Krueger's Tavern

I've been talking so much lately about Walnut Hills and Covington, and deservedly so. Great things are happening there and in a half dozen other neighborhoods also. If you want to get in on the ground floor and beat the gold rush you could do worse than one of those two neighborhoods.
But when you start talking about food, wow, no conversation can escape the singularity of OTR. Everything else in the city revolves around Vine St. You can't avoid it. Which brings us back to Krueger's Tavern, the home of canned beer and sandwiches. In honor of Opening Day Krueger's is having the grand opening of their remodeled open air deck and rolling out six new hamburgers. Each one is better than the last. The BBQ stands out as well as the last burger I tried, cheese burger with lettuce and pickles. I hear you, "but 5chw4r7z, you hate cheese and pickles" yes its true but something about this burger...like a french chef deconstructed a McDonald's Big n Tasty and put it back together with quality ingredients. Now that may not sound like a compliment, but coming from me it is.
OH, and if I need to explain what opening day is and you live in Cincinnati I can only feel sorry for you.

Krueger's Tavern
Krueger's Tavern
Krueger's Tavern
Krueger's Tavern
Krueger's Tavern[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Braxton Brewing Company

Am I the only person high on Covington right now? Ok maybe I've been saying this for a year or two but Covington still reminds me of OTR just a few years ago. The neighborhood is on the tipping point of awesome. The happenings are little low key, until this weekends opening of Braxton Brewing Co. that is. I was all worked up to hit their grand opening Friday night until I checked their FB page and noticed almost 2000 people had RSVP'd. And I thought you know what, screw that I'm betting they will still have beer left over Saturday and they did! Fantastic space and awesome branding. But I have one question, no rollup doors or windows? I wouldn't open anything these days that didn't open up in some way to the outside. But Braxton Brewing isn't about me.
Its funny that there is a segment of people convinced that a Cincy brewer has to fail now because the market is over saturated. I asked Greg Hardman this very question a year or so ago and you know what he told me? Christian Moerlien had 1% of the Cincinnati area beer market at that time. I don't think any Cincinnati craft brewer is going to do anything but print money for the foreseeable future.

Braxton Brewing Company
Braxton Brewing Company
Braxton Brewing Company
Our friends over at Frameshop framed this large screen TV for Braxton.
Braxton Brewing Company
This is a super cool idea, rent out the party area, put $$ on the self serve tap and your friends pour until the credit is used up.
Braxton Brewing Company
I don't know much about brewing but I'd bet money Braxton is expanding capacity before the end of the summer.
Braxton Brewing Company
I love these wood/cement/steel tables!
Braxton Brewing Company
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Sid Saturday

Sid
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Sundry and Vice

A various or diverse collection of vices.
Oh yes, this could almost be applied to the whole neighborhood of OTR let alone one bar.
Many times walking allows the sighting of things too fleeting to notice in a car. Graffiti down an alley for instance, or open doors to a bar that hasn't opened yet.
Officially that is. Sundry and Vice on the corner of Republic and 13th officially opens tonight but I got a small taste of whats to come. One of the most pleasant surprises is that Sundry and Vice isn't a shotgun bar like most of the other OTR establishments are. No getting trapped when the crowds grow. That and the fact that anyone who loves OTR is instantly going to feel at home inside. A touch of grit and roughness around the edges but not when it comes to drinks. The bartenders were going about the business of creating the cocktails, using all sorts of bar and lab equipment. Whether for dramatics or just ease beakers where employed to mix all the ingredients before transfer to the final glass. And if cocktails aren't your thing they have a good selection of beers and whiskeys to choose from too. Tonight is final Friday and OTR will be abuzz, you could do worse than to begin or end the night at Sundry and Vice.

Sundry and Vice
Sundry and Vice
Sundry and Vice
Sundry and Vice
Sundry and Vice
Sundry and Vice
If you don't have doors to roll up, double doors are the next best thing.
Sundry and Vice
I'm not cool enough for any other bar in OTR, why would Sundry and Vice be any different?
Sundry and Vice
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
2 shakes and a stir

apartments at the Baldwin Piano Co

We were able to check out the views that apartment dwellers will be enjoying from the historic Baldwin Piano Company building the its finally converted from office space. I have no idea what rents will be but with these views they probably won't be cheap. But who knows, like I said I don't know. The plans call for 16 apartments on each floor of around 1000 sgft each. The slanted windows on the 8th floor will be pulled out and those 8th floor apartments will have an open air deck to enjoy. The views in every direction are amazing but I have to admit I'm biased and I think the downtown view is the best. The people on the south end of the building will have a lot of friends come Riverfest time. One other interesting note is 7.5% of the property taxes generated will go to the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation to support other neighborhood redevelopment activity.

Baldwin Piano Co
Baldwin Piano Co
Baldwin Piano Co
Baldwin Piano Co
Baldwin Piano Co
Baldwin Piano Co
Baldwin Piano Co
Baldwin Piano Co
Baldwin Piano Co
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
3 dramatic views

Roebling Suspension Bridge

Roebling Suspension Bridge
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Our Lord Christ fish fry

Its interesting after four years of fish fries, the Our Lord Christ fish fry was the only one that had no middle ground. They either nailed it or failed it. Lets see, I started with the fries, its always the French fries, probably the crispiest in the business. Wow these guys are getting the highest score I've ever given out I was thinking. The fish sandwich was excellent, tasty. Yes, these guys keep building their case for #1 fish fry ever. Then came the cole slaw. Some limp cabbage. Really? That's it? They couldn't even buy a barrel from Kroger? Oh well only one strike. Then everyone started complaining about the mac n cheese. That apparently was bad also. Hero to zero in one meal. I'm still giving them a 3. They included dessert and soft drinks with the meal which is a big plus.

Our Lord Christ fish fry
I was trying to figure out what a penguin and a walrus had to do with anything, I guess they both eat fish. Also props for selling beer in the line to get in.
Our Lord Christ fish fry
Our Lord Christ fish fry
Our Lord Christ fish fry
Our Lord Christ fish fry
Our Lord Christ fish fry
Our Lord Christ fish fry
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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Nippert Stadium construction

Construction is going fast and furious on the new luxury suite/pressbox building. Construction should wrap up in time for the first home game this fall. In the mean time it has gotten to the point where consideration for all the network equipment needs to go, specifically wireless. Rest assured if you're in the posh seats you'll be able to facebook and instagram to your hearts content unlike the poor bastids in the cheap seats who no one seems to care about. The structure is massive but interestingly enough the interior was way smaller than I imagined it would be. Here you go, pictures, as usual don't do it justice.

Nippert Stadium
Nippert Stadium
Nippert Stadium
This is what you get for $2500 a seat a year with a three year commitment.
Nippert Stadium
Nippert Stadium
Once the plastic weather breaks are down and all the glass is in the structure will be completely see through.
Nippert Stadium
Nippert Stadium
Nippert Stadium
This party deck is going to be incredible with a full service craft beer bar just inside.
Nippert Stadium
Nippert Stadium
Nippert Stadium
The first and only time I'll get a look out Prez Ono's luxury box.
Nippert Stadium
[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
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