Cincinnati Magazine - October 2025 Edition by Cincinnati Magazine

Trending Treatments: What’s New In Skincare

The world of aesthetic medicine continues to evolve at lightning speed, and 2025 has brought some truly game-changing treatments that are reshaping how we approach anti-aging and skin rejuvenation. At the same time, tried-and-true treatments that have been around for years are seeing a surge in popularity once again. From harnessing your body's own healing power to cutting-edge technologies, these trending treatments are delivering natural results with minimal downtime. Let's dive into what makes each one so special and why patients are raving about them.

PRP & PRF

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Platelet-rich ﬁbrin (PRF) treatments have taken the aesthetic world by storm, and for good reason. These regenerative therapies use your body's own healing mechanisms to rejuvenate your skin from within. Both treatments start with a simple blood draw (just like getting routine lab work!), but the magic happens during processing. PRP involves spinning your blood in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, while PRF uses a gentler, slower spin that preserves more growth factors. PRF can also be processed in a way that creates a thicker texture that can be used for adding volume.

How Does It Work? Your platelets are packed with powerful growth factors that jumpstart your body's natural healing process. When these concentrated platelets are injected back into your skin, they stimulate collagen and elastin production, improving everything from skin texture to overall radiance. PRF takes it a step further by providing a slow, sustained release of growth factors over time. PRF “Gel” can also be

made through an additional process of cooling the liquid to create a thicker consistency, which can be used more similarly to dermal ﬁllers in areas like the undereyes.

Where It Shines: Under-eye hollows and dark circles, ﬁne lines and wrinkles, acne scarring, hair loss, and overall skin quality improvement.

Non-Surgical Tightening Treatments

If you're looking for a non-invasive way to tighten and lift your skin, Sofwave and Thermage are the treatments for you! These innovative treatments use focused energy to stimulate collagen and elastin production, which in turn tightens skin.

How Does It Work? Sofwave uses ultrasound energy that targets the mid-dermis at exactly 1.5mm depth. Thermage uses radiofrequency energy to heat the middle layers of skin. For both treatments, your results will develop over three to six months as your body produces new collagen.

Where It Shines: Sofwave can treat just about anywhere on the face, neck, and body! Thermage is most frequently used for the eye area, though it can also be used on other areas on and off the face.

Sculptra

Sculptra is in a league of its own when it comes to injectables. It is known as a "bio stimulant" which means that unlike ﬁller or Botox, Sculptra actually stimulates your skin to rebuild its own structural support.

How Does It Work? While other injectables like ﬁller will give you immediate volume-enhancing results, Sculptra works behind the scenes over several months. It is made up of polyL-lactic acid (PLLA) which gradually dissolves, leaving behind newly formed collagen for natural-looking, long-lasting volume restoration. Most patients need two to three treatment sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. During each session, your provider will make multiple small injections throughout the treatment area. The results develop gradually, which means no one will know you had "work done"—they’ll just think you look refreshed!

Where It Shines: Sculptra is most popular in areas of the face such as the cheeks, jawline, undereyes, temples, and nasolabial folds. It can also be used off-face to rejuvenate other areas such as the neck, knees, and more.

AquaGold

AquaGold has revolutionized how we deliver active ingredients to the skin. This innovative microchanneling device creates the perfect pathway for customized serums to penetrate at the ideal depth. AquaGold is a favorite among influencers and celebrities thanks to its ability to create flawless, glowing, filtered-looking skin.

How Does It Work? Picture a small glass vial attached to 20 hollow, gold-tipped needles that are thinner than human hair. These 0.6mm needles create microchannels at precisely 600 microns deep—the sweet spot for maximum absorption with minimal discomfort. At Mona Dermatology, you can choose from Botox, hyaluronic acid ﬁller, and PRP to create your custom AquaGold blend. SkinCeuticals P-TIOX is also added for improved results.

Where It Shines: Special events requiring immediate results, enlarged pores, dehydrated or dull skin, and overall skin texture improvement.

Microneedling

Microneedling has been around since the mid-90s, but with so much new technology available in the aesthetics ﬁeld, it’s

no surprise that there is an interest in going back to the basics. Microneedling is a fantastic treatment for skin maintenance or for improving common concerns such as wrinkles, scarring, and more.

How Does It Work? By creating small, controlled injuries to the skin, your body’s natural healing process is triggered which boost your natural collagen and elastin production. Your provider will customize the depth that the needles penetrate, based on your unique skin and desired results.

Where It Shines: General skin maintenance, ﬁne lines and wrinkles, scarring, and improving mild loss of ﬁrmness.

Ready to Learn More? The best way to determine which treatment is right for you is through a consultation with a qualiﬁed aesthetic provider. They can assess your skin, discuss your goals, and create a personalized treatment plan that delivers the results you're looking for. Remember, the most effective approach often combines multiple treatments tailored speciﬁcally to your skin's needs and your lifestyle. You can explore all of these trending treatments, and 30+ more, at Mona Dermatology in Kenwood! Visit monadermatology.com to schedule your visit today.

RITZ COATED FRENCH TOASTED OREO COOKIES

TOASTED VANILLA MINI "CAKES" WITH NILLA WAFERS

P. 30 LOCAL MARKETS

From bodegas to international markets to delis, the Queen City has every type of grocer you could ever need. Let’s celebrate the small, independent spots that nourish us.

SOLID GROUND P. 46

Turnover and turbulence are in the rearview mirror, Cincinnati park system leaders say, as railroad sale funds start rolling in and rehab projects roll out.

BY CARRIE BLACKMORE

START THEM UP P. 50

Entrepreneurs ﬁnd Cincinnati welcoming and supportive, especially during StartupCincy Week. Meet the founders behind the millions of investment dollars ﬂowing into the region.

BY JOHN FOX

12 /

12 / LETTER FROM THE

FRONTLINES

15 / DISPATCH

The Emery ﬁnally welcomes The Children’s Theatre back home

16 / SPEAK EASY

Getting witchy with Isaac Reed

16 / MUSIC

Ingrid Michaelson collabs with Cincinnati Pops

18 / STYLE COUNSEL

Jonna Ramirez’s unique fashion ﬁnds

20 / STOREFRONT

Alternative bookstore in Northern Kentucky

22 / REAL ESTATE

A castle-like mansion in Indian Hill

24 / DR. KNOW

Your QC questions answered

COLUMNS

26 / LIVING IN CIN

Divorce doesn’t always have to be dirty

BY JAY GILBERT

136 / CINCY OBSCURA

Reclaiming Potter’s Fields in Price Hill

BY CLAIRE LEFTON

DINE

118 / OFF THE MENU

Celebrate German culture at the Händlmaier Mustard Club

120 / ROAD TRIP

1922 On The Square’s family recipes in Newark, Ohio

120 / TABLESIDE

A cup of coffee with Judi Cogen

122 / TRY THIS

Quite Frankly’s lifechanging hot dog

124 / TAKE 5

Cincy’s best artisanal breads

124 / FIELD NOTES

The second-largest cider competition in the world

126 / DINING GUIDE

Greater Cincinnati restaurants: A selective list

ON THE COVER photograph by DEVYN GLISTA

food styling by BRITTANY DEXTER

Extra servings of our outstanding dining coverage.

Decoding our civic DNA, from history to politics to personalities.

Tracking what’s new in local real estate, artisans, and storefronts.

Insight and analysis on the Reds, Bengals, and FC Cincinnati.

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Brow lift

Fall Festivals

Your guide to 19 road tripworthy festivals in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

Schools: The Open House Guide

Local schools are working to provide the best education possible. Here’s what they want parents to know now, plus a list of open houses, virtual tours, and other admission events.

Five Star Wealth Managers

Your guide to the city’s award-winning wealth managers and investment professionals.

Health Watch

Cancer Care

Cincinnati medical experts provide clarity and hope around what to expect with a cancer diagnosis.

As one of the nation’s leading mental health centers, we understand each person’s journey is deeply personal. Bringing together unparalleled expertise, profound insights, and a peopleprovide life-changing care and support, infusing every interaction with the underlying belief that lasting well-being is possible. We see beyond diagnoses — we see you.

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OONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS IS “NOT ALL THOSE WHO

WANDER ARE LOST.” IT’S

from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I’m a huge fan. The phrase speciﬁcally describes my hostile relationship with GPS when driving, much to my family’s dismay, but relays my approach to life in general. I’ve always tried to slow down and smell the roses, even when the direct route would get us to our destination quicker.

I appreciate the moments, people, and places that disrupt our modern world’s relentless push for frictionless efficiency. I enjoy snowstorms that stop the city in its tracks, paper concert tickets, walking to the neighborhood business district, and stick-shift cars. They’re kind of like the speed bumps of daily existence. The friction is often the fun part.

So I’m pumped to explore the small independently-owned grocers highlighted in this month’s “Local Markets” section (page 30). The words “chock full” and “overﬂowing” appear in a lot of descriptions of the shops’ food and household goods selections—which sounds like an adventure to me. Especially when a good number of those markets serve speciﬁc immigrant populations by importing tastes of home that I’m not familiar with.

Senior Editor Aiesha Little, who organized this section, tells me some ethnic markets are hesitant to participate in these types of guides because they aren’t necessarily interested in wider exposure. The customers who need to know about them already know.

In my experience, market owners and staff don’t mind explaining non-English food labels and recommending products and recipes. They got into the grocery business to nourish bodies and souls and to create communities around food, certainly not to get rich. Not even Barney Kroger.

One of my favorite bands, The Clash, once sang, “I’m all lost in the supermarket / I can no longer shop happily.” That second part isn’t true for me. I challenge you to slow down and wander the aisles at a neighborhood grocer, a weekend farmers’ market, Findlay Market, Jungle Jim’s, and everything in between.

JOHN FOX EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CONTRIBUTORS

Freelance writer Victoria Donahoe explores some of the region’s ﬁnest shops for “Local Markets” (page 30). The sustainability writer and Findlay Market regular understands the environmental signiﬁcance of shopping small and says she was inspired to try international foods with unique ingredients, such as the prickly pear cactus, frequently used in Hispanic cuisine.

ROMAIN MAYAMBI

For “Start Them Up” (page 50), photographer Romain Mayambi’s diverse and experimental style of portraiture captures the faces behind some of Cincinnati’s start-up companies. “Hearing these entrepreneurs talk about their journeys reminded me why I started and gave me even more motivation to keep pushing forward,” says the co-founder of production company Redbox Studios.

MIKE DOUGHERTY

Storyboard artist Mike Dougherty has created work for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Universal, but in this month’s issue he illustrates the faces behind local markets. “I was impressed by how culturally diverse a city we live in, with small business owners of different ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds who bring vibrance, color, and ﬂavor to Cincinnati,” he says. Dougherty moved from L.A. to the Queen City four years ago.

VICTORIA DONAHOE

WELCOME HOME

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati returns to the newly renovated Emery Theater this month.

ELIZABETH MILLER WOOD

HEN PROLIFIC PHILANTHRO-

Wpist Mary Emery opened the Emery Theater in 1911, it was the most state-of-the-art theater in the country. Located in Overthe-Rhine, it was built to house the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and later The Children’s Theatre (TCT) until 1969, when it was gifted to the University of Cincinnati, and the latter sought a new stage.

As the decades rolled by, TCT operated amicably at the Taft Theatre, but it received only 16 performance days per year and was limited in technological capabilities. When UC listed the Emery Theater for sale in 2019, TCT began to dream. “The Emery was our ﬁrst home,” says Kim Kern, president and CEO of TCT. The possibility of returning was almost kismet.

Kern and her team embarked on a six-year labor of love, from sending proposals and executing the purchase/sale agreement to a capital campaign feasibility study, parking analyses, and even window-shopping other theaters “to make sure we were going down the right path,” says Kern. “All of which pointed to yes.”

The renovation, budgeted at $51.5 million, was

greenlit. Thanks to grants; tax credits; and foundation, corporate, private, and individual donors, all but $1.4 million has been raised as of July 2025.

When it reopens, the Emery Theater will once again be the most state-ofthe-art theater in the nation. Among its many dazzling new features is a doughnut turntable, which boasts both outer and inner circles that can rotate in opposite directions. A “sliding lids over a trap” feature (fondly nicknamed the SLOAT), will cover the turntable when it’s not in use—a ﬁ in the country. The stage lift function—which required a 20-foot excavation below the stage—allows sets to be stored underground, rather than at the stage wings.

Capacity comes in at just more than 1,500—a Goldilocks number, as TCT performances averaged 1,400 patrons at the Taft Theatre. Annually, TCT welcomes about 90,000 attendees; approximately half come with schoolsponsored ﬁeld trips through a generous subsidy program.

Though it costs the company $30 to put each child in a seat, schools never pay more than $10 per ticket. For schools with more than 50 percent of students on free or reduced lunch programs, tickets are only $5—or no cost at all. Last year, TCT provided more than $1 million in school ticket subsidies.

coincides with the launch of TCT’s 2025-2026 season opener of The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition on October 10.

A large video wall with seven projectors will create seamless transitions between set backdrops and a uniquely immersive experience for audiences. The theater will also feature an enhanced ﬂying system—just in time for the ﬂying monkeys of The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition. “Truly, our productions are Broadway quality,” says Kern, noting that all sets and costumes are produced in-house.

Best of all, the renovated Emery Theater will remain multifunctional to rent by other arts entities, a key part of the company’s stabilization plan. This year, TCT will produce only four of its own productions, gradually increasing its capacity in the coming years while renting the vacant stage time to ensure a steady and sustainable cash ﬂow.

MUSIC

All MainStage productions are one hour in length and designed to capture the attention and wonder of young audiences. Its touring division annually visits 25,000 students nationwide, and TCT Academy offers classes and camps for aspiring thespians ages 18 months to 18 years old. Through the JumpStart program, area schools can apply to receive funding and training to launch their own theater programs.

As the oldest professional children’s theater in the country, TCT is on a mission to not only enrich young lives with creative entertainment but to also plant seeds in the hearts of future arts patrons. As a niche within the Queen City’s arts world, TCT is wholeheartedly doing its part, as Kern says, to “keep Cincinnati a place where people want to live, work, and play.”

THE WAY INGRID IS

Ingrid Michaelson, the voice behind 2000s hit songs “The Way I Am” and “Be OK,” makes her debut appearance with the Cincinnati Pops on October 21, blending her indie-pop persona with classic orchestral music. cincinnatisymphony.org

SPELLBOUND

Independent

Catholic Bishop Isaac Reed is the founder of The Witches Markets, which have expanded across Greater Cincinnati. The metaphysical farmers’ markets are the embodiment of Reed’s belief that organized religion and witchcraft can coexist—and even have some common attributes in practice.

What can you tell me about your work?

I own The Witches Markets. I also own Arius & Phos in Hamilton. As far as my spiritual work, I’m an ordained, consecrated Catholic bishop. I was an exorcist for several years.

How did you start The Witches Markets?

I’ve always had an affinity toward small business owners…so I wanted to ﬁnd a way to help people who have this niche of metaphysical ﬁnd their clientele. It started as the New Moon Market in Hamilton [in May 2022] with about 13 vendors, and by October of that year, I had about 55 vendors, and we became The Witches Markets. I’ve had cities reach out to me and ask, ‘Can you bring this to our area? We’d love to have a Witches Market here,’ which I’ve never dreamt I would hear those words from anybody. So now we’ve expanded to

three cities, two states, and are expanding again next year as well.

What can we expect from this year’s The Witches Markets?

The vendors have to be either witchy, pagan, oddity, curiosity-based, something along those lines. [Also,] I am launching a brand-new concept: Evening Star Fair. We are transforming The Witches Market in Milford on October 4 into a witches village for one night only. [Vendors] have to decorate their booth like a cottage and create a character of a witch, wizard, or warlock. They could choose if it was going to be good or evil or chaotic and they were told to stay in that character the entire night.

What does this community and spirituality mean to you?

Seeing people just targeting their craft, asking questions—it ﬁlls me up. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what religious or spiritual path you walk—we’re all serving the same thing: the greater good, the greater cosmos, the universe, God, whatever name you prescribe to it. — EMMA BALCOM

READ A LONGER INTERVIEW WITH ISAAC AT CINCINNATI MAGAZINE.COM.

SPEAK EASY

Mr. & Mrs. James & Susan Gibbs

Mr. & Mrs. David & Judy Fulcher

Jonna Ramirez

OCCUPATION: UC DAAP student studying fashion design

STYLE: Colorful, kitschy, eclectic

How has your style evolved over time? It will always be evolving. I think it’s just a means of getting older, because there have been times in my life where I look back and think to myself, That was an interesting choice. But at the end of the day, my style is so emotional for me—I almost don’t have control over it. I’m 30 now and I know who I am, and my style reﬂects that. What inﬂuences you?

I’m truly inspired by color and patterns. Any person who loves fashion is going to say they’re inspired by vintage, and I would fall into that. When shopping for clothes, what are you looking for? I go heavily off of a reaction. If it catches my eye, I know what I’m looking for. Anything that’s quirky enough that it’s like, Oh, this is ridiculous, I need to have it. What’s your biggest fashion tip? Stop looking at the internet so much for inspiration, because it tends to pigeonhole people. Someone’s going to get the best experience out of dressing themselves when they know their style and not this regurgitation of Pinterest trends. Speaking of trends, do you ever find yourself following them? I’m more interested in the overarching trends of silhouettes or colors and how that fits in the context of our culture. If a trend is right for me, then I’ll find a way to adopt it. But at the end of the day, trends are always passing. So how do you put outfits together? I document what I wear every day. That’s kind of how I like to try to keep my closet feeling fresh and good, by making sure I’m rotating things. What are your favorite brands? Big Bud Press, Fashion Brand Company, Lazy Oaf, Meals, Berriez, Boyko, Nooworks, Batsheva, and designers Taylor Dorry, Ashley Williams, and Samantha Pleet. —EMMA BALCOM

DRESS: TAYLOR DORRY

PANTS: MEALS

SHOES: MELISSA

BARRETTES: CHUNKS

EARRINGS: BUFFALO

EXCHANGE

COMICS AND COMPANY

SMALL PRESS BOOKSTORE INDIE NORTHERN KENTUCKY DOESN’T JUST SELL ZINES—IT OFFERS COMMUNITY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS.

MANLEY

Indie Northern Kentucky (or iNK, as coowners Tom and Ren Boeing call it) is bent on a DIY ethos. Billed as a zine, alternative comics, self-published, and small press bookstore, the Boeings’s Dayton, Kentucky, storefront—complete with brightly-painted walls, black-and-white checkered ﬂoors, and racks stocked with items like punk magazine Razorcake, poetry chapbooks, niche zines, comics, and tarot decks—mirrors its stock of eclectic goods.

Tom and Ren’s vision for iNK originated with Zinecinnati, a fest they founded in 2019. But Tom’s interest in the small press scene dates back to his days at Columbia College Chicago, where he drew inspiration from big-city bookstores like Chicago Comics, Alleycat Comics, and Quimby’s.

“After moving home [to the Cincinnati area], I was making my own zines and comics and going to small press shows all over the Midwest,” says Tom. Alongside Ren, he realized that there was a need for such a fest in Cincinnati, and thus Zinecinnati was born.

“We had done two or three Zinecinnatis and were like, It would be cool to have something like this year-round,” says Tom. In 2023, that vision came to fruition through iNK, which they launched via a shared storefront with Petri’s Floral in Bellevue. By November 2024, iNK opened solo down the road in Dayton.

“We envisioned providing a place where

people could come and hang out that doesn’t necessarily cost money,” says Ren. “Yes, we have a business, but it’s a bookstore. Bookstores are not traditionally moneymaking businesses. It’s more important for us to have a place where people come, chill, and work on art.”

The store uses a consignment model, meaning it carries artists’ items and gives them a cut of each sale. Similarly, iNK pays its artists when commissioning their work for posters and advertisements. “For some artists, that’s the ﬁrst time they have ever gotten paid for their art,” says Tom.

Alongside its retail

space, the store has an area for free events like poetry and book readings, release parties, and gatherings, like the Comics Club, which meets the last Friday of every month. The hope is that the store becomes a third place for the community to create and connect together.

“Ren and I work fulltime aside from running a store,” says Tom. “It really is a labor of love over here. I think a lot of artists, or folks who come through the store, can sense that.”

to a Goodwill Halloween.

⊳ Scan the QR code to haunt your nearest Goodwill, conjure up some costume inspiration, and explore DIY decor. Your Halloween on a budget starts here!

ADDRESS:

LISTING PRICE:

$5,720,000

ESTATE-MENT LIVING

A 14,000-SQUARE-FOOT HOME IN INDIAN HILL IS REMINISCENT OF A FAIRY-TALE CASTLE. —JEANA HARRIS

WWHAT DID THE FIRST MAN ON THE MOON AND THE SINGER OF “BABY, I Love Your Way” have in common? Surprisingly, the answer is Indian Hill. Neil Armstrong lived there prior to his death in 2012, as did rocker Peter Frampton for more than a decade in the early 2000s. Last year, Forbes ranked the affluent area as the second wealthiest ZIP code in Ohio, with a median home value of nearly $674,000. The geography is lush and varied, from densely wooded slopes to clear streams and grassy ﬁelds. It’s no surprise that gorgeous homes dot the idyllic landscape.

One such stunner is currently on the market, for anyone shopping in the eye-popping $5 million range. 8200 Kroger Farm Rd. stretches across more than 14,000 square feet, surrounded by ﬁve acres of mature trees that offer green as far as the eye can see. “This property exempliﬁes what today’s discerning buyers value most in real estate, which is privacy and timeless design in an exceptional location,” says listing agent Allison Thornton.

Reaching the estate feels akin to a fairy-

tale quest down a meandering driveway with lovely ponds on either side and the castle-like structure rising in the distance. Built in 2002, the home features high-end ﬁnishes throughout, yet the interior feels easily livable. The grand foyer offers a gorgeous view straight through to the rear of the property, via enormous ﬂoor-to-ceiling windows in the two-story great room.

Each living space is elevated by custom millwork, gleaming hardwoods, and soaring ceilings. The primary suite is especially appealing with its double-sided ﬁreplace that warms a sitting room on one side and bedroom on the other. The remaining four bedrooms are all spacious with walk-in closets; three feature en suite bathrooms.

The basement features fabulous recreation space, plus a game room and ﬁtness center. Outside, a limestone terrace overlooks the saltwater pool. A nearby pavilion offers ceiling heaters and ﬁreplace to allow for year-round enjoyment. In a home this spectacular, you’ll experience life on a grand scale every day.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK RECTOR

There’s a strange house on Empress Avenue in Columbia-Tusculum. The garage has no driveway in front of it—just grass, with no tire tracks. There are steps at the front door, but no path to them. There’s no paving anywhere. It’s completely surrounded by grass. Has anyone ever lived there? —TURNING DOWN THE HOUSE

DEAR TURNING :

No, no one has ever lived there. The home at 530 Empress Ave. is in ﬁne shape and well-maintained, but like a kid riding in the back seat it keeps asking, “Are we there yet?” Despite having been built in 2006, it is still waiting to be ﬁnished. This was supposed to have

Dr. Know is Jay Gilbert, radio personality and advertising prankster. Submit your questions about the city’s peculiarities at drknow@cincinnati magazine.com

been the ﬁrst of four luxury homes, but construction on the steep hillside caused issues that needed further work. The 2009 economic crisis halted everything for a few years. Then just as the gears started turning again, we welcomed COVID-19. On top of all that, the Metropolitan Sewer District—it’s always wonderful hearing from them, isn’t it?—announced a stormwater management project that would run directly underneath the garage’s driveway (which did exist until then).

Despite everything, the property’s current owner is determined to get it all completed, upgraded, and on the market within the next few months. Should you make a bid, be sure to mention the Doctor; he is not above accepting a ﬁnder’s fee.

You recently wrote about the Beach Boys playing “Susie Cincinnati” at a 1976 concert here, saying that the song describes a fun cab ride they had from CVG in 1971. But I own that single, and I bought it in 1970. The cab ride can’t possibly have happened in 1971. Is the story misdated or just untrue? —I GOT AROUND

DEAR GOT:

The Doctor thanks you for exposing this scandalous historical error. In our defense, we must point out that it comes from the Beach Boys themselves. “Susie Cincinnati” does tell the true tale of a delightful cab ride the Boys enjoyed while visiting here for a concert, but they have always claimed it was prior to the Taft Theatre show of September 29, 1971. That’s obviously wrong, so what’s right?

Singer Al Jardine’s offhand comment that their cab ride was on “a rainy night” sprung the Doctor into research mode. He found Cincinnati weather data from September 1971, and it shows no rain that night. It did pour on April 22, 1967, the night before a Beach Boys concert at Cincinnati Gardens. There’s your cab ride! The resulting single was released in 1970, 1974, and 1976, selling poorly each time. It got big cheers, though, when the

Beach Boys brought “Susie” herself onstage at Riverfront Coliseum in 1976. Wouldn’t it be nice if those good vibrations had given excitations to record sales?

On Columbia Parkway just before downtown, there’s a small turnaround. My father remembers his grandmother saying that the spot, with an old stone wall surrounding it, was the leftover foundation of her old church. I can’t ﬁnd any information about that. Was she imagining things?

—MASS DELUSION

DEAR DELUSION:

Thanks to your great-grandmother, plus a terrible sign painter from the 1930s, a tiny lost piece of Cincinnati history has been found. The turnaround on Columbia Parkway’s approach into downtown is almost certainly where All Saints Catholic Church once stood. Built in 1860, it was demolished in 1937 along with several blocks of East Third Street to make way for the new Parkway. But how can we be sure today’s turnaround is exactly where the church had been?

The Doctor found an old photo showing the church standing a few yards from a store with a very badlypainted “Groceries” sign above its entrance. This helps to orient us in a 1938 photo showing the same grocery store, now next to an empty hillside. And in the photo, Columbia Parkway’s new retaining wall ends precisely at that hillside, just as it does today. Therefore, the turnaround sits where the church stood. Your great-grandmother was right… almost. The stone wall is not from the foundation; it was built the year after the church came down. Cincinnati traded eternal salvation for eternal landslides.

LIVING IN CIN

BY JAY GILBERT

D-i-v-o-r-c-e Isn’t Final

JUST HOW UGLY CAN A CINCINNATI SPLIT GET? MAYBE ONLY A LITTLE.

II AM A CHILD OF DIVORCE. YOU MIGHT NOT AGREE, AS I WAS ALMOST 30 WHEN MY MOTHER and father broke up. Yet their marriage was mostly over before I was born. Among the revelations my parents shared with me during their grand finale of finger pointing and secret spilling was this: I exist because my mother seduced my father into pregnancy so he wouldn’t leave her. A third child (me) further solidified the ball and chain.

This was back when divorce was still uncommon and shameful. A divorced woman was damaged goods, and a divorced man could stall on a corporate ladder, like the one my father was climbing. My parents stayed together “for the children” but also to maintain their social status. It certainly wasn’t because they still cared about each other. So even though I’m not a literal “child” of divorce, I might as well have been one.

I am also an adult of divorce. Carolyn and I broke up in 1988, about 12 years into our

marriage. But unlike my parents (and hers, who also divorced venomously), we had no outbursts of emotions and lawyers. We grew up on the high-strung East Coast, but I think our years in Cincinnati helped us become quieter and saner. Our two kids, aged 9 and 11 at the time, were never forced to become go-between messengers. Or to endure one-sided parental propaganda. Or, worst of all, to be used as ammunition.

We also avoided the most typical disruption that parents make their children suffer after a breakup: Having to boomerang between homes every few weeks. Instead, we awarded joint custody of our house—a ﬁxer-upper near O’Bryonville we’d purchased in October 1981—to the kids. They stayed there while Carolyn and I rotated every two weeks from a small apartment in Oakley. It was not only the least expensive option, but it made moving days a lot simpler. One adult having to pack up and trade neighborhoods instead of two pre-teens? A no-brainer. It also resolved all questions over what to do with the cat.

By the way, ask your favorite search engine or chatbot when U.S. mortgage rates were the highest in the entire history of real estate. You’ll get “October 1981.” The interest on our loan was 17.5 percent, so please shut up about today’s mortgage rates. This was the Gilbert home until 1997. Carolyn had eventually gotten her own real place by then and the kids had graduated and left, so I was the only resident at the end.

Every time that place goes back on the market, I sneak into a Sunday open house and check to see if our family’s name and dates are still scratched on the wall of the attic closet. As of last spring, they are.

I STARTED DATING WITHIN MY FIRST year of new singlehood. That nightmare became the ﬁrst article I ever wrote for Cincinnati Magazine, back when the publication ran a whole section of personal dating ads in those pre-swipe days. It’s only midlevel cringe-worthy to look at now.

Life did get slowly better. At one point I was seeing a very well-off woman who lived at a higher level of Cincinnati society than I’d heretofore known. I found myself at numerous functions and parties in this rariﬁed Blue Book world. Many of these events

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were formal, which for me presented a bigger problem than simply knowing which fork to use. I’d been accustomed to renting a tuxedo every three years or so, but now the guys at Gentry Shop knew my measurements when they saw me coming.

This relationship was getting expensive. My now-regular girlfriend reached into her trust fund and bought me my own tux! Bless her generous little heart! Now I was just like Carl Lindner Jr., my new buddy! Carolyn, of course, knew none of this. That changed one day when we made our bi-weekly switch and she phoned to let me know that I’d left a tuxedo in the apartment closet. She even offered to return it to Gentry. Bless her generous little heart!

I had to tell Carolyn about my new life among the Queen City Glitterati and that I hadn’t raided our kids’ college fund to pay for it. It went over about as well as you’d expect. I wore the tux a few weeks later to yet another blacktie gala, where the local rich get to donate large tax write-offs for a charitable cause while rubbing elbows. Somewhere around 9:30, the butt of my tux’s pants suddenly split open from crotch to waistline. As long as I shuffl ed stiffly upright, my jacket mostly covered my ass, in more ways than one. Carolyn later confessed that she had carefully popped every fourth stitch along the rear seam of the pants. Bless her shriveled little heart. (She repaired them herself afterwards.)

Let’s stop here and acknowledge something: On the inﬁnitely long list of vengeful atrocities that ex-spouses have ever committed against one another, setting a time bomb on a pair of pants ranks very close to the bottom. Possibly even the bottom. Unfortunately, this was on my bottom, but I had to admit it was pretty damn funny.

THE INEVITABLE DAY OF OUR ACTUAL divorce proceeding arrived. It was a December morning after a heavy snowstorm and also the ﬁnal court day of the year—resulting in a mad crush of people in bad moods desperate to get their divorce into that year’s 1040. Everyone

was dragged in and out of the courtroom like sheep getting sheared. After waiting for hours, Carolyn and I stood before the judge for perhaps two minutes. It was done: We were now divorced. We went out to lunch afterward. It was my birthday.

If you’ve read this far, you have now arrived at the place where my story turns dark. It’s time to fill in some spaces where I acknowledge blame, chief among them that I was addicted to drugs. It was all of the very respectable and high-functioning kind—never lost my job, caused an accident, got arrested, embarrassed myself in public, etc. All I did was lose my marriage, which could happen to anybody, right?

I wasn’t the only one in denial: Carolyn was a fool to separate us when she did. She rightly blamed my drug use but also believed me when I’d said I had enough control to not indulge when I was in charge of the kids. Really? Did she think I would indulge even less when it was my turn to be the parent and she wasn’t around at all? I’d already been breaking my own rules, driving the kids around when stoned. When they were smaller and still took afternoon naps, I sometimes left them alone in the house to go and renew my supply.

Fortunately, I never caused any tragic results outside of the emotional ones. Some months after my marriage failed, I entered rehab and have been clean and sober since. Every life can beneﬁt from a good failure. In the 1990s I met and married Mary (a story I also turned into a magazine article) and have enjoyed a marriage more than twice as long as my ﬁrst. Mary and I and the kids and Carolyn get together often. It’s fun at social events to sometimes introduce my wife and ex-wife at the same time.

I can’t guess how many divorced people in the world observe the 50th anniversary of their long-defunct marriage by going out to a nice dinner, especially with their current partner along. But if you dined at Alara in Madisonville one night last summer and noticed a lot of laughter at a nearby table, that was us. No tuxedos.

From bodegas to international markets to delis, the Queen City has every type of grocer you could ever need. Celebrate the diversity of the small, independent markets that nourish us.

