CREAMY WHIP TUESDAY: NORWOOD DELITE

Norwood Delite has certainly withstood the test of time. Sandwiched by an apartment building and elementary school, it's easy to see that the young population keeps this creamy whip in business. The facade built with shades of brown and salmon pink will immediately transport you back to the 1960s and carefree summers as a child.

Keeping it simple, the ice creamery serves up vanilla, chocolate, and swirled soft serve, as well as eight FlavorBursts featuring vanilla swirled with a flavored syrup. Norwood Delite is also know for being "e-cone-friendly," offering most of their treats in a cone or waffle bowl instead of styrofoam cups in order to reduce waste. To encourage customers to select a cone for their treat, the owners have invented different flavors of cones to pair with ice cream flavors, and even created a sundae in a waffle cone with your choice of fudge, strawberry, caramel, or pineapple topping plus whipped cream and a cherry.

During our visit, we tried an Oreo cone with peanut butter FlavorBurst softserve. They also offer chocolate chip cookie cones, which would pair well with the regular vanilla or chocolate soft serve. If you're going for one of the more exotic fruit FlavorBursts, I'd recommend sticking with a traditional waffle cone.

With several outdoor picnic tables, small parking lot, and ample on-street parking, Norwood Delite is that old school, no-frills creamy whip you adored growing up.


Norwood Delite is located at:

4490 Forest Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45212

COCKTAILS WITH CURATORS

Cincinnati Museum Center is taking off their white artifact-handling gloves and picking up the silver tumbler in their after-hours series: Cocktails With Curators. Throughout the year, the museum will showcase their knowledgeable curators and allow guests to speak one-on-one with them about their favorite exhibits. Typically, curators aren't accessible for the general public, as they're busy working behind the scenes planning the next great exhibit to be featured at the museum. Cocktails With Curators brings the experts, and all their fascinating stories together with guests in a relaxed happy hour setting.

We attended a session with Scott Gampfer, Director of the Cincinnati History Library, held inside the Cincinnati History Museum. Guests were welcomed with light hors d'oeuvres, a selections of wine, beer and cocktails including the specialty drink of the evening, a lemon drop martini.

Later, Gampfer gave our group a personal tour of the Museum Center's newest exhibit: Treasures in Black & White, a gallery of historic photographs of Cincinnati spanning over the last 100 years. Handpicked from over 800,000 images in the collection, Treasures features 65 rare depictions of the Queen City. From Babe Ruth's visit during the 1947 All Star Game to architecture, Ruth Lyons, 1884 Courthouse Riots, World War I, streetcars, and chilling images from the 1937 flood, the selection tells the heartfelt story of Cincinnati's good times and bad.

When asked about his favorite picture, it was difficult for our curator to choose just one. Like most images, a select few resonate personally. For Gampfer, it was the telephone ladies that brought back memories of his grandmother: a line of women employed to connect calls on the switchboard for Cincinnati Bell.

 

Whether you can recall the stories first hand or have heard the legends passed down through generations, Treasures in Black & White is guaranteed hit home visually. Be sure to check out the exhibit as well as future Cocktails With Curators events, featuring paleontologist Brenda Hunda and the exhibit Cincinnati Under The Sea, or explore more Cincinnati history with collections curator David Conzett.

CONEY ISLAND BALLOON GLOW

For 15 years, hot air balloonists have been congregating at Coney Island on July 3rd to light up skies in a unique way. Dozens of 99,000 square foot canvas lay spread across Moonlight Mall, inflated one at a time using a large fuel-powered box fan and propane burners, which blast 2-3 megawatts of heat to lift the balloon. In comparison, that's a force equivalent to powering one diesel locomotive or three P-51 fighter aircrafts.

This balloon was my aesthetic favorite!

Igniting in intervals, the balloons inflated at dusk then intermittently lit their burners to create a fascinating glow show, illuminating the rainbow of patterns in the different canvases. Some were lit in patriotic red, white and blue, while others used vibrant blues and greens, bold stripes, or even one balloon that resembled a golf ball.

Difference between sedentary and glowing (below)

After the hour-long show, Rozzi's Fireworks kept skies bright with their dazzling fireworks display over Lake Como, located at the entrance to Coney Island. Not only were people watching from the park, but folks had pulled into the grass alongside Kellogg Avenue and stopped on the 275 exit ramp to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.

