ANNE ARENSTEIN, CAROLINE BECKMAN, BRIAN CROSS, NADYA ELLERHORST, DEIRDRE KAYE, JONATHAN KEILHOLZ, RICK PENDER, GARIN PIRNIA, ZURIE POPE, LAUREN SERGE, LEYLA SHOKOOHE
EDITORIAL INTERN
JILLIAN KOHLS
MUSIC NEWS INTERNS
BROOKE BURKHARDT, TAMYA HALL
PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN
MAYLEA SALMON
SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN
EVAN SHIBEL
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
AIDAN MAHONEY
SENIOR DIGITAL MARKETING CONSULTANT
MARK COLEMAN
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
CHANELL KARR
DISTRIBUTION TEAM
TOM SAND, STEVE FERGUSON
DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
ELIZABETH KNAPP
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
CHRIS KEATING
Table of Contents
PHOTO BY CARL VALLE
Every day, we all go about our business in greater cincinnati. We work. We eat. We shop. We unwind.
But as we mark things from our neverending to-do lists, how often do we stop to think about how lucky we are to have so much of what we need within a short walk, drive or transit ride? How often do we think about the culture, entertainment and business that Cincinnati has developed over the years? How often do we think about the parks and public spaces that add some serenity to our hustle? And how often do we think about the folks who make it all happen?
The Queen City is fortunate to have so many people contributing to the region’s vitality in different ways. At CityBeat, we try to highlight many of them in our regular digital and print coverage, but we love to go overboard in our annual Best of Cincinnati issue. In our 2025 edition, our writers are calling attention to the excellence they’ve discovered both in their personal lives and while covering our fair city. Yes, we’ve got our favorite burgers and nightclubs and city improvements, but there also are plenty of surprises in the pages ahead.
But Cincinnati is vast, and there’s more greatness here than our team will ever be able to count or experience. That’s why we rely on you, our readers, to point us toward Greater Cincy’s unsung heroes who have – in one way or another – become indispensable in your daily lives. Thanks to your votes earlier this year, you’ve helped choose tops in hundreds of categories in the 2025 Best of Cincinnati issue.
So soak it all in, Cincinnati. This is the place we call home, and we’re all the better for it.
Reader Picks
Apartment Community
1. Factory 52
2. Spyglass Apartments
3. Artistry Cincy Builder
1. Fisher Homes
2. Drees Homes
3. Hensley Custom Building Group Building
1. Union Terminal
2. Music Hall
3. Cincinnati Art Museum Cincinnati Neighborhood
1. Norwood
2. Northside
3. Over-the-Rhine
Cincinnatian
1. Fiona the Hippo
2. Joe Burrow
3. Bob Herzog
4. Colleen the Goose
5. Bootsy Collins
6. Megan Mitchell
7. Molly Wellmann
8. Emilio Estevez
9. Rose Lavelle
10. Anthony Munoz
College/University
1. University of Cincinnati
2. Xavier University
3. Northern Kentucky University
Conservative
1. JD Vance
2. Liz Keating
3. Joe Deters
Developer
1. 3CDC
2. Al Neyer
3. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing
Do Gooder
1. Matthew 25: Ministries
2. Longbottom Bird Ranch
3. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
4. La Soupe
5. ArtWorks
6. Ohio Innocence Project
7. Life Food Pantry
8. ArtsWave
9. The Friends of the Public Library
10. Aubrey Rose Foundation
Friend to the Environment
1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
2. Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub
3. Longbottom Bird Ranch
4. Great Parks of Hamilton County
5. Cincinnati Parks
6. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful
7. Krohn Conservatory
8. Cincinnati Nature Center
9. Indigo Hippo
10. The Friends of the Public Library
Journalist
1. Bob Herzog (WKRC)
2. Jessica Schmidt (FOX19)
3. Megan Mitchell (WLWT)
4. Tana Weingartner (WVXU)
5. Lucy May (WVXU)
6. Tricia Mackie (FOX19)
7. John Matarese (WCPO)
8. Keith Pandolfi (Cincinnati Enquirer)
9. Nick Swartsell (WVXU)
10. Becca Costello (WVXU)
Local Activist
1. Jimmy Longbottom
2. Jim Tarbell
3. Missy Spears
Local Cause
1. Cincinnati Animal CARE
2. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio
3. Longbottom Bird Ranch
4. Matthew 25: Ministries
5. Freestore Foodbank
6. SPCA Cincinnati
7. ArtWorks
8. Cincinnati Public Radio
9. Aubrey Rose Foundation
10. ArtsWave
Local Elected Official
1. Aftab Pureval
2. Greg Landsman
3. Charmaine McGuffey
City Life
Local Podcast
1. Cincinnati’s Crime Vault:
Beyond the Broadcast
2. Cincinnati Zoo Tales
3. Jungle Jim’s Podcast
MBA Program
1. University of Cincinnati
2. Xavier University
3. Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentuckian
1. George Clooney
2. Nick Clooney
3. Maryanne Zeleznik
4. Kathrine Nero
5. Missy Spears
6. Cris Collinsworth
7. Otto M. Budig Jr.
8. Amy McGrath
9. Gary Holland
10. Lucy May
Northern Kentucky Neighborhood
1. Covington
2. Newport
3. Union Park (City)
1. Smale Riverfront Park
2. Eden Park
3. Ault Park
4. Washington Park
5. Devou Park
6. French Park
7. Mt. Airy Forest
8. Alms Park
9. A. J. Jolly Park
10. Bellevue Beach Park
Park (County)
1. Cincinnati Nature Center
2. Sharon Woods
3. Winton Woods
Philanthropist
1. Anthony Munoz
2. Bootsy Collins
3. James “Jungle Jim” Bonaminio
Place to Take a Visitor
1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
2. Findlay Market
3. Jungle Jim’s International Market
4. Over-the-Rhine
5. Smale Riverfront Park
6. The Banks
7. Cincinnati Art Museum
8. Cincinnati Reds Game
9. Cincinnati Museum Center
10. The Friends of the Public Library Warehouse
Playground
1. Smale Riverfront Park
2. Washington Park
3. Parky’s Farm
Private School
1. Cincinnati Waldorf School
2. Elder High School
3. Saint Xavier High School
Progressive
1. Aftab Pureval
2. Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
3. Kari Bloom
Public School
1. Norwood High School
2. Walnut Hills High School
3. School for Creative and Performing Arts
Radio Show
1. Jeff and Jenn (Q102)
2. All Things Considered (WVXU)
3. Cincinnati Edition (WVXU)
4. Mo Egger ( ESPN1530)
5. Bill Cunningham (700WLW)
6. Eddie and Rocky (700WLW)
7. Kidd Chris (WEBN)
8. The Big Dave Show (B105)
9. JonJon & Friends ( KISS1071)
10. Brian Thomas
Radio Station
1. 91.7 WVXU
2. 103.5 WGRR
3. 101.9 WKRQ (Q102)
Radio Talk Show Host
1. Jeff and Jenn (Q102)
2. Lucy May Cincinnati Edition (WVXU)
3. Maryanne Zeleznik (WVXU)
4. Mo Egger (ESPN 1530)
5. Bill Cunningham (700WLW)
6. Sara Elyse
7. Jon “JonJon” Curl (KISS 107)
8. Big Dave Show (B105)
9. Kidd Chris
10. Hot List - Tim, Fritsch, & Mollie (Q102)
Religious Leader
1. Fr. Mike Graham (Xavier)
2. Chuck Mingo (Crossroads)
3. Rev. Mary Carson (St. James Episcopal)
Remodeling Company
1. Arlinghaus
2. Make Her Mark
3. TIE 3 Day Kitchen & Bath
3. TIE 3D Renovations
Scenic Overlook
1. Eden Park
2. Devou Park
3. Ault Park
4. Mt. Echo Park
5. Bellevue Park
6. Smale Riverfront Park
7. Shawnee Lookout
8. Alms Park
9. Fairview Park
10. Mt. Storm Park
Suburban Neighborhood
1. Liberty Township
2. Mariemont
3. Norwood
Troublemaker
1. Cincinnati City Council
2. 3CDC
3. Bill Cunningham
TV Anchor
1. Bob Herzog (WKRC)
2. Megan Mitchell (WLWT)
3. Jessica Schmidt (FOX19)
TV Newscast
1. WXIX (FOX19)
2. WLWT (Channel 5)
3. WKRC (Channel 12)
TV Sportscaster
1. Marshall Kramsky (WCPO)
2. Joe Danneman (FOX19)
3. Dan Hoard (Bengals, Bearcats)
TV Weathercaster
1. Steve Horstmeyer (FOX19)
2. Randi Rico (WLWT)
3. Frank Marzullo (FOX19)
Weekend Getaway (Within 250 miles)
1. Hocking Hills
2. Red River Gorge
3. Yellow Springs
4. Kentucky Bourbon Trail
5. Louisville
6. Brown County
7. Columbus
8. Lexington
9. Indianapolis
10. Brookville Lake
City Life Staff Picks
Best new floor at a Cincinnati institution
For nearly a century and a half, Cincinnati Music Hall audiences have been walking across the lobby’s red-andwhite checkerboard stone floor. All those footsteps, as well as well-intended but harsh cleaning processes and acrylic coatings, made for a lot of wear and tear on the marble and limestone pavers. So the Friends of Music Hall, charged with the historic preservation of the iconic cultural venue that opened in 1878, hired Eighth Day Stone Restoration from Charlotte, North Carolina. In July-August of 2024, a team of professionals repaired more than 7,000 cracks, chips, holes, pitting, crazing and spalling. Now the floor of the “Grand Foyer” glistens and glows just as it did when it was installed in 1878. cincinnatiarts.org
the Big Mac Bridge fire and closure impacted business. Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves says he and his team heard from businesses in the community that they experienced as much as a 30% decline in sales from 2023, which they attributed to the unexpected bridge closure. In an effort to bring customers and patrons back to Kentucky, several small local businesses offered discounts, specials and events, including lunch specials, extended happy hours and complimentary appetizers, promotions from retailers and specialty cocktails and mocktails with Molly Wellmann. New Riff also hosted a cocktail-making competition between local bars and restaurants, where they created a signature New Riff-based cocktail to help drive foot traffic.
KATHERINE BARRIER
RICK PENDER
Best initiative helping Northern Kentucky businesses recover after a bridge fire
The Bridging Back Business initiative was launched by several Northern Kentucky cities and organizations as a way to help local shops, restaurants and bars recover after
Best vocal activist for LGBTQ+ issues
Missy Spears isn’t just an advocate — she’s a force. Whether she’s rallying for LGBTQ+ rights, amplifying marginalized voices or speaking out against discrimination, Spears brings an unwavering passion to the fight for equality. Though she’s been part of numerous organizations
Lytle Park. | PHOTO BY MAYLEA SALMON
City Life
dedicated to helping others throughout her career (in her own words, “half of the projects on my resume are because I got mad and just did something”), Spears’ latest contribution to the area is incredibly special. Spears is the executive director of Queer Kentucky, a publication and storytelling platform that “enhances Queer culture and health through storytelling, education, and action.” When you’re feeling especially down about the state of the world, it’s nice to be reminded that people like Spears are actively fighting for marginalized voices.
Best clown of the people
ASHLEY MOOR-MAHONEY
From his earlier videos wandering around beloved Cincinnati events like Taste of Cincinnati and the Northside Fourth of July Parade, to his more recent content involving dubious dips in the Ohio River, softmaxplus (real name Michael Sawan) has built a brand being a kind of nonchalant, everyday bizarre. As a vintage-suit-wearing, Miller-High-Lifedrinking clown, his videos and interviews started as a way to promote his many books, but he’s tapped into something else along the way: the ability to commune with strangers when and where they are, about pretty much whatever. Softmaxplus is just a clown, standing in front of people around Cincinnati in various settings and situations, asking them to talk to him. softmaxplus.com.
LEYLA SHOKOOHE
Best block party that feels like a giant slumber party
The Middletown Women’s Wine & Chocolate Walk is a lot cooler than you think. Blocks of downtown Middletown are reserved for local ladies to shop, sip and snack while a DJ plays hits that will take you (and your mom) back to slumber parties past. One ticket gets you a swag bag, tasting map and wine glass — which you’ll need as your companion for the 10 different wine stops and chocolate stops throughout downtown Middletown. Along the way, shop for everything your home and wardrobe needs (or doesn’t, but still wants) while you run into friends old and new. If wine isn’t your cup of tea, a handful of restaurants will offer to-do drink specials that will make you dance in the street and sing into your cup like it’s a hairbrush. If you thought the Women’s Wine Walk was just for your mom’s friends from high school, note that I found myself dancing in Central Pastry bakery with total strangers in broad daylight like it was the club. In that moment, it was. downtownmiddletown.org.
MADELINE FENING
Best repair of an essential Cincinnati bridge
The folks who started a fire under the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, aka the “Big Mac,” on Nov. 1 probably didn’t intend to disrupt Cincinnati’s traffic patterns for months as repairs were made to replace a section of melted steel girders. But that was the result since southbound I-471 traffic had to snake through Newport from Downtown Cincinnati. Backups, slow-moving traffic and short tempers were the side effects. Kudos, however, to the hardworking crews that suffered through a colder, snowier winter than usual to get things running again.
Best controversial Cincinnati icon
RICK PENDER
The name Pete Rose, when mentioned in Cincinnati,
Softmaxplus looking sad. | PHOTO BY AIDAN MAHONEY
City Life
elicits one of two reactions: disgust or joy. Rose played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1963-1978, and again from 198486, eventually becoming the team’s manager. During that time, Rose built a reputation as one of the greatest players in the history of Major League Baseball, and quickly ascended from mere celebrity to a status few ever achieve: legend. An award was named after him, along with a street, and a Pete Rose statue was built in his honor outside of Great American Baseball Park. When Rose died last year, his face lit up the ballpark’s projector, and thousands flocked to lay flowers and affectionate notes on his statue. For many, Rose wasn’t just a baseball player — he was an aspirational figure, a man whose life represented the values this country was built on: ingenuity, and accomplishment made possible by a lifetime of hard work. For others, Rose was a disgrace. Yet another powerful man allowed to cross moral and ethical lines with impunity while his fans drowned out the voices of critics. They point to his decision to gamble on games while still being a player and manager for the Reds, which ultimately led to his banishment from the MLB and the Hall of Fame. Or the five months he spent in prison for tax evasion, after not reporting memorabilia profits and gambling winnings. The official Pete Rose story rarely mentions the serial adultery that ended numerous marriages. Or worse: a sworn statement from a woman who alleged that Rose slept with her when she was a minor, and he was in his mid-30s. Ultimately, Pete Rose was talented. But his actions were objectionable, and so was the culture that protected him, defended him and made him into a hero.
Best
rebirth of a downtown corner
ZURIE POPE
Perhaps downtown Cincinnati’s oldest corner took on new life with the renovation of Lytle Park on the east end of Fourth Street. After a long-term argument about
tree removal, Lytle Park now features a lovely fountain, a jogging path, a bocce ball court, a playground with picnic tables and beautiful seasonal flower beds (supported by Western & Southern Life Insurance Company). Around the park’s perimeter, visitors can find the Taft Museum of Art, the posh Lytle Park Hotel, the Phelps Hotel with a scenic rooftop bar and several historic buildings. The statue of a beardless Abraham Lincoln that’s been there for a century moved closer to the curb, as if he might be waiting for an Uber. cincinnati-oh.gov.
Best hilarious weather updates from a local news anchor
RICK PENDER
Best pharmacist to fill an equity gap in Avondale
Emmanuel Ayanjoke opened the Altev Community Pharmacy in Avondale Town Center last year, helping many residents of the predominantly Black neighborhood reconnect with their health care needs. Before opening Altev Community Pharmacy, Ayanjoke said Avondale had gone years without a CVS or Walgreens. But growing up in a local pharmacy back home in Nigeria gave Ayanjoke early experience in being the sole provider of medication and other health needs for a community. “Growing up, my dad was a pharmacist back at home in Nigeria; his dad was a pharmacist. I almost always knew I wanted to go into pharmacy in some way, and I always knew I wanted to be a business owner,” said Ayanjoke. Altev Community Pharmacy is also the only Black-owned independent pharmacy in Cincinnati, something that helps to build trust with Ayanjoke’s customers, who are also his neighbors. Altev Community Pharmacy accepts all Ohio Medicaid insurance plans, including Buckeye Health Plan, CareSource, Molina Healthcare, Paramount Advantage and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. They also offer customers (and pets) free access to discounts on prescription medications. altevrx.com.
Back in early January, when Cincinnati received a nearly record-breaking 6.4 inches of snow, Local 12 anchor Bob Herzog became our fearless guide to the worsening weather conditions, making us cackle with every pun and joke he made while out in the elements. In a Reel that has now received millions of views, Herzog is seen outside of the Local 12 station, making snow angels, complaining about the snow and throwing a rubber chicken into a pile of snow to show just how much precipitation we received. Apart from providing essential updates on the snowy conditions, Herzog also proved that he could leave the news desk for a job as a comedian any day of the week.
Best library makeovers
A pair of downtown libraries experienced some muchneeded updates that have made each of them more attractive. The main Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library location has a spiffy new entry courtyard and an airy, bright lobby with a magnificent staircase featuring colored bars of information about musicians, bands, singers and composers from the 1940s through the 2020s. And speaking of staircases, the Mercantile Library, a private membership institution founded in 1835 that’s open to all, now has a memorable set of steps of its own. It makes it possible to visit the longtime space on the 11th floor of the Mercantile Building on Walnut Street, and then to hike up to a gorgeous 12th floor, doubling the square footage and providing conference rooms, comfy furnishings and a few phone booths for making calls without disturbing others. chpl.org, mercantilelibrary.com. RICK PENDER
MADELINE FENING
ASHLEY MOOR-MAHONEY
Crews working on repairs to the Big Mac Bridge. | PHOTO BY FACEBOOK.COM_ODOTDISTRICT8
City Life
Best antiracism action activation
On Feb. 7, white supremacists waved swastika flags on the I-75 overpass in Lincoln Heights. No arrests were made by officials. Lincoln Heights residents took matters into their own hands. They flocked to the overpass to let the agitators know their actions wouldn’t fly under the radar. No physical altercations took place — as much as the neo-Nazis intended to intimidate residents, the residents intended the same. Their message, in contrast to the agitators, was one of unity and solidarity, not hate and violence. A neighborhood that rallies its community when threatened is strong indeed. Lincoln Heights supporters from within the community and beyond continued to turn out to the overpass in the days following the Nazi flag demonstration, displaying instead posters with words of positivity, support and love. While the agitators remain unidentified, one thing is clear: hate has no home in Lincoln Heights.
LEYLA SHOKOOHE
Best social group to find new friends for every shared niche interest
Whether you’ve just moved to Cincinnati and are looking for new friends or just want to find someone to go on runs with, Cincy Girls Who is a great way to find new friends and meet new, interesting people in Cincinnati. The group (open only to women, sorry guys) plans meetups for members of any age and background with a variety of interests, from trivia to book clubs to hiking. The club also offers unique ways to get involved in the local community, an added bonus if you’re new to the city. If you’re looking to try new things and meet new people (and maybe you’ve been let down by local Meetup groups…), Cincy Girls Who is the social group for you. cincygirlswho.com. ASHLEY MOOR-MAHONEY
Best nonprofit that goes above and beyond
The world isn’t kind to impoverished people. In a city with increasing housing prices, fewer well-paying jobs and a lack of social mobility, even buying groceries can be a struggle for some. This is why the work of the Freestore Foodbank is so valuable. The foodbank dedicates itself to fighting food insecurity and poverty in Greater Cincinnati, offering a food market that is open to anybody, for free. A trip through their doors reveals how important their work really is: dozens upon dozens of people, some of them clearly experiencing homelessness or suffering from unemployment, are able to get fruit, vegetables, cereal and a myriad of other products when they otherwise could have gone hungry. The staff are friendly and helpful, and capable of dealing with large quantities of people, in a compassionate and kind way. Not only does the foodbank offer food products, but it also helps with drug addiction, mental illness and even workforce development. In an age where we uplift individual billionaires and millionaires who offer a portion of their fortunes to the needy, it’s time for organizations like the Freestore Foodbank to get their place in the sun. As so many other institutions fail the poor, the freestore, and entities like it, are the chain keeping the social contract from collapsing. freestorefoodbank.org.
