designcincinnati

tucker's video

Check out this cool video by Kelly Kruthauptabout of Tucker's Restaurant in Over-the-Rhine. Thanks to the handsome Ekalb for the link.

textural

I couldn't resist taking photos of all the textures at Cumin during a recent lunch outing...

click to enlarge

the unofficial design*sponge cincy city guide

Design*Sponge regularly accepts submissions for their series of city guides.
There isn't one for Cincinnati, so I thought I'd go ahead and write one
and submit it. I worked about a month on it. When I was satisfied, I
sent an email to Design*Sponge letting them know I'd like to submit it.
What do you know, someone beat me to it by a few days! Argh!

Anyways, here it is. Enjoy.

mmm, coffee

images from speckledbirdcafe.com

I am excited to try out the Speckled Bird Cafe in Norwood. It's close to Xavier, where I work, so it will be easy to visit. The cafe offers "good coffee in a unique environment." Check their hours before going as they are a bit different. Also, visit their blog.

green

It's cool to be green lately. So start riding your bike instead of driving your car, get your locally grown food at a farmer's market and start recycling all your crap.

• Keep your car at home and buy a bike or have your old one serviced. Go to Campus Cyclery near UC. BuyCincy wrote a nice article about their products and services.

• Everyone knows about Findley Market. But there are many other farmer's markets around the area. Drive your virtual hybrid car to cincinnatifarmersmarkets.org to find one near you. Don't forget to bring your cool reusable bag you bought at Park and Vine.

• Go to Live Green Cincinnati for information on how you can start living green.

• Once you have your new bike, some locally grown food and some fresh ideas of how to live green, go to one of the great local parks and have a picnic.

mmmmm...

It seems like lately everybody has been talking about the Belgian waffle guy at Findlay Market. I have been wanting to try them. So, I was happy to find their website today.

According to the website, "The dough of the Liège waffle is sweeter and denser than 'Belgian waffles' as we know them in the U.S. This waffle has a rich vanilla flavor and cooks up with a caramelized sugar coating on the outside, giving it a delightful sweetness."

You can find the waffles at Findlay Market on Fridays 9:30am-3pm, Saturdays 8am-4pm and Sundays 10am-3pm. The waffles are also made daily at The Coffee Shop on Madison in O'bryonville.

On Saturdays and Sundays they bake the waffles fresh at Pike Street Press in Covington, Pleasant Perk in Pleasant Ridge and Front Street Café in New Richmond.

Other local restaurants and coffee shops serve the waffles... Daveed's, Honey, Otto's, Lookout Joe, Mammoth Coffee, Enzo's, Coffee Emporium, Baba Budan's, Koka Coffee Lounge, Sidewinder, Bellevue Bistro and Essencha.

Yum!

grand openings

my first planned purchases at ikea | images from ikea.com

- 12 days and counting... My first purchase will be new dining table and chairs. And I wouldn't mind some new storage for all my knitting junk. Don't forget, if you don't like what you find there, you can always hack it.

For the latest info check out ohikea blog. Also, verybigjen on Flickr has some nice photos to get you even more excited.

- Lavomatic now open at 1211 Vine Street in OTR. "Lavomatic, touted as an urban French wine bar, draws on its history - the building is believed to have housed a Laundromat, and “Lavomatic” is a French word for Laundromat."

top ten

Cincinnati Magazine has released their annual restaurant list, dropping it from the top 25 to the top ten...

2008 Top 10 Restaurants

1. Boca
2. Jean Robert at Pigall's
3. Orchids at Palm Court
4. Nicola's
5. Slims
6. Jean Ro Bistro
7. Cumin
8. Jo An
9. Nectar
10. Daveed's at 934

I've been to six of the ten, most recently to Boca with Blake (blush). Out of those I've been to, I like Slims, Jean Ro and Jo An the best. It's been a while since I've been to any of those- I think that needs to change...

food and clothes... two of my favorites

- Nati Evolvement "clothing company [for] you and everyone around you. Prepare to join in. A forum for local creativity that evolves with the rest of the world and influences a vivid culture within. Created for the artistic community to represent themselves, our changing environment and promote future healthy growth. A platform from which to prosper and be heard as an individual and as a group. A platform which is rooted in Cincinnati."

It looks as though they are open to people submitting art for consideration... "Evolve, change, join in. Submit t-shirt designs. Get some recognition by being placed in our gallery. Pass along the downloads. Spread the word."

images from natievolvement.com | click to enlarge

- I want to check out Denim. I've never been...

- I also need to go to Nada. I have heard some good reviews and not so good. I need to make my own decision.

