It's a Gift
See modern masterpieces from the Weston Collection at Cincinnati Art Museum.
It is impossible to imagine Cincinnati without the generous support and significant contributions of the city’s most notable art patrons.
The names are found at our most beloved institutions, and familiar to many, even if they don’t know the stories behind those names.
About the Collection
The Weston Collection includes works by many eminent artists, including Hofmann, de Kooning, Wesselmann, Dine, Saar, Dubuffet, Duchamp, LeWitt, and others. A major portion of the Weston’s modern and contemporary art collection was bequeathed to the Cincinnati Art Museum in 2019.
The first piece the Weston’s purchased—Claes Oldenburg’s Box of Shirts—is part of this new installation. The showing will feature other key works including Andy Warhol’s Soup Can (Cream of Mushroom), Man Ray’s N for Nothing, Joseph Cornell’s The Sun Series, and Josef Albers’s Study for Homage to the Square: Blue Spring.
Image: Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Soup Can (Cream of Mushroom), 1962, oil on canvas, Alice K. and Harris F. Weston Collection, L53.2004
But this week, the Cincinnati Art Museum unveiled an exhibition of major highlights from the Alice F. and Harris K. Weston Collection, offering a glimpse into Alice Weston’s passion for art and her commitment to the city.
The collection, which includes post-World War II modern and contemporary art, that was given to the museum, complements the museum’s documentation of 20th-century art history.
“We are so pleased that Alice and Harris bequeathed these works to the Cincinnati Art Museum,” says Cynthia Amnéus, chief curator for the museum. “They were such friends to the institution. How and why they collected these pieces and being from Cincinnati makes the collection that much more important.”
Alice Weston was an enduring supporter of the arts in Cincinnati. She was a renowned contemporary art collector, educator, and artist who committed her life to museums and cultural institutions across Cincinnati. She graduated from Vassar College at the age of 19 and later received an additional degree in graphic design from the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program at the age of 50.
Weston was a longtime member of the Contemporary Art Center’s board of trustees and a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s board of overseers. In addition, she was a board member at the Cincinnati Art Museum. In 2017, she received the prestigious Cincinnati Art Award at the Cincinnati Art Museum for her lifetime contributions to the arts. In addition, Weston and her husband are the namesake of the Alice F. and Harris K. Weston Art Gallery at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, which has showcased contemporary art for more than 25 years
Header image: Alice K. and Harris F. Weston attending the opening of the exhibition The Alice and Harris Weston Collection of Post-War Art, 1989. Image provided by the Cincinnati Art Museum’s Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives
Roots in OTR
The Red Door Project powered by the Art Academy returns to OTR for its August exhibition.
Red Door Project: Rooted
Red Door Project powered by the Art Academy of Cincinnati launches the first show back in OTR since 2019!
Thursday, Aug. 25, 5:30-10 p.m.
MadTree Alcove
1410 Vine St.
More information
It is a silent auction format. The highest bidder takes the artwork home.
What began as a pop-up gallery has now joined forces with one of the oldest arts institutions in the city.
The Red Door Project began in Over-the-Rhine in 2014, featuring art from hundreds of local artists, which made purchasing original artwork more accessible to people all over Cincinnati. In January 2020 Red Door started a collaboration with the Art Academy of Cincinnati.
When that exhibition was canceled due to the COVID pandemic, Red Door shifted to an outdoor model. The first show the Art Academy produced was in August 2020, at the Art Climb at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
“We did two (shows) in 2021, one at the Zoo in April and then in October at the Cincinnati Observatory,” says Hauser “This first one back in OTR is at the MadTree Alcove, to honor MadTree’s commitment to sustainability and our original start in OTR.”
“The mission and history of the Red Door Project completely aligns with the history of the Art Academy of Cincinnati,” says Joe Girandola, president of the Art Academy. “The Red Door project’s tagline: Imagine It. Create It. Share It. The Door is open complements the AAC’s 153-year history of supporting artists and cultural game-changers in the region.”
With AAC powering the Red Door Project, participating artists could decide a percentage of their sales be donated to fund a scholarship focusing on non-traditional students who have returned to school later in life.
This idea for the scholarship came from one of the AAC’s non-traditional students, Erika NJ Allen, who is currently studying in the graduate program at the Cranbrook Academy of Art after completing her studies at the AAC.
“The importance of enabling all creatives to have the opportunity to exhibit their work has long been a commitment of mine as a leader in the creative cultural economy,” says Girandola. “The conversations surrounding humanities as collaborative pathway for making the world a better place often starts with a door being opened. This project enables all creatives – trained and untrained – to have a seat at the table in expressing their thoughts visually.”
Demo Day
Have a smashing time at the Hamilton County Fair during the Demolition Derby.
2022 Hamilton County Fair Hours
Thursday: 4–11 p.m.
Friday: 4–11 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
7801 Anthony Wayne Ave., Carthage
www.hamiltoncountyfair.com
If you think a county fair is all prized pies and fancy chickens, you’re in for a real surprise at the Hamilton County Fair.
Tucked inside the fairgrounds, amid the livestock displays and garden demonstrations is the grandstand, which is home to the Buddy Cook Memorial Demolition Derby on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
This old-fashioned, smash-em-up derby abides by lots and lots of rules for the cars (must use tires, paint drivers door in orange or yellow, etc.) but still manages to have an amazing variety of vehicles competing.
And then they smash into each other!
If you’ve only seen demolition derbies in movies or on TV (Happy Days re-runs, I’m looking at you), this is a must-see event. The smell of dirt and smoke! The roar of the engines! The crack of the metal!
Once you’ve finished watching post-1980 cars crash into each other, you can enjoy the food, music, and fun at the rest of the fair. After all, there are goats to pet.
Get all the details www.hamiltoncountyfair.com/grandstand-events.
