Meanwhile, in the on-going battle to get people more people downtown for a bit of partying, Kent Vandersall and Jen Morgan at the ever-so-posh Phoenix are launching an all-out assault Thursday. The effort, Morgan says, is designed to “celebrate the beginning of coming together,” now that the racial profiling lawsuit has been settled.

        Going all out, they are, for not much money: Party band favorite the Rusty Griswolds — we know people who have tried to sit still while the group was playing; they couldn't — in the grand ballroom, Nevada Wilkens Jazz Trio in the second floor ballroom and food all over the place, all for $15 in advance, $20 at the door (proceeds go to the FreeStore/FoodBank and Rothenberg and Fairview Elementary Schools).

        Both Morgan and Vandersall are hoping for a good party, but they're hoping even more to get all kinds of diversity — age, gender, race, the works — in there partying together.

        The party is 5-11 p.m. and very casual, Morgan says. “We're emphasizing casual because so many people think you have to dress up to come here. Not so for this.”

        Call 721-8901 for info.

        Benefit update: In other efforts to get people downtown, Elliott Ruther's mental health levy benefit (Issue 5) is picking up all kinds of steam.

        Ruther, recall, is the aide to Cincinnati Councilman John Cranley who's organizing a May 1 benefit at Over-the-Rhine's Jefferson Hall. Goal is to draw attention to mental health issues, get people back on city streets — on a weekday of all things — and to draw a ton of attention to local bands, especially those performing original material.

        Wellsir, the bands are lining up. We've known all along that Ruther would play some of his original music, backed by friends, but now, with no arm-twisting, he already has added a lineup of heavy hitters: Ryan Adcock, Crazy Chester, the Stapletons and Clabbergirl will all play.

        “This is amazing to me. The bands are so excited about it they agreed right off the bat, almost without me asking. And since they're some of the city's best, we're expecting a lot of people.

        “What I think's going to happen is that each band will pull in its own fans, they all have followings of their own, and fill that place.

        “So we'll have a whole new crowd of people finding out about other top bands and becoming more aware of mental health issues. Those are two of my top goals.”

        The party is 7 p.m. and free, but donations will be accepted. So are workers: Political strategist Brewster Rhoads will be there hoping to dig up volunteers willing to work on political causes.

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