Cincinnati Magazine - July 2026 Edition

THE COST TO IMMIGRANTS OF LIVING AFRAID

by Alexandra Frost

BLACK OPERA GOES FUTURE FORWARD by

Aiesha D. Little

OUR CITY OF IMMIGRANTS

What the modern immigration experience looks like in the Queen City.

Anna Luning, CNP

Anna joined the Mona Dermatology team in 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Exercise Science from The Ohio State University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati.

Favorites:

◊ Favorite Treatment: Botox

◊ Favorite Product: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum

Taylor Wojniak, CNP

Taylor joined the Mona Dermatology team in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Science in Nursing from Northern Kentucky University.

Favorites:

◊ Favorite Treatment: Fraxel Dual Laser

◊ Favorite Product: TNS Advanced+ Serum

Behind the Scenes

Meet Our Dermatology Nurse Practitioners

Why did you choose Dermatology as compared to other specialties?

Anna: I chose dermatology because it offers a unique balance of medicine, patient connection, and visible results. Skin conditions can affect so much more than appearance—they often impact confidence, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. I was drawn to a specialty where I could help patients feel better both physically and emotionally by improving and maintaining healthy skin. What I love most about dermatology is the diversity within the field. Every day is different, from diagnosing complex skin conditions to educating patients on prevention and skincare. It’s also a specialty that is constantly evolving, which has kept me passionate and motivated throughout my nine years as a dermatology nurse practitioner.

What education and training are needed to become a Nurse Practitioner?

Taylor: The typical path to becoming a nurse practitioner begins with obtaining a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. After completing a BSN, many registered nurses (RNs) gain valuable clinical experience by working in hospital or outpatient settings and providing direct patient care.

There are two graduate-level educational pathways to becoming a nurse practitioner. The first is earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, which typically requires an additional two to three years of schooling. The second is completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, which generally takes three to four years. Following graduate school, candidates must pass a national certification exam and obtain state licensure before beginning practice as a nurse practitioner.

NP training is dependent on the specialty and clinical setting in which you work. Personally,

after completing my MSN and becoming a boardcertified nurse practitioner, I began on-the-job training with Dr. Mona. For six months, I worked alongside Dr. Mona, caring for medical, cosmetic, and surgical patients. Following that training period, I transitioned into independently seeing and managing my own patients.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Brooke: The field of dermatology is particularly unique in the sense that patient outcomes can be measured visually. Since the majority of the patients we serve are under our long-term care, we are able to track results and witness the impact that we make in people’s lives. The emotional benefits of restoring lost confidence by treating acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions are incredibly rewarding. Helping individuals meet their aesthetic goals through cosmetic treatments is equally gratifying.

This speciality requires consistent problemsolving, thoroughness, and critical thinking on a day-to-day basis. I enjoy the challenge of identifying and managing a peculiar rash, but nothing brings greater joy than finding a skin cancer in its earliest stage. I am also passionate about sharing my knowledge and educating the public on proper skin care and skin cancer prevention.

What

advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career as an NP or in Dermatology?

Emi: First, build a strong clinical foundation. Gaining solid nursing experience early on helps develop confidence, critical thinking skills, and a broader understanding of patient care and the medical profession as a whole. I would also encourage them to get as much exposure to dermatology as possible through shadowing opportunities, clinical experiences, or working as a nurse within the specialty. Hands-on experience can provide valuable insight into the field and help confirm whether dermatology is the right fit for them professionally and personally.

Brooke Stinnette, CNP

Brooke joined the Mona Dermatology team as a Registered Nurse in 2019. She has since advanced to Certified Nurse Practitioner and joined our provider team in 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati.

Favorites:

◊Favorite Treatment: HALO Laser

◊Favorite Product: Alastin HA Immerse Serum

Emi Dougherty, CNP

Emi joined the Mona Dermatology team as a Registered Nurse in 2021. She has since advanced to Certified Nurse Practitioner and joined our provider team in 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kettering College and a Master of Science in Nursing from Northern Kentucky University.

Favorites:

◊Favorite Treatment: BBL Hero

◊Favorite Product: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Acne Treatment

P. 36

OUR CITY OF IMMIGRANTS

Immigrants continue to bring their diverse voices and traditions to our region. Here’s what their experience looks like in the Queen City today.

THE COST OF LIVING AFRAID P. 48

Valeria Strunk—meatal health therapist, immigrant, and mom—shares the toll living in today’s culture takes on her and Cincinnati’s children.

BY ALEXANDRA FROST

FUTURE FORWARD P. 52

Cincinnati Opera embarks on an Afrofuturistic journey with the premiere of Lalovavi, the lead production in The Black Opera Project.

/ CONTRIBUTORS

12 / LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

FRONTLINES

17 / DISPATCH

Miles Robinson’s path to playing in the FIFA World Cup

18 / SPEAK EASY

The Lacheys’ label•less takes the stage in New York

18 / MUSIC

John Mellencamp at Riverbend

20 / HOMEGROWN

Authentic Mexican accessories at Dahlia Fair Trade

22 / STYLE COUNSEL

Insight from the costume department

23 / ESCAPE

A family vacation in North Myrtle Beach

24 / ON THE MARKET

A rich ranch in Indian Hill

26 / DR. KNOW

Your QC questions answered

COLUMNS

28 / WELCOME TO MIDDLEHOOD

You can’t argue with teenagers BY JUDI

KETTELER

88 / OBSCURA

Mt. Storm Park’s salvaged temple BY CLAIRE LEFTON

DINE

70 / DINING OUT

A taste of Spain at Etxe

72 / TAKEOUT HERO

Brassica’s build-your-own Mediterranean

72 / TABLESIDE

Former local sportscaster turned cooking influencer

74 / BAR BITES

Girl dinner at Prim, downtown

76 / HEAD TO HEAD

Who has the best matcha?

80 / DINING GUIDE

Greater Cincinnati restaurants: A selective list

Extra servings of our outstanding dining coverage.

Decoding our civic DNA, from history to politics to personalities.

ON THE COVER collage by JESSICA DUNHAM

photographs by STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Tracking what’s new in local real estate, artisans, and storefronts.

Insight and analysis on the Reds and the World Cup.

ROCK ISLAND

Little Miami River Chamber Alliance

2026-2027 Membership Directory and Resource Guide

Discover what makes the City of Loveland and Symmes and Miami townships a mustvisit region.

Health Watch Women’s Health

From general care to cancer treatment, local care providers are dedicated to supporting women’s health at any stage. Learn more about how OHC and The Christ Hospital Health Network are helping women across the region.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Fox

DESIGN DIRECTOR Brittany Dexter

DIRECTOR

Amanda Boyd Walters

Aiesha D. Little

ASSOCIATE

Balcom

Claire Lefton

Brianna Connock

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Carrie Blackmore, Jay Gilbert, Lisa Murtha, Laurie Pike, John Stowell, Linda Vaccariello, Jenny Wohlfarth, J. Kevin Wolfe

EDITORIAL INTERNS Helena Hennessy, Hannah Kremer, Zachary Shultz, Lauren Stidham

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Emi Villavicencio

ART DIRECTORS Jessica Dunham, Stef Hadiwidjaja

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Matthew Spoleti

MARKETING DESIGNER Mikayla Dixon

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR & IT SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR Vu Luong

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Lance Adkins, Hailey Bollinger, Andrew Doench, Devyn Glista, HATSUE, Chris von Holle, Jeremy Kramer, Ryan Kurtz, Lars Leetaru, Marlene Rounds, Jonny Ruzzo, Dola Sun, Catherine Grace

PUBLISHER Ivy Bayer

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Tony Frank

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Maggie Wint Goecke, Joe Hoffecker, Julie Poyer

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SENIOR OUTSIDE ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

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ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

Sarah Riesenberger

VICE PRESIDENT OF EVENTS AND SPONSORSHIP SALES

Tasha Stapleton

EVENTS ASSISTANT

Charlie Jaeb

BUSINESS

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Missy Beiting

BUSINESS COORDINATOR Meredith Carroll

CIRCULATION

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Geralyn Wilson

CIRCULATION MANAGER Riley Meyers

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*MAY 2024

RUSSIAN GIANTS | CONCERT

Sept. 15

BRIGADOON IN CONCERT | WITH MUSICAL THEATRE SINGERS

Sept. 25-26

INTIMATE APPAREL | PLAY

Oct. 1-3

LA BOHÈME | OPERA

Oct. 29-31

Experience tomorrow’s PERFORMING & MEDIA ARTS stars today

Performance dates and details subject to change. UC College-Conservatory of Music’s 2026-27 performance season highlights

RENT | MUSICAL

Nov. 12-14

DUKE ELLINGTON’S JAZZ NUTCRACKER | CONCERT

Learn more about our upcoming season and purchase tickets online at ccm.uc.edu/onstage Questions? Email boxoff@uc.edu

Nov. 22

FEAST OF CAROLS | CONCERT

Dec. 5-6

CABARET | MUSICAL

March 4-6

STAR WARS X THE PLANETS | CONCERT

April 6

This is just a small preview of what’s coming up next at CCM!

E

EVERY PERSON READING THIS LETTER AND EVERY PERSON IN CINCINNATI TODAY is descended from an immigrant. Archeologists say that no form of human species existed in our neck of the woods at the time life first sprouted on Earth. Even the Native tribes living here when European settlers first arrived are descended from people who likely immigrated from Asia.

If you want to go back further, early humans evolved in Africa and migrated outward to populate the world. For those who believe in Biblical traditions, Adam and Eve were the original immigrants.

Some of us trace our lineage back to people who came to the U.S. against their will as slaves, and some of us descend from people fleeing religious or political persecution. A good many of us exist simply because 10 or 100 or 1,000 or 10,000 years ago people left their homes seeking food, shelter, work, love, and/or opportunity in a new land. The story has been repeated millions or billions of times throughout human history, forming the world we occupy today.

I remember distinctly standing in a big courtroom as a child watching my mother get sworn in as a new U.S. citizen. I recall stories from both sets of grandparents about why and how they immigrated to America. They rarely talked about their home countries, and I always got the sense they felt a bit of regret leaving family and friends behind to seek new lives here. They never shared those emotions with us children, though, only positive thoughts about their adopted country.

As you’ll see in “Our City of Immigrants” (page 36), Cincinnati is in many ways a welcoming place for immigrants today. Perhaps a town known for its German heritage and its role in the Underground Railroad naturally embraces newcomers. I’d like to think we all share some DNA that subconsciously reminds us of our connections. Each of us journeyed to a new land and a new life—whether we’ve done it ourselves or one of our ancient ancestors did—and I hope that shared experience provides us the grace and the humanity necessary for welcoming the next immigrant.

JOHN FOX EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CONTRIBUTORS

Senior EditorAiesha D. Little has been a passionate consumer of opera for the last 25 years. In “Future Forward” (page 52), she pieces together the story behind the creation of Lalovavi, an Afrofuturist production that commences Cincinnati Opera’s groundbreaking new The Black Opera Project. Little hopes the production has “far-reaching effects” for the future of opera and brings the grandeur audiences expect from the art form.

Contributing writer Alexandra Frost captures the modern-day immigrant experience in a conversation with children’s mental health therapist Valeria Strunk (page 48). “She had her own personal story of emigrating from Brazil and a professional story helping children with mental health conditions and issues in the immigrant community,” says Frost, who believes that the stories of immigrants in Cincinnati often go untold. “I was drawn to that twofold.”

Eugenia Mello is a Brooklyn-based artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and felt a sense of connection when illustrating “The Cost of Living Afraid” (page 48). For the story, Mello aims to highlight the voices of immigrant children experiencing fear and uncertainty amid the immigration crackdown in the U.S., portraying their emotions by using vivid colors and abstract shapes. “Their stories belong,” she says.

CONGRATULATIONS SEVEN HILLS

CLASS 2026

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Daniela Alper

Calvin Armstrong

Nathan Asfaw

Ethan Avera

Claire Bachelder

Sai Basava

Jiya Bikhchandani

Jon Boehm

Kennedy Brewer

Thibaut Briquet

Vivian Brown

Charlotte Buchholz

Jasper Burroughs

Laikyn Burton

Cam Castillo

Rhys Ceron

Abhinav Chandra

Alisha Chaudhary

Mikael Choi

Siddhant Chunduri

Evelyn Cooper

Maya Dant

Tom DeBlasio

Valarie Deyer

Elliot Domet

Sabrina Lee-Donovan

Charles Dubay

Amara Duke de Lanerolle

Thurmund Ellison

Malcolm Faison

Maxwell Faison

Colin Froehle

Lily Plum Gartenlaub

Miranda Green

Paul Gubanich

Grace Guminey

Halsey Ha-Martinez

Nina Head

Evelyn Horner

Tyler Imrie

Gitanjali Iyer

Vaughn Iyoha

Madeline Jordan

Caleb Katz

Grace Kennedy

Elizabeth Klocek

Neal Kohli

Nikhil Kohli

Eleanor Kohnen

Elizabeth Krause

Amara Kulkarni

Rohan Kulkarni

Margaret Kunkel

Lamari Lewis

Graham Maeder

Nicolas Mayoral

Nora McAndrew

Brendan McLaughlin

Faith McLennan

Colin McNerney

Siena Motch

George Mullin

Aditya Nayak

Hannah Olowokure

Griffin Osher

Madhav Pabreja

Audrie Palmer

Greg Richardson

Aiden Riley

Noah Ring

Miles Rizor

Victoria Rodriguez

Estelle Rose

Martha Rubenstein

Luke Samaha

Adam Schaefer

Amelia Schnirring

Avani Shah

Lauren Smith

Nell Tlozek

Felipe Valdivia Chavez

Rose Vecellio

Maria Voronov

Ila Wall

Isabella Wang

Davion Washington

Matthew Wiles

Gordon Yu

Harrison Zhang

Lemuel Zyyon

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MILES MANIA

FCC defender Miles Robinson is on the U.S. men’s World Cup team. How did he get there, and where’s he going next? GRANT FREKING

ILES ROBINSON WAS BORN AND raised in the suburbs of Boston, played college soccer in upstate New York and spent his first seven professional seasons in Atlanta. But as the first active FC Cincinnati player to make a World Cup roster on the U.S. men’s national team, the defender now occupies rarefied sporting air in the Queen City.

“It gives me energy and strength to think that people who are from here can look at me and see themselves in me, or can get even more excited about the national team—because someone who represents Cincinnati is also representing the country,” Robinson said in early May, before being named to the USMNT for the 2026 FIFA World Cup later in the month.

Robinson’s achievement fulfills a career-long dream and adds a jubilant peak to an up-and-down odyssey with the national team. The road began with multiple youth team callups ahead of his first senior team cap in September 2019. Robinson’s strong form made him a senior team first stringer in 2021, when he started all six Gold Cup matches and scored the winning goal in the tournament final against Mexico. CONTINUED ON P. 18

Robinson’s rise continued during 2022 World Cup qualifying; he started 11 of the Americans’ 14 matches.

But on May 7, 2022, less than two months after the U.S. clinched its first World Cup berth since 2014 and just six months before the tournament began, Robinson ruptured his left Achilles tendon during a match with his club team, Atlanta United. “The injury brought a downward spiral for a bit, but it just led me in this direction to where I’m enjoying my career and my path,” he says.

The 29 year old recovered enough to represent the U.S. at its three biggest pre-2026 World Cup tournaments: the 2024 Copa América, the 2024 Summer Olympics, and the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. But concerns resurfaced in March when a groin injury forced him to miss key friendlies against European powers Belgium and Portugal. Ongoing leg issues affected his early-season availability with FC Cincinnati, casting doubt on his fitness for the World Cup.

third campaign with FCC. He was a shock free agent signing in January 2024 when he swapped Atlanta’s Five Stripes for the Orange and Blue. He chose Cincinnati again last September—months before his contract expired—when he inked a contract extension through 2027. The new deal enshrined Robinson, an AllStar in each of his first two seasons in Cincinnati, as one of the club’s three permitted Designated Players for 2026. MLS clubs rarely delegate DP slots to center backs—only two did in 2025—but FCC’s strategy reflects a belief that Robinson will remain one of MLS’s top defenders as he enters his 30s.

The U.S. played its first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium. After a month of play, tournament finals will conclude on July 19.

In the end, Robinson earned his place among the game’s elite. He’s a member of a World Cup roster, a feat precious few American players have attained. “For me, it’s a stepping stone of where I see myself in the future and where I want to continue to push forward in my soccer career and how I view myself as a human. It’s one of those things that will always make me proud throughout my life and give me confidence,” he says.

Robinson is also in the midst of his

Choosing Cincinnati is one of a handful of defining moments in Robinson’s career. First, he spent his youth career with the Boston Bolts, Massachusetts’s oldest soccer club, instead of the New England Revolution’s academy. He turned pro after two seasons at Syracuse University, becoming the second overall selection by Atlanta in the 2017 SuperDraft. And then he chose Cincinnati over countless other options at home and abroad as a free agent.

Robinson’s FC Cincinnati legacy may never match the main character energy of former MVP Lucho Acosta or evoke the hometown pride attached to West Chester native Nick Hagglund. But as the first FCC player to reach the sport’s grandest stage, Robinson now belongs to the city’s sporting fabric—carrying his career path and his adopted city with him.

THE GREATEST HITS

John Mellencamp hits the stage July 19 at Riverbend Music Center as part of his Dancing Words Tour, featuring the pioneer of heartland rock’s most beloved songs, including “Jack & Diane,” “Pink Houses,” and “Hurts So Good.” riverbend.org

Creators and directors Drew and Lea Lachey began their musical passion project, label•less, in Cincinnati eight years ago. The 90-minute production tackles real-world issues experienced by the performers themselves, from discrimination to identity, including race, gender, sexuality, and mental health. Since its inception, it has seen massive success, with an off-Broadway run currently underway in New York. The Lacheys reflect on how the show has changed over time and the continued significance of “seeing beyond labels.”

Have themes of discrimination and identity in your musical changed in interpretation over time? LEA LACHEY: Absolutely, yes. I think what makes the show unique and interesting is the fact that we constantly have our hands around it, trying to stay on target with what is going on and what is relevant in that time.

How do you navigate portraying the performer’s true stories while giving them agency to tell them?

DREW LACHEY: It’s sitting down, talking with them, figuring out what they want the world to

know about their life experiences. I then shape that into a monologue so it has cadence, rhythm to it, and a flow that feels cohesive. We go back and forth until we’re sure that it’s telling the story that they want to tell.

Has label•less changed your perspective on our world, and what feelings has it evoked? LL: I am a different person than when I started this process eight years ago. I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned is to listen. I think a lot of times people are so quick to talk and get their point across, and if we listen, we can learn so much from these components of the show.

What do you hope audiences will walk away with when they come to watch your show? DL: We hope that the audience takes away the same things that we’ve taken away from being a part of it. We are all more similar than we are different. We all have more room for empathy and compassion in our lives. We are all able to coexist together in a way that is loving, full of support, and generosity.

—HANNAH KREMER

READ A LONGER INTERVIEW WITH DREW AND LEA AT CINCINNATI MAGAZINE.COM

WITH LOVE, FROM MEXICO

SOMETIMES, YOU NEED TO SEE SOMETHING THROUGH ANOTHER PERSON’S EYES TO REMEMBER JUST HOW SPECIAL IT IS. —JACLYN YOUHANA GARVER

MELISSA WIRTH GREW UP IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO, ABOUT TWO OR three hours from the U.S. border. Local art pieces became almost part of the scenery: earrings and hairclips with intricate, beaded patterns; totes embroidered with bold, bright flowers; handcrafted, embossed leather bags.

Today, Wirth not only sees how special those items are—she sells them. She runs Dahlia Fair Trade, a virtual shop with handembroidered stuffed animals and totes, painted wooden teacups, beaded earrings and hair clips, sterling silver jewelry, and embossed

me to know what to give to my in-laws,” she says. “My husband really appreciated all the Mexican art way more than me. I guess I was very used to it. He just told me, ‘You should bring them gifts from there.’ ” So, she picked up hand-beaded purses and bracelets. “They were all amazed,” she says of her in-laws.

“After that Christmas, I kept thinking, ‘Wait. I don’t see a lot of that kind of art in Cincinnati.’ ”

She began working on Dahlia Fair Trade the following year, in 2022, to bring a bit of Mexico to southwest Ohio.

Dahlia is sold online and at area craft fairs like the monthly O.F.F. Market in Blue Ash this summer. Folks can also follow Melissa on Instagram @dahliafairtrade, where she recently posted a video answering a common question she gets from buyers concerned about cultural appropriation:

“Am I allowed to wear this?” Wirth responds with an emphatic yes. She puts herself in her makers’ shoes:

leather purses. She works with four different families in Mexico, importing all her items from regions known for different handicrafts, such as silversmithing or hand-beaded items.

It all started with a Christmas gift. Wirth lives in Harrison with her husband and two children. She’s been in the U.S. for seven years, and the first time she really saw Mexican art was thanks to her husband’s family.

“During Christmas, it was hard for

BEADED EARRINGS, $35

1

These handmade earrings are made with seed beads from Chiapas.

CUFF, $665

Silversmiths in Taxco, known for its silver jewelry production, crafted this elaborate sterling cuff.

2

“We wouldn’t sell you anything that would disrespect us. This is how [my suppliers] make their livelihood,” she adds. “Of course they want to sell the items.”

There’s personal meaning, too, to sharing a piece of her culture. “A lot of my friends have shared a lot of American culture,” she says. “It’s just fun for me to share a little bit of mine.”

DAHLIAFAIRTRADE. COM

WOOL SKULL, $130

3

This large, colorful skull was felted with handmade wool in Chiapas.

LEATHER PURSE, $137

This purse is made with handtooled cowhide leather from Leon Guanajuato.

4

Celeste JacksonMoody

OCCUPATION: UC College-Conservatory of Music costume shop manager

STYLE: Eclectic, bold, variable, like a chameleon

How does your personal style compare to your background in costuming? I don’t have a background in theater or in costuming—I actually have a background in art history and museum studies. When I transitioned into costuming for theater, it’s all about storytelling with clothes, so I already understood the language. Do you have any favorites in fashion right now— favorite pieces or brands you’ve been wearing a lot? I am a huge fan of a one piece, a romper. I’m very tall and so finding something that I can just throw on and be done with is always exciting. Wildfang and Mixed by Nasrin are great for a romper. I do have to admit I shop fast fashion, still. I’m trying to break the habit, but I love me some Fashion Nova. Is there anything you feel that people misunderstand about your career in costuming and design? We spend so much of our time digging through big closets of clothes that have been crammed in there forever. We spend time cleaning up old shoes. We spend time sewing and snipping, and it’s dusty and it’s dirty. It’s not as cute as people want to imagine it is, but it’s a wonderful place to be. What does someone’s personal style say about them? I think, for most of us, our style is aspirational. That idea of faking it until you make it, get up in the morning, put on the clothes, make yourself who you need to be for the day. I do, oftentimes, think of it as armor. We’re going into battle every day, we have to get ourselves ready, gird our loins, as it were. I do think we dress up if we’re trying to figure out who we are in our lives. —HELENA HENNESSY

MEMORIES OF MYRTLE

The year was 1990, and at just 3 years old, I made my first trip to Myrtle Beach. I may not remember it, but I sure remember returning every summer for the next 25 years. I’m not alone in this tradition— Myrtle has become a staple of Cincinnatians’ beach travel. It’s not too far to have some fun on the water from midApril through October, give or take hurricane season. But what most Cincin-

popular company in the North Myrtle real estate scene. It offers a mix of smaller beach houses and larger ones you can share with a few close family friends.

Our rental, Antigua Sunrise, featured its own private pool and was just a few steps from the beach. I learned from this trip that a private pool where some people can swim while others sleep in is more relaxing. There are fewer high rises and more clean, safe neighborhoods.

MORE NATURE, LESS TOURISM

For some, Myrtle might conjure images of calabash seafood, billboards, traffic, and oversaturated tourist destinations. Not only has the entire area gotten a refresh, though, but North Myrtle feels like a whole different destination.

Melt ice cream shop after dinner, whose line out the door was warranted.

While most childhood trips probably included the staple Broadway at the Beach, we found some fun activities, restaurants, and a lifesaving, energy-burning playground at Barefoot Landing

Antigua Sunrise 208 N. 54th Ave., elliottbeachrentals.com

Inlet Point Plantation Stables 5800 Little River Neck Rd., inletpointplantation.com

—ALEXANDRA FROST

natians don’t know is that the nostalgic Myrtle of the past has gotten a glow-up. While you might remember the boardwalk, Ferris wheel, ice cream shop, and shark teeth hunting, there’s a whole host of other reasons to check it out this year, especially if you head toward North Myrtle Beach.

WHERE TO STAY

Beach Rentals is a

At the heart of this part of the city is nature. A large beach renourishment project was recently completed. Inlet Point Plantation Stables offers horseback riding right on the deserted beaches of Waites Island. A surprisingly exhilarating and not-at-alltouristy Dolphin Cruise out at sea was a highlight for the kids, who came back soaked and smiling.

FOR THE KIDS

We leveled up our usual seafood buffet with Boardwalk Billy’s, which had an outdoor sandpit and play place for kids, a bar for the adults, a marina view, and impressive food. This was the only food of the week that the adults enjoyed in peace, aside from a stop at

In the same area, we almost skipped Alligator Adventure, fearing it would be a tourist trap, but it ended up being a cute, educational, and safe mini-zoo that let my youngsters get close to alligators, snakes, and capybaras. But of course, my son would say the highlight of the trip was winning headphones at Lulu’s Beach Arcade.

Dolphin Cruises Little River, myrtlebeach dolphincruises.com

Boardwalk Billy’s 1407 N. 13th Ave., boardwalkbillysnmb.com

Barefoot Landing 4898 S. Hwy. 17, bflanding.com

IF YOU AREN’T A FAN OF PIGEON FORGE AND THE NEARBY GATLINBURG AREA, YOU ARE missing out on a well-kept secret that outperforms a typical hotel stay fourand-a-half hours into the 11-hour trip to Myrtle.

From hiking and swimming to ice cream and more, Sevierville’s Oak Haven Resort is the luxury pit stop you and your kids need. —A.F.

Oak Haven Resort (197 Old Knoxville Hwy., Sevierville, oakhavenresort.com) is an overnight cabin stop with a pool, spa, and mountainous hiking that’s still fun for little kids, which will make you wish you’d built a few more days into your halfway stop.

Plan for a leisurely brunch at The Apple Barn & Cider Mill (230 Apple Valley Rd., Sevierville, applebarncidermill.com), which is a working apple orchard, bakery, winery, ice cream and candy shop where you can watch treats being made—and get some to take on the rest of your drive.

RICH RANCH

A 1970S RANCH WITH CONTEMPORARY FINISHES SITS ON MORE THAN THREE ACRES IN INDIAN HILL.

—JEANA HARRIS

TTHERE’S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT—INDIAN Hill’s amenities are abundant, from Turner Farm to the Indian Hill Winter Club to fabulous parks and hiking trails, topped off by an easy 15-minute drive to downtown. Though its beginnings as a farm community were humble, it slowly morphed into a weekend playground for Cincy’s crème de la crème in the early 1900s, until permanent roots were planted, and grand estates began to pepper the hillsides.

Not all homes in the area are sprawling mansions, though. On a nearly threeand-a-half-acre lot lies a vibrant, modern, 1970s-era gem at 8425 Kugler Mill Rd. Sheltered by a dense canopy of trees, it’s nearly invisible from the road. Upon approach, this appears to be a sleek, yet

unassuming, gray ranch. That little ruse holds until you pass through the front door and are greeted by gobs of natural light streaming through a floor-toceiling window stretching between the main and lower levels. Business in the front, party in the back.

The entire rear of the house is a celebration of the lot’s natural beauty. Perfectly executed for unobstructed views of the meandering creek and mature trees, it’s a testament to the power of thoughtful design. Multiple decks, a patio, and the front porch offer ample al fresco opportunities.

Throughout the nearly 2,700-squarefoot floor plan, the vibe feels fresh and energized. Contemporary finishes, like the kitchen’s custom concrete island and stainless-steel cabinets, pair with the warm natural texture of hardwood floors and wood accent walls to create a space that’s effortlessly cool but instantly welcoming.

A (nearly) all-white palette serves as a backdrop for the kaleidoscope of color provided by Mother Nature across every season. Each room, including the three bedrooms, maximizes views in such a way that daily life inside the home becomes an immersive experience. Four bathrooms round out the count. The lower-level stuns with architectural features, plus additional family room and flex space.

QDr. Know is Jay Gilbert, radio personality and advertising prankster. Submit your questions about the city’s peculiarities at drknow@cincinnati magazine.com

namite in the building,” said Cincinnati’s building inspector), and several tragic incidents forced the exchanges to move away from downtown. Cincinnati’s companies clustered near Central Parkway and Liberty Street, earning the nickname “Film Row.” And so those new apartments in our May issue once had more movies inside them than 1,000 Netflix & Chill subscriptions.

Check our February 2023 issue for the bizarre story of when Cincinnati did flirt with becoming “The Hollywood of the Midwest.” A grand plan in 1915 for turning 100 acres into a lavish movie production facility turned out to be a grand fraud. Today, though, as Hollywood increasingly avoids Hollywood itself when filming, Cincinnati has become a director’s destination. Lots of movie star sightings, but without the explosions.

When I see old pictures of the original Fountain Square, they show the fountain in the middle of a block-long oval. The shape is absolutely nothing like a square. So why wasn’t it named Fountain Place or Fountain Park or something else? Who decided to call it a Square? —BENT OUT OF SHAPE

DEAR BENT:

AThe May issue of CincinnatiMagazine had a nice pictorial of new apartments in a part of Over-the-Rhine that used to be called Filmer’s Row. Was Cincinnati a Midwest branch of Hollywood long ago? Was there even more location filming here than happens now? —AAAND, ACTION!

DEAR AAAND:

Cincinnati was once Hollywood’s “Midwest branch” only in the sense of storing and distributing the thousands of giant reels that theaters projected, rewound, and returned. These “film exchanges” originally operated in downtowns in U.S. cities, but soon were banned because their offices kept exploding. Literally.

Early film was insanely flammable (“They might as well store dy-

In 1870, when the Tyler Davidson Fountain was under construction almost 5,000 miles away and its arrival in Cincinnati was less than two years away, Cincinnatians were already describing its future home as Fountain Square. That’s who decided on the name: Just about everybody. City officials were calling it Probasco Place, after its wealthy benefactor, and sneered at those who described it as “socalled Fountain Square.”

