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Today in Amusement History
Many moons ago, there was The Amusement Park Almanac, compiled by Dave Althoff and published periodically on Usenet. Anyone out there remember, or even know what Usenet is, let alone use it? For the last few years it has laid fallow with no updates and for a time, no home. That is till I came along and revived the Almanac. After getting the OK and support from Mr. Althoff it is alive again, living on DerekClayton.com/tiah. Both of us are now maintianing the list, updating it for current events and slowly filling in the events that were missed over the last few years.
But it is no longer just a list - oh no indeed! First off, it is now in a true database. Secondly, it can now be viewed in many ways - via website, Yahoo Widgets, Google Desktop and iGoogle. And if you have your own website, you can easily add it to your site (see the website for details).
Amusement history is an important part of American history, and Americana in general. Hopefully this will help keep it alive.
PS, if you need a Yahoo Widget, Google Gadget, etc... developed please let me know, I have your solution.
DAFE Website Upgrades
As many of you know, I am the webmaster of the DAFE.org (Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts) website. Until recently the database of attractions was kept in a Excel sheet. When I first took over the website I wrote a quick script that parsed that Excel sheet with an output to straight HTML - quick and effective - with the intention of doing a true database at a later date. That date has finally arrived!
The entire database is now online, sortable and searchable. Best of all the database is now in one central location that any DAFE board member can update at any time - with the update instantly available to all DAFE members. Images are now handled automatically - re-sized and copyrighted stamped. Cool feature side note: the admin pages are dovetailed into the existing Wordpress user accounts.
Additional information about each attraction is now being gathered to help our members. In addition we are now in the process of expanding the database from currently running US attractions to a worldwide database - past and present.
With the attractions databased, we can now offer a featured (random) attraction on various pages within the website, and random rides are now added to the existing Darkride Twitter account (which also is linked into the DAFE blog). Attraction ratings are also enabled (AJAX) - a feature that will see the light of day the minute the DAFE board is ready to enable the membership feature of the website.
Check it out, I hope you like this new upgrade and find it useful!
Iconic Cincinnati Restaurants
After posting about the great Cincinnati area restaurants you were missing I received several inquiries from my friends out of town on which restaurants they should try when in town. There are so many to try, so this list is limited to those places that scream Cincinnati, and unless noted, have been around a while.
Note that in Ohio there is no smoking in any public place, but Kentucky has no anti-smoking laws (it is up to each restaurant).
In no particular order...
Various locations (the original is downtown)
Izzy Kadetz himself would be proud of the local sandwich chain, now in it's third generation. Go for lunch and try a Reuben accompanied by a potato pancake - under no circumstance are you to opt out of the thousand island or sour kraut on the sandwich or are you to leave off the pancake.
Various locations (the original is in Montgomery, but the downtown location has spectacular views of the river).
Best ribs, ever. The barbecue sauce is a little on the sweet side, but the cuts are delicious, enormous and melt right off the bone into your mouth. The restaurants are covered with memorabilia from the various celebrities that have visited over the decades. Go for dinner and try the ribs (of course) with a side of saratoga chips.
Various locations (the original vanished through a space rupture)
If you are from elsewhere in the mid-west you know of White Castles already, so move on. If you don't, you are in for a unique hamburger treat. Known for their sliders - a small burger fried over onions - simple and effective. You must try a hamburger or cheeseburger (or four) - and if you are following Cincinnati tradition it should be very, very late at night.
Camp Washington Chili/Blue Ash Chili/Skyline/Gold Star, etc...
Camp Washington is in Camp Washington (just north of downtown)
Blue Ash Chili is in Blue Ash and Mason
Skyline and Gold Star are everywhere
One cannot come to Cincinnati and not try our cities official dish. Cincinnati chili is a bit different - first you will notice a hint of cinnamon and chocolate. Second, we serve it over spaghetti noodles with cheese - a three way! Or preferable go all the way and get a five way by adding beans and onions. You may also want to try the local version of a chili dog.
Various locations (the original is in Western Hills)
A long time staple in the Cincinnati area and the local favorite for pizza. Try the spaghetti, lasagna or if in the mood for pizza, a deep dish meat topper. I personally love the bread sticks with cheese and a garlic butter for dipping. Warning: if you are looking for gourmet pizza, or true Chicago or New York style pizza - this is not the place for you.
Graeters Ice Cream or Aglemesis Bros. Ice Cream
Graeters has various locations
Aglemesis Bros. is in Montgomery
Rich, creamy, hand made, fresh ingredients - do I need to say more? There are very few that still use the french-pot method (the small batches are very time consuming). The best ice cream anywhere. Try every ice cream flavor. Then do it again.
Various locations (the original is on Madison)
This is now a national chain, but it started right here in Cincinnati less than a decade ago, so I'm calling it our newest icon. Known for their exquisite hand made gourmet pizzas. Start by splitting any salad among your group. Then try a half x-peperoni, half Edger Allen Poe.
