CityBeat | Dec. 5, 2018

CINCINNATI’S NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY | DEC. 5-11, 2018 | FREE

Is sue

by CityBeat staff

RECIPES, MOVIES, MUSIC AND A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA

W/ B I G S O M E T H I N G

JAN. 18 & 19 ON SALE NOW!

TAFTTH EATRE.O RG

CCM’S MAINSTAGE DANCE SERIES PRESENTS

ARPINO’S

BIRTHDAY VARIATIONS

PUBLISHER

TONY FR ANK

VOL. 25 | ISSUE 02

AND OTHER MASTERWORKS CELEBRATING THE ART OF MOTION

ON THE COVER: THE HOLIDAY ISSUE PHOTO: H AILE Y BOLLINGER

EDITOR IN CHIEF

M AIJA ZUMMO

MANAGING EDITOR / MUSIC EDITOR

MIK E BREEN

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

M ACK ENZIE M ANLE Y NE WS EDITOR

NICK SWA RT SELL DESIGNER

TAYLOR SPEED Photo by Mark Lyons.

DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR / STAFF PHOTOGR APHER

H AILE Y BOLLINGER

COPY EDITOR /CALENDAR EDITOR

MORGAN ZUMBIEL

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

THE ATER: RICK PENDER

FILM: T T STERN-ENZI VISUAL ARTS: K ATHY SCHWA RT Z DINING CRITIC: PA M A MITCHELL CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dec. 6-9, 2018 TICKET prices start at $28 Discounts are available for UC and non-UC students

THE CCM CHAMBER CHOIR, CHORALE AND CONCERT ORCHESTRA; UC MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CHORUSES; AND CINCINNATI YOUTH CHOIR PRESENT

TICKETS: $15-20 Discounts are available for UC and non-UC students

FEAST OF CAROLS Photo by Andrew Higley.

Featuring guest choirs from Oak Hills, Kings and Milford High Schools and the School for Creative and Performing Arts

NEWS 04 THE HOLIDAY ISSUE 11 STUFF TO DO 27 ARTS & CULTURE 31 FOOD & DRINK 37 MUSIC 41 CLASSIFIEDS 47

Dec. 8-9, 2018 D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

CIT Y BE AT | 811 R ACE ST., FIF TH FLOOR, CINCINNATI, OH 4 5202 PHONE: 513-665- 4700 | FA X: 513-665- 4 368 | CIT Y BE AT.COM PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WITH SOY-BASED INKS PLE ASE RECYCLE THIS NE WSPAPER! THANKS :)

EDITORIAL INTERNS

M A RLENA TOEBBEN

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGR APHERS

SCOT T DIT TGEN, JESSE FOX, PHIL HEIDENREICH, KHOI NGUYEN, BRIT TANY THORNTON, CATIE VIOX PHOTOGR APHY INTERNS

EMERSON SWOGER, DE VIN LUGINBILL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

JOSH SCHULER

OFFICE ADMINISTR ATOR

SA M ANTH A JOHNSTON

E VENT DIRECTOR

SA MI NOWLIN

CIRCUL ATION MANAGER

STE VE FERGUSON

DISTRIBUTION TE AM

TOM SAND, JOAN POWERS, JERRY ENNIS, DOUG DRENNAN, RICK CA RROL, MIK E SWANGO, ASHLE Y DAVIS, ROWDY WALK ER, CHRIS LOWSTUTER, DAN FERGUSON, DOUG ANNIS EUCLID MEDIA GROUP

CHIEF E XECUTIVE OFFICER

ANDRE W ZELM AN

CHIEF OPER ATING OFFICERS

CHRIS K E ATING, MICH A EL WAGNER VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES

STACY VOLHEIN

CRE ATIVE DIRECTOR

TOM CA RLSON

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

2

ANNE A RENSTEIN, CASE Y A RNOLD, BRIAN BAK ER, JEFF BE Y ER, JACK BRENNAN, STEPHEN NOVOTNI, BRIAN CROSS, H AYLE Y DAY, JANE DURRELL, JASON GA RGANO, AUSTIN GAYLE, MCK ENZIE GR AH A M, K ATIE HOLOCHER, BEN L. K AUFM AN, DEIRDRE K AY E, JOHN J. K ELLY, JOHN L ASK ER, H A RPER LEE, M ADGE M A RIL, ANNE MITCHELL, TA MER A LENZ MUENTE, JUDE NOEL, M A RK PAINTER, SE AN PE TERS, RODGER PILLE, GA RIN PIRNIA, SELENA REDER, ILENE ROSS, M A RIA SEDA-REEDER, LE YL A SHOKOOHE, BRENNA SMITH, ISA AC THORN, K ATHY VALIN, K ATHY Y. WILSON, P.F. WILSON

DIGITAL OPER ATIONS COORDINATOR © 2018 | CityBeat is a registered trademark of CityBeat Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission.

CCM Mainstage Season Production Sponsor

THE DANCE DEPARTMENT GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT OF THE CORBETT ENDOWMENT AT CCM.

Guest choir performance schedule available at ccm.uc.edu BIRTHDAY VARIATIONS, an Arpino ballet, is presented with the permission of the Gerald Arpino Foundation and has been produced in accordance with the Foundation service standards established and provided by the Foundation.

Service charges may apply for online orders

513-556-4183 boxoff@uc.edu ccm.uc.edu

CityBeat covers news, public issues, arts and entertainment of interest to readers in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The views expressed in these pages do not necessarily represent those of the publishers. One copy per person of the current issue is free; additional copies, including back issues up to one year, are available at our offices for $1 each.

Subscriptions: $70 for six months, $130 for one year (delivered via first–class mail).

Advertising Deadline: Display advertising, 12 p.m. Wednesday before publication; Classified advertising, 5 p.m. Thursday before publication.

Warehousing Services: Harris Motor Express, 4261 Crawford Street, Cincinnati, OH 45223.

JAIME MONZON

W W W.EUCLIDMEDIAGROUP.COM

The Ultimate, Intimate, Entertainment Experience!

SLEEP

GARY OWEN

w/ WEATHER WARLOCK

DECEMBER 10

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15

UMPHREY’S MCGEE

BROTHERS OSBORNE

FRI/SAT JANUARY 18–19

JANUARY 30

w/ BIG SOMETHING

w/ THE WILD FEATHERS

KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES w/ THE SADIES

w/ VALLEY QUEEN

FEBRUARY 20

JANUARY 31

FEBRUARY 21

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

EXPERIENCE HENDRIX SATURDAY, MARCH 2

ILIZA

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

PAULA POUNDSTONE

FEAT. BILLY COX, JOE SATRIANI, DAVE MUSTAINE, JONNY LANG, DWEEZIL ZAPPA, & MORE!

MARCH 17

SATURDAY, MARCH 23

BRIT FLOYD

BONEY JAMES

NICK OFFERMAN

PATTON OSWALT

DEREK HOUGH LIVE

GAELIC STORM

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

APRIL 17

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

GHOST OF PAUL REVERE & CHARLIE PARR

MANDOLIN ORANGE APRIL 16

Get tickets at TAFTTHEATRE.org, the Taft Theatre box office, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000 All tickets subject to applicable fees and day of show increase. Dates, times and artists subject to change without notice.

TAFTTHEATRE.org

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

FEBRUARY 4

MAY 8

|

JANUARY 27

FRIDAY, APRIL 19

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

THE MAGPIE SALUTE

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

LEWIS BLACK

3

Last Days for West End’s State Theater

NEWS

As the centuryold theater faces demolition, those who have lived, worshiped and worked there grapple with mixed emotions

BY N I C K SWA R T S EL L

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

T

4

he entrance to the Lighthouse Worship Center isn’t much to look at from the outside: some white wood panels with the church’s name stenciled on them stretch across the face of the graceful pale blue and white State Theater on Central Avenue in Cincinnati’s West End. But every Sunday morning, the nondescript door in the boarded-up The State Theater was originally known as the Metropolitan Theater when it was built in 1915. façade is unlocked, and a few dozen congregants, PH OTO: NIC K SWARTSELL roughly half black and half white, flow into the 103-year-old Beaux Arts building. backup vocals. the West End that is slated to become FC Behind that door is another set of doors The music, and the sermons, have an Cincinnati’s $200 million major league in a dark, cramped and paint-chipped old school message about God’s love and soccer stadium, helped along by $34 breezeway that was the theater’s original God’s fire that boils down to this: salvation million in infrastructure spending from entrance, leading into a lobby of sorts requires sacrifice. the City of Cincinnati and another $15 with freshly-painted walls, new flooring “God doesn’t want you to be comfortable,” million to $22 million from Hamilton and comfy arm chairs. Beyond that, still Winkler tells the congregation. “He wants County for a parking garage. more doors lead to a cavernous main room, you to be a man or woman of faith.”

The 26,500-seat facility — and the where the theater’s original ornamentation The space is austere but clean, with removal of places like the State — signal surrounds a stage and doors to what was everything from the original ornate big changes likely for the predominantly once a backstage area but which now designs above the stage to the modern black neighborhood with a median houses a children’s area and offices. drop ceilings in a white or off-white shade, household income of just $15,000 a year.

When someone opens the door to the save the wash of burgundy carpet on the FCC and city officials have promised those outside, you can hear the music played by theater’s stage and the similar warm wine changes will bring more investment, more Lighthouse Pastor Patrick Winkler — who color of some carpeted acoustic panels jobs, more opportunity. Some residents, pounds piano keys and sings as often as high up on the wall at the back of the room. however, aren’t so sure. he delivers sermons — his son Joshua on The State Theater, now surrounded Positive or negative, all the coming keyboards and drums, and other members by debris from demolition, is among the newness means things that have been here of church staff on various instruments and last structures standing in this slice of for years must go.

A long-running auto garage on the west side of the block is gone, as are some small buildings along Fugate Alley, which runs down the middle of the block.

A vacant three-story building with a mural of Fannie and William Mallory Sr., progenitors of a West End black political dynasty that includes former Mayor Mark Mallory and his brother, Cincinnati NAACP Vice President Joe Mallory, has also been demolished. A chunk of Central Avenue is closed to traffic as crews prepare for work relocating utilities buried under the once-bustling thoroughfare.

Across the street, heavy machinery crunches down on the bleachers at Stargel Stadium, a Cincinnati Public Schools CONTINUES ON PAGE 06

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

5

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

FROM PAGE 04

6

facility FC Cincinnati will pay to have rebuilt further south.

Soon, the theater too will be no more, ending the storied structure’s century in the neighborhood.

The theater’s history has seen a number of twists and turns, which have been ably documented by local bloggers and historic preservation advocates.

Some colorful highlights: The State, originally built as the Metropolitan Theater in 1915, was at one point co-owned by Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the daughter of Theodore Roosevelt. It was the scene Just Cookin’ owner of at least one murder Monica Williams and when Charles DiVirgilio longtime customer Daryl shot his ex-wife Josephine Owens in the lobby in 1931.

The theater played a PH OTO: NIC K SWARTSELL prominent role in hosting the West End’s Jewish community, and starting in the 1940s, when it became the State Theater, its black residents. In that role, it hosted live music to make a final run by greats like Duke Ellington, and, if a wall at fan favorites like with signatures scrawled on it that Winkler cube steak, fried found in the building is any indication, chicken and Williams’ Smokey Robinson. famous mac and The last iteration of the theater closed in cheese.

1989, and Winkler bought it with a partner Daryl Owens has in 1990 after feeling called from his role been coming to Just as a youth pastor in Northern Kentucky to Cookin’ for years. an urban ministry. The first Lighthouse “It ain’t bragging if service was Aug. 5, 1990. you can do it. She’s The coming demolition has caused doing it,” he says. mixed feelings — to say the least — among “Look at these cars. the people who have lived here, worshiped That’s Just Cookin’.” here and done business here.

He points out The building’s south side was, until very a friend walking recently, home to three businesses, includout with a stack of ing a soul food take-out restaurant called Styrofoam containers.

Just Cookin’ run by Monica Williams, the “He’s got two Community Barber Shop run by Jason dinners! There isn’t Lighthouse Worship Briers and his father before him, and a another restaurant in Center Pastor Patrick convenience store run by Briers’ brother. this city like this. This Winkler Williams’ restaurant held its last day is just the real thing,” on a recent Friday. The atmosphere was he says.

PH OTO: NIC K SWARTSELL festive, but sad, too — the end of an era Gail Benton grew for the restaurant’s customers and for up in Lincoln Court Williams, as well as for her mother, father, nearby but moved grandmother, nephew and niece, all of away in her teens. whom worked at Just Cookin’.

She speaks carefully, “It means a lot,” Williams’ nephew Andre but openly, about the Watson says of the restaurant. “Blackhurt she feels seeing 2000s as part of a HUD program called family owned — we do our thing here. We Just Cookin’ close as the predominantly Hope VI. cook, we have fun, we laugh together, we black West End faces big potential shifts “It has changed tremendously,” Benton cry together. Sometimes we argue together. ahead. says of the West End. “I think it’s sad, if I I hope we can stay downtown in this area.

“I still come down here because I can say that. They tore down the projects We’re from here. We have the community patronize this young lady who I used to that I grew up in. A lot of people can’t with us. It’s not just about the family. It’s rock on my lap,” she says of Williams, who afford to live down here now. It has been about the support we have. “ also grew up in Lincoln Court before the a transition. It’s better maybe for people Drivers sidle up along West 15th Street housing project was torn down in the early who aren’t of my descent. That’s just the

way it is.”

For Benton, Just Cookin’ is one of the last ties to the West End she remembers.

“The food is cooked with love,” she says. “It’s an extension of the roots we come from.

This is how we cook as African-Americans.”

That correlation between food, culture and family is one Williams subscribes to whole-heartedly.

“Authentic soul food started in our grandparents’ homes,” she says. “It was the staple that held the family together. The glue. And we’re losing that. We’re losing our way of cooking in our community.”

Williams hasn’t taken the closing sitting down.

She’s been vocal about her anger at having to move, and about the fact she feels she hasn’t been given adequate support to find another location, though she also says she hasn’t given up hope.

In the tiny, closet-sized office off Just Cookin’s kitchen, she thumbs through estimates for the build-out at a new, larger space nearby on Linn Street, with diagrams and lines of numbers adding up to well more than 10 times the money she received from FC Cincinnati for her space. She’s gotten some help from Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, a West End institution that provides a number of services for residents, and from some members of Cincinnati’s development community.

But certainty has yet to materialize in the days following the restaurant’s closing.

Williams says that originally, she was “all for the change” that could come with the stadium but now feels “sold out.”

She says she’ll need more resources to make the leap. And she’s worried.

“Right now, I’m losing my business,” she says. “I have not gotten any resources from the city. For six years, I ran my own business with my own money.

I never asked for a loan. I never asked for a grant.”

Around the corner, Briers stands in CONTINUES ON PAGE 09

VIP

on sale now!

THE MIDWEST’S CHEESIEST FEST!

Feb 9 & 10

12-5

PM

Tickets available at:

JUNGLEFESTS.COM |CUSTOMER SERVICE

OUR FINE INSTRUMENT HOLIDAY SALE DHR Guitar Experience specializes in highend, vintage and rare amps and guitars— and we’re running special sale pricing on a few select guitars and amps. Visit our store to see and play these fine instruments.

B&G Little Sister

Breedlove SC25 Custom Carr Rambler

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

See our bass, guitar and amp selection at

dhrguitarexperience.com

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Our shop is located at 3092 Madison Road in Cincinnati, Ohio 45209 | 513-832-7571

7

Citybeat_Dec18_HalfPg.indd 1

11/29/18 11:19 AM

LIGHT THE FIR E MAIN ST in OTR

PINSBAR.COM

And Join Us This Holiday Season Every Thursday Night in December is Latin Salsa Night with A Celebration of Spirits 10pm Every Thursday!

Thursday, 12/6 A Holiday Refresher with Ketel One Thursday, 12/13 Don Julio y Familia

700 Race Street Cincinnati TheButcherBarrel.com

SAVE 50% ON CINCINNATI

EAT. SHOP. PL AY!

Thursday, 12/20 An Evening with “The Captain” Thursday, 12/27 “Crown” the King NYE at The Butcher and Barrel Tickets available online! $20 pre-sale includes champagne toast, balloon drop, 2 DJs, party favors, and drink specials!

RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE HOLI-SLAY SPECTACULAR FRIDAY 12/7 AT 8PM NYE AT THE BIRDCAGE! $25 PRE-SALE // $35 AT THE DOOR THE VERY FIRST NEW YEARS EVE PARTY AT THE BIRDCAGE FEATURES DRAG QUEENS MIRELLE JANE DIVINE AND AKASHA O'HARA LORDS, WITH THE HOTTEST DANCE MUSIC MUSIC FROM DJ PATRICK B, AND INCLUDES LIGHT BITES AND HORS D'OEUVRES, DRINK SPECIALS FROM OUR FRIENDS AT ABSOLUT AND JAMESON, NYE PARTY FAVORS, AND A CHAMPAGNE TOAST AND BALLOON DROP AT MIDNIGHT! 12/31 AT 8:30PM - 12:30AM EVERY THURSDAY STUDIO 54 THROWBACK PARTY WITH DJ JULES! THURSDAYS @ 9PM

Now featuring deals from:

C NCY JUST GOT way COOLER

927 Race Street TheBirdcageCincinnati.com

T ICKLE PICKLE NORTHSIDE $20 voucher for $!0

COMING THIS FALL

DogFish DogFund with YPCA at Gypsy’s!

12/7 at 5pm

CSHL Toy Drive & Ugly Sweater Party! bring a brand new toy to donate to the Be Concerned foundation or a $5 donation for Hockey for Covington to buy additional toys!

12/15 at 6pm

Get Willetized!

Lagunitas Beer tapping of "Willetized" Coffee Stout aged in Willet Rye Barrels!

Meet JD Willet from the family!

641 Main Street covington, ky

12/21 at 5pm

Westside Brewing Tasting!

Friday, 12/14, 5-7pm 24 W 3rd Street

Zahava Lior 12/15, 6pm-7pm Lola’s Hyde Park 3425 Erie Ave

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

24 W 3rd Street, Cincinnati

8

Karaoke Every Tuesday at 9pm!

Trivia every Wednesday with Last Call Productions at 7:30pm

Taft Brewing Co’s Tap Takeover 12/8 from 5-7pm MAVERICK CHOCOLATE PORTER SANTA'S BRIBE GUSTAV 1342 Walnut Street

m pm 9 -9p K! Co 4 g 12g UC win TR Brewin h Bre 9pm D t k OO Brin ow Pa ing 4 F w r 8 ES , 12/ Nar Bre CH rday 12/15 Brink u , Sat rday 12/22 u , Sat rday u Sat

CAROL ANN’S CAROUSEL 13 ride pass for only $10

Log into our website for the full list:

CINCINNATI. ALTPERKS.COM FACEBOOK/ T WIT TER:

@ P E R KO P O L IS

SMALL-BALL & QUALITY LI BATIONS served DAI LY

FROM PAGE 06

his barbershop, unsure about his next moves as he faces leaving the shop and his apartment upstairs. He may have found a new living space in Covington, he says, and possibly a new storefront in Avondale.

Both, however, need work, and it’s unclear when he would be able to move into either.

Like Williams, he says the money he got from FC Cincinnati alone won’t be enough to relocate.

The arrangement would stretch Briers’ now-compact life — living above his business and walking two blocks to school at Chatfield College across Central Parkway in Over-the-Rhine — into a series of longer commutes. It would also mean leaving behind the neighborhood where his father first started cutting hair in 1960.

“I feel the same as I have since this started,” Briers says. “I’m being displaced.”

For his part, Winkler says he would help his tenants move if he could. But he says there is no money being exchanged between the church and FC Cincinnati for the property. He’s careful about what he will reveal about the deal — which is not expected to be finalized until at least Dec. 31, documents FC Cincinnati filed with the Cincinnati Planning Commission show — but it involves the team helping the church

WARNING: This

find a temporary location and building a new permanent building.

“We’re not getting any cash,” he says.

“That’s not the way the contract is written.

If I was getting millions, I wouldn’t mind helping relocating people, especially Monica. I wouldn’t care. But even if I was, it wouldn’t be my responsibility. But I don’t have money. I’m an inner-city church. We don’t have thousands of dollars in our operating fund.”

There is a lot of uncertainty around the church’s relocation, according to Winkler.

He says he’d like Lighthouse to end up with a new building somewhere in Northern Kentucky where there is need similar to that in the West End — Covington or Latonia, perhaps. The church currently provides a number of services to those around the neighborhood, including bagged lunches, clothing collections and other efforts.

“It’s been a slow journey,” he says. “I feel like we’re an inch past go since it all began.

It’s even more complicated on the Kentucky side… It’s just trying to find something. We’ve had a couple things in the making, but there’s a lot of red tape. It’s an ongoing work of progress. But I’ve not had any bad feelings, and everything (the team

is) doing, they’ve asked for our permission to do it. Everything has been good. I don’t see it jeopardizing the church.”

Myra Fagin says she will follow the church to its new home, wherever that ends up being. Fagin has been coming to Lighthouse almost since Winkler began the church with a partner in the early 1990s. She was fresh in from Indianapolis, she says, and didn’t know anyone in town.

At one point, she lived in a building on McMicken Street the church has offered since 1995 as a transition house to seniors and low-income people.

“They welcomed me in,” she says. “They helped me so much because I was by myself. At first, I didn’t like it because it wasn’t what I was used to — I was used to an all-black church. And the pastor’s white.

But I got to know him and thought, this is the place I should be.”

In the nearly three decades the church has been on Central, the building has changed dramatically inside, Fagin says.

“I remember when I first came, when it was the old theater. The seats were rough.

