The Over-the-Rhine Museum’s next “Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine,” a story-sharing series, will take place at 6:30pm on Wednesday, March 22nd at Memorial Hall (1225 Elm Street). This program features three discussions with local authors who live in the neighborhood. Each book tells a unique story of people in and around Over-the-Rhine. You will most certainly recognize the buildings and streets discussed on these pages. We will begin with JR Zink’s historical fiction inspired by an Over-the-Rhine Museum walking tour. Next, Holly Brians Ragusa will speak about her life, her Dad, and the crime that rocked her family in the 1980s. Finally, Mark Scott will provide a contemporary story of love, death, and drinking in Over-the-Rhine.
Doors will open at 6:00 pm and the program will begin at 6:30 pm. Tickets can be reserved on a “pay what you would like” donation basis. We recommend $5-10 per person. A cash bar will be available throughout the event. This program can also be viewed live via facebook.com/OTRmuseum.
PROGRAM SPEAKERS
John Zink grew up in northern Ohio and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati. He enjoyed a successful career as a management and technology consultant and executive leader before stepping away from the business world to develop his right-brain talents as an author. In addition to writing, he coaches swimming at St. Xavier High School and enjoys running, backpacking, bicycling and travel. John and his wife raised a family and now live in Over-the-Rhine. Walking the streets of the neighborhood, among the voices from its historic buildings, inspired John to write the Queen of the West historical fiction series. Under his pen name, JR Zink recently published the second book, Queen of the Union.
Holly Brians Ragusa is an interdisciplinary writer, speaker and community activist based in Cincinnati. Author of Met the End, Dying To Know Myself In Time, and Inverse: Informed Thoughts By An Unfit Poet, Holly is a poet and opinion contributor to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Her works also appear in La Piccioletta Barca, The Well, the On Being Mindful Poetry Project, the Inside Out: A Trans Artist Project, and Earth Journal. She volunteers with a range of nonprofits and lives in historic Over-the-Rhine, sharing space with her husband, mother, three cats, one dog, and (sometimes) two grown children. Her passions also include moon-gazing, seeking meaning, and mustard. Learn more at hbragusa.com.
Mark E. Scott, author of Drunk Log, is a recovering banker living in downtown Cincinnati. In various work iterations he has served in the U.S. Navy, flipped steaks at a chain restaurant, waited tables, repossessed cars, and delivered boat propellers to boat shops. Mark has even tried his hand at full-contact Kung Fu fighting. More productively, he has also obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in secondary education and business. While writing is not exactly new for Mark who touts he has been at it since the age of eight, his family is happy that he has fallback options.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine is an innovative lecture series designed to expose attendees to stories of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Each event features three, fifteen-minute talks on stories of Over-the-Rhine. Presenters will answer questions together at the end about their talks.
The Over-the-Rhine Museum welcomes your support for these provocative stories. Donate online at www.otrmuseum.org/donate.
ABOUT THE OVER-THE-RHINE MUSEUM
The Over-the-Rhine Museum seeks to inspire understanding and respect for the people who have created and lived in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood by working with community members and visitors to uncover, present, and preserve their stories in an immersive experience.