QCS Quips

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise.

• I think I am more interested in the Biden – Palin debate than I was in the Obama – McCain debate. By the way, the SNL skit of Sarah Palin being interviewed by Katie Couric was hysterical.
• I am still trying to determine the difference between a "Good Fellow" and an "Odd Fellow".
• Was there any consideration to restore some of the historic street names to ‘The Banks’ like Front Street or Water Street? Note to self: Find out the history of "Mehring".
• Yesterday was Keeneland Day on Fountain Square. Didn’t go but I love going to Keeneland. I already have tickets to a Sunday race. Racing starts this weekend.
• I kind of like that Pink "So What" song.

St. Stephan's, Winton Place

Designed by Samuel Hannaford and completed in 1887, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church has to be one of my favorite small churches in Cincinnati. It is an interesting combination of Richardsonian Romanesque and Gothic Revivals.

YouTube Tuesday

A look at Cincinnati in Video

To prep you for this weekend's Red Bull SoapBox Race, here is a video from Philadelphia's race earlier this year.



From the website:
When is Red Bull Soapbox Race Cincinnati?
The big event is on October 4th, 2008. Pit Row open at 11:00 AM, with first race scheduled for 1:00 PM. Award ceremonies are expected to take place around 3:30 PM.

Where is it?
The event is taking place in the Mt Adams area east of downtown Cincinnati. The start line will be located on St. Gregory St. just north of Pavilion St. The pit area, aka Pit Row, will be located in the Monastery parking lot off St. Paul Pl. This is where you can view the crafts and mingle with the teams beginning at 11:00 AM before they line up in procession to the starting line at 12:30 PM. The finish line will be at the intersection of Wareham Dr. and Elsinore Ave.

Sounds and looks interesting!

Video from jchtv.

Cincinnati’s Monday Sports Manager

A round-up of the week’s sporting news

Reds
The Reds finish the season 74 – 88. A quick look at the Red’s website and they are pretty optimistic for next year with the young talent they have. I guess as the saying goes, there is always next year.

Bengals
The Bengals lose to Cleveland and are a big zero and four. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up during the post-game show.

Bearcats
Bearcats win in Akron versus the Zips but it was a tough win. The Bearcats started the game and the second half strong, but didn’t seem to play with much emotion for the entire four quarters. And Drew Frey and Tony Pike broke their arms. On the positive side, I would estimate the crowd at the Rubber Bowl was a little less than 50% Bearcat fans with approximately 16,000 people in attendance. And no doubt the hero of the game was Jake Rodgers, the kicker who booted a 48 yard field goal to give UC the win.

Links in the side bar.

Walking Tour: Upland Place

Walnut Hills

It is now official; I am stalking Walnut Hills. My love affair is now borderline obsession. However with my gushing, I may have successfully lobbied for a full ARCHITREKS walking tour of Walnut Hills in 2010! We shall see.

Upland Place is part of the Upland Local Historic District which also includes parts of the nearby streets of Ashland, Fleming, Grandview and East McMillan. An enclave of Victorian Architecture, the housing styles range from Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Shingle, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Exotic Revival, and Chateauesque.

Here are some of my favorite or most notable buildings.

Cordelia A. Plimpton House (1885)
2200 Upland Place
Architect: Lucian Plympton
Alfred D. Fisher House – "Swiss Chalet" (1892)
2214 Upland Place
Architect: Lucian Plympton
Orrin E. Peters House (1891)
2304 Upland Place
Architect: Martin Aiken & E. H. Ketcham
Joseph A. Jones House (c. 1886)
2315 Upland Place
Architect: Samuel Hannaford
William Graveson House (1883)
2326 Upland Place
Architect: Attributed to Desjardins & Hayward
Bernard Mihalovitch House (1892)
2330 Upland Place
Architect: Samuel Godley

2333 Upland Place (1880)

Jacob S. Fechheimer House (1893)
2334 Upland Place
Architect: Desjardins & Hayward

2345 Upland Place (1895)

3403 Upland Place (1880)

References:
City of Cincinnati Conservation Guidelines - Upland Historic District

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Observations & Comments

I had a blast at Oktoberfest last weekend. I attribute it mostly to some good friends to hang out with and a large amount of beer.

I did want to comment on a few things.

I liked the idea of new Party Zelt tent with a stage and TVs however it was way too disconnected to the main 5th Street strip. It was in the parking lot next Millennium but set back to near mid block. If you have it next year, move or get rid of the HYPE Haus Tent (I saw no one in it all weekend) then move the Party Tent all the way to the corner of 5th & Race.

I'd be all for a 10-day Oktoberfest in the new Central Riverfront Park with a big tent with long tables that stays open through the week, spans two weekends, and might be even more authentic.

