BLINK has announced plans for possible cancellations and closures for Saturday night as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias move into the region.

While some shows have already been canceled, most of the exhibits will remain open as long the weather doesn’t become severe, and BLINK Executive Director Leslie Mooney is encouraging “everyone to come experience BLINK rain or shine.”

“BLINK is an outdoor festival, and we’ve prepared for changing weather conditions,” said Mooney. “Our teams are monitoring the forecast and have plans in place to respond as conditions develop.”

Check out a list of affected programming below. The numbers correspond to sites on official BLINK maps, which you can see here.

The following programming has been cancelled due to the weather:
• Asha AMA Fashion Show
• Skatepark Popup
• Brett Bolton Drumming Performance at Music Hall (remaining pieces will be active)
• Live performances at Installations 31, 33 & 36

The following installations may also be affected by the weather:
• Drone Show
• Corner Mapping (49)
• Kroger (29)
• Elm Street Plaza UC Lighting (46)
• All inflatable installations (20, 40, 61, 84)

You can sign up for for safety and traffic notifications by texting BLINK2026 to 77295 to connect with Cincy Alert. BLINK will also be releasing updates on its Facebook page.

“If a shower sends you inside for a bit, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy one of the many restaurants and bars in Cincinnati and Covington before heading back out to explore,” said Mooney.

The post BLINK announces weather plans for Saturday appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

The votes are in: CityBeat’s Culture Maker of the Week is Alex Pham.

Pham was nominated by Xavier Henderson because “Alex, better known as AP, consistently brings a unique vibe to the city. He puts on parties at the top bars and clubs and sells them out!

His team of security, DJ, and production are always professional in giving the best experience to his audience. Need a good party with unique themes? Come to an AP party!”

Cincinnati culture doesn’t just happen. It’s built every day by artists, musicians, chefs, organizers, performers, business owners, neighborhood champions and wonderfully weird people who give this city its personality.

That’s why CityBeat has Culture Maker of the Week, a contest celebrating the people who make Greater Cincinnati more vibrant, joyful, thoughtful and alive, whether they’re working center stage or quietly making things happen behind the scenes.

Nominees are submitted by you, and our editors pick the three up for voting. Nominate a Culture Maker here!

The post Meet CityBeat’s Culture Maker of the Week: Alex Pham appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Meet three Cincinnatians making the city more creative, connected and unmistakably itself, and then help choose the Culture Maker of the Week winner.

Cincinnati culture doesn’t just happen. It’s built every day by artists, musicians, chefs, organizers, performers, business owners, neighborhood champions and wonderfully weird people who give this city its personality.

That’s why CityBeat is launching Culture Maker of the Week, a new contest celebrating the people who make Greater Cincinnati more vibrant, joyful, thoughtful and alive, whether they’re working center stage or quietly making things happen behind the scenes.

Nominees are submitted by you (submit nominations here), and our editors pick the three up for voting. Read about this week’s contenders below, then cast your vote for the person you think deserves the title.

You can vote as often as you’d like until noon on Oct. 16. The winner will be announced Friday afternoon.

Emily Jane

Nominated by: Lauren Hughes

Why Hughes nominated Jane:

Emily Jane is a talented local fantasy fiction writer. Her recent books, Mr. Yay, American Werewolves, Here Beside the Rising Tide & on Earth as it is in Television, are all perfect for escaping the stress of life into a new world that expands your imagination beyond what you may expect to see coming.

She has a way of using her words to bring some goofy, carefree, childlike fun right into your adult life, and make it feel like you relate to it too! She is also personally a great friend, mom, gardener & community member. If you see her hosting a book event or attending a theme party, you know she will be dressed for the occasion …with accessories for others too! We appreciate Emily!

