I wanted to offer some insight and opinion on murals and property values. Frankly – it depends. It depends on the neighborhood, it depends on the mural content. There are some instances where murals ad tremendous beauty and value to neighborhoods and showcase the diversity and vibrance of the culture. In some cases murals can be a distraction. If you or your community are planning a mural hire a professional and make sure you have buy in from the entire community and especially the building owner!

TASTE OF CINCINNATI AND TASTE THE HYPE – MAY 23 – 25
The annual P&G Taste of Cincinnati USA is this weekend on Fifth Street downtown. Now the nation’s longest running culinary arts festival, the Taste features over 40 fine restaurants serving delectable menu items. Also, enjoy a music festival with continuous live entertainment from local and national recording artists. Admission is free and every entrée is $5 or less. Hours are Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 from noon to midnight and Monday, May 25 from noon to 9:00 p.m.  For more information Click here

MACY’S SEMI-ANNUAL MEN’S CLOTHING SALE – OCT 30 – NOV 5

Advance selection for Macy’s Semi-Annual Men’s Clothing Sale begins October 30 through November 5. Savings are from 40% – 60% off original prices, with Macy’s special savings pass. Come in or call for an appointment (513) 361-4256, or call and Macy’s will bring the sale to you! Macy’s Fountain Place is located at 505 Vine Street.

BOOKS BY THE BANKS FREE BOOK FESTIVAL – NOV 1
Love books? Then head to Books by the Banks this Saturday, November 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Duke Energy Convention Center for the 2nd Annual event. Books by the Banks is a free book festival featuring more than 90 regional and national authors. Attend panel discussions, author readings and visit the Target Kids’ Corner. Admission is free and there’s something for everyone. The Duke Energy Convention Center is located at the corner of Sixth and Elm streets. Visit http://www.booksbythebanks.org or call (513) 369-6947 for more.

BROOMBALL LEAGUE SIGN UPS BEGAN MONDAY – NOW

Team registration for the 2009 Fountain Square Broomball League (FSBL), the third season for Broomball on Fountain Square. began this past Monday and closes Friday, November 14 at 5 p.m. Simply download the registration form at http://www.myfountainsquare.com. The 2009 FSBL will include 32 teams (16 Advanced and 16 Beginner) and teams can include up to 12 players. The 32 teams will be selected by lottery and announced before Thanksgiving.

DOWNTOWN SPECIAL AT ARTHUR MURRAY DANCE STUDIO – NOW
The Arthur Murray Dance Studio, teaching Cincinnatians how to waltz, salsa and samba for the past 70 years, is now offering five lessons for just $99, a $200 value. This special offer expires December 31 so hustle on over to 128 E. Sixth Street to sign up today. Call (513) 241-7308 to learn more.

ONGOING……
The Blue Wisp
Join Smooth Jazz WCIN 1480AM DJ Phil Tucker for Friday Happy Hour at the Blue Wisp, at 318 E. Eighth Street. He’ll spin records and give away prizes. For more information call (513) 241-WISP or visit http://www.thebluewisp.com

Jazz at The Phoenix Restaurant
Live music every Wednesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Phoenix at 812 Race Street. Call (513) 721-8901. http://thephx.com.

T.G.I.T. Wine Tastings at City Cellars
$8 every Tuesday at City Cellars at 908 Race Street. http://www.citycellars.biz.
Nicholson’s Quiz Night
Bring your team and your wits and check out Nicholson’s Quiz Night every Monday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 625 Walnut Street. Call 513) 564-9111. http://www.tavernrestaurantgroup.com/nicholsons.html

City Talk with 55 KRC
Listen live on Sundays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. as Michael Sweeney and Tom Hodges discuss issues and happenings throughout Cincinnati. http://www.citytalk550.com (513) 749 -5500.

Jazz of the Month Club at Main Library
On select Saturdays at 2 p.m., well-known jazz artists will perform in the Main Library’s Atrium located at 800 Vine Street. November 15 – The Coltrane Legacy with The Pat Kelly Quartet. Call (513) 369-6900 or visit http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org

44 Lunchtime Series at the CAC
The Contemporary Arts Center, located at 44 E. Sixth Street, offers a free, ongoing lunch series known as 44 every Monday from noon to 2 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.contemporaryartscenter.org/44 .