Sharonville only
A coney in Cincinnati will be topped by a unique Cincinnati recipe, but not here. Here you will get a authentic, delicious chili dog. So go get a foot long chili dog with everything and a mug or two of root beer. Did I mention they make their own root beer here fresh each day? The place and location are not much to look at (industrial area), but the great food and cheap prices make up for it.
Newport only
Until recently this was the only Hofbrouhouse outside of Germany. Authentic German recipes and some with a local flavor (which has long been heavily German influenced anyway). Be warned, the food is almost all fried. They brew their own beers here, keeping strictly to the German purity laws. So go for dinner and order a pint of your favorite beer (as long as it's not the light) and a appetizer sampler - then on to whatever else looks good on the menu.
What do you think?
When you come in town, let me know what you think. Those of you in Cincinnati, did I miss any icons?
Jungle Jim's Spring Beer Fest
Last Friday was Jungle Jim's Fourth Annual International Beer Fest - and I had been waiting a long time for this one. First off, a tip of the hat to all those at Jungle Jim's for organizing this and to all of the brewers for participating and answering all of our questions. Thanks also to Rib City Grill for providing the yummy barbecue.
This years event had over 800 attendees, almost double that of last years event (or so I was told). There were also double the brewers in attendance. It is great to see the love of beer, and craft beers in particular, growing in the Cincinnati area.
The unexpected stand out award this year goes to Sam Adams for their Imperial White. Although Sam Adams makes a pretty damn good line-up, rarely have any been stellar - this one is.
The best new brewer find goes to Brew Dog. If you look at what goes into this Scottish brewers selections you may find yourself shying away - don't. Their dogma is an interesting, complex, and easily drinkable ale. Their stout was superb. And the Storm? what can I say about this Scotch barrel aged IPA - you need to try it for yourself.
Unibroue again surprised me - how does such a large brewer make such great beers? I am adding the Don De Dieu and La Fin Du Monde to my stock keeping the always wonderful Trois Pistoles company.
My personally favorite of the night goes to Verhaeghe for their Duchesse De Bourgogne - a simply perfect Belgian sour.
And the beer you need to run out and get now? Shiner Bock's 100 Commemorator - this delicious limited run beer won't be around long.
My sampling is below - in no particular order (rating in parenthesis from 1-10). Please keep in mind that this was not a tasting, but a festival - ratings are rough. I plan to re-visit those brews that rated high and give them a more controlled tasting. You will notice that most of these were obscure - all were beers I had never had before.
Overall this event was fantastic and I look forward to June 18 2010 for the fifth annual event. But not all was perfect. Due to the large number of attendees their were no tables to sit at - I hate to eat standing up. The large number of attendees also made it extremely difficult to move about at times and made the overall noise level very high (you could not hear Ed announcing the prize winners). As you can see above I got to try plenty of brews, but the three hour time limit made me feel very rushed. Another hour or two would have made it a much more relaxed event and would have allowed me more time between drinks to eat, snack, and sober up. At the end of the night I also felt rushed/pushed out the door promptly at ten - last year we were allowed to stick around and relax. But I have no doubt the team at Jungle Jim's is already working on ways to fix these issues.
A friend of mine was the unofficial photographer for the event - check out his photos here and his homebrew blog here.
That's all for this year. Again a big thanks to the Jungle Jim's team - bravo! And if you were there, let me know what you think and what brews I should have had that I missed.
Overlooked Restaurants
There are a lot of great restaurants in the Greater Cincinnati area - a fact we should be thankful for. Many great places most of you already know, including chains like Dewey's and local places like Montgomery Inn. Below are a few local (non-chain) eateries most of you have overlooked, and which all of you should take the time to check out.
Pit-To-Plate
The best barbecue (and sides) in Cincinnati, served southern style (your choice of sauces served on the side). Try the pork ribs, wings, or pulled pork to start. Also try Barbecue Review.
8021 Hamilton Ave.
Mt. Healthy, Ohio 45231 USA
513-931-9100
http://www.pittoplatebbq.com/
Camp Washington Chili
Why go to Skyline or Gold Star and eat canned chili? Go here and taste how fresh makes all the difference. And, if you don't like Cincinnati chili, they have great sandwiches as well. Many a soul have been heard to rave over Camp Washington - but that don't like Skyline. Also try Blue Ash Chili.
3005 Colerain Ave
Cincinnati, Ohio 45225 USA
513-541-0061
http://www.campwashingtonchili.com
Lemon Grass
Best Thai in town. If you love Chinese, give this a try - the dishes are familiar, with unique spices and flavor notes. Also try Sukhothai Thai Cuisine.
2666 Madison Rd
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208 USA
513-321-2882
Betta's Italian Oven
Best Italian in Cincinnati. Wood fired pizza and great pasta - all home made fresh. Also try Ferarri's Little Italy.
3764 Montgomery Rd
Norwood, Ohio 45212 USA
513-631-6836
Floyd's
Mediterranean/Greek. Also try Andy's and Taz.
127 Calhoun St
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 USA
513-221-2434