ZURIE POPE
Best renaming of an iconic tennis tournament
Cincinnati deserves international name recognition, and now the Queen City is back in a big way thanks to an ACE move from a local tennis icon. For more than a century, the Western & Southern Open has played host to Wheatiesworthy tennis stars such as Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova, Andre Agassi and countless others. The tournament was called the Cincinnati Open when it first began in 1899 at the
Avondale Athletic Club. Since 2002, the tournament has been called the Western & Southern Open. Finally, Cincinnati reclaimed the name of the iconic tournament in 2024, officially returning to its roots as the Cincinnati Open. With the name change came a substantial investment of $260 million for on-site enhancements to the Mason arena. The upgrades were designed to accommodate an expanded player field and an extended schedule beginning in 2025. Whether you’re a die-hard tennis fan or just really loved seeing the Queen City shine in the Challengers movie, you can bob your head back and forth at the Cincinnati Open knowing your city’s name is once again on the world’s stage. cincinnatiopen.com.
MADELINE FENING
Best creative campus for food, shops and more
The Warsaw Avenue Creative Campus in East Price Hill is a $10-million mixed-use revitalization project from neighborhood nonprofit Price Hill Will. The development takes up a full block along Warsaw Avenue and features eight newly renovated historic buildings, along with 13 affordable apartments, the new home of the MYCincinnati Youth Orchestra in a former historic firehouse and six commercial spaces, which include The Empanada’s Box, Urbana Coffee, Wendigo Tea and more. pricehillwill.org/wacc
Best on-the-spot news
Where do you get your news? Reading this venerable publication? Turning on the TV? TikTok? (Please, no.) How about Lamenuel Scales, aka Hilarious Scales, aka Hood News 75? The Greater Cincinnati resident has blown up on social media thanks to his, yes, hilarious recountings of various regional news items. The Ohio River’s flooding? He’s wading in it ankle-deep. The Bengals re-signed Tee Higgins? He’s in Bengals-striped overalls and a bucket hat racing through muddy grass to tell you. Cincinnati weather is weather-ing? He’s vocalizing our collective exhausted whiplash in an empty downtown parking lot. Scales is also a do-gooder; he’s been featured in local news stories (how meta) about helping a homeless neighbor in Amelia find shelter, and for live-streaming an in-progress car theft in Union Township. Next time you have a newsy tip, drop Hilarious Scales a DM — but chances are, he’s already reporting live on the scene. instagram.com/hilarious_scales. LEYLA SHOKOOHE
Best park for a woah woah season photo shoot
For the uninitiated, woah woah season refers to that magic of the fall season when the weather is gloomy and the vibes are oh-so-vampy — very similar to the movie Twilight and its accompanying soundtrack that included the song “Eyes on Fire” by Blue Foundation, which is where the title of the season gets its name. If you’re looking to capture the essence of the mystical fall gloom, there’s no better park to capture all of the glory of the season than the Mt. Airy Forest. Just as the sun starts to sink through the trees decked out in the most beautiful hues of autumn, grab a camera and venture through the acres of wooded trails. Bonus points if you stage a photo shoot in the magical treehouse. cincinnati-oh.gov. ASHLEY MOOR-MAHONEY
KATHERINE BARRIER
Cincinnati Open. | PHOTO PROVIDED BY CINCINNATI OPEN
Reader Picks
Appetizers
1. Sotto
2. Agave & Rye
3. Pepp & Dolores
Bagels
1. Marx Bagels
2. The Bagelry
3. Bruegger’s Bagels
4. OTR Bagel Bar
5. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
6. Big Apple Bagels
7. Everything Bagels
8. Skip’s Bagel Deli
9. Livia Jo’s Bagels
10. Bagel Brothers
Barbecue
1. Eli’s BBQ
2. City Barbeque
3. Montgomery Inn
4. Lucius Q
5. Pig Candy BBQ
6. Just Q’in
7. Bee’s Barbecue
8. Smoke Justis
9. Sweets & Meats BBQ
10. Beards & Bellies Barbeque
Beer Selection (Restaurant)
1. Yard House
2. The 859 Taproom and Grill
3. Northside Yacht Club
Bourbon Selection (Restaurant)
1. Goodfellas Pizzeria/Wiseguy Lounge
2. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
3. Smoke Justis
Breakfast
1. Sleepy Bee Cafe
2. First Watch
3. Sugar n’ Spice
4. The Echo
5. Original Pancake House
6. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar
7. HangOverEasy
8. Anchor Grill
9. Taste of Belgium
10. Proud Hound
Brewpub
1. Madtree
2. Fifty West Brewing Co.
3. West Side Brewing
4. Nine Giant Brewpub & Fermentorium
5. HighGrain Brewing Co.
6. Dead Low Brewing
7. Third Eye Brewing
8. Moerlein Lager House
9. Barleycorn’s Brewhouse
10. Voodoo Brew Pub
Brunch
1. Sleepy Bee Café
2. First Watch
3. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar
4. HangOverEasy
5. Taste of Belgium
6. Greyhound Tavern
7. Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
8. National Exemplar
9. Sacred Beast
10. Cedar
Burritos
1. Gomez Salsa
2. Chipotle
3. Mazunte
4. El Rancho Grande
5. The Comet
6. Agave and Rye
7. Olla
8. Tortilleria Garcia
9. Cancun Mexican Restaurants
10. La Mexicana Restaurante
Business Lunch
1. Skyline Chili
2. Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
3. Incline Public House
Butcher Shop
1. Avril-Bleh Meat Market & Deli
2. Eckerlin Meats
3. Jungle Jim’s International Market
4. Lehr’s Prime Market
5. Bridgetown Finer Meats
6. Humbert Meats
7. Wyoming Meat Market
8. Bill Finke & Sons
Eats
9. LK at Findlay Market
10. TIE Hyde Park Meats
10. TIE Redden Fine Meats & Seafood
Cajun/Creole
1. Allyn’s Cafe
2. Swampwater Grill
3. Knotty Pine on the Bayou
Cake Shop
1. The BonBonerie
2. Nothing Bundt Cakes
3. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
Cheap Eats
1. Skyline Chili
2. Goodfellas Pizzeria
3. Zip’s Cafe
4. Blue Ash Chili
5. Gomez Salsa
6. Mazunte
7. Dixie Chili
8. Camp Washington Chili
9. Price Hill Chili
10. Gold Star
Cheese Shop
1. Jungle Jim’s International Market
2. The Rhined
3. Urban Stead Cheese
Cheesesteak
1. Penn Station
2. AJ’s Cheesesteaks
3. Cincy Steak & Lemonade
Chef (w/Restaurant affiliation)
1. Jose Salazar (Mita’s, Safi Wine Bar, Daylily)
2. Dylan Jones (Jeff Ruby Steakhouse)
3. Hideki Harada (Kiki, Sen by Kiki)
4. Jacob Wood (Sotto)
5. Drew R. ath (Tuba Baking Co.)
6. Alfio (Alfio’s)
8. Jeffrey Harris (Nolia)
9. TIE Jawuan Coleman (Incline Public House)
9. TIE Paul Barraca (The Governor)
10. Mary Paff (Ivory House)
Chicken
1. The Eagle
2. Galactic Fried Chicken
3. Silver Spring House
4. Ron’s Roost Restaurant & Bar
5. The Hitching Post
6. Libby’s Southern Comfort
7. CityBird
8. Greyhound Tavern
9. Revolution Rotisserie
10. Joella’s Hot Chicken
Chicken Sandwich
1. The Eagle
2. Galactic Fried Chicken
3. CityBird
Chili (Chain)
1. Skyline Chili
2. Gold Star
3. Blue Ash Chili
Chili (Non-Chain)
1. Camp Washington Chili
2. Pleasant Ridge Chili
3. Price Hill Chili
4. Zip’s Cafe
5. Empress Chili
6. Pig Candy BBQ
7. TIE Bard’s Burgers & Chili
7. TIE Melt Revival
8. Lucius Q
9. Blue Jay Restaurant
10. Gourmet Chili
Chinese
7. Cristian Pietoso (Via Vite, Forno, Nicola’s)
1. Oriental Wok
2. KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia
3. First Wok
4. Uncle Yip’s
5. Blue Gibbon
6. Dragon City
7. Shanghai on Elm
8. China Gourmet
9. Fortune Noodle House
10. Casual Chinese
Chocolates
1. Aglamesis Bro’s
2. Schneider’s Sweet Shop
3. Esther Price
Coffee Shop (Local)
1. Coffee Emporium
2. Mom ‘n ‘em
3. Deeper Roots
4. Roebling Books and Coffee
5. Kitty Brew Cat Cafe
6. Proud Hound Coffee
7. Unataza Coffee
8. Urbana Cafe
9. Sayler Park Coffee
10. Carabello Coffee
Coffee Shop (National)
1. Starbucks
2. Dunkin’ Donuts
3. Biggby Coffee
Cooking Classes
1. Jungle Jim’s International Market
2. Tablespoon Cooking Co
3. Sur La Table
Creamy Whip/Soft Serve
1. Putz’s Creamy Whip
2. Dairy Queen
3. Zip Dip
4. Silver Grove Dari Bar
5. Mt. Washington Creamy Whip & Bakery
6. The Cone
7. Loveland Dairy Whip
8. Sugar Shack by the Tracks
9. Whipty-Do!
10. Mt. Healthy Dairy Bar
Cupcakes
1. The BonBonerie
2. Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakery
3. Gigi’s Cupcakes
4. The Cheesecakery
5. 3 Sweet Girls Cakery
6. North College Hill Bakery
7. Cakes & Pastries by George
8. SugarSnap! Truck
9. Happy Chicks Bakery
10. Wyoming Pastry Shop
Delicatessen
1. Izzy’s
2. Carl’s Deli
3. The Pickled Pig
Desserts (Restaurant)
1. The Cheesecake Factory
2. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
3. Sotto
Desserts (Retail)
1. Graeter’s Ice Cream
2. The BonBonerie
3. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
Donuts
1. Holtman’s Donuts
2. Moonrise Doughnuts
3. Busken Bakery
4. Starlight Doughnut Lab
5. North College Hill Bakery
6. Marcella’s Doughnuts & Bakery
7. Peace, Love, and Little Donuts
8. Graeter’s Ice Cream
9. Hurts Donut
10. Golden Hands Donuts
Eats
Farmers Market
1. Findlay Market
2. Hyde Park Farmers Market
3. Northside Farmers Market
4. Covington Farmers Market
5. Fort Thomas Farmers Market
6. Montgomery Farmers Market
7. Newtown Farmers’ Market
8. Loveland Farmers Market
9. Madeira Farmers Market
10. Bellevue Farmers Market
Farmers Market Food Stall
1. Blue Oven Bakery
2. LK at Findlay Market
3. Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices
Fish & Chips
1. Alabama Fish Bar
2. The Pub
3. Incline Public House
4. Nicholson’s
5. Molly Malone’s
6. Cock & Bull Public House
7. Greyhound Tavern
8. Dead Low Brewing
9. Gaslight Bar & Grill
10. Gilligan’s on the Green
Food Festival or Event
1. Taste of Cincinnati
2. Oktoberfest
3. Asian Food Festival
4. Goettafest
5. Cincinnati Pizza Week
6. Cincinnati Burger Week
7. Panegyri
8. Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week
9. Cincinnati Food Truck Association
Festival
10. Germania Society Oktoberfest
Food Truck
1. Red Sesame Korean BBQ
2. Sweets & Meats BBQ
3. Tacos Locos
4. Marty’s Waffles
5. Jorge’s Taco Truck
6. Texas Joe Tex-Mex
7. SEA Cuisine
8. Cackleberry
9. Mexi-Q
10. Twisted Greek
French Fries
1. Penn Station
2. Zip’s Cafe
3. CityBird
4. Northside Yacht Club
5. Taste of Belgium
6. Senate
7. Tuba Baking Co
8. 50 West
9. Gold Star
10. Bard’s Burgers & Chili
Gelato/Sorbetto/Frozen Ice
1. Graeter’s Ice Cream
2. Aglamesis Bro’s
3. Dojo Gelato
German
1. xHofbräuhaus
2. Tuba Baking Co.
3. Kreimer’s Bier Haus
Gluten-Free Selections
1. Sleepy Bee Cafe
2. Galactic Fried Chicken
3. Pig Candy BBQ
Goetta
1. Glier’s Goetta
2. Eckerlin Meats
3. Bill Finke & Sons
Guacamole
1. Mazunte
2. Bakersfield
3. Agave & Rye
Hidden Gem
1. The Blind Lemon
2. Tickle Pickle
3. Incline Public House
4. Tuba Baking Co
5. Pig Candy BBQ
6. The Governor
7. Kiki College Hill
8. Maury’s Tiny Cove
9. Mazunte
10. Galactic Fried Chicken
Hot Dog/Sausage
1. Senate
2. The Root Beer Stand
3. Wunderbar!
4. Costco
5. Mr. Gene’s Dog House
6. Eli’s BBQ
7. Tuba Baking Co.
8. Chicago Gyros & Dogs
9. Larry’s
10. Lucius Q
Hotel Restaurant
1. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar at Hotel Covington
2. Metropole at 21C Museum Hotel
3. The National Exemplar at Best Western Premier Mariemont Inn
Ice Cream
1. Graeter’s Ice Cream
2. Aglamesis Bro’s
3. United Dairy Farmers
4. Schneider’s Sweet Shop
5. Hello Honey
6. Jeni’s
7. Sugar Shack by the Tracks
8. Dojo Gelato
9. Whipty-Do!
10. Gold Spoon Creamery
Indian
1. Ambar India Restaurant
2. Jot India
3. Maya Indian Restaurant
4. Baba India Restaurant
5. Dusmesh Indian Restaurant & Bar
6. Delhi Palace Indian Cuisine
7. Krishna Indian Restaurant & Carryout
8. Amol India
9. Shaan Indian Cuisine
10. Adeep India
Italian
1. Sotto
2. Pepp & Dolores
3. Pompilios
4. Giovanni’s Family Italian Restaurant
5. Mama’s on Main
6. Nicola’s
7. Scotti’s Italian Restaurant
8. Ferrrari’s Little Italy
9. Primavista
10. Via Vite
Japanese
1. Kiki College Hill
2. Ichiban Japanese Restaurant
3. Cafe Mochiko
4. Miyako Sushi & Steakhouse
5. Quan Hapa
6. Kyoto Japanese Cuisine
7. Soho Japanese Bistro
8. Matsuya Japanese Restaurant
9. Nagomi
10. Mei Japanese Restaurant
Korean
1. Riverside Korean
2. BIBIBOP
3. Decibel Korean Fried Chicken
4. Kanji
5. Drunken Bento
6. Stone Bowl
7. Red Sesame BBQ
8. Korea House Restaurant
9. Dolsot Bistro
10. CM Chicken
Late-Night Eatery
1. Goodfellas Pizzeria
2. Skyline Chili
3. Camp Washington Chili
4. Gomez Salsa
5. Anchor Grill
6. Dixie Chili
7. Pleasant Ridge Chili
8. Shanghai on Elm
9. Mikey’s Late Night Slice
10. Longfellow
Live Music While You Eat
1. Arnold’s Bar & Grill
2. The Monkey Bar & Grille
3. The Comet
Local Chain
1. Skyline Chili
2. Dewey’s Pizza
3. LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria
4. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
5. Mazunte
6. Thunderdome Restaurant Group
7. Agave & Rye
8. Bridges Nepali Cuisine
9. Gold Star
10. Taste of Belgium
Local Farm
1. 80 Acres Farm
2. Blooms & Berries Farm Market
3. Gorman Heritage Farm
Local Snack
1. Grippo’s
2. Hen of the Woods
3. Tuba Baking Co. Pretzel
4. Babushka Pierogies
5. Doscher’s French Chew
6. Bridges Nepali Cuisine’s Momos
7. Honey Child Artisan Pops
8. Urban Stead quark
9. Makers Bakers’ banana pudding
10. Al’s Delicious Popcorn
Macaron
1. Macaron Bar
2. The BonBonerie
3. Jungle Jim’s International Market
Macaroni & Cheese
1. The Eagle
2. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
3. Eli’s BBQ
4. Keystone’s Mac Shack
5. Pig Candy BBQ
6. Lucius Q
7. El Coyote
8. Tavern on the Bend
9. Ivory House
10. Incline Public House
Mediterranean/Greek
1. Aladdin’s Eatery
2. Abigail Street
3. Sebastian’s Greek Restaurant
4. Artemis
5. Phoenecian Taverna
6. Andy’s Mediterranean Grille
7. Cafe Alma
8. Greek to Me
9. Santorini’s
10. Cafe Mediterranean
Mexican
1. Mazunte
2. OLLA Taqueria
3. Agave & Rye
4. Tortilleria Garcia
5. Cancun Mexican Restaurant
6, El Rancho Grande
7. Crown Cantina
8. La Mexicana Restaurante
9. El Jinete
10. Mi Cozumel
Neighborhood Bakery (Burbs)
1. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
2. North College Hill Bakery
3. Sebastian Bakehouse
Neighborhood Bakery (Central)
1. The BonBonerie
2. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
3. Brown Bear Bakery
Neighborhood Bakery (Downtown/OTR)
1. Blue Oven Bakery (Findlay Market)
2. Brown Bear Bakery
3. Allez Bakery
Neighborhood Bakery (East Side)
1. Servatti Pastry Shop & Deli
2. Busken Bakery
3. Sebastian Bakehouse
Neighborhood Bakery (Northern Kentucky)
1. Moonrise Doughnuts
2. North South Baking Co.
3. Emerson’s Bakery
Neighborhood Bakery (West Side)
1. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
2. Cakes & Pastries By George
3. Regina Bakery
Neighborhood Burger Spot (Burbs)
1. Fifty West Burger Bar
2. Quatman Cafe (Mason)
3. Sammy’s Gourmet Burgers & Beer
Neighborhood Burger Spot (Central)
1. Tickle Pickle
2. Quatman Café
3. Ludlow Garage
Neighborhood Burger Spot (Downtown/OTR)
1. Arnold’s Bar & Grill
2. Nation Kitchen & Bar
3. Milkman OTR
Eats
Neighborhood Burger Spot (East Side)
1. Zip’s Café
2. Turf Club
3. Arthur’s
Neighborhood Burger Spot (Northern Kentucky)
1. Bard’s Burgers & Chili
2. Herb & Thelma’s Tavern
3. Tickle Pickle
Neighborhood Burger Spot (West Side)
1. Incline Public House
2. Nation Kitchen & Bar (Westwood)
3. Price Hill Chili
Neighborhood Coffee Shop (Burbs)
1. Kitty Brew Cat Café
2. Wyoming Community Coffee
3. Luckman Coffee
Neighborhood Coffee Shop (Central)
1. Mom ‘n ‘em
2. Sidewinder
3. Collective Espresso (Northside)
Neighborhood Coffee Shop (Downtown/OTR)
1. Coffee Emporium
2. Deeper Roots
3. blaCk Coffee Lounge
Neighborhood Coffee Shop (East Side)
1. Coffee Emporium (Hyde Park)
2. Mom ‘n ‘em Coffee and Wine (Madisonville)
3. Proud Hound Coffee
Neighborhood Coffee Shop (Northern Kentucky)
1. Roebling Point Books & Coffee
2. Carabello Coffee
3. Unataza Coffee
Neighborhood Coffee Shop (West Side)
1. Biggby Coffee
2. BLOC Coffee Company
3. Sayler Park Coffee
Neighborhood Pizza Joint (Burbs)
1. Dewey’s Pizza
2. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
3. Mellow Mushroom
Neighborhood Pizza Joint (Central)
1. Adriatico’s
2. Dewey’s Pizza
3. Catch-A-Fire Pizza
Neighborhood Pizza Joint (Downtown/OTR)
1. Goodfellas Pizzeria
2. Taglio
3. LaRosa’s
Neighborhood Pizza Joint (East Side)
1. Dewey’s Pizza
2. Taglio
3. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
Neighborhood Pizza Joint (Northern Kentucky)
1. Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria
2. Cork N Crust
3. Goodfellas Pizzeria
Neighborhood Pizza Joint (West Side)
1. Dewey’s Pizza
2. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
3. Trotta’s Pizza & Drive Thru
Neighborhood Restaurant (Burbs)
1. Blue Ash Chili
2. Silver Spring House
3. Pig Candy BBQ
Neighborhood Restaurant (Central)
