September 2025

September 2025

FALL ARTS ISSUE

Community Arts Centers ‘Mythic’ at The Playhouse

Classical concert picks

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Movers &Makers

September 2025

Publisher’s Letter 4

Arts & Culture 6

MoversMakers.org

Music adventures for the fall | By Thomas Consolo 6

‘Mythic’: Mt. Olympus to Mt. Adams | By Rick Pender 8

The A/C List 10

A&C news briefs 17

Cervilio Amador: Devoted to dance | By David Lyman 18

Focus on: Community Arts Centers 20

Fifteen neighborhood centers offer surprising range of creative programming to residents.

The Datebook 26

Social calendar shines a spotlight on the movers and makers behind Greater Cincinnati’s fundraisers, friend-raisers and community events.

Nonprofit News 35

Names in the News 36

Gifts & Grants 38

Snapshots 39

Gala-and-a-show supports Cincy Shakes at ‘Revel’ 39

Paddlefest launches 1,500 paddlers downriver 40

Mercantile Library names new poet laureate 41

Choral group raises voices to support Appalachians 42

Point/Arc’s Dyas Classic draws 120 golfers 42

Colonial Dames mark 50 years of lecture series 43

LLS golf outing brings in $120K and breaks record 44

Trip to 1819 Innovation Hub makes dream come true 44

SVDP happy hour right dose for Charitable Pharmacy 45

Longworth Anderson Series fetes Mavis Staples 46

Disability Pride honors ADA’s 35th anniversary 46

More than 350 attend first Public Library fundraiser 47

First Financial center opens with nonprofit donations 48

Junior Achievement golf betters par for education 48

Movers & Makers happy hour hits The Heights 49

The Last Word 50

Polly Campbell: On the road and looking for America

Choose as few as THREE SHOWS for Season Tickets.

Don’t miss the shows you want to see. Here’s a peek at what’s in store:

Mythic, a new pop-rock musical with Broadway ambitions; a playful new adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women; Mrs. Christie, a new mystery about the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie; August Wilson’s prize-winning masterpiece The Piano Lesson; intimate stories of connection in Where the Mountain Meets the Sea, The Heart Sellers, and Mary’s Wedding; the return of Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical.

Plus, season extras: Because You’re Mine, a celebration of country music love songs and the holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol

Cover photo: Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director Cervilio Miguel Amador (standing) with Cincinnati Ballet dancers Rafael Quenedit, Llonnis del Toro Cintra, Raquele Pizzillo, Simon Plant, Nikita Boris and Bella Ureta. Photo by Hiromi Platt Photography.

It’s

90 humid degrees as I write this, but we at Movers & Makers are looking deep into the fall to bring you this arts season kickoff issue for September. We are gathering input as we begin planning for topics and profile subjects in 2026. (Email us with your suggestions!) One respondent asked for less emphasis on the arts in our publication. We devote as much as 50% of our content to arts and culture because more than half of the hundreds of organizations appearing in M&M are involved in A&C. Take a look at our A/C List on Page 10. Also, arts and culture is arguably the defining characteristic of our region compared with other cities our size, and the arts serve to sustain and uplift us in ways that make life meaningful. While we work every month to maintain a balance of coverage between arts and non-arts topics, one thing M&M pledges not to do is reduce the amount of arts and culture in our publication – print or online.

Cincinnati Ballet begins a new chapter with Cervilio Amador stepping into his first full season as artistic director. We asked writer David Lyman to capture Amador’s remarkable journey – from his roots in Cuba to his career in Cincinnati and now to the helm of the Ballet. See Page 18. We officially welcome Rick Pender – longtime theater writer for CityBeat and longer time friend to us – to the M&M family. We asked Rick to

preview the new musical debuting later in September at Playhouse in the Park – “Mythic.” Learn more on Page 8. Thrilled to have Rick among our pages.

You may know Thomas Consolo from his regular Culture FIX contributions in our weekly email newsletter. (Are you a subscriber?) He’s also an excellent violinist, performing with the Kentucky Symphony. We asked Tom to share his most anticipated music events of the fall. Pull up your calendar app and go to Page 6.

But wait, there’s more! Check out regional arts centers and their offerings on Page 20. Are you taking advantage of these neighborhood gems?

Polly Campbell has been journeying and shares musings in her travelog on Page 50. Some of us try to avoid writing anything on vacation … not Polly, thankfully.

Welcome to autumn. Start your engines. See you next month.

Thom Mariner, co-publisher

For their work on this issue, our gratitude to:

• Casey Weldon, digital editor

• Phil Fisher and Ray Cooklis, copy editors

• All the nonprofits that contributed news and photos.

Arts coverage supported by:

Elizabeth & Thom Mariner, co-publishers

Digital edition & daily posts MoversMakers.org

Publishing schedule

Social media @moversmakerscincinnati Movers & Makers Magazine @moversmakers

Advertising & distribution

Thom Mariner, 513-543-0890 or tmariner@moversmakers.org

Creative & accounting

Elizabeth Mariner, emariner@moversmakers.org

News/calendar submissions editor@moversmakers.org

Free direct mail subscriptions and email newsletter sign up: moversmakers.org/subscribe

Find our draft 2026 schedule at:  moversmakers.org/publishing-schedule

© Copyright 2025 Movers & Makers Publishing We make every effort to verify information submitted for publication (print and online), but are not responsible for incorrect information or misidentified photos provided to us.

Readers are advised to confirm event dates and other important details and check for last-minute changes with the organizations or advertisers involved.

Publication of this magazine and its website (MoversMakers.org) does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of any information contained within, including advertisements and links.

Movers & Makers Publishing is an Ohio nonprofit operating under 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship.

Mix & Mingle

Roebling Event Center, The Banks Wednesday, Sept. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Casual opportunity to make new friends or business contacts. Mingle with nonprofit staff, supporters and fellow M&M readers. Light bites & drinks. Join

Co-publishers Thom Mariner and Elizabeth Mariner at a Cincinnati Bengals’ open practice in August

Arts & Culture

May we suggest … A classical music adventure this fall

The easiest way to convince a skeptic that Cincinnati punches well above its cultural weight is to pull out the Queen City’s music calendar.

From stage to salon, medieval to cutting edge, and up-and-comers to longtime favorites, we’ve got it covered, thanks to an array of performance organizations that makes larger cities bristle with envy.

Even with so much to choose from, some offerings qualify for “don’tmiss” status – including a handful of new beginnings and a mashup 200 years in the making. A few more deserve runner-up mention.

 Vocal Arts Ensemble

“Chapters of a New Era”

By Thomas Consolo

 Matinée Musicale

Manami Suzuki, piano

Matinée Musicale’s informal motto ought to be “We knew them when.” For more than a century, it’s been catching rising stars and sharing their skills with local audiences. This season’s lineup starts with the U.S. debut of Japanese pianist Manami Suzuki. Still just 23, Suzuki was the first Japanese pianist to win the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan, where she also took home the Audience Prize as a crowd favorite. Critics praise her warm, refined sound and attention to detail.

 Sept. 7, 3 p.m., Memorial Hall; matineemusicalecincinnati.org



Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

It’s another new beginning, as the city’s professional choral ensemble welcomes its fifth music director, Joe Miller, coincidentally a VAE alumnus. (Miller also is director of choral studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.) His debut program is divided into five segments, some putting old and new, and simple and complex into new perspectives, others about the music we call “ours.” In the table of contents are works of Francis Poulenc (“Exultate Deo”), Einojuhani Rautavaara (“Suite de Lorca”), Johannes Brahms (“Five Songs”), William Byrd and Roderick Williams (“Ave Verum Corpus” and “Ave Verum Revisited”), Eric Whitacre (“When David Heard”), plus a few songs you’ll know well. In other words, there’s something for everyone, which is kind of Miller’s point about music in general.

 Oct. 5, 3 p.m., Memorial Hall; vaecinci.com

 Kentucky Symphony Orchestra

“Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror”

Cristian Măcelaru, conductor; Hélène Grimaud, piano

File this one under both new beginnings and old friends. It’s Cristian Măcelaru’s first official appearance as the CSO’s 14th music director. On the docket are something old and something new – Ann Clyne’s “Abstractions” from 2016 and the suite from Richard Strauss’ lush “Der Rosenkavalier.” In between is something blue, George Gershwin’s Concerto in F. It’s one of Cristi’s – as we hear Măcelaru’s friends call him –favorite concertos (mine, too!). If it’s not one of your favorites yet, it will be soon, especially with world-renowned local favorite Hélène Grimaud at the keyboard. Bring along something borrowed to complete the perfect musical marriage.

 Oct. 3 and 4, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall; cincinnatisymphony.org

What better way to spend Halloween than watching a vampire movie – and with live accompaniment? The KSO thinks its 200-year-old mashup will be hard to beat.

“Nosferatu,” the 1922 silent vampire film, is a classic of German Weimar Republic cinema. (Yes, “A Symphony of Horror” is part of its name.) That its producer, director and star all were World War I combat veterans makes its expressionist aesthetic no surprise. The original orchestral accompaniment was lost, but composer Tim Brock, who specializes in silent film soundtracks, looked back another hundred years for a solution. He adapted music from Heinrich Marschner’s 1828 opera, “Der Vampyr,” to the film. Marschner, though little known today, was well known in the 19th century as a musical bridge between Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner.

 Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m., Greaves Concert Hall; kyso.org

VAE music director Joe Miller

Pianist Manami Suzuki

KSO music director JR Cassidy

Photo by b en k nabe

CSO music director Cristian Măcelaru

 Cincinnati Pops

“Illmatic” live

If one polled those of us feeling our oats in 1994 about the odds that rapper Nas would be performing his debut album live with a Midwestern symphony orchestra in 30 years, we’d have asked if you’d gotten hold of something … bad. Nas might have had the same reaction. That album, “Illmatic,” is regarded by many pundits – including the staff at Billboard – as the greatest hip-hop album ever, but its themes of gang rivalries, desolation and urban poverty aren’t exactly standard concert hall fare. (Verismo operas like “La Bohème” and “Cavalleria Rusticana” might beg to argue that, though.) Pops veteran Stuart Chafetz conducts.

Runners up

Linton Chamber Music / lintonmusic.org

Grand Music for Winds and Strings: Linton goes all local, with a lineup of CSO members and CCM faculty, including violinist Kristin Lee. Music by Dohnányi, Mozart and Spohr (no, no, the Nonet!).

 Oct. 5, 4 p.m., First Unitarian Church

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra / cincinnatisymphony.org

Two more programs worth consideration:

Barber and Shostakovich: There’s nothing like experiencing Shostakovich’s devastating Symphony No. 4 in person. Paired with Barber’s lyrical Violin Concerto, Op. 14.

 Oct. 24, 11 a.m., and Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

“The Bells” and “Symphonie fantastique”: Rachmaninoff’s choral take on Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem “The Bells” is undeservedly rarely performed. Berlioz’s “Symphony Fantastique” was a Louis Langrée calling card; hear what Matthias Pintscher does with it.

 Nov. 8 , 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 9, 2 p.m., Music Hall

Kentucky Symphony Orchestra / kyso.org

 Nov. 12 and 13, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall; cincinnatisymphony.org

 Chamber Music Cincinnati

Renaissance Quartet

Chamber Music Cincinnati has brought the world’s finest chamber music ensembles to Cincinnati for nearly a century. This season’s second program brings violinist Randall Goosby back to the Memorial Hall stage (he was a CMC headliner in 2024) – but this time he’s part of a string quartet comprising Juilliard young Turks, i.e., Goosby and his classmates. The program is a blend of old, new and rediscovered: Johannes Brahms’ Quartet No. 2, Florence Price’s Quartet No. 1 from 1929 and the Quartet No. 1, premiered in 2023, by the Renaissance’s cellist, Daniel Haas.

 Nov. 18 , 7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall; cincychamber.org



Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis”: A rare chance to hear this mountain of a piece live.

 Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m., Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains

But wait, there’s more!

Several organizations hadn't published their seasons by our print deadline. Keep an eye on presenters like the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and Xavier Music Series for more great programs. 

AN EVENING WITH MARTY STUART and his FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES

March 7

RHIANNON GIDDENS & THE OLD-TIME REVUE

May 8

THE MAGNETIC FIELDS - 69 Love Songs

25th Anniversary Tour

May 19 & 20

MAVIS STAPLES

July 22

TALK LOW MUSIC FESTIVAL and LAS PRESENT: clipping.,WHY? X concertnova,and Kelly Moran

September 28

PETER ROWAN with SAM GRISMAN PROJECT

October 18

Renaissance Quartet



Conductor Stuart Chafetz

‘Mythic’ brings Mount Olympus to Mount Adams U.S. premiere has Broadway ambitions

By Rick Pender

In2023, when the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park unveiled its new mainstage, Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre, it had an ambitious goal: To attract producers seeking to develop new works for Broadway.

The Playhouse’s 2005 staging of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” had followed that path with an established property that won a 2007 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. But it needed to be physically reconfigured from its staging on the Playhouse’s Marx Theatre, a thrust stage, to be produced at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre, which has a proscenium stage. Last fall’s “Rutka: A New Musical” had similar intentions.

Moe and Jack’s Place has changed the equation, noted Blake Robison, Playhouse producing artistic director. “Now that we have this beautiful facility, which is a proscenium with all the necessary things – a pit, wing space, the right size stage, a fly gallery – we are enjoying finding projects that have great commercial potential, but equally importantly, have something fun and resonant to say to our community here in Cincinnati. It’s got to be something that Cincinnati is going to love, first, and the best thing we can do for a future project is to give it a terrific production.”

of award-winning creative and acting talent. Kathleen Marshall, a nine-time Tony nominee, will direct and choreograph. She won Tonys for “Wonderful Town” (2004), “The Pajama Game” (2006) and “Anything Goes” (2011). In November, Marshall will be inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement in the American Theatre.

“Mythic” reimagines the ancient Greek story of Persephone, with gods as chart-topping pop stars, power-hungry politicians and attention-seeking influencers. The starstruck young goddess rebels against her mother Demeter’s expectations and decides to forge her own path. When she sneaks into a party at the Acropolis and meets brooding bad boy Hades, her life takes an unexpected turn into the Underworld.

On Sept. 20, the Playhouse will open “Mythic,” a new pop-rock musical comedy with Broadway in mind. It will be onstage through Oct. 19. Working with Broadway producer Shoshana Kovac Parets, Robison and his Cincinnati crew are partnering with a team

Earlier versions of the show were in London (2018) and Montreal (2019). (There is a cast recording of the London production on Spotify.) A plan for Broadway in the spring of 2020 was derailed by COVID-19. Producer Parets took it on and shepherded it through a 2023 workshop that came to the Playhouse’s attention. Now it’s on the brink of turning Mount Adams into a very hip Mount Olympus.

“Mythic” features a script and lyrics by Marcus Stevens with music and orchestrations by Oran Eldor. They met in a workshop for aspiring musical creators in 2008 and decided to work together.

Stevens confessed to a love of Greek mythology. “I was flipping through the Edith Hamilton book that everyone has read.” He was reminded of the myth of Demeter and Persephone.

“In the book it’s about a paragraph, a very short little snippet. It’s a creation myth about

why we have winter. But I was really struck with this idea that because Persephone was gone for six months out of the year, living her own life, her mother was so sad. That’s why we have winter. It felt very evocative.”

He explained, “I thought that was an interesting way to talk about parents and children and what happens when a child makes this shift and is no longer a child. From the child’s perspective, it’s a time when you realize that your parents are no longer gods – they’re people with flaws and you have to meet them at that level instead as the person who’s making all the rules for you, setting forth how to live your life.”

To tell this story, Stevens and Eldor conceived of a “fun way of getting to it.” They imagined characters from the myth “as if they were people now, and we sort of unlocked that,” Stevens said.

“What are the gods of our modern age? Pop stars, movie stars, celebrities, politicians – those are the gods now. We modeled songs on ideas of pop stars: Zeus is sort of an aging rocker like Billy Joel or Elton John. Demeter is a sort of Stevie Nicks and Carole King. Aphrodite is like Ariana Grande or Taylor Swift.”

Marshall had been approached to stage the London production, but her schedule was too crowded. She led the 2023 workshop. “I was

“Mythic” marketing illustration by Kenton Brett

 “Mythic” director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall

happy to jump on board because I love the material. I think Marcus and Oran are really tremendously talented.”

The show went through several more drafts, Marshall said.

“We’re really ready now. We’ve been trying to clarify the story and the characters. It’s about family, about parents and children – parents who are overprotective of their children, parents who are threatened by their children, children who want to get their parents’ approval, children who want to escape from underneath their parents’ control. It’s really a timeless story in that way, it just happens to be about Greek gods and goddesses. It has a terrific pop-rock score, really tuneful, really great groove and great rhythms, and very clever and heartfelt lyrics.”

Marshall has recruited what she calls a “Broadway A team” of creative talent with numerous Broadway credits: David Korins, who designed sets for “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen”; Kenneth Posner, who designed lights for “Wicked” and “Kinky Boots”; Linda Cho, whose costumes for “The Great Gatsby” won a 2024 Tony; and John Shivers, whose sound design for “Kinky Boots” was a 2013 Tony winner.

Robison said he’s excited to have this level of talent at the Playhouse, noting that the visuals will be stunning. Korins and Posner plan to bring laser technology to the stage.

“Neither of them have ever done that before,” Robison said. “They’re like kids in a candy store. These two Broadway vets who’ve

done it all, seen it all and they feel like this is something new that they haven’t explored artistically.”

Marshall is similarly enthusiastic. “I think it’s wonderful that the Playhouse is championing new work. It’s exciting for audiences to witness the birth of something new. They’ve done a wonderful job with finding the show and thinking that it’s something audiences at the Playhouse can really latch onto. It’s bold and wonderful of the Playhouse to do a brand new work that’s not based on a film with songs that people know. It’s original and exciting … and in that gorgeous new theater.”

Robison believes “Mythic” is a great fit for his 2025-2026 season.

“It’s very fun and contemporary. It’s truly family friendly. It’s something you should bring your teens and your pre-teens to. It bridges generations. Everybody still studies those Greek myths in high school, and this show treats them in a very fresh and irreverently funny way. The music is infectious in the way that all the best pop-rock shows that are getting produced on Broadway have a ‘hummability’ factor.

“At the end of the day it’s really about parents and kids. Persephone and Demeter – it’s a mother/daughter story, that generation watching young adults break away from their parents to become their own people. That’s universal, right? That’s a story that we can all relate to.” 

“Mythic” runs Sept. 20-Oct. 19 in the Rouse Theatre.  cincyplay.com

E X CELLENCE

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF CINCINNATI AWARDS GALA

October 23, 2025, 5:30-7:30 p.m. After-party to follow, 7:30-8:30 p.m. THE SUMMIT HOTEL

BBB Cincinnati in ethical achievement at the for Ethics and Spark Awards Gala a glass as we reveal this year's Torch and Spark winners live on stage—join us in honoring their achievements and the incredible impact they've made!

Come dressed in your finest formal evening wear—think sleek suits and stunning gowns. Walk the red carpet and embrace your moment in the spotlight! Prefer something more lowkey? Step into our 360° photo booth and capture the night your way. Tickets are $125 each and include access to networking, live awards show, one free drink ticket, hor d'oeuvres, dessert & co ee, and complimentary parking.

Don't miss your chance to network with the region's brightest and best.

sell out!