But the people had spoken. As a separate argument, the fountain itself had its own identity crisis, sporting names like The Genius of Water, Davidson Monument, Probasco-Davidson Fountain. A major rehab in 1969 finally gave the setting an agreedupon moniker: Fountain Square Plaza. It even had some right-angle corners.

If the original name still bothers you, try cruising past Oakley Square sometime. Or St. Lawrence Corner. Or, for that matter, Kings Island. Note that all of these destinations have names that do not match their shapes, because most people are fi ne with the idea that a communal gathering place’s name can be irrespective of its geometric perimeter. Picky, picky!

In front of the famous pavilion at Mt. Echo Park are two long concrete platforms, flat and triangular-shaped. You can sit on them like benches, but they look like they were pedestals for two cannons or something else originally. What are those things about?

—CANNON

FODDER FOR THOUGHT

DEAR FODDER:

Hmm. The Doctor shares your squint. Those concrete platforms are easy to sit on and enjoy Mt. Echo Park’s glorious view of the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky, but their odd triangular shapes do suggest something like a pair of cannons that may have been perched there at one time—perhaps awaiting a glimpse of Confederate soldiers approaching the river. This was a real possibility during the Civil War.

The flagpole nearby has a plaque saying that “cannons on Price’s Hill defended Cincinnati from Confederate attack in 1862,” and the Price Hill Historical Society has an old map showing “a battery of cannons near the park that defended the city.” But there’s no specifi c mention of the two mysterious platforms that spark your curiosity. We’ll just have to wonder and imagine.

The Doctor feels strongly, however, that several cannons were probably stationed over at the Incline Public House, defending that giant broadcast tower.

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WELCOME TO MIDDLEHOOD

BY JUDI KETTELER

We’re All So Young

YOU CAN’T TELL TEENAGERS OR TEENAGE COUNTRIES ANYTHING. THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT WHEN THEY WANT.

MMAYBE YOU’VE HEARD THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS A BIG ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH: 250 years since we broke from the Brits. I have an Independence Day anniversary of sorts, too. Thirty years ago, on July 4, 1996, my parents dropped me off at the CVG airport for my first flight ever. On the most American of holidays, I was headed to England. I’d just graduated from NKU, but I was taking a five-week summer literature class through the university’s study abroad program. I remember boarding that huge jet, eyes as wide as the ocean I would cross, and for the first time in my rather predictable, closeto-home life I didn’t know what awaited.

I’d lived at home for college, never even entertaining going away. It’s true the Ketteler policy was to pay for college yourself, and all of my siblings who went (I’m the youngest of seven) did just that. If I had really wanted to go away, I likely could have used my youngest child magic to make it happen. But I didn’t. So putting real miles between me and my childhood bedroom was a big deal.

Speeding down that runway into uncertainty was the closest thing to a declaration of independence I’d ever made. What could be more American than my quiet revolution of one from seat 35C?

The thing about transcontinental flights is that they’re long enough for too much thinking, but not nearly comfortable enough for sleep. Also, since I worried about every calorie and gram of fat I put in my body, I just picked at the meals they served.

I arrived at Gatwick at 8 a.m. hungry, exhausted, and disoriented. The bus ride from London’s far airport was eternal. As we drew closer to the city, climbing narrow, twisty streets, the tour guide kept talking about buildings that were 1,000 years old. “You don’t have those in America!” he said.

I was in the land of Beowulf and Chaucer, of old wars and old architecture. It may not have occurred to me until that moment how young in the world the U.S. was. How we had bluster without gravitas. And wasn’t the same true of me? I was just a girl from Ft. Wright whose life up until then had existed inside a 1,500-squarefoot ranch house built in 1958. I was 21 and naïve, with big dreams that still needed maturity. Like my country, I still had a lot of growing up to do.

After checking into our dorms, we were forced to do a walking tour in the rain. The idea was to keep us all from collapsing into bed, so we could get on London time more quickly. I’d never been jet-lagged before, having never actually been on a jet, so I didn’t understand why every system in my body was breaking down.

By dinnertime, I was toast. I staggered into the shower in the communal women’s bathroom and sobbed loudly. I had spent a year saving the $3,500 for this trip. What had I been thinking? I was ready to retreat. Tell the revolutionary troops to fall back.

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I just wanted my mommy.

Of course, a good night’s sleep fixed a lot of things. Though I fought homesickness for a while, I started to find my rhythm and make friends, including a girl named Meredith. She was slightly older than me and gave off big sister vibes, which is exactly what I needed.

The college where we stayed was near Kensington Gardens, centrally located to do everything. We rode the Tube around the city, took day trips to Bath and Brighton and weekend trips to Wales and Paris, and saw as many literary sites as possible, from Shakespeare to Virginia Woolf.

I kept a journal, recording everything I did and who I went with. The sheer amount of what I packed into five weeks is a pretty good argument against the idea that youth is wasted on the young.

WHEN I READ THE JOURNAL NOW, I SEE more than a travelogue. It’s a record of

me trying to come to terms with what it meant to be a person in this world. The biggest questions of my young life were all happening that summer, in that place, a country away.

Did I know how to deal with adversity? Would I ever find love? What did happiness actually look like?

I often wrote about a feeling of numbness that came over me, making me question if I was “normal.” That I didn’t marvel enough at seeing Stonehenge, that the white cliffs of Dover didn’t inspire my own poetry, that I could still feel lonely strolling in Holland Park with my new friends. . .what was the matter with me?

What I understand now is that I was sitting in the gap between expectation and reality. I’d been there before, but not on the scale of a month in another country, where the stakes seemed much higher. Every time an ideal fell short, I felt like I was wasting something.

Three things were going on. First, I was

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hungry. I had a lot of disordered eating. Every time I would call my mom feeling down, she would say, “I think you need to eat.” I would assure her that wasn’t it. But of course it was.

Second, I hadn’t lived long enough to understand that, for me, meaning tends to happen after the fact. Experiences are transcendent in retrospect more than in the moment.

I make narratives after I’ve had a chance to process the experience. Look at me doing it right now.

Third, I was already so American in how I framed up situations and carried expectations with me everywhere. It would be 10 years before I would hear Barack Obama say the phrase “The audacity of hope,” but I’d surely brought my hopeful American audacity right across the Atlantic.

I may have been humbled by jet lag, but I never wavered on the idea that I was the hero of my story.

A New Kind of Stay in Montgomery Quarter.

IF GOING TO LONDON SEALED MY AMERican-ness, three decades of Fourth of July celebrations since have given me perspective. I’ve felt a range of emotions watching the parades and fireworks, from pride and joy to frustration and disgust. And I’ve thought a lot about that audacity, how the U.S. has always played in that space between expectation and reality, baking it into our systems from the start.

Who else could espouse equality while enslaving an entire population? Who could celebrate the guarantee of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness while trying to eradicate the population already living here? We said, “This could be. This should be,” and then a whole lot of people had to fight like hell—are still fighting like hell—to claim what are supposed to be basic rights.

That we’ve arrived at a nice, clean round number doesn’t change anything about that dynamic. Yes, a 250-year anniversary is something profound to

commemorate. A quarter of a millennium is not nothing.

Perhaps we need some level-setting, though. Our big national milestone is basically the equivalent of a high school graduation, since, compared to iconic civilizations, we’re something like a teenager.

Have you been around teenagers lately? I have two of them, so I know a few things. They talk in memes and have big ideas, usually without a clear understanding of how to get there.

I try to tell my 17-year-old son that a skatepark in our backyard probably won’t work like he thinks, but he buys bags of concrete anyway. He mixes it up in our wheelbarrow, and all I can do is watch from the window as he wrestles with smoothing it. It’s so messy, but he has a vision.

I didn’t listen to my mom telling me I needed to eat, and my son doesn’t listen to me that it isn’t easy to build a quarter pipe, and democracy staggers forward.

Like teenagers do, we’re going through some shit.

Our former presidents know it, and the four still alive are trying to be wise. Jenna Bush Hager interviewed them all: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. Interestingly, watching the clips, I was most compelled by W., the one among them I didn’t vote for and actively campaigned against.

Democracy is self-correcting, he said to his daughter, which is why he wasn’t too worried about the long-term health of our country.

I think he’s right, but it’s hard to watch teenagers fumble and stumble. They do such inane things. Really, America? You want that guy in charge? Then again, there’s nothing more American than apple pie with a side of ice cream and disappointment.

But we always get to try again. And again. Which is the biggest thing of all to celebrate.

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Fueling Businesses through Immigration

region are well positioned to attract these highly skilled professionals,

WithinstitutionssuchastheUniversity ofCincinnatiandXavierUniversity,our regionproducesasteadypipelineof talentedgraduateseachyearin suchasIT,healthcare,engineering,and manyothers.

Ishiringforeigntalent or expensive?

Notnecessarily.U.S.immigrationlaws providenumerouspathwaystohire andretainhighlyskilledworkers.In manycases,thecostsarecomparable to—orevenlowerthan—therecruiting andadministrativeexpensesassociated with talentthrough traditionalhiringmethods.

Allofthesevisaoptionsprovide employerswith pathwaysto hiretemporaryskilledworkers,helping businessesstrengthentheirworkforce, criticaltalentgaps,andincrease productivity.

WhatifIneedlong-termemployment solutions?

Whataretheoptions?

Thereareseveral optionsforhiring temporaryshort-or mid-termworkers.

H1Bbeingoneofthe mostfamous ones,but there areother optionslike TNvisas, Lvisas,or,in exceptional cases,Ovisas.

Long-termworkforceneedsarealso addressedwithintheU.S.immigration system.Employerscanpursue permanentresidencyoptionsthrough thePERMprocessandemploymentbasedcategoriessuchasEB-1,EB-2,and EB-3,includingEB-1BandEB-1Cfor specializedandmanagerialroles.These pathwaysallowcompaniestorecruit andretainhighlyskilledprofessionals forthelongterm,coveringabroad rangeof experiencedworkerswithspecialized skillstoindividualswithadvanced degrees.

Whatoptionsexistforindividuals withoutanemployer?

Immigrationoptionsalsoexistfor individualswithextraordinaryorhighly specializedskills,suchasEB-1A.Investor visasliketheE-2offeranotherpathway forthoselookingtostartabusinessinthe UnitedStates.

Isthisgoodforourcountry?

Absolutely.Immigrantworkersnotonly help criticallaborshortagesthat cannotbemetbythedomestic workforce,buttheyalsodrive innovation,research,andoverall economicgrowth.Theycontributetothe taxbase,supportlocalbusinesses,and helpcreatenewjobs—ultimately strengtheningcommunities.

WhatshouldIdonext?

Ifyouhavequestionsaboutwhich immigrationoptionsmaybeavailable foryourcompanyorwhichpathway bestsuitsyourneeds,please contactusatinfo@nazlylaw.com toscheduleaconsultation. Ourteamwillreview yoursituationandhelp identifytheoption thatbest your circumstances.

OUR CITY OF IMMIGRANTS

While times have changed since the early German populations arrived, immigrants still bring their diverse voices and traditions to our region.

What does their experience look like in the Queen City today?

FIGURING OUT THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS

The difficulties involved in navigating the bureaucracy and seemingly endless red tape of seeking a new home. —CLAIRE LEFTON

What many natural-born citizens don’t understand about immigration is that it’s a process. Moving to the U.S. involves multiple bureaucratic steps like petitions, applications, interviews, fees, financial documents, affidavits of support, medical exams—and that’s just for one individual to get a visa. The entire process is confusing and exhausting, and the Trump administration is working to make things even more difficult for both immigrants and legal experts.

“All of our rules are built to keep people out,” says immigration attorney Christopher Pogue. “It’s just about finding exceptions to the overlapping rules and regulations that have been put into play since the Chinese Exclusion Act [of 1882]. Ever since, we’ve been sort of playing politics on who we want to exclude and who we want to make exceptions for.”

Most immigrant journeys fit into one of three categories: employment, family, and humanitarian. Each pathway requires paperwork and fees that can add up, especially for people who bring their families. Then there are the waiting periods. “Last I looked, the adjudication timeframes [for humanitarian visas] are over 30 months,” says Pogue. “It was six months before [the second Trump administration]. It’s mixing immigration and politics, and they’re choosing winners and losers.”

This waiting period proves deadly for many on the humanitarian path. “Less than 5 percent of refugees are being resettled every year, while more than 90 percent are going to die in a refugee camp,” says Mayra Casas Jackson, executive director of the Immigrant & Refugee Law Center (right).

According to Jackson, refugees are told by the United Nations which country they’ll be settling in. If selected to go to the U.S., the country then takes over and decides which city the refugee will go to, giving them no choice in the matter. If they

get assigned to the Cincinnati area, they’ll come through resettlement agencies like Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio and Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Even though refugee resettlement is an international endeavor, the U.S. government has still found a way to make it nearly impossible to achieve citizenship.

“In November 2025, this administration announced that they were halting all green card processing for refugees and asylees who came from January 2021 to February

2025 to ‘re-review’ their cases,” says Jackson. “Then in March, this administration announced that if a refugee hasn’t applied and obtained their green cards they’re going to be incarcerated.”

Pogue says people are simply looking for clear, reasonable rules that will be enforced in a clear, reasonable way. “I think that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is stuck with a large bureaucracy,” he says. “A lot of the tools to make it work better have been purposefully taken away.”

GREEN CARD*

On top of the many legal, logistical, and social challenges involved in immigrating to the U.S., there are also financial hurdles. How much can it cost people who come “the right way?” You may find this list confusing, but imagine trying to navigate this system in a different language when the stakes are so high. —EMMA

ASYLUM

Protection from deportation for immigrants who fled home country due to persecution or fear of harm.

CLASS IS IN SESSION

How local organizations barrier with accessible ESL courses.

While picking up your whole life and moving to another country is diffi speak the local language. No matter your level of formal education or impressive work experience, communication issues become barriers for acceptance and success. Luckily, the Cincinnati area has many English as a Second Language (ESL) and adult education programs for all kinds of proficiency levels, age groups, and income levels.

Emily Schuler is the ESL lead and operations coordinator at Heartfelt Tidbits, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees. She’s been teaching English there since January 2024 and has seen just how quickly the confidence in her students builds as they gain the tools to better communicate. “Some of my original students are now in positions that they translate at their work,” she says. “A huge thing I’ve been noticing recently is that my original [and current] students who didn’t have very much English skill are now leaders in their communities.”

Groups like Heartfelt Tidbits also offer classes and programs on citizenship mentoring, job readiness, and nutrition. Esperanza Latino Center of Northern Kentucky, a nonprofit dedicated to NKY-based Latino families, even offers career mentorship programs through partnerships with area schools and community organizations (opposite page).

Non-English speakers also have access to free ESL classes both in person and online through Northern Kentucky Adult Education in partnership with Gateway Community & Technical College. The Cincinnati Public Library has similar free ESL offerings through its “New Americans” program.

These accessible and low- to no-cost courses have proved invaluable to local immigrant populations who already face difcult financial, legal, and social barriers when moving here. “The immigrants and refugees in these ESL classes have created communities here,” says Schuler. “They build with the resources we give them and gain the confidence and skills to go into their communities and workplaces and be successful.”

Queen City Richii Mahjong Club Almost every weekend, the Queen City Richii Mahjong Club gathers at Element Eatery in Madisonville. The group teaches you how to play mahjong—a tile-based game developed in 19th-century China—for free, and seasoned members participate on a leaderboard to improve their skills, track their performance, and compete for prizes. qcriichi.com

Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati Youth Basketball

For more than 30 years, the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, based in West Chester, has hosted an annual basketball tournament to empower Muslim youth through sports. Leagues are open every spring for both boys and girls in grades K–12. icgc.us

Sometimes the best and most meaningful support an immigrant can get comes from within their own community. Violeta Colmán (right), executive director of Esperanza Latino Center of Northern Kentucky, knows this well. Esperanza has been operating as a bilingual resource center for the NKY Latino community since 2019, helping individuals navigate the healthcare system, education, housing, well-being, and more.

“The impact has been both practical and deeply personal,” says Colmán. “In 2025 alone, Esperanza assisted more than 5,600 cases through our bilingual front desk, provided over 500 free physician visits through our clinic [and] in partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare, and offered more than 350 free consultations through our in-house immigration attorney.”

These are services that many immigrants and non-English speakers may feel too scared or isolated to reach out for, but Colmán and Esperanza work to make sure everyone can get the help they need, regardless of citizenship status or English proficiency. “Beyond the numbers, the real impact is trust. Families know they can come to us without fear or judgment. We’ve seen people gain access to healthcare for the first time in years, parents become more involved in their children’s education, and community members feel more

confident navigating daily life in Northern Kentucky.”

In Ohio, organizations like Apoyo Latino, the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, and Ola Immigrant Welcome Center work within communities to make support resources more accessible, especially for those who may not speak English. Apoyo Latino even has monthly meetings on Zoom to help build bonds and discuss how to best serve Cincinnati’s Latino population.

Back in NKY, Esperanza makes sure critical care can be reached by primary Spanish speakers that make up (according to the Northern Kentucky Atlas) 4.2 per-

cent of households in Boone County, 2.8 percent of households in Kenton County, and 2.1 percent in Campbell County.

“Shared language, culture, and lived experiences help create trust in a way that is difficult to replicate otherwise,” says Colmán. “It’s not only about translation, it’s also about connection and empathy. Many of our staff , volunteers, and partners understand firsthand the experiences of adapting to a new environment or navigating systems that can feel overwhelming. That understanding helps create a more

Nepali Language & Arts Center Dance and Music

Classes North College Hill’s Nepali Language & Arts Center was founded by Nepali-speaking Bhutanese Americans in Cincinnati and is dedicated to preserving language and culture through education, arts, and community programs. Its dance and music classes use traditional dance and dress to keep children creative and active while learning the traditions and customs of their heritage. nlacusa.org

Liga Latina de Fútbol

Cincinnati For Spanishspeaking fútbol enthusiasts, there’s a year-round competitive adult soccer league with competition so serious that tournament winners walk away with trophies and cash prizes. La Liga plays both indoors and outdoors with games taking place on Sundays. facebook. com/ligalatinacincinnati/

Bi-Okoto Cultural Center

African Culinary Experience

The cultural center’s quarterly African cooking classes teach authentic recipes through hands-on instruction. Students learn how to prepare traditional dishes from scratch using fresh and locally sourced ingredients, as well as the history and cultural significance of the meals, and cooking techniques unique to various African regions. bi-okoto.com

MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS

Immigrants often face extra hurdles creating something

—CARRIE BLACKMORE

) had finished a master’s degree in biology and started a job as a clinical researcher in a hospital when she realized the work didn’t give her the same level of satisfaction she found in a kitchen sharing her culture and her food. Born in Ghana, Odebode immigrated to Maryland at the age of 9 and grew up with her sights on a career in medicine.

While running a catering company in grad school, her calling to become a chef spoke louder and louder until she founded Afromeals in 2019. Now she has a line of seasoning blends, catering services, and popular cooking classes, operating out of Findlay Kitchen in Over-the-Rhine.

“I’m actually giving a part of me to people,” she says. “I’m teaching people about my culture, and they love it. They want to be part of it, and most importantly they respect it and honor it.”

Starting a business can be difficult as an immigrant, often not knowing the right people or how to find necessary resources. She encourages budding entrepreneurs to come out of their shells and meet people, visit places, attend events, and connect with local chambers of commerce. “I’ll tell them to not be ashamed of their accent or of not being clear,” says Odebode. “Try their best and do not worry about making mistakes. If they keep trying, they will get the help they need.”

Compass connects entrepreneurs with resources to help with skills like marketing and website development and pathways to access capital, grants, and legal support.

Immigrant and refugee businesses are vital to the regional economy, says Bryan Wright, executive director of Cincinnati Compass, a collaborative project of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, the City of Cincinnati, and other community partners. Focused on improving the economic and social well-being of immigrants and refugees living throughout Greater Cincinnati,

“One in five of all new businesses were founded by immigrants nationally [in 2023], and immigrants are more likely than U.S.-born citizens to become entrepreneurs,” Wright says. While 48 percent of immigrants come to the region with a bachelor’s degree or higher, they’re often underemployed and yet still contribute $610 million in state and local taxes and

have $4.9 billion in spending power.

Recent actions by the federal government, including arrests and detentions by U.S. Immigration and ICE agents, and rule changes like the recent ban on noncitizens applying for small business loans from the

UNITED BY FAITH

Across Greater Cincinnati, people of all religious backgrounds stand beside immigrants and refugees as a way of living their faith.

“We are called to serve fellow human beings,” explains Shakila Ahmad, emeritus board chair for the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati in West Chester. “Whether you are helping your relatives, or orphans, or those who are traveling, you are fulfilling your religious obligation.”

The needs of Cincinnati’s immigrants have increased exponentially during the second Trump administration, as some breadwinners have been deported and others have lost their jobs. In response, groups are supporting a new rapid response initiative, led by the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center, designed to mobilize quickly to support local families facing the threat of deportation or other critical needs.

The demand for immigration-related legal services increased 112 percent last year at Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, and the organization served 1,800 clients in 2025. “We exist to serve the most poor and vulnerable, and immigrants are among the most poor and vulnerable populations,” says CEO Tony Stieritz. “We provide emergency assistance and do everything we can to put them on the path to self-sufficiency. We see this as essential and a calling from our Catholic faith.”

For the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, outreach can be as simple as writing postcards containing messages of encouragement for detainees in the Butler County Jail. “A lot of detainees feel lost and forgotten, so one of the most direct things we can do is to send messages of support and of prayer and to let them know that we know they are there,” says Teresa Phillips, director of the order’s Office of Justice, Peace,

Local religious organizations focus on welcoming the stranger.

—MARY McCARTY

there to pray,” Phillips says. “We pray for the immigrants and for the people who are detaining the immigrants. We pray for a gentler understanding of the situations that immigrants find themselves in that cause them to leave their countries.”

Sister Judith Clemens agrees. “As Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, we are called to spread goodness in the world,” she says. “I believe that if Jesus were here with us today, he would be right beside us doing

the same kind of work.”

The Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati off ers a wide variety of services for people of all faiths, from a fully stocked food pantry to career training and employment opportunities. “We provide them with the initial resources they need to get their footing and offer the support they need to get a job or a better job,” Ahmad says. “People don’t realize how much immigrants contribute to the local economy.”

WHAT THEY PREACH

IMMIGRATION INJUSTICE

OHis story made headlines and drove him to speak out, but he still can’t get a green card. —GARIN PIRNIA “ ”

ne year ago, Ayman Soliman’s life changed forever. The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital chaplain went to the Blue Ash ICE office for a court proceeding related to the government revoking his 2018 asylum status. ICE officers arrested him there.

Soliman (left) had no criminal record, but he was jailed for 73 days, sometimes spending 19 hours a day in solitary confinement. He faced deportation to his native Egypt, which might have led to his death. He didn’t see sunlight until ICE dropped the terrorism charges imposed on him and released him in September.

Soliman grew up in Cairo and moved to Chicago in 2014 on a visa. He received asylum in 2018, fearing a return to his native country after he was detained and tortured there for his work as a freelance journalist. He briefly worked at a prison in Oregon before moving to Cincinnati in 2021.

In June 2025, the government revoked his asylum—which had taken him three and a half years to receive—due to false allegations of associating with terrorist groups.

In his hometown in Egypt, Soliman was a board member of one of thousands of branches of Al Jameya al Shareya, a nongovernmental organization that provides medical and charitable community services, which he disclosed to the Department of Homeland Security upon his arrival in America. The U.S. government alleged that the organization supported the Muslim

Brotherhood, which Egypt has accused of being a terrorist organization. Soliman’s work permit was revoked, and he was fired from Children’s Hospital. “I can’t stop thinking about and reflecting on what happened to me,” Soliman says.

“It was the most traumatizing experience of my life, and I can’t get it out of my head.”

Since regaining freedom, he’s done more than 50 speaking engagements, including in front of thousands at a Cincinnati No Kings rally in October. “Every time I spoke, it really stirred emotions and memories,” he says. “But when I saw how it might impact people’s lives and hopefully save some lives, it helped me find meaning in my story.”

Despite becoming a national figure in the conversation about illegal ICE detainment, Soliman faces ongoing difficulties with the immigration system. He got his asylum status reinstated, but he’s still waiting on his green card seven years after applying. “I thought after they dropped the charges and dismissed the case, the first step would be to give me a green card,” he says. “The answer is, ‘We’re working on it.’ ”

Although the trauma lingers, Soliman says he isn’t going anywhere. “I’m forever indebted to the people of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky,” he says. “These people saved my life when they advocated for me, when they believed me and did not believe the government allegations and smear campaign painting me as a terrorist. Cincinnati is my home.”

Soliman had no criminal record, but he was jailed for 73 days, sometimes spending 19 hours a day in solitary confinement. He faced deportation to his native Egypt, which might have led to his death.

WAVE POOL CONNECTS IMMIGRANTS THROUGH ART

Boris Oicherman, an immigrant himself, focuses the organization on building community. —JOHN FOX

fall to become executive director of Wave Pool, calls himself a “double immigrant.” He grew up in Russia, moved to Israel as a young adult, and came to the U.S. 12 years ago. He served as a curator and arts and culture director in Minnesota and most recently Cleveland before seeing the job posting and deciding to give Cincinnati a try.

Wave Pool has been a conduit for community change through artist opportunities and support since it opened in an old Camp Washington firehouse in 2014. The art gallery and artmaking space expanded in recent years; Swell, a café, bar, and bookstore founded by a Wave Pool cofounder, occupies the site of the now-defunct Welcome Project, which supported immigrants and refugees through art and food. Oicherman says he’s always been fascinated by the opportunities artists have to collaborate across all boundaries and converse with all members of a community, which is apparent in Wave Pool’s role in Camp Washington. He wants artists to make even more of an impact in the neighborhood and across Cincinnati.

“If you think about how a community works, it builds infrastructure like roads, bridges, and sidewalks to provide access for people,” he says. “We’re building cultural infrastructure here at Wave Pool, so people have access to creativity and to each other. The art they create—a painting, a ceramic bowl, good or bad—doesn’t matter as much as access itself.”

The gallery’s current exhibition, Ten Welcome Editions , displays highlights from 10 years of Welcome Edition shows that paired recognized artists with refugee and immigrant artisans to produce new artwork. The most recent Welcome Edition in 2026 featured a limited run of ceramic tiles designed by Shahzia Sikander (MacArthur Fellow and winner of the Pollock Prize for Creativity) and handmade and glazed by Cincinnati-based artists Erika NJ Allen, Fabiola Ornelas, Chandni Sharma, and others.

Artist Diane Fishbein hosts a popular ceramics class every Saturday morning that usually draws 20 to 30 people, many of whom are immigrants looking for a connection in their new hometown, says Oicherman. The donation-based class

provides clay, brushes, glazes, and a kiln. There are also beginning and intermediate woodworking classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings, respectively.

Wave Pool is in the early stages of working with other nonprofits, Camp Washington residents, and business owners to find ways to maintain affordable housing—and possibly build new housing—for artists who want to stay in the neighborhood. There’s a concern that the neighborhood could become the next “hidden gem” that gets gentrified after artists attract wider attention and buzz. “If we want to preserve the character of Camp Washington, we have to preserve the people of Camp Washington,” says Oicherman. “We can’t let the people who are transforming this neighborhood get priced out of it.”

He says he’ll focus on supporting local artists to build connections where they live and work. “Artists decided it’s their business to help immigrants, to feed the poor, to embrace Camp Washington, to do other community-building activities alongside their creative work,” he says. “No one told them to do that. And I want Wave Pool to be the incubator of that mindset.”

SWIMMING IN CREATIVITY Shahzia Sikander’s Welcome Edition #10 (above) produced handbuilt ceramic tiles. Immigrants’ collaborations on previous Welcome Edition projects created weavings and prayer rugs (below).

A TIME TO CELEBRATE

Festivals, recitals, art shows, and other public events spotlight diverse cultures.

—JOHN FOX

One of the best ways for immigrants to maintain connections to the homeland in a new city is by celebrating their cultural traditions, food, and art and sharing it all with their new neighbors. Check out these upcoming programs and travel the world without leaving Cincinnati.

AfriFest Cincy (July 18) “Taste of Africa” is a free all-day festival celebrating African arts, music, food, and traditions at Sawyer Point. Attractions include African and Caribbean food vendors and food trucks, fashion, culture, community showcases, an outdoor marketplace, and music and dance performances. myapnet.org/afrifest

Art of India (July 25) The Cultural Center of India hosts a free evening of interactive art-making and Bollywood dance at Summit Park in Blue Ash. The organization also offers ongoing arts education, wellness retreats, yoga, meditation, breath work, stencil art, storytelling, poetry, and cooking classes. culturalcenterofindia.com/shows

Summermusik: ¡Jangueo boricua! (August 16) This “Puerto Rican Hangout” features acclaimed cuatro player Fabiola Méndez in a program of Puerto Rican guitar music as well as traditional songs accompanied by local band Son del Caribe. Presented at Delhi Event Center, it’s one of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra’s “A Little Afternoon Musik” programs in this year’s Summermusik series. summermusik.org

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (September 17–20) This year marks the 50th anniversary of Cincinnati’s celebration of Germany, which sent one of the first waves of immigrants here. We still thank them for establishing Over-the-Rhine, Music Hall, and our love of beer and wine. The country’s largest Oktoberfest has settled in nicely on the downtown riverfront, which allows for huge Munich-style tents. oktoberfestzinzinnati.com

Cincinnati Rhythm (September) Cincinnati Compass is a collaborative project of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, the City of Cincinnati, UC, and more than 65 community partners to connect immigrants with resources, opportunities, and each other. Its annual multicultural celebration includes food, music, dance performances, and community awards. cincinnaticompass.org/calendar/cincinnati-rhythm

Day of the Dead Celebration (November 1)

Fiesta NKY is a Florence-based nonprofit supporting Northern Kentucky’s Hispanic immigrant community by helping to meet immediate food, child care, shelter, and mental health challenges. The organization hosts Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) with an altar for photos of loved ones, food, and hot chocolate. fiestanky.org/events

Heartfelt Tidbits Makerspace (Ongoing)

The nonprofit organization provides long-term support, one tidbit at a time, for immigrants and refugees. Programs include job readiness training, community gardens, and a free weekly makerspace class to teach and support sewing, embroidery, screen-printing, and other art projects. Volunteers and donations are always welcome. heartfelttid bits.com/makerspace

The of

By Alexandra Frost

Valeria Strunk—mental health therapist, immigrant, and mom— shares the toll living in today’s culture takes on her and Cincinnati’s children.

