Scaredown Haunted Attractions

Scaredown Haunted Attractions

Mason Art Camps

New Touchdown Jesus Rendering

New Touchdown Jesus Rendering

The "Touchdown Jesus" statue in Ohio was engulfed in flames, and burned to the ground after a lightning strike in June 2010. The six-story-tall depiction of Jesus Christ with his arms raised stood in front of Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.

An artist has now released a rendering of how the new statue may appear. It would be titled, "Touchdown Tebow." I'm indifferent with Tim Tebow, although I believe his NFL career at this point is slightly overrated. We'll wait and see how his entire career unfolds, but every one around him in the Denver Bronco's organization deserves some credit for their turn-around this year. However, this statue is a lot of praise dedicated to an individual man, and may be overdoing it a bit.

New "Touchdown Tebow" Rendering. wdsiemer ii

New Ohio License Plate

License plate gets new look

Team of students at CCAD redesigned vehicle tags and Ohio driver’s license at request of governor John Kasich.

Students at the Columbus College of Art & Design created this new Ohio license plate.

Yuengling Arrives

Yuengling Arrives

"This is a beer anomaly," says Dublin Pub owner, Steve Tieber. "This is one of the most anticipated beer debuts in my lifetime."

D. G. Yuengling & Son is the oldest operating brewing company in the United States, established in 1829. It is one of the largest breweries by volume in the country, and is the second largest American-owned brewery after the Boston Beer Company, makers of Sam Adams beer. Its headquarters are in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

Mother of Mercy High School's New Logo

Mother of Mercy High School's New Logo
Cincinnati, OH

Once again, I am not here to necessarily critique these designs. However, having seen the local billboards, I find a local newspaper's explanation of Mother of Mercy High School's new logo to be reaching somewhat far into the reader's imagination...

The new graphic maintains the traditional elements of Mercy's original logo but also reflects the school's scholarly achievement and a young women's journey with Christ to her future by incorporating a "movement" of blue ribbons that flow directly through the distinctive Mercy cross and into the the light.

"Our new logo allows us to better capture the excellence that is Mercy with our relentless attention on individual excellence, as well as the amazing strides we are making toward our Vision for the future."

Did you get all of that out of this new mark? Distinctive Mercy cross... reflects a journey with Christ... Opinions?

The one element I will comment on, and that is the faded gradient to white. From design experience (Beacon Orthopedics) I have never enjoyed gradients incorporated in a logo. In the future, when designers try to use color backgrounds with the logo they will have to come up with solutions like an outer glow, white box, or a different fade color if they want the piece to look correct and professional.

Miranda's Ice Cream Grill Outs

Miranda's Old Time Ice Cream Shop

Fountain Drinks - Soft Serve - Sodas - Hamburgers
Whether you live near us or are visiting as hikers, bicycle riders, canoeists on the Little Miami River or Scenic Trail, we have tasty treats and warm smiles for everyone.

205 Main Street - Morrow, Ohio - 513-899-7163

Miranda's Ice Cream

Vote for OTR (Over-The-Rhine) for a Preservation Grant

Vote for OTR (Over-The-Rhine) for a Preservation Grant

Empress Chili Closing (Delhi/Rapid Run)

Empress Chili since 1922

Empress Chili Closing (Delhi/Rapid Run)
William D. SIEMER II
June 23, 2011

Note: Rapid Run Empress Chili will be open until end of July, and then moving to Dixie Highway in Kentucky. Another Empress Chili will be opening in Western Hills by Pirate's Den/Champions/Toys R Us. The signage is already in place.

The Rapid Run/Delhi Empress Chili has announced by way of a sign they will be closing their doors after 35 years in Delhi. Although I haven't heard verbal confirmation, this is set to be a sad conclusion to a restaurant that runs deep in my heart as a customer, former employee and friend to the owners.

In 1922, the downtown Cincinnati Empress Chili was founded by Greek immigrants Tom and John Kiradjeff. They opened a hotdog stand next to the Empress Theatre, thus giving Empress it's name. Eventually, this business became the chili parlor we know today. Interestingly, a former Empress Chili chef, Nicholas Lambrinides, is credited for the foundation of another chili restaurant, Skyline Chili.

