USA
Cincinnati: The Queen City of the West (and Birthplace of the Magic 8 Ball)
by Jennifer Merrick
When I first heard that Cincinnati’s nickname was ‘The Queen City of the West’ or that it had even been described as the ‘Paris of America’, I had my doubts it would live up to its grandiose name. To be honest, I knew very little about this Ohio city except it had a baseball team and its radio station staffed some very funny DJs and a newscaster who thought turkeys could fly (at least according to the 1970s TV sitcom series WKRP in Cincinnati).
But after a recent visit, I can say that The Queen City of the West absolutely deserves its regal title. I also discovered numerous interesting facts about Cincy (a more recent nickname), including that it was an important stop on the Underground Railroad, had the first professional baseball team, takes its chili very seriously, has a strong German heritage and the Magic 8 Ball –you know, the prognostic billiard ball you shake and answers all your questions –was invented here. So I thought we could use this fortune-telling sphere to ask some questions about its birthplace.
May I ask how Cincinnati’s nickname came to be?
Yes, definitely. The nickname originated in the early 19th century when thousands of settlers congregated to the area, which quickly emerged as a center of arts and commerce with theatres, saloons, beer gardens and dozens of breweries. At that time, the City of Seven Hills (another nickname) was situated at the edge of the unknown Wild West and acted as a final bastion of culture and urban indulgences before heading into uncharted territory.
Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow solidified the city’s moniker in his 1854 poem, in which he wrote:
“To the Queen of West. In her garlands dressed. On the banks of a Beautiful River.”
Thank you, but that was over 200 years ago, does the noble name still apply today?
As I see it, yes. “It still has a kind of royalty to it,” said Rick Pender, local author of 100 Things to Do in Cincinnati Before You Die. He added that he loves giving tours and hearing people say how interesting and picturesque the city is.
“They expect it to be a flyover city in the flat, boring Midwest,” he said. “But it’s anything but.” He explained that thanks to the Ohio River, there are hills and valleys, and the city punches above its weight in so many areas, including professional sports, arts and culture, culinary offerings and craft breweries. “And we have the best of Kentucky, too.”
Kentucky? Isn’t Cincinnati in Ohio?
Reply hazy, try again.
Is Cincinnati in Kentucky?
It is decidedly so. Cincinnati is actually a tri-state region and has counties in Indiana and northern Kentucky, which is just across the bridge –well, bridges. There are more than half a dozen crossings connecting the two states, including the impressive John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge that looks like a smaller version of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Was it designed to model the Brooklyn Bridge?
My reply is no. In fact, the Brooklyn Bridge was modeled after the Cincinnati bridge, which was a prototype designed by its namesake engineer 17 years earlier. Not only is the monumental bridge beautiful to look at, it’s also fun to walk across a pedestrian footpath from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Covington, Kentucky. So if you’re inclined, and I certainly was, after a day touring the 19th-century beer-making tunnels with Queen City Underground Tours and sampling some local brews at Moerlein Lager House in downtown Cincinnati, you can walk across state lines and the Ohio River for a bourbon tasting at New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky.
I’m intrigued now. Is there anything else to do besides beer and bourbon?
Without a doubt. There are a slew of options depending on your interests, but here are my faves:
Hear Stories of Freedom at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: The Ohio River was an important crossing point for freedom seekers with Ohio being a free state and Kentucky a slave state. The stories this Center tells so well are heart-wrenching, but important to hear, and its exhibits are a powerful testament to the struggle for freedom, human rights, and the ongoing fight against oppression.
Illuminate the artistry and history of neon and U.S. advertisements at the American Sign Museum.
Admire urban creativity with an Art Mural tour by Art Works: Cincinnati has over 200 murals and this walking tour offers a behind-the-paint glimpse of the artists and their muse.
Create your own bourbon masterpiece with a Wenzel Whiskey Blending Experience: Feel the warmth of a Kentucky hug, the heat of the bourbon going down your chest, as you taste different varieties. Then, put on your distiller’s hat, and mix up your own signature blend that is bottled and labeled for you to take home.
Explore the city’s darker past of gambling and organized crime on a Newport Gangster Tour.
Dive into Cincinnati’s delectable food and drink scene: Montgomery Inn Boathouse serves up mouthwatering ribs with a view (be sure to take them up on their offer of a plastic bib). A bookstore provides a chillaxing atmosphere for pastries and breakfast sandwiches at Lil’s Kitchen. Other delicious options include Ripple Wine Bar, Cedar, Maplewood, Second Sight Spirits and Bircus Brewery.
But whatever you do, don’t miss out on the chili, which reigns supreme in the city’s collective food psyche. Spiced with sweeter seasonings like cinnamon and even chocolate, if rumours about secret sauces are correct, the thinner sauce-like chili is iconic. Cincinnatians are divided between the Gold Star and Skyline franchises and are fiercely loyal to their choice. Camp Washington Chili is a more neutral option and has been awarded by James Beard as an ‘American Regional Classic’. Their traditional ‘three-way chili’ is a combination of spaghetti, chili and a mountain of cheese though you can add onions and beans for a ‘five-way chili’.
Delve even deeper into the city’s epicurean delights at Findlay Market with Cincinnati Food Tours. Established in 1852, it’s everything a good market should be with vendors of all sorts, including some whose families have been here for multiple generations, peddling fruits and veg, speciality foods, prepared dishes, and bespoke crafts and household items. A knowledgeable guide ensures you won’t miss out on any highlights, like the banana pudding at Makers Bakers or goetta at Eckerlin Meats. A mixture of oatmeal and sausage, goetta is a Cincinnati specialty that began as a method to stretch the meat but is now a classic comfort dish.
Pork, incidentally, plays an important role in the city’s history. In the early 1800s, Cincinnati was a major pork-processing center, earning it yet another nickname –Porkopolis. Symbols of the flying pig are all over, and every May, over 40,000 people take to the streets for the Flying Pig Marathon.
So, while turkeys don’t fly, pigs do in Cincinnati (or whatever nickname you want to call it) –a regal city with a touch of whimsy.
Should I visit?
Signs point to yes.
If you go: Air Canada offers direct flights to Cincinnati from Toronto (only a 90-minute hop). For accommodation, an excellent choice is Hotel Covington on the Kentucky side. This historic building, which was a former high-end department store, has been transformed into a boutique hotel with 114 guest rooms. It sports a stylish combination of design and comfort, an outstanding restaurant (that served up the best cornbread I’d ever tasted), and an outdoor courtyard.
