CityBeat | July 9, 2025

PUBLISHER

TONY FRANK

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ASHLEY MOOR-MAHONEY

DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR

KATHERINE BARRIER STAFF WRITER MADELINE FENING

CREATIVE DIRECTOR HAIMANTI GERMAIN

GRAPHIC DESIGNER ASPEN SMIT

CONTRIBUTING CRITICS

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DINING CRITIC: PAMA MITCHELL

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

NADYA ELLERHORST, JASON GARGANO, DAVE GIL DE RUBIO, DEREK KALBACK, JONATHAN KEILHOLZ, ALANNA MARSHALL

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHERS

HAILEY BOLLINGER RON VALLE CATIE VIOX

SENIOR DIGITAL MARKETING CONSULTANT MARK COLEMAN

PROMOTIONS MANAGER MK MCGUIRE

DISTRIBUTION TEAM TOM SAND, STEVE FERGUSON

BIG LOU HOLDINGS

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHRIS KEATING

Welcome to the ICE Age: Anti-ICE Signs Pop

Up

in Cincinnati Businesses

Behind the signs are training sheets and a community of business owners ready to question and kick out ICE agents.

BY MADELINE FENING

There’s a sign outside Binski’s Bar in Camp Washington telling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officers what to expect if they go inside.

“IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOME HERE. ICE IS NOT.”

Directly next to this sign is another that elaborates:

“ICE / CBP agents are NOT

permitted to enter this space unless they have a valid judicial warrant. Staff and guests are NOT authorized to grant ICE / CBP agents access.”

Kiel Erdelac, owner of Binski’s Bar, told CityBeat the message to ICE is pretty simple.

“Do you have a warrant right now? Show me a warrant. You’re not allowed on the premises. Get the fuck out of here,” he said without hesitation. “Fuck being polite. Society is

not the same as what it used to be anymore.”

As President Donald Trump continually ramps up efforts to deport as many noncitizens as possible from the U.S., local organizers are arming businesses with signage and knowledge to protect immigrant community members.

“We like to pride ourselves in being a community bar, so I will take a stand on that,” Erdelac said. “I think I have

an obligation as a business owner to do that.”

From symbolic gesture to a preparedness warning

The signs in front of Binski’s Bar share a small logo at the bottom for the Cincinnati Practical Education Coalition (CPEC). The group is made up of about a dozen area food and beverage service professionals with a common

mission to build working-class solidarity through shared education.

“Folks who are committed to mutual aid, skill sharing and that anti-capitalist rhetoric and worker solidarity,” said CPEC member Emily Spring. “We started as a group of bartenders and servers doing this because we have those conversations, even if it just looks like us ranting behind the bar over a beer.”

Spring and fellow CPEC member Tony DeFilippo got the idea for the anti-ICE signs after leaving a workers’ rights training at the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center. Spring said these trainings are led in English and Spanish and immigrants are often the audience.

“They want it to be known that anybody that walks in that door has safety to not be questioned by ICE without that judicial warrant, or by the police in general without a warrant, and their folks are really trained on this,” she said. “So when we left that training that day, the sign is right there in front of our faces, a lot of us were like, ‘Something like this would be really cool to display at our own businesses.’”

She said the signs aren’t just there to protect immigrants working in Cincinnati’s bars and restaurants, but those grabbing a drink or dinner. Spring said dozens of restaurant owners have been asking CPEC how they can get a sign of their own.

“Because immigrants aren’t just working, they’re also coming and having a drink, enjoying dinner, they’re participating in our economy. And bar and restaurant owners, the majority at least that we have spoken to, do not want that to change. They don’t want people to come into their businesses and live in fear that they can’t have a drink without being arrested.”

Once CEPC started distributing the signs to small businesses, owners and employees were asking for more information on how to respond if ICE walks through their doors anyway.

“We got that question and didn’t expect to get it,” Spring said. “You know, we’re just like, this sign is more symbolic and shows that we are in solidarity with immigrants, and we’re going to do whatever it is we can to protect immigrants, and we just want to ensure that they feel safe.”

But after giving a sign to the owners of Spun Bicycles in Northside, Spring said she realized more training and information would be needed for businesses across the board.

“The owner there was like, ‘I don’t know what a judicial warrant is. I don’t know what it is that I’m supposed to say if ICE comes in here and asks questions,’” Spring said. “They were my first realization, personally, when I walked in there of like,

“Yeah, we use Google so we can communicate,” Judi added. “They also have their kids’ bikes. The same thing that we say about trans people, gay people, LGBTQeveryone: you’re safe here. I mean, that’s the bottom line. This is a safe space for you. It always has been, always will be.”

‘Oh, if businesses don’t even really understand what that looks like and what they can do, that could lead to an arrest, simply because they’re not aware.”

So a member of CPEC reached out to an attorney who compiled a onepage guide to knowing your rights if ICE comes to your business. Spun Bicycle owners Dominic and Judi Lopresi told CityBeat they feel prepared to defend their customers.

“I know exactly what to say now. Before that, I didn’t really know the lingo,” Dominic said. “Or also, some of ICE’s — I guess you could call them dirty — tricks.”

On June 3, ICE set an arrest record of more than 2,200 arrests in a single day, according to the agency. Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has been pushing for an even higher daily quota, looking to set a minimum goal of 3,000 ICE arrests per day. To this end, senior ICE officials have urged officers to “turn the creative knob up to 11” by arresting “collaterals” — noncitizen immigrants encountered by agents while serving arrest warrants for others — according to internal agency emails viewed by The Guardian. Trump’s pursuit of mass deportations got a boost on Thursday when the House of Representatives passed Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill.” The tax cut and spending bill, which is set to be approved by Trump, would significantly increase funding for ICE. The agency would receive an infusion of more than $100 billion through 2029, including $29.9 billion in additional funding to hire 10,000 new ICE agents.

Dominic at Spun Bicycles is worried about the immigrant community in Cincinnati – a group he sees often in his shop.

“We have so many day laborers that do not have cars, that use their bikes, and they can’t be without their bikes, so we’ll have to, like, do stuff on the fly,” Dominic said. “Crew leaders who know they have a good worker, they’ll come in with their worker and get

them set on the bike so they can get to that job site every day – it gives me goosebumps – because they’re hardworking people!”

“Yeah, we use Google so we can communicate,” Judi added. “They also have their kids’ bikes. The same thing that we say about trans people, gay people, LGBTQ-everyone: you’re safe here. I mean, that’s the bottom line. This is a safe space for you. It always has been, always will be.”

Breaking down the one-sheet guide

The one-sheet guide is tailored for businesses, explaining the key differences between public and private spaces:

• The level of access government officials have during searches depends on a space’s categorization as either a public or a private space.

• ICE can enter public spaces. Public spaces are places the general public has access to, such as public parking lots, restaurants, coffee shops, libraries, etc.

• ICE cannot enter private spaces without warrants. Private spaces are places the general public does not have access to like homes, private offices, and cars.

• Some places are a mix of public and private spaces, including restaurants. For example, the main dining room, bar, and guest restrooms would be examples of public spaces because the general public has access to those spaces. Private spaces would include any space the general public does not have usual access to including the kitchen, management offices, or employee locker rooms.

• The sheet explains another key distinction businesses should know when dealing with ICE: judicial vs. administrative warrants. The guide gives staff and business owners enough information to know what to look for when ICE says they have a warrant:

• ICE can enter public spaces in a restaurant without a warrant, but if they want to gain access to private spaces they need a judicial warrant or permission. (An “ICE Warrant” is not a valid warrant for arrest.)

• A judicial warrant must be signed by a judge and specifically grant access to search the premises. A judicial warrant will list the judge’s name, the court they sit on, and the date by which the warrant must be executed. ICE officers may try to show an administrative warrant to gain access to search a private space, but it only gives

permission to arrest, not search. An unreasonable search is a search done without a warrant by a government official, like an ICE officer. An administrative warrant will list Homeland Security and a specific person to arrest.

• If ICE does not have a judicial warrant they can also get permission to search a private space. Permission must come from the owner of the private space or an authorized representative, such as a manager. Any other employee that ICE attempts to interact with should respond to any request for access with, “I do not have the authority to grant access.”

Finally, the know-your-rights sheet for businesses offers other things to keep in mind:

• Always try to slow the process down when dealing with ICE, don’t let them rush you or scare you

• Ask to see the warrant - thoroughly read it - look for the judge’s name to make sure it is a judicial warrant

• It is illegal for ICE agents to walk up to people and ask for their documents solely based on how they look or the language they are speaking.

• They need a judicial warrant to search or probably cause that a crime was being committed

• In any interaction with ICE, you have the right to remain silent.

• Regardless of legal status, everyone has the right to legal counsel.

• If you are a witness to an ICE pickup, and the agents have provided a judicial warrant, record a video of what is happening and get information from the person being arrested: first and last name, emergency contact phone number. These will be needed to get them a lawyer.

So far, CPEC says they’ve distributed nearly 100 signs to businesses across the city.

“Spun Bicycles was the first to hang it, and I walked down there yesterday, and all four businesses that are on that side of the street on that strip have that proudly displayed in their front window now,” she said. “One business did it, and that empowered other businesses.”

DeFilippo said the signs aren’t purely performative – they’re reflective of an informed business owner who is prepared to protect immigrant employees and customers.

“It’s not like, ‘Okay, I put the sign in the door. I did my part,’” he said. “It’s like, ‘I put the sign up in order to let people know that I’m going to take this seriously and we’re going to do something.”

