EAT DRINK
AND BE
MERRY MidPoint Music Festival Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Bacchanalian Society Madisono’s Gelato Lang Lang & CSO Dilly Deli CafÊ Beer Pairings
plus: + arts and development + netbooks vs. notebooks + bridging the equity gap
september 2009
what’s inside u
september 09
9
18
10
12
8 4
eastside eats: dilly deli café
6
drinking for a cause: the bacchanalian society woos cincy
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oktoberfest zinzinnati: wiener dogs and warsteiner await
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eight years of mpmf: midpoint music festival brings bands and music lovers from near and far
10
nerd alert: netbooks vs. notebooks
11
lang lang & cso: international superstar opens 115th season
12
beer pairings: food pairings aren’t just for wine anymore
14
we all scream for... gelato: madisono’s gelato & sorbet
16
location, location, location: taking advantage of the equity gap in today’s real estate market
18
arts effect on development & achievement: the arts offer youth a lifetime of lessons
HEY YOU! Do you know of a person, business, group, or event that other readers should know about? We’re always looking for great stories. Let us know at eastsider@eastsidermagazine.com. Also, visit our website at www.eastsidermagazine.com to get web-exclusive articles, pics, and videos. And while you’re there, sign up for our free, weekly e-newsletter. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. ____________________________ To learn more or to advertise: Eastsider Magazine phone (513) 382-1805 email eastsider@eastsidermagazine.com web www.eastsidermagazine.com twitter @eastsidermag © 2009 Eastsider Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
eastside eats dilly deli café
Dilly Deli Café • 6818 Wooster Pike • (513) 561-5233 If you drive east on Columbia parkway far enough, you may find yourself in the intriguing Germanesque village of Mariemont. On a shady street, tucked into a group of buildings called the “Mariemont Strand” sits the Dilly Deli Café, a unique restaurant that serves not only a delicious meal, but has one of the best wine and beer selections in the Cincinnati area. An open dining room and patio with a warm fireplace add to the atmosphere of a great restaurant. First, a word on the beer: The Dilly Deli Café features 11 rotating taps that are kept in stock by its beermaster, whom the regulars know as Peanut. Extremely knowledgeable and partial to Belgian brews, he often keeps the Belgian Tripel Karmeliet on tap. Also common are big or seasonal beers from Avery, Southern Tier, Stone, or Founders, as well as local Mt. Carmel brewery. The draft prices are reasonable, often under five dollars for a delicious craft brew. Dilly Deli Café has come a long way from the simple sandwich shop it used to be so many years ago, now featuring not only the impressive draft and cheese selection, but interesting entrees and specials that change weekly, as well as live music on the open patio. “There’s no point in selling the same thing as everyone else,” Chuck Warriner, the co-owner, says when I inquired about what spurred the creation of the Dilly Deli Café. “We tried to mix inspiration with impulse to create a place where we would want to visit, eat, and hang out even if we didn’t work here.” The Dilly Deli Café has recently received the two glass
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award from Wine Spectator, making it the only tri-state restaurant that received the honor this year. Not only is the wine selection varied and wide, the prices are reasonable. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday there is no corkage fee on bottles of wine at the adjacent retail store. The wine by the glass selection is impressive, spanning several pages of interesting and unique selections to complement an entrée. The menu of the Dilly Deli Cafe features long-standing favorites such as the tangy and rich beer cheese - a closely guarded secret recipe that took some time to perfect - crispy sweet potato fries served with apple butter, and sesame encrusted ahi tuna, sautéed and served with a ginger risotto cake and raspberry soy reduction, as well as pastas, salads and wraps for those who want lighter fare. In addition, Chef Eric Vice and Sous Chef Patrick Hogue cook up weekend specials that range from Cajun style risotto, braised pork shoulder ravioli, and bourbon glazed pork belly, which often sell out within the first few hours of dinner service. One of the best things about the Dilly Deli Café is its versatility. Stop by for a casual drink after work, or make a reservation for a lovely family dinner. The soft candle light in the dining room and varied menu for carnivores and vegetarians alike make this restaurant an ideal place to take a first date. You may find yourself a regular at the Dilly Deli Café before you know it! __________________________________________________ You can read Laura Arnolds blog, Cincinnati Nomerati, at Cincinnatinomerati.blogspot.com.
PRESENTS
SUNDAYSEPTEMBER 13 K Second Sunday th
ersar y a nn i v
A hip, eclectic neighborhood event Main Street expanded to 12th and Liberty Noon – 5 PM FEATURING
Tour 7 Condo Developments Over 100 Loft Condos available from the $90’s to $350’s For more information call: 513.621.4283
don’t miss a second! www.secondsundayonmain.org
Eco-Main-ia
on Main
URBAN LIVING FUN MUSIC
OTR Tour of Living* Unique Shopping Live local music on the CityBeat & WNKU Stage
FOOD
Celebrity Chef Demo City Cellars Wine Tastings Christian Moerlein Beer Garden
ART
Jewelry, Mixed Media & Paintings
*Registration Tent at corner of 12th & Vine and the corner of 12th and Main
www.GatewayQuarter.com
www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 5
drinking for a cause the bacchanalian society woos cincy
With an enviable following of young professionals and a penchant for wine, The Bacchanalian Society (http:// bacchanaliansociety.com) is Cincinnati’s YP answer to charitable fundraising. Far removed from the fundraising car washes of yesteryear and yet still too restless for the tuxedo and ball gown formality of charity galas, YP’s have found the perfect outlet for their philanthropic tastes in this social and stylish organization.
