This week's blogger, Katie Garber, embodies the live-work-play ethos of Cincinnati. An Over-the-Rhine resident, she recently opened up her hip vintage store, Atomic Number Ten, alongside Main Street's galleries and businesses. Trained as an industrial designer, Katie shares a first hand account of why she decided to start up a business and the unlikely inspiration she received from Dr. Seuss.
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Taking a Second Look
Posted By: Katie Garber
3/18/2010
As my parents were hinting from the gift of "Oh the Places You'll Go," I knew they expected me to move to another city or maybe even another country. Actually, I was ready to leave Cincinnati as soon as I graduated high school, and although I stayed in Cincinnati to attend college, I never even considered staying in Cincinnati after graduating. I was ready to create my own path in a bigger city that supposedly would have much more to offer a young designer. It wasn't until traveling to and living in plenty of other cities that I started to consider what Cincinnati had to offer. Don't get me wrong, I've fallen in love with many other cities, but I'm happy to be able to call Cincinnati home.
The opportunities I've discovered here are so immense. Whether it's getting a grant to start your own business or finding an affordable place to live in the most diverse neighborhood in town, Cincinnati has so much to offer. Over-the-Rhine has become my home and the support I've received from the neighborhood is so encouraging. The area has tons of potential; it seems like the buildings sit here quietly, waiting for people to fill them and create a vibrant, hip neighborhood. The more I ride my bike around, exploring OTR, the more this seems possible. I feel so proud to have this opportunity to be a part of the Over-the-Rhine's growth into lively place to live, work and play.