Simon

can anyone speak to both Cue and what was supposed to be the speakeasy (japps) being closed, with a note on the door 'closed by the city of cincinnati'...looks like occupancy issues?

More updates on the Festival below! New Main Street Venues! For my urban bretheren and sisteren, this will be a chance to see 4 'new' venues on Main Street with the soft openings of Cue (formerly RBC), The Speakeasy (f/k/a Japps), and the aptly named Pizza Bar (Harrys). All of which will be open for business in October following the Festival. In addition, Jardine Tapas Bar (Neons) which has opened for private parties, will also be hosting a stage under the stars. We're excited these venues are coming online and it will be a great chance for all of us to see their progress. In addition to these great venues, check out cool spaces like Inktank and New Stage Collective Theatre which will both be hosting three nights of music stages AND serving beer! Thursday CityBeat Pre-Party: Superdrag@ The Exchange The original Superdrag line-up (Don Coffey Jr., John Davis, Brandon Fisher, and Tom Pappas) are reuniting to play 6 limited tour dates in October and November, but they’re kicking off the Midwest’s only independent music festival first on September 27th. Friday CityBeat Pre-Party: Forget Cassettes@ The Exchange Friday night’s MPMF party will feature Nashville based Forget Cassettes Both preparty shows start sharply at 7:30pm!! Doors 6:30pm How to Enjoy: The 3-day Wristband is the definitely the way to go when it comes to MidPoint's 230+ showcases and preparties. For only $25, you have access* to all the CityBeat pre-parties and band showcases. But hurry...numbers are limited and you can only buy them online or at participating MPMF venues on Thursday, September 27. *Subject to venue capacity. www.mpmf.cmo International Stage at the Know Theatre ICB Audio and The Bamboo Room have made possible an international stage at the Know Theatre. All three days are dedicated to bands from abroad. But it's not the only place you'll find bands from outside the U.S. MPMF 2007 has more international bands this year than any year prior. Conference Artist and Industry Keynotes The MidPoint Music Festival announced 2007 Artist Keynote will be Superdrag vocalist and songwriter, John Davis. Davis will be part of an artist’s conversation on Friday, September 28th in the Black Box Theatre of MPMF’s Conference headquarters at the Contemporary Arts Center. In addition, the 2007 Industry Keynote will be former Minor Threat guitarist, Lyle Preslar. He will be part of an industry conversation September 28 in the Black Box Theatre of MPMF’s conference headquarters at the Contemporary Arts Center downtown. Volunteer Registration Still Open MPMF recruits over 200 volunteers each year to make the Festival happen. If you'd like to earn a free wristband, hop over to the site and sign up to volunteer for one night!! www.mpmf.com

Anyone know when the next Portland trip is being scheduled (after May)?

Fifth Third Bank Announces First New Tenant to Fountain Square Cadillac Ranch Rock-N-Country Bar & Grill Finds Home Downtown; Jones the Florist Plans for Relocation Cincinnati –Fifth Third Bank today announced the signing of an 8,325-square-foot retail lease agreement with FS Cincinnati, LLC to open Cadillac Ranch Rock-N-Country Bar & Grill on Fountain Square. FS Cincinnati, LLC is part of an enterprise group that operates restaurant locations throughout the country, including a Cadillac Ranch Rock-N-Country Bar & Grill opened in Nashville, Tennessee last month. No link available for article.

This is a great summary. Also, the bartenders are great. The owner is cool. You only have to go once or twice, and he remembers you forever. They also have some good beers on tap, including Blue Moon and Barrelhouse. Barrelhouse's Boss Cox ale is like crack cocaine. Can't get enough of it, and I've only found it at Pitifuls. Bob is great, bartenders are great, atmosphere is great, and i concur, easily the most diverse bar i populate.

John, what about the old trolley garage at Dorchester and Highland?? Currently a car barn, it's a great old structure that could house a repair shop minutes from downtown and uptown and eden park actually. I think Sycamore Hill to Auburn makes a lot of sense and incorporates Christ and Hamilton County Services on the way to UC. But as an aside, what about up Liberty Hill to Highland then on to UC, following an old trolley/current bus route?? (edited to say, nevermind, there's no direct easterly approach to Liberty Hill from Liberty, which would make tracks an issue I assume).