If you peeked into a session with Valeria Strunk, a therapist specializing in children’s mental health, you wouldn’t see typical talk therapy. A child isn’t just sitting on a couch conversing like an adult, spilling their problems. Strunk will tell you that’s just not how kids work.

Instead, you’ll see them acting out a scene with kinetic sand and little figures. Strunk prompts the child to create a story, which can look like battle scenes, sometimes with explosions and lots of dead figures around. She sees a number of children making fences.

But this isn’t a reenactment of something they saw in a video or read in a book. She’s teaching them how to pull trauma out of their bodies, figure out what it feels like, and animate it on the outside to her and to others.

Associate owner of Wired to Bloom Therapy & Consulting in West Chester, Strunk finds herself immersed in the nation’s and the region’s immigration debates daily. She works with immigrant families and others impacted by changing policies, including family members, friends, and school classmates. “The same systems and uncertainties affecting immigrant families shape the emotional landscape of the children and communities I serve every day,” she says. “The stress is both individual and collective, and its impact shows up in our schools, our businesses, and our mental health systems.”

Strunk, 41, says the themes she’s encountering are heavily weighted toward aggression, anxiety, and grief—beyond immigrant families themselves. “Some children are losing classmates, and some are hearing that families are being separated,” she says. “These kids are

watching it happen in real time.”

Deep trauma work in children is her passion. Behind the fences, she knows what to do next once it explodes in the sand or in their lives—because she was in their places once.

Growing up in Brazil, Strunk signed up for an au pair exchange program in her early 20s to find an American family to live with and take care of their kids.

“It’s supposed to be like a bigger sister at the house and be part of the family,” she says. “They sell that so beautifully. On paper, it was amazing.”

The marketing on the American side sells a “savior” mindset, she says, “kind of like rescuing these people from Brazil.” The job is attractive to young women because it comes with the longest U.S. visa they can get, allowing au pairs to stay in the country up to two years.

“Leaving Brazil was very hard,” she says. “When I fi rst came, I was much

“Children grasp the weight of the current political moment, even if they can’t name it, and that results in feelings of

.”

more connected to my family, especially my mother, my father, and some of my extended family. My father passed away 12 years ago, and more recently I made the incredibly painful decision to step back from my relationship with my mother.”

She brings her own generational trauma to her work as a therapist and focuses on breaking that cycle.

Strunk worked for two families when she first arrived in Cincinnati. The first, in Hyde Park, was great to her, she says, until she started saying no. There was a clear job description of what she was supposed to be doing in her role, but the scope kept creeping wider and wider.

She struggled with pushing back. “I had the language barrier,” she recalls. “I was young, with no friends or family here.”

Strunk worked 60 hours per week, not the maximum of 40 allowed. She was required to do overnights by herself, which were not permitted. After six months of being taken advantage of, she says, she put her foot down—and she was kicked out of the house in the middle of the night.

Her supervisor didn’t answer her phone calls, and Strunk had nowhere to go. The family made up a story that she left her job, and so she was almost dismissed from the au pair program. But because she had proof in the form of saved messages that the family was violating their agreement and overworking her, she was allowed a second chance with a new family. The new arrangement was slightly better, working with a single dad in Dayton, though it wasn’t the “big sister” vibe the program promised.

The program was designed to help Strunk escape Brazil, which she calls warm and accommodating but also a “cruel place” for a Black neurodivergent child like her to grow up. Instead, in her quest for a better life, she encountered a condescending perspective that “because you didn’t have anything and I’m giving you those things, you have to deal with whatever I throw at you.”

After the au pair program concluded, Strunk got married and tried out a variety of career options, including business school. She babysat for a couple with foster kids and started learning about the U.S. foster care system, which got her interested in social work. She applied for adjustment of immigration status and received a three-year green card first, then applied for a 10-year card while taking classes at Northern Kentucky University. She applied for citizenship before graduating from NKU in 2019, just before having a baby, and she developed postpartum depression as COVID shut everything down. She worked as a child welfare social worker for two years, and the first time she had to remove a child from a home, the child screamed and screamed in her car as she drove around while working out a place for them to go temporarily. She recalls as a newly nursing mom her breasts leaking as she listened to another child cry.

“Once a child is removed from a bad home situation, whatever the circumstances, there is not a lot of support for that child, for the family, or for the worker,” says Strunk. “People don’t understand it can be an act of love sometimes to give up your children because you can’t function at the time. It’s so stressful. And there is so much more to be done.”

To do “so much more” herself, Strunk realized she had to go back to school. “To make the big changes, you have to get a master’s degree or you aren’t able to accomplish much more than what you’re doing as a beginner,” she says.

She got trained in play therapy, which she says felt like “fresh air” compared to other classes and programs focused on trauma-informed therapy that addresses behaviors rather than causes of the behavior. She started learning

In 2001, I was a stressed-out, underemployed graduate student at Xavier University, longing for some sort of escape from the daily monotony of the wake/eat/ work/study/sleep cycle I found myself stuck in. I was firmly in the grip of a quarterlife crisis, teetering between failing and succeeding, constantly seesawing between confidence and doubt. I just wanted to throw away my carefully crafted routine, kick up my heels, and live a little, if only temporarily.

One day I came across an advertisement for Cincinnati Opera’s annual summer festival and decided to cobble together a few paychecks to splurge on a new dress and a floor seat for Madame Butterfly. I was already familiar with the art form, having seen several collegiate performances during my undergraduate years, but nothing prepared me for the extravagance that is a Cincinnati Opera production.

Walking into the opulence of Music Hall took my breath away. And everything from the sets and lighting design to the costumes and the music overwhelmed my emotions. When Cio-Cio-San and Lieutenant Pinkerton sang their love duet “Vogliatemi Bene,” I sighed longingly. “Un Bel Dì Vedremo,” Cio-CioSan’s tender aria anticipating the return of her absent husband, had goosebumps breaking out all over my skin. By the time the distraught and betrayed titular character sang her moving farewell aria “Tu, Tu, Piccolo Iddio!” to her son and committed harakiri, I was in tears. That’s when I truly fell in love with the beauty of opera as a storytelling medium.

In the 25 years since that production, I’ve seen just about all of “the classics,” from tragedies like Aida, La Traviata, Carmen, and

Porgy and Bess to comedies like The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Pirates of Penzance. But as time goes on, I’ve thought more and more about the handling (and mishandling) of race and ethnicity in opera.

Classic opera narratives require a massive suspension of disbelief when race and gender are involved, because while the music and melodies showcase undeniable feats of talent, the stories are primarily rooted in colonialism and patriarchy. For decades, opera has been one of the few artistic mediums that continues to lean on the presentation of stories in their original forms without doing much reckoning with changes in social and cultural norms.

It’s only been a little over a decade since the Metropolitan Opera in New York banned the use of blackface, beginning with its 2015 production of Otello, and the issue still rears its ugly head from time to time on the international opera circuit. The use of blackface at the 2022 Arena di Verona Opera Festival in Italy during its production of Aida drew criticism, and African American soprano Angel Blue withdrew from the event’s production of La Traviata.

It’s a big ask to expect Black operagoers as well as those of other marginalized communities to open themselves up to outdated racial, ethnic, and gender depictions. Times are changing, thankfully, and opera companies are becoming more in tune with the needs and sensitivities of their more diverse audience members. As luck would have it, an initiative that could help drive this idea forward and potentially change the face of opera—both figuratively and literally—started with a single conversation at Music Hall in Overthe-Rhine.

Aformer All-American college football player, Morris Robinson cuts an imposing figure.

The Georgia native has spent nearly three decades as one of the nation’s go-to bass opera singers, bringing gravitas to roles such as the Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlo, Ramfis in Aida, Sarastro the Sorcerer in The Magic Flute, and Porgy in Porgy and Bess

In 2019, he was booked for Porgy with two different companies—The Atlanta Opera had the production on its winter schedule, and it was also set for Cincinnati Opera’s annual summer festival—but he was having reservations. His son had started high school a few months before the Atlanta rehearsals began, and the teen and some of his middle school teachers and friends as well as some

of his new high school acquaintances were planning to attend the production’s dress rehearsal.

“I knew in the back of my mind that the first thing they’re going to see is gambling, an alcoholic, a drug addict, murder, and the police, and that’s just the first 10 minutes of the opera,” Robinson recalls. “It’s all Black folks feeding into stereotypes. It’s not all that we were then, but that’s all [George] Gershwin wrote. I just kept thinking, We got to be better.”

In the three months between the Atlanta engagement and rehearsals for the Cincinnati production, several questions had formed in Robinson’s mind. “Morris was leaving a Porgy and Bess rehearsal one day and took me aside, visibly frustrated,” says Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director at Cincinnati Opera. “He asked why this was the only opera about a Black community where the focus was not on slavery, civil rights, or CONTINUED ON PAGE 66

OPERA REIMAGINED (PREVIOUS PAGE, BOTTOM RIGHT) A RENDERING OF LALOVAVI’S STAGING. (THIS PAGE) CONDUCTOR KEVIN MILLER, BASS SINGER MORRIS ROBINSON, LIBRETTIST TIFARA BROWN, AND COMPOSER KEVIN DAY ANSWER QUESTIONS DURING A PUBLIC Q&A SESSION; SOPRANO BRITTANY OLIVIA LOGAN WILL SING THE ROLE OF PERSEPHONE; RENDERINGS OF LALOVAVI COSTUMES.

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From the President... W

e are pleased to present the 2026–2027 edition of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance Business Directory and Resource Guide, a valuable annual resource. Discover what an amazing community we have to offer—learn about our schools, parks, new developments, and the best places to eat, shop, and play. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Cincinnati Magazine and provide you with a first-class publication.

First, meet the team behind the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance. CeeCee leads the organization as President, serving as a visible presence in the community while welcoming and supporting local businesses. Meredith oversees internal operations as Vice President of Operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Lacey, our Events Coordinator, brings organization and energy to all Chamber events. Together, this dedicated team—along with a 15-member Board of Directors and hundreds of volunteers—drives the mission and impact of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance. Our goal is to encourage residents to Start, Stay, and Play in our communities.

The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance serves businesses and the community in three key areas: the City of Loveland, Symmes Township, and Miami Township. As the leading advocate for local businesses, the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance provides training, community events, and networking opportunities for new and existing businesses. With our region thriving and continuing to expand, we offer something for everyone to enjoy and experience!

Along with our directory, our website serves as a primary resource for businesses and tourists: www.lmrchamberalliance.org. Thanks to a new website feature, the Chamber now offers automatic posting of business events on our website and social media. Residents and businesses can also stay informed through our email newsletters (sign up on our website). However, our favorite way to communicate is still in person—connecting directly with our members to understand their unique needs, which remains our signature trademark as a Chamber!

We invite businesses to become part of our community by establishing and growing their presence here. The Chamber provides over 20 cost-saving benefits to area businesses, along with ongoing promotion through more than 25 events each year. Be sure to explore how to get your business included in the Discover Loveland Gift Card, which can be redeemed at over 40 local businesses.

The Chamber is stronger than ever and stands ready to support businesses in governmental affairs and support economic development.

Continue to Shop, Eat, Donate, and Play Locally!

2026 Board of Directors

and

Emily Barlow, President

Kevin Egan, Past President

David Williams, Vice President

Doug Storer, Treasurer

Doug Portmann

Jason Pinson

Ian Roewer

Michael Franks

Kate Harden

Jennifer Miller

Peter Pandilidis

Brian Garry

Doug Hyrne

Steve Kelly

Staff

CeeCee Collins, President and CEO

Meredith Taylor, Vice President of Operations

Lacey Sullivan, Events Coordinator

Money-Saving Member Benefits

What can the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance do for you? We have a wide range of member benefits that can help you increase your reach, reduce your costs, and promote your message.

Health/Wellness Benefits

• Group health insurance (small business plans)

• Individual health insurance advisory service

• Prescription drug savings program

Company/Organization Benefits

• 401k group plan

• BWC group discount program

• Certificate of Origin

• Credit card processing services

• Discounted shipping

• Employment background screening

• Funding solutions

• Human resources services

• Identity theft protection discount (Legal Shield)

• Job placement

• Payroll services

• PEO services

• Student Loan Debt Assistance (DOLR)

• Sustainability program (Going Green)

Promotional Benefits

• Advertising opportunities

• Chamber partnership opportunities

• Chamber website

• Coupons/deals/events

• Discover Loveland Gift card with over 40 locations

• Grand opening/ribbon-cutting ceremony

• Integrated Community Calendar

• Membership Directory and Community Profile

• Networking events

• Referral services

• Social media promotion

• Sponsorship benefits

• Webinars

ANNUAL CHAMBER

PARTNERSHIPS AVAILABLE!

Maximize your company's exposure ALL YEAR while supporting the community. Contact the Chamber for more details.

Chamber & Community Events

January

Combined Morning Mixer with Anderson Chamber, Clermont Chamber, and Milford-Miami

Township Chamber (monthly)

“State of the Region” City and Township Plans

February

Hearts Afire Weekend

Valentine Breakfast

March

Business Expo

April

LinkedUp Loveland –

Women: Live, Play, Work

Youth Fishing Derby

Adult Egg Scramble

May

Loveland Food Truck Rally

Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony

Sesquicentennial Anniversary Celebration

Symmes Honors Veterans

June

Concerts in the Park

Concerts in the Park

Loveland Art Crawl

Road to Health: Health & Wellness Expo

Symmetry Women’s Luncheon

July

Concerts in the Park

Concerts in the Park and Pickleball Tournament

Concerts in the Park

Independence Day Celebration

August

Concerts in the Park

Concerts in the Park

Loveland Frogman Race Triathlon

Movie in the Park

Movie in the Bark(ing) Lot

Shakespeare in the Park

Summer Sendoff

September

Loveland Art Festival

Loveland Oktoberfest

Movie Night

Red Stockings vintage baseball game and outdoor movie

Sesquicentennial Mayor’s Ball

October

Fall for Symmes

Harvest Fest & Community Bonfire

November

Annual Awards Dinner

Holiday Parade

Small Business Saturday

December

Christmas in Loveland

Operation Santa

LMRChamberAlliance.org, lovelandoh.gov, lovinlifeloveland.com, symmestownship.org, and miamitwp.org for full event details.

Grow Here!

New homes, new businesses, and revamped parks and infrastructure keep our area safe and thriving.

LOVELAND

Residential Development

The City of Loveland has experienced a growing trend in infill residential development in recent years, as vacant parcels—particularly those near the downtown business district—are being thoughtfully developed.

Loveland takes great pride in its identity—and for good reason. The city truly embodies the live-work-play lifestyle that many communities strive to achieve. Residents and newcomers alike benefit from a diverse range of opportunities, including established and affordable neighborhoods, vibrant housing and dining options, and abundant recreational activities.

Business Development

The City of Loveland continues to build momentum in economic development, actively supporting new commercial and industrial growth. In 2025, Kenwood Dealer Group selected Loveland Commerce Park for its second headquarters, joined by Grunder Landscaping’s Cincinnati office—reinforcing the park’s role in job creation and tax revenue growth.

Construction is set to begin on the first phase of the fully funded, three-phase Loveland-Madeira Road Business Corri-

dor Revitalization Project, a significant public investment aimed at spurring private development. Key redevelopment projects are also advancing this vision. The former mirror factory site at 507 Loveland-Madeira Road has been cleared and remediated. Additionally, the Cityowned Chestnut Street property—over eight acres—has been remediated and is being actively marketed as a priority redevelopment site.

Infrastructure

The City of Loveland continues to invest in infrastructure to support growth, improve connectivity, and enhance quality of life. A major focus is the multi-phase revitalization of the Loveland-Madeira Road corridor. This project includes roadway improvements, a new roundabout at Valley View Lane, expanded sidewalks and multi-use paths, upgraded lighting, landscaping, and underground utilities—designed to improve safety, traffic flow, and pedestrian access. Significant investments are being made in utility infrastructure, including water, wastewater, electric systems, and expanded high-speed broadband to ensure long-term reliability and support future development. Additional projects, such as a new downtown fire station and con-

tinued redevelopment, further demonstrate Loveland’s commitment to building a strong, connected, and resilient community.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP

Residential Development

Residential growth remains strong in Miami Township. Several single-family subdivisions—Grove Park, Trailside Estates, Villas at Meadowside, and Miami Reserve—continue to contribute new housing opportunities. The Park View development by Fischer Homes is finishing its final phase, offering a mix of owneroccupied duplex homes and stacked condominium units. The former Trester’s Auto Parts Salvage Yard on Business 28 was purchased by Metropolitan Holdings, which will be converting the 14-acre site into a unique luxury living opportunity with over 300 units in the heart of the Township.

Infrastructure

Miami Township continues to invest heavily in infrastructure improvements. In 2025, Miami Township partnered with ODOT to establish a “Safe Routes to Schools” plan that identifies opportunities for improved pedestrian travel throughout the community. The Town-

ship is using this plan to actively pursue funding to support these projects.

Business Development

Rise Commercial District is a small business accelerator development planned on U.S. 50 near WolfpenPleasant Hill Road. It is intended to help home-based and start-up businesses transition into their first flex-office or commercial spaces. Construction is underway now and leasing should start this spring.

The ALDI development corridor has also created additional opportunities for retail and commercial growth, supported by the construction of Lorven Drive. Additional lots along this new public roadway are still open for development.

Miami Township is actively creating more space for future development with the purchase of the former Milford (Miami) Preschool. By working cooperatively with the Clermont County Land Bank on demolition of the existing building,

there will be an opportunity for the redevelopment of 10 acres of clean site along the Business 28 corridor.

SYMMES TOWNSHIP

Residential Development

Founded in 1824, Symmes Township celebrated its bicentennial in 2024 and has evolved from a rural farming area into a thriving, primarily residential suburb. Today, it is recognized for its well-maintained neighborhoods, strong local economy, and higher-then-average household incomes.

Business Development

Symmes Township takes a proactive approach to economic development through tools like Community Reinvestment Areas (CRAs), which offer tax abatements for new construction and redevelopment projects. These incentives encourage private investment while aligning with community planning goals.

Additionally, partnerships with regional organizations and chambers—such as the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance— provide advocacy, networking, and resources that support business growth and retention.

Infrastructure

Transportation infrastructure continues to be a key focus, with ongoing roadway maintenance, intersection improvements, and sidewalk and trail projects enhancing mobility and connectivity throughout the community. These investments support safe travel and improved access to residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and regional corridors.

Parks and open space infrastructure also play a major role in quality of life, with over 190 acres of township-managed parks and access to the Little Miami Scenic Trail, reinforcing recreational connectivity across the region.

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Past and Present

Here in the Little Miami region, our roots run deep. Symmes Township marked its bicentennial in 2024 and Loveland celebrates its 150th birthday this summer as we honor America250. Miami Township’s history reaches back two centuries, as well—it was one of Clermont County’s five original townships, established in 1801.

While we are looking to our future, the past is always with us, as you can see from these photographs of Loveland locations that are still in use today.

Step into 1,800 acres of breathtaking beauty and a community that meets you exactly where you are. From friendly faces to trails for every age and ability, discover a space where everyone belongs.

Start planning your visit at CincyNature.org/visit or scan the QR code today!

Welcome Home

Loveland

The “Sweetheart of Ohio,” Loveland is a scenic suburb located within Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren counties in southwestern Ohio. This thriving community boasts strong schools, a vibrant business environment, and extraordinary outdoor recreation. The Little Miami State and National Scenic River runs right through town, as does the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail.

Population: 13,197

Median house sale price: $575,000

Median household income: $94,323

Annual events: Farmers’ Market, Memorial Day Parade, Independence Day Celebration, Hearts Afire Weekend, Christmas in Loveland

Symmes Township

Miami Township

Situated along the banks of the Little Miami and East Fork Rivers, Miami Township remains one of the fastest growing and most livable communities in the Greater Cincinnati region. Known for being family-friendly, the Township offers a balanced mix of residential neighborhoods, thriving business areas, and outstanding parks and recreational facilities.

Population: 44,487

Median house sale price: $422,000

Median household income: $116, 375

Annual events: Concerts in the Park, Holiday Parade, Harvest Fest & Community Bonfire

Established in 1824 and named after land speculator John Cleves Symmes, the township has grown from a rural farming area into a primarily residential and business-friendly suburb. Located in the northeastern part of the Cincinnati Metropolitan area, in Hamilton County, Ohio, the suburban setting with businesses conveniently located nearby makes it ideal for starting families. Residents enjoy community events throughout the year in more than 197 acres of sprawling parks.

Population: 15,621

Median house sale price: $650,000

Median household income: $157,136

Annual events: Fall for Symmes, Youth Fishing Derby, Symmes Honors Veterans, Operation Santa

So Much to Explore

The Little Miami River region offers a wealth of opportunities to explore the rich natural beauty that surrounds us. And that’s just a small portion of the recreational opportunities this area offers.

Fish, camp, or picnic at Lake Isabella, one of the Great Parks of Hamilton County. The stocked 74-acre lake is located just off of I-275 at the Loveland Madeira Road exit.

The iconic 75-mile Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail is a popular regional attraction that runs from Springfield to Newtown. The Little Miami Conservancy worked

to fund the trail’s creation and now helps clean, protect, and monitor water safety along the river. That’s not the only organization working to preserve and improve outdoor resources. Cardinal Land Conservancy protects and restores natural lands in seven Southwest Ohio counties. Loveland Learning Garden supports teachers and connects kids to the wonders of nature.

You can wonder at nature with help from Loveland Bike Rental, conveniently located on the bike trail at Loveland’s Nisbet Park, or Loveland Paddlesports, which can get you kayaking in no time.

If all that natural beauty inspires you to be more active, Grand Sands Volleyball offers sand volleyball year-round, on indoor and outdoor courts. Golfers can join O’Bannon Creek Country Club and enjoy the course’s rolling hills. Oasis Golf Club boasts an Arnold Palmer–designed course that welcomes all skill levels (and the conference center hosts plenty of regional events). Premier Dance & Tumbling can even teach you the latest TikTok dance moves through one of their pop-up dance classes, or maybe your kids would be interested in their full slate of dance, tumbling, and ninja classes (adult fitness classes are available, too).

Arts and culture play a large role in the life of this region. Learn more about Loveland’s history at the Loveland Museum Center. Its stately Victorian house transports you back to the 19th century through furniture, decor, and artifacts.

The Rich Family Log Cabin, which was moved to the museum center property in 1996, dates to 1797 and was once home to a family of 12. Loveland Stage Company presents a full season of shows along with movie screenings, a music series, and even dance classes. You can get youhands dirty in a good way at Whistle Stop Clay

Area Parks

Loveland Parks and Trails

lovelandoh.gov/174/Parks-Trails

Bodley Park 10694 Betty Ray Dr., 45140

Boike Park

Access from Rich Rd., just south of Loveland High School, 45140

Cherokee Tot Lot 310 Cherokee Dr., 45140

East Loveland Nature Preserve

Approximately 227 E. Loveland Ave., 45140

Firefighters’ Memorial 200 Harrison Ave., 45140

Kiwanis Park & Trail

240 Wall St., 45140 (Matt Haverkamp Foundation Dog Park located at the rear of end of Kiwanis Park)

Lever Park

200–206 Heidelberg Dr., 45140

McCoy Park 471 Oak St., 45140

Navaho Tot Lot 300 Navaho Dr., 45140

Nisbet Park & Amphitheater 126 Karl Brown Way, 45140

Phillips Park & Trail

11667 Rich Rd., 45140 (located east of Rich Road and south of Fallis Road)

Simpson Nature Preserve (access points at 240 Wall St. across from Kiwanis Park and near the rear of Phillips Park at 11667 Rich Road)

Tomahawk Trail

Located near 1400 Bellwood Dr., also accessible on Navaho Drive, 45140

Veterans Memorial 211 Riverside Dr., 45140

Village Anniversary Park 898 W. Loveland Ave., 45140

West Loveland Nature Preserve (formerly known as Hidden Creek Park)

Entrance off W. Loveland Ave., 45140

Miami Township Parks miamitwp.org/community.html

Community Park 5951 Buckwheat Rd., 45150

Paxton Ramsey Park 6265 Price Rd., 45140

Miami Meadows Park 1546 OH-131, 45150 (includes Spirit of ’76 Veteran’s Memorial Park)

Miami Riverview Park 587 Branch Hill-Loveland Rd., 45140

Symmes Township Parks/ Trails

https://symmestownship. org/163/Parks-Recreation

Blong Memorial Park Intersection of Montgomery Rd. and E. Kemper Rd.

Camp Dennison Nature Trail 10999 Campbell St., Camp Dennison, 45111

Home of the Brave Park 11601 N. Lebanon Rd., 45140

Hopewell Meadows Park 9131 Hopewell Rd., 45242

Meade Historic Preserve 11887 N. Lebanon Rd., 45140

Seven Gables Park 11680 Seven Gables Rd., 45249

Shore Drive Park 12020 Shore Dr., 45140

Stonebridge Park 12150 Stonebridge Way, 45140

Symmes Township Park 11600 N. Lebanon Rd., 45140

Little Miami Recreational Areas/ Attractions

Lake Isabella 10174 Loveland Madeira Rd., Loveland, 45140 greatparks.org/parks/ lake-isabella

Little Miami Scenic Trail miamivalleytrails.org/trails/little-miami-scenic-trail

Historic Loveland Castle 12025 Shore Dr., Loveland, 45140, lovelandcastle.com

Works, a ceramics teaching studio and gallery welcoming aspiring potters since 2010.

Connecting with the community is easy when there are so many annual events filling the calendar. Downtown Loveland shines during Valentine’s Day in February, celebrating its title as the “Sweetheart Capital of the U.S.” The Loveland Food Truck Rally and Oktoberfest make delicious and fun summer memories. The Frogman race draws athletes from across Ohio and beyond, while paying tribute to the town’s quirky Frogman myth!

Making the Grade

Private Schools and Learning Centers

Children’s Academy of Loveland

Teachers provide child-focused education and high-quality, compassionate care at this locally owned academy. The school offers flexible drop-off and pick-up times, provides food and supplies, and encourages consistent parent-teacher communication.

Children’s Meeting House

Montessori School

Independence, self-confidence, decision-making, and collaboration are core tenants of the Montessori philosophy. Here, children learn and develop at a pace inspired by their own instinctive love of discovery.

Cincinnati Country Day School

For 100 years, this private, coeducational, college preparatory school has provided innovative educational approaches to prepare students for success in college and life. The school’s inclusive, wel-

coming environment fosters close-knit relationships while the academic curriculum promotes intellectual growth and success.

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

With a focus on lifelong learning and a rigorous, faith-based academic program, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy helps each student develop their unique gifts and talents.

Mathnasium

After a thorough, free assessment of each child’s understanding, Mathnasium develops a customized learning plan designed to help every student succeed in math. Mathnasium students make tremendous strides in comprehension, confidence, and grades.

Ohio Valley Voices

Ohio Valley Voices believes that creating a supportive, language-enriched learning environment are key to realizing each child’s potential. OVV works with children up to age 8 who have

hearing loss, teaching them to listen and talk through the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Primrose School of Symmes

Primrose is a national system of accredited private preschools that provide high-quality early education and childcare experience for children and families. Professional staff and faculty partner with parents to help build a strong foundation for future learning.

Springs East Montessori School

This school accommodates the needs of each and every student that walks through its doors, which is why it has been termed an “environment that supports your child’s independence and intellectual development.” Students here are encouraged to become independent thinkers while developing life skills.

St. Columban School

A parish school in the Archidiocese of Cincinnati for students in pre-K through grade 8, St. Columban focuses on faith,

family, and future. St. Columban boasts a challenging academic curriculum and range of extracurriculars.

St. Margaret of York School

St. Margaret of York, also in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, serves students from kindergarten through grade 8, who receive a robust, faith-based education designed to build a strong foundation for high school and beyond.

Public Schools

Loveland City School District

Overlapping Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren counties, Loveland City School District surrounds the City of Loveland and reaches into Symmes, Goshen, Hamilton, and Miami townships. Current enrollment is approximately 4,200 students. The district is progressive, vibrant, and committed to exemplifying a dedicated approach to the complete student experience: excellent academics, exceptional arts, and premier athletics.

Sycamore Community Schools

Consistently rated as one of the top-performing school districts in the state, Sycamore Community Schools serves nearly 6,000 students in the communities of Blue Ash, Montgomery, and Sycamore Township. Sycamore High School graduated 15 National Merit Scholars in 2025. A dedicated faculty, challenging curriculum, and high expectations for all students combine to create a top-notch public-school experience.

Higher Learning

UC Blue Ash College

The regional UC Blue Ash College is a regional campus of the University of Cincinnati (UC) and offers one of the best values in higher education. Blue Ash has access to a nationally recognized UC education in more than 50 degrees and certificates, and tuition comes in at about half of what most colleges in and universities cost.

Area Schools and Learning Centers

Children’s Academy of Loveland, 10695 Loveland Madeira Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 7548600, childrensacademyofmason. com

Children’s Meeting House Montessori School, 927 O’Bannonville Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 683-4757, cmhschool. com

Cincinnati Country Day School, 6905 Given Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45243, (513) 561-7298, www. countryday.net

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Administrative Offices, 8283 E. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 247-0900, chcaoh.org

Loveland City School District District Office, 757 South Lebanon Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 683-5600, lovelandschools. org

Mathnasium, 10673 LovelandMadeira Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 216-2976, mathnasium.com/ loveland

Ohio Valley Voices, 6642 BranchHill Guinea Pike, Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 791-1458, ohiovalleyvoices.org

Primrose Schools, 9175 Governors Way, Cincinnati, OH 45249, (513) 697-6970, primroseschools.com/ schools/Symmes

Springs East Montessori School, 9429 Loveland Madeira Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 7937877, springseast.com

St. Columban School, 894 Oakland Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 683-0105, saintcolumbanschool.org

St. Margaret of York School, 9495 Columbia Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, (513) 697-3100, smoyschool.org

Sycamore Community Schools District Office, 5959 Hagewa Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45242, (513) 6861700, sycamoreschools.org

UC College Blue Ash, 9555

Plainfield Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45236, (513) 558-9495, ucblueash.edu

Powered by Our Partners

Thank you to our leading sponsors.

Premier Annual Chamber Partners

Bush-Re-Shea

Independent insurance agency offering products for auto, home, business and life.

Time Savers Heating and Cooling

More than 23 years of experience in residential and commercial heating and air conditioning.

