Ok, so i just found out that this friday's event in the Gateway Quarter is more like a sidewalk sale and less like a full on multi-block event. Still, i'll be hitting it up b/c a sale's a sale, right? Anyway, i got more info from a person who works in the OTR Chamber of Commerce and next week's event is really a collaborative one - there are dj's and food and sales, etc! Here's more info on what's going on at the BIG event next Friday (to tie in with Final Friday @ the Pendleton Arts Center which is also a great time and i'd highly encourage attending).
Gateway Quarter Unites for Third Installment of VINE-L Friday
Ten Venues Participate in Growing Gallery Exhibits in the Heart of Over-the-Rhine
Who – Venice on Vine Pizza, Segway Cincinnati, Park+Vine, Switch, OutSide, Coffee Emporium, Mixx Ultra Lounge, Urban Sites (Lackman Lofts and Duveneck Flats) Below Zero Lounge.
What – Art Gallery Walk – Free Event
When – July 31, 2009 – 6pm – 10pm
Where – The Gateway Quarter: Vine Street/Main Street (Between Central Pkwy and 14th Street)
Media Contact –Andrew Salzbrun 513.295.5308 Salzbrun.andrew@gmail.com
Cincinnati, OH, July 31, 2009 – The third edition of VINE-L Friday, an art gallery walk through the Over-the-Rhine on the concluding Friday of every month, takes place this Friday, July 31. This compliment to the Final Friday art galleries will include a variety of businesses which will take part in displaying local art, serving food and refreshments, offering discounts, and hosting live music.
Also present will be the ArtWorks Cincinnati group involved with the historic painting of the five story image of Jim Tarbell; on the corner of Vine Street and Central Parkway at the Park + Vine building. The student artists will be available to talk about their current project and how they plan to complete it in the coming weeks.
For this July edition, Below Zero Lounge will be hosting the official after party of VINE-L Friday. A concert by the “Blue Merchants” starting at 10pm will be held at Below Zero to support Gary Burbank’s “Play It Forward” project.
Participating Groups:
-Venice on Vine Pizza – Visionaries and Voices exhibits “Hair Salon” by Kenny Barger with a special menu of gourmet pizzas as well as live jewelry making by “One Bead at a Time.”
-Segway Cincinnati – Works by Josh Beeman and Billy 7. Live music by “Vinny Bricks” and “that guy from Okinawa” City Cellars will be on hand with its frozen desert cart to cool off the crowd.
-Park+Vine – The unveiling of the new exhibit “Mimockracy”
-Switch Lighting and Design – New works by Alison Shepard will be exhibited.
-OutSide – Live DJ playing Electronica, Trip Hop, Soul and Funk, with refreshments served
-Below 0 Lounge – The official VINE-L Friday After Party. Live music by the “Blue Merchants” at 10pm benefitting Gary Burbank’s “Play It Forward” Project.
-Mixx Ultra Lounge – Marcus Jordan exhibiting works from his collection titled “My Passion”
-Coffee Emporium- the Central Parkway location will extend its hours until 10pm and feature works by Allison Archberger and the Thirty Duo Collection.
-Urban Sites – Lackman Lofts – Kate McClung exhibiting works from her “Balanophagy” collection.
-Urban Sites – Duveneck Flats – Mark Cummings exhibiting new works from his “In Bloom” collection and Stan Stenten will be showing pieces from the collection “Visions of Cincinnati – Old and New”
The ten venues involved continue the pattern of intensification created by the previous two previous months, and represents just one more example of Over-the-Rhine's continuing growth.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Vine-L Friday July 24th
Cincinnati, OH-Over the Rhine-Gateway Quarter, originally uploaded by Joanne Maly - Lincoln Maly Marketing.
So if you don't know by now, the Gateway Quarter is the main focus of OTR revitalization lately. They have a lot of wonderful shops there that are well known (Park + Vine) and lesser known (Little Mahatma). My favorite garden shop is in the middle of it all (City Roots) and this Friday all of the shops in that area are having a big sale. Before you go to the Bad Veins CD release party on Fountain Square, check out the other side of downtown and see if you can score some goods!
When you're done with shopping, take a break and have a bite to eat at Lavomatic or walk down another block to Venice on Vine, a wonderful pizza shop run by the non-profit Power Inspires Progress. Its run by a couple of nuns and staffed by people from the area trying to start their lives over. Not only do you get a great slice of pie, but you get a warm fuzzy feeling when you dine there (and its a lot cheaper than Lavomatic!) Website is: http://www.powerinspiresprogress.com/vporder.htm
Here's the dish (yes, that is a pizza pun):
OTR'S "VINE-L FRIDAY MARKDOWN SUMMER CLEARANCE" - JULY 24Take advantage of the huge mid-summer sales in Over-the-Rhine Gateway this Friday, July 24. Stores will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Park in the lot at the corner of 12th and Vine streets, then cruise by the shops, looking for clearance tags and huge end of season discounts. Participating stores include City Roots, Iris Book Café, Joseph Williams Home, Switch, A Lucky Step, Metronation, Mica 12/v, Outside, Park + Vine and Urban Eden. In addition to shopping, have your Tarot cards read at The Little Mahatma from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and stop by Lavomatic at 1211 Vine Street for a delicious meal.
I personally have been eyeing some furniture @ Joseph Williams, which already has some pretty reasonable and tasteful stuff, so i hope they have some good sales! To clarify, Urban Eden is on Main St, and definitely worth the 3 block walk!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Pot Belly Vs Gilpins - who wants evening/weekend business more?
(Warning: you are about to endure a diatribe on Pot Belly Deli's hours in downtown cincinnati)
If you read this blog, it should be pretty apparent that i LOVE my downtown life. However, there is one major sticking point that if you get me (or my boyfriend) started on, we will get very fired up about and it is this: the Pot Belly Deli on Fountain Square has the WORST hours and the BEST location and we can't understand what the franchise owner is thinking! They are open M-Sat for the lunch rush, but for reasons neither of us understands, they close at 7pm nightly and are entirely closed on Sundays. This includes nights where the square is full of people for Salsa Dancing, Movies on the Square or even during Sunday Bengals games during the fall and evening Reds games in the summer. These are times when large groups of people are wandering aimlessly looking for food from a place that doesn't require ordering from a waiter. I dont know who has told them that there would be no evening/Sunday crowd, but they are totally WRONG. Countless times we have tried to go there for dinner, only to find out (usually along with other people trying to go there) that its closed for the night. WTF? You have a graeters next to you! You are in an urban gathering area with heavy foot traffic most nights! Where is the disconnect?!
I get a weekly newsletter from the Downtown Residents Council, and in it this week, they highlighted that Potbelly would be having night hours. I was so happy to see they finally saw reason! Then I read the info more carefully. The owners, in their infinite wisdom, have only chosen to stay open during the WORK WEEK until 9pm. Its a start, but Saturday nights when they have movies on the square, there are hundreds of people there for a several hour time frame! Why wouldn't you stay open Monday thru a Saturday night to see what the feedback was instead of just during the work week?!
I hate giving these people business b/c their business logic mystifies and pisses me off, but if you are on the square and want a deli sandwich, these fools are open. If you'd rather wait a little longer, Gilpins is a good alternative but they open at 8pm. I personally will go to Gilpins over Pot Belly. Info on both is below.
NEW THINGS POPPING UP AT GILPIN'S BAGEL & DELI - NOW Gilpin's Bagel & Deli located at 37 East Seventh Street has made some big changes this summer. In addition to their steamed sandwiches and bagels, you can now buy beer and wine with delivery until 1:00 a.m. on weekends. There is also an outdoor seating area, catering service for anywhere in Cincinnati, lunch time delivery service, Sunday hours from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and every couple weeks they will have DJ's spinning during the night time hours. For more information, check out their new website Click here
POTBELLY ON FOUNTAIN SQUARE EXTENDED HOURS - JULY 27 - 31Potbelly on Fountain Square will be extending their hours for one week only! Enjoy all that Potbelly has to offer starting Monday, July 27 through Friday, July 31 as they will be open until 9:00 p.m. the entire week! For more information call (513) 381-5572.
Here are the hours posted on their website: Open Monday through Friday 7am to 7pm
Saturday 11am to 4pm - Closed Sunday
If you read this blog, it should be pretty apparent that i LOVE my downtown life. However, there is one major sticking point that if you get me (or my boyfriend) started on, we will get very fired up about and it is this: the Pot Belly Deli on Fountain Square has the WORST hours and the BEST location and we can't understand what the franchise owner is thinking! They are open M-Sat for the lunch rush, but for reasons neither of us understands, they close at 7pm nightly and are entirely closed on Sundays. This includes nights where the square is full of people for Salsa Dancing, Movies on the Square or even during Sunday Bengals games during the fall and evening Reds games in the summer. These are times when large groups of people are wandering aimlessly looking for food from a place that doesn't require ordering from a waiter. I dont know who has told them that there would be no evening/Sunday crowd, but they are totally WRONG. Countless times we have tried to go there for dinner, only to find out (usually along with other people trying to go there) that its closed for the night. WTF? You have a graeters next to you! You are in an urban gathering area with heavy foot traffic most nights! Where is the disconnect?!