Roger Ruffen

Nominated by: Kyle Root

Why Root nominated Ruffen: Roger Ruffen, a former WWE referee from the 80s-90s, is also a former wrestler and current owner of the Northern Wrestling Federation (NWF). For 30 years, he has brought family-friendly professional wrestling to the greater Cincinnati area. Having grown up as a lifelong fan, he went from being a child earning money to pay for tickets to watch wrestling in person at the historic Cincinnati Gardens to eventually cutting his teeth in the business as a teenager and working in the ring there.

For over 40 years, he’s been involved with professional wrestling, and he’s still going strong, hosting weekly affordable live wrestling events while training the next generation of young talent at his training facility, BoneKrushers, hoping to make it big as he did! He’s trained notable international names including Abyss, Karl Anderson, Jillian Hall, Lord Crewe, current WWE superstar Lexx King FKA Brian Pillman Jr, and his wife and current NWA superstar, Big Mama. To this day, his goal is to spread the same joy he felt as a small kid to the children of Cincinnati through the action and drama of professional wrestling. In 2019, a documentary was released about his life in wrestling titled “I’m The Man: The Story of Roger Ruffen and the Northern Wrestling Federation”. He is an avid, lifelong Pete Rose fan and enjoys the taste of Cincinnati chili more than anything.

Ana Log Stix

Nominated by: Sydney Napier

Why Napier nominated Stix: Ana Log Stix is a local drag performer who has been incredibly active in Cincinnati’s LGBTQIA+ community for years.

Ana strives to bring the community together by way of outreach, hosting events that celebrate the community, ensuring we have a safe space to gather, and using her voice to educate people about the queer community and the very real struggles faced daily. Not only does Ana bring joy, but she also gives us a sense of hope that one day, we may attain true harmony without judgment.

Cast Your Vote

Vote once. Vote twice. Vote every time you reopen the tab. Then send this story to the group chat, neighborhood Facebook page, Discord server or overly competitive family member of your choice.

Know Cincinnati’s Next Culture Maker?

Nominations are always open. Tell us about an artist, DJ, chef, bartender, muralist, musician, organizer, educator, performer, community builder or other local human making Cincinnati a more interesting place. Nominate a Culture Maker here.

The post Vote for the CityBeat Culture Maker of the Week appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

At Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, one of Halloween’s most iconic stories has once again been injected with fresh blood.

Following a sold-out run last season, “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” returns to the stage with a comedic take on Bram Stoker’s classic tale from Oct. 9 through Halloween.

“This was one of our most successful productions of all time, and we loved welcoming so many new faces to the theater during the Halloween season,” said the organization’s Producing Artistic Director and CEO Brian Isaac Phillips, who returns to direct the production for a second time. “We knew we had to bring it back for another year!”

Filled with “outrageous twists, playful innuendo, and more laughs than you can count,” the play promises to show a side of the Prince of Darkness that you’ve never seen before.

“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” premiered Off-Broadway at New World Stages on September 4, 2023, where it quickly gained popularity with critics and audiences for its fast-paced farce and campy spin on Bram Stoker’s classic. The production became a viral sensation and went on to enjoy strong success across the globe.

Every performance of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” at Cincy Shakes will feature Blood Bag Cocktails, Halloween candy, spooky surprises and killer music before the show. But because it’s Halloween season, the acting company couldn’t stop there. Most nights are packed with costumes, prizes, themed treats and even more frighteningly fun surprises. Below is a list of each night’s special promotions:

BLINKULA
Thursday, October 8 & Friday, October 9
Dracula is getting the BLINK treatment! Both performances start early at 6:30 PM, so you can see the show first and then head out to experience BLINK throughout the city. Grab a free BLINKULA Goodie Bag filled with glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth, bat rings, temporary tattoos, candy and more. Plus, pre-paid parking is available nearby so you can park before the BLINK crowds arrive. It’s the perfect spooky start to your BLINK night! 

Insights: Behind the Bite
Thursday, October 15
Sink your teeth a little deeper into “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors!” Before the performance, join John Getz, Professor Emeritus of English at Xavier University, for a special Insights discussion exploring Dracula, comedy and what happens when one of literature’s most famous monsters gets played for laughs. 