Paxton’s/Ramsey’s Trailside

Paxton’s is a full-service family restaurant in Historic Loveland, and Ramsey’s Trailside offers fresh food on the Bike Trail.

Wolterman Law Office

Quality legal advice for individuals and businesses.

Annual Chamber Partners

2020 EyeCare

Optometry practice specializing in comprehensive medical eye care to fit the entire family’s eye care needs.

Corvel

A national provider of risk management solutions for workers’ compensation, auto, health, and disability management industries.

Gina Dubell-Smith/Exp Realty

Providing comprehensive real estate services to buyers and sellers.

Gallagher

One of the world’s largest insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting firms.

Everything Cincy

BF Realty-Brittney Frietch Realty Team

Helping people buy and sell residential real estate in and around Loveland.

MintMed

Led by Dr. Roderick Huff, Board-Certified Physician, Mint Med offers aesthetic & wellness treatments including awake liposuction, injectables, hormone replacement therapy, medical weight-loss, and state-of-the-art skin & laser rejuvenation.

Discover local events, deals, jobs, and things to do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Loveland Lifestyle

Luxury community magazine for Loveland and Symmes Township.

The Works Pizza Co.

Handcrafted pizzas, burgers, wraps, hoagies, and sandwiches made with quality ingredients.

Membership Directory

APARTMENTS

Altura Apartments 8650 Governors Hill Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 822-5273

Paulina Gomez nlistermann@ackermanngroup.com www.livingaltura.com

Loveland Station Apartments/ CMC Properties 10925 Reed Hartman Hwy #200 Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 984-3030

Emma Ballinger info@cmcproperties.com cmcproperties.com

ARTS / PHOTOGRAPHY

Art League of Loveland P.O. Box Loveland, OH 45140

Gina Dubell-Smirh gian@designed2sell.com artleagueofloveland.org

Cheryl Scholz Photography 200 Main St. Milford, OH 45150 (513) 368-5915

Cheryl Scholz cheryl@cherylscholzphotography.com Cherylscholzphotography.com

Drager Design Co. 3563 Nantucket Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (773) 919-9123

Stephen Drager stephen@dragerdesignco.com www.dragerdesignco.com

Gallery Veronique 11364 Montgomery Rd, The Shops at Harpers Point Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 530-5379

Veronique Hammons info@galleryveronique.com www.galleryveronique.com

Jessa Plante Photography 6381 Paxton Woods Dr Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 544-4423

Jessa Plante jessa@jessaplante.com www.jessaplante.com

Loveland Stage Company 111 S 2nd St. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 443-4572

Gary Giver info@lovelandstagecompany.org lovelandstagecompany.org

M. Eilert Photography LLC 224 Heidelberg Dr Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 514-9987

Margaret Eilert meilert.photo@gmail.com meilertphotography.com

Minks Photography, LLC 10084 E. Kemper Road, Suite 21 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 601-8870

Natalie Minks natalie@minksphotography.com minksphotography.com

Whistle Stop Clay Works 119 Harrison Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-2529

Bonnie McNett WSCW@whistlestopclayworks.com www.whistlestopclayworks.com

AUTOMOBILE

Elite Automotive 6113 Enterprise Drive Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 677-2886

Emily Kremer Eliteautomotivemaineville@gamil.com

Honest-1 Auto Care Loveland 10645 Loveland Madeira Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 781-3235

Pat Heaton pheaton@honest-1.com honest1loveland.com

McCluskey Chevrolet 9673 Kings Auto Mall Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 679-9179

Keith McCluskey Sabrina @Mccluskey.com www.mccluskeychevrolet.net

Mike’s Carwash 100 Northeast Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 667-4700

Bethany McAlister mhollabaugh@mikescarwash.com www.mikescarwash.com

Radha Food & Gas Inc. 60 East Pike Street Fayetteville, OH 45118 (513) 490-9020

BHUPENDRA PATEL Bobby4174@Hotmail.com

Source 1 Automotive 100 Grandin Rd Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 683-0223 Brian Urlage Brianurlage@gmail.com www.Source1automotive.com

BANKING

Fifth Third Bank Loveland 5208 Fields Ertel Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 (800) 972-3030

Easam Shteiwi easam.shteiwi@53.com www.53.com

Sip & Savor

Bishop’s Quarter delivers a one-of-a-kind experience across three floors devoted to fine wine, bourbon, and craft beer. The first floor channels “French Quarter” energy with more than 40 bourbons, a cocktail bar, and patio seating, while the second level, “The View,” features an expansive wine list best enjoyed fireside or overlooking a sunset. Upstairs, “The Landing” offers an industrial rooftop atmosphere with craft brews, TVs, and an open-air hangout. For a more casual start, Hometown Café Loveland serves up local favorites like the Classic breakfast sandwich and Bacon, Egg, and Cheddar Croissant alongside rich cappuccinos and cortados. Just off the 42-mile mark of the Loveland Bike Trail, Mile 42 Coffee keeps things moving with smoothies, teas, and specialty drinks paired with quick, savory bites. Italian standout Rodi Italian brings bold flavor with house-made pasta, Neapolitan pizza, fresh seafood, and craft cocktails, while LaRosa’s Pizza Loveland continues to satisfy with its well-loved pizza, hoagies, and pasta salads. For a sweet stop, Loveland Dairy Whip—locals call it, “Whippy Dip”—returns each season with its classic soft-serve treats. Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio, led by Chef Jaime Carmody, offers meal delivery, takeout, and private culinary events, while Paxton’s Grill remains a staple for American bar & chow with its multi-page menu and brews in its historic, brick-lined space. The Works Pizza Co. Loveland’s specialty is its brick ovens and handcrafted pizzas. Newcomer ScoopAble Ice Cream serves premium, homemade, small-batch favorites and both Tano Bistro & Catering rounds out the scene with fresh, flavorful dining options. Coming soon, My Favorite Things Deli and Market will bring another fast, fresh option to downtown Loveland.

Fifth Third Bank Loveland 10708 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-2500

Jason Humphries jason.humphries2@53.com www.53.com

General Electric Credit Union 11311 Cornell Park Dr Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 243-4328

Ashley Cunningham memberservices@gecreditunion.org www.gecreditunion.org

Huntington Bank 780 Loveland-Miamiville Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-0970

Gina Dunlap gina.dunlap@huntington.com www.huntington.com

LCNB National Bank 500 Loveland Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-2203

Georgetta Vice gvice@lcnb.com www.lcnb.com

Peoples Bank 6284 River’s Bend Drive Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 677-2300

Luciana Severo jennifer.miller@pebo.com www.peoplesbancorp.com

Republic Bank-Chad Cron MLO 4030 Smith Rd Cincinnati, OH 45209 (513) 477-7022

Chad Cron ccron@republicbank.com www.republicbank.com

Union Savings Bank Loveland 510 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-1531

Marla Simiele loveland@usavingsbank.com www.usavingsbank.com

Union Savings Symmes Township 8534 E Kemper Road Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 247-0300

MaryRose Lawhorn mlawhorn@usavingsbank.com usavingsbank.com

US Bank

112 N 3rd Street Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 967-5207

Kate Ryan christopher.grader@usbank.com www.usbank.com

BUSINESS / PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Advantage Signs 9267 Governors Way Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 677-2888

Steve Morris advsigns@fuse.net www.advantage-signs.com

Allied Shipping & Packaging Supplies, Inc 3681 Vance Rd Dayton, OH 45439 (513) 482-1655

Beth Radford bradford@asapi.com www.asapi.com

Back Office Support Services 11890 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 205-8710

James Terris james.terris@boss-oh.com www.boss-oh.com

Certificate Reissue Center (CRC) 4567 Madison Place LN Atlanta, GA 30360 (404) 452-8822

Mark Schwartz www.usdacrc.com

Cincinnati Magazine 221 E. 4th Street, Suite 130 Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-4200

Ivy Bayer ibayer@cincinnatimagazine.com www.CincinnatiMagazine.com

Content Choreographer 4814 Forest Meadows Ct Cincinnati, OH 45244 (513) 673-6679

Amanda DeBruler amanda@contentchoreographer.com www.contentchoreographer.com

CorVel Corporation 8044 Montgomery Rd., Suite 250 Cincinnati, OH 45236 (513) 337-9392

Meghan Robison Meghan_Robison@Corvel.com Corvel.com

Duke Energy 139 East Fourth Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 287-2419

Chris Harding christopher.harding@duke-energy.com www.duke-energy.com

Eagle Advisory Solutions 6376 Shallowbrook Court Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 462-5404

Jeff Hastings jeff@eagleadvisorysolutions.com eagleadvisorysolutions.com

Eastern Engineering 6920 Plainfield Rd Cincinnati, OH 45236 (513) 793-1030

Mark Langdon nfo@easternengineering.com easternengineering.com

Everything Cincy 360 Naylor Ct Cincinnati, OH 45246 (859) 992-8228

Jaclyn Cummins acummins@everythingcincy.com www.everythingcincy.com

Express Employment Professionals

4440 Glen Este Withamsville, Suite 1300 Cincinnati, OH 45245 (513) 842-8000

Leilani Sivsov

Leilani.Sivsov@ExpressPros.com www.expresspros.com/eastcincinnatioh

HCI TV

113 Commerce Blvd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 453-1242

John Pratt johnpratt@hci-tv.com hci-tv.com

Hunter Consulting Company 6600 Clough Pike Cincinnati, OH 45244 (513) 372-8714

Jeff Price jprice@hunterconsulting.com www.hunterconsulting.com

Hyperlux Logistics LLC 6281 Tri Ridge Blvd Suite 240 Loveland, OH 45140 (833) 447-1700

Chuck Haddox brandon.francis@hyperlux.com hyperlux.com

Image First Solutions 810 Ohio Pike, A Cincinnati, OH 45245 (513) 300-7005

Ken Hare ken@imagefirstsolutions.com www.imagefirstsolutions.com

Ink & Craft 6401 Roth Ridge Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 479-1572

Ariana Broerman ariana@inkandcraft.com inkandcraft.com

IntelliPoint Technologies 419 Wards Corner Road, Rear Building Suite A Loveland, OH 45162 (513) 334-7123

Derek Wilson derek.wilson@intellipoint.net www.intellipoint.net

Kate Malo Consulting 8990 Terwilligers View Court Cincinnati, OH 45249 (603) 548-9958

Kate Malo Kathrynmalo9@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/kate-malo

LedgerLogix 8180 Corporate Park, Suite 245 Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 489-4874

Todd Pfister todd.pfister@ledgerlogix.com ledgerlogix.com

Legend 3484 Irwin Simpson Rd Mason, OH 45050 (513) 492-9008

Luc Patterson luc@legendwebworks.com www.chooselegend.com

Lost Art Communications LLC 6775 Little River Lane Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 382-5828

Brian Sullivan brian.sullivan@lostartcommunications. com www.lostartcommunications.com

LoveLand & Sea Travel 115 N Riverside Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 813-8747

Beth Duppstadt beth@lovelandandsea.com www.lovelandandsea.com

Loveland Lifestyle Magazine Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 486-6203

Emily Barlow emily.barlow@lifestylepubs.com citylifestyle.com/loveland.

Martinquest, Inc 9225 Holly Hill Cincinnati, OH 45243 (513) 227-6846

Jon Martin Martinquest@msn.com

Monarch Financial Advisors 6234 Emery Crossing Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 502-2637

Sue Burnett

MonarchFinancialAdvisors@gmail.com MonarchFinancialAdvisors.com

Numbers by Jen 6433 Pheasant Run Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 428-9446

Jen Fischer hello@numbersbyjen.com www.numbersbyjen.com

Olivia & Jayde Consulting

101 Ash St Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 550-1154

Deidre Hazelbaker deidre@hazelbaker.io www.linkedin.com/in/deidrehazelbaker

Pay Stream Merchant Services 11427 Reed Hartman Highway Cincinnati, OH 45241 (866) 294-2283

Stefanie Harrod sales@paystreamservices.com www.paystreamservices.com

Payroll Partners

810 Wright’s Summit Parkway, Suite 120 Ft. Wright, KY 41011 (859) 545-3060

Matt Flyyn dnoe@payrollpartners.net payrollpartners.com

REMCO, Inc. 35 East 7th Street, Suite 750 Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 721-1331

Gregory W Meyers greg@remco-mgmt.com

RISE Commercial District 1220 RISE Way Milford, OH 45150 (317) 210-1476

Scott Drake Scott@RISECommercialDistrict.com risecommercialdistrict.com/location/ milford

Ron Chambers Group 7726 Squirrel Run Maineville, OH 45039 (313) 215-5304

Ron Chambers ron@ronchambersgroup.com www.ronchambersgroup.com

Sabo Design Associates

550 Wards Corner Road, Suite 201 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-1236

Rodney Sabo rs@saboda.net www.sabodesignassociates.com

Seven Hills Technology, LLC 4050 Executive Park Drive STE 330 Cincinnati, OH 45241 (513) 818-4651

Brad Gardner bradgardner@sevenhillstechnology. com sevenhillstechnology.com

Shannon Optical 394 Wards Corner Road, Suite 130 Loveland, OH 45140 (412) 257-4700

Elizabeth Gallaway rxinfo@shannonoptical.com www.shannonoptical.com

Sidekick Services 173 Tall Timber Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 288-4304

Ryan Mulligan ryan@friendlysidekick.com www.friendlysidekick.com

SpeedPro Cincinnati East 273 E Kemper Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 753-5600

Julie Lowry jlowry@SpeedPro.com www.Speedpro.com/cincinnati-east

Starfish Solutions 54 Mound Avenue Milford, OH 45150 (513) 544-2553

Elesa Labanz elesamarie@gmail.com getstarfishsolutions.com

Stephanie Adkinson Coaching LLC

373 Turtle Creek Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (479) 586-9179

Stephanie Adkinson stephanie@stephanieadkinson.com stephanieadkinson.com

The Job Center 11890 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 716-7218

Kyle Decker Kdecker@thejobcenterstaffing.com thejobcenterstaffing.com

The Loveland Daily Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 258-1916

Mike Meldon mikelovelanddaily@gmail.com www.lovelanddaily.com

The Outsourced COO 9226 Gourmet Ln Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 659-2192

Katie Taylor katie@outsourceyourops.com www.outsourceyourops.com

The UPS Store

10663 Loveland Madeira Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-9760

Andy Dumond store2966@theupsstore.com locations.theupsstore.com/oh/loveland/10663-loveland-madeira-rd

Town Square Publications 5 E.Algonquin Road Arlington, IL 60005 (304) 650-3963

Shannon Keller skeller@tspubs.com townsquarepublications.com

Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Homes 129 Riverside Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-2430

Terry Schildmeyer staff@tuftsschildmeyer.com www.tuftsschildmeyer.com

Welcome Wagon 8029 Muirfield Ln Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 304-0977

Alan Appel alan.appel@welcomewagon.com www.welcomewagon.com

Western Water Company 3639 Bennett Road Morrow, OH 45152 (513) 722-1682

Jamey Hinkle jhinkle@western-h2o.com western-h2o.com

CONSTRUCTION / BUILDING SERVICES

A&B Construction Company 9395 Shore Drive LOVELAND, OH 45140 (513) 824-4313

DEREK ALEXANDER derek@aandbcc.com www.bbb.org/us/oh/loveland/profile/ construction-services/ab-construction-company-llc-0292-90042291

Ascent Concrete Polishing LLC DBA

Cincinnati Concrete Polishing 5801 Creek Road Blue Ash, OH 45242 (513) 703-9800

Chad West ap@theascentteam.com www.cincinnaticoncretepolishing.com

Bath Inspirations 807 Loveland Madeira rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 774-7856

John Wood Abby@bathinspirations.com Bathinspirations.com

Bone Dry Roofing 9940 Cincinnati Dayton Rd West Chester Township, OH 45069 (513) 949-4726

Marketing Team info@bonedry.com www.bonedry.com/cincinnati

Choice One Engineering 6279 Tri Ridge Blvd Suite 100, Suite 100 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 239-8554

Kendra Peterson kmp@choiceoneengineering.com www.choiceoneengineering.com

Deerfield Construction Co., Inc. 8960 Glendale-Milford Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 984-4096

John Stewart john.stewart@deerfield1.com www.deerfieldconstruction.com

DeVol Design. Build. Remodel, LLC 10663 Loveland-Madeira Rd. Suite 204 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-0196

Jeff DeVol jdevol@devoldbr.com www.devoldbr.com

Eads Fence Company, Inc. 131 Broadway Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-4040

Becky Sand bsand@eadsfence.com www.eadsfence.com

Eagle Custom Homes, Inc. 411 W. Loveland Avenue, Suite 202 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 965-0455

Doug Feagles sharon@eaglecustomhomes.com www.eaglecustomhomes.com

Hueber Homes 526 Wards Corner Road, Suite B Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-3080

Sharon Iles John@Hueberhomes.com www.johnhueberhomes.com

J.T. Lohrer Construction Co. 4200 Roudebush Lane Batavia, OH 45103 (513) 732-9192

Mike Lohrer TLohrer@JTLohrer.com

John Hill Construction 6844 Oakland Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-8991

Ben Hill ben@johnhillconstruction.com www.johnhillconstruction.com

Mark Rumpke Services Inc

10084 E Kemper Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 967-9970

Mark Rumpke mark@rumpkedemolition.com www.mrdemo.com

N8 Construction 1549 W. Loveland Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 257-6847

Amy Thompson amythompson16@hotmail.com

Pepcon 10930 Loveland Madeira Rd, Suite 1D Loveland, OH 45140 (937) 448-2191

Ryan Beisner info@poeppelmanmaterials.com www.poeppelmanmaterials.com

Pepcon Precast 10900 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (937) 448-2191

Ryan Beisner ryanbeisner@poeppelmanmaterials. com www.poeppelmanmaterials.com

Rossmann Electric, Inc.

289 W. Foster-Maineville Rd. Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 683-1830

Rob Rossmann rob@rossmannelectric.com www.rossmannelectric.com

Rumpke Restoration, Inc 10090 E. Kemper Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 786-7537

Jeremy Myers www.rumpkerestores.com

The Basement Doctor of Cincinnati 10690 Loveland Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 554-0555

Robert Miles

bmiles@basementdrcincy.com basementdoctorcincy.com

TMC Construction Services Inc 224 Whirlaway Terr Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 383-3600

Brian Martin Brian@tmcbuild.com www.tmcbuild.com

VSWC Architects 414 Reading Rd,, OH Mason, OH 45040 (513) 247-4245

Brad Neavin brad.neavin@vswc.com www.vswc.com

EDUCATION

Children’s Academy of Loveland 10695 Loveland Madiera Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 486-0012

Jeanette Miller jmiller@childrensacademyofmason.com www.childrensacademyofloveland.com

Children’s Meeting House Montessori School 927 O’Bannonville Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-4757

Sarah DeJager business@cmhschool.com www.cmhschool.com

Loveland City School District 757 S. Lebanon Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-5600

Andrew Setters setteran@lovelandschools.org www.lovelandschools.org

Loveland Early Childhood Center 6740 Loveland Miamiville Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-4200

Matt Patterson patterma@lovelandschools.org www.lovelandschools.org

Loveland Elementary School 600 Loveland-Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-4333

Jennifer Forren forrenje@lovelandschools.org www.lovelandschools.org

Loveland High School #1 Tiger Trail Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-1920

Dave Spencer spenceda@lovelandschools.org www.lovelandschools.org

Loveland Intermediate School 757 S. Lebanon Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 774-7000

John Hart hartjo@lovelandschools.org www.lovelandschools.org

Loveland Middle School 801 S. Lebanon Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-3100

Amanda Robinson robinsam@lovelandschools.org www.lovelandschools.org

Retail Gems

Loveland is home to a variety of local businesses that blend community focus with quality and creativity. Ace Hardware Loveland is a reliable stop for paint, tools, and lawn and garden supplies, featuring trusted brands like Craftsman, Weber, and DeWALT, while providing the personalized service of a local alternative to big-box stores. Just off the Loveland Bike Trail, Bike Trail Books offers a curated selection of new titles, community book clubs, and weekly story times, making it a favorite for both cyclists and readers. For those looking to furnish or redesign their homes, Curated Fine Furnishing & Design provides custom furniture, vintage finds, and professional interior design services to help create personalized spaces. Looking for a meaningful gift? DILS Laser Designs specializes in personalized gifts, from custom laser-engraved keepsakes to themed drink toppers, while also offering locally crafted items for other businesses. Active lifestyle enthusiasts can find running shoes, apparel, gear, and accessories at Fleet Feet Loveland, a community-centered store for fitness and wellness. Music lovers will enjoy Plaid Room Records, home to Colemine Records, an analog studio, and a collection of new and used records. Rosé Boutique & Wine Bar pairs a curated clothing selection with over 40 self-serve wines, charcuterie, and patio seating, creating a unique “sip and shop” experience. Creative makers will find inspiration at The Quilter’s Studio of Loveland & QSL Workshop, featuring batik, aboriginal, and other fabrics along with quilting classes. Finally, The Girl on Ivy, founded in 2022 by Brooke Swaney, rounds out the scene with contemporary women’s clothing and accessories designed to inspire confident, modern style.

St. Columban Catholic Church

MASS TIMES: Sat: 4:30 pm Sun: 8 am – 9:45 am – 11:30 am 513-683-0105

stcolumban.org

894 Oakland Rd. • Loveland, OH We worship. We educate. We serve.

St. Columban Catholic School

A National Blue Ribbon School Pre-K through 8th Grade 513-683-7903

saintcolumbanschool.org

896 Oakland Rd. • Loveland, OH Faith. Family. Future.

Loveland Primary School 550 Loveland Madeira Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-3101

Kevin Fancher fancheke@lovelandschools.org www.lovelandschools.org

Mathnasium of Loveland 700 Loveland Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 781-3002

Emily Ballinger loveland@mathnasium.com www.mathnasium.com/loveland

Ohio Valley Voices 6642 Branch Hill Guinea Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 791-1458

Maria Sentelik development@ohiovalleyvoices.org www.ohiovalleyvoices.org

St. Columban School 896 Oakland Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-7903

Cathy Nagy cnagy@stcolumban.com

The Chatfield Edge 6361 Branch Hill Guinea Rd., Suite B Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 875-3344

Robert Elmore robert.elmore@chatfieldedge.org chatfieldedge.org

ENTERTAINMENT

Big Daddy Walker Productions 115 Riverside Dr, Loveland, OH 45140 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 678-2107

Allen Walker bigdaddy@bigdaddywalkerproductions.com www.bigdaddywalkerproductions.com

Crown and Cape Events LLC (DBA Crown and Cape Boutique) 111 Railroad Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (224) 715-5710

Kristin Schisler msanteler@gmail.com crownandcapeevents@gmail.com

Retro Rentals 5663 Cabernet Ct Morrow, OH 45152 (513) 257-6488

Amanda Reed Info@photobus84.com cincyretrorentals.com

Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks, Inc. 10059 Loveland Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-0620

Nancy Rozzi nancyrozzi@rozzifireworks.com www.rozzifireworks.com

EVENT VENUES / CONFERENCE CENTERS

Branch Hill Estate 6703 Branch Hill Guinea Pk Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 549-0739

Derek Tye thetyegroup@gmail.com www.BranchHillEstate.com

O’Bannon Creek Golf Club 6842 State Route 48 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-5657

Marianne Utz Sahms sahmsm@fuse.net www.obannoncreek.com

Oasis Golf Club & Conference Center 902 Loveland-Miamiville Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-8383

Jen Suma jsuma@heritagegolfgroup.com www.oasisgolfclub.com

The 1859 111 South 3rd Street Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 426-6771

Kate Harden info@the1859.com www.the1859.com

The Building 116 N. Karl Brown Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 227-7874

Andrew Friesner AF@TBloveland.com www.tbloveland.com

The Landing Event Center 119 Karl Brown Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-1234

Tara Behrens tarab092286@gmail.com www.landingeventcenter.com

The Retreat Loveland 210 Harrison Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-7546

Shelby Breed-Preshaw retreatloveland@gmail.com theretreatloveland.com

FINANCIAL ADVISING

212 Wealth Management Group 10663 Loveland Madeira Rd, Suite 271 Loveland, OH 45140 (859) 230-5600

Jason Pinson jaypinson16@gmail.com

Callahan Financial 9428 Kenwood Road Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 421-0800

Kevin Egan Kevin@callahancincy.com www.callahancincy.com

Edward Jones - Ian Roewer 411 W. Loveland Ave | Suite 101 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 880-1001

Ian Roewer ian.roewer@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com/ian-roewer

Edward Jones - Jeff and Chris Atkinson 505 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 697-6111

Chris and Jeff Atkinson chris.atkinson@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com/us-en/ financial-advisor/chris-atkinson

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Edward Jones - Justin Dunn 9393 Cincinnati Columbus Rd., Suite 2 West Chester, OH 45069 (513) 755-6808

Justin Dunn justin.dunn@edwardjones.com edwardjones.com/justin-dunn

Edward Jones - Matthew Hoekzema 790 Lila Ave Milford, OH 45150 (513) 831-4323

Matthew Hoekzema matthew.hoekzema@edwardjones. com www.edwardjones.com/us-en/ financial-advisor/matthew-hoekzema

Faith Financial Advisors, Inc. 6281 Tri-Ridge Boulevard, Suite 130 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 644-3238

Sandra Faith Hall sandrafh@faithfin.com www.faithfinancialadvisorsinc.com

Horter Investment Management, LLC 11726 Seven Gables Rd Symmes Township, OH 45249 (513) 984-9933

Griffin Horter sarah@him-ria.com www.horterinvestment.com

Infinity Wealth Counsel, LLC 433 West Loveland Ave, Suite 100 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 563-3500

Chris Oberholzer chris@infinitywealth.com www.infinitywealth.com

Raymond James | Kuethe Wealth Planning 6361 Branch Hill Guinea Pike Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 248-9222

Joseph Kuethe joe.kuethe@raymondjames.com www.kuethewealthplanning.com

Summit Financial Group 101 Commerce Blvd., Suite A Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 686-2874

Matthew Daniels mdaniels@summitgrp.com www.summitohio.com

Vantage Financial Partners 7844 Remington Rd, Ste. A Montgomery, OH 45242 (513) 239-2933

Michael Franks mfranks@vfplanning.com vfplanning.com

GOVERNMENT / CIVIC

Bureau of Workers’ Compensation 135 Merchant Street, 2ndFloor Springdlae, OH 45246 (513) 709-7598

Ginger McCracken Ginger. H.1@bwc.ohio.gov OhioBWC@public.govdelivery.com

Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library 800 Vine St Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 369-4418

Kathy Bach kathy.bach@chpl.org chpl.org

City of Loveland 120 W Loveland Ave. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-0150

David Kennedy info@lovelandoh.gov www.lovelandoh.gov

Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau 410 E. Main St., PO Box 100 Batavia, OH 45103 (513) 732-3600 info@discoverclermont.com www.discoverclermont.com

Clermont County Ohio Board of County Commissioners 101 E. Main Street, Suite 329 Batavia, OH 45103 (513) 732-7300

Bob Proud bcc.clermontcountyohio.gov/default. aspx

Great Parks of Hamilton County 10245 Winton Road Cincinnati, OH 45231 (513) 521-7275

Monica Resnik lanklan@greatparks.org www.greatparks.org

Hamilton Township 7780 S.R. 48, P.O. Box 699 Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 683-8520

Jeff Wright jwright@hamilton-township.org www.hamilton-township.org

Harlan Township 9120 Morrow Rossburg Road Pleasant Plain, OH 45162 (513) 877-2727

Virginia Williams Gwilliams@lns-NORTHAMERICA.com harlantownshipohio.org

At Ohio Valley Voices, we help turn

into possibility. Through early intervention and specialized education, Ohio Valley Voices teaches children who are deaf or hard of hearing how to listen, speak, learn, and connect with the world around them — while supporting families every step of the way.

Loveland Police Division 126 South Lebanon Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-3000

Michael Gabrielson mgabrielson@lovelandoh.gov www.lovelandpolice.org

Miami Township 6101 Meijer Drive Miami Township, OH 45150 (513) 248-3725

Steve Kelly

steve.kelly@miamitwpoh.gov www.miamitwp.org

Southern Ohio Chamber Alliance 1435 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (937) 395-4533

Matt Appenzellar matt@joinsoca.com www.joinsoca.com

Symmes Township 9323 Union Cemetery Road Symmes Township, OH 45140 (513) 683-6644

Bill Pitman bpitman@symmestownship.org symmestownship.org

Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau

9540 Mason-Montgomery Rd, 5412 Courseview Drive Mason, OH 45040

Phillip Smoth www.ohioslargestplayground.com/ about-us

HEALTH / MEDICAL

2020 Eyecare 9553 Fields Ertel Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 428-2020

David Williams 2020eyecareoh@gmail.com www.2020eyecareoh.com

AFC Urgent Care - Harper’s Point 11294 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 815-7000

Ilya Sheyn isheyn@afcurgentcare.com www.afcurgentcare.com/harpers-point

Athletico Physical Therapy 732 Middleton Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 368-4961

Kevin Schumpp kevin.schumpp@athletico.com www.athletico.com/locations/loveland

Concierge Medicine of Cincinnati 5050 East Galbraith Rd Cincinnati, OH 45236 (513) 760-5511

Teri Slusher teri@cmocincinnati.com conciergemedicineofcincinnati.com

Garden City Chiropractic LLC 9531 Fields Ertel Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 640-4500

Nicholas Hoar info@gogardencity.com Gogardencity.com

Healing Touch Chiropractic 443 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-2225

Daren Mazzone dcmazzone@gmail.com www.thehealingtouchwellnesscentre. com

Hospice of Southwest Ohio 7625 Camargo Road Cincinnati, OH 45243 (513) 770-0820

Veronica Sterling vsterling@hswo.org www.hswo.org

Loveland Chiropractic Offices, Inc. 215 Loveland Madeira Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-1052

Jeffrey Kemmet lovelandchiro@fuse.net www.lovelandchiro.com

Loveland Pediatric Dentistry 10570 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 806-2060

Lauren Capozza info@pediatricdentistloveland.com pediatricdentistloveland.com

Mark E. Gerome, D.D.S., Inc. 6378 Branch Hill Guinea Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-1349

Deb Gerome deb@drgeromedds.com geromefamilydentistry.com

Rx Integrative Solutions Inc 8977 Columbia Road Suite A Loveland, OH 45140 1-(513) 607-3495

Cathy Rosenbaum drcathy@rxintegrativesolutions.com www.rxintegrativesolutions.com

Madeira, OH 45243 | 513-561-5285 kinsellakitchen@yahoo.com | www.kinsellakitchens.com @kinsellakitchensbaths

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Self Care Counseling Inc.

