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)
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Showing posts with label downtown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label downtown. Show all posts
Check out Bob Moses at the Wisp tonight
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.
Friday's activities will include live music by Lo-fi, a local cover band playing funk and rock classics, at 5pm. Following Lo-fi, at 8pm, The Harlequins will take the stage. It will make for a great time to just hang out with friends, and there will be beer available on the Square. What makes it even better is that from roughly 4pm-7pm I'll be serving the delicious adult beverages.
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.
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
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.
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
Triage at the Blue Wisp tonight!
Triage will be at the Blue Wisp Thursday, May 1st. I can't think of a better way to kick off the new month than by enjoying an UrbanCincy night at the Blue Wisp with one of Cincinnati's best and a Cammy Award winner.
Triage is made up of Eugene Goss (vocals/percussion), Billy Larkin (keyboards/vocals), and Marc Wolfley (drums). The show will start at 8:30pm and has a $8 cover charge (minus your $3 UrbanCincy discount of course).
Blue Wisp (GoogleMap)
Downtown Treasure Hunt
The European-American Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance Francaise are hosting a Downtown Treasure Hunt this Saturday, May 3rd. The event will start at 1:30pm and last until 4:30pm. On the walk you will attempt to discover some of Cincinnati's many hidden gems.
It is described as a stroller-friendly event that will cover just over a mile. Refreshments will be served and prizes will be awarded at the end of the event. The cost is $10 per person or $20 per family. For more information and to register, please fill out the form available online (PDF 580kb) and fax it to the European-American Chamber of Commerce at 513-852-6511 or call 513-852-6510.
All over Cincy (Photos)
I was all over the place this past Thursday and Friday...and I made sure to take my camera along. As a result you're able to enjoy some of my favorites from the two days of random photography.
Neighborhoods represented in this slideshow include: Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Clifton Heights, Hyde Park, The Heights, Columbia Tusculum, East Walnut Hills, Corryville, and Mariemont.
Get your flowers here
The Flower Carpet that has been on Fountain Square since April 7th will be going away this Sunday (4/27). The best part about it is that they will be giving the flowers away to the public for free. The public is free to line up prior to the giveaway that will run from 7am-10am (or until the plants are gone).
Each person will be given a crate that holds six pots. If you would like more than one crate you are permitted to get back in line for another.
Photo by Randy SimesHappy Hour Cincinnati: Buddakhan
I don't think a lot of people know about Buddakhan, but its got a nice happy hour (M-F) drink selection and a huge food menu. They now have a lunch, dinner, and late night food menu to take care of their customers all throughout the day.
For happy hour you can get 22oz. drafts for $2 which includes Bud Light and 2 rotating featured drafts. If draft beer isn't your thing then you can choose from 40 different selections of beer on stock.
This is a great spot to hit up midway through your night if you're looking for some food and want the drinks to keep on flowing. It also works for that late night end cap (open until 2:30am every day). Buddakhan also has live music occasionally and many of the tables include their own personal TV on the table.
The other great thing about Buddakhan is its location. All you have to do is turn your head and you could continue your hop to Lodge Bar, BlackFinn, Madonna's, Sully's, Cadillac Ranch, Universal Grille, Rockin' Robins, Via Vite, Havana Martini Club, Arnold's, Blue Wisp Jazz Club, or Nada (I'm sure I forgot something, so forgive me).
Buddakhan
713 Vine Street (GoogleMap)
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.421.9700
Previous happy hour coverage on UrbanCincy:
Via Vite
Happy Hour Cincinnati: Via Vite
There are tons of great happy hours around town...many of which are largely unknown. For the first of what will become an ongoing series, I will highlight Via Vite's great happy hour.
First of all, Via Vite's happy hour is EVERY day and lasts from 3-6 (I was told 7pm by our waitress the other week). Unfortunately they don't offer and draft selections, but they do serve Christian Moerlein's OTR Ale. After you take the $1.50 off you'll be enjoying some great OTR Ale for $2 on Via Vite's rooftop terrace.
The rooftop terrace is what really makes Via Vite special. It sits directly on Fountain Square and makes for one of the best happy hour environments around. Plus the rooftop terrace consists of couches arranged in a way that is great for groups of up to around 6 people.