Costume Nights:

Friday, October 16 – Villains After Dark
Tonight, the villains take over! Dress as your favorite Halloween villain, from classic monsters and movie baddies to your own devilish creation. We’ll crown our favorite villain of the night and award a themed prize. Evil has never looked so good! 

Friday, October 23 – Bard Bash 
Huzzah! It’s time to get fantastical. Come dressed in your best Renaissance, Shakespeare-inspired or fantasy look. Think kings, queens, fairies, knights, witches, woodland creatures and more. Our favorite look of the night will take home a themed prize! 

Friday, October 30 – Double, Double, Toil & Trouble Night
Calling all witches, wizards and magical mischief-makers! Dress in your best witch or wizard-inspired costume for a chance to win a themed prize. We’ll also have exclusive spooky cocktails and drinks on the menu for the evening. Consider it your Halloween Eve warm-up! 

Saturday, October 31 – Ultimate Halloween Costume Double Header
It’s Halloween, and which means the cast is going all in with two performances at 2 and 7:30 PM! Come in costume for the ultimate Halloween celebration at CSC, with themed prizes, candy in the lobby and plenty of spooky fun. Everyone who comes dressed up can stick around after the performance for a special group photo with the cast.

“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” runs October 9 through 31, 2026 at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in Over-the-Rhine. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Saturday matinees take place on October 10, 17, 24, and 31, with a Sunday matinee on October 18 and 25 at 2:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Cincy Shakes website.

The post Cincy Shakes brings back comedic take on ‘Dracula’ this spooky season appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Cincinnati’s biggest show is happening now!

BLINK, the exclusive Cincinnati light and art festival, lit up the night sky Thursday for its first of four nights. More than two dozen streets shut down to vehicular traffic, letting people walk all over the city without fear. Expect to see art from Findlay Market all the way down to Covington. Just pick a spot on the map and go.

Special highlights for this year include a skatepark set up on the corner of Liberty and Elm, Asianati’s “Night Market” featuring all sorts of Asian food and culture at Court Street Plaza, a light-based fashion show at the Black Music Walk of Fame and a polka dot-themed block party at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

The post PHOTOS: Cincinnati comes alive as BLINK takes over the streets appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

One of Cincinnati’s most notable names in the beverage scene is opening her own bar and restaurant.

Katie Reeder, the former wine director at Oakley Wines, is partnering with Chef Justin Koontz to take over the former Kiki space in College Hill at 5932 Hamilton Ave. The new spot will be dubbed “A Bar Called PUP.”

“We wanted to create a place that feels approachable, but never ordinary,” Reeder said in a statement. “Wine and food have an incredible ability to bring people together. PUP is about creating those moments in a space that feels welcoming, creative and authentic.”

Reeder has plenty of experience in the service industry — especially with wine — at local institutions like Oakley Wines, The Rhined, and Boca Restaurant Group. Koontz, meanwhile, has risen to culinary fame thanks to his work as a chef in New Orleans at restaurants like the MICHELIN-recognized Cochon and the James Beard-winning Jewel of the South.

“Food should make people want to gather around the table,” Koontz said. “We’re interested in taking great ingredients, treating them with respect, and creating food that is exciting without making it feel complicated. PUP gives us the opportunity to have fun with that.”

The two are working with the College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corp. (CHCURC) to revitalize the space. The new bar is just one part of the organization’s mission to turn College Hill into a vibrant, walkable business district and give residents new reasons to gather, dine, shop and spend time in the neighborhood.

“We believe College Hill is exactly the kind of community where a concept like PUP can thrive,” Reeder said. “There is a real sense of energy here, and we want PUP to contribute to that energy while becoming a place that feels like it belongs to the neighborhood.”

Additional details regarding the bar’s opening, location, hours, menu and events will be announced in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on CityBeat for more details.

