Amy Knueven

Everybody celebrates the holidays a little bit differently. This week, you can get your Christmas kicks by dressing up your pets, searching for Santas, or practicing some fancy skating.

Maybe there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but there are plenty of free good times to be had around the city.

Your mother told you to use your time wisely, didn’t she? So if you’re lucky enough to have any to spare, consider broadening your skills with a class.

Frank Wood: In the early in the days of ’EBN we had a lot of phony commercials for a fictitious company called Brute Force Cybernetics, which invented lots of strange products: The three-dimensional television, which was a TV mounted on a rail that went back and forth really fast. Or the portable hole.

1. Essencha Tea House
Tucked into Oakley’s business district is the teeny Essencha Tea House. Decorated like an Asian-style spa, the place oozes relaxation and quiet. Stop in for lunch (we like the Cold-Smoked Salmon Sandwich) or one of the daily afternoon tea services—Essencha offers both Asian and European-style preparations. Then take a little tranquility home with you: They carry more than 100 varieties of loose-leaf teas. Open Mon–Sat 11 am–6 pm; Sun Noon–5 pm. 3212 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 533-4832, essencha.com

 
1. Parky’s Pirate Cove
Parky’s Pirate Cove is exactly as awesome as it sounds. Located in Miami Whitewater Forest, the buccaneer-themed playground will fulfill your kid’s Pirates of the Caribbean dreams with a half-sunken ship to climb on and cannons that shoot water. Through Labor Day, 11 am–7 pm, daily; $2 per child, ages 2 to 12; 9001 Mt. Hope Rd., Harrison, (513) 521-7275, greatparks.org/parks/miamiwhitewater.shtm

Everyone has a favorite ice cream memory. We asked a few iconic Cincinnatians to recount theirs.