1. Quatman Café
2. Adriatico’s
3. HighGrain Brewing Co.
Neighborhood Restaurant (Downtown/ OTR)
1. Sotto
2. Arnold’s
3. Pepp & Dolores
Neighborhood Restaurant (East Side)
1. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct
2. Mazunte
3. The Governor
Neighborhood Restaurant (Northern Kentucky)
1. Pompilios
2. KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia
3. Greyhound Tavern
Neighborhood Restaurant (West Side)
1. Incline Public House
2. Ivory House
3. Primavista
New Restaurant (February 2024 - present)
1. Wildweed
2. Carmelo’s
3. TIE The Davidson
3. TIE The Green Line Kitchen & Cocktails
4. Sudova
5. Young Buck Deli
6. Pata Roja Taqueria
7. Safi Wine Bar
8. Bourbon’s Craft Kitchen & Bar
9. Court Street Kitchen
10. MaineTowne
Noodles
1. Pho Lang Thang
2. KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia
3. Kiki College Hill
Outdoor/Patio Dining
1. Incline Public House
2. Little Miami Brewing Co.
3. Cabana on the River
4. Fifty West Burger Bar
5. The Monkey Bar & Grille
6. Pig Candy BBQ
7. Arnold’s Bar & Grill
8. Northside Yacht Club
9. Dead Low Brewing
10. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
Overall Bakery (Breads)
1. Sixteen Bricks
2. Blue Oven Bakery
3. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
4. North College Hill Bakery
5. Breadsmith
6. El Camino Baking Co.
7. Wyoming Pastry Shop
8. North South Baking
9. Bluegrass Sourdough Co.
10. Allez Bakery
Overall Bakery (Sweets)
1. The BonBonerie
2. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
3. Brown Bear Bakery
4. The Cheesecakery
5. Cafe Mochiko
6. North College Hill Bakery
7. Wyoming Pastry Shop
8. Happy Chicks Bakery
9. Sebastian’s Bakehouse
10. North South Baking Co.
Overall Burgers (Chain)
1. Five Guys Burgers & Fries
2. BRU Burger Bar
3. Culver’s
4. Frisch’s
5. Red Robin
6. Gold Star
7. Shake Shack
8. Freddy’s
9. Smashburger
10. Swenson’s
Overall Burgers (Non-Chain)
1. Zip’s Café
2. Tickle Pickle
3. Sammy’s Craft Burgers & Beers
4. Roney’s
5. Quatman Cafe + Bard’s Burgers & Chili
6. Turf Club
7. Arthur’s
8. Nation Kitchen & Bar
9. Milkman
10. 50 West Burger Bar
Overall Pizza (Chain)
1. Dewey’s Pizza
2. LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria
3. Goodfellas Pizzeria
Overall Pizza (Non-Chain)
1. Taglio
2. Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria
3. Adriatico’s
4. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
5. Fireside Pizza
6. Cork N Crust
7. Two Cities Pizza Co.
8. Krimmer’s Italianette Pizza
9. Saint Francis Apizza
10. Trotta’s Pizza & Drive Thru
Overall Restaurant
1. Sotto
2. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct
3. Ivory House
4. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
5. Pepp & Dolores
6. Abigail Street
7. Jeff Ruby’s Carlo and Johnny’s
8. Boca
9. Mita’s
10. Wildweed
Overall Restaurant (Northern Kentucky)
1. Walt’s Hitching Post
2. Pompilios
3. KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia
4. Greyhound Tavern
5. Tuba Baking Co.
6. TIE Agave & Rye
6. TIE Libby’s Southern Comfort
7. Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
8. Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar
9. Blinkers
10. Oriental Wok
Overall Restaurant (Southeast Indiana)
1. Third & Main
2. Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria
3. Whisky’s
Oysters
1. Knotty Pine on the Bayou
2. Jeff Ruby’s
3. Sen by Kiki
Pub Food
1. Incline Public House
2. Northside Yacht Club
3. Knockback Nat’s
4. Arnold’s Bar & Grill
5. Dead Low Brewing
6. Oakley Pub & Grill
7. The Pub
8. HighGrain
9. Smoke Justis
10. Molly Malone’s
Raw Bar
1. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
2. Sen by Kiki
3. Jeff Ruby’s Carlo & Johnny
Restaurant Design
1. Sotto
2. Jeff Ruby Steakhouse
3. The 1931 at Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
Restaurant for a First Date
1. Incline Public House
2. Sotto
3. Primavista
4. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
5. Abigail Street
6. Alcove by MadTree
7. Arnold’s Bar and Grill
8. Juniper’s 9. Nada
10. Ivory House
Restaurant for Fine Dining
1. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct
2. Sotto
3. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
4. Boca
5. Jeff Ruby’s Carlo & Johnny
6. Nicola’s
7. Primavista
8. Pepp & Delores
9. Ivory House
10. Walt’s Hitching Post
Restaurant for Large Parties
1. Montgomery Inn
2. Hofbräuhaus
3. Moerlein Lager House
Restaurant to Take a Foodie
1. Sotto
2. Pepp & Dolores
3. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
4. Tuba Baking Co
5. Abigail Street
6. Mitas
7. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
8. The Eagle
9. Boca
10. Pig Candy BBQ
Restaurant to Take the Kids
1. Skyline Chili
2. Fifty West Burger Bar
3. Ford’s Garage
4. Chick-fil-A
5. Dead Low Brewing
6. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
7. Chuck E. Cheese
8. Dewey’s Pizza
9. Zip’s Cafe
10. Sugar and Spice
Restaurant to Take Visitors
1. Montgomery Inn Boathouse
2. Skyline Chili
3. Incline Public House
Ribs
1. Montgomery Inn
2. Eli’s BBQ
3. Pig Candy BBQ
4. Walt’s Hitching Post
5. Just Q’in
6. City Barbeque
7. Lucius Q
8. Bee’s BBQ
9. Sweets & Meats BBQ
10. El Coyote
Romantic Restaurant
1. Sotto
2. Primavista
3. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
4. Nicola’s
5. Scotti’s Italian Restaurant
6. The 1931 at Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
7. Pepp & Dolores
8. Boca
9. Ivory House
10. Losanti
Salads
1. Dewey’s Pizza
2. E+O Kitchen
3. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
Seafood
1. Chart House
2. Pelican’s Reef
3. Ivory House
Small Plates
1. Mita’s
2. Nada
3. Abigail Street
Eats
Smoothie/Juice Bar
1. Rooted Juicery + Kitchen
2. Tropical Smoothie
3. Smoothie King
Soul Food
1. Alabama Fish Bar
2. TIE Lucius Q
2. TIE Nolia
3. Sweets & Meats BBQ Soup
1. Pho Lang Thang
2. La Soupe
3. Kiki College Hill
Specialty Food Market
1. Jungle Jim’s International Market
2. Findlay Market
3. Country Fresh Market
Steakhouse
1. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct
2. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
3. Jeff Ruby’s Carlo & Johnny
4. Losanti
5. Ivory House
6. Walt’s Hitching Post
7. Maury’s Tiny Cove
8. TIE Lonely Pine
8. TIE MRBL
9. Tony’s of Cincinnati
10. Son of a Butcher
Subs/Sandwiches
1. Jersey Mike’s Subs
2. Carl’s Deli
3. Penn Station
Sushi
1. Cloud 9 Sushi
2. Wabi Sabi
3. Ichiban Japanese Restaurant
4. E+O Kitchen
5. Teak OTR
6. Drunken Bento
Eats
7. Kanji
8. Green Papaya
9. Wild Ginger
10. Asiana Tacos
1. Agave & Rye
2. Mazunte
3. Condado Tacos
4. OLLA Taqueria Gutierrez
5. Tortilleria Garcia
6. Bakersfield
7. Gomez
8. La Mexicana
9. TIE El Coyote
9. TIE Taqueria Mercado
10. Pata Roja
Takeout
1,. Dewey’s Pizza
2. Eli’s BBQ
3. City Barbeque
4. Pig Candy BBQ
5. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
6. Gomez
7. Mazunte
8. Pho Lang Thang
9. Currito
10. Sweets & Meats BBQ
Tea Selection
1. Churchill’s Fine Teas
2. Jungle Jim’s International Market
3. Coffee Emporium
Thai
1. Teak OTR
2. Thai Express
3. Green Papaya
4. Siam Orchid
5. Wild Ginger
6. Buddha Barn Thai
7. Asiana
8. TIE Bangkok Bistro
8. TIE Mai Thai
9. Lemongrass
10. Thai Namtip
Vegetarian
1. Aladdin’s Eatery
2. Cafe Alma
3. Melt Revival
Veggie Burger
1. Tickle Pickle
2. Krueger’s Tavern
3. Arthur’s
4. Nine Giant
5. Dead Low Brewing
6. Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
7. Nation Kitchen & Bar
8. Taste of Belgium
9. W Bar + Bistro
10. Ludlow Garage
Vietnamese
1. Pho Lang Thang
2. Wild Ginger
3. DOPE! Asian Street Fare
4. Pho Kimmy
5. Pho Viet
6. Saigon Noodle Bar
7. Saigon Subs and Rolls
8. Pho96
9. iPho Vietnamese Cuisine
10. Lalo
View From Your Table
1. Incline Public House
2. Primavista
3. Montgomery Inn Boathouse
4. MRBL
5. City View Tavern
6. The Chart House
7. Moerlein Lager House
8. Eighteen at the Radisson
9. Shires Rooftop
10. Buckhead Mountain Grill
Waitstaff/Service
1. Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct
2. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
3. Sotto
Waterfront Dining
1. Montgomery Inn Boathouse
2. Cabana on the River
3. Moerlein Lager House
4. Buckhead Mountain Grill
5. Chart House
6. MRBL
7. The Monkey Bar & Grille
8. Pirates Cove Tropical Bar and Grill
9. Enson Harbor
10. Cancun
Wine Selection (Restaurant)
1. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
2. Ripple Wine Bar
3. Sotto
Wings
1. Knockback Nat’s
2. Wild Mike’s
3. Catch-a-Fire Pizza
4. Buffalo Wings and Rings
5. Knuk n’ Futz
6. Oak Tavern
7. Dead Low Brewing
8. Barleycorn’s
9. Northside Yacht Club
10. Smoke Justis
Staff Picks
Best new zen Kentucky coffee and tea shop
Last April, AmerAsia co-owners Johnny and Hana Chu opened the coffee and tea shop KungBrew Cafe in Mainstrasse. It became the first tea shop in Covington. They import some of their teas from Taiwan. Johnny collects antiques and installed many of them in the building. The upstairs contains an Asian-themed painted mural with soothing green colors and a tea room. The space is meant to offer customers a relaxing environment as they sip on their coffee and tea. Try the White Rabbit Latte, made with Lang Thang Vietnamese espresso. They also offer food like baos. sites.google.com/view/kungbrew-cafe/home. GARIN PIRNIA
Best place to get Dole Whip and avoid spilling it on your corset
Think a fresh swirl of this zesty ambrosia will cost you a trip to your nearest Disney park? Think again. It’s light, it’s airy, it’s extremely susceptible to warm temperatures, and apparently it can be found in Waynesville, Ohio, during the unofficial months-long holiday that is the Ohio Renaissance Festival. If you feel like risking that period costume we know you’ve spent hours putting together for some drippy refreshment, grab ye olde plastic spoon and gobble it up under the autumn sun. After all, one cannot subsist on giant turkey legs alone. renfestival.com.
NADYA ELLERHORST
KungBrew Cafe. | PHOTO BY MAYLEA SALMON
Eats
Best damned chocolate, still
Aglamesis Bro’s is consistently under the radar when it comes to Cincinnati sweets but when it comes to dark chocolate nonpareils, nothing else comes close. Made in the company’s local candy kitchen, the deeply rich dollops of dark chocolate are known to produce reactions bordering on orgasmic, according to first-time tasters. The company recently updated its image and website but those fabulous nonpareils and all of Aglamesis’s goodies are as fabulous as they ever were. aglamesis.com ANNE ARENSTEIN
Best shop to get seafood, meat, bagels and pasta
Rekas Butchery and Delicatessen, a sister to Wyoming Meat Market, brings their meats and pasta to Covington. Owner Shelby Nation and her wife, Ashley, created a deli and Italian grocer. Buy burger patties, sausages, Ohio wagyu ribeye and salmon to cook at home. To go, get side dishes like curry chicken salad and gourmet mortadella sandwiches. On Fridays and Saturdays, they sell bagel sandwiches. In the grocery portion of the store, purchase a bag of locally roasted Wood Burl Coffee, dried pastas, cheeses and more. instagram.com/rekas_butcher GARIN PIRNIA
Best food activation at BLINK
The fan-favorite Asianati Night Market once again exceeded expectations during its setup on Court Street Plaza during BLINK. The attraction brings the energy of a bustling night market in Asia to Cincinnati, offering a glimpse into Asian culture, style and cuisine. The 14 food vendors involved — including Bridges Nepali Cuisine, Cafe Mochiko and Thai Express — showcased the diverse arrangement of Asian street-style foods, including skewers, dumplings, noodles, boba, pastries and more. In addition to the array of food options, the Asianati Night Market’s atmosphere was elevated by its art installations and bright lanterns, creating an authentic, immersive experience. anm.asianati.com
Best themed kids menu
LAUREN SERGE
Tucked almost perfectly between Great American Ball Park and Paycor Stadium, The Filson serves some of Cincinnati’s best burgers — like the juicy, sticky Porkopolis “handheld.” But the menu goes beyond burgers, offering thin pizzas, loaded fries and unique appetizers like KY Sticky Ribs with housemade bourbon barbecue sauce. It’s
not just another sports bar; The Filson blends an elevated vibe with hometown pride. Even the kids’ menu feels special, featuring fun, kid-friendly spins on grown-up dishes. Cooler still? It comes with a crayon-ready sketch of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, making mealtime fun, delicious and uniquely Cincinnati. thefilson.com.
Best Yemini coffee
DEIRDRE KAYE
Overwhelmingly, cafes and coffee shops in the Cincinnati area cater to a specific clientele: white students and urban professionals. Though there are some exceptions — blaCK Coffee Lounge in downtown Cincy comes to mind — most of them tick the same boxes: similar menus, similar design choices, similar upwardly mobile white people with white collar jobs. You wouldn’t expect a cafe on Short Vine, within walking distance of the University of Cincinnati, to break this trend. But Cincy Cafe does, with an atmosphere, menu and convenience that is unmatchable. A Yemeni business, Cincy Cafe has a selection of foods you can’t find at any other shop in the neighborhood. While other cafes offer the usual fare — bagels, cappuccinos, etc. — at Cincy Cafe you can try Mofawar, a sweet, smooth and creamy coffee made with cardamon, roast coffee and condensed milk. Or you can try their rich, savory and addictive pistachio cakes, shipped in from Michigan. And the cafe itself — unlike others, which rely on repetition of design cliches — is pared down, with the food, staff and customers becoming the focus. Cincy Cafe is a beacon of flavor, creativity and authenticity in a business increasingly lacking in all three qualities. instagram.com/cincy.cafe.
Best calzone bigger than your head
ZURIE POPE
At first glance, Martino’s on Vine, located on Short Vine in Corryville, looks like just another sports bar in a college town. Though the menu boasts many delightful offerings, from wings to cheese curds to a Philly cheese steak, it’s nothing unusual for a bar or Italian restaurant. That is, until you get to the calzone. For less than $20, you can acquire a delicious, gooey pocket of pizza sauce, cheese and three other toppings of your choice bigger than a human head. Even someone with the heartiest of appetites couldn’t get through that in one sitting. This is easily at least two meals. This savory delight is as delicious (and messy) as it is economical. Whether you’re a broke college student or payday’s still three days away and your fridge is almost empty, you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck at Martino’s. martinosonvine.com
CAROLINE BECKMAN
Best monster-themed West Side boutique tea room
Known for selling Bigfoot black tea and Firebird chai, Wendigo Tea owner and Foxy Shazam keyboardist Sky White has been slinging his high-quality teas for 10 years at markets, restaurants and coffee shops all over the city. Finally, on Halloween, he opened a brick-and-mortar tea shop in East Price Hill. Customers can sample rare teas and get nerdy. It’s not a grab-and-go spot, but customers can purchase loose-leaf teas to take home and brew. wendigotea.com GARIN PIRNIA
Softmaxplus looking sad. | PHOTO BY AIDAN
MAHONEY
Asianati Night Market. | PHOTO BY RON VALLE
Best creative uses for naan
Naan, a delicious flatbread hailing from India, is most often seen alongside flavorful Indian meals. Some creative minds use it in lieu of pizza dough for a flatbread pizza. One Madisonville genius, Ryan Saadawi, thinks even more outside the box. The chemistry student-turned-owner of fast-casual popup Hurry Curry used his education and the flavors of his home country of Saudi Arabia to concoct creative flavor combinations and presentations, and many of those presentations involve naan. There is the naan pizza, consisting of a mix of cheeses and the curry base of the customer’s choice slathered on top of naan. It’s the mashup you never knew you needed. Sides include grilled naan and another inspired mashup, the naan grilled cheese. Who knew one piece of bread held so many possibilities? hurrycurrycincinnati.square.site. CAROLINE BECKMAN
Best new chili and pasta dish
While many Cincinnatians had been (and still are) mourning the loss of Mountain Dew and Pepsi products at Skyline Chili, the restaurant softened the blow by introducing the Mac and Cheese Way. The limited-time menu item featured cavatappi in a three-cheese blend in place of the usual spaghetti, and was topped with Skyline chili and freshly shredded cheddar cheese. The cheese-loaded dish was a delightful switch-up on the classic Skyline menu items, and one that we hope they bring back again. skylinechili.com LAUREN SERGE
Best new coffee shop located inside a service garage
Until Elliott Coffee arrived last year, Dayton, Kentucky, lacked a solid coffee hangout spot. Owners Elijah Knapp, his wife Isabelle, and Elijah’s brother Asa tout “a celebration of ordinary days,” but there’s nothing ordinary about the place. First of all, they transformed an old service station into a separate room to order the coffee, outdoor seating and the detached auto shop for indoor seating. They use roasters from all over the nation, including Georgia’s Valor Coffee and California’s True Love Coffee Company.
Eats
stacked nachos and salsas, as well. The dance part showcases EDM and DJ nights, held in a large separate music hall. The drink part includes an assortment of margaritas served at the U-shaped bar. The best part is that Galaxie serves food until midnight, filling a void in Covington’s late-night scene. galaxiebar.com. GARIN PIRNIA
Best handheld, no-fuss way to enjoy some classic Skyline dip
Drinks like espresso with Ale-8 set them apart from ordinary shops. They occasionally serve top-notch food like French toast and breakfast sandwiches. Akin to Collective Espresso Newport, people can get their film photos processed from Velocity Film Lab, which has a drop-off box. elliottcafe.com. GARIN PIRNIA
Best jumbo chicken wing on top of a Bloody Mary
A perfectly crafted Bloody Mary strikes just the right balance of savory and spicy. And what could make it even better? A jumbo chicken wing, of course. Smoke Justis in Covington takes brunch to the next level with their signature Bloody Mary, featuring a shooter of Wheatley Vodka, olives and a perfectly smoked chicken wing perched on top. This bold, garnished cocktail is the ultimate way to start the day. smokejustis.com.
Best late-night mac and cheese
JILLIAN KOHLS
Mac and cheese is a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, it’s a favorite side. For others, it’s straight from the kids’ menu. When you think of mac and cheese, you may not necessarily associate it with late nights on the town, but Keystone’s Mac Shack on Short Vine is open until 11 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays and until 2 or 3 a.m. every other day, making it a viable and perfect accompaniment to a late-night bar crawl. The fast-casual mac and cheese bar offers several elevated yet easygoing options named after musicians and bands, such as the Arcade Fire (fried chicken, bacon, cheddar and sriracha), the Fleetwood Mac (pesto, diced tomatoes and mozzarella), and the Lovin’ Spoonful (the simple, creamy original). These concoctions are the perfect way to cut through a night of hard partying. eatmacshack.com.
Best place for tacos and electronic music
CAROLINE BECKMAN
Last fall, Covington received a Galaxie, a Louisville-based cocktail bar and music venue. Their motto is “dine, dance, and drink,” and they know what they’re doing. The dine part features Wakatakas, a flatbread taco. Order Vader fries,
A newfound staple of Bengals season is Starlight Doughnut Lab’s Skyline Chili Dip Doughnut. The doughnut is exactly as it sounds — a delicious, hot doughnut made to taste exactly like the staple game day snack. The madefrom-scratch brioche doughnut is packed with aromatic Skyline chili, cheese, onions and cream cheese, creating an explosion of savory Cincinnati flavors in an easy-to-eat vessel. For the next tailgate, instead of making your own skyline dip in the oven at home, stop by Starlight Doughnut Lab in Norwood for a dozen of these. starlightdoughnutlab.com.