I get a weekly newsletter from the Downtown Residents Council, and in it this week, they highlighted that Potbelly would be having night hours. I was so happy to see they finally saw reason! Then I read the info more carefully. The owners, in their infinite wisdom, have only chosen to stay open during the WORK WEEK until 9pm. Its a start, but Saturday nights when they have movies on the square, there are hundreds of people there for a several hour time frame! Why wouldn't you stay open Monday thru a Saturday night to see what the feedback was instead of just during the work week?!
I hate giving these people business b/c their business logic mystifies and pisses me off, but if you are on the square and want a deli sandwich, these fools are open. If you'd rather wait a little longer, Gilpins is a good alternative but they open at 8pm. I personally will go to Gilpins over Pot Belly. Info on both is below.
NEW THINGS POPPING UP AT GILPIN'S BAGEL & DELI - NOW Gilpin's Bagel & Deli located at 37 East Seventh Street has made some big changes this summer. In addition to their steamed sandwiches and bagels, you can now buy beer and wine with delivery until 1:00 a.m. on weekends. There is also an outdoor seating area, catering service for anywhere in Cincinnati, lunch time delivery service, Sunday hours from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and every couple weeks they will have DJ's spinning during the night time hours. For more information, check out their new website Click here
POTBELLY ON FOUNTAIN SQUARE EXTENDED HOURS - JULY 27 - 31Potbelly on Fountain Square will be extending their hours for one week only! Enjoy all that Potbelly has to offer starting Monday, July 27 through Friday, July 31 as they will be open until 9:00 p.m. the entire week! For more information call (513) 381-5572.
Here are the hours posted on their website: Open Monday through Friday 7am to 7pm
Saturday 11am to 4pm - Closed Sunday
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
More Gelato @ Findlay!
Gelato, World's Best Ice cream: The Real Reason that So Many People go to Italy. PS What is You Favorite Flavor?, originally uploaded by moonjazz.
YAY!!!!! I always thought Madison's was a little too pricey/snooty.....Capitalism @ its best. Its so great to see the empty spaces @ Findlay getting filled - now if they can lower the rents for storefronts, we'll start seeing more diversity in sellers outside of the Market House.
Dojo Gelato brings Italian-style ice creams and sorbettos to historic Findlay Market
Soapbox, 7/21/2009
Findlay Market is continuing its hot streak with another new tenant that is scheduled to open during the first week in August. Dojo Gelato will open within the Market House and will feature handcrafted Italian-style ice creams and sorbettos.
Dojo owner, Michael Christner says that they adhere to a few basic principles in order to create the finest product. They make their gelato and sorbetto fresh and in small runs with no artificial anything; they use only milk, pure cane sugar, and cream for their gelato; their sorbettos only contain fruit, pure cane sugar, and water; and they refuse to use artificial preservatives, unnatural stabilizers, powders or gels. Christner also states that they only use hormone free dairy products and use choice ingredients from local farmers and purveyors when possible.
Dojo Gelato will also offer milkshakes, floats, affogato (gelato with espresso), smoothies, coffee and Italian sodas. Once open the store will employ 2 part-time with plans to utilize the empowerment program for future employment needs.
The process to get the space ready for Dojo took several months from space selection to build out. The Market House space was actually one of two potential locations that Christner was eyeing. Beig a Northside resident he naturally looked at Hamilton Avenue and had trouble finding any suitable locations, his next logical spot was Findlay Market where he and his wife regularly shop.
Christner is exited though to be a part of the Over-the-Rhine community and fill a desired niche within Findlay Market. “Cincinnati is very welcoming to first time business owners,” says Christner who came from the much more competitive Austin, Texas market.
Christner went on to explain how gelato prep kitchens are often referred to as “laboratories” and that the Dojo name is reflective of the Asian culture meaning of place where you go to hone your craft. Dojo’s laboratory will feature a “super-fresh product” that only has a four to five day shelf life and will utilize fresh produce from Findlay Market vendors. As a result the dozen or so flavors will rotate on a monthly basis depending on what is in season with the exception of a few standard favorites like vanilla, chocolate chip and chocolate neutella.
“Cincinnati has had a definitive love for ice cream since way back when,” says Christner who hopes to recreate that ice cream social atmosphere. “In America there is a tendency to make a generic style of ice cream out of a bag. I’m real excited about using local merchants, fresh produce and creating a product made from scratch.”
Prices will range from $3.50 to $4.50 and the shop will be open during regular Findlay Market business hours (T-F, 9-6; Sat, 8-6; Sun 10-4). Dojo plans to launch a website within the next week that is designed by Vine Street Interactive; for more information in the mean time check out Dojo’s Facebook Page, or follow Dojo on Twitter.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Open Air Theater, Fundraiser @ Below Zero
Two really cool events going on this weekend. The pairing of Ronald McDonald House n Below Zero Lounge is truly an interesting one, but i'm sure they'll make some good money. I can't really find out more on this even than what's in the text below (the website's not loading), but it sounds great! Additionally, having never seen any of the Shakespeare theater shows, the free event in the evening on Sunday sounds great! Since the weather is supposed to behave somewhat over the weekend, it would be a great time to ride my bike and see a free show!
COOL SUMMER EVENT TO BENEFIT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE - JULY 17Over-the-Rhine's trendy Below Zero Lounge will be the site of one cool party - Cool Summer: Our House to Yours, a fundraiser to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati. Come Friday, July 17 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Patrons will be asked to pay a $10 donation at the door and can take advantage of a raffle, with all the proceeds going to Cincinnati's Ronald McDonald House, a supportive "home away from home" for families of children receiving medical treatment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. For more information on Cool Summer Click here and to learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities Click here. Below Zero Lounge is located at 1122 Walnut Street.
LYTLE PARK HOSTING SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK - JULY 19Lytle Park, located at 501 East Fourth Street, will be hosting Shakespeare in the Park Sunday, July 19. Bring your picnic basket, lawn chair, and blanket at 7:00 p.m. to see Romeo and Juliet performed right there in the park. Concessions will be available by "Miss Sweet Confections". This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (513) 381-2273 ext. 214
COOL SUMMER EVENT TO BENEFIT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE - JULY 17Over-the-Rhine's trendy Below Zero Lounge will be the site of one cool party - Cool Summer: Our House to Yours, a fundraiser to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati. Come Friday, July 17 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Patrons will be asked to pay a $10 donation at the door and can take advantage of a raffle, with all the proceeds going to Cincinnati's Ronald McDonald House, a supportive "home away from home" for families of children receiving medical treatment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. For more information on Cool Summer Click here and to learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities Click here. Below Zero Lounge is located at 1122 Walnut Street.
LYTLE PARK HOSTING SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK - JULY 19Lytle Park, located at 501 East Fourth Street, will be hosting Shakespeare in the Park Sunday, July 19. Bring your picnic basket, lawn chair, and blanket at 7:00 p.m. to see Romeo and Juliet performed right there in the park. Concessions will be available by "Miss Sweet Confections". This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (513) 381-2273 ext. 214
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Oceanaire's replacement already announced!
Wow! that didn't take long....
Mr. Sushi coming to 580 Building
Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Lisa Biank Fasig Courier staff reporter
Less than a week after upscale restaurant Oceanaire closed without warning, a new fish eatery is coming to the 580 Building downtown, with a three-month’s heads up.
The 2,900-square-foot restaurant, to be called Mr. Sushi, will bring a welcome tenant to the ground floor of the recently renovated building after it lost Oceanaire on July 6. It also will add to the high-profile corner of Walnut and Sixth streets, where the restaurant Nada operates next to the former Maisonette, which also will likely reopen as an eatery, possibly operated by Nada chef David Falk.
Mr. Sushi will be operated by Dayton restaurateur Jin Kim, who owns the Iron Chef Grill on Fields Ertel Road, and Sushi Café in Dayton. He plans to open by late October or early November.
Kim said he had been looking for a spot downtown or nearby, such as in Hyde park, for a few years. Now that he has a place, he is disappointed that Oceanaire has closed, but perhaps it will offer expansion opportunities down the road.
“I like having somebody else in the same building,” he said. “I’m the only restaurant right now, it feels a little lonely.”
The restaurant will feature a sushi bar and offer traditional Japanese and Korean dishes such as tempura and teriyaki and bibimbab, a mixture of rice, vegetables, egg and meat in a bowl. It will seat a little more than 80 people.
Judie Guttadauro, with downtown-based Realty Network Plus, brokered the deal.