The post Former Oakley Wines director to open new bar in College Hill appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

A new festival celebrating regional bluegrass music while supporting a local breast cancer organization is coming to Bellevue on Oct. 17.

Bluegrass for Good, produced by Greater Cincinnati nonprofit Infinite Hills Productions, will take place from 1 to 7 p.m. on the 200 block of Foote Ave. The inaugural event will benefit Chicks & Chucks, a local, all-volunteer organization that supports breast cancer patients and their families throughout Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati by providing assistance and resources during treatment and recovery.

The free, family-friendly festival will feature performances by Zeotrope, The Hicks Brothers, Slippery Creek and the Comet Bluegrass All Stars. Local food and beverage vendors will also participate, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Chicks & Chucks. A silent auction featuring donated items from businesses and supporters throughout the region will provide another opportunity to raise funds for the organization.

A children’s area with games and arts and crafts will also be available. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, with limited seating provided.

The festival’s co-title sponsors are Schneider’s Sweet Shop and OHC.

“Chicks & Chucks is an all-volunteer organization that relies on the generosity of others to continue our mission of assisting local breast cancer WARRIORS during their journey,” said Cathy Youtsey-Halloran, founder of Chicks & Chucks. “Events like Bluegrass for Good allow us to continue that mission and help those in our community.”

Infinite Hills Productions founder Nathan Thompson said the festival is intended to create a recurring event that combines music, community and charitable giving.

“We are strong believers in leveraging community-based events to do some good for a worthwhile cause,” Thompson said. “Bluegrass for Good is the start of something that we hope to grow year over year so we can have an increasingly positive impact on charitable causes that we believe in.”

For Schneider’s Sweet Shop, the event carries a particularly personal meaning.

“After seeing firsthand how breast cancer can affect an entire family, this cause has become incredibly personal to us,” said Kelly Morgan of Schneider’s Sweet Shop. “We wanted to create a day filled with great music, food, drinks and family fun, while raising money and awareness for Chicks & Chucks and the incredible work they do to support women and families affected by breast cancer.”

Bluegrass for Good is free and open to the public.

Additional event details and official RSVP options can be found here.

The post Bluegrass for Good Festival coming to Bellevue to benefit Chicks & Chucks appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Things are heating up at TQL Stadium.

Thursday, FC Cincinnati debuted a special new menu for the upcoming ‘Hell is Real’ rivalry matchup against the Columbus Crew. (For those unaware, the rivalry is named for the famous sign on I-71 that sits directly between Columbus and Cincinnati.) Plenty of new menu items were on hand, alongside exclusive merchandise commemorating the match that takes place on Sunday, October 18 at 5 p.m.

“As everyone in this room knows, this rivalry is about more than soccer,” said FC Cincinnati’s Chief Youth and Community Officer Kate Solomon at the event. “It’s about pride, passion, of course, bragging rights and — of course — the energy that exists between Cincinnati and Columbus every time these two clubs meet. That intensity is really what drives this rivalry and what makes these matches so special … and this menu has creative, bold flavors. They’re designed to match the personality of this rivalry.”

TQL Stadium’s Executive Chef Sheldon Morgan and his team handed out samples from the spice-heavy menu at the event, including everything from habanero poppers to bulgogi fries.

“We’re really cranking up the heat on this one. You know, they’re turning up the heat on the pitch, so we got to bring it in the clubs and on the concourse,” Morgan said.

My favorite item of the event was the “Orange and Blue” sandwich from Alveo. I might be a bit biased; seeing the Mariemont sandwich shop’s name on the list immediately had me thinking Well, that’ll probably be the best thing I’ll have today.

It didn’t disappoint; while I wouldn’t say it was up to the shop’s usual standard of excellence (this is stadium food, after all), I think sitting at a sports game with a beer in hand and eating a sandwich with roasted turkey, Calabrian chilies, prosciutto, gorgonzola crema, red onion and arugula sounds like heaven on earth to me.

