ashleyd /

Running, Eating, and Drinking in Cincinnati

Good morning! How are you guys feeling this morning? Did you race? It seems like lots of people are celebrating PRs this morning which is so fun! I can’t wait to read lots of race recaps from Euguene, Big Sur, Nike Women’s Half, and more!

Things around here have been a little slower than normal this morning since we were out quite late last night! Our evening started with a dance party and didn’t end until 3am!Amy ashley dancing

Yesterday kicked off with the Active Water 5k in Fern Bank Park. Amy and I were hoping to secure a new PR but unfortunately, this 5k was definitely not official. There were less than 30 runners and it not only started 15 minutes late but we also realized that the course was not mapped well nor was there a time clock. We almost left after showing up but decided instead we’d support the local high school group’s fundraising efforts and push ourselves to run the fastest 5k we could.

IMG_8197 IMG_8198IMG_8204 IMG_8207 The course ended up only being 2.95 miles long but we enjoyed running along the river and taking in the scenery while pushing our legs! We were both sad that this wasn’t officially timed and therefore won’t go down in the record books for our 5k PR but I’m definitely on the search for a 5k in NYC this month! Anyone want to join in the fun?

We spent the rest of the day eating, drinking, shopping, and exploring Cincinnati’s different neighborhoods.

Teller’s of Hyde Park: A delicious brunch spot in an old bank complete with a dining room in the old vault! Each of us loved our meals which included the warm hazelnut encrusted goat cheese salad, grilled chicken sandwich on pretzel bun, and the lobster po boy!

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Cock & Bull English Pub in Hyde Park: Great outdoor seating right in the middle of Hyde Park! Their food is supposedly delicious and they have more than 60 beers on tap! We loved taking advantage of their make your own beer flight! IMG_8222 IMG_8224 IMG_8226Kaze in Over the Rhine: Miraculously we were able to score a table for 4 at this Japanese gastropub and sushi bar! Most other restaurants had a long wait but we hit this restaurant at the perfect time and were able to enjoy some delicious cocktails, their special sushi rolls, a few appetizers, and their halibut special that melted in our mouths! Amy Ashley at KazeIMG_8269 IMG_8270

Senate Restaurant & Bar in Over the Rhine: While we couldn’t make it in for dinner due to a two hour wait, their cocktails and desserts were amazing! We enjoyed an order of beignets with our cocktails and were floored by how delicious they were! I think the secret is the pretzel sugar dusting!IMG_8276Needless to say we had an amazing time in Cincinnati yesterday and are enjoying a morning mimosa with our homemade blueberry pancakes! Have a great Sunday!

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50 West Brewing Company

What a fun night we had in Cincinnati!

A little beer, some shuffle board laughs, good food, and lots of celebrating made for a perfect first night of our mini vacation!

After a smooth flight from JFK we were in Ryan and Amy’s new home getting a full tour by 8pm! They have only been in the house for a month but have already made such headway in the short time. Their hours is 7 TIMES the size of our little New York apartment! It’s incredible to see friends that are at the same stage as us buying homes. We loved hearing about all the renovations and projects they have in mind along with seeing the awesome before and after pictures from the projects they’ve already completed.   IMG_8172

Amy and Ryan’s realtor was kind enough to gift them a delicious bottle of champagne which was the perfect thing to kick off the evening! Between the four of us we have so much to celebrate: new homes and new jobs!IMG_8169

For dinner we headed to 50 West Brewing Company, a new brewhouse/gastropub in the Mariemont area of Cincinnati!

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One of the great things about 50 West is that they have plenty of waiting areas other than the bar. They have an outdoor area with picnic tables with fire pits and heat lamps along with a game area. While we waited for a table we had a game of girls vs boys shuffleboard. Needless to say, us girls are no experts as you can tell from the score board. But, it was so much fun!

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Once we were seated our priority was definitely on more beer and food! Since it was already 9pm we were all starving! 50 West’s menu features small plates which are intended to be shared with others and paired with their beers. Amy and I ended up drinking the Speedbump Kolsch all night, a light ale with sweet malt flavor!

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Overall the food was better than expected though definitely spicy. Seriously though, out of the 8 small plates we ordered 6 of them were very spicy. This works out perfectly for 50 West because you end up drinking more beer!

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Overall our favorites were the California Roll salad, short ribs, and fried green tomatoes.

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Such a great night!

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ashleyd /

Making The Best of It

It felt wonderful to push the door open at 6pm and see this lovely sight!

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I’ve been gone for five days and have missed Bo and some of the comforts of home. While the trip was wonderful, there is nothing like home.

This weekend, I spent Friday and Saturday in wedding mode! They did an absolutely wonderful job planning the events including the rehearsal dinner, bridal party prep the day of, the reception, and even the after party!  Instead of letting my cancelled flight upset me, I made the best of it and enjoyed some extra time with the group!

Riverboat Rehearsal Dinner

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There was an array of healthy breakfast options, including this adorable fruit bowl, waiting for us at Lauren’s house. She organized two local hair dressers, who actually graduated with her from high school, to do everyone’s hair at her house. It worked out perfectly and allowed us to spend time catching up together before the big wedding!

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The Ceremony & Reception

Held at the gorgeous Taft Museum of Art, the wedding was picture perfect. The temperature was in the low 80’s and the sun was shining down on the couple as they said “I do.” Every detail was planned perfectly including the jazz cocktail hour after the wedding, tent seating for 190 people, and the DJ who kept the party going until 11pm!

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IMG_2048 (640x480) IMG_2052 (480x640) IMG_2065 (640x480) IMG_2068 (640x480) IMG_2070 (480x640) IMG_2076 (640x480) IMG_2084 (640x480) IMG_2091 (640x480) IMG_2103 (640x480) IMG_2095 (640x480) IMG_2106 (640x480) As you can tell from the pictures everyone had a great time on the dance floor!

Cincinnati Reds Game

Yesterday, due to my rescheduled flight, I was able to score a seat in their group seats at the Reds game. A huge sports fan, Casey organized  group tickets for anyone who was staying in town the afternoon. It was a great way to reminisce about the previous night’s events and socialize with the group in a more intimate setting since there were only 20 or so people in our group. The weather was gorgeous and the Reds won in the 14th inning!

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One Final Run

Lauren’s matron of honor, Chrissy, was sweet enough to meet me bright and early this morning for one final run! She and her husband arrived around 7:20 ready to take me on a hilly running tour of Northern Kentucky. Our route was 3.8 miles long and included a few rolling hills and two intense inclines which intimidated the hell out of me. I told Chrissy from the beginning that I had two goals for this morning’s run: run the entire time, including the hills and keep below a 10 minute pace.

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This elevation map confuses me a bit as the final 1.5 miles were the steepest, versus the beginning. Maybe I’m just doing something wrong with the elevation map, but you get the point! Less than 40 minutes later we had accomplished our mission and were ready for showers and breakfast before heading to the airport.

I think Theodora would be proud of this morning’s breakfast which was enjoyed outside a local Starbucks. The unsweetened ice green tea was a welcome change from the coffee I sipped all weekend and the egg white and turkey bacon sandwich far exceeded my expectations.

IMG_4148 (640x478) IMG_4147 (640x478) I listened to my legs and sported these hot shoes for the journey home instead of Rainbows or Jack Rogers.

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These comfortable and supportive shoes along with smooth layovers and a healthy lunch kept me smiling all afternoon!

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I’m back in New York City where the sun is still shining, the sky is blue, and there is barely a puddle in the street. 

Question: What are your tips for enjoying a wedding when your flying solo? This goes for single and non-single people who happen to attend a wedding on their own.

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