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Business News

Samuel Adams Brewing Company’s surprising Cincinnati roots

While many of Cincinnati’s beer connoisseurs are aware of Samuel Adams‘ Cincinnati roots, most around the world believe that the beer is uniquely Boston. History and current events tell us that quite simply is not true. WCPO reports on the full story about America’s largest beer company’s roots in the Queen City and its current presence in the West End.

Cincinnati beer lovers and historians have seen a resurgance of Cincinnati beer brands like Little Kings, Christian Moerlein, Hudephol and Bürger. These beers have joined a growing collection of craft beer brewers like Listermann, Mt. Carmel, Rivertown and more. On top of all that, the Moerlein Lager House will add another impressive brewhouse to Cincinnati’s collection along with the Bavarian-style brewhouse Hofbräuhaus in Newport and Rock Bottom on Fountain Square, and Christian Moerlein has recently opened a new brewery in historic Over-the-Rhine.

Also, be sure not to forget about the world’s second largest Oktoberfest celebration, the nation’s largest Bockfest celebration and the slew of beer tasting festivals held all throughout the region. There have also been some rumors that Samuel Adams may open a brewhouse in Cincinnati as well. Stay thirsty, and enjoy Cincinnati’s rich beer history and its bright future.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Business News

Scene Ultra Lounge to kickoff Cincinnati Art Scene this Thursday

Scene Ultra Lounge will kickoff a new showcase of local artists and creativity this Thursday. The event, Cincinnati Art Scene, will take place every Thursday from 8pm to 2am.

Organizers say that Cincinnati Art Scene will feature a local artist each month and include open mic and DJ mix ups. Drink specials will also be offered on 360-Eco Friendly Vodka and Cincinnati-based Rivertown Brewery selections.

“I’m extremely excited to be featured as their first artist,” says Robin Ewers. “Born and raised in Cincy, I couldn’t be more flattered by the opportunities that have been given to me and I’m looking forward to helping other local artists get some exposure too.”

Scene Ultra Lounge is located at 639 Walnut Street in downtown Cincinnati’s Backstage Entertainment District. Those interested in participating in future Cincinnati Art Scenes can contact organizers ar (513) 381-4327 or info@scenecinci.com.

Scene Ultra Lounge photograph by UrbanCincy contributor Thadd Fiala.

Categories
Business Development News

OTR leaders look to past for Brewery District’s future

In 2006 volunteers and community leaders developed an urban master plan for Over-the-Rhine. The plan developed goals and strategies to help reinvigorate the historic neighborhood, but now a familiar group of community leaders is looking to take the plan to the next level.

The new planning effort announced today by the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (BDCURC) and Glaserworks will focus on the northern part of the neighborhood surrounding Findlay Market and the Brewery District. Organizers say that the goal is to take a more targeted economic approach.

“This is not really a comprehensive master plan, but rather a process to form a development plan for the area,” explained BDCURC executive director Steven Hampton. “We’ve got different buildings and building heights than the rest of OTR, and we are looking at how we can best use those assets.”

The 2006 plan, for which this planning effort is based, called for a number of items that have since moved forward including the Cincinnati Streetcar, Urban Mix Zoning District and the branding of the Brewery District. Still though, leaders say more needs to be done for the historic sub-area of OTR which includes an estimated 44 structures that were at one point used for beer brewing purposes.

“We’ve had some good successes being a volunteer group with virtually no budget, but now we are looking for official partners like Glaserworks and funding options for this next effort”

There is reason for hope in this long beleaguered area of Over-the-Rhine though. Rookwood Pottery and Christian Moerlein have opened up major operations in the area, and Findlay Market has experienced tremendous success over recent years. Hampton also says that the future of the area with the streetcar looks bright.

“As a whole everyone has struggled with the economy, but there has been more interest as the streetcar gets closer to fruition,” Hampton said. “We’re getting closer from a couple of different angles, and a lot of smaller investment has kept the area moving forward.”

The planning effort will start in earnest this spring and will look to capitalize off of the neighborhood’s existing urban assets. True loft-style residences, hillside development, large warehouses and typical Over-the-Rhine building stock all exist in the northern reaches of the neighborhood. And this is where community leaders believe the future lies.