It was all rough. It’s totally transformed, looking really good. As you can tell, they’re tearing down the buildings next to the church. Pretty soon it will be us. It’s kind

Why is it so hard to quit?

contains

Maybe you haven’t found the right place that can help!

Nicotine

Custom Alternative Solutions designed for anyone.

addictive

Experienced sales consultants ready to help you transition from cigarettes Unlimited tastings and unparalleled selection ensures a smooth transition Largest product assortment for beginners Clean, welcoming, and friendly environment

product

nicotine.

Faster Satisfaction E-liquid E-liquid Products Products

Start your journey at any of our three area locations: Lebanon | Fairfield | Florence

|

All Allnew newAVAIL AVAILLife Lifecustomers customersget get10% 10%off offwhen when they theymention mentionCincinnati CincinnatiCity CityBeat Beatatatcheckout checkout

AVAILvapor.com

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

chemical.

NEW!

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

is an

of… I’m glad we’re getting a new church, but… I’m sad we’re leaving. I’ve been here ever since I got to this city. “ While the property is one of the last left to be acquired by FC Cincinnati, there are other points of uncertainty — tussles around parking and other issues between the team and the Cincinnati Ballet, which has its home one block over.

Among the noise of machinery and politics, though, the church will remain for at least a few more services.

And even as it comes down in piles of bricks, rebar and metal scraps, this block still wells up with emotion, as it has for more than a century — wistfulness, anger, fear, hope, resilience.

“It’s bittersweet,” Winkler says of leaving. “It’s been a great journey. When we have our last service, I’m sure I’ll feel some of the impact. There’s not a thing in here that I didn’t do to this building. From the shingles and rubber roof to the studs.”

Williams has more immediate concerns.

“I don’t have time to play politics,” she says in her office. “That’s not my job. My job is to continue to cook and open up the doors of Just Cookin’. My customers are going unnoticed. And I feel like the city won’t even address the issue.”

9

18_0169_CAM_CityBeatFullPage_ExhibSched_FOIHolidayIssue_B01_v01brian.pdf

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

K

10

1

11/14/18

2:13 PM

Is sue

by CityBeat staff

RECIPES, MOVIES, MUSIC AND D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS,

|

INDIANA

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

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

11

holiday

ARONOFF CENTER and MUSIC HALL

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

GIFT CERTIFICATES

12

GIVE THE GIFT OF ENTERTAINMENT! CAA Gift Certificates can be used to purchase tickets for most events at the Aronoff Center and Music Hall

Do You Hear What I Hear?

This year’s bounty of new Christmas music offers some nice additions for your cool/weird holiday playlist

BY M I K E B R E E N

J

ohn Legend is a well-respected, family-friendly Pop star and his new holiday album, A Legendary Christmas, is destined to become a timeless classic. It’s designed that way.

A Legendary Christmas’ cover art nods to Bing Crosby’s 1945 Merry Christmas album and the material — a mix of originals and standards like “Silver Bells,” Charles Brown’s “Please Come Home for Christmas” and Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song” — is presented with a perfect sipping-cocoa-by-the-fireplace vibe that ensures it will be dusted off (or restreamed, as it were) for decades to come.

This is a great thing, not only for Legend and others profiting from album sales, but also for everyone who enjoys listening to the same kind of sipping-cocoa-by-thefireplace music every holiday season.

But what about those who crave something slightly more left-of-center? For those looking for something different, 2018’s new Christmas music crop does have a few chestnuts to add to your holiday playlist.

lament of a bad kid who’s had “government surveillance since (he) started to walk” (“Bad Kid”); a shakin’, rattlin’ and rollin’ tribute to Santa’s ride (“Santa’s Got a Mean Machine”); an airing of the grievances of a North Pole power couple (“Claus Vs. Claus,” a duet with Lucie “Mrs. Claus” Silvas); and some swinging, playful body-shaming (“Hey Skinny Santa!,” on which McPherson sings, “Fill him up with beignets and a box of pralines/We’ll get his red britches bursting at the seams”).

A lot of the songs are from a rascally adult standpoint (nothing profane, though “Holly, Carol, Candy & Joy” gets a little randy), but the title track lays bare the naughty, childlike essence of the humor, with the young, disappointed gift-getter complaining, “It doesn’t beep or buzz or bop or rattle in that box/Why’d you waste the paper on a lousy pair of socks?”

WILLIAM SHATNER’S SHATNER CLAUS

THE MONKEES’ CHRISTMAS PART Y Tyler, the Creator’s Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch PH OTO: PROVI D ED

Schlesinger does a great job constructing the tracks out of archival vocal recordings and new instrumentation. Claude Thornhill’s “Snowfall” sounds beautiful with Mike Nesmith on lead vocals, while Peter Tork does his best on the religious carol “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

While it gets a little snoozy on the midtempo tracks, Christmas Party is the Power Pop Christmas album the world has been waiting for.

TYLER, THE CREATOR’S MUSIC INSPIRED BY ILLUMINATION & DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH

JD MCPHERSON’S SOCKS

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Salt-of-the-earth rocker JD McPherson’s new SOCKS doesn’t include a single Christmas cover song. McPherson wrote or co-wrote all 10 tracks, which are delivered in his estimable retro-Rock & Roll and Rockabilly style (think Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent or early Elvis) with a sly streak of humor running throughout. If Brian Setzer’s Christmas music (a cottage industry in its own right) represents the overblown, over-commercialization of the holiday, McPherson’s SOCKS is the cool, late-night Dec. 25 celebration at the corner bar.

The album includes the Christmas

|

There isn’t much new about the Illumination Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch soundtrack album. It’s primarily a half-hearted Christmas Pop collection, repackaging songs by Nat King Cole, Brian Setzer, Pentatonix and Run D.M.C. But it does have a pair of fabulous tracks from Hip Hop maverick Tyler, the Creator — a bass-rumbling remake of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and the strings-and-bells-laced original “I’m the Grinch.” Both are, as one might expect, oddball modern holiday classics.

The soundtrack’s worth is all in those two tracks, but it also spawned an interesting offshoot project from Tyler. Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss’ The

Grinch is a blissfully bizarre six-track EP that is mostly reflective of the slanted cinematic sound of “I’m the Grinch.” The short instrumentals “Whoville” and “Cindy Lou’s Wish” sound like they might have been Tyler’s audition for Danny Elfman’s scoring job on the new Grinch flick. The stoned orchestral Soul of “Hot Chocolate” and airy ElectroPop of “Lights On” (featuring vocals from Santigold and Ryan Beatty) are endearing, but “Big Bag” is the most Tyler of the tracks. Though only a minuteand-a-half long, like his actual Grinch contributions, it offers a refreshing, side-eye holiday perspective that deserves a prime slot on your weird-ass Xmas playlist.

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Though wildly successful, The Monkees remain one of the most criminally underrated acts of 1960s Rock & Roll, their insanely memorable music stigmatized in the minds of some for, early on, being written and performed (outside of vocals) by a team of producers, writers and studio musicians. Just as they love The Monkees’ legacy regardless, true fans (and any lover of catchy Pop Rock) will be going gaga over the band’s Christmas Party album, even though they didn’t write a single note of it.

Produced by contemporary Pop Rock genius Adam Schlesinger, Christmas Party is a great full-album concept. It includes a handful of classic Christmas tunes, but the big draw are the ones written by some Modern Rock icons known for their love and respect for the classic Pop Rock of The Beatles, Beach Boys and Big Star.

XTC’s Andy Partridge penned opener “Unwrap You at Christmas,” which Micky Dolenz delivers with upbeat abandon. The pattern repeats on “What Would Santa Do,” written by Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, and R.E.M. musicians Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey’s title track. There are also charming covers of a pair of classic Power Pop Xmas gems — Big Star’s “Jesus Christ” and Wizzard’s “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.”

Dolenz is the best living Monkee vocalist and he takes the lead on most of the tracks, but the album does include the late Davy Jones on the Hawaiian-themed Christmas song “Mele Kalikimaka” and “Silver Bells.”

William Shatner’s 1968 album The Transformed Man became a kitschy classic because it was unintentionally hilarious, with the actor bringing his overwrought dramatics to Pop music as a weird art experiment. Shatner has winkingly played up the schtick since, returning to the format whole-heartedly in 2004 for the surprisingly effective Ben Folds-produced album Has Been. His other musical attempts haven’t been as successful, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying to cash in on the concept. That, of course, had to at some point include a Christmas album.

Another hook to the gag that was introduced on Has Been was pairing Shatner with unlikely music stars, and Shatner Claus plays that angle up throughout. Iggy Pop schmaltzily croons “Silent Night,” with Shatner wafting in with some spoken-word religiosity, while Henry Rollins does the chorus of “Jingle Bells,” between Shatner’s chaotic verses, which, at best, sound like street-corner ramblings (there’s also a “Punk Rock Version” where the actor sounds both insane and drunk). Elsewhere, Shanter rolls through some standards with Todd Rundgren, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and poor Judy Collins, who beautifully sings a few lines of “White Christmas” as Captain Kirk rants and stutters like someone just woke him up, put a bag on his head, drove him to the studio, spun him around 100 times, pulled the bag off and yelled, “Talk!”

Shatner Claus, hands down, wins the 2018 prize for Christmas album most likely to make your grandma exclaim, “What the fuck?” while the family unwraps presents on Christmas morning.

13

513.621.5282 C B AL L E T.O R G

THE

PRESENTED BY

DECEMBER 13-24 MUSIC HALL

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Chisako Oga | photography : Aaron M Conway | design + illustration : BR AND-Y-DESIGN

14

Choose Your Own Holiday Movie Adventure

From thrillers to cozy Christmas tales, these flicks will help you find the spirit you seek

BY M AC K E N Z I E M A N L E Y

D

uring the holidays, some of us like to warm the cockles of our cold hearts — and our TV screens — with cheesy Hallmark/Lifetime/ Netflix seasonal movies. Others prefer holiday cheer spiked with fear. And some of us wax nostalgic with classic kids’ Christmas fare. No matter what kind of vibe you want, use this handy list to choose your own cinematic path as we ring in the end of 2018.

shopkeeper’s warnings. But Gizmo (a good boi) is probably the most adorable creature to ever grace the silver screen. If your heart doesn’t grow three sizes watching him sing while donning a Santa hat, then I probably don’t trust you.

There’s a startling amount of horror holiday films featuring a terrifying take on Santa, but 2015’s Krampus — loaded with a solid cast that includes Adam Scott and Toni Collette — isn’t as cringe-worthy as others. Honing in on Central European folklore, Krampus is Santa’s horned, half-goat counterpart who is hell-bent on punishing naughty children with more than just coal. When a dysfunctional suburban family loses its Christmas cheer, Krampus ensnares the household in absolute terror.

FOR THE CHRISTMAS MOVIE HATERS

BINGE NETFLIX’S NEW FLICKS

but this year, until Dec. 23, you can also catch a theatrical version at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts (visit cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com for details). Embrace the alluring glow of the leg lamp, cheer on Ralphie Parker’s quest for a Red Ryder BB gun and witness his pal get his tongue stuck on an icy pole.

It’s a quintessential tale of a rosy-hued childhood, pre-internet age.

FEAST ON HOLIDAY HORROR

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Before Bob Clark co-wrote A Christmas Story, he directed its inverse — Black Christmas. No one is sleeping in heavenly peace in this slasher flick. Released four years prior to John Carpenter’s Halloween, it arguably gave rise (and influenced) an entire genre of gory, slasher films.

Come winter break, a group of sorority sisters receives anonymous phone calls; as paranoia mounts, an on-the-loose serial killer picks them off one by one. It’s formulaic, but also horrific.

Honestly, Gremlins is almost too cute to be in this section, but it does feature a gang of tiny, terrifying (and punk as hell) monsters destroying a town on Christmas Eve. Parents: If you buy a mogwai for your kid, please heed to the

Made-for-streaming holiday movies exist in their own little snowglobe of wonder. It’s a world where “regular” women get married to princes, successful single women somehow always fall for handsome dudes in small towns and actors you almost forgot existed land starring roles.

Mostly, they’re good for background noise while you wrap gifts, put up decorations or sip a hot toddy. This year there are four new Netlifx flicks. My personal favorite is The Holiday Calendar. A photographer struggling to make ends meet inherits a mystical advent calendar that can seemingly predict the future and might just make her realize she’s in love with her best friend. (That wasn’t a spoiler. We all know how these movies end.)

The Princess Switch is cool because it features Vanessa Hudgens playing two look-a-like characters who trade places.

One is a duchess set to marry a prince, the other is a baker from Chicago. The Christmas Chronicles features Kurt Russell as Santa Claus and tells the story of a sparring young sister and brother who try to capture Saint Nick on camera during his rounds.

I played it as I typed this and be warned: There are elves doing Fortnite dances. Last year’s A Christmas Prince was hella popular. Naturally, Netflix brought it back for a sequel, A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding. Watch these for a night in filled with endearingly predictable rom-com staples.

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

My dad claims that Die Hard is the best Christmas movie of all time. Yes, the joke has been said. Every year. And yes, I still laugh. But there’s more than one explosive, action-packed flick that just happens to be set during the holidays. Enter: director Shane Black.

In 2016, Black told Entertainment Weekly that “Christmas is just a thing of Gremlins beauty, especially as it applies to places like Los Angeles, where P H OTO : C O U R T E S Y WA R N E R B R O S . S T U D I O it’s not so obvious and you have to perfectly captures the feeling of watching dig for it, like little nuggets.” You’ll snow drift and the strangeness of growing have to dig to find it in his movies, too. older.

Christmas serves as a backdrop to Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3, CHANNEL YOUR INNER The Long Kiss Goodnight and The Nice Guys.

I, for one, love my dose of Christmas cheer MENACE juxtaposed with violent explosions and There’s a whole faction of films out there crime-broiled plotlines. Have yourself a that are mostly just an hour-plus of wild merry little action movie marathon. hijinks unfurling. I mean, if you don’t return every year to Macaulay Culkin as FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN crafty kid Kevin McCallister, who gets left Every year I get a lot of heat for loathing behind in Chicago as the rest of his family those classic stop-motion, sentimentspends the holidays in Paris, then have you packed ’60s and ’70s TV specials. (My really celebrated Christmas? Home Alone is exception to this is The Year Without a beautiful in that it allows us all to channel Santa Claus. I’ll admit: The “Snow Miser/ our inner filthy animal.

Heat Miser” song slaps.) Call me Scrooge.

Another film featuring a precocious Call me Grinch. I don’t care. But, hey — I kiddo is Miracle on 34th Street. I grew get it. You’re into cheery songs and cute up with the ’94 remake, featuring Mara characters trying to preserve the magic of Wilson — you might know her for the title the holidays. role in Matilda — as Susan Walker. The kid I’ll give credit where credit is due, is a true skeptic of ol’ Saint Nick. When her though. Their influence and imagery still mom, Dorey, takes on the task of hiring remain intact today. I’m looking at you, Macy’s Santa, she picks a man named Kris Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, flying the Kringle who claims to be the real deal. Like big guy’s sleigh with your nose so bright.

Home Alone, the remake was also written If you’re not into stop motion, revisit

by John Hughes. Expect warm vibes and other classics like A Charlie Brown dreamy holiday magic.

Christmas, which has one of the best Round out these flicks with A Christmas soundtracks of the season. Mopey Jazz Story. My fam tunes in when TBS plays with a dose of hazy sentimentalism still it on a constant loop Christmas Eve,

15

A Real-Life Christmas Town

Santa Claus, Indiana offers year-round holiday cheer and the official Santa Claus post office

BY M O R G A N Z U M B I E L

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

F

16

or the sake of Christmas magic, recall for a moment all those letters you wrote to Santa as a kid. They were precious, to be sure, filled with endearing promises of good behavior and wishes for presents. But whatever happened to them?

Maybe Mom and Dad penned a response in Santa’s place, only to be exposed later on when Santa’s handwriting started looking a little too familiar. Or perhaps the letters really did end up at the North Pole. But there’s a good chance if you wrote “Santa Claus” on the envelope and stuck the letter in the mail, it made its way down to a little town by the name of Santa Claus, Indiana.

Originally called Santa Fee, the town changed its name in 1856 to qualify for a post office. (There was already a Santa Fe, Indiana, and the names were too close.)

“The legend goes that they were discussing what the name should be on Christmas Eve, and a child heard a jingle bell outside,” says Nell Hedge, director of the Santa Claus Museum. “The doors blew open and the little child said ‘Santa Claus!’

And it was settled.”

An hour west of Louisville, Kentucky, this town is abuzz through the summer months with visitors to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari amusement/water park, with Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July and other themed rides. But this time of year keeps some residents busy for an entirely different reason: The town is also home to the only Santa Claus post office in the world, meaning that thousands of letters addressed to Father Christmas end up here. And in 1914, Santa started writing back.

Originally, the postmasters took charge of responding to letters, but eventually one man came to lead the effort, as well as personify Santa Claus himself: Raymond Joseph Yellig, more famously known as Santa Jim. It could be said that Jim “played” Santa, but to those that knew him, he truly was the man in red.

Outfitted in the classic fur-trimmed suit and a real white beard, he was the resident Santa at Holiday World (back before the park changed its name from Santa Claus Land) for 38 years, holding the record for the most number of children to ever visit a Santa in person and earning him a spot in the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame.

Solidly committing to the role, Santa Jim started answering letters in the 1930s after returning home from WWI, enlisting the help of local organizations as well as the American Legion.

Today the effort operates as the nonprofit Santa’s Elves and Museum, Inc. and is overseen by “Chief Elf” Pat Koch, the daughter of the famed Santa Jim, who

Santa Claus, Indiana PH OTOS: PROVI D ED

discovered her dad was Santa in a different way than most kids.

“For a long time, I didn’t know,” Koch says. “He came to our school and I said, ‘That’s Dad.’ ” Once the jig was up, Koch was initiated into elf-dom. “I remember very well when I was 11 or 12 having my dad bring home letters and helping,” she says.

Now, she’s the one carrying on the tradition.

The elves guarantee that Santa will respond to all letters that are sent by Dec. 19, which means that Koch and her task force of volunteer elves spend the month cranking out letters — always written in red ink — from sunup to sundown. The back room of the town’s original 1856 post office, hidden behind a frosted glass window with the sign “Elves Working,” is filled to the brim with letters from all over the world. In 2017, the elves sent out a record 24,000 letters.

Most kids grow up and stop believing in Santa — or worse, become Scrooges — but not Koch. She still, most definitely believes in Santa. “The spirit of Santa Claus is alive forever and ever and ever,” she says, “and we try to keep it alive.”

Whether you fancy a pit stop on any southern-bound road trips this holiday season or just like to get extra festive, there’s no better place than the town named for Santa Claus himself. Here are a few spots to check out while you’re in there:

SANTA CLAUS CHRISTMAS STORE 33 N. Kringle Place, santaclauschristmasstore.com Filled with all the joy, wonder and glitter of the holiday season, this is the place for the people who put their tree up before Thanksgiving and leave the Christmas lights on until February. Shop ornaments, nutcrackers, lights, tree toppers and

whatever else your heart desires here, ’cause they’ve got it all. While you’re at it, snag a sugar cookie and a photo op with Santa.

HOLIDAY WORLD & SPLASHIN’ SAFARI

452 E. Christmas Blvd., holidayworld.com Open May through October, this park sees over 1 million visitors annually and boasts 125 acres of Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas-themed fun. Holiday World is home to three wooden roller coasters, not unlike those at Cincinnati’s own Kings Island, and to be found at Splashin’ Safari are the world’s two longest water coasters. Visitors can also take the opportunity to drink their weight in soda, since soft drinks (as well as parking and sunscreen) are free here.

SANTA CLAUS’ CANDY CASTLE

15499 State Route 245, santascandycastle.com In the true Christmas spirit of all big city businessmen hoping to make a buck off Saint Nick’s good name, the Chicagobased Curtiss Candy Company built the Candy Castle in 1935, thus creating America’s very first themed attraction and what one can only assume was the

Great Depression-era equivalent of Times Square’s flashy M&M World store. Inside this storybook-style castle, you’ll find wallto-wall confectionery, the Santa Claus Hall of Fame (which includes the likes of Mickey Rooney, who voiced Santa in five classic Christmas films; James Edgar, the first department store Santa; and of course, Santa Jim) and a “Survivors Wall” for the Avalanche Challenge, a challenge to down a gargantuan 64-ounce frozen hot chocolate made with an entire pound of hot chocolate mix.

SANTA CLAUS MUSEUM AND VILLAGE

69 State Route 245, santaclausmuseum.org Santa is quite literally the first person you’ll see here — or, rather, a likeness of him. High on a hill, watching over this tiny village, is a 22-foot tall, 40-ton statue of the big guy himself, erected in 1935 and complete with an overflowing sack of toys. In Santa’s shadow lie the town’s original post office, the white-steepled 1880 German Evangelical St. Paul’s Church and the Santa Claus Museum itself, which features a collection of letters written to Santa dating back to the 1930s. The letters include adorable requests like, “Dear Santa, I am not eating my boogers anymore so you can bring me some toys please.”

And, more formally, “Dear Sir: With regard to my coming Christmas present, it is respectfully requested that for my efforts in 1969 I receive $2,000,000 cold cash.”

For more information about Santa Claus, Indiana and all it has to offer through the holidays and year-round, visit santaclausind.org.

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

17

Festive Foods

Holiday recipes from local chefs and mixologists to (hopefully) bring everyone to the table R E C I P E S CO M P I L E D BY M A I JA Z U M M O A N D H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

The Cocktails

MAMA , I MISSED YA’

Recipe provided by Omy Bugazia of Please “To me, this cocktail tastes like coming home for the holidays. It’s spicy and bittersweet but still tart and the rye whiskey shines beautifully while the Cappelletti lifts it up and adds pleasant notes of orange and vanilla.”