School of Thought
In honor of Crayons to Computers’ 25th Anniversary, Drop off your donations at Kenwood Towne Centre this Saturday, August 6, from 10AM – 1PM. Together, we can level the playing field in the classroom by ensuring that teachers can provide their students in need the tools to succeed in school.
Crayons 2 Computers: Push for Pencils
Saturday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Kenwood Town Centre
7875 Montgomery Road
Donations will be accepted at the main entrance, next to The Cheesecake Factory.
More information.
Soon, school bells will start ringing across the Tristate. And that means many local teachers will continue their efforts to stock their classrooms with essential supplies.
Unfortunately, that’s expensive and if they can’t buy everything they need, their classrooms ultimately suffer.
This is where you come in –This weekend, you can join Crayons to Computers (C2C) at its annual Push 4 Pencils supply drive.
“We know that teachers routinely spend $500 to $1,000 out of their own pockets to buy basic school supplies, incentive items and enhancements to make their classrooms better environments for their students to learn,” says Amy Cheney, president and CEO of C2C.
“This year, with inflation at 9%, that $500 is now $545 and $1,000 is now nearly $1100!” Cheney continues. “You know that teachers didn’t get a raise to support that increase and that same inflation is also putting pressure on the families of the students across our region. All of this means that what the community makes possible through Crayons to Computers is even more important than ever!”
C2C says all donations will go toward leveling the playing field in the classroom by providing teachers and their students in need with the tools to succeed in school.
The most-needed items are
Colored pencils
crayons
dry erase markers
filler paper
glue sticks
notebooks
pencils
pocket folders
washable markers
Started in February 1997, C2C grew out of a group project of Leadership Cincinnati and the creative vision of Shannon Carter. Headed by a board of trustees and president, the C2C volunteers work to make a lasting impact on children’s lives by enhancing educational resources, is achieved.
Acting as a “Teacher’s Free Store,” C2C provides new and recycled school supplies at no cost to 110 needy schools in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Hazard Warning
Grown-ups on Big Wheels? Hang on for Danger Wheel!
– Photos by Shae Combs
Cincinnati is a city of hills and a city of neighborhoods. Nothing combines those two essential elements of the Queen City quite like Danger Wheel.
“Danger Wheel started with a group of friends who lived and believed in Pendleton. We wanted to share our excitement about our little neighborhood,” says Judd Watkins, one of the events founders. “We wanted to create something that would allow new neighbors and longtime residents to have a shared experience.”
Now in its seventh year, Danger Wheel has become a fixture in the neighborhood. Part Evel Knievel thrill ride, part block party, the event brings people from around the region to Pendleton watch the competition.
“What I love most about Danger Wheel is that it’s so uniquely Pendleton. I mean, you have Vine Street which is super clean and trendy. Then you have Main Street with its art galleries and music venues and Second Sundays, which is all great,” says Aaron Sharpe, owner of Lucius Q. “But then here’s Pendleton – an actual neighborhood – where we’re basically just inviting our friends over to play in the backyard. We build some ramps, fill up some water balloons, have a few beers, and eat some burgers and barbecue. No pretense. No theme. No poops given. And just a ton of fun!”
The races are free and open to the public to watch. This year’s competition is Saturday, July 30. The official location is 378 E. 12th St., but once you get to Pendleton, just east of Over-the-Rhine, you’ll be able to figure out where the excitement is.
“We came up with the idea of throwing adults down a hill over crazy ramps on giant steel big wheels,” says Watkins. “Because nothing helps folks come together like a hot day, cold beer, good food and a little ridiculousness.”
If you’re concerned about not having a big wheel, don’t worry – one will be provided for you.
Registration begins at 12:30 p.m., with the first race at 2 p.m. Waivers will be signed, gear will be checked, and costumes will be appreciated! With an eye toward safety, every rider must have a helmet, gloves, close-toed shoes, and of course, pants. It’s also recommended they wear elbow and knee pads.
Though Pendleton is known for its restaurants and bars, and the audience is encouraged to enjoy all the neighborhood has to offer, there are rules for the riders.
Anyone visibly intoxicated will forfeit their race. Anyone not competing with a “friendly spirit of playing in the backyard” will be ejected. And the “Master of Danger” has the. final say on all rulings.
“Maybe most core to the event, we wanted everyone to just be able to come and have fun just for the sake of fun,” says Watkins. “Like when we were all kids. We didn’t need a curated experience, we just needed something frivolous to do and some people to do it with.”
Walk It Out
The Black Music Walk of Fame officially opens Saturday, honoring Penny Ford, Hi-Tek, Wilbert Longmire and Midnight Star.
The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame 2022 opens this Saturday!
The official induction ceremony will be held from 12–3 p.m. at The Andrew Brady Music Center in downtown Cincinnati. This year’s honorees are Penny Ford, Wilbert Longmire, Midnight Star and Hi-Tek. They join the founding inductee Bootsy Collins, The Isley Brothers, Dr. Charles Fold, and Otis Williams.
Plaques for all inductees that will part of the new interactive tourist attraction. This FREE walk of fame honors Black music and musicians with local roots.
Frisch’s joins the celebration, bringing its nearly 9,000-square-foot mobile roller to Race Street, outside the Brady Music Center on Friday and Saturday.
The Cincinnati Black Walk of Fame has been made possible by generous sponsors.
Almond Joy
You'll find fluffy bites of happiness at Macaron Bar and even learn how to make your own.
Pot de creme.
Éclair.
Crème brûlée.
But perhaps no dessert is more quintessentially French than the macaron.
1206 Main Street,
Open: Monday–Thursday,12–8 pm;
Friday, 12–9 pm; Saturday, 10 am–9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
3431 Edwards Road
Monday–Friday, 12–7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. –4 p.m.
Find info about classes at www.macaron-bar.com.
