Tag Archives: The Celestial

A Visitor’s Guide to Mt. Adams, Cincinnati, OH

Having lived in Cincinnati, I spent many weekends in Mt. Adams, enjoying its old-world charm and fabulous restaurants.  Steep winding roads lead to a hillside neighborhood that towers over the city’s downtown district.   With parks providing spectacular views, Mt. Adams is also a perfect getaway for locals who want to experience a location that seems more like a European village than a suburb of the Queen City.

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I began this trip with a visit to Rookwood Bar and Restaurant which is located at 1077 Celestial Street.  First established in 1892 as the location for the production of world-renowned pottery, a visit to Rookwood is one that will not soon be forgotten.  Eat on the outdoor patio or request to dine inside of the kiln for a unique experience.  I love the views from here and the food is spectacular.

UPDATE:  Rookwood Restaurant now closed!

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Across the street at 1071 Celestial is the upscale restaurant, The Celestial.  This four-star restaurant requires a dress code, but the food is exceptional as well as the views of downtown Cincinnati.  This piece of land was once part of Mt. Adams’ “entertainment district” where an amusement center and beer garden stood until they were destroyed by a fire in 1895.

UPDATE:  The Celestial Restaurant has closed after 50 years.

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I followed Celestial Street until it met Hill Street.  Next to the Mt. Adams steps is a beautiful park.  Quite often I would pass by runners and joggers along this path which opens up to phenomenal views of Kentucky and the Ohio River.  This area was once owned by Nicholas Longworth who planted his vineyards along this hill.  Soon thereafter,  immigrants from Ireland and Germany took residence here.  It was in this part of southwest Ohio that Longworth developed the Catawba grape which would be used to produce “America’s first champagne” known as Golden Wedding.

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One of my favorite places to hang out with friends on the weekends was Mt.  Adams Bar and Grill, located at 938 Hatch Street.  This place has some great history and I love the fact that the backbar came from a speakeasy owned by “The King of Bootlegging”, George Remus.  Remus was a Cincinnati criminal attorney that became famous for defending murderers, but was most known for making and distributing alcohol during the Prohibition.  It is said that he was the inspiration for the famous character of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby.

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A small entrance leads to The Blind Lemon next door to Mt. Adams Bar and Grill and could easily be missed.  Another hidden gem with lots of history, this amazing bar is the perfect place to enjoy the summertime garden patio or wintertime bonfires.

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Most bars and restaurants on Mt. Adams are within walking distance, so finding a great streetside parking spot is essential.  Since spaces fill up quickly, there is also the three-level parking garage on St. Gregory.

It was not unusual for us to start our night at Mt. Adams Bar and Grill for dinner, stop at The Blind Lemon for a couple of drinks and end the night at Yesterday’s Old Time Saloon where the drinks were strong and the prices were cheap.

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A short walk from the Holy Cross Church is The Monastery that was once the location of the Cincinnati Observatory.  Dedicated by President John Quincy Adams in 1843, the telescope was considered  the most powerful scope of its time.  Today the Monastery houses the property management firm of Towne Properties, while the Observatory has long been moved to the Mount Lookout neighborhood.

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From the Monastery, I traveled down Pavilion to the next corner where I stopped for a Cafe Mocha at The Bow Tie Café.  I took a seat at the Piazza where I took some time to enjoy the view, catch up on some of my notes and look over a few of my photos.

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I sat under the shade of the monk statue who stood with grapes in his right hand and a cup of wine in his left.  What a perfect representation of historical Mt. Adams when it was once a successful vineyard.

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I continued my walk heading east on Pavilion where I reached Guido Street.  Making a right, the street dead ends into The Holy Cross Immaculata Church.  Built in 1859 for mid-19th century German immigrants,  Mass continues to this day with one service on Saturday and two on Sundays.

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Since the 1860’s, the Mount Adams steps leading up to the Holy Cross Immaculata have a great significance to Christians during the Good Friday holiday.  The tradition is similar to the Santa Scala in Rome where believers start at the bottom and recite the rosary while advancing up each of the 85 stairs until reaching the top.   Beginning at midnight on Holy Thursday until midnight on Good Friday, the ritual begins at the “Good-Friday Arch” on Adams Crossing, across  Columbia Parkway.