L O CAL

MARKE T S

BY EMMA BALCOM, JESSICA BALTZERSEN, BRIANNA CONNOCK, VICTORIA DONAHOE, MILDRED FALLEN, MOLLY FRANCIS, CLAIRE LEFTON, AIESHA D. LITTLE, TIFFANY LUCKEY, MAX NEWMAN, GARIN PIRNIA, KATE SHIELDS, AMANDA BOYD WALTERS, AND RODNEY WILSON

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DEVYN GLISTA

East East East East East East East East East

Pipkin’s Fruit & Vegetable Market

Ben and Steve Pipkin’s cozy Montgomery market and garden center has grown into an essential outlet for staple groceries, fresh produce, local products, and seasonal pumpkins in its 40-plus years. When longtime employee Ben Jones took ownership of the store in 2023, any concerns about drastic changes were put to bed quickly as he understands you don’t ﬁx what’s not broken. • 5035 Cooper Rd., Montgomery, pipkinsmarket.com

WEST

ANDREAS GROCERY

With diverse products and ingredients, Andreas creates a space for specialty foods. Stocked with produce like fresh coconuts, vibrant mangos, and ripe limes, and a wide range of imported goods, the shop meets the needs of customers who are looking to make Mexican staple dishes at home. There’s also a good selection of Mexican sodas and other beverages, giving you everything you need to serve an authentic meal from your own kitchen. • 1881 Westwood Ave., Fairmount, (513) 389-9278

NORTH

CASABLANCA

MEDITERRANEAN FOOD

If you’re in the north suburbs, shop here for all the gourmet Mediterranean foods you’ll ever need, including cheeses, olive oil, spreads, coffee, tea, herbs, and spices. But the options don’t stop there. Baklava or a handful of chebakia (Moroccan cookies) will satisfy your sweet tooth. When Thanksgiving rolls around, don’t forget to stop in for the halal turkeys, among other premium marinated meats, packed with mouthwatering layers of ﬂavor. • 7743 Tylersville Rd., West Chester, (513) 847-1600

NORTHERN KENTUCKY THAWNG ASIAN GROCERY

The Thawng family (including Andrew and Grace Ramthalen Thawng) opened this Burmese-Chin market in 2021, selling products from Myanmar, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Korea. The aisles area stacked with frozen meats, household goods, spices, dried kaffir lime leaves, bubble tea, and sushi made daily (try the inari, seasoned rice packed inside fried tofu pouches). You’ll also ﬁnd pompano ﬁsh, coconut sauce, kimchi, and fresh produce like bitter melon, Japanese eggplant, papaya, and beans. • 3155 Dixie Hwy., Ste. A, Erlanger, (859) 414-7855

Market Talk

Sergio Gutierrez and Alyssa Adkins

The couple behind OLLA Taqueria builds the bodega of their dreams in Latonia. —TIFFANY LUCKEY

What makes the sandwiches at Latonia Bodega stand out? ALYSSA: They’re Jersey-style deli sandwiches. They’re meaty and big with all kinds of toppings. People call them “Scooby-Doo sandwiches” because they’re so stuffed. We slice the meats and cheeses fresh every day. We have turkey, salami, ham, and roast beef, and our breads are white, wheat, and rye, like a fresh pumpernickel loaf that’s actually really popular, and a wrap. What are some challenges with running a bodega?

ALYSSA: The biggest challenges are our work-life balance and staffing. People come and go, and some realize working in this industry is not for them.

SERGIO: You have to be

a speciﬁc individual to work in the food industry. You have to be able to not let stuff affect you so much and keep pushing forward and through it. You’re both still in your 20s. What’s it like owning two businesses at such a young age?

SERGIO: My dad trained me for this since I was 10. He’s a jack of all trades who’s done it all. He said to me, “There’s nothing like working for yourself. Being in America, you can take advantage and take all your knowledge and do whatever you want with it.” And that’s kind of what I did. What does Latonia Bodega mean to the Hispanic community in Covington?

SERGIO: It gives us more sense of unity.

We’ve became the community hub. When a lot of Hispanics were ﬁrst getting to Covington, my dad’s store [Gutierrez Deli] was the ﬁrst door they were coming through. I feel like, to bring a community together, all you need is food.

ALYSSA: The Latonia community needed something like our bodega, somewhere where they don’t have to drive to the other side of Covington to get some good food. There are people who have lived here for 50plus years and thank us for bringing this vibe to the area.

What’s something that people should absolutely buy from the bodega? ALYSSA: The tamales, which are delivered fresh on Fridays and served throughout the week.

Unique International Market Indo Nepali Grocery

Owner Bhim Dahal hails from Nepal and his Florence market specializes in Indian and Nepalese foods like fresh saag (leafy greens), pumpkin leaves, ghee, breads, smoked yogurt, and lentils. You’ll also discover pantry staples such as bamboo shoots, ﬂours, teas, and coffee in addition to hair care products, Nepalese cookware, and sweets. • 8125 Connector Dr., Florence, (859) 817-0035, uniqueinternationalmarket.com

OVER-THE-RHINE NEW YORK GROCERIES

This bodega is a one-stop shop for quick purchases and essentials, including personal care items, detergent, toilet paper, snacks, international cold drinks, frozen foods, and milk. There are also shelves and coolers stocked with craft beer and wine, and tobacco, CBD, and Delta-9 products are sold behind the counter. The store’s many regular customers are a testament to just how much this store has woven itself into the fabric of the neighborhood. • 1214 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 381-4231

CENTRAL JERUSALEM FOOD & BAKERY

Customers looking for authentic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean products have been shopping at Jerusalem Food for more than 20 years. Don’t miss the creamy, homemade hummus or the fresh falafel. You can also ﬁnd a variety of meats, including lamb, beef, and chicken. And no shopping trip is complete without a stop at the bakery, where ﬂuffy pita, pizza, and other traditional baked goods are made from scratch. • 300 Northland Blvd., Springdale, (513) 771-8888

Findlay Market has met the needs of Over-the-Rhine for 170 years.

On any given day at Findlay Market, you’re likely to ﬁnd a bouquet of ﬂowers, a hot meal, a sweet treat, and just about everything you need to prepare food

NORTH BOMBAY GROCERS

A neighborhood staple for two decades, Bombay has been dishing out Indian products since 2005. Step into the store on any given day and not only will you be met with the delightful scent of fresh spices that line every aisle, but your cart will soon be chock-full of dried fruits and nuts. Whether you are searching for the perfect addition to a homemade meal or looking for a quick, fresh snack, it’s the place to be. • 11965 Lebanon Rd., Sharonville, (513) 733-5050

EAST HARVEST MARKET

Harvest Market owners Ben and Maureen Redman are still writing the story of their specialty market in historic Milford. First opened in 2017, this modern convenience store with a love for all things local features Cincinnati beer, locally sourced grocery goods, canned wares, farm-fresh produce, natural health and beauty products, and more. The Redmans also offer a robust beverage menu and lunch specials like a Korean BBQ bowl and grilled salmon patties. • 308 Main St., Milford, facebook.com/harvestmarketmilford

CENTRAL CAM INTERNATIONAL MARKET

This Asian grocery store has been a mainstay since 2002 with food and ingredients from multiple different countries and cultures. In addition to the many aisles of pantry basics like rice, miso paste, ramen noodles, spices, and snacks, CAM has a wide selection of meat and ﬁsh (with nearly unbeatable prices), fresh baked goods, a prominent produce section, and a special area dedicated to unique loose-leaf tea options. • 10400 Reading Rd. #145, Evendale, (513) 733-1828, huaxin.us

NORTHERN KENTUCKY PELUSO’S MARKET

Peluso’s has three main seasonal draws: plants in the spring, local tomatoes in the summer, and in the winter holiday candies from all over the United States. If you need more day-to-day items, a deli counter offers goetta, pickle loaf, Virginia ham, and cheeses by the pound at affordable prices, and you can get household supplies like toilet paper and canned goods as well as drinks out of an old-school Coke cooler. • 621 Monmouth St., Newport, (859) 291-6069

NORTH AFRICAN FAMILY MARKET

Compact and full of heart, this market offers a broad selection of African goods like fufu mix, couscous, Medjool dates, ginger tea, and other international pantry essentials. You’ll ﬁnd fresh hand-cut meat and ﬁsh along with frozen African chicken and other specialty cuts. There’s also a selection of small-batch items, including homemade peanut butter, handmade beauty creams, and natural hair care products. • 11578 Springfield Pike, Springdale, (513) 429-5982

for your family for the week. It’s been that way since it opened its doors in 1855, back when German immigrants populated the densely packed neighborhood around it. And while much has changed the community it inhabits— population booms and declines, white ﬂight, urban “renewal,” gentriﬁcation—the market has weathered many storms to continue doing what it’s always done: offer sustenance. It’s a living testament to the forethought of city planners and preservationists who worked to

Market Talk

Albert Kudo

The owner of Coco Sakula and his wife, Masumi, want to emphasize the importance of Japanese food and culture in Cincinnati. —VICTORIA DONAHOE

Is there cultural significance to your business’s name? The meaning of “sakura” is “prosperity.” The real spelling of “sakura”—ending in r and a, meaning “cherry blossoms”—is changed to “sakula” with l and a at the end. This is a Japanese name divination, and it means that your fortune will be stronger. Even a slight difference in the

have its history set in stone (the market was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972) and the resilience of the area’s farmers and merchants, some of whom have worked in the market for generations. Findlay Market has more than

50 full-time merchants selling products ranging from meat and ﬁsh to poultry and cheese as well as a lively farmers’ market, in addition to being surrounded by a dozen restaurants and independently operated markets like Dean’s Mediterranean Imports and Saigon

number of strokes in a name can make a huge difference in fortune.

What drove you to open Coco Sakula? I never really thought about starting a business, but after meeting certain people the idea turned into conviction. What I’m thinking about with this business is not just to provide a product but to reﬂect the world as I’ve felt it up until now.

Market.

“Jean-Robert chose Findlay Market for a reason,” says Annette de Cavel, wife of JeanRobert de Cavel and owner of the deCavel Group, which operated her late husband’s bistro across the street from the market until it closed this summer.

What has the community response been? The president of the Japan-America Society was very pleased, and I think this has fulﬁlled one of his wishes to preserve Japanese culture and Japanese food. I feel some customers are happy to speak Japanese in our store. It inspires old, sweet memories of Japan.

“He loved the relationships, the energy, and the way it brings food lovers together. It always held a special place in his heart.”

As the city’s only surviving public market from the glory days of the 19th and 20th centuries, it holds a special place for all of us.

Supermarket La Providencia

West West West West West West West West West West West

This family-owned grocery store makes its own tamales, ceviche, barbacoa, sauces, and more. Boasting fully stocked shelves and competitive prices, you won’t be disappointed with the selection of Hispanic and cultural foods that greet you. For example, it carries packaged nopal (prickly pear cactus pads), which is hard to ﬁnd at the average store. From ready-made foods to shaved ice, La Providencia will make your bi-weekly shopping experience so much better. • 5259 Glenway Ave, Western Hills, (513) 407-7951

EAST

COUNTRY FRESH FARM MARKET & WINE DEPOT

This iconic Anderson Township market changed ownership in recent years when former employees Jamie Griffiths and David Bernens took over operations. The pair made some changes—most notably upping the market’s wine game—but the focus on reasonably priced fresh produce, beer and wine, and organic foods has been lovingly preserved. Hometown producers are stars here, too, with names like Queen City Farms, Eric’s Pretzels, Sunrise Farms, and Sixteen Bricks ﬁlling the shelves. And if you’re ever in Hartwell, you can check out the original Country Fresh on Vine. • 8315 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Twp., countryfresh farmmarket.com

WEST

MEISER’S FRESH GROCERY & DELI

Lower Price Hill was a food desert after the 2017 closure of Meiser’s Parkview Market, until it was reopened by Your Store of the Queen City in 2021 as Meiser’s Fresh Grocery & Deli. Today, the market sells fresh produce (most of which is free to customers), dry goods, spices, and snacks as well as cleaning products, home goods, personal and baby care items, and toiletries. Its deli serves sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, it hosts farmers’ markets, and on Tuesdays it prepares homecooked meals to distribute to the community. • 738 State Ave., Lower Price Hill, (513) 371-5301, yourstoreqc.org/meisers-grocery

CENTRAL

DAROU SALAM STORE HALAL MARKET

Bookended by Shake It Records and The Park Diner in Northside, Darou Salam is a Senegalese halal market and eat-in shop known for generous portions of food, affordable prices, and friendly staff. Locals and foodies alike celebrate the market’s authentic thiebou jenn, poulet braisé, and bold West African spices. The store is packed with grocery staples alongside personal care products, home decor, and a small selection of fresh produce. It’s a treasure trove of both specialty and everyday items. • 4158 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (513) 681-3888, darousalam store.com

NORTHERN KENTUCKY DIAKAS INTERNATIONAL MARKET

Congolese immigrant Didier Diakandulu’s products are from African countries, including corn, beans, rice, fufu flour, cooking oils, spices, and canned fish. Not only can customers buy African goods, they can also dine at the market. A hot bar serving up Congolese specialties like pondu (cassava leaves), makayabu (salt fish), and makemba (fried plantains) gives others from the Congo a taste of home. • 7009 Dixie Hwy., Florence, (859) 866-9041

WEST AHADU INTERNATIONAL MARKET

Located at the intersection of Queen City and Boudinot avenues, this quaint corner grocery stays stocked to the brim with pantry staples. Its shelves boast items like salt, coffee, and a wide selection of fine teas in addition to cookware, tea sets, and myriad East African goods. Be sure to try the injera (a type of spongy flatbread) or the hibist (a fluffy bread that is steamed rather than baked) for a taste of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. • 3098 Queen City Ave., Westwood, (513) 975-0022

OVER-THE-RHINE SEN BY KIKI

Sen translates to “fresh” in Japanese, and the ingredients used here live up to the name. An abundance of sashimigrade ﬁsh and seafood are on the docket, all ethically sourced. But the crown jewel of the joint is its raw oysters. Owner Hideki Harada’s efforts to put a spin on the food of his early life resulted in an expansion into the former Heist Fish & Poultry space in June, but you’d be forgiven for thinking that Sen’s been there for years. • 106 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 813-3284, findlaymarket.org/ merchant/senbykiki

NORTHERN KENTUCKY

LATONIA BODEGA

This vibrant new corner store on Decoursey Avenue channels the best of a Latin-American bodega with New Jersey–style deli sandwiches and imported snacks and drinks stocked alongside everyday staples. Opened in January by OLLA Taqueria couple Sergio Gutierrez and Alyssa Adkins, the deli offerings and friendly service have quickly made it a neighborhood favorite and community hub. Latonia locals praise the made-to-order sandwiches and old-school charm. It feels like an East Coast minimarket with small-town warmth. • 4302 Decoursey Ave., Latonia, (859) 261-0642

DOWNTOWN

DARUMA

Owned by Kiki Chef Hideki Harada, this minimalist konbini (Japanese convenience store) is like a food shop-turned-vending machine for those on the go. Rows of snacks, boba teas, chilled foods like onigiri and sushi, and hot water for soups, ramen, and tea make a 30-minute lunch feel touristy. Home cooks can head here for hard-to-ﬁnd Japanese staples like ramen soup bases and Asian condiments, sake, and imported beers, or they can take home prepared dishes. • 31 E. Court St., downtown, @darumacincy on Instagram

PHOTOGRAPH BY HATSUE

CENTRAL ETC PRODUCE & PROVISIONS

With locations in both Findlay Market and Walnut Hills, ETC has made a name for itself as the place to go for all things local. In the bigger Walnut Hills location, you’ll ﬁnd grocery products of all kinds—butter, mushrooms, bread, pasta, popcorn, baking mix, eggs, beer, you name it—most of which are from the Cincinnati area with a special label telling you all about the producer. In fact, ETC partners with more than 150 local farms and artisans to stock its shelves.

• 954 E. McMillan St., Unit A, Walnut Hills, (513) 407-6257, etcproduce.com

Big Box Boys

We have tons of smaller markets in the Queen City, but we also have plenty of larger chains with Midwestern roots to accommodate your needs. Here’s a matrix of where to shop according to your budget. —AIESHA D. LITTLE

Remke Markets

After a number of mergers, buyouts, and name changes over the years, this hometown budget grocer stillserves value-conscious shoppers at its ﬁve remaining locations (four in northern Kentucky and one in Harrison). • remkes.com

Jungle Jim’s

The Kroger Co.

Fresh Thyme Market

This Illinois-based organic food chain has 70 stores in 10 states, two of which are located in Greater Cincinnati (Symmes Township and Newport). The health-conscious stores are often compared to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

• freshthyme.com

It’s a grocery store, a tourist destination, and an international market all rolled into one. You’ll ﬁnd products from more than 70 countries represented on Jungle Jim’s shelves as well as a massive selection of beer and wine. • junglejims.com

Dorothy Lane Market

Meijer

In August, this upscale Dayton-area favorite opened its ﬁrst tri-state location in Mason, featuring 50,000 square feet of grocery space, including a bakery, an Italian-style coffee bar, and boutique ﬂoral and plant market. • dorothylane.com/locations/mason

This budget-friendly Michigan-based chain has more than 500 stores in six Midwestern states (including 10 in Greater Cincinnati) and serves as a one-stop shop for everything from groceries to furniture.

• meijer.com

With more than 2,700 stores in 35 states, the hometown grocer is basically feeding customers all over the country. Whether you’re a weekly bargain shopper or you need something a little more high end, the brand selection has you covered.

• kroger.com

OVER-THE-RHINE SAIGON MARKET

For 50 years, Saigon’s storefront has been a ﬁxture at Findlay Market as an international grocery store. It’s a city-dweller’s immediate access to Asianimported ingredients: thick ginger roots and lemongrass stalks, fresh herbs, dried chiles, and bulk rice at reasonable prices. Three generations of family have kept the store thriving—Nghiep Ho took over his parents’ grocery store after working there since a teen, and his son Nick works there, too, in addition to running Chino’s Street Food, the “Chino-Latino” food stall in the outdoor market. • 119 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 721-8053, findlaymarket.org/ merchant/saigonmarket

EAST HYDE PARK FINE MEATS & SEAFOOD

After spending 20 years as a professional chef, John Dennis used his experience to open his shop in Hyde Park. As the name suggests, it brings in only the best, like Wagyu beef and Amish chicken, and even dry ages meats on-site. If you’re looking for a quick dinner, shop the selection of pre-made entrées (beef stroganoff, double meat lasagna, or meatballs to name a few), sides (twice baked potatoes, potato pancakes), and locally sourced seasonings, nuts, and breads. • 3645 Paxton Ave., Hyde Park, (513) 321-4328

WEST HATTING’S SUPER MARKET

Over the last 40 years, three generations of the Hatting family have served the community at this Green Township store. The sizable market offers a full line of produce and all the essentials you’d see at bigger chain grocers, but its full-service deli and meat counter is the star of the show, serving crispy fried chicken and rotating weekly specials like meatloaf, pot roast, and homemade goetta. • 6148 Bridgetown Rd., Green Twp., (513) 574-8660, hattingsupermar ket.com

NORTH ENSON MARKET

Enson’s Mason location has become a go-to staple for weekday groceries and harder-to-ﬁnd Asian ingredients. Freezers are packed with dumplings, steamed buns, and ready-to-cook meals, and shelves carry a wide range of teas, noodles, and too many sauces to count. The produce section ranges from everyday greens to specialty items like durian, while a seafood counter in the back sells whole ﬁsh cut to order. • 9604 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, ensonmarket.com

DOWNTOWN URBAN MARKET

This is more than just a business to Owner Minerva Fregenti—it’s a “testament to her commitment” to high quality food accessibility. And you can see the fruits of her efforts in the eclectic menu: intricately concocted salads, hand-rolled pizzas, healthy-yet-delicious sandwiches, and a wide variety of smoothie and boba options. The soft lighting and wooden ceiling frame emphasize the inviting farmers’ market feel of the space. • 309 Vine St., Ste. 200, downtown, (513) 376-9100, urbanmarket309.com

NORTHERN KENTUCKY

TIENDA MEXICANA LAS TRES PRINCESAS

Here, you can purchase meats like chorizo, diezmillo (chuck steak), arrachera (skirt steak), menudo, and patas de pollo (chicken feet) by the pound and peruse fresh Mexican produce such as nopal, yuca, and elote. Stock up on Latin American beers and household goods, but don’t skip the real highlight: the ice cream shop. Its menu includes coctel de frutas (fruit cocktails), paletas (popsicles), and concha helado (ice cream and fresh strawberries sandwiched between sweet concha bread). • 1771 Monmouth St., Ste. A, Newport, (859) 261-2111

Kate Zaidan

The owner of Dean’s Mediterranean Imports is opening a hybrid restaurant and retail space in Northside.

—JESSICA BALTZERSEN

What inspired you to open this place? There were things I wanted to do that our [current] space doesn’t allow. I wanted a place where you could experience the full breadth of what we offer. It’ll be a restaurant but I’ve been calling it a “concept” because it’s a unique blend of retail and restaurant.

Tell us more about the concept. When designing the space, I’ve been thinking about the Mediterranean ethos of a welcoming place. It will be somewhere you can set up and work like a coffee shop or have a more formal sitdown meal. A place for

birthday parties and celebrations, and a quick lunch. We’ll also have opportunities to try, for example, some of our hot sauces at a tasting bar.

What excites you about the menu?

In a lot of ways, it’s a reﬂection of my and my sister’s experience of being second-generation immigrants. We want to make

Lebanese really accessible. There’s a dish in Lebanon that we’re turning into sandwich form with a grilled roll, Lebanese meatballs, French fries, red pepper and tomato sauce. Another I’m excited to showcase is a dish called fatteh, a layered

chickpea and yogurt dish with pita chips on the bottom, and drizzled with butter. How would you describe the vibe? Elegant but quick. It’s not going to be a traditional ﬁne-dining restaurant. It’ll be counter service but with real plates and beautiful tableware. I’m calling it a love letter to Mediterranean food. By that, I mean Pan Mediterranean. It might seasonally rotate from Persian or Afghani—really tapping into unsung types of cuisine.

Vmart

North North North North North North North North North

A large commercial space packed with an extensive range of Asian groceries, Vmart tries to make authentic Asian flavors accessible to home cooks. Alongside familiar fruits and vegetables, you’ll spot rare finds like giant jackfruit the size of a small pet. Shoppers can browse store-made buns, live shellfish, seafood tanks, a well-stocked frozen section, and a fresh seafood counter. Plus, if you’re after specialty snacks, you’ll find dried squid, roasted eel, herbal jelly, mochi, Asian Lay’s flavors, and a collection of candies. • 650 Kemper Commons Cir., Springdale, (513) 818-8868

CENTRAL

THE COUNTRY MEAT CO. MARKETPLACE

The Country Meat Co. Marketplace opened in February and has quickly become a fundamental spot for shoppers in the Avondale area. This fullservice Black-owned grocery store brings fresh quality produce and meat to a neighborhood that’s long been a food desert. Plus, Country Meat Co. Marketplace partners with local farms and producers to provide customers with the ultimate “CityFresh” experience. • 3539 Reading Rd., Avondale, (513) 715-3663, thecountrymeatcomarketplace.com

NORTHERN KENTUCKY KINMAN FARM MARKET

Part indoor market, part outdoor market, Kinman operates nine months out of the year, offering an array of ﬂowers during the summer; hayrides, a corn maze, and pumpkins and gourds in the fall; and Christmas trees in the winter. Seasonal preserves, jellies, jams, and dressings are made on site, along with BBQ sauces, pickles, and pasta sauces. Be sure to stop by the Kinman Farm Fixins food trailer, which features a rotating menu. • 4175 Burlington Pike, Burlington, (859) 918-1682, kinmanfarmmarket.com

west

MERKATO MARKET

Serving the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Cincinnati for the last two years, Merkato has fresh meats, including beef and lamb, as well as a variety of Ethiopian beers and freshly made injera, a spongy fermented ﬂatbread that’s the base for many dishes from the east African country. If you’re ready for a culinary adventure, this is your one-stop shop. • 2157 Queen City Ave., South Fairmount, (513) 386-7754

DOWNTOWN STREET CORNER MARKET AT THE BANKS

This grab-and-go establishment is located just a stone’s throw away from Great American Ball Park and Paycor Stadium. Opened in its current location in 2017, Street Corner serves a selection of craft beer and wine. Hoagies and pizza from Angilo’s are another delicious option (a whole pie is a touch under $15). With reasonably priced items, this is the perfect pit stop as you explore all the wonders that The Banks has to offer. • 160 Marian Spencer Way, downtown, (513) 421-1414, streetcornerbanks.com

CENTRAL

CLIFTON MARKET

Clifton Market is a full-service grocery, deli, bakery, and bottle shop in the heart of the Ludlow Business District. Under local ownership since the late 2010s, the market specializes in local produce not always found in national chain stores, grab-and-go deli items, craft beer, wines, and a bevy of international foods. The rotating weekly specials—recent examples include fresh curry cut chicken or marinated tilapia—help ensure that customers keep coming in. • 319 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, (513) 861-3000, cliftonmarket.com

EAST SUSAN’S NATURAL WORLD

This family-owned market is packed with products to help customers be their best selves. While the rows of vitamins and supplements are a big part of its selection, Susan’s carries everything from grocery items to baked goods to makeup—all of which are specially selected by the team to help customers “be proactive with their health.” With new products on the shelves weekly, chosen for their ingredients and ethical choices, a stop here may lead you to discover your new favorites. • 8315 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Twp., (513) 474-4990

CHANEL AND TENNEL Bryant

The couple talks about how they parlayed success at their family’s butcher shop at Findlay Market into an upscale, accessible store in Avondale. — MILDRED FALLEN

How did you come up with the name?

TENNEL: When it comes to meat, people always think of “country, farm-fed, great quality,” not that processed stuff. That’s where the name “country” comes from—it symbolizes freshness.

How many years did this take to come to fruition? CHANEL: About three years, from the beginning stages to the build out to the ﬁnal end here. TENNEL: I think it’s different when you have more of a corporate structure, when you have multiple stores. But when you’re doing one store—your ﬁrst store—there are numerous challenges that occur.

Like what? TENNEL: Construction not being on time, and parts not readily available to ﬁnish certain things when you’re trying to build out your cases. Nothing ever goes as planned when it comes to a new build. CHANEL: And then just trying to make it be perfect. We wanted it to be this store we could put in any neighborhood. It doesn’t just have to go into an inner-city neighborhood. It can go in a Hyde Park, it can go in a Mason, it can go in a Montgomery.

How did you come up with the design/ layout? TENNEL: We worked with a company that was awesome at seeing our

vision. I wanted a feel of invitation and a feel of community. Lighting was important. We were able to come up with different concepts to mix modern design with traditional textures to give you that fresh modern market feel.

What kind of customer feedback have you gotten?

CHANEL: They feel like it’s an experience, a destination. They love the energy. They love the staff. It’s inviting.

TENNEL: They told me that we were beyond blessed and that we were superheroes for bringing a store to Avondale when no one else would do it.

CLOSING TIME

Before the grocery wars, there were the market houses of Greater Cincinnati.

—AMANDA BOYD WALTERS

COURT STREET MARKET

In 1829, tons of produce and livestock arrived in Cincinnati via the Erie Canal. A widened Court Street made room for an open-air market house, which was replaced after the Civil War. In the early 1910s, city officials attempted to condemn it several times. In 1915, those efforts were ﬁnally successful, and it was demolished.

COVINGTON MARKETS

A series of markets served residents here. One on Park Place in the early 1800s was replaced with one on Seventh Street between Washington Street and Madison Avenue by mid-century. That spot was so successful, a two-story brick version built on the site in the 1880s stood until the 1930s. MainStrasse had its own market house in the middle of the Sixth Street promenade from 1860 to 1895.

FIFTH STREET MARKET

The gift of The Genius of Water spelled the end for this market between Vine and Walnut. City leaders wanted to get rid of what they considered an eyesore, but butchers occupying the market sued. When the Ohio Supreme Court sided with the city in February 1870, groups of workers on standby reduced the market to rubble in 43 minutes, according to The Enquirer reporter on the scene.

KELLER’S IGA

A staple in Clifton since 1939, its closing in 2011 (the state shut it down for nonpayment of taxes and penalties) left neighbors high and dry. Clifton Market opened as a co-op in 2017, but ﬁnancial difficulties didn’t go away. Members voted to sell the market to Gurmukh Singh, the owner of Elephant Walk, who closed on the sale in 2019 and continues to run the market today.

NORWOOD MARKET

City leaders built a market house at the corner of Mills and Walter avenues in 1912 to attract producers and shoppers. Unfortunately, it didn’t work—by 1919 it sat abandoned. Part of the building became the bathhouse for the municipal pool when it opened in Victory Park in 1921. While the building still stands, it has most recently been used as city storage.

SIXTH STREET MARKET

The Mill Creek Expressway—otherwise known as I-75—displaced not one but two markets along Sixth Street. The Jabez Elliot Flower Market occupied the block between Plum and Central from the 1890s until 1950, when it was razed for a parking lot. The rest of the market fell under the wrecking ball in early 1960.

NORTH NAMASTE GROCERY

This Nepali/Indian grocery store is teeming with garden-fresh vegetables delivered right from the plant to store shelves daily, ensuring shoppers leave with only the best ingredients for their next homemade meal. From tomatoes and mangoes to mushrooms and authentic spices, you’re sure to ﬁnd it at Namaste. For those in a hurry or just looking for an added layer of convenience, curbside pickup is available for all your last-minute culinary cravings. • 500 Kolb Dr., Fairfield, (513) 860-0359

EAST

GROCERY OUTLET BARGAIN MARKET

Grocery Outlet Bargain Market is a family-owned franchise offering big deals on name brands you’ll see in Walmart or Kroger. So how exactly does it work? When a brand has extra inventory, Grocery Outlet buys the product for a low price. For example, when Coca-Cola needs to get rid of its extra inventory of Christmas-themed cans in January, you’ll get a great deal here. • 650 Eastgate South Dr., Eastgate, (513) 407-9233, groceryoutlet.com

WEST LA CANASTA

This grocery store/restaurant combo offers a variety of beloved Mexican dishes like tacos, tortas, and burritos made with fresh ingredients for customers. Alongside ready-to-eat dishes, you’ll ﬁnd a large selection of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and dry goods. • 7812 Colerain Ave., Colerain Twp., (513) 931-1804

DOWNTOWN SUNSHINE DELI ON ELM

Sunshine plays host to a delicious fusion of Korean and American flavors. Having recently changed ownership, the deli’s vibe has changed significantly—you can now find items ranging from authentic kimbap to delectable ramen via a self-serve ramen bar. Looking for those traditional deli classics? You’re in luck. Homemade soups and fresh sandwiches are all still on the menu. • 720 Elm St., downtown, (513) 723-1331

CENTRAL EL VALLE VERDE SUPERMARKET

The staff and owners of El Valle Verde know how to show shoppers a good time. The colorful shelves loaded with quality Hispanic groceries combine with a lively playlist and piñatas hanging from the ceiling to make shopping feel like a party. Pick up some fresh limes, beef, and locally made tres leches cake for the neighborhood carne asada. Don’t forget to snag some fresh tamales by the check-out. • 7045 Vine St., Carthage, (513) 821-5400

EAST EMIR’S SUPERMARKET

Emir’s is full of traditional Middle Eastern products. Though it’s known for its selection of fresh, halal meats, you can also ﬁnd organic, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. After opening in 2019, Emir’s has expanded the store and plans to continue growing with the addition of a kitchen serving up traditional foods, pizza, wings, and burgers beginning in early 2026. • 3209 US-22, Loveland, (513) 444-4441

NORTHERN KENTUCKY C. P. REEVES MARKET

A four-generation produce stand established in 1915, this Ludlow market still offers fresh fruits and vegetables as well as topquality seasonal ﬂowers, Christmas trees, and local goods. Walk in and you’ll ﬁnd friendly faces, community-rooted service, and a legacy pride in picking the freshest seasonal goods. As one of the oldest businesses operating in Ludlow, C.P. Reeves upholds traditional standards alongside small community events, remaining a reliable favorite for locals. • 109 Helen St., Ludlow, (859) 261-4350, cpreeves market.com

OVER-THE-RHINE DEAN’S MEDITERRANEAN IMPORTS

Lebanese immigrant Dean Zaidan’s shop at Findlay Market has connected Cincinnatians to Middle Eastern culinary cultures since 1985. Zaidan’s daughter Kate now operates the cultural mainstay, where the scent of fragrant aromatics always meet customers at the door. Chock full of pantry items, imported fresh-pressed olive oils, and frozen prepared meals, this charming market is like Ali Baba’s cave if stocked alphabetically. It’s also a lunch destination; there’s a full carryout menu of daily made Mediterranean entrées, dips, and pastries. • 108 West Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 241-8222, mediterraneanimportscincinnati.net

Market Talk

Toncia Chavez

The co-owner of ETC Produce & Provisions discusses her journey to becoming a local grocer. — RODNEY WILSON

Where did the idea for ETC come from?

My husband [ETC co-owner Estevan Chavez] and I were both in the restaurant business for most of our lives, and we knew we wanted to start a business together. We hated what we were doing and never got to see each other so we quit our lives! We sold everything we owned and learned how to work on organic and conventional farms.

Why did you choose to settle in Cincinnati after all that? That’s where my husband’s family is from. We looked at more than 150 properties and ﬁnally found something in Felicity, Ohio, an amazing, magical property. I

loved Martha Stewart, so I started buying chickens from the same place she buys her chickens. I think we had 600 girls on pasture at one time.

