RiverViewer

One wonders if liquor licenses couldn't be put at risk by the willful violation of a state law...I have no idea what goes into getting a liquor license or getting it taken away, but I wonder if that might not be a way to proceed in enforcing this until enforcement is both finalized, and then litigated and truly finalized...

They sit right across the street from that church that collapsed last year - that was 845 Lincoln...The Doomed Block? And I'm very happy they saved that place in Corryville - that's a cute little house! Thanks as always for the updates, both of you!

I think steak at the Precinct is better than it is at Jeff Ruby's, actually...I imagine that it's the ovens at the Precinct, but I couldn't say that for sure. The difference is that Jeff Ruby's is a little classier, and a little roomier. They pack you right the hell in at the Precinct, I guess it's kind of a New York feel, and I hate that - but the steak is worth it. But Jeff Ruby's is all high class - a cigar case, a live piano player, classy decor, and really top notch service. They have restroom attendants at Jeff Ruby's, and I seem to remember someone walking my mom to the restroom whenever she went...it's the flagship, and gets the glory, even if the steaks are a little better at the Precinct...

Wow...well, you've seen the Winter Pictures thread - you can understand my boundless jealousy!

Of these restaurants: My Favorite: - Nicola's Best Meal Ever: - Daveed's (the lamb chops) Ritziest (where I'd take a business client I was really really trying to impress): - Boca

This'll sound like a cop-out answer, but for diversity packed into surface area, I wouldn't imagine you could beat UC...

Problem with Fresh Market is that it is so amazingly expensive...maybe not as expensive as Wild Oats, but still, much more expensive than Kroger... I don't know about Trader Joe's...how are its prices?

I heard Cincinnati Magazine's Top 25 came out...anyone subscribe and have the list?

This could be the Gateway Urban Living Quarter Nearby Entertainment Area...GULQNEA...catchy, eh?

Thanks so much for taking the time to write up your impressions for us, and giving us a chance to give you feedback! I'm going to counter a few things you've said, but please don't take it as anything but trying to help out! Regarding UC and OTR - I'm right there with you...UC's campus didn't used to be like it is now, but the additions (and subtractions) they've made have really transformed it. And OTR is great, but I probably wouldn't walk around alone during the day. Parts of it I would walk in a group at night - around Main Street and Sycamore near Vine, the entertainment area - but most of it is necessarily a daytime pleasure. Did you get out to Rookwood? I'm not sure what exactly constitutes upscale shopping (being a flannel-wearing straight boy without a lick of taste or homemaking skills outside the kitchen), but there's a lot of stuff there, and it's only a few miles down Madison. My wife and I stayed there once, got a $99 room on special, and apparently the classy rooms that you hear about are NOT the ones they give you when you get a deal - our room was run-down, wallpaper pealing, really truly ugly. I don't understand why they'd sell anyone those rooms, because I know we'll never stay there again... Depending on your cash situation, you might be interested in checking out the B&B's in Clifton. The Clifton House Bed and Breakfast is right on Whitfield at Terrace in the Gaslight District - that's within walking distance to campus (a healthy walk, but students do it every day), it's a beautiful property, the rooms are private, and it's just two short blocks from Ludlow, with restaurants, shops, the city's oldest gay bar (the Golden Lions - a hole-in-the-wall dark and dank place, but I love it - very friendly folks, and very cheap liquor), lots of beautiful houses, etc. I always use Towne Cab (513.761.7700), and have never had anything but fast service. Sorry for your luck on that...and amen on the streetcar/light rail! I certainly can't speak to what life is really like for gay folks here vs. other cities, but our best friends are a pretty flamboyantly gay couple, and I can tell you I've not once seen anything like what you describe happen to them when we've been out and about, in Cincinnati, NKY, anywhere. Keep in mind that in the city of Cincinnati, 2004's statewide gay marriage ban failed, 47% to 53%, whereas it passed in Cleveland 54%-46%. Now, that same election we had a repeal of Article XII on the ballot (which excluded orientation from our non-discrimination statutes) - that repeal effort was organized and strong, and really educated the public, and brought out the anti-bigotry vote, which certainly had a spillover effect. I don't know if the average Cincinnatian is really more open-minded than the average Clevelander...but please don't have the impression that Cincinnati has a Clifton oasis in a sea of backwoods hate mongers or something - 18 of our 26 precincts voted not to ban gay marriage - that's a pretty powerful statement. My interest is more in restaurants than in "nightlife," but my impression is that there is a lot of dancing and clubbing available, straight and gay, but that it's not like Atlanta or something...but other folks can help you with that...I just know our friends will often head over to the Dock or Adonis or Universal Grill (formerly Hamburger Mary's) after leaving our place for some dancing...

