Natilady

Saybrook Ave is in Hyde Park. If you know even a little bit about that Cincinnati neighborhood, you know that most of the homes are older but stylish and well maintained. Saybrook Ave. fits the Hyde Park profile. It's not a street that's lined with large or luxurious homes, but they are nice enough to fit anyone's idea of a pleasant place to live. Also, the street ends in a cul de sac, which limits through traffic.

Shopping, Dining and Entertaniment
A family living on Saybrook won't need to travel very far to get what they need. Hyde Park Gourmet Food and Wine, Saigon Cafe, Starbucks, UDF and other businesses and eateries are walking distance away on Erie Ave. There are more options a short distance away in Hyde Park Plaza, Hyde Park Square, Oakley, Mt. Lookout and Rookwood.

Recreation
The Hyde Park Country club is minutes away from Saybrook on Erie Ave. Ault Park, Alms Park and the Cincinnati Observatory are close as well. There's a Cincinnati Recreation Center in Hyde Park Plaza and Shine Yoga Center on Erie: http://www.shineyoga.com/ .

Schools
There are several Cincinnati Public Schools in Hyde Park: Kilgour Elementary (K-6), Hyde Park School (Preschool-1 and 3-6 for Gifted Component), Clark Montessori High School (7-12), and Withrow University High School (9-12).

St Mary's Catholic Elementary is located on Erie Ave., Summit Country Day is on Grandin and Springer School for learning disabilities is on Madison at Grandin.

For medical needs, the Christ Hospital Emergency facility is in the Red Bank Business district about 5 minutes away.

Brotherton Ct. in Oakley is about 100 yards from beginning to end. I've traveled it many times, both walking and driving, but I never thought of it as an actual street. It's short, with wide areas of well-tended grass on either side. To the east there's a section of trees that border the Centennial Station apartment community. There's not a single home or building on Brotherton Ct., except for the gas station on the tiny street extension on the other side of Red Bank Expressway. That doesn't mean it's not a busy little strip.

Brotherton Ct. connects Red Bank Expressway to Erie Ave. The street allows access to the area business district. Each day commuters from Hyde Park, Oakley, the southern section of Madisonville and the villages of Mariemont and Fairfax and other communities in the area travel Brotherton Ct. on their way to I-71 or one of many local businesses or industries in the area. A Metro bus stop on Erie near Brotherton Ct. provides limited public transportation to the area.

Shopping etc.
Brotherton Ct. intersects Red Bank Expressway at the edge of its business district. It also provides access to the southern section of Red Bank Rd where Walmart and other stores and restaurants are located. Hyde Park and Oakley's shopping, dining and entertainment areas are minutes away from Brotherton Ct.

Erie Station Ln. is the main private drive that curves through Centennial Station: http://www.napcincinnati.com/communities/centennial-station.php , a quiet, gated apartment complex that sits on a hill just above the Red Bank Expressway business district. The apartment community rests between the far western edge of Madisonville and the far eastern edges of Oakley and Hyde Park. It was built not too many years ago and has easy access to I-71 and Columbia Parkway.

Erie Station Ln. begins at Centennial Station's main entrance on Erie Ave. It takes you past the office/community center located in "the mansion." That's a large beautiful Erie Ave. home that was kept on the premises when they built the complex. The main gate to access the rest of Erie Station Ln. can only be opened by using the proper security code. After passing the security gate, Erie Station Ln. curves past a number of multi-unit buildings with studios, one and two bedroom apartments.

Shopping, Dining and Entertainment
Centennial Station has easy access to businesses, fast food restaurants, medical facilities and more on Red Bank Expressway. On Red Bank, Super Walmart has grocery shopping and everything else. Banasch's is a little further south selling a beautiful selection of fabric and sewing supplies.

Oakley and Hyde Park are less than 10 minutes away, offering boutique shopping, toys, shoes and more. There are two grocery stores in Hyde Park Plaza and a Fresh Market in Oakley. Whatever your choice of cuisine, you'll find it at a restaurant t in one of those nearby communities.

There are several excellent CPS magnet schools in Hyde Park, including a Montessori High School. Private Seven Hills School's Hillsdale campus is a few minutes away at the bottom of old Red Bank hill.

For fitness and recreation there are a pool and basketball court on the premises. There are a yoga studio and a barbell club on Red Bank Expressway. Madisonville, Oakley and Hyde Park have several city parks and green spaces. In Stewart Park in Madisonville there's a recreation center. Madison Bowl is open for bowling 24/7 and it's less than 10 minutes away from Erie Station Ln.

Medical
There's a Christ Emergency facility on Red Bank Expressway, as well as two plastic surgery groups.

Water Tower Ct. is one of the three quiet private streets located within the gated community of Centennial Station in Madisonville. The apartment complex sits on the hill above Red Bank Expressway at the eastern edges of Hyde Park and Oakley. Water Tower Ct. is at the back of the community, so it's the most quiet street of the three. It forms a T-intersection where Centennial Dr. ends. You're not likely to enter the area unless you have a remote for the back gate or the security code for the front gate; so there's very little traffic, except for residents and visitors with access.

Shopping, Dining, Entertainment
If you live on Water Tower Ct. you'll find everything you need within a few miles. There's Walmart and Banasch's Fabrics on Red Bank. The street is also 10 minutes away from shopping in Oakley, Hyde Park Plaza and Hyde Park Square. You'll find fast food outlets like Gold Star and Izzy's, down the hill on Red Bank Expressway, and a lot more dining and entertainment options in nearby Oakley and Hyde Park.

Recreation
Centennial Station has a pool and basketball court on the premises. One of Erie Ave's grand old homes was kept in tact on the premises for use as an office and community facility for special occasions. There's a yoga studio and barbell club on Red Bank Expressway, several neighborhood parks in Madisonville, Oakley and Hyde Park, and the Madisonville Recreation Center in Stewart Park. Madison Bowl is 10 minutes away.

Schools
There are several CPS Magnet program schools in nearby Hyde Park. Seven Hills Hillsdale Campus is a private school on Old Red Bank. The Goddard School has an early childhood education location just down the hill in the Red Bank Expressway district.

Christ Hospital has an emergency facility on Red Bank Expressway. There are two cosmetic surgery facilities on Red Bank Expressway.

Cincinnati Metro has a stop on Erie Ave. across from the main gate of the complex.

Centennial Dr. is within the physical boundaries of Madisonville, but it's not exactly a part the rest of the community. It's one of three private streets within Centennial Station, a gated apartment community at the western edge of the Madisonville and the eastern edges of Hyde Park and Oakley. Centennial Dr. begins at Old Red Bank Road and runs uphill, past the complex's service areas, mail boxes, basketball court and the apartment buildings at the rear. To gain access to Centennial Dr. entrance, you'll need a security remote to open the gate.

Centennial Station is easy to spot if you're traveling along Erie Ave. or Red Bank Expressway. It's the large cluster of neat, white and gray buildings on the hill just above the Red Bank Expressway business district. The community is perfect if you desire security, peace, quiet and all the amenities that renters prefer. It's the perfect place if you prefer a homogeneous community. My parents lived there for several years and it wasn't hard to miss that they were a minority when it came to ethnic diversity among the residents.

Shopping, Dining and Entertainment
The Red Bank Expressway business district is a short downhill drive, although there's not much there for shoppers. Walmart on Red Bank is very close and Banasch's fabrics is a little further south from there. Oakley, Hyde Park Plaza and Hyde Park Square shopping areas are less than 10 minutes away. There are neighborhood cafes, bars and great restaurants in these areas as well. You'll find a variety of fast food outlets along Red Bank Expressway.

Fitness and Recreation
There is a pool, basketball court and a party mansion... yes a small, old, well-kept mansion... on the Centennial Station premises. They have a pool table and party facilities for special events. Bikram Yoga Studio: http://www.cincinnatibikramyoga.com/schedule.html and Cincinnati Barbell Club: http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/gyms/ohio/cincinnati-barbell-club are down the hill on Red Bank Expressway and Madison Bowl is 5 minutes away on Madison Rd. Madisonville has several parks and a Recreation Center in Stewart Park.

Schools
There are several Cincinnati Public Magnet schools nearby in Hyde Park. Seven Hills Schools private Hillsdale Campus is 5 minutes away on the section of Old Red Bank that's on the North side of Madison Rd. The Goddard School for early childhood education is a few feet away from Centennial Dr.

Christ Hospital has an emergency facility on Red Bank Expressway and Jewish Hospital is a 10 minute drive away. If you prefer public transportation, Metro bus route drop passengers off at the Erie entrance of Centennial Station.

Wasson Ave. begins at Edwards Rd., runs along the back of Hyde Park Plaza and ends at Marburg. Wasson is the line of demarcation that separates Oakley from Hyde Park. Okay. I'll be honest. I didn't know that until I started looking at a recent Cincinnati city map.

Apparently a big chunk of what I though... and perhaps a lot of other people thought were Hyde Park locales (like Hyde Park Plaza?) were actually in Oakley all along. That's okay. Oakley is an up and coming Cincinnati neighborhood and Wasson is a great street, even if the zip ends with 09 instead of 08.

Wasson has great older homes, nice eateries and a few places to let your hair down. It's got easy access to I-71 and some areas of Wasson have pretty much everything you need within walking distance.

Shopping and Dining, Entertainment
There are a few shops in the area where Wasson and Paxton meet and more in Hyde Park Plaza. There you'll find two large grocery stores, restaurants, and specialty stores. Wasson is close to the Rookwood shopping area and also Oakley's Madison Rd Shopping district.

Blue Elephant, one of my favorite Thai ...etc, restaurants is on Wasson Rd. You'll also find Green Papaya.. also Thai. There are a variety fast food and other restaurants nearby along Paxton. You'll find friendly neighborhood bars in Oakley and Hyde Park.

Wasson is close to Ault Park, Alms Park and the Cincinnati Observatory. There are several great Cincinnati Public Schools in Hyde Park.

Woodford Rd. in the culturally diverse Kennedy Heights is so green and grassy, it feels almost rural. It's a mostly residential street with well-maintained homes of all sizes, styles and construction. The single family homes have large yards shaded with trees. Along this section of Woodford you'll also find a number of apartment buildings from four family to multi-unit. Woodford is a short drive downhill to Coca Cola, 5th/3rd Operations Center and all the other businesses and social service agencies in Madisonville.

You'll find businesses on Woodford Rd. as well. The Redwood Carryout has been at the corner of Kennedy and Woodford for several decades. For over 100 years Harry Ewers and Sons has operated a building supplies, gravel and blacktop business on a lot that begins at Kennedy and ends at Robison Rd. If you head east, you'll find Benken Florist located at the sharp curve where Woodford Rd. becomes Plainfield Rd.

Shopping and Dining
You won't be able to have a shopping spree on Woodford, but you'll find options five minutes away in Silverton or Pleasant Ridge. Take a 10 minute drive and you can shop in Oakley, Hyde Park, Norwood, or Columbia Township. There are two malls less then 10 minutes away in Kenwood. You'll find your choice of restaurants in these areas as well.

Schools
There are several schools in the area, including Woodford Padeia Academy (Pre-6) http://woodford.cps-k12.org/ and Pleasant Ridge Montessori (pre-6) http://pridge.cps-k12.org/

Entertainment and Recreation
The Kennedy Heights Recreation Center, Cultural Center and Arts Centers are nearby. Daniel Drake Park is minutes away from Woodford. You'll find coffe shops, cafes and other entertainment in nearby areas.

Medical care is 10 minutes away at Jewish Hospital Kenwood.

Race St. Downtown used to be the center of Cincinnati Shopping. There are still a few stores along the street, but these days it's more residential than anything. Along Race St. you'll find Lofts at Shillito (formerly Shillito's Department Store), 911 Race, and The Reserve at 4th and Race among others.

