Erie Ave, Hyde Park

Erie Ave is a pretty long street, but it’s a beautiful, winding drive the whole way through. Before hitting Hyde Park Square, where much of the neighborhood’s shopping is located, you'll find a strip of beautiful properties. They're the kind you'd expect to find in Hyde Park...stately, beautiful, and well-manicured--not to mention expensive. This is a family-oriented part of town but is still bustling due to its proximity to downtown as well as nearby shopping, dining and schools. It really is the best of both worlds if you can afford it.

Hyde Park Square won’t be hard to miss once you’ve reached it. It’s a great little area full of boutiques, cafés, and small restaurants. There’s also a Graeter’s location here, which is obviously always busy. If you stay on Erie, you’ll drive right through. On the other side, the street becomes residential again. It’s still a pretty drive--you’ll pass some churches and Clark Montessori, as well as a few offices and business fronts. Soon you’ll come to another stretch of business and restaurants. This is also a nice part of Hyde Park...my favorite restaurant on this stretch is probably Saigon Cafe (3672 Erie Ave). After driving through this business district you’ll find another stretch of residential properties before reaching Oakley.

One major landmark on Erie Ave. that I can't forget to note is the 'Mushroom House,' which SuzM also mentioned in her review. Cincinnatians know this home well because, well, it stands out. See for yourself: http://kienviet.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mushroom-house-11.jpg. It's currently for sale, so if you're interested in buying, act fast! Otherwise, there are plenty of beautiful and unique properties on Erie that

All that being said, it's important to note that Erie is a pretty busy street. It runs right through Hyde Park, so you can depend on that traffic pretty regularly. It doesn't usually cause too many jams, but don't expect to zip through during rush hour or on a weekend afternoon.

Erie Avenue is one of the main thoroughfares of Hyde Park. As such, it has a lot of traffic, but it also has a lot to offer. It runs from Madison Road, through the heart of Hyde Park and beyond. As you start off on Erie from Madison, you will find a wide, tree-lined street with lovely single-family homes. As you approach the Hyde Park Square area, you will see a number of businesses, shops, and restaurants. Hyde Park Square, situated on Erie Avenue between Edwards and Michigan Avenues is a lively business district with lots to offer residents and visitors alike. This area is very walkable from the neighboring streets and Hyde Park is a relatively safe neighborhood.

Moving down Erie Avenue away from the Square, you some more businesses in between some homes. At the point you see St. Mary's Catholic Church, the area returns to a more residential area with wider spaced lots and more trees. You will see the Church of the Redeemer, an Episcopal church and then the spacious and green campus of Clark Montessori. As you approach Delta Avenue, the road starts to bend and the only thing you see on either side is trees lining the streets and the backyards of the homes along adjacent side streets.

The road takes another turn and, as it curves around, you pass the Cincinnati Police District 2 station and then enter into another business district as Erie Avenue straightens out again. At this point, look to your right and see the Mushroom House, a home that looks like you would find Bilbo Baggins smoking his pipe snug by the fireplace. You are entering the area known as East Hyde Park, with its businesses, restaurants, bars, and apartment buildings lining either side of Erie. There are more homes, which are now closer together and a little smaller, but they are still very nice. Erie Avenue takes another turn and, as you cross Saybrook there are a few more businesses on either side of the street and the Hyde Park Country Club on the left as you enter the Oakley area heading into Fairfax, where Erie Avenue ends at Settle Street, just missing meeting up again with Madison Road.