Mynt Martini

Just east of the passageway to 6th Street on Fountain Square . . .

QCS Quips

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise

• So Flo’s Plate Full of Soul (or whatever it was called) on Vine Street is already gone.
• Not sure if my fantasy football team is going to be any good.
• The President’s Grove at Eden Park is all messed up with the construction of new paths and re-arranged brick piers. My Rutherford B. Hayes tree better be planted this fall!
• UC football starts next Monday at Rutgers. And with it, the Cincinnati’s Monday Sports Manager blog posts begin again.
• There is still a section of Fountain Square that is under construction. What the freakin’ hell are they doing?! (I asked Fountain Square PR but no response.)
• This summer went fast. November elections will be upon us before you know it.

Weekend Warm-Up: July 17 – 19

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

Queen City Survey is still on vacation!

But I am directing you to check out BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post to get the lowdown on this weekend’s activities. Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks include: Cincinnati T-Shirt Fest, Kolping Society Schutzenfest & German Festival, and Big Hair Bingo! Again, go over to BuyCincy for the details.

This weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Wussy. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Arts
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Free Willy & Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

See sidebar for additional links.

Weekend Warm-Up: July 10 – 12

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

Queen City Survey is on vacation!

So I am directing you to check out BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post to get the lowdown on this weekend’s activities. Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks include: Spring Grove Weekend Walkabout, the ARCHITREKS’ West Over the Rhine “Outside-In” Walking Tour, and the More Great Cincinnati Families Lecture. Again, go over to BuyCincy for the details.

This weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include the Pomegranates. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Transportation
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Nanny McPhee & Peter Pan
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

See sidebar for additional links.

Weekend Warm-Up: July 3 – 4

My recommendations for something to do this 4th of July weekend.

Go out, have fun, and be safe this holiday weekend. Check out some festivals including the Northside Rock-n-Roll Carnival and the Cincinnati Pops Red White and Boom. Get the details on those and a lot more at Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks at BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post.

Other events include the Equinox event at various locations all weekend, the Reds are in town, and Fountain Square has their normal line-up but also special music and movies (and fireworks!) on Saturday night.

See sidebar for links.

Lunchtime Tuesday

Music at Piatt Park . . .

And Market on the Square

It really doesn't get much better at lunchtime in Downtown.

Weekend Warm-Up: June 12 – 14

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

The big announcement here is that beginning today BuyCincy is going to feature Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks as part of their Enjoy Your Weekend post. I’ll have two or three events selected each week. At least one of them I hope will highlight some architectural or local history related event. But generally I will just try to spotlight random, cool events. Cool in my mind anyway. Go over to BuyCincy and check them out. (Thanks Sean & Maya!)

Well, it is Gay Pride Weekend in Cincinnati. If you are interested, City Beat has a handy insert on all the activities. The Pride Festival kicks off on Saturday afternoon at Hoffner Park in Northside and continues until 9:00 PM. Then the Pride Parade starts at 1:00 PM on Sunday and finishes at Hoffner Park where the festival continues until 7:00 PM. I am not fond of the theme or logo this year so there is no use in using them at all. Check the Pride website too for details.

In addition there are a number of other fun events going on.

Rivertown Breakdown benefiting River Sweep is at Southgate House on Saturday, June 13 at 8 PM. Catch the Comet Bluegrass Allstars, Jake Speed and the Freddies, the Sidecars, Lagniappe, Rumpke Mountain Boys and others. This is one show/event I will make it to some year! Check website for a complete list of performers. And there are a lot.

This Sunday brings the Second Sunday on Main event in Over the Rhine from noon to 4:00 PM. This month’s theme is ‘Dog Days’. Check the website for musical acts and full schedule including the dog parade!

Finally, this weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
MidPoint Indie Summer begins at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night begins at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Cari Clara. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Animals
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Cheaper by the Dozen & Mr. Mom
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

See sidebar for additional links.

Last Week on Fountain Square

Delayed Reaction!

