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2 THE ENQUIRER CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009

Inside this issue

DiscoverTheRegion

4 Who are we? A handful of vital statistics as we break down the area.

DiscoverLife

6 Cheap thrills: You’ll want to check out these five great family outings for less than $20.

To order copies

DiscoverFood

Go to Cincinnati.Com/Discover, call 513-768-8286 or fax orders to 513-768-8478. Copies can be purchased at The Enquirer’s customer service center at 312 Elm St., Downtown.

Cost: 1-29 copies, $1.50 each; 30-74 copies, $1 each; 75 or more copies, 75 cents each.

Shipping not included. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

8 Chili our way: Ever wonder how we became so enamored with our version of chili? We tell you that – and so much more.

12 The classics: Restaurants come and go. Here are five that have stood the test of time.

13 New kids on the block: Take a look at a few of the newer, trendier places to be seen.

Eaten at any of these?

About the cover

DiscoverFun

16 Giddyup: You don’t have to go west, young man, to saddle up for lessons or a leisurely horse ride.

18 So much to do … Take a look at our list of local attractions and pick a new one to visit this year.

DiscoverShopping

22 Hidden treasures: We help you find great antique shopping at fairs and malls.

Looking for something to do? The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is one of the many options in town. Check out the list of arts and cultural activities on Page 29.

DiscoverArts

26 Something for everyone: Our arts community is big business that offers big variety.

29 The list goes on and on …

Museums. Operas. Theater.

Symphonies. Puppets. We’ve got it all.

DiscoverSports

32 Get some fresh air: There are plenty of options for outdoor enjoyment.

34 Root, root, root: College, pros, autos, tennis, golf. You can watch almost any kind of sport you can imagine here.

Janessa Touchet, principal dancer for the Cincinnati Ballet, and the Wolf from Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre.

Photo illustration: Michael E. Keating and Stephanie Tobias

About this section

Editors: Michael Perry, Melissa Huelsman, Jason Lindquist, Suzette Winner Design editor: Stephanie Tobias Photos: Enquirer file unless otherwise noted

Discover Greater Cincinnati online

Cincinnati.Com: Get the latest local news on the region’s most popular Web site, including breaking news delivered to your mobile device, information from your community, updates on sports, as well as commentary on our more than two dozen blogs.

Cincinnati.Metromix.com: With coverage of restaurants, bars, music, movies and TV, Metromix is your one-stop source for all the best in going out or staying in.

Cincinnati.MomsLikeMe.com: Whether you’re looking for answers, advice, tips or you just want a good laugh, these Cincy moms discussions provide all that and much more.

CiNweekly.com: Young professionals can connect with one another and find out what’s going on in Greater Cincinnati, from social events to networking to charitable and athletic activities. If you want to get involved, this is a great place to start.

Also, check out the New to Cincinnati page. Whether you’ve lived here forever or just moved to town, there’s great information on living, working and playing in Greater Cincinnati.

THE ENQUIRER

Miss any of our previous editions?

To check out stories from five years of Discover magazines, go to Cincinnati.Com/Discover.

There you’ll find all the great details about the people, places, restaurants and more that make Greater Cincinnati special.

CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009

3

DiscoverTheRegion Gender facts 48.6%

May 23-25: Taste of Cincinnati, Downtown May 29-31: Summerfair, Coney Island June 5-7: Summerbration, Blue Ash June 20-21: Juneteenth Festival, Eden Park June 26-28: Panegyri Greek Festival, Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Finneytown June 26-28: Goettafest, Covington July 4: Red, White & Blue Ash July 31-Aug. 1: Macy’s Music Festival, Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown Aug. 7-9: Glier’s Goettafest, Newport Aug. 14-16: Boulevard Bash, West Chester Aug. 14-16: Midwest Black Family Reunion, Sawyer Point, Downtown Aug. 28-30: Taste of Blue Ash Sept. 6: Riverfest, Downtown Sept. 11-13: Oktoberfest, Covington Sept. 13: Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals (season opener), Paul Brown Stadium Sept. 19-20: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Downtown Sept. 24-26: Midpoint Music Festival

Cincinnati weather is moderate with temperatures averaging 31 degrees in winter and 73 degrees in summer. Annual rainfall is 41 inches.

Percentage of the population that is male (697,164)

Average Average Average High Low Precipitation

51.4%

Percentage of the population that is female (736,289)

Area’s race breakdown African American

16%

Asian 2% Other 3% Caucasian 79%

By the numbers

Mark your calendar

Weather statistics

January

37

20

2.6

February

41

23

2.7

March

53

33

4.2

April

64

42

3.8

May

74

52

4.3

June

82

60

3.8

July

86

65

4.2

August

84

63

3.4

September

78

57

2.9

October

66

44

2.9

November

53

35

3.5

December

42

25

3.1

Source: www.climate-zone.com

35.9

1,433,453

Average age of males

Total population

38.6

Average age of females

$147,428 Median price of houses

25.1%

Increase in price of houses since 2000

Statistics are for Cincinnati’s Primary Market Area that includes Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio and Dearborn County in Indiana. Statistics are from 2008. Source: Claritas, Inc.

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5

DiscoverLife

Cheap

thrills

Five great family outings for less than $20

Who says you have to spend a fortune for a fun day out with the family? Head to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Gayle’s Vintage Clothing or Cold Stone Creamery for some cheap thrills.

BY CHRIS GRAVES AND MELISSA HUELSMAN

S

ure, you’d love to take the family out for a fun day, but it’s not always feasible because of the cost. Luckily, there are great things to do and places to go that don’t require a withdrawal from the ATM. Here are five ideas for fun family outings that cost less than $20 for the day.

Take these ideas and make them your own to have a new adventure.

Priceless art for pennies You might think the Cincinnati Art Museum is the last place to take small children, but don’t worry about ruining a priceless piece of art – go ahead and bring the kids.

The museum has made great strides in the last few years in wel-

coming children, including starting programs such as Family First Saturdays, Wee Wednesdays and Family ARTventures, all packed with hands-on fun and learning.

General admission to the Art Museum and its special exhibits is free every day, but there is a charge of $4 per car for parking.

On your way out, stop in the gift shop. There are more than 100 postcards of art that you may have just seen. Allow your child to choose one postcard from the visit. It costs less than $1, and your child will be ready for AP Art History as he or she learns the title of the work and its artist. The postcard also doubles as an inexpensive room decoration.

If you like, bring a packed lunch and enjoy the city views from Eden Park.

Cincinnati Art Museum, 953

6 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

THE ENQUIRER

Eden Park Drive in Eden Park, 513-721-2787, www.cincinnatiart museum.org

Playing dress-up American Girls have taught kids a thing or two about history – complete with clothing and accessories.

Why not learn about history and dress up at the same time at Gayle’s Vintage Clothing on Milford’s Historic Main Street?

Owner Gayle Wilson encourages kids – big and small – to try any of the dozens of hats, dresses, gowns or furs that crowd the shop that also is a study in books, china, tea sets and other items. There are also hundreds of pieces of period jewelry that girls are encouraged to try on.

With prices starting at 50 cents, jewelry, hankies and tea sets are available to take home. Remember

to bring your camera – Wilson will snap your picture so you can capture the fun.

Gayle’s Vintage Clothing, 106 Main St., Milford, 513-831-5404

Strolling for sweets In the mood for ice cream? Sure, you could drive to your local parlor, but turn a routine trip into a fun outing and get some exercise at the same time. Park at the Public Landing near the Serpentine Wall (off Mehring Way), and head east to the Purple People Bridge.

Enjoy a half-mile stroll across the bridge and make your way onto the upper level of Newport on the Levee. Grab an ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery ($2.59 for a kids’ cone or $4.38 for a medium, both with one candy mix-in), and have a seat at the benches. After enjoying

DiscoverLife the view, head back across the bridge and make a game of counting the steps or the other people out for a walk.

Cold Stone Creamery, 1 Levee Way, Suite 2104, Newport, 859291-5380, www.coldstonecreamery .com Purple People Bridge, www.purplepeoplebridge.com

Found it!

Scavenger hunts are making a big comeback, so put a family twist on one and try this. Create a list of everyday items, such as a red gym shoe and a fishing rod. After making your age-appropriate list as a family, go to one of the three large flea markets in our region for a fun afternoon of people-watching and bargain-hunting. Give the kids $5 each to spend on anything they like and a bonus $1 or other treat to the person who finds the most items on the list. And whoever finds a velvet Elvis wall-hanging gets to choose the radio station on the way home.

Caesar Creek Markets, 7763 Ohio 73 West, Wilmington, 937382-1660, www.caesarcreek.com,

admission: $1 per car Richwood Flea Market, 10915 U.S. 25, Richwood, 859-371-5800, www.richwoodfleamarket.com, admission: $1 per car Traders World, 601 Union Road, Monroe, 513-424-5708, www.tradersworldmarket.com, admission: $2 per car

Geology and gravy Just a 60- to 90-minute drive northeast of Cincinnati is a peek back in time at Ohio’s history, as well as a look at the geological formation of the state.

The 268-acre Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve is a magnificent study of geology and boasts some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the spring.

The preserve, which is adjacent to John Bryan State Park, can be a challenging hike depending on the ages of your children. It also can be muddy during some times of year, so take your hiking boots and some bottles of water.

Depending where you start your hike, begin or end your day at the Clifton Mill, where the kids can get

Start your day exploring Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve with biscuits and gravy at the Millrace Restaurant inside the Clifton Mill (above).

a look at an operating mill. The general store offers flour and pancake mix still produced at the mill, and the kids can pick treats from an old-style candy counter.

Prices in the adjoining restaurant range from $3.99 to $8.99. A plate of biscuits and gravy can easily be split to save money.

Clifton Mill, Ohio 72 and Water

Street, Clifton, 937-767-5501, www.cliftonmill.com Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, 2331 Ohio 343, Yellow Springs, http://ohiodnr.com/?

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CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009

7

DiscoverFood

Area has a taste all its own –

CINCINNATI

CHILI

BY POLLY CAMPBELL

A

ll across this country, people are eating the same lunch in the same fastfood restaurants that have sprawled everywhere you go. But here in Greater Cincinnati, we’re crazy for a fast food that you can’t find anywhere else, a unique specialty that is “one of the nation’s most distinctive plates of regional food,” as roaming road food writers Jane and Michael Stern say in their upcoming book “500 Things to Eat Before It’s Too Late.” We have Cincinnati-style chili, that improbable culinary creation and emotional fixation on an oval plate.

Other local specialties have spread out from their birthplaces: You don’t need to go to Buffalo to get Buffalo chicken wings, or to Philadelphia for a cheesesteak. But to try a four-way, you mostly have to head to a 50-mile-wide target whose bull’s-eye is probably somewhere near Boudinot and Glenway avenues.

No one else really “gets” it. People from other cities think it’s weird, in fact. How can we call it chili, they snicker, when it’s more the texture of spaghetti sauce, and in fact is ladled over spaghetti?

What’s with the cinnamon?

There are historical answers to those questions.

First, you have to remember that it started as a hot dog sauce. And that its spice palate is not, like Texas chili, Mexican-inspired. It’s Greek. It is a complex, warm spice

Out-of-towners just don’t get it, but we love our chili over a hot dog, spaghetti or even baked potatoes.

blend of cinnamon and cumin and probably coriander and … well, no one knows what else, as every chili recipe is by tradition secret and carefully guarded. The Greek salad you often can get on the side, and the common combination of chili and gyro parlor are the other hints of the chili’s origin.