“You’re going to see a neighborhood that’s really a mixed-use, walkable neighborhood which has protected its industrial and small businesses while also bringing in new ones,” Hampton concluded. “We’re not reinventing the wheel here. This is how the area is built, and that’s how it will continue to function. We’re just hoping to capitalize on that.”

Categories
News Transportation

Cincinnati to install second on-street bicycle corral in OTR

Cincinnati’s second on-street bicycle parking facility will be installed on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine (OTR) this week. The on-street parking is part of the city’s overall effort to dramatically improve its bicycle infrastructure over the coming years.

The new on-street bicycle corral will be installed just south of Park+Vine (map) and will accommodate 14 bikes. City officials say that the bike corral has been ready since November 2010, but warmer weather was desired for installation.

“Bockfest seemed like the perfect opportunity to showcase the burgeoning use of bicycles in Over-the-Rhine,” explained Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE) planner Melissa McVay. “This will also be a great way to demonstrate the City’s support for bicycles as a viable means of transportation.”

The location is currently a no parking zone and will avoid the loss of any on-street automobile parking spaces. Fabrication, of the bike corral, was performed by Cincinnati-based Vulkane Industrial Arts. The first corral installed in Northside last year cost $1,000, while the new OTR corral cost $4,000.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

ArtsWave presents free art, CAC party

The arts are an essential part of a vibrant neighborhood. From Paint the Street to serindipitous performance art, local nonprofit ArtsWave is actively engaging Cincinnati through music, visual art, and performance. The organization raises money to assist over 150 arts organizations in the area with sharing art experiences in their community.

“Greater Cincinnati’s diverse arts scene is part of what makes this city so great,” said Margy Waller, VP of communications at ArtsWave. “The fantastic anchor institutions pull artists into the community – along with students at UC, in DAAP and the Conservatory of Music. Now these students and recent grads are doing all sorts of experimental, innovative artwork in Over-the-Rhine, on the streets, and in community arts centers.”

For those looking to get involved with local arts, ArtsWave’s group Friends for the Arts are for individuals who want to get more involved in Cincinnati’s vibrant arts community. There are both volunteer opportunities as well as social events – the annual Party is this Friday, March 4th at the Contemporary Arts Center.

$30 tickets ($26 in advance) are the gateway to an evening of celebrating arts in the community with friends, food and serendipitous art. Admission also includes access to the galleries.

Another fun way to get involved with local arts is through the ArtsWave app – now for iPhone, coming soon for Android. With iSpyArt, community members are encouraged to record the “art all around us” by taking pictures and submitting them to a hosted “gallery” – even those without mobiles can participate through the website.

In past years ArtsWave has hosted one Saturday Sampler Weekend, crammed full of free arts activities to participate in all over the region. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, this year the events have been spread out over the course of six weekends. The ArtsWave Sampler Weekends celebrate the creative things — music, dance, theater, museums, and festivals — happening in large and small ways throughout the region. These weekends are great opportunities for families, friends, and neighbors to connect with one another and experience the arts through free events.

There are four Sampler weekends left in which to experience a dizzying array of free art experiences – March 12, March 26, April 10 and April 16. There is a searchable online tool on the ArtsWave website as well as downloadable PDFs that will make planning easier. Not only are many of the events family friendly, but there are also interesting offerings for a (slightly) more grown up crowd.

Check out the Cincinnati Ballet on March 12 from 12.30-5 to see and participate various performances – belly dancing, martial arts, ballet and a ska band. The Sunday Gospel Brunch on April 10 offers free breakfast and a concert from a choir composed of area churches (RSVP 513.632.0112). Calculus: the Musical! explains math in a fun way at the Know Theatre, also on the 10th. And on April 23, take a tour of various ArtWorks murals along the Central Parkway corridor.

The wide variety of arts organizations in Cincinnati is a treasure. Take the time to check out some of what they have to offer soon.

Disclosure: Jennifer Kessler is currently employed at ArtsWave. The article was written independently and does not necessarily reflect the views of ArtsWave. Paint the Street photograph by Scott Beseler.