Downtown HopAround Is Back: April 21st

Save April 21st for a night on the town. For more information, check out the website at www.downtownhoparound.com.

Taste Moves to 5th Street

The Taste of Cincinnati is moving from its long time home on Central Parkway five blocks down to 5th Street.

My take is that it's great idea for the festival and for downtown. It will showcase the Square and bring more people in who may think of staying the night. I believe we are starting to see the impact of the new Fountain Square. We are starting to see the center of a new mainstream entertainment district form in 4th to 7th street areas. The area is compact enough for people to walk, but spread out to not have an over dense bar zone. I would have gone to taste anyway, but now I am more interest in going and will likely come down multiple days, if the music is as good as has been the past. (Get the Heartless Bastards to play again!!!)

More from WLWT and the Enquirer.

More Downtown Progress?

Today's paper reports the possibility that Jeff Ruby and Bootsy Collins will open a restaurant downtown, another one in the case of Ruby.

I am sure some will hate the idea of another local business being started in downtown. This would be a local business that doesn't cater to an aging hippie crowd, mind you, which I am sure burns someone's bee's wax.

New Restaurant Downtown

Another restaurant will will be opening downtown. I am sure this is pissing off a few folks on a different blog, but I guess they'll be more inclined to just stay away.

Headline Bias

I can see the editors salivate over the census stats. That would lead to the bullshit headline on this article. The headline seeks to make Hamilton County into a hell hole, and seeks to prop up West Chester as the new Shangrla. Several facts I would think would be available are missing from the article.

What portion of those leaving are actually going to other local counties and how many are going to Arizona or California? There is little if anything the local area can do to stop people leaving the metro area. Warren and Butler Counties share the "blame" for the people going to California, Arizona, or anywhere else if they go for jobs. When business leaders, large companies, and governments are parasites on a large city, they can't expect the metro area to develop stronger industries and cutting edge businesses. If you want more economic clout, you must build up your urban core.

Sure, Hamilton County is second "worst" for population loss in the state, but we were not worse than Cleveland. Where's the comparison? What's the difference between the lowerest three ranked counties in the State? How do we rank with other urban counties across the country? Are we any different than St. Louis or Milwaukee?

How many reasons people gave for leaving were really excuses?

Also, when did white flight get the politically correct term of "outmigration?"

$50 and a Drive to Louisville?

Anyone up for this? I love the Police, but I just don't know if the price is worth the effort.

Great Article on Alchemize

Nick Spencer's club got some great press today.

A Rally For the Levee?

Who is organizing a rally in support of a bill to help Newport on the Levee? Do I need to ask?

Acting.....Brilliant!!!!!

I myself will be waiting for the DVD to come out, but you can see Damon Lynch III in a movie if you so choose. I think this might mean he's not running for council again.

Welcome to Cincinnati, Jackie

Joe Wessels has a incredibly positive column today. It actually lifted my spirits. Jackie Danicki is a new Cincinnati Resident who left London for Cincinnati. She didn't come here because she had too, she came here because she wanted to come here.

She's seeing the City not for what it can be, she is seeing it for what it is. On her website she raves about a local treasure people forget about: Arnold's. I can say with joy that Arnold's, a great place, is just the tip of the iceberg of great things in this town. I for one welcome Jackie to Cincinnati.

To get more people to move here it starts with attitude. We are not perfect, but tearing the city down will hurt the many great things here. Accentuate the positive, folks, it's that simple.

Lies From Afar Taint Cincy Pops

Politicians like to twist things and "Cooter" appears to be just making stuff up about why the Cincinnati Pops didn't want to do a Dukes of Hazzard-themed program. Instead former Georgia Congressman Ben Jones, "Cooter", made this personal and pushed John Schneider and Tom Wopat to think this was about them, not about the show. Yea, I don't want an esteemed arts group like the Cincinnati Pops doing a Dukes of Hazzard themed problem for two reasons: first are the racist undertones, second is that the music is not good enough for the Pops. I wonder who came up with the idea in the first place? Why not do a Mork and Mindy based show and get Pam Dawber and Robin Williams instead?

