February 23, 20187 yr The way that the Cincinnati restaurant/bar scene happens in waves is so funny to me. About 2 years ago we had a wave of new gourmet burger places open. In 2017-18 we're getting a wave of cheese shops.
February 23, 20187 yr ^Rooftop bar has supplanted taproom as the hot new concept in Columbus. That's great to hear. When I went to OSU, I always thought that was the biggest thing missing from the bar scene. I really like rooftop bars.
February 26, 20187 yr Historic Short Vine bar, music venue coming back A Short Vine hot spot that has housed bars and music venues near the University of Cincinnati campus since the 1920s is coming back to life under one of its best-known monikers. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/26/exclusive-historic-short-vine-bar-music-venue.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 26, 20187 yr I played their twice in the 90s. Top Cat's was always less cool to play than Sudsy's. The space was a simple square with the stage in the corner whereas at Sudsy's the band played with its back to the front windows and the crows space was tiny. Like 20x20 feet.
February 26, 20187 yr It sucked losing Top Cat's though. I had a lot of fun and met a lot of friends there. What happened when it shut down in 2007 is that the owner said, "Welp, we've been losing money for a while. Time to shut 'er down." Then he passed away a month later. We really don't know how much it was losing. I think he knew he was sick and didn't want other people to have to deal with it.
February 26, 20187 yr ^ Some people may not realize that the guy responsible for booking Sudsy's in those days is now in charge of booking MOTR and the Woodward.
February 26, 20187 yr ^ Some people may not realize that the guy responsible for booking Sudsy's in those days is now in charge of booking MOTR and the Woodward. The only thing good about Sudsy's closing was that the movable type sign wasn't changed for a year or so. For like all of 2009 it simply read "Pumpkin Slut".
February 27, 20187 yr Sudsy's closed before Top Cats so that means the sign said that at least 2 1/2 years.
February 28, 20187 yr Look inside Tokyo Kitty, the sensory overload karaoke bar from Gorilla Cinema Tokyo Kitty is the latest bar by Gorilla Cinema Presents, the creative company that brought Cincinnati bars inspired by Stephen King's "The Shining" and the films of Quentin Tarantino. Its grand opening is Feb. 9. Tokyo Kitty, located in the 84.51 Building, is meant to be visual. It's meant to be a visual overload. Owner Jacob Trevino told me, perhaps half joking, that he never thought he'd have to put an epilepsy warning on one of his bars. Go look through the photos. It's a bar that's mean to be seen, not read about. Come back here if you still need words. I'll wait. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/08/look-inside-tokyo-kitty-the-sensory-overload.html I stopped in to Tokyo Kitty last weekend, expecting to see some karaoke going on in the main bar area, but instead it was a typical club-like scene with a DJ playing bad music. Maybe this was some sort of opening weekend event, but I thought the idea was to have this be a karaoke focused bar, not just a clubby bar that happens to have a few private karaoke rooms.
February 28, 20187 yr From the article: The DJ booth in the corner also serves as a karaoke stage. DJs can spin tunes and pull dancers up to do karaoke. Karaoke will rule in the evenings, but weekend nights will feature DJs from 10 p.m. until close.
February 28, 20187 yr Yeah, I guess it was just not the crowd I was expecting. The type of the music the DJs were playing just did not feel cohesive with what the rest of the bar is trying to be. It felt like I stepped into Mynt Martini or something.
February 28, 20187 yr OTR's treehouse bar owner expanding concept across the river The owner of the Treehouse Patio Bar in Over-the-Rhine plans on expanding that concept – complete with swings and outdoor beachy feel – to Northern Kentucky. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/02/28/exclusive-otrs-treehouse-bar-owner-expanding.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 28, 20187 yr Yeah, I guess it was just not the crowd I was expecting. The type of the music the DJs were playing just did not feel cohesive with what the rest of the bar is trying to be. It felt like I stepped into Mynt Martini or something. Was is crowded?
March 1, 20187 yr Yeah, I guess it was just not the crowd I was expecting. The type of the music the DJs were playing just did not feel cohesive with what the rest of the bar is trying to be. It felt like I stepped into Mynt Martini or something. Was is crowded? It was pretty crowded. Strangely all of the tables and chairs in that main area were just pushed into one corner to make room for a dance floor.
