Our OTR Block shirts are currently 50% off at Park+Vine, which is having a major sale on baby and kids stuff this weekend. These are limited-edition, 100% cotton, heather grey Precious Cargo shirts, locally printed by hand with love.
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January 31, 2009
OTR Block Shirts on Sale
January 30, 2009
Elsewhere
Forgotten Cincinnati: from abandoned amusement parks and crumbling breweries to forgotten neighborhoods and other derelict structures and locales, Sherman Cahal and Ronny Salerno present photographs of a deserted Queen City; opening tonight at Park+Vine.
Vacant Cities and Rubber Wheeled Vehicles: “People have been trying to make OTR an easy to drive and park neighborhood. They think that this is necessary for its survival, but they are really destroying it.”
Astroland Rocket Update: Staten Island Exile Looms for a While: Brooklyn Borough president Marty Markowitz uses the term “freakishness” in a press release.
Skyway for Sale on Craigslist: in Minneapolis, a vintage, 280,000-lb. skywalk can be yours for 79k.
Counter/Culture – The Disappearing Face of Brooklyn’s Storefronts: a photography exhibit by James and Karla Murray at the Brooklyn Historical Society, up through the end of March.
Art in Train Stations: the talented Camilla Engman has art installed in a Göteborg, Sweden train station, which spawns an impassioned plea for more art in public places.
Jan Kaplicky, Audacious Czech Architect, Is Dead at 71: the architect whose structures are undulating organic forms, asked “Where is it written that buildings have to be boxes?”
January 29, 2009
Snow Emergency
It seems that my wish was granted — the snow did become a bit extreme, and Cincinnati did, for all intents and purposes, shut down. The few brave souls who ventured out yesterday were met with an urban hiking wonderland all to themselves. Here are some photos taken during and after the snowstorm.
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January 28, 2009
Everett Middle School in San Francisco
The Everett Middle School in San Francisco’s Mission District is an incredible-looking building, but I haven’t been able to find out any information about the architect or its history. Here are some photos of its beautiful Church St. facade, which is total California.
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January 27, 2009
Winter Weather Alert
I wouldn’t mind if Cincinnati were to completely shut down today, just like it did almost a year ago. I’m not alarmed by the “snow emergency,” and it’s fun to play in the fresh snow while the rest of the world stays home.
January 26, 2009
Kid Power Park in San Francisco
Kid Power Park in San Francisco’s Mission District is a mere hop and a skip away from the famous Clarion Alley I’ve already documented. In a city of so much amazing public art, and specifically so many mosaics in public places, this small urban park is a great example of a mosaic mural with a strong impact.
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January 25, 2009
Spring Grove Avenue by Samantha Johnson
The new Prairie Gallery in Northside opened Friday night with a two-person exhibit entitled Happy Valley or Helltown, featuring two large-scale pieces — a found-object sculpture by Voss Finn and a mixed-media installation by Samantha Johnson. Here are some photos of Johnson’s piece which, as you might imagine, really resonated with me.
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January 24, 2009
Lighting by Elsa Somano
Etape 1 by Elsa Somano
Under the name Cahokia Créations, Elsa Somano is a designer based in Lyon, France, who creates stunning lighting, including these perforated lampshades. Drawing on her experience and background in architecture, Somano has brought a rich, new dimension to the world of lighting using modern, raw materials and designed with a touch of poetry.
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January 23, 2009
Elsewhere
Cincinnati Neighborhood Summit 2009: on Sat 24 Jan, the seventh annual Neighborhood Summit will focus on finding solutions to common problems the city and its neighborhoods face.
Holiday Survives: if you know me, you know I’m not much of a barfly. But, the Holiday Cocktail Lounge is an exception, and I’m proud to count myself among the proprietor’s many “bullshitters and faggots.” Ahh, but for how long?
LEGO Goes Urban – What Others are Doing: the LEGO shenanigans continue!
Coney Offensive Begins, But Nathan’s Dogged By Questions: the details of the rezoning plan have been unveiled and are now up for public review, and rumors of Nathan’s flagship location closing are swirling about.
Foods Mom (or Dad) Made: speaking of food and place, Wit, Wisdom & Food takes on the smell/taste/emotion trifecta.
It’s Moving Day for 2 Families: the peaceful transfer of power is accompanied by a swift and choreographed Moving Day in the White House.
A New Look at the Multitalented Man Who Made Tropical Landscaping an Art: an exhibit in Rio de Janeiro looks at the work of Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx.
January 22, 2009
San Francisco’s 16th Avenue Steps
Tucked into the Golden Gate Heights neighborhood in San Francisco’s Sunset District, the 16th Avenue Steps is a perfect example of an inclusive work of both public art and civic design. The project was led by artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher, who worked with more than 300 neighbors on creating the tiles used for the 163 risers that make up these stairs.
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