Redirected: 2008 Best of the City

Food

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:20:00 GMT

Frozen Yogurt

Cincinnati gets a bad rap for being years behind trends, but when it comes to tingly-tart frozen yogurt, we were decades ahead of Pinkberry. The sour style yogurt first appeared in downtown locations of Busken Bakery in 1977. Busken’s new Yagööt in Rookwood Commons serves up live-active culture fro-yo in original and coffee flavor. Get your Yagööt with up to three of the 19 toppings—fresh fruits like blueberries, kiwis, and mangos; nuts; cereals like Cap’n Crunch; and chocolate chips—whirl it up in a shake, or make a meal of it with a salad plate. Modern ghost chairs and tables in vivid orange and green make the whole experience that much cooler. 2737 Edmondson Rd., Norwood, (513) 351-2222, www.yagootyogurt.com

Double-Decker

We asked our favorite heating and air-conditioning service man where he finds a lunch that keeps him going, and the answer was clear: a ham and roast beef double-decker from the Red Fox Grill. Served on toasted white, wheat, or rye, with lettuce and mayo, and topped with dill pickle slices, it’s guaranteed to fill you up, whether you’ve been installing new compressors or just updating a spreadsheet. And if you don’t care for that combo, or any of the 50 other options listed, fear not. Like the menu says, “Please ask if you do not see what you are looking for as not all sandwich combinations are shown.” That’ll fill you up. 232 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 621-7924

Spicy Tuna Roll

Made with maguro (raw tuna fish), mayonnaise, and togarashi (Japanese hot pepper), this roll appears on almost every sushi menu, but our favorite is at Miyoshi. Owners Junko and Masashi Nishizume understand the delicate balance of tuna to mayo, and they don’t skimp on the spice. 8660 Bankers St., Florence, (859) 525-6564

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Drop that pack of Chips Ahoy! and let Donna Phelps of Donna’s Gourmet Cookies ease your cookie confusion. Her chunky all-natural creations are stripped down to the basic ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and chocolate. Phelps, who sells her sugary treats at farmers’ markets all over the city during the spring and summer months, claims there’s a “secret ingredient” that makes her cookies better than everyone else’s. We don’t know what it is, but we’re pretty sure it isn’t partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil. 10774 Montgomery Rd., Sycamore Twp., (513) 489-9600

Restaurant Worth the Drive

From tapas to full dinners, classic preparations to the featured “theme menu of the month,” El Meson Restaurant’s menu is nothing less than the Castro family’s dissertation on curiosity, exuberance, and community. We’ll gladly make the drive for a plate of the blazing Gambas al Ajillo (traditional Spanish tapas of shrimp and chilies). But Ecuador is featured this month, and there is much exploring to do. 903 E. Dixie Dr., West Carrollton, (937) 859-8229, www.elmeson.net

Charcuterie Plate

Chef Anne Kearney’s charcuterie plate at Rue Dumaine is a cut above the rest. Kearney’s meat mastery is evident in delicate lamb sausage piquant with garlic, coriander, and fennel; juniper-scented venison tenders bresaola-style; flaky smoked trout rillette; and a chicken liver pate rich with fat back, bacon, apples, and Calvados brandy that may be—in the best way possible—your undoing. 1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd., Dayton, (937) 610-1061, www.ruedumainerestaurant.com

Trail Food

There’s a civilized way to refuel along the Little Miami Trail. In tiny Corwin you can sit down to scones with clotted cream or a lovely prawn salad. When the Copple family bought the Corwin Peddler ice cream shop two years ago, they brought a British sensibility to the place. Along with soups, salads, and burgers, there’s Cornish pasty, beef-and-ale pie, and afternoon tea. Plus there’s ice cream from Young’s Jersey Dairy and bikes to rent, so you can work off the calories of a ploughman’s lunch. 69 Maple St., Corwin, (513) 897-3536

Dairy Stand

When a family has kept a business going through five generations, you can bet they’re good at what they do. Such is the legacy of Gibbs’ Cheese and Sausage. Jeff Gibbs is the guy in charge these days, and has expanded the offerings to include jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup, all-natural peanut butter, and more fudge flavors than you can shake a spatula at. Still, it’s the meats, cheeses, and farm-fresh butter and eggs that have attracted shoppers since Jeff’s grandfather brought the family biz to Findlay Market in 1922. 130 Market House (Elm Street end), Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-7459

Martini

Even Café Bella manager Kirk Knoechel would recommend wine with the Mediterranean fare at his neighborhood restaurant. But word’s out about the perfectly tangy and sweet Lemon Drop Martini he serves. He won’t reveal any secrets, but Knoechel used to bartend at the Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, Jag’s, and the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. For Bella, he’s also created mango, raspberry, and grapefruit Bellinis with fresh fruit, in case you’re interested in branching out. 5948 Snider Rd., Mason, (513) 770-4141, www.cafebellamason.com

Smoked Salts

Be on the culinary cutting edge at your next dinner party by seasoning your menu with smoked salts from Herbs & Spice and Everything Nice at Findlay Market. Proprietor De Stewart (better known as “The Colonel”) carries five smoked varieties: mesquite kosher salt, bourbon sea salt, apple sea salt, alder sea salt, and hickory sea salt. Stewart encourages customers to shop the market then return for recipe tips. Here’s one: For the best salmon ever, top with a mixture of bourbon salt and maple powder before baking, broiling, or sautéing. Market House (Elm Street end), Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Stalls 133–135, Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-4800

Custom Snack

Urban lore has it that to get the hottest bag of Grippo Food’s BBQ chips at the bodega you need only shake; the heavier the bag, the more seasoning—and heat!—inside. At the Mt. Airy plant of Cincinnati’s sole remaining potato chip company, you can get 1.5 pound bulk boxes in X Hot ($4.75) and XX Hot ($5). Sales Manager Jerry Hawk has seen customers “shaking the bag” in stores. “I laugh when I see it,” he says. The heat, however, is no laughing matter. 6750 Colerain Ave., Mt. Airy, (513) 923-1900, www.grippos.com

Fish Sandwich

Katrina Mincy’s dearly departed Findlay Market soul food outpost has been reborn in a Court Street storefront christened Flo’s Plate Full of Soul. Lovingly prepared, hit-the-spot food is prepared now by Mincy’s children Leigha Scott-Axom and Darryl Scott. The fried whiting sandwich (just $4.99) is a mainstay. Dusted in natural corn meal and perfectly seasoned before being deep-fried in canola oil, five pieces of crunchy-on-the-outside, hot-and-tender-on-the-inside whiting are piled onto buttered, grilled Texas toast. Drizzle with hot sauce, repeat for lunch tomorrow. 133 E. Court St., downtown, (513) 421-3567