Ingredients: 1 ½ oz. rye whiskey ½ oz. Cappelletti aperitivo ¾ oz. lemon juice ½ oz. cinnamon syrup 2 dashes Angostura bitters 1 egg white Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker without ice and shake hard for 10 seconds to incorporate the egg white. Add ice and shake again for 10 seconds, then fine strain through a mesh strainer into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Let settle for 10 seconds, then serve.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DRANK ALL THE EGGNOG?

18

Recipe provided by Omy Bugazia of Please “This is a fun single-serving creamy cocktail to make after you run out of eggnog because Aunt Judith drank it all. Bourbon is the base, but the Smith & Cross steals the show. A bit of absinthe gives it some complexity and it’s deceptively boozy.”

Ingredients: 1 oz. bourbon ½ oz. Smith & Cross Navy-strength rum 1 oz. heavy cream ½ oz. maple syrup 1 dash absinthe 1 whole egg Nutmeg, for garnish Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker without ice and shake hard for 10 seconds to incorporate egg. Add ice and shake again for 10 seconds, then fine strain through a mesh strainer into a coupe glass.

Let settle for 10 seconds, garnish with grated nutmeg and serve.

The Side

LEEK & WILD MUSHROOM GOAT CHEESE STUFFING

Recipe provided by Jackson Rouse of Bauer Farm Kitchen “The dish can be completely assembled up to one day ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake.”

What do you mean you drank all the eggnog?

PH OTOS: HAI LE Y BO LLI N G ER

Ingredients: 1 10-ounce loaf sourdough (preferably day-old), cut into ½-inch cubes 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, plus more for greasing dish 1 pound shiitake mushrooms, trimmed and sliced, stem removed Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 1 ½ cup fennel, coarsely chopped 1 ½ cup Savoy cabbage, coarsely chopped ½ cup fresh goat cheese 1 ½ Tablespoons chopped fresh sage 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh thyme ½ Tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 2 leeks (white and light-green parts only) split lengthwise and sliced (about 4 cups) 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth 4 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 Tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley Instructions: 1) Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Butter a 3-quart baking dish.

Place cubed bread on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until slightly dry, 10 to 15 minutes. 2) Raise oven temperature to 350 degrees. In a large sauté pan over high heat, melt 1 Tablespoon butter. Add mushrooms, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until mushrooms have released their liquid and start to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Scrape into a medium bowl and set aside, reserving pan. 3) Return pan to medium heat and melt remaining 1 Tablespoon butter. Add fennel, cabbage, sage, thyme, rosemary and cook until fennel softens and starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add leeks and cook until all the vegetables are very soft, about 5 minutes more. Return mushrooms to pan, add broth and bring to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 4) Transfer vegetables to a large bowl and let cool slightly. Add cubed

bread, goat cheese and eggs and toss until mixture is combined. 5) Transfer bread mixture to baking dish. Bake in the center of the oven until golden brown and slightly puffed, 35 to 40 minutes (add 10 minutes if the dish has been refrigerated). Top with parsley and serve immediately.

Coffee/herb-crusted pork loin P H O T O : K AY L A R O B I S O N

The Main

COFFEE/HERB- CRUSTED PORK LOIN TOPPED WITH SAGE BROWN BUTTER

Recipe provided by Kayla Robison of Arnold’s Bar & Grill “(This recipe is) one I did as a special and it sold like crazy!”

PORK LOIN

Ingredients: 2 lb 4 oz. pork loin (6 oz. per serving) ½ cup coffee grounds ¼ cup ground sage ¼ cup dried thyme 3 Tablespoons salt 3 Tablespoons pepper ⅛ cup oil Instructions: Pat loin dry. Lightly lather with oil. Mix coffee, herbs, salt and pepper and cover loins with dry mix. In a sauté pan or cast-iron skillet on med/high heat, place remaining oil in pan and sear all sides of the loin until light brown. Finish in 350 degree oven until preferred temp — I like mine at 140 — then rest for 5 mins. Slice on a bias.

SAGE BROWN BUTTER

PH OTO: HAI LE Y BO LLI N G ER

The Dessert

BOURBON BACON PECAN PIE Recipe provided by Teeny Morris of Teeny Pies “Because pecan pie is delicious and bourbon plus bacon makes everything better!”

WHOLE WHEAT PIE CRUST

BOURBON BACON PECAN PIE FILLING

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Ingredients: 1 cup packed light brown sugar ½ teaspoon salt 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted ¾ cup dark corn syrup 3 eggs 2 Tablespoons bourbon 1 ½ cups chopped pecans 3-5 strips bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped fine

Instructions: 1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the middle position. 2) In a large mixing bowl, lightly mix together the salt and brown sugar. Add the melted butter and whisk until it is fully incorporated. 3) Add the dark corn syrup and the eggs and whisk until the mixture is smooth and the syrup and eggs are fully incorporated. Add the bourbon and whisk gently only until the bourbon is completely incorporated as well. Set aside. 4) Prepare the crust: place the dough on a floured work surface and using a rolling pin, roll it into a rough 11-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Lay the crust into a 9-inch pie dish, gently press it in and trim any excess dough from the edge with a paring knife, being sure to leave a 1-inch overhang. Tuck the overhanging dough under itself and crimp.

Place the lined pie dish on a rimmed baking sheet. 5) Arrange the chopped pecans and crispy bacon bits in a layer on the bottom of the pie shell. Give the filling one last stir, in case anything has settled to the bottom. Pour the filling over the pecans and bake until the crust and the pecans are golden brown and the middle of the pie no longer wobbles, 50-60 minutes. Let cool at room temperature until the filling is set, at least 45 minutes, before serving.

|

Ingredients: ½ cup whole wheat flour ¾ cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon sugar 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter 2 Tablespoons shortening ⅛ cup cold vodka ¼ cup ice water Instructions: 1) In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt and sugar until everything is thoroughly combined. Cut in the shortening and the butter using a pastry cutter, a fork or your fingers until each piece of butter or shortening is the size of a small pea and coated in flour. You can also cut the butter into small squares before tossing them into the bowl and it will take

less time to cut it into the flour. 2) Add the vodka and, using a rubber spatula, press the dough together. Add the water second, and again using the rubber spatula, press the dough together to form a large ball of dough. Be careful to work the dough as little as possible when forming the ball, otherwise your dough has the potential of being too tough. The dough should be fairly wet and sticky, so you shouldn’t have any issue getting all of the crumbs to stick together, but if for some reason your dough seems particularly dry, you can add a little extra ice water a Tablespoon at a time until everything comes together easily. 3) Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for at least an hour.

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Ingredients: 1 sprig of sage 1 pound of butter Instructions: Place butter and sage in a small sauce pot on med/high heat. Cook butter until light golden brown and you can smell the nuttiness from the browning butter.

Turn off heat and strain into a fine mesh strainer. If you don’t have one, you can use a coffee filter. Top pork loin with brown butter and serve.

Bourbon bacon pecan pie

19

Seasonal Stuff To Do

A calendar of holiday and end-of-year attractions, light shows, theater productions and more to keep you and your friends/family entertained this winter CO M P I L E D BY M A R L E N A TO E B B E N

Attractions

VICTORIAN HOLIDAY VILLAGE —

The 17th-annual Victorian Holiday Village features miniature decorated Victorian homes with thousands of sparkling lights plus cocoa and cookies. Please bring a nonperishable food item, which will be donated to the Freestore Foodbank. 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7. Free admission. Ohio National Financial Services, 1 Financial Way, Montgomery, ohionational.com.

HOLLY DAYS AT HERITAGE VILLAGE MUSEUM — Be transported to the 19th

century for a simple holiday celebration.

Heritage Village’s historical buildings will be traditionally decorated and costumed villagers will offer 1800s-style storytelling, craft making, train displays and holiday treats. Visit Mother Christmas and watch a reenactment of the first Christmas dinner in Cincinnati in 1788.

Noon-4 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10. $10; $6 children; free 4 and under; free members. Heritage Village Museum, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, heritagevillagecincinnati.org.

CHRISTMASTOWN AT THE CREATION MUSEUM — Check out

a reenactment of the birth of Christ at the Creation Museum’s holiday nativity. In addition to watching the arrival of Jesus, get a 360-degree view of the Garden of Lights multicolored display as you take a zip line through the park. Family dining is available, with hot chocolate and wandering costumed bible characters. Through Dec. 30. Free admission. The Creation Museum, 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, Ky., creationmuseum.org.

Island’s nostalgic winter wonderland returns this year, complete with festive food and drinks, special holiday shows and ice skating underneath a Christmas tree-bedecked Eiffel Tower. There will be an artisan village selling holiday crafts, booze-infused hot beverages, ice carvers, carriage rides and even blue hot chocolate. Through Dec. 31. Tickets start at $25.99. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, visitkingsisland.com.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

WINTERFEST — WinterFest is back! Kings

20

WATER WONDERLAND WITH SCUBA SANTA — Scuba Santa trades

in his reindeer for a herd of seahorses at the Newport Aquarium. The man in red will be underwater in the 385,000-gallon Surrounded By Sharks exhibit to give kids a chance to interact with him and tell him their holiday wishes. And visit Santa’s special

magic-bubble mailbox in Penguin Palooza.

Through Dec. 31. $24.99 adults; $17.99 children. Newport Aquarium, 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, Ky., newportaquarium.com.

CHRISTMAS AT ENTERTRAINMENT JUNCTION — EnterTRAINment junction invites all of Santa’s little helpers to journey to the North Pole with a magical indoor train display. Watch as Santa’s elves pack gifts and Mrs. Claus bakes cookies. Through Jan. 2. $9.95-$17.95. EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester, entertrainmentjunction.com.

ANTIQUE CHRISTMAS AT THE TAFT MUSEUM OF ART — The Taft Museum

of Art gets into the holiday spirit with its annual display of antique ornaments, toys and décor. Wander the rooms of the museum to see displays of antique German paper nativity scenes and small wooden toys, a historic feather tree with glass fruit ornaments, turn-of-the-century holiday china and other trees “bedecked with fairy figures, Japanese Santas, early wax ornaments and angels.”

Through Jan. 6. $12 adult door; $10 adult advance; $10 senior door; $8 senior advance; free for members and 18 and under; free admission for all on Sunday. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org.

A CRYSTAL HOLIDAY AT THE KROHN CONSERVATORY — The

Krohn’s annual holiday display’s theme is A Crystal Holiday and the conservatory’s cache of tropical and lush green plants will be complemented by a “shimmering frozen landscape,” fragrant holiday floral displays, model trains and mini Cincinnati buildings constructed out of whimsical natural materials.

Through Jan. 6. $7 adults; $4 youth; free ages 4 and under. Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiparks. com/krohn.

HOLIDAY TOY TRAINS AT BEHRINGER-CRAWFORD MUSEUM — With over 250 feet of model train tracks, a

Charles Dickens village, 30 moving displays and an appearance from Thomas the Tank, this event is for kids and locomotive lovers alike. Through Jan. 13. $9 adults; $8 seniors; $5 kids; free members. Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Road, Covington, bcmuseum.org.

HOLIDAY JUNCTION FEATURING THE DUKE ENERGY TRAINS AT THE CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER —

After the Museum Center’s multi-million-dollar facelift, the space has reopened and the Duke

Energy trains, which have played some part in local holiday festivities since 1946, are back for the season. The exhibit features hundreds of model trains making their way through a little winter wonderland. Get a bird’s eye view by watching the trains from overhead, venture through a LEGO brick display, step inside a storybook and more. Through Jan. 27. Free with museum admission. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.

Light Displays

CHRISTMAS GLOW AT LAND OF ILLUSION — This haunted Halloween

attraction transforms for the season.

Instead of ghosts and ghouls, find a glowing drive-through light display commemorating “Christmas Around the World,” with a twinkling Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal and Big Ben. Through Dec. 30. $16 per vehicle; $20 with Christmas Village admission. Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown, landofillusion.com.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO — More than 3 million

LED bulbs will transform the park into a “Wild Wonderland” with festively adorned foliage, glowing animal sculptures, the ever-soinstagrammable rainbow-light tunnel and fun holiday and nature scenes depicted in twinkling bulbs. There will also be a blacklight puppet show, Toyland Express train ride, everyone’s favorite synchronized holiday music-and-light display on Swan Lake and assorted s’mores stands. Through Jan. 1.

Free with zoo admission. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON THE HILL AT PYRAMID HILL — The Pyramid Hill

Sculpture Park & Museum is no stranger to outdoor beauty, but why not ramp it up this winter with a holiday-themed display? Load up the van and drive through the looped two-mile glowing hybrid sculpture and light display. This year, Brave Berlin — the creative team behind last year’s BLINK art and light festival and the previous Lumenocity events — has crafted something extra special. Entry fee is by the carload so the kids can bring a friend. Through Jan. 1. $20 per carload Monday-Thursday; $25 per carload FridaySunday; $15 for members all days. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org.

HOLIDAY IN LIGHTS AT SHARON WOODS — For 28 years, this annual event

has transformed into a staple Cincy holiday tradition. Kick back in your car and take a joy ride through a mile-long stretch of Sharon Woods. Dial the radio to Warm 98 — the lights are synchronized to the music. After or before, take the kiddos to the wonder-filled Santaland, open through Dec. 23 (just in time for him to get his sleigh in gear.) Through Dec. 31. $15 per vehicle. Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, holidayinlights.com.

CHRISTMAS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AT CONEY ISLAND — What’s cuter than

dazzling lights depicting gleeful snowmen, colorful trees, grooving candy canes and snowflakes? Not much. Bonus: You can see it all in the warmth of your own car. Listen to tunes via the radio — Coney Island has their own station that’s synchronized to the light display — and shamelessly jam to as much holiday spirit as you please. Through Jan. 6. $6 per person. Coney Island Amusement Park, 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, coneyislandpark.com.

Events

ICE RINK AT FOUNTAIN SQUARE — Whether you’re a professional skater or

someone who can barely stand on skates, this slice of winter wonderland on Fountain Square is open to everyone. Skate rental is available and concessions include snacks, hot chocolate and alcohol. Santa skates select weekends in December. Through Feb. 18. $6 admission; $4 skate rental. Fountain Square, Fifth and Vine streets, Downtown, myfountainsquare.com.

MIRACLE THE OVERLOOK LODGE POP-UP BAR — The Overlook Lodge gets a festive makeover with lights, decorations and curated holiday-themed cocktail menu. Overlook Lodge, 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, facebook.com/ overlooklodge.

FRANCISCAN CHRISTMAS DISPLAY — This Christmas creche display features nativities from around the world, a Dickens village, a decorated tree, model trains, a collection of Santa Claus figurines and more at the Moerlein event center. At Saint Francis Seraph nearby, there is also a live nativity featuring goats, sheep and donkeys. Through Jan. 1. Free admission. Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom, 1621 Moore St., Overthe-Rhine, facebook.com/sfschurch.

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

21

C I N C Y B E E R F E S T. C O M

BE A HOLIDAY HERO!

SHOP LOCAL

Share everything the city has to offer this festive season with the Downtown Cincinnati Gift Card, accepted at more than 200 dining, shopping, and entertainment destinations.

eat | shop | stay | play | holiday

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Order today at DowntownCincinnati.com!

22

THE PEDAL WAGON POLAR BEAR EXPRESS — While the weather outside is

frightful, pedaling on the Polar Bear Express is a cheerful way to warm up your body temp.

The 15-passenger kind-of pedal-powered wagon stops at local bars in downtown and OTR for drink specials. Through February 2019. $20-$25 per person public; $245-$295 private full wagon. Pedal Wagon, 1114 Bunker Alley, Over-the-Rhine, pedalwagon.com.

SANTA’S WORKSHOP AT WASHINGTON PARK — Each Saturday,

elves from Happen Inc. will be at the gazebo at Washington Park with a letter-writing station and fun activities while kids wait for their free photo with Santa Claus. Photos are free, but you must bring your own camera. Each week there’s a different theme, like ornament making or holiday-card making. Through Dec. 22. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.

LET IT SNOW AND COSMIC CHRISTMAS LASER LIGHT SHOW AT DRAKE PLANETARIUM — The

planetarium offers two holiday light shows.

Let it Snow features a soundtrack of holiday classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry accompanied by a laser light show. Cosmic Christmas mixes new songs and Christmas hits with 4k visuals. Saturdays through Dec. 22. $8. Drake Planetarium, Norwood High School, 2020 Sherman Ave., Norwood, drakeplanetarium.org.

OTRAGLOW — This storefront display

competition pits OTR businesses against each other to see who can create the most magical winter wonderland in the shop’s window. From 5:30-10 p.m. nightly, shops (and residences) will illuminate their displays. Through Dec. 31.

Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/otraglow.

THE NORTH POLE EXPRESS — HO-HO-HOld onto your hats. Presented

by LM&M Railroad, this hour-long train to the North Pole features cookies, hot chocolate and an appearance from Santa and his elves.

Through Dec. 29. $24 adults; $19 kids. LM&M Railroad, 127 S. Mechanic Road, Lebanon, lebanonrr.com.

BOURBON & BACON 2018 — This

CHANUKAH CELEBRATION AND DINNER AT ADATH ISRAEL — Adath

Israel Congregation hosts this event featuring live music, services and a homemade Shabbat Chanukah dinner. RSVP directly to Kathy Haas at 793-1800, ext. 106. 5-8 p.m.

Dec. 7. Free. Adath Israel Congregation, 3201 E. Galbraith Road, Amberley Village, facebook.com/adathisrael.

A CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE AT DENT SCHOOLHOUSE — The spirits

LUMINARIA NIGHT LIGHTS AT THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY — This

of Dent Schoolhouse get in the holiday spirit with the first Christmas Nightmare event at the haunted house. Charlie the Janitor is Santa Charlie in a scary attraction full of garlands, lights and twisted holiday monsters. 6 p.m.midnight Dec. 7 and 8. $25-$55. The Dent Schoolhouse, 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com.

is the 43rd year for the Mount Lookout tradition. Neighborhood streets will light up with luminaria and the observatory will open its buildings and telescopes for exploring and viewing. There will be carolers, a “spacey” gift shop and hot drinks. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Free. Cincinnati Observatory, 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout, cincinnati-observatory.org.

SWEET TREATS FROM THE GREEKS — Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox

DECEMBER TEA DANCE: WINTER WONDERLAND — This LGBTQA

Church hosts a weekend-long pastry sale.

Purchase your favorite Greek pastries and hors d’oeuvres in time for holiday entertaining.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 7; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 8; noon-3 p.m. Dec. 9. Prices vary. Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 7000 Winton Road, Finneytown. holytrinity. oh.goarch.org.

MOUNT ADAMS REINDOG PARADE — Dress your pets in holiday gear for the

29th-annual Mount Adams Reindog Parade.

The parade features multiple costume categories including those for small dogs, large dogs and dog/owner look alike. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative, festive and unique costumes. Registration begins at noon. Donations go to support the SPCA. 12:30 p.m. registration Dec. 8; parade begins at 2 p.m. There is a suggested donation to the SPCA to register. 1055 Saint Paul Place, Mount Adams, spcacincinnati.org.

OHIO EXPLORED HOLIDAY MAKER MART WEEKEND — Website Ohio

Explored is hosting a maker mart featuring goods from Ohio-based vendors. Noon-6 p.m.

Dec. 8 and 9. Free admission. Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock St., Northside, ohioexplored. com.

MARKET BLEU — Shop the winter quarter

HOLLY DAZED — Support Visionaries

CINCINNATI SANTACON — Don’t drink

Market BLEU event at the Contemporary Arts Center to find handmade artisan products from vendors in an opulent setting. 6-10 p.m. Dec. 8. Free admission. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, marketbleu.com.

SECOND SUNDAY ON MAIN: WINTER EDITION — The summer

block party moves into the winter season with a special edition for holiday shopping and holiday cheer. Revel OTR will host a pop-up bar, Mr. Young’s Christmas trees and wreaths will be for sale and there will be live entertainment from the likes of the Queen City Sisters. Noon-5 p.m. Dec. 9. Free admission.

Main Street between 12th and Liberty streets, Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/OTRSSOM.

OTR RAIL DOG PARADE — The OTR

Kennel Club hosts the sixth-annual Rail Dog Parade from Queen City Radio to Second Sunday on Main. Dress your furry friends in all their holiday finery. Noon-5 p.m. Dec. 9; parade steps off at 2 p.m. Free. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/queencityradiobar.

SANTA PAWS AT STREETSIDE —

Santa visits Streetside Brewery for photos with your furry friend. A suggested $10 donation will benefit the League for Animal Welfare and $1 of every pint sold will be donated as well. 6-8 p.m. Dec. 12. $10 suggested donation. Streetside Brewery, 4003 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum, facebook.com/streetsidebrewery.

STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL AT THE VIDEO ARCHIVE — The

THE CITY FLEA HOLIDAY MARKET — City Flea turns Washington Park into one

big shopping cart with local makers, crafters and artisans plus festive refreshments. It’s a great place to do last-minute shopping or pick up something for yourself — you’ve been good this year, too. 4-9 p.m. Dec. 15. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, thecityflea.com.

EGG NOG JOG 5K — The 27th-annual Egg Nog Jog takes festive runners through the frigid and scenic streets of Mount Adams and Eden Park. 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 15. $25. Chapter Mount Adams, 940 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, facebook.com/ runningtimeraceservices.

ONE NIGHT ONE CRAFT: ALCOHOL INK GIFTS — Perfect for that one friend who is impossible to shop for, this class lets you create a set of coasters and cards made with colorful alcohol inks. 2-4 p.m.

Dec. 15. $20; $15 members. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org.

