Category: Arts & Entertainment

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Arts & Entertainment News

Cincinnati kicks off Earth Day celebrations this Saturday

Cincinnati will begin celebrating the 41st annual Earth Day this Saturday. This year’s event will once again be hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition at Sawyer Point in downtown Cincinnati. The official Earth Day takes place on April 22, but as always, Cincinnatians will come together to celebrate the environment throughout the week leading up to the big day.

“The theme this year is ‘One Earth, One Chance’ and the celebration gives families a great opportunity to see first-hand the many innovative ways they can help protect the earth while still having a good time,” said Standish Fortin, President of Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition. “We hope the community will come out to enjoy themselves, learn about earth friendly products and to recognize those who’s efforts make Cincinnatia beautiful place to live.”

Organizers say that there will be lots of family friendly events throughout the day, which run from noon to 5:30pm, including earth friendly vendors, as well as exhibitors from environmental groups, government agencies, local businesses and citizens demonstrating their contributions to the beauty andenvironmental quality of our region.

Additionally, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory will be on hand to present environmental awards to five local recipients who have made a positive impact on the environmental community around them.

At Earth Day 2011, bicyclists are treated to free parking and Metro bus service also provides convenient access to the park. Those attending will also be able to drop off any used batteries, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras and camcorders for recycling courtesy of KPMG.

2010 Cincinnati Earth Day photograph by Thadd Fiala for UrbanCincy.

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Arts & Entertainment News

EcoSculpt on Fountain Square installs today

For the second year in a row, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) has commissioned EcoSculpt on Fountain Square. To celebrate Earth Day in Cincinnati’s living room, the event is sculpture contest by area artists with works made entirely out of recycled and/or recyclable materials.

12 local sculptors are working today to install their works. From whales made of trash to crocheted plastic bags, the resulting art will be available to view through April 28. With some works as large as ten feet tall by ten feet wide, the result is a visible statement about utilizing and encouraging the use of recycling and recyclable materials in everyday Cincinnatians’ lives.

The Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) is EcoSculpt’s official sponsor. “We are excited to be a part of such an innovative event,” said Sean Fisher, General Outreach Manager for GCEA. “EcoSculpt not only spreads a message of environmental responsibility, but also provides a stage for emerging artists in the area.”

The event will culminate in an awards program on Earth Day, April 22 at 12pm on Fountain Square. Those interested can check out the sculptures on Fountain Square this weekend, and vote on their favorites at online. The votes will be used to help determine the 2011 People’s Choice Award winner.

EcoSculpt 2010 photograph by Thadd Fiala for UrbanCincy.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Stephen Morris to hold discussion on World Heritage Sites at Cincinnati Museum Center

There are over 900 UNESCO World Heritage Sites that have been determined to be of special importance to the international community. These sites are often culturally, physically and/or naturally significant, and are constantly facing issues that threaten their authenticity and preservation.

It requires a great deal of work and coordination to preserve these sites, and on Thursday, April 7 Cincinnatians will have a chance to hear about the role the United States plays in preserving and promoting such sites.

Stephen Morris, from the National Park Service and World Heritage Program, will participate in the Cincinnati Museum Center’s monthly Insights Lecture Series. The lecture, entitled Conserving World Treasures: History & Future of World Heritage from U.S. Perspective, is free and open to the public.

Event organizers say that Morris will discuss the history and continuing relationship between the National Park Service and the UNESCO World Heritage Program. Morris is also expected to discuss site designations and the overall challenges facing many of the world’s most culturally and naturally significant treasures.

One such project is ancient Troy where the University of Cincinnati’s Center for the Electronic Reconstruction of Historical & Archaeological Sites (CERHAS) has partnered with the Troia Projekt of the University of Tubingen to deal with such challenging issues at that World Heritage Site.

Conserving World Treasures: History & Future of World Heritage from U.S. Perspective will take place inside the Reakirt Auditorium at the Cincinnati Museum Center (map) and will begin at 7:30pm.

Cincinnati Museum Center photograph by Thadd Fiala for UrbanCincy.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Yelp! Cincinnati holds first ever Bar Week

The local branch of the popular customer review site Yelp is giving Cincinnati yet another reason enjoy alcohol. From now through April 8th, 21 bars in the City of Cincinnati, greater Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky are opening their doors and encouraging both new patrons and reliable regulars with ridiculously low drink prices. It’s Yelp Drinks!, Cincinnati’s first Bar Week.

From now through Sunday, April 10th, these establishments offer 3 happy hour priced drinks, all day until 9pm (the Cinderella hour according to Ohio state law.)

“This [Bar Week] is a special for everyone. You don’t need to be a “Yelper” (one who regularly uses the site) or say the word “Yelp” to get the deals, you just have to order the drink,” Alex Shebar, Yelp! City Manager for Cincinnati, explains. “The reason we established Bar Week was to get people to try out great local bars that they might not know about or haven’t had a reason to go into before, as well as keep regulars happy.”

Offerings run the gamut from crowd favorite Little Kings for $1.25 at Arnold’s in the 8th Street Design District, $3 Kentucky Bourbon Ale at Molly Malone’s in Covington, $0.50 jello shots at Arlin’s in Clifton, and $4 cocktails at Neon’s Unplugged in Over-the-Rhine, just to name a few. A complete list of the drink specials are available on the Yelp website.

Additionally, each day of Bar Week highlights one bar offering food in addition to the drink specials. Those who attend 3 or more food events will receive a T-shirt.

Interior photograph of The Lackman by 5chw4r7z for UrbanCincy.

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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.