Author: Travis Estell

Travis joined UrbanCincy in 2009 as a contributor, and quickly took over technical responsibilities for the site. After growing up in Cincinnati’s east side in Goshen, Travis earned an Electronic Media degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2009. Since then, Travis has been working throughout the United States as a web development consultant. After living in Clifton Heights, Northside, and Over-the-Rhine, Travis now resides in Cincinnati’s Central Business District.

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Arts & Entertainment News

The Heights Music Festival returns this weekend

Music fans will get the chance to see over 90 performances this weekend across five venues in Uptown. The Heights Music Festival, formerly known as the Clifton Heights Music Festival, will return on Friday and Saturday for its sixth installment.

Street musicians, stand-up comedy, and other unique activities will be featured in addition to bands such as The Minor Leagues, Skeetones, State Song, Mad Anthony, Eclipse, The Kickaways, Josh Eagle & The Harvest City, Evans Collective, The Yugos, Sassy Molasses, and The Ohms.

Shows will be held at Rohs Street Cafe, Baba Budan’s, Mac’s Pizza Pub, Christy’s Biergarten, and Roxx Electrocafe. One pass will give attendees access to all venues. A two-day pass is $10 in advance ($12 at the door), and one-day passes are also available for $5 in advance ($8 at the door).

A new addition to the festival is the Day Fest, starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, when all venues are open to people of all ages. All other shows, starting at 7 p.m. each night, are for ages 21+.

You can find a full schedule and purchase tickets online at The Heights Music Festival website.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Clifton Heights Music Festival returns this weekend

Local music fans will get the chance to see over 80 performances this weekend as the Clifton Heights Music Festival makes its return. For the fourth installment, this Friday and Saturday (April 1-2), the CHMF will feature a variety of MCs, comics, and street performances in addition to more live bands and artists, and has grown to include seven venues: Rohs Street Cafe, Baba Budan’s Coffeehouse and Bar, Uncle Woody’s Pub, Mac’s Pizza Pub, Christy’s Biergarten, Murphy’s Pub and The Mad Frog.

Some of the artists include You, You’re Awesome, Josiah Wolf (of Why?) and Liz Hodson, Walk the Moon, No No Knots and The Harlequins. The festival also includes some regional artists such as Candidate from Lexington, KY and The Ridges from Athens, OH.

The Clifton Heights Music Festival started in October 2009 with just 35 bands. Over 7,500 people have attended the first three festivals, and the CHMF continues to grow.

“Our attendance…is a testament to our belief that neighbors coming out to support what their neighbors create has much worth, and can bring a community together in a positive way,” says founder and director, Rome Ntukogu.

Tickets are just $5 for one day or $10 for the full two-day festival when purchased in advance. Tickets will also be available at each of the venues for $6/$12. You can view the full schedule of all performances and a map of the venues at the CHMF website.

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Development News Politics

Bellevue completes form-based code adoption

The city of Bellevue, Kentucky has became the first in the Greater Cincinnati region to fully adopt a form-based zoning code. Unlike traditional zoning regulations, which focus mostly on land use type, the form-based code focuses on the overall built environment. Bellevue’s code ensures that new development will fit into the city’s existing pedestrian-friendly urban fabric.

The city formally began the process of adopting the form-based code in early 2010. In February 2010, citizens were invited to participate in a “visualization survey” gauging what types of built environments were preferred. In March, a week-long public input process, or charette, allowed the city and its citizens to collaborate on more of the code’s details.

“People want places that are memorable. Bellevue has that in its historic districts and that’s one of the things that have helped guide this code,” explained Jeff Raser of Glaserworks, an architectural and urban design firm involved in implementing Bellevue’s code.

The final step in implementing the code was the adoption of a map amendment, which occurred on Wednesday, March 16. The amendment applied the new code to two areas of the city that were identified as planning areas during the charette – the riverfront and the shopping plaza area on Donnermeyer Drive.

The form-based code, which was widely supported by residents and business owners in Bellevue, maybe put to good use rather quickly.

“The are projects in the pipeline that will make use of the new form-based code,” said John Yung, zoning administrator for the city.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Two chili cook-offs warm Cincinnati this weekend

As we deal with this season’s biggest snowfall so far, you might enjoy the opportunity to warm up with a bowl of chili this weekend. Two separate chili cook-offs are occurring this weekend in Cincinnati’s urban core.

On Sunday, January 23, Findlay Market will be hosting their seventh annual Chili Cook-off. Everyone is invited to stop by between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. to taste all of the entries. In addition to free chili, visitors will enjoy live music and a presentation entitled “How Hot Are You?” from Findlay Market vendor Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices. Christian Moerlein beer will also be for sale in the OTR Biergarten. Cash prizes will be awarded to the three best chilis, as determined by the firefighters of Cincinnati Fire Department Engine Company 5 in Over-the-Rhine.

On the same day, Park+Vine will be hosting their own Vegan Chili Cook-off. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., up to 20 chilis will be available for tasting at Park+Vine’s store at 1202 Main Street in Over-the-Rhine. There is a cost of $15 to attend, and proceeds will benefit the the Cincinnati Cooks! program from the FreeStore Food Bank. Everyone in attendance will receive a ballot to vote for the best chili in each of three categories.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Light Up OTR to kick off new holiday tradition

Traditions like the Duke Energy Train Display, ice skating on Fountain Square, and the Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights remind us that the holiday season is upon us in Cincinnati.  And soon, the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood will have a holiday tradition of its own.

“Light Up Over-the-Rhine” takes place this Friday, December 10.  Beginning at 8 p.m., teams of volunteers will walk throughout the neighborhood, placing luminaries along its major streets.  A total of 943 luminaries will be placed, representing the number of historic buildings in Over-the-Rhine.  Event organizers hope to create a warm glow that will “symbolize safety, the coming of the holiday season, and unity.”

At 10 p.m., a lighting will take place for the first annual OTR Christmas tree, located in the courtyard of Neon’s Unplugged.  Guests will be able to affix an ornament to the tree for a $2 donation to the Over-the-Rhine Foundation.  Throughout the evening, Neon’s will be serving craft cocktails created by mixoligist Molly Wellman and offering a variety of drink specials.

Anyone interested in helping to assemble and disperse the luminaries should meet at Neon’s at 6 p.m.  With the support of people from the neighborhood and the city, Light Up OTR will hopefully be a success and become another great holiday tradition for Cincinnati.

You can RSVP for Light Up Over-the-Rhine on Facebook.