- I should splurge and go to Boca some night. Maybe with a group of friends. Maybe on a date... anyone know a nice, single man I can ask?

downtown

It's nice to read blog posts like this one about downtown's upswing. I was downtown a few weeks ago after midnight on a Saturday and there were people everywhere. It was pretty cool. I am going to try to go downtown at least once a month now so I can support everything that is happening and contribute to the momentum.

Now, if they could only get some decent retail downtown. H&M, where are you?!

Also, Boi na Braza and Cadillac Ranch are now open.

aglamesis

Okay, sure, everyone knows that Graeters has great ice cream, but have you been to Aglamesis Bros.? Aglamesis has great ice cream too, served in a actual dish (if you eat in) and the place has tons of old world character. While you're there check out the original Louis Comfort Tiffany lamps and marble counter tops. After your done, stroll over to Blue Manatee children's bookstore and café (for a darn good cappuccino).

Did you know? Bon Appetit magazine named Aglamesis Brothers as one of the last, authentic ice cream parlors remaining in the country.   

GiGi's Top 5 Flavors:
Cinnamon
Vanilla
Strawberry chip
Mocha chip
Banana chip

The classic thing to order at Aglamesis is a chocolate sincere soda with vanilla ice cream. Their "swiss raspberry" sundae can not be beat. It's real whipped cream, people! As far as the candy counter goes, dark chocolate turtles are the gold standard. Aglamesis has been making ice cream and chocolates "the sincere way" for almost 100 years!

meisterbrief

Check out Frieda's Bakery, which has, undoubtedly, the best croissants in Cincinnati--chocolate, plain or almond. They're all fab! Owner, Armin Hack, started dabbling in this art form as a child in his father's bakery. Armin received his "Meisterbrief", which allows him to carry the title "certified master baker". Regulations in Deutschland are so strict, that without a Meisterbrief it isn't possible to start a bakery. That's serious!

Located at 6927 Miami Ave. in Madeira, the bakery case at Frieda's is itself is a work of art. This is the place to pick up a mind blowing (and absolutely gorgeous) torte for that dinner party on Saturday night.

Buy your baked goods from a fourth-generation pastry chef. This man knows what's up.

espresso-rific

Top five spots for espresso in the 'nati by GiGi.

1 Brewtopia
270 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
A relatively new addition to the Ludlow strip, this little gem serves up one of the best cappuccinos in town. Tasty chocolate chip cookies and lunch plates are offered. They also do ice coffee drinks. Um...yum.

2 Café de Paris
17 Garfield Place, Downtown
3514 Erie Avenue, Hype Park East
Downtown restaurant has one powerful espresso machine. They also have fresh lunch options and little baklava-type deserts. I have not *yet* checked out the HP East location.

3 Sidewinder Coffee & Tea
4181 Hamilton Ave, Northside
Another great cappuccino spot--for more of a morning beverage. They aren't really open late. This place has a back room and backyard to enjoy in the summer.

4 Kaldi's Coffee House
1204 Main Street, Over-the-Rhine
Kaldi's is more than just a coffee house, they have a full bar, good draft beer selection, free entertainment, bookshelves of old books and superb people watching. Grab a draft beer or cappuccino down at Kaldi's! They know their 'spresso.

While your down on Main slip over to Shadeau Breads (1336 Main Street) for amazing breads, pizzas and sweet treats.

5 The Coffee Emporium
3316 Erie Avenue, Hyde Park East
110 East Central Parkway, Downtown
Amazing selection of coffee do-dads, beans and great cappuccino to boot. This place has a back patio (secluded, darling little spot), front patio (see and be seen--Labrador retriever optional) and upstairs room (quiet conversations). They also do frozen delights and have a nice tea selection. You can't go wrong with their berry, banana waffles and a capp on Sunday morning.

Bonus:
Mammoth Coffee
515 Monmouth Street, Newport
Okay, this isn't Cincinnati proper, but just a quick jaunt across the river and you've got yourself an amazing capp. Cool surroundings with couches, free wireless internet, games/magazines and sometimes art installations. Their slogan is "Proof that great coffee isn't extinct." Get it?

Do it yourself!
Seattle's Best, Illy, Lavazza Qualita Rossa and Brewtopia coffees are available at IGA on Ludlow. Get pumped.

mmm... chocolate

I keep driving by Marble Hill Chocolatier on Madison Road in the hip, but often forgotten O'Bryonville, and wanting to stop by. For a while they had wonderful poster-sized photos of models eating stylish chocolate hanging in the window that caught my graphic designer eye.

The chocolate is expensive, but I am sure it's very good. I also like that it's a locally owned company in the city center and not at some mall.

They have tastings that rage from $30 to $52, which might be a fun date. Maybe I could grab a friend and have some chocolate. Yum.

namaste

Check out Cumin's newly designed space...

"Cumin Indian Fusion Cuisine brings together dishes and techniques from all over the world, flavored from an Indian perspective."