Evan Wallis

Evan Wallis's Latest Articles

Metro creates greener bus fleet

By Evan Wallis

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Environment + Sustainability

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May 15, 2012

This week, Metro introduces five new buses to its fleet. These buses employ a new technology named "mini-hybrid." The buses aren't smaller, nor are they hybrid, but they do get almost the same MPG as hybrids, as well as cost $240,000 less than a hybrid bus. The technology was developed by Engineered Machined Products and uses an electrically powered cooling fan, which would normally be powered hydraulically and take horsepower from the engine. The mini-hybrid buses still run on diesel fuel, but get gas mileage closely comparable to that of a hybrid.  "It's basically like running the air-conditioner in your car without using the power it takes from the engine," says Daron Brown, quality assurance manager for Metro.  Metro is one of the first transit agencies in the country to obtain a Clean Fuels Grant, which is normally given for the purchase of hybrid buses, for the mini-hybrid technology. Brown put together a report suggesting that the new technology will give a six to seven percent increase on fuel economy compared to traditional diesel buses, while hybrid buses get about 10 percent better MPG.  The Federal Transit Authority requires that buses must have at least a 12-year life before being replaced and Metro now has 70 at the 12-year mark. With a total fleet of 345 buses, Metro looks to replace 30 buses per year and has 40 more mini-hybrid buses joining the fleet in coming months. The money saved by purchasing mini-hybrid buses will allow Metro to replace more old buses and create a greener fleet.  "From now on, all of the buses we purchase will have this technology," Brown says. "We try to get 30 to 35 new buses each year. If we get funding that says we must purchase a hybrid bus, obviously we will, but the mini-hybrid buses give us a cheaper option to replace buses with a more environmentally friendly option."  By Evan Wallis (Follow him on Twitter)

Local magazine encourages readers to step away from the screen

By Evan Wallis

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Architecture + Design

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May 8, 2012

An in-house graphic designer for Great American Insurance may have taken a night of joking around with friends a little too seriously, but in this case, that's not a bad thing.  Brad Plogsted and some of his friends were at the Comet last December when a discussion about the decline of newspapers started. After a few minutes, the group jokingly decided that they were going to make their very own newspaper.  Plogsted says he very well may be the only one that thought about the idea after that night, but after working on the idea for a few days, then sending his ideas to his friends, Abservd, a magazine that explores how the digital revolution changes everyday life, was born in just a few short months.  Issue zero, a preview issue, came out on Leap Day with essays, illustrations, fiction and more that explore the impact of the likes of Twitter, Facebook and other technologies on our minds, personal relationships and beyond. From advertisements, to layouts, to font choices, to color schemes, everything in Abservd harkens back to the Industrial Revolution.  "Our world is changing faster for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, and we just want to encourage people to slow down and step away from the screen," Plogsted says. "There is a lot of value in something tangible."  The magazine has a humorous feel to it with fake "Abvertisements" such as this: "Bottled Tap Water: Our water is better than yours because it's individually packaged." Issue one even includes two posters, another way Plogsted encourages people to stop and look. The first official issue came out in April and will be printed eight times per year. Abservd, a combination of the words observed and absurd, is currently available in local retailers such as Joseph-Beth, Mica 12/v and Park + Vine. Plogsted says he hopes to have the magazine regionally distributed within one year and then reassess from there.  "Right now this is a volunteer effort for everyone," Plogsted says. "We really hope to get some more advertisements and create income for our contributors."  By Evan Wallis 