“Mythic” actors Michael Park (Zeus), Savy Jackson (Aphrodite) and Mamie Parris (Demeter)

10 10 The A/C List

Cultural Exhibits/Tours

American Legacy Tours | Over-the-Rhine. 859-951-8560. americanlegacytours.com

ƒ Historic tours

American Sign Museum | Camp Washington. 513-541-6366. americansignmuseum.org

ƒ Saturdays, noon & 2 p.m. & Sundays, 2 p.m. Guided museum tours

Archaeological Research Institute | Lawrenceburg. 812-290-2966. exploreari.org

ƒ Hands-on educational experiences

ArtWorks Mural Tours | artworkscincinnati.org

ƒ By appointment only. Walking tours of Pendleton, Over-the-Rhine and downtown

Behringer-Crawford Museum | Devou Park, Covington. 859-491-4003. bcmuseum.org

ƒ Thru 2025. “The Legacy of BehringerCrawford Museum: 75 Years of Art, Culture and Community”

Betts House | West End.513-651-0734. facebook.com/thebettshouse

ƒ By appointment only. Oldest home in Cincinnati

Brewing Heritage Trail Tour Center | Over-the-Rhine. 513-604-9812. brewingheritagetrail.org

ƒ Exploring Queen City beverage history

Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame | Brady Center, The Banks. cincyblackmusicwalkoffame.org

ƒ Open daily, 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Queen City contributions to Black music

Cincinnati Fire Museum | Downtown. 513-621-5553. cincyfiremuseum.com

ƒ Permanent collection. Historic artifacts and equipment

Cincinnati Food Tours | Findlay Market. 513-602-5602. cincinnatifoodtours.com

ƒ Exploring Queen City food culture

Cincinnati Museum Center | Queensgate. 513-287-7000. cincymuseum.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 1. “Barbie: A Cultural Icon”

ƒ Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 1940s Day

Cincinnati Nature Center | Milford. cincynature.org

ƒ Trails and ponds in old-growth forest

Cincinnati Observatory | Hyde Park. cincinnatiobservatory.org

ƒ Oldest professional observatory in the United States

Cincinnati Type & Print Museum | Lower Price Hill. cincinnatitypeprintmuseum.org

ƒ Permanent collection of equipment, tools and artifacts

Findlay Market | Over-the-Rhine. findlaymarket.org

ƒ Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market

Friends of Music Hall | Music Hall, Over-the-Rhine. 513-621-2787. friendsofmusichall.org

ƒ Indoor and outdoor tours

Glendale Heritage Preservation | Village Square, Glendale. 513-771-8722. glendaleheritage.org

ƒ Permanent exhibit. Displays of Glendale’s history

Greater Cincinnati Police Museum | Pendleton. 513-300-3664. police-museum.org

ƒ Permanent collection. Historic artifacts and equipment

Harriet Beecher Stowe House | Walnut Hills. 513-751-0651. stowehousecincy.org

ƒ Historic family home of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” author and later a Green Book location

Heritage Village Museum |Sharonville. 513-563-9484. heritagevillagecincinnati.org

ƒ Sept. 20, Sept, 27 & Oct. 4, 7-10 p.m.

Spirits by Starlight Ghost Tours

ƒ Sept. 20, 11:30 a.m. Period Dinner: Lafayette Visits Ohio: A Brunch

ƒ Sept. 27, 11 a.m. Vintage Base Ball: Trophy Ball

Holocaust & Humanity Center | Cincinnati Museum Center, Union Terminal. 513-487-3055. holocaustandhumanity.org

ƒ Commemorating the Holocaust

RAPTOR Inc. is a birds of prey sanctuary near Milford. You can visit on Sept. 28 and meet Avian Ambassadors like this young fella.

Krohn Conservatory | Eden Park. 513-421-4086. cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks

ƒ Thru Oct. 12. “A Healing Garden”

Lloyd Library and Museum | Downtown. 513-721-3707. lloydlibrary.org

ƒ Permanent exhibit. George Rieveschl Jr.: History of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

ƒ Thru Nov. 21. “American Medicine at a Crossroads, 1820-1910”

Loveland Castle & Museum | Loveland. lovelandcastle.com

ƒ Full-scale replica of medieval castle

Mercantile Library | Downtown. 513-621-0717. mercantilelibrary.com

ƒ Oldest membership library west of the Alleghenies

Milford Historical Society | Promont, Milford. 513-248-0324. milfordhistory.net

ƒ Permanent exhibit. Historical displays of art, artifacts and more

Mt. Adams Civic Association | Mt. Adams. 513-235-3957. mtadamscincy.org

ƒ By appointment only. Historic walking tours

National Museum of the United States Air Force | Wright-Patterson AFB, Fairborn. nationalmuseum.af.mil

ƒ World’s largest military aviation museum

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center | The Banks. 513-333-7500. freedomcenter.org

ƒ Permanent collection exploring themes of individual freedom

ƒ Thru Dec. 7. “Faith & (in)Justice”

National VOA Museum of Broadcasting | West Chester. 513-777-0027. voamuseum.org

ƒ Radio’s golden age and Cincinnati’s role in America’s global voice

Newport Aquarium | Newport. newportaquarium.com

ƒ Showcase of exotic aquatic creatures

Over-the-Rhine Museum | 513-813-7309. otrmuseum.org

ƒ Sept. 13,10 a.m. Labor History Walking Tour (departs across from Cincy Shakes)

ƒ Sept. 13, 10 a.m. North of Liberty Walking Tour (departs from Findlay Market)

ƒ Sept. 14, 10 a.m. Women’s History Walking Tour (departs from Washington Park)

ƒ Sept. 27, 10 a.m. South of Liberty Walking Tour (departs from Music Hall)

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum | Hamilton. 513-868-1234. pyramidhill.org

ƒ Fridays and Saturdays, Guided tours

Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati | Covington. cincirailmuseum.org

ƒ Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Exhibited railroad yard collection

RAPTOR Inc. | Milford. raptorinc.org

ƒ Sept. 28, 1-4 p.m. Open house, birds of prey sanctuary

Skirball Museum | Hebrew Union College, Clifton. 513-221-1875. csm.huc.edu

ƒ Permanent exhibit: “An Eternal People: The Jewish Experience”

Taft Museum of Art | Lytle Park, downtown. 513-241-0343. taftmuseum.org

ƒ Historic home, art collection and exhibits

Titanic: An Immersive Voyage | Exhibition Hub Art Center, downtown. expo-titanic.com/cincinnati

ƒ Thru Sept. 7. Immersive experience featuring artifacts, dramatic room re-creations, 3D views and video animations

Tri-State Warbird Museum | Batavia. tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org

ƒ Permanent exhibitions of military and historic aviation

Valley View Nature Preserve | Milford. valleyviewcampus.org

ƒ Preserved 190-acre farm and open land

Vent Haven Museum | Ft. Mitchell. 859-341-0461. venthaven.org

ƒ By appointment only. World’s only museum dedicated to ventriloquism

White Water Shaker Village | Harrison. whitewatervillage.org

ƒ Sept. 7, 2-5 p.m. Open house showcasing preserved historic village

Dance

Cincinnati Ballet | Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Aronoff Center. 513-621-5219. cballet.org

ƒ Sept. 12-20. Kaplan New Works Series

Fairs/Festivals/Markets

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati | Emery Theater, Over-the-Rhine. thechildrenstheatre.com

ƒ Sept. 7, noon-4 p.m. Block party to open renovated theater

City Flea | Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine. thecityflea.com

ƒ Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Fall Market

Civic Garden Center | Avondale. 513-221-0981. civicgardencenter.org

ƒ Sept. 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fall Native Plant Festival: Local growers, educational sessions, activities and live music

Covington Farmers Market | 600 block of Washington St., Covington. greatneighborhoods.org

ƒ Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Regional market

Dayton Art Institute | Dayton, Ohio. 937-223-4278. daytonartinstitute.org

ƒ Sept. 26-28. Oktoberfest

East Walnut Hills Farmers’ Market | Madison Road at Woodburn. ewhfarmersmarket.com

ƒ Fridays, 4-7 p.m. Produce, baked goods and arts & crafts

Great Parks | Sharon Woods. 513-521-7275. greatparks.org

ƒ Sept. 21, 3-7 p.m. Hispanic Heritage Festival

Hispanic Heritage Festival | Princeton High School, Sharonville. cincinnati.lulacohio.com

ƒ Sept. 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebration of Hispanic culture

Hyde Park Farmers’ Market | Hyde Park Square. hydeparkfarmersmarket.com

ƒ Sundays, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Springfall. Regional food and beverage market

King’s Island | Mason. 513-754-5700. visitkingsisland.com

ƒ Sept. 19-Nov. 1. Halloween Haunt

ƒ Sept. 21-Nov. 2. Tricks and Treats

Kroger Wellness Festival | Downtown Cincinnati. kroger.com/f/wellness-festival

ƒ Sept. 26-27. Resources to feed your mind, body and spirit

Madeira Farmers Market | Dawson Road at Miami Avenue, Madeira. madeirafarmersmarket.com

ƒ Thursdays, 4-7 p.m. Local growers and purveyors

Northside Farmers Market | Heart of Northside, Northside. northsidefm.org

ƒ Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. Regional food and beverage market

Oakley Community Council | oakleynow.com

ƒ Sept. 13, 5-9 p.m. Oaktoberfest (Geier Esplanade/Oakley Square)

Ohio Renaissance Festival | Waynesville. 513-897-7000. renfestival.com

ƒ Weekends & Labor Day. 16th-century music, art, food and culture

Oktoberfest Newport | Newport’s Festival Park. thingstodocincinnati.com

ƒ Sept. 12-14. German food and beer

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati | Sawyer Point Park, downtown. oktoberfestzinzinnati.com

ƒ Sept. 18-21. World’s second largest Oktoberfest

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum | Hamilton. pyramidhill.org

ƒ Sept. 27-28. Art Fair: Artwork by regional and national artists, food, artist demonstrations and live music

Westside Market | Westwood Town Hall, Westwood. westsidemarketcincy.com

ƒ Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Handcrafted goods by small businesses

Cincinnati Museum Center | Queensgate. 513-287-7000. cincymuseum.org/omnimax

ƒ Now playing/OMNIMAX . “Space: The New Frontier” • “Call of the Dolphins”

Cincinnati World Cinema | Garfield Theatre, downtown. 859-957-3456. cincyworldcinema.org

ƒ Films from around the globe

Cindependent Film Fest | Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine. 214-843-6781. cindependentfilmfest.org

ƒ Sept. 18-20. Celebration of independent film (Memorial Hall)

HorrorHound Weekend | Sharonville Convention Center. horrorhoundweekend.com

ƒ Sept. 12-14. Celebration of the genre

NightLight 513 | Covington Plaza. nightlight513.com

ƒ Sept. 11, 7 p.m. “Wolf of Wall Street”

RiversEdge | Marcum Park, Hamilton. riversedgelive.com

ƒ Sept. 3, 7 p.m. “Hook”

Washington Park | Over-the-Rhine. washingtonpark.org/events

◆ Tuesdays, 9 p.m. Summer Cinema:

‚ Sept. 2. “D.E.B.S.”

‚ Sept. 16. “Encanto”

‚ Sept. 23. “Lilo and Stitch”

Woodward Theater | Over-the-Rhine. 513-345-7981. woodwardtheater.com

ƒ Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. “Pools”

ƒ Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. “MegaDoc”

Ziegler Park | Over-the-Rhine. zieglerpark.org

ƒ Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. Dive-In Movies: “Shark Tales”

Literary/Lectures

American Sign Museum | Camp Washington. 513-541-6366. americansignmuseum.org

ƒ Sept. 25, 7-8 p.m. “Inside the Sign: Main Street Edition”

Barnes & Noble | Virtual. 513-972-5146. stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/3408

ƒ Sept. 9, 6 p.m. Dan Brown “The Secret of Secrets”

ƒ Sept. 10, 3 p.m. Mick Herron “Clown Town”

ƒ Sept. 30, 3 p.m. Ann Cleeves “The Killing Stones”

Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library | Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-369-6900. chpl.org

ƒ Sept. 30, 7 p.m. Mary S. Stern Lecture: Nicholas Kristof

No Promises Vocal Band teams up with alumni and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra Boogie Band to celebrate a decade of creative close harmony. Sept. 13 at Oakley’s 20th Century Theater.

Cincinnati Art Book Fair | The Carnegie, Covington. cincinnatiartbookfair.com

ƒ Sept. 6-7. Artist-run editions fair

Cincinnati Art Museum | Eden Park. 513-721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum.org

ƒ Sept. 20, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. See the Story: Natalie Baszile “We Are Each Other’s Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy”

Cincinnati Preservation |

The Porch, Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine. 513-721-4506. cincinnatipreservation.org

ƒ Sept. 16, 5:30 p.m. Preservation in the Park: John Williams “History of the Cincinnati Tennis Club”

Findlay Market | Over-the-Rhine. findlaymarket.org

ƒ Sept. 6, 1-8 p.m. Art & Poetry celebration

Fitton Center | Hamilton. 513-863-8873. fittoncenter.org

ƒ Sept. 3, noon. Celebrating Self Speaker Series: Ohio Renaissance Festival

Joseph-Beth Booksellers | Rookwood Commons, Norwood. 513-396-8960. josephbeth.com

ƒ Sept. 3, 7 p.m. Discussion: Madeline Martin “The Secret Book Society”

ƒ Sept. 9, 7 p.m. Discussion: Jack Brennan “Football Sissy”

ƒ Sept. 13, 1 p.m. Discussion: J.R. Ward “Lover Forbidden” (Northern Kentucky Convention Center)

ƒ Sept. 16, 7 p.m. Discussion: Tasha Faruqui “Keep Your Head Up”

ƒ Sept. 16, 7 p.m. Discussion: Rebecca Stead “The Experiment” (virtual)

ƒ Sept. 17, 7 p.m. Discussion: Eileen Flanagan “Common Ground”

ƒ Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Discussion: Nathan Harris “Amity”

ƒ Sept. 27, 6 p.m. Discussion: Emily Jane “American Werewolves”

Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights. civicengagement.nku.edu

ƒ Sept. 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m. An Evening with Kentucky’s Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson

Over-the-Rhine Museum | Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine 513-813-7309. otrmuseum.org

ƒ Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. Three Acts: “In These Hills”

Sitwell’s Coffee House | Clifton. facebook.com/poetryatsitwells

ƒ Sept. 2, 7-8:30 p.m. Poetry Night

Swell | 2936 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington. swellartcafe.com

ƒ Sept. 10, 7-8 p.m. Salons with Sue: “Making Values Explicit: On How We Are Moved to Do, Act, Care and Change”

ƒ Sept. 13, 6-11 p.m. Grand Opening Party

ƒ Sept. 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m. The Prison Industry Book Talk

ƒ Sept. 27, 4-6 p.m. Erika Nj Allen: “The Great Banana Glaze-Off”

Word of Mouth Cincinnati | MOTR Pub, Over-the-Rhine. | motrpub.com

ƒ Sept. 28, 6 p.m. Open poetry

Music

20th Century Theater | Oakley. the20thcenturytheater.com

ƒ Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m. Seven Wonders

Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas | St. Thomas Episcopal, Terrace Park. 513-831-2052. bachensemble.org

ƒ Sept. 7, 5 p.m. Bach “Vespers”

Bogart’s | Short Vine, Corryville. bogarts.com

ƒ Sept. 7, 7 p.m. Jerry Cantrell

ƒ Sept. 12, 7 p.m. Poppy

ƒ Sept. 20, 7 p.m. Inhaler

ƒ Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Our Last Night

ƒ Sept. 28, 5:30 p.m. Invent Animate

Brady Music Center | The Banks, downtown. bradymusiccenter.com

ƒ Sept. 3, 8 p.m. Quinn XCII

ƒ Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. Red Clay Strays

ƒ Sept. 10, 7 p.m. Leon Bridges

ƒ Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. Bonnie Raitt

Caffè Vivace | Walnut Hills. 513-601-9897. caffevivace.com

ƒ Most evenings. Live jazz

Christ Church Cathedral | Downtown. 513-621-1817. cincinnaticathedral.com

◆ Tuesdays, Sept.-May, 12:10 p.m. Music Live at Lunch (Christ Church Chapel):

‚ Sept. 9. Phil DeGreg Trio

‚ Sept. 16. Lieto Quartet

‚ Sept. 23. Sassafras Grass

‚ Sept. 30. Ricky Nye, jazz piano

Cincinnati Arts Association | Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-621-2787. cincinnatiarts.org

ƒ Sept. 5, 8 p.m. TM:101 Live

Cincinnati Nature Center | Milford. cincynature.org

ƒ Sept. 12, 7-10 p.m. Music Under the Moon Concert Series: Jim Trace & the Makers

Cincinnati Parks | Ault Park Pavilion. cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks

ƒ Sept. 18, 6 p.m. Summer Music Festival: Billy Rock Band

Cincinnati Song Initiative | Cincinnati Public Radio, Evanston. cincinnatisonginitiative.org

ƒ Sept. 6, 7 p.m. “Grown from a Miracle”

Cincinnati Symphony & Pops | Music Hall, Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-3300. cincinnatisymphony.org

ƒ Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. (Pops) The War and Treaty

Cincinnati Symphony & Pops (cont.)

ƒ Sept. 12-14. (Pops) Troupe Vertigo: “Cirque España!”

