(a view from Northern Kentucky looking at downtown Cincinnati)
I was in Cincinnati for a few days on official public radio business - very serious stuff. I stayed downtown for two nights, but only had one night to really look around.
I was staying at a pretty nice Hilton, with three very nice looking restaurants and bars. But, they were all full of white dudes in suits - who were all apparently apart of some big corporate gathering. And since I didn't want to get stuck at the bar drinking and listening to a bunch of inebriated businessman gabbing on about whatever they do, I decided to get out and find some locals. Plus I was feeling like some greasy bar food.
The weather wasn't bad, maybe mid 40s so I walked down toward the Ohio river with my camera to do some shutterbugging. I walked across an old historic bridge that was under renovation. The Roebling suspension bridge, originally built in the 1860s. (more info here: http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/suspension.html). I walked across to the other side and snapped a photo of downtown Cincy. Little did I know, I had walked all the way to Northern Kentucky.
Dude, I was in Kentucky, all by myself and it was getting dark. So I hightailed it back across the bridge to find some food.
I found O'Malley's in the Alley. A very quaint looking Irish theme bar - not a pub. I walked in and was glad to see that it was an attraction for locals. Most local white folk, a few with thick southern accents (afterall we were just across the river from Kentucky).
Seeing no Confederate flags, i decided that the place was probably at least safe enough for a brother to get a sandwich and a beer. I sidled up to the bar and ordered a Killian's and a 'smasher'. That's like a panini that's been flattened and then fried, so it's crispy. Mine was full of Colby cheese and bacon. Just what I was looking for.
I quietly ate my fried sandwich and drank my beer, soaking in the local flavor. At the corner of the bar a group of three dudes and one woman were cussing and laughing. One guy was playfully harassing the bartender, a 20-something guy, as he made a margarita.
On my right side was a guy getting quietly drunk by himself. The bartender referred to him 'crazy man.' At one point, Crazy Man got up and weaved over to the jukebox and played a Rammstein song (a live track). It took me a little by surprise, because the dude looked more country than he did scary-German-Industrial-Metal.
I was getting tired and decided to hit another bar before I settled into an evening of watching cable TV in a little hotel room, so I settled my tab (a whopping $4.80) and wandered out.
I made a stop at an unremarkable, and nearly empty Mexican joint (it was a few hours past Fiesta Hour) and grabbed a rum and coke.
For the most part, downtown Cincy resembled many other downtowns I've visited. It had a lot of the same stores and chain restaurants (TJ Maxx, Mortons Steakhouse) as you'll find in many other places.
And no, I didn't find WKRP.
