5chw4r7z:: the ethos of downtown Cincinnati

5th annual Cincinnati Unchained and Holidays in the Bag

Last night we were treated to a mini “Taste of Over-the-Rhine” with venders serving their specialties as we learned about events for the upcoming Holiday Shopping/Event Season in OTR.

Jean-François Flechet, owner of taste of Belgium and Rob Williams, Fox19 news anchor
80 local businesses throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky will offer shoppers specials this Saturday during the fifth annual Cincinnati Unchained, an event created to encourage shoppers to purchase holiday gifts from local, independent stores.

For every dollar spent at a chain $0.57 leaves the community.
For every dollar spent at a local independant store $0.73 stays in your community.
Local businesses get less subsidies and pay more tax per acre than chains. Money spent at a local independent shop is an investment in your neighborhood. Independent businesses recirculate revenue locally twice as much and have four times the economic impact per square foot while consuming a fraction of the land.

So I want to be clear, you don't have to drive to OTR to shop but you can. Support the independent merchants closest in your neighborhood.

For a full list of participating businesses and more information click here.

This Saturday, the 19th is going to be a busy day. We have in addition to Unchained;

Balluminaria in Eden Park beginning at 4pm

Crafty Supermarket Holiday Show! at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center

CINCINNATI CORNHOLE CHAMPIONSHIP at the American Can Lofts

Sloane Boutique Grand Opening Party 1216 Vine Street OTR

Looking ahead to next week we have;

OTR Bar Crawl, Wednesday November 23rd

Spend the night before Thanksgiving in Over-the-Rhine. A unique drink will be available at each bar or restaurant in the neighborhood, including Abigail Street, A Tavola, Senate, Lavomatic, The Lackman, MOTR, Neon’s, Grammer’s and The Drinkery!

Holidays in the Bag, Friday November 25th

Avoid the rush of the malls by shopping Over-the-Rhine for unique, local gifts in a relaxed atmosphere. Over-the-Rhine is holding its fourth Holidays in the Bag event. Buy the official reusable holiday shopping bag at Coffee Emporium on Central Parkway or other retail shops in OTR from November 21 – 25 and receive a 20% discount at participating stores. Proceeds from the sales of the holiday bags benefit the Freestore Foodbank.

And much much more, check out the full holiday schedule HERE
[where: 45202]best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Please Don't Tell

If you are going to have friends, and I highly recommend you do, you should have at least one friend who knows everyone.
Take for example our recent trip to New York when we met up with Jackie and she handed us a card and told us to call the number. Now this seems like one of those things that all the planning and Googling in the world couldn't have prepared us for.

A call was placed and instructions given, go to a nondescript hot dog joint and proceed to a phone booth located inside. So that’s exactly what we did, jumped the 6 train to 8th St and walked to the Crif Dogs, a little dive joint on a tree lined street.

We walked in, looked around for the phone booth went in and lifted the receiver. A second or two later the back of the booth opens and in we go to a cozy low ceiling dark room. Now they only let one person in for every seat so there’s no crowding, no shouting or loud music. Just a nice quiet drink with the one you love.
perfect.

[where: 45202]best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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if blogging had existed in 1993

back when Evel Knievel was still alive
before the lawyers and pussies took over the country
the 5chw4r7z blog would have..
run on pure grain alcohol, punched you in the face and stole your girlfriend

[where: 45202]best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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s'mores and s'longs

All up in OTR to send off everyone's favorite nanny, the eff-bomb. We met up at the next best place to your backyard, Neon's on what ended up being a damn nice day weather wise. Everyone set her up with a Cincinnati care package loaded with food and mementos.
So yeah, we're losing Effie for awhile but I've admired people who chase good opportunities, it seems like its so hard to do even when its the right thing. But, its 2011 and with social media its going to be like she's right here anyhow. She'll be missed but no way forgotten.
Break a leg and give our regards to Broadway Stephie.

And like a moth to a flame the Neon's fire pits beg for marshmallows, the 'Nomerati can never resist a reason to cook and brought along all the s'more fixins you could ever want.
I have this roasting marshmallow thing down to a science thanks to years of Boy Scout camp-outs.

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

When Kevin Dugan proposed a Findlay Market photo walk the gears started turning, I've shot a thousand photo there so what was left to take a picture of?
People of course was my only answer.
Now the main thrust of the #instameet was to use the Instagram app on your iPhone but any kind of camera/app was welcome and I decided I would forgo a conventional lens and take all the pictures with either the Holga or Lensbaby.

[where: 45202]Findlay Market Cincinnati Ohio otr over rhine over-the-rhine historic oldest public market National Register of Historic Places 1852 food produce meat #instameet #cincysm
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Roebling

[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
2 meows

Veteran's Day

Those adverse to violence will always be subject to those who aren't
~ Sgt. Brad 'Iceman' Colbert

History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.
~ Ronald Reagan

I hope everyone takes a moment today to think about the sacrifices that veterans made to get us where we are today.
Tell them thanks.

Thanks
dad 5chw4r7z!

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

The newest of American Legacy Tours, the Queen City Underground tour provides a snapshot of 1900 OTR and the years before and after when 136 breweries sat on Vine St stretching from the river to McMicken Ave. If you know anything about Cincinnati you know that Cincinnatians have always liked their beer, now find out the rest of the story.
If you haven't been on one of American Legacy's tours yet, what are you waiting for? These walks are researched so thoroughly they have become a tourist destination in themselves with a quarter of their customers driving two hours or more to participate.
Ok, lets cut to the chase, what are some of the things you'll learn about?
Why were there so many Germans there? And why did they disappear?
Where did the Symphony get its start? It may not have been high brow back then.
Where did Boss Cox chart Cincinnati politics?
The tours will run on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 11:30am but ours started on an evening that felt an awful lot like Halloween.
The buildings are only haunted for your haunted tours right? I asked nervously.
All I got in return was a smile.

Did you know there are two Shillito elves in the City Haus window? Doesn't cost anything to walk by and look. Bring the kids.

Why are there huge wiring boxes on the third floor of this building for what passed as high tech communications in the 1950s?

The highlight of the tour for me were these amazing tunnels, they stretched forever. I was going to warn you to wear heavy shoes on this tour until I noticed this girl in sandals.
You know, you should probably wear heavy shoes anyhow.

The last stop was St. Francis Seraph, the 1st Catholic church in Cincinnati with a crypt located under the alter.

You can go HERE for more information and to purchase tickets. If you love Cincinnati and Cincinnati history any of these tours are a must. The Queen City Underground is worth it to me just to see the tunnels where beer was stored and moved around in secret.
[where: 45202]best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Issue 48, goodbye and good riddance

Good job Cincinnati, we

elected a council for progress
AND defeated an anti-progress amendment

Now the streetcar can move forward, along with the city and region.
This shovel ready project will mean instant jobs for the city and renewed investment.
The future looks bright.

As for the The CAVE* men...