When did you make your way down to Findlay Market? We started at the farmers’ market in 2017. We baked everything to ﬁll our table, picked ﬂowers and herbs, and had eggs. Findlay Market saw what we were doing and happened to have a primo spot right by the entrance, so we opened ETC Produce and Provisions in August 2019. We were doing home delivery, too. Then COVID hit and we started to get over 300 orders a week. My lettuce farmer, my other egg

farmer, my mushroom farmer—I got to write huge checks weekly.

What prompted you to expand to the new Walnut Hills location? We wanted to bring what we were doing at Findlay Market to Walnut Hills, which had no grocery store. Giving this community fresh groceries is almost like a dream come true. We have a full range of products, from local/organic to conventional. There’s a coffee bar inside and a huge freezer section. Grab-and-go items that are hot and ready to go, as well as beer and wine and a massive prep food section. It’s friggin’ awesome.

Veggie Tra ils

Support your localgrowers at farmers’ markets around the city. MO LLY FRANCIS

1 ANDERSON FARMERS’ MARKET

8101 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Twp. anderson-farmersmarket.myfreesites.net

•May–October

2 BLOOMS & BERRIES FARM MARKET

9669 OH-48, Loveland bloomsandberries.com

• Mid-March–mid-December

3 BOONE COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET

1961 Burlington Pike, Burlington boone.ca.uky.edu/ boonecountyfarmers market

•May–October

CAMPBELL COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET

4 Tuesdays @ 3504 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights

8 DEERFIELD FARMERS’ MARKET

4188 Irwin Simpson Rd., Mason deerfieldfarmers market.com

• Year-round

9 DELHI FARMERS’ MARKET

5125 Foley Rd., Delhi delhi.oh.us/207/delhifarmers-market

•June–August

10 EAST WALNUT HILLS FARMERS’ MARKET

1523 Madison Rd., East Walnut Hills ewhfarmersmarket.com

•May–October

11 FAIRFIELD FARMERS’ MARKET

5 Fridays @ 7634 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria

6 Saturdays @ 709 Monmouth St., Newport facebook.com/campbell countyfarmmarket

•May–October

7 COVINGTON FARMERS’ MARKET

27 W. Seventh St., Covington

•January–April

629 Washington St., Covington

301 Wessel Dr., Fairfield fairfield-city.org/612/ fairfield-farmers-market

•May–September

12 FINDLAY MARKET’S FARMERS’ MARKET 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine findlaymarket.org/ farmers-market

• Year-round

13 FT. THOMAS FARMERS’ MARKET

801 Cochran Ave., Ft. Thomas fortthomasky.org/ departments/economicdevelopment/fortthomas-farmers-market

•May–October greatneighborhoods. org/covington-farmersmarket

•April–December

14 HAMILTON’S HISTORIC FARMERS’ MARKET

101 High St., Hamilton hamiltonshistoric farmersmarket.com

22 NEWTOWN FARM MARKET

3950 Round Bottom Rd., Newtown newtownmarket.com

• Year-round

EAST GREENACRES FARM MARKET

•May–October

15 HYDE PARK FARMERS’ MARKET

2700 Erie Ave., Hyde Park hydeparkfarmers market.com

•May–October

16 LEBANON OHIO FARMERS’ MARKET

135 E. Mulberry St., Lebanon lebanonohio.gov/ departments/parks___ recreation/lebanon_ farmers_market.php

•Mid-May–October

17 LOVELAND FARMERS’ MARKET

205 Broadway St., Loveland lovelandfm.com

•May–October

18 LUNKEN FARMERS’ PRODUCE MARKET

226 Wilmer Ave., East End fairwayfarmsorganic. com/lunken-farmersmarket

•May–November

19 MADEIRA FARMERS’ MARKET

Dawson Rd. at Miami Ave. madeirafarmersmarket. com

•May–December

23 NORTHSIDE FARMERS’ MARKET

4222 Hamilton Ave., Northside northsidefm.org

• Year-round

24 READING FARMERS’ MARKET

9150 Reading Rd., Reading wethrivereading.org/ farmers-market

•May–September

25 SAYLER PARK FARMERS’ MARKET

6600 Gracely Dr., Sayler Park saylerpark.org/saylerpark-farmers-market

•June–September

26 SHAW FARMS MARKET

1737 State Route 131, Milford shawfarmsoh.com

•June–October

27 UNION TOWNSHIP CIVIC CENTER FARMERS’ MARKET

4350 Aicholtz Rd., Union Twp. utclermont.gov/226/ farmers-market

•June–September

28 WEST CHESTER MARKET

9363 Centre Pointe Dr., West Chester

Market goods don’t get more local than this. You’ll ﬁnd produce, eggs, and meats grown on site at this historic farm. Recently relocated to the restored Nippert Barn, the farm market sells a variety of products raised via regenerative agricultural practices, including seasonal veggies, eggs from pasture-raised chickens, grass-fed and -ﬁnished beef and lamb, woodlandraised Berkshire pork, and pastured chickens and turkey. • 8300 Spooky Hollow Rd., Indian Hill, green-acres.org

WEST MARANATA STORE

Let the kaleidoscopic window decals of fresh food and produce guide you inside this small but bountiful store. There are only two aisles packed full of fresh ingredients for cooking, but the fruits and vegetables, snacks, drinks, and Mi Costeñita herbs, seasonings, and spices are more than enough to make your meal special. Take a step next door to the butcher’s counter, where you can have your pick of cuts of meat and seafood. • 1215 Rulison Ave., West Price Hill, (513) 244-2494

CENTRAL COCO SAKULA JAPANESE GROCERY STORE

If you’re looking for a strictly Japanese shopping experience, Coco Sakula is the way to go. In just one small store, you’ll ﬁnd authentic staples like noodles and tempura ﬂour, specialty produce, ready-to-eat onigiri, fresh baked goods, frozen treats, fun snacks, and even a Gachapon station with blind capsule toys. There are also local Japanese language publications available for native speakers. • 10738 Reading Rd., Evendale, (513) 407-7731

20 MILFORD FARMERS’ MARKET

527 Lila Ave., Milford milfordohio.org/resi dents/mil ford_farm ers_market/index.php

•May–September

• Mid-March–mid-November

8558 Beckett Rd., West Chester

• Mid-November–mid-March

facebook.com/west chestermarket

NORTH

SAMARKAND FOOD MARKET

21 MONTGOMERY FARMERS’ MARKET

9609 Montgomery Rd., Montgomery montgomeryfarmers market.org

•May–October

29 WESTWOOD FARMERS’ MARKET

3460 Epworth Ave., Westwood westwoodfm.com

•May–October

Walk into Samarkand and you’re met with the smell of slow-cooked plov (Uzbekistan’s national rice dish) simmering in kazan cookware and sweet, buttery bread still warm to the touch. Part neighborhood grocer, part global food shop, the store offers a range of halal meats, fresh ﬁsh, cheese, and seasonal produce. A hot self-serve station anchors its middle, while up front, a counter features made-to-order meals like lavash wraps and pita stuffed with spiced beef or lamb. • 9956 Kings Auto Mall Rd., Mason, (513) 823-3333

By Carrie Blackmore

Solid GROUND

Collage by Stef Hadiwidjaja

Turnover and turbulence are in the rearview mirror at Cincinnati Parks, leaders say, as railroad sale funds start rolling in and rehab projects roll out.

Sydney Barnes stepped into Mt. Airy Forest on a beautiful afternoon in April, having survived what seemed like an endless winter. She would be leading a public tour the next day and couldn’t wait to see who had decided to wake up in this section of the 1,459-acre woods that make up Cincinnati’s largest park.

Breeches, a spring wildﬂower resembling little white pants, growing in thicker patches than she’d ever seen there. She likened her path to “a walk through a hall of trophies,” taking in numerous native varieties whose seeds had been dormant and waiting for the right conditions. She came upon a new project area, cleared just once a few months prior, and her jaw dropped.

son Barron, who just completed his third year in the job. Barron says the organization is positioning itself to upgrade the 5,000-acre parks system with the help of an additional $7 million to $12 million a year in capital funds awarded in the most recent city budget.

For three years, Barnes has led a volunteer effort called Mt. Airy West Conservation. Group members cut back amur honeysuckle and other invasive plants on the park’s western side from late summer to spring and host community events. Amur honeysuckle is native to Asia but was planted in southwestern Ohio starting in the late 1950s for wildlife food and cover and erosion control. Unfortunately, the shrub spreads rapidly in our regional climate and soils and without human intervention can effectively crowd out native plant species. Hiking down to a hillside her group had been clearing for years, Barnes recalls smiling at the Dutchman’s

“Scattered tufts of wild blue phlox and bold purple dwarf larkspur,” says Barnes. “The fuzzy cool greens and teals of waterleaf just pushing out of the ground.” Then she came across a white trout lily with its mottled leaves, strikingly similar to a trout’s pattern. Barnes had never seen one in this part of Mt. Airy Forest. “I cried. I’ll never forget that feeling.”

Reset and rebirth are happening in a lot of corners in Cincinnati Parks. After a decade and a half marked by turbulence and turnover, leaders of the park system— which encompasses 10 percent of city land—say the organization has learned from its past and is ready to move forward focused on transparency and intentionality.

City Manager Sheryl Long says she fully trusts the Park Board with public funds, including 9 percent of what the city plans to spend from the ﬁrst year of investment interest after selling the Cincinnati Southern Railway system. The railroad fund is a new revenue stream for the city that can be spent only on infrastructure improvements, as outlined by the ballot issue passed by Cincinnati voters in 2023. Long’s biennial budget grows Parks capital dollars by more than 200 percent starting next year and up to a recommended 550 percent by 2031, adjusted for inﬂation. These funds do not include two big-ticket projects: bank stabilization at Smale Riverfront Park and a riverfront marina that’s been in the works for years.

Beyond new conservation and land management efforts, Cincinnati Parks has been putting together a new three-year plan. The organization is hiring, with more than 20 jobs posted as of this writing, and it has gone through a series of reforms in its ﬁnance and operations divisions, some of which were recommended by state and internal city auditors over the past 15 years. During that time, leadership at the parks has changed hands numerous times, with all but one seat turning over on its governing board, the Park Board of Commissioners, and seven different executive directors.

Even as Cincinnati Parks is ranked the fourth best U.S. park system this year by the Trust for Public Lands, Park Board President Molly North says the organization has its hands full with millions of dollars in deferred maintenance scattered across eight regional parks, 70 neighborhood parks, 34 preserves and natural areas, five parkways, 65 miles of hiking trails, six nature centers, 18 scenic overlooks, 52 playgrounds, and more than 100 picnic areas.

But park and city leaders say the ship is steadying under Director Ja-

“I wanted to get involved in the parks not just because I love them and enjoy my time in them but because they need improvements,” says North, CEO of the commercial development firm Merus that formerly did business as Al. Neyer. She was appointed

“I wanted to get involved in the parks not just because I love them but because they need improvements,”says Park Board President Molly North.

to the board by Mayor John Cranley in 2021 and became president last year.

“It’s a very old park system with aging infrastructure and aging facilities, and many parks haven’t met the more modern demands of parkgoers.”

North says the new three-year plan is helping everyone get on the same page and manage expectations. Meanwhile, she says the organization has begun a process of setting its primary objectives to be “the guiding light of our work.”

Parks staff went through a series of exercises this summer to determine their shared values and desired work culture.

“Once that’s complete it will help inform an outward-facing objectives discussion,” says Parks Division Manager for Communications Engagement and Volunteers Rocky Merz. “We will deﬁnitely get lots of public feedback and input.”

In 1906, Cincinnati City Council selected ﬁve prominent local men to sit on a New Park Commission, giving them $15,000 to develop plans for a future system of public spaces. The commissioners hired George E. Kessler & Co., a landscape architect who’d gained recognition for the design of a popular “pleasure park” for a railroad company in Kansas, which garnered him commissions for Roland Park in Baltimore, Euclid Heights in Cleveland, and park systems in Memphis and Kansas City.

There was a movement across the U.S. in those years to establish national and urban parks, forests, and reserves with “open space planning.” Kessler’s plan called for a system of current park properties and future ones connected by

parkways, or “pleasure highways,” that linked and encircled different parts of the city. At the time, Cincinnati was the 11th largest U.S. city but ranked 40th in designated parkland.

City Council approved Kessler’s plan in 1907, agreeing the city should work to acquire “unspoiled properties such as the Mt. Echo lands on the western hills, the hillside reaching along Mt. Auburn from Burnet Woods to Eden Park and the hill slopes along Columbia Avenue to the promontory above Columbia and that at Red Bank,” among others. The next year, city voters approved the creation of an independent Park Board, and when the voting public approved a new city charter in 1926 they preserved the Park Board’s independence but built in checks and balances at City Hall.

Not all of Kessler’s plan was realized, but much of it was, says Barron, who worked as public affairs and communications director for Mayor Mark Mallory and then founded the city’s bikeshare program, Red Bike, before being hired by the Park Board in 2022. “Park after park, you can hear the story of citizens saying, This isn’t going to be anything but a park,” Barron says. “They gave it to us. Having the park board commissioners helps create that trust.”

Most of the potential parkland identified in Kessler’s plan was acquired by the early 1920s, and the system built more than half of its 135 structures between 1929 and 1943. Through the 1950s and 1960s the Park Board fought highway plans that threatened to cross into parks and city residents

turned down two ballot issues aimed at combining the parks and recreation departments.

New master plans were created in 1992 and 2007, with the latter proposing a future tax levy for parks, placing an emphasis on the importance of parks in attracting residents and businesses back to the city from the growing suburbs. By

JASONBARRON

MOLLYNORTH

Start Them Up

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROMAIN MAYAMBI

TEXT BY JOHN FOX

Cincinnati is known for huge, influential corporations like Procter & Gamble, Kroger, GE Aerospace, Western & Southern, and Fifth Third Bank. They contribute millions of dollars annually in taxes, support city initiatives and nonprofits, and bring workers to town who establish roots and make life interesting for the rest of us.

On the other end of the business world are entrepreneurs starting and running small companies, chasing big dreams with shoestring budgets and help from friends and family. They don’t get as much attention as our Fortune 500 institutions, but start-ups also pay taxes, support the city, and attract new residents to the region—and they’re increasingly building Cincinnati’s reputation as one of the Midwest’s best cities for launching and investing in new ideas.

StartupCincy Week, now in its ninth year, returns to Over-theRhine October 6–9 to bring startup founders, funders, corporate leaders, and students together to mix, mingle, and do some business.

FOUNTAIN SQUARE

Entrepreneurs

ﬁnd Cincinnati welcoming and supportive, especially during StartupCincy Week.

Connecting entrepreneurs to mentors, networking, and investments helps them feel a little less alone on their journeys, says J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse, which hosts the week at Union Hall on Vine Street and in multiple nearby spaces. “There’s a lot that goes into turning an idea into a business,” he says, “so we connect innovators with experts in human resources, legal, marketing, manufacturing, technology, and anything else they need.”

Kropp expects between 1,000 and 1,500 attendees for StartupCincy Week, with about 40 percent from outside of Cincinnati. All meeting spots are walkable from Union Hall, and attendees are encouraged to explore OTR between events.

Attempting to create more of a real-life community for local entrepreneurs, Cintrifuse recruited local photographer Romain Mayambi to document start-up founders exploring and enjoying iconic Cincinnati locations. As you’ll see, today’s innovators represent a variety of ages, backgrounds, experiences, and outcomes—much like Cincinnati itself.

OTTO’S RESTAURANT GROUP, CO-OWNER

Why Here: I love Cincinnati’s history of using art and sculpture to create a beautiful sense of place. What I’ve Learned: The start-up journey has helped instill a strong sense of grit and grace in me.

Why Here: I like our connections to Germany because my twin brother lived and met my sister-in-law there. What I’ve Learned: Success doesn’t come alone but from investing in people and letting them invest in you.

Derrick Braziel PATA ROJA TACOS, OWNER

1 Huzefa Dossaji

AIRTREK ROBOTICS, COFOUNDER & CTO

2 Jon Taylor

AIRTREK ROBOTICS, COFOUNDER & COO

Why Here: All three of us have been working in OTR in this start-up, so we have a lot of good memories here both for work and socially. What I’ve Learned: Start-up founders have to be resilient. I anticipated it would be easier to get initial traction and fund-raise.

3 Chris Lee

AIRTREK ROBOTICS, COFOUNDER & CEO

What I’ve Learned: Who you create with is more important than what you do.

4 Russ Hamer

LYCEUM LEARNING, COFOUNDER & CEO

What I’ve Learned: I’m more action-oriented than I’d previously thought about myself. Given the need to get things done, I’m ready to step in and do it.

5 Glenn Platt

LYCEUM LEARNING, COFOUNDER & CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER

Why Here: Saeso is intimate with a chill vinyl soundtrack that makes it just as easy to have a deep conversation at a table as it is dance under the disco ball. What I ’ve Learned: The start-up journey is pulling on interesting threads to see what happens and then embracing the unexpected with a yes.

6 Victoria Littlejohn & Gabby

RENT-A-PRENUER, FOUNDER & CEO

Why Here: The gallery reminded me of what every entrepreneur in this city is ﬁghting for and how important it is that we support each other. What I ’ve Learned: Each person is unique. It’s impossible to walk someone else’s path.

LONGFELLOW

“Building cool technology is fun, but what really drives me is focusing on the ‘why’ and having our work actually make a difference for someone.”– huzefa dossaji

7 Camille Awator

MIMBBO, FOUNDER & CEO

Why Here: This space captures the same energy I see in the start-up community: local, creative, and bringing people together. What I ’ ve Learned: Doubt and dread live right alongside vision.

GALLERY AT GUMBO

BAR SAESO

The Runway Is Short

“Launching a start-up is like driving a snowplow through sand. It’s a ton of effort and slow progress. Most start-ups get about 24 months of runway from investors to prove their business concept and leap forward. That’s a lot of pressure.”—J.B.

KROPP, CEO OF CINTRIFUSE

The Human Stories Behind Start-ups

Cintrifuse Director of Engagement & Experience Abby Grimm hired photographer Romain Mayambi to put faces to the thousands of names and millions of dollars ﬂowing through Cincinnati’s start-up ecosystem. Cincinnati Magazine curated a selection of his images and secured the rights to publish them here.

UNION HALL

1 Michael Ragsdale BAILOUT SYSTEMS, FOUNDER & CEO

Why Here: I’ve been working for a decade to be a part of the start-up ecosystem. To now be photographed at Union Hall, the very building where that momentum began, feels full circle. What I’ve Learned: How to lead under pressure, adapt constantly, and keep going without a road map.

2 David Walters CINTRIFUSE, COMMUNITY OPERATIONS AND EXPERIENCE MANAGER

What I ’ve Learned: My role is more indirect by providing space at Union Hall as well as resources and connections, but it’s awesome to know I’m contributing to something bigger than myself.

“I feel deeply connected to the library because its origins mirror my own journey. The men who founded it came from disadvantaged backgrounds with limited resources, yet they were driven by an intense hunger for knowledge, just like me. That really resonates with me.”

– kesha williams

3 Connor Paton NOSHABLE, FOUNDER & CEO

What I ’ve Learned: Every successful founder shares one trait: irrational selfbelief. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is often called “insanity.” For us, it’s just Tuesday.

4 Mason Williams KERNAL, FOUNDING ENGINEER

Why Here: The park has always been a hub for the start-up community here, whether it’s casual meetups, events, or just grabbing coffee with other founders/operators. What I ’ve Learned: I like owning my future and putting it in my own hands.

5 Sharod Holmes HOLM, FOUNDER & CEO

What I ’ve Learned: I have seasons when it comes to productivity and energy, so I make sure my responsibilities ﬁt the season at hand.

6 D Sangeeta GOTARA, FOUNDER & CEO

Why Here: That’s easy, I love freshly baked sourdough bread. What I ’ ve Learned: That taking risks pays off and that hiring and retaining the best talent is the key to success.

7 Kesha Williams COOL COMFORTS, CEO

MERCANTILE LIBRARY

Cincinnati Magazine Presents

THE GREAT CINCIN BAKE-

Professional and amateur bakers compete, and you’re invited to join us as we announce the winners and sample sweet and savory treats from local bakeries and our sponsors in a celebration of baked goodness!

Tuesday, October 7

6–8:30 p.m.

Cintas Center

1624 Musketeer Dr.

NATI OFF

Presenting Sponsors

A Portion of the Proceeds Benefit

CVG Means Business.

Business & personal travel made easy — with 55+ nonstop destinations and your choice of 14 carriers.

Enjoy the beauty of the season and quirky hometown favorites at these 19 regional celebrations.

October

Fridays & Saturdays in October | Metamora Haunted Village • Metamora, IN Held in the historic town of Metamora, the Haunted Village was started by locals as a way to raise funds. Every year, store owners and residents collectively transform their shops and homes into a spooky scene. Take ghost tours at the canal and learn about the dark past Metamora has to offer, from mysterious murders to grisly accidents along the canal. Hayrides, trick-or-treating, and plenty of monsters await you this Halloween season. metamoraindiana.com

October 2–5 | The Riley Festival •

turned 176 this year. Known widely as one of val features live music, community contests, a city-wide parade, and the traditional “Parade rileyfestival.com

October 3 & 4 | A Taste of Serbia! • McKeesport, PA

Dobro nam Došli, or welcome, to this Western Pennsylvania celebration of Serbian culture, which is entering its sixth year. Located at the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, the event features an abundance of Serbian food, wine, and beer. Live entertainment will also be available in the form of a performance by Pittsburgh Serbian band Orkestar Pobeda, and visitors will have the opportunity to enter a lottery ticket basket entirely free. stsavapa.org/atasteofserbia

October 3–5 | Kentucky Wool Festival • Falmouth, KY

wool festival celebrates the local community, its sheep, and the wool

weekend of October, the craft fest features a wide variety of wool products, unique art, and custom goods from vendors. Visitors can enjoy local foods like BBQ, hot fudge, and walking tacos, along with how to knit or crochet, among other hands-on

crafts. More than 100 participating artisans offer special handmade items, from jewelry to wooden decor. kywoolfest.org

October 4 | Hendricks County International

The sixth annual Hendricks County

the festival is a free, family-friendly enrichment demonstrations, dances, live music, traditional clothing, and more, Hendricks County community members to better understand and appreciate the cultures around them. hcinternationalfestival.com

October 4–5 | Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience • Dayton, OH If the outdoors have been calling

The Wagner Subaru Outdoor with activities to connect with your adventurous

biking, zip-lining, paddling, slacklining, and more. See demonstrations from the Chris Clark Bicycle Stunt Show and the end of the day while enjoying live music with Companies and food from an array of food trucks. outdoorx.metroparks.org

October 5 | Woollybear Festival • Vermilion, OH

This popular one-day festival celebrates the woollybear caterpillar, the orange and black critter sporting the iconic colors of Halloween.

ing winter, with its patterns changing each year. Started by a weatherman, this event honors the in a costume contest dedicated to the furry inrace between caterpillars, or the parade full of other family-friendly activities, the event has something for everyone in the family. vermilionohio.com/woollybear-festival

October 9–12 | Moonshiner’s Ball • Livingston, KY

Ball is a music festival suited for fans of all genres. Everything from bluegrass to electronica will be on the bill in a secluded area of the Daniel Boone

activities; opportunities for camping, kayaking, and canoeing; and food and craft vendors, will all

HENDRICKS COUNTY INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

MOONSHINER’S BALL

WAGNER SUBARU OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE

Always in Season? IT’S

A SHORE THING

Shores & Islands Ohio is a year-round destination that has something for everyone! Hike and bike miles of natural trails, explor e quaint downtowns and museums, witness fall bird migration, and enjoy the beauty of changing colors throughout our region.

Visit an orchard to pick a peck of apples or sample other fresh-fromthe-farm produce at a farmer’s market.

Take a tour of a local winery at the peak of harvest season and taste craft beverages at a brewery or distillery on the free Shores & Islands Ohio Cheers Trail .

Find your Lake Erie Love at SHORESandISLANDS.com .

MAMMOTH VALLEY PARK, CAVE CITY

FALL INTO GRANT COUNTY

Start Your Adventure Here

Your next adventure starts here with a visit to the Ark Encounter, Lake Williamstown and Grant County Park for hiking and family time.

VisitGrantKY.com

SIP, SAVOR & STROLL

Fall in Love with Danville

small-town hospitality and vibrant events meet. Tour Wilderness Trail ® music, and explore art galleries and boutiques. Warm days, cool nights and colorful streets make it the perfect season

DanvilleKentucky.com

OLDHAM COUNTY: ESCAPE TO THE UNEXPECTED The Kentucky You Can’t Find Anywhere Else Nearby

Just an hour from Cincinnati on I-71, Oldham County is the perfect escape — close enough for a day trip, yet far enough to trade the everyday for something unforgettable. Sip bourbon beside champion race horses. Wander by a castle in Yew Dell Botanical Gardens. Walk the storied path on the Underground Railroad. Train watch on Main Street in La Grange or shop the new three-story Crestwood Mercantile. Relax in the state’s largest beer garden and wake to a sunrise in a historic horse farm bed and breakfast. Here, every mile brings a discovery you won’t

TourOldham.com

prou attende lieve that this allows visitors to n “commun

be on site. The organizers are proud of the small, tight-knit crowd of annual attendees—they believe that this allows visitors to not only connect with music, but also to “commune with nature.” themoonshinersball.com

October 10–12 | Elvis Fantasy Fest • Portage, IN The Elvis Fantasy Fest is exactly as branded. Hosted in the state in which The King of Rock extravaganza licensed by the Elvis Presley

day Elvis tribute artist contest. Outside of its centerpiece, visitors will be able to enjoy the festival’s on-site vendors, food, and live gospel music. And it’s all for a great cause—the Elvis Fantasy Fest donates all net proceeds to Special Olympics, and the event concludes with a march of Porter County’s Special Olympians. elvisfantasyfest.com

October 11 | Louisville Book Festival • Louisville, KY

October 10–19 | The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival • Parke County, IN As Indiana’s largest festival, the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival features the 31 historic bridges located in Parke County, the “Covered Bridge Capital of the World.” Food, drinks, arts and crafts, and other fall festivities will be available in each of the festival’s nine locations: Rockville, Billie Creek Village, Bloomingdale, Bridgeton, and Tangier. coveredbridges.com/covered-bridge-festival

ganization that aims to ensure that all children have access to books. Though it works towards this goal year-round, the annual festival is a special event that gives all attending children at least one free book of their choosing, reinforces a love for reading, and spreads the word about childhood literacy. This event isn’t just for kids, though—all book lovers are welcome to meet authors, attend writing and industry workshops, enter giveaways, and share their appreciation for reading. louisvillebookfestival.com

October 11–12 | Grass Lake CraneFest • Bellevue, MI

During their fall migration, Sandhill south. The Grass Lake CraneFest is a once-a-year opportunity to experience the majestic display of nature. Just before dusk, you can watch the Big Marsh Lake. Before that, take a guided nature

LOUISVILLE BOOK FESTIVAL

GRASS LAKE CRANEFEST

Hosted in the st

extrava

walk and shop from local artists and vendors. The festival celebrates its 30th annual installment this year, thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek, Michigan. k00153.site.kiwanis.org/kiwanis-youth-conser vation-area

October 15–18 | The Circleville Pumpkin Show • Circleville, OH

k00153.site.kiwanis.org/kiwanis-youth-cons The free Circlevi pou

The free Circleville Pumpkin Show features more than 100,000 pounds of pumpkins, gourds, and squash; roughly 30 amusement park rides; “Miss Pumpkin” and “Little Miss Pumpkin” shows; and thousands of pumpkin pies and doughnuts for

purchase. It also hosts an home arts and baked goods competitions. The Circleville Pumpkin Show dates back to 1903 when the then-mayor set up a fall display in front of his house. It is now regarded as the nation’s sixth largest festival and operates under the slogan, “The Greatest Free Show on Earth.” pumpkinshow.com

October 17 & 18 | Zimmerman Glasstoberfest • Corydon, IN Glasstoberfest is a two-day celebration of the art of glass-blowing with more than 20 demonstrating artists. You can purchase unique glass crafted before your eyes, such as mini pumpkins. Enjoy German cuisine while you peruse handmade goods from local artisans, or relax in the beer garden with live music. With kids’ activities, food trucks, and more, the artsy event honors the city’s dedication to craftsmanship. mainstreetcorydon.org/events/glasstoberfest

October 17–19 | Salt Festival • Frankfort, KY

–19 Salt • day back annual g . dren’s kin, school o speakers. m.com/events/41st-annual-salt-

This three-day event sends you back in time to

At the 41st annual Salt Festival, visitors can see what it was like to live as a pioneer, watch saltmaking demonstrations, and try their hand at throwing a tomahawk or launching a bow and arrow. Listen to live folk and bluegrass music, browse the various craft vendors, or take to the children’s play area to climb a hay bale fort, paint a pumpkin, and compete in the hobby horse race. School Day on October 17 welcomes school groups to learn from educational speakers. kentuckytourism.com/events/41st-annual-saltfestival-8273

ZIMMERMAN

SALT FESTIVAL

ober uisville, aintings nt

October 18 & 19 | Via Colori Street Painting • Louisville, KY

More than 100 artists gather to create chalk paintings on the pavement of Louisville’s Waterfront Park. From beloved movie characters to realistic animals, the large-scale artwork is a remarkable feat, with paintings created in real time in front of attendees. Via Colori is the state’s largest street painting festival,

als, remarkable s created in real front l

supporting the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana. Featuring vendors, live music, and children’s activities, the event is a fall celebration of art and community. viacolorikentucky.com

October 24 & 25 | Spirit of the Forest Bigfoot Festival • Celina, OH

Calling all cryptid fanatics! This is a festival for you. A wholehearted celebration of the legend of Bigfoot, this multi-day event, which donates

a port Center the works treated to spe Russell vendo for ch Bigfo orig ente fe

a portion of proceeds to Piqua’s Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development, has the works. On festival grounds you will be treated to speakers of all sorts, including Russell Acord of the Discovery Channel, food vendors, a beer and wine garden, story time for children, adult and junior tracking classes, a Bigfoot lookalike contest, and casting classes of original Bigfoot prints. And when you enter, don’t forget to say hello to Nelson, the festival’s gargantuan Bigfoot sculpture—the organizers claim he will be “waiting to greet you.” bigfootfestivaloh.com

October 25 | Glizzy Fest • Battle Creek, MI

Come for the hot dogs, stay for the hot dogs. The Glizzy Fest features an enormous variety of its titular items; last year, festival-goers were treated to items in the Kellogg Arena space such as Chicago crepe-dogs, jalapeño popper dogs, and Reuben dogs. This year, other offerings include live music, karaoke opportunities, and plentiful non-hot dog food vendors. And whatever you do, do not forget to cast your vote for the festival’s best glizzy! glizzyfest.com

NOVEMBER

November 21–23 | Greater Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular • Monroeville, PA

21–25 at the ion s Christmas arts and crafts

handmade ornaments, artwork, ndles, d aus, mances vailable perience. ls.com/holiday-spectacular

The 28th annual Greater Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular runs November 21–25 at the Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. This Christmas arts and crafts show features vendors selling holiday sweets and baked goods, handmade ornaments, artwork, jewelry, candles, home decor, clothing, and other crafts and accessories. Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting and henna dying, and performances by Larry Cervi’s East End Kids will also be available for visitors interested in the full festival experience. familyfestivals.com/holiday-spectacular

Unbeatable trails. Unreal views. Unforgettable experiences.

Skithe valleyfor unbound adventure inTucker County,West Virginia.

VIA COLORI STREET PAINTING

GREATER PITTSBURGH ARTS & CRAFTS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

SCHOOLS

SEATBELTS, EVERYONE!

Please don’t let this be a normal field trip.

CLAIRE LEFTON

GET IMMERSED IN LANGUAGE AND ART

For language students studying French, Spanish, and German, the Cincinnati Art Museum has programs centering on the art of those cultures. Additionally, tours can be conducted entirely in those languages to help the students improve org/visit/tours/school-tours

Students can channel their inner Moneyball at this Reds Hall of Fame school program. Designed for grades 3–12, the class will use real MLB budgets and statistics to assemble a dream team, conduct a press conference, and determine the winners through the power of math. mlb.com/reds/hall-of-fame/visit/ school-groups

LEARN SURVIVAL SKILLS

At LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center, students in grades 4–8 can become immersed in the world of survival literature like Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain, learning important wilderness survival skills like water, and creating shelter.

DO SOME HORSE MATH

Educators at Greenacres Farm have designed horse-based math and science programs for students in grades 6–8. They can learn about linear equations, forces, energy ﬂow, and the Pythagorean theorem, all while practicing equine management skills.

MAKE SOME MAPLE SYRUP

You can go from sap to syrup at the Cincinnati Nature Center’s Maple Sugaring school program. Students from kindergarten to eighth grade will get to hike through the trees, learning about photosynthesis and the maple sugaring process before trying some for themselves.

