Author: Dave Rolfes

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News Politics

Cincinnati’s RecycleBank program to be Midwest’s largest

The City of Cincinnati announced, in June 2010, that they would partner with RecycleBank and Cascade Engineering to completely change the way Cincinnatians recycle. After a false start on larger recycling carts earlier in the year, the news came as a pleasant surprise to those looking to increase the volume of recycled household waste.

The RecycleBank partnership will make Cincinnati the largest Midwestern city to take part in the program that offers tangible incentives for residents to be greener in their everyday lives. The program works by effectively paying participants for their household recycling. Residents earn 2.5 points for each pound of recycled material that fills their recycling “smart carts” which are weighed at the time of pick-up. The points are then automatically deposited into an online account where the participants can use them to purchase products or gift cards to both local vendors like Park & Vine or national vendors like Target.

There are winners everywhere in this agreement. Users win because they are effectively paid to recycle their household waste. The City of Cincinnati wins as there is an up-front savings of over $1 million in collection (it will be changed to bi-weekly) and landfill costs for an initial investment of $750,000 which is coming from federal stimulus money. And finally, the environment wins as RecycleBank has shown positive returns as residents recycle more, by as much as 30 percent more, of their day to day household items.

While the City has yet to officially announce how people can participate in this free program, those interested can visit RecycleBank’s website to start an online rewards account now. It is free to sign up and the site offers helpful hints to be more green throughout day-to-day life. Additionally, users can jump start their account by earning points through other programs including a mail in electronics recycling program. The points earned through these other programs can then applied to the account used for Cincinnati’s curbside recycling program expected to start this October.

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Arts & Entertainment Development News

Dave Rolfes: A Year at UrbanCincy

It was exactly one year ago today that I published my first UrbanCincy post. It was a riveting piece to be sure, about the Cincy Beer Fest that was being held in <gasp!> Covington, KY. I had long been a resident of the Cincinnati area, always to the north of the river, but a move about two years prior into the Covington portion of our urban core had really helped me start to see our area in a different light. So the fact that my first UrbanCincy post captured what some considered to be a poorly named festival actually made total sense to me. It was a uniquely Cincinnati event that happened to stretch a few blocks south of the Ohio River, just as I had myself.

After spending many years on the sidelines and being a mostly passive member of the community, getting started helping with UrbanCincy gave me a chance to explore the world around me in a new and unique way. Having a part in the story telling of the rebirth of Cincinnati is not only something I take great pride in, it is something that has exponentially increased my passion for the Queen City. In these parts, depending on who you listen to, or who you read, it is easy to get bogged down in a lot of negativity about our fair city. I believe though, that the reality of the situation is quite different, and I am not alone. In fact, there is a growing group of energetic people involved in making Cincinnati a great place to live, work and play and UrbanCincy put me on the path to finding them.

As UrbanCincy has helped rekindle my passion about Cincinnati, it has also helped me become more involved with the community. As you know we are in favor of rail transit as urban development, so I spent time volunteering with Cincinnatians for Progress. We are passionate about activity in the urban core, so I played in the Fountain Square Broomball League. We are of course focused on doing everything we can to make the Cincinnati Streetcar a reality, so I went down to City Council and spoke my piece about the $64M bond issue to help fund it.

The beauty of all this is that I learned that Cincinnati is a place where anyone can make a difference and that is truly the most eye opening part of the past year. Try going to a bigger city, say Chicago, and helping shape the future of the city. That is quite a large city to have your voice heard and impact change, good luck. You could head to a smaller town where it may be easier to make a difference, but you will not find near the amount of activity and development like you see in Cincinnati. To me, and to many, we are at the right time and the right place in Cincinnati to step up and really impact the future.

The urban core of Cincinnati has an incredible amount of momentum right now: Cincinnati Streetcar is on the way; The Banks and Central Riverfront Park are taking shape; 21c Hotel is coming; people are choosing to live, work, and play downtown. However, it is not only the changing environment around us that will attract and retain talent; it is this chance to get involved as well. The chance to make a difference and have an impact is not something that is easily seen or easily measured, but it is what will keep our momentum sustainable for years to come.

While UrbanCincy has helped me find my way and my voice and increase my engagement as it relates to the future of Cincinnati, it is definitely not the only way to get involved. I encourage you to take a look around, and if you aren’t already, start to view this city as a place with a bright future. There are too many good things happening for there not to be a substantial positive change in our city. I ask you to think about what inspires you, and reflect on it. I recommend you go out and find a way to make Cincinnati a better place to live. You will not regret it, I know I haven’t.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Roeblingfest to celebrate history in fun new way

There are a plethora of activities this weekend happening along the banks of the Ohio River.  The 19th Annual Newport Italianfest starts today and Ride Cincinnati will take place this Saturday morning at Yeatman’s Cove.  But one of the more interesting and fun events of the weekend promises to be Roeblingfest.

In its 6th year Roeblingfest will actually combine two separate events that have taken place in past years. Standing on its own, Roeblingfest has always been somewhat of a niche event that showcases the history of one of Cincinnati’s most famous landmarks on the weekend closest to architect John A. Roebling’s birthday.

Historically held on a Sunday afternoon, the event consisted of milling about the bridge for a few hours while also examining the murals that highlight the history of the bridge itself.  Small booths were also set up that each had a special focus on the historical aspect of the famed Roebling Suspension Bridge.