Last Monday: All-Electric Car Incentive Program Pilot Project
An event to mark the All-Electric Car Incentive Program Pilot Project, which allows the owner of 100 percent electric-powered cars to park for free in the Fountain Square South Garage, Garfield Garage, Fifth and Race Parking Lot, Seventh Street Garage, and at any parking meter within the City limits.

Last Tuesday: Market on the Square
The first one of the summer!

Last Friday: MidPoint Indie Summer & Singer-Songwriter Night
Caught some music going on my way home from the Red’s game . . .

Sorry for the lack of posts last week. Just got busy and then was overindulgent in my leisure this past weekend.

Development I

There is some type of construction going on here at the space to the east of Probasco Market, er that alley next to Rock Bottom.

Festival Month!

Taste of Cincinnati - Day 2

I went to Taste of Cincinnati basically all day yesterday. The afternoon was with family and the evening with friends. A lot of beer was consumed . . .My nephews loved the water wall on Fountain Square. It provided a good half hour of fun.

Festival Month!

Taste of Cincinnati - Day 1

I went to Taste of Cincinnati early and then late. All pictures are from this afternoon.

Lunch and a Drink

Today was a little dreary but yesterday was a beautiful day to have lunch on Fountain Square. Or in the case of the police horse, a drink.

YouTube Tuesday

. . . On Wednesday
A look at Cincinnati in Video

To end Fountain Square Month, a video of the Flower Carpet.



Video from milfordmagic

Fountain Square Month

Friday’s Fountain Fact

A multi-part series documenting the current events taking place on Fountain Square as well honoring some of its history and details.

Fountain Square Backdrop – The Dubois Tower

From 1871 to 1969, the Tyler Davisdon Fountain sat in the middle of a promenade on 5th Street. An urban renewal plan called “The Block Plan” was proposed in 1964 to relocate the Fountain and Fountain Square to its current location in the northwest corner of 5th & Vine Streets. The ‘new’ Fountain Square was completed in 1969.

The Dubois Tower was constructed on the Square’s eastern edge at 511 Walnut Street. Completed in 1970, it most notably replaced the Keith Theatre Building along with some others buildings. The low-rise parking structure on the Square’s north side was constructed at the same time. Designed by New York firm Harrison & Abramovitz, it rises 423 feet and some thirty stories. It is now known as the Fifth Third Center.
Other buildings by Harrison & Abramovitz that you may be familiar with include U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh, and Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall) at Lincoln Center and the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. For the UN Harrison & Abramovitz served as the lead architect on the project but there were others involved as well.

I am not really a fan of the building but I thought I’d highlight it given its prominence to Fountain Square.

This post concludes our mini series on Fountain Square Facts in celebration of Fountain Square Month in April!

Image of the Keith Theatre Building from the Library's Cincinnati Memory Project.

Saturday, Sunshine, the Square

Fountain, Flowers, and Friends

Fountain Square Month

Friday’s Fountain Fact

A multi-part series documenting the current events taking place on Fountain Square as well honoring some of its history and details.

“Rules to be Observed”

While looking around the ‘I Love Cincy’ shop at Tower Place, I ran across a book that was a reprint of the 1872 book about the Tyler Davidson Fountain and its Dedication on Probasco Place, the original name of Fountain Square. In it they have all kinds of information. I mentioned Rutherford B. Hayes’s speech at the Dedication two week ago. This week I wanted to share part of a letter written by Ferdinand von Miller, the director of the Royal Bavarian Foundry, maker of the fountain, to S. Davis, Mayor of the City of Cincinnati in 1871.

The letter is to address how to manage and maintain the Fountain and includes eight “Rules to be Observed in the Management of the Tyler Davidson Fountain.” I’d like share Rules No. 6 & No. 7:

“6. The hands of the Genius shall be removed, when found necessary by wrench provided for the purpose; and great care must be observed, especially in removing them and cleaning them; and not to change their present position.