BECOME A FIREFIGHTER

Field trip programming at the Cincinnati Fire Museum is all about combining the fun of sliding

BECOME A MODERN-DAY FREEDOM FIGHTER

This high school program at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center not only teaches students about the history of slavery and civil rights but empowers them to become modern abolitionists and champion justice.

engine, and learn how to keep themselves and their

SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES

The important work being done in the Center of Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at the Cincinnati Zoo can be shared with students from junior high through college with a guided tour of the lab, where they’ll get to see scientists at work protecting and repopulating endangered plants and animals.

|SATURDAY,NOV. 1

COME ON IN

We asked local schools what prospective families can expect at an open house event and how to make the most of the experience. Here are some of their tips.

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Southwest Ohio

Families will receive a welcoming, personalized experience at our open houses. Information regarding our Catholic Identity, academic programs, course offerings, and extra-curricular activities will be available for prospective families. I recommend that families come to the open house prepared with questions about programs and culture that are important to them.

—KentHalaby,DeputySuperintendent

ofOperationalVitality

Badin High School

Hamilton

We are excited to show prospective 7th and 8th grade students and parents around the Badin campus to learn more about all that Badin has to offer, including: top notch academics that will prepare students for the next level; faith formation through religion classes, annual retreats, and extraordinary service opportunities; athletic teams that compete to win; and extracurricular activities to round out their high school career.

Students and parents will receive a student-led tour through the school building, meeting teachers, parents, coaches, and administrators, plus a bonus tour through Badin’s new Matandy SportsPlex—our newly opened sports complex. We can’t wait to see you at Badin to discover how you can be part of something extraordinary at Badin!

—AngieGray,DirectorofMarketing Communications

Bethany School

Glendale

Are you seeking an extraordinary educational experience for your child? Look no further than Bethany School, a private K–8 Episcopal School empowering students to thrive in a diverse world.

Join us for an upcoming open house where you can come and see our stunning 23-acre campus and top-of-the-line facilities. Enjoy a tour led by one of our Bethany

Ambassadors where you will learn about the experiences our students and families enjoy on a daily basis. Current parents and members of our admissions team will be available to answer your questions and help you start your application process.

Come see why Bethany may be the school for your young person!

—MarkPhair,DirectorofAdvancement

Bishop Fenwick High School

Middletown/Franklin

Whether you are just beginning to explore your high school options or are well into your decision-making process, our open house is designed to help you get answers, connect with our community, and envision yourself as part of it. Families can expect to meet faculty, coaches, counselors, and administrators from every department, as well as chat with student ambassadors about academics, athletics, the arts, and clubs.

their school-issued Surface Pros for everything from classroom collaboration to digital design, with demonstrations from our student-led IT Help Desk.

Tours of classrooms, labs, common spaces, and our chapel—the heart of our campus—offer a glimpse into daily life, while conversations with our staff and students provide the insight you need to make an informed decision. To make the most of your visit, ask questions, explore every corner, and picture your student thriving here. This is more than an open house—it’s your invitation to experience the spirit, tradition, and innovation that bring our mission to life. It’s your chance to see why, in every way that matters.

—AprilSova,DirectorofMarketing

Children’s Meeting House Montessori School

Loveland

When prospective families visit CMH’s open house, they’ll experience a vibrant Montessori community where children

are supported, challenged, and inspired to grow into their fullest potential.

Our holistic approach nurtures the whole child—academically, emotionally, socially, and physically—at their own pace and to their personal best. Students thrive within a layered support system that includes multiage classrooms, three-year learning cycles, Montessori-credentialed faculty, and uninterrupted work periods. Creativity and curiosity are valued just as highly as academic achievement.

Families will learn how CMH students master core subjects like math, science, and language at a comprehensive, hands-on level. Learning is movement-based, collaborative, and rooted in decision-making, time management, and critical thinking—life skills formed early and carried forward.

Our campus sets us apart. CMH is the only Montessori school in Cincinnati located on seven acres of woods and meadows, surrounded by hundreds more. Students hike, garden, compost, and study nature daily—guided by our full-time naturalist staff, a unique offering among local Montessori schools. They explore ecology, zoology, botany, building a deep, lasting connection with the environment. From insect metamorphosis to gardening, students learn patience and see results of their time and energy

To make the most of the open house, families are encouraged to ask questions, see our classrooms, and envision their child in this setting. Meet our faculty, talk with current families, and explore how independence and collaboration are woven into every part of the day.

What we most want to share is this: CMH is more than a school. It’s a place where students are known, respected, and empowered—prepared not just for academic success, but for a meaningful life beyond the classroom.

—JessicaAnderson, DevelopmentDirector

Cincinnati Country Day School

Indian Hill

Every day we connect students both academically and personally. Whether in the

A world-class, Christ-centered education does more than cultivate knowledge for today: It challenges academically, grows spiritually, and prepares for all that lies ahead.

At Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, we’re inspiring the next generation to discover their unique callings—so they can make an impact wherever they go.

classroom or on our 60-acre campus, students are known, nurtured, and inspired through innovative learning, independent thinking, and self-discovery.

We are one community united to help grow students, ages 18 months to 18 years. We provide students with an exemplary, character-driven, and challenging academic experience that will guide them to be the future leaders of the next generation. We

the next phase of their lives and bettering a dynamic world.

Every day brings new experiences, adventures, opportunities, friendships, and successes.

We take your school search personally. That’s why every prospective student and family meets one-on-one with an admission counselor who will guide them through the school search process, answer questions, and tour them around our beautiful campus.

Families should be sure to ask about our innovative academic program, co-curricular opportunities, and personal growth

100 years. We also encourage all families to explore our generous scholarship and tuition assistance opportunities that make a Country Day education affordable.

Come learn more about our four c’s: curriculum, campus, character and competencies, and community.

—Aaron Kellenberger, Director of Enrollment Management

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

Symmes Township & Downtown

At Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, “Learn. Lead. Serve.” is more than a tagline. It’s a tenet that impacts everything

we do. During fall open house, you’ll learn about our world-class, Christ-centered education and how we’re inspiring students to discover their calling. You’ll encounter leaders who are on a mission to further His Kingdom as they pursue their passions in and out of the classroom. And you’ll uncover our heart for service—a founding principle that remains central to our approach today.

Guided and self-guided tours at each of our four campuses will provide immersive experiences that highlight all CHCA has to offer. Our faculty and staff will be on-site, ready to answer your questions about our theologically integrated curriculum, student-centered learning, and program opportunities. RSVP in advance so you can save time at the door and begin your journey as soon as you arrive.

So many have chosen to call CHCA home. At fall open house, you’ll see why.

of your family’s story.

—Danielle Wilson, Executive Director of Marketing & Communications

Creative Tots Preschool

Mason

Discover the joy of learning at Creative Tots! Join us for our 2025–2026 Open House Series. At Creative Tots Preschool, we believe childhood should be celebrated with color, curiosity, and connection. This year, we’re hosting six exciting open house events to welcome families into our joyful, art-rich learning community.

Our two Family Celebration Nights are more than open houses—they’re full-school experiences designed for the whole family to enjoy together! The Totsotber Halloween Bash features costumes, magic, music, and classroom fun that showcase how imagination fuels learning. The Annual Art Show is our

biggest event of the year, a stunning display children as expressive, capable creators.

Prospective Parent Events are perfect for families exploring preschool options! Come tour our school, peek inside our classrooms, and learn about our curriculum that nurtures independence, empathy, and creativity from 18 months to 5 years.

As featured in our recent magazine spotlight: “Creative Tots is more than a preschool—it’s a place where families feel seen, children feel celebrated, and learning feels like an adventure.”

Whether you’re new to our school or already part of the Creative Tots family, these events are a chance to experience the heart of what we do—and why we do it.

—Creative Tots Preschool

Cincinnati Waldorf School Mariemont

Come learn what makes Waldorf education exceptional, how it will help your child to thrive, and how you and your family might become part of our vibrant CWS community. You’ll visit classrooms that are alive with purposeful learning, explore our natural play spaces, and gain insight into how Waldorf education nurtures the head, heart, and hands of every child. Whether you’re just beginning to explore school options or already feel a spark of connection, we welcome you to come see what sets CWS apart.

—Kate Kelley, Enrollment Director

Elder High School West Price

Hill

When you walk through the doors at Elder’s

SUCCESS has a STARTING POINT

At Elder High School, success is more than a goal - it’s an expectation. Our graduates are consistently accepted into top-tier colleges and universities prepared with the discipline, work ethic,

From there, they rise to become CEOs, surgeons, engineers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. The Elder experience blends rigorous academics, strong values, and a lifelong network of support that opens doors and creates opportunities. For families who value excellence and achievement, Elder provides a foundation that lasts a lifetime. Because no matter how far our grads’ success takes them, it starts here.

Schedule a Shadow Day for your son at Elder High School and see how we are developing tomorrow’s leaders, today!

Zac Reid ’12 Founder and CEO PianoVision

David Altenau ’83 Founder and Chairman The Pitch Black Company

Mike Finley ’79 CEO Boingo Wireless

Jim Jansing ’74 Partner Keating, Muething, Klekamp PPL

Dr. Matt Busam ’93

Cincinnati

Tim Perrino ’74 Founder/Artistic Director Cincinnati Landmark Productions

Steve Fieler ’91 Alphabet, Inc.

Scott Wolfram ’94 Founder/President Working Studio, Inc.

open house, you’ll immediately feel what makes this place so special. It’s more than just a school—it’s a community full of energy, pride, and tradition. Prospective families will be welcomed by students, teachers, and alumni who are excited to share their Elder experience and answer questions along the way.

During your visit, you’ll be able to tour our classrooms, science labs, athletic facilyou’ll meet the people who bring Elder to life—our dedicated teachers, passionate coaches, and talented students. You’ll also

extracurricular opportunities, tuition assistance, and all the ways Elder helps young men grow into leaders both in and out of the classroom.

•

To get the most out of the open house, we encourage families to take their time, ask questions, and connect with current Panthers. Don’t be shy—our students love sharing their stories, and our faculty and staff are here to give you a clear picture of what an Elder education is all about.

What we most want to share is the feeling you get when you’re here. Elder isn’t just a place where young men go to high grow in their faith, and are challenged to want families to leave the open house not just informed, but inspired, knowing that Elder is a place where their son can belong, thrive, and be part of something bigger than himself.

—TrinaNiemer,DirectorofMarketing

Great Oaks Career Campuses 36 School Districts in Southwest Ohio

Great Oaks is the largest public career-technical school district in Ohio partnering with 36 school districts in an area spanning 2,200 square miles.

Each year, thousands of area high school juniors and seniors prepare for a career at one of Great Oaks’s state-ofthe-art campuses—Diamond Oaks in Dent (Green Township), Laurel Oaks in Wilmington, Live Oaks in Milford, or Scarlet Oaks in Sharonville.

healthcare to high-tech manufacturing to cybersecurity to construction trades, culinary arts, cosmetology, digital arts, animal science, auto technology, aviation

its four campuses, Great Oaks offers over 30 different programs that focus on skills in demand by industry. Students spend half of the school day in their super-elective lab programs and the other half in academic classes. High school students can earn college credits, gain work experience through internships and co-ops, and secure industry credentials.

Great Oaks also offers over 100

Are

www.cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org

“satellite” programs embedded in 30 partnering high schools across the region focused on workforce development including biomedical sciences, business management, marketing, teaching professions, and more.

The district serves adult learners through career training in high-demand ations and engineering, police, and health also provides programs like English for speakers of other languages, high school classes. Partnerships with local business, shape the programs offered.

—ChrisPinelo,CommunityRelations andEducationFoundationStrategist

Guardian Angels School Mt. Washington

en school providing a Catholic education to students in preschool through 8th

alized education to each student, preparing them to be faithful disciples of Christ through service and leadership. Please

—SaraRehl,DirectorofMarketing& Communications

Mercy McAuley High School College Hill

save time at check-in. Register at www.

to careers in medicine, law, sciences, offers competitive athletic programs with lege Hill, just minutes from I-74, Ronald —PattyThelen,DirectorofMarketing

At Moeller, REALearning —Relational. Experiential. Authentic.— brings education to life. Grounded in research on how young men learn best, REALearning moves beyond the classroom into hands-on experiences that inspire growth and leadership. Whether it’s tackling project-based courses in the Burns Innovation Hub, serving others on mission trips, competing on the field, or engaging in 40+ co-curriculars, our students don’t just study—they practice, discover, and lead. The result? Confident leaders, creative problem solvers, and remarkable men prepared for the future.

Discover the Moeller Brotherhood

Join us at the Open House on November 2

Scan here to sign up Catholic. Marianist. Forming our Students into Remarkable Men.

Archbishop Moeller High School

Montgomery

When families walk through the doors to Moeller’s open house, they’ll step into a vibrant, welcoming community rooted in our Catholic, Marianist tradition. Guests will go on a student-led 1:1 tour of our campus with opportunities to meet faculty, administration, students, coaches, club moderators, and current parents.

ucational philosophy of REALearning— Relational. Experiential. Authentic.—how young men learn best.

Throughout the visit, families will receive information on academic programs, faith formation, athletics, co-curricular activities, tuition assistance, and our House System, which fosters leadership and belonging. They’ll also be able to sample food prepared in our scratch kitchen by our dining partners from SAGE.

A highlight of the tour is the Burns Innovation Hub, Moeller’s state-of-the-art space for high-impact, interdisciplinary learning. Here, students collaborate on hands-on projects that merge technology, creativity, and problem-solving— bringing lessons to life in ways that prepare them for college, careers, and leadership in the modern world.

Most importantly, we want prospective

families to walk away feeling the strong sense of brotherhood, faith, and personmore than a school—it’s a place where young men are challenged, supported, and inspired to become Remarkable Men.

—KatieHausfeld,Directorof Enrollment

Purcell Marian East Walnut Hills

We invite you to visit Purcell Marian and

high school; it is a home where students discover where they truly belong. You’ll learn how, for nearly 100 years, we have prepared students for a better future through our distinctive characteristics of Marianist Education, inclusive extracurricular activities, and the prestigious International Baccalaureate program— recognized worldwide for its challenging curriculum and college-preparatory rigor. You’ll see how we invite students to know God, love others, and seek their purpose in life.

Get a glimpse of how we challenge dence together. You’ll meet our dedicated faculty, who, due to our small school size, truly get to know and love all of our

students. Explore all the Castle has to offer during our open house!

—Dr.TedWhapham,President

Saint Ursula Academy East Walnut Hills

Families are invited for an in-depth look at Saint Ursula Academy and what makes it the top high school choice for so many girls across the region.

Take a student-led tour through the beautiful campus, talk with teachers and program directors, and learn about our next-level experiential learning and unique programs that lead to exceptional results. New this year, learn about our new and one-of-a-kind innovative schedule that provides experiential learning for every student and prepares them for future success.

Families should know that students from across the region are drawn to SUA for the tradition of academic excellence, but they soon realize the whole SUA experience offers so much more. The community is founded on the strength of our Catholic faith and Ursuline values. By getting involved in clubs, organizations, and formational programming, girls will compassion, and respect necessary to be a leader in the community. In addi-

community service all play a part in the formation of the SUA student.

—MichelleDellecave

Seton High School

West Price Hill

In the tradition of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and founded in the mission of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Seton High School develops a diverse population of young women for a life of faith, service, and leadership, and engages them in achieving academic excellence in a college preparatory environment.

Our Catholic faith is an integral part of all that we do. From daily morning prayers, liturgies, retreats, and extracurricular activities, faith formation is the most important part of the Seton experience.

Seton is proud to offer an exceptional academic program that challenges students to excel both in and out of the classroom. Seton offers an Honors Program, 17 AP courses, 11 dual college-credit courses, academic pathways, and a collaborative support services program. Seton Saints have the opportunity to earn over 90 college credits upon graduation.

“Our students can be leaders in the ricular clubs and activities, on stage, and in their communities,” says Seton High

School President Kathy Allen Ciarla.

dence, and moral grounding to lead the way onto their chosen colleges and career

varsity sports, and more than 30 extracurricular activities, there is no shortage in growth opportunities.”

Students develop empathy through several service opportunities spent in

organizations, and on mission trips. Seton Saints are known for their willingness to give back to their communities.

Through their four years at Seton,

from administration, teachers, and staff empowers them to be critical thinkers and leaders. There is a genuine sense of sisterhood, pride, and legendary school spirit. Students discover their strengths, use and develop their unique gifts and talents, and truly embody the spirit of Seton!

—SetonHighSchool

The Seven Hills School

Madisonville & East Walnut Hills

The Seven Hills School offers a variety of admissions events and invites prospective

families to choose how they wish to learn about our school. Showcasing our teachers, students, and administrators, these events give prospective parents an opportunity to explore all aspects of Seven Hills experience in a personalized setting.

Walk & Talk small group tours are designed for parents who wish to see our campus and glimpse our students and teachers in an hour-long format on a weekday morning.

Our Questions & Conversations virtual series affords families access to our teachers and administrators in an evening about our educational philosophies and academic programs.

Prospective students entering grades 6–12 may schedule a Student Visit Day to interact with students and teachers along with a student host. Every prospective student is unique. Our admission directors questions that parents have regarding their student and the educational goals they have for them. Our Priority Admission deadline is December 1, 2025.

—JanetHill,DirectorofEnrollment Management

Open House: Wednesday, November 12, 4:00–8:30 p.m. (pre-registration required)

Springer School and Center

Hyde Park

Families who attend an open house will meet our admissions director, learn about

Springer’s mission and the students we serve, and take a guided tour of the school during school hours. Each visit lasts about an hour, with guides available to answer questions about admissions and daily student life.

You’ll receive helpful information

about what sets Springer apart, how to begin the admissions process, and the wide range of services we offer—including parent programs, tutoring, summer learning, and evaluation opportunities.

To make the most of an open house, we encourage families to reach out to

Family Outreach Coordinator Shelby Chamberlin, prior to the open house so that our admissions team can learn more about your student and their academic needs prior to the open house making it a more personal experience for you.

We know exploring school options can feel overwhelming. Springer’s admissions team is here to listen, support, and make the process less intimidating. Attending an open house is a great way to discover the options you have for your student!

—SpringerAdmissionsTeam

The Summit Country Day School Hyde Park

The Summit Country Day School’s Upper School open house begins in our historic Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel. This sacred space, where students deliver their personal Chapel Talks senior year—a Summit signature tradition—sets the tone for a night of discovery and connection.

Led by students and faculty, the evening highlights our commitment to academic excellence, spiritual growth, character-based leadership, and social-emotional and physical development. Through interactive sessions, fami-

lies can explore the values and programs that make Summit truly distinct.

Learn about our rigorous curriculum and signature programs like the Schiff Family Science Research Institute and Homan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program as well as incredible artistic offerings and a no-cut athletics program. Discover our four-year college counseling program and spiritual and service opportunities, and explore how our Leaders of Character initiatives foster creative problem-solving and personal growth.

The evening will conclude with an activity and athletics fair in St. Cecilia Hall, where families can socialize, meet coaches, club advisors, and student leaders.

We look forward to welcoming you and helping you discover how Summit prepares students not just for college— but for life.

—TinaTedesco,DirectorofMarketing andCommunication

Ursuline Academy Blue Ash

Join us for Ursuline Academy’s open house! Our mission is to prepare the young woman for college and beyond by nurturing her soul, intellect, heart, and imagination.

At Ursuline, bright, motivated girls are challenged through exceptional academics and inspired by a legacy of faith and leadership. During the event, prospective families will take student-led campus tours that offer a personal and authentic glimpse into daily life at UA, showcasing our vibrant

Families will meet our dedicated faculty and administrators, who will be available to answer questions and share insights about our academic programs, support services and faith-based community. Our faculty foster deep learning and personal growth, while our modular schedule and counseling program empower students to take ownership of their educational journey. Guests can also connect with our coaches and staff to learn more about student life and extracurriculars.

Most families spend about an hour at Ursuline touring the facility and meeting faculty members. Our department leaders will be available to discuss academics and goals for incoming students, as well as provide information to take with you. Our

questions. We are excited to welcome you to Ursuline Academy where girls grow and discover their passions and begin a transformational journey that will take them far.

—MollySpeer,DirectorofEnrollment

• Students Earn Their H.A.L.O. Everyday by Being Honest, Accountable, and a Leader to Others

• Earned Distinction as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

• All Students Participate in our Halo Bell Program, Providing Enrichment Services for ALL Students

• Opened New Makerspace Lab in 2022

• Mental and Physical Health Services Provided by a Full-Time School Counselor & Full-Time School Nurse

• Teachers Guide Students to Develop Spiritually, Academically, Emotionally, and Physically

• Technology Integrated into Every Classroom

• All K-8 Students Participate in Spanish, Art, Music, and Physical Education Weekly

• Extra-Curricular Activities Include Athletics, Music, Drama, and More

• EdChoice Program Provider

OPEN HOUSE GUIDE 2025-2026

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Dates and times for high school open houses can be found at www.CatholicBestChoice. org.

Badin High School

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2025 1–4:30 P.M. Reserve your tour time online: BadinHS.org

Ramformation Nights

Held at Badin High School

7 P.M.: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8; THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 (LATINO NIGHT – INTERPRETERS WILL BE AVAILABLE); TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4; AND MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025 RSVP Online: BadinHS.org

Schedule a Shadow Day at Badin – Grade 8 – BadinHS.org

Questions? Contact the Badin Admissions

571 Hamilton New London Rd. Hamilton, OH 45013 (513) 863-3993 | www.BadinHS.org

Bethany School

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2025, 2–4 P.M. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026, 2–4 P.M.

Dallas Stokes, Director of Enrollment Management

(513) 771-7462 ext. 1109 555 Albion Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45246 (513) 771-7462 | www.bethanyschool.org

Bishop Fenwick High School

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2025, 1–4 P.M.

Information Nights

WEDNESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 10 AND 24 AND OCTOBER 8, 2025, 6:30–8 P.M. Shadow Days are available throughout the fall. For more information about Fenwick or any of our Admission Events, please contact Chris Kemper, Director of Admissions, at (513) 423-0723 ext. 1201. 4855 State Route 122 Franklin, OH 45005 (513) 428-0525 | www.fenwickfalcons.org

Children’s Meeting House

Montessori School

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2025, 10 A.M.–12 P.M.

Questions? Contact Director of Admissions and Advancement, Jessica Anderson

Check us out at www.cmhschool.com to let us know you are interested! 927 O’Bannonville Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-4757 | www.cmhschool.com

Cincinnati Country Day School

Personalized tours and individual meetings with admission staff members are scheduled Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. during the school year. Student visitations are scheduled during this same time beginning October 1. Contact us at (513)

net. Take a virtual tour at https://vimeo. com/462805928 or https://www.countryday. net/admission/visit-us/campus-map. 6905 Given Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45243 (513) 979-0220 | www.countryday.net

Cincinnati Hills Christian

Academy

NOVEMBER 8, 2025, 10 A.M.–1 P.M. In-person tours and shadow visits are also available. Learn more at chca-oh.org/ admissions/schedule-a-visit.

CHCA Campus Locations:

Martha S. Lindner Campus (Upper School Grades 9–12) 11525 Snider Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 247-0900 | www.chca-oh.org

Founders’ Campus (Upper School Grades 7–8 & Upper Elementary Grades 4–6) 11300 Snider Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 247-0900 | www.chca-oh.org

Edyth B. Lindner Elementary School (Lower Elementary Grades K–3)/Blake Lindner Thomas Early Learning Center (Preschool 2–4 Years) 11312 Snider Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 247-0900 | www.chca-oh.org Otto Armleder Memorial Education Campus (Preschool 3–4 Years–Grade 6) 140 W. Ninth St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 721-2422 | www.chca-oh.org

Creative Tots Preschool

Family Halloween Open House

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025, 5–6:30 P.M.

Prospective Parent Events

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025, 1:30–3:30 P.M.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025, 1:30–3:30 P.M.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026, 1:30–3:30 P.M.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2026, 1:30–3:30 P.M.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026, 1:30–3:30 P.M.

Art Show Family Open House – Biggest Event of the Year!

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026, 5–6:30 P.M. 6408 Thornberry Ct., Suite 110 Mason, OH 45040 (513) 770-6776 | www.creativetotsmason.com

Cincinnati Waldorf School

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025, 10 A.M.–1 P.M.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2026, 10 A.M.–1 P.M. No RSVP is necessary for these open house events.

Seasonal Craft and Preschool Information Evening

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025 6:30 P.M.–8 P.M. RSVP required, cost is $5 cash at the

cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org to RSVP 6743 Chestnut St. Cincinnati, OH 45236 (513) 541-0220 | www.cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org

Elder High School

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025, 4–8 P.M.

Register to win a $1,000 tuition grant! Must attend Open House to be eligible. See elderhs.org/admissions for more details. Contact Brian Hiles, Admissions Director, for more information. Check out our virtual campus tour: www.elderhs.org/tour360 3900 Vincent Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45205 (513) 921-3744 | www.elderhs.org

Great Oaks Career Campuses

Great Oaks will be hosting four open houses in January 2026. Visit www.greatoaks.com for more information

Diamond Oaks Career Campus 6375 Harrison Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45247 (513) 574-1300 I www.greatoaks.com

Laurel Oaks Career Campus

300 Oak Dr. Wilmington, OH 45177 (800) 752-5480 www.greatoaks.com

Live Oaks Career Campus 5956 Buckwheat Rd. Milford, OH 45150 (513) 575-1900 www.greatoaks.com

Scarlet Oaks Career Campus

300 Scarlet Oaks Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45241 (513) 612-3609 www.greatoaks.com

Guardian Angels School

Schedule a personal tour today! 6539 Beechmont Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45230 (513) 624-3141 | www.gaschool.org

Mercy McAuley High School

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2025, 1–3:30 P.M. Register at www.mercymcauley.org/ OpenHouse. 6000 Oakwood Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45224 (513) 681-1800 | www.mercymcauley.org

OPEN HOUSE GUIDE

2025-2026

Archbishop Moeller High School

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2025

Shadow Visits Begin SEPTEMBER 2025

High School Placement Test

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2025

Moeller Application Deadline

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025

Man of Moeller Day

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026

Registration Day

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026

To register for shadow days and the Open House go to www.moeller.org/admissions 9001 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 791-1680 | www.moeller.org

Purcell Marian

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025, 4–6 PM

Visit www.purcellmarian.org/admissions for more admissions events. 2935 Hackberry St. Cincinnati, OH 45206 (513) 751-1230 | www.purcellmarian.org

Saint Ursula Academy

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2025, 1–4 P.M.

Open House for girls in grades 6, 7, 8, and their families.

REGISTER: www.saintursula.org/Visit.aspx Virtual Tour: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BUx14dT_|J4&feature=youtu.be 1339 E. McMillan St. Cincinnati, OH 45206 (513) 961-3410 | www.saintursula.org

Seton High School

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025, 4–8:30 P.M.

Pre-registration is required

Shadow Days

FRIDAYS, SEPTEMBER 26; OCTOBER 3, 17, AND 24; AND NOVEMBER 21, 2025

Pre-registration is required 3901 Glenway Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45205 (513) 471-2600 | www.setoncincinnati.org

The Seven Hills School

Walk & Talk Group Tours

Pre-k through Kindergarten: NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, 2025, ON MOST TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND THURSDAYS

Grades 1–5:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 AND WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025, 9–10 A.M.

Grades 6–12:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16; WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29; TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025, 9–10 A.M.

Questions & Conversation Virtual Admission Events

Pre-k through Grade 5: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025, 9–10 A.M.

Grades 6–12:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025, 7–7:45 P.M.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026, 7–7:45 P.M. Register for our Admission Events at 7hills.org/explore 5400 Red Bank Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45227 (513) 728-2400 | www.7hills.org

2726 Johnstone Place Cincinnati, OH 45206 (513) 728-2400 | www.7hills.org

Springer School and Center

Lower School & Middle School Open Houses At Springer TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025; WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2026; TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026; WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026; TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2026; WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026; TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2026, 9:30–10:30 A.M.

Online

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2025, 6:30 P.M. Registration required at https://www. springer-ld.org/admission/open-house/

New this year from the Springer Learning Center

The Parenting Toolkit, a free, in-person workshop series open to the public. Register online.

2121 Madison Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45208 (513) 871-6080 | www.Springer-LD.org

The Summit Country Day School

Parent Preview Days, Upper School (Grades 9-12)

SEPTEMBER 25, OCTOBER 14 AND 29, 8:30 A.M.

Parent Preview Days, Montessori-Grade 8 OCTOBER 23 AND NOVEMBER 11 8:30 A.M.

Upper School Open House (Grades 9-12) NOVEMBER 20, 6:30 P.M.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend our Parent Preview Days or Open House. Contact our admissions team for more opportunities to visit, including student and parent Shadow Days: admissions@ summitcds.org 2161 Grandin Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45208 (513) 871-4700 | www.summitcds.org

Ursuline Academy

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025, 9 A.M.–12 P.M. 5535 Pfeiffer Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 791-5791 | www.ursulineacademy.org/ admissions/experience-ursuline

GUESSWHAT -

TODAY “ “

Walk & Talk Group Tours

All walking tours are 9-10 a.m.

Pre-k - Kindergarten

Now - Nov. 13

Offered most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Grades 1-5

Tuesday, Oct. 14

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Grades 6-12

Thursday, Oct. 16

Wednesday, Oct. 29

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Questions & Conversations

Virtual events offered at varied times

Pre-k - Grade 5

Wednesday, Oct. 22 9-10 a.m.

Grades 6-12

Wednesday, Oct. 29

7-7:45 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 22 7-7:45 p.m.

Our Vision

Our Vision is to serve as a catalyst for prevention and restoration empowering youth to become positive contributing members of our community disrupting the pipeline to prison

What We Do

SuperSeeds provides a 2-Day Transformation Camp for youth between the ages of 13-17. The camp addresses youth behavior and violence utilizing a Restorative and Transformative approach. Youth take a tour to explore the real-life consequences of behavior and how behaviors feed systems.

The camp focuses on providing youth with:

•Awareness - Helping youth understand the real-life consequences of behaviors and to explore all of the many career opportunities in law enforcement. (Youth visit the Hamilton County Justice Center to explore career opportunities and to hear from the employee and the inmate & UC Medical to learn about the effects of gun violence)

•Hope - Helping youth understand that they still have value and have very bright futures ahead of them. (Youth visit Cincinnati State Technical & Community College to help them understand the importance of being seated in the classroom and doing the work)

•Courage -We hope that by making them aware and providing them with hope, they will have the courage to do something different.

The Transformation journey starts with the camp as youth are Restored, Reformed and Redirected.

SuperSeeds 2-Day Transformation Camp

DAY 1DAY 2

Hamilton County Justice Center

8:30AM–12:00PM

Arraignment Court | Interview Judge

In-Take Process | Tour Jail | Interview Inmates (Panel Discussion)

University of Cincinnati (Clifton Campus)

1:00PM–2:30PM

College Campus Tour | After High School Presenation (Options, Scholarships, Careers/Goal Setting)

UC Medical Center

8:30AM–11:00AM

A Restorative Approach to Addressing Youth Behavior

$25 covers a meal for each participant of the camp: https://superseedscincy.org/#donate

Visit cincinnatimagazine.com/newsletters to subscribe to our newsletter!

FIVE STAR AWARD WINNERS 2025 CINCINNATI

These days, it takes a village to manage your financial world. Whether it is managing your assets with a wealth manager, or picking the right life insurance, finding the right team can be a daunting task. In fact, many consumers have a hard time figuring out where to even begin.

Sometimes, a few simple questions can put you off on the right path. Asking a professional what makes working with them a unique experience can help you understand how they work and if their style meshes with your own.

This is a great place to start! Five Star Professional uses its own proprietary research methodology to name outstanding professionals, then works with publications such as Cincinnati Magazine to spread the word about award winners. Each award candidate undergoes a thorough research process (detailed here) before being considered for the final list of award winners. For the complete list of winners, go to www.fivestarprofessional.com.

RESEARCH DISCLOSURES

In order to consider a broad population of high-quality wealth managers and investment professionals, award candidates are identified by one of three sources: firm nomination, peer nomination or prequalification based on industry standing. Self-nominations are not accepted. Cincinnati-area award candidates were identified using internal and external research data. Candidates do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final lists of Five Star Wealth Managers or Five Star Investment Professionals.

• The Five Star award is not indicative of a professional’s future performance.

• Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets.

• The inclusion of a professional on the Five Star Wealth Manager list or the Five Star Investment Professional list should not be construed as an endorsement of the professional by Five Star Professional or Cincinnati Magazine

• Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager, Five Star Investment Professional or any professional is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected professionals will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future

• Five Star Professional is not an advisory firm and the content of this article should not be considered financial advice. For more information on the Five Star Wealth Manager or Five Star Investment Professional award programs, research and selection criteria, go to www.fivestarprofessional.com/ public/research.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA

Award candidates who satisfied 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers. Eligibility Criteria –Required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards. 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 6. One-year client retention rate. 7. Five-year client retention rate. 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered. 9. Number of client households served. 10. Education and professional designations. 1,789 award candidates in the Cincinnati area were considered for the Five Star Wealth Manager award. 191 (approximately 11% of the award candidates) were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers.