Best purple croissant
LAUREN SERGE
Cafe Mochiko is not your average bakery — or your average ramen restaurant. For starters, it is both, serving baked goods early in the day and ramen in the evening. The flavors are inspired by cuisines throughout Asia, as well as Cincinnati area favorites. The highlight of the menu? The ube halaya croissant. Ube is a yam used throughout Filipino cuisine, and ube halaya is an ube jam used in desserts. Known for its brilliant purple color, ube has a flavor reminiscent of vanilla. The large croissant — the perfect size to tide you over until your next meal — is full to bursting with the sweet, colorful cream. The ube halaya croissant is almost too pretty to eat, but it’s too delicious not to. cafemochiko.com. CAROLINE BECKMAN
Best name for a pasta and pizza restaurant
We love a good portmanteau. We love a bad one too! Pastizza…pasta and pizza. It’s definitely straight to the point, as is this Madeira restaurant’s whole vibe: nononsense Italian in a no-frills space. That’s not a bad thing. The focus is on the food, and it shows. Come for some of the best New York-style pizza around, and stay for the full menu of calzones and stromboli, subs, salads, pastas and desserts. We don’t think they’ll mind if their name induces a chuckle. You can’t help but feel good when saying it out loud, kind of like Goldendoodle or Maltipoo. pastizzamadeira.com
Best place for a hangover breakfast
BRIAN CROSS
When you are finally getting up and out of bed on a Saturday or Sunday after a long night out and the only thing on your mind is a coffee and meal, Press on Monmouth has you covered. The shop offers options ranging from smashed avocado egg sandwiches to Mediterranean salads with feta and citrus vinaigrette. Their drink menu is just as great, with a range of coffees and juices to spiked coffees, mimosas and Bloody Marys. pressonmonmouthnky.com. JILLIAN KOHLS
Skyline chili Mac and Cheese Way. | PHOTO BY X.COM_@SKYLINECHILI_
Reader Picks
Art Gallery (Not Institution)
1. 21c Museum Hotel
2. Art Academy of Cincinnati
3. Clifton Cultural Arts Center
Art Museum
1. Cincinnati Art Museum
2. Contemporary Arts Center
3. Taft Museum of Art
Artworks Mural
1. “Cincinnati Toy Heritage”
2. “Love Wins”
3. “Fiona and Bibi at the Cincinnati Zoo”
4. “Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon”
5. Charley Harper’s
“Beguiled by the Wild”
6. “Ezzard Charles: The Cincinnati Cobra”
7. “Democracy!”
8. “Homecoming (Blue Birds)”
9. “Dream Big and Fly High”
10. CROWN Trail Mural
Charity Festival/Event
1. Cincinnati Pride
2. Flying Pig Marathon
3. Asian Food Fest
4. My Furry Valentine
5. Walk to End Alzheimer’s
6. Bockfest
7. Cindependent Film Festival
8. Let’s Dance for the Heart of It!
9. Zoofari
10. Cincy Beerfest
Church Festival
1. Panegyri
2. CincItalia
3. St. Cecilia Family Festival
Fountain Square Event
1. Reds Opening Day Rally on the Square
2. Ice Rink on Fountain Square
3. Art on Vine
Free Attraction
1. BLINK
2. Cincinnati Art Museum
3. Findlay Market
4. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
5. Jungle Jim’s International Market
6. Smale Riverfront Park
7. Washington Park
8. Tunes & Blooms at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
9. Contemporary Arts Center
10. FotoFocus
Gallery Exhibit
1. APig-mentofYourImagination at REC, Cincinnati Art Museum
2. TheCulture:HipHopandContemporary Artinthe21stCentury, Cincinnati Art Museum
3. NUDE: Exploring the Uncovered Human Form, Manifest Gallery
3. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (@cincylibrary)
Washington Park Event
1. The City Flea
2. BLINK in Washington Park
3. Pride Winter Market at the Park
Arts & Culture Staff Picks
Best place for the Sundance Festival
We might be biased, but there’s a real case to be made for bringing the Sundance Film Festival to Cincinnati. In case you missed it, Cincinnati is one of three finalist cities in the running to become the new home of the festival from 2027 onward. To borrow a few arguments from veteran film producer Christine Vachon as laid out in the Hollywood Reporter: The Queen City has a great community of filmmakers and a strong arts scene, there are plenty of really great restaurants and it’s affordable enough for up-andcoming filmmakers to visit. Things we already knew. Add to that Cincinnati’s track record of success with well-attended festivals like BLINK, Oktoberfest and The Flying Pig, and
it’s clear Cincinnati and Sundance are a match made in indie film heaven.
Best reimagining of a Shakespeare classic Shakespeare wrote Hamlet four centuries ago. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company toured a production to regional parks in the summer of 2024. But that was just the beginning: It opened its season with Fat Ham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning translation of the show into a funny, backyard barbecue, and more recently staged A Room in the Castle, a world premiere by renowned playwright Lauren Gunderson, focused on Hamlet’s female characters who typically fade into the background. That production moved to Washington, D.C.’s Folger
BRIAN CROSS
Je’Shaun Jackson as Juicy in Fat Ham. |
PHOTO BY MIKKI SCHAFFNER
Arts & Culture
Theatre in April, guaranteeing that Cincy Shakes’ national profile is on the rise. cincyshakes.com. RICK PENDER
Best (and most adorable) homage to our city’s swine history
“When pigs fly?” It’s about damn time. Alan P. Marrero’s installation in Piatt Park was perhaps one of the most heart-emoji-inducing masterpieces we saw at this year’s iteration of BLINK – just look at those potbellies! A more tranquil installation amid the technicolor festival, visitors strolled under dozens of illuminated resin sculptures of our city’s favorite (winged) mammal. The pigs hovered suspended from trees mid-flight and, judging by their little piggie smiles, were having a grand time doing so. Marrero himself is a born-and-raised Cincinnatian currently living in Seattle. His little masterpieces were for sale (or “adoption,” to be exact, even cuter) after the event, but no one would blame you for wanting to snip one of the strings and hoof it through the crowded streets of BLINK before anyone noticed. blinkcincinnati.com. NADYA ELLERHORST
Best musical on the road to Broadway
Best reason to do the Time Warp
It’s fun to head to New York City to see Broadway shows, but in the fall the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park offered local audiences the world premiere of Rutka: A New Musical that already has producers steering it toward the Great White Way. With an indie rock score, the diary of a young Jewish teen in war-torn Poland in 1943 was brought to life. Won’t it be fun to say you saw it here in Cincinnati first? cincyplay.com.
Best phallic-themed weather report
RICK PENDER
Ever watch the weather and think, “I should call him?”
In Covington, the Carnegie’s summer production of the cult classic was the surprise hit of the summer 2024 season. The 1973 musical The Rocky Horror Show inspired the 1975 cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show that still draws audiences for midnight showings at movie houses like Clifton’s Esquire Theatre. It proved so popular that the Carnegie is bringing it back in October 2025 — for its 50th anniversary. Talk about your time warps. thecarnegie.com. RICK PENDER
Best new film series focused on women
directors
DEIRDRE KAYE
That was certainly the case for many Cincinnatians when AccuWeather shared images of a hot pink, phallic-shaped snowstorm moving through the area just after the new year. The storm dropped its load of white stuff on Greater Cincinnati, essentially shutting down the city for days. And yeah, we had way too much immature fun reporting on it. accuweather.com
Less than a year ago, Garin Pirnia and Ann Driscoll founded Leontine Cinema, a repertory series dedicated to screening monthly films directed by women, hosted at the Esquire, the Woodward Theater and the Contemporary Arts Center. Since August, it’s built up a reputation for high-quality screenings and well-researched, thoughtful discussions. They’ve even gotten participation from some of the directors of the featured films they’ve screened,
Dusty Rae Bottooms as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show. | PHOTO BY MIKKI SCHAFFNER
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
including a full-length interview with Karyn Kusama (Yellowjackets, The Invitation), video shout-outs by Nancy Savoca (Dogfight) and Sofia Coppola (The Bling Ring), a live Q&A with Adult Best Friends filmmaker Delaney Buffett (Jimmy Buffet’s daughter), and a typewritten statement from Desperately Seeking Susan director Susan Seidelman. They show no signs of stopping in their quest to spread the love for underseen and underappreciated gems by women directors, who remain woefully underrepresented in the film industry. instagram.com/leontine_cinema.
including a full-length interview with Karyn Kusama (Yellowjackets, The Invitation), video shout-outs by Nancy Savoca (Dogfight) and Sofia Coppola (The Bling Ring), a live Q&A with Adult Best Friends filmmaker Delaney Buffett (Jimmy Buffet’s daughter), and a typewritten statement from Desperately Seeking Susan director Susan Seidelman. They show no signs of stopping in their quest to spread the love for underseen and underappreciated gems by women directors, who remain woefully underrepresented in the film industry. instagram.com/leontine_cinema.
Best fresh air for serious theater
Best fresh air for serious theater
Fans of serious theater — be it dramas, comedies or solo performances — have found excellent productions of such shows by Falcon Theatre on Monmouth Street in Newport, Kentucky’s historic district. They offer a five-show season that’s typically stocked with regional premieres of plays that are being staged locally for the first time. Falcon is truly a “storefront” theater with seats for about 50 people, making performances intimate and impactful. falcontheater.net. RICK PENDER
— also known as the Guam kingfisher — was declared extinct in the wild after invasive brown tree snakes wiped out its population. But as part of a groundbreaking conservation effort, nine sihek chicks — including three from the Cincinnati Zoo — were relocated to a protected Pacific Ocean preserve to prepare for their historic release back into the wild. This marks the first time in nearly four decades that the species will live outside human care, thanks to a global partnership of zoos and conservationists working to restore the population. The birds will settle into their new home at The Nature Conservancy’s Palmyra Atoll, a predator-free refuge, with hopes that they will one day return to Guam — flying the coop with a fresh start. cincinnatizoo.org.
Fans of serious theater — be it dramas, comedies or solo performances — have found excellent productions of such shows by Falcon Theatre on Monmouth Street in Newport, Kentucky’s historic district. They offer a five-show season that’s typically stocked with regional premieres of plays that are being staged locally for the first time. Falcon is truly a “storefront” theater with seats for about 50 people, making performances intimate and impactful. falcontheater.net.
— also known as the Guam kingfisher — was declared extinct in the wild after invasive brown tree snakes wiped out its population. But as part of a groundbreaking conservation effort, nine sihek chicks — including three from the Cincinnati Zoo — were relocated to a protected Pacific Ocean preserve to prepare for their historic release back into the wild. This marks the first time in nearly four decades that the species will live outside human care, thanks to a global partnership of zoos and conservationists working to restore the population. The birds will settle into their new home at The Nature Conservancy’s Palmyra Atoll, a predator-free refuge, with hopes that they will one day return to Guam — flying the coop with a fresh start. cincinnatizoo.org.
Best new regime for avant-garde theater
JONATHAN KEILHOLZ
JONATHAN KEILHOLZ
Best new regime for avant-garde theater
RICK PENDER
Best efforts to re-establish an endangered bird species
Best efforts to re-establish an endangered bird species
This year, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is celebrating its 150th anniversary by ensuring birds of a feather can indeed stick together. Yes, there’s a lot more to this globally known and respected attraction than its holiday lights. Behind the scenes, the zoo’s conservation efforts reign supreme. A medium-sized bird called the sihek
This year, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is celebrating its 150th anniversary by ensuring birds of a feather can indeed stick together. Yes, there’s a lot more to this globally known and respected attraction than its holiday lights. Behind the scenes, the zoo’s conservation efforts reign supreme. A medium-sized bird called the sihek
Museum Center recently expanded its already massive fossil collection with a nine-week dig out west. Partnering with Elevation Science Institute, teams of paleontologists and volunteers unearthed prehistoric treasures, from a Hadrosaurus with skin impressions to a Triceratops frill and even a four-foot juvenile Diplodocus femur. The dig process is no small feat: fossils are carefully excavated, wrapped in toilet paper or tin foil and encased in protective plaster jackets before making their journey back to the Queen City. Once at the museum, they undergo painstaking prep work in the Paleo Lab, where visitors can watch the past come back to life — one brushstroke at a time. Dinosaur Hall does a phenomenal job putting it all into perspective with interactive elements, submerging you into the Jurassic possibly even better than Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum. cincymuseum.org.
Museum Center recently expanded its already massive fossil collection with a nine-week dig out west. Partnering with Elevation Science Institute, teams of paleontologists and volunteers unearthed prehistoric treasures, from a Hadrosaurus with skin impressions to a Triceratops frill and even a four-foot juvenile Diplodocus femur. The dig process is no small feat: fossils are carefully excavated, wrapped in toilet paper or tin foil and encased in protective plaster jackets before making their journey back to the Queen City. Once at the museum, they undergo painstaking prep work in the Paleo Lab, where visitors can watch the past come back to life — one brushstroke at a time. Dinosaur Hall does a phenomenal job putting it all into perspective with interactive elements, submerging you into the Jurassic possibly even better than Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum. cincymuseum.org.
JONATHAN KEILHOLZ
JONATHAN KEILHOLZ
A new leadership team at Know Theatre has resuscitated the Jackson Street avant-garde theater company. Local veteran director Bridget Leak is now artistic director, leading a team that includes Ri Moodie as managing director and Fringe artist and Cincy Fringe producer Katie Hartman, who’s now handling marketing. They’re reviving Know’s kick-ass ambiance, especially with a new holiday show, Die Hard Is a Christmas Movie, that could very well become a holiday tradition. knowtheatre.com
Best
A new leadership team at Know Theatre has resuscitated the Jackson Street avant-garde theater company. Local veteran director Bridget Leak is now artistic director, leading a team that includes Ri Moodie as managing director and Fringe artist and Cincy Fringe producer Katie Hartman, who’s now handling marketing. They’re reviving Know’s kick-ass ambiance, especially with a new holiday show, Die Hard Is a Christmas Movie, that could well become a holiday tradition. knowtheatre.com
RICK PENDER
Best bathroom art gallery
Best bathroom art gallery
RICK PENDER
local
museum fossil dig
Best local museum fossil dig
Dust off your “-saurus” flashcards because dinosaurs still roam Cincinnati — in fossil form, at least. Cincinnati
Dust off your “-saurus” flashcards because dinosaurs still roam Cincinnati — in fossil form, at least. Cincinnati
DANCEFIX, a repeat CityBeat Best of Cincinnati winner for Best Dance Classes, has had quite the year. Founder Heather Britt opened a long-awaited new headquarters space in Walnut Hills in October, setting up shop in the burgeoning arts corridor on East McMillan Street. The studio is over 3,000 square feet, with a variety of dance classes held seven days a week, and is also available for event rentals. But have you heard about the bathroom art gallery? Local artists including Pam Kravetz, Carla Lamb, Rosie Kovacs and Karen Sickmann-Saunders, with assists
DANCEFIX, a repeat CityBeat Best of Cincinnati winner for Best Dance Classes, has had quite the year. Founder Heather Britt opened a long-awaited new headquarters space in Walnut Hills in October, setting up shop in the burgeoning arts corridor on East McMillan Street. The studio is over 3,000 square feet, with a variety of dance classes held seven days a week, and is also available for event rentals. But have you heard about the bathroom art gallery? Local artists including Pam Kravetz, Carla Lamb, Rosie Kovacs and Karen Sickmann-Saunders, with assists
Arts & Culture
from Jodie Linver, Patti Foster and Ron Houck, were tasked with transforming each of the four bathrooms into their own works of art. Themes range from a vibrant jungle to a sumptuous bunny-themed room to a pollinator-friendly room with pottery pieces. Watch out, MoMA. dancefixcincinnati.com
Best nature photography exhibit
LEYLA SHOKOOHE
Last fall’s special photography exhibition, Discovering Ansel Adams, was a big draw for the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Eighty of his starkly, magnificently composed black-andwhite images of the American Southwest from early in his career (1916-1940) dazzled art lovers from across the region, and crowds were still coming through mid-January. With classic images from Yosemite and other picturesque national parks, it was possible to see how he refined his craft at a young age. cincinnatiartmuseum.org. RICK PENDER
Best hilarious holiday-themed improv comedy
The Cincinnati Playhouse’s non-Christmas Carol holiday
show by Chicago’s Second City marked the legendary improv comedy troupe’s 65th anniversary in November and December. They’ve performed at the Playhouse’s Shelterhouse Theatre before, and every time they sell out every outing with songs, sketches and characters developed by the likes of Tina Fey, Eugene Levy, Bill Murray and others. They took the time to plug in lots of local humor, so the show felt like it was made for Tri-State audiences. cincyplay.com. RICK PENDER
DANCEFIX bathroom mural. | PHOTO BY CASEY MILLER
Arts & Culture
Best three-day storytelling extravaganza
For the better part of a decade, storyteller Paul Strickland has been entertaining audiences at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival (as well as fringe festivals across North America) with his whimsical tall tales from the Big Fib Trailer Park. He’s cultivated a captivating art form and developed a national following. He’s building on that as the producer of the annual Cincinnati Storytelling Festival, which had its fourth three-day iteration last November in Westwood. He performed along with a pair of renowned tellers, Lyn Ford from Columbus, Ohio, and Andy Offutt Irwin from Covington, Georgia. It returns this fall — it’s a don’t-miss opportunity. ainttrue.com. RICK PENDER
Best book uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community
In American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era, award-winning author Nico Lang captures the resilience and realities of trans youth in today’s America. Through the personal
stories of eight trans and nonbinary teenagers, the book explores the struggles, triumphs and challenges they face with increasing political attacks on their rights. Lang’s deeply researched and empathetic storytelling — which took the Cincinnati native all over the country — highlights the urgent need to protect and support trans youth, offering a counter-narrative to the fear-driven policies shaping their lives. American Teenager is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the human impact of these debates and to stand in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ youth. Nico Lang — who has also served as an LGBTQIA+ correspondent for VICE and a frequent contributor to NBC News and Xtra — is cementing themself as a more than formidable force in the LBGTQIA+ resistance. Nico will be one to watch (and read) in the coming years. goodreads.com. JONATHAN KEILHOLZ
Best new elephant home
Since its opening in October, the Harry and Linda Fath Elephant Trek at the Cincinnati Zoo has been a sanctuary for the herds of elephants who call it home. The space
is the zoo’s largest habitat to date, offering large indoor and outdoor roaming areas, swimming pools, gardens and enrichment activities for the elephants to live their best lives. The atmosphere is set to mimic the environment of Southeast Asia, with specially-curated landscapes and artwork. The herd is home to elephants Mai Thai, Schottzie, Sabu, Jati, SheRa, Kabir, Anak and Sanjay who can all be seen enjoying their new space and splashing in the available waters. In addition to it being an enjoyable site for visitors, it is also an important location for its sustainability and conservation efforts, promoting the protection of the beautiful creatures. cincinnatizoo.org. LAUREN SERGE
Best exhibition showcasing the wrath of mother nature August 24, 79 A.D. was not a great day to be home in Pompeii, Italy. That’s when the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted violently and unexpectedly, smothering the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum and more than 20,000 people. The death toll is unknown, but the remains of more than 1,500 people have been unearthed. Pompeii:
Elephants at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. | PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN
Arts & Culture
different curators. Recent themes include the very specific “the female necrophile,” debauched autocrats and autobiographical films. The movie night is a great way to not only make new friends but also to participate in PAR-Projects’ mission of diversity and creating and sharing community with the public. instagram.com/opensourcecinemacinci
GARIN PIRNIA
Best improvisational Shakespeare
The theatrical and improv wizards who constitute the Improvised Shakespeare Company came to Cincinnati in October. Picking a whimsical title — Did He or Didn’t He? — from several shouted out by the audience, the team’s four actors put together a remarkable and hilarious 90-minute performance that included songs, choreography and other silliness in the style of the Bard. The first of two performances was inspiration enough to get some audience members to return to the Jarson-Kaplan the next day for another completely different performance. The success of this engagement bodes well for a return. cincyshakes.com.