A gorgeous way to kick off the Independence Day weekend, Coney Island Balloon Glow continues to impress and awe with this hometown tradition.

CREAMY WHIP TUESDAY: WALKER BROS. ICE CREAM

Set back off of bustling Montgomery Road, passersby could easily overlook the creamy oasis that is Walker Bros. Ice Cream.  Named after the four sons in the owners' family, the walk-up ice cream parlour prides itself on only selling treats taste-tested and approved by each of the brothers: Zach, Kyle, Alex, and Sean.

Once spotted, the bright yellow cottage is hard to miss. In true Montgomery fashion, it may just be the classiest and most sophisticated creamy whip in Cincinnati. The vast outdoor patio is floored with brick pavers, umbrella-covered patio tables, and a garden trellis. The building itself brings back summertime memories of visiting a beach house. It's also one of the newest creamy whips of the tri-state, opening in 2012.

There's a well-organized, handwritten list of food to choose from, including specialty treats like slushes with ice cream or chocolate covered bananas. Walker Bros. is known for four things:
1.) a weekly rotating soft serve flavor which ranges from blueberry to black raspberry to pineapple.
2.) creature creation ice creams, where soft serve and toppings are used to model the dessert into characters or objects
3.) gourmet sundaes with fruit and topping combinations unique to Montgomery
4.) Wipeouts - toppings blended in to thick ice cream, served in cup with spoon

What's extra special about the soft serve is that you can make the weekly flavor a "twist" by swirling it with vanilla soft serve. Of course, you can also get the weekly flavor with a hard coated shell (the black raspberry with chocolate shell is amazing!)

Not sure what creature creation to order? Check out the wall of pictures just to the right of the order window. Choose from a penguin or soccer ball made out of vanilla soft serve and Oreos, a monkey made from chocolate and Nilla Wafers, Cookie Monster made of blue ice cream with a whole chocolate chip cookie in its mouth, or a ninja made with vanilla, cherry dip top and candies. New for this year is the The Bear Sundae, in honor of the wild bear on the loose in the East Side. It comes with chocolate ice cream, Oreos, Nilla Wafers and fudge.

Just when we thought our waistline was finished expanding, we discovered the sundae list, with mountainous ice cream concoctions such as, Blueberry Hill, Coconut Sensation, and Snickers Grand Slam.

Of course, each of the sons have invented their own "Son-dae":

Zach Attack: vanilla soft serve with M&Ms, peanut butter, and fudge
Apples a la Alex: vanilla soft serve with warm cinnamon apples, pie crust and whipped cream
Kyle's Kool Kup: soft serve with a cone hat, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a candy smiley face
Sean's Gimme S'more: vanilla soft serve with marshmallow, grahams, and fudge


Walker Bros. Ice Cream is located in Montgomery at:
9425 Montgomery Rd, Montgomery, OH 45242

CINCINNATI SUMMER BUCKET LIST

With the official arrival of summer, Cincinnatians are looking to make the most of their leisure time soaking up the sun. Sure, we have our ol' standbys: amusement parks, pools, and festivals. But what if you could create the escape of a lifetime -- a summer worth bragging about-- without leaving the tri-state? Whether you've got the next three months free or are simply looking for a weekend adventure, CincyWhimsy has created the ultimate Summer Bucket List to  help you experience something new and break out of that boring routine!

>>Download the printable version of our Bucket List.<<

1.       Beer & BBQ Cruise on the BB Riverboat



Sample a selection of Moerlein beers paired with a barbeque buffet while cruising along the scenic Ohio River. Tickets are $55 for the dinner cruise, or $26 for sightseeing only.

2.       Bike to Lunken Airport Café

3.       Explore an all-accessible treehouse




Built with an elevated ramp, the treehouse is accessible for people with limited mobility and is large enough for adults too.

4.       Climb the Mt. Auburn Incline

Home to Cincinnati's very first incline railway, a colorful stairway now occupies the space used by the Mt. Auburn Incline in 1870. Rements of the funicular are still visible, and at the top of the 960 foot climb is Jackson Park, providing a gorgeous view of the city.

