Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Organizers Unveil Official 2025 Rookwood Pottery Beer Stein
Prost! We’re just one month away from Oktoberfest Zinzinnati — the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Munich — and organizers have unveiled this year’s official commemorative Rookwood Pottery beer stein. Cincinnati’s biggest celebration of German heritage returns to Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove Sept. 18-21 for its 49th year. This marks the second year the…
Collection of Dr. Seuss’ Secret Art to be Displayed at Greater Cincinnati Gallery
A new look at the secret art collection of Theodor Seuss Geisel, best known as children’s book author and illustrator Dr. Seuss, is coming to a Greater Cincinnati art gallery this September. You know The Cat in the Hat, but now you’ll get to see more of the “Cat Behind the Hat.” From Sept. 5-7,…
Cincinnati’s Gin Week to Feature Tastings, Seminars and More This September
A celebration of gin is coming to Cincinnati this September. National gin education platform Ginworld is commemorating its 10th anniversary with a multi-day series of events throughout Greater Cincinnati Sept. 6-8. The celebration kicks off with Gin Jubilee Gin Festival at Factory 52’s The Gatherall food hall in Norwood on Saturday, Sept. 6. “Who is…
Trump Administration Vows to ‘Come After’ Sanctuary States and Cities, Despite Court Setbacks
The Trump administration is once again pressuring liberal cities and states to cooperate with deportation efforts, despite previous setbacks in court. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent letters last week telling sanctuary states, cities and counties that “you better be abiding by our federal policies and with our federal law enforcement, because if you aren’t, we’re…
A Hidden Civil Rights Fight: New Book Shares the Untold Story of the Intersex Movement
Intersex people have always existed. How they first started to find each other, build community and forge a movement against medical erasure is a story that’s mostly gone untold. A new book aims to change that. Hermaphrodite Logic: A History of Intersex Liberation by writer, comedian and historian Juliana Gleeson was released in June by…
A Celebration of Local Arts and Culture Returns to Clifton This September
A free celebration of art, music, food and fun returns to Clifton this September after six years. For the first time since 2019, the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) will host CliftonFest, a showcase of local arts and culture. The event, happening all day Sept. 13, will feature over 40 artisan vendors, 15 live performances,…
New Program Aims to Provide Property Tax Relief to Cincinnati’s Most Vulnerable Homeowners
The City of Cincinnati, the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office, The Port and nonprofit Working in Neighborhoods are teaming up to bring financial relief to some of the city’s most vulnerable homeowners. At a joint press conference Monday, the intergovernmental partnership announced a new tax-relief initiative that will help about 250 Cincinnati homeowners with delinquent property…
Stuffed Pizza Returns to LaRosa’s Along With a Sweepstakes
The fan-favorite Stuffed Pizza is back at LaRosa’s for a limited time, and to celebrate its return, the pizzeria is launching a new sweepstakes. LaRosa’s Stuffed Pizza features an entire pizza filled with any three toppings and a four-cheese blend baked between two layers of crust and brushed with a garlic pesto sauce. The pizza…
Ohio’s Poverty Rate Ranked 15th Highest in Nation in 2023, According to New Report
Ohio’s poverty rate was 13.2% in 2023 and the state’s child poverty rate was 17.5%, according to the latest report from the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies. While this is a slight dip from last year’s rate of 13.4%, this is higher than the national poverty rate of 12.5%. Ohio’s poverty rate in 2023…
Huge Numbers of Ohioans to See Big Increases in Insurance Costs
Experts are warning that more than 500,000 Ohioans are poised to lose insurance subsidies starting next year. In many cases, the increased costs they’ll face will be so big that more than 100,000 will lose their coverage, they warn. However, Ohio U.S. Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, both Republicans, won’t say whether they’ll act…
Janelle Monáe to Kickoff the Headline Music Series at America’s River Roots Festival
Organizers have announced the fourth headliner to perform at America’s River Roots Festival in October. On Monday, organizers revealed that innovative R&B artist Janelle Monáe will kickoff the headline music series at America’s River Roots Festival on Thursday, Oct. 9. Monáe is a singer, rapper, songwriter, actress and activist. She has been nominated for ten…