RICK PENDER
Best local author with an upcoming Netflix adaptation
Visit any bookstore or scroll through BookTok and you’ll find mentions of Emily Henry’s romance novels. Henry, who grew up and currently resides in Cincinnati, became an overnight success in 2020 with her novel Beach Read. The colorful, animated styles of her book covers reflect their content well – cheery, sweet and containing the romcom energy few others have been able to replicate. Plus, she plugs quite a few Ohio and Cincinnati gems in her work. Her New York Times bestseller, People We Meet on Vacation, about two friends to lovers who go on vacation together every year, is set for a Netflix adaptation this year, with Emily Bader and Tom Blyth portraying the main roles of Poppy and Alex. emilyhenrybooks.com. LAUREN SERGE
Best way to discover random cult movies at local theaters
The Exhibition spent six months (February-July 2024) at the Cincinnati Museum Center displaying 150 preserved artifacts from the volcanic destruction— frescoes, gladiator armor, statues, jewelry and everyday items that recreated everyday life in Pompeii. It was fantastically popular. cincinnatiartmuseum.org
Best
way to get back into film photography and drink good
coffee
RICK PENDER
Last year, photographer Taylor Kubik installed a film vending machine inside Collective Espresso Newport. He calls the company Camera Vitamins. The state-of-the-art machine dispenses different types of film. Once the roll is used, drop it off because Kubik processes the film in a
darkroom. You can get scans, and he’ll make 8x10 prints. Film photography has gained in popularity again, with a new generation discovering it. While dropping off or buying film, make sure to grab a cup of coffee and hang out with the staff. cameravitamins.com
GARIN PIRNIA
Best free movie night at an art studio
Every Tuesday night at 7 p.m., a group of cinephiles hosts free films inside nonprofit art studio and gallery PAR-Projects in Northside. Originally named Movies at the Lounge and held at The Lounge in Northside, last summer founders and curators Zachary Severt and Lillian Currens renamed the organization Open Source Cinema and moved the operation into PAR-Projects. Every month has a theme and
For the past few years, film organizations Secret Base Cinema and Outer Cinema have hosted repertory movie nights at the Esquire and Mariemont Theaters. Their films tend to skew toward the cult and fringe genres, including Outer Cinema’s Flesh for Frankenstein and Secret Base’s Demon Wind. Last year, Secret Base put on the Nasty ’90s film marathon, and Outer runs the three-day Psychotronic Film Fest. Come and discover the unusual. instagram.com/outercinemacincinnati, instagram.com/secretbasecinema
GARIN PIRNIA
Best show about a dildo runner
Sometimes when the world is burning down around you, the only thing left to do is laugh and make others laugh. That’s exactly what Know Theatre did with Texas Annie It’s a story of a “dildo runner” delivering banned sex toys to desperate customers across Texas, with the bawdy and hysterical show including singalongs and shoutbacks. The night was even rounded out with Texas Annie-themed drinks. Later, the fun continued at the Sapphic Sips afterparty hosted by Midwestern Lesbian. Is it too late to request an encore? texasanniemusical.com. DEIRDRE KAYE
Camera Vitamins. | PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM
Best
free movie night at a library
Library worker Fritz Pape knows the value of a good movie night. Last year, he started hosting free movies inside the main branch of the Cincinnati Library’s atrium. The after-hours screenings take place on the third Thursday of every month, at 6:30 p.m., once the library’s closed. The screenings include free freshly popped popcorn and comfortable seats. So far they’ve screened a mix of mainstream and arthouse films, including All That Jazz, Con Air and Party Girl. chpl.org. GARIN PIRNIA
Best racial justice museum exhibit
Stories about racial justice are always relevant, but just scroll your push alerts or turn on the news — perhaps no moment in recent history calls for a re-examination more than this one. The Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World
See exhibit at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is immersive in a deeply emotional and unforgettable way. As the exhibit puts it, Emmett Till was a funloving child from Chicago who was brutally murdered by a nation’s racism. Mamie Till-Mobley was his mother, whose
bravery helped fuel the Civil Rights Movement. The most poignant aspect of this exhibit is the intense and immense love Mamie Till-Mobley shows to her son. Seeing that little boy’s face in the exhibit broke my heart (as it should) — but there’s also a sense of hope in the form of a video featuring advocates — young and old — with messages like: “I will never give up.” The universality of a mother’s love and courage connects profoundly through these photographs, artifacts and firsthand accounts, a more than appropriate response to that famous quote: “Let the world see what they did to my boy.” It’s tough to see, but oh so necessary — especially today. freedomcenter.org.
Best Tall Stacks revival event
JONATHAN KEILHOLZ
Those who may have been wistful and nostalgic about Tall Stacks were in for a treat this year when it was announced that a new festival would be launching to celebrate our Ohio River roots. River Roots is set to celebrate Cincinnati’s river culture with a festival Oct. 8-12 along the Ohio River. The festivities will include riverboat cruises, roots music, river cuisine and multicultural experiences. Bryce
Dessner of The National, jazz musician Kathy Wade and more are all slated to perform at the festival. The planned festivities are set to reinvigorate those who miss Tall Stacks and invite newcomers to learn about and celebrate Ohio’s rich river history. americasriverroots.com LAUREN SERGE
Best mural of a local legend
The late Jerry Springer is now forever memorialized in Cincinnati. The former Cincinnati mayor and TV talk show host is the subject of a mural in Over-the-Rhine, which is located on the outside of the Tender Mercies building. The art features an image of Springer backlit with splashes of bright, cheerful colors and is adorned with his iconic phrase, “Take care of yourself and each other.” Tender Mercies, a nonprofit organization that assists adults experiencing homelessness by providing housing and resources, was intentionally chosen as the home for the mural as Springer had been a supporter of the organization for over 25 years. The mural’s supportive and inviting nature encourages understanding and kindness to all who have the opportunity to see it. artworkscincinnati.org LAUREN SERGE
A photo from the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum. | PHOTO BY ANSEL ADAMS
Reader Picks
Acupuncture Practice
1. Dr. Peter Sheng
2. Guanhu Yang Acupuncture
3. Alliance Integrative Medicine
Adult Toy Store
1. Hustler Hollywood
2. High on the Hill
3. Dusty’s
Antique Store
1. Ohio Valley Antique Mall
2. Wooden Nickel Antiques
3. Flamingo Haven Antique Mall
4. Riverside Centre Antique Mall
5. Grand Antique Mall
6. Every Now & Then Antique Furniture Mall
7. Astute Furnishings
8. West Chester Antique Center
9. Beardo’s Curiosities
10. Early Bird Resale
Arts & Crafts Classes
1. Cincinnati Art Museum
2. Color Me Mine
3. Queen City Clay
Arts & Crafts Supplies
1. Hobby Lobby
2. Michaels
3. Indigo Hippo
Auction House
1. Everything But The House (EBTH)
2. BidFTA
3. Auctions by Maggie
Auto Dealer (New Vehicles)
1. Jake Sweeney Automotive
2. Jeff Wyler Automotive Family
3. McCluskey Chevrolet
Auto Dealer (Used Vehicles)
1. Jake Sweeney Automotive
2. Jeff Wyler Automotive
3. Kelsey Chevrolet
Auto Repair Service
1. Donovan’s Auto & Tire
2. Tire Discounters
3. University Motors
Bank
1. Fifth Third Bank
2. Huntington
3. PNC
Barber Shop
1. Bellevue Barbershop
2. Bishops
3. Martin’s Barber Shop
Bed and Breakfast
1. Weller Haus Bed, Breakfast & Event Center
2. Gaslight Bed & Breakfast
3. The Inn of Hyde Park
Bicycle Store
1. Montgomery Cyclery
2. Bishop’s Bicycles
3. Reser Bicycle Outfitters
Birthing/Maternity Center
1. Good Samaritan Hospital
2. The Christ Hospital
3. Bethesda North
Bookstore (Non-Chain)
1. Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2. The Bookery
3. Roebling Point Books & Coffee
CBD Retailer
1. Kentucky Botanical Co.
2. Hemptations
3. Jungle Jim’s International Market
CD/Record Store (Non-Chain)
1. Everybody’s Records
2. Shake It Records
3. Plaid Room Records
Camera Store
1. Dodd Camera
2. Western Hills Photo & Hobby
3. Best Buy
Candy Store
1. Aglamesis Bro’s
2. Doscher’s Candy Co.
3. Schneider’s Sweet Shop
4. Esther Price
5. Jungle Jim’s International Market
6. Supreme Nut and Candy
7. Fawn Candy
8. Minges Candy
9. Winans Chocolates + Coffees
10. Tickled Sweet
Car Detailer
1. Carriage House Car Wash
2. Mr. Bubbles
3. Sharonville Car Wash
Car Wash
1. Mike’s Carwash
2. Carriage House Car Wash
3. Sharonville Car Wash & Detailing
Carpet Cleaning
1. Stanley Steemer
2. Teasdale Fenton
3. Widmer’s Cleaners
Carpet Store
1. JP Flooring Design Center
2. McSwain Carpet & Floors
3. Buddy’s Flooring
Caterer
1. Vonderhaar’s Catering
2. Funky’s Catering Events
3. Village Pantry Catering
Catering (Restaurant)
1. Eli’s BBQ
2. Artemis Mediterranean Bistro
3. City Barbeque
4. Mazunte
5. Sweets & Meats BBQ
6. Gomez Salsa
7. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants
8. Lucius Q
9. Soul Secrets
10. Alabama Que
Cell Phone Service Provider
1. Verizon
2. T-Mobile
3. AT&T
Children’s Clothing Store
1. Once Upon a Child
2. The Spotted Goose
3. Castle House
Chiropractic Practice/Clinic
1. CryoOH ChiropracticDr Jim Johnson
2. Mt. Lookout Chiropractic
3. Performance Chiropractic
Clothing Consignment
1. Snooty Fox
2. Once Upon A Child
3. Clothes Mentor
Comic Book Store
1. Queen City Comics and Card Company
2. Shake It Records
3. Up, Up & Away
Computer/IT Services
1. Micro Center
2. Nerd Patrol
3. Best Buy
Costume Shop
1. Cappel’s
2. Talk of the Town
3. Costume Castle
Craft Beer Store
1. Jungle Jim’s International Market
2. The Party Source
3. The Root Cellar
Credit Union
1. General Electric Credit Union
2. Kemba Credit Union
3. Cinfed Credit Union
Dance Classes
1. DANCEFIX
2. Cincinnati Ballet Academy
3. Just Off Broadway
Shops & Services
Day Spa
1. Woodhouse Spa
2. Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa
3. CryoOH
Dental Practice/Clinic
1. Vita Dental
2. Village Dental (formerly A.J. Marck)
3. Mason Dental Care
Dermatologist
1. Dr. Elizabeth Muennich
2. Dr. Tiffany Pickup
3. Dr. Mona Foad
Door Company
1. AE Door & Window
2. Renewal by Andersen
3. Rhino Exteriors
Drive-Thru Market
1. Gertz Pony Keg
2. Trotta’s Pizza & Drive Thru
3. Big Daddy’s
Dry Cleaner
1. Widmer’s Cleaners
2. Zips Cleaners
3. Tide Cleaners
Electronics Repair
1. Micro Center
2. Best Buy
3. uBreakiFix
Eyewear Store
1. Warby Parker
2. LensCrafters
3. Costco
Financial Planning Service
1. Fidelity Investments
2. Rosselot Financial
3. UBS
Findlay Market Vendor
1. Eli’s BBQ
2. Blue Oven Bakery
3. Pet Wants
4. Eckerlin Meats
5. Earthganics
6. Silverglades
7. Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices
8. Dojo Gelato
9. Makers Bakers Company
10. Saigon Market
Florist
1. Adrian Durban
2. Swan Floral & Gift Shop
3. Scarlet Begonia’s Flower Truck
4. Gia & the Blooms
5. Benken Florist & Greenhouses
6. Fort Thomas Florist
7. Robin Wood Flowers
8. Daisy Jane’s Flower Truck
9. Budding Florist
10. Emerald La Fleur
Frame Shop
1. Michaels
2. Hobby Lobby
3. Fabulous Frames & Art
Fresh Seafood Store
1. Jungle Jim’s International Market
2. Lobsta Bakes of Maine
3. Dorothy Lane
Funeral Home
1. Hodapp Funeral Homes
2. Weil Kahn Funeral Home
3. T.P. White & Sons
Furniture Store
1. Nadeau - Furniture With a Soul
2. Arhaus
3. IKEA
4. Furniture Fair
5. Habitat for Humanity Restore
6. High St.
Shops & Services
7. Crate & Barrel
8. Bargains and Buyouts
9. Algin
10. Home Emporium
Garage Door Company
1. Overhead Door Co. of Greater Cincinnati
2. AE Door & Window Co
3. Precision
General Contractor
1. Hyde Park Painting & Carpentry
2. Build It Brothers
3. Scot Dallis
Giftshop
1. Cincinnati Art Museum
2. Cincinnati Museum Center
3. Village Junction
4. I Love Cincinnati Shop
5. Ten Thousand Villages
6. MiCA 12/v
7. indigenous craft gallery
8. The Collective
9. Metallic Giraffe
10. Manitou Candle Co.
Green/Sustainable Goods Store
1. Indigo Hippo
2. Kentucky Botanical Co.
3. Hemptations
Grocery Store
1. Kroger
2. Jungle Jim’s International Market
3. Aldi
Gutter Company
1. LeafFilter Gutter Protection
2. Bone Dry Roofing
3. Rhino Exteriors
HVAC Company
1. Air Authority
2. Arlinghaus Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning
3. Schneller Knochelmann
Hair Removal Service
1. WAX Cincinnati
2. Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center
3. CryoOH
Hair Salon
1. Bishops
2. Greenline Salon
3. Melissa Hargis Hair
Handyman
1. Mr. Handyman
2. Hyde Park Painting & Carpentry
3. Dadstasks
Hardware Store
1. Ace Hardware
2. Lowe’s
3. Home Depot
Health Food Store
1. Jungle Jim’s International Market
2. Trader Joe’s
3. Whole Foods Market
Home Accessories Store
1. Habitat for Humanity ReStore
2. Artichoke
3. Flamingo Haven Antique Mall
Home Health Care Services
1. Visiting Angels
2. Bayley Home Services
3. Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice
Hospital
1. The Christ Hospital
2. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
3. Bethesda North Hospital
Hotel
1. Hotel Covington
2. 21c Museum Hotel
3. Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
House Painter
1. Hyde Park Painting
2. Steady Hand Painting
3. Fresh Coat Painters of Cincinnati East
Insurance Agency
1. State Farm
2. Cincinnati Insurance Companies
3. Katie Miracle Agency
Interior Designer
1. David A. Millett
2. High St.
3. Lori Daniels
Internet Service Provider
1. altafiber
2. Spectrum
3. T-Mobile Home Internet
Jeweler
1. Genesis Diamonds
2. Schwartz Jewelers
3. Richter & Phillips
Junk Removal
1. Rumpke
2. 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
3. Junk King
Landscaping
1. Natorp’s
2. Merkle Lawn Care
3. Tepe Landscaping
Lasik Surgery Center
1. Cincinnati Eye Institute
2. LasikPlus
3. Midwest Eye Center
Law Firm
1. Treleven & Klingensmith
2. Taft Stettinius & Hollister
3. Wood + Lamping
Lawn Service
1. Oasis Turf & Tree
2. Royse Lawn Care
3. Tepe Landscaping
Lawyer (Individual)
1. Pamela Hall
2. John Treleven
3. Scott Thomas
Lighting Store
1. Menard’s
2. Lighting EFX
3. IKEA
Lingerie Store
1. Knickers of Hyde Park
2. Victoria’s Secret
3. Hustler Hollywood
Liquor Store
1. The Party Source
2. Jungle Jim’s International Market
3. Hyde Park Wine & Spirits
Local Indie Craft Market
1. The City Flea
2. WestSide Market
3. Art on Vine
Local Indie Craft Market Vendor
1. Fern
2. Earthganics
3. Handzy Shop + Studio
Locksmith
1. Larry’s Lock, Safe & Security
2. Acme Lock
3. Mr. Lock Security
Mall/Shopping Center
1. Kenwood Towne Centre
2. Rookwood Commons/Pavilion
3. Liberty Center
Manicure/Pedicure
1. Ambiance Nail Salon & Spa
2. Deluxe Nails Salon & Spa
3. Spruce Nail Shop
Marijuana Dispensary
1. Nectar
2. Sunnyside
3. Verilife
4. The Landing Dispensary
5. Ascend
6. Queen City Cannabis Medical Dispensary
7. The Forest Dispensary
8. Bloom Medical
9. Zen Leaf (formerly Have a Heart)
10. Ethos Ohio (formerly About Wellness)
Marriage Officiant
1. Reverend JJ Hurricane
2. Colleen Good Ceremonies
3. Reverend Scott DeMarco
Martial Arts Studio
1. Dojo Mason
2. Club MMA
3. Cincinnati Krav Maga
Massage Therapy Practice/Clinic
1. Woodhouse Day Spa
2. Massage Envy
3. Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa
Medi Spa
1. Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center
2. CryoOH
3. Godiva Medspa
Men’s Clothing Store
1. Duluth Trading Post
2. BlaCk OWned OuterWear
3. Hellman Clothiers
4. Cincy Shirts
5. Romualdo
6. The Native Brand
7. Blaine’s Fine Men’s Apparel
8. Trevor Furbay Bespoke
9. Corporate
10. J.Salandino Collection
Motorcycle/Motorsports Dealer
1. CinCity Harley-Davidson
2. Queen City Harley-Davidson
3. Metro Scooter
Moving Company
1. Two Men and a Truck
2. Leaders Moving
3. All My Sons Moving & Storage
Music Lessons
1. School of Rock
2. The Music Salon
3. Willis Music
Musical Instrument Store
1. Willis Music/Buddy Roger’s Music
2. Baroque Violin Shop
3. Guitar Center
Neighborhood Shopping District
1. Kenwood
2. Rookwood Commons/Pavilion
3. Hyde Park Square
New Store/Business (February 2024 - Present)
1. Alien Records
2. Monmouth St. Mercantile
3. Pop Cultur’d Co.
Nursery/Greenhouse
1. Natorp’s
2. Burger Farm & Garden Center
3. White Oak Gardens
Shops & Services
OBGYN
1. TriHealth Women’s Services
2. The Christ Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology
3. Planned Parenthood
Oil Change Service
1. Tire Discounters
2. Valvoline Instant Oil Change
3. AAA | Bob Sumerel Tire & Service
Orthodontic Clinic
1. Haverkos Family Orthodontics
2. Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics
3. Dr. Jeri Stull OrthodonticsFort Thomas
Outdoor/Outfitters Shop
1. REI
2. Bass Pro Shops
3. Cabela’s
Overall Boutique (Local)
