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Break out the hoodies. It's college basketball season in Mason.

Why it matters: Turning the Lindner Family Tennis Center into a basketball venue on Wednesday is a one-day test for Mason and Warren County as officials explore what else the renovated complex can host beyond tennis.

Driving the news: A temporary hardwood court is taking over the 12,000-seat Center Court for two exhibition games.

Cincinnati and Ohio State tip at 3pm, followed by Xavier and Dayton at 5:30pm.

The afternoon starts are meant to avoid moisture and rising dew points later in the evening.

Behind the scenes: The conversion has required relatively few changes because basketball and tennis courts have similar footprints, Ben Baumeister, senior director of event strategy for Beemok Sports & Entertainment, tells Axios.

The intrigue: Dayton head coach Anthony Grant told WKEF-TV the unusual setting brings "a level of excitement" to the exhibitions.

Beemok also hosted the recent LinkU Invitational in Charleston, South Carolina, where three basketball games were played at a tennis stadium.

Baumeister tells Axios the players he spoke with embraced the unusual setting and the chance to "get back to their roots" after spending countless hours playing basketball in parks and driveways.

Yes, but: Playing outside comes with some quirks. One of the teams in Charleston was Vanderbilt, which struggled shooting in the sun.

Cincinnati head coach Jerrod Calhoun told Chatterbox Sports he called Vanderbilt's coach to get the scouting report.

"It's going to be an ugly shooting game," Calhoun says. "It's a cool idea, and hopefully this weather holds up."

The bottom line: It should be a cool experience, but the teams might also be glad these games don't count.

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College basketball is taking over Mason's tennis center

Afternoon starts with Cincinnati, OSU, Xavier and Dayton are meant to avoid moisture and rising dew points.

Nighttime aerial view of a circular basketball arena with blue seats surrounding a lit hardwood court. Tall floodlights, a purple LED banner, and surrounding dark concourses.

The converted center court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, for the upcoming basketball exhibition. Photo: Courtesy of Rebound Rundown

Break out the hoodies. It&#x27;s college basketball season in Mason.Why it matters: Turning the Lindner Family Tennis Center <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="into a basketball venue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/north-of-cincy/2026/07/30/lindner-tennis-center-basketball-tournament-tourism" data-vars-content-id="02132a0a-0c49-4d98-a287-e48b122beb72" data-vars-headline="College basketball is taking over Mason&#x27;s tennis center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/north-of-cincy/2026/07/30/lindner-tennis-center-basketball-tournament-tourism" target="_self">into a basketball venue</a> on Wednesday is a one-day test for Mason and Warren County as officials explore what else the renovated complex can host beyond tennis.

Sports

Blink's opening parade drew thousands into the streets and became a beloved part of the festival, but is getting replaced this year. 

Why it matters: The reason for that is simple, executive director Leslie Mooney says: This is an art festival, and trying something new is part of the point.

State of play: Ready. Set. Blink! is the new opening celebration Thursday near TQL Stadium, which aims to preserve the parade's community spirit at the start of four days together.

What to expect: The free kickoff event runs 4-9pm on Central Parkway with live music, food, interactive art and hands-on activities.

Groups that previously marched will perform flash-mob-style among the crowd.

Guests are invited to wear their own light art and costumes.

Lovelytheband performs at 6:45pm before the lights come on an hour later, followed by a drone show.

What they're saying: "The parade was awesome," Mooney tells Axios. 

She knows firsthand — before taking charge this year, she led the Clifton Cultural Arts Center and participated in the parade.

But after four iterations, she says it was time to experiment: "We need to innovate and try to just change things up."

The big picture: It's part of a larger balancing act between returning favorites and keeping things fresh, Mooney says.

She estimates about 20% of this year's projection buildings are new, while landmarks like Music Hall return.

New experiences include an Asha Ama fashion show and a temporary skatepark. There are even live performances woven into installations across the two-state footprint.

"We've got to keep it interesting," Mooney says.

Blink lights up a new opening night tradition

Replacing Blink's popular kickoff parade with a new event is meant to keep things fresh and interesting.

Nighttime city parade featuring glowing rainbow balloon sculptures atop toy cars with cartoon faces, crowds along the street, and illuminated office buildings with a visible PNC sign.

The opening parade at Blink Cincinnati in 2019. Photo: Jason Koerner/Getty Images

Blink&#x27;s opening parade drew thousands into the streets and became a beloved part of the festival, but is getting replaced this year. Why it matters: The reason for that is simple, executive director Leslie Mooney says: This is an art festival, and trying something new is part of the point.

