THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - SPRING GROVE CEMETERY

When thinking about fun, family-friendly activities in the Fall you probably don't think cemeteries (unless you have a ghost meter and a paranormal investigator license).  If the cemetery of choice is Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, however, the outing switches from the macabre to the beautiful.

Located minutes from downtown Cincinnati, Spring Grove  is America's second-largest cemetery and a National Historic Landmark.  The original intention was to have a park-like cemetery, close to the city, with a natural setting that would have a contemplative atmosphere.  Over 165 years after the first interment, Spring Grove still lives up to that original goal.  It encompasses 733 acres with 15 lakes, a waterfall, 1200 species of trees and shrubs, and 44 miles of paved, winding roadways. It was on one of these beautiful lakes that Uncle Chester learned you should never cheerily call, "Here, swanny, swanny," unless you want that particular fowl to swim over and attempt to peck your nose off.

Besides the lush surroundings, there are also the burial monuments themselves.  Some of the most well-known and rich Cincinnatians are buried there, with ornate statues, mausoleums, and obelisks at every turn.  And if you're a Dark Shadows fan it doesn't take much imagination to feel like you're at Collinwood, hanging around the mausoleum of Barnabus and his clan.

Among the famous buried at Spring Grove are:

• Salmon Chase - Ohio Governor, Senator, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of the Treasury under Lincoln, and founder of the I.R.S.
• Powell Crosley - Cincinnati Reds owner, inventor, and television pioneer.
• Andrew Erkenbrecher - Founder of the Cincinnati Zoo.
• Charles Fleischmann -- Of Fleischmann's Yeast fame.
• James Gamble and William Procter- Founders of Procter & Gamble.
• Robert Gibson - Founder of Gibson Greeting Cards.
• Joseph Hooker - Famous Civil War General for the Union side (and remembered more for his role in prostitutes being nicknamed "hookers").
• Theodore M. Berry - Cincinnati's first African-American mayor.
• Alexander McGuffy - Co-Author, with his brother, of the McGuffy Reader series.
• George Stearns - Co-Founder of Stearns & Foster Mattress Co.
• Waite Hoyt - Major League Baseball player and long-time Cincinnati Reds announcer.

This is hardly a comprehensive list.  There are literally hundreds of well-known politicians, medical professionals, and business owners of all kinds buried there, including lots in the brewery field.  (Cincinnati has always been a beer-drinking city.)  Spring Grove is also the resting spot for the founders of many of Cincinnati's department stores including Shillito's, Pogues, McAlpin's, and Mabley & Carew.








I also give you a few of the lesser known occupants, but ones which give me a particular thrill:

Mr. Miller was a singer and a bandleader and, most important, wrote the "Uh, oh, Spaghetti-O's" jingle.

Mr. Mulford was a pioneer sports editor and coined the term "baseball fan."

I've been to the touring exhibit of Titanic memorabilia 6 or 7 times, so naturally I have to love Ms. Stone, Cincinnati's own Titanic survivor.

That statue looks just like my dog, Frank, when he sees me packing suitcases.  I want him staring longingly at me for eternity.

This looks so much like me at the end of the day that I want a small scale model to put on my fireplace mantel.

We tried desperately to find the grave of Dick Von Hoene, but had to  give up the search.  By that point in the day I had two hot and grouchy children, one tired mother, and Chester, just being herself.  Those outside the Cincinnati viewing area probably won't known who the hell Dick Von Hoene was, but for folks around here in the 70s he will be remembered as "The Cool Ghoul."  Since I couldn't find his grave, I give you a clip instead:

For more information on Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum, please check out their website here.   Be sure to stop in the office.  They have some great pamphlets and informational sheets including a self-guided walking tour and a list of  notable burials, including the section number.  They also have a couple maps online here.  They are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.  From May through August they are open late on Mondays and Thursdays until 8 p.m.  Spring Grove is located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio  45232.