ƒ Sept. 20-21. (Pops) “The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration”

Daniel Wiley, conductor

ƒ Sept. 27-28. (Pops) “Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy” Arnie Roth, conductor; May Festival Chorus

Classical Revolution | The Loon, Northside. classicalrevolutioncincinnati.com

ƒ Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m. Chamber music in casual bar setting

Clifton Cultural Arts Center | Clifton. 513-497-2860. cliftonculturalarts.org

ƒ Sept. 14, 2 p.m. Barb and Russ Childers “A Taste of Appalachia”

◆ 6:30 p.m. Rooftop Sessions:

‚ Sept. 4. Stone & Snow

‚ Sept. 11. Phil DeGreg Trio

‚ Sept. 18. Lady Joya Band

‚ Sept. 25. Knotts

Concertnova | concertnova.com

ƒ Sept. 7, 4:30 p.m. “High Notes: A Nature

Walk Celebration of Cannabis Music” (Peterloon)

ƒ See Talk Low experimental music fest

Continuo | Caalma Coworking, Walnut Hills. continuo-cincy.square.site

ƒ Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. All-American Program and Piano Trios

Delhi Event Center | Delhi Park Performance Pavilion, Delhi. oh-delhitownship.civicplus.com

ƒ Sept. 3, 7 p.m. Forever Diamond

DownTowne Listening Room | Boone Co. Courthouse, Burlington. downtownelisteningroom.com

ƒ Sept. 13, 7 p.m. The Close Trio

Fountain Square | Downtown. 513-621-4400. myfountainsquare.com

ƒ Tuesdays, 6 p.m. Jazz at the Square

ƒ Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m. Fountain Blues

ƒ Thursdays, 6 p.m. Salsa on the Square

ƒ Saturdays, 7 p.m. Fifth & Vine Live

Ghost Baby | Over-the-Rhine. ghost-baby.com

ƒ Most evenings. Live performances

Greenacres Arts Center | Indian Hill. 513-898-3256. green-acres.org

ƒ Sept. 4, 5:30 p.m. Celebration Concert: Cincinnati Symphony, May Festival, Opera and Ballet

Hard Rock Casino | Downtown. hardrockcasinocincinnati.com

ƒ Sept. 26, 8 p.m. Shaggy

The Härth Room | Downtown. theharthroom.com/music

ƒ Wednesday-Saturday evenings Live jazz

The Jazz Spoon | Forest Park. thejazzspoon.com

ƒ Friday and Saturday evenings. Live jazz

Linton Peanut Butter & Jam Sessions | 513-381-6868. peanutbutterandjam.org

◆ Heroic Harmonies:

‚ Sept. 6, 11 a.m. (Madisonville Branch Library)

‚ Sept. 9, 5 p.m. (College Hill Branch Library)

‚ Sept. 14, 2:30 p.m. (Taft Museum of Art, downtown)

‚ Sept. 16, 6 p.m. (Boone County Public Library - Main Branch)

‚ S ept. 25, 6 p.m. (Child Focus - The Carter Center, Eastgate)

‚ Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m. (Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Walnut Hills)

Ludlow Garage | Clifton. ludlowgaragecincinnati.com

ƒ Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m. Austin Martin & The Herd

ƒ Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. Toast

ƒ Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m. Gong

ƒ Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. Skerryvore

ƒ Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m. Gangstagrass

ƒ Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. Richard Elliot

ƒ Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m. Saving Abel

ƒ Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. Bilal

ƒ Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m. Walter Trout

ƒ Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m. Ami Taf Ra

Madison Theater | Covington. 859-491-2444. madisontheater.com

ƒ Sept. 3, 8 p.m. Dorothy

ƒ Sept. 4, 8 p.m. Burning Witches

ƒ Sept. 10, 7 p.m. Crypta

ƒ Sept. 11, 8 p.m. Graham Barham

ƒ Sept. 13, 8 p.m. Stupify

ƒ Sept. 19, 8 p.m. Tusk

ƒ Sept. 20, 7 p.m. Tyler Christopher & The Roustabout Showband

ƒ Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. He Is Legend

Matinée Musicale | Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine. matineemusicalecincinnati.org

ƒ Sept. 7, 3 p.m. Manami Suzuki, piano

MegaCorp Pavilion at Ovation | Newport. promowestlive.com

ƒ Sept. 5, 7 p.m. Hudson Westbrook

ƒ Sept. 9, 7 p.m. That Mexican OT

ƒ Sept. 16, 6 p.m. “Weird Al” Yankovic

ƒ Sept. 17, 7 p.m. The Front Bottoms

ƒ Sept. 18, 6 p.m. Avett Brothers

ƒ Sept. 30, 7 p.m. Garbage

Memorial Hall | Over-the-Rhine. 513-977-8838. memorialhallotr.com

ƒ Sept. 9, 8 p.m. Bob Mould

ƒ Sept. 25, 8 p.m. “Let Me Be Frank” (Sinatra Tribute) Jack Garrett and Atomic Wise Guys

No Promises Vocal Band | 20th Century Theater, Oakley. nopromisesvocalband.com

ƒ Sept. 13, 8 p.m. “The Boy Band Diaries – No Promises Tenth Anniversary Spectacular”

ARTS & CULTURE | The List

Queen City Balladeers | Leo Coffeehouse, Zion United Church of Christ, Norwood. queencityballadeers.org

ƒ Sept. 7. Michael Johnathon, Melissa Deaton

ƒ Sept. 14. Lisa Biales, Allison Phillips

ƒ Sept. 21. Open mic

ƒ Sept. 28. Haunted Like Human, Two Blue

Riverbend Music Center | Anderson Twp. 513-232-6220. riverbend.org

ƒ Sept. 10, 7 p.m. Chevelle

ƒ Sept. 11, 7 p.m. Little Big Town

ƒ Sept. 12, 7 p.m. Doobie Brothers

ƒ Sept. 13, 8 p.m. Conan Gray

ƒ Sept. 16, 7 p.m. blink-182

ƒ Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m. $uicideboy$

ƒ Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m. Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls

ƒ Sept. 23, 7 p.m. Papa Roach

ƒ Sept. 26, 7 p.m. Dwight Yoakam and The Mavericks

RiversEdge | Marcum Park, Hamilton. riversedgelive.com

ƒ Sept. 11, 6 p.m. Scotty Bratcher and Johnny Mullenax

ƒ Sept. 19, 6 p.m. Tropidelic and Badfish

ƒ Sept. 26, 6 p.m. 512: Selena Experience + Heather Redman & The Reputation

ƒ Sept. 27, 6 p.m. Signs of Life

Rockin’ the Roebling | Smale Park, downtown. facebook.com

ƒ Sept. 4, 6 p.m. Monkey’s Uncle

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church | Montgomery. st-barnabas.org

ƒ Sept. 14, 3 p.m. Queen City Cabaret

Schwartz’s Point | Five Points, Over-the-Rhine. thepointclub.weebly.com

ƒ Thursdays-Sundays. Live jazz

Sorg Opera House | Middletown. sorgoperahouse.org

ƒ Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. Captain Fantastic Detroit: The Ultimate Elton John Tribute

Southgate House | Newport. 859-431-2201. southgatehouse.com

ƒ Nightly. Rock, alternative blues, etc.

Symphony Hotel | Over-the-Rhine. symphonyhotel.com

ƒ Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Live jazz trio

ƒ Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Live jazz trio

Taft Theatre | Downtown. tafttheatre.org

ƒ Sept. 3, 8 p.m. Ani DiFranco

ƒ Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m. Gaelic Storm

ƒ Sept. 14, 7 p.m. Girl Named Tom

ƒ Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m. Mat Kearney

ƒ Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. KALEO

Talk Low Music Festival | talklowfest.com

ƒ Sept. 26, 7 p.m. Cole Pulice • White Boy Scream (Contemporary Arts Center, downtown)

ƒ Sept. 27, 3 p.m. Sarah Davachi • SHERMVN & Victoria Lekson (Christ Church Cathedral, downtown)

ƒ Sept. 27, 7 p.m. Joy Guidry • Moor Mother (Contemporary Arts Center, downtown)

ƒ Sept. 28, 7 p.m. Kelly Moran • Why? and concertnova • clipping (Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine)

ƒ Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. Dei Fujikura and concertnova (Mercantile Library, downtown)

TempleLive at River Front Live | East End. riverfrontlivecincy.com

ƒ Sept. 14, 7 p.m. The Machine

TQL Stadium | West End. tqlstadium.com

ƒ Sept. 18, 8 p.m. Twenty One Pilots

Turfway Park Events Center | Florence. turfway.com

ƒ Sept. 5, 8:30 p.m. Night Ranger and Jefferson Starship

Washington Park | Over-the-Rhine. washingtonpark.org/events

◆ 6 p.m. Jazz at the Park:

‚ Sept. 1. Phil DeGreg Trio

‚ Sept. 8. John Zappa’s “Now Hear This”

‚ Sept. 15. Kelly MacKenzie-Thurley Quartet

‚ Sept. 22. Paul Hawthorne

‚ Sept. 29. Queen City Cabaret

Woodward Theater | Over-the-Rhine. 513-345-7981. woodwardtheater.com

ƒ Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m. Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis

ƒ Sept. 12, 8 p.m. James McMurtry

ƒ Sept. 13, 8 p.m. Momma

ƒ Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m. Low Cut Connie

ƒ Sept. 30, 8 p.m. Panchiko

Xavier Music Series | Gallagher Center Theater, Xavier University. 513-745-3161. xavier.edu/musicseries

ƒ Sept. 4, 8 p.m. Dror Biran, piano

ƒ Sept. 13, 2 p.m. TY Zhang, guitar (Bellarmine Chapel)

Theater/Comedy

The Angelico Project | St. Monica St. George, Clifton Heights. angelicoproject.org

ƒ 3rd Monday, 7 p.m. Catholic Theater Group

ƒ 1st Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. Improv Night

Charlie Clark and Julianne Ferguson star in the return of Tony Award winner “Next to Normal,” Sept. 13Oct. 5 at Ensemble Theatre

Broadway Across America | Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-721-3344. cincinnati.broadway.com

ƒ Sept. 9-21. “Back to the Future”

CenterStage Players | Arts Center at Dunham, Price Hill. centerstageplayersinc.com

ƒ Sept. 12-20. “Superhero”

Cincinnati Landmark Productions | Incline Theater, Price Hill. 513-241-6550. cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 14. “Hairspray”

Cincinnati Music Theatre | Fifth Third Bank Theater, Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-621-2787. cincinnatimusictheatre.org

ƒ Sept. 5-13. “What Happens In Vegas”

Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative | Fifth Third Bank Theater, Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-621-ARTS. cincyplaywrights.org

ƒ Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. “Hollywood Masala” by Sanjay Puligadda

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-2273. cincyshakes.com

ƒ Sept. 5-20. “An Enemy of the People”

Dayton Playhouse | Dayton, Ohio. wordpress.thedaytonplayhouse.com

ƒ Sept. 5-21. “The Addams Family”

The Dinner Detective | Embassy Suites Rivercenter, Covington. thedinnerdetective.com/cincinnati

ƒ Saturdays, 6 p.m. Murder Mystery Dinner Show

Ensemble Theatre | Over-the-Rhine. 513-421-3555. ensemblecincinnati.org

ƒ Sept. 13-Oct. 5. “Next to Normal”

Fairfield Footlighters | Fairfield. 513-867-5348. fairfieldfootlighters.org

ƒ Sept. 26-28. “Broadway Nights: A Musical Revue”

Falcon Theatre | Newport. 513-479-6783. falcontheater.net

ƒ Sept. 19-Oct. 4. “The Secretary”

Fitton Center | Hamilton. 513-863-8873. fittoncenter.org

ƒ Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. “Henny Penny’s Adventures”

Footlighters | Stained Glass Theatre, Newport. 859-291-7464. footlighters.org

ƒ Sept. 4-21. “The Wizard of Oz”

The Ghostlight Stage Company | theghostlightstageco.com

ƒ Sept. 22, 7 p.m. “Shining a Light” Lecture Series: Anna Mosoriak “Finding Vocal Agency” (Playhouse in the Park and virtual)

Go Bananas Comedy Club | Montgomery. gobananascomedy.com

ƒ Weekly. Comedy shows

Hard Rock Casino | Downtown. hardrockcasinocincinnati.com

ƒ Sept. 6, 8 p.m. Deon Cole, comedian

Harriet Beecher Stowe House | Walnut Hills. 513-751-0651. stowehousecincy.org

ƒ Sept. 21, 4 p.m. “Ralph Waldo Emerson: The Sage of Concord” (First Unitarian Church, Avondale)

ƒ Sept. 26, 6 p.m. Voice of Black Cincinnati: Edgemont Inn Tavern Re-Enactment

Human Race Theatre | Loft Theatre, Dayton, Ohio. humanracetheatre.org

ƒ Sept. 3-14. “Dad’s Place – A Farce”

Improv Cincinnati | Clifton Performance Theatre, Clifton. improvcincinnati.com

ƒ Thursday-Saturday evenings. Comedy shows

Know Theatre | Over-the-Rhine. 513-300-5669. knowtheatre.com

ƒ Sept. 11-27. “King James”

La Comedia Dinner Theatre | Springboro. 800-677-9505. lacomedia.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 14. “The Play That Goes Wrong”

ƒ Sept. 18-Oct. 26. “Legally Blonde”

Lebanon Theatre Company | Lebanon. 513-932-8300. ltcplays.com

ƒ Sept. 26-Oct. 5. “Em’s Story”

Madison Theater | Covington. 859-491-2444. madisontheater.com

ƒ Sept. 21, 7 p.m. Ed Bassmaster, comedian

Mariemont Players | Mariemont. 513-684-1236. mariemontplayers.com

ƒ Sept. 4-21. “The Rainmaker”

Miami University | Center for Performing Arts, Oxford. miamioh.edu/theatre

ƒ Sept. 16-21. “What the Constitution Means to Me”

Middletown Lyric Theatre | Sorg Opera House, Middletown. 513-425-7140. middletownlyric.org

ƒ Sept. 19-20. “Rehearsal for Murder”

Northern Kentucky University | NKU Corbett Theatre, Highland Heights. 859-572-5464. theatre.nku.edu

ƒ Sept. 26-Oct. 5. “Oklahoma!”

Playhouse in the Park | Mt. Adams. 513-421-3888. cincyplay.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 28. “Where The Mountain Meets The Sea” (Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre)

ƒ Sept. 20-Oct. 19. “Mythic” (Rouse Theatre)

Taft Theatre | Downtown. tafttheatre.org

ƒ Sept. 7, 3:30 p.m. The LOL Podcast

ƒ Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m. Piff the Magic Dragon

Village Players | Ft. Thomas. 859-392-0500. villageplayers.org

ƒ Sept. 26-Oct. 4. “Abigail/1702”

Visionaries & Voices | Northside. 513-861-4333. visionariesandvoices.com

ƒ Sept.-Oct . Show of Hands Puppet Festival

Visual Art

21c Museum Hotel | Downtown. 513-578-6600. 21cmuseumhotels.com/cincinnati

ƒ Thru Sept. 30. “Revival: Digging into Yesterday, Planting Tomorrow” • Spotlight: Felipe Rivas San Martín

Art Academy of Cincinnati | Over-theRhine. 513-562-6262. artacademy.edu

ƒ Thru Sept. 26. Sarah Stolar: “Selected Works from The Grief Club” • Gary Gaffney: “Everything Else”

Art Beyond Boundaries | Over-the-Rhine. 513-421-8726. artbeyondboundaries.com

ƒ Thru Oct. 14. “Up The Ante”

Art on Vine | artonvinecincy.com

ƒ Sept. 14, noon-6 p.m. Summer Market (Washington Park)

ƒ Sept. 28, noon-6 p.m. Summer Market (Fountain Square)

ARTclectic Gallery | Silverton. 513-822-5200. artclecticgallery.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 30. “Far Away”

ArtWorks | Walnut Hills. 513-333-0388. artworkscincinnati.org

ƒ Thru Oct. 9. Nytaya Babbitt: “Dilly Dallin: Where does your mind wander?”

ƒ Sept. 12, TBA. Red Door Project: “Storytelling” (Mercantile Library, downtown)

The Carnegie | Covington. 859-491-2030. thecarnegie.com

ƒ Sept. 26-March 7. “All Four Seasons in Equal Measure”

Cincinnati Art Club | Mt. Adams. 513-241-4591. cincinnatiartclub.org

ƒ Sept. 12-14. Fall Signature Exhibition

Cincinnati Art Galleries | Downtown. 513-381-2128. cincyart.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 26. “Modern VisionsA Kaleidoscope of Artistic Expression”

Cincinnati Art Museum | Eden Park. 513-721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 21. “Farm to Table: Food and Identity in the Age of Impressionism”

ƒ Thru Jan. 11. “Influence(d): Female Innovators in Contemporary Japanese Design”

ƒ Thru Feb. 22. “Modern and Contemporary Craft”

ƒ Thru April 5. Tamary Kudita: “African Victorian and Birds of Paradise”

ƒ Sept. 19-Jan. 18. “Rediscovered Treasures”

ƒ Sept. 26, 5-9 p.m. Art After Dark

Cincinnati Museum Center | Queensgate. 513-287-7000. cincymuseum.org

ƒ Thru Oct. 19. “Civic Architecture: The Panoramic Photography of Thomas R. Schiff”

Clifton Cultural Arts Center | Clifton. 513-497-2860. cliftonculturalarts.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 19. Devan Horton: “Tending Stems”

ƒ Sept. 4-30. A Picture’s Worth: “Connecting Cincinnati”

Reception: Sept. 4, 6-8 p.m.

ƒ Sept. 26-Oct. 24. Nathan Currier-Groh: “Life Blossoms”

Reception: Sept. 26, 6-8 p.m.

Contemporary Arts Center | Downtown. 513-345-8400. contemporaryartscenter.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 7. Marcus Leslie Singleton: “New Steps”

ƒ Thru Sept. 7. ArtsWave’s “Truth & Innovation Showcase,” commissioned works by 25 BIPOC artists

DAAP Galleries | Meyer Gallery, University of Cincinnati. 513-556-2839. daap.uc.edu

ƒ Thru Nov. 10. “Collection Art: Reflections on Works at the University of Cincinnati”

Dayton Art Institute | Dayton, Ohio. 937-223-4278. daytonartinstitute.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 14. Curtis Barnes Sr.: “Dayton Icon”

Dayton Society of Artists | Dayton, Ohio. 937-228-4532. daytondsa.org

ƒ Sept. 5-27. “School of the DAI Retrospective”

Eisele Gallery of Fine Art | Mariemont Square. 513-791-7717. eiselefineart.com

ƒ Sept. 5-30. Jack Meanwell: 20th Anniversary Retrospective Reception: Sept. 5, 6-9 p.m.

Eva G. Farris Gallery | Thomas More University, Crestview Hills. 859-344-3300. thomasmore.edu

ƒ Thru Sept. 11. Kelley Booze: “Unfolding Unknowing” Reception: Sept. 11, 4-7 p.m.

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL

Tuesdays at 12:10 pm (beginning September 9) Music Live at Lunch Saturday, September 27 | 4:00 pm Talk Low Music Festival

Sunday, October 5 | 5:00 pm Choral Evensong (Pre-service organ recital at 4:30 pm)

Constance Sanders Photography

Fitton Center | Hamilton. 513-863-8873. fittoncenter.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 26. “Play Time”

Gallery 506 | Elsmere. 513-919-5415. gallery-506.com

ƒ Thru Oct. 4. Tina Tammaro and Todd Reynolds: “Maybe Tomorrow”

Gallery Veronique | Harper’s Point. Symmes Twp. 513-530-5379. galleryveronique.com

ƒ Sept. 5-7. Ann Jackson Gallery: “Discover The Cat Behind the Hat”

Glendale Heritage Preservation | Village Square, Glendale. 513-771-8722. glendaleheritage.org

ƒ Permanent exhibition: “Women of Glendale”

Kennedy Heights Arts Center | Kennedy Heights. 513-631-4278. kennedyarts.org

ƒ Thru Oct. 2. “Year of the Gentleman: Redefining Modern Excellence”

ƒ Thru Oct. 25. Beth Goldstein: “Quiet Chaos: Watercolors, Monoprints & Collages”

Manifest Gallery | East Walnut Hills. 513-861-3638. manifestgallery.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 12. “Annual Nude” • “Buddy System” • “Wear” • Sarah Knobel (photography)

Miami University/Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum | Oxford. 513-5292232. miamioh.edu/cca/art-museum

ƒ Thru Dec. 13. From the Collections (Douglass Gallery) • Department of Art Faculty and Alumni Exhibition (McKie and Farmer Galleries)

Middletown Arts Center | Middletown. 513-424-2417. middletownartscenter.com

ƒ Thru Oct. 2. Annual Photography and Digital Art Exhibition • Works by Kate Uraneck

Milford Historical Society | Promont, Milford. 513-248-0324. milfordhistory.net

ƒ Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 2025 Art Affaire

Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights. 859-572-5148. nku.edu/gallery

ƒ Thru Sept. 18. Tina Gutierrez: “América” • Larry Brown: “The Art of the Luthier: Crafting Ancient Sound” • Joshua Maier: “Cache, Stash & Spectacle” • Joell AngelChumbley: “Legacy” Reception: Sept. 4, 5-7 p.m.

Norwood International Art Show | Victory Park, Norwood. norwoodtogether.org

ƒ Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Local and international artists

Off Ludlow Gallery | Clifton. 513-201-7153. facebook.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 10. Susan Byrnes: “Being As How” Reception: Sept. 10, 6-8 p.m.

Oxford Community Arts Center | Oxford. 513-524-8506. oxarts.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 6. “The Colors of Spirit: The Natural Areas” • “Beside Ourselves: Girlhood and Identity”

Pendleton Art Center | Pendleton. 513-421-4339. pendletonartcenter.com

ƒ Sept. 26, 5-9 p.m. Open studios

Pendleton Art Center - Middletown | Middletown. 513-465-5038. pendletonartcenter.com

ƒ Sept. 5, 5-9 p.m. Open studios

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum | Hamilton-Cleves Rd., Hamilton. 513-868-1234. pyramidhill.org

ƒ Thru Nov. 10. “A Main Street Story: Robert McCloskey in Hamilton, OH”

Queen City Clay | Norwood. queencityclay.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 4. “Tactile”

ƒ Sept. 12-Oct. 30. Hannah Thompsett

Rosewood Arts Centre | Rosewood Gallery, Kettering. 937-296-0294. playkettering.org/rosewood-gallery-home

ƒ Thru Sept. 13. Invitational: Nancy Cartwright • Invitational: African American Visual Arts Guild

ƒ Sept. 29-Nov. 8. Annual HWD Juried Sculpture Exhibition

Solway Gallery | West End. 513-621-0069. solwaygallery.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 26. “Cincinnati Collects,” recent acquisitions

Studio San Giuseppe Art Gallery |

Mount St. Joseph University, Delhi. msj.edu

ƒ Sept. 12-Oct. 15. “Artists of the Pendleton” Reception: Sept. 21, 1-4 p.m.

