Gordon Bombay

So a couple weeks ago, I launched a new personal photo/art project called "224 Views of Cincinnati." I wanted to challenge myself and give me an excuse to keep my website updated and keep myself shooting regularly. Last semester I had an abysmal time at school. Grades were ok, but anything I shot was pretty much school project or work related. I was often depressed and couldn't motivate myself to go out and shoot anything for fun. My blog, QueenCityDisco(very), has traditionally been about photographing abandoned/historical places with a few random things thrown in there. I wanted to focus on something fresh and new, but still centered around Cincinnati. The main project page explains it more in depth, but essentially I decided that within a year I would make 224 frames of the Cincinnati Skyline. Since it's something that is photographed constantly, I figured it'd be a challenge to find new and unique angles for it mixed in with some of the more traditional "touristy" ones. To read the full project premise, check out the homepage here. I wanted to created a thread here to share a more in depth discussion about the project/photos for those (if any) that are interested. I'd like to get some feedback and criticisms as I go along. Each time a new entry is made, it's all added to an interactive map that's viewable by the public. My ultimate plan, if people respond well, is to make it into a book. The first entries were: #1 - Midwestern Fog #2 - For Doug And the most recent one was: #3 - Postcard Town I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts/ideas/suggestions or criticisms. Thanks for checking it out!

^Look how close the manhole is!

Sounds like a COAST plant with a Finney club lawyer waiting for something to harp on. Glad you enjoyed Cincinnati. I've been reading your Urban Indy site for awhile. Love that city and hope its rail transit future comes along as well. Isn't Indy pursuing a streetcar?

As long as the rolling stock is nothing like tampa's I'll be happy. I love the boxier style of the Portland cars and I think it be a huge selling point if we had the ones made in the USA, but the Siemens trains look so sleek and futuristic: I just keep imaging that thing going by The Banks on a crowded night after a ballgame lets out and all the suburbanites seeing it and saying: "Wow, what's that!?" Then they take a ride and fall in love.

Last night we were walking around just shooting photos of The Banks and the Toby Keith's was packed. I think a lot of it had to do with the dance event going on at the convention center as a lot of the folks inside had those dance team jackets on. It's not my kind of place at all, but the inside is really nice and the more business they do - the better. As I see it, if it brings people downtown it's a good thing. It's like Mynt Martini. That place is full of @$$holes, but it's always packed. I'm glad they do good business.

I wonder how many pages this thread will have once the project is complete and once it's up and running if it will consistently be posted in so much. I don't think so. Then again, we still need to be wary of the opposition. I'll rest a little easier once the track is in the ground, but won't lose that "subway" feeling until it's up and running.

Some post groundbreaking thoughts and photos: http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-era-began-on-friday.html Also, took this picture Friday evening. Seems like everyone else is cool with three feet: Groundbreaking_005 by Ronny "Gordon Bombay" Salerno, on Flickr

It be great if they took one of our new modern ones and painted it in that PCC Cincinnati scheme.

Just got informed that I have to attend a luncheon at noon and be in another meeting at 1. So there goes any chance of going for me. Still a proud day to be a Cincinnatian though. Looking forward to seeing everyone's photos and stories. By chance, any news stations or radio streaming this event live? Anyone know?

Anyone have any idea on how long the streetcar groundbreaking will last? I only get an hour for lunch and really want to be there.

^It's funny you mention that. When there's high profile games they have the center open (i.e. Philly, St. Louis or day games when a ton of school groups come). Even when they don't have it open, I've noticed they turn on the lights. On more than one occasion I've seen people confuse it for a subway. I was walking out of a game after we beat St. Louis and was jabbing back and forth with some St. Louis folks who said: "At least our city isn't by Kentucky, but hey, at least you have a subway (pointing at Transit Center). When did you get that?" We didn't. I'm glad the streetcar will connect to it, but more importantly - The Banks. However, after reading into this Eastern Corridor plan, it seems terrible. The RTC would seem to be a great spot for Intercity busses and taxis with rail potentially mixed in in the future. Any idea why it wasn't considered as the streetcar maintenance facility?