To be specific, we should say Cincinnati chili is Macedonian. The fathers of Cincinnati chili, the Kiradjieffs, came here from Macedonia, then part of Greece. John and Tom immigrated to New York in 1920, where they sold hot dogs, improving them with a ground-meat sauce they spiced with flavors that were familiar to them from home.

When they moved to Cincinnati in 1922, they opened a little place next to Empress Theater downtown and started serving the sauce on noodles

8 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

THE ENQUIRER

as well as hot dogs. At some point, they added cheese and the optional onions and beans.

Cincinnatians embraced the Kiradjieffs’ invention, and the variations on it from others, such as the Lambrinides and Sarakatsannis and Kostopoulos and Bazoff families.

We haven’t let go since. Chili here is no quaint historical tradition – it is a way of life, or at least a way of lunch.

We have an extraordinary emotional connection to our chili, eating 2 million pounds of it a year, and to our particular brand. If you’re new to this area, a warning: Don’t stand between a Cincinnatian and his or her five-way. You won’t get stampeded; you will simply get walked over – repeatedly, as we travel a well-worn path from our office or home to our favorite parlor, often

several times a week. (We might even pass or drive by one or two others to get to the one we consider “ours,” even if it’s the same chain.

The Clifton Skyline is not the same as one in Anderson Township.)

We devise our own special ways to vary our order beyond the usual three-, four- and five-way by asking for more or less cheese, on the bottom or on the side, or getting creative with the hexagonal crackers that always come with it.

And something you may notice about those out-of-towners who visit or move here and get all snotty about the chili: They come around.

After a few months, you’ll see them with the bib tied on, engaging in arguments about the relative merits of Pleasant Ridge and Price Hill chili, and cutting their spaghetti with a fork.

DiscoverFood

MORE THAN CHILI

Try fitting your mouth around the Hippo from Price Hill Chili.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chili parlors are about more than chili. You’re also likely to find: Double deckers. These are impossibly tall sandwiches with three pieces of toasted white bread that define Cincinnati lunch. There will be two layers of filling. “Ham and hard-boiled egg used to be popular,” said Phillip Bazoff of Park Chili, “but nobody orders that anymore.” Now you can get ham and beef, egg salad and turkey, chicken salad and egg salad or bacon and tomato, among many other combinations. Ham and beef with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise is called a Hippo.

k Cincinnati-style chili is popular in Jordan and throughout the Middle East. The Daoud family, who immigrated here from Jordan and opened Gold Star, also went back to Jordan and opened chili parlors there, including Chili House. You can be in Amman and see photos of Cincinnati on the wall of a restaurant. k The Fourth and Sycamore store is the largest Skyline location. It’s popular for wedding rehearsal dinners and even wedding receptions at midnight. k All chili recipes are proprietary and are locked in a safe or known only to one or two people. It’s easy to detect that there’s cinnamon and other warm spices in most recipes. It’s long been conjectured that chocolate is an ingredient. “It’s not what you think it is,” is all Charlie Howard of Gold Star will say. k Many recipes for making chili at home start with browning the beef.

Wrong – the ground beef is simmered without browning it first. k Early chili parlors were named for theaters.

Empress was next to the Empress Theater, and Provided/Empress Chili when it became the Gaiety Empress Chili, where the legTheater there was a Gaiety end of Cincinnati chili began.

Chili next door. 20th Century Chili was next to the 20th Century Theater in Oakley, and Park Chili in Northside was across from the Park Theater. k Cincinnati has more chili restaurants per capita than any other city. k John Johnson may be the plain American name of Camp Washington Chili’s owner, but his wife’s name is Antigone.

Greek salads. If there was any doubt that Cincinnati chili is a Greek invention, it’s confirmed by the presence of so many Greek salads on chili parlor menus. Usually they’re iceberg lettuce with a few kalamata or ripe black olives, a wedge or two of tomato, cucumber and a sprinkle of feta cheese, maybe with a pepperoncini. Some people’s craving for Skyline’s or Dixie’s Greek salad dressing may be as strong as those for the chili.

York peppermint patties.

They’re at the checkout and are a natural ending to a meal, especially if you’ve gone for a four-way with onion.

If you don’t know, chili by ‘way’ is: Bowl of chili Two-way: Chili on spaghetti Three-way: Chili on spaghetti, with a fluffy toupee of brightorange cheese Four-way bean: Kidney beans between the chili and cheese Four-way onion: Chopped raw onions instead of beans Five-way: All of the above

But those are just the classic combinations. Now you can get chili on: k Burritos k Baked k Salad potatoes k Pizza k Fries

CHILI EATING 101 New to Greater Cincinnati and want to look like you fit in?

Don’t look at the menu. Just order your regular.

Once you’ve gotten used to casually ordering your four-way bean, get more advanced. Try a four-way-bean sloppy inverted. Practice at home first so it sounds like you’ve been ordering it like this all your life.

Or maybe get a coney no mo (no mustard).

Yes, it’s OK to get a three-way and a cheese coney. In fact, it’s one of the most popular orders.

Don’t twirl the spaghetti! Cut it.

Put the oval plate so the narrow end is facing you and work your way front to back Develop a personal style. You might, for instance, take the crackers and carefully arrange them all around the rim of the plate before you dig in.

Make a cracker-bomb appetizer. Using a tiny hole in an oyster cracker, fill it up with hot sauce and pop it in your mouth. Or do it when your friend isn’t looking and sneak it back into their dish.

Bibs are for babies, some say. Others say they’re for people who know what can happen when a piece of noodle covered with chili flips onto your dress or your good tie.

Yes, there are drive-throughs at many chili places. Don’t consider this as a license to eat a five-way with a fork while you drive.

A coney, maybe, but even that’s a little dangerous.

THE ENQUIRER

And some places offer their own six-ways: k With garlic at Dixie k With hot dogs cut up and dotted on the top at some Gold Stars k With jalapenos at Blue Ash And, of course, you’ve always been able to add hot sauce to spice it up.

A new classic that deserves its own place in the “way” lineup is chili dip: A layer of cream cheese topped with chili, onions and cheddar, baked and served with tortilla chips. A few parlors offer this, but mostly it’s made at home with frozen or canned chili and taken to parties.

And you can order: Sloppy or wet: Technically, this means a little more chili juice, but most people think it means more chili – if so, you’ll be charged more Dry: Chili juice drained Inverted: Cheese on the bottom so it melts Cheese on the side: So it doesn’t melt Every pre-schooler’s favorite: Three-way, hold the chili

CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009

9

DiscoverFood

Where to

eat chili

BY POLLY CAMPBELL

The chains Like Avis and Hertz, Coke and Pepsi, or Elder and St. Xavier, Skyline and Gold Star are the two big chili names that rule Greater Cincinnati in a dynamic, eternal faceoff. “When you survey people in Cincinnati, their preference for a chili brand is one of the most strongly held opinions they have,” said Charlie Howard, marketing director for Gold Star. So the question of which one tastes best is not really resolvable, and in the end, probably irrelevant. The best chili place is wherever the waitress knows your name, or wherever your parents took you on Fridays.

Skyline: In this corner, originally from the West Side, is the chain with the most locations (134) and biggest name. It was founded in 1949 by Nicolas Lambrinides in Price Hill, and its view of downtown inspired the name. It’s now, ironically, owned by out-of-towners – an investment group from Rhode Island. But it’s pure Cincinnati, from the bibs to the lightning-fast table service to the Greek salads. To find a location, see www.skylinechili.com Gold Star: In the other corner, the Daoud family and their almost 100 company and franchise stores, is the younger of the two chains, founded in Mount Washington in 1965. The hot dogs are made locally

by Bluegrass Meats, the buns by Klosterman and the chili crackers

by Kroger. You might see their ChiliMobile around town. www.goldstarchili.com Two other chains are smaller, but, of course, have their own loyal fans.

Empress is the original chili parlor. It was opened by the Kiradjieff family next to the Empress Theater downtown in 1922. That location is gone, but there are now 11 locations in Ohio and Kentucky. It’s all still made in the commissary by Sam

Kiradjieff, son of one of the founders. 8340 Vine St., Hartwell, 513761-5599.

Dixie is the Kentucky-based chili chain. Go into the Monmouth store in Newport and play some of the wide selection of country music on the jukebox to get the full experience. They have sandwiches, soup and salads on their menu as well.

One of their signatures: a six-way with chopped garlic. If you want to get a feel for how long chili has been a part of Cincinnati-area foodways, look at the old photos on the wall, showing scenes at Dixie since it started in 1929. For locations: www.dixiechili.com

Craving a three-way or coney at 3 a.m.? You’re not alone, especially on a weekend. Head to Camp Washington Chili to dine retro-style.

The independents Many people think the most authentic experience of Cincinnati chili comes in neighborhood parlors, each with its own recipe.

Neighborhood restaurants tend to have chili as one choice on a much larger menu, which will almost always include double deckers. Even restaurants that aren’t strictly chili parlors often have it on the menu – but this list is of restaurants with chili in their name.

WEST SIDE

Camp Washington Chili: When out-of-towners, like the James Beard Association or Bon Appetit, want to commemorate Cincinnati chili, they almost always gravitate to Camp Washington. It used to be the archetypal chili parlor: a long, narrow room with swivel seats, and owner John Johnson behind the counter more or less every hour of the day and night. When Hopple Street was widened, the original was bulldozed, and Johnson’s daughter, an architect, designed a new building with a retro look.

Camp Washington is open 24 hours a day Monday-Saturday. Breakfast is the thing to get here besides chili.

Johnson’s still there, too. 3005 Colerain Ave., 513-541-0061, www.campwashingtonchili.com Delhi Chili: “When you come in

10 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

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At Dixie Chili, the ways go all the way to six, with garlic as the last ingredient.

At Empress Chili, you can switch it up between a three-way and double decker.

here, everybody pretty much knows everybody else,” said Tom Kostopoulos, who owns this diner with his brother Jim. It was started by their father and uncles in 1963, soon after they arrived from Greece.

There’s chili, as well as home cooking specials like baked chicken, double deckers and other chili parlor staples. 4875 Delhi Pike, Delhi, 513-921-9779 Park Chili: Phillip Bazoff, who owns this Northside neighborhood anchor, says it’s the oldest chili parlor in the same location in Cincinnati. His father, Norman, started it in 1937. His mother, whom the whole neighborhood knew only as “Mom,” presided over it for years, earning the respect of teenagers and kids who hung out there. They were

serving double-decker hamburgers before Big Boy, and their breakfast mess has been on the menu since the ’60s. 4160 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-9902 Price Hill Chili: Probably the most famous of the independent parlors, Price Hill Chili is a major West Side institution. It’s ground zero for West Side high school sports fans, particularly if they wear Elder purple. Their menu goes well beyond chili, with breakfast for after Mass, their famous doubledecker ham and roast beef “Hippo,” a full dinner menu and a full bar and lounge. 4920 Glenway Ave., Price Hill, 513-471-9407 Sam’s Chili: Sam started his chili parlor downtown in 1967 and moved it to Price Hill in 1980. The

DiscoverFood

For many families, stopping at a chili parlor is a way to enjoy a quick meal where everyone can find something they like.

Chili Time: A true Cincinnatian may get the urge to eat chili any time of day or night. Fortunately, several parlors are open late, including this institution that’s served St. Bernard since 1963. It’s open 22 hours a day, from 6 a.m.-4 a.m. (though they don’t open until 9 on Sunday). They sell a lot of breakfast, too, and the usual menu of burgers and double-deckers. 4727 Vine St., St. Bernard, 513-641-1130 Blue Ash Chili: Spicy chili is naturally good with beer, but most chili parlors don’t serve alcohol.

