Is this not the coolest cookie you’ve ever seen. No question mark needed there, it was really a statement. I found this random pic floating around on the web. I think I need to get more familiar with an oven after this discovery.

Apparently Ballpark Village is still a go to some degree. I can’t believe so little is being said about this project in the media.

City finishes plans for $230M Ballpark Village
Dayton Business Journal - by Jacob Dirr, DBJ Staff Reporter

The Ballpark Village development is a step closer to becoming a reality. Dayton city officials have completed their plans for the potential $230 million project and have submitted them to one of the developers for approval, city commissioner Nan Whaley said this week.

The Ballpark Village project would be the largest development in the history of the city. Many believe the retail, office and residential development would help revitalize downtown Dayton. But the project still has not received any official go ahead.

The project has two developers, Cincinnati-based Bear Creek Capital and California-based Mandalay Entertainment. Ken Stickney, Mandalay Sports Entertainment managing director, said that Mandalay is still committed to the village. “Out of respect for the city of Dayton, we are not giving specifics. From our standpoint nothing is changed,” Stickney said. “Our message is stay the course.” Mandalay is owner of the Dayton Dragons minor league baseball team. Bear Creek officials deferred comment to the city of Dayton officials.

Tom Biedenharn, spokesman for the city of Dayton, said that the city manager’s office is not ready to discuss the development. Speculation has swirled around the development since an imposed Thanksgiving deadline yielded no news from the city. While the city has remained largely mum, Stickney confirmed that city manager Rashad Young visited his office in Los Angeles in December. “I’m not sure how to characterize the meeting,” Stickney said. “We had a nice sit down.”

Whaley said the commission was told it would see plans for the mixed-use development by the end of January, but that has not happened. Others involved in the Ballpark Village project have received mixed messages from the city as to its current state. Alan Pippenger, president of Requarth Lumber, said that plans call for the city to buy his Monument Avenue building and tear it down in the first phase of development. His building was initially set for the third phase of the project. “The uncertainty has been difficult and it has made planning very difficult. We are looking forward to getting it resolved one way or the other,” Pippenger said. He said advance notice will be needed as it will take about six to eight months to relocate his company. If his building is included in the first phase of development, the project could take half a year to get underway once the city buys his building and helps relocate the business. “I think the project has been changing as (city officials) worked through some different options,” Pippenger said. He said that his company and the city are still negotiating about the fate of the building.

Ol’ Bill Pote of Dayton Most Metro just started up a Dayton forum. It’s in the same format as Urban Ohio so it’ll be familiar to many of you. I set up a little pole over there for people to vote on their favorite finer dining spot. I know, I know, it’s crappy that you have to sign up to take it but once you do you’ll never have to log in again. Good luck with the forum, Bill—I’ll keep coming back and doing my bit to contribute.

Friday night at about 7:30 Erin’s sister knocked on the door holding a pair of binoculars in her hand. “A church in Clifton is burning down!” We have a wide view of the downtown basin area so I ran to the window and looked toward UC. Both steeples were thick with red and yellow flames. I’m not sure why but it seemed really shocking. Buildings burn down every day in every city across the planet. Actually seeing it happen is a lot more stunning. The towers eventually tumbled over and fell. It was live on TV at the same time. It was mentioned that the interior of the building hadn’t been damaged much. I wonder how both towers could catch fire if nothing was burning from below. Arson! Conspiracy! No, I doubt it. But it is odd how that could happen. Old St. George was built in 1873 and designed by famous Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford. Luckily it’ll be saved.