The Good News for Main Street

Yes, Neon's closed, but the Post comes right back with news of a Plan for the Main Street/12th Street area: Make it an arts/entertainment district - pushing a mix of dining, theatre, galleries, retail, and clubs. This is a great idea. The writing was on the wall for this to happen, but I am very happy it has been announced. The New Stage Collective taking over of the old Westminster's space was the best sign this was coming and is a great part of how it can succeed.

Neon's Closes

I walked past Neon's last night and no one was inside. I asked a friend, "Is Neon's closed?" He didn't think so, but agreed it was empty. The lights were all on, but no one was around. I would comment nearly every time I walked by the place that it appeared to be empty. The Post is reporting that Neon's is closed.

Neon's was a really nice place. No frills, but a great space and a superb patio. I agree with the view that the place will open again with a new owner. Neon's never was a bar that seemed to go out of its way in recent years to work with the area on events or promotions. They stopped having live music, so their draw was limited.

What is a Journalist?

Clermont County is suing to try to define what a journalist is in hopes to helping with who is allowed to obtain the concealed carry gun law records.

I'm not bringing up the concealed carry issue here, so please try and avoid that. What I wonder honestly is who qualifies as a journalist. What keeps anyone starting a blog from being one? Does there have to be history? Could I be considered a journalist simply because of the consistency and frequency of the posts on my website? Why would I be different than someone who publishes once a year?

The Burbs 'Love' the Nati

If by Love, you mean hate, then you may be correct.

Si Leis Disses Pat DeWine

It's never a bad thing for Republican to attack Republican, but we do need a new jail and we need to find a fair way to finance it. Si Leis needs to stop with this type of childish behavior:

“He’s been criticizing it and he’ll continue to criticize it because, in my opinion, he’s very small-minded,” Leis said in an interview at his office.

Si Leis must live in a really, really, really big glass house.

Fountain Square Event Canceled

The Fountain Day event planned to celebrate the turning on of the Tyler Davidson Fountain has been canceled. Construction delays and a lack luster response to the idea put it on the scrap heap. This is a wasted opportunity.

That Was Quick

WCPO has already updated their site. Reviews?

WCPO Website to Move?

Clear Channel is taking over the management of the WCPO website. One can assume now that it will split from Cincinnati.com and the Gannett sites. This does not appear to affect the Post site, only TV sites from Scripps. Will WLW's site improve? I've never been a fan of the look or structure of of Clear Channel sites. 700wlw.com is just a horrible looking site. This might be about streaming media. Clear Channel may have the infrastructure to handle streaming WCPO TV programs better than Gannett.

Riot?

Was this a riot or was it a rumble?

Chicken and the Egg Journalism

What prompted this article from the Enquirer? Did some specific event happen on Short Vine? I may have missed something, but the article sites statistics that crime in Corryville has dropped since 2003. Is the Enquirer making fear the story to make a story?

No Point From Bronson

Honestly, I don't have a clue what Peter Bronson is trying to say about colleges today. It is more likely he came up with the title and then tried to write a column to match it. Are colleges bad because they cost too much? Are they bad because they don't push the right kind of politics? Are they bad because they don't focus enough on education? Are they bad because they are wasteful spenders? The question you don't here him ask: Are public colleges too expensive because Republicans have cut their funding year after year? He sites Miami's cost, but doesn't mention how much their state funding has been cut over the last 16 years.

Peter could have made a plea right now at the beginning of the one of the biggest money makers for college sports by saying too many school put too much effort into winning championships and not enough into educating students. If he said that, he would have been correct. Instead he seemed to just be anti-higher eduction. I guess nothing short of Bob Jones University will do.

UC 2008 Debate Site?

Seems like a logical choice to me. Sen Voinovich likes the idea too. How much of this is "political" in the sense that who is on the debate commission give out favors to those who lobby them most?