“7. If from mismanagement, or any other cause whatever, any of the main pipes in connection with the figure of the Genius, should break, the following instructions must be observed: The crown of the Genius is a plate, fastened by four screws. Down this opening the pipes will be seen. Should it be necessary to remove an arm, there will be seen screws, which separate the same from the body. If it should be necessary to remove the Genius from the pedestal upon which it stands, first remove the bolts connecting the same; the pipe will be disconnected, and the Genius removed.”

Cool!

You really need to read all the rules like that the watchman of the fountain should be fired from his job should he permit “leaves, papers, cigars, fire-crackers, fruits, or any substance whatever to remain in the basin or shells . . .” Yes, there was a recommendation to have a watchman oversee and maintain the fountain back from the very beginning.

Fountain Square Month

2009 Saturday Night at the Movies Announced!

Over on the My Fountain Square website, they have released the schedule for the Saturday Night at the Movies on Fountain Square. Personally, one of my favorite events in the city. A couple told me last year they loved it because they could bring the kids down for a very affordable evening out and in these economic times, it makes even more sense.

New this year is presenting sponsor Toyota and they will have cars on display on Saturday nights. The website also indicates additional concessions will be available including candy, soft pretzels, and kettle corn. And it would be good to note that the movies are starting earlier in May this year so there are more weeks of movies than in years past.

Now without further ado, the upcoming season: (First movie starts at 7:30 PM and if there is a second movie, it starts approximately at 9:30 PM)
May 2 – Run Fat Boy Run
May 9 – Neverending Story
May 16 – Night at the Museum
May 23 – No Movies (Taste of Cincinnati)
May 30 – School of Rock & King Kong
June 6 – Madagascar & Men in Black
June 13 – Cheaper By the Dozen & Mr. Mom
June 20 – Rookie of the Year & Mr. 3000
June 27 – Sinbad Legend of the Seven Seas & Journey to the Center of the Earth
July 4 – Independence Day (Special Showing)
July 11 – Nanny McPhee & Finding Neverland
July 18 – Free Willy & Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
July 25 – Beethoven & Best in Show (Bring Your Dog Night!)
August 1 – Chicken Run & X-Men
August 8 – Antz & Spiderman
August 15 – Shark Tale & The Dark Night
August 22 – Bee Movie & Iron Man
August 29 – Kung Fu Panda & Fantastic Four
September 5 – No Movies (Oyster Fest)
September 12 - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial & Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Now sadly there is no event movie like The Sound of Music this year but there are plenty of options. Chicken Run is a favorite (I don’t like gravy”) so I will for sure be there August 1.

I will note that the schedule changed a bit last year as the summer went on so always check the website or sign up for the weekly calendar updates to make sure nothing has changed.

Fountain Square Month

Easter Egg Hunt

I went and took a few photos at yesterday's Fountain Dquare Easter Egg Hunt. Enjoy and Happy Easter.

Fountain Square Month

Friday’s Fountain Fact

A multi-part series documenting the current events taking place on Fountain Square as well honoring some of its history and details.

The Fountain Square Balustrade

I will be a tour guide this summer on the East Over the Rhine walking tours presented by ARCHITREKS. The tours do not start until May but if you know where to look you will discover a Fountain Square artifact in the heart of Over the Rhine -- The Fountain Square Balustrade!

The original design of promenade at Fountain Square did not include any type of railing separating the plaza from the street. There was always a row of trees with decorative cages on each side, but no rail. William Tinsley, the Architect of Probasco Place, the original name of Fountain Square, even mentions the cages in his descriptions of the Square. For instance here is a postcard of Fountain Square at the turn of the century looking west:
But by the 1940’s, a railing appears. I am not sure when it exactly was erected but I assume it was needed to protect people as more cars flooded on to the downtown streets. Check out this circa 1940 postcard, looking east:
(Note those stairs going underground were to restrooms.)

So behind Old St. Mary’s Church and in the rear of the small park on Main Street, is a pink granite balustrade on the top of a retaining wall that was a section of the railing once used on Fountain Square!
Stay tuned for more Fountain Square facts during the month of April. And check out the East Over the Rhine walking tour with ARCHITREKS on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, May through October.

Historic images from Library's Cincinnati Memory Project.