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Backtracking towards St. Gregory on Pavilion, I passed another popular spot on Mt. Adams, known as Crowley’s.  Located at 958 Pavilion, Crowley’s is Mt. Adams’ oldest Irish Pub.  Irish immigrants made Crowley’s their meeting place when it first opened and it has remained in the Crowley family for decades.

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Mount Adam’s Pavilion has been a favorite bar on Mt. Adam’s for as long as I can remember.  With a packed schedule of live entertainment, this location is also perfect for enjoying fabulous views of the river.

Along  St. Gregory’s are several bars and restaurants to include:

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Quincy’s, located at 111 St Gregory, Mt. Adams

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Longworth’s at 1108 St. Gregory Street, Mount Adams

UPDATE:  Longworth’s is now permanently closed.

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Monk’s Cove, at 1104 St. Gregory, Mt. Adams

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Tavern on the Hill, found at 1111 St. Gregory, Mt. Adams

Mt. Adams remains  an artistic community and location for some of the best museums in Cincinnati.  I have visited both the Cincinnati Art Museum and Krohn Conservatory.  The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is a two-time Tony Award winning theater which sponsors a wide variety of productions.  For a period of meditation, visit Eden Park with its gardens, fountains and spectacular scenic views of the Ohio River, downtown Cincinnati and Kentucky.

I imagine Mt. Adams as it would have been when the German and Irish immigrants first lived here or when it was a community of artists, who enjoyed the quiet solitude away from the city.

I love this neighborhood’s strong history and its European charm where one can easily walk from one side of town to the next.  So many things have changed over the years but one thing remains constant.  Mount Adams is one of my favorite places to visit in Cincinnati.

Have you spent time in Mt. Adams or have a favorite Cincinnati neighborhood that I should visit?  I would love to hear your recommendations if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for visiting Mt. Adams with me through my blog post and Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do: 

The Monastery
1055 Saint Paul Place
Cincinnati, OH  45202

The Holy Cross Immaculata Church
30 Guido Street
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone: 513 721 6544r

Where to Eat: 

Mt. Adams Bar & Grill
938 Hatch Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone:  513 621 3666

The Bow Tie Cafe
1101 St. Gregory  Street
Cincinnati, OH   45202
Telephone:  513 621 2233

Where to Drink: 

The Blind Lemon
936 Hatch Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone:  513 241 3885

Yesterday’s Old Time Saloon – permanently closed
930 Hatch Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone:  513 421 9998

Crowley’s Bar
958 Pavillion
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 721 7709

Mount Adams Pavilion – permanently closed
949 Pavilion Street
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone: 513 744 9200

Quincy’s – permanently closed
1101 St. Gregory Street
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone: 513 381 3132

Monk’s Cove
1104 St. Gregory
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone: 513 703 7600

Tavern on the Hill – permanently closed
1111 St. Gregory St, #1
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 421 3309

Where to Stay: 

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Cincinnati Midtown
610 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 381 8300

Mt. Adams is located on the east side of Cincinnati and can be accessed by taking Columbia Parkway.  For more information about this  fabulous hillside location, pick up a Mt. Adams map by the parking garage or visit their website at www.mtadamstonight.com.

 

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View from the Celestial Parking Lot

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Another View of Downtown Cincinnati from the Celestial Parking Lot

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Mt Adams Steps

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View from the park next to Mt. Adams Steps

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The Monastery

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A View of the Monastery from Guido Street

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Mt. Adams Steps

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View of Cincinnati from the Mt. Adams Steps at the Holy Cross Immaculata Church

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Reaching the top step of the Holy Cross Immaculata Church, Mt. Adams

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View of Downtown Cincinnati from Ida Street on Mt. Adams

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The Bow Tie Cafe, Mt. Adams, Cincinnati

It was a perfect, cool autumn day for exploring Mt. Adams near Cincinnati’s downtown.  I started my journey at Rookwood and The Celestial, checking out the view from Hill Avenue and made my way to the parking garage on St. Gregory’s.  For a daily fee of $3, I  had plenty of time to check out my old stomping ground in the glorious Queen City.

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I was surprised to find a coffee shop had replaced the corner book store that I had frequented just a few years ago and learned it had been opened by former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker, Dhani Jones.  The Bow Tie Café, opening in 2010, is conveniently located in the charming downtown of Mt. Adams where both indoor and outdoor seating are available.  Offering a great selection of coffees, teas, drinks and café sandwiches, it is the perfect location for meeting up with friends or enjoying a cup of coffee while reading the weekend paper.

