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Arts & Entertainment News

Bloody Good Fun: ‘Evil Dead: The Musical’

Just in time for the Halloween season, Evil Dead: The Musical made its area premiere at the Falcon Theater this weekend. The show runs at the Newport theater through November 6, 2010.

The first indication that this isn’t your typical horror show are the seats covered in plastic. Evil Dead is billed at the world’s first musical with a splatter zone. A section of the theater is reserved for adventurous patrons who don’t mind leaving the theater with bloodstains (all the ‘blood’ washes out easily).

Instead of scary and creepy, Evil Dead: The Musical is a hilarious mash-up of comedy, horror, and in-your-face innuendo set to music. Based on Sam Raimi’s cult favorite Evil Dead film series, the musical blends story lines and characters from several of the movies. The action begins with five young people embarking on their spring break adventure to a cabin in the woods. Housewares employee Ash (Nate Moster) leads his girlfriend Linda (Hannah Balash), whiny kid sister Cheryl, randy best friend Scott, and Scott’s ditzy new girlfriend Shelly across the only bridge to the cabin.

The group discovers an old manuscript and recording left behind by the cabin’s owner. They listen to the strange recording, inadvertently unleashing an ancient curse. Cheryl (Rebecca Weisman) is the first to fall victim to the strange noises coming from the woods. She’s transformed into an annoying demon that pops up out of the cellar to torment everyone else in the cabin. Eventually everyone falls victim to misfortune – some accidental – as Ash tries to destroy the demon. Fans of the Evil Dead franchise will be excited to see the singing moose make an appearance.

As his friends die off, Ash is confronted by the cabin owner’s domineering daughter Annie (Michelle Grove) and her boyfriend Ed (Jeff Surber). Only Annie can decipher and counteract the curse. However, more hilarious misfortunes – and a riotous musical number – befall the remaining non-demons before order is restored. Bryan Franke shone as Jake, the hillbilly who gets caught in the crossfire guiding the couple to the cabin.

While all the songs were witty and playful, “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons” will stick in your head for day. Sean Mize was great as the lustful and foul-mouthed Scott, while Rebecca Weisman created the perfectly grating demon in Cheryl. While not a perfect, polished performance, the cast was full of energy and passion that left the audience in stitches. Simply put, Evil Dead: The Musical is bloody hilarious fun.

Evil Dead: The Musical runs at the Falcon Theater now through November 6, 2010. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 513-479-6783 for $18 ($15 students, seniors).

Performance Dates:

  • October 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31
  • November 5, 6, 2010
  • 8:00pm start time for all performances
Categories
Business News Transportation

Pedicab service gets rolling in Cincinnati’s center city neighborhoods

As you walk around downtown Cincinnati, Newport, or even Bellevue these days you may see new pedicabs moving about. Pedicabs have become increasingly popular in other major urban areas throughout the United States including Austin, New York City, Boston, and San Francisco.

Newport-based J-Rides has begun operating within Cincinnati’s center city and, like many start-ups, was born from a moment of seeing a need and realizing that nobody else was providing it.

Residents of downtown Cincinnati, J-Rides’ owners Beatrice Terekhov and Jared Poweski say that they were out running errands one day when they realized that there was no quick and easy way to get from the Ohio side of the river to the Kentucky side without jumping in a car. A few days later they were getting started on a business plan to start J-Rides.

The bike taxis take revelers and residents alike between the different areas of the river basin for little or no charge. The drivers, who work mostly for tips, work under contract to operate a J-Rides pedicab and receive training and licensing.

“Servicing almost the entire urban area, the pedicabs can easily be flagged down for a ride or can be booked for a tour,” Beatrice told UrbanCincy. “Our pedicabs travel on the streets just like any other vehicle, but they are allowed on the Purple People Bridge which makes for a great ride.”

While pedicab service thrives in other urban settings, the owners of J-Rides say that they are still working to dispel myths about their service.

