Heart of the City
Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, in all its many magical and mystical forms! Maybe that means a romantic dinner à deux or enjoying a heart-shaped box of chocolates with your BFF.
But it’s also a great time to give our flowers (figuratively speaking) to some of our beloved Cincy treasures. This is by no means a complete list, because like any good relationship, there’s always more to love.
ArstWave – From that ceramics class you took at your neighborhood arts center to Cincinnati Opera’s grand productions in Music Hall, we love our arts!
ArtsWave – with its thousands of donors – is what makes it possible to enjoy the arts, both big and small. Coincidentally, now is a great time to show your love and donate to ArtsWave. Their annual campaign kicked off last week!
Bengals – Was it the season we wanted? No. Is it the team we love? Yes.
Nevermind stadium deals, contract negotiations, and questionable rookie behavior, we’re always going to “cheer to victory” for the stripes.
Cincinnati Skyline – The architectural one. From every angle, on both sides of the river, the historic buildings, towering bridges, and modern stadia combine for a gorgeous panorama. (And always impressive photos.)
Now if we could just get the SkyStar Wheel back…
Dogs – Dogs are the best. You really can’t ask for a better Valentine. This year, Cincinnati Animal CARE is playing matchmaker. Through Feb. 16 you can have a Blind Date with a Rescue Dog. If sparks fly, you could end up with a new love of your life!
Get the details on this unique Valentine’s experience, which very much leans more toward the fuzzy end of warm and fuzzy.
No disrespect to cats – Cats are cool, too. (See above.)
Esquire Theatre – From premieres of movies shot in Cincinnati to indie films and even classics, the Esquire is a movie lover’s paradise.
With a full bar (!) and Bargain Tuesdays, you can enjoy movies the way they were meant to be seen, which is not on your phone.
Fiona – Our baby girl just turned 8! She was born at a tumultuous time, with her survival not guaranteed, and a city – nay, a nation – pinned their hopes on this tiny, premature wonder. She did not let us down!
We love the princess of the Queen City, who has brightened some of our darkest days and continues to make life a little bit more bearable. Now a big sister to that lovable scamp, Fritz, Fiona teaches us the value of resilience, humor, and eating whatever your want.
Goetta – Every region has its specialty, and this is ours. Who knew a way to stretch the family’s meat supply would one day get the gourmet treatment.
This combination of pork, pin oats, and a blend of spices is regional breakfast staple You can even find vegetarian options, which proves both its flexibility and longevity.
Hard Rock Casino – Do you want to see a Netflix comedian or Frankie Valli, have an amazing crab Rangoon, try a Johnny Bench-inspired dish, and enjoy losing $20 to the bells and whistles of a “Wizard of Oz” machine? You’re in luck!
Head to Hard Rock and find all that, plus rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, and awesome people watching.
Ice Cream – That new Skyline flavor from Graeter’s is making headlines, but we’re also happy with the classics. One of Oprah’s favorite thing is the black raspberry chip, so we have that in common.
But it’s not just Graeter’s. With Aglamesis and UDF, plus local creamy whips in the summer, you can enjoy ice cream – and toppings – every day of the year. (Every. Day. Even winter.)
John Roebling – He did it here first, folks.
The Suspension Bridge was his prototype for the albeit more famous Brooklyn Bridge. In designing the expanse over the Ohio River, Roebling gave us an all-timer of a city icon.
Kroger Wellness Festival – From free avocados to skincare samples and chef demos, the Kroger Wellness Festival is all about well-being, including physical, mental and emotional health.
Though the festivities got rained out last year, we’re looking forward to this year’s edition, with expert speakers, health brands, and activities to help us all be a little bit more healthy. And enjoy free lip balm.
Libraries – We love books! Which means we also love libraries!
Last year both the Main Branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library and the Mercantile Library unveiled huge renovations, expanding their space for new generations of readers.