New Immersive Halloween Bar Pop-Up Coming to Cincinnati This October
Things will get extra spooky this Halloween season as a popular, immersive pop-up bar arrives in Cincinnati for the first time. Black Lagoon, an award-winning Halloween pop-up that blurs the line between reality and the supernatural, will take over Highball Cincy in Over-the-Rhine this October. The pop-up features hauntingly detailed decor and a creative craft…
Graeter’s Releases Final Bonus Flavor of the Summer
Summer in Cincinnati is ending on a sweet note as Graeter’s releases its final bonus flavor of the season. This year’s bonus flavors, the Bake Shop 2025 collection, was an homage to summertime nostalgia and oven-fresh baked goods featuring six flavors handcrafted in ultra-small batches using Graeter’s signature French pot method. This summer’s collection will…
A White House Visit and Poll Amplify Redistricting Fight in Indiana
Pressure is mounting on Indiana Republicans as the White House invites state lawmakers for a visit, and a poll in the field assesses the political risk of a mid-cycle redistricting. National conservative activist Charlie Kirk also called out House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray in a post on X. The…
Ohio Anti-Gerrymandering Coalition Calls for Fair Maps Ahead of Congressional Redraw
Ohio lawmakers are preparing to draft new congressional districts. Several progressive organizations calling themselves the Equal Districts Coalition are joining forces again to push for fair maps. Lawmakers are going back to the drawing board because they approved maps along partisan lines in 2021. Ohio is actually the only state in the country constitutionally mandated…
Two-Week TRO Extended for Cincinnati Imam in Butler County Jail
A federal judge again has ruled that Imam Ayman Soliman can remain in Ohio for at least two more weeks, a spokesperson for Ohio Immigrant Alliance tells CityBeat. The Temporary Restraining Order, or TRO, was first issued on July 30 by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey P. Hopkins; he granted another 14-day TRO on Wednesday. Without…
HangOverEasy Opens in Mt. Lookout
The wait is over for brunch lovers in Mt. Lookout: After a two-year wait, HangOverEasy officially opened its doors at 1000 Delta Ave. on Thursday. This is the sixth Ohio location for the popular restaurant and bar known for its tongue-in-cheek menu and boozy drinks and the second in Cincinnati, the first opening in Corryville…
Kratom Faces Increasing Scrutiny From States and the Feds
For years, state lawmakers have taken the lead on regulating kratom — the controversial herbal supplement used for pain relief, anxiety and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Some states have banned it entirely. Others have passed laws requiring age limits, labeling and lab testing. At least half of the states and the District of Columbia have enacted…
Ohio Democratic Party Sets Sights on Rural Rebrand for Party’s Future
Christopher Gibbs wants to start rebranding the Ohio Democratic Party by the time fall rolls around. “I’ve got corn to shuck and beans to cut and cattle to take care of,” the Shelby County resident said. Ohioans with those same priorities, based around the hard work of the harvest, are the people Gibbs thinks can…
UC Health Ice Rink to Move to New Space This Winter
A downtown Cincinnati holiday tradition is moving to a new location this year, extending the winter festivities across the Fountain District. Long hosted at Fountain Square, the UC Health Ice Rink will now be located at the new Elm Street Plaza, a two-and-a-half-acre outdoor park and venue currently under construction next to the Duke Energy…
Cincinnati Extends Teen Curfew Citywide, Adds Earlier Hours in Some Neighborhoods
Cincinnati is expanding its evening curfew for minors across the entire city, Mayor Aftab Pureval announced Wednesday. Across the city, unaccompanied kids and teens under 18 will no longer be allowed in public spaces between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. A “Special Extended Curfew District” in Over-the-Rhine, Downtown and the Banks starts two hours earlier…
Molting Season: Why Birds Are Looking a Bit Rough Around the Edges
The dog days of summer are upon us, but for many of the region’s birds, this time of year is more like a trip to the feather salon. That is, if the salon experience involved losing half your outfit in public. Right now, songbirds, birds of prey and waterfowl across Cincinnati are replacing old, worn…