“We are all weather, can carry two to three passengers, and are absolutely safe,” Beatrice explained when asked about what hurdles they have to overcome. “Only severe weather like an ice storm or heavy snow will keep us off the road this winter.”

According to Beatrice, the pedicabs are also inspected by each city in which they operate, include seat belts, and have a canopy for cold and rainy weather.

Aside from moving people throughout the center city, J-Rides is also hoping to help create a thriving urban area in Cincinnati. This support, Beatrice says, may come through advertising for local establishments or by putting more eyes on the street. After one of J-Rides’ drivers recently helped apprehend a pickpocket in Newport, Beatrice says that their service is helping to make the urban environment both better and safer.

The company will also be assisting with upcoming walks and races by offering rides to people who might otherwise not be able to participate, and Beatrice hopes to host a fundraiser of their own later this year that will support the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

J-Rides pedicabs can be reserved by calling (513) 702-7656 or emailing info@j-rides.com. The pedicab service can also be used for longer rides including tours of the area with rates starting at $25 for 30 minutes. Look for the pedicabs throughout Bellevue, Newport, Cincinnati, and hopefully Covington once the Roebling Suspension Bridge reopens in about a month.

Categories
Business Development News

Google updates aerial imagery of Cincinnati region

Google has updated its aerial imagery for several major cities throughout the United States including Portland, Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati.  The new imagery appears to have been taken over the summer.  Observers in the nation’s capital have been able to narrow it down to as precise as Sunday, August 29 between 1:00pm and 1:35pm.

Like many other cities around the country, the new aerial imagery for Cincinnati illustrates much of what has changed over recent years.  New construction projects are visibly taking place while others have been completed or are nearing completion in their aerials.  In addition to capturing the changing urban landscape in Cincinnati, the new imagery is also much crisper than previous versions.

Below is a sampling of 20 sites around the city that illustrate the aforementioned changes.  Enjoy!

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Business News

Hops on the Ohio to offer nation’s first two-state beer festival this weekend

A truly unique craft beer experience is on tap this Saturday from 12pm to 12am, and it is being put on by the same group that organized the wildly successful Cincy Winter Beerfest. The old L&N bridge, now known as the Purple People Bridge, will be the stage for the novel Hops On The Ohio concept, which offers beer lovers the nation’s first-ever two-state festival.

Over 200 different craft brews, including many special releases will be spanning the Ohio and Kentucky border from river bank to river bank, and attendees will have the rare opportunity to taste this wide selection in essentially one location. Most breweries and beers are only distributed in certain states and many of the beers at the festival may only be available in either Kentucky or Ohio, but not necessarily both, so here is your chance to have both state’s portfolios at your disposal.

That being said, there is one catch, legally the beer cannot cross state lines, or in this case the imaginary line on the bridge, and there will be “crossing guards” in place to kindly remind people of this fact.

All tickets are available for purchase online.  General admission tickets cost $35 in advance and $45 at the gate. This will get participants a five ounce tasting cup, 25 beer sample tickets, and exclusive access to the bridge, as the structure will be closed to the general public. There will be designated driver tickets for $10 that include two tickets for non-alcoholic beverages.

Additional ticket options include the “Hophead Combo” for $45 in advance ($60 at the gate) and in addition to regular ticket privileges, Hopheads get bumped to the front of the line for the exclusive release of Stone’s 10.10.10 Vertical Epic, as well as beer samples and entry to the Schlafly Beer Sellar-Bration, where there will be 47 different beers on tap from the St. Louis brewery. Schlafly Beer-Sellar-Bration tickets are also available individually for $15.

All proceeds, from the festival, will benefit the Big Joe Duskin Music Foundation and its mission to bring local professional musicians into area schools to perform and lead presentations about the impact and enjoyment of playing music. Organizers say that there food and live music will be available.

Hops on the Ohio will take place on Saturday, October 9 from noon until midnight on the Purple People Bridge (map).  Automobile parking will be available on both sides of the river.  Those unable to secure a designated driver are encouraged to take advantage of nearby taxi stands or utilize Metro bus service (plan your trip).

