When can you tell enough is enough? Is there any hope for our nation if there isn't constant growth? These are the questions I find myself asking when I read stories like this.
Cincinnati Mills, one of the largest retail centers in the region, has seen store after store shutter. This comes after millions of dollars of reinvestment into a massive mall sandwiched in between two others along a mall interstate of sorts.
It really makes you wonder (at least me), do we really need all of this retail space. The same can even be said for urban environments where seemingly every new renovation project, in a mixed-use built area, seems to call for street-level retail with residential or office space above. I suggest that we return the area, where Cincinnati Mills sits, to a natural state. That is obviously an extreme proposal, but at the very least tear down that mall (said in my best Ronald Reagan voice) for some other/better use.
This region is growing much slower than our retail space is expanding...and it seems obvious that the retail locally (and nationally) can not sustain itself by the free market alone. It seems to me that the best alternative would be to let struggling retail space ride off into the sunset. This would allow for values to rise at other retail locations, and we could begin the process of ridding ourselves of our excessive retail space...and who knows, maybe even our over-consumerism.
How long have you been a reader of UrbanCincy?
The retail over-saturation problem
Ann Driscoll at Southgate House
From Citybeat.com:
She began her musical career in earnest just three years ago and her direct Indie Pop sound helped put her on bills with local favorites like Peter Adams and Katie Redier, as well as nationally acclaimed Rock bands like The High Strung. Driscoll's self-released, self-titled EP is an engaging exhibition of blunt, catchy (but not predictable) Pop, with vocals that recall pre-blatant-sex-kitten Liz Phair and a writing style that is obviously informed by prime influences like The Beatles and Nirvana.
Berklee must be on summer break, because Driscoll is returning to the local stage this week, performing at the Southgate House's parlour room Friday with local singer/songwriter Molly Sullivan. 8:30 p.m. $5-$8. (Get details and find nearby bars and restaurants here.) -- Mike Breen
Check out Bob Moses at the Wisp tonight
The Blue Wisp plays host to internationally acclaimed drummer Bob Moses with his Chicago Quartet tonight (5/15). The music begins at 7:30pm with a $20 cover charge for this premium act. This is however, an UrbanCincy Night and mentioning the site (at the door) will get you $3 off your cover.
If you haven't yet heard of Bob Moses, go check out some of his stuff (YouTube video)...you'll be in the groove before you know it. You can make reservations at fasteddief@aol.com or by calling 513.241.WISP (9477).
Blue Wisp (GoogleMap)
Find UrbanCincy in more places
You can now find UrbanCincy in more places and stay connected in more ways. In addition to the Technorati and Facebook pages for UrbanCincy...you can now find us on Twitter and VerveEarth. And as always you can subscribe to UrbanCincy's RSS feeds by clicking the link in the left-hand column or by simply clicking HERE.
The Twitter page is pretty basic right now, but will grow in the future. The Facebook page is probably the most developed and offers the best outlet to follow the various events, news, and images created by UrbanCincy.
As always, you can find links to these pages and much more over in the left column on the site. If you have accounts become followers of UrbanCincy and show your support for your Cincinnati blogspot.
Reds Hot Weekends
This weekend marks the first of 8 Reds Hot Weekends this Summer. The festivities will be taking place on Fountain Square and will start Friday and last through Sunday...covering the entire weekend series against the Cleveland Indians.
On Saturday the fun continues with DJ Iceburg from 2pm-4pm followed by the first "Movie Night" (featuring Sandlot and The Natural) of the Summer starting at 7:30pm. Beer, soft drinks, and snacks will all be sold on the Square...and people are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, pillows, etc for "Movie Nights."
Finally Sunday will wrap up the weekend with free UDF ice cream, on the Square, from about 4:30pm-5:30pm...along with some other neat festivities. Be sure to come out even if you're not going to any of the games and just have a great time Downtown on Fountain Square.
Acoustic Lunch Series at Piatt Park
Today marks the first Acoustic Lunch at Piatt Park (GoogleMap) of the 2008 year. The series will run through September 30th and is every Tuesday from 11:45am-1:45pm. As always the concert series is free and will feature live music from a variety of local artists.
It makes for a great lunch hour in one of my favorite hang out places Downtown - Piatt Park (view photos here). There are lots of benches, some tables, and plenty of planter ledges to sit on while you enjoy the music. This week will feature music from Malkum Gibson & The Mighty Juke.
Listen to various music by Malkum Gibson & The Mighty Juke HERE.
View the full concert schedule HERE.
New Uptown signage on the way
The Uptown Consortium has been developing a wayfinding system for the Uptown area. This will be a significant improvement upon the current dated signage that you see scattered haphazardly throughout the area now.
The signage also seems to blend design concepts from other streetscaping elements seen throughout the City (primarily Downtown). The consortium describes the project as, "an implementation of a bold and unified Uptown wayfinding and streetscape design for pedestrians and motorists." They go on to say that this includes the development of a, "comprehensive, user-friendly Uptown map to locate key Uptown businesses, neighborhoods and institutions."
Hopefully this signage will be customizable and/or complimentary to signage that will need to be developed, for the Cincinnati Streetcar, when it comes to the Uptown area in the near future. I love wayfinding systems, but the last thing we need is redundant systems cluttering the sidewalks.
I'm so hungry
I just wanted to let everyone know that I have added two additional blogs to UrbanCincy's blogroll, and have also removed a couple because a couple of the blogs are going away for various reasons.
The two new ones that have been added are The Veggie Option and Wine Me, Dine Me. Both are obviously food related blogs...and really what can be more fun than that. You can get a wide variety of reviews and live vicariously through Julie's never dull dining life.
