Edits, Credits and Good-bye to the Queen...

 I maligned the poor ol' Dennison Hotel, once a luxury downtown hotel but now the only SRO in the downtown area; therefore of value to the working poor. Here is a lengthy and interesting article from StreetVibes; goes into detail.  The writing in the publication was so good that I may purchase a copy of Chicago's "StreetWise" next time I see a vendor.

 I forgot to mention that we enjoyed our dinner at the The Cock and Bull Pub in Covington, KY. Wonderful pub-grub and lots of different beer if you like. There seems to be a resurgence in popularity of "pub" themed restaurants. They were everywhere in the 1970's, but now they are back. And we went to the Cincinnati Art Museum on Mt. Adams; it was big and full of wonderful pottery and paintings. And fer-God's-sake don't call it an art gallery, 'cause they git real mad. It's a big Museum full of lots of galleries!!   Oh, if you don't come to Cincinnati for any other reason, come for Graeter's Ice Cream, there's an parlor on the Fountain Plaza downtown.

Good-bye for now, Queen Cincinnati --actually, that is Covington, KY--we want to come see you again!

Covington, KY...

 Covington, being on the Ohio River at it's junction with the Licking Creek River across from Cincinnati, was a busy place throughout the 19th century as a center for trade and transport. A small city of many old brick buildings, some poised dramatically on hillsides at strange angles. The streets are full of twists and turns and vistas.

Also, the town had a saucy reputation as the local area resort for the ordinary 19th century vices of liquor, loose women and gambling! During the mid-20th century the town was plainly in deep decline with many of the pretty, re-habbed buildings we see today just tumbled down slums. It was sad!

 After a revival that started int he late 1970's, many old structures were saved; now occupied by young workers from Cincinnati, families, upscale businesses and so on. I like the characteristic shape of the rowhouses in both cities.

Here, too, you might peek between the humblest structures and find a wonderful view; this is more common on the high hills of Cincinnati. Views that would cost millions in LA are not expensive at all here---tho you may need to re-hab a property. There is an active Preservationist movement here, no surprise.

The charm of the authentic, antique, weathered, brick street or drive may be one of my favorite things ever. I only wish the sun had shown for this photo!

From the Kentucky Side of the Ohio River...

Well, yes! I believe I did cut off the top of the Great American Insurance Building! Every good little Cincinnati child knows that you don't exceed the venerable height of our adored Carew Tower. 48 genuine stories, including an observation deck we will visit later, is high enough for any building! Really!  BTW, that's the Great American Ball Park, full of Reds fans--it was eery to hear the roar of the fans from across the river.

 I love the two fishermen walking along the bank--a scene likely repeated here for centuries.

 Gorgeous views of the river and the city and the sunset.  This--or something similar--might be my ideal view from my "rocking chair on the front porch".

A lovely splash of golden Kentucky summer evening sunset-sun.  I was born in Cincinnati, but only lived in the area a few years, twice during early childhood.  Some of the best times I can remember. An evening like this, in summer, I'd be readied-for-bed, then allowed to come back outside in my pajamas--not in an alley of a town, but the lawn of a Northern Kentucky farm yard--to play and catch lightening bugs under the watchful eyes of parents and grandparents as they sat in lawn chairs, enjoying the evening cool.

Queen City Rambles...

John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge: Looking Toward Covington, KY. Below, slightly different angle, with riverboat.

With the help of classic sultry Cincinnati summer heat and the pleasant coolness that comes in the river valley with evening, Hubs' and I enjoyed a couple of days of walking and exploring the interesting character of one of the loveliest cities in the country. Does the bridge look a little familiar? It was completed in 1867; when it's innovative design worked so well (it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time), the template was used for the Brooklyn Bridge in NY. Tragically, Roebling's foot was so badly crushed in an accident while surveying for the NY version that he died of tetanus before it was completed.