Although we always seem to visit in the autumn, it's a beautiful place for spring flowers in bloom or a summer stroll.  Heck, I bet it's even beautiful in winter with a layer of snow on the angel statues.  Enjoy!








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*  THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - ALMS PARK

*  THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - AGLAMESIS BROS. ICE CREAM AND CANDY

THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - 4 GREAT FAMILY-FRIENDLY FALL OUTINGS

Wow, October 1st already!  And my mind is swirling with images of pumpkins and hay and corn mazes.  While the Greater Cincinnati area has lots of great destinations for Fall fun, I give you four of my family's favorites:


1.  Fall-O-Ween Festival at Coney Island

I admit to a special fondness for Coney Island any time of the year.  Before King's Island and its acres of incredible roller coasters, thrill rides, and award-winning kiddie area, there was Coney.  It closed when I was a baby and I know its amusement park history only through documentaries and stories from my parents and older siblings.  Still, this small amusement park by the river has a charm all its own, even when I'm not imagining where the painted Yellow Brick Road once wound through the park's "Land of Oz."

Fall-O-Ween features displays, Halloween crafts, farm animals, and a trick-or-treat trail, as well as all the classic Coney rides.  Fall-O-Ween runs weekends now through October 9, from noon to 6 p.m.  More information, including online ticket purchasing, can be found at Coney Island's website here.







2.  Fall on the Farm - Blooms 'N Berries, Loveland, Ohio 

There's nothing like a family farm to make Fall complete.  Located about 20 miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati, Bloom 'N Berries won the 2006 award for "Best Pumpkin Patch" from Cincinnati magazine.  We'd have to agree.  There are lots of kid-friendly activities, games, animals, and a hayride to the gorgeous fields full of pumpkins.  They also have the most fabulous 7-acre corn maze, this year cut in the shape of a train.  (Check out the photo here.)

 Blooms 'N Berries' Fall on the Farm is open weekends now through the end of October.  For prices, directions, and hours, please check out their website here.


3.  Halloween Nights at Parky's Farm, Winton Woods, Cincinnati

Enjoy a hayride through the woods, gather around the camp-fire, and enjoy beautiful lighted displays at Parky's Farm.  Other activities include a moon bounce, obstacle course, not-so-haunted barn (non-moving decorations with creepy music), and a fortune-teller.  Your family might also enjoy The Magic of Phil Dalton and Rock Star Corey's Kids Rock Show.  Halloween Nights is open 6 to 10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, beginning October 6.  Admission is $6 per person (free for kids under 23 months), but you can save a dollar per ticket by purchasing online here.   Directions and more information can be found at the Hamilton County Parks website here


4.  Hall-Zoo-Ween, Cincinnati Zoo

Enjoy Halloween fun at Cincinnati's first-class zoo and botanical garden.  Children 12 and under can dress in costume and trick-or-treat through the Zoo.  You can also take in Phil Dalton's Theatre of Illusions on Satudays and Sundays at 1 and 3 p.m., get your fingers painted or a tattoo at the Beauty Shop of Horrors, watch giant pumpkin carving demonstrations, and visit the Frisch's pumpkin patch.  Also back for 2011 is the Search for the Golden Frisch's Big Boy.  Find one of the two golden Big Boy statues hidden each day and win your choice of a Frisch's or Zoo prize package valued at $150.

Hall-Zoo-Ween is free with Zoo admission -- $14 for adults, $10 for children, and $8 for parking.  Directions and more information can be found at the Zoo's website here.


So, tell me, what are some of your favorite Halloween traditions or outings?  Please share in the comments!

