CityBeat | Jan. 13, 2010

CONTENTS VOLUME 16 • ISSUE 10

VOICES

07

NEWS

13

TO DO PICKS

15

MUSIC

19

DINER

33

FILM

39

CLASSIFIEDS

42

ARTS 27

Rocking the Musical:

Every generation has its groundbreaking rock Broadway musical. First came Hair, then Rent and now Spring Awakening, opening this week at the Aronoff Center.

On the cover: Spring Awakening photo by Paul Kolnik • Design by Jason Kidwell

ONLINE CITYBEAT.COM BLOGS

ONLINE COLUMNS

PODCASTS

MUSIC TOWN MESSAGE BOARD

Heartless Bastards on Austin City Limits, Porp 8 legal showdown in California, making money on the census and looking to cover New York Fashion Week #43: Hiking the local woods with Tamara York

MULTIMEDIA SHOWS

Hanging out at The Tillers’ CD release party

PHOTO GALLERIES

Trey Songz at Bogart’s, plus New Year’s Eve at Know Theatre’s speakeasy and at Northside Tavern

I Shall Be Released: New CDs from Ringo Starr, Freedy Johnston, Laura Viers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, OK Go and Vampire Weekend Registration for The Rock Games now open, debating Dirty Jack’s and having fun with avatars

2009 IN REVIEW

Just wake up, Rip? Catch up on last year’s big moments in movies, local and national music, news, theater, visual art, restaurants and more in CityBeat’s “year in review” stories online

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02

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VOICES

4PORKOPOLIS

BY KEVIN OSBORNE

Lt. Gov.’s Tactics Spark Anger

S

ome local Democrats are upset with Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher over his demands for attending an upcoming political event in Oakley and believe he’s disrespected Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Fisher and Brunner are squaring off in the May 4 Democratic primary to get the party’s nomination to run for the U.S. Senate this fall. Each wants a shot at replacing Republican George Voinovich, who’s retiring.

The Hamilton County Democratic Women’s Caucus invited both candidates to participate in a debate Jan. 20 at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley Square. Brunner accepted almost immediately, caucus members say, but their experience with Fisher was far different.

It took weeks for Fisher’s campaign to reply, they say, and when it did, campaign staffers insisted the event not be a debate. Instead, staffers wanted an “informational forum” so the candidates wouldn’t necessarily answer the same questions or be able to reply to each other’s statements.

Later still, Fisher’s campaign contacted the caucus to say the lieutenant governor refused to share the stage with Brunner.

The event must be restructured so she and Fisher never appear side-by-side before the audience.

Officially, the caucus accepted the terms and remains committed to holding the event. Several members, however, were irritated by the demands and some are speaking out publicly.

“We felt it was just a slap in the face to Ms. Brunner and very disrespectful to her as a candidate,” says Perry Kane, a Clifton resident who noted she’s speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the caucus.

“We had to change the entire event to accommodate him.

He’s just a diva. Lee’s behavior toward Jennifer has hurt him among women voters.”

Fisher is considered the frontrunner in the race by state party bigwigs, who have tried to convince Brunner to drop out.

While it’s true that Fisher so far has been able to raise more money than Brunner, there are valid reasons to question if he can beat a Republican challenger in November’s general election. Chief among them: His mixed record at the polls. Fisher lost his reelection bid as Ohio attorney general in 1994, as well as the 1998 gubernatorial race against Cincinnati native Bob Taft.

Also, Brunner is the favored candidate among progressives and her contributors include Caroline Kennedy and Rolling

Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner.

In a Quinnpiac poll from November, Brunner began closing the gap with Fisher, drawing mostly from undecided Democratic voters. Fisher got 24 percent to Brunner’s 22 percent, with 51 percent still undecided. That leaves plenty of wiggle room to win in the next four months.

Alas, neither Brunner nor Fisher beat the likely Republican nominee, former Congressman Rob Portman from Terrace Park, in the poll.

CityBeat asked Fisher or a representative to comment on the demands, but the campaign declined. A spokeswoman instead issued a written statement.

“The organizers worked with everyone to ensure this would be a successful event,” wrote Julie Van Eman. “We are pleased to participate in the Hamilton County Democratic forum and look forward to a great discussion about how to create jobs and economic growth in Ohio.”

That’s what is commonly referred to in the journalism biz as a “non-denial denial”: an evasive statement that doesn’t directly answer the question posed and really doesn’t say much at all. We hope Fisher is more forthcoming and transparent if he becomes a senator.

Brunner’s campaign is taking it in stride. “Jennifer was ready to debate,” says campaign manager David Dettman. “I will let you draw your own conclusions about it.”

Regardless, Fisher’s bland statement doesn’t cut it with caucus members like Kane.

“I think what it really says about Fisher is he’s scared,” Kane says. “He’s out-raising her in money but her grassroots support is better. I think he’s afraid he’s losing.” ✽✽✽✽✽ Many Democrats have been circling the wagons lately around President Obama’s flawed batch of proposed health care reforms, and I’ve taken some heat for columns criticizing the Senate bill — along with the whole process used by Congress — as sadly lacking.

Apparently I’m not alone.

A CBS survey released Jan. 11 indicates most Americans think the bill passed by the U.S. Senate is too timid in its scope.

The results show that 43 percent of respondents said the

bill doesn’t go far enough in regulating health insurance companies. Also, 39 percent said it doesn’t contain strong enough cost controls.

That compares to 18 percent who think the bill is “about right” and 27 percent who responded that it goes too far. Additionally, only 21 percent like the level of cost controls, while 24 percent said it’s too much regulation.

In other words, Americans want bolder changes and are clamoring for true change in the health care system, and it’s Obama and elected politicians that are putting on the brakes.

To drive the point home, the poll results found that 54 percent disapprove of Obama’s handling of health care reform, 57 percent disapprove of Congressional Democrats and a whopping 61 percent disapprove of Congressional Republicans. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, John Boehner.

The reason for the politicians’ hesitancy is obvious: They’re beholden to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries that provide them with copious amounts of campaign cash.

Obama received more than $20 million from the health care industry during the 2008 presidential campaign, according to an analysis created for Raw Story, a progressive Web site, by the Center for Responsive Politics. That’s nearly three times as much as given to GOP candidate John McCain, who got $7.7 million.

The lesson for voters: It was too audacious to hope for meaningful reform in our fundamentally broken political system. ✽✽✽✽✽ The New York Times reported this week that Sarah Palin has been hired by Fox News to be a regular contributor to the cable news channel.

Uh, didn’t she work there already? This is like reporting “Dog bites man.”

Maybe she didn’t get paid for it previously, but Palin has certainly filled that role ever since she stepped into the national spotlight as McCain’s running mate in summer 2008.

As we’ve already made ourselves feel dirty by mentioning the fact-challenged former Alaska governor, McCain Campaign Manager Steve Schmidt also told 60 Minutes on CBS that Palin felt her vice presidential candidacy was “God’s plan.” Given the election’s outcome, we assume the deity’s plan was to teach Palin some humility.

Better luck next time, big guy.

PORKOPOLIS TIP LINES: 513-665-4700 (EXT.147) or pork@citybeat.com

january 13-19, 2010

07

4living out loud

by larry gross

Erin in Springfield I can’t find her. Springfield, Ohio, is on my mind, and I don’t know where Erin is.

In the fall of 1993, I moved to Springfield.

This was a location transfer from my employer, and in my head I thought it was going to work out fine. I was separating from my wife and looked at Springfield as a fresh start.

Winter came quickly that year. It seemed like I was only there for a few weeks when snow and ice storms almost shut the town down.

The ice storms were the worst. I remember being stopped at a red light on one of Springfield’s main drags. I could feel my car sliding even when it was stopped. It was scary.

I was working at a manufacturing plant as one of the accounting people. I knew no one at work and no one in Springfield. That was OK. Right across the street from the plant was Chuck’s Rockin’ Ranch. I was more in the mood to drink than to have friends.

That’s where I met Erin. Turned out we both worked for the same company. She was a factory worker.

Erin was maybe 5 feet tall.

She had short brown curly hair, a round face and brown eyes. She was plain looking.

She was drunk when I met her and was loud and funny. I found myself attracted to this woman who drank Jim Beam and Coke, one after another.

Chuck’s had a dance floor and a pretty good jukebox. Erin and I danced. We kissed, too.

Sometimes that winter, when the roads weren’t slick or icy, we would go to lunch together at the Wendy’s in Springfield. I would watch Erin’s hands shake as she ate her single with everything on it.

I think her hands shook because she needed a drink.

We never talked about it.

A woman in the office — her name was Beth — took a liking to me and we started going out.

She was tall and thin with beautiful black hair and had a lovely face. She was educated, had a nice house and seemed like a good fit for me, or that’s what my head was saying.

I didn’t hide Beth from Erin. While Erin said she had no hold on me, I could tell she was hurt. One of her friends in the factory told me Erin knew she had no chance with me. She was too blue collar.

Beth and I had dinners out, went to movies and made love in her bedroom. But sometimes when I was with her, I thought of Erin. I would wonder whom she was with and what she was doing.

When working, I could see Chuck’s Rockin’ Ranch from my office window. The factory workers got off at 4 p.m., and sometimes on those cold afternoons I would see Erin drive her rusty old station wagon into Chuck’s parking lot.

When she went into Chuck’s, she would leave the engine running, I guess to warm up the car.

She would only be there for 10 minutes or so.

I imagined she was having a few shots to help

stop her hands from shaking.

I started seeing Beth less often. Sometimes I would go to Chuck’s looking for Erin. We danced and made out a lot in a back booth. One night, she got too drunk to drive. I offered to take her home.

I didn’t know where she lived and it turned out Erin was too drunk to give me directions. Frustrated, I drove back to my apartment and helped Erin out of the car. In my apartment, I laid her on my bed and then went back to the car to get her purse.

When I got back to the apartment, except for her socks, Erin had removed all her clothing and was lying naked while passed out on the bed.

I looked at her for maybe a minute and then felt guilty about it. I covered her up with a blanket and slept on the sofa.

Seeing Beth and my misadventures with Erin continued until winter turned to spring. When the leaves on the trees returned, that’s when I decided to move back to Cincinnati.

It turned out my head was wrong. Springfield wasn’t the kind of fresh start I was looking for.

I said my goodbyes to Beth, and we both promised to stay in touch. We didn’t. I told Erin after I

january 13-19, 2010

Sometimes that winter, when the roads weren’t slick or icy, we would go lunch together at Wendy’s in Springfield. I would watch Erin’s hands shake as she at her single with everything on it.

08

got settled in Cincinnati I’d come back to visit her in Springfield. I did.

We hung out at Chuck’s. We drank, danced, laughed and afterwards went back to her place. This time, she wasn’t too drunk to find it.

We made promises to maintain a relationship.

There were Reds games to go to in Cincinnati and I’d show her around the city and I’d continue to see her at Chuck’s. But it was basically just talk. I think we both knew this chapter in our lives was ending.

Now, winters later, I find myself thinking of Erin in Springfield in 1993. I don’t know where she is.

She’s no longer at her old address. My former employer says she quit her job years ago and moved away.

If I ever find her again, I’ll tell her I’m sorry that I didn’t get to know her better. I’ll tell her I should have taken her out on those dinners and to those movies instead of Beth.

Maybe I could have somehow helped her shaking hands. I’ll tell her I made a big mistake.

When it comes to Erin, I should have followed my heart and not my head. I want her to know that.

CONTACT LARRY GROSS: lgross@citybeat.com

4more value for the way you live

Wedding Guide

Worst Week Ever!

4by danny cross

WEDNESDAY JAN. 6 If you are only allowed to have one rule, it’s generally not a good idea to have that rule be that there are no rules (someone will inevitably get poked in the eye). Mayor Mark Mallory today declared anarchy on City Council by delaying a vote on a new set of rules for the upcoming council session. Mallory was reportedly concerned that the new rules — which include the right of one councilperson to make another stop talking after five minutes if he or she is being boring, offensive or inconsiderate of Jeff Berding — wouldn’t pass without a vote from Roxanne Qualls, who was in Columbus following whatever rules the Governor’s office has. A Mallory aide said the mayor considered temporarily imposing the first rule of Fight Club but was afraid Chris Monzel would start trying to sell soap to offset the stadium fund and no one would be able to tell on him.

THURSDAY JAN. 7 It is widely understood that Kroger Co. is a great company that offers its shoppers awesome deals in exchange for an electronic record of everything they purchase (worth it). The Enquirer reported today that despite this fact the Humane Society has taken issue with one of Kroger’s practices: selling eggs that aren’t cage-free. The issue, according to the Humane Society, is that chickens were made by God to walk around clicking, clucking and poking things with their beaks, only occasionally laying an egg, and that Kroger’s current setup of hens in tiny battery cages where they can hardly move is unethical.

The shareholder resolution is the third of its kind to have been presented to Kroger, which responded to the previous two by explaining a chicken-and-egg scenario where Kroger’s increased profits are the chicken and the tiny cages are the egg.

FRIDAY JAN. 8

SATURDAY JAN. 9 If you’re a regular reader of The Cincinnati Enquirer, you know that there’s nothing its editors enjoy more than a hilarious account of a desperate person

doing something stupid to try to get money (“Colerain Man Steals Baby Food In Sweat Pants” HAHAHA). Cincinnati’s only favorite daily newspaper couldn’t help itself today when an AP report described a man dressed as a woman robbing a bank in central Kentucky. The incident occurred in some place called “Berea” and was the third such cross-dressing robbery in recent weeks (ha). The local police said they weren’t sure if the robberies were connected but said a couple of their male officers were particularly interested in the suspect so it should be cleared up soon.

SUNDAY JAN. 10 We at WWE! realize that in 17 years things will be a lot different — technology will be increasingly difficult to use and people who are 10 right now will be able to kick our asses. Another thing that’s going to suck is that the $1.9 billion Cincinnati Retirement System is going to be broke unless fundamental changes are made soon.

The Enquirer reported today that the system’s benefits and expenses are outpacing its investment returns, largely because City Council has under-funded it for years. A task force has been charged with finding ways to rectify the situation, and the leading choice so far is to bet what’s left against the Bengals in their next playoff game.

MONDAY JAN. 11 We, as humans, have unfortunately subjected a lot of our people to harassment and intimidation during the course of time — women, minorities, homosexuals and certain types of freaks can attest to how horrible white men society can be sometimes. The U.S. Supreme Court today added homophobes to this group of wronged peoples when it blocked video coverage of California’s Prop 8 trial after conservative groups argued that their witnesses could be subjected to harassment and intimidation if all of California watches them testify. Under the court’s rules, lawyers can only seek emergency orders if without action by the justices their clients will suffer “irreparable harm,” which is the same term Prop 8’s supporters use when describing what will happen to the world if gay people are allowed to get married. The high court didn’t explain its reasoning but noted that those interested in the trial could read about it from reporters or watch old footage of Strom Thurmond to get the same effect.

TUESDAY JAN. 12 HOLY SHIT! MARK MCGWIRE WAS TOTALLY ON STEROIDS! DID YOU SEE DANNY CROSS AT KROGER LAST WEEK? CALL HIM A HYPOCRITE: dcross@citybeat.com

CityBeat readers are 60% more likely to be engaged and planning a wedding than the average person in Cincinnati! .

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One great thing about the Internet age is that arguments can be settled immediately — if your friend is trying to say there’s no difference between baking powder and baking soda, all you have to do is get on your cell phone and Google “baking” to make him look like a real dick. But everyone doesn’t have cell phone Internet (people who use Cricket don’t even have their own phone numbers), so the public library this week began offering answers to questions via text message. The “Text a Librarian Service” will respond to a wide variety of questions, from general weather inquiries (it’s cold outside) to answers about specific things like skydiving (don’t do it).

While the service has been a hit with librarians who enjoy talking to fewer people in real life, others worry that texting information gives people one more reason not to come to the library (to go with TV, video games, the Internet and physical activity).

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4 Letters to the editor

4 say what?

Get Off The Banks’ Back Kevin Osborne wrote that, “Depending on how plans are finalized, many of us might not be able to afford the apartments or shops that will fill The Banks.

Despite the use of hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars, many people will never see a direct benefit from those projects.” Seriously? Is this sort of BS reporting necessary? How much more pessimistic and cynical can you be? And where do you get your facts?

The Banks is being designed to benefit everyone in the city by making our city a destination for entertainment, shopping and living. As it stands now everyone looking for a night out heads

over to Newport on the Levee. Tourists from out of town will actually have a place to check out while their here.

Cincinnati might actually attract and retain downtown residents, who will pay taxes and help the city as a whole. Following them will be businesses who will also pay taxes and help everyone out. Stop being so negative about a progressive plan the city is actually following through on.

Mail:

Fax: E-mail:

Cincinnati CityBeat 811 Race St., Fifth Floor Cincinnati, OH 45202 513–665–4369 editor@citybeat.com

Letters policy: Letters must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. Writers may request their names be withheld from publication. Letters might be edited for length and clarity.

Editor’s response: The piece in question was an opinion column, not a reported news story — “BS” or otherwise.

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NEWS

Shaking the Faith in Science Fake DNA prompts change in criminal forensics 4By polly cambron

A

merica’s fascination with the use of forensic science to solve crimes is best proven by the explosion of TV shows dealing with the topic, from dramas like CSI and Cold Case to reality shows like Forensic Files and The Bureau.

During the past two decades, advances in forensics — the use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in courts of law — have led to a seismic change in how police work is conducted and what jurors expect when hearing a case.

Although forensic evidence is available only in 10 to 20 percent of all criminal cases, the public places great weight on its inclusion, a fact that’s keenly aware to prosecutors and defense attorneys. Perhaps the main reason is improvements made in DNA profiling, or the analysis of human material like blood, semen, skin tissue or hair that can be used to precisely identify an individual.

The best-known example of DNA profiling’s impact is the Innocence Project, a nationwide non-profit group that uses testing to determine if a prisoner has been wrongfully convicted.

Since the group began in 1992, more than 240 people in the United States have been exonerated, including 17 who were waiting to be executed on Death Row. Just last month, the longest-incarcerated victim of a wrongful conviction was freed due to the Innocence Project’s work. James Bain

— who had been imprisoned for 35 years for kidnapping, rape and burglary — was exonerated by DNA testing. Before the project’s involvement, his appeal was denied four times by the courts.

But forensics came under fire last summer when scientists in Israel were able to create DNA evidence capable of identifying the wrong person, causing profiling’s supposed infallibility to become suspect. The same bio-tech firm that did the research, however, has developed a system to detect the difference between natural and manufactured DNA, based on the lack of methylation — a chemical reaction — in the artificial sample.

Local DNA experts say the techniques should be scrutinized to make sure the procedures used are valid and rigidly follow the Daubert Standard, a standard of testing under which a trial judge has a duty to dissect evidence rigorously to determine whether it has been established as reliable and scientifically valid.

Some of the procedures that judges must consider include whether valid testing protocols were used, if the evidence has undergone peer review among the scientific community, error rates and acceptability in the general forensic science community.

The Daubert Standard came about from the

PHOTO: drunken swami

The advent of artificial DNA may make it harder to prosecute cases in the future.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 144

4 winners and losers CITY COUNCIL: We predicted the current Cincinnati City Council would be even more contentious than the last one, and members aren’t letting us down. In office since Dec. 1, the current group hadn’t agreed as of Jan. 11 on a set of rules to conduct its various meetings, forcing the cancellation of a finance committee session this week. One set of proposed rules would allow the censuring of a council member if at least seven members agree that the person has impugned a colleague’s character or integrity. That’s not a good sign.

So far, this council and Mayor Mark Mallory have shown a lack of leadership. Happy 2010, voters!

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI: UC’s College of Medicine recently won a $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund extensive renovations to a laboratory. The money, which comes from President Obama’s economic stimulus package, will be used to overhaul the Kettering Laboratory research complex and is expected to add up to 12 new faculty research jobs and 30 construction-related jobs per year during the renovation.

To date, UC has received more than $35 million in grants for research programs from the stimulus package.

THE ENQUIRER: When Cincinnati’s only daily newspaper published an article Jan. 7 about Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra music director Paavo Jarvi leaving his job in spring 2011, there was one glaring omission. Although the piece outlined Jarvi’s tenure here, it failed to mention the conductor’s DUI arrest last March when police found him asleep behind the wheel of a running car in Fairfax. Jarvi was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with all but three suspended.

If the article had been about any politician or pro sports player, that detail would’ve been mentioned.

Why the double standard for arts figures? Could it be because of their well-heeled contributors and the clout they hold?

january 13-19, 2010

CINCINNATI REDS: With the Bengals blowing their playoff game against the Jets, local sports fans thought they’d spend the long, cold months of winter grumbling over their Hudepohls.

Instead, Reds management gave them something to be happy about with the signing of Aroldis Chapman to the roster.

The 21-year-old Cuban was star of the World Baseball Classic last spring for his mad pitching skills. Chapman’s $30.25 million, six-year contract is something of a gamble, but it’s a bet worth taking.

The Reds’ Opening Day is less than three months away, so start getting your tickets now.

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4Shaking the Faith in Science: FROM PAGE 13

1993 case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, which examined the adequacy of cutting-edge scientific testing techniques.

Elizabeth Murray, a Cincinnati-based biological and forensic anthropologist, has been at the forefront of forensic scientific research for several years. She’s written about the importance of conducting research that allows forensic techniques to satisfy current Daubert standards.

“Essentially some of us were already seeing that the field needs to test its methods and certify its practitioners,” Murray says. “We simply cannot just be expert witnesses by virtue of years in the field anymore. Our methods need validity and hopefully these mandates will push practitioners and research in that direction.”

One example of tightening standards involves how to properly retrieve and identify bullets from crime scenes. John Heile, a criminologist who specializes in ballistics and tool mark analysis for the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, explains the different aspects of evidence retrieval.

Heile says, “(T)here are standards we use in order to reinforce our identification which include statistical data, secondary and tertiary verification from colleagues, (and) we reinforce our examination using sufficient objective analysis.”

In another case, Heile was called upon to analyze “hatchet marks in the paint on the siding of a house involved in arson. This involved submitting the siding to the lab where test marks and comparisons were made on marks left by the blade until I could begin to identify individual characteristics of the actual tool that was used.”

Heile was able to identify the hatchet used to cut the siding away in order to start the fire by examining individual characteristics found on the blade such as rough edges and atypical markings.

Forensics isn’t only changing how criminal cases are conducted. Advances in technology also are being used to solve mysteries caused by even everyday mundane occurrences like fender benders.

Dan Aerni, owner of MV Engineering in Oakley and a vehicular accident analyst, credits General Electric for leading the way in “electronic data recorders, known as black boxes, which were originally installed for antilock braking systems. (They) are now a key feature in accident analysis, another piece of the puzzle for us.”

The data collected from the black boxes is evaluated with tools including electronic distance measuring equipment, computer-based mapping, laser measurement analysis and mathematical validation. The question of who broke the law or who is at fault in an auto accident can now be answered within computer precision, Aerni says.

Digital evidence retrieved from computers is another aspect of forensics undergoing change as it becomes relied on more often by law enforcement.

Jim Swauger, of Binary Intelligence in Lebanon, just north of Cincinnati, specializes in computer forensics, electronic discovery and corporate investigations. A court-recognized expert with more than a decade of experience, Swauger has served as senior computer forensic specialist for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Nowadays, criminal suspects shouldn’t rely on simply deleting incriminating information from their computers.

“Deleted or damaged evidence can be retrieved from flash memory modules, digital cameras, mobile phones, iPods, DVRs and PDAs, and examiners can find data protected by very strong cryptographic algorithms,” Swauger adds. ©

TO DO

African Dance and Drum at the African Culture Fest

CBRECOMMENDS

MUSIC: The two-night ONE MORE GIRL ON A STAGE benefit concert/festival — featuring a wide range of local female musicians (and bands with a womanly presence) — begins tonight (and continues Saturday) at the York Street Café in Newport, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer research foundation. See Spill It on page 19.

SATURDAY16 4 MUSIC: MARC RIZZO, a guitarist with chops that are informed by everything from Metal and Classical to Latin and Flamenco, performs at Inner Circle (formerly Annie’s) with In Rage and Parable Heresy. See Sound Advice on page 24.

PHOTO: Scott Bowers

WEDNESDAY13 4 ONSTAGE: SPRING AWAKENING, brought to the Aronoff Center by Broadway Across America, is a coming-of-age musical that explores teen sexuality, violence and suicide.

See Onstage on page 27.

MUSIC: BOWERBIRDS bring their Freak Folk/Acousticana hybrid of Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsome, Clem Snide and Van Dyke Parks to the Southgate House with Julie Doiron. See Sound Advice on page 24.

THURSDAY14 4

FRIDAY15 4 MUSIC: INDIE DANCE NIGHT WITH DJ GREG PONERIS If anyone should understand what beats get a crowd moving, it’s a drummer. It helps if it’s a kick-ass drummer from a kick-ass band that specializes in highly-adrenalized Electro Dance Pop. That’s what you’ll get Friday at Mayday in Northside, as Greg Poneris, the skins-beater for Neo New Wave powerhouse Eat Sugar, mans the DJ booth for a night of Indie Dance music. If you’re a fan of his band, you won’t be shocked to hear that tracks by Crystal Castles, Klaxons, Phoenix, Beck, Ladytron, LCD Soundsystem, Devo, The Faint, !!!, Le Tigre, Justice, Junior Boys, Hot Chip and MGMT are on Poneris’ playlist for the night. Free. www. maydaynorthside.com.

— MIKE BREEN

MUSIC: SARAH BORGES, last here for the MidPoint Music Festival, performs with her band, The Broken Singles, at the Southgate House.

See Music on page 19.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 164

january 13-19, 2010

COMEDY: JIMMY DORE Though he has plenty of material about things like deer not being able to hear car horns and what it was like growing up poor, Jimmy Dore describes his current set as more “current eventsy.” With the success of his DVD/concert special Citizen Jimmy, Jimmy Dore the Chicago native is taking on more of today’s hot-button issues. “Right now I’m talking about the bailout, the healthcare thing. Gay marriage and medical marijuana, the usual topics.”

Of course, it’s not all serious subjects.

“Jenna Jameson was PHOTO courtesy Jimmy Dore on Oprah,” recalls Dore, “and she said that her goal when she got into porn was she wanted to be the biggest porn star in the world, and do it with dignity. The joke I do is ‘Hey, fellas, take it easy. You’re getting a little jizz on my monocle!’ ” When he’s not doing stand-up, Dore hosts a radio show on KPFK in L.A., as well as the podcast Comedy and Everything Else. The former he describes as a cross between The Daily Show and This

American Life, while the latter is more a look at comedy and pop culture. With his material being so involved in today’s issues, is it hard to stay funny? Not according to Dore.

“It’s so ridiculous what’s happening, it is obviously corrupt.

Whether it’s the healthcare debate or Wall Street, it’s just so obviously corrupt.” Dore performs at Go Bananas in Montgomery Thursday-Sunday. Tickets are $8-$12. www.gobananascomedy.com. — P.F. WILSON

EVENTS: AFRICAN CULTURE FEST The Cincinnati Museum Center celebrates the 25th anniversary of African Culture Fest and Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a three-day party.

