^ According to the website, I think last weekend may have been the last movie night.  Not sure but from what I can tell . . .

 

 

I always get sarcastic when outdoor activities cease after Labor Day. It's going to be 96 today. We are not going to be under a foot of snow in two weeks.

I can't get over how good the square looks.  Just thinking back to 5 years ago and seeing those pics from 1987, you can see the dramatic improvement.  While I realize the cost was high, the square is symbolic of Cincy and therefore I think the investment was necessary and this was/is money well spent.  The movie idea was great.  Bengals away games will be great as well...could be a lot of fun. 

I'm sure the suburban skeptics were waiting for a disaster, what with open-air beer sales and free movies. Every time I walked through the square on movie nights on my way home from work, I'd stop and catch a good chunk of the second movie. Never witnessed any misbehavior. Big win for downtown!

Where are the concessions?  I've walked by two movie nights the past few weeks and must have missed the stands???

Where are the concessions?  I've walked by two movie nights the past few weeks and must have missed the stands???

 

The concession stand is usually on the Vine St. side near the stage.

Oh no! Booze outside! My God, it might turn into someplace explosively violent! Like EUROPE!

Where are the concessions?  I've walked by two movie nights the past few weeks and must have missed the stands???

 

 

The concession stand is usually on the Vine St. side near the stage.

 

Ahh, thanks, now I know where to look!

By the way, the Square was jumpin' before last night's Bengals game!  I went to the game, but would definitely loved to have watched from the Square.  Did anyone go and watch?  What was it like?  Any pics?

The lights were blinking like Christmas lights and it makes you look away from the centerpiece of the square.  They need to make the lights dim much slower,  it is going to give somebody a seizure.

I know this person on flickr.  He took this shot:

 

(Sorry, I don't know how or can't figure out how to post the actual photo from flickr.)

^Cool shot.

Does anybody know when Graeter's will open?  They kept saying August, well now it is mid September.....

I know this person on flickr.  He took this shot:

 

(Sorry, I don't know how or can't figure out how to post the actual photo from flickr.)

 

Great pic... I also am curious to know about Graeter's

 

Also, does anyone know which part of the square Potbelly and Starbucks are going to be in?

^ Thanks Cincy-Rise

Does anybody know when Graeter's will open?  They kept saying August, well now it is mid September.....

 

In the meantime, there's a new Graeter's near Newport on the Levee in a beautiful, historic bank building -- tin pattern ceiling and all! Unfortunately, I was mugged a few days ago near the Ohio entrance to the Purple People Bridge, so I will no longer go to Newport except by bus...

Great pic... I also am curious to know about Graeter's

 

Also, does anyone know which part of the square Potbelly and Starbucks are going to be in?

 

I've heard October now for Graeter's but can't find anything in writing on that.  Also, again I understood Starbucks to be next to Graeter's at 5th & Walnut (otherside of Visitor's Center) but see no signs of that.  And Potbelly I thought was to be in the NW corner of the 5/3 tower facing the Square.  There is brown paper on the windows there.  I have not come across definitive answers though.

Does anybody know when Graeter's will open?  They kept saying August, well now it is mid September.....

 

In the meantime, there's a new Graeter's near Newport on the Levee in a beautiful, historic bank building -- tin pattern ceiling and all! Unfortunately, I was mugged a few days ago near the Ohio entrance to the Purple People Bridge, so I will no longer go to Newport except by bus...

Dude go to lookatmeshirts.com and buy the shirt that says "I got mugged on the purple people bridge".

Hey I thought Dogs were BANNED on the square.

 

RUNNING OF THE WIENERS

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Noon - 1pm on Fountain Square

 

The Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA advertising campaign this year centers around the theme "authentically German" and uses the dachshund, a German bred-dog, as the official mascot. These dachsunds are more commonly known as "wiener dogs" or "hot dogs" because of their shape.

 

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and John Morrell, the hometown hot dog brand, have teamed up to bring an unforgettable kick-off event for the nations largest Oktoberfest.

 

The first annual "Running with the Wieners" will take place on Thursday, September 20, 2007 from Noon to 1pm on Fountain Square where dachshund owners from around the region will be asked to bring their "hot dogs" downtown to race for the esteemed title of the John Morrell Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA 2007 Running of the Wieners Champion.

 

There is no cost to participate, pre-register your wiener dog by calling the Chamber at 513-579-3160.

