THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - AGLAMESIS, THE BEST ICE CREAM IN CINCINNATI

One of the fabulous things about growing up in Oakley?  Aglamesis Bros. Ice Cream and Candy.  This family-owned operation has been in business since 1908 and has had their Oakley location since 1913.  (There is now another location in Montgomery, 15 miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati.)  Their Oakley location is my favorite.  While the food is great anywhere, you can't beat the ambiance of the old building.

 Thanks to 21st century technology (namely a Facebook post), we found out they have a special flavor of ice cream at the moment -- Pineapple Pecan.  Well, that's as good of an excuse as any to head over to Oakley.  So, after stops at Half Price Books in Kenwood and Michael's in Hyde Park, I headed over to Oakley with Chester, Grandma, and The Inmates.

Aglamesis has, for my money, the best ice cream in Cincinnati.  (No offense to Graeter's, which is also very, very good.)  The Oakley location is like stepping back into an early 20th century ice cream parlor with tiled floors, marble-topped tables, and pink upholstered iron chairs.  On one side is the long ice cream counter adorned with Tiffany lamps.  On the other is the glass candy case with unbearably delicious chocolates, caramels, and marzipan.  Had I not been stuffed full of ice cream when I left I might have had to pick up a half pound of white chocolate covered cranberry clusters or sea salt caramels, both new to me.  My old stand-by is the vanilla nut caramels -- rich, buttery caramel mixed with walnuts.  Oh, my.....

 When eating in, we always sit at a table in the back, as far away from other customers as possible since we're never sure of Foghorn's antics.  Both side walls in back are mirrored and Foghorn spends the better part of the time looking at herself and making faces.  I would judge her harshly if not for the fact that it is an inherited behavior.  Not long ago my mother was talking about a letter she had sent my older sister (Chester) at  Ringling Bros. Clown College in 1977.  In recounting an evening out with me, my mother wrote:

...then walked up to Aglamesis where Shannon had a strawberry soda.  It took her so long to drink it, while looking at herself in the mirror, that they came back and asked if we wanted anything else and started cleaning up the table.  They even took the bill and my money and brought the change back while she was still preening and sipping."

Change the kid's name, and the strawberry soda to a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you have a pretty good idea of what Foghorn's like at Aglamesis.  At one point The Professor started singing the theme to "Welcome Back, Kotter" and Foghorn started shaking her groove thing while staring at herself in the mirror (and wearing my sunglasses, which she had stolen).

But back to the important part...  The Pineapple Pecan ice cream gets two big thumbs' up from my mother and me.  We opted for the Tutti Frutti Split, which covered the ice cream in maraschino cherry sauce, real whipped cream, and nuts on top, hugged by two slices of banana.  We both agreed that it was delicious and that the ice cream by itself would have been just as good.  Chester got the Dutch Holland chocolate soda (I'm in love with those old fashioned metal glass holders) and The Professor got the vanilla malt (I'm in love with those old fashioned metal shake cups).

Oakley is 15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, on the east side of the city.  Aglamesis is always worth the trip, whether eating in or grabbing some candy and pints of ice cream to go.  The Oakley location is at 3046 Madison Road.  Parking is available from a public lot just northeast of the store, next to the Blue Manatee children's book store.  For hours, history, and the sugary concoctions available, please check their website here.  If you have no plans to be in Cincinnati, please note they have an online catalog of wonderful items you can have shipped across the country.  Yummmmmmm...


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*  Alms Park

THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - ALMS PARK

Foghorn, with the remains of a Slush Puppy on her lips.

When Cincinnati's weeks-long 90+ degree heat wave finally came to an end, it did so in style.  We were blessed with a handful of days of low humidity, moderate heat, and gorgeous skies.  Sounds like a good combination for an outside adventure.

Overlook facing the river.

We took The Inmates to Alms Park in Cincinnati, located on the top of Mt. Tusculum.  The 93 acre park is nearing its 100th anniversary and has gorgeous views of Lunken Airport, the Ohio River, and the hills of Kentucky.  There are a couple of overlooks that are worth the trip by the themselves.  There are picnic tables if eating outdoors is your thing, as well as large lawns for spreading out blankets, and beautiful flower beds splashing color here and there.

View of Lunken Airport.

The Inmates were interested in none of that.  They were there to play.  The park has a small but nicely done playground area with the typical climbing apparatuses and swings.  The most popular feature, though, is the concrete slide.  It's a good 20 feet long or so and at an angle that assures a quick ride if you pick your feet up.  Never underestimate the power of a good slide, even to the overindulged, techno-savvy kids of today.  We took turns going down, then I rode in tandem with Foghorn, then all three of  us went down together.  I figure all those trips up the steep stairs to the top again more than made up for any ice cream consumption later, right?

By the way, the slide is fun going forward with a friend...or backwards alone...

Alms is also a favorite park of mine because of the pavilion.  It was completed in 1929, inspired by the Italian renaissance, and is the perfect place for a kid to indulge in some imaginary play.  For adults it happens to also be a popular location for weddings and formal portrait sittings.  From the upper floor you can take in the spectacular views or, as Chester did, do your Eva Peron imitation.  ("Don't cry for me Argentina....")  Downstairs is another large open area, which Foghorn labeled the "ballroom" and insisted someone dance with her.  Uncle Chester offered but was quickly turned down with a sneer.  The Professor wanted no part of his sweaty little sister, so The Warden and Foghorn did the tango around the room, in full view of a family of four.

The 1929 Pavilion.

"Evita!  Evita!"

Nicholas Longworth's underground wine cellar.

One of the joys of  Alms Park is that it still retains some of its old architectural features, such as the pavilion, as well as the mundane such as the old metal drinking fountains and gas lamps.  Northeast of the park's pavilion is the interesting little place shown to the left.  Nicholas Longworth (who came from New Jersey and founded his branch of the Longworth family here) owned the land originally and started a vineyard.  So popular was his Catawba wine that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote "Ode to Catawba Wine" dedicated to Longworth.  What is pictured is the former underground wine cellar.  It is also interesting to note that the current Taft Museum in downtown Cincinnati is Mr. Longworth's former home, done in the style of a Greek Revival villa.  His grandson, Nicholas, went on to marry Teddy Roosevelt's daughter, Alice.

A map of the area around Alms Park can be found here.   Please be aware that the park road circles around the pavilion/playground area and is one-way.  Parking is allowed on the left side of the road only.  More history of the park can be found here.

Additional photos of our day at Alms Park can be viewed through my Flickr account here. 

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*  THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI

*  THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - AGLAMESIS, THE BEST ICE CREAM IN CINCINNATI