March 1, 20187 yr Take a look inside Cincinnati's new cheese-making bar When you think of cheese-making, you probably think of farms or cows or Wisconsin, but Cincinnati now has its own urban cheese-making studio paired with a bar, and we've got your first look inside. Urban Stead Cheese opened Feb. 23 at 3036 Woodburn Ave. in Evanston. The shop currently offers fresh-made cheese curds and quark, a cream-cheese-like product that is often used in desserts. Urban Stead is already aging cheeses, including cheddar, gouda and camembert. Take a look through the photos above for a peek inside. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/03/01/take-a-look-inside-cincinnatis-new-cheese-making.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 1, 20187 yr See, that's the problem with everything getting hipster stamps as logos. This would be way more fun with an udderly outrageous theme.
March 28, 20187 yr Walnut Hills jazz club-coffee bar sets opening date A Walnut Hills establishment that will be a coffee bar by day and a jazz club by night will be open in time for spring. Caffè Vivace at 975 E. McMillan St. in the ground floor of the Trevarren Flats development will host its grand opening April 6-7. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/03/26/walnut-hills-jazz-club-coffee-bar-sets-opening.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 4, 20187 yr Look inside Walnut Hills' newest coffee shop-jazz lounge Walnut Hills' new coffee-shop-by-day, jazz-lounge-by-night is now open and we've got your first look inside. Caffè Vivace at 975 E. McMillan St. in the ground floor of the Trevarren Flats development is now open for business and will host a grand opening party April 6-7. Flip through the photos for a look inside. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/03/look-inside-walnut-hills-newest-coffee-shop-jazz.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 4, 20187 yr I guess this goes...here? Pedal Wagon expands within Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati's Pedal Wagon, the mobile street cruise powered by the pedaling of 15 passengers as it ferries riders between bars and restaurants in the city's urban core, is expanding to a new city in Greater Cincinnati. Pedal Wagon is launching its services in Covington the weekend of April 6. It tested out the service over the St. Patrick's Day weekend, offering free rides to hundreds of revelers. Co-owner Jack Heekin told me the company has been receiving requests to cross the river into Covington for years. He sees Pedal Wagon as connecting the three major hubs of activity in Covington: MainStrasse, the downtown area around Braxton Brewing Co. and Roebling Point. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/04/exclusive-pedal-wagon-expands-within-greater.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 5, 20187 yr Covington is ruined forever!!! “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
May 10, 20187 yr Here's when a new bar will open in the former Mynt Martini space Jekyll, the revamped bar and restaurant taking over the former Mynt Martini space on Fountain Square, is opening this week. Jekyll officially opens at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 16 for March Madness and St. Patrick's Day festivities as part of its grand opening weekend celebration. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/03/13/heres-when-a-new-bar-will-open-in-the-former-mynt.html Jekyll is closed, as of May 6: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/10/fountain-square-nightclub-closes-after-14-months.html
May 11, 20187 yr It's probably more of a situation where they closed Jekyll to focus on their new place at The Banks.
May 18, 20187 yr New West End bar opens in former Rake’s End space A new bar opened last week in the space previously occupied by Rake's End — an artsy, hole-in-the-wall venue that closed its doors last year. Arts’ on the Ave, an art-themed bar that draws inspiration from its predecessor, opened its doors Thursday, May 10. Located at 2141 Central Ave., the eclectic lounge is filled with abstract paintings, artistic photographs and oversized paintbrush sculptures. Tim Haines, president of Relocation Strategies Cincinnati, and Kimberly Kruse, general manager of Haines Real Properties, acquired the 1,800-square-foot building and the adjacent development at 2133 Central Ave., formerly the Ice Cream Factory, in September 2017. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/18/new-west-end-bar-opens-in-former-rake-s-end-space.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 21, 20187 yr New West End bar opens in former Rake’s End space A new bar opened last week in the space previously occupied by Rake's End — an artsy, hole-in-the-wall venue that closed its doors last year. Arts’ on the Ave, an art-themed bar that draws inspiration from its predecessor, opened its doors Thursday, May 10. Located at 2141 Central Ave., the eclectic lounge is filled with abstract paintings, artistic photographs and oversized paintbrush sculptures. Tim Haines, president of Relocation Strategies Cincinnati, and Kimberly Kruse, general manager of Haines Real Properties, acquired the 1,800-square-foot building and the adjacent development at 2133 Central Ave., formerly the Ice Cream Factory, in September 2017. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/18/new-west-end-bar-opens-in-former-rake-s-end-space.html Excited about this, but that is a terrible name if you're trying to attract a similar clientele.