The Freedom Center is a controversial subject and has been ever since its inception. I remember in the early days of its discussion and construction, my neighbor described it as "Cincinnati trying to fix its image after the riots." I don't think it was that at all and Cincinnati certainly has a much better race relations record than other American cities. What I always gathered from it was that the museum centered around Cincinnati's importance of being on the border in the Civil War and how important it was as a sign of freedom on the Underground Railroad. The couple of times I've been to the museum, I've really enjoyed it. It's a top notch museum from the exhibits, attractions and incredibly knowledgable staff not to mention I actually like the architecture and how it sits prominently on the riverfront. A storefront in OTR is pretty ridiculous considering the caliber and content of the museum, but Sherman does have a point about marketing and the attendance figures can not be ignored. I'm not sure if it's the fault of the NURFC (or maybe that they lack a budget for it) or outside entities that promote Cincinnati tourism not including it, but I've never found the museum to be well promoted. When I used to listen to WLW, they would always play a "Cincinnati USA" commercial that I believe was made by the regional chamber. It had this catchy jingle and a family discussing coming to Cincinnati to visit the Museum Center, Aquarium, Reds games and Kings Island. I think the Freedom Center needs to get in on these things and maybe work out some co-marketing with other regional attractions (something like "Save 10% on Freedom Center Admission when you bring in your ticket stubs from the Newport Aquarium, Reds game or Kings Island). That's the point, I think Sherman was trying to make with marketing the center. All these other attractions seem to have a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Radio etc. The only time I see advertisements for things at the NURFC are when I drive by it and they have a banner up on the building. I think the other problem with the center is that the revolving exhibits don't seem to change much. Maybe try to get more of them or do smaller ones? For example: A prominent African American artist's works go on display and they do some marketing work with the Taft, CAC etc. Civil War history always seemed to be a big tourism thing, maybe bring in some re-enactors and do some demonstrations out in the park or in front of the building? Guest speakers? The center has a wonderful theatre, bring in some speakers and in turn with your admission you get to check out the museum. I'm not sure whatever happened with the potential Smithsonian acquirement, but the museum is definitely of that caliber. The piece of the Berlin Wall they have on display is awesome, but aside from hearing about it on here, I don't remember hearing much about it. I always wondered why they never had an exhibit about Germany being split after World War 2. I saw a similar exhibit at the Newseum back in 2001 and the exhibit was PACKED. It seems with Cincinnati's German heritage and Germany's quest for freedom from a split nation would be a no brainer. Easier said than done though. What I'm trying to get at is that the Center has A LOT of potential to not only be marketed as a destination that can be seen with other destinations in the region, but to do a lot of unique exhibits. I think the merger with the Museum Center will really help and I hope it does. Regardless, the museum needs to stay. It's a fabulous institution. Movie theatres are a dime a dozen, there's one right across the river and unless Twighlight or Harry Potter are debuting, it's always pretty empty. I only use it out of convenience.

Emergency call stations, really? I remember those emerged on the Purple People Bridge after a really nasty robbery, but those things just scream: "ALWAYS LOOK BEHIND YOU AND BE SCARED." Downtown's not that bad and every college campus at night looks awful with those things. At least when they're the individual poles sticking up everywhere.

^I think the whole atmosphere will liven up a little bit when the weather's nice for people to be outside, there's the park and the lager house open. Right now it feels kind of Cold Warish.

^One night a friend and I were out late shooting (edit: shooting photos, not heroin) and decided to hit up Joe's Diner on Sycamore for dinner as we often do. We swung by The Banks to just check on the progress and saw the Johnny Rocket's sign spinning so we decided to eat there instead. The lettering painted on the door says they're open till 2 A.M. or something on weekends, but this was like 9:00 at night and they were already closed or hadn't officially opened yet. We tried back a few weeks later and the dining room was locked. This time it's like 11:00 P.M. on a Friday night. They had a street window open and there were a few people milling around from the Holy Grail looking to eat too. The girl at the window informed us that they were closed for the night and that the 2 AM thing was their "summer hours." She was really polite about it though. I guess I just need to try and go there when it's not late at night. When I was a kid I loved Johnny Rockets and thought it was THE COOLEST restaurant ever because of the whole 1950's theme. I grew up in Fairfield and I remember when they put one in at the failed Forest Fair Mall/Cincinnati Mills/Cincinnati Mall. The Forest Fair and Newport one never seemed to be like the one I remember as a kid. I always remember them having the cooks sing and entertain you - even at Cedar Point a few years ago they still did this. I hope the one at "The Banks" has a little bit of that "experience" to make it more of a destination place. Regardless, JR food isn't the most unique cuisine, but it's not bad.

