Interesting/fun restaurants in Cincinnati (Hamilton, Ada: how much, house, wedding)

[mamaecho]

Hey everyone
First time poster, long time reader/stalker

I used to live in Lawrenceburg, IN.. but moved away over three years ago.. Long story short, my hubby got cancer, my best friend moved here (to Maryland) to help us out with our kiddos while he was going through treatment. Over the last two-ish years my hubby got 2 clean PET scans, and my best friend met her fiance We basically say that my hubby got cancer so she could meet her soul mate.. hahaha! Anyway, so we are planning a wedding back in Indiana... which leaves me to plan a Bachelorette party in Cincinnati/tri state area. She's not the average "let's get plastered" kinda gal.. so I would like to find a fun, interesting restaurant to have her party at... Any suggestions?? Or any other suggestions for a fun time for her last 'night of freedom'?

Thanks so much!

[wilson1010]

I spent about 15 years as the guy in charge of all bachelor parties for my friends, their friends, and one time for a guy I never did figure out how I knew him.

First, you need a budget. Everything is driven by how much $$ the friends will put up. Second, leave nothing to chance. Plan everything. Spontaneous is NOT good when you have a dozen drunk attendees. I always got a limo, made the rounds, no more than two drinks in any one place (strangers will target you if you are in one place too long), and ended up with entertainers at someone's house or apt.

The goal I always set for a good bachelor party was for the groom-to-be to end the evening crying, with his head in his hands, saying: "My God I'm so ashamed. How did this happen. I'll never do anything like this again." Please don't tell Rachel, Jennifer, etc."

I'm not sure that the same thing goes for the women though.

[mamaecho]

hahah Yeah I don't think it's the same for girls

[goyguy]

How 'bout one of the casinos? Or maybe a sports bar like Martino's...perhaps the Mexican restaurant at Western Bowl - from alleys to table and back, LOL...it seems to me that what would work would be a place that isn't just about food yet is more than one of those contrived "theme" spots which are replicated from sea to shining sea throughout the country. My sense also is that you aren't necessarily looking for somewhere with linen tablecloths and suited servers.
The days when the Calhoun/McMillan corridor on the south fringe of UC was a jumpin' and funky place are gone, but Lenhardt's on McMillan carries on and has good high energy. C-D word has it that its style has gone from strictly old-school German way over to collegiate beer garden, but that the original owners set aside retirement on the first weekend of each month for "schnitzel nights." This could make for good food and good times if you're there on the right day. Also, there's no corporate manual for the atmo and the servers' behavior at Scotti's Italian restaurant at 919 Vine St. When you anticipate the cultivated rudeness it's a hoot. Plus, that puts you right downtown if shop-till-you-drop is your cuppa tea: Macy's, Saks, Tower Place Mall, on and on the list goes.
If spontaneity (to a degree) appeals, take the BFF and your entourage to the top of Mt Adams or to Hamilton Ave in Northside or to Newport on the Levee or to Ludlow/Jefferson Ave in Clifton. These areas all feature an eclectic mixture of shops and restaurants, so that you're not just parking then eating/drinking then driving away again.
Fate brings strange things, don' it?

[mamaecho]

Very true!! I was really thinking about Newport..

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by mamaecho

Very true!! I was really thinking about Newport..

OK, you can experiment on this if you want. But, if your girls are in the least bit high spirited, you are gonna be lucky to avoid a problem if you don't follow the template I gave you above. It makes almost no difference where you go (as long as you don't go to Burger King or a biker bar). You are the party. It goes with you, you don't arrive at it. What you want is for the party not to be joined by a bunch of other stray people. Have you been out in the bar scene lately?

If you girls walk into Scotti's, you can have dinner and cut up for quite a while. OK. Make sure Rino is in on the plan. But, most places will tire of your antics after two drinks. Don't overstay your welcome. I tell you, I did this 25 times.

Now, if you have a bunch of librarians who want to get a nice view of the skyine from the Queens Tower and then listen to Alanis Morisette cd's on the way home, go anywhere you want. But if there is gonna be serious partying, you better have a van and a plan.

[mamaecho]

We are far more librarians than partiers.. hahaha.. Two of us are moms, the rest are pretty calm.. there will be drinks... but like I said, not your normal lap dance and shots kind of Bachlorette party..

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by mamaecho

We are far more librarians than partiers.. hahaha.. Two of us are moms, the rest are pretty calm.. there will be drinks... but like I said, not your normal lap dance and shots kind of Bachlorette party..

Well, you gals have a great time.

[goyguy]

Surprise us with a recap after the fact!
BTW my sister and BIL married at relatively young ages (25 for her, 23 for him.) So they beat a lot of their contemporaries to the altar. Wise to the ways of men, whenever a bachelor party rolled around sis always had the same message to tell her husband - now of 22 years: "Do what'cha wanna do, do what'cha gotta do, I don't want to know."

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by mamaecho

We are far more librarians than partiers.. hahaha.. Two of us are moms, the rest are pretty calm.. there will be drinks... but like I said, not your normal lap dance and shots kind of Bachlorette party..

Hey, wait a minute. Did I miss your point here? You said: Two of us are moms, the rest are pretty calm." May I assume that the moms are the wild ones, likely to get into trouble? That's interesting. I learn something about women every day.