Lela Walker

Feature Articles

Below are four feature articles and one style counsel coloumn written for web publication

Cincinnati Magazine •

Take a Ride to Spun Bicycles - Cincinnati Magazine

Northside’s Spun Bicycles feels like your average mom and pop shop upon your first step inside—Judi LoPresti greets guests as they make their way to the counter, dazzlingly bedecked with green zebra print and orange decals, while her husband Dominic sits at the repair center, preparing to fix spokes, pedals, and everything in between on a queue of bikes dropped off for repairs. Customers check out wacky cycling accessories shelved amid quirky décor, which includes images of skulls, clowns, unico...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Princess Wilcoxson Talks Style, Confidence, and Inspiration - Cincinnati Magazine

Jacket: KBB by KahlanaSkirt: Iris Apfel X H&MHeels: Kate SpadeHat: AmazonBracelets, Earrings: KHOIGlasses: FYTOOBroaches: Hilary MacMillanNails: Diva Pressed Nails by LaShonda FranklinOccupation: Content creator, owner/stylist at Personal Bravery AgencyStyle: Bold, colorful, feminineWho inspires your fashion taste? Black men and Black women who have been putting it on since the beginning of time. Christopher John Rogers is one of my favorite designers. His stuff is just bursting with color. Ther...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Cincinnati Opera’s New “Underscore” Series Reimagines Summer Festival Operas - Cincinnati Magazine

The Cincinnati Opera’s newest event series blends rich, creative stories with new and unexpected connections through imaginative experiences. “Underscore,” which premiered last month, offers a means to learn and celebrate the history of opera through theatrical exploration, in-depth discussions, and collaborative storytelling.Underscore consists of three total shows, each highlighting one of the main stage operas of the 2026 Summer Festival season: Salome, Carmen, and Lalovavi. The series was de...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Loveland Hosts Fourth Annual Frogman Festival - Cincinnati Magazine

The Oasis Conference Center will host the fourth annual Frogman Festival on March 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This year, cryptid activities will also take place around the area and throughout the weekend to bring the celebration of The Loveland Frogman to more people.First put on in 2023 at the Great Wolf Lodge, the convention gives artists, creators, authors, and small vendors the opportunity to share their work that is inspired by cryptid lore and otherworldly themes.“The Frogman is a crypti...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Local Musician-Author Re-Releases Culinary Crime Novel - Cincinnati Magazine

Less than a year after the launch of the debut novel in his ongoing trilogy, author, musician, and former chocolatier Nick Greenberg has re-released his next book. Published January 26, Buried Treasure (Speaking Volumes) explores the deeply lucrative and covert economy of truffles in the culinary industry.Culinary Caper, the first title in Greenberg’s By Cook or By Crook trilogy, combines elements of crime and culinary expertise into one book, following piano player and food truck chef Anton Che...
Cincinnati Magazine •

UC Alum Megan Pando Pitches Her Interactive Makerspace on Shark Tank Tonight - Cincinnati Magazine

What started as a way to have fun and spread creativity became a successful business model for Megan Pando when she opened Maker’s Social. The Cincinnati native dreamt of owning a business that mirrored the same artistic environment she experienced while studying fine arts at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP).“That was a really beautiful experience,” recalls Pando, who also studied entrepreneurship at the university’s Lindner College of Busi...

Fact-Checking Assignments

Below are articles that I fact-checked for web publication (March and April 2026)

Cincinnati Magazine •

Cristian Pietoso Celebrates 30 Years of Nicola’s - Cincinnati Magazine

When he arrived in the states from Florence, Italy, 22 years ago to help his father, Nicola Pietoso, run his upscale Italian restaurant at the corner of Liberty and Sycamore streets in Pendleton, Cristian Pietoso says he had one dream: carve out a spot for Nicola’s on the culinary map. “But, truthfully, my dad already had done that,” he says. We recently talked to the chef/owner about celebrating 30 years in business, what the purchase of the Nicola’s building means for the brand, and what comes...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Beauty and Wellness Escapes Near Cincinnati - Cincinnati Magazine

When life moves nonstop, the idea of a getaway can sound more exhausting than relaxing. But some escapes don’t require a plane ticket or a full weekend away. Whether you’re prepping for travel, resetting after a busy season, or simply prioritizing yourself, these beauty and wellness destinations within two hours of Cincinnati prove that self-care can be intentional, efficient, and still feel luxe.Road trips don’t mean your beauty routine has to take a backseat. Hydration is key. Keep a water bot...
Cincinnati Magazine •

What Exactly Is the Iconic Ft. Thomas Tower? - Cincinnati Magazine

Despite becoming the literal symbol for the city of Ft. Thomas, most people have no idea what this tower is—at least according to Ft. Thomas Museum Director Deanna Beineke. “It was never a defensive fort,” says Beineke. “But it is probably the most beautiful water tower I’ve ever seen.” The Ft. Thomas Water Tower (or Building 16) was built in 1890 to cover a 100,000-gallon steel water tank. It stands 102 feet tall and is made of granite and Kentucky limestone.One of its two large plaques memoria...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Best Restaurants Q&A: Alfio Gulisano - Cincinnati Magazine

Where did the concept for Noche come from?Many years ago, we started to look for a second location [Gulisano also owns Alfio’s Buon Cibo in Hyde Park]. It took us a little too long, but we found a place where we thought a concept like Noche would thrive on its own pastas. Alfio’s has a much bigger menu. We wanted to have something smaller than that, a little more approachable in price and casual when you walk in, but still feel great inside.Why did you choose this location in Covington?I had bee...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Best Restaurants Q&A: Fabio Viviani - Cincinnati Magazine

