percentage of five-star reviews, and the percentage of reservations made in advance. opentable.com/c/ top-restaurants/top100-romantic

of the guide’s restaurants may not be included. Many restaurants have changing seasonal menus; dishes listed here are examples of the type of cuisine available and may not be on the menu when you visit.

To update listings, e-mail: cmletters@cincinnati magazine.com

Ultimate Surf & Turf is a date night favorite with a 34-ounce Angus Tomahawk, four shrimp, four scallops and two lobster tails. Bluefin tuna steak is complemented by cilantro lime rice, a vegetable medley, chimichurri, and a soy ginger vinaigrette. Confit duck leg, an Ivory House specialty, is served with parsnip mash, confit beets, and berry gastrique. The cocktails are ones you’ve probably seen before, but everything—from the Death Valley Farm Old Fashioned to the Best West Lemon Drop—has an extra dash of liveliness from a house-made element, like the rosemary syrup.

2998 Harrison Ave., Westwood, (513) 3890175, ivoryhousecincy.com. Dinner seven days, brunch Sun. MCC. DC. $$$

RON’S ROOST

Ron’s stakes its reputation on its fried chicken, serving roughly 10,000 pieces weekly. It takes a few minutes, since each batch is made to order. Ron’s also serves chicken 18 other ways, including chicken livers in gravy. It’s all about the chicken here, but the menu is five solid pages of other stuff good enough to be called specialties: Oktoberfest sauerbraten, Black Angus cheeseburgers, fried whitefish on rye, hot bacon slaw, lemon meringue pie (homemade, of course), and the best Saratoga chips this side of Saratoga.

3853 Race Rd., Bridgetown, (513) 574-0222, ronsroost.net. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

SOUL SECRETS

You no longer need an event to celebrate with a fish fry. At Candice Holloway’s restaurant, Soul Secrets, fried chicken and fish are always on the menu. Servers wearing T-shirts that read “my ancestors sent me” introduce guests to a trim menu full of the best soul food. You can’t go wrong with the fried fish platters. The whiting is good, but the catfish is divine. The cornmeal breading is so perfectly seasoned you won’t need salt, and the light crunch it adds doesn’t hide the star of the show. So soft it’s nearly fluff y, the catfish melts in your mouth. Each catfish platter delivers two enormous pieces of fish along with two sides and a cornbread muffin that may be the best in Cincinnati. This is the kind of meal you take home with you—not just in your heart but in a box—because chances are low you’ll conquer all the fish and sides in one go.

KEY: No checks unless specified.

AE American Express, DC Diners Club

DS Discover, MC MasterCard, V Visa

MCC Major credit cards: AE, MC, V

1434 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 721-7685, soulsecretscincy.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $

SUGAR N’ SPICE

This Paddock Hills diner, with other locations in Over-the-Rhine and Blue Ash, has been dishing up wispy-thin pancakes and football-sized omelettes to Cincinnatians since FDR was signing new deals. Breakfast and lunch offerings mix old-hat classics like steak and eggs, corned beef hash, and basic burgers with funky iterations that draw on ethnic ingredients such as chorizo and tzatziki. Get here early if you don’t want to stand in line.

4381 Reading Rd., Paddock Hills, (513) 2423521; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 762-0390; 10275 Summit Pkwy., Blue Ash, (513) 447-6453, eatsugarnspice.com. Breakfast and lunch seven days. MCC. $

TANO BISTRO

This Loveland bistro is comfortable, with reasonably priced food and amenable service. The menu is tidy—25 or so dishes divided between appetizers, salads, and entrées, plus two or three specials—its flavor profile partially influenced by a childhood growing up in a third-generation Italian family. Most of Tano Bistro’s main courses lean toward the comfortable side of American. For instance, Williams serves a stuffed salmon and an allegiance pork chop. The sprout & snout appetizer is also worth a trip to Loveland, combining balsamic-drizzled Brussels sprouts with sliced pork belly.

204 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, (513) 6838266; 150 Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton, (513) 795-8654, foodbytano.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat, dinner Sun & Mon. MCC. $$$

THE WILDFLOWER CAFÉ

Wildflower Café is not the sort of place that tries to wow anyone with feats of inventiveness. Its formula is simple but satisfying: lots of mostly local meat and produce, a menu that continuously changes with available ingredients, a nice selection of wine and beer, and well-made, homey food. The small, focused menu has a classic American quality (salads, steaks, burgers) with enough surprises to keep things interesting. Many of the dishes are designed with open spaces to be filled with whatever is available in the kitchen that

day, an advantage of an unfussy style. You don’t go to Wildflower expecting a certain kind of perfection; you accept that your favorite dish from last time might be made differently tonight, or no longer available. Like the farmhouse that Wildflower occupies, the imperfections are part of the charm.

207 E. Main St., Mason, (513) 492-7514, wildflowermason.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$$

BARBECUE

BEE’S BARBEQUE

You’ll want to get to Bee’s early if you want to avoid the line of friendly regulars. The restaurant’s smoker churns out a variety of meats—including brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey breast, and two kinds of sausage—so it’s easy to see why they keep coming back. If you enjoy the spicy grease that oozes out of a good chorizo, you’ll love the Cincinnati Hot Link, which tastes like the delicious love child of a chorizo and a hot mett. Word to the wise: Bee’s opens at 11 a.m. and closes when they run out of meat. Understandably, this doesn’t take long. 5910 Chandler St., Madisonville, (513) 561-2337. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat; 1403 Vine St., Over-theRhine, (513) 721-2337, beesbarbecue.com. Lunch and dinner Wed–Sun. MCC. $

ELI’S BBQ

Elias Leisring started building his pulled pork reputation under canopies at Findlay Market and Fountain Square in 2011. Leisring’s proper little ’cue shack along the river serves up ribs that are speaking-in-tongues good, some of the zazziest jalapeño cheese grits north of the Mason-Dixon line, and browned mashed potatoes that would make any short-order cook diner-proud. The small no-frills restaurant—packed cheek-by-jowl most nights—feels like it’s been there a lifetime, with customers dropping vinyl on the turntable, dogs romping in the side yard, and picnic tables crowded with diners. The hooch is bring-your-own, and the barbecue is bona fide. 3313 Riverside Dr., East End, (513) 533-1957; 133 West Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 533-1957, ext. 2, elisbarbeque.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

WALT’S HITCHING POST

A Northern Kentucky institution returns. Roughly 750 pounds of ribs per week are pit-fired in a small building in front of the restaurant, with a smaller dedicated smoker out back for brisket and chicken. Walt’s ribs begin with several hours in the smokehouse and then are quick-seared at the time of service. This hybrid method takes advantage of the leaner nature of the baby-back ribs they prefer to use. Each rib had a just-right tooth to it where soft flesh peeled away from the bone. One hidden treasure: Walt’s homemade tomato and garlic dressing. Slightly thicker than a vinaigrette yet unwilling to overwhelm a plate of greens, the two key elements play well together.

