Soapbox

Cincinnati is well-known for its picturesque views.  Devou Park in Covington, the observation deck of Carew Tower downtown, and Bellevue Park in Clifton all offer beautiful vistas of downtown, the Ohio River, and the seven hills of Cincinnati.  This week Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine show you two different and equally unique ways to see Cincinnati.  One way is a river-level view from the duck boat tours operating out of the Newport Aquarium - the other is a birds-eye view from the helicopter tours operating out of Newport's Riverboat row.  Come along for the ride and experience Cincinnati like you've never seen it before.

Feature films love Cincinnati's old world architecture, particularly its preserved turn-of-the-century neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine which has hosted more than a dozen film projects over the past 25 years. Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine take a present-day look at locations from one of those feature films, the award winning drama "Traffic," ten years after the production was partially shot in Over-the-Rhine, Downtown, and Hyde Park. We found that while some things have stayed the same, many of the locations used in the film for their gritty reality have already transformed or will soon be transforming right before our eyes - and all without the magic of Hollywood special effects.

Cincinnati is Mural City.  Plain and simple, we're staking our claim for the most interesting and diverse murals in a city center. There's "Campy Washington" in Camp Washington, the mural of former Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell (as 'Peanut Jim') at the entrance of the Gateway Quarter in Over-The-Rhine, and the Cincinnatus mural across from the Kroger building in downtown to name a few.  Many of these murals were created by Artworks, an organization that connects artists of all ages through apprenticeships, community partnerships, and public art.  The US Council of Mayors recently awarded Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory with the City Livability Award for the ubiquitous "Mural Works" program.  Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine talk with Artworks about what they do, why they do it, and takes a look at one of their latest creations in Over-the-Rhine. 

CCM graduates Dustin Chow and Steven Schaefer are responsible for creating an award-winning short musical film, "Today." Featuring a dozen CCM musicians, "Today" was produced as part of UC's Senior Showcase and won the College Television Award for Best Use of Music. The CTA's are sponsored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation. The score was composed by Chow's band, Where They Landed, and engineered by Jason Nix.  Andy Gasper was the Director of Photography.

Soapbox reminds you to get out and vote today!  Ohio Third Frontier represents an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio's technological strengths and promote commercialization that leads to economic prosperity throughout Ohio. Designed to build world-class research programs, nurture early-stage companies, create jobs, and foster technology development that makes existing industries more productive, Ohio Third Frontier creates opportunity through innovation. Voting 'Yes' on Issue 1 in Ohio's statewide ballot Tuesday continues the forward thinking work of OTF.  Want to learn more?  Watch this week's video by Seven/Seventy-Nine in partnership with the Creative Department and Barking Fish.

Cincinnati is home to one of the largest touring puppet theaters in the country.  Madcap Puppet Theatre, which began when a Cincinnati native returned to his hometown after working with Muppets/Sesame Street creator, Jim Henson, is now nationally recognized for original in-school educational programs that include performances, workshops, and residencies.  In addition to playing at schools, Madcap's giant puppets frequently play libraries, festivals, museums, and an occasional performance with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.  Find out more as Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine go inside Madcap Puppet Theatre.

When buildings are demolished, the debris is usually hauled off to a landfill.  However in the spirit of society's ever increasing environmental consciousness, the folks at Building Value in Northside began using an alternative method.  By deconstructing a building, they are able to salvage and reuse more than 80% of the building material.  As a subsidiary of the Easter Seals Work Resource Center, they also provide valuable job training in the process.   This week Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine take you behind the scenes to show the benefits of deconstruction versus demolition.  

Have you ever wanted to take something apart to learn how it works? If so, then you might be interested in Hive 13 - Cincinnati's first hackerspace. Located in Northside, Hive 13 is a place where science and technology enthusiasts gather to exchange ideas and skills as well as to build things. 3D printers and transforming glass block walls into art using programmable LED lights are just some of the projects underway. Take a look inside the Hive with Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine.

If you've ever walked down the toy aisle of any major store, chances are you've seen the work of Sculpco. Located in Walnut Hills, Sculpco is a Cincinnati based company that creates action figures for Hollywood Blockbusters, hit TV shows, video games, and things we haven't heard of yet. This week, Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine take you inside Sculpco to see how this unique Cincinnati business works (and plays).