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boom! a Hit at the Know Theater

The Know Theater this weekend will feature an intense, futuristic comedy called ‘boom!’ From the theater’s website, ‘boom!’ is “a funny, slightly warped and ultimately hopeful look at the apocalypse that follows a young marine biologist as he prepares for the imminent end of the world.”

I saw the play this past weekend, and was thrilled with it. The entire production included just three spectacular actors, whose interplay harmonizes to create a humorous look at the tensions between hope and fatalism. Maybe I read too much into it, but I thought the play also included an undertone of the tension between intelligent design and evolution, and even spoke to the tension that couples living together experience.

Though the play engaged me on this level, it’s also fascinatingly entertaining, and manages to exist as passive entertainment at the same time. The Know Theater’s intimate setting allows a spectator just relax and enjoy the show. But the opposite is also true. Because of the theater’s intimate feeling, the audience has the ability to fully engage the actors by being so complete taken in with the production on the stage. It’s all up to the spectator.

boom! features phenomenal acting and an incredibly high production value. The show will run 4 times per weekend through November 7, but many of the shows are already sold out. Tickets are just $12, providing an affordable outing. After the show, the bar at the theater opens and the actors come to mingle with anybody interested in talking with them.

The Know is easily served by numerous bus lines. Go to the METRO trip planner, enter your address in the first box and enter the Know’s address, 1120 Jackson Street, in the second box. Couldn’t be easier. If you insist on driving, there is plenty of safe, off-street parking in the Gateway Quarter Garage, accessible from 12th Street. Click here for directions.

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This Week In Soapbox 10/20

This Week in Soapbox (TWIS) you can read about Jean-Robert’s latest restaurant venture, Covington’s new Assistant City Manager, a new innovative funding strategy that will help several center city developments, streetscape and park changes on the way for Clifton Heights, the completion of City Home’s first phase in OTR, and a new authentic Mexican restaurant in Covington.

If you’re interested in staying in touch with some of the latest development news in Cincinnati please check out this week’s stories and sign up for the weekly E-Zine sent out by Soapbox Cincinnati. Also be sure to become a fan of Soapbox on Facebook!

Also be sure to check out the fantastic feature article by Casey Coston on why Issue 9, the Anti-Passenger Rail Amendment, is bad news for Cincinnati. See video below for even more Issue 9 coverage.

TWIS 10/20:

  • Jean-Robert’s Table to bring relaxed French cuisine to downtown Cincinnatifull article
  • New innovative funding strategy to help center city developmentsfull article
  • Covington taps OKI planner as new Assistant City Managerfull article
  • Fresh look on the way for Clifton Heights’ business districtfull article
  • Over-the-Rhine leaders celebrate completion of City Home’s first phasefull article
  • Casa Mexico opens in Covington’s Latonia neighborhoodfull article

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Books by the Banks – Reading Fun for Everyone

If you’re looking to get your book fix tomorrow, Duke Energy Convention Center is the place to be… at this year’s Books by the Banks book festival.

The public libraries of Cincinnati and Hamilton County have teamed up with Joseph Beth Booksellers, the Mercantile Library, University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Magazine to offer up a festival celebrating the written word. There will be more that 80 authors on location for you to meet and sign copies of their books. From kid lit to sports, Cincinnati history to chick novels and back again, there will definitely be a book, author, panel discussion or demonstration to pique your interest.

National bestsellers Jeannett Walls (The Glass Castle, Half-Broke Horses), Jennifer Weiner (Good in Bed, Best Friends Forever), Garth Stein (The Art of Racing in the Rain) and Barbara Bradley Hagerty (Fingerprints of God) are headlining the panel discussions occurring from 11am-3pm (a variety of authors speaking on the hour.) For a complete list of speaking authors, check out the program schedule here.

here will also be the Target Kids Corner, complete with lots of fun activities for families to do together, as well as story times throughout the day and character meet-n-greets. Personally, this blogger is incredibly pumped about the tattoo station (available all day) and meeting Curious George (1:40-2pm).

Books by the Banks is Saturday, October 17th from 11am-4pm and will feature plenty of books will be available for purchase through Joseph Beth Booksellers, which is a perfect opportunity to get a head start on Christmas shopping. The Duke Energy Center is located at 525 Elm Street (map) in downtown Cincinnati. There are several dozen bicycle parking locations within two blocks of the building, and Metro’s # 1, 21, 27, 50, 64 and 77x bus routes also serve the Duke Energy Convention Center. Plan your trip now using Metro’s Trip Planner.

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This Week In Soapbox 10/13

This Week in Soapbox (TWIS) you can read about World Food Bar’s new Downtown eatery opening this November, the first public K-12 school in the state of Ohio to achieve LEED certification, Mt. Washington’s efforts to slow down traffic along Beechmont Avenue, new lending opportunities for green building strategies created by LISC, and the latest redevelopment plans for Covington’s Jacob Price housing project site.

If you’re interested in staying in touch with some of the latest development news in Cincinnati please check out this week’s stories and sign up for the weekly E-Zine sent out by Soapbox Cincinnati. Also be sure to become a fan of Soapbox on Facebook!

Also be sure to check out the fantastic feature article by Jeremy Mosher on what Cincinnati can learn from Portland’s transit network, and the piece by David Lyman on Cincinnati’s Twitter scene. Below watch this week’s feature video that takes you on a ride of Portland’s modern streetcar.

TWIS 10/13:

  • World Food Bar Restaurant Group opening Mayberry Downtown this Novemberfull article
  • Pleasant Ridge Montessori achieves LEED Silver certification – full article
  • Mt. Washington moving forward with potential traffic calming measures along Beechmont Avenuefull article
  • LISC creating new lending opportunity for green buildingfull article
  • Redevelopment plans continue to evolve for Jacob Price site in Covingtonfull article

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A. S. Byatt coming to Cincinnati for the Mercantile Library’s 22nd Niehoff Lecture

Cincinnati’s longest running and most distinguished literary lecture series will continue on Saturday, October 10 at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati when the Mercantile Library Niehoff Lecture Series welcomes Dame A. S. Byatt.

Considered by many to be one of the greatest living authors in the English speaking work, Byatt was the recipient of the 1990 Booker prize for the international bestseller Possession. Byatt is once again among the elite as her latest novel, The Children’s Book, is in contention for the Booker prize as well.

According to the Mercantile Library, the Niehoff Lectures were established at the suggestion of library benefactors Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Buck Niehoff who wished to enhance the library’s role as Cincinnati’s premier forum for distinguished men and women of letters. The Niehoffs have graciously underwritten the speaker’s appearance for each of the lectures.

On Saturday, the evening will start at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati (map) with cocktails at 7pm, diner at 8pm, with remarks following at 9pm. A. S. Byatt’s books will be available for purchase and signing. The event costs $150 for members and $175 for non-members. Organizers are requesting RSVPs by Thursday, October 8. You can do so by calling the Mercantile Library at (513) 621-0717, or by emailing mercantileinfo@mercantilelibrary.com.