According to legend, Catherine de Medici introduced the sweet meringue-based confection to the French. Once the province of royalty, it’s now yours for the taking and making.
The Macaron Bar, founded in 2014 by Nathan Sivitz, is the only bakery in Cincinnati dedicated exclusively to French macarons. The menu includes traditional favorites – dark chocolate, Earl Grey tea, and lemon lavender –along with inspired updates – birthday cake, mimosa, and salted caramel. The shop also offers a few seasonal favorites, so mint julep, pumpkin spice, and eggnog fans are in luck!
The shop has also partnered with Rhinegeist Brewery, Maverick Chocolate Co., Deeper Roots Coffee, Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream, and other local favorites to create innovative and collaborative flavors. The business has also grown to include stores in Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Pittsburgh.
Interested in mastering the macaron yourself? You can learn the secrets of this elusive cookie from Macaron Bar’s pastry chefs. They offer classes for bakers of all ages and skill levels. In the introductory class (coming up on July 16 and 20) you’ll learn the art and science behind macarons.
But if you’re content to just enjoy the sweet treats, Macaron Bar ships nationwide and can curates custom options for weddings and other special events.
Moving Pictures
Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival kicks off tonight, with untold stories are the heart of this festival.
Move over Tribeca and make way for the Over-the-Rhine Film Festival.
OTR Film Festival Schedule
Thursday, July 7
Not A Hero
The Woodward Theatre, 4ç5:15 p.m.
Feeling Through & Connecting the Dots
Art Academy of Cincinnati, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Opening Night Festivities
Site 1212
6–8 p.m.
Leylak / Eggshells / Our Baby Knows / Paper Geese
The Woodward Theatre
6–7 p.m
Opening Night Film: Poppy
Art Academy of Cincinnati
8–9:45 p.m.
Friday, July 8
Breakfast With tt
Site 1212
9–10 a.m.
The Echo of the Epidemic
The Woodward Theatre
2–3 p.m.
The Race Against Race & In a Whole New Way
Art Academy of Cincinnati
2:30–3:30 p.m.
Congenital / Saman / Amputee
The Woodward Theatre
3:30–5 p.m.
The Cemetery / Mani Pedi / Identibye / Alex - Reach For The Stars / F^¢k 'Em R!ght B@¢k
Art Academy of Cincinnati
4–5:30 p.m.
Celebration of Ohio Storytellers Party
Somerset, 139 E McMicken Ave.
4–6 p.m.
Framing Agnes
Art Academy of Cincinnati
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Bourbon, Bluegrass, And Belonging:
A LADD Community Event
Northside Distilling Co., 922 Race St.
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Away Yet Awake and 400: An Afrikan Epic
The Woodward Theatre
5:30–7:15 p.m.
Bad Axe
Freedom Center
7–9 p.m.
7 Days
Art Academy of Cincinnati
7:30 - 9:15 PM
Maybe Someday
The Woodward Theatre
7:30–9:15 p.m.
Rez Metal
The Woodward Theatre
9:30 –11:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 9
Breakfast With tt
Site 1212
9–10 a.m. @ Site 1212
Pacing the Pool / Painting By Numbers / The Last Photo / Deaf Reach: Hope For Pakistan / A Gallery Tale / A Homecoming I'll Remember
Art Academy of Cincinnati
10–11:30 a.m.
Inner Self / Matin Ecchymose / Scars / Salvage / Telos
The Woodward Theatre
11 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Marvelous and the Black Hole
Art Academy of Cincinnati
11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
Here. Is. Better.
The Woodward Theatre
12:30–2:15 p.m.
Exposure
Art Academy of Cincinnati
1:30–3:15 p.m.
Invisible Manners / Family Business / Siblings
The Woodward Theatre
2:45–4 p.m.
Fraser Syndrome & Me / Running Home / Our First Priority
Art Academy of Cincinnati
3:30–4:45 p.m.
The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic
The Woodward Theatre
4–5:45 p.m.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
Art Academy of Cincinnati
5–6:45 p.m.
Why We Walk
The Woodward TheatreFilter events by "The Woodward ,
6–7 p.m.
Award Ceremony
Site 1212Filter
7–8 p.m.
Closing Night Film: Never Better
Art Academy of Cincinnati
8:30–10 p.m.
Closing Night Party
Site 1212
10 p.m. - midnight
Sunday, July 10
Breakfast With tt
Site 1212Filter
10–11:30 a.m.
See film descriptions and order tickets at otrfilmfest.org/2022-schedule
This year’s festival, July 7–10, showcases films from across the globe in venues throughout Over-The-Rhine with the theme “See the Story, Be the Story.” The festival brings together stories from diverse points of view that celebrate difference, and honor our shared humanity.
Cincinnati’s very own film festival was launched in 2013 by LADD (Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled) as the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival. The festival was created as a biennial celebration of the lives, stories, and art of people who experience disabilities growing it to the largest film festival in our region.
In 2018, LADD is expanded the festival’s scope to focus on a celebration of shared humanity.
This call for empathy, togetherness and personal storytelling activates the festival’s mission of bringing together films and film makers with diverse points of view to celebrate difference and honor our shared humanity. Untold stories are the heart of this festival.
The 2022 festival touches on the importance of seeing reflections of your own story in film and media.
The venues for the festival are based in OTR, with The Woodward Theater, which opened as a silent film house in 1914, home to the first film on Thursday afternoon.
At Art Academy of Cincinnati and its event space, Site1212, welcome the official opening film, Poppy, along with a variety of events and parties during the festival, including the awards ceremony on Saturday.
Though not in OTR, the Freedom Center welcomes the film Bad Axe, a real-time portrait of 2020 as an Asian-American family in Trump's rural America fights to keep their restaurant and American dream alive in the face of a pandemic, Neo-Nazis, and generational scars from the Killing Fields.