422 W Loveland Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 334-7272

Jason Chandler info@selfcareohio.com selfcareohio.com

Signature Cataract & Laser Consultants, LLC

8231 Cornell Road, Suite 320 Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 815-5900

Alison Early aearly@signaturecataract.com www.signaturecataract.com

The Lodge Nursing and Rehab 9370 Union Cemetery Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-4900

Tiffany Santos tiffany.santos@caringplacehcg.com www.caringplacehcg.com/lodge-nursing-rehab

Wards Corner Chiropractic & Sports Rehab 550 Wards Corner Road, Suite 101 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-6787

Doug Portmann dportmann@aol.com www.wardscornerchiro.com

HOME & GARDEN

A. All Valley Plumbing & Sewer Service 110 East Mechanic Street Cincinnati, OH 45215 (513) 733-3311

James Kroeger aavp@zoomtown.com www.aallvalleyplumbing.net

All In 1 Junk Removal & Demo LLC 4111 Marburg Ave Cincinnati, OH 45209 (513) 300-7762

Lawrence Valdez lawrencevaldez@allin1junk.com allin1junk.com

American Windows and Roofing 7577 Central Parke Blvd, Suite 211 Mason, OH 45040 (833) 609-0094

Brandi Woodrum brandi@aweexteriors.com americanwindowsandroofing.com/ mason

Animal Remover 9435 Waterstone blvd cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 324-9453

Mike Dane jobber@animalremover.com www.animalremover.com

Cincinnati Pool Solutions Po Box 121 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 995-1011

Amy Estes

amy@cincinnatipoolsolutions.com www.cincinnatipoolsolutions.com

CJS Home Services 8950 Glendale Milford Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 216-5380

Emma Nations

emma.nations@cjshomeservices.com bassettservices.com/cincinnati

Clean INside and OUTside, LLC 8086 Creek Woods Place Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 200-0104

Terri Scott cleaninsideandoutside@gmail.com

College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving 250 E. Kemper Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 284-7204

Chad Rogers Chad.rogers@chhj.com www.collegehunkshaulingjunk.com/ cincinnati

Fiber-seal of SW Ohio and Kentucky 4905 Charlemar Dr Cincinnati, OH 45227 (513) 321-8887

Katie Phelan kphelan@swohio-fiberseal.com www.fiberseal.com

Fibrenew Cincinnati East 11799 Thistlehill Dr Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 550-7624

Pete Scudder cincyeast@fibrenew.com Fibrenew.com/cincyeast

Gray Painting, LLC 118 Acaro Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 748-3364

Jason Gray info@gray-painting.com www.gray-painting.com

Honestly Maid Cleaning Co 10930 Loveland Madeira Road, Suite E Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 409-0789

Jeremy Morris admin@honestlymaid.com www.honestlymaid.com

J.L.G. Floors, Inc.

419 Wards Corner Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 248-1755 x130

Lori Klein lklein@jlgfloors.com www.jlgflooring.com

Miller Heating & Cooling, LLC 6889 Sweetfarm Ln Loveland, OH 45140-6064 (513) 677-0597

Erica Miller millerheating@gmail.com

Nixco Plumbing 4281 US 42 Mason, OH 45040 (513) 398-5907

Samantha Heger sam@nixcoplumbing.com www.nixcoplumbing.com

Outside Influence 543 Clark Street Milford, OH 45150 (513) 382-6051

Jennifer Barlow jen.oidesign@gmail.com outsideinfluencedesign.com

ProLift Garage Doors of Loveland 11576 symmes gate lane Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 720-8786

Motoi Nishihata mnishihata@proliftdoors.com www.proliftdoors.com/loveland

Ready 2 Roll Moving, LLC 10930 Loveland-Madeira rd, D Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 399-9872

Brandon Sinclair b.sinclair@ready2rollmoving.com www.ready2rollmoving.com

ReCoat Revolution of East Cincinnati 5494 Hopewell Valley Dr Morrow, OH 45152-8098 (513) 653-3803

Jerod Martin jmartin@recoatrevolution.com www.recoatrevolution.com/east cincinnati

Renewal by Andersen 200 Edison Dr. Middletown, OH 45044 (513) 991-4184

Jesse Greene ohevents@windowsbyrba.com windowdoor.com

Riverside Electric Inc. 680 Redna Terrace Cincinnati, OH 45215 (513) 936-0100

Krista Mahon Kmahon@riverside-elec.com www.riverside-elec.com

Rolling Suds Cincinnati NE 8361 Broadwell Cincinnati, OH 45244

Kevin Carr kevin.carr@rollingsuds.com www.rollingsudspowerwashing.com/ cincinnati-northeast

Roomers.Design LLC 12169 Waters Edge Court Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 254-1523

Kim Hicks Roomers.design2019@gmail.com

Sherwin Williams-Fields Ertel 3984 W State Route 22 3 Loveland, OH 45140-1595 (513) 583-9780

Rolando Menendez sw701179@sherwin.com www.sherwin-williams.com/storelocator/paint-store/loveland/ oh/701179

Taylor’s Tree & Landscaping, Inc 986 White Oak Rd Cincinnati, OH 45245 (513) 752-9902

Kathy Taylor wwtree60@aol.com www.taylorstree.com

Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing 9520 Le Saint Dr. Fairfield, OH 45014 (513) 327-2578

Bri Smith service@thomasgalbraith.com thomasgalbraith.com/location/love land-ohio

Time Savers Heating and Cooling LLC 420 Wards Corner Rd. Ste. B Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 909-7283

Doug Hyrne hr.timesavershvac@gmail.com www.TimeSaversHVAC.com

Two Men and a Truck 11807 Reading Rd Cincinnati, OH 45241 (513) 769-6683

Andy Heindl andy.heindl@twomen.com twomencincinnatieast.com

Helping Hands

Looking for top-notch pet care? Fetch! Pet Care brings overnight stays, puppy sitting, and pet taxi services right to your door—tailored for every breed and personality. Keep your car in prime shape at family-owned Honest-1 Auto Care Loveland, handling everything from oil changes to engine work on Asian, European, and domestic vehicles. McCluskey Chevrolet—one of the world’s largest Chevrolet retailers—offers new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles with no-pressure sales, guaranteed credit approval, and lifetime mechanical protection. Need a sparkling clean car fast? Mike’s Carwash has you covered with express washes, unlimited monthly plans, and high-powered vacuums—all while giving back, raising over $1 million for local charities since 1948. For grooming with style, check out Railway Barber Shop. This vintage, punk-rock haven offers haircuts, hot lather neck shaves, beard trims—and don’t miss the pinball-powered BarberCade while sipping a complimentary beverage. GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati provides FREE educational, therapeutic, and research-driven programs for all ages with Down syndrome, thanks to generous donors and community support. Locally owned and operated, 2020 Eyecare provides modern vision solutions for the Loveland community and beyond. Their friendly service and incredible eyewear selection create a truly exceptional eye care experience. Bush-Re-Shea Insurance Agency offers fast, friendly coverage for auto, home, business, and life. College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving makes moving—or decluttering—a breeze. Time Savers Heating & Cooling LLC keeps your home comfy year-round with 32+ years of HVAC expertise. Brittney Frietch of BF Realty makes buying or selling a home in Loveland effortless, while estate planning attorney Steve Wolterman of Wolterman Law Office guides families and businesses with wills, estate plans, and business law.

United Water Restoration Group of Cincinnati East 12100 Mosteller Rd, Suite 100 Sharonville, OH 45241 (513) 999-5513

John Casmon jcasmon@unitedwrg.com www.uwrgcincyeast.com

Wellage Window Cleaning LLC 10783 Hampton Glen Lane Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-7767

Thomas Wellage twellage@zoomtown.com

INDUSTRIAL

Powder Alloy Corporation 101 North East Dr. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 984-4016

Kim Gotto scott@powderalloy.com www.powderalloy.com

INSURANCE

Allstate Insurance 609 Silverleaf Ln Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 975-3452 Meritt Loving merittloving@allstate.com www.allstate.com/merittloving

BOST Benefits

733 Windfield Dr loveland, Oh 45140 (513) 547-6023

Katie Miracle kmiracle@bostbenefits.com bostbenefits.com

Bush-Re-Shea Insurance Agency 536 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-0777

William Re brs@brsinsurance.com www.brsinsurance.com

Camargo Insurance 615 Elsinore, Suite 310 Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 561-5311

Adam@camargoinsurance.com camargosinruance.com

Cincinnati Family and Business Insurance

910 Loveland-Madeira Rd, Suite 6 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-5222

Mike Amos amoscompanies@gmail.com www.cincinnatifamilybusinessinsurance.com

Combined Benefits 10272 Stablehand Drive Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 317-8412

Russ Goldner russell.goldner@ia.combined.com www.combinedinsurance.com

Firehouse Insurance 4555 Lake Forest Drive, Suite 645 Blue Ash, OH 45242 (937) 206-9711

Chelsae Schaub Chelsae@firehouseins.com www.firehouseins.com

Goosehead Insurance - Joni Wagner Agency

411 West Loveland Ave., Suite 201 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 445-5894

Joni Wagner joni.wagner@goosehead.com www.GooseheadGal.com

Homestead Insurance LLC 1236 Obannon Creek ln Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 910-9126

Michele Hively justin@homesteadinsurance.net www.homesteadinsurance.net

Sherry Harbin: Health Markets Insurance 930 River Forest Dr Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 331-1168

Sherry Harbin HealthMarkets.com/scharbin

State Farm Insurance - Nikki Shah Agency

547 Loveland-Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-7755

Nikki Shah nikki@nikkishah.com nikkishah.com

Strategic Benefits of Cincinnati 424 Wards Corner Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 366-3700

Sarah Botwright info@sbcinci.com www.sbcinci.com

USI Insurance Services 312 Elm St Fl 24 Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 852-6300

Doug Storer Doug.storer@usi.com www.usi.com

Williams Family Insurance 600 Ohio Pike Cincinnati, OH 45245 (513) 866-4411

Nina Herrick cherrick4@allstate.com agents.allstate.com/williams-family-insurance-cincinnati-oh.html

LEGAL

Gertz Law Firm 501 West Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-1549

Susan Allspach allspach@gertzlaw.com www.gertzlaw.com

Luftman, Heck & Associates LLP 810 Sycamore Street Floor 3, #999 Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 338-1890

Bradley Groene support@cincinnaticriminalattorney. com www.cincinnaticriminalattorney.com

Phillips Law Firm, Inc. 9521 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 985-2500

John Phillips JHP@phillipslawfirm.com www.PhillipsLawFirm.com

A Cincinnati Tradition for Over 48 Years

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Wolterman Law Office LPA 434 W. Loveland Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 488-1135

Steve Wolterman steve@woltermanlaw.com www.woltermanlaw.com

MANUFACTURING

AIM MRO Holdings, LLC

375 Center St. Miamiville, OH 45147 (513) 831-2938

Jackie Holloway jackie.holloway@aimmro.com www.aimmro.com

Amano Cincinnati 130 Commerce Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 603-0892

Nancy Hanna nhanna@amano.com www.amano.com

Heule Tool Corporation 131 Commerce Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 860-9900

Gary Brown info@heuletool.com www.heuletool.com

JFP Sales, Inc 9581 Davis Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 604-1294

John Poland jfpoland@gmail.com

Precision Cabinetry & Design 272 E Kemper Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 276-5041

Adam Kneipp adam@craftedbyprecision.com precisioncabinetco.com

NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATION

American Legion Post #256 897 Oakland Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-6989

Melissa Hilton alpost256@fuse.net

Ben Morrison Memorial Fund 8401 Jonathan Lane, G Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 560-5315

Tori Morrison Teamforben@gmail.com www.benmorrisonfund.org

CancerFree KIDS 615 Elsinore Pl #777, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 575-5437

Jill Brink jill@cancerfreekids.org www.cancerfreekids.org

Cardinal Land Conservancy 930 O’Bannonville Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 752-2828

Susan Sprigg susan@cardinallandconservancy.org www.CardinalLandConservancy.org

Care Center of Loveland 11020 S Lebanon Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 205-5864

Greg Knake greg@carecenterinfo.com carecenterinfo.com

Do it for Jack | The Jack Quehl Foundation 308 Huntington Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 706-4990

Stephanie Quehl doitforjackq@gmail.com www.doitforjack.org

HCC - Hamilton Clermont Cooperative 1007 Cottonwood Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 728-7903

David Downs David@mail.hccanet.org www.hccitc.org

Impacting Tomorrow 455 Wards Corner Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 826-5321

Laura Baker laura.baker@impactingtomorrow.com impactingtomorrow.com

Kiwanis Club of Greater Loveland

Christina Jeranek christinajeranek@yahoo.com www.kidsneedkiwanis.org

LIFE Food Pantry 677 Loveland Madeira Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-8222

Carol Rountree director@lifefoodpantry.org lifefoodpantry.org

Life Forward 11020 S Lebanon Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 487-7777

Steve Stephenson sstephenson@lifeforwardcincy.org lifeforwardcincy.org

Little Miami Conservancy 209 Railroad Ave. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 965-9344 www.littlemiami.org

Loveland Branch Library 649 Loveland-Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 369-4476

Kathy Bach kathy.bach@chpl.org www.cincinatilibrary.org

Loveland Fraternal Order of Eagles 3006 127 N. Karl Brown Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-9945

Mike Goedde foe3006secretary@hotmail.com www.foe.com

Loveland Learning Garden

600 Loveland-Madeira Rd, LPS, LES Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 658-9382

Katie Taylor info@lovelandlearninggarden.org www.lovelandlearninggarden.org

Loveland Legacy Foundation P.O. Box 1 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 417-5820

Brian Garry brian@lovelandlegacyfoundation.org www.lovelandlegacyfoundation.org

Loveland Museum Center 201 Riverside Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-5692

Jenny Shives glhsm75@gmail.com www.lovelandmuseum.org

NAMI Southwest Ohio 420 W Loveland Ave, Suite 101 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 351-3500

Katie Harper info@namiswoh.org www.namiswoh.org

NEST Community Learning Center 11905 Rich Road LOVELAND, OH 45140 (513) 781-1238

Laurie Reagan nestclc@nestclc.org nestclc.org

The Grail in the US 931 O’Bannonville Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-2340 ext 1

Terrie Puckett office@grail-us.org www.grail-us.org

Tiger Birthday Bundle 1718 Millbrook Ln, Loveland, OH 45140 Loveland, OH 45140 (585) 764-2145

Erica Riggall ericalriggall@gmail.com tigerbirthdaybundle.godaddysites.com

Unleash Love 5029 Bristol Court LOVELAND, OH 45140 (513) 477-7624 Danise DiStasi danise@unleash-love.com unleash-love.com

PERSONAL CARE / SERVICES

Arùna Sauna Collective 6159 Branch Hill-Miamiville Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 904-9299

Courtney Mallaley Info@arunasaunaco.com arunasaunaco.com

Cincinnati Permanent Makeup 705 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 204-9389

Luz McCullough cincipmu@gmail.com www.cincipmu.com

goGLOW 5200 District Park Dr., Suite G102 Mason, OH 45040 (513) 515-4596

Jodi Achterberg Mason@goglow.co www.goglow.co/mason

Loveland Massage Center 411 West Loveland Ave, Suite 102 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 226-3400

Amanda Hindley amanda@lovelandmassagecenter.com lovelandmassagecenter.net

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Mint Med 8833 Chapelsquare Ln, Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 826-6142

Erin Huff erinhuff@youglowmedspa.com mintmed.com

Railway Barber Shop 106 Railroad Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 646-3948

Brian Maxson

railwaybarbershopllc@gmail.com www.railwaybarbershoploveland.com

The Good Hair Society 3302 Montgomery Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 765-9870

Katie Welsh katiewelsh@thegoodhairsociety.com www.thegoodhairsociety.com

The Lotus Center for Therapy & Mediation

410 W. Loveland Ave., Suite D Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 889-6171

Chris McFalls-Steger tlctherapymediation@gmail.com www.tlctherapymediation.com

The Skin Cliniq 113 Karl Brown Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 586-6977

Sally Mills sally.mills@theskincliniq.com www.theskincliniq.com

REAL ESTATE

A. Jacob Properties 278-C E. Kemper Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 490-1841

Alexander Jacob alex@ajacobmasonry.com

Bella Title LLC 7633 Montgomery Rd., Unit 6 Cincinnati, OH 45236 (513) 400-5026

Galina Logunova bellatitlellc@gmail.com www.bella-title.com

Besl, Baden & Jones @ eXp Realty 9458 Towne Square Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 368-9704

Sue Besl Price beslbadenandjones@gmail.com BeslBadenandJones.com

BF Realty Brittney Frietch Team 102 Karl Brown Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 258-1003

Brittney Frietch brittneyfrietch@gmail.com www.brittneyfrietch.com

Coldwell Banker Realty - Pam Farmer, Realtor 7917 Beechmont Ave., Suite B Cincinnati, OH 45255 (513) 324-1428

Pam Farmer pam.farmer@cbrealty.com www.pamfarmerhomes.com

Gina Dubell-Smith & Designed2Sell team, eXp Realty 442 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-8181

Gina Dubell-Smith gina@designed2sell.com designed2sell.com

Keller Williams Sean Dennedy 971 Woodlyn Dr N Cincinnati, OH 45230 (513) 227-4284 Sean Dennedy sdennedy@gmail.com thedennedyhomegroup.kw.com

Lesley Folan, Comey & Shepherd Realtors

228 Woodcrest Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 587-9418

Lesley Folan lfolan@comey.com lesleyfolan.comey.com

Move2Loveland (Ellie Kowalchik + team) 524 Wards Corner Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 697-7355

Emily Kowalchik kwteammarketing@gmail.com www.move2loveland.com

National Property Consulting Group 100 Apgar Dr. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 353-5900

Peter Madson pmadson@npcg.net www.npcg.net

Select Strategies Realty 6279 Tri-Ridge Blvd, Suite 330 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 232-8210

Regina Hyland GHYLAND@SELECTSTRAT.COM www.selectstrat.com

Steppingstone Engineering Inc

642 Delta Ave Cincinnati, OH 45226 (513) 236-0385

Micheal Dage mikedage@steppingstoneengineering. com www.steppingstoneengineering.com

Suzi Cree-Keller Williams Realty 6221 Sand Hills Dr Goshen, OH 45122 (513) 532-8917

Susan Cree SuziSellsCincy@yahoo.com www.suzisellscincy.com

RECREATION / FITNESS

Activate Brain & Body 9301 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 793-2724

Mike Gelfgot mike@activatebrainbody.info www.activatebrainandbody.com

Anytime Fitness 515 loveland madiera road loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-6683

Melissa Kazmierczak lovelandoh@anytimefitness.com anytimefitness.com

Body Alive Lagree

10565 Loveland Madeira Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (283) 212-5689

Isaac Spence ispence@bodyalivefitness.com bodyalivefitness.com

Grand Sands All Season Beach Volleyball 10750 Loveland Madeira Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 239-8095

Jon Drake fun@grandsandsvolleyball.com www.grandsandsvolleyball.com

Loveland Bike Rental 206 Railroad Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-0468

Pete Hills info@lovelandbikerental.com www.lovelandbikerental.com

Loveland Paddle Sports 200 Crutchfield Place Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-4611

Mark Bersani canoeguy61@gmail.com www.lovelandcanoe.com

MaxStrength Fitness 1010 Vintage Club Blvd, Suite 202 Montgomery, OH 45249 (513) 247-0012

Brian Gibson montgomery@maxstrengthfitness.com www.maxstrengthfitness.com/montgomery-oh

Premier Tumbling & Dance 523 Loveland-Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-1240

Vicki Wallace vickiwallace02@gmail.com www.premiertumbling.com

Richelle Weiland Fitness, LLC 6280 Emery Crossing Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 799-8010

Richelle Weiland richturn00@hotmail.com

SPENGA Loveland OH 10649 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (740) 503-2690

Kelly Hater info@spengalovelandoh.com lovelandoh.spenga.com

RESTAURANTS / BAR & FOOD

All the Ingredients 113 S. Third St Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 200-9434

Leah Moss alltheingredientsyum@gmail.com www.alltheingredients.net

Better Blend Loveland 201 W Loveland Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 239-5467

Isaac Hamlin isaac.hamlin@betterblend.com www.betterblend.com

Bishop’s Quarter 208 W. Loveland Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 400-8965

Kevin Malone bishopsquarterbar1@gmail.com www.bishopsquarterbar.com

Cocoa Muse 600 W. Loveland Ave., Suite 10 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 300-6356

Jessica Tye info@thecocoamuse.com www.CocoaLoungeLoveland.com

Donatos Pizza 11924 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 576-6160

Dan Johnson danjohnson@donatos.com donatos.com

DVD Brew, LLC 1555 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 503-1959

Dana Depenbrock ddepenbrock@dvdbrew.com dvdbrew.com

e+o Loveland

115 S. Karl Brown Way, Suite A Cincinnati, OH 45140 (513) 991-6055

Tim Weiss info@eokitchen.com eokitchen.com

Favorite Things Deli & Market 305 W. Loveland Ave. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 200-9434

Leah Moss favoritethingsdeli@gmail.com

Flavor Catering and Bar Service 111 Railroad Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 503-7684

Dominick Harney chefdominick@flavorfulldishes.com www.flavorfulldishes.com

Hometown Cafe 111 Railroad Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 488-6385

James Hooper hooperjw@gmail.com www.hometowncafeloveland.com

Hops and Berry 118 Karl Brown Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-0900

Kim Bailey kim@hopsandberry.com www.hopsandberry.com

In Bocca al Lupo 1077 Celestial St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 (310) 210-1469

Robert Peloni Roberto@sono513.com Lupocincy.com

Kona Ice of NE Cincinnati & Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee of Warren County Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 600-0408

Sandra Andrews necincinnati@kona-ice.com www.kona-ice.com

LaRosa’s Loveland 901 Loveland-Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-3006

Sam David sdavid@larosas.com www.larosas.com

Loveland Dairy Whip 611 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-0992

Luke Wiley luke@theldw.com www.theldw.com

Mile 42 Coffee 133 Broadway Street Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 900-9480

Jackie Butler mile42coffee@gmail.com mile42coffee.com

Out Of Thyme Kitchen Studio 11915 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 781-4637

Jaime Carmody jaime@outofthymechef.com outofthymechef.com

Paxton’s Grill 126 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-1717

Ashley Zielke ashley@paxtonsgrill.com www.paxtonsgrill.com

Playa Bowls

124 W. Loveland Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 383-3354

Aimee Jacob ajacob@playaloveland.com www.playabowls.com

Project Lean Nation 11373 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249 513-279-6380

Jill Strasser plnharperspoint@projectleannation. com www.projectleannation.com/locations/ harpers-point-oh

Ramsey’s Trailside 200 West Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 444-4763

John Zielke john@trailside.com www.ramseystrailside.com

RODI Italian 115 Karl Brown Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 774-7634

Jo Beyersdorfer jo@rodiitalian.com www.rodiitalian.com

ScoopAble Ice Cream 6405 Branch Hill Guinea Pike, suite 101B Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 283-2574

Amy Pennington kennedyscruisers@outlook.com www.scoopable.net

Skip’s BagelDeli 12092 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 677-3354

Skip Thole TellSkip@gmail.com EatAtSkips.com

Tano Bistro & Catering 204 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-TANO (8266) Jake Pineault info@foodbytano.com www.foodbytano.com

Texas Roadhouse 2689 Water Park Dr Mason, OH 45040-2358 (513) 268-9253

Skyler Olesevsky-Stenger 805marketing@texasroadhouse.com www.texasroadhouse.com

The Monkey Bar And Grille 7837 Old 3C Highway Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 260-3705

Mark Altemeier themonkeybarandgrille@gmail.com themonkeybarandgrille.com

The Wicked Pickle 123 Railroad Ave Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-0222

Tara Behrens wickedpickleloveland@gmail.com www.wickedpickleloveland.com

The Works Pizza Co. 20 Grear Millitzer Lane Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 697-8408

Heather Frye info@theworkspizza.com theworkspizzaco.com

BentOn 851 Loveland Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (646) 269-4398 Toru Furukawa toru@benton.nyc

RETIREMENT / SENIOR CARE

Homewatch CareGivers of Cincinnati 600 West Loveland Avenue, Suite 6 LOVELAND, OH 45140 (513) 583-8300

Emily Harris eharris@homewatchcaregivers.com www.homewatchcaregivers.com/ Cincinnati

Loveland Care Center 501 N. Second Street Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-1936

Sara Hillard shillard@lovelandcc.com www.lovelandhealthcarecenter.com

Magnolia Springs 767 Loveland Miamiville Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 774-9000

Debby Farmer farmerdebby@MSLoveland.com loveland.magnolia-springs.net

Mimi’s House Assisted Living & Memory Care

7901 State Route 48 Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 443-1400

Danielle Brown Info@mimishouseral.com www.MimisHouseRAL.com

Otterbein Nursing & Rehabilitation Care

3855 Lower Market Street Lebanon, OH 45036 (513) 583-5161 ext. 4

Crystal King Gary.Horning@Otterbein.org www.otterbein.org

Seasons

7300 Dearwester Drive Cincinnati, OH 45236 (513) 984-9400

Elizabeth Bangel-Stehlin lbangel-stehlin@seniorlifestyle.com www.seniorlifestyle.com/property/ ohio/the-seasons/#about

SEM Haven 225 Cleveland Milford, OH 45150

Barbara Wolf bwolf@semhaven.org www.semhaven.org

SHOPPING / RETAIL

Ace Hardware Loveland 675 Loveland-Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-1415

Chad Rogers Chad.rogers@chhj.com www.acehardware.com/store-details/18621

Bell’s House of Tobacco 12123 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 774-0270 Bhavik Shah hd01inc@gmail.com www.bellscigar.com

Bike Trail Books 111 Railroad Avenue, 2nd Floor Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 260-5882

Brooke Hathaway DeSantis info@biketrailbooks.co www.biketrailbooks.co

Blooms & Berries Farm Market and Garden Center S. St. Rt. 48 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 697-9173

Abby Allen

social@bloomsandberries.com bloomsandberries.com

Buckeye Running Company 471 Wards Corner Road, Suite 600 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 234-0666

Steve Nester scnester@fuse.net buckeyerunning.com

Cappy’s Wine & Spirits

309 W. Loveland Ave. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-2599

Kira Hinkle cappysliquors@gmail.com www.lovelandcappys.com

CFS Cincinnati LLC

1116 Sunrise Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (402) 980-2426

Ryan Lampert Cincinnati@CFSbeds.com www.cfsbeds.com

Curated Fine Furnishings and Design 113 Karl Brown Way Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-2233

Jillian Dowd jmalof@bondfurniture.com curatedffd.com

Dale Robertson Jewelry 784 Loveland Miamville Rd., Suite 300 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-5900

Dale Robertson info@dalerobertsonjewelry.com dalerobertsonjewelry.com

DILS Laser Designs

1142 Diekmeyer Ln Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 348-8708

Hetal Zurlinden hello@dilslaserdesigns.com dils-laser-designs.myshopify.com

Fleet Feet- Loveland

127 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 831-2378

Stacey Frank stacey@fleetfeetcincy.com www.fleetfeetcincy.com

Let’s Glow Crazy 513 Blackhawk Trail Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 205-2681

Jon Saylor jonv@fuse.net

LWIF

2575 W US Highway 22 and 3, Suite E Maineville, OH 45039 (513) 614-0957

Johnathon Yarberry LWIF2015@gmail.com

Pet Wants Loveland 110 South Second Street, Suite G Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 535-3700

Marc Drapp Mdrapp@petwants.com www.petwants.com/loveland

Plaid Room Records LLC 122 West Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 292-4219

Terry Cole plaidroomrecords@gmail.com www.plaidroomrecords.com

Rosé Boutique & Wine Bar 110 S. 2nd St. STE B Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 386-7057

Robert Coppola info@roseboutiquewinebar.com www.roseboutiquewinebar.com

RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery 368 Loveland-Madeira Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-8447

David Terry rpdiamondprint@gmail.com rpdiamond.com

The Girl on Ivy Boutique 8003 Chelton Lane Unit E Cincinnati, OH 45249 (419) 601-0122

Brooke Swaney thegirlonivy@gmail.com www.thegirlonivy.com

The Grateful Goat 6871 Cozaddale Road Goshen, OH 45122 (513) 808-0830

Deborah Skutchall Thegratefulgoat2022@gmail.com

The Ohio Barbecue Store 7691 Beechmont Ave Cincinnati, OH 45255 (513) 493-2271

Will Davis will@ohiobbqstore.com ohiobbqstore.com

The Quilter’s Studio of Loveland & QSL Workshop 535 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-3666

Karen Breed kabreed@yahoo.com www.quiltersstudioofloveland.com

Up and Running in Dayton 6123 Far Hills Ave Dayton, OH 45459 (937) 432-9210

Susie Stein susie@upandrunningindayton.com upandrunningindayton.com

VETERINARY CARE

Central Bark Madeira-Indian Hill 8185 Camargo Road Cincinnati, OH 45243 (513) 272-4107

Clark Shuler madeiraIH@centralbarkusa.com www.centralbarkusa.com/madeiraindian-hill

East Hills Veterinary Clinic 420 A. Wards Corner Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 831-7444

Jenifer Wieneke easthillsvet@gmail.com www.easthillsvet.com

Fetch! Pet Care of Loveland Ohio 348 East Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 696-9234

Edward Saxton ed.saxton@fetchpetcare.com www.loveland.fetchpetcare.com

Loveland Regional Animal Hospital 300 W. Loveland Avenue Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 697-9796

Kayleen Waters Lovelandregional@gmail.com lovelandregional.com

WHOLESALERS

Classic Impressions 10078 East Kemper Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 489-6620

Gary Zeidenstein gary@classicim.com classicim.com

McCormick Equipment Co. Inc. 112 Northeast Drive Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-8888

Steve Moser brucebuckley@mccequip.com www.mccequip.com

WORSHIP

Epiphany United Methodist Church 6635 Loveland-Miamiville Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-9866

Scott Russ info@epiphanyumc.org www.epiphanyumc.org

Northstar Vineyard Community Church P.O. Box 801 Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-1556

Matt Massey mmassey@golovelive.com www.golovelive.com

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 101 S. Lebanon Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-4244

Mary Ellen Johns MEHelms@popluther.org popluther.org

River Hills Christian Church 6300 Price Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 677-7600

Roger Smith roger@riverhillscc.com riverhillscc.com

St. Columban Catholic Church 894 Oakland Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-0105

Cathy Nagy plesher@stcolumban.org www.stcolumban.org

St. James Antioch Church 6577 Branch Hill Miamiville Rd. Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 583-9600

Father Amin Houli church@stJamesloveland.org www.stjamesloveland.org

Services

•Laser Treatments

•Neuromodulators

•Dermal Fillers

•Cellenis® Derma PRP Bio-Filler

•Microneedling

•Enhancements & Add-ons

•Weight Management

With32yearsofexperience,GinaDubell-Smithismorethana seasonedrealestateprofessional— she’satrustedadvisorwithavisionaryapproach.Whetherit’s rawland,residentialproperties,orunique,out-of-the-box opportunities,shebringscreativity,strategicinsight,andadeep understandingofwhatittakestohelpherclientsthrive.

