Pleasant Ridge

My husband and I moved to Pleasant Ridge when I was five months pregnant with our first child. We are transplants to Cincinnati and after driving around various neighborhoods back in 2000, Pleasant Ridge stood out to us. We had no idea back then how awesome the neighborhood really was, and what an integral part of our life it would become.

After 12 years in our 1920's craftsman-style home, we continue to love it (even though our plan was to only stay in it for 2 years). The best part of PR (as the locals call it) are the people! Our neighbors have become part of our friendship circle. We have enjoyed Ridge Day parades with them, Halloween trick or treating, and an annual Block Party which is supported in part by the City of Cincinnati. For the latter, the street is closed and we have live music and of course, the infamous corn hole tournament. We have met great people on the street and learned about its history.

The local playground is awesome and was built by community volunteers just before we moved into the area. Many a picnic, school celebration, and playdate has been had there. Sitting on the site of the Pleasant Ridge Community Center, the CRC hosts after school programming, summer camp, and regular fitness activities for all ages. The monthly Community Council meetings are also held at the Community Center also (first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.) Currently, a renovation to the outdoor pool are is underway. The popular city pool will be transformed into an outdoor water playground. The parking lot has also been redone to provide for easier traffic flow and safety.

Throughout the course of time, my family and I have benefitted from the schools, churches, area businesses, swim team, neighborhood clean up day, art activities, festivals, block parties, and block watches. I was fortunate enough to be able to represent the community on Council for a few years and continue to remain active by coordinating the Street Captain program, which has a designated person on every street as a point person. This individual is responsible for the distribution of The Informant -- a regular newsletter to all residents, disseminates information to neighbors, welcomes newcomers, and plans fun as well as educational activities for those who live on the street. Over 70% of the streets have this point person, unique for an urban neighborhood.

As a family, our favorite places in the Ridge include Pleasant Ridge Chili, Walgreens, the "Comic Book Store" (aka Queen City Comics), Gaslight Cafe, Pleasant Perk, The Loving Cafe and the Library. Almost everywhere we go, we run into someone we know and it makes living in an urban area so enjoyable and personal.

If you have never been to Pleasant Ridge, you have to check it out!

Pleasant Ridge is not all new and fancy but it's one of my favorite Cincinnati neighborhoods. The people are friendly. The businesses are fun and unique. It's a walkable neighborhood and I feel safe walking it. It's got large older, well kept homes, easy highway access and true diversity among the residents.

The Pleasant Ridge Community Council sponsors Ridge Day and Shop Hops. Last year they organized fund raisers to save their community pool. Thanks to the PRCC their little strip of Montgomery Rd. is now an official city entertainment district. They're currently fighting to save the strip from a proposed chain store that wants to build on the main corner.

Restaurant and entertainment
Emanu serves up Ethiopian cuisine. Gaslight Cafe claims to have one of the best burgers in the city. Loving Hut Cafe makes affordable and delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes, including a version of Cincinnati chili. For the genuine dish, there's Pleasant Ridge Chili down the street. Molly Malone's is an authentic Irish pub that also has outdoor seating. If you need coffee you'll find that next door at Pleasant Perk. For fast food tastes, there's a Burger King and a UDF for ice cream.

Shopping
Businesses in Pleasant Ridge do a Shop Hop once a month. Participating merchants fly a green flag to show they're offering a discount that day. Even the hair salons, restaurants, Walgreens and personal service businesses participate.

Everybody's Records (www.everybodysrecords.com) has bins filled with every artist, genre and format of music you can imagine. Since 1936 Mullaney's Pharmacy has offered prescriptions, home health care supplies and a compounding pharmacist to create custom prescriptions. Queen City Comic and Card Co. (www.queencitycomics.com) on the corner of Ridge and Montgomery caters to the kid in you with comic books, magazines and trading cards.

Elliott Jordan Studio & Gallery (jordanpaintsafrica.com) on Ridge Rd sells African Art, handcrafted jewelry, prints and his original paintings and drawings. He teaches private art classes and a social painting class where he coaches a group through painting an artwork they can take home that night.

Across the street you'll notice colorful painted metal flamingos, bulls and roosters hanging out on the sidewalk. That's Hodesh Gallery (facebook.com/hodeshshop/info). The owner brought his unique cultural flair to the neighborhood from the former Vintage Poster Bank in Mt. Lookout.

Further north on Ridge is Cincinati Yoga School (cincyoga.com) 6125 Ridge Rd.

Recreation
-Pleasant Ridge Recreation Center, 5915 Ridge, has a swimming pool, fitness center, game room, soccer, football and baseball fields.
-French Park, about a mile north on Section Rd., has picnic areas, a lodge, playground and hiking trail
Schools
-CPS- Pleasant Ridge Montessori School, pre – 6, 5945 Montgomery (pridge.cps-k12.org)
-Kennedy Heights Montessori, 610 Ridge Rd, offers classes for 3 -K
-Nativity School K-8, 5936 Ridge, (nativity-cincinnati.org/school)
-Moler Hollywood Beauty Academy, 6142 Montgomery Rd

For medical treatment, Bell Chiropractic is in Pleasant Ridge, but the nearest hospital is Jewish Kenwood about 10 minutes away.

Pleasant Ridge is an aptly named Cincinnati neighborhood. It is on a hill (though you can't always tell) and is a very pleasant community. It is conveniently located to major highways, shopping malls, and close to Downtown Cincinnati.

The Pleasant Ridge business district along Montgomery Road is a dichotomy of the old and the new. There are many long-time businesses housed in old buildings, along with newer businesses. There are also some free standing national chains, such as Burger King and Walgreen's. It is, however, the local businesses that are the heart of the Pleasant Ridge business district. There are many great local businesses that provide a variety of shopping options. You can purchase new or used vinyl, CDs or DVDs at Everybody's Records, an independent music store that offers the obscure to the mainstream. If you can't find it at Everybody's you probably don't need it. Ridge Jewelers is a family owned shop that has been a mainstay of the Pleasant Ridge community for decades. If you need a prescription, you can visit Mullaney's Pharmacy, a locally owned and operated business for over 75 years. If you are looking for some bargain clothing shop at Glass Zipper Boutique, which sells vintage fashion and clothing on consignment. If you need a haircut or color or a day at the spa, there are options for those, as well. Pleasant Ridge's many local businesses offer a multitude of services from fitness to veterinary care and from car repair to tax preparation and planning.

If you're looking for a bite to eat, there's no need to leave Pleasant Ridge. Pleasant Ridge is home to an eclectic assortment of restaurants. From Ethiopian fare at Emanu, to vegan dining at The Loving Hut, to Cincinnati style chili or double deckers at Pleasant Ridge Chili, you're sure to find something to delight your palate. Afterwards, drop into Molly Malone's Irish Pub for a cold brew and some live music or bring your dog and enjoy their outdoor patio. There's something for everyone in Pleasant Ridge.

The main business district of Pleasant Ridge lies along Montgomery Road. It is off of Montgomery Road and the other main artery of Ridge Avenue where the homes are located. Pleasant streets are lined with generally well-kept older homes. There are park areas, a library, and a community center, as well as the Losantaville Country Club (a portion of which is located in the confines of Pleasant Ridge). Please Ridge Montessori School provides an excellent education for children residing in Pleasant Ridge and surrounding communities from preschool through sixth grade.

Overall, Pleasant Ridge is definitely a pleasant place to live with its amenities and convenient location.