True to the festival’s roots, artists from LADD partnered with Happen Inc.’s Breadwinners, an earn-and-learn program where teens meet weekly to share a meal, design and print their own T-shirts, and learn the basics of screen printing and running a small business. They met several times this spring to brainstorm ideas and consolidate the favorites into final design options.
Independents Day
That independent spirit is strong at the Northside 4th of July parade.
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a Lawnchair Lady.
That might be a slight exaggeration, with all due respect to Ray Liotta in Goodfellas, but I remember the first time I saw the Lawnchair Ladies in the Northside 4th of July Parade, I was desperate to join.
It would be a years before I achieved that dream, though.
The Lawnchair Ladies are a perennial highlight of a parade full of oddball highlights. Their illustrious company includes the Men’s Drill Team (literally men marching with drills, lawn mowers, and other tools), Danceteria (a street-enveloping dance party), and the magical mayhem from Chicken Lays An Egg (IYKYK). In the Northside parade, quirky floats created by neighbors walk with the same import as politicians seeking votes, maybe more. Marching bands are followed by drag queens, which has been going on for years, well before that become commonplace in Cincinnati.
Though the parade traces its roots to 1854, the current version began in 1970, with support from the business association and the community council. The mix of entries in the parade reflects the eclectic nature of a neighborhood known for its indie spirit – home to bars, breweries, and the best record store in the city.
Northside Parade and Rock ‘n’ Roll Carnival
July 2–4, Hoffner Park
July 2 and 3, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
July 4, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
FREE three-day event with 27 live bands, food and retail vendors, and beers from MadTree, 50 West, and Urban Artifact.
July 4, 12 p.m.
The parade travels south on Hamilton Avenue between Rockford Place and Blue Rock, ending at Hoffner Park.
Find details at northsiderocks.com.
If you live in Northside long enough, though, someone is going to ask you to be a Lawnchair Lady. I’d like to say I was tapped like in some secret society, chair webbing and a white rose left at my door.
I got an email.
Which, if I’m being honest was great, because it made it much easier to play it cool. Because I was thrilled!
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Lawnchair Ladies. Though the ranks have swelled and contracted over the years, the Ladies always have a mix of veteran and newbie marchers.
The Lawnchair Ladies began in 1997, founded by Lynn Milosevich as a fun and funny way to be part of the iconic parade. The Ladies now march in her honor, as well as that of Cheryl Wallace, who passed away in the brigade’s early days. The fierce independence and weirdo ethos are a fitting tribute to those strong women.
Along with the chairs – the classic, aluminum version ALWAYS – the Ladies have an annual theme. The theme is carried out through costumes, chair decor, and sometimes even chants. Over the years, I have dressed as a flower, a prom queen, Queen Elizabeth, a tribute to “American Womanhood,” and an old-timey bathing beauty. Spoiler alert: This year we’ll be in silver for the big anniversary.
Of course, being a Lawn Chair Lady requires practice. You’ll find us on June evenings rehearsing individual routines, including intricate dance moves, chair-centric drills, enthusiastic chants, and kick lines. The most difficult decision each year is which routing to do in front of the judges.
Yes, there are parade judges.
But being a Lawnchair Lady isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about celebrating that inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which you may be surprised to learn, sometimes involves lawnchairs.
Through it all – excessive heat, occasional rain, a pandemic –being a Lawnchair Lady ultimately means always having a place to sit and someone to sit with you.
–Tricia Suit
Pride and Joy
Join the party! Celebrate Cincinnati Pride at the parade and festival on Saturday. Plus catch all the fun, and behind-the-scenes interviews, in a special Cincinnati People Live.
Watch the Parade!
Can’t make it to the Pride parade in person?
Catch the action on Facebook Live with Lauren Artino and Kathrine Nero starting at 11 a.m., with interviews and coverage of the parade.
See it all at www.facebook.com/CincinnatiPeople
Cincinnati has come a long way, leaving its conservative reputation behind, scoring a 100 on the most recent Municipal Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign.
The first Cincinnati Pride parade and celebration in Greater Cincinnati was held in April 1973. From that first march and celebration, Cincinnati Pride has grown to include a week-long celebration of LGBTQ diversity in the region. Now arts and social service organizations are joined by corporate sponsors and politicians in a march to support everyone who calls Cincinnati home.
This year’s parade celebrates 49 years of Pride in Cincinnati. The
parade steps off at Seventh and Plum streets at 11 a.m., taking Vine Street past Fountain Square, through The Banks, and ending at the Cincinnati Pride 2022 Festival at Sawyer Point.
Though it’s all a lot of fun, Benjamin Morano, president of Cincinnati Pride wants people to remember the true purpose of the events.
“Pride is a wonderful time to celebrate but we want people to remember ow much we've fought for and how far we still have to go,” says Morano.
The purpose of Cincinnati Pride is to provide the Greater Cincinnati LGBTQIA+ community and our allies a forum that promotes inclusion and acceptance while affirming individuality. We work to produce programs that inspire, educate, and commemorate our rich history, while also celebrating our diverse culture. We foster collaboration with area organizations and businesses through sponsorships, partnerships and programming, and provide resources to positively impact the lives of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
Free Your Mind
Paloozanoire is throwing a block part at The Banks this Friday to celebrate Juneteenth.
Start the Juneteenth celebration a little early this year!
Paloozanoire is throwing their third annual Juneteenth Block Party at The Banks on Friday, June 17, from 4-11 p.m. The party is presented in partnership with Fifth Third Bank and the Cincinnati Reds.
Activities for the event include P&G Women’s Entrepreneurial Zone, Kroger Family Zone featuring the Cincinnati Reds mascots and carnival performers, ArtsWave Artist Market, live music, DJs, a live performance by the QKidz, food truck row, and plenty of cold treats for all.
As the evening ends, enjoy a fireworks show by Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks.