Did you know that the CHPL system is the third busiest in the country? Not only can you check out old-fashioned books, you can check out e-books, plus find music and movies. Don’t sleep on the Makerspace! Right now, you can download book-related Valentines.
The Mercantile – “a place for readers, writers, & thinkers since 1835” – has a gorgeous new space that retains all of its original cozy vibes. Drop in for a book discussion, work space, and even yoga.
Murals – It’s always stiff competition with Philly, but the murals throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, most from ArtWorks, make our region the best for public art in the country.
Agree? Vote now!
New Riff – Are you a bourbon fan but always wished you could “buy local”? Enter New Riff.
This Newport-based distillery pays homage to the area’s illustrious whiskey history combined with modern innovations for a “new riff” that stands up to the world’s great whiskeys.
Along with their signature bourbon, they now offer rye, gin, and limited time blends. Plus you can take a tour to explore the bourbon distilling process. With a stop at the gift shop afterwards, of course!
Over-the-Rhine – From Central Parkway to the Northern Liberties, the bars, restaurants, and shop in OTR are at once historic and contemporary. Soak in the Italianate architecture that placed the neighborhood don the Register of Historic Places,
Parks – Cincinnati Parks constitutes of more than 5,000 acres, which accounts for about 10 percent of the City's total land area. Including Great Parks and Northern Kentucky in the mix, we’re lucky that most of us are only a few minutes drive – or walk! – to a park. All of that greenspace, and the access to it, makes it easy to get back to nature.
But the great debate is always where is the best view. Devou Park in Covington is in the running for the top spot, but check out Mount Echo in Price Hill, which offers views of both sides of the river!
Queen City – Who are we to argue with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow? This is OUR nickname.
Back off, Charlotte, and all other pretenders to the throne.
Reds – Are there sweeter words in the dreariness of winter than “Pitchers and catchers report.”? This, like every year before it, will be our year!
With Terry Francona at the helm, a strong pitching staff, and returning favorites (Elly! Steer! Stephenson! McLain!), I’ve got a good feeling about things. (But check back with me on March 29.)
Summerfair – Though Opening Day is our unofficial start of summer, things really heat up around this annual fine art and craft fair.
For almost 60 years Summerfair has brought some of the best artists from around the country to town, for a three-day celebration of art, music, and even food. Over the years, Summerfair has evolved to provide grants and awards for individual artists and small arts organizations.
Three-ways – It IS Valentine’s Day, after all.
Cheesy, spicy, carby – Whether you prefer Skyline, Gold Star, or your closet chili parlor, this is our regional comfort food dish extraordinaire.
Union Terminal – The largest half-dome structure in the western hemisphere? Check.
A drool-worthy – in more ways than one – Rookwood ice cream parlor? Check.
Big-ass dinosaurs? Check.
This art deco wonder is not just home to Cincinnati Museum Center, it’s also an architectural stunner worth a visit to stand in that magnificent rotunda.
Visit Cincy – Kudos to the team at Visit Cincy who, in tandem with Meet NKY, make sure everyone knows what a great place we are for business trips, romantic getaways, and family vacations.
When the redeveloped Convention Center opens next year, along with a new hotel, expect even bigger things downtown and in the region!
Water – Fittingly enough for a river city, Cincinnati’s water quality is consistently ranked among the best in the country. In 2024, Greater Cincinnati Water Works was ranked #1 by J.D. Power, plus local home brewers also vouch for the local H2O.
So there are no excuses to not get your eight glasses a day!
Xavier’s Blue Blog – We love a vaguely anthropomorphic mascot!
Who among us can’t relate to being goofy, wanting a hug, and always being there to support our taller, more handsome best friend.
YWCA – Founded in 1868, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati has a mission of “eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” All of which is needed now more than ever.
Zoo – I know we singled out Fiona early, but really the whole place is amazing. Not only can you find adorable hippos and Zoo Babies, a merry and bright Festival of Lights, and animals from around the world, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is internationally renowned for its work to protect and propagate endangered animals and plants.
– Tricia Suit