Import Bottled Beer Selection

Dilly Deli Café offers 60 cold brews and another 327 in the market area. “I don’t want to offer what can be found in the supermarket,” says beer manager J. Peanut Kahles. We recommend a Chimay Trappist Premiere. 6818 Wooster Pke., Mariemont, (513) 561-5233, www.dillydeli.com

Apple Dessert

Melissa Mileto and Doug Faulkner of Take the Cake serve a mind-blowing apple cake—an old Mullane’s favorite. Served as either a caramel-butter cream layer cake or a bundt topped with a salty caramel glaze, it’s filling enough to eat for breakfast. 4137 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (513) 241-2772

Culinary Freebies

You have far-ranging cultural tastes. You are interested in gourmet cooking and are dabbling with wine pairing. Or, you are cheap. No matter. The chef demonstrations at Second Sunday on Main in Over-the-Rhine offer many things at once: cooking demonstrations (and samples!) from chefs like Cristian Pietoso and Jean-Robert de Cavel, wine tastings, recipes, restaurant coupons, and invitations to wine tastings from City Cellars—all for free. From May to September. www.secondsundayonmain.org/

Frozen Coffee Drink

Baristas might loathe making these labor-intensive concoctions, but we can’t get enough, especially if it’s Coffee Emporium’s Glacial Mocha. Ghirardelli chocolate frappe powder, two shots of espresso (go decaf if you don’t want a buzz with your sugar high), your choice of milk, and ice are mixed into a frothy shake that gets poured into a 12-, 20-, or 32-ounce cup lined with Ghirardelli chocolate sauce. It’s a perfect antidote to a humid summer day, but no one will object if you order one for breakfast in the dead of winter either. Don’t forget the whipped cream. Three locations, including downtown, 110 E. Central Pkwy., (513) 651-5483

Mongolian BBQ

Do you like it spicy and meaty? Or mild and vegetarian? BD’s Mongolian Grill has the ’cue to get you through. Pile on your own combination of meats, vegetables, pastas, seasoning, and sauce, then watch as chefs prepare the blend on a table-sized grill. It’s quick, though not necessarily fast, food. And there are no mysteries here, which pleases those of us who are squeamish about ordering from an eclectic menu and thrills the intrepid eaters who crave exotic ingredients, like calamari or bamboo. 8655 Mason Montgomery Rd., Deerfield Twp., (513) 770-4330, www.gomongo.com

Short Ribs

Girdled with fat and cartilage, short ribs all but disappeared from most restaurant menus by the 1980s. That is, until a few years ago, when they made the leap from homely to haute. With a patient braise, those nasty bits dissolve, rendering the meat absurdly rich and tender, as in Chef Sean Daly’s luxurious low-country version, which he makes at Hugo. Infused with a woodsy voodoo of a marinade, Daly’s short ribs manage to simultaneously comfort and haunt. 3235 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 321-4846, www.hugo-restaurant.com

CSA/Produce Co-Op

“Eating locally grown food is completely within the reach of folks living a classic suburban lifestyle,” says Earth-Shares president Jeff Lydenberg. The Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) of Earth-Shares at Grailville offers both working and non-working shares, half or whole shares, and convenient pick-up times. Certified organic since 1980, members enjoy fresh, tasty, and sustainably grown beans, greens, tomatoes, and potatoes. Beats the supermarket. Earth-Shares at Grailville, Loveland, (513) 467-8006, earthsharescsa.org

Gyro

We searched the city for the best gyro, and Mythos Grecian Grill at 100 East Fourth Street is the clear winner. The latest and largest Mythos beat its two closest competitors (Sebastian’s in Price Hill and Mediterranean Foods in Clifton) because of the consistency of Mythos’s tender lamb, fresh onions, herbs, and pita bread, and especially their tzatziki sauce. The others were good, but Mythos was always good. 100 E. Fourth St. downtown, (513) 381-3042

Smoothie

We hunted relentlessly for a smoothie that slaked our thirst and filled us full of healthy nutrients. Total Juice Plus is the best, hands down. Packed with fresh fruits and juices and “heart smart” (meaning non-fat or low fat), every one comes with two free additions (choose from 13, including brewer’s yeast, oat bran, and ginseng). Plus, the proprietors get a genuine kick out of serving you a healthy alternative. One more thing: They taste awesome. 631 Vine St., downtown, (513) 784-1666, www.totaljuicecincy.com

Festival Food

The Cincinnati Hispanic Fest, which began 15 years ago on the grounds of Su Casa Hispanic Ministry in Carthage, attracts more than 35,000 people during its weekend run at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. Expect to stand in line for Argentinean ) empanadas (fried meat pies), Ecuadorian hornadoSeptember 12 & 13, 2009 (513) 948-1760, cincinnatihispanicfest.org

(grilled pork wrapped in bread), and more.

Food Blog

Cincinnati Locavore is the go-to source for foodies who care where their vegetables come from. Get info on hometown producers, recipes, and links to local-eating resources. Seeds of change? Yup. www.cincinnatilocavore.blogspot.com

U-Pick Farms

Apples: Irons Fruit Farm

This fourth-generation farm’s greatest variety is its apple crop, several of which (Red and Gold Delicious; Jonathan and Melrose) are designated U-pick. Call ahead for crop supply and hours. 1640 Stubbs Mill Rd., Lebanon, (513) 932-2853, www.ironsfruitfarm.com

Sunflowers: Gorman Heritage Farm

The annual early October Sunflower Festival here deserves save-the-date status, with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, crafts, and music. The flower-cutting garden is open late May through September. 10052 Reading Rd., Evendale, (513) 563-6663

Pumpkins: Barn-N-Bunk Farm Market

Bustling from Thanksgiving through Christmas, the U-pick pumpkin patch gets overrun during its Fall Festival Weekend. Load up the kids and take a drive to the country and get all autumnal on your way. 3677 Wayne-Madison Rd., Trenton, (513) 988-9211

Christmas Trees: Young’s Jersey Dairy

The farm arms visitors with saws, sleds, and a choice of five tree varieties. There’s pre-cut, too, but you can get those anywhere. Drive an hour north and work off that turkey hangover. 6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd., Yellow Springs, (937) 325-0629

Berries: Hidden Valley Fruit Farm

The blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries rule here. Berry season is June through September, so don’t forget about this beautiful, expansive farm come summer. 5474 N. State Route 48, Lebanon, (513) 932-1869

Originally published in the December 2008 issue.

