New York Post recommends a visit to Cincinnati

[Hydrobond]

This could be very benificial.

August 31, 2004 -- Never been to Cincinnati? DREW GREENBERG reports that if there ever were a time to go, it would be now
IN recent years, Cincinnati's claim to fame has centered around its Cincinnati-style chili. More a topping than a stew, locals eat it on spaghetti, though hot dogs get their share of the spicy stuff, too.

Not enough of a draw? Then know that chili has begun to take a backseat to the city itself. In fact, this part-midwestern, part-southern metropolis of over 2 million )a long-time Delta hub) is experiencing some serious change. Museums are renovating, a new one's come to town - the rightfully ballyhooed National Underground Railroad Freedom Center - and restaurants are hopping. It's time to take a closer look.

MUST SEE

Cincinnati, named "The Queen City of theWest"by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is finally taking advantage of its riverfront area. A host of new developments include the aforementioned National Underground Railroad FreedomCenter. Its exhibits lead visitors from the time of slavery to emancipation and beyond (50 E. Freedom Way; freedomcenter.org).

On the east side of town is the Taft Museum of Art. This former family home recently finished a $22.8 million renovation and expansion. Artists in its collection include Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Whistler. Add to this its gardens, and you'll forget you're in Ohio (316 Pike St.; taftmuseum.org).

The Contemporary Art Center is also a great diversion. (In 1990, the CAC received national attention when the city's finest raided an exhibit by Robert Mapplethorpe, charging it was obscene.) Last year, the CAC moved to the Zaha Hadid-designed building. Modern and sculptural, it's a stunner (44 E. Sixth St.; contemporaryartscenter.org).



The most non-traditional scene here by far is found at Club Clau in the city's edgy Over the Rhine historic district (which encompasses 362.5 acres of the city's original German community).

If you're into late-night parties, Clau is the place to be Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Its revelers have included Jessica Simpson, Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg. Tara Reid recently hosted the club's one-year anniversary party. There's also local art hanging on the walls and an art "menu" (with prices) at the bar (221 E. 12th St. at Sycamore).

MUST EATS

For years, if it was fine dining you wanted, Maisonette was where you'd go. Among its other accolades, it's Mobil Travel Guide's longest-running five-star restaurant in the country (114 E. Sixth St.).

Today, however, there's also buzz around Jean Robert at Pigall's, whose chef is Jean Robert de Cavel, Maisonette's former executive chef. Also formal, this restaurant has a more progressive French menu - i.e., duck breast served with a blood orange honey sauce (127 W. Fourth St.).

A world away from tradition is Boca, located in the city's newly trendy Northside district. Its chef/proprietor, 28 year-old Dave Falk, cooks up a rustic, innovative Italian menu, including oyster crepe with ostera caviar and yuzu hollandaise (4034 Hamilton Ave.).

Cumin, located away from the city center in East Hyde Park, is the brainchild of Bombay-born owner/ chef Yajan. Dishes include pan-seared prawns flavored with fenugreek leaves and tandoor oven-baked tandoori mushrooms encrusted with Indian spices. Hardly Cincinnati as usual (3514 Erie Ave.).

STAY OVER

The 146-room Cincinnatian Hotel, built in 1882 and renovated in 1987, is one of the region's most elegant properties. Weekend packages including breakfast and free parking start at $225; cincinnatianhotel.com. INFO: ohiotourism. com and cincyusa.com

[Arrrhalomynn]

I'll visit Cincinnati when it gets a statue of Jerry Springer.

[Hydrobond]

That will never happen, Cincinnati is the most conservative city in the US.  If he becomes president then maybe, just for sake of tradition, but I doubt that will ever happen.  He is, however, running for governer of Ohio, which he has a good chance of winning because of his fame.  

[jonlester]

Is there still a 24-hour chili place in Cincinnati?

[Hydrobond]

Several, I believe.  I know that Camp Washington Chili is 24-hour.  I believe Price Hill Chili is also 24-hour but I am not sure.  And I know that most of the skylines are open very late, but I dont think they are open all 24-hours.  (We are still the only city in which a 3-way is not instantly construed as sexual, though.)

[jonlester]

I might have to go back up. I haven't been in 5 years and I didn't get any late night chili but I'm only 10 hours away and overdue to make a road trip.

[Sauza12]

I drove through Cincinnati Saturday.  Ummm, it has a nice freeway system?  It was late, and I was tired.

[Hydrobond]

Im guessing you were on 75, seeing as how you were going to/coming from Detroit.  That is the worst piece of crap expressway, I hate it.  It will be nice in about 10 years though.

[Sauza12]

Wow, really?  Compared to some of the freeway's in and around Detroit, that stretch of road was great.

[Hydrobond]

Well, part of the problem is that there are way too many trucks on I-75, it is the busiest trucking route in the Unites States (not sure about the world.)  This wouldn't be too much of a problem, if Cincinnati was flat.  But because we are not, the route if very curvy, and trucks often have to slow down to 50 or less to make the turns.  Plus, it is only 3 lanes for most of the stretch through cincy, which means it gets jammed up a lot.  


typical shot of 75.

But seeing as how it was late, I guess you didn't run into most of what I was talking about.  (Some parts of it are just falling apart, though.)