Creating Links
altafiber’s annual golf outing raised more than $100,00 for the Bell Charitable Foundation.
altafiber hosted its annual golf outing on June 27 at Coldstream Country Club, with the support of altafiber staff, volunteers and vendors. Adding to the day were appearances by several celebrities, including Byron Larkin, Wes Miller, Sean Miller and DerMarr Johnson.
With over 170 patrons in attendance, the golf outing and subsequent silent auction raised more than $100,000 for the Bell Charitable Foundation. The Foundation, which formally incorporated in 2020, funds projects and nonprofit organizations that work in the areas of economic & social mobility, environmental sustainability, technology and health and wellbeing.
The Foundation is overseen by the altafiber Social Impact team, led by Sr. Director of Social Impact, Michelle Hall.
“Supporting our community is integral to the fabric of altafiber, and proceeds generated from this golf outing will allow the Bell Charitable Foundation to issue more substantial grants to area nonprofits so they can continue making a deep and lasting impact,” said Leigh Fox, altafiber CEO.
The annual golf outing serves as the primary fundraising event for the Bell Charitable Foundation, and comes just ahead of the announcement of much anticipated inaugural grants from the Foundation.
Who Was That Masked Man?
One performer on the national tour of The Masked Singer sounded familiar to the local crowd.
Local fans of The Masked Singer enjoyed quite the surprise this week during the performance on Tuesday night at the Taft Theatre.
None other than FOX19′s Frank Marzullo was revealed as the “Boom Boom Box” when the national tour made a stop in Cincinnati.
Marzullo sang “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, then was unmasked, but totally unfazed.
Scare Off the Competition
Get that new T-shirt, Cincy sports fans, there's a new team in town! Meet Cincinnati Fear.
The world of esports may seem confusing, but don’t let it frighten you. Especially now that Cincinnati has its own team to root for.
Cincinnati Fear, the city’s fourth professional sports team, launched last year. Created by Game Day Communications, Cincinnati Fear brings together professional, collegiate and high school players to compete in tournaments and live events, including League of Legends and Super Smash Brothers.
Keep up on all things esports with “Eyes on the Fear,” a weekly show hosted by Lauren Artino about Cincinnati FEAR, with team interviews, results, and lifestyle around Cincinnati.
The team signed Stephen Schmidt as its first professional player. A University of Cincinnati graduate, Schmidt is currently ranked No. 1 in Ohio for Super Smash Brothers.
Cincinnati Fear also has also signed its first professional League of Legends team and coaching staff.
The five members of the first Cincinnati Fear competing in League of Legends are:
Brady Holmich, “Sketchdreams,” from Amarillo, TX
Thomas Ryan Thompson, “Plux,” from West Chester, PA
John Gligoroski, “Blazze,” from Garfield, NJ
William Benoit, “Trixter,” from Montreal, Canada
Kishan Makati, “Dragoon,” from Tampa, FL
The team is led by Cincinnati Fear General Manager Tim David and coached by Jalen Key, “Julius,” from Seattle, WA and Chris Kemp, “Pookar,” from Yonkers, NY.
The League of Legends team is currently competing in the LCS Proving Grounds Circuit Qualifier (PGCQ), which is a North American amateur tournament to determine the teams that will play in the LCS Proving Grounds. The Quarterfinals will be held on June 14, with semifinals on June 16 and finals on June 20. You can watch the action on www.Twitch.tv/CincyFear.
Having a Ball
Check out the breakdown of what the World Cup could mean to the city in new video.
The whole world is watching, and Cincinnati is waiting.
The announcement for 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Host City is due June 16. Cincinnati remains on the short list to host the world’s largest and most watched sporting event.