Kid Stuff

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:16:00 GMT

Kids’ Shoes

According to Joe Stamm of Castle House, when it comes to buying shoes with a proper fit, parents really only need to do one thing. “Bring in the feet,” says Stamm, whose family has owned the Hyde Park store for more than 40 years. “Sizing is the most important issue and it’s tough without the child.” Castle House stocks more than 300 different shoe styles, from familiar names like Stride Rite, pediped, and Merrell to European lines like Aster and PRIMIGI. Want to stock up? Check out Castle House’s biannual Goofy Sale in January and June and scoop up clearance footwear at discounts from 40 to 80 percent. 3435 Edwards Rd., Hyde Park, (513) 871-2458

Kids’ Birthday Party Spot

All the sugar-high energy kids build up at birthday parties needs a place to go and Pete DeLois’s Recreations Outlet can absorb it. You bring the food, the drinks, and the cake and Pete provides the Rainbow Play Systems slides, swings, and trampolines. The kids will be deliriously exhausted all the way home. 7605 Wooster Rd., Mariemont, (513) 561-8695

Children’s Educational Entertainer

If you think science is all about periodic tables and hypothesizing, then Mad Science of Cincinnati has an explosion for you. The array of live programs the company offers includes scientists in white coats showing off the properties of fire and static electricity, and performing experiments that impress and involve the crowd. They’ll do events, birthday parties, or full-scale productions. Don’t worry, Mom, nobody will lose any limbs. 9471 Loveland Madeira Rd., Loveland, (513) 793-6784, www.madscience.org

Chic Kids’ Resale

The Christmas sweater. The Easter outfit. The First Communion dress. Grandma spends a bundle on it, little Maddie or Maddox wears it once, then it ends up at the Snooty Fox. If you’re diligent and quick, you can nab gently worn higher-end snowsuits, sweaters, jeans, jumpers, and more for a fraction of the original cost at this local consignment chain. And thanks to Snooty Fox’s bounty of used bridal gear, there’s ample opportunities to find a flower girl frock. Multiple locations, check www.shopsnooty.com

Volunteer Opportunity

With stocks shaky, it’s wisest to invest in a neighborhood kid. Freestore Foodbank coordinates Kids Café with 14 partners like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Families Forward, The Salvation Army, and the Urban League, which screen volunteers and operate the cafés—where kids come for a late-day meal (85,090 program-wide last year). Call Program Manager Kelly Lane or go to www.freestorefoodbank.org to find a Kids Café. Your returns will pay forward and back handsomely. (513) 482-4526

Kid-Friendly Coffee Shop

No one wants to hear little ones lisping about espresso macchiato and ordering venti half-cafs. But just like a grown-up coffee shop, the Blue Manatee Decafé has a civilizing influence. The cozy bookstore nook, with its fanciful “I Spy” tables, painted high chairs, and uni-sex restrooms (“Potty” and “Other Potty”) offers healthy snacks and pint-sized accoutrements, so that kids don’t get squirmy while their mommies and daddies relax. Best of all, there’s a smoothie named James and the Giant Peach. It’s never too early for literary humor. 3054 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 731-2665, www.bluemanateebooks.com

Sleepover Spot

Beginners can learn the basics of rock climbing from RockQuest Climbing Center’s seasoned instructors, then practice on 20,000 square feet of climbing walls, ranging from 18 to some 45 vertical feet. (The more experienced are free to climb at will.) After the kids exhaust themselves on the walls, they can camp-in for the night and start again in the morning. It’s much more fun to climb into the air with friends than out a window to meet them. 3475 E. Kemper Rd., Sharonville, (513) 733-0123

Kids’ Ice Cream Shop

An official list of a half-dozen or so animals guides the positively merry high schoolers who serve up the cone creations at Tucker’s Whippy Dip. That includes an elephant with cookie ears and candy eyes and a spider with gummy worms for legs. But most of the counter teens get a kick out of creating whatever kids request, including Santa Claus (a red dip hat and whipped cream for a beard) and monkeys (banana slice ears and gummy candy tail). 127 E. Main St., Mason, (513) 459-7966 (closed in winter)

Indoor Waterpark

We’re going to assume that if you’re willing to take your kids to a waterpark in the winter, your kids must really want to go. Make it memorable and take them to Great Wolf Lodge. It’s huge—78,000 square feet—with six giant pools, a dozen waterslides for tots to grownups, a treehouse “water fort” that makes you wish you were 10 again, and an army of lifeguards. Thing is, you have to rent a room to use the park—but call and ask about the birthday packages. Then don your swim trunks. 2501 Great Wolf Dr., Mason, (513) 459-8885

Model Train Layout

The entire family, from granddad on down, can really appreciate the year of painstaking detail that went into constructing the two miles of G-scale track and railcars at EnterTrainment Junction—not to mention the detailed model cities and landscapes that make the world’s largest indoor train display so impressive. There’s also a 5,000-square-foot play area; a railroading museum; and seasonal displays that bring out childlike wonder in all of us. 7379 Squire Court, West Chester, (513) 898-8000

Kids’ Birthday Cake

Kids are easy to please when it comes to birthday cake. If it’s sweet, they’ll eat. Why not serve a cake that will be adored by the parents too? The cakes Chris Girmann pulls from the oven of Little Dutch Bakery are the perfect crowd pleasers. They’re moist and flavorful with real butter icing that’s not too sweet and none of that greasy mouthfeel you get from grocery store cakes. You can’t go wrong with an old-fashioned yellow layer cake with thick chocolate frosting, but sheet cakes are available too. His cupcakes have their own special twist—they’re square. Girmann is a third-generation baker who bought the business from his dad when he was just 23 years old. With so many years in the kitchen, what’s Girmann’s favorite baked good? “We can do just about anything, but I like blackberry pie,” he says. 7611 Hamilton Ave., Mt. Healthy, (513) 931-3550

Museum for Kids

At the Cincinnati Fire Museum, kids see the history of firefighting in the displays of old-time equipment, simulations, and photos. But they’re most impressed with the fire pole and the pumper truck cab where they can sit and turn on the siren. 315 W. Court St., downtown, (513) 621-5553

Indoor Inflatables

Bouncing off walls is not a new concept for kids. Bananas Drop-In Jump & Play makes it safe on seven bus-sized inflatable playspaces, where kids of all ages can exhaust themselves. The entrance fee is a small price for a parental reprieve. 7102 Hamilton Mason Rd., West Chester, (513) 777-9200