impetus for the Society that exists today. Cofounder Ashley Hess recently commented on the rapid growth of the organization in and interview with News 5. “After it started growing, we realized that we really had something and we could help some charities as well as introduce people to some new venues around town.” Holding events only four times a year, every affair is held in a different location and is slated to benefit a different cause. John A. Brenzel Jr., the current Society president, commented on what we can expect from the next Bacchanalian gathering. “We have one more event planned for the year and are very excited about returning to Fountain Square and partnering with Habitat for Humanity September 17th. Always looking to grow and expand because, after all, we are in the fundraising and friend-raising business!” Featuring a different wine varietal at each function for tasting, the wine selection for this evening’s celebration will be announced as the event draws closer. The recommended donation is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Bacchanalian Society event held at Union Terminal in July Three is the magic number when it Attracting up to 1,000 attendees per event and raising comes to the wine tasting portion of the evening. Competitive close to $40,000 annually for its compassionate causes, The wine tastings will be held in teams of 3 or less. Each team Bacchanalian Society is an impressive organization that touts will bring their personal selection of 3 identical bottles of the the finer things in life without the usual pretenses. The Society featured varietal. The bottles are then bagged to protect their website unapologetically cautions, “wine snobs should check anonymity as they are then sampled for judging. The lucky their attitudes at the door.” winners of the tasting with the highest ranked bottle will have The group is presided over in spirit by the Roman Deity bragging rights to one unopened bottle from each losing team, Bacchus, from which the Bacchanalian Society derives its name. with the exception of the lowest ranked bottle, which will be Bacchus historically symbolizes the God of Wine and all things shunned and unceremoniously returned to its sponsors. intoxicating, implicating – rather tastefully – that a good time will The most recent Bacchanalian event was held on July 16 at be had by all. Add to that the ever present networking priorities the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal and highlighted of young professionals attempting to extend their corporate and the varietal of French Reds. Gobs of young professionals turned social circles and you can see how this organization has created out with bottles of wine in tow. a win-win formula. “The Bacchanalian is a great organization and we were Created as a social club in 2002 by a group of unassuming happy to have Union Terminal serve as the location for one of friends new to the Queen City, the Bacchanalian Society has their fabulous events,” said Douglass W. McDonald, president since exploded in size and reach. Founded by Todd Fisher, and CEO of Museum Center. “Union Terminal has seen many Kevin Ghassomian, and Ashley Hess, their original intentions great events in its 76-year history and this certainly falls into were purely for networking purposes, providing a fun excuse that category.” to make new contacts, and happily enjoy a few good bottles. As __________________________________________________ membership grew, local charities began approaching the group Tina Lane is an Ex-Floridian finding her way in the Midwest. to develop the community partnerships and the philanthropic You can read her blog at FloridaGirlMidwest.blogspot.com.
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www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 7
oktoberfest zinzinnati
wiener dogs and warsteiner await at the largest oktoberfest in the country
If you thought Taste of Cincinnati was a good time, don’t miss Oktoberfest Zincinnati, occurring downtown on September 19 and 20. When else can you see a pack of wiener dogs in hotdog costumes racing across the square, participate in one of the largest chicken dances in the world while wearing a chicken hat, and dance enthusiastically to polka music, all in one afternoon? Cincinnati’s rich German heritage is showcased in this once-a-year and not-to-be-missed event, which kicks off with parades and the traditional chicken dance, this year being led by a cartoon celebrity - Homer Simpson. Beer stein races as well as lots of live music provide entertainment well into the evening. And let’s not forget the food and drink, the main stars of Oktoberfest. A variety of different breweries bring their taps in, from Spaten and Warsteiner to Christian Moerlein and Sam Adams. Cincinnati’s German restaurants and various vendors showcase their best dishes for you to sample. As the second largest Oktoberfest in the world, and the largest event of its kind in the country, there will be a lot of outof-towners in for the celebration. This can also be beneficial for those who live a little bit closer, as some hotels downtown are offering special rates. The official hotel this year is the Hyatt,
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which is offering a room for $99 a night. A room can be worth a little bit of extra cash, especially if one of your group has a port-o-let phobia, you’re planning on attending both days of the festival, or you want to avoid giving a cab driver the wrong directions after one too many Warsteiners. Goetta, sausages, strudels, brats, cream puffs, pretzels and wursts galore await you — we advise that you wear your stretchy pants. We’ll see you there! __________________________________________________ You can read Laura Arnolds blog, Cincinnati Nomerati, at Cincinnatinomerati.blogspot.com.
eight years of mpmf
midpoint music festival brings bands and music lovers from near and far Three days of music, more than 250 performers and no tents Javier’s for example.” or un-showered hippies? Not all music festivals were created One local band, The Lions Rampant, is set to make its third equal. And for the past eight years, the MidPoint Music Festival appearance on a MidPoint Music Festival stage. The first year in Cincinnati has made a name for itself as one of the best. they played at the Poison Room, last year at the Courtyard Café “This is kind of a dying breed,” says Dan McCabe, executive and this year the band is scheduled for Grammar’s. producer of the Midpoint Music Festival. “When people think The Lions Rampant front man Stuart MacKenzie said he of a music festival they envision a football field with stages on has fond memories of last year’s show at the Courtyard Café. both ends.” “It was probably one of the best shows we played,” he remembers. Instead, the MidPoint Music Festival features 22 venues “They were at capacity.” from all around downtown and Over the Rhine. A weekend pass He says the band has been on the road for the better part of allows music goers the opportunity to see whatever they’d like. this year, playing more than 50 shows all around the Midwest in “Cincinnati has the infrastructure to host this and do it well,” the meantime. The band is currently looking to get signed by a McCabe adds. “It makes it very easy to navigate.” record label. The festival, which is scheduled to run September 24 through “We’ve all quit our real jobs,” MacKenzie said. “[MidPoint] 26, is set to feature bands from all over, not just Cincinnati. is kind of our homecoming.” According to McCabe, The band, which only about 25 percent is scheduled to share of the performers the stage with The are Cincinnati acts. Wildbirds, Family There’s even an Order and The international flair. Heartless Bastards is Toy Horses, a band set to play on Friday, from Cardiff, Wales September 25. is confirmed to play “The cool thing The Segway Room about MidPoint on the last night of the is that people go festival. Most bands out who otherwise on the bill submitted wouldn’t,” he adds. to the festival with “We’ve had a really the exception of a few good response (with who were sought out the festival).” and asked to play. Three-day passes “[The festival] is for the event are $29. something to be proud For more information of. Cincy so rarely regarding performers, gets favorable press,” schedules and venues, Mcabe explains. “Our visit the MidPoint The Lions Rampant will perform at this year’s MidPoint Music Festival present-day music Music Festival’s makers are affecting the world stage. Bands are out there not offical Web site at www.mpmf.com. chasing other sounds, but creating their own. We need to conjure “I suggest you sample what there is to sample,” McCabe up that same pride.” says. “If all systems are go, this will be the best we’ve had in The event originally focused on Over the Rhine bars but has eight years.” since expanded to downtown because of its popularity. __________________________________________________ “It’s easy,” McCabe says. “These venues are all very Chad Reid is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and an walkable. You can walk from the Contemporary Arts Center to avid movie and music fan.
