Article of Faith

If You Go

Portraits in Faith Book Launch
Dec. 4, 6 p.m.
Summit Hotel, 5345 Medpace Way
with performances by Neshama Carlebach, a Portraits of Faith subject and an award-winning singer, songwriter, and activist

Purchase tickets for the book launch.

For more information on the Portraits of Faith, visit portraitsinfaith.org.

While traveling the globe as a marketing director for Procter & Gamble, Daniel Epstein made time to interview and photograph 500 people across 27 countries documenting the power of faith and spirituality. His eighteen-year exploration, Portraits in Faith, is the world’s most extensive oral history project about faith conducted by a single person. 

Epstein founded the non-profit Portraits in Faith Foundation and has now compiled over a hundred of his inspirational portraits into a new book.

Portraits in Faith documents the role of spiritual experience inside and outside of formal religion, expected and unexpected, told in people’s own words. The multi-media project has been praised by documentarian Ken Burns, television personality Dr. Oz, and many Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders.

Motivated by his own search to fill the “God-sized hole” in his life, Epstein set out on a journey. He felt that if he did not develop some type of spiritual faith, he would die. This led him to interview people of all backgrounds and from all walks of life representing over 50 religions, denominations, and spiritual followings.

Portraits in Faith is raw, personal stories of spiritual healing. Each account is a new perspective: Steve, a gay man in Cincinnati with chemical and sex addictions, finds hope in the simple sign of peace Catholics give to each other at the end of Mass. Anna, the mother of post-modern dance, reveals how dance and movement are deeply authentic forms of spirituality. Danny, an Israeli injured by a terror attack, believes that we must thank God even for bad things and work out what they mean in our lives. Alakananda is a mystic who lives “beyond religion where all traditions shine” in the realm of universal light. Every story is unique, but they are all threaded together by the power of faith. 

Epstein is a marketing and innovation consultant based in Cincinnati, Ohio and a former Harley Procter Marketing Director for Procter & Gamble, the highest distinction and title given to marketers at Procter & Gamble (only 20 in company history). Outside of work, he is dedicated to building bridges across cultures and faith. In 1994, Epstein co-founded and then co-led the Cincinnati African American-Jewish community dialogue. Following the race riots in Cincinnati in 2001, Daniel co-led “Open the Space, Cincinnati!” a unique large group race relations dialogue program. 

Sleigh All Day

Most adults look forward to Thanksgiving all year as a day to relax and enjoy good food and good company, but it’s the day after that kids anticipate.

That’s the day Santa Claus comes to town!

On Friday, Nov. 26, Santa makes his official arrival in the Tristate. If you really want to, you can visit Santa at the mall. It will be crowded, the photos will be expensive, and the whole ordeal will feel a little hectic and unpleasant.

But you don’t have to settle for that. You can find Santa in action, building things and swimming with sharks; tending to his reindeer and taking his place in history!

At first glance, Santa swimming seems a bit off brand with his fur suit and heavy boots. But for the past 19 years, Scuba Santa has been part of Water Wonderland at Newport Aquarium.

You can see Scuba Santa swim with a tank full of sharks and still tell him what you want for Christmas. His scuba bubbles are magic, of course, so every time a bubble pops, a wish will come true for someone throughout the world. Visit the website for exact times!

At Cincinnati Museum Center, Santa makes his grand arrival at 11 a.m. aboard a historic firetruck from the Cincinnati Fire Museum. You can watch his entrance and wave “hello” by the historic fountain at Union Terminal. After that, he’ll settle in by the cozy fireplace set up adjacent to Holiday Junction to hear your holiday wishes.

Did you ever wonder how the elves became such expert toymakers? They learned from Santa. Watch him Santa’s in his workshop at Washington Park on select Saturdays and Sundays beginning Nov. 27, from 12 to 4 p.m. for socially distanced photos with Santa. These events series are free, but you need to bring your own camera.

For the absolute best Santa in the Christmas business, visit Rising Star Christmas Casino. He’s in the Market Village, you can pick up a few gifts, talk to Santa, and even visit with his reindeer. As a bonus, the website offers a “reindeer cam” so you check on your new furry friends whenever you’d like.

Silver Bells

Frosty the Snowman.

Eight tiny reindeer.

Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.

The holiday season is filled with wonder and magic, inspiring the imagination of children of all ages.

Keeping with that belief, Cincinnati Bell has created the “Imagine the Possibilities” campaign this holiday season, giving back to the community it has served for nearly 150 years.

Part of this campaign is creating special “Imagination Destination” holiday experiences, fulfilling wish lists and donating to local charities, supporting small businesses, and providing special “150” themed offers and “holiday relief” sweepstakes for customers and the community. Cincinnati Bell has a long history of supporting community initiatives, small businesses and local charities, and this year, the company will partner with organizations including 3CDC, Findlay Market, Freestore Foodbank and Ronald McDonald House Cincinnati to kick off the holiday season.

“For nearly 150 years, home has been here,” said Christi Cornette, Chief Culture Officer of Cincinnati Bell. “We’re proud to give back to the city that’s given us so much. And as a thank you, we want to help everyone experience the magic of the holidays.”

