Holiday Itineraries for Enjoying Over-the-Rhine

There are so many options for enjoying Over-the-Rhine during the holidays that it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. So, we created these itineraries for upcoming weeknights and weekends that make it easy to visit our vibrant, historic neighborhood! Check them out and then come down to See, Shop and Dine in Over-the-Rhine.

Celebrate Girls Night Out with Final Friday on Wednesday, November 24th

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 24^th, is one of the biggest nights of the year to catch up with your friends! Make it a fun night with the girls in Over-the-Rhine. Start at Atomic Number 10 to get your retro gear for the holidays and meander the galleries on Main Street. You should enjoy Dinner and Drinks nearby at Senate, Lavomatic, or . As the night gains momentum, you can join the Thanksgiving Eve Turkey Trot celebration. Free shuttle between bars from 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. NO COVER – BAR SPECIAL $2 Hudepohl Amber Lager Arnold’s Bar & Grill, , JP’s Drinkery, , and Milton’s The Prospect Hill Tavern present the 2010 bottles at each bar – turkey trotters will each receive punch card that can be stamped at each bar for a reward of a free 2010 Thanksgiving Eve Turkey Trot T-Shirt, which can be redeemed at Arnold’s Bar & Grill.

’Tis the Season with Holidays in the Bag on Friday, November 26th

Enjoy the biggest shopping day of the year, avoid the malls and come down to Over-the-Rhine Friday, November 26^th 9 am – 6 pm for Holidays in the Bag. Participating stores in Over-the-Rhine, centered at 12th and Vine streets, will offer 20% off everything customers can fit into a special Gateway Quarter shopping bag or a special discount tailored to each store. The bags are $3 and proceeds benefit the School of Creative & Performing Arts.  Visit the Over-the-Rhine Pop Up Shop and see Santa riding through the streets on a Segway. Take a break and celebrate your shopping success with additional discounts at our restaurants and bars including Lavomatic, Venice on Vine, Coffee Emporium and Below Zero Lounge.

New Holiday Traditions in One of Cincinnati’s Oldest Neighborhoods on December 11th

Share our city with your family this holiday season. Saturday, December 11^th 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. enjoy Caroling in the Quarter from multiple local choirs at 12^th and Vine. Take in some shopping at MiCA 12/V, Little Mahatma and Joseph Williams Home, stop at Iris Book Café for hot chocolates and snacks that the entire family will enjoy. Cap off the night at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati presenting Cinderella at 7 p.m. (playing December 2-31 at varied times).

Holiday Treats and Eats

Pick up your wines at Market Wines and party trays for your holiday gatherings at Findlay Market. Holiday Happy Hours you can’t miss at Senate, Lavomatic, and , where you can roast chestnuts on an open fire. Enjoy Sunday Brunch at Lavomatic, Iris Book Café, , or forkheartknife.

Celebrate the Holidays in a Local Way

Start your day with breakfast or lunch at Findlay Market. You can grab coffee at the Market from Dojo Gelato or the Bean House, breakfast waffle at Taste of Belgium or sandwich at Ms. Helen’s Grill. Wonder down to Vine and 12^th Streets and at 11 a.m., you can begin shopping at an array of stores and galleries that have unique gifts for that hard to buy friend or family member. MiCA 12/V has the perfect hostess gift for the holiday party that’s coming up and you can find a great dress to wear at 4U Fashion Boutique. Finish your trip on Main Street and search for unique gifts with a visit to Urban Eden or Atomic Number 10. Finally, celebrate your holiday shopping success at , , Lavomatic or Senate.

Musically Inclined

Enjoy fine dining at the Symphony Hotel …the place to dine before the Symphony, Ballet and Opera. This season you can enjoy a wide array of music performances including Bold Beautiful Beethoven, Happy Holidays with the Pops Hilary Hahn Plays Mozart, Handel’s Messiah, In-House Concert XIV and 2010 New Year’s Eve Concert from our own Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at Music Hall.

Over-the-Rhine Theatre
No matter your age, interests or schedule, OTR has a cultural haven of theatre choices for you this Holiday Season. Wrinkle in Time at the Know Theatre November 27 – December 26, 2010, Cinderella at the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati starting December 2^nd – 31^st, The Finkles’ Theatre Show also at the Know Theatre Dec 6-14^th.  Before or after your show enjoy a delicious dinner at one of our unique restaurants in the Over-the-Rhine.

Connect the Dots

See the Quarter. Experience Over-the-Rhine. Start at Joseph Williams Home at 13^th and Vine, work your way down Vine Street to Switch and MiCA 12/V, follow the luminaries along 12^th Street to 4U Fashion Boutique turning at Main shopping for books at Iris Book Café, get the latest eco-friendly anything and everything at Park & Vine, show up at forkheartknife for dinner (open Thursdays and Fridays) and cap it off with drinks at . You’ll feel like a guest in the City.

Get Away from It All

Yes, in the city.  With Main Street’s  Passport, you can visit all four studios and use this passport for 20 percent off a yoga mat or any other item at Park+Vine.  Continue your serendipity in one of our local Pedi Cabs (www.j-rides.com/ ) with a scenic ride to lunch with the girls, tea at Iris Book Café and get the chocolate you deserve at our Pop Up Shop from Chocolats Latour.

Bring your Kids

Show your kids how to enjoy our city in Over-the-Rhine this holiday season with hot chocolate at Coffee Emporium, then onto Park+Vine for once hard-to-find baby items such as cloth diapers, comfortable baby carriers, and non-toxic baby and kid gear now consume Park + Vine’s midsection.  Explore MUD on Main for ceramics and crafts and Iris Book Café for the latest to read and a snack before onto a show. Either Cinderella at the Ensemble Theatre playing December 2^nd -31^st at varied times, The School of Creative & Performing Arts for The Nutcracker December 3^rd – 5^th and of course the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra with lots to choose from the entire season. Before you head home for sugar plum fairy dreams, treat ‘em to the hot dog of the day and duck fat fries at Senate. Certainly, a day in the city that will be the start of a new holiday tradition for your family.

You May Ask, Where Do I Park?

There are lots of parking options in Over-the-Rhine! There is plenty of street parking at meters along Vine Street, 12^th Street, Clay Street, and Central Parkway. There are also two parking lots run at 12^th and Vine Streets and 14^th and Vine Streets as well as the Parking Garage with entrances on Central Parkway and 12^th Street.

Downtown Cincinnati Inc. also has details on available parking in the Central Business District,

http://downtowncincinnati.com/PlanYourVisit/Parking.aspx