Another highlight was the habanero poppers. And boy, did they pop. The pepper itself sported the perfect amount of heat, and the cheese was just the right consistency; gooey enough to be satisfying, but not so runny that it’d be too messy to eat in the stands.

Two other major highlights were the bulgogi fries from Bibigo and the stadium’s own pretzel smashburger. The loaded fries — emphasis on loaded — were covered in bulgogi, kimchi, chili crisp and a spicy aioli.

Thankfully, the fries were rather crispy and held up well against the plethora of ingredients lathered on top, even after sitting for 20 minutes.

I probably would’ve gone back for a second plate if I had the time. The burger, meanwhile, was nothing unusual but well-executed: two smash patties, jalapeno beer cheese and bacon. The bun was also shaped like a soccer ball, so bonus points for aesthetics, I suppose.

Other options on the menu included a hot Italian pizza from LaRosa’s that tasted exactly how you’d expect — at this point, you know what you’re getting from the beloved local pizza chain — alongside a short rib with horseradish sauce, which was decent, and a red velvet chocolate lava cake, which was strangely devoid of the ‘lava’ that gives the dish its name.

There was also a specialty cocktail that’ll be served around the stadium titled the “Orchard’s Revenge,” which features Angry Orchard mixed with Fireball cinnamon whisky and habanero-soaked oranges. Full disclosure: I knew I wouldn’t like the drink going in since I’m not a fan of cider in general, but I did sample it for curiosity’s sake and found that the flavor combination worked a lot better for me than I thought it would. Hard cider and Fireball are a well-known combo, but the orange added a nice touch to an otherwise standard cocktail.

On the merch side of things, there was a hat, a t-shirt, a hoodie, a pin, and — of course — a scarf to commemorate the matchup. There were also new offerings in the team’s “Orange Out” line of clothing, like a corduroy jacket, crewneck sweatshirt and a knit beanie.

If you wanna experience any of the above for yourself, make sure you head to TQL Stadium on October 18 for what will likely be FC Cincinnati’s biggest match of the year. For more information, visit the team’s official website.

The post FC Cincinnati debuts new menu for ‘Hell is Real’ rivalry matchup appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

If you’ve driven around Over-the-Rhine at any point this summer and fall, you’ve probably seen them. A group of animal rights activists have been protesting outside Kroger headquarters and around the neighborhood nearly every single day since May.

Late last month, their protests escalated dramatically when nine members of the organization Animal Equality were arrested for chaining themselves to the front door of Kroger’s headquarters. Those nine activists will appear in court Friday for a pre-trial hearing on charges of criminal trespassing or resisting arrest.

So why are they doing it?

In 2016, the grocery store giant promised to sell only 100% cage-free eggs by 2025 and reaffirmed that promise in 2018. But in 2022, the corporation quietly announced it would no longer meet that goal, saying the “cage-free egg supply continues to outpace customer demand,” according to a company statement.

For Animal Equality president Sharon Núñez, Kroger going back on its promise is a slap in the face to animal rights activists all over the globe.

“We have been working worldwide to end cages for animals, specifically, cages for hens. This is one of the cruelest systems that exists, where these birds can’t even spread their own wings, and they spend their entire lives living on top of wire,” she said. “This is unacceptable, and we’ve been campaigning for the last five months to ask Kroger to meet with us to work towards a path forward.”

Kroger has claimed it met with members of Animal Equality, but Núñez refuted that.

“I have been doing this work for many years, and at this stage of a campaign, a company at least tries to engage with you. This has not been the case for Kroger,” she said. “We have, to this day, not received a single email or call from Kroger, which is very surprising.”

CityBeat reached out to Kroger for comment earlier this week, but has not received a response.