Blue Ash Chili does. Probably even better known for its gigantic double deckers than its chili, Blue Ash Chili is opening a second location in Mason. 9565 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, 513-984-6107 Pleasant Ridge Chili: This neighborhood icon with the retro neon sign is open from 9 in the morning to the wee hour of 4:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday, so you know it’s seen a lot since it opened in 1964. If you don’t feel like chili, they’re also famous for their French fries smothered with gravy and cheese, and a variety of pies. 6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, 513-531-2365

KENTUCKY

NORTH

Covington Chili: It’s been there since the 1930s, more or less unchanged. Gyros, too, and breakfast all day. 707 Madison Ave., 859261-6066 Gourmet Chili: Want to smoke with your chili? Here you can, or wake up with a cheap breakfast and coffee. Gyros, double deckers and burgers. 843 Monmouth St., Newport, 859-491-9022

Mike’s Chili and Gyros: Mike’s started as a chili and gyros stand, but now it’s more like a diner, where you can order anything from Greek dishes like spanakopita and baklava to Philly cheesesteaks, cakes and dinner specials like grilled fish. 2045 S. Erie Blvd.

(Ohio 4), Fairfield 513-737-6666; 194 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamilton, 513-737-6777

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EAST SIDE

giant potted plants are 26 years old, giving the small dining room a bit of a jungle feel. Here’s a mystery: Sam owns the place but the hamburgers are called Joe burgers.

Joe’s the guy who makes them.

3900 Glenway Ave., 513-471-8671 U.S. Chili: They make their own goetta and grind their breakfast sausage here. You can start your day with it as early as 5:15 a.m. They also make their own gyro meat, and of course, their personal brand of chili. 2965 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, 513-541-4665 West Side Chili: West Side got its start manufacturing a chili starter mix, sold in grocery stores. In 2007, it expanded into this cozy space, which feels more like a café than a chili parlor, with a striking wall painting of Union Terminal and a nicely fixed-up ladies’ room.

The original mix is the basis of five varieties of chili: regular and vegetarian in regular or spicy, and TexMex. The vegetarian, made with soy “meat,” is on the sweet side, but if you haven’t had the real thing in awhile, it may satisfy the cravings left over from your meat-eating days. Also: a drive-through and beer and wine. 6520 Glenway Ave., Green Township, 513-574-0999

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DiscoverFood

BY POLLY CAMPBELL

R

estaurants come and go, but there are many in the Greater Cincinnati area that have been serving customers for 20 years or longer.

With a track record like that, you know a restaurant’s doing something right.

The Brandywine Inn: The building is from the 1850s and was once a stagecoach stop. The restaurant is from 1981, when George and Doris Bernas refurbished the interior (including hardwood floors George fashioned from trees he cut down himself) and began serving classic French food. George, the chef, does things in a stubbornly classic way, mining the traditions of French cookery for sauces and techniques, though his offerings have kept up with the times. He makes bread and stock and puff pastry from scratch.

He has prix-fixe dinners, with the menu changing each month, as well as a short a la carte menu. Three or four courses will cost about $35.

Doris is the main server, and dinner here should be a leisurely evening, with good wine in the traditionally furnished dining rooms. 204 S. Main St., Monroe, 513-539-8911, www.brandywineofmonroe.com Houston Inn: Two things come to mind when this Mason restaurant is mentioned: its huge salad bar and its famous fried frog legs. The restaurant’s success was built on frog legs, which were a novelty when Lou Eves started serving them about a year after buying the restaurant in 1969 (it had been there since 1953). Nowadays, he downplays the frog legs, emphasizing a menu of comfort-food standards such as prime rib, pork ribs, and liver and onions. But he still sells about 300 pounds of frog legs a week. The legs come from China or Bangladesh, and they are battered and fried like chicken (taste like chicken, too). No matter what you get, it starts with the famous 54-item salad bar, which includes ambrosia, okra, pickled beets, deviled eggs and mashed potato salad. 4026 U.S. 42, Mason, 513-398-7377, www. froglegking.com Laszlo’s Iron Skillet: Laszlo Molnar, chef/owner of this Hungarian-European-American restaurant in Newtown, along with his sister Monica Lippmeier, has an eclectic approach to his menu. From fried

A tradition of taste

In the mood for Italian? Try the cannelloni Lombardi, green fettuccine a la Pasquale or rolled lasagna at Scotti’s, a true Cincinnati classic.

chicken to goulash to seasonal menus with dishes like truffled potato soup, the offerings range widely. But if you ask a frequent customer what’s good here, you’ll probably hear “the best schnitzel in town.” They make schnitzel from scratch, and in many varieties: jager schnitzel with red wine and mushrooms, Holstein schnitzel with fried egg and anchovies, Hungarian with sour cream and paprika.

Molnar These items have been on the menu since Molnar’s father, also Laszlo, opened the restaurant in 1973. He emigrated from Hungary after the uprising against the Soviets in 1956. The décor of

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the restaurant is all Hungarian, and the goulash and Hungarian crepes are good, but if you get a chance at a special menu from the current Molnar, they’re always worth trying, too. 6900 Valley Ave., Newtown, 513-561-6776 Scotti’s: Scotti’s is a true classic – there’s no other restaurant like it, and no restaurant in the area that has a longer history with the same family. Founded by the DiMarcos in 1912, it’s been in its location on Vine Street. since 1953. The crazyquilt tiled walls and the raffiawrapped wine bottles hanging from the ceiling or holding candles on the table may not have been there quite that long, though they look like it. The cash register dates from the 1940s and goes up to only $5, so a $100 sale has to be rung up 20

times. “It’s a piece of junk, but I’m not getting rid of it. People love it,” said Marco DiMarco, who runs the restaurant with his brother and sister, Pat and Rina. They don’t scare people or yell at them for cutting their spaghetti with a knife, like their grandmother and great aunt did for years, but there’s a certain briskness to their manner and a lot of joking with each other and regulars as they serve classic Italian dishes like cannelloni Lombardi, green fettuccine a la Pasquale, rolled lasagna a la Don Giovanni and a long list of veal dishes. It’s like Cincinnati’s Little Italy. Open for lunch and dinner. 919 Vine St., Downtown, 513-721-9484 Orchids at Palm Court, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza: Bing Crosby used to like to make an entrance up the grand staircase to the Netherland Plaza when he was in town, and Doris Day made her professional debut in the hotel’s nightclub. Orchids is situated in what once was the grand lobby, and there is no grander room in the city.

Paintings on the ceiling show French lords and ladies dallying in pastoral landscapes, with the outline of the Carew Tower in the background of each one. The grand setting dictates the style of food and service at Orchids, the hotel’s finedining restaurant. The menu is contemporary and luxurious, with a seemingly endless display of creativity from chef Todd Kelly. There are also Sunday brunch buffets and lunch served in The Palm Court. 35 W. Fifth St., Downtown, 513-4219100, www.orchidsatpalmcourt.com

Try the dinner version of steak and eggs by Orchids at Palm Court.

DiscoverFood

Dine & be seen The Rookwood Bar & Restaurant: The Rookwood could go on a list of both historic restaurant spots ou like to be familiar with in Cincinnati and of trendy restauall the latest restaurants in rants. Housed in a Cincinnati histown? Here are some that torical treasure, the former studio have opened recently with and factory of Rookwood Pottery, modern, trendy food, décor and it recently has been refurbished customers. and freshened. Take a table in a Bootsy’s produced by Jeff Ruby: former kiln and order from the caThis nightclub and restaurant sual menu: goat cheese and apple downtown does it all: drinks, topsalad, an Erkenbrecher burger, notch sushi, tapas and entrees insliced lamb sandwich or fried spired by Spanish and Latin Amerchicken. 1077 Celestial St., Mount ican cuisine. One thing it doesn’t Adams, 513-421-5555, www.the have is Jeff Ruby’s signature rookwood.com steaks. (For those, go to one of his Café Mediterranean: Suburban other four restaurants in town.)

Anderson Township is not the cenThe atmosphere is outrageously ter of trendy dining in Greater Cinglitzy, and Bootsy Collins, Cincincinnati, but this restaurant in Annati’s flashiest-dressing celebrity, derson Towne Center offers such a often hangs out on the weekend. fresh and refined version of MidTry the fish dle Eastern tacos, ropa food that vieja, braised it’s worth pork belly or seeking paella Vaout. It’s in lenciana. 631 a gracious Walnut St., setting Downtown, with excel513-241lent serv0707, ice; try www.jeff lamb keruby.com babs, vine Basilico: leafThis is the wrapped only certisalmon or fied organic Sink into the cushy pillows at NuVo for a the swordrestaurant in pork tenderloin with black truffle gnocchi. fish kebabs the Midwest, served on a lemony arugula salad. and one of a handful in the counEnd with baklava and tiny cups of try. It serves a simple but sophistidark, sweet Turkish coffee, if you cated menu of fresh Italian and dare. 7454 Beechmont Ave., AnLatin American dishes in a clean, derson Twp., 513-232-2400 modern setting in Mason. There Nada: Featuring modern, deliare plenty of choices for everyone, cious Mexican food, Nada is in a whether you eat organic or not: paglam spot downtown next to the nini, delicious homemade ravioli, Aronoff Center for the Arts. and mushroom crepes. 6176 TyWhether you sit downstairs or outlersville Road, Mason, 513-492side in the best patio downtown, or 9519, www.basilico-organic.com climb the stairs to the comfortable NuVo: With artfully served conupstairs room where you can obtemporary cuisine created from as serve the scene through soaring many local ingredients as the chef windows, you’re always part of a can procure, this is a real foodie’s happening scene. Killer margaritas restaurant. The menu changes freand other Mexican-inspired drinks quently and might include duck start a meal that could include maconfit enchiladas and pork tenderhi-mahi tacos, pork and green chiloin with celeriac root, braised le stew or salmon Veracruz. 600 greens and mustard seed vinaiS. Walnut St., Downtown, 513-721grette. 527 York St., Newport, 8596232, www.eatdrinknada.com 261-1222, www.dinenuvo.com

BY POLLY CAMPBELL

Y

Elena Page of Mason shares a “Lady and the Tramp” moment with daughter Belle at Basilico, the Midwest’s only certified organic restaurant.

A sliced lamb sandwich at The Rookwood in Mount Adams.

Try the lamb and seafood at Café Mediterranean in Anderson.

Put on your big sunglasses and head to Bootsy’s, the new restaurant and nightclub downtown produced by Jeff Ruby.

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CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009 13

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The Health Alliance system includes University Hospital, Jewish Hospital, Fort Hamilton Hospital, Drake Center, West Chester Medical Center and the physicians of Alliance Primary Care an affiliate practices.

University Hospital University Hospital has provided the Greater Cincinnati region, the nation and even the world with high-quality compassionate care, cutting-edge research and education for over 183 years. It serves more than 500,000 patients each year with primary care services and an extensive list of specialized inpatient and outpatient care services.

The Endocrinology and Urology programs at University Hospital have ranked in the top 50 programs in the nation for eight consecutive years. It is home to the area’s only adult Level I Trauma Center, accredited helicopter ambulance service and multi-solid organ transplant center. Solucient, the nation’s leading source of healthcare information, consistently ranks the hospital in U.S. News & World Report’s annual guide to America’s Best Hospitals and as one of the Top Heart Hospitals in the United States.

Jewish Hospital In 2006, Evanston, Ill.-based Solucient, the nation’s leading source of healthcare information products, named Jewish Hospital one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals in the teaching hospitals category. This distinctive honor is bestowed upon just 100 hospitals every year, recognizing excellence in health care.

