Season's greeting in uncertain times
Uncertain times creep in on the holiday season, resulting
in uneasiness. Would George Bailey think it's still a wonderful
life today? We offer the good (Holiday
Gift Guide), the bad (Fountain Square hijinks) and everything
else in-between.
Freedom
Square: City council loses bid to monopolize the holidays
Box
Me In: Music boxed sets invade the market just in time for
the holidays
To
Do: Harlem on Our Mind
Consuming
the Holidays: CityBeat writers share tips for giving and food-related
holiday memories
Frogs,
Ghosts, Reindeer: Holiday shows offer everything from sweet
to sardonic
Fine
Tuning: Concerts offer joy to the world
Look Here: Seeing is believing this holiday
season
Writer's Block: Local authors offer merry
treats for the holidays
The Show Must Go on: DVDs might be the gift
of choice for the holidays
Freedom Square: City council loses
bid to monopolize the holidays
The menorah this week again became a symbol of freedom,
with the U.S. Supreme Court ending Cincinnati City Council's
effort to keep the Jewish symbol off Fountain Square.
Justice John Paul Stevens ended a flurry of legal activity
that started Nov. 27 with a federal judge chastising the city
for violating the First Amendment -- again.
"The city of Cincinnati has a long history of unconstitutional
attempts at regulating private speech on Fountain Square,"
wrote U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott. (See The
Fountain Square Ruling.)
She ordered the city to allow Chabad of Southern Ohio and
Congregation Lubavitch to display a menorah on the square
and hold a candle-lighting ceremony. The menorah, a candelabrum,
symbolizes the ancient Hebrews' victory over a Syrian king's
efforts to crush their religion.
In April, city council passed an ordinance giving the city
exclusive use of Fountain Square for the last two weeks of
November through the first week of January, citing reasons
from supporting downtown business to increasing employment
opportunities.
"With exclusive control over its content and design, the
city will be able to ensure that the winter holiday display
is safe, well coordinated, inviting and appeals to the widest
of audiences for purposes of supporting and promoting the
city's specific government interests," the ordinance states.
In this case, the government interests involve money. The
season is an important time for the city financially, and
the city wants downtown visitors to feel safe and welcome,
according to Councilman Chris Monzel.
"We want to control that space so that it helps to attract
people," he said. "Instead of having a continuing battle over
who controls Fountain Square, the city took it back and said,
'Hey, this is for the public and we're going to control it
for the public interest.' "
The ordinance aims to maintain the continuity of the city's
holiday display, according to Assistant City Solicitor Richard
Ganulin. The city has installed an ice skating rink, trees
and lights on the square. There's not room left for much more,
he said.
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Photo By Sean Hughes/photopresse.com
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An ancient symbol of religious freedom, the menorah
rises on Fountain Square Dec. 2 in spite of city council's
persistent efforts to block it.
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"The continuity of the city display without competition from
other structures makes the display more aesthetically appealing
and attractive to individuals," Ganulin said.
But Rabbi Sholom B. Kalmanson says the menorah only takes
up about 3 feet on the ground and is 18 feet high.
"Cluttered?" he scoffed. "My menorah is cluttering it?"
A menorah has been on the square for 17 years, Kalmanson
said.
The mostly unspoken reason for the new ordinance is the
Ku Klux Klan, which has sometimes mounted a cross on the square
(see Roxanne
Is Gone, So Why Is Our Mayor Still Dickless? issue of
Dec. 7-13, 2000).
"There's no question we don't like the Klan on the Square,"
Mayor Charlie Luken said. "People were upset about the Klan,
no question about it, and this obviously takes care of that
situation and a number of others."
But the Klan hasn't even applied for a permit for the past
two years, Kalmanson said.
"To me, this seems to be that the city has for some reason
a personal stance that there will not be a menorah on the
square if they can help it," he said. "Why all of a sudden
wake up a dead horse?"
The city's effort to ban the Klan by banning all groups
from Fountain Square violates the U.S. Constitution, according
to attorney Marc Mezibov, who led the effort to overturn the
ordinance.
"It affects any speech of any group who wants to use the
square for the purpose it's been dedicated," Mezibov said.
The city's secular holiday display and denial of permits
for private groups was an effort at keeping things equal,
Monzel said.
"It's trying to be fair to both sides by saying we're just going
to get rid of all of it," he said.
But the city's approach was heavy-handed, violating everyone's
rights, according to Kalmanson.
"(Fountain Square) is the place in the city of Cincinnati
that is notorious for expressions of any sort -- and you're
telling me for six weeks I have no right to open my mouth
there?" he says. "I don't think I have to give up my right
of freedom of speech as a Jew because maybe tomorrow somebody
is going to do what they're going to do."
Judge Dlott agreed, in terms that seemed to signal the city
didn't have a chance.
"The regulation before the court today is a most outrageous
intrusion on the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment,"
Dlott wrote. "First, it denies private speakers access to
what the city concedes is the 'widest of audiences.' Second,
it replaces private speech with a city-sponsored display that
'promote(s) the city's specific governmental interests.' And
third, it forbids those who might dissent from voicing their
opposition on Fountain Square on any comparable forum."
Dlott ruled the square was designed to be an open forum,
a place where people with different points of view can express
themselves in the heart of the city.
"The city of Cincinnati may not relegate private expression
on Fountain Square to times when fewer people are known to
listen, and it may not tell those who wish to speak that they
may do so, but only where fewer people will hear them," Dlott
ruled. "Throughout the year Fountain Square must remain for
Cincinnati what Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park is for London:
a symbol of democracy alive."
