Ashley Moor

Welcome! I am a journalist, editor and communications expert based in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am currently the assistant news editor for the Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun. 

DaytonDailyNews.com •

Celebrate Black History Month with a visit to these Ohio landmarks

Since 1976, Americans have celebrated the achievements of African Americans during Black History Month, occurring during the month of February. With its important role in the Underground Railroad and home base for many prominent African Americans throughout the past few centuries, Ohio boasts many opportunities to celebrate Black History Month.Here’s a look at some of the best places to celebrate Black History Month in Ohio, from the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center in Wilberforce...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

10 Arts & Culture Stories that Made an Impact on Greater Cincinnati in 2025

Cincinnati’s arts and culture scene took some unexpected turns in 2025, and CityBeat was there for all of it — the rise of a beloved local clown, viral greeting cards, exotic pet owners and even the race to host Sundance. Here’s a look back at the stories that defined the city’s arts and culture scene in 2025.

Getting to Know Softmaxplus, the Clown about Town

Cincinnati is home to a famous clown. Beginning in the summer of 2023, author Michael Sawan, aka Softmaxplus, began wearing clown makeu...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

[REVIEW] From Pixies to Rilo Kiley, Bourbon & Beyond 2025 Proved Unmissable

Every year, the lineup for Bourbon & Beyond makes me shriek with excitement — and this year’s lineup was no different. Over the course of four days, 2025 festivalgoers had the opportunity to see 117 musical acts across five stages — including The Lumineers, Pixies, Alabama Shakes, Khruangbin, Goo Goo Dolls, Rilo Kiley, Third Eye Blind, Ringo Starr and much, much more.

The only catch to this year’s festivities? I’m pregnant, and the very last thing a pregnant person wants to do is stand for hour...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Northern Kentucky Musician Jordan Smart Turns Gaza Activism and Social Justice Into Protest Songs on New Album

Northern Kentucky musician Jordan Smart keeps a folder of the most harrowing images he’s seen from Gaza — a private archive that fuels both his outrage and his art. Since the war began, he has turned his platform into a rallying cry for Palestinians while also speaking out against ICE raids and other social justice issues closer to home.
“For better or worse I’ve never been too good at keeping my mouth shut,” Smart wrote in an Instagram post in November of 2023. “I know most of y’all are here f...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Janelle Monáe to Kickoff the Headline Music Series at America's River Roots Festival

Organizers have announced the fourth headliner to perform at America’s River Roots Festival in October.On Monday, organizers revealed that innovative R&B artist Janelle Monáe will kickoff the headline music series at America’s River Roots Festival on Thursday, Oct. 9.Monáe is a singer, rapper, songwriter, actress and activist. She has been nominated for ten Grammy Awards and is the recipient of the Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award. Fans have speculated that Monáe could be releasing new...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Asianati to Host One-Night Screening of Vietnamese American New Wave Documentary

A film exploring the Vietnamese American new wave music scene of the 1980s is being screened at an exclusive event next month.Asianati, the producers of Asian Food Fest and Asianati Night Market, and Lang Thang Group will be presenting a special one-night-only screening of New Wave, a 2024 documentary directed by Vietnamese American filmmaker Elizabeth Ai. The documentary screening will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Kenwood Theatre, with a community celebration and after party at 13 Knives...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Cincinnati Band In The Pines Plug in and Power Up on New Single 'Sunbeam Dream'

Cincinnati-based psych rockers In The Pines have released the second single from their forthcoming album, Sunbeam Dream.The eponymous single, “Sunbeam Dream,” is described as the album’s “most muscular and hard-driving track,” with intersecting guitar melodies that perfectly complement the driving synths, percussion and bassline — a perfect track for fans of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Glass Beams.For the uninitiated,  In The Pines is an indie-psych band formed in 2016 by childhood frie...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

New Genre-Spanning Music and Arts Festival to Debut in Covington This Weekend

A new multi-venue and genre-spanning music and arts festival will debut in Covington this weekend.The Arcade Music Fest will feature 80 artists spanning multiple genres across eight stages, with more than 30 local vendors and a showcase of visual art. The festival takes place on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9.The festival is co-founded by Emma Ranney, the general manager of Revival Vintage Bottle Shop, and musician Jared Metz, who both hope to use the festival to put a spotlight on the loca...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