Jewish Hospital was the first hospital in Southwest Ohio to perform open-heart surgery in a suburban location.

This program now has more than 35 years of experience. Its Joint Replacement Center is an international leader in orthopedic services, and opened the world’s first computer-assisted operating room for orthopedic surgery in 2005. The hospital was also the first in the region to perform Birmingham Hip Resurfacing, a remarkable new alternative to total hip replacement for younger, active patients. The Jewish Hospital Joint Replacement Center performs more total joint surgeries than any other hospital in Greater Cincinnati.

Jewish Hospital also has the only adult bone marrow transplant program in the Tristate. The hospital is among the nation’s best in this field, participating in advanced clinical trials as well as providing new chances at life for patients with leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a host of other diseases. The bone marrow transplant program received accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). FACT accredits bone marrow transplant programs that have demonstrated an exceptional level of quality patient care.

Drake Center Drake Center Inc. is a not-for-profit long-term acute care hospital. Drake provides specialized medical and rehabilitative care, including specialties in spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation, as well as pulmonary care/ventilator weaning, advanced wound care and other complex medical conditions.

Drake Center recently earned a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation programs. This achievement represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to CARF standards. Drake also holds certification from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Fort Hamilton Hospital Since its humble beginning more than 75 years ago, Fort Hamilton Hospital has operated with the single focus of meeting the health-related needs of the community. In order to better serve its growing population, Butler County has recently completed construction of a state-of-the-art intensive care unit (ICU) to enable patients to receive even better medical care close to home.

Fort Hamilton has also added cutting-edge healthcare technology to improve its emergency services and begun enhancing many key outpatient ancillary and diagnostic testing services. Patients will be able to easily access improved radiology, women’s health, and cardiac, vascular and surgical services from a new north entrance. Many other innovative changes are scheduled to be completed within the next year and a half, including technological upgrades and larger, renovated spaces.

West Chester Medical Center

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CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009 15

DiscoverFun

To see the outdoors,

SADDLE UP

BY ANDREA REMKE

A

re you a nature lover, an animal lover, or a thrill seeker – or maybe all three? Then horseback riding could be the perfect activity for you.

You don’t need experience or a background in horses, just an interest in having fun, horse enthusiasts say.

In addition to local 4-H riding clubs in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, there are a number of local stables that offer horseback riding lessons and available trails for beginning, average or advanced riders.

A good place to start is the Northern Kentucky Horse Network – a nonprofit collaboration of the state’s cooperative extension serv-

bles in Ohio, said first-time riders ice, horse owners and businesses. take it one step at a time there.

Network representative Anna “We make sure you have some Zinkhon said the group, which has comfort level,” he said. more than 200 members, offers edWisbey, a former thoroughbred ucation, information and experitrainer, grew up around horses beences for those interested in the cause his father horse industry. was a trainer, too.

“We connect ‘You get a certain They have 28 people to horse resources,” Zinkhon satisfaction out of it. horses and 50 miles of scenic said, including lessons, boarding, It gets in your blood … trails.

East Fork oftraining, veterinarit’s a way of life fers lessons, sumians and more. for some people.’ mer camps and Zinkhon, who parties, and also runs Misty Ridge Ken Armstrong works with speFarm in Campbell cial-needs children.

County, said the first priority is to “We specialize in defensive ridlearn to ride a horse.

No matter your skill level, riders ing skills” to prevent accidents, he said. need to become at ease on a horse.

Sean Fox, co-owner of the George Wisbey, who with his Northern Kentucky Horse Center, wife, Judy, operates East Fork Sta-

16 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

THE ENQUIRER

Looking for something different and fun to do? Head to one of the many riding centers around town, like this one in Winton Woods.

has about 35 horses and operates on more than 250 acres. About 400 people a year come for lessons, boarding and trails, as well as birthday parties and summer day camps.

“Our goal is to make horseback riding accessible and affordable,” Fox said.

It varies with every stable, but the average cost for a lesson is about $35 an hour – or $60 an hour for a private lesson. Riders range from toddlers up to people in their 70s.

Geri MacMillan’s daughter Ali, 16, has been taking lessons twice a week at the Horse Center. She is on the show team and helps at the stables on the weekend.

“Everyone there is friendly and helps her achieve her goals,” the Union mother said. “They’re like family.”

DiscoverFun Pam Cornett, owner of 3-C Farm Horsemanship School in Morrow, has been in the horse business for 45 years. “The more you learn as a rider, the more you can do,” she said.

“The sky is the limit here.”

Cornett said riders get confidence in themselves and find companionship with others.

Green Tree Riding Stables owner Ken Armstrong said horseback riding can be a fun challenge for people.

“You get a certain satisfaction out of it,” he said. “It gets in your blood … it’s a way of life for some people.”

Riding can be just what you need for body and mind, said

Stephanie England-Grey, owner of Little Britain Stables in Burlington.

“Exercise, self-esteem, a sense of responsibility and camaraderie” are among the benefits of riding and being with the horses, she said.

England-Grey said children as young as 2 years old can begin to ride. She’s learned a lot about horseback riding in her 30 years in the business. From training toddlers to ride or helping teens compete in horse shows each year, there’s personal satisfaction that comes with being around horses, she said.

Marsha Mangine of Union

has taken her daughter Angela, 12, to Little Britain Stables for many years. Mangine, a physical therapist, said the lessons started when her daughter was 4, to correct a hip problem.

“Three horses and a pony later, she’s still riding,” she said.

Angela, who attends St. Paul School in Florence, is at the barn four or five days a week.

She owns two show horses and has ridden in two world championships.

“She’d rather be in the barn than anywhere else,” Mangine said. “From cleaning stalls to grooming the horses, she loves everything about it.”

Explore nature from horseback at A.J. Jolly Park, one of six public trails in our region.

Where to ride Ohio

3-C Farm Horsemanship School, 3783 E. Foster Maineville Road, Morrow; lessons, trails; 513-899-2730; www.3Cfarmhorsemanship school.com Branch Hill Farm, 9974 S. Ohio 48, Loveland; lessons; 513-248-0330; www.branch hillfarm.com Camargo Stables Co., 8605 Shawnee Run Road, Indian Hill; lessons; 513-561-8101 Dancing Horse Farm, 4080 Weisenberger Road, Lebanon; lessons, training; 513-9330343; www.dancinghorse farmoh.com Derbyshire Stables, 7730 Camp Road, Camp Dennison; lessons, camps, training; 513-675-1547; www .derbyshirestables.com Dyas Farm, 2251 Ohio 28, Goshen Township; lessons; 513-625-1317; www.watsonqh.com East Fork Stables and Trail, 2215 Snyder Road, Batavia Township; lessons; 513-7977433; www.eastforkstables .net Green Tree Stables, 6322 Greentree Road, Middletown; lessons; 513-424-7126 Hamilton County Park District (Winton Woods Riding Center), 10073 Daly Road;

lessons, trails; 513-9313057; www.greatparks.org Lochmoor Stables, 1834 Oregonia Road, Lebanon; hunter/jumper lessons, summer camps; 513-932-7332; www.lochmoorstables.com Poplar Creek Horse Center, 3400 Macedonia Road, Tate Township; lessons, training; 513-734-2500; www.poplar creekfarm.com

Kentucky

Airview Farms and Stables, 5861 Woolper Road, Petersburg; boarding, lessons, hay sales; 859-586-0419 Briarwood Farm, 6520 East Bend Road, Burlington; lessons, training; 859-5868732 Cross Ridge Farm, 12574 Andrews Road, Walton; 859-485-4518 Double H Ranch, 8040 Howe Road, Burlington; lessons, training, trails; 859586-1399 First Farm Inn, 2510 Stevens Road, Petersburg; lessons, trails; 859-586-0199; www.firstfarminn.com Intrepid Farms, 12637 Dixie Highway, Walton; lessons, training, summer camp; 859-653-7826 Johnny Walker Stables, 5276 Bullittsville Road, Bur-

lington; lessons; 859-6892600 Little Britain Stables, 5309 Idlewild Road, Burlington; lessons, training, trails, camps; 859-586-7990 Lookout Hills Farm, 3300 Burlington Pike, Burlington; lessons, camps; 859-5865950; www.lookouthills.com Misty Ridge Farm, 5210 Owl Creek Road, Camp Springs; lessons; 859-781-5779; www.mistyridgefarm.com Northern Kentucky Horse Center, 13463 Poole Road, Verona; lessons, trails, camps; 859-485-6542; www.nkyhorse.com Robin Hill Farm, 1005 Stephenson Mill Road, Walton; lessons, trails; 859-4851493; www.robinhillfarm.net Saddlelake Equestrian Center, 2369 Nelson Road, Melbourne; training, lessons; 859-635-3773 Sandy Run Stables, 1234 North Bend Road, Hebron; lessons, trails; 859-6897833 Steppin’ Hi Stables Inc., 12405 Hutton Drive, Richwood; lessons, trails; 859485-4654 Note: Also contact the Northern Kentucky Horse Network at www.nkyhorsenetwork .com.

THE ENQUIRER

Experienced riders have more options

Experienced riders, especially those with their own horse, have more options.

Most stables will board horses for a monthly fee, which varies, but is around $150 for boarding only. Training and access to a riding track, trails or other amenities may cost extra.

If you just need a place to ride, there are a handful of public trails across the region: A.J. Jolly Park, off Ky. 27 south of Alexandria; 859-625-4423; www.campbellcounty.ky.gov/ countyservices/parks Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 E. Ohio 73, Waynesville; 513897-3055; www.heartofohio.com/ caesarcreekstatepark.htm East Fork State Park, 3294 Elklick Road, Bethel; 513-734-4323; www.heartofohio.com/eastfork statepark.htm Hueston Woods State Park, 5201 Lodge Road, College Corner; 513523-6347; www.heartofohio.com/ huestonwoodsstatepark.htm Middlecreek Park Trails, 5501 Middlecreek Road, Burlington.

859-334-2117, www.boone countyky.org/parks/ParkInfo/ MiddleCreek Ryland Heights Wilderness Trail, 9411 Locust Pike, Covington.

859-363-7707

CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009 17

DiscoverFun Get your thrills on the Racer, or Kings Island’s newest coaster, Diamondback.

Now that’s

Provided

entertainment!

T

here are plenty of great attractions in our region, from a day watching the ducks to a few hours riding a duck. Next time someone whines that there’s nothing to do, pull out this list and head out the door for a day of fun.

Argosy Casino and Hotel: The riverboat casino offers more than 2,600 slot machines and 70 gaming tables in its three-deck facility, which can accommodate more than 4,000 passengers. There’s a multilevel entertainment pavilion that’s home to restaurants, bars, lounges and a 300-room recently remodeled hotel with free Wi-Fi. Hours: Open 24 hours daily. Admission: Free.

777 Argosy Parkway, Lawrenceburg; 888-274-6797; www. argosy.com/cincinnati BB Riverboats: BB Riverboats has been a staple of the local river-

front for more than 25 years. Its cruises are more than boat trips – they’re a chance to learn about the history of the river, enjoy a meal or dance under the stars. BB Riverboats offers a variety of cruises ranging from lunch and dinner trips to sightseeing jaunts and all-day excursions. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 101 Riverboat Row, Newport; 859-261-8500; www.bbriver boats.com The Beach Waterpark: The Beach has real palm trees, sand, Ohio’s largest stand-alone waterpark and 51 water rides. In July and August, there’s Surf Rock Friday evenings, Hot Salsa Sounds Saturday afternoons and Reggae Fest Sunday afternoons. For the Christmas season, Holiday Fest features a live Nativity scene, ice skating and other favorites. This year’s season begins May 16. Hours: Opens at 10 a.m.; closing times vary. Admission: $27.99; $10.50 children 48 inches and shorter and senior citizens; free for ages 2 and younger. 2590 Water Park Drive, Mason; 513-

18 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

THE ENQUIRER

398-7946; www.thebeachwater park.com Belterra Casino Resort & Spa: The 38,000-square-foot riverboat casino features 1,700 slot machines and more than 45 table games. The property has six restaurants and a hotel with 608 rooms. It also features a premium day spa and a Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course. Hours: Open 24 hours daily.