University of Cincinnati Officially Closes Campus Inclusion Centers

BY AVERY PADGETT AND BENDCI VARGAS

The University of Cincinnati (UC) Women’s Center, UC LGBTQ Center, the African American Cultural and Resource Center (AACRC) and the UC Ethnic Programs & Services all posted the same message on their Instagram pages on June 25: “Per newly enacted Ohio law, this account is no longer active. For Student Affairs content, follow @uc_studentaffairs.”

These four centers, along with the central Equity & Inclusion office, will all close in accordance with SB1. The bill was reintroduced in January and signed into law by Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine in March. SB1 bans diversity and inclusion efforts in Ohio’s public universities and community colleges. It also sets rules around classroom discussions, limits diversity scholarships, requires students to take American history courses and prevents faculty from striking, among other things.

UC President Neville Pinto sent an email detailing these closures to UC students, faculty and staff on June 24, detailing how the former identity center spaces will be “repurposed to support the success of all students.”

The Equity & Inclusion office will be replaced by a unit focused on “ethics, compliance and community impact,” according to Pinto’s email. The unit

will be led by Dr. Bleuzette Marshall, the previous vice president for equity & inclusion at UC. The Center for Student Involvement will take up the space that housed Ethnic Programs & Services, the LGBTQ Center and the Women’s Center. The AACRC will shut down and reopen under the name “The Cultural Center,” which will function as a “general space” for all students.

“I recognize that unwinding deeply rooted efforts around inclusion will undoubtedly challenge core feelings of belonging for many in our community. My message to you is unequivocal: You belong here,” said Pinto in the email.

These new changes are part of the statewide repeal of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education, which were compounded by executive orders from President Trump’s administration earlier this year.

The enactment of these SB1 provisions and the upcoming expiration of the UC faculty labor contract prompted talks between UC administration and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The desired new contract would have helped nullify some of SB1’s labor provisions that limited union negotiations and strikes, but UC administrators declined to address the union’s demands at a June 23 meeting in

Columbus, according to the AAUP.

UC faculty attended the UC Board of Trustees meeting on June 24 to protest these actions, the same meeting where the SB1 policies were approved.

Vidushi Trivedi recently graduated from UC with a degree in cell biology and neuroscience. She was also the president of UC Feminists, an organization under the Women’s Center (WC), during her time as an undergraduate student.

“The Women’s Center was our lifeline as an org,” Trivedi said. “I had a transformative experience during my four years at UC, a large part of which was spurred on by the Women’s Center. As a lifelong Bearcat, I want other students to be able to have the valuable experience I did.”

While the bans on DEI centers like the Women’s Center are based on the claim that they are discriminatory, Trivedi says the WC is anything but.

“The WC is a space that is centered on women and gender diverse populations, but access to the space has never once been exclusionary based on gender,” she said.

Daion Walker, a senior at UC and media production major, organized an African American film club that started in January. The club kept meeting until March – that’s when things started to

decline, said Walker.

“The group that we worked so hard to start was kind of just in a very weird space — we didn’t know if we were going to get shut down, so we had to re-market ourselves from being the University of Cincinnati’s first Black film club that celebrates culture.”

Walker told CityBeat he found a community in the AACRC when he needed it the most – as a freshman.

“[AACRC is] just full of African Americans from different walks of life, and it’s a wonderful place to be, especially for students who, you know, are in a predominantly white school but can’t find others like them,” Walker said.

Both Walker and Trivedi agree that these kinds of organizations are valuable and that losing these centers — or making clubs change out of fear — takes away a sense of belonging and acceptance for minority students.

“As for Pinto - I understand that they have their hands bound between maintaining their state funding and meeting students’ needs,” Trivedi said. “However, students have repeatedly called for transparency in the decision-making process, which I personally don’t think we got. To me, being committed to all students means advocating for them and their right to safely exist on campus.”

CityBeat

MUSIC ROUNDUP

New music from nearly 100 Greater

Cincinnati

artists to add to your playlists

As one of the few publications in Greater Cincinnati that regularly covers the local music scene, CityBeat has always worked hard to spotlight as many homegrown artists as possible. But as this list shows, even we struggle to keep up with the nonstop stream of incredible new music coming from every genre under the sun.

To give these artists the love they deserve — and to help you discover your next favorite band — we’ve launched a new annual tradition: the CityBeat Music Roundup.

A few months back, we put out a call for submissions, asking Greater Cincinnati musicians to send us their latest albums, EPs and singles. And wow, did they deliver. In the pages that follow, we’ve included new tracks and albums from nearly 100 local musicians creating original music in every genre imaginable — including Ohio Valley psych lounge rock (we don’t know) — to help both the uninitiated and local music fans find their next obsession.

Hamlet

Light Under Repair (indie rock)

Key track: “The White Stars” “Recorded in January and February.

Songs, guitar, vocals and keys by Chris Wales; Jason Short on drums; Dan Nolan on bass; Kate Wakefield on cello on track three.”

Chance Hopper

Sober Side of Midnight (country)

Key track: “Sober Side of Midnight”

“A mix of traditional and modern country but a DIY aesthetic and production.”

TIGERVOICE

Stadium Sized Synth Rock (multi-genre)

Key track: “Feel The Thunder”

“A synth-rock record ready to be performed in stadiums and amphitheaters!”

Motel Faces

“Forever” (rock)

“‘Forever’ is a 2024 single by Cincinnatibased rock band Motel Faces, known for their fusion of alternative, grunge, power pop and garage rock. The track showcases the band’s energetic, nofrills rock style, continuing their tradition of delivering high-energy performances since their formation in 2014.”

General Baxter

Concussion (punk/garage/psych)

Key track: “Dumb Luck”

“Recorded in a single weekend at The Lodge in Dayton, Kentucky, Concussion is our most straightforward and high-energy release yet. Inspired by the various concussions of our youths.”

KAE Savage

FOREVERALONE (hip-hop/ alternative)

Key track: “Mac and Yams”

“FOREVERALONE is an EP that explores loneliness and depression and finds safety in solitude and contentment with circumstances outside of one’s control.”

STARDOOR65

MIND SOUP (indie electronica)

Key track: “404: Ego Not Found!”

“MIND SOUP is a swirling cauldron of ambient psychedelia, space-funk grooves and cosmic noise — an odyssey through inner worlds and melting dimensions. Dive in and lose yourself in the strange, shimmering pulse of STARDOOR65’s mind at full boil.”

Gloss Ave.

Big Night at Club Bug (electronic)

Key track: “Fantasy Emulator”

“BNACB is a collection of dance tracks (for bugs) that came about through

experimentation with hardware synthesizers, drum machines and sampling. Influence for the EP ranges from house and chillwave to the Earthbound soundtrack.

Bear The Moon

promise/was it safe? (indie rock/indie pop)

Key track: “promise”

“promise/was it safe? was an A & B side tandem release we did last fall that embodies those moody autumn breakup feelings.”

Charlie John GLUE (pop)

Key track: “GLUE”

“The four-song EP GLUE is a heartfelt exploration of love and mental health. The title track, ‘GLUE,’ is a driving, anthemic pop song that delves into the complexities of fleeting moments of pain transforming into love.”

Snails

The Movement (industrial/punk)

Key track: “2025”

“Anti-fascist music for anti-fascist people. If you like hardcore, industrial bands like Helmet, Ministry and Dead Kennedys, this is for you!”

Jim Trace & The Makers

Mash Bill (indie folk/post-Americana)

Key track: “Western Wind”

“Mash Bill was our first full-length studio release in almost 10 years. This album showcases our growth and evolution as a band as we added elements of indie and rock to our classic folk sound.”

Jonathan Tyler Jackson red walls (folk)

“‘red walls’ is a raw, intimate folk song about feeling trapped in a relationship with someone you still deeply love. I am a Northern Kentucky native and grew up reading CityBeat in print!”

A Sequence of Echoes

Everything Changes (alt-pop)

Key track: “Just For Now”

“ASOE is a collaborative band between the Pacific Northwest and Midwest featuring strong female vocals, pop production and atmospheric ambiance.”

Nick Fed

Five Addresses (indie pop/lo-fi)

Key track: “None of This”

“The songs took shape over (at least) five addresses as chords and melodies materialized. A strong rhythm section of Rob Stuckert (Junior Citizens, Jim Trace) and Drew Brown — both fellow music educators — brought the life, energy and grooves that were needed to finish the job. Solo project from sideman/hired gun guitar warrior around town. Pop songs with some jazz chords and distortion. Aspiring to the heights of Elliott Smith’s major label work and younger Dave Grohl’s self-recorded ventures.”

Lost Henry

“Where Is My Hug? (I Love A Good Regicide)” (punk/post-hardcore/emo)

This single is heavily influenced by anime openings, Warped Tour bands and the decay of the American dream. We’re a touring band based in Cincinnati who have been gigging in the area for the past seven years! We have multiple Cincinnati festival dates coming up at the end of the summer and more music on the way.”

Jordan Smart

“Who Would Jesus Bomb?” (folk)

“Released a lo-fi phone demo of my song that had a video go viral. The video was shot at Southgate House Revival, and one hundred percent of streaming proceeds go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.”

Nicholas Brehm

Live at 3rd Street Music (acoustic instrumental)

Key track: “Change (Live)”

“This live EP was recorded on the 10-year anniversary of my debut album, Heavy Light, at 3rd Street Music in Hamilton, Ohio, (where the album was

recorded). This collection of six songs spans my entire discography and is a celebration of the album that started it all.”