Summit Hotel | Madisonville. 513-527-9900. thesummithotel.com

ƒ Current installation. Frank Herrmann: “Turbulence is Life Force”

Swell | 2936 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington. swellartcafe.com

ƒ Sept. 13, 6-11 p.m. Grand opening party of new salon and gallery

ƒ Sept. 27, 4-6 p.m. Erika Nj Allen: “The Great Banana Glaze-Off”

Taft Museum of Art | Lytle Park, downtown. 513-241-0343. taftmuseum.org

ƒ Thru Sept. 7. “The Crafted World of Wharton Esherick”

Visionaries & Voices | Northside. 513-861-4333. visionariesandvoices.com

ƒ Thru Sept. 12. Artist-in-residence Chloe Greenberg

Wash Park Art | Over-the-Rhine. 513-291-3626. washparkart.com

ƒ Thru Nov. 8. “Remains To Be Seen | Art Withstands Uncertainty” Reception: Sept. 12, 5-8 p.m.

Wave Pool Gallery | Camp Washington. wavepoolgallery.org

ƒ Thru Oct. 19. Erin Adelman: “Exuberant Resistance”

Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati | Winton Hills. weaversguildcincinnati.org

ƒ Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Biennial Gathering of the Guilds

Photographer Tina Gutierrez is one of four artists presenting works through Sept. 18 at NKU Art Galleries A reception is planned for Sept. 4, 5-7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center. Pictured: “Mary Faith from América”

Weston Art Gallery | Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-977-4165. cincinnatiarts.org/weston-art-gallery

ƒ Sept. 19-Nov. 2. Jenny Holzer: “Inflammatory Essays” • Emily Hanako Momohara: “Grounded” Reception: Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m.

Dana L. Wiley Gallery | Dayton, Ohio. 937-475-3794. danalwileygallery.com

ƒ Sept. 5-Oct. 19. Gretchen Durst Jacobs solo exhibition. Reception: Sept. 5, 7-9 p.m.

Wright State University | Creative Arts Center, Fairborn. liberal-arts.wright.edu/art-galleries

ƒ Thru Oct. 18. Philip Van Keuren: “Elegy” • Shirley Tucker: “Through Their Eyes”

Xavier University Art Gallery | A. B. Cohen Center. xavier.edu/art-department

ƒ Thru Sept. 16. Daniel Zalla paintings

ƒ Thru Sept. 26. “The Rome Experience” 

Area arts groups get nearly $4M from Ohio Arts Council

Southwest Ohio arts organizations will receive almost $4 million from the Ohio Arts Council’s latest funding round, part of a historic $23.3 million statewide distribution. The grants support cultural, educational and community-focused projects.

Hamilton County institutions received the largest awards, including $731,966 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, $290,637 for the Cincinnati Museum Association and $271,000 for the Cincinnati Arts Association. Smaller organizations such as Elementz and My Nose Turns Red Theatre Company received funding for youth arts, neighborhood engagement and original productions.

Arts programs in Butler, Montgomery, Greene, Warren and Brown counties also secured grants. The Ohio Arts Council made 965 awards statewide.

 oac.ohio.gov

Drum programs aim to improve youth mental health

Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition will expand its therapeutic drumming programs with two public contracts targeting youth mental health and violence prevention.

The City of Cincinnati awarded $207,000 over two years for group drumming sessions for teens in Avondale, Millvale, Westwood and Winton Hills. The program aims to reduce gun violence by building emotional resilience and social connections, with support from the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and Lindner Center of Hope.

Hamilton County Job & Family Services committed $400,000 over four years to extend the coalition’s elementary school programs.

Both initiatives use HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming, a research-backed method that focuses on therapeutic engagement rather than musical performance.

 musicandwellness.net

Comedian opens creative space in OTR

Kevin James Thornton, a stand-up comic and photographer, has opened Shamala Hamala, a creative studio in Over-the-Rhine.

The 1,095-square-foot space at 1306 Main St. houses a working studio, photographic darkroom, gallery and shop. The space’s name, drawn from one of Thornton’s viral catchphrases, reflects his blend of absurdity and authenticity.

“I kept hearing people talk about ‘third spaces’ and community – and I really believe that art brings people together,” Thornton said.

Thornton said he plans to host seasonal releases and public events.

 kevinjamesthornton.com

Dancefix Foundation offers movement as healing

Dancefix Foundation, a new nonprofit started by fitness and dance instructor Heather Britt, has launched programs for children, adults, and cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.

Britt said the foundation grew out of her 25-year effort to create welcoming spaces where people can dance regardless of experience or background.

Since January, the foundation has provided free classes to more than 600 people, offering youth dance tied to school curricula, discounted and free adult classes, and movement programs for those affected by cancer.

“Dance has a profound ability to heal, empower and connect,” she said. “Our goal is to break down barriers and ensure that everyone, regardless of age, background or health status, can experience the transformative power of movement.

The nonprofit will celebrate with Studio DFX, a gala Sept. 27 at the Dancefix Event Center in Walnut Hills.

“There’s no better way for us to celebrate our launch than with dance,” Britt said.

 dancefixfoundation.org

New UC art book, exhibit highlight university’s collection

The University of Cincinnati is showcasing a landmark exhibition and its first art collection book, highlighting the breadth of the university’s art holdings.

“Collecting Art: Reflections on Works at the University of Cincinnati” runs through Nov. 10 at the Meyers Gallery inside the Steger Student Life Center. The show, which offers a curated look at the university’s 5,000-piece art collection, is tied to the September release of a companion book by the same name.

UC’s art collection spans antiquity to contemporary design. More than 2,500 works are on display in buildings on UC’s campuses. Others are on loan to institutions such as the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Taft Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Observatory.

The dual release is the result of nearly five years of collaboration, UC officials say. Leading the effort were Emeritus Provost Kristi Nelson and Emeritus Dean Robert Probst, with support from President Neville Pinto and input from faculty, staff, alumni and student co-ops.

The book is available through major booksellers and online. The Meyers Gallery website contains more information about the book and exhibit.

 daap.uc.edu

Talk Low Festival speaks up for experimental music

Talk Low Experimental Music Festival returns in late September, bringing a four-day lineup of cutting-edge creativity to downtown Cincinnati.

Presented by Cincinnati-based Whited Sepulchre Records, the Sept. 26-29 event showcases artists working in electronic, classical, hip-hop and avant-garde traditions. The label launched the festival in 2024 to bring local awareness to experimental artists from around the world. Organizers include label founder Ryan Hall, Britni Bicknaver and Brianna Matzke, executive director of chamber ensemble concertnova.

This year, the festival takes place in the Contemporary Arts Center, Christ Church Cathedral, the Mercantile Library and Memorial Hall. The lineup: Los Angeles experimental-rap group clipping., featuring actor and musician Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”); pianist Kelly Moran; Cairo-based electronic artist Nadah El Shazly; experimental classical music project White Boy Scream; electroacoustic saxophonist and composer Cole Pulice; organist Sarah Davachi; and a collaboration between hip hop/indie rock musician Yoni Wolf and concertnova.

The festival concludes with “Borrowed Landscape,” presented by concertnova Sept. 29 at the Mercantile. Composed by JapaneseBritish artist Dai Fujikura, the radio play – or “narratorio” – shares the stories of three instruments that survived World War II: a Hiroshima piano, a Polish double bass and a Stradivarius violin from Budapest.

The festival’s website offers tickets and more information, and a link to a Spotify playlist of work by its guest artists.

 talklowfest.com 

Pianist Kelly Moran will peform at Memorial Hall on Sept. 28 as part of the Talk Low festival.

By David Lyman

Devoted to dance and to the company

Amador brings hustle, confidence to role as ballet’s artistic director

Fromthe moment he arrived at the Cincinnati Ballet studios in 2004, it was evident that Cervilio Miguel Amador would have an impact on the company.

Just how much of an impact, no one knew. He was just 20 years old. He couldn’t speak English. Just months earlier, he had defected while on a U.S. tour with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba.

“I don’t think he even knew how to say ‘Hello’ or ‘My name is . . . ’ ” recalled Victoria Morgan, artistic director emerita, who contacted Amador soon after his defection. “We were doing charades the whole time.”

Within a decade, though, Amador was living a life he had never imagined for himself back in Cuba. He owned a condo in Covington and a house in Mount Washington. He was driving a bright red BMW and was a principal dancer with Cincinnati Ballet.

Eight weeks after defecting, he told the New York Times that “Some people said, ‘Wait, don’t go.’ But what am I waiting for? . . . I don’t want to wake up one day, realize that I was 40, and then wonder why I didn’t jump when I had the chance.”

He needn’t have worried.

Amador, known affectionately as Cervi, turned 42 on Aug. 16. Last December, he was named artistic director of Cincinnati Ballet. He’s married now and has three children. The current BMW is black. He recently bought a century-old, 3,200-square-foot house in North Avondale. And he has managed to bring the rest of his family from Cuba to Cincinnati. You couldn’t invent a more uplifting example of the American Dream.

The start of a ‘lovefest’

In 2004, Morgan sent plane tickets to Amador and two other defectors who would eventually join Cincinnati Ballet, Adiarys Almeida and Gema Diaz. The trio hadn’t signed contracts yet. But Morgan wanted them to see the company while she assessed their abilities.

“First, they took a company class,” said Morgan. “I thought they were pretty good. Then we went to Studio C – the basement studio –and they showed me a couple of classical pas de deux. They did ‘Flames of Paris’ and the ‘Don Quixote’ pas de deux. It was when they did that, that I was ready to bow down and do whatever it would take to get them to come here. They were so phenomenal. The rest of the company could have been jealous. Instead, it was kind of a lovefest.”

Weeks later, when Amador made it to the stage, it was clear that audiences felt the love, too. He had a likable presence. He was brash, but not too brash. He was a daring performer, filled with confidence and sex appeal. It was clear that he loved the audience as much as they loved him.

Still, it is possible that his greatest influence was in the rehearsal studio.

After his arrival, the Cincinnati Ballet studio became a more cheerful and optimistic place, as I observed at the time – and as several former dancers have said. There was a deeper sense of camaraderie, particularly among the men.

During breaks, the men would engage in good-natured competitions to see who could do the most pirouettes. They’d play poker and kick soccer balls and play a ballet version of basketball’s “H-O-R-S-E,” where you have to match your colleagues shot for shot, combination for combination, the more outlandish the better.

It was fun and spirited, the dancers said. And it made them better dancers.

“I enjoyed it, but I always wanted to win,” Amador admitted. “That’s how I grew up my whole life. I’m very competitive.”

A quest for stability

September 2023 was a chaotic time for Cincinnati Ballet. Just 14 months after dancer/ choreographer Jodie Gates became artistic director, she bailed. Her reasons for leaving have never been disclosed, either by Gates or the company. There aren’t even many rumors

floating around to explain it.

Then, less than a week after Gates announced her departure, Scott Altman, then president and CEO, said he was leaving as well to accept a similar position with the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

The company hadn’t experienced this kind of uncertainty since the 1990s, when it went through four artistic directors in eight tumultuous years.

That all changed in 1997. That’s when Morgan entered the picture. She was the 45-year-old former resident choreographer of the San Francisco Opera who had made her name as a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet. By her own admission, Morgan wasn’t prepared for the job. She’d never been an artistic director. She’d never created a season for a company. She’d never had to deal with a board of trustees.

But she was tenacious and enthusiastic – the adjectives that board members would later

Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director

Cervilio Amador

Photo by hiroM Platt Photogra Phy

use to describe Amador, who was every bit as inexperienced as an artistic director as Morgan had been nearly 30 years earlier. Amador was a known entity. But the search committee didn’t select him just because he was already here. They liked his devotion to dance. And to the company itself.

“Look,” Amador said, “I work for Cincinnati Ballet. I am an employee of Cincinnati Ballet. And I want what is best for the company, not necessarily what is best for Cervi. I don’t feel this is my company. I feel leadership. I feel like I am responsible to guide the company artistically. But I am also responsible for the careers of the dancers. I want what is good for the audience, but it also has to be a challenge for the dancers. That should be part of their reward for being here.

“When it comes to the new dancers, I am just like the audience. I have so many questions about them. What are they going to bring to the stage? What are they going to bring to the company? What are we going to learn from them and how will they influence us? I cannot wait to see what they’re going to do.”

CEO Brant a powerful ally

Now, nearly two years after Gates and Altman left, a sense of calm has settled in at the Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance, Cincinnati Ballet’s new Walnut Hills home.

Much of that stems from the leadership of Deborah S. Brant, president and CEO of the company since January 2024. She has brought a much less combative style of management to the company than it had during the Altman era. She also brought a deep understanding and appreciation for dance. Before coming to Cincinnati in 1998, she had been a fundraising

I think he will succeed. He wants it so badly. He’s smart and obviously a determined young man. I feel like there is so much going for him.

– Victoria Morgan

consultant for a who’s who of American dance, including New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Jacob’s Pillow, as well as the Kennedy Center.

While Brant has little involvement in day-today artistic operations, her passion for dance has made her a powerful ally for Amador.

“I want him to be successful,” Brant said. “I feel that he has really proven himself. He is so open to input from other people.” Then, she added that “I do not want to be the CEO of any other company. This is the best job. I have spent the last two years bringing back the donors and board members that had drifted to other places.”

Her most recent success: a sponsor for Amador’s position. He will now be known as The Katherine and Richard Rosenthal Artistic Director of Cincinnati Ballet.

Side hustles become a dance move

Years ago, Amador shared with me some of the many side hustles he engaged in to make more money while he was in the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Many of them took place when the company was on tour.

“When we had a big trip to Spain, we had a

container come back,” Amador said as he flashed his dimpled smile. “I took home a refrigerator, a television, enough oil for my mom to cook for a year, tomato paste, detergent – things that were very expensive and hard to get in Cuba.”

But where did he get enough cash to pay for all of that? Another side hustle, a favorite one: Cuban cigars.

“Every one of us could bring two boxes of cigars out of the country,” he said, noting that a friend who worked in a cigar factory secured them for $25 per box. “I would talk to the girls in the company and I would ask each one of them to get two boxes for me. So I had something like 10 or 20 boxes every time I would leave Cuba. I would sell those boxes for $250 or $300. And then I would go shopping. You have to hustle to survive.”

It’s not that different being an artistic director. In November, for instance, the company will perform choreographer Septime Webre’s ballet version of “The Great Gatsby.” It’s a mammoth production created for Webre’s Hong Kong Ballet. The cost of renting the sets and costumes and shipping them to the U.S. was prohibitive. So wheeler-dealer Amador went to work: The costs will now be shared by four companies.

Morgan just smiled when she heared the story. “I think he will succeed,” she said. “He wants it so badly. He’s smart and obviously a determined young man. I feel like there is so much going for him. The thing that was so interesting for me is that when I talked to our patrons and some of our largest donors, they all said the same thing; ‘It’s got to be Cervi.’ ” 

 The Kaplan New Works Series runs Sept. 12-20. Full 2025-26 season at cballet.org

This story and cover image were sponsored by Cincinnati Ballet.

Community Arts Centers

Clifton Cultural Arts Center

Founded in 2008, Clifton Cultural Arts Center serves 4,000 people a month, providing classes year-round for all ages in visual arts, dance, music, theater, writing and wellness. A unique subsidized tuition system, Fair Share Pricing, keeps creative learning and expression accessible to all. Young and older artists alike can try out new tools at the MakeShop’s free, weekly open studio hours. CCAC also hosts events and performances including free outdoor concerts, intimate “Rooftop Sessions,” free performances of regional arts organizations and expert discussions. Regional artists are spotlighted in glass-filled gallery spaces all year in rotating solo and group exhibitions. John Leo Muething is interim executive director.

 cliftonculturalarts.org

Evendale Cultural Arts Center

The Evendale Cultural Arts Center offers year-round arts programming for all ages, with classes held in the main center and the Bell Tower Arts Pavilion. Visual arts include drawing, painting, ceramics and open studio time. Performing arts range from theater productions to music and voice lessons with professional instructors. The center, founded in 2008, also presents rotating gallery exhibits, youth camps and popular community events like the Big Art Party and monthly wine tastings. With studios, performance space and an active community, the center serves 3,000 people a month. Susan Gordy is executive director.

 evendaleohio.org/cultural-arts-center

Kennedy Heights Arts Center

Kennedy Heights Arts Center was founded in 2004 by local residents who transformed two vacant properties in a diverse Cincinnati neighborhood into a hub for arts and culture. Its mission is to provide inclusive arts and cultural experiences that celebrate diversity, nurture creativity and build community. The center serves 1,000 adults and youths in arts education classes, summer art camps, after-school programs in Cincinnati Public Schools, an after-school Jazz Academy for CPS students in grades 4-12, art exhibitions in two galleries, artist residencies, and performances and events from music concerts to cultural festivals to poetry readings. All programs are free or sliding scale. The executive director is Ellen Muse.

 kennedyarts.org

The Barn / Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center

The Barn in Mariemont, Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center, is over 100 years old, beautifully restored and tucked in a charming neighborhood. It’s worth a visit just to see the architecture. Its cultural center, founded in 2007, has free exhibits from local and national artists on view six days a week. Classes for painting, pastels and sketching, Japanese flower arranging, sewing and fashion design, dancing and even Cupcakery runs all week long, serving 1,500 people a month. The old walls of The Barn host everything from goat yoga for the public to private weddings and lectures. Christine Parker is executive director.

 thebarninmariemont.org

Reading Community Arts Center

The Reading Community Arts Center, founded in 2021, offers a gallery, open to the public with new art exhibits monthly. About 100 people every month take advantage of the center’s music lessons in violin, viola, cello, ukulele and piano, along with dance classes, visual arts lessons and monthly paint and sip classes. A black box theater is available for live music shows monthly. Sandy Pierce-Harsch is executive director.

 readingcommunityartscenter.org

JohnLeoMuething

SandyPierce-Harsch

SusanGordy

EllenMuse

Clifton Cultural Arts Center

Evendale Cultural Arts Center

ChristineParker

The Barn / Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center

Reading Community Arts Center

PRESENTING OUR 2025–2026 SEASON

BRENTANO QUARTET

“… a masterclass in eloquence.” – The Guardian

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

KAREN SLACK, soprano

MICHELLE CANN, piano

2025 GRAMMY Winners

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

RENAISSANCE QUARTET

2024 Salon de Virtuosi Award

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

MIRÓ QUARTET

“Rewarding in every way.” – The Washington Post

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Six-concert subscriptions: $200.

ISRAELI CHAMBER PROJECT with Antje Weithaas

“… you want to rush home and discover more.” – The New York Times

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

$150 (25% off) on checkout with code MM2025.

Single Tickets: $40. $30 (25% off) on checkout with code MM2025.

Tickets and program information at CincyChamber.org or call Memorial Hall at 513-977-8838.

QUATUOR ÉBÈNE

“One of the ten greatest string quartets of all time.” – BBC Music Magazine

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Students under 18 admitted free, 18 and over $10, if available, on the day of performance. All concerts 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm Street.