This “Passport to the World” event kicks off Saturday with an “African Village” set up in the rotunda; tales from professional storyteller Omope Carter Daboiku; Oh Freedom! (the Cincinnati Opera’s musical tribute to AfricanAmerican history); National Geographic’s giant map of Africa (“Know Africa!”); and a performance by the Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre. Sunday, the storytelling, music and dance continue with a performance by Roger Bacon’s Step-N-Unity Dance Team; a performance by the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company; spoken word by JaHipster; and “Gospel Fest.” Monday, local poet/artist Annie Ruth presents “Dare to Dream,” followed by an African fashion show and Bantaba: Celebrating 25 Years of African Culture Fest, which honors those who have contributed to African Culture Fest over the years (complimenting an exhibit of the same name in the John A. Ruthven Gallery). A dance and drum ensemble will close this year’s festival at 4:30 p.m.

Monday. And open all three days is the African marketplace with merchandise, goods, crafts and authentic African cuisine. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. www.cincymuseum.org.

— MAIJA ZUMMO

EVENTS: PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BULLRIDERS TOUR Is there anything more entertaining than watching people try not to fall off of stuff, like rolling logs or assorted mammals? It’s either going to be really funny or really scary when they actually hit the ground and pretty exciting while they try to stay on whatever they’re on. It’s a very basic concept that can entertain large groups of people from different age groups, places in time, cultures and so on, without technology. On Saturday the Professional Championship Bullriders Tour at the Cincinnati Gardens brings together more than PHOTO courtesy cincinnati gardens two-dozen of the toughest bull

15

photo courtesy 3CDC

SATURDAY16 4 SPORTS: ALL-MASCOT EXHIBITION BROOMBALL GAME What is “broomball,” you ask? It’s a combination of soccer and hockey where players wear gym shoes, not skates, and use a hockey-stick-like utensil with a broom-shaped head to pass a ball back and forth on an ice rink in order to score a goal. And while Fountain Square has its own Broomball League that plays games four days a week, the All-Mascot Exhibition Broomball Game is very special. Instead of your average recreational athletes, this game will be played by area mascots. Divided into teams of “sports” mascots and “non-sports” mascots, guys and gals in giant fuzzy suits will go head to head for mascot glory. Sporty dudes include Mr. Redlegs and UC’s Bearcat, and non-sporty mascots include P&G’s fuzzy Charmin Bear and Chick-fil-A’s Eat More Chicken Cow. Alcohol and food will be available for purchase. 1 p.m. at Fountain Square. www.myfountainsquare.com.

— MAIJA ZUMMO

4TO DO: FROM PAGE 15

riders for a night of angry animals, large hats and falling really hard onto dusty floors. But that’s not all! Country music star Jake Owen will be joining the tour to sing some songs like his rodeo-themed “Eight Second Ride” for a jampacked night of old fashioned, Wild West entertainment. $23-$38 adults; $11.50-$19 kids 12 and under; $53 VIP seating. 8 p.m. www.cincygardens.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO EVENTS: CHRISTIAN MOERLEIN CINCY BEER SHOWCASE There’s always talk of shopping local, supporting local artists and eating locally grown food, but Saturday you’ll have the chance to drink local at Arnold’s as local brewery Christian Moerlein shows off its impressive stable of Cincinnati beer. Sip, sample, taste or chug from your choice of Moerlein brews such as Lager House, OTR Ale, Hudy Delight, Hudy 14-K, Burger and Little Kings. Cincinnati treasure Jake Speed and the Freddies will pump out Cincy-centric Americana music all night long, and there are also promises of “free schwag” and a chance to talk to reps from the brewery (not hot, over-enthusiastic chicks in too-tight Moerlein T-shirts and hot pants, but the real execs from the company). Free. www.arnoldsbarandgrill.com.

— MIKE BREEN MUSIC: Power Pop foursome THE SCREAMING MIMES celebrates its new release, Got to Tell the World, with a multi-dimensional blow-out (acoustic set, video screenings and a couple of full-on rockin’ sets) at the Southgate House. See Spill It on page 19.

january 13-19, 2010

SUNDAY17 4

16

EVENTS: GAZA MASSACRE RALLY When Americans hear the date Sept. 11, 2001, we all think about the same event. It sticks in our minds and hearts with such intensity that we can never forget. The same cannot be said for Dec. 27, 2008-Jan. 18, 2009. What is now being referred to as the “Gaza Massacre” is still unknown to many people in our country. For three weeks at the end of 2008, Israel inflicted airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing almost 1,500 Palestinians. And for many Muslims living in the U.S., the lack of knowledge about this incident is unfortunate.

Cousins Reema Jallaq and Fadi Shalash started the Gaza Massacre Rally event in an attempt to change this. “I have contacted a lot of local news channels but have never heard back,” Jallaq said. “We don’t see a lot of it (Gaza) on the news channels.” The Gaza Massacre Rally starts at 1 p.m. Sunday in front of Hughes High School in Clifton Heights and will go until approximately 4 p.m. Along with the cousins, University of Cincinnati group The Muslim Student Association will be there to spread awareness.

“I am a Palestinian,” Jallaq said. “I almost forgot this was the one-year mark and I want people never to forget.”

Donations are accepted and T-shirts will be available for purchase for $12. Contact 513-386-7163 for more information. — SAMANTHA BOHNERT

MONDAY18 4 EVENTS: 35th ANNUAL MLK MARCH In the four decades since his death, Martin Luther King Jr. stands as an international symbol of peaceful resistance and the manifest destiny of freedom to triumph over bigotry and oppression. The struggle for worldwide human rights continues while Dr. King’s work is celebrated at MLK Day events around the nation. Locally, a MLK March march commemorating King’s from 2009 work begins at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at 10:45 a.m., proceeding to an 11:15 a.m. prayer service at Fountain Square. Participants can continue on to Music Hall for a memorial program at noon. The Music Hall event has performances by Bishop Todd O’Neal and Dr. Cathy Roma along with the voices of the Martin Luther King Chorale. Free.

March starts at the Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. 513-333-7500.

— STEPHEN CARTER-NOVOTNI PHOTO courtesy ronny salerno

WEDNESDAY20 4 LITERARY: WRITER’S DIGEST’S 90TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Cincinnati-based trade magazine Writer’s Digest has been offering its literary tips nearly as long as electricity has been in most homes. And, amid a fleeting, fast-paced age in which everyone thinks they’re a writer (type “blog” into a Google search field and see what happens), its advice is (or should be) as vital as ever. “Even though publishing is undergoing massive transformation, one thing has not changed: the passion and persistence of writers to improve their craft and get their work published,” says Publisher Jane Friedman. Over the years the magazine has featured everyone from Hugh Heffner, Sylvester Stallone and Stephen King to Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac and the 90-year-old Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who is interviewed in the freshly redesigned 90th anniversary issue. Writer’s

MORE TO DO CBRECOMMENDS

TAKE ITFROM US

photo courtesy cincinnati art museum

PHOTO COURTESY movieweb.com

Katy Knowles

Digest is also involved in a variety of other word-nurturing endeavors, including the annual publication of Writer’s Market, which remains a useful tool for freelance/fledgling writers everywhere. The magazine hosts an anniversary party at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Northside Tavern (4163 Hamilton Ave.), where the “WD” team will be on hand to celebrate its literary legacy with cake, ice cream, giveaways and other events.

The party is free and open to the public. www.writersdigest.com.

— JASON GARGANO

1/14-17

TUESDAY19 4 EVENTS: YOGA WITH THE MASTERS Who knew that Matisse, Picasso, Derain and van Gogh were yoga masters as well as groundbreaking Modernist artists? Starting Tuesday and continuing for four Tuesdays thereafter, Cincinnati Art Museum will hold “Yoga With the Masters” classes from 6-7:15 p.m. in its Modernist galleries, allowing practitioners to stretch and meditate in the after-hours presence of art’s 20th Century Modernist greats, who themselves knew a thing or two about how to inventively stretch bodies and change perceptions.

The sessions are led by Katy Knowles, owner of YogaOMe studio, and are among the first in the country set in an art museum’s galleries. If one purpose of yoga is to “touch the soul,” this environment should do plenty to help. Each session costs $12; $6 for museum members. Price includes parking. Call 513-721-ARTS to make a reservation.

— STEVEN ROSEN

1/22-23

Eddie Griffin

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show, Last Comic Standing

PLAN AHEAD

PHOTO COURTESY venushum.com

There is a ton of stuff to do this week, and the rest of the month is no different. Nashville band VENUS HUM (pictured) records a live show at producer/musician Ric Hordinski’s Monastery studio/performance space Jan. 22. New Pop star OWL CITY (which is just one dude, on record anyway) plays a sold-out show at the Madison Theater on Jan. 27. And superstar ventriloquist JEFF DUNHAM will stick his hand up the butts of a variety of characters and tell jokes at the Bank of Kentucky Center in Highland Heights on Jan. 31. An “Arena Rock Ventriloquist”? What’s next, superstar spoonbenders and stadium-filling plate-spinners? Ed Sullivan would be proud.

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january 13-19, 2010

John Heffron

Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Undercover Brother, Scary Movie 3, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Date Movie, Norbit

This past week has been full of big-time “no duh” headlines — Sarah Palin is going to be a Fox News commentator (those teleprompters will be working overtime!) and Mark McGwire admitted he used steroids (and Pete Rose is the shame of baseball?). Another unshocking revelation? CityBeat is your source for free goodies! Go to citybeat.com and click on “Free Stuff” to enter to win tickets to sit onstage and watch the acclaimed musical SPRING AWAKENING, movie passes to check out wannabe blockbusters THE BOOK OF ELI and LEGION and concert tickets to see/hear THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT and CALEXICO in Louisville and ANI DIFRANCO in Covington.

17

january 13-19, 2010

Where: Downtown Delhi When: Saturday, January 9th What: UC Hoops ticket giveaway!

18

MUSIC

4SPILL IT

By MIKE BREEN

Mimes R Us The first time I put on Got to Tell the World, the new album by local Pop/Rock foursome Screaming Mimes, and cued up the first track, “You’re the Kind of Girl,” I listened for about a minute then had to run outside to pay my parking meter. Walking back to the office, I found myself already singing the chorus hook in my head, totally unconsciously. That’s a sign of great songwriting, showing singer/guitarist David Storm’s intuitive grasp of what makes an instantly memorable Pop melody.

World (the band’s third LP) is, start to finish, loaded with these kinds of ear-candy hooks. If you don’t have a handful of these melodies in your head after listening to the album once, you should see an otologist. The band can lean toward a “Soft Rock” side at times — the tune “Open” could have made Toto a million dollars — but the sturdy songcraft still shines through. The tracks that feature a strong, upbeat groove seem to work best: “Motion” and “Beating Like a Drum” (among others) infuse Ska rhythms, sounding a bit like The Samples.

“The Saddest Girl in the World” has an anthemic quality and Third Eye Blindish jaunt, while the “hidden track,” “It’s Not Over,” gives the band a chance to show off their musicianship as they go nuts during a 10-minute jam.

The Mimes show versatility on World and, despite a few down moments, it’s the sort of album you can put on and know that your mood and spirit will be lifted.

The band does “An Evening with …”-type show Saturday at the Southgate House, performing the entire night sans openers. They’ll kick things off with an acoustic set, play the new album in full and close things out with a run through of their back catalog (and perhaps some surprises). In between sets, the Mimes will screen their documentary Behind the Mask as well as other new video footage. (www.screamingmimes.com)

Girls’ Nights Out

CONTACT mike breen: mbreen@citybeat.com

PHOTO: jared holder

Sarah Borges rocking out at last year’s MidPoint Music Festival in Cincinnati.

Hot Live Singles!

Sarah Borges spreads beloved live presence around on stage and record 4interview by brian baker

W

hen Sarah Borges appeared in Cincinnati last September on the MidPoint Music Festival’s closing night, she had more than an inkling of what lay ahead for her and the Broken Singles. Borges was ailing (with what she described as “the Mongolian face flu”), they were playing the WASSUP unknown-to-them Know Theatre and they were following SARAH BORGES AND THE BROKEN the rejuvenated Wussy, clearly SINGLES play Newport’s Southgate one of the Cincinnati scene’s House Friday with The Deep Vibration. biggest names.

“We had no idea what to expect because it’s a blank canvas — a black box theater — but the festival was obviously so cool, and to get up there and have it wall-to-wall packed was pretty awesome,” Borges recalls from her

Boston home. “But I was afraid to play after Wussy. I did realize at the time, ‘These are the hometown favorites.’ Quite a tough second act.”

Of course, Borges and the Singles retained nearly every Wussy fan and rocked the Know to its very foundation. Borges’ comfort in front of unpredictable audiences didn’t come from her band experience. That particular facet of her art was something she brought to the table from the outset.

“I did a lot of musical theater in school,” Borges says. “I got the performing element out of the way earlier, in terms of learning how to act good and sing loud.”

In relatively short order, Borges turned her Classic Rock exposure through her parents’ record collection CONTINUES ON PAGE 224

january 13-19, 2010

Things seem to have progressed since the Lilith Fair festival began in 1997 as a response to female performers’ exclusion from other big fests of the time. Not that sexism doesn’t still exist — the playing field just seems more level these days.

Kelly Thomas, organizer of Friday and Saturday’s “One More Girl on a Stage” benefit concerts at the York Street Cafe, says the idea of putting together a lineup with mostly women isn’t some sort of equal opportunity statement.

“This isn’t a series about lack of opportunity for women in the local music scene,” Thomas says. “Far from it. If you have good songs and put on an entertaining show, the music scene will make room for you regardless.”

This year’s OMG event again features a broad range of musical styles and some fun additions like the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls lending a hand and chanteuse Vicki D’Salle hostessing. Performers include Thomas (playing with Ryan Malott), Lauren Houston, Tupelo Honey, Wonky Tonk, The Polly Esthers, Raison D’etre, Shiny and The Spoon, J. Dorsey Blues Revival, De Los Muertos, Jenny Ward, Stick Figure Drawings, Carole Walker and Smitten Hicks.

Proceeds from the fest go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. An exhibition on the Cafe’s top floor will feature the work of Art Academy student Sarah Baker (among other artists), who has been documenting her mother’s now-terminal breast cancer struggle.

Music begins at 7 p.m. both nights. (myspace.com/onemoregirlonastage)

19

4music listings

Jefferson Hall

CityBeat’s music listings are free. Send info to MIKE BREEN via email at mbreen@citybeat.com or fax at 513-665-4369.

Listings are subject to change. See Club Directory for all club locations.

H is CityBeat staff’s stamp of approval.

Southgate House (Parlour) — The Pinstripes | The Frankl Project | Stretch Lefty | The Happy Maladies. Rock/Punk/Ska. Cover.

Stanley’s Pub — Perfect Norm | Eazy | The Layers. Rock/Jam. Cover.

Stockyard Cafe — Sparrow Bellows. Rock. $5.

Terry’s Turf Club — Eric Campbell & The Bevadors. Jazz. Free.

Win Place or Show — Dallas Moore and the Snatch Wranglers. Outlaw

Country. $5.

For Winters & Losers Wednesday January 13th

Free Play on our Jukebox

Concerts Bowerbirds | Julie Doiron — Folk/Roots Rock. Wednesday, Janu-

The Only Vinyl Jukebox in Northside

ary 13. 9:30 p.m. Southgate House, 24 E. Third St., Newport. $8, $10 day of show. 859-431-2201.

Hard Rock Holiday

Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles | The Deep Vibration — Indie/Roots Rock (see interview, page 19). Friday, January H 15. 8:30 p.m. Southgate House, 24 E. Third St., Newport. $8, $10 day of

Thursday January 14th • 10pm-2am w/ DJ D Cupp Friday January 15th • 10pm-2am

Boom

w/ Kyle Cannon Saturday January 16th • 11pm

Heifers for Heifers Fundraiser Drag Show for Heifer International

FREE Wi-Fi

Look for us on Facebook: C&D Northside

1714 Hanfield Street • 513-541-9881

show. 859-431-2201.

Bowling for Soup | Just Surrender | The Flight Station | Static Vessels | Think Harder — Rock/Pop. Tuesday, January

19. 7 pm. Mad Hatter, 620 Scott St., Covington, $15, $18 day of show.

859-291-2233.

Clubs Wednesday January 13 Arnold’s Bar and Grill — Slyvain. Jazz/Guitar. Free.

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Blue Wisp Big Band. Jazz/Swing. $10.

Charlie’s Throttle Stop — Open jam with Sonny Moorman Group.

Rock/Blues/Open jam. Free.

Chez Nora — Ricky Nye. Blues/Boogie Woogie. Free.

Crow’s Nest — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free.

Havana Martini Club — DJ Rudy Alvarez. Dance/Latin. Free.

HD Beans And Bottles Cafe — Open mic. Open mic. Free.

Jefferson Hall — Fibbion Handful. Rock. Cover.

Knotty Pine — Dallas Moore. Outlaw Country. Free.

Northside Tavern — Kyle English. Acoustic. Free.

Southgate House (Lounge) — Artists in Residence: Sparrow

Bellows. Rock. Free.

Stanley’s Pub — Super-Massive. Reggae. Cover.

The Greenwich — Midnight Sun Cafe & Open Mic Jam. Open mic.

— 4th Day Echo. Rock. Cover.

Latitudes — Eric Campbell & The Bevadors. Jazz/Soft Rock. Free.

Mad Frog — Yarn | Sleepin Dogs | Eric Tepe. Americana. Cover.

The Redmoor — Eugene Goss and Triage. Jazz. Cover.

Rohs Street Cafe — Wade Baker Jazz Collaboration. Jazz. Cover.

Southgate House (Lounge) — Hillbilly Thursday: Whiskey Bent Valley

Boys. Folk/Honky Tonk/Roots Rock. Free.

Stanley’s Pub — Bubble Life | Eclipse. Jazz/Hip Hop/Funk. Free.

Stockyard Cafe — Open Mic with John Redell. Open mic. Free.

WIllie’s Sports Cafe (Hidden Valley) — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free.

Win Place or Show — Snow Shoe Crabs. Rock/Alternative. Free.

Wine Cellar — Gabe Wright. Acoustic. Free.

Friday January 15 Arnold’s Bar and Grill — Cla-zels (6 p.m.); Lagniappe (9 p.m.). Pop. Free.

Bella Luna — Blue Birds Trio. R&B/Soft Rock. Free.

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Vintage Keys (Jack Doll Trio at 4:30 p.m.; Delbert Williams with Blues at midnight). Jazz. $10.

Casey D’s — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free.

Charlie’s Throttle Stop — After Midnight. Blues/Classic Rock. Cover.

Chez Nora — Greg Litteral. Jazz. Free.

Dollar Bill Tavern — Vintage Band. Pop/Dance. Free.

Havana Martini Club — DJ Rudy Alvarez/Dance Lessons (Chris Comer Trio with Jazz at 5 p.m.). Dance/Latin. Free.

Jefferson Hall — 3 Day Rule. Rock. Cover.

Jim and Jack’s on the River — Blue Stone Ivory. Rock/Pop/Dance.

Cover.

Knotty Pine — Session 9. Rock. Cover.

Latitudes — Basic Truth. Funk/R&B/Soul. Free Mad Hatter — Corpus Christi | Behead the Tyrant | Pain Link | Promise to

Cover.

Agony | Gates of Carnivean. Metal. Cover.

Wine Cellar — Tim Hinde. Acoustic. Free.

Mansion Hill Tavern — Blue Ravens. Blues. Cover.

Mayday — Indie Dance Night with DJ Greg Poneris of Eat Sugar. Dance/

Thursday January 14

HIndie. Free.

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub (Pleasant Ridge) — The Fabulous Cheap

Wine Cellar — Acoustic Abuse. Acoustic. Free.

Woodies Tavern — Jack Squat. Rock. Cover.

York Street Cafe — “One More Girl on a Stage” with Lauren Hous-

H

ton, Tupelo Honey, Wonky Tonk, Raison D’etre, Shiny and the Spoon, Kate Harrelson, Kristen Key, Carole Walker, Audrey Cecil & Amanda Lucas and The Polly Esthers. Various (see Spill It, page 19). Cover.

Saturday January 16 Anderson Bar & Grill — Basic Truth at Anderson Bar & Grill.

Funk/R&B/Soul. $5.00

Bella Luna — Blue Birds Trio. R&B/Soft Rock. Free.

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Jamey Abersold Quartet (Blue Wisp High

School All Star Jazz Band at 6 p.m.; Steve Barone and Ed Felson with Jazz at midnight). Jazz. Cover.

Chez Nora — Greg Litteral. Jazz. Free.

Dee Felice Cafe — The “New” Sleepcat Band. Jazz/Swing. Free. deSha’s — The Blues Merchants. Blues. Free.

Dollar Bill Tavern — Code-9. Pop/Dance. Free.

The Greenwich

— The Beat Lounge. Hip Hop/DJ/Spoken word. admission $5, $15 to enter the competition

Havana Martini Club — DJ Rodger Shands. Dance/DJ. Free.

Incahoots — Kevin Fox. Rock/Acoustic. Free.

Inner Circle Entertainment Complex — Marc Rizzo | Parable

H

Heresy | In Rage | Attitude Altitude. Metal (see Sound Advice, page 24). $10.

Jefferson Hall — The Brave Youngster. Rock. $5.

Jim and Jack’s on the River — Blue Stone Ivory. Rock/Pop/Dance.

Cover.

Jim Dandy’s Family BBQ — The Bad Bob Trio. Blues. Free.

Knotty Pine — Session 9. Rock. Cover.

Mad Frog — Pulse 8 | Ninefold | Mirorim. Metal. Cover.

Mad Hatter — Crashing Plains | Rosemary Device | Hazle Weatherfield |

The Future Strikes. Rock. Cover.

Mansion Hill Tavern — Jon Justice Band. Blues. Cover.

Mayday — Giant Wow | The Bush League All-Stars. Rock/Pop. Free.

McCoy’s Place — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free.

Molly Malone’s Covington — Chris Staples | Wonky Tonk | Billy Wal-

Arnold’s Bar and Grill — Ricky Nye and Dottie Warner. Lounge.

Suits. Blues. Free.

lace and the Virginia Blues | Matt Swaim. Americana/Folk. $5.

Northside Tavern — The Minor Leagues | The Fairmount Girls | Midstates

Black Angus Burgers & Brew — Sonny Moorman Group. Rock/

Mr. Pitiful’s — The Jones’s. Funk/R&B/Soul. Cover.

Northside Tavern — The Mighty | Kentucky Struts | Wake the Bear.

Free.

Blues. Free.

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Brasilia. Jazz/World. $8.

Chez Nora — Gary Gorrell Trio. Jazz. Free.

Dee Felice Cafe — Lee Stolar Trio. Jazz. Free.

Dollar Bill Tavern — Outrayjus. Pop/Dance. Free.

The Greenwich — Windau Jazz’tet. Jazz. Free.

Havana Martini Club — Jack Doll (5 p.m.). Jazz. Free.

Rock/Indie. Free.

Paxton’s Grill — The Medicine Men. Blues. Free.

Play by Play Rock Cafe — Howard Brothers Band. Rock. Cover.

R.P. McMurphy’s — Fibbion Handful. Rock. Cover.

The Redmoor — No Saints No Saviors. Blues/Classic Rock. Cover.

Rick’s Tavern & Grille — Stranger 80s. Rock/80s. Cover.

Southgate House (Lounge) — Los Honchos. Garage/Soul. Free.

and the Choir of Ghosts. Rock/Pop/Indie. Free.

Play by Play Rock Cafe — Clubber Lang. Rock. Cover.

R.P. McMurphy’s — Core. Rock. Cover.

The Redmoor — 8 to 10. Rock/Blues. Cover.

Rick’s Tavern & Grille — Bad Habit. Rock. Cover.

Silverton Cafe — Leadfoot Johnny. Rock/Blues. Free.

Southgate House — Screaming Mimes (CD release party). Rock/

HPop (see Spill It, page 19). Cover.

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Southgate House (Lounge) — Lagniappe. Cajun. Free.

Southgate House (Parlour) — Crash Kings | Animal Circles. Rock.

Madison Theater — “Road to Memphis” with Dick & the Roadmasters, Ricky Nye Inc. and Them Bones. Blues. $8, $10 day of show.

Stanley’s Pub — Hickory Robot | Northbound Motion. Rock/Americana.

Mansion Hill Tavern — Open Blues Jam with Them Bones. Blues.

Stockyard Cafe — Kickin’ Dust. Country. Free.

Terry’s Turf Club — Eric Campbell & The Bevadors. Jazz. Free.

The Underground — Battle 09 Finals with Harmon, Brent Reed Band, Ad-

Zion United Church of Christ Norwood — Leo Coffeehouse

Cover.

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vocate SeVen, Irela and special guests Seabird. Various. $10/$13 day of show.

Win Place or Show — The Josh Pilot Band. Rock/Blues. $3.

Wine Cellar — Eric Leyton and the Bandits. Acoustic. Free.

Woodies Tavern — Jack Squat. Rock. Cover.

York Street Cafe — “One More Girl on a Stage” with Keshvar Project,

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Jenny Ward, Blue Confessions, Kristen Keft and J. Dorsey, Lyrida Loveless, Kelly Thomas and Ryan Malott, Robin and Joanie Lacey, Smitten Hicks, The Honeycombs, Stick Figure Drawins and De Los Muertos. Various (see Spill It, page 19). Cover.

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(formerly of Soulfly) with Parable Heresy,

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Jazz Jam Session. Jazz. Cover.

Jefferson Hall — DJ Toad. Dance/DJ. Cover.

Mad Frog — Tropicoso. Latin/Salsa. Cover.

Mansion Hill Tavern — John Redell. Blues. Free.

Northside Tavern — The Quartet. Jazz. Free.

Southgate House (Lounge) — Open Mic Night: Billy Catfish.

attitude altitude, in rage, Hardcore ritual

Rock/Singer/Songwriter/Various. Free.

Sunday January 17

Sunday, January 24

Stanley’s Pub — Wade Baker Jazz Collaborative. Jazz. Free.

Allyn’s Cafe

Tuesday January 19

Blue Wisp Jazz Club

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — Derrek Phillips and Manufactory . Jazz.

— Blue Birds Big Band. Classic Rock/R&B. $3.

— Souse. Jazz/Funk. $5.

Cover.

Chez Nora

Claddagh Irish Pub — Sonny Moorman . Blues. Free.

Dee Felice Cafe — “Fat Tuesday” with the Royal Palm Orchestra.

— Mary Ellen Tanner. Jazz. Free.

Comet

Jazz. Free.

— Comet Bluegrass Allstars. Bluegrass. Free.

Jefferson Hall — Donny Bray and Dustin Ivey. Acoustic. Cover.

Knotty Pine — Josh Powers. Acoustic. Free.

Mad Frog — Open Mic with Celebrity Status Ent. Open mic/Various.

Jefferson Hall

— Matt Cowherd and Jamie Combs. Rock/Acoustic. Cover.

The Greenwich — “Purple Lotus”. Various. $5.

Knotty Pine

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R.P. McMurphy’s Irish Pub & Coffee House — Open Mic Night

— Randy Peak. Acoustic. Free.

. Open mic. Free.

Mad Hatter

— All Out Best | Remembering Never | Let It Happen | Foxes on Fire | Barbwire Fist. Rock/Punk. Cover.

Sidebar — Bob Cushing. Acoustic. Free.