New Moons

“The Well” (Indie rock)

“New Moons is an indie rock band based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The band has been working on a string of singles eventually leading to a future album release. After creating a home studio during the pandemic, the band has been hard at work writing and self-producing new music, leading to this first single, ‘The Well.’

Thematically, the song asks the listener to reflect on how they treat other people and warns about harboring hate for your fellow man. As the lyrics state, ‘hate isn’t free’ from consequence or criticism.

The Well refers to the many excuses one might give for acting the way they do. A real-world example being the internet ‘trolls’ who feel safe being nasty to people and hide behind anonymity.”

The Jared Presley Experience

Born on Another Planet, Born to Rock and Roll (instrumental rock)

Key track: “I’ll See You in Heaven”

“The physical album is out but it will be out digitally in July through the Radio Artifact label.”

The Electric Blue Soda Crew

The Electric Blue Soda Crew (alternative indie rock)

Key track: “betty blue”

“The Electric Blue Soda Crew lyrically and musically embodies both simple life on the mighty Ohio, as well as the undying desire to navigate the opulent blue

beyond that looms just above us in the form of outer space.”

Arlen Gun Club

An Unbearable Weight (alternative rock)

Key track: “Run of the Mill”

“Our first release in nearly three years shows us sticking to our roots and keeping things fast-paced and catchy. This time around, though, we wanted our sound to emulate some of our influences such as Title Fight and Balance and Composure.”

White Lighter

Human Law (rock and roll/blues/indie)

Key track: “Excuse Me Love”

“This is our second album we have put out. We record mix and master everything ourselves and are very happy with how this album has been received by our listeners.”

Motel Chicago

“Florence, In My Living Room”/”Nightmare Girl” (indie rock)

Key track: “Florence, In My Living Room”

“‘Florence, In My Living Room’ was a song I wrote about the emotional flux you feel after a good thing is over — about the euphoric highs and the longing and nostalgia for an experience, or person, no longer in your life.”

Pretty Mean

Hell’s Within Me (riot grrrl punk)

Key track: “Hell’s Within Me”

“An angry demand for more respect for women in music, in the community, and around the world.”

Tender Brutes

Bloodletter (alt-rock)

Key track: “Penance”

“Tender Brutes’ debut EP, Bloodletter, showcases our signature blend of altrock intensity and introspective lyricism. With tracks like “Penance,” we delve into haunting melodies and visceral themes, offering anthemic hooks like in “Beautiful Wreck,” that capture the essence of our band’s unique sound.

2-22s

2-22s (rock)

Key track: “Southgate House Song (Try)” “Our debut EP features three songs to daydream to while played at full volume. Debut full-length to be released this August.”

Adam Flaig

Morning EP (folk, pop)

Key track: “Rocks”

“This is a concept album meant to be treated as a morning alarm to help jump-start your day.”

Left at Orion

Radiowaves (indie/alternative/ shoegaze)

Key track: “Radiowave”

“Radiowaves is Left at Orion’s debut album; it is a collection of songs about escapism from the mundane and the feelings you get when you look at the stars. We are a three-piece band from the Greater Cincinnati area and write and record all original music. We’ve been described as shoegaze and dream-pop, and draw inspiration from moods, landscapes and our collection of ‘90s records.

Check out our music videos on YouTube and our full-length album wherever you stream your music.”

ASTROVAN

“Three Point Night (3PN)” (outlaw indie) “Three girl dads living out a mid-life evolution.”

Philip Diox

“Woman” (regressive pop)

“‘Woman’ is the fourth single of my gradually unfolding album Pull. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, I am releasing the album one song at a time, one song per month. ‘Woman’ is my most recent release. This song is what I consider an animalistic love ballad.” Sonically, there are elements reminiscent of The Beatles, early Motown, The Beach Boys, Phil Spector’s ‘Wall of Sound’ and much sonic inspiration was taken from Paul McCartney’s solo album RAM.”

Raivon Don’tez

Wanna Play Vol. 3: Let The Games Begin (The DLC EDITION) (alternative/ hip-hop)

Key track: “RPG Nightmare”

“Wanna Play Vol. 3: The DLC is a perfect dysfunctional amalgamation of punk rock, metal, rap and grunge — all blended into one. It also highlights my unapologetic authenticity with experimental sound.”

Goof Juice

Spinout (indie rock/emo)

Key track: “Insomnia”

“This was the first collection of songs I released after graduating from UC CCM’s Commercial Music Production Program. It captures a lot of the emotions I felt during a very transitional point of my life.”

July For Kings

“24 Vibe” (rock)

“The band’s first music release in over a decade. Formerly signed to MCA Records in the early 2000s. The new single ‘24 Vibe’ is out now with a music video shot and directed by Brandon Weaver.”

Noah Smith

Cavaliers Into Cadillacs (rock/country)

Key track: “Right Here With You”

“Cavaliers Into Cadillacs is the sound of a live band in the studio, capturing the same energy, edge, feel and authenticity as they would if they were on stage entertaining the masses. It ain’t a live album, but it’s not far off. ‘Right Here With You’ was the first co-write with the entire band in the room at the same time.”

Jess Lamb

“Since You’ve Gone” (soul/rock/R&B)

“With vocal stylings that are reminiscent of James Brown and Janis Joplin, ‘Since You’ve Gone’ is 15 years in the making and emotes soul and sadness. This is a tune about Jess’s grandmother passing. Oh the power of loving someone so much — you feel like you’re dying when they are gone. Recorded live at The Tone Shoppe.”

The Bell & the Hammer

The Things We Get Wrong (indie folk, singer/songwriter)

Key track: “When I Was a Sailor”

“The culmination of 15 years of writing.”

One Strange Dog

Seasons (indie rock)

Key track: “Billie”

“Seasons is a walk through the seasons

“This track was co-written by Damon Mitchell and Courtney Wilder and recorded under MC1 Nashville Records.”

Brandon Voorhees

“Come Over Now” (alternative )

“Brandon Voorhees just dropped his latest single, ‘Come Over Now,’ a beautifully stripped-down acoustic track that’s sure to resonate. Released in 2025, this song feels like a warm invitation, showcasing Voorhees’s ability to craft intimate and heartfelt melodies. It’s now available to stream on all major music platforms, ready to be added to your chill-out playlists.”

Lydia Shae

“Seattle Sucks” (pop/rock)

“The first follow-up single after releasing her debut album, Decade Diaries ‘Seattle Sucks’ embraces a fuller poprock sound of heartbreak and how one person can ruin an entire city through association.

Jimmie Infinity

of the year and the emotions that come with it — with ‘Billie’ as an exuberant track full of the feeling of summer ambition, ‘Captivated’ as a moody and reflective fall afternoon, ‘Find Me There’ as a harsh but passionate winter, and ‘Heavyweight’ as a cautiously hopeful spring with the promise of a good year to come.”

Cash Daniel

Cashius Clay 3 (hip-hop)

Key track: “OH Man”

“It is the third installment of the ‘Cashius Clay’ saga.”

West Union

Buzzard Roost (folk/folktronica)

Key track: “September Sun” “We went out for a weekend to West Union, Ohio, to record this EP, and came out with four tracks that are very near and dear to us. This EP pays homage to our original namesake ‘Buzzardroost’ and to our time spent in solitude.”

Jeremy Harrison

Song of Love and Blight (dark, liminal folk)

Key track: “Crook of Rain” “Songs of Love and Blight weaves together visceral textures with incorporeal vocals and filters it through a lens of lo-fi intimacy.”

Brian McRedmond & Myron Hart

“One Wish” (pop/reggae) “When you just want to spend all your waking hours with that special someone!”

Courtney Wilder

“Blame It On the Roads” (country)

“Lately” (Indie)

“Indie alt-rock with ‘90s West Coast vibes.”

Space Chaise Lounge

Space Chaise Lounge (indie)

Key track: “Earrings”

“This first release from Space Chaise Lounge is self-produced, creating an intimate, upbeat and genre-blending listening experience. Across its tracks, the EP showcases the group’s dynamic musicality, offering listeners a fresh and energetic sound.”

Sami Riggs

“Black Sheep” (folk/pop/country)

Key track: “Black Sheep”

“‘Black Sheep’ represents a stylistic shift and, more importantly, pays tribute to my Southern roots — it’s a salute to the resilience of outsiders who’ve had to overcome adversity.”

Project Nekton

Transcripts from Astoria (rock with a psychedelic edge)

Key track: “Long Road”

“The EP was conceived after a trip to Grand Teton National Park. The tracks are reflections on relationships with the land we live on and the lives we touch.”

Coy Comer & the Wanderers

“Take Me Back” (singer/songwriter, indie, Americana)

“This song is about chasing the memories of younger years.”

Millie Oliver & The Missing Pieces

“Can We Make It” (rock)

“‘Can We Make It’ is a concept piece that ties the music, lyrics and artwork

together. It’s a duet emulating a couple having an argument and feeling like a broken record. We have dueling guitars to re-emphasize the two perspectives, feminine vs. masculine or vulnerability vs. anger and frustration.”

Honour Rae

Firestone (country)

Key track: “Firestone”

“The album is a journey through heartache, redemption and self-discovery.”

Aarón Magical

“Locked House” (rock)

“‘Locked House’ was recorded at The Tone Shoppe, located in Spring Grove Village, and features drummer Matt Musty (Grace Potter, Train). I tracked the rest of the instrumentation and vocals. The main theme of the track is a critique of the United States prison system and how many incarcerated people are woefully unprepared for life upon their release.”