“I just wanted him downtown so desperately,” she said. “I love sushi, and we don’t have anything like that.”
Oceanaire opened June 2, 2008, featuring fresh seafood in a 1930s-era setting.
Mr. Sushi coming to 580 Building
Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Lisa Biank Fasig Courier staff reporter
Less than a week after upscale restaurant Oceanaire closed without warning, a new fish eatery is coming to the 580 Building downtown, with a three-month’s heads up.
The 2,900-square-foot restaurant, to be called Mr. Sushi, will bring a welcome tenant to the ground floor of the recently renovated building after it lost Oceanaire on July 6. It also will add to the high-profile corner of Walnut and Sixth streets, where the restaurant Nada operates next to the former Maisonette, which also will likely reopen as an eatery, possibly operated by Nada chef David Falk.
Mr. Sushi will be operated by Dayton restaurateur Jin Kim, who owns the Iron Chef Grill on Fields Ertel Road, and Sushi Café in Dayton. He plans to open by late October or early November.
Kim said he had been looking for a spot downtown or nearby, such as in Hyde park, for a few years. Now that he has a place, he is disappointed that Oceanaire has closed, but perhaps it will offer expansion opportunities down the road.
“I like having somebody else in the same building,” he said. “I’m the only restaurant right now, it feels a little lonely.”
The restaurant will feature a sushi bar and offer traditional Japanese and Korean dishes such as tempura and teriyaki and bibimbab, a mixture of rice, vegetables, egg and meat in a bowl. It will seat a little more than 80 people.
Judie Guttadauro, with downtown-based Realty Network Plus, brokered the deal.
“I just wanted him downtown so desperately,” she said. “I love sushi, and we don’t have anything like that.”
Oceanaire opened June 2, 2008, featuring fresh seafood in a 1930s-era setting.
American Can Company Revitalization
Everyday I pass the shell of what was once the American Can Company building. It is an enormous space - probably 6 stories, if not more and wall to ceiling windows (or at least, at one time windows). It could be an awesome space for lofts, galleries, etc and thankfully there are some builders out there that saw the opportunity for development and bought the building. Per the Business Courier, "The $22 million mixed-use project would bring 96 apartments and 30,000 square feet of commercial space to the empty shell near the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Blue Rock Road. The building once housed a factory that made machines that made aluminum cans. It’s been mostly vacant since the 1950s. "
Give Back Cincinnati did a neighborhood immersion in Northside a few months ago, and got a tour of this building. It needs some environmental remediation - there's some chemicals that have leached into the floor/surrounding soil - but the structure is still solid and very much the kind of layout that would appeal to a wide variety of buyers. Soapbox Cincy wrote an article about Veep Joe Biden's visit there this week, and i think there is a good amount of inertia behind this project to get it off the ground. If I'm in the market when these lofts get finished, i might be a buyer myself!
More info can be found:
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/related_content.html?topic=American%20Can
Vice President Joe Biden highlights importance of stimulus with American Can Factory rehab project
Soapbox, 7/14/2009 Writer: Randy Simes
http://www.soapboxmedia.com
The prominent American Can Factory sits along the Interstate 75 corridor and towers over its surrounding environs. The behemoth has been recently gutted in preparation for an envisioned rehabilitation project.
The $22 million project would inject 96 new apartments and 30,000 square feet of commercial space into the eclectic Northside neighborhood. The rehabilitation would also rid the area of a vacant building that has for some time held the promise of not much more.
So far the developers of the project, Bloomfield, Schon & Partners, have collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in the form of loans and grants from the city and state alike, and millions more from various tax credits.
The developers and city have been hopeful that federal stimulus dollars to the tune of $1.6 million could be used to help jump start the project and the estimated 200 to 300 construction jobs and 35 to 45 permanent jobs that would come with the project.
Vice President Joe Biden came to Cincinnati and spoke outside of the American Can Factory in Northside to highlight the importance of the stimulus and how it can positively impact projects such as this.
Vice President Biden spoke to the crowd of several hundred gathered at the site to hear about the $4 billion the tri-state region and Ohio are projected to receive from the stimulus package. He emphasized that time and patience are needed before the economic impacts of the federal money would be felt.
The $1.6 million infusion for the American Can Factory project will help get the project moving once more as a tentative commitment from a lender had been reached pending the approval of the stimulus loan.
In addition to the hundreds of new residents the project will house, rumors have been circulating that Cincinnati's favorite restauranteur, chef Jean-Robert de Cavel and current Chef In Residence at the Midwest Culinary Institute might have an interest in the space.
With this announcement city leaders and project developers are hopeful that the project can begin immediately with construction starting before the end of this summer.
Give Back Cincinnati did a neighborhood immersion in Northside a few months ago, and got a tour of this building. It needs some environmental remediation - there's some chemicals that have leached into the floor/surrounding soil - but the structure is still solid and very much the kind of layout that would appeal to a wide variety of buyers. Soapbox Cincy wrote an article about Veep Joe Biden's visit there this week, and i think there is a good amount of inertia behind this project to get it off the ground. If I'm in the market when these lofts get finished, i might be a buyer myself!
More info can be found:
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/related_content.html?topic=American%20Can
Vice President Joe Biden highlights importance of stimulus with American Can Factory rehab project
Soapbox, 7/14/2009 Writer: Randy Simes
http://www.soapboxmedia.com
The prominent American Can Factory sits along the Interstate 75 corridor and towers over its surrounding environs. The behemoth has been recently gutted in preparation for an envisioned rehabilitation project.
The $22 million project would inject 96 new apartments and 30,000 square feet of commercial space into the eclectic Northside neighborhood. The rehabilitation would also rid the area of a vacant building that has for some time held the promise of not much more.
So far the developers of the project, Bloomfield, Schon & Partners, have collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in the form of loans and grants from the city and state alike, and millions more from various tax credits.
The developers and city have been hopeful that federal stimulus dollars to the tune of $1.6 million could be used to help jump start the project and the estimated 200 to 300 construction jobs and 35 to 45 permanent jobs that would come with the project.
Vice President Joe Biden came to Cincinnati and spoke outside of the American Can Factory in Northside to highlight the importance of the stimulus and how it can positively impact projects such as this.
Vice President Biden spoke to the crowd of several hundred gathered at the site to hear about the $4 billion the tri-state region and Ohio are projected to receive from the stimulus package. He emphasized that time and patience are needed before the economic impacts of the federal money would be felt.
The $1.6 million infusion for the American Can Factory project will help get the project moving once more as a tentative commitment from a lender had been reached pending the approval of the stimulus loan.
In addition to the hundreds of new residents the project will house, rumors have been circulating that Cincinnati's favorite restauranteur, chef Jean-Robert de Cavel and current Chef In Residence at the Midwest Culinary Institute might have an interest in the space.
With this announcement city leaders and project developers are hopeful that the project can begin immediately with construction starting before the end of this summer.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Dumesh Indian Restaurant - Best in Cincy!
Taj Mahal # Agra India, originally uploaded by 5348 Franco
Ok, so there are a lot of Indian and Thai joints in this town. Being from Chicago, my area was full of first and second-generation families from the Middle East (primarily India), and believe it or not i never had this kind of food until i moved to Cincinnati. I can't understand how i could have missed out on such a wonderful ethnic food! Today on the way back from a trip to tri-county, we stopped @ Dumesh, a new Indian joint that opened literally across the street from Cincinnati State. Some of our friends from India had gone and raved about the food, so we had the "authentic" perspective down, and i had read a positive review in (the now defunct) Cinweekly a few weeks ago and been interested in going sometime.
Suffice to say, we were not disappointed. I have never seen such a large and somewhat intimidating menu in my life! There had to be probably 60 options on there, broken out by salads, apps, nans and rices, then broken down further by chicken, lamb and seafood. We ended up getting the old standby, veggie samosas, which you can never make a mistake on, and i started with a cup of tea. I'm not sure what kind of tea they use, but it was AWESOME. It kind of tasted like a cross between Chai, Assam and Masala. What i liked was that the way they price it is similar to when you get coffee @ a restaurant - you pay a flat fee and they refill as many times as you want.
After the samosas, we opted to split their vegetarian Thai combo platter. Normally we'd just get a chicken saag and nan and call it a night, but I've been itching to try new things and the combo platters at Indian joints are really fun b/c they come out on these really fancy silver tv dinner platters (for lack of a better comparison). The "Thai" part of the item's name kind of threw us, but it all was the Indian food we're used to - no pad thai or anything that you'd find at Lemongrass. It consisted of basmati rice, garlic nan, riaku (cold yogurt n veggie salad), chori, saag paneer (spinach dish), aloo matra (potato dish)and chana masala (chickpea dish). Anyway, it was ALL wonderful! Its really true that each restaurant has its own iterations of recipes, varying by amts of one spice put in over the other - this was by far the best saag we've had in the city, and everything else was so tasty, we both hated to be full. The place was reasonably priced - my tea was 1.50, the samosas were around 2.99 and the combo platter was 13.99 and it was enough food for us both. I'm glad we split it b/c there's no way one of us would have been able to eat it all. There was really only one lady there and she was so much nicer than the staff at Baba India (the woman there who refills the water and seats you always seems so angry!). We tipped her generously, and i think in total our dinner was 26$. If you ever want to try a new place, this is it - spread the word!