Being named a host city means big business. The choice could create an economic windfall of nearly a half billion dollars for the Cincinnati region, according to a new economic impact study commissioned by the 2026 Cincy Local Organizing Committee. The study, conducted by the UC Economics Center, shows that hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup would bring a combined total economic impact of $449.4 million dollars and 3,087 jobs with wages of approximately $129.2 million in the Cincinnati MSA representing 15 surrounding counties in southwest Ohio, southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky. The study also finds that approximately $20 million in tax revenue will be created for state and local governments with $15.4 million resulting from sales tax revenue.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first time that the expanded field of 48 teams will play in the World Cup, with 80 total matches, making it the largest in FIFA World Cup history. Of the 16 cities on the list for potential host, 10 will be chosen from the United States with the remaining Host Cities from Mexico and Canada. The official announcement will be made on June 16, 5 p.m. ET via a live broadcast.
"This report leaves no doubt that hosting FIFA World Cup matches will have an unprecedented economic impact on our region," said Gary Lindgren, president of the Cincinnati Business Committee and Cincinnati Regional Business Committee. “Serving as a host city will result in close to a half billion dollars in economic impact, thousands of new jobs and tens of millions in tax revenue for our states, counties and cities in our MSA. This is one of the key reasons why our regions business, civic and government leadership has rallied to whole-heartedly support this bid."
The study, which used a schedule of four matches hosted at Paul Brown Stadium as a reference since the 2026 schedule is not currently known, estimates that 267,384 fans will attend the four matches at Paul Brown Stadium. These visitors are expected to spend $305.20 per day for food, drink, retail, lodging and transportation over an average of four nights, resulting in an economic impact of $195.3 million dollars for Greater Cincinnati. Estimates show that Hamilton County will realize nearly $4 million in tax revenue while the state of Ohio will see nearly $7 million.
“When companies are considering expansion, opening businesses or relocating headquarters; or entrepreneurs are looking for a place to land, we want them to think Cincinnati is the place to be for them,” said Kimm Lauterbach, president & CEO of REDI Cincinnati.
According to the study, the spending made by visitors to the Cincinnati region will generate substantial fiscal benefits for the Cincinnati MSA including the 15 surrounding counties as well as the states of Ohio, Indiana and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. More than $19 million in tax revenue is estimated as a result of visitor spending in Greater Cincinnati during FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Last week, FIFA announced they expect that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be watched by five billion people around the world, far surpassing the record 3.5 billion who tuned in to the 2018 edition in Russia. For reference, the Cincinnati Bengals appearance at the Super Bowl versus the Los Angeles Rams was watched by 112.3 million viewers, generated over 99 billion media impressions, and had an earned media value of more than $4.3 billion for the region.
“The success of sporting events for our region has been remarkable over the last year, from the Bearcats football team to the Super Bowl run by the Bengals,” said Julie Calvert, president & CEO of Visit Cincy. “Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be equivalent to hosting 10 Super Bowls and would be another billion dollar marketing campaign for our city and region. The tens of thousands of visitors to our region coupled with the global TV audience would be another opportunity to showcase our region to the world.”
not throwing away my shot
Broadway in Cincinnati tickets for Hamilton on sale May 19.
Wait for It
Hamilton will play the Aronoff Center from Sept. 6 – Oct. 2, Tuesday – Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m,., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $59 and are available online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS. For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com.
Rise up! Single tickets for Hamilton will go on sale to the public on May 19 at 10 a.m. at CincinnatiArts.org, in person at the Aronoff Box Office, or by calling (513) 621-2787, for performances Sept. 6 – Oct. 2.
“It's tempting to get tickets any way you can,” says Hamilton producer Jeffrey Sellers. “There are many sites and people who are selling overpriced, and in some cases, fraudulent tickets. For the best seats, the best prices and to eliminate the risk of counterfeit tickets, all single ticket purchases for the Cincinnati engagement should be made through CincinnatiArts.org.”
There is a maximum purchase limit of nine tickets per account for the engagement. When tickets go on sale, prices range from $59 to $179 with a select number of premium tickets from $249. There will be a lottery for 40 $10 seats for all performances. Details will be announced closer to the engagement.
With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.
Too Pig to Fail
We counted the countless boosters, bananas, and blankets that make the Flying Pig run.
26.2 miles, 2 bridges, and about a million pig puns. We break down the Flying Pig Marathon, from the number of DJs to the number of jelly beans.
Marathon By The Numbers
(from 2019, last full in-person marathon, unless otherwise indicated)
People
23 countries – Countries represented in 2021, including USA
50 (marathon and half marathon) – States represented
200 – Media Credentials
350 – Security Personnel
382 – Medical Personnel
542 – Finish Line Volunteers
703 – Course Monitor Volunteers
1,509 – Fluid Station Volunteers
8,000+ – Volunteers
43,127 – 2019 Marathon weekend participants
60,000 – Post-Race Party attendees
65,000+ – Expo Attendees
150,000 – Estimated spectators along the course
650,000 households – Potential TV Viewers
498,849 – Flying Pig weekend participants since 1999
Charities
300+ – Charity Partners
$1.5 Million – Dollars raised through Marathon Weekend (2019)
$14 Million – Weekend economic impact
$17 Million – Charity dollars raised since 1999
Medical Supplies
12 – Ambulances
17-20 – Athletic trainers on course
19 – Athletic trainer tents on course
24 – Paramedics
30 cases – Petroleum jelly
34 – Fluid Stations
36 – Cots
100 – Cot Blankets
2,000 – Bandages
3,000 – Alcohol preps
3,800 – Sanitary Gloves
4,000 lbs – Ice
4,196 square feet – Medical Finish Line Tent
55,000 – Mylar Blankets
Recovery Area Food
2,280 gal. – Electrolyte replacement
22,000 – Bananas
22,000 – Dole Fruit cups
22,500 – Crackers
41,000 – Trail Mix
22,000 – Cookies
40,000 – Bags of Chips
55,000 – Bottles of water
Equipment
1 – Helicopters (weather permitting!)
3 for trash, 4 for recycling – Dumpsters
4 – Phone Lines
5 – Production Trucks
9 – TV Cameras
2 – TV Satellite Trucks
5 – Fork Lifts
10-12 – Trucks
11 – Time Clocks
15 – Golf Carts
15 – Toyota official vehicles
49 miles – Miles of course
58 – Buses
85 – Rakes
654 – 8’ banquet sizeTables
655 – folding chairs
40+ (still plus video) – Cameras
81 – Tents (10x10, 10x20, 20x20)
150 – Recycling Boxes
594 – Portable Restrooms
800 – Trash, Recycling and Compost Bags
4,250 feet – Water hoses
5,423 – Volunteer T-shirts
9,840 feet – Metal Barricades
14,286 – Saturday T-Shirts (Piglet, Kids, 5K, 10K)
20,532 – Marathon/Half Marathon/Relay Shirts
41,225 (includes Piglet participation) – Finisher’s Medals
160,000 – Safety Pins
600,000 – Fluid station cups
PLUS
72,906 – Race Day Visitors on www.flyingpigmarathon.com
227,554 – Race Day Views on www.flyingpigmarathon.com
2,604,118 – Race Day Hits on www.flyingpigmarathon.com
Greening of the Pig
28% – Increase in recycling and donations in 2018
58% – Waste diverted from landfills
462 metric tonnes – CO2 offset for transportation
1,900 pounds – Compost collected
2,025 pounds – Clothing collected and donated
3,536 – Participants that used carpool parking
5,960 pounds – Food donated to local food pantries
Course Entertainment
3 – Storage trailers
3 – Energy gel locations
6 – DJs
6 – High School Bands/Cheerleaders
9 – Scream Teams
125+ – Bands and entertainment zones
1,500+ – Signs/Banners
Course, Party Station Supplies
28 lbs – Raisins/craisins
200 lbs – Bacon
640 – Marshmallows
1,000 – Fig bars
1,400 – Peppermint Patties
1,880 – Gummy Worms
2,000 – Graham crackers
4,110 – Cheese crackers
4,470 – Jelly beans
4,536 – Petroleum jelly sticks
4,700 – Chocolate candies
7,182 – Licorice twists
7,470 – Orange slice candy
8,640 – Potato chips
9,450 – Swedish Fish
9,500 – Cookies
9,680 – Orange slices
11,472 gal – Electrolyte drink
12,000 – Energy gel packets
14,112 – Pretzel sticks
20,160 sheets – Paper towels
Youth Program
15 – Fly Up to 5K Groups
85 – Kids’ Marathon Program 26th Mile Groups
4,412 – Saturday Total Youth Group Participation
Success Stories
Dress for Success brings their StyleHER program to The Care Center in Loveland.
