Regionalism

Vintage poster gallery moves to OTR

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Arts + Culture
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June 11, 2013

Jack Wood Gallery, a vintage poster gallery, recently moved to Over-the-Rhine from O’Bryonville. The gallery features vintage posters and graphic art from the late 19th century and early to mid-20th century.   Jack Wood opened his gallery at 2039 Madison Road in O’Bryonville in Oct. 1998; in Feb. 2003, the gallery moved to the space next door. And exactly 10 years later, Wood found himself looking for a new location because his landlord decided to move her business into the gallery’s space.   “When I first opened the gallery, I thought O’Bryonville was a good place for it,” Wood says. “But when I came to OTR, I knew it was the perfect place for it now.”   From the middle of the late 1800s, Cincinnati was home to some of the most highly regarded printing companies in the world. The Strobridge plant used to be on Central Parkway, four blocks from Jack Wood Gallery’s new OTR home, which made it a perfect location for Wood's one-man operation.  “The latter half of the 19th century was a significant time for the Cincinnati poster industry,” Wood says. “The neighborhood was alive, and 50,000 people lived in a 15-block area in OTR. Now, we’re getting the same kind of energy and activity here. It’s a real renaissance.”   The new space, at 1413 Vine Street, has a similar layout to the old space, with two large windows that face the street and plenty of wall space inside to display posters. Jack Wood Gallery also offers archiving, photography, framing and matting and appraisal services. The gallery features a variety of prints for sale, including Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus images, the most significant collection of Strobridge posters in the United States, and World War posters from around the world.   By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter

Latest in Regionalism
Kenton Co. students immersed in innovation, tech
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Education + Learning
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June 11, 2013

A new generation of digital natives is learning through innovation and high-tech training in Kenton County academy programs. 

VFA fellow launches crowdfunding for new downtown sandwich shop, The Port OTR
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Development News
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June 11, 2013

If one relatively new Cincinnatian has his way, a new taste could be rolling in to Cincinnati by next summer—on a fleet of bicycles. Plans for The Port OTR, a sandwich restaurant, are currently in the works, with Venture for America fellow Dan Bloom, and his friend, Seth Maney, at the helm. The idea came to Bloom and Maney while walking around and realizing that, aside from sit-down restaurants, quick lunch options downtown are limited. That was enough to get their entrepreneurial ideas percolating. Their next thought? “Can we make this happen?”  Bloom knew that Venture for America was hosting a crowdfunding competition that would culminate with funding for a project, so he decided to enter his idea for his newly adopted home, OTR, a reality.  The duo plans to host a competition this summer at the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State to find a third partner for their team—a chef and manager. “We want to find someone that has big aspirations but wants to start small-scale,” Bloom says. “We want to prove that this is something that can be successful, and then from there see how big we can make it.” Bloom, who grew up in Boston, also plans to infuse a bit of New England culture into The Port. “The sandwich that I’m starting with—Thanksgiving Day Sandwich— turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, on a baked sandwich,” Bloom says. “That’s not something you can get down here.” While The Port’s location is yet to be determined, Bloom estimates the restaurant will be about 500-600 square feet and include a counter with a few stools and a few tables for those who prefer non-delivery, sit-down experiences. If you want a first taste—or perhaps even have a sandwich named in your honor—The Port OTR’s crowdfunding site is already online.  By Kyle Stone

Covington couple follows dream, opens coffeehouse
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Arts + Culture
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June 11, 2013

Russ and Jackie Slone’s dream of owning a coffee shop has been 30 years in the making. They approached officials in the City of Covington and decided to start to build equity before opening their own business. It wasn't a quick process; they purchased a fixer-upper and raised their two daughters.   Eight years ago, the Slones purchased the building at 701 Greenup Street and began making it their home and their dream. Left Bank Coffeehouse opened its doors May 28, and the Slone’s two daughters, Katie Bialczak and Maggie Soard—both former Starbucks baristas—help them run the place.   “We wanted to open a coffeehouse because we saw that at the time, there weren’t that many around Cincinnati, but we knew they were popular,” Russ says.   “Left Bank” refers to the proximity of the coffee shop to the Ohio and Licking rivers, but that's not all. The Slones are self-described Francophiles, so the name also refers to La Rive Gauce, the southern bank of the Seine River in Paris. Left Bank is decorated with French-inspired décor reminiscent of a Parisian street café.   Left Bank brews up traditional espresso drinks and blended beverages. There’s also a small food menu, featuring oatmeal, yogurt, two croissants and scones, plus pastries from Savor and soups from Myra’s in Clifton.   The Slone’s are excited to make people happy, and hope that Left Bank will be a destination stop for people who live and work in Covington.   By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter

Covington growing with new businesses
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Arts + Culture
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June 11, 2013

