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back up just a bit (and read, with just a lilt in yer ear...)...and it's amazin' -isn't it now -- how things starrrtt foldin' in on thenselves.????

Hi Neal It's great to hear all the compliments about the 'queen city'. I've lived here all my life and now I'm finishing my degree at U. of Cincinnati. I agree with the others who suggested that people were at parties with family & friends, or maybe everyone flocked to the cinema to escape the heat. Another thought is that many people went south (lake Cumberland, etc.) to go boating for the long weekend. On friday afternoon I-75 south was backed-up for miles! Interesting to hear the chili discussion--I've worked my way through college as a server at Skyline. People from out of town are surprised by the consistency of the chili and most either love it or hate it, as Kathy mentioned. Neal, did you try Graeter's ice cream while you were in town? Another home-town favorite... Bob-the stadium has unfortunately been re-named "Cinergy Field", and even though it was built in the 70's its replacement is now under construction. I guess it was just too old!!!!

Neal, I like your sense of adventure! But sounds like you got some bad info on Mt Adams. Mt. Adams does house the "arts" but there is much more to Cinti as others have mentioned. I would not recommend Mt. Adams except for the Art museum, Cincinnati Conservatory (excellent) and Eden Park. It is very difficult to find a parking place and the one way streets can be hard to navigate even to someone like me living here 30 some years. But from Mt. Adams, the view of the river and downtown is beautiful. Cinti is not big on outdoor dining as soon cities, but this is slowly changing. The most exclusive restaurant in Mt. Adams is the Celestial. You will need a tie and jacket for lunch or dinner. It’s located right next to Rookwood Pottery. Should you return for a second trip, may I suggest: Cincinnati Zoo - rated #2 zoo in the country; Sawyer Point Park on the River just east of Cinergy Field; Contemporary Arts center in downtown; Playhouse in the Park (Eden Park) Aronoff Center downtown with various national plays and events. The Taft Museum downtown (President Taft’s home has some fine art); The Museum Center hosts the Cinti Historical Society, the Natural History Museum - with a cavern with live bats, a Children’s Museum and an Omnimax Theater; In KY just across the river from downtown, the newly opened Newport Aquarium (that's where I was the 4th weekend); Lunch or dinner cruise on the Ohio; Live horse racing at Turfway Park or the beautiful River Downs (located near Sunlite Pool mentioned before); Surf Cincinnati and the Beach Waterpark both located north of Cinti; Lots of antique shop communities like Waynesville, Miamitown and Lebanon; Madison, IN Cinti has a great symphony, opera and Cincinnati Pops Parks - Winton Woods, Sharon Woods, Shawnee Lookout (a favorite of mine), Whitewater Forest, Big Bone Lick, KY - has mammoth remains; Old Man’s Cave Lakes - Brookville Lake Reservoir, IN; Caesar’s Creek, Hueston Woods Canoeing is very popular on the Whitewater and Little Miami Rivers. Two Riverboat Casinos located twenty minutes and forty minutes from downtown, in Indiana. Wonderful restaurants - the Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse - www.montgomeryinn.com; Mike Finks - located on a riverboat on the KY side of the river; The Precinct - www.theprecinctinc.com/ well known for their steaks; The Masonette - Cinti’s 5 star restaurant; La Normandy; and more. In the Fall, Cinti hosts two world class events: the annual Sept. Zinzinnati Octoberest, second only to the Octoberfest in Munich Germany and October’s Tall Stacks ‘99. Tall Stacks is a celebration of the steamboating era on the Ohio River. The only event like it in the world - www.tallstacks.com/. Happens every few years. Should you come again, please feel free to email me for info.

Well, I'm glad you made a new friend. That town is where I was raised, and it still warms the embers of my heart. A photo of it from across the river adorns my office at home. I've seen many towns that I've enjoyed, but my heart is there in those seven hills of Cincinnati. And as for Libby, your restaurant might be the Mike Fink (THE best place to shoot a photo of the city). And for the record, we were there this summer when it was 101 downtown, and 106 out at Lunken airport. What I call home is all on the east side of town, Mt. Washington and Cherry Grove.