Dress for Success StyleHER
The Care Center
11020 South Lebanon Road
Loveland, OH
The Care Center now offers DFSC styling services to residents of the Loveland and neighboring communities. The new satellite location will also offer similar career assistance to that of Dress for Success Cincinnati’s Norwood office, including career development resources through Cincinnati Works.
Find out more at carecenterinfo.com.
Looking for a new way to give back? Dress for Success Cincinnati has partnered with The Care Center in Loveland to offer their StyleHER services in a new, convenient location.
The Care Center is a state-of-the-art resource center with the mission of helping members of Loveland and neighboring communities remove barriers and build the resources needed to thrive in life.
“We are ecstatic to offer Dress for Success’ styling services in another location and make our services more accessible for women in the surrounding areas of Cincinnati,” said Dr. Angela Rivers-Harper, Dress for Success Cincinnati programs director. “Our goal is to expand our reach and work with more women through this new partnership.”
Through this partnership, Dress for Success hopes to offer clients the opportunity to take advantage of all of the resources at the Care Center, including childcare. The Care Center offers free childcare for anyone in need, eliminating the stress of arranging proper care for mothers who wish to attend a styling appointment.
“Our mission is about helping people thrive in life, and one critical way we do that is by helping them reenter the workforce,” said Greg Knake, executive director of The Care Center “We also have a high value for not trying to recreate the wheel, and we instantly identified that Dress for Success Cincinnati already had a model that was successful. It is a perfect fit to incorporate Dress for Success Cincinnati’s services in what we do.”
Dress for Success will be on-site on Tuesdays and Thursdays to offer styling services to clients. During each styling appointment clients will receive one outfit, complete with shoes, accessories and a handbag. Once offered a job, the client is styled with 10 new pieces.
Much of the clothing in the StyleHer Studio comes from donations. But the program also needs volunteers and financial support. If you would like to help at the new satellite location, visit dfscincy.org/support-get-involved.
Back Home Again
Keep the home renovation inspiration going, as The Cincinnati Home & Garden Show continues today through Sunday.
And you thought your project was complicated!
Imagine creating gardens, installing windows, refinishing cabinets, and moving furniture for thousands of people, in the huge expanse of the Duke Energy Convention Center.
That’s what happens for the Home & Garden Show, which continues Thursday through Sunday. With 350 vendors, you’ll find whatever you need for indoor or outdoor updates and renovations – big or small – all in one place.
The show runs Thursday, March 3, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, March 4, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, March 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults ($12 online at www.CincinnatiHomeAndGardenShow.com) and free for children under 12.
The Suite Life
As the world's attention turns to LA, local news crews, Bengals legends, and Cincinnati boosters have a homebase at the Cincinnati Media Center. See who's dropped by!
Like Evan McPherson, Cincinnati is putting its best foot forward in LA.
The Cincinnati Media Center opened Sunday at the Westin LAX to serve as a resource to all media covering the 2022 Super Bowl. The Media Center, a collaboration of Cincinnati Experience, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau, and REDI Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Media Center, is managed by Game Day Communications.
Each day, Cincinnati-focused media alerts and content will be shared and media interview opportunities will be available in the Media Center. Open from 2 a.m. PDT/ 5 a.m. EDT until 4 p.m. PDT/ 7 p.m. EDT for breakfast and lunch, the Media Center also offers guests a daily Cincinnati-themed gift.
On Thursday, Feb. 10, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine visited the Cincinnati Media Center for media availability.
On Friday, Julie Calvert, president & CEO, of the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau and Adam Burke, president & CEO, of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board will “trash talk” about the importance of tourism and the Super Bowl with LA as host and Cincinnati inviting fans to stay in downtown Cincinnati this weekend.
