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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

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PechaKucha debuts in Cincinnati

Cincinnati will be joining the global PechaKucha craze on Friday, February 13th at the Contemporary Arts Center (GoogleMap) downtown. There are currently 168 cities worldwide that have their own regular PechaKucha events typically on a quarterly basis.

The Cincinnati events are being organized by a collection of designers led by Greg Lewis. Like the other chapters, Cincinnati is planning four events for 2009 including the one on Friday. The events are known as being part social, part art, and part ideas. At the first PechaKucha Night Cincinnati you will see presentations by designers, artists, architects, professors, and others.

The dozen presentations or so will begin at 8pm and last until roughly 10pm. Prior to that, guests are invited to tour the CAC galleries, grab a cocktail, and check out the latest exhibits from Tara Donovan and Donald Sultan starting at 6:30pm. After the presentations conclude there will be a DJ to keep the party going right there at the CAC.

Tickets cost $10 for CAC members and $15 for non-members. It is recommended that you bring your ID as there will not be any physical tickets for the event – they will be cross-checking the orders with your ID. Both members and non-members, to the CAC, can order their tickets through the PechaKucha Cincinnati website.

Background:
PechaKucha (pronounced Peh-Chak-Cha) is a forum for creative people to informally share their work in public. The name comes from the Japanese term for the sound of conversation (chit-chat). The idea is to give creative individuals a public forum to share their ideas. The presentations are meant to be visually telling, informative, and to the point. PechaKucha uses as 20×20 format – 20 images, 20 seconds each. The result is 6 minutes and 40 seconds of “exquisitely matched words and images that transforms presentations into a compelling beat-the-clock performance art.”

UPDATE:
Pecha Kucha – the chit-chat, low-down on Cincinnati’s hottest designers – Soapbox Media

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Streetcar debate tomorrow at UC

The CincyStreetcar Blog informs us that there will be an Urban Transportation Debate in regards to the streetcar proposal here in Cincinnati. The event is being hosted by the Center for Sustainable Urban Environments at the University of Cincinnati.

The debate will be held Thursday, February 12th at 4pm inside Swift Hall Room 500 (GoogleMap) on UC’s Main Campus. The debate will pit streetcar proponent John Schneider against streetcar opponent Jason Haap.

John Schneider vs. Jason Haap

John Schneider is Chairman of the Alliance for Regional Transit and Managing Director for First Valley Corp. He has been taking Cincinnatians to tour Portland to see its modern streetcar and light rail systems for several years. John was also one of the driving forces behind the burying and narrowing of Fort Washington Way which has led to the mega riverfront development known as The Banks. Jason Haap is Publisher for the Cincinnati Beacon – a blog turned published opinion paper.

There is no posted ending time for the debate, but everyone is invited to continue the discussion over coffee and food at TAZA afterwards. There is also a Facebook event page for this that you can RSVP to and share with your friends.

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CAC Winter Season Opening Night

Donald Sultan’s first United States exhibition of his early linoleum paintings will be in Cincinnati at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) known as Donald Sultan: The First Decade. Tara Donovan will also be making her Cincinnati debut of her sculptural works at the opening night (2/6) for the CAC’s Winter Season 2009.

CAC Insiders can enjoy cocktails with artists Tara Donovan and Donald Sultan starting at 6pm, followed by gallery talk and book signing with Sultan at 6:30pm. Also at 6:30pm, CAC Members will be able to get a private exhibition preview. At 8pm the party will start with DJ Iceburg which will be open to the public and boast a cash bar lasting until 11pm.

Make it a night: Grab dinner at Nada located right across the street from the CAC. After the party ends at the CAC keep it going by hitting up Downtown Cincinnati’s newest bar at Bootsy’s which is just steps from the CAC’s front door (GoogleMap).

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Gem of the Ocean premiers regionally at the ETC

The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati will be hosting the regional premier of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. The play, nominated for five Tony Awards, will be showing at the ETC from February 4th through the 22nd.

Gem of the Ocean (NYT review) takes a look at early 20th Century America for a young African-American – Citizen Barlow. Citizen struggles with identity issues in the new post-slavery era. The journey north brought promise, but also new difficulties. The play is part of Wilson’s ten-play “Century Cycle” about the African-American experience.

Last season Wilson’s Radio Golf sent sold out crowds home happy from the ETC. You can get tickets now for Gem of the Ocean by ordering online, calling (513) 421-3555, or by going to the theatre box office (GoogleMap) in person.

UrbanCincy readers receive a special “Buy One, Get One Half Off” discount on Adult tickets to any evening performance (not valid opening night). All you have to do is order your tickets by calling the box office and mention UrbanCincy.com.

***UPDATE: Due to overwhelming demand, ETC has added another performance of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean on Tuesday, February 17th at 7:30 p.m.***