The World’s Leading Chamber Music Artists

Manifest Center for the Visual Arts

Manifest Center for the Visual Arts fosters excellence in visual arts through public programs seven days a week. Offerings include free exhibitions at Manifest Gallery in East Walnut Hills, showcasing contemporary art from around the world, and professional-level instruction at the Clifton-based Manifest Drawing Center in drawing, painting, photography and printmaking. The shared learning environment features open figure life drawing and a community darkroom. A lithography and intaglio printmaking studio will open late 2025, expanding Manifest’s role as a regional hub for visual arts practice and learning. Manifest also supports artists through residencies and produces publications documenting contemporary art. Founded in 2004, Manifest serves about 775 people a month under Jason Franz, founding executive director and chief curator.

 manifestvisualarts.org

Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center

For 103 years, Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center’s mission has been to provide educational experiences to the community, particularly in the arts and humanities. Baker Hunt’s programming includes arts education, arts appreciation, culinary education, mind and body wellness, lectures on various topics, and community concerts and events. Baker Hunt also provides free art and culinary education to local youth, the Veterans Association and senior care facilities. The Covington center serves 600 people a month under Executive Director Alex Noel. It has been part of the Northern Kentucky cultural scene since 1922.

 bakerhunt.org

The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum

The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum, founded in 1994, is a nonprofit community center serving Columbia Tusculum, East End and Linwood, and visitors from beyond the area. Its core objectives are preserving and restoring the historic building, fostering community connections and creating a space for civic, cultural and artistic engagement. Each year, more than 13,700 people visit for events, meetings, classes, lectures, performances and other activities. To ensure accessibility, 78% of public programs are free, and the center can be rented for private events. Matt Yauch is president and Dinese Young is executive director.

 thecarnegiecenter.org

Fitton Center for Creative Arts

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts isn’t just a building – it’s an experience. Founded in 1993, it’s a nonprofit community arts organization that supports the full spectrum of humanity through equal opportunities in visual and performing arts, serving the city of Hamilton and Butler County. It connects people, energizes the local economy, shares a sense of place and provides cultural opportunities. People can participate in art classes and workshops for students of all ages, watch live performances by musicians, actors and dancers, or engage with artists in the galleries. Ian MacKenzie-Thurley is executive director.

 fittoncenter.org

Middletown Arts Center

The Middletown Arts Center offers year-round arts programming for all ages and skill levels, including weekly classes in drawing, painting, ceramics, glass and more. One-day workshops and summer camps provide creative experiences for youth, teens and adults. In-school and outreach programming includes personalized learning days and sensoryfriendly experiences. Teens can connect and create in a free biweekly teen art group. MAC also hosts exhibitions, live demonstrations and community events. Founded in 1957, MAC serves about 625 people a month in Middletown and Butler County. MAC is led by Kate Morrow, executive director.

 middletownartscenter.com

JasonFranz

AlexNoel DineseYoung

IanMacKenzie-Thurley

KateMorrow

Manifest Center for the Visual Arts

Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center

The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum

Fitton Center for Creative Arts

Middletown Arts Center

ArtWorks

Walnut Hills-based ArtWorks has several programs that connect young artists with professional opportunities. Its Youth Apprentice Program, the organization’s longest-running initiative, provides paid seasonal employment for teens and young adults ages 14-24, who work with professional artists creating large-scale public art while developing job skills. For artists ages 18-24 seeking year-round experience, ArtWorks’ Creative Studios offers work in mural production and photo/video storytelling. The Gallery Fellowship Program, free for participants ages 16-24, offers an artistic experience culminating in an exhibition and sale at the Your Name Here Gallery. Teaching Artists, ages 22 and older, lead these projects, passing on their skills. Founded in 1996, it is led by CEO Colleen Houston and works with more than 200 young artists a year.

 artworkscincinnati.org

Wyoming Fine Arts Center

The Wyoming Fine Arts Center is a nonprofit arts hub whose mission is to educate, create experiences, and nurture appreciation in music and other creative and performing arts for people of all ages, races, abilities and backgrounds. Founded in 1995 by Paul Bartel, the center has served Wyoming and Greater Cincinnati for 30 years, now under Executive Director Brianna Matzke. The center serves 300 to 400 people a month, offering private music lessons, adult and youth art programing, summer and after-school camps, and other events that spark creativity and a love for the arts. Its historic building also hosts community arts groups and is available for performances, meetings and celebrations.

 musicartdance.org

The Carnegie

Whether on stage, in the classroom or in a gallery, The Carnegie in Covington aims to inspire creativity. It’s the largest multidisciplinary arts venue in Northern Kentucky, with The Carnegie Galleries, the Eva G. Farris Education Center and the Otto M. Budig Theatre housed together under a landmark dome. Founded in 1977 and led by Executive Director Matt Distel, The Carnegie uses its historic building as a venue for emerging and established artists to create, perform and exhibit while providing educational opportunities for the discovery and enhancement of creativity and the celebration of the arts.

 thecarnegie.com

ArtsConnect

ArtsConnect’s expert instructors lead programs in pottery, drawing, painting, woodworking, ceramics, music, digital arts, sewing, stained glass, children’s theater, cooking, blacksmithing and so much more. With over 50 programs each week, 1,200 children and adults a month can unleash their creativity in engaging classes, private lessons, camps, events and hands-on workshops, guided by over 40 talented teaching artists. ArtsConnect, based in Springfield Township, is led by Executive Director Kimberlee Flamm. Founded in 2012, it became an arts center in 2020.

 theartsconnect.us

Peaslee Neighborhood Center

The longest-running program at Over-the-Rhine’s Peaslee, founded in 1984, is the Piano Program, which offers affordable weekly lessons for children and adults. Piano students have opportunities to perform in fall and spring recitals, see performances by professional musicians and learn about other keyboard instruments including organs and harpsichords. An after-school Girls Writing Circle at Rothenberg Academy provides a safe space for students in grades 3-6. In Peaslee’s Agents of Change program for students ages 11-15 participants learn about different forms of creative expression and how they can channel their voices toward social change. Their program continues as a summer day camp, alongside the Peaslee Kids camp for ages 6-10. Jennifer Summers is the center’s director.

 peasleecenter.org 

JenniferSummers

ColleenHouston

MattDistel

KimberleeFlam m

BriannaMatzke

Wyoming Fine Arts Center

The Carnegie, Covington

ArtsConnect

Peaslee Neighborhood Center

The Datebook

SEPT. 3, WEDNESDAY

Foreign Trade Zones 46 & 47, Fall Event | 3-6 p.m. 1819 Innovation Hub, Avondale. Keynotes, panel discussions and networking.

 gcftz.com

SEPT. 4, THURSDAY

Women’s Fund, 30 Years Strong –Legacy in Motion | 11:30 a.m.-1 :30 p.m. Anderson Pavilion, Smale Park. Reception, lunch and presentation. Honoring Angele K. Blackshear “Sister Keli,” Leslie McNeill, Mary Stagaman and Barbara Turner. Tickets: $125.

 gcfdn.org

SEPT. 5, FRIDAY

St. Joseph Home, Annual Golf Classic | Glenview Golf Course. Save the date. Registration: $200; $800/foursome.

 stjosephhome.org/events

SEPT. 6, SATURDAY

Behringer-Crawford Museum, freshART | 6-9:30 p.m. BehringerCrawford Museum, Covington. Silent auction, live auction, live music and bar. Tickets: $60.  bcmuseum.org/activities/freshart

Disruption Now, Future of Data Hackathon | 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 1819 Innovation Hub. Teams of students and professionals help nonprofits solve real technology and data challenges.  midwestcon.live

Down Syndrome Association, Buddy Walk | 10 a.m. Sawyer Point. Pre-party, mile walk, entertainment, giveaways, food, drinks, bounce houses and activities.  dsagc.com

Ronald McDonald House, Gala | Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Food, entertainment and auction. Tickets: $250.  rmhcincinnati.org

Stepping Stones, The Great Bloom | 7 p.m. Element Eatery, Madisonville. Silent auction, casino-style games, dancing, dinner and drinks. Tickets: $175.  steppingstonesohio.org

Urban League, Annual Diamond Gala | 6:30-10:30 p.m. Sharonville Convention

a Spotlight on the Movers and Makers behind Greater Cincinnati’s Fundraisers, Friend-Raisers and Community Events

Center. Dinner, dessert, open bar and DJs. Tickets: $225.

 ulgso.org/gala

SEPT. 7, SUNDAY

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, Block Party | Noon-4 p.m. Emery Theater, Over-the-Rhine. 12:30 p.m. ribbon cutting, followed by tours of renovated theater. Hosted by Local12’s Bob Herzog. Food, music and Bengals game viewing. Balloon animals, glitter tattoos and face painting for kids. Rain or shine. Free.

 thechildrenstheatre.com

Holocaust & Humanity Center, Liberation Ball | 6 p.m. Cincinnati Museum Center. Featuring mixologist Molly Wellmann and historian/author Dan Hurley. Food, music and dancing. Tickets: $75.

 holocaustandhumanity.org

SEPT. 9, TUESDAY

Goering Center, Annual Family & Private Business Awards | 4 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Awards ceremony.  business.uc.edu

St. Elizabeth Foundation, 46th Annual Golf ParTee  stelizabeth.com

SEPT. 10, WEDNESDAY

Cincinnati Regional Chamber, Leadership Center Celebration | 5-8 p.m. Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine. Awards ceremony recognizing individuals making a lasting impact in the region. Honoring Carl Satterwhite, Rick Greiwe, Emily Cashell and Angelica M. Hardee. Tickets: $150.

 cincinnatichamber.com

SEPT. 11, THURSDAY

Findlay Market, Flavor of Findlay | 6:30-9:30 p.m. Findlay Market. Food, silent auction, raffles and games. VIP access includes extra tasting stations, gifts and live entertainment. Tickets: $115, VIP $165.

 findlaymarket.org

Purcell Marian Alumni, DJ Classic Golf Outing | 11 a.m. Glenview Golf Course, Glendale. Golf, breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Registration: $150; $600/foursome.  one.bidpal.net/pmgolf24/welcome

Historian Dan Hurley and mixologist Molly Wellmann help take you back to the 1940s at the Holocaust & Humanity Center 's Liberation Ball, Sept. 7 at Cincinnati Museum Center.

Cincinnati Regional Chamber honors four individuals at its annual Leadership Center Celebration Sept. 10 : (top) Carl Satterwhite and Rick Greiwe; (bottom) Emily Cashell and Angelica M. Hardee.

Caracole marks the return of its plaidthemed events by honoring longtime supporters Kent Shaw and Jeff Thomas –Sept. 20 at Super Bowl Bellewood Lanes in Newport.

SEPT. 12, FRIDAY

Dress for Success, Fashion Show | Mercantile Immersive, downtown. Chair: Stevi Gable Carr, founder & CEO of WISE Wellness Guild. Dinner, drinks, full-service valet, runway show and VIP cocktail reception. Tickets: $195; VIP $250.

 dfscincy.org

Cincinnati Compass, Cincinnati Rhythm | 6-10 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Food, music, performances and awards. Tickets: $30.

 cincinnaticompass.org

Cincinnati Museum Center, Omnimax Dinner Date | 6:30-9:30 p.m. Union Terminal. Dinner, cooking class, cocktails and screening of “Into America’s Wild.” Tickets: $150.

 cincymuseum.org

Hospice of Cincinnati, For Hospice | 7-11 p.m. Little Miami Brewing Co. Event Center, Milford. Food and live music. Tickets: $125.

 bethesdafoundation.com

SEPT. 13, SATURDAY

Angels’ Castle, Tango Fundraiser | 4-8 p.m. Porras-Ryes Residence, Concode Hills. Tango performances, tango dance lessons, Hispanic cuisine, cocktails, silent auction and penny raffle. Tickets: $135.23.

 angelscastle.org/our-events

Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center, Twilight in Wonderland | 6-9 p.m. Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center, Covington. Food, drinks, silent auction, art show, live music, art demonstrations, games, raffles and costume contest. Tickets: $65.

 bakerhunt.org

Brighton Center, Wine Over Water | 5:30-9:30 p.m. Purple People Bridge. Drinks, food and entertainment. Tickets: $50.

 brightoncenter.com

Hamilton Township Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Indoor Golf Scramble | 8 a.m. Tee 18, Maineville. Raffle baskets, split-the-pot and contests. Registration: $100 for foursome for 2 hours in a bay anytime 8 a.m-6 p.m.

 tee18golf.com

People Working Cooperatively, ToolBelt Ball | 5:30 p.m. Manor House, Mason. Black-tie event with cocktail reception, entertainment, dinner, auctions, raffles and booze pull. Tickets: $175.

 pwchomerepairs.org/toolbeltball

Ride Cincinnati, Annual Ride | Sawyer Point Park. Bicycle routes of 4, 30, 50 and 60 miles. Live music, DJs and Kroger Fan Zone.

 ridecincinnati.org/events/500

SEPT. 16, TUESDAY

Magnified Giving, Fall Dinner | 5:30-8 p.m. Cooper Creek Event Center, Blue Ash. Cocktail hour, dinner, program and award presentation.

 magnifiedgiving.org/dinner-25

SEPT. 17, WEDNESDAY

Beech Acres Parenting Center, Love Grows Here Breakfast | 7:30-9 a.m. MadTree Brewing Company, Oakley. Meet and greet, breakfast and program.

 beechacres.org/love-grows-here

EquaSion, Volunteer Summit | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Music Resource Center Cincinnati, Evanston. Sessions for EquaSion volunteers, consultants and board members. Free.  equasion.org

SCORE, Confluence 2025 |

9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Matthew 25: Ministries, Blue Ash. Remarks by Mayor Aftab Pureval; keynote: Carl Satterwhite. Networking opportunities, sessions and panel discussions.

 score.org/greatercincinnati

SEPT. 18, THURSDAY

Family Nurturing Center, Golf

Scramble | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Lassing Pointe Golf Course, Union. Golf. Tickets: $600/foursome.

 e.givesmart.com/events/JjE

Mill Creek Alliance, 30th

Anniversary Fundraiser | 5:30-9 p.m.

MadTree Parks & Rec @ Summit Park, Blue Ash. Open bar, appetizers, plated dinner, entertainment, paddle raise and silent auction. Tickets: $125.

 themillcreekalliance.org/30years

Red Bike, Pint Night Derby | 5-9 p.m. Rhinegeist Brewery, Over-the-Rhine. Race of small, handcrafted wooden cars, prizes and split-the-pot. Registration: $25.

 cincyredbike.org

2025 Transformation Awards honoring

The Center, in operation for 22 years, is the region’s only facility that cares for ill/injured adults experiencing homelessness, with no place else to go when released from the hospital. We operate a nonprofit, 20-bed medical facility that provides 6000 annual bed nights and 146,000 hours of service. Our comprehensive recuperative care and case management team supports our clients by providing these specialized services.

to learn more or donate.

The late Pastor John Suguitan of

Mike Moroski, Executive Director of

SEPT. 18, THURSDAY (CONT.)

Talbert House, 60th Anniversary Celebration | 4:30-6:30 p.m. The Palomar, Walnut Hills. Drinks, light bites, dessert and networking. Tickets: $60.

 talberthouse.org

SEPT. 19, FRIDAY

Cincinnati Zoo, Zoofari | 7-11 p.m. Cincinnati Zoo. Cocktail hour, food, drinks, animal experiences, live performances and neon glow body art studio. Tickets: $250.

 cincinnatizoo.org/events/zoofari

SEPT. 20, SATURDAY

Caracole, Pins ‘n’ Plaid | 6:30-11 p.m. Super Bowl Bellewood Lanes, Newport. Cocktails, dinner by-the-bite, silent auction, bowling, music and dancing. Honorees: Kent Shaw and Jeff Thomas. Chairs: Andrew Kiley, Matt Knotts and Joe Rigotti. Tickets: $125.  caracole.org/event/pinsnplaid

Children’s Law Center, Boots, Bourbon & Biscuits Brunch | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Receptions, Erlanger. Keynote: Michelle Keller, Kentucky Supreme Court justice. Live music, silent auction, drinks, brunch and biscuit bar. Tickets: $75.

 childrenslawky.org

Community Action Agency, Annual Dinner Party | 6-10 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Emcee: Courtis Fuller. Cocktail reception, silent auction, raffles, threecourse dinner and music. Tickets: $175.

 cincy-caa.org

SEPT. 21, SUNDAY

Concours Devou, Classic Car Show | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Drees Pavilion, Covington. Food, drinks, car show and VIP experiences. Proceeds benefit Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center. Tickets start at $27.95.

 cackentucky.org

SEPT. 22, MONDAY

City Gospel Mission, Golf Outing | 8 a.m. Aston Oaks Golf Club, North Bend. Hole-in-one contests, course games, food, raffles and awards.

 citygospelmission.org

Clermont Chamber of Commerce, Golf for Kids | 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Elks

Run Golf Club, Batavia. Breakfast, golf, lunch, happy hour, raffle and awards.

 business.clermontchamber.com

Dragonfly, Golf Classic | 10 a.m. Wetherington Golf and Country Club, West Chester. Golf, lunch, cocktails and appetizers.

 cincinnati.dragonfly.org

SEPT. 24, WEDNESDAY

Adopt A Class, Mentor Symposium | 8-10 a.m. Cintas Center, Xavier University. Breakfast, networking and vendor exhibits.

 aacmentors.org

Greenacres Foundation, Giving with Grace | 6-9 p.m. Greenacres Arts Center, Indian Hill. Cocktail hour, music, dinner and program. Tickets: $125.

 green-acres.org

SEPT. 25, THURSDAY

Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition, Annual Music & Medicine Conference | 8:30 a.m. Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition, Wyoming. Breakout sessions and lunch. Registration $100.

 musicandwellness.net

Giving Voice Foundation, Brews for Brains | 6:30 p.m. Braxton Brewing, Covington. Food, beer tastings, photo booth and DJ. Tickets: $75.

 givebutter.com/BrewsforBrains

Impact 100, Annual Awards

Celebration | 5 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Celebration of finalists and award winners. Emcee: Fox 19’s Rob Williams. Drinks, dinner and musical entertainment. Tickets: $90.

 impact100.org/event/aac-2025

NKY Chamber of Commerce, 2025

Annual Dinner | 5-10:30 p.m. NKY Convention Center. Dinner, 6:30 p.m. After-party, 8:30 p.m. Celebrate past accomplishments, highlight current growth, look ahead and honor award winners. Tickets: $100-$170; table of 10: $1,750  nkychamber.com/signature-events

Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, Annual Celebrating Our Beloved Community | Findlay Market. Hard-hat tour of Gloria’s Place, food and honoring YMCA Camp Ernst and Margaret Quinn. Registration: $85.  otrch.org

Dancefix founder Heather Britt (left foreground) is now also leading a foundation to further dance education. The launch party and fundraiser take place Sept. 27 at the organization’s new Walnut Hills headquarters and dance studio.

SEPT.