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Business News

Get tuned up for the 2010 MidPoint Music Festival

This weekend thousands of music fans from around the Midwest will descend on Cincinnati for the annual MidPoint Music Festival that started in 2002. The music festival has been grown over the last three years by its new organizers Dan McCabe. This year’s festival will showcase over 230 performances at venues throughout Cincinnati’s center city.

While much of the focus is on the music, and rightfully so, Cincinnati is also on display showcasing its galleries, restaurants, and other offerings to the thousands of music fans. For those who may be unfamiliar with MidPoint, or Cincinnati’s center city, we have put together a comprehensive guide to the 10th annual MidPoint Music Festival.

Food Options:
Music starts at 7pm each night of the festival and is scheduled to last late into the night. As a result, many festival-goers will be searching for food options. Since last year’s festival many new offerings have sprung up in the areas surrounding the performance venues.

Cincinnati’s many food trucks will be on the move throughout the weekend, Mr. Sushi has late night offerings on 6th Street, Senate is now open and serving gourmet street food in the Gateway Quarter, Joe’s Diner has reasonably priced diner fare just off of Main Street in Over-the-Rhine, and a variety of existing establishments like Shanghai Mamas, Lucy Blue Pizza, and Gilpin’s Bagel Deli will be serving late into the night. Festival organizers also say that many of the MPMF venues will be serving food as well.

New Venues:
Festival organizer Dan McCabe has also been able to take advantage of several new venues now open for this year’s three-day event. Located downtown on W. 6th Street, FB’s will be new to this year’s festival. In Over-the-Rhine, Neon’s Unplugged will be another new venue and will also be the host for the Gold Star Chili Artist Clubhouse. Nearby MOTR, owned by McCabe, will be the other new venue and will continue to offer live music daily without a cover charge after the festival is over.

Free Stuff:
While MPMF is a bargain with three-day wristbands costing just $39 (available up through the start of the festival only), one-day passes at $20, or a cover charge at each venue, there are also plenty of options for folks to enjoy the festival at no cost. One such opportunity is the festival’s new partnership with the public library. Free live music will be offered on Fountain Square each night starting at 7pm. A free poster expo will be held at 5pm each day at the Know Theatre as a way for local artists to showcase their artistic talents.

Other Downtown Happenings:
Aside from MPMF, there are a plethora of other activities happening in the downtown area this weekend including the Final Friday gallery walk in Over-the-Rhine, Atomic Number 10’s one-year anniversary party, The Lackman’s grand opening, and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats football game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Music:
More than 230 performances in three nights can be difficult to plan for, even for the most ardent music fan, so here are a few strategies to think about heading into the weekend:

  • Get a Pass: If you missed out on the opportunity to purchase a three-day wristband, or are unable commit to the whole weekend, buy a one-day pass for $20 at any venue throughout the festival. Not only will it allow you the opportunity to explore different venues, but it also provides the opportunity to ride the free Metro Hybrid Shuttles.
  • Be Curious: Much of the fun at MPMF can be had by checking out new places and new bands that you may not have known. There are a total of 25 venues this year that will provide ample opportunity for even veteran Cincinnati music fans to experience music in new and interesting ways.
  • Support Local Artists: While the festival is a showcase for many artists outside the region, there are others that are a part of the Cincinnati scene which are worth seeing, especially if you have not seen them before. There are too many to name, but here are a few: Pomegranates, The Seedy Seeds, Wussy, You You’re Awesome, and Chocolate Horse.
  • Seek Out National & International Artists: While the local scene is key, MPMF provides bands from outside our region the chance to come in and play to a large crowd. It also provides fans the opportunity to sample some of music’s biggest up-and-comers. Again, there are just too many to name, but here are a few must see performances this weekend: Caribou, Phantogram, Surfer Blood, Best Coast, and Male Bonding.

The 2010 MidPoint Music Festival will be the biggest, and looks to be the best, one yet. Organizers and businesses expect downtown Cincinnati to be packed and turn into a giant playground for music fans.