3300 Madison Pke., Ft. Wright, (859) 360-2222, waltshitchingpost.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$

CAJUN/ CARIBBEAN

BREWRIVER CREOLE

More than 800 miles from New Orleans, this may be as close as you can get to the real deal here in your own backyard. The menu fully leans into Chef Michael Shields’s penchant for cuisine from the Crescent City. His six years of training under NOLA’s own Emeril Lagasse comes through in a scratch kitchen menu that spans a range of the city’s classics. The enormous shrimp and oyster po’boys—the former protein fried in a light and crispy beer batter and the latter in a hearty cornmeal breading—are served on fluff y French bread loaves and dressed with lightly spicy rémoulades. The jambalaya packs all the heat of a late summer day in the French

Quarter without masking a hint of its satisfying flavors. Paired with a Sazerac and nightly live jazz, you may just feel tempted to start a second line.

4632 Eastern Ave., Linwood, (513) 861-2484, brewrivercreolekitchen.com. Dinner Tues–Sun, brunch and lunch Sat & Sun. MCC. $

SWAMPWATER GRILL

At first blush, this place is a dive where homesick Cajuns can find a good pile of jambalaya. But thoughtful details like draft Abita Root Beer and char-grilled Gulf Coast oysters on the half shell signal its ambition. Bayou standards like jambalaya, gumbo, and fried seafood also make an appearance. But the extensive menu also features amped-up pub-style items for those who may be squeamish about crawfish tails (which can be added to just about anything on the menu). You’ll also find a roundup of oyster, shrimp, catfish, and alligator po’boys, as well as a selection of hardwood-smoked meats.

3742 Kellogg Ave., East End, (513) 834-7067, swampwatergrill.com. Lunch and dinner Wed–Sun, brunch Sat & Sun. V, MC, DS, AMEX. $$

KNOTTY PINE ON THE BAYOU

The Pine serves some of the best Louisiana home-style food you’ll find this far north of New Orleans. Taste the fried catfish filets with their peppery crust, or the garlic sauteed shrimp with smoky greens on the side, and you’ll understand why it’s called soul food. Between March and June, it’s crawfish season. Get them boiled and heaped high on a platter or in a superb crawfish etouffee. But the rockin’ gumbo—a thick, murky brew of andouille sausage, chicken, and vegetables—serves the best roundhouse punch all year round. As soon as you inhale the bouquet and take that first bite, you realize why Cajun-style food is considered a high art form and a serious pleasure. And you’ll start planning your return trip.

6302 Licking Pke., Cold Spring, (859) 781-2200, theknottypineonthebayou.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

CHINESE

AMERASIA

A sense of energetic fun defines this tiny Chinese spot with a robust beer list. The glossy paper menu depicts Master Chef Rich Chu as a “Kung Food” master fighting the evil fast-food villain with dishes like “fly rice,” “Brocco-Lee,” and “Big Bird’s Nest.” Freshness rules. Potstickers, dumplings, and wontons are hand shaped. The Dragon’s Breath wontons will invade your dreams. Seasoned ground pork, onion, and cilantro meatballs are wrapped in egg dough, wok simmered, and topped with thick, spicy red pepper sauce and fresh cilantro. Noodles are clearly Chef Chu’s specialty, with zonxon (a tangle of thin noodles, finely chopped pork, and mushrooms cloaked in spicy dark sauce and crowned with peanuts and cilantro) and Matt Chu’s Special (shaved rice noodles, fried chicken, and seasonal vegetables in gingery white sauce) topping the menu’s flavor charts. 521 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 261-6121, kungfood.online. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Sat. MCC. $

ORIENTAL WOK

When Mike and Helen Wong opened Oriental Wok in 1977, the couple wanted to recreate the glamor and refinement of the Hong Kong-Cantonese cuisine they knew. Today, locals and expats alike enjoy authentic Chinese and Chinese-American dishes in dining rooms reminiscent of Beijing. Beyond the elephant tusk entryway and fish ponds and fountains is the warmth and hospitality of the Wong family, service on par with the finest establishments, and very, very good food. Best are the fresh fish: salmon, grouper and sea bass steamed, grilled or fried in a wok, needing little more than the ginger-green onion sauce that accompanies them. Oriental Wok is the tri-state’s longest-running family-owned Chinese restaurant for a reason.

317 Buttermilk Pke., Ft. Mitchell, (859) 331-3000; 2444 Madison Rd., Hyde Park, (513) 871-6888, orientalwok.com. Lunch Mon–Fri (Ft. Mitchell; buffet

Sun 11–2:30), lunch Tues–Sat (Hyde Park), dinner Mon–Sat (Ft. Mitchell) dinner Tues–Sun (Hyde Park). MCC. $$

SICHUAN

BISTRO

Like many Chinese restaurants that cater to both mainstream American and Chinese palates, this strip mall gem uses two menus. The real story here is found in dishes of pungent multi-layered flavors that set your mouth ablaze with fermented peppers and fresh chilies and then just as quickly cool it down with the devilish, numbing sensation of hua jiao, Sichuan pepper. Its numbing effect is subtle at first: appetizers of cold sliced beef and tripe, as well as slices of pork belly with a profusion of minced garlic, lean toward the hot and sweet; mapo tofu freckled with tiny fermented black beans and scallions, and pork with pickled red peppers and strips of ginger root, progress from sweet to pungent to hot to salty—in that order. Alternated with cooling dishes—nibbles of rice, a verdant mound of baby bok choy stir-fried with a shovelful of garlic, refreshing spinach wilted in ginger sauce, a simply sensational tea-smoked duck—the effect is momentarily tempered.

7888 S. Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, (513) 770-3123, sichuanbistro.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

UNCLE YIP’S

Long before sushi somehow un-disgusted itself to the Western World, China had houses of dim sum. Uncle Yip’s valiantly upholds that tradition in Evendale. This is a traditional dim sum house with all manner of exotic dumplings, including shark fin or beef tripe with ginger and onion. As for the seafood part of the restaurant’s full name, Uncle Yip has most everything the sea has to offer, from lobster to mussels. The menu has more than 160 items, so you’ll find a range of favorites, from moo goo gai pan to rock salt frog legs.