In 2014, a unified Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky business, arts and tourism collaborative determined a community priority was raising the reputation of the Cincinnati region to attract talent, businesses and visitors. The national media initiative, now known as Cincinnati Experience, was created to amplify Cincinnati’s major assets of arts, culinary, culture, entrepreneurship and innovation. Working together, this initiative has paid off, and today, the region is hosting at the Super Bowl, an international media center that firmly positions Cincinnati as a major player on a global scale.
Puppy Love
Who says dogs and cats can't be friends? Those puppies on The Tonight Show sure know how to pick a winner.
Are you going to argue with a fuzzy, floppy golden retriever puppy? Not if you’re a Bengals fan.
Jimmy Fallon, with his own golden retriever puppy energy, did his annual Super Bowl edition of “Puppy Predictors.” The outcome came down to reviewing the tape, in the most adorable way possible. See for yourself.
Somebody needs to teach these pups to bark “who dey.”
Picture This
Moviemaker Magazine thinks Cincinnati oughta be in pictures, ranking the city among the the best for filmmakers to live and work.
Lights! Camera! Cincinnati!
MovieMaker Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2022
Albuquerque (repeating at #1 for the fourth year)
Toronto (up 10 spots from last year, joining the Top 10 and Top 5)
Atlanta
Montreal (up three spots from last year, joining the Top 5)
Boston (up four spots from last year, joining the Top 5)
Vancouver
Chicago
Austin
Philadelphia
Calgary
Cincinnati (up two spots from last year)
Cleveland (up two spots from last year)
Oklahoma City (up two spots from last year)
Baltimore (up four spots from last year)
Dallas
San Francisco (rejoins the list after being absent last year)
San Diego
Miami
Kansas City
Memphis
Portland
San Antonio
Washington D.C.
St. Petersburg (up one spot from last year)
Fort Worth (joining the list for the first time)
MovieMaker compiles its annual list based on surveys, production spending, tax incentives, additional research, and personal visits, whenever possible.
This week, MovieMaker magazine named Cincinnati one of the best places in North America to live and work as a moviemaker in 2022, ranking best in the state and 11th overall. Cincinnati moved up two spots from last year’s list, and puts the area ahead of Cleveland, San Diego and Miami, among others.
“We are proud to return to the MovieMaker best places to live and work as a moviemaker,” said Kristen Schlotman, executive director of Film Cincinnati. “The recognition is a testament to the talented cast and crew who live and work here, and who keep the film industry so strong in Greater Cincinnati.
Film Cincinnati is the not-for-profit organization that works to promote Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky as a destination for film, commercial, and television production. Productions shooting in the area contributed nearly $80 million in economic impact in 2017 and 2018, the last years that figures are available.
“Cincinnati has moved up two slots since last year thanks partly to increasing productions, fueled by Ohio’s $40 million commitment to a 30% rebate on projects that spend at least $300,000,” says MovieMaker editor-in-chief Tim Molloy. “It’s having a huge moment, drawing productions like Oscar-winner John Ridley’s Shirley Chisholm biopic and the Timothée Chalamet film Bones and All.”
4 MORE: George Goldhoff
After a number of unprecedented setbacks during the past year, Hard Rock Casino opened in Cincinnati in October. George Goldhoff talks about that big win.
As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting Cincinnati People stories from throughout 2021.
We checked in with George Goldhoff, the president at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, about casino opening.
When the Rock Shop opened in April we interviewed Goldhoff, and below is a gallery from the grand opening of casino in October.
What’s been the biggest surprise to you in 2021?
I never would have predicted the “Big Quit.” The changes in workforce sentiment are staggering, with over 4 million workers quitting their jobs each month for the previous four months in a row. There are many theories about generous government benefits, stagnant pay, uncertainty of businesses, the reshuffling of the population to different locations and industries, the fear of the virus, and employers’ lack of support or indifference to mental health concerns. I assume the historic rise in quitting also seems to be about more than all of this.
The pandemic has changed the way we view our lives and the world. We are reevaluating how we want to spend our precious time, so we as employers have to understand and support these changing values in the workplace.
What’s changed since we last spoke?
I have always said that your brand is what your guests say it is, not what you tell them it is. In a regional market, with fierce competition, we have to “earn it” every day.
