If you haven’t noticed by now, this here Soapdish is pretty bullish on Cincinnati. Recognizing that I spent ten years in Detroit before moving here, some skeptics might dismiss my rampant bullishness with a bit of cynical “well, hell yeah, who wouldn’t?” But the thing is, I was, instinctively, a ceaseless (and oftentimes Sisyphean) supporter of Detroit and its downtown, constantly doing battle with the (predominantly suburban, and now multi-national based) naysayers. Not surprisingly, taking up the mantle here in Cincinnati is a somewhat less taxing endeavor, a fact which was easily reinforced by this past weekend’s events. Make no mistake, if you want to hear ill-informed, native-born, ignorant naysayers, one need look no further than the Enquirer’s online comments and letters column. That said, however, this past weekend saw distinctive hordes of eager urban enthusiasts invade the downtown region, each armed with maps, schedules and decidedly different, yet ultimately positive, agendas.
As an interested observer, I can only say “job well done.”
First off, during the day on Saturday, the wildly successful Downtown Tour of Living showed off splashy new projects across downtown, from the glitzy new Parker Flats on West 4th, to the epicenter-focused Fountain Square Lofts above Jean Ro Bistro, to the endless supply of new and impressive renovation projects in the Gateway Quarter of Over the Rhine, and everywhere in between. People were out on the streets, with maps and materials in hand, literally ooohing and ahhing over the projects. I saw older couples, middle aged empty-nesters, and earnest newlyweds with suspicious in-laws, all clutching their guides and figuring out which historic building they might live in next.
Suffice to say that Vine Street in OTR was most definitely buzzing, what with the Segway dealer setting up a new retail shop, Cincinnati’s most famous and omnipresent Belgian waffle maker, Jean-Francois Flechet, once again peddling his tasty confections streetside, and urban tourists checking out the various condos for sale. By the way, speaking of Segways, I noticed one Segway enthusiast (motorist?) crossing 5th and Vine in front of Fountain Square. As she passed me (her vehicle possessing of an almost Roman-style chariot shield plastered with Gateway Quarter stickers), I heard a cell phone ring, quickly to be followed by the sound of a Segway crashing to the ground. Looking back, I saw said Segway enthusiast sprawled on said ground talking on said cell phone, surrounded by helpful police officers and Downtown Ambassadors. Lesson learned, one can only hope.
In any event, aside from wayward, cell phone-obsessed Segway enthusiasts, the downtown streets were a veritable beehive of activity, and the newly (just smell that paint and varnish) opened Trideca project was a certainly a big draw. With six out of the nine units already sold, it’s difficult to quibble with the success (although if I may quibble on one minute point: can all the designers and developers just agree to declare a moratorium and dispense with the ersatz-trendy bowl sinks? Please? Just so 2003 at this point). The ground floor of the Trideca Building is just begging for a hip new bar/restaurant or retail space to join its comrades down the street on the resurgent Vine Street corridor (incidentally, the new lighting store Switch, Incredible Creations salon, and Mahatma gift shop were also open this past weekend, joining Park + Vine, Lucky Step, Outside, Mica 12V, Metronation and Lavomatic Cafe and Wine Bar).
Yet I digress. While hordes of excitable condo inspectors and potential buyers toured downtown by day on Saturday, the hordes of excitable indie music fans arrived after sundown, armed with their guides and maps and intent on partaking in all that the ever-improving Midpoint Music Fest had to offer. Having attended the past five Midpoint fests, I almost enjoy experiencing the bad bands as well as good ones. It’s part of the whole fest-going weltanshaunng, so to speak, or do I mean schadenfreude?....regardless, this year’s fest certainly did not disappoint in any respect. The crowds were plentiful, the enthusiasm was high, some bands were great, and some bands were not, and the fleet of free Scion shuttles (up to midnight) was a nice touch. Moreover, the ability to walk to the street and melodramatically howl “Scion” to the tune of Thomas Dolby’s “Science” was a source of endless amusement (to me at least). Also, as someone who has heretofore not been inside the Aronoff’s “black box” style Fifth Third Bank Theater on Main, following the stellar Wussy gig on Saturday night, I can most definitively opine that they need to have more bands play that venue. Aside from the mothballed Emery Theater, this could be downtown’s most under-utilized performance venue.
The organizers of the Midpoint fest, as well as the Downtown Tour of Living, should all be commended on a job well done. Downtown was thriving with a buzzing and palpable vibe, continually reinforcing the resurgence that is taking place.
Finally, in the miscellaneous ramblings department, two big Soapdish recommendations for your consideration: if you haven’t done so already, head on over to Eden Park’s Krohn Conservatory and check out the new Oktoberfest running through November 2. For those diehards that just can’t accept the fact that Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is over, don’t pack up the lederhosen and dirndls just yet. Christian Moerlein has a beer tent up and running at the Krohn on Friday from 6 to 9 as well as Saturday and Sunday. Move your happy hour over there on Friday and enjoy live music, beer, food…and, um, hey, plants! What could be better? All proceeds go to support the Conservatory, so you’re helping a good cause as well.
Before hitting the Conservatory’s beer tent Friday, be sure and take the unique opportunity to stop into downtown’s historic Cincinnati Athletic Club (behind the Shillito Lofts, between 6th and 7th) on Thursday evening for a performance and fundraiser by concert:nova, a music ensemble which, to quote their own presser, “blends together the traditional and contemporary with an inspired visual twist to explore a modern, kinetic and powerful new concert experience in Cincinnati. Made up mostly of musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, the group aims to reinvent the stage and delve into four and five dimensions to charge the atmosphere with a wide-angled perspective on brilliant works of music.” The performance is a collaboration with CCM drama department alum Julianna Youngblood and photographer Trinidad Mac-Auliffe, and this is a steal at only ten clams a head. Add to the fact that yours truly will be there DJ-ing the pre and post-performance cocktail party in the “ultra lounge,” and well, there’s simply no excuse to not be in attendance. See you Thursday.
Photography by Scott Beseler (For more photos of MPMF click here)
Gateway Quarter, 12th and Vine St.
Cincinnati Segway mounted Police
William Sides Atari Party at the Know Theater
Krohn Conservatory Biergarten
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