Camps for Kids

Adventure: Survival on the Underground Railroad

Kids play the role of slaves being sold at auction during the Survival on the Underground Railroad program at Camp Joy Outdoor Education Center. The night camp is one of the 30 school programs on Joy’s 315-acre campus, and kids meet six historical characters as they walk through the woods. Talking to an abolitionist, plantation owner, or indentured servant puts a human face on history. 10117 Old 3C Highway, P.O. Box 157, Clarksville, (800) 300-7094, www.joec.org

Fun and Games: Laffalot Summer Camps

Old-fashioned backyard play keeps the kids running and, well, laughing a lot at Laffalot Summer Camps. Founder Pat Nymberg was a physical education teacher and coach at local schools before she started the week-long day camps, which now run at 17 sites around the region. Boys and girls attend separate sessions, but all play a variety of games including pillo pollo, flag tag, floor hockey, kickball, and scavenger hunts. For locations and schedules during summer and spring break, check out www.laffalotcamps.com

Performing Arts: MAD Camp

For budding performers or just young drama queens and kings, MAD Camp (that stands for music, art, and drama) at Christ’s Church at Mason lets kids sing, dance, act, and create their hearts out under the guidance of teachers and volunteers. At the end of a week of practice, practice, practice, the kids get to put on a show! Judy and Mickey would be so proud. Christ’s Church at Mason, 5165 Western Row Rd., Mason, (513) 229-3200, www.ccmason.org

Originally published in the December 2008 issue.

Out and About

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:13:00 GMT

New Bar

Outside, it’s Fourth Street, a regular Cincinnati Friday night. Inside Twist Lounge & Bar, it’s somewhere else entirely, even though you’re still right next to Jean-Robert at Pigall’s. The intimate furniture groupings suggest an ultra-hip rec room. The curvy bar brings more people into the conversation (and a quirk of acoustics enabled by the barrel vaulted walls allows you to hear the conversation at the opposite end). The service is friendly, even nurturing—one patron, desperate to charge his BlackBerry, was soothed with a charger and a cocktail. As the guy sitting next to us said, “This is a fancy place. I like fancy places.” Indeed. 121 W. Fourth St., downtown, (513) 721-1345

Fencing Studio

Ohio still has a law on its books outlawing duels, but that doesn’t stop Salle du Lion from teaching hordes of kids and adults how to fence on its 6,000 square feet of hardwood floors. There’s a lot more to the sport than simply putting on a helmet and jabbing an opponent. Ask the instructors to show you modern and historical fencing styles, including Medieval and Renaissance. And just for fun, they’ll choreograph fights for theatrical productions. 3385 Creek Rd., Sharonville, (513) 733-9840, salledulion.org

Fitness Trend

Whether it’s a golf tournament at the Deupree House Retirement Homes or bowling at UC’s Catskeller Game Room and Sports Lounge, the Wii video game console has everyone getting physical. Now if only Nintendo made a cornhole game. www.wii.com

Clogging Lessons

If you’re looking for an aerobic exercise that’s more artsy than athletic, clogging could be the answer. The Studio of Dance in Blue Ash is the place to learn. Owner Shari Poff and her staff have been teaching this type of Appalachian dance (the American cousin of Irish step dancing) for 24 years. “We start as young as 3 and our adult classes usually contain seniors,” Poff says. There’s even a group, The Cincinnati Studio Cloggers, who have performed annually with the Pops for the past 20 years. “Most of our students just clog for the fun of it,” Poff says. No doubt for the killer calf muscles, too. 10831 Millington Court, Blue Ash, (513) 984-3311

Cheap Date

Play the ponies without breaking the bank during Turfway Park’s Dollar Fridays. Admission is free, and hot dogs, beer, and bets are a buck apiece; there’s live music; and oh yeah, there are horse races, too. The crowd is varied—families with young kids; dressed up college kids; and the handicappers, who come to bet. Our hot tip? However you pick your winner, be sure to be standing at the rail when the horses come in—there’s nothing like it. 7500 Turfway Rd., Florence, (859) 371-0200

Natural Thrill Ride

Adventure seekers don’t have to travel to Costa Rica to fly through the forest like Tarzan. Hocking Hills Canopy Tours offers a three-hour treetop zipline excursion where you’ll speed along a network of cables as gravity pulls you from one platform to the next (some as high as 70 feet above the ground!). True, you won’t see any monkeys or exotic birds, but who cares when you can take this trip in a single day. 10714 Jackson St., Rockbridge, (740) 385-9477, www.hockinghillscanopytours.com

Sports Team

Talk about comeback kids. In 2004, the Cincinnati Cyclones posted the lowest attendance numbers in their league and took a voluntary suspension. Two years later, the team reformed, and this year, for the first time in 35 years, the Cyclones brought a professional hockey championship home to Cincinnati when they won the Kelley Cup. In a championship-hungry town (are you listening, Reds and Bengals?), that is something we can all cheer about. For tickets, call (513) 562-4949

Shortcut

You’re downtown. You’ve got to get to the airport, and I-75 is a parking lot. Just head west on River Road and take the Anderson Ferry. It’s been in operation since 1817, and it runs 364 days a year (they take Christmas Day off), schlepping cars between Ohio and the Bluegrass. Take in the hills and the curve of the river as you cross. Once you hit the Commonwealth, it’s a quick zip up the hill to Mineola Pike and CVG. With the added bonus that your stress has been melted away. 4030 River Rd., Constance, Kentucky, (859) 586-5007

Avant Garde Jazz Spot

From Chicago flutist Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble to trumpeter Wallace Roney’s turntable-tinged sound, The Loft Society’s Al “Bug” Williams brings in the brightest stars. www.myspace.com/loftsociety

Discount Theater Tickets

When Know Theatre of Cincinnati announced in August that support from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation would allow it to sell tickets this season for $12, the economy hadn’t yet suffered a total meltdown. Now that we’re all microsoping every discretionary dollar we spend, the thought of professional theater at yesteryear prices is too good to pass up. Besides, the edgy characters Know presents lead far more complicated or bizarre lives than most of us. You’re likely to leave the theater thankful you don’t have their problems. 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 300-KNOW (5669)

Novelty Cocktail

The potency of a mixed drink is often foretold in its name. Exhibit A: the Shark Tank at O’Bryon’s Irish Pub. Equal parts lemonade and vodka, this cocktail comes with two ounces of grenadine (a sweet red syrup), delivered via a tiny rubber great white shark. Remove the shark from your cup, turn it tail up, and watch the “blood” drip from its mouth all over the ice cubes for a nice, gruesome effect. Trust us, this is way better than Jaws. 1998 Madison Rd., O’Bryonville, (513) 321-5525, www.obryonsirishpub.com

