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The Gaslight District Is All About Convenience

For students who want to live close to the University of Cincinnati, convenience is a huge concern. The more walkable the neighborhood, the better—and you’d be hard pressed to find a neighborhood with more services packed into a smaller area than the Gaslight District.

For starters, the grocery store, Clifton Market, is located in the heart of Ludlow Avenue. There’s also a hardware store (Ace Hardware), a pharmacy (CVS Pharmacy), and a public library.

For pet lovers there’s Howell Avenue Pet Hospital and Petey’s Pet Stop, which are located next door to each other. And did you know there was a travel agency in the Gaslight District? Located at 3410 Ormond Avenue, Brown’s Tours & Travel Services is located right off of Ludlow Avenue.

On top of that, there’s a post office and, at Ace Hardware, a UPS Access Point.

And there’s another convenience we should mention: The largest rental company in the Gaslight District has an office in the neighborhood. In fact, it’s within close walking distance of all the other locations mentioned in this blog entry. That accessibility is one of the things that sets Gaslight Property apart from other rental agencies. From studio apartments to 6 bedroom houses & everything in between, we’ve got exactly what you want and exactly what you need! To see some of the apartments, come visit us or contact one of our leasing specialists.

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Rodriguez Coming to the Ludlow Garage

The Ludlow Garage has a storied history that goes back to its first incarnation, with musicians like the Allman Brothers, Santana, and BB King performing there.
Far from resting on its laurels, however, the new Ludlow Garage has been very ambitious in its booking. We’re lucky to be able to see artists like Rickie Lee Jones, Macy Gray, Jonathan Richman, and Adrian Belew in such an intimate space.
The venue should also be commended for hosting such interesting, forward-thinking bands as New Mastersounds, the Levin Brothers (they’re coming on Saturday, January 18th!), and Nektar. Suddenly music that usually skips over Cincinnati appears right in the center of town.
And this morning’s newsflash tells us that  the Ludlow Garage is going to host Rodriguez. That’s right, the legend whose story you may have seen on 60 Minutes or in the movie, Searching for Sugar Man. The concert will take on Valentine’s Day, which, better yet, is on a Friday this year. I have a strong hunch that many people’s Valentine’s Day plans just got a lot simpler. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10am on Friday, January 14. To order tickets, click this link. See you at the show!

 

 

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Nektar Coming to the Ludlow Garage

Once upon a time, when you flipped through albums in record stores, you saw LPs by bands you never heard of with strange names and bizarre-looking album covers. Gong, Fireballet, Hawkwind, Kraftwerk, Can, Magma, Audience, PFM, and Caravan I’m played experimental and colorful music that bore resemblance to more well-known bands like Genesis, ELP, and Yes but was even less likely to get radio play. All the bands mentioned here were from Europe, but similar groups started to form in America .  The music was deemed “progressive rock,” and new bands continue to emerge eager to take us to that musical dreamworld.

And some of the old bands are still active after all these years. On top of that, some of them are touring, including the German-then-English band Nektar. I clearly remember reading about Nektar for the first time in Rolling Stone in the mid-70s. A full-page article had a picture of the band performing in front of a light show that looked a lot like the cover of the album Remember the Future, which appears at the top of this blog entry. That album, released in 1973, was their most well-known record, and it has come to be seen as classic Nektar. A few years later the group took an extended break (almost two decades), but they’re not only active again, they have a new album coming out on January 24, 2020. The Other Side is coming out on a label called Esoteric Recordings, and it actually consists of material that was conceived in the 1970s but wasn’t fleshed out until recently.

And it gets more interesting: Nektar is going to perform in Cincinnati, at the Ludlow Garage. The concert will take place on February 28. The newly revived venue has been pulling in interesting bands that normally come to Cleveland to Chicago, but nowhere closer, and because of that the Ludlow Garage has made Cincinnati  a more interesting concert city . If you like experimental music that blends genres and pushes the envelope – and has a very interesting history – take a listen to Nektar. Here’s the first half of Remember the Future:

 

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November Is Film Noir Month at the Esquire Theatre


November will be film noir month at the Esquire Theatre, which means that, along with a half-dozen new films showing on a daily basis, the theater will be hosting a steady stream of special events with the majority focusing on classic film noir.