26, FRIDAY

Beechwood Home, Annual Block Party | Evening. Beechwood Home, Evanston. Music by Soul Pocket.  beechwoodhome.com

Junior Achievement, Ladies Sporting Clays Classic and/or Women & Wine | 11 a.m. Clay shoot, Elk Creek Hunt Club, Owenton. 2:30 p.m. Women & Wine, The View Event Center, Williamstown. Shooting sporting clays, raffle baskets and hors d’oeuvres. Registration: $375.  japartners.org

Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled, 50th Anniversary Celebration | 6:3010:30 p.m. American Sign Museum, Camp Washington. Celebrating LADD’s 50th anniversary. Tickets: $150.  laddinc.org

Melanoma Know More, Music for Melanoma Gala | 5:30-10 p.m. Manor House, Mason. Food, drinks, silent and live auctions, raffle, wine wall, bourbon pull, Genesis Diamonds boutique and live music. Tickets: $150.  melanomaknowmore.com

Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio, Cheers to 10 Years | 6:30 p.m. Little Miami Brewing Company Event Center, Milford. Dinner by-the-bite, drinks and entertainment. Casual attire. Tickets: $100.  pbpohio.org

SEPT. 27, SATURDAY

Comboni Missionaries, Taste of Mission | 4-8 p.m. Comboni Missionaries, Cherry Grove. Food, drinks, music, dancing and petting zoo.  combonimissionaries.org/tom

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Wild About a Cure | 6:30 p.m. Cincinnati Zoo. Open bar, hors d’oeuvres, exclusive animal encounters, silent auction and live auction. Tickets: $150; VIP $200.  events.cff.org/WildAboutaCure

Dancefix Foundation, Studio DFX | 6:30-11 p.m. Dancefix, Walnut Hills. Launch party and fundraiser. Food by-the-bite featuring Walnut Hills restaurants, drinks, presentation, performances and dance party. Dance party only: $75; VIP: $175 each/$300 a couple.  dancefixfoundation.org

Envision, Go the Extra Mile | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Winton Woods Kestrel Shelter. 5K walk/run/roll, food, games, activities, music, vendors, raffles, prizes and giveaways.  envisionohio.org

Found House IHN, Pawty Pawlooza | Nooon-3 p.m. Found House Dog Play Yard, Walnut Hills. Food, silent auction, pet caricatures, facility tours and petfriendly fun. Tickets: $20.  foundhouse.org/pawty-2025

Greater Project, Sonder & Friends Oktoberfest 5K | 10 a.m. Sonder Brewing, Mason. 5K and kids root beer run, drinks, food, kids activities and live music. Registration: $35.  runsignup.com

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, International Freedom Conductor Awards | 7:30 p.m. Aronoff Center, downtown. Live performances by Cincinnati Opera, emcee Adrian Dunn and the Adrian Dunn Singers and Mali Music. Honorees: Opal Lee, Lonnie G. Bunch III, Toni Morrison, John E. Pepper Jr. and Isabel Wilkerson. Tickets start at $64.

 freedomcenter.org

Get In sp ir ed !

The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio is on a mission to end generational poverty through advocacy and by empowering individuals to establish careers, become entrepreneurs, build wealth and develop as leaders.

Programs like SOAR (Solid Opportunities for Advancement and Retention), Building Futures and Women in Tech connect people with jobs that provide living wages, clear opportunities for career growth, and sustainable retirement benefits. Once individuals gain meaningful employment, the 700 Credit Club provides a comprehensive, year-long journey tailored to help people build credit, master debt management, and achieve lasting financial success. All the League’s programs complement one another with the shared goal of breaking the cycle of economic instability, uplifting families from poverty, and helping them build a foundation for long-term success.

We invite you to join us to celebrate and support this life-changing work at the Urban League Diamond Gala on Saturday September 6, 2025 from 6:30-10:30 pm at the Sharonville Convention Center.

Cincinnati favorite, DJ Vader will kick off this elegant evening of dinner and dessert by the bite accompanied by an open bar. The evening headliner is the Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff best known as one half of the chart toping duo, “DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.”

Tickets are available now at www.ulgso.org/gala. Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Danielle Evans at DEvans@ulgso.org.

YOUR CENTER FOR INSPIRATION

Contact Liz Tufts to reserve your date. 513-771-7744 | ltufts@cityofsharonville.com 11355 Chester Road, Cincinnati, OH 45246 www.sharonvilleconventioncenter.com

SEPT. 27, SATURDAY (CONT.)

Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center, Annual Grand Gala | 6 p.m.-midnight. Airport Marriott, Hebron. Honoring Hollaender Manufacturing Co. and Marc Cetrulo. Music by Naked Karate Girls.

 nkycac.org/2025-gala

Pet Partners, World’s Largest Pet Walk | Participants and their pets walk at any time and location that works best for them to fundraise.

 p2p.onecause.com/wlpw/home

The Point Arc, Point Arc Fest: Bringing Nashville to Newport | 4 p.m.-midnight. Newport Car Barn, Newport. Music from Nashville artists, food, raffles and prizes. Tickets: $50.

 thepointarc.org/upcoming-events

Their Voice, Blue Jean Bash | 6-10 p.m. Kolping Haus, New Burlington. Tickets: $100.

 theirvoice95.org/events

ZERO Prostate Cancer, Walk/Run | 7:45 a.m. Yeatman’s Cove, Sawyer Point Park. 5K run/walk and 1-mile walk.  support.zerocancer.org

SEPT. 29, MONDAY

DePaul Cristo Rey, Golf Classic | Western Hills Country Club. Golf, contests, lunch and cocktail reception. Registration: $300.  depaulcristorey.org

SEPT. 30, TUESDAY

Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, ConnectHER OTR Summit | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Hard Rock Casino. Keynote speakers, interactive workshops, panel discussions and

“British Oprah” Jaz Ampaw-Farr

headlines the F.I.R.E. Conference, hosted by Barbara Turner’s BT Rise – Oct. 2 in the Music Hall Ballroom.

networking sessions. Tickets: $95.

 otrchamber.com/connecther-otr

OCT. 2, THURSDAY

BT Rise, F.I.R.E. Conference |

8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Music Hall. Keynote: Jaz Ampaw-Farr. Presentations, panel discussions, Q&As, breakout sessions, workshops, cocktail reception and vendor showcase. Tickets: $150.

 thefireconference.com

Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA, Annual Celebration | Keynote: Anthony Muñoz. Save the date.

 hispanicchambercincinnati.com

OCT. 3, FRIDAY

Brighton Center, Community Celebration | 3-6 p.m. Brighton Center parking lot, corner of W. 8th Street and Central Ave. Food, fun and games.

 brightoncenter.com

Cincinnati Nature Center, Back to Nature | 6-10 p.m. Cincinnati Nature Center, Milford. Cocktails, dinner, dessert, activity stations, live music and silent auction. Tickets: $200.

 cincynature.org/back-to-nature

Cincinnati Parks Foundation, Hats Off Luncheon | 11 a.m. Smale Riverfront Park. Honoring Shannon Carter and Lee Ault Carter.  cincinnatiparksfoundation.org

CityLink Center, MashUp 2025: Piece by Piece | 6-10 p.m. CityLink Center, Over-the-Rhine. Live performance, music, interactive art, drinks, food and DJ. Tickets: $40.  citylinkcenter.org/mashup

WAVE Foundation, Nauti Nite | 7:30 p.m. Newport Aquarium. VIP preparty at 6 p.m. Dinner by-the-bite, silent auction, live entertainment, raffles, silent disco and animal encounters. Tickets: $150; VIP $250.

 e.givesmart.com/events/Hbt

OCT. 4, SATURDAY

1N5, Warrior Run | 5 p.m. Dogwood Park, Mariemont. Mile walk, 5K and post-race party.  classy.org/event/warrior-run-2025

Alzheimer’s Association, Walk to End Alzheimer’s Cincinnati Tri-State | 8:30 a.m. Sawyer Point. Promise Garden ceremony and walk.  act.alz.org

Cincinnati NAACP, Freedom Fund Dinner | 6-11 p.m. Sharonville Convention Center. Dinner and afterparty. Tickets: $95.  cincinnatinaacp.com/ freedom-fund-dinner

Learning Grove, Gala in the Grove: Once Upon a Gala | 6-10 p.m. Hilton Netherland Plaza. Fairytale-themed evening featuring cocktail hour, dinner, drinks, games, storytelling and surprises. Emcee: Kelly Rippin, WLWT. Tickets: $175.  learning-grove.org/events

Ohio Valley Voices, A Night of Good Fortune | 7-11 p.m. Ohio Valley Voices, Loveland. Casino games, live music, food trucks and raffles.  ohiovalleyvoices.org

SHE+ Foundation, Annual SHE+ Gala | 7-11 p.m. The Palomar, Walnut Hills. Dinner-by-the-bite, cocktails, and music by Sly Band. Tickets: $250.  sheplusfoundation.com/gala

The annual Cincinnati Parks Foundation Hats Off Luncheon honors the contributions of Lee Carter (bottom left) and Shannon Carter (right) at Smale Park, Oct. 3

OCT. 7, TUESDAY

La Soupe, 10th Anniversary Celebration | 6-8 p.m. The Palomar, Walnut Hills. Multi-course dinner. Tickets: $225; VIP: $335  lasoupe.org/10-year-celebration

Spirit of America Gala | 7:30-9 p.m. Cincinnati Music Hall. Performances by Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Opera to launch America’s River Roots Festival. Tickets start at $51.25.

 cincinnatiarts.org/events

OCT. 9, THURSDAY

Cancer Support Community, Stronger Than Cancer Celebration | 6-9 p.m. The Lightwell at NORTH, Hotel Covington. Emcee: Local 12’s Bob Herzog. Dinner, bar, raffles and auction. Tickets: $150.  mycancersupportcommunity.org

Christ Hospital Foundation Guild, Off The Wall | 6 p.m. Cooper Creek Event Center, Blue Ash. Light dinner, drinks, art lottery and silent auction. Tickets: $100.  thechristhospital.com

Starfire, Inclusion Seekers Summit | 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Cincinnati Art Museum. Keynote: Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Panel discussions, interactive sessions and collaborative conversations. Tickets: $100.

 inclusionseekers.org/summit25

OCT. 10, FRIDAY

Art Beyond Boundaries, Jazzed About Art | 6-10 p.m. Woodward Theater, Over-the-Rhine. Cocktail hour, dinner, live jazz, bourbon pull and raffles. Tickets: $75.

 artbeyondboundaries.com

Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy offers the keynote for Starfire’s Inclusion Seekers Summit , Oct. 9 at Cincinnati Art Museum.

OneSource Center, 10:10 Experience | 5:30-8 p.m. Filson Restaurant, The Banks. Silent auction, raffles, light bites, entertainment, signature cocktails and networking opportunities. Tickets: $125.

 givebutter.com/c/10-10Exp

OCT. 11, SATURDAY

Africa Fire Mission, Chama | 6-10 p.m. Local 48 - Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union Hall, Queensgate. Food, drinks and silent auction.

 africafiremission.org/new-events

OCT. 13, MONDAY

Ken Anderson Alliance, Golf Classic | Coldstream Country Club, Anderson Twp.. Golf with former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, food, drinks and prizes.

 kenandersonalliance.org

OCT. 15, WEDNESDAY

Junior Achievement, Business Hall of Fame | 6-9 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Honorees: Scott Farmer of Cintas, Larry Kellar of Kroger (posthumous), Candace McGraw of CVG, Scott Robertson of RCF Group and restaurateur Jeff Ruby. Also, Lifetime Achievement recipient Scott Haussler of Paycor. Tickets: $350; $2,750/table of 8.

 japartners.org

OCT. 16-17, THURSDAY-FRIDAY

Caracole, Caracon Symposium 2025 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Ensemble Theatre, Over-the-Rhine. Keynote: Jesse Milan Jr., president & CEO, AIDS United. Breakout sessions, interactive activities, networking, breakfast and dinner. Tickets: $100; virtual $75.

 caracole.org

OCT. 16, THURSDAY

Bethany House, Welcome Home Bash | 6-10 p.m. American Sign Museum, Camp Washington. Honoring Carolyn Washburn, Perry Washburn and Judge Virginia Tallent. Tickets: $100.

 bethanyhouseservices.org

IPM Food Pantry, Sip, Savor and Support | 5:30-8 p.m. Little Miami Brewing Company Event Center, Milford. Cocktails, dinner-by-the-bite and live music. Tickets: $75.

 ipmfoodpantry.org

NewPath, Heart & Hope Gala | 5:30-8 p.m. Music Hall. Cocktail hour, dinner, program and award ceremony. Tickets: $150.

 newpath.org/events/gala

OCT. 17, FRIDAY

Great Parks Forever, Root Ball | 6-10 p.m. Savannah Center, West Chester. Dinner, cocktails, music, silent auction, panel discussion and networking with fellow nature lovers. Tickets: Host: $250; guest: $150.

 forever.greatparks.org/root-ball

New Life Furniture Bank, Party in the House | 6-9 p.m. Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine. Emcee: Sheree Paolello. Food, drinks, music by DJ JonJon, silent auction and thrift store pop-up shop. Cochairs: Jackie Barnes, Katrina Hartsel and Andrea DeStefano. Tickets: $175.

 nlfurniture.org

Stepping Stones, Sporting Clays Tournament | Sycamore Pheasant Club, Loveland. Shooting clays, raffle and live auction. Co-chairs: Peter Borchers and Brian Folke.

 steppingstonesohio.org

OCT. 18, SATURDAY

Lincoln Heights Outreach Incorporated, An Evening Under the Stars: Jazz, Blues & BBQ | 6-10 p.m. Delta Hotel in Sharonville. Three live jazz and blues performances, dinner by-the-bite, silent auction, games, raffles and more. Tickets: $85.

 lincolnheightsoutreach.org

Serve City, Serving Our Neighbors Gala | 5-8 p.m. Community Christian Church, Fairfield. Dinner, entertainment and silent auction. Tickets: $50.

 facebook.com,

OCT. 20, MONDAY

Master Provisions, Annual MPower Lunch | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center, Erlanger. Keynote: Terry Foster, comedian. Emcee: Big Dave, B-105.

 masterprovisions.org

OCT. 22, WEDNESDAY

Mary Jo Cropper Family Center for Breast Care, Celebration of Angels | 5 p.m. Manor House, Mason. Honoring those who have improved the quality of life for cancer survivors. Tickets: $100.

 bethesdafoundation.com

OCT. 23, THURSDAY

American Jewish Committee, National Human Relations Award | TBA. Honoring Cindy Motley, Mark Motley, Jan Frankel and John Cobey. cincinnati@ajc.org for info and tickets.

 ajc.org/cincinnati

Better Business Bureau, Awards Gala | 5:30-8:30 p.m. The Summit Hotel, Madisonville. Networking, awards show, drink ticket, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, coffee and after-party. Complimentary parking. Tickets: $125.

 bbb.org/cincinnati

Central Clinic Behavioral Health, Vibes & Lives | 6-9 p.m. The George, The Heights. Honoring Lisa Allen. Small plates, open bar and jazz ensemble. Cocktail attire. Tickets: $102.

 centralclinic.org/vibes-and-lives

Enquirer, Women of the Year | Noon. Hard Rock Casino. Luncheon. Tickets: $75.

 enquirerwoy.com

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Light The Night | 5:30 p.m. Yeatman’s Cove. Festival activities, ceremony, walk and fireworks.

 lightthenight.org

St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati, Annual RetroFittings | 6 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Food, drinks, boutique shopping and runway show. Tickets: $100.

 svdpcincinnati.org

OCT. 24, FRIDAY

Cincinnati Preservation, Fall Forum | Noon. Hilton Netherland Plaza. Keynote: Julie Olds. Student roundtable discussion. Tickets: $75.

 cincinnatipreservation.org/fallforum

Joe Nuxhall Foundation, Miracle Ball | 6 p.m. Oscar Event CenterJungle Jim’s, Fairfield. Save the date.

 nuxhallmiracleleague.org/miracleball

Co-chairs Jackie Barnes, Katrina Hartsel and Andrea DeStefano invite you to New Life Furniture Bank ’s Party in the House, Oct. 17 at Memorial Hall.

Tender Mercies, Halloween Bash | 6:30-11 p.m. MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport. Save the date.

 tendermerciesinc.org

OCT. 25, SATURDAY

4C for Children, Champions for Children Gala | 6-10 p.m. Mercantile Immersive, downtown. Food and silent auction. Tickets: $200.

 4cforchildren.org

Beechwood Home, Annual Fall Gala | Evening. Kenwood Country Club. Honoring James and Susan Gibbs. Guest speakers David Fulcher and Judy Fulcher, music by Soul Pocket.

 beechwoodhome.com

Mercantile Library, Niehoff Lecture | 6 p.m. Hyatt Regency, downtown. Novelist Colson Whitehead. Cocktail reception, multicourse dinner and lecture. Attire: black-tie or cocktail. Tickets: $265.

 mercantilelibrary.com

Santa Maria Community Services, Passport To Success | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Western Hills Country Club. Emcee: Lauren Minor, WLEX-TV, Lexington. Guest speaker: Kathy Wade. Brunch, raffle baskets, split-the-pot, silent auction and networking. Tickets: From $71.21.

 santamaria-cincy.org

Spirit of Construction, Annual Gala | Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Save the date.

 spiritofconstruction.org/events

OCT. 25-26, SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Ohio River Foundation, Cincinnati Coffee Festival | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Hundreds of free tastings of coffees, teas, pastries, chocolates and foods.

 cincinnaticoffeefestival.com

OCT. 29, WEDNESDAY

Green Umbrella, Wasted Food Summit | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine. Keynote talks by ReFED President Dana Gunders and TV personality Chef Alejandra Schrader; breakout sessions and connecting with leaders in sustainability, food access and policy. Tickets: $25.

 greenumbrella.org

Ignite Peace, Annual Gathering | 6-9 p.m. Woodward Theater, Over-theRhine. 40th anniversary celebration.  ignitepeace.org

Leadership Council for Nonprofits, Securing the Future |8 a.m.-5 p.m. Cintas Center. Expanded, full-day nonprofit conference. Speakers: Suzanne Smith, Social Impact Architects, and Patrice Borders, AmplifyEI. Workshops, exhibitor fair and networking. Registration: $150-200, includes breakfast, lunch, happy hour. Sponsorships from $1,500.

leadershipcouncil.us/programs

OCT. 30,

THURSDAY

Adventure Crew, Summits & Horizons | Memorial Hall. Keynote: Carolyn Finney, author of “Black Faces, White Spaces.” Details TBA.  adventurecrew.org/events

Best Buddies, Champion of the Year: Greater Cincinnati Gala | 6:30-10:30 p.m. Newport Syndicate. “Magic of Belonging”-themed evening with cocktails, dinner, performances, awards and auctions. Tickets: $150.  bestbuddieschampion.org/cincinnati

The George in Clifton Heights welcomes Central Clinic Behavioral Health as the organization honors Judge Lisa Allen, Oct. 23

Cincinnati ToolBank, Haunted Hammers & Ales | 5-9 p.m. Fowling Warehouse, Cincinnati. Fowling tournament with prizes, silent auction, drinks and food.

 cincinnatitoolbank.org/events

Working In Neighborhoods, 45th Anniversary Celebration | 4:30-7 p.m. Hyatt Regency, downtown. Honoring John R. Jurgensen Company and Bobby Maly. Tickets: $100.  wincincy.org

Make sure your fundraiser or community event is listed at moversmakers.org/datebook

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Association of Fundraising Professionals names

2025 National Philanthropy Day honorees

The Cincinnati chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals will honor individuals and organizations for outstanding community service at a luncheon scheduled for Nov. 20 in the Music Hall Ballroom. Movers & Makers is media sponsor.

Philanthropists of the Year

Dianne Rosenberg and J. David Rosenberg are arts champions whose leadership and generosity have helped the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra flourish. Dianne’s love for orchestral music began in childhood, with her first visit to Music Hall. That sparked a lifelong connection to the CSO, where she has been board chair since 2022. David brings a distinguished background in law and public service. A senior partner at KMK Law since 1974, he has a deep commitment to community causes. Their $10 million gift established the Dianne and J. David Rosenberg Innovation Fund, helping the CSO explore new programming and reach broader audiences.

Volunteer of the Year

Barbara Weyand brings a lifelong passion for the arts and a wealth of professional expertise to community service. With a formal education in the arts and experience as a retail buyer for leading department stores, Weyand has developed a discerning eye, leadership skills and an appreciation for creativity and design. A board member at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park since 2002, she has been instrumental in garnering support for the organization. Weyand is also a board member at the Cincinnati Art Museum, a sustaining trustee with the Cincinnati Ballet, and new board member for Public Media Connect, CET and ThinkTV.