UGLY SWEATER & REINDEER GAMES PUB CRAWL — Head to

Covington for an ugly sweater-themed interactive pub crawl. Don your worst holiday outfit for fun and games (and prizes) at stops including The Globe, Octave, the Hannaford, Rich’s Proper Food & Drink, Olde Town Tavern and Braxton Brewing Co. 7 p.m.midnight Dec. 15. Free admission. Braxton Brewing Co., 27 W. Seventh St., Covington, facebook.com/braxtonbrewingcompany.

CINCINNATI BLACK SANTA CLAUS — The Voice of Black Cincinnati brings

Cincinnati’s Black Santa Claus to the art museum for the fourth year in a row. Santa will be on hand to greet children of all ages, listen to their Christmas wishes and have pictures taken. Noon-4 p.m. Dec. 15. Free. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

CRAFT MENAGERIE AT ARNOLD’S — Arnold’s bar will be taken over by a curated arts and crafts show for some holiday shopping. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 15.

Free admission. Arnold’s Bar & Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, facebook.com/ craftmenagerie13.

DIE HARD: LIVE SCRIPT READING AT OVERLOOK LODGE — Yippie Ki

Yay: Actors will take over Overlook Lodge for a live script reading of Christmas action classic Die Hard while guests sip on curated cocktails from the bar’s themed Miracle Menu. 7-10 p.m. Dec. 17. Overlook Lodge, 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, facebook.com/overlooklodge.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

much-maligned Star Wars Holiday Special gets a small-screen screening at the bar as Chewbacca and Han Solo try to get to Kashyyyk in time for Chewie to celebrate Life Day with his father, wife and son. 5-11 p.m.

Dec. 12. Free admission. The Video Archive, 965 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, facebook. com/videoarchivecincinnati.

take over the big screen at the Esquire for this wacky holiday classic. 10 p.m. Dec. 14. $10.25; $7.25 senior/child. Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, esquiretheatre.com.

|

and fly your sleigh; the 11th-annual Santacon bar crawl is on its way. Dress in your best Santa costume or other holiday-themed wear and trek to various bars and pubs to spread Christmas cheer. More than 40 locations will be participating. A portion of proceeds will go to benefit pediatric cancer research and The Cure Starts Now foundation. Noon-midnight Dec. 8. $10-$15 registration. Leaves from JACK Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Pendleton, cincinnatisantacon.com.

afternoon dance party takes over Igby’s with a Winter Wonderland theme. Dress to impress while you listen to music by Thaddeus and Bjorg, imbibe specially priced drinks and meet new people. For 21 and older. 4-7 p.m. Dec. 9. Free. Igby’s, 122 E. Sixth St., Downtown, facebook.com/teadancecinci.

GREMLINS AT THE ESQUIRE THEATRE — Gizmo and his gremlin friends

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

delicious and decadent event (hosted by CityBeat) features bacon and assorted pork dishes from local restaurants, plenty of rare and popular bourbon for you to sip on and live music from local acts. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 5. $65. New Riff Distillery, 24 Distillery Way, Newport, Ky., citybeat.com.

+ Voices artists while shopping for holiday gifts. There will be a gallery exhibit featuring holiday art from V+V artists and heavily discounted works from more than 130 artists for sale, plus onsite vendors. The exhibit runs through Jan. 25, but the sale is one-night only. 6-8 p.m. Dec. 7. Visionaries + Voices Visionarium, 3054 Madison Road, Oakley, visionariesandvoices.com.

PLEASANT RIDGE SHOP HOP —

Check out what’s new in Pleasant Ridge during the second-annual holiday shop hop.

Neighborhood businesses will be open to sell their wares while you walk from shop to shop for food, drinks, fun and caroling. Noon-4 p.m. Dec. 8. Pleasant Ridge, facebook.com/ sharecheesebar.

23

BRINK HOLIDAY BASH — Santa will be visiting Brink (1-3:30 p.m.) for a familyfriendly brunch. The brewery will tap a special Christmas ale, served in an artist-designed pint glass. Bring an unwrapped present for a kid up to 12 years old to donate to Bethany House. Noon-4 p.m. Dec. 15. Free. Brink Brewing Co., 5905 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, facebook.com/brinkbrewing.

THE 2018 HOLIDAY BRIGHT RIDE —

Light things up during this nighttime bike ride.

Decorate yourself and your bike in batterypowered lights, glow necklaces, reflective devices and more. The slow-pace four-mile ride is flat and easy so kids can ride too. 6 p.m. Dec. 15. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ margyandmelridebikes.

DRAG BRUNCH: SUGAR PLUM FAIRIES — The queens get festive this

holiday brunch. Naughty and nice sugar plum fairies will be stomping it out in this seasonally inspired drag show and brunch featuring family-style dining and emcees Amaya Sexton and Jessica Dimon. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dec. 16. $35 per person; includes brunch, show and a welcome mimosa. Metropole, 609 Walnut St., Downtown, metropoleonwalnut. com.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE AT THE ESQUIRE THEATRE — Due to some

unforeseen rights exclusivity for White Christmas, the Esquire won’t be hosting its annual singalong of that film. But they will be hosting several interactive screenings of It’s a Wonderful Life. 12:30, 3:50 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16. $15. Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, esquiretheatre.com.

ART ON VINE HOLIDAY GIFTS SALE — A fast, fun and easy way to buy

gifts for your loved ones, handmade by local artists. Noon-7 p.m. Dec. 16. Free admission.

Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, artonvinecincy.com.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION AT ROWE WOODS — Hike Rowe Woods

24

by the light of the full moon to reflect on the ancient tradition of observing the winter solstice. Learn about the event’s modern-day symbolism, the significance of the solstice as we look to spring and enjoy traditional music and light snacks. The hike is outdoors so dress accordingly. 6:30-8 p.m. Dec. 21. $15; $8 members. Cincinnati Nature Center, Rowe Woods, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, cincynature.org.

BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK: SOLSTICE GATHERING — Yoga

instructor/mediation coach/reiki master Sonya Verma and singer/songwriter Paulette Meier come together to host a celebration of the winter solstice aka the longest night of the year. The duo will lead guests through an evening of gentle movement, singing and gong meditation to welcome the renewal, regeneration and rebirth the event symbolizes.

7-9 p.m. Dec. 21. $20. The Hive, 1662 Blue Rock St., Northside, facebook.com/cincyhive.

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION — Celebrate the solstice at Imago with

an optional potluck, personal reflection, storytelling, art making and the history of solstice celebrations from around the globe. 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 21. Free but RSVP online. Imago, 700 Enright Ridge, Price Hill, imagoearth.org.

SANTA-BRATION AT CAROL ANN’S CAROUSEL — Make winter-inspired crafts

and snap a selfie with Santa. 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Dec. 21-22,;11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Free admission.

Carol Ann’s Carousel, 8 W. Mehring Way, Downtown, cincinnatiparks.com.

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER CRUISE — Grab the family and take a trip down the

Ohio River on Christmas Eve. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Dec. 24. $55 adults; $38 children; $27 adults sightseeing only; $18 children sightseeing only. BB Riverboats, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, bbriverboats.com.

LATKAPALOOZA 2018 — The Jewish Federation’s Young Adult Division and Meyerson JCC host this annual dance party featuring drink specials, Kosher snacks and raffle prizes. 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Dec. 24. Free admission. 3 Points Urban Brewery, 331 E. 13th St., Pendleton, facebook.com/mayerson. jcc.

THE BOAR’S HEAD AND YULE LOG FESTIVAL — This medieval pageant

comes to Christ Church Cathedral for the 79th year. The performances feature characters in costume — lords, ladies, hunters, cooks, knights and more — with ceremonial mince pie, plum pudding and a roasted boar’s head. 5 p.m. Dec. 29; 2:30 and 5 p.m. Dec. 30. Free but tickets required. Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St., Downtown, boarsheadfestival.com.

Onstage

A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT THE PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK — The

tradition returns. Watch as the miserly Scrooge miraculously transforms his view of humanity (just in time for Christmas), realizing its never too late to change your ways.

Through Dec. 29. $30-$106. Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle, Mount Adams, cincyplay.com.

A CHRISTMAS STORY AT COVEDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS — Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun hit the stage at the Covedale for a musical retelling of this holiday favorite. Through Dec. 23. $29 adults; $26 seniors/students/ children. Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, 4990 Glenway Ave., Covedale, cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.

AN UNFORGETTABLE NAT KING COLE CHRISTMAS STARRING EVAN TYRONE MARTIN — Singer/actor Evan

Tyrone Martin embodies Nat King Cole in this

performance of Christmas classics that trace Cole’s personal journey while including hits like “The Christmas Song” and “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 5-7. $60. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.

HOLIDAY POPS — Just a couple weeks before Santa slides down that chimney, enjoy a night of cheer, holiday spirit and classic Christmas songs with the Cincinnati Pops and CCM graduate/Broadway star Ashley Brown.

Bring a new or gently used coat, hat, gloves or socks to benefit City Gospel Mission. 8 p.m. Dec. 7; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 8; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 9. $25-$120 adults; $15 children.

Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org.

BLACK NATIVITY — Originating in 1961

and performed Off Broadway, Black Nativity is a joyous retelling of the birth of Christ, with Gospel music, costuming, prophetic storytelling and dance. Presented by the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8; 7:30 p.m. Dec.14; 2 and 7:30 p.m Dec. 15. $25; $20 student and senior. Word of Deliverance Family Life Center, 693 Fresno Road, Forest Park, cincinnatiblacktheatre.org.

SING ME A STORY: THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS — The Cincinnati

Boychoir presents this performance during which a special guest will read “The Night Before Christmas” in English and Spanish and then the 150 members of the boychoir will sing holiday favorites. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8. $21$35 adult; $18.75-$31.50 senior; $10 child.

Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.

THE NAUGHTY LIST WITH OTR IMPROV — Using audience suggestions,

OTR Improv improvisers skewer the holidays in cheerful and cheeky ways. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-27; arrive by 6 p.m. if you want to order dinner. $20 (dinner not included). Arnold’s Bar & Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, otrimprov.com.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH THE MIGHTY WURLITZER — Organist Mark

Herman plays holiday favorites on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. $27. 12. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.

THE NUTCRACKER WITH THE CINCINNATI BALLET — This favorite

Cincinnati holiday tradition returns as the ballet’s professional dancers perform sparkling choreography to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, played live by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. New this year? A Fiona ballerina. Dec. 13-24. $36-$125. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cballet.org.

EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME) WITH CINCY SHAKES — A silly spin on all

things Christmas. This play pokes fun at holiday classics like Rudolph, Frosty and A Christmas Carol, all lampooned with the help

of three high-octane actors and tipsy Santa.

Dec. 14-30. $43. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincyshakes.com.

THE TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA — The Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s The Ghosts of Christmas Eve returns to the U.S. Bank Arena stage for its annual laser-light-infused holiday musical extravaganza. Famous for its Rock opera stylings, the tale follows a runaway teen who breaks free from her home to find a theater full of old spirits. 4 and 8 p.m.

Dec. 14. $41.50-$76. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown, usbankarena.com.

AN ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS WITH OVER THE RHINE — Local Folk/

Americana superheroes Over the Rhine create Christmas magic with their annual performance featuring a wintry mix of holiday classics and songs from their oeuvre. 8 p.m.

Dec. 21; 8 p.m. Dec. 22; 2 p.m. Dec. 23. $40$65. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-theRhine, memorialhallotr.com.

THE MORON REPORT PRESENTS A CHRISTMAS CAROL — The Moron

Report rewrites the Dickens classic. Wear your ugliest holiday sweater, bring cookies for a cookie contest and listen to pre-show carols from The Mistle-Tunes. Audience suggestion drives the show and new this year is a circus performance. 7:30 p.m. doors Dec. 22.

Free admission. Bircus Brewing Company, 322 Elm St., Ludlow, Ky., facebook.com/ themoronreport.

CRYSTAL BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL —

The acrobatics of Cirque meet the ice in this new show. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27-28; 12:30, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29; 1:30 and 5 p.m. Dec. 30.

Tickets start at $55. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown, usbankarena.com.

390 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 Photos: Amy Guip

brickovenloveland.com (513) 677-1234

December 11 - 23

CincinnatiArts.org . 513.621.ARTS

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

25

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

26

BEST OF CINCINNATI 2019 WWW.BESTOFCINCINNATI.COM TICKETS ON SALE NOW

STUFF TO DO Ongoing Shows ONSTAGE: A Christmas Carol Playhouse in the Park, Mount Adams (through Dec. 29)

WEDNESDAY 05

ONSTAGE: Ensemble Theatre’s Alice in Wonderland is a whimsical retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic. See review on page 32.

ONSTAGE: An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas Starring Evan Tyrone Martin features Martin crooning holiday tunes and more from Cole’s library. See interview on page 33.

EVENT: OTRAGLOW Over-the-Rhine’s small businesses get glowing this season for an illuminating and festive holiday window display competition. During otrAGLOW 2018, OTR residents and businesses are invited to light up their windows with creative displays featuring a nonflammable source of light and a holiday theme. A theme that simultaneously celebrates OTR’s history is encouraged as well, but not required. Every evening from 5:30-10 p.m. through Dec. 31, displays will be ablaze and official judges will rank windows in categories including best residential, best business, best nonprofit and best overall. Through Dec. 31. Free to see. Overthe-Rhine, facebook.com/ otraglow. — MAIJA ZUMMO

MUSIC: Richard Thompson Electric Trio plays the Southgate House Revival. See Sound Advice on page 43.

FRIDAY 07

MUSIC: The Crystal Method plays Bogart’s. See Sound Advice on page 43.

EVENT: A Christmas Nightmare The spirits of Dent Schoolhouse get in the holiday spirit with the first ever Christmas Nightmare event at the popular haunted house. Charlie the Janitor is Santa Charlie in a scary attraction full of garlands, lights and twisted holiday monsters. 6 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. $25$55. Dent Schoolhouse, 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO ONSTAGE: Holiday Pops The Cincinnati Pops presents an evening of holiday joy with a performance of old favorites and new takes on wintertime classics. Expect sparkling versions of songs including “O Christmas Tree!,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “All I Want for Christmas is You” and plenty more, with guest vocalist, Broadway Star and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music grad Ashley Brown.

You’ll also have a chance to

share joy with those in need.

Guests can bring gently used hats, gloves, coats or socks to donate to the City Gospel Mission, a nonprofit organization that works to break the poverty cycle in the local area. 8 Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. $25-$120; $15 kids. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org.

— MARLENA TOEBBEN EVENT: Essex Studios Holiday Art Walk For the final time in 2018, Essex Studios artists will open their space to the public as their workplace morphs into a gallery showcasing their art.

The event takes guests through spaces filled with oil paintings, photography, sculptures, blown glass, wood carvings, ceramics and more — all splayed out in 150,000 square feet.

Since the holidays are upon us, you can check off your shopping list here, too (or buy a rad art piece for

yourself; we won’t judge).

Grab grub via local food trucks and listen to live music while you peruse.

6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Free admission.

Essex Studios, 2511 Essex Place, Walnut Hills, theessexstudios.weebly. com. — MACKENZIE MANLEY EVENT: Holly Dazed Visionaries+Voices’ annual end-of-year art show Holly Dazed takes over Oakley’s Visionarium for an exhibit and sale of original, deeply discounted holiday art.

Pieces from more than 130 V+V artists will be for sale along with individual wares from other local artisans and vendors. Stop by the opening reception to shop or visit any time through Jan. 25 to see the exhibit on display.

Opening reception 6-8 p.m.

Friday. Show through Jan. 25. Free admission. V+V Visionarium, 3054 Madison Road, Oakley, visionariumcincy.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO

SATURDAY 08

MUSIC: Country star Dustin Lynch plays BB&T arena with Cole Swindell.

See interview on page 41.

EVENT: Ohio Explored Holiday Maker Mart Ohio-centric website Ohio Explored takes over Urban Artifact for its second-annual Holiday Maker Mart this weekend. With over 80 vendors split between the two days, there will be plenty of opportunities to check off gifts from your list while supporting local artists. The vendors include jewelry artists like Chertova and Four Eyes Ceramics, accessory designers like SEA and SALT and Nerd Made Knits, candle makers like Manitou Candle Co. and Ginger Bee Limited and artisan food vendors like Macaron Bar and Fat T’s Cookies. Noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Free admission. Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock St., Northside, ohioexplored.com.

— MARLENA TOEBBEN CONTINUES ON PAGE 28

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

than 120,000 West Coast Japanese-Americans in internment camps to hypothetically protect America from acts of espionage and sabotage. According to the University of California, more than 60 percent of those incarcerated were American citizens, many were long-term U.S. residents and none were ever found guilty of espionage or sabotage. Dr. Harald Y. Arai was one of those placed in a camp with his family. He will be at The Mercantile Library Thursday to discuss his experience in the camp with a “focus on the strength and perseverance exhibited by the detainees.” 6:30 p.m. reception; 7 p.m. program Thursday. Free admission; RSVP required. The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St., #1100, Downtown, mercantilelibrary.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO

|

EVENT: My Experiences in a Japanese-American Internment Camp After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order #9066, which authorized the military to imprison more

PHOTO: PROVIDED

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

THURSDAY 06

Mount Adams Reindog Parade

27

FROM PAGE 27

EVENT: Market BLEU Market BLEU takes the artisan craft scene to a different type of venue: the Contemporary Arts Center. Shop for fine art and handmade crafts in an urban and architectural setting during this evening pop-up.

The winter quarter market is a perfect place for holiday shopping, or a quick stop before or after downtown dinner and drinks. Drinks will be available for purchase from the CAC café. 6-10 p.m.

Saturday. Free admission.

Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, marketbleu.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO

SHOP, DINE, EXPLORE! NOW THRU DEC. 31ST Visit Over 64 Shops, Galleries, Eateries, Brewery & Distillery!

MUSIC: Migos Together for a decade now, it wasn’t until 2016 that Hip Hop trio Migos became legitimate superstars. Group members Quavo, Offset and Takeoff grew up together in a suburb near Atlanta and released a pair of mixtapes at the start of the 2010s before their first widelyreleased single, “Versace,” broke through after receiving love from everyone from

Justin Bieber to Drake, who did a remix of the track. The group kept the buzz alive with debut album 3 Way and more mixtapes, but in the fall of 2016, Migos’ single “Bad and Boujee” blew up and went to No. 1 on the overall Billboard singles chart, cementing their “next level” status. The trio’s second album, Culture, was released at the start of 2017 and went straight to No. 1.

The LP ended up on most “Best Albums of the Year” lists. The group followed up its breakthrough album almost exactly one year later with Culture II, which also hit No. 1. Between solo releases, Migos has been doing dates with OG supporter Drake on the Aubrey & The Three Migos Tour, but the group is winding down 2018 with a few one-off arena-headlining dates, including their “Jingle Jam” show in Cincinnati with Tee Grizzley, BlocBoy JB, La4ss and Dash Gwoppovelli. 7 p.m. Saturday. $59-$204. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway, Downtown, usbankarena.com. — MIKE BREEN

EVENT: Mount Adams Reindog Parade Dress your furry friend in his or her holiday best to sashay your way through the streets of Mount Adams for the 29th-annual Reindog Parade. Costumes will be awarded prizes in categories including small dog, large dog, dog/owner look alike and multiple dogs — the more festive, cuter and cleverer the outfit, the better.

Registration for the parade starts at 12:30 p.m. and steps off at 2 p.m., led by Santa himself. Proceeds benefit the SPCA Cincinnati and adoptable dogs will be onsite for meet-and-greets.

Mount Adams bars and restaurants — including Blind Lemon, Bowtie Café, Chapter, Amigos, Pavilion and Yesterdays — are also making their patios pooch friendly for the day.

12:30 p.m. registration; 2 p.m. parade Saturday.

Suggested donation to the SPCA Cincinnati at registration. Mount Adams, spcacincinnati.org.

— MAIJA ZUMMO

11/23 – 12/16 YOUNG’S TREE FARM 9a-6p Cut Or Choose Your Own Tree

11/23-12/31 LEGENDARY LIGHTS OF CLIFTON MILL 6-9p, $10 Ea Over 6

12/8 GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Mills Lawn School Visit Santa 12p-2p; Selfie Station & Pictures Wagon Rides, 12:00-3:00p Kids Cookie Cottage, Santa Springs Raffle, Games 11a-2p

For all holiday event info visit: yellowspringsohio.org

f

937.767.2686

SATURDAY 08

EVENT: Cincinnati Santacon Are you Santa enough to drink your way from downtown to the North Pole (aka The Banks) in a costumed, group bar crawl? Put on a red suit and prepare yourself to imbibe a night’s worth of milk and cookies (aka alcohol) as you and more than 5,000 Santas stop at 40-plus venues across downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Check out a tip sheet online for how to be your best Santa and a lyric sheet of songs the group will be singing. Remember, this is about the holiday spirit, so don’t drink and drive and don’t be a dick and mess with cops, kids, security or other Santas. Proceeds benefit The Cure Starts Now. Noon Saturday. $10 online registration; $15 day of. Starts at JACK Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Pendleton, cincinnatisantacon.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO

28 PHOTO: 3CDC

P H O T O : B R O A D W AY A C R O S S A M E R I C A

designed by Queen City Vignette) with mulled wine and hot toddies, fresh cut trees and wreaths for sale and the conclusion of the OTR Raildog Parade. Performers throughout the day include Queen City Sisters, Aprina Johnson, Sara Hutchinson featuring Nick Rose, Q-Kidz Dance Team and more.

Noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Main Street between 12th and Liberty streets, Over-the-Rhine, secondsundayonmain.org. — MAIJA ZUMMO

UNLESS YOU GOT CRAZY FLIPPER FINGERS...

GAME OVER.