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I was curious to learn more about the name of the shop and found myself reading through photos and news clippings displayed on the walls of the cafe.  I soon discovered that Jones was inspired by Kunta Littlejohn and his friend’s fascination with bow ties.  “If you wanna be somebody, you gotta rock a bow tie,” and hence the name, The Bow Tie Café.  Littlejohn, a childhood friend of Jones, was later diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma so Dhani Jones started the Bow Tie Cause, a foundation to raise money for organizations that support leukemia and lymphoma research.  Today, Kunta is in remission and plays an integral part in the organization as Chief Inspiration Officer.

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Breakfast is served here throughout the day with a wide range of options such as breakfast sandwiches, waffles, burritos and eggs made to order. Additional fare includes granola with yogurt, bagels with cream cheese and cranberry nut oatmeal.

For lunch, patrons can dine on burritos, tacos and quesadillas as well as sandwiches and wraps. Brunch is also served with a mix of lunch and breakfast items to include Eggs Benedict.

I enjoyed reading the list of sandwiches and wraps because there were so many choices on the menu.  Club sandwiches, pesto chicken salad, cold cut sandwiches and buffalo chicken wraps are perfect for a light lunch served with kettle style chips and a dill pickle.  The vegetarian includes creamy hummus, baby spinach, red onion, tomato, lettuce, pecans, cranberries and balsamic dressing.

For salads, the selection included The Cobb, Southwest Salad, and Chef Salad, with spinach and garden salads as well.  Starting at just $7, each salad is made fresh daily.

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After studying the menu, I wished I had not already eaten breakfast, but I was happy to enjoy a cup of coffee on the piazza.   In addition to The Bow Tie Café’s food selection, the drink menu was just as extensive.  With Bloody Mary’s, Whole Fruit Smoothies, Organic Teas and Coffee Cocktails, there is no shortage of refreshments.

Bow Tie Café is one of the few Cincinnati locations that offers Intelligentsia Coffee and Espresso.  These coffees are produced from all over the world under the “Direct Trade” label.  What this means is that fair wages, which are set above the international trade standards, are paid directly to the growers.  The process of making the coffee is also ensured by the trade organization to guarantee a high quality product for the customer.  There are approximately 30 types of coffees which can be purchased at The Bow Tie Café and each are hand crafted and made to order.

For now, I will chill out in the outdoor seating area, enjoy my café mocha and know that the proceeds of my purchase are going to a great cause.

Have you visited The Bow Tie Café in Mt. Adams?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  If you have any additional recommendations for things to do, venues to see and places to eat in Mt. Adams, I would love to hear from you as well!  Many thanks for reading about my experience at The Bow Tie Café and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Bow Tie Café
1101 St. Gregory Street
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone: 513 621 2233

I enjoyed the cafe mocha that I had ordered for my morning coffee and returned on another visit to have lunch, where I had a difficult time choosing between the street tacos stuffed with chipotle chicken with cilantro lime slaw and queso fresco (which is amazing by the way) or the spinach salad served with red onions, dried cranberries, pecans & queso fresco cheese with raspberry vinaigrette.  I selected the salad and have since visited the cafe several times and have enjoyed each item I have ordered.

To learn more about Dhani Jones’ charities, check out his website at www.bowtiecause.org.

Where to Stay:

Springhill Suites by Marriott Cincinnati Midtown
610 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 381 8300

Books to Read: 

  • Eligible:  A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Running, by J.T. Cooper
  • Dead Witch Walking, by Kim Harrison
  • Beloved, by Toni Morrison
  • Double Dutch, by Sharon M. Draper
  • Romiette and Julio, by Sharon M. Draper

Photo Guide for Mt. Adams:

  • The view from the Mt. Adams Steps
  • Eden Park Twin Lakes Overview
  • Rookwood Pottery, the location for the famous pottery once made here
  • Eden Park’s fountain and gazebo
  • The Monastery at St. Paul place
  • The Blind Lemon’s firepit
  • The view from Mt. Adam’s Park
  • Celestial Restaurant in Mount Adams – The restaurant is now closed, but you may still be able to use the parking lot.

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

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