GRANDPARENTS DAY IN THE SHADOW OF 9/11

Here in the U.S., Grandparents Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in September.  This year it unfortunately coincided with the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.  I purposely didn't write a blog post about September 11th, my own experience of seeing it unfold on television while at home with my small son mirrors the experiences of so many others.  That's not to say it wasn't on my mind.  For anybody over the age of 17, it's a profound, lifelong memory.  On the way to Grandma's yesterday, I mentioned to the kids that it was the anniversary.  The Professor said, "Oh, yeah.  I almost forgot about that."  (He was a mere two years old on the day and remembers nothing first-hand.)  Then he thought for a minute and said, "But it's also Grandparents Day.  Shouldn't we try to forget about 9/11 and just focus on Grandma?"  He was right.  Never should the people who died on 9/11 be forgotten.  At the same time, though, the biggest lesson I came away with that day was you never know what's gonna hit you tomorrow.  Try to enjoy today.

With that attitude, we had a steak lunch at Grandma's, followed by a rich chocolate chess pie.  We then presented the gifts.  Since her birthday is at the end of September, we keep the Grandparents Day gifts small.  (In my family, any occasion tends to be used as an excuse to give elaborate presents.)  My own gift was a photo mug, a collage of memories of the kids from the past year.  A mug has been my traditional gift since Josh's first Grandparents Day in 1999 and this 13th mug will join the others in a place of honor in Grandma's sewing room.  The Professor and I went to Hobby Lobby last week, where he debated the merits of an art deco hand mirror, an antique-looking magnifying glass, and an atomizer before deciding on two small rhinestone-encrusted frames which I filled with freshly snapped photos.

Foghorn's gifts are a little harder to explain.  Saturday night she had decided she wanted to earn money for a second Figit Friend.  It's known around here that extra chores can be done for cash, but Foghorn always finds the idea of manual labor a little too exhausting.  Instead she arrived at the couch (where I had been lounging all day, sick as a dog with some unknown ailment) with a lovely picture of a mermaid.  She asked if I wanted to buy it and I said certainly, to which she snapped, "That'll be 10 dollars!"  What?!?  I steadfastly refused and said I'd give her a dollar.  That lead to a shrieking fit that went on for half an hour during which I was accused of thinking she was a terrible artist and that I liked the Professor better than her (even though I never paid $10 for a picture of his either).

The Vulcan emerged from his cave office at one point to quiet her down and even offered $2, but she wouldn't go lower than $7.  And she made that loudly and ferociously clear.  At one point she sat with a pair of scissors in her hand and the picture held before her, ominously saying, "If you don't think I'm a good artist I might as well cut it up!"  I pulled the blanket over my head and refused to play her game anymore.  After about 20 minutes she stomped in saying, "I'll sell it to you for $1."  I agreed and was handed a thoroughly wrinkled mermaid picture.  "What the hell happened to this?", I squealed.  "I crumpled it up.  I figured if it wasn't worth $7 I might as well destroy it."  Jokingly I thrust it back at her saying, "Well, I don't want it if it looks like this..."  Her eyes started to well with tears and I quickly assured her I was kidding and produced a dollar.  I didn't need another hissy fit.

Her mania for money probably explains Grandma's gifts.  The first was ordinary enough -- a picture of Grandma's dog, Rusty, colored from an image put through Crayola.com's "Lights, Camera, Color!" program.  The other gifts...well...  One was a picture to "My Perfect Grandma" and depicted Foghorn (stretching about 6 feet tall) and Grandma (dressed as a princess).  The other was a pop-up card, with Grandma's three-dimensional form on the outside and "The Best Cook" inside.   These would have been heart-warming if Foghorn hadn't written "Price:  10 dollars" on each.

We finished up with an outing to the Old West Festival in Williamsburg.  Grandma, I salute you for being a great cook, a wonderful grandmother, and the only person who can spend a day with my kids and still be cheerful at the end.