Admission: Free. 777 Belterra Drive, Belterra; 888-235-8377; www.belterracasino.com Big Bone Lick State Park: The park, named after the warm salt springs that once attracted herds of giant mastodons, wooly mammoths, ground sloths and other prehistoric visitors, bills itself as “the birthplace of American vertebrate paleontology.” Fossilized animal remains were discovered in 1739, and many of them are on display in Big Bone Lick Museum. But this park also offers much to do outdoors with hiking trails, a 7.5-acre lake, picnic and camping areas, and facilities for tennis, volleyball, basket-

Test your luck at Belterra Casino, and celebrate your big win with dinner and a round of golf.

ball, softball, horseshoes and miniature golf. Hours: Dawn to dusk daily. Admission: Free. 3380 Beaver Road, Union; 859-384-3522; http://parks.ky.gov Boone County Arboretum at Central Park: Boone County Arboretum at Central Park is the nation’s first arboretum within an active recreational park setting. Its 121 acres have more than 2,700 trees and shrubs. Its collection includes spe-

DiscoverFun cialized arrangements of plant families and obscure selections rarely observed by the public. All this can be viewed while strolling along miles of paved walking trails that wind through woodland settings and athletic fields. The arboretum has a children’s garden and a wildlife viewing area, and horticulture classes are taught on site. Hours: Dawn to dusk daily. Admission: Free. 9190 Camp Ernst Road, Union; 859-384-4999; www.bc arboretum.org Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: With 510 animal species and 3,000 plant varieties, the zoo attracts more than 1.2 million visitors annually. Open since 1875, the zoo is the second-oldest in the United States. It has been designated Cincinnati’s top tourist attraction and one of the top five zoos in the country by Zagat Survey. Special celebrations take place year-round, including Zoo Babies in the spring, HallZOOween in the fall and Festival of Lights in the winter. Newly opened is Giraffe Ridge, where guests can feed a giraffe. Also new is the Special FX 4-D Theater that puts a whole new twist on shows such as Wild Earth Africa and Planet Earth. Hours: Vary depending on season; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission: $13; $9 ages 2 to 12 and ages 62 and older. 3400 Vine St., Avondale; 800-944-4776; www.cincy zoo.org Coney Island: The roots of this entertainment facility date to 1870, when it was rented for private picnics. Today, the site features a vari-

ety of activities and shows. Primary junction.com Gorman Heritage Farm: This among them is Sunlite Pool, which 120-acre historic homestead, with was built in 1925 and – at 200 feet some buildings dating to 1835, lets wide and 401 feet long and with a capacity of 3 million gallons of wa- visitors experience a working farm.

Guests also can take in the scenery ter – is the world’s largest recircuwith a relaxing stroll on the trails. lating swimming pool. Coney Island also has water slides and many The farm includes wooded areas, a former Indian classic amusement trail, a freshpark rides. New ONLINE water spring, a this year is the creek for millwaterslide TwistFor up-to-the minute listings, ing operations, er, Coney’s first go to Cincinnati.Com. Search: crop fields and major addition in calendar a cutting gar30 years. Visiden. Special tors also can ride Many of these locations offer events, such as in pedal boats on a discount if you purchase Civil War batLake Como, entickets on their Web sites. For tle re-enactjoy live shows at those and other deals, check ments, often Lakeside Pavilout the “Deals I’ve Spotted” are scheduled, ion, dance to live forum under “Talk” at and there are music at MoonCincinnati.MomsLikeMe.com. demonstrations lite Gardens, or play miniature golf and a variety of arcade games.

Picnic facilities also are available.

Hours: Vary; mostly 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Memorial Day to Labor Day. Admission: $21.95; $10.95 ages 2 and 3. 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township; 513-232-8230; www. coneyislandpark.com EnterTRAINment Junction: Features 80,000 square feet of trainthemed fun, including the world’s largest indoor train display, a children’s play area, a railroad museum, and a chance to engineer your own locomotive around a track in a hand-cranked railroad car. Hours: Vary. Admission: $12.95; $11.50 seniors; $9.95 ages 3-12. 7379 Squire Court, West Chester; 513898-8000; www.entertrainment

and classes for both children and adults, covering subjects ranging from wildlife to gardening to beekeeping. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission: $5; $3 ages 3 to 17; free for ages 3 and younger; special event prices vary. 10052 Reading Road, Evendale; 513-563-6663; www.gormanfarm.org Grand Victoria Casino: A variety of table games and more than 1,400 slot machines are offered at this dockside casino and resort.

There’s also a 200-room hotel, a pool, a health club and several dining options, including a deli, a buffet and a sit-down steakhouse.

Nearby is Southern Indiana’s only Scottish links-style golf course.

Check out the elephants at the second-oldest zoo in the United States, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, featuring 510 animal species and 3,000 plant varieties.

Free valet parking. Hours: Open 24 hours daily. Admission: Free. 600 Grand Victoria Drive, Rising Sun, Ind.; 800-472-6311; www.grand victoria.com Kings Island: This park encompasses seven themed areas, including two designed for small children.

There are more than 80 rides, shows and attractions. The park is well known for its roller coasters, especially the Beast, the world’s longest wooden coaster. New this year is Diamondback, featuring a 215-foot first drop and speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour with a splash-down landing. For the youngsters, there’s Nickelodeon Universe, which has 18 rides and attractions featuring popular characters. Boomerang Bay, an Aussiethemed water park, offers a chance to cool off. Seasonal events are held in the fall and winter. Hours: Vary; typically 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission: General admission (ages 3-61, 48 inches and taller) $47.99; general admission junior/senior (ages 3 and under, under 48 inches tall; ages 62 and up) $31.99; best prices available online. 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason; 800-288-0808; www.visitkingisland.com Krohn Conservatory: This nationally recognized conservatory, located in Eden Park, is home to more than 3,500 species of plants from all over the world. Permanent displays show plants in their natural settings, ranging from a desert-type environment to a rainforest-like atmosphere with a 20-foot waterfall.

Special events are held throughout Please see next page

Let your imagination soar at EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester, featuring many kinds of train-themed fun.

THE ENQUIRER

CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009 19

DiscoverFun Continued from previous page

the year, including floral displays and Cooking with Krohn, a program in which area chefs and horticulturalists combine to create a special culinary experience. One of the most popular programs at the conservatory is the annual Butterfly Show, in which thousands of the colorful creatures fly freely in the facility’s showroom. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: Free; special event prices vary. 2100 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park; 513421-5707; www.cincinnatiparks .com Lebanon, Mason & Monroe Railroad: These nostalgic train rides, which depart from Lebanon Station and travel along the original Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern Railroad line, offer the experience of travel from days gone by. The trains have restored 1950s GP-7 diesel-electric locomotives, commuter coaches built in 1930 and an open gondola car on the rear. Special rides are offered, including many themes for children and mystery motifs for adults. Hours: Vary.

Admission: Varies. 127 South Mechanic St., Lebanon; 513-9338022; www.lebanonrr.com Loveland Castle: Sir Harry Andrews built this castle on a bank along the Little Miami River, stone by stone, beginning in 1929. It hosts events year-round, including a haunted castle in October. There also are picnic facilities, games and tours. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through September; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends November through March. Admission: $3; special event prices vary. 12025 Shore Road, Loveland; 513-683-4686; www.lovelandcastle.com Newport Aquarium: Newport Aquarium, which opened in May 1999, showcases more than 7,000 aquatic creatures from around the globe in a million gallons of water.

Featuring a 385,000-gallon shark tank, a coral reef and a rainforest environment, it was named the No. 1 aquarium in the Midwest in Zagat Survey’s U.S. Family Travel Guide in 2004. This state-of-the-art facility puts visitors close to the action, leading them through 200 feet of underwater tunnels, over seethrough floors and past walkaround exhibits. An 8,000-gallon display, complete with icy cliffs, puts penguins on center stage while guests take in the show on theater-

Watch a joust or have a pint with a knight at the Ohio Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg, weekends in September and October.

Take a pony ride and even feed a steer at Parky’s Farm in Winton Woods.

After your animal adventures, head inside Parky’s PlayBarn for more fun.

style seating. Hours: Vary; typically through Oct. 25 and Labor Day. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $20; Admission: $19.99; $9.99 ages 5 to $13 ages 2 to 12; free 2 and youn12; free ages 4 and younger. Ohio ger. 1 Aquarium Way, Newport; 73, Harveysburg; 513-897-7000; 859-261-7444; www.newport www.ren aquarium.com festival.com Ohio Renaissance Ozone Zipline AdFestival: This annuventures: Beginning al event recreates a May 23, Ozone Zi16th-century Enpline Adventures glish village on its offers visitors a 30-acre site. Hunchance to soar 170 dreds of costumed feet over the Little performers provide Miami River Valley an authentic atmoat speeds up to 40 sphere and roughly mph during its canopy 100 shows each day, tour, the largest of its including jousting bat- Get up close and person- kind in the Midwest. tles by knights on al with winged creatures Riders must weigh at horseback. Dining at Krohn Conservatory’s least 70 pounds and no choices abound, with more than 250. Hours: Butterfly Show. such authentic fare as Vary, but Ozone exroasted turkey legs, fresh-baked pects to be open seven days a week bread, stews, fish and chips and April through December. Admissteaks offered. Beer and wine also sion: $75 per person; with children are available. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 6 half-price Tuesdays and Thursdays. p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 5 Other discounts available. 5291

20 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

THE ENQUIRER

State Route 350, Oregonia; 513932-3756; www.ozonezips.org Parky’s Farm: Located in Winton Woods, this 100-acre demonstration farm includes animals, orchards, gardens and fields of crops.

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m.

Sunday in spring and autumn; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m.

Sunday in summer. Admission: Pony rides, Parky’s PlayBarn, wagon rides $2.50 each; plus $5 annual parking permit. 10073 Daly Road, Springfield Township; 513-5217275; www.cincinnatiparks.com Ride the Ducks Newport: Ride the Ducks Newport offers tours in amphibious vehicles through downtown Cincinnati and Newport. The 40-minute tour – more than half of which is spent in the water – includes such sites as the Roebling Suspension Bridge, the Serpentine Wall and Great American Ball Park. Hours: Vary. Admission: $15; $11 children; free for ages 2 and younger. 1 Aquarium Way, Newport; 859-815-1439; www.newportducks.com Wolff Planetarium: Located in Burnet Woods, Wolff Planetarium can seat 20 people under its 12-foot dome to view stars in all seasons and all latitudes. Audience participation is encouraged. Hours: Vary.

Admission: Varies. 3400 Brookline Drive, Cincinnati; 513-321-6070; www.cincinnatiparks.com

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21

DiscoverShopping

Pick up a treasure at bountiful

antiques fairs

BY BRENT COLEMAN

M

any of Ohio’s 200-year-old towns are teeming with treasures: old stuff out of kitchens, dining rooms and parlors that pre-dated electricity; fine, locally crafted furniture, frames and architectural pieces salvaged from Victorian houses; and newer collectibles, including 20th-century toys, tableware, clothing, jewelry, hardware, books and so on.