Way Home

For the masses who typically ring in New Year’s Day with ringing ears and a hangover, this year take advantage of one of the most generous programs this city has to offer: free cab rides home through Care Cab. From 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve until midnight the next day (30 hours later), you can call from any public establishment (like, say, a bar) and a cab from Town Taxi will drive you to your home anywhere inside the 275 loop, including Kentucky. So this New Year’s, do yourself and everyone else on the roads a favor, and take a free ride. Call (513) 768-FREE (3733)

Downtown Break

Humans who work in cubicles need to get outdoors and experience the world now and again. For downtown workers this has long been a relatively staid affair. Then came the Strauss & Troy Market on the Square—a once-a-week open-air market that features an array of vendors, including Taste of Belgium, The Coffee Emporium, Nay Nay’s breads and cookies, Madison’s produce, and Wildey Flower Farm. The market is just one event within a year-round series on the revamped Square. Visit www.myfountainsquare.com for more info

Place for a Nightcap

“Saturday night is the loneliest night of the week,” goes the old standard. While that is sometimes true, it hurts less to hear it sung—beautifully—by Lynn Scott as you glide across the intimate dance floor of the Incline Lounge at The Celestial Steakhouse. Yes, the room is filled with card-carrying AARP members, but don’t let that stop you, Mr. Hipper Than Thou. Settle into one of the couches around the gorgeous circular bar, make friends with Shane the bartender, and gaze out at the city lights below as Ms. Scott and the Frank Vincent Trio lay some class on you. 1071 Celestial St., Mt. Adams, (513) 241-4455, www.thecelestial.com

Hip-Hop Group

Hip-hop acts have emerged from this town before. The best in a long while is Tanya Morgan—a trio made up of Brooklyn’s Von Pea and Cincinnati’s Donwill and Ilyas. Their full-length 2006 album Moonlighting, produced by local beat maker David Gray (a.k.a. Brickbeat) and Von Pea, garnered praise and comparisons to De La Soul. This year’s The Bridge, on Interdependent Media, with the sunny-day anthem “Be You,” is their breakthrough. www.myspace.com/tanyamorgan

Supper Club
Since April, foodies have been singing the praises of Cincinnati E.A.T.S., which stands for Epicureans About Town Society. Held quarterly at independently owned restaurants on typically slow nights, the meals come at a fixed—and reduced—price: an outing at Daveed’s was $37.30 for a four-course meal. “A city’s cultural make-up is defined in part by the quantity and quality of its independent restaurants,” says E.A.T.S. president Clint Watson. We couldn’t agree more. www.cincinnatieats.org

Health Club

Lifetime Fitness has removed nearly every possible excuse for skipping a workout. The massive facility appointed with a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, restaurant, climbing wall, childcare center, camps, trainers, basketball courts, indoor soccer field, and Yoga and Pilates studios is more like a resort than a gym. 8310 Wilkens Blvd., Mason, (513) 234-0660

Morning News Trend

Every Friday at 5:45 a.m., if Good Morning Cincinnati anchor/reporter Bob Herzog has no traffic accidents to report, he hosts Dance Party Friday. You don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to catch the action; watch DPF on Channel 12’s Web site. Go, Bob, go! www.local12.com

Picnic with a View

The Weston Shelter, at the southwestern end of Woodland Mound Park, comes with a panoramic view of the Ohio River and Kentucky shore. The open-sided shelter has picnic tables for 140 as well as electric, water, and a nearby horseshoe pit and playfield. Make it your private outdoor party spot for $135 by contacting the Hamilton County Park District (cut the price in half if you schedule Monday through Friday). Tip: It’s popular, so book early. You can always send out the invites later. 8250 Old Kellogg Rd., Anderson Twp. To reserve, call (513) 521-PARK (7275)

Swing Dancing

Hepcats unite to jump, jive, and wail at York Street Café’s Swing Dance Night. Head past the leg lamp and up the stairs to the second floor where swing enthusiasts strut their stuff. Held the first and third Saturday of each month, participants can Lindy Hop and Jitterbug to renditions of Glenn Miller’s “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” and other tunes served up by local bands, including the Swingtime Big Band. (Poodle skirts not required.) 738 York St., Newport, (859) 261-9675

Team Sports Bars

OSU: Blue Goose Sports Café

Pull into the parking lot of this Sharonville sports bar on Buckeyes game days, and you’ll spot more than a few OSU license plates. Inside, local OSU alumni crowd the bar to cheer on the Scarlet and Gray. 11060 Reading Rd., Sharonville, (513) 769-5700

XU: Dana Gardens

This mainstay draws plenty of students and alumni before, during, and after Musketeers games. Arrive early to nab a seat at the graffitti-scarred bar, but if you’re forced to head upstairs, don’t fret. There’s a bar and TVs up there, too. 1832 Dana Ave., Evanston, (513) 631-BEER

UC: Holy Grail Tavern & Grille

A quick hop away from the Shoe and Nippert, this cats’ den rocks. They’re serious fans: There’s a framed Ole Miss schedule poster behind the bar—autographed by former UC basketball coach Andy Kennedy, natch. 13 W. Charlton St., Corryville, (513) 961-2200

BENGALS: Dickmann’s Kentucky Sports Café

It’s hard to muster up enough enthusiasm to watch the Bungles. Give your misery a little company and commiserate with other diehards as you watch the orange and black. 479 Orphanage Rd., Ft. Wright, (859) 331-8076

REDS: The In Between

If you can’t be at the park, be at The In Between Tavern. Hang out on the patio with the pre-game crowd, then watch the game from the bar. You’ll even be able to see the fireworks. Who doesn’t love fireworks? 307 Sycamore St., downtown, (513) 621-7009

Originally published in the December 2008 issue.