"Fifth Third is excited to be Paloozanoire’s title sponsor for the 2022 Juneteenth Block Party! From investing in our employees to supporting our customers to giving back to the communities we serve, we are committed to working toward being a more diverse and inclusive company and to creating a world where the opportunity to thrive is available to all,” says Stephanie A. Smith, chief inclusion and diversity officer.
Support of the Juneteenth Block Party is provided by P&G, Cincinnati Reds, Kroger, ArtsWave, AGAR, Coca Cola, Fifth Third Bank, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, PNC Bank, National Underground Freedom Center, Chase and Cintas.
For a Song
Cincinnati Opera returns to Music Hall for the summer, and the party starts this Sunday with Opera All Around and the glorious return of Opera in the Park.
Opera for All
4–6 p.m.
Grand Foyer
Opera Costumes Display
Springer Auditorium
Step on the set of La Bohème Tour
P&G Founders Room
Opera Photo Exhibit – Photos by Philip Groshong, company photographer
Video Monitors
The Magic Flute with Puppets
Fierce Partner Showcase Video
Balcony
Opera Costume Dress Up Shop
Face the Music Mask Making Station
4-4:30 p.m.
Wilks Studio
Fight Scene Stage Combat Demonstrations
4:15-4:45 p.m.
Taft Suite
Wig & Make Up Demonstrations
5:15-5:45 p.m.
Taft Suite
Wig & Make Up Demonstrations
5:30-6:00 p.m.
Wilks Studio
Dance for Opera Demonstration
Food Trucks and strolling Entertainment including plenty of pirates in front of Music Hall
With performances at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for decades, an outdoor performance should be, well, a walk in the park for the Cincinnati Opera.
“Washington Park has become our neighborhood’s meeting place, and it’s especially exciting to see it come alive in the summertime,” says Katie Syroney, director of communications with the Cincinnati OperaW. “e’re thankful to be welcomed into this space for Opera in the Park each year–it gives us a special opportunity to connect with the community in a place where we hope all can feel at home.”
On Sunday, the opera brings Opera in the Park back to Washington Park after a pandemic hiatus. The summer season will also mark the company’s first performances in Music Hall since 2019.
To celebrate that triumphant return, guests are invited to Opera for All – a FREE open house inside Music Hall.
“As we were developing plans to celebrate our centennial in 2020, a group of enthusiastic volunteers and staff came together to brainstorm unique ways to build connections across the community through opera,” says Syroney. “We know that our art form can sometimes seem difficult to understand, so Opera for All was envisioned to help pull back the curtain and offer attendees an up-close look at the many elements that go into opera.”
Opera for All offers the chance to explore the world of opera through activities, costume displays, photo exhibits, wig and make-up demonstrations, and more. Guests will even be able to step onto the set of La Bohème, the first opera of the season.
The evening continues with the fan-favorite Opera in the Park, a FREE concert in Washington Park, at 7:30 p.m. with pre-concert performance by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Brass Institute at 6 p.m.
This free outdoor concert features a selection of unforgettable opera and musical theater favorites performed by stars of the 2022 season, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Among the performances are “June is Bustin’ Out All Over” from Carousel, “Oh, Better Far to Live and Die” from Pirates of Penzance, “September Song” from Knickerbocker Holiday, and La bohème, Act I Finale.
Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and the whole family, and enjoy an evening of opera under the setting sun. Opera in the Park is an unforgettable way to experience music, and the city, this summer.
“This season marks our return to Music Hall and SCPA after nearly three years away, and we’ve pulled out all the stops to make it an unforgettable summer,” says Syroney. “We can’t wait to welcome audiences to experience live opera together again.”
Dancing in the Streets
Celebrate the new inductees in the Black Music Walk of Fame with a funky playlist.
Cincinnati has a rich music history, from King Records to Midwestern Hayride and Rosemary Clooney to The National. This summer, some of the greatest musicians from the city will be honored in the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, which will be near the the Andrew Brady Center along the river.
During a celebration this week at Hard Rock Cafe, Alicia Reece, Hamilton County Commissioner and founder of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, announced the newest class of of the Walk of Fame.
The 2022 Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame Inductees are Penny Ford, Wilbert Longmire, Midnight Star and Hi-Tek.
Penny Ford’s musical roots run deep down into her family tree. The daughter of veteran record executive and producer, Gene Redd, Sr. (King Records), and singer Carolyn Ford, as well as sister to singer, Sharon Redd (the dance classic "Beat the Streets"), Ford was exposed to music early on as a result of her father's work with James Brown and Kool and the Gang. Her formal background began at age five when she began taking piano lessons. Ford began performing in local talent shows in and around Cincinnati, Ohio. During her 1979 summer school vacation, Ford went out on tour with Dayton, Ohio funkateers, Zapp, as a part of ParliamentFunkadelic's World Funk Tour. In 1986, Ford replaced Lorena Shelby as the lead singer of Klymaxx (“I Miss You”). Ford continues to do session and concert work in the U.S. and in Europe. She currently resides in Germany.
Wilbert Longmire played in the early 1960s in the music scene of Cincinnati. His first recordings were made in 1963 with the Hank Marr Quartet ("The Greasy Spoon," Federal). Longmire was well known in jazz circles and performed with George Benson, and other jazz notables including Billy Eckstine, Lou Rawls, Jimmy Smit, Art Farmer, Herbie Hancock and Larry Corryell. He worked as a session musician for King Records with Red Prysock and Jack McDuff. He died in 2018 at the age of 77.
Midnight Star is best known as one of the most popular Techno-funk bands with a string of top mega #1 hits which include, “Operator,” “No Parking On The Dance Floor,” and “Freak-a-zoid.” Cincinnati native Reggie Calloway founded the band and his brother, Vincent, later joined the group. The Calloway brothers also performed as Calloway with hits including the #2 Pop anthem, “I Wanna Be Rich.”