www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 9
nerd alert
netbooks vs. notebooks By now you’ve probably seen someone sitting in a deli or coffee shop with a tiny laptop, and maybe seen an advertisement for a computer at about half what you would normally expect to pay. You may have even heard the term “netbook” and wondered what the difference was between it and a notebook computer. In this edition of Nerd Alert, we’ll give you the lowdown on the netbook revolution and help you to decide if one should be in your tech future. History of the Netbook. Although ultra-compact notebook computers have been around for a while, they were typically sold at a much higher price due to the difficulty of fitting highperformance components into a smaller chassis. A radical reevaluation of how people actually use notebooks led to the realization that most laptops are dramatically overpowered. Specifically, a lot of time spent on notebooks is spent on the web, and it doesn’t require the latest and greatest hardware to run a browser. The existence of Google Docs and similar services as a replacement for traditional word processing and spreadsheet applications further cemented the idea that a low-power, low-cost platform centered around Internet connectivity might have a place in the market. In terms of popularity and press coverage, the Asus Eee PC was the seminal netbook, debuting at about $250. Many were willing to overlook the small 7” screen, scant storage, and cramped keyboard to take advantage of the shockingly low price. The custom Linux operating system and durable solidstate drive (SSD) included with the initial models also generated quite a bit of buzz among geeks. The Current Netbook Market. Compared to the original concept, the netbook has strayed from its roots. Many models now have larger 10” screens, lots of memory, ample storage space, and prices closer to $400. More troubling to true geek elitists is the replacement of the Eee’s Linux operating system with Windows XP and the replacement of SSDs with traditional
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hard disks on most off-the-shelf models. However, the fact that over the past few years, while Vista was being smeared and beaten up in the press, the netbook was a no-hassle way for people to get their hands on a computer with XP preinstalled shouldn’t be overlooked. A new interesting twist is the integration of wireless cellular data capabilities in the device itself. This means that you don’t even have to find a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the Internet. Despite the expansion of netbook’s size and capabilities there are a few things you should know. The screens on netbooks still aren’t up the high-res standards on traditional notebooks, so you shouldn’t attempt any large photo editing or multiplewindow multitasking. In fact, on some netbooks, using your browser’s full-screen mode is a good idea, to make the most of the screen space that you do have. The processor on most netbooks only has about a quarter of the power of a current notebook. While this is still more than enough for your daily Facebook and Twitter sessions, you shouldn’t expect any full-screen YouTube or Hulu action. There isn’t any room for an optical drive, so no DVD viewing either. And finally, for touch typists, the keyboard on a typical netbook Asus Eee PC is 10% to 15% smaller, which can be frustrating at times. We certainly wouldn’t recommend trying to bang out the next Great American Novel on one, although typing notes in a class or meeting works well. Recommendation. Even in the face of all the caveats, a netbook is still a strong proposition. It is a great, cheap way to carry an ultra-portable computer that’s more than up to the task for getting your web fix in remote locations. __________________________________________________ David Arnold frequently spaces out on technology, mathematics, and games. Occasionally, he writes it down. Follow him on Twitter @david_n_arnold.
lang lang performs with the cso
international superstar opens the symphony’s 115th anniversary season
Heralded as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet” by the New York Times, 27-year-old Lang Lang makes his triumphant return to Cincinnati to open the city’s fall arts season with Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in a one-night only concert extravaganza dubbed the “Sizzling Hot Opener” on Thursday, September 17 at Music Hall. This performance also marks the beginning of the CSO’s historic 115th anniversary season. “My personal goal for present and future audiences who hear this fantastic orchestra is to experience something special and be moved by our performances,” said CSO Music Director Paavo Järvi. “We are continuing our quest for excellence.” Lang Lang will perform Beethoven’s immensely popular Piano Concerto No. 2 with Maestro Järvi and the CSO. The virtuoso pianist’s hands will be projected onto a giant screen, not something customarily seen on the classical music stage, but nothing about Lang Lang is conventional. This international superstar has played sold out halls in every major city in the world and is the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and the top American orchestras including the CSO. This success has not gone unnoticed. Time Magazine recently named him to its annual list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and People Magazine named him to their list of the “sexiest men alive” in 2008. Lang Lang dazzled a television audience of over five billion
people during the opening of the Beijing Summer Olympics last year, and his status has inspired over 35 million Chinese children to learn to play classical piano – a phenomenon coined by NBC’s Today Show as “the Lang Lang effect.” Continuing his presence on the world stage, Lang Lang was also featured at the 2008 Grammy’s, pairing up with jazz great, Herbie Hancock, for an especially memorable performance that was broadcast live to 45 million viewers worldwide. For this one-night only celebration, the CSO is offering a pre-concert dinner in the Music Hall Ballroom with a buffet by Jeff Thomas Catering. Tickets for the pre-concert dinner are sold separately. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m., and is followed by Afterburn, a post-concert celebration in the Music Hall Ballroom featuring complimentary champagne, desserts, fruit, music by Randamonium and an appearance by the man of the hour himself, Lang Lang. Afterburn tickets are also sold separately. The “Sizzling Hot Opener” marks the beginning of the CSO’s “Made in America” concert series. In addition to the Beethoven work, the program features gems by the great American composer Leonard Bernstein including selections from West Side Story and Candide, and opens with Aaron Copland’s iconic Fanfare for the Common Man, a piece commissioned by the CSO and premiered on the Music Hall stage in 1943. For tickets or more information about the 2009-2010 season, call (513) 381-3300 or visit cincinnatisymphony.org.