Here is a link to directions, phone #, etc.: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/32/1415970/restaurant/Northside/Dusmesh-Indian-Restaurant-Cincinnati
Suffice to say, we were not disappointed. I have never seen such a large and somewhat intimidating menu in my life! There had to be probably 60 options on there, broken out by salads, apps, nans and rices, then broken down further by chicken, lamb and seafood. We ended up getting the old standby, veggie samosas, which you can never make a mistake on, and i started with a cup of tea. I'm not sure what kind of tea they use, but it was AWESOME. It kind of tasted like a cross between Chai, Assam and Masala. What i liked was that the way they price it is similar to when you get coffee @ a restaurant - you pay a flat fee and they refill as many times as you want.
After the samosas, we opted to split their vegetarian Thai combo platter. Normally we'd just get a chicken saag and nan and call it a night, but I've been itching to try new things and the combo platters at Indian joints are really fun b/c they come out on these really fancy silver tv dinner platters (for lack of a better comparison). The "Thai" part of the item's name kind of threw us, but it all was the Indian food we're used to - no pad thai or anything that you'd find at Lemongrass. It consisted of basmati rice, garlic nan, riaku (cold yogurt n veggie salad), chori, saag paneer (spinach dish), aloo matra (potato dish)and chana masala (chickpea dish). Anyway, it was ALL wonderful! Its really true that each restaurant has its own iterations of recipes, varying by amts of one spice put in over the other - this was by far the best saag we've had in the city, and everything else was so tasty, we both hated to be full. The place was reasonably priced - my tea was 1.50, the samosas were around 2.99 and the combo platter was 13.99 and it was enough food for us both. I'm glad we split it b/c there's no way one of us would have been able to eat it all. There was really only one lady there and she was so much nicer than the staff at Baba India (the woman there who refills the water and seats you always seems so angry!). We tipped her generously, and i think in total our dinner was 26$. If you ever want to try a new place, this is it - spread the word!
Here is a link to directions, phone #, etc.: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/32/1415970/restaurant/Northside/Dusmesh-Indian-Restaurant-Cincinnati
Friday, July 10, 2009
Kahns Facility
Its such a shame we couldn't get the approval to utilize the Kahn's building to house inmates at the already overcrowded downtown jails. Below is an article on what's happened with that site since then.
It can be found @ http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0630kahnssite.aspx
The future of the Kahn's facility in Camp Washington
Soapbox, 6/30/2009
It was just two years ago when Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati were discussing how to deal with the county’s jail capacity and crime management needs. During this time, the county's need for a new jail facility came up time and time again and was the focus of the November 2007 referendum on a sales tax increase to pay for such a facility.
The 15-year tax increase would have raised Hamilton County’s sales tax 0.5 percent to 7 percent for eight years which would then fall back 0.25 percent for the next seven years costing the average county resident an extra 10 cents more per day in sales taxes.
The result would have been a host of new social programs geared towards keeping people out of jail long-term and a new 1,800 bed jail in Camp Washington.
The new $198 million jail was to be built on the land of the former Kahn’s plant owned by the Sara Lee Corporation. The site operated as a meat-packing plant from 1883 (during the Porkopolis days of Cincinnati) until late 2006.
The 15-acre site was donated to Hamilton County during the time when political leaders were searching for a jail. The donated land was estimated to save the county $7.5 million off the cost of a new jail, but still sits unused in the heart of Camp Washington and an area that was recommended for “green industrial” redevelopment in the Growth and Opportunities (GO) Study for Cincinnati.
The GO Study identified a potential of up to 9,000 NRA of office, 485,000 gross square feet of freestanding industrial, 30,000 square feet of Flex/R&D Industrial, and 12,000 square feet of local-serving retail for the Queensgate/South Mill Creek economic opportunity area.
The report goes on to stress the importance of “reclaiming older industrial buildings because of the unique market opportunity to catalyze the rehabilitation of the buildings in the Queensgate/South Mill Creek area.” The report then suggests that the end use could be boutique R&D space that is often found in these types of spaces.
In February of this year, Schweitzer Enterprises offered Hamilton County $1 million for the Kahn’s facility that is valued at $7.5 million with the plans of demolishing about half of the buildings on the site and converting the rest into an indoor sorting facility that could process some 300,000 tons of construction material annually that would have otherwise been sent to a local landfill.
The future of the site is still to be determined, but if community leaders are to follow the GO Study's advice, then something that preserves the structures on the site and capitalizes the location's unique structures in what could become one of the nation’s largest “green” industrial districts is still yet to be identified.
It can be found @ http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0630kahnssite.aspx
The future of the Kahn's facility in Camp Washington
Soapbox, 6/30/2009
It was just two years ago when Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati were discussing how to deal with the county’s jail capacity and crime management needs. During this time, the county's need for a new jail facility came up time and time again and was the focus of the November 2007 referendum on a sales tax increase to pay for such a facility.
The 15-year tax increase would have raised Hamilton County’s sales tax 0.5 percent to 7 percent for eight years which would then fall back 0.25 percent for the next seven years costing the average county resident an extra 10 cents more per day in sales taxes.
The result would have been a host of new social programs geared towards keeping people out of jail long-term and a new 1,800 bed jail in Camp Washington.
The new $198 million jail was to be built on the land of the former Kahn’s plant owned by the Sara Lee Corporation. The site operated as a meat-packing plant from 1883 (during the Porkopolis days of Cincinnati) until late 2006.
The 15-acre site was donated to Hamilton County during the time when political leaders were searching for a jail. The donated land was estimated to save the county $7.5 million off the cost of a new jail, but still sits unused in the heart of Camp Washington and an area that was recommended for “green industrial” redevelopment in the Growth and Opportunities (GO) Study for Cincinnati.
The GO Study identified a potential of up to 9,000 NRA of office, 485,000 gross square feet of freestanding industrial, 30,000 square feet of Flex/R&D Industrial, and 12,000 square feet of local-serving retail for the Queensgate/South Mill Creek economic opportunity area.
The report goes on to stress the importance of “reclaiming older industrial buildings because of the unique market opportunity to catalyze the rehabilitation of the buildings in the Queensgate/South Mill Creek area.” The report then suggests that the end use could be boutique R&D space that is often found in these types of spaces.
In February of this year, Schweitzer Enterprises offered Hamilton County $1 million for the Kahn’s facility that is valued at $7.5 million with the plans of demolishing about half of the buildings on the site and converting the rest into an indoor sorting facility that could process some 300,000 tons of construction material annually that would have otherwise been sent to a local landfill.
The future of the site is still to be determined, but if community leaders are to follow the GO Study's advice, then something that preserves the structures on the site and capitalizes the location's unique structures in what could become one of the nation’s largest “green” industrial districts is still yet to be identified.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Cinweekly staff laid off!
Wow, this is harsh. I hope the content of the magazine doesn't suffer by not having any local reporters to cover local events....
Enquirer lays off CinWeekly staff
Business Courier of Cincinnati
The expected layoffs at the Cincinnati Enquirer apparently have hit the staff of CinWeekly, its publication aimed at young readers.
Several Twitter messages and e-mails from Enquirer staffers confirmed that the publication’s staff was laid off Wednesday afternoon. Calls to CinWeekly’s staff members were not answered, and there has been no official announcement about the layoffs.
On its Web site, the Enquirer announced that starting with the July 15 edition, CinWeekly will be rebranded as Metromix. The newspaper described the publication as "the premier printed snapshot of all things entertainment that younger adults need to plan their free time." Metromix would target ages 25-39 with content from Metromix.com, Cincinnati.com and The Enquirer, according to the story.
CinWeekly was founded in 2003 as a free arts and entertainment tabloid aimed at adults in their 20s and 30s. It is distributed via newsboxes and other venues throughout Greater Cincinnati.
Gannett Co., (NYSE GCI) the Enquirer’s parent, said on July 2 that it would lay off 1,400 employees in its community publishing division. An Enquirer memo indicated that about 100 employees at the paper would be cut.
Gannett, over the past year, has instituted a voluntary severance plan, a previous layoff and quarterly furloughs as ad sales fell. The company posted first-quarter earnings of $77.4 million, or 34 cents per diluted share, down 60 percent year over year.
McLean, Va.-based Gannett also owns the Community Press newspapers locally.
Enquirer lays off CinWeekly staff
Business Courier of Cincinnati
The expected layoffs at the Cincinnati Enquirer apparently have hit the staff of CinWeekly, its publication aimed at young readers.