Stanley’s Pub — Rumpke Mountain Boys. Bluegrass/Jam. Cover.

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4HOT LIVE SINGLES!: FROM PAGE 19

4 club directory Allyn’s Cafe — 3538 Columbia Parkway, Columbia-Tusculum.

513-871-5779.

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub (Pleasant Ridge) — 6111 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. 513-531-0700.

The Greenwich — 2442 Gilbert Ave., Downtown. 513-665-4700.

Molly Malone’s Covington — 112 E. Fourth St., Covington.

859-491-6659.

Arnold’s Bar and Grill — 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown.

513-421-6234.

Bella Luna — 4632 Eastern Ave., Linwood. 513-871-5862.

Mr. Pitiful’s — 1323 Main St., Over-the-Rhine.

513-369-0202.

Black Angus Burgers & Brew — 10575 Chester Road, 513-772-1500.

Northside Tavern — 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. 513-5423603.

Blue Wisp Jazz Club — 318 E. 8th St., 513-241-9477.

Paxton’s Grill — 126 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland.

513-583-1717.

Casey D’s — 9292 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, West Chester.

513-755-0125.

Charlie’s Throttle Stop — 7121 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield.

513-874-6111.

Chez Nora — 530 Main St., Covington. 859-491-8027.

Claddagh Irish Pub — 1 Levee Way, Suite 2122,Newport on the Levee Newport. 859-581-8888.

Comet — 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. 513-541-8900.

Crow’s Nest — 4544 W. 8th St., Price Hill. 513-921-2980.

Dee Felice Cafe — 529 Main St., Covington. 859-261-2365. deSha’s — 11320 Montgomery Road, Montgomery.

513-247-9933.

Rick’s Tavern & Grille — 5955-5 Boymel Dr., Fairfield.

513-874-1992.

Rohs Street Cafe — 245 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights.

513-238-7647.

Sidebar — 322 Greenup St. |, Covington. 859-431-3456.

Silverton Cafe — 7201 Montgomery Road, 513-791-2922.

Southgate House — 24 E. Third St., Newport.

859-431-2201.

Havana Martini Club — 441 Vine St.,Carew Tower 5th & Race Downtown. 513-651-2800.

Southgate House (Lounge) — 24 E. Third St., Newport.

859-431-2201.

HD Beans And Bottles Cafe — 6721 Montgomery Rd, 513-793-6036.

Southgate House (Parlour) — 24 E. Third St., Newport.

859-431-2201.

Incahoots — 4110 Hunt Road, 513-793-2600.

Stanley’s Pub — 323 Stanley Ave., Columbia-Tusculum.

513-871-6249.

Jefferson Hall — 1 Levee Way ,Newport on the Levee Newport.

859-491-6200.

Jim and Jack’s on the River — 3456 River Road, Riverside.

513-251-7977.

Jim Dandy’s Family BBQ — 2343 E. Sharon Road, Sharonville.

513-771-4888.

Knotty Pine — 6947 Cheviot Rd., White Oak. 513-741-3900.

Mad Hatter — 620 Scott St., Covington. 859-291-2233.

Latitudes — 18 Main St., Milford-Miami Township.

513-831-9888.

Mad Frog — 1 E. McMillan St., Corryville. 513-784-9119.

Madison Theater — 730 Madison Ave., Covington.

859-491-2444. january 13-19, 2010

R.P. McMurphy’s Irish Pub & Coffee House — 2910 Wasson Rd., Oakley. 513-531-3300.

Dollar Bill Tavern — 8074 U.S. 42, Florence. 859-746-3600.

Inner Circle Entertainment Complex — 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End. 513-321-0220.

22

Play by Play Rock Cafe — 6923 Plainfield Road, Silverton.

513-793-3360.

Mansion Hill Tavern — 502 Washington St., Newport.

859-581-0100.

Mayday — 4227-4231 Spring Grove Ave. , Northside.

513-541-0999.

McCoy’s Place — 6008 Springdale Road, White Oak. 513-385-8222.

Stockyard Cafe — 3112 Spring Grove Ave. , Camp Washington.

513-591-2233.

Terry’s Turf Club — 4618 Eastern Ave., Linwood.

513-533-4222.

The Greenwich — 2442 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills.

513-221-1151.

The Redmoor — 3187 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout.

513-871-6789.

The Underground — 1140 Smiley Ave., Forest Park.

513-825-8200.

WIllie’s Sports Cafe (Hidden Valley) — 19325 Schmarr Dr., Lawrenceburg. 812-537-0512.

Win Place or Show — 9933 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, West Chester. 513-777-2920.

Wine Cellar — 1101 Saint Gregory St., Mount Adams.

513-241-9009.

Woodies Tavern — 10020 Demia Way, Florence.

859-282-1264.

York Street Cafe — 738 York St., Newport. 859-261-9675.

Zion United Church of Christ Norwood — 2332 Sherwood Lane, Norwood. 513-531-5400.

and her own love of Boston’s Indie scene into a band.

“Bands like (Boston’s) Throwing Muses and Buffalo Tom were huge and then I got into bands like X, which were more on the Punk side but still shared a common element with me,” Borges says. “I was in an Indie Rock band for like seven years — I started when I was 17 — and it intersected with this band for the first year, then I quit that to focus on what we’re doing full time.”

Borges and the eventual Broken Singles began to coalesce in 2004. Starting with drummer Robert Larry Dulaney and eventually adding bassist/comic and musical foil Binky and guitarist/soon-to-be-husband Lyle Brewer, Borges moved the Broken Singles from side project to full-fledged band within a couple of years. Her first album, 2005’s Silver City on Blue Corn Records, was attributed to Borges alone, as she hadn’t yet solidified the band or fully defined their sound.

Silver City did earn Borges comparisons to Maria McKee, hinted at the Country/Indie Rock hybrid that was evolving and earned her a Sugar Hill contract.

Two years after Silver City, Diamonds in the Dark was the first album to bear the band’s name and was a slightly more energetic affair. The volume went up even more on last year’s swaggering The Stars Are Out. “We’ve always had this unique problem of being a band that appeals to people in too many different ways,” Borges says with a laugh. “They’re always asking us, ‘Are you a Country band or a Rock band? What the heck is it?’ And this sounds so cliché, but we’re a band from Boston. We’re all of those things. We’re the sum total of what our record collection looks like.

“With The Stars Are Out, we tried to focus on one thing a little bit more, which was kind of foreign. We tried to make things more cohesive. And the record is half covers and half originals and part of that was because we were trying to learn how to write songs in just one vein.”

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The stylistic diversity of the first two albums was certainly attractive to critics, but when the Broken Singles started evolving as a live entity, they found it hard to back down from their adrenalized intensity to compensate for the slower moments.

“I have a special place in my heart for Silver City; it has a lot of slow songs on it,” Borges says. “Live, once you get going, you don’t want to strip the whole thing down to play a slow song. We started Diamonds in the Dark to have an eye toward that a little more, and The Stars Are Out as well — to really think about what we like to do live and what the audience likes to do.”

Taking that philosophy to its natural conclusion, Borges and the Singles recorded a two-night stand over New Year’s weekend in Boston as the basis for an upcoming live album. The proposed release, tentatively slated for March, will not be part of Borges’ label deal but is being financed by fan donations (see www.sarahborges.com for details) and will ultimately be available only at shows or through the Web site.

“We had basically everyone we know in town come and hang out,” Borges says. “We’re going to cull the best of the two nights and put that into the CD. We tried to do everything that we typically do live; there are a couple of new songs not on any record thus far, so they might end up there, and maybe an odd cover or two that aren’t on a record but we like to play live.

But there are a lot of the songs that we know people like and it’s kind of spread out over all three records.”

Similarly, during the January tour, Borges and the Singles will be filming a show in Benton Harbor, Mich., for a live DVD they hope will drop around the same time as the CD. The band’s live recording activities have been fueled by fan comments that groups have been hearing since Les Paul channeled electricity into wood and wire.

“We’ve heard from our fans that, while they love our records, they haven’t been able to capture the live sound,” Borges says. “It’s pretty exciting. It’s also very stressful, but it’s worth the complete freedom.” ©

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4music

The Future Is Unwritten Dreams are great, but temper your excitement, be realistic and enjoy every moment 4by ill poetic

I

LIVE MUSIC!

Thursday Jan 14

650 North Friday Jan 15

Natalie Wells

Saturday Jan 16

taneity of it all.

In May 2008, I dropped a mash-up record that ended up getting covered everywhere from allhiphop.com to Rolling Stone. Wasn’t even my idea to make it, I just did it — knocked it out in a weekend without a second thought. I released it online that Monday and it did more for me than either of my meticulously planned albums.

It’s hilarious when you think about it, but it’s also beautiful and annoying as hell. However, it really drove home that lesson to just have fun, be creative and enjoy every moment along the path.

All this leads me to my next point: Fuck status. Fuck the idea of status, especially in a local or regional scene. It’s stupid and it’s dangerous.

I used to be on it too, which is why I’m trying to throw out this warning.

It’s cool to be hungry and want to be great, but if you’re looking at the guy to your left or right to see what he’s doing, you are not looking forward. Being worried about how people perceive your “status” in the scene is stupid, especially in the grand scheme of the national and international scenes. If you go through

your career with the sole intent of trying to get ahead and not for the lessons and good memories sitting all around you, you fail.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be self-aware and make calculated moves toward reaching the audiences you want to reach as well as a money-generating career.

Just cut the excess out. It makes it so much easier and enjoyable.

Getting to live a life centered on your passion is the most amazing feeling in the world and really puts everything in perspective. It’s not press status, networks, backbiting, shit-talking, DJ payola or radio spins.

It’s an outlet for stress, an inlet for joy.

It’s a series of moments of real humanity that you get to help create and then share with a group of strangers. It’s a memory for someone you’ve never met and never will.

It’s one second played out to infinity. Communal bliss.

It keeps us young forever. It’s the closest we’ll ever get to walking on the moon.

CONTACT ILL POETIC: music@citybeat.com

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have a theory, and the theory goes like this: Your dream is kind of like the moon — the further away you are from it, the more beautiful it looks. The closer you get to it, the more you see the reality of it: the craters, the flaws, the reality.

This theory has led me to another theory: You are not ready to reach your dream until you’re prepared to deal with the full realities of it.

If “me” from 2002 could see me now, I’m sure he would be so excited that he finally “made it.” I used to think I’d be set if I ever made it in a certain magazine or collaborated with a certain artist. Shit, sometimes I forget when I reach a goal I’ve set for myself so long ago because I’ve been through the trenches to get there. Once I did reach that goal, it ultimately seemed a lot less luxurious than I had envisioned it from afar.

You hear this all the time from your favorite rapper when he finally gets on. Eminem was a big one. Kanye as well. Right now it’s Drake.

Listen to his song “Fear” as an example.

I don’t say all this to depress you or deter you from your dream. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in years of doing this (possibly the most important) is that you have to enjoy the path more than the goal. I’ll repeat, because, as Lil Wayne says, “Repetition is the father of learning” — you have to enjoy the path more than the goal.

This is more important than mix downs, promotions, artwork, Web sites, publicists and touring. It’s more important because it encapsulates all of those things. And without this attitude, all those things accomplished will have been in vein.

If you’re not in this industry as an artist for the right reasons, I advise you to stop now.

Stop reading this column. Stop writing. Stop recording. Stop performing. Stop all of it. You will become bitter and upset at life and no one needs that energy put into the world. Go do something that makes you happy at being you.

But if you are in this game to push your craft forward and create a voice or sound for yourself, then please keep reading. You are the person most likely to enjoy the path more than the goal. Not to say you shouldn’t set goals and enjoy them when you accomplish them — just sayin’ don’t let them hold too much weight on your soul.

One thing I’ve learned over the past year is that you don’t always control your career.

You can’t perfectly plan your future. You never know what song people are going to definitely react to or how they’ll perceive you on stage.

This is what makes it so damn fun — the spon-

23

4 sound advice

CBrecomMends

Bowerbirds

january 13-19, 2010

photo courtesy Dead Oceans

24

BOWERBIRDS WITH JULIE DOIRON Wednesday • Southgate House In the wake of the 2005 demise of vaunted indie band Ticonderoga, guitarist/vocalist Phil Moore and keyboardist/vocalist Mark Paulson decided to maintain their working relationship.

They invited accordionist/vocalist Beth Tacular to complete their resurrection as a band. It was Tacular who dubbed the newly minted unit Bowerbirds, after an Australian species known for the male’s mating strategy of building beautiful and elaborate nests.

The trio relocated to the Raleigh, N.C., scene, honed their Freak Folk/Acousticana hybrid of Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsome, Clem Snide and Van Dyke Parks and spawned a pair of well-received releases, 2006’s Danger at Sea EP and 2007’s Hymns for a Dark Horse. After the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle raved about them on his Web site, Bloomington’s Dead Oceans signed Bowerbirds, reissued Hymns with bonus tracks and set the band on an exhaustive touring schedule both in North America and abroad, including a support slot for No. 1 fan Darnielle and his Mountain Goats.

Bowerbirds’ sophomore full-length, Upper Air, was released last July to enthusiastic reviews and resulted in another long touring cycle, but much has happened in the interim. Paulson has largely stepped away from Bowerbirds, leaving Moore and Tacular to do the heavy creative lifting (the pair became personally involved shortly after forming the band), although he continues to help them flesh out their live sound on occasion. Bowerbirds’ road unit continues to shift according to need and availability: Paulson and Megafaun’s Brad Cook have signed on for intermittent tours while drummer Matt Damron has become an important constant since last summer.

Most ephemeral music drifts on the edge of consciousness, but Bowerbirds’ dreamy soundscapes electrify and excite consciousness. It’s old-time music with a freshly forged edge. (Brian Baker) MARC RIZZO WITH IN RAGE AND PARABLE HERESY Saturday • Inner Circle (formerly Annie’s) In the Metal omniverse, there aren’t many purveyors of six-string mayhem that are better or busier than Marc Rizzo.

Spending a good deal of his time recording and touring with Max Cavalera’s dual projects — Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy — Rizzo somehow managed to crowbar into his triple stacked day planner a solo career, a couple of side projects (Inpsychlobleedia and Committee of Thirteen) and his label duties as the co-founder/president/A&R swami at Phlamencore Records.

An almost supernatural shredder with chops that are informed by everything from Metal and Classical to Latin and Flamenco, Rizzo wrote and recorded his new album, Legionnaire, over the past two years while he toured with Cavalera, utilizing his brief breaks to hit the studio and lay down his new tracks.

Rizzo grew up in New Jersey, an outstanding athlete who ultimately became an amateur boxer. He was a founding member of Ill Nino but left after five years due to creative restlessness. Within months of his departure, Rizzo joined Soulfly and started Phlamencore with his brother Luke. Since leaving Ill Nino in 2003, Rizzo has recorded three Soulfly albums, the debut Cavalera Conspiracy and Committee of Thirteen discs, three solo albums (2005’s Colossal Myopia, 2007’s The Ultimate Devotion and the imminent Legionnaire) and a Metal guitar instructional DVD. Rizzo has also been in the studio working on a new Soulfly album.

By the time you read this, he could very well have

written a new album, launched a new side project and started a new branch of Metal called Sleep Thrash, because that’s clearly the only time left available for Marc Rizzo to accomplish anything. (BB)

Marc Rizzo

photo courtesy vqrp

4 minimum gauge American Idiots The awesome Web site The Smoking Gun (www.thesmokinggun. com) recently posted documents featuring some of the complaints to the FCC over American Idol loser Adam Lambert’s allegedly shocking performance on the American Music Awards broadcast late last year, during which he made out with a bandmate (who was a dude!) and simulated oral sex with a dancer (who was also a dude!). Considering America’s general homophobia (which will one day be looked upon as shamefully as pre-Civil Rights racial hatred), the FCC complaints are hardly surprising, with comments ranging from comical misspellings (“sensor ship”) to general name-calling (“fudge packer,” “douchebag” and the at-least-imaginative “fagatoni”) to hilarious anecdotes, like the Ohio viewer who said they were happy their elderly grandmother had gone to bed before Lambert’s “disgusting” performance, even though they did have to endure Shakira “pushing

music news tid-bits and other morsels of relative insignificance

her twat in (Grandma’s) face.” The most “disgusting” thing about it all? The complaints make the lousy, plastic karaoke singer seem like the new GG Allin.

Gaming to the Oldies The terms “REO Speedwagon” and “groundbreaking” aren’t often used in the same sentence (outside of “REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin’s ‘mull-fro’ — half mullet, half afro — was a groundbreakingly awful haircut”), but the ’70s rockers appear to be on to something with their recent promotional game plan. Last month, business media from Forbes to The New York Times lauded REO’s new video game, REO Speedwagon: Find Your Own Way Home, for its inventive way of trying to engage fans. The downloadable game lets players help find a gone-missing Cronin, who is jumping up and down going “I’m right here! I haven’t gone anywhere!” (oh wait, that’s real life, not the game). The game

also features a reporter from an entertainment TV show who is in on the hunt, which makes it a true “fantasy game,” because there isn’t a TV show on the planet that would cover that story. But it’s a clever marketing scheme, capitalizing (sorta) on the Guitar Hero/Rock Band craze and finding new ways to garner attention and earn a paycheck as outlets like “music television,” radio airplay and CD sales become less and less attainable. Whether anyone outside of die-hard REO fans has even remote interest in an REO Speedwagon videogame is another story entirely, but the reports say the band has made money from it. Never ones to forgo an opportunity — no matter how crass or stupid (see: going Country) — to keep its rotting corpse of a career alive, Def Leppard is also reportedly working on a new videogame as well as a “cartoon TV show,” which will air on … ah, who are we kidding? A network would be more likely to air public executions in prime time than pick up a Def Leppard cartoon.

The End of a Decayed We hate it when our favorite musicians do something that rings false or phony — like Iggy Pop doing car insurance commercials, Bob Dylan making a Christmas record or Bruce Springsteen recording a Rap duet with Lil Wayne.

Singer Shane MacGowan recently underwent an image change that might leave fans of his band The Pogues completely dismayed. The man who was once famously booted from The Pogues for drinking too much (which is kind of like getting kicked out of NASCAR for driving too fast) has reportedly had his legendary teeth (ahem) “issues” taken care of. The singer — whose famous grill made a jack-o-lantern’s grin look like Julia Roberts’ Cheshire smile — has been photographed after a “dental health” vacation in Spain with a whole new set of choppers.

Derreck Phillips and Manufactory Tue, January 19

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BIG PICTURE

BY STEVEn ROSEN

‘Reel Art’ Movies Come to CAM

CONTACT STEVEN ROSEN: srosen@citybeat.com

PHOTO: Paul Kolnik

Christy Altomare (left), a CCM grad, and Jake Epstein perform in Spring Awakening at the Aronoff Center.

Wake-Up Call Spring Awakening turns the Broadway musical upside down 4by rick pender

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nce every generation or so a Broadway musical turns the complacent world of happy entertainment upside down.

That happened in 1968 when Hair adopted the world of Rock music and its many accouterments in clothing, hairstyles, drugs and WASSUP more.

Such was the case again in SPRING AWAKENING runs at the 1996 when Rent took an old Aronoff Center for the Arts through story (Puccini’s 1896 opera La Jan. 24. Tickets: $22.50-$64.50.

Bohème) and translated it to a contemporary world of Rock musicians, AIDS and life in New York City’s “bohemian” East Village.

Despite these shows’ controversial portraits of contemporary counterculture, they were popular productions that audiences flocked to see. Hair ran for four years and Rent for 12. A tour of the latter stopped in Cincinnati just last fall featuring Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp from the original 1996 cast. Both shows won Tony Awards for best musical, Hair in 1969 and Rent in 1996. Both became motion pictures.

Through Jan. 24, the current generation’s trendsetter, Spring Awakening, the 2006 Tony winner, is

onstage in a touring production at the Aronoff Center.

(It’s worth noting that the leading role of Wendla is played by Christy Altomare, a 2008 graduate of the musical theater program at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.)

Like Rent, Spring Awakening is based on a centuryold work, in this case a controversial 1891 German play about adolescents dealing with coming-of-age anxieties.

Like Hair and Rent, the show uses an electrifying Rock score that reflects the contemporary idiom.

But Spring Awakening departs in a significant way from its predecessors: Rather than modernizing its source material, it’s costumed and set in the late 19th-century era when the play was written, reflecting prevalent social beliefs and behaviors. Juxtaposing 1891 with an aggressive Rock score that sounds like here and now, the show’s creators, composer and former Pop star Duncan Sheik (best known to music fans for his 1996 hit, “Barely Breathing”) and writer Steven Sater, have universalized the story.

Frank Wedekind’s play was scandalous in its day, portraying teen sex, violence and suicide. These themes CONTINUES ON PAGE 314

january 13-19, 2010

Cincinnati Art Museum’s Reel Art film series — movies with a strong connection to the visual arts — starts a new season Friday at 7 p.m. with Zabriskie Point. It’s a great lineup … and I don’t just say that because I’ll be the guest speaker after that film’s repeat screening at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The series has narrative films so artfully designed and photographed (Zabriskie Point, A Single Man) that they look as much at home in a gallery as a theater. There will also be documentaries (Visual Acoustics) and narrative films about famous artists historic (Caravaggio) and contemporary (Love Is the Devil).

Here’s a look at the series: • Zabriskie Point: After the success of his Blow-Up, an existentialist mystery set in mid-1960s swingin’ England, visionary Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni came to America to see our country through countercultural eyes. He made an enigmatic mystery about a campus radical who hijacks a plane to seek shelter in the California desert, joining a young woman alienated from her developer employer. The cinematography (Alfio Contini) and music (Pink Floyd, Jerry Garcia) are terrific, and as the film starts to hallucinate – a love session in the desert, a modernist home blowing up in slow motion – you’ll see why this is definitely a one-of-a-kind take on America as spiritual wasteland. (Friday at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m.)

• (Untitled): The Cincinnati premiere of this 2009 comedy — directed by Jonathan Parker and starring the always-acerbic Adam Goldberg — about a relationship between a new-music composer and a Chelsea gallerist. It’s reputed to be wellinformed about today’s art world. (Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 7 at 1 p.m.)

• Manufactured Landscapes: Quietly, this artful documentary by Jennifer Baichwal — who follows photographer Edward Burtynsky as he documents global industrialization — has become one of the most influential docs in recent years, largely because of its astounding shots of things like a Chinese factory as big as a town and a river so red it glows like fire. (Feb. 19 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.)

• Five Easy Pieces: Rob Rafelson’s 1970 film, connected in its visions and attitude with the museum’s Starburst: Color Photography in America 1970-1980 opening Feb. 13, has Jack Nicholson’s first great starring role. (March 5 at 7 p.m.; March 7 at 1 p.m.)

• Caravaggio: The late British director Derek Jarman is one of the giants of independent art cinema. This innovative look at the great Italian painter’s life introduced actress Tilda Swinton to the world. (April 2 at 7 p.m.; April 4 at 1 p.m.)

• Visual Acoustics: The local premiere of Eric Bricker’s new documentary about the California architectural photographer Julius Shulman, who died last year at age 98. Dustin Hoffman narrates. (April 16 at 7 p.m.; April 18 at 1 p.m.)

• A Single Man: Fashion designer Tom Ford’s first film is an adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s classic of contemporary gay fiction, starring Colin Firth (in what’s touted as an Oscar-worthy role) and Julianne Moore. (May 7 at 7 p.m.; May 9 at 1 p.m.)

• Love Is the Devil: John Maybury’s 1998 film is a forceful, powerful study of British painter Francis Bacon’s tumultuous relationship with his model and lover George Dyer. Derek Jacobi and Daniel Craig star. (May 21 at 7 p.m.; May 23 at 1 p.m.)

All the Sunday films have guest speakers or a related gallery talk. The entire series costs $70 ($30 for museum members). Individual screenings are $10 or $5 for members, students and seniors. Tickets include free parking.

Call 513-721-ARTS for tickets or to make gallery-tour reservations following the Sunday screenings.

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4calendar listings To be included: Submit information for CityBeat calendar listings in writing by noon Wednesday, seven days before publication.

Mail to: Maija Zummo, Listings Editor, CityBeat, 811 Race St., Fifth Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Phone: 513-665-4700, ext. 145 Fax: 513-665-4369. e-mail calendar@citybeat.com Please include a contact name and daytime phone number. Due to space considerations, we cannot guarantee that all submitted information will make it to print.

H is CityBeat staff’s stamp of approval.

4art Openings Northern Kentucky University Art Galleries — FE10

Northern Kentucky University Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition features a variety of artwork by both full and part-time faculty from the Department of Visual Arts. Artist’s reception in main gallery: 5-8 p.m. Jan. 14. ...

Magma: Works by Marc Leone will feature the multi-layered paintings of Marc Leone, a recent addition to the Visual Arts faculty. The materials are built up, eroded, and repeated. Connections exist to geologic craters, land masses, satellite maps and magma/lava structures. In the Third Floor Gallery. Artist’s reception: 5-8 p.m. Jan. 14. Through Feb. 5. ... Northern Kentucky University Art Galleries, Fine Arts Center, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, 859-572-5148.

Reed Gallery — Urban Interventions features six artists who source the city as both content and context. Opening reception: 5 p.m Jan. 14. Reed Gallery, University of Cincinnati\’s College of DAAP, Clifton, 513-556-2839.

Galleries & Exhibits Artisan Enterprise Center — Bright Ideas celebrates color

through the works of Baker hunt family artists, including Bob Hebenstreit, Stephen Kenkins, Gilda Horn, Kurt Einhaus, Valma Morris, Lisa Molyneux and David Laug. Through Jan. 13. Artisan Enterprise Center, 25 W. Seventh St., Covington, 859-292-2322.

Bromwell’s Gallery — Represent features a collection of printmaking, abstract paintings, photography and sculpture by various artists.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Through Jan. 16. Bromwell’s Gallery, 117 W. Fourth St., Downtown, 513-315-4622.

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Park + Vine — More Great Cincinnati Families at Home showcases the private residences of the Emery, Longworth-Anderson, Maxwell-Schmidlapp-Graydon, and Werk-Oskamp families, and shares stories about these well-known Cincinnatians. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Through Jan. 24. Park + Vine, 1109 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-721-7275.

Phyllis Weston-Annie Bolling Gallery — From Moscow to

St. Petersberg: A New Collection of Russian Impressionism and Realism Paintings features unseen works from the prestigious Union of Russian Artists. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Through Jan. 30. Phyllis Weston-Annie Bolling Gallery, 2005 1/2 Madison Road, O’Bryonville, 513-321-5200.

RoHo Photo Gallery — Body of Work is a juried photo exhibition.

Noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Through Jan. 30. RoHo Photo Gallery , 331 W. Fourth St.,Loft #1 Downtown, 513-254-7646.

Semantics Gallery — Melanie e. Derrick and Phil Valois exhibit objects and graphics. Derrick presents 11 Biscuits, new work inspired by The Daily Puppy, an online newsletter where owners can create a profile and post pictures of their dogs. Valois exhibits /*Power and Persuasion*/ offers future artifacts as tools to perpetuate new myths. Noon-4 p..m Sundays. Through Jan. 31. Semantics Gallery, 1107 Harrison Ave., Brighton, 513-207-5262.

