• “Taken for a Ride” (1996) covers the dismantling of America’s streetcar systems and examines the role GM played in that process.  Despite being over 10 years old, the film is relevant again as dozens of cities in the US are proposing or building modern Streetcar systems and GM is emerging from bankruptcy.  Director Jim Klein was recently interviewed by the Cincinnati Enquirer about the film.
• “A Crack in the Pavement” (2009) is one half of the two-part documentary “The New Metropolis” by Cincinnatian filmmaker Andrea Torrice.  It covers America’s first suburbs and the problems they are facing today.  The documentary was the focus of the June 3 episode of Explore Cincinnati.

Both films will be shown at The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington today and tomorrow.  Today’s screening will be proceeded by a workshop with the filmmakers (4:00 pm) and a catered reception (6:00 pm), and followed by an audience discussion with both filmmakers.  Tomorrow’s screening will be proceeded by a social hour (6:00 pm) and followed by a discussion with Andrea Torrice, Madeira city manager Tom Moeller, and former City of Cincinnati director of planning Liz Blume.

Tickets and more information are available at Cincy World Cinema.

Travis Estell and Jake Mecklenborg discuss the Ohio casinos proposal, VP Joe Biden in the tri-state, the Enquirer getting played, Twittering at city council, the documentary Taken for a Ride, and much more.  Kevin LeMaster talks with us about his website, Building Cincinnati.

Update (7/8): Unfortunately, we did not learn the details of the Cincinnati Enquirer layoffs until after we were finished recording today’s episode.  The Enquirer announced that they are laying off the entire staff of CinWeekly and replacing CinWeekly with a joint venture called Metromix Cincinnati.

Season 3, Episode 3 of “Explore Cincinnati” for July 8, 2009:

(Please subscribe to the podcast or visit ExploreCincinnati.com to play this audio file.)

Further reading:

• “Coroner Disputes OTR’s ‘Most Dangerous’ Ranking” from WCPO
• “UC Study: Casinos could create 34,000 jobs” from Cincinnati Business Courier
• “Tickets available for Biden visit” from Cincinnati Enquirer
• “Is the Cincinnati Enquirer being controlled?” from UrbanCincy
• “City council in snit over Twitter” from Cincinnati Business Courier
• “Put a Fork in Shadow Hare; It’s Really Over Now” from The Cincinnati Man
• “Taken for a Ride: A film about Streetcars and GM” from Somewhere Over the Rhine
• “‘Taken for a Ride’ at the Carnegie – 7/14” from UrbanCincy
• Featured blog: Building Cincinnati