Ride, Splash, Quack!

The Duck tour is a fun way of touring the Greater Cincinnati area. Travel on land and water in one vehicle while touring the streets of Cincinnati and Newport and by making a big splash into the Ohio River. Ride the Ducks is truly a unique way to see the area.

Cincinnati, also known as the Queen City, is a city rich in history and culture with exceptional visual and creative arts, professional sports teams and top notch museums. Whether you are a resident or a visitor there is always something to learn, see and do in Cincinnati and our neighboring cities of Covington and Newport. For those reasons and many more, it’s no surprise that in 2012 Lonely Planet Travel Guide named Cincinnati number three of the top ten travel destinations in the United States.

Cincinnati offers all the benefits of larger cities like Chicago and New York while maintaining the small hometown hospitality. In this section we like to bring interesting facts and opinions. This is what we have for you in this month’s issue:

Washington Park

Select your favorite song from tne listed composers from your mobile device @
classicalwalkoffame.org
to be added to the Washington Park Fountain Jukebox queue.

Washington Park
In Over-the Rhine and surrounded by the largest collection of early Italian architecture in the U.S., Music Hall and the new School for Creative and Performing Arts is an eight acre park that has been a meeting place for the community since 1855. The park was renovated in 2012 with consideration to the features allowing them to add new amenities while preserving unique historic elements. Here are some of the old and new features available at Washington Park.

The Bandstand

The Bandstand
In the heart of the park is the bandstand that was originally constructed totally of wood. The Mission Revival style bandstand now in its place was built in 1911 and is constructed of concrete and has a tile roof. Tivoli lights illuminate the night while park goers enjoy live music and entertainment.

Cannon from Farragut Fleet at Mobile Bay

Cannon from Farragut Fleet at Mobile Bay
Donated by T.W. Seib of the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the cannon has been at the park since 1870. Used in the Civil war, it was used when Union Rear Admiral David Farragut successfully attacked Mobile Bay, Alabama blocking the last port in the Gulf of Mexico supplying Confederate troops. It serves as a commemorative monument to soldiers inducted in the park.

Children’s Playground
This safe and creative playground is 18,000 square feet of fun. Activities include a sandbox, climbing wall, dual slides, play castle and a canal boat
in a stream all inspired by Historic Cincinnati Structures.

Mosaic Art Bench

Mosaic Art Bench
The Mosaic Art Bench was a community project uniting the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Miami University’s Center for Community and the Peaslee Neighborhood Center. Lead artist Suzanne Fisher collected images of peace from area residents and local artists then taught the children the technique to create the functional work of art entitled “I Have a Dream of Peace”.

And Much More
An Interactive Water Park, Dog Park, the American Classical Music Hall of Fame, live music, plays, dances, movie nights and even fitness activities like Zumba and Yoga are a few more examples of how Washington Park has accommodated the needs of the community.

Highlander Team

With his handlebar moustache, the heavy wool uniform and the knickers and stockings, Jim “Colonel” Mattingly is a historical relic. He’s also captain of the Norwood Highlanders, a local team at the center of a recent revival in vintage baseball.

What is vintage baseball? Think 1869. Think water buckets, team flags and players marking their own runs. Think “Huzzah!” and “Leg it!” and “Rabbit to Shack to Mule – double play!” For fans, it’s free, family-friendly fun.

Cincinnati’s legacy, its collective obsession, has always been baseball. In the home of the first professional team, it’s only natural that this marriage of history and baseball would catch on. And no other sporting event lets you get closer to the players; just bring a chair and watch for foul balls. You might even find yourself talking to players during the game. “We like to involve the fans, or as we call them, ‘cranks,’” says Colonel. “We’ll ask the cranks to help out and decide a close play.” (Umps aren’t always used in this gentleman’s game.)

The Norwood Highlanders play about 25 games a year, often against two other local teams, the Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Cincinnati Buckeyes. They’ll also barnstorm to any town within 100 miles that has a team, such as Batesville, Tipp City, Dayton, and Rising Sun–the list grows every year.

If you go to a game, you’ll notice a few differences right away. No balls and strikes are called. The “hurler” (pitcher) throws underhand. And, most surprising of all, no gloves are used by the “ballists” (players). “That’s how the game was played back in 1869,” explains Colonel. “We try to stay true to the spirit.”

One thing is clear right away: these guys really do play for the love of the game. “We’ve played in 95 degrees in a hay field. We’ve played in pouring rain where you couldn’t see home.” Once, a Highlanders-Red Stockings match had to pause to let a horse-drawn covered wagon pass through left field. True story.

Colonel is no Kevin Costner, and this is no Field of Dreams. But if you asked vintage ballplayers or their fans “Is this heaven?” they might say “Yes!”

Underhand Pitch_The Colonel

Big Swing_Honeymoon

Bare Handed_Mustard

Grass Infield_Chuckwagon