So, you qualified for medical marijuana in Ohio: Great, and sorry for what ails ya’. Ohio law currently allows those with certain medical conditions (cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, PTSD, chronic pain and many more) to sign up as a patient, after being approved by a licensed physician, with the Ohio Medical Marijuana Registry and Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Your physician will approve you to use a 90-day supply of certain forms of marijuana for your specific condition — oils, tinctures, edibles, vapes. And once you’re approved, you have to go to a licensed dispensary to purchase your medication. There are only a few in the Cincinnati area: Verilife, kind of by Pleasant Ridge; Have a Heart Cincy, co-founded by Rev. Damon Lynch III and located in Hartwell, which is the only dispensary to open so far technically within city limits; and Verdant Creations in Columbia Township, kind of by Target and across from the original little MadTree taproom. (There’s also About Wellness Ohio in Lebanon.) But Verdant Creations seems to be a card-carrying favorite because it has affordable price points and offers frequent discounts. After checking in with your medical marijuana card and ID, you’ll head to the Verdant Creations waiting room to peruse a menu of the current offerings. The menu is divided by form (edible, flower, tincture, etc.) as well as brand and strain (indica, sativa). And if you have no idea what any of that means, the helpful “budtenders” will teach you about the different applications as they relate to your specific ailment, especially if you weren’t or haven’t been a big pot smoker/vaper/eater/tincture-er up until his point. Note: These budtenders aren’t pharmacists, they just know a lot about pot. (They’re also very helpful if you’re confused about what constitutes a “90-day supply” limit.) After you make your selection, it’s filled in a back room and delivered through a window with a prescription label and sealed in a bag with a staple. You have to pay in cash (they have an ATM) or some weird digital payment. But it doesn’t really matter, because prices here are reasonable. And they usually have sales, special deals and promotions. Like they offered 29 percent off their entire inventory on Leap Day (there was a line out the door and an hours-long wait). Sign up for text alerts for discount notifications. Verdant Creations, 5149 Kennedy Ave., Columbia Township, verdantcreations.com.

After 25 years of teaching in various schools across the country, Melanie Moore rerouted her career to focus on inspiring a passion for reading by delivering the joy of books to cafés, flea markets and nonprofit events all from the bed of a vintage blue Volkswagen pickup truck. The Cincy Book Bus offers a unique, beautifully bound selection of reads along with a personable book-buying experience in a time where the internet offers instant gratification and two-day delivery. Moore and her husband, Tony, originally bought the truck from a cherry farm in Colorado and picked it up with cherry pits and juice stains still in the bed. It’s a manual and a little rickety, so Moore leaves the driving to Tony, who has an affinity for vintage vehicles. He’s happy to show off the book-mobile by welcoming customers into the driver’s seat or snapping photos of them with their newly purchased books in front of the bus. On days she’s not popping up at cafés and markets, she’s pulling into yard sales and shuffling through cardboard boxes or meticulously scanning each shelf in any store that sells books. She won’t pick up just anything — they’ve got to be unique and in good shape to make the cut. Though she stepped out of the education system several years ago, she still stays involved, helping schools in the area stock their libraries and participating in community literacy programs. Cincy Book Bus, facebook.com/cincybookbus.

Torn Light Records first made waves in Bellevue, where their eclectic range of records, cassette tapes, zines and VHS tapes made them a must-stop for anyone seeking weird finds and deep dives, whether you’re into Jazz, Punk, obscure 1990s Emo, Black Metal or anything in between. They made the move across the river in early 2019, opening a storefront on Ludlow Avenue in Clifton. The new shop was a big upgrade in terms of floor space — 625 feet to 2,000, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer — which means Torn Light has expanded its inventory to include a larger selection of not only vinyl but films and books, too. They also have an attached parking lot (parking is free for customers), which they’ve used to hold parking lot sales (at least one). In September, the record shop put thousands of LP and 45 records from their own collection and other vendors in crates in the parking lot for people to thumb through. The event also included a DJ, coffee from Deeper Roots and beer from 3 Points Urban Brewery. Torn Light Records, 356 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, tornlightrecords.com. 

Wanna feel fancy? Get something to wear from Hi-Bred, whose new Northside location is turning heads all over town thanks to the immaculately bedecked — and frequently changing — mannequins in the storefront. Owner Shawna Maria curates an incredibly chic collection and, unlike other resale shops that force you to dig through tons of filler for the gold, there’s an abundance of sheer style on the racks. Evening attire, motorcycle jackets, chic army surplus fatigues, fancy footwear ... they’ve literally got all that covered and much more. Want to treat someone with a great sense of style, but too polite to ask their size? Get them a gift card, that’s always en vogue. Hi-Bred, 4041 Hamilton Ave., Northside, hibred.life.