This concept of earning our guest’s loyalty was improved after rebranding through more valuable marketing campaigns/offers/events/initiatives, improved guest service, transforming our facility by providing higher-quality food and beverage options, entertainment, world-class memorabilia, cleaner and more organized experience, and a safer environment.
What did you learn about Cincinnati?
One of the greatest things that I have learned about living in Cincinnati is the true sense of community, from sporting events, the love of the arts, multitude of museums, the patronage for the zoo, the collaboration between the non-profits and business, a collection of diverse neighborhoods, a thriving culinary and beverage scene, year-round outdoor recreation options. But most importantly, my family immigrated here in the 1880s, my wife and I moved to Over-The-Rhine as “empty-nesters” in 2019, and we have been overwhelmed by the genuine friendliness of everyone who have welcomed us “back home.”
What are you looking forward to most in 2022?
At Hard Rock Cincinnati we have many new products, training, and technology initiatives scheduled for 2022.
We are investing in the design of a new hotel, new restaurants, sports betting, business intelligence tools, sensational entertainment, DEI initiatives, and team member development.
On Oct. 29 Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati officially opened with an incredible Guitar Smash ceremony led by Pete Rose, Drew Lachey, Tucker Barnhart, Kathy Wade, Phil Castellini, Bootsy Collins, and members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida along with Hard Rock Casino executives.
During the ceremony, Hard Rock Cincinnati CEO George Goldhoff presented a check for $25,000 to Alecia Kintner, CEO of ArtsWave, to fund the organization’s “Lifting as We Learn” diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) commitment.
After the smash and pyrotechnics, Cincinnati Reds Legend Pete Rose placed the inaugural first table game bet.
The other “guitar smashers” were Kent Butts, Jan-Michele Kearney, and Betsy Sundermann.
Photos by Shae Combs
Taking It to the Streets
Local artists are invited to submit their ideas for artwork to wrap the exterior of a Cincinnati Bell Connector for a project in early 20222 as part of a competition developed by The City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bell and ArtsWave.
Get on Board!
Online submissions for the design contest are being accepted from regional artists through Jan. 9, 2022. The winner will be announced publicly at Music Hall during ArtsWave’s annual fundraising campaign kickoff Feb. 2, 2022.
Visit artswave.org/streetcar to apply. The site includes downloadable streetcar design templates with dimensions and a detailed contest timeline.
The public will vote on the top three designs and an evaluation committee will select the winner in mid-January.
The Cincinnati Bell Connector is getting a new look, courtesy of local artists.
The City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bell, and ArtsWave have issues a call to artists for original artwork that will be used to wrap the exterior of a streetcar.
The winning design, which will be chosen in January, will highlight how the arts connects our region. The chosen artist will receive a $2,500 grant from ArtsWave
“As the arts connect us, so does the Cincinnati Bell Connector,” said Travis Jeric, the city’s Streetcar Director. “We’re excited to see the creativity of our local artists and how they reflect the theme.”
The new design and wrap are included as part of Cincinnati Bell’s sponsorship at no cost to the city. The design contest continues the arts-theme that was unveiled on the streetcar’s five-year anniversary.
“We continue to enjoy this creative exercise, which is transforming the look of the streetcar vehicle by vehicle,” said Leigh Fox, President and CEO of Cincinnati Bell, Vice Chair of ArtsWave and a former chair of the annual ArtsWave fundraising campaign. “We love the new look. The arts theme is a natural choice in Cincinnati where the arts play such an important role in driving the overall vibrancy of our community.”
The first streetcar to don a new wrap is specific to Music Hall and reinforces ArtsWave, the nation’s largest united arts fund that supports more than 150 local projects and cultural groups.
“This is an awesome opportunity for our local artists that have been hit harder than almost anyone from the pandemic,” said Alecia Kintner, President and CEO of ArtsWave. “Not only will the winner be awarded a $2,500 grant, they will enjoy unparalleled exposure as their original design wraps the exterior of the streetcar and their own artwork enlivens the inside in celebration of the 2022 ArtsWave Campaign.”
