So I took a little road trip to visit one of my best friends in Cincinnati. The soundtrack for this thread is a little tune by the Afghan Whigs:

 

 

And we're off!

 

I have to wonder - is this place just a tourist trap or could it be the home to the best cheeses on earth? One day I'll have to actually stop:

 

After the zombie drive through Wayne, Ashland, Richland, Morrow and Delaware counties, we finally see civilization again:

 

 

In addition to this guy, we saw three fighter jets flying in formation over Columbus - was there an airshow?

 

The Cap on High Street:

 

High Street in the Short North:

 

This guy kept staring at me during lunch!

 

So I had to high-tail it outta there!

 

See you soon, Columbus!

 

Alright the next day, we head to Cincy - en route I see this building which my friend says is a retirement home for nuns:

 

YeeeeeeHAW!!!!

 

On 471 northbound, we catch a glimpse of the soon-to-be third tallest building in the State:

 

High-rises along the hills overlooking the Ohio River:

 

Another skyline view with the 471 (aka Big Mac) bridge:

 

Heading into Newport (helLO - The Party Source! http://www.thepartysource.com/ ), with Mt. Adams in the background:

 

Alright we're all stocked up on booze party supplies, off to lunch we go:

 

Some pricey real estate in them thar hills:

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention I had a ColDayMan sighting at  lunch!  :-o

 

Just a tad hilly around here!

 

 

Lovely architecture, and a car full of beatnik whippersnappers:

 

 

Some blocks are better than others:

 

 

 

 

 

As my friend said - Findlay Market is really good, but Cleveland's West Side Market blows it out of the water:

 

 

Not sure if this is an old or new bridge but I do like how the city embraces its Art Deco heritage:

 

Typical outerbelt accoutrements:

 

Ahh, much better - the view of downtown Cincinnati from the parking lot of the Celestial restaurant. We had planned to eat at Senate but they weren't open yet so we went to Rookwood instead - love the "hanky pankies"! :-)

 

 

The next day, we headed down Columbia Parkway (aka Rt. 52) - one heck of a quirky strip:

 

I believe we were close to the Columbia-Tusculum area:

 

 

Stopped for lunch where I saw one of my favorite cars - a BMW Neue Klasse:

 

The Precinct - once a police station, now a steak house:

 

And off we go - sorry I couldn't get a better shot but I love how you can see both Queen City Square and Carew Tower behind the hills:

 

 

 

 

We finally arrive at the art museum - apparently there was a floral exhibit going on, so lots of funky bouquets/arrangements along with the artwork:

 

 

 

Hey jack@ss, you're in the shot!!!  :roll:

 

 

 

 

 

A piece of Rookwood Pottery:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it was time to head home - on the way back, looks like construction at Kenwood Town Center:

 

Kings Island, the last glimpse of civilization before Columbus:

 

Like I said...  :roll:

 

Oh thank god - something to see other than rows of corn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry about that - the roof of the Mini curves a little  :|

 

Goodnight from Cleveland - hope you enjoyed:

 

A real 3C Line!

 

Also, that I-75 Art-Deco bridge is relatively new.

 

And LOL @ this one:

 

Very interesting trip, from urban to suburban to exurban and to evil Confederate!

 

Love the Urban Ohio Signs.  That must be your new thing of the moment.

 

I absolutely loved those beds!!  I had a bed like that once, I've been looking for another.  Who was the designer?

A real 3C Line!

 

Also, that I-75 Art-Deco bridge is relatively new.

 

And LOL @ this one:

 

 

You caught that billboard also?!  LOL

 

But it was time to head home - on the way back, looks like construction at Kenwood Town Center:

 

"Looks like" being the operative words... that's been stalled out for months!    :x

Great pics... The Combs-Hehl Bridge and I-471 shots are right in the middle of my old stomping grounds.

I absolutely loved those beds!! I had a bed like that once, I've been looking for another. Who was the designer?

 

If you are referring to the bedroom sets in the Cincinnati Art Museum, good luck on finding anything like them in the marketplace. (at any price) The second set shown with the carved flying swallows was featured on the front cover of Jennifer L. Howe's CINCINNATI ART-CARVED FURNITURE AND INTERIORS. (2003) Cincinnati was a decorative arts center in the 1870's and 1880's and received much acclaim from national and international critics. Much of this movement was aided and directed by English immigrant woodcarvers Henry L. Fry and his son William H Fry as well as Benn Pitman. A woodcarving school (Art Academy of Cincinnati) was established in 1873 (lasted until 1920)  which attracted many students from all walks of life in the city and included many women. The flying swallows bedroom set I just referenced is attributed to Adelaide Nourse Pitman, (carver) and Elizabeth Nourse (painter-artist) with Benn Pitman being the designer.The set is said to date from 1883 and was featured in the Cincinnati Industrial Exposition of 1883 and in art magazines of the period. It was kept originally in the Pitman residence on Columbia Avenue and was gifted by a descendant to the museum in 1994. Architectural wood carvings by the father and son Fry's and Benn Pitman are still found in some of Cincinnati's ornate old Victorian homes. Given that nearly all of these "art furniture" pieces were hand-made, one-of-a-kind, they are exceptionally rare and found mostly in museum collections. The woodcarving school was but one of several decorative arts enterprises centered in 19th century Cincinnati-Rookwood Pottery was another. (nice examples in the pics) The leading families of Cincinnati were avid patrons of the arts and helped make Cincinnati into a regional arts center. By the 20th century, changing tastes ended this glorious chapter for Cincinnati's decorative arts. Some enterprises, like Rookwood, managed to change with the times but were beset with financial problems that caused the pottery to close at least twice. It survives in its current incarnation today but the art furniture legacy is long gone.

 

As for the photos, thanks, very nice!!!

^Hill? That's my usual cycling commuting route! :)

 

^It was part of a Paddock Road widening project, and the bridge was completed in 2003.

 

^Kenwood Towne Centre has been stalled for over a year :(

 

Love the shots (and the hidden gems)!

3Cz-4-1!!!

 

and the billboard made an appearance. glad you brought the camera along!

3Cz-4-1!!!

 

and the billboard made an appearance. glad you brought the camera along!

 

There are three billboards.  ;)

and a plane.

and a plane.

 

Is that what that says?  Lord my eyes are worse than I thought they were.  8)

Great! Thanks for this thread and the updates on Queen City Square!

You spend about as much time in Columbus on your trips as most people spend at a rest stop!

Thanks for sharing MayDay.  Next time you come to Cincinnati, you have to let me know!  Although, I most likely won't be able to make it unless it is over the Holiday Break...silly school schedule!

 

Also, thank you for the pictures of Columbus on I-71 North Bound around Greenlawn Ave.  My parents used to live in Grove City and I had to work in Hilliard, used to drive that all the time and loved the view from that area.  I tried to get pictures myself, but it wasn't safe snapping pictures and driving at the same time!  Besides, your camera catches the city A LOT better!

Very nice thread.

Great pics May. I have family in Columbus and I feel your 71-South frustration...SUCH a boring drive (high speed train anyone?) and props to the grandpa's cheesebarn pic, classic

Well done as usual, MayDay!    I love the first pic of Columbus, nice juxtapositions.  And the UrbanOhio billboards =  :clap:

the picture going north

Nice work Shawn.

These are great...can't believe I missed this thread originally.  You need to head down to these here hills more often.