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy

Zach McGinty ’s philanthropic journey began in 2017 as a high school student, where he discovered a passion for nonprofit work through Magnified Giving. He has built on that foundation, gaining experience to focus on fundraising and community engagement. Now age 24, McGinty serves at Ronald McDonald House Charities Dayton, connecting community members, businesses and organizations to provide free lodging, meals and support for families facing serious medical challenges. In a full-circle moment, he accepted a donation from the Magnified Giving program that first sparked his commitment to service, reflecting his dedication to making a lasting impact in these families’ lives.

Foundation of the Year

The Scripps Howard Fund , established by The E.W. Scripps Company, is dedicated to creating informed and engaged communities through journalism education, childhood literacy and local causes. In Cincinnati, it distributes nearly $1 million annually to local organizations. It also promotes early childhood literacy through its “If You Give a Child a Book …” campaign, which provides books to children at seven area schools. In partnership with WCPO 9, it raises awareness of community needs and supports solutions. While it has a national impact, with $9.8 million invested across the country last year, its commitment to Cincinnati remains strong.

 scripps.com/fund

Innovation in Fundraising

Founded in Cincinnati, Impact 100 launched a worldwide movement of women’s collective giving. The Greater Cincinnati chapter unites more than 400 women who pool their resources to fund large, transformational grants for nonprofits in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana. Members learn about innovative solutions to community needs and participate in the grantmaking process. Since 2002, Impact 100 has awarded over $7.2 million to 67 regional organizations. “We are driven by our vision to be a catalyst for creating an equitable, thriving community for all,” said Janet Collins, president.

 impact100.org

Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy

After a brief high school teaching career, Jim Yunker joined Ball State University’s development office as a graduate assistant in 1972. That assistantship sparked a five-decade career devoted to raising friends and funds for hundreds of nonprofits that his consultancy serves. In 1995 he founded Smith Beers Yunker & Company Inc. – now The Yunker Group Inc. Jim has served as board president of Oak Park, Illinois’s Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio Foundation, president of Cincinnati Rotary Club Foundation, president of Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, board chair of Pro Seniors, board chair of Giving USA Foundation, founding member of Association of Philanthropic Counsel and founding member of Social Venture Partners-Cincinnati.

 af pcincinnati.org

Scripps Howard Fund President/CEO Meredith Delaney

Zach McGinty

Dianne Rosenberg and J. David Rosenberg

Jim Yunker Impact 100 President Janet Collins

Barbara Weyand

Nonprofit News

Cincinnati Big Brother, Little Brother honored at national conference

Cincinnati residents Norm Boyd and his “Little” Tyjon Cousins have earned recognition as Big and Little Brother of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Boyd, 50, has guided 18-year-old Cousins away from negative influences since they matched more than nine years ago.

“I was running the streets with the wrong crowd,” recalled Cousins, who grew up in Lincoln Heights. “Without Norm, I probably would’ve ended up in prison. He helped me learn to do the right thing and treat people with respect.”

Each year, the Greater Cincinnati branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters supports nearly 1,000 children and families across 13 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

Norm and Tyjon celebrated their victory and journey together at the organization’s national conference in Philadelphia, calling themselves “Grand Brothers.” They used their speech to urge more adults to mentor youth.

 bigsforkids.org

Nonprofit to develop vacant Cincy lot into ‘sustainability hub’

Cardinal Land Conservancy plans to transform a vacant 7-acre lot at Marshall and McMicken avenues into a conservation and sustainability hub. Based in Southwest Ohio, the nonprofit works to protect natural habitats, safeguard water quality and build sustainable communities. This latest project is an extension of its mission.

Supported by Cincinnati city funds and landowner Anthony Sansalone, the project will partner with groups including the Civic Garden Center and Adventure Crew. Planned uses include restoring native habitat, creating food-producing gardens, building shared office space and outdoor classrooms, and hosting public programs.

 cardinallandconservancy.org

Boys & Girls Clubs open teen-focused center in Price Hill

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati will open the Western & Southern Youth Workforce Development Center this fall in Price Hill, designed specifically for high school students.

Teens had long asked for a space separate from younger children where they could socialize, receive advice and plan for life after graduation. The new 10,000-square-foot center joins teen spaces at Avondale, Covington, Eastgate, Newport and the Villages of Roll Hill. But this is the first center that will take place in its own building.

Construction of the new facility is part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati’s $50 million “A New Generation Campaign.”

 bgcgc.org/capitalcampaign

Chatfield Edge moves headquarters to Loveland

The Chatfield Edge has moved its headquarters from Brown County to Loveland to be closer to most of the students it serves in southern Ohio.

The nonprofit, formerly Chatfield College, closed as a community college in 2022 but continues to help first-generation and nontraditional students pursue education beyond high school. It does so by providing financial support, professional guidance and personal encouragement.

The move to its new location will better serve the 65% of its students in Hamilton County while continuing outreach in Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Highland and Warren counties, according to Executive Director Robert Elmore.

The nonprofit will continue meeting students in their communities and offering inoffice appointments at both the new Loveland location and the Ursuline Archives building in Brown County.

 chatfieldedge.org

Green Umbrella fellows help region address climate change

Green Umbrella’s Climate Action Fellowship returned this summer, expanding to seven fellows placed in five local governments: Hamilton County, Oxford, Fairfield and Milford, Ohio, and Newport, Kentucky.

The 10-week program gives fellows hands-on roles advancing public-sector climate action, from developing sustainability plans to mapping green infrastructure and engaging schools. Oxford fellows Kate Kozak and Oluwaseun Olubodun supported stormwater funding research, zero-waste initiatives, student engagement and city facility benchmarking. Fellows also participated in group projects, such as touring Cincinnati Public Schools’ green schoolyards to see local partnerships promoting environmental education and climate resilience in action.

“This fellowship delivers real capacity to local governments and helps communities act on climate with urgency,” said Green Umbrella’s Van Sullivan. “At the same time, it’s training future leaders who understand that systems change starts locally.”

 greenumbrella.org

The Christ Hospital leads Cincinnati-area hospitals again

The Christ Hospital has once again been named the top hospital in the Cincinnati region and No. 3 in Ohio by U.S. News & World Report.

The annual Best Hospitals list evaluates more than 4,400 hospitals nationwide on outcomes, nursing strength and complication rates. Christ Hospital earned high marks in orthopedics, geriatric care, and multiple procedures including heart and cancer treatments.

Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky also had strong representation, with St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood-Covington Hospitals, Good Samaritan and Bethesda North among the region’s top-ranked facilities. Dayton’s Kettering Health Main Campus and Miami Valley Hospital also received high state rankings.

 health.usnews.com

Green Umbrella’s Climate Fellows for this summer: Ava Heffernan, Shobha Pai, Kate Kozak, Constance Kammerer, Rachel Cranmer, Oluwaseun Olubodun and Jackson Hare.

Tyjon Cousins and his “Big,” Norm Boyd, received a national honor in Philadelphia from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Megan Milstead , founder of Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank and former CEO of COVERD Greater Cincinnati, has joined The Dragonfly Foundation as vice president of development. Dragonfly also named Tiffany Thomas as director of patient and family events. Thomas, previously with Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati, will oversee events and outings aimed at providing providing young cancer patients and their families with connection, joy and a sense of normalcy. The organization also promoted longtime staff member Lynette Rosati to senior vice president of finance and business development.



Emilia “Mia” Watka , a junior at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, has been named Cincinnati’s 2025-26 Youth Poet Laureate. WordPlay Cincy, which runs the program, selected Watka from a competitive field of teen writers. Watka, who has earned honors from the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and the Books by the Banks Writing Competition, will take part in a series of workshops, performances and mentorship of her one-year term.

Best Point Education & Behavioral Health and its subsidiary, Butler Behavioral Health, have named Dr. Daniel Weis medical director. A psychiatrist with more than two decades of experience in child, adolescent and adult care, Weis has worked extensively in the region, including 10 years with St. Aloysius, which later became part of Best Point, and the past decade with Butler Behavioral Health.

Beech Acres Parenting Center has appointed four new members to its board of directors for the 2025-26 year: Ken Baker, Emmy-nominated journalist at Fox 19; Ashley Blevins, chief revenue and marketing officer at OstermanCron Inc.; Maggie Otero, corporate counsel at Cintas Corporation; and Carlos Schemmel, business attorney at Keating Muething & Klekamp.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed Cincinnati resident Alana Tucker to the Ohio Arts Council board, where she will serve a term expiring in 2030. Tucker, a former Cheviot councilwoman, has experience in education, mental healthcare and politics. She is senior director of government affairs at Government Strategies Group.



Easterseals Redwood has named Diana Victoriano as its new vice president of human resources and talent. Victoriano brings more than 20 years of human resources experience to the nonprofit, which serves children and adults with disabilities, military veterans and people facing disadvantages.

Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati has elected new board officers for the 2025-26 year. Isabella “Bella” Frueh of Think - IF Consulting will serve as board president, while Jen Scott of Equality Ohio will serve as vice president. Kimberly McGinnis of Mercy Health is the board scribe and David Kirley of Cisco will take over as board treasurer.

Jennifer Pierson has assumed the role of chief brand and advancement officer at Lindner Center of Hope. She joined the center nearly 18 years ago as public relations director and later served as senior director of marketing and outreach. In her new role, Pierson will lead marketing, branding, communications and development to raise the center’s national profile as a leader in mental healthcare and research.

Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio named David M. Giles, chief legal officer at The E.W. Scripps Company, to its board of directors. PBPO also welcomed Jonathan Brodhag as its new manager of finance and administration. Brodhag previously served as an attorney volunteer with the organization and will now oversee day-to-day fiscal operations. PBPO provides free business legal services and education to nonprofits.

Cincinnati Works has appointed Amanda McDonald as chief development officer. McDonald joins from Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, where she led fundraising campaigns, launched monthly and planned giving programs, and developed donor engagement strategies. McDonald will oversee fundraising strategy, donor relations, grant development and major gifts to support Cincinnati Works’ mission to eliminate poverty through employment programs.

Chandler Waite will serve as director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, the public affairs and advocacy arm of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. Waite brings experience in diplomacy, advocacy and interfaith engagement, including work at Israel’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest. He will lead JCRC’s efforts to combat antisemitism and strengthen civic and interfaith partnerships.

The ABC Ohio Valley chapter – a regional construction trade association – has named Doug Bolton its new president. Bolton, a 30-year media veteran, helped launch volunteer-matching platforms Cincinnati Cares and Dayton Serves and has held numerous volunteer and board roles with local nonprofits. He most recently led the Metropolitan Club in Covington, which closed in mid-July.

LifeSciKY, Kentucky’s nonprofit lab incubator, has hired Wendy Lemen as its first lab services manager. Lemen, an experienced laboratory operations professional, will oversee lab equipment and services and serve as the primary contact for the incubator’s lab residents. She previously managed 11 labs at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash and has contributed to research at the University of Iowa and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Wendy Lemen Doug Bolton Chandler Waite

Amanda McDonald

Jonathan Brodhag

David M. Giles

Jennifer Pierson

David Kirley

Kimberley McGinnis

Jen Scott

Isabella Frueh

Diana Victoriano Alana Tucker

Carlos Schemmel Maggie Otero Ashley Blevins

Ken Baker

Dr. Daniel Weis

Emilia Watka

TIffany Thomas Megan Milstead Lynette Rosati

Talbert House CEO Josh Arnold has been appointed U.S. Region 3 vice president of the board of directors for the International Community Justice Association, which aims to change how the public sees justice-involved individuals and reduce overincarceration. Arnold has been active with ICJA since 2013, including service on the Ohio Community Corrections Association board.



4C for Children, the local nonprofit supporting families and child care providers, has named Stephanie Byrd chair of its board of trustees and welcomed four new members. Byrd, regional CEO of the American Red Cross in Central and Southern Ohio, has served on the board since 2020. The new members are Liz Keating , vice president of government affairs and advocacy at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber; Donna Miller, owner of Donna’s Daycare; Stephanie Rizzuto, executive associate at the Cincinnati Business Committee; and Kimberly Satcher, owner of Loving Care for Lil Ones Daycare. 

Developers, designers and data professionals will help nonprofits develop AI solutions for free

Secular groups put up Reagan quote billboards in Price Hill

Three local secular humanist organizations have installed a billboard in Price Hill featuring a quote taken from a 1984 speech by former President Ronald Reagan on the separation of church and state. The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s Cincinnati Metro Chapter, the Community of Reason and the Free Inquiry Group funded the 14-by-48foot sign at West Eighth Street, Glenway Avenue and State Street, with a smaller digital sign at Glenway Crossing. Both display Reagan’s image and the words: “Church and state are and must remain separate.”

Organizers said they hope his “earnest countenance” will attract attention and “engender thoughtful reflection.”

The smaller sign ran for two weeks; the larger is set to remain into September.

 ffrfcmc.org

Hackathon returns to help Cincy nonprofits build AI tools

More than 125 developers, designers and data professionals will gather Sept. 6 near the University of Cincinnati campus for the Future of Data Hackathon, hosted by Disruption Now and CincyAI.

The one-day event pairs tech teams with local nonprofits to design custom digital tools at no cost, with a focus on using artificial intelligence for social impact. Selected organizations will receive working prototypes or minimum viable products, plus postevent support for implementation.

Past projects have included AI tools for donor outreach, real-time performance dashboards and systems to streamline reporting and administration.

The hackathon also kicks off this year’s MidwestCon, a three-day technology conference Sept. 9-11 at UC and the 1819 Innovation Hub. The second day will focus on how nonprofits, governments and NGOs can use AI for public good, extending the hackathon’s impact beyond a single day.

 disruptionnow.com

Local secular groups posted a billboard to create conversation around the separation of church and state.

during an annual hackathon.

Kimberly Satcher

Stephanie Rizzuto

Donna Miller

Liz Keating

Stephanie Byrd

Josh Arnold

Gifts & Grants

A $1 million donation from David Stetson and Linda Stetson will help Episcopal Retirement Services expand its “Well Being” program, offering personalized wellness plans and one-on-one support to low-income seniors in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The gift, the largest ever from a living donor to ERS’s Affordable Living program, will fund additional staff and allow the initiative to reach all 30-plus ERS communities by 2031. The Stetsons have donated more than $1.65 million to the program over a decade.

The Christ Hospital Health Network has received a $15 million gift from the Farmer Family Foundation to support its Heart & Vascular Institute, the largest philanthropic investment in the hospital’s history. The donation will fund a new cardiac operating suite with a surgical broadcast center and next-generation imaging technologies. Hospital leaders say the latest upgrades will allow faster, more precise diagnoses, expand noninvasive treatments and help attract top talent.

Don Klekamp has donated $100,000 to Pets In Need of Greater Cincinnati to help families facing financial hardship access critical veterinary care. The donation will expand support for pets and families across the region, the organization’s leaders said. Klekamp, a founding partner at Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL and former Cintas director, made the gift in honor of his late wife, Marianne, and their West Highland white terrier, Lily.

A pair of local nonprofits – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butler County and 1N5 – are among roughly 500 nationwide to receive support from the Taco Bell Foundation this year. BBBS will receive $14,500 to provide mentorship and mental health resources for youth in Butler County, while 1N5 received a $20,000 “Round Up at the Register” grant to expand suicide prevention and mental health education in more than 300 schools in 16 counties.



The Farmer Family Foundation awarded UC Health $2.35 million to address the nursing shortage in Greater Cincinnati, particularly in neuroscience care. The Farmer Family Fund in Neuroscience Nursing will offer tuition reimbursement to UC College of Nursing graduates who begin their careers at UC Health in neurology-related practice. Nurses who stay at least three years will be eligible for full tuition coverage after four years. UC Health leaders say the investment will help attract and retain specialized nurses as demand grows with an aging population.

Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub received a $50,000 gift from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation to support social entrepreneurship in Greater Cincinnati. The grant will fund Flywheel’s Elevate Impact accelerator program, which equips social entrepreneurs with skills, strategies and connections to grow sustainable ventures. Funding will also support S.O.A.R. (Social enterprise Opportunities And Resources), a new hub providing access to tools, partnerships and information.

People Working Cooperatively will benefit from eight grants totaling $233,000 to expand home repair and improvement services for low-income neighbors in Greater Cincinnati. Don Neyer and Phyllis Neyer awarded $65,000 for the Healthy Homes initiative, Macy’s gave $13,000 for the Modifications for Mobility program and the Health Path Foundation contributed $25,000. Additional support came from Fifth Third Bank, Google, R.C. Durr Foundation, S.C. Ministry Foundation and U.S. Bank.

Nearly 300 cyclists finished a 328-mile ride from Cleveland to Cincinnati this summer, raising $912,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Pan Ohio Hope Ride. The four-day event supports the Silber Hope Lodge in Cleveland, which provides free lodging and meals for patients traveling for treatment. That included 32 people from the Cincinnati area last year, who received 586 nights of free care valued at more than $131,000.

Great Parks Forever has secured $2 million in community donations to fully activate a $2 million matching gift from the Farmer Family Foundation, bringing the campaign total to $7 million. The funds will accelerate projects identified in the Hamilton County park district’s Comprehensive Master Plan, including more than 50 miles of internal trails and 10 miles of regional trail connections, such as the Glenwood Gardens-Winton Woods Trail and the Oasis Trail. Other priorities include developing the West Region Blueway & Trails System and upgrading Bass Island to improve access to the Little Miami State and National Scenic River.

Santa Maria Community Services was the recipient of a $100,000 Rapid Response Fund grant from the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust to help maintain its Stable Families and Workforce Development programs in Price Hill. The funding comes after an unexpected loss of support that had increased waitlists and strained services. Stable Families helps families at risk of homelessness with intensive case management, while Workforce Development provides job coaching, financial education and income support. “Without this support,” said Santa Maria CEO H.A. Musser Jr., “we were facing the real possibility of scaling back or delaying services when our community needs them most.” 

Linda Stetson and David Stetson made the largest-ever donation to ERS’s Affordable Living program.

A bike ride from Cleveland to Cincinnati raised nearly $1 million to support those affected by cancer.

A Farmer Family Foundation grant aims to attract students into the nursing profession. (Pictured: UC College of Nursing students, provided by the UC Foundation.)

Snapshots

‘Mrs. Dalloway’ performance highlights Cincy Shakes gala

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company welcomed donors and supporters to REVEL & Romance, a gala and benefit performance of “Mrs. Dalloway: A New Musical.” Raising over $120,000 for “Shakespeare For All,” the event honored Margaret Valentine and the late Michael Valentine with the 2025 Globe Award in recognition of their contributions to CSC and the Cincinnati community. REVEL was presented by Johnson Investment Counsel along with other sponsors.

 cincyshakes.com

Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips (center) with past CSC board presidents Richard Westheimer and Glenn Plott

Margaret Valentine receives the Globe Award from incoming CSC board President Jennifer Damiano.

Representing Blue Rose Supply: Les Hall, Walter Bowers, Gary Dowdell, Nicole Dowdell, Myron Hughes, Sherry Hughes, Carolyn Glosby and Eric Glosby

Representing signature sponsor University of Cincinnati: Caroline Weidner and John Weidner

With Johnson Investment Counsel: Scott Bischoff, Corey Bischoff, Victoria Bischoff, Theresa Sedlack and Brenda Homan

Molly Milligan and Chris Milligan with hosts Jim Mason and Debby Mason

Guests of hosts Rick Eder and Melissa Eder: Jessica Ruebusch, Michael Ruebusch, Rich Hill, Maria Gomez, Sara Bick, Melissa Eder, Dan Bick and Rick Eder

David Eastland, Randi Eastland, Dolly Kohls, Lucy Corcoran, honoree Margaret Valentine, Kevin Corcoran, Karen Hatcher and Bill Hatcher

Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips (center) with CSC board members Whitney Owens and Patrick Points

Guests of hosts Glenn Plott and Cass Plott: Wendy Hill, Glenn Plott, Elizabeth Shaughnessy, James Stapleton, Amy Lewis, Ed Sawyer, Jeremy Plott and Cass Plott

More than 1,500 take to river for Paddlefest

Adventure Crew held its largest annual community event, Ohio River Paddlefest, in early August. The weekend kicked off with the Outdoors for All Expo, a celebration of all things outdoors, plus music by The Tillers, Jake Speed & The Freddies, and Ma Crow & Co., along with more than 70 exhibitors related to the outdoors.

