Oktoberfestivities

I realized I never posted pictures from Oktoberfest weekend . . .

Walking Tour: Woodburn Avenue

East Walnut Hills

Join ARCHITREKS for a walking tour of East Walnut Hills. From the website:

"Join us at the Parkside Cafe at 1026 E. McMillan Street on Saturday, October 31 at 10:00 a.m. for a tour of East Walnut Hills. This will be a presentation of a 'work in progress' and will be offered for a nominal fee of $5. HELP US DEVELOP THE TOUR. This tour may be as long as two hours because we want your design feedback. Sites will include parts of East McMillan Street, DeSales Corner & the Woodburn Neighborhood Business District, and the Uplands Local Historic District."

We did a preliminary walk around the neighborhood yesterday so here are a few pictures to get you excited to take the tour . . .

Raise the Rutherford!

Rutherford B. Hayes Month
The Rutherford B. Hayes Birthday Celebration

Today is Rutherford B. Hayes’ birthday. But last night I hosted the 2nd Annual Rutherford B. Hayes Birthday Celebration. Well over twenty people attended. Hopefully a good time was had by all. I know I had a few too many beers and throw in a combination Un-Lucy Vodka Lemonade and Un-Lucy Lemonade Rum Slush and it made for a very sluggish morning. And the last guests didn’t leave until nearly 2:00 AM!

Birthday Cake!
Some of the festivities . . .
‘Pin the Beard on Rutherford’
Playing ‘Hayes on Horseback’ (The point was to ride the 'horse' and then shot at target with the play dart gun scoring the most points while dressed in Hayes Civil War gear.)
Kim got the Spiegel Grove plate for winning ‘Hayes on Horseback’
Raise the Rutherford! is a continuing, slightly humorous series to raise awareness of Rutherford B. Hayes and erect a statue of him in Cincinnati.

Raise the Rutherford!

Rutherford B. Hayes Month
Hayes Civil War Reenactment

For those looking for a ‘Rutherford B. Hayes Roadtrip’ in honor of the President’s birthday, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center hosts the Hayes Civil War Reenactment this weekend.
The Hayes Civil War Reenactment re-creates the reunion of Hayes’ Regiment, the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry on the weekend closest to Hayes’ Oct. 4, 1822, birthdate. This year’s event, sponsored by Memorial Health Care System, takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, October 3 & 4. More than 500 costumed Civil War reenactors will camp on the Center’s grounds and will participate in three reenactments of the Battle of Carnifex Ferry, a battle in which President Hayes took part, over the weekend.

Admission to the Civil War Reenactment is $3/adult and $1/children ages 6-12. Click here for a full schedule of events. Note the link is to a PDF.

Raise the Rutherford! is a continuing, slightly humorous series to raise awareness of Rutherford B. Hayes and erect a statue of him in Cincinnati.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati!

September 19 & 20

One of my favorite weekends all year, come on down to 5th Street for all the fun, food, and beer. Check the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati website for all the details.

Program Alert: Lantern Lighting Ceremony at Spring Grove!

I forgot to mention over at BuyCincy that Spring Grove is hosting their 5th Annual Lantern Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, September 12 beginning at 5:00 PM. Lantern launch on Willow Water Lake begins at 7:30. Click here for all the details.

The above is the family marker for Peter G. Thomson and it is one of my new favorites.

Program Alert: No Celtic Festival!

I was disappointed to hear that the Cincinnati Celtic Festival has been cancelled for 2009. It was originally scheduled for this coming weekend. They expect to be back in 2010. I had a great time last year. Here are some Irish dancers from last year . . .

Germania Oktoberfest

Prost!

Just a few pics from an early evening at the Germania Oktoberfest. Had a fantastic time and it was crazy packed by nightfall.

Weekend Warm-Up: July 24 – 26

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

Queen City Survey is back from vacation but I am going to take it easy this weekend. 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 Free Fridays at the Cincinnati Museum Center, Fountain Square P&G Movie Night, and Spring Grove Weekend Walkabout. Again, go over to BuyCincy for all the details on those events and more.