Findlay Market
Cincinnati Bell and Findlay Market are partnering to bring back the Shillito’s Elves, which will be set up at Findlay Market from Black Friday at 11 a.m. through the end of the year in the old Leader Furniture building. The Shillito’s Elves will be displayed facing out, so market shoppers and visitors can walk around to view them 6 days per week during market hours (Tuesday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 a.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sundaym 10 a.m.–4 p.m.). They will be animated on weekends.

Taking Care of Business

Cincinnati Bell will support local businesses with the annual digital Small Business Holiday Guide, promoting holiday shopping at area small businesses. Current and new customers of Cincinnati Bell will also see up to $150 in holiday savings on premium TV content, connected home discounts and more. And everyone in the community will be invited to experience new “Imagination Destinations” including free family-friendly activities, chances to win free holiday prizes and gifts, and exciting new interactive holiday window displays to be announced soon.

“We encourage everyone to support the small businesses and great organizations in our community by shopping small and giving what you can,” said Leigh Fox, President and CEO of Cincinnati Bell. “Every time we buy a cup of coffee at a local shop, or donate a coat or can of food to a local food drive, we are making a big difference in the place we call home and in the lives of our friends and neighbors in need.”

Cincinnati Bell will also partner with Findlay Market this holiday season to support the nearly 150 small businesses housed at the market with a special event on Shop Small Saturday, which is Saturday, Nov. 27, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Cincinnati Bell will also sponsor the Holiday Experience in the Leader Furniture space at Findlay Market with a variety of family-friendly activities including: Free raffle prizes, holiday keepsake photos, holiday gift bags for children, and shopping ideas for connected home solutions along with other holiday surprises. The Holiday Experience starts November 27-28 and continues December 4-5 and 11-12. In honor of Cincinnati Bell’s upcoming 150th Anniversary Celebration in 2023, Cincinnati Bell will donate 150 Christmas trees to local families during the Shop Small Saturday event.

Light Up the Square Downtown Dazzle
Cincinnati Bell will partner with 3CDC to bring back Light Up the Square on Friday, Nov. 26, on Fountain Square. The popular holiday tradition will feature the live lighting of the city’s Christmas tree, live music, a special appearance by Santa Claus and a dazzling fireworks display. Cincinnati Bell will also be participating in the return of Downtown Dazzle on Fountain Square on Saturday, Dec. 4, Dec. 11, and Dec. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m. The popular, family-friendly event features Santa and his elves along with Rudolph rappelling down the 525 Vine Building followed by a Rozzi’s Fireworks show.

“We thank Cincinnati Bell for supporting 3CDC and our focus in making Cincinnati’s urban core a vibrant, dynamic, metropolitan center,” said Christy Samad, Sr. Vice President, Event Management. “The return of our beloved holiday traditions on Fountain Square — the lighting of our city’s Christmas tree and Downtown Dazzle gladly welcome the holiday season to downtown Cincinnati.”

Ronald McDonald House Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bell will partner with Ronald McDonald House Cincinnati to fulfill the Cincinnati Bell Holiday Wish List for over 100 families staying at the House. Additionally, employees of Cincinnati Bell will serve meals over the holidays and help bring the magic of the season to the Ronald McDonald House by transforming common areas to winter wonderland displays and Imagination Destinations. Cincinnati’s Ronald McDonald House provides a home for critically ill children and their families while they receive life-saving medical care.

“We thank Cincinnati Bell for helping to make the holidays away from home for our families as comfortable and as magical as possible,” said Jennifer Loeb, CEO of Ronald McDonald House.

Freestore Foodbank
This holiday season, Cincinnati Bell will donate 150 turkeys to the Thanksgiving food drive for those families served by the Freestore Foodbank.

“Freestore Foodbank believes that every family deserves to share a holiday meal together,” said Kurt Reiber, President and CEO of Freestore Foodbank. “Cincinnati Bell is in the business of connection, and there is no more important connection than family during the holidays.”

Train of Thought

If You go

Tickets for Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains are limited and timed entry is required. Reserve tickets in advance at cincymuseum.org/holiday-junction. Tickets are $10 each or $5 when added to any other museum experience.

Maybe you remember winding through the CG&E lobby to see the trains on a school or family outing, with the impossibly old men giving you a cookie at the end of the display. Perhaps you’ve taken you own children to see the trains in their new home at Cincinnati Museum Center. But for 75 years the Duke Energy Holiday Trains have been as much a part of the Cincinnati holiday celebrations as Santa Claus and UDF egg nog.

The Duke Energy Holiday Trains continue to evoke childlike wonder in kids of all ages as they celebrate their 75th year. A blizzard of custom-built LEGO bricks returns, featuring whimsical scenes and characters from your favorite books and movies. Historic trains and new technology fill the galleries with moments of winter wonder.

Since 1946, families have gathered to watch as miniature locomotives and railcars zip around snowbanks and crowded streets. They’ve pored over the scenes of people dragging home freshly-cut trees, pushing cars up snow-covered hills and crowding the rail station. This year, adults will once again bend down to share the same eye-level views they remember from their childhood and hoist a new generation onto their shoulders for a fresh look at a Cincinnati holiday tradition. Children who grew up visiting the trains downtown now bring their grandchildren to see the same trains at Cincinnati Museum Center. Generations can even reminisce together over an interactive storybook featuring photos of the iconic trains over the decades.