10736 Reading Rd., Evendale, (513) 733-8484, uncleyips.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, discount for cash. $$

ECLECTIC

ABIGAIL STREET

Top 10

Most people who’ve eaten at Abigail Street have favorite dishes that they order every visit: the Moroccan spiced broccoli, for example, or the mussels charmoula, with its perfect balance of saffron, creaminess, and tomatoey acidity. Many of the new items on the menu have the same perfected feeling as these classics. Working within a loose framework of Middle Eastern and North African flavors, Abigail Street has never fallen into a routine that would sap its energy. Offerings like the lamb belly skewer with tzatziki and pickled shallots, feel just as accomplished as old favorites like the falafel, beautifully moist and crumbly with a bright parsley interior. The restaurant is always watching for what works and what will truly satisfy, ready to sacrifice the superficially interesting in favor of the essential.

1214 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-4040, abigailstreet.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DS. $$

THE APERTURE

After several pandemic-related setbacks, Chef/Owner Jordan Anthony-Brown opened his Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in Walnut Hills’s historic Paramount Square Building. And it was worth the wait. The restaurant’s seasonal menu draws on flavors from across the Mediterranean with subtle touches, such as its wood-fired pita, elevated with za’atar seasoning and olive oil. The sublime charred carrots are served with Middle Eastern spice blends like dukkah and ras el hanout as well as mint and crumbles of lamb merguez sausage. Brined, poached, and cooked over coals, the carrots themselves eat like a tender smoked sausage. It’s a dish that perfectly encapsulates The

Aperture’s commitment to serving substantial versions of traditionally lighter fare. For a restaurant so serious about food—and exceptional wines—it’s refreshing to see it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The original cocktails have offbeat names like #lemon and I’m Her, and the catchy playlist is heavy on old-school hip-hop. At heart, The Aperture is a neighborhood restaurant, albeit one that’s bound to bring people in from all over.

900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, (513) 872-1970, theaperturecinci.com. Dinner Wed–Sat. MCC. $$

Top 10 BOCA

With its grand staircase, chandelier, and floorto-ceiling draperies, Boca has an atmosphere of grandeur and refinement. There is a sense of drama not only in the decor but in everything it serves. In some dishes, there is a painterly sense of contrast and surprise, like the maple tuile served with the maple mascarpone cheesecake. In others, there is a dramatic suspense, like the whole egg yolk quivering in the center of the beef tartare waiting to be broken. While staying mostly grounded in the fundamentals of Italian and French cuisine, Boca has an air of international sophistication that sets its food apart. The hamachi crudo, an old standby on the menu, takes Japanese flavors and gives them new dimensions with grapefruit suprêmes and slivers of shishito pepper. This is food of extraordinary creativity and flair.

114 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 542-2022, bocacincinnati.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

CHÉ

This spot draws on authentic Argentine recipes, including the empanadas. Choose from a dozen different crispy, perfectly cinched dough pockets, with fillings ranging from traditional (a mixture of cumin-spiced beef, hard-boiled egg, and olives) to experimental (mushrooms, feta, green onion, and mozzarella). There are also six different dipping sauces to choose from, but you need not stray from the house chimichurri.

1342 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine; 2038 Madison Rd., O’Bryonville, (513) 345-8838, checincinnati.com. Lunch Tues–Sun, dinner seven days, brunch Sat & Sun. V, MCC, DC, AMEX. $$

FIVE ON VINE

The fifth venture from Anthony Sitek and wife Haley Nutter-Sitek’s Crown Restaurant Group, Five on Vine achieves excitement through comfort food with meticulous attention to detail: the meat is butchered in-house, the bread and pasta are made from scratch, and the bacon is housecured. House-butchered beef and house-made pasta come together beautifully in the pappardelle stroganoff, served with chunks of short rib that are as tender as the noodles themselves. Thick, cleanly acidic fried green tomatoes make an appearance, as does a bountiful cioppino, a tomato-based seafood stew created by Italian American fisherman in San Francisco. Some of the dishes are pulled straight from Sitek’s own childhood, in New Jersey. “Gracie’s Meatballs,” named in honor of his grandmother, use her unique blend of raisins and pine nuts. A love letter to the long-beloved dishes, the menu is an extended rebuttal against the tired argument that American food is bland and boring.

1324 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4301, fiveonvine.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$

THE GOVERNOR

This Milford restaurant playfully elevates diner classics. Breakfast is available all day so if you’re looking to greet the morning with decadence, try the Madame Rangoon, a thick slab of brioche toast smothered in crab whipped cream cheese and eggs. Sandwiches also get an inventive twist here. The “Governor Tso’s chicken”—a crispy, gluten-free fried chicken breast glazed with a General Tso’s–inspired sauce, topped with apricot slaw and served on a toasted brioche bun—is a gigantic, happy mess of a sandwich, but the sweet glaze faintly evokes the namesake “General” while letting the sublimely fried chicken lead the charge. Order a side of bowling alley fries and ask for the red dip. (You’ll thank us later.)

231 Main St., Milford, (513) 239-8298, governordiner. com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Mon–Sun. Breakfast and lunch Sun. Brunch seven days. MCC. $

MELT REVIVAL

In this Northside sandwich joint, the restaurant’s name pretty much dictates what you should get. Diners have their choice of sandwiches, including the vegetarian cheesesteak—seitan (a meat substitute) topped with roasted onions, peppers, and provolone—and The Gobbler, turkey burger served with curried aioli, red cabbage slaw, pickled red onions, and arugula. For those who require meat in their meals, try the verde chicken flatbread: juicy pieces of chicken intermingle with pesto, zucchini, and provolone. Not sure you’ll want a whole sandwich? Try a half-sandwich with a half-salad or half-soup order—a popular selection with the lunch crowd.

4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (513) 818-8951, meltrevival.com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Tues—Sat, brunch Sun. MCC. $

METROPOLE

Metropole has been remarkably stable since it opened in 2012. Even when chefs have left, the organization has promoted from within, kept popular dishes on the menu, and maintained a certain vibe, a balance between sophistication and rusticity. Its vegetarian fare contains many of its most inventive and delightful creations. The seared salmon is served with miso wild rice, asparagus, pickled bok choy, and sesame seeds. The blistered shishitos, served with burrata and preserved lemon, encapsulates Metropole at its best: fun and whimsical, but rooted in careful execution of deep and satisfying flavors.

609 Walnut St., downtown, (513) 578-6660, metropoleonwalnut.com. Breakfast Wed–Fri, dinner seven days, brunch Sat & Sun. V, DS, MC, AMEX. $$

Top 10 MITA’S

It’s fitting that Chef/Owner Jose Salazar named this restaurant after his grandmother, because there is something deeply homey about the food at Mita’s. With a focus on Spanish and Latin-American tapas, it always feels, in the best possible way, like elevated home cooking. Its sophistication is modestly concealed. The flavors are bold and direct, whether the spicy freshness of the ceviche de camarones with passionfruit leche de tigre or the intensely bright sourness of the pozole verde. The tacos de barriga de cerdo, which come in pairs, are made with fried pork belly, citrus gastrique, habanero slaw, huitalacoche mayo, and are served on house-made corn tortillas. But what mainly comes through is the warmhearted affection a grandmother might have put into a meal for a beloved grandson. It’s the kind of big hug everyone needs from time to time.

