Cicinnati Northside Notes II (+ a brief on on downtown)

My last post on Northside was more about grokking on the the architecture and streetscapes.

Here is one about the events:

As I mentioned I didn’t see this as being much of a gay pride event.  I spent some time at the Northside Tavern for the fashion show and burlesque, then to Mayday, and finally a brief stop at Bronze. 

But first I stopped at this little antique/second hand store on side street about a block or half-block east of Hamilton.  This was interesting just because their backyard has these little decks and seating areas, including a built-in bar.  Wasn’t expecting to see that.

Northside Tavern

Northside Tavern is a nice space, especially their spacious front bar and patio.  The fashion show was in the back bar area (which I guess is where the bands play).  Interesting to see this.  Apparently there is a local designer called Toby Tyler who does some interesting street-style fashion, plus some vintage clothing places showing?  One mentioned was Chicken Lays an Egg, which I was told was a local establishment in Northside. 

Crowd was probably substantially straight, maybe more lesbians than gays.  But it was not really one way or another, which was interesting for a change, to see that mix.  Same for the burlesque, which I think was intended to be sort of an ironic interpretation of burlesque, or a revival of this old form of quasi-vaudeville risqué performance (I saw a similar one up in Columbus as an opener for a music act I wanted to see).

Melt

Had lunch here.  Good window seat and good salad.  This place seems small but I suspect they have a back-room seating area like Sidewinder.  Didn’t see it , though.

Mayday

This was well away from the Hamilton Avenue strip and was pretty empty when I was there.  I can see this being an interesting venue for live music, and I like the patio and rooftop thing, but the place was pretty stark inside (particularly their second floor pool & ping pong table space).  Front bar area was neat, with the windows facing Spring Grove.  Not sure about the scene here.

Bronze. 

The only true gay bar I went to.  Yawn.  Drag kings and queens, crowded, and also a patio area (they like these patios in Cincy and do a good job with them).  Not really into this after the more entertaining things at Northside.

Art Damage Lodge

Finally got to see the inside of this space.  Huge ceilings and interior spaces, but makes for a long walk up flights of stairs.  The performance space is an old Masonic lodge/meeting room.  Pretty nice inside, actually.  But the crowd was very young, and the performance here was pretty conceptual.  My reaction:  “I’m too old & square for this shit”.  Yet it seems people involved with this are putting on a show at the Mockbee on the 28th.  I thought the Mockbee was closed?  Maybe open only for special occasions?

Anyway, I get this interesting bohemian atmosphere in Northside.  Not really a gayborhood or gay/lesbian type of a vibe.  So I don’t agree with that characterization.  The place is more interesting and diverse than that, maybe more scruffy and funky and PC vs. the more trendy/fashion/consumerist thing one might see in a gentrified gay area. 

A Brief Downtown Note:

Later in the evening was spend mostly downtown Cincy.  That was its own thing, and I was particularly impressed with the nightlife there (on Walnut to Fountain Square).  Very busy and active, and I notice they pipe music onto the street from the venues.  For the interiors I was particularly impressed with Righteous Room and Jack Ruby.  Very well-done.  Nothing cheap or corner-cutting here at all!   

Had a later dinner at Arnolds.  Still one of my new favorites.  But also spent some time in the late afternoon and in the morning walking around Garfield Place/Piatt Park since it has nostalgic associations for me.  I sort of wish this area would be more successful.  Sad to see Benet Pharmacy is gone.  I think the last thing in that Doctors Building from the old days was Café du Paris.  You’d think this would be a great place for little storefront boutiques and shops and another cafe.  Just seems like such a delightful space (Piatt Park) but underused or under appreciated? 

For breakfast it was Just Crepes on Court Street.  Been wanting to try that place for a long time.  Finally did (and they are open on Sunday!).  Their goat cheese/red sauce crepe was pretty good.  Need to come back here more as it’s a good place for a Sunday pit-stop.

Finished up with yet another visit to OTR’s Main Street craft fair.