Tag: over-the-rhine

News

2nd Annual Cinciditarod Race (register now)

Post author By Randy A. Simes
Post date February 24, 2009
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The first Saturday in March marks the beginning of the annual Iditarod race through Alaska, and for the second year in a row, it marks the beginning of the Cinciditarod race.

There are some slight twists in the Cincinnati version though. Instead of 1,100+ miles through the Alaskan wilderness, it is nearly 5 miles through the urban core of Cincinnati (Downtown, OTR, Newport, Covington). Instead of dogs, it’s people. And instead of sleds, shopping carts are used to navigate the course. Teams will pick up items on a grocery list and have 5 mandatory checkpoints along the way.

The registration deadline, for the March 7th race, is this Friday, February 27th by 5pm. Each team consists of 5 members and all participants must be 18 years of age and sign a waiver form with their registration ($25 team registration fee).

Similar events are found throughout the country in cities like San Francisco, Portland, New York and Chicago. All grocery items collected, during the Cincinnati race, go to benefit the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank.

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Tags Cincinnati, covington, downtown, events, newport, over-the-rhine

News

Getting to know Cincinnati’s stimulus projects

Post author By Randy A. Simes
Post date February 5, 2009
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If you’re not already familiar with Cincinnati’s stimulus projects then I suggest you get familiar. Cities from around the country have submitted their “shovel ready” projects to be considered for stimulus money. Cincinnati’s list has 48 projects* totaling $434,916,420.

Projects big and small fill out the list. You will find Cincinnati’s proposed streetcar system, streetscape improvement projects, RecycleBank, green roof projects, street grid for The Banks, stabilization/control of the Ohio River for the new Central Riverfront Park (CRP), forest carbon sequestration, and much more.

A new site – Stimulus Watch – allows you to look through the submitted items from cities all across the nation. The website allows you to vote on each of the submitted items. You can select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ as to whether you feel that particular project is critical and worthy of stimulus money. The site then categorizes these projects nationally by the Most and Least Critical, Most Expensive, and Most Active (by votes).

So far Cincinnati’s projects are faring quite well with the streetcar project leading nationally as the Most Critical project according to voters. Also high on the list is the street grid project for The Banks development, bank stabilization for the CRP, and streetscape improvements throughout Over-the-Rhine.

Visit the CINCINNATI PAGE to view all of Cincinnati’s included projects, and give your input on what you would and would not like to see the stimulus money go towards locally.

*DISCLAIMER – These projects are not part of the stimulus bill. They are candidates for funding by federal grant programs once the bill passes.

Tags Cincinnati, downtown, environment, over-the-rhine, planning, Politics, Transportation

News

Melting into downtown

Like many small businesses, Cincinnati’s favorite eclectic deli has aspirations to expand beyond its current location in Northside. Melt Eclectic Deli has been consistently rated one of Cincinnati’s best vegetarian and sandwich options, and is a staple in the diverse and vibrant Northside neighborhood business district.

In July 2008, popular green general store, Park + Vine, started offering sandwiches, noodles and other vegan fare from Melt. The offerings have been a popular addition to the Park + Vine food and drink collection. Park + Vine owner, Dan Korman, goes on to say that the two businesses have a very similar base of supporters. “We routinely hear people say they’re on their way to Melt or that they just came from there,” Korman says, “and that’s saying a lot considering our two businesses are five miles apart.”

Melt Eclectic Deli – Scott Beseler (Soapbox Media)

The kinship between the two stores has grown beyond the food offering at Park + Vine (GoogleMap). The two stores are now offering a cross-coupon promotion good through March 31st: when you buy one menu item at Melt greater than $6, present the Melt coupon and receive $2 off a second menu item of equal or lesser value. While you’re there, pick up a Park + Vine coupon for $10 off a purchase of $40 or more.

Melt has more plans though beyond the cross-coupon promotion and select product offerings at Park + Vine. Lisa Kagen, owner and business manager of Melt Eclectic Deli (GoogleMap), has told UrbanCincy that she is interested, and currently speaking with several property owners, about the possibility of a new store in either Downtown or Over-the-Rhine.

The popularity of Melt’s products at Park + Vine has led to speculation about a possible Melt location somewhere in the Gateway Quarter. Kagen says, “There is a lot at stake and many details still need to be worked out,” but she hopes to come to a conclusion by the end of the year.

Tags downtown, food, northside, over-the-rhine, retail

News

Gem of the Ocean premiers regionally at the ETC

Post author By Randy A. Simes
Post date January 30, 2009
No Comments on 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.***

Tags arts, Cincinnati, events, over-the-rhine, young professionals

News

Forgotten Cincinnati: Jan. 30-Feb. 26

Post author By Sherman Cahal
Post date January 24, 2009
1 Comment on Forgotten Cincinnati: Jan. 30-Feb. 26

The new exhibition Forgotten Cincinnati opens 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 30 at Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street. From abandoned amusement parks and crumbling breweries to forgotten neighborhoods and other derelict structures and locales, Sherman Cahal and Ronny Salerno present photographs of a deserted Queen City. Forgotten Cincinnati runs through Feb. 26.

When: 30 January 2009 at 6 PM to 26 February 2009 at 9 PM

Where: Park + Vine, 1109 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45202

Tags abandoned, Cincinnati, events, over-the-rhine, photography