Category: Arts & Entertainment

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Arts & Entertainment News

More Than Fair

When was the last time you saw a live Demolition Derby?

I live, work, and normally entertain myself in the city – but everyone could use a little country culture every now and again. Even though the Reds were in town and it was Salsa Night on the Square, I visited the Hamilton County Fair tonight. I went to support my parents, who entered quilts and photographs (and brought home ribbons I might add) but ended up spending hours there and really enjoying myself.

Photos by S.L. Hanners

I won’t tell you everything that’s there – you’ll have to find that out for yourself. Instead I give you the top 10 list of things you MUST DO at the Hamilton County Fair.

  1. Ride the flying ice cream truck.
  2. Board a retro classic (and very aerodynamic looking) bus.
  3. Pet a piglet.
  4. Watch cars wreck into each other until only one driver is standing.
  5. See a vintage boat that appeared in the James Bond movie “Live and Let Die”.
  6. Learn where milk comes from and try it yourself.
  7. Check out the new ‘Go Green’ display.
  8. Buy a telephone booth.
  9. Avoid horse droppings.
  10. Discover something new about where you live.

The price is right – $8 each gets you into the exhibits, demonstrations, the grandstand entertainment, and all the rides on the fairgrounds. Last but not least, I was impressed to see – wait for it – recycling bins available at a festival in town. Finally someone is giving us a place to put those empty plastic soda and beer bottles! Even the biggest festivals in the city haven’t achieved that feat yet. Way to go Hamilton County Fair, you’re more than fair in my book!!

The Hamilton County Fair continues through August 15th. Find out more at their website.

Special thanks to Brianne Fahey, formerly of Live Green Cincinnati, for submitting and producing this content. If you have a story, lead or piece of information that you would like to have shared on UrbanCincy just shoot us an email at UrbanCincy@gmail.com.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Cincy Blues Fest this weekend

The 17th annual Cincy Blues Fest takes place this weekend (8/7 – 8/8) at Sawyer Point along the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. This year’s festival will feature more than 50 local, national and international Blues acts on three different stages.

Friday’s performances will start at 5pm and last until midnight and cost $10 at the gate (free for Blues Society members with membership card). The headliner on Friday is award winning vocalist Janiva Magness.

On Saturday the music will start at 2:30pm and once again last until midnight giving you plenty of time to work your way up to the newly opened Righteous Room in the Backstage District downtown. Back to the festival…Saturday’s nearly nine hours of music on three different stages will cost you $15 at the gate (once again, free for Blues Society members).

Event organizers say that there will be lots of food and refreshments including Cincinnati’s own Little Kings and Christian Moerlein beer products. For a full list of performers and volunteer opportunities visit the event website: http://cincyblues.org/.

Be sure to keep the Blues fun rolling on Sunday at Cincinnati’s historic Findlay Market for its Blue, Brews and BBQ. The 2009 Blue BBQ will feature some great BBQ cooked up by the Essen Strasse Grillers. Event goers will also be able to grab a beer at the OTR Biergarten, and listen to three different Blues and Gospel bands. This event is free and runs from 10am to 4pm on Essen Strasse.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Great ways to enjoy Cincinnati Parks

The way things are going these days, it’s tough for some families to afford a trip to the movies. Luckily, in addition to the family-friendly movies every Saturday on Fountain Square (at 7 & 9pm), the Cincinnati Parks Foundation has been showing family friendly movies in our parks all around the Cincinnati area.

Forget paying to see a movie and having to buy overpriced concessions, there are great movie options literally in your backyard! All movies start at dusk and will have concessions available.

Below are some of the remaining movie nights:

August 8th, Rapid Run Park
Movie: Madagascar 2 (there will be pre-movie events such as canoeing, face painting, balloon artist and magician)

August 14th, Mt Echo Park
Movie: Hotel for Dogs

August 29th, Mt Airy Forest
Movie: Hotel for Dogs (repeat)

If you are looking more for musical fare, the 16th annual “Its Commonly Jazz” series is being kicked off this week at Eden Park in Mt. Adams. Since I’m not really familiar with jazz and we have been provided with a relatively cool summer thus far, these concerts are a great way to get a free introduction.

