^Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

^Does good journalism mean anything to the paper?

Christmas (holiday) tree is up. The trees on the west side will be planted tomorrow along with some of the 5th street trees. The remaining will be planted on Monday. The trees along the north are far from being planted due to on-going construction up there.

This looks like there might be good news around the corner. I am assuming they are talking about the short 5/3 center...

 

From the City of Cincinnati:

 

 

News Release:

 

City of Cincinnati

Date: November 15, 2006

F FOR IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

Contact: Martha L. Kelly, P.E.

Acting City Traffic Engineer

Transportation and Engineering

[email protected]

 

 

ROAD CLOSURE

VINE STREET

FIFTH STREET TO SIXTH STREET

 

Beginning at 6:00 PM on Friday, November 17, 2006 and continuing until approximately 6:00

PM on Sunday, November 19, Vine Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets, will be closed for a

crane lift. This closure is to facilitate *erection* of a tower crane to work on the adjacent Fifth

Third building and will be performed by Amquip for Messer Construction. Pedestrian access will

be maintained on the west side of Vine Street and may be controlled by the detailed Police

Officer or crane personnel. Motorists wishing to continue north on Vine Street should proceed

east on Fifth Street, north on Main Street, and west on Sixth Street back to Vine Street.

Motorists wishing to use the Fifth Third garage in this block of Vine Street should contact the

garage management for instructions.

METRO BUS SERVICE THAT NORMALLY USES THIS AREA WILL BE DETOURED AROUND THE

CLOSURE. RIDERS SHOULD FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS POSTED AT THEIR STOP OR USE THE

NEAREST STOP OUTSIDE THE CLOSURE AREA.

Drivers are encouraged to reduce their speed and use caution when approaching the

work area.

 

 

For information about the Department of Transportation and Engineering, visit www.cincinnati-

oh.gov/dote

 

Yes they are talking about the 5/3rd low building. They've actually built the base of the tower crane near the entrance to Rock Bottom. It's good to see more progress.

 

Don't forget McCormick's seafood restaurant opens this weekend.

 

Ice Rink opens a week from Friday.

 

Trees were planted today and will continue for a couple days.

 

Things are looking good down there.

Even with the rain, the city looked great tonight.  I can't wait till the square is complete.

Yes they are talking about the 5/3rd low building. They've actually built the base of the tower crane near the entrance to Rock Bottom. It's good to see more progress.

 

Don't forget McCormick's seafood restaurant opens this weekend.

 

Ice Rink opens a week from Friday.

 

Trees were planted today and will continue for a couple days.

 

Things are looking good down there.

 

good to hear matin.  From the webcam, the square looks like a hige mess.  It seems like there is not one part of it that isn't having work done.  glad it looks better in person.

You're almost right in your assumption that "not one part" is complete. If you take a close look many areas have bits and pieces that are incomplete. However, as a whole things look good and I'm told most things will be wrapped up by Thanksgiving next week, including the garage. Things look really messy right now because of the additional supplies needed to put up the rink, and all the plywood needed to plant the trees. Give it a week when the trees are in, the garage is open, and everything is cleaned again and I bet it'll look extremely impressive.

I ate at McCormick and Schmick's tonight.  Everything went quite well, especially for the first day.  I had the tuna, the quality was A+.  You shouldn't cook tuna that's that good, so I had it sashimi style.  So good. Atmosphere was nice and sophisticated, but not truly special like some downtown restaurants, Service B+, but with potential to improve to A-.  The happy hour was rockin.  That's where I'll be on my next visit.

Glad MacSchmick's was good.  Has anyone heard anything about the Bella site or the Maisonette for that matter?

My husband and I stopped by for happy hour last night at McSchmick's , but the bar area was packed.  We decided to try another night. 

My husband and I stopped by for happy hour last night at McSchmick's , but the bar area was packed.  We decided to try another night.

 

That's a very good problem to have!  Nice to hear the good reviews thus far...can't wait to go check it out for myself!!!

My husband and I stopped by for happy hour last night at McSchmick's , but the bar area was packed.  We decided to try another night. 

 

Sweet!

