Soapbox - Features

Local Lessons Help Guatemalan Poverty

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cincinnati has a long history of philanthropy. Two local brothers have discovered a way to creatively export that good will by founding Cooperative for Education, a non-profit that raises $2 million a year to improve the lives of Guatemalan children from our own backyard.

Driven to the brink

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A new study finds that the value of suburban homes is dropping fast, while urban home values are appreciating. One reason is because it’s such a long, expensive drive to work from the suburbs. The group CEOs for Cities, which advocates for revitalizing our core urban areas, just released a white paper that links plummeting suburban home values to the spike in gasoline prices. That, in turn, has made investment in a home in the city more attractive, the study says.

Cincinnati Architectural Foundation honors development pioneer, Arn Bortz

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Towne Properties Partner, Arn Bortz is scheduled to receive the Alice and Harris Weston Apple Award in recognition of his contributions to the reinvention of downtown as a place to live. This week, Bortz reflects on how the downtown residential climate has changed during his time as a developer.

Upcoming Soapbox Sponsored Events

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Soapbox is proud to sponsor the Cincinnati Soap Box Derby “Build-A-Box” competition at the BMW store in Silverton on May 18. Assemble your car faster than the other competing teams with the assistance of a helper from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati. Think you've got what it takes to challenge the Soapbox team? Find the details here.

King Records symposium helps revive another Cincinnati brand

Mon, 05 May 2008 13:24:28 GMT

Those attracted to the urban authenticity of Cincinnati – the unique businesses and traditions that helped define and make it unique – are hoping to revive interest in King Records, a post-World War II company whose early rhythm-and-blues and country recordings were precursors of rock ‘n’ roll and its attendant pop culture.

Rockers who run

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Some rockers in the Cincinnati area are truly born to run, countering the popular image of the slacker musician. At least three well-known Cincinnati musicians will run the Flying Pig Marathon Sunday saying the running-rocker culture is a a lot more helpful for the creative process than a bottle of Wild Turkey.

Cincinnati arts marketers rely on innovation to drive sales

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Gone are the days when arts organizations can rely solely on posters and word of mouth to sell tickets. Cincinnati is seeing a surge of creative marketing experiments such as Know Theatre of Cincinnati's Fringe Festival video trailers in an effort to reach out to a blossoming YouTube generation.

Raising kids urban in a suburban world

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Melissa and Damon Gray wanted a neighborhood that had everything they needed to raise their two adopted children. The two musicians tell us why being close to Findlay Market, Sawyer Point, Fountain Square, The Main Library and Grammer's is more important than cul-de-sacs and mass retail.

Finding the fine wine in Cincinnati

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Besides Great American Ballpark, where do Cincinnatians go to find a robust red? Christine Mersch explores some of the best places in the area to find that perfect bottle of wine as well as how our sellers are keeping up with national wine trends.

WOXY.com - Truly, the future of Rock & Roll

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Cincinnati region's diverse musical history was made all the more richer with the birth of WOXY radio in 1983. Now, despite the premature ringing of death knells, the cool station that could is a vanguard of independent media and truly leading the way for the future of Rock & Roll.

Cincinnati Public School designs attract national spotlight

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Cincinnati Public School system has much to crow about this Earth Day as the Earth Day Network (EDN) in Washington DC looks to our school system's forward approach to sustainable design as a model for education programs in 40 schools in cities across the country.

Soapbox Derby to benefit neighborhoods and Boys & Girls Club

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The gauntlet was thrown at the feet of the Soapbox staff recently as we were challenged to build and sponsor an actual Soapbox Car in Cincinnati's Soapbox Derby come this June. The smack talk has already started as the online community wonders if we'll be able to live up to our namesake. Confidence is high as we await to hear the name of our ace driver who comes to us through the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati.

Fashionistas: Forget the trends - it's all about the individual

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cincinnati's local fashionistas live in an expanding universe of stylish delights as a galaxy of indie boutiques take hold in Cincinnati. Julie Mullins recently spent some time perusing the latest trends around town and offers her highlights in Soapbox's first look into what Cincinnati's wearing.

An eco-industrial vision for Queensgate

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An economic development strategy from a team of consultants recommends a visionary transformation of part of Cincinnati's Queensgate neighborhood into an eco-industrial park so it can host the next generation of green manufacturing, It would be the first of its kind in the Upper Midwest and would be a way to attract companies committed to reducing their ecological footprint, a growing part of the industrial sector, the authors say.