www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 11
BEER
While the idea of sampling every beer on the shelf seemed intriguing, I decided to consult a local expert on the subjects of beer and its pairing with food. I contacted Gregg Wilson, the Cincinnati Territory Manager for Premium Beer Supply. Besides selling beer and being a longtime home brewer, he is also a Certified Beer Judge through the Beer Judge Certification Program – which, let’s be honest, doesn’t sound like a bad kind of judge to be. I hoped to take advantage of his expertise. During our initial phone conversation, Gregg offered to guide me through an actual pairing. Being a dedicated investigative journalist, I decided that no sacrifice was too great and agreed to meet him at Habits Café, a long-popular establishment in Oakley Square that is known to have both an extensive beer selection and an eclectic menu. After a bit of beer chat, it’s decided that I will order an appetizer and Gregg will choose two beers, one from the menu’s food description and one after tasting the food. Just to make his beer selection interesting, I opt for a shrimp, tomato and linguine dish that seems extremely complex in its preparation of butter, scallions, garlic, white wine and spices. Gregg counters by deciding on Bell’s Two Hearted Ale for the first beer. I have tasted Two Hearted before. An American style India Pale Ale, it’s a little by Brian Dobbins darker than some other pale ales and has a generous portion of hops. Truthfully, it isn’t When we’re ready to choose a libation to compliment our food, most a beer I particularly like, and I am a little of us unhesitatingly turn to the wine list. But there’s another drink surprised that he would choose such a robust, squeezing its way into the heady world of food and beverage pairing, bitter beer for so light a dish. While we wait for our linguine, I ask about the differences and it’s a familiar old friend called Beer. and similarities of pairing beer and wine with food. “It’s really similar and really different. Wine has shown it’s For generations, beer has been the accompaniment of choice been the drink of choice, particularly since it has a certain aesthetic for hot dogs, pretzels and the occasional burger, while wine was nature to it. In this country, beer has been associated with blue reserved for the more refined palette pleasers like filet mignon and salmon with béarnaise sauce. Much like attending the prom with collar, associated with slamming instead of sipping and savoring. your younger cousin while your best friend and his cheerleader Its culture has been dominated by mass marketing. Beers like date are voted King and Queen, beer has for many years held its Bud, Miller and Coors account for the great majority of beer sales. own only as a reliable buddy, never the dreamy escort. People tend to think of a rather benign flavor, or something that But all this is changing. Thanks to the steady invasion of can be bitter, so you slug it.” imported beers and the explosion of American craft breweries, “If you look at particular beer styles, there are English, Irish, there is now such a varied selection of complex, nuanced brews German, Scandinavian, and then you have the Belgians, they’ve that more imaginative and rewarding food pairings have become all had food cultures surrounding them for years. German beer inevitable. The problem is, many of us do not yet have the matches with German food, and the Belgians are consumed with knowledge to wade through this immense sea of product and make beer. Their beer and food pairings are incredibly complex, and as an informed decision as to what beer and food combination go best intricately matched as any wine pairing.” together.
PAIRINGS
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When I ask if we are becoming more aware of beer and food combinations because of the selection that the many small craft brewers are affording us, he offered an emphatic reply. “Oh, yeah. The American craft brewers are really pushing the envelope with complexities and nuances. They’re taking classic beers styles and throwing in these eccentric hops and other things. With the selection that’s now available, you could pair beer with candy if you wanted. People will always enjoy wine with their food, and they should, but you’re just not seeing this sudden diversity exploding in the wine world like you are the beer world. It’s very exciting.” While he acknowledges there are more interesting pairings than beer and candy, he has made his point as far as selection and complexity. But how well have we chosen for dinner? Our server places the dish on our table. It is colorful and aromatic, and I wonder how such an intricate combination of flavors will hold up to the hoppy ale that Gregg had chosen. More importantly, how can I get the full benefit of the beer and food together? As if to answer my unspoken question, Gregg bends over the steaming plate and waves the aromas to his nose. “Fragrance means a lot,” he points out. “Your sense of smell really affects your taste. If this was just shrimp I may have suggested a pale ale, something a little lighter. But with all the garlic here, and the richness of the butter and white wine, I think this bolder ale will be a nice match.” I smell the food, trying hard to look like I know what I’m doing. Then I twirl my fork in the linguine, making sure to spear some tomatoes and a plump shrimp. I take a second to savor it before following it with a healthy sip of the ale. Sure enough, the beer and food taste great together, but what really surprises me is that I actually like the beer better than when I sampled it by itself.
When I comment on this, Gregg has a ready answer. “That’s because the food enhances the beer as well as the reverse. When that happens, we know we have a really great match.” Gregg’s second selection is a bottle of Troeg’s Sunshine Pilsner. An American craft version of a classic German brew, this is a much lighter beer with a clean finish. It’s a nice pairing, and the citrus overtones cut through the garlic with a pleasantly cleansing sensation. Still, I’m surprised to find that I prefer the ale. Gregg also likes the first pairing better, but is careful to point out that someone else might prefer the pilsner. “It’s all personal taste. I don’t have your taste buds and you don’t have mine. Technically, either beer is fine with this dish.” Of course, we have used complex craft beers for this experiment, which are targeted towards a discerning palette and tend to be a little pricier. What about the mass-marketed products like Bud, Miller and Coors? “Every beer has its place. Some of the bigger beer labels are benign enough to go with almost anything. I don’t disqualify any beer when it comes to food.” I walk away with the impression that beer and wine pairings do indeed share similarities. Flavorful, strongly spiced foods can be deliciously matched with bolder, multilayered beers. More straightforward fare will probably taste great with something lighter that won’t overpower it. As with wine, don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit to see where your taste runs. Porter and chocolate for dessert? You bet. ____________________________________________________ Brian Dobbins has pandered his talents through everything from comic books to novels. When he is not pounding away at the keyboard, he can often be found partaking in libations and cuisine with a shameless satisfaction.