But the vehemence of Dlott's language didn't change city
council's mind; within hours the city filed an appeal.
"I get frustrated when federal judges run the city," Luken
said.
City council acted in response to public requests to do
something about the way Fountain Square is used, according
to Luken.
"This is one of those situations that you're damned if you
do, damned if you don't," he said.
At the city's request, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
issued a stay of Dlott's order. But Justice Stevens reversed
that decision, ordering the city to allow the menorah. The ruling
came Nov. 29, the first day of Hanukkah this year.
The avowed purpose of the new ordinance restricting the
use of Fountain Square -- economic development -- also got
short shrift from the federal court. Luken said the ordinance
was designed to control the square in order to maximize enjoyment
and profitability.
But Mezibov dismissed the idea that the city's holiday display
would bring people flocking downtown.
"If trees were the answer, everybody would be flocking to
the forest and not downtown Cincinnati," he said.
Dlott found the city's economic argument unconvincing. Banning
religious or political expression doesn't help the economy,
she said.
"It is unclear how a flat ban on private speech at any time
of the year promotes tourism, stimulates the Cincinnati business
economy, increases employment opportunities, promotes the
expansion of the population residing in Cincinnati, or advances
any of the interests set forth in (the municipal code)," Dlott
wrote.
The judge did, however, acknowledge Fountain Square's unique
position in the city -- all the more reason, she decided,
to throw out the new restrictions.
"The city has attempted to monopolize the most important
forum in Cincinnati during the time of year when it is most
visited," she wrote. "There is no venue for speech in Cincinnati
which compares to Fountain Square, particularly during the
holiday season, and there is no ample alternative channel
of communication available to plaintiffs."
Dlott was present Dec. 2 when the menorah was erected on
the square. -- Maria Rogers
Back to Top
Box
Me In: Music boxed sets invade the market just in time for
the holidays
This shopping season may be more challenging than most if
you're trying to find a special musical collection for someone
on your list.
That's because where most years have yielded a bumper crop of
boxed sets, 2002 lacks the usual number of choices. In fact,
the deep vaults of America's recording industry produced only
about a half-dozen boxes this year that deserve major consideration.
The good news is because the best boxed sets cut across
a wide range of genres, there's a good chance one of these
releases just might be in tune with your needs.
· The Band -- The Last Waltz (Rhino/Warner
Bros. Records)
For years, this farewell concert by the original lineup
of The Band has widely been considered the greatest live record
ever released. And that was with an original album that omitted
a large number of performances. The new four-CD set adds more
than a dozen performances from the marathon concert, plus
another half-dozen tracks from rehearsals and jams -- including
such memorable tracks as a performance of the hit song, "The
Weight," featuring The Band only (the track originally was
omitted in favor of the soundstage recording with The Staple
Singers); a wonderful take of "Caledonia" with Muddy Waters;
and two songs featuring Joni Mitchell: "Shadows and Light"
and "Furry Sings the Blues." There have been other stellar
and historic live records -- James Brown's Live at The
Apollo and Woodstock, for example. Yet with a lineup
that not only features The Band -- truly one of the best groups
in Rock history -- but guests such as Bob Dylan, Waters, Neil
Young and Eric Clapton, it's hard to argue that any concert
recording is more essential than The Last Waltz. And
now that recording is better than ever.
· Yes -- In a Word: Yes (1969- ) (Rhino/Elektra
Records)
The Progressive Rock genre has produced plenty of indulgent,
bloated and lyrically obtuse music. But at their best, Yes
managed to strike a winning balance between musical ambition,
instrumental complexity and tunefulness. This five-disc set
wisely focuses nearly two discs of music on a two-year period
that produced three of the finest Progressive Rock albums
ever -- The Yes Album and Fragile, both from
1971, and 1972's Close to the Edge. The rest of Yes'
career -- which has seen so many lineup changes that it takes
a scorecard to keep track -- has been spotty. Fortunately,
the many lesser Yes albums (Drama, Tormato and
Union) are represented by only a smattering of tracks,
while the poppier, radio-friendly early 1980s lineup fronted
by Trevor Rabin gets an appropriate airing with seven tracks,
including the hit "Owner of the Lonely Heart."
· Dwight Yoakam -- Reprise Please Baby: The Warner
Bros. Years (Rhino/Reprise Records)
For a brief time in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it seemed
that Dwight Yoakam just might be the singer/songwriter who
could keep Country music connected to its roots with his rocking
and swinging brand of Country. Songs such as "Honky Tonk Man,"
"Little Ways," "Streets of Bakersfield," and "Ain't That Lonely
Yet" were among a stream of terrific Top 10 singles. But as
the '90s wore on, watered down Pop Country took over the airwaves,
and Yoakam's hit parade slowed to a crawl. Country is worse
off for ignoring this highly talented songwriter and performer.
This four-CD set proves that Yoakam's music has remained consistently
strong -- and true to its roots -- regardless of Country's
trends. All the hits, plus a bevy of fine album tracks are
included. And a fourth disc of unreleased studio and live
material makes Reprise Please Baby worth owning even
for fans who already own several of Yoakam's CDs.
