The Party's Over

The party is over
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Aggravation de l'Espace

When it comes to public art Cincinnati has an embarrassment of riches. But the appreciation isn’t spread evenly.
My favorite unloved work of art is the Aggravation de l'Espace at Central and Plum.

Aggravation de l'Espace
Aggravation de l'Espace
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Standard Beer

Remember back in the day when you would see regular updates for months before a new business opened in OTR?
And now so many are opening they don't even bother anymore.
So imagine me riding the bike home from Findlay Market, doing a double-take and thinking "what the hell? where did that come from?"
I did a quick u-turn and went back for a look and the place looked cool enough that I wanted to go back and check it out, so that is just what we did.
I love that new places are opening on Pleasant. It still seems like people from outside the city think of OTR as two blocks of Vine St. plus Washington Park and we can usually roll right into a bar on Republic St. But once the weather warms we'll see if that holds true for Standard Beer as it is a block off Washington Park and I can see people pouring in there when programming ends in the park for the evening.
Standard Beer isn't a typical bar, it almost feels like a cafe. There is a picnic table, a little social area with chairs and a couch, three booths and a sleek bar. They have a pretty cool vibe going on and some interesting looking beers I've never seen before. And a selection of wine.

Standard Beer
Standard Beer
Standard Beer
Standard Beer
Standard Beer
Standard Beer
Standard Beer
Standard Beer
Standard Beer[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Ghost Baby, a modern speakeasy

There are many modern bars that claim to be speakeasies, but Ghost Baby is about as close as you'll get in Cincinnati.
Wander down Republic, look for soft blue lights and you found it.
I was interested to see what they could do with a long-abandoned lagering tunnel. Would it be hard and cold and uncomfortable? Nope, I shouldn't have worried, it was warm, and cozy and inviting. Ghost Baby is split into two parts, a throwback bar, where we found new cocktails, a long list of wine and whisky, and a shortlist of beer.
The second half, or three quarters really, was a hall full of tables that can be reserved and a stage. There were a couple of cool bands playing while we were there. I'm not sure the genre, probably R&B, nice and relaxing.

Ghost Baby opens officially Tuesday, February 18th so head over to Open Table and reserve yourself a table. Or just show up. They will have bands performing Thursday through Saturday night.

Also, for all my friends who aren't mobile as I am or wear higher heels than I do, they have an elevator so you don't have to hike down and up four flights of steps.

ghost baby
ghost baby
ghost baby
ghost baby
ghost baby
ghost baby
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Garage Brewed Motorcycle Show

The 6th Edition of the custom motorcycle show held at Rhinegeist didn't disappoint. Garage built specials, money is no object customs, restorations and survivers there was something for everyone. Two things I love about this show, one is I'm still a gearhead at heart and two, lots of cool stuff that is photogenic.

Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
One of only 200 Wankle engined motorcycls that still run. Weird but cool.
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
Garage Brewed
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Bikes and Coffee!

Combining two things I love, coffee and bike riding, Joe Humpert, through the instagram account commuted.sentence has created a way to enjoy both while exploring mostly unseen parts of the city.
For example this past week I found myself cycling down a gravel path along the Mill Creek seeing all sorts of wildlife including a coyote while being basically in the middle of the city!
I usually brew the coffee and carry it with me in a thermos but these guys all show up with cool backpacking equipment for brewing coffee on the road or trail. They'll gonna end up costing me money because it looks like fun and I'm a sucker for cool toys.
The rides are organized on early Sunday (Now Friday) mornings so if you love coffee, bikes and obscure (some more than others) parts of the city I'll see you there!
Coffee ride with commuted.sentence
Coffee Ride
Coffee Ride
Coffee Ride
Coffee ride
Coffee ride
Coffee ride
Coffee ride[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Garage On York

Garage On York held a ribbon-cutting this past Friday and we were able to tour this cool new event space on York St in Newport.
From co-founder Laura Chenault; "Garage On York was designed as a "blank palette” location with video & photography shoots in mind first and foremost (distributed power, open/flexible space, drain for any water rigs/bathroom sets, smooth floor for dolly/set builds, killer kitchen for shooting/craft service, tables/chairs/ladders...).
The second goal is to try to attract creative companies/ad agencies & creative department within corporations to think of us as a off site meeting space when they need to spread out & get out of the office."

Garage on York
Garage on York
Garage on York
Garage on York
Garage on York
Garage on York
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The Cincinnati Streetcar has seen a billion dollars of economic development

The streetcar has just hit a milestone, there has been, by my calculations, a billion dollars in investment along the streetcar route. I started keeping a spreadsheet of every news story I saw of a project along the route and projects off the route where developers credited the streetcar for their decision to invest in the urban core.
In 2007, the study which justified the streetcar investment concluded there was a 90% chance the streetcar’s benefits over and above its lifetime costs would total about $187 million, that there was a 10% chance they could be as high as $450 million, and that it would take until 2042 to realize all of these benefits. But look at what’s already happened 23 years ahead of schedule…
Of course, not all of this is on account of the streetcar. The city and 3CDC have also been big drivers of investment. But if you walk along the 3.6 miles of streetcar track, you’ll probably conclude the streetcar had a lot to do with the amazing investment there.
Every time a new restaurant, bar or retail business opens on the line, every time a new residential building is created it reinforces the feedback loop. Yes, it is possible to live car-free in Cincinnati and the only thing you sacrifice is car and gas bills.
The other day a streetcar opponent on twitter mentioned that a business moved from one spot on the streetcar route to another spot on the route, which brings up a very good point.
The streetcar isn't just a good development tool, it is also an anchor to keep businesses in our community instead of moving somewhere cheaper.
Even after a dozen years of streetcar opponents weaponizing it as a wedge issue, the streetcar investment is one of the smartest things our city has ever done. And while the City Hall continues to pursue operational improvements such traffic signal timing to speed it up and hopefully going fare-free to make it easier to board, ride, and spend dollars at local businesses, we are already realizing significant economic benefits.

Economic development
Streetcar development
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same great taste, brand new place!

All you fanciers of Pho, buddies of the Banh Mi, your time is here.
Pho Lang Thang's new location opens to the public tonight, the food is everything you remember, but the tight cramped place is gone replaced by a new spacious and light-filled location at 1828 Race St.
Across the street from Findlay Market and steps away from a streetcar stop.

Pho Lang Thang
Pho Lang Thang
Pho Lang Thang
Pho Lang Thang
Pho Lang Thang
Pho Lang Thang
Pho Lang Thang
This doesn't really have anything to do with Pho Lang Thang exactly, but this block could really use a bike rack. I locked my bike up to a hand rail at Deeper Roots Coffee a few doors down.
Pho Lang Thang
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