Third Mosquito Pool Tests Positive for West Nile Virus in Hamilton County
A third mosquito pool has tested positive for West Nile virus in Hamilton County, this time in Green Township. According to a Wednesday press email from Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH), the most recent positive results came from mosquitoes trapped on July 31. “Our environmental health specialists will now surveil the area and treat standing…
New Beer and Music Festival Launches in Northern Kentucky This Weekend
Beer and music fans can check out a brand-new festival in Ft. Mitchell this weekend. The inaugural NKY Bier & Music Fest, sponsored by meetNKY, will take place Saturday, Aug. 16 from 4-8 p.m. on the DCCH Center grounds at 75 Orphanage Road. The event will feature a lineup of local brews, food vendors and…
Ohio Democrats Propose Letting Voters Sign up to Always Use Absentee Ballots
A pair of Democratic Ohio state lawmakers want to give voters the chance to sign up for absentee ballots permanently. Eight states allow all their citizens to opt in to regular absentee voting, and another 11 allow specific populations like people with disabilities to do so, too. But under current law in Ohio, voters must…
Ohio Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Raise Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour by 2029
A pair of Ohio Democratic state Senators are once again trying to raise Ohio’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. Ohio State Sen. Kent Smith, D-Euclid, and Ohio Sen. Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus, introduced Senate Bill 234 last month, which would raise the minimum wage by a dollar per hour each year until reaching $15 per…
Reports: Sherrod Brown to Run for Senate in Ohio in 2026
Former U.S. Senator from Ohio Sherrod Brown is reportedly planning a run to reclaim his seat in 2026. News of Brown’s plans to run was first reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer and attributed to conversations Brown had with Ohio labor leaders about his plans. Brown, a Democrat, served in the Senate from 2007 to…
Ra Ra Boom: Cincinnati Indie Video Game Studio Releases Its First Game
What do you get when you take AI robots hellbent on destroying humans in an effort to save Earth and a group of four ninja cheerleaders adept at weaponry and blowing shit up? That would be Ra Ra Boom, the first game to come out of Cincinnati video game studio, Gylee Games. Ra Ra Boom…
Stop the Steal: Politicians Cheat Voters and Destroy Democracy With Shameless Gerrymandering
“Stop the Steal!” The mantra, screamed for years by the MAGA base after Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and lied about Democrats engineering widespread voter fraud to steal the election, is about to be repurposed. Expect it to become the rallying cry of voters in Ohio, Texas, Indiana, Missouri and Florida when they get…
UC Neurologist Challenges 30-Year Alzheimer’s Theory, Pushing for Safer, More Effective Treatments
Dr. Alberto Espay, a University of Cincinnati neurologist, is at the center of a national and international debate that could change the course of the nation’s Alzheimer’s research and pave the way for safer and more effective drugs for treating the disease. Espay’s groundbreaking research was triggered by a study touted as proof of the…
The Flaming Lips Frontman Wayne Coyne Talks New Tour, Upcoming Work and More Ahead of Cincinnati Show
The Flaming Lips is one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved bands of the last few decades, mixing the experimentation of psychedelia, underground punk roots and a command of pop sensibilities with a spirit of fun to push boundaries on the level of the greats that came before them. CityBeat spoke with founding member…
Caamp Returns to Cincinnati with a New Album and a Deeper Sense of Home
The Ohio boys are bringing their beautiful noise to Cincinnati. On Aug. 24, Columbus-based band Caamp will be playing the only Ohio show on the second leg of their tour at the ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park. Since the band released their debut album in 2016, their poignant descriptions of growing up in Ohio…
Trump Executive Order on Voting Machines Puts Many Ohio Counties in Limbo
Buried in a March executive order from President Donald Trump is a provision that could cast doubt on voting machines in Ohio and around the country. The order directs federal officials to amend a set of security benchmarks for voting machines. Those standards, known as the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, are indeed voluntary. But some…
Kings Island to Permanently Close Ride
