Tag: Cincinnati

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EACC to host walking tour of Over-the-Rhine’s historic Brewery District – 6/5

The European-American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) YP Committee is hosting a walking tour of Over-the-Rhine’s historic Brewery District on Saturday, June 5 from 1pm to 3pm. Organizers with the EACC say that the tour will focus on the European influence on the architecture and diversity of cultures found within the district.

The Brewery District Tour is part of YP Committee’s 3-D/Multi-Dimensional Series that focuses on Discovery, Diversity and Development.

“The tour will highlight Cincinnati’s German heritage as we learn how German immigrants brought their beer brewing skills to Cincinnati,” said Anne Capel, EACC Executive Director. “We’ll learn about Cincinnati’s beer barons like Christian Moerlein and Ludwig Hudephol, the historic breweries they built, and experience first hand the European/American culture that infused the neighborhoods around them.”

In addition to experiencing Christian Moerlein and Ludwig Hudephol, attendees will also tour Clyffside, Lafayette and Jackson Breweries as guided by the Brewery District Foundation. The Brewery District, Over-the-Rhine and Cincinnati to a much larger extent was heavily influenced by German immigrants that brought customs, dialects, religions, occupations and classes with them that are still often found today in the region.

“The Over-the-Rhine neighborhood has recently become a focal point of renewed interest in Cincinnati history and culture,” explained Capel. “The Germans’ entrepreneurship skills built the brewing industry in a part of the neighborhood which we call today the Brewery District. Due to this industry and various others, commercial activity of the area became centered on Findlay Market.”

Registration is open to anyone interested, but the tour is limited to 40 people. Registration is open until Tuesday, June 1st, but those interested are encouraged to register early due to the limited availability. Tickets can be purchased online for $15, and include a free beer during the networking and socializing time at the Findlay Market Biergarten after the tour. Organizers state that tickets will be fully refunded if there is inclement weather.

The tour group will meet at the Over-the-Rhine Biergarten (map), located on the southwest side of the Market House along Elm Street, at 1pm.  Free bicycle parking is available at Findlay Market along with on- and off-street automobile parking.  Metro bus service is also available (plan your trip).

Get a taste of Over-the-Rhine’s historic Brewery District and its treasures by watching this great video.

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Arts & Entertainment Business News

Over-the-Rhine Biergarten opens for summer, wraps up American Craft Beer Week

Following a week delay in opening due to permitting issues, the Over-the-Rhine Biergarten returned last weekend to its summer-long post at historic Findlay Market. The biergarten provides the perfect opportunity to round out American Craft Beer Week in Cincinnati once the beers start to flow this Saturday and Sunday.

Offerings include cans of Hudy and Burger beer for $2 a piece, as well as three Christian Moerlein selections on tap. Drafts will run you $4 for a 16 oz. pour, or $5 for the larger 22 oz. size and you can have your choice of OTR Ale, Lager House and the newly released Northern Liberties India Pale Ale.

Over 600 guests got to enjoy samples of Moerlein’s first venture into hoppier beers with the Northern Liberties IPA keg tapping event at Rookwood Pottery when it was officially released on Friday, May 6th. A traditional British style, the IPA got its descriptive name as a result of the increased level of hops and alcohol, both natural preservatives, needed to allow the beer to keep for the long sea voyages from the UK to the colonies in India.

The beer style has evolved over the years and American IPAs tend to push the envelope of hop additions much more so than their British counterparts. The Northern Liberties may be the best Moerlein brew to date, and despite the increase in hops, it still retains the distinctive, malty Moerlein taste and mouthfeel. American IPAs can range from 40-70 International Bitterness Units and 5.5-7.5% Alcohol By Volume, and Moerlein’s IPA comes in at 55 IBUs and 6.3% ABV.

In an effort to make the biergarten more accessible to all Findlay Market patrons, a cooler has been added to the operation that will allow shoppers to keep any perishable groceries cool while they enjoy a cold beer in the summer sun. The taps will be flowing from 11am to 5pm on Saturdays, and 12pm to 4pm on Sundays, every single weekend from now through Labor Day, and all proceeds benefit both the OTR Brewery District and the OTR Foundation.

Whether you plan on heading to Findlay Market already, or you decide to use this as your excuse, venture down to the Over-the-Rhine Biergarten this weekend to toast the closing of American Craft Beer Week, and come back all summer long to enjoy the sights and sounds of one of Cincinnati’s greatest assets, all while drinking for a good cause. Cheers!

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Business Development News

Renderings for Moerlein Lager House released in latest CRP construction update

Cincinnati Riverfront Park Project Manager Dave Prather has released the latest construction update on the massive 45-acre public park project. In the video Prather discusses recent progress including the archaeological dig, event lawn, connectivity with The Banks development, bicycle commuter station and a realigned Mehring Way. The video also updates the status of the much anticipated Moerlein Lager House for which several new renderings are displayed.

