Bring any bike you like and take a group tour of the proposed streetcar route in downtown Cincinnati!
Tours start at the corner of Main and 14th at 1pm and 4pm on Sunday September 12th. See you there!
Crafting your online presence
If you’re just getting started or your craft is a part-time hobby, if you hope to increase sales or turn your creativity into a full-time endeavor, you need some sort of online presence.
Don’t be intimidated by the wonders of the world wide web! In the beginning, you just need something functional that looks nice and lets potential customers know who you are, what you make, and how to reach you. You can hire a professional to create an expensive custom site when you’re raking in the big bucks.
Help people find you
There are several (free!) services you can use to quickly and easily build an attractive site that leads people to you. Did you know that 80% of people search online when they’re in the market to make a purchase? If you want them to find you, you should be online, too!
Lets look at some options:
Set up a free blog
One option is to create a weblog, blog for short. A blog (like this one) can easily be updated to include news and events, and a plethora of attractive templates and designs are available (for free!) all over the internet.
Blogger/Blogspot: It takes less than 5 minutes to set up a blogger site, and the new-ish design tool can be used to create simple, pretty sites like this in minutes.
WordPress.com: Setting up a WordPress* site is as easy as signing up and choosing a design from one of the options presented. The dashboard is a bit more sophisticated than Blogger’s, but you also have more control.
*Note that there’s a difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org–both are free, but WordPress.com is hosted on their servers, while WordPress.org actually refers to free content management software that requires you to purchase your own hosting.
Tumblr: Tumblr allows you to easily post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to a short-form blog. There’s a convenient bookmarklet you can add to your browser that makes it extra simple to quickly add content to your site.
Bonus: all of the above blogging tools include an RSS feed, which means people can subscribe to any updates you make in a feed reader, or via an RSS-to-email service like Feedburner.
Free website
Options have improved since the days of Angelfire and Geocities! If you decide to use a free website builder, your best bet is to stick with a simple template with a clean design.
Yola: You can use Yola to set up a simple, easy-to-use site. Choose from one of the many templates and customize it to suit your needs.
Wix: Wix helps you create flash websites with drag and drop editing. If you’re adept at creating and editing images and graphics, you can create a fairly sophisticated-looking site.
Google Sites: Building a page with Google Sites is similar to editing a document. If you use this service, it helps to know some HTML.
If you build your own blog or website, make sure you include real information about yourself and your business or hobby. A well-designed, informative site projects an image of professionalism and quality.
Social Media
Facebook: If you really don’t have an hour to set up a free blog or website, a Facebook page is the third best option. In my opinion, Facebook is a better substitute for email marketing as it’s a free way to reach as many subscribers/fans/”likers” as you can accumulate. It’s also a great way to further personal interaction with people who support you and your business.
Twitter: Twitter is another great tool for networking and making connections online. Use Twitter as a news feed to learn about events and activities, as a way to connect with potential customers, and as a way to broadcast information.
LinkedIn: If you provide professional services, LinkedIn is a great resource for people seeking and providing information and advice. Use it to learn what other independent business owners are doing and show off your knowledge and expertise.
September 12th Eco-OTR Schedule!
Let’s go green together! Sunday September 12th is packed with eco-friendly fun!
12pm-5pm Street Fair on Main Join over 60 craft and food vendors, with DirtyC and DJ Mello spinning vinyl all afternoon. Main St. between 13th and Liberty.
12pm, 2pm, and 4pm: Guided tour of the Street Car Route. Learn about historic properties along the proposed street car route. Meet at Main and 14th. Cost: $10. Brought to you by Architreks.
12:30pm: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company performance by Young Company. Main at Woodward.
1pm: Free yoga session. Meet at the DJ booth at Main and Woodward. Organized by Joyful Life Yoga and You Do Yoga.
1pm and 4pm: Bike the Street Car Route. Meet up at Main and 14th. It’s free, so bring your bike! Brought to you by the Mayor’s Young Professional Kitchen Cabinet.
1pm – 3pm: Meet the characters from The Wizard of OZ! In anticipation of the School for the Creative and Performing Arts performance, hang out with Dorothy and the gang!