501 Race St., downtown, (513) 421-6482, mitas.co. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DC. $$$

NOLIA

Chef/Owner Jeffery Harris, a New Orleans native, prepares the cuisine of his beloved city with sophistication and flair, drawing on all the influences that have contributed to the cuisine of the Big Easy—from West African to French to Japanese to Haitian. The menu changes seasonally, with almost a complete overhaul each time. If classic New Orleans dishes do show up on the menu, they’re likely to get delightfully unexpected touches. The smoked chicken, for example, comes with peach Alabama barbecue sauce, greens, mirliton, and charred peach. It’s exquisitely prepared food served in a funky, laid-back atmosphere.

1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 384-3597, noliakitchen.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC,DC. $$$

RUTH’S PARKSIDE CAFÉ

The spiritual successor of Mullane’s Parkside Café, Ruth’s brings back the vegetable-forward menu with a few concessions to contemporary tastes. Dinner options now include steaks and heavier entrées. But the stir-fries, beans and rice, pasta, and the traditional option to add a protein to an entrée (tofu, tempeh, chicken, or local chorizo) for an upcharge are all old standards. While dishes are generally hearty, they are rarely too rich, leaving room to freely consider dessert. There is a small selection of baked goods, including a gooey butter cake, homemade fruit pies, and Madisono’s Gelato. 1550 Blue Rock St., Northside, (513) 542-7884, ruthscafe.com. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$

SENATE

Ever since it began dishing out its lo-fi eats, Chef Dan Wright’s gastropub has been operating at a velocity few can match.

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From the howl and growl of supremely badass hot dogs to the palate-rattling poutine, Senate has led the charge in changing the local conventional wisdom about what makes a great restaurant. Consumption of mussels charmoula means either ordering additional grilled bread to soak up every drop of the herby, saffron-laced broth or drinking the remainder straight from the bowl and perfectly crisped and seasoned truffle fries inspire countless return visits.

1100 Summit Place Dr., Blue Ash, (513) 7690099, senateblueash.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MC, V, DS. $

TASTE OF BELGIUM

Jean-François Flechet’s waffle empire grew from a back counter of Madison’s grocery at Findlay Market to multiple full-service sit-down spots. There’s more on the menu than the authentic Belgian treat, though it would be a crime to miss the chicken and waffles: a dense, yeasty waffle topped with a succulent buttermilk fried chicken breast, Frank’s hot sauce, and maple syrup. There are also frites, of course, and Brussels sprouts— served with pancetta and sherry vinaigrette—plus a gem of a Bolognese. And let’s not forget the beer. Six rotating taps offer some of the best the Belgians brew, not to mention those made in town. 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 396-5800, and other locations, authenticwaffle.com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Tues–Sun, breakfast and lunch Mon, brunch Sun. MCC, DS. $$

WILDWEED

Before it opened as a restaurant, Wildweed developed a loyal fan base through the hundreds of pasta pop-ups that Chefs David and Lydia Jackman held around the city. Even today, it retains some of the freewheeling quality from its pop-up era with a palpable sense of restlessness in the food. Part of the menu changes from week to week, based on what’s available in the woods and from local farms. If you see things like ravioli and cappelletti on Wildweed’s menu and go expecting Italianinspired flavors, you will be disappointed. Instead, you should be prepared for flavors that come from everywhere. A local vinegar is transformed into a sweet-and-sour Vietnamese nuoc cham. Tart preserved lemons, often associated with Middle Eastern cuisine, are paired with wild lobster mushrooms in ravioli. A Chinese-inspired chili oil and mushroom XO share space with local quark cheese. What makes Wildweed a place to return is its sense of adventure. This place is always pushing itself to try something different.

1301 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4274, wildweedrestaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$$

FRENCH

CHEZ RENÉE FRENCH BISTROT

Based on American stereotypes of French food—that it’s elaborate, elitist, and expensive—one might expect Chez Renée to fall on the chichi side. Instead, it’s elegant in an everyday way, operating on the principle that it is better to excel at simplicity than to badly execute something complicated. The formula is not complex: Simple ingredients, generally fresh and from nearby, prepared without much fuss. Warmed brie is served with thyme, almonds, fruit, and bread, and the chicken risotto is served with creamy mushrooms. This is solid, tasty food, both approachable and well-executed. It’s well on its way to becoming, as a good bistrot should be, a neighbor-

hood institution.

233 Main St., Milford, (513) 428-0454, chezreneefrenchbistrot.com. Lunch Fri & Sat, dinner Wed–Sat. MCC. $$

COLETTE

At his new “mostly French” restaurant Colette, which occupies the former Zula space across from Washington Park, Chef Danny Combs has built a more laid-back home for his focused, pristine cooking. While there is classic bistro fare, like steak frites, on the concentrated menu, there are also less familiar but equally classic French dishes, like Brandade de Morue (a silky emulsion of whipped salt cod served with rustic bread) and the savory puff pastry known as Vol-au-Vent. One can turn to the extensive drink menu (also “mostly French”) to find a wine or cocktail to go with any dish on offer. Like Zula, Colette would function just fine as a wine and cocktail bar, though we can’t imagine coming to a place this good and not eating something.

1400 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 381-1018, coletteotr. com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DC. $$

FRENCH CRUST

Located in the old Globe Furniture building at the corner of Elm and Elder Streets, this Jean-Robert de Cavel creation offers French fare in the heart of Over-the-Rhine. Swing by for lunch and have a quiche Lorraine (French Crust’s quiches are unrivaled in our humble opinion) and an avocado and shrimp salad, or opt for a more hearty entree—like cassoulet—for dinner. If you’re an early bird, a Croque Monsieur (with a sunny side-up egg) is a great way to start the day. You’ll also find the much-loved French Lunch Tray, a throwback from the JeanRobert’s Table days. Served on a cafeteria tray, the four-course meal of the bistro’s favorites changes every week and is only available at the bar for the low-for-fine-dining price of $19.

1801 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 455-3720, frenchcrustcafe.com. Breakfast and lunch Wed–Sun, dinner Thurs–Sat. MCC. $$

The Summit Experience

Top10

LE BAR A BOEUF

If it’s been a couple of years since you’ve been to Le Bar a Boeuf—the late Jean-Robert de Cavel’s fun-yet-refined French bistro located on the first floor of the Edgecliff Private Residences in East Walnut Hills— it may be time for a revisit. The formerly burger-centric menu now approaches the full repertoire of bistro classics. The menu reads like a greatest hits list of bistro fare, with escargot, beef tartare, duck leg confi t, steak frites, and French onion soup all making appearances. As France’s influence on American fine dining has waned, it’s refreshing to see a restaurant committed to not only preserving the French classics but reinvigorating them.