The story of the opening from the 11/18/06 Enquirer:

 

 

Restaurant opens 'on cusp' of revival

BY JON NEWBERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

Doug Schmick, chairman and founder of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants, figures it's in the best place at just the right time.

 

The Portland, Ore.-based chain's 66th restaurant opened Friday afternoon at Fifth and Vine streets, directly opposite Fountain Square in the heart of a downtown that's "right on the cusp" of a national downtown revival trend, he said.

 

"Downtown is something we're comfortable with and love," said Schmick, in Cincinnati for a preopening reception Thursday.

 

Two-thirds of McCormick & Schmick's units are in major downtown markets, following in the tradition of his and his partner's first location in a historic building in downtown Portland in 1972.

 

They began looking at the corner of Fifth and Vine 2½ years ago, when plans for a revamp of Fountain Square were in the talking stages. The city's commitment to Fountain Square was a major factor in their decision to build the 8,000-square-foot restaurant that will employ about 110 people, he said.

 

Now Schmick expects the operation to inspire other restaurants and retailers to make similar commitments to downtown. His company and the Westin Hotel chain both stretched a bit to make it work, he said, because they both think "this is the epicenter of great things to come."

 

McCormick & Schmick's strategy is rooted in the bar, which at the insistence of his Irish founding partner Bill McCormick serves as "the front door" at all its restaurants. The bars feature loss leaders such as half-pound cheeseburgers for $1.95 during limited hours every day.

 

The bar in Cincinnati also features local touches such as a "Cincinnati Kid" movie poster and lighting fixtures adorned with Reds, Bearcats and Bengals logos.

 

High-margin beverage sales account for about 30 percent of overall revenue, more than the industry average. That allows it to subsidize menu prices, which are probably about $2 per item cheaper than they'd otherwise be, Schmick said.

 

Three-quarters of the company's marketing dollars are spent locally, and local management is given a lot of "entrepreneurial responsibility," he said. "We bring it all down to the local - the menu, the décor, the marketing."

 

E-mail [email protected]

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061118/BIZ01/611180353/1076/BIZ

 

Can't wait!  I am going for dinner on Saturday prior to the Bob Seger concert.

I went by Fountain Sq last night around 8 or so, and there were police, fire and emts blocking 5th street just east of Vine. Chefs from M&S were standing on the sidewalk, and it looked like the restaurant had been evacuated. Anyone know what happened?

I went by Fountain Sq last night around 8 or so, and there were police, fire and emts blocking 5th street just east of Vine. Chefs from M&S were standing on the sidewalk, and it looked like the restaurant had been evacuated. Anyone know what happened?

 

Cramer, A christmas tree melted in the lobby. Smoked Spruce anyone??

Update: The tower crane was NOT installed for the 5/3rd project over the weekend. Work crews shut down the street over the weekend to install the crane, but pulled off-site last evening due to complications and fear that it would be unsafe. An unfortunate setback for that project.

I went by Fountain Sq last night around 8 or so, and there were police, fire and emts blocking 5th street just east of Vine. Chefs from M&S were standing on the sidewalk, and it looked like the restaurant had been evacuated. Anyone know what happened?

 

I heard there was a Mexican standoff between Keith Fangman, the Grand Wizard of the KKK, and Nikki Giovanni.  Unfortunately, all three survived.

Morton's relocating downtown

BY JON NEWBERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Morton’s The Steakhouse has signed a lease for space at the corner of Fifth and Vine streets on the second floor of the Carew Tower arcade, the Chicago-based chain said today.

 

It expects to open a restaurant diagonally opposite Fountain Square “as early as fall 2007,” it said in a statement.

 

The restaurant will join McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, with whom it shares investors and board members, and Boi Na Braza, a Brazilian steakhouse, at the newly popular intersection in the heart of downtown Cincinnati.

 

 

McCormick & Schmick’s opened last week in the Westin Hotel across Fifth Street from Fountain Square. Boi Na Braza, which features gauchos who serve roasted meats from skewers at customers’ tables, is scheduled to open in 2007 on the ground floor of the Carew Tower.

 

Morton’s spokesman Roger Drake said the new Morton’s will have access from Vine Street. The company had no information to announce about the future of its existing restaurant in the lower level of Tower Place Mall, he said.