Studio San Giuseppe — Mount Art & Design Faculty Exhibition is

a biennial exhibition featuring recent art works by members of its acclaimed art and design faculty. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 1-5 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. Through Feb. 12. Studio San Giuseppe, 5701 Delhi Road, Delhi Twp., 513-244-4151.

The Frank Duveneck Arts & Cultural Center — New Paint-

ings by Ryan Snow are very subtle, grey or nearly white abstracts. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. Through Jan. 28.

The Frank Duveneck Arts & Cultural Center, 1232 Greenup St., Covington, 859-491-3942.

U-turn Art Space — Colony looks at how cultural identity is

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revised, stereotyped and mythologized through the work of Adam Longbonz, Travis Meinolf, and two collaborative groups - Maidens of the Cosmic Body Running and Tenthaus. Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Through Jan. 30. U-turn Art Space , 2159 Central Ave. , Brighton, uturnartspace. blogspot.com.

Weston Art Gallery — Live Station is a site-specific installation by Steve Zieverink. ... Painting and Wall Drawing features oil H Paintings from 2009 and a 36-foot wall drawing by artist Rick Mallete.

... Nightfall features installations by paper artist Alice Pixley Young. ... 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Through Feb. 28.

Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-977-4165.

january 13-19, 2010

iSSue Date: January 27 SpaCe & art DeaDline: Friday, January 15 | 5pm

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Final prooF & CaMera-reaDy art DeaDline: tuesday, January 19 | noon

Call your CityBeat aCCount Manager or Brian KitzMiller, SaleS Manager, ext. 101 513.665.4700

YWCA Women’s Art Gallery — Reflections Over Afternoon Tea

features realistic paintings of MaryBeth Karaus and ceramics by three outstanding ceramicists: Jancy Jaslow, Pam Korte and Brenda Tarbell. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Through Jan. 15. YWCA Women’s Art Gallery, 898 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-241-7090.

Museums Cincinnati Art Museum — Imperishable Beauty features jewelry from the finest American private collection of Art Nouveau jewelry. View over 100 works by the major designers and jewelers of the era, from France, Germany, Austria and the United States including Ren’ Lalique,

Henri Vever, Philippe Wolfers and Tiffany & Co. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Through Jan. 17. ... The Reel Art series screens Zabriskie Point, an epic portrait of late 1960s America, as seen through the portrayal of two of its children: anthropology student Daria and dropout Mark. $10; $5 members. 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and 1 p.m. Jan. 17. ... Fresh Perspective Gallery Talk: Tiffany and Co. takes you on a tour of Imperishable Beauty with Susan Halmie, Store Director of Tiffany and Co., Cincinnati. Free. 1 p.m. Jan. 16. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, 513-721-2787.

Contemporary Arts Center — Soul Within Structure, this UnMuseum

installation, is by local artist Cedric Michael Cox, who uses the historic Cincinnati neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine as inspiration. $.4.50-$7.50. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Through March 8. ... Standard Definition is a multi-sensory experience with a multi-channel sound and video installation by artist/musician C. Spencer Yeh in his first solo museum exhibition. $7.50; $6.50 seniors; $5.50 students. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Through Jan. 24. ... Marilyn Minter: Chewing Color is a solo exhibition of recent paintings and photographs that reveal the sometimes flawed side of glamour. $7.50 adults; $6.50 seniors; $5.50 students. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.Through May 2. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-345-8400.

Taft Museum of Art — Small Paintings features a group of diminutive oil paintings by 18th- and 19th-century artists from France, Holland, Belgium and the United States. $8; $6 students/seniors. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. WednesdaySunday. Through May 23. ... Drawn by New York: Drawings and Watercolors features drawings and watercolors from the New York Historical Society. The works in this exhibition convey the many transitions of the United States, which began as a dependent colony but soon grew to become a frontier nation, then a burgeoning industrial giant and finally a world power. $8; $6 students/ seniors. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Through Jan. 17. ... Explore the exhibition Drawn by New York with either Tamera Muente, curatorial assistant and exhibitions coordinator, or Nancy Huth, curator of education. Free with admission. 1:30 p.m. Jan. 7, 9 and 15. Taft Museum of Art , 316 Pike St. , Downtown, 513-241-0343.

4attractions Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal — Mummies:

Secrets of the Pharaohs follows researchers and explorers in recalling the discovery of ancient Egyptian mummies all while being narrated by awardwinning actor Christopher Lee. Extended through Feb. 11. $5.50-$7.50. Shows start at 1 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. ... In honor of the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s landmark publication,On the Origin of the Species, Museum Center will present an exhibit featuring the personal and scientific aspects of the man who changed the way biologists view the natural world and the history of life on Earth. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Through Feb. 15. ... Ring of Fire is about the immense natural force of the great circle of volcanoes and seismic activity that rings the Pacific Ocean and the varied people and cultures who coexist with them. $5.50-$7.50. 7 and 9 p.m. Saturdays through January. ... Search for the Great Sharks at the OMNIMAX lets viewers accompany expeditions of Dr. Eugenie Clark and Rodney Fox, who have studied sharks since the 1950s. $5.0-$7.50.

7 and 9 p.m. Fridays in January. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., West End, 513-287-7000.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden — Penguin Days offers half price

admission and cool-weather entertainment like “fishing” penguins, elephants breaking frozen blocks of fruit, polar bears and seal lions eating fish-cicles and snow monkeys snacking on delicious frozen treats. $7 adults; $4.50 children.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Through Feb. 28. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, 513-281-4700.

EnterTRAINment Junction — During the month of January, EnterTRAINment Junction offers buy-one-get-one admission. Come inside and see over 80,000 square feet of fun and trains. $12.95 adults; $9.95 kids. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sundays. Through January. EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester, 513-898-8000.

Newport Aquarium — During Winter Family Days two children (ages 2-12) will be admitted free with each adult paying full price. $20 adults. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Through Feb. 28. Newport Aquarium, One Aquarium Way, Newport, 859-261-7444.

Fountain Square — At 7,000 square feet, the Fountain Square H skating rink is about the size of the one at New York’s Rockefeller Center.

Skate rental and storage lockers are available on site. $2.50 admission, $2.50

skate rental 12-6 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 12-8 p.m. Thursday and 12-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday. Through Feb. 21. Fountain Square, Fifth & Vine Sts., Downtown, 513-621-4400.

4classes Art Academy’s Community Education Art Classes — Non-credit

classes and workshops for adults and teens in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and much more. Classes start Jan. 21. Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, Register or get brochures by calling 513562-8748.

Civic Garden Center — Get a jump on this season and bring all your gardening questions, problems and ideas to the Civic Garden Center’s panel of horticulture experts. $10. 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 16. ... Are you interested in growing your own food and would like to learn more about healthy gardening practices? Or is there a vacant lot you and your neighbors would like to transform into a productive and enlivened community garden? If so the Civic Garden Center has a series of classes that may just what you need! To receive

a certificate 10 of the 12 classes must be attended, and the required volunteer hours completed. CGDT participants who have met certificate and site/program requirements are eligible to apply for financial (up to $1,500) and technical support for their new community garden project. Registration required. Free.

Through Apr. 24. Civic Garden Center, 2715 Reading Road, Walnut Hills, 513221-0981 ext.16.

Funke Fired Arts — Introduction to Clay will take students through the

basics of every construction technique and help them find what they enjoy most about clay. $215. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Through Feb. 17. ... Sinks and Sconces is a class for intermediate and advanced students at Funke Fired Arts. World famous Patrick Dougherty will teach students to make their own sink and sconce set. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays. Through Feb. 17. ... Learn to create mugs, bowls, plates, simple vases and more on a potter’s wheel in Intro to Wheel. $215. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Through Feb. 17.

FUNKe Fired Arts, 3130 Wasson Road, Oakley, 513-871-2529.

Park + Vine — In “The Flu and You,” learn the truth behind the H1N1 virus,

the seasonal flu and what you can do to fight them naturally. 1 p.m. Jan. 17. ...

Get some practical and encouraging winter bike riding tips from Katie Vogel of MoBo Bicycle Cooperative in “Bicycling Basics.” 11 a.m. Jan. 16 . Park + Vine, 1109 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, RSVP to 513-721-7275 before Jan. 15.

Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati — In Beginning Weaving,

learn to prepare a loom and weave a scarf and a sampler in three sessions.

Looms provided. $30. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays. ... Beginning Spinning at the Weaver’s Guild will teach the basics of spinning-wheel mechanics, drafting fiber and spinning on a wheel. $74 plus materials. Noon-3 p.m. Jan. 4, 11 and 18. ... Spinning for Advanced Beginners teaches you to improve your spinning technique or tricks of spinning yarn to the size and texture you want. $75. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 16, 23 and 30. ... Take your basic weaving skills to the next level by creating a star twill scarf, log cabin placemats, table runner or other project under the guidance of an experienced weaver in Weaving Projects for Advanced Beginners. $115. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 9 and 16. Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati, 4870 Gray Road, Winton Place, 513-591-2500.

4events African Culture Fest — Celebrate the 25th anniversary of African HCulture Fest with the sights and sounds of Africa. There will be a giant traveling map of the continent, an African village, a musical tribute by the

Cincinnati Opera, spoken word performances, a dance performance by B-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre, storytelling, step performances, a performance by the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company and more! 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 16; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 17; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 18. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., West End, 513-287-7000.

Breaking the Silence: Wall of Expression — Xavier students build

a wall to address and diffuse the power of hateful expressions based on differences. From 4-5 p.m. in room 330 of Gallagher, discuss racism, hatefulness and bigotry by examining the Wall of Expression and discuss how to promote an appreciation for diversity. At 5 p.m. on the Greenspace outside Gallagher, tear down the Wall to symbolically break the silence about hatred. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 19. Xavier University Gallagher Student Center, 3800 Victory Pkwy., Evanston, 513-745-4889.

4get involved Art Opportunities Art Academy Admissions Information Session — Come meet Art

Academy of Cincinnati faculty and students and learn about campus and programs offered by the academy. Noon-3 p.m. Jan. 16. Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, RSVP to 513-562-8740.

Fine Arts Fund — The Fine Arts Fund is seeking submissions for their

“Sharing Art” tote bag. Submissions must include flat, solid areas of color; have no more than two colors, plus black; avoid gradients, shading, or mixing of colors; line drawings are best; do not violate any trademark laws; make sure your design is high enough resolution to print (300 dpi). Go online to find out how to submit: http://fineartsfund.org/share-your-art. Submissions are due Jan. 20. The Fine Arts Fund, 2649 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-871-2787.

Manifest Creative Research Gallery — Manifest seeks to present

and document the best painting of the most varied types being made in the world today. PAINT is an exhibit that calls for works of painting from around the world, made by students or professionals, as they carry the tradition forward, or reform it for another day. Postmark deadline for entries is Jan. 22. Manifest Creative Research Gallery, 2727 Woodburn Ave., Walnut Hills, 513-861-3638.

Miscellaneous Hype Magazine Model Auditions — Hype Magazine will hold an open call for artists abd models to feature in upcoming issues. Hosted by Jayce Miguel. 18 and up. $10. 9 p.m. Jan. 15. Dirty Jack’s, 5912 Vine St., Elmwood Place, Call 513-549-6584 for more information.

Music Opportunities Forest-Aires Women’s Chorus — Holding auditions. Music this year

is from Broadway. 10 a.m. Jan. 13. Zion Lutheran Church, 1175 Burney Lane, Anderson Twp., Call Carole at 513-232-7504 for more information.

Theater Opportunities Shadowbox Cabaret — Shadowbox: The Sketch Comedy and Rock &Ω

Roll Club is a non-profit entertainment ensemble holding auditions for singers, actors, dancers, and musicians. Full time, part-time, and intern positions are available. For more information or to schedule an audition contact Tom Cardinal, Recruiting Director at 614-416-7625. Ongoing. Shadowbox Cabaret, 1 Levee Way, Newport, 859-957-7625.

4lectures

Elmwood Inn Tea-Tastings — Celebrate National Tea Month with Elmwood Inn Tea-Tastings. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Through Jan. 30. Kentucky Haus Artisan Center, 411 E. 10th St., Newport, 859-261-4287.

An Evening with Kevin Powell — Writer and activist Kevin Powell

Gaza Massacre Rally — The Gaza Massacre Rally commemorates the violence in the Gaza Strip from Dec. 27, 2008-Jan. 18, 2009, dates in which Israel inflicted airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing almost 1500 Palestinians. 1 p.m. Jan. 17. University of Cincinnati, 2624 Clifton Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-386-7163.

My Prison, My Home: One Woman’s Story of Captivity in Iran

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Lift Up Your Voice: A Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr

— Children celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Hear “Martin’s Dream,” sing freedom songs with Deondre (Kamau) Means from ArtReach, a division of the ChildrenÔøΩs Theatre of Cincinnati, and make crafts. 1-4 p.m. Jan. 18. Cincinnati Public Library, Main Branch, 800 Vine St., Downtown, 513-369-6900.

will lecture on servant leadership. 7 p.m. Jan. 19. Xavier University Gallagher Student Center, 3800 Victory Pkwy., Evanston, 513-745-4889.

— Haleh Esfandiari, a leading expert on Iran, was for a time imprisoned by the current regime. She is the director of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Middle East Program, the former Deputy Secretary General of the Women’s Organization of Iran, has taught at Princeton University, and has worked in Iran as a journalist.

Free. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19. Cintas Center, 1624 Herald Avenue, Evanston, 513-745-3411.

4literary

MLK, Jr. Commemorative Celebration — This commemorative event

features performances by Bishop Todd O’Neal and Dr. Cathy Roma along with the voices of the Martin Luther King Chorale. Noon Jan.18. Music Hall, 1243 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-744-3344.

MLK, Jr. Week Pancake Breakfast with Fr. Graham at Xavier

— Xavier president Fr. Michael Graham and Michael Griffin, coordinator of African-American Student Affairs at NKU, open a week of reflection, service and celebration of Dr. KingÔøΩs life and legacy with a pancake breakfast. $5 per meal per public. 8-9:30 a.m. Jan. 18. Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Evanston, 513-745-3000.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative March — A march

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commemorating King’s work begins at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at 10:45 a.m., proceeding to an 11:15 a.m. prayer service at Fountain Square. Participants can continue on to Music Hall for a memorial program at noon. 10:45 a.m. Jan. 18. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, 513-333-7500.

Professional Championship Bullriders Tour — The ProfesH sional Championship Bullriders Tour gets wilder with a performance by Country music hottie Jake Owen. It’s a doubleheader night of buckin’ bulls and

a rocking country concert! $23-$38; $11.50-$19 kids. 8 p.m. Jan. 16. Cincinnati Gardens, 2250 Seymour Ave., Roselawn, 866-800-2828.

Sunday Jazz Brunches in the Park — At the Sweetwine Banquet

Center listen to swinging Jazz piano by the Chris Comer Trio and enjoy a buffet with over 25 items, a carving station and an omelette bar as well as fresh salads, pastries, desserts and other Sunday favorites. $13.95 adults; $6.95 children. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 17, Feb. 7 and 21, March 14. Sweetwine Banquet Center, 600 Nordyke Road, Anderson Twp., 513-563-4513.

Tuesday Night at the Movies — Each Tuesday the bar screens two cult classic movies with all the free popcorn you can eat. 10 p.m. Tuesdays. Grammer’s, 1440 Walnut Street, Over-the-Rhine, 513-421-8300.

Plugged: Dig Out and Get the Right Things Done, which teaches practical lessons on digging out of difficult situations and achieving success. 7 p.m. Jan. 19. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Norwood, 513-396-8960.

Friends of Public Library Used Book Sale — Selection includes

thousands of classical musical LP records, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes section and books. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Jan. 15; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 16; noon-5 p.m. Jan. 17; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 18. Friends of the Public Library Warehouse, 8456 Vine St., Hartwell, 513-369-6035.

Holistic Health Day — Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum kicks off this holistic health

event discussing the 7 Balance Points to a New and Better You. Then local Shaman, lecturer and author Kenn Day will discuss and sign his book Dance of Stones. Finally, Ron Esposito, Janice T. (Sunflower) and Jim Feist will perform sound meditations with Tibetan singing bowls, Native American Flute and tabla.

11 a.m. Jan. 16. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Norwood, 513-396-8960.

Walter Mosley — This best-selling author and playwright will discuss his new play The Fall of Heaven, which is based on his novel The Tempest Tales. The play will be performed at the Playhouse through Feb. 20. 7 p.m. Jan. 14. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle, Mount Adams, 513-421-3888.

4onstage Classical Music Great Music in a Great Space Concert — Paavo Jarvi and the CSO present this concert to honor Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. Guest piano soloist Awadagin Pratt helps perform a selection of Johann Sebastian Bach’s work. Free. 3 p.m. Jan. 17. St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 325 W. Eighth St., Downtown, 513-421-5354.

World Piano Competition — The 2010 The World Piano Competition includes world-renowned pianists in performance at the Taft. Contributions

january 13-19, 2010

Travel, Sport and Boat Show — This event has over 400 exhibitors with boats, travel and vacation opportunities, and lots of equipment. $10 adults; free for 13 and under. 5-9:30 p.m. Jan. 15, 20 and 21; 10 a.m-9:30 p.m. Jan. 16 and 23; 11 a.m.-5 p.m Jan.17 and 24; 2-9:30 p.m. Jan. 22.

Duke Energy Cincinnati Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, 513-3523750.

Readings, Signings & Events Krissi and Dan Barr — This husband-and-wife team discuss and sign

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4literary

Spencer’s Gift Former local club owner/city council candidate finds his groove in the comics industry 4intervIEw by rich shivener

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I’m still trying to figure out if we can work it in ourselves or come up with some clever way where the reader knows that.

ick Spencer Cincinnati” — the results of this Web search yield a litany of news and critical opinions surrounding the now 31-year-old former co-owner of the Indie-flavored bar alchemize and two-time candidate for Cincinnati City Council. It’s easy to learn about his brush with politics, the bar and his Desdemona Music Festival at Sawyer Point in 2006.

Buried in that search, though, is news about Spencer’s latest venture: writing comics. After moving to New York in 2008, he broke into the comics scene via Image Comics, publisher of Spawn and the once MTV-hyped comic The Maxx. Spencer’s Existence series was highly acclaimed, while his current series, Forgetless, looks at characters of a coveted New York party scene, including lovely model assassins.

The first issue of a planned five-book series came out in December, and No. 2 just dropped. Spencer checked in with CityBeat from his apartment in Brooklyn.

CityBeat: I read the first issue of Forgetless. Tell me about your connection with that story.

Nick Spencer: It’s a funny thing. I don’t think there is a whole lot of alchemize in Forgetless, which is kind of odd. You would think there would be because it’s familiar territory and I have stuff to draw from there. But Forgetless is very, very much a New York story. It really is about people that move up here from other places and the different ways they respondto that.

I think if there’s something that I drew back on from that time, it was that mentality of when you come from some place like Ohio or Michigan or Wisconsin and you move up here, there are people who will take to it right away and then there are people who hate it … and they’ll move back. That is the genesis, believe or not, of Forgetless. None of the characters in this world are from New York. There are some characters in Forgetless who, I think, were slightly inspired by people that were out at alchemize (and in Cincinnati) — people there, clubs I DJ-ed at or shows that I booked. There are some facets of regulars and friends of mine from back then.

CB: So did you meet model assassins here?

NS: To me, the model assassins thing is a front for that choice of whether or not you’re going to respond to (New York City). It struck me as a good to tie-in to that choice. You see Sara and Sonia — they’re responding to this choice in two very differ-

CB: How do you look back at your activities here in Cincinnati?

NS: I doubt I’ll ever move back — I feel very comfortable here. But that said, not a day goes by that I don’t miss a lot of things in Cincinnati. It was an amazing time, we had a lot of fun and the best friends I think I’ll ever have were with (alchemize) and Desdemona. It was an incredible set of experiences to have.

I think the stuff that we were doing, it might have been doomed to fail from the start. Maybe some of those things were just not possible to make work there or maybe we weren’t the people to do it. But I’m glad we did them, and I know a lot of people had fun while we were doing them.

PHOTO courtesy image comics

The first issue of Forgetless ent ways.

Sara is fine with the idea of killing people for money. It comes very naturally to her. Sonia, on the other hand, she has that great thing that we get when we’re born and raised in the Midwest or the South, where we feel people should be nicer and thinking about other people more. She’s struggling with that choice.

CB: Forgetless dances around music with the club setting, so how would you describe the relationship between music and comics?

NS: One of the big limitations of the medium is that you can’t play music (within the book) and I do feel bad about that sometimes. It would be nice to have that in the story — we don’t ever actually mention music in the book, and yet there is something about it where people make up their own soundtrack.

Obviously, music is a big part of how I write. I tend to write to music, and I tend to come up with scenes to music.

CB: Song recommendations for the first issue?

NS: I wrote this story listening to a lot of Little Boots. Little Boots’ “New in Town” is probably the theme song of Forgetless as it stands right now. Matt and Kim (the band) are featured really prominently in an issue down the road.

CB: Seems like you’ve taken away a lot from those experiences. Desdemona was huge.

NS: A little too huge, my friend! You can look at Desdemona one or two ways. You can say, “Oh, not enough people showed up,” or we had problems with the city, and as a result didn’t make enough money to cover the costs. That’s horrible and ugly and unpleasant. Then you can look on the other side and say thousands of people came to that thing and had an amazing weekend, had an experience that people still talk about. That makes it worth it.

In a place like Cincinnati, if you’re into that stuff, it’s a little easy sometimes feel out of place or drastically outnumbered. I think what we did with Desdemona and alchemize was give those folks a nice sense of place. Nobody was thinking of it like a business.

CB: On the cover of Forgetless #1, you have a list of “Breakout Bands to Watch for 2010” and (Cincinnati bands) Bad Veins and Pomegranates are there.

NS: Bad Veins is purely a typo ... I’m fucking around. Sebastian (Schultz, drummer) — Seb — is one of my best friends in the world. Regardless of that, they’re amazing and are absolutely an incredible band. Everybody should be listening to that (self-titled) record. I cannot be more proud of Ben (Davis, guitarist) and Seb. I used to do shows with Ben when he was in the band Giant Judys, and I loved that band!

Pomegranates I really do enjoy a lot. I don’t know those guys at all, but I’ve been enjoying their stuff. When it was time to make that list, I wanted to make sure we had some Cincinnati representation. But, honestly, those bands would be on this list regardless (of location). ©

ONSTAGE appreciated, with admission charged to visit the galleries. 2 p.m. Jan. 13. Taft Museum of Art , 316 Pike St. , Downtown, 513-241-0343.

Comedy Jimmy Dore — Jimmy Dore is the star of several Comedy Central specials, a writer performer for the Off-Broadway hit The MarijuanaLogues, and the host of his own weekly radio show on KPFK L.A. $8-$12. 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday; 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Go Bananas Comedy Club, 8410 Market Place Lane, Blue Ash, 513-984-9288.

H

John Heffron — John Heffron started his comedy career as soon as he

was old enough to get into the clubs. $16-$18. 8 p.m. Thursday; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Funny Bone on the Levee, One Levee Way ,Suite 3124 Newport, 859-957-2000.

Mixed Media Shadowbox After Dark — Inventive, original sketch comedy pokes fun at the world of dating and relationships and house band Billwho? turns up the voltage with sexy Rock music. $30; $20 students/seniors. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Through March 13. Shadowbox Cabaret, 1 Levee Way, Newport, 859-957-7625.

The Jungle Book: The Story of Mowgli’s Fire — Calico Children’s Theatre is a UC Clermont community initiative geared towards families with children ages 3-13 years of age. Mowgli...stolen from his mother at birth and raised in the jungle by wolves, must face his destiny as a man when Shere Khan threatens him and the peace in the jungle. The Frisch Marionette Company presents this musical adventure, adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, featuring an original music score by Steve Frisch. $6; $4 students/ seniors/children. 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 15; 10:30 a.m. Jan. 16. UC Clermont College, 4200 Clermont College Drive, Batavia, 513-732-5200.

Toby and the Ice Goblin — Directed by John Lewandowski, Madcap Puppet Theatre’s Artistic Director, the elves who make the winter snow, have been kidnapped by the evil Ice Goblin. Is this the end of snow as we know it?

Not if Toby, a snow-loving little boy, has his way. $7. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Jan. 16; 1 and 5 p.m. Jan. 17. Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Evanston, 513-745-3000.

Theater Cyrano — The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park brings Cyrano “off the hill”

to area theaters. This plays tells the story of the famously large-nosed Cyrano who is in love with Roxanne. She, in turn, adores Christian. What Cyrano lacks in beauty he makes up for with his artful words and their effect on the heart of the woman he loves. 3 p.m. Jan. 16. Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center, 6980 Cambridge Ave., Mariemont, 513-651-9220.

Spring Awakening — Broadway Across America brings this groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and Rock that’s awakened Broadway like no other musical in years. $22.50-$64.50. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Through Jan. 24. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-721-3344.

H

Stage Fright — A much-abused acting couple decides to wreak a

nefarious revenge on the drama critic whose reviews have destroyed their careers. They devise a scheme to lure him into an empty theater where they will force him to reconsider their talents, or else. $17. 8 p.m. Jan. 15-16, 21- 23, 28-29; 7 p.m. Jan. 17; 2 and 7 p.m. Jan. 24; 4 and 8 p.m. Jan. 30; 2 p.m. Jan. 31. Walton Creek Theater, 4101 Walton Creek Road, Mariemont, 513-684-1236.

4sports Spectator All-Mascot Exhibition Broomball Game — The second H annual all-mascot exhibition broomball game features Mr. Redlegs, Gapper and Rosie Red from the Reds joined by Hoxworth’s Buddy the Blood

Drop, Rumpke’s Binny, the Cyclones’ Twister, Kentucky Speedway’s Horsepower and other mascots. Free. 1 p.m. Jan. 16. Fountain Square, Fifth & Vine Sts., Downtown, 513-621-4400.

cincinnati men’s basketball — The Bearcats play basketball against the Notre Dame Irish Stereotypes. $10-$28. 4 p.m. Jan. 16. Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center, 2700 O’Varsity Way,UC campus Clifton Heights, 513556-2287.

Xavier men’s basketball — Xavier and Charlotte hoop it up. 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13. ... Xavier and Dayton play a weird morning game. 11 a.m. Jan. 16. ... $16-$26. Cintas Center, 1624 Herald Ave., Evanston, 513-745-3411.

Recreational

Yoga with the Masters at the Cincinnati Art Museum — Yoga

with the Masters teaches the ancient art of yoga at the Cincinnati Art Museum with yogi, Katy Knowles, owner of yogahOMe. $12; $6 member per class.

6-7:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Through Feb. 16. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, 513-721-2787.

Open up and say ahh: the cast of Spring Awakening

4SPRING AWAKENING: FROM PAGE 27

were so verboten that the show went unstaged for 15 years. When it was finally produced in 1906 in Berlin, it was heavily edited. It was not performed in English for nearly a century.

When the new musical was first presented in New York City at off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theatre Company during the summer of 2006, its fusion of morality, sexuality and Rock & Roll captured young audiences immediately. It moved to Broadway late in 2006, where it ran for 888 performances.

The New York Times suggested, “Broadway may never be the same.”

Spring Awakening is not a frothy piece of show business. It approaches troublesome issues that teenagers struggle with — then and now. The show portrays a group of high school students evolving from youth to adulthood. In a repressive, provincial town in Germany they struggle with their budding sexuality.