Editor’s note: Last week, Viviani announced that the restaurant will open on Tuesday, March 24.  Tell us about Zingaro.Zingaro will be a traditional Italian restaurant. Next door will be Viaggio. The two places together take you on a journey through the food and drinks of Italy and beyond. Go to Zingaro for a phenomenal, affordable Italian meal and go to Viaggio to experience craft cocktails, handpicked wine, and a smaller bar menu.Describe your menu.Think of it this way: You get kidnapped by fi...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Celebrate the Islamic Festival of Sweets With These Treats - Cincinnati Magazine

BaklavaYou’ll find different versions of this pastry around town, but they all have the same things in common: flaky phyllo dough, crushed nuts (typically pistachio or walnut), and an aromatic drizzle of simple syrup. Café Mediterranean, 3520 Erie Ave., Hyde ParkHalvaAt $28 per pound, this dense, flourless cake has a base of tahini and boiled sugar—supported by flavors like orange chocolate—for a sticky, crumbly texture that’s worth a try. Dean’s Mediterranean Imports, 108 W. Elder St., Over-the...
Cincinnati Magazine •

It's Easy Being Green with These Verdant Finds - Cincinnati Magazine

This vintage-inspired crewneck is easy to dress up or down, and stays warm through the winter with its fleece interior. $50, Rivertown Inkery, 1808 Race St., Over-the-Rhine; 3096 Madison Rd. Suite 1W, OakleyHandcrafted in Neusole’s flame shop, this adorable shamrock charm can accessorize necklaces, bracelets, or wine glasses come St. Patrick’s Day. $15, Neusole Glassworks, 11925 Kemper Springs Dr., Forest ParkInspired by spring blooms, the rustic floral candlestick holders at Wildfire come in va...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Best Restaurants No. 7: Mita's - Cincinnati Magazine

Mita’s always feels like it’s on the cusp of breaking into a party. Chef Jose Salazar’s treasured tapas spot isn’t just a place you stop for a meal. It’s culinary entertainment. The Spanish- and Latin American–inspired menu invites indulgence at a bite-sized pace. It’s easy to lose yourself in the cheerful parade of embutidos, cheeses, vegetables, and olives. Then there are fish, shrimp, and chicken dishes to contend with, to say nothing of dessert.Like all of Salazar’s properties, the servers a...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Best Restaurants No. 6: Abigail Street - Cincinnati Magazine

The door is easy to miss at Abigail Street, but the experience is hard to forget. The place keeps food fun, which seems counterintuitive when broccoli is one of its bestsellers, but that isn’t the contradiction you may imagine.Heavily inspired by Mediterranean flavors, techniques, and ingredients, the tapas-style menu is full of surprises. When was the last time you had broccoli fried and dressed with Moroccan spices and elevated with notes of miso and tahini? It’s devastatingly good.Each small...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Best Restaurants No. 2: Wildweed - Cincinnati Magazine

Reader, I doubted. When my first course arrived, a seasonal roasted squash salad, I looked at the chunks of vegetable sitting on dollops of quark and lowered my expectations. While pretty, it looked like the kind of overpriced, overhyped dish for which fine dining (sometimes rightfully) gets lampooned. Then I had my first bite, and I believed. The second made me a Wildweed convert.When the plate was empty, I could’ve cried. A little heat, subtly sweet squash, and the delicate cheese produced an...

Drafting Assignments

Below are articles that I drafted for web publication (March 2026)

Cincinnati Magazine •

The Rise of Cincinnati's Mystical and Magical Boutiques - Cincinnati Magazine

G reater Cincinnati has its share of stores selling magical wares, enchanting decor, or weird odds and ends. While each is decidedly unique in its offerings and stylings, they provide a space where wonder thrives.This year marks a decade of Hail Records & Oddities in Covington’s MainStrasse, and co-owner Neil Higginbotham says that he’s always evolving to meet what he calls his customer’s “weirdo” needs. Scan Hail’s space and you’ll see wet specimens in jars, taxidermized critters, skulls, colle...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Dr. Know: Google Maps, City Works, and Tom Denhart - Cincinnati Magazine

Iwas far from home and asked Google Maps for directions to the nearest Burger King. When I got close, the voice said, “Turn right just after the Gold Star Chili.” What?? Does Gold Star Chili pay Google to program my GPS to say that? Do they expect me to change my mind? —MAKE MINE A WHOPPERDEAR WHOPPER:The nerve of some people. Or, more accurately, the nerve of some apps pretending they’re people. It’s like every driver now has a digital gang of noisy kids in the back seat: Oh, wait, don’t go her...
Cincinnati Magazine •

Conner Sherman's Olympic Dreams May Soon Become Reality - Cincinnati Magazine

Many days, Conner Sherman wakes up at 4 a.m. He lifts weights, then heads to Princeton High School, where he’s a sophomore honor roll student. When school lets out, Sherman’s father drives him 90 minutes to Capital University in Columbus, where he’ll train in a specialized program for two hours. He gets home around 10:30 p.m.This is the life of an Olympic-bound teenage track athlete. “It’s all worth it for me,” says Sherman, a young man with deep faith and big dreams. “I’ve always just loved run...

Contributor Bios and Style Counsel

Below are two contributor bios and a Q&A style counsel column for print publication (March 2026)