 

The Tower Place location at Fourth and Race streets opened in 1991. It’s on the same downtown block as the Carew Tower. The company does not operate two restaurants that close together anywhere else, Drake said.

 

In addition to a main dining room, which will seat about 125 people, and private dining rooms, the new Morton’s will feature a 30-seat bar.

E-mail [email protected]

 

They are obviously not going to keep the other one open, why don't they just say it?

They are obviously not going to keep the other one open, why don't they just say it?

 

Maybe they're trying to avoid the inevitable headline in the Cincinnati Enquirer:

 

"Another Downtown Restaurant Site Closing!"

Square garage to reopen

THE ENQUIRER

 

The Fountain Square Garage will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC) announced Tuesday.

 

The garage was closed when the Fountain Square renovations began, and has been repaired and renovated.

 

The reopening was delayed because an epoxy sealant applied to the concrete needed more time to cure.

 

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061122/NEWS01/611220460/1056/COL02

 

Does the existing Morton's do well?

I think it does pretty well, especially given its location in a basement off of a somewhat dead 4th St.

 

 

I was on the third floor of Macy's today.  They've closed of a very large section of the store that looks over Fountain Square.  Basically, it would be the area of the store that used to sit over Palomino's and the escalator area.  Has anyone heard any plans for this space?  It would be a great location given its view of the square.

 

So to answer my own question...

 

Apparently this area is now the "Macy's Event Center".  My wife saw a sign that Macy's and Churchill's are serving afternoon tea there on the first three Saturdays in December. I also noticed that there were people up there during the "Light Up the Square" event yesterday.

 

For those interested, there's info on the Teas here:

 

http://www.britishgiftsandthings.com/calendar

Oh I almost forgot.  Yesterday's "Light Up the Square" had a pretty good turn out.  We were there before and after dinner, and missed the actual lighting and fireworks, but by 6:15, you could hardly move around on the square.  At 8:00, there was a very long line to get onto the ice rink.

 

We were there last night with some friends from the suburbs.  They had a nice turn-out.  The fireworks were great - we especially got a kick out of them bouncing off of the 525 Vine Building.  ;) 

From the pictures in the paper, it looked like the square was packed! This is awesome and I am glad to see people downtown.

I really had a lot of fun ice skating on the rink.  It was only $4 with a skate rental and I think you can stay out as long as you want. (it is kind of a small rink so you don't want to stay out too long).  But overall it was a great experience and i highly recomend it.

My sister and I were on the ice rink yesterday.  It was a lot of fun.  It was my second time on ice skates, the first being about 30 years ago.  I have a couple of interesting looking bruises this morning.

 

New rink draws skaters to Square

 

BY FEOSHIA HENDERSON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

A steady stream of skaters poured into Fountain Square Saturday afternoon to check out the larger, revamped ice rink.

 

"I heard about it and really wanted to try it out," said 15-year-old Josh Brown of Winton Terrace. It was his first time on ice skates but he managed to keep his balance, unlike many who spilled on the ice.

 

"It's been fun so far," he said.

 

Brown was one of more than 100 people skating or watching skaters at the rink. It opened Friday as part of the city's annual Light up the Square celebration and is part of the $42.7 million redevelopment of Fountain Square.

 

The improvements are part of a plan by the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. to boost downtown business. The rink last year was moved temporarily to Sawyer Point because of construction at the square.

 

As temperatures climbed into the 60s on Saturday, people shed their coats and hats before taking to the ice. At least one skater wore shorts.

 

MaryAnn Lohmueller, of Montgomery, has been coming to the rink with her family for 17 years.

 

"It was great. We loved it," she said. "We usually just come down once a year, but I think we'll come back." She explored the downtown streets with her daughters on the new Holly Jolly Trolleys. They also went shopping.

 

It costs $2 to skate and $2 to rent skates.

 

Antina Howard of Mason said those prices brought her and her two young daughters downtown.

 

Howard's daughter, Jariah Sweete, 7, and Shalynn Dual, 12, were first-time ice skaters.

