Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park presents A Christmas CarolAnother sign that the holiday season is JUST around the corner... A Christmas Carol is coming soon!  Performances are at the Robert S. Marx Theater, just around the corner from the Cincinnati Art Museum in beautiful Eden Park, and a mere stone's throw from plenty of fantastic dining in Mt. Adams, here's an opportunity to have a phenomenal day & night! A Christmas Carol is a familiar story, but the themes of togetherness, second chances and redemption resonate as well today as they did when Dickens originally wrote the story in the 1800s!  All of us have memories of at least one of the versions of A Christmas Carol, whether one of the old black and white movies, or Bill Murray's Scrooged! Performances start December 2nd, 2010 and... 11/13/2010

Newport Aquarium:  Ghosts of Pirate Cove Through October 31, 2010Arrrgh!!! It's time to take the little mateys to the Newport Aquarium at Newport on the Levee!  Just over the I-471 bridge from Cincinnati, and plenty of parking available, Newport on the Levee and the Newport Aquarium are one of Cincinnati's easier attractions to get to (even if it IS just over the Ohio River in Kentucky!). Through October 31, the Newport Aquarium is hosting Ghosts of Pirate Cove.  Admission for up to four kids IN COSTUME is only $5 each with a paying adult!  That's $10 off normal kids admission, and ALSO a free kids' meal coupon from Bob Evans, AND a mini pumpkin for decorating! Special events include: A Treasure Hunt!  Collect animals for crayon rubbing on their map at various stations throughout the Aq... 10/29/2010

One of the really cool things about living close to two cities like Cincinnati and Dayton is access to thriving arts and culture opportunities!  Here's an opportunity to enjoy one of the biggest art fundraisers in the city and rub elbows with artists, celebrities and politicians! Cincinnati has a unique group called ArtWorks! ArtWorks helps beautify the city with various public works of art such as murals, and trains and employs Greater Cincinnati area teens!  They significantly help increase area awareness of the importance of the arts, and of course, this requires funds!  For those that have been in the Cincinnati area, you might remember the Big Pig Gig!  That's ArtWorks at work! :) So how do they get those funds?  Well, of course you can just make outright donations.... OR..... You ... 10/28/2010

Halloween weekend in Mt. Adams is full of fun.  Expect lots of ghosts and goblins to be on hand!  It all starts on Friday at 7PM with pumpkin carving at Bow Tie Cafe and culminates with a parade followed by trick or treating on Sunday evening. Here's a run down of the events to plan for...in between searching for just the right costume.  Friday night's activities start out at Bow Tie Cafe, 1101 St. Gregory, for a pumpkin carving contest.  This event, open to all ages will feature pumpkin ale beer, homemade cider and fresh treats available.  At 9PM the Masquerade Ball starts at Longworths, 1108 St. Gregory. Saturday night is one party after another!  You'll want to go to Pavilion's 9th Annual Masquerade Ball with Cincinnati Sports Leagues, 949 Pavilion, at 7PM.  It's a costume party ther... 10/27/2010

Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina company, recently evaluated real estate markets with over 200,000 residents.  They were measuring the potential for price appreciation for conservative investors. They looked to identify the best metros where prices are stabilizing.  It also looked at markets that are still falling and that were dangerous for conservative investors. Covering over 300 housing markets throughout the U.S., Local Market Monitor provides the complete home price forecast you need to evaluate risk for your real estate portfolio.  Whether you are looking to invest, sell or just manage your current portfolio, Local Market Monitor makes it easy to identify which housing markets are over or under valued and what is projected to happen to home prices over the next 12 months to... 10/18/2010

Cincinnati Open House Weekend 2010       This weekend, Saturday & Sunday October 16 & 17 is OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND for the Cincinnati area. There are currently over 2,300 open houses scheduled throughout the weekend. While the weather is still nice, this is a great weekend to get out and look through some homes if you are in the market or are currently thinking about buying or selling. Here are a couple great open houses I'll be at! Saturday October 16th 1-2 pm -- 204 Ireland Ave. Green Hills 3 bedroom. Large family room on first floor. Great back deck! $120,000 3-4 pm -- 1801 Catalina Ave. Large 4 bedroom on charming street in Bond Hill. $95,000 4-5 pm -- 2330 Sherwood Lane. NEW LISTING! Charming Norwood Tudor!! Deck off master, very unique! $185,000   Sunday October 17th 1-2 pm -- 200 Log... 10/14/2010

