Just say “No!” To Big-Box Black Friday

Shop Local Saturday

Ok so whether you’ve been a part of or following the whole Occupy Movement, are a strapped for cash, or just want to experience a new side of Cincinnati; there’s an event for that! Everyone’s heard about or probably even talked about “the economy” as of late. So what can you do to take part in that? Shop Local! There is really no reason to hit up the big box stores like Wal-Mart, or best Buy, or Kohl’s etc (Ok the only way I will let this slide is on big ticket electronics, as I can’t even think of a local business that sells HD TV’s and the likes, please let me know if there is one!)

But other than that, I’m sure you’re tired of giving the same old thing, just as much as your loved ones are tired of giving and getting the same things too year after year. Dreading the whole Black Friday mayhem? Wish there was there was some way to get great deals without the crowd hassle? You’re in luck!

This Saturday, Nov 19th is Cincinnati UnChained! Local businesses all through Cincy will be offering one day specials for your unique shopping pleasure. Guys, are you dreading haveing to go shopping already? No worries, local bars have you covered with $2 Hudy! Need even more of a reason? You can print out a Shoppers Passport Here, and be entered to win all sorts of goodies!

Seriously, go check out all the neighborhoods and participating businesses here!

 

Crafty Supermarket

Also going on on Saturday is the Crafty Supermarket at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center from 11am-6pm. Here you can select gifts from local artisans, who may or may not have a store front that you can visit. It’s a great way to get a truly unique gift for that picky sibling, or friend-that-has-everything type of person. Check them out on Facebook here! Oh! and there will be mass food trucks too! So even if you come out for a lunch and a quick spin, do it!

 

Thanksgiving Eve bar Crawl

If you’re like me and need to ease into the festivities The night before Thanksgiving, there’s also a pub crawl for that! Over-the-Rhine has set up a bar crawl on Weds Nov 23rd. A unique drink will be available at each bar or restaurant in the neighborhood, including Abigail Street, A Tavola, Senate, Lavomatic, The Lackman, MOTR, Neon’s, Grammer’s and The Drinkery!

Check out the whole list of events going on here! Including a shop local Black Friday event!

Know any great local deals?

The Fountain Square Food Boondoggle

For those of you who haven’t been following twitter the past few days, Fountain Square is making some drastic changes mainly the fact that

food vendors,  need to pack up their food tent and leave the Square after the end of September.

This has more than a few people riled up, as the article also states that there will not be vendors for even special events! So no food for games, beer fests, dancing, etc. The main thing that has people even more put off, is the lack of response from 3CDC to the issue. It’s not like we’re rioting with pitchforks, we would just like something more than “3cdc couldn’t be reached for comment” Below is what i received on my inquiry, which you are more than allowed to ask for at their website

Rachel,

We are working on addressing the issue but to be clear, this is not a complete elimination of food on the square – We will still have events such as the Tuesday Strauss & Troy Market. While there will not be a permanent food tent, food will be back at some events, just not all events. We have also been working with the City Administration on allowing Food Truck venders around the Square on both Fifth and Vine Street.

Through an agreement with the City of Cincinnati, 3CDC has actively programmed Fountain Square for the past five years.  Over these years, we have seen an exponential growth in Cincinnati’s downtown core and specifically, in event participation on Fountain Square. While actively programming the Square it is our main goal to provide quality, clean, safe, fun, and diverse options downtown.

To allow us to continue to program larger events while also maintaining the ample space for lunch crowds, the decision has been made to remove the food tent from the Square. It will be removed at the end of September and will not return.  3CDC is currently looking into other avenues for food service during future 3CDC programmed events.

3CDC would like to thank Skyline Chili for their generous sponsorship of the food tent over the last three years. We are proud of this partnership and look forward to finding new and exciting ways to partner in the future.

-          Christy

Christy Samad, Communications Officer
csamad@3CDC.org
p: 513.621.4400 x-120
f: 513.621.5900

Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation
1410 Race Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
http://www.myfountainsquare.com
http://www.3CDC.org

What do you think of this whole fiasco? Given the fact that just a few months ago the city was trying to get rid of the food trucks. Do you think the food trucks will respond? Or be around long enough? Will this hurt the attendance at the Square?

WEBN Labor Day Fireworks

The Cincinnati Bell/WEBN fireworks are by far, one of thee absolute best fireworks displays. With a little over half a million people viewing it from both sides of the Ohio River, in a small amount of space between 2 bridges. Every year I wonder why I fight the traffic, paying insane amounts to park so far away, walking through downtown to get to the riverbanks to get elbowed and watch snails move through the crowd faster than me…

But then it starts… and all these people come together to see who can be the loudest, and who wins the 4square check in war (well done Kentucky)-even though there was no Super Swarm badge 187 seemed to be the top out, but on a brighter note i got the special VH1/MTV moonman badge and i’m one more trip closer to the Ziggy Wagon’s badge, and the VH1 Badge, yes right here in Cincinnati

But anyways, enough about the epicness that is 4sq and on with the evening.

