It's a Family Affair - Main Auction Galleries

J. Karp at the microphone.

It's 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday at Main Auction Galleries and J. Louis Karp, president and fourth generation auctioneer, takes the microphone.

"Welcome to Main Auction Galleries. The auction we've been doing for over a hundred years."

He explains the terms of the auction. No bid registration required. When you win a bid just give the clerk your initials. Checks, cash and credit cards accepted, however there is an additional 3% charge when paying by credit card.

Jay grabs the first box lot and begins the auction.

"What have we here? Oh look at this crap! Who would want to buy this stuff!? Can I have $5 to start the bid?" So the bidding begins - and so does the entertainment.

J. Louis Karp is not only known as one of the most highly respected and trusted auctioneers in the region, he also plays a bombastic, crotchety, sometimes raunchy character at the auctioneer podium. His son Jonas plays his straight man. The Regulars are used to it and even shout a few jabs back more often than not.

J. Louis Karp began his career as an auctioneer at the age of fifteen. He is the fourth generation of his family to run the business. Jonas, his son and partner, makes the fifth generation. And in spite of the comedy act and jabs, both father and son are highly knowledgeable, honest, genuine and generous.

Main Auction Gallery is a family affair. On this particular morning Jay's daughter-in-law and grandchildren have come to wish Popi (Jay) happy birthday and present him with a homemade banner which Jonas promptly attaches to the wall. Then we all sing happy birthday.

Looking west on Fourth Street.

Five generations of Karps have run this highly regarded auction house since 1870. Their employees are treated as family and it shows in their stellar customer service. And that tight knit family feeling extends to the Regulars who come to the weekly Tuesday auctions, which includes me and my husband. Main Auction is our standing weekly date.

The Tuesday Regulars are the family in the audience. The bidders and buyers. Many greet each other by first name. Some even have reserved seats. They examine the items displayed as they ask each other about their families and how their week went.

They come for a variety of reasons. Some own brick and mortar shops, some do business strictly online, some are high-end dealers. Some come for the free donuts in the morning, some come for the free pizza in the afternoon. And I suspect some come to get good deals on quality stuff for their downtown homes. Downtown Cincinnati is definitely experiencing a residential renaissance.

The Tuesday auctions run until 2:00 p.m. So if you're downtown on a Tuesday, Main Auction Galleries at 137 W. Fourth Street is definitely worth a peek. Pictures of items offered for auction are uploaded  to their website the Friday prior to each Tuesday auction. All lots are available for inspection prior to the auction all day Monday and Tuesday morning before 10:30 a.m.

Looking Forward

2014 was not a kind year to me and mine. We lost our beloved son to a drug overdose. We lost our beloved terrier to old age. We suffered grief, broken bones, skin rashes, panic attacks, broken pipes, broken fences, broken fireplace and broken relationships.

BUT every emotion, every pain, every heartbreak shouts I'm here! I'm alive! And life does go on. So I am looking forward to 2015 with hope and anticipation. We will fix broken things and time will soften our broken hearts. I plan to love more, play more, write more and explode with creative energy!

My wish for everyone in 2015 is 

to birth new beginnings, 

stay on course for continued success 

and manifest well being and good health. 

Be safe tonight my friends. 

Happy New Year

Paint Nite at the Tin Roof Bar

Fun with friends at Paint Nite

Last month we did something very different for my friend's birthday. We did a Paint Nite event at the  Tin Roof Bar located at the Banks in downtown Cincinnati at 160 Freedom Way Suite 150 Cincinnati, OH 45202. We painted cherry blossoms in a bar while enjoying cocktails and lots of laughs. And since it was my friend's birthday our partners were "forced" to join us. If you want to "culturize" your man this is the perfect date.

As you can see there were many different interpretations.

What is Paint Nite? Who better to explain than the company itself. From their website: "Paint Nite® is a new concept of blending two timeless pastimes, artistic painting and drinking cocktails, as a way to draw patrons into local pubs on a slow night with a unique opportunity to socialize and be creative. The 2-hour Paint Nite painting parties are held daily with 25 people in attendance who follow the step-by-step instructions of one master local artist from blank canvas to masterpiece."

Nothing better than beer, a blank canvas and acrylic paints. We are all creative beings. Whether you creatively solve problems at home or at the office or create art, it all requires some right-brain ingenuity. Unfortunately our innate creativity is diminished as soon as we enter middle school here in the USA. Paint Nite allows you to relax in a none-judgmental environment and just have fun with a paint brush.

My Masterpiece.

Annie Back was our Paint Nite host. She and her assistant were delightful and funny. They painted mustaches on patrons who were game. They took lots of pictures and added them to Paint Nite Cincinnati's growing gallery on Facebook. You can find a list of upcoming Paint Nite events in Cincinnati and buy tickets here.