 

Starbucks has canceled their plans, btw ... (for now)

Stuck Farbucks!!! caribou coffee on the square...thats what I'm waitin for  8-)

I would like to see lookout joes, coffee emporium or Sitwell's II

Yeah we all know how those Caribous and Starbucks just reek of character.

I love pissing people off from Oakley with the "Oakley is not Hyde Park" shirt. Hehehehehehee.

 

Actually I don't think it would piss people off, Oakley residents are quite proud to say they are from Oakley these days, Oakley currently has more buzz than Hyde Park. 

Starbucks has canceled their plans, btw ... (for now)

 

Interesting....an employee at the 4th and Vine location had told me that the Fountain Square location was a high priority for the company.  This was a couple of months ago, so I wonder what happened.

the bengals are away the sunday of oktoberfest.  I would imagine the square will be at overflow capacity

Anybody know when the clock is going to be moved back?  The square will not be complete without it.

I watched part of the Bengals v. Browns away game on Fountain Square.   :x  Where'd the defense go?  Anyway I took just a couple of pics.  They have added some advertising signs to the jumbo-tron thing which I just noticed.  Liked seeing the folks gathered on a Sunday even when the Bengals were out of town.  Decent crowd I thought . . .

 

 

COOL!

 

Man, Marvin looks to have Michael Jackson syndrome in that frame!!!!

 

(JK, I see the bill of his hat behind the white guy) :-D

^ LOL.  Yeah, I tried to take another but it was no better and then it cut away.

Nice pics, ballhat. Im glad the sponsorship doesn't look too tacky.

Nice pics, ballhat. Im glad the sponsorship doesn't look too tacky.

 

I actually think it helps tie the screen to the rest of the structure a bit more.  Before it was just sort of detached and not very integrated . . . in my opinion.

I just noticed the advertising myself during lunch today.  Also, there is a sign in the window of the future Graeters store that says they are hiring.

Nice pics, ballhat. Im glad the sponsorship doesn't look too tacky.

 

I actually think it helps tie the screen to the rest of the structure a bit more.  Before it was just sort of detached and not very integrated . . . in my opinion.

 

 

Agreed... I would like to see some illuminated signage with dynamic lighting... i.e. Times Square.  It just adds some vibrancy to the area, and may complement the 5/3 facade well.

 

 

 

Also, there is a sign in the window of the future Graeters store that says they are hiring.

 

Ooh, very exciting!

Starbucks has canceled their plans, btw ... (for now)

 

Interesting....an employee at the 4th and Vine location had told me that the Fountain Square location was a high priority for the company.  This was a couple of months ago, so I wonder what happened.

 

Ask again ... my wife works at this location a few hours a week. This is something that is recent ... It's not just DT though. They canceled quite a few of there locations throughout the region.

Ask again ... my wife works at this location a few hours a week. This is something that is recent ... It's not just DT though. They canceled quite a few of there locations throughout the region.

 

 

a la the mysterious last minute cancellation of the one at Michigan Terrace in Hyde Park! I have talked to a lot of different people trying to find out what happened and NO ONE knows.

^Maybe people finally realized that their coffee tastes like swill, and that while you can buy a CD there you can't get your bagel toasted.

I spoke with one of the PMs for the Michigan Terrace project, and he said that Starbucks realized they couldn't compete with the local shop a few doors down (forget the name??).  Funny, that seems to run converse to everything we hear about Starbucks running out the Mom & Pops

 

As for Fountain Square, I would love to see a Sitwell's or Lookout Joe rather than chain stores like Starbucks or even Caribou.

"Wake up America" Have a cup of coffee from your friendly neighborhood 'LOCAL' coffee shop!!

"Wake up America" Have a cup of coffee from your friendly neighborhood 'LOCAL' coffee shop!!

 

I definitely would like to see a local coffee shop on the square.  However, I am under the impression that the rent fees are so high that many small, local places cannot afford them.  I don't know how accurate this is, but that is the story I heard.

Yeah it tends to be like that with most new development.

On the other hand, who else is pumped for Oktoberfest this weekend!

 

http://www.oktoberfest-zinzinnati.com

 

As for Fountain Square, I would love to see a Sitwell's or Lookout Joe rather than chain stores like Starbucks or even Caribou.

 

I would even go for a Boston Stoker...more of a Dayton thing, but it's all part of the great city-state of Cincinnati.  Plus it's GREAT coffee!