To escalate their campaign even further, Animal Equality has opened an office at 914 Race Street, which is just steps away from Kroger’s headquarters on Court Street. Now that the organization has set up shop in town, Núñez promised “new, intense, highly visible actions in Cincinnati” on a regular basis, similar to the door chaining event that occurred in September.

In the past, claims of affordability and supply chain costs have been common arguments against going cage-free; however, Núñez said that in states where caged-hen eggs are completely illegal, eggs aren’t any more expensive. She showed evidence of a Kroger store in Lambertville, Michigan, where Kroger’s in-house brand of cage-free eggs are listed at $1.79 a dozen. Just a few miles away in Toledo, Ohio, Kroger’s caged-hen eggs are the same price.

“If Kroger can sell a dozen cage-free eggs for $1.79 in Michigan and a dozen caged eggs for the same price just ten miles away, it needs to explain why affordability supposedly prevents it from fulfilling its yearlong pledges about shifting to cage-free eggs,” she said.

She also cited a recent report by the Center for Responsible Food Business that showed one in three Kroger stores in Ohio are overcharging customers and a 2024 federal court case where a Kroger executive testified under oath that the company had intentionally hiked the price of necessities like milk and eggs beyond the scale of inflation as more reasons she doesn’t believe “affordability” is Kroger’s main goal.

“Kroger is a $150 billion company, and what it wants to do when it comes to cage-free eggs is to pass the costs onto shoppers. But Kroger has already made the decision to sell cage-free eggs where it’s had to for the same price,” she said. “Kroger knows exactly what it’s doing. They can easily move towards a cage-free future, but putting it on consumers and putting it on affordability is just a straight-up lie.”

As for when the protests will stop? Well, that’ll be when Kroger finally decides to sit down with the organization.

“Our ask is reasonable. We’re asking for them to sit down with us and negotiate. We’re not asking them to go cage-free overnight. We’re not asking them to do something extreme or radical. We’re simply saying work with us, and we can be of help,” she said. “Have an in-person meeting with me … and let’s work together on a reasonable path forward to eliminate cages for good.”

The post Animal rights activists have been protesting Kroger for months. Now they’re moving in appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

It’s finally here. We’ve talked extensively about BLINK here at CityBeat, as our first issue in October is all about the festival. But now the event is just days away, so you’re probably wondering: what do I actually need to know?

We’re glad you asked.

So what is it?

BLINK is a light and art festival that’s only in Cincinnati. Over two million people are expected to attend the four-day event, which has slowly become Cincinnati’s signature showcase and one of the region’s most significant economic drivers. Streets shut down to vehicular traffic, letting people walk all over the city without fear. Expect to see art from Findlay Market all the way down to Covington. Just pick a spot on the map and go.

When does it start?

Thursday! An Olympics-esque opening ceremony titled ‘Ready, Set, BLINK!’ will gather everyone on a five-block stretch of Central Parkway just outside TQL Stadium, with plenty of live performances and interactive art stations scattered about. As the sun goes down, festival organizers will do a live countdown where they “flip the switch,” and the crowd will see the Queen City light up around them.

What should I expect to see?

Honestly, everything. BLINK is a one-of-a-kind experience where you never know what lies just around the corner. You might see a field of fluorescent yarn, a light show utilizing 1,750 recycled paint cans, or a giant pyramid covered in 360-degree cameras.

Special highlights for this year include a skatepark set up on the corner of Liberty and Elm, Asianati’s “Night Market” featuring all sorts of Asian food and culture at Court Street Plaza, a light-based fashion show at the Black Music Walk of Fame and a polka dot-themed block party at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Wait, so how do I get there?

Good question. All parking garages outside the BLINK area will be open for business, but good luck finding a spot without showing up hours in advance. Thankfully, Cincinnati Metro and Kentucky’s TANK will once again be running their usual “Park and Ride” service all over the area. Just park far away and hop on a bus to get right to the action. (More info on that here.)

So what streets are closed?

A whole lot of ’em.