TUESDAY 11

ONSTAGE: The Naughty List at Arnold’s OTR Improv has a list and they’re checking it twice to make sure it’s a little naughty.

This annual bawdy Christmastime ONSTAGE: Rent send-up aims to There’s no need to wait 525,600 minutes to see a traveling “celebrate, skewer, Broadway rendition of Rent — it’s onstage at the Aronoff Center embellish and extol for its 20th anniversary tour through Dec. 23. This Pulitzer everything we love, Prize- and Tony Award-winner is a take on Puccini’s La Bohème, and love to hate, following the lives of seven artists attempting to follow their dream about the holidays.” without selling out. Broadway Across America says, “With its Using audience inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear, this timeless celebration of friendship and creativity reminds us to measure suggestion, this our lives with the only thing that truly matters — love.” Through show changes Dec. 23. $31-$109. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, every night as the cincinnatiarts.org. — MAIJA ZUMMO team improvises new takes on classic carols or comically changes favorite holiday tales. event. Prizes are promised They guarantee you’ll never at the finish line for the EVENT: OTR Raildog see the same show twice. best dressed dogs. Noon-5 Parade Arrive early (6 p.m.) to grab p.m.

Sunday.

Free.

Queen Cincinnati loves dogs and dinner at Arnold’s before City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., OTR, proudly, loves funny the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Over-the-Rhine, qcrbar.com. dog parades. Here’s your Through Dec. 27. $20 (does — MARLENA TOEBBEN chance to dress up your dog not include dinner). Arnold’s in their finest holiday attire EVENT: Second Sunday Bar & Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., and strut them through OTR on Main Winter Edition Downtown, otrimprov.com. for the sixth year in a row.

This neighborhood block — MAIJA ZUMMO Participants can gather at party gets a winter kick with Queen City Radio to fuel up a holiday-themed market. for the parade with burgers Find goods and gifts for sale MUSIC: Silverstein brings and beers before the parade from various vendors and its When Broken Is Easily merchants of Main Street, kicks off from there at 2 Fixed: 15 Year Anniversary a pop-up holiday tent from p.m. The overwhelming Tour to Bogart’s. See Sound Revel OTR (with a lounge group of glittery dogs and Advice on page 44. owners will go through downtown and end up at the YOUR WEEKEND TO DO LIST: LOCAL.CITYBEAT.COM Second Sunday on Main

TUESDAY 11

SUNDAY 09

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

|

WEDNESDAY 12

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Over-the-Rhine + 16-BitBar.com

29

SAV E T H E DAT E!

Bourbon & Bacon

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Wednesday, December 5th New Riff Distilling 5:30-8:30 P.M.

30

A l i m i t e d a m o u n t o f t i c k e t s ava i l a b l e at w w w. c i t y b e at t i c k e t s . c o m

Holistic Healing from a Neighborhood Icon

ARTS & CULTURE

The Lloyd House is home to not only a niche of local history, but also serves as a community and social hub

BY K AT I E G R I FFI T H

I

The Lloyd House is located at 3901 Clifton Ave., Clifton. For more info and updates on weekly class offerings, visit lloydhouse.com.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

these parallel the pioneering and often alternative methods of healing used by Lloyd decades ago, which Bierhorst is eager to carry on in her own way.

“I am 77 years old and I would like to live the rest of my life here,” she says. “But it’s hard to imagine that I could afford to live here post-retirement. My dream, which is also a holistic use for the house, is to have a little community of people who would live and dine here. ” It would serve as an interactive retirement community, she goes on to explain wistfully, that would combine individuals’ skills in order for them to thrive in the home where she grew up and continues to flourish.

|

1957 it “repelled other buyers.”

It could be said that the original owner, Dr. John Uri Lloyd, unleashed this mystique. A pharmacist and novelist, Lloyd inhabited the house in the 1920s and ’30s. He had a special interest in eclectic medicine, herbalism and botanical remedies. In the 1870s, he even founded downtown’s Lloyd Library and Museum — which covers those topics — along with his brothers Nelson Ashley and Curtis Gates Lloyd.

Bierhorst earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Cincinnati.

She practices with a holistic approach to wellness, she says, and although she does Dr. Ellen O. Bierhorst at the Lloyd House not limit services to anyone in particular, P H O T O : K AT I E G R I F F I T H she has been proud to serve many sub-culture groups. Since starting her private practice exercises that I had amazing memories more than 40 years ago, some of her clients and stories associated with every room in include polygamous couples and people the house,” Simon says. “That’s what got recovering from addiction. me thinking that perhaps it would be an The interior of the 130-year-old house is interesting read for other people, too.” just as impressive as its exterior, marked Simon recalls rollerblading in the thirdby Richardsonian Romanesque-style floor turret room, now used for meditation architecture. A winding, grand staircase, (Bierhorst calls it the Zen-do Room); it also royal crown moldings and numerous just so happens to be Dr. Lloyd’s original ornate fireplaces are just a few of its office, Bierhorst says. outstanding characteristics.

Three of the 15 rooms in the house are In an effort to learn more about the rented to private tenants while the main house and preserve memories Anna Cher floor is mostly used for community gatherSimon — one of Bierhorst’s three children ings. It’s also where Bierhorst sees patients — began taking photos of the house on for psychotherapy and the Alexander Techher visits home. Simon is turning her nique — for which she’s been a certified collection of photographs into a memoir. practitioner since 2009. The practice was Each chapter recounts a room in the house, named after its creator, Frederick Matthias while the photos highlight architectural Alexander, as a way to retrain a patient’s details and décor. Although the book has habitual movement and posture. Through no title or release date yet, she hopes to the placing of the hands, it rids tension and find a publisher soon. painful ailments of the body.

“I realized through these photography The offering of wellness programs like

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

t begins with the sound of a singing bowl. A long, deep tone reverberates throughout the circular room while participants settle into a reflective state.

For the rest of the hour, quiet meditation.

Dr. Ellen O. Bierhorst — owner of the Lloyd House, which hosts a weekly Buddhiststyle meditation and other wellness programs — won’t declare herself the leader, but is always the one to convene the group.

There is no music, drums, incense or frills, only the whisk of a mallet around the edge of a bronze bowl. The hour is timed in 10-minute increments; soft bells that initiate a change of position or a gentle walk around the room signify transitions. A simple practice that requires concentration instills mindfulness, a popular topic discussed in the postmeditative tea circle.

“Mindfulness is paying attention on purpose from moment to moment without being judgmental or reactive,” says Timothy Raine, a regular meditationgoer. “The group supports others who are interested in meditation and it seems to me that a period of digestion (after the session) is beneficial to everybody; it helps build a sense of community.”

The Lloyd House has been a hub for many happenings over the years: community potluck dinners, small concerts, weddings. In the late 1960s and early 1970s it housed The Independent Eye, an underground newspaper on which Bierhorst was the production manager.

But the house is not just a vessel for events. Architect James W. McLaughlin, who also designed the original Cincinnati Art Museum, built the house in 1888. (The CAM opened in 1886, marking it as one of the oldest art museums in the U.S.) A plaque in the front yard proclaims its spot on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. The history of the owners adds a thread of commonality that is a little more than coincidental, according to Bierhorst.

“There’s a mystique about the house,” she says. “If there was a spirit hovering over the house that wanted it to be used in certain ways, it was because of me that my family bought it and that I became a holistic psychologist.”

The house “mysteriously” sat on the market for a number of years, she says lightly. Up until her family bought it in

31

START THE WEEKEND EARLY

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 5-8 P.M. ART • music • COCKTAILS Presented by:

FREE ADMISSION Tickets at taftmuseum.org

Media partner:

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Additional Support:

32

ONSTAGE

ETC’s ‘Alice’ Goes Down the Rabbit Hole

BY JAC K I E M U L AY

It might be Christmastime, but a different stage, which adds an extra bit of flair to type of magic is gracing the stage at each scene she’s in. Steele envelops herself Over-the-Rhine’s Ensemble Theatre. in such subtle yet consuming cat-like Local playwright Joseph McDonough mannerisms that, at times, it’s quite easy to — with music and lyrics by Cincinnati believe one is watching the real Cheshire composer David Kisor — has written a Cat slyly slip into reality. modern retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic Another breakout performance to note is nonsensical novel, Alice in Wonderland. that of Sara Mackie, who portrays the Mad Though reimagined for the present Hatter. With impeccable comedic timing day, Alice in Wonderland wastes no time delivered both by her and her animal jumping down the rabbit hole from the companions, the Dormouse (Andrew familiar into the fantastical and downright Maloney) and the March Hare (Darnell illogical world of Wonderland.

Pierre Benjamin), the Hatter’s maniacal Portrayed by Deej Ragusa, 12-year-old Alice has a classic preteen fight with her mom and promptly wishes herself away into Wonderland before being whisked deeper into the strange new place. Driven by her tenacious curiosity and egged on by the loony creatures that call Wonderland home, Alice mixes their logic with her own steadfast opinions.

She finds herself both in and out of a series of Cast of Alice in Wonderland increasingly dangerous circumstances.

P H O T O : R YA N K U R T Z As expected, the musical production is fun; filled with tongue-in-cheek humor energy infused each scene and brought and fanciful characters, it keeps both some levity to the madness. adults and children entertained. The From the delightful warbled singing bright, colorful and exceptionally creative delivered by the Queen of Hearts (Deb G. costumes, designed by Reba Senske — Girdler) to the frantic yet commanding with wigs and makeup by Kelly Yurko — performance of the White Rabbit (Michael are enough to dazzle children. Meanwhile, G. Bath), the entire cast is committed to McDonough’s sharp comedic timing and the lunacy of Wonderland. And the cast’s complex wordplay keeps the adults in the full commitment — not only to their audience invested. characters, but also to the off-kilter and Ensemble’s audience for the opening fantastical world build by Carroll and night performance was filled mostly with reshaped by McDonough — was central adults — a little strange for a childto the production’s success. Despite the oriented show. But the few children that stage adaptation having some pacing did attend the production filled the space issues, it was partially fixed by the solid with precious giggles and awed gasps that performances and strong direction given brought some extra magic.

by D. Lynn Meyers.

Another element that lent magic Perhaps the weakness in the script to Wonderland was undoubtedly the keeps this production of Alice in stunning, modern set designed by Brian c.

Wonderland from being a complete success, Mehring, who also designed the lighting. despite its technical excellence and Composed of sharp lines and moving parts, fabulous performances. Though the pacing the surprisingly utilitarian set introduced is a little quick — and several key scenes shocking pops of red that stood out against lack the proper context or motivation for starkly black-and-white checkerboard adult audiences to stay fully immersed in flooring. At first glance, this set the tone the production — Ensemble’s Wonderland of the show wonderfully. The actors used is an undeniably whimsical and grand every inch of the glossy set, too; at times experience. For the families that are able they climbed on ladders that later became to splurge for their children, Wonderland is walls or that morphed into trees or even sure to inspire awe. the bars of a lonely jail cell.

Alice in Wonderland runs through Dec. 30 But in this take on Wonderland, it’s at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (1127 Vine really the Cheshire Cat’s show. Played St., Over-the-Rhine). More info/tickets: brilliantly by Brooke Steele, the everensemblecincinnati.org. grinning character slinks around the

ONSTAGE

Evan Tyrone Martin Sings Nat King Cole

BY B R I A N B A K ER

QUEEN CITY CABARET PRESENTS

“YOU’LL NEVER KNOW: AN EVENING W I T H R O S E M A RY C LO O N E Y ”

SUNDAY DECEMBER 9, 2018 7:30 PM THE CARNEGIE

1028 SCOTT BLVD COVINGTON, KY 41011

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

|

For Tickets, contact The Carnegie Box Office at www.thecarnegie.com or 859-957-1940 For more info, find us on Facebook @QCCCincy

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

When Evan Tyrone Martin was a boy, ETM: A lot of it is Nat’s hits that people his grandmother introduced him to the want to hear, like “Smile,” “Mona Lisa,” buttery, soulful croon of Nathaniel Adams “Route 66” and “Straighten Up and Fly Cole, forever known to the world as Nat Right.” His catalog is so amazing that we King Cole. He was hooked. Cole had that couldn’t just give them half of it. To have effect from the beginning of his vocal that (Christmas) music and add a little of career in the 1940s; TV and radio show his Pop music — it’s a nice balance. We host Jack Benny once introduced him do all sorts of fun things — there’s a little as “the best friend a song ever had.” Cole caroling — but we mix it up so it’s not just went on to record 28 studio albums and the Christmas music. released over 150 singles that landed spots CB: By most accounts, Nat’s Christmas on Billboard’s various charts. album is the third most successful of all time.

As for Martin, the Cleveland native Do you feel added pressure to get this right, graduated from nearby Ashland University and relocated to Chicago, where he became a renowned actor, landing spots like the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar, as Curtis Taylor Jr. in Dreamgirls and as King Triton in The Little Mermaid, among others.

Three years ago, when producer Michael Ingersoll was casting the role of Nat King Cole for an Artists Lounge Live series, one of ALL’s music directors was working with Martin on a show.

Evan Tyrone Martin transports audiences in Unforgettable.

After seeing a video of Martin performing Cole’s PHOTO: PROVIDED “Smile,” Ingersoll knew he had the right man; they developed Unforgettable: Falling in for his legacy as well as your own?

Love with Nat King Cole. Then, a separate ETM: Absolutely! Michael and Angela holiday show, An Unforgettable Nat King (Ingersoll) are very sweet and encouraging, Cole Christmas, which debuted last year but I think they were surprised when they and is now on its first national tour, coming met me. They were like, “We feel you have to the Aronoff Center for a three-night the confidence to grab Nat’s music and run Dec. 5-7. Martin spoke with CityBeat run with it.” I was like, “I have no idea by phone about his love of Cole and his who would even want to hear me sing this reasons for doing the show. music.” My only job in this, in my mind, is CityBeat: You’re an accomplished that I don’t do any damage to his music. actor with an amazing range of roles. Do There’s always a little pressure, but it’s not you actually portray Nat King Cole in pressure for my legacy at all. It really is just performance? about doing justice to his music. I watch Evan Tyrone Martin: No, and I think people get transported to a very different, it’s important people know that. I have specific and visceral place when they hear such reverence for Nat King Cole that any these songs, and that helps me stay very kind of imitation feels wrong and it’s not humble and say, “This is not about you or the direction I wanted to go. I wanted how good you sound, this is about people to present a night of his music to people getting the essence of Nat when they hear that could show them my appreciation for you sing.” That’s the most important thing. his music and style and tell them more As long as people enjoy themselves and about his life. I rewatched and relistened they feel as though they might have been to a lot of things and realized we had in the room with Nat for a little while, I’m many similarities; I adopted some of his over the moon. movements so when I’m singing his songs An Unforgettable Nat King Cole people can feel like they’re transported to Christmas, on a national tour as part of a Nat King Cole concert naturally. an Artists Lounge Live series, lands at CB: Between Nat King Cole’s original Cincy’s Aronoff Center (650 Walnut St., 1961 Christmas album and “The Christmas Downtown) Dec. 5-7. More info/tickets: Song,” which was added for the 1963 reissue, cincinnatiarts.org. that’s about 35 minutes of music. Beyond that, what do you perform in the Christmas show?

33

CULTURE

�!?a FITNESS

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

CENTER

34

1-1:

TriHealth.

DECEMBER

SPECIAL NO ENROLLMENT FEE!

The excellence of TriHealth classes and training, in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati. Just 2 Blocks North of the Aronoff Center. LOCATED ON THE STREETCAR ROUTE AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY STOP.

.................................................................................

898 WALNUT ST. • WWW.YWCACINCINNATI.ORG • 513·361·2116 0 YWCATRIHEALTHFITNESSCENTER

People’s Liberty Awards Final Project Grants

BY M A R L E N A TO E B B E N

People’s Liberty presented their last round of project grant winners Nov. 30 as the organization continues into the last year of its five-year-plan — 2019 will mark its final year of grant giving. Normally, the grantee group consists of seven or eight people.

But for the final edition, nine applicants made it through.

On the day of the announcement, the organization’s Over-the-Rhine The latest group of People Liberty’s Project Grant winners. space was filled with a diverse group. Eric Avner, PHOTO: PROVIDED People’s Liberty’s CEO — a tall, energetic man wearing a gray People’s Liberty sweatshirt over Rebecca Smithorn, a conductor and a more formal, button-up shirt — buzzed pianist, is bringing SoundWebs to the around the room.

Queen City, a series of live music and “The group of people that get these grants performance events that will act as a way are not the people who would normally go for the community to engage with local out and search a foundation for a project talent and sound. grant,” Avner said. “They’re coming from Terana Boyd’s project, POP UP, which all different neighborhoods, all different stands for Professional Organized Portfoages, all different backgrounds. All lios Uplifting Progresses, will work with different.”

Roselawn residents to make their own Since it kicked off in 2015, People’s professional portfolios — including a cover Liberty has had to do less marketing to letter, references and resume — while recruit grantees. Most of their applicants assisting with the general job search hear about People’s Liberty from wordprocess. Boyd works as the CSR and Intake of-mouth. Overall, the org has financially Coordinator at Cincinnati Works. powered 81 individual’s creative projects 10 ______ women, pronounced “10 or proposed solutions to local civic issues. pause women,” will choose and empower Grantees receive $10,000, a six-month 10 Cincinnati women who have made stint with launch events and access to the great strides in their discipline or work.

People’s Liberty workplace.

The founder, Kristin Suess, is the execuThe final grantees and their projects are: tive director of Voices of Indiana and an Angela White, currently assistant adjunct professor at University of Cincincounsel at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital nati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

Medical Center, pitched DebateABLE. The Napoleon Maddox’s project, The premise is to engage and enhance civic Mobilization of Congo Square, will discourse, with grant money going toward host free Jazz concerts in different hosting debate boot camps, trainings and neighborhoods around Cincinnati. community debates.

Maddox — a DJ, beatbox artists, writer Eban Taylor’s project — dubbed Freshand producer — hopes to bring Jazz to men — is a community delivery service underexposed audiences. that will strive to give the residents of Desktop Theatre is helmed by Avondale access to healthy, fresh food. The freelance theater director Bridget project will also address issues that limit Leak; the interactive puppet theater hopes the community’s resources, such as unrelito teach elementary- and middle schoolable transportation. aged children different acting skills and Kathy Wade, the co-founder of Learnbasic puppetry while reinforcing what they ing through Art, Inc, created the Loads of learn within the classroom.

Love project, a six-week series of life skills Avner notes that come August 2019, mini-classes that use social-emotional People’s Liberty will probably change learning. As the name suggests, sessions “drastically.” But, he says, they’re not going will be conducted during the time of a away entirely. washing and drying cycle (about 60 min“We think if you find these people and utes) at the Bond Hill Super Laundry. give them some agency and you give them The Welcoming Party — spearheaded some resources and you give them some by web, print and TV producer Jeremy support, they’re going to do amazing Mosher — is the exact opposite of a goingthings in the city,” he says. away party. The parties will welcome new For more info on People’s Liberty, visit people who just moved to the city. And in peoplesliberty.org. turn, make them feel at home in Cincy.

FILM

‘Green Book’ Bypasses Real Racial Discourse

BY T T S T ER N - EN ZI

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE ‘DON’T MISS’ EVENTS

Bourbon & Bacon

DEC. 5

Wednesday, December 5th New Riff Distilling 5:30-8:30 P.M.

t i c k e t s ava i l a b l e at c i t y b e at. c o m

MARCH 2019 BEST OF CINCINNATI 2019 WWW.BESTOFCINCINNATI.COM TICKETS ON SALE NOW

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT CITYBEAT.COM

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Green Book is a drama spiked with comedic moments that follows Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a black classical pianist who hires Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), an Italian-American bouncer, to drive him during a concert tour in the early 1960s South.

It’s a departure of sorts for director Peter Farrelly, whose previous work includes films like Dumb and Dumber and There’s Viggo Mortensen (left) and Mahershala Ali in Green Book Something About Mary with his brother Bobby.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES Based on the real interactions and from the white character’s perspective. On relationship between Shirley and Lip, the the drive, we get an insulting exchange film attempts to bridge the historic and between Lip and Shirley that calls out cultural divide separating them (and the Shirley’s blackness. Lip derides him for country) by focusing on their burgeoning never having eaten fried chicken and his awareness of a shared humanity. But this lack of exposure to popular black music; realization occurs more for Lip, a white this sets up a moment where Lip claims (and acknowledged racist) character, more he’s “more black” than Shirley because so than the black protagonist — which puts he’s hip to these things. the former’s perspective in the foreground.

There’s an uncomfortable irony in This is a somewhat incongruous deciwatching a white man with “soft” racist sion since the film draws its title from The tendencies acknowledge that he’s “more Negro Motorist Green Book, a Jim Crow-era black” than a man who can’t even travel guidebook for African-American travelacross the country without a “Green Book.” ers. The annual tomes, first published Farrelly and the film get a pass from genin 1936 by Victor Hugo Green (a Harlem eral audiences because we’re in the good postman), catalogued hotels, guest houses, company of performers like Mortensen filling stations, drug stores, barbershops, and Ali, who are generous, engaging actors bars and restaurants known to be safe that infuse these situations with far more establishments for black folks braving the dignity than they deserve. roads during these perilous times. While We’ve seen Mortensen as a cold-blooded it was assumed the guidebooks focused on killer in Eastern Promises, a sympathetic Southern states, they documented hospiman in History of Violence and a Tolkien table venues as far north as Connecticut epic hero in Lord of the Rings, so audiences and as far west as California. are more than ready to embrace Lip’s In the film, soon after Lip agrees to racism as a pesky character flaw that he chauffeur Shirley, he is presented with will leave behind thanks to his exposure what is likely the latest edition of The Negro to Academy Award-winner Ali’s righteous Motorist Green Book. Over the course of grace — which lends a magical brand the film, Lip casually skims the pages a of racial healing similar to that of actor few times, but there is no instance where Sidney Poitier. the guide gets employed in a direct and It seems this old-timey salve remains significant way. effective with audiences and among the As both a critic and an African-Amercritical set, despite talk of an assumed ican, I wondered what Lip (and the filmprogressive cultural shift. Green Book makers) knew about the books and their announced itself as an awards season vital role in protecting black travelers. I contender right away by claiming the Audiwanted this white man to learn something ence Prize at the Toronto International profound about his nation and privilege, a Film Festival and recently earning Best term used more today than in that time.

Picture honors from the National Board But the point remains valid. This story is of Review. These first steps pave the way about privilege, learning about racism and toward the Academy Awards in February. its insidious nature. There’s an obvious Ultimately, an updated version of the teachable moment in Green Book to illusGreen Book is needed to navigate through trate the crucial lack of understanding of an industry and social climate that still the racial realities at that time. struggles to create equal opportunities and Instead, the movie traffics in feel-good privileges for diverse perspectives. buddy-road-trip tropes and relies on Grade: D (In theaters) Hollywood cruise-control settings that Contact tt stern-enzi: letters@citybeat.com favor the typical white savior narrative told

35

OT R B A G E L B A R

O OPPEEN NIIN NG G SSO OO ON N!!

Serving Breakfast & Lunch Daily including local favorite Smooth Nitro Coffee!

WE’RE HUNGRY! SEND RESTAURANT TIPS, NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES TO EATS@CITYBEAT.COM

New Yo r k St y le Ba g e ls Tra d i t i o n a l & No n -Tra d i t i o n a l F la vo r s & G lu te n - Fre e O pt i o n s

We Cater!

For Catering Inquiries or Large Orders: Email us: OTRBagelBar@gmail.com

F eatur ing Loc a l A r tis ts for Ou r Galler y with M onthly S hows !

In tereseted in Displa ying Your Ar t?

Email us: OTRBagelBar@gmail.com

@OTRBa gelBa r

All things health, under one roof !

HEALTH & WELLNESS NATURAL FOODS & SUPPLEMENTS SCREENINGS & IDEAS

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

5 OFF

$ 00

2nd Dinner Entree

$5 Off Carryout Entree. Good Only at Ambar India.

Only 2 Coupons Per Party, Per Table.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

Expires 6/23/19

Voted BEST INDIAN for 17 Years

36

350 Ludlow Ave • 513-281-7000

3 OFF

$ 00

2nd Lunch Entree

$3 Off Carryout Entree. Good Only at Ambar India.

Only 2 Coupons Per Party, Per Table.

Expires 6/23/19

JAN. 26 11AM - 4PM

FREE TO ATTEND! OSCAR EVENT CENTER JUNGLE JIM’S FAIRFIELD

junglefests.com SPONSORED BY:

FOOD & DRINK

What’s New at Nicola’s The new executive chef at the OTR Italian mainstay has revamped the menu with fresh dishes and fan favorites

Executive chef Jack Hemmer PHOTO: HAILEY BOLLINGER

R E V I E W BY PA M A M I TC H EL L

N

Nicola’s 1420 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-721-6200, nicolasotr.com; Hours: 5-10 p.m. MondayThursday; 5-11 p.m.

Friday-Saturday.

the Bolognese ($15-$25) to risotto Milanese ($18-$28), while two of us went with fish entrées. Between the branzino ($34; my choice) and my friend’s Atlantic sole ($34), I preferred the latter. The fish was tender and flaky, and I liked the preparation with sautéed cauliflower, Marcona almonds and wine-soaked raisins.

We had no room for dessert but ordered a couple anyway. A dish of Dojo’s mango sorbet went down easy, but the small square of carrot cake and a strange chocolate, banana and bacon construct called The Elvis were lackluster.

One final thing that makes this restaurant special is owner Nick, whom I spoke with by phone a couple of times after our visit. He has to be one of the kindest, most personable restaurant owners in this city. I had discovered through internet research that he is a committed Buddhist, which must be a factor in the positivity he brings to his interactions. (The practice of Buddhism “is the greatest gift life has ever bestowed on me,” he told me.) My brief conversations with him made me want to learn more about his practice and to hope for continued success with the restaurant he and his wife have operated for all these years.

FIND MORE RESTAURANT NEWS AND REVIEWS AT CITYBEAT.COM/ FOOD-DRINK

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

person to the tab — the quality and variety of the focaccia, sliced Italian bread and crunchy breadsticks is well worth the small charge. And if the kitchen happens to be as slow as it was on our visit, you’re going to want something tasty to go with your cocktails or wine.

And yes, they serve cocktails, but better to delve into the list of wonderful (mostly) Italian wines. The cocktail list did look interesting but I knew better than to down hard liquor on an empty stomach before starting on what would become a deep dive into the vino.

For appetizers, some of us went with antipasti while others chose salads, and we enjoyed everything set before us. The biggest hits were the duck leg and the octopus antipasti. The hearty duck leg ($15) — the chef’s personal favorite on the current menu, prepared with farro, sweet potato purée and smoked grapes — could have been a main course. Octopus ($18) was top-quality and grilled to tender perfection. Two at our table ordered the Caesar salad ($9) and found it to be an excellent rendition of the classic.

We took our server’s recommendation and split a couple orders of gnocchi ($18$28) as an intermediate course. We agreed that the dish had been over-salted, which bothered some of us (including me) more than others. After more wine and waiting, our main dinner arrived. Several of my companions scarfed up more pasta, from

|

bussers and wait staff.

Cincinnati has so many restaurants that the talent pool — one chef/owner called it a “talent puddle” — is stretched way too thin. But you would expect the higher-end places to find, train and retain dependable staff.

During our weekend night dinner, our table of six endured long waits and wine brought to our table that wasn’t exactly what we had ordered. The worst offense was at least a half-hour lag between our appetizer and main course. By the time the entrées showed up, we had drunk too much wine and loaded up on too much bread.

But for me the quality of the food is the real measure of whether you’ll want to spend your time and money at a restaurant.

I’d say that, overall, our meal at Nicola’s had way more hits than misses. Some of our best-loved courses turned up on Hemmer’s lists of long-time and recent menu favorites, and looking back, I wish I’d known his preferences in advance because we didn’t try them all.

Nicola’s gets lots of praise in online comments for its house bread basket, and for good reason. While it’s not complimentary — it will add $1.99 per

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

icola’s had fallen off my radar, but news of a recently hired executive chef gave me good reason to revisit the fine Italian restaurant. It has been at the same downtown/Over-the-Rhine location for 22 years, making owners Nicola (Nick) and Maureen Pietoso true pioneers in the area’s eventual renaissance.

In June, executive chef Jack Hemmer came on board. He had cooked at Nicola’s a few years ago and left for other local kitchens, including a stint as executive chef at Mercer OTR when it first opened.

Patrons will be delighted by the lovely main dining room the Pietosos have created on Sycamore Street, greeting diners with a beautiful interior where everything your eye rests on makes you feel indulged.

It wasn’t always this way, according to Nick. Back in the 1990s as a startup, the place had vinyl floors, bare windows and cheap, uncomfortable chairs, he said. Over the years the upgrades have included lighting “that puts the food on stage,” curtains, much better furniture and new flooring. In 2013, they closed for a couple of weeks to do a complete overhaul of the kitchen.

Hemmer, 30, has known the Pietoso family most of his life, so returning to Nicola’s as executive chef felt like a homecoming for all concerned. He and his team retained some fan-favorite menu items that he said “absolutely deserve” keeping, such as a couple of pastas — tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce and four-cheese gnocchi — along with a goat cheese salad. And since June, Hemmer has developed several intriguing appetizers, pastas and entrées. He said that on the fall menu he especially recommends the duck leg and octopus starters; tortelloni pasta with a mélange of ingredients that “balance savory, sweet, spice and acidity;” and a pan-seared branzino entrée.

I went for dinner with several friends and had a fun evening where we sampled dishes across the menu, both tried-andtrue and new additions. Unfortunately, though, we did encounter frustratingly slow service throughout the meal.

Virtually anyone in the restaurant business will tell you how hard it is to find reliable employees, from line cooks to

37

THE DISH

New Mason Breweries Worth the Drive

BY S E A N M . PE T ER S

These three new Mason breweries have opened taprooms in the past year and are sure-shot destinations for local craft brew enthusiasts.

The Common Beer Co. 126 E. Main St., commonbeercompany.com The Common Beer Company opened its doors in downtown Mason on Oct. 5.

Owned by Amy and Mark Lortz, the nanobrewery’s beer is only available in the taproom at present, which means you’ll get to enjoy the family’s hospitality if you want to sample their fresh drinks.

When Amy and Mark sat down to talk with CityBeat about their brewery, Mark sipped Bandit, a smoky tasting IPA that got its peaty flavor from a peculiarity in the yeast — a happy accident that yielded a beer that any scotch drinker could cozy up to. Seated in the back patio of the brewery, Amy drank Maggs 59, a honey ale named for their daughter and her lacrosse jersey number. Locally sourced honey is added, not as a sweetener, but to provide extra sugar in fermentation for an increased alcohol content. The flavor from the honey is not overly prevalent and it drinks like Bud Light, boasting only 3.1 percent alcohol by volume, which is less than a third of the kick offered by their coffee stout, Any

Moment Now, which has 9.8 percent ABV. “We use local ingredients,” Amy says.

“We utilize all the things that we have right here because there are a lot of ingredients we can get within a 20-mile radius of our location.”

The brewery’s name, The Common Beer Co., is not a reflection of the beer’s quality but serves to encourage the idea that the taproom be treated like a common area, where anyone is welcome to gather and interact with the community.

“What we’re trying to do is get to the forefront of what could be and what will be a really vibrant downtown,” Mark says. “Our goal is to put Mason on the map in coordination with all the other breweries here.”

16 Lots Brewing Co. 753 Reading Road, 16lots.com Mike Burton and Jeff Cosgrove opened 16 Lots Brewing Co. in September 2017.

Burton is the business yin to Cosgrove’s brewing and operations yang.

“We’re very good at making a wide variety of beers by making them as they’re supposed to be,” Burton says. “When you order a German pilsner, you have it in your mind what it should taste like…and we want to make sure we’re making a very good version of that.”

This “true to style” brewing is achieved by their adherence to traditional methods and recipes.

Their pilsner, The Major, is brewed with all German hops and malts.

“We do true lagers,” Cosgrove says as he tests the gravity of a new batch 16 Lots Brewing Co. of Lulu blonde ale. “Cold fermenting and cold aging.

PHOTO: SEAN M. PETERS We’ve also done German pilsners, Oktoberfest, bock, consisting of a 40-foot mound of dirt and a schwarzbier.” fire hydrant a few miles away from Kings The brewery’s name is taken from a Island. Their grand opening was Oct. 27. historic land purchase by Revolutionary The brewery’s owner and CEO, Justin War officer Major William Mason, who Neff, was halfway through a glass of West bought the sixteen lots of land that later Coast-style Record Hop IPA when our developed into modern day Mason. Just as interview began. “People ask me which of their beer is steeped in historic tradition, our beers is my favorite and it really just their name also pays homage to the history depends on the time of day,” Neff says. of the city where they brew.

Other beers on the tap list include ZauThe taproom also houses Mad Monks ber, their take on a zwickelbier lager, and Pizza Co., operated by the owner of Send It!, a brut IPA with flavors of sparkling Habanero in Clifton. wine and evergreen boughs. On top of a Sonder Brewing comprehensive beer list, Sonder also has a 8584 Duke Blvd., sonderbrewing.com cider, Scarlet, made with apple and cherry Sonder Brewing built its brewery and that finishes dry and crisp. taproom on what was a vacant lot

Small plates with a Southern twist 60 wines by the glass, bourbon, craft beer & cocktails

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

In the heart of OTR

38

www.louvino.com

12- 40 Person Private Event Spaces Saturday & Sunday Brunch with $2 mimosas Weekly Happy Hour Specials Chef Driven Seasonal Menus

BOOK AN EVENT IN ONE OF OUR 2 PRIVATE DINING ROOMS! events@louvino.com

CLASSES & EVENTS WEDNESDAY 05

Wreaths and Drinks with Look at Ludlow at Bircus Brewing Co. — This adultsonly wreath decorating popup is a fun and festive event with free items to decorate your wreath. Each beer you buy on tap will donate $1 to the Look at Ludlow Business League. 4-9 p.m. Free.

Bircus Brewing, 322 Elm St., Ludlow, Ky., facebook.com/ cpreevesmarket.

Raclette Night at The Rhined — On top of their excellent selection of cheese, which you can grab to go by weight or eat inside on a curated cheese board, The Rhined also offers a specialty sandwich of the week, adult “lunchables” and their Raclette Night, where on Wednesday nights from 5 p.m. until they sell out, they heat and scrape raclette cheese (a type of Swiss) onto a selection of goodies like potatoes, veggies and charcuterie. Starts at 5 p.m. Free admission. The Rhined, 1737 Elm St., Overthe-Rhine, facebook.com/ therhined.

Bourbon & Bacon 2018 — CityBeat’s Bourbon & Bacon takes over New Riff’s event center for an evening of bourbon, beer and diving swine creations. This intimate event features rare bourbons, bacon-infused dishes, surprises and prizes.

5:30 p.m. $65. New Riff Distilling, 24 Distillery Way, Newport, citybeat.com.

THURSDAY 06

Chocolate Tasting with The Midwest Culinary Institute — The Midwest Culinary Institute from Cincinnati State heads to the Cincinnati Museum Center for a chocolate tasting at Chocolate: The Exhibit.

Noon-3 p.m. $14 adult; $12 senior; $10 child; $7 member adult; free member child. Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymusuem. org/chocolate.

Breakfast with Santa at The National Exemplar — Santa visits the National Exemplar for a Christmasthemed brunch buffet.

9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Saturday; 9:30 a.m. Sunday. $20 adult; $15 child. The National Exemplar, 6880 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, nationalexemplar.com.

Onesie Bar Crawl — Wear your best onesie and get ready for a bar crawl around OTR bars like The Drinkery, Revel OTR, MOTR and more. Get off the couch and get ready to wander to different bars for drink specials with a souvenir cup, bar crawl mug, LED pacifier, flashing LED glasses and a candy necklace. This might be a baby rave. 3-5 p.m. check in. $35. More details at facebook.com/ usepiceventz.

Tacky for a Cause — West Side Brewing hosts this ugly sweater party for a cause.

Wear festive gear and drink beer to benefit Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. 6 p.m. Free admission. West Side

th

EST. 1933

AN

The 11th Annual Cincinnati Santacon — Dress like the man in red and join over 5,000 other humans in Santa suits (and other assorted holiday costumes) for the 11th-annual Santacon bar crawl to 40-plus venues.

Drink, sing and support The Cure Starts Now. Get more details when you register. Noon. $15. Leaves from Jack Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Pendleton, cincinnatisantacon.com.

Ethnic Eats in Over-theRhine Food and Culture Tour — Sample eats from around the world without leaving Over-the-Rhine.

Learn a brief history of the area’s German immigrants and visit multiple local restaurants, like Quan Hapa, Maize OTR, Kaze and Injoy, for five food samples and information. 1 p.m. $59 adult; $49 children.

Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, riversidefoodtours.com.

UPCOMING LIVE PERFORMANCES Dec. 6 Dec. 7

SPACIOUS OUTDOOR SEATING HAPPY HOUR 4PM-7PM WEEKDAYS POMPILIOS.COM | 859.581.3065 600 Washington Ave. Newport, KY

NOW REOPENED

TUESDAY 11

Rare Bourbon Tuesday at Braxton Labs — Every week, Braxton Labs hosts a rare bourbon night on Tuesday with deals on sought-after spirits. Tickets include a .75-ounce pour of a super-rare bourbon plus a glass of one of Braxton Lab’s beers. This week, sample KY Owl Bourbon.

5 p.m. $25. Braxton Labs, 95 Riviera Drive, Newport, facebook.com/braxtonlabs.

Sami Riggs Ben Walz

FINE BOURBONS • LOCAL BEERS CRAFT COCKTAILS • LIVE MUSIC

SUNDAY 09

Pierogi and Kolachi Class with Babushka Pierogies — Sarah Dworak of Babushka Pierogies will be at Findlay Kitchen to share her grandma’s pierogi and kolachi recipes. Learn the process to make each and bring your own rolling pin and a container for leftover pierogies. Come hungry: You’ll sample what you make and enjoy wine, water and traditional Polka music. 1-3 p.m. Findlay Kitchen, 1719 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, findlaykitchen.org.

NIVERSARY

Tohi

Cincinnati’s Only Hemp Spa, Tea House, and Boutique Massage • Facials • Waxing • detox Sauna Mani/pedi • tea House • Smoothie Bar • Hemp Boutique

942 HatcH St. • Mt adaMS 513-421-8644 • toHiSpa.coM

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Porkopolis BBQ & Brew — Cincinnati excels at both

SATURDAY 08

Brewing, 3044 Harrison Ave., Westwood, facebook. com/westsidebrewing.

|

FRIDAY 07

beer and pork products, so this guided tour pairs them together for an evening of craft beer tastings and barbecue. The tour takes you on the streetcar to visit a brewery, a brewpub and a beer bar to sample two craft beer flights. Tickets also include a hickory-smoked pulled-pork barbecue sandwich and macaroni and cheese. 5:30 p.m. $69. Moerlein Lager House, 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown, cincinnatiurbanadventures.com.

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Macarons with Taren Kinebrew of Sweet Petit Desserts — Pastry chef Taren Kinebrew will be in the Artichoke OTR kitchen teaching guests to make macarons. Learn the secret behind making these little colorful filled sandwich cookies from scratch or from her own macaron mix, available at the class. 6:307:30 p.m. $35. Artichoke OTR, 1824 Elm St., Overthe-Rhine, artichokeotr.com.

Most classes and events require registration and classes frequently sell out.

39

IN STORE PICKUP. LOCAL DELIVERY. CUSTOMIZABLE GIFT BASKETS.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Nothing brings partiers together like the holiday season.

Let us help prepare you! Whether you’re hosting or attending, we’ve got what you need.

40

thepartysource.com

• (859) 291-4007 • 95 Riviera Dr, Bellevue, KY 41073

MUSIC

Current Mood: Really Good After a landmark 2017, the past year has treated Country star Dustin Lynch even better

BY L . K EN T WO LG A M OT T

I

Dustin Lynch PHOTO: GLEN SWEITZER

world, what do you think of this?’ and toss the golden nuggets out when you get them.”

A couple more hits and Lynch is likely to be moving on up in the touring world. It appears it’s just a matter of time before he’s headlining arena shows on his own and finding new artists to support him.

“The industry as a whole is really expecting us to get there,” Lynch says of his prospects. “In my opinion, we’re getting close. We have one giant song, ‘Small Town Boy.’ Then it’s continuing to pursue excellence as a performer and having people talking about what a great time they had at your show. You start doing that and, eventually, there’s not an arena that can hold you. I think it’s in the cards for us, going to that level, I really do.”

Dustin Lynch and Cole Swindell play Dec. 8 at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Ky. Tickets/more info: thebbtarena.com.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

get into the industry at this level. Jake Owen’s a golfer. Chase Rice played football; Lee Brice played football; Sam Hunt, too.

Colt Ford is a big-time golfer.”

So who’d win if there was a Country music golf tournament?

“Right now, I’d probably put my money on Colt Ford,” Lynch says. “I’ve retired.

I got burned out in college. What little free time I’ve got now, I don’t want to be worrying about which way a golf ball goes.

I’ve taken up fishing.”

While he’s on the road, Lynch is also at work on new songs, which are likely to turn up on his next album. But like the non-LP “Good Girl,” new music may hit the airwaves well before any album is released.

“We’ve already started the creative process, the writing process,” Lynch says of his next album project. “(But) the landscape of music changes so quickly that I like the thought of releasing music when you know you’ve got something special. You go, ‘Hey

|

I’ve gotten more comfortable as an artist. One thing I finally figured out is, if I’ve felt it, if I’ve lived it, there’s no reason to be afraid to talk about it — everybody else has, too.

What I’ve learned is when I’ve let somebody in too much, too close, that’s where the magic happens.

That (realization) opened me up as a songwriter.”

Lynch’s progression as a songwriter has been just one aspect of his overall professional growth spurt, as he’s gone from promising upstart to consistent hitmaker. It’s a run that began when he released his debut single, “Cowboys and Angels,” in early 2012.

Later in 2012, Lynch’s self-titled debut album hit the top of the Country album chart and he was off, following a now-standard path for Country artists — playing club and fair shows, releasing singles and albums, landing support slots on major tours, releasing more music, getting main support slots and playing bigger headlining shows.

Following that path can bring an artist closer to the Country’s top tier.

But Lynch says if it was that automatic, everyone would do it. He and other aspirants have learned to find a way to connect with audiences, first on the radio (via the songs themselves), then in person through performance.

What makes that happen?

“It’s being comfortable and confident,” Lynch says. “I learned a lot about that from watching Luke Bryan (on tour). I watched that guy every night have fun, where it’s cool and exciting and not too choreographed. If you feel like dancing with somebody, do it — don’t worry about what you look like. That’s what it’s about, being comfortable and making that connection so that every concert is like a first date.”

So how does he keep that going show after show?

“It’s about confidence, repetition and dialing in the pacing,” Lynch says.

That sounds like something an athlete would say about preparing for a game, which is not surprising given that Lynch played golf at Nashville’s Lipscomb University before beginning his musical career.

“There’s no doubt about that,” Lynch says of the athletic comparison. “There’s a lot of similarity. You see a lot of college athletes

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

n 2017, Dustin Lynch had a careermaking hit with “Small Town Boy,” a platinum-selling single that sat atop Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for a month. The song and another charttopping single, “Seein’ Red,” were released in advance of Lynch’s third album, Current Mood.

The album hit No. 2 on the Billboard Country Album chart when it was released last September and stayed on the charts for a year after its release. Lynch’s latest single, the non-album “Good Girl,” has been steadily climbing the airplay chart since its release in May (it recently hit its highest mark yet, ranking No. 11) and he has been playing to more people than ever on the road.

What’s more, this past September, Lynch was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

“It’s been a great year, no doubt about it,” Lynch says. “It comes from working hard and setting goals, meeting goals. But I think it’s also (about) putting out the right music at the right time.”

After landing the main support slots on tours headlined by Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban and Florida Georgia Line, Lynch spent the summer playing festivals and doing headlining dates. He is now on a co-headlining run with Cole Swindell.

The “co-headlining” status means Lynch will have more time on stage than the 45-minute slots he does as a support act. While getting the chance to introduce himself to fans of a bigger act was a great opportunity for Lynch, the shorter sets somewhat limited the amount of songs he could fit into those shows.

“We’ve had enough hits that the majority of the time we’re up there is playing hits,” he says of the support slots. “We (could) introduce a couple new songs, but you’ve got to play the hits.”

On the current tour dates (including this week’s stop in Northern Kentucky), Lynch should be able to incorporate at least a couple of album tracks from Current Mood and his two previous studio albums into his show. The songs on the album have been almost universally seen as the best Lynch has recorded, connecting with listeners more directly and personally than his previous efforts.

“That comes with my growth as a songwriter, my growth even as a person, living a little bit,” says Lynch, who has seven cowriting credits on Current Mood. “Life has changed, relationships have happened and

41

SPILL IT

1345 MAIN ST MOTRPUB.COM

W E D PERRIN BREWING CO. TAP TAKEOVER, BUXTON 5 (HOUSTON) W/ MIKE MONTGOMERY THU 6

VAN ECHO W/ STATIC FALLS

FRI 7

THE GROVE W/ THE MIDWESTERN

S AT 8

HEAVY HINGES W/ JIMS

SUN 9

PALAMARA W/ FREEDOM NICOLE MOORE

M O N HILLARY HAHN W/ HONEY COMBS 10 & COMBO SLICE MOTR MOUTH | STAND-UP COMEDY, WRITER’S NIGHT W/ DAVE

TUE 11

VOTED BEST OPEN MIC BY CITYBEAT READERS

FREE LIVE MUSIC OPEN FOR LUNCH

1404 MAIN ST (513) 345-7981

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

1 2/2 8

42

THE MORTALS REUNION SHOW

1 2 /31

THE YUGOS NEW YEAR’S EVE 10TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY

1 2/16

TOSSED SALAD BAND MASHUP FUNDRAISER FOR FREESTORE FOODBANK

1 2 /21

AUTOMAGIK ALBUM RELEASE SHOW WITH TRIIIBE BUY TICKETS AT MOTR OR WOODWARDTHEATER.COM

Common Center Drops ‘Invisible Ropes’

BY M I K E B R EE N

In the first half of 2018, Covington’s Common Center released To Swallow Something Half Your Size, an exceptional EP that deftly encapsulated the seven-piece band’s unique and eclectic (and uniquely eclectic) musical approach.

At the time of its release in April, Common Center promised there would be a second EP out before the end of the year. As promised, the ensemble’s five-track Invisible Ropes is scheduled to drop Dec. 8. The EP will be available on all major digital/ streaming platforms, including the group’s Bandcamp page: commoncenter.bandcamp. com.

Common Center’s Invisible Ropes EP Invisible Ropes is another great representation of PHOTO: PROVIDED Common Center’s rich, distinct and hard-to-classify sound.

Some of the group’s ear“No Quarter”), which are gradually grabbing sonic personality is the result and creatively augmented by the other of its instrumental arsenal, which has an musicians — Sasha Suskind shades the acoustic-guitar/bass/keys/drums core track with scurrying, echoing sax and flute but also features violin and saxophone in trills and miscellaneous string sounds prominent roles. sweep through elegantly. The vocals The septet’s music has elements of Indie (including Graff’s crucial harmonies, Folk and Progressive Rock, but it also has which help make the choruses soar) are the mark of Classical music’s influence mood-setting and spellbinding, beginning and there are often sounds, rhythms and with a trippy, low-key croon that steadily feels that evoke traditional music from opens up to show the impressive range of other parts of the world. On the Ropes track singer/guitarist Liam Hall’s voice.

“Trace,” for example, the rhythm section After the airy, spacious opener, the of Adam Gockenbach (drums), Ian Smith swooning “Charm” floats in on a Latin(percussion) and Dennis DeZarn (bass), as like rhythmic sway, as the piano, violin well as Jessica Graff’s evocative violin work, and sax dance around each other and the help to give Common Center its shades of memorable melodies. Elsewhere, “Shaker’s Eastern European Gypsy music.

Waltz” is a gorgeous instrumental — Interesting instrumentation and despite its lack of vocals, the repeated varied influences, of course, can only melodic musical themes are as catchy take a band so far. Along with a clear as anything on Invisible Ropes. The EP chemistry between the talented players, closes on an endearingly offbeat note Common Center’s magic comes from with “No Questions,” which shape-shifts the often-transcendent nature of the rhythmically and tonally at a furious pace songwriting. The group’s compositions in just two minutes and 46 seconds, like seem thoughtfully considered, at times some sort of lost Mr. Bungle track. Though sounding as if they could have been Common Center is thrillingly atypical in written out and annotated as sheet music. everything it does musically, the blunt But the songs manage to also come across weirdness of “No Questions” shows that as very fluid and impetuous, like they were the band’s uniqueness can also manifest crafted in a trance during extended jams at itself in more quirky and avant-garde ways. band practice.

Common Center celebrates the release It’s a dichotomy that makes perfect of Invisible Ropes with a show Saturday, sense when you hear how the music also Dec. 8 at Madison Live (734 Madison Ave., floats between an old-world vibe and a Covington, madisontheateronline.com). more contemporary, Pop-era sensibility.

Us, Today and Michael G. Ronstadt will Ultimately, the musicians’ multifarious also perform at the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are fusion achieves a sense of timelessness. $10 in advance through cincyticket.com or The mesmerizing, atmospheric $12 at the door.

Chamber Folk song “Frost At Midnight” For more on Common Center, visit opens the EP with slow-burning, slowcommoncentersounds.com. building drama. The track sprouts from Contact Mike Breen: Lewis Connell’s warm, chiming keys mbreen@citybeat.com (akin to the warm pads of Led Zeppelin’s

MINIMUM GAUGE

BY M I K E B R EEN

Bye “Baby”

Cleveland, Ohio Christmasmusic radio station Star 102 has removed “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” from its playlist this season. For years, many have pointed out how the duet’s lyrics about a woman trying to leave a date (and a man trying to convince her to stay) haven’t held up well since the song emerged in the ’40s.

The station said it made the decision after examining the words more closely following a listener complaint that referenced the #MeToo movement. The song’s banter (like “I really can’t stay” and “What’s in this drink?” to which the male protagonist responds with stronger come-ons) has been compared to a date-rape scenario. Some have decried the decision as another example of “PC culture run amok,” but “Baby” appears to just be going the way of other awkward cultural artifacts that fell out of favor as American society has progressed.

Cruz Denies Being Cool Once

Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor shockingly suggested recently that perhaps Texas Senator Ted Cruz engages in normal, human-like activities, like going to concerts and drinking beer. During a show in Texas, Reznor said onstage that Cruz had requested freebies to the concert but was denied because the last time the politician came backstage he drank all of the band’s beer. Reznor was obviously joking — clearly Cruz only listens to Nickelback and can drink all of no one’s beer — but the Senator responded to news reports about the comments on Twitter, saying, “NIN is not my music taste.” He added, “I also didn’t ‘drink all his beer’ last time,” then lied, “but I would have!”

Laugh. Rock.

Seriously?

Are you a fan of classic rockers Styx but have never seen them in concert, not because singer Dennis DeYoung isn’t in the group anymore, but because there aren’t enough lowbrow jokes about workingclass people? Well it’s an amazing time for you to be alive, because Styx and Larry the Cable Guy have announced a handful of co-headlining tour dates for 2019. Even the performers seem perplexed by the pairing, dubbing the seven-date March tour “Laugh. Rock.

Seriously.”

F R EE R EC O R D

SOUND ADVICE

$ COUPON $ GET 1 FREE Record up to $4.95 value w/ coupon!

Limit one per customer

M or r ow Audi o Recor ds 6608 Dixie Hwy, Flor ence, KY Visit us on Facebook!

Richard Thompson

MUSIC EDITOR MIKE BREEN KNOWS MUSIC.

PHOTO: TOM BEJGROWICZ

BE LIKE BREEN.

Richard Thompson Electric Trio with Joan Shelley

Thursday • Southgate House Revival

READ CITYBEAT.COM/MUSIC EVERYDAY.

y a d s r u Th ec 6 D The Crystal Method’s Scott Kirkland PHOTO: GRAHAM JOHN BELL

354 Ludlow Ave. Cincinnati,OH 45220

LudlowGarageCincinnati.com

Saturday Dec 8

| C I T Y B E AT. C O M

to helm the controls and produce. For 13 Rivers, he produces himself, and this takes his new songs tonally to a brooding, mordant place — one familiar to any Thompson fan. The album opens with “The Storm Won’t Come,” one of Thompson’s trademark slow-burn stunners, where his high-wire, twang guitar, Taras Prodaniuk’s throbbing bass and Michael Jerome’s roiling percussion spiral into a cathartic coda. The ballad “My Rock, My Rope” unfurls like a mid-life prayer, with the narrator asking for the strength to escape his demons. “The Dog in You,” a brutal Blues song, and “Bones of Gilead,” a sturdy, kinetic riff of a tune, each reference Old Testament God — this time for his wrath — as both menace and wonder creep into the mix. (Gregory Gaston)

Open for f r Dinner fo 4:00 PM Tue-Sat Doors open 7:00 Show starts 8:30

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Ever restless, Richard Thompson is on the move. The British singer/songwriter recently picked up stakes and left the West Coast for the East, trading his longtime home in California for a new one in New Jersey.

Fifty years after his first band — Fairport Convention — debuted, Thompson also released a new solo record, 13 Rivers, a dark, churning set of claustrophobic rockers on which he decries the vagaries of love and age in all his 69-year-old glory.

In a power trio format, Thompson still practically gives guitar lessons onstage — as a virtuoso player, he’s one of the best combination electric/acoustic guitarists touring today. If you can imagine fusing Django Reinhardt with Jimi Hendrix on a Strat, then you will start to understand Thompson’s brilliant range.

Probably too eclectic for mainstream popularity, Thompson’s career has veered from his Folk roots in the ’60s to his fruitfully bitter partnership with then-wife Linda in the ’70s to his long-running solo career. But as a musician’s musician with a cult following, Thompson is revered by many of his peers, as well as newcomers.

His legendary stature totally overshadows his sales.

Thompson has cut stone classics like 1974’s I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight and 1982’s Shoot Out the Lights, both recorded with Linda Thompson and edged in caustic charms. Then there are solo peaks like 1991’s Rumor and Sigh, where the exquisite, fingerpicked “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” one of his standards, first rumbled into public consciousness.

On his last few records, Thompson enlisted Buddy Miller and Jeff Tweedy

43

under that banner while ramping up his touring schedule. Kirkland has been hyperactively busy this year, which marks the 24th anniversary of Crystal Method’s first single, releasing The Trip Home, announcing an extensive tour and continuing to bang the drum for music he loves on his Sirius XM satellite radio show.

For Kirkland, The Crystal Method’s mission statement has remained constant: Work hard, stay relevant, change history.

(Brian Baker) Silverstein Voted Best Smoke Shop

PHOTO: ANNA LEE

The Crystal Method Friday • Bogart’s

Hemp, Vape & Smoke H aber d a s her y NORTHSIDE 4179 Hamilton Ave. 513-569-0420

O’BRYON VILLE 2034 Madison Rd. 513-871-HEMP

SHARON VILLE 11353 Lebanon Rd. 513-524-HEMP

DAYTON 548 Wilmington Ave. 937-991-1015

27 Years of Live Stand-Up Comedy in Cincinnati!

Show Times

Wed / Thur / Sun 8:00 - 18+ Friday 7:30 & 10:00 - 18+ Saturday 7:30 & 10:00 - 21+ Just 15 minutes from downtown in Mongtomery!

Jessa Reed

V. A . Bennett December 20

Dave Waite

December 13 - 16

Gabe Kea

December 21 - 23

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

December 6 - 9

44

W W W.GOBANANASCOMEDY.COM 8410 Market Place Ln.

513.984.9288

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

When the big book of Electronic music’s history is written, one of the highlights of an early chapter will certainly be The Crystal Method. The duo of Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland helped establish, evolve and alter the face of Electronic music and the Big Beat movement and have remained an influential force within and beyond the genre. The Crystal Method’s new album, The Trip Home, marks the first recording

by Kirkland as a solo artist, after Jordan announced his retirement from music early last year.

The duo first met as grocery store employees in their Las Vegas hometown and quickly began making music together.

Jordan was also a club DJ, a skill that he passed on to Kirkland; when Jordan relocated to Los Angeles for a production job, Kirkland succeeded him as the club’s spinner. In 1993, Kirkland followed Jordan to L.A., and the pair formed The Crystal Method, bought a house together and built their first home studio.

The first Crystal Method single, “Now is the Time,” was released in 1994 on a fledgling indie label, which ultimately led to a contract with Outpost, a Geffen Records imprint, and the duo’s 1997 debut full-length, Vegas. The Crystal Method’s 2001 sophomore album, Tweekend, featured Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) and made it all the way to No. 32 on Billboard’s 200 chart.

Since then, the gap between Crystal Method albums has typically been three to five years, although the pair has stayed busy with remix projects, mix releases (like the Community Service series), soundtrack/ video game work and touring/festival opportunities.

In 2013, the band’s eponymous fifth album was held up for several months while Kirkland recovered from brain surgery and a subsequent infection.

Following Jordan’s retirement, Kirkland chose to retain The Crystal Method as his solo identity and continued to produce

Silverstein with Hawthorne Heights, As Cities Burn and Capstan

Wednesday (Dec. 12) • Bogart’s

Canadian quintet Silverstein has translated its natural musical chemistry into the intoxicating signature blend of Indie Rock, Hardcore, Metal, Punk, Emo and Screamo that has dominated the band’s impressive catalog, which contains nine studio albums, including their latest, 2017’s Dead Reflection.

The band’s founding members — Shane Told on lead vocals, keyboards and bass; Richard McWalter on lead guitar; Josh Bradford on rhythm guitar; and Paul Koehler on drums — were all avid readers of author and singer/songwriter Shel Silverstein’s children’s books. His death in 1999, a year before Silverstein formed in Burlington, Ontario, gave the group its name.

After self-releasing their first EP, McWalter left to pursue an engineering degree and was replaced by guitarist Neil Boshart, and bassist Billy Hamilton was brought in, leaving Told to concentrate on vocals.

In 2003, Silverstein released its first album, When Broken Is Easily Fixed, through Victory Records. The band’s current tour is in celebration of their landmark debut LP. The group’s lineup remained intact for about a decade, during which Silverstein issued a handful of well-received albums on Victory and toured constantly. At the conclusion of the support tour for 2012’s Short Songs, their debut for Hopeless Records, the band announced that Boshart was no longer a member and that he had been replaced by Paul Marc Rousseau; it was later revealed that Boshart and the band had drifted apart and that he had virtually no input on Short Songs. In 2013, Silverstein released This is How the Wind Shifts, a concept album for Hopeless, followed by 2015’s I Am Alive in Everything I Touch and last year’s Dead Reflection.

Silverstein has worked incredibly hard over the past 18 years, a testament to the closing line written by its namesake in his poem “The Little Blue Engine”: “If the track is tough and the hill is rough, thinking you can just ain’t enough!” (BB)

LISTINGS

CityBeat’s music listings are free. Send info to Mike Breen at mbreen@citybeat.com. Listings are subject to change.

See CityBeat.com for full music listings and all club locations. H is CityBeat staff’s stamp of approval.

WEDNESDAY 05

BLIND LEMON–Jonathan Luck. 7:30 p.m. Acoustic.

Free.

H

BOGART’S–The Struts with The Blue Stones. 7 p.m. Rock. $22.

CAFFÈ VIVACE–Blue Wisp Big Band. 8 p.m. Big Band Jazz.

HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT–Brad Myers Trio. 6 p.m. Jazz. Free.

Brown. 7 p.m. Indie Folk. $17, $20 day of show.

STANLEY’S PUB–Maritime Law & Friends. 9 p.m.

Acoustic. Free.

THURSDAY 06

BLIND LEMON–Brad Lark.

7:30 p.m. Acoustic. Free.

CAFFÈ VIVACE–Steve Schmidt Trio. 7:30 p.m. Jazz.

COMMON ROOTS–Open Mic. 8 p.m. Open Mic. Free.

KNOTTY PINE–Dallas Moore. 10 p.m. Country.

Free.

THE GREENWICH–Mambo Combo. 8:30 p.m. Latin Jazz. $5.

LUDLOW GARAGE– George Winston. 8:30 p.m.

Jazz. Sold out.

HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT–Brian Cashwell Trio. 6 p.m. Jazz.

Free.

THE MAD FROG–Way Back Wednesdays with DJ BlazeWright. 9 p.m. ’70s-’90s/DJ. Free.

H

MADISON LIVE–The Japanese House with Fake Laugh. 8 p.m. Indie Pop. $16, $18 day of show.

MADISON THEATER–Why Don’t We with Jake Miller, Spencer Sutherland, Alex Angelo and Ava Max. 6:30 p.m. Pop. $30, $32 day of show.

MANSION HILL TAVERN– Losing Lucky. 8 p.m. Roots.

Free.

MARTY’S HOPS & VINES– Dave Hawkins and Peg Buchanan. 7 p.m. Folk/ Celtic. Free.

H

MEMORIAL HALL– Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness with Nick Brown. 9 p.m. Acoustic/Alt/ Pop/Rock. $28-$40.

MERITAGE–Sonny Moorman. 7 p.m. Blues.

Free.

NORTHSIDE TAVERN– Dennis O’Hagan. 9 p.m.

Singer/Songwriter. Free.

SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL (SANCTUARY)–Good Old War with Beta Radio and Allman

H

MADISON THEATER– B105 Toys for Tots Show with Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell and The Kenny Welch Band. 7:30 p.m. Country. $20, $25 day of show.

MCCAULY’S PUB–RalstonMcGucken Band. 7:30 p.m.

Rock/Various. Free.

H

THE AVENUE EVENT CENTER–City Girls. 10 p.m. Hip Hop. $40-$60.

BLIND LEMON– Warren Ulgh. 9 p.m. Acoustic.

Free.

BLUE NOTE HARRISON– Justin Time. 7 p.m.

Country Rap. $15.

H

BOGART’S– The Crystal Method. 8 p.m.

Electronic/Alt/ Dance. $18.

The Struts play Bogart’s Wednesday, Dec. 5.

PHOTO: ANNA LEE

BROMWELL’S HÄRTH LOUNGE–The Steve Schmidt Electro-Trio. 9 p.m.

Jazz. Free.

CAFFÈ VIVACE–Mandy Gaines Quartet. 8:30 p.m.

Jazz.

Menert. 9 p.m. Electronic/ Dance/Various. $12, $15 day of show.

RIVERFRONT–Basic Truth.

8 p.m. Funk/R&B/Soul. Free (in the Fifth Lounge).

and The Whiskey Shambles.

9 p.m. Singer/Songwriter/ Various. Free.

MANSION HILL TAVERN– Blue Ravens. 9 p.m. Blues.

Cover.

RICK’S TAVERN–DV8. 10 p.m. Rock. Cover.

WASHINGTON PLATFORM SALOON & RESTAURANT– Steve Allee and Steve Houghton. 9 p.m. Jazz. $10 (food/drink minimum).

MARTY’S HOPS & VINES– Wild Mountain Berries. 9 p.m. Americana. Free.

MOTR PUB–Van Echo with Static Falls. 10 p.m.

Rock. Free.

H

THE GREENWICH–Rollins Davis Band featuring Deborah Hunter. 9 p.m.

Jazz/R&B. $5.

NORTHSIDE TAVERN– Karaoke Fantastic. 9 p.m.

Various. Free.

HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT–FrenchAxe. 9 p.m. Jazz. Free.

MOTR PUB–The Grove with The Midwestern. 10 p.m.

Rock/Various. Free.

PLAIN FOLK CAFE–Open Mic with Joel Hogle. 7 p.m.

Various. Free.

JAG’S STEAK AND SEAFOOD–3 Piece Revival.

9 p.m. Rock/Pop/Various. $5.

SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL (REVIVAL ROOM)–“Hymns of Christmas Show” with Jennifer Knapp and Margaret Becker.

7 p.m. Christmas/Acoustic/ Various. $25.

JIM AND JACK’S ON THE RIVER–Danny Frazier. 9 p.m. Country. Free.

NORTHSIDE TAVERN– Discount Nostalgia, Marr and Matt Waters. 10 p.m.

Rock. Free.

H

SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL (SANCTUARY)–Richard Thompson Electric Trio with Joan Shelley. 8 p.m. Rock. $46-$125.

KNOTTY PINE–Prizoner. 10 p.m. Rock. Cover.

LUDLOW GARAGE–Jon McLaughlin. 8:30 p.m. Pop. $20-$45.