Cincinnati makeup artist Brit Cochran opened her online beauty retail shop Launch Party in 2019, offering a curated collection of independent skincare, makeup, bath and body, fragrance and accessories brands to make “shopping for beauty a friendly, approachable and inclusive experience,” says the website. And while you can shop by item, you can also shop by cause: woman-owned, eco-friendly, organic, vegan or social good, so you know the product you’re buying aligns with your personal values. Product descriptions have helpful icons, ingredients and information to let you know the background behind each lipstick, bath soak, mask or mascara. Follow the Instagram page (@shoplaunchparty) for fun product and people photoshoots. Launch Party, shoplaunchparty.com.

Emily Little first launched her line of soaps and body products as “Little Organics,” with a focus on herbal medicine, informed and filtered through her Appalachian heritage. Now, more than a decade old, Little Organics is Queen City Alchemy, a high-end locally made holistic skincare and apothecary line featuring soaps, serums, balms, deodorants and other botanicals crafted using non-toxic, compassionate and therapeutic ingredients. There are no dyes, fillers, parabens or sulfates in Little’s products and the cruelty-free line is Leaping Bunny certified. You can find everything you need to craft a witchy-woman-approved #shelfie, from a glowy Green Goddess French green clay/alfalfa/spinach powder facial mask to an anxiety tincture (with passionflower, mimosa flower, kava kava and skullcap) and rose water toning spritzers — all with super clean, minimalist packaging. And if you can’t find what you want on the shelf, head to the DIY Bar in the back of the Findlay Market-adjacent OTR shop to make your own. Ingredients and instructions are included to create your own facial masks or serums, bath soaks, herbal extracts and more. Queen City Alchemy, 1808 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, queencityalchemy.com.

Walk into Over-the-Rhine’s Wolfpack or take a scroll on their Instagram (@shopthewolfpack) and you’ll be hit with a distinct flavor of warm, earthy tones. And if you’ve done the former, maybe you’ve met the owner’s lovable dog Timberwolf. Owned by Katherine Dalton, the cozy store’s mission is grounded in selling clothing, homegoods and gifts that are sustainability minded. As stated on their website, that means items that are ethically sourced and made by people who are being paid a living wage in a safe environment. Those are ideals worth getting behind. Wolfpack, 1342 Main St., Over-the Rhine, shopthewolfpack.com. 

Look, we’ve all been there. You say the wrong thing at the wrong time, you forget to show up to an important event, or you’re generally just really good at pissing people off. When you screw up, Gia & the Blooms in Over-the-Rhine has unique bouquets and fast local flower delivery to mend relationships with irresistible arrangements. Their burlap-wrapped bouquets lean more avant-garde than Hallmark with rich colors and rare finds. Owner Yuliya Bui, from Minsk, Belarus, named the shop after her pitbull Gia, a rescue from the SPCA. Bouquets start at just $35 and 20 percent of all proceeds go to local charities. Of course, the flowers can be sent on any occasion and the shop also sells single stems, houseplants, planters and greeting cards to brighten someone’s day. Stop in or order online. Gia & the Blooms, 114 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine; Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, giablooms.com.

Daisy Jane’s Flower Truck is easy to spot with its bright red exterior and custom-made white canopy, which covers baskets filled to the brim with bouquet-ready flowers, each accompanied by a sign that lists its name, price and background story. Having a bad day? There’s a flower for that. Owner and founder Megan Moore is readily available near her truck — which can be found rolling around Greater Cincinnati on any given day and popping up at various art fairs and events — to answer questions, chat with customers and arrange flowers into vibrant, colorful bouquets. You can even customize your own bouquet and write a personalized note with Moore’s vintage typewriter. As Moore explains, daisies symbolize new beginnings and the name Jane means “God is gracious,” from ancient Greek and Hebrew. If you want flowers to come to you instead of you finding the truck, bouquets start at $35 (greenery starts at $25) and can be delivered Monday through Friday (for a fee). You can also book the truck for events or for your own DIY florals — grab your bridal party and get together to build your own bouquets. Daisy Jane’s Flower Truck, daisyjanesflowertruck.com.

