Final Friday

No rain, it was still overcast but the temp was just about right for walking around. Still hard to believe just how different OTR feels compared to even last summer, what a difference a year makes. We had a good time and of course ran into a dozen friends. Started out at Park+Vine on Vine and then did the grand tour with Below Zero, at least two dozen DJs and a live band. The evening ended for us with the fireworks.
Was that planned or totally by coincidence?

Final Friday
Final Friday
Final Friday
Final Friday
Final Friday
Final Friday

Capital G

OTR oliphaunt

I'm sick of hearing about the have's and the have not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we've been doing things is
The more we let you have the less that I'll be keeping for me
Nine Inch Nails, Capital G


So, the blogs talk about Trent Reznor being full of sarcasm and criticizing the current president and government. Maybe the people that want this to be sarcasm have an interest in it being that way.
Now this is really naive of me but what if this one time he actually means what he is saying? Is that too much of a stretch?
OK maybe it is sarcasm, but I'm going with it, you can think what you want.
Isn't that the beauty of art?

Stealing from the Man

Bernie Ecclestone, who runs Formula One, sold 48% of his 25% stake in Formula1 for U.S. 7 Billion, yes with a B. But I guess 5chw4r7z must be stealing food out of his kids mouths because I got an email today that the two craptastic videos I captured at Indy were copyright infringements.
The email from youtube said


“This is to notify you that we have removed or disabled access to the following material as a result of a third-party notification by Formula One Management claiming that this material is infringing:
F1 Indy 2007: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oMPViWEnaM
Please Note: Repeat incidents of copyright infringement will result in the deletion of your account and all videos uploaded to that account. In order to avoid future strikes against your account, please delete any videos to which you do not own the rights, and refrain from uploading additional videos that infringe on the copyrights of others. For more information about YouTube's copyright policy, please read the Copyright Tips guide.”

Cincinnati Jobs that don't pay enough

There were workers hanging a new Macy's sign on the Federated building last night. I don't know how much they make but its not enough.

Federated Building 7th Street Cincinnati, Ohio

Downtown Grocer revisted

Fresh Market Oakley

So the weather was crappy yesterday and Ms. 5chw4r7z and I decided to get some errands done we’ve been putting off. After hitting Target for supplies, we still needed a few groceries and headed for Biggs in Hyde Park when we saw the Fresh Market in Oakley and decided to turn in and check it out. The prices were not as bad as I thought they’d be and as we were leaving I turned and looked over my shoulder and it just hit me. Suburban people frequently cite the lack of a downtown grocer as a liability and barrier to downtown living. But a full blown grocer is not needed; downtown needs something like this Fresh Market. I know its possible to get all this by trekking all over the CBD but consider this for a moment .
I can make my monthly or bi-monthly treks out to the boonies to pick up household and personal supplies in quantity. I need a grocer that can supply me with the food supplies needed once or twice a week. A small deli/meat counter, a small dairy section, small bakery, produce and a few gourmet items sprinkled in. Since I won’t be stocking up with a weeks worth of supplies, parking shouldn’t be needed and I’ll be able to stroll in and then out with my re-usable canvas bags stocked with what I want for dinner the next two nights.
How cosmopolitan would that be?

When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati.....Really?

"When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it's always twenty years behind the times."

Mark Twain

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Really?
OK, so its not known if he actually said that, but since moving to Cincinnati this quote has confused me. Repeated many times by people who seem the most resistance to change, I can’t find a quote farther from the truth. Look around, from downtown to U.C. there are amazing buildings going up all around. Behind the times? No Ohio in general and southwest Ohio in particular is leading the way in forward thinking architecture.

And public art? Nothing risked nothing gained. I heard complaints about Julian Stanczak's hard-edged abstraction on the north side of the Fifth/Third garage. Love it or hate it is daring and hardly behind the times. Art is really meaningless if it doesn’t promote dialog and raise strong emotions, so I guess in a way it’s done its job already.

Then there’s the remake of Fountain Square, I can’t believe how people complain that they liked it better before the remake. Really, broken up by barriers and walled off from 5th and Vine? Now the whole city can enjoy it. No, I think the pieces are finally coming together for Cincinnati.

Cincinnati will never be Chicago or New York, but when the world ends you might want to be somewhere else.

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Fourth Cincinnati Supper Club

WOW! Thats all I can say about John and Ken's place on Main St. You'll just have to go with the pictures because I can't put into words the home they have. Jackie, thanks again for inviting us, John and Ken thanks for the incredible spread and everyone else for the interesting conversation. Now we'll never be able to go to again, after the last two dinners we've gone to I don't know it could get any better.


Fourth Cincinnati Supper Club
Fourth Cincinnati Supper Club
Fourth Cincinnati Supper Club
Fourth Cincinnati Supper Club
Fourth Cincinnati Supper Club

26" rent to roll




When you're payin over $200 a week for a set of rims you want to make sure everyone knows how big they are. And what an 455 clown you are.

Ms. 5chw4r7z found me an awesome easter Egg! I didn't even notice that the top third of the picture with the painted boy had a reflection of me taking the picture. Its my new header for now.