1. Cincy Shirts
2. Kismet
3. MiCA 12/v
4. The Native Brand
5. BlaCk OWned OuterWear
6. Rose & Remington
7. The Collective
8. Kentucky Botanical Co
9. Coda Co
10. Manitou Candle Co.
Paint Store
1. Sherwin-Williams
2. Oakley Paint & Glass
3. Ace Hardware Clifton
Papergood Store
1. Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2. Indigo Hippo
3. Paper Wings
Pawn Shop
1. Ted’s Pawn Shop
2. Queen City Jewelry & Pawn
3. The Castle Jewelry
Pediatrician
1. Muddy Creek Pediatrics
2. Pediatric Associates of Northern Kentucky
3. TriHealth Queen City Physicians
Pest Control
1. Scherzinger Pest Control
2. Bug-A-Pest
3. Delhi Pest Control
Pet Adoption/Shelter
1. Cincinnati Animal CARE
2. SPCA Cincinnati
3. Stray Animal Adoption Program (SAAP)
Pet Boarding/Daycare
1. The Pet Spot
2. Animal Care Centers of Cincinnati
3. DogTown
Pet Grooming
1. Wüf Pet Spa
2. Muddy Mutts
3. Applehead City Pet
Pet Supply Store
1. Pet Wants OTR
2. Hollywood Feed/Pet People
3. Argos
Pharmacy
1. Kroger
2. Yost Pharmacy
3. Walgreens
Photographer
1. Casey Miller Photography
2. Jessica Wiggins Photography
3. Catie Viox
Physician/Healthcare Practice
1. TriHealth
2. The Christ Hospital
3. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Piercing Studio
1. Beelistic Tattoo
2. Skincraft Piercing & Tattoo
3. Luminous
Place for a Kids Birthday
1. Cincinnati Museum Center
2. Parky’s Farm
3. Dave and Busters
4. Scene 75
5. Urban Air
6. Full Throttle
7. Totters Otterville
8. DEFY Cincinnati
9. Jump & Jack’s
10. Silverlake
Place for an Adults Birthday
1. Tokyo Kitty
2. Top Golf
3. Ghost Baby
4. Fifty West Burger Bar
5. MadTree Brewing
6. Pins Mechanical Company
7. Covington Yard
8. Urban Axes
9. Dead Low Brewing
10. Streetside Brewery
Place to Buy Art
1. Summerfair
2. Pendleton Art Center
3. The Collective
4. Flamingo Haven Antique Mall
5. Fabulous Frames & Art
6. Row House Gallery
7. MiCA 12/v
8. Jack Wood Gallery
9. Wave Pool
10. (DSGN)CLLCTV
Place to Buy Sneakers
1. JackRabbit/Fleet Feet
2. DSW
3. Tri-state Running
4. Queen City Running
5. Corporate
6. City Gear
7. Sole Revival
8. Unheardof Brand
9. Goodwill
10. Sole by Style
Place to Buy Your Engagement Ring
1. Genesis Diamonds
2. Schwartz Jewelers
3. Richter & Phillips
Plant Store
1. Natorp’s
2. Fern
3. White Oak Garden Center
4. A.J. Rahn’s
5. Adrian Durban
6. Gia and the Blooms
7. Reading Feed & Garden
8. Benken
9. Frond
10. The Budding Florist
Plastic Surgery
1. Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center
2. New Body Aesthetics
3. The Plastic Surgery Group
Plumbing Company
1. Arlinghaus Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning
2. Apollo Home
3. Jolly Plumbing
Real Estate Agent
1. Nick Foltz
2. Ty Boeppler
3. Rosemary South
Shops & Services
Real Estate Brokerage
1. Sibcy Cline
2. Keller Williams Realty
3. Pivot Realty Group
Retirement Community
1. Maple Knoll Village
2. Twin Lakes
3. The Seasons
Shoe Repair
1. D & P Shoe Repair
2. Hanlin Shoe Repair
3. TIE Brentwood Shoe Service
3. TIE Lee & Hayes Shoe Services
Skin Care Service
1. Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center
2. CryoOH
3. Mona Dermatology
4. Hand & Stone
5. 501 Salon & Spa
6. Oasis Face Bar
7. Salt + Light Salon and Spa
8. Grace + Grit Spa
9. Livio Med Spa
10. New Body Aesthetics
Smoke/Tobacco Shop
1. Jungle Jim’s International Market
2. High on the Hill
3. The Party Source
Sporting Goods
1. Koch Sporting Goods
2. Play It Again Sports
3. Dunham’s Sports
Tailor/Seamstress
1. Peppe Ramundo
2. Janet Morris
3. Alterations by Toni
Tanning Salon
1. WAX Cincinnati
2. Palm Beach Tan
3. Mobile Glow
Tattoo Shop
1. Soul Rage Tattoo
2. The Decorated Body
3. Designs by Dana
4. Skincraft Piercing & Tattoo
5. Flying Tiger Tattoo
6. White Whale Tattoo
7. Crying Heart Tattoo
8. Wicked Dragon Tattoo & Piercing
9. Red Dragon Tattoo & Piercing
10. Barber’s Electric Tattoo
Tax Service
1. H&R Block
2. Whitmer & Company
3. The Tax Man
Tea Shop/Selection
1. Churchill’s Fine Teas
2. Jungle Jim’s International Market
3. Coffee Emporium
Therapist
1. Ellen Knott
2. Melissa Liddle
3. Emily Stapf
Thrift Shop
1. Society of St. Vincent de Paul
2. Goodwill
3. Valley Thrift Store
Tire Store
1. Tire Discounters
2. AAA | Bob Sumerel Tire & Service
3. Costco
Toy Store
1. King Arthur’s Court Toys
2. Coolest Toys on Earth
3. Jungle Jim’s International Market
Travel Agency
1. AAA
2. Costco
3. The Travel Byrds
Tree Service
1. Back Tree Service
2. Madison Tree Care and Landscaping
3. Acme
Tutoring Center
1. Mathnasium
2. NKY Tutoring
3. TIE Becca’s Book Box
3. TIE Huntington Learning Center
Urgent Care
1. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
2. TriHealth
3. CareFirst Urgent Care
Vape Shop
1. Lefty’s Tobacco Plus
2. Cloud 9 Vapor Lounge
3. Club Vape
Veterinary Care
1. Noah’s Ark Animal Clinics
2. Animal Care Centers
3. Pleasant Ridge Pet Hospital
Vintage Clothing Store
1. Casablanca
2. Talk of the Town
3. Flamingo Haven Antique Mall
Wedding Cakes
1. The BonBonerie
2. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
3. Tres Belle Cakes
Wedding Dresses
1. Bridal & Formal
2. David’s Bridal
3. Fabulous Bridal
Wedding Photography Service
1. Steph Keller Photography
2. Jessica Wiggins Photography
3. Eleven:11 Photography
Wedding Reception Hall
1. The Madison
2. The Monastery Event Center
3. Lake Lyndsay Event Center
Wedding Venue (Indoors)
1. Cincinnati Art Museum
2. Hotel Covington
3. The Bell Event Centre
4. The Monastery Event Center
5. Hilton Netherland Plaza
6. The Transept
7. The View at Mount Adams
8. Lytle Park Hotel
9. Mojave East
10. The Palomar
Wedding Venue (Outdoors)
1. Ault Park
2. Cincinnati Art Museum
3. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
4. Drees Pavilion
5. Cincinnati Nature Center
6. WoodBottom Farms
7. Pinecroft at Crosley Estate
8. Carriage House Farm
9. Lake Lyndsay
10. French Park
Wedding Videographer
1. Steph Keller Photography
2. Wedding Love Stories by Ed Rakel
3. Maxwell Faust Productions
Window Company
1. Gilkey
2. Pella
3. Renewal by Anderson
Shops & Services
Wine Shop
1. Jungle Jim’s International Market
2. The Party Source
3. Hyde Park Wine & Spirits
4. Oakley Wines
5. Marty’s Hops and Vines
6. Wine Merchant
7. Market Wines
8. Crafts & Vines
9. Water Tower Fine Wines
10. Bridgetown Finer Wines
Women’s Clothing Store
1. Kismet
2. Rose & Remington
3. Sloane Boutique
4. The Native One
5. Idlewild Woman
6. Pangaea
7. Leeli + Lou
8. MEAS Active
9. Continuum
10. CAPSULE
Shops & Services Staff Picks
Best new boutique for local goods and tarot readings
Best locally made candle to enjoy without even burning
GARIN PIRNIA
Last year, Wendy Braun and Tatum Davis opened a lifestyle boutique and apothecary named Monmouth St. Mercantile inside the old Baker’s Table Bakery location in Newport. They focus on self-care, wellness and self-love — and we all need those things right now — in the form of teas, clothing, astrology, candles and bath bombs. They sell an assortment of books, ranging from self-help to gratitude journals. People can book a tarot card reading, and they also sell different kinds of tarot cards. Aside from the mystical aspect, the store retained Baker’s Table bread machine and bakes and sells bread, because eating carbs is also an act of self-care. monmouthstmercantile.com.
Serious candle obsessives need to know about Hermit’s Hearth Apothecary. Chet the “Hermit” makes luxury-level candles by hand in his Green Township kitchen, and his Smoke & Mirrors scent is a knockout. It’s spicy, earthy, warm and loud – simply removing the lid offers home dwellers olfactory glimpses into the candle’s top notes of clove and bergamot. Light the wick and your home is bathed in a leathery bouquet of rose, lavender and labdanum. The tobacco and autumn leaves ground the notes of springtime, casting a fragrant glow that goes beyond room refreshing and tells a story. At first whiff, Smoke & Mirrors shot me back to springtime in Texas; like walking into a
Monmouth St. Mercantile. | PHOTO PROVIDED BY MONMOUTH ST. MERCANTILLE
Shops & Services
boot shop after a thunderstorm when the sun beckons the moisture to return to the clouds, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and prickly cacti. Hermit’s Hearth Apothecary candles, incense, bath and body supplies and crocheted art can be found at the Northside Farmers Market, Findlay Market, Westwood Farmers Market, Second Sunday on Main and more, depending on the season. hermitshearthapothecary.com. MADELINE FENING
Best thrift store for dirt-cheap treasures you didn’t know you needed
No matter how experienced you are at sifting through piles of treasure at thrift stores, nothing can quite prepare you for the divine chaos that awaits you at One Stop Thrift Shop in Cheviot. From antique dishware to clothing and furniture, there are treasures stuffed into every nook and cranny of this store. The best part? One Stop Thrift Shop is typically running some sort of sale, meaning that you get an even steeper discount on previously loved items just waiting to find their next home. Hungry after your treasure hunting? Stop by nearby Santorini Family Restaurant for some of the best Greek comfort food in the area.
ASHLEY MOOR-MAHONEY
Best bookstore that could be a fairytale setting
Located in the heart of Harrison, Ohio’s adorable shopping district, Enchanted Novelties understood the assignment
when it came to opening a much-wanted bookstore along this Main Street with Hallmark movie small-town vibes. A charming space for bookworms of every genre, Enchanted Novelties features fantasy-themed decor and accents throughout the shop, including cozy reading nooks, faux fireplaces, a whimsical mural and a doorway decorated to look like a magical tree portal that will help transport you into the captivating realm of a good book. Shoppers can also enjoy the store’s back room as a place to relax or work and enjoy some complimentary tea. Along with new books, the store also has secondhand offerings, as well as other book-related goods like bookmarks, candles, tea and more. Want to be surprised? Grab a Blind Date With a Book to Buy — a secret read wrapped in paper that offers written clues to the content inside. enchantednovelties.com
KATHERINE
BARRIER
Best spot to take your wedding photos in the winter
Best manicure for anxious nail-biters
Look, times are weird. If biting your nails is your coping mechanism of choice, Spruce Nail Shop in Over-theRhine and Walnut Hills has got you covered. Whether you’re chewing away every time you get a breaking news alert, or you’re recovering from acrylics or SNS, Spruce’s “repair mani” will help you reset the damage. In addition to Spruce’s standard nail trimming and shaping, the repair mani allots for extra cuticle care, exfoliating sugar scrub and a hydrating massage. If polish is your thing, you can choose a mood-boosting shade of strengthening builder gel or strengthening polish. The best part? Your manicurist can offer personalized nail maintenance advice, making this the perfect mani for those starting out in nail self-care. What’s more, repair mani customers get a 20% discount on Spruce’s divine lavender cuticle oil. sprucenailshop.com. MADELINE FENING
Best locally made cards making fun of Trump
JILLIAN KOHLS
If you are planning the winter wedding of your dreams, but don’t want to take wedding photos in the cold, we have the best spot for you. studio821 photography studio in Newport offers a wide variety of rooms and spaces for everyone’s interest; there is an auditorium, a ballroom, a lounge and more. The studio has beautiful brick walls, couches and wooden floors to elevate whatever vibe you’re hoping to achieve in your photography session. 821.studio
Since Donald Trump won the 2024 election, few things have been joyful. But, Keli Spanier, the owner of the greeting card company Colette Paperie, has offered a reprieve to those filled with grief since Election Day. Spanier, who created the company to flip the script on typical greeting cards, went viral for her Trump-themed grief card that read “Merry Christmas, I guess…let’s enjoy the last few weeks before the apocalypse.” Her snarky comments are printed on dozens of different
Shops & Services
Trump grief cards and stickers, intended to offer a laugh during the dark times. colettepaperie.com. LAUREN SERGE
Best bookable murder mystery party theater company
If you get a chance to attend a murder mystery party put on by Murder and Merriment, put on your detective cap and get to work. This theater company’s Clue-like, carefully plotted murder mysteries give you the chance to be a detective for a night of fun crime-solving, with actors who stay in character as the suspects throughout the event, helping immerse you in the story. You’ll get to go around and ask them questions. They can be evasive but can’t lie (unless you ask them if they did it; they can lie to that). They’ll also walk around and discuss the murder, so be sure to listen in on their conversations. And before you make your final decision on whodunnit, you’ll get to hear from the suspects as they’re interrogated by the investigator leading the case. The company also offers over 60 different immersive storylines for any kind of themed murder mystery dinner/fundraiser/team-building event you want to throw. murderandmerriment.com
Best boutique that upcycles to make Cincinnati merchandise
KATHERINE BARRIER
An article of clothing that simultaneously shows off your love for Cincinnati and your own sense of style is exactly what you need. Told Ya Sew Studio is the best place to look for apparel that is freshly embroidered with Cincy love. The merchandise in the shop includes shoutouts to several Cincinnati sports teams, including the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cincinnati Reds and FC Cincinnati. From bandanas to crewnecks to vintage cardigans, there truly is something for everyone at Told Ya Sew Studio. toldyasew.com
JILLIAN KOHLS
Best local makeup store to break your Sephora habit
Repeat after me: There’s no reason to shop at a major retailer when a cute local boutique has exactly what you need. Launch Party in Over-the-Rhine totally eclipses the experience of trudging through a strip mall Ulta or braving the Kenwood crowds just to swatch concealers. The charming boutique — right across the street from Longfellow — is brimming with personality and personal touch. Owner Brit Cochran hand-selects indie brands from near and far to fill every spot on your self-care shelf: fragrance, makeup, hair care, even shower heads. Everything is luxurious and labeled for its social impact. Cochran spent years in New York City as a big-deal makeup artist, and now she’s offering that expertise to Launch Party customers. You can book a group or one-on-one makeup consultation with Cochran, who will create a custom look — glowy, glam or dramatic — and teach you how to recreate it at home. Plus, unlike Sephora, Launch Party offers a 15% discount on products purchased after your makeover. shoplaunchparty.com
MADELINE FENING
Best thrift shop with vintage high-end clothing
Clothing shopping, especially in the Clifton Heights area, can be difficult. If you’re a University of Cincinnati student, your options are limited. The main stores
Enchanted Novelties. | PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM
that sell clothing are Target and Urban Outfitters — both of which are expensive — along with a smattering of shops offering discounted streetwear. Anything else, and you’ll need to take a 14-minute drive, or 44-minute bus ride, to the Kenwood Mall. Fortunately, unbeknownst to many, there is a business down the street from UC that provides high-end vintage clothes at cheap rates, and whose name encapsulates the perspective of their customers: New2You . Associated with a nearby church, New2You is a thrift store that specializes in vintage clothing from brand names. From ‘80s-era Ralph Lauren chinos to vineyard vines shorts, New2You offers a wide variety of clothes, always in excellent condition and so fresh that they could be mistaken for new. In an age of fast fashion, when so much of what we wear is meant to be worn once and then quickly disposed of, New2You offers an alternative: embracing clothes that speak to you, regardless of their provenance, and making
“high-end” fashion more accessible for everyone. instagram.com/new2youcincinnati
Best catering for authentic Syrian dishes
If you’re looking for an authentic taste of the Middle East, with fresh, healthy Mediterranean dishes crafted with love, Olive Tree Catering has all the kibbeh and baklava you could want. Proprietor Ibtisam Masto fled war in Syria with her family and came to Cincinnati in 2016. While Masto says she struggled to adapt to life in the United States, she never gave up on her dream to own a food business. Olive Tree was born after she went through a chef fellowship program by Center for Great Neighborhoods in Covington in 2018, and she never looked back. Masto’s dishes are crafted with fresh, high-quality and delicious ingredients that give people a genuine taste of her homeland and offer a new perspective of Syria — one that emphasizes love and peace
through food. The catering menu features appetizers like baba ganouj and kibbeh — Masto’s favorite — entrees like Syrian chicken and shish kebabs and, of course, plenty of baklava. You can also find Olive Tree at Findlay Market on the weekends during market season for smaller portions of her amazing cooking. olivetreecincy.com. KATHERINE BARRIER
Best place to buy your kid a brand new wardrobe on a budget
Once Upon a Child has numerous locations and each one offers an abundant stock of clothes for kids from infants up to preteens, all in good condition. Clothes are conveniently displayed by age and color and there are always seasonal offerings for Halloween, Christmas and Fourth of July, plus a lot of Disney-themed clothing. They also have strollers, car seats, toys and books. Once your kids outgrow the clothes, bring them back. onceuponachild.com. ANNE ARENSTEIN
ZURIE POPE
A manicure from Spruce Nail Shop. | PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM
Reader Picks
Bar/Club (Burbs)
1. The Belle & The Bear
2. MVP Sports Bar & Grille
3. The Monkey Bar & Grille
Bar/Club (Central)
1. Ludlow Garage
2. Northside Yacht Club
3. The Comet
Bar/Club (Downtown/OTR)
1. Ghost Baby
2. Somerset
3. Queen City Exchange
Bar/Club (East Side)
1. Little Miami Brewing
2. Oakley Pub
3. Mount Lookout Tavern
Bar/Club (Northern Kentucky)
1. Southgate House Revival
2. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
3. Mansion Hill Tavern
4. Juniper’s
5. Second Story
6. Jerry’s Jug House
7. Rosie’s Tavern
8. The B-List
9. Covington Yard
10. Smoke Justis
Bar/Club (West Side)
1. Knotty Pine Rock Club & Tiki Bar
2. West Side Brewing
3. Blue Note Harrison
Bar/Club for Live Music (Local Bands)
1. The Belle & The Bear
2. Southgate House Revival
3. MOTR Pub
4. Ghost Baby
5. Juniper’s
6. Northside Tavern
7. Arnold’s Bar & Grill
8. Dead Low Brewing
9. Urban Artifact
10. Northside Yacht Club
Bar/Club for Live Music (National Acts)
1. Bogart’s
2. Ludlow Garage
3. Southgate House Revival
Bar/Club Staff
1. The Belle and The Bear
2. Queen City Exchange
3. MixWells
Bartender (First & Last Name/Bar Affiliation)
1. Cat Middendorf (Queen City Exchange)
2. Ceris Christopher (The Belle & the Bear)
3. Adrienne Curry-Zeigler (Revel OTR)
Beer Selection (Bottles & Cans)
1. Queen City Exchange
2. The Belle and The Bear
3. Higher Gravity
Beer Selection (Draft)
1. Queen City Exchange
2. The Belle & The Bear
3. Yardhouse
4. Crafts & Vines
5. Higher Gravity
6. Hoppin’ Vines
7. Rhinehaus
8. Dead Low Brewing
9. Sons of Toil Brewing
10. Somerset
Bloody Mary
1. Northside Yacht Club
2. The Eagle
3. The Belle and The Bear
4. Juniper’s
5. Nation Kitchen & Bar
6. TIE Dead Low Brewing TIE
6. TIE HangOverEasy TIE
7. Crazy Fox Saloon
8. Taste of Belgium
9. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar
10. Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
Bourbon Cocktail
1. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
2. Wiseguy Lounge
3. Japp’s
Bourbon Selection (Bar)
1. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
2. Queen City Exchange
3. Wiseguy Lounge
Bourbon Selection (Retail)
1. The Party Source
2. Jungle Jim’s International Market
3. Revival Vintage Spirits
Bowling Alley
1. Western Bowl
2. Madison Bowl
3. Stones Lanes
4. Pins Mechanical
5. Crossgate Lanes
6. Mason Bowl
7. Hoppin’ Vines
8. Scene 75
9. Cherry Grove Lanes
10. Eastgate Lanes
Canned Cocktail (Local)
1. Sway (Madtree)
2. RGBevs (Rhinegeist)
3. Blackberry Breeze (FigLeaf Brewing)
Casino
1. Hard Rock Casino
2. Hollywood Casino (Lawrenceburg)
3. Belterra Casino Resort
Celtic/British Pub
1. Molly Malone’s
2. O’Malley’s in the Alley
3. The Pub - Rookwood
4. Nicholson’s
5. Hap’s Irish Pub
6. RP McMurphy’s
7. Crowley’s
8. Crow’s Nest
9. Cock & Bull
10. Murphy’s
Club/Party DJ
1. DJ Boywife
2. DJ Diamond
3. DJ DigiBoy
Cocktail Bar/Lounge
1. Somerset
2. Good Judy’s
3. Ghost Baby
College-Crowd Bar
1. Alice
2. Good Judy’s
3. Murphy’s Pub
Comedy Club
1. Go Bananas
2. Funny Bone
3. Commonwealth Sanctuary
Concert Venue
1. Riverbend Music Center
2. The Andrew J Brady Music Center
3. Bogart’s
Dance Club
1. Alice
2. Tokyo Kitty
3. MixWells
4. Bloom OTR
5. Good Judy’s
6. Mr. Pitifuls
7. Main Event Cincinnati
8. Galaxie
9. Lost & Found
10. Tulua
Drag Entertainer
1. Jessica Dimon
2. Eve Kennedy
3. P.H. Dee
Music & Nightlife
Escape Room
1. Breakout
2. OTR Escape
3. The Escape Game Cincinnati
Happy Hour (Drinks)
1. Queen City Exchange
2. The Belle and The Bear
3. Bay Horse Cafe
4. Juniper’s
5. Somerset
6. Dead Low Brewing
7. The Comet
8. Northside Yacht Club
9. Longfellow
10. Righteous Room
Happy Hour (Food)
