Tag: young professionals

Categories
Business News

UrbanCincy programming note for rest of 2010

For nearly three-and-a-half years I have worked to grow UrbanCincy while also growing myself both professionally and personally. Early rants have turned into breaking news and what I hope is unique insight about Cincinnati’s urban core. Over that time there have been other changes including the site’s contributing members, the amount and quality of content, and the location in which I have run things.

Since June 2009 I have been living full-time in Atlanta where my full-time job is also located. This lesser known fact was not meant to be secretive, nor was it meant to be advertised. It simply was what it was.

Now, however, another change will be taking place. Over the next two months I will be living and working in Seoul, South Korea full-time. This new job assignment will keep me extraordinarily busy between now and mid-December, and will also keep me away from UrbanCincy to a certain degree. Fear not, as UrbanCincy’s contributing members have been rallied and intend on keeping the site active and interesting during this time.

During this time I hope to occasionally poke my head in and share some profound wisdom, or simply share something interesting from my urban experience in Seoul and elsewhere.

This news does not mean I will be completely absent from the site and its material, but it will mean the amount of content may decrease over the next two months. The whole point of writing this piece is to let you know that there is nothing to be concerned about as UrbanCincy will be back to its normal, and hopefully better, operations by the start of 2011. In the mean time enjoy the contributions from UrbanCincy’s highly capable team of writers and photographers.

Those needing to reach me should contact me by email at rsimes@gmail.com. For immediate needs please contact either contributing editor Travis Estell [travis.estell@urbancincy.com] or staff writer Jennifer Kessler [jenlkessler@gmail.com]. Thanks again for reading UrbanCincy and supporting Cincinnati. Cheers.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

Know Theatre’s ‘Skin Tight’ offers passionate look at love

Know Theater Skin Tight

Know Theater Skin Tight Cincinnati’s best off-off-Broadway playhouse, the Know Theatre, opens its 13th season with the intimate, advant-garde play, Skin Tight. Written by New Zealand playwright Gary Henderson and directed by Drew Fracher, the show runs through October 30, 2010.

Skin Tight tells the story of a rural New Zealand couple, Tom and Elizabeth, who relive their love story on stage. From its opening moments, Skin Tight grabs the audience and leads them through a frenzied, passionate dance that refuses to let go. The performance is a heady mix of touching, romantic prose spoken by the duo, coupled with bouts of physical activity: fighting, wrestling, dancing, and loving gestures. The show toes the line between the reality of the couple’s situation and the way they see and view each other.

Director Drew Fracher says, “A friend gave me Skin Tight, knowing my penchant for action and stage combat and suggest that I might like the play. I felt that the Know was the only place in town that fit the style and content best. Thankfully, producing artistic director Eric [Vosmeier] felt the same way. I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to work on such an amazing, theatrical piece.”

Veteran Equity actor Jens Rasmussen (Tom) and local theatre starlet Beth Harris (Elizabeth) commandeer their audience’s attention from the get go. With believable accents and even more convincing love and care for each other, these two actors reveal the inner workings of a relationship that has stood the test of time. From juvenile taunts to real fears and honest wounds, the chemistry between the two on stage draws the viewer in and invites them to experience the same feelings. Their raw, emotional portrayal of a very real, intimate relationship – the combination of trust, pain, passion, laughter, anger, fear, hope – reduced many in the audience to tears by the end of the show.

The sets and lighting, designed by Andrew Hungerford, are simple yet effective, drawing the viewer into rural farmland without distracting from the action. Sound design by Doug Borntrager helps to illustrate the emotions being played out on stage.

This is not an easy show to attend. There is nudity, there is fighting, and it moves at a jarringly quick pace. Basic plot and character development unfolds very slowly, and even at the end the audience may have questions that were not answered.

The experience of this show, however, is completely worth every question and plot twist. In the end, love is a confusing and tricky thing. The heart and soul of Skin Tight is the bond between two ordinary people…people with just enough detail left out to be any one of us.

Let go of your expectations and come along for the ride. Experience the realities of a life well lived and fiercely loved.

Skin Tight plays at the Know Theatre (map) now through October 30.  All tickets can be purchased online, at the Know Theater box office, or by calling (513) 300-5669 for $12 in advance and $15 the week of the performance.  Flexible subscriptions are also available for $48.

