A
thriving town reflects the ideals and principles of the community that
lives and works within its borders. Its businesses are vibrant and
varied, from diverse cuisine to services that cater to the desires of
the young and old, and in Oakley's case, those that enjoy both their
inner child and sense of adventure.
In 1911, Oakley began to
grow at a rapid pace with the development of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad and large industrial complexes such as the Cincinnati Milling
Company. Businesses and residences sprung up around the up-and-coming
industrial center. Nowadays many of these buildings are home to a
variety of unexpected businesses that work in tandem to give Oakley its
unique flavor.
A trip to this intriguing corner of Cincinnati
offers a blend of community pride and a sense of wry humor, whimsy, and
a twist of sophistication. The following is but a mere suggestion of
how to spend some time in Oakley. We'd be remiss if we didn't suggest
sampling Cincinnati's best banana split for breakfast or lingering over
dinner at one of the city's top ten restaurants.
Friday Afternoon:Stop
into
Habits Café at 3036 Madison Road for a quick lunch. Creative menu
options abound in this comfortable and stylish eatery with a diverse
array of burger options for the meat fiend. And when we say diverse, we
mean it. Ever consider an Ostrich burger? Vegetarian entrées are
available for non-carnivorous companions. Hankering for dessert? Forget
the traditional chocolate cake -- crisp sweet potato fries accompanied
by apple butter are a popular favorite. The café overlooks Oakley
Square and the spiraling
20th Century Theatre, which has been renovated
to host everything from concerts to weddings and benefits. The marquee
proudly announces upcoming events.
Continue across and up the
street to
Significant Books, 3053 Madison Road. Dealing in hard-to-find
and out-of-print selections, one is sure to find hidden treasures among
the endless stacks.
Walk
next door into
Flaggs USA at 3075 Madison Road. Warmer months are
approaching, bringing balmy, breezy days to the Cincinnati area. This
local flag shop has been in business for over 10 years and specializes
not only in custom banners and flags for various teams, countries or
causes, but a variety of kites to take for a test run at the nearby
Oakley Playground or Ault Park, which sits just outside of Oakley's
borders.
Behind the storefronts, the Oakley Goodwill, 3080
Markbreit Avenue, resides quietly like a well-kept secret. It's here
that Oakley's proximity to affluent Hyde Park works to great advantage.
Let loose your inner bargain hunter and walk out with a designer purse
or leather jacket for under $25.
Friday Evening:
Keep
it simple for dinner and stop in at Fatburger, 3158 Madison Road, for a
retro experience. Inexpensive, quality burgers and two types of fries
-- fat and skinny -- await your selection.
End your evening
and unwind at the local pub, Animations, at 3059 Madison Road. Locals
chat on barstools over bottled brews, play pool and select their
favorite tunes from the well-stocked jukebox in this unpretentious and
beloved local bar.
Saturday Morning:
Start
your morning off with bright colors, cheerful faces and maybe an
adorable but oh-so-delicious manatee cookie at 3054 Madison Road.
The Blue Manatee Decafé is an expansion of the Blue Manatee Children's
Bookstore, decorated with vibrant, fanciful murals. Playfully naming
all of the drinks served after beloved children's books with alphabet
refrigerator magnets, the café features drinks from the Lorax Latte, to
the Little Engine That Could -- three shots of espresso and Aglamesis'
mocha syrup -- and enough caffeinated beverages to provide energy for a
full day in Oakley shopping or chasing after an enthusiastic young
one.
Wander next door to the Manatee's bookshop for a shot of
fond nostalgia rediscovering childhood favorites. Visitors' attention
is immediately drawn to the canvas "wall" which contains well wishes
and illustrations from dozens of children's book authors who have
visited the store in the past.
John Hutton and Sandra Gross,
the innovative power couple behind the Blue Manatee, have set out to
make books a healthy way of life for young and old alike. Saturday
mornings feature story time in French, German and Spanish. Parents read
to their children in various cozy corners, and youngsters zoom around
at near warp speed, all under the watchful eyes of assistant manager,
Gail Bloom.
"All the staff here are teachers and work here
part time," she remarks, watching her companions Jen and Melissa
ringing customers' purchases and carefully repairing a pop-up book that
had a little "accident" with craft glue.
"We
have lots of regulars, which is nice because you get to watch them grow
up," she says, watching kids play hide-and-seek among the shelves of
books. Going on a road trip soon? Ask to check out the traveling
manatee, which has been an extra guest on many vacations. Stopping in
to make a purchase as a gift and want to get it right? Check with
Melissa, as many patrons do. "Dinosaurs. Yes, absolutely, dinosaurs,"
she responds confidently to an unsure patron's inquiry.
Continue
next door to
The Spotted Goose, 3048 Madison Road, to look at
children's attire with serious attitude and hand-tooled embroidery for
an interesting mix of hipster seam-stitchery.
A few feet down,
the purple storefront of
King Arthur's Court Toys beckons. Open the
door to a menagerie of amusements, including trains, Legos, Brio, board
games, slot cars, puzzles and playthings for all ages.
Once a Sears store, this toy wonderland is run by the Altman family,
who purchased the business in 1995. "We pride ourselves on being toy
experts and having something that can appeal to a child with lots of
interests," Leah Wiethe, states. "I've worked here for 11 years." She
points to several other employees, who have valiantly served the
interests of toy seekers for similar spans of time.
Saturday Afternoon:
Lunch
at
Oakley Pub and Grill, 3924 Isabella Avenue. Try what locals have
claimed is the best burger in Cincinnati. Not a burger fan? The Pub's
got you covered, with a variety of pizzas, sandwiches, and crab-stuffed
portabella mushrooms.
Save room for dessert, and walk back
across the street to
Aglamesis Brothers, 3046 Madison Road. Founded and
located in the same building since 1908, this historical sweet spot
features an overwhelming selection of sundaes, milkshakes and homemade
confections. The multi-page menu lists treats for a multitude of
appetites, including handmade ice cream sodas. Stick with a small cone
or go big with a colossal banana split.
Take a walk half a
mile up the road to the
Red Tree Gallery, 4409 Brazee Street, which
features sculptures, paintings, and wearable designs from local
artists. Also featuring art workshops and a fair trade coffee house,
Red Tree might be just the ticket to break you out of your ice
cream-induced coma.
Saturday Evening:
Next door to
Red Tree, at 3212 Madison Road,
Denim offers a high-end shopping
experience for those willing to splurge on a pair of the perfect jeans
or footwear.
A block down and a little bit up Brotherton Road
sits the Bow-Wow Boutique, containing a wide selection of items for the
canine enthusiast.
To the north, the
Duck Creek Antique Mall,
3715 Madison Road, showcases historical treasures from lovely but
mismatched porcelain to fine china and silver. Stop in and browse among
the antiques for baubles such as vintage estate jewelry.
Oakley's
culinary scene offers some of Cincinnati's best and unique restaurants,
so enjoy a three-course gourmet meal at
Boca, rated Cincinnati's #3
Best Restaurant this year by
Cincinnati Magazine, or try
Hugo for southern style cuisine with a gourmet twist.
Sunday Morning:
Get
your morning beverage at the
Essencha Tea House, located at 3212
Madison Road. Serving breakfast and multitudes of tea, the
knowledgeable staff can help you decide on the perfect blend.
Oakley's
more practical side also offers groceries for the fridge and
furnishings for the home.
Nest, on the corner of Brazee and Madison,
showcases unique gifts for friends as well as a unique array of
entertainment supplies.
Astute Furnishings, at 3052 Madison, may just
contain that perfect end table you've been searching for.
House of France, next to Hugo on Madison Road, offers stylish elegance in its
furniture selection.
To get the Sunday groceries for the week,
visit
The Fresh Market at 3088 Madison Road for seafood, meats and
produce. Don't feel like cooking?
A Forkable Feast at 3363 Madison
takes care of dinner, providing delicious soups, entrees, sides and
even gluten-free dinner options prepared in-house to bring home to your
table.
Oakley offers services and goods that appeal to a wide
range of interests -- bargain hunters, history buffs, book fanatics,
the adventurous eater, art aficionados, dog lovers, sugar addicts and
the inner child in all of us.
Photography by Scott Beseler
Essencha Tea House, Macha
Significant Books
Flaggs USA
Animations
The Spotted Goose
Essencha Tea House
Hugo