What's changed in Cincinnati in the past 10 years?

December 16, 2004 12:31 AM

Moving back to the greater Cincinnati area temporarily. What's changed in the last 10 years?

I find it hard to believe it's been 10 years since I left 'conservative-ville' for hell, (with stops in VT, TX and CO along the way) I guess what I'd like to know is, has anything changed? (Other than the cut in the hill) I have been back to visit, but not long enough to really re-explore.

posted by kamylyon to Travel & Transportation around Cincinnati, OH (8 answers total)

forest fair mall is now cincinnati mills--and you don't really have to worry so much about a gang of kids cutting you up there.

uh... we had a small riot a couple years back.

skyline/gold star are still around.

lots of us hang out at Newport on the Levee now (yes, everyone calls it Cincinnati, even though it's in Kentucky.).

if i think of anything else, i'll let you know.
posted by lotsofno at 3:48 AM on December 16, 2004

Response by poster: If it's inside the 275 circle, it's Cinti ;c)

I lived in Ludlow for 8 years, so yeah, I know the Newport area too.

I can actually live without goldstar/skyline, but will be subjected to the greekish chile like it or not.
posted by kamylyon at 6:53 AM on December 16, 2004

The Norwood end of Hyde Park has exploded as a high-end retail/eating destination (i.e., "Rookwood Commons"). On the same token, urban retail sprawl has popped-up or gotten worse everywhere - including Kenwood, Tri-County, Fields-Ertl.

If you're moving to the burbs and require a daily commute into downtown, try to move somewhere along the I-71 corridor. They've widened and improved it, so you'll rarely get stuck in traffic....I-75 is same as it ever was, but worse, since there's many more people commuting from as far north as Hamilton into the city. There are daily traffic jams and/or wrecks on 75S in the morning, no joke.

I'd highly recommend picking up a copy of CityBeat (available just about everywhere except Kroger, but that's another story), its a pretty high-caliber alternative paper for the city.
posted by dicaxpuella at 7:52 AM on December 16, 2004

Other than the two ginormous stadiums on the riverfront, the downtown area hasn't changed much...sadly. A lot of bars have closed in the Main street strip due to the fallout from the riots. Newport has stolen downtown Cincy's thunder with an entertainment complex at the levee (although its like an amusement park, same crowd too...it's jammed on a Saturday night). On the brightside, the local music scene is thriving, and there is now an annual music festival (Midpoint) in the fall.
posted by pepcorn at 8:21 AM on December 16, 2004

I was back there this summer to do some family stuff, my first time back in 20 years (I fled as soon as I could get away to college and have stayed on one or the other of the coasts ever since). One of the most striking things I noticed was the fact that a new acquaintance felt safe to be openly gay. Of course, that could be due to the fact that the world has changed a lot in 20 years, not simply that Cincy has changed. I also met someone there with tattoos, although I don't know if that counts since she said she lived for several years in Seattle and Austin.
posted by matildaben at 8:59 AM on December 16, 2004

WOXY sold their broadcast license and is internet only now. :-(
posted by sciurus at 9:50 AM on December 16, 2004

As a CityBeat freelancer, I thank you for that suggestion, dicaxpuella!

Kamylyon, Cincinnati is living proof that the more things change, the more they remain the same. But be sure to check out Findlay Market. After an extensive rehab, there are a lot of new merchants and it truly is the best place in town to shop for food.
posted by tizzie at 1:24 PM on December 16, 2004

Response by poster: I LOVED the Findlay market! Glad to hear it's been reborn!
posted by kamylyon at 7:03 PM on December 16, 2004