Things to Do

Culture

It's been about 18 months since the Transportation Security Administration started requiring Real IDs in order to board domestic flights.

Why it matters: I recently showed up to the airport without one and thankfully still got to fly, but my wallet paid the price.

State of play: I've been putting off a BMV trip to replace my regular Ohio driver's license with a Real ID-compliant version.

Passports are also accepted, but I forgot that at home.

Thankfully, there's an online workaround.

I used TSA ConfirmID, a $45 identity-verification option launched in February for travelers without acceptable ID.

I paid ahead of time online and brought the confirmation plus my regular Ohio driver's license to Cleveland Hopkins, then breezed through security.

The intrigue: The $45 pays for having ConfirmID validate your identity ahead of time, with approval lasting 10 days.

But it'll also work if you have to go through the process at the airport.

I had my regular license, but TSA says the process also works if you have no ID, though it may take a little (or a fair amount) longer.

My thought bubble: For me, it merely felt like a $45 penalty before TSA scanned my regular license as usual.

Stunning stat: TSA says 95%-99% of passengers arrive with a Real ID or another acceptable ID.

Reality check: It's nice to have this backup option, but at $45 a pop, ConfirmID isn't a great long-term strategy.

There's no additional fee to upgrade to a Real ID when renewing your license, Ohio Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lindsey Bohrer tells Axios.

You'll likely also need a Real ID at certain federal facilities and military bases, where ConfirmID won't help.

The bottom line: Yes, I still need to visit the BMV.

But if you ever "accidentally" find yourself testing the airport alternative like me, ConfirmID works.

It'll just cost you $45 and a little more time.

You can still fly without a Real ID, but it'll cost you

With ConfirmID, flyers who lack or forget their compliant identification cards can still travel. Here's how it works.

Signs at the airport with one for Real ID noting the May 7 deadline

May 7, 2025, was the enforcement deadline for Real ID after years of delays. Photo: Kelly Tyko/Axios

It&#x27;s been about 18 months since the Transportation Security Administration started <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="requiring Real IDs " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/04/ohio-real-id-travel-may-deadline" data-vars-content-id="37e8cfeb-ea82-481e-b3e1-db6a3563728d" data-vars-headline="You can still fly without a Real ID, but it&#x27;ll cost you" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/04/ohio-real-id-travel-may-deadline" target="_self">requiring Real IDs </a>in order to board domestic flights.Why it matters: I recently showed up to the airport without one and thankfully still got to fly, but my wallet paid the price.

Travel

News

Cincinnati Police pulled back the curtain Tuesday on how they watch the city and what happens to the data they collect.

Why it matters: The review comes as cities nationwide wrestle balancing increasingly powerful police technology with privacy and civil liberties.

Driving the news: City Council last month ordered the administration to outline its surveillance equipment, how and why it's used, how long data is kept and who can access it.

Data: City of Cincinnati; Note: Video and still shots can be archived longer if needed for case evidence; Table: Tyler Buchanan/Axios

What they found: Much of Cincinnati's surveillance technology isn't new — license plate readers date to 2008, while some police vehicle cameras have been around even longer.

Police say the technology has helped investigate homicides, theft and other crimes, while drones can sometimes handle calls without dispatching another police unit.

Cincinnati owns all of the data it collects, the city's legal department said.

Zoom out: Cincinnati's review isn't happening in a vacuum.

Hamilton County recently terminated its 75-camera Flock license plate reader program after residents raised concerns about access and data sharing.

The sheriff's office said an internal audit found no misuse.

The backstory: Cincinnati doesn't use Flock, but Council member Anna Albi wanted the review to give residents a chance to hear directly from police and speak out.

Several have done so in recent weeks, raising concerns ranging from privacy to potential misuse for immigration enforcement or monitoring women's health.

On Tuesday, the Detroit News reported employees at five Michigan law enforcement agencies had used Flock data for immigration-related searches.

What they're saying: Interim police chief Adam Hennie said CPD doesn't use AI or facial recognition. When Albi asked whether CPD would provide license plate information to another state investigating someone for seeking an abortion, he gave an unequivocal no.

Friction point: Residents' concerns collided with warnings from police and some council members against limiting tools they say help solve crimes.

Hennie prefers keeping city camera footage longer than the current 14 days, noting some investigations can take much longer.

Council member Scotty Johnson, a former CPD officer, said investigators sometimes don't know which information matters until weeks or months after a crime.