1. Knockback Nat’s
2. The Faded Cow
3. Juniper’s
4. Dead Low Brewing
5. The Comet
6. Arnold’s Bar and Grill
7. Oakley Pub
8. Yard House
9. Hoppin’ Vines
10. Nada
Hard Cider
1. Cidergeist (Rhinegeist)
2. March First Brewing
3. Northwood Cider Co.
Hard Seltzer
1. Astra (March First Brewing)
2. Urban Artifact
3. OTR Stillhouse
Hotel Bar
1. Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
2. Metropole at 21c
3. AC Upper Deck
Jukebox
1. Queen City Exchange
2. The Comet
3. Bay Horse Cafe
Karaoke
1. Tokyo Kitty
2. MixWells
3. MVP Sports Bar and Grille
4. Tillie’s Lounge
5. Bay Horse Cafe
6. The Belle and The Bear
7. Tostados Grill
8. Northside Yacht Club
9. Gypsy’s
10. Lebo’s
LGBTQ Bar
1. Good Judy’s
2. Bloom OTR
3. Tillie’s Lounge
Local Band (Covers)
1. The Naked Karate Girls
2. Vinyl Countdown
3. Dangerous Jim and the Slims
Local Band (Originals)
1. CFG & The Family
2. ENMY
3. Dangerous Jim and the Slims
Local Brewery
1. Little Miami Brewing Company
2. Urban Artifact
3. Rhinegeist
4. Fretboard Brewing Co.
5. MadTree Brewing
6. Westside Brewing
7. Fifty West Brewing Company
8. Dead Low Brewing
9. HighGrain Brewing
10. TIE Fabled Brew Works
10. TIE Streetside Brewery
Music & Nightlife
Local Distillery
1. New Riff Distillery
2. OTR StillHouse
3. Cincinnati Distilling
Local Music Promoter
1. Leroy Ellington Productions
2. Steve Moore
3. Dre Lewis Promotions
Local Musician
1. Rick Kern
2. James Middendorf
3. Jess Lamb
Local Taproom
1. Little Miami Brewing
2. Urban Artifact
3. Rhinegeist
4. West Side Brewing
5. MadTree Brewing
6. Fretboard Brewing Co.
7. Dead Low Brewing
8. Braxton Brewing Taproom
9. Esoteric Brewing Co.
10. Darkness Brewing
Local Winery
1. Revel OTR Urban Winery
2. Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant
3. Indian Spring Winery
4. Valley Vineyards & Cellar Dwellers
5. The Skeleton Root
6. Elk Creek Winery
7. Burnet Ridge Winery
8. StoneBrook Winery
9. FRUITBLOOD Wines
10. Hanover Winery
Margarita
1. Agave & Rye
2. Mi Cozumel
3. El Coyote
4. Mazunte
5. Bakersfield
6. Condado Tacos
El 7. Rancho Grande
8. Cancun
9. Frida 602
10. Nada Martini
1. Carlo & Johnny
2. Juniper’s
3. Japp’s
Music Festival/Event
1. Cincinnati Pride Festival
2. Cincinnati Music Festival
3. Northside Rock n Roll Carnival
4. VOA Country Music Festival
5. Paradise Music and Beer Festival
6. Blues, Brews & BBQ Fest
7. Cincinnati Winter Blues Experience
8. Whispering Beard Folk Festival
9. Burritofest at The Comet
10. Wednesdays in the Woods at CCAC
New Bar (February 2024 - Present)
1. Bay Horse Cafe
2. Safi Wine Bar
3. Immortal Vibes
4. Galaxie Covington
5. Ziggy’s
6. Oakley Greens
7. Free Parking
8. Highball Cincy
9. Mellotone Beer Project
10. Something to Wine About
No-Frills Watering Hole
1. The Belle and The Bear
2. Queen City Exchange
3. Bay Horse Cafe
Open Mic Night
1. MOTR Pub
2. The Belle and The Bear
3. MVP Sports Bar and Grille
Overall Bar/Club (Not Brewery/Taproom)
1. Hoppin Vines
2. Queen City Exchange
3. Bay Horse Cafe
4. Somerset
5. Arnold’s Bar & Grill
6. Northside Yacht Club
7. Ludlow Garage
8. Second Story
9. Longfellow
10. MOTR Pub
Place to Drink While You Wait for a Table
1. Queen City Exchange
2. Longfellow
3. Bay Horse Cafe
Place to Play Games
1. Pins Mechanical
2. Scene 75
3. Arcade Legacy
4. Hoppin’ Vines
5. Fowling Warehouse Cincinnati
6. Wondercade
7. BrewDog
8. Level One
9. Free Parking
10. Pinball Garage
Place to Shoot Pool
1. The Belle and The Bear
2. Northside Tavern
3. The Comet
Place to Throw Darts
1. Queen City Exchange
2. Bay Horse Cafe
3. Hap’s Irish Pub
Rooftop Bar
1. Rhinegeist
2. Bishop’s Quarter
3. Braxton Brewing Co.
4. 21c Cocktail Terrace
5. Second Story
6. City View Tavern
7. Top of the Park/The Phelps Bar
8. The Blind Pig
9. AC Upper Deck
10. The Aquifer Tasting Room at New Riff
Sports Bar
1. MVP Sports Bar & Grille
2. Knockback Nat’s
3. Queen City Exchange
4. The Holy Grail
5. Second Place
6. Anderson Township Pub
7. Higher Gravity
8. Blue Goose Sports Cafe
9. rhinehaus
10. The Pitch
Trivia Night
1. Queen City Exchange
2. Northside Yacht Club
3. March First Brewing
Wine Bar
1. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
2. Crafts & Vines
3. Ripple
Music & Nightlife Staff Picks
Best yeehaw moments in the least expected venue
Best definitive live album by a Cincinnati band
In December, The National released a live album, Rome, recorded in Rome that previous June and dubbed the “definitive live document of The National.” The band also released a compilation of fan footage from over 25 years of touring to accompany the album. This marks the second time the band has released a live album. On this same tour that led to the live album recording in Rome, The National also performed at Louisville’s Bourbon and Beyond Festival in September to rave reviews. Longtime a Cincinnati staple, the band continues to make the city proud. americanmary.com
BROOKE BURKHARDT
ANNE ARENSTEIN
Most of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s audience for the Oct. 4 and 5 concerts showed up for Bela Fleck but he was almost upstaged by guest conductor Thomas Wilkins, who led a raucous and occasionally tender performance of Aaron Copland’s score for the ballet Rodeo. The CSO clearly relished the opportunity to let loose in the finale, a rip-roaring hoedown that ended with shouts of “Yeehaw!” and a standing ovation. Fleck performed his transcription of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for banjo but what got the crowd on its feet was his encore: what started as a familiar-sounding meditation that slowly morphed into the theme from the ’60s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. cincinnatisymphony.org.
Best local musician who incorporates queer joy in their music
Bershy (AKA Brea Shay) didn’t always want to be a pop star. Bershy started off her musical journey admiring more folksy musicians like Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, but she was later entranced by the campy, ’80s sounds of Bjork and Kate Bush that inspired her to create pop music. Releasing queer love song “4U” in March of last year, Bershy strives to promote queer joy through her songs and live performances. “Music gives us an opportunity to create these spaces wherever we go, and I feel very determined to make all of my shows feel like that — a giant celebration of sexuality and queer joy,” Bershy told CityBeat. bershy.com
BROOKE BURKHARDT
Best bar with a Zoltar machine
Holiday Liquor Bar offers drinks like Malört and food like hot dogs. In a separate area next to the bar is the fun center, featuring pool tables and Skee-Ball. But in the bar area lies possibly Cincinnati’s only Zoltar machine. If you recall, in the movie Big, Tom Hanks wishes on a Zoltar machine to be a 30-year-old man, and his wish comes true. Instead of making wishes come true, the machine spouts out a horoscope-like card predicting your future. Take the master’s wisdom to heart. holidayliquorbar.com
GARIN PIRNIA
Best pub with the most eclectic customer base
The second oldest bar in Cincinnati, O’Malley’s in the Alley is a name commonly seen on lists like this one. However, when O’Malley’s is mentioned, it’s often for the same reasons: the menu, the history, its place as a Cincinnati landmark, etc…What’s often forgotten is how O’Malleys stands as one of the last meeting places for Cincinnatians from all walks of life. Opened in 1892, and built around the classic “Irish pub” theme, countless people have walked through the bar’s doors, and still do so today. O’Malley’s may be a tourist destination, but it’s also one of the few places where regular people off of work may bump into staffers for the mayor’s office and City Hall, or reporters from the city’s legacy media publication. It’s an epicenter of gossip, discussion, debate and camaraderie, as all great bars should be, and maintains its deep cultural ties to the Queen City. omalleyscincy.com. ZURIE POPE
Best
way to catch stars on the rise
The folks who produce Matinée Musicale have been doing it for more than 110 years. They scour the world of classical music for rising talent — pianists, violinists, small ensembles, singers and more — and present them in recitals, mostly at OTR’s Memorial Hall. You might not have heard of them now, but Matinée Musicale’s batting average is phenomenal, catching stars on the rise who will be legends before long. matineemusicalecincinnati.org RICK PENDER
Best brewery to drink and get some work done
It’s a little off the beaten path, even for the West Side, but that’s part of what makes 13 Below Brewery a great spot to slip away to during the week — even when it’s not so much drinking that’s on your mind, but checking off some to-dos.
Music & Nightlife
Softmaxplus looking sad. | PHOTO BY AIDAN MAHONEY Bershy. | PHOTO BY ORION INEZ
You won’t be competing for a table in the large comfortable space, especially during the week. On-site food truck, the Incline Smoke Shack, will keep you fed Thursday through Sunday and on other days you can keep from getting hangry with pretzels and beer cheese from the bar. But, best of all, there’s plenty of cold house-brewed beer on hand when it’s time to call it quits. 13belowbrewery.com. BRIAN CROSS
Best jazz venue that insists you listen
Caffè Vivace is that remarkable rarity: an intimate venue featuring outstanding jazz all week long. And you’re expected to listen. The audience rarely exceeds 40 and the bar service is efficient and unobtrusive. In a given month, you can hear The Blue Wisp Big Band, Camille Saba Smith, Paul Patterson and Phil DeGreg’s ensembles or catch touring acts like Emmet Cohen, Art Gore, Christian McBride, Craig Bailey and Phillip Tipton. Don’t gripe about paying a bar minimum above your ticket price. It’s a fraction of what you pay in larger cities. You’ll never be this close and personal with jazz acts again. caffevivace.com. ANNE ARENSTEIN
Best concert for exploring female rage
Alanis Morrissette has never shied away from making a statement. Accompanied by Joan Jett and Morgan Wade, last summer’s “Triple Moon Tour” that paid a visit to
Music & Nightlife
Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center was an embodiment of powerful female rage and power. Apart from powerful musical performances from Morissette and others, the show also included powerful visuals, including several montages of Black Lives Matter and pro-abortion protests. During a time of political turmoil and the possibility of a female president leading the nation, Morissette did not waver in her commitment to female empowerment.
BROOKE BURKHARDT
Best unofficial canine bar spokesman
Snugs has likely accomplished more in his dog years than most of us have in our mortal lifetimes. He’s modeled hats, ruthlessly guarded arcade apparatuses and sat behind the wheel of (mini) autonomous vehicles. Yet he hasn’t let the fame get to his head. A stoic little fella, this big-eyed, long-haired chihuahua carries himself like a wee philosopher. He doesn’t say very much, but he doesn’t have to. Maybe Snugs has seen things we petty mortals aren’t yet ready to understand. For now, you can find him hawking Northside Yacht Club staples, from gargantuan corndogs to Claw Night, and being so gosh darn adorable. Ask politely, and owner Stuart MacKenzie just might let you hold him. northsideyachtclub.com NADYA ELLERHORST
Best performance venue to see punk rock and modern art
No one goes to a music venue expecting The Ritz. When a business packs large quantities of people together for an extended period of time — their sweat, spittle and other bodily fluids mingling together for hours on end — a degree of grime is expected by most visitors. Likewise, art lovers don’t often experience spaces that reflect the vitality of the artwork they’re showcasing. Prominent art venues are usually sterile, exclusive and ruthlessly controlled. The Design Collective (DSGN CLLCTV) brings the grime in abundance, with its graffiti and paint-covered exterior in Northside. But DSGN CLLCTV is more than a brand — it’s the epicenter of Cincinnati’s underground art and culture scene and a gateway for the uninitiated into a world of artists and performers operating outside the mainstream. It’s one of the only places in Cincinnati where you can scrape your elbow in a mosh pit one day, and then see an exhibition from local street artists the next; DSGN CLLCTV is a refuge for creators who’ve been ignored or rejected by the city’s tastemakers. dsgncllctv.com ZURIE
Best cheap seats at the symphony
As good as the Cincinnati Symphony is, it doesn’t sell every seat in Music Hall for every concert. So the CSO this season
POPE
Crews working on repairs to the Big Mac Bridge. | PHOTO BY FACEBOOK.COM_ODOTDISTRICT8
Holiday Spirits Bar. |
PHOTO BY MAYLEA SALMON
launched a different kind of subscription, the Harmony Pass. For as little as $10.99/monthly, you can get pre-sale access to CSO and Pops concert tickets at no additional expense — a weekly email alerts Harmony Pass holders to what’s available for the next weekend. Tickets often are priced as high as $90, so a year of Harmony Pass membership pays for itself after attending just two concerts. cincinnatisymphony.org
launched a different kind of subscription, the Harmony Pass. For as little as $10.99/monthly, you can get pre-sale access to CSO and Pops concert tickets at no additional expense — a weekly email alerts Harmony Pass holders to what’s available for the next weekend. Tickets often are priced as high as $90, so a year of Harmony Pass membership pays for itself after attending just two concerts. cincinnatisymphony.org
RICK PENDER
RICK PENDER
Best explosion in popularity of a Cincinnati musician
Best explosion in popularity of a Cincinnati musician
Largely rooted in folk rock, Michael Marcagi’s debut American Romance is centered around experiencing love and loss growing up in Cincinnati and the Midwest. After experiencing success with local band The Heavy Hours, Marcagi began gaining a large following on TikTok, where he posted several videos of himself performing his original music in the months before the release of his EP. Now, with over 8.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the local musician sticks to his roots with the recent release of single “Midwest Kid.” “I want people to feel like they know me…I don’t want to hide,” Marcagi said in a recent press release. michaelmarcagimusic.com. BROOKE BURKHARDT
Largely rooted in folk rock, Michael Marcagi’s debut American Romance is centered around experiencing love and loss growing up in Cincinnati and the Midwest. After experiencing success with local band The Heavy Hours, Marcagi began gaining a large following on TikTok, where he posted several videos of himself performing his original music in the months before the release of his EP. Now, with over 8.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the local musician sticks to his roots with the recent release of single “Midwest Kid.” “I want people to feel like they know me…I don’t want to hide,” Marcagi said in a recent press release. michaelmarcagimusic.com. BROOKE BURKHARDT
Best soon-to-be-famous post-punk band
Best soon-to-be-famous post-punk band
When critics and fans talk about post-punk, rarely do
When critics and fans talk about post-punk, rarely do
American bands come up. Like its predecessor, the postpunk movement has been centered in the U.K., with bands like Idles, Fontaines D.C., Yard Act, Black Country, New Road and others defining the genre. Our understanding of post-punk — how it sounds, its recurring themes, its worldview — almost entirely comes from one sceptered isle. Nonetheless, bands of equal caliber are beginning to emerge in the United States. And one band in particular will soon be joining the ranks of Idles as a group whose music defined the era in which it was created: Cincinnati band No Conscription League. Their album, Demos for your Mom, is a tour de force, with songs ranging from bombastic and spine-tingling — like “Seed Bomb D.C.” or “Meat,” to grungy songs like “The Scimitar.” Never is there a song that the listener may be inclined to skip, or a piece that doesn’t match the quality of the one played before. Some may dismiss the band as a collection of wayward 20-somethings whose work won’t last past maturity. But the level of talent, skill unique voice in Conscription League’s work already, at such a young age, proves continued ascent is inevitable. instagram.com/no_conscription_league_.
Best musical accompaniment to silent movies
ZURIE POPE
movies back in the 1920s, including one at the Albee Theatre, which stood on Fifth Street south of Fountain Square (where the Westin Hotel is located today). It’s moved around more than once, but it’s now a cherished feature of the ballroom in Cincinnati Music Hall. Several times annually it’s rolled out for special family-friendly concerts. “Silent Movies Made Musical” presents classic silent films with new original accompaniment. “Happy Holidays with the Might Wurlitzer Organ” offers holiday tunes augmented by singers, dancers and even Santa himself. The organ can produce sound effects and resonant melodies that you not only hear but feel. It’s a unique experience. cincinnatiarts.org.
movies back in the 1920s, including one at the Albee Theatre, which stood on Fifth Street south of Fountain Square (where the Westin Hotel is located today). It’s moved around more than once, but it’s now a cherished feature of the ballroom in Cincinnati Music Hall. Several times annually it’s rolled out for special family-friendly concerts. “Silent Movies Made Musical” presents classic silent films with new original accompaniment. “Happy Holidays with the Might Wurlitzer Organ” offers holiday tunes augmented by singers, dancers and even Santa himself. The organ can produce sound effects and resonant melodies that you not only hear but feel. It’s a unique experience. cincinnatiarts.org. RICK PENDER
RICK PENDER
Best DJ leading the nightclub renaissance in Cincinnati
Best DJ leading the nightclub renaissance in Cincinnati
Nightlife in Cincinnati is being revitalized by DJ Boywife (among others, of course), who embodies club glamour and brings a fresh dose of club culture to the Queen City. Growing up in a small town in northern Ohio, DJ Boywife cites discovering the music of queer pop icon SOPHIE as an “epiphany” moment that inspired him to get into music. The DJ’s near-nightly appearances at popular nightclubs and venues such as Alice, Mecca OTR and DSGN CLLCTV have skyrocketed the Ohio native to local fame. “There’s just something about making good times for people and making memories for other people,” DJ Boywife told CityBeat in a previous interview.
Best reaction to a setback
American bands come up. Like its predecessor, the postpunk movement has been centered in the U.K., with bands like Idles, Fontaines D.C., Yard Act, Black Country, New Road and others defining the genre. Our understanding of post-punk — how it sounds, its recurring themes, its worldview — almost entirely comes from one sceptered isle. Nonetheless, bands of equal caliber are beginning to emerge in the United States. And one band in particular will soon be joining the ranks of Idles as a group whose music defined the era in which it was created: Cincinnati band No Conscription League. Their album, Demos for your Mom, is a tour de force, with songs ranging from bombastic and spine-tingling — like “Seed Bomb D.C.” or “Meat,” to grungy songs like “The Scimitar.” Never is there a song that the listener may be inclined to skip, or a piece that doesn’t match the quality of the one played before. Some may dismiss the band as a collection of wayward 20-somethings whose work won’t last past maturity. But the level of talent, skill and unique voice in Conscription League’s work already, at such a young age, proves continued ascent is inevitable. instagram.com/no_conscription_league_. ZURIE POPE
Best musical accompaniment to silent movies
Mighty Wurlitzer Organs provided soundtracks for silent
Mighty Wurlitzer Organs provided soundtracks for silent
Nightlife in Cincinnati is being revitalized by DJ Boywife (among others, of course), who embodies club glamour and brings a fresh dose of club culture to the Queen City. Growing up in a small town in northern Ohio, DJ Boywife cites discovering the music of queer pop icon SOPHIE as an “epiphany” moment that inspired him to get into music. The DJ’s near-nightly appearances at popular nightclubs and venues such as Alice, Mecca OTR and DSGN CLLCTV have skyrocketed the Ohio native to local fame. “There’s just something about making good times for people and making memories for other people,” DJ Boywife told CityBeat in a previous interview.
BROOKE BURKHARDT
BROOKE BURKHARDT
Best reaction to a setback
When Four Entertainment Group (4EG) bought The Drinkery — a favorite among young revelers since 2010 — they planned to close it for a short time to renovate and rebrand with a new name: Nice Life. After a very brief closing last August, 4EG announced they were facing some setbacks on the grand renovation, and the bar would reopen quickly with just a few touch-ups made. The bar reopened with a new moniker: The Setback — giving us all one more chance to relive our glory days replete with dance parties, cheap beers and questionable decisions. Look for Nice Life to open in the second half of 2025. Until then, accept the Setback and make the most of it! thesetbackotr.com.
