5chw4r7z:: the ethos of downtown Cincinnati

just another superfan stalker

Missprint hooked us up with passed to see the advanced screening of Whip It last night.
w00t! got to rub shoulders with my biggest rollergirl heroes, doesn't get better than that.
Whip It is exactly like Twilight, except instead of Bella and Edward there's Bliss and Oliver. And instead of vampires you had rollergirls. They were both dorky and rebelling against their parents and the status quo.
OK, Whip it is a little more believable and it was an entertaining film, I don't think you need to like or know anything about roller derby to enjoy it.
But I did and do.

The Librarian

Captain Painway hasn't got a restraining order on me yet, so its all good.

[where: 45202]cincinnati ohio downtown cincinnati rollergirls
2 hip checks

Streetscapes

Thanks weather!
The rain chased everyone into the CCAC Saturday, a shame, the last time I went there was a good crowd in Clifton for the event.
At least this year they don't have to worry about the Street Dept steamcleaning the art off the street and sidewalks.
Bonus I guess, they can take the art with them and display it, but The process and fleeting lifespan of sidewalk chalk are an art onto themselves if you see it that abstractly and that atmosphere was missing, but it was still a cool event.

Tools of the trade, homemade sidewalk chalk.

Poor Ami, she was inconsolable crying, her Mom asked what was wrong, her picture was horrible. I don't know, it doesn't come out in the picture but there was something there, me telling her it was awesome made it worse.
Yep, she's exactly like some of the artists I've known, their own worst critics.

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the coming cupcake bubble collapse probably won't extend to the Taco world

I hope.
You can't turn around in Cincinnati these days without bumping into a cupcakery. Its a growth industry much like the internet at the end of the last century.
But taco trucks, if Athens, Ohio can have a taco truck why can't we?
The next best thing? Nada's taco cart at Mainstay during Bengals home games.
After day dreaming about tacos all afternoon, we beat the rush there before halftime.
For nothing, no taco's but instead sliders.
Damn if those things weren't one of the most incredible burgers I've had.

1/4 pound hunks of 100% pure beefy goodness. Did you ever dream you'd have it this good?
Just the smell had my taste buds doing back flips on my tongue.

Mines the one with the little flag stuck in it.

UPDATE: Thanks Allison, I need to add the Taco cart is only in front of Mainstay during Bengals home games. They'll stay open as long as people are coming by.

[where: 45202]
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4 juicy sliders

gameday - WHO DEY!!!

9am Sunday morning we wake up to Steelers polka and we are the champions on a 6 hour continuous loop.
These guys were beyond obnoxious, but what ya gonna do? We put up with it, and to tell the truth, once we got some breakfast and coffee its was all kind of amusing.

I wonder how many drunk Bengals fans noticed this on the way out?

Every time we walked out onto the tweetdeck these guys would hoist their trophys and chant who dey.
Yes. I get it, you've won six SuperBowls.
Now leave me alone.

But the Bengals won. That was the superbowl for me, if they don't win another game I'll still be happy with the season.[where: 45202]
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MPMF.09 day 2

I'm trying way too hard here, one of those the harder I try the behinder I get.
My goal has been to see bands from out of town that I'd never get to see otherwise but that's just not working. So I gave up, we hit The heartless bastards who put on an incredible show, but what else can I saw about them? Everyone in Cincinnati knows and loves there, for good reason, these guys rock and Grammer's was bursting at the seams while they played.

Theres no way I'm rushing anywhere else for a late or non-existant band so we made our way down Main St, totally forgot it was Final Friday, what a scene, I love the people and energy in OTR during Final Fridays, whats it gonna be like when its like this every weekend?
Crazy, that's what its gonna be like.
But Chick Pimp, Coke Dealer at a Bar what is that all about a gimmicky name? Well, these guys, all incredible musicians I thought were just having a jam session but after about 5 minutes it all started making some kind of wierd sense, and I really got into it.

