Mecca creates artistic haven in the heart of OTR
Mecca OTR opened quietly in November, which isn't normal for a space in the heart of Over-the-Rhine. It offers an artistic haven with snacks and a simple cocktail menu.
Over-the-Rhine
As more visitors discover — and regional residents rediscover — the charms of Over-the-Rhine (aka OTR), most are delighted to find a neighborhood rich in art, history, and community plus plenty of food and drink establishments and independent retailers. Architectural treasures like Music Hall and Memorial Hall sit side by side with the School for Performing Arts and Washington Park in this neighborhood that's been heralded as a national leader in urban transformation. Vine Street, Main Street, Race Street, and Pendleton are the area's hot spots for an eclectic array of restaurants and shops near the Ensemble, Woodward, Cincinnati Shakespeare, and Know theaters. Findlay Market, between Race and Elm Streets north of Liberty Street, is Ohio's oldest continuously-operated public market where you will find locally sourced food, cafes and restaurants as well as the Rhinegeist Brewery taproom. The community's remarkable 19th-century buildings feature one of the country's largest collection of Italianate architecture and provide a dramatic background to the diverse residents that call OTR home.
Cincinnati and Covington both make Travel + Leisure’s list of best places to travel
Travel + Leisure recently named its 50 best places to travel in the world — Cincinnati and Covington both made the list.
City’s new web feature connects residents with real-time data
The City of Cincinnati recently introduced the new CincyInsights dashboard feature to its website that will give residents access to real-time data and the status of ongoing projects.
Findlay Market plans City Kitchen pilot program for new year
In January, Findlay Kitchen plans to launch City Kitchen, an eight-week workforce development program that will partly be managed by Citylink Center.
Downtown building to undergo renovations, solar panel installation
The former Strietmann Biscuit Building, which is located at 221 W. 12th St. in Over-the-Rhine, will soon undergo a $12 million renovation. The project received $1.2 million in Ohio Preservation Tax Credits; the building will be historically preserved.
Brandery grad Soundstr nabs over $1 million in funding
Soundstr has secured $1.1 million in seed financing to further its mission of creating transparency around real-world music usage.
Innovation Fund giving circle grants $80,000 for arts, culture, community building
Next fall, the Jewish Innovation Fund will bring a new festival of arts and culture to Washington Park. It is one of four projects backed by an $80,000 grant from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, which aims to celebrate Cincinnati’s rich Jewish history by writing its next chapter.
First alcoholic ice cream shop opens March in Over-the-Rhine
Buzzed Bull Creamery, Cincinnati’s first liquid nitrogen ice cream shop, plans to open at 1408 Main St. in Over-the-Rhine in March.
Cintrifuse lauded for its work with startups and entrepreneurs
Cintrifuse is getting national attention for its work with Cincinnati-based startups and entrepreneurs from Industry Week.
Newly renovated Memorial Hall now open to the public
The yearlong, $11 million renovation of Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine is now complete. The building opened to the public on Nov. 25 for its first art installation, Brickmas.