THE MAD FROG–The Ape Tones and The Fine Line. 8 p.m. Rock/Various. $5.

H

MADISON LIVE–Manic Focus with Michal

MCCAULY’S PUB–Stagger Lee. 8 p.m. Country. Free.

H

NORTHSIDE YACHT CLUB–The Last Troubadour, North by North and Room for Zero. 9 p.m.

AltRock. Free.

PEECOX ERLANGER– Saving Stimpy. 9:30 p.m.

Rock. $5.

PLAIN FOLK CAFE–Lars Noble & Friends. 7:30 p.m.

Roots. Free.

RADISSON CINCINNATI

SILVERTON CAFE–Slick Willie & the Kentucky Jellies. 9 p.m. Honky Tonk/ Rockabilly/Various. Free.

SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL (REVIVAL ROOM)–Spectrvms, Big Smile, Useless Fox and Shoe in Guy. 8 p.m. Alt/ Rock/Punk/Various. $5.

SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL (SANCTUARY)– The Dramatic Rhythms Experience with Sara Hutchinson, Leslie Watkins and more. 5 p.m. World Fusion/Various. $15.

SYMPHONY HOTEL AND RESTAURANT–The Philip Paul Trio. 8 p.m. Jazz. Free.

TOP CATS–Eve To Adam and Superbob. 8 p.m. Rock. $10.

H

URBAN ARTIFACT– Mara Moon (EP release) with Molly Sullivan

SATURDAY 08

THE AVENUE EVENT CENTER–Ty’ Bri. 10 p.m.

Hip Hop. Cover.

H

BB&T ARENA–Cole Swindell and Dustin Lynch with Lauren Alaina.

7:15 p.m. Country. $38-$63.

BLIND LEMON–Zack & Corey. 9 p.m. Acoustic. Free.

BOGART’S–The Four Horsemen. 8 p.m. Metallica tribute. $12.

BROMWELL’S HÄRTH LOUNGE–The Steve Schmidt Trio. 9 p.m. Jazz.

Free.

CAFFÈ VIVACE–The Faux Frenchmen. 8:30 p.m. Jazz.

H

THE FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS–Nancy James and

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

H

THE MAD FROG–EDM Thursdays. 9 p.m. DJ/ Electronic/Dance. Cover.

FRIDAY 07

ARNOLD’S BAR AND GRILL– Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle. 9 p.m. Americana.

Free.

|

SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL (LOUNGE)–Ohio Valley Salvage. 9 p.m. Rock.

Free.

LUDLOW GARAGE–Brand X. 8:30 p.m. Rock. $25-$50.

URBAN ARTIFACT– Beloved Youth, Colly and Saint Sterling. 9 p.m.

AltRock. Free.

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

MOTR PUB–Buxton with Mike Montgomery. 10 p.m.

Indie/Folk/Rock. Free.

LATITUDES BAR & BISTRO–Ricky Nye and Bekah Williams. 6 p.m.

Blues/Jazz. Free.

H

45

PUZZLE the River City Band. 7:30 p.m. Christmas. $35.

p.m. Pop/Dance/Various.

Cover.

HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT–Gary Gorell/ Jim Connerley Quartet. 9 p.m. Jazz. Free.

SILVERTON CAFE–Modern Groove. 9 p.m. Various. Free.

JAG’S STEAK AND SEAFOOD–Good Hooks. 9 p.m. Pop/Rock/Various. $5.

JIM AND JACK’S ON THE RIVER–Lexy Dunn. 9 p.m.

Country. Free.

H

LIBERTY EXHIBITION HALL–The Bad Plus.

8:30 p.m. Jazz. $25.

LUDLOW GARAGE– Firefall. 8:30 p.m. Soft Rock. $25-$50.

H

THE MAD FROG– Space Camp IV with Vice Versa, Mike Dow, Raiden Labs and more. 9 p.m. $7.

H

MADISON LIVE– Common Center (EP release) with Us, Today and Michael G. Ronstadt. 8 p.m.

Alternative/Various. $10, $12 day of show.

MANSION HILL TAVERN– Jamie Carr Band. 9 p.m.

Blues. Cover.

MARTY’S HOPS & VINES– Encore Duo. 9 p.m. Various.

Free.

MCCAULY’S PUB–Hanky Panks. 8:30 p.m. Rock/ Various. Free.

H H

MOTR PUB–Heavy Hinges with JIMS. 10 p.m. Rock/Various. Free.

NORTHSIDE TAVERN– Lost Coast, EG Vines and Resonator. 10 p.m.

Roots/Rock. Free.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

H

46

NORTHSIDE YACHT CLUB–Settle Your Scores and Nominee with Knavery, The World I Knew, and Pilot Around The Stars.

7:30 p.m. Rock/Pop/Punk. $10, $12 day of show.

SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL (LOUNGE)–The 9th Street Stompers Prohibition Repeal Party. 9 p.m.

Swing/Gypsy Jazz/Blues/ Rockabilly/Various. Free.

H

SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL (SANCTUARY)–Eleventh-Annual BJ’s Band Jam: A Winter OnesieLand featuring 500 Miles to Memphis, Pheve, The Shirt & The Stiffs and Dirty Mike & the Six SPeeds. 8 p.m.

Rock/Various. $10, $15 day of show.

H

TOP CATS–Taylor Shannon with Tommy Grit and The Pricks and Hellrocket. 8 p.m. Rock/ Various. Cover.

H

URBAN ARTIFACT– WelcomeFest with Flor de Toloache, Baoku, FoxyBear and Kaitlyn Peace & the Electric Generals. 8 p.m. Latin/World/Rock/Pop/ Various. $15, $20 day of show.

H

U.S. BANK ARENA– Jingle Jam 2018 featuring Migos with Tee Grizzley, BlocBoy JB, La4ss and Dash Gwopovelli. 7 p.m.

Hip Hop. $59-$204.

WASHINGTON PLATFORM SALOON & RESTAURANT– Mandy Gaines Trio. 9 p.m. Jazz. $10 (food/drink minimum).

SUNDAY 09

H

CAFFĂˆ VIVACE– Philippe Lejeune, Ricky Nye and Paul Ellis. 2:30 p.m.

Boogie Woogie.

THE FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS–Nancy James and the River City Band. 2 p.m. Christmas. $35.

PEECOX ERLANGER– Saving Stimpy. 9:30 p.m.

Rock. $5.

HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT–Mike Darrah.

10:30 a.m. Jazz. Free.

PLAIN FOLK CAFE– Ida Clare. 7:30 p.m.

Bluegrass. Free.

H

LATITUDES BAR & BISTRO–Blue Birds Band. 8 p.m. R&B/Rock. Free.

RICK’S TAVERN–LDNL. 10

THE MAD FROG–Future

Joy with MIDIcinal, Fatchick and DJ KaeJae. 8 p.m. EDM. $5.

1. Many sherpas

H

MOTR PUB–Palamara with Freedom Nicole Moore. 8 p.m. Acoustic/ Indie/Various. Free.

NORTHSIDE TAVERN– Classical Revolution. 8 p.m.

Classical/Various. Free.

TAFT THEATRE–Caamp with Savannah Conley and The Hocking River String Band. 8 p.m. Folk/Americana. Sold out.

TOP CATS–Vandalia. 8 p.m.

Rock. $5.

MONDAY 10

BLIND LEMON–Ben Armstrong. 7:30 p.m. Acoustic.

Free.

CAFFĂˆ VIVACE–Patsy Meyer Trio. 7:30 p.m. Jazz.

THE GREENWICH–The Flying Circus Big Band. 7:30 p.m. Big Band Jazz. $5.

HILTON NETHERLAND PALM COURT–Peter Gemus Trio. 6 p.m. Jazz.

Free.

THE MAD FROG–Open Jam. 8 p.m. Various. Free.

MOTR PUB–Hillary Hahn with Honey Combs & Combo Slice. 9 p.m. Free.

NORTHSIDE TAVERN–The Qtet. 9:30 p.m. Fusion/Funk/ Jazz/Rock/Various. Free.

H

TAFT THEATRE–Sleep with Weather Warlock.

8 p.m. Heavy/Progressive/ Rock. $33-$40.

TUESDAY 11

CAFFĂˆ VIVACE–Scott Wojahn Trio. 7:30 p.m. Jazz.

AC R O S S

BY B R EN DA N E M M E T T Q U I G L E Y

15. Strange things

16. Classic hairy costume

17. Ted Williams or Yogi Berra, e.g.

19. Large blaze during mid-January?

21. Toward the back 22. Genetics strands 23. *That guy* at the party 25. Have a little lamb 27. Toddler’s jubilant cry 29. Pleasantly warm 31. Actor ___ Jackson Jr. 33. Stupefaction 34. Acquaintances hanging around a quarter-barrel?

37. New start in a beloved fiction series 38. Turn off 39. Exhausted 40. Developer’s work

18. Clans’ patterns

32. Out of gas

natives

3. First item on the agenda

33. Clean with a cloth

46. Tired

4. Working hard

34. Put out of the way of

6. Chilling container 7. Exams with perfect scores of 1600 8. NYSNC* singer Joey

MARTY’S HOPS & VINES–Soucek, Flynn and Reisenberg Jazz Trio. 7 p.m. Christmas Jazz. Free.

57. Old-school filmediting device

20. Dinner freebie

58. Radio medium

26. Off

H

59. Ore refinery

27. “Missed that�

60. Certain night flights

28. Mother clucker

24. Isr.’s neighbor

29. Snoozefest 30. Joint on the foot

51. Christmas tree topper 52. Buffalo’s coast

37. Pretoria’s land: Abbr.

53. Office part

40. Kind of salad

54. Hockey legend Gordie

44. Stockholm

14. Some aliens

50. Programming section

36. Catered to?

11. Bubbly wine name

13. Flag carrying soccer officials

49. Stir up

35. “My thoughts are ...�

46. Erie Canal mule

12. Jazz pianist Vince whose trio did the music for “A Charlie Brown Christmas�

2. Alimony recipient

5. Facebook ___ (streaming service)

43. Prepared without meat or milk

1. Innovator’s goal

10. Soft ball company

DOWN

45. Peachtree Street city: Abbr.

56. Marched, as a unit

42. Settle beforehand

55. Nipple rings

9. Bygone toothpaste brand

47. Harsh and unpleasant, as the weather

41. Actor Omar

THE MAD FROG–House Music. 9 p.m. EDM. Free.

SEE CITYBEAT.COM FOR FULL MUSIC LISTINGS AND ALL CLUB LOCATIONS.

48. The one who won the race some other place?

TOP CATS–Vic Mensa.

7 p.m. Hip Hop. Free.

8. Wheel and deal

LATITUDES BAR & BISTRO–Latitudes House Band and Open Mic (11 p.m.). 8 p.m. Various. Free.

H

O Christmas Tree

55. Mornings, briefly

L AST WEEK’S ANSWERS:

6 + ( 5 3 $

% , * ( / 2 :

+ ( / , 8 0

$ 5 $ % / (

: 2 1

3 5 0 ' , $ 2 6 1 3 2 $ / / 0 $ , , 7 7 1 ( ( '

% 2 + $ 5 6 , &$1 $ ' 1 $ & 5 ( 2 / 6 / ( 2 & 1 2

, 1 $ 6 7 , 5 2 ' ( ( 1

* ' 2 ( , ' 6 7 $ < ( ' ' , 2 8 6 + * 1 ) 2 % /22 ' $ 5 6 , 2 + 1 / 2 7 ( : 6

* $ , $ & 1 < 7 $ 2 5 5 0 & ( $ ' 6 2 9 $

/$9

& $ 6 + 0 ( 5 (

% $ 7 7 ( 5 ( '

6 + $ 6 7 $ 6

/ 8 0 3 , 1

/ / % ( $ 1

6 7 ( / / $

CLASSIFIEDS ROOMMATES

Need a roommate?

Roommates.com will help you find your Perfect Match™ today!

(AAN CAN)

HELP WANTED

AIRLINE CAREERS begin here – Get started by training as FAA certified Aviation Technician.

Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance.

Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-7251563. (AAN CAN)

Jungle Jim’s International Market a Cincinnati destination since 1971, currently has career opportunities for Store Managers, Assistant Managers Department Managers, and Specialty Food Buyers. https:// junglejims.com/ employment-careers/

PAID IN ADVANCE!

Make $1000 Weekly Mailing Brochures From Home Genuine Opportunity. Helping home workers since 2001! Start Immediately! www.WorkingCorner.net (AAN CAN)

best rates. Call today to learn more 1-855-2311523 (AAN CAN) DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet.

Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Call Now: 1-800-373-6508 (AAN CAN) Lung Cancer? And Age 60+? You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Significant Cash Award. Call 844898-7142 for Information. No Risk. No Money Out Of Pocket. (AAN CAN)

PENIS ENLARGEMENT PUMP. Get Stronger &amp; Harder Erections Immediately. Gain 1-3 Inches Permanently & Safely. Guaranteed Results. FDA Licensed.

Free Brochure: 1-800354-3944 www.DrJoelKaplan.com (AAN CAN) Suffering from an ADDICTION to Alcohol, Opiates, Prescription PainKillers or other DRUGS? There is hope! Call Today to speak with someone who cares. Call NOW 1-855-2668685 (AAN CAN)

1:00 pm Unit 259, Unit 512 The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures. com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Extra Space Storage hold a public auction at the location indicated: 2900 Crescent Springs Pike, on December 18th 2018 at 12:45pm Unit 153, Unit 158, Unit 252, Unit 269, Unit 509, Unit 640, Unit 801, Unit 1145 Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Extra Space Storage hold a public auction at the location indicated: 7 Sperti Dr Ste 100, December 18, 2018 at 1:15 PM Unit 1003, Unit 2029,

Unit 2147, Unit 2135 The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures. com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Extra Space Storage hold a public auction at the location indicated: 8080 Steilen Drive, Florence, KY 41042 on December 18th, 2018 at 12:15 pm.

Unit 180, Unit 319, Unit 671, Unit 1101/1142, Unit 1714, Unit 2015, Unit 2122, Unit 2243, Unit 2327, Unit 2615, Unit 3014 The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures. com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

auction at the location indicated: 525 W 35th St, Covington, KY 41015 on Tuesday December 18, 2018 at 1:30 PM. Unit 03357, Unit 02317, Unit 03243, Unit 02214, Unit 02308, Unit 03255, Unit 03428, Unit 02401, Unit 04211, Unit 03433, Unit 02131, Unit 01401, Unit 03335, Unit 03201, Unit 03230, Unit 03418, Unit 02306, Unit 07119, Unit 04120, Unit 03264, Unit 03235 The auction will be listed and advertised on storagetreasures. com. Purchases must

be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that Extra Space

Storage will sell at public auction at the storage facility listed below: 5970 Centennial Circle, Florence, KY 41042, 859-408-5219, December 18th, 2018, 12:30 pm Unit 554, Unit 717, Unit 1037, Unit 638 The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures. com. Purchases must

be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Extra Space Storage will hold a public

LEGAL NOTICES INTERIOR CLASSIFIEDS

CHEAP FLIGHTS!

|

1 HOUR FREE

1-513-587-6004

More Local Numbers: 800-777-8000 guyspyvoice.com

18+

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

All adult line ads must contain the exact phrase “Body Rubs” and/or “Adult Entertainment.” Illegal services may not be offered in any ad. CityBeat does not accept, condone or promote advertisements for illegal activity.

Every ad purchase includes ONE phone number or e-mail address listing. Additional phone numbers & e-mail addresses can be printed for $10 each.

Ad copy & payment must be received by FRIDAY AT NOON. for the Wednesday issue.

All ads must be PRE-PAID with a VALID credit card or in cash/money order. If a credit card is declined for any reason, the ad will be pulled from the paper and online.

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

Book Your Flight Today on United, Delta, American, Air France, Air Canada. We have the

Extra Space Storage hold a public auction at the location indicated: 2526 Ritchie Ave Crescent Springs, KY 41017, December 18th 2018 at

47

TYBEAT 8 2 18

i!k:

ll

PRESENTTHIS AD FOR $1 OFF ADMISSlll4

..................

J{t�

OASIS GOLF CLUB 6 CONFERENCE CENT£R 902 LOVEI.AHD· MIAMMUE RO � LO VELAND. OH45 140

ADMISSION IS $3 TO THE PUBLIC

CHILDREN UNl.:R 12 ARE fllEE. A PORTION OF P!IOCEEDS lflll 11:ENEffi TIIE lOCAI. NON·PmFIT. BAKE ME HOME

LOVEPING LOCAL? SHOP A VARIETY OF HANDMADE JURIED ARTISANS ANO GRAFTERS AT OUR SUMMER SHOW!

ll

!k:i

TIME FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING!

FOLOVEPING TY EIRAV&LOCAL? Ahandmade POHS SHOP ?LACOALthis VARIETY GNIPEholiday VOOF L Shop local SHANDMADE RETFseason ARG ONJURIED A at SNAour SARTISANS ITRwinter A DEIRUANO Jshow!

EDGRAFTERS AMDNAH !WATOHOUR S RESUMMER Mwill MUfeature S RUSHOW! O TaAvariety This large show of handmade artists and crafters!

CIADMISSION LBUP EHT OIS T 3$3 $ STO I NTHE OISSPUBLIC IMDA

ADMISSION IS $3 TORDTHE PUBLIC .ECHILDREN Ellf ERA 21UNl.:R Rl.:NU12NEARE ILfllEE. HC CHILDREN FREE .TIAFPORTION Pm·NNO OF lOCAI. P!IOCEEDS ETII ffiUNDER lflll E:EN1111:ENEffi llllf12DSARE TIIE EECOlOCAI. P!I FONON·PmFIT NOITRPO A .

MBAKE OH EMMEEKHOME A PORTION OFEPROCEEDS AB WILL BENEFIT

................... .................

ll

LOCAL NON-PROFIT, HAPPEN INC.

ll

ROASIS T£NEGOLF CGOLF ECNCLUB ECLUB REFN&O6CCONFERENCE CONFERENCE 6 BULC FLOGCENT£R SCENTER IASO OASIS 902 LOVELAND-MIAMIVILLE O902 RE LOVEI.AHD· UMMAIM ·DMIAMMUE OVEI.AHL 20RD. RO 9 � 0LOVELAND, 4 LO1VELAND. 54HO .DOH NOH45 AL45140 EV140 OL

�i!k: J{t

�

!k: J{t� i

ll4 PRESENTTHIS lSSIMTHIS DA FFAD AD O 1FOR $ RO$1 F$1DOFF AOFF SIHADMISSlll4 TADMISSION TNESERP PRESENT FOR TYBEAT 8 2 18 81 2 8 TAEBYT

CITYBEAT

DISSOLVE YOUR MARRIAGE

Dissolution: An amicable end to marriage. Easier on your heart.

Easier on your wallet.

Starting at $500 plus court costs.

12 Hour Turnaround.

810 Sycamore St. 4th Fl, Cincinnati, OH 45202

513.651.9666

WORK AT

WE’RE HIRING! Advertising Sales Executive

|

D E C . 5 - 11, 2 0 18

If the following sounds like you, we’d love to speak with you:

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2018 10AM-5PM

M10AM-5PM P5-MA01

8102 ,DR32 REBMETPES ,YADNUS MP5-MA01

FO TYEIRAV A POHS ?LACOL GNIPEVOL SRETFARG ONA SNASITRA DEIRUJ EDAMDNAH !WOHS REMMUS RUO TA

CILBUP EHT OT 3$ SI NOISSIMDA

.EEllf ERA 21 Rl.:NU NERDILHC .TIFPm·NNO lOCAI. ETII ffiE:EN11 llllf DSEECOP!I FO NOITRPO A EMOH EM EKAB

..................

RT£NEC ECNEREFNOC 6 BULC FLOG SIASO OR EUMMAIM ·DOVEI.AHL 209 041 54HO .DNALEV OL

�J{t

�

81 2 8 TAEBYT

ll4lSSIMDA FFO 1$ ROF DA SIHTTNESERP

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, 2018 PE MS23RD, 10 8SUNDAY, 102 ,DR32SEPTEMBER REABM M-5 ETP ,YADN 2018 US

DELIVERY CONTRACTORS NEEDED

CityBeat needs contractors to deliver CityBeat every Wednesday between 9am and 3pm.

Qualified candidates must have appropriate vehicle, insurance for that vehicle and understand that they are contracted to deliver that route every Wednesday. CityBeat drivers are paid per stop and make $14.00 to $16.00 per hr. after fuel expense. Please reply by email and leave your day and evening phone numbers.

Please reply by email only. Phone calls will not be accepted. sferguson@citybeat.com

48

You are energetic, outgoing and passionate You live with integrity You are fearless and welcome challenges You have a track record of getting to the decision maker You conduct yourself with professionalism in person, in writing and over the phone Compensation: Base salary + commission + Bonus Paid Vacation/PTO Insurance + 401(k) Spiffs and prizes around special events Visit CityBeat.com/Work-Here to learn more and submit your resume. *Online submissions including resumes only. No other inquiries will be considered*

NIGHT GARDEN RECORDING STUDIO

Seamless integration of the best digital gear and classics from the analog era including 2” 24 track. Wide variety of classic microphones, mic pre-amps, hardware effects and dynamics, many popular plug-ins and accurate synchronization between DAW and 2” 24 track. Large live room and 3 isolation rooms. All for an unbelievable rate. Event/Show sound, lighting and video production services available as well. Call or email Steve for additional info and gear list; (513) 368-7770 or (513) 729-2786 or sferguson. productions@gmail.com.

Put your artistic skills to work in a career in print media!

Classes started January 7, 2019

For a career in Print Media contact: (kathleen.freed @cincinnatistate.edu) Paid for by friends of Print