· Various Artists -- Soul Spectacular: The Greatest
Soul Hits of All Time (Rhino Records)
To call this four-CD set the greatest Soul music collection
ever is no small statement, considering there have been several
worthy Soul anthologies issued over the years. Yet this set,
packed with 90 songs, does seem like the most comprehensive
collection from the Golden Age of Soul. The greats are all here
-- Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Otis Redding, Aretha
Franklin, The Temptations and many more. But the strength
of this set is in the choice of essential songs from artists
who never attained legendary status. Songs such as Johnnie Taylor's
"Who's Making Love," Major Lance's "The Monkey Time," the Soul
Survivors'
"Expressway to Your Heart" and J.J. Jackson's "But It's
Alright" show just how deep the well of Soul talent was in
the late 1960s and early '70s. This is sweet Soul music, indeed.
· Charlie Christain -- The Genius of the Electric
Guitar (Columbia/Legacy Records)
Charlie Christian's entire career of recorded music lasted
just two years before tuberculosis took his life in 1942 at
age 25. But his work with the Benny Goodman Sextet and Septet
inspired an entire generation of guitarists, not only in Jazz,
but every other idiom. This four-CD set features every recording
made by Christian -- including eight tracks that have never
before surfaced in any form. Because Goodman was the bandleader,
this collection also serves as a fine exploration of his music
during this fruitful two-year period. But there's no overlooking
Christian, who created a new language for the guitar during
his all-too-brief groundbreaking career.
· Enya -- Only Time: The Collection (Reprise Records)
New Age music has received copious criticism -- much of
it deserved -- as the musical equivalent of sonic wallpaper.
The genre's most enduring star, Enya, hasn't been exempt from
the vilification. And to be sure, her lush melodies and serene
vocals tend to blend together into dreamy soundscapes, especially
on a collection with as many songs as this four-CD set. But
as Only Time demonstrates, there are also moments of
true beauty in Enya's songs, and her music has more depth
and substance than the music made by many of her New Age peers.
-- Alan Sculley
Back to Top
To
Do: Harlem on Our Mind
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It is nearly a cliché to exalt the life-saving qualities
music affords young black children. But 34 years ago when
BOYS CHOIR OF HARLEM (BCH) founder Walter Turnbull
called for a choir rehearsal in the basement of Ephesus Church,
surely he envisioned music as a way up and out for Harlem's
babies. Twenty boys showed up to sing Turnbull's dream into
reality.
All these years later, BCH is firmly and rightfully ensconced
in the canon of the thousand-year-old tradition of the boy
choir. It's also entered the lexicon of our language. Check
your dictionary for BCH and find it synonymous with urban
elegance, resilience, diligence, Striver's Row, international
acclaim and higher learning.
BCH now comprises an artistic and educational arm encompassing
the Girls Choir of Harlem and the Choir Academy of Harlem,
an alternative, college-prep public school with an enrollment
of 600-plus students.
Think Boys Choir of Harlem and conjure red-robed, white-collared
and falsetto-voiced black boys backing such disparate icons
as Classical divas Luciano Pavarotti, Kathleen Battle and
Jessye Norman, R&B stalwarts Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson
and master composer of the modern stage Stephen Sondheim.
We've seen them everywhere from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
to the White House and the United Nations. They've welcomed
South African President Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul
II.
Lucky us.
The Cincinnati Arts Association brings the BCH to the Aronoff's
Procter & Gamble Hall Dec. 11 at 7:30 for the group's trademark
holiday program. Expect to be floored by selections from Messiah,
Gloria, traditional spirituals, Gospel chestnuts and secular
Christmas favorites.
The Boys Choir of Harlem: The gift that keeps giving. 513-241-SHOW.
(See Holiday.) -- Kathy Y. Wilson
Back to Top
Consuming the Holidays: CityBeat
writers share tips for giving and food-related holiday memories
 |
By Woodrow J. Hinton
|
Food and drink are intimately entwined with the year-end
celebrations. For this holiday issue, we asked CityBeat's
dining writers to conjure up some thoughts, recommendations
or memories about dining, drinking and the holidays. It's
a mixed bag of insights -- satiric, cynical and sincere
a bit like opening unanticipated presents. Salud!
What's Your Wine?
Everyone has one: the stockpiled gift item for unexpected
situation. "You can never have too many," the giver muses.
My mother delights in matching wind-up toys with personalities;
I derive joy from selecting the perfect wine bottle to befit
the recipient.
Restaurant servers sometimes find themselves, in idle moments,
talking about the guests, whispering and snickering, making
up stories about their childhoods, love lives, professions
and phobias. Bets are often made about the wine they'll choose.
My server friends helped me come up with profiles of several
wine-personality associations. Perhaps these shameless stereotypes
will help you pick a bottle as a gift this holiday season.
Chardonnay. Opulent and creamy, this wine is a natural
accessory for those who adorn themselves in fur and gold jewelry.
For them, rave is a hair product, not the last time they did
ecstasy. They celebrate Sweetest Day and remember the names
of their stylist's children. Love: Kathy Lee Gifford, unconditionally.
Despise: People who don't.
Pinot Grigio is a magnet for eccentric personalities.
Drinkers still wear fanny packs (and refer to the butt as
a "fanny"). They carry duck-head umbrellas and always forget
what day of the week it is. Love: Gilligan's Island reruns,
exotic pets and the shape of their bellybuttons. Despise:
Sports and breakfast foods.
Pinot Noir drinkers wear all black and have thick-rimmed
glasses. They include their middle initial in their signature.
They sleep in the nude and are suspicious of anyone who smiles
too much. Love: Film noir, thunderstorms and cracking their
backs. Despise: Screaming babies, bowling alleys and bad grammar.
Merlot drinkers only have sex in the missionary position.
They make their beds as soon as they get up, wear all-cotton
underwear and always wish for world peace on their birthdays.