Apassionateadvocateforthewell-beingofourcommunity,she activelysupportslocalartists,championsconservationefforts, andbelievesinthevibrantspiritthatmakesourtownthrive.

24/7 SERVICE, MAINTENANCE, INSTALLATIONS

As a locally owned and operated company, we cherish the opportunity to serve our community, recognizing the unique needs of every customer. Instead of viewing individuals as mere transactions, we believe in fostering genuine relationships built on trust and personalized care. With over 32 years of experience in residential and commercial heating and air conditioning, our commitment to customer satisfaction is unwavering.

"Our only regret with Time Savers is that we did not call them sooner! We had put off replacing our HVAC for too long after repeatedly being disappointed by several businesses and representatives. Doug returned my call immediately, even though he was tending to a family matter at the time. I said we were looking to replace our unit but Doug took the time to make sure

honest and straightforward. They started install within 24 hours to save us from the hottest day of the summer. Even though full HVAC (AC + heat) is a two day job the crew was diligent in making sure they stayed on day 1 until we had AC. They cleaned up,

like your investment was worth every penny and that is how we feel about the new Carrier system they installed. We are looking forward to having them back to service our HVAC in the future!"

— Emily W.

HEALTH WATCH 2026 WOMEN’S HEALTH

OHC

At OHC, our search for new treatments is relentless. Our drive to provide superior care runs deep. And our fight against cancer is personal. Our independent, physician-led practice is known for delivering clinical excellence combined with unmatched personal and emotional support in neighborhoods throughout the region.

OHC, with our affiliate Cincinnati Breast Surgeons, offers the largest breast surgical team in the tri-state. In addition to our breast surgeons, we offer three gynecologic oncologists, who are highly skilled in complex gynecologic surgeries and can treat gynecologic cancers directly. Finally, we also offer four advanced practice providers between

these two specialties who are focused on providing all our patients need to prepare, recover, and survive well after treatment. OHC treats all adult cancers and blood disorders, providing expert, compassionate care to our entire community.

OHC has been fighting cancer on the front lines for over 40 years. We are the region’s premier source of treatment for nearly every form of adult cancer and complex blood disorder. At its heart, our approach to cancer care is simple—to surround you with everything you need so you can focus on what matters most: beating cancer.

So, when you hear the word cancer, start here. Start with OHC. 5053 WOOSTER RD., CINCINNATI, OH 45226, (888) 649-4800, OHCARE.COM

The Christ Hospital Health Network

Founded more than 135 years ago, The Christ Hospital Health Network has long been committed to advancing compassionate, innovative care for women and families across the region. Today, that legacy continues under the leadership of President and CEO Debbie Hayes, a 38-year team member whose leadership reflects the organization’s mission to improve the health of the community.

At The Christ Hospital Health Network, women at every age and stage of life have access to experts across primary care, OB/GYN, breast health, heart and vascular, orthopedics, oncology, colorectal, pelvic floor and behavioral health. The Network also offers innovative tools like the ezCare Concierge Nurse Navigator to help women quickly connect to the right providers and services.

2139 AUBURN AVE., CINCINNATI, OH 45219

LEFT TO RIGHT: BREAST SURGEON JENNIFER MANDERS, M.D.; COLON AND RECTAL SURGEON, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF SURGICAL SERVICES JANICE RAFFERTY, M.D.; FAMILY MEDICINE SPECIALIST ARUNA PUTHOTA, D.O.; CARDIOLOGIST, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE WOMEN’S HEART CENTER ODAYME QUESADA, M.D.; OB/GYN, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES LEANNE OLSHAVSKY, M.D.

EAT YOUR WAY

cincinnatimagazine.com/weeks

the theory that “the language of a child is playing” and met Machen Champion, who founded Wired to Bloom. Strunk jokes that she started to “stalk” Champion online until she had a job. Today she’s a partner in the practice.

As hard as she worked to build her career, the current U.S. political environment around immigration issues seems to be working just as hard to tear it down. “As a small business owner, I am aware of how the ongoing uncertainty for immigrant families impacts my nervous system,” she says. “There are days when my body is in a state of heightened alert, and I have to intentionally ground myself so I can continue to function, co-lead my practice, and show up fully for the families we serve.”

WHEN STRUNK CAME TO THE U.S., SHE remembers being shocked walking down the street and having strangers randomly ask about her day. “I felt welcome and I felt safe,” she says. “It wasn’t really from the family I worked for, but from the community approaching me. People smiled and waved.”

That welcoming feeling has come to an abrupt and disturbing end, Strunk says. “I don’t feel safe leaving my house now, and I’m documented,” she says. “But the moment I open my mouth, even if I don’t give it away with my looks, you can tell I’m not from here. It’s so confusing to feel like literally at any point my life can turn upside down just because of the way I look. My daughter is mixed race, and when she’s with her father she has the protection of being with a white person. When she’s with me, that protection goes away.”

Strunk says she’s been told that she’s not Black enough to be considered Black and not good enough to be doing the job she has because English isn’t her first language. Several people have told her, “Go back to

your country” and “Why are you here?” Others will pretend not to understand her accent. “It’s not even passive-aggressive anymore,” she says. “It’s, ‘I don’t want you here. You’re taking our space.’ The experience always leaves me with a feeling of being ‘less than’ and never ‘fully American.’ ”

She supports her cousin and her cousin’s child in Brazil, but she hasn’t traveled there in a number of years. “Traveling feels genuinely frightening to me right now,” says Strunk. “I am terrified of being profiled, and I will not put my daughter through unnecessary distress. Traveling to Brazil, or traveling in general, was one of my favorite ways to take care of myself and reconnect with who I am, and that’s been taken from me in a very real way. I wish I could create a space here where my culture feels more present while still honoring the doors this country opened for me, especially in my education. It’s a complicated love.”

Children in Strunk’s therapy room talk about the same struggles, whether regarding themselves or those around them. All immigrants and minorities are sharing a common experience these days. “Black kids right now are going through this stage of feeling even less welcome and less of a person,” she says. Children can feel confused if the grownups in their lives say, “These other kids are not equal to me.”

One of her client families had to move from Ohio to another state to feel safer, based on their family dynamics here, says Strunk. “They felt they could not stay and make sure that their children were living up to their full potential. They were scared to leave their house.”

Even kids who are not directly affected by the immigration debate are absorbing images from television that they don’t have the mental framework to process. “Some are talking about racial profiling and layers of racial and cultural bias,” she says. “I see that firsthand in my house, as I had to explain to my daughter who ICE is. Children grasp the weight of the current political moment, even if they can’t name it, and that results in feelings of exclusion, danger, and unpredictability.”

Mental health concerns have seen steep increases in recent years in Cincinnati and nationally. If you need to make an appointment for a child struggling with mental

health issues to be seen for a professional diagnosis and you want the visit to be covered by insurance, be prepared for a long wait—sometimes more than a year, says Strunk. She’s seen the hoops therapists have to jump through, such as small private therapy offices that sometimes spend two years getting paneled, or onboarded, with insurance. Some clients and providers are denied by Medicaid.

“There are a lot more people trying to find ways to deny coverage than people trying to find ways to make care accessible,” she says.

Therapists covered by insurance can rarely accommodate everyone on their waiting list. Meanwhile, affordable care options for a full psychological evaluation for kids are nonexistent at the moment. “That should be typical and available, and it’s not,” she says.

A year ago, Strunk herself went the private provider route to pay for her own assessment, which revealed a diagnosis of autism and ADHD. She also experienced the bureaucracy tangle as a parent while getting her daughter a diagnosis. “It’s a pretty big chunk of money,” she says. “A full psychological evaluation for something like Autism Spectrum Disorder or ADHD, without insurance, can run anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the evaluator. That’s a significant barrier for many families.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 20 percent of U.S. children ages 12–17 face unmet mental healthcare needs. The Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health reports that more than half of all children found it difficult or impossible to access mental health care.

The U.S. healthcare system is getting even more complex, Strunk says, after Medicaid/CareSource said it will retroactively recoup Medicaid payments from some behavioral health providers in the state and reduce future reimbursements from 100 percent to 85 percent. “For many of us, that could mean potential financial catastrophe, loss of income, loss of access to marginalized clients, and bankruptcy,” she says.

Strunk says she could lose everything she and Champion have worked for, depending on how much the practice is required to pay back to Medicaid on patient

claims. The Ohio chapter of the National Association of Social Workers recently launched a petition drive to push back on the government’s decision and to call for the public to contact their legislators.

LAZY. RUDE. LOUD. DISCONNECTED. Stoic. Moving too much. Once Strunk received her autism and ADHD diagnosis, she finally had a reason for why these labels had been placed on her throughout her life.“This is why my brain is wired like that and why I’ve always had a connection with kids who have big, baffling behaviors,” she says. “They fascinate me. I respond to their overwhelming and unsafe stances in ways that sometimes didn’t make sense to other people.”

She is delighted to share with a child that his or her brain is “wired like that” and that he or she has amazing superpowers a lot of people don’t. When appropriate, she shares her own story directly with kids to make them feel seen.

Strunk says that real harm is being done now to our immigrant communities and the larger community as a whole. “Before, people would say we’re going to just agree to disagree, and now they’ll say, ‘Let’s wait for this difficult period to be over,’ ” she says.“At the stage we’re in right now, we can’t just wait. If you’re in a place of privilege, you need to be doing something to support the people who aren’t.”

Personal trauma can be healed through connection, safe relationships, and children feeling that they’re understood, says Strunk, especially among immigrants, diagnosed autistic kids, and anyone who isn’t a neurotypical white cis male. “Our nervous systems are working so hard to be part of a new language and new culture while we continue to be marginalized and discriminated against,” she says. “We have children growing up right now thinking their friends don’t belong because of their color or their diagnosis. Every child deserves to feel they belong somewhere.”

If nothing else, Strunk invites community members to listen to people instead of talking about them. “Listen to someone who’s recently crossed the border and had to leave their family and their culture,” she says.“You will learn so much. We are just people. We are not a threat.”

the killing of young Black men and women. When was someone going to tell the world about Black joy and creativity?”

It wasn’t the first time Mirageas had heard a complaint about the cultural limitations of classical arts. While working at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, he’d had a conversation about representation with a Black businessman who served on the organization’s board.

“He faithfully attended every meeting, but I rarely saw him at concerts,” he says. “When I asked him why, he told me that he loved what the Atlanta Symphony did for

Mirageas left the meeting inspired. “I warranted that we would have to find a way to tell one of these more uplifting, joyous stories,” he recalls. “The Black Opera Project is the result of that conversation.”

For the last 15 years, Opera Fusion: New Works—a partnership between Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, which gives composer/librettist teams 10-day residencies to workshop new operas—has been bringing more diverse voices into the opera space. Some of those workshops birthed Black-led operas that would go on to have full-scale productions, such as the Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s 2013 premiere of Champion, based on the true and tragic story of New York prizefighter Emile Griffith (composed by famed jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard), and Cincinnati Opera’s 2022 premiere of Castor and Patience, the tale of two African American cousins squabbling over a parcel of inherited land in the deep South against

THE BLACK OPERA PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE THREE FULLSCALE PRODUCTIONS FOCUSING ON BLACK LIFE OVER THREE CINCINNATI OPERA SEASONS, STARTING WITH LALOVAVI.

the community, that he appreciated how a great orchestra is a magnet for recruiting employees and an important contributor to a city’s vibrant cultural life. However, he said he didn’t attend performances because he saw next to no one on the stage or in the orchestra who looked like him.”

That conversation swirled in his mind when Robinson shared his concerns about Porgy and Bess. The exchange led to an hourslong discussion with members of the Porgy cast and Cincinnati Opera staff a few days later.

“I said to the whole room, ‘When is the opera world going to produce something that has the same impact on opera that Black Panther had on the movie screen?’ ” says Robinson. “It was a one-off meeting that turned into, ‘Let’s have another meeting about this.’ ‘Let’s pull this person into the meeting.’ ‘Let’s talk about these things.’ ‘You know, we can really do this.’ ”

the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis.

When The Black Opera Project was announced in 2024, however, Black stories were placed solely at the forefront. The $6 million initiative is responsible for creating three full-scale productions focusing on Black life over three consecutive festival seasons, starting with Lalovavi this month (July 9 and 11).

“The Black Opera Project aims to shine a light on the vibrancy of the Black American experience through operas created and performed by artists whose own experiences inform the stories being told on the stage,” says Mirageas. “We hope this is a first step that will encourage other opera companies to present these works on their stages in the future or to commission similar works themselves.”

For its first production, the initiative will fling audiences forward, hurtling straight into the future.

IN HIS SEMINAL 1993 ESSAY TITLED “Black to the Future,” cultural critic Mark Dery coined the term “Afrofuturism” in reference to speculative fiction that’s informed by “African American themes and addresses African American concerns in the context of 20th century technoculture. More generally, African American signification that appropriates images of technology and a prosthetically enhanced future.”

“The notion of Afrofuturism gives rise to a troubling antinomy: Can a community whose past has been deliberately rubbed out, and whose energies have subsequently been consumed by the search for legible traces of its history, imagine possible futures?” Dery wrote. In other words, how do Black people’s past and present in America inform and shape their future narratives?

Black literary luminaries like Octavia Butler, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Samuel Delaney were tackling topics such as race and survival in future narratives in their books and short stories for decades before Dery came up with a name for it. Lalovavi seeks to answer his question in opera form.

Set in the year 2425 in Atlas (formerly Atlanta), the opera tells the tale of Persephone, the youngest daughter of the tyrannical ruler Titan (sung by Robinson), who is in search of a genetic code that will make him immortal by any means necessary— even at the expense of his own family. The story is the brainchild of first-time librettist Tifara Brown, a writer, oral historian, and performance poet based in Georgia whose love of science fiction and fantasy narratives like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia helped her create Persephone’s hero journey.

Brown’s maternal great grandmother, who grew up in segregated Texas in the 1940s, was a classically trained opera singer, but Brown herself had never seen an opera until she was tapped to write this story for The Black Opera Project.

“I just knew what I’d seen on television, you know, like in movies and things,” she says. “I couldn’t have dreamed that I’d have the actual opportunity to write something like this.”

Brown initially wrote a libretto based on her and composer Kevin Day’s upbringings in the deep South, but she decided it wasn’t

the final product she wanted to submit. “When I write a poem, as I’m shaping it, there’s a moment where it settles,” she says. “It’s almost like I physically feel like, OK, it’s done. With this, the story was sincere but it hadn’t settled yet.”

Then one day, out of the blue, director Kimille Howard asked Brown and Day something along the lines of What if we allowed ourselves to dream? Black stories presented by the media are often rooted in struggle and trauma, and Howard wanted the librettist and composer to think outside of what’s considered normal for the Black American experience.

“Kimille was like, What if you imagine a world where that’s not a factor?” Brown recalls. “Where we have heroes, we have true love, we have all these things, and there’s no trauma attached to it. There’s conflict, but that conflict doesn’t have to be based in trauma.”

A week later, Brown returned with a different story set in a fantastical futuristic world full of intrigue, family drama, and discovery: Lalovavi. “I just started writing,” she says. “I took off all of my filters. I said, I’m not going to edit this as I’m writing it, I’m just going to write. If we can do it on the stage, that’s great. If not, they’ll let me know and we can adjust. For a good six or seven days, I just allowed myself to dream.”

Howard currently serves as an assistant stage director at the Metropolitan Opera and has directed productions for dozens of opera and theater companies and festivals, including Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Chicago Opera Theater, Glimmerglass Festival, and Des Moines Metro Opera. Like Brown, she grew up on science fiction, fantasy, and adventure stories in which she hardly ever saw herself reflected.

“Black people are rarely ever invited to the theater to just escape, to experience escapism,” she says. “They’re constantly being reminded how hard it is to exist. We’re doing something extraordinary with Lalovavi. It’s not like anything I’ve ever seen before but everything I’ve dreamed and craved.”

The most innovative element of Brown’s libretto by far is her use of Tut, a secret language created by enslaved people in the South to teach reading and writing in English when it was illegal to do so. After

stumbling across an article about Gloria McIlwain, the author who’s often credited with the language’s resurgence in the present day, her interest was piqued, and she went on her own research journey.

“I thought I would go down the route of J.R.R. Tolkien and come up with my own futuristic language,” says Brown. “I was fully prepared to do that, but then I said, No, I’ve been studying Tut. I wanted our rebel clan in Lalovavi to speak another language, and it’s fitting that this underground liberation movement would be speaking a language that was also used to liberate individuals from slavery in the 1700s and 1800s.” She pulled the opera’s name directly from her research: Lalovavi means “love” in Tut.

Once the narrative fully revealed itself to Brown, it was then time for Day to set it all to music. “Tifara writes in a way that translates very well to me rhythmically, and through what she wrote in Tut and in English I could automatically hear rhythms,” he says. “I could pick up on rhythms associated with that, which helped a lot with creating what goes around it.”

Day used his background as a jazz pianist, combining his familiarity with the likes of John Coltrane, Sun Ra, and Cecil Taylor with his doctoral studies on Afrofuturism. (He has a doctor of musical arts degree in composition from the University of Miami Frost School of Music.)

“There was definitely a corollary between how this futuristic concept translates in both how it looks and how it sounds,” he says. “What I did initially was to have moments of contemporary atonal music, but I mostly kept the opera quasi-tonal, where you get a sense of a tonality but there’s tension within a lot of the lines. There’s tension within the orchestration or there’s tension with what’s happening in the voice, and kind of walking a tightrope between being true to what I see on the page but also being true to what I know of Afrofuturism.”

One of the criticisms faced by many modern American operas is that they don’t sound “grand” enough for the medium. “Lalovavi, to me, musically, is a cinematic representation of what Afrofuturism can be that we just don’t have within that framework at all,” says Day. “That’s what kind of guided the process.”

An opera production lives and dies by its music, and Day’s arrangements are full of lush, gorgeous melodies well suited for operatic undertaking.

THE WEATHER IS UNUSUALLY CRISP ONE evening in early May as DJs Apryl Reign and Rah D battle to cut, scratch, mix, and remix parts of arias from Lalovavi for a crowd of about 50 people at Cincinnati Opera’s “The Afrofuturist Salon.” The event—which also includes a discussion of Afrofuturism and Black hair, featuring Brown and Lalovavi’s wig/makeup designer and CCM grad Tiara Jones—is the final installment in the company’s Underscore series of “bite-sized, immersive, and fun opera-inspired” programs to get regular operagoers and newcomers alike excited about the upcoming season.

In the last year and a half, Cincinnati Opera has done its due diligence in promoting how different the new production will be for audiences. So far, community engagement around Lalovavi has included two public workshops of the opera’s first, second, and third acts, an Afrofuturism-themed fashion show, and art displays.

For an art form that takes great pride in preserving its classics, it takes a leap of faith to invest in creating an opera like Lalovavi. It’s impressive to see a company delve headlong into a meaty topic like Afrofuturism, and Cincinnati Opera is swinging for the fences.

“It’s high risk, but there’s no reward without high risk,” says Robinson. “But the full team at Cincinnati Opera is behind it, and I’m looking forward to being a part of it. I could be part of something that’s going to hopefully change our world for the rest of my life and my kids’ lives, even my grandkids’ lives.”

Mirageas echoes his sentiment. “My hope is that the audience will rise as one at the final curtain with an ovation that will shake the rafters of Music Hall,” he says. “Lalovavi is a story of victory over adversity, the bringing down of evil, and the triumph of love. It’s grand opera through and through.”

D NE

SPANISH STEAKHOUSE VIBES P. 70 FAST-CASUAL MEDITERRANEAN P. 72 PRIM’S GIRL DINNER P. 74

MEDI MAGIC

Columbus-based Brassica serves up Mediterraneaninspired dishes, including falafel salad bowls with pita bread and housemade minty pink lemonades.

WE’RE JAMÓN

ETXE’S FOUNDERS BRING THE BASQUE REGION OF SPAIN TO CINCINNATI. —M. LEIGH HOOD

ETXE ISN’T INTERESTED IN INNOVATION. OWNERS HEATHER BRADY AND DAVID Matern (who’s also the chef) want to stitch our city a little closer to Spain, building authenticity through human connection. Think of the menu as a stroll through town. Stop for a drink, linger for a bite, and wander toward the large plates at a casual pace, where you can dig into a good conversation. This is the quintessential tapas experience. It’s not just what you eat, but how you eat.

The restaurant’s story begins when a trip to Spain revealed Brady’s and Matern’s love for the local cuisine and its extraordinary wine, inspiring a new goal. The pair decided their experiences were worth sharing, and they had the skills to do it. When they brought their hunt for a residency, as opposed to a pop-up, to Cincinnati, Chef Jordan Anthony-Brown opened The Aperture’s doors. After the original three-month residency ended, Anthony-Brown gave Etxe space to continue blooming while Matern and Brady looked for a place to put down roots (the permanent location is scheduled to open next year in the Woodburn Exchange Apartment Building on William Howard Taft Road). In the meantime, they leaned into setting the right tone.

You’ll find Etxe’s essence in its gin cart. Tableside gin and tonic service delivers personalized drinks and conversation; it’s a cheerful, scenic route to a special drink. Guests may choose from three gins, three Fever-Tree tonics, and a wealth of garnishes to customize both flavor and flair. Hibiscus petals will turn your drink pink, and star anise shines in concert with botanicals. While there are no wrong choices, the Nordés Gin from Galicia is something special, epitomizing Etxe’s relationships with Spanish providers.

FYI

Etxe

900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, (513) 202-6540, etxecincinnati.com

Hours

Dinner Fri–Mon 5 p.m.–10 p.m.

Prices

$4 (Gildas Pintxos)–$149 (Blackhawk Ribeye Entrecot)

Credit Cards

All major

The Takeaway Etxe transports you to Spain without the 12-hour flight.

The wine list is a point of pride, particularly for Brady, and it’s worth a visit on its own. During a research trip to Spain this past spring, Matern and Brady developed connections with even more incredible winemakers and vineyards. However, the duo is practically effervescent over Nordés. Etxe will be among the first American restaurants to showcase the premium brand’s nonalcoholic gin, which passed Brady’s discerning palate as an alternative worthy of the darling cart. For those reaching past gin and wine, the Rio de Dos Mundos (Four Roses bourbon, Fino sherry, lemon, Mencía float) is a fun ride. It’s refreshing and light without sacrificing depth of flavor.

You need to order more than one small plate, but if you’re dining light and you must choose, the pimiento del piquillo relleno has it all. It’s a pepper stuffed with every cheese in the kitchen. The pepper is faintly piquant but not spicy, and the melted cheese sings a harmonious chorale. It all rides in on a toasted baguette, so there’s a satisfying crunch to round things out.

For the anchovy-curious, the gildas pintxos pulls its flavor from guindilla pepper and gordal olives—the fish provides salt more than anything. It’s a single, rewarding bite that highlights one of Etxe’s core principles: building simple, straightforward recipes with incredible ingredients.

The best tapas to share? The albondigas are meatballs born from beef trim and anointed with a dazzling red sauce. They’re an easy crowd pleaser, and while the meat is phenomenal, the sauce will enchant you. It’s a little creamy, very bright, and boasts a symphony of nuanced notes. Another small plate with incredible

sauce, the alcachofa a la parrilla (grilled artichoke, crispy jamón, hazelnut, and almond romesco), has a lot happening. Usually, an artichoke is the star of the plate, but the vegetable is made demure by the salty pops of jamón, the vibrant sauce, and the nuts’ sweet, contrasting textures.

The most interesting “steak” is the Ibérico Pluma, one of the Basque region’s celebratory dishes. The shoulder steak actually comes from a special breed of pig, not a cow, and it’s one of the trickiest items to source on the entire menu. Prepared traditionally with minimal additions—typically olive oil and salt—the meat is left to speak for itself. The light seasoning plays up the flavor, and there’s nothing to get in its way. It’s tender without sacrificing texture, and the limited fat melts into the meat for a succulent experience unlike any pork you’ve tried before. The best side dish for this little piggy is definitely the champiñones a la plancha. The mushrooms add umami, building on the rich meat without overshadowing it, and the generous serving is easy to share.

As the evening winds down, turn your eye to one of the best desserts ever to leave an oven. The Basque cheesecake is a creamier, crustless alternative to those you’ve met stateside. Incredibly silky, the toasty bits lend a subtle hint of caramelized sugar. Rotating, seasonal compotes accompany each slice, and while the cheesecake is amazing solo, it steps up to a new level of complexity with the garnish.

Etxe is still evolving as it heads toward a permanent home, and that’s a feature, not a bug. Matern and Brady have new wines to discover, fresh cheeses to try, and many hidden gems to uncover. Diners can look forward to curated tastings, special events featuring small winemakers, and a renovated gin cart. It’s the next best thing to a summer abroad.

Mediterranean Madness

A BRASSICA IS A NUTRIENT-DENSE, CRUCIFEROUS PLANT COMMON TO THE MEDITERranean region—think broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, or kale. In an homage to this versatile veggie, Columbus-based fast-casual restaurant Brassica serves up the flavors of Middle Eastern and Greek cuisines with locally grown and organic foods. The chain brought its build-your-own Mediterranean concept to the tri-state last year.

Choose between a sandwich (organic pita), hummus plate (pita on the side), or salad (greens, lentils, and rice). Then add either a smattering of hummus or baba (smoky eggplant dip), crispy onions or crushed pita chips for some extra crunch, and a protein (falafel, shawarma chicken, harissa-rubbed brisket, or house-pickled vegetables). From there, go wild with additional ingredients—everything from pickled, marinated, and roasted vegetables to sauces and dressings, including roasted red pepper, tahini, feta cheese, and z’hug (jalapeño cilantro pesto).

Of course, no meal is complete without a side of Brassica fries— crispy and golden, spiced with sumac and served with a savory yogurt sauce for dipping—and a tahini chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Then take a seat on the patio or, if you can stand to wait, pop a lid on your bowl to indulge at home, followed by an afternoon snooze in appropriate Mediterranean fashion. —EMMA BALCOM Brassica, 11301A Montgomery Rd., Symmes Twp., (513) 399-5571, brassicas.com

ELISE JESSE

THIS FORMER LOCAL SPORTScaster trades the sideline for the kitchen.

Why do you enjoy cooking? I enjoy cooking because it helps me to feel connected to my late grandma, Jan Jesse. She was an avid cook, and some of my fondest childhood memories involve her bringing people together with her delicious meals and desserts.

What inspired you to start your cooking career? Three months into the pandemic, my husband got a job offer from the UConn men’s basketball team. I saw moving to Connecticut as an opportunity to pour myself into our little family. However, that is easier said than done. I was beginning to fall into a dark space because I didn’t feel like I was adding enough value to the world. The grocery store was one of the few places we could freely go, and I leaned back into my roots of cooking.

What’s your favorite dish to make? Red wine–braised short ribs with pommes puree. The best flavors and meals are built with time, and this is pure comfort on a plate.

What dish would you choose to describe yourself? I would be a lobster roll. Not the touristy one, but the kind with fat, meaty lobster soaked in butter, and loaded onto a toasted bun, and fresh lemon juice and chives. Have you ever had the opportunity to dive into a quality lobster roll? It’s like heaven. Nothing fussy, no chaos, just calm execution that hits the spot every time.

– CLAIRE WESTON

@ejscookin on Instagram

Read a longer interview with Elise at cincinnatimagazine.com

OH YES IT’S LADIES’ NIGHT

THE NEWEST CONcept by the creators of Ghost Baby, Prim, is any girl’s dream. The warm, intimate cocktail bar radiates a luxurious pink, from the curtains draping the walls to the soft couches and pillows in the center of the room, which makes it the perfect space for a weekly “Girl Dinner” special. Held every Thursday night, it’s designed to be enjoyed slowly with close friends. The cocktail bar lounge partners with Marigold for its main features, which are elevated small plates. A caviar tower (salmon roe, house made crème fraîche, and ruffled potato chips), “fingerling sandwiches” (whipped Caesar, cream cheese, dill, and cucumber on sourdough), and charcuterie and fromage (rotating selection paired with a medley of olives, petite pickles, and house-made fig chutney) offer a sleek dining experience for the grazer in you. Wash it all down with a $39 martini medley (gin or vodka martini, cosmopolitan, or lemon drop) or bottle of prosecco for the table. Feast on your Girl Dinner with friends and enjoy tunes with a DJ spinning vinyl—before you know it, you’ll have found your new weekly ritual.

—BRIANNA CONNOCK

Prim, 70. W. Fifth St., downtown, primon5th. com

Game, Set, Match(a)

Which of these two Queen City matcha shops is your favorite? —AIESHA D. LITTLE

VS. CINSEI LITTLE MATCHA

32 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 549-1750, cinsei.com

IN THE BEGINNING

After opening in a temporary space at Yard & Co. in Over-the-Rhine last summer, owners Kendall and Jaleesa Ross moved their café into a bigger space across from HomeMakers Bar in April.

FLAVOR FULL

The shop offers Japanese roasted green tea (ho - jicha) and a rotating cast of latte-blend matcha flavors, including strawberry and pistachio.

HAVE A SEAT

The Rosses always intended for Cinsei to be a third place for like-minded anime and manga nerds, so there’s plenty of indoor seating geared for conversation.

MERCH! MERCH! MERCH!

Cinsei’s other big draw is manga. The shop stocks the most popular titles like Blue Lock, Naruto, and One Piece, as well as Japanese stationery, vinyl records, and branded shirts and sweatshirts.

YELPERS SAY

“I cannot say enough good things about this place! They made an effort to get to know us and make intentional conversations. I ordered a strawberry matcha and it was delicious. The matcha was creamy, tasteful, and dare I say one of the best in the city. The shop is vibey.”

—Trinity G.

332 Scott St., Covington, littlematchacincy.square.site

IN THE BEGINNING

After running a successful pop-up business, owners Cindy Jiang and Derek Ung opened a brick-and-mortar location of Little Matcha in Covington last October.

FLAVOR FULL

The menu changes every two weeks and features two to four new flavors, typically based on what’s in season (like strawberry or pumpkin). Little Matcha also has ho - jicha and genmaicha (a blend of matcha and roasted brown rice) lattes as well as Vietnamese coffee.

