Cincinnati

#AllStarSummer: Visiting Mt. Adams

This summer we're hosting the MLB All Star Game! That means we have a lot of fun new people in town. So, the girls at Thread Cincinnati decided we'd like to show you around :D

Welcome to Mt. Adams! The home of Ida Street, original & blog edition. You may know already that Cincinnati was built in a valley by the Ohio River. Mt Adams is the neighborhood directly above downtown, earning our self proclaimed nickname "City on the Hill."

We're really close to the ballpark! See in this picture ;D You can Uber to Great American Ballpark in about 5 minutes, or walk in about 15. No matter which way you do it, if you're in town for the festivities, you should try to make your way up here at some point. Let me tell you why:

Long ago, Mt. Adams was a neighborhood comprised of mostly Irish and German immigrants who took the Incline downtown to work every day. Before that, it was home to Cincinnati's first vineyard. So, with that in mind, I don't think you'll  be surprised to learn, here in Mt. Adams we sure do enjoy a nice adult beverage. Let's start there:

To DRINK:
We have a lot to offer in this arena. Mt. Adams is home to many well established bars. With great views & many outdoor patios, you'll definitely find something up your alley. Just take a walk down St. Gregory Street & you'll see them all in one place. We have:

To EAT:
Head to The Rookwood for a delicious meal. It's a little on the fancy side, but I usually sit on the patio or at the bar, where things are more casual. I've never been to The Celestial, but I hear it's a steak house to die for with views to match. In the mood for asian? Good because we have Teak for a nice Thai fix! & if you're feeling in a healthy mood, mosey over to Sprout. There you'll find a light, open & airy feel with food that will keep you feeling good. 

To ENTERTAIN:
What I love most about Mt. Adams is the many creative spaces. I live walking distance to the Cincinnati Art Museum, The Playhouse in the Park and The Krohn Conservatory. Just around the corner you'll find The Mt. Adams Pool and Eden Park. If you're still here on the 23rd, you can even enjoy cinema in the city! Take a walk, see what you find. Many of these Cincinnati staples are free to the public & will provide a nice respite if it gets too crowded downtown. 

& as you do make your down the hill, walking (there are lots of steps!) or driving, the first neighborhood you'll bump into is Historic Over the Rhine. Tamia can tell you all about that :D 

OTR: Sundry & Vice & Thread Cincinnati

It's been a week but here we are! Time for a recap! 

First: Sundry & Vice in OTR. I love it. Over in the alley behind Washington Park is the cutest little apothecary style bar. It's small, fits only about 50 people max. & It's kind of dark, so forgive my photos. But it is great. 

Tons of mixed drinks, tons of trendy people, & tonnnns of creative feel. & it's off that beaten path of Vine & Main Streets, so not very crowded yet. You will want to go in expecting to lose your pocket change...  each cocktail is $10 or more. Worth it though. Very refreshing list :D

Okay, now. Thread! Thank you everyone for coming out to support us! We're really excited for the launch of our partnership. We loved seeing all our vendors, all our partners & all of YOU. YOU are the best! I hope you had a lovely time snacking on Brown Bear's delectable desserts & talking shop with our blogtourage (nod to Liz for that catchy terminology). 

Much love going to you guys this week. I'm working pretty darn late hours at my day job, but it's so nice that every day, when I check in on Ida Street, you're here & smiling & lovely. Thank you, as always, for making my day. 

xo 

Photography: Annie Butler + Katie Holocher (Out + Outfit)

Curate Your Style

People are so inspiring. That's why I do the lessons from a dreamer segment. I love to learn from my peers. Ask their advice. Understand their success. See their drive. 

& though I haven't made it to her yet, Courtney PeGan at Curate Boutique is a perfect candidate for the series. From what I've learned (partially from my blogging partner in crime, CincinNatalie), Courtney left her corporate job to open what we know as the quaint, lovely & ever so stylish Curate Boutique. 

& today we get to celebrate Curate's anniversary! I'm heading over as soon as the work day is over to celebrate with champagne & a sale. My favorite kind of party ;D

I'll see you tonight!!!!!!!