Shop

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:12:00 GMT

Kilt Rental

Whatever clan tartan you want to sport for your special occasion, a rental from Celtic Corner will outfit you in proper Highlands style. Choose from Black Watch, Black Stewart, Campbell, Hunting MacGregor, and four other patterns, then rent the entire kit, from ghillie brogues (shoes) to kilt hose (socks) to sporran (um, man purse). If you’d rather wear a kilt of your own, Lenora Gilmour can make one to your measure from authentic tartans. What you wear under your kilt, well, that’s up to you. 502 Old State Route 74, Mt. Carmel, (513) 528-5578

Stereo Gear

In the ’80s we bought blank cassette tapes (Maxell XLII) and brought our turntables in for repair to Stereo Advantage, the house-cum-stereo service and sales shop in Mt. Lookout where owner Dave “I can fix anything with a plug” Bechmann and his dog greeted us at the door. In the ’90s we bought CD players from Bechmann, and maybe got a little trade for our old turntables. Now, we’re buying our turntables back and still getting the same great service and pricing (and greeting from the dog) at the old Victorian house on Linwood Avenue, the best stereo shop this town ever had. 3199 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout, (513) 321-0083

Green Toys

Stuff those holiday stockings with playthings that are safe for kids and the planet. Park + Vine’s Dan Korman has his own list and checks it twice. “I look for non-toxic, then sustainability, organic, and made in the U.S.A.,” he says. There’s My Engineer Set with a wooden train, whistle, and striped cap made in Vermont and a cardboard lemonade/advice stand. Five cents please! 1109 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 721-7275

Hat Shop

Someday, young man, you will want to own a real, honest-to-God, hand-it-to-the-coatcheck-girl hat. And when that day comes, you’ll go to Batsakes Hat Shop. For 101 years, presidents, pro athletes, rock stars, and ordinary gents have found their toppers here. Proprietor Gus Miller stocks brands such as Kangol and Borsalino and produces the shop’s custom-made fedoras. He and his small staff will offer you the kind of service that went out with the Eisenhower Era. 1 W. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 721-9345

Perennials

Some clumsy clerk mixes the astilbe with the asters, and the next thing you know you’re buying a shade plant for your sunny garden. That won’t happen at H.J. Benken’s Garden Center. It’s run by third generation owners who know their stuff. Each year they put out a catalogue for shoppers so you’ll know what needs shade, what loves dry ground, and which greenery will give you the lush look you want. No wonder the place is a—you guessed it—perennial favorite. 6000 Plainfield Rd., Silverton, (513) 891-1040

Rain Barrels

So often in our collective discussion of “eco-friendly” energy solutions, the most pragmatic considerations get buried in rhetoric. So when we recommend Marvin’s Organic Gardens as the place to go for rain barrels, we’ll look past the fact that rain barrels cut down on the amount of runoff entering the overloaded storm sewer system and get to this point: Rain barrels save you money (use the water for your lawn instead of the hose) and the ones at Marvin’s look really cool. In addition to classic round and rectangular plastic barrels, Marvin’s recently started retrofitting old 75-gallon oak wine barrels to catch your rainwater and feed the lawn. Now that’s classy. 2055 U.S. Route 42 South, Lebanon, (513) 932-3319

Plant Sale

Two words to prepare you for the Civic Garden Center’s annual Plant, Herb, and Hosta sale: Alarm clock. Insiders hit this popular sale (usually held on the first Saturday in May) early, hoping to score rare plant varieties and to get good advice from the sale’s volunteer green thumbs. The setting—with its wooded paths and plantings—is miles apart from any retail garden store, and the atmosphere is far more festive than your average shopping trip. Check out the gardening books, outdoor ornaments, and pots while you’re there. Your purchase helps to fund the garden center itself, one of the city’s hidden gems, so dig in. 2715 Reading Rd., Mt. Auburn, (513) 221-0981, www.civicgardencenter.org

Neighborhood Yard Sale

Perhaps your idea of a well-spent Saturday means scrounging through the carrion of pre-loved toys, tangled holiday swag, or someone’s collection of Iron Maiden CDs. Yard sales are as much an exhibition in forgotten excess and fleeting attention spans as they are the Holy Grail for compulsive junk traffickers. Now, imagine an organized map of 50—all within walking distance—and you have Northside’s annual neighborhood-wide yard sale (next year, it’s August 8). “Eclectic” would be an understatement. A complete set of 1970s Tiki-Bar glassware is just what you were looking for, right? Coordinated by CAIN (Churches Active in Northside), (513) 591-2246, www.cainministry.org

Dancewear Shop

Ballet? Hip-hop? Strictly ballroom? Diana’s Dance and Fitness Wear has gear for everyone—from sexy jazz outfits to “praise” attire for liturgical dancers. There are shelves crammed with tights, leotards, and leg warmers, too, but the mother lode is footwear. Diana’s carries Capezio, Bloch, Só Dança, Freed of London Ltd., and more; a blessing if you’ve ever spent a Saturday schlepping your future Fred Astaire all over town looking for tap oxfords. The staff claims to have at least 900 pairs of pointe shoes in stock, with a separate fitting room (by appointment) for budding ballerinas. Because prima donnas are made, not born. 8958 Blue Ash Rd., Blue Ash, (513) 792-0970

Store Makeover

There’s a reason beyond new hearth accessories to make your way to Bromwell’s. The Fourth Street institution sports a snazzy showroom. After restoring the building’s original pressed tin ceiling and adding the wares of local woodworkers and artists, owner Jeff McClorey’s spacious digs have the feel of a toasty ski lodge in the middle of winter. “We sell comfort and coziness with our products, so we wanted to replicate that in the showroom,” he says. It certainly makes the weather a little less frightful. 117 W. Fourth St., downtown, (513) 621-0620

Water Garden Supply

The outdoor showroom at Aquatic & Garden Decor has water gardens of every size and style, from a lily pad–filled pond to a small Asian oasis. You’ll also find thousands of planters, statuary, traditional and contemporary fountains, garden benches, and birdbaths. Don’t leave without visiting the gift shop to check out the indoor fountains, chimes, and holiday collectibles. Be sure to rub the noses of Spaught (Spot) and Phydeau (Fido), the two life-sized stone lions, for luck and inspiration. 9390 Cincinnati-Columbus Rd., West Chester, (513) 777-1744

Champagne Selection

If you can’t get enough of the bubbly stuff, then The Party Source has got you covered. Their inventory includes Champagne-from-Champagne-in-France, Italian prosecco, and sparkling wine made in the good ol’ U.S. of A.—whatever fits your celebration and your budget. The super-fancy stuff (think Moët White Star) is kept in the climate-controlled storage room, but there’s enough Piper-Heidsieck, Veuve Clicquot, and other labels on the shelves for you to find something worth popping your cork over. 95 Riviera Dr., Bellevue, (859) 291-4007

Cufflinks

The suits of the world have so few means of self-expression. Thank goodness, then, for J Peck Jewelers, which has more than 60 styles of cufflinks. Men who would rather be playing board games than be in a boardroom will surely appreciate the Scrabble tile cufflinks. Sports fans can own a pair crafted from pieces of Riverfront Stadium or Crosley Field seats. Others feature clock parts or computer circuit boards. J Peck can even make a pair using a supplied photo. We also like the working whistles, even if we’re not sure when one might need to use them. 1981 Madison Rd., O’Bryonville, (513) 321-4367