Love: Blue. Despise: People who dye their hair blue.
Zinfandel in a glass is best gripped by a callused
hand. Zin drinkers are rock climbers and skydivers. They smoke
Marlboro Reds and carry pocket knives. Love: Garlic, dogs
and near-death experiences. Despise: People who didn't know
that zinfandel could be red.
Syrah/Shiraz's leathery texture attracts quiet, spiritual
creatures. They wear moccasins and long underwear. Listen
to Coltrane, drive old Volvo station wagons and are still
living on canned goods from Y2K. Love: The sound of the teakettle
whistling. Despise: The sound of their voice on the answering
machine.
Cabernet Sauvignon, round and full-bodied, is the
wine of choice for those who say "you only live once" after
everything they do. They wear custom-made suits, drive fast
cars and get pedicures year-round. They have too many hobbies
and are experts on everything. Love: Cigars, mahogany and
expensive electronic equipment. Despise: Asking for directions.
-- Emily Lieb
The Ties That Bind ... and Gag
 |
By Woodrow J. Hinton
|
None of us are deterred by the sign on the front door of
my parent's house: "If we are drinking heavily by tomorrow
night and insist that you stay a few extra days, please remember
we don't mean it."
Holidays are family days and, for better or worse, provide
the best memories. I'm the oldest child in a family of 10
(not Catholic, just fertile) who reside all over the U.S.,
so it's a rare event for us all to connect in our hometown
of Cincinnati. When we do, with extended families in tow,
it resembles a farce that Woody Allen and Monty Python might
have teamed up on and abandoned mid-production, hence the
sign on the front door.
The stage is set with a main dining table for 20, plus a
half dozen additional card tables set up in various corners.
The tables are laden with a bounty of food that my parents
remember as our "favorites": broccoli that can no longer be
called "fresh" as it is now limp, pale yellow and expired
under a sea of Cheese Wiz; canned green beans and almonds
dry-heaving in bread crumbs, pearl onions and peas in white
sauce (rather a pale blue from the skim milk); Ambrosia, the
marshmallow, coconut, mandarin orange and pineapple salad
(referred to as "Amnesia" in our family because of the diabetic
coma and subsequent loss of memory from more than one helping);
and the guest-of-honor: a 32-pound turkey that has been roasting
for a week in the oven so that all potential bacteria are
annihilated.
It's the cast of characters that makes the play. There's
my brother who announced he wouldn't be joining us for The
Nutcracker because any guy wearing tights is "fagola,"
and we are all "homo-lovin' queers" for attending. A fight
broke out later when we discovered my grandmother thumbing
through an issue of Blueboy that she found under his
bed as she was retrieving her hidden stash of Jaigermeister.
How about my 10-year-old nephew who shaved the dog with
a Lady Bick. Or my 16-year-old, light-fingered niece who convinced
us to find unique hiding places for our valuables. And my
aunt who hid hers in the cavernous ass of the turkey. My cousin
who gave everyone beautifully gift-wrapped boxes of primo
marijuana. And me, a chef who decided a bitchin' batch of
brownies was just what the family needed for a little healing.
My parents insisted we all stay, and we still laugh about
how we inhaled the leftovers and played charades for 48 hours.
-- Donna Covrett
Rolling with the Memories
My holiday cooking commenced last week with Mom's recipe
for Thanksgiving dinner rolls. My itty-bitty kitchen became
a miniature bakery. I look forward to it; but this baking,
like so many things about the holidays, is tinged with emotion.
Holiday cooking can be both fun and redolent with memories
(the two don't necessarily go together). Making the rolls
this Thanksgiving was hard for me -- not that the recipe is
complex, they're just standard yeast rolls. But reading the
recipe is a little painful, written in my dead mother's beautiful
handwriting, which evokes her so vividly that I sometimes
tear up just looking at it.
Also the recipe itself is a literal transcription of the
verbal instructions Mom's own mother gave her. It begins,
"Sweetheart, I take about a cup of milk ..." and goes on from
there. It's the kind of homey cooking they did in the old
days -- for example, we're asked to mix things until a certain
texture is achieved, rather than issued any very specific
measurements.
But the biggest difficulty I had making the rolls for Thanksgiving
was remembering the last time I made them: Last Easter, here
in my little galley kitchen and in the company of my sister-in-law,
Camilla, who died in June.
"Sianie, let's make your mother's rolls for Easter," she
said enthusiastically, although I was skeptical she had enough
energy for such a prolonged and tiring endeavor. But she was
cheerfully adamant, and so she came over and gave me instructions,
leaning her bony body wearily against the counter, watching
me mix, knead, and bake. Then we sat together in my dining
room and listened to Joni Mitchell records while the apartment
became perfumed with the scent of fresh rolls baking.
Camilla fills every corner of my kitchen, to this day. She
outfitted it for me this spring before I moved to town, just
a few months before her death. She found me the apartment
and stocked it liberally before my arrival: towels, cleaning
supplies, furniture, food in the fridge, down to salt and
pepper, napkins and extra light bulbs.
