Posts by Travis Estell

Travis joined UrbanCincy in 2009 as a contributor, and quickly became the website’s lead technology professional. After growing up in Cincinnati's east side in Goshen, Travis earned an Electronic Media degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2009. Since then, Travis has been working throughout the United States as a professional technology consultant. After living in both Clifton Heights and Over-the-Rhine, Travis currently calls Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood home.

Two chili cook-offs warm Cincinnati this weekend

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As we deal with this season’s biggest snowfall so far, you might enjoy the opportunity to warm up with a bowl of chili this weekend. Two separate chili cook-offs are occurring this weekend in Cincinnati’s urban core.

On Sunday, January 23, Findlay Market will be hosting their seventh annual Chili Cook-off. Everyone is invited to stop by between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. to taste all of the entries. In addition to free chili, visitors will enjoy live music and a presentation entitled “How Hot Are You?” from Findlay Market vendor Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices. Christian Moerlein beer will also be for sale in the OTR Biergarten. Cash prizes will be awarded to the three best chilis, as determined by the firefighters of Cincinnati Fire Department Engine Company 5 in Over-the-Rhine.

On the same day, Park+Vine will be hosting their own Vegan Chili Cook-off. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., up to 20 chilis will be available for tasting at Park+Vine’s store at 1202 Main Street in Over-the-Rhine. There is a cost of $15 to attend, and proceeds will benefit the the Cincinnati Cooks! program from the FreeStore Food Bank. Everyone in attendance will receive a ballot to vote for the best chili in each of three categories.

Light Up OTR to kick off new holiday tradition

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Traditions like the Duke Energy Train Display, ice skating on Fountain Square, and the Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights remind us that the holiday season is upon us in Cincinnati.  And soon, the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood will have a holiday tradition of its own.

“Light Up Over-the-Rhine” takes place this Friday, December 10.  Beginning at 8 p.m., teams of volunteers will walk throughout the neighborhood, placing luminaries along its major streets.  A total of 943 luminaries will be placed, representing the number of historic buildings in Over-the-Rhine.  Event organizers hope to create a warm glow that will “symbolize safety, the coming of the holiday season, and unity.”

At 10 p.m., a lighting will take place for the first annual OTR Christmas tree, located in the courtyard of Neon’s Unplugged.  Guests will be able to affix an ornament to the tree for a $2 donation to the Over-the-Rhine Foundation.  Throughout the evening, Neon’s will be serving craft cocktails created by mixoligist Molly Wellman and offering a variety of drink specials.

Anyone interested in helping to assemble and disperse the luminaries should meet at Neon’s at 6 p.m.  With the support of people from the neighborhood and the city, Light Up OTR will hopefully be a success and become another great holiday tradition for Cincinnati.

You can RSVP for Light Up Over-the-Rhine on Facebook.

Month in Review – November 2010

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This month, UrbanCincy covered a number of new businesses and new living spaces in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. We also shared news on the modern streetcar that visited Fountain Square, and guest author Zachary Schunn shared his thoughts on good architecture in our city. Our top 5 most popular articles for November 2010 were:

  1. Historic loft renovation project starts anew in downtown Cincinnati
    The redevelopment of downtown Cincinnati’s former industrial buildings continues with the McFarland Lofts, a seven-unit condominium project under construction in a circa 1901 wagon livery and horse stable.
  2. Modern streetcar to be on display in downtown Cincinnati through 11/10
    If you have not been one of the hundreds of Cincinnatians to make the trip to Portland to see modern streetcars in action, or visit one of the many global cities with them in operation, then tomorrow is a great chance to see one up close and in person.
  3. Sushi Bears a new vegan option at Findlay Market
    A new vegan and vegetarian focused Japanese food stand has opened at Findlay Market. Sushi Bears is a food concept run by chef Dan Wells and his business partner Steve Hauck.