 

"You have to get out there and try," Sweete said, then skated away.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061126/NEWS01/611260373/-1/CINCI

We went to Mc-Schmick's last night for dinner before the Bob Seger concert.  The square was packed and lively, and the rehabbed garage is awesome.  It is bright, clean and colorful.  Our food at Mc-Schmick's was outstanding, the decor is great, but unfortunately we had a horrible server.  I do not hold the restaurant accountable for her crappy service, but I hope she is not the caliber of server they are hiring.  Again, the food. presentation and bar service were fantastic and I will be going back.

We also went to Mc-Schmick's (is that a common way of referring to it in other cities?) last night.  The food was tremendous -- from start to finish, everything was wonderful.  We got there around 8:30, and the place was still packed.  The decor is nice, and gives off a sort of arts-and-crafts/Frank Lloyd Wright vibe.  I was quite surprised with the size of the place; it was bigger than I expected.  Our service was pretty good, and our waiter made a couple of good recommendations.  Best (and freshes) calimari I think I've ever had. 

 

We then went over to the square for a little while (probably at around 10:30).  There was still a good number of folks skating, hanging out at the square, etc.  In fact, the whole time we were downtown, it seemed like there was a lot of activity and foot traffic.  I took it as a great sign for the effects the revitalized square will have.  I could see the square being abuzz with activity every weekend, just based on the sheer number of folks who will be going to Mc-Schmicks, Morton's, Via Vino (sp?), the Brazilian place, etc. 

 

My aunt (who lives in Hamilton) had such a good time that she and my uncle are planning to come back down, shop at Macy's, Brooks Brothers, etc., and grab another meal there before Christmas.

 

One last thing:  If you have a chance to get the shrimp bisque, go for it.  You won't be disappointed. 

 

 

Jake

We went to Mc-Schmick's last night for dinner before the Bob Seger concert.  The square was packed and lively, and the rehabbed garage is awesome.  It is bright, clean and colorful.  Our food at Mc-Schmick's was outstanding, the decor is great, but unfortunately we had a horrible server.  I do not hold the restaurant accountable for her crappy service, but I hope she is not the caliber of server they are hiring.  Again, the food. presentation and bar service were fantastic and I will be going back.

 

That's a bummer to hear about the service.  Sometimes when a place is new, the service is not top notch during the first month or so.    I'm glad to hear that you're giving it a second chance. 

 

My husband and I went to Ingredients during the first week they were open.  We thought the service was pretty awful, but the food was good.  I have tried it a few times since, and the service improves with each visit. 

^Working in the restaurant industry for nearly four years now, and assisting in the opening of 3 new restaurants has allowed me to see this first hand.  At Panera Bread they typically give a store 1-2 months to settle in and have everyone fully trained.  It takes a good deal of time to get people fully comfortable with their new surroundings and the products served by the restaurant...this service will indeed improve once the restaurant has been given some time to settle in.

It couldn't have been a better weekend for the square and our city's revitalization efforts. McCormick's is open, the garage is open, the ice rink is up and awesome. There isn't even a comparison to the old rink, and those glass tents are really nice compared to that old shed. Plus they sell all kinds of concessions down there. The weather was amazing which drew an enormous crowd. On Saturday afternoon there was a line from the skate rental tent all the way back to the elevator pavillion. I'm thrilled for the excitement and success from this weekend. It seems like there is a great deal of good "buzz" now about the square. People are getting excited.

 

By the way, did anyone hear about the Broomball league they're starting on the rink? It's a very popular game up at Miami that you play on ice. It's similar to hockey/soccer. Anyways, the registration deadline is December 15th I believe. I think this is a great idea.

 

Just a few things I noticed at the square today:

1.  The fountain has fewer jets, and only does one continuous pattern.  Does anyone know if the other jets are going to be added back in the spring.  Also noted that the fountain was "on" when in past years it was turned off in October.

2.  The old skating rink cost $1 for skating and $1 for skate rental.  But the rink was small and the skates were old and very uncomfortable.  The new prices are double but the comfort and size are much better.

3. CRC (Cincy Recreation Commission) cannot for the life of them run a simple concession stand.  As at the parks, it was closed most of the time I was there.  When it opened, they had 4 staff that couldn't figure out how to pour a drink or warm a hot dog.