The website is billing this event as “staying green”, but it’s not clear whether there is an actual intent to have eco-friendly anything or if it is just a play on words since all events are outdoors. From what I understand, you can bring a picnic to enjoy while watching the music, but I am not sure whether alcohol will be allowed. The website gives good background on each of the performers, but seems to be a bit underdeveloped beyond that.

Below is the line up, all shows are from 6-8pm:
August 6th – Othello Molineaux & the Art Gore Quartet
August 13th – Vintage Keys
August 20th – Terell Stafford w/ the Erwin Stuckey Trio
August 27th – Mandy Gaines and her Dream Band

Maybe the economy has made the local government and parks board boost these kinds of outdoor events, or maybe they are just better publicized these days, but I hope they keep it up. Hopefully as more people get out of doors and enjoy our local parks they will better appreciate the wonderful parks system we have and the great amount of forethought that goes into the planning of the events that are planned in them. Many people do not know we have one of the top parks systems in the nation, and these events are a great way to get out and enjoy them for free!

Photo by Jayson at Cincy Images
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Big night in OTR tonight

Tonight is not only a Final Friday gallery hop night throughout historic Over-the-Rhine, but it is also another Vine-L Friday in the Gateway Quarter.

Vine-L Friday will run from 6pm to 10pm and is looking to compliment the Final Friday crowds in the surrounding area. As a result many Gateway Quarter businesses will have displays from local artists and live music throughout. There will also be food, drinks and discounts at all your favorite locally-owned shops.

There will also be members of ArtWorks Cincinnati around to discuss their four-story mural of Mr. Cincinnati – Jim Tarbell. The new mural will be prominently displayed on the southern wall of the same building that houses Park+Vine. The mural should be complete within the coming weeks according to officials.

Following the Final Friday and Vine-L Friday fun, there will be an after party starting at 10pm at Below Zero Lounge at the southeast corner of 12th & Walnut streets.

Here’s a full lineup of this week’s Vine-L Friday activities:

  • Venice on Vine Pizza, 1301 Vine St. – 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, 1150 Vine St. – 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, 1109 Vine St. – The unveiling of the new exhibit “Mimockracy.”
  • Switch Lighting and Design, 1207 Vine St. – New works by Alison Shepard will be exhibited.
  • Outside, 16 E. 12th St. – Live DJ playing Electronica, Trip Hop, Soul and Funk, with refreshments served.
  • Below Zero Lounge, 1122 Walnut St. – 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, 1203 Main St. – Marcus Jordan exhibiting works from his collection titled “My Passion.”
  • Coffee Emporium, 110 E. Central Parkway – Extending its hours until 10pm and featuring works by Allison Archberger and the Thirty Duo Collection.
  • Lackman Lofts, 1237 Vine St. – Kate McClung exhibiting works from her “Balanophagy” collection.
  • Duveneck Flats, 1220 Vine St. – 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”

Photo from 5chw4r7z

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Second Sunday on Main: Global Groove

This Sunday is the third of five Second Sunday on Main celebrations in historic Over-the-Rhine. In addition to the regular mix of live music (list below), food, local vendors and art, this month’s event will also feature a high-heels drag race which will start at 4pm.

There will also be a cooking demonstration by Chef Nat Blanford, from Iron Horse Inn, at Falling Wall located at 1419 Main Street at 2:30pm.This month’s Global Groove theme is intended to celebrate many of the local cultures that make Cincinnati special.

The event is free and open to the public and runs from 12pm to 5pm between 13th and Liberty streets along Main Street.

Band List:
Bacchanal Steel Band (Carribean Calypso) – 12pm
Silver Arm (Celtic) – 1pm
Mohenjo Daro (Middle Eastern/Indian) – 2pm
Zumba (Latin American) – 3pm
Baoku Moses and the Image AfroBeat Band (African) – 4pm