Tag: over-the-rhine

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Know Theatre – What’s the Point?!

What’s the Point?! is soon to be at the Know Theatre of Cincinnati. The production originally opened in 2007 in New York City at The Reprise Room and will return there in September. In the mean time, the Know Theatre of Cincinnati will bring the cabaret musical to another city for the first time ever this Summer.

The musical is based on the popular 1950s and 1960s revue styles, which were known for commenting on popular trends and on society in general. Additionally this particular production has been described as “fast-paced” with each member, of the three-person cast, playing a variety of characters.

The Cincinnati premier will take place on Friday, July 18th and will run through Tuesday, August 12th. Shows on Fridays and Saturdays start at 9:30pm, while shows on Mondays and Tuesdays start at 7:30pm. You can get tickets for a mere $15 by calling 513.300.5669 (KNOW) or by stopping by the box office located at 1120 Jackson Street (GoogleMap).

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Bring VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown to Cincinnati

Some local, regional, and state leaders have worked to extend an invitation to VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown to come to Cincinnati’s Fountain Square. This is in light of the very popular new song/video, “It’s Not My Time,” from 3 Doors Down – which was filmed in Cincinnati. The video is shot entirely in Cincinnati and covers prominent city landmarks in Over-the-Rhine, Downtown, Mt. Auburn and Lower Price Hill.

So how can you help bring the countdown to Cincinnati? The easiest way is to go to VH1’s website and vote for the 3 Doors Down video. It is really quick/easy, and we need to get to work as the video is currently at the #14 spot on the countdown. Pass on this information to as many people as you know so that we can bring the countdown to Fountain Square.

This effort would generate six hours of national publicity in roughly 90 million homes. The show is a two-hour program that airs three times during the week – beginning from 9-11am Saturdays – and features a dozen mini-remotes during which host Alison Becker touts the different venues from the assigned location of the week (insert Cincinnati). Alison would be able to tape from Fountain Square, Government Square, the Freedom Center, restaurants and nightclubs in/around Downtown, plus some views overlooking the city.

WATCH “IT’S NOT MY TIME” HERE
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UrbanCincy readers are excited about streetcars

The June poll results are in…and it was a clear/decisive victory for streetcars (YouTube video about modern streetcars). The question was, “what are you most excited about over the next few years?” And phase 1 of the proposed streetcar system (141 votes) nearly tripled the amount of votes casted for the second place finisher (The Banks phase 1a – 53 votes), and tallied one more vote than the other four options combine.

I voted for the streetcar option for a pretty simple reason. It is something that helps make many of those other options (i.e. The Banks, OTR progress) more feasible and helps to spur more good things to come (i.e. future Queen City Squares). It’s like the gift that keeps on giving.

So, why did the other 279 voters vote the way they did, and most importantly, what are you going to do to help make them happen?

Image from Dewi’s Trains, Trams & Trolleys

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Is gentrification inevitable in OTR?

So, is it? I tend to think that it is inevitable, but it does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. The word often comes with very negative connotations, especially when you throw race into the equation. This is exactly the issue in Over-the-Rhine, and it is also not a new one (see Buddy Gray).

Gentrification, by definition, is the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. The key here is that gentrification often displaces poorer residents. An influx, of middle-class or affluent people, alone isn’t a bad thing. It is what usually comes with it that is bad – the displacement of poorer residents.

NW View over OTR by Randy Simes

So far gentrification has been taking place in/around the Gateway Quarter, but displacement hasn’t really occurred. Many of the buildings were vacant and there has been an effort, by 3CDC, to keep units at affordable levels. Some of the units have even been arranged to only accommodate individuals within certain income ranges.

As more and more new condos pop up and more new businesses arrive, the question seems only logical. How are we going to deal with the issue of gentrification in our city’s most infamous neighborhood? It is something that will take work and courage from our leaders, and dedication from the developers to do what is right.

The gentrification of OTR doesn’t have to be the divisive/negative aspect that it often is elsewhere. We know what we can do (inclusionary zoning techniques), and we know what we should do. The question really is whether the OTR power brokers will ultimately do the right thing and not displace those current residents just so they can fatten their wallets.

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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati: ’08-’09 Season

The Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati has announced their 2008-2009 Season. The lineup includes six different works ranging from contemporary theatre award-winners, as well as, some Cincinnati favorites.

Three of the works have been nominated for Tony Awards. Grey Gardens has been nominated for 10 including Best Musical. The Seafarer and Gem of the Ocean have both been nominated for several (4 and 5 respectively) awards and are both nominated for Best Play.

In addition to those goodies you’ll have the opportunity to check out Alice in Wonderland (a musical retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic story), Mauritius, and Don’t Make Me Pull This Show Over: Dispatches From The Frontlines of Parenting.