Aiesha Little | Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The Social Network

Your Guide to Life in Greater Cincinnati

You'll be pleasantly surprised when you dive into Cincinnati's social scene and find out how diverse it is. Pick your poison – you're sure to find it here.

When school teacher Dawnetta Hayes talks about skiing, her eyes light up. She regales listeners with tales of trips to the slopes like an old pro. However, it hasn't always been that way.

"I lived under the myth that blacks didn't ski," says Dawnetta, who teaches language arts and social studies at Gamble Montessori High School. "While I like the idea of trying new things, skiing was always one of those things that I never considered. I was missing out on a phenomenal opportunity."

One of her students' parents invited her to a meeting of the Corbeau Ski Club, Greater Cincinnati's oldest black ski club. Founded in 1985, Corbeau is a member of the National Brotherhood of Skiers, which develops and supports athletes of color who want to compete in international and Olympic events. Dawnetta now serves as the trip advisor for the club's board and spends several weekends during the winter months at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind.

From ski clubs and parks to festivals and food, Greater Cincinnati's social scene is as diverse as its neighborhoods.

Alicia and Patrick Duhaney see the growing restaurant scene as a big plus for the city. Avid foodies, the couple spends their free time finding new dishes and restaurants to try out.

"I like to read a lot of restaurant blogs to learn about the up-and-coming restaurants in Cincinnati and what other people think about them," notes Alicia, an evaluation specialist at Southwest Financial Services, LTD. "But Patrick and I usually go to restaurants and make the final judgment for ourselves."

As downtown residents, they're excited about all of the new restaurants opening on The Banks. "We love to eat, drink, and dance, and Patrick likes to sing karaoke," Alicia adds. "If there is a place that we can do at least one of these things, then you might see us there!"

For Justin Wade, director of fraud operations and credit and customer services at Macy's, Cincinnati is his playground. By night, he's the leader of the band The Justin Wade Project. (See his Q&A on the right.)

"I love Over-the-Rhine," he says. "The art galleries on Main Street are fantastic and the Gateway Quarter on Vine Street has great eats – Taste of Belgium, Bakersfield and Senate to name a few. I also love the Eden Park area. There are a couple of great parks that overlook the river off of Victory Parkway and the Krohn Conservatory is awesome."

Damany Abernathy says he's experienced a lot of Cincinnati since arriving here in 1999, but he still has an extensive "must see" list.

"I need to experience a performance in Music Hall before the remodel, and I've yet to ice skate on Fountain Square or experience the ghostly activity at Bobby Mackey's, and before too long, I want to tour the Cincinnati 'subway ,'" he adds.

Cincinnatians like Wade and Abernathy are among the many transplants who've found their niche on the city's social scene. Whether it's jazz haunts like the Blue Wisp Jazz Club and Schwartz Point Jazz Club or Irish pubs like Molly Malone's and R.P. McMurphy's, there's something for everyone.

Cincinnati also offers a wide range of traditional cultural events. Catch a show by the city's world-class symphony, opera or ballet. Opt in to a theater performance at the Know Theatre or one of Cincinnati's other professional and community theater houses. And each winter, the ArtsWave Sampler Weekends give residents the opportunity to experience multiple forms of arts for free.

"We enjoy a diverse and vibrant arts community that includes some of the world's most renowned artists in venues that are accessible and amazing," says Crystal Kendrick, president of Voice of the Customer, a local firm that specializes in multicultural marketing. "In Cincinnati, everyone is welcome to live, work, worship…and play!"

Your Guide to Life in Greater Cincinnati

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Justin Wade

Director, Fraud Operations and Credit and Customer Services

Macy's Inc.

When you aren't working what do you do for fun?
In the evenings, I play music around town with a group called "The Justin Wade Project." Music has really helped me learn the city better and experience the various vibes around town. It's really cool to find a new hangout that way. It kind of feels like 'Cheers' everywhere that we play regularly because we get to know all of the regulars. Some of my favorite venues have been Mr. Pitiful's, The Blind Lemon, Jimmy G's, View Restaurant and HD Beans.

Tell me how you spend a Saturday or Sunday.
My typical Saturday or Sunday entails working for a few hours to prep for the following week, getting some exercise and playing music with The Justin Wade Project or in the 7 Hills Worship band. For exercise, I usually run from downtown Cincinnati across the "Purple People" bridge into Newport. After that, it's breakfast downtown at home, Tucker's Restaurant or Coffee Emporium. Afternoons in the summer are spent finding local festivals, live music and checking out cools shops in my neighborhood in Over-the-Rhine.

What's on your must-do list?
While in the city, I've been determined to enjoy the Art Museum and Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park. I've also sampled some of the local festivals like the Labor Day fireworks show, the "Taste of Cincinnati," Second Sunday and Final Fridays festivals in Over-the-Rhine, and Fountain Squares Summer Music series. For music, it's a must to check out the Blue Wisp for jazz, Mr. Pitiful's for R&B and The Blind Lemon for acoustic tunes. I also love the Mid-Point Music Festival in September.

What keeps you in Cincinnati?
I learned how to make Cincinnati work for me. To do that, I formed meaningful friendships by getting involved in interest-based groups and charitable organizations, learned about what the city has to offer and plugged into a fantastic local church.

What do you wish you would've known about Cincinnati before moving here?
I wished I would've known how to find my interests quicker. There so many cool local shops, restaurants, and great music, but I had to learn to find it. I made a goal to try something new every week or two until I found my niche.