Signs of Spring in Cincinnati

The weather has been so erratic in Cincinnati lately [yesterday's snow?!?] that it’s hard to believe Spring is really here, but there are some subtle yet undeniable signs. Above, a tree in bloom in front of Scott Donaldson’s Emanuel Center mural in Over-the-Rhine.

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Stencil Paintings on Steel-Framed Windows by Thomas Witte

Thomas Witte is a Brooklyn-based artist with a studio in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. These stenciled paintings are on steel-framed windows salvaged from the Navy Yard, featuring images based on his own photos, early 20th century archive photographs, and photos that his father had taken in the Navy Yard.

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Oskamp Nolting Ghost Sign in Downtown Cincinnati

Found on 7th St. between Vine and Race in downtown Cincinnati, on the same block as the Provident Camera ghost sign cornucopia. The Oskamp Nolting Distributing Co. offered diamonds, watches, silver, giftwares, housewares, sporting goods, and toys. All that remains is cool, ghostly lettering.

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The Guardian Building in Detroit

Readers, if you enjoy eye candy as much as I do, brace yourselves because the Guardian Building at 500 Griswold St. in downtown Detroit is positively overflowing with Art Deco ornamentation! Designed by Wirt C. Rowland, it opened in 1930 and is decorated with tile from both Pewabic Pottery in Detroit and Cincinnati’s own Rookwood [...]

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Elsewhere

The Deserted Cincinnati Mall: as always, Chris Glass takes some amazing photos. Rewind: MTV looks at Cincinnati in 1994: just that. The Interventionist’s Toolkit: Posters, Pamphlets and Guides: a roundup of smartly designed and developed interventions and the groups that make them. VisuaLingual: Detroit-based design studio Perfect Laughter likes our work! Who Gives a Shit: [...]

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MetroCard Collages by Nina Boesch

I miss subway tokens — the cool, transit-only currency of old. Nowadays, subway stations are littered with MetroCards, the credit-card sized single and multi-ride tickets. NYC-based designer Nina Boesch creates collages out of these discarded MetroCards, rendering all sorts of NYC-centric subjects in the characteristic shades of blue and yellow.

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VisuaLingual in CincyChic

Readers, we have been swamped lately! Seed bomb production seems never-ending this time of year, so it was really fun to take a quick break and answer some “big picture” questions for the article “Local Seed Bombs Take Root across the Country.” Thank you to CincyChic for giving us an excuse to step out of [...]

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Why Are We Changing Maps?

I’ve never watched The West Wing, but maybe I should start now. If this clip is any indication, I think I would enjoy it.

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Seed Bombs in San Francisco

Our seed bombs, handmade in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, are now available at one of our favorite stores in San Francisco: Rare Device, a boutique and art gallery dedicated to showcasing the best in independent and innovative design from around the world. It’s located at 1845 Market St. at Guerrero St.

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Elsewhere

The City Flea: the Over-the-Rhine blog interviews one of the founders of The City Flea, which is coming to Cincinnati this summer. What I Want Wednesday: more seed bomb love! Michigan CEO: Soul-Crushing Sprawl Killing Business: wow, and a term that’s new to me — “quality of place.” The Suburbanization of Mike Tyson: eye-opening exposé [...]

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