“Year after year, decade after decade, generation after generation the Duke Energy Holiday Trains have delighted families during the holidays,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president & CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “Some people will fall in love with the trains for the first time this year, others for the 75th time, but for everyone we are delighted to once again stoke the fires and send this beloved holiday tradition along their 1,000 feet of track for past and present generations alike.”

The Duke Energy Holiday Trains are surrounded by other incredible train layouts, some dating back over 100 years. The Carlisle & Finch Company, based in Cincinnati, produced the world’s first toy electric train in 1896. Their 1904 version click-clacks through Holiday Junction showcasing meticulous craftsmanship and detail in its metal trains, cars, buildings and bridges. Nearby is a pre-World War II Lionel layout and a Lionel Super O layout from the 1960s, complete with ready-made structures designed to complement the O-scale trains.

Back again is Brickopolis, a blizzard of LEGO bricks crafted into fantastical scenes from the magical worlds of Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, Harry Potter and more. The whimsical display is a seek and find treat surrounding a stunning LEGO metropolis complete with running trains, active seashores and hijinks by the local residents.

Speaking of seek and find, a holiday scavenger hunt featuring CMC-themed objects hidden in the garden railway layout begs you to walk around, peel your eyes and scour every detail for flying pigs, polar bears,  and more tucked away in the snowy hills.

Of course, no holiday is complete with a visit to Santa. Santa makes his grand arrival Friday, Nov. 26 aboard a historic firetruck courtesy of the Cincinnati Fire Museum. Regardless of which list you’re on, he’ll be sitting by his fireplace eager to hear what you want for the holidays or ready for you to plead your case in the Public Landing adjacent to Holiday Junction.

Light and Shadow

If You Go

Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick
Cincinnati Art Museum
Nov. 5, 2021 – Jan.17, 2022
Visit cincinnatiartmuseum.org for more information.

Tickets are $12 for general admission, with discounted rates for students, children and seniors. Admission is free for members. Photography is allowed with no flash. On social media, use #CAMWalker.

Free general admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is made possible by a gift from The Rosenthal Family Foundation. Special exhibition pricing may vary. Parking at the Cincinnati Art Museum is free.

A leading contemporary artist and MacArthur genius grant recipient, Kara Walker re-examines archetypes from American history which continue to shape the structures of modern culture, and the mechanisms of power under which these images were produced and consumed. Using an incisive command of form and starkly contrasting shades of black, gray and white, the artist investigates the prevailing legacies of violence, racism, sexism and imperialism that manifest themselves so openly within the daily American experience.

Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick, From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation is now on view at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Those familiar with Walker’s cut paper silhouettes will be struck by the multiple media also represented in the exhibition, including drawing, painting, sculpture, film, and printing techniques. Engaging the experience of the nineteenth century panorama, Walker creates narrative arcs that travel from the trans-Atlantic slave trade to the contemporary moment. Her powerful and provocative images interrogate America’s historical memory with tropes that are both comfortably familiar and unsettling. These sites of inquiry offer space for contemplation without predetermined resolution.

Through more than 80 works created between 1994 and 2019 from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation—premier American collectors of works on paper—Cut to the Quick demonstrates both Walker’s artistic mastery of medium and the urgency and power of her message.

Due to the difficult themes Walker addresses in her work, and depictions of physical and sexual trauma, A Community Care Space is included in the gallery. Designed by Kara Pierson, founder of Cincinnati’s Lilac & Indigo, the space offers resources for reflection mindfulness and rest.

In Cincinnati, Cut to the Quick will be guest curated by Nashville-based poet and writer Ciona Rouse with Cincinnati Art Museum site curator Trudy Gaba.

Photos by Shae Combs

Rouse co-curated the exhibition for its debut at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, alongside the Frist’s executive director and CEO Dr. Susan H. Edwards. Selections of Rouse’s poetry inspired by Walker’s artwork will be displayed in the gallery along with QR codes directing guests to audio versions of the poems.

“Entering into Walker’s work, we step into a world that appears almost whimsical but that invites us to lean in and notice something far more grotesque, troubling and necessary to wrestle with. As a poet, I see Walker's work much like I read a poem. I find new imagery and make new meaning every time. And each time it calls me into seeing myself more clearly in the midst of the larger American narrative,” said Rouse. "Cincinnati has such strong roots related to abolition and freedom. I'm excited to reimagine this exhibition for this city and join Ohio in grappling with the questions Walker presents in her work through this particular collection, which spans most of her career.”

Cut to the Quick includes several of the artist’s most renowned series, including The Emancipation Approximation (1999–2000), Testimony (2005), Harper’s Pictorial History of the Civil War (Annotated) (2005), An Unpeopled Land in Uncharted Waters (2010), and Porgy & Bess (2013). The most recent work in the exhibition is a small-scale bronze model of Fons Americanus, the allegorical monument installed in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall in 2019.

In the gallery the series take on an immersive experience, conveying to the viewer a sense of being part of the scenes before them, implicated by presence, both participant and observer. Walker’s work engages the viewer in a disruptive awareness, boldly colliding the reality of history with the artificiality of fictions.

Integral to Walker’s artistic process is her extensive research in history, literature, art history, and popular culture. Her signature room-sized installations of silhouettes in tableaux are heavily influenced by forms of storytelling from mythology to fantasy, and were inspired by her study of colonial portraiture, animated films, and the popular nineteenth-century craft of cut-paper silhouette portraiture.