& in the meantime, a little trip down memory lane, featuring my fave Curate finds : 
(all the photos are links!)

CORRYVILLE: HANGOVER EASY

Hangover Easy: Breakfast Cures All
Mon-Fri 7a-2:30a; Sat-Sun 8a-2:30a

Hangover Easy.jpg
Hangover Easy.jpg

I had heard about Hangover Easy looooong before I finally went. Located adjacent to UC's campus just off Short Vine [map], this place is way too close to The Studio to have never made it on my brunch list. Maybe it's the proximity to a college town, or the Toledo-dwelling founding brothers' joking personas, but somehow HangOver Easy [HOE] has developed a major funny bone & it just works. I spent the morning reading about HOE fries (so good), chuckling at how "Beer is proof God loves us & wants us to be happy," but finally, "when I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading" & just dug in.

Hangover Easy.jpg
Hangover Easy.jpg
Hangover Easy.jpg

You may have already guessed by the name that Hangover Easy loves alcohol. So much so, in fact, that they open the day with a full serving bar. Mimosas? Duh. Bloody Mary's? You betchya. Jameson? They've got it on tap. (Seriously. There's seriously jameson on tap. Isn't that crazy??!) This makes it a hot spot for medical staff & other night shifters to host their "happy hour" in the early a.m. & it's also great for nearby college students battling last night's, you guessed it, hang over. Where else could you get a beer with your eggs? 

Hangover Easy.jpg

But Hangover Easy is not only for the college students & hospital staff. It's for you & your friends who love good food. I stopped in on a Saturday morning at exactly 8am. In other words, we were their first customers of the day. This gave me a great chance to take a tour of the facility, laugh at all the jokes on the wall & wish it was summer (there is a fantastic patio & green space out back). The other benefit of arriving so early was that I got to read through the whole menu. I'm always partial to breakfast, but there is some GREAT food here in all arenas. It's diner food, yes. Totally delicious diner food. 

Hangover Easy.jpg

But by far the coolest thing I learned on my little jaunt over to Corryville is that the entire area used to be a dairy farm. Hangover Easy (the building below) was the carriage house. There's an amazing open space upstairs (literally where the horses used to stay) with great event potential. Think OTR-esque. Which reminds me, Hangover Easy also has giant jenga. Yes. Eat, drink & be entertained. 

Hangover Easy.jpg

& that's the best way I can describe Hangover Easy. The next time you're feeling the urge to laugh with a few friends over breakfast (or any meal, because if you didn't notice they are open every night til 2:30am), head on down.To quote the manager I was talking to, "We definitely don't take ourselves too seriously." 

OTR: MANNEQUIN BOUTIQUE (part2)

Vintage blue lace!

Mannequin Boutique 
Weds - Sat 11a-6p; Sun 12p-4p

Oh I know! You never thought the same place I found this edgy & oh so fierce pair of leather lace up pants could ever be responsible for a dainty lace number. But that's Mannequin for you!  Yep, today CincinNatalie & I are coming to you with another set of posts from Cincinnati's vintage thrift treasure box,  more commonly known as OTR's Mannequin Boutique.

Vintage blue lace!

I think every girl should own something lace. It is so delicate & feminine & has this awesome power to make you feel instantly dainty. Who doesn't like to feel dainty?! (Especially if you also ate three cookies for lunch.) (Why are cookies soooo good?!)

I could have spent hours coming up with outfit combinations for you at Mannequin. Every nook & cranny oozes good deals, great vintage & impeccable style.  The staff is so wonderful & they really know their eras! If you ever find yourself waltzing the streets of OTR with some time to kill & a bit of cash for a good cause, stop in. I think you'll be really happy you did. 

p.s. In the meantime, see more Mannequin style with Natalie's awesome & weather appropriate outfit HERE.

Vintage blue lace!

Dress: Vintage at Mannequin (similar)
Earrings: Vintage at Mannequin (similar)
Purse: Vintage at Mannequin (similar.... & 1/2 off!)
Boots: Diba Pilot Lace Up Bootie via DSW (sold out) (similar.. in black & also tan)
Photography: Natalie Folchi of CincinNatalie