Tag: over-the-rhine

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Arts & Entertainment News

Celebrate Cincinnati’s urban core at UrbanCincy’s anniversary party this weekend

Over the past four years much has changed in Cincinnati’s urban core. New buildings have risen, historic structures have been saved, food trucks have proliferated, new businesses and residents have moved in, park space has been added, and transportation options have been and are improving.

More importantly, though, a new generation of leaders has stepped up to champion Cincinnati’s dynamic urban core. During all this transition, UrbanCincy has remained a steady voice pushing for this change in attitude, and we would like to get together with all those who love Cincinnati and celebrate the four year anniversary of UrbanCincy this weekend.

UrbanCincy’s 3rd Anniversary Bash at Via Vite – Photo by Thadd Fiala.

This year’s party will take place at Below Zero Lounge on Saturday, May 7 from 9pm to 2am. At the party guests will be able to meet the team that makes UrbanCincy possible, and be treated to special music provided by DJ Casey Coston (9:30pm to 11pm) and Atlanta’s number one mashup artist, WiliOne, who is traveling to Cincinnati exclusively for this performance (11:30pm to 1am).

If you are looking to get involved with the social scene in Cincinnati’s urban core, this is your chance. If you are looking to get to meet the people behind three-time Best of Cincinnati award-winning UrbanCincy, this is your chance. If you just want to go out on a Saturday and have a great time, this is your chance.

Food will be available for purchase from Café de Wheels out on the street. Drinks are not included, but there is no cover charge for the party. Dress for the party would best be described as trendy/casual, but all are welcome.

It has been a great four years and we are all looking forward to meeting the people that continue to go out there and make Cincinnati’s urban core a great place. We hope you can join us at UrbanCincy’s 4th Year Anniversary Bash.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Neighborhood picnic to raise money for Tucker’s shooting victims

Bring your picnic blankets and chairs to St. Francis Seraph Church this Saturday, April 30 for a community support picnic in Over-the-Rhine.

The picnic will be held from 1pm to 5pm in the Franciscan Secret Garden to benefit two victims of a shooting incident that took place at Tucker’s Restaurant earlier this year.

City residents and businesses have rallied around the victims’ families for this event, and free local entertainment will be provided by Wild Mountain Berries, Robin Lacey & Dezydeco, and Chico & Friends. Free food will also be provided from Over-the-Rhine establishments, and Christian Moerlien beer will be available for $3.

Raffles, split the pot fundraisers and a silent auction will benefit the victims’ families. Event organizers say that prizes will include theater and concert tickets, restaurant and bar gift certificates, and more.

Organizers are requesting a minimum donation of $10 at the door. All proceeds will go to Carla Tucker and Ronisha Burgin, the victims of a January shooting at Tucker’s Restaurant. Free parking will be available in St. Francis Seraph parking lot (map), and an indoor location, in case of rain, has been set aside next door at St. Francis Seraph School.

Tucker’s Restaurant exterior photograph by 5chw4r7z.

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Arts & Entertainment News Transportation

CPA to lead walking tour of Cincinnati Streetcar route this Saturday

At one point in Cincinnati’s history, the city had the largest electrified transit network of any city its size in North America. A good deal of that network consisted of 220 miles of streetcars running all throughout the city, and now city leaders are working to introduce a modern streetcar system in Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) would like to show off the proposed modern streetcar route to those interested, and discuss the positive impacts such a system would have on the city’s historic building stock.

“The city’s core neighborhoods developed along transit lines,” said Margo Warminski, Preservation Director, CPA. “They have the urbanity and great buildings people are looking for in cities today.”


Artist rendition of modern streetcar on Race Street in Over-the-Rhine.

Warminski says that at the recently held Cincinnati Neighborhood Summit speaker after speaker said the same thing about the important value of walkability and access to transit to improve neighborhoods. And the CPA believes that projects like the Cincinnati Streetcar help to promote that vision, while also presenting exciting revitalization opportunities.