Hi-Tek, born Tony Cottrell, is one of the few beatsmiths who has delivered aurally supreme, emotive music that seamlessly travels between sounds, styles, and genres while always containing heavy doses of soul. The Cincinnati-based maestro created the sound that catapulted the independent New York rap renaissance into the mainstream in the late 1990s through his work with Mos Def and Talib Kweli as Black Star (“Definition,” “Respiration”) and with Talib Kweli as one-half of the group, Reflection Eternal (“Fortified Live,” “The Blast”). In the midst of this work, Hi-Tek became a staff producer for Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. His first placement with Dr. Dre’s company was “Hollywood,” from singer, Truth Hurts. The song featured Dr. Dre rapping over Hi-Tek’s music.
These artists join the founding inductees of Bootsy Collins, The Isley Brothers, Dr. Charles Fold, and Otis Williams. Stars for all of the walk of fame members will be placed in a new interactive attraction later this year, near Paul Brown Stadium, the longtime home of the Cincinnati Music Festival.
Making a Meal of It
It's back! After a two-year hiatus, Taste of Cincinnati returns May 28–30, bigger and better than ever, with more restaurants, plus food trucks, music, and fun along Fifth Street
If You Go
Taste of Cincinnati
Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29
11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Monday, May 30
11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
On Fifth Street, in downtown Cincinnati, from Main Street to the ramps of I-71 and Columbia Parkway.
As a city, we love festivals and we love food. So it makes sense that Taste of Cincinnati is the nation’s longest running free culinary arts festival.
Oh, how we’ve missed it!
After two-year hiatus, Taste is back, and though it sounds cliche, it is bigger than ever. The lineup includes 36 restaurants (the most in the event’s history!) and 19 food trucks. With more than 300 menu items available, you’ll want to get an early start!
Looking for the “Best of Taste” winners?
Soup/Salad/Side
Gold: YouYu (Hard Rock Casino) – Bulgogi French Fries
Silver: Thai Express – Papaya Salad, Sticky Rice with & without Chicken
Bronze: Herban Vegans – Gumbolaya
Appetizer
Gold: Council Oak Steak and Seafood (Hard Rock Casino)- Waygu Meatball
Silver: Alfio’s Buon Cibo – Korean Barbecue Pork Empanada
Bronze: Sawasdee Thai Cuisine – Tod Mun
Entrée
Gold: Alfio’s - Veal Short Rib Ravioli Creamy Truffle Marsala Sauce
Silver: Sweets & Meats BBQ – Smoked Pork Rib Tips
Bronze: Sweets & Meats BBQ – BBQ Slider & Side
Dessert
Gold: Pompilio’s Restaurant– Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cannoli
Silver: The Cheesecakery – Salted Caramel Truffle Cheesecake Cupcake
Bronze: Alfio’s Buon Cibo – Chocolate Caramel Tiramisu
Throughout the weekend, Taste also delivers a diverse entertainment line-up, with 36 musical acts on four stages. A number of performers on the Taste of Findlay Market stage are appearing through a partnership with Cincinnati Music Accelerator. The Cincinnati Music Accelerator serves as an entrepreneurship program for musicians, recording artists, DJ’s, and producers.
Beer Garden at First Financial Plaza
Saturday, May /28
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Missy Werner Band
3:30–6:30 p.m.
Jason Owens Band
7:30–11 p.m.
Kevin McCoy Band
Sunday, May 29
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Eric Bolander Band
3:30–6:30 p.m.
Danny Frazier Band
8–11 p.m.
The Casey Campbell Project
Monday, May 30
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Michelle Robinson Band
2–5 p.m.
Derek Alan Band
6–9 p.m.
Varner/Netherton Revival
Beer Garden at P&G Gardens
Saturday, May 28
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Ingrid Rachel Project
3:30–7 p.m.
Audio Graffiti
8–11 p.m.
Liberty Deep Down
Sunday, May 29
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Vinyl Countdown
3:30–7 p.m.
Catalyst
8–11 p.m.
Buzz Bin
Monday, May 30
11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Tracy Walker Band
3–5 p.m.
Leroy Ellington's Sacred Hearts
6–9 p.m
Azúcar Tumbao
Rhinegeist Food Truck Alley
Saturday, May 28
12–3 p.m.
Transatlantis
4–7:30 p.m.
Ralph and the Rhythm Hounds
8:30–11 p.m.
The Lady Joya Band
Sunday, May 29
12:–3 p.m.
RICKY NYE INC.
4–7 p.m.
Jack Burton Overdrive
8–11 p.m.
3 Day Rule
Monday, May 30
11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Burning Caravan
3–5:30 p.m.
The Sunburners
6:–9 p.m.
J Vaughn
Taste of Findlay Market
Saturday, May 28
11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Kryst Kruer
3:30–6:30 p.m.
Maria Keck
7:30–11 p.m.
Elizabeth Walters
Sunday, May 29
12–3 p.m.
Tracy Walker
4–7 p.m.
Courtney Holloway
8–11 p.m.
Mockery
Monday, May 30
12–2 p.m.
Damon Mitchell
3–6 p.m.
Daniel Van Vechten
7–9 p.m.
Amy Mcfarland
Bringer of Joy
The stars align as May Festival Chorus returns to Music Hall.
Though you’ve probably been to Music Hall many times, have you ever wondered WHY it was built?
One night in 1875, Cincinnati business man and philanthropist, Reuben R. Springer sat in the audience at the Cincinnati Music Festival, waiting for a thunderstorm to pass so the music could resume. (It’s not like he was at Coachella!) He decided the city needed a proper venue for this world-renowned musical festival.
Thus the impetus to build the Music Hall can be traced directly to one of the earliest May Festivals, so you haven’t really experienced this Cincinnati landmark until you’ve been there for this choral event.