2200 Victory Pkwy., East Walnut Hills, (513) 751-2333, lebarboeuf.com. Dinner Wed–Sat. MCC. $$

LUCA BISTRO

Luca Bistro opened in October 2022, but it feels like it has been around for decades. The unabashedly French restaurant, with its French posters, bright red outer paneling, and chalkboard menu proclaiming its specials to passersby, fits into its Mt. Adams environs so perfectly that it’s hard to imagine Hatch Street without it. That, combined with warm service, timeless French fare, and relaxed joie de vivre makes this a true neighborhood establishment. Chef Frederic Maniet grew up in the south of France and has done an excellent job transporting his native cuisine to a quiet corner of Cincinnati. These are the dishes that culinary Francophiles often crave, prepared in a straightforward, time-honored way. The Bouchées à la Reine, a buttery, fl aky puff pastry fi lled with chicken, mushrooms, peas, Gruyèere cheese, and béchamel sauce, is so warm and comforting it makes chicken pot pie seem aloof by comparison. It’s a warm, gentle reminder that French food can be convivial and affordable.

934 Hatch St., Mt. Adams, (513) 621-5822, lucabistro.com. Breakfast and lunch Tues–Sun, dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

INDIAN

AMMA’S KITCHEN

Muthu Kumar Muthiah serves traditional southern Indian and Indo-Chinese vegetarian cuisine, but with a sizable Orthodox Jewish community nearby, Muthiah saw an opportunity: If he was going to cook vegetarian, why not also make it kosher? Muthiah prepares every item—from the addictively crunchy gobhi Manchurian, a spicy Chinese cauliflower dish, to the lemon pickle, tamarind, and mint sauces—entirely from scratch under the careful eye of Rabbi Michoel Stern. Always 80 percent vegan, the daily lunch buffet is 100 percent animal-product-free on Wednesdays. Tuck into a warm and savory channa masala (spiced chickpeas) or malai kofta (vegetable dumplings in tomato sauce) from the curry menu. Or tear into a crispy, two-foot diameter dosa (chickpea fl our crepe) stuffed with spiced onions and potatoes.

7633 Reading Rd., Roselawn, (513) 821-2021, cincinnati. ammaskitchen.com. Lunch buffet Mon–Fri (all vegan on Wed), dinner seven days. MC, V, DS. $

BRIJ MOHAN

Order at the counter the way you might at a fast food joint, except the shakes come in mango and there’s no supersizing your mint lassi. The saag, full of cream in most northern Indian restaurants, is as intensely flavored as collard greens in the Deep South—real Punjabi soul food. Tarka dal is spectacular here, the black lentils smoky from charred tomatoes and onions, and the pani puri, hollow fried shells into which you spoon a peppery cold broth, burst with tart cool crunch. Follow the spice with soothing ras malai, freshly made cheese simmered in thick almond-fl avored milk, cooled and sprinkled with crushed pistachios.

11259 Reading Rd., Sharonville, (513) 769-4549,

brijmohancincinnati.com. Lunch Fri–Sun, dinner Tues–Sun. MC, V, DC, AMEX. $

ITALIAN

A TAVOLA

In 2011, Jared Wayne opened A Tavola Pizza with two friends just as OTR was blowing up. A Ferrara pizza oven was ordered from Italy; Wayne, a skilled woodworker, built custom tables; and the menu was fleshed in with trendy crowd-pleasers like charcuterie and craft cocktails. Fast-forward a decade. The OTR outpost is closed but the second location is still going strong in the ’burbs: A Tavola Madeira capitalizes on the menu from the Vine Street location, including the fresh and zesty artichoke pizza on a Neapolitan crust; gooey mozzarella-filled arancini, or risotto fritters; and the zucchini mozzarella. Wash down your small plates with a glass of crisp and grassy Sannio falanghina or an ice-cold Rhinegeist. They’re definitely going to need a bigger parking lot.

7022 Miami Ave., Madeira, (513) 272-0192, atavolapizza.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. V, DC, MS, AMEX. $

AL-POSTO

Al-Posto is an upscale southern Italian spot that reflects the same commitment to quality ingredients and delicate preparation that made its predecessor Dear such a gem. Appetizers include classic sharables like marinated olives (prepared with orange zest, rosemary, and Calabrian chile), burrata with grilled focaccia, and coppa (a cured pork served with preserved peppers and almonds), but it’s the pasta (which can be ordered as an entrée or a first course) that’s not to be missed. We recommend the Cacio e Pepe, a seemingly simple dish comprised of bucatini (similar to

spaghetti, but thicker), black pepper, and a sharp pecorino Toscano. Since you’re probably wondering, “Al-Posto” roughly translates to “at the spot.” Located in the middle of Hyde Park Square, this eatery seems poised to become the culinary focal point of the neighborhood.

2710 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, (513) 321-2710, alposto.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DC, DS. $$

FORNO

Cristian Pietoso’s second restaurant has all the bones of an upscale eatery, but the menu is infused with enough Italian soul to make nonna proud. In most instances, raving about a side of creamed corn wouldn’t bode well for the rest of the menu. Here, that side dish—kernels swimming in a pool of truffle-laced heavy cream that demands sopping up—is evidence that each component is purpose-driven. The red wine–braised honeycomb tripe, which carries a warning label (“Don’t be scared!”), and the tagliatelle bolognese with traditional beef and veal sauce are examples of the elevated, adventurous comfort food that Pietoso strives for.

3514 Erie Ave., East Hyde Park, (513) 818-8720, fornoosteriabar.com. Dinner Mon–Sat, brunch Sun. MCC. $$

PADRINO

Billed as “Italian comfort food,” this sister restaurant to 20 Brix offers the classics (like lasagna and chicken carbonara) plus hoagies and meatball

sliders, an impressive wine list, seasonal martinis, and a decadent signature appetizer—garlic knots, doughy buns smothered in olive oil and garlic. Best of all, Barraco’s pizza sauce, which is comprised of roasted tomatoes and basil, is so garden-fresh that one can’t help but wonder: If this is real pizza, what have we been eating all these years?