Several Twitter messages and e-mails from Enquirer staffers confirmed that the publication’s staff was laid off Wednesday afternoon. Calls to CinWeekly’s staff members were not answered, and there has been no official announcement about the layoffs.
On its Web site, the Enquirer announced that starting with the July 15 edition, CinWeekly will be rebranded as Metromix. The newspaper described the publication as "the premier printed snapshot of all things entertainment that younger adults need to plan their free time." Metromix would target ages 25-39 with content from Metromix.com, Cincinnati.com and The Enquirer, according to the story.
CinWeekly was founded in 2003 as a free arts and entertainment tabloid aimed at adults in their 20s and 30s. It is distributed via newsboxes and other venues throughout Greater Cincinnati.
Gannett Co., (NYSE GCI) the Enquirer’s parent, said on July 2 that it would lay off 1,400 employees in its community publishing division. An Enquirer memo indicated that about 100 employees at the paper would be cut.
Gannett, over the past year, has instituted a voluntary severance plan, a previous layoff and quarterly furloughs as ad sales fell. The company posted first-quarter earnings of $77.4 million, or 34 cents per diluted share, down 60 percent year over year.
McLean, Va.-based Gannett also owns the Community Press newspapers locally.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
good news for the former Maisonette site
I'm so tired of seeing the former property of the Maisonette sit empty - i hope this goes through, because they could use some fresh development on that end of 6th. We need more places open for dinner and on the weekends! I never got to eat at Maisonette, but La Normandie had great food and a very intimate layout. I hope they are able to put in a restaurant/bar/whatever of equal caliber (no more Cadillac Ranches, ok?) but with more reasonable pricing.
Maisonette site may be restaurant again
By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • lbernard@enquirer.com • July 8, 2009
DOWNTOWN - Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. says it is in talks with several restaurateurs for the vacant space that once housed Barleycorn's, La Normandie and Maisonette on Sixth Street.
By fall, the nonprofit development group hopes to finalize a deal that would include renovating the downtown buildings into seven upper level condos with about 16,000 square feet of street level space for a restaurant and entertainment user, said Stephen Leeper, president and CEO of 3CDC.
The nonprofit is working with Mount Adams-based Towne Properties, which is consulting on preliminary designs and might partner with 3CDC on a portion of the residential side of the project, Leeper said.
He declined to name the prospective tenants and said it's too soon to estimate the project's cost.
This week, 3CDC began interior "spot" demolition to scope out the potential layout options for the street-level space.
"We're making some pretty good progress," Leeper said, adding that it's likely that 3CDC will hand off the redevelopment project to a local developer and partner with them on the financing.
3CDC bought the properties late last year for roughly $2.4 million, a key acquisition that expanded the nonprofit's reach further into the downtown core.
Since completing Fountain Square's renovation last year, 3CDC also has led the redevelopment of the former Phoenix Café on Walnut Street into renovated condos and the incoming Righteous Room, a bar and lounge set to open this summer.
Other nearby venues include the recently opened Bootsy's, a restaurant and bar at 631 Walnut, and Nicholson's Tavern & Pub at 625 Walnut.
"This will really build on the progress that's been made so far and complement the area very nicely," Leeper said. "We're really trying to begin to use these buildings more densely than we have in the past, which will really help create a steady population downtown for a greater portion of the day."
Maisonette site may be restaurant again
By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • lbernard@enquirer.com • July 8, 2009
DOWNTOWN - Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. says it is in talks with several restaurateurs for the vacant space that once housed Barleycorn's, La Normandie and Maisonette on Sixth Street.
By fall, the nonprofit development group hopes to finalize a deal that would include renovating the downtown buildings into seven upper level condos with about 16,000 square feet of street level space for a restaurant and entertainment user, said Stephen Leeper, president and CEO of 3CDC.
The nonprofit is working with Mount Adams-based Towne Properties, which is consulting on preliminary designs and might partner with 3CDC on a portion of the residential side of the project, Leeper said.
He declined to name the prospective tenants and said it's too soon to estimate the project's cost.
This week, 3CDC began interior "spot" demolition to scope out the potential layout options for the street-level space.
"We're making some pretty good progress," Leeper said, adding that it's likely that 3CDC will hand off the redevelopment project to a local developer and partner with them on the financing.
3CDC bought the properties late last year for roughly $2.4 million, a key acquisition that expanded the nonprofit's reach further into the downtown core.
Since completing Fountain Square's renovation last year, 3CDC also has led the redevelopment of the former Phoenix Café on Walnut Street into renovated condos and the incoming Righteous Room, a bar and lounge set to open this summer.
Other nearby venues include the recently opened Bootsy's, a restaurant and bar at 631 Walnut, and Nicholson's Tavern & Pub at 625 Walnut.
"This will really build on the progress that's been made so far and complement the area very nicely," Leeper said. "We're really trying to begin to use these buildings more densely than we have in the past, which will really help create a steady population downtown for a greater portion of the day."
promotions, classes, etc.
There is so much cool stuff going on - how can you not find something to do during these hot months?
PALOMINO PRESENTS BOTTLES UP! PROMOTION - NOW
Can't afford to spring for a bottle of Dom, but have something big to celebrate? Come to Palomino on a Wednesday, and it is half off! Do you have champagne taste on a champ ale budget? You cannot beat this deal! Every bottle of wine will be half off on Wednesdays. But, there's more. For 6 weeks, July 1st - August 12th, Palomino will be selling gift cards for 25% off. The offer is only going on for 6 weeks, and it is only available through the restaurant, not online, so stop by Palomino today, located at 505 Vine Street. Click here
LEARN ORGANIC GARDENING AT PARK + VINE - JULY 11Learn what you can do to create a more sustainable, equitable, and human-scaled future through organic gardening at Park + Vine on Saturday, July 11 at 2:30 p.m. Permaculture is an organic gardening, systems-thinking design method that works to maximize the beneficial relationships between all elements in our life systems. Park+ Vine is located at 1109 Vine Street. Call (513) 721-7275 for more information or Click here
SECOND SUNDAY ON MAIN BRINGS A GLOBAL GROOVE - JULY 12This month's event takes the neighborhood on a trip around the world, thanks to the sights and sounds of five bands with international flavor. The Bacchanal Steel Band (Caribbean Calypso) takes the stage at noon, followed by Silver Arm (Celtic) at 1:00 p.m. Mojenho Daro (Middle Eastern/Indian) will treat the crowd to some tunes at 2:00 p.m., and then it's Zumba (Latin American) at 3:00 p.m. and Baoku Moses and the Image AfroBeat Band at 4:00 p.m. The day will continue with a cooking demonstration at 2:30 p.m. by Chef Nat Blanford and the annual Drag Races, in heels not hot rods, starts at 4:00 p.m. For more information on Second Sunday on Main, Click here or call the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce at (513) 241-2690.
