Kentucky Ave, Northside

Most people who travel Leeper St. and turn onto Kentucky Ave. are likely lost or headed for the Green Arbor Apartments. Kentucky Ave. is a narrow street that's tucked away in the wooded area above lower Colerain Ave. I rented my first Apartment there a long,,, long time ago. That's the only reason I know the street exists.

There are also a few older homes along the street, but the Apartment community is where most Kentucky Ave. residents live. The complex has changed hands and names a few times over the years. (My brother owned it once) The pool has been bulldozed, but the apartments are pretty much the same. Green Arbor is currently listed as "newly renovated."

The 100 or so unit complex is at the end of Kentucky. If it's not what you're looking for, there's no way out except to turn around and go back the way you came. Be careful in the dark though. The area is completely wooded except for one grassy path that looks almost like a street in the dark.

Shopping and dining
Other than a few homes and Green Arbor Apartments, there's little else on Kentucky Ave., but it is in Northside and at the bottom of Colerain Ave, which gives it lots of options for shopping, entertainment and recreation. Northside has quirky specialty shops including Shake it Records, Nvision Vintage and others. The nearby Ludlow shopping district in Clifton has shops as well.

If you don't mind traveling a little further, you can find more options at the top of Colerain Ave. and beyond. There are a few shops and restaurants, and even 2 Kroger Grocery stores along the way. Go further and you'll find Northgate Mall and a few other strip malls with everything you'll need. Colerain traffic can be tedious, but you can turn left instead of going up the hill and hop right on I-75 south into town.

Entertainment and dining
For dining in Northside you'll find Melt, Sidewinder Cafe and even White Castle if sliders are your thing. There are several bars along Hamilton Ave. You can also exercise your options to dine in town, on Ludlow Ave. or along upper Colerain Ave.

Recreation
Hoffner Park is on the corner of Hamilton and Blue Rock in Northside. It's the location for several annual neighborhood celebrations. There are also a few smaller neighborhood playgrounds, but if you live on Kentucky Ave. You could find the woods and outdoor activities you need by heading up Colerain to Mount Airy Forest. They have picnic areas, an arboretum, walking trails and you might even see a deer or two.

Schools
There are several schools nearby in Northside and College Hill. Kentucky Ave is minutes away from Cincinnati State College and a 10 minute drive from University of Cincinnati.

Medical
The Northside Health Center is in Northside on Spring Grove Ave. Mercy's Mount Airy Campus is a 10 minute drive up the hill on Kipling. UC, VA, and Children's Hospitals and several other medical facilities are a 15 minute drive away