Afternoon Tea at Orchid’s
Orchids at Palm Court, located at 35 West Fifth Street, is now hosting Saturday afternoon tea from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. For reservations email todd.kelly@hilton.com or call (513) 421-9100. It’s $27 for adults and $19 for children.

Fountain Square and Soapbox – Sign Up
Sign up today for the Fountain Square newsletter at http://www.myfountainsquare.com
Also, sign up for Soapbox Media’s online weekly news at http://www.soapboxmedia.com.

The $29 wristband pass, available for pre-order at mpmf.com, provides festival attendees access to 17 stages and concerts by all MidPoint bands. To order a wristband pass, click on the “SEE IT ALL” button on the MidPoint homepage. Venue admission is subject to legal capacity.

New Producers. New Features.
Cincinnati alternative newsweekly CityBeat is producing MidPoint Music Festival for the first time in the event’s seven-year history. New this year will be an expansion of venues into Downtown, along with many of the historic-Over-the-Rhine neighborhood locations used in the past. Two groups of stages are equally divided north and south of Central Parkway, making it easy to walk between venues, and festival transportation will also be available.

“MidPoint is dedicated to fostering growth within Over-the-Rhine and Downtown,” said Dan McCabe, executive producer. “All the recent discussion about Cincinnati possibly getting streetcars in the central part of the city led us to think it would be cool to show folks the proposed streetcar route, which conveniently works with these venues. It’ll give them a real taste of the streetcar movement.”

To demonstrate the potential of Cincinnati streetcars, MidPoint sponsor Scion is making 20 xB crossover vehicles available to help festival attendees cruise between the uptown and downtown clubs along the proposed streetcar route. Less walking means more listening.

The NAACP annual convention is the largest gathering of its kind in the country. An estimated 8,000 NAACP members, delegates and visitors will be in Cincinnati for six days of informative workshops, hearing compelling speakers, gathering information and enjoying entertainment. Both presidential candidates will be speaking over the week-long event. Barack Obama speaks on Monday, July 14th and John McCain speaks on Wednesday, July 17th.

For more information on the schedule of events click here.

The Loveland bike trail is part of the 70 mile trail that follows the Miami River and is paved over old railroad tracks. After the safety demonstration, those present will take a group ride and enjoy a picnic lunch. The event is open to the public and will provide participants the opportunity to meet and talk with some Cincinnati families hosting Au Pairs to learn more information about the agency and its programs.

One thing that most people probably do not know that Mt. Lookout also has the privilege of being home to the nation’s oldest fully operational observatory founded in 1842. Mt. Lookout’s website reports that it has one of the highest owner occupancy rates in Cincinnati nearly 80% of the 1,400 units available in the neighborhood and is the home to approximately 3,400 residents.

Mt. Lookout is conveniently located near the 94 acre Frederick H. Alms Memorial Park and the 224 acre Ault Park which is the fourth largest park in Cincinnati. Mt. Lookout has sidewalks running through most of the major streets and neighborhoods and even has a running club where the routes are mapped out, is part of the Cincinnati Public School District, and is nearby the Oakley Community Center.

Mt. Lookout Square is the home of unique shops, coffee shops, a theater, restaurants, and bars. In the warm spring and summer months to come this is the perfect place to walk around and grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants with open air seating. Mt. Lookout is the host of Junefest so look out for a posting as that events nears.

Many of the
neighborhoods hosting events can be found here.

The Downtown
Gift Card, a multi merchant prepaid credit card valid at more
than 120 participating downtown merchants. The Downtown Gift Card is available
in any denomination up to a $500 value at the Downtown Cincinnati Inc Website.
Downtown also has a few events to offer for the eve of Valentine’s Day Havana Martini, Boi Na Braza, Jeff Ruby’s, Lodge Bar, The Ensemble
Theater has a special production as well. The other options
available downtown are the Fountain Square Ice Skating Rink, a Carriage ride
through downtown.

Newport on the Levee’s merchants have all
teamed up and have plenty of Valentine’s
Day packages for those of you looking to spend your evening in
Kentucky.

Mt Lookout will be having events at Million’s Cafe as well as local
restaurants will sure to be booked up. Some of those restaurants are Nectar
and Betta’s Italian Cuisine.