A Perfect Weekend in Cincinnati

This question has come up in conversation and, when I’ve had the pleasure of hosting visitors to Cincinnati, as I have numerous times over the past eight years, I’ve faced this challenge myself: how best to introduce an outsider to the Queen City? Here is my ideal itinerary for a weekend visit.

Let’s assume arrival late afternoon on a Friday. After settling in, we would head out for a taste of old-school Cincinnati goodness either at Price Hill Chili or Pleasant Ridge Chili. On a nice evening, we would head to Bellevue Hill Park to watch the sun set over the city.

Just to mix things up a bit and show a different side of old-school Cincinnati, we would get a drink in the Art Deco splendor of the Netherland Hilton in Carew Tower downtown.

If we were feeling really ambitious, we would trek over to Rhinegeist in Over-the-Rhine. I’m not a beer person at all, but it’s part of Cincinnati’s German heritage, and this is a unique space with cornhole [yet another bit of local color!] and ping pong; definitely a must-see for a visitor.

Saturday morning, we would head to Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine, feasting on Belgian waffles from Taste of Belgium. I’m more of a weekday shopper, but it’s fun to check out the market in all its competitive shopping glory.

Afterward, we would stop by the Rookwood Pottery showroom to see the work of this historic Cincinnati company, and then we’d head to Cincinnati Union Terminal for a free, docent-led tour, where we’d learn all about the gorgeous Art Deco architecture, glass mosaic murals and the unique all-Rookwood ice cream parlor.

Then we’d go up to the top of Tower A to check out the train tracks.

Meandering back through OTR, I would point out some of the awesome ghost signs and ghost graffiti, and then we’d visit Mike and Carolyn [and VL work] at MiCA 12/v, our favorite neighborhood store. Grabbing some coffe at Coffe Emporium on Central and continuing downtown, I would show off some of my favorite ArtWorks murals, like Amanda Checco’s Ice Cream Daydream.

We’d check out the Contemporary Arts Center, where my favorite exhibit is the UnMuseum on the top floor, which includes a really cool interactive piece by my friend Cedric.

We’d peer into the John Weld Peck Federal Building for a glimpse at Charley Harper’s awesome mosaic mural and then stop by Fabulous Frames & Art to admire his prints.

I would point out the Rookwood Pottery tile on the façade of the old Gidding-Jenny department store and the Dixie Terminal Building, where an early scene in Rain Man was filmed.

We would explore the detailed Art Deco interior of Carew Tower and take in a view of the area from its observation deck.

In nice weather, we would grab a cone of Graeter’s on Fountain Square and continue down to the riverfront, walking across the Roebling Bridge to explore Covington. There, we’d try some bourbon at the Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar and get dinner at Bouquet or Otto’s, if we were feeling fancy, or at Zola, if we just wanted excellent burgers.

We would then stroll back to downtown Cincinnati to hang out on the patio at Arnold’s, the oldest bar in Cincinnati, hopefully listening to a fun band like Lagniappe or the Dancing Pigs.

On a cool evening, we would stay in OTR instead, grabbing an early dinner at the excellent Salazar, and then we’d swank it up at Music Hall [tickets start at $12, so the symphony is a fancy evening without a fancy price tag].

Sunday brunch is the most important meal of the week and, while there are many tasty options in Cincinnati, we’d venture up to The Littlefield in Northside, because shrimp and grits.

Afterward, we’d walk off our meal with a leisurely walk around the neighborhood, checking out all the CoSign signs and doing a bit of shopping at Black Plastic Records, Fabricate, Shake It Records, and other cool Northside businesses.

We would end the weekend excursion with a visit to the legitimately awesome American Sign Museum in Camp Washington:

So, that’s my romp through Cincinnati at its Cincinnatiest. Fellow Queen City dwellers, what would you put on your must-do list? Where do you always take your guests?