5.       Tour Cincinnati on a Metro Bus




Go sight-seeing in your own city in the comfort and air conditioning of public transit! For just $1.75, pick a route of an area you’ve never visited and let the bus do the driving. See what the Westside or Eastside has to offer, ride the new Metro*Plus express route to Kenwood Mall or jump aboard Route 1 for a tour of Downtown Cincinnati and Mt. Adams landmarks, such as Music Hall, Union Terminal, Fountain Square, and Playhouse in the Park.

6.       Attend a Heritage Programs tour




Learn something new about your neighborhood with regular tours covering a broad range of topics, hosted by docents of Cincinnati Museum Center. These thorough excursions explore everything from Rookwood Pottery and Kentucky Bourbon to spelunking in the Cincinnati Subway and climbing the high steel of Union Terminal’s rotunda.

7.       Reenact a Civil War battle with an alternate ending

Photo by Heritage Village Museum

Celebrate Civil War weekend at Heritage Village Museum, a living history town, as hundreds of soldiers from the Union and Confederate armies reenact the Battle of Atlanta, with one day showing a Northern victory, and one day depicting the experience of a Southern victory.

8.       Joust!



Live in the glory of an American Gladiator with the jousting ring that travels around the tri-state to special events and festivals. We found this one at Rhinegeist in Over-the-Rhine.

9.       Eat an ice ball

Signature to Northern Kentucky, this part- sno cone, part-ice cream treat is a must for your summer sweet tooth. We recommend trying coconut ice cream and tiger’s blood ice OR coffee ice cream with black raspberry ice. Get it at Sweet Tooth in Newport or Schneider’s Sweet Shop in Bellevue.

10.   Sip a beer while porchsittin' at Mt. Carmel Brewing Company

11.   Visit Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum

12.   Paddle a canoe to explore an abandoned ship

Photo by Queen City Discovery

13.   Riverfront Segway Tour

Explore the urban core on wheels with a guided tour through Downtown’s eastern historic district, Procter & Gamble, crossing the Purple People Bridge, and gliding along the riverfront at Friendship Park.

14.   Artworks Mural Tour


Use the Artworks Map and Mural Guide for a self-guided tour of 64 public art installments spread throughout 34 neighborhoods in the city.

15.   Visit a new creamy whip once a week

16.   Check out the new OMNIMAX movies at Cincinnati Museum Center

17.   Take an excursion on the Cincinnati Dinner Train



Partake on a 3-hour train excursion through Cincinnati on historic 1940s passenger cars while enjoying a 4-course meal and spectacular views.

18.   Tour the rotunda at Cincinnati Museum Center



Free on weekends from 1:00-3:00pm, docents guide a walking tour along the catwalk of Union Terminal’s rotunda, high above the lobby floor. Visit behind-the-scenes features of the Museum Center, such as the historic President’s Office and railroad boardroom, which are off-limits to the public.

19.   Race a cardboard boat along the Ohio River

20.   Volunteer in your community


Give back to your neighborhood! Whether helping hands-on with Habitat for Humanity, getting active at a senior center, donating blood, or campaigning for a politician, being selfless is hot this summer.

21.   Attend a stargazing seminar at Cincinnati Observatory



Gaze into the universe using the oldest telescope in the United States. Expert staff explain the location of stars and planets on the celestial plain while you learn how to identify certain constellations and orient northward by using the night sky. Zoom in on a late-rising moon, planets or watch the whole sky for a meteor shower.

22.   Visit Rabbit Hash, Kentucky


Home to live acoustic music, folk art, simpler times, and a gorgeous view of the Ohio River. Stop by for drinks or a bite to eat at the General Store, and be sure to pet the mayor when you meet her. The first town to elect a dog for it's leader, Mayor Lucy Lou is a friendly border collie who was voted into office the same night as Obama won the presidency in 2008. Rabbit Hash has been governed by canines since 1998.

23.   Learn to make something in two hours at One Night, One Craft




For $5.00 a session, Contemporary Arts Center visitors have an opportunity to learn a new skill each week. Instructors from around the community volunteer to teach their medium, which varies from screen printing, to embroidery and gardening. Materials are included in the price of the class; all you have to do is show up.