Cincinnati Main Library gets a makeover

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Today's downtown library is a far cry from the one you visited as a kid. A recent strategic plan for the 21st century creates a dramatically different place uniquely suited to Cincinnatian's needs. Discover how the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has gone far beyond the Dewey Decimal system.

MusicNOW Festival just the latest in alternative events turning up the volume in Cincinnati

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:54:15 GMT

MusicNOW joins an ever growing list of of avant-garde and slightly out of mainstream pop arts festivals in Cincinnati. The festival opens Wednesday, April 2 and is best appreciated by those who have a diversity of musical tastes and bring an open mind with a sense of discovery.

Cincinnati's Centennial Parks Master Plan: Our quiet strength

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Keeping Cincinnati's more than 100 parks and greenspaces relevant and user-friendly is a major undertaking requiring relentless planning and coordination, and Christopher Manning and Steven Schuckman know this more than most.

An interview with Richard Florida

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Author Richard Florida's new book Who's Your City makes the argument that regions have their own personalities and it's these personalities that will draw the nation's strongest talent. So where does Cincinnati sit in this brave new world?

Just Like Family

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cincinnati fans make the difference for the Cyclones minor league hockey team by bonding on and off the ice. For many players, the fans become their adopted Cincinnati families showcasing the best of the city's hospitality and loyalty.

I Need a Bunny Suit By Friday

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It's a busy time of the year for Schenz Theatrical Supply as they prepare Easter bunny costumes for the annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn for the 28th consecutive year.

Park Breathes Life Into Over-the-Rhine

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Call it IMBY. By tending to one neglected plot of land, a small Over-the-Rhine community took the “not” out of NIMBY and stood the disengaged “Not In My Backyard” ethic on its head.
It started in 1989, when two architects moved to Main Street and immediately set to work rehabbing the decrepit park in their new backyard.

9 Places to Commune with Nature

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Who needs another story about how much snow we got this weekend? Instead, Soapbox brings you a taste of what's to come. That's right, the optimism shared by the staff at the Box is telling us that this freak March blizzard is the end of Winter and that Spring is just around the corner. Are you prepared? After reading this week's features we think you will be. Discover a couple of secrets about Cincinnati's park systems we bet you didn't know. You'll be sitting pretty just as the blooms start blossoming. Trust us.

UC Showcase heats up with solar house exhibit

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:43:00 GMT

The University of Cincinnati's nationally acclaimed Solar Decathlon house, along with the advanced green technologies the house employs, will be on display at UC Showcase 2008, the annual exhibition of UC research in medicine, technology and business that takes place Friday, March 7 on campus.

Liberation through Lily Pads

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:47:10 GMT

In Cincinnati, a group of volunteers brainstormed how to help create a region that attracts the so-called creative class. Their decision: create a network of free wi-fi hotspots across the region. It had to be free and it had to be accessible to residents and visitors alike. That helped drive their decision to create Project Lily Pad, which has lit up parks and other public spaces.

A Museum Without Walls

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a world obsessed with notoriety, Spring Grove Cemetery draws thousands of visitors and notable characters with the simple concept of beautiful landscaping and unique architecture. For 163 years, this living cemetery has spoken for the dead as well as the living, making it the second largest cemetery in the nation and a favorite wedding spot for locals.

Strolling through O'Bryonville

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

O’Bryonville is a neighborhood that invites its visitors to stroll, and strolling truly is the best way to experience what residents and shop owners have dubbed the “eclectic mile.”

A bit of Europe in Cincinnati

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The European-American Chamber of Commerce in Cincinnati does a lot more than host happy hours -- it plays an important role in attracting business from Europe here and in building networks of European professionals in the heartland.

Ranking Cincinnati - Why creative talent is more important than you think

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a city seemingly obsessed with how it compares to other cities in national rankings, what do these measurements really mean and how can we leverage them to attract and retain more creative talent into the Cincinnati region?

Cincinnati - What are you going to do about it?

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

There's a rumor that Cincinnati suffers from chronic self-esteem issues. If so, the staff at Soapbox asks, "What are we going to do about it?"

Biz Spinoffs

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cincinnati is home to some of the country's largest companies, many of which have given birth to spunky entrepreneurs who have ventured out on their own to build some of Cincinnati's most creative and diverse companies.