  4. Yoga Row creating new business unions along Main Street
    A visit to Main Street between 8th and Liberty streets nowadays reveals a neighborhood not only on the mend, but on the rise. The owners of Main Street Yoga, Yoga Bar, You Do Yoga, and the Joyful Life Yoga Center have collaborated together to form a new project, nicknamed “Yoga Row.”
  5. Successful urban design sets stage for successful cities
    When it comes to local architecture, Cincinnati deserves good design. But with architecture (and urban planning, or any other design-based field for that matter), there is never one particular thing that separates “good” design from “bad” design.

Month in Review – October 2010

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It’s hard to believe that the month of October is already behind us!  UrbanCincy’s top 5 most popular articles for the month were:

  1. Over-the-Rhine is not one of nation’s most dangerous neighborhoods
    Walletpop.com caused a large stir in the local media when they announced that a portion of Over-the-Rhine was “the most dangerous neighborhood in America.” Following that proclamation, UrbanCincy analyzed the data and released its own response to what appeared to be a suspect report.
  2. A strategic residential plan for Cincinnati’s center city
    What has long held back Cincinnati has not been a lack of tourists, commerce, or entertainment, but rather it has been the lack of a critical mass of residents. The lack of this critical mass is what has prevented the CBD from attracting everyday retailers, groceries, affordable dining, and later evening hours for all of the above.
  3. Induced Traffic Demand Works Both Ways
    There is a popular saying that circulates in urban planning circles: “Widening roads to solve traffic congestion is like loosening your belt to cure obesity.” Planners have shown over the past few decades that adding lanes to roads, while temporarily increasing flow, does little to address congestion because over time traffic demand continues to climb.
  4. 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.
  5. Local carsharing program may soon get rolling in Cincinnati
    The idea for carsharing comes from a growing number of people either going car-free or car-light. Nationally, the percentage of 16-year-old drivers with licenses has decreased from 41 percent in 1996 to 29.8 percent in 2006, and in Ohio that number has dropped five percent since 2000 alone according to the state Department of Public Safety and U.S. Census Bureau.

We also urge you to read UrbanCincy’s Q&A with the candidates for Hamilton County Commissioner before heading to the polls tomorrow.

Month in Review – September 2010

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During the month of September, UrbanCincy’s top stories covered two new businesses downtown, the formation of the Eight Street Design District, the loss of a popular Cincinnati blog, and the creation of UrbanCincy’s own Urban Kickball League.

Our top 5 most popular articles for the month of September were:

  1. The Yoga Bar to serve up strong sense of community downtown
    Rachel Roberts was tired of traveling, and as a well-known and beloved yoga teacher in the Cincinnati area, she was splitting her time between several different studios, none of which were near her home in downtown Cincinnati. As a result, Cincinnati’s newest yoga studio called The Yoga Bar was born.
  2. Join the first-ever OTR Urban Kickball League now!
    The league is open to all age levels and anyone interested in participating. The fall 2010 season will be the first-ever and will feature a variety of special treats and benefits for those participating outside of the kickball fun.
  3. With another Cincinnati blog possibly ending, how do we stop the bleeding?
    On Tuesday, the Cincinnati blogosphere learned that it would possibly lose one of its most well-respected and popular blogs. Kevin LeMaster, Editor and Publisher of Building Cincinnati, informed his readership that, “the Building Cincinnati experiment is likely to end,” and that he was almost certain it would end on that same day.
  4. 18 entities join to form 8th Street Design District, kick off month-long concert series
    It has long been a work in progress, but the 8th Street corridor through northeast downtown Cincinnati has evolved into a vibrant district. A district made up of trendy loft living inside former warehouses; diverse establishments like the Blue Wisp Jazz Club, Silverglades, and University Galleries; and an ever-growing collection of design-related businesses.
  5. Chef Josh Campbell to open first micro-grocery in downtown Cincinnati
    Already owner of successful ventures World Food Bar, a gourmet prepared food stand at Findlay Market, and Mayberry, a mid-range restaurant on Vine Street, Campbell (pictured, right) is expanding his food empire to include the Central Business District’s first grocery – a micro-market located at 7th and Main.

