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Fountain Square Broomball League Returns

The popular Fountain Square Broomball League (FSBL) is returning this year. This will be the third season for the league and it will include a total of 32 teams with up to 12 players per team. The 32 teams will be broken down equally into an Advanced and Beginners leagues.

The 32 teams will be selected by lottery and announced before Thanksgiving. The broomball teams are coed and are required to have three women on the ice out of the six total players.

One of the coolest things about the league is that the you’re playing on Fountain Square. Your games are broadcast on the video board, which doubles as the scoreboard for the game, and their is the usual crowd hanging around the Square.

The season is six weeks long starting on January 5th, with games being played on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The championship games, for both levels, will be held on Wednesday, February 18th. Sign-ups for the 2009 FSBL begin Monday, October 27th and will go until Friday, November 14th at 5pm.

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News

‘Bite Me’ Ball at the CAC

If you’re looking for something fun and interesting to do this Halloween night then check out the CAC’s ‘Bite Me’ Ball. The after(life) costume party at the CAC will immediately follow the Cincinnati Ballet’s performance of DRACULA at the Aronoff Center across the street.

It is a costume event so come in your most outrageous, horrifying, or funny outfit. There will be costume judging at the door and prizes will be given out later in the evening courtesy of The Container Store.

The event will start at 9pm and last until around 1am. There will be food and drinks, at the event, from places like A La Carte Catering, BlackFinn, Jeff Ruby’s, Oceanaire, Palomino, RebBull, and Peroni. The cost is $20 for CAC and ballet ticket holders, and $25 for general admittance. You should most certainly get your tickets ahead of time and can do so by ordering them through the CAC’s website.

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News

Speak up for bicyclists in Cincinnati

Do you use a bicycle to get to work? To go to school? To go shop and dine? Or for pure recreation?

Would you start riding or ride more if our streets were improved for bicyclists? If there were more dedicated bicycle lanes and storage facilities?

Speak up for bicyclists in Cincinnati on Wednesday, October 22. Let City Council know how improved bicycling conditions will benefit all cyclists of all ages and types at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing at City Hall (801 Plum Street) that will be held from 6 to 9 P.M. in Council Chambers, Room 300.

Let Queen City Bike know that you are coming by RSVPing. Click here for more information ยป

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Arts & Entertainment News

Big city, small town

Cincinnati is an amazing place. You get all the benefits and features of a big city, while also being able to take advantage of the small town charm.

Last night Fountain Square was packed for a political rally encouraging voters to get out there and vote early. The night featured Natalie Portman and music by prominent Indie bands like The Breeders and The National.

The music was awesome, the crowd was big and the weather was perfect. Unfortunately we were a little late arriving and missed The Breeders performance and only caught about 3/4 of The National. But while we were there the night was amazing, and we couldn’t help but think where else could this happen than Cincinnati.

We lucked out and a tabled opened on Via Vite’s rooftop terrace. From there we were able to not only take in the amazing music from The National, but also enjoy some of the area’s best Italian food in comfort and style. We didn’t have to wait, pay top dollar, or even know somebody. We just had to show up and take advantage of the awesome night ready to be had.

We were there with local celebrity/politician Jim Tarbell and nationally known pop star turned Green Party politician Justin Jeffre. In NYC you would have had to been a high roller in order to get that kind of experience, but here some average twenty somethings were able to roll with the big dogs. Only in Cincinnati.

Photo from Jeff Swinger/Cincinnati Enquirer — MORE PHOTOS HERE
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Development News Politics

Giving the ‘Soapbox District’ some teeth

W. 4th Street has seen a buzz of activity in recent months. New stores have opened, new buildings have gone up, and new residents move in. In addition to this the area has also attempted to be rebranded as the ‘Soapbox District.’

A soapbox is a raised platform on which one stands to make an impromptu speech, often about a political subject. This is one of the angle that the branders were getting at. The other was to pay tribute to Cincinnati’s soap making history and the shape of many of the buildings in the W. 4th Street area.

I find the angle of public speech and discussion to be most interesting. Fountain Square was seemingly that spot, but that public space has been converted into a hybrid public/private space where I doubt this kind of thing would be tolerated any longer. The branders also mentioned how this could be the spot, in Cincinnati, where young people make their voices heard. Great, many of the new residents in that area are indeed young so this seems to possibly have some traction.

The problem is that there seems to be no concerted effort to make this into reality. I look to London’s Hyde Park. In the park’s NE corner (aka Speaker’s Corner) people come to speak publicly about what they wish. They are allowed to continue as long as it is considered lawful. I look at this example and see a huge opportunity at 4th & Plum (GoogleMap) in Cincinnati.

That location is right in the heart of the ‘Soapbox District’ and is currently occupied by a surface parking lot. An ideal scenario would be to acquire this lot and turn it into a park. Create a much needed dog park area within it, sitting places, and lots of trees. In addition to this, make the park the epicenter for public/free speech in the newly dubbed ‘Soapbox District.’ The idea is great, now let’s give it some teeth.