BallHatGuy gave a wonderful tour of OTR over the weekend.  The 'Saints and Sinners Tour' definitely lived up to expectations.  I gained such wonderful insight on tons of history throughout OTR, and its churches.  Enjoy the tour:

 

1. Germania Bldg

 

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3. Progress on Vine

 

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7. Here are a bunch of church pics...forgive me, but I don't remember all of the names

 

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15. The next 5 are from St. Francis on Vine/Liberty

 

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18. A cool courtyard inside the complex

 

As the story goes (to the best of my knowledge).  This site used to be a burial grounds before the church was built.  But many of the families thought that it would be a honor for their loved ones to be buried directly beneath the alter of the new church.  So, there are a couple of rooms underground that contain the tablets/markers of those that are still buried beneath the church....VERY COOL!

 

19. Here is the entrance

 

20. and some of the tablets...

 

21. The final stop on our tour was the grandaddy of them all.  Old St. Mary's!  This is the oldest church in Cincinnati, and by far has the most history.  IMO, it is also one of the most beautiful.

 

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23. The "prized possession" of this church lies within its alter.  Underneath the alter a glass box of bones can be viewed by lifting up the purple cloth that drapes over it.  These bones are believed to be from a St. Priscilia who suffered a martyrs death.  The box contains the bones of her body and some of her blood.  This has been recognized by the pope and the church has been deemed to be VERY significant.

 

24. The rest of the pics are random city shots from the rest of the day and tour

 

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33. BallHatGuy was sooo kind to allow some of us to check out his place and invited us up to the rooftop deck on top of the Emery Center

 

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37. Just too cool!

 

38. Like I said....toooo cool!!!

 

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41. Mt. Adams in the distance:

 

42. Ahhhh density!

 

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45. And a parting shot of Vinyl

wow very cool pics!

Great pics from a great tour!  I think you even got the back of my husband's head on one of the pics.  ;)

I would have liked to do that, it looks most interesting!

 

Great pics!

Awesome pics!

Great pics Rando.

I really wish I would have gone to one of these tours.  I had about 5 too many liters of Spaten Optimator at Kaldi's Friday night.  Needless to say I got Optimated and didn't wake up till 1 pm Saturday.

Thanks for sharing those. I was tempted to drive to Cincinnati for the tour, but the weather forecast discouraged me. It looks like the weather held up pretty well, though.

 

Magnificent places!

Great pics Rando.

I really wish I would have gone to one of these tours.  I had about 5 too many liters of Spaten Optimator at Kaldi's Friday night.  Needless to say I got Optimated and didn't wake up till 1 pm Saturday.

 

I was at Kaldi's as well Friday night for a brief time.  We stayed and then left...waaaay too crowded, so we checked out some other places.  Too bad I missed ya  :|

^ I was at Kaldi's on Friday night as well.  We probably got there around 7:30 or 8:00.  We were very lucky to get a table.  We happened to walk past a table while people were getting up.

Great photos of Over-the-Rhine.  Dan does give one hell of a tour, too bad the weather wasn't better.

Great pics Rando.  And thanks too to Kate, our other tour guide.

 

And thanks everyone who was able to make it.  Hope y'all thought it was worth it.  The weather wasn't too bad I thought until we got to the roof of the Emery.

 

What I really liked was seeing 40 + people walk around Over-the-Rhine - being in Washington Park, walking up Race Street and down Vine.  It felt great . . at least to me.  And someone needs to buy St. John's, which Rando didn't show but we had a chance to go in, and turn it in to a cool beer hall!

Yeah...I have some pics of St. Johns but I just couldn't pull myself to show that hideous drop ceiling that was installed.  I don't know why I didn't show the outside...I'll see if I can find one of those pics I have.  But the bldg has potential, but is definitely depressing as it currently sits  :|

Wow.

Excellent photos of OTR.  Love the architecture

Great stuff.

Lovely!

I've never been to Cincy, but OTR looks like the most beautiful urban neighborhood in Ohio. Great shots!

Wow - that's a great tour.  I really hope that part of town continues to improve...

you know i don't speak german

 

 

 

 

 

I'm going to squat on the deck.

Wow, am I ever jealous (of the tour, not the weather).  Great tour pics, and OTR is a classic old urban neighborhood.  Thanks for sharing.

Wonderful pics of a wonderful neighborhood. I think the snow makes it seem even more magical.

 

 

Super, uber cool photos.  Someone could make a mint by selling window boxes for all those great buildings!