Author: Travis Estell

Travis joined UrbanCincy in 2009 as a contributor, and quickly took over technical responsibilities for the site. 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 web development consultant. After living in Clifton Heights, Northside, and Over-the-Rhine, Travis now resides in Cincinnati’s Central Business District.

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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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Arts & Entertainment Business News

Free Wave Riot celebrates 20 years for Media Bridges

Cincinnati is fortunate to have a community media center, Media Bridges, which makes it easy for our citizens to have their voices heard. The organization operates our city’s public access television channels and will soon launch an FM radio station, Radio Free Queen City.

You can support independent media in Cincinnati, and help raise the money needed to launch the new station, by attending the Free Wave Riot this Saturday, September 5 at the Know Theater. The event, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Media Bridges, will help feature live music from local bands IsWhat?, the Tigerlilies, Fourth Letter Gang, Culture Queer, J. Dorsey Blues Revival, Losanti, and the Frankl Project. Spoken word performances, dancing, and video installations will also be part of the art presented at the event.

A raffle will be held with lots of great prizes, including an Enjoy the Arts membership, Media Bridges merchandise, and gift certificates to Coffee Emporium, Total Juice, Enzo’s, Chez Nora, and more.

Tickets are available at the door and at WVQC.org. The suggested ticket price is $9.57 (since the new station will be at 95.7 FM), but donations of any amount will be accepted at the door.

Categories
News Transportation

Streetcar discussion tonight at Downtown library

Tonight, representatives from COAST and Cincinnatians for Progress will be part of a discussion on the Cincinnati Streetcar proposal. The event is part of the Downtown Residents Council’s monthly community meeting, which will take place at the main branch of the Public Library at 800 Vine Street. The meeting starts at 6:00 pm and will be held in the Tower Room on the library’s third floor.

Learn more about this and other upcoming events by looking at DRC’s Upcoming Events calendar.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

CAC Summer Film Series

Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center will once again kick off their popular Summer Film Series.

Tonight at 6 pm, the CAC will be showing the 1991 film My Own Private Idaho starring Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix. The film, a cult classic, follows two friends on a journey of self-discovery as they travel across the Western United States.

Later this summer, the 1965 French postmodern film Pierrot Le Fou will be shown. It’s described as a biting social commentary, yet is one of director Jean-Luc Godard’s more accessible films.

Admission to each film is free for CAC members, $7.50 for the general pubic, or $5.50 for students with a school ID. Stay tuned to the CAC’s calendar for a full list of movies to be shown this summer.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

Jazz great at Blue Wisp tonight

Cincinnati jazz fans have an opportunity to see a legend tonight on the Blue Wisp stage. Joey DeFrancesco, arguably the world’s top jazz organist, will be taking the stage for two shows: one at 7pm and another at 9:15.

When DeFrancesco was just 17 years old, he was invited to join Miles Davis’ band. He toured Europe and recorded an album with Davis. He went on to play with fusion guitar legend “Mahavishnu” John McLaughlin.

Today, DeFrancesco is constantly on the road, playing shows around 200 nights a year. He is also credited with repopularizing the Hammond B3 organ.

Tickets start at $20 to attend one show, or $30 to attend both. Each show consists of two sets. Reservations are recommended, as his last show in Cincinnati sold out, even with a huge snowstorm that day! Call 513-241-9477 for reservations.

Photo is courtesy of Flickr user lorenzofrizzera.