BUSINESS ON BOARD EXTENDS DEADLING FOR FALL CLASS '09 - JULY 31Business on Board for the Arts (BoB) is a dynamic program designed to identify, recruit, train and place a diverse pool of high potential business professionals as board members of Greater Cincinnati arts organizations. The BoB training program is managed by the Fine Arts Fund Arts Services, whose staff and volunteers are specialists in supporting arts organizations through programs, people and resources. We embrace this program as arts organizations make up an important part of the fabric of downtown Cincinnati. BoB are now recruiting for their fall 2009 class and have extended the deadline to Friday, July 31. The enrollment fee has also been reduced. For an application go to http://www.fineartsfund.org and click on the "Volunteer" icon. For more information contact Heather Hallenberg at the Fine Arts Fund, (513) 871-2787 ext. 28 or Email
CINCYPASSPORT PRESENTS AN AFTERNOON AT FINDLAY MARKET-JULY 12The CincyPassport Program is designed to encourage Greater Cincinnatians to travel to great neighborhoods and events. Get your passport stamped at each event you attend and look for details about how those stamps earn you great prizes. The next CincyPassport event is this Sunday, July 12 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. - An Afternoon at Findlay Market! Experience the sights, sounds and wonderful aromas at Cincinnati's Findlay Market, Ohio's oldest operated public market. Findlay Market is located at 801 Race Street (meet at the Biergarten on Essen Strasse). For directions and other information Click here
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT SUMMER ARTS - THROUGH JULY 29The Downtown Residents Council is seeking volunteers to assist with programs at the Children's Learning Center at the Main Public Library. The Summer Arts programs are for kids ages 6-12. Please consider participating on one or more Wednesday evenings this month. Arrive at the Children's Learning Center at 800 Vine Street at 6:45 p.m. for about 90 minutes. For more information, contact Carolyn Janssen at (513) 369-6922 or Click here
DRIVE TIME FARMERS MARKET CONTINUES - NOW Findlay Market offers local agriculture three days each week in the Farmers Market. In addition to the popular Saturday seasonal market, the new Tuesday Drive Time Farmers Market is now open from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. through October. Shoppers will find many of their favorite farmers as well as new vendors. Market Wines also offers a drive time wine tasting every Tuesday afternoon. For more information, call (513) 665-4839 or Click here
PALOMINO PRESENTS BOTTLES UP! PROMOTION - NOW
Can't afford to spring for a bottle of Dom, but have something big to celebrate? Come to Palomino on a Wednesday, and it is half off! Do you have champagne taste on a champ ale budget? You cannot beat this deal! Every bottle of wine will be half off on Wednesdays. But, there's more. For 6 weeks, July 1st - August 12th, Palomino will be selling gift cards for 25% off. The offer is only going on for 6 weeks, and it is only available through the restaurant, not online, so stop by Palomino today, located at 505 Vine Street. Click here
LEARN ORGANIC GARDENING AT PARK + VINE - JULY 11Learn what you can do to create a more sustainable, equitable, and human-scaled future through organic gardening at Park + Vine on Saturday, July 11 at 2:30 p.m. Permaculture is an organic gardening, systems-thinking design method that works to maximize the beneficial relationships between all elements in our life systems. Park+ Vine is located at 1109 Vine Street. Call (513) 721-7275 for more information or Click here
SECOND SUNDAY ON MAIN BRINGS A GLOBAL GROOVE - JULY 12This month's event takes the neighborhood on a trip around the world, thanks to the sights and sounds of five bands with international flavor. The Bacchanal Steel Band (Caribbean Calypso) takes the stage at noon, followed by Silver Arm (Celtic) at 1:00 p.m. Mojenho Daro (Middle Eastern/Indian) will treat the crowd to some tunes at 2:00 p.m., and then it's Zumba (Latin American) at 3:00 p.m. and Baoku Moses and the Image AfroBeat Band at 4:00 p.m. The day will continue with a cooking demonstration at 2:30 p.m. by Chef Nat Blanford and the annual Drag Races, in heels not hot rods, starts at 4:00 p.m. For more information on Second Sunday on Main, Click here or call the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce at (513) 241-2690.
BUSINESS ON BOARD EXTENDS DEADLING FOR FALL CLASS '09 - JULY 31Business on Board for the Arts (BoB) is a dynamic program designed to identify, recruit, train and place a diverse pool of high potential business professionals as board members of Greater Cincinnati arts organizations. The BoB training program is managed by the Fine Arts Fund Arts Services, whose staff and volunteers are specialists in supporting arts organizations through programs, people and resources. We embrace this program as arts organizations make up an important part of the fabric of downtown Cincinnati. BoB are now recruiting for their fall 2009 class and have extended the deadline to Friday, July 31. The enrollment fee has also been reduced. For an application go to http://www.fineartsfund.org and click on the "Volunteer" icon. For more information contact Heather Hallenberg at the Fine Arts Fund, (513) 871-2787 ext. 28 or Email
CINCYPASSPORT PRESENTS AN AFTERNOON AT FINDLAY MARKET-JULY 12The CincyPassport Program is designed to encourage Greater Cincinnatians to travel to great neighborhoods and events. Get your passport stamped at each event you attend and look for details about how those stamps earn you great prizes. The next CincyPassport event is this Sunday, July 12 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. - An Afternoon at Findlay Market! Experience the sights, sounds and wonderful aromas at Cincinnati's Findlay Market, Ohio's oldest operated public market. Findlay Market is located at 801 Race Street (meet at the Biergarten on Essen Strasse). For directions and other information Click here
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT SUMMER ARTS - THROUGH JULY 29The Downtown Residents Council is seeking volunteers to assist with programs at the Children's Learning Center at the Main Public Library. The Summer Arts programs are for kids ages 6-12. Please consider participating on one or more Wednesday evenings this month. Arrive at the Children's Learning Center at 800 Vine Street at 6:45 p.m. for about 90 minutes. For more information, contact Carolyn Janssen at (513) 369-6922 or Click here
DRIVE TIME FARMERS MARKET CONTINUES - NOW Findlay Market offers local agriculture three days each week in the Farmers Market. In addition to the popular Saturday seasonal market, the new Tuesday Drive Time Farmers Market is now open from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. through October. Shoppers will find many of their favorite farmers as well as new vendors. Market Wines also offers a drive time wine tasting every Tuesday afternoon. For more information, call (513) 665-4839 or Click here
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Restaurant closures and openings....
First, from the Cincy Business Journal, the bad news (well, only if you could afford to go to this place):
Seafood restaurant chain The Oceanaire, which opened a downtown Cincinnati location last year, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed its local site. A recording at the Cincinnati Oceanaire's number says the restaurant is closed and thanks customers for their patronage. Oceanaire opened June 2, 2008, in the 580 Building at Sixth and Walnut streets, featuring fresh seafood in a 1930s-era setting. Its demise leaves McCormick & Schmick's in the Westin as downtown's only seafood restaurant.
And now the good news - drew and i ate at this place when it was an ethiopian joint, and i'm so glad its being redone and reopened! that end of 6th really doesn't have anything in the way of eating options:
Cincinnati's Martin and Marilyn Wade plan ‘desperately needed’ eatery type on Sixth Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Lisa Biank Fasig Staff Reporter
Martin and Marilyn Wade, the real estate investors behind Twist Restaurant & Lounge, JeanRo Bistro and several other restaurants, are developing what will be their smallest eatery, downtown.
The site, at 120 W. Sixth St., will sit beneath four apartments also being developed by the Wades. Their holding company, Relish Restaurant Group, is accepting bids for work on the apartments, about 950 square feet each. As for the restaurant, specifics are still in the works, said Justin Dean, chief operating officer of Relish. But, he said, the concept will be new to the city.
“We’re kicking two ideas around right now, both of which we don’t have right now and we desperately need,” he said.
As for whether it will be upscale or moderate, he said that in this economy, the restaurant will be “completely and totally affordable.”
Seafood restaurant chain The Oceanaire, which opened a downtown Cincinnati location last year, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed its local site. A recording at the Cincinnati Oceanaire's number says the restaurant is closed and thanks customers for their patronage. Oceanaire opened June 2, 2008, in the 580 Building at Sixth and Walnut streets, featuring fresh seafood in a 1930s-era setting. Its demise leaves McCormick & Schmick's in the Westin as downtown's only seafood restaurant.
And now the good news - drew and i ate at this place when it was an ethiopian joint, and i'm so glad its being redone and reopened! that end of 6th really doesn't have anything in the way of eating options:
Cincinnati's Martin and Marilyn Wade plan ‘desperately needed’ eatery type on Sixth Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Lisa Biank Fasig Staff Reporter
Martin and Marilyn Wade, the real estate investors behind Twist Restaurant & Lounge, JeanRo Bistro and several other restaurants, are developing what will be their smallest eatery, downtown.
The site, at 120 W. Sixth St., will sit beneath four apartments also being developed by the Wades. Their holding company, Relish Restaurant Group, is accepting bids for work on the apartments, about 950 square feet each. As for the restaurant, specifics are still in the works, said Justin Dean, chief operating officer of Relish. But, he said, the concept will be new to the city.
“We’re kicking two ideas around right now, both of which we don’t have right now and we desperately need,” he said.
As for whether it will be upscale or moderate, he said that in this economy, the restaurant will be “completely and totally affordable.”
Monday, July 6, 2009
cool stuff going on in Cincinnati Parks
Wow, there was so much info in my Cincinnati Parks quarterly newsletter that i just cut and pasted it. Check it all out!
Everybody’s Backyard:Outdoor Movies: New this summer, the Outdoor Movies in the Parks series is showing some of your favorite movies under the stars. Parking and the movies are free and open to the public.
Friday, July 10 ET: The Extra-Terrestrial 9:30 pm Washington Park downtown, 1225 Elm Street
Friday, July 17 pm Madagascar Stanbery Park 8:45 pm Mt. Washington, 2221 Oxford Ave.
Thursday, July 23 To Catch a Thief Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 8 movie title and time TBA Rapid Run Park 4450 Rapid Run Parkway, West Price Hill
Friday, August 14 movie title TBA 8:45pm Mt. Echo Park East Price Hill, 381 Elberon Ave.
Friday, August 21 The Philadelphia Story 7:30pm Seasongood Pavilion Eden Park
Park Concerts and Events: Get outside and relax in the warm weather with outdoor concerts and events sponsored by Cincinnati Parks. The evenings feature Everybody's Backyard Picnic Concerts and the Cincinnati Parks Foundation Music & Event Series. Music fills the days downtown at the LPK Acoustic Lunch concerts in Piatt Park. Enjoy Shakespeare in the Park by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company at Eden Park, or swing to Plaza Jazz in Clifton. For a full listing click here.
