sfisher

This area of Walnut wasn't a rowdy bar area until RR moved in. You had the Ruby's/Aronoff crowd, not exactly the loudest patrons you could think of. I had a similar experience on Race when Redfish moved out and Sully's moved in - as business districts expand, the new owners should work to play nice with the surrounding residents (their potential best customers), or, as Sully's did, the business will go under when the sheen wears off.

I wish Lavo was doing this to draw more people to the Gateway, but what I've heard from several people is they are simply trying to run Senate out of businesses before they can start up. The more casual, lower priced, street food concept seems to be exactly what Senate is about. I believe Lavo has even started doing a gourmet hot dog happy hour, which is certainly a direct steal from Senate. If true, I'm incredibly disappointed.

I'm a huge transit proponent, and am as fervently against issue 9 as anyone, but I had somewhat the same reaction to the TV ad. This doesn't mention at all what Issue 9 is, nor confronting why its a bad idea. I understand why it can talk about economic stimulus, and many on this board can, but, if I may borrow a slogan here, simply yelling jobs like so many other groups this election cycle without explaining why doesn't help people connect the dots.

Smaller specialty retailers are, on average, having a tough time this year with the economy in its current state. I think this is going to be a critical holiday time for many of these businesses. If you enjoy the businesses that are down there, be sure to stop in when you do your shopping this year.

Vito's Cafe of all places is starting a small scale brewery. Vito's Cafe Introduces Red Ear Brewing Company http://www.buycincy.com/flavor/2009/08/vitos-cafe-red-ear-brewing.html Greater Cincinnati has a new brewpub - and its not from a place you might expect. Vito's Cafe in Ft. Thomas has just announced their in-house brewery operation, Red Ear Brewing Company. Maybe more well known for their Italian cuisine and singing servers, the restaurant is starting its brewery operation one batch at a time. Brewmaster Matt Wehmeyer, son of owners Mary and Vito Ciepiel's is starting out with Endless Summer Ale, a seasonal beer that will give way in autumn to what Matt describes as "something more bold." In the name of research, we might just have to go and try it. Vito's Cafe 654 Highland Ave. Suite 29 Ft. Thomas, KY 41075 859-442-9444 www.vitoscafe.com

Moerlein needs a brewpub in downtown or OTR - its sad that a city with such great brewing history doesn't have a local brewpub to point to. If Moerlein doesn't do it soon, someone else will.

I hope they get new owners or at least a new chef. I had Pad Thai the first week they opened and it was bad...real bad, which is hard to do with Pad Thai. Which is a shame because the old thai place at that location, while a little greasy, was pretty decent.

^ Living on 7th, I can tell you for a fact that Sully's and Blackfinn do not have their kitchen open all day on Sundays. In fact, last Sunday we tried the 5 closest places we could think of for a sandwich, Diner on Elm, Izzy's, Cafe Martin, Blackfinn, and Sully's and none had their kitchen open at 2:30pm.

^ I hope so. After hearing rumors about several places moving in over the past year, I'll wait to celebrate until ink hits paper.

Have the immense amounts of dry shelters around here helped the homeless? I understand not wanting to concentrate another social service in this area, but the concept itself isn't a bad one to try if the current system is not working.

No way the power for this project comes from anyone but Duke with their existing contribution to the project.

I've never been impressed with Olives. Their food is decent, if a bit overpriced and in 3 times going I have yet to have good service.

^ And an extra $8 is well worth supporting a business that integrates itself into the urban fabric instead of integrating itself into a strip mall.

In order to say he had a large part in revitalizing OTR, he needs to make a permanent investment and bring those brewery jobs back to Cincinnati.

FYI, KoSho is preparing to move to Northside. Hopefully another rumored downtown sushi place moves in. Boss Cox got delayed a bit when one of the owners joined the group opening the Rookwood Restaurant in Mt. Adams. Hopefully they already lined up the financing to finish Boss Cox.