Wine and Conversation

Thanks to everyone who came out to Summit Park to check out Higher Gravity. That was a cozy place to hang out. They liked our group so much, they want us to check out their original location in Northside. We may do that at some point. And I want to say thanks to Deb and Jack making Sushi. How can a person hosting a meetup hope for better members than that?

Meanwhile....early fall, time to check out a rooftop venue.

The Vick (310 Straight St., 45219) 7:00 PM
The Vick is the rooftop lounge on the 7th floor of the recently opened Hotel Celare on the corner of Straight St. and Clifton Ave., right across the street from UC's main entrance and McMicken Hall. It looks like a great concept. They have garage doors that they can open to create an open air lounge.

They have been opened for less than a year, and they don't do wine tastings or flights (yet)
... but Matt, the food and beverage director is going to create a tasting for us. $15 for 3 wines, and he is working on a list of choices now. So this should be similar to what Higher Gravity did for us.

The Vick also has cocktails, beers, wines, a light bite menu - and views of UC and the neighborhood around it.

If you know this area, many of the UC frat houses line Clifton Ave. and it is walking distance to McMillan/Calhoun streets, so it is a safe area with people all over the place.

The new hotel looks amazing, and the rooftop bar experience should be a lot of fun. I hope everyone can make it!

I'm am posting this event two months out. (Still working on an October location!). When we were here in June, Mr. Lazarus told me that he was considering retiring. Thinking this unique venue might not be around much longer, I wanted to plan a second visit here before the year ended. So here it is! The 21st is the weekend before Thanksgiving so hopefully it will be the perfect time to get out of the house and enjoy a glass of wine with a bunch of friendly souls before the Holiday Season kicks off!

Water Tower Fine Wines (6136 Campus Ln, 45230) 6:00 PM
This is one of the most unique Wine Shops in Cincinnati, and it has been in business for a long time. Many people call this the best wine shop in the city. It elevated to me from a 'must see' to 'get back Jack, let's do it again!'

If you haven't been here, they have some outside patio seating, and an impressive library like tasting room that we will take over for the evening. I think most of us were surprised at what an amazing comfortable place to hang out that this is. If you have never seen it, I hope you check it out in case the owners do decide to go onto other things.

There are 'Wine Station' machines. You get a card at the front desk, put it in the machine, select your choice, and it tracks your consumption. For those who enjoy tasting different varieties, that becomes your own personal wine tasting.

If you know what you like, you can purchase a bottle ( there is a $5 dollar corkage fee) and that may be more economical than by the glass for some wines.

Usually this shop closes up at 6 PM, but Dave , the owner, will stay open until 9 PM on this evening to host our group.

Note:
There is no kitchen here, but we are free to bring in any food we want.

It is fairly easy to get to, just off Beechmont Ave. right in the heart of Mount Washington. Parking is not a problem.