Looks like a beautiful weekend is in store for the 2010 Mt. Lookout Fall Festival.  The third year for this event, it will be held on Saturday, October 16th from Noon to 4PM.  Due to construction on the Square, the location needed to be moved.  It will be held behind Cardinal Pacelli School on Ellison Avenue, where the weekly Farmer's Market is held. So the last farmer's market of the year and the Fall Festival will coincide. Many exciting events are being planned: DJ Matt Joy from The Stand will once again provide music Activities include face painting, cornhole, bouncy castle National Trail Family Farm will donate a pig roast for sandwiches Linwood Sausage will sell a variety of sausages and hot dogs Pop, water and adult beverages will be for sale Come enjoy the fun and camaraderie. 10/13/2010

Cincinnati named to "Top Cities for New College Grads" In the 2010 rating compiled by Business Week, Cincinnati was ranked Number 23 on the list of "Top Cities for New College Grads."  Recognized for the top notch corporate headquarters here - Procter and Gamble, Kroger's and Macy's - the city showed an average pay of $42,340.  Our cost of living index was listed as 93.7. Listed were our strengths in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and insurance.  When researching the types of jobs listed there were significant listings in the customer service and health care industries.  The Cincinnati Reds and Bengals and the sport's influence were mentioned as draws for new grads. 10/13/2010

 Mariemont Receives Honor as Planned Community         Mariemont has been named to the list of the "Top 20 Urban Planning Successes of All Time" by the Public Servant Blog. The blog suggests that the urban planning process has stood the test of time.  It is a functional urban area that took innovation and knowledge to the next level.   Mariemont was founded by Mary Emery in memory of her husband Thomas J. Emery, noted Cincinnati philanthropist.  She took her farm in the country and lessons she had learned from many trips to England and designed the community.  As one of the first planned communities in the United States, Mariemont is recognized for its charming historic architecture (reminiscent of those trips to England), award winning schools, walkability and friendly, community-minde... 10/13/2010

The confusing set of circumstances that led to the area along Erie Avenue from Ashworth down to Broadview  being declared part of Oakley has been clarified!  East Hyde Park residents had worried that being moved from Hyde Park to Oakley would affect property values.  The Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service had decided to strictly enforce the Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System (CAGIS) map as the authority of where a home was located. You can read more about the issue by checking out two previous blog posts: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1767532/hyde-park-east-status-update http://activerain.com/blogsview/1732515/hyde-park-east-residents-raise-their-voices-in-protest The Cincinnati City Council met and heard about the issue.  They unanimously approved having the CAGIS map red... 10/13/2010

Cincinnati isn't only facing a drought in wins by our sports teams! The weather patterns have created a significant drought from lack of rain...down 7 1/2" as of today. All you have to do is drive around and look at the brown yards and you know that all our trees and plants are in trouble.  For those of you who are watering and giving your vegetation 1" of water a week, you can expect to still have your trees, grass and plants next year. For those of you who haven't, there is at least one place you need to start watering NOW! Your foundation could be in trouble. Who's to blame? It's not who, it's what! Clay soils are the culprit. Most homes in the Cincinnati are built on clay soil. Clay is an unique material to build on, because it is constantly expanding and contracting. Along with the... 10/13/2010

July 2010 Home Sales Report for Cincinnati, Ohio I’m sure you all may have heard news stories the past few days on the July home sales reports that just came out. I wanted to pass along some data to give you an idea of the facts behind the numbers. July home sales were 35% lower than last years sales in Cincinnati. This was expected because of the tax credit accelerating sales to the first quarter of this year that would have normally happened throughout the year. March closings were UP 15%, April 34%, May 26%, and June 8% over last year in Cincinnati. After the expiration of the tax credit, obviously we expected sales to slow down to a more normal rate. Looking at the year to date picture, home sales are up 3% over last year.   This is all based off data from the Cincinnati MLS. July M... 09/09/2010

Freddie Mac reports that long-term mortgage rates moved south again this week. Interest on 30-year fixed loans hit a new low of 4.49 percent, compared to 4.54 percent last week and 5.22 percent a year ago; and the 15-year mortgage landed at 3.95 percent, down from 4 percent last week and 4.63 percent a year ago. Five-year adjustable-rate mortgages reached a new low of 3.63 percent, down from 3.76 percent last week and 4.73 percent a year ago; while one-year ARMs fell to 3.55 percent from 3.64 percent last week and 4.78 percent a year ago. Source: The Wall Street Journal, Amy Hoak and Nick Timiraos (08/06/10) 08/09/2010

