The first week of my new job at Xavier is winding down, and I'd like to recap some of the best and worst features I've found in Cincinnati so far. I'd love to hear your opinions on this or some suggestions :)

 

BEST --

1. Biking in Cincinnati is a breeze. There is far less traffic -- even in mid-day -- than Lexington, which is a smaller city. There are more through streets in Cinci, and more smaller streets that take the stress off of the major arteries.

2. Park+Vine is my favorite hangout. Look for something from me there in a few months.

3. Clifton Heights natural food market (name?) is another favorite hangout. It's a close drive. Sorry, I'm not about to bike up Vine :P

4. The commute. By bus, it's 18 minutes via the #4 line from 100 E. Central Parkway to Xavier University with no transfers in the morning; it's 28 minutes (IIRC) in the evening with one transfer. Is there another line that goes from a point near Xavier to somewhere near the Emery with no transfers?

 

By car, its 15 minutes by Reading (I've learned that its not reading (a book), but Redding...), Interstate 71 and Montgomery. I tried the Reading -> Gilbert -> Mt. Eden/Victory route today, and that took me 18 minutes. I bought a gym membership at Xavier so I can start showering there before work and change out of my bike clothes. I plan on biking at least once a week, and it's not all that tiring. I managed 15-30 MPH in downtown and on top of the hill, and anywhere from 7 MPH (Gilbert) to 13 MPH (Mt. Eden) on the hills.

5. The urban fabric. I have already walked down Walnut and Vine to the river for photographs and plan on doing it to other streets eventually. I haven't used my camera all that much lately, but I'll be out more and more as the weather cools down.

6. Xavier. I wondered what the deal was with the dirt lots, and now I know. And expect for some photographs and updates for all that in a week or two!

7. Noise! In Lexington, it was as if I lived next to a hospital -- constant sirens from ambulances (or police cars) were the norm. Motorcycles would rip their bikes through the downtown. In OTR, I never hear a peep, with the exception of people lighting fireworks.

 

WORST --

1. Some lane widths -- especially on the curves -- are damn narrow!

2. The natural food store is in Clifton. I thought Park+Vine had food at first, but they said that it would be kind of competing with the store in Clifton -- but that they are exploring the option. With a plant shop nearby, it would be a good fit. It may need a bigger population base to work from though.

3. Skylights. Okay, so I do love them, just not when its 90F outside and sunny. I haven't learned how to program my thermostat yet, so when I got back to my loft at the Emery after work yesterday, the thermostat read "00" -- for 100F. It took two hours to cool it down. On most nights, the windows and fans are going -- no need to use the A/C! :)

I'd really love to try biking in Cincy.  Glad it's not too bad with traffic, although I feel the hills will be a bigger challenge.

I thought the hills would be more of a challenge. It took only about five minutes to climb Gilbert at around 7 MPH, and about 10 minutes to climb Mt. Eden to Victory at a slightly faster speed (there is a crest midway through). I started feeling the burn around uptown -- there are a lot more hills than I had thought!

You should get some remote controlled blinds for your skylights...

Mt. Eden!? Muahahaha tourist!

 

I wasn't that impressed with Clifton Heights' natural food store but natural food isnt really my thing so I'm not the best judge. I did live close to there. Check out the Chinese tea place on McMillan. I've only been in there once but I thought it was great. I think the two chinese places share the same kitchen - I've always wondered about that. The tea place isn't really Chinese, more like a Chinese-Japanese fusion.

 

Biking isn't that bad, just have to kick it in the right gear but there are probably less bikers in Cincy than Lexington. I'm kinda disappointed in the lack of bike racks in Cincy - I always end up locking my bike up to a tree or something anyway but bike racks usually indicate a high number of bikers. Glad you like Cincy, you should definitely check out Ludlow in Clifton and Hamilton in Northside, I think those neighborhoods are definitely your style. Eden Park and Mt Adams make for a great bike ride as well. Longworths is a nice bar you should check out in Mt. Adams.

Do you like your new job?

If the natural foods store in Clifton doesn't suffice, you should try going over to the Hyde Park area.  There is a natural foods store on Paxton, a Whole Foods in Rookwood Commons, and another natural food store off of Erie accross from Cumin restaurant. 

 

I too think a trip to Ludlow Ave. in Clifton would suit you well, and Hamilton Ave. in Northside, too.  Hamilton is definitely the grittier of the two, but there is some really cool stuff in both areas. 

 

Also something that I think you might enjoy if you like coffee houses is The Highlands coffeeshop on Highland Avenue(?) in Corryville, and Sitwells Coffeeshop on Ludlow.  Also, if you like wine as well as coffee, try Awakenings coffee and wine shop in Hyde Park Square.

^ I usually stop in Brewtopia for a relaxing cup o' joe too which is on Ludlow. I'm also a Coffee Emporium kind of guy.

Glad you're enjoying Cincy...and it isn't surprising that Park + Vine has become one of your favorite hangouts.  It is that way for lots of people.  Park + Vine is really great, the owner/staff even better.