Julie from Wine Me, Dine Me
The Veggie Option is pretty clear in its focus. You can get reviews and find out places that a vegetarian friendly in the Cincinnati area. If you're a vegetarian, or simply are interested in food reviews done with a different angle, then you must simply check this one out as well.
Happy reading, and try not to get too hungry out there in the blogosphere. I know first-hand that it can be quite difficult (thanks 5chw4r7z).
Happy Hour Cincinnati: The Stand
The Stand is located in the always great Mt. Lookout Square. Their happy hour specials are on their drinks. The Stand offers $2 domestics, $3 imports and well drinks, and $3.50 call drinks. The happy hour is from 6pm-8pm daily and is combined with a variety of other specials offered throughout the week (which can be found on their website).
The Stand has got a trendy vibe to it and offers live music most nights, pool, and flat-screen TVs. They also advertise free wi-fi all night long if that's what
tickles your fancy.
The Stand
3195 Linwood Avenue (GoogleMap)
Cincinnati, OH 45208
513.871.5006
Image from www.thestandcincy.com
Previous happy hour readings on UrbanCincy:
Buddakhan --- Via Vite --- McCormick & Schmick's
Happy Birthday UrbanCincy!
Today (5/8) is UrbanCincy's birthday...and the site is officially 1 year old. Thanks everyone who makes this site what it is by commenting and discussing the things going on in Cincinnati.
The site was started to be a positive alternative to the often negative stories heard from the mainstream media...and fortunately enough there seems to be that same desire for an alternative to the same old pessimism and negativity. Thanks again for reading, and hopefully UrbanCincy can make it around for a second year and continue its maturation process.
Thanks
Steve Turre comes to the Blue Wisp - 2 nights only
Acclaimed jazz trombonist and 20-year veteran of the Saturday Night Live Band, Steve Turre, will perform tonight (5/7/08) with the Blue Wisp Big Band. Steve Turre is described as a passionate, dynamic and creative artist. The fact that he'll be teaming with the legendary Blue Wisp Big Band makes the prospect even more exciting.
He will also be performing on Thursday, May 8th with his quartet. Like always, Thursdays are UrbanCincy Nights at the Blue Wisp where you get $3 off your cover charge. For both nights the cover charge will be $15 with the shows starting at 8:30pm.
You are not required to make reservations, but are encouraged to. You can do so by calling 513.241.WISP (9477) or by email at fasteddief@aol.com.
Steve Turre is also available on YouTube...be sure to check out some of his stuff.
Image from www.allaboutjazz.com
CPS enrollment better than expected
As much bad news as inner-city school districts typically get, Cincinnati Public Schools keeps the positive news coming. In January CPS was profiled on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight show for their improved graduation rates and by eliminating the achievement gap between white and black students.
Photo by Randy Simes - Withrow High SchoolThe news out today is that enrollment numbers are higher than original projections by State demographers. Maybe this is another indicator supporting Cincinnati's claim that population projections, for Cincinnati, are actually higher than projected. It might also be a sign of CPS' improvement and the move back towards public schools by younger families. In either scenario the news is good news.
Bottom line, the excuses for not living in the City continue to go away in Cincinnati.
Related readings on UrbanCincy:
Cincinnati Public Schools making the grade
Get off the juice
Around the Cincy Blogosphere
Aren't quite sold on streetcars yet? Well if that's the case then check out some pretty convincing reasons as to why not to hate the proposed Cincinnati Streetcar.
You can also check out some MuralWorks action happening along Race Street Downtown. Maybe after that you should start planning on where you're going to spend your tax rebate. It might also be time to stop in and say goodbye to a friend.
And since we're in Cincinnati and all, be sure to check out the flying pigs as well.
*You can find links to these great blogs and much more over in UrbanCincy's blogroll in the left column on the site.
Christian Moerlein favorite local beer
Well the results of April's poll aren't even close. UrbanCincy readers clearly favor Christian Moerlein which claimed 62% (146 total) of the votes. Mt. Carmel took second place with 17% (41 total) with Sam Adams, Hudy Delight, and 'Nati Light rounding out the list.
I voted for Christian Moerlein but this certainly pained me because I absolutely love Mt. Carmel. The connections with Over-the-Rhine are what eventually put Christian Moerlein over the top for me.
Of the locals I rank my top three beers as:
1. Mt. Carmel Copper
2. Christian Moerlein OTR Ale
3. Christian Moerlein Barbarossa
4. Mt. Carmel Stout (honorable mention)
Happy Hour Cincinnati: McCormick & Schmick's
This week's highlighted happy hour is McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant. Doesn't sound like a good happy hour place right...WRONG. Happy hour at McCormick & Schmick's is M-F from 4:00pm - 6:30pm. They also have an evening happy hour from 9:30pm - 11:00pm M-Th. Plus the location is just about as central as you can get - directly across the street from Fountain Square.
Their happy hour menu (PDF, 77kb) consists of a variety of food. It includes the fish as you would expect, as well as, a number of other items for those not into the whole seafood thing. The main item they're known for is their 1/2 lb Cheeseburger with fries for only $1.95.
McCormick & Schmick's generally doesn't do specials on their drinks. With that said, the bar has a good selection of drinks and the typical cost for a beer is $3.75. There is also a two drink
minimum during happy hour times, but they do not necessarily have to be alcoholic as soft drinks count towards your two drink minimum.
McCormick & Schmick's
21 E. Fifth Street (GoogleMap)
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.721.9339
Previous happy hour coverage on UrbanCincy:
Buddakhan --- Via Vite
