Cincinnati Magazine - June 2026 Edition

Locals

The Modern Man’s Guide to Looking and Feeling Your Best

Cosmetic treatments are rising in popularity for men nationwide—and are expected to more than double by 2032. The greatest increase in demand: “stealth” treatments that stop the clock on aging while being nearly undetectable. In honor of Men’s Health Month, we’re spotlighting the treatments and strategies that are favorites among our male patients who want to look as good as they feel.

Look (And Feel) Refreshed

Whether you’re burning the midnight oil at work or up early with young kids, tired eyes can make you look older than you feel. Botox around the eyes—often called “BroTox” for male patients— smooths wrinkle lines and can even lift the brow slightly for a more alert appearance. For the avid golfer, skier, runner, or any man who spends significant time outdoors, sun damage (in the form of brown spots, redness, or uneven tone) can show up with age. BBL, or Broadband Light, is fantastic for reversing years of sun exposure with zero downtime: you can get treated over lunch and be back to meetings without a trace. For an internal boost, IV therapy offers a direct infusion of vitamins, minerals, and hydration for immediate absorption. Whether you’re recovering from intense athletic training, fighting off illness, or simply feeling run down from travel and stress, IV therapy can provide the reset your body needs.

Chisel & Contour

If you’ve always wanted a more angular jawline—or have noticed yours softening with age—these treatments can help. The most popular jawline treatment for men by far is dermal filler: interest

has grown by over 70% since the early 2000s. Filler treatment takes less than 30 minutes, has little to no downtime, and creates immediate results. Tightening treatments like EmFace or Sofwave are also great options if your jawline has softened due to aging: they boost your body’s own healing power to chisel the lower face gradually over time.

Hold the (Hair) Line

For many men, a receding hairline can feel like an unwelcome reminder that time is marching on. Hair transplant surgery is considered the gold standard, but it’s not the only option. For men who aren’t ready for surgery or want to explore less invasive alternatives first, PRP and Nutrafol offer effective solutions. PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, uses your own blood to stimulate hair follicles. Blood is drawn, the growth factors are concentrated, and then injected into areas of thinning. Nutrafol is a supplement that addresses hair loss from the inside out by targeting stress, inflammation, and hormones—all factors that contribute to male pattern baldness.

Skip the Shaving

For the man who wants a clean look with less time and maintenance, laser hair removal is the answer. Popular treatment areas include:

1. Facial hair – For those who want to save time in the morning or who have sensitive skin that’s irritated by daily shaving

2. Back of the neck – Eliminates the issue of regrowth inbetween haircuts

3. Back, chest, and shoulders – Say goodbye to unwanted hair on the torso without constant shaving or waxing

Don’t Forget the Body

EmSculpt Neo is a game-changer for men who work out but want to accelerate their results. It combines radiofrequency to reduce fat by 30% with high-intensity electromagnetic energy to build muscle by 25% in areas like the biceps, abs, and calves.

For targeted fat reduction, CoolSculpting Elite is a proven way to treat fat in areas like the love handles, lower abdomen, and under the chin. The fat cells are frozen and naturally eliminated by your body over the following weeks.

Minimum Investment, Maximum Return

This routine takes less time than your morning coffee and will keep your skin healthy for decades. It’s the best investment-toreturn ratio in skincare.

1. Sunscreen – Daily SPF is non-negotiable for preventing wrinkles, sun damage, and skin cancer. Modern facial sunscreens are nothing like the greasy formulas you remember: There are plenty of options that blend in easily and are undetectable.

2. Retinol – The workhorse that prevents fine lines, improves texture, and keeps pores clear.

3. Antioxidant – Your defense against environmental damage: pollution, UV, and stress.

The Three-Minute Routine

1. Morning – Cleanser → Antioxidant → Moisturizer → Sunscreen 2. Night – Cleanser → Retinol → Moisturizer

Save During Men’s Month

Taking care of yourself isn’t vanity—it’s smart maintenance. During June, we’re celebrating Men’s Health Month with savings on targeted men’s packages. Ready to invest in yourself? Visit monadermatology.com/men to learn more.

S’MORES

SHAKEUP EUP

SHAKEUP

PUSHING THE LIMITS

Cincinnatians are taking things to the extreme—in their jobs, hobbies, and what they eat.

A YEAR OF PARTYING ENDLESSLY P. 50

Cincinnati packed a lot of fun and frivolity into 1876, highlighted by a boisterous centennial celebration. BY GREG HAND

NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING P. 54

Nelsonville Music Festival founder Tim Peacock welcomes the world to his small corner of Athens County.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CATHERINE GRACE

PRESENTING SPONSORS:NONPROFIT PARTNER:

SPONSORS:

10 / CONTRIBUTORS

10 / LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

FRONTLINES

17 / DISPATCH

The state of local broadcast media

18 / SPEAKEASY

Celebrating 15 years of City Flea

18 / EVENT

Concours d’Elegance honors Mercedes-Benz

20 / STYLE COUNSEL

DJ Boywife’s genderfluid streetwear

22 / STOREFRONT

Books, blooms, brews, and booze

24 / NECESSITIES

Your summer reading list

26 / GREAT ROOM

A colorful bar at a new downtown hotel

28 / DR. KNOW

Your QC questions answered

COLUMNS

30 / LIVING IN CIN

The U.S. flag, made with love in Cincinnati BY JAY GILBERT

88 / CINCY OBSCURA

A collection of saintly relics in Covington BY CLAIRE LEFTON

DINE

70 / OFF THE MENU

The continued popularity of meat raffles

74 / REVISIT

Asian street food at Quan Hapa, Over-the-Rhine

78 / PANTRY

Mariemont specialty market and restaurant Danny Boy

80 / DINING GUIDE

Greater Cincinnati restaurants: A selective list

ON THE COVER photograph by HATSUE

Extra servings of our outstanding dining coverage.

Decoding our civic DNA, from history to politics to personalities.

Tracking what’s new in local real estate, artisans, and storefronts.

Insight and analysis on the Reds and the World Cup. HOME +

SPORTS

II RECENTLY ATTENDED AN AUTHOR READING/SIGNING AT THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY

by Craig Fehrman, who discussed his book This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark. He wrote regularly for Cincinnati Magazine from 2011 to 2020 about books, history, politics, and sports and then decided to study Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacajawea, and their troop pretty much full-time.

I smiled numerous times during Fehrman’s presentation, and not just at his fascinating stories about the group’s encounters with native tribes and grizzly bears. It was the same week we were wrapping up this June issue, and the word “extreme” was stuck in my head. (See “Pushing the Limits” on page 34.)

Nothing was more extreme in 1804 than rowing boats up the wild Missouri River through lands that no American citizen had ever seen, climbing over the Rocky Mountains, and sailing down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. And then returning to tell the tale. No wonder the leaders became legends.

OK, maybe historians won’t be writing books about the extreme Cincinnatians we highlight this month, but a few are semi-famous. Tim Murray and Nick Goepper won world championships and Olympic medals, respectively, and the region claims a handful of wacky world records. Plus, some competitive eaters have their names on restaurant walls around town.

Trying and succeeding at extreme physical challenges, hobbies, and jobs seems to be the reward most of these people seek, not the recognition. The journey being more satisfying than the destination, if you will. I’m curious about what motivates someone to run 155 miles through the Sahara Desert or put on 100 pounds of armor for a sword fight: Because they can? Because it’s there? Because someone told them they couldn’t or shouldn’t? Because normal everyday life was boring?

I like to imagine that those questions ran through Lewis’s and Clark’s minds back in the day. Of course, they had one additional motivation: President Thomas Jefferson paid them to do it. Could President Trump be sponsoring some of our extreme subjects? Don’t laugh. These are extreme times, after all.

JOHN FOX EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CONTRIBUTORS

GREG HAND

Contributing writer Greg Hand loves to immerse himself in the world of 1800s Cincinnati, providing irreverent and entertaining takes in his weekly CM history column to remind readers just how strange the city could be in the past. In “A Year of Partying Endlessly” (page 50), Hand evaluates newspapers and books published around 1876 to piece together how the Queen City celebrated the U.S. centennial. Spoiler alert: It involves an elephant stampede, fireworks, and buttermilk.

“Never Stop Never Stopping” (page 54) is the result of the near-decade that Catherine Grace has spent photographing the multigenre Nelsonville Music Festival in rural Athens County. “It has such a unique, almost magical energy, and I try to reflect that by capturing a mix of the bands, vendors, and people who bring the whole experience to life,” she says.

BE FERNÁNDEZ

In “Pushing the Limits” (page 34), an exploration of all things extreme in and around Cincinnati, Spanish artist Be Fernández provides “bold and expressive” graphics to showcase three types of extremes: the intricate work of Cincinnati’s bomb squad, the gentle nature of wild animal handlers, and the formidability of competitive eating challenges. The vibrant colors stand in stark contrast to what can often be daunting situations.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Fox

DESIGN DIRECTOR Brittany Dexter

DIRECTOR

Amanda Boyd Walters SENIOR

Aiesha D. Little

ASSOCIATE

Emma Balcom

Claire Lefton

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Brianna Connock

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Carrie Blackmore, Jay Gilbert, Lisa Murtha, Laurie Pike, John Stowell, Linda Vaccariello, Jenny Wohlfarth, J. Kevin Wolfe

EDITORIAL INTERNS Ella Rose Johnston, Avery Padgett, Lela Walker, Claire Weston

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Emi Villavicencio

ART DIRECTORS Jessica Dunham, Stef Hadiwidjaja

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Matthew Spoleti

MARKETING DESIGNER Mikayla Dixon

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR & IT SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR Vu Luong

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Lance Adkins, Hailey Bollinger, Andrew Doench, Devyn Glista, HATSUE, Chris von Holle, Jeremy Kramer, Ryan Kurtz, Lars Leetaru, Marlene Rounds, Jonny Ruzzo, Dola Sun, Catherine Grace

PUBLISHER Ivy Bayer

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Tony Frank

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Maggie Wint Goecke, Joe Hoffecker, Julie Poyer

SENIOR MANAGER, SPONSORSHIP SALES

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EVENTS ASSISTANT

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BUSINESS

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Clermont County is celebrating America 250 with vibrant public murals, historic storytelling, and a new passport highlighting museums and heritage sites. From colorful artwork, to hands-on history experiences, the county is bringing America’s story to life.

Come explore, collect your stamps, and be part of this once-in-a-generation celebration in Clermont County!

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Madeira Chamber of Commerce 2026 Member Directory

The spotlight is on Madeira, “The Friendly Town.” Get a look at one of our region’s toprated communities and discover all it has to offer, from real estate to shopping, dining, and services.

STATION BREAK

Local NPR and PBS members hang on after losing federal support—maybe.

CARRIE BLACKMORE

INCINNATI PUBLIC RADIO

CPresident and CEO Rich Eiswerth can now safely say that National Public Radio stations 91.7 WVXU and 88.5 WMUB, and classical station 90.9 WGUC, have survived the first year of their new reality.

Last summer, the public media organization lost about 7 percent of its annual budget when the Republican-led U.S. Congress voted to rescind support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which had provided varying levels of funding to roughly 1,500 independent public radio and television organizations across the country since 1967. With no future funding in sight, the CPB dissolved in January, ushering in a new era for public media.

“Everybody’s scrambling to do what we can to reinvent the system,” Eiswerth says. “We’ve been buoyed by two things: Some cost-cutting measures and overwhelming support from the community.”

Southwest Ohio’s public television stations, CET and ThinkTV, are also holding on, despite losing roughly 20 percent of their annual budget, says Kitty Lensman, president and CEO of Public Media Connect, which represents the CONTINUED ON P. 18

channels. As members of the Public Broadcasting Service, the stations will continue to provide educational and enrichment programming for children and adults—for now. “We also lost some state funding, which was a double whammy,” Lensman says. “In total, it’s about $3.1 million [a year].”

Since his first term, President Donald Trump has argued that NPR and PBS coverage is not “fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan.” The local media presidents contest his viewpoint.

“Public radio always comes down pretty much dead center—and there are very few organizations that do that,” says Eiswerth, who says NPR follows a rigorous editorial policy to produce up-to-date and unbiased news and information.

off any employees.

Both media leaders say their organizations made it through this year because of increased support from individual donors and foundations, but Lensman worries whether that’s sustainable.

The CPB network had reached nearly 99 percent of Americans with its free programming and served as the backbone of the emergency alert system before it dissolved. Eiswerth anticipates consolidation, mergers, and some educational and informational services to be eliminated in this shift.

Public Media Connect’s mantra is “Defunded. Not defeated.” Kitty Lensman sees their work as needed now more than ever.

In March, a federal judge blocked Trump’s 2025 executive order to strip the stations of their funding, saying the move was unconstitutional and unlawful. That ruling is expected to have minimal effect on funding, because it does not alter Congress’s vote.

When the cuts came, both nonprofit organizations immediately sought ways to cut expenditures. Cincinnati Public Radio—out about $750,000 a year—chose not to fill an open music director position at WGUC 90.9, for example, instead entering into a contract with WDRP 88.1 Program Director David Crean to program both stations. CET and ThinkTV are also keeping positions open, and will stop producing a monthly magazine this month. So far, neither organization has had to lay

The strain has already been too much for some organizations, including WBGU, the PBS station produced out of Bowling Green State University, which had relied on the CPB for about half of its budget. The university decided to drop its PBS affiliation this summer and will continue broadcasting with limited operations focused on livestreaming services, meaning residents in 19 counties will no longer have access to PBS content.

The next fiscal year, starting in July, should come with fewer surprises, the public media presidents say, but the following year brings new challenges. The CPB had been paying for music rights and satellite rental fees for the entire public media system for decades. Before it dissolved, it put forth the money to cover those costs through June 2027.

“What happens beyond that? We’re not quite sure,” Eiswerth says.“But we will continue to be open to new ideas. We’re dead if we don’t.”

THE BEST OR NOTHING

On June 14, the annual Concours d’Elegance celebrates the 100th anniversary of MercedesBenz. More than 200 cars and motorcycles will be on display at Ault Park’s historic gardens in an appreciation of automotive excellence in design and engineering. ohioconcours.com EVENT

FIFTEEN YEARS OF FLEAS

On June 4, Lindsay and Nick Dewald celebrate the 15th anniversary of City Flea, the city’s most popular flea market. Thousands of shoppers flock to Washington Park each month to peruse aisles of tents set up from around the Civic Lawn to the Washington Bandstand, where hundreds of vendors have sold vintage clothing, antique home decor, handmade crafts and artworks, snacks, plants, wellness products, and more over the years.

Happy 15th anniversary! How does it feel to be in the 16th season of City Flea? It’s been a roller-coaster over the past 15 years of excitement and energy. It’s always been a one- or two-person operation, so sometimes it can be a lot to do it, but then I go through periods where I’m super excited about it and have lots of ideas. This year, finally, we’re getting around to getting a bunch of City Flea merchandise together to sell: shirts, bags, hats, candles, pins, buttons, stickers, stuff like that.

What types of products and shops do customers keep coming back for?

It’s been interesting to see through the years how the popular types of vendors have gone up and down. As I think no one could probably ignore right now, vintage is so huge. I still think that what makes our market and other markets interesting are the people who are truly doing something unique and making things by hand. We’ll always have a special place in our hearts for the people who are actually making the things that they’re selling. In the age of 3D printing and AI, I’d like to think that people’s appreciation for those skills and creativity and crafts will increase.

What do you want people to know about what City Flea is now?

City Flea is still the premier place to shop small and shop local, and it’s still a reliable source, a unique experience—because that’s what drew people to the City Flea in the first place. The icing on the cake is that the city around it has just gotten so much better. That is a selling point of coming and having a City Flea day.

—EMMA BALCOM

READ A LONGER INTERVIEW WITH NICK AT CINCINNATIMAGAZINE. COM

15 Celebrating years of care.

Since 2011, CARE WITH PRIDE® has championed full equality, inclusivity, care and representation for the LGBTQIA+ community and has donated more than $1.5 million to support organizations. We strive to care for every family, everyday.

Shane Brouman

OCCUPATION: DJ Boywife

STYLE: Elevated, genderfluid streetwear

What inspires your style? When I was a kid, my brother got me into fantasy video games. As I got older, I got into Thierry Mugler, John Galliano, and Vivienne Westwood. What fashion rules do you like to break? Because I’m a man, it’s like this androgynous thing; it’s inherently subversive. [Also,] I love clashing patterns. Has it always come natural to dress in feminine styles? I can feel hot going on a date as a boy, but it doesn’t even come close to the tights and the heels and the skirts. It’s a state of mind, like armor. Nothing you say will make me feel bad because I know I look good. Are your off-duty looks similar to your performance style? It depends on what I’m feeling, like if I feel like spending an hour doing makeup. The labeling of clothing by gender is out the window to me, so I don’t wear heels and skirts, but I still will wear a “girl’s” tank top. Do you often feel like the best dressed in the room? Not in Cincinnati. Cincinnati has fashion divas. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. If your closet catches fire, what would you save? Shoes would come first. My favorite skirts come second. If there’s still time…my mom’s heirlooms will come third. What advice do you have for people navigating their own style? Honestly, go out. We’re all weirdos here. You owe it to yourself to figure out who you are. Put the fear aside, and you will be rewarded. They’ll find any reason, any difference to belittle us. That is your power. That is what makes you special. You can spend so much of your life trying to be something you’re not, and ultimately you will fail.

—CLAIRE WESTON

YOU CAN HELP ENSURE SHE’S NOT FACING IT ALONE.

When school lets out, routines change, and stress rises — groceries stretch further; childcare becomes harder, and support systems shift.

At MomsHope, we don’t simply provide temporary relief.

As a faith-based nonprofit, we walk alongside single moms through mentoring, practical education, and a caring community that helps families build stability.

And when a true crisis hit — like a car repair or unexpected expense — moms can apply for an emergency grant for support.

Your gift this summer helps make that support possible. SUPPORT

BOOKS, BLOOMS, AND BREWS

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP’S “BOTANICAL BOUTIQUE” IS NO ONE-TRICK PONY.

—EMMA BALCOM

Magnolia Rose is not an establishment that can be put into a single box. Its plant shop offers greenery for the home and a complimentary potting station. Its floristry center handles deliveries and event services, and showcases a vibrant flower bar. Its bookstore shelves the hottest new titles, while cozy armchairs atop plush rugs make great spots for reading, preferably with an iced coffee or cocktail in hand from the café and bottle shop. Its remaining shelves and racks hold clothes, gifts, and tchotchkes, while empty tables are dedicated spaces for crafting— from book bedazzling to watercoloring to pot painting.

Owner Lauren Baracz (bottom left) has her own definition, simply calling it a “botanical boutique.”

The multifaceted shop did not start off so complexly layered. Originally a plant shop and florist in Mariemont Square, Baracz quickly sought to expand. “As I grew there, it put into focus what I really wanted out of the business. I really missed more of the customerdriven experience,” she says, alluding to the conversation you make with a barista while they brew your morning latte or the personal reading recommendations that small bookstores make based on customers’ individual preferences.

A former auto body shop in Columbia Township provided the right opportunity for such growth. At the corner

of Plainville Road and Cambridge Avenue, the location was ideal for foot traffic. Magnolia Rose’s electric blue roof catches the eye and draws it past glass bay doors into an ethereal space adorned with wicker ceiling lights, cozy decorative pillows, and tons upon tons of faux flowers. “I wanted it to feel warm, whimsical, and thoughtfully curated,” says Baracz.

Her search for connection doesn’t just stop at the counter, though. Baracz has established a loyal following for her monthly book club and blind dates with books; workshops (crafting, flower arranging, and more); talks with local authors; book release parties; and live music

on Fridays. During off hours, the space even doubles as an event venue, where she hosts everything from birthday parties to baby showers.

And while Baracz says that Magnolia Rose has found its groove, there’s no guarantee it won’t add more to its calendar tomorrow. “In a world of one-purpose spaces, Magnolia Rose stands out because it invites people to stay, explore, and experience more than they expected,” she says.

MAGNOLIA ROSE, 4024 PLAINVILLE RD., COLUMBIA TWP., (513) 271-1042, MAGNOLIA-ROSE.COM

The Creative Café is tailored to fit the shop’s retail inventory. While you can walk in, Baracz recommends making reservations, particularly for Friday and Saturday nights.

ONLY UNDER MOONLIGHT, BY SCOTT

CLOUD A small-town farmer commits theft to keep his farm afloat. A young woman has burglarized local farmhouses for years to survive in 19thcentury Cincinnati. The two come together for their biggest heist yet in Cloud’s self-published “story of loss, betrayal, revenge, and redemption.”

(Scott Cloud)

DEATH

OF THE AUTHOR, BY NNEDI OKORAFOR Zelu

is a paraplegic Nigerian-American writer from a high-achieving family. At a low in life, she writes a sci-fi novel unlike any before—and it’s an instant success. Now wealthy, Zelu is provided opportunities to learn to walk again and even fly to space, all the while navigating love, fame, and the persistent scrutiny of her family. (William Morrow)

PAGE TURNERS

YOUR GUIDE TO SUMMER READS BY AUTHORS FROM GREATER CINCINNATI. —EMMA BALCOM

HAVOC, BY CHRISTOPHER

BOLLEN

Bollen’s latest thriller follows 81-year-old widow Maggie, a longterm guest at a luxury Egyptian hotel who develops a contentious rivalry with another guest: 8-year-old Otto. What starts as humorous animosity between the pair soon turns into outright hostility in a sinister game of revenge. (HarperCollins)

THE QUITTERS

CLUB, BY JESSICA

STRAWSER

Four college friends escape their daily life to reunite for a beachside getaway, where they start the Quitters Club and make a pact to quit what makes them unhappy—only to discover it’s easier said than done. Strawser’s latest novel highlights the value of female friendship and how failure can lead to freedom. (Lake Union Publishing)

PEOPLE

WE MEET ON VACATION, BY EMILY

HENRY Earlier this year, Netflix released a film adaptation of Henry’s popular 2021 more-than-just-a-romance story. Alex and Poppy are best friends who ruin their relationship during a summer vacation, only to attempt to rebuild what they lost two years later—laying everything on the table in the process. (Penguin Random House)

KEEP IT COZY

1 Scalf chose soft leather for furniture that will look better over time as it naturally distresses from use. Providing a variety of seating types allows guests to find the perfect spot to hang out, work, or socialize.

CINCINNATI CONNECTION

2 In the Moxy’s bar, it’s all about blink and miss gestures to the Queen City, like the red glass under the bar bottle shelving (a nod to the Reds). Other motifs are hidden among the hallway’s wallcovering.

3 German motifs are modified to provide guests moments of lighthearted discovery. Case in point, the mirrors in which guests can picture themselves in German lederhosen.

DOUBLE DUTY

4 Scalf ’s favorite spot is the seating around the fireplace, one of many small gathering spaces he created to make the bar feel approachable and cozy.

BAVARIAN BAR

THE MOXY HOTEL’S BAR LOOKS TO GERMAN AESTHETICS FOR ITS DESIGNS. —MICHELLE MASTRO

EMÜTLICHKEIT IS A GERMAN CONcept meaning a warm, cozy atmosphere that renders a space truly livable. It’s an idea that the Moxy, one of the newer hotels in the heart of downtown’s business district, executes to perfection. The hotel’s chic bar space blends a modern Bavarian influence—a clever gesture to the city’s German heritage—with playful nods to Cincinnati, from Reds baseball to the Flying Pig.

G

According to Casey Scalf, owner of Studio Outrider and designer of the space, the overall “concept and inspiration was a modernized, abstracted representation of traditional Bavarian design.”

“The local music element, with record albums for guests to explore, adds another layer of personality,” says Jennifer Hartig, head of commercial performance and strategy at Rolling Hills Hospitality. “I feel like we’ve created an environment that feels just as welcoming to locals as it does to our hotel guests, while the hope was to leave out-of-town guests with a lasting impression of Cincinnati’s unique energy and character.”

QDr. Know is Jay Gilbert, radio personality and advertising prankster. Submit your questions about the city’s peculiarities at drknow@cincinnati magazine.com

this one. Therefore, please note the Doctor’s triumphant achievement in uncovering Symmes Township Police Report CR-2025-003416: “At approximately 2:30 p.m. on December 8, 2025, a U-Haul truck traveling west on Interstate 275 at mile 51.2 swerved to avoid another vehicle. The U-Haul struck a retaining wall, destroying a section of it. The driver [name redacted, unrelated to Epstein Files] was cited for Offense 4511.202, Failure to Maintain.”

This incident occurred at the end of 2025, just after ODOT had scheduled their repairs for 2026. But the wall may be fixed by the time you read this—yet another example of the Doctor’s increasing power and influence. Stay tuned; this column could soon offer additional services such as fixing traffic tickets.

Just outside of O’Bryonville is a large empty property. I pass there all the time. A rusty iron gate at the front opens up into nothing at all. I guess some prominent person had a large mansion there at one time, but for years the whole area has been just grass. What and who was there?

—EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE

DEAR EVERYTHING:

ADEAR BREACH:

The Doctor has visited the soundwall in question. Scattered and shattered concrete hunks appear to have suffered an impact from an immensely large vehicle that was, as you say, driving perpendicular to the highway. While your assumption appears accurate, regular readers know that “assumptions” have no place in a serious column such as

How ridiculous to assume that 1936 Madison Road was once occupied by “some prominent person.” Sorry to disappoint you, but the most accomplished resident at this address got no further than one term as President of the United States and nine years as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. William Howard Taft rarely visited his hometown of Cincinnati after joining the upper elites of Washington, but he’d hung around that estate in O’Bryonville during his young and lean years (assuming that “lean” accurately describes Taft at any age). When he returned to Cincinnati in 1908 and 1912 to cast his votes for president, he listed 1936 Madison Road as his address.

The stone wall and iron gate did open up onto a truly grand residence—grand

enough to earn a splashy Cincinnati Enquirer pictorial in 1922. A.W. Williamson was the deep-pocketed local tycoon who had bulked up the original home. We can find no reason why the mansion was demolished in 1941. Termites? Piranha cicadas? Infestations from the slovenly riffraff of Hyde Park? We may never know.

You recently wrote about an old Batman comic book with an ad on the back that featured a Hughes High School graduate. It reminded me of another fellow Hughes alum from long ago: a champion football and baseball player with only one arm! I forget his name, but I bet you can find it. —ONE HAND CLAPPING

DEAR CLAPPING:

Just imagine Walter Strauss as a one-armed sports hero today, romping in those stunt commercials with Jake from State Farm. Then again, even though he lived during the early 1900s, Strauss didn’t need CGI or AI assists to look impressive. Despite having no right arm, he played football well enough at Hughes High School to become captain of the team. And manager of the baseball team. And member of the city champion track team. And a student at Harvard University. And an attorney who passed the bar exam on his wedding day.

We’re not done. Strauss became a high-level executive at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance. And conducted classes in law and taxation. Hosted radio talk shows about insurance. Got elected as a Police Judge in Newport. And somehow found the time to have five children, 23 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Overcompensating? Perhaps. But more than most of us, Strauss fully embraced life with open arm.

LIVING IN CIN

BY JAY GILBERT

I Stars and Hypes 4ever

other old bones nearby were declared to be hers. This year is the perfect time to peek at them again; if they’re spinning, they’re definitely Betsy.

Artie Schaller knows his Betsy Ross. He is fourth generation at the National Flag Company on Freeman Avenue and its current president. He’s personally witnessed the impact that his company has had on the families of veterans, fallen soldiers, new citizens, schoolchildren, and others. Schaller does not sell jockstraps or mullet hats.

His hottest-selling item right now is the design credited to good ol’ Betsy: 13 stripes and a blue field with a circle of 13 stars. Some clients choose the version showing a modestly-sized “1776–2026” inside the circle.

There was a time when the National Flag Company was the country’s largest. Its factory in the West End commanded an entire city block, shipping stars and stripes all over the world.

National Flag is still in the same neighborhood, fulfilling orders from everywhere: cities, states, countries, corporations, police and fire departments, institutions, families. Customers order flags by the hundreds or thousands, or a dozen large banners for an event, or flags and decorations for just about every major and minor sport, every scout troop, university, and neighborhood. Or maybe it’s just one solemn memento presented at a private ceremony that will be kept for generations.

ON AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY, CINCINNATI HONORS OUR FLAG THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY: MAKING THEM BY HAND.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I FURTHER PLEDGE, as we approach the nation’s 250th birthday, to reluctantly support the sacred right of all Americans to display ridiculous flag variations. I pledge to not shriek as I walk through the valley of the shadow of excruciatingly designed “patriotic” socks, sunglasses, jockstraps, mullet hats, and other flag-adjacent atrocities.

Betsy Ross must be spinning in her grave like a centrifuge—assuming, of course, that Betsy herself is in there. Her remains at a Philadelphia cemetery were to be moved to the Betsy Ross House for the 1976 Bicentennial, but when the grave was found empty some

ARTIE SCHALLER HAS STORIES. SO MANY stories. The first would be how his company started small here in 1869 and became world-famous. The first Schaller, George, joined in 1903 as a 12-year-old stock boy and was president by 1948. His nephew Art Jr. took over in 1977, and now Art’s son Artie is in the process of carrying the torch. (Sorry, the company does not make torches.)

Art Schaller Jr. still regularly shows up; he was there working a sewing machine the day I visited. Despite rooms full of immense high-tech printers and equipment, an amazing amount of this work still uses humble sewing machines, pins, needles, threads, and muscle-memory fingers. The Schallers are not the only people

Bold Ideas. Collective Power. Real Impact.

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LIVING IN CIN

in the building who have done this work for decades. While much of their output is simple product, other projects are for heirlooms that are deeply meaningful— and everyone here takes it seriously.

Stories about America’s fl ag usually focus on the ones that flew during the highest or lowest moments in our history: 1776, 1812, 1861, 1975, 2001. (I tossed 1975 in there just to throw you off balance and celebrate our love of the Big Red Machine.)

The National Flag Company’s stories obviously include those notable years, but there have been other memorable times when, well, here’s an example.

For Independence Day 1909, the city of Pittsburgh decided to unfurl the largest American flag the world had ever seen. Why? Maybe the “city of steel” was hoping that presenting the world’s largest flag might offset having the world’s worst air quality.

(Other cities suggested that Pittsburgh’s flag had to be the world’s biggest

“to be seen more than a foot away.”)

There was no doubt about who could do such a huge job. The National Flag Company of Cincinnati delivered a patriotic wool behemoth 160-by-80 feet, weighing more than 3,000 pounds. As we now recall the flag’s grand presentation in downtown Pittsburgh, please note that the National Flag Company did a fi rst-class job in all respects and deserves no blame for what transpired.

The flag, too heavy to wave from a pole, would hang vertically between two buildings. It was wrapped around a thick steel cable, attached to the tower of the city’s courthouse, and strung over to the famous Frick Building across the street. With 20,000 people watching, the flag was to be dramatically released and unrolled at just the right moment.

The moment came. Nothing happened. Now what?

Some guy took it upon himself to crawl out of a window and slither along the ca-

Looking

ble. As 20,000 people gasped and women fainted (along with Pittsburgh’s mayor), God blessed America and that brave guy, and the flag majestically opened. Twenty thousand people cheered.

The flag flapped around in the wind and caught itself on one of the courthouse tower’s lightning rods, breaking it off. The broken rod was attached to a 300-pound capstone that tore off several large roof tiles, all of which fell 18 stories and shattered. Chunks of stone and tile flew in all directions, as did 20,000 screaming people.

Miraculously, nobody was seriously injured except the flag, which tore in several places.

For years it was a city albatross that couldn’t fit anywhere or be kept from vermin and grime (Pittsburgh, remember). It was stored surrounded by mousetraps that had to be constantly re-baited.

On the wall at the National Flag Company is a beautiful framed photo of this

Forward to the Future and Celebrating Our History...

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Pittsburgh fl ag, majestically suspended in the breeze, taken only moments before the Great Wardrobe Malfunction of 1909. They prefer to remember it that way.

ANOTHER FOND MEMORY IS FROM 1976. Sure, that was the U.S. Bicentennial and the flag business was just great, but there was one project from that significant year that was extra sweet. On Opening Day at Riverfront Stadium, the Cincinnati Reds and their fans saw a beautiful large banner commemorating their World Series win over the Boston Red Sox. It showed the Reds logo and the gigantic words “1975 World Champions!” A suburban Boston newspaper published a photo of the National Flag Company making the banner, adding the caption, “Ouch, it still hurts!”

As we celebrate America’s milestone birthday, we’re stuck with the word semiquincentennial , a cruel cluster of consonants banging against one another.

You know who never has to deal with that word? Anyone who was at any event that happened 250 years ago. They’re all dead. You and I have to drag that damn word around for an entire year.

You, at least, are spared from dealing with another tongue-twister: vexillologist That’s a person who studies the history of flags, and it’s a term you may never see again. I had it over my head while preparing this article, though. I’m almost done, but my amateur vexillology forces me to mention one more thing.

It’s about Betsy Ross, the woman we credit with designing the nation’s original flag, currently the National Flag Company’s most popular item. As discussed, the bones interred at her grave are only theoretically hers. Also, most historians agree that Betsy probably had nothing to do with designing the first flag—her family created that myth.

Furthermore, the famous Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia is probably not her

house—it’s more likely she lived next door in a place that was later torn down. And so Elizabeth Griscom Ross may or may not be buried in the grave at the house that she may or may not have lived in, commemorating a flag design that she almost certainly did not design.

None of that matters much to the team on Freeman Avenue. As they make their way through this anniversary year, their most popular item remains that humble 13-star circle.

We are not blind to the pretty legends or the ugly truths that accompany proud historical achievements. Whichever flag design ships out over the coming weeks and months, our country’s many contradictions are woven into them.

Here’s hoping the USA will make it to 300 years.

Happy birthday, America. May we always show respect to all of the truths within our flag, and to the republic for which it stands.

FEEL GOOD ABOUT FEELING GOOD

Cincinnatians are taking things to the extreme— in their jobs, hobbies, and what they eat.

Climbing

THE ROUTE STARTED 100 FEET IN THE air. After traversing a razor-thin path along the face of a cliff, Matthew Seto pulled a rope through his harness, but was distracted by his friend handing him carabiners before tying it in place.

Seto, then about 30 years old, was sport climbing, in which climbers clip rope, tied to their harness, into pre-placed bolts in the rock. In case of a slip, they only fall to the last bolt they clipped into. Another person, called a belayer, acts as an anchor at the floor of the climb, taking in the slack of the rope as the climber ascends, which prevents them from falling dangerously far past the bolt. “The relationships that you build doing this—you literally have to trust that person with your life,” says Seto.

Three or four clips up, he encountered another climber on a neighboring route, who pointed fearfully at Seto’s harness. He looked down to see that—distracted by the carabiners—he’d forgotten to finish tying the rope onto his harness. At 150 feet up, one slip off the rock meant he would have fallen straight to the valley floor. “That was a little bit of a clench moment,” he says.

Rock climbing is a full-body workout. Core muscles maintain balance and stabilization, while the forearms and tiny finger muscles work to keep hold of rock ledges. Climbers constantly analyze their next move, piecing together the climb like a puzzle.

Sport climbing in the U.S. is graded based on class and difficulty of the route. Technical climbs begin at Class 5 and increase in difficulty, from 5.6 and up. “I’ve climbed as high as 5.13,” says Seto, now 56. Few in the world climb 5.14 and above, meaning Seto borders on an elite class of athletes. Bouldering, meanwhile—done without ropes or harnesses on rock formations around 20 feet high—is graded based on the hardest move of the route. Beginners typically start at VB-V0.

Brandon Gay (right), 29, has climbed for about 12 years, since his senior year of high school.While he now prefers outdoor climbing trips at places like New River Gorge and Chattanooga, Tennessee, he used to participate in local competitions and has spent the last seven years coaching the next generation of climbers (he currently coaches at Elite Performance Climbing).

At regional and divisional championships, athletes are not allowed to see the routes until their turn, deciding the best way to get up the wall on the spot. Points are awarded based on how far they make it, the number of attempts made to complete it, and the speed at which they do so. Gay’s climbers often rank high in comps—many earn podium finishes and win events in both USA Climbing and American Scholastic Climbing League competitions.

“When you’re climbing, it feels like you’re flying,” says Gay. “Or as close as you can get without skydiving or a wingsuit.”

GET MOVING

Extremesports aren’t just for thepros—these classes arefor all experiencelevels. LELA WALKER

Caesar Creek Soaring Club

As one of the largest and oldest soaring clubs in the country, participants learn to fly in club-owned gliders. With lessons open to all ages and around 200 members, the club provides flight instruction, club sailplanes for membership use, and introductory flights for prospective members. 5375 Elbon Rd., Waynesville, ccsc@soarccsc.com, soarccsc.com

Queen City Stunt Circus

This unique entertainment company teaches circus-style skills and performs at shows, parties, galas, and festivals around the city. Fly on aerial silks like you’re under the big top at Demetria Aerial classes, a dynamic and exhilarating workout for all experience levels. Whether you get the bug through public classes or one-on-one sessions, you can advance your expertise with fitness conditioning, open gyms, and performance lessons. 9176 Winton Rd., Springfield Twp ., (513) 399-6458, queencitystuntcircus.com

Queen City Wheels

Queen City Wheels promotes bike racing across multiple disciplines—road racing, criterium, cyclocross, gravel, and time trial—for both beginner and advanced riders in Greater Cincinnati. QCW’s ongoing Cleves Time Trial Series—started in 1974—is the longest continuously run time trial series in the country and takes place every Tuesday evening from May through September. Other upcoming events include the Ault Park Racing Series in June, the Whiskey City Twilight and Swartout challenges in July, the Shawnee Pebble Pounder in August, and the Harbin Cyclocross in September. qcw.org

Skydive Cincinnati

With more than 50 years of skydiving experience, Skydive Cincinnati gives you the chance to fly through the clouds. This family-owned business opened in Waynesville in 1969 as the Waynesville Sport Parachute Club and is the tri-state’s oldest U.S. Parachute Association member drop zone. Whether it’s your first or your 50th dive, Skydive Cincinnati provides opportunities for fliers of all types, including tandem skydiving, accelerated freefall, and static-line training. 4925 U.S. 42, Waynesville, (513) 282-3725, skydivecincinnati.com

Swift Movement Studio

For ages 4 and older, high-energy parkour classes, camps, and events are available in Swift Movement Studio’s safe, supportive environment. Learn how to build athleticism, self-worth, and problem-solving skills while conquering physical challenges through brightly colored obstacle courses. The studio’s goal is to make fitness fun and offers a chance for adults to unleash their inner child again. 4460 W. Mitchell Ave., Unit 6, SpringGroveVillage, (513) 549-4460, swift-movement.com

Tri-State Scuba

Instructors at Tri-State Scuba will help you prepare for the open water dive adventure of your dreams. Classes take place at its large indoor pool, yearround. Certifications can also be completed in its private quarry, Quaribbean, about an hour’s drive from Cincinnati. 6004 Wooster Pike, Fairfax, (513) 271-2800, tristatescuba.com

Skateboarders endure bruises and road rash, but you can’t keep them down. —EMMA SEGREST

If you were to ask Daniel Stephens (right) about his history of injuries from skateboarding, you might be listening for a while. At 34, he’s suffered countless scrapes and bruises, knocked out a handful of teeth, and dislocated an elbow, which resulted in major reconstructive surgery. With a repertoire like that, you may think he quit skating years ago, but despite the pain he kept coming back.

Stephens has been skating close to 23 years and got hooked after being introduced to the sport by his brother. Skate culture runs deep in Cincinnati. Across every neighborhood you’re likely to spot groups of skaters jumping staircases and zooming down hills, and the community celebrated the groundbreaking for the city’s first full-scale skatepark in Camp Washington in April. Stephens notes it’s not uncommon to see skaters ranging in age from 12 to 55; they’re a tight-knit community whose adoration for the sport has spread beyond the skatepark.

“Cincinnati is a pretty unique area for skating,” says Stephens. “There are different groups that don’t necessarily hang out together all the time, but everyone gets along

when there’s an event. It’s cool to see people from different shops or people who just live in a different area of the city.”

There’s mutual respect in the community. They’re all familiar with the rough-and-tumble nature of riding and recognize it takes a certain amount of love to keep at it. Unlike golf or swimming, where you might have a coach and team guiding you on what to do, skating comes down to how much you’re personally willing to invest in it.

“Whatever you’re willing to risk is the reward you get,” says Stephens.

“Obviously there’s a lot of danger that comes with that. A lot of people, once they get hurt that first time, that’s it for them. I’ve broken more bones than I can remember.”

With the high risk, though, comes high reward. Stephens loves the feeling of freedom he gets on the board and encourages anyone curious about skating to just go for it. Shops like Blacklist in Walnut Hills or organizations such as Cincinnati Skate Project are easy places to start—just don’t forget your helmet. “Go to the skate shop or show up to the skate park,” says Stephens. “Just come hang out and be yourself. That’s all it really takes.”

DEFUSETHE

S IT U A T IO N

Cincinnati’s bomb squad does tedious work to prevent mass-casualty events. —JOHNSTOWELL

ON OPENING DAY, WHILE tens of thousands of Reds-clad fans lined the Findlay Market parade route, teams of Cincinnati bomb squad firefighters discreetly made their way down the crowded sidewalks. They weren’t on high alert. They were just looking for anything that seemed out of place. Nothing was. Just smiling faces, excited kids, and another day making sure everyone got home safely.

The Cincinnati bomb squad, officially the Hazardous Device Response Unit, serves as a regional team, responding to calls in Northern Kentucky (including CVG) and Hamilton County.

The team is capable of responding to and handling a wide range of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive incidents. The unit can use a robot, call in the police department’s K9 unit, or don heavy protective gear to perform MacGyver-like magic. Sometimes, the most heroic task, says 12-year bomb squad veteran Rob Thomas, is simply calming people’s nerves.

He recalls a dash to a St. Vincent de Paul collection location where someone had dropped off a military souvenir. “The hero part is when you show up,” he says, “and you tell them, No, it’s fine. It’s not gonna blow up.”

Sometimes, though, the explosives could . While the unit can’t share details about its procedures, when the risk of explosion is real, the team follows precise protocol to neutralize threats, according to Clevon Dukes, a U.S. Air Force veteran finishing his second year on the squad.

Rich Ransick, a five-year squad veteran and former Marine, notes that each member is also a firefighter, operating Engine 14 out of the Central Avenue firehouse. He loves the danger both jobs bring. “I like being hands-on and technical,” he says. “And explosions are cool, right?”

What the bomb squad needs now are techs and space. Like many departments, the unit is feeling the impact of tech shortages. And you don’t just walk into the job. Federal law requires techs to complete a six-week course at an FBI training center in Alabama. The wait to get in can cost you a year.

The space the squad needs is a training facility, now that the South Cumminsville range has ceased detonation of explosives. Neighbors complained about the noise, so city council is looking for a new site. That’s a priority, the squad members agree, because in this line of work, you always need to be on your “A” game.

RECORD-SETTERS

Meet the Cincinnati ans behind outl andish feats of skill, strength, and silliness.

—GREG

Jim Foliano

HAND

Jim Foliano began his quest to smack the most high-fives ever at Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon and successfully concluded his tally during a Reds game at Great American Ball Park. During a single 24-hour period from May 6 to 7, 2023, Foliano was high-fived 15,338 times.

Aroldis Chapman

Among the Major League Baseball records former Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman set while with the Reds are striking out the highest percentage of batters faced in a season (52.5 percent, 2014); notching the highest strikeouts-to-hits ratio (5.05-to-1 in 2014); becoming the fastest pitcher to strike out 500 batters (in just 292 innings); recording the fastest baseball pitch ever (105.8 miles per hour); averaging 17.67 strikeouts per nine innings (in 2014); and striking out one or more batters in a game in 49 consecutive appearances, an MLB record for a relief pitcher, from August 21, 2013, through August 13, 2014.

Stacey Herald

The shortest woman on record to deliver a child is Stacey Herald, who gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, on October 21, 2006. Herald is 28.5 inches tall (less than 2.5 feet).

Marcus Taylor

Marcus Taylor of Walnut Hills swept the awards at the Pan-American Grand Masters Jumprope Championship in 2001, setting world records in the three-minute speed event in which his right foot was recorded touching the ground 437 times in just 180 seconds, and the triple-under in which his jump rope passed under his feet three times every time he leaped for a total of 170 jumps.

AT THE GATE

Real swords, real axes, and 100 pounds of armor. —ALEXANDRAFROST

“LIFE’S MADE FOR LIVING.” THAT’S why Brandon Allen Chadwell joined the Cincinnati Barbarians. You may have seen this group of armor-clad athletes at the Renaissance Festival, making real hits on each other with swords and axes during high-energy fights.

There are different disciplines in the barbarians’ sport, including team fights, pro fights similar to MMA, duels, and more. The rules vary by discipline, and winners are chosen based on how many hits they score with a sword, who is standing in the end, and generally “who throws the other guy to the ground,” says Travis Young, a veteran who has competed in MMA, boxing, wrestling , and football, drawn to the sport by the perplexing thought, “People are allowed to do that?”

The sport is called Buhurt, derived from béhourd, an old French word meaning “joust” or “tournament,” and is inspired by 13th and 14th century melees, where fighters wore armor and used heavy weapons to practice between war times. Young’s team typically orders armor from Ukraine, which has become more difficult since the war there began, he notes, with an 18-month lead time from order to delivery.

The sport’s not for everyone. All’s not fair in the land of the barbarians—backs of the knees and necks are “prohibited strike zones,” but hips and armpits are fair game.

Staying physically intact is a chore for barbarians, who—men and women alike—range in age from their 20s to 50s. Concussions and lacerations called “armor bites,” abound. Young says broken fingers are a pretty “high frequency” injury. “It’s just a bad idea, even wearing armored gloves, to stop an ax with a hand,” he laughs. Barbarians train to prevent frequent knee blowouts. “We do a lot of running, team runs, cardio, weightlifting, and calisthenics,” he says. They also cross-train with wrestling, judo, and specific weapon skills training.

“I’ve torn both my ACLs and fractured my left thumb,” says Chadwell. “I’ve got scars under both arms and across my nose from sword strikes. The fear of injury is always there.”

Yet, “there’s nothing as cathartic in the world,” Young says. They come for the fighting and stay for the community. “We go beat the snot out of each other, then go have a beer and say, ‘I love you, see you at the next event.’ ”

For 20 years, Cincinnati Roller Derby has served up slamming competition— on wheels. CLAIRELEFTON

SINCE 2006, COMPETItive full-contact skaters have taken to the flat track as team members of Cincinnati Roller Derby. (Changed this year from Cincinnati Rollergirls to better reflect the sport’s diversity in gender expression.) In its 20 years of existence, the local roller derby team has become a fixture of the city—former Mayor Mark Mallory even

declared June 19, 2010, the team’s official day. However, once the athletes hit the track, their high-speed, high-impact competitive natures are unleashed.

“It’s a very psychological and tactical game because it’s one of those sports where you’re simultaneously playing offense and defense,” says Kelley McCollumUyeno, who serves as co-new skater and

coordinator of the team. She’s also known by her derby name, “Shocka, When the Walls Fell.” Skaters compete in multiple “jams” during a match, consisting of one jammer, three blockers, and one pivot from each team. Jammers score points by getting past opposing blockers, and the pivot becomes the new jammer by receiving the helmet cover passed from the original jammer. Each jam ends after two minutes or when the fi rst jammer to get past the blockers calls it off

Although there are many rules and safeguards in place, derby’s full-contact force and impact often leads to injuries. “A skater’s tooth has gone through their lip. And I’ve had four concussions, then I broke my ankle,” says Shocka. “The worst injury I’ve witnessed is an arm breaking in half.… I was blocking with my teammate and the opposing jammer who was very

ROLL ON Cincinnati Roller Derby members Motley Crouton, Tragedy Ann, and Syke take on the Warrin’ Wrecking Dolls.

strong broke a seam which included an arm.… One of my old coaches [at Sacramento Roller Derby] re-broke her ankle in a scrimmage. She knew that it was clicking in her skate but decided to keep skating.”

The gameplay itself can get intense, but for Shocka and many other skaters, the extreme and even radical aspect of derby comes from the freedom and release it offers its primarily female athletes. “We’re aggressive but it’s not a mean aggression. It’s a space where whoever you are, whatever you are, you just get to be that unapologetically. For women in most spaces it’s, You’re being too loud! Don’t take up space! And physically on the track, you need to take up space. This is my space, I’m holding it, and I’ve got your back.”

BEA ST TAMINGTHE

Loc al anim al keepers m ake h andlin g d an gerous anim als look e as y. —AVERY PADGETT

When working in the mouth of Tucker—a 23-yearold, nearly 4,800-pound hippo—Jenna Wingate, head keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Africa department, always keeps her hands just barely in the front of his mouth, away from the powerful back molars. Hippos have one of the strongest bite forces of any mammal at 1,800 to 2,000 pounds per square inch.

Safety protocols are important for handlers, especially when working with an animal that could severely injure or even kill someone. Precautions are constantly taken, from double locks on doors to barriers kept between human and animal.

Before keepers ever work with dangerous animals, they start off with Savannah animals, birds, and giraffes so that if a mistake is made, it likely won’t be a deadly one. From there, they learn the proper techniques to move up the food chain.

As an animal expert, Wingate can tell when it’s safe to proceed with tusk trims or blood draws by looking at a hippo’s movements.

While hippos and keepers never share a space, something like snake handling is the opposite. Tif-

fany Johnson, founder and owner of Dino Buddies, which facilitates reptile encounters, lets her snakes twine around her hands. She says the handling of snakes is based on training, respect, and awareness. “A 2-year-old can hold our snakes,” she says.

Handling doesn’t happen without proper preparation, however. Dino Buddies’s system involves an initial six- to eight-month quarantine period to let the animal to come out of its shell. Not all the snakes in Johnson’s non-venomous collection are fit to be handled, and she evaluates their behavior and temperament during this period. While intensive, she says this process has led to zero incidents after five years of operations. Disagreeable behavior presents itself in darting movements, biting, and the release of an odor called musk.

Hippos and snakes can be dangerous, but Johnson and Wingate say being fearful of them isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “In order to be a safe zookeeper, I feel like you have to, at the very least, have a clear understanding of how dangerous animals can be and respect animals in their power,” says Wingate.

CrossFit athletes push themselves to their limits.

NAME A SPORT WHERE AN ATHLETE performs heavy deadlifts, a 25-foot handstand walk, and 20 ring muscle-ups in one workout. If you said CrossFit—you’re correct. The sport is uniquely varied, combining strength, functional movements, gymnastics, and cardio all into one.

While it was created as a form of functional fitness that translates to everyday life, its competitive track takes fitness to the extreme. The CrossFit Games is the culmination of the competitive season (beginning with the Open, an annual global online competition every CrossFitter participates in), where the winner is crowned “Fittest on Earth.”

Sam Briggs started CrossFit in its early years and was instantly hooked. In 2010, she made her first of 11 total Games appearances. After an injury, a sabbatical from her firefighting career, and moving to West Chester from the U.K., Briggs won Fittest on Earth in 2013 and 2023 in the age 40–44 division.

When the Games introduced a short stature division in 2021, Northern Kentucky native Tim Murray (above), who is 4-foot-5,

was in. “I’ve always been a competitor and had the mindset of wanting to win,” he says. He won Fittest on Earth in 2022 and 2023, and second place in 2024 and 2025.

Short stature is one of 16 adaptive divisions that enables athletes with physical, visual, or intellectual impairments to compete. “People say this is hard. Try it without the use of one arm or leg,” says Murray. “Excuses are invalid.”

Both athletes experience going to a “dark place” during tough workouts. Some Games events are extremely challenging, like the 2015 Murph that Briggs won (one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, and another one-mile run, all in a weighted vest). Some athletes collapsed along the way from heat stroke. “I wasn’t frightened of my body hurting,” she says. “I was always happy to push more.”

Training is about preparing for anything—Games events are almost never the same, and new movements might even be created to test athletes on their preparedness.

Briggs trained on a full-time schedule. Monday, Wednesday,

and Friday included multiple high-intensity workouts, lift sessions (Olympic lifting or powerlifting), and skill work (muscle ups or handstand walks). Tuesdays were light training days, while Thursday and Sunday were dedicated to active recovery. On Saturdays, she replicated Games events and attacked them as if in competition.

Murray, meanwhile, goes straight to his Newport gym every day after work for a two-hour session that includes mobility work, strength training, a main workout, and a skill session.

“It’s extreme to be able to compete the way I do, with everything else going on in my life,” he says. “But if you put the work and the time in, you’ll always improve.”

RECORD-BREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS

Check out theseworld records set in Greater Cincinnati. —GREG HAND

Largest Civilian UFO Organization: MUFON

SINCE1969

The largest civilian organization dedicated to investigating UFOs is the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), based in the East End. As of 2024, the organization reported membership totaling more than 4,000 and an annual revenue of $637,000.

Greatest Distance Wakeboarding: 509.2 miles

JUNE25–26, 2010

The greatest distance wakeboarding in 24 hours was 509.2 miles at Wake Nation Water Park in Fairfield over June 25 to June 26, 2010. The recordbreaking team completed a total of 1,453 laps, not including any laps in which the rider fell.

Largest Serving of Fried Chicken: 1,645 pounds

JULY 2, 2010

In conjunction with the Brookville, Indiana, Canoefest, more than 200 cooks representing restaurants, fire stations, and church festivals joined forces to fry 2,700 pounds of raw chicken, yielding 1,645 pounds of fried chicken.

Largest Square Dance: 1,632 dancers

JUNE24 , 2017

Square dancers set a world record at the 66th National Square Dance Convention, when 1,632 do-si-doers simultaneously tripped the light fantastic at the Duke Energy Convention Center.

Fastest 16-Star Completion of Super Mario 64

Using a Drum Kit: 19 mins., 48 secs.

DECEMBER9, 2022

By hooking up an electronic drum kit to send input signals to his childhood Nintendo 64 console, Cesar “CZR” completed a 16-star speedrun of Super Mario 64 in just 19 minutes and 48 seconds.

Ultrarunners push beyond the marathon, logging hundreds of miles. –BRIANNACONNOCK

YOU’RE IN THE SAHARA Desert in Morocco. After sleeping in a tent shared with seven strangers, you put on your supply backpack and continue your 155-mile run through the sand dunes.

This may sound like a bad dream, but this is a feat that ultrarunners like Crystal Clark (above, in the Sahara) do with joy.

Ultrarunning is any run longer than a traditional 26.2-mile marathon. The most common distance races are 50K, 50 miles, 100K, and 100 miles. Other forms include timed races (usually 12 or 24 hours) or Backyard Ultras (last person standing).

Many start in this sport because they’re

looking for “what’s next.” Clark, for example, was ready for a challenge after competing in multiple marathons. Following her first 50K at 29 years old, she was hooked, and has since completed 33 ultras. Now 52 years old, she is still looking for the next thing.

Brian Ambs, meanwhile, took the leap into ultrarunning before completing his first marathon—he signed up for a 50K before running his first Flying Pig Marathon in 2018. He currently has five 100-mile races under his belt and hopes to complete a 200-miler in the near future.

For Harvey Lewis, ultrarunning is more

than just a race or a challenge; it’s his entire lifestyle. Since his first ultra in 1996, Lewis has set multiple records, won countless races, and learned how to run again after a broken neck. A self-proclaimed “extreme within the extreme,” he takes his training to the next level. A typical week for Lewis includes running to and from the gym to lift weights a few mornings a week; yoga, sauna, or seasonal swims; and around 15 miles of running a day.

Training is less intense for Clark and Ambs, although they still run 50 to 60 miles weekly. Both work with a coach to tailor their training; a shorter race calls

for faster running, while a longer race calls for more mileage. Training routes depend on a race’s terrain.

“You have to really enjoy the training, because the race itself is short,” says Clark. (Relatively speaking, of course.) Because of the extreme distances and time involved, runners must be smart in how they fuel their bodies. Clark’s go-to carbs are ramen mixed with instant mashed potatoes. Lewis eats a vegan donut or watermelon and drinks coconut water or Coca-Cola when his body needs sugar. Ambs will eat just about anything he passes at an aid station.

When you’re in it, there’s nothing that extreme about fighting sleep and experiencing hallucinations while running (according to Ambs) or running 462.5 miles in 111 hours (a feat by Lewis). “It’s pretty normal to me and my friends,” says Ambs. Adds Lewis, “You have a lot of power over your outcome. I wasn’t always this way. It’s environment, not genetics.”

CHOW D OW N

Mark Borison, host and producer of the Jungle Jim’s Podcast and this year’s host of the market’s Pickle Wars competitive pickle-eating competition, shares his insights into competitive eating contests. CLAIRE WESTON

Howmany peoplecompete? About 100 competitors total over two days. What makespeoplewanttotakeoneating challenges? There’s a sense of excitement and glory, and when you’re doing it live like this, you’ve got a much larger audience. Whatmethoddidyou seeusedby successful competitors? The one thing that’s guaranteed successful for anybody is speed. Anybody that was successful just ate incredibly fast and stayed the course. What’sthemostrewarding partof eating challenges? The public adulation is big, but there’s also always a prize. What’sthemostdif ficultpart? Overcoming the physical and mental hurdle. How do you eat without getting sick? It’s also odd to eat in front of an audience. There’s a weird psychological disconnect there. Wheredoyou seepeoplef ail mostoften? When they slow down. They say that if you eat slowly, you will feel fuller, faster.

GUTFEELINGS

Bring home the glory— and the antacid tablets— with these competitive eating challenges.

AIESHA D. LITTLE

AmerAsia’s S.O.S. Spicy Challenge

If spice warriors can eat an entire bowl of AmerAsia’s Imperial Beef Stew at the “S.O.S.” heat level in 30 minutes or less, they’ll get a free beer, a spot on the restaurant’s “Wall of Flame,” and a certificate of completion. 521 MadisonAve., Covington, (859) 261-6121, kungfood. online

Bard’s Burgers and Chili’s “Bardzilla Burger Challenge” “Bardzilla” challengers have an hour to finish

11 1/3-lb. beef patties, 22 slices of cheese, and two pounds of fries. Winner gets the meal for free, your name on Bard’s Wall of Fame, and a T-shirt. 3620 DecourseyAve., Covington, (859) 866-6017bards burgersandchili.com

Blue Ash Chili’s “No Freakin’ Way” Challenge

This challenge features eight pounds of the city’s most famous chili dish—two and a half pounds of spaghetti, two and a half pounds of chili, and two pounds

of shredded cheddar, topped with a pound of jalapeño bottle caps. 9525 KenwoodRd., Ste. 5, BlueAsh, (513) 984-6107 , blueashchili.com

Howie’s Diner’s Biscuit & Gravy Challenge

Binge 16 biscuits— topped with one gallon of gravy—in an hour or less, and you’ll get your meal for free, a certificate of completion, a free T-shirt, and your picture on Howie’s Wall of Fame. 1049 E. Eads Pkwy., Greendale, (812) 537-0313, howie-s-diner. asite.top

Ramundo’s Pizzeria’s 26-Inch Pizza Challenge

Two challengers have 10 minutes to complete the 26-incher made with their choice of any two toppings and extra cheese. Winners get T-shirts and the pizza is free. 3166 LinwoodAve., Mt. Lookout, (513) 3210978; 2210 Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington, (513) 321-0978, ramundos pizzeria.com

Roc-A-Fella’s Bomber Challenge

Two challengers get 30 minutes to eat one 18-inch pizza with pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, and mozzarella cheese that’s served with a layer of crust over the top (think of it as a giant calzone), plus two fountain drinks. Make it on time and your dynamic duo will get T-shirts and the meal for free. 11055 ReadingRd., Sharonville, (513) 769-3128, rocafellas. com

IN THIS YEAR’S MILANO CORTINA

Olympic Games, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, native Nick Goepper faced the slopes for the fourth time. He first strapped on his skis to earn bronze in the Olympic slopestyle event in 2014 at 19 years old, followed by two silver-medal runs in 2018 and 2022.

This year, though, 32-year-old Goepper switched from slopestyle to the halfpipe. Although both events involve performing tricks, slopestyle requires skiers to navigate obstacles, rails, and jumps on a downhill slope, while halfpipe allows for more acrobatic spins and flips.

Yet, for the first time, Goepper didn’t medal in the games. Although he finished second in the qualifiers, his third and last run during the finals crashed when he fell from 20 feet in the air and slammed into the deck of the halfpipe after attempting a switch double misty 1260—a trick he’d been practicing for a year that features a backward takeoff, 2.5 flips in the air, two rotations, and a backward landing. He placed fourth.

If you thought this would put a damper on his ski career, you’d be wrong. Goepper is already looking ahead to the 2030 Olympics, and he attributes his comfort to his renewed love for the sport following a nearly year-long hiatus at age 28. Training is less demanding these days. “Instead of just traveling 12 months a year and skiing everywhere and never stopping, I’m more careful about when I ski, how much I ski, and how hard I go,” he says. “There’s really two types of skiing that I do.”

First, the “super gnarly” work, which includes rigorous practice and training with coaches. To learn advanced maneuvers, he repeatedly skis off ramps and practices in the air, landing on airbags “the size of your house” to minimize the risk of injury before mastering the trick. When not on the slopes, he practices tricks in adjacent sports—biking, rollerblading, surfing—that mimic the motions of skiing, which helps build confidence in movement while avoiding burnout.

Second, the “play”: “No coaches, no structure, no time limits,” says Goepper. “Just doing this thing the same way I did it when I was 15 and learning how to be creative.”

Playing on the slopes is something that Jackson Karsteter (left) knows well. The 22-year-old freestyle skier, also from Lawrenceburg, is on the slopes of Perfect North at least six days a week, spending five to eight hours running down the slopes and perfecting tricks over and over again. It may sound strenuous, but Karsteter often goes with friends, who record each other’s moves—including what Karsteter says is a never-before-seen trick he’s calling the “back 540 swap pretzel 270,” which earned him first place in last year’s APIK comp—and the occasional play on snowboards, slacklines, or at skateparks. He posts the videos on social media, where he’s garnered a sizable following.

Karsteter first competed in seventh grade in rail jam (performing tricks on rails, boxes, and other features), and three years later, was invited to his first X Games. He has competed professionally ever since—placing fourth in the rail run at the 2023 X Games, competing against gold-medal Olympic skier Alex Hall. While rail jam isn’t yet an Olympic event, a push spearheaded by fans and athletes means it may appear in 2030. “I will keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully if it happens, I’ll have been training for it.”

READY, SET, GO!

Spectate, participate, or competeat these extremeevents. —ELLAROSEJOHNSTON

Cincinnati Spartan Trifecta Weekend

The Spartan Trifecta Weekend challenges athletes to compete in different races—Sprint (5K), Super (10K), Beast (21K), or Ultra (50K)—across rugged terrain featuring steep climbs, mud, and water obstacles. Participants earn the coveted Trifecta Hex by completing three races (Sprint, Super, and Beast) in a single weekend. June6–7, Perfect North Slopes, 19074Perfect Place Ln., Lawrenceburg, spartan.com

KOI Drag Racing

This traveling dirt drag racing organization will host an action-packed day of side-by-side, heads-up competition and classes for a wide range of vehicles. Racers compete for full payout prizes in an action-packed motorsports event. With structured practice and elimination rounds, the event attracts both seasoned drivers and newcomers looking to test their speed. June28, 7700 VineSt., Carthage, koidragracing.com

BLOC Party Bouldering Competition

The BLOC Party Bouldering Competition brings together climbers of all levels for an indoor event. The comp features creative bouldering routes and is followed by World Cup-style finals. August 29 , Climb TimeOakley, 3245 Omni Way, Oakley, oakley.ctoba.com

Go-Kart Racing Leagues

This eight-week go-kart racing series offers structured competition for drivers of all skill levels, including pro, adult, and junior divisions. Weekly races feature heat rounds and endurance-style formats, emphasizing both speed and strategy. The leagues provide a competitive environment for racers looking to improve skills and enjoy high-speed action. June29–August 17 and September 21–November 9 , Full ThrottleAdrenalinePark, 11725 Commons Dr., Springdale, gofullthrottle.com

Wake Nation Water Park Kicker Contests

Wake Nation’s Kicker Contests highlight wakeboarding’s most exciting water sport skills, focusing on fun and community. Riders launch off of jump ramps and are pulled by an overhead pulley system while spectators watch. With divisions for all skill levels, the event showcases competitive talent and freestyle creativity during this fun summer activity. Summer, WakeNation Water Park, 201 JoeNuxhall Way, Fairfield, wakenation.com

of ByGregHand partying endlessly a year endlessly partying a year

Before we raise a glass to the U.S. semiquincentennial, however, let us cast our gaze back to national birthdays of yore—particularly Cincinnati’s embrace of the centennial, which featured blather, bombs, beer, brawls, and balloons. And yet Independence Day may not have been the most boisterous wingding the city enjoyed in 1876.

Cincinnati was the eighth-largest city in the U.S. at the time, with a growing population of around 230,000. Having first settled the downtown basin, residents gradually

climbed toward greener pastures atop our suburban hills. Streetcars were still horsedrawn. Two new inclines (Mt. Adams and Bellevue) joined the venerable Mt. Auburn and year-old Price Hill funiculars. Both College Hill and Westwood dedicated narrow-gauge railways that year.

Music Hall and City Hall didn’t exist yet. The University of Cincinnati had just opened in Over-the-Rhine at the top of Elm Street. Procter & Gamble was located near the canal in the West End. Many of our civic landmarks—including the Roebling Sus-

The inaugural Mardi Gras was etched into civic memory when the elephants stampeded.

pension Bridge, the Cincinnati Zoo, and the Tyler Davidson Fountain—were less than a decade old.

Cincinnati’s mayor in 1876 was George W.C. Johnston, the first Democrat to hold that position since the Civil War. His politics are irrelevant because he was a mere puppet, a distracting frontman for the political cabal whose corruption and avarice would instigate the Courthouse Riot of 1884.

Mayor Johnston happily ignored his colleagues’ fiduciary fraud and devoted himself to glad-handing and municipal shindigs. He enjoyed few things more than a party—and the bigger the better. So he must have gazed with some trepidation upon his datebook for 1876, as two of Cincinnati’s premier events—the biennial May Festival and the Industrial Exposition— were on hiatus.

That simply would not do. The mayor’s reputation was built on pomp, parades, and promenades, a strategy that had gotten him reelected the year before. The Cincinnati Gazette had his number: “Mayor Johnston delights in the pleasure of his subjects, we mean his constituents. He is never so happy as when they are glad.”

Cincinnati would, of course, join in the national observance of the Spirit of ’76, but Johnston proposed jumping the gun by marking the dawn of the centennial year with a citywide Jamboree. As 1875 elided into 1876, he proclaimed that Cincinnati would honor American independence with a raucous bacchanal.

Mayor Johnston’s Jamboree consisted of a mostly random parade, miles of patriotic banners, brightly colored fires at major street corners, prodigious consumption of brewed and dis-

tilled beverages, and cacophonic commotion. The stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve exploded into a veritable bedlam of military bands and lodge orchestras blaring away at full volume; firecrackers, cannons, and innumerable firearms erupting; and all this racket overlaid with fire alarms, church bells, and household pots and pans. The city achieved an ear-splitting crescendo when all the steamboats along the riverbank sounded their whistles in unison.

The Cincinnati Commercial encapsulated the pandemonium: “When midnight finally came, the clatter was terrific. The steamboats were ringing and whistling, locomotive whistles were being blown, men and boys by thousands were blowing horns, and there was, with it all, the constant roar of the great crowds of people watching the procession, principally on Walnut and Fourth streets. Through all this noise it was impossible to hear the 1-8-7-6 that was tapped on the fire bells, all over the city, at the midnight hour and equally impossible to distinguish the beautiful chimes on the Cathedral bells.”

Amid the dissonance, the city’s newspapers described what sounds like a citywide street battle: “Several rowdies at the corner of Eighth and Elm streets took occasion to hoot the procession as it was forming. The police on that beat knocked the ruffians down in a systematic manner and squelched the disturbance. The officers said they hadn’t any time to fool away in making arrests.”

The next day, everyone congratulated the mayor on his genius. Johnston knew a good thing when he saw it. He needed another celebration, but July 4 was too far away. Instead, he asked his secretary, “When does Mardi Gras fall this year?”

Johnston proclaimed a Mardi Gras Carnival, and the Queen City jumped to attention. Unfortunately, the mayor’s brainstorm rolled in rather late. He first broached the Mardi Gras concept in early January. Fat Tuesday that year was February 29, so plans evolved over seven chaotic weeks. A committee was formed, duties assigned, and reality encountered.

The Cincinnati Commercial described just one of the organizational hiccups:

continued on page 66

How We C elebrate d Celebrated

Other Ann i ver sar i e s Anniversaries

July 4, 1926

Although Cincinnati residents were fully aware that 1926 marked the 150th anniversary of American independence, Independence Day was indistinguishable from the preceding or succeeding years. Notably, the automobile had transformed our city. The Cincinnati Post estimated 20,000 automobiles were decorated with the “virile colors,” and the Hyde Park Business Club rolled out an automobile parade for the occasion.

ed casualties got reported, a newspaper reader was forced to scour the back accidents grabbed the headlines, with one fatality and scores of serious injuries tallied. The Walters family of Northside, for example, celebrated with a long Sunday drive out into the country. They bought barbecue from a roadside stand and drove straight to the hospital with ptomaine poisoning. Despite the thermometer reaching only 84 degrees, The Post complained about the heat: “Under a sullen sun, they draped their homes, their lawns, their avenues and buildings with the Stars and Stripes. In the heavy atmosphere the flags flapped slowly, for they, like the celebrants themselves, were at the mercy of the weather.”

The Evanston Welfare Association sponsored boxing matches during the day and a Charleston dance contest in the evening. Cincinnati’s Scotch and English societies collaborated on a picnic in Hartwell, but the Welsh Society insisted on holding its own picnic elsewhere.

July

4, 1976

In contrast to the centennial year of 1876 or the sesquicentennial of 1926, planning for the U.S. bicentennial of 1976 began at least a decade before the big day. Local committees were hard at work by the dawn of the 1970s, and commemorative gewgaws ranging from special coins to “Spirit of ’76” model trains hit the market as early as 1973.

Cincinnati observances included the Cincinnati Zoo distributing posters featuring Betsy Ross—the zoo’s bald eagle of that name, not the patriotic seamstress. Closson’s art gallery displayed replicas of George Washington’s dueling pistols. Appropriately costumed folks reenacted the landing of European settlers at Yeatman’s Cove. Dan Sewell of The Cincinnati Enquirer tracked down three centenarians residing at the Restview Nursing Home in Avondale who were toddlers during the nation’s 1876 centennial. WLWT-TV broadcast a special titled Trouble, with Rob Reider leading viewers through two centuries of American travails.

On-duty sales clerks interviewed by TheEnquirer either expressed dismay at having to work on July 4 or shrugged it off just another workday. Notably, every single retail outlet mentioned in that survey—Pogue’s, Twin Fair, Liberal, Thriftway, Shillito’s—is no longer in business. When a reporter asked a young boy on a skateboard in Camp Washington for his opinion on the bicentennial celebration, he said, “They got a funny name for it.”

INTO THE WOODS The Nelsonville Music Festival hosts musicians, music fans, artists, and vendors every summer for a remote camping-centric event similar to Bonnaroo or Coachella, just in the scenic Hocking Hills. Organizers will celebrate their 20th anniversary at this year’s festival June 18–20.

Nelsonville Music Festival founder Tim Peacock welcomes the world to his small corner of Athens County.

Every spring Tim Peacock says that year’s Nelsonville Music Festival will be his last, but he knows he can’t quit. His staff won’t let him. And he can’t give up on his adopted home community.

Peacock is artistic director of Stuart’s Opera House, a nonprofit theater on Nelsonville’s downtown public square built in 1879. He launched the Nelsonville Music Festival in 2005 as a fund-raiser for Stuart’s, and this year’s edition June 18–20 is the 20th anniversary event (taking into account two missed years during the pandemic). The festival provides about 50 percent of the organization’s annual revenue.

Stuart’s has evolved from a historic performance hall to an arts education hub for the town of 5,300 in Athens County, offering music, drama, painting, and poetry programs for children and adults as well as summer arts camps. Peacock feels they’re making a real difference in a struggling community.

“Athens County is generally considered the poorest of Ohio’s 88 counties,” he says. “All of our programs were free until just a few years ago, and many still are. The middle school here lost its art teacher due to budget cuts, so we funded a full-time teacher for two years until the school district could afford it again.”

Nelsonville’s unlikely rise as a nationally respected music festival owes something to the popularity of remote camping-centric events like Bonnaroo, Coachella, and even Burning Man. Tucked in the Hocking Hills and surrounded by Wayne National Forest, it’s a quiet country community, Peacock says, that musical artists and festival-goers have come to love.

This year’s event features Geese, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Mavis Staples, The Marcus King Band, and more than 40 other acts on three stages as well as a late-night tent. Past festivals have hosted such notable artists as The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, The Decemberists, The Flaming Lips, Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Ween, Wilco, and Lucinda Williams.

“Local businesses of all kinds tell me this is their busiest weekend every year,” says Peacock. “Food vendors, arts and crafts people, everyone. So they all put up with the extra traffic and noise.”

The community takes ownership in the festival, with 500 volunteers signing up every year. That’s in addition to Stuart’s Opera House’s 10 full-time and four part-time staff, who manage the festival weekend. Peacock and two or three other staffers work on the festival year-round.

Peacock grew up in Toledo and came to the Nelsonville area to attend Hocking College, hoping to get a fisheries and wildlife degree. Instead, he stumbled into booking bands at bars in nearby Athens and then at Stuart’s, which hired him in 2002.

His festival has attracted almost 300,000 attendees over its 20 years, and he’s booked more than 600 different bands and musicians. One year’s event drew fans from 38 states, connecting Nelsonville to the outside world in innumerable ways. “I came for college and found a home,” says Peacock. “And now I’m basically an adrenaline junkie. I can’t stop.”

Cincinnati photographer Catherine Grace has been documenting the Nelsonville Music Festival for the past decade. Enjoy a selection of her images. —John Fox

STILL JUMPING Festival fans come for performances by Low Cut Connie (far left, 2025) and Courtney Barnett (left, 2024) and to just hang around with family, friends, and costumed characters.

LET THE MUSIC PLAY Past Nelsonville acts have included Antibalas (top right, 2018); Margo Price (left, 2023); Connor Oberst (right, 2017); Lucinda Williams (far right, 2023); Tank and the Bangas (bottom left, 2018); and Bonnie Prince Billy (below, 2025). More than 40 acts will perform this year, from Geese and The Marcus King Band to Mavis Staples and Gillian Welch with David Rawlings.

Ategrity Specialty Insurance Company, carrier of the Heartland, is proud to sponsor Cincinnati Magazine’s Discover Local Spotlight and champion the small businesses that power Cincinnati and the Midwest.

Reach out to your agent for an Ategrity insurance quote for your business and let us protect what you’re building! PRESENTED BY

DRESS STORE

The Queen’s Lace

A dress boutique focused on mothers-of-the-bride / groom.

320b W. Benson St., Reading https://thequeenslace.com

SENIOR LIVING

St. Theresa Village Senior Living

Providing safe, quality low-income housing and affordable resident services for seniors in need.

6783 Siebern Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45236 https://www.mercyhousing.org/southeast/

Fleet Feet

Cincinnati’s local running specialty store since ’01. 9525 Kenwood Rd., Blue Ash https://fleetfeetcincy.com

CHILDCARE

Mini Miracles Learning Center

Where every child is a miracle worth nurturing. 1832 E. Seymour Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45237 Minimiracles710@yahoo.com

Breadsmith

Breadsmith produces artisan, preservative-free bread from scratch, daily.

3500 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park 315 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue https://www.breadsmith.com/cincinnati/

BAR/RESTAURANT

Brew House

A friendly neighborhood bar with good burgers. 1047 E. McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH 45206 https://www.brewhouse.com/

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

PRESENTING SPONSORS: Cincinnati Magazine, Hard Rock Casino

A PORTION OF PROCEEDS BENEFITTED:

St. Vincent de Paul, Endurance in Education, Impact 100, and Ladies of Leadership

SPONSORS: Kroger, San Pellegrino CIAO! Limoncello, San Pellegrino Strawberries & Crema, Fever-Tree, Fisher, FIJI, 3 Sweet Girls Cakery, Sea Cuisine, La Brea Bakery, The Original Donut Shop Coffee, Emerald La Fleur, KMK Law, Big Blue Moving, and Decal Impressions

April 14–17, 2026 Hard Rock Casino

→ In April, more than 500 guests enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of Hard Rock Casino in downtown Cincinnati. They delighted in four nights of amazing food and wine from the best chefs in Cincinnati. Each night, the event raised funds for a different local nonprofit, and featured a unique five-course menu from two local chefs, complete with wine pairings. Thank you to all our sponsors, partners, and guests, who made this dining series a phenomenal success.

CINCINNATI FIVE STAR AWARD WINNERS 2026

Five Star Professional partnered with Cincinnati Magazine to identify real estate, mortgage and insurance professionals in the Cincinnati area who deliver outstanding service and client satisfaction. The Five Star Professional research team surveyed homebuyers, home sellers and industry peers, and analyzed online consumer evaluations. Survey respondents rated their service professional on criteria such as overall satisfaction and whether they would recommend the provider to a friend. The research methodology allows no more than 7% of professionals in each category to receive the award.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

The Five Star Professional research team surveyed homebuyers, home sellers and industry peers, and analyzed online consumer evaluations to identify professionals that excel in key attributes of customer service.

EVALUATION SCORE

Using our scoring algorithm, each nominee is given an evaluation score based on surveys in our database. High scorers are named candidates.

CANDIDATE SUBMISSION OF BUSINESS INFORMATION

Candidates must complete either an online or over-the-phone interview.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Candidates must be in the industry for at least five years, have a favorable regulatory history and meet minimum production thresholds.

BLUE RIBBON PANEL

A Blue Ribbon panel of industry experts reviews the final list of candidates.

2026

AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Less than 7% of professionals in the market are selected.

RESEARCH — HOW OUR WINNERS ARE CHOSEN

• The 2026 Five Star Real Estate Agents, Mortgage Professionals and Home/Auto Insurance Professionals do not pay a fee to be included in the research or the final lists.

• Each professional is screened against state governing bodies to verify that licenses are current and no disciplinary actions are pending.

• The inclusion of a real estate agent, mortgage professional or insurance professional on the final list should not be construed as an endorsement by Five Star Professional or Cincinnati Magazine .

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS

Professionals who satisfied each of the following objective criteria were named a 2026 Cincinnati-area Five Star Real Estate Agent, Five Star Mortgage Professional or Five Star Home/Auto Insurance Professional:

Evaluation Criteria:

1. Qualifying rating.

Eligibility Criteria:

2. Holds an active license and employed in their field for a minimum of three years.

3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review.

4. Satisfies minimum production on a one-year and three-year basis.

5. Successful completion of a Blue Ribbon Panel review.

Real estate agents, mortgage professionals and home/auto insurance professionals are pooled only with other candidates from their profession.

The final list of 2026 Cincinnati-area Five Star award winners is a select group, representing approximately 1% of real estate agents, 1% of mortgage professionals and 1% of home/auto insurance professionals in the area.

To see the full list of winners, visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

We value great client satisfaction. Fewer than 7% of real estate agents, mortgage professionals and insurance agents in the area were named winners this year. 7%

Gregory J. Tassone J.D., Realtor

Trusted Guidance. Proven Results

• 15-year Five Star Real Estate Agent award recipient

• More than 25 years’ experience in Greater Cincinnati real estate

I am truly honored to have received the Five Star Real Estate Agent award for client service for the 15th consecutive year. In a market with thousands of agents, that consistency means everything to me.

More importantly, it reflects the people I have had the privilege to work with. Your trust, referrals and willingness to invite me into such important moments in your lives is something I never take for granted.

Buying or selling a home is not just a decision — it is a transition. My goal is to make that process feel clear, thoughtful and well-supported from beginning to end.

I can be a helpful resource and I am available to help you every step of the way.

9321 Montgomery Road, Suite C Cincinnati, OH 45242

Phone: 513-607-6400

greg.tassone@cbrealty.com gregorytassone-ohio.sites.cbmoxi.com

OH 45177 Cell: 937-725-7253 Office: 937-382-5538 rclifton21@frontier.com www.peelle-lundy.com

N Brookwood Avenue • Hamilton, OH 45013

Phone: 513-484-7645

roxane@marthabakerrealty.com www.marthabakerrealty.com

• President of Peelle, Lundy & Clifton Realty

• Over 30 years of real estate experience

• Featured in Forbes as a Five Star Professional Market Leader in 2019, 2020 and 2022 and in Fortune as a Five Star Professional Market Leader in 2021

Robyn Clifton approaches every client relationship with a strong commitment to honesty, integrity and exceptional service. As a lifelong resident of Clinton County, she offers invaluable local insight and a deep understanding of the ever-changing real estate market. Growing up on a farm in southern Ohio, Robyn developed a strong work ethic and a true appreciation for attention to detail and meaningful connections. She believes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference, and she carries those values into every transaction.

• More than 40 years of experience

• Residential, commercial, condo, multifamily, townhouse, lot and land

• Clear communication, responsiveness and a seamless experience for buyers and sellers

Roxane is a licensed Realtor and broker with Martha Baker Realty, serving Hamilton, Oxford and Fairfield, Ohio. She specializes in helping clients buy and sell homes in the Hamilton area and stays current on local market trends. Known for her professionalism and client-focused approach, Roxane provides knowledgeable guidance and dependable service throughout every step of the buying or selling process.

Sarah Goldman Sales Vice President

With more than 20 years of experience in the Cincinnati real estate market, I have developed the skills necessary to help my clients successfully navigate both the buying and selling of homes. My objective is to help my clients achieve their real estate goals.

All Areas

Kim Lenzo ∙ Coldwell Banker Realty

Christopher A. Owens ∙ Coldwell Banker

Gregory J. Tassone ∙ Coldwell Banker Realty Page 2

Blue Ash

Laurie Simon Goldman ∙ Sibcy Cline Realtors

Cincinnati

Tony Auciello ∙ RE/MAX

9979 Montgomery Road • Cincinnati, OH 45242

Phone: 513-235-6299

sgoldman@sibcycline.com • www.sibcycline.com

Micha Gleisinger ∙ Comey & Shepherd Realtors

Sarah Goldman ∙ Sibcy Cline Realtors Page 3

Bob Nyswonger ∙ Comey & Shepherd Realtors

Pamela Porter ∙ eXp Realty

Greg Stanley ∙ Comey & Shepherd Realtors

Tom M. Steele ∙ Steele Real Estate Services

Jack W. Wolking ∙ Comey & Shepherd Realtors

Hamilton

Roxane Leitsch ∙ Martha Baker Realty/ Leitsch Brown Team Page 2

Mellisa Vasquez CEO, Agent, Owner, Lic. 1009632 •

Indian Hill

Mellisa Vasquez embodies qualities of compassion and kindness. She is a graduate of Miami University. Her dedication, service, business ethics and love for her community highlight her caring nature. Her impact on those around her and her community definitely makes a difference.

3320 Tylersville Road • Hamilton, OH 45011 Phone: 513-829-0077 • mellisa.vasquez.eoox@statefarm.com www.mellisavasquezinsurance.com

Dede Gay Persson ∙ Sibcy Cline Realtors

Wilmington

Marsha L. Bennett ∙ Coldwell Banker Heritage

Robyn Clifton ∙ Peelle Lundy & Clifton Realty Page 2

Mortgage Professionals

Kevin Ary ∙ Franklin Financial Group

Jeff Aubrey ∙ Stockton Mortgage Corp

Michelle L. Caldwell ∙ Huntington National Bank

Stephanie McCready ∙ First Financial Bank

Chip Berry ∙ Chip Berry Insurance

Mellisa Vasquez ∙ State Farm Page 3

Bob Will ∙ Lauber & Will Insurance

Seeking Peace

“The getting of costumes from New York was also an embarrassment. The inexperienced committee, unaided with instructions as to what was wanted, the procession not being organized, didn’t know what to order. A costumer came here with a large lot of miscellaneous stuff, much of it not of the best quality or condition.”

Consequently, it was a bit of a miracle when Cincinnati’s first Mardi Gras kicked off almost on time, with Rex gingerly mounted atop a 13-foot long hog’s head pulled by four of Old John Robinson’s circus elephants and preceded by a small herd of camels. Rex

ON

Despite all the missteps, the event was considered a triumph for the Queen City. The Cincinnati Commercial summed it up on March 1, 1876: “Altogether it was a grand success and furnishes additional testimony to the already fixed fact, that when Cincinnati starts in a big thing, she goes the ‘whole hog,’ and then smothers in glory.”

The nation’s centennial year was not only a leap year but also a presidential election year, and the Grand Old Party elected to hold its nominating convention in Cincinnati. This was a real old-fashioned convention in which backroom deals and multiple ballots saw major celebrities defeated and obscure functionaries shoved into the limelight. Amazingly, the Republicans, in just three days of carousing and debate June 14–16, conjured a presidential ticket out of a field crowded with political talent. Potential candidates for President that year included the presumed favorite, Senator James G. Blaine of Maine, and the dark horse, Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio.

World’s Fair staged in the U.S. Since that was the nation’s official centennial event, all eyes were on the City of Brotherly Love, and Cincinnati’s Independence Day would by necessity pale in comparison.

The centerpiece of Cincinnati’s Fourth of July was a parade, and it was a doozy. An estimated 150,000 people crammed sidewalks along the six-mile route, each vying for the best viewpoint. The weather was ideal, warm but moderated by a gentle breeze and dry with enough clouds to preserve the complexions of young ladies waving from parade floats, then known as “tableau wagons.” Dozens of bands interspersed among hundreds of marching units and floats maintained a thrilling selection of patriotic airs. The massive aggregation required a full hour and a half to pass any given point.

THE MORNING OF JULY 5, ROBERT KURTZ, A WEST END PHARMA-

CIST,

DISPLAYED ON HIS DISPENSING COUNTER A JAR OF FINGERS PYROTECHNICALLY AMPUTATED BY ENTHUSIASTIC PATRIOTS.

was embodied by William I. Torrence, a local capitalist whose substantial girth was as ponderous as his bank account.

The inaugural Mardi Gras was etched into civic memory when the elephants stampeded. While crossing the canal on the way to the Exposition Hall at Washington Park, the King’s carriage bumped into the trailing pachyderm, who bumped the elephant ahead and sent all four beasts charging toward their winter quarters in the basement of the Exposition buildings, tossing King Rex nearly out of his throne while his pages landed in the streetside shrubbery.

At length, order was restored and many of the spectators adjourned to the interior of Exposition Hall, where a masked ball occupied the hours until just shortly before dawn. Like all good Cincinnati events of the day, it was interrupted by gunfire as a couple of attendees took potshots at one another, but no one was injured and the dancing resumed.

There wasn’t a vacant room left in Cincinnati’s hotels, and delegates wandered the streets pushing their favorite candidate. Hayes, who had deep roots in Cincinnati as a former city solicitor, fared poorly in the early balloting, polling fifth in the first round and still a distant second by the sixth round. Blaine led throughout until the very last ballot, when Hayes grabbed 384 votes to his 351. He went on to win the U.S. presidency that fall through a back-room deal with Democrats that remains controversial today.

JUST WEEKS AFTER THE REPUBLICANS left town, Cincinnati hustled to finalize plans for our centennial celebration, but the Queen City labored under a significant handicap in 1876. Alfred T. Goshorn, stalwart organizer of Cincinnati’s glorious industrial expositions, had been drafted by Philadelphia to organize the Centennial International Exhibition, the very first

In addition to military units, marching bands, workmen’s guilds, social organizations, and religious congregations, almost every one of Cincinnati’s political wards presented some patriotic scene atop a wagon drawn by four or more horses. Among the largest was mounted by the 23rd Ward in Brighton, featuring a large Temple of Liberty supported by 13 columns representing the original colonies, in front of which sat busts of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Henry Clay on pedestals. The 17th Ward from the West End portrayed Washington crossing the Delaware, but the ward heeler enacting the General elicited chuckles as he vigorously gnawed a wad of tobacco and expectorated from his perch atop the wagon.

Corporate sponsorships abounded. Hermann Lachman’s brewery rolled out two substantial wagons loaded with beer barrels painted red, white, and blue. A wagon with 13 barrels for the initial number of states was labelled “Common Beer in 1776,” while a wagon with 37 barrels—the number of states at that time—bore the slogan, “Lager Beer in 1876.”

The Cincinnati Commercial was particularly taken by the various regiments of Civil War veterans, barely a decade having passed since their service: “One of the most pleasing features of the thing to the close observer was the enthusiasm aroused at all points as the tattered battle flags of Ohio

and Kentucky—the shreds that brought up vividly the scenes of sacrifice for the Nation’s safety—went by, nodding a dumb recognition of the plaudits of the thousands. It was a happy thought, the bringing in of those glorious old battle flags. They told a Fourth of July story in themselves.”

As expected, especially on a warm July day, Cincinnati’s celebrants downed liquid refreshment by the barrelful, with unsurprising results. The Cincinnati Commercial recounted one bibulous incident at a picnic sponsored by St. Peter’s Orphan Asylum in Cumminsville: “Lieutenants Williams and Benninger were both on duty, assisted by 10 men, including both the day and night force, and yet they were inadequate to preserve order. Whenever they made an arrest they would be set on by a howling mob, who in their drunken rage would try to prevent their companions being taken off. In some cases the clothes of the police were torn, and Officer Miller had a new blouse torn from his back, and frequently the officers were compelled to use their clubs in self-defense and secure the arrest of their prisoners. The result was that the Cumminsville Police Station was crowded.”

As the day drew on, Cincinnati’s festivities went airborne. The Enquirer reported “troops upon troops” of hot-air balloons filling the sky, pear-shaped, globular, and colored red, white, and blue. Two barbers, George Boethelt and David Loewenstein, crafted many of the aerial ornaments. Most were a foot or less in diameter, but the two tonsorial artists lofted a 10-foot paper behemoth they christened “The Enquirer.” If they were fishing for publicity, they got it. The newspaper described their lofty swarm on the front page and may have omitted their names from the report of a balloon that ignited a small fire when it landed on the roof of a building at Ninth and Central.

The prime aeronautical action was on the west side of town, atop “Buttermilk Mountain,” the wry nickname for Reese Price’s teetotaling resort. He abjured alcohol and served none at the resort crowning his Price Hill incline. Hot-air balloons launched from that prominence would drift gloriously eastward over the downtown area.

Among the aircraft launched that day was a “monster” balloon 65 feet tall and 45

feet in diameter, allegedly the largest aeronautical device ever seen in Cincinnati. Although impresario Robert Miles, manager of the Grand Theater, promised an alluring young lady named Ida Lindell would float off in the balloon, she demurred. A young printer named Neil C. Kerr immediately volunteered when offered $25. The gargantuan bag shot upwards almost 300 feet into the afternoon sky but met a sudden rain squall and plummeted rapidly toward State Street at the bottom of the hill. The plucky aeronaut survived, the crowd roared, smaller balloons floated into a gentle breeze that sent them across the city, and the band played on as the crowd slaked their thirsts with buttermilk and lemonade.

Over at the old Avenue Grounds, located just north of the stockyards on Spring Grove Avenue, the Philadelphia Athletics defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6–3. The 1876 season turned out poorly for the ol’ Redlegs, who finished dead last in the new National League with a 9–56 record.

BEYOND THE PARADE,

FLOTILLA OF balloons, and some jingoistic oratory, Cincinnati’s centennial gala unfolded as a rambunctious affair redolent of alcohol and gunpowder. A Mt. Adams resident named Patrick McGurren blew off a hand while discharging a cannon. Lena Brauneis, 15, grabbed a pistol from her father’s saloon and, in her excitement, sent bullets whizzing randomly around the intersection of Court and Main streets, fatally wounding 12-year-old Julius Ruzika. Martin Eiden, a Mohawk painter, fired and reloaded an antique blunderbuss several dozen times before he miscalculated and sent the ramrod through the palm of his hand. Henry Boegel, 15, shot off his left thumb while brandishing an old horse pistol. A young lady from Pleasant Ridge, riding in a carriage on Elm Street, was shot in the eye by a young boy with a pistol. On the morning of July 5, Robert Kurtz, a West End pharmacist, perched a jar of fingers pyrotechnically amputated by enthusiastic patriots.

Oh yes, there were professionally detonated fireworks around the city that evening as well, with the most breathtaking display presented at Eden Park. Staged by fireworks magnate Harrison P. Diehl, whose factory atop Mt. Adams occasionally ex-

ploded, the centennial extravaganza was coordinated by his junior partner, “Professor” Thomas Jefferson Johnson. Diehl’s firm was famous citywide for the dazzling spectacles launched from the Highland House, and so the streetcars and the Mt. Adams incline strained for hours before sundown as spectators jostled for the best vantage points on park lawns. According to The Cincinnati Gazette, “the place was so packed with people that it was only with difficulty that they could be kept back far enough to save themselves a scorching.”

The crowd was treated for more than an hour to masterpieces of incendiary art, among them The Scroll Wheel, The Floral Circle, Persian Glory, Martha Washington Fan, Pyrritic Cross Fire, Tree of Liberty, and the pièce de résistance, Washington on Horseback. The Cincinnati Commercial reported: “The pieces were liberally interspersed with bombs, colored lights, rockets, batteries &c., which maintained the interest of the display until prosy darkness and a dense sulphurous atmosphere closed upon the brief and brilliant spectacle of the Centennial fireworks in Eden Park.”

In 1876, electricity was still a scientific curiosity, so illumination involved flames of one sort or another. The Cincinnati Times raved about the 30-foot eagle stretching across Plum Street in front of the Cincinnati Gas, Light & Coke offices, blazing with gas jets. On Fountain Square, the Genius of Waters fountain was bathed in limelight, with colored shades transforming the cascading streams into ribbons of red and gold. The next morning, The Times reported general satisfaction and recorded a specific appraisal: “A gentleman standing near the Lookout House, last night, watching the great roaring, blazing city, with its strange sounds and weird lights in the darkness below, remarked, ‘It is like the day of judgment!’ ”

Strangely—despite the New Year Jamboree, Mardi Gras, the Republican convention, and centennial celebrations—Henry and Kate Ford, in their authoritative 1881 History of Cincinnati, Ohio, introduced their review of 1876 with an anticlimax: “The centennial year was not signalized by events of commanding importance in the Queen City.”

Will 2026 be similarly dismissed, or will it be remembered at least until the next rambunctious affair?

D NE

Got Beef?

Local raffles offer community and a shot at some cheap meat. —RODNEY

WILSON

IN OUR ERA OF TECH-DRIVEN DISCONnect, in-person community is essential, no matter what form it takes. For some, community is based around common interests and beliefs, while others center activities. Still others find a metaphorical connective tissue in the literal connective tissue at the heart of meat raffle events in the Queen City.

That’s right, meat raffles. Put minuscule funds (usually a dollar) in the pot, spin the wheel, get some meat if you win. It’s a simple concept with a murky backstory, but as an excuse to get together and have some fun, it’s hard to beat bacon for a buck.

“We like to call it the most wholesome way to get drunk in the city,” laughs Kiel Erdelac ( right ), owner of Binski’s Bar in Camp Washington and emcee of the establishment’s weekly meat raffle. “There’s going to be some people chanting ‘Meat!’ If you’ve never seen one before, it can be offputting. But I assure you that it is more fun to chant ‘Meat!’ than to not.”

The origins of meat raffles aren’t exactly clear, though it’s generally accepted that the tradition began in England during World War II and may have been tied to food rationing, which strictly controlled meat availability. Post-war, the concept spread to other countries, taking a stronghold in geographically northern U.S. states (primarily Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York), where the festive atmosphere of meat-centric bar gatherings gave people something to do during bitterly cold winters. Attendance has traditionally skewed older and weirdly secretive, with news of meat raffles spread across various watering

holes throughout the week. In recent years, a younger generation of enthusiasts gets rowdy at social media-hyped events in local bars. Binksi’s is at the center of much of Cincinnati’s meat-raffle movement, which is not by happenstance.

“I’m from Chicago originally, but I have a lot of family from the upper Midwest, so when I’d go to visit family in Minnesota, we were familiar with meat raffles,” explains Erdelac. “I thought that would be a fun thing to bring down to Cincinnati.”

Though he doesn’t take credit for introducing meat raffles to Cincinnati— pointing out Over-the-Rhine’s Dunlap Café has raffled off cuts around the holidays for years—Erdelac successfully instituted Friday-night events at Binski’s, holding around 150 raffles so far. The bar does drawings from a ticket tumbler every 20 minutes, and attendees can buy as many raffle tickets as they’d like but are allowed to win just twice during an evening. (Meatless options are also available for vegans and vegetarians thanks to Harmony Plant Fare.) And the meat up for grabs isn’t offbrand offcuts. It’s sourced from Wyoming Meat Market, a whole-animal butcher in Wyoming that proudly sells Ohio-raised Wagyu beef.

Sourcing is important to Urban Artifact’s monthly meat raffles, too, where the brewery features meat procured from Hillside Family Farm, which sells locally raised protein at the Northside Farmers’ Market. “We send somebody from our team to the market each month, and they’ll come back with a wagon full of meat, and then they divide it up into all of the packages,” says Scott Hand, cofounder and chief brand officer for Urban Artifact. “So what you’re getting is a collection. Sometimes it’s bacon, sometimes it’s ground beef, sometimes it’s a bunch of steak, pork—it’s everything.”

Similar to Erdelac, Hand cites a personal family connection to upper Midwestern culture as inspiration for Urban Artifact launching its own meat

CONTINUED ON P. 72

Meat chants, happy customers, and raffle tickets from meat raffles at Binski’s Bar. Most raffles benefit community causes.

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raffle. “My grandparents used to own a tavern up in Milwaukee, and my mother told me that she used to run the meat raffle back when she was a kid,” he notes. “I learned the long history of how they were super neighborhood-organized events.”

Both Hand and Erdelac note that, in introducing meat raffles to locals, a little bit of background information was required, followed by enthusiastic uptake from patrons. “There was a tiny little bit of education about what the heck it is at the very beginning,” Hand notes. “But after the concept is understood, which takes seconds to learn, people love it. You don’t have to be buying tickets, but it’s fun to sit around and watch, and it’s our team who’s running it. So the folks from our taproom, or sometimes it’s our sales staff, are in there calling numbers and making the event fun on the microphone.”

And while meat raffles are definitely focused on fun, the events also serve as fund-raising opportunities for local initiatives. Any additional proceeds from the tickets at Urban Artifact go back to the Northside Farmers’ Market, while profits from Binski’s meat raffles benefit a variety of local nonprofit organizations. “We just try to work with people that we believe in, for the most part,” Erdelac says. “We work with Planned Parenthood sometimes, or when there’s a certain immigration crisis, we’ll do a cause that is related more closely to that. So it really depends on what’s going on at the time and what our community needs.”

In addition to visiting Binski’s and Urban Artifact, you can find meat raffles at other locales around town if you go looking for them. Mellotone Beer Project invites Binski’s to host meat raffles on special occasions, and Dunlap Café holds its “Wheel of Meat” event around the holidays. Organizations such as the Cincinnati Gaelic Athletic Association and the Irish Heritage Center of Cincinnati also have raised money at annual meat raffles. No matter where you head to gamble on meat, you’re sure to fi nd a gathering of good people looking to have a good time together. In the words of Hand, “It’s a community here.”

BACK TO BASICS

A FEW YEARS AGO, PANdemic-related issues almost sent Quan Hapa to the restaurant graveyard in the sky. The longtime Over-the-Rhine eatery specializing in Asian street food closed for several months to “re-staff and adjust.” If you haven’t visited in a while, you’ll be happy to know the quality of the food remains steady despite the temporary hiccup.

Start off with an order of Korean fried chicken wings or turmeric chicken skewers before moving on to the okonomiyaki, savory pancakes that can be topped with your favorite protein and served with Japanese

mayo, tonkatsu sauce, green onion, and an egg sunny side up. The name means “grilled as you like it” and you currently can choose from four deeply savory versions: house (cabbage), tempeh (deep-fried fermented soybeans), lemongrass shrimp, and short rib.

Bright, seasonal flavors shine in the ramen, especially the Hapa ramen. Made with bone broth, kombu shoyu tare, wavy ramen noodles, chashu, marinated egg, menma (fermented bamboo shoots), narutomaki (dehydrated Japanese fish cakes), and green onion, it’ll warm your insides with every satisfying slurp. —AIESHA D. LITTLE

Quan Hapa, 1331 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-7826, quanhapa.com

A Cincinnati Magazine Event

Girls’ Night Out

A Night to Shop in Madeira

June 3, 5–8 pm

Break out your fun summer wear, grab your girlfriends, and enjoy a night out shopping and creating memories that you will laugh about for years to come!

Check in on Dawson Road in downtown Madeira

RSVP for this free event at cincinnatimagazine.com/girlsnightout

PRESENTING SPONSORS

NONPROFIT PARTNER

SPONSORS

BOY OH BOY

A NEW MARIEMONT SPECIALTY MARKET AND RESTAURANT OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

—ELIZABETH A. LOWRY

Danny Boy, the latest venture by Daniel Souder, opened its doors in Mariemont last November with only lunch on the menu. Since then, he’s added dinner service, soft-launched catering, and stocked the deli and butcher cases and pantry shelves with a variety of curated foods and beverages.

Equal parts butcher shop, deli, restaurant, and wine bar, Danny Boy has it all on offer for those in need of a quick lunch, a sit-down dinner, a take-home meal, a fast snack, a six-pack, or a bottle of handpicked wine.

Souder says what sets Danny Boy apart is that customers are able to purchase items they enjoyed right off the menu. For example, the steak and bone-in pork chops served at dinner are also available in the butcher case. The popular chicken salad on the lunch menu is also packaged for sale in the deli, as are the tuna salad, pimento cheese, deli meats, sourdough bread, assorted crackers, giardiniera, and more. The 750-squarefoot, first-floor pantry and deli area offers indoor seating and patrons are welcome to take their food to the upper level as well when dinner’s not in service. All menu items are made with a little “chef-fy nuance to them,” Souder explains, meaning familiar but elevated, thanks to Chef Evan Hartman. (Patrons will recognize Hartman’s well-sourced, seasonal style from his days at Pleasantry OTR, Souder’s previous restaurant.) These special touches can be found in everything

from homemade condiments to freshly baked focaccia.

Danny Boy carries regional and national products from producers such as Urban Stead Cheese, Le Cracker, In the Curious Kitchen, Smoking Goose Meatery, Sky Haven Farm, Mom ’n ’em Coffee, and Great Lakes Potato Chips as well as a variety of sodas, beer, and wine.

Overall, Souder’s plan for opening a market in his own neighborhood has been a success. “It’s been nice to see a mix of neighborhood people from [nearby] and adjacent areas,” he says. “People walking toward the Wasson Way trail or those who have known me or our chef over the years come to seek us out.”

FROM ITALY TO CINCINNATI: Chef Fabio Viviani Brings a Culinary Journey to Life at Zingaro

Using recipes and techniques he learned growing up in Italy, Chef Fabio Viviani created an immersive dining experience that captures the spirit of travel, where every course feels like the next stop on an unforgettable Italian adventure.

Whether it’s dinner, drinks at Viaggio, or a longer night at the table, the goal is simple: create a place people return to.

DINING GUIDE

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE’S

dining guide is compiled by our editors as a service to our readers. The magazine accepts no advertising or other consideration in exchange for a restaurant listing. The editors may add or delete restaurants based on their judgment. Because of space limitations, all

CRITIC’S PICKS

ALARA

With two floors and more than 8,000 square feet, Alara is massive but intimate. The dim lighting, hanging plants, purple drapes, and muted music all create an atmosphere of subdued sophistication to accompany its New American menu. Like lots of local restaurants at this price point, this place takes farm-to-table dining seriously. Local and regional producers play a large role in shaping the restaurant’s seasonal offerings (which are on glorious display in the spiced oil, fried chickpeas, black garlic molasses, Fresno chiles, pickled carrots, and dill of the smoked carrot hummus) while larger dishes lend a certain “family style” air to the dining experience. The lobster and pea carbonara offers generous enough portions of both the seafood and the pasta to make sharing an option, but like with the chicken Milanese—a light, rustic, and lemony dish that ate like a biergarten schnitzel—you might want to keep it all to yourself. 5410 Medpace Way, Madisonville, (513) 2725315, alaracincinnati.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$

EMBERS

The menu here is built for celebration: poshly priced steak and sushi selections are meant to suit every special occasion. Appetizers are both classic (shrimp cocktail) and Asian-inspired (shrimp tempura); fashionable ingredients are name-checked (micro-greens and truffles); a prominent sushi section (nigiri, sashimi, and rolls) precedes a list of archetypal salads; Kobe beef on sushi rolls sidles up to steaks of prime; non-steak entrées (Chilean sea bass or Dover sole with haricots verts and almondine) make for high-style alternative selections. Talk about a party.

8170 Montgomery Rd., Madeira, (513) 9848090, embersrestaurant.com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$$

GREYHOUND TAVERN

Back in the streetcar days, this roughly 100-yearold roadhouse was at the end of the Dixie High-

MOVING DAY

The owners of the shuttered East End restaurant Home Court Tavern (previously known as Sinners & Saints) say they’re moving into former Allyn’s Café space, which closed last October. Home Court closed in February to move to the spot at 3538 Columbia Pkwy., and will reopen this summer as Sinners & Saints at Courtside.

of the guide’s restaurants may not be included. Many restaurants have changing seasonal menus; dishes listed here are examples of the type of cuisine available and may not be on the menu when you visit.

To update listings, e-mail: cmletters@cincinnati magazine.com

way line, where the cars turned around to head north. The place was called the Dixie Tea Room then, and they served ice cream. The fried chicken came along in the 1930s, and they’re still dishing it up today. Families and regulars alike pile in on Mondays and Tuesdays for the fried chicken special. While the juicy (never greasy) chicken with its lightly seasoned, crisp coating is the star, the side dishes—homemade biscuits, coleslaw, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy—will make you ask for seconds. Call ahead no matter what night you choose: There’s bound to be a crowd. Not in the mood for chicken? Choose from steaks, seafood, sandwiches, and comfort food options that include meatloaf and a Kentucky Hot Brown. Or just try the onion rings. You’ll wonder where onions that big come from.

2500 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell, (859) 3313767, greyhoundtavern.com. Lunch and dinner seven days, brunch Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

MR. GENE’S DOGHOUSE

Cumminsville is home to arguably the best hot chili cheese mett and chocolate malt in Greater Cincinnati. A family-owned business that began as a simple hot dog stand more than 50 years ago, Mr. Gene’s still attracts lines of loyal customers at its windows. Can’t stand the heat? Order the mild chili cheese mett—more flavor, fewer BTUs. And if you still haven’t embraced Cincinnati-style coneys, try the Chicago-style hot dog with pickles, onions, relish, mustard, tomato, sport peppers, and celery salt; a pork sandwich; or wings. Although the chocolate malt is the biggest seller, we love the $4.75 pineapple shake, made with real pineapple. 3703 Beekman St., South Cumminsville, (513) 541-7636, mrgenesdoghouse.com. Open Feb–Oct for lunch and dinner Mon–Sat. MC, V. $

IVORY HOUSE

The menu here generally doesn’t reinvent dishes or introduce outlandish flavors, but simply pays attention to enough little things to make the results unusually good. All steaks are premium and hand-selected, the star player being the Japanese A5 Wagyu. The Ultimate Surf & Turf is a date night favorite with a 34-ounce Angus Tomahawk, four shrimp, four scallops and two lobster tails. Bluefin tuna steak is complemented by cilantro lime rice, a vegetable medley, chimichurri, and a soy ginger vinaigrette. Confit duck leg, an Ivory House spe-

KEY: No checks unless specified.

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cialty, is served with parsnip mash, confit beets, and berry gastrique. The cocktails are ones you’ve probably seen before, but everything—from the Death Valley Farm Old Fashioned to the Best West Lemon Drop—has an extra dash of liveliness from a house-made element, like the rosemary syrup. 2998 Harrison Ave., Westwood, (513) 3890175, ivoryhousecincy.com. Dinner seven days, brunch Sun. MCC. DC. $$$

THE SCHOOLHOUSE RESTAURANT

An old flag stands in one corner and pictures of Abe Lincoln and the first George W. hang on the wall of this Civil War–era schoolhouse. The daily menu of familiar Midwestern comfort fare is written on the original chalkboard. Once you order from a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to your high school lunch lady, the elevated lazy Susan in the center of the table begins to fill up with individual bowls and baskets of cornbread, slaw, salad, mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, and vegetables. The deal here is quantity. More mashed potatoes with your fried chicken? More cornbread with your baked ham? You don’t even have to raise your hand.

8031 Glendale-Milford Rd., Camp Dennison, (513) 831-5753, theschoolhousecincinnati.com. Lunch Thurs, Fri & Sun, dinner Thurs–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

SUGAR N’ SPICE

This Paddock Hills diner, with other locations in Over-the-Rhine and Blue Ash, has been dishing up wispy-thin pancakes and football-sized omelettes to Cincinnatians since FDR was signing new deals. Breakfast and lunch offerings mix old-hat classics like corned beef hash and basic burgers with funky iterations that draw on ethnic ingredients such as chorizo. Get here early if you don’t want to stand in line.

4381 Reading Rd., Paddock Hills, (513) 2423521; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 762-0390; 10275 Summit Pkwy., Blue Ash, (513) 447-6453, eatsugarnspice.com. Breakfast and lunch seven days. MCC. $

THE WILDFLOWER CAFÉ

Wildflower Café is not the sort of place that tries to wow anyone with feats of inventiveness. Its formula is simple but satisfying: meat and pro-

duce sourced from its own farm, a menu that continuously changes with available ingredients, a nice selection of wine and beer, and well-made, homey food. The small, focused menu has a classic American quality (salads, steaks, burgers) with enough surprises to keep things interesting. Many of the dishes are designed with open spaces to be filled with whatever is available in the kitchen that day, an advantage of an unfussy style. You don’t go to Wildflower expecting a certain kind of perfection; you accept that your favorite dish from last time might be made differently tonight, or no longer available. Like the farmhouse that Wildflower occupies, the imperfections are part of the charm.

207 E. Main St., Mason, (513) 492-7514, wildflowermason.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$$

BEE’S BARBEQUE

You’ll want to get to Bee’s early if you want to avoid the line of friendly regulars. The restaurant’s smoker churns out a variety of meats—including brisket, pulled pork, rib tips, turkey breast, and two kinds of sausage—so it’s easy to see why they keep coming back. If you enjoy the spicy grease that oozes out of a good chorizo, you’ll love the Cincinnati Hot Link, which tastes like the delicious love child of a chorizo and a hot mett. Word to the wise: Bee’s opens at 11 a.m. and closes when they run out of meat. Understandably, this doesn’t take long.

5910 Chandler St., Madisonville, (513) 5612337. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat; 1403 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 721-2337, beesbarbecue. com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $

ELI’S BBQ

Elias Leisring started building his pulled pork reputation under canopies at Findlay Market and Fountain Square in 2011. Leisring’s proper little ’cue shack along the river serves up ribs that are speaking-in-tongues good, some of the zazziest jalapeño cheese grits north of the Mason-Dixon line, and browned mashed potatoes that would make any short-order cook diner-proud. The small no-frills restaurant—packed cheek-by-jowl most nights—feels like it’s been there a lifetime, with customers dropping vinyl on the turntable, dogs romping in the side yard, and picnic tables crowded with diners. The hooch is bring-yourown, and the barbecue is bona fide.

3313 Riverside Dr., East End, (513) 533-1957; 133 West Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 5331957, ext. 2, elisbarbeque.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

KNOTTY PINE ON THE BAYOU

The Pine serves some of the best Louisiana homestyle food you’ll find this far north of New Orleans. Taste the fried catfish filets with their peppery crust, or the garlic sauteed shrimp with smoky greens on the side, and you’ll understand why it’s called soul food. Between March and June, it’s crawfish season. Get them boiled and heaped high on a platter or in a superb crawfish etouffee. But the rockin’ gumbo—a thick, murky brew of andouille sausage, chicken, and vegetables—serves the best roundhouse punch all year round. As soon as you inhale the bouquet and take that first bite,

you realize why Cajun-style food is considered a high art form and a serious pleasure. And you’ll start planning your return trip.

6302 Licking Pke., Cold Spring, (859) 7812200, theknottypineonthebayou.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

AMERASIA

A sense of energetic fun defines this tiny Chinese spot with a robust beer list. The glossy paper menu depicts Master Chef Rich Chu as a “Kung Food” master fighting the evil fast-food villain with dishes like “fly rice,” “Brocco-Lee,” and “Big Bird’s Nest.” Freshness rules. Potstickers, dumplings, and wontons are hand shaped. The Dragon’s Breath wontons will invade your dreams. Seasoned ground pork, onion, and cilantro meatballs are wrapped in egg dough, wok simmered, and topped with thick, spicy red pepper sauce and fresh cilantro. Noodles are clearly Chef Chu’s specialty, with zonxon (a tangle of thin noodles, finely chopped pork, and mushrooms cloaked in spicy dark sauce and crowned with peanuts and cilantro) and Matt Chu’s Special (shaved rice noodles, fried chicken, and seasonal vegetables in gingery white sauce) topping the menu’s flavor charts. 521 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 261-6121, kungfood.online. Lunch and dinner Mon–Fri, dinner Sat. MCC. $

ORIENTAL WOK

When Mike and Helen Wong opened Oriental Wok in 1977, the couple wanted to recreate the glamor and refinement of the Hong Kong-Cantonese cuisine they knew. Today, locals and expats alike enjoy authentic Chinese and Chinese-American dishes in dining rooms reminiscent of Beijing. Beyond the elephant tusk entryway and fish ponds and fountains is the warmth and hospitality of the

IN THE HOUSE

The riverfront brewery and restaurant Moerlein Lager House is now known as Cincinnati Lager House. The name change reflects a broader celebration of Cincinnati’s brewing traditions, past and present. “This evolution allows us to celebrate not just one chapter of Cincinnati’s brewing history, but the entire story,” said Greg Hardman, managing member of Cincinnati Lager House, in a press release. cincylagerhouse.com

Wong family, service on par with the finest establishments, and very, very good food. Best are the fresh fish: salmon, grouper and sea bass steamed, grilled or fried in a wok, needing little more than the ginger-green onion sauce that accompanies them. Oriental Wok is the tri-state’s longestrunning family-owned Chinese restaurant for a reason.

317 Buttermilk Pke., Ft. Mitchell, (859) 331-3000; 2444 Madison Rd., Hyde Park, (513) 871-6888, orientalwok. com. Lunch Sun–Fri (Ft. Mitchell; buffet Sun 11–2:30), lunch Tues–Sat (Hyde Park), dinner seven days (Ft. Mitchell) dinner Tues–Sun (Hyde Park). MCC. $$

UNCLE YIP’S

Long before sushi somehow un-disgusted itself to the Western World, China had houses of dim sum. Uncle Yip’s valiantly upholds that tradition in Evendale. This is a traditional dim sum house with all manner of exotic dumplings, including shark fin or beef tripe with ginger and onion. As for the seafood part of the restaurant’s full name, Uncle Yip has most everything the sea has to offer. The menu has more than 160 items, so you’ll find a range of favorites, from moo goo gai pan to rock salt frog legs.

10736 Reading Rd., Evendale, (513) 733-8484, uncleyips.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, discount for cash. $$

Top10 ABIGAIL STREET

Most people who’ve eaten at Abigail Street have favorite dishes that they order every visit: the Moroccan spiced broccoli, for example, or the mussels charmoula, with its perfect balance of saffron, creaminess, and tomatoey acidity. Many of the new items on the menu have the same perfected feeling as these classics. Working within a loose framework of Middle Eastern and North African flavors, Abigail Street has never fallen into a routine that would sap its energy. Offerings like the lamb spaghetti with grana padano feel just as accomplished as old favorites like the falafel. The restaurant is always watching for what works

and what will truly satisfy, ready to sacrifice the superficially interesting in favor of the essential.

1214 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-4040, abigailstreet.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

Top10 BOCA

With its grand staircase, chandelier, and floorto-ceiling draperies, Boca has an atmosphere of grandeur and refinement. There is a sense of drama not only in the decor but in everything it serves. In some dishes, there is a painterly sense of contrast and surprise, like the maple tuile served with the maple mascarpone cheesecake. In others, there is a dramatic suspense, like the whole egg yolk quivering in the center of the beef tartare waiting to be broken. While staying mostly grounded in the fundamentals of Italian and French cuisine, Boca has an air of international sophistication that sets its food apart with extraordinary creativity and flair.

114 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 542-2022, bocacincinnati.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

BOUQUET RESTAURANT

Normally diners aren’t pleased when a restaurant runs out of something. At Bouquet, though, surprise changes to the menu are simply a sign of integrity. The restaurant is serious about using seasonal ingredients, and if the figs have run out or there is no more chicken from a local farm, so be it. The flavors at Bouquet are about doing justice to what’s available. Preparations are unfussy, complexity coming from within the vegetables and proteins themselves. A spring salad—wonderfully fresh and vibrant, so you know the strawberries included have just come off a nearby vine—is dressed with candy-striped beets and whipped goat cheese. This determination to make something delicious out of what’s on hand, to embrace limitations, gives the food at Bouquet a rustic, soulful quality.

519 Main St., Covington, (859) 491-7777, bouquetbistro. com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DS. $$

MARIGOLD

To understand what this restaurant offers, you must first learn what it does not. It isn’t a replacement for your favorite Indian take-out or an Irish pub repainted with the Union Jack. This is the fusion of Anglo and Indian cuisines that grew from multicultural neighborhoods, where immigrants from colonized nations served meals that appealed to all of their new neighbors. The English curry is more sweet than spicy. Try the butter chicken (a mellow reflection of tikka masala with tender, cubed chicken) or the vegetarian korma chickpea and squash. If you aren’t feeling terribly adventurous, don’t worry. The Marigold burger is a blend of tenderloin, rib-eye, and striploin dolled up with Welsh rarebit (imagine a very thick, very cheesy roux), and served on a house-made English muffin.

60 W. Fifth St., downtown, (513) 996-0210, marigoldcincy.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$

MELT REVIVAL

In this Northside sandwich joint, the restaurant’s name pretty much dictates what you should get. Diners have their choice of sandwiches, including the vegetarian cheesesteak—seitan (a meat substitute) topped with roasted onions, peppers, and provolone—and The Gobbler, turkey burger served with curried aioli, red cabbage slaw, pickled red onions, and arugula. For those who require meat in their meals, try the verde chicken flatbread: juicy pieces of chicken intermingle with pesto, zucchini, and provolone. Not sure you’ll want a whole sandwich? Try a half-sandwich with a half-salad or half-soup order—a popular selection with the lunch crowd.

4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (513) 818-8951, meltrevival.com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Tues—Sat, brunch Sun. MCC. $

Top10

MITA’S

It’s fitting that Chef/Owner Jose Salazar named this restaurant after his grandmother, because

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Stephen

BREW-HA-HA

Last month, California natives Rodney and Janine De Iorio opened Brewd on Court Street Plaza. The coffee shop/taphouse offers locally roasted coffee from La Terza, tea from Churchill’s Fine Teas, and a rotating collection of Cincinnati brews including Rhinegeist, Brink, Bocce, West Side, and HighGrain. brewdcincy.com

there is something deeply homey about the food at Mita’s. With a focus on Spanish and Latin-American tapas, it always feels, in the best possible way, like elevated home cooking. Its sophistication is modestly concealed. The flavors are bold and direct, like the spicy freshness of the ceviche de camarones with poached gulf shrimp, sour orange, fava beans, and jalapeños. The tacos de lengua, which come in pairs, are made with beef tongue, watermelon pico de gallo, watermelon radish, salsa roja, and mint, and are served on housemade corn tortillas. But what mainly comes through is the warm-hearted affection a grandmother might have put into a meal for a beloved grandson. It’s the kind of big hug everyone needs from time to time.

501 Race St., downtown, (513) 421-6482, mitas.co. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$$

NOLIA KITCHEN

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10

Chef/Owner Jeffery Harris, a New Orleans native, prepares the cuisine of his beloved city with sophistication and flair, drawing on all the influences that have contributed to the cuisine of the Big Easy—from West African to French to Japanese to Haitian. The menu changes seasonally, with almost a complete overhaul each time. If classic New Orleans dishes do show up on the menu, they’re likely to get delightfully unexpected touches. The smoked chicken, for example, comes with peach Alabama barbecue sauce, greens, mirliton, and charred peach. It’s exquisitely prepared food served in a funky, laidback atmosphere.

1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 384-3597, noliakitchen.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC,DC. $$$

Top 10

SALAZAR

Chef Jose Salazar’s namesake restaurant returned to the culinary landscape in new digs (right across the street from Mita’s) with a fresh menu full of style. There are classics from the old venue, but Salazar’s vision for this new, larger space features fresh, joyful ambition you can see, smell, and taste. Much of the food’s vibrance is due to the emphasis on seasonality. However, The Little Fried Oyster Slider is a microcosm of the Salazar experience as a whole. It’s inventive, colorful, and surprisingly playful. Everything is made with love and obsessive attention to detail, from the housemade brioche bun to the artfully arranged greens that bloom just so around the sandwich’s periphery. Little, polishing touches to the menu, like loose leaf tea from Churchill’s, underline the reborn Salazar’s investment in honing a unique, but entirely comfortable, dining experience.

101 W. Fifth St., downtown, (513) 345-1500, salazarcincinnati.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC.

$$$

Top 10

SUDOVA

Sarah Dworak packed a lot into her latest venture. She began introducing fresh takes on eastern European cuisine to the dining scene via the now-defunct Wodka Bar, and while everyone loved its pierogi window, Dworak wanted to offer more. Sudova gives her the literal space to spread her wings with far more seating and a built-out kitchen. Recipes for the halushki (caramelized cabbage and onion, brown butter, and Linnea’s spaetzle), holubsti (stuffed cabbage rolls and tomato sauce), and rye varenyky (potato, sauerkraut, caramelized onion, and dill sour cream) come straight from Dworak’s baba and they are the jewels in the restaurant’s crown. Most small plates arrive dressed in herbs from Dark Wood Farm and culinary flower petals, deepening the illusion that you’ve stopped for dinner at some grandmother’s cottage deep in the woods, and she’s just picked something fresh from the garden. You should feel grateful that you don’t have to go over the hills and through

the woods to get it.

22 W. Court St., downtown, (513) 407-7974, sudovaoncourt.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$$

TASTE OF BELGIUM

Jean-François Flechet’s waffle haven grew from a back counter of Madison’s grocery at Findlay Market to several full-service sit-down spots. There’s more on the menu than the authentic Belgian treat, though it would be a crime to miss the chicken and waffles: a dense, yeasty waffle topped with a succulent buttermilk fried chicken breast, Frank’s hot sauce, and maple syrup. There are also frites, of course, and Brussels sprouts— served with pancetta and sherry vinaigrette—plus a gem of a Bolognese. And let’s not forget the beer. Six rotating taps offer some of the best the Belgians brew, not to mention those made in town.

16 W. Freedom Way, downtown, (513) 3965800, and other locations, authenticwaffle. com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Tues–Sun, breakfast and lunch Mon, brunch Sun. MCC, DS. $$

Top 10 WILDWEED

Before it opened as a restaurant, Wildweed developed a loyal fan base through the hundreds of pasta pop-ups that Chefs David and Lydia Jackman held around the city. Even today, it retains some of the freewheeling quality from its pop-up era with a palpable sense of restlessness in the food. Part of the menu changes from week to week, based on what’s available in the woods and from local farms. What makes Wildweed a place to return is its sense of adventure. This place is always pushing itself to try something different.

1301 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4274, wildweed-restaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

Top

10 COLETTE

At this “mostly French” restaurant, which occupies the former Zula space across from Washington Park, Chef Danny Combs has built a more laid-back home for his focused, pristine cooking. While there is classic bistro fare, like steak frites, on the concentrated menu, there are also less familiar but equally classic French dishes, like the poulet frit a la moutarde (chicken with Dijon and crème fraîche) and the tagliolini aux champignons (egg yolk pasta with ragout and Parmesan). One can turn to the extensive drink menu (also “mostly French”) to find a wine or cocktail to go with any dish on offer. Like Zula, Colette would function just fine as a wine and cocktail bar, though we can’t imagine coming to a place this good and not eating something. 1400 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 381-1018, coletteotr.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DC. $$

BRIJ MOHAN

Order at the counter the way you might at a fast food joint, except the shakes come in mango and there’s no supersizing your mint lassi. The saag, full of cream in most northern Indian restaurants, is as intensely flavored as collard greens in the Deep South—real Punjabi soul food. Tarka dal is spectacular here, the black lentils smoky from charred tomatoes and onions, and the pani puri, hollow fried shells into which you spoon a peppery cold broth, burst with tart cool crunch. Follow the spice with soothing ras malai, freshly made cheese simmered in thick almond-flavored milk, cooled and sprinkled with crushed pistachios. 11259 Reading Rd., Sharonville, (513) 7694549, brijmohancincinnati.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MC, V, DC, AMEX. $

A TAVOLA

In 2011, Jared Wayne opened A Tavola Pizza with two friends just as OTR was blowing up. A Ferrara pizza oven was ordered from Italy; Wayne, a skilled woodworker, built custom tables; and the menu was fleshed in with trendy crowd-pleasers

like charcuterie and craft cocktails. Fast-forward a decade. The OTR outpost is closed but the second location is still going strong in the ’burbs: A Tavola Madeira capitalizes on the menu from the Vine Street location, including the fresh and zesty artichoke pizza on a Neapolitan crust; gooey mozzarella-filled arancini, or risotto fritters; and the zucchini mozzarella. Wash down your small plates with a glass of crisp and grassy Sannio falanghina or an ice-cold Rhinegeist. They’re definitely going to need a bigger parking lot. 7022 Miami Ave., Madeira, (513) 272-0192, atavolapizza.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. V, DC, MS, AMEX. $

CARMELO’S

Every great Italian eatery needs its classic entrées, and this restaurant delivers. The 101-Layer Lasagna actually looks like it has 101 layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce. The shareable meatball appetizer—which consists of two enormous veal, pork, and beef meatballs that crumble with a little elbow grease— is the solution for diners craving a protein with their pasta. The oxtail ragu, with rich gravy-like osso buco ragu, incorporates subtle tomato and robust seasoning with the dish’s shredded meat and Parmesan. Portions are large, and the staff is ready to stow your leftovers the minute you raise the white flag. Remember, there’s no shame in surrender.

434 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 287-4700, eatatcarmelos.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

NICOLA’S

Chef/Restaurateur Cristian Pietoso carries on the legacy of his father, Nicola, as the elder Pietoso’s Over-the-Rhine eatery celebrated 25 years in business in 2021. You can still get the old Italian classics, and they’ll be as good as ever, but the rest of the menu has blossomed into a freewheeling tour of modern American cuisine. Any establishment paying this level of attention to detail—from the aged balsamic and lavender honey on the Italian cheese board to the staff’s wine knowledge—is going to put out special meals. Order an old favorite, by all means, but make sure you try something new, too.

1420 Sycamore St., Pendleton, (513) 721-6200, nicolasotr.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

NOCHE

This restaurant’s setting embodies what Chef Alfio Gulisano set out to achieve: An elegant but approachable restaurant where pasta, cocktails, and conversation blend with ease. The bourbon wagyu brisket burrata, with its hand-pulled mozzarella filled with slow-braised wagyu brisket and topped with a drizzle of hot honey, is decadent yet disciplined. The short rib sliders, braised for five hours after a quick grill that locks in flavor, then packed within soft buns with provolone and garlic aioli, make them both familiar and refined. While Gulisano plays up creativity with the appetizers, pasta dishes stay closer to classic Italian roots. The prime tenderloin gnocchi, the pulled brisket BBQ ravioli, and the pan-seared lasagna all have an abundance of richness without being too heavy. Gulisano’s cooking has always been rooted in heart and tradition, but at Noche the flavors of Argentina and Italy, once parallels in his life, now meet on the same plate.

701 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 261-6900, las-noches.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$

PRIMAVISTA

Besides offering the old-world flavors of Italy, Primavista also serves up a specialty no other restaurant can match: a bird’s eye view of Cincinnati from the west side. The kitchen is equally comfortable with northern and southern regional specialties. Among the classics, nothing is more restorative than the pasta e fagioli, a hearty soup of cannellini, ditali pasta, and bacon. Most of the pastas are cooked just a degree more mellow than

al dente so that they soak up the fragrant tomato basil or satiny cream sauces. On the desserts side, you’ll be hard-pressed to decide between the housemade tiramisu or bread pudding with caramel sauce, marsalasoaked raisins, and cream.

810 Matson Pl., Price Hill, (513) 251-6467, pvista. com. Dinner Wed–Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

Top 10 SOTTO

There are certain books and movies that you can read or watch over and over. Eating at Sotto is a similar experience: familiar, but so profound and satisfying that there is no reason to ever stop. Unlike other restaurants, where the techniques are often elaborate and unfamiliar, the magic at Sotto happens right in front of you, using ordinary elements and methods. When you taste the results, though, you realize that some mysterious transmutation has taken place. The wood-fired branzino with broccolini, matched with the warm, smoky taste of the Calabrian pepper, offers a flavor that you could go on eating forever. From the texture of the chicken liver mousse to the citrusy lemon aioli on the tartare di fassone, most of the food has some added element of soulfulness.

118 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 822-5154, sottocincinnati.com. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$

ANDO

You don’t go just anywhere to dine on uni sashimi (sea urchin) or tanshio (thinly sliced charcoal-grilled beef tongue). And when it’s on the menu, don’t overlook the buttery amberjack collar marinated in a Japanese citrus infused soy sauce and grilled over charcoal. Noodles are also well represented, with udon, soba, or ramen options available. Owners Ken and Keiko Ando always have something new, be it kamo negi maki (grilled duck breast stuffed with organic green onions) or a chocolate crepe and matcha parfait, delicacies that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in anywhere else, so dont’ forget to check out the specials.

11255 Reed Hartman Hwy., Blue Ash, (513) 9540041, andojapaneserestaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

KIKI

Your best bet here is to share plates or simply order too much. Start with the edamame and the chicken karaage. The selection of sauces (from tare to ponzu to chili oil) makes each dish better. And, of course, the ramen is the main reason for visiting. The shio features pork belly and tea-marinated soft-boiled egg, but the kimchi subs in tofu and its namesake cabbage for the meat. Be sure to try something from the sushi bar which offers nigiri, sashimi, and roll options.

358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, (513) 706-8902, kikicincinnati.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

RIVERSIDE KOREAN RESTAURANT

Come for the jham bong—a seafood soup with flour noodles in a spicy broth with pork, shrimp, squid, mussels, and vegetables. Revered for its medicinal properties, the dinner-sized soup will leave your eyes glistening and your brow beaded with sweat. It’s a detox for your overindulgence, rejuvenation for when you’re feeling under the weather. Expect crowds on weekends. Expect too, that dozens of them have come for dolsot bibimbap, the hot stone pots filled with layers of rice, vegetables, meat or tofu, egg, and chili paste. Characterized by its electric color and addictive flavors, Riverside Korean’s version is a captivating bowl of heaven.

512 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 291-1484, riversidekoreanrestaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

Top 10 PHOENICIAN TAVERNA

No matter how much restraint you go in with, meals at Phoenician Taverna quickly become feasts. There is just too much that’s good, and everything is meant to be shared. With fresh pita bread continuously arriving from the ovens, and a table of quickly

multiplying meze (hummus, falafel, muhammara), there is a warmth and depth to the cooking that envelops you. With such traditional cuisine, you may think there isn’t much left to discover beyond simply executed classics prepared according to time-tested methods. But there are always new discoveries, like the tabbouleh with the hummus, mixed with a touch of harissa, or the smoky baba ghanoush spooned onto falafel. Phoenician Taverna keeps taking these classics a little further.

7944 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, (513) 770-0027, phoeniciantaverna.com. Lunch Tues–Fri, dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

MAZUNTE

Mazunte runs a culinary full-court press, switching up specials to keep both regulars and staff engaged. Pork tamales arrive swaddled in a banana leaf, the shredded pork filling steeped in a sauce fiery with guajillo and ancho chilies yet foiled by the calming sweetness of raisins. The fried fish tacos are finished with a citrusy red and white cabbage slaw that complements the accompanying mango-habañero salsa. With this level of authentic yet fast-paced execution, a slightly greasy pozole can be easily forgiven. Don’t miss the Mexican Coke, the margaritas, or the non-alcoholic horchata.

5207 Madison Rd., Madisonville, (513) 785-0000, mazuntetacos.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

TAQUERIA MERCADO

On a Saturday night, Taqueria Mercado is a lively fiesta, with seemingly half of the local Hispanic community guzzling margaritas and cervezas or carrying out sacks of burritos and carnitas tacos—pork tenderized by a long simmer, its edges

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frizzled and crispy. The Mercado’s strip mall interior, splashed with a large, colorful mural, is equally energetic: the bustling semi-open kitchen; a busy counter that handles a constant stream of take-out orders; a clamorous, convivial chatter in Spanish and English. Try camarones a la plancha, 12 chubby grilled shrimp tangled with grilled onions (be sure to specify if you like your onions well done). The starchiness of the rice absorbs the caramelized onion juice, offset by the crunch of lettuce, buttery slices of avocado, and the cool-hot pico de gallo. A shrimp quesadilla paired with one of their cheap and potent margaritas is worth the drive alone.

6507 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield, (513) 942-4943; 100 E. Eighth St., downtown, (513) 381-0678, taqueriamercado. com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $

JEFF RUBY’S

Filled most nights with local scenesters and power brokers (and those who think they are), everything in this urban steakhouse is generous—from the portions to the expert service. Waiters deliver two-fisted martinis and mounds of greens dressed in thin vinaigrettes or thick, creamy emulsions. An occasional salmon or sea bass appears, and there’s a small but decent assortment of land fare. But most customers are there for the slabs of beef (dry aged USDA prime). The best of these is Jeff Ruby’s Cowboy, 22 ounces of 70-day dry-aged bone-in rib eye. This is steak tailor-made for movers and shakers.

505 Vine St., downtown, (513) 784-1200, jeffruby.com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DC. $$$$

THE PRECINCT

Part of the appeal of the Ruby restaurants is their ability to deliver deep, comfort-food satisfaction. And the steaks. The meat is tender with a rich mineral flavor, and the signature seasoning provided a nice crunch, not to mention blazing heat. The supporting cast is strong—the basket of warm Sixteen Bricks bread with a mushroom truffle butter, the addictive baked macaroni and cheese, the creamy garlic mashed potatoes, the crisp-tender asparagus with

roasted garlic and lemon vinaigrette—and dinner ends on a sweet note with a piece of Ruby family recipe cheesecake. Neither cloyingly sweet nor overwhelmingly creamy, it’s a lovely slice of restraint.

311 Delta Ave., Columbia-Tusculum, (513) 321-5454, jeffruby.com/precinct. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$$

PHO LANG THANG

Owners Duy and Bao Nguyen and David Le have created a greatest hits playlist of Vietnamese cuisine: elegant, brothy pho made from poultry, beef, or vegan stocks poured over rice noodles and adrift with slices of onions, meats, or vegetables (the vegan pho chay is by far the most flavorful); fresh julienned vegetables, crunchy sprouts, and herbs served over vermicelli rice noodles (again, the vegan version, bun chay, is the standout); and bánh mì. Be sure to end with a cup of Vietnamese coffee.

1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 376-9177, pholangthang.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS, DC. $$

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, (ISSN 0746-8 210), June 2026, Volume 59, Number 9. Published monthly ($19.95 for 12 issues annually) at 221 E. Fourth St., Ste. 130, Cincinnati, OH 45202. (513) 421-4300. Copyright © 2026 by Cincinnati Magazine LLC, a subsidiary of Hour Media Group, 5750 New King Dr., Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted without permission. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and artwork should be accompanied by SASE for return. The magazine cannot be held responsible for loss. For subscription orders, address changes or renewals, write to CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, 1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071, or call 1-866-660-6247. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send forms 3579 to CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, 1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071. If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.

A Saintly Collection

BENEATH THE large baldachin inside the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington sits the St. Paul Relics Shrine. It contains more than 300 relics (remains or possessions with direct association to a saint or Jesus Christ), one of the largest holdings in the country. The pieces span the 2,000-year history of the Catholic church from ex cunis wood (said to be from the Holy Manger) to ex capillis (hair from the newest saint, Carlo Acutis). “The collection really began under our first bishop, but it wasn’t until [1885] when Bishop Camillus Paul Maes came here and immediately set about collecting these relics,” says Cathedral Historian and Archivist Stephen Enzweiler. “In 2018 Bishop Roger J. Foys felt it was important to provide a new altar that would display the collection of relics for the faithful who could come here and meditate and ask for help.” Other prominent pieces in the collection are wood fragments said to come from the True Cross, pieces of bone and clothing said to come from the Apostles and Evangelists, the left ulna and radius bones of St. Arnold, and two skulls of St. Ursula’s martyrs.

—CLAIRE LEFTON