These streets are closed the entire week:

• Freedom Way- closed between Race Street and Marian Spencer Way (Rosa Parks Street will remain open during non-event hours)
• Plum Street- closed between Ninth Street and Eighth Street
• Court Street- closed between Race Street and Walnut Street (Vine Street will remain open during non-event hours)
• Jackson Street- closed between Twelfth Street and Thirteenth Street
• Elder Street- closed between Campbell Street and Elm Street

On Tuesday, October 6, the list is as follows from 6 to 9 p.m. to allow for the BLINK marathon:

• Elm Street- closed between Fourth Street and Fifth Street (Closes at 4:30 p.m. for start/ finish line construction)
• Elm Street- closed between Fifth Street and Mehring Way
• Fifth Street- closed between Central Avenue and Race Street
• Fourth Street- closed between Race Street and Plum Street
• Third Street- westbound closed between Race Street and Plum Street
• Second Street- closed between the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge and Race Street
• Central Avenue- southbound closed between Seventh Street and Fifth Street
• Central Avenue- northbound closed between Third Street and Fifth Street
• Freedom Way- closed between Elm Street and Race Street
• Mehring Way- closed between Central Avenue and E Pete Rose Way
• Johnny Bench Way- closed
• E Pete Rose Way- closed west of Broadway.

And on Thursday, the following streets will be closed for the opening ceremony:

• Central Parkway- closed between Liberty Street and Ezzard Charles Drive (closes at 6 a.m. for block party construction)
• Central Parkway- closed between Liberty Street and Elm Street
• Fourteenth Street- closed west of Elm Street
• Magnolia Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access to the Central Parkway)
• Fifteenth Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access to the Central Parkway)
• Odeon Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access to the Central Parkway)
• Wade Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access to the Central Parkway).

On top of those, the following streets will be closed nightly from 7 to 11 p.m. while the festival is running:

• Roebling Suspension Bridge
• Elm Street- closed between Central Parkway and Findlay Street (Liberty Street remains open to east-west traffic)
• Race Street- closed between Central Parkway and Findlay Streets (Liberty Street remains open to east-west traffic)
• Vine Street- closed between Third Street and Central Parkway (Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street remain open for east-west traffic)
• Walnut Street- closed between Third Street and Central Parkway (Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street remain open for east-west traffic)
• Main Street- closed between Second Street and Twelfth Street (Second Street, Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street and Central Parkway remain open for east-west traffic) (Main Street will close to maintain the streetcar)
• Jackson Street- closed between Twelfth Street and Central Parkway
• Fourth Street- restricted between Main Street and Race Street. The street will remain open as long as possible but may close due to crowd congestion.
• Seventh Street- restricted between Main Street and Race Street. The street will remain open as long as possible but may close due to crowd congestion.
• Charles Street- closed between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Twelfth Street- closed to through traffic between Main Street and Central Parkway
• Fourteenth Street- closed between Central Parkway and Vine Street
• Grant Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Magnolia Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Odeon Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Wade Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Green Street- closed to through traffic between Vine Street and Elm Street
• Elder Street- closed between Vine Street and Central Parkway.

In addition, these Covington streets will be blocked off:

• Roebling Way
• Park Place from Scott Street to Greenup Street (beginning Oct. 3)
• Court Street (beginning Oct. 3)
• Tobacco Alley from Madison Avenue to Scott Street (beginning Oct. 5)
• E. 3rd Street from Scott Street to Greenup Street
• Electric Alley from E. 4th Street to E. 5th Street
• W. Pike Street from Washington Street to Madison Avenue
• E. 4th Street from Madison Avenue to Greenup Street
• Scott Street from E. 3rd Street to E. Fifth Street
• Madison Avenue from E. 4th Street to E. 8th Street
• W. 7th Street from Washington Street to Madison Avenue

Where can I learn more?

You can keep reading our coverage here at CityBeat, which will run all week long, or visit the official BLINK website.

The post Your guide to BLINK: attractions, special events street closures and more appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.