More Thugs

It is an odd comparison that thugs likes these are allowed to disrupt businesses, but when thugs who don't hold bibles in their hands do the same, they are rounded up. I wonder if anti-war protesters carried around a live man on a cross if they would be arrested. More to the point, I wonder if anti-war protesters carried around signs of dismembered soldiers and civilians if they would be arrested or made to stop? The government has convinced the media to sensor itself of such realities, what would stop the local police from doing the same?

MIAMI Wins MAC Tourney - Heads to Dance

Love and honor to Miami,
Our college old and grand,
Proudly we shall ever hail thee,
Over all the land.

Alma mater now we praise thee,
Sing joyfully this lay,
Love and honor to Miami,
Forever and a day.

What a game.

Drag the Mayor to the Fountain

Joe Wessels has a column today about the proposal for a unique ceremony for turning on the Tyler Davidson Fountain. It sounds a bit out there, but I really like the idea. As Joe writes, it is a throw back to other historical traditions, like British Parliament celebrates, where custom dictates that a when a new speaker is elected, they are dragged to the chair at the start of their first session. Very ceremonial, but fun. It makes civic society more human, than just figureheads.

The problem which may prevent this from happening is that City Officials and local leaders are far too stuffy to do something like this, except for Jim Tarbell. That is just such a shame. If people want to change the image of the city, it must include things are are fun, interesting, and don't happen anywhere else. It would be a great way to get media attention, preferable on a national or international level. It is unique, it is rare in Cincinnati, but also across the country. If there was a way to find a similar German tradition, it might go over more with old guard around town.

This kind of thing isn't going to hurt anyone, so why anyone would be opposed to it would be more of reflection on their inability to either have fun or to think beyond the simplistic. It is kind of ironic that to break out of a traditional bland image, we'd be creating an elaborate new tradition that hearkens back to over a hundred years ago. This kind of idea is why Bill Donabedian was hired to run Fountain Square. I say go for it. Maybe tone down the detail of the event, but if this is tied in with an opening day weekend every year, it is a connection to our past and creates a direction for the future to flow forward.

The Nati in Austin

Joe Hansbauer is blogging the SXSW Music Festival in Austin.

Reds Ban Smoking In Stadium

Ok, here's the story. I'm sure this will stir up the comments.

Big Dog Heading To The Tri-State

Later this month former President Bill Clinton will be in Cincinnati for a fundraiser to benefit his wife, Hillary.

Racism in the Warren County Commission

The level of contempt I feel for Warren County Commissioner Dave Young grew more the second time I read this Enquirer article about his desire to violate the 14th Amendment and deny birth certificates for children born in Warren County to illegal aliens. The article states that Young seeks to "challenge" the 14th Amendment. OK, lets review the relevant part of the Amendment:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

What's to challenge here? What part of "All" does Mr. Young not get?

You say there's more? Has Young read TITLE 8 CHAPTER 12 > SUBCHAPTER III > Part I > § 1401?

The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:
(a) a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof;

Let's see, people born in Warren County Ohio are born in the United States and if there are here they are subject to the jurisdiction of the State of Ohio and the United States of America. What kind of scum thinks of stuff like this? I say scum for two reasons. First its the obvious racism behind this. Sorry folks, there is no rationale for his desires other than keeping brown babies out of his county. The second reason his is scum is for daring to challenge the 14th Amendment on something so basic and simple and a foundation of American society. If you are born here, without question, you are an American. It doesn't matter where your parents came from, in the eyes of the law, you are one of us. Well, when I use us, I mean to say All Americans. For Mr. Young, the us he's looking for has a paler face.

In today's paper Young was told what's what:

Young had earlier proposed that the county Health Department withhold birth certificates of children born to illegal immigrants.

But he was told by the prosecutor's office that such a program would be unconstitutional.

Young said he's not advocating taking away health care or other benefits, but "you don't give them citizenship."

The level of racism, hate and bigotry on the Warren County Commission is ugly, but not a surprise.

Gary Burbank Retiring at End of Year

Does anyone reading actually care Gary Burbank is leaving WLW at the end of the year? Back in the day I would listen to Gary and Duke, but that was likely when I was at work and there was nothing else to listen to.

