Evanston / O'Bryonville

Perhaps Evanston's best kept secret could be that it housed influential music label King Records, whose integrated business model released bluegrass and country from the Stanley Brothers, and classic rhythm and blues from Hank Ballard, Little Willie John and, most famously, James Brown. Now this tight-knit residential community is better known for its strong educational opportunities from Pre-K to PhD. It's the home of Xavier University and nationally ranked Walnut Hills High School — and the American Red Cross's new headquarters and training center in Keystone Park.   O'Bryonville's quaint collection of shops and restaurants, which sit partly in Evanston, benefit from adjacent Hyde Park and East Walnut Hills. Stop by the neighborhood's Five Points' business district to check out Cincinnati's own version of New York's iconic Flat Iron Building, a bustling, modern recreation center and a new residential development called St. Ambrose. Nearby Owl's Nest Park is a green oasis with playgrounds, basketball courts, a baseball diamond, picnic areas, grills, a pavilion, and a paved walking path through the park.