If you'd like to read about our excursion to the Old West Festival, please check out:

*  THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI -- OLD WEST FESTIVAL


    

THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI -- OLD WEST FESTIVAL

With the weather clear and warm, Grandma, Chester, The Inmates, and I decided to venture to Williamsburg, Ohio, about 30 miles east of downtown Cincinnati, for their Old West Festival.  Tucked away on a narrow road on dozens of acres of undeveloped land sits a Dodge City replica, complete with boardwalk, saloon, shops, and hitching posts.  There are regularly scheduled gunfight reenactments in the street, as well as a variety of shows throughout the complex including a medicine show, cowboy poetry, puppet show, and sing-along.  Standard county fair-type food is available like hot dogs, steakburgers, and rattlesnake chili.  What we had was reasonably priced at $2 for a hot dog, the same for a bottle of water, and $1.50 for a small Pepi.

Both Inmates enjoyed a horse ride, particularly The Professor who long ago grew too tall for the pony rides and has missed the contact with horseflesh.  (We have a history with horses in my family, which you can read about at Uncle Chester's blog here.)  Horse rides were $5 per kid and included two loops around the track.

The Professor also tried his hand at the bow and arrows for $2.  I had warned him it was harder than it looked, particularly with a bow that was half his height.  The guy running the booth was very patient with him, though, and took the time to show him over and over how to hold it without dropping the arrow.  While his aim was off, The Professor finally managed to shoot his three arrows at least toward the target, if not actually hitting it.

About a dozen vendors were scattered around selling everything from boots and handmade jewelry to animal pelts and genuine claws.  (I have a serious aversion to fur not still attached to a live animal, so I made a quick exit from that particular tent.)  One store sold your old time "cowboys and Indians" props.  The Professor emerged with a Derringer cap pistol (which he used to shoot things all the way home, despite our repeated warnings not to, including the produce of a farmer's market stand).  Foghorn chose a stunning headdress with pink faux fur and pink and white feathers.  Chester said she looked like she should be on Fire Island.

What The Warden had most been looking forward to was sending her children to jail.  For $5 the Sheriff would arrest the person of your choice, toss her in jail, and send you home with a keepsake warrant.  The Professor's eyes lit up at the thought of locking his little sister in there (not realizing I had intended to have them both incarcerated).  Foghorn played it off like I was joking when I said I'd have her arrested, but I could see fear in her eyes.  Despite her booming voice and over-the-top personality, she's actually rather timid around strangers, especially men, and I could just seeing her going into a hysterical crying fit when she landed in the pokey.

There are bathroom facilities on the premises, but I'll give you fair warning that you might want to do what you can to avoid them.  Foghorn never makes it more than two hours without a bathroom stop and I thought it might not be too bad, given that the toilets were located in a long trailer and had several stalls to accommodate multiple people at once.  I knew I was in trouble when a girl in 1800s garb stepped out, exhaled deeply, and said, "I won't be drinking any more water today."  It was pretty bad and when I related the story everyone else vowed to hold it and run in the first McDonald's we passed on the way home.

The Old West Festival runs Saturdays and Sundays, now through October 9th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children, with free parking.  We had a couple coupons clipped from Reach Magazine, which got the kids in free.  I have to say I would not have wanted to pay full price for all of us.  If you're interested in going, I highly recommend checking Reach Magazine or ereach.com (the latter requires registration in order to print the coupons).  Donato's also has a deal going to benefit the charity A Kid Again.  At any Cincinnati Donato's location you can purchase a booklet for $1 that contains four free children's admissions with one adult paid admission, plus one free individual one-topping pizza coupon.

Information, including directions, can be found at the Old West Festival's site here.  Be forewarned that both parking and Dodge City are on unpaved ground.  The soaking rains of last week had dried up just enough to make walking around bearable, but if you're going right after a recent downpour be sure to wear old shoes or boots and prepare for swampy, muddy conditions.



You might also be interested in:

* The Loveland Bike Trail.

* Meet the Inmates -- The Professor.

*  Meet the Inmates -- Foghorn.