Enjoy the Arts cultivates young art appreciators

By Evan Wallis

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Arts + Culture

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May 8, 2012

Started all the way back in the 1960s as a way to give discounted symphony tickets to University of Cincinnati students, Enjoy The Arts was established as a non-profit in 1982, and has grown to offer members discounted tickets to more than 40 arts organizations.  Enjoy the Arts (ETA), serves mainly as an audience-development program. With many arts organizations, like the Symphony or the May Festival, cultivating a younger audience can be a challenge. Throught, ETA, people under 35 can purchase an Orange membership for $50 ($35 for full-time students), and then receive free pairs of tickets to more than 25 organizations, including the Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Opera and the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Members also have access to a 50 percent discount to all participating organizations after using their vouchers. ETA also has a Noir Membership, which is open to all ages. "It all just works as an incentive to get more people involved in the arts scene in Cincinnati," says Samantha Robinson, manger of Enjoy the Arts. "Our goal is that once people are a little older they would buy season tickets to one or a few of the organizations we helped expose them to."  In an effort to grow ETA's membership base of 800, Robinson is working with to make joining the organization simpler as well creating a simpler way to use the vouchers. Currently, all vouchers come in paper form and members must carry a booklet with them. Robinson and ETA volunteers must hand-stamp every voucher. ETA is now conducting a survey to determine what kind of platforms members would rather use. Robinson says mobile, online and other platforms are being considered. With a more technologically based system, ETA could offer simpler services, like mobile voucher redemption, and also track which organizations people most often attend, the retention rate of members, and how likely members are to purchase season tickets to organizations they have visited after becoming a member of ETA.  "Once we update our system, we will be able to give our members a more user-friendly experience and the arts organizations more information on the benefits of joining ETA," Robinson says. "All this will hopefully bring more people out to experience the arts in Cincinnati." Do Good:  • Complete Enjoy the Arts’ survey on proposed membership platforms. • Sign up for the weekly Hip Tips newsletter. • Become an Enjoy the Arts Member. By Evan Wallis

SpringBoard grad sells handy bagged lunches

By Evan Wallis

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Architecture + Design

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May 8, 2012

While walking around Findlay Market on a busy weekend, Jamie Williams couldn't find a place to sit down and eat. This led her to think about eating "walking tacos" at fairs and other events. She then wondered, "Why not make food that is easier to eat while walking around?" Now, after graduating from the most recent SpringBoard class, a business development program sponsored by ArtWorks, Williams and her new food-service venture, Cincy Bag Ladies, is selling lunchtime favorites like chicken salad and seafood salad, at Fountain Square's Tuesday market.  "It gives people an easier way to eat while on the go," Williams says. "It will be perfect for places like Fountain Square and Findlay Market." Cincy Bag Ladies debuted on Fountain Square the same day as the graduation ceremony from SpringBoard. Williams says the business acumen she learned in the course was instrumental in her quick launch.  "I had the idea to make Cincy Bag Ladies, but I was really able to nail everything down while in SpringBoard," Williams says. "It made me realize things I never would have thought about, like how beneficial it can be to spend the money on branding from the beginning." Williams, an OTR resident, will be on Fountain Square every Tuesday through May and hopes to move into a spot in Findlay Market in June. Williams and her mother prepare all the food in a kitchen in Kentucky, but are looking for a space to rent closer to where they will be serving. All of the meats, veggies, fruits and spices are sourced from Findlay Market. She's gotten a lot of advice from market business owners.  "I've talked to people from Daisy Mae's and Eli's BBQ about when they both got started and  asked if they had any advice," says Williams. "Everyone has been so willing to help; it's been a great experience."  Williams' goal is to eventually move into an OTR storefront and expand on the Cincy Bag Ladies name to sell purses and totes as well as the bagged lunches.  Have a business idea you'd like help with? Registration is now open for the June SpringBoard sessions.  By Evan Wallis