Next time you pull back your hair for a workout, you can do so in support of stopping human trafficking. Ryan and April Berg “couldn’t walk away” when they witnessed the sexual exploitation of women in India. So they founded the Aruna Project, which provides holistic care to women trapped by sex slavery. Once the women are freed, they have the option of employment in their Freedom Business that ensures financial and personal independence. Aruna’s line of luxury athleisure accessories includes artisan-made headbands that are as stylish as they are functional. Each headband is made with Bluesign Certified recycled polyester that supports eco-friendliness and the Aruna mission. Headbands start at $10 and can be ordered online. Aruna Project, arunaproject.com

When Lindsey Estes started her laser woodcutting workshop Lucca in 2014, she was 24 years old with a single laser cutter, no backstock and a dwindling bank account. In 2015 she opened her first brick and mortar on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine before hopping on over to a new, 2,500-square-foot Findlay Market shop and workspace to house her flourishing business last spring. Six years into entrepreneurship, Estes’ gorgeous, millennial-minded laser cut creations can be found in homes and storefronts across the city, as well as the custom work created for the likes of Union Terminal, Hotel Covington, Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey, Music Hall, Rhinegeist Brewery and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Lucca’s stock holds plenty of homegoods and gifts like Midcentury Modern mirrors, minimalistic planters, holiday ornaments and real wood greeting cards, but the brand’s kitchenware is a surefire way to upgrade simple basics and dinner party centerpieces alike. Bamboo scrub brushes with geometric engraved handles and Brazilian walnut soap dishes make for pretty, sustainable switches for plastic sink essentials; floral-patterned cutting boards, spoon rests and serving utensils add a special touch to meal prep; and glass and marble accented creations add everyday elegance to decanters, teapots, coasters, spice jars and the coolest serving trays for the tastiest of charcuterie. Lucca, 126 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, luccaworkshop.com.

The Blue Manatee Bookstore underwent a rebirth for the goal of childhood literacy last spring. In April, the charming children’s bookstore located near Oakley Square reopened as a nonprofit with a new mission: Get books in the hands of kids who need them. From there, the Blue Manatee Literacy Project was born, and now the bookstore offers a one for one donation strategy. For every book sold, another will be donated to a school that lacks age-appropriate reading materials for students. The program specifically targets children between ages 4 and 8, an age group where the nonprofit says there is a critical need for reading materials in order to improve literacy rates by third grade. In addition to book donations, the nonprofit also promotes literacy by assisting reading mentors and holding kids’ events at the bookstore. An event calendar can be found on the Blue Manatee’s website. Blue Manatee Literacy Project Bookstore, 3094 Madison Road, Oakley, bluemanatee.org.

One of the nation’s most exciting literary publishers is based here in Cincinnati. Acre Books, an offshoot of The Cincinnati Review, shares incredibly thoughtful, award-winning works of poetry and fiction that have garnered praise and awards from the industry’s top minds. Edited by Nicola Mason, Acre Books publishes genre-bending hybrid works of prose and poetry, such as Matthew Kirkpatrick’s The Ambrose J. and Vivian T. Seagrave Museum of 20th Century American Art, an intriguing mystery told through museum exhibit labels for fictional works of art. Visual artists in a collaborative exhibit at DAAP Galleries interpreted the book so fans could see the made-up artworks in real life. Keep an eye on Acre Books’ catalog, there’s a lot of intensely good writing to be found. Acre Books, 248 McMicken Hall, University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave., Clifton Heights, acre-books.com.

For the past five-plus-years, Bond Hill native and entrepreneurial boss lady Ray Ball has been navigating her way through the regional marketing landscape — and did it on her own. The self-described “creative brandpreneur” singlehandedly championed her own brand marketing operation BallR Media and has more than a few notable bullet points on her resume. According to her website, she’s managed an Ohio state representative’s campaign, helped a Cincinnati clothing company sell out a widely hyped product online in a single day, and boosted an e-commerce client’s online sales by nearly 521 percent within two months. Last year, she teamed up with Nike and designed custom Air Max 1 kicks that are an ode to Ball and her Bond Hill roots that she named the Neighborhood Rose. The sneakers also brought about a nationwide campaign launched by Ball that she coined “#myhoodtaughtme.” The goal was to encourage others to celebrate their neighborhood roots and to provide inspiration to become more active in their communities. Unfortunately, those clamoring for a pair of the $130 pink low-tops are out of luck. The shoes sold out at the beginning of November. And they ran out fast — Ball said sales ended just a week after the product’s national release. Ray Ball: Creative Marketing, iamrayball.com.

Locally made TV commercials created on a shoestring budget are usually unintentionally funny, whether it’s the cheap production values or the clumsy attempts to feature business owners whose sparkling personality doesn’t really come across on the small screen. But Greater Cincinnati’s Jolly Plumbing proves that you don’t need to drop a ton of money to make impactful TV ads. You just have to be legitimately funny. Many of the 40-year-old company’s spots over the past couple of years have been guffaw-worthy (by design), including ads featuring a brutally honest plumber destroying his coworkers with deadpan quips, as well as the “People You Can’t Trust” spots that feature villains like the person who hates dogs, the person who doesn’t say “Bless you” when someone sneezes and the person who orders steak “well, well done.” (As you may have guessed, Jolly Plumbing plumbers are people you can trust.) In early 2020, Jolly unveiled its latest spot — a spoof of those gauzy, pretentious TV ads for perfume featuring a plumber slow-motion twirling in the sun in the name of the designer fragrance “Poope.” It’s good, sometimes-not-so-clean fun that occasionally rivals Saturday Night Live in the laughs-per-second department. Jolly Plumbing, jollyplumbing.com.