My family and I dined at Empress many times when I was growing up. I'd usually order a 2-way (Chili & Spaghetti) and Pepsi while reading the newspaper's sports section to see how my favorite baseball player, Ken Griffey Jr., was performing. Although franchised, it's been a family-operated, homely restaurant serving chili and sandwiches. It had undergone several changes in ownership and subtle revamps throughout the years.

It wasn't until Trish and Troy took over the restaurant when Delhi Empress began developing its own character. The interior was freshened with framed pictures from sporting event milestones and Cincinnati photos. They added a touchscreen arcade game, ice cream, Slushies, a claw machine and daily special pricing. They worked hard on promoting the business at festivals, appeared on the Food Network, offered 99 cent cheese coneys, and bought ad placements in local newspapers/magazines.

When I was facing a difficult time in my life, I took on a second job at Empress Chili to keep my mind off the negative. Troy was happy to bring me in, and we quickly became friends. At work it was all business, but once the door closed we would enjoy a good game of hoops, air hockey or cards. Every Christmas, he would have people over to his house for a gift exchange. I met a lot of great people while working there. They really helped me turn things around.

It's sad to see motivated local business owners leaving something they put so much effort and care into. Their hard work ethic will follow them to wherever they go. I stopped in yesterday to say my goodbyes and enjoy one last 3-way at a place that has meant so much to me. A great establishment is leaving me, but I will always have the fond memories Empress Chili has given me.

Empress Chili Bar/Kitchen

Empress Chili Sport's Memorabilia

Follow-up Notes:
There are several other Empress Chili's//Here is an article written about one.
Owner wants city's oldest chain to claim bigger share of Cincinnati obsession
Business Courier - by Tom Demeropolis, Courier Staff Reporter  

“We put Cincinnati-style chili on the map,” said Empress Chili owner Jim Papakirk.

[Read Article from Business Courier]

Adding an Empress Chili location in Cincinnati Marketplace, between Werk Road and Glenway Avenue in Green Township, is a step in the right direction.

Steve Newman, a longtime Re/Max real estate agent, will be the owner of the new location. Getting back into the chili business is something he’s been trying to do for a long time. His family had an Empress franchise back in the 1960s and ’70s.

The plan is to open the Empress restaurant between Pirate’s Den bar, which is owned by Newman’s sister and brother-in-law, and Champions.

First on the agenda should be an official Empress Chili website.

Amish Country

Wal-Mart is an integral component of Amish life. wdsiemerii

Over the weekend I went to Amish Country in central Ohio.

It's kind of surreal seeing all the Mennonites dressed in their traditional, conservative garb and squared-off beards, especially in 90+ degree weather. You go to the local Wal-Mart and about 33% percent of the shoppers are... Amish? Cars pass horses and buggies, vast farms, handcrafted Amish knick-knack stores (for those who love kitsch items), cheese and wine cellars, Amish hotels and restaurants.

It seems a lot are wealthy and live sort of a contradictory life. You'll pass huge Amish mansions, farms, places of business, and see Amish passengers packed into white transporter vans (just not driving). Apparently they get some tax breaks too. I don't know the politics.

Previously we went to a drive-thru feeding zoo where animals come up to the window of car (or tractor) for you to feed them. They have an assortment of wildlife--ostrich, zebra, alpaca, moose, hippos, gators, giraffes, etc. It's a pretty fascinating place that will leave your car in need of a serious cleaning.

This trip, we went to the Farmstead restaurant (another popular one is Dutch Valley), basically an Amish version of a typical buffet. Food was really good and filling--corn, mashed potatoes, noodles, fried chicken, fresh salads, desserts, and the such.

The Amish life really isn't for me, but the occasional trip into their world isn't so bad.

|Visit Amish Country|

John Kasich Hates Pink

 John Kasich on Ohio's Driver's License

"I just got my...license the other day, and everybody says can you change it from pink? And then I looked at it and I went 'Whoa.' So I think we're thinking about whether we can have a better color. I have the authority apparently to do it, so we'll see. We're thinking about it."

|Here's an article from WLWT Cincinnati|