FIVE STAR INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA

The investment professional award goes to estate planning attorneys, insurance agents and select others in the financial industry. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed with appropriate state or industry licensures. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 5. One-year client retention rate. 6. Five-year client retention rate. 7. Number of client households served. 8. Recent personal production and performance (industry specific criteria). 9. Education and professional designations/industry and board certifications. 10. Pro Bono and community service work. This year, we honored 5 Cincinnati-area investment professionals with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

Three sources of nominations: – Firm nominations – Peer nominations

– Prequalification based on industry credentials

REGULATORY CONSUMER COMPLAINT REVIEW

All candidates must demonstrate a favorable regulatory history.

CANDIDATE

SUBMISSION OF PRACTICE INFORMATION

Candidates must complete either an online or over-the-phone interview.

EVALUATION OF CANDIDATE PRACTICE

Candidates are evaluated on 10 objective evaluation and eligibility criteria.

FIRM REVIEW OF AWARD CANDIDATE LIST

All candidates are reviewed by a representative of their firm before final selection.

2025 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Finalization and announcement of Five Star Professional award winners.

This award was issued on 09/01/2025 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 01/01/2025 through 06/02/2025. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Selfwealth managers were considered for the award; 191 (11% of candidates) were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: - 6/30/23; 2022: 1,585, 230, 15%, 9/1/22, 1/3/22 - 7/1/22; 2021: 1,357, 216, 16%, 9/1/21, 12/14/20 - 7/9/21; 2020: 1,406, 216, 15%, 9/1/20, 12/2/19 - 6/12/20; 368, 40%, 8/1/16, 2/10/16 - 7/25/16; 2015: 1,667, 427, 26%, 9/1/15, 2/10/15 - 7/25/15; 2014: 2,082, 483, 23%, 9/1/14, 2/10/14 - 7/25/14; 2013: 1,367, 509, 37%,

Wealth managers do not pay a fee to

(RIA) or a manager has

A. Been subject to a

action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee

Left to right: 2020 – 2025 winner Amy Burgraff, CFP®, Financial Advisor; Yvonne Wyckoff, Associate Vice President, Wealth Management Associate; 2014 – 2025 winner Paul McCauley, CPM®, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; Phil McCauley IV, Chartered Financial Analyst

Members of the Madison Group at Morgan Stanley care deeply about our clients and each other. Our team includes 14 investment professionals with various areas of specialization, complementary skills and shared values. Pictured herein are Paul McCauley, Certified Portfolio Manager; Amy Burgraff, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional; Yvonne Wyckoff, Associate Vice President; and Phil McCauley IV, Chartered Financial Analyst. We’re dedicated to cohesively leveraging our respective talents to the best of our abilities to enhance clients’ lives.

completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,789 Cincinnati-area YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2024: 1,596, 200, 13%, 9/1/24, 12/12/23 - 7/9/24; 2023: 1,649, 240, 15%, 9/1/23, 12/12/22 2019: 1,371, 238, 17%, 9/1/19, 11/19/18 - 6/28/19; 2018: 1,413, 239, 17%, 9/1/18, 12/20/17 - 7/19/18; 2017: 985, 288, 29%, 9/1/17, 12/21/16 - 6/29/17; 2016: 918, 9/1/13, 2/10/13 - 7/25/13; 2012: 1,265, 477, 38%, 9/1/12, 2/10/12 - 7/25/12.

www.fivestarprofessional.com.

WEALTH MANAGERS

All award winners are listed in this publication.

Wealth Managers

Financial Planning

Ryan F. Antepenko

The Rosselot Financial Group

Matthew C. Bayer

The Bayer Financial Group, LLC Page 8

Amy Burgraff

Morgan Stanley Page 2

Josè L. Chavez

The Rosselot Financial Group

Chris Collier WestPoint Financial Group

S. David Dinn

Brecek & Young Financial Services

Monica L. Dwyer Harvest Financial Advisors

Ben Feldmeyer Feldmeyer Financial Group Dayton Office

Ryan P. Grote

The Rosselot Financial Group

Henry H. Hampton Thrivent Investment Management

Greg W. Hang

Shared Vision Advisors

Randy E. Hein

The Rosselot Financial Group

Aubrey Herman

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Thomas P. Keller Kehoe Financial Advisors

Nathan M. Kosman

The Rosselot Financial Group

Mark Charles Lindloff Osaic FS

Brian Parker Hyde Park Wealth Advisors

Theo Pericleous Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Page 7

Tyrone Phillippi

McKinley Carter Wealth Services

MaryAnn Pietromonaco

Morgan Stanley Page 8

Sonya R. Saskin TouchPoint Wealth Partners

Andy D. Sathe MCF

Bradley Philip Shelley

B. P. Shelley & Associates

Elaina C. Stuard

Robert W. Baird & Co.

Mark B. Sutton

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Page 9

Andrew Uchtman

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Chris R. Ward

EntryPoint WM

Mark N. Wilkins

Thrivent Investment Management

Investments

Casey Armstrong

Morgan Stanley Page 8

Ronald Bates 1919 Investment Counsel

Jill Bracci

Morgan Stanley

Paul Burgdorf Harvest Financial Advisors

Robert Stephen Castellini Wells Fargo Advisors

Mitch Edwards

Morgan Stanley

Chuck Futel Primerica Advisors

Lisa Gerardi Gerardi Wealth Management

John Gould

Morgan Stanley Page 5

Marc Henn Harvest Financial Advisors

Robert Huesman

1919 Investment Counsel

Mark Josaitis Barnwood Capital Management, LLC

Paul McCauley

Morgan Stanley Page 2

Peter D. McColgan Wells Fargo Advisors

Derek Miller Feldmeyer Financial Group Dayton Office

Nick Otto WestPoint Financial Group Page 4

Jonathan Peirson

Peirson Financial Services, LLC Page 9

Alan Runkel

Independent Financial Resources, LLC

Chris Saul

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Michael E. Short

Periscope Financial Page 6

Jason Sirotak

WestPoint Financial Group Page 4

Jeffrey David Stanley

Morgan Stanley

James O. Stewart

The Rosselot Financial Group

Kimberly A. Thompson Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Investment Professionals

Certified Public Accountant

Katerina Maney KCM & Associates CPAs, Inc.

Estate Planning Attorney

J. Ellen Keller Keller, Barrett & Higgins, LLC

When you decide to retire, your financial management needs tend to change.

This may leave you navigating new waters, and it’s a great idea to hire a wealth manager to manage your money in a smart way and look towards your long-term goals.

WestPoint Financial Group The Sirotak-Otto Team

Helping Build Secure Financial Futures

Our combined experience of over 25 years in the financial services industry allows us to help clients like you. Whether it’s retirement planning, investment allocation, insurance, college savings or something else, we develop strategies to help you meet the goals that are important to you.

We listen. In our first meeting, we let you do the talking. Here, we discover your goals and risk tolerance, current position, where you want to go and how to get you there.

We work together. A solid financial plan requires teamwork and trust, which is why we take the time to discover what you envision for your financial future to tailor recommendations to your situation and set you up for success.

We care. We want to see you live the life you work hard to achieve. It will be a marathon rather than a sprint, but we’ve trained to run alongside you every step of the way. By analyzing, implementing and reviewing your strategy, we can ensure you’re on course toward achieving your goals.

Montgomery Road, Suite 620 • Cincinnati, OH 45236 Jason: 513-332-9982 • jsirotak@financialguide.com Nick: 513-332-9973 • notto@financialguide.com www.sirotakottoteam.com

questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,789 Cincinnati-area wealth managers Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2024: 1,596, 200, 13%, 9/1/24, 12/12/23 - 7/9/24; 2023: 1,649, 240, 15%, 9/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 1,585, 11/19/18 - 6/28/19; 2018: 1,413, 239, 17%, 9/1/18, 12/20/17 - 7/19/18; 2017: 985, 288, 29%, 9/1/17, 12/21/16 - 6/29/17; 2016: 918, 368, 40%, 8/1/16, 2/10/16 - 7/25/16; 38%, 9/1/12, 2/10/12 - 7/25/12. This year, we honored 5 Cincinnati-area investment professionals with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Left to right: 2019 – 2025 winner Nick Otto, CFP®, ChFC®, FSCP®; Michelle Graham, Team Operations Coordinator; 2012 – 2025 winn er Jason Sirotak, CFP®, ChFC®, CASL®, RICP®

John Gould

CFP®, CEPA®, CPM®, CPWA®, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager

Wealth Is Multidimensional. So Is Our Approach.

The more money you earn, the more complicated your financial life can become. Executives face corporate equity decisions. Business owners need exit strategies. Many families require complex estate plans.

As a Cincinnati-based team with 60-plus years of combined experience, we help design your financial future so that no challenge — complex or mundane — stands between you and your vision of success.

I have been named a 2019 – 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager. Get a fresh perspective on your financial future. Call us at 513-562-8313, or email Janie.Shaffer@morganstanley.com.

• Professional portfolio management

• Business succession and exit strategies

• Alternative investments

• Stock option strategies and executive compensation

• Tax management strategies

The Celestial Group at Morgan Stanley 7755 Montgomery Road, 2nd Floor • Cincinnati, OH 45236

Direct: 513-562-8309 • Cell: 513-815-3263

Fax: 513-322-4574 • Toll-Free: 800-659-6599

john.gould@morganstanley.com • advisor.morganstanley.com/john.gould

CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S. John Gould has 28-plus years of industry experience. Janie Shaffer has 7-plus years of industry experience. Anna Kohlem has 25-plus years of industry experience. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters. ©2025 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC4645136 07/25.

This award was issued on 09/01/2025 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 01/01/2025 through 06/02/2025. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed were considered for the award; 191 (11% of candidates) were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # 230, 15%, 9/1/22, 1/3/22 - 7/1/22; 2021: 1,357, 216, 16%, 9/1/21, 12/14/20 - 7/9/21; 2020: 1,406, 216, 15%, 9/1/20, 12/2/19 - 6/12/20; 2019: 1,371, 238, 17%, 9/1/19, 2015: 1,667, 427, 26%, 9/1/15, 2/10/15 - 7/25/15; 2014: 2,082, 483, 23%, 9/1/14, 2/10/14 - 7/25/14; 2013: 1,367, 509, 37%, 9/1/13, 2/10/13 - 7/25/13; 2012: 1,265, 477,

Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth

Left to right: Ashley Wullenweber, Client Relationship Analyst; Andrew Benson, Financial Advisor; Kim Wright, Wealth Managemen t Associate; 2019 – 2025 winner John Gould, CFP®, CPWA®, CPM®, CEPA® Senior Vice President; Matt Harris, First Vice President; Anna Kohlem, Assistant Vice President; Janie Shaffer, Business Development Director

Michael E. Short Wealth

Advisor

• Comprehensive wealth management

• Robust investment and protection strategies

• Personalized planning and service

• Holistic approach to financial well-being and legacy planning

For two decades, we have been dedicated to helping clients grow, protect and transfer their wealth — empowering them to pursue both personal and professional aspirations. Through strategic planning, proactive risk management and dependable support, we guide our clients through financial complexities, allowing them to stay focused on what matters most: their goals and dreams.

We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service while welcoming new clients into the Periscope Financial family. Please feel free to schedule a meeting with us to explore how we can support your financial journey. To learn more, visit our website at www.periscopefinancial.com.

2000 Madison Road • Cincinnati, OH 45208 Phone: 513-430-0171

michael@periscopefinancial.com lisa@periscopefinancial.com alexa@periscopefinancial.com www.periscopefinancial.com

Left to right: Lisa O’Brien, Operations Manager; 2013 – 2025 winner Michael Short, Owner, Wealth Advisor; Alexa Casey, Licensed Sales Associate

Theo Pericleous

Private Wealth Advisor, CRPC™

Financial Planning — It’s More Than Money

Through the financial planning process, we help clients achieve goals, such as retirement planning, investment planning, tax planning strategies, insurance planning and legacy planning strategies. The most significant parts of our practice are the close relationships that we cultivate over the years with our clients that allow us to address behaviors that stand in the way of achieving their goals. We dedicate a lot of energy to prepare our clients’ heirs to steward their assets for generations to come. In short, we try to help clients manage their financial concerns to provide greater confidence.

Left to right: Back row: Alex Pericleous, Associate Financial Advisor; 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2024 and 2025 winner Theo Pericleous, Private Wealth Advisor, CRPC™; Nathan Marchal, Financial Advisor, CRPC™; Kristos Pericleous, Associate Financial Advisor; Front row: Lindsey Chapman, Financia l Advisor; Lauren Davies, Assistant; Jennifer Fox, Financial Advisor; Seated: 2015, 2017 and 2023 winner Neerja Chaudhry, Financial Adviso r, CFP®, CRPC™, APMA™

Matthew C. Bayer

Portfolios With Purpose

Matt Bayer is celebrating over 30 years of providing independent financial advice. As an independent advisor, he can truly work in his clients’ best interests without external pressures. Matt is a SmartVestor Pro. He has the heart of a teacher, not the attitude of a salesman. Matt has positioned The Bayer Financial Group, LLC to work within fiduciary and suitability standards. Through a combination of fee-based and commission-based investment strategies, Matt has created the opportunity to not only keep client costs low, but guard against deep market swings and preserve assets for generations to come. Please visit the BFG website for a complete description of the planning process and to schedule some time to chat with Matt.

937-432-6585

bfg@bayerfinancialgroup.com www.bayerfinancialgroup.com

MaryAnn Pietromonaco and Casey Armstrong

Financial planning

Divorce planning • MaryAnn: 2012 – 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager • Casey: 2021 – 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager

The NKY Group at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a dynamic team of female financial professionals dedicating their platform to financial wellness — earning it, saving it, spending it, investing it, giving it and talking about it! Fundamentals of our core philosophy start with having meaningful and personal conversations with our clients and their families. We believe our advice and counsel should be enjoyable and always gracious while deeply rooted in advanced analysis, custom planning and measured risk assessments. 221 E 4 th Street, Atrium 2, Suite 2200 Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513- 852-4401 • Phone: 614-980-1264

maryann.pietromonaco@morganstanley.com casey.armstrong@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/the-nky-group

Stanley and its Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should seek advice based on their

Left to right: Beth Adkins, Registered Associate; 2012 – 2025 winner MaryAnn Pietromonaco, Financial Advisor, Executive Director; Beth Niemeyer, Client Service Associate; 2021 – 2025 winner Casey Armstrong, Financial Advisor, First Vice President, Wealth Management

The NKY Group at Morgan Stanley

2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018 – 2025 winner Matthew C. Bayer, President

Jonathan Peirson

CFP®, President, CEO

7450 Whispering Way • Cincinnati, OH 45241 Office: 513-202-6228

jonathan.peirson@lpl.com www.peirsonfinancialservices.com

We work with select families and businesses across the country to oversee and coordinate their financial affairs, thus providing the confidence to pursue their goals. We do this by thoroughly assessing a client’s financial state of affairs and determining how we can best assist them.

CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S. Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The LPL Financial Registered Representatives associated with this site may only discuss and/or transact securities business with residents of the following states: CA, CO, NC, SC, GA, FL, IN, KY, NH, and OH. This communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the state(s) of CA, CO, NC, SC, GA, FL, IN, KY, NH and OH. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside the specific states referenced.

Pictoria Drive, Suite 180 Cincinnati, OH 45246 Phone: 513-346-1771 mark.b.sutton@ampf.com

Worth Talking About Mark B. Sutton Private Wealth Advisor, CFP®

Time is truly a priceless commodity. You shouldn’t spend precious time worrying about your finances. Instead, you should spend your time doing the things you love with the people you love. With our unique discovery process, no detail is too small. We seek to understand the financial and emotional details of your life. With those details as our foundation, we develop deeply personalized life strategies for you and your family to solve financial dilemmas and help reduce financial uncertainty. Let us help you reclaim your time! Mark is a 2012 – 2018 and 2022 – 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager.

of a financial professional as working with a financial adviser is not a guarantee of future financial success.

Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser.

Securities offered by Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC.

Wealth Managers

assess your short-term goals such as buying a house and show you how that can also benefit any long-term goals you may have overlooked.

Eight-year winner Jonathan Peirson

All

Wealth Managers

Dwayne E. Adams Adams Wealth Management Group

Brian Keith Albach · Morgan Stanley

Daniel Joseph Altenau · Altenau Financial Services

Greg Neal Altenau · Hornor Townsend & Kent

Michael Louis Andrews · Merrill Lynch

Edward L. Apfel · Morgan Stanley

Francisco Javier Armada · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Stephen M. Ashworth · Morgan

Stanley

Lewis Andrew Assaley · Morgan Stanley

Adam Paul Atkinson · Morgan

Stanley

Richard Howard Beckert · Merrill Lynch

Zachary Thomas Binzer · Foster & Motley

Michael R. Bisbe · Bisbe Capital

Casey Michael Boland · HCM Wealth Advisors

Gregory M. Bonner · Merrill Lynch

Peter Robert Bouley · Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Phillip Ray Brann · Morgan Stanley

Drew Brazie · Tudor Financial

Gregory Brian Burch · Lighthouse Agency, Inc.

Jake Elliott Butcher · HCM Wealth Advisors

Jerry Butts · 3 Point Wealth Strategies, LLC

Matthew Nicholas Calme · HCM Wealth Advisors

Robert Carroll · Carnegie Investment Counsel

Tatjana Cumic · Thrivent Investment Management

Jeffrey Earl Daniher · Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory

Michele R. Daniher · Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory

Stephen Edward Dauer · Morgan Stanley

Joshua David Deeter · Deeter Advisory Group, LLC

Nancy Louise Del Grosso · Morgan Stanley

Daryl Joseph Demo · Daymark Wealth Partners

Emily Katherine Diaz · Foster & Motley

Charlotte Anne Dougherty · Dougherty Tedesco & Associates

John E. Dougherty · Dougherty Tedesco & Associates

James Robert Eck · Eck, Getter & Greenwell Wealth Management

David Michael Eickman · Thrivent Investment Management

Ryan Ryan English · Foster & Motley

Jim Randall Eutsler · HCM Wealth Advisors

Jay Alan Finke · Clarity Wealth Management

Christopher Michael Flores · Three Corners Capital

Jahn Dorab Gazder · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Michael Anthony George · Tri-State Financial Group

Coleman Barry Goldsmith · Hyde Park Wealth Advisors

Christopher Joseph Green · Morgan Stanley

Elizabeth Marchal Green · Foster & Motley

Bryan Nicholas Grisak · Wealth Enhancement Group

Robert John Grossheim · Family Wealth Advisory Group, LLC

Thomas J. Guidi · Foster & Motley

Ronald Joseph Gulaskey · Retire Right Wealth Management

Lucas Parker Hail · Foster & Motley

Sandra Faith Hall · Faith Financial Advisors, Inc

Stephen Duane Hawkins

· Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Matt Aaron Held · Clarity Wealth Management

Mike Thomas Hengehold · HCM Wealth Advisors

Steve Elias Hengehold · HCM Wealth Advisors

David Brian Henning · Formidable Asset Management

Nathan Roger High · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Shawn Shawn Hill · Hill Financial Strategies

Gary E. Hollander · Hollander & Associates, LLC

Zach Tyler Horn · Foster & Motley

Bethany Bohmer Huffman · Huffman Wealth Management

Sally Humphrey Humphrey · MAI Capital Management

Dean Russell Inman · Lincoln Financial Securities

Matthew Jessup · Jessup Wealth Management, Inc

Youngjin Jung · Morgan Stanley

George Edward Kavalauskas · Park Avenue Securities

Griffin Joseph Kelp · Morgan Stanley

William David Kern · Wealthquest Corporation

John Michael Kilcoyne · Wealth Enhancement Group

Stephen Paul King · Wealthquest

Erin D. Knodel · Park Avenue Securities

Ronda L. Koehler · Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory

Garry Phillip Kohn · Kohn Wealth Management Advisors, LLC

George Peter Koumoutsos · Omega Financial Group

Ryan Scott Krift · Morgan Stanley

Joseph Patrick Kuethe · Raymond James Financial Services Advisors

Matthew J. Larmann · Larmann Financial Corp.

Karen F. Levy · Wells Fargo Advisors

Lance Allen Lohr · Merrill Lynch

Ted Michael Lucien · Morgan Stanley

Tony Robert Luckhardt · Foster & Motley

Gregory Charles Luke · Thor Wealth Management

Steven Dale Lutz · Morgan Stanley

Bart Francis Metzler · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

John Patrick Meyer · Meyer Capital Management

Timothy Robert Meyer · Meyer Capital Management

Greg Allen Middendorf · HCM Wealth Advisors

Eleanor Kirby Moffat · Bahl & Gaynor

William Mark Motley · Foster & Motley

Meghan Elizabeth Mullikin · Journey Advisory Group, LLC

David J. Nienaber · Foster & Motley

Stephen Frederick O’Neill · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Christopher Robert Oberholzer · Infinity Wealth Counsel, LLC

Joseph Anthony Patterson · Foster & Motley

Boyd Boyd Patton · Huntington Financial Advisors

Thanh T. Pham · Morgan Stanley

Jamie M. Powell · Capital Advisory Services, LLC

Timothy Powell · Concentric Wealth Management

Carter Fitz Randolph · Randolph Co.

Rachel Ann Rasmussen · Foster & Motley

Michael Rawlings · Viceroy Wealth Counsel

John Kenneth Ritter · Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory

Eric Scott Ross · F2 Wealth

Nicholas Edmund Roth · Foster & Motley

Christopher S. Rueve · Morgan Stanley

Deborah Anne Saas · Center For Wealth Management Advisory

Adam Joseph Schoster · Morgan Stanley

Shawn M. Scott · Wealth Enhancement Group

Philip Edward Seibert · Julius Arthur Seibert & Co.

Ashley Dawn Seyberth · Octavia Wealth Advisors

Barry Patrick Shelley · B. P. Shelley & Associates

Erik Shifflett · Wells Fargo Advisors

Richard Alfred Shurmer III · Lifetime Financial Growth, LLC

Matthew Ronald Smith · Morgan Stanley

Molly A. O’Connor · Lifetime Financial Growth, LLC

Brad Michael Soper · Foster & Motley

David Lauren Speer · Cornerstone Financial Group

John Charles Spencer · Hackman Financial Group

Christopher Stiver · LPL Financial

Andrew Scott Tedesco · Dougherty Tedesco & Associates

Amy Lynn Thomas · Foster & Motley

Steven Mark Thomas · Wells Fargo Financial Network

Aaron Joseph Till · Wells Fargo Advisors

David Francis Treft · Clearpoint Wealth Advisors

D.J. J. Trindle · Morgan Stanley

Dean D. Trindle · Morgan Stanley

Andrew James Van Erp · Preferred Planning Associates

Christopher Lawrence Vordemesche · Morgan Stanley

Tim Walsh · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

William L. Washburn · Morgan Stanley

Jonathan Daniel Weber · Wells Fargo Advisors

Steven Maurice Weinstein · Weinstein Financial Group, LLC

William Randolph Wilkins Jr · Wilkins Wealth Management Group, LLC

Charles Matthew Williams II · Park Avenue Securities

Matthew Lee Willig · Lifetime Financial Growth, LLC

Walter Ray Wilson · Templeton Creek Wealth Management

Beckham Wyrick III · Cambridge Investment Research Inc.

Christopher Wysong · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Michael David Yannucci · Hillcrest Financial Group

John Paul Zuba · Morgan Stanley Investment Professionals

Jeffrey Bauer · JLB Consulting, LLC

Shawn Gupta · Gupta Law Firm, LLC

David Hampton · HCM Wealth Advisors & CPAs

HEALTH WATCH 2025 CANCER CARE

Personalizing Healthcare Through Genetic Testing

St. Elizabeth’s Precision Medicine & Genetic Health Center makes personalized healthcare actionable and accessible.

Today, healthcare is shifting away from a one-size-fits-all approach toward personalized medicine designed around each person’s genetics, lifestyle, and health history. At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Northern Kentucky’s most comprehensive precision medicine program makes this shift a reality. According to Jaime Grund, director of the Center for Precision Medicine & Genomic Health at St. Elizabeth, precision medicine means taking a holistic look at a patient’s health history. This includes genetic makeup, evaluating a person’s unique DNA and how it affects risk for disease and their unique response to certain treatments. The approach also moves healthcare from reactive to proactive and from general to personalized. “It’s about using your personal information to make care more individualized, targeted, and effective,” says Grund.

The diﬀerence between traditional healthcare and precision medicine

Traditional healthcare uses guidelines based on what works for most people with a certain condition. It often relies on broad categories like age, symptoms, or diagnosis to guide treatment.

“Precision medicine looks deeper,” says Grund. “The goal is to better understand why someone may develop a disease, how to potentially prevent it or diagnose at its earliest stages, and what treatments will work best for them individually.” For example, someone with cancer might get genetic testing to help choose the treatment most likely to work for their speciﬁc type of tumor. Or someone with a genetic risk for a disease could take steps to lower that risk before they even get sick. The medical provider evaluates lifestyle, diet, and genetic makeup to determine the best course of action.

One of the biggest misconceptions about genetic testing is that it gives you a deﬁnitive “yes” or “no” about whether you will get a disease. More often, a genetic test shows probabilities or risks, not certainties. A positive result doesn’t always mean you will develop the condition, but it means your risk is higher than average. “Context matters,” says Grund. “Genetic testing is a powerful tool when combined with expert interpretation, but it’s not a crystal ball.”

What to expect at your ﬁrst appointment

Depending on the patient’s situation, the type of appointment varies. According to Grund, the most common consultation is a hereditary cancer appointment, which is when a patient has a family history of cancer. In this case, the patient meets with a genetic counselor who can

Jaime Grund Director of the Center for Precision Medicine & Genomic Health

answer any questions about the testing. This consultation typically takes 45 minutes and includes a detailed review of personal and family history. If the patient chooses to undergo testing, the phlebotomist draws the sample the same day. Once results are available, the genetic counselor can guide the patient through any recommended next steps based on their genetic results.“It is a journey we take together,” Grund says.

St. Elizabeth is making precision medicine aﬀordable, accessible and actionable

At St. Elizabeth, genetic counseling visits are a ﬂat fee of under $100, and genetic testing typically costs less than $100 out of pocket. It’s also accessible. Patients don’t have to navigate a complicated healthcare maze to get tested or use their results. From ﬁrst conversation to followup plan, precision medicine is

integrated into everyday practice so the right people receive the right information at the right time, without barriers or delays. “By making genetic testing accessible and actionable across our entire healthcare system,” says Grund, “we’re empowering patients and providers alike to make smarter, safer health decisions.”

What to Expect with a Cancer Diagnosis

Cincinnati experts provide clarity and hope.

According to the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Trends Progress Report, more than 70 percent of cancer patients survive their disease. In 1975, the survivorship rate stood just above 50 percent. Technological advances continue pushing that percentage higher as early detection increases and new therapies are developed.

The entire face of cancer care has changed, and the patient’s journey has forked dramatically in the past

industry, though.

“If you scan a hundred people in the Cincinnati area, about 40 of those will have a lung nodule. Only two to four of those will be cancer. There is cancer found in about every one in 25 scans,” says Doug Adams, M.D., a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon with TriHealth. “We do ﬁve or six thousand intentional scans a year screening for cancer. There are an additional ﬁve or six thousand incidental nodules discov-

The model helps direct individual cases to their appropriate next steps, including a biopsy, additional imaging, or surgery.

After all, a nodule is not a cancer diagnosis.

“When a patient gets a concerning ﬁnding like a lung nodule during a screening, it can cause a lot of anxiety, even before an actual diagnosis,” says Costanzo A. Di Perna, M.D., medical director for general thoracic and foregut

Screening is the guide physicians follow to identify, diagnose, and treat disease.

few years. There are many routes to remission, and even patients’ ﬁrst steps toward diagnosis vary.

“Every cancer and every patient is different,” says Syed Ahmad, M.D., head of surgical oncology and interim director of UC’s Cancer Center. “Patients may have symptoms that linger for weeks or months before they actually seek attention. People usually go to their primary care physician, but some wait until their symptoms lead them to the emergency room. Every journey’s a bit different.”

Screening is increasingly included as part of the standard of care, the guide physicians follow to identify, diagnose, and treat disease. That makes it more accessible as insurance providers add these scans and tests to covered preventative care. This step toward better outcomes for more patients has created some tripping hazards for the health

ered in unrelated scans.”

This bump comes courtesy of analytical AI. TriHealth’s system automatically scans all upper thoracic imaging for nodules. So if a patient goes for a scan of their shoulder, a broken rib, or a heart condition, they are automatically screened for cancer. Nodule detections have skyrocketed.

“One thing we’ve added lately is another AI model in the process of FDA approval that does an analysis of the nodules,” Adams says. “It doesn’t just look at them; it breaks them down into data and generates a relative cancer score on a malignancy similarity index. That’s kind of the frontier of putting information around a nodule to determine what it is, because it doesn’t have a stamp on it that says ‘I’m cancer.’ ”

Reveal DX, the AI model Adams refers to, helps triage those thousands of patients who receive concerning results.

surgery at the Jewish Hospital for Mercy Health. “That concerning ﬁnding can be the worst part of the process for a patient. It’s the unknown that can cause the worst anxiety.”

The vast majority of concerning results, whether they come from screenings or not, are benign. Most cancer journeys end there, but if cancer is conﬁrmed, the roads diverge again.

“There’s a similar pathway to diagnosis for most, but once the diagnosis is made, it’s really about the type of cancer and the stage of the tumor,” Ahmad says.

“The sooner patients see an oncologist, the better,” says Rafiullah Khan, M.D., director of hematology for The Christ Hospital. “It’s better to work with a doctor who specializes in the specific type of cancer, because the cancer field is so advanced, one doctor cannot keep up with all kinds of cancer.”

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Even if a primary care provider refers patients to a speciﬁc oncologist, getting a second opinion is a good idea. “Expertise matters,” Ahmad says. “The more you do, the better you are.”

Khan recommends bringing a family member or close friend to initial meetings with oncologists. “They can be present to support the patient and take notes,” he says.

Healthcare is a team sport. Communication and comfort are key from the very start, and that applies to everyone involved, not just a single specialist.

“The patient needs to connect with their physician team on a human level,” Di Perna says. “That experience, I think, leads to a better experience and a better outcome. Patients with less anxiety and depression tend to survive their cancer better.”

A study published in 2020 in JAMA Oncology backs up Di Perna’s insight. While investigating cancer among veterans treated by the Veterans Affairs health department, researchers found links between cancer treatment outcomes and mental health (both before

and during treatment).

“Part of survivorship is psychological support. We’re in the business of hope,” Ahmad says. “I give new patients examples of people just like them who went through similar journeys, went through treatment, were cured, and are alive and well. Then their attitude changes, and they become more proactive. The ﬁrst meeting is about establishing trust and collaboration, and then we start talking about the long-term plan.”

“There’s patient education all along this process,” Adams says. “For a lot of people, this is a surprise ﬁnding. It begins with nodule education, and then the process of information gathering, and then diagnostic maneuvers. All along that pathway, education is part of it.”

Patients can expect to discuss recommended therapies for the next four to six months during their ﬁrst or second oncology visit after a diagnosis. Part of this discussion includes education about short-term and long-term changes patients should expect, why certain therapies have been chosen, potential

side effects, and what alternatives are available. After that, the doctor and patient plan follow-up and screening visits for the next ﬁve years, in most cases.

“Before the patient even sees the doctors, the doctors are doing background work on the patient,” Ahmad says. “Cancer usually requires a multimodality, multidisciplinary intervention.”

This intervention is helmed by a hospital’s tumor board. This group of diverse specialists represents every facet of modern cancer care, from surgeons to radiologists. When they meet, they review individual cases, employing images, test results, pathology reports, genetic proﬁles, and individual health concerns to create tailored treatment plans.

“There’s often so much confusion over how many people patients meet. There are doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical assistants, residents, and fellows. There are so many people,” Ahmad says.

There are also social workers, ﬁnancial advisors, dieticians, and nurse navigators in the mix. The nurse navigators are the ones responsible for transforming that overwhelming mix into something accessible from the patient’s point of view. They bridge any gaps in the system and keep patients informed and empowered.

“A nurse navigator is a patient advocate,” Di Perna says. “They help the patient get to the next imaging appointment or the biopsy, and they even help with transportation. If the patient has surgery, they’ll go to the hospital. They’re even part of the multidisciplinary tumor board.”

There are more treatments available than ever for the tumor board to consider, but they all fall into a few primary categories. “There are four general therapies for cancer: surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy,” Adams says. “The application of those tools is stage-, pathology-, and genetics-driven.”

While surgery, radiation, and chemo are familiar to the general public after many decades of use, immunotherapy represents an exciting new approach to ﬁghting cancer. Practices like precision oncology are on the rise to identify and select the correct treatment for each patient.

“Immunotherapy is basically a therapy that harnesses a patient’s own immune system to ﬁght the cancer,” Ahmad says. “When you have cancer, your body tries to ﬁght it by sending B cells and T cells to attack the cancer. The cancer is very smart and turns off the B and T cells. Immunotherapy turns them back on.”