If you're in the mood for a great happy hour today then be sure to check out Via Vite...if the weather is nice then you'll be sure to find me there with some friends at 3pm. Feel free to drop on by for some conversation if you'd like.
View pictures from Via Vite's rooftop terrace HERE!
Via Vite
520 Vine Street (GoogleMap)
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.721.8483
Additional Via Vite Reading:
Via Vite - JasonTT.com
Via Vite - 5chw4r7z.com
Accountability comes a knockin'
City Manager Milton Dohoney is at it again. The City has for too long let developers linger around and stall on potential development sites for a variety of reasons. Most of which aren't good enough reasons for me. Our city has reached the point where we no longer have to bend over backwards for developers. Instead it is about time they (private developers) start living up to their respective end of the agreement.
Dohoney's first bold manuever was to call out Eagle Realty on their lackluster development progress on 5th & Race. The City had essentially given Eagle Realty the land for nothing and simply ask that they develop something on an already cleared plot of land, and arguably one of the most prime pieces of real estate in the CBD. Dohoney said enough was enough, and informed Eagle that the City was taking away their development rights to the site.
Now on a much less prominent property, but equally as disturbing, Dohoney has once again taken the bold action of demanding that a developer live up to their end of an agreement. At 33 W. Fourth Street (corner of 4th & Race), the City gave a lease to MMF Realty with the expectations that they would redevelop this site. Well 3.5 years have passed and virtually nothing has occurred at the site.
In the mean time the City has heard from several other developers who are interested in developing the site themselves. Sounds like a win, win to me. Take this property off of MMF Realty's hands - who clearly doesn't want to do anything - and sell it off to another developer who is willing to do the job. It's great to have a City Manager like Milton Dohoney around who actually has the backbone to stand up for the City and say enough is enough.
Related readings on UrbanCincy:
Cincinnati's Mark Twain complex
A challenge for those who demand better
Andy Brown Trio at the Blue Wisp
The Andy Brown Trio will be performing at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club this Thursday, April 10th at 8:30pm. The trio consists of Andy Brown (guitar), Rob Allgeyer (organ), and Ben Cliness (drums). Together the trio makes for some great listening.
Keep in mind this is a Thursday performance, so that means UrbanCincy night at the Blue Wisp. Be sure to go check out the club and the Andy Brown Trio...and most importantly mention UrbanCincy at the door and get $3 off the $10 cover charge.
318 East 8th Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.241.WISP (9477)
*Blue Wisp's April schedule
Best Week Ever? No, but a really good one
This week has been pretty amazing for the City of Cincinnati and OTR:
1. Bootsy's, Produced by Jeff Ruby is a go
2. Strickland adds more historic tax credits for OTR
3. Outside opens in the Gateway Quarter
4. The Music Now Festival hits the three year mark
5. Rookwood Pottery moves to OTR based on the future streetcar...without even full approval, the streetcar, is already causing economic development to occur.
6. The Banks broke ground
There was also a really good article in the Pulse of the City about the Brewery District
Rendering of Booty's, Produced by Jeff Ruby - Image Provided
Rendering of Booty's, Produced by Jeff Ruby - Image Provided
Fight the hypocrisy
The local media outlets have never been shy of notifying the public on how long it has taken to get things going on The Banks, nor have they been hesitant to smear every person/agency related to the project - attributing said delay to them. At the same time the many local naysayers and/or skeptics have been openly critical of politicians, government, non-profits, and even those who support reinvestment in our region's core. These same people and entities have not hesitated in questioning $25M in City money for a streetcar system in our region's core.
I do not have a problem with people who wish to keep things in check and/or question authority, but what I do hope is that these same people place the same amount of scrutiny on other things. If we are going to question $25M of public dollars for streetcars, then I surely hope that we question the $2.5B that will be spent on roadway projects this year alone. These roadway projects are not subject to public vote and are simply funded with little public debate or dialog.
Additionally as we all know, The Banks has been 9 years in the making...and the local media has had no qualms with pitting Nky v. Cincinnati in the past, so I hope this same level of scrutiny is passed along to another comparable project in Nky - Newport Ovation.
I applaud local leaders for their dedicated work on The Banks and the Cincinnati Streetcar project. These types of projects are not easily done and often times take many years to accomplish. Keep up the good work.