Farmers’ Markets in Parks: Enjoy selecting fresh vegetables and fruits grown by local farmers and gardeners at the three farmers’ markets located in Cincinnati Parks.Sayler Park Farmers’ Market, Tuesdays, 4:00pm – 7:00pm Sayler ParkNorthside Farmers’ Market, Wednesdays, 3:00pm – 8:00pm Hoffner ParkMt. Washington Farmers' Market, Thursdays, 2:30pm – 6:30pm Stanbery Park
Disc Golf Courses in Burnet Woods & Mt. Airy Forest: Many people are surprised to learn there are two great disc golf courses in Cincinnati Parks, one in Burnet Woods in Clifton and the other on the west side of town in Mt. Airy Forest. New this summer is the grand opening of The Nati Disc Golf Pro Shop at the Mt. Airy Forest disc golf course. The operators of the pro shop are giving free Disc Golf lessons for beginners who visit the course on weekends. The Nati Pro Shop is in Pine Ridge Lodge, 4800 Pine Ridge Road inside Mt. Airy Forest, adjacent to the Mt. Airy Disc Golf Course. The park entrance is 5083 Colerain Avenue. Hours are Monday-Friday 11:00 am. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Segway Tours: Step onto a Segway and explore Cincinnati’s beautiful and historic Eden Park. You and your friends will enjoy riding a Segway for this unique guided tour. The 90 minute tour includes training by an experienced Segway guide to enhance your comfort, safety and enjoyment. Cost is $50 per person, by appointment. To schedule a tour visit Segway.com or www.Segwayofohio.net or call (859) 628-7728.
Explore & More at Five Neighborhood Nature Centers and 34 Nature Preserves: Have fun in any of our 1000 Nature Education programs – hikes & hands-on events for families, adults, children, seniors and school groups.
Plus, there are free, drop-in summer camps for children, called “Nature Next Door." Now through Aug. 7, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at a different Park each weekday: Mondays….. Lincoln Recreation Center Greenspace on Linn Street (West End) Tuesdays…. Dempsey Park on Purcell Av (East Price Hill) Wednesdays....Roselawn Park on Seymour Avenue (Roselawn) Thursdays…....Fleischmann Gardens on Forest Avenue ( Avondale) Fridays…………Inwood Park on Vine Street (Mt. Auburn)
For more information about Explore Nature programs click here.
Mt. Airy Forest Hikes: There are 65 miles of trails in our city parks. Thanks to a Hiking Club grant, our largest park, Mt. Airy Forest, has guided hikes on Wednesday afternoons, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There is no charge to participate, and you can choose an easy, moderate or more challenging route. For more about the Mt. Airy hikes, click here, or contact Pegge backststudio@cinci.rr.com
Everybody’s Backyard Picnic Concerts: Bring your family and join your neighbors for an evening of fun at one of Cincinnati's finest parks to celebrate summer! Free hot dogs - while they last, balloon artist, face painter, magician, Park Board Nature Education activities, Police K-9 Unit, and live entertainment (TBA). Bring a lawn chair, pack a picnic basket and enjoy Everybody's Backyard Picnic. For a map of Cincinnati Park locations and calendar of fun events and programs, visit www.cincinnatiparks.com.
Everybody’s Backyard:Outdoor Movies: New this summer, the Outdoor Movies in the Parks series is showing some of your favorite movies under the stars. Parking and the movies are free and open to the public.
Friday, July 10 ET: The Extra-Terrestrial 9:30 pm Washington Park downtown, 1225 Elm Street
Friday, July 17 pm Madagascar Stanbery Park 8:45 pm Mt. Washington, 2221 Oxford Ave.
Thursday, July 23 To Catch a Thief Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 8 movie title and time TBA Rapid Run Park 4450 Rapid Run Parkway, West Price Hill
Friday, August 14 movie title TBA 8:45pm Mt. Echo Park East Price Hill, 381 Elberon Ave.
Friday, August 21 The Philadelphia Story 7:30pm Seasongood Pavilion Eden Park
Park Concerts and Events: Get outside and relax in the warm weather with outdoor concerts and events sponsored by Cincinnati Parks. The evenings feature Everybody's Backyard Picnic Concerts and the Cincinnati Parks Foundation Music & Event Series. Music fills the days downtown at the LPK Acoustic Lunch concerts in Piatt Park. Enjoy Shakespeare in the Park by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company at Eden Park, or swing to Plaza Jazz in Clifton. For a full listing click here.
Farmers’ Markets in Parks: Enjoy selecting fresh vegetables and fruits grown by local farmers and gardeners at the three farmers’ markets located in Cincinnati Parks.Sayler Park Farmers’ Market, Tuesdays, 4:00pm – 7:00pm Sayler ParkNorthside Farmers’ Market, Wednesdays, 3:00pm – 8:00pm Hoffner ParkMt. Washington Farmers' Market, Thursdays, 2:30pm – 6:30pm Stanbery Park
Disc Golf Courses in Burnet Woods & Mt. Airy Forest: Many people are surprised to learn there are two great disc golf courses in Cincinnati Parks, one in Burnet Woods in Clifton and the other on the west side of town in Mt. Airy Forest. New this summer is the grand opening of The Nati Disc Golf Pro Shop at the Mt. Airy Forest disc golf course. The operators of the pro shop are giving free Disc Golf lessons for beginners who visit the course on weekends. The Nati Pro Shop is in Pine Ridge Lodge, 4800 Pine Ridge Road inside Mt. Airy Forest, adjacent to the Mt. Airy Disc Golf Course. The park entrance is 5083 Colerain Avenue. Hours are Monday-Friday 11:00 am. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Segway Tours: Step onto a Segway and explore Cincinnati’s beautiful and historic Eden Park. You and your friends will enjoy riding a Segway for this unique guided tour. The 90 minute tour includes training by an experienced Segway guide to enhance your comfort, safety and enjoyment. Cost is $50 per person, by appointment. To schedule a tour visit Segway.com or www.Segwayofohio.net or call (859) 628-7728.
Explore & More at Five Neighborhood Nature Centers and 34 Nature Preserves: Have fun in any of our 1000 Nature Education programs – hikes & hands-on events for families, adults, children, seniors and school groups.
Plus, there are free, drop-in summer camps for children, called “Nature Next Door." Now through Aug. 7, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at a different Park each weekday: Mondays….. Lincoln Recreation Center Greenspace on Linn Street (West End) Tuesdays…. Dempsey Park on Purcell Av (East Price Hill) Wednesdays....Roselawn Park on Seymour Avenue (Roselawn) Thursdays…....Fleischmann Gardens on Forest Avenue ( Avondale) Fridays…………Inwood Park on Vine Street (Mt. Auburn)
For more information about Explore Nature programs click here.
Mt. Airy Forest Hikes: There are 65 miles of trails in our city parks. Thanks to a Hiking Club grant, our largest park, Mt. Airy Forest, has guided hikes on Wednesday afternoons, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There is no charge to participate, and you can choose an easy, moderate or more challenging route. For more about the Mt. Airy hikes, click here, or contact Pegge backststudio@cinci.rr.com
Everybody’s Backyard Picnic Concerts: Bring your family and join your neighbors for an evening of fun at one of Cincinnati's finest parks to celebrate summer! Free hot dogs - while they last, balloon artist, face painter, magician, Park Board Nature Education activities, Police K-9 Unit, and live entertainment (TBA). Bring a lawn chair, pack a picnic basket and enjoy Everybody's Backyard Picnic. For a map of Cincinnati Park locations and calendar of fun events and programs, visit www.cincinnatiparks.com.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
fireworks on the 4th
ok, so i know i'm going a bit overboard with posts today, but i'm gone until next Monday and there's a shit-ton of stuff going on. Earlier today, i read an article in the enquirer about how cities are doing away with their free fireworks shows for the 4th, which sucks but you can't be surprised. Thankfully our city's fireworks displays are sponsored, so we're in luck!
Here are two great options (aside from the Red White and Boom gig up in Blue Ash):
P&G FOURTH OF JULY BASH ON FOUNTAIN SQUARE - JULY 4
Celebrate the Fourth of July in true Fountain Square style with patriotic music from the New Sousa Band and a special screening of the summer blockbuster Independence Day enhanced with Rozzi's Famous Fireworks. Fireworks will be used during the movie to create a unique outdoor viewing experience (hint: explosions = fireworks). At the end, a traditional fireworks display will go off the top of the Fountain Place building while the credits roll. Adult beverages and Coca-Cola soft drinks are available for purchase. Skyline Chili, Mama Made It kettle corn, popcorn, Sno-Kones, candy bars, and other treats are also available. Special thanks to title sponsor P&G & media sponsor Kiss 107! I went to the movies on the square for the first time last week, and its really a great idea, especially if you have kiddos. My one recommendation would be to bring your own chairs if you dont get there early. There were a ton of people laid out on blankets, but the square is HARD so that probably isn't so comfy after awhile. If you don't have kids its still a good time and they serve beer along with coneys and pop, etc.
