12th & Vine

[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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Spirit of Christmas tours

Over the years the American Legacy guys have educated us on how Cincinnati has been shaped by history. Shaped by a war that almost tore a nation apart. Shaped by gangsters intent on control. Ghosts, who may have struck more fear than the war and gangsters combined. And we can't forget beer, just like water on a shore line, beer has shaped Cincinnati over the years as its ebbed and flowed out of OTR.
But there is one last force that shaped Cincinnati and that is religion, and just in time for the Christmas season American Legacy Tours has launched the Spirit of Christmas tour highlighting some of the historic churches that have and still are shaping the urban core.

The highlight of the tour for me was this old church at 15th & Race, but only because I've been wanting to see inside it forever. It somehow manages to look bigger on the inside than is possible, the scale of the place is incredible.



For more information and to buy tickets visit the American Legacy Tours' website.[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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Bipo: Music For Your Helmet

UPDATE:Just got this email from Paul via kickstarter.

So, being a mere $22,757 short of our funding goal at the time of this post, I don't think we're quite going to make it. That's ok though! You, our awesome supporters, still have a chance at the first run of Bipos. Some last minute investment has arrived that is taking us to production.
We're still looking at early March to ship. We've setup a Facebook page for you guys to follow our progress, and a store if you'd like to pre-order.
Again, thank you all for your support! We can't wait to bring some great music to your rides!

Bipo - Bike Phones
I had the opportunity to take a set of these Bipo headphone mounts for a test drive around OTR. I don't get super excited about too many things but the Bipo, wow, I had a grin on my face the entire ride.
The music, coming from the helmet mounted ear buds were all in the background. I could hear it fine but it didn't over power traffic, road noise or the sounds the bike was making. Another bonus since the ear buds weren't planted in my ear I wasn't constantly distracted by them getting jerked out or working their way loose.
When first fitting it may take a little experimentation to get the ear buds to hook to your helmet, but once you find the sweet spot they grab the helmet like an Egyptian politician grabbing power.
Heck, the ease of use provided by the Bipo could have the potential to get me to wear my helmet more often than I do now.

That didn't quite work, we tried several different configurations until we got this

What I really love about this product is it is locally designed right here in Cincinnati at The Launch Werks located in OTR. They will also be locally manufactured with all components fabricated in the city, the metal clips in Woodlawn and the silicon strap on the West Side.
Noel needs a commitment on 1,000 of these to make sense economically and sell them for a reasonable price. Unless you just want to be an angel investor and help out with a great idea, that's perfectly cool too.
Check out his kickstarter page for more information.[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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CoSign Northside Black Friday Unveiling

CoSign, a grass roots initiative brought together Northside businesses and local artists to create unique signage for one of Cincinnati's quirkiest neighborhoods. The signs were unveiled on Black Friday amidst street performers and businesses offering unique specials.
Maya has some behind the scenes commentary on Northside's new signage over at Visualingual

[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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Light up the Square

It still amazes me year after year just how many people show up to see the tree lighted and the official start of the Holiday season begin downtown. It never fails though, no matter how pleasant the weather is running up to Thanksgiving Day the night after its always bitterly cold for the tree celebration. Didn't stop a record number of people for showing up to enjoy festivities though. After fighting crowds in the malls all day everyone is looking for an authentic experience and Fountain Square provides all that and more.




[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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Sid Saturday

[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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Things to do this weekend without breaking the bank

CoSign Northside Black Friday Unveiling - 11 cool new business signs in the Northside Nov 23 starting at noon

Holidays in the Bag Shop Local More than 20 OTR merchants offer specials on Black Friday

LIGHT UP THE SQUARE Friday, Nov 23 from 6pm to 8pm

Small Business Saturday - shop your local neighborhood Saturday, Nov 24

Macy’s Downtown Dazzle On Fountain Square Saturday, Nov 24[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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Happy Thanksgiving

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. ~ Mother Teresa

By this measure I'm very rich indeed and thankful for my family and friends.

Some crazy Turkey trotters out this morning



I'm also thankful that Greg Hardman is brewing Christian Moerlein again in Cincinnati!
w00t!

[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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Shillito's Elves

Starting this Friday, Nov 23rd on the second level of Newport on the Levee you'll be able to see the original Shillitos Elves restored and back in action.
Although I'm not from Cincinnati and these guys are all before my time, I hear stories about them every year leading up to Christmas so I know people still think about them. These particular elves were all built in 1979 when Shillitos, looking to capitalize on the popularity of the outside windows decided to create even more elves for inside the store. They were almost lost but a gentleman named Bill Spinnenweber purchased them at auction and prevented the elves from being split up and lost forever. They've all been painstakingly restored so you can start a new tradition.

Tickets are $7 which also gets you into two train displays plus discounts are other Levee establishments.
You can visit the elves website for more info.
Hours are
Sunday through Thursday 11AM-8PM
Friday & Saturday 10:00 AM-8:30PM[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati

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Straight Street Hill Climb

Billed as the "most grueling oxygen-depleting sub-mile race on the planet" the Straight Street Hill Climb pretty much lived up to that. .36 miles really isn't muscle busting but it was lung busting.
I don't know if you can appreciate just how steep this hill is from the pictures but it was steep.
Everyone had fancy race bikes and a couple race teams showed up but I wasn't skeer'd, just rode the ride and did it.

obviously I didn't take many of these pictures, Ms 5chw4r7z helped out[where: 45202] Straight Street Hill Climb Clifton Track Club cincinnati ohio Soap Box Derby King of the Hill

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