You could not plunge into the genre with a finer and more twisted film than Touch of Evil, a 1958 release that Orson Welles starred in and directed. This dark and thoroughly warped piece of cinema has become a cult classic. Tom Waits is a huge fan of it, and two of the scenes from it were mentioned in his list of all-time favorite movie scenes. For all the big names in the film – the actors include Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Marlena Dietrich, Dennis Weaver, and Orson Welles, and Henry Mancini recorded the soundtrack – it feels like a project where a B-movie script was handed to a film genius who both played by the rules and played with the rules, which is kind of what happened. Touch of Evil is playing November 1, 2, and 3; you do not want to miss it.

Wonderfully, Touch of Evil is paired on all three nights with Double Indemnity, a 1944 noir classic starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck. The film was directed by Billy Wilder, and Raymond Chandler co-wrote the screenplay with Wilder. Fans of old-school TV shows will recognize MacMurray as the father on My Three Suns and Stanwyck as the grand matriarch on The Big Valley. Those are two very wholesome roles, but Double Indemnity reveals the real Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck, back  before TV came along and cleaned ’em up. In the black-and-white movie days they weren’t afraid to kill somebody for a little money, even if that somebody was a spouse. Again, Double Indemnity will be playing back to back with Touch of Evil on November 1, 2, and 3.

Other old-school noir classics showing in November include the original The Postman Always Rings Twice and Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing. Nicely, the Esquire is also showing noir of more recent vintage, including Goodfellas, Mean Streets, and Body Heat. Also, two Coen Brothers films, Fargo and The Man Who Wasn’t There, will put their own particular spin on the genre much as Orson Welles did with Touch of Evil. The Esquire will also host some classic movies about elections, including Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring Jimmy Stewart. To learn more about the upcoming special event films coming to the Esquire, click this link to the Special Event Calendar for the Esquire Theatre. We’ll see you at the movies!

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Rising Appalachia Coming to the Ludlow Garage


By now you’ve probably heard the news that the newly remodeled Ludlow Garage is up and running. The sound is great, it’s an intimate space with lots of history, and the concert schedule is packed for many months to come. As you’re scrolling through the Ludlow Garage’s list of upcoming shows, don’t overlook Rising Appalachia, who will perform there on November 12. If you have a soft spot for roots music, acoustic instruments, rich harmonies,  and positive vibrations, check out these videos by Rising Appalachia. This first cut, “Shed Your Grace,” adds a gospel touch to the mix:

“Sadjuna” is a beautiful song that blends together Americana and African music;  I love the harmonies and the fiddle:

Other artists coming to the Ludlow Garage who have some roots connection include Poco (December 1), Donna the Buffalo (March 6), and Shovels & Rope (April 8).

Also slated are John Sebastian (February 6), The Outlaws (November 10), and Atlanta Rhythm Section (February 6).

Jazz and prog fans should know about Spyro Gyra, George Winston, Najee, The Levin Brothers, Kasim Sulton’s Utopia, and Brand X. That begins to tell you what’s coming to the Ludlow Garage, but here again is the full list. See you at the show!

 

 

 

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Guess Who’s Coming to the Ludlow Garage?

The Ludlow Garage has reopened after remodeling that includes a new bar in the basement and removable chairs that allow for both sit-down shows and general admission concerts where the audience would prefer to stand. Dozens of shows have already been booked, and it struck me, after a friend asked me to recommend some of the upcoming artists, that I should do a one-song sampling of some (but not all) of the artists coming the next few weeks. Before I go there, though, I should mention the cover bands.  There are plenty of them – tributes to Eric Clapton, Bob Seger, the Doors, Fleetwood Mac, Cream, and Billy Joel are already scheduled – and those shows are always popular. Now to some of the other artists:

Adrian Belew has a musical resume second to none, including extensive work with Frank Zappa and King Crimson and a distinguished solo career. His solo tours have included some King Crimson songs, and here’s a live performance of a real gem:

Adrian plays Friday, October 4. On Friday, October 10, Michael Martin Murphey will perform at the Ludlow Garage. He’s an excellent folksy/country singer-songwriter who became a well-known name after his lush, dreamy single “Wildfire” became a radio hit:

On Tuesday, October 15 Macy Gray will take the stage. Macy is one of the most soulful singers you’ll ever hear. Many music fans first caught wind of her when she released “I Try.” But check out her cover of “With a Little Help from My Friends”:

What a cool lady! I hope to meet her after the show.
Talking about soulful, Rickie Lee Jones will play the Garage on Saturday, October 19. How blessed we are to see artists of her stature play such an intimate venue. Here’s the song that started it all:

Man, does that song have a sound! No wonder she was 1979’s breakout artist.
A very special show is coming on Wednesday, October 16. The New Mastersounds are a British four-piece who go in all directions as along as there’s some funk involved. They know how to get a  groove going and they make people dance. This show will be a real treat; we’re lucky to get them here. Here’s a lip of the New Mastersounds a great Billy Preston hit from the 70s, “Will It Go ‘Round In Circles”:

Other recommendations include John Pizarelli’s tribute to Nat King Cole (!), John Sebastian, and Marcia Griffiths – more on those later.  Here’s a link to the Ludlow Garage Facebook page and its website. See you at the show!

 

 

 

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Jim Tarbell’s 50th Anniversary Reunion of the Ludlow Garage


On Saturday, August 17, Jim Tarbell will host a concert celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Ludlow Garage. The event will take place at Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park. Admission is free, and here are some of the highlights:

At noon the event kicks off with a performance by Rob Fetters, a veteran of the Raisins, the Pschodots, and the Bears.

Don’t miss a rare performance by Sanday Nassan, a guitarist who attended Walnut Hills High School and played the original Ludlow Garage; that set starts at 1: 50 pm. Sandy recorded a couple fine albums back in the day, including a direct-to-disc LP and a record on the Embryo label formed by Herbie Mann.

And don’t overlook Haymarket Riot, a Cincinnati rock band that formed in 1965, continued into the 70s, and recently resurfaced.

A longstanding Cincinnati blues band, the Bluebirds will, after playing a set of their own music, be joined at 6: 15 p.m. by Tracy Nelson, who performed with Mother Earth at the Ludlow Garage during its original incarnation.

Then – and how cool is this? – Rick Derringer will close the concert. Born in Celina, Ohio, Derringer grew up in Fort Recovery. He was all of 17 when he sang “Hang on Sloopy” for the McCoys. That song has become a staple for home games of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, and the Rolling Stones even performed it the last time they played Columbus!

It only makes sense that this show would be the handiwork of Jim Tarbell, who, after all, ran the Ludlow Garage during its first incarnation.

And the Seasongood Pavilion, well, that has some history too. That amphitheater hosted many rock concerts in the late 60s, with such bands as the James Gang, Grand Funk Railroad, and the Grateful Dead performing there. And Janice Joplin was driving her chopper around Eden Park one day, as this album cover testifies:

Here’s the full lineup for the event:

  • Noon Rob Fetters
  • 12:55 p.m. Sonny Moorman Trio
  • 1:50 p.m. Sandy Nassan
  • 2:35 p.m. Robin Lacy & DeZydeco
  • 3:30 p.m. Haymarket Riot 
  • 4:25 p.m. Warsaw Falcons,
  • 5:20 p.m. Bluebirds
  • 6:15 p.m. Tracy Nelson with Bluebirds 
  • 7:15 p.m. Jeffrey Seeman of Wheels 
  • 8 p.m. Rick Derringer Band 
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Clifton Community Yard Sale on Saturday, July 27

It’s been forever since Clifton hosted a community-wide yard sale, but we’re having one on Saturday, July 27. This will be a golden opportunity for Cliftonites who have things they no longer need to sell them to other people – in other words, make some money and do some decluttering.

Anyone can participate. Many residents will sell from their front yards, driveways, or garages, while others will share a common space (we’re crossing our fingers that  Clifton Recreation Center will offer its parking lot – we’ll get back with you on that). So mark your calendar if you want to be a seller – or if you want to do a little shopping.

The nice thing about a community yard sale is that, when there are dozens of people hosting yard sales at different locations, substantially more buyers attend, which translates into more shoppers and more money for each seller. And buyers benefit from having so many yard sales close together.

If you’re hosting a yard sale and would like your address to be listed along with all the others when the community yard sale announces the yard sale locations, email disdat@hotmail.com with your address. (And let us know if you’re selling anyway, as we want to entice buyers with the high number of people participating.) Also, there’s a rain date for the event – the next day, which is Sunday, July 28.

Also, sellers don’t have to live in Clifton proper. Many Fairview and Clifton Heights residents have shown interest, and many of them will be setting up.

This will be a lot of fun, and shoppers are sure to find lots of interesting stuff, as Clifton is a vibrant neighborhood with a rich history.  This will be also be a golden opportunity for apartment hunters to decide which part of Clifton they want to live in. Gaslight Property rents apartments all over Clifton. If you’d like to look at some rental options, call one of our leasing specialists at 513.861.6000. From studio apartments to 6 bedroom houses & everything in between, we’ve got exactly what you want and exactly what you need! To see some of the apartments, visit our website, at https://gaslightproperty.com/

 

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Science Fiction Month at the Esquire Theatre

It’s Science Fiction Month at the Esquire Theatre, with classic science fiction films showing almost every night. The special events calendar includes early classics like The Thing From Another World (1951) and the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).
The series will include some of the most well-known science-fiction films – 2001: A Space Odyssey, for example – but the Esquire will also be showing some lesser-known but equally interesting films like  George Lucas’ directorial debut, THX-1138. That’s a great film that’s so striking visually, you really need to see it on the big screen.

Also, the series offers a rare chance to see the David Lynch film Dune, which is based on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert.

The Esquire Theatre now posts online an events calendar you can click on the website’s home page; the events calendar is on the right side, near the top. Here’s the home page for the Esquire’s website:
http://www.esquiretheatre.com/

The Esquire Theatre has long been one of the reasons Clifton is a great neighborhood to live in. Gaslight Property rents apartments all over the Gaslight District and Clifton in general. If you’d like to look at some rental options, call one of our leasing specialists at 513.861.6000. From studio apartments to 6 bedroom houses & everything in between, we’ve got exactly what you want and exactly what you need! Consider, for example, this apartment, which is located a block and a half from the Esquire…and is also within close walking distance of Ace Hardware, Gaslight Bar & Grill, the Ludlow Garage, Whole Bowl, two Indian restaurants, etc., etc. Take a look!
https://gaslightproperty.com/property-listing/877176/14992217/451-310

 

 

 

 

 

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Steve Lansky’s New Art Show

Steve Lansky is a writer and artist who lives in Clifton. If you’re been a part of the writing scene around town, you’ve attended readings where he performed, including excerpts from his novella A Black Bird Fell Out of the Sky, which was published in 2017. Steve’s new art show, Art Like Water, is currently on display at  Ruth’s Parkside Cafe in Northside. The show features 14 ink reproductions from his book Life is a Fountain, which was published by Dos Madres Press. Other works on display include large color abstract expressionist canvases, small shadow boxes with fine-line sketches, and a few other figurative pieces.  Steve has traveled to 18 countries since 2000, and his sketches include fountains from Lisboa, Habana Vieja, Firenze, Querétaro, and Clifton with additional scenes from Northern California, Ontario, Guyana, and Croatia.  Recently Steve and I drove to Ruth’s in order to see his art and discuss the inspiration behind it.

Steve’s art begins at Harvard in 1975, where he took basic drawing.  Independent work completed without a class or direct mentor also counted toward the degree requirements.  In 1979, after a period of experimentation, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and effectively discarded into a series of institutions for four years during which he painted, sculpted, and wrote. “My art flowed like water,” Steve wrote in his artist’s statement for Art Like Water, “finding spaces to fill my life with serenity, resolve, and commitment starting in a locked room at The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati.”

Steve’s work also owes something to Roy Sebern, dubbed The Secretary of the Interior by Ken Kesey for painting the Magic Bus. Also,  Ann Newburger Pappenheimer provided expressive art therapy, an open door to talk, and encouragement in Cincinnati.  Arthur Schneider, a Detroit artist, also contibuted.  Leigh Alfred Waltz, Phil (Po) Roberto, and Jeff Siereveld also helped him learn computer graphics, which were essential to this show.

Steve’s show continues through May 4. Come check it out, and if you see something you like, buy it! Here are some photos we took during our visit to Ruth’s.