New patrol for Fountain Square

BY KIMBALL PERRY | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

September 19, 2007

 

DOWNTOWN - About 20 citizen volunteers will begin walking patrols in Downtown and around Fountain Square tonight.

 

The group is the latest of about 500 citizens who volunteer to walk patrols in Cincinnati’s parks and neighborhoods, hoping to deter or report crimes.

 

The new group, dubbed Volunteers In Policing, also are graduates of Cincinnati’s Citizen’s Police Academy, members of other Citizens on Patrol groups or downtown residents.

 

The groups will patrol with police radios or cell phones to contact police when they see a crime or want to report something suspicious to police.

 

The group meets at 6:30 tonight at Fountain Square to begin the patrol.

Oktoberfest warm-up

Fountain Square prepares for festival close-up

BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | [email protected]

 

 

As hundreds of thousands of people prepare to flock downtown this weekend for the city's 32nd Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, construction crews are moving feverishly to finish the final bit of work on the more than $42 million makeover of Fountain Square.

 

For many local residents, the annual event will be their first glimpse of the nearly completed square - a project undertaken by Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., 3CDC, two years ago.

 

"For those who haven't been downtown in awhile, I think they'll be very pleased with what they can see," said Bill Donabedian, 3CDC's managing director of the square. "The difference is night and day."

 

People in the square now see a new $16.5 million façade on the Fifth Third Center building, which includes a dramatic, changing lighting scheme at night.

 

When employees at Tiffany's leave at night, "the sidewalks are filled," said Susanne Halmi, a regional vice president for the jeweler. "There's just a lot more going on, and a lot more life on the street."

 

Construction crews have begun wrapping up concrete and sidewalk work in front of Rock Bottom Brewery and the final bit of waterproofing for the garage beneath the square.

 

Due to the construction, "it was challenging in 2006, but in 2007 we've had double-digit increases in foot traffic," Halmi said. "We're seeing lots of out-of-towners, but lots of Cincinnatians are coming back downtown as well."

 

No business has had a harder time living through the square's renovation than Rock Bottom, which is boarded up but has remained open.

 

"It's been difficult to say the least," said Ted Williams, senior vice president of operations for Rock Bottom's brewery division. "In the square, we're the only business that really survived the transformation, but we welcomed the transformation because we realized it was an important part of helping Cincinnati."

 

Once construction wraps up, Rock Bottom's outdoor patio will return - along with the hope of increased revenue, Williams said.

 

"This certainly has impacted our sales... but we expect at the end of the day this is going to be beneficial, " he said.

 

Work also continues on surrounding commercial space in the Fifth Third Tower and elsewhere near the square.

 

Via Vite, the Italian-style restaurant in the new pavilion built on the square, is slated to open Oct. 1. Graeter's and Potbelly Sandwich Works, which have signed leases for space in the Fifth Third Tower, plan to open by the end of October and November, respectively.

 

One block away, at the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, interior construction is ramping up on two incoming restaurants: Oceanaire in the 580 Building; and Nada, which will resurrect the digs of the former Bella restaurant.

 

The new establishments will join McCormick & Schmick's, Boi Na Braza and Cadillac Ranch among the new places to see and be seen around the square.

 

As plans take off for downtown urban lofts and condominiums such as the Lofts at Fountain Square on Vine Street, the continuing trend of spin-off development around the square isn't expected to slow any time soon, Donabedian said.

 

"It's all starting to come together," he said. "We took $4 million in taxpayer money, leveraged that to raise over $40 million in private funding, and that has spurred an additional $50 million of investment around the square. If you think about it as far as a return on investment, this was a great deal for the city, and with the activity and excitement going on now, there's no question that this is working."

 

CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGES

 

While original construction plans aimed for a September 2006 completion date, 3CDC has been working on a "rolling" re-opening since last October.

 

"Coordinating construction is really challenging, and just because you've missed a day, because of something like rain, doesn't mean you're off by just one day," Donabedian said. "You have to coordinate with contractors who have different schedules. You have to coordinate with business schedules and make sure lanes are open. We also had an open site and another construction schedule to work around - those are just a couple of the challenges."

 

All work on the square should be finished by the end of October, Donabedian said.

 

"We don't want to see any cranes or construction for the holidays," he said. "We just need everyone to be patient a little bit longer."

