Rolling Stone ranked the top 25 record stores in the USA from the west to east coast. Shake It Records in Northside made the list with its impressive musical selection on CD and vinyl and extras including books, DVD's and magazines. Read the full story here.
Working Mother Magazine published its Best 100 Companies for 2010, recognizing two Cincinnati-based companies, Procter & Gamble and TriHealth. The survey measured seven areas including work force profile, benefits, women's issues and advancement, childcare, company culture, flexible work, and parental leave. P&G has 43% women in its workforce ;TriHealth has 83%. Read the full story here.
University of Cincinnati signed a six-year contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory, receiving $24 million for medical research. The research includes studying how the medical environment on board airplanes affects the body, treatments for this outcome, and how much oxygen is needed when using an oxygen-concentrated device at higher altitudes. UC hopes to have more research projects under this contract and expand their work with Air Force personnel at Wright-Patterson. Read the full story here.
Learn about one of Cincinnati's most devoted conservationists, support the UC Bearcats with a rally on Fountain Square, expand your knowledge of the digital world, rock out during the MidPoint Music Festival and get outside to enjoy our boundless parks and their unique activities during the Great Outdoor Weekend.
James Remley and Shawn Flynn met while working at a factory more than 15 years ago. Now the friends have embarked on a new restaurant venture they hope will take them into the next phase of their professional lives.The new restaurant is Pinky Sue's Smoke House which they opened at 527 York Street in downtown Newport. Since opening Remley says that their lunches have been exceptionally busy and that they are now considering adding breakfast hours with an expanded menu."We decided we wanted to give this a shot to see if it might work out, and we're really hoping it will last," Remley explained.The long-time friends are both Northern Kentucky residents and Remley says that they stumbled upon the space, formerly occupied by NuVo and Mokka, when driving past one day. After finding out that the lease financially worked for them, they moved forward with this central location.Pinky Sue's Smoke House, named for the partners' respective wives, seats about 40 people inside with room for another 20 to 30 people outside on their patio. Remley says that first-time customers should try the ribs, but that many people have been going after the slow-smoked pulled pork which can be ordered in a sandwich deal for around $6.The restaurant also offers a variety of other menu items like briskets, chicken, and a bevvy of side dishes including broccoli salad, baked beans, homemade potato salad, french fries and more.The restaurant is currently open 11:30am to 8pm Monday through Thursday, and 11:30am to 9pm Friday through Sunday. Dine in and carryout are available, and Remley says that catering orders can also be placed by calling (859) 491-9700 or fax at (859) 491-9888.Writer: Randy A. SimesPhotography by Scott BeselerStay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
The new neon sign in front of the old yellow house next door might have passers by wondering if the newly famous burger bar will be opening a hot dog haven to complement the current restaurant. Not the case. Terry's Turf Club owner Terry Carter says the house will be down within the next week and an expansion of the restaurant will be complete by next spring. Plans to further develop the space had been in the works before they were featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives" which Carter says increased revenue by around twenty to thirty percent; they serve around 400 guests a night. They are currently meeting with the architects and moving forward with zoning and permits. "We'll have the same motif. It's a honky tonk but it works with the mix of being casually elegant. This is a joint," says Carter.The new space will double the restaurant's size to become roughly 1,000 square feet including 22 more feet of bar space and seating for 40 more guests. The kitchen will be expanded with new grills and fryers. A large outdoor terrace will be also be added with garage-style doors. Terry will be bringing in 100 more signs from his neon collection, including more of the bottle-shaped Bevador coolers that stopped production in 1955 but "work wonderfully," shoe-shaped carnival ride cars and Crack the Whip seats. "Grown ups love it more than the kids. You'll be able to sit in them and have dinner in a little shoe," says Carter. He claims he only works fifteen hours a day, seven days a week so that he can travel the world and fish in Belize and Africa four times a year. His travels inspire new creative menu items that appear every two to three months. New menu items will also be added with the expansion, including numerous items that the restaurant will be the first in the United States to use including Baobab tree fruit from Africa (a thickening agent that helps natives make a living by using the fruit rather than letting it fall and rot). He's also bringing in moose milk cheese from Sweden that sells for $500 a pound and French snail caviar that retails for $225 a tin. But these delicacies won't cost the customer. Terry understands he has people who want foie gras and people who want American cheese on an all-American style burger."Innovation is what we do, in a nutshell. We don't skimp. If it costs I don't care. I want the best product out there and I can't please everyone out there. Most of everything I have doesn't come out of a can- all herbs are fresh and top of the line. The chili is made with filet mignon and it's one of my best sellers," explains Carter. "My business has grown to the point where it's almost unsellable because it's too good, which is a good problem to have," says Carter. "I'd be a fool to sell it." Terry's Turf Club will stay open during renovations although it will be untidy for a few days.Terry's is located at 4618 Eastern Ave and is open Monday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Kitchen closes at 12:30; Saturday, 12:00 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Kitchen closes at 1:30. Sunday, 12:00 p.m.-1-:00 p.m. Kitchen closes at 9:00 p.m. Writer: Rene BrunellePhotography by Scott Beseler
