PRidgeFlyer

Speaking of Nat Commisar, it seems like such a short time ago that he said downtown just couldn't support higher end restaurants. Too bad no one told Boi Na Braza, Nada, Oceanaire, McCormick & Schmick's, Via Vite and all of the poeple waiting in lines to get tables :-D

^ That's pretty funny. That line rubbed me the wrong way also.

That's certainly the image he's attempted to create for himself.

Anyone been to any of the Indie Summer shows on the Square? I was down there two weeks ago after dinner at Boi Na Braza. FS was packed. It was awesome on a Friday night to be able to finish dinner walk right across the street and watch some cool bands for free.

The bones of the place are really cool, but my memory of the few times I was at Porkopolis (and Rookwood before that) was that it had ugly worn out carpet, bad tables & chairs, etc. The new owner needs to send all of that back to the 70's.

I have no idea if it is closed or not, but I ate there a year or two ago. The guy that owned Nick Chops & Chasers in Oakley bought it. They kept the Rookwood Burger on the menu and the rest I think was pretty similar to what he had at his other place (which has since closed). When I was there, the interior had not changed at all from when it was Rookwood - which is not good because it was all pretty blah and dated. It is a really cool building but, but there are no city views which is unfortunate. All I really remember about it was there were about 15 different ways to get pork chops.

It is entirely possible that Carmel's food has gotten better over the past few years, but when I lived in Dayton there was one thing - and one thing only - to go to Carmel's for...their extremely potent frozen margaritas. As for the food, I have never been to another Mexican restaurant where I have seen more people eating hot dogs than Mexican.

Where was Tessaro's??

I had dinner at Nada on Thursday night and after dinner I was standing outside at the valet stand waiting for my car, next to another group of people doing the same. I overheard one of the women ask how the "Brazilian steakhouse" on the Square was and one of the guys in their group replied that he heard it was closing. Has anyone else heard that? Not trying to start a rumor - just curious if that guy had any clue what he was talking about. Quite possible that he was thinking of the one out in Mason that already closed. While I'm posting in this thread....my wife and I had dinner for the first time at Hugo in Oakley last Tuesday night. We had heard some mixed reviews from a few friends that had been previously, but it is close to our house and we always like to check out "new" restaurants. It was her birthday so we splurged and did "The Tour" tasting menu with wine parings. At seven courses it was maybe a bit excessive for dinner on a Tuesday evening :-D, but was easily one of the better dining experiences I have had in Cincinnati. The food was excellent and the service was spot on. Just wanted to give props to a Cincinnati Independent!

Great news about Booty's finally coming together...the hits just keep on coming! I've lived in Cincy for about 10 years now and there has never been a time when there have been so many positive things coming together for downtown. I finally made it in to Grammer's last night. Wow - that building is a gem! What a great place. Can't wait for the beer garden this summer. We throughly enjoyed the new lower priced beer as well :drunk:

This may just be rumor, but I heard when Mayor Mallory went to throw his ceremonial first shovel full of dirt, the dirt careened wildly to the right and ended up near the Reds dugout at GABP :wink:

T Murder (aka Tippy) keeping a watchful eye over Cincinnati <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/213/472061847_904e20bacc.jpg?v=0"> and enjoying a sunset over OTR <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/472061849_3abfc4a649.jpg?v=0">

Not a Moe's fan - I think it's the worst of it peers (Qdoba, Chipotle, etc) - but I think their whole restaurant group must be struggling in this market. Raving Brands is the parent company of Moe's, Shane's Rib Shack, & Doc Green's Salads. All three opened up at the Crestview Hills Towncenter and Moe's is the only one still open.

I agree, I've always had excellent experiences at Tink's. I was going to say that it seems like a lot of people I know have never been or haven't heard about it, but from the sounds of the lines there I'll keep it that way.

National City has put up a "future home of" sign on the out lot of the former K Mart property so that one is confirmed. They are probably opening the new location because I do not believe they have a drive thru at their current location in the PR business district. Also, in other less exciting news.... Aldi plans Ridge Avenue store Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Lisa Biank Fasig Staff Reporter Discount grocer Aldi Inc. is looking into building a store on Ridge Avenue in Cincinnati's Pleasant Ridge neighborhood (you mean Columbia Township?), as it expands its presence throughout the area... www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati

Yes, I have an opinion - my recommendation is go to Andy's its locally owned and not at NOTL :-D Seriously - it's not bad, but I much prefer Andy's Mediterranean.