ANNUAL CRC FIREWORKS AT YEATMAN'S COVE - JULY 4
Bring your lawn chair or blankets to Yeatman's Cove on Saturday, July 4 for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission's annual All-American Birthday Party. Concessions are available, along with music and world-famous Rozzi Fireworks at 10 pm. It's sure to be a family friendly event. Low cost parking is available at the park's main entrance at 801 Pete Rose Way. For more information, call (513) 352-6180 or Click here .
Here are two great options (aside from the Red White and Boom gig up in Blue Ash):
P&G FOURTH OF JULY BASH ON FOUNTAIN SQUARE - JULY 4
Celebrate the Fourth of July in true Fountain Square style with patriotic music from the New Sousa Band and a special screening of the summer blockbuster Independence Day enhanced with Rozzi's Famous Fireworks. Fireworks will be used during the movie to create a unique outdoor viewing experience (hint: explosions = fireworks). At the end, a traditional fireworks display will go off the top of the Fountain Place building while the credits roll. Adult beverages and Coca-Cola soft drinks are available for purchase. Skyline Chili, Mama Made It kettle corn, popcorn, Sno-Kones, candy bars, and other treats are also available. Special thanks to title sponsor P&G & media sponsor Kiss 107! I went to the movies on the square for the first time last week, and its really a great idea, especially if you have kiddos. My one recommendation would be to bring your own chairs if you dont get there early. There were a ton of people laid out on blankets, but the square is HARD so that probably isn't so comfy after awhile. If you don't have kids its still a good time and they serve beer along with coneys and pop, etc.
ANNUAL CRC FIREWORKS AT YEATMAN'S COVE - JULY 4
Bring your lawn chair or blankets to Yeatman's Cove on Saturday, July 4 for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission's annual All-American Birthday Party. Concessions are available, along with music and world-famous Rozzi Fireworks at 10 pm. It's sure to be a family friendly event. Low cost parking is available at the park's main entrance at 801 Pete Rose Way. For more information, call (513) 352-6180 or Click here .
DCI Survey results on Downtown Perceptions
Here's some of the most interesting info i copied and pasted from the DCI press release found @ http://downtowncincinnati.com/files/uploaded/Perceptions_Survey.09.final.pdf . Some of the info was cut out or paraphrased for space.
Perceptions with the strongest positive change compared to a year ago w ere:
‘has a good vibe’ at 58% v. 33%,
‘is comfortable / approachable’ at 63% v. 38%
and ‘has a bright future’ at 70% v. 46%.
The following perceptions improved in 2009 compared to 2008. The numbers
represent the sum of “strongly agree” and “agree”.
2009 2008
Cleanliness 65% 44%
Feels Safe 61% 44%
Visible Police Presence 64% 43%
Affordable Parking 69% 36%
Laid out in compact manner 67% 46%
Easily accessible by car 78% 68%
Visits to downtown within the past month have
increased to 78% in 2009 from 60% in 2008.
top 5 destinations that are always
or usually considered for dining / shopping / entertainment
Downtown leads at 46%,
Rookw ood Commons at 39%,
Kenwood Tow ne Centre at 38%,
Newport on the Levee at 26%
Hyde Park Square at 21%.
In general respondents are spending
more at all locations compared to a year ago.
Perceptions with the strongest positive change compared to a year ago w ere:
‘has a good vibe’ at 58% v. 33%,
‘is comfortable / approachable’ at 63% v. 38%
and ‘has a bright future’ at 70% v. 46%.
The following perceptions improved in 2009 compared to 2008. The numbers
represent the sum of “strongly agree” and “agree”.
2009 2008
Cleanliness 65% 44%
Feels Safe 61% 44%
Visible Police Presence 64% 43%
Affordable Parking 69% 36%
Laid out in compact manner 67% 46%
Easily accessible by car 78% 68%
Visits to downtown within the past month have
increased to 78% in 2009 from 60% in 2008.
top 5 destinations that are always
or usually considered for dining / shopping / entertainment
Downtown leads at 46%,
Rookw ood Commons at 39%,
Kenwood Tow ne Centre at 38%,
Newport on the Levee at 26%
Hyde Park Square at 21%.
In general respondents are spending
more at all locations compared to a year ago.
Happy Hours
So, i went to UD and i live in a german city - a good beer for a good price is one of life's small pleasures. Its not often i get to a happy hour these days, but when i do, i want to make it count. A good litmus test of a happy hour that appeals to me is whether it goes until after 7 (i work till 6), if the crowd is Chode-free and if its a place that's a semi- independent chain.
My recommendation for great places to go for happy hour downtown:
Hilton Netherland Lobby - its crazy fancy in there and the happy hour prices are AWESOME
Palomino - a bit overcrowded and the chode factor can be high, but i'll be damned if they don't make some kick ass mojitos.
Mainstay bar - no happy hour, but its off the beaten path (where spy club/viper room was, across from the convention center on 5th) and they sell 40s of beers - nice beer, mind you - as well as draft liters for 5$. I bought a Blue Moon there the other week and unlike HBH, i actually finished it before it was gone. Who can beat getting semi drunk for 5$?!
Grammars - great bar all around. I honestly don't know if they have happy hour, but its a sweet bar nonetheless and anyone who's up for a drink in OTR should check it out. Very cool place and good people who have a good sense of humor. They always have lots of microbrews on tap, so its worth going to if you want something other than Bud/Miller (sorry to my friends who work for both, but sometimes you just want something different).
Knockabout Nat's (formerly Rockin Robins) - ok, so first off, let me say that i think both names for this bar suck. That being stated, it really feels like a neighborhood bar that you'd find in any one of the burbs - low lighting, not much in the way of food and cold beer while you watch espn. Since i'm not a sports fan, i'll take the tables outside anyday, even if you do get panhandled now and again. Not sure on happy hour, but their drinks are cheap so you cant get much more of a deal than that.
New addition (and as of yet, unconfirmed on if its fun or not): Cricket Lounge @ The Cincinnatian. Here's the info on it that i got off of facebook:
- The Cricket Lounge Happier Hour4 pm - 7 pm Everyday1/2 price Cricket Menu "Snacks and Appetizers" daily. Plus Daily Specials½ dozen wings $3Artichoke Dip with Chips and Salsa $4Soft Pretzels with beer cheese $4BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with cole slaw (3 sliders) $58 oz Ground Sirloin Burger served with kettle chips $5Drink Specials$2.50 draft beers including Bass and Christian Moerlein½ price house wines$5 Specialty Cocktails
I paid particular attention the Christian Moerlein for 2.50 - that's a fair price!
further recommendations? I think sully's is supposed to have a good happy hour, but i think the chode factor there is kind of high, depending on the nite.
My recommendation for great places to go for happy hour downtown:
Hilton Netherland Lobby - its crazy fancy in there and the happy hour prices are AWESOME
Palomino - a bit overcrowded and the chode factor can be high, but i'll be damned if they don't make some kick ass mojitos.
Mainstay bar - no happy hour, but its off the beaten path (where spy club/viper room was, across from the convention center on 5th) and they sell 40s of beers - nice beer, mind you - as well as draft liters for 5$. I bought a Blue Moon there the other week and unlike HBH, i actually finished it before it was gone. Who can beat getting semi drunk for 5$?!
Grammars - great bar all around. I honestly don't know if they have happy hour, but its a sweet bar nonetheless and anyone who's up for a drink in OTR should check it out. Very cool place and good people who have a good sense of humor. They always have lots of microbrews on tap, so its worth going to if you want something other than Bud/Miller (sorry to my friends who work for both, but sometimes you just want something different).
Knockabout Nat's (formerly Rockin Robins) - ok, so first off, let me say that i think both names for this bar suck. That being stated, it really feels like a neighborhood bar that you'd find in any one of the burbs - low lighting, not much in the way of food and cold beer while you watch espn. Since i'm not a sports fan, i'll take the tables outside anyday, even if you do get panhandled now and again. Not sure on happy hour, but their drinks are cheap so you cant get much more of a deal than that.
New addition (and as of yet, unconfirmed on if its fun or not): Cricket Lounge @ The Cincinnatian. Here's the info on it that i got off of facebook:
- The Cricket Lounge Happier Hour4 pm - 7 pm Everyday1/2 price Cricket Menu "Snacks and Appetizers" daily. Plus Daily Specials½ dozen wings $3Artichoke Dip with Chips and Salsa $4Soft Pretzels with beer cheese $4BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with cole slaw (3 sliders) $58 oz Ground Sirloin Burger served with kettle chips $5Drink Specials$2.50 draft beers including Bass and Christian Moerlein½ price house wines$5 Specialty Cocktails
I paid particular attention the Christian Moerlein for 2.50 - that's a fair price!
further recommendations? I think sully's is supposed to have a good happy hour, but i think the chode factor there is kind of high, depending on the nite.
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