I am a life-long resident of Greater Cincinnati and a graduate of Winton Woods High School and Northern Kentucky University. For the last almost 20 years I’ve been a Northsider. I do all sorts of things with my time, but primarily I’m the Executive Director of YPCC: Young Professionals Choral Collective, a community choir open to anyone between the ages of 21-45 who loves to sing. I’m also the President and Chief Volunteer Officer of the Denny Buehler Memorial Foundation, which helps folks in need due to medical debt. I sit on the board of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition in Cincinnati. I’ve got 2 kids, a husband, and a little cat. I’m licensed to solemnize marriages in the state of Ohio. A long time ago, my husband and I were in a local rock band, The Hypochondriacs and many people still know me by my stage name, Jenny Fever. I love to swim, read, garden, hike, eat, and explore.
Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family is weird and wonderful. We are a pretty neurodivergent bunch so the vibe is definitely quirky a lot of the time. I’ve been married to my best friend, Aaron, for 20 years now. He is pretty much the best partner I could have ever imagined. Our daughter is 14, a clarinet whiz, a creative dynamo, and has the sunniest smile you’ve ever seen. She is also autistic and tends to be shy unless she is in her comfort zone. My son is 11 and is pretty much the most outgoing person I have ever known. They refer to him as the Mayor of our block because he is friends with everyone! He is one of the smartest and sweetest guys I’ve ever had the luck to know. I also have a naughty little cat in my family. She is a Himalayan (they look like a long-haired Siamese) named Buffy the Rodent Slayer.
Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Many people make a career plan, hit college, and just proceed on a trajectory. That is the opposite of my story. I’ve been a cook, a waitress, a daycare teacher, a teacher’s aide, an aide to adults with disabilities, a Chorus Manager, a booking agent, a certified teacher, and now Executive Director of the Young Professionals Choral Collective (YPCC). But that is only the work/experience I have been paid to do. I also founded and am President of a very small nonprofit, The Denny Buehler Memorial Foundation (DBMF). Every summer I produce a weekend long, coed softball tournament as part of my work with the DBMF. I used to sing in a rock band, and I also booked and promoted local and touring bands. I volunteer when there is a cause I believe in and generally try to make my corner of the world a better place. The single most challenging job I’ve ever had is Mom. It’s been the most hours invested, the most love poured in, the most obstacles faced, and comes with the most (hard-earned) joy and satisfaction.
What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
There is not enough room on the internet for me to discuss my love of food, and I have loved eating my way through the growing Cincinnati restaurant scene. It’s no secret that Pepp and Delores, Mita’s, and Sotto are incredible places to eat and I always highly recommend all three. French Crust Cafe is a favorite, and the wine list is as great as the pastries. I will never turn down an invitation to eat at Ambar India, Tortilleria Garcia, Bridges, Pompillio’s, Abigail Street, Teak, Blue Jay, or Zip’s Cafe. Poulet Entier Ntier (fried whole chicken) at Darou Salam is the dish most of Cincinnati is sleeping on.
How long have you lived or worked in our community?
All my life! Totally a local girl, but I promise I won’t ask where you went to high school. I grew up in Greenhills, which most people know as the tiny little village that is completely encircled by Winton Woods. In 1998 I moved into Clifton, then later Northside, and I’ve been here ever since.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
When I was teaching 2nd grade, one morning I walked into school to discover that my new Instructional Aide was Betsy Mann, wife to long-time local politician, David Mann! I recognized her from a campaign ad and couldn’t believe it. She is an incredible person…a huge heart filled with love and boundless energy. She is always finding ways to give back to our community. I treasure each and every day I got to work with Betsy.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Italy and Japan are atop my list for travel. My Scotch-Irish heritage is very obvious when you look at me, but I also had an Italian Granny. I’d love to see where we came from, and we have actually located some cousins in Italy who are eager to meet! I mostly travel with the family these days, so travel tends to be more fun for all of us if it’s of high interest to the kids. And we really are lucky to have kids that love to travel. Japan is currently at the top of their list, and I have to say the husband and I are definitely interested in making it happen. To see the architecture, eat the food, and meet the people of Japan would be a dream.
What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I don’t like to choose favorites! That is too hard. I love lots of things. But if I have to answer, the movies I have watched the most (which must mean I like them the most, yes?) would be Dirty Dancing and The Incredibles. My favorite current TV show is Abbott Elementary. I have never seen such a real depiction of what it’s like working in an urban school.
What advice would you give to people?
When opportunity knocks open the damn door, then hold it open for the ones coming up behind you. Empathy, always; everyone has pain they have to live with. Travel the world before you have kids if you can afford it. Take care of each other.
What is something on your bucket list?
Travel and eat and drink and meet people and look at art and listen to music and soak up all that I can.
What is your go to music when you cant decide what to listen to?
For a few decades now, The Rolling Stones.
What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Sudsy Malones, absolutely. I was gutted when they tore that place down. When I was a teenager and too young to get in, we used to hang around and watch shows through the front window. I saw so many amazing bands there over the years, and some awful ones, too. When my band started playing there it was a dream come true! One of the most memorable nights of my life was playing a show at Sudsy’s with Cheetah Chrome from the Dead Boys, another was being on a bill at Sudsy’s with Dave Brockie from GWAR. It sounded horrible with the sound bouncing off the laundry machines, the drinks were cheap, the bathrooms were disgusting, it smelled like cigarettes even after the smoking ban, and I loved it.
If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch?
I would love to eat lunch with Nancy Pelosi. I read that she eats a hotdog for lunch every day and I must verify. She is also one of the most under-rated badasses of our time.
What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Cincinnati punches WAY above it’s weight when it comes to the arts. We are so lucky and I’m not sure people know! When I meet with arts leaders from around the country, they don’t have the support that we have in Ohio and Cincinnati, thanks to amazing grant makers like ArtsWave, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Ohio Arts Council. Our Symphony and Pops orchestras, our ballet, our numerous choirs (inserting shameless plug for YPCC: Young Professionals Choral Collective) and festivals and events are just a few of the gems we have to appreciate in the Queen City.
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
It’s hard to say as I’ve never gone on a straight path from one thing to another. In 10 years, my children will be adults and likely out of the house and that’s difficult to envision. I love working in the Arts. I love solving problems and building community; In 5-10 years I will still be doing that!
What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I am a cancer survivor. I lost my left eye to cancer as a toddler, and I have struggled with my vision my whole life. The cancer treatments caused me to grow a cataract in my remaining eye. They removed the lens from my eye but the cataract grew back. I became one of the youngest people in the country to undergo laser eye surgery at that point…like in the early 1980s.
What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
When I was in Maui, a local toured us around the island. We stopped in a small village for a shaved ice that a native Hawaiian woman was selling out of her garage. She shuffled my family into her back yard to enjoy our treat. The backyard looked over a small cove with a sheltered beach between two tall and rugged cliffs. I’ve never seen water that particular shade of blue anywhere…it was surreal and hands down the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.
Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Favorite Month: July! Deep into summer and you will find my family at the pool. Both of my kids were born in July. Favorite holiday: I love Christmas. I love giving gifts and being surrounded by family and friends and I love the food. Best day on the calendar: Probably until my kids are both graduated from high school, this will remain The Last Day of School.
What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
I think the Neil Gaiman novel Coraline is damn near perfect. Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chip ice cream. Clifton Meadows pool. Van Duzer Vineyards. A long, hot bath.
Who inspires you to be better?
Everyone out there who hasn’t been given all the love and support and tools and advantages I have. We all deserve a bit of happiness and the opportunity to thrive.
What is one or two of your favorite smells?
lavender and red wine
Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, peace, joy