First a quick pit stop at Fat Cats Dueling Piano Bar, for potty’s and fishbowls :)

oooo…..

little paper lanterns

Purple People Bridge all lit up

Who doesn’t love a good waterfall?! :)

This is my fav :)

But the highlight I believe is from the end of the night and stuck walking behind the lady in the shiny purple spandex, purple socks, and a purple sweater; and her poor child in bright lime green leggings, taking after her mom. It’s been submitted to WTFCincy so I’ll link to it soon hopefully

End of the Summer Road Trip Weekend

Ok so my weekend started a little early on Thursday. Now I haven’t been much of a partier since graduating college, so I have to check out Party in the Park and things of that nature on Weds/Thurs, but Oval Opus got back together for a charity event in Newport at JB Fins (on the deck between Hooters and Beer Seller) and I’ll admit that’s a pretty great place to catch a local concert! You’ve got the skyline in the background, you can get up close and personal with the band, there’s all sorts of seating all around the stage, and a bar right outside so you don’t have to miss a moment of the action. Beer prices are a little outrageous if you’re just buying a single beer (I’d recommend the bucket for 6 or more at $2 a piece). And as far as the girly froo-froo drinks go you’re out of luck on the Smirnoff’s or the Bacardi’s, but they do have mixers. On Thurs, they didn’t have a cover when we got there shortly after 9.

Oval Opus performing at JB Fins

Friday was a bit more of an adventure (if that’s even possible) Mind you I work up in the Evendale (Sharonville) Business Park, but I had been hearing nothing but amazing things about the food truck. So I decided I was going to have a lunchtime adventure, and suckered a co-worker into joining me. So a 20 minute drive (really with the whole merging around Hamilton on 75? Who thought that traffic pattern up?!) we grabbed a spot down Race and walked up the block to where Cafe de Wheels Twitter page said they would be. Not too much of a line, which was nice. I noticed Just Q’in next door. Hadn’t heard of them yet. No sign of them on foursquare or Yelp yet, so I might have to give it a try next time.

But from the reviews I decided to go with their signature Wheels Burger and fries. Jess went for the sweet potato fries. I don’t know what it is but those fries (or the seasoning?) is Heaven!! I don’t care for sweet potatoes in any form whatsoever. I don’t even care for the smell. But these were amazing! I’m also an adamant fries-with-ketchup eater only. I ate the whole cup full in the car on the way back. Not a single drop of ketchup they were that good! And the burger… that’s a whole nother scale. I’m a picky eater, but I am adventurous. I’ll try anything once. For instance I love seaweed salads. Not so much of a fan of buffalo burgers/summer sausage. But I’m pretty sure I could eat from Cafe de Wheels every other day (opposite of Skyline and Jimmy Johns of course) They load their toppings and its just amazing.

Later that night it was off to Loveland for Toot’s. Great little pub type feel, not far off of Applebee’s/TGIFriday’s. It’s laid back and offers bang for the buck. You definitely get your moneys worth of burgers and fries. They’ve got pretty good pickle chips as well.

Saturday brings along one of my favorite places to kill an afternoon. Caeser Creek Flea Market. In my opinion it’s a step above Trader’s World, just because simply, there’s not a thing you CAN”T find here. Yeah there’s a few of your typical “jink” booths, but for the most part, they’ve got a huge selection. Trader’s World isn’t quite as diverse IMO. The only questionable thing here is the shed at the beck of the parking lot… Those that have been, know. For those that don’t… well, I don’t know if any youngsters stumble on here. But it was good time with a cute new necklace, and some candles.

While we were in the area, and this is the best part of the whole weekend, we decided to hit Rod’s Capricorn Inn.

This is the only thing you'll see on the side of the road letting you know what's there

I frequent this place once a year during Homecoming with my Sorority, and it’s just not enough. This place is the epitome of hole-in-the-wall, grease pit, dive place. And it. is. A-MAZING. Rod is normally back in the kitchen cooking and singing to country music or oldies. He’s a little off pitch but never seems to care. The burgers are massive! As in I had to fold mine in half and it still stuck out the bun!

Notice the meat spilling over the ginormous pile of mushrooms

It's a task to wolf one of those down, but oh so worth it.

The sides are generous enough, the toppings are never endingly cascading out of the sandwich, and your drink still comes in a can with a glass of ice. It’s got plastic picnic table clothes. and the back room/party area has actual picnic tables with the same tablecloths over them. It’s just so quaint and out of the way and divey that it is worth the drive up 730 from Wilmington. I promise.