  

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

Cincinnati is a city full of entertainment, history, culture, and just plain fun.  Whether you're an out-of-towner or a local just looking for a weekend destination, I've compiled a list of some of my family's favorites in the greater Cincinnati area.  With two children of my own, my list tends toward the family-friendly and away from the bars and nightlife.  This list is a work-in-progress and I'll continually add to it as new experiences come up or past outings are remembered.  If anything's of interest, please click the link for further information.

1. Ride the Ducks Tour, Newport, Kentucky.
   
2. Hofbrauhaus - Newport, Newport, Kentucky.
   
3. Cincinnati Observatory.
   
4. Loveland Bike Trail.
   
5. Cincinnati Golf Center Mini Golf.
   
6.  Alms Park.
7. Aglamesis Bros. Ice Cream and Candy.
8. Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum. 
   

 

THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY

If you're an avid star-gazer or have offspring who are future astrophysicists, the Cincinnati Observatory is a must-see.  History buffs will enjoy the two 19th century buildings, as well as the oldest working telescope in the state of Ohio.  The buildings alone are a joy to view.

My family's experience at the Observatory can be read here (towards the bottom of the post).  The Cincinnati Observatory website can provide you with program dates and times, as well as history and directions here.  Check out the links under "Public Events" for what's coming up.  There are weekly Astronomy Thursdays and Astronomy Fridays (we attended the former) which involve a lecture, followed by a brief tour and then a viewing through the telescope.  The particular Astronomy Thursday we attended had a mix of age groups, although it was a little technical for my kids and they got squirmy.  My son, though, declared that getting to see Saturn through that telescope made everything worthwhile.  In addition, there are a variety of special events throughout the year.  Check their calendar for the latest information here.   Please note that the rooms with the telescopes are the same temperature as the outside air.  Therefore, if you go on an extremely hot or extremely cold day, be prepared for feeling like you're outdoors.

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*  THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI

*  AGLAMESIS  - THE BEST ICE CREAM IN CINCINNATI

   

THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI - HOFBRAUHAUS NEWPORT

The greater Cincinnati area is known for its beer.  It's also known for its large German population.  If you like food and drink with a German flair, check out Hofbrauhaus - Newport in Newport, Kentucky, just across the river from downtown Cincinnati.

You can read my family's experience of the restaurant here.  In short, this restaurant is modeled on the 400 year old Hofbrauhaus in Munich, Germany.  You can get your standard German fare, as well as a wide variety of beers.  Being a non-beer-drinker myself, I can't vouch for the lager, but I'm assured by those who know better that there are some great choices.  I can vouch for the cream puff, which is one of the best I've ever had, with a light, fluffy pastry and delicious cream filling.  This sucker is big, so it's made for sharing.  You can download the menu here and check here for hours and special events.  Hofbrauhaus Newport is a short walk from Newport on the Levee. 

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*  THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI

*  RIDE THE DUCKS TOUR - NEWPORT

     

THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI -- RIDE THE DUCKS TOUR

If you're looking for a fun way to get a little history of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky while seeing some of the better known sights, check out the Ride the Ducks Tour in Newport, Kentucky.  This amphibious vehicle takes you from Newport, across the river into Cincinnati, and then into the Ohio River, which of course is the coolest part.  Once back on shore, the tour continues into downtown Cincinnati, then back into Northern Kentucky.

You can read about my family's tour experience here.  Further information about the tour, times, and ticket prices can be found at the Ride the Ducks - Newport site here.

Ride the Ducks kiosk with Newport Aquarium in back

Newport, Kentucky is just across the river from downtown Cincinnati.  Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time or at the Ride the Ducks kiosk outside the Newport Aquarium at Newport on the Levee.  You can park in the Newport on the Levee parking garage and then take an elevator to street level.  The tour boards at the meeting place near Toro Bar and Grill.  Look for the Ride the Duck umbrellas and sign.

The loading spot outside Toro Bar & Grill.

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*  THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI


*  HOFBRAUHAUS - NEWPORT