“The silhouette lends itself to avoidance of the subject, to not being able to look at it directly,” Walker has said of her signature style. “Yet there it is the whole time, staring you in the face.”

Bank on Fun

If you weren’t one of the lucky ones from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. to get tickets to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s game against Mexico, you can still enjoy the match.

Join FC Cincinnati at The Banks on Friday, Nov. 12 to cheer on the the Team USA in this 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match/ The party starts at 7 p.m., with the match kick off at 9 p.m.

Enjoy music from DJ Prymtime and activations from the U.S. Army and TQL. Stop by the FC Cincinnati table for free giveaways and register to win a jersey signed by former USMNT player Geoff Cameron.

The most anticipated game in the region every four years, this is the sixth-consecutive time the state of Ohio has hosted the USA-Mexico qualifier. These meetings have produced some of the most significant moments in U.S. Soccer history in a rivalry that dates back to 1934.

While Mexico had historically led the series, competition between the teams has grown into a proper rivalry since 2000 during which time the U.S. has held the edge, amassing a record of 15-9-6 against its neighbors to the south. The most important meeting in the modern era came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan in the Round of 16.

The epic encounters continued last summer when the USMNT was crowned champion of the inaugural Concacaf Nations League after twice coming from behind to defeat Mexico 3-2 in a match that required 30 minutes of overtime to determine a winner. Nearly two months later and with a roster that included 19 changes from the Nations League, the USMNT once again stood atop the winner’s stage after Miles Robinson headed home the game-winner in the 117th minute of a 1-0 shutout of Mexico before a sold-out crowd of 61,514 fans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Since 2000, the series is an even 4-4-2 in World Cup Qualifying contests.

Check out food and drinks at 18 Banks establishments, walk throughout the DORA and watch the match on the big screen hanging from the Red’s Hall of Fame Museum.

As part of their end of season awards, The FC Cincinnati Foundation will also present the P&G Humanitarian Award to Nick Hagglund and the TQL Cares award to The Children’s Home.

Fangs A Lot

How to Watch…If You Dare!

Veteran Mighty Wurlitzer theater organist Trent Sims performs for the pre-recorded virtual performance of the spine-tingling film, Nosferatu.

The film is available for streaming through Nov. 7 at https://youtu.be/ifaDVg34o48.

You could spend your Halloween endlessly scrolling through Netflix, never deciding on a scary movie (or Scary Movie) to watch. But the Friends of Music Hall have ordered up a guaranteed spine-tingler with a Cincinnati spin with a special showing of Nosferatu with music from acclaimed organist Trent Sims on the Mighty Wurlitzer.

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror was directed by F.W. Murnau, with Max Schreck starring as Count Orlok, a vampire with an interest in both a new residence and the wife of his real estate agent. This legendary 1922 silent German Expressionist film tells the story of a creepy count who is hunting for a new home and takes an unwelcome fancy to his real estate agent’s wife. The film, inspired by Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula, was ranked 21st in the “The 100 Best Films of World Cinema.”

Organist Sims, a native of Dayton, Ohio, developed a love of music at an early age. He has played classical and theater organ concerts across the United States, England, and Germany. Sims has been particularly associated with Music Hall’s Mighty Wurlitzer, having made the inaugural recording on that instrument in 2010.

The film is part of the Friends’ Silent Movies Made Musical with the Mighty Wurlitzer series. In the spring, the Friends of Music Hall presented Girl Shy (1924), starring Harold Lloyd as a shy, stuttering bachelor who works in a tailor shop – yet he's writing a guide book for bashful young men! He meets and falls in love with a rich young woman who is engaged and about to wed an already-married man! He has to become her hero and prevent the wedding – but how? Master organist Clark Wilson took viewers back to a time when the bells and whistles of the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre organ provided the soundtrack to film entertainment.

Find learn more about the Friends of Music Hall and additional programming, visit friendsofmusichall.org.

Tumbling Dice

Get ready to (rock ‘n’) roll! After months of renovations, including new games, new murals, and the installation of decades-worth of music memorabilia, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati officially opens to the public on Friday, Oct. 29.

On Oct. 29 at 11 a.m., Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati will re-open as the iconic brand with their famous Guitar Smash led by celebrities and members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida as well as Hard Rock Casino executives. 

Following the Guitar Smash, baseball legend Pete Rose will place the first bet at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati and autograph the official Hard Rock Casino guitar specially made for the casino’s memorabilia collection.

The first live performance at the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati will be by Earth, Wind & Fire, the GRAMMY® Award-winning R&B band that spans decades of top hits from “Shining Star," "Sing a Song," “September” and "After the Love Has Gone."

“We know our Grand Opening will be a big hit with the Hit King Pete Rose and Earth, Wind & Fire here to celebrate with our guests,” said George Goldhoff, president of Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati. “The Hard Rock Casino brand is globally recognized as a leader in gaming and entertainment. We know our guests will be delighted with our new restaurant, retail, and gaming experiences.”

Over the last few months, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati has introduced new restaurant and retail experiences to guests. On Oct. 25, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood opened. In July, the Hard Rock Cafe Cincinnati opened, and in April, the Rock Shop® opened.