The next morning, more than 1,500 paddlers took to the Ohio River in kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) while the river was closed to motorized boats.

All proceeds benefit Adventure Crew, whose mission is to connect city teens with nature and each other through outdoor adventures. The nonprofit serves 27 schools in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, with more than 900 teens participating each year.

 ohioriverpaddlefest.org, adventurecrew.org

Jake Speed & The Freddies perform at the Outdoors for All Expo.

The fundraising total of $127, 000 was announced at a volunteer appreciation party.

Volunteer Steve Nurre greets paddlers at the 9-mile finish line at Gilday Riverside Park.

Shawn Steurer and Madelyn Huang

Adventure Crew staff and Ohio River Paddlefest volunteers who helped organize the event: Miriam Wise, Erin Harper, Sam Glew, Shauna Steigerwald, Nicole Voet, Robert Steigerwald and Jerry Schulte

Eric Duval participates as a safety paddler.

Crew teen Kingston Potter

The oldest participant in Paddlefest was Mike Fremont, age 103.

JoAnna Williams prepares to launch.

Gerry James, co-director of the Ohio River Paddlefest races and an Adventure Crew board member; Libby Hunter, Adventure Crew executive director; and Andy Dickerson, Cardinal Land Conservancy executive director

Ohio River Paddlefest founder and Adventure Crew board member Brewster Rhoads greets paddlers at the launch.

Bryn Weller, Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus and Tom Boeing participate in Paddlefest.

Mercantile Library inducts Hague as new poet laureate

The Mercantile Library inducted Richard Hague as its 2025-27 Cincinnati & Mercantile Library Poet Laureate in an event at the library downtown. The event included comments from Mercantile Library Executive Director John Faherty, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, library Book Ambassador Michael Link and outgoing Poet Laureate Yalie Saweda Kamara. Hague also did a reading from his works.

 mercantilelibrary.com

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Brendon Hague, Richard Hague, Pam Hague and Patrick Hague

Poets laureate Yalie Saweda Kamara, Richard Hague and Pauletta Hansel

Mercantile Library Executive Director John Faherty, incoming Poet Laureate Richard Hague and Mayor Aftab Pureval

Summermusik expands outreach with free concert at Bethany House

Summermusik brought live music to Bethany House, continuing its mission to reach audiences beyond traditional concert halls. The cafeteria was transformed with decorations, a special meal, flutes of non-alcoholic champagne and desserts.

Older children attended the concert with their parents and were introduced to classical and chamber music – many for the first time. Younger children were cared for in the Kidz Zone. The event created a welcoming space for cultural enrichment and community connection.

Bethany House has provided emergency shelter, support and services to families in transition for 43 years.

 summermusik.org, bethanyhouseservices.org

Point/Arc’s Dyas Golf Classic draws 120

The foursome of Jordan Griffin, Mike Kessling, Matt Brady and Steve Locke shot 15 under par to win The Point/Arc’s second Mike Dyas Golf Classic at Triple Crown Country Club, in Union, Kentucky. Thirty foursomes participated in the charity event. Former Major League Baseball umpire and Covington Holmes High School graduate Randy Marsh served as guest speaker.

This was The Point/Arc’s 35th golf tournament, renamed The Mike Dyas Classic last year. Dyas, who was president and CEO of Sterling Cut Glass from 1976 to 2021, was a long-time supporter and board member at The Point/Arc. He passed away in 2023.

The Point/Arc, a nonprofit based in Covington, provides opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was founded in 1972 by a group of parents fighting for the educational rights of their children.

 thepointarc.org

Choral group raises voices and funds for Appalachians in need

Viva Voices Choral Organization performed a free concert of Appalachian music to raise funds for the Christian Appalachian Project, a nonprofit that helps over 1 million people in need each year.

The featured work, “Come Away to the Skies, a Bluegrass Mass,” was composed by Tim Sharp, former executive director of the American Choral Directors Association. Viva Voices adult choirs were accompanied by a bluegrass band.

The full house of 1,200 people at the First Baptist Church in Cold Spring, Kentucky, heard other Appalachian selections from all four Viva Voices choirs of youth and adults. Over $3,600 was donated at the door, with online donations still being received, according to the Christian Appalachian Project.

 vivavoices.net

Summermusik musicians play at Bethany House: Jessica Smithorn, oboe; Manami White, violin; Phillip Goist, cello

Viva Voices Choral Organization has four choirs of singers from ages 8 to 80-plus.

Dyas Golf Classic chair Andy VonLehman and Matt Brady of the winning foursome

Jen Dalton, Local 12 TV anchor, was emcee.

Tony Burdette, founding president and artistic director of Viva Voices; composer Tim Sharp; and Houston Tyrrell, assistant artistic director of Viva Voices

Colonial Dames celebrate 50 years of Lecture & Tea series

The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Ohio recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Lecture & Tea series. This tradition, held every May at the Cincinnati Art Museum, brings together members and guests for lecture programs followed by tea receptions.

This year’s keynote lecture was delivered by Brenton Grom, executive director of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Wethersfield, Connecticut. A reception followed in the museum’s Great Hall, where guests mingled over light fare and cocktails.

Since its inception in 1974, the series has offered scholarship, historical exploration and community engagement. It is underwritten by the L.W. Scott Alter Trust. Topics have ranged from colonial craftsmanship and revolutionary politics to art, architecture and the evolving role of women.

The mission of the Dames is to promote historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects.

 nscda-oh.org

Colonial Warriors

Doug Vanderzee, Andy McClintock and President Dick

Dames Jenny Horst and Sara Celi with speaker Brenton Grom

Doug Vanderzee, Dames President Charlotte

Dick Farmer, Barbara Farmer and Dame Carolyn Koenig

Golf outing raises $120K for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Furniture Fair hosted its 18th Annual Golf Outing supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event raised over $120,000 in support of LLS’s mission to cure blood cancers and to support patients and their families.

This year’s outing marked a record-breaking year, bringing the total fundraising over the years to $2.1 million. Furniture Fair is also presenting sponsor for Cincinnati LLS's fall Light The Night event; they also sponsor Light The Night in Dayton, Louisville and Indianapolis.  lightthenight.org

Premieres on CET and the PBS app Saturday, September 20, at 1:30pm CETConnect.org

10-year-old’s Minecraft travel wish coming true

Ten-year-old Jude has spent more time in hospital rooms than most children spend on playgrounds. He was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, progressive disorder caused by a genetic mutation.

A devoted Minecraft fan, Jude arrived at the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub thinking he would tour the Esports Innovation Lab and meet Microsoft professionals.

Instead, his dream of stepping into the Mojang Studios Stockholm office, where the world of Minecraft first took shape, was about to come true. Jude and his family will fly to Stockholm, Sweden, to the Minecraft Headquarters.

The event took months of planning by Microsoft, Mojang Studios and Make-A-Wish. It was brought to life through a partnership with the 1819 Innovation Hub – a startup accelerator supporting early- to mid-stage business founders.  innovation.uc.edu, wish.org/oki

Maddie Filisky of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Craig Daniels of Furniture Fair

Craig Daniels (right) of Furniture Fair with Share Bear and a golfer from the annual outing

A group of Furniture Fair volunteers

Allison Rogers of WLWT, Dawn Berryman of LLS, Linda Martin of Furniture Fair with Furniture Fair’s Share Bear mascot

Jude drives through showers of popcorn.

Chris Carper, director of customer success at Microsoft, with Make-A-Wish recipient Jude

SVDP Happy Hour the right Rx for Charitable Pharmacy’s work

More than 100 guests gathered at ADC Fine Art for St. Vincent de Paul-Cincinnati’s inaugural Prescription for Hope Happy Hour. The event welcomed supporters, community partners and advocates for an inspiring night that raised over $20,000 in support of St. Vincent de Paul’s Charitable Pharmacy.

Guests contributed to a collaborative mural, symbolizing the power of collective impact when a community cares for its neighbors. All funds raised will support the Charitable Pharmacy’s mission to provide life-saving medications at no cost to patients who are uninsured or underinsured. In many cases, these prescriptions help ensure neighbors don’t have to choose between their health and other basic needs like food or housing.

The evening also included recognition of WCPO 9 for its compassionate reporting that has helped shine a light on the challenges local families face. SVDP is on track to fill its 1 millionth prescription this October, just ahead of the Charitable Pharmacy’s 20th anniversary next fall.

 svdpcincinnati.org

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Abbie Whitney, Nate Smith, Anna Gormley, Brad McMonigle, Anne Jones, Robyn Petersman and Rusty Curington

Anne Gormley and Mike Espel

Jason Stitt and Jen Morales

Vic Clesceri, Shan Clesceri and Brad McMonigle

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Jacob Adams, Annemarie Henkel and Ben Vest

Vonna Williams, Litsa Spanos and James Williams

Kate Schroder and Caitlyn Bentey-Thayer

Schuyler Hahn, Paul Grundy, Jeff Brogan, Tiana Henry, Michael Phillips, Kaytlynd Lainhart, Brad McMonigle and Rusty Curington

Melinda Kelly and Mike Kelly

Grammy winner Mavis Staples performs at Memorial Hall

Legendary soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples, a threetime Grammy Award winner, performed at Memorial Hall as part of the Longworth-Anderson Series. The evening marked the fifth consecutive sell-out of the 2025 season.

Patrons attended a pre-show reception featuring complimentary light bites and beverage tastings from Ollie’s Trolley, N.Y.P.D. Pizza and HighGrain Brewing Co., with live music by Chaya Jones.

The evening continued the LAS tradition of showcasing nationally renowned artists alongside local hospitality and talent.

 longworth-andersonseries.com

Celebration demonstrates benefits of accessibility

The Cincinnati Disability Pride Celebration marked the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Independence Alliance, with Hamilton County Developmental Disability Services and the Human Services Chamber, hosted panels, performances, exhibits, entertainment and more.

The event, at Knox Joseph Distillery in Over-theRhine, drew more than 150 attendees from Northern Kentucky to central Ohio. With the support of staff and volunteers, the celebration hosted vendors, resources, performers and speakers such as Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney.

Featured at the event was the Wish Wall, where participants wrote down their wishes for disability rights, ranging from larger fonts to accessible education.

The celebration created a platform for the disabled community to discuss their experiences and for participants to learn how accessibility can benefit everyone.

 independencealliance.org

Dalton Fischer and Zack Higbie

Martha Phillips and Cori Wolff

Ramona Payne, Edna Keown and Tina Butler

Ken Mundy and Carla Mundy

Beverly Lamb and Christine Anderson

The crowd listens to a performance by the Screamers from Ken Anderson Alliance.

The open mic session with emcee Vanta Black

DJ Brody Flynn (right) and his father

Dee Henry and Jenise Brassell from Independence Alliance

Library stacks up support with first-ever fundraiser

The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library hosted its first-ever fundraising event, Booked for the Evening, at the renovated Downtown Main Library.

More than 350 guests gathered for an evening that highlighted behind-the-scenes tours, rare-book viewings, hands-on MakerSpace demonstrations, adult storytime and live music. The sold-out event also featured photo ops, crafts, personalized book recommendations and dinner by-the-bite.

The event marked the one-year anniversary celebration of Meet Me at Main and the reopening of the Downtown Main Library with CHPL Director Paula Brehm-Heeger leading guests in a champagne toast. Funds raised support The Library Foundation, dedicated to expanding and enhancing library programs and services.

Sponsors included LaMacchia Family Foundation, Turner Construction, Champlin Architecture, Custom Design Benefits, Gallagher, CBRE, DSD Advisors, Leadership Excelleration, SHP and U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management.

 chpl.org



Guests get personalized reading and music recommendations from CHPL librarians through the Book Hookup program.

Library Foundation board member Kristen Smitherman-Voltaire and Jasmine Whitfield both represented event sponsor Turner Construction.

SATURDAY 6:30PM CET SUNDAY 8:30PM CET ARTS

Join Barbara Kellar as she showcases artists and cultural leaders from the Greater Cincinnati community.

Emmy Award Winner Regional - Interview/Discussion Program www.CETconnect.org

Library board trustee Nadine Allen and Connie Potter enjoy the outdoor Reading Garden.

Nate Pelley, MakerSpace manager, demonstrates the types of projects that can be completed using laser cutting technology.

Astronomer and author Dean Regas shines a light on the skies above Cincinnati, as well as CHPL’s telescope lending program.

Reference librarian Chris Smith shares his expertise on The Daguerreotype View of Cincinnati, part of CHPL’s Special Collections.

Youth librarian Emily Mays engages guests in adult storytime, complete with movement and music.

First Financial opens Milford center, donates to four nonprofits

First Financial Bank opened its newest financial center in Milford, Ohio, with a ribbon cutting and donations to four area nonprofits. Receiving $1,500 donations were The Care Center, Impacting Tomorrow, Miami Township Police Citizens Academy Association and Fuel Our Flight.

Earlier this year, First Financial announced that the bank and its associates donated $2.9 million and more than 6,400 volunteer hours in Greater Cincinnati in 2024.

 bankatfirst.com

Junior Achievement golf event scores big for educational programs

The first in a series of three events, the Junior Achievement Golf Classics-Cincinnati at Triple Crown Country Club brought in a recordhigh total of over $417,000. The funds raised will benefit JA educational programs around Greater Cincinnati. This event featured an array of raffles and door prizes, six on-course contests, a $500 per golfer shopping spree on the JA Online Pro Shop and all-day food and beverage for guests.

Junior Achievement of OKI Partners provides programming to schools and students around the region, reaching over 69,000 students. Its programs for financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship are designed to prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

 jausa.ja.org

Jason Radachi with Kenneth Stewart, Trish Day and Anne Kuhn of Fuel Our Flight

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Jason Radachi of First Financial with Trish Day, Pam Faust, Larry Faust and Lt. Dan Tobias of the Miami Township Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association

Jason Radachi of First Financial and Laura Baker of Impacting Tomorrow Jason Radachi with Greg Knake, Gina Williams and Amanda Lail of The Care Center

Tito’s Vodka Team: Mike Davis, Ross Sandefer, Andrew Harlow and Steve Becraft

The winning team from Conger Construction and Ogury: Donnie Benczarski, JA board member and golf committee chair Matthew Thomas, Steve Harvey and Chad Sule

Third-place team: Geoff Glazier, Chris Diaz, JA board member

Pete Rodish and Nick Rodish

Novus Foods team: Ross Graham, Matt Malone and Derek LeBeau

Movers & Makers happy hour hits The Heights

Movers & Makers hosted one of its most highly attended monthly happy hours in July at one of the highest points in the city – the new Hotel Celare in Clifton Heights. Thanks to Jamie Skinner and her colleagues for their great service and hospitality – and for the views from The Vick!

Join us Sept. 10 at Roebling Event Center, The Banks, 5:307:30 p.m. Scan QR code to RSVP.

Tina Gutierrez and Diana Maria Lara

Peg Moertl and Bryttni Carpenter

Paige Von Hoffmann and Sonya Whaley

Michael Oyster and Catherine Lennon

Melissa Gray and Judy Martin

Megan Jackson and Katie Jackson

Lynn Kronenberger and Jim Friedman

Linda Averbeck and Julie Metz

Laura Menges and Tess Brown

Greg Newberry and host Thom Mariner

Daniel Pfahl and Ross Turpeau

Brian Malone, Tom Consolo and Jennie Malone

Aymie Majerski and Linda Averbeck

Kaylyn Taylor, Sam Martin, Brent Keltch and Michael Moore

Helene Herbert and host Elizabeth Mariner

Tyler Roe and Helen Herbert

Looking for America in the small, lonely places

My husband and I took a road trip to California. Here are some excerpts from my travel journal:

July 2, 2025, Matfield Green, Kansas

Left Cincinnati at 8:30 a.m., a half an hour later than we’d intended, but not bad. I never rise to the standard my parents set, leaving at 6:30 a.m., six kids in car, luggage on top and getting to Dad’s folks at midnight. At least that’s how I remember it, though it doesn’t seem possible now

Drove over the Wabash, the Missouri, the Mississippi. A few of my ancestors went this way, some at least in covered wagons. I went this way to college. So much corn.

My childhood history of driving west is layered with every book or story, every myth ever told about this country’s history. Can’t help starting off with a “gone to look for America”

Picnic lunch somewhere in Missouri. Good fried dinner at Stroud’s in Kansas City, where they

claim they “choke our own chicken.” Neil bought the T-shirt.

July 3

Spent the day with (my cousin) Diana and (her husband) Kelly, eating pancakes, talking, walking around their tiny town of Matfield Green in the Kansas Flint Hills. It was dying until people like artists and photographers and lovers of the tall grass moved in. It’s so beautiful here. We visited a friend of theirs who lives in a yurt; she came back with us and played music with Diana and Kelly and Neil. We left before dinner, drove north through the rolling prairie.

I think about the pioneers who moved here from the East, facing fires and drought and disease and death in childbirth. They were so brave and plucky. But the tall grass also seems to hide ghosts of the native people, just as brave and resourceful as those settlers but no match for their sheer relentless

rapaciousness. I can’t think of one group without the other, but it’s hard to keep them in mind at the same time.

Fried chicken for dinner again in Abilene in a restaurant where everything shows up on the table family style, like Sunday dinner on the farm.

Staying in a depressingly generic hotel off the interstate. I miss the mom and pop motels of my childhood, along with soft serve stands and small town cafes.

July 4, Fort Collins, Colo.

Ate the free breakfast, listened to old folks tell corny jokes to strangers (I don’t smoke anymore. Of course, I don’t smoke any less. Hahaha) Drove north to visit Nicodemus. Weather beaten tiny town, barely holding on to its place on the prairie. It was founded by Black people in 1877. Just 14 years out of enslavement they left the South, and settled their own town. Built sod houses at first, then streets and two churches and a hotel. People who’d had little control of

Polly Campbell

stations). The menu has hamburgers and fries ... plus khachapuri and borscht. The place is owned and managed by a Georgian-America family who chat with customers in Georgian or Russian or English. It was so surprising and so well done. As all-American as the shiny diner it’s in.

July 5, Vernal, Utah

We made it to Mark and Brenda’s last night in time for dinner. Went to a Mexican restaurant, but a country band was playing too loudly for us to hear each other. Seems appropriate because what’s more iconically American than country music? Maybe chicken mole enchiladas. We watched small town fireworks from their front porch, oohed and aahed and reminisced.

Why do people think there’s only one story about American history? And who’s American? History books were already too simplistic, now they’re being rewritten as pure fiction and whitewashed legend.

It was a purple mountains majesty day as we drove along the beautiful Cache de Poudre river, full of kayaks, then across U.S. 41 as it got

July 7, Echo Summit, California

Spent a day driving across Utah, looking constantly for a soft serve place, but Sunday in Utah means nothing’s open. Not even a Dairy Queen. Then across the breathtaking range and basin of Nevada on Highway 50. It’s still called the "loneliest highway in America." It’s really not anymore, but will probably be called that forever whether it’s

Polly Campbell covered restaurants and food for the Cincinnati Enquirer from 1996 until 2020. She writes monthly on a variety of topics, and she welcomes your feedback and column suggestions at editor@moversmakers.org.

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To learn more, visit key.com/community or reach out to Cincinnati Market President, Jennifer Damiano, at 513-830-1169

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