Hey Neal, I'm glad you tried out our city! Cincinnati does have a lot to offer but unfortunately you didn't get to encounter our city's best-that being our friendly residents! Do me a favor and try Cincinnati again...this time try us when the Reds are in town and I can assure you that you will see some people-especially since Cincinnati native, Ken Griffey Jr. is back home! Along with Junior, I would list the following as Cincinnati's best: -Montgomery Inn ribs -The Maisonette(5 star cuisine) -The Cincinnatian hotel -The Gap Outlet (as in the Gap clothing store, email me for directions-it's great!) -Skyline Chili -University of Cincinnati Basketball -Graeter's Ice Cream -Pompillios (love the Coke in bottles) -Kings Island Amusement Park -LaRosa's Pizza

I'm amazed that throughout this entire thread no one ever took the time to explain Cincinatti chili. I'm from NY state and may have a few errors but the gist of it is this (btw, I welcome corrections) - A Greek restauranteur at some point (1950's or 60's?) made a concoction of finely ground beef and a tomato based sauce that had almost a hint of sweetness and a spiciness that came from cinnamon (and possibly some other spices but it is NOT hot and bears little resemblance to what most folks think of as chili). Its popularity spread and multiple choice developed as the method of serving. One way is just the chili. Two way serves it on a bed of plain boiled spaghetti, three way adds chopped onions, four way adds grated or shredded cheese (maybe yellow cheddar?) and I'll be darned if I can rember what five way is... Cincinnatians... help us out here!

Owen, If you will allow me to make a few corrections ---- Plain Cincinnati chili not a one-way, it is just called chili. There is no such thing as a 2-way. That would be called chili spaghetti. 3-way is spaghetti, chili and shredded cheddar cheese. 4-way adds either onions or beans. 5-way is a 3-way with onions & beans. Then you have coneys too - hot dog bun, hot dog, chili, cheese with or without mustard and onion! Check out my favorite at www.skylinechili.com - you can get the history lesson and order skyline chili online! Rumor has it that Cincinnati chili also has chocolate in it!

Geez Owen, I THOUGHT I tried to esplain Cincy chili way back in July: Author: dave ([email protected]) Date: 7/07/1999, 6:39 pm ET Message: Al, Yes it's true. Now, you've got to understand, "this is not your mother's chili", nor is it southwest or texmex chili, nor is it anything like you've ever seen or tasted in any of a million chili cook-offs around the country. There are several "ways" to order Cincinnati chili: 3-way, 4-way, 5-way. The most popular, I believe, is 3-way, which is chili, with grated cheese, all ON a bed of spaghetti noodles, usually served in an oval dish(bowl). 4-way adds onion. 5-way adds beans. There may be variations of this formula, so don't string me up if I'm a little off. Now the flavor. In it's basic form, Cincy Chili is NOT spicy, i.e. hot, like texmex. (there usually is some form of pepper sauce on the table to add.) The standard recipe includes the usual ingredients (beef, onion, tomato paste, etc) but it also adds extras, like cinnamon, allspice, and unsweetened COCOA. The taste does actually lean toward the sweet, rather than the usual chili flavor. I would say it's "ok", and I have not yet developed a craving. I actualy think the chili is actually much better on a coney type chili dog.

Wow! A whole forum on Cincinnati Chili! Might I suggest a nice glass of red cream soda to go with that....I like a 3-way myself. Ron, 14K Hudepohl still exists, as does Burger Beer - Hude makes a fine light beer if I say so myself. And good mercy, what would a discussion about Cincinnati cuisine be without a plug for LaRosa's pizza? Man, I may have to drive back next weekend!

Man, I should never have gotten onto this forum. Now I'm craving Skyline sooo much. Lynne gives the best description of the proper lingo. Nobody orders just plain chili, at the least you get chili-spaghetti. I bring a cooler everytime I visit Cincinnati so I can bring home boxes of frozen chili. Always buy just the chili frozen (no spag included). You can cook your own spaghetti, pour the chili over it, add some onions and shredded cheddar and you're almost there. Oh, and how can I forget oyster crackers. Toss a few oyster crackers on top. Follow it up with a York Peppermint Patty and you might as well be at the corner of Ludlow and MacMillan. Wish I was there right now. Don't bother with the canned Skyline, it's not very good. Did they ever rebuild the Montgomery Inn on Beechmont Avenue? I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Blind Lemon or the Pavilion in Mt. Adams, my two favorite bars. They don't have food I know, but a few beers on their great patios and who needs food? I never miss Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. And The Basilica of the Assumption in Covington is my favorite church. All my best to everyone in Cincy. And if you've never been there, you should go!

Hey Erica! You can buy frozen skyline chili now! It's pretty darn good! Can't beat the Montgomery Inn for Ribs!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about them.

Thanks for the heads-up BuckeyeChuck. I've been buying frozen Skyline since I left Ohio State for St. Lou. It is pretty darn good. Not as good as being there though. I've read that you can have Mont. Inn ribs, Skyline and Graeters delivered to you in dry ice - for a very hefty price of course. I won't let my brother in the house when he visits until he hands over the cooler full of Skyline!

I just have to tell you that I came across your email about Cinti., where I have lived all my life ( 48 Yrs) 1st, Mark McGuire plays for St. Louis, sammy plays for chicago, and our downtown has been dead for YEARS!!!!! we do have Griffey Jr. now, but you are right, downtown is sad, and it still is today, almost a yr. after your note. Glad you had a good time though.