Famband

“Crazy Lady” (rock)

“This song is about relationships. You want to do it right but can’t all the time.”

Rural King

Heart Attack Gun (indie rock)

Key track: “Spirit of ‘76”

“Heart Attack Gun is an album about growing up, examining your allegiances and living through these paranoid times. Listen if you like the Grateful Dead, Pavement, Vampire Weekend, Bob Dylan or The Band!”

Kevin McCoy Band

“Move Heaven (Raise Hell)” (country/ country rock/independent artist/ Americana)

“Frontman and lead singer Kevin McCoy’s newest single is coming June 6, 2025, to all music platforms. Cowritten with McCoy’s good songwriting buddy, Mason Douglas, it will be the third song of collaboration with each other. “Blue Collar” hit the top 50 on MusicRow Country Music Charts.”

Wendigo

“Bury Me” (grunge, ‘90s alternative)

“Wendigo is a local high school band from Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. We are currently working on our debut album, but, for now, our first single is called ‘Bury Me.’ Inspired by Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots, Wendigo has been making music for about four years. ‘Bury Me’ was written by our guitarist, Anderson Byrd, and was recorded at White House Studios with Garrett Crider of Trauma Illinois.”

Clifton Cowboys

Cowpoke Daydream (country)

Key track: “Lawn Chair”

“This was our first album that we released as a band after forming about two years ago. All songs were written by Spencer Caudill.”

Resonator

“Campus Green” (rock)

“This was our first release since 2019 and will be the first of several other new songs coming within the next year.”

Sean Waits

“Don’t Waste Your Time” (indie)

“‘Don’t Waste Your Time,’ the debut single from Sean Waits, rejects the concept of sitting and waiting for something to happen in life, instead urging others and by proxy, himself, to ‘get off your ass, and make a pact. Do something for the world to see.’”

Let It Happen

A Space For Emptiness (pop rock)

Key track: “All of Me”

“A Space For Emptiness really is the next step in the musical evolution of Let It Happen. It’s moody, emotional, sincere and fun all at the same time. Songs like ‘Little Love’ really encapsulate the diversity of the album with a dark, brooding verse and a sing-a-long chorus that completely lifts you out of those depths and puts a smile on your face. You have songs like ‘The Devil,’ which are incredibly upbeat and poppy and songs that are heartbreaking, like the titular closing track ‘A Space For Emptiness.’”

Palmer Bowman

“Travis Kelce’s Longhard Schlong” (art)

“‘Travis Kelce’s Longhard Schlong’ represents Strength, Unity and Togetherness and is a legal triumph in the world of comedic parody music.”

ibbi Too Vicious

“La Coste” (alternative R&B)

“‘La Coste’ is the first single from an upcoming EP I am working on putting out this year. It was the most expansive rollout I’ve done yet, where I put together a runway show at Flora & Flair for the release party and designed a 40+ piece collection of upcycled Lacoste clothes.”

Chad Wonsik

“Up!” (children/family)

“‘Up!’ tells the tale of a brave and determined young penguin with a dream of flying.”

Xzela

Fever Dream (multi-genre)

Key track: “If You Think I’m Pretty”

“This EP was one of the more heartfelt projects I’ve written. Extremely vulnerable and close to my heart, with spoken word included which is not something I usually do.”

David Prues

“Be Yourself” (pop)

“This song was written for all of us struggling with feelings of not being good enough.”

Maria, etc.

Maybe Time’s Not in a Bottle Anymore (alternative folk)

Key track: “This Old Life”

“I released this album under a new stage name to represent a shift to an alternative folk-rock style. I wrote each song as a stripped-down piece with me and my guitar, but as local Cincinnati musicians contributed their ideas and talent, the songs morphed and became even better than I could have imagined.”

No Conscription League

ÂME DAMNÉE, KEEP YOUR HEAD

HELD HIGH! (noise rock, post-punk, alternative rock)

Key track: “A Knife Fight”

“The EP is our first fully mixed and mastered release consisting of four songs and an interlude. Each song was a culminative effort of every one of the band’s members, showing all of our influences.”

Jeremy Pinnell

“Save You” (honky-tonk, Americana) “Produced by Shooter Jennings.”

Vudu Childe

“FAFO” (R&B)

“It is about the current state of the world, specifically the U.S. A lot of Americans may think or feel a way about the U.S. that others would disagree with.”

Lotus Pocus

Lotus Pocus (indie psych-rock)

Key track: “Electro-Waves”

“All Lotus Pocus songs are original and written and performed by Brady and recorded at The Lodge and Spiderweb Cabin. Songs explore various topics related to enlightenment, illusion, duality, play, nature, control, relationships with others and the self and patience.”

Hafer

“Vulture” (indie rock)

“A song about a cult leader and his followers.”

National Barks

Petty Arcade (Ohio Valley psych lounge rock)

Key track: “Supper Club”

“Petty Arcade is our first full-length album. We wrote, recorded and mixed these songs in Cincinnati for the past two years. The songs reflect on technology’s impact on society and how it can push those around us towards nihilism.”

Evan McMillian

For A Dreamer (folk)

Key track: “Burnt New Ground”

“This collection of songs weaves between love and loss and highlights some of the uncertainties in life.”

Dan Webb and the Spiders Difficult Creek (folk/rock/country)

Key track: “Next Stop Aurora, IN”

“This album is a collection of family songs that pulls from stories and lore collected by my uncle from his genealogical research. One of the tracks is based on a story my wife told me about her family.”

Dan Webb and the Spiders Fall Back (punk)

Key track: “On My Way”

“I wrote and recorded all the parts for this album myself. I wanted to write a punk album after a couple releases that had more of a folk/country vibe.”

KNOTTS

SLAP (Silly Little Art Projects Will Save The World) (art pop/indie soul/ indie pop )

Key track: “Hourglass”

“KNOTTS’ SLAP EP (Silly Little Art Projects Will Save The World) sounds like the Bee Gees and Solange collaborated on a buzzing, driving, synth-y EP of songs. The tracks invoke a reflective musing of time, direction and letting go.”

Reaper On Red

Doom Daze (darkwave/post-punk)

Key track: “Major Arcana”

“Reaper On Red creates humanmeets-machine music inspired by minimalist art, occult mythologies and dystopian science fiction (a.k.a. current affairs).”

One Strange Dog

Seasons (indie/alt-rock)

Key track: “Find Me There”

“We wrote and recorded our first song (the first track on the album) in only a few hours after meeting at a music workshop hosted by Girls Rock

Cincinnati in February 2024. We continued to write the remainder of the album over a course of a year, with each track serving as a space to reflect on the feelings and changes that occurred for us — individually and collectively — throughout this time.”

New Moons

“The Well” (indie rock)

“Thematically, the song asks the listener to reflect on how they treat other people and warns about harboring hate for your fellow man. As the lyrics state, ‘hate isn’t free’ from consequence or criticism. The Well refers to the many excuses one might give for acting the way they do. A real-world example being the internet ‘trolls’ who feel safe being nasty to people and hide behind anonymity.”

RATSTAR

“Vader” (tape rock)

“I put out my first single with a music video. Just putting out singles until I have a few more saved up for a record. Debut show is a feel-it show with the Drin and a band called Leopardo from Sweden.”

Benjamin James Howard

Vestiges (alternative)

Key track: “Ashamed”

“Benjamin James Howard is a

Cincinnati-based singer-songwriter and former frontman of Bottom Line and Pluto Revolts, now stepping into the spotlight with his first solo album, Vestiges. Stripped down to acoustic roots, the album breathes new life into songs spanning nearly two decades — some once destined for major-label release, others long tucked away in the margins. With contributions from bluegrass artist Maria Carrelli and a mix of raw ballads and radiant melodies, Vestiges is both a reckoning and a rebirth. It’s the sound of an artist revisiting his past to finally let it go — and finding clarity in the echoes.”

Tony!

nightmare RADIO* (alternative hip-hop)

Key track: “hoopty” (feat. Grandace)

“Tony! is a rapper, singer and producer from Florence, Kentucky. nightmare RADIO* is his second album and is fully written, produced and recorded by Tony!

The Shivers

Prism (indie rock)

Key track: “Company Man”

“We’re an original, local, four-piece rock band formed in 2018. This EP is a follow-up to our 2021 full-length album, Dreadfully Distinct.”

ARTS & CULTURE

Hansberry’s Other Masterpiece

A powerful script by Lorraine Hansberry is being presented by the Mariemont Players this summer BY

IRICK PENDER

f the name Lorraine Hansberry sounds familiar, it’s probably because her first play, A Raisin in the Sun, was a surprise hit in 1959. It was the first show on Broadway by a Black woman; it featured Sidney Poitier and won four Tony Awards, including Best Play. Two years later, it became a highly praised film, featuring many of the Broadway cast. More recently, it had a 2004 Broadway revival. Hansberry was just 29 when she wrote this searing tale about the plight of African Americans in Chicago during a time of racial segregation.

Why, after Raisin’s success, didn’t Hansberry write more? She did write just one more play, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, which had a brief Broadway run in 1964. However, Hansberry died from pancreatic cancer just as that show ended its Broadway run in January 1965. Her second script was surely a work in progress; she continued to tinker with it during its threemonth run. Characterized as a “dramatic comedy,” it touched on a startling array of political and social issues, but it lacked the tight focus that had made Raisin such a success.