  Boundry Disputes in Oakley and Hyde Park 500 residents in East Hyde Park are being told that, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati, they live in Oakley. That’s because the Hamilton County Auditor map lists the 500 homes in  Hyde Park, but the Multiple Listing Service (or MLS), what Realtors use,  puts the homes in Oakley. So homeowners who bought homes in Hyde Park  now have to sell their homes with Oakley addresses according to Fox 19. Realtors are required to market homes according to how the MLS service classifies their home. 490 homeowners have signed a petition to the Hyde Park Community Council and the Oakley Community Council to address and resolve the discrepancy. Lawmakers said they can amend the council community boundaries map if  both community c... 08/04/2010

The Hyde Park East Committee is on the agenda for the Oakley Neighborhood Council meeting on Tuesday, August 3 at 6PM at the Oakley Community Center in Hyde Park Plaza...do we all realize how intertwined these neighborhoods are anyway...meeting at the Oakley Community Center in Hyde Park Plaza, oh, my! So what's the beef?  In the Fall of 2009, the Multiple Listing Service of Cincinnati began classifying most streets in Hyde Park East as being located in Oakley.  Hyde Park Neighborhood Council had always considered the area as part of Hyde Park and for 40 years, the MLS had classified the area as Hyde Park.  Residents have 400 signatures on a petition to bring their area back under Hyde Park in MLS and with the Neighborhood Council. How did this happen?  MLS started to enforce the areas ... 07/27/2010

The Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors has released numbers for home sales for June, 2010.  There were 2,129 units closed in June, a 7.63% gain over June of 2009.  Reported sales are largely due to contracts written before April 30th that qualified for the federal tax credits of $8000 or $6500. Cincinnati's June sales were up slightly compared to May sales (.57%)Nationwide, the number of sales for June were up 9,8% from a year ago but down in number by 5.1% in a seasonally adjusted basis. Year-to date, closings show positive numbers: Sales units  +11.94% Gross dollar volume sales  +21.35% Average Sale price  +8.41% Sale prices are up for 2010 to date because fewer foreclosure sales are in early 2010 compared to 2009. Low interest rates have also influenced sales.  A 30-year fixed rate mo... 07/27/2010

The Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors has released numbers for home sales for June, 2010.  There were 2,129 units closed in June, a 7.63% gain over June of 2009.  Reported sales are largely due to contracts written before April 30th that qualified for the federal tax credits of $8000 or $6500. Cincinnati's June sales were up slightly compared to May sales (.57%)Nationwide, the number of sales for June were up 9,8% from a year ago but down in number by 5.1% in a seasonally adjusted basis. Year-to date, closings show positive numbers: Sales units  +11.94% Gross dollar volume sales  +21.35% Average Sale price  +8.41% Sale prices are up for 2010 to date because fewer foreclosure sales are in early 2010 compared to 2009. Low interest rates have also influenced sales.  A 30-year fixed rate mo... 07/25/2010

A grassroots community initiative has taken the Cincinnati by storm! The movement is designed to spread a network of projects and activities throughout the City that promote awareness and raise funds for our new 45-acre Cincinnati Riverfront Park. This new park will add to the crown jewels of the Cincinnati Park system. TWIG is sponsored by the Women's Committee. Groups all over town with similar passions and interests are encouraged to participate. Every little contribution will add up and enhance the interest and involvement in building this park.  Ideas for groups that might come together are Scout organizations, garden clubs, walking groups, book clubs, and friends.  Dater Montessori and Town and Country Garden Club have already initiated projects that will benefit the Park attracti... 07/14/2010

University of Cincinnati Named to "World's Most Beautiful Campuses" List  Architects and designers were recently asked to judge the World's Most Beautiful Campuses by Forbes Magazine.  Powerful natural landscapes played a part in establishing the character of some schools.  The University to Oxford was described as an architectural wonderland.  For large Universities, a clear diagram of organization helped them achieve recognition. The University of Cincinnati's distinction is due to a strategic plan implemented over the past 10 years that used "signature architects" to design new buildings.  Architects of note included are Michael Graves, Frank Gehry, Peter Eisenman, Thom Mayne, Bernard Tschumi, Eric Sueberkrop, and others. Other schools on the list were Kenyon College, Oxford Universi... 07/14/2010

June numbers are in for Montgomery, Blue Ash, Symmes Township and Sycamore Township, all part of the Sycamore School district. For the month, 65 homes or condos were sold.  There are currently 406 homes actively on the market and 76 pending sales.                       Credit Suisse provides a monthly analysis of real estate traffic (showings) across the country.  The traffic index level dropped to levels not seen since the credit crisis began in late '08.  The sharp fall off in traffic was expected in May, but June only added to the slowdown.  The most worrisome aspect of their index is that the numbers continued to fall throughout the month. Along with that, the number of pending home sales across the country dropped 30% from May, 15% below May, 2009.  The number of closings will cont... 07/14/2010