And the beauty of it is, many of these antiques are for sale – at prices significantly lower than on either of the coasts.

Spring, summer and fall make up the antiquing season in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Sure, you can shop antiques stores and malls year-round, but the real deals are found at the outdoor shows held at fairgrounds throughout the area. From just about anywhere in the region, three well-established antiques markets are within a 90-minute drive, in Burlington, Lawrenceburg and Springfield.

Burlington Located at the Boone County Fairgrounds (5819 Ky. 338, Burlington), this sprawling show draws as many as 250 dealers every third Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. during “the season” (April-October).

Pretty much everything sold here predates 1970, though some crafty folks make new items out of old materials and sprinkle them throughout their booths.

The show used to draw some European antiques dealers, but now most of the tables and shelves set up by sellers are filled with pieces of Americana, from delicate doilies and historical papers to still-working 150-year-old rifles and carpentry tools.

Hard-core antique collectors arrive as early as 6 a.m., flashlights in hand, to reap early-bird rewards.

They have to pay $2 more than the $3 entrance fee for the privilege.

There’s plenty of parking inside the gate, and some booths are under cover. If it’s sure to rain, however, this is not the place to be, despite the fairgrounds’ improved and more prolific pavement.

This year’s remaining shows are May 17, June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 20 and Oct. 18. For informa-

Boone County Fairgrounds is a hot spot for antiques shopping every third Sunday from April through October. The show draws up to 250 dealers and early-bird shoppers arrive at 6 a.m. with flashlights.

tion on the show, contact manager Tony Pham at 513-922-6847 or go to www.burlingtonantiqueshow .com.

Lawrenceburg OK, this Indiana show’s name is the Tri-State Antique Market, but everyone refers to it by its location: Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds on U.S. 50, a short drive off Interstate 275 just before it crosses over the Ohio River.

Put on by Queen City Shows (they also do the 20th Century Cincinnati show in February and the Ohio Country Antiques Show in Wilmington Oct. 17), this show feels a little smaller than Burlington’s because it is more compact.

The inventory – none of which is supposed to be newer than 30 years old but most of which is way older – runs from primitive to midcentury modern.

One thing Lawrenceburg has over its Kentucky kin show is quality food. The aroma of kettle corn prevails near the entry, homemade food (and ice cream!) can be found in the barn, and there are several food wagons on the premises.

About one-quarter of the show is under roof, in case it rains.

22 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

THE ENQUIRER

Show dates in 2009 are June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6 and Oct. 4.

Adults pay $3 to get in; children are free. The dealers start packing up and are mostly gone by 3 p.m. For information on the show, call 513738-7256 or go to www.queen cityshows.com.

Springfield We’ve saved the biggest for last.

Can you believe the Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market is 10 times as big as Burlington’s and Lawrenceburg’s? That claim by the management might be true, but beware – you will have to dodge a number of flea and garden-supply shops along the way at its extravaganzas in May, June and September.

Cheap T-shirts and hanging ferns aside, this is the granddaddy of our regional shows.

It’s so big you absolutely must pick up a map at the entrance, and be sure not to put it down and lose it or you might lose yourself. Seriously. The loudspeaker is constantly calling out pleas like: “Will the booth holding a pot-metal chicken feeder for a buyer from West Virginia please call the office. He can’t find you.”

Springfield’s regular two-day shows are mostly indoors, but its three-day extravaganzas draw thousands of dealers, some from many states away. You’ll find fine colonial furniture from a New York dealer in a booth next to a North Carolina dealer specializing in English furnishings and estate jewelry.

Springfield’s many barns probably could house all the dealers at the Lawrenceburg and Burlington shows combined, so if it sprinkles, you can still shop for hours. And its large, outdoor food court features fresh foods, cooked or grilled on the spot.

Show dates are May 15-17 (extravaganza), June 26-28 (extravaganza), Aug. 15-16, Sept. 18-20, (extravaganza) Oct. 17-18, Nov. 2122 and Dec. 12-13. Two-day shows cost $3 a day and run 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Extravaganzas add noon-5 p.m. hours Friday. Cost is $5 a day. Early birds are welcome Friday, but the fee is $10.

For information on the show, call 937-325-0053, or go to www.springfieldantiqueshow.com.

The show is at Clark County Fairgrounds, just north of Interstate 70 east of Springfield at exit 59.

DiscoverShopping

BY BRENT COLEMAN

Tips for buyers

1. For most items, you should not pay full price. As in buying a house, prices are always negotiable.

Ask: “Is this your best price?” And go from there.

2. Fairness is epidemic and gentility is the norm when negotiating.

If you think a price is too high, you might not know the whole story. Instead of giving the seller a low-ball offer, either ask questions politely or walk away.

3. Know that a good deal is not necessarily inexpensive. A good deal is something you’ve got to have and is priced fairly. It’s something you’ll kick yourself for not buying when the show’s over.

4. Bring something to carry your treasures in. Many people use oldfashioned shopping carts. You might find one to buy at the show for $10 or $15.

5. Drive your largest vehicle.

Generally, there’s no lay-away at these events, so if you buy a chifferobe that doesn’t fit in your con-

Antique shopping is a great way to find treasures, but it’s also meant to be a good time. Make sure you’re prepared before starting the day.

vertible, you might have to drive the minivan to the dealer’s house in Indianapolis next weekend to pick it up.

6. Don’t forget your cell phone.

You might lose your shopping companion in the crowd; you might have to call home to get permission to buy that butcher block you always have wanted; or you might

have to call your mom to see if she still has grandma’s Depression glass sugar bowl whose matching creamer you think you’ve found.

Tips for sellers

1. You can rent booth space through the shows’ Web sites.

Spaces usually cost about $50 or more for single-day shows.

2. Research the value of your items online before setting a price.

Use a search engine like Google to get an idea of what online dealers are asking. (Don’t rely on eBay; action there is slow these days and its market is worldwide.) Taking condition of your item into consideration, determine the lowest price you’d accept for it and then increase that price to create negotiating room.

3. Set up your display on tables at home first to be sure it’s well-organized and attractive to buyers.

4. Keep a log of your sales. It’s a good teaching tool and prepares you for your wife, mother or daughter asking what price you got for her vintage Barbie doll.

5. Bring plenty of bags and newspapers to pack up the items you sell. Also bring a comfortable chair and plenty of food and water to get you through the day.

6. Keep your expectations low and your cheer high. Sellers who get crabby because they don’t think they’re selling enough are unpleasant to deal with and end up selling less.

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DiscoverShopping

Antiques malls range from massive to quaint

BY BRENT COLEMAN

M

any antiques collectors caught the bug one day in a little shop in a little town on a day when there was little else going on. In our region, that shop might have been in Waynesville, Lebanon, Milford or Miamitown – all of which have quaint Main Street-style antiques shops.

The next step in contracting a chronic case of antiquing is the discovery of the mall. For those who embrace their sickness, there are few better places to live than Southwestern Ohio.

Antiques malls are divided into booths rented by dozens of different dealers, some who inherited their pack-rat tendencies, others who developed them over time, got carried away and now find themselves selling things they bought at antiques malls 15 years ago.

As a primer, we offer six malls that range from the massive Heart

of Ohio Antique Center to the historic Venice Pavilion Antique Mall.

Heart of Ohio: The largest mall in the area, with 116,000 square feet of carpeted space, Heart of Ohio takes a good day to cover. It features 350 glass cases with small items and 400 booths with large items. Heart of Ohio is open daily except for major holidays. Located east of Clark County Fairgrounds, north of Interstate 70 at exit 62.

937-324-2188, www.heartofohio antiques.com Ohio Valley Antique Mall: This spinoff of the defunct Brass Armadillo mall in Springdale has more than 65,000 square feet of space in Fairfield’s Woodridge Plaza.

Closed only on Christmas, OVAM is one of the few malls with night hours, staying open until 9 p.m.

7285 Dixie Highway (Ohio 4), 513-874-7855 Florence Antique Mall: This is Northern Kentucky’s largest, offering 50,000 square feet of booths and glass cases. It features in-depth

Many dealers who started the Duck Creek Antique Mall are still there, and empty booths are a rarity.

collections as well as new items arriving every day. The mall is open daily except for major holidays.

8145 Mall Road, 859-371-0600, www.florenceantiquemall.com Grand Antique Mall: Known for its themed booths of eclectic antiques and tidy aisles, this Reading Road mall offers a pleasant twohour experience five miles inside the I-275 beltway. Among its many collections are vintage kitchen ap-

pliances, clothing and apparel, grandfather and wall clocks, telephones and art pottery. 9701 Reading Road. 513-554-1919, www. grandantiquemall.com Duck Creek Antique Mall: Last year marked the 15th anniversary for Duck Creek, on the eastern edge of Cincinnati’s Oakley neighborhood. Many of the dealers who started the mall are still there, and empty booths are a rarity. The mall’s inventory runs the gamut. Its Ohio pottery selection is vast, particularly if you are a fan of Rookwood. 3715 Madison Road, 513321-0900, www.duckcreekantique mall.com Venice Pavilion Antique Mall: Here’s a small-town place for you.

Located at the main intersection in Ross (Ohio 126 and Ohio 128), this mall has been rearranged to make shopping easier, but it still features many glass cases, creaky floorboards and the original tin ceiling over the main floor. 4299 Hamilton-Cleves Road, 513-738-8180

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DiscoverArts

Cover Story

CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER

CHILDREN’S CHILDREN’S THEATRE THEATRE

ARTS FOR EVERYONE

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FRINGE FESTIVAL 26 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

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ARTS MECCA OF THE MIDWEST

BY MELISSA HUELSMAN

make the experience enjoyable, accessible and ingrained in the culture of the region. e’re known for our “For some people, a quality arts sports teams, our unique style of chili and experience is going to a world-class institution,” said Mary McCuleven our penchant for lough-Hudson, president and CEO reality television, but this region is also known for its arts scene. Think of the Fine Arts Fund, an aggregator of community resources that alevery metropolitan area has two world-class art museums, two sym- located $11 million to more than 90 arts organizations in 2008. phonies, a Tony Award-winning “We have more than our fair theater and many other organizashare of those compared to other tions dedicated to the visual and cities,” she said. “But I think it’s performing arts? Think again. the variety and the depth and We’re one of the few. breadth of offerings we And when we consider have that makes our economic impact in our arts community so community, it’s easy exceptional.” to boast that severThe report al Fortune 500 also confirms companies are what many headquartered have known here, but the for years – we arts is also a couldn’t enjoy player. this thriving According arts scene to Americans without volunfor the Arts’ teers, who in most recent infor2005 donated mation, our region’s 527,899 hours to local more than 350 profesnonprofit arts and sional cultural orgaProvided culture organizanizations and art Mia Curruthers, an SCPA agencies generated student, performs. She’s fea- tions.

This level of nearly $280 million tured on "Taking the Stage." commitment has in local economic been a substantial part of our reactivity in 2005. This is an average gion’s history, and it is why Greater of $10 million more per year than Cincinnati is known as the arts regions with similar populations. mecca of the Midwest.

And the report lists our arts scene as supporting about 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs and gener- Starting early ating $33 million in local and state One of the main reasons why the government revenue. region sports a deep artistic bench The arts are a business, and a big is education. Many arts organizaone at that, but no one in the arts is tions specialize in outreach, getting dancing on piles of extra cash, esinto the schools and communities to pecially in light of the recent ecoexpose residents to the arts at a nomic downturn. young age.