New Covington Yard Event Channels Indie Sleaze Nostalgia

A local production company is bringing the indie sleaze aesthetic to life with an event later this month.Mallratz Productions is partnering with Covington Yard to host Indieglo 2025, a “nostalgia-fueled” event meant to transport you back to the “golden age of American Apparel fits, a perfectly curated Tumblr account, ripped leggings and vintage flannels,” according to a press release.Can’t afford to attend a music festival this summer? Or perhaps you just miss Bunbury (we do, too), and want to c...
Best Life •

17 Jaw-Dropping Natural Wonders You'll Only See in America — Best Life

From Japan’s Mount Fuji to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to Israel’s Dead Sea, the world is absolutely brimming with can’t-believe-your-eyes attractions. Of course, this is no shock to anyone, but what might surprise you is that you don’t have to book an expensive flight to see some of the most intriguing places on Earth. Whether you’re interested in red rocks, crystalline caves, or hot springs, we’ve found 17 off-the-beaten-path natural wonders in the U.S. that will blow your mind.
RELATED: Th...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Gotham-Style Con Pop-Up Bar Coming to Cincinnati

A brand new pop-up experience coming to The Banks will be bringing your favorite comic book anti-heroes and villains to life. During the last three weekends in October, Mischief & Mayhem, a Gotham-style Cincy Con Pop-Up Bar, will be taking over the Roebling Event Center.The Roebling Event Center will transformed into “a gritty urban nightlife” scene with plenty of photo opportunities, light shows, interactive DJ sets, a dance floor and a chance to interact with Deadpool, Wolverine, the Joker a...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

The National to Release Live Album This Winter

For those of you who were unfortunate to miss The National’s performance at Bourbon & Beyond on Sunday, the Cincinnati-bred band is bringing their special live experience straight to your home (or preferred music streaming service).On Monday, the alt-rock band announced that they are set to release a new live album dubbed the “definitive live document of The National.” Out on Dec. 13, the live album, Rome, features 21 songs recorded during the band’s set at Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Mo...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Experimental Music Festival Returns to Cincinnati

A music festival dedicated to experimental music is set to return to downtown Cincinnati in September.Whited Sepulchre Records, a small-run vinyl and tape label in Cincinnati focused on experimental and ambient music, is hosting the Talk Low Music Festival from Sept. 26-28 at the Contemporary Arts Center and Memorial Hall. The festival is organized by Whited Sepulchre Records founder and Executive Director Ryan Hall, Britni Bicknaver and concertnova Executive Director Brianna Matzke.The artists...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Loveland Venue and Flower Farm Shares Insider Tips for Crafting your Perfect Garden

Have you ever thought about how dreamy it would be to wander through a field of flowers — or better yet, to sit by rows of beautiful blooms with a bottle of wine and some friends? At The Marmalade Lily, your cottagecore dreams can come true. With around an acre-and-a-half of the nine-acre estate dedicated to an indoor and outdoor event venue and flower farm, The Marmalade Lily is as picturesque as it gets. 
Throughout most of the year, The Marmalade Lily in Loveland serves as an event venue, ho...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Great Parks Recommends Its Favorite Cincinnati Parks for Every Sort of Outdoor Adventure

After months of being cooped up at home, Cincinnatians are finally emerging from their cold-season cocoon to explore the beautiful natural landscapes in and around the Queen City. From walks along stunning prairie trails to fun-filled water sports on the lake, Great Parks, Hamilton County’s parks system, has something to offer every sort of outdoor adventurer this summer. CityBeat spoke with Amy Roell, Great Parks’ director of programming, to help you plan your summertime fun outside, whether yo...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Social Media Influencer the Midwestern Lesbian Shares Her Favorite Greater Cincinnati Pride Events

