Livin' It Up in Cincinnati

Recently I have been getting a few questions about what to do in Cincinnati. So here is a simple post of some listings of what the first and second years do. It is mostly catered to what I do. I have also provided links to various resources in the list. Please enjoy.

Night out sort of thing

• Black Finn (if you like dancing)
• The Lodge Bar 
• Cadillac Ranch (mechanical Bull included stay posted to watch me get thrown)
• Fountain Square (has a lot of stuff going throughout the year)
• Mt Adams (area has a lot of things)
• Mt Lookout (area has a lot of restaurants and bars)
• Gas Light District (tons of great indian food and coffee shops)

If you are like me and don't really enjoy making small talk and dancing at clubs here are some outdoor type things

• the Ohio River
• Rock Climbing (there are several indoor gyms and outdoor crags)
• Red River Gorge (2 hours away but worth the trip)
• Skiing

Dancing...

• Lindy Hop Weekly Dance and Lesson (this is swing dancing and is awesome)
• College Town Hall Dancing Lessons (I cannot comment because I have never been)
• Salsa

Sporting Events

• Bearcats
• Bengals
• Reds (student nights and cheap tickets available)
• In addition to these at UC there are numerous intramural sports that students can participate in

This is just the basics. There are tons of other events that go on throughout the year and there are also several other close cities to visit such as Columbus, Indianapolis, Lexington, Dayton, and Louisville. Also D.C., Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland are not too far either.

From Storms to Steeples: Finding a Church in Cincinnati

When I moved to New Orleans, I knew no one, had no contacts, or any sort of safety net to rely on. So when I was told I had to evacuate for Hurricane Gustav my plan was to drive north until I was out of the path of the storm. But my parents put me in touch with some doctor friends of theirs in Baton Rouge just a few hours away. While it was still in the path of the Hurricane it was outside of the flood zone of the New Orleans levies. The Hurricane hit for about two days. There was sustained winds of 63 mph and gusts of 90 mph, and was named the worst hurricane to hit Baton Rouge on record.

 These first few weeks in Cincinnati have been a stark contrast to the beginnings of my New Orleans adventure. Not only did I have an old friend already established in the city, but once again the people of the midwest proved to be some of the most welcoming I have experienced. I found it was easy to build friendships with my classmates, doctors, and professors in the area.

In contrast to my first few years in Minnesota, I was able to find a good church almost immediately through my friend. In Minnesota I went to Bethlehem Baptist for one semester and then spent the next two semesters church hopping and never really settling down to build relationships. I was constantly looking for a place that would be a better fit. Not being able to find a comparison to the teaching of the word by John Piper's, I finally settled back at Bethlehem for my remaining years in Minneapolis. In Cincinnati I decided to find a church and stick with it, and after the warm reception I received at Faith Presbyterian, I decided I would make it my home church while I attend medical school.

Faith Pres is an ideal place for me to attend church. There are several doctors from UC that attend there as well as musicians attending the conservatory. I even met a man who was in the 101st Airborne division in the Army during the Korean War and the beginning of Vietnam. There are several generations of people worshipping together, and the affects the gospel are apparent in the lives of the members.

Sirens' Song on Isabella

Late on the Sunday before classes began, I was unloading my car after having moved most of my things from Cleveland. At about 10:30 PM a small black car plunged through the darkness and split the night with a hair razing shriek. It sped down the quiet residential street at about 55 mph, hit the curb in front of my house, and was launched 4 to 5 feet in the air. The car came down and totaled the front end into the street when it slammed into the street, skidded, and finally came to rest at least 30 yards from its launching point. I began running to where the car landed yelling to a family that was watching, "SOMEONE CALL 911!" as I raced passed.

I was first to arrive at the car and walked around looking for passengers. Not seeing any I proceeded to open the door. there sat a round man in the driver's seat with airbags flowing from the steering wheel. He still had enough sense left in him to remember to fasten his seat belt. Against my plea for him to stay seated, the intoxicated, barrel shaped man pushed passed me and began yelling at his friend over the phone, "DUDE, SOMEONE STOLE MY CAR! Can you come pick me up!?! I just crashed it but tell them someone stole it!" He was not really cooperative, but also was not seriously injured. He started walking away from the accident, telling those standing around, "Tell the cops that someone stole my car! Just tell them my car was stolen!"

And then enter the hero of our story, a tall, white haired corrections officer came from his house wearing a black muscle shirt. He sat the guy down on some steps, put a coke in his hand, and convinced him to wait for the police. I stayed with them just incase some sort of medical emergency arose, but none did. He just kept saying, "You guys are great, you guys are cool," over and over again. I was amazed that he had no injuries not even a scratch on him. Then came the fire department, followed closely by the police, and finally the curious neighbors mystically drawn from their homes by the siren's repetitive song. After having inspected the accident and verified that no one was hurt the fire department left, and the police took over the investigation.

The sidewalks were filled with curious on lookers out for a nightly stroll around the block, stopping short of their final destinations to talk with eyewitnesses and gawk at the scene unfolding.

When my cell phone said it was nearly 11:00 PM, I asked the police if I needed to make a statement, and after receiving confirmation that I was able to leave, I walked back down the street, continued to unload my car, brushed my teeth, and after a few minute talk with my roommate fell asleep to awaken the next morning. All in all a not so average evening on Isabella Avenue.