The Nati

It's Official. The long rumored McCormick and Schmick's Seafood restaurant will be opening in the Westin (at the current location of the 5th and Vine bar). This location, and this specific restaurant has been mentioned in presentations by Steve Leeper when they were first looking at the Square renovation. But they've now signed on the line and construction will start in early March. I am hoping this starts the avalanche of retail/restaurant annoucements for the area on and near the square... good news...

During this past week, there have been stories, articles, blogs about the Dubliner and it's demise. They ranged from hatred to sorrow. But the story, I think, ends with a positive. The end result will be a Dubliner based in Pleasant Ridge, anchoring the business district. It could have been a lot worse for a neighborhood that rests between greatness and disaster. It's a very active community and has seen a huge influx of younger residents (at least a half a dozen people I know have purchased a home in P-Ridge in the last 5 years). But it's also seen it's share of failures, the most prominent being the Pleasant Ridge Market which closed last year.

For Owner and former communicty council President Mike Kull, the story ends with sadness. A prosperous small business owner, whose demise was surely in trying to expand his holdings with the Mariemont Homestead Tavern. I don't have first hand knowledge but I suspect the loan he took out and defaulted on was likely to jumpstart Homestead, which eventually failed. Had he stuck with only the Dubliner he may have survived. Now, Kull, loses not only The Homestead, but also the very successful Dubliner and is left empty handed. Now he has no job, no restaurants and four kids to feed. Hopefully he's able to turn things around and find something to be successful at.

On the flip side, for the community and Cincinnati, the good news is the Dubliner will be back in March. It'll be up and ready before St. Pat's day. I think it's great to have that anchor survive, and hopefully prosper. I suspect there will be a great many people in Cincinnati that won't even realize the bar closed for 2 months...

Well... I finally did it. I went out and bought a road bike. I road a lot last year, but road my Mongoose Mountain bike on the road with slicks.... better than knobby mtn bike tires, but still not the same as a road bike.

I had convinced myself that I wanted an semi entry-level bike. Basic requirements:

- Shimano 105 Components - No Tiagra
- Carbon Fork - Seat Post would be nice, but fork a must
- Decent Wheels

That was all fine and good. I hit the town and went to Reser, Campus Cyclery, Oakley Cycles, BioWheels. Didn't see a ton that a fell in love with. Decent Felt at Campus, but it was out of my price range. So I reluctantly went to Montgomery Cyclery. Nothing wrong with the people there, but they're a bit larger than the LBS (local bicycle shop) I was hoping to patronize. Well, it was at M.C. that I found the bike I love (and now own). It was last years model, which is great because it's the same as this years model, except for the color. And because it was last years model it was $600 off. So I ended up with a bike in my price range that exceeded my expectations:

Specialized Roubaix Elite 27
- Shimano Ultegra Components - All parts (front/rear derailers, Shifters, Gears)
- Carbon Fork, Seat Post and Rear
- Great Wheels

Now all I need is the weather to stay warm (and get warmer) and I can begin my riding... here's a picture so you can all fall in love:

(Click to enlarge).