The first phase of the Sasaki Associates-designed Cincinnati Riverfront Park will also include the Walnut Street Fountain & Steps, the Black Brigade Monument, the labyrinth, tree groves, the Women’s Garden, Main Street Garden, and the first section of the bike trail that will eventually connect with the Ohio River Trail. Construction of the park is currently on-budget and on-time for a Spring 2011 completion.

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Business News Politics

Neighborhood Enhancement Program showing signs of staying power, Perkins Lounge to be shuttered

Cincinnati’s nationally-acclaimed Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) is having a lasting impact in Evanston where the program started two years. Today Cincinnati officials announced that Perkins Lounge, long known for a history of drug activity and for being an eyesore in the heart of Evanston, will be shut down as ordered by Judge Nadine Allen utilizing State of Ohio Nuisance Abatement Laws to investigate numerous complaints of illegal activity.

On September 2, 2008, Cincinnati’s NEP began a 90-day focus on Evanston that focused on quality of life issues including crime, blight and building code violations. Since that time the program has won awards from Neighborhoods USA as the 2008 National Program of the Year, the Ohio Conference of Community Development’s President Award, and the Community Development Corporations Association of Greater Cincinnati award for Most Outstanding Collaborative Effort among others.

Image of Perkins Lounge from Google Maps' Street View

Program officials say that one of the targets is to create a sustainable impact that lasts beyond the initial 90-day blitz. Perkins Lounge will officially be shut down this evening at 6pm thanks to a collaborative effort between the Cincinnati Police Department, the Attorney General’s office and the Evanston community. The closure brings with it much more than the elimination of a long-time neighborhood problem, but also an indication that the much touted NEP has staying power.

“This ongoing partnership with the State of Ohio’s Attorney General’s office and these successful results are a prime example of the sustainability of the NEP,” City Manager Milton Dohoney said in a press release. “This model for neighborhood revitalization continues to be an effective tool to improve the quality of life for our neighborhoods and businesses.”

Community leaders are encouraged by the Perkins Lounge (map) news and believe it is an important step in the process of reclaiming their neighborhood.

“The Evanston community is thrilled that this shameless criminal element has finally been removed from the Evanston Business District, and greatly admires the tireless efforts of the Cincinnati Police,” stated John Lewis, Safety Chair of the Evanston Community Council and Chair of the Evanston Citizens on Patrol. “Evanston continues to focus our efforts to redevelop and revitalize our business district to be a once again thriving neighborhood.”

Most recently the NEP rolled into Mt. Washington, and over the course of its existence, the program has visited Price Hill, Avondale, Westwood, College Hill and Clifton Heights/University Heights/Fairview Heights (CUF) in addition to both Mt. Washington and Evanston. In each case the program has reduced blight on average by 15% and recorded thousands of building inspections.

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Development News

3CDC to host public hearing on Washington Park plans – 5/20

The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) and the Cincinnati Park Board will be presenting their plans for the $46.2 million redevelopment of Washington Park on Thursday, May 20 at 6:30pm.  The presentation will be made at the Art Academy of Cincinnati just blocks away from the historic park in Over-the-Rhine.

Earlier this month 3CDC released new information on the redevelopment project including new renderings, financing plan and a general time frame for completion. Once complete, the renovated Washington Park will include a 500-space underground parking garage beneath a two-acre expansion of the park north to 14th Street. Other changes include the incorporation of a dog park, upgraded performance facilities, a splash ground to replace the existing pool, and other facility additions.

Some neighborhood residents have expressed concerns over the design of the new facilities in terms of how they relate to the existing urban fabric of one of America’s largest, and most significant historic districts.

“While this project has the potential to be a major boon to the community, and while the design of the garage and the redesign of the park are the result of lots of planning and hard work by 3CDC, the Park Board, and some community members, there are reports that certain aspects of the design still leave something to be desired, and that they may include some features that are gaudy and/or badly out of context with OTR,” explained Danny Klingler in an email sent to UrbanCincy. “For those of us that haven’t had a chance to participate in the planning process or see the designs, this is our opportunity to show up, view the plans, and express our opinions on the way Washington Park will look and feel, and the way it will interact with and affect the surrounding neighborhood.”

Since 2006, there have been six Steering Committee meetings and five general public meetings on this project.  Over that time, there has also been a number of organizational meetings including the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Cincinnati Park Board, Over-the-Rhine Community Council and the Historic Conservation Board.

Officials working on the project hope to finalize financing and design plans soon so that construction work can begin this summer, with an expected completion in fall 2011.

The Art Academy is located on Jackson Street (map) near the Know Theatre. Free bicycle parking is available in the immediate vicinity, on- and off-street automobile parking is available for free and for payment, and the Art Academy can be reached by Metro bus service (plan your trip).