I have visited Auschwitz & Birkenau as well and I would have to say that of all the places I have visited, the day spent at those two camps (particularly Birkenau) has left a much deeper impression and longer lasting impression on me than I had ever anticipated. While these are sites of unimaginable horror and atrocity, they are also also important sites in the history of mankind; particularly important for people my age that we not alive then and have only read about the Holocaust in history texts. Regardless of your feelings, if you ever have the chance to go, you would not regret doing so. It is a very somber and introspective experience, but I left also feeling that I was able to pay my respects to all those who had passed through those gates.

I think Krakow might be my favorite city in Europe. It is a beautiful city that was mostly undamaged by War II so it's histoic buildings are intact. It is also much cheaper than western European cities and a little of the beaten path of the standard Western European circuit that most American take so it's not overrun with tourists. Krakow is also home to one of the oldest universities in European so it has kind of a european college vibe. It is also home to the coolest jazz club I've ever stepped foot in 8-)

Some big news from this weekend that I forgot to post. If you have never been to Sugar'n'Spice in Bond Hill for breakfast you are missing out, but if you have you probably remember the Sock Guy. After about a year's hiatus while there was construction going on next door he was MIA, but I am pleased to report that he was back Saturday morning. Just in time to get you winter wool socks :-D <img src="http://www.best-of-cincinnati.com/years/bestof2005/bond_pics/bond_socks.jpg"> From the 2005 Best of Citybeat... Best Side at Sugar ‘N Spice: The Sock Man. Pull up on a Friday or Saturday at the breakfast hot spot anywhere between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and in the parking lot you’re likely to find Loyd Merida and thousands of socks. “They just call me The Sock Man,” the Oakley resident says — which we’d also heard — and rightfully so: He’s been selling the foot furnishings out of his van while doing ministry work now for 31 years, which the Lord called him to do, he says. Bin after bin brims with every sock imaginable, from white and sporty to frilly girls’ anklets. And at three pair for $2 (three pair for $1.50 for kids), it’s a steal. Sugar ‘N Spice,

I agree wholeheartedly; that was an ingnorant statement. I do not have kids yet, but when I do, if I believe sending them to a private school is in their best interest I will never consider spending money on their education a "waste of money".

Arnold's Bar & Grill is a cool spot downtown that won't break the bank (most entrees around $10) and although I've never eaten there, I've looked at Trattoria Roma's menu a few times (next to Nicholson's) and it seems pretty reasonable ($15-$26). The descriptions below are from the Downtown Cincinnati Inc. website which has a lot of good info...http://www.gototown.com/ Arnold's Bar & Grill Cincinnati's longest continuously operating bar and grill, dating back to 1865. Eclectic Mediterranean and traditional American cuisine. Year-round courtyard features music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Lots of characters and good conversation. Free parking after 5pm on Crow. http://www.arnoldsbarandgrill.com/ Trattoria Roma Authentic northern and southern Italian cuisine http://www.trattoriaroma.net/

Amberley loses Crest Hills appeal BY STEVE KEMME | [email protected] AMBERLEY VILLAGE – The 1st District Court of Appeals today sided with the Ridge Club in its dispute with Amberley Village over the proposed development of the former Crest Hills Country Club. In its decision, the appeals court sided with a lower court ruling last year stating that Amberley illegally rejected the Ridge Club’s request to change the zoning of the 133-acre Crest Hills site to permit a residential development. No link available for article.

Figured I would post this since Michael mentioned that members of the Main St community have expressed their concerns about teen events to the owners of Club Red Teen party floods streets BY JENNIFER BAKER | [email protected] OVER-THE-RHINE – Dozens of teens gathered – and some fought - in Over-the-Rhine’s Main Street night club area late Sunday, forcing Cincinnati police to call in extra help and temporarily close off streets. No one was arrested or injured in the 10:45 p.m. incident as teens left a party at Club Red, 209 E. 12th St., a Cincinnati police and fire dispatcher said. A crowd of youth crowded into the intersection of Main and 12th streets, forcing police to shut down Main Street just north of Central Parkway.

Yesterday they started tearing up a front corner of the parking lot at the abandoned KMart site on Ridge. I'm guessing that they may finally be starting construction on the National City Bank branch that an article above stated would be built there.

I called Vinyl's phone number yesterday and a recording says that are not taking dinner reservations at this time only special events and parties.