Cincinnati CityBeat

A recent banner story on page 1 of The Enquirer's Local Life reported that Cincinnati Country Day was the second best high school in Ohio, based on passing percentage on state graduation tests and some yet-to-be revealed formula. The real story, if there was one, came later when it was mentioned that five Cincinnati area schools were in the top 10, including a public high school, Walnut Hills. I ... Full Story »

We hope you enjoy our holiday-themed section "The Truth About Christmas" and enjoy the season in whatever way or for whatever reasons you and yours do. It's going to look really nice out there if it snows and, really, the long winter ahead is going to suck a lot worse than a couple dinners with the relatives. That's the truth. Full Story »

The season's real history is even crazier than the made-up one Be forewarned, all ye who dare to enter: It's time for me to play the role of that crotchety old bastard, Scrooge, in service of finding the truth and reclaiming a good time. For instance, available evidence indicates early Christians didn't celebrate Jesus' birth and Christmas itself was an attempt by the Roman Empire to pacify and ... Full Story »

Dealing with holiday stress and depression The holidays are a stressful time for everyone, not just moms. Whether you’re freaking out about spending your pizza delivery money on gifts for your relatives at Wal-Mart, putting your hands in a turkey hole or bringing your partner around your uncle who hates gay people. Full Story »

Debating the buy-local holiday shopping experience But there are two ways to deal with the yearly nuisance of holiday shopping: Wake up early on a weekday and buy everyone on your list something from a megastore or spend your days collecting thoughtful and high-quality goods from local shops. Full Story »

As Mayor Mark Mallory and the new City Council are sworn in this week, the city says goodbye to two of its trusted progressive allies, David Crowley and Greg Harris. With the return of hard right-winger Charlie Winburn, council's conservative coalition now owns a 5-4 vote margin. It's now time for them to step up and offer a more inspiring plan than their current "No." Full Story »

Nudist resorts and club sprout up everywhere, including rural Ohio Southern Ohio has a little-known secret: It's crawling with confirmed and potential nudists. Nudism is all the rage in the pastoral, bucolic settings in and around Cincinnati and other major cities. Nudist resorts — bastions of naturalism and freed inhibitions — dot the lush Ohio wilderness around the state. Full Story »

Quick: Tell me why U.S. and NATO troops are in Afghanistan. If you say it's to retaliate for the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and destroy the government that allowed the rural nation to serve as the launching pad for the bloody offensive, well, that's already been accomplished. It's disappointing, then, that President Obama has granted a request from his military commanders to commit another ... Full Story »