And a downpour of biblical proportions! Wow did anyone else get caught up in this?
I watched the Pomegranates while absolutely soaked to my skin, but it was worth it in the jam packed Know Theatre. Same thing, everyone has seen them, everyone loves them.
Watching the bastards and Poms is too much like going somewhere exotic and eating at McDonalds, these bands are safe, you know you're gonna love em, but to me MidPoint was always about seeing something new.
Guess we'll see what happens tonight.

Tonight we're gonna plop down and sit tight in just one or two places and try and wring some value out of this yet.[where: 45202]
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Midpoint Music Festival Day 1

Well the night didn't start out too good, rain and drizzle and we arrived at Havana to find Tropidelic wasn't there but the next band was setting up for 9. Off we go, heading to Below Zero, I really didn't want to walk that far in the rain, but I had forgotten abut the Scions, awesome, they were all lined up at Fountain Square.
And not running yet.
Great on the way to Below Zero my mood was as dark as the rainy night, I was hoping this wasn't setting the tone for the whole event.
Low and behold Light In August lit up September and Below Zero. This folksy band reset my mood and changed the course of the whole evening for me.
I hope all these bands know how this works, Light started at 8:30, at 9, half the audience got up and left to catch whatever band it was they wanted to see next, felt kind of bad for them.

Next stop Madonna's were we ran into a group of peeps and made some new friends. The Rattlesnakin Daddies were running late so we only caught one song before heading out. I hope they get this ironed out, Two bands missed now, and heading for Mainstay and one stop from home.

Mainstay was much better, Loudmouth was just finishing up and Halo Stereo started right on schedule. The first song was heavy, but they mellowed out a little and I really enjoyed their set.

The rain last night held the crowds down I think, but the next two nights are gonna be hopping, get to the MPMF website and pick your bands and get down here.
In addition, you can follow my exploits on twitter.
And don't forget, Saturday night MTV will be on Fountain Square filming a performance of "Taking the Stage"
This wasn't the best night ever for me, the next two nights should be much better blogging wise.[where: 45202]
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Cincinnati streetcar open houses

If you're interested in learning more about the exact details of the the streetcar plan, the city is holding open houses on the following dates:

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28 on Fountain Square, Downtown.

5-7 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine St., Downtown.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Oakley Recreation Center, 3882 Paxton Ave. (in Hyde Park Plaza)

6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the College Hill Recreation Center, 5545 Belmont Ave.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Corryville Recreation Center, 2823 Eden Ave.

6-8 p.m. Nov. 4 at the LeBlond Recreation Center, 2335 Riverside Drive, East End.

5-7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Cincinnati City Hall, Room 115, 801 Plum St., Downtown.

630-8:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Price Hill Recreation Center, 959 Hawthorne Ave.

Please! whether you support or oppose it, issue #9 goes far beyond the streetcar. Please go sign in and fill out a comment card. Even if you just state you oppose or support it, its important to be heard by the city, state and federal officials.

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triple bottom line and the coolest places in Cincinnati

This is a post I've been meaning to write for a long time, what makes some of the coolest places in Cincinnati, the coolest places in Cincinnati?
triple bottom line.
Triple bottom line is a business or organization that accounts for financial as well as social and environmental bottom lines - people, planet, profit.
A business is started to make money, without that there's no sustainability. There is a focus on the community and community building and also a priority of walking/biking over driving and other activities aimed at making the world a better, greener place.
Now there are many examples in Cincinnati, but my favorite, by far, and I think I can speak for others is Park+Vine.
We all witnessed this earlier in the month when the place was flooded with flowers for Dan's birthday. Park+Vine has turned into one of those gems without which, I don't think The Q would be the same.

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Third thursday

People have been telling me about this little shindig hosted by Cooking with Caitlin for months.
Finally finally we made it on a picture perfect evening.
And with nine courses it was a veritable Niagara Falls of food.
Distinctive, enticing, exquisite food.
And company, some of the best company you could ask for.
The very lovely and personable Molly and Kelly brought the food around in bite sized portions.