I went on down to South Park Tavern, where the 2nd Pizza Factory location used to be, Friday night with a few friends. Immediately you notice the warm feel inside that matches the bright orange exterior. It was a nice scene—locals laughing, walking around, chatting and making new friends. We realized we needed to seat ourselves after about 20 seconds and made our way for a booth near the bar. After about 5 minutes of no one approaching us to see if we needed anything Drew and I went up to the bar to get drinks. The barman almost intentionally asked everyone else if they needed anything before coming to us. Regulars favoritism? I tried to get a Blue Moon and gin and tonic but apparently their liquor license doesn’t cover hard stuff. I’ve never heard of that but no big deal though. We waited about 10–15 minutes, drank our beer and left. No one once asked if we wanted to order anything. Am I totally in the dark as to the process they use for getting a bite to eat or is the service really that horrendous? People were eating dinner right and left so I feel really confused about the whole thing. I really want to go back. I feel like it has potential and could be a great spot to hang out. Some places just have the right feel and I’m willing to give them another chance after a total bomb. I think I may have seen David Esrati there but I’m not totally sure it was him. Was it you? And more importantly how did you manage to catch the attention of the wait staff?!

We felt a little dejected as we left but were still willing to try our luck at another place we hadn’t been before. We drove a few blocks west to (Jimmie’s) Cornerstone Bar & Grille on Brown Street. We had a much better experience. Our waiter (his name was either Nick or Tony) was attentive and had a killer attitude. Drew made history and actually bought an appetizer. Believe me, this sort of thing just doesn’t happen. He’d heard that the Paisano Pasta Chips were the house specialty, the stuff legends were made of, and figured what the heck, he wasn’t driving. They had an asiago cream sauce and were awesome! I’m not big on sausage but that was easy enough to move aside. I got the Philly as it is only fitting for someone with my name to do so. It was quite nice. Nothing will ever compare to Penn Station so don’t set yourself up for a let down. It was definitely a decent bit better than one I had at McGillicutty’s (what kind of crazy name is that) the week before. There’s still a few independents left on Brown Street and Cornerstone is definitely one that’s worth making a trip to. Next up: Wafu! You may have to double-dog dare me though.

Here’s a little rundown of the places I’ve been hitting recently down here in Cincy.

Slims - This place is mega-hip in a very relaxed way. Maybe similar to the Winds but I haven’t been there. Erin and I had one of our best waiters ever at Slims. He was a killer friendly quirky guy and really knew his stuff. Most of the food is locally grown and tasted delicious. The three course dinner started with mini sloppy joe sandwiches. Luckily Erin’s a veggie so I got two! It was my big day. We had the most perfect cornbread ever so the guy gave us the recipe. Have you ever heard of such a crazy thing—a restaurant giving away its secrets just because you wanted it!

Via Vite - The first time I was there was opening night and it was packed the crap out. This is the restaurant that opened right on Fountain Square. I don’t think there could be a more prime location. Erin called ahead but the owner was a total jerk and said he didn’t see that we had and basically said tough luck. The hostess was very apologetic and said she remembered the call and would try to find a seat for us as soon as she could. Doesn’t that seem a little backwards? Shouldn’t the owner be the one that tries to smooth things over when an employee starts messing up. Oh well. We left. All the L.A. looking kids in Cincinnati were there and giving us funny looks. I went back with some other people a week or two later late on a Thursday night and it was much better. We had pizza and some Christian Morlein (I wish Dayton had hometown beer). I liked it. The coolest thing about this place is how it looks—extremely mod and hip.

Keystone - I’ve been back there like half a dozen times. It’s really becoming the neighborhood bar in a way. Call me up, we’ll go some time.

Zip’s - I love Zip’s. It’s not possible to go to this little Mt. Lookout pub and not have a nice happy full belly afterward. They’ve had the best burgers in the City since the 1920’s or something and I don’t think they’ve upgraded the interior since then either which is great to me. Their bar is in a back room dubbed the “Code Room”. Is that a reference to Prohibition times? This place has loads of character and is busy non-stop (which is kinda crappy of course).