The three central characters are Wendla, 14, an innocent girl who has received no sexual instruction from her prudish mother; Melchior, 16, more worldly and knowledgeable but torn by his many emotions; and his friend Moritz, also 16, repressed and frightened by what he doesn’t know and driven to suicide when he learns more.

Most of the adults — two actors play an array of parents and other stern authority figures — are unthinking at best and often harshly judgmental.

Spring Awakening is definitely not a happy-go-lucky teenage classic in the style of Bye Bye, Birdie or even the cheerfully goofy Hairspray. Instead, this show is a powerful and thoughtful theatrical work, full of emotion and meaningful messages.

Spring Awakening’s producer, actor Tom Hulce (Amadeus, Animal House), says, “It was extraordinary how contemporary this story feels more than 100

years after it was first written. Then as now, it illuminates not only the stories of these young people, but also the role that we, as adults, take in raising our teens; the challenges of finding ways to be responsive to their needs, to empower them with the truth and to do all within our grasp to guide them with love and understanding into their adulthood.” Spring Awakening is a cautionary tale but also a love story between Wendla and Melchior, who find themselves at the mercy of a system that works against them.

Director Michael Mayer (currently headed back to Broadway to stage a musical based on Green Day’s album American Idiot) staged the original production and this touring production. “I want people to come and have a fantastic time,” he says. “I hope they laugh and recognize themselves. I hope they are moved by the story. Without getting preachy, I think this play can have a positive impact on society as well as provide a terrifically entertaining and very, very moving theater experience.”

The show has affected people, Mayer says.

“We’ve received so many letters, so many e-mails from people saying, ‘This play has changed my life.’ We’ve gotten cards from kids who were suicidal, or whose friends were, and they say this was a real catharsis for them. I think families across the board have had big important conversations about growing up and sexuality and politics and religion and the family unit and social issues as a result of seeing this play together.”

That said, Broadway Across America does include this statement in its publicity: “Spring Awakening contains mature themes, sexual situations and strong language.” The musical numbers are hit-you-between-the-eyes songs delivered with athletic choreography. In “The Bitch of Living,” the boys dance stridently and sing with force about their inability to manage the anxieties of flowing hormones, “the itch you can’t control.”

There are softer, more thoughtful numbers,

too, as the teenagers’ emotions ebb and flow.

Spring Awakening concludes with a poignantly hopeful number, “The Song of Purple Summer,” expressing the seasonal cycle of nature, the progression from the burgeoning energy of springtime to the fullness of summer, the wonder of evolving life.

But the show is laced with cynicism, especially from Melchior, who loses both his friends tragically. When he sees that no matter what he tries to do he’s going to be judged negatively by his small-minded teachers and other adults, Melchior sings a number called “Totally Fucked”: There’s a moment you know — you’re fucked!

Not an inch more room to self-destruct No more move — oh yeah, the dead-end zone Man, you just can’t call your soul your own Such words were not likely in the vocabulary of a 16-year-old boy in provincial Germany in 1891, but they resonate with today’s audiences. Melchior and his friends wear the clothing of the period, but the highly charged, dissonant music to which they sing and dance provides a bombastic counterpoint that bespeaks today.

The dynamic contrast between the two is the energy behind Spring Awakening’s power.

If these songs don’t sound like “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” well, that’s part of the point of this powerful show. Go with your eyes and ears wide open — and be awakened. This could be one of the most meaningful musicals you’ll ever see.

A final note: If you would like to experience the unflagging energy of Spring Awakening up close and personal, onstage seats are available for every performance for $25. They must be purchased in person at the Broadway Across America box office (downtown in the Mercantile Center at 120 E. Fourth St.). Specific procedures must be followed, but for those who enjoy theater delivered full-throttle this will be a memorable opportunity. ©

january 13-19, 2010

Winter Hike Series — Hikes will be held on consecutive Saturday mornings and will cover 4 to 5.5 miles of nature trails. Each hike will pay off with a hot bowl of soup at the end of the journey and each hiker will receive a free hiking staff (limit one per person.) At the end of this hike, there will be chicken noodle soup. $5 per person per hike. 10 a.m. Jan. 16. Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, 513-931-1849.

photo: paul kolnik

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january 13-19, 2010

DINER

THE LUNCHLINE

By ANNE MITCHELL

On the Vine: Solo Lunching Downtown

CONTACT ANNE MITCHELL: amitchell@citybeat.com

PHOTO: brian leckrone

Culinary Merriment in Mariemont The Quarter Bistro makes ‘dinner and a movie’ night almost perfect 4review by karen christopfel

N

ow that the holidays are over and out-of-town friends and family are sleeping in their own beds, a relaxing dinner out is called for. The Quarter Bistro in Mariemont, with its warm and intimate red décor, answered the call for a friend and THE QUARTER BISTRO me on recent chilly Go: 904 Wooster Pike, Mariemont evening.

Call: 513-271-5400 For 6:30 p.m. on Surf: www.quarter-bistro.com a Tuesday, the dining Hours: 5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. room was bustling.

Friday and Saturday 5-9 p.m. Sunday Before heading to our Entrée Prices: $11-$32 table, my friend disRed Meat Alternatives: Many. Prix fixe meals can covered the Tuesdaybe vegetarian upon request. through-Thursday Accessibility: Fully accessible; restroom accessed happy hour at the throught the theatre bar, where selected glasses of wine are half off. (On Sundays and Mondays, all bottled wine is sold at retail price.)

Settling in at our table, we overheard a group explain to the server that they were in a rush to catch a movie. the Quarter Bistro is next to and, in fact, con-

nected to The Mariemont Theater, where Bistro guests use the theater restroom. Odd, but it works.

The Quarter Bistro is suited to meet a variety of diners from moviegoers popping in for a quick bite to couples celebrating an anniversary. The menu offers a full range of casual and sophisticated choices, from pizza and burgers ($11-$13) to Duck Confit Tacos ($17) and 18 Hour Short Rib Stroganoff ($25).

Our server pointed out the “prix fixe” menu offered Monday through Thursday. For $35, you have a choice of three appetizer, entrée and dessert options. I couldn’t decide until the Grilled Swordfish on the prix fixe menu won me over. My friend went a different route — South of the Border — and ordered the Guacamole, Fish Tacos and an excellent margarita on the rocks ($7).

The Guacamole ($9) was a hearty scoop of delicious, chunky, fresh avocado served on a leaf of lettuce and had a little kick from red onions and garlic. The red and blue store-bought chips came mounded on the side and were a bit over-salted. For the price, homemade chips would have made this appetizer really special.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 384

january 13-19, 2010

I hate to eat in restaurants by myself. Yes, I know it’s ridiculous. I mean, I’ve done it … but I’d rather not.

When I do, I usually fake that I’m reading some Very Important Report, and that all my friends would have come with me if only I hadn’t had this Major Work to do. But since that’s totally a lie, most of the time it’s easier to get carry out, go back to my desk and read The Onion online.

Carry-out means fast food for many of my fellow cubicle dwellers, but I stick to the indies. I have a few tried and trues downtown that I rely on (coincidentally, all on Vine Street).

Total Juice Plus (631 Vine St.; 513-784-1666) is my healthy-lunch go-to. I am a believer in the power of vegetable juice, especially if it tastes good enough that I don’t have to hold my nose to swallow it. TJP’s Total Veggie (12 oz. for $3.65) is so nutritionally correct that I can feel vitamins shoot through me like superpowers in a cartoon. The wheatgrass makes my IQ go up by dozens of points — sadly, only temporarily. But if I add in a Vegetarian Heaven wrap (small $4.65, regular $5.95), I’ve got the world at my command. Luckily, I use that power only for good.

I can’t stand to be that perfect every day, though, so sometimes I have to choose a lunch that’s meaty. My choice for meaty is a gyro. Years ago, I waited tables at Myra’s Dionysus in Clifton, back when gyros were the main draw there, and they joined my comfort food pantheon. The Supreme ($5.40) at Mythos on the Square (410 Vine St., 513-281-3601) is meatier and spicier than any burger and faster than the fastest McFood. It’s also topped with feta cheese, making it, well, supreme. And a bargain. It’s substantial enough to hold body and soul together through a long afternoon, the trip home and an hour of Pilates at the gym. There’s a big Mythos on 4th Street, but the little one beside the Westin’s valet parking area is carry-out heaven, with a very friendly staff and baklava at the register.

Speaking of spicy (and bordering on weird), my exotic carry-out favorite is Korean BiBimBap ($7.49) from Sunny Deli in the Carew Tower (441 Vine St., 513-651-5090). Available on Wednesdays only, “Sunny’s Signature WELLBEING Food” has a cult following. This Styrofoam container of rice, veggies, fried egg, Bulgogi beef and Gochuchang (red pepper paste that packs a punch) lacks the authentic presentation of the stone-bowl version served at Riverside Korean in Covington, but it’s warm and satisfying PHOTO:cameron knight nonetheless.

Fred and Gari’s For a deli lunch, Fred and Gari’s (629 Vine St.; 513-784-9000) is perfect since there’s no chance to stay and eat — the place is so small, you’ve got to grab and go. And their sandwiches rock. The gourmet oven-baked chicken sandwich ($7.50 whole; $6.25 half) is made with big hunks of white meat that obviously came from a real bird. It’s bona-fide, and their accompaniments aren’t afterthoughts, either. Any place that offers a brownie as one of your choices of side dish has reached carry-out enlightenment.

So loners, enjoy your lunch. You have nothing to lose by passing up those chains.

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4RESTAURANT PICKS Stop in for a great time!

SUPERBOWL SPECIALS FEBRUARY 7TH

Complimentary appetizer buffet from 6-8pm All you can eat wings for $9.99 from 5-9pm $10 buckets of domestics $2 aluminum pints Dinner 3-10 p.m. Monday thru Saturday & Bar Open Late Night

Corner of 5th & Monmouth St. • Newport , KY

859-581-3700 • www.mokkaandthesunsetbarandgrill.com

“Japanese Cuisine Perfection...

I have to say that it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the past couple of years.”

- Heather Smith, CityBeat

Compiled from CityBeat’s 2009 Where to Eat Dining Guide plus recent restaurant reviews, these capsules are listed by area of town. Menues and times are subject to change. “Best of Cincinnati” readers pick winners are listed, as are review dates and reviewers’ initials if applicable. Contact Maija Zummo at CityBeat, 811 Race St., Fifth Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Phone: 513-665-4700. Fax: 513-665-4369. Check out the searchable Dining Guide online at citybeat.com and the restaurant section of our “Best of Cincinnanti” Web site at bestofcincinnati.com.com

North Blind Moose — The Blind Moose has a lodge-y ambiance and ‘90s music that makes you half expect to run into the cast from Northern Exposure. The appetizers are pretty typical (save for the wonton-shelled homemade cheese sticks): Wings, tenders and fries, onion rings, potato skins and chili fries. The menu is simple. There are burgers, salads, chicken and wraps. The Blind Moose’s drink menu boasts that their draft beer is kept just above the freezing point and is served in a frosty Mason jar to ensure utmost coldness (BC 5-20-09). Entrees: $6.99-$8.99. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday- Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday- Saturday. 37 East U.S. Route 22&3, Maineville, 513-677-6673.

Pomodori’s Pizzeria & Trattoria — Wood-fired pizzas take a little longer to bake, but dang are they worth it. Honey-tasting, flakey crust and scrumptious sandwiches along with pastas and salads make this more than a sit-down pizza joint. Perfect for dates and those who enjoy real garlic on their garlic bread. Comfortable and welcoming with a warm wood-burning fireplace and plenty of window seating to people watch if the date goes bad. Entrees: $9-$13. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Sunday; 11 a.m.-midnight FridaySaturday. 7880 Remington Road, Montgomery, 513-794-0080.

Carlo & Johnny — The emphasis at this “1930s gangster steak-

Relish Modern Tapas — With martinis such as the French Kiss topped

house” is on big dry-aged steaks, but the menu also presents dry-aged lamb chops, wood-grilled Atlantic salmon and more. After say, a bone-in filet or a large steak for two, don’t forget dessert — they’re as decadent as everything else in the place and range from Jeff Ruby’s homemade signature cheesecake to the rich, dense Chocolate Tower. The three separate dining rooms — the Emerald, the Ivory and the Grill — are great places to see local celebs and Cincinnati movers and shakers. Entrees: $21-$47. 5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5:30-11 p.m. Friday; 5-11 p.m. Saturday. 9769 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, 513-936-8600.

G. Bailey’s — A new venture by the company that operates the Golden Lamb in Lebanon, G. Bailey’s offers a menu with plenty of fun ‘60s touches- a three-tiered salad of cottage cheese (albeit with garlic), iceberg lettuce and hot slaw; many dishes with rotisserie chicken, such as “rotisserie chicken spring rolls filled with Monterey jack cheese and cabbage”; and, well, s’mores. A cheap place in your neighborhood that has good, fresh food and lets you take a trip back in time with the music and food choices. Though named after George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, this Loveland neighborhood bar rocks hits from the late-1980s.

Richard Marx and Cameo go great with Brick Oven Salmon with Boursin Pesto Compound Butter and Portabella Mushroom Veggie Wraps, right?

Entrees: $11.99-$23.99. 11 a.m. Monday-Saturday. 9521 Fields Ertel Road, Loveland, 513-683-2011.

House of Sun — You can flavor your staycation with authentic

Chinese cuisine at House of Sun, where brunch rivals the best dim sum I’ve had in any city. This no-glamour dining spot is in a small shopping center with a Red Squirrel deli, at the Rt. 42 exit of I-275, right behind White Castle. Newcomers are handed the basic menu filled with familiar General Tso’s Chicken and Pepper Steak, but you can ask for the “other” menu ¬ó the genuine Chinese dishes ¬ó and make your visit an adventure. Authentic dishes include items like Sizzling Rice Soup, Hot and Spicy Tendon and Pork Ears. Entrees: $6-$11. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

11959 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, 513-769-0888.

Lu Lu’s Asian Diner — Noodle soup is the world’s best comfort food and LuLu’s has the best. Favorites on the noodle-intensive menu include Hall Fun (wide rice noodles stir-fried with a ginger soy sauce) and Lard Cha (udon noodles stir-fried in a garlic sauce with bean sprouts, scallions and eggs). Try the Tom Yum soup for a starter (lemongrass, green onion, mushrooms, shrimp and Thai basil seasonings). The Pad Thai is ever popular, and the folks here recommend the curry-spiked Singapore Noodles with chicken and shrimp. Filled with families, especially on the weekends. The dining room is pretty boisterous and has a feel similar to a fast-food joint. The no-nonsense staff will take care of you right away.

Entrees: $5.50-$9.50. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 135 W. Kemper Road, Springdale, 513-671-4949.

Padrino — Hunter, Richard and Court Thomas, owners of 20 Brix in Milford, have done what any good financial manager advises: diversify.

Last March they opened Padrino a few doors down from 20 Brix. Padrino occupies the space that formerly housed DeMeo’s, another family-owned Italian restaurant. Padrino (pronounced “pad-reeno”) is Italian for “godfather,” and while the establishment riffs of this connection, the space doesn¬ít embody a “gangster” feel. The food itself is good quality, stickto-your ribs Italian fare. Padrino offers salads, subs, pasta and pizza. The cuisine and executive chef aren’t the only Italian things about Padrino’s.

The wine list is 99 percent Italian. (LA 6-17-09). Entrees: $8-$15. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. 111 Main St., Milford, 513-965-0100.

Pitrelli’s Italian Deli and Cafe — This independently owned,

1/2 Price Sushi Special

january 13-19, 2010

Wed-Thu 5pm-1am / Fri-Sat 9pm-2am / Limited Time Only!

34

Mon-Tues 5pm - 11pm | Wed-Thurs 5pm - 1am Fri-Sat 5pm - 2am | Sun 5pm - 10pm

www.ichibancinci.com

513-321-8686 1020 Delta Ave. Mt Lookout In the former space of Aqua

which occupied the site for over 20 years. Entrees: $7-$30. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday;noon-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. 5035 Deerfield Circle, Mason, 513-701-7656.

family-friendly eatery serves simple, delicious Italian food. Old favorites like spaghetti and homemade meatballs are light and flavorful, and specials are tasty and filling. Pitrelli’s also serves a good pizza with a light crust and toppings that include pancetta and spicy olives. Neither slick nor chic, Pitrelli’s offers instead a bona fide Mom and Pop experience.

A reason is the family that runs it: Jim and Linda Pitrelli are wonderful people, retired grade school teachers who make you feel like you’re a guest in their home. The tortellini is always great and be sure to check out Couples Night on Thursdays—a meal for two including salad, wine, pasta and meatballs for $45. Entrees: $14-$18. 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 5-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 312 Reading Road, Mason, 513-770-0122.

Polo Grille — Featuring a focused, fairly priced wine list, Polo Grille

also offers a broad menu of traditional favorites influenced by countries where polo is popular. Look for Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Tandoori Chicken Pizza and Steak Churrasco, a marinated grilled skirt steak, served with garlic chimichurri sauce, tomato salsa and yucca fries.

Service is friendly and efficient. The restaurant is spacious and airy, and decorated with polo memorabilia in tribute to the Cincinnati Polo Club,

with creamy pineapple juice and brewing with Stoli Vanilla vodka, Chambord and champagne, it would be remiss not to mention the drinks at Relish Modern Tapas first. Besides, Relish’s martinis are so filling they can be meals in and of themselves. If you’re a more traditional sort looking for something heartier than martinis for dinner, the menu at Mason’s Relish Modern Tapas probably has something for you, no matter your taste. Rather than traditional Spanish tapas, Modern Relish offers New Age tapas, familiar dishes from around the world, but with an emphasis on American and Asian fare with a little Mediterranean and Italian thrown in for good measure (HS 7-30-08). Entrees: $12.25-$16.25. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 5947 Deerfield Blvd.,Deerfield Towne Center Mason, 513-204-6925.

Rue Dumaine — The much-anticipated new restaurant from chef/owner Anne Kearney, a local who made a name for herself in New Orleans working with celeb-chef Emeril Legasse and then running her own place, Peristyle. The French-inspired bistro menu is tightly focused, with just nine starters and six main courses. Weekly and daily specials round out these selections with dishes made from seasonal, local ingredients. The wine list is outstanding, and the service is attentive and professional (MS 1-23-08). Entrees: $16.50-$21.

5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Centerville, 937-610-1061.

Sugar ‘N Spice — Impressing guests for over 60 years with good old-

fashionedhome-cookin’, Sugar ‘N Spice still makes some of the best pancakes, hash browns and omelettes around. You can get breakfast here all day or try some of the lunch items like Alotta Bull (1/2-pound roast beef sandwich) or the Red ‘n Yeller (grilled cheese with tomato). But the Breakfast Burrito might just be what you’re looking for. Squeeze into a small booth or scooch up to the counter in the plain and cozy space. Consider this a heads up: weekend mornings are busy! Entrees: $3-$7. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. 4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills, 513-242-3521.

Sukhothai Thai Cuisine — Sukhothai’s menu offers a number of perfectly prepared traditional dishes, including Pad Thai (the unofficial national dish of Thailand), various curries and a wide selection of stir-fries (which can be made with your choice of a protein, including tofu, shrimp, chicken and duck). Want something more exotic? Try the mango prawns stir-fried in a tamarind sauce or the garlic soft-shell crab. Just be sure to order a Singha (Thai beer) to take the edge off the spicy heat from those curry dishes! Hidden down a winding path behind a car dealership off Montgomery Road, Sukhothai is well worth seeking out. The interior might be simple and a bit bare, but the delicious, highly seasoned food creates its own environment. Entrees: $6-$18. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner: 5-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5-10:30 p.m. Friday; 4:30-10:30 Saturday. 8102 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, 513-794-0057.

Teranga — Teranga doesn’t tone down its offering of traditional Senegalese and West African dishes to the Cincinnati palate. Order the grilled fish and you’ll see what we mean; out comes an entire tilapia (head, tail, skin, bones and all) swimming in a spicy sauce seasoned with black pepper and Dijon mustard, thick with onions. Located in a strip mall, the ambiance is far from fancy. Lighting is fluorescent and there are just a few bits of art to provide a flavor of Africa.

The clientele trends toward French-speaking West Africans who seem genuinely happy to have adventurous Cincinnatians dining in their midst. Entrees: $6$10. 11 a.m.-midnight daily. 8438 Vine St., Hartwell, 513-821-1300.

Troy’s Cafe — This unassuming spot resides in a strip mall and its casual, bright linen-clad tables are topped with butcher paper. Owner Troy Meyers comes to Cincinnati by way of Tampa; locally he worked with Paul Sturkey when Sturkey was still part of the Encore group. You just come up to the counter, order, get a number and in minutes tasty dishes are delivered to you. There are appetizer plates, salads, soups and sandwiches like the grilled cheese with tomato, applewood bacon and Brie cheese. There’s also a comfort food category with a daily comfort feature and options like the Smoked Mozz and Chicken Pasta (LA 5-13-09). Entrees: Everything is $9 or less. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 4877 Smith Road, West Chester, 513-860-3206.

White House Inn — Serving what it calls “heartland cooking,” the White

House Inn offers a range of salads, sandwiches and main entrees that include Filet Mignon, Fried Chicken, Grilled Porkopolis Chops and Calf’s Liver. Among the house specialties is a strip steak bathed in Jack Daniels sauce. A relic of the West Chester of yesteryear, the White House Inn sits on six acres of former farmland, wedged in among myriad housing developments and warehouses that have blossomed in the past few years. It’s big inside, with seven separate dining rooms. Entrees: $18-$30. Noon-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; noon-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday. 4940 Mulhauser Road , West Chester, 513-860-1110.

Wildflower Cafe — It’s hard to get a table at Wildflower; they’re only open for dinner Thursday through Saturday and the tiny space seats no more than 36 people a night. Owner Todd Hudson says this will change in the next 30 days, as he opens his porch for dining and unveils his new wine bar and upstairs

store. Wildflower is an organic, locavore-loving restaurant, with sustainable and (many) local wines. Look for chicken, fish and many vegetarian options.

Menu changes nightly (HS 6-10-09). Entrees: $9- $36. Lunch: 11a.m.-2p.m.

Monday-Saturday; Dinner: 5:30 p.m.-closing Thursday-Saturday. 207 E. Main St.,Route 42 Mason, 513-492-7514.

Wise Owl — This small plates restaurant and wine bar features a dozen or so compelling choices of reds and whites by the glass. The space itself is small and seating is a mixture of nicely developed conversation areas, alternating between leather sofas paired with upholstered chairs and raised tables with high-back seats. One wall is lined, nearly ceiling to floor, with wine bottles.

Expect the wine recommendations to be thoughtful and consistently excellent, but call ahead for the tapas menu if you are planning to make a meal of it.

(DD 12-23-09). Small plates: $4-$13; cocktails and drinks by the glass, $8-$15. Noon-1 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 6206 Muhlhauser Road, West Chester, 513-889-2500.

Central Adriatico’s New York Style Pizza — The Bearcat pizza comes in a

box that will not fit in the front seat of your car. Adriatico’s makes their sauce and garlic-laden dough in-store daily, with an inherent spiciness and delicious original flavor. The menu also offers calzones, subs and salads, and this carryout/delivery specialist is open late. Late-night hours (1:30 a.m. during the week, 2:30 a.m. weekends, 12:30 a.m. Sundays) make this place a savior for UC students suffering through late-night study sessions, or for those who are up late and not studying. Winner of “Best Pizza (Non-Chain).” Entrees: $6-$18. 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.12:30 a.m. Sunday 3205 Jefferson Ave., Clifton, 513-281-4344.

Ambar India — Perhaps the classiest of the Indian restaurants along Ludlow Avenue in Clifton, Ambar touts a neat and simple dining room with white table cloths and consistently good service. The Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the best in the city. Wash it all down with cool refreshing Lassi or a bottle of King Fisher. The dining room is airy and bright with plenty of windows. Unlike some other Indian places, they do not offer a buffet. Winner of “Best Indian.” Entrees: $10-$16. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; Dinner: 5-10 p.m.

Monday-Friday; 5-10:30 p.m. Saturday; noon-10 p.m. Sunday. 350 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-7000.

Amma’s Kitchen — Be prepared for flavor, as the one-of-a-kind dishes

here stand out in the Indian crowd. Amma’s serves 100 percent vegetarian cuisine. For newbies, the weekday lunch buffet is a great way to nibble and taste.More interested in food than decor, Amma’s is simple yet comfortable.

The service is straightforward rather than warm and fuzzy; these gentlemen are serious about their food. Entrees: $5-$12. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday; 11:30-3 p.m. buffet Saturday-Sunday. Dinner: 5-9:30 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. 7633 Reading Road, Roselawn, 513-821-2021.

Amol India — North Indian fare such as Saag Paneer (spinach, onions, ginger, Indian spices and Indian cheese with a hint of cream) and Chicken Korma (pieces of chicken cooked in a cream curry sauce with nuts and raisins). Complete the meal with an order of Naan- there are 10 varieties to choose from including garlic and paneer (cheese filled). The tantalizing smell of aromatic spices will have you salivating as you slide into one of the many booths in the large dining room. Enjoy the tinkling sounds of Eastern music as you point to your entree selections for the server. Entrees: $8-$14. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Dinner: 5-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday. 354 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-3600.

Andy’s Mediterranean Grille — Expect maximum Mediterranean

flavor here. From its signature Shish Tawook (a marinated chicken kebab) and the best Dolmas (grape leaves) in town to the divine baklava and Turkish coffee, the fare is authentic, delicious and accessible. The recently added Farrouj — half a rotisserie chicken delicately seasoned and served with a side salad and French fries — is now a permanent menu item. Just the fact that a restaurant with exotic foods has a name as average as “Andy’s” appeals to us, but we think belly dancing, the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and hookah pipes say it all. Winner of “Best Mediterranean.” Entrees: $15-$34. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 5-10 p.m. Sunday. 906 Nassau St., Walnut Hills, 513-281-9791.

Apna Indian Restaurant — Specializing in Indian and Pakistani cuisine, you’ll find the usual favorites like Saag Paneer, Bhartha and Nav Rattan Korma (an almost chocolaty mix of vegetables, cashews and cream), as well as selections such as the Kadai Ginger Chicken and Goat Curry. You can even have it delivered. Quiet and quaint, Apna keeps the buffet up and running for lunch and dinner. For good Indian in a pinch, fill up a container with your favorite selections and take it to go.Entrees: $9-$14. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 341 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-6800.

Baba Budan’s — There aren’t many places in Cincinnati that offer both a

full bar and a legit coffee shop. Baba Budan’s offers the best of both chemically dependent worlds, and the sandwich menu offers a little extra as well — hummus, tabouleh and more. Local art and live entertainment in the form of DJs, open mic nights and other down-home performances. Entrees: $5-$8.

7:30 a.m.-midnight Monday-Tuesday; 7:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-midnight Sunday. 239 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton, 513-221-1911.

Betta’s Italian Oven — Pizza’s the word here. Will DeLuca’s wood-fired

oven produces tasty, thin-crust pies like the Quattro Stagioni with kalamata olives, proscuitto, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella and breadsticks, including the spicy pepperoni sticks. If pizza’s not your thing, go for the Eggplant Parmesan; it’s meaty, creamy, smoky and all-around delicious. Serious food for people that work hard and laugh loud. There are plenty of regulars filling the tables every night, always a sign of a consistently good meal. Entrees: $9-$14. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday; 5-11 p.m. Saturday; Closed from 3 p.m.-5p.m. daily. 3764 Montgomery Road, Norwood, 513-631-6836.