When I cook in there, she frequently comes to mind. But
she'll be with me in force when I get out the milk and flour
and mixing bowl and that old recipe to make the rolls. Maybe
they'll taste better for being spiced with those bittersweet
memories of loving family cooks. -- Sian Gibby
Back to Top
Frogs,
Ghosts, Reindeer: Holiday shows offer everything from sweet
to sardonic
 |
Photo By Ryan Kurtz
|
Bill Schwarber makes a big impression on kids in The
Frog Princess at ETC.
|
Bill
Schwarber's been here before. It's a bear of a job, playing
the Tsar in THE FROG PRINCESS at Ensemble Theatre of
Cincinnati (ETC), but he knew what he was getting into -- bear
suit and all -- because he's done it before. In 1997, to be
exact, when ETC presented The Frog Princess, the first
musical collaboration by the local team of David Kisor (music)
and Joe McDonagh (lyrics and script). ETC has staged other fairytale
musicals since then, but none has been more beloved than this
story of a handsome prince who learns to be king by getting
beyond the obvious and believing in what's important. Schwarber,
as the prince's selfish father, is the only returning cast member
from the original production.
"It's a patriarchal society," Schwarber says of the world
of The Frog Princess, "and the Tsar is a little self-centered
at the beginning, until he gives up his son so he can find
his own happiness. Then he's like any other parent, letting
his child go: Until he's really ready to let him go, he hasn't
really grown up either."
Schwarber can identify with this at a personal level: One
of his real-life sons is getting married in mid-December.
(Schwarber will take off a night from The Frog Princess
for the wedding: His role will be covered by the show's stage
manager Buzz Davis, a veteran local actor.)
Schwarber likes the way the show has been deepened and made
more spiritual since 1997. That's affected his role, a man
he calls "a bit of a Pillsbury Doughboy." The oversized actor
also has the fun of acting like a bear when the Tsar is magically
converted into the animal: "I know it's corny," he says, "but
I actually think like a bear. I get this vague expression
that the most important things are food and water and comfort.
It's a pretty uncomplicated kind of thinking."
It must work, because kids who see the show love to meet
him after the final curtain. Schwarber enjoys talking with
kids -- since mid-November more than 1,200 from the neighborhood
have seen free performances at ETC. "It's really accessible
and exciting. Somebody wants to shake your hand. It's a moment
of discovery for these kids," Schwarber recounts. "They see
you're just a guy like anybody else, somebody's big fat dad
and a nice person." Those reactions keep Schwarber coming
back for more. The Frog Princess opens this week and
continues through Dec. 29. Tickets: 513- 421-3555.
But don't stop there: December is full of choices. Already
up and running is the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival's production
of JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL (see Acting
Out). The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's A CHRISTMAS
CAROL, perhaps the most popular local holiday show --
and with good reason -- opens Thursday. Joneal Joplin is back
as Scrooge, and Cincinnati Entertainment Award (CEA) winner
Dale Hodges takes on a new role this year, playing the Ghost
of Christmas Past.
My personal taste runs to the ironic and satiric, so I'm
drawn to productions in that vein. If you're a fan of sardonic
public radio commentator David Sedaris, head straight for
THE SANTALAND DIARIES, staged for a second year by
New Edgecliff Theatre (Thursday-Dec. 22, 513-763-3844). Actor
David Scott Morgan reprises the role that earned him a 2002
CEA nomination, that of a 33-year-old man who finds holiday
work as an elf in a New York City department store. NET has
moved to Newport's The Artery Theater (913 Monmouth St.),
an intimate place where humor will come through loud and clear.
In a similar vein, you can drain all the sweetness right
out of your eggnog with Jeff Goode's THE EIGHT: REINDEER
MONOLOGUES, presented by Queen City Off Broadway at Plush,
the lounge upstairs at Carol's on Main (825 Main St., Dec.
13-21, 513-681-2043). It's a dirty little tale of scandal
and intrigue from the perspective of Dasher, Dancer and the
rest of the motley crew. Here's a tip: If you bring a ticket
stub from Reindeer Monologues or Santaland Diaries
to the other's box office, you'll get a $2 discount.
Laughs are available elsewhere, too: Shadowbox Cabaret has
cracked open the holiday spirits in two shows. HOLIDAY
HOOPLA 2002 with monologues, sketch comedy and Rock tunes
runs through Dec. 29 (859-581-7625). The show includes a taste
of Sedaris (from Holidays on Ice) and Goode (one Reindeer
Monologue), and my own favorite, The Santa Babies, three
schlocky lounge singers belting out holiday tunes. Shadowbox
also offers THE HOLIDAY LUNCHBOX, a 45-minute midday
show (Dec. 12-14 and 19-21) that's perfect for December office
parties.
Northern Kentucky is clearly the place for laughs. The comedy
troupe Friends of Lucy is yukking it up with 'TWAS A LAUGH
BEFORE CHRISTMAS at The Monmouth Theater (636 Monmouth
St., Newport). Their shows are for adults with sketches like
"A Mike Brown Christmas Carol" and one that turns Bette Davis
into Santa. (Dec. 13-14, 20-21, 513-588-0513).
Want more? In Dayton you can have a slice of THE WONDER
BREAD YEARS, a one man-show about growing up in the '60s
and '70s, at Dayton's Human Race Theatre Company (The Loft,
N. Main St., through Dec. 22; 937-228-3630). BLACK NATIVITY,
a Gospel song-play, is presented by the Cincinnati Black Theatre
Company at the Cincinnati Art Museum (Dec. 19-22, 513-241-6060).
And something for the kids? How about THE HOBBIT, presented
by The Village Players (8 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas),
a one-hour version of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins. It
opens Friday and continues through Dec. 15 with several matinees
and early performances (859-441-0122).
Seeing live theater is a great holiday tradition, so get
your tickets now: These shows often sell out. -- Rick Pender
Back to Top
Fine Tuning:
Concerts offer joy to the world
 |
I am hereby declaring the upcoming weekend to be the Cincinnati
Holiday Music Festival. You have a choice of concerts every
day, beginning Friday evening at 8 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church in Kenwood, where CINCINNATI BAROQUE will present
Handel's Messiah with a small chorus and chamber orchestra
(that's the way Handel wrote it 300 years ago). Tickets: 513-351-1615.
... On Saturday you can get your dose of holiday tunes from
the FEAST OF CAROLS at CCM's Corbett Auditorium (5
p.m., repeating Sunday at 2 and 5 p.m., 513-556-4183). Cincinnati
Baroque moves its Messiah to Memorial Hall (1225 Elm,
Over-the-Rhine) that evening at 8 p.m. If lighter fare is
your choice, you might enjoy the CINCINNATI MEN'S CHORUS
at the Aronoff's Jarson-Kaplan Theater: Their program is "An
Animated Christmas," with tunes from animated holiday specials,
in addition to a selection of music from the holidays of Kwanzaa,
Hanukkah and more. The program is Saturday at 7 p.m., repeating
2 p.m. on Sunday (513-542-2626) ... Sunday's big event will
be the May Festival's CAROLFEST at Music Hall (Over-the-Rhine,
at 1 and 4 p.m.; 513-581-3300) with the May Festival Chorus,
which includes the chance for the big audience to sing-along
with traditional favorites. Elsewhere the CINCINNATI CHORAL
SOCIETY, accompanied by a chamber orchestra, will perform
Mozart's Advent classic, "Solemn Vespers of a Confessor."
The program is at 2:30 p.m. at Mason United Methodist Church
(513-544-4705) ... One of the city's premiere choral groups,
the professional VOCAL ARTS ENSEMBLE, is offering holiday
concerts this month: St. Boniface Catholic Church, Northside
(Dec. 13, 8 p.m.); Athenaeum of Ohio, 6616 Beechmont Ave.
(Dec. 14, 8 p.m.) and St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 10345
Montgomery Road (Dec. 15, 3 p.m.). Tickets: 513-559-0000.
If you prefer to stay home and hear these guys, the Vocal
Arts Ensemble has just released a new holiday recording, AN
AMERICAN CHRISTMAS, with works by American composers,
including Eric Whitacre, Stephen Paulus, Morten Lauridsen
and others. I especially enjoyed a selection of 10 Southwestern
carols and lullabies arranged by Conrad Susa. Don't forget,
too, that the May Festival released a nice recording a year
ago, Christmas with the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus;
it's $15 from the CSO's Sales Office in Memorial Hall (1229
Elm Street, 513-381-3300) or various local book and music
stores. ... Other holiday treats for your calendar: Erich
Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops present their seasonal spectacular,
featuring narration by Nick Clooney, plus a bevy of singers
and dancers. Performances at Music Hall on Dec. 13-14 at 8
p.m. and Dec. 15 at 2 and 7 p.m. (513-381-3300). The musicians
change their jackets for the Cincinnati Sym-phony's HOME
FOR THE HOLIDAYS at the Taft Theatre, Dec. 19-22, including
a bunch of matinee shows, conducted by John Morris Russell.
This program offers "larger-than-life" personalities -- Wally
the Pig and Helaine the Hippo, for instance -- that are intended
to appeal to kids. (Personally, I'm keeping my distance.)
There'll be some fancy drumming by THE BUCKET BOYZ
and melodies by Celtic band SILVER ARM. Tickets: 513-381-3300.
-- Rick Pender
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Look Here: Seeing is believing this
holiday season
'Tis the season for holiday gift giving, so we dedicate this
column to art that's fit for giving. Why not make a pledge
this year to buy bona fide artwork for everyone on
your list? (Isn't it time your brother took down that Led
Zeppelin poster?) Good local art is often surprisingly affordable,
and often increases in value over time. Many galleries feature
"giftable" art this time of year -- art with a price tag that's
light on the wallet. Still others feature unique, holiday-themed
gift items for sale. You're guaranteed to score with anyone
on your list with a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Here's a peek
at some of the best, with a special nod toward the many different
urban and suburban neighborhoods where CityBeat readers
live and shop. ... On Saturday and Sunday you can find art
to give this year that won't bust your budget. ART ACHES
is a new event debuting this weekend at Plush, the upstairs
lounge at Carol's On Main (825 Main St., Downtown) showcasing
works by more than 15 local artists -- paintings, jewelry,
sculpture, stained glass and more -- all priced at $100 or
less. Created by AMANDA HOGAN CARLISLE of ArtWorks
and local music man PUCK DUNAWAY of Plush's popular
Girls & Boys night, Art Aches enables young, emerging and
established artists a venue for their work. With the sounds
of Brit Pop as a backdrop, Carlisle and Dunaway will host
bimonthly exhibitions at Plush (they'll be back in February).
Carlisle told us the opportunity to promote local arts was
too good to pass up. "I'm excited to bring something positive
and new to the downtown area which is beneficial for the working
artist in Cincinnati." Admission is $2. Hours: Saturday 9
p.m.2 a.m.; Sunday starts at 4 p.m. ... Just up the
street, another holiday art sale will be shaking at BASE
GALLERY (1225 Main St., Over-the-Rhine) on Saturday night
as the seventh annual holiday bazaar, Biz Arre, offers
up holiday giftables by more than a dozen artists who comprise
the Main Street co-op. For one night only, everything is priced
at $50 or less. A.TIMO.T, a painter and one of Base's
self-proclaimed "oldest" members, told us that bartering between
artisans is always an option. Hours: Saturday 7 p.m.midnight.
