That's So Cincinnati

Rosemarie Moehring, marketing director for Cincinnati-based concert promoter Music & Event Management, Inc., joins That's So Cincinnati podcast. 

Two years ago when Hamilton County Commissioner Stephanie Dumas voted against putting $1.3 million in earnest money toward purchasing the Millennium Hotel for redevelopment purposes, the Democrat faced criticism for standing in the way of progress.

The deal got done anyway in a 2-1 vote.

Today, as the hotel comes down with no plan to replace it with a new convention hotel, Dumas said about her vote: "There's no reason to cry over it."

In an interview with The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast, Dumas said she is focused on what's next for bringing a critical convention hotel to the Downtown.

"It's done, and we need to move forward right now," Dumas said. "And we're still ... deciding about the expansion of Duke Energy (Convention Center) right now. The focus is just getting this headquarter hotel up. A lot of this is for the long haul."

She said for the new hotel – for which there are no current plans – she prefers a site to the south of the convention center, instead of the site of where Millennium Hotel was located, which it the east of the convention center.

There are talks, but no solid plans, to make the current site park space that will look nice as it all gets sorted out. The green space could be used for convention-related outdoor events.

As Hamilton County's first Black commissioner and Ohio's first Black female county commissioner, Dumas is a trial blazer. She came to job after being a Forest Park councilwoman and then mayor, and then as city manager of Lincoln Heights.

That experience makes her responsive to county residents.

"What I love most about it is people have identified that I am a commissioner that will listen, that your concerns are my concerns," said Dumas, a trained social worker. "And  you may not get the answers that you want from me, but you know that I'm going to give you an honest answer."

So is she running again? Cincinnati Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman has announced a run for her seat as an independent candidate and gathering signatures. But Dumas has been mum about whether she'll run for re-election.

She's still not ready to say exactly what her future holds.

"I'm sure you will be hearing soon one way or the other what I plan on doing because you never know what opportunity may come up for me," Dumas said.

Cincinnati restauranteur and bar owner Bob Deck, a managing partner at Four Entertainment Group, joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week to chat about: 

Four Entertainment Group launched about 15 years ago, around the time 3CDC was beginning its work to redevelopment Over-the-Rhine. The group has 18 bars restaurants in Cincinnati, Covington, Columbus and Chicago. It's notable Greater Cincinnati brands include: Igby's in Downtown, The Lackman in Over-the-Rhine and Keystone in Covington and Clifton.

As a young adult, Deck, who grew up in Anderson Township, parked cars at Jeff Ruby's Waterfront restaurant. Deck enjoyed the experience of working in the restaurant business. He initially pursued a career as a chiropractor after graduating from Miami University, but Deck and some friends got together to start 4EG.

Deck has never forgotten what some call the "Jeff Ruby experience" – it's all about impeccable customer service and making the customer feel special during their entire visit to one of Ruby's steakhouses. 

"It was just amazing to watch how he would always take care of people and want all of his employees to take care of people," Deck said. "From the moment you pull your car up with the valet until you're experience inside, that was what they took pride on and have continued to this day."

Bengals punter Kevin Huber has been an All-American and an All-Pro in his football career.

Big awards, no doubt, but they’re not his most unique accomplishment. Huber is the rare athlete who’s been able to play every level of football in his hometown.

Huber talks about his journey from McNicholas High School star to University of Cincinnati All-American to being the longest-tenured player on the Bengals’ current roster.

You probably don't know Tom Tsuchiya. But you know his work. 

From molding creek clay in his backyard to building statues of Cincinnati icons like Pete Rose, learn about the life of a sculptor. 

Fifty West Brewing founder Bobby Slattery talks about growing his company into Greater Cincinnati's family friendly brewery; expansion into Southeast Ohio and West Virginia; and whether the region is oversaturated with breweries. 

Legendary college basketball coach Bob Huggins is introspective in a wide-ranging, in-depth interview with "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. 

Ahead of his return to Cincinnati on June 14 to raise money for cancer research, the West Virginia University basketball coach discussed: 

 
To learn more about the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment Fund, go to wvucancerinstitute.org.

The folks who select the Pro Football Hall of Fame classes will be calling Anthony Munoz soon.

And the Bengals' only member in the Hall of Fame will tell them the same thing he always does.

"I always pivot when I'm talking to senior selectors, and I say, 'Let's talk about Ken Anderson,' " Munoz said. "I dominate the conversation because I'm one of the biggest advocates for Ken Anderson. He should be in the Hall of Fame and it's a travesty that he's not."

That's just a sample of what Munoz discussed as this week's guest on "That' So Cincinnati."

That’s So Cincinnati: Buddy LaRosa shares the not-so-secret ingredient in the sauce that makes his pizza so special

Pam Kravetz is fun, effervescent, vivacious. Take your pick of how to describe the Cincinnati artist and suburban high school art teacher. They all fit.

She's so fun, in fact, that her family and friends held a parade in Over-the-Rhine for her 60th birthday last weekend. A few hundred people, including a who's who from the local arts and entertainment scene, converged on Washington Park wearing colorful outfits and hats to honor a woman who regularly wears go-go boots, tutus and sequins.

How did Kravetz go from an artsy outcast as a kid to being the life of the party and influencer on the local arts and entertainment scene?

The Cincinnati native told her story on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast this week.

"When I was little, I was that kid who never fit in," Kravetz said. "Even in kindergarten – this was the '60s – I got sent to the principal's office for wearing go-go boots and a mini-skirt."

Kravetz credits her elementary and high school teachers for encouraging her to embrace her passion for art. It ended up inspiring her to pursue her own career as an art teacher. She is retiring this week as Harrison High School's art teacher after a 30-year career. 

Her experiences at the University of Cincinnati helped Kravetz to begin to accept that being different is OK.

Said Kravetz: "I was an art kid, so we wore all black. We were kind of angsty and cool. And then I was a sorority girl. I was also the Bearcat mascot. I was all of these weird parts of a human that didn't quite fit together. But all of that speaks to the person I've become because now I'm super comfortable talking in front of people and being the center of attention."

Kravetz's life has continued to be full of unique opportunities. The Enquirer once featured her and her art work, and that led to her getting a date with the man who's now her husband. Her friends nicknamed her the "Queen of Love" for how she met her husband, Craig Davis. 

In addition to being heavily involved in the arts scene, Kravetz has also been on a synchronized swimming team for several years at Ziegler Park in Over-the-Rhine.

Her advice for those who might be struggling to embrace their passion, talent and personality.

"Loving yourself is huge," Kravetz said.