Let's Get It Started
We've waited such a long time! Get ready for Opening Day, with favorite memories, the best pre-game action, and what's new at GABP. We've got all your bases covered!
Play Ball!
The Reds take on Atlanta today, with a first pitch time of 8:08 p.m. Catch the action at The Banks in the DORA district, and it will feel a little bit like you’re at the game!
The eternal question in Cincinnati isn’t “What are you doing New Year’s Eve?” but rather “What are you doing for Opening Day?”
Though the season officially starts today, the “home opener” – a phrase eerily strange to Reds’ fans – marks the true beginning of baseball season in Cincinnati.
Some people start the day at Arnold’s for kegs and eggs and recitations of baseball poetry from Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Other people take the day off of work (and the kids out of school) to stake out a spot to watch the parade. Still others are mustering at Findlay Market to be IN the parade.
Julie calvert
I grew up in Cincy, but didn’t get to attend Opening Day until I was an adult. It was in 2003, and it was the first game in Great American Ball Park. What’s more, I was invited to sit with a colleague two rows up from the dugout.
I was in awe looking around that brand new stadium, daydreaming about all the historic and fun games and events that would follow. I realized this was more than an Opening Day, it was a life moment.
To paraphrase Ron Swanson, there is no wrong way to experience Opening Day.
Kevin necessary
My favorite Opening Day memory is from 2014. It was only the second Opening Day game I’d gone to, but it was the day my very first professional editorial cartoon in Cincinnati was published. I had just been hired by WCPO to draw one Reds cartoon a week during baseball season.
My dream of drawing editorial cartoons in my hometown had come true. There was no better subject for my first cartoon than the promise and potential of Opening Day.
Who’s on First?
The Bob and Tom Show – Get moving early, as the radio show broadcasts live from Hard Rock Cafe starting at 5:30 a.m. More details.
Arnold’s – The oldest bar in the city starts the day with breakfast from 9–11 a.m., lots of new beers on tap, music from Todd Hepburn (11–3 p.m.), Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Jeremy Dubin and Justin McCombs performing Casey at the Bat and Who’s on First?, autographed Reds prizes and of course, Jim Tarbell.
Moerlein Lager House – On Opening Day, thee event lawn and new Beer Garden will be in full swing. The fun starts at 10 a.m., with Gamble 'n Fin Larger Than Live show with special guests, along with hourly trivia and prizes, and live music throughout the morning.
Rounding the Bases
The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade begins at noon on Tuesday, April 12, with Hall of Famer Barry Larkin as Grand Marshal. The West Side Little Leagues All-Star team will be in the parade!
This parade begins on Race Street and continues all the way down to Fifth Street, turning east on Fifth and ending at the Taft Theater.
A couple of the best viewing spots are at Washington Park and Fountain Square. If you are lucky enough to have any friends with homes or offices overlooking the route, that’s also a g.reat way to enjoy the festivities (especially if it’s cold or raining!)
Pam Kravetz
You know, I do love a parade! And Cincinnati is truly the Queen City of parades. Driving the Arnold’s Bar and Grill motorized bathtub with all my friends marching alongside is definitely the most joyful thing a girl can do on the Red’s Opening Day!
The Reds are so much fun to watch, I love eating nachos out of a baseball hat, and I was over the moon when I got to eat a veggie hot dog with all the fixings!
taking the field
Tuesday, April 12, 4:10 PM
The Battle for the Ohio Cup starts early, as the Reds take on the Cleveland Guardians.
A probable starter hasn’t been announced, but Joe Burrow will be throwing out the first pitch. NLF Offensive Rookie of the Year will present the MLB Rookie of the Year Award to Reds second baseman Jonathan India.
Iris Simpson Bush
One of my favorite opening day stories, and there are many, was in 2019.
The Flying Pig always has a float in the parade and Channel 5 actually does part of their broadcast from the float. We provide entertainment by Tracy Walker and really make it, not only an annual tradition, but a fun party for our sponsors and staff.
That year, there was a high school marching band positioned in front of us and parade marshals have to make each unit keep up the pace and stay in their assigned spaces. One of the students, playing a drum got so tired that he and his mom (I think he may have needed special assistance) kept falling back into our space. He just did not want to stop, but was really struggling.
Jim Bush, who coordinates the building of our float and our participation and the logistics of the day, noticed his struggles and Jim offered to carry his drum. The young man gladly gave it up and Jim, who has never played drums, walked next to him, playing as best he could and the young guy started dancing and actually seemed to be enjoying being there. It was so heartwarming to see that act of kindness and the appreciation from the boy and his mother. It just embodied community support and what a difference random acts (or oinks) of kindness can make.
