Category: News

Original stories from the UrbanCincy team.

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Clifton Beer Fest tonight at Fries Cafe

The 6th Annual Clifton Beer Fest takes place tonight from 4pm to 9pm at Fries Cafe on Jefferson Avenue (map). The beer tasting event will feature 70 American craft beers available in 4oz tastings for $1 to $2 each.

In addition to the great beers to sample, the Rumpke Mountain Boys will providing live music on Fries’ outdoor patio. There will also be burgers, bratts and metts available in addition to the best shuffle board in Cincinnati downstairs in the comfortable main bar area.

Last year’s Clifton Beer Fest was great fun with an absolutely fantastic beer selection. The upstairs outdoor patio was a terrific spot to mill about enjoying a variety of beers and fraternizing with all the other beer-lovers and Cliftonites. If you haven’t been to Fries Cafe (not pronounced like the things you get from McDonalds – tip: pronounce the second vowel in German words), then you must go to check out the great neighborhood bar that is extremely comfortable and a great place to have a few drinks served up over good conversation.

UrbanCincy’s recommendation: Get to Fries Cafe early (around 4pm) for some great beer, food and music then make your way to Fountain Square to catch the amazing concert lineup for Popopolis which starts at 7pm. Since you’ve more than likely had too much to drink to drive down to Fountain Square just hop on the Cincinnati Streetcar and head south until it drops you right off at the Square #17, 18, or 19 Metro bus route that picks up at Clifton and Ludlow avenues. Take the bus all the way down to Government Square and simply walk a block west to Fountain Square.

Special thanks to Hoperatives for reminding us here at UrbanCincy about this great annual event in Clifton. Photo courtesy of Flickr user bonegirl.

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News

Taste German wines at eight Gateway Quarter shops at first Grape-Vine Friday

The Gateway Quarter Merchants Group will be hosting the first “Grape-Vine” Friday throughout the Gateway Quarter in historic Over-the-Rhine on Friday, October 2 from 5pm to 7pm.

Eight different merchants are encouraging the public to “sip, shop and socialize” throughout the shopping district. The event is the first of what will becoming a monthly happening that will feature a wine of the month in each of the participating stores where visitors can stop in and enjoy a complimentary tasting while they shop and socialize.

The October Grape-Vine will feature German wines in respect to ongoing Oktoberfest celebrations. Each of the merchants this month have worked with City Cellars on their wine selection and will have information to share about each selection. If you like what you’re tasting, then you’re encouraged to visit City Cellars just down the street for your very own bottle (or two).

Metronation, Segway of Cincinnati, Mica 12/v, Outside, A Lucky Step, Joseph Williams Home, Switch and Coffee Emporium are all participating while Lavomatic will feature a wine special on a select German wine. Below Zero Lounge will also be hosting an evening cabaret hosted by Carol Sherman Jones and Sherry McCamley from 7pm to 9:30pm making for a perfect place to head after you finish your sipping, shopping and socializing.

Grape-Vine Friday is scheduled for the next two months on November 6 and December 4. There is plenty of free on-street parking in and around the Gateway Quarter plus parking available at the 12th & Vine parking lot and the Gateway Garage which can be accessed off of 12th Street or Central Parkway. There are also lots of bike racks available and Metro bus service (plan your trip now).

Lavomatic Cafe photo by 5chw4r7z. Yes I used your photo again 5chw4r7z.

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News

Metro looking for public input as potentially massive cuts loom

In light of the recent budget shortfalls, Metro is being forced to make tough decisions on operations for the region’s primary transit service. The bus agency is now projecting a $16-plus million operating and capital budget shortfall in 2010 due to the ongoing recession which has resulted in lackluster income tax revenues for the city of Cincinnati – where Metro receives most of its funding.