Covington Chili - I’ve been exploring a lot of the little hole-in-the-wall, most people I know wouldn’t go to sort of places lately. CC is on Madison—a street that still has a functioning commercial strip on it. I rode my bike down there the other day and had a little Cincy-style chili for breakfast; the place is a perfect dump. Each booth has is own personal jukebox. They’re old, old, old. Adjusting the volume is as easy as selecting either the hi, mid or low button. It had Cabo Wabo by Van Halen so I was impressed. The food was good and the place was only mildly smokey so it hit a good chord with me.

Country Inn - Another perfect dump. Newport’s version of Madison St. in Covington is Monmouth St. And I may like it a touch more even. The Country Inn was pretty full when I went. Real people were there (not the L.A. kids). I had eggs and meat—pretty much their specialty.

La Mexicana - I like this little Mexican place on Monmouth. It’s in a tiny storefront and was pretty dead when I arrived but was bustling by the time I left. I’m not sure what it was but it just had a little bit of a different taste than the usual Mex joint. I’m happy to have discovered a place like this close enough to ride my bike to if I want.

Arnold’s - Have I already talked about this place? Anyhow, it’s the oldest bar in Cincy and has been operating since Civil War times. That’s a mind bender. The first time I went there was a nice cold winter night with Erin and her sister. We sat near the bar but the patio was open. It’s covered and heated in cold weather so you can still get a semi-outdoor feel. We had some more of the Morlein. I went back later for lunch. I had a burger as is appropriate at such an eatery but it was kinda weak. Condiments in the small packets? Please. The more entrée-ish items looked good though. We’ll see. Either way it’s still a good place to hang out.

Betta’s - There’s a Betta’s in Mt. Lookout I’ve been to but the one we’re discussing here is the one owned by the son of the one in ML. His location in Norwood is new because the old building burnt down a year or two ago. I go to Norwood proper (not Rookwood) rarely so it made for a nice little exploration. The chicken parm and pizza were excellent. The interior felt really warm and it was nice sitting at a table near the window were pedestrians and traffic buzzed by. While trying to figure out how to enter the parking lot behind the building we took a wrong turn and found ourselves in one of the most picturesque neighborhoods. Norwood is definitely cooler than most realize. I mean they have a scooter store so that should say something right away.

Mokka - Erin really wanted to check this quirky 5th St. (Newport) breakfast place out. It’s in a pink art deco building that looks like it used to have some connection to mob activity. The breakfast was good but the service was fairly lousy. One of the waitresses was loud and annoying the entire time—almost going from table to table to say obnoxious stupid things. Erin gave her a sour look when she said something gay to her. That was the end of her attempts with us.

Molly Malone’s - We went there around holiday time last month. It’s right around the corner from Keystone and is kinda similar—a pretty cool bar and grill. This is in a much larger building though and has action on all three or four floors. When we left I saw band playing on the top floor. Cool. Keystone is better but this is still a tasty option.

Habit’s Cafe - I’ve never been to a bar and grill that has an hour and 15 minute wait. I wanted to jump across the street to Oakley Pub and Grill but we waited it out. Drew, who was previously pretty ticked about the wait changed his mind when we got a free round of drinks. That’s what I’m talking about, taking care of the customer. The food was good and cheap, the setting was cool.

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse - We played it classy this night. We valeted the car at Jeff Ruby’s flagship restaurant on Walnut St. in downtown Cincy. We were with some of Erin’s family for this one. The steak was pretty sensational. The thing fell apart as I cut it. Mmm. More Morlein and wine. The interior was designed by some person who did the interior of some famous Vegas casino. It looked like it too. I’m not saying that was bad. It was over the top in a good way. I really want to check out Pine Club more than usual now as I read an article where Ruby said he would’ve never gotten into the steak business if it wasn’t for the PC.

Nada - A upscale Mexican place? No, that’s not an oxymoron. The owner of Boca opened this cool restaurant/night spot near the renovated Fountain Square a month or so ago. We went on opening night just for drinks directly after Ruby’s. Erin and I went back later late one night for apps and drinks. I’d like to have dinner there sometime, it looks great.