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 Bad Veins. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Sister Cities
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Beethoven and Best in Show
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

One last thing . . .
If you are looking for a road trip this weekend or next, may I suggest a trip to the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. Their exhibit 'First-Lady Style: White House Gowns' ends August 2. Check their website for details. Next up is an exhibit on Presidential Pets!

See sidebar for additional links.

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.

Lose by a lot on Sunday

The overcast sky on Sunday kept me from going to the pool. So I went to the Red's game again. Sat right behind home plate. Then during the spankin' I walked around a bit.

Lose by 3 on the 3rd

Went to the Red's game last night. It was an exciting game, even though the Reds lost. And there were a lot of people at the game with over 41,000 in attendance. I bought a ticket on the street and sat pretty close to the field . . .

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.

Weekend Warm-Up: June 26 – 28

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

It is a festival weekend . . .

Check out Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks at BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post where we give the basics on three big festivals this weekend:
Panegyri Festival, Paddlefest, and WestFest

However, if looking for something to combine a unique event and a unique location, check out Spring Grove Cemetery on Sunday, June 28.
Their first event is the Second Annual Dog Day of Summer Event from 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM. There is a special dog walk at 11:00 AM. From the Spring Grove website:
“For 364 days of the year, the cemetery does not permit dogs owners to share the beauty of Spring Grove with their pets. However, on this ONE day only, responsible pet owners are invited to come and spend the afternoon at the cemetery and enjoy this special day. Stroll with your canine friend along our Dogwood Trail during an organized 1.5 mile walk to benefit the SPCA of Cincinnati.”
The second event on Sunday at Spring Grove will include a walking tour at 1:00 PM entitled, "Captains Of Industry & The Arts". From the Spring Grove website:
“Walk with us and learn about the people who put Cincinnati on the business map, and then funded our city's culture . . . West, Longworth, Hauck, Peter Thompson, etc.”

Also, this Friday is Final Friday so check out Vine Street, Main Street, and the Pendleton Art Center.

Finally, this weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
There will be Reds’ promotions at lunch followed by MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Culture Queer. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Media
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Sinbad Legend of the Seven Seas & Journey to the Center of the Earth
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: June 19 – 21

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

It is a sports related weekend!

Cincinnati is hosting the MLB 2009 Civil Rights Game on Saturday, June 20 at 7:10 PM. There are however events downtown all weekend associated with the game including a free roundtable discussion on Friday at the Freedom Center. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak at a SOLD OUT Saturday luncheon. Then from 2:00 to 7:00 there will be a youth event called Wanna Play? at Fountain Square. Kids will be able to test their baseball skills, take part in clinics and a youth summit, and meet Reds players. Check out the above link and this Red’s article for all the details.

Then on Father’s Day there is the “Father’s Day Catch”. The fourth-annual event is fundraiser benefiting the Reds Community Fund. “This event offers the unique opportunity to play "catch" on the field at Great American Ball Park, providing Mezzanine level game tickets to the June 21 Reds vs. White Sox home game, postgame field pass, authentic batting practice-used baseball and commemorative certificate. A two-person package is available for $175, with additional individual packages available for $75 each.”

Are you ready for some football? Even if it is the Bengals? The Bengals are having an open to the public minicamp on Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM at Paul Brown Stadium. In association, they are hosting their Select-A-Seat Event from 9:00 AM to noon where you will be able to see seats available for season ticket purchase. The event is free and enter stadium at Gate B. (That season ticket wait list didn’t last long.)

You say you want to go for a run?

Well Saturday, June 20th is also the GoOTR 5K and Summer Celebration in the Gateway Quarter. The GoOTR 5K starts at 10:00 AM from 12th & Vine Streets. It ends there too. Then stay for the Summer Celebration. There will be arts and crafts along with music, food, and beer. Festivities continue until 7:00 PM.

And while not related to sports, this is the final weekend of Butterfly Show at Krohn. Go here for hours of operation and admission prices.

As reminder, check out Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks at BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post. This week we highlight the Free Father’s Day at the Zoo and the exhibit “Neck Kisses are the Best” at Base Cooperative Gallery. Go to BuyCincy for more details.

Finally, this weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Red Hot Friday
There will be Reds’ promotions at lunch followed by MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Hiders. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Sports
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Rookie of the Year & Field of Dreams
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: 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.