This year marks the joyful return of singers to the stage of Music Hall, along with celebrities including composer John Adams and actor Hugh Dancy, fresh from Downton Abbey: A New Era. The repertoire explores works from the Americas, with both established and new voices telling our stories, closing with the ultimate expression of joy, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, in its full glory with chorus, soloists, orchestra and audience together again at Music Hall.
Get tickets and find out more at mayfestival.com
2022 May Festival Schedule
Friday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.
John Adams conducts El Niño
American composer John Adams leads his Messiah for the modern age Interweaving biblical verse with poetry by Latin American writers, El Niño considers the Nativity story from a mother’s point of view. Described as “some of the most beautiful episodes I’ve ever heard in any of his music,” (BBC Radio), Adams’ work explores, in his words, “what is meant by a miracle.”
Sunday, May 22, 2 p.m.
Bernstein’s Candide
Part opera and part musical theater, Candide is Leonard Bernstein’s take on Voltaire’s satirical Enlightenment-era novella of the same name— rebellious, heartfelt and thoroughly entertaining. Austrian conductor Katharina Wincor makes her May Festival debut, leading the Chorus and the CSO in a concert version of Bernstein’s “wittiest and most thoroughly successful theater score,” (The New York Times). Hugh Dancy (Hannibal, Downton Abbey: A New Era) reads the part of the narrator.
Friday, May 27, 7:30 p.m.
Mena Conducts South American Epics
The romance of South America comes to life as Principal Conductor Juanjo Mena leads a program of South American epics. Ginastera’s playful ballet music depicts a magical nighttime story, while the rhythmic energies of Villa-Lobos’ Chôros recall the raw power of his native Brazil. Venezuelan composer Antonio Estévez’s Cantata Criolla—sometimes called South America’s Carmina Burana—stars tenor and baritone soloists as a poet and the devil, in a singing contest.
Alberto Ginastra: Suite from Panambí
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Chôros no. 10, Rasga o Coração (Rend the Heart)
Antonio Estevez: Cantata criolla, Florentino el que cantó con el Diablo (“Creole Cantata, Florentino, who sang with the Devil”)
Saturday, May 28, 7:30 p.m.
Montgomery + Beethoven No. 9
In Jessie Montgomery’s I Have Something to Say, voices sing, “We were blessed to be born, when many doors had been torn open for us to be free.” Her new work, inspired by influential women past and present, gives young voices a prominent space. Celebrations of justice ring through Beethoven’s early (and only) opera. Later in life, and nearly deaf, Beethoven tore through the silence composing his ultimate celebration of life—the Ode to Joy.
Program
Ludwig van Beethoven: Overture and Heil se idem Tag (“Hail to the Day”) from Fidelio
Jessie Montgomery: I Have Something To Say [Premiere, May Festival Co-Commission]
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Inside Baseball
Head to the south side of Cincinnati, because baseball is the only game in town with the Florence Y'alls.
Cincinnati loves baseball, even if the team isn’t in Cincinnati-proper.
Group and individual tickets for Florence Y’alls games are available at florenceyalls.com/tickets.
While the phrase “old-fashioned” gets thrown around a lot, it’s accurate when talking about minor league baseball. You can relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of the game close to the action without major (league) fussiness.
With the Florence Y’alls, tickets are affordable – between $11 to $15 when purchased in advance. But don’t sleep on $2 Tuesday, when tickets are, yes, $2, along with $2 concession deals on soft drinks, hot dogs, popcorn and soft serve. Kids 3 and under are free, and on Family Sundays, kids 12 and under are free!
Get in on the action this weekend, as the Florence Y’alls play their first home game at their newly named field, Thomas More Stadium, on Thursday, May 12. Y’all Star (the mascot with the famous water tower for a head) will be greeting guests at the new stadium to kickoff the season. This weekend is a perfect time to take in a game with Thirsty Thursday, Firework Friday, and Rockin’ Saturday as the Y’alls face the Tri-City ValleyCats (New York).
Part of the independent Frontier League, the Y’alls promise “So Much More Than Baseball,” including post-game bands, fireworks, giveaways, discounted tickets, food and drink specials and promotional theme nights.
Originally from Pennsylvania, the team moved to Florence, and became known as the Freedom in 2003. Confusingly, they played their first season in Hamilton, under manager Tom Browning. After many years of up and downs (and maybe a bit of scandal), the team was bought by local investors in 2019 and renamed the Y’alls.
In Spring 2023, the stadium will also become the home of the Thomas More Saints’ baseball team, in a partnership with Thomas More University. The partnership also includes a new scoreboard and video board.
Bright Lights, Big City
Brighten your day with a trip to the American Sign Museum.
Signmaker's Circus: A Decade of Camp
Saturday, June 18, 7–11 p.m.
Signmaker’s Circus will transform the Museum into a burlesque fantasyland created by top artists and performers from across the region to create the Greatest Show in Camp.
Performers for the event include The Burning Caravan, Cincinnati Circus Elevated Aerials, Dancefix, DJ Mowgli, Pones, and Queen Bee Cabaret, with costumes by Stacey Vest.
Buy tickets!
Looking for the flash of Las Vegas with a dash of Main Street USA? Pay a visit to the American Sign Museum!
The museum first opened in 2005 at Essex Studios, but the limited space (and ceiling height!) meant some signs, such as those from McDonald's and Holiday Inn, couldn’t be displayed in all their glory. But in 2012, founder Tod Swormstedt found the Museum's new home in Camp Washington, in the century-old Oesterlein Machine Company–Fashion Frocks, Inc. Complex building.
This year, the museum marks a decade in Camp Washington with The Signmakers Circus, an anniversary celebration at the museum on Saturday, June 18. It is the first fundraiser in the Museum’s history and will be the debut of the museum’s expanded space.
