Living On the Ohio River

This past week has been nerve wracking. Our home sits right on the banks of the Ohio River. It is a breathtakingly beautiful place to live. And it is also pretty scary in the spring. We moved here in 1999, two years after the last major flood in southwest Ohio. During the time we've lived here our road access has been cut off a couple of times due to high water, but our house has never been flooded. And once again, this week we were spared.

Flood of 1898

Our house was built in 1890 so it has seen it's share of flooding. I applaud the Corps of Engineers and the gatekeepers at Meldahl and Markland Dams. They have done a remarkable job managing the river levels. Although the river came up over the flood wall in front of our house it is now receding.

The river lapping at the top of the flood wall.

Why do I live here knowing the potential of the river flooding? I guess every dance with nature has its pitfalls. I've lived in the city. I've lived in the suburbs. But there is nothing that compares with living near the water. Sunsets are spectacular. Water birds are fascinating. The sound of gentle waves whoosh-whooshing below my open window in the summer is as soothing as a calming lullaby.

The Ohio River is in my blood. I was two weeks old, according to my mother, the first time I was on a boat. And that was on the Ohio River. Most every summer weekend as a child, and subsequently as a teenager, was spent on a boat on the Ohio River. To live in a house on the banks of the river is a dream come true.

River sunset

So I pay my flood insurance, make sure my valuables are stored on the second floor and say a prayer every spring that Mother Nature be kind so I can look forward to another summer of magical sunsets on the beautiful Ohio River.

Got the Blues Over the Cincy Winter Blues Fest

Standing in line outside the Phoenix

On Saturday Feb. 7, 2015 we attended the Cincy Winter Blues Fest in downtown Cincinnati at the Phoenix. The event was sponsored by the Cincy Blues Society.  We were so excited. We love blues music and this was our first time attending any of the Cincy Blues Fest events.

We were ready for a long night filled with the blues. And it was... but we were the ones singing the blues.

The doors of the Phoenix opened at 5:30 p.m. We arrived around 6:00 p.m. The line was just slightly out the door. So far so good. That was, until we got to the front door and saw the enormous marble staircase leading to the first floor. The line was longer than we thought.

We finally got to the top of the staircase about a half hour after the first acts started. The crowd on the first floor was shoulder to shoulder by then. We couldn't even get a peek at Ricky Nye performing in the first floor Tea Room. It must be because this was the first stop walking in the door and the smallest venue. Surely it would be better upstairs in the bigger ballrooms.

First we needed beverages. The line was long there as well. We purchased our five dollar, 12 oz. domestic beers and went to explore the other floors before finding a place to land for the evening. After navigating another huge staircase leading to the open gallery outside the Archway Ballroom on the second floor we needed to sit for a minute.

Beautiful marble stairs lead to the 2nd floor.

Johnny Fink and the Intrusion were performing in the Archway Ballroom and it was as packed as the Tea Room on the first floor, even though it had a larger capacity.

Since (once again) we couldn't get in to see the band we wandered into the Cincinnati Room adjacent to the side stage of the ballroom. It was like entering an elegant parlor from the past. The Phoenix is a beautiful old building designed by the renowned architect, Samuel Hannaford. It was built in 1893 and it is one of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance architecture in Cincinnati. Floor to ceiling windows, Tiffany stained glass, huge marble staircases and elegant archways combine for a nostalgic feeling of a time gone by.

We found a place to sit and settle for a minute. We could kind of hear the band playing next door, but the music was muffled as the doors to the side stage leading into the ballroom were kept closed.

It was now 7:00 p.m. and we were anxious about getting a seat on the third floor to see Joanne Shaw Taylor at 9:00 p.m. Our friends ran up to the third floor Grand Ballroom, the largest of the three venues, to investigate the seating situation. They came back and informed us that the Grand Ballroom was standing room only too. But we still had hope. Maybe when the acts switched, the crowds in the ballrooms would shift too. So we went up to the third floor to lean on the balcony to wait until Tempted Souls finished their act.

Tiffany stained glass outside the Archway.

Unfortunately there were more people coming up the stairs than going down. Again we got to listen but not see the performance. We entered the Grand Ballroom between acts hoping to see someone leave.

The seating arrangement here was odd. There was a huge dance floor in front of the stage surrounded by tables with chairs and more rows of chairs arranged lecture style on either side. Taking up a huge corner of the room was a beverage booth. So as the room became more crowded people started standing on the dance floor obstructing the view of the people in the chairs. Eventually the whole venue became standing room only.

After standing for about forty minutes, we decided to try to find a seat somewhere...anywhere. We knew by now it wasn't going to be on the third floor. We went back down to the Cincinnati Room and luckily found two seats at a table in the alcove next to the stage doors. The doors were still closed but occasionally a band member would come out and we would get a glimpse of the band. This is where we ended up spending the rest of the evening.

When Jay Jesse Johnson took the stage at 8:00 p.m. we convinced a stage hand to leave a door open to the side stage. At least now we were able to kind of watch and sort of listen.

By 9:00 p.m. they ran out of beer. RAN OUT OF BEER BY NINE! So halfway through the Leroy Ellington Blues Band act we left.

It is clear Mark Bubash, director of this event, and the management of the Phoenix were not prepared for the huge attendance. They over-sold tickets and over-packed the venue. They ran out of food and beverages before the headliner acts even took the stage. We were very, very, very disappointed.

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.