HAVE A SEAT

Unfortunately, seating is somewhat limited. There are 16 seats across tables both inside and out.

MERCH! MERCH! MERCH!

The shop sells everything you need to make your own matcha at home—matcha powder, bamboo whisks (with charms that are hand sewn by Jiang), bamboo spoons, and bowls.

YELPERS SAY

“A gem of a place full of visitors on the weekends. Wow! I’m blown away. Definitely worth a visit if you don’t mind splurging a bit for some fresh matcha tea variety and homemade pastries! We got the jasmine matcha lightly sweetened. I recommend it.” —Aifa H.

September 18–20 | September 25–27 | October 2–4

Visit extraordinary homes, earn points, win luxury prizes!

Explore more than 10 luxury homes and along the way enter to win over $5,000 worth of luxury prizes! Whether you’re looking to buy, upgrade, or explore the best luxury living out there, this tour has it all.

September 17, 2026 6–8:30 p.m. at Ovation Plaza

JULY 13–19, 2026

$8-$9 Burgers

AMERICAN 80

BARBECUE 80

CAJUN/CARIBBEAN 81

CHINESE 82

ECLECTIC 82

FRENCH 83

INDIAN 84

ITALIAN 84

JAPANESE 85

KOREAN 85

MEDITERRANEAN 85

MEXICAN 85

SEAFOOD 85

STEAKS 86

THAI 86

VIETNAMESE 87

AMERICAN

ALARA

Like lots of local restaurants at this price point, this place takes farm-to-table dining seriously. Local and regional producers play a large role in shaping the restaurant’s seasonal offerings (which are on glorious display in the spiced oil, fried chickpeas, black garlic molasses, Fresno chiles, pickled carrots, and dill of the smoked carrot hummus) while larger dishes lend a certain “family style” air to the dining experience. The lobster and pea carbonara offers generous enough portions of both the seafood and the pasta to make sharing an option, but like with the chicken Milanese—a light, rustic, and lemony dish that ate like a biergarten schnitzel—you might want to keep it all to yourself.

5410 Medpace Way, Madisonville, (513) 2725315, alaracincinnati.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$

BRONTË BISTRO

You might think this is a lunch-only spot where you can nosh on a chicken salad sandwich after browsing next door at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. But this Norwood eatery feels welcoming after work, too. The dinner menu features entrées beyond the rotating soup and quiche roster that’s popular at noon. Mac and cheese? Check. Quesadillas and other starters? Yep. An assortment of burgers? Present, including a grilled portobello option. Casual food rules the day but the surprise is Brontë Bistro’s lineup of adult beverages, which elevates the place above a basic bookstore coffeeshop. The regular drinks menu includes such mainstays as cosmopolitans and sidecars.

2692 Madison Rd., Norwood, (513) 396-8970, josephbeth.com/bronte. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $

COZY’S CAFÉ & PUB

On a visit to England, Jan Collins discovered the “cozy” atmosphere of London restaurants built in historic houses. She brought that warm, comfortable feeling back to the United States in opening Cozy’s. Though the atmosphere in the restaurant is reminiscent of Collins’s London travels, the food remains proudly American. The

DINING GUIDE

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE’S dining guide is compiled by our editors as a service to our readers. The magazine accepts no advertising or other consideration in exchange for a restaurant listing. The editors may add or delete restaurants based on their judgment. Because of space limitations, all

of the guide’s restaurants may not be included. Many restaurants have changing seasonal menus; dishes listed here are examples of the type of cuisine available and may not be on the menu when you visit.

To update listings, e-mail: cmletters@cincinnati magazine.com

produce in virtually every dish is fresh, seasonal, and flavorful. The braised short rib stands out with its cheesy grits and haystack onions along with a portion of tender meat. And when it comes down to the classics, from the biscuits that open the meal to the carrot cake at the end, Cozy’s does it right.

6440 Cincinnati Dayton Rd., Liberty Twp., (513) 644-9365, cozyscafeandpub.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat, brunch Sat & Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

THE NORTHSTAR CAFÉ

ON A ROLL

Mother-son duo

Yanitza Linares and Ramy Mahmud recently opened The Roll, an Over-theRhine bakery that serves up massive from-scratch, freshly baked cinnamon rolls in a variety of flavors, including glazed sugar, cream cheese, pistachio, salted caramel, and blueberry. instagram.com/ therollmood

In Northstar’s first outpost beyond the Greater Columbus area, the space itself reflects the ethos of the food: warm and comfortable, but still modern and fresh. The dinner and cocktail menus are fab, as is the large bar. But breakfast is worth waking up early for. Take the mushroom frittata, made with meaty mushrooms, caramelized sweet onions, and Gruyère. The portions are no joke—that frittata comes with breakfast potatoes and arugula—yet it doesn’t feel gluttonous or excessive. In large part that’s due to the freshness (e.g., the sausage made in-house daily) and the abundance of healthy options. One of our favorites: the shooting star juice, a balanced blend of carrot, ginger, orange, and lemon.

7610 Sloan Way, Liberty Township, (513) 759-0033; 7875 Montgomery Rd., Ste. 3112, Kenwood, (513) 570-5570, thenorthstarcafe. com. Breakfast and dinner seven days, lunch Mon–Fri, brunch Sat & Sun. MCC. No cash. $$

THE SCHOOLHOUSE RESTAURANT

An old flag stands in one corner and pictures of Abe Lincoln and the first George W. hang on the wall of this Civil War–era schoolhouse. The daily menu of familiar Midwestern comfort fare is written on the original chalkboard. Once you order from a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to your high school lunch lady, the elevated lazy Susan in the center of the table begins to fill up with individual bowls and baskets of cornbread, slaw, salad, mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, and vegetables. The deal here is quantity. More mashed potatoes with your fried chicken? More cornbread with your baked ham? You don’t even have to raise your hand.

8031 Glendale-Milford Rd., Camp Dennison,

KEY: No checks unless specified.

AE American Express, DC Diners Club

DS Discover, MC MasterCard, V Visa MCC Major credit cards: AE, MC, V

(513) 831-5753, theschoolhousecincinnati.com.

Lunch Thurs, Fri & Sun, dinner Thurs–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

SUGAR N’ SPICE

This Paddock Hills diner, with other locations in Over-the-Rhine and Blue Ash, has been dishing up wispy-thin pancakes and football-sized omelettes to Cincinnatians since FDR was signing new deals. Breakfast and lunch offerings mix old-hat classics like corned beef hash and basic burgers with funky iterations that draw on ethnic ingredients such as chorizo. Get here early if you don’t want to stand in line.

4381 Reading Rd., Paddock Hills, (513) 2423521; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 762-0390; 10275 Summit Pkwy., Blue Ash, (513) 447-6453, eatsugarnspice.com. Breakfast and lunch seven days. MCC. $

TRIO

Trio is nothing if not a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re in the mood for a Mediterranean-style pizza or filet mignon (with a baked potato and compound herb butter), the menu is broad enough to offer something for everyone. It may lack a cohesive point of view, but with the number of regulars who come in seven nights a week, variety is Trio’s ace in the hole. A simple Margherita pizza with Roma tomatoes, basil, Parmesan, and mozzarella delivered a fine balance of crunchy crust, soft cheese, and sweet, roasted tomatoes. Paired with a glass of pinot noir, it made a perfect light meal. The service is friendly enough for a casual neighborhood joint but comes with white tablecloth attentiveness and knowledge. Combine that with the consistency in the kitchen, and Trio is a safe bet.

7565 Kenwood Rd., Kenwood, (513) 984-1905, triobistro.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DC. $$

BARBECUE

BEE’S BARBEQUE

You’ll want to get to Bee’s early if you want to avoid the line of friendly regulars. The restaurant’s smoker churns out a variety of meats—including

brisket, pulled pork, rib tips, turkey breast, and two kinds of sausage—so it’s easy to see why they keep coming back. If you enjoy the spicy grease that oozes out of a good chorizo, you’ll love the Cincinnati Hot Link, which tastes like the delicious love child of a chorizo and a hot mett. Word to the wise: Bee’s opens at 11 a.m. and closes when they run out of meat. Understandably, this doesn’t take long.

5910 Chandler St., Madisonville, (513) 561-2337. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat; 1403 Vine St., Over-theRhine, (513) 721-2337, beesbarbecue.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $

ELI’S BBQ

Elias Leisring started building his pulled pork reputation under canopies at Findlay Market and Fountain Square in 2011. Leisring’s proper little ’cue shack along the river serves up ribs that are speaking-in-tongues good, some of the zazziest jalapeño cheese grits north of the Mason-Dixon line, and browned mashed potatoes that would make any short-order cook diner-proud. The small no-frills restaurant—packed cheek-by-jowl most nights—feels like it’s been there a lifetime, with customers dropping vinyl on the turntable, dogs romping in the side yard, and picnic tables crowded with diners. The hooch is bring-your-own, and the barbecue is bona fide. 3313 Riverside Dr., East End, (513) 533-1957; 133 West Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 533-1957, ext. 2, elisbarbeque.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

WALT’S HITCHING POST

A Northern Kentucky institution returns. Roughly 750 pounds of ribs per week are pit-fired in a small building in front of the restaurant, with a smaller dedicated smoker out back for brisket and chicken. Walt’s ribs begin with several hours in the smokehouse and then are quick-seared at the time of service. This hybrid method takes advantage of the leaner nature of the baby-back ribs they prefer to use. Each rib had a just-right tooth to it where soft flesh peeled away from the bone. One hidden treasure: Walt’s homemade tomato and garlic dressing. Slightly thicker than a vinaigrette yet unwilling to overwhelm a plate of greens, the two key elements play well together.

3300 Madison Pike, Ft. Wright, (859) 360-2222, waltshitchingpost.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$

CAJUN/ CARIBBEAN

BREWRIVER CREOLE

More than 800 miles from New Orleans, this may be as close as you can get to the real deal here in your own backyard. The menu fully leans into Chef Michael Shields’s penchant for cuisine from the Crescent City. His six years of training under NOLA’s own Emeril Lagasse comes through in a scratch kitchen menu that spans a range of the city’s classics. The enormous shrimp and oyster po’boys—the former protein fried in a light and crispy beer batter and the latter in a hearty cornmeal breading—are served on fluffy French bread loaves and dressed with lightly spicy rémoulades. The jambalaya packs all the heat of a late summer day in the French Quarter without masking a hint of its satisfying flavors. Paired with a Sazerac and nightly live jazz, you may just feel tempted to start a second line. 4632 Eastern Ave., Linwood, (513) 861-2484, brewrivercreolekitchen.com. Dinner Tues–Sun, brunch and lunch Sat & Sun. MCC. $

SWAMPWATER GRILL

At first blush, this place is a dive where homesick Cajuns can find a good pile of jambalaya. But thoughtful details like draft Abita beer and char-grilled Gulf Coast oysters on the half shell signal its ambition. Bayou standards like jambalaya, gumbo, and fried seafood also make an appearance. But the extensive menu also features amped-up pub-style items for those who may be squeamish about crawfish tails (which can be added to just about anything on the menu). You’ll also find a roundup

of oyster, shrimp, catfish, and alligator po’boys, as well as a selection of hardwood-smoked meats.

3742 Kellogg Ave., East End, (513) 834-7067, swampwatergrill.com. Lunch and dinner Wed–Sun, brunch Sat & Sun. V, MC, DS, AMEX. $$

KNOTTY PINE ON THE BAYOU

The Pine serves some of the best Louisiana home-style food you’ll find this far north of New Orleans. Taste the fried catfish filets with their peppery crust, or the garlic sauteed shrimp with smoky greens on the side, and you’ll understand why it’s called soul food. Between March and June, it’s crawfish season. Get them boiled and heaped high on a platter or in a superb crawfish etouffee. But the rockin’ gumbo—a thick, murky brew of andouille sausage, chicken, and vegetables— serves the best roundhouse punch all year round. As soon as you inhale the bouquet and take that first bite, you realize why Cajun-style food is considered a high art form and a serious pleasure. And you’ll start planning your return trip. 6302 Licking Pike, Cold Spring, (859) 781-2200, theknottypineonthebayou.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

CHINESE

AMERASIA

A sense of energetic fun defines this tiny Chinese spot with a robust beer list. The glossy paper menu depicts Master Chef Rich Chu as a “Kung Food” master fighting the evil fast-food villain with dishes like “fly rice,” “Brocco-Lee,” and “Big Bird’s Nest.” Freshness rules. Potstickers, dumplings, and wontons are hand shaped. The Dragon’s Breath wontons will invade your dreams. Seasoned ground pork, onion, and cilantro meatballs are wrapped in egg dough, wok simmered, and topped with thick, spicy red pepper sauce and fresh cilantro. Noodles are clearly Chef Chu’s specialty, with zonxon (a tangle of thin noodles, finely chopped pork, and mushrooms cloaked in spicy dark sauce and crowned with peanuts and cilantro) and Matt Chu’s Special (shaved rice noodles, fried chicken, and seasonal vegetables in gingery white sauce) topping the menu’s flavor charts. 521 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 261-6121, kungfood. online. Lunch and dinner Mon–Fri, dinner Sat. MCC. $

GREAT TANG

Although the menu features classic dishes in every style, the specialty at Great Tang is the refined coastal cuisine of Zhejiang. If you like spice, you can get still the Sichuanese and Hunanese classics. One dish will hint at the surprises in store for people who are mainly used to Chinese takeout: the lovely Xian cold noodle. The dish is exquisitely layered: the creamy and nutty undertone of sesame paste, mixed with notes of tang and spice, topped with the bright pop of cilantro. The combination of textures is also delightful, with crunches of cucumber and sprouted mung and the softness of the flat noodles. Be as brave as you are in the mood to be. Ask for some suggestions and prepare to be astonished. 7340 Kingsgate Way, West Chester, (513) 847-6097, greattangohio.com. Lunch and dinner Wed–Mon, dim sum Sat & Sun. MCC, DS. $$

ORIENTAL WOK

When Mike and Helen Wong opened Oriental Wok in 1977, the couple wanted to recreate the glamor and refinement of the Hong Kong-Cantonese cuisine they knew. Today, locals and expats alike enjoy authentic Chinese and Chinese-American dishes in dining rooms reminiscent of Beijing. Beyond the elephant tusk entryway and fish ponds and fountains is the warmth and hospitality of the Wong family, service on par with the finest establishments, and very, very good food. Best are the fresh fish: salmon, grouper and sea bass steamed, grilled or fried in a wok, needing little more than the ginger-green onion sauce that accompanies them. Oriental Wok is the tri-state’s longest-running family-owned Chinese restaurant for a reason.

317 Buttermilk Pike, Ft. Mitchell, (859) 331-3000; 2444 Madison Rd., Hyde Park, (513) 871-6888, orientalwok. com. Lunch Sun–Fri (Ft. Mitchell; buffet Sun 11–2:30), lunch Tues–Sat (Hyde Park), dinner seven days (Ft. Mitchell) dinner Tues–Sun (Hyde Park). MCC. $$

THE PACIFIC KITCHEN

The monster of a menu can be dizzying. Ease in with some top-notch Korean Wings. These slightly bubbly, shatter-crisp wings are painted with a thin gochujang chili sauce (a foil to the fat). It takes 24 hours to prep the Cantonese duck, between a honey-vinegar brine to dry the skin, a marinade of star anise, bean paste, and soy within the re-sealed cavity, and the crispy convection oven finish. Dolsot bibimbap had plenty of crispy rice at the bottom of the stone bowl, and the accompanying banchan were soothing yet flavorful. Even dishes like a Malaysian goat stew resonated with rich, original flavors.

8300 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, (513) 898-1833, thepacific.kitchen. Lunch and dinner Mon & Wed–Sun, dim sum lunch Sat & Sun. MCC. $$

SICHUAN BISTRO

Like many Chinese restaurants that cater to both mainstream American and Chinese palates, this strip mall gem uses two menus. The real story here is found in dishes of pungent multi-layered flavors that set your mouth ablaze with fermented peppers and fresh chilies and then just as quickly cool it down with the devilish, numbing sensation of hua jiao, Sichuan pepper. Its numbing effect is subtle at first: appetizers of cold sliced beef and tripe, as well as slices of pork belly with a profusion of minced garlic, lean toward the hot and sweet; mapo tofu freckled with tiny fermented black beans and scallions, and pork with pickled red peppers and strips of ginger root, progress from sweet to pungent to hot to salty—in that order. Alternated with cooling dishes— nibbles of rice, a verdant mound of baby bok choy stir-fried with a shovelful of garlic, a simply sensational tea-smoked duck—the effect is momentarily tempered.

7888 S. Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, (513) 770-3123, sichuanbistro.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

UNCLE YIP’S

Long before sushi somehow un-disgusted itself to the Western World, China had houses of dim sum. Uncle Yip’s valiantly upholds that tradition in Evendale. This is a traditional dim sum house with all manner of exotic dumplings, including shark fin or beef tripe with ginger and onion. As for the seafood part of the restaurant’s full name, Uncle Yip has most everything the sea has to offer. The menu has more than 160 items, so you’ll find a range of favorites, from moo goo gai pan to rock salt frog legs.

10736 Reading Rd., Evendale, (513) 733-8484, uncleyips.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, discount for cash. $$

ECLECTIC

ALCOVE

Alcove lives up to its name, the embodiment of a green oasis where lots of care goes into the space’s bright, floral design. Equal care and attention goes into its seasonal farm-to-table menu. It’s an uncomplicated affair featuring exceptional-but-approachable dishes. As one might expect from a restaurant where plants cover most of the walls, vegetables are done very well here. The beet and goat cheese salad stands out as does the buffalo cauliflower. Like the produce, much of the meat is sourced from local and regional farms. Among other local vendors, Rich Life Farms, Urban Stead Cheese, and Eli Settler (a.k.a. “Eli the Farmer”) all contribute to Alcove’s menu. This is a restaurant that takes sustainability seriously, and sustainability has a funny way of going hand-in-hand with quality.

1410 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 371-5700, madtree. com/locations/alcove-bar-restaurant. Brunch Fri–Sun, dinner seven days. MCC. $$

Top 10 BOCA

With its grand staircase, chandelier, and floorto-ceiling draperies, Boca has an atmosphere

of grandeur and refinement. There is a sense of drama not only in the decor but in everything it serves. In some dishes, there is a painterly sense of contrast and surprise, like the maple tuile served with the maple mascarpone cheesecake. In others, there is a dramatic suspense, like the whole egg yolk quivering in the center of the beef tartare waiting to be broken. While staying mostly grounded in the fundamentals of Italian and French cuisine, Boca has an air of international sophistication that sets its food apart with extraordinary creativity and flair.

114 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 542-2022, bocacincinnati.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

BOUQUET RESTAURANT

Normally diners aren’t pleased when a restaurant runs out of something. At Bouquet, though, surprise changes to the menu are simply a sign of integrity. The restaurant is serious about using seasonal ingredients, and if the figs have run out or there is no more chicken from a local farm, so be it. The flavors at Bouquet are about doing justice to what’s available. Preparations are unfussy, complexity coming from within the vegetables and proteins themselves. A spring salad—wonderfully fresh and vibrant, so you know the strawberries included have just come off a nearby vine—is dressed with candy-striped beets and whipped goat cheese. This determination to make something delicious out of what’s on hand, to embrace limitations, gives the food at Bouquet a rustic, soulful quality.

519 Main St., Covington, (859) 491-7777, bouquetbistro. com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DS. $$

CROWN REPUBLIC GASTROPUB

What makes Crown Republic special isn’t its handful of outstanding dishes. It’s the place’s sheer consistency. No single dish is absolutely mind-blowing or completely original, but when almost everything that comes out is genuinely tasty, the service is always friendly and attentive, and (stop the presses!) the bill is quite a bit less than you expected, you sit up and pay attention. The crab and avocado toast, served on toasted bread with lime juice and slivers of pickled Fresno chiles, is a prime example of what makes Crown Republic tick. The cocktails are equally unfussy and good, like the Tequila Honey Bee, made with tequila reposado, honey thyme syrup, lemon, bitters, and mezcal rinse, which adds a smoky kick.

720 Sycamore St., downtown, (513) 246-4272, crownrepublicgastropub.com. Brunch and dinner Wed–Sun. V, MC, DS, AMEX. $$

THE GREEN LINE KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

Named after the historic trolley line that used to run between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, this restaurant combines quality American food with charm and history. Meals feel like homemade Sunday dinners, and with a menu bursting with steaks, seafood, and pasta, there’s something to make everyone’s weekend. The half-roasted chicken appears exactly as promised, with a breast, wing, thigh, and drumstick cooked as one large piece. On the cocktails side, even the designated driver has options beyond iced tea. Nonalcoholic choices range from beer and wine to original mocktails, like the Strawberry Ginger (strawberry puree, fresh strawberries, fresh basil, and ginger beer). 425 N. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas, (859) 757-4580, greenlinerestaurant.com. Dinner Tues-Sat, brunch Sun. MCC. $$

MAPLEWOOD KITCHEN

At Maplewood, you order at the counter, then find a table, and a server will deliver what you’ve selected. There’s no cohesive cuisine, rather, the menu takes its cue from all corners of the globe: chilaquiles, guajillo bowls with chicken are all represented, along with the satisfying Maplewood hash with goetta and local mushrooms. Brunch is available all day so try the light lemon ricotta pancakes or the shakshuka. 525 Race St., downtown, (513) 421-2100, maplewoodkitchenandbar.com. Breakfast and lunch seven days. MCC. $$

MELT REVIVAL

In this Northside sandwich joint, the restaurant’s name pretty much dictates what you should get. Diners have their choice of sandwiches, including the vegetarian cheesesteak—seitan

(a meat substitute) topped with roasted onions, peppers, and provolone—and The Gobbler, turkey burger served with curried aioli, red cabbage slaw, pickled red onions, and arugula. For those who require meat in their meals, try the verde chicken flatbread: juicy pieces of chicken intermingle with pesto, zucchini, and provolone. Not sure you’ll want a whole sandwich? Try a half-sandwich with a halfsalad or half-soup order—a popular selection with the lunch crowd.

4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside, (513) 8188951, meltrevival.com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Tues—Sat, brunch Sun. MCC. $

NICHOLSON’S

To remind local diners that they were here before those young dog-toting punks with their exposed brick and crafty ales in Over-the-Rhine, Nicholson’s branded themselves Cincinnati’s “first and finest gastropub,” and revamped the menu to include plenty of snacks and small plates for grazing, and not-quite-brawny, straightforward sandwiches and main dishes. Try the pan-seared salmon, a bowl of cock-a-leekie soup, or the BBQ bacon-style burger. And the bar’s clubby intimacy makes it easy to belly up and enjoy the impressive collection of single malts or a Scottish ale.

625 Walnut St., downtown, (513) 564-9111, nicholsonspub.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $$

THE QUARTER BISTRO

Quarter Bistro has multiple personalities: one part clubby neighborhood joint, one part dinner and a movie with a dash of lusty romance. The Bistro Burger, a half-pound of black Angus beef, is seasoned but not overly so, with a sturdy-butnot-too-chewy bun. The 18-hour short ribs are the star, and reason enough to skip the movie next door. Braised into a flavor bomb of meat candy, it’s served with mushroom ravioli and roasted vegetables. With the no-lip service, The Quarter Bistro could be well on the way to making middle age look sexy.

6904 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, (513) 2715400, qbcincy.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

RUTH’S PARKSIDE CAFÉ

The spiritual successor of Mullane’s Parkside Café, Ruth’s brings back the vegetable-forward menu with a few concessions to contemporary tastes. Dinner options now include steaks and heavier entrées. But the stir-fries, beans and rice, pasta, and the traditional option to add a protein to an entrée (tofu, tempeh, chicken, or local chorizo) for an upcharge are all old standards. While dishes are generally hearty, they are rarely too rich, leaving room to freely consider dessert. There is a small selection of baked goods, including a gooey butter cake, homemade fruit pies, and Madisono’s Gelato.

1550 Blue Rock St., Northside, (513) 542-7884, ruthscafe.com. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$

Top 10 SALAZAR

Chef Jose Salazar’s namesake restaurant returned to the culinary landscape in new digs (right across the street from Mita’s) with a fresh menu full of style. There are classics from the old venue, but Salazar’s vision for this new, larger space features fresh, joyful ambition you can see, smell, and taste. Much of the food’s vibrance is due to the emphasis on seasonality. However, The Little Fried Oyster Slider is a microcosm of the Salazar experience as a whole. It’s inventive, colorful, and surprisingly playful. Everything is made with love and obsessive attention to detail, from the housemade brioche bun to the artfully arranged greens that bloom just so around the sandwich’s periphery. Little, polishing touches to the menu, like loose leaf tea from Churchill’s, underline the reborn Salazar’s

investment in honing a unique, but entirely comfortable, dining experience.

101 W. Fifth St., downtown, (513) 345-1500, salazarcincinnati.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$$

Top 10 SUDOVA

Sarah Dworak packed a lot into her latest venture. She began introducing fresh takes on eastern European cuisine to the dining scene via the now-defunct Wodka Bar, and while everyone loved its pierogi window, Dworak wanted to offer more. Sudova gives her the literal space to spread her wings with far more seating and a built-out kitchen. Recipes for the halushki (caramelized cabbage and onion, brown butter, and Linnea’s spaetzle), holubsti (stuffed cabbage rolls and tomato sauce), and rye varenyky (potato, sauerkraut, caramelized onion, and dill sour cream) come straight from Dworak’s baba and they are the jewels in the restaurant’s crown. Most small plates arrive dressed in herbs from Dark Wood Farm and culinary flower petals, deepening the illusion that you’ve stopped for dinner at some grandmother’s cottage deep in the woods, and she’s just picked something fresh from the garden. You should feel grateful that you don’t have to go over the hills and through the woods to get it.

22 W. Court St., downtown, (513) 407-7974, sudovaoncourt.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$$

TASTE OF BELGIUM

Jean-François Flechet’s waffle haven grew from a back counter of Madison’s grocery at Findlay Market to multiple full-service sit-down spots. There’s more on the menu than the authentic Belgian treat, though it would be a crime to miss the chicken and waffles: a dense, yeasty waffle topped with a succulent buttermilk fried chicken breast, Frank’s hot sauce, and maple syrup. There are also frites, of course, and Brussels sprouts— served with pancetta and sherry vinaigrette—plus a gem of a Bolognese. And let’s not forget the beer. Six rotating taps offer some of the best the Belgians brew, not to mention those made in town.

16 W. Freedom Way, downtown, (513) 3965800, and other locations, authenticwaffle. com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Tues–Sun, breakfast and lunch Mon, brunch Sun. MCC, DS. $$

TERANGA

West African cuisine consists of mostly simple, home-style dishes of stews and grilled lamb with just enough of the exotic to offer a glimpse of another culture. Be prepared for a few stimulating sights and flavors that warm from within. An entire grilled tilapia—head and all—in a peppery citrus marinade and served on plantains with a side of Dijon-coated cooked onions is interesting enough to pique foodie interest without overwhelming the moderate eater. Stews of lamb or chicken with vegetables and rice are a milder bet, and Moroccan-style couscous with vegetables and mustard sauce accompanies most items. The dining room atmosphere is extremely modest with most of the action coming from the constant stream of carryout orders.

8438 Vine St., Hartwell, (513) 821-1300, terangacinci.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

Top 10

WILDWEED

Before it opened as a restaurant, Wildweed developed a loyal fan base through the hundreds of pasta pop-ups that Chefs David and Lydia Jackman held around the city. Even today, it retains some of the freewheeling quality from its pop-up era with a palpable sense of restlessness in the food. Part of the menu changes from week to week, based on what’s available in the woods and from local farms. What makes Wildweed a place to return is its sense of adventure. This place is always

pushing itself to try something different. 1301 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4274, wildweed-restaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

FRENCH

CHEZ RENÉE FRENCH BISTROT

Based on American stereotypes of French food— that it’s elaborate, elitist, and expensive—one might expect Chez Renée to fall on the chichi side. Instead, it’s elegant in an everyday way, operating on the principle that it is better to excel at simplicity than to badly execute something complicated. The formula is not complex: Simple ingredients, generally fresh and from nearby, prepared without much fuss. Warmed brie is served with thyme, almonds, fruit, and bread, and the chicken risotto is served with creamy mushrooms. This is solid, tasty food, both approachable and well-executed. It’s well on its way to becoming, as a good bistrot should be, a neighborhood institution.

233 Main St., Milford, (513) 428-0454, chezreneefrenchbistrot.com. Lunch Fri & Sat, dinner Wed–Sat. MCC. $$

Top 10 COLETTE

At this “mostly French” restaurant, which occupies the former Zula space across from Washington Park, Chef Danny Combs has built a more laid-back home for his focused, pristine cooking. While there is classic bistro fare, like steak frites, on the concentrated menu, there are also less familiar but equally classic French dishes, like the poulet frit a la moutarde (chicken with Dijon and crème fraîche) and the tagliolini aux champignons (egg yolk pasta with ragout and Parmesan). One can turn to the extensive drink menu (also “mostly French”) to find a wine or cocktail to go with any dish on offer. Like Zula, Colette would function just fine as a wine and cocktail bar, though we can’t imagine coming to a place this good and not eating something.

1400 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 381-1018, coletteotr.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DC. $$

LE BAR A BOEUF

If it’s been a couple of years since you’ve been to Le Bar a Boeuf—the late Jean-Robert de Cavel’s fun-yet-refined French bistro located on the first floor of the Edgecliff Private Residences in East Walnut Hills—it may be time for a revisit. The formerly burger-centric menu now approaches the full repertoire of bistro classics. The menu reads like a greatest hits list of bistro fare, with escargot, beef tartare, duck leg confit, steak frites, and French onion soup all making appearances. As France’s influence on American fine dining has waned, it’s refreshing to see a restaurant committed to not only preserving the French classics but reinvigorating them.

2200 Victory Pkwy., East Walnut Hills, (513) 751-2333, decavelgroup.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

LUCA BISTRO

This unabashedly French restaurant, with its French posters, bright red outer paneling, and chalkboard menu proclaiming its specials to passersby, fits into its Mt. Adams environs so perfectly that it’s hard to imagine Hatch Street without it. That, combined with warm service, timeless French fare, and relaxed joie de vivre makes this a true neighborhood establishment. Chef Frederic Maniet grew up in the south of France and has done an excellent job transporting his native cuisine to a quiet corner of Cincinnati. These are the dishes that culinary Francophiles often crave, prepared in a straightforward, time-honored way. The Bouchées à la Reine, a buttery, flaky puff pastry filled with chicken, mushrooms, peas, Gruyère

A MAD, MAD WORLD

MadTree Brewing recently announced that it will open another Alcove by MadTree location in Blue Ash this summer. The New American bistro, which is taking over the former Brown Dog Café space in Summit Park, will be MadTree’s fourth location after its taproom in Oakley, the original Alcove in Over-the-Rhine, and the Parks & Rec event space at Summit Park.

cheese, and béchamel sauce, is so warm and comforting it makes chicken pot pie seem aloof by comparison. It’s a warm, gentle reminder that French food can be convivial and affordable.

