Author: Randy A. Simes

Randy is an award-winning urban planner who founded UrbanCincy in May 2007. He grew up on Cincinnati’s west side in Covedale, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s nationally acclaimed School of Planning in June 2009. In addition to maintaining ownership and serving as the managing editor for UrbanCincy, Randy has worked professionally as a planning consultant throughout the United States, Korea and the Middle East. After brief stints in Atlanta and Chicago, he currently lives in the Daechi neighborhood of Seoul’s Gangnam district.

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News

New Orleans Jazz & Food festival at Washington Platform – 11/8

Washington Platform is hosting the Second Sunday New Orleans Jazz & Food Festival this Sunday, November 8. There will be live jazz music by the Mike Sharfe Trio in addition to the authentic Louisiana buffet. Washington Platform owner, Jon Diebold says that the event will run from 2pm to 5pm and that he encourages reservations to ensure space for your group.

Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant (map) has been in operation since 1875 and is famous for their oysters and annual oyster festival. Reservations can be made by calling (513) 421-0110. Also be sure to visit the restaurant during their newly expanded hours: Monday from 11am to 3pm, Tuesday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 10pm, and Sunday from 4pm to 9pm.

There is plenty of free on-street parking nearby. Washington Platform is also well-served by more than a dozen Metro bus routes within one block of the restaurant. To see which route is most convenient for you, and to plan your trip now, use Metro’s Trip Planner.

Photo from Rrrrrd’s photostream on Flickr.

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News

Art showing at Bromwell’s new gallery space – 11/6

Cincinnati’s famed Bromwell’s is hosting an art showing, in their new second floor art gallery space, from 20 area artists including internationally known artist Tom Shaw. Bromwell’s new resident artist and gallery director, Even Hildebrandt will be on-hand along with many of the other featured artists to discuss their work.

The showing is free and open to the public and will take place from 6pm to 9pm at Bromwell’s (map) located in the historic West Fourth Street district in downtown Cincinnati. Bromwell’s beautiful fireplace showrooms will also be open and serve as overflow space for displayed art work. The showing will also feature a DJ and refreshments.

Bromwell’s is open Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm. Free on-street parking and garage parking (for payment) is available nearby. Bromwell’s is also within a two block walk of Metro’s Government Square bus hub. Plan your trip now using Metro’s Trip Planner to find out which route is best for you. Please call (513) 621-0620 with any additional questions.

Bromwell’s photograph by Scott Beseler.

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News Politics Transportation

Cincinnatians show their support for strong public assets

After a long and tiring campaign, Cincinnatians cast their votes and made it loud and clear that they are supportive of passenger rail in Cincinnati. With all the votes in, Issue 9 has been defeated 56.2% to 43.8%.

But in a night of many important issues, Cincinnatians showed their support for strong public assets even during tough economic times. Levies for the Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati/Hamilton County Public Library System, and Cincinnati Public Schools all passed along with others. Mayor Mallory won his reelection bid and the Anti-Passenger Rail Amendment was defeated.

As Carol Coletta said, “It’s a great day to live in Cincinnati. Citizens vote to support library, Museum Center, and stopped non-support of transit.”

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News

Get out and vote!

Be sure to get out and vote today regardless of your political leanings or beliefs. This election is an extremely important one for Cincinnati as voters decide on the fate of the City’s Water Works department, whether or not passenger rail transportation is something we support or place additional red tape around, whether we want casinos in Ohio and one at Broadway Commons, whether we want to provide funding for the Cincinnati Museum Center and our public library system.

It’s no secret that those of us here at UrbanCincy feel strongly about many of these issues, but most notably, we urge you to VOTE NO ON ISSUE 9. The passage of Issue 9 will create additional red tape and government inefficiencies. It will cost taxpayers money and leave Cincinnati out of the loop for key federal funding cycles.

The polls are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm. Find your polling location here. Go out and support a local business as you watch the results come in. Grammer’s will be updating results live, and Arnold’s Bar & Grill will be the official election night party for Cincinnatians for Progress and the No on 9 campaign.

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News

Cincinnati Zoo goes platinum, grows attendance

It doesn’t take a die-hard Cincinnatian to know that the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens is one of the region’s real assets. The Zoo provides a tremendous learning opportunity for children, terrific family outings, and so much more. And while the Zoo is one of the best in the country, it is also a community leader.

The Cincinnati Zoo was just recently deemed “America’s Greenest Zoo” by the green building community. It is the first zoo in the country to have multiple LEED projects, and is the second zoo in the country to attain the prestigious LEED Platinum certification for one of its buildings. As the zoo continues to grow and improve itself, Zoo leadership has pledged that all future projects will pursue the LEED certification – a first of its kind commitment in the country.

Vine Street Village photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Zoo.

What is even better news is that while the economy continues to slug its way out of hibernation, the Cincinnati Zoo is posting record attendance numbers. Zoo officials will welcome the 1 millionth visitor to the zoo this year sometime this week. The attendance numbers represent a 23 percent increase over the same time in 2008, and also is higher than total attendance numbers posted over the past four years.

The Cincinnati Zoo (map) is open daily from 9am to 5pm for the rest of the year (except Christmas), with tickets starting as low as $13 for adults. Metro provides bus service to the Zoo via the #1 (directly serves the Zoo…this is your best option), 46, 51, and 78 bus routes (plan your trip now); bicycle parking is also available.