Where in Cincy is this Painting?

come on, name this west-side establishment:

 

UPDATE:
Drew of Drew-O-Rama answered named my quiz photo quite fast:

We had a good time with the kids at Cancun and then bowling:

Flashing Flag Pins:

Hoinke Classic Winners:

Erwin Hoinke Pin Presented at Hotel Gibson, March 17, 1945:

Why Call the Police?

I called the police an hour ago. Eight people were sharing a crack pipe on the sidewalk across the street from my window. I see lawbreakers everyday, but I don't call the police that often. After 10 minutes or so the dealer ambled away. The others stared into space, mumbled and left one at a time, leaving only two, quietly talking. No police. They did their drugs and didn't harm anyone, except themselves. At least not tonight. Is it worth even calling? I'm not even sure the stuff should be illegal. Should I call if someone is smoking pot? What if it was wine, malt liquor or littering? I think the police would rightly laugh if I called on a litterer.

The last time I remember calling the police, a guy was punching his girlfriend. Now that is a clear reason to call. That time I also inserted myself into the situation, by yelling at the guy before calling the police. Tonight, I could have just called out the window to the people to go away, and they probably would. They weren't looking for trouble.

I've had neighbors move, because they just couldn't stomach the ugliness they saw. One neighbor, who I think was studying to become an pediatrician, said he had to leave after seeing a pregnant woman shooting up in the alley outside his window.


Last Friday, some volunteer group completely cleaned-up Washington Park. A bunch of people came, and spread mulch, picked-up litter and made the place look spiffy. Sunday evening, I walked diagonally across the park to take pictures of the demolition at the corner of 12th and Elm, and it was striking how manicured the place looked. Also striking was that at several benches, groups of people sat drinking out of paper bags, and they were surrounded by all kinds of litter that they had discarded as they sat and drank. Should people be ticketed for littering?

Littering and drinking in public doesn't really bother me that much. The Park Board has a guy who cleans up the litter in the park everyday. And, the city comes by at least once a week and sweeps the streets and sometimes the sidewalks. I am more disturbed by loud music at 6:30 AM like we had yesterday. A small group of people were standing by a car, the doors open with a loud stereo, dancing to the music with beer cans in their hands. At 6:30 AM!

There are NA meetings 3 times a week right next door. There are dozens of churches here. There is a Homeless Shelter with a drug treatment program, right across the street. It seems that there are people ready to offer support if you want to get on the wagon.

Is it better that a drug addict be in jail or on the street? Or forced sobriety? Do we need more room at the CCAT? Or more "supportive housing"?

As I type this, I am hearing the street-sweeper coming down the street. I guess it will look clean again in the morning.

...Finally, the police pull up. They talk to the two remaining guys. They end up taking one guy to jail on a capias. Before he gets into the cruiser, he asks the last remaining guy to take his bike somewhere safe. End of night.

End of the Day

Kids asleep, dishes cleaned, laundry folded. Wife is working the night shift. I fix a drink and sit in the window and look at the street. A few people sit on the wall by the sidewalk murmuring around the division of whatever drug they do these days. Not quite raining, it is misting, and the dark shapes of the northern hills are scattered with dozens of house lights. Two decrepit church towers are darker shadows breaking the view of the hills. It is a beautiful sad night to reflect on the day. The radio tower rises into the mist. To the south, the clouds glow by the light of downtown towers. Wet car tires pass every minute or so.

Now the group down below has broken up. Only a mumbling man and loud woman remain. Woman says "...nahh..you suck my pu.. first man, you want me to suck you di... mouthfull of .... you a goddamn liar...mother f.. " After a few minutes of back and forth they make amends and stroll down the street together.

Highway white noise and the squeal of the train switch yard in the distance. More mist, almost rain now. A voice calls down the last bus. "hey hey"

Next comes a white guy with a gravelly voice and a big pack on his back. He is with a younger woman in a studded leather jacket, shaved head and they argue about going to the Drop or getting a drink. She's walking backwards in front of him waiving her arms, leading him south.. instead of east. He's ready to call it a night. "..heavy pack, man".

Rain stops. Just a thick fog now, but still the sound of water everywhere, dripping off leaves, down gutters, under footsteps.