Squad Goals

Even if you don’t know a “false nine” from a “big four,” you know the World Cup is a very big deal. This week, the 2026 Cincy Local Organizing Committee is hosting the FIFA and US Soccer Delegation for a site visit of Paul Brown Stadium, soccer training facilities and Fan Fest locations.

Cincinnati is one of 17 U.S. cities vying to host FIFA World Cup in 2026 with 10-11 American cities to be chosen in early 2022. In 2026, the field of teams will expand from 32 to 48 making it the largest sporting event in the world.

On Friday, Oct. 22, the 2026 Cincy LOC will hold a free Street Festival on Freedom Way at The Banks to encourage the community to welcome FIFA to Cincinnati.

The first 500 who register at 2026Cincy.com will receive two free tickets to the FCC match on Nov. 7, be eligible to win two free tickets to USA vs. Mexico on Nov. 12 and get a free Soccer City commemorative T-shirt.

The community is encouraged to wear their favorite soccer jersey or red, white and blue gear.

The schedule of events:

2 p.m. – Free LaRosa’s pizza on Walnut at Freedom Way, first beer free (21+) at the Moerlein Lager House, live music by the Cincinnati Music Accelerator and the DORA District at The Banks is open

2:45 p.m. – FC Cincinnati supporters gather at Walnut and Freedom to march the 32 country flags of the last World Cup played in 2018 to Paul Brown Stadium. All welcome to join the march

3–3:30 p.m. – FIFA Press Conference at Paul Brown Stadium, Gate D, at Elm Street

3–5 p.m. – 2026 Cincy Street Party continues

Into the Woods

Hear some of the most talented voices the Cincinnati region has to offer at the Winton Woods Amphitheater on Oct. 16.

Kick things off with rich, authentic performances from Elementz, Cincinnati’s premier Hip Hop cultural art center.

Then catch the smooth, confident vocals of rising star Lauren Eylise, who was highlighted as a standout on NPR’s 2020 Tiny Desk Contest.

Each month, Enjoy the Arts @ Parks, presented by Macy's, showcases the diversity and excellence of Greater Cincinnati’s arts at parks across the region.

When you make a first-time $75+ donation to ArtsWave, or increase your donation by 10%+ if you’re already a donor, you’ll get a Great Parks of Hamilton County Motor Vehicle Permit as our thank you gift. You can use that permit throughout the year as you “enjoy the arts @ parks” with us.

Teenage Dream

If You Go

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Now Oct. 8 – Nov. 13

Otto M. Budig Theater
1195 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202

For tickets and information visit cincyshakes.com/event/romeo-and-juliet/.

With 580 days since the last audience attended a performance, Cincinnati Shakespeare is thrilled to be re-opening the Mainstage of The Otto M. Budig Theater with Romeo and Juliet.

The production is directed by longtime Company-member Darnell Pierre Benjamin and features a cast of 16 Resident Ensemble Members. 

William Shakespeare's timeless tale of two star-crossed lovers and the feuding families who tear them apart, returns in all of its everlasting grandeur. Revel in lavish masked balls, rousing street brawls, tragic young love, and some of the most exquisite poetry ever penned, all in a traditional Elizabethan setting. Fall in love again for the first time.

The star-crossed lovers in Romeo and Juliet are Courtney Lucien and Crystian Wiltshire.  Both actors frequently appear at CSC, with Lucien last appearing in Pride and Prejudice, and Crystian Wiltshire appearing last in The Merry Wives of Windsor and All the Way. Wiltshire has also recently joined Cincinnati Shakespeare as its new Associate Artistic Director.

This production’s design is generously sponsored by Marcene and Jim Kinney.  Romeo and Juliet is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

At this time, all ticketholders must be masked as well as show proof of a full COVID vaccination status OR provide a negative COVID test to enter The Otto M. Budig Theater. More details on the exact procedure will be shared with with theatregoers prior to the performance. 

By Design

If You Go

Luba Lukova: Designing Justice 
Freedom Center’s Skirball Gallery
Opens Oct. 8, continues through March 22, 2022.
Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children and free for Freedom Center Members.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit freedomcenter.org/designingjustice.

“The power of art is the power to transform. Luba Lukova’s artwork encourages viewers to look inward as they stand before her images, revealing as much about individuals as it does society,” says Woodrow Keown, Jr., president & COO of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

In their continuing fight for social justice, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is turning to art with Luba Lukova: Designing Justice, a portfolio of social commentary prints and posters.

Luba Lukova: Designing Justice addresses essential themes of humanity and injustices worldwide through images embedded with thought-provoking messages. Lukova’s artwork helps viewers develop empathy for social and cultural issues through the use of metaphors and bold, succinct symbols that communicates universal truths about desire, fear, creation, hope and man’s endless capacity for love and hate. Among the themes addressed are peace, censorship, immigration, ecology, hunger and corruption. By the time guests leave the exhibition they will have been reminded that social issues across the globe demand to be addressed – and changed – through the commitment of well-intentioned individuals. In all, Lukova’s images help provide inspiration for each of us to be a force for good in the world.

“Designing Justice is a powerful addition to our museum experience and adds another critical step in guests’ personal journey as they reflect on the world around them and who they are in it,” says Keown, Jr.

The exhibition is curated by New York-based artist Luba Lukova, regarded as one of the most original image-makers working today. In her art, less is more – more effect, more message, more expression. She works in saturated colors, sharp lines and clear compositions to create elegantly streamlined images that is both aesthetically beautifully and intellectually powerful. Her art is on display in permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York; Denver Art Museum; Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris; Hong Kong Heritage Museum; Centre de la Gravure et de l'Image imprimée in La Louviere, Belgium; and the Library of Congress and the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Her solo exhibitions has been displayed in Paris, Japan, Taiwan, New York, Boston and Atlanta. Lukova has been nominated for a Grammy for best recording package design for her cover of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington at the Cote D’Azur and has been awarded Grand Prix Savignac/World’s Most Memorable Poster at the International Poster Salon in Paris; the Gold Pencil from The One Club in New York; Honor Laureate at the International Poster Exhibition in Fort Collins, CO; and a grant from the Reisman Foundation.

Fast Pitch

If You Go

U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Paraguay
Thursday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.
TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Pkwy
Ticket information.

On TV: FS1, TUDN

Following a decisive victory over Paraguay in Cleveland, the U.S. Women’s National Team is looking for continued success in Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Sept. 21.

Meg Ryan, chief marketing officer, FC Cincinnati

“When we built and opened TQL Stadium, we did so with events like this in mind,” says Meg Ryan, chief marketing officer with FC Cincinnati. “The passion and dedication of our city, our fans and our team has put us at the forefront of the American soccer landscape, and we’re honored that both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National teams have chosen to play at TQL Stadium.”

At the game in Cleveland, legendary forward Carli Lloyd led the team, tying a team record with five goals in a single match, as the USA defeated Paraguay 9-0 in the USA’s first match after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This was Lloyd’s fourth to last game for the U.S. Women’s National Team ahead of her retirement.

The USWNT’s home unbeaten streak now stands at 59 games, which includes 54 wins and five draws. During that stretch, the U.S. has outscored its opponents 213-27, including an 83-3 margin during its last 20 matches at home

“We anticipate seeing a lot of Red, White and Blue, in addition to the typical Orange and Blue at our FC Cincinnati home matches,” says Ryan. “We are expecting a crowd of over 22,000 for the U.S. Women’s National Team match, and it is sure to be a great environment.”

In their first season at TQL Stadium, FC Cincinnati has enjoyed strong fan support, despite a losing record.

“We have seen the passion that our fans have for FC Cincinnati, and we are excited to see that passion on display again for the U.S. Women’s National Team in their match on Tuesday night,” says Ryan.  “We are committed to growing the game of soccer in our city and bringing the best female soccer players in the world to Cincinnati and this match is a great catalyst for that.”

Of course, fans aren’t coming just to see the four-time World Cup winning women’s team. They have a special, homegrown, reason to go to the game.

“Rose Lavelle is a Cincinnati legend and quickly becoming a U.S. Soccer legend,” says Ryan. “We are excited for her to come back to her hometown and play in this world-class stadium.”

Stars and Stripes Forever

If You Go

DAV Centennial Celebration
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Music Hall, 1241 Elm St.

Tickets are $28 and are now on sale at www.dav.org/pops.

DAV (Disabled American Veterans) will mark their Centennial Celebration with the Cincinnati Pops.

Led by Pops Conductor John Morris Russell, the performance will feature a dozen musical tributes telling the story and milestones of military history from World War I through modern service. The West Point Glee Club and “American Idol” star Melinda Doolittle will also perform with the orchestra.

This event will celebrate this special milestone in DAV’s history and honor the millions of brave men and women they have helped to live with respect and dignity after being injured while serving our country.

Founded in Cincinnati in the aftermath of World War I, DAV has assisted veterans of all generations and their families in the ensuing century.

“When Judge Robert Marx and a handful of other World War I veterans founded DAV in 1920, they couldn’t have known the scope of its impact over the next century,” said Marc Burgess, CEO of DAV. “They couldn’t have imagined that the organization would go on to assist more than 1 million veterans and their families each year.

"We are deeply grateful for our friends at the Harold C. Schott Foundation, Diane J. and Robert A. McDonald Family Foundation, Chisholm, Chisholm, and Kilpatrick LTD, Crosby Marketing Communications, and Ford Motor Co. whose generous support helped to make this special event possible. We are also deeply appreciative of the Cincinnati Pops, West Point Glee Club and Melinda Doolittle for their performances in honor of DAV and the heroes we serve.”

Under Wraps

All Aboard!

The Cincinnati Bell Connector is free to ride every day. The streetcar’s operating hours are

• Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

• Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

• Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

 Learn more about the Cincinnati Bell Connector and see photos of the new wrap at cincinnatibellconnector.com.

The City of Cincinnati, ArtsWave and Cincinnati Bell Inc. are celebrating the five-year anniversary of the Cincinnati Bell Connector with a special “Music Hall” themed streetcar that made its public debut today, Thursday, Sept. 9.

“We have one of the most vibrant arts scenes in the country thanks to our generous donors and loyal patrons,” sayss Alecia Kintner, president and CEO of ArtsWave. “This fall will bring with it arts for everyone to enjoy and, at the same time, employment for the thousands of actors, performers, musicians, artists and staff associated with our arts organizations in Cincinnati. We welcome everyone’s return as we come together in person again to enjoy the arts and support our artists.”   