Cincinnati isn’t the only city in the Tri-State area experiencing rejuvenation. Just across the Ohio River, Covington has seen a plethora of new businesses open in the last year, and the trend shows no sign of stopping.   Naashom Marx, business development manager for the City of Covington, works to attract new businesses and retain Covington’s current businesses.   “Covington is a great place to live, work and play,” she says. “It’s a unique dynamic of people and places, and it attracts people.”   Right in the heart of Covington’s urban center—at Roebling and Fifth Street, eight buildings in a four-block area will soon become Gateway Tech’s new location. The college is also opening a bookstore at Sixth and Madison, which will be open to the public. The addition of Gateway Tech’s student body to the urban center will help that area grow, and keep businesses busy, Marx says.   The city’s current focus area is the Renaissance district, the spaces around Madison, Short Pike and Scott streets. The goal is to continue to grow new businesses while encouraging the momentum to continue in other areas, too.   Since its founding 35 years ago, Mainstrasse Village has seen exponential growth. It’s a walkable and bike-friendly area close to both the riverfront and the City's hotel district.   “Mainstrasse Village wouldn’t have lasted long without the community,” says Kim Blank, executive director of Mainstrasse.    Main Bite, Sugar Cube Records, Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar and Goodfellas recently opened in Mainstrasse, and Covington Yoga moved from Scott to the village to make room for Gateway Tech. Thai Sushi is slated to open later this summer, and Commonwealth Bistro is currently renovating two buildings in Mainstrasse.   “Covington continues to grow, and it’s a really nice area with lots of new businesses,” Blank says. “It’s an exciting time for us.”   Pike Street has also seen lots of new businesses open recently. Buonavita Pizzeria opened last Monday; 3TC Designs, Shrewdness of Apes, Latonia Treasures, Old Home Style and Green Line Salon are all new to the area as well. Grateful Grahams and Sushi Cincinnati both moved to larger facilities on Pike Street, and Tickets Sports Café is reinventing itself into an all-Covington, all-green, family-friendly restaurant.   In about nine months, City Hall will become Hotel Covington, a boutique hotel near the Madison Event Center. (City Hall moved to a smaller office to accommodate the project.)   Covington has also seen lots of larger businesses, like Westpack and Blair Technology Group, move in because of the perks the city has to offer—parks, restaurants, shops, quality of life and a sense of community.   “Developers are seeing great growth and rehabilitation efforts here, which attracts more developers to Covington,” Marx says. “And property owners see higher property values, which encourages them to stay and raise their families here.” Stay tuned to Soapbox for stories about Covington's new businesses and its continued growth.   By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter

CincyMusic Spotlight hits airwaves
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Talent
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June 11, 2013

The show’s format provides a much-needed outlet for local musicians.

Local startup hosts design competition
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Architecture + Design
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June 11, 2013

Greater Cincinnati’s creative community is being called on for a first-of-its-kind design challenge, aimed at flexing the region’s altruistic muscle and branding brilliance. In partnership with tech entrepreneur Tarek Kamil, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s C-Change program is requesting proposals from designers from across the region to help craft an unforgettable brand experience for users of the newly launched website, Cerkl. “This is an ideal opportunity to participate in a high-profile project for one of the largest non-profit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region,” says Kamil, Cerkl’s creator.  Launched in February, the website expedites serendipitous connections between talented individuals and local organizations that are working to improve Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Its online platform serves as a catalyst for offline community engagement by empowering organizations and individuals to cut through the "noise" from existing networks to easily find organizations and opportunities to give back using time and talent. Intuitive tools and search functions allow organizations to find the right people with specific skills - and help individuals leverage their unique talents and engage meaningfully with organizations they care about. Best of all, the site’s tools and platform are completely free. Cerkl is a gift to Cincinnati from Kamil, who while serving in his own community of Madeira saw the need for an online intervention to help non-profits make meaningful connections with their supporters. But still in its infancy, the website is ready for its brand to be polished. In step with Cerkl’s mission, Kamil and C-Change are looking to tap engaged design professionals who want to share their talents with their community in a meaningful way.  “No other city has a higher caliber or concentration of branding and design talent than ours,” Kamil says. “We want to leverage those assets to bring Cerkl to its full potential. When we’re successful, Cincinnati will be home to the go-to tool created to empower non-profits, inspire individuals and improve communities.” Designers participating in the request for proposals are asked to develop a refreshed visual look for the nonprofit, specifically a new brandmark and homepage redesign. Responses are due by June 21, and finalists will be notified in the beginning of July.  The chosen designer or team will have the opportunity to establish a working relationship with one of the region’s most successful startup entrepreneurs. The involved parties will actively promote the contracting designer or firm through the website, social media, at events, marketing campaigns, etc. The winner of the competition will receive special recognition from C-Change and Cincinnati USA Chamber of Commerce, as well as a year’s subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud service or a $600 DCI (Downtown Cincinnati Inc.) Gift Card. The digital version of the RFP and brand guidelines can be found at tinyurl.com/cerklproject. To receive a copy of request for proposal, email your submissions or for questions, email virtual.submission@gmail.com by June 21, 2013.  By Jenny Kessler

Video Growth in the kitchen at Nicola’s
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Architecture + Design
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June 11, 2013

Watch as the expansion of Nicola's kitchen space in the OTR restaurant is transformed and updated. Video courtesy Golden Hour Moving Pictures.