The buildings are old and grand, and the apartments and condos they now house are spacious and trendy. It's not exactly family living though. While some choose to live in town with their kids, the Downtown lifestyle is more for grown up living.

Shopping
There are still a few stores on Race St. Sax Fifth Avenue and Macy's offer personal furnishings whatever your style. City Cellars markets a selection of fine wines, and Cappel's has a wide selection of costume options year 'round.

For discount shoes, there's a Payless shoe store. You'll find a few import stores on Race, as well as the Walgreens and CVS you're likely find in every Cincinnati neighborhood. Most Cincinnati shopping moved to the suburbs long ago. For more than the basics, you'll have to go to Clifton or hop on the highway and head for Kenwood, Hyde Park or another neighborhood.

Dining and entertainment
Yum Yum Chinese Restaurant is one of a few restaurants on Race. The Netherland Plaza, Cincinnati's grand Art Deco hotel, is located at Fifth and Race St corner of the Carew Tower. They have several elegantly furnished restaurants to choose from. Blue Wisp Jazz Club on Race is the perfect place for dinner with swing dancing, jazz or a jam session on the side.
Race St. is close to the Bengals stadium and also walking distance to the Great American Ball Park for Reds games.

If you don't find the dining or entertainment you want on Race St. There are plenty more eating and drinking establishments throughout town and a walkable distance away at The Banks.

Recreation & fitness
The Gym at Carew Tower offers a number of fitness classes. The parks along the riverfront are an easy walkaway. It's a great place to walk, skate or people watch.

Schools
The School for Creative and Performing Arts is on Race St., next door in Over the Rhine. It offers classes for k-12.

Medical facilities are 10 minutes away in Corryville and Avondale.

Metro operates a bus routes that travel Race.

Hamilton Ave. is the main strip that runs through College Hill. There are a variety of well maintained, older homes as well as large and small apartment complexes all along Hamilton. As you travel the street, you will understand what Cincinnati residents mean when they talk about the neighborhood's diversity. You'll see a mix of people walking the street and a variety of building styles and businesses.

On the hill-- before you even get into the heart of the community-- you'll pass Six Acres Bed and Breakfast in a building that used to be a former stop on the Underground Railroad. You'll also notice historic Twin Towers, the distinctive center of a large retirement community that began in 1899. Children's Hospital has an off site location on Hamilton and you'll see several historic churches. Grace Episcopal Church welcomes "...people of diverse ages, colors, orientations and national origins..." They also hold Yoga and ballet classes. College Hill Presbyterian hosts an annual arts and craft event each November.

Shopping, dining and entertainment
The rest of the strip is filled with mix of shops, restaurants and other businesses. They're neither grand nor elegant, but they are all operated by hard working entrepreneurs who put their hearts into their businesses. Bacall's Cafe, College Hill Coffee Company, LaRosa's, Chung Ching, Goodies Barbecue, and Marty's Hops and Vines are the local eateries.

There are a few shops as well, including Scwartz's jeweler's that's been in business for 73 years. Shaker's bar caters to the soulful side of the neighborhood. The College Hill Farmer's Market operates from May and runs through the fall at 5742 Hamilton Ave. They sell fruits, veggies and other items and offer a schedule of entertainment and events: http://collegehillfarmmarket.org

There are several options for schools in College Hill, including 2 Cincinnati Public Schools, Eden Grove nondenominational Christian schools and MCauley Catholic High School for girls. Mercy Hospital is a 5 minute drive away. Two bus routes travel through College Hill.

Dana Ave. begins at the western edge of Hyde Park where the Regency Apartments have stood on the corner since the early 70s. It arcs past the rear of the Withrow High campus, over I-71, through the busy Evanston business area; then it crosses Montgomery Rd and takes you into Xavier Country.

Like University of Cincinnati in the Corryville area, Xavier University has gradually staked its claim on a growing part of the Evanston, Norwood, and North Avondale neighborhoods. It has facilities, residence halls, parking lots and buildings under construction beginning at Montgomery Rd. in Evanston and spreading into Norwood. In the part of the street that is a downward slope into North Avondale, Xavier owns several of the single family dwellings and other University properties, including an ROTC armory that you can't miss as you drive by.

On the corner of Dana Ave. and Victory Parkway, you'll notice the edge of the Xavier sports complex. Beyond that are a a few homes, but mostly older brick apartment buildings. Some have been maintained in good condition all along. Those closer to Reading Rd. have been refurbished in recent years. There's a good bet that if these apartments aren't already filled with Xavier students, they will be in the future.

This strip of Dana is strictly residential, but there's shopping and dining nearby in Surrey Square in the City of Norwood. Dana is 10 to 15 minutes away from Hyde Park, Oakley and Obryanville shopping, dining and entertainment. Medical facilities are 10 minutes away in Avondale.

The section of Dana that cuts through Evanston has an easy access entrance ramp to I-71. That makes Dana a high traffic corridor.

Broadway runs through Downtown Cincinanti and passes behind the Justice Center, a street away from the Hamilton County Courthouse and several other busy public buildings. But after it crosses Central Parkway into Over The Rhine, its mostly a residential street with a cultural mix of occupants.

The buildings are older, mostly Victorian architecture. Many are brownstone style homes that have been rehabbed into beautiful homes. (Similar homes in the area sold recently for 500,000 plus.)

Because Broadway cuts through the hub of Hamilton County justice operations, there are cars coming and going, seeking cheap parking spaces on the street. The layout of the residential section of the street helps to ease traffic problems. It dead-ends before starting up again on the northern side of Liberty Ave.

There are a few businesses on Broadway at the corner of Central Parkway, but mostly the OTR section is residential. You'll find bars, dining and shopping two streets over on Main, with department stores and many more restaurants five minutes away in Downtown.

There are two elementary schools on Vine and the School for Creative and Performing Arts is close on Central Parkway.

Medical facilities are 10 minutes away in Corryville and Avondale. There are several churches in town and in Over the Rhine.

The part of Main St. that runs through Over the Rhine has its share of apartments and condos, but it's also been one of Cincinnati's entertainment districts for a long time. Like most of the city, Main St. has seen its ups and downs. Bars, galleries and shops come and go, but usually when one business leaves the street, another comes along to take its place.

Many structures along Main St are well-preserved Victorian architecture, a draw that's made the street part of the ongoing wave of urban settlements. People craving the convenience of Downtown living have reclaimed the buildings as in-town apartments and condos. They pay market rate for spaces that were once low income housing. Developers host annual urban living walks to show off the transformations.

Shopping
Galleries have always been one of the main attractions of Main St. They no longer line both sides of the street as they used to, but art still has a presence. Base Art, Enjoy the Arts/Start, Deogracias Lerma Photography and Classical Glass are just a few of the Main St. galleries. You'll also find Park+Vine, Cincinnat's "Green General Store," Clubhead Records, Greg's Antiques, Designsmithgallery modern "investment" furniture, JT's Mini Mart and more.

Dining and Entertainment
For drinks and music on Main you'll find Mr. Pitiful's jazz bar, Japp's since 1879 and Neon's Cigar Bar around the corner on 12th. Courtyard Cafe offers burgers, burritos and barbecue. Shadeau Breads sells pastries.

Main St. is always changing, so the best thing to do is to take a stroll along the street on a Final Friday. That's when all the shops, galleries and bars open their doors to invite everyone in for a visit. From May to October, Main St. Sponsors Second Sundays in OTR. They block off a section of the street to allow Artists, crafters, food vendors and entertainment to take over. In the fall Main St. hosts a Beer Fest.

Schools
Main St. is close to St. Francis Catholic Elementary and Rothenberg Preparatory Academy (Preschool-8)
on Vine. The School for Creative and Performing Arts (K-12) is several blocks away.

Winton Rd. Begins at Spring Grove Ave. and heads north from there. It creates a neat border between the western edge of Spring Grove Village and Spring Grove Cemetery. As you turn onto Winton Rd and head north, you can't help but notice Sun Belt Rentals on the corner. (You can't miss the bright green cranes and heavy equipment).

A few other businesses such as S&S Deli are also on the eastern side of Winton Rd, but mostly it's residential. The Western side of the street has a stone wall that runs the length of the street from Spring Grove Ave. to Gray Rd. It separates Spring Grove Cemetery from the rest of the neighborhood.

Living so close to a cemetery isn't as spooky as it seems. I once lived a few blocks away on E. Epworth and found it to be quite peaceful. Few folks chose to walk the streets by night, and I think that made it safer for those residents who chose to leave home after dark.

The homes along Winton Rd are a mix of small and large older homes. One residence on Derby Ave. near Winton was the historic home of designer, Samuel Hannaford. He designed Music Hall, as well as a number of wonderful buildings in Cincinnati. A few of his churches remain standing in Spring Grove Village.

Shopping/Dining/Recreation
S&S Deli convenience store is on Winton Rd. There's also a Kroger and a few other small shops nearby on Kenard Ave., with additional shopping nearby in Northside and Clifton.

There are several fast food restaurants nearby on Kenard and West Mitchell. Frisch's is a block from Winton on Spring Grove Ave. For additional dining options, Northside and Clifton are close.

Cincinnati Zoo is nearby. Mt Airy Forest is 15 minutes away. There are several small parks and green spaces in the neighborhood, and Spring Grove Cemetery hosts concerts, outings and family events.

Schools
Parker Woods Montessori School (Preschool-6) is located on Winton Rd. James N. Gamble Montessori High School (7-12) (Formerly Jacobs) is close on Winton Ridge, and Winton Hills Academy (Preschool-8) is in nearby Winton Hills. University of Cincinnait, Xavier University and Cincinnati State are 10 minutes away.

Metro has a bus route that travels Winton Rd. UC, VA, Children's and several other medical facilities are about 10 minutes away.

I used to live in Spring Grove Village (formerly Winton Place) and I know that If you enter West Mitchell Ave. from I-75, you'll decide right away that it's too busy a place to live. The traffic can be heavy, but if you travel beyond the industrial sites and head straight as the road curves right onto Este Ave, W. Mitchell becomes a quiet residential street. That's where you'll find the solid homes, nice yards and peaceful atmosphere that Spring Grove Village is known for.

There's a great community camaraderie in the neighborhood. The community organization: http://www.springgrovevillage.org/ and residents work together to keep the area safe. They cultivate a community garden a few blocks away from West Mitchell. You feel safe when you walk the street. All of these things help make Spring Grove Village an inviting neighborhood.

Dining and shopping
There's not much shopping along West Mitchell, except an auto dealer. There is a restaurant supply dealer and a few other industries. There's a Kroger just off the busiest section of the street and a few small shops nearby.

For food you'll find fast food outlets: Rally;'s, McDonald's and Gold Star Chili as well. You'll find more dining/shopping options in nearby Northside and Clifton.

Entertainment
W. Mitchell and Spring Grove Village are minutes from Spring Grove Cemetery, which has a full program of concerts, outings and family events. Mt. Airy Forest is a 15 minute drive away. The Cincinnati Zoo is about 10 minutes away.

There are several schools in the neighborhood: Parker Woods Montessori School (Preschool-6), Winton Hills Academy (Preschool-8), and James N. Gamble Montessori High School (7-12) (formerly Jacobs). University of Cincinnati and Xavier are about 10 minutes away.

Two Metro bus routes travel West Mitchell. University, VA, Children's and several other medical facilities are a 10 minutes away in Avondale.

Brotherton Rd. begins at the easternmost edge of Oakley and runs west where it ends at Madison Rd. It's mostly a residential street lined with cozy, single family homes and a few small apartment buildings. There are a few businesses and large multifamily complexes as well, but they are tucked away behind trees and homes, just barely visible as you drive by. A Metro bus route travels most of Brotherton Rd., making transportation access easy for those who choose not to drive.