Biagio’s Bistro — Owner/chef Biagio Lamassa is best known for his homemade pasta dishes like Penne Boscaiola and Seafood Alfredo, but he sautees a damn fine chicken breast and makes a damn fine spicy Italian sub as well. Don’t forget the Italian Tomato Basil soup, it’s mmm good. If you

haven’t been in a while, check out the new expanded dining room and bar. With an Italian soundtrack, scooters in the front and back of the house and Biagio’s booming voice, you can take a mini Roman Holiday- minus Audrey Hepburn, of course. Entrees: $7-$15. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 308 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-4777.

Blue Jay — For some great-tasting, greasy-spoon, eggs-and-bacon type of breakfast, there’s no place better. Hearty portions of eggs, home fries and goetta are regularly fried on the grill, and meals like cheese coneys, cheeseburgers or ham and cheese sandwiches hit the spot when breakfast won’t. If you’re in the mood for a light snack, order a homemade pie to go. Danny and Kathryn Petropoulos opened this tiny Northside restaurant in 1967, and the couple still spends their days cooking and baking for customers. Regulars drift in and out throughout the day, and the waitresses love to chat with newcomers.

Entrees: $3-$7. 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 4154 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-0847.

Bravo Cucina Italiana — Although it’s a chain of more than 30

restaurants, Bravo doesn’t lack uniqueness, serving up a varied menu of fresh, well-executed and flavorful Italian food. Try the pizzas and flatbreads or house specialties like Pasta Bravo tossed with grilled chicken, mushrooms and a red pepper sauce. Stylish yet relaxed, with all cooking done in plain sight in an enormous open kitchen. Bravo is accommodating for groups: Set it up ahead of time and they’ll print special menus with your name on it (even for parties as small as two). Entrees: $10-$27. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 12110 Montgomery Road, Multiple Locations, 513-583-0583.

Bronte Bistro — This casual restaurant is all about guilty pleasures. The

smoothies are always tempting, and the dessert case is chock full of chocolate temptations and fruity delights. The entrees are a little more involved- Anjou Pear and Bleu Cheese Salad as well as other light fare- but who needs food after a hefty slice of chocolate cake? Walking into Bronte from the attached Joseph-Beth bookstore, you might start thinking this is just another one of those pretentious cafes. But you’d be wrong. The cafe is doused in rich, aesthetically pleasing colors that elicit good vibes, complete with large, comfy booths that appeal to quiet conversationalists and book lovers alike. Entrees: $8-$15. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. 2692 Madison Road, Norwood, 513-396-8970.

Brutopia — Features an Italian-style espresso bar where employees hand-

build all the drinks. A small daily menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches and baked goods as well. Owned by a co-op, Brutopia serves up locally roasted fair-trade coffee, which helps ensure basic human rights protections and fair payment to small coffee farmers around the globe. They also feature fair-trade tea, sugar and chocolate. Along with doing your part in making the world a better place, you get the hottest cup of coffee on Earth.

Entrees: $5-$7. 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. 278 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-4278.

Camp Washington Chili — John Johnson, the patriarch of Camp Washington Chili, won’t divulge the ingredients in his secret spice mix, but he will say that the secret to his success is that he doesn’t use any imitation ingredients.

Unlike many of the chili chains, Johnson never freezes the meat he uses, which he’s been buying from the local slaughterhouses since he started his business.

He also uses fresh onions, fresh garlic and Wisconsin cheddar cheese. The retro-style dining room is open 24 hours a day, and the customers are as varied as the different ways they order their chili. Winner of “Best Chili (Non-Chain).”

Entrees: $5-$8. Open 24/7 Monday-Saturday. 3005 Colerain Ave. , Camp Washington, 513-541-0061.

Christy’s/Lenhardt’s — Christy’s/Lenhardt’s is a piece of Cincinnati history. Housed in the once-regal surroundings of the former Moerlein mansion, it now provides a comfortable spot to indulge in some culinary local history. The menu includes typical German fare such as Pork Schniztel, Sauerbraten and Potato pancake and Homemade Sausage with sauerkraut as well as Eastern European dishes such as Chicken Paprikasch and Hungarian Goulash. Along with a cozy dining room to get your schnitzel fix, visit the outdoor Biergarten and the Rathskeller. The basement Rathskeller mimics the feel of an old-style German pub; both spots offer German favorites like Warsteiner. Entrees:

$8-$12. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10:30 am.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday. 151 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, 513-281-3600.

City Barbeque — This regional chain puts out some damn tasty barbeque, including mouth-watering beef brisket and a good and sloppy North Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich. Don’t neglect your sides- the vinegary greens and crusty hush puppies are stellar. The new Pulled Chicken Sandwich is a yummy addition to the fare. Play with your food. City BBQ offers three sauces to mix and match- vinegar-and onion-based Carolina sauce, an original tomato-based sauce and mustard sauce. Entrees: $6-$19. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. MondaySaturday; 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. 3804 Paxton Ave. , Multiple Locations, 513-871-8890.

City View Tavern — Still the best view and some of the tastiest burgers in

town, and the prices are from back in the day when Mount Adams was known as a “bohemian” neighborhood with just regular folks. Try City View’s Bloody Mary — it repeatedly wins awards as the city’s finest and hairiest. Stella Artois is among the beers newly added available at the bar. Laid back and genuine, City View has managed to rise above the hype and stay real for generations.

Good jukebox, cold beer, friendly folks. One note of caution: Unattended children of any age will be dismissed from the premises. Entrees: $3-$7. 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday. 403 Oregon St., Mount Adams, 513-241-8439.

Currito — Formerly Boloco, Currito serves up “inspired burritos” that draw

on culinary influences from around the world. Offerings range from Cajun to Mediterranean to Bangkok as well as salads, chips and salsa and fruit smoothies. Snackers — their own twist on quesadillas — come with cheese and chicken, steak or even tofu. Tired of wrestling with burritos as big as your head?

Currito is a smaller alternative with a sizeable selection. The restaurant also offers healthier choices like brown rice instead of white for burrito fillings as well as organic tofu. Entrees: $6-$10. 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 222 Calhoun St., Clifton, 513-281-1500.

Dewey’s Pizza — Fancy gourmet pizzas and excellent service make Dewey’s a pleasure to eat pizza. Specialty pizzas, colorful salads and fine beers on tap also help. The unusual toppings are also cause for excitement from Amish Chicken to Black Bean Corn Salsa. A welcoming dining room with clean, colorful tables and geometrical wall designs that look like art. There’s also a glass window where you can spy on the folks tossing and creating your pizza. Winner of “Best Pizza (Chain)” and “Best Salads.” Entrees: $7-$20. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 4-11 p.m. Sunday. 265 Hosea Ave., Multiple Locations, 513-221-0400.

First Watch — This “daytime cafe” offers breakfast, brunch and lunch items that range from healthy to hearty. With multiple locations in the area, there is sure to be one close to you. The breakfast options include a Killer Cajun Omelette, stuffed with chicken breast, mushrooms, Monterey Jack cheese and onions. At lunchtime, try a burger, any of their specialty sandwiches or salads.

Great place for morning breakfast meetings, as it’s a corporate reworking of a neighborhood diner. Coffee flows readily from large tureens to help jump start the brain. Great for family dining on the weekends. Winner of “Best Breakfast” and “Best Sunday Brunch.” Entrees: $3-$7. 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. 700 Walnut St. , Multiple Locations, 513-721-4744.

Floyd’s — Floyd’s is a modest-looking family owned restaurant that serves all your favorite Mediterranean fare without all the bells and whistles (hookahs and belly dancers). One of their specials is offered each day, and the tabouleh here is all the rave, or is it the garlicky lemony lima beans? Don’t miss the fabulous spit-roasted chicken in its various forms (whole, half or on a sandwich). Sit up front in the casual, small dining room and watch the passersby or make your way to the secluded patio on a warm evening. You’ll find college students, professionals and families gathering here on any given day. Entrees: $7-$13.50.

Lunch: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Dinner. 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday. 127 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-221-2434.

Gordo’s Pub and Grill — Owner Raymond Gordo was formerly chef de

cuisine for the Jean-Robert Restaurant Group, which explains the Jean-Robert Burger made with bacon, blue cheese and herbs and topped with goat cheese and a lovely grape compote. Even the loaded cheese fries demonstrate the

chef’s attention to detail by including bacon, scallions, tomatoes and a three cheese blend with a side of ranch. An extensive international beer selection hard to find in most bars. One of the most laid-back, reasonably priced, friendly and creative bars we know. Looks like just another neighborhood joint with neon beer signs in the window, but inside it’s more like a movie set of a neighborhood bar than an actual neighborhood bar, gleaming with polished wood floors and tables. Perfectly shiny Michelob mirrors and Coors signs line the wall. Entrees: $4.50-$14.50.

4-11 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.10 p.m. Sunday. 4328 Montgomery Road, Norwood, 513-351-1999.

Habanero — This homemade salsa haven has quickly established itself as a Ludlow Avenue staple. The burritos are excellent, everything is fresh, and few beers on tap make this place great for a hearty meal or a quick drink and snack before a night out. Signature items include the Mad Max (tilapia, pinto beans, rice, cheddar cheese and cabbage) and the Arroyo Hondo (hand-rubbed spiced flank steak, black beans, rice, caramelized onions and goat cheese). A bright dining room offers space for bigger groups or privacy-seeking booth dwellers. A second location is now open at Newport on the Levee. Entrees: $6-$7. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. 358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-3158.

King Wok — The flavor of the China Sea, or something like that, with

all the usual Chinese favorites and a special emphasis on fresh seafood.

Treat yourself to a whole lobster stir-fried with slices of fresh ginger and scallions in buttery sauce. It’s heavenly. Or come for the Chinese Dim Sum. As far as the ambiance, look for the neon fish. The atmosphere is casual, perked up by the pink linen napkins, nice china and friendly service. Entrees: $7-$13 (some prices seasonal and by the pound). 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday. 203 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-723-1999.

Krishna — Our mouth waters just thinking about their Indian cuisine.

The saag paneer and the samosas are works of wonder. It’s delicious but no-frills, served in a Styrofoam carryout box. Basic, tight quarters are provided, as three small booths sit opposite the cooking and cashier line. Taken to go or eat in, it’s a fine thing to be overpowered by Krishna’s steamy, curried haze. Entrees: $7-$10. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. MondayThursday; 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1-10 p.m. Sunday. 313 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-961-2878.

Mecklenburg Gardens — Zinzinnati’s German heritage lives on at Mecklenburg’s — their schnitzel is second to none. With a good selection of traditional German classics and Chef Brett Crowe’s innovations like pan-seared lake perch or roasted lamb over creamy northern beans, alles gut! Mecklenburg Gardens is a Cincinnati landmark dating back to 1865 that owner Tom Harten rescued from abandonment in 1996. Now, as Tom says, they’re “alive and well after 141 years.” There’s live music most Friday and Saturday nights featuring bluesy sounds and traditional German tunes. Entrees: $18-$22. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 4-11 p.m. Saturday. 302 E. University Ave., Corryville, 513-221-5353.

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Mediterranean Deli — The friendly fellows on Ludlow Ave. will sell you the freshest Arabic baklava and tell you the difference between it and other types of baklava. Lesser known items include Kataifi, Koulourajua and hummus galore. There’s also a wide range of Greek and Middle Eastern salads and pita sandwiches. Dolma, hummus, tabouli and baba ganouj are available by the pound as well as a small selection of Middle Eastern grocery items. The food is ideal for making a small picnic and hiking over to Burnet Woods, but there are also a few tables inside.

Entrees: $2-$5. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. FridaySaturday; noon-6 p.m Sunday. 314 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-6060.

Mount Adams Bar & Grill — More grub than pub, this Bar and

Grill offers a full menu of sandwiches, salads and entrees. Favorites include the grilled tuna steak and grilled salmon sandwiches as well as the fabulous burgers. Popular with everyone from daytime lunchers to

MORE ON PAGE 364

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Sitwell’s — Enjoy a wide range of coffee and alcoholic drinks or try a bowl of

restaurants pre-Playhouse crowds, this is a beautiful old turn-of-the-century building with tile floors and a gorgeous bar. The long porch is a cozy spot in the summer for a breezy, late-night bite. Entrees: $4-$15. Kitchen: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. 938 Hatch St., Mount Adams, 513-621-3666.

Mount Adams Fish House — When a restaurant has a secret menu item, you know it’s good. The lobster stuffed with rock shrimp, scallops and crab is devoured so quickly that it’s not even on the menu — they’ll let you know if it’s available. Fresh fish and the highest sushi grade offerings make this the place to be for Cincinnati’s seafood lovers. A quiet, intimate date spot. Casual with excellent service. Entrees: $18-$38.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner: 5-10 p.m. MondayThursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 5-9 p.m. Sunday. 940 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, 513-421-3250.

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- CityBeat 2008 5841 Hamilton Ave • College Hill 513-542-4663

Myra’s Dionysus — For years, Myra’s menu has been offering an

interesting mix of homemade soups (over 20 in total), appetizers, salads, sandwiches, rice combinations and entrees. There’s a definite vegetarian slant with items such as the oat-based P.C. Burger and the FBLT made with faux bacon, but meat eaters will find a few options as well, including a Zorba Sandwich with spiced meat and tzatziki sauce on pita bread and a chicken entree served with brown rice and vegetables. Amongst the glitz of the new Calhoun Street, Myra’s is the true gem. It’s been a haven for UC students, old hippies and anyone else with a craving for good, wholesome food for 30 years. Entrees: $3-$7.50. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 5-10 p.m. Sunday.

121 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-961-1578.

Pomodori’s Pizza — Pomi’s might have been the first area pizzeria to offer a wood-fired pie, and they are still one of the best. There are lots of interesting choices like the Figs and Prosciutto with Turkish figs, the Gorgonzola Walnut with tomatoes and pesto and the Bianco with sauteed artichoke hearts, red onions, mushrooms, garlic, mozzarella and provolone. And if these don’t make you salivate, an Apple Dessert Pizza might.

Pomi’s makes all their noodles on-site and offers spaghetti, linguini and fettuccini. The serving staff was helpful, friendly and sincere. Sometimes old friends are the best (LA 5-14-08). Entrees: $9.50-$13.95. 11 a.m.11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Sunday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday.

121 West McMillan Street, Clifton Heights, 513-861-0080.

Quatman’s Cafe — Known for its burgers, which are a 1/2-pound of grilled beef served with a fat slice of onion and pickle. Additional dinner or lunch options include its famous mock turtle soup, cheeseburgers, ham and cheese, roast beef, corned beef and turkey sandwiches and fish on Fridays. The chicken and ham salads are top notch. An authentic Norwood experience if you’re looking for one — and who isn’t? Filled with regulars and characters of all makes, Quatman’s is a burp from the ‘50s with neon beer signs, checkered tablecloths and paper plates. Entrees: $5-$10. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 2434 Quatman Ave., Norwood, 513-731-4370.

Rohs Street Cafe — Rohs Street Cafe offers an unparalleled quality

in their coffee. Their selections are all fair trade and are roasted locally by artisan roaster La Terza. Some of the baristas have even competed in national barista competitions. Add fresh homemade pastries and soups to this lineup and you’ve got a true top-caliber cafe. The spacious and comfortable space serves as a bookstore, an art gallery, a performance venue and a place for community and conversation. Rohs Street is about more than great coffee; they are committed to making a difference locally and globally through their socially conscious practices. Entrees: $1.50-$4.25. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 7 a.m.-midnight Thursday-Friday; 9 a.m.-midnight Saturday. 245 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, 513-238-7647.

Rookwood Bar & Restaurant — Nothing fancy, just honest fresh food. The menu offers lots of options, from salads and sandwiches through full meals, all of which are created in house by a helpful, eager staff. A nice, city dining experience that works for the whole family, a good value and parking. Several levels, with the far end overlooking the bar and an even higher perch above both lower levels that’s fitted with a pool table and leather couches. Sit inside one of the kilns if you want to. Entrees: $14-$17. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday- Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday (bar open until 2 a.m.) and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

1077 Celestial St., Mount Adams, 513-421-5555.

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homemade soup. Treat yourself to an enormous shake (worth every bit of $5) or stick to their award-winning salads. The New York Egg Sandwich is the single most popular item on the menu. Try one on a Sunday morning with the sun angling in through the windows, and you’ll know why. Delicious. You can nurse a bottomless cup of coffee all day for $3. Check the schedule: They regularly play host to a local Celtic music group, an enthusiastic puppet troupe and other entertainers. Entrees: $5-$10. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Friday-Saturday. 324 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-7487.

Slims — Slims exemplifies the Northside tradition in culinary form: It’s communal, creative and diverse and stresses the use of fresh local ingredients. The menu here leans toward Cuban, so be prepared to ask your server what the hell Mofongo means. Slims makes the exotic more approachable by creating real comfortable food. Dining at Slims is a unique experience. You might be seated at a long table right next to other guests in the bright and casual space. Watch the action in the kitchen from your seat or watch the plantains ripen in the window. ;Entrees: prix fixe menu $40; a la carte $18-$22. Dinner: 5:30 p.m. until the food is gone Thursday-Saturday. Brunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. 4046 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-681-6500.

Sorrento’s Pizza — The real taste of Italian American fare is here. If you

moved to Cincy from a place with good pizza and have been wondering how people survive here, then you haven’t been to Sorrento’s for a fabulous, classic Enrico. Homemade sausage, homemade dough, even the bread is baked in their oven daily.Sorrento’s Pizzeria has been a proud Norwood landmark since 1956. Private party room, karaoke and the Sports Hall of Fame add to the fun. Entrees: $7-$22. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday; noon-11 p.m. Sunday. 5143 Montgomery Road, Norwood, 513-531-5070.

Spicy Pickle — The Denver-based chain’s menu offers a selection of panini, salads, subs and wood-fired pizzettis (an 11-inch thin crust pizza) such as the Aztec pizzetti with roasted chicken, red onions, green peppers, mozzarella and chipotle pesto. Salads are a cut above the usual casual fare options, featuring interesting ingredients like roasted portobello, toasted hazelnut, grilled onion and sun dried tomato. This Clifton Heights storefront has screamed out for a good restaurant. An eager, knowledgeable young staff makes us certain the space has found its soul mate. Entrees: $2.50-$7.45. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

2504 W. Clifton Ave., Clifton, 513-569-0000.

Teak Thai — Traditional Thai and unusual surprises, especially in the curry

department, show up on this popular restaurant’s menu. Teak’s Pad Thai gets rave reviews, but some of our favorites are the Panaeng Curry (we love it with chunks of fried Tofu), Seafood Delight or Vegetable Thai Spicy. The sushi bar downstairs lends itself to more of an upbeat bar atmosphere, but the upper levels are chic-casual for special occasions and small gatherings. The outside patio is one of the hardest seats to get when the weather is nice. Parking can be difficult, especially on weekends, but the walk will be worth it. Winner of “Best Asian” and “Best Sushi.” Entrees: $11-$30. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Monday-Friday. Dinner: 5-9:30 p.m.Monday-Saturday; 4-9 p.m. Sunday. 104951 St. Gregory St., Mount Adams, 513-665-9800.

Tinks Cafe — Chef Jimmy Wilhelm encompasses America in a way New American cuisine never has, with everything from Fried Red Tomatoes and Shrimp and Grits to Pork Schnitzel and Roasted Chicken and Matzo Ball Soup.

Appetizers include a tantalizing Smoked Salmon Tartar served with delicate lotus chips, caviar and avocado. The Asian Spring Rolls with roasted vegetable filling are a nice twist to an old favorite. The new spring menu is sure to offer lots of new surprises as well.Tink’s makes you feel like you’re celebrating in style even if you’re just out for a quick bite on a weeknight. Take in good wine and stellar music on Mondays and Thursdays. Entrees: $16-$22. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday; 5-8:30 p.m. Sunday. 3410 Telford, Clifton, 513-961-6500.

Downtown Arnold’s Bar and Grill — Arnold’s serves up a nice range of lunch and dinner options at bargain prices, including a lunch menu (weekly specials) with sandwiches, burgers, bratwurst, grilled polenta, dinner specials, salads, meats and pasta. The oldest continually operated bar in town — Cincinnatians have been polishing the bar with their elbows here since 1861. There are authentic signs and antiques everywhere that create a real sense of history. Live music on weekends, and a courtyard for outdoor dining. Winner of “Best Outdoor Dining.”

Entrees:$7.25-$12. 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, 513-421-6234.

Bootsy’s — If there¬ís a heaven for hairdressers, fashionistas, people on

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first dates and older women from Miami recovering from cosmetic surgery, Bootsy¬ís Produced by Jeff Ruby would be it. Packed into the two-story building across from the Aronoff Center where Pizzeria Uno¬ís used to be, Bootsy¬ís draws the young, the old and the beautiful. Marrying Moroccan kitsch and South Beach flair, the tribute to Funk legend Bootsy Collins seems to have filled a black hole in Cincinnati nightlife. The Bootsy¬ís experience is something everyone in Cincinnati should have at least once ¬ó but you¬íre definitely paying for the atmosphere more than the food. While it doesn¬ít rival some of the better Cuban or sushi (yes, Bootsy¬ís also serves sushi) restaurants on the West Coast, it¬ís a fun addition to Cincinnati (HS 1-7-09). Winner of “Best Tapas.” Entrees: $13-$28. 631 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-241-0707.

Cafe de Paris — Offers Parisian cafe food at its finest, focusing on traditionally French lunch and breakfast selections like Salade Nicoise and Croissant Foure aux Epinards (toasted croissant with spinach and feta). Owner Khaled Atallah must be a favorite son of the City of Lights. His hearty “Bonsoir!” rings throughout the cafe, creating a charming, tres chic dining experience. Entrees: $3-$8.50. 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

17 Garfield Place, Downtown, 513-651-1919.

Coffee Emporium — Spend your time creating the perfect drink — pick

the type of bean, choose between caffeinated/decaffeinated, add a syrup addition or choose a flavor. The emphasis is on the coffee, but some food is offered, including soup from Myra’s. Walking into this roasting company, take a minute to breathe in the intense, hypnotic coffee scent. The modern downtown store is awash with coffee and tea smells. Scattered seats around the store are available for sitting and chatting, and a bar by the large windows offers refuge for the solo diners. The Hyde Park location is a diminutive Victorian with a quaint wisteria-covered arbor. Winner of “Best Coffeehouse.” Under $10. 110 E. Central Parkway, Downtown, 513-651-5483.

Courtyard Cafe on Main — Serves a step above ordinary bar food,

offering stuffed mushrooms, burritos, double-decker sandwiches, soups and our favorite, the cole slaw. A lunch destination for area workers, it’s also a great place to hang out, eat some grub and drink some beers. As its name suggests, this place is all about the courtyard. At night, with the fire pit going in the two-level courtyard, this place can be a cozy hangout. It’s more low-key than the rest of its Main Street bar brethren. Entrees: $6-$12. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday; noon-2 a.m. Saturday. 1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-723-1119.

Deli Seven20 — Michelle Lightfoot re-creates her delicious gourmet lunch

fare in her own new restaurant. Poppies regulars will be glad to hear the Ring Dang Doo lives on, as do those addictive homemade chips. Starbucks ain’t got nothing on deliseven20. The friendly staff remembers your name and asks how the kids are before sending you on your way to munch on your lunch in the serene foyer in Sawyer Point Building. Check out the new spring catering menu — good, healthy food can be yours for just 24-hours notice and a little cash. Winner of “Best Deli,” “Best Business Lunch” and “Best Waitstaff/Service.”

Entrees: $4-$8. 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. 720 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown, 513-381-3720.

Ingredients — Ingredients offers casual grab-and-go fare including salads,

sandwiches, panini and brick-oven pizzas like the Wild Mushroom Pizza or Roast Beef and Gorgonzola Sandwich with caramelized onions and roasted tomato. Salad fixings are innovative including beets, roasted eggplant and hearts of palm. You can make your own, going along with their catch phrase: “Some assembly required,” or choose from one of their signatures. Good choices are the Grilled Chicken Salad with prosciutto, Maytag bleu cheese, spiced Bosc pears, yellow tomatoes and walnuts or the Roasted Vegetable salad. Ordering is not for the meek of heart — it’s a scene straight from Wall Street, but once you settle in to one of the cozy chairs or sidle up to the counter and plug in your laptop, you’ll be humming along. Entrees: $6.50-$8. 6 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 21 E. Fifth St., Downtown, 513-852-2741.

Iris Bookcafe — A combination art gallery, bookshop, coffee shop and

wireless cafe, Iris BookCafe is a locavore’s dream. The sandwich bread is from Shadeau Bakery, which is almost directly across the street. Meats are from Avril’s on Court Street, and the ice cream is from Aglamesis. The soups are from Myra’s Dionysus on Calhoun Street in Clifton.There are meat and veggie options on the sandwich menu. Eating at Iris BookCafe is like spending an evening at a friend’s house. It’s so low-key. Iris doesn’t fill the void left by Kaldi’s, because the menu is smaller and there’s no alcohol service, but there are a lot of similarities (AM 3-18-09). Entrees: $4.95-$8.95. 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 1331 Main St., Over-theRhine, 513-381-2665.

West Cancun Mexican Restaurant, Western Hills — Cancun is

great for a large appetite and a small budget, offering inexpensive authentic Mexican dishes. Homemade guacamole, queso dip and Jalapeno Bean Soup provide all you need to warm up with one of the best margaritas in town. Lunch specials are ridiculously cheap, and dinners are well portioned. One of the most popular entrees is the Fajitas Mexicanas, with your choice of chicken or steak, served with grilled peppers, onions and tomatoes. The original location in Forest Park recently expanded, and the restaurant next to Western Bowl is spacious and comfy. Entrees: $5-$14.

11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-10 p.m. Sunday. 6383 Glenway Ave., Western Hills, 513-574-1639.

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J&J’s Restaurant — One of those comforting, back-in-the-day family

restaurants that serves breakfast anytime and the best two-fisted doubledeckers going. The home fries are a must — weighing in at a pound, one order could easily serve four. J&J’s has a staunch stable of regulars to fill its booths. You might not get much small talk out of the waitresses who fly through the dining room like whirling dervishes, but you’ll get a smile and fast, efficient service. Entrees: $6-$8. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. MondaySaturday. 6159 Glenway Ave., Westwood, 513-661-2260.

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350 Ludlow • 513-281-7000

Additional Parking Available in Clifton Business Lot (next to IGA)

Maury’s Tiny Cove — Maury’s is a casual steakhouse, offering tradi-

tional steakhouse fare, such as the filet or ribs. The seafood menu ranges from salmon, shrimp and lobster to wonderful fried fish entrees like the Icelandic cod. In case you can’t decide, try the surf and turf options.

Maury’s Tiny Cove is packed full of flavorful dishes. A staple since 1949, this is a great place for eating out on the often fine-dining-deprived West Side. The low-slung ceilings and aged decor lend an old-school, clubby feel. The waitstaff is unpretentious and always helpful. Entrees: $18-$37.