Nevertheless, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window was the work of a brilliant playwright. It lingered in theatrical shadows until a Broadway revival in 2023. Cincinnati-based high school teacher and community theater director David Derringer saw that production. In a recent conversation with CityBeat, he recalled his experience.

“As soon as I walked out of the theater, I knew I had to bring this play to Cincinnati. I didn’t even know that Hansberry had written another play, let alone one that is chock full of such emotional depth, strong characters and themes that are still as relevant today as they were 60 years ago.”

Derringer applied to several community theaters to stage the play. Mariemont Players, a venerable company on Cincinnati’s east side, agreed to do it. “They entrusted me with the vision and scope of the production,” Derringer said. “Not many community theaters would have the courage to tackle this epic play. I’m glad Mariemont wasn’t afraid to do so!”

The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window is built around the tempestuous relationship between Sidney, a disenchanted Greenwich Village intellectual, and his free-spirited wife, Iris, an aspiring actress. They are surrounded by a diverse array of friends, bohemian and conservative. Sidney has become the publisher and editor of a left-wing paper. Persuaded to support the election of a controversial candidate, he’s the focus of turmoil among the play’s other characters. Their argumentative stew blends divergent opinions about morality, ethics, interracial relationships, drugs, rebellion, conformity, global responsibility and the fragility of love.

Derringer feels Hansberry ran out of time to refine her play. “Early drafts were simply too wordy and too long,” he mentions. It’s possible that, aware of

her own mortality, she includes every issue that concerned her. Despite her all-encompassing approach, her genius at creating characters and pushing them at one another is evident throughout The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.

CityBeat’s conversation with Derringer included actors Chad Brinkman and Anna Hazard, who play the central characters. Brinkman especially appreciates Hansberry’s notes setting up scenes. “Even more poetic than the lines are the things she says around them — the stage directions, the descriptions, her little inputs here and there about who these characters are and the world that they come from. She writes so beautifully and so poetically about these people.”

The show appealed to Derringer because every role is meaningful. “There truly is no bit part,” he said. “Every character, whether in one scene or five, has a story to tell and a moment or two where Hansberry has allowed them to shine. From a story aspect, while it is a play about race, art, addiction, mental health, sex positivity and politics, at its root is a story about marriage and how the individuals that make up that marriage change and morph over time.”

As Sidney, Brinkman said, “He’s one of my favorite kinds of characters, one of those lovable screw-ups who, in his desire to be liked and deal with his own demons, ends up doing some good.”

Sidney and Iris constantly battle and make up. Hazard said Iris is “flawed in very relatable ways. We so often have an idea of what we want in life and will

do whatever it takes to get there, only to realize that we might not have really wanted this thing in the first place. We meet Iris in the middle of her questioning about where she is, what she wants and what she is willing to do to get it — and whether or not she likes what she’s done to get where she is. If you’ve ever been a people-pleaser, even for a moment, you might find a kindred spirit in Iris.”

“These characters definitely know each other’s sore spots,” Hazard pointed out about Iris and Sidney. “I love finding the places where they are poking at something that isn’t comfortable, but then we see when the line is crossed. We’ve all been there in real life. That’s what makes Hansberry so incredible — the dialogue is something that everyone can directly relate to.” She added, “There is something so real about the interplay of comedy and drama … that translates to our lived experiences. Hansberry nails that so perfectly.”

“I hope audiences walk away with a reminder of how far we’ve come as a society and how far we still have to go, and that that change begins with us,” Derringer says. “To quote Sidney, ‘In order to do things, you have to do things.’” That’s certainly the message Lorraine Hansberry intended to convey in her thoughtful, entertaining play.

The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, presented by Mariemont Players at its Walton Creek Theater, runs from July 10-27. More info: mariemontplayers.com.

Cleats and Cross-Dressing: The Bengals Insider Who Came Out is Releasing a Book

BY JONATHAN KEILHOLZ CULTURE

The term “coming out” means different things to different people. Often, it’s about sharing sexual orientation. For others, it’s about embracing gender identity. For Jack Brennan, a longtime sports journalist and former Bengals public relations director, coming out meant peeling back decades of silence to share something deeply personal: his identity as a cross-dresser.

This fall, he’ll share his story in a big way — with a book he’s been working on since 2018: Football Sissy: A CrossDressing Memoir

“Some parts of it are going to be a little icky to people, and I wonder what people are going to think,” he said. “But I did it the way they said to do it — open and honest — and I don’t regret it.”

A childhood in the closet

It’s easy to see why he wasn’t quick to share this side of himself. Cross-dressing and football rarely share the same sentence, let alone the same person, at least publicly. But Brennan is ready to talk about living both identities — spending his public life in the macho world of the NFL and his private life in heels.

“Sports fan” and “cross-dresser” are equally valid identifiers — both are integral to who Brennan is.

“Ever since I was, like, three-and-ahalf years old, I had a tremendous attraction to cross-dress, and that was with me through all those years,” Brennan, who also identifies as queer, said. ”Behind closed doors, when I was a small kid, I would dig into my mother’s stuff. And then when I got older and left the house, I started getting the urge to get stuff of my own. It was very scary shopping for things, worrying I’d expose myself to humiliation and ridicule.”

For Brennan, cross-dressing is deeper than “playing dress up.”

“I just had this tremendous attraction to it,” he explained. “It was something I did strictly in private, but it brought me joy. It made me feel more like myself — even if I couldn’t share it with anyone.”

Brennan grew up in Dallas, Texas. While he was putting on dresses, he was beginning a respected career in the world of professional football and journalism. He studied journalism at the University of Texas and began his career writing for newspapers in Memphis. In 1983, his path led him to Cincinnati, where he took a job covering the Cincinnati Bengals for The Cincinnati Post. He later joined the Cincinnati Enquirer, where he covered the Cincinnati Reds’ 1990 World

Series-winning season before returning to the Bengals beat. Brennan has also periodically written for CityBeat

The Queen City would become home for his career, his family and eventually, his full self. But it didn’t happen overnight.

Telling his wife

He told his wife, Valerie, about his cross-dressing a year and a half into their marriage — about 50 years ago — while they were still building a life together that would eventually include three children and two grandchildren. The decision weighed heavily on him; at the time, he was terrified that he might end their relationship before it truly began.

“Many have said, ‘Well, gee, you didn’t even tell her before you got married,’” he recalls. “And no, I didn’t. I couldn’t do it. It was too scary. I was afraid it would bust up our engagement and ruin our relationship.”

When he finally did tell her, Valerie’s first concern was he would be fired if

his bosses found out. Ultimately, she responded with love and grace. His secret life became something that was slowly accepted within their relationship, though it remained private to the outside world for decades.

How Brennan told the world

Brennan came out publicly as a crossdresser in 2021 through a deeply personal feature published in The Athletic, written by his longtime friend and acclaimed sports journalist Joe Posnanski. Rather than a dramatic announcement, Brennan approached it with honesty and care, first telling a close circle of friends — especially male colleagues he had worked with for decades — before the story was reported.

He followed Posnanski’s advice to make a list of people he wanted to tell personally so they wouldn’t find out secondhand. These conversations, especially with longtime sportswriting peers, were emotionally difficult. Brennan feared rejection or judgment, but he was

met almost universally with support and empathy.

“A person that I write about in the book is Bill Koch, my very good friend from The Cincinnati Post and the Cincinnati Enquirer,” Brennan said. “He was very shocked and stunned, and it took him a little while to come around. But he did, and everything is fine now.”

Putting pen to paper

It wasn’t just challenging for Brennan to share this deeply personal story. After deciding to write his memoir in 2018, he quickly realized that telling his story was just the first step — getting greenlit by a reputable publisher proved far more difficult. Brennan was determined not to self-publish, fearing that doing so might make his deeply vulnerable story seem like “just one weird person putting their secret on Amazon.” That led him to Cleveland-based Belt Publishing. Choosing the title was another important decision. Initially, Brennan considered the clever but softer title Skirting the

Norm, but after feedback from friends and family, he embraced the more provocative Football Sissy

“For a white kid growing up in the 1950s in Texas, ‘sissy’ was the worst thing you could be called; the most humiliating and degrading insult,” he said. “I never faced that horror outwardly because I was comfortably masculine, but I knew if people found out about my secret, that’s what they’d say. I kind of co-opted the term to diffuse its power to hurt me.”

The NFL’s response

Brennan described the NFL’s reaction to his revelation as surprisingly progressive, especially given the traditional culture of professional football. While he never came out publicly during his 24 years working for the Bengals, he says the league office has long focused strictly on performance rather than personal life or sexual orientation.

He recalls the NFL’s support for Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted into the league, as a sign that the organization was ahead of many in embracing diversity.

“The NFL proclaimed itself a football meritocracy, meaning your sexual orientation wouldn’t affect your ability to succeed,” he said. “The league office was pretty — I hate to use this word, but — ‘woke’ compared to team owners, who tend to be more conservative. The NFL saw that being progressive was good for business.”

Though Brennan kept the secret from work, he said Bengals owner Mike Brown was ultimately supportive and understanding.

How Brennan’s piece fits into the LGBTQIA+ puzzle

Brennan acknowledges the challenges faced by the broader LGBTQIA+ community, especially in more conservative suburbs and rural areas. But his experience in Cincinnati has been largely positive.

“Cincinnati is where I have been for a long time, and, at its heart, the city of Cincinnati is still very accepting and tolerant,” Brennan said.

From Brennan’s perspective, the future holds both hope and concern. While he sees Cincinnati as a generally accepting and progressive city, he’s wary of the broader national climate that has sparked a surge in queerphobia and antiLGBTQIA+ sentiment.