When Four Entertainment Group (4EG) bought The Drinkery — a favorite among young revelers since 2010 — they planned to close it for a short time to renovate and rebrand with a new name: Nice Life. After a very brief closing last August, 4EG announced they were facing some setbacks on the grand renovation, and the bar would reopen quickly with just a few touch-ups made. The bar reopened with a new moniker: The Setback — giving us all one more chance to relive our glory days replete with dance parties, cheap beers and questionable decisions. Look for Nice Life to open in the second half of 2025. Until then, accept the Setback and make the most of it! thesetbackotr.com.
BRIAN CROSS
BRIAN CROSS
Best playlist that captures the sounds of Cincy
Best playlist that captures the sounds of Cincy
We can’t drink at work, but we can listen to Cincinnati beer being made! Play Audio Agency spent a day capturing the sounds of Rhinegeist Brewery, making a score out of a Cincinnati hotspot “from the clinking of glasses to the hum of the brewing machinery, the bubbling of fermenters and the tapping of kegs,” as the team put it. This is one necessary stop on the playlist that is Cincy. It’s all part of Play It, a series launched by Play Audio Agency in November 2024 that aims to create music tracks based on iconic spots around Cincinnati. Since its launch, the Play It team has captured the natural “songs” created by places like the Roebling Bridge, as well as Corsi Tree Farm and Doscher’s Candies around the holidays. It’s also really cool to see these musicians showing love to beloved Cincinnati spots on their popular social media pages. Maybe ditch Spotify
We can’t drink at work, but we can listen to Cincinnati beer being made! Play Audio Agency spent a day capturing the sounds of Rhinegeist Brewery, making a score out of a Cincinnati hotspot “from the clinking of glasses to the hum of the brewing machinery, the bubbling of fermenters and the tapping of kegs,” as the team put it. This is one necessary stop on the playlist that is Cincy. It’s all part of Play It, a series launched by Play Audio Agency in November 2024 that aims to create music tracks based on iconic spots around Cincinnati. Since its launch, the Play It team has captured the natural “songs” created by places like the Roebling Bridge, as well as Corsi Tree Farm and Doscher’s Candies around the holidays. It’s also really cool to see these musicians showing love to beloved Cincinnati spots on their popular social media pages. Maybe ditch Spotify
Alanis Morissette performing at Riverbend Music Center on July 24,
PHOTO BY ALEXANDER PIRRO
Alanis Morissette performing at Riverbend Music Center on July 24, 2024. | PHOTO BY ALEXANDER PIRRO
and Apple Music today — you’ll find Play It is beautifully immersive, somewhat therapeutic and makes you feel right at home. playaudioagency.com
JONATHAN
KEILHOLZ
Best band to headbang to
Overflow delivers an electrifying blend of raw energy, tight musicianship and unapologetic passion that defines the very essence of hardcore. Their latest release, an EP entitled DEMO 2024, is a relentless onslaught of crushing riffs, breakneck tempos and guttural vocals that command attention from the first note to the last. Every track pulses with intensity, embodying the DIY spirit and unfiltered aggression that hardcore fans crave. Beyond the music, their presence on social media radiates the same authenticity and dedication, creating a strong connection with their growing fanbase. Overflow isn’t just a band — it’s a force, carrying the torch for hardcore with unshakable conviction and a sound that demands to be heard. instagram.com/overflowhc
ZURIE POPE
Music & Nightlife
Music & Nightlife
on back to the bathroom of Uncle Leo’s on Race Street for some floor-to-ceiling encouragement on all sides. You think your aunt’s overdoing it on the “Life, Laugh, Love” signs? Uncle Leo’s has a bathroom that would make the most seasoned HomeGoods shopper blush. These four walls of motivation are always here for you when the rest of the world isn’t, no matter your preferred order or interpretation of these cherished affirmations. uncleleosdive.com
NADYA ELLERHORST
Best place to play a game of Jenga Giant
Are you ever out with your friends and you feel you need a game to spice up the fun? Look no further than Covington Yard with their game of giant Jenga (or Jenga Giant, as it’s officially called). Alongside local food trucks, a fully stocked bar and cornhole, you and your friends can play the classic game of Jenga, too. This is also a great spot to bring your kids for endless hours of entertainment. covingtonyard.com.
JILLIAN KOHLS
Best CCM callout by a pop star
In November, pop artist Allie X visited Bogart’s on her “Weird World Tour.” Allie X has been releasing music since 2011, first gaining widespread attention for her hit, “Bitch,” off her debut EP CollXtion I. Nearly two decades after her rejection from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), Allie X had a few choice words for the institution. “Well, they were fucking rude to me!” X responds to the crowd after they cheered for the local mention. It’s clear that CCM missed out on perhaps one of the most creative goth-pop artists out there, but Allie X didn’t need their help to bolster her rise to fame. instagram.com/alliex BROOKE BURKHARDT
Best post-round-of-golf beers
Best way to discover new music without the intervention of mainstream algorithms
Northern Kentucky filmmaker Brandon Faris launched his All the Bins project in October with the idea that he could help people discover new music without the intervention of mainstream algorithms. Faris builds music playlists based around specific moods or feelings, crafting playlists like ”Hold My Robe,” “Absynthe Minded,” “Beats and Bonfires” and “Concrete Petals.” Faris also hosts a monthly music club at Somerset in OTR where attendees listen to music together. “Even though we’ve got endless choices on platforms like Spotify, the algorithm keeps us in a bubble,” Faris stated in a press release. “I felt it was my calling to break free from that bubble and take control of the narrative.” allthebins.com.
Now that spring is in full swing, morning golf rounds are returning to the rotation of weekend activities for many. While most courses in the area have impressive beer selections, sometimes the food can be hit or miss, and you don’t want to ruin that post-round beer on the clubhouse patio with just a mediocre hot dog. A strong alternative though, is O’Bryon’s Bar & Grill, specifically the O’Bryonville location. Sitting on the rooftop patio will give you the same vibes as watching other golfers march up the 18th fairway, while this Irish pub provides some of the best bar food in the city, and of course a wide variety of both draft beers and buckets of bottles or cans. obryonsirishpub.com
EVAN SHIBEL
Best highly anticipated, solo debut record from local musician
BROOKE BURKHARDT
Best watering hole bathroom for unsolicited advice
Forget obscene graffiti. If you haven’t really been living, if you’ve stopped laughing, if you need a little loving — or if you’ve had one too many specialty Spaghett’s — toddle
It’s hard to think of the Ohio music scene without thinking of Kim Deal. Since the 1980s, the Dayton native has been making music with influential bands The Breeders and The Pixies, and last year, finally released her debut solo album, Nobody Loves You More. In February, Deal played two sold-out hometown shows in Dayton and Cincinnati in support of her new album, which quickly became a favorite among music critics and her fans. kimdealmusic.com.
BROOKE BURKHARDT
Snugs in a Northside Yacht Club hat. | PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM
Reader Picks
Barre
1. Body Alive
2. Mayerson JCC
3. Pure Barre
Bengal (Current)
1. Joe Burrow
2. Ja’Marr Chase
3. Tee Higgins
Biking Trail
1. Loveland Bike Trail
2. Little Miami Scenic Trail
3. Lunken Airport Bike Path
Climbing Gym
1. Climb Cincy
2. Rockquest
3. Climb Time Oakley
Coach/Manager Pro/College
1. Pat Noonan (FC Cincinnati)
2. Zac Taylor (Bengals)
3. Wes Miller (UC Men’s Basketball)
FC Cincinnati Player (Current)
1. Nick Hagglund
2. Luca Orellano
3. Roman Celentano
Golf Course (Public)
1. Aston Oaks Golf Club
2. Blue Ash Golf Course
3. Devou Park Golf Course
4. The Golf Club at Stonelick Hills
5. Avon Fields
6. Little Miami Golf Center
7. Shaker Run Golf Club
8. Twin Oaks
9. Elks Run
10. Beckett Ridge Golf Club
Health Club/Gym
1. YMCA
2. Mayerson JCC
3. Activate Brain & Body
Hiking Trail
1. Cincinnati Nature Center
2. Miami Whitewater Forest
3. Ault Park
4. Mt. Airy Forest
5. Loveland Bike Trail
6. East Fork State Park
7. Sharon Woods
8. Winton Woods
9. Bender Mountain Nature Preserve
10. Devou Park Backcountry Trail
Jogging Route
1. Loveland Bike Trail
2. Sharon Woods
3. Wasson Way
4. Smale Riverfront Park
5. Lunken Airport Bike Path
6. Ault Park
7. Eden Park
8. Winton Woods
9. Voice of America MetroPark
10. Cincinnati Nature Center
Overall Athlete (Local)
1. Joe Burrow
2. Rose Lavelle
3. TIE Jackie the Ripper (Cincinnati Rollergirls)
3. TIE Elly De La Cruz
Personal Training/Crossfit Gym
1. ProForce Sports Performance
2. Activate Brain & Body
3. Queen City CrossFit
Pick-Up Basketball Court
1. Blue Ash Recreation Center
2. Oakley Recreation Center
3. Observatory Park
Pickleball Courts
1. Sawyer Point
2. Fifty West Burger Bar
3. Aces Pickleball Bar + Grill
Pilates Studio
1. Body Alive
2. Embra
3. The Breathing Room
Place to Camp
1. Red River Gorge
2. Hocking Hills
3. Miami Whitewater Forest
Public Pool
1. Ziegler Park
2. Cincinnati Sports Club
3. Mt. Adams Pool
Red (Current)
1. Elly De La Cruz
2. Hunter Greene
3. TIE Spencer Steer
3. TIE Tyler Stephenson
Running/Biking Event
1. Flying Pig Marathon
2. Hudepohl 14K/7K Brewery Run
3. Queen Bee Half Marathon
Sports & Recreation
Soccer Facility
1. Soccer City
2. Town & Country Sports Complex
3. Fulcrum Fives
Softball Fields
1. Riverside Park
2. Schmidt Boat Ramp & Ballfields
3. Kolping Park
Sports Betting
1. DraftKings
2. Hard Rock
3. FanDuel
Sports Coverage
1. 700WLW
2. FOX Sports Ohio
3. ESPN 1530
Summer Camp
1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
2. Cincinnati Nature Center
3. YMCA Camp Ernst
4. Camp Kern
5. Camp Joy
6. Club MMA
7. Clifton Cultural Arts Center
8. Cincinnati Art Museum
9. Cincinnati Reds Baseball Camp
10. Mutual Dance Theatre & Arts Centers
Team (Amateur/Semi-Pro/Minor)
1. TIE Cincinnati Rollergirls
1. TIE Florence Y’alls
2. Dayton Dragons
3. Cincinnati Wolfhounds
Rugby Football Club
Team (College)
1. University of Cincinnati Football
2. University of Cincinnati Men’s Basketball
3. Xavier University Men’s Basketball
Team (Professional)
1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. FC Cincinnati
3. Cincinnati Cyclones
Tennis Courts
1. Sawyer Point Tennis
2. Five Seasons Sports Club
3. Queen City Racquet and Fitness Club
Volleyball Courts
1. Fifty West Brewing Company Production Works
2. Cabana on the River
3. TIE Cincinnati Sand Volleyball Club
3. TIE Setters
Yoga Studio
1. Body Alive
2. Embra Studio (formerly Modo Yoga)
3. TIE Hello Sunshine Yoga
3. TIE Sage Yoga Hot
Staff Picks
Sports & Recreation
Best celebrity costume of an NFL quarterback
Joe Burrow has drawn plenty of lookalike comparisons over the years. When he flares his nose in frustration, it’s hard not to see Beavis of Beavis and Butt-Head fame. And who could forget the time he channeled The Rock with a pregame fit? But, somehow, everyone missed his resemblance to Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister — everyone except Kevin himself. Macaulay Culkin dressed up as our favorite quarterback for Halloween 2024, and now we’re just waiting for Joey B to return the favor and go full Home Alone. C’mon, Nine, have a little fun.
DEIRDRE KAYE
Best pub to feel like you are in the UK watching the English Premier League
Known for Xavier game days and post-game parties, it would not occur to the average visitor that Dana Gardens is home to one of the most tight-knit English Premier League communities in all of Cincinnati. While this may not seem like the obvious pick, as many establishments go, the people make the place. The pub does not miss when it comes to the dark ambiance, engraved wooden surroundings, crisp tap beers, and, most importantly, plenty of screens to catch the game. Playing host to the Cincinnati Toffees, the official supporters group of Everton Football Club in Cincinnati, the “Blues” fans pack the bar most
The 2023 Flying Pig Marathon. | PHOTO BY RON VALLE
weekend mornings to enjoy a Guinness pint and game day special breakfast sandwiches. danagardens.com EVAN SHIBEL
Bengal with the best stadium entrance style
DJ Turner II strutted into Paycor Stadium this season decked out in incredibly fashionable outfits. Number 20 did not disappoint, showing off perfectly tailored suits throughout the season. With only two seasons under his belt, he has the entrance outfit down perfectly with the help of stylist Mariah Modkins. This cornerback knows how to rock a yellow accent lapel, burgundy suit or mauve cashmere, and we can’t wait for next season to see more.
JILLIAN KOHLS
Best
pre-game
ritual for FC Cincinnati fans
While most of us never got to live out our childhood athletic dreams, there are still plenty of avenues to feel like you are a part of the team when supporting your favorite squads here in Cincinnati. As many have noticed, the rocking Bailey section at FC Cincinnati games has a clear impact on the outcome of the match, as the fans bring the energy, standing and singing for the full ninety-minute match. What some fans are unaware of though, is that this ritual starts hours before the game. Beginning at Northern Row Brewery, the Bailey begins their march south towards Washington Park while the fans grow in numbers for the tradition of the “Corteo,” a pre-match celebration. This entire proceeding will surely get you jacked up for any FCC match, making you feel as if you have a great impact on the game to come.
Best organized running events
EVAN SHIBEL
You’ve heard of the Flying Pig Marathon, Pig Works’ biggest event that draws runners from across the globe to take part in a weekend-long celebration of all things health and fitness. But they also produce other race events too, and there’s always a fun event attached. Runners often get a free beer ticket or two and maybe even a free cheese coney. In addition to the Flying Pig, runners, joggers and walkers can enjoy three separate events that make up the TQL Beer Series. And ladies, leave your man at home for the Queen Bee Half Marathon and 4 Miler. If you’re going to do only one race this year, check out Pig Works. flyingpigmarathon.com BRIAN CROSS
Best place to not miss a moment during the big game
While The Pitch is synonymous with its connection to FC Cincinnati and soccer-crazed fans all over the city (obviously, as it is across the street from TQL stadium), their television setup is second to none. With a large screen visible from both the main bar and upstairs overhang, as well as a multitude of TVs surrounding it, you are ensured to not miss a moment. Despite the soccer theme, this has to be the best place for March Madness viewing in Cincinnati. thepitchcincy.com. EVAN SHIBEL
Best series for hiking and eating soup
For a cozier adventure, the Great Parks’ Winter Hike Series offers scenic hikes in January and February across different Great Parks locations, such as Sharon Woods, Woodland
Elly De La Cruz during his debut with the Cincinnati Reds on June 6, 2023. | PHOTO BY KEVIN LUSH
Sports & Recreation
Best Cincinnati offensive lineman with a hat brand
Many NFL players in Cincinnati have foundations in their name to serve the community. Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Ted Karras has a foundation with a stylistic spin to it. The Cincy Hat supports adults with developmental disabilities, with 100% of the proceeds from hat sales going to either the Village of Merici (which provides independent housing and services to adults with developmental disabilities) or the University of Cincinnati Transition & Access Pathways (TAP) program. The foundation sells beanies, rope hats and even Santa hats, all with Cincinnati flavor. Hats off to the foundation and Karras for the amazing work they do. thecincyhat.com.
Best retro uniforms
JILLIAN KOHLS
Mound, Shawnee Lookout and Miami Whitewater Forest. This year, hikers were able to select themed hiking experiences if desired, with customizations for speed, exploration and educational opportunities. At the end of each 4-5.5 mile hike, participants are offered a bowl of soup, a comforting reward after the trek. And don’t forget to grab a button and a sticker as souvenirs for the journey and to collect for future hikes to come. greatparks.org
Best reason to watch Cincinnati sports despite constant disappointment
LAUREN SERGE
Best personnel upgrade for a Cincy sports team
After a historic offseason for FC Cincinnati, parting ways with fan-favorite and ever-talented Luciano Acosta, it was time to see how the team would re-tool. The additions of Evander and Kévin Denkey have already made an empirical difference for this FCC team as they look to continue their run of successful campaigns with the new season just getting underway.
Best surprise Griddy of the Bengals season
EVAN SHIBEL
In early 2024, Ja’Marr Chase popularized the Griddy and made it the Bengals’ signature end zone dance. The dance involves a smooth heel-to-toe motion, arm swings and the signature glasses hand gesture over the eyes. Since then, Bengals fans have started to do the dance as well when celebrating Bengals’ touchdowns and wins. There was only one Bengal we couldn’t seem to get to Griddy, our beloved quarterback Joe Burrow. During media days, photographers would ask him to do the dance and he’d politely decline. It wasn’t until a game against the Denver Broncos this season when Burrow scored a touchdown that he decided to bless us all with his version of the dance. “I was holding the ball and looked at Ja’Marr and he shrugged and said, ‘What are you going to do,’ and I just started hittin’ it,” said Burrow.
JILLIAN KOHLS
Even if you’re not sold on the recent moves made by the Reds organization — like the hiring of Terry Francona as general manager and upgrades to the bullpen this offseason — one thing is for certain: Elly De La Cruz is a superstar player who is fun as hell to watch. In any given game, you just might see the 23-year-old “fastest man in baseball” make history. In less than two full seasons with the Reds, he led the league in stolen bases, had an inside the park home run, hit for a cycle and landed a home run ball on the deck of the reproduction river boat above center field at Great American Ball Park. So while the bad taste remains in our mouths from Phil Castellini’s “Where you gonna go?” remark, De La Cruz has a city full of fans that’ll support him wherever he ends up after Cincinnati. BRIAN CROSS
Best trails to act like you are in the Tour de France
The Loveland connector trail that takes you all the way from Milford to Loveland gets a lot of attention when it comes to the long-distance cycling community in Cincinnati, and rightfully so. It is worth noting, though, that coming closer to the city allows for more twists and turns along your cycling route. The portion of the Little Miami Scenic Trail, essentially from Fifty West Brewing Company down towards and around Lunken Airport, is what captures the essence of Tour de France-style cycling, with tight twists and turns as well as large inclines and declines. The Lunken Trail can also afford cyclists access to the neighborhoods between Ault and Alms Parks, which can, at times, feel like small French villages when you are cycling up and down some of the hillsides taking you into those respective parks.
EVAN SHIBEL
This could cause some fierce debate, but the debut of Xavier University’s early 2000s white retro uniforms was one of the most well-executed campaigns we have seen in this city for some time. Beginning early in the week, the athletic department at Xavier began planting mysterious QR codes around the campus and surrounding areas, including a link to a YouTube video that mysteriously teased the return of these classic jerseys. Calling back to the David West era of Xavier men’s hoops in the early aughts, it provided the team with the necessary push to get a key win over the Creighton Bluejays, looking crisp as ever while doing it. goxavier.com.
Best swapping of stripes
EVAN SHIBEL
Former Cincinnati Bengals punter Drue Chrisman has traded his Bengal stripes for zebra stripes. Chrisman is now the franchise owner of two Greater Cincinnati Pink Zebra Moving locations. Pink Zebra Moving is “not your typical moving company,” and was founded by Ron Holt following “a terrible moving experience.” The company provides moving services for commercial and residential spaces. It also offers packing supplies and services. Despite his new moving career, don’t count Chrisman out of football just yet — he’s still in shape and ready for that call…to move or punt. pinkzebramoving.com/hamilton
TONY FRANK
Best mentality change for a Cincinnati sports team
Similar to FCC, the Cincinnati Reds also made some bigtime noise during the offseason, but more so in the dugout. The well-accomplished manager Terry Francona has taken over the team, and while he brings with him plenty of credibility from past accomplishments, he also provides a new mentality that the Reds have not had in some time. Francona will provide a new mindset for the team, encouraging them to find gritty, unordinary ways to win games, since, in the end, all that matters is the standings, not how pretty the wins are. mlb.com/reds. EVAN SHIBEL
Best game promotion
Yes, we are all upset that dollar beer night no longer exists for the Cincinnati Cyclones, but it is undeniable that $2 per can is still a phenomenal deal. Hockey is a great sport for casual fans and this kind of in-game promotion makes it approachable for all. cycloneshockey.com. EVAN SHIBEL
A winter hike put on by Great Parks. | PHOTO PROVIDED BY GREAT PARKS