Photo Credit: Cincinnati Enquirer/Gary Landers
It pays to read UrbanCincy
As mentioned before, UrbanCincy has worked out a relationship with the Blue Wisp Jazz Club downtown. Thursday nights offer UrbanCincy readers $3 off of the cover charge. This week includes the talented Rob Allgeyer Organ Trio w/Dan Drees and Ron Enyard.
Additionally, UrbanCincy now also has a deal with the Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. If you mention UrbanCincy you can get Buy 1, Get 1 half off Adult tickets to any evening performance (not valid on opening night). The next show to start up is Radio Golf (3/19 - 4/6) and you should not miss this show. All you need to do is contact the box office at 513.421.3555 (you can not get this offer online, only by calling). Tickets are going extremely fast to this performance so get 'em while they're hot.
Get out and take advantage of these UrbanCincy exclusive offers. The more you do, the better the chance more of these pop up in the future.
Cincinnati's Mark Twain complex
Is Cincinnati ready to shed the Mark Twain complex? That infamous quote seems to rear its ugly head too often, and unfortunately is seemingly reinforced by the moves/actions of local politicians, businesses and residents.
I’ve been called “viciously optimistic” about Cincinnati before, but I know when to call a duck a duck. The Banks is going to happen and it will be sooner rather than later, but it has taken us a decade to get this far. Cincinnati finally told Eagle Realty to take a walk after wasting years of time with the valuable 5th & Race location.
Cincinnati is on the cusp of a vote on the Cincinnati Streetcar proposal. This is something that many cities are looking into, but we are one of the furthest along in the development process. Cincinnati, yes CINCINNATI has the opportunity to do something that cities like Atlanta, Washington D.C., Portland and Columbus (to name a few) are all trying or have done the modern streetcar push.
Well what do you know…a couple of weeks before the Finance Committee is to vote on the proposal John Cranley publicized a 9-page list of questions – questions that have been answered by city staff and City Manager Milton Dohoney. These answers will be presented at the Finance Committee hearing on February 25th…however it seems VERY unlikely that it will budge Cranley on his views one bit.
To throw another wrench in the works, Roxanne Qualls suggests that another route altogether might be a better idea. You know nothing is more productive than waiting until 5 days before the hearing and suggesting that we start from scratch.
I won’t bore you with why the current proposal is solid, and why I think these politicians are simply employing stall tactics…but rather I will make the bold statement that Cincinnati shed this Mark Twain complex and start proving to our citizens that we can do big things, and we can do them quickly/efficiently.
Image Credit:
Twain With Pipe from the Kingwood College Library
Thursdays at the Wisp
There is a new weekly activity that is sure to please…Thursday nights at the Blue Wisp are now UrbanCincy nights. When you go you can now get $3 off of the cover charge – typically $8 reduced to $5 for readers of UrbanCincy. The first Thursday night special will be on Valentines Day with the Dan Faehnle Quartet taking the stage. Dan Faehnle is know for his jazz guitar and even better - he's an Ohio native.
But before the first Thursday night special, there is another performance which is definitely worth checking out. World renowned organ virtuoso, Joey DeFrancesco, will be performing with his trio on February 12th for two shows (7:30pm & 9:30pm). This is a fantastic opportunity to check out a simply outstanding performance that will be full of blistering speed and fantastic control. Make sure you come and see what the hype is about and make your reservations now.
Spread the word and tell everyone you know about the new UrbanCincy nights at the Blue Wisp.
Preview Dan Faehnle's latest record - Ohio Lunch - now!Preview Joey DeFrancesco now!
In the moment at the CAC
The Contemporary Arts Center is one of those special gems in Cincinnati. It showcases brilliant works of art, and is in what is considered, "...the most important American building to be built since the end of the Cold War." In addition to the museum's already great exhibits that include Julian Stanczak, Graphic Content, and Odili Donald Odita: FLOW there are some new ones that are opening soon that should be a real treat.
Piece from Daniel Libeskind: Blurring Lines exhibitSomething to note is that members, of the CAC, get free admission and sneak previews of the exhibits. These previews often times include the primary artist along with the customary sampling of wine and other assortments.
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