“I know a really nice family at church … they live in West Chester,” Brennan said. “They are — if you just looked at them outwardly — the ‘straightest,’ most ‘normal’ family. But one of their children is trans, and life is pretty damn hard for them right now with all these court rulings about gender-affirming treatment. It’s terribly, terribly hard.”

Brennan worries that the political

climate is fueling needless trauma and division, but he also holds onto the belief that sharing stories like his memoir can chip away at bigotry and promote understanding.

“I don’t characterize my coming out as courageous or bold as a lot of other people’s coming out who have sustained a lot of trauma and needed more courage than I did,” Brennan said. “But everybody who comes out — me and anybody else who comes out in their own way — they’re one more stroke against bigotry and one more stroke for understanding.”

Football Sissy: A Cross-Dressing Memoir is being published by Belt Publishing and will hit shelves on Sept. 9. Learn more about the memoir at beltpublishing.com.

Jack Brennan’s Cincinnati Career

1983

Moves to Cincinnati to work for The Cincinnati Post, covering the Cincinnati Bengals

1990

Joins the Cincinnati Enquirer as a sportswriter and covers the Reds’ 1990 World Series-winning season

1991–1993

Returns to covering the Bengals for the Enquirer, continuing his close coverage of Cincinnati’s biggest football stories

1994

Hired by Bengals owner Mike Brown as the team’s public relations director — a role he would hold for the next 24 years

2017

Retires from the Bengals after a long and influential tenure

2018

Begins writing Football Sissy

2021

Comes out publicly as a crossdresser in a feature article by longtime friend Joe Posnanski in The Athletic

2025

On Sept. 9, Football Sissy will be released by Cleveland-based Belt Publishing

Queen City Clock-in: A Day with the Cincinnati Zoo’s Manager of Wild Encounters

BY NADYA ELLERHORST CULTURE

It takes a lot of people to keep Cincinnati — and all of its vibrant scenes — running smoothly. In each installment of Queen City Clock-In, we’ll take a look at a day in the life of the people who help the Queen City thrive.

Meet Shae Burns, Manager of Wild Encounters at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. On June 20, CityBeat shadowed Burns as she went about some of her day-to-day responsibilities at this iconic Cincinnati attraction.

7:15 a.m. – Shae Burns and her husband hit the road from Miamisburg.

8:15 a.m. – Upon arriving at her office, Burns checks her voicemail and the

Encounters & Chats schedule for the day ahead — a vibrantly multicolored spreadsheet matching her team members to certain animals and spaces in the zoo. Burns oversees a team of approximately 25-30 staff members and 15 volunteers. During this time, Burns determines any needed adjustments to the schedule, possibly accounting for staff members who might have called in sick or animals who aren’t in a position to leave their habitat that day.

8:30 a.m. – Burns’ team convenes and touches base about the day ahead. The team is informed of any special considerations, such as path closures, and picks up the gear they need, from hand sanitizer to keys.

Today’s a particularly special day.

The annual Zoo La La event is happening later this evening, and Burns and her team will be facilitating animal encounters at one of the zoo’s biggest fundraisers.

8:50 a.m. – Burns’ team begins opening some zoo exhibitions, including Roo Valley. In the mornings, Burns will sometimes do animal-focused interviews with local news outlets.

10:15 a.m. – In an employees-only space, Burns opens up a fridge and begins divvying up romaine lettuce for the giraffe feeding happening right outside. This lettuce is hydroponically grown on zoo grounds, where Burns’ husband works. The giraffe feeding begins at 9:30 a.m., and her team will usually see a morning rush of zoo

members with early morning access. Burns is already getting the ball rolling on lettuce refills this morning following a usual second rush around 10.

After rinsing out lettuce containers, Burns stacks three buckets of lettuce and carries them outside, where strollerpushing parents stand in line to hold out bunches of greens to waiting giraffes. Burns opens up a cooler in the encounter space, adds the buckets to the bunch and checks in with other team members.

10:40 a.m. – Burns makes her way to the P&G Discovery Forest to get ready for an encounter. She disappears behind a door marked “Education Animal Holding” and later exits with a blanket-covered crate.

10:50 a.m. – Burns sets the crate on a

raised wooden platform near a busy walkway, where visitors stroll by on their way to habitats and exhibitions. Burns opens the crate, and out waddles Opal, a Virginia opossum and, in the words of Burns, “the most precious animal in the world.” Opal is just one of many critters that the zoo designates an “Ambassador Animal” — certain animals specifically meant to educate the public. Opal’s title carries a special weight due to opossums’ prominence in the area. Burns believes Opal helps people better appreciate a species locals may have misgivings about.

“I like when people get to meet animals that they could see in their backyard, especially animals that have a bad reputation or people are scared of,” Burns explains. Opal is a rescue, and Burns shares a close bond with the opossum (Opal even made an appearance at Burns’ wedding). The zoo received Opal from an organization outside Toledo that rehabilitates wild animals. While Opal was already comfortable around people upon her arrival at the zoo as a result, Burns spent time toting Opal around in a pouch to get her used to the zoo’s many sights and sounds, from

the excited chatter of summer campers to the train that runs through the space. During this encounter, Opal toddles around the platform’s landings and branches, occasionally munching on the crickets that Burns offers. Passers-by gather as Burns shares facts about the marsupial species, from their sense of smell to misconceptions surrounding “playing dead.”

If she’s not running an animal encounter like this one, Burns will either be taking meetings, tackling work at her desk or bringing Animal Ambassadors to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. During “Wild Wednesdays,” Burns and these Animal Ambassadors will visit Seacrest Studios to participate in internal hospital broadcasts via WKID 33.

11:15 a.m. – Opal re-enters her crate, and Burns drops her back off at the Discovery Forest.

11:30 a.m. – Burns heads to her office. Dresses and jackets — presumably for the evening event ahead — hang on office doors throughout the workspace.

Burns’ office features a variety of zoothemed memorabilia, including vintage postcards and pennants. Along with her team’s meticulously color-coded, day-today schedules, it’s here that Burns tackles the many emails she receives and writes scripts for the zoo’s Encounters & Chats. Burns also keeps information about the animals, such as Fiona and Fritz’s weight, as up-to-date as possible for her team to reference.

“ I like to tell people that in another life I was an English teacher,” Burns says. In planning and facilitating encounters, Burns also accounts for each animal’s specific needs, including diet for feeding encounters and environments most comfortable for the Animal Ambassadors. She accounts for the pounds of lettuce each giraffe may consume, keeping in mind the portions of straw they’re also fed. If it’s too hot for Opal at an event, she may bring out a pancake tortoise or barn owl instead. Burns works on finalizing details for Zoo La La, with a goal cut-off time of 2 p.m. to create a buffer should any lastminute changes or adjustments arise. Her afternoon will also usually involve a lunch

break with some of her team members.

2 p.m. – Burns’ team begins closing certain encounter spaces and cleaning areas and equipment as needed. Burns remains on stand-by to pick up any tasks or “lastminute zoo things” that arise, such as an animal appearance at a company picnic. On certain Thursdays, she’ll help facilitate “Creature Connections” in partnership with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, which gives patients and their families customized animal encounters. Otherwise, she’ll continue her desk-based work for the rest of the day as her team checks back in and sometimes attends an American Association of Zookeepers meeting, depending on the week.

5 p.m. – The zoo closes, but Burns admits that she and her husband often stick around for evening happenings at the zoo. Otherwise, she heads home for the day — ready for the traffic.

To learn more about the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, visit cincinnatizoo.org.

FOOD & DRINK

Bloom on Broadway

Tucked inside a new downtown hotel, Pennyflower Bistro delivers inventive, satisfying dishes from a rising chef.

REVIEW BY PAMA MITCHELL

It might not be on your radar, but there’s some tasty food being served on the far east side of downtown. That’s thanks to a new restaurant in the lobby of a hotel that was unfamiliar to me. The hotel, open only since January of this year, is called “voco the Clair,” which I learned is part of a worldwide chain among the IHG mega-family of hotel chains. On the ground floor of said hotel, on the edge of the city and within sight of I-71, Pennyflower Bistro occupies a large dining room that services hotel guests from breakfast through dinner. An adjacent bar and lounge fill out the space.

The bar and restaurant feel exactly like what they are — an extension of a postmodern hotel lobby. But here’s the rub: the cooking by the restaurant’s young chef, Jacob Benavides, could make a detour to the out-of-the-way restaurant worth your time. At dinner recently with five friends, I found many more hits than misses among the menu items we sampled.

Our server, Rachel, shared her opinions about everything from the best house cocktails to the don’t-miss dessert standout, and we tried many of her suggestions. While most of my companions stuck with their usual cocktail choices, my boyfriend and I both tried Rachel’s favorite, a tequila and mezcal drink dubbed Smoked Butterfly. Its balanced flavors and booze-forward punch helped get the evening started with a group of folks who hadn’t gotten together in a while. To accompany our drinks and conversation, we selected from among 10 starters and salads, and for the most part, they didn’t disappoint.

My watermelon crudo, listed as a starter (or “snacks and bites” in the menu lingo) instead of a salad, tasted like summer on a plate, with slices of chilled melon in a light dressing of nước chấm — a Vietnamese sauce — along with mint, cilantro and a sprinkling of candied peanuts. Another starter, spicy tuna bites, wasn’t too spicy and was a hit at our table. Several golf ball-sized

rounds of tuna mixed with mashed potatoes came breaded and deep-fried, served with a flavored mayo. The house version of beef tartar was quite good, as well. We shared a plate of sliced 16 Bricks sourdough bread along with these goodies and waited for the next course.