It still makes me smile when I watch and remember all the smiles it generated.
Though it’s strange for the Reds to be starting the season on the road, the last time that happened was 1990. And we all remember how that turned out, so maybe it’s not such a terrible thing after all.
The Beautiful Game
In the midst of baseball season (Hello, Reds Country!) and football season (Who-Dey!), Cincinnati has embraced yet another major league sport.
Whether you have a Ted Lasso-like knowledge of the game or are nearly an ultra, an FC Cincinnati match is our most recent sports right of passage.
Though TQL Stadium opened just last year, the Bailey was already well established from FC games at Nippert Stadium. Prior to joining MLS, the team had already generated an unprecedented enthusiasm, fitting for the most popular sport in the world.
Even if you know nil about soccer, you can still enjoy a game at TQL. With beer from Rhinegeist, food from Frisch’s, Lucius Q, and Skyline, plus both a walking taco and grilled cheese cart, you’ll have a good time eating your way through a match.
As Cincinnati sports fans, who have grown used to snow on Opening Day and proudly lay claim to the Freezer Bowl, it’s nice to think we’ve learned from the past. Now is a wonderful time to go to match, with lovely weather in a fancy new stadium and a team that is winning games.
Social Butterfly
Explore an ancient Egyptian garden at Butterflies of the Nile at Krohn Conservatory.
Butterflies of the Nile
Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tickets: Adults: (18 years & up) $10, Youth: (5–17 years old) $7, and Children (under 4 years old) FREE
In 1995, while everyone was watching ER, listening to Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy,” and counting Randy Johnson strikeouts, the butterfly show debuted at the Krohn Conservatory.
The tradition continues, with Butterflies of the Nile now on view at the Krohn. The floral exhibit surrounding the butterflies has been designed to recreate the lush and inviting gardens of ancient Egypt.
Temples and tombs paintings depicting Egyptian gardens featuring orchards, palms and fish ponds with lotus plants, inspired the design. As you walk through the space, more than 3,000 butterflies will gracefully float around you.
Though the annual butterfly show is dazzling, there is never a bad time to go to the Krohn. Opened in 1933 on land that once belonged to Nicholas Longworth, the Krohn includes a Fern House, Palm House, Desert House, and Orchid House – So you sample multiple climates in one visit!
World Record
Where to find a certified perfect pour for your Guinness Pint for St. Patrick’s Day.
If You Go
The Public House
3807 North Bend Road
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
www.thepublichousecheviot.com
If you’re looking for the ideal Guinness pour, on St. Patrick’s Day or any other, you’ll want to visit The Black Sheep Public House.
Opened in 2008, this traditional pub in Cheviot has the distinction of being the only bar in Cincinnati officially certified to pour the perfect Guinness Pint by the Guinness Brewmaster himself, Fergal Murray.
See the master at work! Fergal Murray pours a perfect pint of Guinness.
The Public House’s menu reflect’s the owner’s – and the city’s –heritage, with German and Irish-inspired apps, sandwiches, and burgers.
Along with a perfect pint, the bar showcases acoustic music and community fundraisers.
Wake-Up Call
Enjoy your caffeine with a clear conscience at Carabello Coffee in Newport.
On the southern side of Cincinnati, Carabello Coffee serves both cappuccinos and its community.
Carabello Coffee
107 E. Ninth St.
Newport, KY 41071
(859) 415-1587
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Closed
The Carabellos began roasting green coffee at home in a popcorn popper as a hobby, but quickly began selling the coffee to friends and co-workers and donating the money to an orphanage in Nicaragua.
“It started as a way to be more generous than our current part time teaching jobs allowed us to be,” says co-owner Emily Carabello.
The business – and personal – mission of Carabello’s is to responsibly source exceptional specialty coffees, artisan roast them to perfection, and then help build more sustainable lives for people in developing, coffee-producing nations with the profit.
But their intention to make the world a better place also applies closer to home.
“We have lived in Newport for 12 years, and truly love this area,” says Carabello. “Having a coffee shop that is walkable for a community brings such life to the neighborhood! Meeting with friends, going on walks, and having a place to meet people is so important to a thriving community.”
Back to Bock
Don't bleat around the bush, head to Bockfest for the g.o.a.t beer.
Even the most knowledgeable Cincinnati expert can be a little confused about Bockfest.
What is “bock” beer?
What are all these monks doing here?
What’s with all the goats?
You may have other questions about Bockfest. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying the wacky parade, the strange Sausage Queen Competition, and the very specific Spring beer.
Like so many things in Cincinnati, we need to look back to Germany for answers, specifically Bavaria. Luckily, we’ve done the research, so you don’t have to.
