Regional Report: Cincinnati

"Regional Report: Cincinnati" by Ellen Brown, Good Food Magazine (September 1986).

In our last post we traveled to 1976 - touring Cincinnati's lively citizenry, urbane culture, and of course, culinary leanings.

Today we'll take a shorter visit through town, a decade later.  The midwest in a clash between 19th-century footings and 80's opulence - maintaining both "grazing yuppies" and "Teutonic tradition" - as you'll see in this scant review on Cincinnati flavors for Good Food Magazine.

There are some interesting quotes that seem to transcend the ages...

"Decades have passed and skyscrapers have transformed the skyline, yet Cincinnati has not only weathered the change but thrived on it, with a unique blend of 19th-century architecture, Southern graciousness, and a magnificent natural setting on the banks of the Ohio River."

"...Further proof of the city's strong German heritage can be found any Saturday morning in the open-air Findlay Market, built in 1852. BMWs and Mercedes vie for parking spots with pickup trucks, and everyone searches for bargains on produce, farm-fresh eggs, and more."

...and a few that don't:

"Grazing yuppies love The Diner of Sycamore (...) and its homemade potato chips."

"...But most Cincinnatians don't care if every corner of other cities boasts a sushi bar.  That's too trendy.  What they look for is consistency and food as solid as a German burgher."

Cincinnati, My Kind of Town

As we all know, Cincinnati is in the middle of a renaissance - neighborhoods are being rebuilt, arts scenes are vibrant, sports fans are cheering, home prices are fair, healthy transportation initiatives are on the right track, and overall livability seems at an all time high. The boisterous progressive attitudes here are only shadowed by the great things still to come.

There seems no end to this rolling stone that is Cincinnati.

And with this rejuvenation has come international praise, the most recent of which UrbanCincy reflects upon, which sparked today's post on the city's historical glow.

Here's a visit to the city of my youth - during the last great city expansion (1970s-1980s) - from May 1976 Ford Times article "Cincinnati, My Kind of Town".  An issue probably more famous for Charley Harper's cover illustration:

Like most articles being produced about the city's developments today, this Ford Times article presents the city as kind of a niche locale with a surprisingly vibrant scene - in addition to the more notable sports' camps - and seems to miss on some of what us locals might consider crucial to the personality of Cincinnati.  Nevertheless, it's media attention, and positive.

Here are some of the more descriptive passages from Ford Times author Nicholas J. Bush:  (Delve into larger photos and read more of the article by clicking on the images below, or perusing the full article (link at end of post).)

"...I snap my mind to attention with pleasant thoughts about a city that would make Henry David Thoreau pack his bags and head back to town."

"...the city has a pleasant personality. It's evident at noontime on Fountain Square where on sunny days businessmen and women and families munch double-dip ice cream cones and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment scheduled..."

"For the life of me I find it hard to explain why the residents aren't terribly fat."

"Preparing your own food for an outing in Cincinnati is truly hauling coals to Newcastle - inferior coals, at that."

"When asked to rate Cincinnati chili, Texans are likely to turn red in the face and, if ladies are present, sputter something about 'that tendermouth slush.'  What do they know? The cognoscenti among chili lovers agree: Cincinnati chili is the hautest of haute cuisine."

 

"A delightful town. Wonderful people. If you have the chance, drop by. It will do wonders for you."

• Read the complete 1976 Ford Times article "Cincinnati, My Kind of Town".

Related Posts

Charley Harper Revisited

In Memory of Charley

A City Built on Bacon

"Pork Packing in Cincinnati" by H.F. Farny [1873]. 
Click on the image to view larger, or go here.
Source.

The Reds Land Clooney

My wife is a big fan of The Ellen DeGeneres' Show, and I've been notified of Ellen's recent unsuccessful attempts to lure George Clooney as a guest. After several tries, she finally called on some old Reds legends to drag him to the set. My wife thought Skyline would've done the trick nicely, but as things stand now, it'll just be Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan. Info here on the festivities, Monday, January 16th.

Speaking of Bench...
I recently ran across an excellent site on the glory days of malls past: Malls of America. Here you can find great coverage of the great suburban behemoths nationwide, including Cincinnati's, such as: Antiquated layouts of Tri-County Mall, several Jim Borgman mall commentaries, and - here's the tie-in - Johnny Bench's Home Plate Restaurant at Northgate Mall. What a find.

Image Source: Cincinnati Views.

• Remember, you can catch the Big Red Machiners on Ellen, 11/16, 10am on ABC  9. 

• Additionally, feel free to meander through an old related post on nostalgia for my local mall.