Girly Golf Gear

Ladies, put down that plain white golf glove. Beth Januzzi-Underhill’s Golf-Chic Boutique is here to boost your golf style. Januzzi-Underhill carries great links looks from Jamie Sadock, Claudia Romana, Birdy & Grace, and Sweet Lies Golf. Check out the cool golf dresses by Green Tee Clothing Co., as well as “Dottie” golf bags from Bennington Golf, bright head covers by Ame & Lulu and Glove It, and gloves in dozens of patterns including zebra and leopard. We especially loved the belt with a ball mark repair tool hidden in the buckle. (This month only, shop their temporary Kenwood Towne Centre location.) 5055 Wooster Rd., Linwood, (513) 321-5400

Boutique Printer

Known for producing exquisite silk screens, etchings, wood cuts, and lithography by hand, Mark Patsfall has solidified a national reputation with his Clay Street Press, Inc. Galleries and publishers (Carl Solway Gallery, CAC) commission CSP’s “suites” of prints, and Patsfall hand-picks work to document the city’s artistic community (“The Cincinnati Portfolio I, II and III”). Video artist Nam June Paik, Mark Fox, and Jay Bolotin have all made, shown, and sold art at CSP. And Yoko Ono used CSP to make a 3-D chess set. 1312 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 241-3232

Graphic T-Shirts

Somewhere among the quixotic Ts made by Oxford-based Wire & Twine there’s bound to be one that speaks to you. Or for you. The company’s engaging screen printed designs include a rope swing hanging from a tree labeled “PlayStation,” a collage of the great hairstyles of the 20th century, and the Cincinnati Transit Map (“for optimists”). Founders Tom and Wendy Duvall and Chris Glass work out of a studio on a farm. (That’s right: wire and twine are two ways to bale hay.) Mostly they sell online, but local fans can score their goods at Mica in O’Bryonville and Park + Vine in Over-the-Rhine. www.wireandtwine.com

Sale

At least twice a year, Morrison & Me entices you to help them make room for the next season’s soles with a Nickel Sale: Buy one regularly priced pair of shoes, get a second of equal or lesser value for a nickel. Meaning it is possible that you could buy Donald Pliner boots at $500 and snag a pair of Frye boots for five cents (!). We know it’s not technically as good a deal as BOGO free, but in this case we can definitely spare some change. 1979 Madison Rd., O’Bryonville, (513) 232-7463

Cosmetic Store

Looking for the latest fragrances from Vera Wang or Juicy Couture? How about your favorite lip-gloss color from Sugar or a tube of Big Fatty Lip Plumper by Urban Decay Cosmetics? Ulta has everything you need to tweeze, pluck, peel, and pamper your way to cosmetic nirvana. With two locations in Greater Cincinnati, this chain also offers something that neither Sephora nor MAC has—a salon. Get a new hairstyle, apply your makeup, and you’re ready for your close-up, darling. 5145 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, (513) 204-1929; 3347 Princeton Rd., Hamilton, (513) 863-6200, www.ulta.com

Holiday Stockings

We’re sure that there’s a cashmere holiday stocking hanging from someone’s fireplace this season, but we prefer the simpler things in life. Like the classic red velvet stockings at Kings Mills General Store and Christmas Shop. Open April through Christmas Eve, this creaky old store is a winter wonderland, full of hand-crafted ornaments, miniature Christmas trees, and 20 kinds of stockings that take you back to a time when December was more about the spirit of giving, not getting. 5687 Columbia Rd., Kings Mills, (513) 398-1677, www.kingschristmas.com

Women’s Denim

Just when you thought your skinny jeans would carry you through another season, some A-list trendsetter goes out wearing a wide-legged style. We’re not suggesting that you become a slave to a trend—or that skinny denim is out—but if you could use a change, get thee to Sara Benjamin’s. Owner Lori Tanzer stocks brands to flatter every figure and age (Paige, True Religion, Joe’s Jeans), including the of-the-moment J Brand Love Story wide leg. 6810 Wooster Pke., Mariemont, (513) 272-2280

Antique Mall Finds

Type Drawers: Covered Bridge Antiques

Generations of handling give these surprise finds at this quaint mall rich patinas. Hang them drawer-side out and the narrow, shallow compartments that once held Linotype letters—before e-mail ruled our world—form grids, turning the utilitarian into art. 7508 Hamilton Ave., Mt. Healthy, (513) 521-5739

Stained Glass: Riverside Centre Antique Mall

Lee Strunk’s multitudinous collection of stained glass windows is beautiful, reverential, and well chosen. Some are turn of the century; others offer impressive scale. Reasonable prices (starting around $275, depending on size, color, and condition) make them even more attractive. 3742 Kellogg Ave., Columbia-Tusculum, (513) 321-3181

Black Memorabilia: Duck Creek Antique Mall

This mall offers the best smattering of black memorabilia—all manner of collectable mammies, coons, and pickaninnies in print, cast iron, porcelain, and chalk ware—of any area multi-vendor dealer. Prices are steep because the stuff is desirable. A beautiful shame. 3715 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 321-0900

Folk art and primitives: Ohio Valley Antique Mall

A treasure trove of folk and primitive art (early and mid-19th-century oil-on-board paintings, many unsigned) and handmade Americana (tools and toys), spread among 350-plus vendors. It’s like having dibs on the remnants of America’s handmade past. 7285 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield, (513) 874-7855

Originally published in the December 2008 issue.

Service

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:12:00 GMT

Humanitarian Action

Every spa boasts about thoughtful customer service. But last fall, Woodhouse Day Spa—an elegant place with a reputation for Old World customer service—lived up to their claims. When the September wind storm knocked out power in much of the city, the spa was spared. So employees contacted customers and invited them to come in, charge their cell phones, and take hot showers. And after a week without electricity...ahhhhh. 9370 Montgomery Rd., Montgomery, (513) 891-4772

Mr. Fix-It

Joe Wallace (a.k.a. “The House Guy”) and his crew have made a small industry of the domestic chores and “honey-do” tasks the rest of us would much rather, well, hire someone else to do. They have cleaned the home of a harried Clifton couple, power washed and sealed the deck of an absentee homeowner in Northside, mowed lawns and landscaped all over town, and will even tuck-point your chimney and paint your walls. They’ll become regulars if you need ’em. And let’s face it, most of us do. (513) 325-2052