934 Hatch St., Mt. Adams, (513) 621-5822, lucabistro. com. Breakfast and lunch Tues–Sun, dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

INDIAN

AMMA’S KITCHEN

Muthu Kumar Muthiah serves traditional southern Indian and Indo-Chinese vegetarian cuisine, but with a sizable Orthodox Jewish community nearby, Muthiah saw an opportunity: If he was going to cook vegetarian, why not also make it kosher? Muthiah prepares every item—from the addictively crunchy gobhi Manchurian, a spicy Chinese cauliflower dish, to the lemon pickle, tamarind, and mint sauces—entirely from scratch under the careful eye of Rabbi Michoel Stern. Always 80 percent vegan, the daily lunch buffet is 100 percent animal-product-free on Wednesdays. Tuck into a warm and savory channa masala (spiced chickpeas) or malai kofta (vegetable dumplings in tomato sauce) from the curry menu. Or tear into a crispy, two-foot diameter dosa (chickpea flour crepe) stuffed with spiced onions and potatoes.

7633 Reading Rd., Roselawn, (513) 821-2021, cincinnati. ammaskitchen.com. Lunch buffet (all vegan on Wed) and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $

BRIJ MOHAN

Order at the counter the way you might at a fast food joint, except the shakes come in mango and there’s no supersizing your mint lassi. The saag, full of cream in most northern Indian restaurants, is as intensely flavored as collard greens in the Deep South—real Punjabi soul food. Tarka dal is spectacular here, the black lentils smoky from charred tomatoes and onions, and the pani puri, hollow fried shells into which you spoon a peppery cold broth, burst with tart cool crunch. Follow the spice with soothing ras malai, freshly made cheese simmered in thick almond-flavored milk, cooled and sprinkled with crushed pistachios.

11259 Reading Rd., Sharonville, (513) 769-4549, brijmohancincinnati.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MC, V, DC, AMEX. $

ITALIAN

A TAVOLA

In 2011, Jared Wayne opened A Tavola Pizza with two friends just as OTR was blowing up. A Ferrara pizza oven was ordered from Italy; Wayne, a skilled woodworker, built custom tables; and the menu was fleshed in with trendy crowd-pleasers like charcuterie and craft cocktails. Fast-forward a decade. The OTR outpost is closed but the second location is still going strong in the ’burbs: A Tavola Madeira capitalizes on the menu from the Vine Street location, including the fresh and zesty artichoke pizza on a Neapolitan crust; gooey mozzarella-filled arancini, or risotto fritters; and the zucchini mozzarella. Wash down your small plates with a glass of crisp and grassy Sannio falanghina or an ice-cold Rhinegeist. They’re definitely going to need a bigger parking lot.

7022 Miami Ave., Madeira, (513) 272-0192, atavolapizza.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. V, DC, MS, AMEX. $

AL-POSTO

Al-Posto is an upscale southern Italian spot that reflects the same commitment to quality ingredients and delicate preparation that made its predecessor Dear such a gem.

Appetizers include classic sharables like marinated olives (prepared with orange zest, rosemary, and Calabrian chile) and burrata with grilled focaccia, but it’s the pasta (which can be ordered as an entrée or a first course) that’s not to be missed. We recommend the cacio e pepe, a seemingly simple dish comprised of bucatini (similar to spaghetti, but thicker), black pepper, and a sharp pecorino Toscano. Since you’re probably wondering, “Al-Posto” roughly translates to “at the spot.” Located in the middle of Hyde Park Square, this eatery seems poised to become the culinary focal point of the neighborhood.

2710 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, (513) 321-2710, al-posto.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DC, DS. $$

CARMELO’S

Every great Italian eatery needs its classic entrées, and this restaurant delivers. The 101-Layer Lasagna actually looks like it has 101 layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce. The shareable meatball appetizer—which consists of two enormous veal, pork, and beef meatballs that crumble with a little elbow grease— is the solution for diners craving a protein with their pasta. The oxtail ragu, with rich gravy-like osso buco ragu, incorporates subtle tomato and robust seasoning with the dish’s shredded meat and Parmesan. Portions are large, and the staff is ready to stow your leftovers the minute you raise the white flag. Remember, there’s no shame in surrender.

434 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 287-4700, eatatcarmelos.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

FORNO

Cristian Pietoso’s second restaurant has all the bones of an upscale eatery, but the menu is infused with enough Italian soul to make nonna proud. In most instances, raving about a side of creamed corn wouldn’t bode well for the rest of the menu. Here, that side dish—kernels swimming in a pool of truffle-laced heavy cream that demands sopping up—is evidence that each component is purpose-driven. The “bone-in” pork chop Milanese, and the tagliatelle Bolognese with traditional beef and veal sauce are examples of the elevated, adventurous comfort food that Pietoso strives for.

3514 Erie Ave., East Hyde Park, (513) 818-8720, fornoosteriabar.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. $$

NICOLA’S

Chef/Restaurateur Cristian Pietoso carries on the legacy of his father, Nicola, as the elder Pietoso’s Over-the-Rhine eatery celebrated 25 years in business in 2021. You can still get the old Italian classics, and they’ll be as good as ever, but the rest of the menu has blossomed into a freewheeling tour of modern American cuisine. Any establishment paying this level of attention to detail—from the aged balsamic and lavender honey on the Italian cheese board to the staff’s wine knowledge—is going to put out special meals. Order an old favorite, by all means, but make sure you try something new, too.

1420 Sycamore St., Pendleton, (513) 721-6200, nicolasotr.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

NOCHE

This restaurant’s setting embodies what Chef Alfio Gulisano set out to achieve: An elegant but approachable restaurant where pasta, cocktails, and conversation blend with ease. The bourbon wagyu brisket burrata, with its hand-pulled mozzarella filled with slow-braised wagyu brisket and topped with a drizzle of hot honey, is decadent yet disciplined. The short rib sliders, braised for five hours after a quick grill that locks in flavor, then packed within soft buns with provolone and garlic aioli, make them both familiar and refined. While Gulisano plays up creativity with the appetizers, pasta dishes stay closer to classic Italian roots. The prime tenderloin gnocchi, the pulled brisket BBQ ravioli, and the pan-seared lasagna all have an abundance of richness without being too heavy. Gulisano’s cooking has always been rooted in heart and tradition, but at Noche the flavors of Argentina and Italy, once parallels in his life, now meet on the same plate.

701 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 261-6900, lasnoches.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$

PADRINO

Billed as “Italian comfort food,” this sister restaurant to 20 Brix offers the classics (like lasagna and chicken carbonara) plus hoagies and meatball sliders, an impressive wine list,

seasonal martinis, and a decadent signature appetizer—garlic knots, doughy buns smothered in olive oil and garlic. Best of all, Barraco’s pizza sauce, which is comprised of roasted tomatoes and basil, is so garden-fresh that one can’t help but wonder: If this is real pizza, what have we been eating all these years?

111 Main St., Milford, (513) 965-0100; 14 N. Grand Ave. Ft Thomas, (859) 957-4082, padrinoitalian.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

PEPP & DOLORES

As with all of Thunderdome’s restaurants, you get a sense that they want to deliver a meal that satisfies many different kinds of people. The prices are reasonable, with pasta entrées about $15. The dishes are familiar in their flavors, but everything feels balanced, modulated and gradually perfected. There is lovely variety: the limone pasta is zippy with lemon and chili flakes, and just the right mixture of tart and creamy; and the heat in dishes like the eggplant involtini is just enough to wake up the sauce without overwhelming the flavor. The menu has a wealth of excellent vegetarian and pasta-alternative options.

1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 419-1820, peppanddolores.com. Lunch Fri–Sun, dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

PRIMAVISTA

Besides offering the old-world flavors of Italy, Primavista also serves up a specialty no other restaurant can match: a bird’s eye view of Cincinnati from the west side. The kitchen is equally comfortable with northern and southern regional specialties. Among the classics, nothing is more restorative than the pasta e fagioli, a hearty soup of cannellini, ditali pasta, and bacon. Most of the pastas are cooked just a degree more mellow than al dente so that they soak up the fragrant tomato basil or satiny cream sauces. On the desserts side, you’ll be hard-pressed to decide between the housemade tiramisu or bread pudding with caramel sauce, marsala-soaked raisins, and cream.

810 Matson Pl., Price Hill, (513) 251-6467, pvista.com. Dinner Wed–Sun. MCC, DS. $$$

SOTTO

Top 10

There are certain books and movies that you can read or watch over and over. Eating at Sotto is a similar experience: familiar, but so profound and satisfying that there is no reason to ever stop. Unlike other restaurants, where the techniques are often elaborate and unfamiliar, the magic at Sotto happens right in front of you, using ordinary elements and methods. When you taste the results, though, you realize that some mysterious transmutation has taken place. The wood-fired branzino with broccolini, matched with the warm, smoky taste of the Calabrian pepper, offers a flavor that you could go on eating forever. From the texture of the chicken liver mousse to the citrusy lemon aioli on the tartare di fassone, most of the food has some added element of soulfulness.

118 E. Sixth St., downtown, (513) 822-5154, sottocincinnati.com. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$

SUBITO

Focusing on Northern Italian cuisine, Subito carves out its own worthwhile place in the landscape. Most of the items on the menu—from pizza to various pastas—will be familiar, but there are delightful surprises, like the smoked grape crostini. This zingy dish is served with herb whipped goat cheese, apple, pecan, and maple agrodolce. Everything at Subito is done with intelligence and a light touch.

311 Pike St., downtown, (513) 579-3860, thelytleparkhotel.com/dining/subito. Breakfast and lunch seven days, dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$

VIA VITE

Via Vite serves up crowd-pleasing entrées—including the Pietoso family Bolognese, over tagliatelle—right on Fountain Square. This is where small touches add sophistication. Golf-ball-sized veal meatballs are heavy with lemon zest, an over-the-top comfort dish. The same applies to the risotto frutti di mare, its soffritto, shrimp, lobster, mussels, and Boston bay clams creates a nice back-and-forth between vegetal and briny flavors. Braised lamb shank over polenta is a workhorse, and the flavorful Faroe Island salmon with roasted carrot puree, caramelized Brussel

sprouts, and truffled brown butter balsamic vinaigrette is a delight.

520 Vine St., downtown, (513) 721-8483, viaviterestaurant.com. Dinner Mon–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

JAPANESE

ANDO

You don’t go just anywhere to dine on uni sashimi (sea urchin) or tanshio (thinly sliced charcoal-grilled beef tongue). And when it’s on the menu, don’t overlook the buttery amberjack collar marinated in a Japanese citrus infused soy sauce and grilled over charcoal. Noodles are also well represented, with udon, soba, or ramen options available. Owners Ken and Keiko Ando always have something new, be it kamo negi maki (grilled duck breast stuffed with organic green onions) or a chocolate crepe and matcha parfait, delicacies that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in anywhere else, so dont’ forget to check out the specials.

11255 Reed Hartman Hwy., Blue Ash, (513) 954-0041, andojapaneserestaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sat. MCC, DS. $$$

KIKI

Your best bet here is to share plates or simply order too much. Start with the edamame and the chicken karaage. The selection of sauces (from tare to ponzu to chili oil) makes each dish better. And, of course, the ramen is the main reason for visiting. The shio features pork belly and tea-marinated soft-boiled egg, but the kimchi subs in tofu and its namesake cabbage for the meat. Be sure to try something from the sushi bar which offers nigiri, sashimi, and roll options.

358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, (513) 706-8902, kikicincinnati. com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sat. MCC. $$

KYOTO

Owner Jason Shi seems to know everybody’s name as he chats up diners, guiding them through the extensive sushi and sashimi menu. Four young sushi chefs, all part of Shi’s family, work at light speed behind the bar, a choreography backlit by rows of gleaming liquor bottles. Dinner proceeds with glorious chaos as a feisty Carla Tortelli–like server delivers one dish after another—combination of crab, fish, shrimp, scallop, and vegetable tempuras, a volcanic tower of chopped fatty tuna hidden inside overlapping layers of thin avocado slices, crispy chicken katsu with a mayo sauce,, and delicate slices of a samurai roll—all between shots of chilled sake.

12082 Montgomery Rd., Symmes Twp., (513) 583-8897, kyotousa.m988.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

ZUNDO RAMEN & DONBURI

A stark contrast to Styrofoam cup soup, chef Han Lin’s ramens are a deep and exciting branch of cuisine, capable of subtlety, variation, and depth. The simplicity of the dish’s name hides a world of complexity. Zundo uses the traditional Japanese building blocks of flavor—soy sauce, miso, sake, mirin—to create something freewheeling and time-tested. Bowls of ramen come with a marinated softboiled egg half, roast pork, green onion, and a healthy serving of noodles. Each has a distinct identity, like the milky richness of the tonkotsu, the rich and buttery miso, or the light and faintly sweet shoyu ramen. A transformative add-in is the mayu, or black garlic oil. Dripped on top of one of the subtler broths, it adds a deep, mushroom-y richness, with the hint of burned flavor that makes barbecue so good.

220 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 975-0706, zundootr.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

KOREAN

RIVERSIDE KOREAN

RESTAURANT

Come for the jham bong—a seafood soup with flour noodles

in a spicy broth with pork, shrimp, squid, mussels, and vegetables. Revered for its medicinal properties, the dinnersized soup will leave your eyes glistening and your brow beaded with sweat. It’s a detox for your overindulgence, rejuvenation for when you’re feeling under the weather. Expect crowds on weekends. Expect too, that dozens of them have come for dolsot bibimbap, the hot stone pots filled with layers of rice, vegetables, meat or tofu, egg, and chili paste. Characterized by its electric color and addictive flavors, Riverside Korean’s version is a captivating bowl of heaven. 512 Madison Ave., Covington, (859) 291-1484, riversidekoreanrestaurant.com. Dinner Tues–Sun. MCC, DS. $$

MEDITERRANEAN

ANDY’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILLE

In this lively joint with a burnished summer lodge interior of wood and stone, even the food is unrestrained: rough-cut chunks of charbroiled beef tenderloin, big slices of onion and green pepper turned sweet and wet in the heat, skewers of marinated and charbroiled chicken perched on rice too generous for its plate.

906 Nassau St., Walnut Hills, (513) 281-9791, andyskabob.com. Lunch Mon–Sat, dinner seven days. MCC. $$

CAFÉ MEDITERRANEAN

Chef-driven Middle Eastern cuisine leans heavily on Turkish tradition here. The baba ghanoush uses seared eggplant, which adds a pleasant smokiness to the final product. Börek is described as a “Turkish Egg Roll,” wrapping feta and fresh and dried herbs into phyllo dough and frying it lightly to brittle flakiness. While there is a smooth, simple hummus on the menu, you should go for the classic sucuklu hummus, which is spiked with sujuk, a common beef sausage popular all over the Middle East.

3520 Erie Ave., East Hyde Park, (513) 871-8714, mediterranean-cafe.com. Lunch Mon–Sat, dinner seven days. MCC. $$

FILLO

This modern Greek restaurant has a menu composed of mezedes, the small, shareable plates that serve as the binder to a great Greek meal. Take the saganaki, for example. True to Greek tradition, Fillo’s version is served without a tableside flambé. But what the dish lacks in spectacle, it makes up for in spectacular flavor. The layering of ingredients and flavors defines Fillo’s most filling entrée: moussaka. The classic dish appears on several local Mediterranean menus, but for pure comfort, Fillo’s combination of eggplant, potato, tomato-y beef ragu sauce, and béchamel can’t be beat.

1505 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 873-1995, fillomoderngreek.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$

Top 10 PHOENICIAN TAVERNA

No matter how much restraint you go in with, meals at Phoenician Taverna quickly become feasts. There is just too much that’s good, and everything is meant to be shared. With fresh pita bread continuously arriving from the ovens, and a table of quickly multiplying meze (hummus, falafel, muhammara), there is a warmth and depth to the cooking that envelops you. With such traditional cuisine, you may think there isn’t much left to discover beyond simply executed classics prepared according to time-tested methods. But there are always new discoveries, like the tabbouleh with the hummus, mixed with a touch of harissa, or the smoky baba ghanoush spooned onto falafel. Phoenician Taverna keeps taking these classics a little further. 7944 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, (513) 770-0027, phoeniciantaverna.com. Lunch Tues–Fri, dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

SANTORINI

Steak, eggs, and homefries. Jumbo haddock sandwich with Greek fries. Chocolate chip hotcakes with bacon. Notice something wrong with this menu? Chicken Philly cheese steak sandwich with Olympic onion rings. Yep, it’s obvi-

ous: What’s wrong with this menu is that there’s nothing wrong with this menu. Greek feta cheese omelette with a side of ham. It’s been owned by the same family for more than 30 years. Santorini has diner standards, like cheeseburgers, chili five ways, and breakfast anytime, but they also make some Greek pastries in-house, like spanakopita and baklava.

3414 Harrison Ave., Cheviot, (513) 662-8080. Breakfast and lunch seven days, dinner Tues–Fri. MCC. $

SEBASTIAN’S

Watch the rotating wheels of beef and lamb, and you understand how Greek food has escaped the American tendency to appropriate foreign cuisines. Sebastian’s specializes in gyros, shaved off the stick, wrapped in thick griddle pita with onions and tomatoes, and served with cool tzatziki sauce. Whether you’re having a crisp Greek salad with house-made dressing, triangles of spanakopita, or simply the best walnut and honey baklava this side of the Atlantic, they never misses a beat, turning more covers in the tiny restaurant on one Saturday afternoon than some restaurants do in an entire weekend. 5209 Glenway Ave., Price Hill, (513) 471-2100, sebastiansgyros.com. Brunch, lunch and dinner Mon–Sat. MCC. DS. $

MEXICAN

MAZUNTE

Mazunte runs a culinary full-court press, switching up specials to keep both regulars and staff engaged. Pork tamales arrive swaddled in a banana leaf, the shredded pork filling steeped in a sauce fiery with guajillo and ancho chilies yet foiled by the calming sweetness of raisins. The fried fish tacos are finished with a citrusy red and white cabbage slaw that complements the accompanying mango-habañero salsa. With this level of authentic yet fast-paced execution, a slightly greasy pozole can be easily forgiven. Don’t miss the Mexican Coke, the margaritas, or the non-alcoholic horchata. 5207 Madison Rd., Madisonville, (513) 785-0000, mazuntetacos.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC. $

TAQUERIA MERCADO

On a Saturday night, Taqueria Mercado is a lively fiesta, with seemingly half of the local Hispanic community guzzling margaritas and cervezas or carrying out sacks of burritos and carnitas tacos—pork tenderized by a long simmer, its edges frizzled and crispy. The Mercado’s strip mall interior, splashed with a large, colorful mural, is equally energetic: the bustling semi-open kitchen; a busy counter that handles a constant stream of take-out orders; a clamorous, convivial chatter in Spanish and English. Try camarones a la plancha, 12 chubby grilled shrimp tangled with grilled onions (be sure to specify if you like your onions well done). The starchiness of the rice absorbs the caramelized onion juice, offset by the crunch of lettuce, buttery slices of avocado, and the cool-hot pico de gallo. A shrimp quesadilla paired with one of their cheap and potent margaritas is worth the drive alone.

6507 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield, (513) 942-4943; 100 E. Eighth St., downtown, (513) 381-0678, taqueriamercado. com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $

SEAFOOD

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S

The daily rotation here reads like a fisherman’s wish list: lobster tails from Australia and the North Atlantic, ahi tuna from Hawaii, clams from New England. But high-quality ingredients are only half the equation; preparation is the other. Herb-broth sea bass, served with roasted fingerling potatoes, makes the taste buds dance. The spacious digs and attentive waitstaff bring a touch of class to Fountain Square and make it a sophisticated destination.

21 E. Fifth St., downtown, (513) 721-9339, mccormickandschmicks.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DC, DS. $$

STEAKS

CARLO & JOHNNY

The stars of the menu are 12 delectable steaks that could sway the vegi-curious to recommit. Not sure which to choose? If you prefer brawny flavor over buttery texture, go for one of the three bone-in rib cuts. Or if it’s that melt-in-your-mouth experience that raises your serotonin levels, C&J features several tenderloin cuts, including the premium six-ounce Wagyu filet. There are the usual suspects of seafood, pork chops, et al, for non-beef alternatives.

9769 Montgomery Rd., Montgomery, (513) 936-8600, jeffruby.com/carlo-johnny. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$$

JEFF RUBY’S

Filled most nights with local scenesters and power brokers (and those who think they are), everything in this urban steakhouse is generous—from the portions to the expert service. Waiters deliver two-fisted martinis and mounds of greens dressed in thin vinaigrettes or thick, creamy emulsions. An occasional salmon or sea bass appears, and there’s a small but decent assortment of land fare. But most customers are there for the slabs of beef (dry aged USDA prime). The best of these is Jeff Ruby’s Cowboy, 22 ounces

of 70-day dry-aged bone-in rib eye. This is steak tailor-made for movers and shakers.

505 Vine St., downtown, (513) 784-1200, jeffruby.com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DC. $$$$

LOSANTI

A bit more upscale than its sister restaurant, Crown Republic Gastropub, Losanti is also more conservative in its offerings. Service is friendly and informal, and though the meal feels like a special occasion, prices and atmosphere are right for, say, a date, rather than a wedding anniversary. The fi let mignon, rib eye, and New York strip are cut to order for each table (there are a few available weights for each). The steaks themselves are totally irreproachable, perfectly seasoned, cooked to precisely the right point. Losanti even makes the steakhouse sides a little special. Sweet and smoky caramelized onions are folded into the mashed potatoes, a nice dusting of truffles wakes up the mac and cheese, and the sweet corn is at least freshly cut off the cob and recalls elote with lime and chile.

1401 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 246-4213, losantiotr.com. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$

THE PRECINCT

Part of the appeal of the Ruby restaurants is their ability to deliver deep, comfort-food satisfaction. And the steaks. The meat is tender with a rich mineral flavor, and the signature seasoning provided a nice crunch, not to mention blazing heat. The supporting cast is strong—the basket of warm Sixteen Bricks bread with a mushroom truffle butter, the addictive baked macaroni and cheese, the creamy garlic mashed potatoes, the crisp-tender asparagus with roasted garlic and lemon vinaigrette—and dinner ends on a sweet note with a piece of Ruby family recipe cheese-

cake. Neither cloyingly sweet nor overwhelmingly creamy, it’s a lovely slice of restraint.

311 Delta Ave., Columbia-Tusculum, (513) 321-5454, jeffruby.com/precinct. Dinner seven days. MCC. $$$$

TONY’S

He is a captivating presence, Tony Ricci. Best known for his 30 years in fine dining—including the Jeff Ruby empire while managing the venerable Precinct—Ricci has built a life in the hospitality industry. Much of Tony’s menu is right out of a steakhouse playbook: tiger shrimp and king crab legs from the raw bar; Greek and Caesar salads; sides of creamed spinach, mac-and-cheese, asparagus, and sautéed mushrooms; toppings of roasted garlic or Gorgonzola butters to accompany your center cut of filet mignon. There are boutique touches, though, that make it stand out—a garlic herb aioli with the calamari, steak tartare torch-kissed and topped with a poached egg, a superb rack of lamb with balsamic and lemon gastrique and served with traditional ratatouille.

12110 Montgomery Rd., Symmes Township, (513) 677-8669, tonysofcincinnati.com. Dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$$$

THAI

GREEN PAPAYA

Inside this simple dining room, replete with soothing browns and greens and handsome, dark wood furniture, it takes time to sort through the many curries and chef’s specialties, not to

NEXT STOP: HARMONY

Concorde—a European-inspired restaurant and bar from veteran restaurateur Kevin Armon—opens in Madisonville this summer. The eatery’s menu will draw from French, Italian, and Spanish traditions, balancing classic dishes with “more approachable” options. Armon has more than 35 years of restaurant/hospitality experience, having worked locally at Somm Wine Bar, Kaze, and Boca Restaurant Group. concorderestaurant. com

mention the wide variety of sushi on the something-foreveryone menu. Have the staff—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable—help you. When the food arrives, you’ll need only a deep inhale to know you made the right choice. The Green Papaya sushi rolls are as delicious as they look, with a manic swirl of spicy mayo and bits of crabstick and crispy tempura batter scattered atop the spicy tuna, mango, cream cheese, and shrimp tempura sushi—all rolled in a vivid green soybean wrap.

2942 Wasson Rd., Oakley, (513) 731-0107; 4002 Plainville Rd., Mariemont, (513) 272-8424, greenpapayacincinnati.com. Lunch and dinner seven days (Oakley), Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat (Mariemont). MCC. $$

TEAK SUSHI & THAI

Owner Chanaka De Lanerolle has said that he decided to bring back Teak’s take on Thai food because of the renewed vibrancy in Over-the-Rhine, which he compared to the energy he felt in Mt. Adams during his time there. But for all of the hype around the restaurant’s re-emergence on the scene, it’s probably best to consider it a reimagining rather than a reopening. While long-time favorites show up on the menu, prepared by many of the same kitchen staff members from Mt. Adams, some adaptations have been made to better meet expectations of modern diners. Letting go of preconceived notions about Teak will serve you well. With a two-sided, standalone sushi menu and a wide variety of main plates ranging from small bites to signature dishes, you have plenty of room to craft your own dining experience.

1200 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-8325 ; 110 S. Second St., Loveland, (513) 583-8325, teakotr.com. Lunch and dinner Tues–Sun. MCC. $$

THAI NAMTIP

Classic Thai comfort food on the west side from chef/owner Tussanee Leach, who grew up with galangal on her tongue and sriracha sauce in her veins. Her curries reign: pale yellow sweetened with coconut milk and poured over tender chicken

breast and chunks of boiled pineapple; red curry the color of new brick, tasting of earth at first bite, then the sharply verdant Thai basil leaves, followed by a distant heat. Tom Kha Gai soup defines the complex interplay of flavors in Thai food: astringent lemongrass gives way to pepper, then Makrut lime, shot through with the gingery, herbaceous galangal, all yielding to the taunting sweetness of coconut. Even the simple skewers of chicken satay with Thai peanut sauce are dulcified by honey and dirtied up by a smoky grill.

5461 North Bend Rd., Monfort Heights, (513) 481-3360, thainamtip.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MC, V. $

WILD GINGER

The ability to satisfy a deep desire for Vietnamese and Thai fusion cuisine is evident in Wild Ginger’s signature Hee Ma roll—a fortress of seaweed-wrapped rolls filled with shrimp tempura, asparagus, avocado, and topped with red tuna, pulled crab stick, tempura flakes, a bit of masago, scallions, and of course, spicy mayo. It’s tasty, even though the sweet fried floodwall of tempura and spicy mayo overpowered the tuna completely. The spicy pad char entrée was a solid seven out of 10: broccoli, carrots, cabbage, succulent red bell peppers, green beans, and beef, accented with basil and lime leaves in a peppercornand-chili brown sauce.

3655 Edwards Rd., Hyde Park, (513) 533-9500, wildgingeroh.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS. $$

VIETNAMESE

PHO LANG THANG

Owners Duy and Bao Nguyen and David Le have created a greatest hits playlist of Vietnamese cuisine: elegant, brothy pho made from poultry, beef, or vegan stocks poured over rice noodles and adrift with slices of onions,

meats, or vegetables (the vegan pho chay is by far the most flavorful); fresh julienned vegetables, crunchy sprouts, and herbs served over vermicelli rice noodles (again, the vegan version, bun chay, is the standout); and bánh mì. 1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 376-9177, pholangthang.com. Lunch and dinner seven days. MCC, DS, DC. $$

QUAN HAPA

The Nguyen brothers, along with partner David Le, followed up on Pho Lang Thang’s success with some of the boldest flavors in the city at Quan Hapa. this small restaurant features a mash-up of Asian street foods—okonomiyaki, turmeric chicken skewers, and hearty noodle bowls—inventive cocktails, and glass garage doors that roll up to the vibrant Vine St. scene. 1331 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 421-7826, quanhapa.com. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Wed–Sun. MCC. $$

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, (ISSN 0746-8 210), July 2026, Volume 59, Number 10. Published monthly ($19.95 for 12 issues annually) at 221 E. Fourth St., Ste. 130, Cincinnati, OH 45202. (513) 421-4300. Copyright © 2026 by Cincinnati Magazine LLC, a subsidiary of Hour Media Group, 5750 New King Dr., Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted without permission. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and artwork should be accompanied by SASE for return. The magazine cannot be held responsible for loss. For subscription orders, address changes or renewals, write to CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, 1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071, or call 1-866-660-6247. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send forms 3579 to CINCINNATI MAGAZINE, 1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071. If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.

HUNGRY FOR MORE?

Love Shack

AT THE TOP OF A hill overlooking Northside, you’ll find a little slice of old-world Austria. The Temple of Love Gazebo in Mt. Storm Park was designed in 1855 by Adolph Strauch, who apprenticed at the Vienna Imperial Gardens and designed Spring Grove Cemetery as we know it today. He created it for Robert Bonner Bowler, whose Clifton estate would go on to become the park. While the grand structure with eight Corinthian columns and intricate frieze work appears strictly ornamental, the Temple of Love was built as a decorative cap for a cistern that would water Bowler’s many greenhouses. Nonetheless, when the home was razed in 1917, the temple was saved. It serves as the park’s focal point to this day.

“It’s a site where we’ve had young couples get married,” says Cincinnati Parks senior naturalist Michael George. “People will go on dates to sit in the shade of the Temple of Love and take in the scenery from the heights of the park.”

—CLAIRE LEFTON

A Quantum Leap

MIAMI LAUNCHES CUTTING-EDGE QUANTUM COMPUTING PROGRAM

Join a new generation of innovators

Miami University’s Bachelor of Science in Quantum Computing — developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic — is the first program of its kind in Ohio, and the only one in the nation focused on software development and applications of quantum systems. This interdisciplinary degree is designed to revolutionize industries and scientific discovery, addressing the pressing need for skilled professionals to advance sectors such as healthcare, material science, finance, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.