Lunch: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Dinner: 4-9 p.m. MondayTuesday; 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 4-11 p.m. Friday; 5-11 p.m.

Saturday; 4-8 p.m. Sunday. 3908 Harrison Ave., Cheviot, 513-662-2683.

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Pit to Plate — The Plate’s mouth-watering pork and brisket are

hickory smoked for eight hours and the ribs for four to eight hours. Sides might not be the main focus here, but you won’t go wrong with the mac and cheese, the vinegary hot slaw topped with bacon, jalapeno-spiked cornbread and garlic butter potatoes. Check them out when you plan a pig roast or Thanksgiving — they make a mean smoked turkey breast.The new digs, just around the corner from the old Compton location, still feature retro Western kitsch decor. Entrees: $5-$18. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 8021 Hamilton Ave, Mount Healthy, 513-931-9100.

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Primavista — Genuine flavors and tastes of Italy, from the roasted

garlic cloves that come with your bread basket to the blissfully rich osso bucco Milanese, served with orzo pasta and a tiny fork to scoop out the rich bone marrow. Shrimp Antoinette is served atop warm croutons in a wonderful, garlicky sherry sauce. Gnocchi sauteed in butter with prosciutto and basil melts in your mouth, and the bread pudding is the best we’ve ever had. High atop Price Hill overlooking the new “Cincinnati” convention center sign. The decor is subdued and rich drapes soften the rooms. A stone accent wall, fresh crisp linens and (most of all) the view make it distinctive. Winner of “Best Restaurant With a View.” Entrees: $16$36. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday; 5-11 p.m.

Saturday; 5-9 p.m. Sunday. 810 Matson Place, Price Hill, 513-251-6467.

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West Side, Roma Italian restaurant stands out visually because of its three-story-tall illuminated signage and its inherited West Side landmark status. It’s the former home of The Chili Company at the corner of Cheviot and Blue Rock roads in White Oak. The familiar site might be part of the reason for the crowd that fills this home-style Italian joint right around dinnertime, but it’s the extensive menu of good hearty food that will keep them coming back. Roma is a nice casual restaurant with good food and service. (BC 01-06-10). Entrees: $6.95-$22.95. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Tuesday-Sunday. 6900 Cheviot Road, White Oak, 513-407-3865.

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Ron’s Roost — There’s plenty of chicken here (baked, barbecued and fried) but the menu has other options like filet mignon, barbecued pork ribs and the popular Oktoberfest Sauerbraten. And don’t forget the hot bacon slaw, mock turtle soup and homemade cream pies. With the giant Fiberglass rooster on the roof, the restaurant has been a West Side institution for more than 45 years. Inside is filled with chicken decor (it

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3120 Madison Road • 513-321-1600 CityBeat readers are 60% more likely to be engaged and planning a wedding than the average person in Cincinnati! .

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10040-B Montgomery Road • 513-793-6800 Across from Montgomery Kroger

january 13-19, 2010

SpaCe & art DeaDline: Friday, January 15 | 5pm Final prooF & CaMera-reaDy art DeaDline: tuesday, January 19 | noon Call your CityBeat aCCount Manager or Brian KitzMiller, SaleS Manager, ext. 101 513.665.4700

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24 East 6th Street • 513-723-1300

Roma Italian — Among the sea of strip malls we know as the

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37

restaurants is too a style!) and sports memorabilia. The mom-and-pop joint almost always has a wait, so come in early or stop by late to avoid the rush.

Entrees: $10-$20. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. 3853 Race Road, Bridgetown, 513-574-0222.

Sebastian’s — The longtime West Side lunch haunt is just as delicious

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as you remember it. An ethnic meat-lover’s heaven, the menu offers numerous Greek items and what many consider the best gyro in Cincinnati.

The gyro meat also shows up in the Greek Salad and the Dolmathakia

4QUARTER BISTRO: FROM PAGE 33

As we nibbled and chatted, a small dish was dropped off in front of me. I was a bit puzzled. The food-runner did not know what it was and upon inspection, I saw none of the components of a mac and, cheese. My friend speculated that it was an amuse-bouche.

Our server confirmed her guess: It was a slice of house-made spicy sausage atop a lentil purée with basil oil and crème fraiche.

The sausage was good, but the lentil puree and basil oil were the stars of the dish.

The appetizer choices on the prix fixe menu were all rich. I went with Bay Scallop Mac and Cheese — unexpected yet tasty.

The scallops were tiny and the sauce was more of an alfredo than the traditional bechamel. As we enjoyed our appetizers, we noticed that the ladies at the table next to us were able to make their movie and that the dining room never cleared out.

New tables of couples, young and old,

dinner (grape leaves served with gyro meat). Family-run, friendly ambiance.

Most orders are carryout, but there are a few tables and booths. Watch the gigantic cones of meat spin in front of heat lamps, keeping the meat ready to eat. Entrees: $3-$8. 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 5209 Glenway Ave., Price Hill, 513-471-2100.

9:30 p.m. Sunday. 5461 N. Bend Road, Monfort Heights, 513-481-3360.

sauce, Chicken Coconut Soup with fresh lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and chunks of chicken, Shrimp Panang Curry served in a stone pot and Pad See Ewe with wide rice noodles. Try Thai Namtip Spicy Fish, especially when they have red snapper. Portraits of the Thai president and first lady on one wall and a large mural of Niagara Falls on the other. Not fancy, so come to this hidden West Side gem for the food. It’s excellent. Entrees: $7-$14. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, noon-10:30 p.m. Saturday, noon-

Vitor’s Bistro — Vitor’s, now serving breakfast, lunch and dinner regularly, has moved up and “grown up,” as co-owner Gina Valerius put it the night we stopped. Located in the former Rondo’s space, a quaint 1864 Europeanlooking building complete with an outside terrace, the space is divided into cozy smaller rooms and achieves what chef and co-owner Vitor Abreu calls their goal: a laid-back atmosphere with good food. Being of Portuguese descent, Vitor tries to offer a mix of things on the menu. There are Italian dishes such as well as classically influenced dishes. With great attention to detail from the napkins to the music, he has an honorable goal of giving the West Side something it’s been missing- a fine dining establishment. Entrees: $15-$31.

Breakfast/lunch: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. 3232 Harrison Ave., Westwood, 513-481-5333.

were seated while a few larger parties kept the atmosphere lively.

We were a bit troubled when a strong smell of fish emerged from the kitchen, but when my entrée arrived I was pleased that the fishiness was absent. I was greeted instead with the aroma of grilled fish, crispy polenta cakes and beautifully grilled escarole served with a lemon picatta sauce.

My friend was delighted with her two Fish Tacos ($13): a perfect piece of Mahi Mahi sat atop Napa cabbage with just enough citrus to make it very refreshing and a tasty cilantro sour cream drizzle completed the dish. I appreciated the full piece of Mahi as opposed to the shredded fish often found in fish tacos.

Both entrees were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The crispy, creamy polenta cakes with my swordfish served as a nice substitute for the typical starch, and the tender escarole gave tasty life to the vegetable sides. The lemon picatta sauce gave the entire entrée an acidic brightness.

Rounding out her Tex-Mex inspired meal, my friend chose the Banana Flan with a Mexican hot chocolate sauce and a chocolatedipped plantain. I couldn’t resist, however, the apple soup and bourbon gelato with the White Chocolate Bread Pudding.

The Banana Flan ($7) was delicate and creamy and the Mexican hot chocolate sauce satisfies chocolate cravings. The fried plantain provided a salty crunch. My White Chocolate Bread Pudding was crispy on the top and moist in the middle, though the white chocolate was not apparent. The apple soup had the consistency of baby food (in a good way) and made for a light and balanced sauce for the pudding.

Finely diced apples lent the sauce texture. The vanilla-tinged gelato was a cool contrast to the warm pudding, though the bourbon flavor wasn’t noticeable.

The Quarter makes a good spot for a quick bite before a film, a couple hours lingering over a great meal with friends, a cozy date or a recovery from too many holiday visitors. ©

Thai Namtip — Excellent dishes include Crispy Tofu with a perky peanut

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FILM

4OPENING FILM

By JASON GARGaNO

A Curious Collection A curious collection of filmmakers populates this week’s opening films — from well-established veterans to foreign masters to newbies to shameless practitioners of Hollywood product.

Pedro Almodovar’s entertaining Broken Embraces is laden with the Spanish master’s now signature traits: a rich narrative rife with emotional u-turns and sex galore; a healthy splash of mood-altering color; beautiful females, including longtime muse Penelope Cruz; and ample technical chops informed by a clear nod to film history.

Speaking of technical achievements informed by past glories, Tom Ford’s impressive directorial debut brings to mind Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo filtered through the personal vision of a depressed gay man instead of a sexually repressed heterosexual. (See my review on page 40.)

The Hughes brothers (Menace II Society), who have had one of the most puzzling careers in modern Hollywood, return via The Book of Eli, which is the brothers’ first effort since the appropriately menacing (and slightly underrated) From Hell nearly nine years ago and which seems more a Denzel Washington vehicle than a showcase of their unique talents.

Speaking of returns, Lord of the Rings’ mastermind Peter Jackson is back with The Lovely Bones, an adaptation of the best-selling novel that doesn’t look destined to erase the questionable aftertaste of Jackson’s bloated, effects-infested version of King Kong.

Last and certainly least, longtime Hollywood populist/lackey Brian Levant offers up something called The Spy Next Door, which features Jackie Chan in family movie mode (translation: paycheck cashing).

THE BOOK OF ELI — Falling on the heels of The Road, here is a similarly themed vision of a post-apocalyptic dystopia where cannibals and criminals make up what’s left of the human species. Survivalist extraordinaire Eli (Denzel Washington) has spent the last 30 years — since the world’s final war — walking. Eli lies in wait to kill his dinner when he isn’t reading from the Bible that he lugs around with a giant knife and a sawed-off shotgun. Eli eventually comes face to face with a criminal kingpin and book-fanatic Carnegie (Gary Oldman). Carnegie sizes up Eli as a man of secrets and sends in his adopted daughter Solara (Mila Kunis) to act as a prostitute/spy. Eli rebuffs her affection, but he unintentionally lets her see the hefty Bible he possesses. It isn’t long before Carnegie and his ruffians are in hot pursuit of Eli and his new traveling partner. The glorified chase plot finally runs out of gas when Malcolm McDowell shows up as librarian collector of literary artifacts who has most of a set of Encyclopedia Britannica but not a single copy of a Bible. The story never allows for any kind of unity of opposites to develop between Eli and Carnegie, who might have some latent redeeming quality since he so ferociously covets the word of the Lord. First-time screenwriter Gary Whitta cares little for any kind CONTINUES ON PAGE 404

Eye of the Beholder Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces is another misdirecting melodrama 4review by tt stern-enzi

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arry Caine (Lluis Homar) has dedicated himself to writing, but our first encounter with him in Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces captures the writer seriously devoted to playing the charming rogue. He seduces a young beauty he picks up on the street, much to the chagrin of WASSUP his longtime manager Judit Garcia (Blanca Portillo), who Go to citybeat.com for comprehenalong with her son Diego sive times and reviews, including our (Tamar Novas) provide vital take on The Spy Next Door. assistance to Caine.

Caine is blind, we eventually discover, due to an accident that significantly altered the direction of his life, but he survives and thrives through practice and discipline, which he applies to both his craft and his one-off romantic endeavors.

Few directors explore lust and sensuality like Almodovar. He shoots not as an observer but as if actively engaged in the act. He brings heat and passion, yet he also knows and lets us see that sometimes seduction is little more than the pursuit of and desire to lay hands on an object of beauty.

Touch is obviously key to Caine’s existence. It now shapes and defines his experience, his vision.

But 14 years earlier Caine was more than a writer.

Before he lost his sight, he was Mateo Blanco, a noted film director engaged in a consuming affair with Lena (Penelope Cruz), the star of his current film and wife of Ernesto Martel (Jose Luis Gomez), a financial giant and producer of the film. Judit wanders around the vague edges of Blanco’s life even then, as his film editor and likely something more. She and Blanco are certainly intimates, and Judit’s face betrays a world of hurt in the presence of Lena, just as it will in the future, as she confronts Caine’s initial pick-up.

Broken Embraces comes to life in the deliciously tantalizing and rather soapy melodrama of its fractured narrative. So much of it is laid nakedly bare, the beautiful bodies and the lusty intentions, but Almodovar applies film and narrative tricks like sheer fabric to create allure and mystery and a bit of misdirection, although his aim is not to twist the logic as so many current directors and writers might. Instead, Almodovar understands that such knotty thorny edges rip and CONTINUES ON PAGE 414

january 13-19, 2010

PHOTO courtesy the weinstein co.

Colin Firth and Julianne Moore in A Single Man

PHOTO courtesy sony pictures classics

Carmen Machi (left) and Penelope Cruz in Broken Embraces

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opening film of biblical references that might weigh down what is really more of a neo-western than a convincing measure of dystopic reality. This isn’t a Samuel L. Jackson gospel-spewing potboiler after all, and Washington somehow seems a more capable post-apocalyptic hero. The Hughes brothers directing team are more interested in firing Gatlin guns than imparting thematic logic or character development. Eli is a loner badass with a Bible, and if that isn’t good enough for an audience to empathize with, then the exit doors are located at the front and rear of the cinema. (Opens wide Friday.) — Cole Smithey (Rated R.) Grade: C BROKEN EMBRACES — Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar applies technical and narrative tricks like sheer fabric to create allure and mystery and a bit of misdirection, although his aim is not to twist the logic as so many current directors and writers might. (See full-length review on page 39.) (Opens Friday at Esquire Theatre.) — tt stern-enzi (Rated R.) Grade: B THE LOVELY BONES — Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) narrates the story of ... what exactly? She tells us almost from the start that she died at 14 years old. And it is not simply that she died; she was murdered by a neighbor (Stanley Tucci), an evil serial molester, all the more sinister in skewed feverish angles. Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and his writing and producing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens were obviously drawn to the fantastic elements in Alice Sebold’s bestselling novel, and on some level this is part of what works best in the film. Susie’s in-between, her version of limbo is a dreamscape informed by the sense and sensibilities of a 14-year-old girl in the early 1970s. It would be too on the nose to focus on the fact that limbo for Susie has the impressionistically surreal look and feel of What Dreams May Come because there is a simplicity and delicacy that is never lost.

It doesn’t evolve into a mature, adult framework because Susie herself will never do so. Yet during much of The Lovely Bones, I found myself wishing that Jackson had passed this project on to Sofia Coppola, whose take on The Virgin Suicides was more in tune with the magic of female adolescence (and early teenage male longing) in the 1970s. Jackson appreciates and expertly renders the fantasy and otherworldly qualities of dark hearts, but he doesn’t show how the bones mend or the strength that exists in those reconstituted parts. Now that would have been lovely indeed. (Opens wide Friday.) — tts (Rated PG-13.) Grade: BA SINGLE MAN — Tom Ford arrives on the filmmaking scene full formed, no doubt the product of a guy who has been cultivating and manipulating images for nearly two decades as a bigwig fashion designer. His adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel benefits from strong performances, evocative, detail-rich production design and an effectively melancholy mood that only occasionally drifts into slick stylization. Co-adapted by Ford and David Scearce, A Single Man unfolds over the course of a day in the life of George Falconer (Colin Firth), a British-born, Los Angeles-based English professor mourning the loss of his longtime boyfriend Jim (Matthew Goode). It’s been eight months since Jim died in a car wreck, and George has decided he no longer wants to live. He’s planned his suicide (which wasn’t a part of the Isherwood’s book) in meticulous detail, going as far as to prepare the clothes he will wear when committing the act. The dramatic tension of George’s impending demise is interrupted by a variety of figures, most overtly the unexpected presence of an irresistible young student (Nicholas Hoult) who reminds George of his beloved Jim — and whom is going through his own life-altering issues — and George’s best friend and onetime lover Charley (Julianne Moore), a stylish woman who seems to represent the limitations of women past a certain age, the sometimes vacuous nature of cultural sophistication (she wears designer, of-the-moment clothes and listens to Serge Gainsbourg) and the importance of companionship. Ford uses a variety of cinematic techniques — from lush, color-altered flashbacks and various film stocks to Shigeru Umebayashi’s mood-setting score — to convey the fleeting memories of a man devastated by the loss of his lover and shunned by a ’60s society that isn’t yet ready for him to emerge from the closet. But Ford’s filmmaking debut is more than just a technical achievement — anchored by Firth’s performance, A Single Man is an eloquent and moving story that feels informed by personal experience. (Opens Friday at Esquire Theatre.) — Jason Gargano (Rated R.) Grade: ATHE SPY NEXT DOOR — Longtime Hollywood populist/lackey Brian Levant (Beethoven, The Flintstones and Snow Dogs, among other middling fare) directs this story of a former CIA spy (Jackie Chan) who now must take care of his girlfriend’s three children. Co-stars Amber Valetta, Billy Ray Cyrus and Madeline Carroll. (Opens wide Friday.) — JG (Rated PG.) Not screened for review

continuing film ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL — (Grade: D) This sequel to the update of the singing cartoon chipsters picks up right where the first installment left off — with Alvin and the boys smart-alecking their way through the new millennium (and apparently into school) until they meet their match: the Beyonce-inspired Chipettes. David Cross returns as the shady manager intent on creating and exploiting the latest and greatest trend — the next generation of helium-voiced singing chipmunks covering Pop tunes like “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” It’s time to restore some sense of order in the world, which means we need an executive command halting all uses and variations of this song in the media (followed close behind by a similar ban on Jay-Z’s “Empire State”). (AMC, Mariemont Theatre, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — tt stern-enzi (Rated PG.) AVATAR — (Grade: C+) For all his gee-whizzery, James Cameron’s really an old-school melodramatist at heart, so it’s no surprise that he’d crib from something as sweeping as Dances With Wolves. It’s a bit more perplexing to realize that whatever monetary sum he spent on Avatar, he’s using it to re-jigger the plot of FernGully. That latter part is bound to get folks on the right-hand side of the political spectrum lathered up, because Avatar turns into about as clumsily obvious an analogy for rapacious Western imperialism as you could possibly imagine. But as long as no one in Avatar is talking, it’s a thoroughly mind-blowing experience. Never has the creation of an alien world felt this comprehensive. And even after a 12-year layoff, Cameron still knows how to put together an action sequence with genuinely cinematic pop. (AMC, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — Scott Renshaw (Rated PG-13.)

THE BLIND SIDE — (Grade: B) The true story of Baltimore Ravens rookie Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) gets the big-screen treatment from writer/ director John Lee Hancock (The Rookie), who at this stage appears to be the only filmmaker in Hollywood who understands that in real-life dramas about athletics, sometimes there is no big game moment that changes lives forever.

Oher’s a project kid with no one looking out for him until Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) and her family offer a helping hand. Hancock soft-pedals the whys of such assistance, teasing us with the notion that everyone wants to turn Oher into a game-changing offensive lineman, but it is that light touch that lets us know Hancock believes there’s more to this story than a winning season or even a bright future on the field. (AMC, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG-13.)

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BOONDOCK SAINTS II: ALL SAINTS DAY — (Grade: D+) The MacManus Brothers (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) serve up a second helping of bloody justice in All Saints Day. If you want to see a killer action

movie — and by killer I mean one with ripe and meaty death dealing and pitch-black hooks that dig deep into your funny bones while teasing you with some in-your-face sexuality — Boondock Saints II certainly aims to please. The gunplay and violence are never in short supply, but the tone shifts a bit too much at the start before it hits a decent groove. The juxtaposition of extreme violence with broad slapstick creates a dissonant mixed marriage along the lines of a smash-up of the Punisher film with Thomas Jane and a Tarantino knock-off without whatever degree of street cred either of those might have.

(Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) —tts (Rated R.) BROTHERS — (Grade: B-) Jim Sheridan reworks Danish director Susanne Bier’s Brodre in this timely story of a U.S. Marine captain (Tobey Maguire) who, once thought killed in Afghanistan, returns home to discover his black-sheep brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) has grown close to his wife (Natalie Portman) and two daughters. Sheridan, an Irish filmmaker who made his name with a series of films starring Daniel Day-Lewis (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, The Boxer), gets dedicated, affecting performances from his cast — though Maguire’s transformation from all-American family guy to disturbed, postdeployment soldier borders on artifice. But Brothers’ frequent narrative shifts from Afghanistan to the U.S. home-front come off less convincing, yielding a well-meaning but tonally disjointed look at the emotional and psychological toll of war on the battlefield and off. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — Jason Gargano (Rated R.) A CHRISTMAS CAROL — (Grade: C+) Robert Zemeckis, the writing-directing wizard who has thrilled and captivated audiences with rousing adventures like the Back to the Future trilogy and then shifted gears dramatically with Forrest Gump and Cast Away, has been bewitched by the siren call of motion-capture technology. His remake of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol follows on the heels of The Polar Express and Beowulf and strives to bring real human threedimensional aspects to the characters, ideally to move us beyond videogamestyled computer generated images. But Zemeckis and his crew have struggled to fully render soulful eyes complete with an intangible sense of movement behind the reflective surfaces. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG.) CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS — (Grade: B-) Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, adapted from the children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett, feels like the kind of meal the whole family can enjoy without too much consideration for the high junk factor because it goes down quick and easy. Inventor Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) has always wanted to create something memorable and important, but every one of his crazy ideas has gone awry, usually with catastrophic consequences for his small town. Family issues, a cute love interest and the hopes of a sinking community bubble up in this stewy concoction, but with dependable voice work from Hader, James

Caan, Anna Faris, Mr. T and Bruce Campbell, to name a few, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs tastes like a less filling version of the Pixar confectionary delights of the last few years. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG.)

magical creatures that have all the charisma, and sadly, The Princess and the Frog, while full of magic and mild mayhem, lacks that full-bodied focal point.

(AMC, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — tts (Rated G.)

COUPLES RETREAT — (Grade: D) — If ever there was need for an example of the whole not adding up to the sum of its parts, then let Couples Retreat hereby stand as Exhibit A. How can you get a sub-par movie if you take the comic motor-mouth that is Vince Vaughn, pair him with his swinging buddy Jon Favreau — both in front and behind the camera as co-writers — add Jason Bateman to the mix and drop them in a tropical paradise? Leave them to their own devices without any sense of direction, that’s how. The movie assembles four couples in relationships in various stages of duress and quickly trots them off to an island where all of their problems will be solved — but not before they go out of their ways to make things much worse for both themselves and the audience. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG-13.)

SHERLOCK HOLMES — (Grade: B-) Bromance is alive and well in Guy Ritchie’s rather popular adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective Sherlock Holmes. This is a big, slick studio production with its mind on franchise potential, and Ritchie (Snatch) remains one of the few headbanging hipsters in the Quentin Tarantino mold still skulking around the dark alleys of pulpy neo-noirville. And, yes, Robert Downey, Jr. trades quips and quibbles with an astute and reliable Jude Law, so there are levels of intrigue beyond the shiny surface. Lest we forget, though, Holmes and Watson could be considered a pair of bromantic forefathers. Granted, in the past the highoctane violence might not have been a staple of the genre, but these two were as close as close could be. (AMC, Esquire Theatre, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG-13.)

FANTASTIC MR. FOX — (Grade: B+) Wes Anderson is famous for his H quirky sense of absurdist humor. Although he might argue against it, Anderson seems to have finally found his forte — in animation, vis-à-vis Roald

Dahl’s 1970 children’s book Fantastic Mr. Fox. Anderson, who co-wrote the script with fellow filmmaker Noah Baumbach, creates a magical stop-motion animation world inhabited by a family of foxes, various other woodland creatures and a group of human farmers who don’t take kindly to having their livestock and cider carried off by animals. George Clooney applies his signature leathery voice to Mr. Fox, a snappily dressed family guy whose animal nature wars with his interest in his family’s safety as they keep house in their peaceful foxhole. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — Cole Smithey (Rated R.)

INVICTUS — (Grade: B+) A natural lack of nonsense is what Morgan H Freeman and Clint Eastwood bring to Invictus, which could mistakenly be considered the story of Nelson Mandela’s first days as president of South

Africa. It’s not that story at all. In typical Eastwood fashion, he has produced and directed something more basic and elemental than that because Invictus is nothing more than a bare recounting of a country and its first inspired steps towards unification. The formerly long-imprisoned Mandela (Freeman) assumes control through democratic election and dedicates himself to refashioning the country as the best reflection of what the country should always have been. And sports — in this case rugby — proves to be the most finely tuned instrument at his disposal. (AMC, Esquire Theatre, Multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG-13.)

IT’S COMPLICATED — (Grade: B) One could spend much time on the H shortcomings of It’s Complicated, writer/director Nancy Meyers’ latest romantic comedy about the love lives of the middle-aged and wealthy: its tone

is out of synch with our recessionary times, its soundtrack seems lifted from a dentist’s office, Meryl Streep gives a flighty performance that often feels light and slight and the young actors playing her kids appear to have been sedated.

But forget all that: It’s Complicated has Alec Baldwin in full flower, hilariously rascally and poignantly tender, as Streep’s lawyerly ex-husband who starts a new affair with her when he becomes weary of his much-younger new wife’s demands upon him. The film’s point is that love and divorce are complicated.

But there’s nothing complicated about why this movie is worth seeing: It’s Alec Baldwin. (AMC, Mariemont Theatre, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — Steven Rosen (Rated PG-13.)

NINE — (Grade: B) Academy Award-winning director Rob Marshall H (Chicago) presents his version of the Tony Award-winning adaptation of Federico Fellini’s 1963 film 8 1/2 about a film director suffering from an

artistic block stemming from the multiple and conflicting female muses in his life. Marshall’s director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) certainly has his share of problems ranging from his suffering wife Luisa (Marion Cotillard) to the ravishing Carla (Penelope Cruz), Guido’s mistress eager to take on a more prominent and public role in his life. Among the multiple levels of viewing taking place in the proceedings, for Guido and Marshall, is how to frame or “stage” the musical elements, and it is here that Marshall makes the most wise and assured choices. Yet he also unfortunately continues to succumb to the influences of the cut-and-paste aesthetic of music videos. (AMC, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG-13.)

NINJA ASSASSIN — (Grade: D) Producers Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers prop up the latest offering from Matrix second-unit director James McTeigue (V For Vendetta) in this tale of a young orphan (Rain) trained in a physically and psychologically brutal manner and then betrayed by a secret society of assassins seems like another empty search for the next big boxoffice hit. Assassins has none of the literary underpinnings of Alan Moore’s Vendetta, which sets it up to be little more than a martial-arts genre exercise, but there’s still the potential for much fun to be had. Unfortunately, the movie lacks the guts to be a true B-movie classic. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — tts (Rated R.) OLD DOGS — (Grade: F) John Travolta and Robin Williams play best friends and business partners in a sports marketing firm who, as crazy plotting would have it, find themselves in charge of a pair of 7-year-old twins for a couple of weeks. Everything and everyone other than Travolta and Williams waste screen time walking through this obvious minefield of mishaps and mangled comic mayhem, but I have to acknowledge that I have never seen two actors work so hard for a laugh in my life. Too bad that the effort is so embarrassing, although it is worth noting that even an old dog would have known to stay away from this piece of crap. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG-13.)