That wait was inexplicably rather lengthy, which surprised me considering that the dining room was far from packed on a rainy Friday night. When dinner did arrive, though, it was worth the wait. (With one exception, which I will get to.) My luck continued after the watermelon appetizer with a perfect halibut entrée. It’s the kind of dish I would be happy to order repeatedly, somehow light and filling at the same time. The fish, cooked just right, sat in a lovely beurre blanc sauce and shared the plate with creamy pureed potatoes and crisp sugar snap peas. A bit of salmon roe gave the dish a bit of salty umami.

Two of my companions tried one of the chef’s signature dishes, Crispy Mushroom Lasagna. I couldn’t quite imagine

how lasagna could be crispy, but the generous slice of layered noodles and filling did have crunchy edges. Texture contrast is such an important part of cooking, and this dish nails it. The filling includes porcini mushrooms, duxelles (a mushroom-onion-herb reduction) and cream sauce. No meat, but you won’t miss it. I hope this entrée and the halibut will stay on the menu year-round.

The one disappointment came in the form of misses on the bone-in pork chop, which two of the men at our table had ordered. One chop arrived almost bloody and the other, overdone. Although the server offered to redo their orders, they declined. I’ve had the same issue with pork chops at other restaurants and stopped ordering them because they are so hard to get right.

A few days later, when I talked with Chef Benavides by phone, he vowed to work on perfecting those chops, noting that a bone-in cut can be especially challenging. (If the meat at the bone is cooked medium, then the outer meat

will be too well-done.)

We finished our meal by sampling two desserts, crème brûlée and Rachel’s strong recommendation, an ice cream dish called S’mores. She steered us in the right direction. Whereas the brûlée was fine, though nothing extraordinary, we relished every bite of vanilla ice cream, Italian meringue, chopped dates and chocolate ganache. Coffee and a couple of dessert drinks topped off a satisfying meal.

A Texas native, Chef Benavides honed his talents at high-end California restaurants before coming to Ohio a few years ago, eventually accepting a position as chef de cuisine here at Boca, under David Falk. Within the past year, the opportunity arose to helm his own kitchen at Pennyflower. That’s quite a resume for a 30-year-old, who now looks forward to making this restaurant an important part of Cincinnati’s social and culinary firmament, operating within what he calls an eco-friendly hotel.

“I was genuinely surprised by how vibrant and tightly-knit the culinary scene is here,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent in this city and a clear sense of

pride around hospitality, but also a willingness to experiment, which I love.”

“Being able to bring young people along, to help develop them for the future” is at the heart of his own ambitions. He said he tries to make his kitchen a welcoming place for the staff, full of music, humor and compassion.

He acknowledged that “keeping fine dining sustainable is a challenge,” but added that “Cincinnati’s curiosity and support for independent restaurants gives us an opportunity to build something special, something that reflects both the city’s roots and its evolving tastes.”

Short term, he alluded to “future events in the works” at Pennyflower and suggested that potential diners “stay tuned for some fun experiences coming soon.” He didn’t divulge details, but from my limited experience thus far with the goodies coming out of his kitchen, I do plan to stay tuned. You might want to, as well.

Pennyflower American Bistro & Bar, 701 Broadway, Downtown. More info: pennyflowerbistro.com.

MUSIC

The Long Way Back to the Island

After nearly a decade of tinkering, Hamilton Leithauser delivers an album that’s both timeless and totally his own.

BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO

No one can accuse Hamilton Leithauser of rushing the creative process. The lead vocalist and founding member of New York City indie rockers The Walkmen spent the past eight years working on his newly released album, This Side of the Island, a project he began when former President Barack Obama was wrapping up his second term.

The creative struggle to complete the new project lasted long enough for Leithauser to not only see The Walkmen come off a hiatus for a 2023 reunion tour, but also to release a pair of solo records in 2020, The Loves of Your Life and Live! At Café Carlyle. Working out of his appropriately named home studio called The Struggle Hut, which is located in the heart of Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, the former philosophy major is equal parts relieved and rueful that it took so long to complete This Side of the Island

“A lot of those songs I wanted to try to finish for that record, The Loves of Your Life, but I just couldn’t complete them,” he admitted. “I finished another batch of songs I thought was a record, but these songs wouldn’t die. I couldn’t let it go. I just love making music and trying to find new ways to put stuff together. Having

my own studio now, I really got into mixing and things I couldn’t do when I was younger while recording things in ways I think sound cool. I have zero interest in ever recording anything that’s super hi-fi anymore, although I think, in the end, my records wind up sounding super hi-fi. I prefer to do it myself. It’s just the desire to create something and the only thing I can do is music. I tried to do other stuff, but I couldn’t.”

While grappling with how to get his latest album across the finish line, Leithauser reconnected with Aaron Dessner, an old friend who has become a renowned producer. The duo’s relationship dates back to when the Dessner’s band, The National, opened for The Walkmen in the early 2000s. For the 46-year-old indie rock singer-songwriter, reconnecting with Dessner couldn’t have come at a better time.

“You can definitely drive yourself into a spot where you don’t know which end is up and you don’t have a helping hand to tell you it’s time to stop,” Leithauser said of the album-making process. “I ran into Aaron somewhere at a music festival and was at the point where I didn’t know what I had. I was just telling him that and he invited me up to his studio to see if I wanted to come and listen, get his

dreamscape a particularly melancholic sheen. Finally, the title track closes out the album and has a subtle buildup that rises above the detritus of a collapsed relationship, accented by the yearning vulnerability of the narrator wearily pleading, “I just want you to love me,” making it an ode to anyone who’s had their heart broken.

A huge commercial breakthrough never materialized for The Walkmen during the band’s first run that ran through its last show in December 2013 — even as acts that opened for them (ranging from Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie to The National) hit that next level of success. And while the band went on hiatus shortly after that (Leithauser quipped, “That’s not my word, that’s [Walkmen bassist] Pete [Bauer’s] word. I’d call it more of a break.”), Leithauser has carried on as a solo act. Having the band get back together in 2023 was a pleasant surprise for him.

“When we did The Walkmen reunion, it ended up going so much better than anyone thought it would,” Leithauser said. “I was thinking I had to finish my record, but in the back of my mind, I was thinking that since I hadn’t finished my record, why would I not keep playing with my friends, having fun and doing this? It went on for a lot longer than we realized. Everybody is glad to take a break again, but there is no reason to close that door. I never wanted to close the door the first time. I don’t know why we went on that break.”

thoughts or whatever. I went up there and we listened through to everything and the first thing he said to me was that I was done and didn’t need him. He said he loved what I presented and thought it was completely done.”

Leithauser added, “I’d been stuck with this thing for years, but it was fresh for him. I think I was almost at the end and didn’t even realize it. Aaron is good at making things sound modern and he added this modern-sounding element to it that I just didn’t have. It changed my whole perspective on the entire thing and immediately when I left, I thought that people have got to hear this, which is always a good sign. It was a push over the cliff I needed and was a really solid favor.”

Clocking in at around half an hour, the nine tracks on This Side of the Island showcase some of Leithauser’s charming musical eccentricities. The meandering saxophone lines infusing the ethereal “Ocean Roar” give off whiffs of mid-‘70s era David Bowie, while the vibraphone runs sprinkled throughout “What Do I Think” add a carnival-like wistfulness to the lyrical musings about the current generation.

Elsewhere, Leithauser’s laconic vocals and the floating guitar riffs threaded through “Off the Beach” give this

With This Side of the Island officially out, Leithauser is relishing bringing his new jams to the masses. And while he’s a veteran of sweaty rock clubs, he’s enjoyed refining his live music craft thanks to his experience playing at The Café Carlyle, a legendary Manhattan supper club better known for hosting cabaret acts ranging from Bobby Short and Eartha Kitt to Judy Collins and Woody Allen. The Walkmen vocalist/guitarist came away with a few lessons from playing the Café Carlyle shows and he’s applying the new-school interaction he gained to his current shows.

“I’m going to play all my new jams along with all the hits — the oldies,” he said with a grin. “I like to have a cocktail, tell loud stories and jokes, depending on how many drinks I’ve had. We may have played all of the new songs two times at two shows in Austin. I could tell people liked them, even though this was the first time we played them. I had a sense that it was working. I want to keep it small, like when I play at the Carlyle.”