Info: 513-721-2273. ... Thank goodness for "Small Works"!
Especially for those of us with small budgets. Small Works
of All Kinds at SUZANNA TERRILL GALLERY (1315 Main
St., Over-the-Rhine) is particularly wallet-friendly, so come
ready to buy. The show runs through Dec. 28, and offers a
wide range of artworks for holiday gift giving. Even if you
find yourself snow-logged in the suburbs, a trip to Suzanna
Terrill Gallery is always worth the drive, and metered parking
is always available, so you can forego the usual mess of holiday
traffic. Hours: WednesdaySunday 16 p.m. Info:
513-665-4500 ... And if small works are your thing, they will
have you seeing red (holiday red, that is) at LINDA SCHWARTZ
GALLERY. The contemporary gallery opens Friday night with
Small Works III: Red. The third annual exhibition has
become a holiday tradition, with Schwartz's gallery artists
creating works no larger than 20 inches square, sized and
priced for giving. Schwartz describes the different executions
as "red, really red, virtually red, conceptually red and arguably
red." New, unique works of all media by artists including
JOEY VERSOZA, KEVIN T. KELLY and JOEL OTTERSON
explore and exploit the color red in over 20 contemporary,
fun pieces. Hours: TuesdaySaturday 10 a.m.5 p.m.
Opening: Friday 69 p.m. Info: 513-241-4202 or www.lsgallery.com
... Our next stop for holiday cheer? MILLER GALLERY
(2715 Erie Ave., Hyde Park). The Hyde Park mainstay rings
in the season with its 11th annual holiday exhibition, Objects
of Desire XI, featuring original decorative art objects
to give as gifts. A range of ceramics, jewelry, sculpture,
decoupage, assemblages and glass pieces will be priced to
sell. The show runs through Jan. 4. Hours: Monday-Saturday
10 a.m.5:30 p.m.; Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.8 p.m.
Info: 513-871-4420 or www.miller-gallery.com
... For 18 years, LAURA PAUL GALLERY (5110 Montgomery
Road, Kenwood) was a downtown fixture. Recently, the business
-- one part art gallery, one part frame shop, one part posh
gift store -- moved from its home in downtown's Dixie Terminal
Arcade to the popular shopping area of the Kenwood Galleria.
If you find yourself in the crazy throng of shoppers heading
toward the KENWOOD TOWNE CENTRE this season, stop first
at Laura Paul Gallery. You just might find the gifts you need
for everyone on your list. Prices range from stocking-stuffer
budgets on up. Info: 513-651-5885. ... The BROWNSTONE GALLERY
(848 Lincoln Ave., Walnut Hills) opens its doors for its annual
holiday exhibition, featuring original artwork artist-in-residence
JOEL THOMPSON, along with limited and open edition
prints from local and nationally renowned African-American
artists. The holiday exhibit will feature intarsia
-- mosaics inlaid in wood -- as well as framed reproductions
of Black Americana commercial art. Owner VERDALE BENJAMIN
calls Brownstone "a private salon gallery," meaning the gallery
is typically open to the public only by appointment. The holiday
show is a brief exception. Hours: Saturday 59 p.m. Info:
513-221-5591. -- Kate Brauer and Alissa Cone
Back to Top
Writer's Block: Local authors offer
merry treats for the holidays
 |
Santa has more than enough copies of Michael Crichton's Prey
and Anne Rice's Blackwood Farm in his big bag of goodies.
But he's a bit lacking in the local author department. It's
not his fault: He has a whole globe to cover, and he can't
be expected to cart around lesser-known titles by writers
indigenous to every hamlet and 'burb he visits. So consider
me Santa's little elf, spreading the cheer of local authors
everywhere. Well, at least here in the Tristate. And if Santa
doesn't have the following selections in stock, check out
the local section at Joseph-Beth Booksellers or let your fingers
do the typing at Amazon. ... Ah, the glory days of Cincinnati.
I'm not exactly sure what those were (or if they even existed),
but Porkopolis does have some jewels in its history. And I'm
not talking bacon. I'm a little young to recall the true heyday
of Coney Island, but author CHARLES J. JACQUES JR.
truly captures the spirit. CINCINNATI'S CONEY ISLAND,
as the book is straightforwardly called, collects old photos
and illustrations documenting what was once dubbed "The Favorite
Resort of People." Jacques' exposition adds to the tale, but
it's the flood of pictures -- and pictures of floods -- that
best tells the story. ... THOMAS R. SCHIFF has broadened
his focus for his latest photographic collection, PANORAMIC
OHIO. Schiff traveled throughout the state with his Hulcherama
360 Panoramic Camera to wish the Buckeye State a very merry
early birthday. In time for next year's bicentennial celebration,
the book serves as a crash course in Ohio's small towns and
big cities. Like his earlier Panoramic Cincinnati,
the book alternates between the somber and the silly. The
auto swim, with its bright colors, festive mood and unique
setting, sails in as a personal favorite. ... ZEBRAKILLA's
voice come through loud and clear in MANNISH, a collection
of his poetry. There's depth here that goes far beyond the
printed page, and I'm not solely referring to themes and metaphors.
Mannish becomes more than a reading exercise; it's
a vocal experience. Or it could be. The words flow so readily,
in particular in "Sonny" or "Creative Beautiful Inspiration,"
that they can almost be heard. Whether they're spoken, performed
or rapped, the poems are primed for CD distribution (if only
Zebrakilla would do so). Zebrakilla is not a child who should
be seen and not heard. ... RUSSELL E. SAVAGE JR. also
has plenty to say. And so does the "Dear John"
 |
letter integral to the plot of his debut novel, DOC RANDALL'S
REVENGE. Only Savage knows for sure how his tour of duty
in Vietnam affected him, but he's taken his experiences and
used them loosely to craft his tale that spans 30 years. Granted,
the subject matter will not appeal to everyone, but Savage's
knowledge should enrich his words enough to make it rewarding
for those willing to take the journey. ... RON HOUSTON
has raised the bar. Or rather he has come out from behind
the bar for his collection of stories, TALES FROM THE SATELLITE.
And again, an author's real-life has paved the way into literature.
Hey, write what you know, right? The mixologist-turned-author
lets the walls of his imaginary bar talk with tales of humor
and sorrow. For more info, go to www.gorillaworks-publishing.com
... Something's not quite right with TOWNSEND FINNEY.
He's written an utterly bizarre children's book, void of pictures,
in which everyone dies. That's right. No happily ever after
here. DISASTER RUNS AMOK is a completely twisted read,
more suitable for adults and slightly older children. (Warning:
Do not let your 5-year-old read this at home alone.) The plot,
as is the case for all children's books, is simple enough:
A series of related events wipes out a small town with some
ridiculous actions and reactions. The book is brief and more
amusing if you read it without knowing more. I can definitely
see it as having something of a cult following, but for some
reason I don't see Santa giving it his seal of approval. --
Brandon Brady
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The Show Must Go on: DVDs might be
the gift of choice for the holidays
 |
The Simpsons Complete Second Season is just one of
many TV choices available on DVD this holiday season.
|
In 2003 we will see a rapid phase-out of videocassettes,
as DVDs have now become the preferred format for pre-recorded
entertainment. Sure, it stinks having to change systems, but
the studios are trying to ease our pain (and loosen our wallets)
with extras and other fun bits. More and more TV shows are
coming out on DVD, but not at the same pace as feature films.
Still, there are plenty of solid choices for your gift-giving
wants and needs this holiday season. Starting chronologically
...
Season One: I Love Lucy. The great thing about this
program was having a leading character who was Hispanic. Sadly,
that did nothing to change the lily-white landscape of the
small screen at the time. It wasn't until the '70s when that
wall fell. Actually Lucy told CBS that either Desi (her real
life husband) got the role or she would just go out on tour
with him. The brass buckled. Season One comes in four-episode
chunks, and there is also a 50th anniversary special.
Mary Tyler Moore The Complete First Season. Coming
off the rather popular Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler
Moore made an indelible mark on sitcom history in 1970. Extras
include an 87-minute documentary on the making of the show's
first season. There's also a trivia game based on the series.
It's still strange to see Gavin MacLeod playing the sharp-witted
Murray as opposed to The Love Boat's benevolent Capt.
Stubing.
In a move of questionable taste, Baretta is now available
on DVD. No extras here though. Maybe they could package it
with O.J.'s Naked Gun movie.
Another odd release is Planet of the Apes, the TV
series. It starred James "Makin' It/I'm a Pepper" Naughton,
and must now be some sort of cult classic. Guess if you have
the movies and Tim Burton's "re-imagining," you or the Planet
fan in your family should have this one.
And now for something completely different. It's no surprise
that Monty Python's Flying Circus is on DVD. You can
buy the whole collection, which includes some never-before-seen
sketches, pulled from the BBC archives. Beware. Sometimes
there's a good reason as to why they were never seen. In a
related release, there's Fawlty Towers. All 12 episodes
come in this set, along with outtakes and a tour of Torquay,
where the show's exteriors were shot.
MTV has also gotten into the DVD game with several Real
World releases. The most interesting is probably Season
One. This was 1992, well before the modern era of reality
TV. These folks truly had no idea what they were getting into.
MTV pioneered this genre, but so did this particular Real
World cast. As a bonus, you get stuff they couldn't show
on basic cable.
Paramount is right on target to have all seven seasons of
Star Trek: The Next Generation out before Christmas.
Season Six, just out, features Brent "Data" Spiner singing
"Old Yellow Eyes is Back." Still no detailed printed episode
guide though. Most illogical.
The Simpsons Complete Second Season is, of course,
highly recommended. This contains the first "Treehouse of
Horror," Marge's attempt to quash cartoon violence, and Mr.
Burns' campaign for governor. Pure comic genius.
Wasting no time, Malcolm in the Middle made its DVD
debut a few weeks back. The First Complete Season contains
an extended pilot episode as well as the obligatory commentaries
from the creative team. Deleted scenes are also included.
The best part is you didn't have the irritating experience
of buying the VHS and then turning around and replacing it.
A very savvy release is 24. This is certainly a program
that lends itself well to a complete set. The big plus? An
alternate ending. Very cool.
The fans lobbied, so they got it. My So Called Life:
The Complete Series is available for around 60 smackers.
Several Web-based efforts to get this one out finally worked,
and studios have hinted that similar campaigns could successfully
be waged for other cult hits.
The highly acclaimed, but under-watched Sportsnight
is available in a complete season set, as well. It will
be interesting to see how this does at the register. Perhaps
studios and networks will take more chances if they think
they can recoup some costs on the back end with a DVD release.
The choices continue to grow, yet there are still a lot
of series that have come out on home video that have yet to
see the light of DVD. Keep those cards, letters and Internet
votes coming. -- P.F. Wilson
Back to Top
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