The museum is 20,000 square feet of more than a century of American signage. From early, pre-electric signs adorned in goldleaf, to the earliest electric signs, to beautiful art-deco neon, to the modern plastic-faced sign, the museum covers it all.
Take a short tour below and plan your visit!
Squeal of Fortune
How to Be a Great Spectator
Make noise to encourage the runners: cheer, clap, play music, or make your own music.
Identify with the runners. They are completing a very difficult task. Praise the runners individually. Many runners will have their names on their bib. (Ex: “Go number one! You’re doing great!”) He or she will truly appreciate it.
Stay positive in your cheering. (No ‘boo’s, please!)
Locate your cheering section on a hill or more challenging portion of the course. These are the places that the runners will need the most encouragement.
Make distinctive signs and move to different locations throughout the course. Believe it or not, runners will remember you and it will encourage them to keep going.
Do something to make runners smile. Laugh, sing, dance, or do tricks such as juggling. It may put the runners at ease for a few moments.
Have a party with friends and/or neighbors if the course travels past your area.
– Flying Pig Marathon website
See a list of official Party Zones!
Running takes perseverance and a strong inner drive, but a little outside encouragement always helps.
“Seeing other people crush their goals is very inspiring and supporting them is a lot of fun,” says Jonathan White, assistant manager of lululemon on Hyde Park Square.
For the past decade, the store, around mile 11 of the route, has been a hub of for supporters, who come out on race day to cheer on runners all along the course. White has been participating for the past several years.
“As a company, lululemon is big on vision and goal-setting,” says White. This year, they will have a DJ and signs to help cheer on the runners.
“Hopefully we can bring a smile to their faces,” says White.
Official spots to cheer on the runners are set up all along the route, from Seventh Street to Delta Avenue. Friends and family who want to catch a glimpse of the action along the course from one of the Official Flying Pig Marathon Party Zones, presented by Culligan.
“Cheering on the hordes of runners is as beneficial to us as it is to them, it seems,” says Blythe Jones, one of the longtime Parrotheads at the Flying Pig Fluid Station at Mile 18.
To keep to their Parrothead Club Charter, they “party with a purpose” by supporting the work of the Pink Ribbon Girls.
Jones is one of the early Cincinnati Parrothead Club members, working the race with the club for the past 18 years. She has been co-captain for about 10 years with her husband, Gary, and Lynda and Joe Rahe.
Together they assemble a crew of 30 to 40 people willing to also clear the site around the fluid station of overgrowth, mark table spacing, and run a hose through the woods on Saturday so they’re ready to go at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday.
“Our fluid station is before a very long uphill section, so we bring everything we can to raise spirits and hydrate the runners – a tropical soundtrack, encouraging signs, cowbells, Hawaiian shirts, leis, and crazy costumes,” says Jones.
The Parrotheads, lululemon, and other party zones are a great way for spectators to show their support and enthusiasm.
“We can see some runners pick up their pace to match the music,” says Jones. “Many perk up to thanks us or smile when we tell them they are doing great.”
Both White and Jones encourage people to join their parties on Sunday, or to get out and cheer on the runners wherever they are on the course.
“Having folks turn out for support is important because it’s the people of Cincinnati, not the athletic teams or chili parlors, that leave a lasting impression on the runners,” says Jones.
A Real Rollercoaster
Prepare for the ride of a lifetime during Kings Island's 50th anniversary.
Kings Island’s Birthday
Friday, April 29
Kings Island officially turns 50 on April 29. Visit the park for a daylong, historic anniversary celebration that will include special ceremonies and entertainment throughout the day and a special fireworks tribute to honor the park’s first 50 years.
Details at visitkingsisland.com/events/50th-anniversary.
Are you a rollercoaster person or more of a carousel person?
Maybe bumper cars are more your speed.
No matter what kind of thrill you seek, Kings Island has been here for you for 50 years.
Since opening in 1972, Kings Island has be a place where unforgettable memories are made, whether you’re one of The Brady Bunch or an average Cincinnatian. For this anniversary, the stage is set for a special summer-long, Golden Celebration, full of new experiences that tell the stories of the park’s first 50 years.
Guests will have the chance to experience see some of those stories in new ways, from reimagined live shows based on original productions to menu items that pay tribute to Kings Island’s history and traditions. A special shop, offering 50th Anniversary merchandise, will also help guests remember this once-in-a-lifetime celebration for years to come.
Just in time for the anniversary, the new Camp Cedar has opened. Conveniently located a mile from Kings Island, families can refresh, reconnect, and escape the grid—without forgoing life’s luxuries. Camp Cedar offers cabins, camping, and RV sites, with modern, comfortable accommodations, and delightful amenities.
Ciao Time
See why Scotti's is not just a "red sauce" joint, but a Cincinnati institution.
When you walk into Scotti’s you may feel like you’re walking into an Italian restaurant designed for a Hollywood set.
Chianti bottles with dripping candles? Check.
Dim lights and opera playing? Check.
Lots of classic pastas dishes dripping with sauce? Check.
But Scotti’s has been open at 919 Vine St. since 1912, when the stereotype of an Italian restaurant was but a gleam in the Olive Garden’s eye. It is the “capi di tutti capi” of an Italian restaurant.
The menu is rich in pasta choices, sauces, and veal, steak, and clam dishes. Each entree is served with soup and salad along with bread and butter. (No one is going away hungry.) The red sauce is hearty and flavorful, and not cloyingly sweet. The eggplant parm is almost delicate.
For dessert, your options are spumoni, cannoli, and tiramisu and that’s exactly what you should order.
But what really makes Scotti’s a Cincinnati tradition is the ambiance. History is everywhere, from the neon centenary sign to the old cash register in the basement. The tiled walls, checkered tablecloths, and candlelight create an atmosphere perfect for a boys night night, family get-together, or romantic dinner.