Hamilton Leithauser, joined by Father John Misty and Lucinda Williams, plays the Andrew J Brady Music Center on July 15 at 7 p.m. More info: bradymusiccenter.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 11

WHISKEY DAREDEVILS, VERONICA GRIM – 8PM

ELIJAH BATSON AND THE CAREER ENDERS, THE CIRCLE CITY BANDIT – 9PM

SATURDAY, JULY 12

GHOULEICON 2025 DAY 1 – 11:15AM

SUNDAY, JULY 13

GHOULEICON 2025 DAY 2 – 12:15PM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

OPEN MIC SHOW & TELL WITH ADAM FLAIG – 7PM

BIG SANDY & HIS FLY-RITE BOYS, KYLE ELDRIDGE – 7PM

JOHN R. MILLER, REBECCA REGO – 8PM

THURSDAY, JULY 17

PATRICK SWEANY – 8PM

COREY HOOKER & THE CADILLAC PREACHERS – 9:30PM

FRIDAY, JULY 18

DAYWALKER, STATIC SPIRIT, EVERSOUL, HELICOPTER HOG HUNT, SAINT CHRISTOPHER – 8PM

SATURDAY, JULY 19

MIDWEST FRIENDS FEST & START TODAY HARM REDUCTION PRESENT DIKEMBE, KEROSENE HEIGHTS, SWISS ARMY WIFE, LAYLOW, ABANDONED MALLS OF AMERICA – 8PM

CINCINNATI NOIR – 9:30PM

SUNDAY, JULY 20

MARIA, ETC. ANNA APPLEGATE, SARRENNA – 4PM

SAM BETTENS (OF K’S CHOICE) – 7PM

ABE PARTRIDGE / JACK BARKSDALE –7PM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23

OPEN MIC SHOW & TELL WITH ADAM FLAIG – 7PM

THURSDAY, JULY 24

SILVERADA, INDIA RAMEY, ADAM CHAFFINS – 8PM

MWFF / BURRITO BOYS / DAYTONNATI BOOKING PRESENT: JIMS, A.M. NICE, UPSET BOY & THE QUEENS, STOKELYS – 8PM

SOUND ADVICE

THE HEAD AND THE HEART

July 20 • Andrew J Brady Music Center

The Head and The Heart has been churning out harmonious hits for over 15 years, and the band is bringing its newest sound to the ICON Festival Stage at Smale Riverfront Park later this month. This stop on their “Aperture” tour is set to be a compelling performance, featuring the band’s dynamic blend of anthemic hits and infectious sing-along songs.

Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell, the band’s founders, formed the indiefolk group in 2009. The two met each other and the rest of their bandmates in Seattle, Washington, and the group wasted no time before working on its debut album.

The band started out by selling selfburned copies of the debut album at local shows and record stores before being signed with Sub Pop Records in 2010, which led to the release of the album’s studio version in 2011. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Folk Albums chart upon its release, and one of its biggest hits, “Rivers and Roads,” has become a fan favorite and a frequent concert closer for the group.

While the debut album exemplified the band’s original sound — highenergy acoustic melodies and reflective lyrics — the band’s evolution throughout their next few albums provided a balanced amount of new, exciting components and authentic, established sounds.

As of now, the band consists of Russell, Charity Rose Thielen, Chris Zasche, Kenny Hensley, Tyler Williams and Matt Gervais. The sextet recently released the band’s sixth studio album, Aperture, which is the only other self-produced

album by the group since its self-titled album.

Staying true to the word’s meaning, the album’s title track is yet another anthemic tune, as the lines “It’s not too late, open your eyes/Come alive, come alive, come alive” repeated throughout the song instill a sense of letting the light in — emblematic of the album’s overarching theme.

As The Head and The Heart continues its journey through the artistic evolution showcased throughout Aperture, audiences can only revel in the togetherness of the band, the music and themselves while listening to the music. This is what has captivated fans of the group for more than a decade as they join the journey.

The Head and the Heart plays at the Andrew J Brady Music Center on July 20 at 7:30 p.m. More info: bradymusiccenter.com. (Alanna Marshall)

BECK WITH THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

July 21 • Riverbend Music Center

Has it really been 32 years since Beck’s “Loser” unexpectedly infiltrated radio waves and graced MTV with an amusingly ramshackle video that couldn’t help but accentuate the then-23-yearold Los Angeles native’s singular juju? And while he couldn’t quite sustain the creative, stylistically diverse juice that powered the albums following his “Loser” breakout (1994’s Mellow Gold, 1996’s Odelay, 1998’s Mutations, 1999’s Midnite Vultures and 2001’s Sea Change), he’s been a persistent presence on the musical landscape, dropping interesting, if less vital, projects (though some might argue 2014’s Morning Phase

was another high point) over the last two decades.

One of the more curious developments in recent years is Beck’s series of shows backed by large city orchestras. The first such collaboration — a 2023 concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Orlando, Florida — essentially occurred by accident.

“It was kind of a last-minute thing,” Beck said in an interview with Wallpaper earlier this year. “I think another artist had dropped out and we filled in. Looking through my records, I realized there were a couple of dozen songs that had orchestra on them, so there was a lot to draw from. I think we were all surprised at how it went and that led to more shows last year. Now it’s kind of taken on a life of its own.”

The final album of Beck’s apex era, Sea Change, is especially appropriate for the orchestral treatment, its folky melancholia originally heightened by string arrangements courtesy of his own dad, David Campbell. It’s then no surprise

that the recent orchestra shows feature such Sea Change staples as “The Golden Age,” “Lonesome Tears,” “Paper Tiger,” “Round the Bend” and “Lost Cause.” Another chunk of the set features tunes from the like-mindedly wistful Morning Phase, as well as covers of songs by Scott Walker and This Mortal Coil. And, of course, most of these shows conclude with “Loser,” the tune that started it all. Beck performs with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at Riverbend Music Center on July 21 at 7 p.m. More info: riverbend.org. (Jason Gargano)

DINOSAUR JR .

July 25 • Andrew J Brady Music Center Dinosaur Jr. released their debut album, Dinosaur, 40 years ago. Recorded in a studio in the New England woods — long before Bon Iver inspired a generation of millennial musicians to self-isolate and skip shaving — Dinosaur might have gone, well, the way of the dinosaurs, if not for Sonic Youth. After coming across the album and catching a few live shows, Sonic Youth invited the band on tour in 1986, resulting in muchneeded exposure.

Soon after, Dinosaur Jr. released their second — and arguably best — album, You’re Living All Over Me. It was here that they found their signature sound: overdriven guitars, melodic hooks and J Mascis’s brilliant, virtuosic playing. Songs like the classic “Sludgefeast” exemplify the Dinosaur Jr. formula. The track opens with a long instrumental jam that veers between grunge and heavy

metal before resolving into a striking chorus where Mascis pleads, “I’m waiting/please come by/I’ve got the guts now...” Guts for what? Mascis leaves it a mystery.

Dinosaur Jr. speaks to listeners who feel misunderstood and alienated from the mainstream. Mascis, hiding behind his long — and now gray — hair, looks the part of the ultimate slacker rocker. But appearances can be deceiving. Behind the laid-back image lies a perfectionist. Mascis has always had a clear vision for how he wanted Dinosaur Jr. to sound, which led to frequent infighting with drummer Patrick Murphy and, famously, the departure of cosongwriter, bassist and Dayton native Lou Barlow.

Thankfully, the band buried the hatchet long ago. Since reuniting in 2005, they’ve steadily toured and released five more studio albums — the latest being 2021’s Sweep It Into Space. Mascis has also remained active as a solo artist. His 2024 solo release, What We Do Now, was widely acclaimed for its introspective tone and softer palette. Departing from Dinosaur Jr.’s famously loud live performances, the album leans heavily on acoustic guitar and a more strippeddown production.

Currently touring with Snail Mail, Dinosaur Jr. will stop in Cincinnati for what promises to be an unforgettable show. Just don’t forget the earplugs.

Dinosaur Jr. plays the Andrew J Brady Center on July 25 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30. More info: bradymusiccenter.com. (Derek Kalback)

CLEANING ONE’S PLATE

Across

1.  [Surely you can’t mean!]

5.  Decorative fabric

9.  Anatomical dividers

14.  Comic actress Faris

15.  Website with a Watchlist page

16.  Longed (for)

17.  Total bozo

18.  “Keep it going!”

19.  Decreases?

20.  Everything, during a mutlticourse meal?

23.  Toss back a fish?

24.  Hotline ___ (“Raspberry Moon” band)

25.  Soaked to the bone

26.  Decide

28.  Cancer chart?

30.  Vicious punk rocker

31.  Hoof sound

32.  Line things up

34.  Paint applications

35.  Do something perfectly, or what you might do if you went 20-Across, or had the 50-Across

38.  Photographer Arbus

39.  “You’re drunk!”

40.  Gumbo vegetable

41.  Appetizer bowlful

42.  Swiss National Museum city

46.  Figure things out

47.  Bread for the barbecue

48.  Knee part that gets torn, for short

49.  Chinese principle

50.  Everything, at the taqueria

54.  Country whose flag has a red, yellow and green bars with a black star

55.  Director Nair

56.  Stand up comic Edelman

57.  Welcome mat spot

58.  Squeaks (out)

59.  Little bugger?

60.  Satisfies fully

61.  Hatchling’s home

62.  Charles Mingus’s instrument

Down

1.  Embarrassing mistakes

2.  Hooded jacket

3.  Like an elititst

4.  Hide, as during close-up magic

5.  Citrusy desert with a crust

6.  Surrounding

7.  Be a kvetch

8.  Facial tic

9.  Virtuous person

10.  Almond-colored

11.  Stage of development?

12.  Sawbucks

13.  Some have famous product lines

21.  Go hungry

22.  Ref. that added “birria” and “barbacoa” in 2025

27.  Covers with Cottanelle

29.  Disney movie with some songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda

30.  Prying figure

31.  “28 Years Later” star Jodie

33.  Guys driving the train

34.  Some clouds

35.  [Mind blown!]

36.  Installation pieces that use the natural environment

37.  New Yorker cartoonist with the memoir “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?”

38.  Follow closely

41.  Expected

43.  Paesano’s land

44.  Officers-to-be

45.  Fake news sources

47.  Ennui, with “the”

48.  Lots of lots

51.  A single time

52.  Saucony rival

53.  Souvlaki meat

54.  App for a traveler

PUZZLE’S ANSWERS: