How to Go
Where: O’Bryonville is located in Cincinnati, on Madison Road just east of East Walnut Hills and west of Hyde Park. The business district can be found between 1971 and 2128 Madison Road.
When: Hours at stores and restaurants vary. Most are open from Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and some on Sunday afternoons.
Parking: There are meters on the street and some scattered paid parking lots throughout the district.
Special events: On the third Thursday of each month from April through December (5-8 p.m.) the area hosts Wine Walks with extended hours, shopping and refreshments. Local groups in the community who are making a difference receive a percentage of sales for the evening.
The district also hosts special weekend events: The Celebration of Spring takes place in April, here is a summer sidewalk sale in July, an auturmn sidewalk sale in October and a Holiday Walk in November. For specific dates and more information: www. obryonville.com
A Day Away
In this on-going series, staff writer Meredith Moss checks out small towns and neighborhoods that are ideal for a lunch-and-shopping getaway. If you have an area you’d like to suggest, contact Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com
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Here’s a relaxing get-away in a quaint neighborhood. Perfect for a day away with the girls.
O’Bryonville, the historic area in Cincinnati just east of East Walnut Hills and west of Hyde Park, dates back to the 1830s when an Irish farming family, the O’Bryons, purchased 72 acres and began attracting other Irish families.
Today the shops, restaurants and galleries along Madison Road have become a popular tourist destination. These small establishments offer plenty of personal attention from warm and friendly shopkeepersk.
A sampling of shops
Park in one of the meters or parking lots anywhere along Madison Road.
Don't miss Kismet, Indigenous and Ten Thousand Villages. Kismet carries a variety of merchandise including earth-friendly clothing made of natural fabrics, accessories, lots of fashion jewelry, cards. At Indigenous, you'll find handcrafted arts and crafts from more than 150 local or regional artists.
Indigenous owner Diane Christian-Budd says she’s especially proud of the Art Tile exhibit each May and June where more than 1,000 art tiles from 40 different artists are on display. “People hang them like a work of art or collect them,” she explains.
You may have seen one of the Ten Thousand Villages shops around the country that feature fairly traded gifts, home decor, jewelry and art. All of the items on display are handcrafted in one of 30 countries where folks are able to better their lives through their handiwork. You can buy everything from coffee to cookies, toys to baskets, wooden boxes to hammered metal home accessories.
“The artisans used whatever materials are available to them — from bicycle chains to pop cans,” explained store manager Britt Wyse.
Serious runners may already know about Bob Roncker's Running Spot. The store, which has been in business for 30 years, sells shoes, apparel and gear. Hemptations sells eco products ranging from hats and T-shirts to clothing; Dennis Buttelwerth has been making beautiful floral arrangements for 44 years.
O'Bryonville is also known for its art galleries and interior design studios and it's the home of the i-do boutique for wedding services. We stopped at English Traditions where French and English antiques and replicas are the specialty; the Phyllis Weston Gallery that's featuring the work of three women artists entitled "Women in Abstraction"; Dwellings where interior designer and owner Grace Jones features furniture and accessoriesy. The Treadway Gallery focuses on 20th-century decorative art with an emphasis on Rookwood Pottery. You'll find other shops and gallerieslisted in the on-line shopping guide at www.obryronvlle.com
When it’s time to eat
Our top recommendation for lunch or afternoon tea is definitely The BonBonerie. On the day we visited, two little girls were celebrating their birthdays with a festive tea party. The bakery, which has been around since 1983, makes everything from scratch — pastries and cookies, scones, cakes, French macaroons. In addition to the cafe where we sampled homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, there's a separate tearoom. "It has to be beautiful and delicious," says owner Sharon Butler.
For dinner locals recommend Enoteca Emlia, an Italian wine bar and restaurant specializing in Northern Italian cuisine, and the new Son of a Preacher Man, owned by the same folks who opened Enoteca Emlia. The new dining spot serves fried chicken, shrimp and grits, bourbon meatloaf. A popular local gathering spot is O'Bryon's, known for their free peanuts, wings, and for the Shark Tank — a mix of vodka, Sprite, sour mix accompanied by a little plastic shark filled with Grenadine.
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