Finally, P&G needs to allow the use of their garden from Sycamore to Broadway. I think it could really add a nice ambiance to the "Beir Garten" concept and be just a nice place for kids to play or sit out in the grass. Some kids were already doing it. Leave the big tent in the middle with the stage but then add temporary table and tables in chairs around the lawns under the pergolas. It would be a shady place to rest and eat and observe any activity on the lawn. Maybe make that whole end of Oktoberfest more of an entertainment zone with more "Karneval" type games for kids in addition to the rides on Sycamore and the far end of 5th. Of course the games should have wacky German themes. P&G is already a big supporter and stage sponsor of Oktoberfest. But I’m sorry that green space needs to be used and not just looked at. What harm can come from two days of foot traffic? Are they seriously that worried about killing the grass? Just spray some Fabreze on it when it is all over. That works right?

Oh, one last thing. Sorry to the girl that called me an a****** as I ran in to her walking through the intersection of 5th & Walnut Streets. I admit I wasn’t paying attention when I bumped you but I didn’t do it on purpose of course.

10 Great

I always read USA Today’s article ‘10 Great’ in Friday’s travel section where they list 10 great places to visit related to a given topic. In the past couple of years, Cincinnati has made the list a few times.

10 great places to go wild over zoo animals
10 great places to absorb the reality of slavery
10 great places to toast German heritage

We need to be mentioned more often.

QSC Quips

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise.

• Back from the UC vs. Akron game and UC gutted out a victory from near defeat. It wasn't pretty. And speaking of "not pretty" . . . the Rubber Bowl.


• I really like Luke Bryan's video Country Man. It's light and funny and makes me smile every time I see it.


• I hate ordering food at a drive thru and I drive away and then my order is wrong. How hard is it to remember "plain"!? Note to self: Boycott the Wendy's at Winton & West Galbraith in Springfield Township.


• Lump crab meat is expensive!


• Artists and Authors had a nice crowd on Friday at Below Zero for MidPoint considering they started at 8:30 PM.


• Palmer's not starting for the Bengals. And he is not starting for my fantasy football team either.

Blog Alert: New Blogs Added

A number of new blogs have been added to the side bar. I have added all of them to the "Sort Of Cincinnati" section. A combination of new blogs, blogs I am finally getting around to adding, and Joe Wessels’s blog Report This! It has been around awhile and there was a lull of content for a while but there has been some good stuff lately.

Design Cincinnati
Just For View
Losantiville
PepTalk
Report This!
UrbanUp

Enjoy if not already.

Check side bar for links.

Blogger Tour of Living

On Saturday, before Oktoberfest, I attended the Blogger Tour of Living. It was organized by Randy at UrbanCincy and then led by a number of folks from the Gateway Quarter, including representatives from both the development and sales teams.

We saw a number of places in various states of construction.

Some were done or trying to get as much done before the Downtown Tour of Living this weekend.
Trideca Lofts at SEC 13th and Vine Streets
Good Fellows Hall Lofts on Main Street
Some were brand-spanking new construction and not to far from getting out of the ground.
14th & Vine at Trinity Flats at SWC 14th and Vine Streets (No photo)
City Home on Pleasant Street north of 14th Street
Some were renovation projects that had started but still in the framing and rough-in stage.
The old Ball Furniture Co. at 1417-1421 Main Street
And some renovations were just underway and we really just looked at them from the street.
Trinity Flats at NEC 14th and Vine Streets
Mottainai just south of 13th and Republic Streets
(I’m not really liking the name but the description of the units sounded cool and affordable.)
Lackman Building at SWC 13th and Vine
There really feels like true momentum. For example Trideca had already pre-sold like six out of nine units. And the momentum is clearly moving north, west, and east from the initial epicenter of 12th & Vine.

Here are some random shots . . .

Check out other blogger photos at UrbanCincy, 5chw4r7z, and seicer at Urban Ohio

The Queen Speaks

Quotes from and about Cincinnati

"There's no question more (wins) put more fannies in the seats." – Phil Castellini, Red’s COO.

As quoted in the article "Letdown Reflected in the Seats" by John Fay in the September 23, 2008, Cincinnati Enquirer.

You think? I would have never guessed. Please note sarcasm.

Weekend Warm-Up: September 25 – 28

My recommendations for something to do this weekend

Posting a little early and adding Thursday to the weekend so you can take advantage of the entire MidPoint Music Festival which runs Thursday, September 25, through Saturday, September 27.

Click here for the handy schedule of all of MidPoint and remember that there is a free kick-off concert on Fountain Square on the 26th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. I will be going to Akron for the UC game on Saturday and will miss Saturday’s MidPoint line-up. It is bumming me out a little as that was when a number of bands I wanted to check out are playing but life will go on, believe it or not.

If you need more to do then Final Friday is in Over the Rhine on the 26th and the Downtown Tour of Living is on Saturday the 26th from noon to 5:00 PM. And Sunday will bring another Bengals Tailgate Party on Fountain Square. Since the Bengals are home to take on the dreaded Browns, there will be live music by 500 Miles to Memphis to help get the party started. Just a reminder, every home Bengals game from September to November 2 will feature live music on the Square, sponsored by Wood & Lamping LLC.