The home styles along Brotherton Rd. are similar to nearby residences on Marburg Ave. and Wasson Rd. in the desirable Hyde Park neighborhood. They are close to everything Hyde Park has to offer, but there's a bit less money in Oakley than in Hyde Park, and it's obvious in a subtle way that's hard to describe.

Oakley isn't Hyde Park, but it's right next door. If you follow Brotherton Rd all the way from east to west, you will notice the signs of up-and-coming Hyde Park style amenities. Brotherton ends at Madison Rd., right in the heart of Oakley's growing business district. There are shops and restaurants, art galleries and entertainment. These things aren't walkable from all Brotherton Rd. addresses, but they are close to some.

Shopping
Brotherton Rd. residents can find everything they need in the Oakley shopping district. There are plenty of shopping options, including Manatee Bookstore and King Arthur's Court's Toys for kids. For groceries and everything else there's a Fresh Market. Target and Sam's Club are also nearby. Courtesy Chevrolet dealership is located at the corner of Brotherton and Madison. Hyde Park Plaza and Rookwood Commons have more shopping options minutes away.

Dining and Entertainment
For dining you'll find everything from pizza to Chinese along Madison Rd in Oakley, with many more choices in nearby Hyde Park. There are bars and neighborhood cafes. Former movie houses, 20th Century and Ambassador now host live entertainment and special events.

Gym and fitness
Yogahome is a yoga studio located on Brotherton Rd.: http://yogahome.net/ .

Recreation
Brotherton Rd. is minutes away from Ault and Alms Parks. The Observatory in Mt. Lookout has many programs for youth and adults. Geier Esplande, a small park located in the middle of Madison Rd., is walkabale from the west section of Brotherton and Madison Bowl five minutes away.

Schools
St. Cecelia: K-8 Catholic School is located in Oakley. There are several Cincinnati Public schools nearby in Hyde Park: Hyde Park School (Pre-1 and 3-6 for gifted children), Kilgour (k-6), Withrow University (9-12), and Clark Montessori High School (7-12).

There are a number of churches nearby. There are no medical facilities in Oakley, but Jewish Hospital Kenwood is a 15 minute drive away.

For years commuters have traveled Madison Rd from the eastern suburbs into town. The Hyde Park section of Madison begins in the vicinity of Edwards Rd and rolls westward. Along the way you'll pass a few single family dwellings; but mostly you'll see apartment buildings. Some are older, others are newer; but all of the residential structures lining Madison Rd are well maintained. There are also a few businesses along Madison Rd., mostly for shopping and dining.

Shopping
Rookwood Pavilion/Commons has a Hyde Park entrance on Madison Rd., but it's actually in the City of Norwood. They posted signs to make it clear. Rookwood is two outdoor shopping plazas built on the site of the old LeBlond Tool & Die Factory. The shops have a "Hyde Park" feel with stores like Whole Foods, Gap, Banana Republic and more. Shopping in Hyde Park Plaza, Hyde Park Square and Oakley is 5 minutes away.

Dining
You don't have to worry about starving if you're in Hyde Park on Madison Rd. The little strip and its surrounding streets have everything from Popeye's chicken to Lemon Grass Thai. For a unique dining experience, Don Pablos Mexican restaurant in Rookwood is located inside an old factory building.

Busken Bakery's main location is on Madison Rd. It's open 24/7 selling baked goods, wedding cakes, cookies and lots of other fattening stuff. They are currently holding the Presidential cookie bake off. During the 2012 Presidential campaign they will judge the winner by seeing whose cookie sells the most: Obama or Romney. Hyde Park also has a seasonal farmer's market near Hyde Park Square.

Recreation and Entertainment
There are several tree-filled public green spaces along Madison Rd. Hyde Park is also close to Alms and Ault Park for picnics, hiking and more. Hyde Park Square is a beautiful park nearby in the middle of Erie Ave. It has a fountain and trees and is the center of the Hyde Park Square Art Show the first Sunday in October.

Fitness
The Breathing Room Yoga is located on Madison Rd: http://www.thebreathingroom.com/
Move Your Hyde Yoga is close on Michigan Ave: http://moveyourhyde.com/

Schools
You'll pass Withrow High School as you travel Madison Rd. The grand old school has been around since 1919. Everything has changed except the main building, and also the "gentle slopes...lofty tower...arching bridge..and shaded valley.." students sing about in the school's alma mater.

There are also Hyde Park School (pre-1) & Gifted Academy (3-6), Kilgour (k-6), and Clark Montessori High School- (7-12). U. C. is 15 minutes away. Xavier U is 10 minutes away.

Medical facilities are 15 minutes away in Avondale.

Chase Ave begins at Virginia Ave., crosses through Northside, and ends just outside Sprig Grove Cemetary. When you drive or walk down Chase, you might get the feeling of having stepped back in time. It's a mostly residential street with larger, older homes. Many of the homes in the Northside neighborhood were built in the 1930s, and most of the buildings on Chase Ave. probably look exactly as they did back then.

While many of Cincinnati's older buildings have been reclaimed, redone and changed into modern looking condos. The homes on Chase Ave. have kept their old fashioned charm. With all that vintage hometown appeal, It's hard to imagine that Northside is one of the city's most progressive, diverse and hip neighborhoods. Just around the corner and down the street you'll find the city's Gay and Lesbian Community Center: http://www.cincyglbt.com/ . There also Hoffner Park, home to Northside Pride Fest and other neighborhood celebrations, and a number of quirky shops that are mostly one of a kind.

Shopping
Chase is mostly residential, but there are a few businesses as well. Schaepper's Pharmacy on the corner of Chase and Hamilton contributes to the street's old fashioned feel. It's small; and unlike the big box chains, it's locally owned with three pharmacists on duty. You'll also find NYPD Pizza, United Dairy Farmers and a few other stores on Chase Av.

Chase Ave. Cuts right through Northside's trendy shopping area, where you'll find Shake-it Records, Shop Therapy resale boutique, Nvision Furniture Art and Clothing, Designs by Dana Tattoos and more. Even the neighborhood hardware store is one-of-a-kind. The owner of Ace Hardware and Electric will proudly tell you that he's not connected to those other guys. His shop has been independently owned since 1950.

There are also two churches on Chase Ave.: Northside Church of the Nazerene and St. Boniface Catholic.

Dining
You'll find NYPD Pizza and United Dairy Farmers Ice cream on Chase Av. There are several more trendy little restaurants on Hamilton: Melt, Sidewinder cafe and more.

Recreation and Fitness
The Mckie Recreation center is a City of Cincinnati facility located on Chase Ave. They offer a computer center, pool, fitness center and more. There are several neighborhood parks in Northside and Chase Ave. is a 10 minute drive away Mt. Airy Forest's picnic facility, lodge, arboretum, hiking trails and more. Northside Boxing offers boxing training and self defense classes nearby on Hamilton Ave: http://northsideboxing.com/ .

Schools
Chase Ave School (Preschool-8) is still in the neighborhood on Turill St.: http://chase.cps-k12.org/ . St. Boniface Catholic School is located nearby on Pitts Ave.:http://stbonifaceschool.net/ . Cincinnati State is 10 minutes away and University of Cincinnati is 15 minutes away.

Medical care is 15 minutes away at University, VA, Children's and several other hospitals in the Corryville/Avondale area. Mercy Mt. Airy is also 15 minutes away in College Hill.

The section of William Howard Taft Rd that runs through E. Walnut Hills starts out as one thing and ends as another. It begins to the south east of Woodburn Ave. in an area of older homes, most at the end or beginning of a transition. Over the past years, most of the houses that were in need of repair on this part of Wm Hwd Taft were given the makeover they needed. Some could still use some attention, but that will happen soon enough.

As you follow William Howard Taft Rd. (named for our 27th president) it will take you gently downhill. The curves flow this way and that. You'll notice the landscaping changing as well. While the older homes at the top of the incline are closer together with smaller yards. The further you go, you'll notice some of the home you pass are a little bit different.

Some have long driveways and all of them have large yards. The homes themselves are old and new, grand and small, modern and traditional; but you might not be able to see some of them due to trees and foliage. You can't miss the only apartment building, though. It's the tallest building on the street. You'll pass it a moment or so before the street ends suddenly, emptying out into the messy traffic of Columbia Parkway.

Shopping
There are no shops on Taft Rd, but there are a few galleries nearby in the Woodburn Ave Shopping District. There's also a knitting shop on Madison at Woodburn. If you can figure out a tricky traffic move that will allow you to make a crazy sharp left turn from Taft onto Torrence as you enter Columbia Parkway, it will take you right to the edge of Obryonville's cool shopping area. Hyde Park Plaza is 15 to 20 minutes away. Make a right onto Columbia instead of a left and you can be shopping in town in a matter of minutes.

Dining.
There are several restaurants on Woodburn at DeSales Corner, with a few more in Obryonville. Travel to Hyde Park and you can have whatever food choice you desire.

Entertainment
There are art galleries on Woodburn Ave., near Taft.

Recreation
Eden Park is close for a number of family activities: Krohn Conservatory, Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park.

St Ursula Girl's Catholic is nearby on McMillan. Purcell Marion Coed Catholic is minutes away on Madison Rd. St Francis DeSales (K-8) is on DeSales Corner.

UC, VA and other hospitals are 15 minutes away. Two Metro bus routes service Woodburn Ave. near Taft, but no buses travel William Howard Taft. Due to its connection to Columbia Parkway, traffic can get pretty busy on WHT.

If you're familiar with Cincinnati, you may already know that the neighborhoods closest to town--- like Walnut Hills for instance--- are ripe for change. The transition is evident on Gilbert Ave., where you'll find historic buildings like Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the Peeble's Corner Historic District and Walnut Hills Presbyterian Church, designed by Samuel Hannaford (only remnants of the original structure remain on the corner of Gilbert and William Howard Taft) and others.

There are a few older multi-family buildings, which house mostly African-Americans. As you move southwest on Gilbert the demographic begins to change. There are a number of refurbished and newly built townhomes and condominiums--- pricier residential options for those who want the convenience of living close to Eden Park and near town.

Shopping
On Gilbert near Peeble's corner you'll find a bank and a Kroger and a CVS. There are several local merchants making a go of it, including Core Clay Studios and Amphora Studios. Thomson MacConnell Cadillac has been selling luxury cars from their Gilbert Ave. Location since 1954. Thompson, Hall Jordan Funeral home is also on Gilbert.

Walker Funeral Home and Kurelis Interiors and a second hand shop that's been selling used stuff in the neighborhood for years are a walkable distance away on McMillan. For more shopping options, Downtown, Correyville, Surrey Square, Hyde Park Plaza, Obryonville and other shopping areas are 10 to 15 minutes away.

Dining
Giminetti Bakery and Cafe on Gilbert has been in business since 1985. There's a Wendy's and closer to town is Andy's Mediterranean Grill and ZZs Pizza. For more dining options, the Brew House and Parkside Cafe are a block away on McMillan. There's also several additional restaurants in Walnut Hills and E. Walnut Hills.

Entertainment and Recreation
The Greenwich Tavern on Gilbert is a local bar that hosts everything from open mic poetry nights to live bands. It caters to the funkier side of the neighborhood's diversity. Andy's Mediterranean Grill has Live music on ladies night as well as belly dancers on weekends.

Eden Park is a few minutes away for family fun. There are several river overlooks, the Krohn Conservatory, The Art Museum and more. Eden Park hosts several annual festivals. For fun and fitness, Planet Dance has a studio on Gilbert: http://planetdancecincinnati.com/classes_levels.html .

Cincinnati Public Schools
Frederick Douglass School (Preschool-8): http://douglass.cps-k12.org/ ,Hospital/Satellite Program Office (9-12) and STEP/Work Resource Center (WRC) (9-12): http://wrcstep.cps-k12.org/ . Walnut Hills High School (7-12)
is 5 minutes away: http://www.walnuthillseagles.com/index.asp

St Ursala Catholic girls high school is a mile away on McMillan: http://www.saintursula.org/
University of Cincinnati and Xavier University are a 10 minute drive away. Cincinnati State is 15 minutes away.