Money raised from private and The Fine Arts Fund helps supcorporate donations, ticket sales port more than 500,000 arts experiand grants is put back into the orga- ences for local children every year, nizations to further the goal of all and there are plenty of schools here arts and cultural institutions: to to foster that education.

W

Provided

Not only do we have the School for Creative & Performing Arts, currently gaining further notoriety with its show on MTV, “Taking the Stage,” but several area universities are home to great programs.

UC’s College-Conservatory of Music and the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning are known feeders into our arts community.

“This area really is packed with talented kids,” said Tim Perrino, executive artistic director of Cincinnati Landmark Productions that operates the Showboat Majestic, Covedale Center for the Performing Arts and the Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre.

“Many of the ones who go off to New York or Chicago after they graduate come back when they’re ready to settle down and start a family,” he said. “They remember what we have here when they were at CCM, NKU or Mount St. Joe. When they come back to visit or move back home, they want to get involved locally.”

And it’s not just adults who are getting involved. There are plenty of organizations that welcome younger artists.

From the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati to ArtWorks and even certain productions at the Playhouse in the Park and the Cincinnati Ballet, kids picking up a paintbrush or taking the stage is common practice in the community.

“We have a dancer with us now who’s been with us since he was 8 years old,” said Marvel Gentry Davis, producing artistic director and president of the board of directors for ballet tech cincinnati.

Now a dance major at SCPA, Tabari Crook “saw one of our performances at age 7 and said to himself, ‘I can do that.’ When you see excellent entertainment, you are captivated and can be taken to a whole other place,” she said.

THE ENQUIRER

Shaking things up For some, it’s not just a matter of seeing excellent entertainment, but more about relating to the artists. In the past few decades, many arts organizations have started with the intent of bringing more diversity into the local arts scene.

Gentry Davis’s organization is one of those.

“We realized what we can bring to the community is innovative and diverse productions that are also entertaining and attractive to a broad audience,” she said. “We use a lot of local artists with the whole idea to make the stage look like our community looks. Our dancers come in all ages, shapes, sizes, colors, ethnic backgrounds Gentry Davis and dance experience.”

This fall’s production by ballet tech is “The Emerald City,” loosely based on the stories of Oz. “We’ll have the girl with the dog and the scarecrow and some sort of wizard,” said Gentry Davis, “and we’ll take a whole lot of liberties with it from there.”

And while ballet tech performs many family-friendly events, another organization devoted to diversity is typically meant for more adult audiences.

“Know Theatre of Cincinnati has a different take than some of the other theater companies,” said Jay B. Kalagayan, founder and director of development. “We focus on diversity in our artists, programming and audience. Not just racial diversity but sexual orientation, age and economic class as well.”

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CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009

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DiscoverArts Continued from previous page

Encore, encore!

“Cincinnati has some of the oldest arts organizations in the country,” he said. “These organizations are in the hearts and minds of regular users of the arts. New groups like Know Theatre and the Cincinnati Fringe Festival serve as a gateway to developing new arts audiences. Hopefully these regular users and new audiences will cross over and try the spectrum of arts Cincinnati has to offer.”

It’s all about accessibility

Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops are the most successful Billboard classical crossover recording artists in history.

k An estimated 30 million people have viewed national telecasts of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra on PBS. Since 1980, 10 million recordings of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops have been sold on the Telarc label, and 55 of the Pops recordings have appeared on the Billboard charts, a record unmatched by any other orchestra. k Cincinnati Opera is the second-oldest opera company in the nation, and its artistic director, Evans Mirageas, was named one of the 25 most powerful people in U.S. opera. k Cincinnati Art Museum, the first purposebuilt art museum west of the Alleghenies, was Mirageas rated in the 2004 Zagat Survey as the best art museum in the nation (in a three-way tie with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago). k The internationally acclaimed May Festival is the oldest continuous choral festival in the Western Hemisphere. k Playhouse in the Park is one of America’s oldest regional theaters. It is the winner of two Tony Awards, and its 1997 production of “In Walks Ed” was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. k Wyoming Players is Ohio’s oldest community theatre group, currently in its 123rd season. k Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is the oldest orchestra in Ohio and the fifth-oldest in the United States. k Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati was the first theater in the nation to present plays while they were still running on Broadway, including several Pulitzer Prize-winning plays. k Summerfair was named one of the top 10 fine art shows in the nation Summerfair, one of the largest fine

by Sunshine Artist magaart shows in the nation, takes zine. place May 29-31 at Coney Island.

28 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

THE ENQUIRER

“Many people don’t realize how good we have it here,” said David Lombardi, Emmy-winning digital effects artist and chair of the arts and entertainment committee for Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory’s Young Professional Kitchen Cabinet.

Lombardi and his wife, Erin, recently moved back to Cincinnati after living in Los Angeles, where they faced an “intimidating” arts scene.

“There’s a velvet rope in L.A.,” he said. “There’s a long list of very wealthy people waiting to get involved in the arts there. Even just trying to go to an arts event is difficult because of the traffic and the high costs.”

Luckily cost is not always a deterrent to enjoy our arts scene.

Many museums offer free admission deals and price-points are now accessible at most arts venues.

And while you can join Enjoy the Arts for discounts or check out www.cinstages.com for highlights of the best deals around, thousands enjoy the best price: free.

The first Friday evening of the month in MainStrasse Village and the last Friday of the month in Over-the-Rhine, plenty of folks are out strolling the streets checking out work by local artists.

“We call it edutainment,” said Eileen McConkey, a local artist who has a studio in Over-theRhine’s Pendleton Arts Center, which claims to have the largest collection of artists under one roof in the world.

“People who have no inclination for visual art or who may have never been inside a museum come out and can talk with the artists,” she said. “The flavor of Final Friday makes it a great spot for a date or night out with friends.”

The Aronoff Center for the Arts hosts many local performances and touring Broadway shows.

Another free “artventure” takes place at Devou Park in Northern Kentucky.

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra brings its unique style of orchestral music to appreciate crowds three times each summer.

Beginning its 15th summer series, the KSO is known to incorporate zoo animals, aerobics classes and even limbo contests into its productions.

“I’ve always hated the condescending art that gets too big for its britches,” said James R. Cassidy, executive director of the KSO. “It’s important for people to gather and to get away from computer screens and televisions and get with the other people out there in the world to enjoy some kind of performance,” he said.

And in this region, it’s easy to do. Whatever your arts preference, there is something for everyone here.

“The arts in Cincinnati are more accessible in many ways than in other cities,” said D. Lynn Meyers, producing artistic director of Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, which is known for its dedication to the production and development of new and premiering plays.

“To begin with, they are affordable,” she said. “Every venue offers senior, student, group and last-minute ticket deals, and in today’s economy that is essential. The physical accessibility is really addressed by good parking at most venues and good seating options.

The programming is diverse and designed to reach a wide range of interests and tastes. Cincinnati is a big city with a lot of arts options with the warmth of a small town that cares about its residents.”

DiscoverArts town, 513-621-5553, www.cincy firemuseum.com Cincinnati Museum Center: The Cincinnati Museum Center boasts three museums and an IMAX Omnimax theater in the Art Deco Union Terminal. The Museum of Natural History and Science allows visitors to step back 19,000 years and explore a replica of a Kentucky limestone cave complete with underground waterfalls, streams, fossils and a live bat colony. The Children’s Museum includes interactive activities in The Woods, Energy Zone, Little Sprouts Farm and Kid’s Town. The Cincinnati History Museum includes a model of the city from the 1900s to the 1940s featuring working trains and inclines.

Get up close Hours: 10 and personal a.m. to 5 with a Tyrannosau- p.m. Monday rus Rex during Dithrough Satnosaurs Unearthed urday; 11 at Cincinnati Musea.m. to 6 um Center through p.m. Sunday.

Sept. 7.

Admission: Visit one museum for $8; $7 ages 60 and older; $6 ages 3 to 12; and $4.50 ages 1 to 2. Discounts available for multi-pass museum tickets.

1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, 513-287-7000, www.cincymuseum .org Cincinnati Observatory Center: The “Birthplace of American Astronomy” presents free lectures and telescope viewing most Thursday evenings. The observatory is also open for stargazing most Friday and Saturday nights. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout, 513-3215186, www.cincinnatiobservatory .org Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum: A comprehensive look into the sport’s heralded past.

Hours: Vary. Admission: All tickets include unlimited visits through Dec. 31, 2009. $10; $8 students and seniors 55+. Active military or veterans and children 4 and younger are free. 100 Main St., Downtown, 513-765-7576, www.reds.com Contemporary Arts Center: The CAC showcases “art of the last five minutes” in a building that has gained international acclaim for its architecture. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission: $7.50, $6.50 seniors; $5.50 students. Mon-

r

From sports to the ballet, you’ll find something fun to do in our town

A cultural

experience

Museums and exhibits

American Classical Music Hall of Fame: A nonprofit celebrating American classical music. Hours: By appointment or during performances. Admission: Free. 1225 Elm St., Downtown, 513-621-3263, www.americanclassicalmusic.org American Sign Museum: Founded to educate the public of the history of the sign industry and its contribution to the American landscape. The museum houses 150 vintage signs. Hours: By appointment only with a minimum of three days notice. Admission: A donation of $10 per adult is suggested. 2515 Essex Place, Walnut Hills, 513258-4020, www.signmuseum.org Arts Consortium of Cincinnati: Located inside the Cincinnati Museum Center, this is the Queen City’s premiere center for AfricanAmerican art and culture. Hours: 10

Think you’ve been to every museum around? Check out the American Sign Museum in Walnut Hills.

a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

Admission: Free. 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, 513-287-7000, www.accdreams.org Behringer-Crawford Museum: The museum is a center for Northern Kentucky’s natural, cultural, visual and performing arts heritage.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sat-

urday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $7; $6 seniors 60+; $4 ages 3 through 17; children under 3 free.

1600 Montague Road, Covington, 859-491-4003, www.bcmuseum .org Cincinnati Art Museum: Founded in 1881, the museum has 80,000 works of art – including a kid favorite, an Egyptian mummy. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; open to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Admission: Free; parking $4. 953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park, 513-6392995, www.cincinnatiartmuseum .org Cincinnati Fire Museum: The museum preserves local firefighting artifacts while honoring firefighters, past and present. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon-4 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. Admission: $7; $6 seniors 65+; $5 children; under 6 free. 315 W. Court St., DownTHE ENQUIRER

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DiscoverArts days are free 5-9 p.m. 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-345-8400, www.contemporaryartscenter.org Creation Museum: The Creation Museum is a 60,000-square-foot center that takes visitors on a walk through the history of the Bible.

Visitors will be treated to animatronic dinosaurs, a planetarium and a special effects theater. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission: $21.95, $16.95 seniors 60+, $11.95 children 5-12, children under 5 are free. 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, 888582-4253, www.creationmuseum .org German Pioneer Heritage Museum: The museum serves as the focal point in presenting and displaying German-American culture.

Hours: 1-5 p.m. most Sundays from May 18 through October and for special events. Admission: Free.