Personal Stylist

Laurie Wilson of the L. Wilson Group is more Tim Gunn than Stacy London. “My gift is that I can look at someone, and after talking to them about their lifestyle, make some pretty good recommendations,” says Wilson. “If someone tries on a piece and it’s not right, I tell them. I’m not paid to lie, but I think there’s a gentle way to share information.” As well as shopping with clients, Wilson performs closet audits to challenge them to put things together a little differently. “We wear about 20 percent of what’s in our closets,” she notes, “and the rest is just there to keep it company.” Sad but true. www.lwilsongroup.com

Diaper Service

When Amy and PJ Hruschak of Liberty Township learned they’d be welcoming a bundle of joy, they started looking for a local diaper service, only to discover there wasn’t one. And thus Good Natured Baby was born. Here’s how it works: Your first delivery is clean diapers (and yes, they’ll show you how to use them). After that, you put out the dirties every week, and they’re picked up and replaced with more clean diapers. The best news? Cloth-diapered babies potty-train earlier. That is definitely a load off. (513) 348-2727, www.goodnaturedbaby.com

Homework Help

Book reports, science projects, the agony of pre-calculus...the Public Library of Cincinnati has it covered with Homework Central at the main branch: computers and printers, free school supplies, and tutors—many of them UC students—who run group sessions and offer one-on-one guidance for students K–6th grade. The idea is to give students “whatever they need” to succeed, says Homework Central manager Miriam McKenney. It’s open weekends, too, so there are no more dog-ate-my-homework Mondays. 800 Vine St., downtown, (513) 369-3121

Stained Glass Repair

The kids are horsing around and before you know it, your prized Tiffany floor lamp—the one your grandmother gave you—is in pieces. Fear not. Claiming to be the longest continually operating stained glass studio in the country, the BeauVerre/Riordan Studios restoration artists have been replacing damaged stained glass since 1838. Given up on a broken piece? BeauVerre/Riordan even sells creations of its own, like a door-sized replica of Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. 1054 Central Ave., Middletown, (513) 425-7312, www.beauverre.net

Historic Home Restorer

Suffering from dry rot in your ornamental brackets? Hip roof sagging? Call Gus Thierry of ICS Building Restoration, a building contractor and craftsman whose mission is to preserve a home’s integrity and historical significance. (You can spot his work throughout the Clifton Gaslight district.) With more than 25 years of experience, Thierry is regarded by preservationists and home-owners alike as a real stud (OK, we’ll stop now). (513) 658-9485, www.icsbuildingrestoration.com

Shoe Shine

Bill Jones doesn’t twirl his shoe-buffing brush or flip his can of wax and catch it in his back pocket. He’s not that showy. And that doesn’t matter, because after he’s finished, your shoes will shine like glass. Jones is 64 years old and has been shining shoes since he was 12. He uses no synthetic sprays or cleaning fluids (“they dry the leather out,” he insists). The tools of his trade are water and Lincoln Stain Wax, the best there is—just like Jones. At Kings Court Hair Design, 44 E. Court St., downtown

Design Services

HighStreet is retail nirvana, but its design services—from art direction to interior and product design and consulting services—push it still higher. Forward-thinking businesses and residents feel the same way: The American Building, Procter & Gamble, Lofts on Broadway, and Pendleton Pilates, among others, have tapped into the seemingly unlimited resources (the five-member HighStreet Design team), luxe brands (Designers Guild), and the talent of local artists (Matt Kotlarczyk’s luminous chandeliers). 1401 Reading Rd., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 723-1901

Tattoo Artist

In a severely inked-up, testosterone-fueled field, ink-free Ryonen Ignatius is an anomaly. This gifted tattooist spends as much time prepping, including getting to know her canvas, as actually applying art. She brandishes her needles more as wands of cathartic body art than as the relentless electric jabs they become after two-plus hours of getting one of her famous memorial portraits. Her bartending background (listening calms the whiners) and DAAP fine arts degree (she mastered color theory, typography, and figure drawing) catapult Ignatius to queen among the Queen City’s tattooists. Many dabble in ink but few are artists. True Blue Tattoo, 2601 Vine St., Clifton, (513) 221-8783

Bikini Wax

There’s nothing particularly relaxing (or fun) about having unwanted hair ripped out with hot wax, especially when it’s in the oh-so-sensitive bikini area. So get it over with as quickly as possible. Alesia Buttrey, an esthetician educator who has 30 years experience in bikini waxing (her specialty is the take-it-all-off Brazilian), will get you beach ready in less than 15 minutes for less than $65 (most salons charge close to $80). Seriously. “I can charge less because I’m so fast,” she says. “Other salons book an hour, so they charge more. The most Brazilians I’ve done in one day is 26 and I’d like to beat that.” Shiver. Heavenly Bodies Skincare, 3608 Marburg Ave., East Hyde Park, (513) 321-8252

Car Storage

We know. Not everyone is going to need a place to store their car when they’re out of the country for a couple of years. But if you do, the Car Barn Garage can take care of your baby. They’ll keep the battery charged, the parts lubricated, the engine started, and they’ll move it around—responsibly, not like the garage guys in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off—to make sure that everything’s still in working order when you return. All for $65 a month, six months and up. Beats shipping your ride to Dubai. 316 Kinsey Ave., Mt. Auburn, (513) 621-5507

Hair Stylists

Curly: Laura Hughes, Tanya’s Image & Wellness Salon

Hughes has a full head of tight ringlets herself, which means she can be trusted to trim yours with care. “Clients come to me desperate,” she says. And leave relieved. 2716 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, (513) 533-9400

Super Nice: Sam Hills, High Five Salon

In just two and a half years, Hills has already amassed a cult-like clientele who swear by his hip hairstyles and knack for genuine conversation sans catty gossip. 3098 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 502-5293, www.highfivesalon.com

Colorist: Brent Bauer, Salon Concepts

Fortunately, Bauer, an American Board Certified Colorist with 20 years’ experience, mixes color like a chemist and will bring you back to your roots, God-given or otherwise. 3235 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 871-4247

Short Cuts: Kristen Kuebler, Christopher George Salon

“I love the ways you can cut short hair to fit someone’s personality and face shape,” Kuebler says, “and right now I’ll do anything but the inverted bob—everyone has that style.” 1085 Ste. Rte. 28, Suite A, Milford, (513) 831-0508

Up-dos: Aubrey McDaniel, Taylor Jameson Hair Design

There’s a fine line between sophisticated and prom-gone-wrong. “I try to steer people away from anything too severe or stiff,” McDaniel says. Put down the Aqua Net. 4200 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (513) 541-3332

Originally published in the December 2008 issue.