Owners of Neons and Japp’s open bourbon bar in Covington

By Evan Wallis

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Architecture + Design

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May 8, 2012

Ninety five percent of all bourbons are made in Kentucky, so opening a bar that has an extensive collection Kentucky's famous spirit makes perfect sense, especially for a team that runs two successful bars.   The same team that runs Japp’s and Neons, John Back and Jeff Brandt, teamed with Molly Wellman again and opened Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar on Saturday May 5. Located in the 600 block of Mainstrasse in Covington, OKBB has a heavy focus on American bourbon. OKBB is keeping Wellman busy  while she curates between 50 and 70 types of whiskey. After the bar is up and running for a few months, Wellman hopes to build the list to 150 different bourbons and whiskeys. To compliment the many American bourbons and whiskeys, OKBB will also feature Irish and Canadian whiskeys, along with a small selection of cask-conditioned ales.  “Bourbon has such a amazing history,” Wellman says. “It takes a long time to make and it should be enjoyed. (OKBB) is a place for sitting down and understanding and enjoying this perfect drink.” During the soft-opening and 'Friends and Family' event, representatives from both Makers Mark and Jim Beam distilleries were present. On Saturday, Yvette Simpson, Cincinnati City Council Member was present, along with members of Covinton's City Council.  "It was great to see support from both Cincinnati and Covington," Back says.   Brandt has owned the building for a while and always intended on opening a bar, but he, Back and Wellman wanted to open Japp’s first and really develop a concept before expanding to Covington. "We really want to cross-promote and bring people from both sides of the river to the other," Back says. "The Covington neighborhood has been very supportive and talked us up."   OKBB's 800-square-foot space has an intimate 30-40 person capacity and bartenders that know the story and process of each label they serve. The interior, which reflects the rustic beauty of the bourbon trail, was designed by Back, who is also an architect. Described as a “polished bluegrass” feel, OKBB will highlight the agrarian beauty of bourbon country in a modern way.   OKBB is the trio’s first foray outside of OTR but they are working to ensure a cohesive feel between bars by using staff from their two current bars and want to make OKBB a destination bar for both bourbon connoisseurs and novices. OKBB will host bourbon tastings and meet-and-greets with distillers in an effort to immerse patrons of OKBB in a bourbon-centric experience.   “It’s about making a place where people can have an experience they remember,” Wellman says. “Those places work to make the city more exciting.”   By Evan Wallis

TEDxCincy explores the intersection of technology, artisianship

By Evan Wallis

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Architecture + Design

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May 8, 2012

The First TedxCincy, in October of 2010, presented inspiring speakers from varied career paths talking about their passions. On May 10, the second TedXCincy event explores the theme: "Plugged and Unplugged: The Crossroads of Technology and Artisanship." "It's always nice to have a topic that has some kind of friction or tension," says David Volker, TedxCincy organizer. "We wanted to come up with something that shows the entire spectrum of Cincinnati."  The search for speakers starts with the organizing team's personal networks and then grows from there. The team consists of Volker, Emily Venter and Michael Bergman, all from LPK, and Mary Riffe of Procter & Gamble.  "We try to search through our networks and find people who are off the beaten path," Volker says. "A lot of times, conferences focus on the cool, new, tech-based things, but we want to also explore what people are creating with their hands."  Volker and the rest of the team are bringing in artists like Jesse Mooney-Bullock, a puppet maker from Northside, Renee Koerner, a local caviar producer, Queen City Project, a  group of photographers and designers showing Cincinnati through a different lens. Also on the schedule are Christopher Erb, vice president of brand marketing for EA Sports, and Steve Fulton of GE Aviation. Soapbox Managing Editor Elissa Yancey will kick off the afternoon of talks. "We work really hard to uncover some of the gems in the city that may be otherwise passed over," Volker says.  While there will be videos, swag and other activities for attendees, Volker says that the speakers make the event what it is.  "We work really hard to make it a diverse line up of speakers," Volker says. "There will be over 500 attendees and we want to have at least one speaker that connects with each person that attends."  By Evan Wallis

Entertainment Districts expand options, spur development

By Evan Wallis

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General

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May 1, 2012

In the past year and a half, neighborhoods around Cincinnati have found a new tool to help turn empty storefronts into future restaurants and centers of activity with Community Entertainment District designation. 

Architecture 359 connects with community

By Evan Wallis

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Architecture + Design

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May 1, 2012

After breaking away from BHDP Architecture, Architecture 359 has descended from "The Cloud" and settled on Twelfth and Jackson Streets for its first office space.  While working remotely since April 2009 from Mariemont, Westwood, Wyoming, Madrid, Spain and Raleigh, North Carolina, the A359 team decided it was time for an office. After looking around the city and not finding a space that felt right, they drove through OTR and saw a hand-written 'For Rent' sign in the old 4 U Urban Fashion Boutique. They had a lease in their hands by the end of the day.  "It all came back to wanting to be in this area," says Robert Rich. "Finding a storefront office was important to us. We want to have have an urban presence and become part of a community."  A359 acquired the office last November and has since cleaned out and renovated the space. Currently, the firm, which consists of Robert Rich, Cori Cassidy, Gregory Kissel, Brian Coffman and Brian Bailey, is working on national projects but hopes to start working with local businesses soon.  "Our specialty isn't so much a product-type," Rich says. "We thought we could provide a better product by creating better relationships with our clients. There were impediments to creating those relationships when we were all part of a bigger firm." While Bailey and Coffman work out of Raleigh and Madrid, respectively, the other three are deeply involved in Cincinnati. Kissel, who has a background in preservation, has been working to save the Gamble house in his Westwood neighborhood. Cassidy worked as a project designer for Washington Park. In fact, some of the first OTR Flags that will soon hang in the park now hang in the windows of A359's office.  "We have a fantasy to see more and more storefronts like ours become part of these great communities around Cincinnati," Rich says. "It's just a great way to be connected." By Evan Wallis