4.  I never go to a bar or restaurant that has a TV running all the time, and the screen on the square is an annoyance to me, but I found that I could ignore it pretty easily, as the sound speakers were only located in two spots.

5.  With my kids running around, I preferred the earlier layout where the square was up off the street.  It is too easy now for kids to accidentally run down into the street, especially when the rink is gone.

6.  Most improtantly; despite being partially still under construction etc.., tons of people on the square having a good time.  Just shows how much people of this city WANT to come to the center of the city, especially at the holidays.

1.  The fountain has fewer jets, and only does one continuous pattern.  Does anyone know if the other jets are going to be added back in the spring.  Also noted that the fountain was "on" when in past years it was turned off in October.

 

I noticed two patterns.  One with the vertical jets on, one without.

^Really? Because there used to be a copper ring in the pool, with jets, that is now gone.  And iot used to cycle between 3 different patterns.

I was down on the square last night. We had dinner at Rock Bottom, then walked around downtown for a while. Most of the people i was with found downtown pretty cool. A couple of them thought the big screen was neat but there was nothing on it, just a whole bunch of ads. Also the square is pretty small until everything is completed. It looks like A LOT of work still needs to be done. All in all, a wonderful night on the new square.

 

P.S. i would have gone ice skating (girls LOVE ice skating) but they closed at 7 o'clock on sunday's which was slightly unexpected. I'll take her there sometime this month.

P.S. i would have gone ice skating (girls LOVE ice skating) but they closed at 7 o'clock on sunday's which was slightly unexpected. I'll take her there sometime this month.

 

Ohh..you are sooo suave!

^Really? Because there used to be a copper ring in the pool, with jets, that is now gone.  And iot used to cycle between 3 different patterns.

 

I'm talking about the vertical stream which shoots up from the front and rear basins bowls on the second about 7 feet.  My recollection is that sometimes they were on, and sometimes not (but maybe I wasn't paying attention).

 

I went and looked at some pictures on CinyImages realized what you're talking about. Are you saying the jet ring isnt even in the fountain?

Modified to include additional information-  Alabama Expat

 

I just found the following text on http://www.myfountainsquare.com/fountain

 

The Fountain has been given a prominent, central position overlooking

the Square, adjacent to ample space for seating and areas for major events.

Water features have been restored to match the original design intent. New

built-in lighting has been added.

 

I bit more digging and I found the following at http://www.mckaylodge.com/tylerdavidson/restoration/problems/water_features.html

 

None of the water effects in the lower basin are original. The lower basin used to be a smooth pool that provided a pattern of small wakes around the water streams flowing from the lily jets in the upper basins. The child holding a necklace was described as looking at her reflection in the pool below.

^thanks for the find.  I think I like the simplified version.  There is less water spray when you are sitting on the edge of the fountain. It might make for less dramatic photography form a distance, but then again the statues are more visible, which I prefer.

Why hasn't the tower crane been erected?  That is at least a week late at this point.

In case you haven't seen it yet, and for future reference, here's PRidgeFlyer's Ice Rink thread from Thanksgiving weekend 2006...

 

In case folks missed this: Broomball on the ice rink!

 

http://www.myfountainsquare.com/broomball

The tower crane wasn't erected because the parts didn't fit together correctly and the crane contractor felt it was an unsafe condition so they packed up and left Sunday afternoon. The streets were closed all weekend and the crane was close to being lifted in place, but at the last min. it didn't quite fit. They were pounding it for awhile with hammers trying to get it to work, but ended up quitting and going home. I haven't heard any update on any new solution. The problem now is that the City has a moratorium on street closures during the holdiday season. You're not supposed to be able to close the streets until after the new year's. Hopefully they can make an exception.

It sounds like the renovation of the 5/3 facade won't begin until January.  Why can't they do it at 2AM.  Nothing going on then?

It sounds like the renovation of the 5/3 facade won't begin until January.  Why can't they do it at 2AM.  Nothing going on then?

 

The city has a loud noise ordinance at night.  I would think the hammers would violate this.  Downtown residents and hotel guests trying to sleep would not be pleased.