Bockfest describes its eponymous beer as a “rich, complex, malty, low-hop style of lager,” with an alcohol content from roughly 6.3% to about 12%.
This is a STRONG beer. (Eisbocks can have an alcohol content as high as 43%!) So if you see people acting a little strange this weekend, it’s not just Spring Fever.
Historically, bock beer was associated with religious occasions, like, say Lent. The beers were often brewed by monks to have as a source of nutrition during times of fasting. (Like, say, Lent.)
Though originally brewed in the northern town of Einbeck, the style gradually moved south to Munich during the Middle Ages. As is sometimes the case, pronunciations varied in different parts of the country. To the Bavarians, the name of the beer sounded like “ein bock,” which means “billy goat” in German.
Goats, we got goats.
Just Desserts
It's no gamble! You can’t lose with the decadent dessert options at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood.
In a distant and more glamorous era, people used to say after a particularly delicious meal, “Say, let’s go somewhere else for dessert.”
Sometimes it was ice cream from Graeter’s on the stroll home or stopping at Grand Finale (RIP) before settling in for the night. Now you can add Council Oak Steaks & Seafood to your must-try sweets list.
From the classic – creme brulee! – to the sublime – you’ll find a decadent way to wrap up your evening.
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, 1000 Broadway, is open Sunday, 4–9 p.m.; Monday–Thursday, 5–10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 5–11 p.m.
No Place Like Home
Ohio is The Mother of Presidents. So what better place to celebrate Presidents Day than the William Howard Taft National Historic Site.
The Ohio Seven
Ulysses S. Grant (Point Pleasant)
Rutherford Birchard Hayes (Delaware)
James Abram Garfield (Orange Township),
Benjamin Harrison (North Bend),
William McKinley (Niles),
William Howard Taft (Cincinnati),
Warren Gamaliel Harding (Corsica).
William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia but settled in Ohio, which totally counts.
In Ohio, Presidents Day is an especially big deal. Known as the “Mother of Presidents,” Ohio is home to seven presidents, eight if you count William Henry Harrison.
And what better time to visit the home of one of those presidents, especially if you’ve never made the trip!
William Howard Taft, the 27th president and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1921-1930, was born and raised in a 19th century Greek revival house in Mount Auburn. The house offers a glimpse of what the city was like from 1857 to 1877, when Taft was growing up here. The house remained the home of the Taft family for several more years, until 1889 when his father, Alphonso, and his wife moved to San Diego due to his declining health.
With a trip to the Taft birthplace you can learn more about the president than just that bathtub story. Plus you can ask the helpful rangers to help explain all the Taft connections in town. (They don’t get tired of answering those questions!)
William Howard Taft National Historic Site is at 2038 Auburn Avenue, one block south of Christ Hospital. It is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., self-guided tours of the Taft House are available every thirty minutes on the hour and half-hour.
Photo: NPS Photo / Tom Engberg
Isn’t It Romantic?
Don't forget Valentine's Dey! Keep it simple, and chocolate, with a gift from Aglamesis Brothers.
Chocolate Shop
Oakley Square
3046 Madison Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45209
(513) 531-5196
Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, 12 – 9 p.m.
Montgomery Square
9899 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
(513) 791-7082
Tuesday – Thursday, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m
Friday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.?
Sunday, 12– 8 p.m.
This weekend isn’t just the Super Bowl, it’s also the weekend before Valentine’s Day. Traditionally, couples would spend that time searching for cards, candy, and gifts, but this year they’ll be stocking up on chips, dips, and beer.
Since it is Valentine’s Dey in Cincinnati, a compromise may be in order. But don’t overthink it.
Jewelry? Awesome. (Unless your tastes don’t match)
Fancy dinner? Amazing. (If you can agree on a place.)
Spa day? Fantastic. (Someone needs to make the appointments and clear the schedules.)
Chocolate? Yes, please!
No one ever doesn’t want chocolate.
Aglamesis Brothers offers the best of both worlds to celebrate Valentine’s Dey with their tiger pecandes – caramel spread over chopped pecans topped with an AFC-winning color combo.
Make your Valentine a little more special, and lot more local, with a gift from, or better yet at trip to, Aglamesis Brothers.
A visit to the Oakley store, which opened in 1913, offers a whiff of nostalgia mixed with the sugar and chocolate. The charm of the tile floors and the old-fashioned marble bar, will make you feel like you’re having your soda in another time.
While in the shop, you will find chocolates in heart-shaped boxes just for Valentine’s Day but also an incredible selection of gourmet chocolates they have every day.
During the summer, stop by Aglamesis Brothers for small batch ice creams and their specialty, Italian ice. It is one of the only places in town you’ll find this delightful, fruity East Coast favorite!
