Vol. 27, No. 33
Welcome to the Best of Cincinnati® 2023
This is CityBeat's 27th-annual ode to the best people, places, businesses, eats and arts in town, as chosen by readers and staff.
By CityBeat Staff
Arts & Culture
Best Successfully Innovative Show at the FotoFocus Photography Exhibition
Best Washington Park Event
The City Flea
Best Musical Hat Trick
Best Wearable Art Inspired by Reproductive Rights Issues
Best Place to See Botanical Prints
Best Argument for Rethinking Museum Period Rooms
Best Rescuing of Signs from Recently Closed Businesses
Best Immersive Eco-Art Fashion Experience
Best ‘Wise Guy’ Appearance
Best Exhibit to Investigate the Science of Color
Best Refresh of an Outdoor Sculpture
Best Holiday Laughs
Best Place to See Music Hall in a Hothouse Environment
Best Hidden-Gem History Museum
Best True-Crime Memoir That Cuts Away Sensationalism
Best Save of a Musical Heritage Site
Best Excuse to Promenade at the Taft Museum
Best Place to Perform Your New Poetry
Best Addition to the Cincinnati Zoo’s Hippo Float
Best Jedi Master with a Lightsaber of Gold
Best Regional Arts Theater
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Best Island with No Leis
Best Instagram Account Dedicated to Historic Preservation
Best Reason to Look Up at the Sky During BLINK
Best Meet-and-Greet with a Pop Culture Icon
Best New Starring Role from Behind the Scenes
Best Street Art Featuring Pop Culture References
Best TikTok Account
@cincinnatizoo
Best Famous Face on a Dress
Best Space Fostering Joy for Cincinnati’s Black Queer Community
Best Fitness Podcast That’s Not Really About Fitness
Best Regional Museum
COSI
Best Mural Dedicated to Restaurant Regulars
Best Place to Watch a Movie Stoned
Best Museum Exhibit
Made in Cincinnati (Cincinnati Museum Center)
Opportunities for Local Artists
Best Museum
Cincinnati Museum Center
Best Public Artwork
ArtWorks Murals
Best Old Thing
Findlay Market
Movie Theater
Esquire Theatre
Best Pumpkin Patch/Farm
Blooms & Berries Farm Market and Garden Center
Best New Thing
Fritz the baby hippo
Best Local Vocal Arts Group
MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir
Best Play (Professional)
Hamilton (Aronoff Center for the Arts)
Best Local Actor/Actress
Bob Herzog
Best Local Improv/Sketch Comedy Group
Improv Cincinnati
Best Local Classical Music Group
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Best Local Tour
Spring Grove Cemetery Tours
Best Kid-Friendly Attraction
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Best Local Filmmaker
Cincy Stories
Best Local Author
Tie between Leah Stewart and Curtis Sittenfeld
Best Local Theater Company
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Best Instagram Account
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (@cincinnatizoo)
Best Local Dance Group
Cincinnati Ballet
Best Local Artist
Pam Kravetz
Best Local Photographer
Casey Miller
Best Local Comedian
Mark Borison
Best Holiday Light Display
Festival of Lights (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden)
Best Gallery Exhibit
The Art of Ducks (Rhinegeist Brewery)
Best Free Attraction
Best Church Festival
Panegyri Greek Festival
Best Art Gallery (Not Institution)
21c Museum Hotel
Best Charity Festival/Event
Cincinnati Pride
Best ArtWorks Mural
“Cincinnati Toy Heritage”
Best Fountain Square Event
UC Health Ice Rink
Best Art Museum
Cincinnati Art Museum
City Life
Best Suburban Neighborhood
Mariemont
Best TV Weathercaster
Steve Horstmeyer (FOX19)
Best TV Newscast
WLWT (Channel 5)
Best Scenic Overlook
Eden Park and Devou Park (TIE)
Best TV Anchor
Sheree Paolello (WLWT)
Best Remodeling Company
Arlinghaus Builders
Best Troublemaker
The Hub OTR
Best TV Sportscaster
Dan Hoard (Bengals, Bearcats)
Best Religious Leader
Chuck Mingo (Crossroads)
Best Public School
Walnut Hills High School
Best Radio Talk Show Host
Jeff and Jenn (Q102)
Best Radio Show
“Jeff & Jenn” (Q102)
Best Radio Station
91.7 WVXU
Best Northern Kentuckian
George Clooney
Best Philanthropist
Bootsy Collins
Best Local Activist
Mike Moroski
Best Place to Take a Visitor
By Cincinnati CityBeat
Best Local Cause
Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio
Best Building
Union Terminal
Best Builder
Drees Homes
Best Park (City)
Smale Riverfront Park
Best Conservative
Mike DeWine
Best Local Elected Official
Aftab Pureval
Best Private School
Cincinnati Waldorf School
Best Developer
3CDC
Best MBA Program
University of Cincinnati
Best Local Podcast
Cincinnati's Crime Vault: Beyond the Broadcast
Best Progressive
Best Apartment Community
Spyglass Apartments
Best Northern Kentucky Neighborhood
Covington
Best Playground
Best Journalist
Jessica Schmidt (FOX19)
Best Friend to the Environment
Best Do-Gooder
Matthew 25: Ministries
Best Park (County)
Cincinnati Nature Center
Best Cincinnatian
Joe Burrow
Best Cincinnati Neighborhood
Northside
Best College/University
Best Reappearance for the Sake of Public Health
Best Illumination for a Cause
Best Drug Bust
Best Peaceful Park to Watch Planes Take Off
Best News for Sensitive Noses
Best Repurposed Historic Firehouse
Best Effort to Unionize a Massive Workplace
Best Paint Job on a Downtown Building
Best Neighborhood for a Low-Key Date-Night Stroll
Best Imaginary Witch Hunt
Best Municipal Affirmations of LGBTQ+ Folks
Best Mispronunciation of a West Side Town That Automatically Rules You Out as a Westsider DRAFT
Best Mysterious Donation to a Local Food Pantry
Best Tree-Lined Street
Best Use of Political Power to Decrease Their Political Power