Ensemble Theatre rebrands, rebuilds

By Evan Wallis

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Architecture + Design

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May 1, 2012

Ensemble Theatre opened its doors in 1986 as a place to give professional artists a place to work without having to travel to Hollywood or Broadway. The theater has since become a landmark in Over-the-Rhine. Now, for the first time, Ensemble has unveiled new branding, a new website, and a refreshed exterior. With attendance at an all-time high and after being awarded a $1.2 million grant from the state of Ohio, ETC is in the midst of a long-overdue makeover.  "We've been in the neighborhood for 26 years, I think it's time to celebrate," says D. Lynn Meyers, artistic director. "The tenacity of us staying here through times that weren't as good as they are now is something special."  With a new user-friendly website designed by LPK and a facade that is currently being painted, the goal of the rebranding and renovations is to raise visibility and mirror ETC's ambitious schedule in both building and branding. The branding has four main colors -- blue, red, green and purple. All represent the four "E's" ETC strives toward: Excite, Enliven, Enrich and Entertain. "What we do on stage has a very eclectic feel," Meyers says. "Our branding was very typical. We wanted something more exciting and colorful, like what you see on stage."  Visibility was also a concern for ETC. Meyers says patrons have sometimes walked by the entrance. New banners outside of the entrance should alleviate confusion.  "I think a lot of people walk by and wonder what we are," Meyers says. "We want people to know we are here and want people to come in and check us out." The grant ETC received won't be awarded until the group raises $1.2 million in matching funds. So, ETC is in the midst of kicking off its "Next Stage Capital Campaign," a $6.5 million renovation plan. Renovations will include a larger lobby, increased accessibility, a new HVAC system and building connections between the main theater building and other buildings ETC owns on the block. Capital funds must come from contributions, since ticket sales support 10 full-time employees and more than 180 professional set builders, actors and other artists throughout the year. One the state grant is matched, ETC can begin renovations. "We have a lot of fun neighbors now, and that means more people walking around," Meyers says. "People are walking in and buying tickets. That never used to happen, so we want to continue to make sure people feel welcome and know what we're about." By Evan Wallis 

Northside Business Association creating app for visitors

By Evan Wallis

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Architecture + Design

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May 1, 2012

Where is Northside?  While that question may seem odd to some, according to Northside Business Association (NBA) member James Heller-Jackson, it is posed more often than many would think. That's why he and a team of Northside residents are working to create an app to answer all questions about Northside.  The app idea started after the NBA sent out a survey via social media to gain information about perceptions of Northside. The survey garnered nearly 1,000 responses from people citywide. Results revealed what kinds of questions an app needed to answer. Each year, the NBA budgets $3,000 to create a brochure to encourage local businesses to join its ranks, but this year, the group is investing in the app instead. It will give basic information, like locations of businesses, upcoming events and places to park. Pictures of each business will be included, and business owners will be able to update their pages to include specials, events and coupons. For example, Picnic and Pantry could feature a discount good only if you have just shopped at the Northside Farmers' Market.  "We want to have a resource for people to find out everything they want," Heller-Jackson says. "If people feel comfortable, they know where to park and simple things like that, they are more likely to come visit Northside." The app will roll out a couple weeks before the annual Rock 'n Roll Carnival Northside hosts in Hoffner Park on July 3-4. It will be available on iPhone only at first, but an Android version should be available in August. "Northside is kind of this open secret," Heller-Jackson says. "We want people to know we are here and open for business. Yes, Northside has had a rough reputation in the past, so people have chosen not to come here. But there are so many good things going on here now there is no reason for someone to avoid Northside." By Evan Wallis