Several Metro bus routes travel Gilbert and a number of major hospitals are 5 minutes away.

Corryville is changing fast, and Martin Luther King Dr. East has led the way. The hospitals and small apartment buildings on the northern side were there decades ago, and the condos and apartments on the southern side of the street started popping up over the past decade.

That's pretty much all you'll see on MLK Dr. East these days: hospitals, apartment buildings and condos. There's also that beautiful Frank Gehry building on the corner of MLK and Eden, a UC Med School building and the EPA building at the MLK/Jefferson/Vine intersection.

Shopping
Shopping in the Short Vine area is a walkable distance away. There's not a lot of variety, but there is a Kroger, CVS, Walgreens and a few other stores. There are more shops in Clifton on Ludlow and in CUF on McMillan and Calhoun. Downtown is a quick drive or bus ride away. If you must have milk, you'll find that at United Dairy Farmers on Burnet and MLK Dr. E.

Entertainment
There are several bars and night spots with mostly college-geared entertainment in the Short Vine area, on McMillan, CUF and on Ludlow. UC's College Conservatory of Music offers a schedule of less party-like entertainment as well.

Dining
There's a Chipotle and a restaurant called Zoup in one of the large residential buildings on MLK. Walk a bit further and you'll find a chili restaurant, a McDonald's and a Dunkin Donuts. You'll find more dining choices in the Short Vine area, in CUF and Clifton.

Recreation
Burnett Woods is nearby, along with several neighborhood parks and green spaces in Corryville, Clifton and CUF. The Corryville Recreation Center on Eden Ave. has ball fields, an exercise room, after school child care and more.

Schools
University of Cincinnati is a walk away and Cincinnati State is 10 minutes away. There are two CPS schools in the Clifton area: Fairview-Clifton German Language School (Preschool-6): http://fairview.cps-k12.org/ , Hughes STEM High School (7-12): http://hughesstem.cps-k12.org/ . Corryville Catholic School (pre - 8) is located nearby on Calhoun: http://corryvillecatholic.org/ .

Medical
If you live on MLK Dr. East. you can walk to the hospital if you get sick. University, Children's Veterans, and Shriner's hospitals, Hoxworth Blood Center, Ronald McDonald House and more are just across the street.

You can walk to pretty much everything you need in Corryville, but If you would prefer to take public transportation, several Metro bus routes travel the Corryville section of MLK and beyond.

Don't rely on Google Maps to give you an accurate picture of Seminole St. Whatever you see there has changed already, and it will continue to change in the future. The city has plans for this area, which they've dubbed "Uptown": http://www.uc.edu/af/commdev/UCCURC.html . Seminole and most other Corryville streets are part of the Uptown destiny.

Seminole is two blocks away from the University of Cincinnati, which means it's in the direct path of change. New commercial and multi-unit residential buildings have already gone up on nearby streets, but on Seminole there are still a number of older, larger homes. The owners (My brother is one of them) are simply waiting to be bought out to make way for future construction. In the meantime, those older, larger homes are occupied by a mix of college students and families.

Shopping
There are shops one short block away in the Short Vine area, including a Kroger, a Walgreens and a CVS. Clifton and CUF also have a number of shopping options on Ludlow. If these aren't enough, it's a short ride into Downtown Cincinnati or the Findlay Market.

Entertainment
This is a college area, and that means there are college bars and night spots, a few are just a walk away in the Short Vine shopping area. Others are on McMillan and in the CUF and Clifton areas.

Dining
On Short Vine you'll find Jamaican, pizza, Cincinnati chili and other dining choices. You'll find Chinese, Burritos, Five Guys and other options five minutes away in CUF on Calhoun and McMillan. Ten minutes away in Clifton there are several Indian restaurants, a coffee shop, a bakery and more.

Recreation
Burnett Woods is five minutes away and great for picnicking and other activities. (A month or so ago I saw a bunch of college kids doing trapeze lessons there.) The Corryville Recreation Center is several blocks away. They have baseball fields, an exercise room, after school programs for children and more. There are several small neighborhood parks in Corryville and nearby Mt. Auburn. University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music has an ongoing program of entertainment.

Schools
University of Cincinnati is a walk away and Cincinnati State is 10 minutes away. There are two CPS schools in the Clifton area: Fairview-Clifton German Language School (Preschool-6): http://fairview.cps-k12.org/ , Hughes STEM High School (7-12): http://hughesstem.cps-k12.org/ . Corryville Catholic School (pre - 8) is located nearby on Calhoun: http://corryvillecatholic.org/ .

Seminole Ave. is walking distance to a number of medical facilities: University, Children's Veterans, and Shriner's hospitals, Hoxworth Blood Center, Ronald McDonald House and more. Two bus routes service the area.

As Marburg Ave., Hyde Park becomes Marburg Ave., Oakley, you may not even notice that you've moved into a different neighborhood. The homes along the street are pretty much the same. They are older, mostly small, a variety of differing styles and well maintained. Marburg intersects with Paxton, then angles off and eases uphill. Where it ends abruptly; but it doesn't stop there.

Marburg is one of those Cincinnati streets that was divided during area construction and modernization. Although the street ends, it continues on the other side of Madison Rd. That section of Marburg Ave. is all about industry and retail. Marburg also passes by Crossroads, a large, non denominational church that you might think is a sports arena at first glance. There are factories and Sam's Plaza, where you'll find Sam's Club, Target and several other stores.

Shopping
In addition to Target and Sam's Club, there are lots of other shopping options. Where Marburg intersects with Madison Rd. it's the edge of Oakley's shopping district. The entire street is lined with boutiques, galleries and unique specialty stores. If you need more, Hyde Park and Rookwood shopping areas are minutes away.

Dining and Entertainment
There are several restaurants and cafes within walking distance on Madison Rd. There are more in the Hyde Park Plaza and Rookwood areas.

Recreation
Marburg Ave is minutes away from Ault and Alms Parks. Geier Esplande, a green space in the middle of Madison Rd., is minutes away. For bowlers, there's Madison Bowl five minutes away.

Schools
St. Cecelia: k-8 is a Catholic School located in Oakley: http://www.stceciliacinti.org/?about_us.html .

There are also several Cincinnati Public schools nearby in Hyde Park: Hyde Park School- Pre-1 and 3-6 for gifted children: http://hydepark.cps-k12.org/ , Kilgour k-6: http://kilgour.cps-k12.org/ , Withrow University- 9-12: http://withrow.cps-k12.org/, and Clark Montessori High School: http://clark.cps-k12.org/ .

There are no medical facilities nearby, but Jewish Hospital Kenwood is 15 minutes away.

Several Metro bus routes service the Marburg Ave. area of Oakley.

Cedar Ave. is lined with older homes; and while some may need a little attention, most are well maintained. There are several large rental communities along Cedar as well.

College Hill is a neighborhood of diverse residents and businesses and Cedar Ave crosses right through the heart of its business district. The area has seen a lot of changes over the past decade, but it keeps a base of families and long-term businesses that keep things bouncing back. St. Clare Catholic Church has been on Cedar Ave. for nearly a century. While many areas are losing their post offices, Cedar still has a full service USPS. PNC Bank has been on the corner of Cedar and Hamilton for years.

Dining
There are several restaurants on Hamilton Ave. that are within walking distance of Cedar: Bacall's Cafe, College Hill Coffee Company, LaRosa's, Chung Ching, Goodies Barbecue. Marty's Hops and Vines is walking distance on Hamilton Ave. They offer "small plate" nibbles to go with their wine and beer selection.

Shopping
The shops along Hamilton Ave come and go, but you'll still find a few like College Hill Coffee Company, which sells gift items and serves coffee and entrees. Schwartz Jewelers has been in business on Hamilton for 73 years. The shops in the area aren't upscale boutiques, but you'll find variety enough. Although you will have to go some distance to find a grocery

Entertainment
Marty's Hops and Vines is nearby on Hamilton Ave. They're pretty new to the neighborhood, offering a selection of wines, beers and a "small plate" menu for nibbling. Shaker's Entertainment Complex has been serving up drinks and soul music on the corner of Cedar and Hamilton for years.

School
There are several school options in the neighborhood: Pleasant Hill Academy - pre-8: http://pleasanthill.cps-k12.org/ ; College Hill Fundamental Academy - pre-6 : http://collegehillacademy.cps-k12.org/

Private Schools
Eden Grove Academy is located 5 minutes away: http://www.edengrove.com/
McAuley High School, a Catholic girl's high school is one block over:http://www.mcauleyhs.net/
U.C's main campus is 15 minutes away. Cincinnati State is 10 minutes away.

Medical
Mercy Mt Airy Hospital is 5 minutes away from Cedar.

Marburg Ave. begins at Erie Ave. cuts across Hyde Park and continues through its neighboring community, Oakley. The street has a mix of modest and large single family homes in a range of styles. All are well maintained, with tree-lined lots.

There are also a few four family apartment buildings on Marburg; and in recent years, Marburg Square Condominiums have been expanding into the vacant lots at the corner where Wasson Rd. meets Marburg. If you're interested in snatching up a new little piece of Cincinnati's best-loved neighborhood, the condos begin at $300,000. with flats starting at $200,000.

There are tons of businesses and shops in the Oakley section of Marburg, but in the part that spans Hyde Park you'll find only a few. There's a Starbuck's on one corner of Marburg and Erie and a United Dairy Farmers on the other. Also a few homes on Marburg near that intersection hold local businesses.

Shopping
Marburg is one block away from Hyde Park Plaza. There you'll find JoAnn Fabric Store, Michaels, Legacies a shop that benefits the cancer wellness community, two grocery stores and more. For boutique shopping and galleries, Hyde Park Square and Rookwood Plaza are a five minute drive from Marburg.

Dining and Entertainment
There are several restaurants in Hyde Park Plaza: First Wok, Panera Bread, City BBQ and more. There are a selection of restaurants along Wasson Rd, Paxton Ave, as well as Hyde Park Square and Rookwood Plaza.

Recreation
City Parks in the area: Ault Park and Alms Park. Madison Bowl is a ten minute drive.

Schools
There are several Cincinnati Public Schools in the neighborhood: Hyde Park School - pre-1 & Gifted Academy 3-6: http://hydepark.cps-k12.org/ , Kilgour - k-6: http://kilgour.cps-k12.org/ , Clark Montessori High School- 7-12: http://clark.cps-k12.org/ , Withrow University High School 9 -12: http://withrow.cps-k12.org/

Medical
Jewish Hospital Kenwood is 10 minutes away on I-71.

Cincinnati Metro has a Route that travels the length of the Hyde Park Section of Marburg before turning onto Brotherton Rd.

Beecher St. in Walnut Hills is a single longish, tree-lined block that begins at McMillan and ends at Melrose Ave. While the neighborhood demographic is more multicultural than in the past, Beecher still has predominately African American residents. Along the street you'll find mostly apartment buildings and a few large, older homes. It's basic near-town Cincinnati, but it is also a reminder of Cincinnati History.

If you stand at the corner of Beecher St. and McMillan Ave. and face east, across the street you'll notice a large white house. That's the Harriet Beecher Stowe house: http://stowehousecincy.org/index.html , where the famed author lived with her family for nearly 20 years beginning in 1832. Stowe's experiences in that house motivated her to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Beecher St. was named in her honor.

There's not much to Beecher St., but there are hundreds of apartment units in that short stretch of pavement. One building houses seniors age 62+ with rent based on income. Christ Temple Baptist Church also has a modest building on Beecher.

Shopping
There aren't any shops on Beecher, but the basics: CVS Pharmacy, US Bank, Kroger Groceries, are within walking distance. For more shopping Downtown, Corryville, Clifton and CUF are a 10 minute drive.

