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News

This and that

I’ve noticed a few things recently…One of the first things is that it seems every weekend, in Cincinnati, is another jam packed weekend of things to do.  This isn’t much of a surprise to me, but I guess this is shocking to some.

Second thing.  In their first game the Bengals did more than confirm my fears that they weren’t going to be any good this year and underperform for yet another year.  Obviously one game makes a football season not, but still…our offense couldn’t score and our defense let a half-rate, first-time QB beat us.  Pathetic.
The final thing is this whole presidential election thing.  What originally promised to be a different election, by both candidates, seems to be heading down the same road of worthless bickering.  One worthless attack on patriotism, one worthless rebuttal to stay afloat.  It has me scratching my head and wondering if we will ever see substantive discussions and discourse in our politics again?  No matter which party you subscribe to, or who you support, no one wins when this nonsense takes hold, no one.
Bleh.
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News

Downtown’s image improving

Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI) has recently kicked off a $1 million marketing campaign aimed at improving the image of Downtown Cincinnati. It seems to be already that the affects of new restaurants, shops, bars/clubs, and increased activity all over Downtown are improving the neighborhood’s image.

In UrbanCincy’s monthly poll for August 2008 the question was posed: “How have your perceptions of Downtown changed over recent months?” The results were clear and the message is loud and clear that the perception of Downtown is in fact improving. Nearly 350 votes were cast, with roughly 46% of the repsondents selecting the ‘greatly improved’ option. Another 39% said that their perception, of Downtown, was ‘somewhat improved.’

I grouped the 5 selections into 3 categories for this chart

The efforts of political and community leaders have yielded great results thus far. Results that are starting to settle in with people across the region. There are those who still do not recognize the progress that has been made, and this is what DCI’s marketing campaign will need to touch on. Those of us who know Downtown, know that things have improved significantly over the past 5 years. Things look like they are poised to continue to get better, and with time, perceptions will continue to change.

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Arts & Entertainment News

VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown coming to Cincinnati

Almost two months ago UrbanCincy asked everyone to help bring VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown to Cincinnati. Well I have great news to relay – it is now being reported that VH1 will broadcast here in late September.

The two-hour program reaches an estimated 95 million households over three different time slots (6 hours of TV coverage). The Cincinnati Business Courier reports:

VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown will tape from such local venues as the newly remodeled Fountain Square, The Ascent at Roebling’s Bridge, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Backstage District, Findlay Market, Union Terminal, Camp Washington and Northside. The initial air date is targeted for Saturday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The program is expected to repeat Sept. 14 and Sept. 16. The taping will occur to allow for a backstage interview with 3 Doors Down at Riverbend Music Center Sept. 6.

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News

Grey Gardens at the Ensemble Theatre

The New York Times described Grey Gardens as “an experience no passionate theatregoer should miss.” Luckily for Cincinnati, the Tony Award winning Grey Gardens is coming to the Ensemble Theatre during the month of September. Showing from 9/10 – 9/28, the musical will have 20 performances at the ETC. You can purchase tickets for as little as $35 for adults and $16 for children under the age of 12.

Due to extreme popularity a couple of dates have already been added. So be sure to get your tickets early for the performance of your choice. Shows at the Ensemble typically start around 7:30pm or 8pm. It makes for a great evening if you grab dinner/drinks at Jean Robert’s Lavomatic that is literally just steps away from the entrance to the theatre.

You can purchase tickets online, by telephone (513-421-3555), or by visiting the box office at 1127 Vine Street (Google Map) in the heart of the Gateway Quarter.

From cult film to cult musical! Behind the closed doors of a dilapidated mansion, alongside fifty cats and piles of rubbish, live East Hampton’s most notorious recluses: two beautiful and delightfully eccentric women who just happen to be the cousins of a Kennedy. Nominated for ten Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and based on the groundbreaking documentary by David and Albert Maysles, Grey Gardens features a book by Doug Wright, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of I Am My Own Wife.

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News

Bacchanalian Society Wine Contest

On September 18th, the Bacchanalian Society is bringing their quarterly “wine contest” to Fountain Square. Not to be confused with a wine tasting, this contest is a great social experience. The idea is based around the “Rule of Three.” Essentially you form teams, of up to three people, and bring three bottles of wine. You submit two of those bottles for the contest. During the contest everyone tastes the wines and rates them. The teams whose wines receive the most votes wins.

What do they win…well wine of course. Remember how only 2 of the 3 bottles of wine were used for the contest? Well the remaining bottles are then split up and awarded to the Top 5 teams. The contest is a great social networking opportunity and offers a really fun way to help raise money for a good cause.

The quarterly get togethers are a fundraising tool for non-profits. In the past the Society has helped organizations such as the CAC, Enjoy the Arts, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Cincinnati to name a few. This quarter’s money will go to the Fountain Square Management Group, which will then use the money to operate/program the Square.

Jim Murphy, President of Bacchanalian Society, described how this has grown from three local Cincinnatians to a small group of friends to now thousands of Cincinnatians taking part in the quarterly contests. There are also two additional chapters that have popped up in Denver and Nashville.

Murphy said that it has always been a dream of the Society to have one of their events on Fountain Square. He went on to say, “I’m ecstatic to be able to hold one of the preeminent social networking events in Cincinnati, on Fountain Square.” The September 18th event, on Fountain Square, is expected to be the biggest event for the Society as of yet. Some 1,200-1,300 people are expected to come out and enjoy the different wines.

The event starts at 7pm with glasses being distributed around 7:30pm. The winners will be announced around 9:30pm or so and then it will be on to the after party at BlackFinn (who is also providing food at FS).

Pre-Register for the event here