Clifton

Tree-lined, walkable streets, historic gaslights and fun, independent shops and eateries make the neighborhood of Gaslight Clifton an eclectic urban village. With a mix of living arrangements ranging from college student and young professional rentals to millionaire estates, Clifton residents are a motley crew, diverse in race, class, age, politics and background.

The main street of Ludlow Avenue offers all the basic amenities, including a pharmacy, grocery store, library, post office and movie theater, as well as a plethora of non-chain restaurants, neighborhood bars, coffee shops and boutiques. There is something for everyone on Ludlow and although a residential area, it's also a destination for many across town (and especially for University of Cincinnati students) looking for a nice night out at a restaurant or the movies. Clifton is also on the main route for multiple bus lines, with quick access to I-71 and I-75 and close proximity to downtown.

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Cincinnati was recently named the Best Walking City in Ohio - with neighborhoods like the Clifton Gaslight District, it's no surprise. A Clifton resident, especially one working downtown or in a neighboring area, could easily park their car and leave it for a week without ever needing to start it up and waste costly fuel. Instead, they could use their feet to reach everything from groceries to bars and restaurants to a picturesque hilltop sunset view. Northside and Downtown are also only a quick bus ride away.

Situated close to the University of Cincinnati, but far enough to bypass the college nightlife scene, the Clifton Gaslight District offers a few relaxed community bars, where everyone is (eventually) likely to know your name. The main strip, Ludlow Avenue, also offers varied culinary offerings such as Indian, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican Fusion, American Fusion, Greasy Spoons, Mediterranean and of course the ubiquitous Cincinnati favorite, Skyline Chili.

Although the quiet, village feel of Clifton Gaslight doesn't offer a raucous bar scene like its neighbors (Northside and University Heights), it does offer access to all the entertainment essentials, including one of Cincinnati's few independent art house movie theaters, the Esquire.

In addition to the University of Cincinnati, Clifton Gaslight is also close to other educational institutions, such as the Hebrew Union College and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, which boasts one of the best culinary institutes in the country.

The Gaslight area is also home to some great public green spaces in which to relax and enjoy nature. At the corner of Ludlow and Clifton Avenue, Burnet Woods offers an urban retreat for a picnic or some Frisbee; the Rawson Woods nature preserve is within quick walking distance and Mt. Storm park offers a great view of the Northwest side of the city. Clifton is also a three-minute drive from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens (located in nearby Avondale).

Clifton has an active community life, run mostly by the Clifton Town Meeting, founded in 1961, whose members promote business, the arts and public works in the Gaslight area. Clifton's diverse residential base, which includes students, professors, working professionals, artists and families, keeps the neighborhood an interesting place to live and visit. On any given day, you are just as likely to see an old eccentric feeding the birds, a mother and father pushing a stroller or a graduate student anxiously banging out their thesis in the local coffee shop. All of these different interests come together to make Clifton an area that can appeal to anyone. The key word for this neighborhood is accessible - it is an easy place to be, and also has plenty to offer those on a budget.

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Dining

Clifton is a foodie favorite, and offers a veritable smorgasbord of eclectic, ethnic and independent dining. Aside from the requisite Subway, Skyline Chili and Bruegger’s Bagels, corporate “box” restaurants don’t exist there – those in the mood for the “same old” are encouraged by Cliftonites to purchase a TV dinner and get it over with, or take a hike to the ‘burbs. However, those seeking adventurous or vegetarian fare will be satisfied in Clifton.

It would be safe to wager that Ludlow Avenue boasts more Northern Indian restaurants per capita than any strip outside New Delhi. With three Indian restaurants – Amol, Ambar and Apna - within a single block, curry heads can more than get their fix. If you want to try your own hand at cooking Indian cuisine, stop by the Indian Supermarket behind Amol, Jagdeep’s Grocery, where you can select from all manner of exotic ingredients.