With these new projections Metro officials are now considering a 20 percent service reduction or some other combination of service reductions and fare increases. The changes will pose major issues for the thousands of residents who use Metro on a daily basis for their travel needs. Acknowledging the potential severity of these cuts Metro is urging its customers to provide comments on the various options they are considering to balance the budget.

  • Metro service: Up to 20% of service reduced
  • Weekend service: Eliminate Saturday and/or Sunday service
  • Base fare: Up to $0.50 increase (Zone 1, City of Cincinnati)
  • Zone fare: Up to $0.25 increase in addition to base fare increase (Zone 2, Hamilton County)
  • Transfer charge: Up to $0.25 increase
  • Monthly passes: Increase monthly pass and Fare Deal sticker prices to reflect fare increases
  • Zone 1 pass discount: Eliminate the $5 monthly pass discount

Metro is also considering two options that would impact service for those riders with disabilities utilizing Metro’s paratransit service.

  • ADA service only: Provide service only at the level required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (Access currently provides limited service to some “grandfathered” customers that goes beyond what the ADA requires)
  • ADA maximum fare: Up to the ADA-allowable fare (twice Metro’s fare for a comparable trip)

If you would like to have your thoughts heard on the matter you can do so in a variety of ways. On Friday, October 2 Metro will be hosting a public comment day at the Duke Energy Convention Center (rooms 237-238) from 7am to 7pm. Metro officials will be giving a brief presentation every hour on the hour, and the public is encouraged to come by at any point during the day to electronically record their comments for the public record.

If you’re unable to stop by between 7am and 7pm on Friday, you can still share your comments with Metro by filling out an online comment form; sending an email to Metro; faxing your comments to (513) 632-9202; filling out a comment forms available on Metro buses, Government Square information booth, and the sales office in the Mercantile Building arcade; or by mailing your comments to Metro at 602 Main Street, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

All comments must be received by Oct. 2, 2009 to become part of the official public meeting record and will be considered by the Southwest Ohio Region Transit Authority (SORTA) when deciding on which option to choose.

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News

This ain’t your parent’s Over-the-Rhine

On Tuesday, September 1 I took a stroll through Over-the-Rhine. It started with a private tour of the soon-to-be Neon’s Unplugged off of Main Street. From there I hit up Coffee Emporium with one of Cincinnati’s best photographers and the authority on Cincinnati transit – Jake Mecklenborg.

While at Coffee Emporium we were joined by the likes of Mayor Mallory and much of the Taking the Stage cast. We would have grabbed some photographs, but we both seemed to think that would be creepy and decided to enjoy some coffee and conversation instead.

From there Jake and I walked the neighborhood capturing much of the new energy and activity taking place. In the collection of photos below you will see Gateway Quarter businesses, new Vine Street streetscaping, Trinity Flats infill project, City Home townhouses, and a bunch of other scenes from around the rapidly changing neighborhood. To view all of the photos with additional narration visit my photo thread on UrbanOhio here.

After that I hit up a cocktail hour of sorts at Soapbox’s new digs in the Gateway Building on Vine Street where we met with a lot of really great people with great ideas for Cincinnati. Following those good times I ended the day in OTR at Lavomatic for some drinks with a couple of UrbanCincy’s finest writers – David Ben and Jenny Kessler. Great day.

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News

Metro receives $700k grant for Uptown Crossings transit hub

Representative Steve Driehaus (D-OH) has announced another large chunk of money for transportation projects in the Cincinnati region. Funding in the amount of $677,160 has been awarded to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) for a new transit hub in Uptown Cincinnati.

SORTA operates the largest transit service in the region, Metro, and will be using the nearly $700,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for their planned Uptown Crossing Project that will construct a new transit hub with restrooms and facilities for bus drivers, shelters, and a pavilion located near the Cincinnati Zoo.

Representative Driehaus believes strongly in the transit investment saying that, “as we work to improve our transportation infrastructure, we need to modernize transit facilities and expand access for riders. This funding will help SORTA move forward on this critically important project.”

Image provided by Metro