Downtown Cincinnati is the place to live, work, and play populated by restaurants, cafes, bars, arts and culture venues around every corner, plus a long-awaited and busy Kroger's that anchors recently-renovated Court Street Plaza. The downtown urban core is alive with programming, including music during the summer and ice skating in the winter, and features the largest living room 'television' in the region overlooking The Genius of Water at Fountain Square. Downtown has experienced dramatic expansion and population growth with residential developments, including condos and apartments in all price ranges, many of which boast scenic views of the hillsides and the river and offer unparalleled access to nightlife and recreation.
Procter & Gamble will be launching its new hand-dishwashing brand, Gain, as the company aims its promotion at Hispanic shoppers. Studies have shown that the Hispanic population is growing in numbers while it's also younger than the population as a whole. The marketing campaign will be led by a Hispanic ad agency.Read the full story here.
August begins in Cincinnati with another hot week of events that prove our city is Queen: energized events in Over-the-Rhine, an art exhibition in Northside, a BBQ benefit at Neons, the second annual Downtown Cincinnati Restaurant Week and more.
This week, Cincinnati welcomes British performance artist Luke Jerram and his brightly colored, outdoor pianos. Brought to the Queen City by Cincinnati Public Radio in celebration of their anniversary, Jerram and a team of talented local artists will paint playable pianos in public spaces over the next month.
The city's largest block party will take place this Friday, August 6 in downtown Cincinnati. The fourth annual Downtown Dash & Block Party is expected to attract thousands between the block party festivities and the 5k run. The annual summer party was started in 2007 to create both a fun event, and a way to raise money for neighborhood community service organizations like the Freestore Foodbank, Downtown Residents Council, Drop Inn Center, Crossroad Health Center, and Kicks for Kids. Last year's event raised $500 for each of the six charities included. This year event organizers hope to grow that amount as they raise the profile of the relatively new event. "Our major goal is to host a fun party and a great race in downtown Cincinnati, but in the end we are looking to promote local organizations, businesses and the downtown community in general," said Alex Ewing. Not to be confused with a typical fundraiser, organizers emphasize that the Downtown Dash & Block Party is a "for-purpose" event. "Our goal is to bring people downtown, raise awareness of the great things going on downtown, and give back to the organizations that are working to support the downtown community," Ewing explained. All of the money raised by this year's event will once again be donated to local community service organizations, and will have a distinctly local flavor. Christian Moerlein will be providing beer, LaRosa's will be serving pizza, Avril-Bleh & Sons will be hosting a $15 rib dinner, live music will be provided by The Websters, and additional food and drink will be provided by other local establishments. The annual cornhole tournament is also expected to add to the local vibe. Those interested in participating in the 5k Run can register online. Run organizers say that the top 1,000 finishers will receive a custom Downtown Dash medal, with the top three men and women finishers receiving awards. The 2010 Downtown Dash & Block Party will take place adjacent to St. Xavier Church (map) located in the northeast portion of downtown Cincinnati. Cash automobile parking and free bicycle parking will be available nearby, and the event can be reached by Metro bus service (plan your trip). Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
For Cincinnati, this was the summer of the Food Truck. Within the last year 10 licensed food trucks have popped up around the city serving everything from pizza and ice cream to burgers and burritos. They've become so popular that the city quickly approved a mobile food vendor program allowing licensed trucks to park at three city-owned parking lots to serve their tasty treats.Food trucks are a fun and different way to grab lunch or a late night bite. But when the cold, snowy Cincinnati winters comes around, getting a meal from a food truck might not be quite as convenient or fun. Micah Paldino, a public relations agent whose clients include mobile food vendors Senor Roy's Taco Patrol and Café de Wheels, saw the winter months challenge as a creative opportunity. Enter the Food Igloo, a building concept Paldino is developing along with Norwood architecture firm SHP."I was talking to my clients Café de wheels and Senior Roys Taco patrol and I threw out the funny idea of a Food Igloo. They kind of laughed and said 'Yeah, go for it!' And I said 'No, I'm really serious.'"Paldino set up a new company Orchard Media Group to launch this concept. For his PR efforts, Paldino continues to operate PB&J, Public relations, Branding and Jabber.The final design is still being worked out, but Paldino described the food igloo as a moveable space that will seat up to 150 people. It would offer protection for food truck customers looking for somewhere to eat in the winter. It will look like an igloo, can be used year round and will be designed to have indoor lighting that makes it appear as if its "glowing" or "floating," Paldino said.The space could sit on a parking lot or abandoned open space, which may have to be leased. But the details of where it would sit will have to be worked out with city officials or property owners, Paldino said.The design will also incorporate sustainability, and SHP is exploring using eco friendly heating options like recycled vegetable oil. The Food Igloo won't be limited to a single type of use, Paldino said."I think it's important that it be a mixed-use space that can be used for dinners or dance parties. It’s a fun way for people to embrace their fantasy childhood, it's very kitschy, very pop art inspired," he said.The igloo is being narrowed to three designs, and Paldino is talking to some companies that are interested in using it as a marketing vehicle.If all goes as planned Cincinnati could see the igloo by January.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Micah Paldino, owner Orchard Media Relations and PB&J, Public relations, Branding and JabberYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiasoapbox
U.S. Congressman Steve Driehaus (D-OH) and James L. Oberstar (D-MN) were in Cincinnati on Monday, August 2 to discuss the Brent Spence Bridge replacement and rehabilitation project. The congressmen met with local officials on the 25th floor of the Enquirer Building in downtown Cincinnati overlooking the river span. Driehaus and Oberstar were joined by other local officials including Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney and Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls who also serves as chair of the Livable Communities Committee and Major Transportation & Infrastructure Projects Sub-Committee which study projects of this nature. They gathered to discuss the project's economic and transportation impacts. Completed in 1964, the Brent Spence Bridge is currently exceeding its designed capacity and presents a variety of safety concerns that range from the bridge's lack of emergency break down lanes for motorists, to poor signage that partially obstructed by the bridge's support structure. In March 2010, Brian Cunningham from OKI Regional Council of Governments told Soapbox that the Brent Spence Bridge project is the metropolitan planning organization's number one priority because of the safety concerns and the major transportation choke point it presently causes. "OKI has estimated that there is a crash along this 8-mile stretch once every three days, and when a crash occurs on that bridge it basically shuts down two interstates," Cunningham detailed. The Ohio River crossing also represents a major economic linchpin for the region, and nation. It is presently estimated that $400 billion worth of commodities travel across the bridge every year; a number expected to more than double by 2030 to $815 billion. Cunningham states that local officials have been very supportive of the project thus far, but that significant amounts of money are still needed to make the $2-3 billion project a reality. Local officials are hoping that a large portion of that money can come from the federal government with the help of representatives like Congressman Oberstar who serves as chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. The Brent Spence Bridge replacement designs have now been narrowed to three final design options, and officials hope that if the necessary funding is secured that construction can begin on the new span by 2015. Writer: Randy A. SimesRendering Provided Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
Boot Camp Digital founder Krista Neher came to Cincinnati to Toronto in 2005 after being transferred here by Procter and Gamble for her finance and marketing job. A few years later, she left the company to become VP of Marketing for local internet startup Photrade.com.That company was eventually sold and Neher lost her job, leaving her unsure about what she wanted to pursue. "After the company was sold I didn't know what I wanted to do next. I'd gotten a few local job offers, but I turned them down because I needed some time to think about it," Neher, who lives in Over-the-Rhine, said.In the meantime Neher devoted her time blogging about a new passion, social media on The Marketess.About two years ago, her path found her."Someone reading blog said, 'Hey you really understand social media well, can we hire you at P&G?'" Neher said.So she went back to work for her former company, this time as a consultant."I ended up working with them for quite a while," she said. "I helped them launch some of their first social media work and that's how I started my business. The work came to me first because I developed a skill set that is so in demand in the market."Neher launched Boot Camp Digital in early 2009. The company, based downtown, works with large corporations and startups (and everything in between) with the aim of getting their "digital marketing in shape." She offers onsite training sessions ranging from social media campaigns and micro blogging to SEO and community management. In addition to her work with P&G, she also does social media programs for ad:tech, the largest international digital marketing conference.The company also hosts courses for the public. The next one "Social Media for Marketing in Cincinnati" is Aug. 4 at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.Boot Camp Digital courses go beyond the basics of using social media tools like Twitter, Facebook and blogging."We really focus on how to leverage social media as a strategy and how to use social media in your business. Because the tools are free people don't put enough into the strategy side of it," Neher said.Neher employs for part-time workers, and travels xx to offer Boot Camp Digital training. In addition, she's also written a guide book on digital media marketing which she offers for sale through her web site.She will soon debut a second, self-published digital media marketing book, and is in talks with a book publisher to write the first social media marketing text book, she said.So what piece of free advice does Neher businesses unsure of how to be successful in the world of Web 2.0?"Ask yourself, 'Who exactly do I want to reach?' Really focus on that and what's interesting to those people and what they are passionate about. Build your content based on your audience and you'll be more successful," Neher said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Krista Neher, founder Boot Camp DigitalYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiasoapbox
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.
P&G Brand Manager, Mark Jeffrey, is the founder of "Go Vibrant Cincinnati," an initiative that promotes a healthy lifestyle in Cincinnati. The program includes a coalition of more than 25 Cincinnati-based organizations promoting public fitness challenges, creating more biking and walking paths, and adding healthy menus in city restaurants. The ultimate goal is to make Cincinnati one of the top ten healthiest cities within the next ten years.Read the full story here.
Summer in Cincinnati offers endless opportunities - take a scavenger hunt through the Art Museum with your smart phone, shake to salsa in Sawyer Point, sip wine and mingle or catch a home game with some of Cincinnati's young professional energy.
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