Okto‘BAU’fest!

Part VII: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

‘Bau’ is the German word for building. So in honor of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (September 20 – 21), Queen City Survey is looking at some Germanic influences on Cincinnati, its history, and its built environment in a week-long series we are calling Okto‘BAU’fest!

Here are a few pictures from two days of this past weekend's Oktoberfest Zinzinnati!

YouTube Tuesday

A Look at Cincinnati in Video

Here is a brief clip of some music from 2008 Oktoberfest Zinzinnati!

Okto‘BAU’fest!

Part VI: German Inscriptions of Over the Rhine

‘Bau’ is the German word for building. So in honor of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (September 20 – 21), Queen City Survey is looking at some Germanic influences on Cincinnati, its history, and its built environment in a week-long series we are calling Okto‘BAU’fest!

A walk around Over the Rhine reveals a lot of German inscriptions. You just have to look for them.

Nast Trinity Church (1880)
1310 Race Street
Architect: Samuel Hannaford

Inscription over the front door:
Erste Deutsche Bischofl Meth. Kirche, Gegrundet 1835
Translation:
First German Bishopric Methodist Church, Founded 1835

Inscription over side doors:
Erste Bauerrichtet 1842 & Neu Erbaut 1880

Translation:
First Built 1842 & Rebuilt 1880

German Mutual Insurance Company of Cincinnati (1870)
SWC Walnut and 13th Streets

Inscription:
Deutsche Gegenseitige Versicherungs-Gesellschaft von Cincinnati
Translation:
German Mutual Insurance Company of Cincinnati

Old St. Mary’s Church (1842)
123 13th Street
Architect: Franz Ignatz Erd

Inscription, first two lines:
St. Marien-Kirche
Erbaut von der deutschen Katholiken von Cincinnati

Translation:
St. Mary's Church
Erected by the German Catholics of Cincinnati

The next three lines all say the same thing but in German, Latin, and finally English.

Old St. Paul’s Church (1849)
SEC Spring and 12th Streets
Architect: Seneca Palmer

The first two lines are Latin then two lines of German . . .

Inscription:
Die Gnade unfers Herrn Jesu Christi sei mit euch!
Meine Liebe ist mit euch Allen in Christi Jesu, Amen

Translation:
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
My Love is with all in Christ Jesus, Amen

Then the Latin phrase meaning the Year of Our Lord, 1849. And finally, more German . . .

Inscription:
Restauriert Nach den Brande vom 19, August 1899

Translation:
Restored after the fire of August 19th, 1899

John Becker Wine Garden (c. 1874)
1816 Vine Street

Really just the German surname but it is the best German surname ever! John Becker operated his Wine Garden from 1874 to 1903.

Kolping Society House (1870)
1523 Republic Street
Architect: Sigmund Kutznitzky

Inscription:
Gott Segne das Ehrbare Handwerk

Translation:
God Blesses Respectable Handwork

The inscription was added after the Kolping Society purchased the property in 1930.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Church (1850)
SWC Race and 15th Streets

Inscription:

Deutsche Evangelische

St. Paulus Kirche

1850
Wahrheit, Tugend, Freiheit

Translation:
German Evangelical

St. Paul's Church

1850

Truth, Virtue, Freedom

Frederick Hecker Statue (1883)
Washington Park
Sculpter: Leopold Fettweis
Inscription:
Mit Wort und That fuer Volksfreiheit im alten und neuen Vaterlande
Translation:
With Word and Deed for the Freedom of the People in the Old and New Fatherlands

A number of churches proudly display their original German names.

St. John’s Unitarian Church (1867)
"Deutsche Protestantische St Johannes Kirche"
NWC Elm and 12th Streets
Architect: Sigmund Kutznitzky

German Baptist Church (1866)
"Baptisten Kirche"
SEC Walnut and Corwine Streets
Salem Church of Christ (1867)
"Deutsche Evangelisch Reformirte Salem's Kirche"
NWC Sycamore and Orchard Streets

German Evangelical Zions Church (1853)
"Deutsche Evangelische Zions Kirche"
NEC 15th and Republic Streets
(Republic Street was Bremen Street prior to 1919 and is also still visible on the Church.)
Editor’s Note: I’ve been preparing this post for a few weeks so all my photos are from before the wind storm of September 14, 2008, and the subsequent damage to a number of the buildings shown.

References:
Dr. Robert DiDonato, Chair of the Miami University Department of German, Russian, and East Asian Languages.
Wimberg, Robert J. Cincinnati: Over the Rhine. Ohio Book Store, Cincinnati, OH. 1987
University of Cincinnati, Department of German Studies Website

Next – Part VII: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati