Sean Rhiney

Sean Rhiney's Latest Articles

Q&A with NEA Chair Rocco Landesman

By Sean Rhiney

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Arts + Culture

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September 28, 2010

On Tuesday, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) chairman Rocco Landesman is coming to Cincinnati to talk arts at the invitation of ArtsWave (the arts supporting organization formerly known as the Fine Arts Fund). Since joining the NEA in 2009, Landesman has been on the road discussing the role of arts and culture as a component of sustainable and livable communities. His trip to Cincinnati will mirror visits he has made across the country to learn how 'art works' in neighborhoods and towns. Prior to his visit to Cincinnati he took some time to answer our questions about his vision for the arts and the role public institutions have in supporting organizations, programs, and individuals who make 'art work.'

Q&A with MidPoint’s Dan McCabe

By Sean Rhiney

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Arts + Culture

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September 21, 2010

When the Midpoint Music Festival kicks off this Thursday, Dan McCabe will be a ubiquitous presence. As producing director of the three night original music fest, McCabe is responsible for seeing that over 230+ performances run smoothly while he troubleshoots sound issues, entertains music industry insiders, and ensures that the festival, now in its ninth year, goes off without a hitch. Tall order for most but if anyone was built to fill these shoes it's McCabe, who booked seminal indie rock club Sudsy Malones and runs his own booking and promotions outfit, Thigmotrope.  McCabe sat down with Soapbox Managing Editor Sean Rhiney to talk about "getting in the way" of good music, Midpoint's social media enhancements, and future plans for the festival.

Get Down Moses

By Sean Rhiney

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Arts + Culture

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August 24, 2010

Baoku Moses, a native of Nigeria, moved to the Queen City in 2002. Since then the musician, composer, actor, and activist has been a one man cultural attache, spreading West African culture throughout his 'adopted city' via music, fashion, and education.

Serving It Up Family Style

By Sean Rhiney

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Arts + Culture

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July 13, 2010

Darren Phan's childhood journey to the United States began tragically with an escape from Vietnam that ultimately took his father's life. Now the 33 year old Cincinnati restauranteur invokes lessons learned from his family's sacrifices and a lifetime of sharing food across the dining table into his restaurants.

New York Inspired 4U Urban Fashion Finds a New Home In OTR

By Sean Rhiney

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Arts + Culture

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June 15, 2010

When 4U, a new urban fashion boutique in Over-the-Rhine opens in the former Outside space this weekend, its owners, Giovanny Mira and Andy Worley, will mark what they hope to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship with their new neighborhood.

We Are What We Eat: A Look at Our Local Food Ecosystem

By Sean Rhiney

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Arts + Culture

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June 1, 2010

This past week, local thought leaders, urbanists and Soapbox readers got together at UC's Niehoff Urban Studio to break bread and talk about food in the first installment of the Soapbox Speaker Series. What we found out about how we eat, what we eat, and where it all comes from offers important insights into the role food plays in our community.

Feeding the Conversation at forkheartknife

By Sean Rhiney

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General

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May 11, 2010

forkheartknife, the newest addition to Over-the-Rhine's burgeoning food scene, is more than just a catering business and eat-in kitchen. The new spot at the corner of Main Street and Liberty opened by Sierra Laumer and Leah Heisel Grande is really about furthering the community conversation through a love of food and family with a side order of carpe diem for inspiration.

Transplants Breathe New Life Into Cincinnati

By Sean Rhiney

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Architecture + Design

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April 13, 2010

People move to Cincinnati for the cost of living and the family-friendly atmosphere, right? While our cozy neighborhoods and steady real estate market continue to rate high marks nationally, that's the old story about what's bringing transplants to Cincinnati. Forward-thinking companies with an international presence are drawing in many of Cincinnati's newest residents who can't stop talking about Fountain Square, our extensive park system, the Symphony, hot independent restaurants and more once they get here.  Hailing from Minnesota, Los Angeles, Florida, and even Kenya, Soapbox takes a look at four recent transplants and finds out what attracted them to their newly adopted city. 

Cincinnati Wine Entrepreneur Finds Inspiration In Heritage

By Sean Rhiney

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Arts + Culture

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March 9, 2010

Heritage Link Brands is the largest importer of wines from South Africa - and has distinguished itself as an importer of the only black owned family vineyards from that region. The idea for this blend of unique wine offerings and socially conscious importing came from a pair of Procter & Gamble marketing professionals, Selena and Khary Cuffe, who have taken the global lessons learned from their time at P&G to start a business that makes a difference.

Fairey Tale

By Sean Rhiney

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Architecture + Design

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February 9, 2010

Artist Shepard Fairey's rapid ascent in the public eye the past five years is the stuff of fairy tales. But like most 'overnight sensations', the artist perhaps best known to the world at large as the creative designer of the Obama "Hope" poster, spent years honing his craft as a street artist before finding acclaim, including a pivotal stop at the Contemporary Arts Center in 2004 for the Beautiful Losers exhibit. Now Fairey's first solo museum retrospective brings him back to Cincinnati for one of three stops that showcase over twenty years of his groundbreaking print work.