Very cool looking...do you have more Australia photos? I guess I could go find some, but it feel so civilized when someone brings them to you, like with these! Very cool... ...and do you have a connection to Ohio?

Fantastic pictures from everyone!

That does not look like fun...

The interstate highway system had a stated "military" purpose because that was a permitted purpose for federal action as stated in the US Constitution. It could have happened that someone would have tried to stop construction on the grounds that "it was not constitutional". I'd imagine that the last person to argue that successfully was Andrew Jackson when he vetoed the Maysville road - but I have no doubt that you're right about the military uses being a selling point. Also evacuation in case of a nuclear attack, which while not purely military is certainly a matter of national defense...

Well, I understand that Huron County is under driving restrictions of some sort, so we've postponed the funeral stuff until Friday evening visiting hours and the funeral on Saturday. In the meantime, we're just bunkered down in Hinckley, shoveling complete, with a fire and leftovers from yesterday's meal - meatloaf, spinach-bacon mashed potatoes, a salad and fresh baked sourdough bread (I brought my starter dough with me on Monday!)...plus a fantastic stew Dad made over the weekend...a sad time, but a good time just spending time with my folks...

That's fantastic...there is nothing in nature as beautiful as a Cardinal against the snow... ...OK, that's an overstatement...but wow, Cardinals are beautiful. So, did the evening end up justifying the winter storm warning? The weather folks were calling it blizzard conditions in Fort Waye by around dinnertime...

Absolutely stunning stuff...wish I'd have been able to go and get some schooling from the masters! Monte, those shots are just...hell, can't find another word - just stunning! And Randy, that set of PNC shots are really nice...nicely done!

I'm up north for the funeral of my beloved grandfather, who died early Sunday morning, aged 86, after suffering a massive stroke on Friday afternoon...he was the greatest man on the planet, and I'll miss him for a long, long time...the visiting hours were supposed to be tonight, in Norwalk, and the funeral was scheduled for tomorrow, but because of the snow, everything's been postponed a day. I'm snowed in with my parents in Hinckley, and we'll see tomorrow if things get put off another day. Rest in peace, Kenneth George Hahn, Sr.: ...taken September, 2004, from when he came to Cincinnati to help me and my father build bookshelves in our house...

Thank you as always for the updates! It's a shame about some of those places, like the place on Yale - that's 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, in a not-too-bad area of Walnut Hills...what a waste... And that place in Blue Ash - my Lord, is that incongruous with the post-war ranch/rambler housing stock that has always been Blue Ash to me...ick...

I don't really understand why "Federal Route" would be infuriating - seems apt enough, I guess - but I'll trust you guys!

I'm sure Adonis is straight-friendly...but all I've ever heard is that it's gay-gay-gay...like, hot tub-gay, showers-for-dancers-gay...but maybe I'm misinformed - I haven't actually been there yet...

...and so the places listed Monte and edale and thomas and xume since your post don't qualify as "NORMAL", or don't qualify as "in the city," or don't qualify as placed "to dance"? Just not sure I understand the issue here...

Yeah, there'll be swinging, swaying, and records playing...

^I have no idea what that means, but I can assure you that singing and bananas are not on the agenda!

Wow - that Heinz Chapel thing is stunning!!! Makes me crave a burger or some meatloaf, anything to help support those elongated windows!