“Over-the-Rhine has seen a lot of new investment in recent years, but it still has hundreds of vacant, condemned and blighted buildings at-risk of demolition,” Warminski explained. “While no one project can transform a neighborhood, people are already buying buildings and opening businesses along the proposed streetcar route.”

Those interested in participating in CPA’s Walk the Streetcar Route, can do so on Saturday, April 30 from 9:30am to 12pm. Margo Warminski will lead the walking tour, which will meet at Vine Street and Central Parkway (map), and show off the development opportunities present along the Cincinnati Streetcar route through Over-the-Rhine.

A $5 donation is appreciated, and go towards supporting CPA’s advocacy and outreach efforts that include the Gamble House, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Oakley Train Station, Village of Greenhills, monthly educational programs and other projects.

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Business News

Currito embarks on urban expansion effort throughout Cincinnati

Currito has announced that they will open two new locations this year in Evanston and Downtown, and an third independent restaurant in Over-the-Rhine called Bakersfield Taco Grill. The Cincinnati-based company already has locations in Clifton Heights and Florence, but their recent announcements mark a bold move into the urban frontier that they wish to call home.

“Downtown is experiencing some very positive changes, and we really want to be a part of the forward motion that is happening there,” Currito co-founder Joe Lanni told UrbanCincy last week. “We are committed to continued growth in this market, and downtown is the best place to gain exposure to people from all over the city.”

In the end, Lanni believes that the exposure these urban locations offer is invaluable to promoting the company’s overall brand and image identity.

The downtown restaurant will be Currito’s flagship location when it opens within the 3,074-square-foot space located inside the Mercantile Building (map). Lanni says that they have signed a 10-year lease on the space, with two five-year options.

Joe, and his brother John, will open up a new Currito location on Xavier University’s campus in Evanston this August before opening the two new restaurants in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine (map) this October.

“We are excited to have found a location that is central to the exciting events that happen on Fountain Square,” Lanni said about their future flagship location downtown. “We were very conscious about looking for a high-profile place to roll out our most current design in our home market.”

Once the Lanni’s complete their next wave of growth in Cincinnati, Currito will boast 15 locations in eight different states. The non-Cincinnati locations are managed through franchisees which the Lanni’s have overseen since they founded Currito in 2005. Stay up-to-date by following Currito on Twitter @CurritoBurrito, or by becoming a fan on Facebook.

Photograph of Currito’s Clifton Heights location by Randy A. Simes for UrbanCincy.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Over-the-Rhine rec center to offer Final Friday skate

Over-the-Rhine has a skating rink.

No, seriously. The Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center, located just steps away from Findlay Market, houses a 365-person capacity roller skating rink in its lower level that is in pristine condition. Caitlin Behle of Far-I-Rome Productions has stepped forward to bring new attention and patronage to a little-known space, in a way that is both fun and supports the neighborhood.

The Final Friday OTR Skate roller disco party hopes to become another staple in the myriad of events that bring people into Over-the-Rhine on the last Friday night of every month. From 8pm to 11 pm, two dollars buys skate rental for the evening. Two local DJs, Positronic and Dirty C will be providing music, and Cincinnati’s newest food truck, Taco Azul, will be stationed outside with taco treats. Artist collaborative SuchandSuch will have an art installation in the space.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Rec Center – everyone involved is offering their services for free. According to Behle, the OTR Skate, at its heart, is about helping the community.

“The OTR Rec Center is an invaluable resource to the community,” said Behle, who is an Over-the-Rhine resident and supporter. “They do so much with the little they have. I wanted to do something unconventional that benefits Over-the-Rhine and the people that live here.”

Another huge part of Behle’s motivation to host the event was to inspire and excite the creative community that is currently in the city. “Look, Cincinnati has all the potential of any other city,” explained Behle. “Tons of people that have so much creative power are leaving. We need to do more things to keep people here.”

Future skates could expand to include the Cincinnati Roller Girls, as well as expand into a side room to sell and display artwork from local artists. Yelp! Cincinnati is an event sponsor, and Southpaw Prints worked to create the initial poster.

The Final Friday OTR Skate is Friday, April 29 at the OTR Rec Center (map), and will take place from 8pm to 11 pm.