This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 29 print edition. If you’ve ever found yourself searching for LGBTQ+ events in Greater Cincinnati, it’s highly likely that you’ve stumbled across Kelsey Ference’s LGBTQ+ resource, the Midwestern Lesbian. Since 2021, when she’s not crafting media content for a local brewery, Ference is busy promoting local LGBTQ+ events, businesses, organizations and people in Greater Cincinnati on the Midwestern Lesbian’s social media accounts — @midwestern.lesbian on In...
Best Life •

America's Most Unique Hotels for an Unforgettable Stay — Best Life

When you’re planning a vacation, the choice of destination generally trumps where you’re going to stay. But after you’ve figured out where you’re headed, finding the right accommodations can be nearly as important. Sure, there are reliable chain hotels, but what if you want something a little more interesting? The U.S. is home to several unique hotels, whether you want to stay in a themed bungalow or spend your time at a quirky bed and breakfast. Some are so out there, you might not ever want to...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Indiana Rep. Jim Banks Introduces Bill to Defund NPR

At the end of a long, long few weeks for National Public Radio (NPR), Indiana Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN, 3rd District) introduced legislation Friday to defund the media organization.In an exclusive article written by right-wing news organization The Daily Caller and in a series of tweets posted on X, Banks said that Americans shouldn’t be “forced to fund Democrat propaganda.” All of the drama began when a senior business editor at NPR, Uri Berliner, had an essay published in the Free Press about w...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Jason Kelce Loses Super Bowl Ring During 'New Heights' Live Show in Cincinnati

Jason Kelce lost his Super Bowl ring in a pile of chili during the New Heights live show in Cincinnati. No — this is not just a really strange dream you’ve had. This shit really happened.Jason and Travis Kelce, both former University of Cincinnati football players, paid a visit to their alma mater on April 11 to bring their New Heights podcast to life in a debauchery-filled show at Fifth Third Arena. One of the portions of the live show featured the first-ever Great Lombaby Games, in which UC st...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Northern Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie Joins Marjorie Taylor Greene in Call to Oust House Speaker Mike Johnson

Northern Kentucky’s U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie is joining fellow Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in her call to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson.During a weekly Republican meeting on Tuesday morning, Massie called for Speaker Johnson to resign. In a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, Massie revealed that he would be co-sponsoring the official motion to vacate Johnson’s role as Speaker of the House, originally introduced by Greene.“I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I’m cosponsorin...
Best Life •

16 Secret Spots in the U.S. So Stunning You Won't Believe They're Real — Best Life

From the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest to the jagged coastlines of Maine, the United States is home to some of the most enchanting landscapes in the entire world. But while you may be familiar with the most iconic spots, like the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, there are other hidden gems you may not know about—and they can be just as breathtaking as the well-traveled destinations. These locales may leave you speechless, but you need not worry: We managed to find a few words to convey our...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Cincinnati City Council Approves Funding for King Records Preservation Project

Cincinnati City Council approved funding on Wednesday to benefit the preservation of historic Cincinnati record label King Records.The King Records Legacy Foundation, the foundation created to revitalize the King Records complex and help educate others about its historical significance, will receive $205,000 from council to cover the cost of an executive director and marketing. The King Records buildings are currently owned by the city.According to Steve Goodin, the foundation’s treasurer, Kent...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

Greater Cincinnati Concerts We're Looking Forward to this Summer

Along with blue creamy whip and trips to the Cincinnati Zoo, a visit to one of Greater Cincinnati’s many concert venues is a summertime staple. Whether you’re into obscure punk or mainstream country, the Queen City’s music venues are sure to have a concert that strikes your fancy. Below, we’ve included a list of concerts taking place between May and September at multiple music venues in Greater Cincinnati.Andrew J Brady Music Center: ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park:
Riverbend Music Center: P...
Cincinnati CityBeat •

BlaCk OWned Outerwear and University of Cincinnati Launch Inaugural Collaboration

Cincinnati-based clothing company BlaCk OWned Outerwear and the University of Cincinnati have officially launched their historic collaboration.In a press release on Feb. 19, the University of Cincinnati announced the launch of the  university-branded clothing line, BlaCkOWned™ x UC™. This is the university’s first collaboration with BlaCk OWned.“At the heart of [BlaCk OWned]’s mission lies a steadfast commitment to promoting Black business ownership and challenging societal inequities through th...
Load More