Wait, is there a difference between Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills? Yes, but just about a mile.

Both areas are filled with history, loved by their residents, and undergoing locally-invested redevelopment designed to keep home safe and growing. Both areas are great examples of Cincinnati’s many cool niche neighborhoods with their own personalities, just down the road from one another and each worthy of their own FNFT’s!

Walnut Hills, 2 miles north (bearing east) of downtown Cincinnati, is founded in, and most proud of its longstanding diversity. Today, giant old estates, victorians, derelict buildings, family homes and historical landmarks all share the space, history and purpose.

Sometimes overlooked but second-look worthy, it has it’s own redevelopment foundation and fiercely loyal residents and supporters, ready to invest in their shared home, restore it, and watch it bloom.

Named after the original landowner Reverend James Kemper’s farm Walnut Hill (his homestead, the oldest house in Cincinnati, is still there!), Walnut Hills became part of Cincinnati in 1869. Over time, many Cincy-immigrants moved to the area including a diverse mix of Jewish, Italian, and African American families. At that time, the commercial district at Peebles Corner (E McMillan and Gilbert) became known as the second downtown because of its vibrant business district and close proximity to downtown. That corner was the intersection of six street cars lines at the end of the 19th century.

The area, a living monument to diversity, is filled with important history and architectural treasures including Cincinnati’s Harriet Beecher Stowe house (where she moved at 21 when her father accepted a job at the nearby Lane Theological Seminary, and where she began her writing career), as well as the Walnut Hills Library, and the remaining tower of the Samuel Hannaford-designed Walnut Hills United Presbyterian Church.

The Stowe house is still there (2950 Gilbert Ave.) and the former Seminary is memorialized by historical marker in front of an automobile dealership at 2820 Gilbert Ave.

First Stop: Beer @ Esoteric Brewing

Esoteric Brewing is a great example of community redevelopment. The hometown founders (whose resume makes me wonder, is there a beer-sommelier equivalent?) raised funding and restored (thus the lotus-flower logo: the beauty that rises from the mud) the then-derelict but stunning art-deco Paramount Building (a former commercial hub at Peebles Corner), with the goal of turning it into their brewery and then some.

Their brewing philosophy is to “elevate your palate and create a sumptuous experience that will change your relationship with beer,” believing “craft beer should be as elegant as fine wine.” See my leap to beer-elier? Ha, I looked it up, the beer equivalent to a sommelier (wine expert), is called a Cicerone, who knew.

This Friday, John and I parked by app again and scooted into Esoteric to beat the rain. They were warm and inviting and patient with the non-beer experts that we are. They were busy preparing the space for a Cabaret show but that work seemed to just go on quietly in the background of our bubbles.

John, ever a lover of Guinness, drank something dark and lovely – was it the Opulence, the Paramount? He loved it. I almost went in a Bier-mosa or Belgian blond direction but ended up with the Celestial. Crisp and light, citrusy. Just right.

We left just before the big storm hit and the Cabaret commenced to go get some chow. Thanks Esoteric!

Next Stop: Gomez Walnut Hills

John and I were given the tip by our friend Grace, who is a devotee. We ran into Grace on our Goldilocks Margarita hunt in downtown Cincy, she swears by their half-spicy Margaritas… she also alluded to their “turtles,” we had to try it.

Rumor has it, Andrew Gomez couldn’t find his condiment of choice (great salsa) at UC when he was a student, so he made it. Hand-chopped from the good stuff, he began producing and selling Gomez Salsa (with items sourced locally) around the Cincinnati area, which then led into Taco Nights at the Village Tavern and Longworth’s. He’s now the proprietor of his namesake walk-up window in OTR, Halfcut, the bar next door, and Gomez Walnut Hills. His Walnut Hills joint is another great example of hometown redevelopment – we hear he lives nearby.

We beat the rain and the line and even got a seat – much of the business is carry-out, with the intention that on a nice day, you’d go hang out in their really cool neighborhood concept, the 5 Points Alley outdoor community space behind the building.

We had some chorizo queso (yum) with salsas (it really is the good stuff) and a turtle each along with a margarita, spicy for me. BTW, the infamous turtle is a burrito-sized tortilla stuffed with all the goodies you like then sealed up with an extra cheesy, tostada crunch folded hexagonally, finished on a griddle and cut in half. Sounds like something any college student would like. And me, something I would like. And John…

We bailed when we were done and the people left standing looked hangry (but not before a second spicy margarita!).

Last Stop: Post Prandial Cocktails, The Comfort Station (does that sound dirty? It’s just after-dinner drinks)

Because of the rain, we made a run for it from Gomez (with a daunting line out the door) to the Comfort Station but it’s so inconspicuous, unless you know it’s there, you’ll never know it’s there. It used to be a public bathroom -who notices those unless you’re looking for one?

Vacant for 90 years, the 1914 “public comfort station” or public rest area/bath house, served it’s purpose in this busy hub of early 20th century Cincinnati, but when the citizens spread out to the suburbs, taking commerce with it, Walnut hills got quieter and the Comfort Station went dormant.

Some brave entrepreneurs (those behind the inimitable Sundry & Vice) didn’t let a little pandemic stop them from taking the abandoned utilitarian classical limestone facade and creating something much more fun inside. The space is tall, airy, filled with plants and light, velvet, brick, and glass. A bit like a small warehouse with exposed ductwork and simple iron shelving but it’s full of color and… comfort! We seriously almost didn’t find it until we saw someone go in – the bright blue door (the women’s room) will be your only clue.

Outside, the door on the left (the men’s room) is designed to house a separate, basement bar called Among The Lost, but sadly, it is only currently open private events. It sounds cool though: “specializing in bespoke craft cocktails (bartenders will create their own inventive twists on cocktails, so that no two visits are ever the same) as well as rare and hard to find spirits”.

Hopefully next time.

Their patio is legendary but was closed when we were there due to rain, so we missed the fun of that. The bar was so jammed with what must have been a busload field trip from UC (not really – just a bunch of Z’s who found the secret door) that it was standing-room-against-the-wall only (guess the secret’s out!).

No matter, it was still a lovely visit, although short-lived with nowhere to settle in for multiple samplings. The menu is creative and clever and the drinks are first rate. My drink, The Best Gin and Tonic (floral dry gin, bitter lemon tonic) was just that. The Best. John had a lovely dirty martini while I enjoyed that earthshaking G&T.

They offer some solid classics, just tilted creatively enough to keep you on your toes… but they have other clever drinks: Hot Damn Son, Mass Communicatin‘, the Starburst Painkiller (with starburst-infused rum) and the Born to Raise Hell with Fruity- Pebbles-infused Gin… lightbulb on – now I see why the young crowd digs it!

And yes, on this night, as GenXers (and the Boomers next to us), we were seriously outnumbered, but the vibe was lovelier for the mix and I will definitely be going back.

These awesome places are just the beginning, like in each niche area in Cincy, there are lots of worthy places to visit and support in WH. To mention a few: Just Q’in, Burnett’s Soul Food, Urban Stead Cheese shop, The Pickled Pig, Daisy Jane’s Flower Truck, La Soupe (do good for others as you carry dinner out!), Green Man Twist, etc.

Gomez: gomezsalsa.com, 2437 Gilbert Ave.
Comfort Station: comfortstationcincinnati.com, 793 E McMillan St.
Esoteric Brewing: esotericbrewing.com, 918 E McMillan St

‘Til next Friday, Cheers!