24.   Find a creative way to watch Lumenocity with 30,000 other Cincinnatians

Photo by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Over 20,000 people in attendance at Washington Park for LumenoCity on Sunday.

Photo by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

- See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/2013/08/lumenocity.html#sthash.GjOxUBc6.dpuf

25.   Go on a Streetcar Stroll



Once a month, transit advocate Noel Prows organizes a walking tour of the streetcar route. See the new developments and talk first hand with experts and construction crews.

26.   Go on an urban bike ride

Photo by 5chw4r7z

27.   1940s weekend at Union Terminal



Celebrate the heyday of Union Terminal, when 34,000 passengers used the facility daily to catch a train. Dress in retro attire, come dance to the big band music, have your hair styled as a pinup model, watch live history reenactments, marvel at the classic car show and watch films from the 1940s.

28.   Summer Rail at Union Terminal


In conjunction with 1940s weekend, Union Terminal is also hosting Summer Rail, a marathon of multimedia shows about railroading in Cincinnati and across the world. Under the dome, check out one of the largest railroad show & nostalgia sales in the United States, which spans the entire rotunda floor.

29.   Have a Date Night on the LM&N Railroad



The second Friday of each month, the LM&M Railroad hosts a date night train ride from Lebanon to Mason, stopping for dinner at Brazenhead Irish Pub along the way. The historic route takes place on 16 miles of track through Lebanon, Mason, and Monroe that has been in use by railroads since 1881.

30.  Have a trainspotting picnic in Glendale



Cincinnati’s northern suburb of Glendale was established as Ohio’s first planned community in 1855 due to the development of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway (CH&D). Over 150 years later, an active railroad continues to run through the town, which has established a green space and benches near historical markers for visitors to watch the trains pass by.

31.   Visit the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati



Fifteen minutes south of Cincinnati in Latonia, Kentucky, a group of rail enthusiasts have been acquiring vintage railcars since 1975. The museum has a collection of over 80 units of equipment that belong to the seven railroads that passed through Greater Cincinnati.

32.   Roebling Bridge Walk

33. Enjoy live music at Behringer Crawford Museum's summer concert series

Photo by Behringer Crawford Museum

Country music legend Bobby Mackey will be performing this year, alongside several other fantastic artists during this nine week series.

34.   Watch a movie on the lawn at Washington Park

35.   Visit the Observation Deck at Carew Tower

36.   Be a butterfly landing pad at Krohn Conservatory

37.   Ziplining at Dagaz Acres

38.   Visit Amish Country



Located an hour east of Cincinnati in Adams County, visit the Keim Family Market for handcrafted woodworking, homemade soaps and lotions, and scratch-baked goods.

39.   Find Waldo



Organized as a child's activity, finding a small 12-inch cutout of Waldo hiding in your favorite local shops can be just as fun for adults -- no need to claim a prize. Keep an eye out around Oakley, Northside, and Over-The-Rhine and snap a photo to share when you spot one. Make it an interactive scavenger hunt with friends on social media.

40.   Check out a book from a Little Free Library




Scattered across town in residential front yards, the Little Free Library program enables neighbors to trade used books with each other at no charge.

41.   Play frisbee golf at Mt. Airy Forest

42.   Visit the first U.S. President from Ohio, William Henry Harrison

43.   Take a night tour of Spring Grove Cemetery

Photo by Tim Jeffries

44.   Visit the World's Largest Crab in Blanchester

45.   Learn something new at Starfire 3 Day



A share-and-learn festival spanning three days is hosted by Starfire, a post-secondary education institute located in Oakley. Discover little-known stories about Cincinnati, make something by hand, or try something new all with the help of your neighbors. Starfire encourages members of the community to swap their skills in a potluck setting with their students, business leaders, and citizens.

…and to finish up the list, here are five amazing experiences I’m yearning to try, which I learned about last summer from my friend Nedra, author of Adventure Mom.

46.   Fly on a Trapeze

47.   Take a Chuck Wagon Dinner Ride at Bonnybrook Farms

48.   Nuzzle a wild animal at Wolf Encounter

49.   Lawn Bowling

50.   Stand up Paddleboarding