May 22, 20187 yr New West End bar opens in former Rake’s End space A new bar opened last week in the space previously occupied by Rake's End — an artsy, hole-in-the-wall venue that closed its doors last year. Arts’ on the Ave, an art-themed bar that draws inspiration from its predecessor, opened its doors Thursday, May 10. Located at 2141 Central Ave., the eclectic lounge is filled with abstract paintings, artistic photographs and oversized paintbrush sculptures. Tim Haines, president of Relocation Strategies Cincinnati, and Kimberly Kruse, general manager of Haines Real Properties, acquired the 1,800-square-foot building and the adjacent development at 2133 Central Ave., formerly the Ice Cream Factory, in September 2017. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/18/new-west-end-bar-opens-in-former-rake-s-end-space.html Rakes was the coolest scene in the city. Arts on the Ave sounds like a weekend arts festival in Maysville or something. Good god. They'd be better off just calling it Art Bar or something, if they insist on using art in the name. Super lame.
May 25, 20187 yr Look inside Three Points, Pendleton's first craft brewery https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/25/look-inside-three-points-pendletons-first-craft.html I can't think of many stretches of Cincinnati that have changed more than Broadway around 12th and 13th. This brewery looks really cool though, I like the interior design a lot.
May 25, 20187 yr I can't think of many stretches of Cincinnati that have changed more than Broadway around 12th and 13th. This brewery looks really cool though, I like the interior design a lot. I agree, it's a pretty remarkable turnaround. It feels surprisingly quaint given the wide gap between it and Sycamore St.
May 25, 20187 yr With fcc playing in the West End now in 2021, does this make the giant sycamore lot craters more attractive for mixed use development? I sometimes get worried they will be used for game day parking being charged 25$ a spot.
May 26, 20187 yr Those lots are pretty far from fcc stadium, I think that will be more of a problem with the lots around 9th and Plum.
May 29, 20187 yr With fcc playing in the West End now in 2021, does this make the giant sycamore lot craters more attractive for mixed use development? I sometimes get worried they will be used for game day parking being charged 25$ a spot. The FC stadium will have absolutely no affect on those lots.
June 20, 20186 yr A group of pro and semi-pro mountain bikers rode the pedal wagon up Asheville's steepest hills:
August 2, 20186 yr The wait is over – OTR bowling alley opening soon It has been more than a year since it was announced, but good things are worth the wait: an Over-the-Rhine venue featuring pinball and duckpin bowling is opening soon. Pins Mechanical Co. announced its intentions to come to 1120 Main St. in the Hanke Exchange Building in March 2017, and was scheduled to open by the fourth quarter that year. But renovating a historic building in Over-the-Rhine comes with its own set of challenges. Columbus-based Rise Brands owner Troy Allen, who also owns 16-Bit Bar + Arcade on Walnut Street, now expects the venue to be open in early October. "It was a complete overhaul of the building – it's practically a new building," Allen told me. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/08/02/exclusive-the-wait-is-over-otr-bowling-alley.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 18, 20186 yr Clifton music venue making changes under new ownership A music venue and restaurant in the heart of Clifton's Gaslight District is undergoing some changes under new owners. Gaslight Properties owner David Taylor and his wife, Claudia, took over the Ludlow Garage at 342 Ludlow Ave. in April. They've since brought on Chef Kevin Worthington, formerly of Ruth's Parkside Cafe, to overhaul the menu. "I want Clifton Gaslight to thrive, like Corryville, Northside, Walnut Hills and Over-the-Rhine, so I figured I would take the risk and bring this restaurant to the next level and host shows more often," David Taylor told me. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/08/17/clifton-music-venue-making-changes-under-new.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 18, 20186 yr ^ I just had Ludlow Garage's food for the first time last weekend and really wasn't impressed. Hopefully the new chef can make it into a real draw for Ludlow.
August 21, 20186 yr "I want Clifton Gaslight to thrive, like Corryville, Northside, Walnut Hills and Over-the-Rhine" If I'd seen that phrase when I was growing up in Clifton, I'd have had a preteen heart attack. It still sounds so surreal, and exaggerates the success a bit of at least Walnut Hills.