111 Main St., Milford, (513) 965-0100; 14 N. Grand Ave. Ft Thomas, (859) 957-4082, padrinoitalian.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

PEPP & DOLORES

As with all of Thunderdome’s restaurants, you get a sense that they want to deliver a meal that satisfies many different kinds of people. The prices are reasonable, with pasta entrées about $15. The dishes are familiar in their flavors, but everything feels balanced, modulated and gradually perfected. There is lovely variety: the limone pasta is zippy with lemon and chili flakes, and just the right mixture of tart and creamy; the deep meaty flavors on the mushroom toast are balanced with a nice acidity; and the heat in dishes like the eggplant involtini is just enough to wake up the sauce without overwhelming the flavor. The menu has a wealth of excellent vegetarian and pasta-alternative options.

1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 419-1820, peppanddolores.com. Lunch Fri–Sun, dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

Top10 SOTTO

There are certain books and movies that you can read or watch over and over. Eating at Sotto is a similar experience: familiar, but so profound and satisfying that there is no reason to ever stop. Unlike other restaurants, where the

techniques are often elaborate and unfamiliar, the magic at Sotto happens right in front of you, using ordinary elements and methods. When you taste the results, though, you realize that some mysterious transmutation has taken place. The wood-fired branzino with zucchini, matched with the warm, smoky taste of the Calabrian pepper, offers a flavor that you could go on eating forever. From the texture of the chicken liver mousse to the citrusy lemon aioli on the tartare di fassone, most of the food has some added element of soulfulness.

118 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 822-5154, sottocincinnati.com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$

SUBITO

Focusing on Northern Italian cuisine, Subito carves out its own worthwhile place in the landscape. Most of the items on the menu—from pizza to various pastas—will be familiar, but there are delightful surprises, like the lion’s mane lumache. This citrusy dish is served on lumache pasta and cooked with scallions, garlic, shallots, chili, brodo, and pecorino. Everything at Subito is done with intelligence and a light touch.

311 Pike St., downtown, (513) 579-3860, thelytleparkhotel.com/dining/subito.

Breakfast and lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Mon–Sat, brunch Sat & Sun. MCC, DS. $$

VIA VITE

Via Vite serves up crowd-pleasing entrées, including the Pietoso family Bolognese, over penne, right on Fountain Square. (Add in a golf-ball-sized veal meatball heavy with lemon zest, and it’s an over-the-top comforting main dish.) The same applies to the risotto, where a few small touches add sophistication. Carnaroli rice results in a glossier,

SIPS AND SONGS

The final “Singers & Spirits” event leading up to the 2025 Cincinnati Opera Summer Festival will take place April 29 at Redtree Coffee & Art in Over-theRhine. Have a drink or two and enjoy some arias by Cincinnati Opera artists along with fellow opera lovers. Admission includes a beverage, the performance, and a Q&A session with the artists. cincinnatiopera.org/ singers-spirits

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starchier dish. A puree of asparagus turns the risotto an eye-popping green, and the poached lobster garnish creates a nice back-and-forth between vegetal and briny flavors. Braised lamb shank over polenta is comforting workhorse, and the flavorful Faroe Island salmon with roasted carrot puree, caramelized Brussel sprouts and truffled brown butter balsamic vinaigrette.

520 Vine St., downtown, (513) 721-8483, viaviterestaurant.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$

JAPANESE

ANDO

You don’t go just anywhere to dine on uni sashimi (sea urchin) or tanshio (thinly sliced charcoal-grilled beef tongue). Don’t miss the creamy béchamel sauce cooked in the panko breaded and fried croquettes, or the buttery amberjack collar marinated in a Japanese citrus infused soy sauce and grilled over charcoal. Noodles are also well represented, with udon, soba, or ramen options available. And don’t forget to ask about the specials; owners Ken and Keiko Ando always have something new, be it kamo negi maki (grilled duck breast stuffed with organic green onions) or a chocolate crepe and matcha parfait, delicacies that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in anywhere else. 11255 Reed Hartman Hwy., Blue Ash, (513) 954-0041, andojapaneserestaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

BARU

Baru, the sleek izakaya in the former MidiCi space, prioritizes bar dining, which is meant to be enjoyed alongside its eclectic drinks list. The menu is broken down into drinks, sushi, “small plates,” “plates,” sides, and ishiyaki. Start with clever cocktail offerings, like the Japanese Highball (which uses Japanese whiskey), the Sake-tini, or the sweetly spicy

Wasabi Margarita. Baru’s sushi offerings are—like the rest of the menu—fun and funky. The sushi menu is varied, but concise, featuring a trio of ahi tuna, spicy tuna, and escolar, as well as a quail egg nigiri. If sushi got the party going, the theatrical ishiyaki kicked it into high gear. The term refers to dishes that diners grill tableside on a hot stone, such as the prime New York strip. For all its convivial buzz, Baru is also a spot where solo diners can enjoy a few peaceful barside bites. The Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna from the small plates section brought the same level of freshness and quality as the rest of the menu. Sometimes it pays to dine alone. 595 Race St., downtown, (513) 246-0150, barusushi. com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$

KYOTO

Owner Jason Shi seems to know everybody’s name as he chats up diners, guiding them through the extensive sushi and sashimi menu. Five young sushi chefs, all part of Shi’s family, work at light speed behind the bar, a choreography backlit by rows of gleaming liquor bottles. Dinner proceeds with glorious chaos as a feisty Carla Tortelli–like server delivers one dish after another—combination of crab, fish, shrimp, scallop, and vegetable tempuras, a volcanic tower of chopped fatty tuna hidden inside overlapping layers of thin avocado slices, crispy chicken katsu with a mayo sauce,, and delicate slices of a samurai roll—all between shots of chilled sake. 12082 Montgomery Rd., Symmes Twp., (513) 583-8897, kyotousa.m988.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

ZUNDO RAMEN & DONBURI

Chef Han Lin’s ramens are a deep and exciting branch of cuisine, capable of subtlety, variation, and depth. The simplicity of the dish’s name hides a world of complexity. Zundo uses the traditional Japanese building blocks of flavor—soy sauce, miso, sake, mirin—to create something freewheeling and time-tested. Bowls of ramen come with a marinated soft-boiled egg half, roast pork, green onion, and a healthy

serving of noodles. Each has a distinct identity, like the milky richness of the tonkotsu, the rich and buttery miso, or the light and faintly sweet shoyu ramen. A transformative addin is the mayu, or black garlic oil. Dripped on top of one of the subtler broths, it adds a deep, mushroom-y richness, with the hint of burned flavor that makes barbecue so good. 220 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 975-0706, zundootr.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

KOREAN

RIVERSIDE KOREAN RESTAURANT

Come for the jham bong—a seafood soup with flour noodles in a spicy broth with pork, shrimp, squid, mussels, and vegetables. Revered for its medicinal properties, the dinnersized soup will leave your eyes glistening and your brow beaded with sweat. It’s a detox for your overindulgence, rejuvenation for when you’re feeling under the weather. Foodies come for dolsot bibimbap, the hot stone pots filled with layers of rice, vegetables, meat or tofu, egg, and chili paste. With its electric color and addictive flavors, Riverside Korean’s version is a captivating bowl of heaven.