Brian Dobbins (left) and Gregg Wilson pair food with several beers at Habits Café in Oakley
www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 13
We All Scream for...
Gelato
I was told that the best gelato in the world is in Italy. And the best gelato in Italy is in Florence. So after spending three days in Florence and eating my weight in gelato, I was wondering how I would get my fix once I returned to the Eastside. A week or so after getting back, I spotted my answer. A label in the freezer section of Bigg’s Hyde Park caught my eye (and put a spring back in my step). It wasn’t long before I was standing in the kitchen of Matt Madison. The father of three (9, 6, and 4) and husband of Margot (of Margot Madison Creative Stationery in O’Bryonville) gave me the scoop on Madisono’s Gelato & Sorbet. __________________________________________________ “I founded Madisono’s Gelato and Sorbet in May of 2006 as an extension of a small specialty foods store that I managed for my parents. But the idea came back in 2005 as a result of hosting cooking classes at that store. At the time, I had a real desire to establish a product that would give me an opportunity to develop my own creative desires and passions. We were getting a lot of great feedback on a couple of dishes. One in particular was a cinnamon ice cream we made in one of the cooking classes. One day, someone in the class said,’That really is the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Is there any way we could come back and make it again, and we could buy it from you?’ I was actually looking at a potentially different product that we were already doing – it was a cranberry chicken salad that was getting rave reviews and people were buying it ten pounds at a time. But when I heard that, a light went off and I decided that I wasn’t going to do a premium ice cream, but a gelato instead.
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Story & Interview by Jason Jones Photography by Steven Thomas Cincinnati already has a great tradition of ice cream excellence with Graeter’s, Aglamesis’, UDF, and others. Why create a product that would compete directly with these great products? I would rather create something different and bring something new to the area. So we started doing custom flavor development for restaurants like Boca in Oakley and Via Vite downtown. Then branched out to other restaurants and got into places like Whole Foods and Bigg’s. We also do a fair amount of philanthropy and events. From the beginning, I’ve always tried to make something that isn’t just good, but something that is exceptional. And I believe that if something is exceptional, people will come back for it. I’ve taken the concept of Italian-style gelato and artisan sorbet and over the last three years continually developed the process to make it unique to Madisono’s. So that means using hydrocholoid technology – making things stick and not stick - figuring out fats and oils and other food chemistry and pairing that science with whatever art and ideas I can bring to the table. Making gelato is a two-stage process. We have to make the base – neutral, chocolate, dark chocolate, or cinnamon – then we add our other ingredients to create a particular flavor. We do batches of ten liters, and keeping it small helps us make sure the quality is there. Two of the more popular flavors when we started were Mocha Chip and Pink Grapefruit Sorbet. And now I’d say that Dark Chocolate Orange and Lemon Basil are quite popular. I like to think of each flavor as a song. I’ll never musically release an album or sell out stadiums. So this is my legacy - . one flavor might be a ballad, and another an anthem. This is really my only chance at being a rock star.” Eastside spots to buy or try Madisono’s Gelato & Sorbet include retail and restaurant locations like Bigg’s Hyde Park, Carl’s Deli, Sunshine Foods, Whole Foods Rookwood, Boca, Cincinnati Country Club, Cumin, Essencha Tea House, Hyde Park Tavern, Lookout Joe Coffee House, and Nectar.
www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 15
location, location, location
taking advantage of the equity gap in today’s real estate market Setting the Expectation of Selling and Buying. Whether you are a seller or a buyer, there are some obvious benefits to moving ahead with your long-term real estate goals in 2009! The market has never been so ripe for a great purchase as it is today. With an oversupply of homes to choose from, near record low rates on mortgages, and some amazing tax incentives, there is no question now is the time to buy. I’ve been meeting with sellers in recent weeks that are considering entering their homes for sale in this strong buyers market, but they have some valid hesitation and fear. This is very real, and totally understandable. The thing that sellers must come to understand in this market is that they often need to compromise on their sale price in order to gain big on the buying end! There is possibly no better time in our lifetime to do this… For this reason, I thought it would be helpful to share with you what some of my clients have experienced, how they came out ahead, and that they lived to tell about it! But first, this chart was created in order to be a quick
Buyers Market. As you can see, several losses, one narrow gain, and the home that was owned the longest time had the largest gain. Then we show you the “Buyers Market” Savings on the new home. This column gives you an idea of the type of benefit these buyers got on their purchase in the current market, compared to what they would have paid in a better market just a year or so ago. As you can see, they all benefited from some amazing price differences, truly taking advantage of the Buyers Market on their turn. When we take a look back at what these same buyers sold their homes for, the losses they took compared to the Gains they made by buying in the same market, we see that they came out ahead in the total net gain area. This net gain, combined with their low interest rates, make for one of the best markets in history to buy, even if you have to sell. Client Feedback from Their Experience. Take a second to read what these clients had to say about their experience after it was all over.