Leigh Fox, President and CEO of Cincinnati Bell, said the arts theme is a natural choice for the streetcar's new look.   

“The arts play an essential role in making Greater Cincinnati the incredible place it is to live, work and play,” said Fox, a former chair of the ArtsWave fundraising campaign.

Cincinnati Bell bought naming rights to the city’s streetcar system at the time it began passenger service on Sept. 9, 2016. 

“After the challenges of the pandemic, live arts are returning and we are celebrating our connections to everything Cincinnati,” added Travis Jeric, Streetcar Director. "This is the first Connector to don a new arts-oriented look. The appearance of our other four Connectors will also be individually reimagined over the next year. We look forward to sharing more about the different designs in the months ahead.” 

The fall season includes arts programs throughout the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. View a complete listing at ArtsWave Guide, the region’s arts calendar.  

Big Shot

If You Go

Billy Joel at Great American Ball Park

Friday, Sept. 10, doors open at 6 p.m., show time at 8 p.m.

Buy Tickets

The only acceptable way for a Mets’ fan to be on the field at Great American Ball Park is if he’s playing piano. Legendary musician Billy Joel will perform live at Great American Ball Park. This performance will be Joel’s stadium show in Cincninati

Joel is one of the biggest concert draws in the world and continues this achievement with an impressive run of sold-out consecutive stadium shows and concert arenas. Having sold 150 million records over the past quarter century, scoring 33 consecutive Top 40 hits, Joel ranks as one of most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in history. The singer/songwriter/composer is the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time and the third best-selling solo artist. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected “Piano Man” for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its “cultural, historic, and artistic significance.”

In November 2014, Joel received both The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song which honors living musical artists' lifetime achievement in promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations, and the once-in-a-century ASCAP Centennial Award, which is presented to American music icons in recognition of their incomparable accomplishments in their respective music genres and beyond.

In December 2013, Joel received The Kennedy Center Honors, one of the United States' top cultural awards. He is also the recipient of six GRAMMY® Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. Joel has been inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received numerous industry awards including a TONY AWARD for “Movin’ Out,” a Broadway musical based on Joel's music. For his accomplishments as a musician and as a humanitarian, Joel was honored as the 2002 MusiCares Person Of The Year by the MusiCares Foundation and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Billy Joel: New York State of Mind, the documentary film, explores Joel's unprecedented franchise at Madison Square Garden and the film won five New York Emmys at the 61st Annual NY Emmy Awards in April 2018.

Joel has also performed alongside other music greats at two of Madison Square Garden's most extraordinary benefit concerts - “12-12-12, The Concert For Sandy Relief,” which raised awareness and money for those affected by Hurricane Sandy and “The Concert for New York City,” which was held to help aid 9/11 victims and heroes.

Roaring Back

Though the Bengals end preseason play on Sunday, Aug. 29, it will nevertheless be a day of new beginnings.

As fans head to Paul Brown Stadium this season, looking forward to that first beer and first win, they will also see some changes at for gameday.

Before the game, fans can start their celebration at the new Jungle Zone on the lawn of The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center across from Paul Brown Stadium. The Jungle Zone opens at 2 p.m. and features music, food, drinks and games for all ages. Fans can meet members of the Stripes Squad and watch the Ben-Gals perform before heading over to the game.

One important thing fans also need to know is that as of Aug. 29, Paul Brown Stadium is cashless. All purchases in the stadium must be made using a credit card, debit card or mobile payment. This includes all purchases, from the concession stands to retail locations. Roaming vendors will have mobile credit card devices to process cashless payments.

If you do bring cash, PBS has cash-to-card kiosks that can transfer cash to a card (with no fees) which can be used anywhere, not just at the stadium.

The most welcome development at PBS on Sunday will no doubt be the return of Joe Burrow. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor expects Burrow to take the field for what the coach describes as a “very limited number of snaps.”

“It will be good to get him out there in front of the home crowd in a very similar environment to week one in terms of being at home, time of day,” Taylor said. “It will be good to get guys next to each other in the huddle with the coaches on the field and the fans cheering them on.”

Burrow’s return is timed perfectly with the Bengals’ new pregame ritual, the Ruler of The Jungle ceremony. Though kickoff is at 4 p.m., fans are asked to be in their seats by 3:45 p.m. to participate in what is set to become a new tradition.

From a jungle-themed throne, the Ruler of The Jungle will lead the crowd in the “Who Dey” chant right before kickoff to create a more energetic gameday environment.

The inaugural Ruler of The Jungle will be James “JB” Brown. A fan since 1968, Brown was well known by early Bengal player, even gaining the attention Paul Brown himself. Brown rewarded his loyalty by welcoming him inside the locker room. JB has been to nearly every Bengals home game and has led the team onto the field for many years.

Set to Music

If You Go

ArtsWave: Enjoy the Arts @ Parks
Saturday, August 28, 1–5:30 p.m.
Miami Whitewater Forest
9001 Mount Hope Road
FREE

More information at artswave.org/parks.

Enjoy every last moment of summer with ArtsWave’s Enjoy the Arts @ Parks next concert.

Satin Smooth Project kicks off the day with their blend of smooth jazz, funk and soul. They'll take you down memory lane until you're dancin’ by the lake to some of your favorite songs of the last 40 years.