Dining and Entertainment
Wendy's is the only restaurant in walking distance from Beecher, other fast food restaurants are near the hospitals, a short drive on MLK Dr. You'll find more dining options in Downtown, Corryville, Clifton and CUF. If you're headed into town, you'll pass Zzs Pizza on Gilbert and Andy's Mediterranean Grill on Nassau off Gilbert. Andy's in the area of Walnut Hills where the new condos and refurbished older buildings started popping a few years ago.

In Eden Park nearby you'll find tropical plants at the Conservatory, the Art Museum, and Playhouse in the park. Beecher is also close to entertainment in Downtown, Corryville, Clifton and CUF.

Recreation
Eden Park is five minutes away. There you'll find picnic areas and river overlooks.

Schools
Cincinnati Public Schools are located nearby: Frederick Douglass: http://douglass.cps-k12.org/ and Hospital Satellite Program at 2825 Alms Pl. U.C. is 5 minutes to the west. Xavier is 5 minutes northeast of Beecher St.

Hospitals
University, VA, Children's and all the other medical facilities are less than 10 minutes away.

Robison Rd. in Kennedy Heights is divided into two sections, but unless you're headed there to visit a friend, you're not likely to travel either one. The section to the south of Woodford Rd. is nice and quiet. It's got homes that aren't exactly new, but they have a modern feel and reflect an obvious pride of ownership. The play area and baseball field at the entrance to the street let you know that families are welcome.

To get to the other section of Robison Rd, you must exit the street, make a left onto Woodford Rd., then make a quick right. You'll see a wooded area of Kennedy Heights Park on the right side and a few four family buildings on the other. It's literally uphill from there.

The street curves to the left then curves to the right and upward. Along the way you'll see mostly homes that are larger than on the other side of Robinson. The construction styles are more traditional than modern. These homes aren't new, but they are well maintained. Most have large, manicured yards and wooded lots. If you've never traveled this section of Robison Rd before, it will be a surprising find. Then the single single family buildings abruptly disappear. There you'll find more apartment buildings on both sides of the street before it ends at Montgomery Rd.


Shopping, Entertainment and Dining
Robison Rd is strictly residential, but there's lots to do nearby. You could go to Pleasant Ridge, Kenwood or downhill to Columbia Township for whatever you need, from coffee shops to comic book stores. Hyde Park and Oakley are pretty close as well.

Schools
There are two Cincinnati Public Schools nearby: Woodford Paideia is five minutes away: http://woodford.cps-k12.org/. Pleasant Ridge Montessori is close on Montgomery Rd: http://pridge.cps-k12.org/ . Nativity Catholic Elementary School is close on Ridge Rd: http://www.nativity-cincinnati.org/ .

Medical
Jewish Hospital Kenwood is a 10 minute drive away.

Madison Rd. is a long Cincinnati street that begins just below Indian Hill in Madisonville. The neighborhood was originally founded as Madison, Ohio. In 1809; and both the community and the street were named after newly elected president, James Madison.

Long before Red Bank Expressway began to thrive as a Madisonville commercial area, Madison Rd was the neighborhood's original business district. It's still lined with small shops, offices, social service agencies and churches. The Cincinnati Children's home is on Madison Rd. Reconstruction on the old Newtown site brought Medpace, an international clinical research organization, to a spot a few feet away from Madison Rd. Madison Rd is a great place for businesses, but it's residential as well.

Of the few single family homes left on Madison Rd., most are old and large. They're not in perfect shape, but they look pretty good considering their age. There are a number of multi-family residences along Madison Rd., from 4 family apartment buildings to larger developments. St Paul Village is a multi-building apartment community with affordable housing for seniors at 5515 Madison Rd.: http://stpaulvillage.com/ .

For drivers who choose to avoid the highway, Madison Rd. offers an easy route to Mariemont, Indian Hill and other eastern suburbs. For that reason it's often used as an alternate route instead of I-71. That makes it especially busy during rush hour.

Shopping
There is no luxury clothing or boutique shopping on Madison Rd, but there are convenience stores, a post office, a bank, a gas station, a United Dairy Farmers, and a Family Dollar. If you need a car, Just Saab is at 6323 Madison Rd. and The BMW Store is minutes away on Stewart Ave. There's a Walmart 5 minutes from Madison Rd on Red Bank Expressway. For additional shopping, stores in Hyde Park and Oakley just 5 -1- minutes away.

Dining and Entertainment
For dining you'll find The Cincinnati Dinner Train, Barbecue Review, Rally's and Dragon City. There are more restaurants, mostly fast food, nearby on Red Bank Expressway. Oakley and Hyde Park Plaza restaurants are also close.

Recreation
The Madisonville Recreation Center is minutes away from Madison Rd. on Stewart Ave. They have a pool, computer, fitness center and more. Stewart Park next door has baseball and soccer fields. For bowling, Madison Bowl is on Madison Rd. and open 24 hours a day. Cincinnati Bikram Yoga Center is on Red Bank Expressway.

Schools
There are several schools in the area, including Anderson Place Elementary, minutes away from Madison Rd. on Anderson Place.

Medical
Christ Hospital has an emergency facility on Red Bank Expressway, minutes away from Madison Rd. The Plastic Surgery Group is also close on Red Bank Expressway. Jewish Hospital Kenwood is a 10 minute drive.

Red Dog Spa, 5081Madison Rd. is behind the buildings on the south side of the street. They offer hotel and day spa services for your four legged friends.

If you travel Madison Rd from one end to the other, it will take you through the heart of several Cincinnati neighborhoods. You'll find that each community has a lot going on, but Oakley has a little bit more than the others. There are a few older, well maintained homes and apartment buildings; but it's mostly commercial; so if you're fortunate enough to find a residence on Madison Rd in Oakley, you'll have everything you need within walking distance.

Shopping
Along the Oakley section of Madison Rd, you'll find everything from Antiques to groceries. King Arthur's Toys has a cool selection of toys you can't find other places: http://www.kingarthurstoys.com/ . Fresh Market offers a unique grocery shopping experience: http://www.thefreshmarket.com/ . The Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore on Madison has readings and other kid's activities: http://www.bluemanateebooks.com/ . There are a lot more shopping options on Madison Rd. in Oakley.

Entertainment and Dining
When I was a kid we used to see movies every Sunday at either the 20th Century or the Ambassador. Both vintage buildings are still in Oakley Square, but they are now cool entertainment venues. They host parties, weddings, live performances and more: http://www.the20thcenturytheatre.com/

Here are a few more of the entertainment/dining venues along Madison Rd. in Oakley:
Habit's Cafe is a neighborhood bar that says they're all about "eating and drinking": http://www.habitscafe.com/
Oakley Pub and Grill, Oakley Square: Their hamburger was voted one of Cincinnati's best by Cincinnati Magazine:http://www.oakleypubandgrill.com/
Aglamesis Brothers has been selling their gourmet chocolates and ice cream in Oakley since 1908: http://www.aglamesis.com/

There are several major shopping/entertainment/dining areas that are minutes away, with stores like Target, Meijer, Sam's Club and more.

Recreation
Oakley Square was recently remodeled and renamed. It's now known as Geier Esplande, and it's a beautiful park in the middle of the street. http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/geier-esplanade . Ault Park and Alms Park are also about 15 minutes away. For good old fashioned exercise, Madison Bowl on Madison Rd. is open 24 hours a day: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Madison-Bowl/123267892945

Schools
Madison Rd. is a few minutes away from Clark Montessori on Erie Ave: It was the first Montessori High School in the country: http://clark.cps-k12.org/ . It's five minutes from Withrow University: http://withrow.cps-k12.org/ . St. Cecilia Elementary school is close: http://www.stceciliacinti.org/

There are no hospitals in the immediate area, but Jewish Kenwood, as well as several hospitals in Avondale are about a 15 minute drive away.

The Walnut Hills section of Madison Rd. is the westernmost part of the street. It ends at Victory Parkway and consists of a single block that's a bit longer on the south side than on the north side. The street actually continues on past this point, but after it crosses Victory Parkway, it becomes Martin Luther King Dr. This area has a lot of traffic during the week.

This small section of Madison Rd has mostly commercial buildings and several large parking areas to accommodate employees and business guests. The "upscale" Residences at DeSales Plaza is the only residential building in this section of Madison Rd. Although the building sits on DeSales corner, so that allows them to claim the more prosperous East Walnut Hills as their neighborhood.

There are also a few decent sized office buildings in this short section of Madison Rd. There's a historic bank building on the corner opposite DeSales Plaza. I don't know how old it is, but when they took the boards off the windows recently they had "Master Charge" and "Bankamericard" logos in the windows. If you're not a Boomer you may not know that several decades ago Master Charge became Mastercard and Bankamericard became Visa.

Shopping and Entertainment
The Residence at DeSales Plaza not only has upscale apartments, the bottom floor houses Suzie Wongs Asian restaurant, Moca Coffee Shop, Key Bank, a salon and lots of other neat places. Within walking distance you'll also find art galleries and a few shops around the corner on Woodburn Ave. If you need tools, Schuloff's has been renting tools and all kinds of equipment out of their Woodburn Ave. location for over 75 years. This strip of Madison is walking distance to fast food restaurants on Victory Parkway. For more shopping and dining, Hyde Park and Oakley are 10 minutes away. Downtown, Clifton, Norwood, Corryville and CUF are a 15 minute drive.

Recreation
Eden Park is 10 minutes from this strip of Madison Rd. There you'll find play and picnic areas, several river overlooks, and tropical plants and exhibits at the Conservatory. The Art Museum is also in Eden Park, and a few miles beyond that in Mt. Adams is the Playhouse in the Park.

Schools
There are several Cincinnati Public Schools in Walnut Hills. Purcell/Marian Catholic high school for boys and girls is a block east. St. Ursala Girls High School is a few blocks away on E. McMillan.

Paxton Ave. is not lined with the grand, large and luxurious homes Hyde Park is known for, but you'll find a number of stylish older residences -- some large, some small – as well as a few small multi-family units. As the street passes by Hyde Park Plaza you'll notice a few larger, newer apartment communities built to fit in with the overall feel of the neighborhood. All of the older homes are well maintained, because after all, it is Hyde Park; and just like every street in the neighborhood it has an image to maintain.

Paxton Ave. runs south to north, crossing over Linwood, Observatory, and Erie, where you'll notice the Episcopal Church of the Reedemer, a beautiful stone church, on the corner. Paxton intersects Wasson Ave. then passes in front of Hyde Park Plaza. It continues past Marburg Ave. and ends just beyond the Oakley border. Other than the few blocks of small businesses and shops in the Hyde Park Plaza area, Paxton Ave. is mostly residential.

Shopping
Hyde Park Plaza shopping includes Remke Biggs and the city's favorite Kroger. Legacy, a resale shop, benefits the cancer wellness community. There are also Michael's Crafts, Jo Ann Fabric and others. On Erie a few blocks away from Paxton, you'll find the Hyde Park Square shopping area with boutiques, World of Beads, and Hyde Bark, a boutique for your doggie companion. Hyde Park holds a farmer's market each week from spring through fall. It's near the Square. You'll find more shopping, dining and entertainment choices in Mt. Lookout Square, not far from Paxton.

Entertainment and dining
Hyde Park has lots of options for dining and entertainment. There are art galleries in Hyde Park Square, as well as several restaurants and Awakenings Coffee Shop (you must try their brownies): http://awakeningscoffeeandwine.com/ There are several restaurants and bars in the Paxton/Wasson area. Night spots in Oakley are less than 10 minutes away. The Hyde Park Square Art Show is one of the areas finest. It's held in the street (Erie Ave.) surrounding Hyde Park Square each first Sunday in October.

Recreation
Ault and Alms Parks are nearby in Mt. Lookout. There are picnic areas, trails, floral displays, historic pavilion and more. The Observatory is also nearby in Mt Lookout.