More USGP

2007 USGP
2007 USGP
2007 USGP

Some people weren't into the race as much as others...
2007 USGP

2007 USGP

Lewis Hamilton won the second race in a row. We also found some cool seats near the first turn. Turn the sound all the way up and hold the speakers up to your ears and replay this video over and over for two hours. it was almost like that.



The Europeans are totally cuckoo for Coco Puffs. This is even more awesome when you realize that Kubica was hurt last week and didn't even race today.

Live from Indy and the USGP

So it was only 99 at the track today but luckily there was a strong breeze and I drank lots of Fosters to keep my fluids up.
Every year I tell myself I'm buying a new shirt for a souvenir, but when I get to the track I pop myself in the forehead and say, "oh yeah I forgot, a shirt at a Formula1 race will cost you $185!!"
The usual cast of characters is there as well.

2007 USGP
2007 USGP
2007 USGP
2007 USGP
2007 USGP
2007 USGP

Prospect Hill

The parents 5chw4r7z were in town over the weekend to see some Reds vs Indians baseball. I guess we picked the wrong night, depending on your point of view, because the Reds lost. Although as Indians fans, my parents had fun.
My Mom had this Midwest Living magazine that contained a photo shoot of an urban garden located "in Cincinnati" and she asked if I knew where it was. Is this crazy or what? I did know where it was. So we walked over to Prospect Hill to check it out and a few others. All I can say is for this week I'm jealous of anyone living there.

Prospect Hill
Prospect Hill
Prospect Hill, Ms 5chw4r7z Sr. and Ms. 5chw4r7z
Prospect Hill

Couldn't find a make on this but I bet its sweet running around on.

Scooter 4t St. downtown Cincinnati, Ohio
Scooter 4t St. downtown Cincinnati, Ohio

Hall Bat

Can't you almost imagine the screams and howls from the older ladies on the floor if they had looked up and noticed this little guy Sunday morning?


Hall bat

Pill Hill Construction

Cincinnati Children's Research Building

Some big projects across the street from my office at U.C. are nearing completion of their exteriors.
Cincinnati Children's Research Building exterior is almost complete now. It looks exactly like the concept drawings yet I’m somehow disappointed in it. Modern is so cliché, it looks nice but does nothing to challenge or inspire someone walking down Eden Ave, they tried throwing in a splash of post-modern to possibly spice it up. I guess when investing $115 million in a project this was the safe way to go for the board of directors.
Medical Sciences Building (MSB)–CARE/Crawley Building across the street demonstrates that public projects usually show the way with a clear vision of the future. Deconstructivism has been around for almost 20 years now, but is starting to gain more traction especially at U.C. with a half dozen award winning building on campus. At $185 million U.C. is getting a lot of value for their money design wise. The “tunnel” is showing up in more than a few designs lately, pictures I’ve seen from inside these spaces are usually dramatic so I hope this is a public space when completed so I can check it out.

Medical Sciences Building (MSB)–CARE/Crawley Building
Medical Sciences Building (MSB)–CARE/Crawley Building

OTR Home Tour

Holy Cow! Did we see some awesome condos. What would you call it Condo envy, buyers remorse? Well not really, the ones that stood out the most were 70-80 large north of our unit in Parker Flats. But we did see a small one for 135k that we thought we could live in. Right on the corner of Vine and 12th.
At first we were on a tight schedule, see everything we could from 1pm till 3pm. Of course we over looked one small detail, we ran into almost everyone we know, sometimes across a rooftop from deck to deck, and every time I would talk too long Ms. 5chw4r7z would start the foot tap and I knew it was time to move on.
The the rain came and we decided to just see everything and walked until 5:30 when our feet fell off.
I've seen Tarbell now twice in two months without a top hat.
Hi Blake, Hi Jenn

OTR Home Tour
OTR Home Tour
OTR Home Tour
OTR Home Tour

The Cincinnati Fringe Festival

The Fringe is back and big time. We saw two shows Saturday night at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, How To Fake Clinical Depression and Calculus: The Musical!. Oh Yeah, you'll be entertained, but you're gonna learn something.
How To Fake was a pretty good show, a solo comedy about clinical trials for fun and profit.
Calculus which ironically enough is a musical about calculus was incredible. You'll learn more about calculus and Issac Newton in one hour than your whole four years of college. Don't wait to get tickets this thing will be sold out for the week tonight, I guarantee it.
Fringe at the Art Academy

Gateway Quarter Vine & 12th

Its hard to wrap your head around how much energy is flowing in the new Gateway Quarter, you can feel everyones excitement as you walk around. Two years ago theres no way we'd be walking around "Cocaine Corner".
We finally checked out Park+Vine, what an awesome little store, tons of eco-friendly clothing and household supplies. Plus other recycled-repurposed items such as a line of furniture made from bicycle rims.
Get down there tomorrow for the OTR Tour of homes, or just walk around some Saturday morning.

Gateway Quarter Vine & 12th
Gateway Quarter Vine & 12th
Gateway Quarter Vine & 12th
Gateway Quarter Vine & 12th
Gateway Quarter Vine & 12th
Gateway Quarter Vine & 12th