Taifa will keep you moving as they bring a soulful edge to songs you know and love. Just Vince and the Fellas take a break from their usual gig at the Redmoor to treat you to timeless classics of pop, R&B, soul, dance and more to wrap up the afternoon.

Enjoy the Arts @ Parks Series, presented by Macy’s, is a new, eight-month series programmed during ArtsWave’s 2021 Campaign to fund the arts. Each event features performances from a diverse set of arts organizations and independent artists. ArtsWave created the series through partnerships with Great Parks of Hamilton County, the City of Covington (Devou Parks) and Boone County Parks (Boone Woods). The Miami Whitewater Forest concert marks the fourth of the six that will be performed at various Great Parks of Hamilton County locations across the region.

New donors to ArtsWave and those increasing their last gift by 10%+ can receive a free year-long Great Parks of Hamilton County Motor Vehicle Permit, which allows free parking at all Great Parks throughout 2021, as well as other benefits.

Concerts are free and details on performances, dates and times can be found at artswave.org/parks. Donations to the arts can be made at artswave.org/give.

Family Time

Midwest Black Family Reunion

• Senior Pavilion with live DJ, activities (such as bingo), fitness demonstrations, resources and more

• Youth & Young Adult Pavilion with live DJ, activities, giveaways, and contests

• Children’s Pavilion with games, activities, crafts, face painting, giveaways, and resources

• Sports Pavilion with basketball tournament, giveaways, resources

• Inspirational Pavilion with live entertainment, spiritual resources, performances

• Health Pavilion with resources, giveaways, demonstrations, health screenings and more.

Find out more at www.myblackfamilyreunion.org.

The Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion continues to grow and is now one of Cincinnati's largest family-focused events drawing over 20,000 patrons.

“We are excited to be returning for our 33rd year and look forward to being able to serve our community in person this year,” says Tracey Artis, executive director of BFR.

The three-day celebration began on Fountain Square on Friday, Aug. 20 and continues at Sawyer Point Park on through Sunday, Aug. 22. This family-friendly event features food, entertainment, community resources, giveaways and more.

On Sunday, BFR also hosts their Urban Gospel Concert with Darwin Hobbs and James Fortune. Darwin Hobbs is one of the most respected and sought after recording artists and Worship Pastors in Gospel music. His inimitable, supple tenor has provided a rich backdrop to hundreds of recordings by artists including Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, Amy Grant, Natalie Grant, Michael Card, Bebe & Cece Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Michael McDonald, Donna Summer, Chris Tomlin, and countless others.

James Fortune is a Houston-bred, singer, songwriter and producer. Called to music ministry as a child, the idea of a record label, worldwide travel, an abundance of accolades and two Grammy-nominations were the least of his thoughts and aspirations. Since his music ministry's 2004 debut with You Survived, James Fortune has gone on to record and release The Transformation (2007), Encore (2010), Identity and Grace Gift (both released in 2012). James Fortune's 2017 release, Dear Future Me, intertwined trust with the act of forgiving self, and realizing that your future will flourish with God's grace. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel chart with its lead single “Favor of God” receiving a 2019 ASCAP Urban Rhythm & Soul Award.

Throughout the day, guests can expect family fun, activities, throughout the par. There will also be vaccination stations, voter registration, and a school supply giveaway within the park.

“The Black Family Reunion exists to uplift and celebrate Black families and we intend to do just that. With everything that has occurred over the last year and a half, it’s important for us to remain steadfast and strong, just like our theme states,” says Artis.

Picture of Health

No matter your plans for Fall, The Wellness Experience by Kroger, is ready to help you live your best life.

The two-day, free health and wellness festival August 20 and 21, presented by Molson Coors Beverage Company and L.A. Libations, celebrates physical, mental and emotional health for the whole human. Inclusion Companies LLC, in partnership with The Kroger Co. and festival co-founder Jewel have created a festival that features more than 100 experiences focused on four core pillars of transformation: health, activity, nutrition and inspiration.

Free concerts will take place on both Friday and Saturday. Simple Truth presents the Friday, Aug. 20 concert featuring Quinn XCII with hometown favorite Blessid Union of Souls.

Among other events are

• Jewel’s Anxiety Workshop: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and event co-founder leads an inspiring session about how to work through anxiety and not let it rule your life.

• Food As Medicine: Take part in a conversation with actress and vegan foodie Tabitha Brown and Kroger Health President Colleen Lindholz about using food as treatment.

• Joanne Molinaro ‘The Korean Vegan’ will prepare her latest meal obsession that’s healthy, plant-based and delicious.

• Cincinnati’s own Marty and Amanda Brennaman will prepare a dish that’s a real home run, featuring Laura’s Lean Beef

• Tone It Up co-founder Karena Dawn

• TV personality and entrepreneur star Matt James

The festival also offers a Kid’s Zone, Ninja Warrior course, food sampling, a cooking stage showcasing plant-based eating options, and live music all weekend.

All events at The Wellness Experience will be held outdoors at The Banks. Organizers ask that all patrons be aware of social distancing as they enjoy the event.

Patron-facing staff will be wearing masks. Free masks will be available to all patrons. Additionally, Kroger Health will offer a COVID vaccination clinic at the Sample Space at The Banks.