Across the river in Covington is Hail Dark Aesthetics: A truly weird gem where you can buy vinyl, an opossum skull, taxidermied bats, a pickled hedgehog fetus and more all in the same transaction. Anyone in need of sage or crystals would also likely find what they seek here. Need to contact the dead? There’s a Ouija board for that. A second outpost of the Nashville-based oddities shop, they also host niche classes that aren’t for the squeamish. Case in point: In partnership with educational group Meddling with Nature, they led a rat taxidermy workshop last summer and many more scorpion and bug mounting workshops this winter. The store’s ambiance is equal parts creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky — regardless, we love this little haven for all things weird. Hail Dark Aesthetics, 720 Main St., Covington, hailcincinnati.com.

For those who are so over Midcentury Modern, Coda Co. in Bellevue sells handmade macramé wall hangings to add eclectic flare to your boho home. Owned by husband-and-wife team Tanner and Kelti Ziese, what started as an attempt to make a Pinterest project together blossomed into a desire to learn more about the ins and outs of building and designing uniquely crafted home décor. The couple takes pieces that are no longer in use, including old bourbon barrels and burlap coffee sacks, and upcycles them into something new. They make furniture and homegoods and also carry clothing and locally sourced products made in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area. Their brick and mortar store is in Bellevue, but they also accommodate custom orders as needed. In addition to macramé hangings, made by Kelti, you can also purchase other macramé products, like bridal bouquet wraps and plant hangers. Coda Co., 400 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, shopcodaco.com.

Modernist wildlife artist Charley Harper — an Art Academy of Cincinnati graduate who created iconic works for Ford Times, The Golden Book of Biology, the National Park Service and plenty of local organizations — is a Cincinnati favorite. Find murals he crafted himself, like the colorful and geometric ceramic tile wall of animals in the John Weld Peck Federal Building or the uncovered-in-2015 abstract “Space Walk” at the Duke Energy Convention Center, or those made in homage to him — like ArtWorks’ “Homecoming (Blue Birds)” — spread throughout the city. And if you want to wear his art or use it on everyday objects like mugs or tea towels, you can find Harper goods at shops like MiCA 12/v, the Cincinnati Art Museum or Fabulous Frames & Art. The latter specializes in all things Harper, including Edie Harper (Charley’s wife and also an artist) and Brett Harper (their son and artist). Fabulous Frames has a special portal online, charleyharper.com, featuring art for collectors and a dizzying array of products. If you just want more Harper in your home, they carry everything from quilting bundles to puzzles, earrings, art tiles, ornaments, onesies and very cool skateboard decks. A collaboration with Habitat Skateboards, the decks feature works including Harper’s poster for “The Desert” made for the National Park Service in the 1980s, his “Squid and Whale” and several of his iconic red cardinals. The illustrations are printed on the decks, which are made of American-sourced 7-ply maple, according to the site. Fabulous Frames & Art, multiple locations including 17 W. Fourth St., Downtown, charleyharperartstudio.com, fabframes.com.

Between online shopping and a bevy of large chain retailers with massive inventories, it can be hard to make up your mind on what to read and where to buy. That’s why an independent bookstore like Downbound Books is so important in this age of overwhelming information: think “less is more,” with an abundance of thoughtful variety. Downbound is the newest addition to Cincinnati’s community of independent bookstores. Owner Gregory Kornbluh, a Cincinnati native, recently returned from a 13-year stint on the East Coast where he worked as a bookseller at a shop outside Boston and later in sales and marketing for Harvard University Press. With a focus on intentional curation and comprehensive subheads, Kornbluh says “it forces people to see stuff they might not have been looking for.” Downbound also offers crafts, stationery and novelty items from locals like Paper Acorn, Cryptogram Ink and Volcano Goods, with more to come. Downbound Books, 4139 Apple St., Northside, downboundbooks.com.

Sit in any salon chair at the newly opened Olive and Ivy Salon and someone next to you is sure to be getting a rainbow-colored dye job (or maybe it’s yourself). The talented team of independent stylists is great at executing current trending hairstyles, including short cuts, long weaves and sultry balayage. But for those looking to punch up their look, it’s the go-to-spot for a multi-hued hairdo by colorists who know a thing or two about standing out, embracing their true selves, and experimenting with endless dye combinations. The studio in and of itself is reason enough to stop in for a consultation, with complimentary beverages, hanging plants, a chill vibe and an accommodating staff ready to take your hair to the next level. Olive and Ivy Salon, 4803 Whetsel Ave., Madisonville, facebook.com/oliveandivysalon.