Bang - I’ve been wanting to get in this cool nightclub for a while. I rarely go to these sort of places but this place seemed real NYC (not that I would know). The site will tell you more than I can. I just like that they have hand-made Rookwood tiling…

The Pavilion - This place is better in the summer but I think Mt. Adams in general is. It has four stories of decks with bars on each that look over the city and river. It’s a bar and grill, night club or music venue depending on the time of day you’re there (or what part). I’d like to go there more next summer, sit on the top deck and watch boats float down the river.

Skyline (Clifton) - Because there is a difference between the Clifton one and the others! If you’re here it means you’ve had a good night and want it to last another hour or so. This place still has character and isn’t like the plastic looking Skylines in the suburbs. We drove through Over-the-Rhine instead of taking the highway to get up to Clifton that night and someone got murdered down there. Yeah, we’re that tough.

Currito - Another Clifton (area) place. It’s similar to Chipotle but has a few more options which was nice. I want to check out a ton of places around UC. There’s so much character up around there.

Scotti’s Italian Restaurant - It’s more expensive than it should be but a lot of Italian place are. The experience and ambiance are out of this world. It was very Tony. The restroom was downstairs in what looked to be overflow seating. I almost would’ve rather eaten down there. I love basements. If you’re big on Italian check this place out, I’d love to know what you think of the setting.

Campanello’s - I hit up this little family Italian place one night by myself. I first went to the Carew Tower observation deck and looked around at the city. I then talked to a stupid girl in the lobby that thought it was one of the tallest buildings in the world. I informed her that indeed it was not and it would be lucky to be in the top 300 tallest. Whatever, then I walked over to Campanello’s to have a great dinner and some red wine. Tasty tasty.

The Stand - This place is cool to chill at after having dinner in Mt. Lookout or even just going there for the heck of it. The group is usually pretty mellow—no college kids ready and willing to fight. I love their retro dark red wallpaper. A quality place to spend an evening. Nice website too.

Friday night was a funny night. I’m not sure how it happened but we went to three separate restaurants, one directly after the other. And this wasn’t bar hopping. I finally did John Henry’s. It was a little more pricey than I thought it would be which is fine but it better live up to the expense. I had their hanger steak, fairly small but tasty. The mashed potatoes could’ve been more velvety, I’m not really into cutting them with my fork. Why is this a common problem with a lot of eateries? Is it just a matter of making sure they’re warmer when served? We sat in the east dining room which is a decent place to spend an evening. The lighting was dim and a large window looked out onto 5th Street—quite nice. The service was okay. I’m just having trouble finding places that stack up against Coco’s. Everything about that place is firing at 100% at all times. John Henry’s was pretty okay—I would go back but I won’t be dying until the next opportunity comes up.

For the homemade pumpkin pie we headed east to Bunny’s Hasty Tasty Pancake House. This place is representative of everything I love about small little diners. It has the right feel, the right air about it. The regulars stared a little at us a little knowing that we weren’t. There’s nothing trendy or fashionable about it—so basically it’s perfect. I’ve been scouring Newport, Covington and Over-the-Rhine for places like it. I’ve found a few but I’m not sure they quite compete.

For whatever reason we ended up at Elsa’s next. It was busy busy busy and people were in TGIF mode. Those Bad Juan’s are stronger than I remember! One sip and I immediately knew there was tons of the good stuff in it. Their warm chips and salsa are about the best you’ll find anywhere. Don Pablo’s, just try to match them!

We jumped over to my friend’s. He has a classic basement in a classic Belmont house. I grew up living in a basement so something about them feels real darn good to me. We spun records for a while and strummed a few songs ourselves. Give the below a click.

I’ve wanted to go to Tickets in Fairborn for the past few years. A weird desire, I know. I was a little nervous to go inside the first time I noticed the place so I continued on down the street to Giovanni’s. Does anyone else experience that? Fear of going into little neighborhood bars/restaurants for the first time? I’m nervous the locals might eat me. No, but you know what I mean, right? No? There should be a term for that. Restaurant trepidation. Coined here, kids.

