Tag: education

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Off-Campus life in Cincinnati

I recently stumbled on a Columbus, Ohio site called Easy Columbus that compiles all the things going on “off-campus” that college students might want to do. It is a very well-done site and easy to navigate. Users can search by day or event, and it even includes information about how to save money.

I did a little digging and found that there are 16 colleges and universities within 20 miles of downtown Columbus. Combined, these schools enroll a little over 73,000 undergraduate students at any given time. Comparatively, there are 22 colleges and universities within 20 miles of downtown Cincinnati, but only about 46,000 enrolled undergraduate students. Someone can make the claim that I should have counted grad students. Maybe. Go ahead and count them up and let me know what you find. (Source for the Undergrads)

Maybe we already have something like this here in Cincinnati. If so, please post a link in the comments section. But if we don’t have this yet, we really should. Having a consolidated place for young adults to turn when they are looking for something fun and inexpensive to do seems like it would encourage them to break the monotony of the house party and bar scene.

I admit – I have a hidden agenda here. By encouraging students to get off campus and experience the amazing things this city has to offer, hopefully they will be more likely to stay here after graduation. When I was at Xavier, so many of my friends came here for the education, and then bolted as soon as they had their diploma in hand. Our colleges and universities draw some of the best and brightest students to Cincinnati, and we as a city need to do everything in our power to keep that talent here. When they leave, they take with them their good ideas on how to better the city. How can we encourage those not from here to stay here?

Image Credit: Xavier University Academic Mall by Zach Casto
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Retaining Talent

This story in the Cincinnati Business Courier troubled me greatly. The article said that the majority of current college students in the state of Ohio plan on leaving Ohio once they graduate. Though no Cincinnati area schools were included, the numbers here may be similar.

I grew up in, well, not in Ohio, and came to Cincinnati because that’s where Xavier is. The school drew me to the region; Cincinnati didn’t draw me to X. I chose to stay here after graduation for a lot of reasons: UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning for grad school; good prospects for finding a job post-graduation; the low cost of living; the arts here; even Skyline. Actually, I typed “even Skyline” sorta tongue-in-cheek, but I recently left the area for about 4 months, and had regular Skyline cravings. Plus, the Indian food here is unreal.

What really kept me here was how much the area has to offer vs. the low cost of living.

If the city wants to continue to flourish (and it is flourishing – go downtown if you haven’t been in a while), we need to ensure that the young talent we draw here with our colleges and universities stay here. They will be the ones who will continue to grow our economy.

You tell me: how can we brand the city as a desirable place for potential new residents? What amenities are here for the young and mobile? What do we need here that isn’t here yet?

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This Week In Soapbox 6/2

This Week In Soapbox (TWIS) you can read about the $24 million Corryville Crossings project in Uptown, the annual end-of-year DAAP Works exhibition, new development projects in Lower Price Hill, new features at the fabulous Bootsy’s produced by Jeff Ruby, the $10 million master plan project for the Children’s Home of Cincinnati and the scenic view corridor studies being conducted by The Hillside Trust.

If you’re interested in staying in touch with some of the latest development news in Cincinnati please check out this week’s stories and sign up for the weekly E-Zine sent out by Soapbox Cincinnati.

TWIS 6/2:

  • $24M Corryville Crossings project pushing full steam ahead – full article
  • DAAP Works to showcase some of nation’s best design work – full article
  • New development projects transforming formerly industrial Lower Price Hill – full article
  • Bootsy’s ready to serve with new features fit to impress – full article
  • Children’s Home gets started on their $10M master plan – full article
  • Hillside Trust working to promote and preserve scenic Columbia Parkway – full article
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1 Night, 12 Kitchens at the Midwest Culinary Institute

The Midwest Culinary Institute (MCI) located at Cincinnati State is one of the nation’s best culinary schools and a gem for the Cincinnati region. On April 26th you have the opportunity to experience great food and wine prepared by the top chefs in Cincinnati while also raising some money for scholarship opportunities down the road.

1 Night, 12 Kitchens will be from 6pm to 9pm on Sunday, April 26th at the MCI (GoogleMap) located on the Clifton campus of Cincinnati State. In addition to the culinary treats, participants will also have the opportunity to visit with MCI faculty, students and explore the school’s 12 teaching kitchens. There will also be a silent auction that will include wine lots, a handcrafted chandelier and tickets for a variety of culinary experiences.

Two of MCI’s kitchen classrooms – Photos from Cincinnati Magazine

The menu, for the evening, includes a terrine of foie gras, medallion of lobster, truffled tenderloin of beef, rum baba and an assortment of French cheeses and petite sweets…making it a perfect evening for our Food Network and culinary lovers (I know you’re out there).

Prices start at $80 for a complete food and wine sampling that also includes tours of all 12 kitchens. A $150 VIP package includes, “an exclusive culinary station, private receptions with the participating chefs and a souvenir apron.” And for those that are willing to put up $250 for a good cause, you will also be treated to a private dinner at the MCI’s Summit Restaurant with Comfort and Chef Timmins.

You can purchase tickets online at Cincinnati Magazine, or by phone at (513) 562-2777. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot early.

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Book clubs at the Merc

If you enjoy reading and are looking for an outlet to meet new people, engage in intelligent discourse, and do it all in the heart of Downtown, then the First Wednesday Book Discussion Group at the Mercantile Library may be for you.

Held on the first Wednesday of every month, the group meets from Noon-1pm at the Mercantile Library (GoogleMap). The monthly discussions cover a book of the leader’s choice of whom varies by month. The discussions are free for Mercantile Library members, and cost only $5 for nonmembers. Boxed lunches are also available through advanced reservations for $8.

So far in 2009 the group has covered The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter (January) and The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan (February). The March 4th discussion is going to cover Out of Stealing Horses by Per Petterson.

There is also a Graphic Novel Group that meets on the second Saturday of every month at 1pm. This group is free for anyone who wants to participate and is one of the few of its kind in the nation. The book for the March 14th discussion is Watchman by Alan Moore.

If you’re interested in participating in either of these discussion groups contact the Mercantile Library at (513) 621-0717 or by email at mercantileinfo[at]mercantilelibrary[dot]com.

The Mercantile Library is a non-profit membership library. First organized in 1835, the library is Cincinnati’s “senior” library and one of the oldest cultural institutions in the Midwest. If you’re interested in more Mercantile news, reviews and information check out the library’s blog – Stacked.

Additional Reading:
Cincinnati Mercantile Library – UrbanCincy