Skin Tight Production Dates:
8pm performances: October 9, 14-16, 21- 23, 28-30
3pm performances: October 24 & 30

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Business News

2010 Cincinnati Film Festival continues this week throughout city

The 2010 Cincinnati Film Festival got started this past weekend in multiple venues around the Cincinnati region. The festival originally started as the Oxford International Film Festival in 2007 with 530 entries from 41 different countries.  The remodeled 2010 version is showcasing more than 100 films from 14 different countries at 11 venues throughout the city.

The festival will continue throughout the week with a closing reception scheduled for the evening of Saturday, October 16.  A day-by-day schedule is available on the festival’s website with about eight different showings each day this week.

The festival is based at the Esquire Theatre, a classic movie theater in the heart of Clifton’s Gaslight District, with a lot of showings at UC’s Main Street Cinema also located Uptown.  One special night at the Main Street Cinema will be Tuesday as Watch This host’s a free showing of the 1974 classic Chinatown as part of their project to watch the AFI Top 100 this year.

Many of the featured films opened over the weekend, but most have one or two showings each during the week. The full list can be found online and includes many films making their regional, U.S., or even world premier. Tickets can be purchased online on a film-by-film basis or by purchasing daily passes for $20 each.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Business News

The Yoga Bar to celebrate grand opening this weekend

The Yoga Bar will host a weekend of events this weekend to celebrate the grand opening of downtown Cincinnati’s newest yoga studio.

There will be a Yogini-Tini Opening Gala tonight from 7pm to 10pm that will include beer, wine, and specialty crafted drinks. Those who show up will also be able to meet owner Rachel Roberts in person, talk to the instructors, and tour the studio located on Main Street. Roberts also says that there will be live music from Quincy Live early in the evening, with dance music by DJ Sinceer during the latter part of the night. Cocktail attire is recommended for those attending.

The interesting thing about The Yoga Bar is the bar that remains from the former discothèque called Club Crush that previously occupied the space.

“Where else can you learn more about others’ lives than at a bar?,” Roberts asked UrbanCincy in early September 2010. The bar will now be used to cater to yoga students by providing a selection of healthful, rejuvenating non-alcoholic drinks like coconut water and Kumbucha tea.

Roberts says that on Sunday the yoga studio will be blessed with a traditional Hindu Ganesha Puja to honor its new beginning. This traditionally Indian ceremony is also open to the public.

Regular classes will begin on Monday, October 4 with morning classes at 7am, lunch hour classes, and 6pm offerings. Classes will cost $15 for drop-ins or $108 for unlimited monthly memberships.

Roberts also plans on using the 2,300-square-foot space for community events. Those interested in hosting weekend events can contact her at (970) 274-4402, YogaBarCincy@gmail.com, or by dropping by the studio (map).  Stay connected by following The Yoga Bar on Twitter @TheYogaBar, or by becoming a fan of the studio on Facebook.

Categories
Business News Transportation

Two area transit professionals recognized for young industry leadership

Two area transit professionals, Colin Groth and Ben Capelle, were named to Mass Transit Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list. The list recognizes industry professionals who have made “significant contributions” to the public transit industry.

According to magazine editors, those honored were nominated by their peers and then judged on their job commitment, industry involvement and contribution, professional achievement, and innovation in their particular field.

Colin Groth, Government Relations Director for Metro, was honored for his work with local, state, and federal officials since 2005. The publication notes that most recently Groth has been instrumental in securing more than $17 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for the transit agency. Groth was also named to the Business Courier’s 2009 Forty Under 40 class, selected to participate in the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s 2010 C-Change program, and is currently active in eight different Cincinnati organizations outside of Metro.

“He represents the kind of dynamic, engaged and forward-thinking individuals that will help solidify public transit’s role in our nation’s future,” said Mass Transit Magazine editor Fred Jandt.

Ben Capelle, director of Clermont Transportation Connection (CTC), was also honored for his achievements. In particular, Mass Transit Magazine recognized Capelle’s leadership that has grown transit agency on a shoestring budget during his tenure.

“Capelle has helped grow the system from 15 employees to 32 and from providing 35,000 trips annually with a budget of $1.1 million to providing 95,000 trips annually with an increased budget of $3 million. CTC will also begin construction of a new operations center in 2013,” Jandt stated.

Combined, Metro and CTC provide roughly 19.1 million trips annually throughout the Cincinnati region.