So, before you got me sidetracked I was relating that I had restaurant trepidation about Tickets. The windows are tinted. Come on, why? But I went in a few weeks ago. And it was okay. I didn’t die and the food was decent too. The places kinda skews toward the Greek side in addition to normal pub grub. So I got a nice gyro and fry. It was tasty and the pricing was appropriate. I went with people of varying palettes so the review may be better or worse depending upon which of us you talk to. The interior is fairly dim and authentic (old). If I ever find myself hungry in Fairborn again I’ll definitely give it another go. It’s the sorta place where you could sit around at the bar for hours. I like that. Plus I’ve got a little soft spot for Fairborn. It’s no Tank’s or Stockyard Inn but certainly a valid place to have a sandwich and drink.

I’ve been looking at houses lately. I thought about the whole condo thing but it’s lacking three things—space, a small backyard and the inability to be loud as heck. A downtown condo would be nice for its location and ease but those don’t matter quite as much to me. I’m in a great situation too, a monthly rent situation (no house to sell) and everyone else is dropping the prices of their homes like a hot potato.

I love old houses. What charm, what character, what baseboards even. Have you seen old windows that aren’t perfectly smooth? Well, I read about the process that was employed to make them in olden days. An actual glassblower did it! An actual honest to goodness human being! How many custom handmade parts are in new homes? One of the best places I’ve found is an 1870 gem only a minute or two outside of downtown and picture perfect. It’s just a touch small though. It has a third floor but it’s best suited for a worker at the Wonka Chocolate Co. The basement is a cellar and those things always freak me out. I mean you can’t even access it from inside the house, you have go through those creepy doors from the rear of the place. Two best features: a 2nd story balcony off the master bedroom and the backyard is only a small courtyard with no grass! That’s all I’m looking for, just a place for a fire pit and to strum an acoustic on a summer night. Oh, another great thing about it, the price has been dropping by five digit figures—several times.

So imagine me a home owner—a grown-up even. Ouch, not sure if I like that. I’m gonna have to get used to it. I’m not sure if this will be the exact house I eventually buy but does anyone out there have tips on buying a seriously old house?

We’ve all seen the small town diners in movies with the aging waitress, the regulars, and of course a souvenir penny machine. Well on Linden Ave. in Dayton a little place like this exists. It’s called the Hasty Tasty Pancake House or Bunny’s for short. With the recent talk on this Gem City blog I thought it appropriate to write a little review of it.

I’ve been working a couple of hours from home the past few weeks and so when you get up at 5 AM there aren’t many choices for a meal that’s going to hold you over until lunchtime. So I stopped by Bunny’s for the first time since I was a little kid when the fried bologna made me sick. The first thing you can tell is that the smoking ban has hurt this place, I have no facts to prove that, but when you look around you know everyone is dying to go have a puff. So I ordered up the special which is 2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon, and 2 pancakes. A pretty hearty meal for only $3.15. And if you’re wondering, of course the waitress called me honey, that’s the type of place this is and should be. So as I’m reading the paper I notice that the waitress is talking with another table and taking bets on this weeks football games. The interesting thing about that is that no one is putting anything on the Bengals. Anywho the food arrives quick and it is hasty and it is also tasty.

I’ve also been in for dinner and that’s a little bit of a different story. I had an open faced sandwich with pot roast and mashed potatoes on top. It wasn’t that great but when you add a slice of 99 cents pumpkin pie, you know that business is about to pick up.

Overall this is the greatest place for what it is. I don’t know if that’s because there isn’t many other places like it anymore or I really just enjoy listening to 1950s music that they play. Not to mention that they have a mixture of antique items/garage sale rejects on display with a price tag hanging off. So let’s summarize Bunny’s. You can get food, household items, and a souvenir penny! There’s no question that at Bunny’s, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Drew J.