Kings Island announced Monday that it’s shuttering one of its rides for good. The amusement park posted on social media that its interactive dark ride, Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, will close to make room for future development. Boo Blasters on Boo Hill was a family-friendly interactive, arcade-style ride featuring a moving car equipped with…
A Towering Presence, Onstage and Off: Remembering CSO Cellist Norman Johns
When I attend Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performances, I make sure to get there early enough to watch the musicians assemble on stage. In the past, as many hastily ran through a passage or quietly acknowledged colleagues, my eyes instinctively looked to the cello section, searching for the lanky, dignified, elegant Black man. I’d spot him…
Kentucky Community Colleges Working to Meet Students’ ‘Severe’ Need for Mental Health Support
About two-thirds of Kentucky community college students surveyed last year say they have experienced depression or anxiety, while 1 in 5 reported engaging in “self-injurious behavior.” In response, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System is launching a Mental Health Strategy for its roughly 100,000 students. KCTCS President Ryan Quarles told the Kentucky Lantern that…
Ohio Lawmakers Could Focus on Increasing Incomes Instead of Minor, Ineffective Property Tax Changes
On July, Republican lawmakers in the Ohio House of Representatives voted to overturn Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a line in the state budget that would ban certain types of levies from being put on the ballot by local governments or school districts. The reason House members thought this was so important that they…
Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week Returns This Fall With Three-Course Meal Specials
Support local restaurants and indulge in some delicious specials for Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week this fall. Restaurant Week returns Monday-Sunday, Sept. 22-28 with participating restaurants offering $26, $36, $46 and $56 three-course prix fixe menus. Along with meals, many restaurants will also offer seasonal-inspired cocktails made with Restaurant Week drink sponsors MadTree Brewing, Maker’s Mark,…
Ohio ER Docs Warn of More ‘Patient Boarding.’ It’s Already Getting Worse, Study Says
As they try to anticipate the loss of billions to the Ohio health care system, emergency doctors warned last month that it would make patient boarding a lot worse. That’s when people have to lie for hours in the emergency department, waiting for a bed to open up in the appropriate department of the hospital.…
VP Vance Meets with Indiana GOP Leadership on Redistricting; Democrats Denounce Effort
Vice President JD Vance spent several hours in the Hoosier State Thursday trying to build support for a new redistricting, but Gov. Mike Braun and legislative leaders haven’t jumped on board yet. The visit came amid a tussle in Republican-held Texas over new maps — and threats from Democrat-run states to retaliate. Braun told reporters…
New True Crime Documentary Explores the 1986 Murder of a Covington Politician
An old closed case, two arrests and a dead city commissioner — these are the basics of a true crime documentary in the making titled Our Friend Sandy from independent filmmakers Paul Nocchi and Louie Meisner, a Cincinnati native. As they start to dig through police records and dusty boxes in attics, they begin their…
Ayman Soliman’s Lawyers Sue to Release the Cincinnati Imam, Allege Violations in Butler County Jail
Attorneys representing an embattled Cincinnati imam have filed a lawsuit demanding his immediate release, alleging unlawful treatment within the Butler County Jail. Ayman Soliman, who has no criminal record, has been held in the Butler County Jail since a July 9 check-in at the Homeland Security Office in Blue Ash ended in his arrest. The former…
When Hospitals Buy Physician Practices, Prices Go Up
Since the early aughts, the share of physicians in the United States working for hospitals has nearly doubled, according to the study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit research organization. And as fewer doctors work in physician-owned practices, patients or their insurers end up paying more, the study’s authors found. For…
Rob Lowe, Laurie Hernandez and Joel McHale Among Celebrity Guests at 2025 Kroger Wellness Festival
Kroger Wellness Festival, a two-day event that celebrates physical, mental and emotional health for everyone, returns this September with a lineup of celebrity guests and free concerts. The festival will be held across five stages on Fifth Street in downtown Cincinnati Friday-Saturday, Sept. 26-27 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. Guests can take…
