Friday, May 05, 2006
Cirque Show Confirmed for Cincinnati
More exciting riverfront news... First the Wifi Annoucement, then the deal confirmed on the banks... now confirmation of the Cirque show that I mentioned a couple months ago
From Aug. 24-Sept. 17 Cirque will be performing on the Riverfront in Cincinnati in a semi-permanent tent. Great news, and I'm excited to go!
From Aug. 24-Sept. 17 Cirque will be performing on the Riverfront in Cincinnati in a semi-permanent tent. Great news, and I'm excited to go!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Three Great Music Festivals in Cincinnati
Jammin' On (May 12-13)
Desdemona Music Festival (June 23-25)
MidPoint Music Festival (Sept. 20-23)
These three events are a wonderful showcase for music in Cincinnati. But I think more importantly have the potential to grow into significant local, regional and nationally events. If all three can gain support and popularity it would position Cincinnati as a city that embraces and supports music.
Also interesting is that each has its niche place in the music scene. Jammin' On is an OTR based event that focuses on Local Original live music. Showcasing a tremendous local music scene that is currently overflowing with talent.
Desdemona is new in 2006, and while it also has a component of local music (putting on stage some of the best and most successful local acts) it's focus is on regional and national indie acts.
MidPoint Music Festival continues to grow and garner national attention as a true celebration of unsigned music. Where South by Southwest has morphed into a way for small lables to showcase their newly signed acts, MidPoint focuses entirely on the best unsigned bands in the country. It's different from Desdemona, in that Des Fest brings in bands that may not be filling up Riverbend soon, but they are certainly very well respected indie bands who in most cases do have record deals and critical success.
It's a great crop of music festivals.... and they're all the creation of Cincinnati-based 'creative class' folks. Nick Spencer is turning his dream into a reality with DesFest. Bill Donabedian and Sean Rhiney brought MPMF to us from nothing 5 years ago. And Cari Clara's Eric Deidrich's was the brianchild (as far as I know) of Jammin' On, after Jammin' on Main was suddenly cancelled last year after a decade of celebrations.
It's another great example of young, creative people stepping in to fill the void and make Cincinnati reach the potential it has, and fill in where the holes have been. Just another reason why I love Cincinnati... it's a big town, but it's small enough that people can step in and make things happen without a million dollar bank roll...
Now... everyone needs to go out and support these great events that truly make Cincinnati a unique place to live.
Desdemona Music Festival (June 23-25)
MidPoint Music Festival (Sept. 20-23)
These three events are a wonderful showcase for music in Cincinnati. But I think more importantly have the potential to grow into significant local, regional and nationally events. If all three can gain support and popularity it would position Cincinnati as a city that embraces and supports music.
Also interesting is that each has its niche place in the music scene. Jammin' On is an OTR based event that focuses on Local Original live music. Showcasing a tremendous local music scene that is currently overflowing with talent.
Desdemona is new in 2006, and while it also has a component of local music (putting on stage some of the best and most successful local acts) it's focus is on regional and national indie acts.
MidPoint Music Festival continues to grow and garner national attention as a true celebration of unsigned music. Where South by Southwest has morphed into a way for small lables to showcase their newly signed acts, MidPoint focuses entirely on the best unsigned bands in the country. It's different from Desdemona, in that Des Fest brings in bands that may not be filling up Riverbend soon, but they are certainly very well respected indie bands who in most cases do have record deals and critical success.
It's a great crop of music festivals.... and they're all the creation of Cincinnati-based 'creative class' folks. Nick Spencer is turning his dream into a reality with DesFest. Bill Donabedian and Sean Rhiney brought MPMF to us from nothing 5 years ago. And Cari Clara's Eric Deidrich's was the brianchild (as far as I know) of Jammin' On, after Jammin' on Main was suddenly cancelled last year after a decade of celebrations.
It's another great example of young, creative people stepping in to fill the void and make Cincinnati reach the potential it has, and fill in where the holes have been. Just another reason why I love Cincinnati... it's a big town, but it's small enough that people can step in and make things happen without a million dollar bank roll...
Now... everyone needs to go out and support these great events that truly make Cincinnati a unique place to live.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
JHall Move Bad for OTR?