There are several public and Catholic schools in Hyde Park. For medical treatment, the hospitals are a short drive away.

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

Some years ago Chapel St. got divided into three sections during the construction of Martin Luther King Dr. Section one starts at Gilbert Ave. in Walnut Hills and ends in a culdesac at the edge of MLK. Section two (still Walnut Hills) begins on the North side of MLK and ends in a culdesac at Victory Parkway. The third section of Chapel St. is in Evanston between Victory Parkway and Woodburn Ave. It's a prime example of Evanston's rebirth as a multicultural community with pockets of upscale living.

This section of the street is short, but there's still room for a few large, older well kept homes, newish office buildings and new apartments. Desales Flats, on Chapel at the corner of Woodburn is one of the newest multifamily residences in the neighborhood. They claim the distinction of being the city's only LEED certified multi-family building.

On the other side of Chapel you'll find the Residences at DeSales Plaza. The rental agency describes them as "fresh and modern." As they are on the south side of Chapel St. with an entrance on Madison Rd. that places the them in East Walnut Hills. (Walnut Hills? East Walnut Hills? Evanston? The official locations of these few up and coming blocks can get a bit confusing.)

Living on the Evanston section of Chapel St. puts you right next door to several cool eateries at the corner of DeSales Corner: Suzy Wongs, Cafe Moca and Cafe DeSales: https://www.facebook.com/CafeDeSales. There are also a few shops and art galleries within walking distance, with grocery shopping and additional stores and restaurants a short drive away in nearby Obryonville, Hyde Park , Oakley and Norwood.

Recreation
Evanston has a recreation center nearby on Woodburn as well as several neighborhood parks. Chapel is about 5 minutes away from Eden Park and the Conservatory. There's a Pilates studio on Dana, about 5 minutes away. Xavier is nearby for basketball games.

There are several Cincinnati schools nearby and Purcell Marian High School Catholic High School is a block away from Woodburn. Xavier straddles Evanston and Norwood.

As with many older Cincinnati neighborhoods, Evanston has seen its share of wear and tear over the years, but it's bouncing back as always. A base of African American working class families has always kept it a solid and stable neighborhood. In recent years, however, a significant influx of white families, as well as a few Latino, Asians and other families is broadening the demographic and changing the landscape.

Evanston is a mix of mostly single family residences built in the late 30s. There are also small apartment buildings and a few large multifamily units and a senior apartment complex. Evanston's close proximity to Xavier University, Hyde Park, Obryonville and East Walnut has made it a prime target for upgrades. Developers are refurbishing older buildings and building new ones to house college students and professionals.

Long term Woodburn and Dana Ave. businesses like Duke Energy and Barnes Barber Shop have been joined by Body Mind Balance Pilates: http://bmbpilates.com/, Listermann Brewing Supplies: http://www.listermann.com/Store/History.asp , Flavor of Art Studio, and a host of other new arrivals. Evanston Community Council: http://www.evanstoncouncil.org/default.aspx is working with area organizations to reduce crime.

The place where lots of cool music began
A few years back, the City of Cincinnati placed a historic marker in front of an old Evanston warehouse. The 1540 Brewster Ave location is the spot where King Records owner, Syd Nathan, recorded stars like Hank Ballard, James Brown and Bootsy Collins. His influential record label introduced bluegrass, R&B, rock and roll, doo-wop, country, soul and funk music to the world in the 40s and 50s.

Shopping and Entertainment
There are few places to shop in Evanston, but the neighborhood is right next door to shops in Obryonville and East Walnut Hills. It's minutes away from Hyde Park Square and Hyde Park Plaza, as well as Rookwood Plaza and Surry Square in Norwood. It's also close to Oakley's business district. Neighborhood bars like Dana Gardens offer entertainment with a local feel. There are a few small restaurants in Evanston and a few more at the corner of Woodburn and Madison Rd and in nearby neighborhoods.

Recreation
Cincinnati Recreation Commission operates the Evanston Community Center at 3204 Woodburn Ave. The offer a fitness room, after school programs for neighborhood children, basketball court, Senior programs and more. There are also four neighborhood parks in Evanston and a playground at the intersection where Woodburn, Hewitt, Gilbert and Montgomery converge.

Schools:
The neighborhood has several Cincinnati public schools:
Evanston Academy (pre - 8): http://evanstonacademy.cps-k12.org/
Withrow University High School (9-12) : International Language, International Business, Internationational Baccalaureate and Career Development programs: http://withrow.cps-k12.org/
Academy of World Languages (Preschool-8):Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and English as ESL:http://awl.cps-k12.org/
Walnut Hills High School: (highly ranked nationally) is located in Evanston zip code (7-12):http://www.walnuthillseagles.com/index.asp

Purcell Marion Catholic High School: http://www.purcellmarian.org/
Xavier University is located, in part, within Evanston.
University of Cincinnati is 15 minutes away.

It's hard to talk about any street in Corryville and not sound like a broken record, but East Rochelle is another one of the streets that has made the shift from family residents to students and medical personnel. It's a short street that runs east to west. It's parallel to and one street over from Martin Luther King Dr. and it's part of the big plan for "Uptown" area development.

The street is lined with new apartment buildings, as well as older homes and multifamily buildings that have been remodeled and refurbished to house U. C. students and hospital personnel from University, Children's, Veterans, Shriner's and many of the other nearby hospitals.

Entertainment and shopping
There are restaurants on Short Vine and five minutes away in the Heights. For something special, Mecklenburg Gardens an historic German restaurant, is just one street over on University Ave. Highland Coffee House is close as well.

Recreation
Cincinnati Recreation Center has a facility a few blocks away with an exercise room, baseball fields, after school care for neighborhood children and more. Burnett Woods is a few minutes away with picnic areas and lots more.

There are several schools in the area, including a catholic elementary school on William Howard Taft, a High School at Calhoun and Clifton and University of Cincinnati of course.

Metro bus routes are available on Martin Luther King Dr. and Jefferson Ave.

The Strip of East McMillan St. that runs one way/east through Corryville has a mix of well kept old buildings and new. Like many multifamily dwellings in this neighborhood, some old and probably historic buildings have seen a transition from family residents to mostly students. A few of the buildings also house businesses on the bottom level, like Mad Frog, a popular night spot that caters to college students.

Vine Street cuts across McMillan to form a major intersection that's busy with cars, buses and pedestrians most of the time. The CVS in the intersection and a bank and credit union are newer buildings that take up the entire north side of the block of Corryville between Vine and Auburn.

Corryville has many nearby services for students and families. There is shopping in the Heights and on Short Vine. There's a recreation Center, churches and several schools nearby. Christ Hospital is nearby on Auburn Ave. and University, Children's, Shriner's and the VA Hospitals are five minutes away.

For recreation, Burnett Woods is a 10 minute drive and several of Metro's bus routes service East McMillan St.

East Corry St. Is another one of those westbound Corryville streets that will take you straight to the University of Cincinnati if you follow it all the way to the end. It's a short, tree-lined street with a residential area that merges seamlessly into a short business area. As it's UC adjacent, there's a distinct probability that most of the homes and multi-family units are occupied by college students. There are also a few office buildings and a bank.

Shopping and Entertainment
East Corry passes through the Short Vine Business district, an area that's ever-changing and always under some stage of development. The street passes by Kroger, Walgreens, and BP gas station, the area's long term commercial tenants. There's a CVS within walking distance on McMillan.

Along Short Vine you will find a chili restaurant, 2 pizza shops several bars and more. There are also restaurants and shop five minutes away in the Heights. Night spots that serve the college set are located on McMillan.

Corryville's ultimate destiny is to cater to primarily college students and medical personnel who work in nearby hospitals, but you will still find a few services for the families still in the neighborhood. There are several schools and a Cincinnati Recreation Commission facility with day care programs. There are also several churches, and less than five minutes away you'll find a number of hospitals.

Metro Route 24 has stops on Corry and several other routes have stops within walking distance.

Bush St. is a short, steep hill. Even when it was part of a residential area decades ago, it had only a single house at the top, a few houses at the bottom and a lot of empty lots and trees in between. These days Bush St. is deserted but in the middle of an area where everything else is being developed.

Bush empties out into Old Red Bank Rd and is minutes away from Red Bank Expressway, Oakley, Hyde Park, Fairfax and several other nearby communities. I have no doubt that one day soon someone will buy all the plots on that street and turn it into a condominium complex or an extension of the Red Bank Expressway business area.

Shopping and Entertainment
Bush St. is five minutes away from the small shops in Madisonville, and moments away from Red Bank Expressway and all the eating options (mostly fast food and carry out) and shopping options (mostly Walmart.)a 10 minute drive to Hyde Park Plaza, Hyde Park Square and Oakley's Madison Rd shopping district.

If a developer does turn Bush St into a residential area again, they'll have schools, shopping, childcare and whatever they need in nearby communities.

E. Daniels is another one of those Corryville streets that will take you straight to the heart of the University of Cincinnati. It begins at Oak Street. Follow it west and it will take you through the Short Vine shopping/dining area to Daniels residential Hall at the eastern campus edge. I've lived in lots of places in the greater Cincinnati area, and yes, I lived in Daniels Hall when I was a sophomore at U.C.

The whole neighborhood was different then. Actually with all the construction and rehabbing going on in Corryville these days, the neighborhood is just about the same as it was back then. The residential buildings on East Daniels are large and most look freshly painted. Those buildings have gradually shifted from housing families to housing students. That's in keeping with the trend of the future for this "Uptown" neighborhood. That's great news for you if you're a U.C. student looking for housing close to campus.

Shopping and entertainment
The southern end of the Short Vine shopping area is undergoing construction that will continue the trend of renewal in the neighborhood. South of East Daniels, you'll find restaurants like Frydays Jamaican cuisine, Daniels Pub, Martino's Italian and more. There's also Kroger and Walgreens.

Recreation
Burnett Woods Park is a 5 minute drive from Daniels. The street passes the Baseball field and play area that are part of the Corryville Recreation center. Inside there's an fitness center, game room and more. East Daniels is 10 minutes away from the Cincinnati Zoo.

Library
Daniels goes right by the Corryville branch of the Public Library. Inside you'll find books, videos and internet access on a limited number of computers.

This area is mostly populated by students, but families still have a few services in the area. There are several Corryville schools that are a part of the Cincinnati Public Schools system. There are a number of churches and the Recreation offers day care. There are plenty of hospital facilities nearby: UC Hospital, Children's, Hoxworth Blood Center and more.

Ashtree Dr. is a short road that forms an arc between lower Hamilton Ave. and the bottom of Kirby Rd. It's mostly residential with older, well kept homes and African American residents. There are also a few businesses along the street and a large section of trees. If you glance to the north while driving along Ashtree Dr. you'll probably notice a large apartment complex that sets back from the street on the northern side. The entrance to the apartment complex is on Hamilton Ave.

There's not a consistent flow of heavy traffic on Ashtree, but it's a convenient shortcut from busy Hamilton Ave. to Kirby, so you might find a bit of traffic sometimes. Fortunately the homes on Ashtree have large yards that keep the road at a distance.

Restaurants, and entertainment

There's not much to do on Ashtree Dr, but the street intersects with busy Hamilton Ave. and a hundred yards or so north you'll find Six Acres Bed and Breakfast: http://sixacresbb.com/index.htm . The B & B was built around 1850 and was once a stop for escaped slaves on the way to freedom. These days the owner welcomes guests, hosts private parties and occasional jazz concerts and dinners.

Further up Hamilton Ave. you'll find a few long time restaurants like Larosa's, Goodies Barbecue and College Hill Coffee Company. Ashtree Dr. borders the northern edge of Northside, which puts it within about a mile of all those trendy Northside businesses and restaurants.