PLANET 51 — (Grade: C+) Many of the comparisons that will be made about this animated tale will focus primarily on the space-age science-fiction variety because it is packed to the gills with references to everything from The Day the Earth Stood Still, Aliens, Wall-E, Star Wars and ET. But at its rather sweet core, Planet 51, despite all of the who’s-an-alien jokes being bandied about, the most appropriate and loving homage in the movie is towards the Back to the Future series. The human space captain (voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) might be from another world, but he’s really dragging these little green men and women into a brave new future. It’s just too bad we’ve already been there and done that (with more style). (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG.) H THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG — (Grade: B) Disney seeks to right a social wrong by adding an African-American princess to its hallowed galley of snow white maidens. Anika Noni Rose gives voice to Tiana, a New Orleans girl with dreams of opening her own restaurant in the Big Easy, but like most of the female heroines in the line, she’s not really the center of attention, nor for that matter is her charming cad Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) despite his best efforts to dance and sing his way into our hearts. Usually it’s the villains or the

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON — (Grade: C) I’ve never read any of the Twilight novels. That fact didn’t matter much when experiencing the first Twilight movie — like the rest of the book series’ hardcore devotees, I got swept up in the love story of an emotionally fragile teenage girl, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), and a moody, uncommonly restrained vampire, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). The unexpected box-office success of Catherine Hardwicke’s first installment led to the quick green light of the second of Stephanie Meyer’s source novels, New Moon. Ironically, the latest movie flips the formula of the first: Its elaborate special effects, seamlessly guided by new director Chris Weitz, trump its inert, often incoherent story, a fact that likely won’t matter much to the lovelorn teenager girls who will geek out on every cheesy “I can’t live without you” line and swoon over the sight of the film’s various hunky, bare-chested dudes. (AMC, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — JG (Rated PG-13.)

2012 — (Grade: F) Roland Emmerich, the doomsayer to end all doomsayers, gives us the end of the world, using the Mayan calendar as his compass.

But somehow John Cusack outruns, out-drives and out-flies the cracks and crevices seeking to swallow him up, and I couldn’t for the life of me escape the sense that this horrific disaster of a film might actually keep going on forever. The effects lose all sense of speciality and finesse because Emmerich uses them as blunt instruments to batter our sensibilities. He wants to destroy things in ways that we haven’t seen before, but I think he’s forgotten that during his illustrious career (Independence Day, Godzilla) he’s already depleted his CGI landmark toolbox. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — tts (Rated PG-13.)

UP IN THE AIR — (Grade: A-) Even when the narrative loses it’s footing H in the third act, Up in the Air remains charming in a way that far too few contemporary films manage to be. “Charming” certainly isn’t a way to describe the professional life of Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), who makes his living as a hired-gun deliverer of bad news to companies’ laid-off employees.

He also spends most of his days traveling from city to city, and that life-onthe-go seems to suit Ryan just fine — so fine, in fact, that he’s rocked by his employer’s new go-getter hire, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick. In attempt to show Natalie how it’s really done, Ryan takes her on the road with him, at the same time that he happens to be firing up a long-distance fling with another frequent flyer (Vera Farmiga). The performances are so strong and the sociopolitical context so hard to ignore that Reitman’s direction is likely to lurk in the background of most discussion about the movie. But his work is terrific here, and not just with his actors. — Scott Renshaw (AMC, multiple Showcase Cinemas.)

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE — (Grade: B) To say that Spike Jonze’s H adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are sometimes plays like a wrenchingly melancholy, Bergman-esque domestic drama with

furry creatures isn’t much help to people who want to know if children will like it. The answer to that is, “Got me.” It’s not much like current children’s movies. There are no cutesy, funny pop-culture references a la Shrek, and it’s not about delivering an uplifting life lesson on the order of Up!. It’s also basically not an animated film — the creatures are actors in vividly expressive Jim Henson Creature Shop-designed costumes, though the facial movements are computer-generated. All I can say is that it’s a very interesting movie for adults in the way it uses childhood fantasy to explore issues of loneliness, sadness, alienation and forgiveness. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — Steven Rosen (Rated PG-13.)

YOUTH IN REVOLT — (Grade: B.) Director Miguel Arteta adapts C.D. H Payne’s 1993 novel to predictably comic, if not full-blown, outrageous effect. Michael Cera is well cast as the lust-driven Nick Twisp, who hopes for

an end to his virginity when he runs into the similarly nerdy but super-cute Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday). Some ill-conceived advice from Sheeni — become a bad boy — prompts Nick to create a dual identity in order to win over Sheeni. Thanks to a pencil-thin mustache and Euro-chic clothes, Nick reinvents himself as François, an alter ego with a penchant for various criminal shenanigans involving cars, drugs and fire. Over the course of just a few films, Cera has established himself as one of the most enjoyable young comics of his generation. (AMC, multiple Showcase Cinemas.) — CS (Rated R.)

THE YOUNG VICTORIA — (Grade: B) The secret to any period romance H drama lies in making it seem effortless. Without emitting so much as a sigh, Emily Blunt owns the role of Britain’s young Queen Victoria. Looking

suspiciously like Orlando Bloom’s evil (and more compelling) twin, Rupert Friend eventually hits his stride in the supporting part as Prince Albert, the love of Victoria’s life. Director Jean-Marc Vallee renders screenwriter Julian Fellowes’ meticulous script with an open approach reflected by the film’s framing (courtesy of Hagen Bogdanski) and vibrant dramatic tone. Young Victoria is a well-crafted period romance made personal by Blunt’s disarming performance.

(AMC, Mariemont Theatre.) — CS (Rated PG.)

ZOMBIELAND — (Grade: B) Perhaps conceived to ride the coattails H of Twilight, True Blood and other current living dead offerings (not to mention decades of George A. Romero’s genre-defining entries), this juicy

piece of pop culture pleasure features the unlikely duo of Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson as humans with differing philosophies about how to eradicate zombies from their seemingly human-free United States of America.

Along the way they meet up with a pair of sisters (played by a gothed-out Emma Stone and a rapidly maturing Abigail Breslin), a well-known Hollywood star in meta-cameo mode and, of course, piles of stupid (though relatively fast-moving) zombies. Ruben Fleischer’s directorial debut is a nice entry into the genre: crafty, well cast, funny and even oddly touching at times. (Multiple Danbarry Cinemas.) — JG (Rated R.)

4EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: FROM PAGE 39

render the heart asunder, and that is what he wants us to feel.

The expected centerpiece of the affair, the performance of Cruz, never asserts a domineering effect. She is the star of both her husband and Caine/Blanco’s world as she is for Almodovar, but once we settle into the unfolding drama we realize it isn’t about her. In this case, the object of beauty is not the focus.

We are drawn more to the men gazing at that beauty and what they are willing to do to obtain and manipulate it. The prize recedes, as it should, but thanks to the presence of Cruz, it certainly cannot be completely forgotten.

There is a mythic quality to the grand emo-

4 theater

directory

AMC NEWPORT ON THE LEVEE 20 — One Levee Way, Newport, 859-261-8100 DANBARRY Cinemas CINCINNATI MILLS — 601 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Forest Park, 513-671-0537 DANBARRY CINEMAS TURFWAY — 7650 Turfway Road, Erlanger, 859-647-2828 DANBARRY CINEMAS EASTGATE — 4450 Eastgate Blvd., Summerside, 513-947-8111 DANBARRY Cinemas WESTERN HILLS —5190 Glencrossing Way, Western Hills, 513-451-2300 ESQUIRE THEATRE — 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-8750 FATH AUDITORIUM, CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM — 953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park, 513-639-2195 GREAT ESCAPE 14 — I-275 Exit 77, Wilder, 859-442-0000 MAINSTREET CINEMA — Tangeman University Center Level 2, 2766 UC Main St., Clifton, 513-556-3456 MARIEMONT THEATRE — 6906 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, 513-272-2002

tion and exquisite parallels in identity and character that unfold here. Yet Almodovar’s story, at its root, matches that of James Cameron’s Avatar and thus should suffer the same slings and arrows. The dialogue might be a step above the gung-ho juvenalia of Cameron’s action heroics, but the basic structure is familiar, especially to anyone who has spent any time camped out on the couch during the daytime soaps.

The world of Broken Embraces turns on the same cliches of powerful men taking advantage of women on the verge and their offspring rising up to repeat the same sad and sordid histories. It is a tale as old as time, but it remains unbroken in its hold on our imaginations. Grade: B

go to citybeat.com for film times MUSEUM CENTER OMNIMAX — Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., West End, 513-287-7000 RAVE WEST CHESTER 18 — 9415 Civic Center Blvd., West Chester, 513-463-2316 Showcase Cinemas FLORENCE — 7685 Mall Road, Florence, 513-699-1500 Showcase Cinemas KENWOOD — 7875 Montgomery Road, Kenwood, 513-699-1500 SHOWCASE CINEMAS KINGS ISLAND — 5937 Kings Island Drive, Mason, 513-699-1500 SHOWCASE CINEMAS MILFORD — 500 River’s Edge Drive, Milford, 513-699-1500 Showcase Cinemas SPRINGDALE 18 — 12064 Springfield Pike, Springdale, 513-671-6917 SHOWCASE CINEMAS CINCINNATI MILLS — 760 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Forest Park, 513-699-1500 SHOWCASE CINEMAS WESTERN HILLS — 5870 Harrison Ave., Green Twp., 513-699-1500

YOu & A guEST ARE INVITEd TO ATTENd AN AdVANCE SCREENINg Thursday, January 21 at 7:30pm AMC Newport on the Levee Register for your chance to receive a complimentary pass at Must be 17 or older to enter. For complete details, visit www.citybeat.com and click on FREE STuFF

NEW POLICY FOR PASSES: Valid identification must be provided in order to redeem a pass.

Limit 1 (admit 2) pass per person, per 30-day period. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Employees of promotional partners are not eligible. Twenty-five winners will be chosen at random. Ad presentation does not guarantee a ticket. Seating is not guaranteed.

This film is Rated R for strong bloody violence and language.

IN TheATers JANUArY 22 YOu & A guEST ARE INVITEd TO ATTENd AN AdVANCE SCREENINg Thursday, January 14 at 7:30pm AMC Newport on the Levee Register for your chance to receive a complimentary pass at Must be 17 or older to enter. For complete details, visit www.citybeat.com and click on FREE STuFF

NEW POLICY FOR PASSES: Valid identification must be provided in order to redeem a pass.

Limit 1 (admit 2) pass per person, per 30-day period. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Employees of promotional partners are not eligible. Twenty-five winners will be chosen at random. Ad presentation does not guarantee a ticket. Seating is not guaranteed.

This film is Rated R for some brutal violence and language.

IN TheATers JANUArY 15

january 13-19, 2010

41

Classifieds Acting/Auditions

4 real estate, rentals & roommates

***FREE FORECLOSURE LISTINGS*** Over 400,000 properties nationwide. LOW Down Payment. Call NOW! 1-800-8175290 (AAN CAN)

Rentals 5 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN 1, 2 & 3 BR in spacious, restored Victorians. 1-2 BA’s, dining room, office, laundry room, porch, carpet/hdwd, all new equip kitchens. All new wiring, plumbing & hvac. Off street pkng. Must see. $400-$850/mo. 513-471-1530 or www.244-RENT.COM CLIFTON 1BR Available Now. Across from U.C. $475/month.

Water Paid. 513-732-2432 or 513-535-2154

LOOK

HERE

1 Bedroom near Mt. Adams. $475.

Heat paid, parking, laundry on site. No lease month to month.

10% OFF First Months Rent!

Call 513-652-5454

studios $300

Clean, Quiet, Affordable Close to uC, Clifton, CorryVille Only 2 miles away email: brookwood@fuse.net

513.481.1900

CLIFTON 3BR, 2BA. Updated 2 fam Near UC. New A/C, heat, windows. Families & pets welcome. $850/mo. Immediate occupancy.

513-732-2432, 513-535-2154

COVINGTON MainStrasse. 1BR apt on 2nd floor plus unfinished attic.

Large rooms. Super clean. W/D included. No dogs. $520/mo + $420 dep. 859-431-6564

CLIFTON/UPTOWN APTS & HOUSES 1 & 2 rooms. $350$425. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 BR houses & apts. UC/CLIFTON/UPTOWN, Evanston, S. Fairmount, Camp Washington, Walnut Hills, Price Hill & Cumminsville. PETS OK. 859341-6050, 513-251-6050

DOWNTOWN Central Business District. Large 1BR Apt. Equipt kitch, heat incl. 1 block to library. $500/mo + Deposit. References.

513-628-1348

COVINGTON Move home for the Holidays. Beautiful, affordable river view apartments. Secure building. Heat/Water paid. 1BR: $450/mo. 2BR, 2BA: $925/mo.

(859) 291-1414 COVINGTON Lrg 2BR, 2 Full BA. Spectacular Riverfront View. Luxury Apt w/Patio. Pool. Heat/Water Paid. Lndry. Quiet, secure bldg. $950. Also, ask about our 1BR Penthouse Apt. Spiral staircase, fireplace. $750. 859-291-1414

Adoption

INTERNATIONAL BARBER STYLIST

COLUMBIA TUSCULUM/EAST END Newly Remodeled Home $70,000 Owners Retiring — Need to Sell!

803 Elm St., 45202.

Mention ad for $9.99 haircut on 1st visit. All hair types & razor lines. ∫ Full Service. )

MONTGOMERY Perfectly priced and spacious 2bed/1.5 bath.

Wooded view, full W/D connection. $845. 513-489-4434.

Land for Sale

Computer Bytes

BRUNER LAND CO, INC BRACKEN COUNTY, KY. 46 miles from I-275W, Exit 77! 26+ acres, creek, woods & open. $57,900. 740459-9031 www.brunerland.com

GET DISH with FREE Installation – $19.99/mo HBO & Showtime FREE - Over 50 HD Channels FREE Lowest Prices – No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full Details 1-877-482-6735 (AAN CAN)

MOUNT ADAMS: 1BR on estate. $475/mo. 10% OFF 1st month’s rent! Heat paid, no lease. Month to month. Laundry on site. Call 513-652-5454

E WALNUT HILLS/HYDE PARK Lrg 4 rm, 1BR in Victorian 3 fam. Big rms w/lots of closet space. Claw foot tub. Less than 10 min to HP Square/Downtown. Free washer/ dryer. Quiet tree lined st. $495/ mo. 513-661-8700

SHORT TERM LEASE option in Montgomery! 3+ months. Furniture available. 513-489-4434.

NEWPORT Lovely! Large, newly carpeted, unfurnished 4 room apt.

Furnished 3 room apt. AND a 1 room efficiency. 859-491-5582

WALNUT HILLS Charming, 1,000sf 2BR. French doors, new tile BA, lrg Kitch, D/W, porch, deck, yard, A/C, lndry, security. $825+utils. 513-675-7237

Roommates

Wellness BEST BRAZILIAN BIKINI WAX Alesia was voted “Best of Cincinnati 2009” by CityBeat!

Over 20 years experience! www. cincyspa.com. Please call for your appointment 513-321-8252.

HYPNOTIC SOLUTIONS Feeling stressed, Overwhelmed, Still Smoking? In Pain?... It’s time to do something different.

Hypnosis works! Member Better Business Bureau. 513-772-9400. hypnoticsolutionsohio.com PENIS ENLARGEMENT. FDA Medical Vacuum Pumps. Gain 1-3 inches permanently. Testosterone, Viagra, Cialis. Free Brochures.

619-294-7777 http://www. drjoelkaplan.com (discounts available) (AAN CAN) nently. Testosterone, Viagra, Cialis.

Free Brochures. 619-294-7777 http://www.drjoelkaplan.com (discounts available) (AAN CAN)

513-421-6666

Rehearsal Spaces

& C

INC

BAND ROOMS AVAILABLE

Rehearsal rooms available in bldg. with security system.

Call 513-421-0488

Studios SMALLWOOD STUDIO A studio created for musicians. Located in a relaxed, country setting.

Starting at $25/hr. 24-Track Recording: Acoustic musicians to full bands. Full CD duplication service. Visit us on the web: www. handlebarproductions.com. Jaw with us: 937-289-1320. Text us through email: malkum@ handlebarproductions.com

Instruction

january 13-19, 2010

Drug Problem?

42

GET DISH -FREE Installation–$19.99/mo. HBO & Showtime FREE-Over 50 HD Channels FREE Lowest Prices–No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full Details- 1-877-238-8413 (AAN CAN)

Want to Buy/Trade

BUILD YOUR OWN Handmade acoustic guitar using exotic woods of your choice. Sign up now for winter classes. 513-574-1997 www.haleyroseguitars.com GUITAR LESSONS Nicholas Tuttle Guitar Studio in Mt. Adams. All levels. Latin & Classical training available. 513-929-4462. www. nicktuttle.com

Equipment For Sale 7PC DB TAMA ROCKSTAR KIT Cage, 24” bass drums, 12 & 13” suspended toms, 16 & 18” flr toms, 14” snare. 10 Zildjian/ Sabian cymbals. $2000 513843-7231

Musicians Seeking Musicians SWEET SASSY vocalist wanted for 20s style band. We play the songs your grandmother danced to in the Jazz Age. Be our Songbird! barrington42@fuse.net OPEN JAM Friday Nights. Froggy Blues & Marvs Music Co. seek local talent. Jan 22, Feb 5 & 19.

105 American Way Monroe, OH 45050. 513-539-7150

DRUM SET/PERCUSSION Versatile, CCM graduate w/ Master’s in percussion avail for lessons. Plays regularly w/top musicians. cincydrumlessons@ gmail.com

Call Narcotics Anonymous (513) 820-2947

Business Opportunities ALREADY EMPLOYED? Still need an extra $500-$2000 per month?

Learn to operate a Mini-Office Outlet from home. FREE online training, flexible hours, great income. www.step123URfree.com BE YOUR OWN BOSS! Vast opportunities to own your own business. Franchising. www. rmcfranchiseconnect.com - Email info@rmcfranchiseconnect.com LOTTERY CLUB Free booklets.

1-877-526-6957 - #A7096 MOVIE EXTRAS NEEDED. Earn $150 to $300 Per Day. All Looks, Types and Ages. Feature Films, Television, Commercials, and Print.

No Experience Necessary. 1-800340-8404 x2001 (AAN CAN)

Attorney/Legal DISSOLVE YOUR MARRIAGE Dissolution: An amicable end to marriage. Easier on your heart.

Easier on your wallet. Starting at $500 + court costs. 12 Hour Turnaround. Bertha Helmick, Esq 651-9666 UNCOLLECTED Court Awarded Judgement? CASH NOW!!! Call: 1-888-921-2127 (AAN CAN)

4 employment Employment Opportunities

2-3 BDRM * 1.5 BATH Furniture/Appliances Included!

CALL FOR DETAILS: 513-885-8424

Stuff for Sale

ALL AREAS - ROOMMATES. COM. Browse hundreds of online listings with photos and maps.

Find your roommate with a click of the mouse! Visit: http://www.

Roommates.com. (AAN CAN)

4 musicians exchange

LEAR

PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions 866-413-6293 (AAN CAN)

WAREHOUSE LOFT APTS Available from Middle Earth Developers in Cincinnati & Newport, KY. Unique spaces from $795/mo. medevelopers.com 513.621.0808

DOWNTOWN OTR Awesome spaces for big city kids with Cheap-Ass Cincinnati prices!

400-2700 sf. $325-2600/mo.

Fabulous apartments, lofts & townhouses. Large open spaces. www.urbansites.net - Kris: 513621-6246, kris@urbansites.net - Condos available by contacting: gatewayquarter.com

4 wellness

FREE ADVICE! We’ll Help You Choose A Program Or Degree To Get Your Career & Your Life On Track. Call Collegebound Network Today!

1-877-892-2642 (AAN CAN)

MONTGOMERY Huge 3 bed/3.5 bath w/ finished lower level town home in prestigious Sycamore Schools. Eat-in kitchen, WBFP, master suite w/attached full bath. $1785/mo. 513-489-4434

LO U D

Real Estate

Career Guidance

HEARTLAND (HPY) hiring a sales rep to call on local restaurants.

Payroll & merchant services.

Protected territory. 227-9521, alex.grant@e-hps.com

$$$HELP WANTED$$$ Extra Income! Assembling CD cases from Home! No Experience Necessary! Call our Live Operators Now! 1-800-405-7619 EXT 2450 http://www.easywork-greatpay.com (AAN CAN) PETITION CIRCULATORS Earn $15-$30/hr+ No Exp Nec! Fun & Easy! Make Your Own Hours! PT/ FT/Anytime! No Sales/Phones!

PAID 2X/WEEK! 513-334-4494

UNDERCOVER SHOPPERS Get paid to shop. Retail & Dining establishments. Need undercover clients to judge quality & customer service. No experience required.

Please call 888-720-1127

DIAMONDS, GOLD & WATCHES: Top dollar paid. SELL GOLD WHILE PRICES ARE HIGH. Near Tri-County.

We also sell many antique items.

Call 513-884-3001. 137 E. Kemper Rd. JUNK CARS WANTED. Clunkers, Junkers, Motorcycles, Wrecked Unwanted Vehicles, Cars Needing Repair. Fast service. $100 - $150 or more CASH paid! Also BUYING SILVER COINS at 12 times face value! Barry 513-257-8373.

Home Cleaning $90 WHOLE HOUSE Cleaning Special. Limited Time. TRI STATE PROFESSIONAL CLEANING LLC. Bathroom, kitchen, house vacuuming and dusting.

513-487-8404

Miscellaneous GET DISH -FREE Installation–$19.99/mo. HBO & Showtime FREE-Over 50 HD Channels FREE Lowest Prices–No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full Details: 877-242-0974 (AAN CAN) HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Fast, Affordable & Accredited. FREE Brochure. Call NOW! 1-800532-6546 Ext. 97 http://www. continentalacademy.com (AAN CAN)

Announcements GAIN NATIONAL EXPOSURE. Reach over 5 million young, active, educated readers for only $995 by advertising in 110 weekly newspapers like this one. Call Jason at 202-289-8484.

(AAN CAN)

4 adult $1,700/WEEK HIRING NOW! No Experience Necessary. Female only! +benefits/bonus. Professional outcall service wants you. Requirements: Car, dependable, attractive (9’s/10’s).

Start tomorrow-cash daily! Freecall: 1-888-951-1555 (24hrs). - Adult Entertainment 100s of SEXY LATINO SINGLES are waiting to chat with you.

Only the Sexiest Latinos call Axxess NOW! It’s FREE to try!

513-773-0000 330-593-0000

ALL KINDS OF SINGLES Browse & Respond FREE! 513-821-5050 Straight. 513-821-4500 Gay & Bi. Use Free Code 7563. Visit MegaMates. com, 18+ ALL MALE HOT GAY HOOKUPS! Call 513-587-6004 or 800-777-8000 FREE w/code 6696 InteractiveMale.com CALL CANDY For hot body rub. Come on in and take the chill off. 513235-2630

DOMINANT SHEMALE ENJOYS INDIANA Curvy, aggressive shemale model. Body rubs. 513-545-2644.

ECSTATIC REIKI/TANTRA M for M Gay/ Bi male ADULT oriented FULL BODY WORK. Discretion Paramount. Home Studio 513-509-9385 Kevin. Photos available on backpage.com. Explore your desires! - Adult Entertainment and/ or Body Rubs FUN FLIRTY CHAT! Try Free! Use Code 5230 513-587-6012 or call 800-210-1010 www.LiveLinks.com

ATTENTION ADULT ADVERTISERS!

LAVALIFE VOICE Talk to 1000s of singles in Cincinnati!

Free to browse and listen to profiles.

CALL NOW! 513.322.2386 Must be 18+.

OUTCALL PUSSYCAT BABES! High Class Professional exotic ladies, 2U in 60 minutes. Full fantasy body rubs.

Young, Clean & Fit, Blondes, Brunettes.

Freecall 1-888-951-1555 www.relax2u. com Hiring!

RELAXING BODY RUB 10am-8pm 7 days a week. No blocked calls or text messages. Telephone 513-478-0278 by appointment.

SNOW BUNNY Secret touch. Come in and unwrap your surprise gift and indulge in a full body rub of your dreams. Call 859-409-1080.

SUPER HOT Stunning, blonde shemale offers exotic body rubs. Double sessions available. Call Randi 513479-8099.

Drop It Like Its Hot Entertainment Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties Private Shows 24/7 ~ Prompt Service Male on Male Shows Always Hiring

859*409*7729

*All adult line ads must contain the exact phrase “Body Rubs” and/or “Adult Entertainment.” Illegal services may not be offered in any ad.

Cincinnati 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 MONDAY AT 5:00 P.M. 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.

www.CITYBEAT.com

january 13-19, 2010

43

4 backbeat

Roses From Thorn

ATTENTION: SMOKERS WITH ASTHMA

WANTED: CLUNKERS, JUNKERS, MOTORCYCLES. BUYING SILVER COINS.

Paid research study on emotions & health ($30) 2 hr study visit for questionnaires & interview Confidential U of Cincinnati study. Call: 556-5127

DISSOLVE YOUR MARRIAGE

Dissolution: An amicable end to marriage. Easier on your heart. Easier on your wallet. Starting at $500+court costs.

12-Hr Turnaround. Bertha Helmick, Esq 651-9666

IMAGES HAIR DESIGN BY JESSICA

BODY JEWEL TATTOO & PIERCING

Located in 2 malls close to you

Tri-County Mall

Lower Level in Macys Wing

513-671-4925 Dayton Mall Food Court Area

january 13-19, 2010

937-567-7971

44

Steve’s Recording & Audio (513) 368-7770 (513) 729-2786 www.myspace.com/srastudios sfstevemusic@aol.com

The BEST seats @ the BEST price

Premium Tickets, 317 W. 4th, Downtown. 513-241-3301 “Don’t you know there’s a war on?”

1199 W Galbraith Rd. • Cincinnati, OH 45231 Funerals, Weddings, Exotic Plants & Tropical Arrangements “Multi-Award winner of the Cincinnati Flowers Show” Specializing in Weddings, Events, Funeral & High-Style with 15 years of designing experience

Pinnokios Hair Studio

1st Corth 14:27 - If anyone speaks in a tongue let there be two or a least three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

Katrina Labayo Omoyosi

TRY THIS STUDIO FOR $25

www.premiumtickets.net PHANTASY EMPORIUM

$10 off first appt. • 3322 Erie Ave. • Hyde Park Women Cut $35 • Men Cut $23 • Color starts at $40

By Appt. Only • Wed. & Thurs.• 513-348-3941

PLAY ON WORDS

$100 - $150 or more CASH PAID for Junk Cars. Beautify the Earth! 513-257-8373

Valentines Day!

[pi-nö-kë-yos]

4179 Hamilton Ave., 45223 - 513.541.4668 Home of: Tina, Ashley, & Megan NEW Sunday & Monday Hours - 12 to 5 Bring this ad! $5 off salon services-Sun/Mon 12-5 Only 1 coupon per visit

Tracy Walker’s Morning Song Coffee

is a smooth medium roast that will make a great start to your day or treat anytime.

"I am excited about sharing my love of coffee with you.

I drink coffee because I love it. So do you. Enjoy" available at...

Coffee Emporium 110 E Central Pkwy • Over-the-Rhine Metronation 1213 Vine St • Gateway District Adaptique 712 Fairfield Ave • Bellevue, KY www.tracywalker.com

513.522.1719 • FlowersByThorn.com

15% OFF with ad expires 2/15/10