Ohio’s Recreational Marijuana Sales Surpassed $702.5 Million in First Year
Ohio legal weed sales topped $702.5 million in the first year. This week marks one year since Ohio began selling recreational marijuana and sales totaled $702,587,948 with 109,706 pounds sold as of Tuesday, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control. The average price was $6.63 per gram the week of July…
Tano Bistro Reopens Hamilton Location
A recently closed fine-dining restaurant in Hamilton is starting a new chapter. Tano Bistro closed its Hamilton location in early July following what was supposed to be a temporary closure to fix a mechanical issue. But a few days later, the restaurant shared on social media that it would cease operations at the Marcum Park…
Fighting With Heart: Gabriel Levin Pursues Justice in Personal Injury Law
In personal injury law, flashy billboards and overzealous promises can sometimes overshadow the genuine pursuit of justice. Trial Attorney Gabriel Levin seeks to act as proof that there’s still room for grit, empathy, and courtroom skill in the field. As the founder of The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, Levin has built his Philadelphia firm…
Historic Cincinnati Theater Set for Revival as Arts and Community Hub
On the edge of Over-the-Rhine, a renaissance is budding. At its center is a former theater, where vaudeville performers of the early 20th century once entertained countless audiences. Then came the films, first silent, and then “the talkies,” that filled the auditorium with romance and adventure, imagination and emotion. Now, this space has been empty…
Cincinnati-Born Actress and Producer Kelley Mack Dies at 33
Kelley Mack, an actress, producer and voiceover artist from Cincinnati, who was best known for her role in the AMC show The Walking Dead, has died following a cancer diagnosis. She was 33. “It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley. Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned…
How Cincy Is Earning Its Spot As A Top AI Startup Hub
If I say Cincy is earning its spot as a top AI startup hub, it won’t be wrong. Cincinnati is now becoming a leading centre for AI startups, with massive funding of approximately $900 million from the Ohio Innovation District over the year for innovations. The funds have accelerated AI growth in multiple sectors, such…
West Nile Virus Case Confirmed in Hamilton County, Second of the Summer
A second mosquito pool has tested positive for West Nile virus in Hamilton County, this time in Anderson Township. According to a Wednesday press email from Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH), the most recent positive results came from mosquitoes trapped on July 22. “Our environmental health specialists will now surveil the area and treat standing…
Local Stand-Up Comedian to Open Artist Studio, Gallery in Over-the-Rhine
A new creative studio and gallery offering a space to spark the imagination will open in Over-the-Rhine this Friday. Shamala Hamala, located at 1306 Main St. in Over-the-Rhine, is a new concept from local stand-up comedian and portrait photographer Kevin James Thornton. The space features a private workspace for artists, with a photographic darkroom, as…
Prosecutor Investigating Alleged Fake Topless Video of Indiana Republican Lawmaker’s Wife
An Indiana lawmaker confirmed the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating an alleged fake topless video of his wife performing during a charity event. “At the end of the day, I just want whoever is responsible, whether if it’s true or not true, or somebody just made it up, I want … their heads to…
In Ohio Protests, Anti-Trump Groups Want People to Show What They Stand For
As the second Trump administration grinds into its seventh controversial month, groups organizing protests in Ohio want people to turn out and show their opposition. But they also want people to show what they support. That was true in a relatively small demonstration outside the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday. The same principle will be a…
Ozomatli on 30 Years of Music and Living Up to Santana’s Prophecy
In 1999, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Raul Pacheco, guitarist/ founding member of Latino rock outfit Ozomatli. Named for the Aztec god of dance, fire and music, Ozomatli was a virtual melting pot of musical style, an unconventional hybrid of every conceivable subset of Latino music (cumbia, norteno, merengue, salsa) as well as…