On the Right Track
When you hop on the Cincinnati Bell Connector you not only get a free ride to great spots in downtown and OTR, now you can see a traveling art exhibition to celebrate the 2022 ArtsWave campaign.
Now is a great time to ride the Cincinnati Bell Connector. Not only does it beat walking or driving in Winter, you can also enjoy a traveling art exhibition, sponsored by ArtsWave in partnership with Cincinnati Bell and the City of Cincinnati.
The exhibition, and new streetcar wrap, coincide with the launch of ArtsWave’s 2022 Campaign. Now in its 73rd year, the campaign amasses vital donations each year that enable ArtsWave to make 150+ grants that fund the region’s arts and fuel community vibrancy. More than 300 businesses and tens of thousands of donors participate in the effort, the largest of its kind in the nation. Those donations are needed now more than ever, as local arts organizations are still grappling with almost two years of pandemic-related revenue losses totaling over $140 million.
The recently unveiled wrap on one of the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcars was created by Brent Billingsley. The artwork, WE ARE “HUE-MAN,” was the fan favorite among 20 designs submitted in response to ArtsWave’s call to artists, garnering 8,000 votes. Billingsley will receive a $2,500 grant from ArtsWave in recognition of his artistic contributions to the city.
For the streetcar design, Billingsley depicts three-year-old children with different skin colors finding joy in their shared humanity. The work speaks to the importance of the arts in connecting us, despite real or perceived differences. Billingsley is known for often involving community members and youth, in particular, in the execution of an artistic vision. The traveling art exhibition in the car’s interior features more of Billingsley’s work. The exhibition – the first of its kind for the Cincinnati Bell Connector – will remain installed in the streetcar through March 4.
ArtWave Campaign Chair XXXX, joined by Mayor Aftab Pureval and Campaign Vice Chair Sonya Walton, vice president of economic inclusion at Messer Construction Co., announced the goal for 2022 is $11.5 million, a 4% increase from the amount raised in 2021. “
This goal is our baseline,” he says. “We need everyone who cares about Cincinnati’s vitality and quality of life to come together now and help the arts – and our region – rebuild for a bright future.” To help secure support for the campaign, Steigerwald has created a cabinet of volunteer community leaders. To jumpstart this year’s efforts, Steigerwald has raised $500,000 from 22 pacesetting gifts. He is calling on the public to match this half-million dollars to create a one-million-dollar boost to the campaign with new or increased contributions over the next three months.A
Thoughout the campaign, ArtsWave plans other programs to engage the community , including the debut of CincyJams, sponsored by Accenture and taking place at the new Hard Rock Café on May 19. Like ArtsWave’s popular Cincy Sings corporate choral competition from past years, Cincy Jams invites musicians from companies and towns across the region to compete in a ‘Battle of the Bands’-type concert. More information about this event, plus exciting benefits for individual and corporate donors, can be found on ArtsWave’s website along with links to donate.
Up the Steaks
A steak from Jeff Ruby's is a must-do, can't-miss experience, perhaps now more than ever with the free Joe Burrow topper for take-home kits.
Can’t get enough of those Bengals, but feeling “lean and hung-a-ry”? Jeff Ruby to the rescue!
Jeff Ruby locations in Cincinnati are celebrating the Bengals playoff run by offering a complimentary Joe Burrow steak topper with every meal kit purchase.
The popular topper – a Creole crawfish sauce – is included FREE with all meal kits Friday through Sunday. Order online and have your own WHO DEY celebration in the privacy of your own home.
But dinner at one of Jeff Ruby’s restaurants – Jeff Ruby Steakhouse, The Precinct, and Carlo & Johnny – should be on the your Cincinnati to-do list. You’ll find award-winning steaks, fresh, seafood, and classic but well-crafted sides, all served with impeccable attention to detail.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, entertaining friends, or impressing work colleagues, treat yourself to a night out you won’t soon forget.
Waddle You Do?
Waddle you do? Join the Penguins on parade at the Zoo., that’s what!
While you’re busy complaining about the cold, the penguins at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden love this weather!
To prove it, they are holding a parade! From now through Feb. 28 you can see the King Penguin Parade every Friday through Sunday (and Monday, Feb. 21!) at 11 a.m. and 2: 30 p.m. However, it must be under 50 degrees for them to march, which shouldn’t be a problem right now!
Really want to get up-close-and-personal with a penguin? A 15-minute penguin encounter with a rockhopper or Magellanic penguin will take place on each non-holiday Monday at 11 a.m. at the Wings of the World Bird House.
Find out more at Penguin Parades.