August 21, 20186 yr Last night the deli counter at the Clifton Market was rocking AC/DC's Whole Lotta Rosie at an impressive volume. Wanna tell you story About woman I know When it comes to lovin' She steals the show She ain't exactly pretty Ain't exactly small Fourt'two thirt'ninefiftysix You could say she's got it all Never had a woman Never had a woman like you Doin' all the things Doin' all the things you do Ain't no fairy story Ain't no skin and bones But you give it all you got Weighin' in at nineteen stone You're a whole lotta woman A whole lotta woman Whole lotta Rosie Whole lotta Rosie Whole lotta Rosie And you're a whole lotta woman Honey you can do it Do it to me all night long Only one who turn me Only one who turn me on All through the night time Right around the clock To my surprise Rosie never stops She was a whole lotta woman Whole lotta woman Whole lotta Rosie Whole lotta Rosie Whole lotta Rosie A whole lotta woman Whole lotta woman Whole lotta woman Whole lotta Rosie Whole lotta Rosie Whole lotta Rosie Whole lotta woman-man-man yeah Whole lotta Rosie Whole lotta woman Whole lotta woman
August 21, 20186 yr For some reason, it seems like everything in Clifton is so...'home grown' for lack of a better term. I love that the residents of the neighborhood are so involved and willing to invest their own time and money into the business district, but I think it would benefit the neighborhood if some outsiders also were able to come in and shake things up a bit. You see Senate opening in Blue Ash, A Tavola in Madeira, Nation in Westwood, Urbana Cafe in EWH, even the owners of Kaze are opening a concept in College Hill of all places. But for some reason, it's always the same cast of characters in Clifton, and most of the new concepts up there haven't been all that exciting. It'd be nice to get a little chef/operator driven buzz going on Ludlow.
August 22, 20186 yr Postmark on Telford is a wonderful chef-driven restaurant that looks to be doing really well. I highly recommend it. We go there once a month or so as their menu changes seasonally.
August 22, 20186 yr Historic Short Vine bar and music venue Top Cats to reopen Historic Short Vine hot spot Top Cats is opening back up this weekend after a years-long hiatus. Top Cats, at 2820 Vine St. in Corryville, is reopening its doors to the public on Aug. 25. Flip through the attached photos for a look inside. The establishment had been in operation since the 1970s as college hangout Shipley's. It became Hot Shotz in 1985 and then Top Cats in 1991. Top Cats closed in 2007, and the 86 Coffee Bar & Concert Venue currently occupies that space. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/08/22/exclusive-historic-short-vine-bar-and-music-venue.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 22, 20186 yr Yes. That was the place when I lived around the corner in the mid 2000s. And it looks like it didn't get hipsterized.
August 30, 20186 yr Scottish craft brewery opening Cincinnati bar A Scottish craft brewery with its U.S. headquarters in Columbus is coming to the Queen City with a bar in Cincinnati's Pendleton neighborhood. BrewDog, which is based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, with its U.S. headquarters in Canal Winchester, Ohio, has a lease for its first U.S. DogTap bar outside of Central Ohio in Pendleton. BrewDog U.S. CEO Tanisha Robinson said this in a statement: "BrewDog Cincinnati is in the works! Cincinnati has an amazing craft beer scene, so we thought it only made sense for the Queen City to be our first site outside of Columbus. Lots more to come, so stay tuned, Cincy!” More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/08/30/scottish-craft-brewery-opening-cincinnati-bar.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 11, 20186 yr Neighborhood bar opening adjacent to Washington Park A neighborhood bar inspired by Cincinnati's historic streetcar is opening adjacent to Washington Park. Cobblestone OTR is coming to 1132 Race St. with hopes of opening by the end of October. The owners aim for it to be a comfortable neighborhood bar serving up craft beer, a solid liquor list and yes, even Bud Light on draft. "You're there for the neighborhood," Mark Farris told me. "Yes, everyone coming in from the 'burbs on the weekends is fantastic, but if you're walking home from work and want a drink, I want you to think of Cobblestone." More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/09/11/exclusive-neighborhood-bar-opening-adjacent-to.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 11, 20186 yr That was the former 1132 [crack] Bar. Glad to hear it's opening as a legitimate business, but unfortunately the owners of the former crack bar still own the building. I'm hoping the people who are opening this bar are careful with their lease with those sleaze bags. "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffett
September 11, 20186 yr Someone should tell them that the exposed surface on Elm Street is not cobblestone, but rather Belgian block.
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