I fully expect that WLW will fill the afternoon drive with some hack of epic stature or at least with some kind of national following. After all, local radio, outside of sports, is dead in Commercial Radio. Public radio is not ideal on local coverage either, but the quality is just so much better, they can make up for it.

YP's and Promotion

Getting YP's to attend an event has always been a challenge, so the Taft Museum is trying the Myspace route, and the claim good results. I'm torn on the use of Myspace. The idea of social networks are a good way to market to a large number of people. It isn't a great way to express yourself or share in depth ideas. The website's technology is also very unreliable. It is popular, however, so I use it.

Side note, the above article provided a nice mention for Cincinnati Advance.

Chris Monzel - Ignorant Boob

Chris Monzel obviously lacks the historical knowledge and perspective to comment on the Iraq war:

Mr. Crowley asked the other day, who supports the war and no one responded. Well, just like the Greatest Generation of WWII, I do…I support fighting for freedom and against tyranny…it was Hitler and Mussolini in WWII, today it’s militant Islam, Osama bin Laden, the Taliban and Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who by the way recently hosted a conference about how the Jewish Holocaust did not happen. How can we stand by and say it is okay for other nations to call for wiping the nation of Israel off the face of this earth. Over 6 million Jews lost their lives during WWII…how many more deaths will happen on our watch. We cannot crawl into a shell and forget about it or wish it away.

It's so very ignorant for anyone to try and compare WWII to the war in Iraq. What is worse here is that Councilman Monzel is so ignorant that he just lumps in the fight against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan into the mess in Iraq. Everyone who either has a brain or finally awoken from the lies of the Bush Administration understands that the war on Terrorism has nothing to do with Iraq or Israel. Jeesh, is Chris looking to gain Jewish votes with this speech or what? It is a very clever way to tap into the anti-Muslim attitude without actually being anti-Muslim.

HD Radio

I love radio, but not enough to shell out the cash for a HD radio. Has anyone listened to the digital stations available locally? Worth it? Is satellite radio a better bet?

It's Double Media Mention Week for CincyBlog

Must have been a full moon or something, but not only did I get a mention in CityBeat's Media, Myself & I column, where they spelled my website incorrectly in the online version, (Show me some love!!!!) but I was listed as one of the "Other great Cincinnati blogs" in this week's CinWeekly. Their entire cover story was on local blogs.

UPDATE: Thanks to CityBeat for fixing the link in the online version of the article.

Good, But What Would You Find At A Mall?

If police did a sweep for truants at Tri-County Mall at the same time of day, how many would they pick up?

Larry's Sky Is Falling

Larry Gross once again shows he seeks failure of the city. Does Larry Gross or his ditto head gaggle understand anything about the restaurant business? Does he know how many restaurants close or change hands and reopen as something else? Did Larry bemoan the death of Northside when the 5th Amendment closed and reopened? What about when Pot Luck become the Hideway? Is that the end of the world as we know it?

I think Larry does know things change, but he hates change and is bent on putting the city down. My opinion is that he has some political or psychologically twisted reason to try and make people believe the city's falling down. If you don't know the history, read up on it.

Columnist Swap, Anyone?

Peter Bronson wants to just does what Heir Leis wants. I propose we take Bronson's column to the max. Let's Bring in E. J. Dione for a few months to write columns for the Enquirer. Someone might actually learn something of importance, instead of being exposed to Bronson's years old suburban pop culture references.

In turn, the Washington Post might teach Peter a few things about being a columnist, like say doing more research and stop being a shill for the GOP.

Joe's Post on the Post

Joe Wessels shares his views on the recent coverage of the last year of the Cincinnati Post.

New Retail Coming to OTR

Late this spring a new store called Park+ Vine plans to open at the corner of Central Parkway and Vine street. They have a survey asking for what people want the story to carry. Products will likely rain from clothing, to personal care productions, to some furnishings.

[Via Joe Wessels in the Post]

Government Square Problems

Calls are being made for more police to patrol Government Square. My question is why should it be a huge issue controlling 15 year old kids fighting?