Client
Years Owned
Days on Market
List to Sell %
Net Gain/Loss on Sale
Savings on New Home
Total Net Gains
Dockside
6
38
93
-$10,600
+$51,000
+$40,400
Everson
3
2
96
-$2,000
+$56,000
+$54,000
Montgomery
11
3
97
+$60,000
+$48,000
+$108,000
Woodsview
2.5
4
97
-$11,500
+$30,000
+$18,500
Valley Trails
6
8
97
+$11,679
+$59,000
+$70,679
glance at what my recent sellers-turned-buyers have gained on their real estate transactions. On the left you will see the properties, as they will be referred to in the sellers comments. In addition, I thought it would be helpful for people considering this scenario to realize that this gap occurs when sellers have owned their homes for many years or even very few years. The Net Gain/Loss on the Sale compares the difference between the price paid for the house when that owner purchased it, and what it was ultimately sold for in 2009’s
16 | september 2009 | www.eastsidermagazine.com
“My husband and I bought our first house in 2006 in a great neighborhood for young professionals. Two years later, our daughter was born, and we quickly outgrew our two bedroom, one bath starter home. We knew we’d need to buy a bigger house when we decided to have another child, and seriously weighed the pros and cons of moving now. We had bought our house at the top of the market, and after seeing the research and recent sales, Amy helped us to see that we could basically break even on our current house, based on comparable sales, etc. With interest rates what they are and
home prices dropping in the area where we were looking (and a house we had already walked through and fell in love with), we decided to go ahead and put our house on the market. After a lot of preparation work on the house, we listed it and received an offer the next day. While we did end up bringing about $800 to the table to close on our current home after all was said and done, we were able to purchase the home we’d fallen in love with. We were able to negotiate a great deal on the new house, especially considering the neighborhood and price-point. Our final purchase price came in 50-60K less than the comparable home sales in our neighborhood from the past two years. Even though we are here to stay, we’ll certainly see a return on this house as soon as the market starts to spin. We couldn’t be happier with the decision we’ve made to sell and then buy in 2009! Even though the process was stressful and we didn’t want to pay money to sell our house, it couldn’t have gone any better for us on the buying end.” - Everson Clients “Because of the type of new home we were looking for (contemporary), it became apparent that we needed to find a new home before we sold our current one. During those six months, the housing market turned considerably, and the amount of money we projected to make on the sale of the current house fell little by little each month. But, as the market changed for us as sellers, it also changed for us as buyers. As the months progressed, more homes came on the market that not only met our buying criteria but were more affordable, equipped with more amenities, and well within our initial purchasing budget. In the end, what we lost on the selling side was far exceeded by what we gained on the buying side.” - Montgomery Clients “We knew that it wasn’t going to be profitable to sell our condo, but we had several compelling reasons for moving including being closer to work, family and the impending birth of our first child. It was hard to sell our condo for $10,600 less then we paid for it almost a decade ago, but we found a great deal on the house we bought. If we would have purchased the house 18 months ago we would have paid at least $50,000 more for it. When we take into account both transactions, we came out a little over 40K ahead and we are living in a beautiful house that suits the next stage of our life.” - Dockside Clients
”It was always our plan that the house we sold was our ‘starter’ home. When we bought the house in 2003, our goal was to buy a bigger house in a better location when we had school-aged children. We didn’t think we’d be able to afford as much house as we are buying. We had totally ruled out building a new house because we thought we’d get more house for our money by buying an older home. It definitely hurt to sell our home for less though. In 2007, there were two 3-bedroom ranches that sold on our street. One sold for $210,000, and the other for $212,500. Neither had finished basements. If we had sold at that time, we would have hoped to get about $215,000 for our home, so roughly $20,000 more than what we just sold it for. So, in a nutshell, if we would have sold/bought the same houses 18 months ago, we probably would have sold our home for $215,000 and bought our new home for $325,000 (which is probably a very generous estimate - I think the same house would have cost much more). All that being said, there is no way we would have been able to afford this house a couple of years ago. Though in reality, we never would have spent that much on our new home, so we would have settled for a smaller/older house. We ended up selling for $195,000 and buying for $266,000. We lost roughly $20,000 on the sale of our old home, but saved $60,000-80,000 on the purchase of our new home. The affordability of our new home, and getting everything on our ‘wish list’ for our new home is what enticed us to sell in this ugly housing market. We are getting more house than we ever thought possible and staying within our budget. It was definitely worth it for us, and we couldn’t be happier!” - Valley Trails Clients If you would like to discuss the prospect of selling and buying in this market with any of the people included in this case study, please let me know and I am happy to connect you with them. Their comments were requested and written with future buyers in their same situation in mind. ________________________________________________ Amy Broghamer is a Realtor with RE/MAX Preferred Group in Cincinnati, OH and a Hyde Park Resident. She is an Accredited Buyers Representative, a Certified Residential Specialist, and a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. Get regular tips, updates, home values and more at her website and blog, www.AmyBSells.com.