Recreation
Ashtree Dr. is about 10 minutes from Mount Airy Forest where they have picnic areas, an arboretum, horseback riding and more. It's about 5 minutes from the College Hill Recreation Center on Belmont where they have a gym, a meeting room, soccer field, fitness center and more.

Cincinnati Public Schools in College Hill:
Pleasant Hill Academy, a pre-8 school with a college preparatory program for grades 4-8: http://pleasanthill.cps-k12.org/
College Hill Fundamental Academy, k-6: http://collegehillacademy.cps-k12.org/

There are also several private schools in College Hill.

For medical care, Ashtree Dr. is 10 minutes away from Mercy Hospital's Mt. Airy facility.

Bramble Ave is on the southeast edge of Madisonville. It begins at Erie Ave, runs through Madison Place and ends at the edge of Mariemont. Along the way you'll see mostly single and multi-family buildings. Most of them have been around for a while, but they are pretty well maintained.

Bramble has always had a small business area that's changed a lot over the years. It's located on a section of the street that intersects with Whetsel Ave. Several businesses have come and gone, but there are always a few replacements trying to make a go of it. There's an an auto repair shop, a few bars, a hair salon and several other small businesses. A few commercial buildings in this little strip are usually unoccupied, but they are still pretty well maintained.

Bramble Ave is minutes away from Madison Rd. where you'll find several small stores and a bank. It's equally close to the Red Bank Expressway shopping/fast food/business area. A little further to the west is Oakley and Hyde Park shopping/dining areas.

For recreation Bramble Park is just east of the street's little business strip. There you'll find picnic and play areas and baseball fields. It's not far from Stewart Park and the Madisonville Recreation Center. Madison Bowl is 5 minutes away.

There are several schools and churches in the area and Christ Hospital has an emergency medical location on Red Bank.

Carothers St is a short street between Whetsel Ave. and Peabody Ave. in the culturally diverse Madisonville neighborhood. It runs parallel to an elevated railroad track, although I'm not certain if trains still use it. The street is so narrow, only one car can drive the pavement at a time. That's okay because there's not much there.

At the Peabody end of Carothers you'll find a small house or two. At the Whetsel side there's ASPEC Plastics, a company that specializes in plastic injection molding: http://www.aspecplastics.com/ That's about it, other than a few patches of grass.

Carothers doesn't have much to offer, but it's close to everything you'd need. There are a few small shops and a bank a few minutes away on Madison Rd. There are several churches and schools nearby. It's only minutes away from Red Bank Expressway's businesses, shops and restaurants, and 10 minutes from Hyde Park and Oakley shopping and dining.

For recreational activities, Carothers St. is 5 minutes away from the Stewart Park and Madisonville Recreation Center, and minutes away from Madison Bowl.

Those who live in Madisonville have watched the changes in commercial and residential development over recent years. They see lots of good things in the neighborhood's future.

Arnsby Pl. is one of the quiet tree-lined Madisonville streets you'll pass as you enter the neighborhood via Erie Ave. The street is tree-lined. The homes are older, but you might notice that they are similar in design and construction to those you'll find throughout Eastern Hyde Park, just a minute or two away.

Madisonville has always had more of a multicultural mix. The residents were working class with a few professionals mixed in, so streets like Arnsby Pl. never had that same must-live-there, Hyde Park reputation and feel. That is gradually changing. As businesses poured in to fill the commercial slots on Red Bank Expressway and complexes like Centennial Station were constructed nearby, the feel of being Hyde Park adjacent began to take root in this part of the neighborhood... sort of like Oakley.

Recreation, shopping and entertainment
Arnsby, like most of Madisonville, is minutes from the Madison Rd and Red Bank Expressway shopping districts. It's nearly just as close to Hyde Park Square and Hyde Park Plaza. Among those venues you'll find pretty much everything you need. For recreation, Bramble Park is a neighborhood green space with picnic grounds and baseball fields.

Private and public schools and day care can be found nearby:
John P Parker, pre – 8: http://parker.cps-k12.org/
Shroder College Preparatory High School: http://shroder.cps-k12.org/
Prince of Peace k-8 Catholic School: http://www.princeofpeacecincinnati.org/
SevGoddard School for Early Childhood Development: http://www.goddardschool.com/Schools/Cincinnati-OH/schools.gspx

Christ Hospital has emergency medical facilities on Red Bank Expressway. Jewish Hospital is 10 minutes away in Kenwood. Arnsby is minutes away from I-71 and Columbia Parkway, but it's part of a small section of Madisonville residential streets with little through traffic.

Madisonville has a few issues with crime, but the community council works with groups like Madisonville Good Guys Loitering to help keep problems at bay: http://www.historicmadisonville.com/home/crime-prevention-safety

Anderson Place is one of Madisonville's most stable, desirable streets. There aren't any fabulous mansions there; but the houses are nice and well-maintained, and the street is tree-lined, neat and tidy. It's been that way for many years. Of course it's not as impressive as it was when I was a little girl and all those homes were fairly new. What is impressive is that the street looks pretty much the same way it did back then.... with a little wear and tear.

Anderson Place has always been a street of predominately African American residents. It's a short street that begins at Madison Rd and runs north where it turns makes a right turn and becomes Chandler Ave. There are no other intersecting streets, but It borders the eastern edge of what used to be Lyon Junior High School's grounds when I was a child.

The school was rebuilt and the name was changed to John P Parker Elementary; but just like years ago, neighborhood students still walk along Anderson Place each morning to reach the school's front door. Other than daily school traffic, the street has few cars coming and going.

Shopping and Entertainment
There are no shops, restaurants or entertainment outlets on Anderson Place, but it's minutes away from shopping on Madison Rd. and Red Bank Expressway. It's 10 minutes away from Hyde Park Square, Hyde Park Plaza, and Oakley. That means there is plenty to buy, eat, see and do nearby. Metro bus Number 11 is accessible on Madison Rd.

St Paul Lutheran Church: http://stpaulcinci.org/ and their senior residential facility, St. Paul Village: http://stpaulvillage.com/ are across the street from where Anderson Place empties out into Madison Rd. There are emergency medical facilities nearby on Red Bank and Jewish Hospital is 10 minutes away in Kenwood. Stewart Park and Madisonville Recreation Center are a few minutes away.

John P Parker Elementary School, pre-6, is in Anderson Place's back yard. Seven Hills Hillsdale campus is 5 minutes away on Old Red Bank Rd. Goddard School is minutes away on Red Bank Expressway for child care and early learning.

Anderson Place is close to businesses throughout the area, including 5th Thirds processing center, Coca Cola's facility on Duck Creek and many others.

East Charlton St. is lined with older homes, mostly well maintained. It begins at Eden Ave and is only a few blocks long. It's another one of the streets where you are likely to find either students or a traditional family living there. It's minutes away from University of Cincinati. In fact, if you follow the street all the way west, you'll end up on the U.C. campus. East Charlton's proximity to U.C. is what puts it on the list of streets to be developed by the Uptown Crossing Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation: http://www.uc.edu/af/commdev/UCCURC.html.

Before it reaches U.C. East Charlton St. takes you right through the heart of the "Short Vine" business district: http://shortvineonline.com/index.php?id=3. For years, Bogart's Entertainment on "Short Vine" has been hosting shows featuring every genres of music you can imagine. There are restaurants and a few shops on the street as well. There are more entertainment, shopping and dining options on nearby McMillan and in the Heights area.

For recreation, Charlton Ave. is walking distance to Corryville Recreation Center. The Zoo is a 10 minute drive away, as is Burnett Woods. For schooling there are several Cincinnati Public Schools nearby and a Catholic elementary school on Calhoun. U.C. is walking distance and Cincinnati State is a 10 minute drive away.

Charlton is walking distance for those who attend U.C. or work at University and other nearby Hospitals. While the area waits for redevelopment it continues to struggle with occasional crime.

The Corryville section of Burnet Ave. is lined with office buildings and apartments that have been converted to office buildings. There are still a few older, well kept single and multiple family residences along the street. It's hard to tell without hanging out in the neighborhood which homes are occupied by students and which still hold Corryville families, but that is likely to be a non issue over the next decade. Burnet Ave. is one of the street's that led the way in taking the neighborhood into its U.C. student/medical people friendly future. If you fit that mold, than the street is and will be a perfect place for you to live and work.

Entertainment, dining and shopping
Most of the restaurants in the area serve up fast food: Gold Star Chili is on Burnet. McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts and Chipotle are on MLK. You can get a good cup of coffee, a drink or a light meal at Highland Coffee House on Highland Ave. Highland Ave. is a block away and runs parallel to Burnet Ave. Historic Mecklenburg Gardens on intersecting University Ave. is a German Restaurant that's been in business since 1865. There are also a variety of restaurants in the Short Vine and Heights shopping areas.

The nearby Kroger is scheduled for a big overhaul. In the meantime, it's still open in the University Shopping Center at the end of Short Vine. There's also a Walgreens and a CVS across the street on Wm. Howard Taft at Vine St.

Entertainment in the area is geared toward college students. If that's you, you'll find whatever music you want along nearby McMillan and a few other spots.

Recreation
Developers are buying up the property in Corryville. Families are moving away, but there are still a few family friendly services in the immediate area. Corryville Recreation Center is a few blocks away on Eden Ave. They have a fitness center, gym, computer center and an after school day care program. For outdoor recreation, Burnett Woods and the Cincinnati Zoo are minutes away.

Schools
There are several schools nearby: Cincinnati Public Schools' Hughes Stem High School: http://hughesstem.cps-k12.org/ and William Howard Taft STEM school pre-6: http://taftelementary.cps-k12.org/ are nearby. Corryville Catholic Elementary School is on Calhoun Ave.: http://corryvillecatholic.org/ .

If you live on Burnett Ave. you'll have your choice of hospitals. Within walking distance you'll find University, Children's, Shriner's Hospital for Children, Hoxworth Blood Bank and more. Christ Hospital is a 5 minutes drive away on Auburn Ave.

Like the rest of Corryville, Eden Ave. is destined to become a student/medical professionals neighborhood. As it stands now, the blocks of Eden Ave. which begin at William Howard Taft Rd. and run north have both single and multi-family dwellings. Many of these buildings have been refurbished in recent years. They used to house mostly African American families, but the street is rapidly becoming an area populated by U.C. students and medical personnel exclusively. From the outside looking in, it's hard to tell if they've completed that transition.

As you travel Eden Ave. to MLK Dr. and beyond, it's easier to tell what's what. The street is lined with condos and apartment complexes. The huge Stetson Square complex on Eden Ave. at MLK Dr., for example, offers apartment rentals starting at $1,200. for one bedroom with 3 bedroom units beginning at $2,400.

Eden Ave. on the northern side of MLK Dr. is the edge of a hospital district which includes University, Children's and several other Hospitals to the east and beyond. To the west, at the corner of MLK and Eden is the uniquely asymmetrical Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, a building designed by renowned architect, Frank Gehry. Beyond that the Hamilton County Coroner's office and several medical/research buildings are on Eden Ave. Children's Hospital is straight ahead.

Residents and employees in the area have several dining options, mostly fast food on MLK and Burnet Ave. For dining that's a bit different, there are Mecklenburg Gardens for German food and Highland Coffee House, both on University Ave. The Short Vine shopping/dining district is moments away. The Heights is five minutes away for more of the same.

There are still a few services catering to the families that are rapidly disappearing from the Corryville area. The Cincinnati Recreation Commission's Corryville facility is located on Eden Ave. They offer a fitness center, game room, after school day care and more. Cincinnati public schools Hughes Stem High School: http://hughesstem.cps-k12.org/ and William Howard Taft STEM school pre-6: http://taftelementary.cps-k12.org/ are nearby. Corryville Catholic Elementary School is on Calhoun Ave.: http://corryvillecatholic.org/ .

Burnett Woods and the Cincinnati Zoo are minutes away.

Recently... I have no idea when... Bethesda Av. was renamed Albert Sabin Way. That's a good thing because Dr. Sabin lived in Cincinnati when he made some key discoveries about polio that led to his oral vaccine (I remember lining up to receive one of those early doses on a sugar cube at Madisonville Elementary School.)

For years Cincinnati Convention Center was named after Dr. Sabin, but a local power company now has that honor. Perhaps his new street is an even better idea as it's the location of Children's Hospital where Dr. Sabin began his historic polio research.

Children's Hospital is the biggest thing on Bethesda Ave./Albert Sabin Way. There are several other medical buildings on the street as well, along with a parking garage for easier access. Buses don't travel the street, but several routes service adjacent streets where University Hospital and several other major medical facilities are located.

Employees of medical facilities located on Albert Sabin Way don't have many options for fine dining, but they do have a cafeteria on the premises. There are also several fast food options nearby on MLK Dr. and Burnet Ave. It's five minutes to the Short Vine shopping area and 10 minutes to The Heights. For a quick getaway, they are minutes away from the Cincinnati Zoo and Burnett Woods.

There are no residences on Albert Sabin Way but there are lots of great condos and apartments nearby for students and medical personnel.

The small strip of Auburn Ave. that's in Corryville, just about two blocks, contains only a few buildings. The block to the south of McMillan Ave. is the beginning of the historic district that's mostly within the Mt. Auburn neighborhood. On the east side of the block is a beautiful old building that houses offices. On the west side there's an old abandoned church that was once very beautiful as well.

To the north, the block of Auburn Ave. that's between McMillan and William Howard Taft has a large old, refurbished apartment building on one side and the rear of the Cinco Credit Union on the other.

There's not much else in this little strip, but there's plenty nearby. Residents or office workers have a choice of shopping areas nearby on Short Vine. It's an area undergoing renewal and transition, so there's not a whole lot to buy. You can still find several restaurants, a Kroger for groceries, a Walgreens and a BP for gas. The Heights is 2 minutes away on William Howard Taft Rd./Calhoun St. There you'll find more restaurants, stores, a Fedex and more student housing.

This area is just one more section of Corryville that's pretty much a haven for U.C. students, but until they take over completely, you'll find a few of the services the non-student residents need. There's a recreation center on nearby Eden Ave. Christ Hospital is on Auburn Ave. to the south and University Hospital is to the north, along with several other medical facilities. Several bus routes service the area. It's close to several Mt. Auburn parks and 10 minutes away from Burnett Woods Park.

Schools
William Howard Taft STEM school pre-6 is on Southern Ave.:http://taftelementary.cps-k12.org/
Hughes STEM High School is five minutes away on Clifton Ave.: http://hughesstem.cps-k12.org/

Corryville Catholic Elementary School is nearby on Calhoun Ave.: http://corryvillecatholic.org/
CRC offers licensed after school care at its Corryville facility on Eden Ave: http://cincyrec.org/search/facility.aspx?id=28

Madisonville has changed a lot from the place where I grew up years ago. It's also remained pretty much the same. It's a community with a variety of single family homes styles, some small and others quite grand. Most are well maintained, others have seen better days. There was always an assortment of rental properties and a number of big and small businesses. The business and industry presence in Madisonville has continued to expand since the completion of the Red Bank Expressway connection to !-71 several decades ago.

Madisonville is a prime plot of land nestled among Oakley, Hyde Park, Fairfax, Madison Place, Mariemont, Indian Hill and Kenwood. It's always been a perfect place for families, businesses, industry, gentrification and renewal. Centennial Station, a large, gated rental community on a hill at Madisonville's western edge, is a recent example of the renewal trend. On the Erie Ave. side, it stands alongside some of Madisonville's grand old homes. One of those beautiful old mansions serves as the Centennial Station rental office/community center.

Madisonville has always been a community of working class and professional families, nearly equally white and black. The population shifted a little over time, but these days it's reached nearly the same balance. Recent census data show that of Madisonville's 9,141 residents, 5,444 are African American and 3,702 are white. 458 residents are Native American, Pacific Islander, Asian or Latino. Residents work in occupations from management to finance.

Organizations and Industry
The Children's Home and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) are located on Madison Rd. Coca Cola Bottling and 5th/ 3rd Bank have major operations in an industrial center on Duck Creek Rd. Medpace Clinical Research now stands at the bottom of Old Red Bank hill where the Nutone property used to be. Blue Chip Surgery Centers and Christ Hospital Urgent Care are just two of the many businesses spanning the length of Red Bank Expressway. There are many more in the area.

Shopping and Dining
There's little in the way of entertainment, but like many Cincinnati neighborhoods, Madisonville has always had a shopping district. The names have changed, but there are still a variety of small stores and restaurants located in the Madison Rd./Whetsel Ave. area. The area along Red Bank Expressway has eateries from Izzy's to Gold Star Chili. There's a Super Walmart and several restaurants less than a mile north of the main business strip.

For auto shopping, the BMW Store is located on Stewart Rd: http://www.bmwstore.com/ . Just SAAB is on Madison Rd.: near the railroad overpass: http://www.justsaab.com/index.htm

Recreation and fitness
Stewart Park and Madisonville Recreation Center are both on Stewart Rd. The center offers a pool, football field, event rentals, game room, senior programs and more. Cincinnati Bikram Yoga: http://www.cincinnatibikramyoga.com/ and Akido of Cincinanti: http://aikidocincy.com/ are located on Red Bank Rd. Madison Bowl is on Madison Rd. near BBQ Review

Cincinanti Public Schools
Schools John P Parker, pre – 8, is on Anderson Place: http://parker.cps-k12.org/
Shroder College Preparatory High School, 7-12, is on Duck Creek Rd: http://shroder.cps-k12.org/

Private Schools
Prince of Peace k-8 Catholic school is on Murray Ave.: http://www.princeofpeacecincinnati.org/
Seven Hills Schools pre-12 Hillsdale campus is on old Red Bank Rd: http://www.7hills.org/
The Goddard School for Early Childhood Development is on Red Bank Expressway: http://www.goddardschool.com/Schools/Cincinnati-OH/schools.gspx

As the name implies, East University Ave. is close to University of Cincinnati. In fact, if you follow it all the way west, it will take you to the main U.C. entrance on Jefferson Ave. Corryville has changed quite a bit in the past several years and E. University is changing right along with it. There are still plenty of older buildings, both apartments, single family dwellings and businesses, but some have fallen to a wave of new construction in the area. Many more will go down before gentrification makes its final mark.

Fortunately the Corryville renovators have left a few of the old neighborhood staples. Highland Coffee House is still there on the corner of University and Highland. If's a coffee house/bar that caters to the university set. Mecklenburg Gardens is still there. They've been serving German cuisine so long their building is on the National Register of Historic Places. That means no matter how many condos they build in the neighborhood, Mecklenburg Gardens will remain standing.

E. University is close to a few shops, restaurants and Kroger for groceries on Short Vine. it's a few minutes away from shopping and restaurants in the Heights. It's got university student friendly night life in the area. It's minutes from Burnett Woods for recreation, moments from U.C, and 10 minutes away from Cincinnati State. There are several hospitals nearby

Banning Rd in College Hill is long and winding and lined with a mix of older residences and small businesses. It's a busy street with lots of traffic for three reasons: Banning borders the rear of Mercy Hospital's Mt. Airy Campus and provides easy access. It's an alternate route many northwest bound commuters take to avoid Colerain Ave. traffic during rush hour. (I was one of those daily Banning commuters when I lived in Colerain Township) Banning also intersects North Bend Rd. and is close to Belmont Ave. which adds more sources of traffic.

Banning has no shopping or entertainment, but it's close to shops and restaurants on Hamilton Ave. and about 15 minutes away from the Northgate Mall shopping area.

There are several College Hill schools less then a 5 minute drive from Banning Rd.: College Hill Fundamental Academy on North Bend College Hill Fundamental Academy Preschool-6: http://collegehillacademy.cps-k12.org/ : Pleasant Hill Academy k-6: http://pleasanthill.cps-k12.org/ : Eden Grove Academy: http://www.edengrove.com/index.html and McAuley High School for Girls:http://www.mcauleyhs.net/

Mount Airy Forest is five minutes away from Banning Rd. There are a number of College Hill church denominations nearby and Metro bus transportation is available on North Bend.

Ashland Ave. is one of several Walnut Hills Streets that were severed by MLK Dr. construction a few years back. Ashland, like Alms St. and Chapel St., begins on the South side of MLK, ends in a culdesac, then continues on the other side of MLK. It's an all residential street with apartments, a few older homes and a neighborhood playfield to keep children busy.

The street doesn't have much in the way of entertainment, restaurants or night life; but it's close to everything a resident would need. Ashland is a short walk to the Walnut Hills Business district. There you'll find a Kroger, Parkside Cafe, Brew House Restaurant, CVS, a US Bank and a few other places. It's also a short walk to Victory Parkway's fast food restaurants and the E. Walnut Hills restaurants, shopping and galleries at Woodburn and Madison Rd.

For Recreation, it's a few blocks to Busch Recreation Center on Kemper Lane. Eden Park is a five minute drive. There you'll find the Conservatory, Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park and Seasongood Pavilion.

Ashland Ave. is close to Frederick Douglass Elementary School on Park Ave.: http://douglass.cps-k12.org/traffic. It's five minutes away from Walnut Hills High School on Victory Parkway: http://www.walnuthillseagles.com/index.asp , U.C, Xavier and several local hospitals. It's 15 minutes away from Cincinnati State.

Este Ave. cuts through a slice of the eastern edge of Spring Grove Village (formerly Winton Hills). It efficiently separates the neighborhood homes from the corporate enterprises across the street. Este also provides quick access to Mitchell Ave, Kroger on Kenard and I-75.

A few of Spring Grove Village's well-maintained, older homes look out over Este, but they've got a small service road that allows a bit of distance from the commercial traffic. Bus travelers to and from Este businesses have access to two Metro bus routes that will take them all the way into town.

Along Este Ave you'll find a St. Vincent de Paul donation center and retail outlet. There's an ambulance company, a restaurant supply business, the Sun Chemical Co. and a few other businesses. All those trucks coming and going make this one of the least quiet streets in the neighborhood.

There's not much in the way of night life or entertainment in the area; but for churches, child care and schools, there are facilities a few streets over. Kroger and a few small stores are nearby on Kenard Ave. There's also a community garden a block away on Chickering. The Zoo is less than a 10 minute drive and Spring Grove Cemetery is five minutes away.

University of Cincinnati, Xavier and Cincinnati State are 10 to 15 minutes away. Hospital care is 10 minutes away at University, VA, Children's and Shriner's hospitals.

Gray Road starts out at a T intersection with Winton Rd. then it edges uphill, travels westward through mostly trees and empty spaces and winds its way into College Hill. Somewhere along the way... I'm not certain where... it turns into Groesbeck Rd.

The lower, straighter part of Gray Rd. is in Spring Grove Village (formerly Winton Place.) There you'll find a few older homes and businesses on one side and the northern edge of the Historic Spring Grove Cemetery on the other.

Located on the non graveyard side of Gray Road you'll find a large older home that houses the Weaver's Guild Fiber Arts Center: (weaversguildcincinnati.org) There's also Funke's Greenhouse (funkes.com) and A. J. Rahn Greenhouse: (ajrahngreenhouses.com) and a LaRosa's Restaurant bakery facility.

While a graveyard might be the last place you'd look for entertainment, Spring Grove Cemetery may surprise you. They offer a full schedule of annual events, including a car show, moonlight tours, walks, concerts, lectures and more: springgrove.org/events/events.aspx

Parker Woods Montessori School (Preschool-6) is minutes away on Winton Rd.: wintonmontessori.cps-k12.org. There are several churches nearby and Kroger is close for grocery shopping.