SUMMER'S FINAL HOURS

As the last hours of summer passed with the setting sun last weekend, I was reminded of a classic episode from The Simpsons, where Bart realizes he only has a few days left to complete his Summer To Do list. While CincyWhimsy has had no shortage of seasonal fun, the most was made enjoying our final days of summer.

Bought stylish neighborhood bag from Emily Lyn Designs at City Flea

Urban architecture bike ride through the West End

Battled Allie at Rhinegeist and joined the ranks of
American Gladiators: Storm & Turbo

Nighttime tour of the Cincinnati Streetcar construction

Watched fog cover the basin from City View Tavern

Last Creamy Whip of the season at Putz's

Ordered a cherry dipped frozen banana

Scenic drive through Mt. Airy Forest

Discovered an all-accessible tree house

Saw a rainbow in a Westwood car wash

Visited President William Henry Harrison's tomb

Discovered an old C&O caboose in someone's yard

Sightseeing with Allison, who was visiting from Atlanta

Watched this sunset bring summer to a close

STREETCAR SOCIAL - JULY

An outpouring of support for the Cincinnati Streetcar gathered at Rhinegeist Brewery in Over The Rhine for July's Streetcar Social, hosted by Cincinnatians For Progress. The group organized a monthly meetup for transit advocates to mingle and discuss current events happening in the city. The success of last month's meeting garnered the attention of Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, who reached out to be the featured speaker for the latest Streetcar Social.

“We’ve decided to name the maintenance facility the Center of Advanced Streetcar Technology, or COAST for short,” Mallory quipped to an amused audience, as he commented about the anti-streetcar group with the same acronym.

 

The Mayor's presentation was complimented by visuals of progress, including utility relocation along the route, the interior design of a CAF-manufactured streetcar, and facility renderings. He explained how Cincinnait's streetcar will have state-of-the-art technology that will be the first of its kind to operate in North America. With the construction contract officially signed with Messer, citizens can expect rail to be laid in city streets starting this fall. 

Rendering of the streetcar maintenance facility to be built on Henry Street.

 
Among the crowd of over 200 streetcar supporters in attendance were City Councilmembers Chris Seelbach, Wendell Young, and Laure Quinlivan, as well as representatives for Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls and City Council Candidate Mike Moroski.

Cincinnatians For Progress selected Rhinegeist for their July meeting, as it is one of the latest businesses to open along the streetcar route. Formerly the Christian Moerlein brewery, this location is one of many abandoned historic structures to be rehabilitated due to the promise of the rail transportation.

A crowd gathers at Rhinegeist for the Streetcar Social

Cincinnatians For Progress Co-Chair Derek Bauman greets guests at Rhinegeist

Prior to his presentation,  Mayor Mallory sat down with guests to answer questions about the streetcar

City Councilmember Chris Seelbach chats with
Michael Moore from Cincinnati's Dept. of Transportation & Engineering

UrbanCincy technologist, Travis Estell, and City Councilmember Laure Quinlivan
listen to The Mayor's presentation at the Streetcar Social

 

City Councilmember Wendell Young waves hello at the Streetcar Social

Streetcar supporters mingle before Mayor Mallory's presentation

Copies of City Beat's Top 10 Misrepresentations of the Cincinnati Streetcar Project were distributed at the meeting.