A Real Trailblazer
Another day, another Oscar-winner. Find out more about the latest major motion picture being filmed in Cincinnati, “Shirley,” starring Regina King.
Dustin Hoffman. Jodie Foster. George Clooney. Cate Blanchett.
Oscar-winners are getting to be as ubiquitous in Cincinnati as three-ways and flying pigs.
Now another Oscar winner, Regina King, is in town as both star and produce of the film “Shirley,” which began principal photography in Cincinnati this week.
“Shirley,” written and directed by Oscar-winning writer/director, John Ridley (“American Crime,” “Needle in a Timestack”), tells the story of Shirley Chisholm, America’s first black congresswoman. Royal Ties Productions and Participant will produce along with Ridley.
Photo: Diana L. Ragland
“We are thrilled to help bring this incredible motion picture to Cincinnati because of the jobs and economic impact it has on the region,” said Kristen Schlotman, executive director of Film Cincinnati. “Cincinnati continues to be a world class destination for production.”
“Shirley” follows the dynamic presidential campaign launched in 1972 by Shirley Chisholm. The feature is based on her life story rights through an exclusive agreement with the Chisholm estate, and the movie will provide an intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait of the ground-breaking political leader during a seminal period in modern American history.
Regina King won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Her directorial feature debut was the critically acclaimed “One Night in Miami.”
Elf Awareness
They're back! The Shillito’s Elves have come out of retirement to bring holiday cheer to Cincinnati once again. See the “Elves on Elder” in action at Findlay Market.
A beloved Cincinnati holiday tradition returns, as Cincinnati Bell and Findlay Market have teamed up to bring back the Shillito’s Elves. The holiday helpers are set up in the old Leader Furniture store so visitors can walk around to view them six days a week during market hours. They will be fully animated on weekends!
In addition to the Shillito’s Elves, the old Leader Furniture Store will be transformed into a robust magical holiday experience, appropriately named Elves on Elder, a Magical Market Experience! Each Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Findlay Market and Cincinnati Bell will host family-friendly activities, programming and special events inside of the space. All activities are free for children, though space is limited. Cincinnati Bell will have an entire side called “Imagination Destination.”
On Friday and Saturday evenings, the space will be transformed into a cozy cocktail and musical experience.
Merry and Bright
The 39th PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden brightens the holidays, where you’ll be delighted by animal friends, fantastic displays, and dazzling lights.
It’s that magical time of year! Visit a “Wild Wonderland” at the 39th PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.
Along with 4 million LED lights, you’ll discover five Fiona fairies, take in a blacklight puppet show, and marvel at the spectacular Wild Lights show on Swan Lake.
Find more information and buy tickets at cincinnatizoo.org/events/festival-of-lights.
Live and Let Pie
Volunteers, supporters, and staff of Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY distributed 2,000 pies for their Bust a Crust! fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 20. Bust a Crust! has raised a record $171,000, which will provide for 6,840 meals for area seniors for one week.
More than 200 volunteers joined the staff of Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY to box and distribute 2,000 pies on Saturday, Nov. 20 as part of the Bust a Crust! fundraiser.
To date, Bust a Crust! has raised a record $171,000 through the sales of pies and and corporate support. That funding will provide 6,840 meals and care for area seniors for one week.
In its second year, the Bust A Crust! fundraiser for Meals on Wheels offered Thanksgiving pies for sale from local bakers and bakeries to support seniors. Fifteen area companies purchased pies in bulk and more than 300 volunteers helped Bust A Crust! succeed by volunteering time at the event’s PieK race in September and Saturday’s pie distribution event at Xavier University.
If you ordered a pie and were unable to pick-up your pie on Saturday, pies can be picked up from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Nov. 22 and 23 at the Meals on Wheels headquarters, 2091 Radcliff Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45204. Pies not picked-up will be donated seniors.
For more information about Bust a Crust!, visit www.BustACrust.org.
Home of the Brave
DAV (Disabled American Veterans) held their 2021 DAV 5K at The Banks on Nov. 6 to give thanks those who served and raise awareness of the issues ill and injured veterans face every day. Along with runners and walkers, the 5K was open go participants in wheelchairs, hand cycles and on motorcycles who wished to show their support.