www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 17
arts effect on development & achievement the arts offer youth a lifetime of lessons
Students learning on keyboards at Baldwin Music Education Center Greater Cincinnati has long been a haven for all things artistic. Through the funding of the Cincinnati Commission on the Arts (CCA) and the Cincinnati Arts Allocation Committee (CAAC), local artisans are supported in their pursuit of art excellence. Over the years, the city has also provided her residents with a multitude of opportunities to enjoy the arts via outdoor concerts, theatre programs in the park, and various other arts and music programs. As Cincinnati has placed so much emphasis on the arts, Eastsiders and their children need not look far to find a strong arts education program. Professional music educators and performers in and around the eastside offer rich music programs and tutorial sessions which develop children’s musical abilities while at the same time enabling children to cultivate selfesteem, character, and all-around success in their academic and social lives. The arts are not simply a form of entertainment for
18 | september 2009 | www.eastsidermagazine.com
children, but rather a tool that aids in their development of skills and abilities that helps them in school, social life, and eventually the workplace. Several studies regarding the benefits of exposure to the arts show that children who consistently draw, sing, act, or play an instrument, and are absorbed in other right-brained activities, constantly outperform their peers in the classroom as well as on standardized tests and college entrance exams. The arts open up a whole new world of learning for children where skills such as reasoning, analysis, spatial-temporal, recall, and other higherorder cognitive skills are actively engaged in order to facilitate students’ understanding and application of academic concepts that are introduced in school. Exposure to the arts at an early age can have a great impact on the overall development of a child explains Cathy Siebert of Kindermusik in Mt. Washington “In our Kindermusik program,
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we make sure that all our activities cover six developmental easily and when effort is required to perform a certain task, these areas of childhood: Cognitive, Language, Emotional, Physical, students simply give up. Arts education students learn the value Social and Musical. When we hand out instruments, the children of patience, focus, and determination as they constantly tweak, are encouraged to be creative and make sounds with sticks, bells, recreate, or practice until success is realized. These character drums, etc in as many different ways as possible and then label qualities transcend the arts and can be applied to each academic the sounds/actions. For movement, we will give drum cues that subject, sports activities, church activities, and eventually the indicate whether the students are to gallop, march, tiptoe, stop, place in which these students will one day be employed. run, and so on. This helps their listening skills, coordination, Lastly, the arts provide another medium in which students can balance, inhibitory control in addition to matching the beat. communicate their thoughts or emotions. Painting a scene, Siebert, who has a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Music sculpting an image, playing an instrument, or acting presents Education, notes that children who learn to play an instrument a non-invasive way where students can express their joys, also typically develop positive self-esteem as they learn poise and frustrations, confusion, struggles, and achievements without composure and have the confidence to perform in front of others. feeling threatened or ashamed of what they feel. Some students Students who have access to arts education develop mature, are too shy to express verbally what is inside of them, yet when healthy concepts of themselves as they constantly perform in provided with the medium of arts, they are able to loudly, front of others or create artistic pieces for their peers to view. emotionally, and effectively express their feelings without being Kate Young, who operates the Music Makers programs in the intimidated. same facility as Siebert, also suggests that confidence is instilled Cincinnati embraces the idea of bringing people together in children who participate in the arts since “they are able to through the arts as one of the goals in grant funding for the arts embrace mistakes through the constant repetition that is required is to provide arts experiences for as many residents as possible. in learning a specific skill.” By accepting their mistakes, students develop positive self-esteem and are motivated to press onward to master a skill. Not only do children acquire a positive self- image via the arts, but they also cultivate several character traits which ensure success in future endeavors. Rachel Kramer, director of Baldwin Music Education Center in Oakley, explains how through the arts “children learn commitment and dedication as they adhere to strict practice regimens and performance schedules.” She suggests that the more students Students and parents participate in a drum circle at Kindermusik perform or participate in the arts, the more dedicated they become to advancing their skills. Research studies have shown that The arts are no respecter of age, race, economic status, or religion arts education instills hard work and responsibility in students but rather, as Rachel Kramer notes, “the arts are able to bridge through constant self-monitoring in order to become proficient differences and bring people together.” Especially those who in their artistic domain. Responsibility is further cultivated by may not otherwise associate with one another. The arts provide the necessity of caring for resources such as art supplies or a lifelong journey of success, achievement, and happiness musical instruments. Students learn that if their resources are through the virtues of dedication, determination, commitment, not properly taken care of, these items will deteriorate and may and responsibility that they instill for lifelong personal growth. not function properly. __________________________________________________ Young adds to these findings in stating that musical training Tamra K. Misseijer is a licensed teacher with a Bachelor “teaches patience as students must work on a project until [it Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s Degree in is] complete.” Too many students today expect skills to come Education.
20 | september 2009 | www.eastsidermagazine.com
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www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 21
calendar picks
| visit www.eastsidermagazine.com for our full list of events. and sign up for our free, weekly e-newsletter to get each week’s top events. Guinness Oyster Fest
Cheetah Run 5K Run & Walk
September 5 Downtown Bars & Restaurants www.myfountainsquare.com This all day event celebrates Irish heritage with an aphrodisiac cuisine! Downtown restaurants will offer a variety of raw and cooked oyster dishes. Live Indie and Celtic music will be heard all day and Celtic merchandise will be on display.
September 6, 8:00 am Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (513) 281-4700 www.cincinnatizoo.org Running enthusiasts and Zoo guests are invited to participate in a wild race through a wild place as the 3.1-mile course winds through the Zoo.
Ohio Cup Vintage Baseball Tournament September 5 & 6 Ohio Historical Village, Columbus (614) 297-2300 www.ohiohistory.org The Ohio Historical Society’s Ohio Village Muffins will host the Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival, a two-day festival featuring the largest gathering of vintage base ball clubs in the nation, The clubs will use rules, costumes and equipment of 1860 for the games.
Traces of the Trade September 8, 6:00 pm Freedom Center (513) 333-7500 www.freedomcenter.org This documentary follows the journey of one family as they discover their roots as the largest slave-owning family in United States history and take steps to retrace the Triangular Trade from Africa, to America, to Great Britain. Call for more info and to RSVP.
New Works September 10-13 & 17-20 Jarson Kaplan Performance Studio (513) 621-5282
Ohio Cup Vintage Baseball September 5 & 6
www.cincinnatiballet.com Savor world premieres from an amazing array of choreographers and musicians based right here in Cincinnati.
John Williams with CSO September 11 – 13 Music Hall (513) 381-3300 www.cincinnatisymphony.org From Olympic anthems and inaugural works, to epic movie scores and television themes, John Williams’ music over the past 40 years has become America’s soundtrack.
The Lion in Winter September 11 - October 11 Cincinnati Shakespeare Co. (513) 381-BARD www.cincyshakes.com James Goldman’s three-time academy award winner. One hotheaded king. One gleefully manipulative queen. Three coddled and cunning princes. Add in the king’s determined lover and her power-hungry brother and it’s the ultimate family reunion, straight from the history books.
THE Cincinnati Beer Fest September 11 Fountain Square www.myfountainsquare.com THE Cincinnati Beer Festival will bring local distributors and brewers together in one place for a beer tasting and sampling event. Expect to see your favorite national and local brands as well as some beers you may not have heard of. Five bands will provide live, low-key music all evening.