And that started with Duke. I'm glad to see the city sticking up for itself and playing hardball back. I'd say it's a great sign for the streetcar. It brought the project attention and really got out the groundbreaking announcement and force's Duke's hand.

I'm fascinated by Dayton's trolleybus system and plan to make a trip there soon to check it out, but IMHO the benefits of a fixed rail streetcar outweigh that of a Trolleybus system. Utility problem or not, I'm glad the city is sticking to its guns and that starting Friday we're going to see the streetcar system's construction underway.

John, if you're still wanting some shots of Charlotte - I'm home sick all day and have nothing to do.

^Doesn't seem like many people here would have a problem with that as it doesn't even seem like the rail supporters like this project.

With all due respect, Cincinnati has been off its ass for years. We've been delayed not by some conspiracy where the government is "banking on us" to "forget the original objective," but by two ballot initiatives and a Governor whose popularity declines daily. If you read back a few pages in this thread (or tread through all of it), you can see the progress that has been made and is coming along. A few have even hinted that groundbreaking will be this month. Are you planning on dying within the very near future?

Not trying to get too off topic, but that "report" is based off a tweet and was published in 2010. In last years off season there were rumors that the Reds were in heavy talks to host the 2013 game that is now going to NYC. 2015 hasn't been officially decided. In my personal (an obviously Reds fan biased) opinion - Washington needs to go to the back of the line. However, that's a city with the infrastructure and large media market that would make such an event ideal. Miami is also in talks - again, a large media market. The streetcar would certainly be a huge asset to hosting the all star game, especially that it will now go right by the ballpark. Cincinnati needs to be considered and I think the amount of projects we will have completed around the stadium and downtown by then will be big sellers. We proved our worth already by hosting the Civil Rights Game twice in a row and now we have the World Choir Games coming. For me, the issue of the all star game highlights why I feel it was extremely important that the streetcar reach The Banks/GABP area. Even if only going to 2nd street, that area has a MASSIVE parking garage and is a hotbed for people who come in form outside the city for a night of fun. Soon they'll be able to park once and hop on the streetcar and stay downtown even longer. True, they could've done this with it being at Fountain Square, but the fact that as you walk up to the game - thousands are going to see the streetcar crowded with people and that it's a success is going to be a "home run" for the perception of this project.

Wow. The suburbs are amazing. I can't tell you how many times I've heard similar things about monorails or "that China magnet train." If Cincinnati's topography isn't suitable for anything, it's the numerous lanes of I-75.

^I hope he and the others have a safe return, but why is the GOP backing a group who is supposed to monitor the Egyptian elections? Not to drag in a bigger issue here, but I really hope the streetcar breaks ground well before election season. The project has been tossed around enough in the local political arena. I'd hate to see it become a political hostage like the subway was. LaHood and the Obama administration have been big supporters of not only our streetcar, but similar projects in the nation. I'd hate to see the fate of it and its funding should the national executive regime change before construction has started.

^I don't think Sloan will be as bad. Before I destroyed the radio in my car I used to listen to him at nights and with Tracy. Seemed like he rarely even discussed the streetcar and when he did, I recall him being skeptical, but not rude and untruthful like the unemployed doctor. On the subject of the Washington Metro having had most of its land being owned by the Feds, doesn't SORTA own the majority of the ROW and land for where future light rail would go? I.E. CL&N tunnel and Oasis Line? If the Oasis commuter line is going to happen like they've been playing it up to be, it's going to be great seeing trains utilize the RTC. An exciting time to be a Cincinnatian - The Reds are good and just outside the stadium we're seeing the streetcar line and commuter rail come to life.

Preferably a camera with a nice long lens. Pointed at Smitherman and clicking away the entire time. Because Chris, we can in fact take your picture. :evil: I would be more than happy to bring my 200mm F/2.8 and photograph him, but I'm stuck at work. Good luck to everyone.