Jefferson Hall is packing up the boxes and moving to Newport on the Levee... seems like a bit of a stretch for JHall to be moving to the Levee, but I guess we'll see... Just doesn't seem to be the Levee type of crowd, but I could be wrong. And perhaps the addition of JHall to the Levee will bring in a new crowd to the Levee... there are certainly more open spaces that could build on the live music theme and make the Levee more of a night spot... I'm sure Bar Louie would be happy about that.
As for OTR... does this hurt? Certainly it hurts Main st, but perhaps something will come in there and spur interest in the area. Re-creating Main St as a neighborhood bar location, and as an indie music main stay seems like the way to go... hopefully there will be something in there before September for MPMF.
As for OTR... does this hurt? Certainly it hurts Main st, but perhaps something will come in there and spur interest in the area. Re-creating Main St as a neighborhood bar location, and as an indie music main stay seems like the way to go... hopefully there will be something in there before September for MPMF.
Wifi - WIRELESS Fidelity
So, Lily Pad launched a two state-three city wifi zone on Monday. A digital internet bridge creating 24 million square feet of free wireless. I think it's great, and the project has gotten an amazing response from locals and people from around the country with what we are doing.
I can't help but be perplexed by the article in the Post by Joe Wessels. Who by the way, I've met a number of times, and was one of just a few who I thought 'got it', when it comes to technology and attracting/retaining young, creative people in our region.
I don't want to sound petty, so I won't go through every point in the article i don't understand, just a few of the biggest question marks.
"A test from near the middle of the Purple People Bridge showed the connection to be 235 kilobits per second for downloads, or about four times faster than the average dial-up Internet connection; and 123 kilobits per second for upload, about two times faster than dial-up. Most home broadband connection get downloads 100 times faster than in the wi-fi zone."
Okay... first off, 235 KBs is worse than any test I've done personally, so that is surprising. But the last statement that home broadband is 100x than in the 'wi-fi zone' is just crazy talk. 235kbs * 100 = 23500kbs (or 23.5 MBs). The best anyone will even advertise is 5 mBs and that is not gaurentted bandwidth.
But more importantly is the article spends about 1/4 of the time talking about not being able to find someplace to 'plug in'... did anyone notice the 'wireless' part of the term wifi. Now I understand that applies to the internet connection, but if you are going to be teathered to power, you may as well be teathered to the internet as well... for comparison for those that might not agree... when was the last time you got made at Cincy Bell and the Cincinnati parks because you were walking through the park talking on your WIRELESS phone and got made at the service and the parks for not having a place to charge your phone... that's just part of the game... wireless technologies are only as good as the power of your battery.
I can't help but be perplexed by the article in the Post by Joe Wessels. Who by the way, I've met a number of times, and was one of just a few who I thought 'got it', when it comes to technology and attracting/retaining young, creative people in our region.
I don't want to sound petty, so I won't go through every point in the article i don't understand, just a few of the biggest question marks.
"A test from near the middle of the Purple People Bridge showed the connection to be 235 kilobits per second for downloads, or about four times faster than the average dial-up Internet connection; and 123 kilobits per second for upload, about two times faster than dial-up. Most home broadband connection get downloads 100 times faster than in the wi-fi zone."
Okay... first off, 235 KBs is worse than any test I've done personally, so that is surprising. But the last statement that home broadband is 100x than in the 'wi-fi zone' is just crazy talk. 235kbs * 100 = 23500kbs (or 23.5 MBs). The best anyone will even advertise is 5 mBs and that is not gaurentted bandwidth.
But more importantly is the article spends about 1/4 of the time talking about not being able to find someplace to 'plug in'... did anyone notice the 'wireless' part of the term wifi. Now I understand that applies to the internet connection, but if you are going to be teathered to power, you may as well be teathered to the internet as well... for comparison for those that might not agree... when was the last time you got made at Cincy Bell and the Cincinnati parks because you were walking through the park talking on your WIRELESS phone and got made at the service and the parks for not having a place to charge your phone... that's just part of the game... wireless technologies are only as good as the power of your battery.
The Banks are alive! And so am I
I'm looking forward to seeing how the city/county/professional sports teams decided to play together on this one... should be an interesting announcement at 5 PM.
Sure would be nice to have that Riverfront Lily Pad lighting up something other than dirt at night!
Sure would be nice to have that Riverfront Lily Pad lighting up something other than dirt at night!