512 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 291-1484, riversidekoreanrestaurant.com. Lunch Tues–Fri, dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

MEDITERRANEAN

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of wood and stone, even the food is unrestrained: rough-cut chunks of charbroiled beef tenderloin, big slices of onion and green pepper turned sweet and wet in the heat, skewers of marinated and charbroiled chicken perched on rice too generous for its plate.

906 Nassau St., Walnut Hills, (513) 281-9791, andyskabob.com. Lunch Mon–Sat, dinner seven days. MCC. $$

Top10 PHOENICIAN TAVERNA

No matter how much restraint you go in with, meals at Phoenician Taverna quickly become feasts. There is just too much that’s good, and everything is meant to be shared. With fresh pita bread continuously arriving from the ovens, and a table of quickly multiplying meze (hummus, falafel, muhammara), there is a warmth and depth to the cooking that envelops you. With such traditional cuisine, you may think there isn’t much left to discover beyond simply executed classics prepared according to time-tested methods. But there are always new discoveries as the flavors mingle from plate to plate: the tabbouleh with the hummus, mixed with a touch of harissa, or the smoky baba ghanoush spooned onto falafel. Phoenician Taverna keeps taking these classics a little further.

7944 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, (513) 770-0027, phoeniciantaverna.com. Lunch Tues–Fri, dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

SEBASTIAN’S

served with chipotle honey and candied ancho pepitas, are a deliciously intriguing starter. 600 Walnut St., downtown, (513) 721-6232, eatdrinknada.com. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner seven days, brunch Sat & Sun. MCC, DS. $$

TAQUERIA MERCADO

On a Saturday night, Taqueria Mercado is a lively fiesta, with seemingly half of the local Hispanic community guzzling margaritas and cervezas or carrying out sacks of burritos and carnitas tacos—pork tenderized by a long simmer, its edges frizzled and crispy. The Mercado’s strip mall interior, splashed with a large, colorful mural, is equally energetic: the bustling semi-open kitchen; a busy counter that handles a constant stream of take-out orders; a clamorous, convivial chatter in Spanish and English. Try camarones a la plancha, 12 chubby grilled shrimp tangled with grilled onions (be sure to specify if you like your onions well done). The starchiness of the rice absorbs the caramelized onion juice, offset by the crunch of lettuce, buttery slices of avocado, and the coolhot pico de gallo. A shrimp quesadilla paired with one of their cheap and potent margaritas is worth the drive alone.

6507 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield, (513) 942-4943; 100 E. Eighth St., downtown, (513) 381-0678, tmercadocincy.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $

SEAFOOD

9769 Montgomery Rd., Montgomery, (513) 936-8600, jeffruby.com/carlo-johnny. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$$

JEFF RUBY’S

Filled most nights with local scenesters and power brokers (and those who think they are), everything in this urban steakhouse is generous—from the portions to the expert service. White-jacketed waiters with floor-length aprons deliver two-fisted martinis and mounds of greens dressed in thin vinaigrettes or thick, creamy emulsions. An occasional salmon or sea bass appears, and there’s a small but decent assortment of land fare. But most customers are there for the slabs of beef (dry aged USDA prime). The best of these is Jeff Ruby’s Cowboy, 22 ounces of 70-day dry-aged bone-in rib eye. This is steak tailor-made for movers and shakers.

505 Vine St., downtown, (513) 784-1200, jeffruby.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DC. $$$$

Top10

LOSANTI

bar and restaurant

Galaxie recently opened a new location in the old Acme Lock building in Covington. Known for internationally inspired flatbread tacos, Mexican fusion, and margaritas, the bar/ restaurant also doubles as a music venue. galaxiebar. com/covington

When the wind is just right, you can smell the meat roasting from a mile away. Watch the rotating wheels of beef and lamb, and you understand how Greek food has escaped the American tendency to appropriate foreign cuisines. Sebastian’s specializes in gyros, shaved off the stick, wrapped in thick griddle pita with onions and tomatoes, and served with cool tzatziki sauce. Whether you’re having a crisp Greek salad with house-made dressing, triangles of spanakopita, or simply the best walnut and honey baklava this side of the Atlantic, they never misses a beat, turning more covers in the tiny restaurant on one Saturday afternoon than some restaurants do in an entire weekend.

5209 Glenway Ave., Price Hill, (513) 471-2100, sebastiansgyros.com. Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. DS. $

MEXICAN

MAZUNTE

Mazunte runs a culinary full-court press, switching up specials to keep both regulars and staff engaged. Pork tamales arrive swaddled in a banana leaf, the shredded pork filling steeped in a sauce fiery with guajillo and ancho chilies yet foiled by the calming sweetness of raisins. The fried fish tacos are finished with a citrusy red and white cabbage slaw that complements the accompanying mango-habañero salsa. With this level of authentic yet fast-paced execution, a slightly greasy pozole can be easily forgiven. Don’t miss the Mexican Coke, the margaritas, or the non-alcoholic horchata.

5207 Madison Rd., Madisonville, (513) 7850000, mazuntetacos.com. Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat, brunch Sun. MCC. $

NADA

The brains behind Boca deliver authentic, contemporary, high-quality Mexican fare downtown. You’ll find a concise menu, including tacos, salads and sides, large plates, and desserts. The Pork Al Pastor tacos, zesty with salsa verde and sweet with grilled pineapple, are definite crowdpleasers. If you’re biased against Brussels sprouts, Nada just might convert you. The crispy sprouts,

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S

The daily rotation here reads like a fisherman’s wish list: lobster tails from Australia and the North Atlantic, ahi tuna from Hawaii, clams from New England. But high-quality ingredients are only half the equation; preparation is the other. Herb-broth sea bass, served with roasted fingerling potatoes, makes the taste buds dance. The spacious digs and attentive waitstaff bring a touch of class to Fountain Square and make it a sophisticated destination. It’s likely to remain a favorite. After all, it’s right in the middle of things.

21 E. Fifth St., downtown, (513) 721-9339, mccormickandschmicks.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DC, DS. $$

ROSEWOOD SUSHI, THAI & SEAFOOD

Chanaka De Lanerolle sold Mt. Adams Fish House back in 2011, and Rosewood Sushi, Thai & Seafood is its reincarnation—and reinvention. Most of the menu includes crowd favorites such as Pad Thai, made with rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, and a choice of protein. The handful of ethnic experiments on the menu—like the Black Tiger Roll, one of the chef’s special sushi rolls, made with shrimp tempura, eel, shiitake mushrooms, and topped with eel sauce—are among its most vibrant offerings.

