THE GREAT STREETCAR DEBATE

Inflation. A rising cost of supplies due to delays. A scaled-back design. Re-evaluations by transit experts. Changes in local politics.

A description of the current situation facing the Cincinnati Streetcar sounds a lot like the story of the Cincinnati Subway, a project that was left incomplete nearly 100 years ago. As a result, businesses moved away from the urban core, and eventually out of the Queen City. A river town which was once known as the Paris of America, Cincinnati fell behind the times as our glory fled to progressive cities like Chicago and St. Louis.

 The subway failed because it was a project of the previous city administration. When a new political party took office, they wanted to eliminate anything with prior relation as it was viewed as an impediment to reform. Just like today, it was a hot-button issue during an election year.

And yet, here we are again. The streetcar project is at a critical crossroads and it all boils down to money and politics. Do we find more funding and continue with the project, or do we let a transit project fail...again?

Cincinnati is already home to one abandoned rail project. What did the community gain from giving up? A car-dependent city. Struggles with economic development. The 2.2 miles of unfinished concrete tunnels which the city maintains as infrastructure that supports Central Parkway. Of course, we also have the honorable title of "America's Largest Unfinished Transit Project."


As a society, we have not had the opportunity to build something bigger than ourselves. Let's learn from our history. Build the Cincinnati Streetcar and watch our city thrive. 

GRAZE: HEALTHY SNACKS DELIVERED

I love to snack. Most of the time, that snacking happens while I'm working, tethered to my desk. What's a better distraction from a creative lull than finding something to nibble on? Unfortunately, vending machine choices aren't very nutritious. That's when my friend Zach introduced me to Graze.com.

Box #1:
Jaffa Cake, Apple & Cinnamon Flapjack, Billionaires' Shortbread, Nacho Libre

Like Green Bean Delivery, which delivers a weekly bin of fresh produce to your door, Graze offers a customized box of good-for-you snacks that arrives via USPS. With over 90 options to choose from, the website lets customers rate food they want to try, like, love, or trash. Users can also view categories that are friendly to allergies or dietary restrictions.

Graze fits right into your mailbox.

Graze will send you four portions of snacks each week for only $5.00. I first started out on the every-other week plan, then changed to the weekly option to increase frequency. Each portion is one serving size and averages around 100 calories.

Each snack portion is the size of a deck of cards.
Pictured Snack: Nacho Libre

Each box comes with nutrition facts about your order.

Not only are these nibbles nourishing, but they taste fantastic. Graze's chef, Eleanor, creates all the snacks by mixing flavors of nuts, dried fruit, chocolate morsels, crackers, and of course, natural seasonings. One thing that's great about Graze is that I get to try a variety of new foods that I otherwise wouldn't select for myself at the grocery. Most of the time, I'm pleasantly surprised by the taste!

Box #2:
British Barbecue, Honeycomb Flapjack, Smoky Gazpacho Dip, Scrumptious Blueberry Swirl

Box #5:
Yaki Soba, Pear Tatin, Dark Rocky Road, Eleanor's Apple Crumble

Nacho Libre
salsa almonds, cheesy sombreros and jumbo chilli corn

Billionaires' Shortbread
fudge pieces, blanched almonds, milk chocolate drops and cranberries

Jaffa Cake
roasted hazels, orange infused raisins and dark chocolate buttons

Cookies & Cream
mini chocolate cookies, roasted hazels, white chocolate buttons and sunflower seeds

Chocolate Orange Granola
granola seeds, blanched almonds, dark chocolate drops and orange infused raisins

Currently, Graze.com is offering a special: if you sign up for 5 boxes, your first and fifth box is free! Since Graze is new, they are only allowing people to sign up with an offer code. If you're interested, send me an email - I have a few codes left that I'm willing to share!

In case you were wondering, so far, my favorites have been:
 - Korean Chili Rice Crackers
 - Yaki Soba
 - Billionaires' Shortbread
 - Eleanor's Apple Crumble
 - Pear Tatin
 - Hot Cross Yum
 - Tutti Fruiti
 - Jaffa Cake
 - Cookies & Cream

Sometimes Graze sends little surprises, like this punch-out bunny included with my Spring box.

Graze is one of my new favorite things, especially since it is good for you, guilt free snacking, plus it can be delivered to home or work! If you decide to give it a try, let me know which tastes are your favorites.

Nom, nom, nom.

HISTORY IN BLOOM

Every year in late April, Spring Grove Cemetery presents a day of heritage and horticulture with their History In Bloom tour. Throughout the cemetery, reenactors are stationed at graves of prominent Cincinnatians who come to life to retell their story. Along the way, guests can see the budding trees surrounded by blossoming tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and more.

 

Visitors may choose to walk the path, but I prefer taking the horse-drawn carriage or Spring Grove's tram. The tour also includes a detailed map of all the reenactors, surrounding significant graves, and summaries of the historical figures we met on the tour. The best part, of course, is that History In Bloom is completely free and open to the public.

 

 

Agnes Lake Thatcher

World renown tight-rope walker, lion tamer, and equestrian. First female manager of a touring circus in 1871. Second husband was Wild Bill Hickcok.

Belinda Groshon

English actress known for her Lady Macbeth. She died suddenly while performing on stage in 1822.

Charles West

 

A flour mill operator, West spent 40 years in Cincinnati working to earn his fortune. In the 1880s, he donated $300,000 to help co-found the Cincinnati Art Museum. He died before the museum opened; little is mentioned of him at the Art Museum today.

Andrew Erkenbrecher

Owner of the St. Bernard Starch Works, Erkenbrecher invented the first shelf-stable starch. He used his wealth to found the Cincinnati Zoo, the second oldest zoo in America. The zoo first served as an aviary when many kinds of birds were imported to rid the city of the caterpillar plague.

Major General John Stites Gano

Civil War hero who helped plat Covington and was one of the areas earliest settlers.

Nicholas Longworth, Sr.

Cincinnati's first millionaire who owned Mt. Adams and whose house is the present-day Taft Museum of Art. He arrived in the city in 1804, a penniless man from New Jersey, and earned his wealth working as a lawyer, banker, and vineyard owner.

Mary Louise McLaughlin

Famous creator of ceramics who rivaled Maria Longworth's Rookwood Pottery. Her husband, James, was an architect for many of the buildings on 4th Street, as well as Shillito's, Mabley & Carew, Cincinnati Art Museum, Masonic Temple, and Downtown YMCA.

Amanda Wilson

World traveler, philanthropist, and documentarian of the Civil War. Contributed substantially to the original three issues of the McGuffey Readers in the 1850s.

Other Prominent Graves:

The Gambles, of Procter & Gamble.

William Nast, founder of the first German Methodist Church in America.

Salmon P. Chase, U.S. Secretary to President Lincoln and 6th Chief Justice of the U.S.
Chase bank is named in his honor.

General Rees E. Price, owner and developer of Price Hill

Dexter Mausoleum
Resting place for a family of whiskey distillers, the last of whom was buried in the 1940s.

Several graves were crafted as benches, which the public may sit on to enjoy the view.

Beer Baron Row, home to several notable brewers like Kauffman.

Sarcophagus of General Joe Hooker, who commanded the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War.
The term "hooker" was derived from his name,
due to a following of prostitutes who would join his brigade for parties at campsites.

Pogue, of the department store.

Hopple, of Hopple Street.