The DAV 5K took place at The Banks on the Saturday before Veterans Day, with thousands of people showing up to support the non-profit’s work on behalf of disabled veterans and their families.
The event also kicked off the virtual 5K, which continued, fittingly enough, through Nov. 11.
Find out more about DAV at www.dav.org.
Hogging the Spotlight
Piggies and doggies and bees, oh, my! Things looked a little different for the combined Queen Bee Half Marathon and Flying Pig Marathon on Halloween weekend, but the runners, with two or four legs, all had an amazing time.
Photos by Shae Combs
Cincinnati’s combined Flying Pig and Queen Bee weekend kicked off its Saturday events with the Toyota 10K, Tri State Running Company 5K, Queen Bee Medpace 4 Miler and Flying Pig Flying Fur presented by Cuddly.
The total number of weekend participants in 2021 was 15,833, including 1,979 for the full marathon, 5,420 for the Paycor Half Marathon, 1,277 in the Queen Bee Half Marathon, 2,190 for the Toyota 10K, 2,200 in the Tri State Running Company 5K and 1,155 for the Queen Bee Medpace 4 Miler. Other totals include 252 (63 teams) in the City Dash 4-Person Relay, 221 in the Flying Fur and 1,139 for Friday’s Fifty West Mile.
Alex Gold, who came in third in the 2019 Flying Pig Marathon powered by P&G, and Caitlin Keen, who won it in 2018, were the winners in the Marathon division of this year’s combined Flying Pig/Queen Bee weekend.
The 26-year-old Gold, from Cincinnati, won in a time of 2:26:29. Second in the men’s division was 25-year-old J.T. MacKay, also of Cincinnati, in 2:28:31 and third was 33-year-old Steve Matthews of Evansville, Indiana, in 2:29:30.
“It was beautiful out there,” said Gold, “and the fall colors made it even more spectacular. I told Jack (J.T. MacKay) that it’s so cool to be racing at the place where we train every day. I love this city, and this race is what made me fall in love with running in the first place.”
In the women’s division, the 29-year-old Keen, who grew up in Hyde Park and now lives in Fort Worth, took an early lead and never gave it up, winning in 2:43:45, the second fastest time ever, and besting her 2018 winning time of 2:46:39 by nearly three minutes. Second in the women’s division was 34-year-old Amy Manning of Columbus in 3:00:24 and third was 33-year-old Allison Pitt of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, in 3:01:18.
“I hadn’t raced since the Olympic Trials (February 2020), and last year was really hard for me. I think I can speak for a lot of athletes that it was hard,” said Keen. “It took a little bit more motivation, and a lot more time to get back. It’s been a long time coming, but I needed this.”
In the Queen Bee Half, 34-year-old Kelly Fisher from Oregonia won in a time of 1:26:26. Second place was 37-year-old Natalie Leverone from Covington in 1:29:09 and third was 39-year-old Laurah Lukin from Cincinnati in 1:31:48. Leverone finished second and Lukin was third in the 2017 Queen Bee and Lukin finished second in the inaugural 2014 Queen Bee.
Rock This Town
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati officially opened on Friday with a Guitar Smash featuring a star-studded lineup including Pete Rose, Bootsy Collins, and Kathy Wade, with pyrotechnics , and, of course, rock 'n' roll music. See all pix and get ready to rock!
On Oct. 29 Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati officially opened with an incredible Guitar Smash ceremony led by Pete Rose, Drew Lachey, Tucker Barnhart, Kathy Wade, Phil Castellini, Bootsy Collins, and members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida along with Hard Rock Casino executives.
During the ceremony, Hard Rock Cincinnati CEO George Goldhoff presented a check for $25,000 to Alecia Kintner, CEO of ArtsWave, to fund the organization’s “Lifting as We Learn” diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) commitment.
After the smash and pyrotechnics, Cincinnati Reds Legend Pete Rose placed the inaugural first table game bet.
The other “guitar smashers” were Kent Butts, Jan-Michele Kearney, and Betsy Sundermann.
Photos by Shae Combs