Month in Review – August 2010

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During the month of August, UrbanCincy published several articles laying out a long-term vision for the city.  David Cole compared Cincinnati to Chicago, pointing out what we should—and shouldn’t—learn from our neighbor to the northwest.  Jake Mecklenborg analyzed the Eastern Corridor rail plan and explained why it might not currently be the best plan for Cincinnati.  Randy Simes reported on Cincinnati’s success in completely remaking its riverfront, and criticized Peter Bronson’s piece attacking The Banks and the Cincinnati Streetcar.

UrbanCincy’s top 5 articles for the month of August were:

  1. Unraveling the urban differences of Cincinnati and Chicago
    The first and most obvious difference between Cincinnati and Chicago is one of sheer scale. While driving through Indiana on the way to Chicago from Cincinnati, the transition from rural cornfields to suburban sprawl began while I was still a good 40 miles away from the Chicago Loop. Here in Cincinnati, 40 miles in any direction from Fountain Square would be considered far into the hinterland.
  2. Breaking down Cincinnati’s Eastern Corridor passenger rail plan
    At first glance it would appear that implementation of commuter rail service on the Oasis Line should require nothing more than the purchase of commuter trains and the construction of a connection between the end of active tracks and the Riverfront Transit Center. Unfortunately, the poor condition of the existing track limits traffic to a maximum twelve miles per hour.
  3. Jean-Robert’s Table to open in downtown Cincinnati August 10th
    Unanticipated construction delays, and personal reasons pushed back the original opening of Jean-Robert’s Table for the famed Cincinnati chef. The new restaurant is Jean-Robert de Cavel’s first since parting ways with long-time restaurant partners Martin and Marilyn Wade.
  4. Cincinnati’s dramatic, multi-billion dollar riverfront revitalization nearly complete
    Several decades ago Cincinnati leaders embarked on a plan to dramatically change the face of the city’s central riverfront. Aging industrial uses and a congested series of highway ramps was to be replaced by two new professional sports venues, six new city blocks of mixed-use development, a new museum, a central riverfront park, and parking garages that would lift the development out of the Ohio River’s 100-year flood plain.
  5. Cincinnati’s old money attacks the future with the promise of a failed past
    What was interesting about Bronson’s story is that he took a platform for which he enthusiastically touted the new tower and how it was accomplished, and turned it into an opportunity to lob attacks at other major projects like the Cincinnati Streetcar and The Banks development along the central riverfront. It took Bronson no more than eleven sentences before he dove head-first into his attack of both projects.

Brew Ha-Ha returns to Sawyer Point for 4th straight year this weekend

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Comedy and beer will come together this weekend as Cincinnati Brew Ha-Ha returns to Sawyer Point. Now in its fourth year, the event will feature 50 comedians on three stages, 80 beers, live music, and plenty of food.

This year’s comedic headliners are Bobcat Goldthwait (Friday) and Tim Wilson (Saturday). Organizers say that with a full schedule of comedians and live bands, there is bound to be something for everyone.

The event will feature a vast collection of craft beer including a wide assortment of Cincinnati-area beers like Christian Moerlein, Samuel Adams, Alltech (makers of the famous Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale), and Rivertown brewers. The food will also be local and offer up Italian, German, Cincinnati-style chili, and barbecue food options.

In addition to the stand-up comedy, food and beer, event-goers will be treated to live music from The SwimSuitModels on Friday, and the Stays in Vegas Band on Saturday.

The 2010 Cincinnati Brew Ha-Ha will run from 5pm to midnight on Friday, and 4pm to midnight on Saturday at Sawyer Point. Admission is free, allowing everyone to enjoy the comedy. To drink, guests must purchase a $5 wristband and tickets for $1 each. One ticket will get you a sample size of beer, and four tickets will get you a full serving.

Automobile parking will be available at Sawyer Point (map), but in the name of safety, Brew Ha-Ha may be the perfect event for utilizing Metro bus service. Free bicycle parking is also available for this event.