Last year the Roebling Point Business District held their first-ever block party, and will now align itself with the larger Roeblingfest celebrations to create a Saturday full of history and fun that should cater to all kinds of people. There will still be tours of the bridge and associated murals that run from 11am to 3pm, but this year the party will continue into the night and feature all kinds of entertainment around the neighborhood including Segway races, a cornhole tournament, and several bands offering live music. The day-long celebration will be capped off by fireworks from Rozzi’s to end the evening at 11pm.

Currently, the bridge itself is closed to vehicular traffic for the next five months as it receives a new paint job and other maintenance work is completed.  Along with the ongoing maintenance work, the Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee is working to raise money to replace and maintain the flags and lighting on the historic river span.

The decorative lighting was turned off ahead of the closure back in the spring and there is a campaign currently underway to help raise the funds needed to update the lighting. To date, the committee has raised $185,000 of the $455,000 needed to update and maintain the lights. If the funding is raised, the new lighting will be energy efficient and will light the bridge for years to come. This weekend will go a long way to helping the cause, but donations can also be made online at any point throughout the year.  And those who decide to make an online donation also become eligible for a “Trip to the Top of the Tower” for four people.

The event is free and open to the public and could easily be paired with Italianfest, a Reds game, or Ride Cincinnati which are all only about a mile walk from the Roeblingfest celebrations on Park Place between Scott and Greenup streets, and on Court Street between 3rd and 4th streets (map).

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Arts & Entertainment Business News

19th Annual Italianfest expected to draw thousands to Newport’s riverfront

The 19th Annual Newport Italianfest kicks off on Riverboat Row between the Taylor-Southgate Bridge and Purple People Bridge this coming Thursday afternoon at 5pm and runs all weekend long. This festival features great food from some great local Italian places like Pompilios who is celebrating their 75th year in business. Plenty of other authentic Italian food options will also be available for everyone to enjoy.

Additionally, there are plenty of activities to enjoy at Italianfest. One of the more interesting things from visits I have made in past years is the Family Photo Booth which honors the many Italian families that settled in Newport generations ago. There are also plenty of games and rides, including harbor cruises on the Ohio River both Friday and Saturday evenings. Each night, except Sunday, will close with fireworks either put on by Italianfest or, as is the case on Friday night, the Cincinnati Reds for their summer series of Friday night fireworks games.

Last year, over 90,000 visitors made their way to Italianfest and this year should be quite busy as well. Adding to the hustle and bustle of this weekend’s activities will be the Cincinnati Reds as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in a battle for 1st Place in the NL Central, Roeblingfest will take place on Saturday in Covington, and the 4th Annual Ride Cincinnati event will take place at Yeatman’s Cove on Saturday morning. All of the events are located on the banks of the Ohio River and are within easy walking distance of one another.

Italianfest (map) will run from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday, 5pm to 11pm on Friday, 11am to 11pm on Saturday, and 12pm to 9pm on Sunday, June 13. The festival is free and open to the public.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Queen City Underground tours through OTR start Memorial Day weekend

The wildly successful Newport Gangster Tour started last summer during Italianfest. What was meant to be a one weekend event caught fire and ran all the way through Halloween with great crowds and even better stories about the history of Newport. While those tours continue through 2010, the group has expanded with a new Cincinnati walking tour called Queen City Underground through historic Over-the-Rhine that will begin this Memorial Day weekend.

UrbanCincy was invited along for a sneak peek this past weekend during the OTR Summer Celebration and we walked away very impressed. The Newport tour is full of great stories and is presented in a way that is not only educational but also fun, and the Queen City tour is much the same. We met in front of Mica 12/v and soon headed north along Vine Street. Asked to put our minds into the 1880s when Boss Cox was in power in Cincinnati, many stories were shared of theaters, saloons, and even “Murder College.”

While the tour stops along the way to point out different places of interest along with their accompanying stories, the thing that makes this tour a little different than the Newport companion is the chance to get into some of the buildings along the way. Without divulging all of the tour’s secrets, one of the highlights has to be the trip into what was the Kauffman Brewery in Guildhaus building on Vine, just north of Liberty Street. The Queen City Underground Tour really takes you underground here into the former lagering cellars that were rediscovered not that long ago and are usually only open to the public during the popular (and always sold out) Prohibition Resistance Tours during Bockfest.

Queen City Underground photography by Travis Estell

The Queen City Underground walking tours last approximately 90 minutes, and present a great way to get to know the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The total trek is just over one-mile with some tight spots along the way as you head into the cellars, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes if you are interested in attending. Tours taking place this Memorial Day weekend include the following times:

  • Saturday May 29th – 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, & 4:30pm
  • Sunday May 30th – 12:30pm, 2:30pm, & 4:30pm
  • Monday May 31st – 12:30pm & 2:30pm

Tickets for this coming weekend are $15 and can be purchased (cash only) upon arrival. A good reminder too is that both the Newport and Cincinnati tours have charitable benefits as well. With the help of these fundraisers, many Northern Kentucky students are able to go to Jamaica and help those less fortunate.

Either tour makes for a great compliment to Taste of Cincinnati which is this weekend. We recommend spending time sampling some local food and getting to know more about the wonderful history in Cincinnati’s dynamic urban core.