4790 West Fork Road, Green Township, 513-598-5732, www.gacl.org/museum.html Harriet Beecher Stowe House: The house was built by Lane Seminary in 1833 as the residence of the president. Harriet Beecher moved to Cincinnati from Connecticut in 1832 with her father, Dr. Lyman Beecher, who had been appointed president of the seminary. It was in Cincinnati where Harriet learned about the evils of slavery, which inspired her book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Hours: Vary. Admission: Free; donations accepted. 2950 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, 513-7510651, www.ohiohistory.org/places/ stowe Hebrew Union College – Skirball Museum: The museum focuses on the cultural heritage of the Jew-

ish people, and maps master paintings, Chithe journeys of Honese porcelains and locaust refugees and European decorative survivors, liberators arts. Hours: 11 and rescuers. a.m.-5 p.m. TuesHours: 11 a.m.-4 day-Sunday. Admisp.m. Monday-Thurssion: $8; $6 students day; noon-5 p.m. Sunand seniors 60+, 18 day and by appointment. and younger free, free to Admission: Free. 3101 all Wednesdays. 316 Pike Provided Clifton Ave., Clifton, St., Downtown, 513Want to see a Broadway 513-221-1875, 241-034, www.taf show without leaving town? tmuseum.org www.huc.edu/ Head to the Aronoff for a museums Verdin Bell and Heritage Village drama, comedy or musical. Clock Museum: The Museum: Return to sound of Verdin bells rings from more than 30,000 small-town life of 100 years ago churches and cathedrals. The Verthat will help you appreciate 19thdin Company was started in 1842 in century family life in southwest Cincinnati. Hours: Guided tours are Ohio. Hours: Vary. Admission: $5, given between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues$3 ages 5-11; children under 5 are day-Thursday. Call for reservations. free. Sharon Woods, U.S. 42, ShaAdmission: Varies. 444 Reading ronville, 513-563-9484, www. heritagevillagecincinnati.org Road, Over-the-Rhine, 513-241National Underground Railroad 4010, www.verdin.com/info/ Freedom Center: This monument museum.htm Warren County Historical Socito freedom at the gateway of the ety Museum: The museum contains Underground Railroad (some 500 routes went through Ohio) features artifacts from prehistoric eras to the interactive exhibits and special pro- 1830s and mid-20th century perigrams. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesods. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdayday-Sunday. Admission: $9, $7 stu- Saturday, noon-4 Sunday. Admisdents and seniors 60+, $7 children sion: $5, $4.50 seniors 65+, $3.50 ages 6 to 12, children under 6 are students 5-18, children 5 and younfree. 50 E. Freedom Way, Downger are free. 105 S. Broadway, Lebtown, 513-333-7500, www. anon, 513-932-1817, www.wchs freedomcenter.org museum.com Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum: Pyramid Hill is one of few sculpture parks in the United Theater and music ballet tech cincinnati: Each States. Hours: Vary. Admission: year btc presents dance programs Varies. 1763 Hamilton-Cleves featuring professional and pre-proRoad, Hamilton, 513-887-9514, fessional dancers, classes and the www.pyramidhill.org Gala of International Dance Stars.

Taft Museum of Art: A National Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies.

Historic Landmark, the Taft is home to nearly 700 works of art, in- 6543 Montgomery Road, Kennedy Heights, 513-841-2822, cluding European and American

www.ballettechcincinnati.org Broadway Across America/Cincinnati: Features the hottest touring shows straight from Broadway performed at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Remaining shows this season include “A Chorus Line,” “Dora the Explorer” and “Mamma Mia.” Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 120 E. Fourth St., Downtown, 800-294-1816, www.broadway acrossamerica.com/Cincinnati The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati: The Children’s Theatre introduces young audiences to the performing arts through professional, fully-staged productions that appeal to parents and educators while teaching morals and values. Weekday performances are held for local school students, while weekend shows are for the public. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 2106 Florence Ave., Walnut Hills, 513569-8080, www.thechildrens theatre.com Cincinnati Ballet: Classical, modern and children’s productions run October through May. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 1555 Central Parkway, Downtown, 513621-5282, www.cincinnatiballet .com Cincinnati Black Theatre Company: CBTC promotes and preserves the culture of African Americans through theater and theater arts education, and ensures greater artistic performances, participation and appreciation for the arts within the African American community, as well as within Greater Cincinnati’s general public. Hours: Vary.

Admission: Varies. 5719 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, 513-241-6060, www.cincyblacktheatre.org Please see next page

Looking for a show or event? Check out these venues

Cincinnati Music Hall

20th Century Theatre: 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, 513-731-8000, www.the20thcenturytheatre.com Aronoff Center for the Arts: 650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-721-3344, www.cincinnatiarts.org/aronoff Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center: 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington, 859-491-2030, www.thecarnegie.com Cincinnati Music Hall: 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-744-3344, www.cincinnatiarts.org/musichall Covedale Center for the Performing Arts: 4990 Glenway Ave., Covedale, 513-241-6550, www.cincinnati landmarkproductions.com Greaves Concert Hall: Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, 859-572-6399 Madison Theater: 730 Madison Ave., Covington, 859-491-2444, www.madisontheateronline.com Monmouth Theatre: 636 Monmouth St., Newport, 859-655-9140, www.monmouththeater.com Riverbend Music Center: 6250 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township, 513-232-6226, www.riverbend.org Taft Theatre: 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, 513-721-8883, www.taftevents.com U.S. Bank Arena: 100 Broadway St., Downtown, 513-421-4111, www.usbankarena.com

30 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

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DiscoverArts Continued from previous page

Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra: Now in its fourth decade, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Mischa Santora, has grown in size and scope to become one of the cultural cornerstones of the Greater Cincinnati area. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 1406 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-723-1182, www.ccocincinnati.com Cincinnati Opera: On June 27, 1920, Cincinnati Opera Association began its life as the second oldest opera company in the United States. Shows scheduled for this season include “Figaro” and “Carmen.” Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 1243 Elm St., Over-theRhine, 513-241-2742, www. cincinnatiopera.org Cincinnati Pops: Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops are the most successful Billboard Classical Crossover recording artists ever.

Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies.

1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, 513381-3300, www.cincinnati symphony.org Cincinnati Shakespeare Com-

pany: Produces Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett, Moliere, Sophocles and more in a contemporary, accessible fashion. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 719 Race St., Downtown, 513-381-2273, www.cincyshakes.com Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: Music Director is Maestro Paavo Järvi. The Symphony also produces the Lollipop Concerts for kids. These engaging and brief shows are a great introduction to classical music and typically take place in the fall and spring. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-381-3300, www.cincinnatisymphony.org Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati: Home to regional, world and off-Broadway premiere productions and is dedicated to the production and development of new works and works new to the region. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-421-3555, www.cincyetc.com Know Theatre of Cincinnati: Know Theatre of Cincinnati is dedicated to presenting affordable and thought-provoking entertainment.

Playhouse in the Park hosts a fantastic version of “A Christmas Carol” each holiday season.

Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies.

1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-300-5669, www.knowtheatre .com Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre: Madcap is nationally recognized for its original children’s theatre productions, and for inschool educational programs that

include performances, workshops and residencies. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 3316 Glenmore Ave.,Western Hills, 513-921-5965, www.madcappuppets.com Playhouse in the Park: The Playhouse produces an eclectic mix of comedies, dramas, established hits and world premieres. It has won the Tony Award in 2004 and 2007. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 962 Mount Adams Circle, Eden Park, 513-421-3888, www.cincyplay.com Shadowbox Cabaret: Patrons are seated at large round tables where they can order appetizers and drinks from performers doubling as waitstaff. Hours: Vary. Admission: Varies. 1 Levee Way, Newport, 859581-7625, www.shadowbox cabaret.com Showboat Majestic: The Majestic is a professional summer stock theater using mostly local performers.Hours: 8 p.m. WednesdaySaturday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission: Varies. 435 E. Mehring Way, Downtown, 513241-6550, www.cincinnati landmarkproductions.com

Find your harmony.

Whether your tastes are Beethoven or Broadway, let the CSO and Pops change a moment of your life.

Get $5 off

any CSO or Pops concert (excluding June 18, Sept 17)

cincinnatisymphony.org or call 513.381.3300 use promo code 3801 0000325806

Valid on concerts through Dec 6, 2009.

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CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER SUMMER 2009

31

DiscoverSports

Backyard Frisbee? Uh, not quite

BY RACHAEL LARIMORE

C

incinnati has become so legendary for creating the phenomenon that is cornhole that one could believe that tossing bags at boards is how residents spend their entire summer. But, while that is a wonderful way to while away an afternoon, our area offers an abundance of sports and recreation opportunities for those who like to get out and explore.

Disc golf just one of the ways to have fun outdoors

Those on the East Side have a real jewel in the Little Miami river, which offers not only the obvious canoeing and kayaking opportunities, but is adjoined by a bike trail that stretches from MilDid you know you can go hiking without trek- ford all the way to Xenia.

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, a solo king more than 10 minutes from downtown? You adventurer or a parent looking for an activity for can, at Mount Airy Forest. And thanks to the your kids, there is something for you. Best of all, Hamilton County Park District, you can boat, hike, fish or golf at various points east, west and many of the activities are free, or at least cheaper than parking your car at a Reds game. north of the city.

Try your hand at a fun game of disc golf at Mount Airy Forest, a fairly hilly course, or try one of the easier courses around town, such as the one at Miami Whitewater Forest.

Frisbee golfing As Dave Marlow, president of the Greater Cincinnati Flying Disc Association, points out, the area is a hotbed for disc golf, with more than 25 courses available for players of all abilities.

OHIO Miami Whitewater Forest: It’s just a nine-hole course compared with the usual 18, but it’s good for beginners. But if you think you’re getting too good too quickly, the 400-foot No. 8, the longest hole on the course, might surprise you.

Mount Airy Forest: An excellent course right in the city that offers a mix of open and wooded holes. A good choice for those who are physically fit, as the course is very hilly.

Woodland Mound Park: Like Miami Whitewater, Woodland

Mound is part of the Hamilton County Park District and is a good course for beginners. As such, the course can be busy on weekends as families try their hand on the mostly open layout. But during the week, it plays quickly.

KENTUCKY Idlewild: Marlow calls Idlewild in Burlington one of the top 10 courses in the country. This one is for pros, with four holes longer than 600 feet, including the 1,001-foot No. 15. It’s difficult, but scenic.

Banklick Woods Park: This 24hole course (six extra holes were added in 2004) in Independence is largely wooded, which makes it challenging. Warning: Don’t put your disc in the drink; several holes play along a creek.

Cost: Varies among courses. All parks are free if you walk in, but to park your car, the Hamilton County

32 SUMMER 2009 CINCINNATI.COM/DISCOVER

THE ENQUIRER

Grab the kids and head out for a walk at the Cincinnati Nature Center in Rowe Woods.

Park District charges $2 for a onevisit permit or $5 for an annual pass.

More information: The Greater Cincinnati Flying Disc Association’s Web site offers a wealth of information on courses and tournaments. If you’re interested in joining, it offers leagues in the spring, summer and fall, and hosts coursechallenge tournaments one Saturday a month. www.cincinnatidiscgolf.com

Hiking Cincinnati is known for its hills (and the myth that it was built on seven hills), but to really “get lost,” as Tri-State Hiking Club organizer Scotty Richards puts it, you’ll want to venture outside the 275 beltway.

If you need some hiking buddies, Richards recommends checking out his group’s site at www.meetup.

com/hike-cincinnati.

Mount Airy Forest: This is a popular hiking spot for city dwellers, offering the opportunity to forget you’re in an urban area while still being just minutes from downtown.

The park, Cincinnati’s largest, offers 14 miles of picturesque hiking trails that vary from easy to strenuous. The Tri-State Hiking Club meets here occasionally, and there is a Mount Airy Forest Hiking Club that meets Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Cost: Free.

Cincinnati Parks Foundation; 513-357-2621 Cincinnati Nature Center/Rowe Woods: Tucked along a country road just outside of Milford you’ll find the 1,025 acre Rowe Woods.

There are more than 18 miles of hiking trails, some paved and some rather hilly and rugged. Scotty Richards describes it as one of the

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