One of the most well-renowned culinary joints in the city is looking to add to its overall sensory experience, debuting a new multimedia art piece this weekend.
Northside Yacht Club is unveiling an impressively crafted 75-foot mixed-media mural, curated by a Cincinnati artist. Alex Frank is the man behind the project and is well known for his past successes with pieces like the Bacchus mural at Liberty’s and the LOST photo slide at Somerset in Over-the-Rhine.
Co-owner of Northside Yacht Club Stuart MacKenzie said when the idea was originally pitched, they wanted, “a piece inspired by Joan Miró’s work at the Gourmet Room in the historic Terrace Plaza Hotel,” MacKenzie said. “In my opinion, it was the coolest dining room in Cincinnati for many years, and Alex’s piece is a stunning tribute — while also being something entirely unique.”
The piece transforms a formerly all-black wall space into an incredibly captivating element that adds to the culinary adventure. The three-dimensional piece includes a wide variety of materials — things like plexiglass, plywood, plaster, acrylic and spray paint culminating in a multi-level art experience.
With the 10th anniversary of the punk-rock joint on the horizon, MacKenzie wanted to work collectively with some of his longest-time friends to help develop a space that they all felt deeply connected to. This is where Frank, a friend of MacKenzie’s since their shared days of being young artists finding their place in the overall scene of Cincinnati, came in.
“The piece perfectly represents how we try to not take ourselves too seriously,” MacKenzie said. “Being creative in this space is something we always wanted to do, beginning with music, and now with this art.”
When first approached, Frank was ecstatic about the project, as it was a perfect opportunity for lifelong friends to have fun blending their two career paths. Not only was it a passion project for the two, but it resulted in something that the customer can appreciate as well.
“It was the perfect blend of DIY and cultural elegance,” Frank said. “And it was an honor to be a part of the project. This place means a lot to a lot of people, and now the piece is no longer mine; it is for everyone that enjoys the space going forward.”
Below the mural, there will now also be a “cabinet of curiosities” that complements the artwork. This portion will provide a homey feel for MacKenzie, as his childhood dining room featured a heirloom letterpress tray, essentially a smaller version of what is being debuted here in the Northside Yacht Club’s dining space.
“I loved staring at the collection of knickknacks and doodads during meals. It’s a dream come true to have a large format version of that memory filling an entire room here,” Mackenzie said.
The shelving will feature a multitude of treasures that friends and family of the restaurant have gifted to the establishment over the years, and now they have their own dedicated space.
“This place has grown into what it is best at, and I think that is represented in the art,” Frank said. “People can tell there was a lot of thought, care and intention put into it.”
Despite the awe-inspiring work of the art piece, this will still simply only complement the incredible food offered, including favorites like the smoked wings and poutine.
The mural’s unveiling event is set for 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Northside Yacht Club, 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside. More info: northsideyachtclub.com.
This article appears in Feb 5-18, 2025.