3036 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 631-3474, rosewoodoakley.com. Lunch Fri–Sun, dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$$

STEAKS

CARLO & JOHNNY

The stars of the menu are 12 delectable steaks that could sway the vegi-curious to recommit. Not sure which to choose? If you prefer brawny flavor over buttery texture, go for one of the three bone-in rib cuts. Or if it’s that melt-in-your-mouth experience that raises your serotonin levels, C&J features several tenderloin cuts, including the premium six-ounce Wagyu filet. There are the usual suspects of raw bar, seafood, pork chops, et al, if you’re interested in non-beef alternatives.

A bit more upscale than its sister restaurant, Crown Republic Gastropub, Losanti is also more conservative in its offerings. Service is friendly and informal, and though the meal feels like a special occasion, prices and atmosphere are right for, say, a date, rather than a wedding anniversary. The filet mignon, rib eye, and New York strip are cut to order for each table (there are a few available weights for each). The steaks themselves are totally irreproachable, perfectly seasoned, cooked to precisely the right point. Losanti even makes the steakhouse sides a little special. Sweet and smoky caramelized onions are folded into the mashed potatoes, a nice dusting of truffles wakes up the mac and cheese, and the sweet corn is at least freshly cut off the cob and recalls elote with lime and chile.

1401 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4213, losantiotr.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$

Top10

THE PRECINCT

Part of the appeal of the Ruby restaurants is their ability to deliver deep, comfort-food satisfaction. And the steaks. The meat is tender with a rich mineral flavor, and the signature seasoning provided a nice crunch, not to mention blazing heat. The supporting cast is strong—the basket of warm Sixteen Bricks bread with a mushroom truffle butter, the addictive baked macaroni and cheese, the creamy garlic mashed potatoes, the crisp-tender asparagus with roasted garlic and lemon vinaigrette—and dinner ends on a sweet note with a piece of Ruby family recipe cheesecake. Neither cloyingly sweet nor overwhelmingly creamy, it’s a lovely slice of restraint.

311 Delta Ave., Columbia-Tusculum, (513) 321-5454, jeffruby.com/precinct. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$$

GREEN PAPAYA

Inside this simple dining room, replete with soothing browns and greens and handsome, dark wood furniture, it takes time to sort through the many curries and chef’s specialties, not to mention the wide variety of sushi on the something-foreveryone menu. Have the staff—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable—help you. When the food arrives, you’ll need only a deep inhale to know you made the right choice. The Green Papaya sushi rolls are as delicious as they look, with a manic swirl of spicy mayo and bits of crabstick and crispy tempura batter scattered atop the spicy tuna, mango, cream cheese, and shrimp tempura sushi—all rolled in a vivid green soybean wrap. 2942 Wasson Rd., Oakley, (513) 731-0107,

greenpapayacincinnati.com. Lunch Mon–Sat, dinner seven days. MCC. $$

TEAK THAI

Owner Chanaka De Lanerolle has said that he decided to bring back Teak’s take on Thai food because of the renewed vibrancy in Over-the-Rhine, which he compared to the energy he felt in Mt. Adams during his time there. But for all of the hype around the restaurant’s re-emergence on the scene, it’s probably best to consider it a reimagining rather than a reopening. While long-time favorites show up on the menu, prepared by many of the same kitchen staff members from Mt. Adams, some adaptations have been made to better meet expectations of modern diners. Letting go of preconceived notions about Teak will serve you well. With a two-sided, standalone sushi menu and a wide variety of main plates ranging from small bites to signature dishes, you have plenty of room to craft your own dining experience.

1200 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-8325, teakotr.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

THAI NAMTIP

Classic Thai comfort food on the west side from chef/ owner Tussanee Leach, who grew up with galangal on her tongue and sriracha sauce in her veins. Her curries reign: pale yellow sweetened with coconut milk and poured over tender chicken breast and chunks of boiled pineapple; red curry the color of new brick, tasting of earth at first bite, then the sharply verdant Thai basil leaves, followed by a distant heat. Tom Kha Gai soup defines the complex interplay of flavors in Thai food: astringent lemongrass gives way to pepper, then Makrut lime, shot through with the gingery, herbaceous galangal, all yielding to the taunting sweetness of coconut. Even the simple skewers of chicken satay with Thai peanut sauce are rough and honest, dulcified by honey and dirtied up by a smoky grill.

5461 North Bend Rd., Monfort Heights, (513) 4813360, thainamtip.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MC, V. $

VIETNAMESE

PHO LANG THANG

Owners Duy and Bao Nguyen and David Le have created a greatest hits playlist of Vietnamese cuisine: elegant, brothy pho made from poultry, beef, or vegan stocks poured over rice noodles and adrift with slices of onions, meats, or vegetables (the vegan pho chay is by far the most flavorful); fresh julienned vegetables, crunchy sprouts, and herbs served over vermicelli rice noodles (again, the vegan version, bun chay, is the standout); and bánh mì. Be sure to end with a cup of Vietnamese coffee, a devilish jolt of dark roast and sweetened condensed milk that should make canned energy drinks obsolete.

1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 376-9177, pholangthang.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS, DC. $

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, (ISSN 0746-8 210), April 2025, Volume 58, Number 7. Published monthly ($19.95 for 12 issues annually) at 221 E. Fourth St., Ste. 130, Cincinnati, OH 45202. (513) 421-4300. Copyright © 2025 by Cincinnati Magazine LLC, a subsidiary of Hour Media Group, 5750 New King Dr., Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted without permission. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and artwork should be accompanied by SASE for return. The magazine cannot be held responsible for loss. For subscription orders, address changes or renewals, write to CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, 1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071, or call 1-866-660-6247. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send forms 3579 to CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, 1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071. If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.

Party on the Poop Deck

WHILE THESE bathrooms may seem normal at first glance, everything changes upon hitting the giant red button that says, “Press for Assistance.” Suddenly, it goes dark, disco lights come on, and party music starts to play. Northside Yacht Club installed what they call the “Emergency Assistance” buttons in July 2022 as a fun little Easter egg for customers to find. “We tried to make them look as official as possible so there is a little risk involved in pushing it,” says NSYC co-owner Stuart MacKenzie. “It blasts 10 randomized 20-second-long clips. That’s how long you’re supposed to wash your hands and/or party.” The current bathroom playlist includes songs by Creed, Bhad Babie, 21 Savage, and more, but the NSYC team changes things up seasonally or whenever they get bored with the selection. Once the 20 seconds are up, your hands should be clean and the party wraps up. “The song and disco lights abruptly stop,” says MacKenzie. “Everything returns to normal—like nothing ever happened.”

—CLAIRE LEFTON

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