CincyWhimsy: Reds

Showing posts with label Reds. Show all posts

BUSSING IT TO OPENING DAY

Parades. The first signs of spring. The first game of the season. While Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds has been long-awaited, one things baseball fans aren't looking forward to are the wait times on the road. The Queen City's unofficial calendar holiday is expected to draw in 45,000 visitors and with several road closures and ongoing construction Downtown, this year is also expected to have the worst traffic congestion to date.

In addition to the parade route closing intersections at 8:00am, two major infrastructure projects: Dunnhumby at 6th and Race Street, and a hotel at 4th and Walnut, have blocked off lanes for equipment. Other streets have narrowed to one lane due to ongoing streetcar construction and utility relocation. Then, of course, are the parking garage fees, which can range anywhere from $20 to $35 for lots up to 14 blocks away from the stadiums.

Don't ruin a fantastic day with the headache of driving -- there is a better way.

METRO*Plus bus is Cincinnati's first bus rapid transit route, which offers speedier connections than traditional buses. By utilizing limited stops, METRO*Plus transports passengers between Kenwood Towne Center (Nordstrom) and Downtown every 15 minutes. It's just as fast as driving, and you don't have to worry about navigating road closures or finding a parking spot. If you live along the I-71 corridor, check out the map to find a METRO*Plus stop near you. You can also search for bus routes on Google Maps by typing in your origin and destination, then clicking the transit icon. Route 90 will indicate a nearby METRO*Plus route.

If you live in Corryville, Avondale, Evanston, Norwood, Pleasant Ridge, Silverton, Deer Park, Sycamore Township, Over-the-Rhine, Xavier University, or University of Cincinnati:

There is a METRO*Plus stop near you.

Click the bus icon for transit times and directions on Google Maps. Feature is also available on the mobile app.
Route 90 indicates METRO*Plus stops.

To find your bus stop, look for one of these brand new, easy-to-find METRO*Plus bus shelters

or a traditional METRO*Plus street sign.

Pro Tip: Make sure you're getting on a southbound bus. The scroll at the top should read "Downtown."

If your bus says "Kenwood," you're going in the wrong direction. Cross the street to stand at the correct bus stop.

Going to the parade before the game?

METRO*Plus has a bus stop at Findlay Market and further south at Court & Walnut Street (two blocks from the "halfway point" where the parade turns from Central Parkway onto Race Street). If you want to arrive closer to the stadium, get off at Government Square, the transit hub, at 5th and Walnut Street. From there, you are only three short blocks from Great American Ballpark.

METRO*Plus only costs $1.75 to ride each way, which saves you plenty of money for some extra beers at the ball game. (Pro Tip: If you don't have bus pass, it's cash only. No change is dispensed.) Getting home is easy too. After the Reds game, walk to 6th and Main Streets at Government Square Area H bus stop. A digital screen will tell you when the next bus arrives. If you're just Downtown for the parade, use Google Maps to find the closest METRO*Plus stop -- remember, it's labeled as Route 90.

And that's it!
For less than $4.00, you can enjoy Reds Opening Day festivities without the hassle of getting there.

HOXWORTH'S RIGHT TYPE PARTY

One of the largest and most-attended blood drives of the year takes place at Great American Ball Park, as Hoxworth Blood Center partners with the Cincinnati Reds. This year, the spokesman for Hoxworth is none other than Marty Brennaman, long-time announcer for the Reds. To kick off the event, Montgomery Inn Boathouse hosted a meet-and-greet with Marty and other influential people dedicated to saving lives.

Dean Gregory, owner of Montgomery Inn

Marty Brennaman speaks about Hoxworth and baseball

Marty and I sporting the Marty paddle fan giveaways.

Hoxworth serves 17 counties throughout the tri-state, and is responsible for collecting, testing, processing and distributing blood to 31 local hospitals. In order to meet the needs of patients, 400 volunteer blood donors and 40 platelet donors are needed each day to keep the supply bountiful.

This 7-year-old was born with a rare form of anemia, and relies on Hoxworth to receive 13 transfusions a year.

His mother tells their story and their gratitude to Hoxworth.

The Annual Reds Blood Drive is equipped to handle donors en mass, and also offers incentives for those who come down to the ballpark. Donors receive a free Cincinnati Reds tee shirt, Marty paddle fan, and a pair of tickets to a Reds game. Over 500 people have already signed up to take part in this charitable event.

Giving blood takes less ten minutes and is relatively painless. Here are some cool facts I learned from the staff at Hoxworth at their event:

- There are four main types of blood A, B, AB and O. Each can be positive or negative. AB is the universal recipient; O negative is the universal donor of red blood cells.
- Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood – less than 10 percent do annually.
- Someone needs blood every two seconds.
- One pint of a donor's blood can save up to three lives.
- Healthy adults are able to donate one pint of blood every two months.

Hoxworth staff looks on at the event.

One of the oldest blood centers in the country, Hoxworth was founded in December 1938 by a Cincinnati surgeon, Dr. Paul I. Hoxworth. It originated as a one-room laboratory with peak demand during World War II, and has since transformed into a state-of-the-art facility with eight donor centers.

The Annual Reds Blood Drive takes place on June 13 from 10:00AM - 7:00PM.
Reds Week will be celebrated from June 10 - 15 at all neighborhood donor centers. Donors at these locations will receive a free Cincinnati Reds shirt for their contribution.