May 01 2005

I Dont Mind Telling You
Some Real Lads Can Take Over
The Maisonette leaves Jean Ro king; after breast cancer; who won’t be supporting GOP mayor

By Michael D. Altman
Queen City Forum Magazine editor in chief

In our little corner of the universe is a bizarre city that stagnates for two hours and then buzzes for 15 minutes – the buzz lasting long enough to be identified as “something,” but not enough to stick; then it’s back to the normal, conservative Hamilton County commission-ruled, democratic Cincinnati.

The most pressing buzz is the panic of Cincinnati ’s five-star Maisonette moving to Kenwood and out of the Center City. This is a buzz that will stick as we progress in local campaign season as candidates will cite the city’s failure to retain the landmark.

But how desperate is Cincinnati to retain a restaurant that has requested “shakedown” large money from the city in recent years? Why will the ink, airwaves and candidates linger over the passing of this era when we have a international star to focus on: Jean Robert de Cavel.

Jean Robert de Cavel isn't the new kid on the block but with the Maisonette's departure, his already strong restaraunts gain momentum.

Let us not forget the fact it was Jean Robert de Cavel who led the Maisonette to its most recent peak. Frankly, de Cavel could single-handedly restock the city with restaurants that would make even the staunchest Cincinnatian forget about the Maiso-what’s-it-called. We’ve got some real life here from fine dining (Nicola’s, Jean Robert at Pigalls, Jean Ro’s on Vine, and the Cincinnatian come off of the top of my head,) to fun and charismatic (Nicholson’s, Bella, Akash India, and the somewhere in-between J.P. McFadden’s, The Diner, Washington Platform, Palomino’s, Hamburger Mary’s and Scotti’s.) The flip side to all of this is since McFadden’s and Kun Ying (8th & Vine—from the chef of Teak in Mt. Adams – excellent pad thai) opened in February and January respectively, they have been well attended and given us two exceptional additions to Cincinnati’s restaurant core.

Because Cincinnati is not simply a place where the established can be counted on to buy all of the new posh lofts, we must assume the younger established – those who may identify with the creative class are the young professionals – are going to be the ones who scoop up the lofts if they are to be purchased at all. They will be the ones who go to the Jean Ro’s, the Nicholson’s, the Akash – and would not have gone to the Maisonette.

The “industry” reaches out to breast cancer

No, not that “industry.” However, this party company does specialize in parties for women with adult lotion, books and bedroom accessories and adult games, to name a few. Pure Romance is taking its mission of helping women find their sensuality to another level since it launched a breast cancer outreach program in April called Sensuality, Sexuality and Survival in Cincinnati .

The program consists of parties that will allow women suffering from this disease to find a way to rebuild self-esteem and restore intimacy with their partners both through the products and camaraderie of a support network.

Erin Hoschouer, the director of the new program and MPH graduate from Indiana University, home of the Kinsey Institute explains, “A lot of women who are going through breast cancer treatment are focused on survival…we don’t talk about what to do afterward. Training some special consultants who have a background in education nursing or are getting their doctorates can provide one more resource for women that are going through this. We are the expert for the women as far as intimacy and relationships after breast cancer. The wonderful thing is that we are being embraced by the medical industry.”

“We’ve always donated a percentage of sales to breast cancer research groups,” said Patty Brisben, CEO and President of Pure Romance. “However, after seeing first hand how breast cancer has affected the lives of so many of my consultants and corporate employees, I decided it was time to take our efforts a step further.”

Portune was more concerned about whether Berding had aided Portune’s last opponent, Judge David Grossman, who ran one of the ugliest, most negative campaigns in 2004; a staggering number of charges of campaign fraud brought against Grossman’s campaign were featured in an ad he purchased in the Enquirer. Berding had nothing to do with Grossman. He helped Bedinghaus as a citizen, as a co-worker and as a friend, Berding said.

Another question raised by the Democratic Nominating Committee is whether Berding is loyal enough to the party. Similarly, QCF Magazine columnist and city council candidate (and attorney, and…) Leslie Ghiz expects to get the Republican endorsement. However, she was a strong proponent for the repeal of Article XII in last November’s election. The Hamilton County Republican Party is expected to field Charles Winburn as their mayoral candidate. Because Winburn is from the Family Values-Conservative wing of the HCRP, which was semi-directly responsible for Ghiz not getting appointed to Pat DeWine’s seat, will Ghiz be standing next to him in support during campaign season, or will she support the more likeminded (except one voted for Bush and one voted for Kerry) David Pepper? Don’t be too surprised if Ghiz backs Pepper.

So from across Cincinnati, there’s your new buzz or lack of one until the next column. It is best paired with a dry red and goetta…because it’s Cincinnati, and the kids here just love to gossip.

Michael D. Altman writes “I Don’t Mind Telling You” based on insight into the direction politically and socially of this, the Pepsi Generation (No--- that’s Gen Y?). The fact checker responsible for this confusion has been sacked (fired). The column appears as a weekly feature in QCF magazine.

Contact Information
· michaelda@queencityforum.com