2pm: Photo critiques with William Messer. Photographer, curator, and educator Messer leads an open critique for area photographers. Iris Bookcafe, 1331 Main Street.
2:30pm: Celebrity Chef Demo with Chef Owen Maass from Cumin and a Craft Cocktail demo by Molly Wellmann of Virgil’s. Falling Wall Condos, 1419 Main Street.
Make sure you don’t miss:
- The OTR Tour of Living, 12pm-4pm on Vine Street and Main Street. Check out eight renovated historical buildings! Park at 12th & Main or Mercer & Vine.
- Create your own unique, upcycled art pieces at Future Bloom Studio.
- Participate in the auction of the OTR Quilt, hand-painted by patrons of August’s Second Sunday event! Stop by C4Yourself Art Gallery, 1342 Main Street.
- Sign the Recycling Pledge and see a demonstration of the new weigh-in recycling bins.
Merchants of Main Street
In addition to great vendors on Second Sunday, there are great merchants on Main Street every day:
James at Original Thought Required
Matt of You Do Yoga
Smiles at forkheartknife
Julie at Urban Eden
They really want to meet you, so be sure visit soon!
Partying at the Neighbor Block Party!
August’s Second Sunday was a blast! Beautiful sunshine, friendly vendors, a delicious Celebrity Chef demo, a fun (and funny) talent show, and a visit from Mayor Mallory made it a great day!
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- The crowd enjoyed the weather and vendors
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- Bath and body goodies from Dawn Spa
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- Another young businessman selling yummy goods
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- Young entrepreneurs selling cold drinks
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- Painting a silk scarf at c4 yourself gallery
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- The OTR Samba Community parade on Main Street
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- Samba dance!
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- Mini cupcakes by The Palace pastry chef Summer Genetti
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- Friendly vendors sell their hand made goods
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- Wine samples from City Cellars
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- Celebrity Chef Jose Salazar demonstrates a cooking technique
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- Second place winner Dan sings “I’d Rather Be Sailing”
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- Talent show winner Big Wil won over the audience with his hip hop entertainment act
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- Talent show contestant Megan reads her original poetry
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- The 1300 Girls perform at the talent show
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- Mayor Mallory strolls down Main Street
August 8th Neighbor Block Party Lineup!
Love thy neighbor–and make sure you party with them, too! Come on down to Over the Rhine in August for a rockin’ NEIGHBOR BLOCK PARTY!
12pm-5pm Street Fair on Main (Main St. between 13th & Liberty) features over 60 craft and food vendors, with live deejays spinning vinyl all afternoon.
12pm-5pm Neon’s Unplugged (208 E. 12th Street) Enjoy the Beer Garden and live music from Messerly & Ewing (12-1:15pm) and KT & the Pickups (1:30-2:30pm).
12:30pm Free yoga session, hosted by You Do Yoga.
(Main at Woodward)
1:30pm Samba parade led by OTR Samba Community’s Baba Charles of Peaslee Community Center.
(Main from 13th to Liberty)
2:30pm Celebrity Chef Demo featuring Jose Salazar and Summer Genetti from The Palace, wine tasting courtesy of City Cellars.
(1419 Main St., Falling Wall Condos)
3:00pm Talent Show! Cheer on local performers as they show off their skills! Cash prizes will be awarded to the participant(s) with the most vocal audience approval–so tell all of your friends to come and cheer you on! (Main at Woodward at DJ booth)
Got a talent to show off? Apply here!
Don’t forget to enjoy brunch and shop ’til you drop at the restaurants and merchants flourishing in Over-the-Rhine!
Celebrity Chef: Jose Salazar of The Palace
The Celebrity Chef Demo and Wine Tasting is always one of the most popular activities at Second Sunday–really, free food and wine, what’s not to like? Next up: The Palace Restaurant. We took a few minutes to ask Executive Chef Jose Salazar five simple questions:
How long have you been a chef?
I’ve been cooking for roughly ten years, but have been a chef for about three years.
What’s your best cooking tip for the culinary-challenged?
My best tip would be to try to keep things simple. A lot of good cooking is using the best ingredients you can find and not overmanipulating them.