"We need to slow this train down when it comes to anything talking about limiting the police and making sure Cincinnati's safe," Johnson said.

The other side: Albi said that's precisely the balance the city needs to work through.

"We want to catch that killer and get them off our streets, but we also need to protect people's civil liberties."

What's next: Albi says no specific action came out of Tuesday's meeting, but she'd like Cincinnati to codify its best practices and create an annual surveillance report similar to Dayton's.

annual surveillance report similar to Dayton's

City Hall pulls back curtain on CPD surveillance tech

The review comes as cities nationwide wrestle balancing increasingly powerful police technology with privacy and civil liberties.

Illustration of police officers, Meta glasses, and security cameras

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Cincinnati Police <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pulled back the curtain Tuesday" data-vars-click-url="https://archive.org/details/14261006-psql" data-vars-content-id="a6218093-a23f-43c8-8506-de6eb28a05a2" data-vars-headline="City Hall pulls back curtain on CPD surveillance tech" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://archive.org/details/14261006-psql" target="_blank">pulled back the curtain Tuesday</a> on how they watch the city and what happens to the data they collect.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The review" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cincinnati/2026/09/28/flock-city-council-surveillance-police-camera" data-vars-content-id="a6218093-a23f-43c8-8506-de6eb28a05a2" data-vars-headline="City Hall pulls back curtain on CPD surveillance tech" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cincinnati/2026/09/28/flock-city-council-surveillance-police-camera" target="_self">The review</a> comes as cities nationwide wrestle balancing increasingly powerful police technology with privacy and civil liberties.

Public Safety

Downtown's Italian hot spot Sotto isn't exactly a walk-in-on-a-whim kind of place for dinner.

Luckily, a relatively new lunch option offers an easier way into this underground favorite.

How it works: Lunch runs 11am-2pm weekdays with a smaller selection of antipasti, pasta and secondi — mostly meat dishes, including Sotto's famed breaded pork loin ($24).

Reservations are generally easier to snag at lunch, and I didn't even need one on a recent visit.

The underground grotto is still gloriously dimly-lit, with exposed brick, stone arches and serious wine-cellar vibes.

Split view of a restaurant: left side a dim bar with a marble counter and stools; right side a long dining table with glassware, candles, and an open kitchen with brick walls.

Sotto looks like Sotto no matter what time it is.

What I ordered: I chose the tagliatelle al prosciutto ($19) and what felt like a quarter-loaf of olive oil-drenched bread ($8) from Cincinnati's Blue Oven Bakery.

The pasta was just as delicious and sizable as the dinner portion. The crusty bread was, too.

A dim bar table with plates of pasta and bread, a tall glass water bottle, a glass with ice and a straw, forks, and a backlit shelf of colorful liquor bottles.

Yes, absolutely dunk your bread in whatever sauce you've somehow left behind.

Reality check: I made the mistake of looking at the clock.

Sotto wasn't rushing me, but my lunch hour certainly was. Somehow 2pm approached and I still had pasta on my plate.

I wasn't the only diner left, but nobody wants restaurant staff waiting on them so they can close and reset for the dinner rush.

The intrigue: Part of what makes Sotto, well, Sotto is settling in, ordering a few things and savoring the experience.

That's hard to do on a one-hour lunch break.

My advice: If going for lunch, check the menu beforehand and order quickly.

Want the full, leisurely experience? Go when you can stay a while.

Worst-case scenario, you go back. Lunch doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

If you go: 118 E. Sixth St., downtown. Lunch menu.

The Sotto reservation hack is lunch

The downtown hotspot's weekday lunch offers an easier way into the downtown favorite.

Amber outdoor wall light on a red brick wall, glowing warmly. A weathered dark wooden sign with large white letters hangs below, while a rusted pipe runs along the corner.

Downtown&#x27;s Italian hot spot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sotto" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sottocincinnati.com/" data-vars-content-id="c4c6e7b3-28f4-415b-aef7-c7533d5aee0b" data-vars-headline="The Sotto reservation hack is lunch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sottocincinnati.com/" target="_blank">Sotto</a> isn&#x27;t exactly a walk-in-on-a-whim kind of place for dinner.Luckily, a relatively new lunch option offers an easier way into this underground favorite.

Casey Weldon

Featured stories

Blink lights up a new opening night tradition

The Sotto reservation hack is lunch

City Hall pulls back curtain on CPD surveillance tech

Slutty Vegan nears Detroit opening

College basketball is taking over Mason's tennis center