Tag: events

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Arts & Entertainment Development News

Pop-up shop coming to Over-the-Rhine this holiday season

In a unique twist to this year’s holiday retail offerings, 3CDC and the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce are opening a pop-up retail shop in Over-the-Rhine focusing on local businesses. Starting November 26 and open 9 days (over 4 weekends) through December 19, 1213 Vine Street is the OTR Pop Up Shop.

The idea of a pop-up shop, or temporary retail space, is not a new concept, but is one that is completely unique to Cincinnati. This trend has originated in larger cities like New York City and London since 2004, concentrating on limited-quantity or unique products and shopping experiences. The OTR shop is no different. The space will house six local businesses and give them a temporary brick-and-mortar setup to sell their locally produced goods.

“Locally owned businesses are the heart of Over-the-Rhine,” said Brian Tiffany, president of the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce. “All of these vendors are local businesses and have fantastic products but don’t have their own retail locations. Now they will for the next four weeks.”

Six local businesses –Powerhouse Factories, Nati Evolvement Clothing Co, Chocolats Latour, Studio Vertu, Artfully Disheveled, and Green Bird, will be selling a variety of products at the pop-up shop including posters, clothing, handcrafted truffles, fresco tiles, home decor, men’s accessories, and eco-bird friendly wares. They will be selling at the space for just nine days over the course of four weekends ending December 19.

Hours of operation for the OTR Holiday Pop Up Shop vary, but can be found online. Neighborhood leaders and business owners are also planning a full slate of holiday events in the historic neighborhood.

“We’re honored to be a part of this collaboration,” said Colin Groth, co-owner of Nati Evolvement. “It’s a great chance to offer shoppers more unique choices for their holiday gifts this year. We love being a part of the activity going on in the Gateway Quarter and contributing to the amazing retail scene in Over-the-Rhine.”

Photo by 5chw4r7z

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Business News

Cincinnati Unchained event encourages local holiday shopping

The 4th Annual Cincinnati Unchained shopping event is this Saturday, November 20th. Cincinnati Unchained, a BuyCincy.com initiative, releases local shoppers from the chains of anonymous big box stores, and gives them instead a new opportunity to buy unique and interesting gifts for their loved ones from local businesses.

Every dollar spent at a locally-owned business generates approximately three times more economic activity than a dollar spent at a national franchise. By choosing to shop locally-owned for just one day, we can help support the local entrepreneurs in our own neighborhoods who help make Cincinnati unique.

Over 15 neighborhoods and 60 stores are participating in Unchained on Saturday by offering discounts and specials to shoppers. As an added bonus, Yelp and the Crafty Supermarket (an indie craft fair at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, also on Saturday) has partnered with BuyCincy and is offering a shopper’s “passport” in the back of the craft fair program. Shoppers can have their passport stamped at Unchained businesses — once the passport is full, they can turn it in at any Unchained business to be entered into a raffle for more local prizes. In Bellevue and Over-the-Rhine, Yelp will have information booths for Unchained customers.

“We’re thrilled with the interest and excitement we’ve seen from local businesses for Cincinnati Unchained,” says Sean Fisher, BuyCincy co-founder and creative director. “Since we started it in 2007, Cincinnati Unchained has become not only a day to support local businesses, but a community event to celebrate them.”

Local restaurants are also getting in on the fun, and shoppers are encouraged to make a day of the Unchained event – exploring the city and its unique stores, having a bite to eat, and perhaps ending the evening at the official Unchained afterparty at MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine at 8pm.

“Local businesses are an integral part of our Greater Cincinnati economy,” says Kurt Myers, co-founder and business director of BuyCincy. “But they’re often our friends and neighbors, too. We hope that, with the success of Cincinnati Unchained, people will continue to build relationships with their local stores and neighborhoods and continue to shop local throughout the year.”

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Development News Transportation

Public gets first chance to see modern streetcars in Cincinnati

This past week Cincinnatians were given a chance to tour a modern streetcar similar to those that will operate here beginning in 2013. The particular streetcar on display was manufactured by United Streetcar in Clackamas, OR and has been in testing on Portland’s streetcar tracks since it was built in 2009.

The streetcar is a near clone of the Czech-built Skoda streetcars that have been in operation there since 2001. After a tour of other cities considering streetcar systems, it will return to Portland and enter revenue service there next year. United Streetcar is currently building six new streetcars for Portland’s system expansion and seven streetcars for a new system in Tuscon, Arizona.

The streetcar displayed in Cincinnati can be viewed in action on Portland’s tracks on United Streetcar’s website, or by visiting it in person at 5th and Race streets (map) until Wednesday, November 10.  Below is a video from the first day this modern streetcar was on display in Cincinnati.  Mayor Mallory, business leaders, residents, and visitors gathered to get a look at the vehicle that will soon be running on Cincinnati’s streets.

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Business Development News

OEDA recognizes Cincinnati for industry leading marketing efforts

The Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) recognized Cincinnati for its efforts in marketing and volunteerism at its annual summit held last week in Columbus. OEDA officials say that the awards program is meant to recognize the achievements of both individuals and organizations throughout the state in the areas of economic and workforce development.

The City of Cincinnati’s Economic Development Division was recognized for its new Choose Cincy website which debuted earlier this year. The new website replaces a previously buried site on the City’s main page, and has dramatically improved access to information for those interested in the economic and demographic activities in Cincinnati.

“The new website signified a huge step forward on how we communicate with the economic development community as we seek new investors and bring jobs to Cincinnati,” Interim Economic Development Director Patrick Ewing said in a release. “This will help us to further compete in a global economy.”

The other recognition went to Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United (CNBDU) organization for excellence in volunteerism. Two individuals, Mike Wagner and John Price, were specifically identified for their years of service leading the non-profit group that works to improve Cincinnati’s many neighborhood business districts (NBDs).

Wagner and Price started the organization in 1993 and have helped secure roughly $30 million in City funding for nearly 200 capital improvement projects, like streetscaping work, throughout many of Cincinnati’s NBDs.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

Autumn Air Art Fair brings emerging artists to Clifton

The second annual Autumn Air Art Fair will be 11am to 5pm Saturday, November 6 at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center in the historic Clifton Gaslight District.

With over 40 local artists displaying their craft in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, glass and graphics, the juried show will prove to be a fun time for artists and purveyors alike.

Four local artists will be judging the show, including Kay Hurley, a nationally recognized pastel artist; Terri Kern, a nationally recognized ceramist; Tamera Muente, Curator of Keystone Contemporary Gallery at the Taft Museum; and Sylvia Rhombis, owner of the Malton Gallery.

Local artist and organizer Pam Irvin is excited about two unique aspects of this show. “This year we will be featuring an ’emerging artist’ area, which will be displaying works from students ages 5-18 for sale,” Irvin explained. “Proceeds from selling the art goes towards the Autumn Air Art Fair Scholarship Fund, a scholarship available for art education students up to age 24.”

The show is free to the public with free parking on the street and at Cincinnati Recreation Center adjacent to the Clifton Cultural Arts Center – 3711 Clifton Avenue.

For more information on the event and scholarship fund and to sign up to volunteer email info@autumnairartfair.org.