What is your favorite dish to make?
I gotta say the one question chefs get the most is “What’s your favorite dish?”, and really that’s probably the hardest to answer. I really like slow cooked braises and stews, but obviously they are dishes that are good during the colder months.
What is your favorite dish to eat?
A simple, perfect, pizza margherita would be my favorite thing to eat.
What, in your opinion, is the best thing about The Palace (besides the food)?
Our staff. I have some of the city’s most knowledgeable, talented, and passionate servers and cooks. We are in it for the love of it, as well as the challenges and surprises that every day brings.
Join Chef Salazar and the team from City Cellars for the demo at 2:30 on August 8th at Falling Wall Condos (1419 Main Street)!
OTR’s Got Talent!
Can you sing, dance, play a musical instrument, juggle, perform a skit, do magic tricks, or some other talent? Here’s a chance for you to show what you can do: Sign up for the Second Sunday Neighborhood Block Party Talent Show!
The competition will take place at 3pm during the August 8th event, right at the corner of Main Street and Woodward (in front of the DJ booth). You may bring your own music (mp3 format preferred, CDs may be accommodated) as well as any additional props needed for your act.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the participant(s) with the most vocal audience approval–so tell all of your friends to come and cheer you on!
To sign up, simply fill out the registration form:
Talent Show Rules
- Participation is open to those age 16 and up. Participants under age 16 will need parental consent.
- Each act is limited to a maximum performance time of 3 minutes for Solo Acts and 5 minutes for Group Acts. Performances are also restricted to a total of 3 minutes for set up and breakdown time combined.
- Each Group Act must identify a main contact for the group. This person will be responsible for coordinating with and responding to the Talent Show Committee.
- Second Sunday in OTR will provide a standard sound system. You must provide any additional instruments, props, audiovisual support, etc. that will be used during your performance.
- All contestants must arrive and be ready to perform at 2:45pm on Sunday August 8th, 2010.
- All performances must be in good taste. The Talent Show Organizing Committee has final decision to decline applications deemed inappropriate.
Featured Vendor: Barefoot Books
Angie Kozak is a brand ambassador for children’s book distributor Barefoot Books.
Tell us a bit about what you sell:
I sell Barefoot Books which are wonderful art filled stories for children of all ages (and adults too)! Barefoot Books is an independent publisher whose mission is to encourage children to explore their own creativity, while being aware of their place in the global community as well.
How and when did you get started?
I’ve been a Barefoot Ambassador for a little over two years. Becoming an Ambassador is simple, easy and free! You just have to have a desire to share this fabulous collection with your community.
What do you like about Second Sunday? 
I like Second Sunday for the diverse mix of artists, vendors and patrons. It’s a fun people watching day. It’s also a festive atmosphere – everyone seems to be having a good time.
What are your future plans for Barefoot Books?
I really think of myself as a mobile book store. So I would like to take that a step further and do more fundraising for various organizations and book fairs for schools.
Where can people find the books now?
You can purchase Barefoot products from my website 24-7 at cincybarefoot.com or by contacting me at cincybarefoot [at] gmail [dot] com.
Good times, great vendors
We always have such wonderful vendors at Second Sunday in OTR–it’s really a testament to the talent and ingenuity here in Cincinnati!
During July 11th’s Global Groove event, we hosted a diverse selection of artists, crafters, and designers. See for yourself!
Creative Fiber Art by Elaine Adams:
Statement tees from SoapBox Tees:
Bethany Kramer, Studio Manager of Funke Fired Arts:
Nimmy Saustra and Tallie Designs necklace by Nikki Jenkins:
Aaron Kent works with Tiger Lily Press, and definitely thinks you should support local artists…we agree!
Joel from Allscreen (located right here in OTR!) creates his own tee designs:
K. Randall Wilcox and his wife Leisa next to one of his pieces at C4Yourself Gallery:
Colorful zipper wallets and coin purses by East West Egg:
Hand-screened tees by Mr. Funky, aka Randy Wilson:
There’s always plenty of fun goods to choose from and great folks to talk to, so be sure to join us on August 8th for the Neighborhood Block Party!