Walnut

I understand why everyone wants these restaurants (mythos, skyline, Paula's, Fresh, etc.) to have longer hours, however I also see their side as well. Do you really think they would get alot of business between 4pm and 1am? I know that if I'm going out after work, I want a beer so I'm going to some place like McCormick & Schmick's. Every downtown (including NYCity, Chicago) has many more places open for lunch than for dinner and in most cases, if you're a restaurant without a liquor license than you're not going to be able to compete downtown for dinner.

Colts vs. Bengals, Reds vs. Pirates/Cubs/Indians Are you kidding me... Last year there was more interest in the Buckeyes than the Bearcats here in Cincinnati, Ohio. It had been that way for a long time (although it shouldn't have been), but don't try to change history. Look at the attendance at Nippert, only this year are things really picking up and multiple sellouts occurring. Obviously the Bengals and the Reds have had a big following for a long time. Now this year is different, there finally is interest in the football program. I agree that they should show the Bearcats on the screen. Would you be surprised to find out Tampa has similar issues arising now that South Florida has a good football team in a city that has many University of Florida fans.

Common sense is this: People request that a game is shown on the screen. 3cdc accomodates this request as no one request any other programming. Listen, I'm a UC football fan, but before this year there were only 2 other fans besides myself. It takes a little time for systems to adjust. You want the UC game on the screen? Ask for it! However, Cincinnati is a reactive town, not a proactive town (too many examples here, such as the banks).

A good model for the dog park would be Union Square in NY. It's a nice park for everyone and they have a small dog run that is paid for and operated by volunteers. I would think you could get P&G to sponsor the Iams Washington Park Dog Run. Here is a link to a picture of the park. The dog run is in the very lower left corner, it has gravel rather than grass: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandermeckert/351805179/ http://www.chriskula.com/us/dogrun.jpg and a close-up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kissmygrandmother/418427099/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kissmygrandmother/418420812/

I happen to think that a dog park would be a great idea. Right now, the only people you see near Washington Park area are hobos and heroine addicts. If you put a dog park in the northern part of the park, there will be nearly constant foot traffic consisting of non-drugged/drunk dog-owners. That could perhaps make the rest of the park seem a bit more inviting as well.

I've heard rumors for some time now that David Falk was going to open a Mexican Restaurant at the former Bella Location. Here is an old Enquirer article about Nada indicating it was going to be in Norwood. I don't know what happened there, but I hope this is going to be downtown now. From the 3/4/06 Enquirer: Boca chef plans new eatery BY POLLY CAMPBELL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER David Falk, chef/owner of Boca, the Italian restaurant in Oakley that's one of the hottest reservations in town, plans to open a casual Mexican restaurant this summer in Norwood. "It's called Nada, which means 'nothing' in Spanish, to symbolize that there's nothing like it in Cincinnati," Falk says. "It's going to be our take on authentic Mexican food, everything we've loved about the flavors of Mexican cooking." Nada will be at 3917 Edwards Road, next to the vacant area that is to become Rookwood III. The Nada chef will be Jon Mouch, sous-chef at Boca. The menu for Nada is not complete, but it will feature dishes such as tacos al pastor, Oaxacan mole and carnitas pibil, homemade chips and salsas, premium tequilas and made-to-order guacamole. The restaurant will seat about 62. Its design, by architect Don Beck, will be "contemporary but festive," Falk says. Rather than reservations, there will be a call-ahead waiting list. Falk also announced changes at Boca. Instead of the current prix-fixe menu at $47 for three courses, the menu will become a la carte March 14, and the two menus, for the trattoria and the dining room, will be combined. "Same food, same cooking style, same service - we're just responding to customers' requests to offer more options of dining style," Falk says. The new restaurant and the Boca changes are in line with what Falk wants the Boca Restaurant Group to become as it opens more restaurants in Greater Cincinnati. E-mail [email protected] http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060304/LIFE/603040385/-1/back01