Best Spay/Neuter Clinic
UCAN, the United Coalition for Animals’
spay and neuter clinic, wants you to “imagine a world without
euthanasia” by taking action and removing your pet’s sex organs.
Because it’s a nonprofit, even people on an editor’s salary can afford
to prevent Fifi or Fido from any pregnancy scares by handing them over
to UCAN’s caring staff. It has a clean, calm and friendly atmosphere. I
got my cat spayed there and now she doesn’t try to back it up on my
guests’ feet when she’s in heat! You can just get the surgery for
cheap, or you can check optional services like shots and flea treatment
for really reasonable prices. They also sell animal clothing in various
sizes in the lobby. 1230 W. Eighth St., Downtown, 513-721-7387,
www.ucancincinnati.org. (Jac Kern)
Best Place to DisCover “Handpicked Vintage Clothing, Accessories and Housewares”
Atomic Number Ten, one of Cincinnati’s assorted vintage
gems, is a clothing/accessories/housewares store run by local design
graduate Katie Garber. The 1,100-square-foot store focuses on vintage
clothing and treasures from the 1950s to the 1980s (and there’s usually
a really cute dog in there, too). 1306 Main St., Over-the-Rhine,
513-226-0252, www.atomic10.com.
Best New Women’s Clothing Boutique That Benefits Service Agencies
Mannequin Boutique is a hip women’s clothing store that
features upscale and vintage merchandise as well as accessories, art,
antiques and gifts. Labels range from Ferragamo and Prada to Banana
Republic and Coach, and even at these bargain prices you aren’t only
treating yourself, you’re helping seven local service agencies:
FreeStore Foodbank, First Step Home, Lighthouse Youth Services, One Way
Farm for Abused Children, Stop Aids, Tender Mercies and UCAN
Spay/Neuter Clinic. 1405 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine,
www.mannequinboutique.org.
Best Urban Fashion Boutique 4U
The mission of 4U Urban Fashion Boutique is to provide a
fresh alternative for fashion and clothing expression in Cincinnati. It
carries unique quality clothing in hundreds of different styles, but in
small quantities, so you won’t be out wearing the same thing as the
person next to you at the bar. And it’s right by the Art Academy.
That’s cool. 16 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-407-8059,
www.4uboutique.com.
Best “Ohio” Shirt
Floyd From Ohio, purveyor of the “OHIO AGAINST THE WORLD”
shirts and sweatshirts (printed by Able Projects: ableprojects.com),
definitely wins this year’s “Best Ohio Shirt,” not that we’ve had this
category before. You can see Floyd’s guerrilla model marketing pasted
in black-and-white posters all over the city, and look for the shirt at
OTR (Original Thought Required), a store that sells “the dopest
up-and-coming streetwear brands from all over the country.” 1307 Main
St., Over-the-Rhine, www.otrfresh.com.
Best Place to Get Your Kombucha On
OK, so Park Vine doesn’t yet have a kombucha keg, but
it offers the bottled kind and on March 17 hosted a sampling
party/fundraiser for new drink equipment at the eco-friendly general
store that included sampling of kombucha straight out the tap. Part of
the reason Dan Korman moved the store from Vine Street to Main Street
was to take advantage of the bigger space, which now includes a drink
bar that could soon offer fresh-pressed juice, a locally designed and
manufactured Hario pour-over bar and, hopefully, a kombucha keg. 1202
Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-721-7275, www.parkandvine.com.
Best Place to Buy Funny Reds-Themed T-Shirts
Unheardof isn’t just another sneaker/clothing boutique.
OK, it kind of is, but it carries a lot of cool T-shirts with Reds
players on them such as Pete Rose grabbing his nuts with a caption
reading “I never bet on baseball,” a Jay Bruce T-shirt inspired by the
time he gave fans the middle finger, which reads “F@#K OFF,” and also a
collaborative shirt created with Jonny Gomes. Sportz shirtz. 323 W.
Fourth St., Downtown, 513-744-9444, www.unheardofbrand.com.
Best Way to get Wood (on your iPhone)
JackBacks is a
local company that creates laser cut and etched wood iPhone backs,
handcrafted to work perfectly with the iPhone 4. Plain wooden backs
start at $89, laser etched ones start at $99, and you can even choose a
“Fat Jack,” which is a thicker, rounder back to “bring back that old 3G
feelin’.” Wood choices include natural bamboo, amber bamboo, mahogany,
walnut, cherry, maple and wallichiana. Custom etching is available by
downloading and following the instructions on the JackBacks etching
template. Get your initials, your dog’s face, your boyfriend’s face,
whatever. Well-reviewed by a variety of tech blogs, there’s a
three-to-five day production time and each back is delivered with two
little screwdrivers to make installation a snap. www.jackbacks.com.
(Maija Zummo)
Best Haute Couture Shoe Store
Morrison & Me is the only exclusively haute couture
shoe store in Cincinnati. It carries a ton of brands including Faryl
Robin, Frye, Jeffrey Campbell, Franco Sarto and more. Yummy. 1979
Madison Road, O’Bryonville, 513-232-7463, www.morrisonandme.com.
Best Sneaker Boutique
Corporate is a sneaker boutique that carries a large
quantity of limited designs, and it has a deal with New Era to design
its own fitted hats. 11578 Springfield Pike, Springdale, 513-771-0432,
www.corporategotem.com.
Best Quirky Personality For a Vintage Resale Shop
Located in Northside, Chicken Lays an Egg
is more than a stop on the circuit for thrift shoppers and vintage
enthusiasts. It is a wonderland of good taste, acidic hues and campy
lifestyling. There is a mod bend to the looks the shop carries, with
appropriate attire to conjure Twiggy, Bea Arthur and Ziggy Stardust
(all at once if you so choose). Chicken is more than a boutique; it’s a
movement. They have even made dance videos that have circulated the web
and planned clothing swaps, fashion shows and outrageous appearances in
local parades. 1608 Chase Ave., Northside, 513-265-6386. (Matt Morris)
Best CinCinnati-Based Bridal and Evening Wear Designer
Lindsey Lusignolo is an independent bridal and evening
wear designer who made her debut at Cincy Fashion Week 2010. Her
“theatrically inspired aesthetic infuses beloved design elements from
the roaring ‘20s and the glamorous ‘30s with cutting-edge modernism and
unconventional chic wearability.” Rumor is she’s also in the process of
opening a couture design gallery in Over-the-Rhine.
www.lindseylusignolo.com.
Best Easy Way to Help End Human Trafficking
Stop Traffick Fashion directly helps the survivors and
organizations rescuing and providing rehabilitation to human
trafficking survivors. Survivors make nearly all of the store’s
accessories, and by shopping here you provide income for these workers.
In addition to the direct impact, a portion of all sales revenue is
donated back to organizations that rescue victims and provide
rehabilitation and training. 2692 Madison Road, Suite N1-185, Hyde
Park, www.stoptraffickfashion.com.
Best Way to Figure Out Your Yoga Personality
Interested in sampling some yoga before committing to a practice? Yoga Row
on Main Street encompasses a variety of Yoga studios, which offer a
smattering of everything from Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Ashtanga/Vinyasa,
fundamentals, pilates and more. Head to Park Vine to buy a passport —
you get two for $40 to use for any class at any participating studio —
and visit any of the four east-facing studios: Main Street Yoga, 1201
Main St., Third Floor, Over-the-Rhine, 513-703-4175,
mainstreetyoga.biz; You Do Yoga, 1319 Main St., Over-the-Rhine,
513-258-2002, www.youdoyoga.com; Joyful Life Yoga, 1601 Main St.,
Over-the-Rhine, 513-861-9642, www.joyfullifeyoga.com; The Yoga Bar, 825 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 970-274-4402, www.theyogabar.net. (Maija Zummo)
Best Place to Buy Gifts
Madison Road in O’Bryonville. Try to name someone you
couldn’t find a present for on that street! Stores include 10,000
Villages, which creates opportunities for artisans around the globe to
earn a fair wage; Indigenous Gallery, which features a cool mix of
handmade items; Kismet, the eclectic women’s clothing store; Treadway
Gallery, an auction house focused on 20th Century Decorative Art;
Hemptations, the one-stop shop for the world’s greatest renewable
resource, hemp; Bob Roncker’s largest and widest selection of running
shoes in the Tristate area; and more.
513-871-5170, www.obryonville.com.
Best Coffee Shop/Gift Shop
The College Hill Coffee Co. and Casual Gourmet is a great
place to go for coffee, but it’s also a great place to go for gifts.
Homemade soaps, knitted socks, handmade heart pins — too many things to
name. And at Christmas, so much candy. Right now they have authentic
burlap coffee bags made by someone in College Hill for children for
Know Hope (www.iknowhope.com). 6128 Hamilton Ave., College Hill,
513-542-2739, www.collegehillcoffeeco.com.
Best Other Part of the Forest
Another Part of the Forest, named for and decorated with murals from Shakespeare’s As You Like It,
is the used record store/Siamese twin of Iris BookCafe. The store takes
its place alongside Everybody’s Records, Mole’s Record Exchange and
Shake It Records by specializing in used vinyl, featuring some 8,000
LPs on display (with some 15,000 more titles in stock). But there’s
more: comic books, pulp fiction and a collection of DVDs for rent and
for sale, plus VHS titles and even a tabletop of CDs. 1333 Main St.,
Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/anotherpartoftheforest.
Best Use of the Color Teal In a Store Windowfront
Fabricate does it all. Featuring local handmade/upcycled
goods and art, it’s a clothing boutique, art gallery and craft supply
store. And it has an adorable window display that showcases not only
great teal vintage furniture but also hand-printed greeting cards,
children’s clothing, furry little monsters and more, all of which you
can buy inside. Shop local. 4037 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-407-6057.
Best Place to Recycle Homegoods Without Wasting Energy
Need doors, cabinets, fixtures? Items to restore an old
home to its former glory? A cornhole set? At Building Value, materials
in good condition are reused in their original form for their original
purpose. Better than energy-wasting recycling, this process preserves
architectural treasures, provides quality materials at a bargain, gives
donors tax deductions/LEED credits and creates jobs. 4040 Spring Grove
Ave., Northside, 513-475-6783, www.buildingvalue.org.
Best Collective Studio Workshop and Retail Space
In 1789, three dudes purchased a plot of
land along the Ohio River at the Licking River’s mouth and named it
“Losantiville,” which eventually became “Cincinnati.” The design
collective/workshop/studio/retail space Losantiville Ltd.
is not claiming to be this historic land, but its members do admire the
retail and design practices of the 18th century: interacting with the
human who makes the wares you purchase and using local resources,
natural materials and non-toxic finishes. Losantiville is battling mass
production, outsourcing, energy costs and a withering homeland economy
by focusing on design, quality, authenticity and
sourcing/building/selling local. Whether you own your own space inside
the workshop, engage in a range of hands-on classes from urban farming
to furniture making or just come to buy goods from the guys who made
them, Losantiville will engage and inspire. 1311 Main St.,
Over-the-Rhine, losantivilleltd.com. (Maija Zummo)
Best Greener Products for Home or Business
Greener Stock is a “building products showroom and design
resource center specializing in non-toxic, recycled and renewable
products.” They make sure each product they sell has third party
certifications, proven market performance and longevity, maximum
recycled content, competitive pricing, LEED points and the
manufacturer’s environmental commitment. 3528 Columbia Pkwy.,
Columbia-Tusculum, 513-321-0567, www.greenerstock.com.
Best Consignment Furniture for a Cause
High-end decorators, along with normal customers, can
search for deals on furniture, lamps, accessories, art and jewelry
anywhere from 50 to 75 percent below retail price. The shop’s managers
maintain high standards for consignments and donations. All proceeds
benefit The Wellness Community, an organization that provides free
support services to cancer patients and their families. 3854 Paxton
Ave., Hyde Park, 513-871-8899, www.legacies.biz.
Best Independent Reupholsterer of Vintage/Thrift Store Furniture
Helen Smith Upholstery. Helen can return any piece of
furniture you pick up at a thrift store, Red Polly, NVision or your
grandma’s basement to its original state (or better). She can make
furniture look authentic to its time period, make it match your decor
or just recover it so you won’t be grossed out to sit on your vintage
couch. 513-263-0204, www.helensmithupholstery.com.
Best Office Furniture Supply Store to Get Lost In
Algin Office Equipment offers seven floors of new and
used furniture and office supplies. The entire fifth floor, called
“chair world,” is full of … chairs, and one floor down, in “heavy
metal,” the fourth floor is crammed full of metal desks, stands and
tables. Get all Don Draper in there and buy yourself a Mad Men-style desk and chair set. 810 Main St., Downtown, 513-621-1616, www.alginoffice.com.
Best Place to Find Antique Light Fixtures
Wooden Nickel Antiques features a wide range of quality
antique light fixtures from chandeliers to sconses and styles ranging
from Art Deco and Arts and Crafts to Victorian and even 1970s tiered
crystal fixtures. Especially practical if you own an older home or
Studio 54. 1410 Central Pkwy., Downtown, 513-241-2985,
www.woodennickelantiques.net.
Best Place to Find Modern Light Fixtures
Switch Collection sells international, modern and unique
lighting for your desk, apartment and more. Who needs Ikea? 1207 Vine
St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-721-8100, www.switchcollection.com.
Best Place to Play and Learn, Even if You Aren’t a Kid
Happen Inc., a nonprofit arts organization, brings
children and adults together to share creative art experiences.
According to its Web site, “Happen’s classes and projects build art
awareness, sharpen basic art skills and ignite the creative energy
between you and a special child.” Happen’s Toy Lab, where you can use
parts and pieces of old toys to recreate your own, is now attached to
Happen’s Northside space, doubling the fun. 4201 Hamilton Ave.,
Northside, 513-751-2345, www.happeninc.com.
Best Practical Eco Classes
We know this is “Best” Of, but we’re calling this one a
tie between Park Vine and the Civic Garden Center. The incredible Dan
Korman and the team at P V offer information on home weatherization,
mushroom cultivation, cloth diapering and more (including lots of green
merchandise). The Civic Garden Center takes you back to basics by
teaching organic vegetable gardening, how to build a rain barrel and
how to graft a fruit tree (or learn what that means). Park Vine, 1202
Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-721-7275, www.parkandvine.com; Civic
Garden Center, 2715 Reading Road, Avondale, 513-221-0981,
www.civicgardencenter.org.
Best Design Fundamentals Class Outside of DAAP
Enroll in the Brush Factory’s Vorkurs Workshop Series and
learn how to turn inspirational ideas into garments that fit. Learn
design fundamentals, how to choose fabric, create a silhouette, drape
and apply appropriate finishing and technique. Or start at the very
beginning with Vokurs I to become acquainted with your sewing machine.
As an added bonus, you get to hang out in the actual Brush Factory.
(They also offer custom tailoring.) 2019 Central Ave., Brighton,
513-321-9500, www.brushmanufactory.com.
Best Bookbinder and Bookstore in One
The Ohio Bookstore has been in operation since 1940.
That’s a long time, and with 300,000 books and magazines on five
floors, in all fields, you’re bound to find something to read
(e-readers suck!). Their bookbinding department also offers restoration
services for vintage books and custom binding. As an added bonus, they
also publish books about Cincinnati history. 726 Main St., Downtown,
513-621-5142, www.ohiobookstore.net.
Best New/Only Women’s Magazine in Cincinnati
A-Line is Cincinnati’s newest women’s magazine and
community focused on fashion trends, smart features, DIY projects,
craft cocktail recipes and more. Even though the first issue doesn’t
come out until May, it’s the best. And we’re not just saying that
because it’s published by our umbrella company, Lightborne.
www.a-linemagazine.com.
Best Skate Zine
Maximumrocknroll, the over 25-year-old international DIY Punk fanzine, had this to say about Kevin Bruce’s local zine deadramones:
“Definitely one of the better music/personal zines (we’ve) read in a
while. … Kevin is a great writer that … includes all the details that
make you empathize with things like subsisting off bagels and
exhilaration in spite of exhaustion that comes with thirteen hour bus
rides to fests.” Find it at Shake It and shows around town.
www.deadramoneszine.blogspot.com.
Best Group Encouraging Women to Write
Founded in 1991 by a former English teacher and
practicing poet, Women Writing for (a) Change aims to empower
individuals and celebrate voices through the art of writing and
creation of community. This supportive and creative tradition continues
today through WWF(a)C’s classes and retreats for women (and even their
co-ed classes) and in their programs for girls designed to “strengthen
girls’ authentic voices, develop their ability to speak out through
writing and direct interaction and deepen their belief in their own
creative intelligence.” 6906 Plainfield Road, Blue Ash, 513-272-1171,
www.womenwriting.org.
Best Way to Launch Your Female-Owned Startup Company
Bad Girl Ventures is “intended to be a highly localized
micro-lending organization focused on woman-owned startups.”
Individuals can donate money and then watch that money fuel startup
companies. Along with micro-lending, BGV trains up to 10 women at a
time in areas like legal, finance and more and, in the end, provides
them access to financing for their startup. www.badgirlventures.com.
Best Music Photographer
Michael Wilson, a Cincinnati-based photographer, born and
raised, does work for bands Over the Rhine, Lyle Lovett, The
Replacements, BB King and more. And he has photographed the likes of
Doc Watson and Andy Warhol. 513-289-3855,
www.michaelwilsonphotographer.com.
Best Pet Photographer
Love Mutt Photography photographs cats, dogs and other
furry friends (including rats) in studio or on location. Their clean,
candid and fun pet portraits capture the spirit of your best friend in
a relaxed atmosphere, with oodles of treats. 513-508-4667,
www.lovemuttphotography.com.
Best Innovative Design and Media Team
Topic Design does brand positioning, strategically
meaningful marketing, graphic design, public relations, app development
and web programming. Remember the cool twitter feed at MPMF? They did
that. Innovation. 1216 Central Pkwy., Downtown, 800-869-9989,
www.topicdesign.com.
Best Gig Poster Design
Powerhouse Factories is a group of designers, printmakers
and multi-disciplinary artists whose goal is to bring art to the
masses. Functioning as a design firm and print shop, Powerhouse began
in 2004. Band posters include national prints for Best Coast, Chromeo,
Passion Pit and more. Buy ‘em for cheap. They also sell screened
T-shirts and art. 33 E. Ninth St., Newport, 859-491-0444,
www.phfdesign.com.
Best Way to Electrify Your General Motors Vehicle
AMP makes electric cars by taking existing GM brands and
converting them into 100-percent electric. AMP was a finalist in the
Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a global competition that
awarded $10 million to all-electric cars achieving at least 100
miles-per-gallon in real world driving. Their hope is that you will
“become a proponent of green technology and show that anyone can make a
difference without sacrificing their driving experience.” 4540 Alpine
Ave., Blue Ash, 513-360-4704, www.ampelectricvehicles.com.
Best Auto Detailer
Sullivan Auto Spa takes car detailing above and beyond by
nixing the phrase “car wash” and offering the ultimate in customer
service. Owner Patrick Sullivan not only offers comparably priced
detailing choices ranging from a full detail to a “signature detail,”
which takes your car beyond like-new into show car condition, and also
offers fully insured pick-up and drop-off. Screw waiting around in a
car detail shop. Just stay at home and watch a couple episodes of Criminal Minds while he does all the work! 4128 Glenway Ave., Western Hills, 513-313-5364.
Best and Only Bicycle Co-op
MOBO bicycle coop will teach you how to fix up your old
bike, on your own, so you can actually ride it and service it in the
future, turning you into a self-sufficient bike rider. This nonprofit
offers workshops, events and plenty of open shop time. And, if you’re
not riding your old bike cause you grew a few inches or you got a new
one, feel free to donate. 1415 Knowlton Ave., Northside,
www.mobobicyclecoop.org.
Best Yoga South of the Border
Covington Yoga offers a peaceful, sunny place to spread
your mat, along with expert instruction. 440 Scott Blvd., Covington,
859-307-3435, www.covingtonyoga.com.
Best Personal Trainer
FITNEXT is a personal training and group fitness studio
designed to assist you in “accomplishing your state of optimum
wellness.” They provide innovative, fun and intense training to help
you reach your personal goals. 803 Sycamore St., Downtown,
513-721-0055, www.cincyfitnext.com
Best Dance Teachers
Missy Lay-Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard are the owners of
Planet Dance and the founders of the Exhale Dance Tribe, resident dance
troupe at the Aronoff. Not only are Lay-Zimmer and Hubbard Broadway
veterans of Cats, Footloose and Jesus Christ Superstar,
among others, they’re also the nicest and they’ll teach you everything
from ballet and jazz to hip hop and modern dance. 2230 Gilbert Ave.,
Downtown; 9536 Cincinnati Columbus Road, Mason, 513-505-6340,
www.planetdance.info.
Best Place to Have a Party
The Art of Entertaining and Uncorked at The Art of
Entertaining. The names say it all. Not only does the Art of
Entertaining offer up cookware, party decorations and cooking classes,
but, combined with the next-door wine shop at Uncorked, these two join
forces to create interactive culinary, wine and/or beer tasting events.
They also have an expert party planning team. 2019 Madison Road,
O’Bryonvile, 513-871-5170, www.cincyartofentertaining.com.
Best Floral Designer
Denis Buttlewerth of Buttelwerth’s Florist is a
nationally recognized floral designer and event planner who has been
creating breathtaking floral pieces for more than 35 years. And
although he retains the feeling of a small neighborhood florist,
Buttlewerth has orchestrated events in New York, Atlanta, Washington,
D.C., Sante Fe and ha been featured in the Washington Post. 2012 Madison Road, O’Bryonville, 513-321-3611, www.dbflorist.com.
Best Smelling Haircut
The Aveda Fredric’s Institute offers affordable, fun and
great-smelling haircuts that include a consultation, aroma sensory
experience, neck and shoulder massage, relaxing shampoo, mini facial,
blow-dry finish and makeup touch up, all by Aveda students. It’s a bit
like playing Russian roulette because you don’t know which fashionable
student will be cutting your hair every time, but rest assured if they
screw up, their instructor will fix it. 3654 Edwards Road, Hyde Park,
513-533-0700, www.avedafredricsinstitute.com.
Best Ayurvedic Massage
SIA Spa (Southern Indian Ayurveda Spa) combines modern
treatments with ancient Ayurvedic techniques to create a holistic and
potent blend of therapies for the whole body. Ayurveda incorporates
massage, meditation, yoga, herbs and oils to help you achieve a perfect
balance of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. They also
offer traditional massage and a medi-spa. 8127 Montgomery Road,
Kenwood, 513-985-0777, www.siaspas.com.
Best Tattoo Parlour
Dana, of Designs by Dana, has been inking people up since
1971. And this is a family affair. Not only does Dana tattoo, but so do
his wife, Dot, and son, Jason; there’s even another husband-and-wife
duo on the tattoo team. Click on each artist on Dana’s Web site to see
their portfolio and credentials (many of which include art degrees and
extensive apprenticeships) and explore some of the shop’s museum,
featuring tattoo memorabilia from 1905 to the 1960s. 4167 Hamilton
Ave., Northside, 513-681-8871; 631 Main St., Covington, 859-292-8871,
www.danatattoo.com.
Best Way to Honor World War II Veterans
The Honor Flight, a national organization, operates a hub
here and takes World War II veterans to visit the World War II Memorial
for free through donations. 8627 Calumet Way, Loveland, 513-277-9626,
www.honorflighttristate.org.