 

MUSIC, EVENTS AND A BIG TV

 

While the square is owned by the city, 3CDC manages and coordinates the landmark's expanded entertainment lineup and programming, which has included regular events such as live music, karaoke and broomball.

 

The latest hit to draw crowds? Showing Bengals away games on the 24-foot by 42-foot LED board perched atop Macy's.

 

"If you would have ever come downtown on a Sunday during an away football game in the past, you wouldn't have found anyone," Donabedian said. "(This past Sunday) we had a couple hundred people. That's the difference.

 

"We're trying to repopulate, and it takes time," he added. "We've still got another two to three years before your family in Mason comes down and says, 'Wow.' "

 

As the city's biggest German bash draws near, event organizers said Wednesday the timing couldn't be better.

 

"Oktoberfest was created 32 years ago not only to celebrate the city's German heritage but also to bring people downtown to discover the renaissance taking place in downtown Cincinnati," said Raymond L. Buse III, spokesman for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

 

"This event has remained true to its original mission. That is to serve as a personal introduction to the good things going on downtown for folks who don't come down often enough."

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/BIZ01/709200331

Via Vite bringing Tuscany to square

Italian restaurant plans Oct. opening downtown

BY STEPFANIE ROMINE | [email protected]

 

 

His native Florence, Italy, was the birthplace of the Renaissance. Now, Nicola Pietoso hopes Via Vite, his new bistro on Fountain Square, has a similar effect on downtown Cincinnati.

 

Set to open for dinner Oct. 1 at 520 Vine St., Via Vite will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. "until the last customer leaves,'' Pietoso said.

 

And, Pietoso said, while Via Vite will be less formal than his Nicola's restaurant in Over-the-Rhine, this venture will be no less Italian.

 

"It will be faster, busier, more of a bistro," he said. The cuisine will be "traditional, authentic Italian," heavy on dishes from Tuscany, including a squid and spinach stew called inzimino, along with appetizer-size pizzas from their wood-fired oven. Among the offerings are pizza Napoletana with capers and anchovies, and a pie with prosciutto and mushrooms.

 

Pietoso is hiring a staff of 60 to 70, and his son Cristian, who is the chef at Nicola's, designed the menu.

 

Michael Messner, who worked at Nicola's and later at the French Laundry in Napa Valley, Calif., will be in charge of the kitchen.

 

Lunch will focus on panini ($9.50-$11.50), pizza ($10-$12.50) and pasta ($12-$15), along with soup ($5-$7) and salads ($11-$12). Aside from a daily special or two, there will be no lunch entrées.

 

Dinner entrées will run $23-$25, with pastas priced $16-$22, salads $11-$14 and appetizers $10-$13 - including an insalate caprese with imported buffalo mozzarella for $14. The desserts will be homemade, Pietoso said.

 

With a capacity of 75 to 80 in the main dining room - plus two private rooms, a lounge and outdoor terraces - the restaurant will overlook the Tyler Davidson Fountain and the square.

 

Food is just half the story: Terraces will be used for entertainment during fair weather, Pietoso said.

 

"It's our ultimate goal to have a concerto on the terrace every night of the week, Via Vite con concerto" he said. Pietoso already has hired musicians Dawn Bosan and Steve Thomas to perform five nights a week.

 

The lounge will feature wine along with Italian cocktails called sgroppino, a mixture of vodka, Prosecco and gelato, usually fruit flavored.

 

The name just means Vine Street in Italian, not to be confused with vita, the word for life, though there's a focus on that as well.

 

"Cristian is a freshness freak," Pietoso said of his son. "The herbs, the meat, everything needs to be fresh."

 

Via Vite, 520 Vine St., 513-721-8183.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1&Dato=20070920&Kategori=BIZ01&Lopenr=709200327&Ref=AR

^ "until the last customer leaves,'' ...

 

 

 

... That is just awesome.

 

 

^ "until the last customer leaves,'' ...

 

 

 

... That is just awesome.

 

 

 

That is typical italian.  You go to France and try and get into a restaurant after closing hours and they'll make fun of you. You go to Italy,and they'll do everything they can to serve you, even if it means preparing something cold from the fridge.  I am so looking forward to this place.  Nothing better than authentic Italian food and Pietoso knows what he is doing.

And the argument continues...

 

http://frontier.cincinnati.com/comments/threadview.asp?threadid=379

 

Please respond and put these people in their place