Other therapies target cells driving a tumor’s mutation, but immunotherapies aren’t the only treatment routes evolving. Surgical intervention has been vastly improved through better imaging technology, robotic-assisted procedures, and ablative treatments that freeze or burn cancerous tissue as an alternative for patients who can’t undergo more traditional surgeries. “The cancer ﬁeld is moving toward more personalized care,” Khan says.

“A lot of progress is happening right here in town,” Ahmad says. “We have an open study right now looking at vaccines in pancreatic cancer. We take the patient to the operating room, we take the tumor out, and we identify the tumor’s ﬁngerprints. Based on the same technology that was used to make the

COVID vaccine, mRNA technology, we make a vaccine against the tumor’s ﬁngerprints. That vaccine is then given to the patient after they recover, and

take secondary treatments, medicines, or supplements without consulting their medical team. “You should not be doing that, because it can interfere

Practices like precision oncology identify and select the correct treatment for each patient.

that vaccine teaches the body to look for residual cancer and attack it.”

These new techniques, medicines, and procedures are often used in concert with other treatments, just as radiation is often used to shrink a tumor before surgical removal. As doctors learn more, however, they’re often frustrated by lingering gaps in medical knowledge, especially about critical aspects of cancer treatment.

“Tumor size matters,” Adams says. “Part of the reason we haven’t been able to knock down associated morbidity yet is that we don’t have a great understanding of tumor biology, and that’s a funding issue.”

Spotting cancers sooner rather than later is a key factor in patient outcomes. In part, that’s due to the tumor’s size and the cancer’s potential spread. However, it’s also about treatment options.

“Chemotherapy is not applicable to a lot of earlier-stage cancers, which is why early detection makes a huge difference for higher cure rates,” Adams says.

Therapies like chemo take a toll on the body and create additional risks, especially for misled patients. One of Khan’s concerns in the age of the internet is the risk of well-meaning advice to

with standard of care medicines,” Khan says. “Sometimes third-party treatments can increase toxicity. Some of them can cause drug interactions in the liver.”

“The best thing friends and family can do for a patient is to help them ﬁnd the right resources,” Di Perna says.

“Don’t just let them ﬁnd random answers on Google. The Go2 Foundation is an international nonproﬁt that offers lung cancer patients support and clinical trials, for example.”

Although every cancer journey is as unique as the patient’s DNA, all patients need the same support and emotional care from the ﬁrst test result through the trials of survivorship.

“Don’t panic,” Khan says. “Have hope. Most of today’s cancers are curable or at least treatable. I have many patients with aggressive lymphoma who are in remission. Stage four cancer is not always a death sentence. The future of cancer treatment is bright.”

He’s not alone in that feeling.

“What I use today is a lightyear ahead of what I was using even ﬁve or six years ago,” Adams says. “Technology has had a huge impact in this ﬁeld. Resignation is not the appropriate response to a diagnosis.”

1995, the Cincinnati Park Foundation had been formed to help raise private funds.

City and park leaders decided to ask voters to approve a new property tax in 2015 to directly fund improvements to and maintenance of Cincinnati Parks. As levy supporters campaigned for a permanent 1 mill property tax, local media began reporting some questionable spending, including a $200,000 donation to the levy campaign, a big no-no for a public agency. The Park Board rescinded its donation. (Note: I covered Cincinnati Parks during that period for The Enquirer.)

the heat stayed on parks leaders. In 2016, the city and public learned that the Park Board had used no-bid contracts for $40 million worth of publicly funded work to build Smale Riverfront Park. An annual state audit in 2017 showed that the park system documenting the use of credit cards and gift cards, had been using private endowments for salary bonuses, and said its ﬁnancial operations “increases the risk that errors, theft, and fraud could occur.”

The city hired an outside accounting ﬁrm to improve ﬁnancial controls. Both Carden and Finance Manager Marijane Klug announced their retirements later that year.

Cranley continued to push for more transparency, and in 2018 a legal agreement known as a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Park Board, City Hall, and the Park Foundation giving City Hall more oversight on how private donations get spent and requiring the park system to follow city guidelines for procurement. City Council later passed an ordinance

“I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT CITY LEADERS APPOINTED TO THE PARK BOARD HAVE HIGHER PRIORITIES THAN VINDICTIVENESS,” SAYS BURNET WOODS NEIGHBOR CYNTHIA DUVAL.

Other media investigations revealed that then-Parks Executive Director Willie Carden was spending money out of private endowment funds, many of them left to the parks by prominent Cincinnatians in their wills, for expenses like a car allowance, a private club membership, and credit card charges. Those expenses included a trip to Las Vegas, where Carden and his financial manager flew first class and ran up a $9,000 bill that included steak dinners, alcohol, and a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, according to a Fox19 investigation. Parks leaders said the trip was taken in preparation to host an upcoming BBQ competition in a Cincinnati park.

Leaders at City Hall, including Cranley, weren’t aware of this sort of spending. He called for an internal audit and a temporary moratorium on any discretionary spending but continued to advocate for the tax levy.

City voters defeated the parks levy, but

for the parks to account for all revenue from private endowments and donations, including cash and in-kind donations valued over $5,000, with spending reviewed by the city’s Finance Department as necessary.

North says that today “all of the Park Board members are well tuned in to the lack of transparency that may have existed in the years before,” but all the members “take very seriously” their responsibility to follow public records laws and other rules that govern public agencies, meetings, and boards.“I don’t feel that there’s any public concern at this point about transparency.”

SINCE BECOMING CITY MANAGER IN 2022, Long and her staff have worked with Barron and park commissioners to align their priorities with hers and Mayor Aftab Pureval’s. “We can see where we’ve put resources and the parks that have gotten money,” says Long. “We are trying to make sure all of our park

spaces are being utilized to their full capacity, and the railroad fund is a perfect opportunity for us to focus on those segments of the city that have not been paid attention to.”

Earlier this year, City Council approved Long’s budget for Cincinnati Parks in its entirety, raising the capital budget from $2.1 million this year to $7.2 million in 2026. Next year, the largest portion of those funds, $2.7 million, will rehabilitate park infrastructure, covering costs for general upgrades such as electrical, HVAC, lighting, and plumbing work as well as improvements to roadways, walks, retaining walls, and other structures.

Other projects in next year’s capital budget include completing rehabilitation of Owl’s Nest Park in Evanston, including reopening its historic pavilion; ﬁxing safety issues on a popular bike trail connecting Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove; renovating park structures and hardscapes like roofs, masonry, walkways, fencing, and more based on priority; restoring Glenway Park in East Price Hill; repairing the Gibson House’s historic roof in Avondale (rented for weddings and corporate events); starting the process of a full renovation of Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park; and renovating McEvoy Park in College Hill.

Long’s budget spans six years and steadily increases the parks’ capital allocation to nearly $15.3 million in 2031. Projects over those years will include an adventure playground in Mt. Airy Forest, restoration of Inwood Park’s pavilion, overlook stabilizations in Bellevue and Fairview parks, and renovation of MLK Jr. Park in Avondale.

Long says she’s also happy with park leaders’ commitment to growing the city’s tree canopy and other parts of the Green Cincinnati Plan. They recently won a grant to build their own biochar facility and are renovating a nursery to grow more of the parks’ own plants. Long also approved a new Cincinnati Parks position focusing on teen programming. “Having collaboration at the director level is very helpful for us, because he could easily say, Well, I don’t report to you,” she says. “But Jason has said, I’m going to be a partner.”

These funds don’t include what Barron said is one of his top priorities: stabilizing Smale Riverfront Park on the Ohio River. Currently in the design phase with U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, he won’t know the total budget until that’s complete but estimates the project, which includes at least a partial hard-edge at the river, to cost $13 million to $15 million. That funding has been secured, with the cost being shared between the Army Corps and the city.

Cincinnati Parks receives an operating budget from the city to pay salaries and run the park system. That ﬁgure will be $26.5 million in 2026, up 18 percent since 2017 when adjusted for inﬂation. The Park Board also spends millions of additional dollars each year out of its own endowment funds and direct donations from the Cincinnati Parks Foundation.

The foundation has raised $110 million for parks over the past 30 years, according to Foundation Chair Brian L. Tiffany, who says the sometimes rocky relationship with the Park Board is now strong and productive. “Over years when the Park Board was going through a lot of upheaval, with several different executive directors, it was difficult to see the direction,” he says. “Now, between our two organizations, we can manage the expectations of donors.”

THESE IMPROVEMENTS SOUND WELL AND good, says Rachel Wells, but she wants to know what happened in Burnet Woods. Out of the windows in her condominium on Jefferson Avenue she sees a new dog park—but more than that, she sees the many ways that park leaders have failed her.

“Whether I hear a dog barking or go stand at the bus stop right by it or walk through the park, it’s a daily reminder of the lack of care and concern for existing communities there, including ones I’m a part of,” says Wells, a member of the Burnet Woods Parks Advisory Council who has been in opposition to development proposals in Burnet Woods for years.

The recent conﬂict began with a proposal to build the new Clifton Cultural Arts Center in Burnet Woods in 2018. Neighbors and park lovers showed up in force to oppose the idea in public meetings, saying they didn’t want the peaceful nature of the park—one of the nation’s few remaining urban oldgrowth forests—to be disturbed by new crowds and traffic. Others argued for the health and safety of the birds, insects, and animals that call the 90-acre park home. Ul-

timately, the Park Board voted against it and the arts center was built elsewhere.

Around that time, another development was proposed by the Camping and Education Foundation, which wanted to operate an urban wilderness program for youth in Burnet Woods. Again, neighbors rallied in opposition and the Park Board declined to move forward with it. A second attempt to locate the Camping and Education Foundation inside the park was made in 2020, this time by renovating an underutilized park building, but the foundation withdrew its proposal for lack of community support.

“Burnet Woods used to be twice its size, because literally all of UC’s campus is sitting on what was Burnet Woods,” says Cynthia Duval, who helped launch an opposition group, Preserve Burnet Woods. “It’s got to process all the street oils, all the litter, all the things that come from us just being humans around it. In terms of giving one up for the public good, I think Burnet Woods has given its fair share.”

Duval lives half a mile from the park and began visiting it when she was 12 years old. She had just completed training to become an Ohio Certiﬁed Volunteer Naturalist when she heard about the proposal for the new arts center. “I would like to think that city leaders appointed to such important positions have higher priorities than vindictiveness,” she says, but instead of addressing existing concerns in Burnet Woods—like sewage overﬂows, dilapidated infrastructure, and closed trails—she says they opted to build a $500,000 dog park that community members again fought.

“I think it’s more of the same,” says Duval.“I hope this dog park will check the right box, whether it was ego or a grudge, and then park leaders can focus on ﬁxing the walkway and railing around the Burnet Woods lake, repairing the potholes leading to the bandstand, and the ﬂooding.”

Preserve Burnet Woods has since disbanded, but Duval and many others are organizing around a push to overhaul how parks are managed in Cincinnati. “As much as it was designed to be a system free of politics, it’s now a very politicized and inﬂuencerled system,” says Duval.“It feels like whoever writes them a letter and says, I’m willing to give you money to do this or I’m willing to fundraise for that, they get time with the board.”

North says there were plenty of supporters for the Burnet Woods dog park and it’s time to move on. The Park Board compromised, she says, deciding not to install artiﬁcial turf, as opponents asked.

“Not putting a sheet of plastic in your wooded park feels like an incredibly low bar,” says Wells. “What we’ve lost is not only a really nice green space that was ﬂexible for its use, whether it’s building a snowman, tossing a ball, or meeting friends to sit on a picnic blanket. And, in the process of eliminating that space, existing communities of people who would gather in the park have been dismissed.”

BARRON SAYS HIS GREATEST CHALLENGE AS director can sometimes be the level at which people love their Cincinnati parks.“And that is awesome, but it also means people have very high standards,” he says. “I came in and everybody was like, Here are 40 projects we need to tackle. How? We can do only so many projects at once.”

That was the impetus of the three-yearplan, says Barron. It’s also why North wants to set the Park Board’s values this year with input from the public and from City Hall. Doing that “helps us have a ﬁlter on what we will or won’t consider when we get inbound calls saying, We want a dog park. We want a skate rink. There’s an unlimited amount of interest in parks doing something.”

Finance Director Herta Fairbanks has been working with a committee to roll out updated budget-tracking documents, complete an extensive review of endowment distributions, and develop a process for ongoing ﬁxed-asset reporting. Next up is reconciliation of various expense accounts, according to a report she presented to the board in July.

As his team prepares to accept a boost in funding, Barron says the organization will take on its big capital projects and tackle long-deferred maintenance issues while creating a schedule for ongoing maintenance so the system doesn’t fall behind again.

At the end of the day, Barron says Cincinnati Parks isn’t trying to be better than the systems in Nashville, Cleveland, Louisville St. Louis, or anywhere else. They’re looking inward instead. “We want to continue to try to get better at being us.”

MONTHLY

GOTTA GET THE BREAD From Allez’s ciabatta to Blue Oven’s pane Italiano to Sixteen Bricks’s sourdough, we’re loaded with loaves of the artisanal variety.

MUSTARD CLUB P. 118 FINE DINING IN NEWARK P. 120 BEEFY FOOD TRUCK DOGS P. 122

HARD CIDER CHAMPS IN OXFORD P. 124

CLUB HEADS

Conviviality meets condiment at the Händlmaier Mustard Club. —RODNEY WILSON

OULD MUSTARD SAVE US FROM OURSELVES? LEAVING THE HÄNDLMAIER MUSTARD CLUB’S MONTHLY GATHering at Wiedemann’s Brewery & Taproom, the thought doesn’t seem so lofty. Seeing hundreds of people representing at least three generations of Cincinnatians gathered in a physical space to celebrate the yellowest of condiments, it’s hard not to ruminate on the way digital environments are overtaking the oncecommon act of regularly recurring get-togethers. Or maybe that’s just me. At any rate, this club is exactly what it sounds like—a space dedicated to an appreciation of mustard and German culture.

But to be clear: This is not just any mustard. Participants gather monthly to consume copious amounts of Händlmaier Mustard, a traditional mustard created in Regensburg, Germany, in 1914 by Johanna Händlmaier using a saucepan in her husband Charles’s butcher shop. The brand was officially launched in 1964 and today boasts gourmet sauces, a “super sharp mustard” (Superscharfer Senf), sausage mustard (Würstlsenf), and barbecue mustard (Grillsenf).

The Cincinnati club is the ﬁrst chapter of its kind in the U.S. and only the second in the world. The ﬁrst, Händlmaier’s Freunde Niederbayern, which translates to “friends of Händlmaier,” was formed in Bavaria in 2004.

Club founder Scott Scholz of Ft. Mitchell grew up visiting a German dinner club with his parents, and the ingrained appreciation for German culture led him to a year abroad in Bavaria, where he ﬁrst fell for a certain condiment. “The factory authorized their fan club, and I became a member when introduced to the club by my friends,” he says.

When Scholz’s time in Bavaria was up, he told his friends he planned to start a Händlmaier Mustard Club in Cincinnati. They laughed at him, saying it wasn’t exported to the U.S. “I told them that it would not be a problem and challenged them that we would enroll more members in our chapter than they had in theirs,” he recalls.

The inaugural meeting of the Cincinnati club took place in 2006 with 30 attendees, a number that doubled in about a year’s time The chapter currently has more than 400 paid members (besting its Bavarian counterpart, which had a mere 150 members at the time of the initial challenge), and Händlmaier Mustard is now available locally at Jungle Jim’s and other retailers.

And though German mustard is at the heart (and in the name) of this club, president Ryan Preston clariﬁes that an appreciation of Händlmaier (or any mustard) isn’t a requirement. “We’re a German heritage club, not a lot different from other German heritage clubs

“Mustard Club was intended to be a place where easygoing people could gather and enjoy each other’s company in the midst of the world’s greatest mustard,” Scott Scholz explains.

here in Cincinnati,” he says. “You don’t have to be German or have German ancestry to come and check us out or join. You just have to have an open mind, want to meet new people, and participate. It’s all about a term called ‘gemütlichkeit,’ which loosely translates to ‘a feeling of well-being and belonging.’ That’s what we strive to have.”

It was this promise of camaraderie that initially drew Preston to the club some 12 or 13 years ago upon the recommendation of family members. “They knew that I had a young family, and they were already members,” he recalls. “They said, ‘Hey, come on out. We know you would love this.’ This is back when it was at Mecklenburg Gardens in Corryville. I went to my ﬁrst meeting, just as a regular member, and was absolutely hooked by all the nice people. It only took one time.”

The monthly gatherings take place on the second Saturday of every month at Wiedemann’s Brewery & Taproom in St. Bernard, drawing crowds with a traditional Weißwurst breakfast buffet that includes a variety of sausages, pretzels, bier cheese, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, and sides (you’ll have to pay extra for the wheat beer). The brewery is packed with people of all ages and stages of life, most dressed in the club’s mustard yellow tees, enjoying beer, sausages, and each other’s company.

Oh, and the mustard, which, again, you don’t have to like to join the club but, according to Preston, you should try because it’s quite tasty. “I’d never had it until I went there. You know, in the beginning, I was like, ‘Hey, what’s Händlmaier Mustard?’ ” he says. “It was just an excuse to get together and have a great time and whatnot. But you try the mustard, and it’s like, yeah! It’s really good.”

“Bavarian sweet mustard is a unique style of mustard,” adds Scholz, “and Händlmaier’s is the leading and tastiest manufacturer in the sector.”

Some of the monthly meetings go beyond general get-togethers with themed events such as December’s Medal Month, October’s boot kicking competition, Mother’s Day ﬂowers in May, Father’s Day appreciation in June, and more. There’s an annual beer chugging competition and occasional bar takeovers and pub crawls, too. The club even offers a wide selection of fun swag on its website

Next year will mark the Händlmaier Mustard Club’s 20th anniversary, which members will celebrate with an 11-day trip to Germany in May, featuring stops for food and sights all across Germany. There will even be an exclusive tour of the Händlmaier Factory—a special treat just for the club.

Scholz recalls the club’s sold-out 10th anniversary black-tie gala as a major highlight, and he’s both amazed and honored to prepare to celebrate its second decade in existence.

“Mustard Club was intended to be a place where easygoing people could gather and enjoy each other’s company in the midst of the world’s greatest mustard,” he explains. “I thought that if the club survived ﬁve years, we would be lucky. As we achieve the 20th anniversary next fall, it is a testament not only to the great leadership given to the club over the two decades but also the dedicated membership.”

FYI

Händlmaier Mustard Club, mustardclub.org

Square Biz

CENTRAL OHIO IS HOME TO SOME OF THE STATE’S ODDEST ATTRACTIONS AND YOU’RE sure to work up an appetite while on your adventures through the hinterlands. A place like 1922 On The Square seems like an anomaly among the fast-food joints, chains, and roadside taverns that populate the culinary landscape in small Ohio towns, but it has deep ﬁne-dining roots. Alex Athan’s great grandfather George opened a restaurant back in the 1920s (1922, to be exact). The eatery Alex owns with his wife, Stephanie, is its spiritual descendant, housed in the exact spot where his progenitor moved into in 1934. With its banquette seating, dark wood wall paneling, and marble ﬂooring, the space feels modern and classic at the same time.

JUDI COGEN

THE CINCINNATI COFFEE Festival event coordinator gives us the scoop on this year’s celebration.

Who came up with the idea of the festival? In 2017, Rich [Cogen, executive director of Ohio River Foundation] had the idea of holding a coffee festival in the Cincinnati area. The connection between coffee, tea, and water quality seemed to make a coffee festival a great ﬁt for the region.

How has it supported the mission of the Ohio River Foundation over the years? The funds raised by Cincinnati Coffee Festival allow us to provide high-impact STEM programs, execute high-value habitat restoration projects, and continue to advocate for protection and improvement in water quality.

What sustainability measures have you implemented? In 2024, 3,045 pounds of waste were composted at the Cincinnati Coffee Festival, preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent driving a car more than 2,000 miles. Our fabulous Green Team makes sure that all sample cups, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and leftover crumbs from the festival become fertilizer for local farmers, landscapers, and gardeners rather than going into a landﬁll.

What’s new for this year? We have all new demonstrations, a selﬁe station, new music artists, and our ﬁrst ever virtual swag bag. We have a great mix of returning vendors and new companies attending, sharing coffee, tea, chocolate, baked goods, ceramics, and more. – AIESHA D LITTLE

1922 On The Square, 10 N. Park Pl., #12, Newark, Ohio, (740) 915-6346, 1922onthesquare.com

The restaurant’s menu has some favorites from the old family business—like the shrimp scampi and the Parmesan garlic bread—but mainly focuses on dishes with sustainably sourced ingredients whenever possible. This is reﬂected best in its signature dishes, like the Chilean sea bass served with charred green beans and the prime rib ravioli. The charred eggplant is an excellent main course, with its pickled red cabbage adding a tangy kick to the main ingredient. If you’re not in the mood for a big meal, you can pull up a chair in the Natoma Lounge Bar. A 1922 Old Fashioned made with Buffalo Trace bourbon matches the vibe perfectly. —AIESHA D. LITTLE

FYI The Cincinnati Coffee Festival takes place October 25 & 26 at Music Hall. cincinnaticoffeefestival.com.

ReadalongerinterviewwithJudiat cincinnatimagazine.com

events

August 21, 2025

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Cincinnati Magazine

SUSTAINABILITY PARTNER: MadTree Brewing

NONPROFIT PARTNER: Life Learning Center

SPONSORS: BIG BLUE Moving, Canada Dry, Chinet, Decal Impressions, DripDrop, Fever-Tree, FIJI Water, Hu Organic Chocolate, La Brea Bakery, Lux Row Distillers, Merchants Club, Middle West Spirits, Mr. & Mrs. T, Nothing Bundt Cakes, On The Rocks Cocktails, Rao’s, Sargento Cheese Bakes, St. Elmo’s Whiskey, Willow Run Custom Bourbon

Newport Car Barn → Guests tasted spirits, mocktails, and pre-mixed cocktails on Newport’s west side. In addition to pizza from Rao’s, pretzel bread bites from La Brea Bakery, and organic chocolate from Hu, guests nibbled on Sargento Cheese Bakes and enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, wings, ribs, and mac-and-cheese from Sweets & Meats BBQ. Linx With Sprinx brought the bling with a selection of permanent jewelry, David Lee Campbell provided live music, and Natalie from Q102 emceed the cocktail contest, where Tre Porzel of Goodfellas, Jeremiah Johnson of Goodfellas, and Lauren Pellecchia of The Merchants Club were winners.

FRANKLY DELICIOUS

he hot dog is a true classic: Whether eaten plain or used as a canvas for toppings of one’s choice, it’s a staple for American meat-eaters. The Pumba, however, is not your average dog. Quite Frankly’s offering is a quarter-pound beef frank piled high with savory pulled pork, Carolina barbecue sauce, and chopped onion. But it’s the unexpected sweet of homemade apple butter that makes this a tangy fan favorite (it won second place in the entrée category of the 2023 and 2025 Taste of Cincinnati’s “Best of Taste” food truck competition). At only $11 a pop, the Pumba makes a perfect meal for anyone looking to elevate their hot dog experience. You’ll probably have to chase down Quite Frankly to get your dog, so check the food truck’s social media accounts to ﬁnd out where it lands. —BRIANNA CONNOCK

SPELT FREEKEH

1 This El Camino Baking Co. product is ﬁre-roasted, cracked, and made into a porridge of house milled spelt and Kentucky rye berries, and fermented into a sourdough. 5915 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, (513) 996-0199

CIABATTA

2 Allez Bakery is known for its sandwiches but a big part of that is due to its bread. The chewy ciabatta is one of six to 14 varieties that are made fresh daily. 1208 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 381-6700, allezbakery.com

Judging for an international hard cider competition kicks off this month.

—AIESHA D. LITTLE

PANE ITALIANO

3 This classic is made with traditional bread ﬂour and durum ﬂour. Blue Oven Bakery makes many a delicious loaf but this rustic favorite goes with almost any meal. 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, blueovenbak ery.com

ARCADE SOURDOUGH

4 A Sixteen Bricks standout, this loaf is named after the defunct Arcade Bakery in New York City, a throwback to Ryan Morgan’s competitive baking roots. It’s made with local rye and white wheat grains. sixteenbricks.com

COUNTRY LOAF

This bread from two seven two* is made with wheat, white, and locally milled einkorn ﬂours. The einkorn gives it a softer texture and a buttery yellow color. 272 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, (513) 429-2806, twoseventwobakery.com

*not pictured

Missing the camaraderie from his former life as a brewery owner, Dow Scoggins started hosting a craft beer competition back in 2009 while living in Georgia. Five years later, he moved to Oxford when his wife took a job at Miami University—and he brought the event with him. Now, Scoggins hosts four contests a year, including this month’s U.S. Open Cider Championship. Billed as the “second-largest cider judging in the world,” it draws brew entries from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. Each contestant can enter up to 10 hard ciders in 22 categories—everything from Brut to pineapple cider. This year’s winners will be announced in late November. While the event isn’t open to the public, you may see some of the winners on menus around the state, like Nice Pear from Akron’s Missing Falls Brewery, which won second place in the “best of show” category last year. usopencider.com

AMERICAN 126 BARBECUE 127

CAJUN/CARIBBEAN 127

CHINESE 128

ECLECTIC 128

FRENCH 130

INDIAN 131

ITALIAN 131

JAPANESE 131

KOREAN 132

MEDITERRANEAN 132

MEXICAN 133

SEAFOOD 134

STEAKS 134 THAI 134

VIETNAMESE 134

DINING GUIDE

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE’S

dining guide is compiled by our editors as a service to our readers. The magazine accepts no advertising or other consideration in exchange for a restaurant listing. The editors may add or delete restaurants based on their judgment. Because of space limitations, all

AMERICAN

BOOMTOWN BISCUITS & WHISKEY

Boomtown leans hard into the Gold Rush theme and the dense grub isn’t for the faint of heart. Arrive with an empty belly, ready for a carbo load. The biscuits are all they’re cracked up to be, and the gravy’s not playing around, either. Sample its biscuits and gravy styles with a gravy ﬂight. Or try The Yukon, an anytime breakfast sandwich, featuring fried chicken on par with the best the city has to offer. By the end of the meal, you’ll feel a little out of place without your own denim getup.

9039 U.S. Route 42, Ste. H, Union, (859) 384-5910, boomtownbiscuitsandwhiskey. com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Wed–Sat. Breakfast and lunch Sun. MCC. $$

BROWN DOG CAFÉ

If you haven’t had a plate of Shawn McCoy’s design set in front of you, it’s about time. Many of the menu’s dishes show his knack for the plate as a palette. A trio of duck breast, lamb chop, and demi haute chocolate boar is a standout. The eye for detail and contrasts of colors and textures belongs to someone who cares for food.

1000 Summit Place, Blue Ash, (513) 794-1610, thebrowndogcafe.com. Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat, brunch Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

COZY’S CAFÉ & PUB

On a visit to England, Jan Collins discovered the “cozy” atmosphere of London restaurants built in historic houses. She brought that warm, comfortable feeling back to the United States in opening Cozy’s. Though the atmosphere in the restaurant is reminiscent of Collins’s London travels, the food remains proudly American. The produce in virtually every dish is fresh, seasonal, and ﬂavorful. The braised short rib stands out with its cheesy grits and haystack onions along with a portion of tender meat. And when it comes down to the classics, from the biscuits that open the meal to the carrot cake at the end, Cozy’s does it right.

6440 Cincinnati Dayton Rd., Liberty Twp., (513) 644-9365, cozyscafeandpub.com. Lunch

SOLD!

Milford’s Daughter’s Pizza Kitchen, which closed in late July after a six-month run, has reopened as Lori’s American Pies. The space at 1149 Ohio State Route 131 underwent a rebranding to get ready for its reopening, and is now run by the people behind Lori’s American Grille in Goshen. order.toasttab.com/ online/loris-americanpies-1149-oh-131

EMBERS

of the guide’s restaurants may not be included. Many restaurants have changing seasonal menus; dishes listed here are examples of the type of cuisine available and may not be on the menu when you visit.

To update listings, e-mail: cmletters@cincinnati magazine.com

The menu here is built for celebration: poshly priced steak and sushi selections are meant to suit every special occasion. Appetizers are both classic (shrimp cocktail) and Asian-inspired (shrimp tempura); fashionable ingredients are name-checked (micro-greens and truffles); a prominent sushi section (nigiri, sashimi, and rolls) precedes a list of archetypal salads; Kobe beef on sushi rolls sidles up to steaks of prime; non-steak entrées (Chilean sea bass or Dover sole with haricots verts and almondine) make for high-style alternative selections. Talk about a party.

8170 Montgomery Rd., Madeira, (513) 9848090, embersrestaurant.com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$$

GREYHOUND TAVERN

Back in the streetcar days, this roughly 100-yearold roadhouse was at the end of the Dixie Highway line, where the cars turned around to head north. The place was called the Dixie Tea Room then, and they served ice cream. The fried chicken came along in the 1930s, and they’re still dishing it up today. Families and regulars alike pile in on Mondays and Tuesdays for the fried chicken special. While the juicy (never greasy) chicken with its lightly seasoned, crisp coating is the star, the side dishes—homemade biscuits, coleslaw, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy—will make you ask for seconds. Call ahead no matter what night you choose: There’s bound to be a crowd. Not in the mood for chicken? Choose from steaks, seafood, sandwiches, and comfort food options that include meatloaf and a Kentucky Hot Brown. Or just try the onion rings. You’ll wonder where onions that big come from.

2500 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell, (859) 3313767, greyhoundtavern.com. Lunch and dinner seven days, brunch Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

MR. GENE’S DOGHOUSE

Cumminsville is home to arguably the best hot chili cheese mett and chocolate malt in Greater Cincinnati. A family-owned business that began as a simple hot dog stand more than 50 years ago, Mr. Gene’s still attracts lines of loyal customers at its windows. Can’t stand the heat? Order the mild chili

cheese mett—more ﬂavor, fewer BTUs. And if you still haven’t embraced Cincinnati-style coneys, try the Chicago-style hot dog with pickles, onions, relish, mustard, tomato, sport peppers, and celery salt; a pork sandwich; or wings. Although the chocolate malt is the biggest seller, we love the $4.75 pineapple shake, made with real pineapple. 3703 Beekman St., South Cumminsville, (513) 541-7636, mrgenesdoghouse.com. Open Feb–Oct for lunch and dinner Mon–Sat. MC, V. $

Top 10 IVORY HOUSE

The menu here generally doesn’t reinvent dishes or introduce outlandish flavors, but simply pays attention to enough little things to make the results unusually good. All steaks are premium and hand-selected, the star player being the Japanese A5 Wagyu. The Ultimate Surf & Turf is a date night favorite with a 34-ounce Angus Tomahawk, four shrimp, four scallops and two lobster tails. Bluefin tuna steak is complemented by cilantro lime rice, a vegetable medley, chimichurri, and a soy ginger vinaigrette. Confit duck leg, an Ivory House specialty, is served with parsnip mash, confit beets, and berry gastrique. The cocktails are ones you’ve probably seen before, but everything—from the Death Valley Farm Old Fashioned to the Best West Lemon Drop—has an extra dash of liveliness from a house-made element, like the rosemary syrup.

2998 Harrison Ave., Westwood, (513) 3890175, ivoryhousecincy.com. Dinner seven days, brunch Sun. MCC. DC. $$$

THE NORTHSTAR CAFÉ

In Northstar’s ﬁrst outpost beyond the Greater Columbus area, the space itself reflects the ethos of the food: warm and comfortable, but still modern and fresh. The dinner and cocktail menus are fab, as is the large bar. But breakfast is worth waking up early for. Take the mushroom frittata, made with meaty mushrooms, caramelized sweet onions, and Gruyère. The portions are no joke—that frittata comes with breakfast potatoes and arugula—yet it doesn’t feel gluttonous or excessive. In large part that’s due to the freshness (e.g., the sausage made in-house daily) and the abundance of healthy options. One of our favorites: the shooting star juice, a balanced blend of carrot, ginger, orange, and lemon. 7610 Sloan Way, Liberty Township, (513)

and dinner Tues–Sat, brunch Sat & Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

759-0033; 7875 Montgomery Rd., Ste. 3112, Kenwood, (513) 570-5570, thenorthstarcafe.com. Breakfast and dinner seven days, lunch Mon–Fri, brunch Sat & Sun. MCC. No cash. $$

QUATMAN CAFÉ

The quintessential neighborhood dive, Quatman’s sits in the shadow of the Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, serving up a classic bar burger. Look elsewhere if you like your burger with exotic toppings: This half-pound of grilled beef is served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. Sometimes cheese. The no-frills theme is straightforward and appealing. A menu of standard sandwich fare and smooth mock turtle soup; beer on tap or soda in cans (no wine or liquor); and plenty of kitsch is served daily. Peppered with regulars, families, and political discussions, Quatman’s is far from fancy, but it’s fun, fast, and delicious. 2434 Quatman Ave., Norwood, (513) 731-4370; 224 W. Main St., Mason, (513) 229-0222, quatmancafe.com. Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $

RON’S ROOST

Ron’s stakes its reputation on its fried chicken, serving roughly 10,000 pieces weekly. It takes a few minutes, since each batch is made to order. Ron’s also serves chicken 18 other ways, including chicken livers in gravy. It’s all about the chicken here, but the menu is ﬁve solid pages of other stuff good enough to be called specialties: Oktoberfest sauerbraten, Black Angus cheeseburgers, fried whiteﬁsh on rye, hot bacon slaw, lemon meringue pie (homemade, of course), and the best Saratoga chips this side of Saratoga. 3853 Race Rd., Bridgetown, (513) 574-0222, ronsroost. net. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

THE SCHOOLHOUSE RESTAURANT

An old flag stands in one corner and pictures of Abe Lincoln and the first George W. hang on the wall of this Civil War–era schoolhouse. The daily menu of familiar Midwestern comfort fare is written on the original chalkboard. Once you order from a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to your high school lunch lady, the elevated lazy Susan in the center of the table begins to fill up with individual bowls and baskets of cornbread, slaw, salad, mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, and vegetables. The deal here is quantity. More mashed potatoes with your fried chicken? More cornbread with your baked ham? You don’t even have to raise your hand.