Tailgate on the Square September 13 & 27 Fountain Square
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www.myfountainsquare.com Watch Bengals games on Fountain Square’s big screen! Fans are welcome to bring their own chairs, snacks, and soft drinks. No grills, pets, or outside alcohol. Adult beverages, sodas, and food will be available to purchase.
Second Sunday on Main September 13 Gateway Quarter, Downtown (513) 621-4283 www.secondsundayonmain.org OTR Tour of Living, unique shopping, live local music, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, a celebrity chef, wine tastings, and a beer garden.
Metallica September 15, 7:00 pm US Bank Arena www.usbankarena.com Metallica perform, with Lamb of God and Gojira.
Oktoberfest Gemuetlichkeit (Goodwill) Games September 16 – 18 Fountain Square www.myfountainsquare.com The Gemuetlichkeit (goodwill) Games take place on Fountain Square to build excitement for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati and to get the community involved in the celebration. Contests have included log sawing races, nail hammering races, beer barrel rolling races, beer stein races and a dachshund derby.
Lang Lang Plays Beethoven September 17 Music Hall (513) 381-3300 www.cincinnatisymphony.org Pianist Lang Lang, heralded as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet,” gives
the gala opening performance of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s 115th season playing Beethoven’s brilliant Second Concerto. Evening includes cocktails, dinner, concert, and post-concert Afterburn party.
Bacchanalian Society Wine Tasting September 17 Fountain Square www.myfountainsquare.com The Bacchanalian Society hosts a wine tasting on the Square. Varietal: Shiraz/Syrah.
Ladies Night: Snapshot Summer
The UnFreedoms September 19, 11:00 am Freedom Center (513) 333-7500 www.freedomcenter.org Using the Freedom Center’s R.I.G.H.T.S. acronym (racism, illiteracy, genocide, hunger, tyranny, and slavery), this workshop will take a look at the state of the 6 UnFreedoms in the world today, by looking at the UnFreedoms’ states in the past. Call for more info and to RSVP.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
September 18, 6:30 pm Mad Potter (513) 561-1888 www.madpottercincinnati.com Ladies night is a Girlfriends Getaway held each month. Appetizers are supplied, BYOB, and no kids allowed. This month: specials on picture frames. Call for reservations.
September 19 – 20 Downtown www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com Oktoberfest Zinzinnati showcases the rich German heritage of Southwestern Ohio, as well as tasty samples of Germanstyle music, food and beer. And, of course, you won’t want to miss the annual Running of the Wieners.
John Witherspoon
More Than Meets the Eye
September 18, 8:00 pm Music Hall (513) 621-ARTS www.cincinnatiarts.org A Night of Love & Laughter, starring John Witherspoon with special guest Ginuwine.
John Witherspoon September 18
September 20, 7:00 pm Drake Planetarium (513) 396-5578 www.drakeplanetarium.org This public planetarium show compares naked-eye views of celestial objects with the views from binoculars, small/medium telescopes, large observatories, and, in some cases, space probes.
MidPoint Music Festival September 24 – 26 Downtown www.mpmf.com Midpoint Music Festival celebrates eight years of showcasing local, regional, and national music acts.
Zoofari: Through the Congo September 25, 6:30 pm
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (513) 281-4700 www.cincinnatizoo.org In its 27th year, Zoofari is the premiere black tie fundraising gala in Cincinnati. Zoofari 2009, Through the Congo, promises to be an event not to miss.
Crafting Activity: Civil War Flags September 26, 12:00 pm Freedom Center (513) 333-7500 www.freedomcenter. org Part of the “Follow the North Star” family activities, this once a month, Saturday program will provide a fun and interactive experience for children and their families. With simple felt cut outs, kids can recreate a Civil War flag – with just 35 stars!
Breathtaking Forces September 26 – 27 Music Hall (513) 381-3300 www.cincinnatisymphony.org Described as “a natural talent that is rare indeed,” the rising star violinist Alina Pogostkina performs the fiery Tchaikovsky concerto.
Spiderwick authors Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi September 28, 6:00 pm Blue Manatee Bookstore (513) 731-2665 www.bluemanateebooks.com Join Spiderwick authors Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi in the store as they talk about and sign their best-selling Spiderwick Chronicles series!
Mike Gordon September 28
Mike Gordon September 28, 8:00 pm The 20th Century Theatre (513) 731-8000 www.the20thcenturytheatre.com Bassist and Vocalist Mike Gordon (of Phish notoriety) performs.
The Color Purple September 29 – October 4 Aronoff Center (513) 621-ARTS www.cincinnatiarts.org From the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, and the moving film by Steven Spielberg, comes a soul-stirring new musical and landmark Broadway event. Events are subject to change. Call or go online to learn more about the event. Visit our website for more calendar listings and to sign up for our free, weekly e-newsletter to get event listings and other info, pics, and contests sent right to your inbox.
www.eastsidermagazine.com | september 2009 | 23
nRealt o s n i b ors o R . . co w
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We are currently marketing some particularly fine homes in Hyde Park and Mount Lookout.
1125 East Rookwood
True Hyde Park Grandeur. Rare opportunity. Great for entertaining. (Extra lot available) $ 2,000,000
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8 Far Hills
1278 Michigan
2448 Observatory
1317 Morten
Lovely Tudor extensively reno- Classic Hyde Park gem on quiet vated inside. Beautiful new no outlet street. Rare large flat kitchen and bath. $ 899,000 rear yard. $ 750,000
1 Floor living plan is a premium Phenomenal, well kept Victorian alternative to condominiums. 1st 1st Floor family room, study. Exceptional value. $ 599,000 Floor master retreat. $ 599,900
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Lee Robinson
CRB, GRI, CRS, ABR, SRES
Robinson Realtors 2722 Observatory Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45208