Economics Center teaches biz basics, philanthropy
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Diversity
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June 11, 2013

For the past seven years, elementary students from local schools have been learning about personal finance and the ways a market functions.  “A lot of adults don’t understand how a market works, and these kids can tell you exactly how a market works,” says Julia Heath, director of the Economics Center at the University of Cincinnati. “A lot of people think the government controls prices or the sellers control prices and nobody else controls it, but that’s not true—it’s a market that determines the prices—and these kids know that.” The students know the principles of a market because each year, they get to participate in the Student Enterprise Program’s Market Madness, where they’re given the opportunity to create and sell products.  This year’s theme was based on recyclable materials and re-use, so students created things like bookmarks, bracelets, stress balls, notebooks and magnets. “Some have their products laid out and are walking around with sandwich boards marketing their products, while others are buyers," Heath says. "Then halfway through the round, an air horn sounds, and the sellers then have an opportunity to change their price. So they see a market at work, and they know that if they’re selling things like crazy off their table, then they need to raise their price. If nobody’s coming by, they need to lower their price or increase their marketing.”  Students also have the opportunity to take a college tour at UC, which Heath says is important because it allows them to envision themselves on a college campus and see if it’s the right fit for their own futures. Market Madness is an annual event, but throughout the year, StEP’s director, Erin Harris, is busy with the program’s student-run businesses within their own classrooms.  “They can earn money through their business by good behavior, good attendance and good grades,” Heath says. “And then four times a year, we go to the school with a truck that’s got a bunch of stuff in it, and students then make a decision about whether they want to spend their money, save their money or donate their money.”  For Heath, it’s wonderful that students are learning economics principles, but the most gratifying aspect of StEP, she says, is students’ willingness to donate rather than save their money for a big purchase like an mp3 player or digital camera at the end of the year. “Our most economically challenged schools are often our highest donators,” Heath says. “The class suggests the organization that will get their donations, and often it’s something they’ve had direct contact with—like they’ll choose the Alzheimer’s Association because one or two of the kids has had a grandparent that’s been stricken, or they choose Children’s Hospital because they had a classmate who spent a lot of time there, or they’ll choose the March of Dimes because their sibling has been affected. It’s really quite remarkable.” Do Good:  • Contact Erin Harris if your school could benefit from StEP activities. • Volunteer in a StEP school store or classroom.  • Support the Economics Center by donating.  By Brittany York Brittany York is a professor of English composition at the University of Cincinnati and a teacher at the Regional Institute of Torah and Secular Studies. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia. 

LOC Card to replace the need for store loyalty cards
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Architecture + Design
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June 11, 2013

Today, it seems that every retailer has a loyalty card leading to wallets stuffed with disparate loyalty cards and the potential for confusion. Local startup LOC Enterprises hopes to replace the need for store loyalty cards with the launch of its LOC Card.   The LOC Card is the first truly universal loyalty card that will not only allow consumers to stop carrying around handfuls of loyalty cards, but it will also allow them to manage all of their loyalty programs on one website.   While shopping for his now 12-year-old son around Christmas 2011, LOC’s CEO and founder Jack Kennamer realized the hangups of loyalty cards.   “I was standing in line at a sporting goods store, and I heard the cashier ask customer after customer if they had the store’s loyalty card,” Kennamer says. “Most people didn’t want one, but one lady decided to sign up for it, and I could see the guy behind her huffing and puffing while she filled out the registration form. And when the guy in front of me was asked if he had the store’s card, he held up his keychain and said ‘No room for you.’ I figured there had to be a better way.”   After that experience, Kennamer spent hours researching loyalty cards and programs, and found that there wasn’t a “universal” loyalty card.   “Consumers love to feel special and get free stuff and discounts, but it’s getting to the point where they have to work so hard to participate in loyalty programs,” he says.   Kennamer’s company developed a 100-percent consumer-centric card that allows consumers to tailor how they want to engage with each retailer. For example, a consumer may want to interact with Kroger one way and Best Buy another, so they can pick and choose which retailers to provide with their email address.   When a consumer signs up for the LOC Card, they’ll set up an account online, and anytime they go to a retailer that accepts the card, they swipe it once and they’re enrolled in that loyalty program. LOC’s website manages all of the loyalty programs for the consumer, so there’s only one email address and password instead of 100.   LOC is working with the companies that handle the analytic side of loyalty programs to better service consumers. The company is also building relationships with individual merchants and getting great feedback about the LOC Card.   The LOC Card isn’t just tailored to large businesses, though. “The problem small businesses have is they don’t stand a chance because they’re so far down the totem pole when it comes to loyalty,” says Kennamer. “With the LOC Card, you swipe your card at the retailer once and you’re signed up for their loyalty program. After that, it’s up to the consumer to come back, and the retailer can reach out and give the consumer personalized offers to start repeat behaviors.”   The LOC Card isn’t available to consumers yet, but you can pre-register on LOC’s website.   By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter

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