8031 Glendale-Milford Rd., Camp Dennison, (513) 8315753, theschoolhousecincinnati.com. Lunch Thurs, Fri & Sun, dinner Thurs–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

SOUL SECRETS

You no longer need an event to celebrate with a fish fry. At Candice Holloway’s restaurant, Soul Secrets, fried chicken and fish are always on the menu. Servers wearing T-shirts that read “my ancestors sent me” introduce guests to a trim menu full of the best soul food. You can’t go wrong with the fried fish platters. The whiting is good, but the catfish is divine. The cornmeal breading is so perfectly seasoned you won’t need salt, and the light crunch it adds doesn’t hide the star of the show. So soft it’s nearly fluffy, the catfish melts in your mouth. Each catfish platter delivers two enormous pieces of fish along with two sides and a cornbread muffin that may be the best in Cincinnati. This is the kind of meal you take home with you—not just in your heart but in a box—because chances are low you’ll conquer all the fish and sides in one go.

1434 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 721-7685, soulsecretscincy.com. Lunch and dinner Wed–Sun. MCC. $

SUGAR N’ SPICE

This Paddock Hills diner, with other locations in Overthe-Rhine and Blue Ash, has been dishing up wispy-thin pancakes and football-sized omelettes to Cincinnatians since FDR was signing new deals. Breakfast and lunch offerings mix old-hat classics like corned beef hash and basic burgers with funky iterations that draw on ethnic ingredients such as chorizo. Get here early if you don’t want to stand in line.

4381 Reading Rd., Paddock Hills, (513) 242-3521; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 762-0390; 10275 Summit Pkwy., Blue Ash, (513) 447-6453, eatsugarnspice. com. Breakfast and lunch seven days. MCC. $

TANO BISTRO

This Loveland bistro is comfortable, with reasonably priced food and amenable service. The menu is tidy—25 or so dishes divided between appetizers, salads, and entrées, plus two or three specials—its flavor profile partially influenced by a childhood growing up in a third-generation Italian family. Most of Tano Bistro’s main courses lean toward the comfortable side of American. For instance, Tano Williams serves a stuffed salmon and an allegiance pork chop. The sprout & snout appetizer is also worth a trip to Loveland, combining crispy Brussels sprouts, garlic, and lemon aioli with sliced pork belly.

204 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, (513) 683-8266; 150 Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton, (513) 795-8654, foodbytano. com. Lunch Thurs–Sun, dinner Mon–Wed, brunch Sun. MCC. $$$

TRIO

Trio is nothing if not a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re in the mood for a Mediterranean-style pizza or ﬁlet mignon (with a baked potato and compound herb butter), the menu is broad enough to offer something for everyone. It may lack a cohesive point of view, but with the number of regulars who come in seven nights a week, variety is Trio’s ace in the hole. A simple Margherita pizza with Roma tomatoes, basil, Parmesan, and mozzarella delivered a ﬁne balance of crunchy crust, soft cheese, and sweet, roasted tomatoes. Paired with a glass of pinot noir, it made a perfect light meal. The service is friendly enough for a casual neighborhood joint but comes with white tablecloth attentiveness and knowledge. Combine that with the consistency in the kitchen, and Trio is a safe bet.

7565 Kenwood Rd., Kenwood, (513) 984-1905, triobistro.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DC. $$

THE WILDFLOWER CAFÉ

Wildflower Café is not the sort of place that tries to wow anyone with feats of inventiveness. Its formula is simple but satisfying: meat and produce sourced from its own farm, a menu that continuously changes with available ingredients, a nice selection of wine and beer, and wellmade, homey food. The small, focused menu has a classic American quality (salads, steaks, burgers) with enough surprises to keep things interesting. Many of the dishes are designed with open spaces to be filled with whatever is available in the kitchen that day, an advantage of an unfussy style. You don’t go to Wildflower expecting a certain kind of perfection; you accept that your favorite dish from last time might be made differently tonight, or no longer available. Like the farmhouse that Wildflower occupies, the imperfections are part of the charm.

207 E. Main St., Mason, (513) 492-7514, wildﬂowermason.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$$

BARBECUE

BEE’S BARBEQUE

You’ll want to get to Bee’s early if you want to avoid the line of friendly regulars. The restaurant’s smoker churns out a variety of meats—including brisket, pulled pork, rib tips, turkey breast, and two kinds of sausage—so it’s easy to see why they keep coming back. If you enjoy the spicy grease that oozes out of a good chorizo, you’ll love the Cincinnati Hot Link, which tastes like the delicious love child of a chorizo and a hot mett. Word to the wise: Bee’s opens at 11 a.m. and closes when they run out of meat. Understandably, this doesn’t take long.

5910 Chandler St., Madisonville, (513) 561-2337. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat; 1403 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 721-2337, beesbarbecue.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $

ELI’S BBQ

Elias Leisring started building his pulled pork reputation under canopies at Findlay Market and Fountain Square in 2011. Leisring’s proper little ’cue shack along the river serves up ribs that are speaking-in-tongues good, some of the zazziest jalapeño cheese grits north of the MasonDixon line, and browned mashed potatoes that would make any short-order cook diner-proud. The small no-frills restaurant—packed cheek-by-jowl most nights—feels like

it’s been there a lifetime, with customers dropping vinyl on the turntable, dogs romping in the side yard, and picnic tables crowded with diners. The hooch is bring-your-own, and the barbecue is bona ﬁde.

3313 Riverside Dr., East End, (513) 533-1957; 133 West Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 533-1957, ext. 2, elisbarbeque.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

WALT’S

HITCHING POST

A Northern Kentucky institution returns. Roughly 750 pounds of ribs per week are pit-ﬁred in a small building in front of the restaurant, with a smaller dedicated smoker out back for brisket and chicken. Walt’s ribs begin with several hours in the smokehouse and then are quick-seared at the time of service. This hybrid method takes advantage of the leaner nature of the baby-back ribs they prefer to use. Each rib had a just-right tooth to it where soft ﬂesh peeled away from the bone. One hidden treasure: Walt’s homemade tomato and garlic dressing. Slightly thicker than a vinaigrette yet unwilling to overwhelm a plate of greens, the two key elements play well together.

3300 Madison Pke., Ft. Wright, (859) 360-2222, waltshitchingpost.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$

CAJUN/ CARIBBEAN

BREWRIVER CREOLE

More than 800 miles from New Orleans, this may be as close as you can get to the real deal here in your own backyard. The menu fully leans into Chef Michael Shields’s penchant for cuisine from the Crescent City. His six years of training under NOLA’s own Emeril Lagasse comes through in a scratch kitchen menu that spans a range of the city’s classics. The enormous shrimp and oyster po’boys—the former protein fried in a light and crispy beer batter and the latter in a hearty cornmeal breading—are served on ﬂuffy French bread loaves and dressed with lightly spicy rémoulades. The jambalaya packs all the heat of a late summer day in the French Quarter without masking a hint of its satisfying ﬂavors. Paired with a Sazerac and nightly live jazz, you may just feel tempted to start a second line. 4632 Eastern Ave., Linwood, (513) 861-2484, brewrivercreolekitchen.com. Dinner Tues–Sun, brunch and lunch Sat & Sun. MCC. $

SWAMPWATER GRILL

At first blush, this place is a dive where homesick Cajuns can find a good pile of jambalaya. But thoughtful details like draft Abita beer and char-grilled Gulf Coast oysters on the half shell signal its ambition. Bayou standards like jambalaya, gumbo, and fried seafood also make an appearance. But the extensive menu also features amped-up pub-style items for those who may be squeamish about crawfish tails (which can be added to just about anything on the menu). You’ll also find a roundup of oyster, shrimp, catfish, and alligator po’boys, as well as a selection of hardwood-smoked meats.

3742 Kellogg Ave., East End, (513) 834-7067, swampwatergrill.com. Lunch and dinner Wed–Sun, brunch Sat & Sun. V, MC, DS, AMEX. $$

KNOTTY PINE ON THE BAYOU

The Pine serves some of the best Louisiana home-style food you’ll find this far north of New Orleans. Taste the fried catfish filets with their peppery crust, or the garlic sauteed shrimp with smoky greens on the side, and you’ll understand why it’s called soul food. Between March and June, it’s crawfish season. Get them boiled and heaped high on a platter or in a superb crawfish etouffee. But the rockin’ gumbo—a thick, murky brew of andouille sausage, chicken, and vegetables—serves the best roundhouse punch all year round. As soon as you inhale the bouquet and take that first bite, you realize why Cajun-style food is considered a high art form and a serious pleasure. And you’ll start planning your return trip.

6302 Licking Pke., Cold Spring, (859) 781-2200, theknottypineonthebayou.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

CHINESE

AMERASIA

A sense of energetic fun defines this tiny Chinese spot with a robust beer list. The glossy paper menu depicts Master Chef Rich Chu as a “Kung Food” master fighting the evil fast-food villain with dishes like “fly rice,” “Brocco-Lee,” and “Big Bird’s Nest.” Freshness rules. Potstickers, dumplings, and wontons are hand shaped. The Dragon’s Breath wontons will invade your dreams. Seasoned ground pork, onion, and cilantro meatballs are wrapped in egg dough, wok simmered, and topped with thick, spicy red pepper sauce and fresh cilantro. Noodles are clearly Chef Chu’s specialty, with zonxon (a tangle of thin noodles, finely chopped pork, and mushrooms cloaked in spicy dark sauce and crowned with peanuts and cilantro) and Matt Chu’s Special (shaved rice noodles, fried chicken, and seasonal vegetables in gingery white sauce) topping the menu’s flavor charts.

521 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 261-6121, kungfood.online. Lunch and dinner Mon–Fri, dinner Sat. MCC. $

GREAT TANG

Although the menu features classic dishes in every style, the specialty at Great Tang is the reﬁned coastal cuisine of Zhejiang. If you like spice, you can get still the Sichuanese and Hunanese classics. One dish will hint at the surprises in store for people who are mainly used to Chinese takeout: the lovely Xian cold noodle. The dish is exquisitely layered: the creamy and nutty undertone of sesame paste, mixed with notes of tang and spice, topped with the bright pop of cilantro. The combination of textures is also delightful, with crunches of cucumber and sprouted mung and the softness of the ﬂat noodles. Be as brave as you are in the mood to be. Ask for some suggestions and prepare to be astonished.

7340 Kingsgate Way, West Chester, (513) 847-6097, greattangohio.com. Lunch and dinner Wed–Mon, dim sum Sat & Sun. MCC, DS. $$

ORIENTAL WOK

When Mike and Helen Wong opened Oriental Wok in 1977, the couple wanted to recreate the glamor and refinement of the Hong Kong-Cantonese cuisine they knew. Today, locals and expats alike enjoy authentic Chinese and Chinese-American dishes in dining rooms reminiscent of Beijing. Beyond the elephant tusk entryway and fish ponds and fountains is the warmth and hospitality of the Wong family, service on par with the finest establishments, and very, very good food. Best are the fresh fish: salmon, grouper and sea bass steamed, grilled or fried in a wok, needing little more than the ginger-green onion sauce that accompanies them. Oriental Wok is the tri-state’s longest-running family-owned Chinese restaurant for a reason.

317 Buttermilk Pke., Ft. Mitchell, (859) 331-3000; 2444 Madison Rd., Hyde Park, (513) 871-6888, orientalwok.com. Lunch Sun–Fri (Ft. Mitchell; buffet Sun 11–2:30), lunch Tues–Sat (Hyde Park), dinner seven days (Ft. Mitchell) dinner Tues–Sun (Hyde Park). MCC. $$

THE PACIFIC KITCHEN

The monster of a menu can be dizzying. Ease in with some top-notch Korean Wings. These slightly bubbly, shatter-crisp wings are painted with a thin gochujang chili sauce (a foil to the fat). It takes 24 hours to prep the Cantonese duck, between a honey-vinegar brine to dry the skin, a marinade of star anise, bean paste, and soy within the re-sealed cavity, and the crispy convection oven finish. Dolsot bibimbap had plenty of crispy rice at the bottom of the stone bowl, and the accompanying banchan were soothing yet flavorful. Even dishes like a Malaysian goat stew resonated with rich, original flavors.

8300 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, (513) 8981833, thepaciﬁc.kitchen. Lunch and dinner Mon & Wed–Sun, dim sum lunch Sat & Sun. MCC. $$

SICHUAN BISTRO

Like many Chinese restaurants that cater to both mainstream American and Chinese palates, this strip mall gem uses two menus. The real story here is found in dishes of pungent multi-layered ﬂavors that set your mouth ablaze with fermented peppers and fresh chilies and then just as quickly cool it down with the devilish, numbing sensation of hua jiao, Sichuan pepper. Its numbing effect is subtle at ﬁrst: appetizers of cold sliced beef and tripe, as well as slices of pork belly with a profusion of minced garlic, lean toward the hot and sweet; mapo tofu freckled with tiny fermented black beans and scallions, and pork with pickled red peppers and strips of ginger root, progress from sweet to pungent to hot to salty—in that order. Alternated with cooling dishes—nibbles of rice, a verdant mound of baby bok choy stir-fried with a shovelful of garlic, a simply sensational tea-smoked duck—the effect is momentarily tempered.

7888 S. Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, (513) 7703123, sichuanbistro.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

UNCLE YIP’S

Long before sushi somehow un-disgusted itself to the Western World, China had houses of dim sum. Uncle Yip’s valiantly upholds that tradition in Evendale. This is a traditional dim sum house with all manner of exotic dumplings, including shark ﬁn or beef tripe with ginger and onion. As for the seafood part of the restaurant’s full name, Uncle Yip has most everything the sea has to offer. The menu has more than 160 items, so you’ll ﬁnd a range of favorites, from moo goo gai pan to rock salt frog legs.

10736 Reading Rd., Evendale, (513) 733-8484, uncleyips.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, discount for cash. $$

ECLECTIC

Top10 ABIGAIL STREET

Most people who’ve eaten at Abigail Street have favorite dishes that they order every visit: the Moroccan spiced broccoli, for example, or the mussels charmoula, with its perfect balance of saffron, creaminess, and tomatoey acidity. Many of the new items on the menu have the same perfected feeling as these classics. Working within a loose framework of Middle Eastern and North African flavors, Abigail Street has never fallen into a routine that would sap its energy. Offerings like the lamb spaghetti with grana padano feel just as accomplished as old favorites like the falafel. The restaurant is always watching for what works and what will truly satisfy, ready to sacrifice the superficially interesting in favor of the essential.

1214 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-4040, abigailstreet.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

ALCOVE

Alcove lives up to its name, the embodiment of a green oasis where lots of care goes into the space’s bright, ﬂoral design. Equal care and attention goes into its seasonal farm-to-table menu. It’s an uncomplicated affair featuring exceptional-but-approachable dishes. As one might expect from a restaurant where plants cover most of the walls, vegetables are done very well here. The beet and goat cheese salad stands out as does the buffalo cauliﬂower. Like the produce, much of the meat is sourced from local and regional farms. Among other local vendors, Rich Life Farms, Urban Stead Cheese, and Eli Settler (a.k.a. “Eli the Farmer”) all contribute to Alcove’s menu. This is a restaurant that takes sustainability seriously, and sustainability has a funny way of going hand-in-hand with quality.

1410 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 371-5700, madtree.com/locations/alcove-bar-restaurant. Brunch Fri–Sun, dinner seven days. MCC. $$

THE APERTURE

After several pandemic-related setbacks, Chef/Owner Jordan Anthony-Brown opened his world fusion restau-

rant in Walnut Hills’s historic Paramount Square Building. And it was worth the wait. The seasonal menu draws on ﬂavors from across the globe with subtle touches, such as its scallop crudo. The sublime charred carrots are served with Middle Eastern spice blends like dukkah and ras el hanout as well as mint and crumbles of lamb merguez sausage. It’s a dish that perfectly encapsulates The Aperture’s commitment to serving substantial versions of traditionally lighter fare. At heart, The Aperture is a neighborhood restaurant, albeit one that’s bound to bring people in from all over. 900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, (513) 872-1970, theaperturecinci.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

ATWOOD OYSTER HOUSE

While Atwood has done an excellent job of working closely with coastal purveyors to curate a focused but eclectic selection of oysters, the rest of its menu consists of southern coastal cuisine prepared with rigorous French technique. The wild-caught ﬁsh is as fresh and deliberately sourced as the eponymous oysters, and smoked ﬁsh rillette with milk bun toasties. The modern, clean-lined space, adorned with busts and oil paintings (curated with the help of neighborhood artist Alex Frank) matches the elegant food. It’s stately without being stuffy; it somehow feels both timeless and hip. Like everything else at Atwood, it’s the result of a delicate, highly successful balancing act.

1220 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4256, atwoodoysterhouse.com. Dinner Wed–Sun. MCC. $$

Top

10 BOCA

With its grand staircase, chandelier, and floorto-ceiling draperies, Boca has an atmosphere of grandeur and refinement. There is a sense of drama not only in the decor but in everything it serves. In some dishes, there is a painterly sense of contrast and surprise, like the maple tuile served with the maple mascarpone cheesecake. In others, there is a dramatic suspense, like the whole egg yolk quivering in the center of the beef tartare waiting to be broken. While staying mostly grounded in the fundamentals of Italian and French cuisine, Boca has an air of international sophistication that sets its food apart with extraordinary creativity and flair.

114 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 542-2022, bocacincinnati.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

Top 10 BOUQUET RESTAURANT

Normally diners aren’t pleased when a restaurant runs out of something. At Bouquet, though, surprise changes to the menu are simply a sign of integrity. The restaurant is serious about using seasonal ingredients, and if the ﬁgs have run out or there is no more chicken from a local farm, so be it. The ﬂavors at Bouquet are about doing justice to what’s available. Preparations are unfussy, complexity coming from within the vegetables and proteins themselves. A spring salad—wonderfully fresh and vibrant, so you know the strawberries included have just come off a nearby vine—is dressed with candy-striped beets and whipped goat cheese. This determination to make something delicious out of what’s on hand, to embrace limitations, gives the food at Bouquet a rustic, soulful quality.

519 Main St., Covington, (859) 491-7777, bouquetbistro. com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DS. $$

CHÉ

This spot draws on authentic Argentine recipes, including the empanadas. Choose from a dozen different crispy, perfectly cinched dough pockets, with ﬁllings ranging from traditional (a mixture of cumin-spiced beef, hard-boiled egg, and olives) to experimental (mushrooms, feta, green onion, and mozzarella). There are also six different dipping sauces to choose from, but you need not stray from the house chimichurri.

1342 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine; 2038 Madison Rd., O’Bryonville, (513) 345-8838, checincinnati.com. Dinner seven days, brunch Sat & Sun. V, MCC, DC, AMEX. $$

CROWN REPUBLIC GASTROPUB

What makes Crown Republic special isn’t its handful of outstanding dishes. It’s the place’s sheer consistency. No single dish is absolutely mind-blowing or completely original, but when almost everything that comes out is genuinely tasty, the service is always friendly and attentive, and (stop the presses!) the bill is quite a bit less than you expected, you sit

up and pay attention. The crab and avocado toast, served on toasted bread with lime juice and slivers of pickled Fresno chiles, is a prime example of what makes Crown Republic tick. The cocktails are equally unfussy and good, like the Tequila Honey Bee, made with tequila reposado, honey thyme syrup, lemon, bitters, and mezcal rinse, which adds a smoky kick.

720 Sycamore St., downtown, (513) 246-4272, crownrepublicgastropub.com. Brunch and dinner Wed–Sun. V, MC, DS, AMEX. $$

FIVE KITCHEN & BAR

The ﬁfth venture from Anthony Sitek and wife Haley NutterSitek’s Crown Restaurant Group, this restaurant achieves excitement through comfort food with meticulous attention to detail: the meat is butchered in-house, the bread and pasta are made from scratch, and the bacon is house-cured. Thick, cleanly acidic fried green tomatoes make an appearance, as does a bountiful cioppino, a tomato-based seafood stew created by Italian American ﬁsherman in San Francisco. Some of the dishes are pulled straight from Sitek’s own childhood, in New Jersey. “Gracie’s Meatballs,” named in honor of his grandmother, use her unique blend of raisins and pine nuts. A love letter to the long-beloved dishes, the menu is an extended rebuttal against the tired argument that American food is bland and boring.

1324 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4301, ﬁveonvine.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$

THE GOVERNOR

This Milford restaurant playfully elevates diner classics. Sandwiches get an inventive twist here. The “Governor Tso’s chicken”—a crispy, gluten-free fried chicken breast glazed with a General Tso’s–inspired sauce, topped with apricot slaw and served on a toasted brioche bun—is a gigantic, happy mess of a sandwich, but the sweet glaze faintly evokes the namesake “General” while letting the sublimely fried chicken lead the charge. Order a side of bowling alley fries and ask for the red dip. (You’ll thank us later.)

231 Main St., Milford, (513) 239-8298, governordiner. com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Mon–Sun. Breakfast and lunch Sun. Brunch seven days. MCC. $

THE GREEN LINE KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

Named after the historic trolley line that used to run between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, this restaurant combines quality American food with charm and history. Meals feel like homemade Sunday dinners, and with a menu bursting with steaks, seafood, and pasta, there’s something to make everyone’s weekend. The half-roasted chicken appears exactly as promised, with a breast, wing, thigh, and drumstick cooked as one large piece. On the cocktails side, even the designated driver has options beyond iced tea. Nonalcoholic choices range from beer and wine to original mocktails, like the Strawberry Ginger (strawberry puree, fresh strawberries, fresh basil, and ginger beer).

425 N. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas, (859) 757-4580, greenlinerestaurant.com. Dinner Tues-Sat, brunch Sun. MCC. $$

MAPLEWOOD KITCHEN

At Maplewood, you order at the counter, then ﬁnd a table, and a server will deliver what you’ve selected. There’s no cohesive cuisine, rather, the menu takes its cue from all corners of the globe: chilaquiles, guajillo bowls with chicken are all represented, along with the satisfying Maplewood hash with goetta and local mushrooms. Brunch is available all day so try the light lemon ricotta pancakes or the shakshuka. 525 Race St., downtown, (513) 421-2100, maplewoodkitchenandbar.com. Breakfast and lunch seven days. MCC. $$

MARIGOLD

To understand what this restaurant offers, you must ﬁrst learn what it does not. It isn’t a replacement for your favorite Indian take-out or an Irish pub repainted with the Union Jack. This is the fusion of Anglo and Indian cuisines that grew from multicultural neighborhoods, where immigrants from colonized nations served meals that appealed to all of their new neighbors. The English curry is more sweet than spicy. Try the butter chicken (a mellow reﬂection of tikka masala with tender, cubed chicken) or the vegetarian

korma chickpea and squash. If you aren’t feeling terribly adventurous, don’t worry. The Marigold burger is a blend of tenderloin, rib-eye, and striploin dolled up with Welsh rarebit (imagine a very thick, very cheesy roux), and served on a house-made English muffin.

60 W. Fifth St., downtown, (513) 996-0210, marigoldcincy.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$

MELT REVIVAL

In this Northside sandwich joint, the restaurant’s name pretty much dictates what you should get. Diners have their choice of sandwiches, including the vegetarian cheesesteak—seitan (a meat substitute) topped with roasted onions, peppers, and provolone—and The Gobbler, turkey burger served with curried aioli, red cabbage slaw, pickled red onions, and arugula. For those who require meat in their meals, try the verde chicken ﬂatbread: juicy pieces of chicken intermingle with pesto, zucchini, and provolone. Not sure you’ll want a whole sandwich? Try a half-sandwich with a half-salad or half-soup order—a popular selection with the lunch crowd.

4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (513) 818-8951, meltrevival.com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Tues—Sat, brunch Sun. MCC. $

METROPOLE

Metropole has been remarkably stable since it opened in 2012. Even when chefs have left, the organization has promoted from within, kept popular dishes on the menu, and maintained a certain vibe, a balance between sophistication and rusticity. Its vegetarian fare contains many of its most inventive and delightful creations. Showcasing housemade pastas, house-cured meats, and more, the menu honors the region’s ingredients for a fun and whimsical meals rooted in careful execution of deep and satisfying ﬂavors.

609 Walnut St., downtown, (513) 578-6660, metropoleonwalnut.com. Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days. V, DS, MC, AMEX. $$

Top 10

MITA’S

It’s ﬁtting that Chef/Owner Jose Salazar named this restaurant after his grandmother, because there is something deeply homey about the food at Mita’s. With a focus on Spanish and Latin-American tapas, it always feels, in the best possible way, like elevated home cooking. Its sophistication is modestly concealed. The ﬂavors are bold and direct, like the spicy freshness of the ceviche de camarones with poached gulf shrimp, sour orange, fava beans, and jalapeños. The tacos de lengua, which come in pairs, are made with beef tongue, watermelon pico de gallo, watermelon radish, salsa roja, and mint, and are served on housemade corn tortillas. But what mainly comes through is the warm-hearted affection a grandmother might have put into a meal for a beloved grandson. It’s the kind of big hug everyone needs from time to time.

501 Race St., downtown, (513) 421-6482, mitas.co. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$$

NICHOLSON’S

To remind local diners that they were here before those young dog-toting punks with their exposed brick and crafty ales in Over-the-Rhine, Nicholson’s branded themselves Cincinnati’s “ﬁrst and ﬁnest gastropub,” and revamped the menu to include plenty of snacks and small plates for grazing, and not-quite-brawny, straightforward sandwiches and main dishes. Try the pan-seared salmon, a bowl of cocka-leekie soup, or the BBQ bacon-style burger. And the bar’s clubby intimacy makes it easy to belly up and enjoy the impressive collection of single malts or a Scottish ale.

625 Walnut St., downtown, (513) 564-9111, nicholsonspub.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $$

NOLIA

Chef/Owner Jeffery Harris, a New Orleans native, prepares the cuisine of his beloved city with sophistication and ﬂair, drawing on all the inﬂuences that have contributed to the cuisine of the Big Easy—from West African to French to Japanese to Haitian. The menu changes seasonally, with almost a complete overhaul each time. If classic New Orleans dishes do show up on the menu, they’re likely to get delightfully unexpected touches. The smoked chicken, for example, comes with peach Alabama barbecue sauce, greens, mirliton, and charred peach. It’s exquisitely prepared food served in a

EGG-ZACTLY

HangOverEasy recently opened its second Queen City location in Mt. Lookout. The boozy breakfast joint took over the old Cibo Vino Wine Bar & Cucina space, taking the number of restaurants for the Columbus-based restaurant chain up to six in the state. hangovereasy.com

funky, laid-back atmosphere. 1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 384-3597, noliakitchen.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC,DC. $$$

THE QUARTER BISTRO

Quarter Bistro has multiple personalities: one part clubby neighborhood joint, one part dinner and a movie with a dash of lusty romance. The Bistro Burger, a half-pound of black Angus beef, is seasoned but not overly so, with a sturdy-butnot-too-chewy bun. The 18-hour short ribs are the star, and reason enough to skip the movie next door. Braised into a ﬂavor bomb of meat candy, it’s served with mushroom ravioli and roasted vegetables. With the no-lip service, The Quarter Bistro could be well on the way to making middle age look sexy.

6904 Wooster Pke., Mariemont, (513) 2715400, qbcincy.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

RUTH’S PARKSIDE CAFÉ

The spiritual successor of Mullane’s Parkside Café, Ruth’s brings back the vegetable-forward menu with a few concessions to contemporary tastes. Dinner options now include steaks and heavier entrées. But the stir-fries, beans and rice, pasta, and the traditional option to add a protein to an entrée (tofu, tempeh, chicken, or local chorizo) for an upcharge are all old standards. While dishes are generally hearty, they are rarely too rich, leaving room to freely consider dessert. There is a small selection of baked goods, including a gooey butter cake, homemade fruit pies, and Madisono’s Gelato.

1550 Blue Rock St., Northside, (513) 542-7884, ruthscafe.com. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$

SENATE

Ever since it began dishing out its lo-ﬁ eats, Chef Dan Wright’s gastropub has been operating at a velocity few can match. From the howl and growl of supremely badass hot dogs to the palaterattling poutine, Senate has led the charge in changing the local conventional wisdom about what makes a great restaurant. Consumption of mussels charmoula means either ordering additional grilled bread to soak up every drop of the herby, saffron-laced broth or drinking the remainder straight from the bowl and perfectly crisped and seasoned truffle fries inspire countless return visits.

1100 Summit Place Dr., Blue Ash, (513) 7690099, senatepub.com. Lunch and dinner Wed–Sun. MC, V, DS. $

SUDOVA

Sarah Dworak packed a lot into her latest venture. She began introducing fresh takes on eastern European cuisine to the dining scene via the now-defunct Wodka Bar, and while everyone loved its pierogi window, Dworak wanted to offer more. Sudova gives her the literal space to spread her wings with far more seating and a built-out kitchen. Recipes for the halushki (caramelized cabbage and onion, brown butter, and Linnea’s spaetzle), holubsti (stuffed cabbage rolls and tomato sauce), and rye varenyky (potato, sauerkraut, caramelized onion, and dill sour cream) come straight from Dworak’s baba and they are the jewels in the restaurant’s crown. Most small plates arrive dressed in herbs from Dark Wood Farm and culinary ﬂower petals, deepening the illusion that you’ve stopped for dinner at some grandmother’s cottage deep in the woods, and she’s just picked something fresh from the garden. You should feel grateful that you don’t have to go over the hills and through the woods to get it.

22 W. Court St., downtown, (513) 407-7974, sudovaoncourt.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$$

TASTE OF BELGIUM

Jean-François Flechet’s waffle empire grew from a back counter of Madison’s grocery at Findlay Market to multiple full-service sit-down spots. There’s more on the menu than the authentic Belgian treat, though it would be a crime to miss the chicken and waffles: a dense, yeasty waffle topped with a succulent buttermilk fried chicken breast, Frank’s hot sauce, and maple syrup. There are also frites, of course, and Brussels sprouts— served with pancetta and sherry vinaigrette—plus a gem of a Bolognese. And let’s not forget the beer. Six rotating taps offer some of the best the Belgians brew, not to mention those made in town. 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 3965800, and other locations, authenticwaffle. com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Tues–Sun, breakfast and lunch Mon, brunch Sun. MCC, DS. $$

20 BRIX

This restaurant mixes Mediterranean influences with homespun choices, and he comes up with some marvelous food. Lamb meatballs with melted onions and romesco sauce are sweet and peppery, and their simplicity partners well with a lush Zinfandel. The excellent wine list, arranged by flavor profiles within the varietals, features dozens of varieties by the glass in five-ounce or twoounce pours, which makes it easy to try several.

101 Main St., Milford, (513) 831-2749, 20brix. com. Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$

TERANGA

West African cuisine consists of mostly simple, home-style dishes of stews and grilled lamb with just enough of the exotic to offer a glimpse of another culture. Be prepared for a few stimulating sights and ﬂavors that warm from within. An entire grilled tilapia—head and all—in a peppery citrus marinade and served on plantains with a side of Dijon-coated cooked onions is interesting enough to pique foodie interest without overwhelming the moderate eater. Stews of lamb or chicken with vegetables and rice are a milder bet, and Moroccan-style couscous with vegetables and mustard sauce accompanies most items. The dining room atmosphere is extremely modest with most of the action coming from the constant stream of carryout orders.

8438 Vine St., Hartwell, (513) 821-1300, terangacinci.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

WILDWEED

Before it opened as a restaurant, Wildweed developed a loyal fan base through the hundreds of pasta pop-ups that Chefs David and Lydia Jackman held around the city. Even today, it retains some of the freewheeling quality from its pop-up era with a palpable sense of restlessness in the food. Part of the menu changes from week to week, based on what’s available in the woods and from local farms. What makes Wildweed a place to return is its sense of adventure. This place is always pushing itself to try something different.