Significant progress has been made on the first-phase of streetscaping improvements throughout the Clifton Heights business district. Over the past two months work has been taking place along W. McMillan Street to rebuild sidewalks, crosswalks, curbs, replant street trees, and install new street lamps. The roughly half-million dollar project will also include new parking meters, trash cans, and decorative brick pavers.This stretch of W. McMillan Street had long been plagued by buckled sidewalks due to root invasion from the street trees there and water that subsequently collected. The rebuilt sidewalks not only feature safe and pleasant surfaces for pedestrians, but they also feature uniquely designed brick work at cross walk locations.The improvement work has been championed by area businesses and the Clifton Heights Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC) whose director, Matt Bourgeois, said that “the business community is very excited about the progress being made.” While the work has posed a minor inconvenience for businesses the consensus seems to be that it is worth the trouble."The business district faught long and hard to get the city funds for the project so we're very excited about the improvements and we think it's a great thing," said McNeil Ryan, owner of the popular Mac's Pizza Pub. "It's a very short-term pain for a very long-term gain, and we were very fortunate they were able to schedule the majority of the work during the summer."Some of that progress that has been prior to the streetscaping work has been quite noticeable and included several facade improvement projects; business expansions and renovations by DuBois Bookstore, Plaza Artist Materials, and Mac’s Pizza Pub; and the addition of several new businesses to the district.The first phase of streetscaping improvements, nearing their expected completion in October 2010, were funded through the Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United (CNBDU) and the City of Cincinnati. The later two phases will continue the streetscaping work throughout the district over the next two years depending on funding.Ryan concluded that, "when the project is completely finished after they plant the trees, it will be very nice and I know I'm looking forward to it." Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Jake Mecklenborg Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) has focused their attention along Vine Street and parts of Main Street through Over-the-Rhine for the better part of the last five years. Their goals have been to target some of the most troubled areas of the neighborhood and turn them around. Now, the development corporation has shifted its focus west to Race Street and will move its offices into a new $8.3 million project taking shape along Race Street just north of Washington Park.The Saengerhalle development, named for the "Saenger Halle" music venue that preceded Music Hall, is to 14th and Race streets as the Duncanson Lofts development was to 12th and Vine streets years ago. Following the completion of Duncanson, a handful of projects immediately followed suit which have led to hundreds of new residents, dozens of new businesses, dramatic declines in criminal activity, and a heartbeat to a part of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood which has not been felt in a generation.3CDC has tapped NorthPointe Group to oversee the redevelopment project that will introduce more than 32,000 square feet of office space to the neighborhood by spring 2011. But like Duncanson, once Saengerhalle is complete, several other projects will fall in line. Four such projects will create even more residential units and retail space, redevelop and expand the historic Washington Park, redevelop a historic church, and introduce a new underground parking garage underneath the northern most section of the park."We wanted to bring business into the area and make the area vibrant during the day outside of the park," said Christy Samad, Communications Assistant, 3CDC. "The Saengerhalle project is in the heart of the redevelopment taking place in the area and it will be great to be there with the merchants and new Washington Park."3CDC plans to relocate their offices to the street-level office space in the redeveloped structures along with NorthPointe Group."We're hoping that the first premier commercial space in this part of the neighborhood will serve as a catalyst for other investment nearby," Samad explained. "We're taking the first-floor space so that the two upper floors are preserved for tenants looking to take advantage of the great views of Washington Park."While 3CDC will be occupying approximately one-third of the total commercial space, there will also be room for a restaurant at the corner of 14th and Race that will include outdoor seating.According to 3CDC officials, the $8.3 million project was funded through an innovative partnership with Fifth Third Bank that helped secure $4.2 million in tax credits and $4.1 million from the Cincinnati Equity Fund."We believe in the renaissance taking place in our urban core. The positive results are evident," said Catherine Cawthon, president of Fifth Third Bank Community Development Corporation. "People are coming back to the central business district and Over-the-Rhine for entertainment, to buy homes and to start businesses. Along with construction jobs, the Saengerhalle project is projected to bring at least 100 permanent jobs to Over-the-Rhine, and we're proud to offer our support."Writer: Randy A. SimesRendering ProvidedStay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
If they didn't spend too much time in the rain over the last six weeks, the pianos from the Play Me I'm Yours public art project will be put to good use.Of the 35 pianos used for the project, about 15 have already found a second home at schools, arts centers and other organizations around Cincinnati. They will be used for educational and community arts-oriented programs, Cincinnati Public Radio's vice president for Marketing Chris Phelps said.The remainder of the pianos were collected this weekend and their condition will be assessed to see if they are still in usable shape."Some of them had better cover than others," Phelps said. "The two that were on Fountain Square were there for six weeks and they're in bad shape right now, but other pianos were on a porch or sheltered a little bit more and those are the ones that still can be used."All eight of the arts centers that received pianos will keep them to be used in educational programs, or to remain a permanent public art fixture.Chatfield College's Findlay Market campus, which recently doubled its enrollment, added a vocal music class after the expansion. They couldn't afford a piano, and students were singing along to a small CD player. Now their students, ranging in age from 20 to 50, will have musical accompaniment to their singing."The students are very excited because they've never been exposed to anything like that," social outreach and special events coordinator Britney Grimmelsman said.Chatfield College offers two year associates degrees at one campus in Findlay market and another in Brown County. Many of their students are single moms or low-income residents of Over-the-Rhine.The Drake Rehabilitation Center has received another piano, as well as the Oyler School in Lower Price Hill, one of many elementary schools who have struggled to provide arts and music education in the midst of funding cuts.The Madisonville Arts Center, the Kennedy Heights Arts Center, the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, the Fitton Center for the Arts, the Oxford Community Arts Center, the Sharonville Arts Center and The Wyoming Arts Center all hosted pianos during the project, and will keep them as well.Writer: Henry SweetsPhotography by Scott Beseler.
Graeter’s ice cream, a fourth-generation Cincinnati family brand that is a regional icon has plans to take it's product national. Founded in 1870, the company recently opened up a new plant in Cincinnati, but maintains its labor intensive, small batch method of ice cream making.Read the full story here.
Our Partners