Cincinnati News Still in Motion

Joe Wessels has a post about a new website: Cinplify.com. The website defines itself as follows:

Cinplify is a content management system for news throughout the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area. On Cinplify, users store links of Internet resources that they find worthy of sharing with other users. Their links are accessible to the public and other people with similar interests can view the links by category, tags, or even randomly and vote on the links.

Also in Joe's post he mentions word of the impending end of CincyNation. I am too lazy to write about it, so I'll just link to the oral services being performed here.

2007 Cincy Fringe Festival Line-Up Announced

Rick Pender of City Beat has the first word on this year's Fringe. It all begins on May 30th. Full details are at www.cincyfringe.com.

Jackie Demaline at the Enquirer has more, including a this too.

'This is a Public Service...Anouncment'

Do you have a right to protest on Fountain Square or can the City's Agent require you to have liability insurance? Answer? I don't know.

I really like what the team running the square is doing. The broomball league was a great a idea. Their upcoming schedule looks great. I hope to hit as many events as my time allows.

From the beginning when I heard about 3CDC taking over the management of the square the issue of public use of the facility become a concern. I am a firm supporter of the first amendment. I believe public space should be open to all groups. If there is a procedure they must follow to hold an event, then they must comply. If there is a cost, that is something that should be minimal. Insurance is not minimal. The requirement of insurance should be clarified by the City and 3CDC. If a group follows the application process correctly, they should not be prevented from executing their rights to peaceably assemble.

That being said, I don't want the square turned into a haven for extremists, nut cases, or sad sacks out there charging at windmills. (Yea, like the Greg Flannery's around town) Where's the balance? How do we have fun on the square, but keep our free society?

Boch Beer

Last evening I partook in the 15th annual Bockfest. I got the full experience with the food and the beer. Oh the beer! I had my fill of the beer, and then some. Much thanks to my designated driver! I think I made it home before midnight!

I was privileged to know a couple of the parade judges who donned jester hats and braved the wind to pick the float winners. I was at the fest last year, but I didn't get a chance to see the ceremony at the end of parade. A priest blessed the beer complete with holy water being whipped around into the crowd. (None hit me, so I don't have acid burns) The mayor spoke, Jake Speed played, the Sausage Queens presided, and then everyone drank.

If you missed it last night, you can still catch it tonight. Jake Speed is playing at the old RBC's, which should be good beer drinking song filled set.

Battle of the Weeklies

Score one for CityBeat's Blog, CiN Weekly's coffee issue had a small little problem, one of the coffeehouses it listed as open has apparently been closed since last year.

It's a Friday

The Sun is out, for now. The beer was nice last night. Arnold's crowned co-sausage queens. Bockfest is in full swing. Sing, Drink, and be merry for tomorrow we may have to sing, drink and be merry again. Save the off day for Sunday.

Shh!!!! Don't Tell Larry Gross, Again

Last night I made my way to the City Beat Swizzle party at Sully's, the new bar/restaurant located at Race and 7th Street in the former Redfish space. Larry Gross, also of City Beat, complains loudly when ever a downtown business closes. I've not yet read anywhere about Sully's opening in his column or on his blog. Does he not get the City Beat internal memos about company events? I think I got about 5 emails telling me about it. The full page age about the party, with the address on it in today's City Beat should have sent Larry over the edge with glee. Well, I'll check his blog today for a glowing story about the rebirth of the former Redfish. If I missed his glowing article, please let me know and I'll be sure to link to it.

Pre-Pre-Bock Fest Online Toast Competition

Tomorrow, Bockfest is having a toast competition on Fountain Square to kick off Bockfest. I'm going to kick it off here with an online version. Best one gets a free beer if you find me during Bockfest. Here is my entry:

Raise your glass
Shout your name
Shut up you fool
You are an ass

Cheer Spring Forward
and Boo Fall Back
Peter Bronson
is Still a Hack

If you can't do better than me, then you really aren't trying.

Roll Out the Barrel!

Christian Moerlein is bringing Hudy Bock Beer back for this weekend's Bockfest. It will be on tap. I would suggest trying it out at Kaldi's.