Month: September 2009

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News

3Es Summit to offer sustainability solutions for local organizations

One of the elements of the Green Cincinnati Plan (pdf) is an educational outreach effort that focuses on businesses, health and educational institutions, and community non-profit and faith-based organizations that have not fully developed a plan for reducing their energy demand. To address that component the Energy, Economics, Environment (3Es) Summit will “provide area business and community leaders industry-specific insight on sustainability efforts, particularly those with a positive impact on the bottom line.”

The summit will take place on Friday, October 2 from 7:30am to 1pm at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati where national and local leaders will discuss strategies that are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and costs. Event organizers say that the 3E’s Summit will allow attendees to learn about and discuss sustainability solutions relevant to their respective organizations.

The half-day event is structured to have three concurrent educational sessions, exhibitors and keynote speaker John Stowell who is vice president of environmental, health and safety policy for Duke Energy. Stowell has also recently returned from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Summit in Copenhagen and will speak on climate change in terms of both the domestic and international agenda. Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher will also be giving a keynote address during the summit.

Registration is $50 in advance and $60 at the door. You can register now online at the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce’s website or by calling (513) 579-3111. The Duke Energy Convention Center is well-served by Queen City Metro routes 1, 21, 27, 50, 64, and 77X. To see which route is most convenient for you, and to plan your trip now, use Metro’s Trip Planner.

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News

Fox 19 broadcasting live on Fountain Square tomorrow morning

Fox 19 will be broadcasting their morning show live on Fountain Square tomorrow morning from 7am to 8am. The broadcast will be quite similar to the Today Show which is outdoors on Rockefeller Center in New York.

There will also be a band from next week’s MidPoint Music Festival performing live on the Square. If you’re already going to be Downtown you might want to swing by for this fun event. If you’re not already Downtown, then you might want to make it a fun Friday morning by swinging by.

Categories
News Transportation

UC*Metro deal renewed for 2009-10 school year

University of Cincinnati students, faculty, and staff have enjoyed free or discounted rides on Cincinnati’s Metro bus service since 2007. The original deal allowed anyone with a valid UC ID card (“Bearcat card”) to ride for free by simply showing his or her ID.

In 2008, some changes were made to the program, requiring students, faculty, and staff to obtain a free quarterly UC*Metro card. This change was made in order to prevent abuse to the program from people with invalid UC ID cards. Eventually, the terms of the program changed, requiring a small fee for these cards.

The UC*Metro deal has been renewed for the 2009-10 school year, with some additional changes:

  • The passes will now cost $40 per quarter for students, and $120 per quarter for faculty and staff.
  • Riders must now present both their UC*Metro card and a valid UC ID.
  • The passes are now only valid for rides within Metro Zone 1. If traveling to an outer zone, the rider must pay the difference between the Zone 1 fare and the normally applicable fare.
  • UC will contribute an additional $100,000 to Metro for this year’s program.
Although this year’s program is more expensive for both riders and the University, UC*Metro passes are still a good deal for UC students, faculty, and staff. Students can visit Metro’s website and use their trip planner, order your UC*Metro card, and start taking advantage of our city’s mass transit.
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News

Wine Over Water on the Purple People Bridge – 9/19

Looking for an opportunity to enjoy some fabulous wine while supporting a good cause and doing all on top of the Ohio River? Well then Wine Over Water is for you as the wine tasting event will be held on the Purple People Bridge on Saturday, September 19 from 7pm to 10pm and will raise money to repaint the pedestrian/event bridge hosting the event.

The Newport Citizens Advisory Council is hosting the event and says that in addition to raising money to repaint Cincinnati’s second oldest existing river span, it will also raise money for the ECHO Soup Kitchen.

Event organizers say that participants will be sampling a selection of international wines and a variety of offerings from Cincinnati’s best wineries. Many of the local wineries present will also have bottles of wine for sale at the event if you taste one you particularly enjoy. There will also be hors d’oeuvres, live music, and a commemorative tasting glass all for just $20 in advance ($25 at the door). Tickets can be purchased in person at Kentucky Haus (10th & Monroe in Newport) or online here. A valid ID (must be 21 years of age) is required to be admitted to the event.

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News

Oktoberfest Kommt

Of course, you can’t expect UrbanCincy to skip over one of the biggest parties of the year can you? Oktoberfest is upon us as six blocks of downtown Cincinnati will be transformed into the largest German party this side of Munich on Saturday & Sunday. Reminding our readers to find their way down would be very simple, but hopefully you’ve come to expect a little more than that from us here.

First off, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, as it officially called, has received large amounts of critical acclaim through the years. In the past both USA Today and AskMen.com have ranked our version of this German party as one of the best festivals in the country, and this year DigitalCity says we are number one! While DigitalCity may not be the most mainstream outlet out there, isn’t awfully nice to know that yet again Cincinnati is garnering the respect and attention it deserves?

Think Oktoberfest is just a time to come down and wander through the streets while sipping a cold one? Think again! There are all kinds of activities planned for the weekend including a few lead up events on Fountain Square both Thursday and Friday over the lunch hour. Additionally this year there is the HYPE Haus Party, which does cost a bit of money for entry but looks to be a great time as it includes both a beer sampling, and a light buffet among other things.

So now you know the critical acclaim, as well as all the other activities that go along with Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, but what is probably most important is that this weekend 500,000 people will descend on what we know is an urban city center that is supremely different than it was even a year or two ago. For all of the positive press that Cincinnati has received, and all the work that has been done, this should really be a time to show off and have a great time with half a million of our closest friends! Those of us that are strong and vocal advocates for all that has been happening should make sure that we get the story out and help everyone else see all the great things going on around outside the mini-Munich on Fifth Street that will be there for two days.

What else do you need to know? Well, make sure you bring an appetite as tons of food will be served and more than a few beers will be poured so don’t forget to come thirsty too. And oh yeah, keep an eye out for native son Jim Koch of Sam Adams fame, TV’s biggest beer man, from Cheers it’s George Wendt, and some guy named Homer will be around too. Prost!

Oktoberfest photo by Jayson Gomes of Cincy Images.