1301 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4274, wildweed-restaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$$

YUCA

Yuca is in The Fairﬁeld’s former space, retaining much of the same modern, airy, and inviting café vibes with a neighborhood feel, but boasting a menu certainly worth a commute. In the mood for a hearty breakfast? Indulge in the Fat Zach, a heaping corn gordita packed to the brim with chicken, chorizo, and scrambled egg, served with avocado, pineapple pico, and sweet and spicy potatoes. There’s a full drink menu ranging from coffee to Bloody Marys—or a selection of margaritas and palomas if you’re looking to stick around.

700 Fairﬁeld Ave., Bellevue, (859) 360-0110, yucabycedar.com. Breakfast and lunch Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

FRENCH

CHEZ RENÉE FRENCH BISTROT

Based on American stereotypes of French food— that it’s elaborate, elitist, and expensive—one might expect Chez Renée to fall on the chichi side. Instead, it’s elegant in an everyday way, operating on the principle that it is better to excel at simplicity than to badly execute something complicated. The formula is not complex: Simple ingredients, generally fresh and from nearby, prepared without much fuss. Warmed brie is served with thyme, almonds, fruit, and bread, and the chicken risotto is served with creamy mushrooms. This is solid, tasty food, both approachable and well-executed. It’s well on its way to becoming, as a good bistrot should be, a neighborhood institution.

233 Main St., Milford, (513) 428-0454, chezreneefrenchbistrot.com. Lunch Fri & Sat, dinner Wed–Sat. MCC. $$

COLETTE

At this “mostly French” restaurant, Chef Danny Combs has built a more laid-back home for his focused, pristine cooking. While there is classic bistro fare, like steak frites, on the concentrated menu, there are also less familiar but equally classic French dishes, like the poulet frit a la moutarde (chicken with Dijon and crème fraîche) and the tagliolini aux champignons (egg yolk pasta with ragout and Parmesan). One can turn to the extensive drink menu (also “mostly French”) to ﬁnd a wine or cocktail to go with any dish on offer. Like Zula, Colette would function just ﬁne as a wine and cocktail bar, though we can’t imagine coming to a place this good and not eating something.

1400 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 381-1018, coletteotr.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DC. $$

LE BAR A BOEUF

Top 10

If it’s been a couple of years since you’ve been to Le Bar a Boeuf—the late JeanRobert de Cavel’s fun-yet-refined French bistro located on the first floor of the Edgecliff Private Residences in East Walnut Hills—it may be time for a revisit. The formerly burger-centric menu now approaches the full repertoire of bistro classics. The menu reads like a greatest hits list of bistro fare, with escargot, beef tartare, duck leg confit, steak frites, and French onion soup all making appearances. As France’s influence on American fine dining has waned, it’s refreshing to see a restaurant committed to not only preserving the French classics but reinvigorating them. 2200 Victory Pkwy., East Walnut Hills, (513) 751-2333, decavelgroup.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

LUCA BISTRO

This unabashedly French restaurant, with its chalkboard menu proclaiming its specials to passersby, fits into its Mt. Adams environs so perfectly that it’s hard to imagine Hatch Street without it. That, combined with warm service, timeless French fare, and relaxed joie de vivre makes this a true neighborhood establishment. Chef Frederic Maniet grew up in the south of France and has done an excellent job transporting his native cuisine to a quiet corner of Cincinnati. These are the dishes that culinary Francophiles often crave, prepared in a straightforward, timehonored way. The Bouchées à la Reine, a buttery, flaky puff pastry filled with chicken, mushrooms, peas, Gruyère cheese, and béchamel sauce, is so warm and comforting it makes chicken pot pie seem aloof by comparison. It’s a warm, gentle reminder that French food can be convivial and affordable.

934 Hatch St., Mt. Adams, (513) 621-5822, lucabistro. com. Breakfast and lunch Tues–Sun, dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

INDIAN

AMMA’S KITCHEN

Muthu Kumar Muthiah serves traditional southern Indian and Indo-Chinese vegetarian cuisine, but with a sizable Orthodox Jewish community nearby, Muthiah saw an opportunity: If he was going to cook vegetarian, why not also make it kosher? Muthiah prepares every item—from the addictively crunchy gobhi Manchurian, a spicy Chinese cauliﬂower dish, to the lemon pickle, tamarind, and mint sauces—entirely from scratch under the careful eye of Rabbi Michoel Stern. Always 80 percent vegan, the daily lunch buffet is 100 percent animal-product-free on Wednesdays. Tuck into a warm and savory channa masala (spiced chickpeas) or malai kofta (vegetable dumplings in tomato sauce) from the curry menu. Or tear into a crispy, two-foot diameter dosa (chickpea ﬂour crepe) stuffed with spiced onions and potatoes.

7633 Reading Rd., Roselawn, (513) 821-2021, cincinnati. ammaskitchen.com. Lunch buffet (all vegan on Wed) and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $

BRIJ MOHAN

Order at the counter the way you might at a fast food joint, except the shakes come in mango and there’s no supersizing your mint lassi. The saag, full of cream in most northern Indian restaurants, is as intensely ﬂavored as collard greens in the Deep South—real Punjabi soul food. Tarka dal is spectacular here, the black lentils smoky from charred tomatoes and onions, and the pani puri, hollow fried shells into which you spoon a peppery cold broth, burst with tart cool crunch. Follow the spice with soothing ras malai, freshly made cheese simmered in thick almond-ﬂavored milk, cooled and sprinkled with crushed pistachios.

11259 Reading Rd., Sharonville, (513) 769-4549, brijmohancincinnati.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MC, V, DC, AMEX. $

ITALIAN

A TAVOLA

In 2011, Jared Wayne opened A Tavola Pizza with two friends just as OTR was blowing up. A Ferrara pizza oven was ordered from Italy; Wayne, a skilled woodworker, built custom tables; and the menu was fleshed in with trendy crowd-pleasers like charcuterie and craft cocktails. Fast-forward a decade. The OTR outpost is closed but the second location is still going strong in the ’burbs: A Tavola Madeira capitalizes on the menu from the Vine Street location, including the fresh and zesty artichoke pizza on a Neapolitan crust; gooey mozzarella-filled arancini, or risotto fritters; and the zucchini mozzarella. Wash down your small plates with a glass of crisp and grassy Sannio falanghina or an ice-cold Rhinegeist. They’re definitely going to need a bigger parking lot.

7022 Miami Ave., Madeira, (513) 272-0192, atavolapizza.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. V, DC, MS, AMEX. $

AL-POSTO

Al-Posto is an upscale southern Italian spot that reﬂects the same commitment to quality ingredients and delicate preparation that made its predecessor Dear such a gem. Appetizers include classic sharables like marinated olives (prepared with orange zest, rosemary, and Calabrian chile) and burrata with grilled focaccia, but it’s the pasta (which can be ordered as an entrée or a ﬁrst course) that’s not to be missed. We recommend the cacio e pepe, a seemingly simple dish comprised of bucatini (similar to spaghetti, but thicker), black pepper, and a sharp pecorino Toscano. Since you’re probably wondering, “Al-Posto” roughly translates to “at the spot.” Located in the middle of Hyde

Park Square, this eatery seems poised to become the culinary focal point of the neighborhood.

2710 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, (513) 321-2710, al-posto.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DC, DS. $$

CARMELO’S

Every great Italian eatery needs its classic entrées, and this restaurant delivers. The 101-Layer Lasagna actually looks like it has 101 layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce. The shareable meatball appetizer—which consists of two enormous veal, pork, and beef meatballs that crumble with a little elbow grease— is the solution for diners craving a protein with their pasta. The oxtail ragu, with rich gravy-like osso buco ragu, incorporates subtle tomato and robust seasoning with the dish’s shredded meat and Parmesan. Portions are large, and the staff is ready to stow your leftovers the minute you raise the white ﬂag. Remember, there’s no shame in surrender.

434 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 287-4700, eatatcarmelos.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

FORNO

Cristian Pietoso’s second restaurant has all the bones of an upscale eatery, but the menu is infused with enough Italian soul to make nonna proud. In most instances, raving about a side of creamed corn wouldn’t bode well for the rest of the menu. Here, that side dish—kernels swimming in a pool of truffle-laced heavy cream that demands sopping up—is evidence that each component is purpose-driven. The “bonein” pork chop Milanese, and the tagliatelle Bolognese with traditional beef and veal sauce are examples of the elevated, adventurous comfort food that Pietoso strives for.

3514 Erie Ave., East Hyde Park, (513) 818-8720, fornoosteriabar.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$

NICOLA’S

Top 10

Chef/Restaurateur Cristian Pietoso carries on the legacy of his father, Nicola, as the elder Pietoso’s Over-the-Rhine eatery celebrated 25 years in business in 2021. You can still get the old Italian classics, and they’ll be as good as ever, but the rest of the menu has blossomed into a freewheeling tour of modern American cuisine. Any establishment paying this level of attention to detail—from the aged balsamic and lavender honey on the Italian cheese board to the staff’s wine knowledge—is going to put out special meals. Order an old favorite, by all means, but make sure you try something new, too.

1420 Sycamore St., Pendleton, (513) 721-6200, nicolasotr.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

PADRINO

Billed as “Italian comfort food,” this sister restaurant to 20 Brix offers the classics (like lasagna and chicken carbonara) plus hoagies and meatball sliders, an impressive wine list, seasonal martinis, and a decadent signature appetizer—garlic knots, doughy buns smothered in olive oil and garlic. Best of all, Barraco’s pizza sauce, which is comprised of roasted tomatoes and basil, is so garden-fresh that one can’t help but wonder: If this is real pizza, what have we been eating all these years?

111 Main St., Milford, (513) 965-0100; 14 N. Grand Ave. Ft Thomas, (859) 957-4082, padrinoitalian.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

PEPP & DOLORES

As with all of Thunderdome’s restaurants, you get a sense that they want to deliver a meal that satisfies many different kinds of people. The prices are reasonable, with pasta entrées about $15. The dishes are familiar in their flavors, but everything feels balanced, modulated and gradually perfected. There is lovely variety: the limone pasta is zippy with lemon and chili flakes, and just the right mixture of tart and creamy; and the heat in dishes like the eggplant involtini is just enough to wake up the sauce without overwhelming the flavor. The menu has a wealth of excellent vegetarian and pasta-alternative options.

1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 419-1820, peppanddolores.com. Lunch Fri–Sun, dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

PRIMAVISTA

Besides offering the old-world ﬂavors of Italy, Primavista also serves up a specialty no other restaurant can match: a bird’s eye view of Cincinnati from the west side. The kitchen

is equally comfortable with northern and southern regional specialties. Among the classics, nothing is more restorative than the pasta e fagioli, a hearty soup of cannellini, ditali pasta, and bacon. Most of the pastas are cooked just a degree more mellow than al dente so that they soak up the fragrant tomato basil or satiny cream sauces. On the desserts side, you’ll be hard-pressed to decide between the housemade tiramisu or bread pudding with caramel sauce, marsala-soaked raisins, and cream.

810 Matson Pl., Price Hill, (513) 251-6467, pvista.com. Dinner Wed–Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

Top 10 SOTTO

There are certain books and movies that you can read or watch over and over. Eating at Sotto is a similar experience: familiar, but so profound and satisfying that there is no reason to ever stop. Unlike other restaurants, where the techniques are often elaborate and unfamiliar, the magic at Sotto happens right in front of you, using ordinary elements and methods. When you taste the results, though, you realize that some mysterious transmutation has taken place. The wood-ﬁred branzino with broccolini, matched with the warm, smoky taste of the Calabrian pepper, offers a ﬂavor that you could go on eating forever. From the texture of the chicken liver mousse to the citrusy lemon aioli on the tartare di fassone, most of the food has some added element of soulfulness.

118 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 822-5154, sottocincinnati.com. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$

SUBITO

Focusing on Northern Italian cuisine, Subito carves out its own worthwhile place in the landscape. Most of the items on the menu—from pizza to various pastas—will be familiar, but there are delightful surprises, like the smoked grape crostini. This zingy dish is served with herb whipped goat cheese, apple, pecan, and maple agrodolce. Everything at Subito is done with intelligence and a light touch.

311 Pike St., downtown, (513) 579-3860, thelytleparkhotel.com/dining/subito. Breakfast and lunch seven days, dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$

VIA VITE

Via Vite serves up crowd-pleasing entrées—including the Pietoso family Bolognese, over tagliatelle—right on Fountain Square. This is where small touches add sophistication. Golf-ball-sized veal meatballs are heavy with lemon zest, an over-the-top comfort dish. The same applies to the risotto frutti di mare, its soffritto, shrimp, lobster, mussels, and Boston bay clams creates a nice back-and-forth between vegetal and briny ﬂavors. Braised lamb shank over polenta is a workhorse, and the ﬂavorful Faroe Island salmon with roasted carrot puree, caramelized Brussel sprouts, and truffled brown butter balsamic vinaigrette is a delight. 520 Vine St., downtown, (513) 721-8483, viaviterestaurant.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

JAPANESE

ANDO

You don’t go just anywhere to dine on uni sashimi (sea urchin) or tanshio (thinly sliced charcoal-grilled beef tongue). And when it’s on the menu, don’t overlook the buttery amberjack collar marinated in a Japanese citrus infused soy sauce and grilled over charcoal. Noodles are also well represented, with udon, soba, or ramen options available. Owners Ken and Keiko Ando always have something new, be it kamo negi maki (grilled duck breast stuffed with organic green onions) or a chocolate crepe and matcha parfait, delicacies that you’ll be hard-pressed to ﬁnd in anywhere else, so dont’ forget to check out the specials. 11255 Reed Hartman Hwy., Blue Ash, (513) 954-0041, andojapaneserestaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

BARU

Baru, the sleek izakaya in the former MidiCi space, prioritizes bar dining, which is meant to be enjoyed alongside its eclectic drinks list. The menu is broken down into sushi, “small plates,” “plates,” sides, and ishiyaki. Baru’s sushi offerings are varied but concise, featuring a trio of ahi tuna,

spicy tuna, and escolar, as well as a lobster nigiri. If sushi gets the party going, the theatrical ishiyaki kicks it into high gear. The term refers to dishes that diners grill tableside on a hot stone, such as the Wagyu New York strip. For all its convivial buzz, Baru is also a spot where solo diners can enjoy a few peaceful bar-side bites. The Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna from the small plates section brought the same level of freshness and quality as the rest of the menu. Sometimes it pays to dine alone.

595 Race St., downtown, (513) 246-0150, barusushi. com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$

KIKI

Your best bet here is to share plates or simply order too much. Start with the edamame and the chicken karaage. The selection of sauces (from tare to ponzu to chili oil) makes each dish better. And, of course, the ramen is the main reason for visiting. The shio features pork belly and tea-marinated soft-boiled egg, but the kimchi subs in tofu and its namesake cabbage for the meat. Be sure to try something from the sushi bar which offers nigiri, sashimi, and roll options.

358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, (513) 706-8902, kikicincinnati. com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

KYOTO

Owner Jason Shi seems to know everybody’s name as he chats up diners, guiding them through the extensive sushi and sashimi menu. Four young sushi chefs, all part of Shi’s family, work at light speed behind the bar, a choreography backlit by rows of gleaming liquor bottles. Dinner proceeds

with glorious chaos as a feisty Carla Tortelli–like server delivers one dish after another—combination of crab, ﬁsh, shrimp, scallop, and vegetable tempuras, a volcanic tower of chopped fatty tuna hidden inside overlapping layers of thin avocado slices, crispy chicken katsu with a mayo sauce,, and delicate slices of a samurai roll—all between shots of chilled sake.

12082 Montgomery Rd., Symmes Twp., (513) 583-8897, kyotousa.m988.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

ZUNDO RAMEN & DONBURI

A stark contrast to Styrofoam cup soup, chef Han Lin’s ramens are a deep and exciting branch of cuisine, capable of subtlety, variation, and depth. The simplicity of the dish’s name hides a world of complexity. Zundo uses the traditional Japanese building blocks of ﬂavor—soy sauce, miso, sake, mirin—to create something freewheeling and time-tested. Bowls of ramen come with a marinated soft-boiled egg half, roast pork, green onion, and a healthy serving of noodles. Each has a distinct identity, like the milky richness of the tonkotsu, the rich and buttery miso, or the light and faintly sweet shoyu ramen. A transformative add-in is the mayu, or black garlic oil. Dripped on top of one of the subtler broths, it adds a deep, mushroom-y richness, with the hint of burned ﬂavor that makes barbecue so good.

220 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 975-0706, zundootr.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

KOREAN

RIVERSIDE KOREAN RESTAURANT

Come for the jham bong—a seafood soup with ﬂour noodles

Sweeten the season with Nestlé® Toll House®

in a spicy broth with pork, shrimp, squid, mussels, and vegetables. Revered for its medicinal properties, the dinnersized soup will leave your eyes glistening and your brow beaded with sweat. It’s a detox for your overindulgence, rejuvenation for when you’re feeling under the weather. Expect crowds on weekends. Expect too, that dozens of them have come for dolsot bibimbap, the hot stone pots ﬁlled with layers of rice, vegetables, meat or tofu, egg, and chili paste. Characterized by its electric color and addictive ﬂavors, Riverside Korean’s version is a captivating bowl of heaven. 512 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 291-1484, riversidekoreanrestaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

MEDITERRANEAN

ANDY’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILLE

In this lively joint with a burnished summer lodge interior of wood and stone, even the food is unrestrained: rough-cut chunks of charbroiled beef tenderloin, big slices of onion and green pepper turned sweet and wet in the heat, skewers of marinated and charbroiled chicken perched on rice too generous for its plate.

906 Nassau St., Walnut Hills, (513) 281-9791, andyskabob.com. Lunch Mon–Sat, dinner seven days. MCC. $$

CAFÉ MEDITERRANEAN

Chef-driven Middle Eastern cuisine leans heavily on Turkish tradition here. The baba ghanoush uses seared eggplant, which adds a pleasant smokiness to the ﬁnal product. Börek is described as a “Turkish Egg Roll,” wrapping feta and fresh and dried herbs into phyllo dough and frying it lightly to brittle ﬂakiness. While there is a smooth, simple hummus

Ingredients

•2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

•1 teaspoon baking soda

•1 teaspoon salt

•1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

•3/4 cup granulated sugar

•3/4 cup packed brown sugar

•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

•2 large eggs

•2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

•1 cup chopped nuts

(Optional. If omitting, add 1 to 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour.)

Make It

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

on the menu, you should go for the classic sucuklu hummus, which is spiked with sujuk, a common beef sausage popular all over the Middle East.

3520 Erie Ave., East Hyde Park, (513) 871-8714, mediterranean-cafe.com. Lunch Mon–Sat, dinner seven days. MCC. $$

FILLO

This modern Greek restaurant has a menu composed of mezedes, the small, shareable plates that serve as the binder to a great Greek meal. Take the saganaki, for example. True to Greek tradition, Fillo’s version is served without a tableside flambé. But what the dish lacks in spectacle, it makes up for in spectacular flavor. The layering of ingredients and flavors defines Fillo’s most filling entrée: moussaka. The classic dish appears on several local Mediterranean menus, but for pure comfort, Fillo’s combination of eggplant, potato, tomato-y beef ragu sauce, and béchamel can’t be beat. 1505 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 873-1995, fillomodern greek.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$

Top10 PHOENICIAN TAVERNA

No matter how much restraint you go in with, meals at Phoenician Taverna quickly become feasts. There is just too much that’s good, and everything is meant to be shared. With fresh pita bread continuously arriving from the ovens, and a table of quickly multiplying meze (hummus, falafel, muhammara), there is a warmth and depth to the cooking that envelops you. With such traditional cuisine, you may think there isn’t much left to discover beyond simply executed classics prepared according to time-tested methods. But there are always new discoveries as the flavors mingle from plate to plate: the tabbouleh with the hummus, mixed with a touch of harissa, or the smoky baba ghanoush spooned onto falafel. Phoenician Taverna keeps taking these classics a little further.

7944 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, (513) 770-0027,

phoeniciantaverna.com. Lunch Tues–Fri, dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

SANTORINI

Steak, eggs, and homefries. Jumbo haddock sandwich with Greek fries. Chocolate chip hotcakes with bacon. Notice something wrong with this menu? Chicken Philly cheese steak sandwich with Olympic onion rings. Yep, it’s obvious: What’s wrong with this menu is that there’s nothing wrong with this menu. Greek feta cheese omelette with a side of ham. It’s been owned by the same family for more than 30 years. Santorini has diner standards, like cheeseburgers, chili ﬁve ways, and breakfast anytime, but they also make some Greek pastries in-house, like spanakopita and baklava.

3414 Harrison Ave., Cheviot, (513) 662-8080. Breakfast and lunch seven days, dinner Tues–Fri. MCC. $

SEBASTIAN’S

When the wind is just right, you can smell the meat roasting from a mile away. Watch the rotating wheels of beef and lamb, and you understand how Greek food has escaped the American tendency to appropriate foreign cuisines. Sebastian’s specializes in gyros, shaved off the stick, wrapped in thick griddle pita with onions and tomatoes, and served with cool tzatziki sauce. Whether you’re having a crisp Greek salad with house-made dressing, triangles of spanakopita, or simply the best walnut and honey baklava this side of the Atlantic, they never misses a beat, turning more covers in the tiny restaurant on one Saturday afternoon than some restaurants do in an entire weekend.

5209 Glenway Ave., Price Hill, (513) 471-2100, sebastiansgyros.com. Brunch, lunch and dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. DS. $

MEXICAN

MAZUNTE

Mazunte runs a culinary full-court press, switching up specials to keep both regulars and staff engaged. Pork tamales arrive swaddled in a banana leaf, the shredded pork filling steeped in a sauce fiery with guajillo and ancho chilies yet foiled by the calming sweetness of raisins. The fried fish tacos are finished with a citrusy red and white cabbage slaw that complements the accompanying mangohabañero salsa. With this level of authentic yet fast-paced execution, a slightly greasy pozole can be easily forgiven. Don’t miss the Mexican Coke, the margaritas, or the nonalcoholic horchata.

5207 Madison Rd., Madisonville, (513) 785-0000, mazuntetacos.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

NADA

The brains behind Boca deliver authentic, contemporary, high-quality Mexican fare downtown. You’ll ﬁnd a concise menu, including tacos, salads and sides, large plates, and desserts. The Pork Al Pastor tacos, zesty with salsa verde and sweet with grilled pineapple, are deﬁnite crowd-pleasers. If you’re biased against Brussels sprouts, Nada just might convert you. The crispy sprouts, served with chipotle honey and candied ancho pepitas, are a deliciously intriguing starter.

600 Walnut St., downtown, (513) 721-6232, eatdrinknada.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

TAQUERIA MERCADO

On a Saturday night, Taqueria Mercado is a lively ﬁesta, with seemingly half of the local Hispanic community guzzling margaritas and cervezas or carrying out sacks of burritos and carnitas tacos—pork tenderized by a long simmer, its edges frizzled and crispy. The Mercado’s strip mall interior, splashed with a large, colorful mural, is equally energetic: the bustling semi-open kitchen; a busy counter that handles a constant stream of take-out orders; a clamorous, convivial chatter in Spanish and English. Try camarones a la plancha,

OTR underground bar and lounge Ghost Baby was named to USAToday’s list of “Bars of the Year” for 2025. “This recognition reﬂects the vision and dedication of our entire team, and it’s a testament to the creative spirit and cultural depth that thrives here in Cincinnati,” said owner and founder Josh Heuser in a press release. usatoday.com/ story/life/food-dining/2025/07/30/bestbars-america -2025/83101912007/ WHERE TO EAT NOW

12 chubby grilled shrimp tangled with grilled onions (be sure to specify if you like your onions well done). The starchiness of the rice absorbs the caramelized onion juice, offset by the crunch of lettuce, buttery slices of avocado, and the coolhot pico de gallo. A shrimp quesadilla paired with one of their cheap and potent margaritas is worth the drive alone.

6507 Dixie Hwy., Fairﬁeld, (513) 942-4943;

100 E. Eighth St., downtown, (513) 381-0678, taqueriamercado.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $

SEAFOOD

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S

The daily rotation here reads like a ﬁsherman’s wish list: lobster tails from Australia and the North Atlantic, ahi tuna from Hawaii, clams from New England. But high-quality ingredients are only half the equation; preparation is the other. Herb-broth sea bass, served with roasted ﬁngerling potatoes, makes the taste buds dance. The spacious digs and attentive waitstaff bring a touch of class to Fountain Square and make it a sophisticated destination. It’s likely to remain a favorite. After all, it’s right in the middle of things.

PARANORMALLY GOOD

21 E. Fifth St., downtown, (513) 721-9339, mccormickandschmicks.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DC, DS. $$

STEAKS

CARLO & JOHNNY

The stars of the menu are 12 delectable steaks that could sway the vegi-curious to recommit. Not sure which to choose? If you prefer brawny ﬂavor over buttery texture, go for one of the three bone-in rib cuts. Or if it’s that melt-in-your-mouth experience that raises your serotonin levels, C&J features several tenderloin cuts, including the premium six-ounce Wagyu ﬁlet. There are the usual suspects of raw bar, seafood, pork chops, et al, if you’re interested in non-beef alternatives. 9769 Montgomery Rd., Montgomery, (513) 936-8600, jeffruby.com/carlo-johnny. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$$

JEFF RUBY’S

Filled most nights with local scenesters and power brokers (and those who think they are), everything in this urban steakhouse is generous—from the portions to the expert service. Waiters deliver twoﬁsted martinis and mounds of greens dressed in thin vinaigrettes or thick, creamy emulsions. An occasional salmon or sea bass appears, and there’s a small but decent assortment of land fare. But most customers are there for the slabs of beef (dry aged USDA prime). The best of these is Jeff Ruby’s Cowboy, 22 ounces of 70-day dry-aged bone-in rib eye. This is steak tailor-made for movers and shakers. 505 Vine St., downtown, (513) 784-1200, jeffruby.com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DC. $$$$

Top 10 LOSANTI

Losanti’s service is friendly and informal, and though the meal feels like a special occasion, prices and atmosphere are right for, say, a date, rather than a wedding anniversary. The ﬁlet mignon, rib eye, and New York strip are cut to order for each table (there are a few available weights for each). The steaks themselves are totally irreproachable, perfectly seasoned, cooked to precisely the right point. Losanti even makes the steakhouse sides a little special. Sweet and smoky caramelized onions are folded into the mashed potatoes, a nice dusting of truffles wakes up the mac and cheese, and the sweet corn is at least freshly

cut off the cob and recalls elote with lime and chile. 1401 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4213, losantiotr.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$

Top 10 THE

PRECINCT

Part of the appeal of the Ruby restaurants is their ability to deliver deep, comfort-food satisfaction. And the steaks. The meat is tender with a rich mineral ﬂavor, and the signature seasoning provided a nice crunch, not to mention blazing heat. The supporting cast is strong—the basket of warm Sixteen Bricks bread with a mushroom truffle butter, the addictive baked macaroni and cheese, the creamy garlic mashed potatoes, the crisp-tender asparagus with roasted garlic and lemon vinaigrette—and dinner ends on a sweet note with a piece of Ruby family recipe cheesecake. Neither cloyingly sweet nor overwhelmingly creamy, it’s a lovely slice of restraint.

311 Delta Ave., Columbia-Tusculum, (513) 321-5454, jeffruby.com/precinct. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$$

TONY’S

He is a captivating presence, Tony Ricci. Best known for his 30 years in ﬁne dining—including the Jeff Ruby empire while managing the venerable Precinct—Ricci has built a life in the hospitality industry. Much of Tony’s menu is right out of a steakhouse playbook: tiger shrimp and king crab legs from the raw bar; Greek and Caesar salads; sides of creamed spinach, mac-and-cheese, asparagus, and sautéed mushrooms; toppings of roasted garlic or Gorgonzola butters to accompany your center cut of ﬁlet mignon. There are boutique touches, though, that make it stand out— a garlic herb aioli with the calamari, steak tartare torch-kissed and topped with a poached egg, a superb rack of lamb with balsamic and lemon gastrique and served with traditional ratatouille. 12110 Montgomery Rd., Symmes Township, (513) 677-8669, tonysofcincinnati.com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$$

THAI

GREEN PAPAYA

Inside this simple dining room, replete with soothing browns and greens and handsome, dark wood furniture, it takes time to sort through the many curries and chef’s specialties, not to mention the wide variety of sushi on the something-foreveryone menu. Have the staff—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable—help you. When the food arrives, you’ll need only a deep inhale to know you made the right choice. The Green Papaya sushi rolls are as delicious as they look, with a manic swirl of spicy mayo and bits of crabstick and crispy tempura batter scattered atop the spicy tuna, mango, cream cheese, and shrimp tempura sushi—all rolled in a vivid green soybean wrap. 2942 Wasson Rd., Oakley, (513) 731-0107; 4002 Plainville Rd., Mariemont, (513) 272-8424, greenpapayacincinnati.com. Lunch and dinner seven days (Oakley), Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat (Mariemont). MCC. $$

TEAK SUSHI & THAI

For all of the hype around this restaurant’s reemergence on the scene, it’s probably best to consider it a reimagining rather than a reopening. While long-time favorites show up on the menu, some adaptations have been made to better meet expectations of modern diners. Letting go of preconceived notions about Teak will serve you well. With a two-sided, standalone sushi menu and a wide variety of main plates ranging from small bites to signature dishes, you have plenty of room to craft your own dining experience. 1200 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-8325

; 110 S. Second St., Loveland, (513) 583-8325, teakotr.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

THAI NAMTIP

Classic Thai comfort food on the west side from chef/owner Tussanee Leach, who grew up with galangal on her tongue and sriracha sauce in her veins. Her curries reign: pale yellow sweetened with coconut milk and poured over tender chicken breast and chunks of boiled pineapple; red curry the color of new brick, tasting of earth at first bite, then the sharply verdant Thai basil leaves, followed by a distant heat. Tom Kha Gai soup defines the complex interplay of flavors in Thai food: astringent lemongrass gives way to pepper, then Makrut lime, shot through with the gingery, herbaceous galangal, all yielding to the taunting sweetness of coconut. Even the simple skewers of chicken satay with Thai peanut sauce are rough and honest, dulcified by honey and dirtied up by a smoky grill.

5461 North Bend Rd., Monfort Heights, (513) 481-3360, thainamtip.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MC, V. $

WILD GINGER

The ability to satisfy a deep desire for Vietnamese and Thai fusion cuisine is evident in Wild Ginger’s signature Hee Ma roll—a fortress of seaweedwrapped rolls filled with shrimp tempura, asparagus, avocado, and topped with red tuna, pulled crab stick, tempura flakes, a bit of masago, scallions, and of course, spicy mayo. It’s tasty, even though the sweet fried floodwall of tempura and spicy mayo overpowered the tuna completely. The spicy pad char entrée was a solid seven out of 10: broccoli, carrots, cabbage, succulent red bell peppers, green beans, and beef, accented with basil and lime leaves in a peppercorn-and-chili brown sauce.

3655 Edwards Rd., Hyde Park, (513) 533-9500, wildgingeroh.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

VIETNAMESE

PHO LANG THANG

Owners Duy and Bao Nguyen and David Le have created a greatest hits playlist of Vietnamese cuisine: elegant, brothy pho made from poultry, beef, or vegan stocks poured over rice noodles and adrift with slices of onions, meats, or vegetables (the vegan pho chay is by far the most ﬂavorful); fresh julienned vegetables, crunchy sprouts, and herbs served over vermicelli rice noodles (again, the vegan version, bun chay, is the standout); and bánh mì. Be sure to end with a cup of Vietnamese coffee, a devilish jolt of dark roast and sweetened condensed milk.

1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 376-9177, pholangthang.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS, DC. $$

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, (ISSN 0746-8 210), October 2025, Volume 59, Number 1. Published monthly ($19.95 for 12 issues annually) at 221 E. Fourth St., Ste. 130, Cincinnati, OH 45202. (513) 421-4300. Copyright © 2025 by Cincinnati Magazine LLC, a subsidiary of Hour Media Group, 5750 New King Dr., Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted without permission. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and artwork should be accompanied by SASE for return. The magazine cannot be held responsible for loss. For subscription orders, address changes or renewals, write to CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, 1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071, or call 1-866-660-6247. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send forms 3579 to CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, 1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071. If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.

A Hidden Cemetery

POTTER’S FIELDS are mass public burial grounds where the unclaimed and destitute were buried unmarked and unconsecrated.

Cincinnati is no stranger to the concept—Music Hall was built on top of one. You’ll find another one among the playgrounds and walking trails at Price Hill’s Rapid Run Park. According to Cincinnati Parks, more than 20,000 people were buried in this 26.38-acre site between 1852 and 1981, most of them too poor to afford proper burials or with no family to claim them. Deceased patients from Dunham Hospital were interred here en masse during outbreaks of Spanish flu, cholera, smallpox, and tuberculosis. Over the years, the resting place has grown over and become littered with trash.

“I drove over one day and walked through and saw what it looks like, which is deplorable,” says Mike Morgan, founder of the Potter’s Field Initiative.

“I let it sink in how many thousands of people are buried in this lot of land that the city permits to be treated like a dumping ground.” Groups like the PFI are working with the Parks department to clean up the area and make it a peaceful resting place for years to come. —CLAIRE LEFTON

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