If you should ever tire of Indian, Ludlow also offers good, dependable Chinese, delectable Thai, sumptuous Italian, spicy Mediterranean and funky Mexican fusion. If spicy or ethnic is not your speed, try a hand-tossed pizza at Dewey’s, bagel and coffee at Sitwells, greasy spoon breakfast at Proud Rooster or bistro fare accompanied by live Jazz at Tinks. Finish off your culinary expedition with a French-pot ice cream cone at Graeter’s before you head over to the latest indie blockbuster at the movie theater and the evening is complete! A word of warning to anyone who walks the streets of Clifton on an empty stomach – wonderful food smells, predominantly curry-oriented, dominate the air waves. So if you don’t have time to dine, or happen to be on a diet, walking through Clifton while hungry can be somewhat masochistic.
Nightlife

Clifton, unlike its boisterous twin up the road (University Heights, with which it is often confused) has a laid-back bar scene. Head to Arlin’s next to the fire house for live music, pool and large back patio – which is a favorite hang for Reds and Bengals fans to watch the games. A little further up Ludlow on Jefferson Avenue, Fries Café offers pool, table hockey, cornhole (a Cincinnati favorite sport) and live music most weekends. Another option, particularly good for a dinner and movie combination, is Olive’s bar and grill. There is also a straight-friendly hole-in-the-wall gay bar called The Golden Lions (often touted as the oldest gay bar in the city) where you can find pool, karaoke and dance nights. If you are in the mood for a hot alcoholic beverage or have a mixed group of drinkers and teetotalers, Sitwells is a good bet – they offer food, coffee and alcoholic beverages and ever-changing local artwork. If you’re in the mood for a burrito with your draft, try Habanero’s – they always have a few good choices on tap.
Arts & Entertainment

Gaslight Clifton houses one of the most important cultural landmarks in Cincinnati – the art house movie theater, The Esquire. Closed for many years, the Esquire reopened in 1990. It now boasts six theaters and is packed most weekends with people of all ages and backgrounds, enjoying a return to the community movie house.

Another cultural asset in Clifton is the new Clifton Cultural Arts Center, a multi-venue, regional arts center with over 57,000 square feet of space, housed in what used to be Clifton Public School. The edifice, which was built in 1906, is now being refurbished to allow for multi-media exhibits and workshops. Planned programming includes classes in music, dance, sculpture, literary arts, glass works, pottery, photography, painting and textile arts, as well as film screenings, art exhibits and theatre productions.

If in the mood for music, Arlin’s and Sitwells both feature live music on occasion, and St. John’s Unitarian Church also hosts periodic concerts. Just up the hill in University Heights, the College-Conservatory of Music offers a wide array of Classical and Jazz concerts, as well as dance, theatre and musical theatre productions.
Recreation

Clifton Gaslight is a great neighborhood in which to enjoy the outdoors. There are two major parks within walking distance: Burnet Woods, which boasts a music pavilion that bears the title of oldest structure in any of Cincinnati’s public parks, and Mt. Storm, which offers barbeque grills, a children’s play area, great sunset-watching views and awesome sledding hills for the one big snow storm Cincinnati gets every year.

Not far away and fun for the whole family is the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, which officially opened its doors in 1875, making it the second oldest zoo in the United States. The zoo (technically housed in Avondale but very close to Clifton) was quite small when it started, but now houses more than 500 animal and 3,000 plant species, making it one of the largest zoo collections in the U.S.
Special Interest

Clifton Gaslight gets its beatnik-bohemian-intellectual feel in part from the many educational institutions that surround it. Within a mile walk is the University of Cincinnati, started in 1819 and ranked as one of the top public universities in the nation in areas such as cooperative education, pharmacy, medicine and law. Also close by is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, which boasts the highly respected Midwest Culinary Institute and also the Hebrew Union College, housing The Klau Library (one of the most extensive Jewish libraries in the world), The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, a major center of study, research, and publication in the field of American Jewish history and The Skirball Museum, which features a permanent exhibition focusing on the cultural heritage of the Jewish people.
Shopping

Much like its eclectic variety of ethnic restaurants, Clifton offers treasure troves of vintage fashions, Asian-inspired décor, silver jewelry and decorative trinkets at unique retailers such as The Mustard Seed Boutique, Pangaea, Naru and Hansa Guild. Toku Baru and Toko Kidz offer great gifts and baubles for all ages, and Paolo, an upscale jewelry shop features upscale creations, many of which are made by the owner himself.

If you’re looking for staples, Ludlow offers such mainstays as Servatti’s bakery for daily bread, Ludlow Wine and Gift for suitable accompanying beverages, Adrian Durban Florist for fresh cut flowers and Keller’s IGA for all your grocery needs. For those with a sweet tooth, Graeter's has delectable baked goods as well as scrumptious ice cream. A recent addition, Ace Hardware, is located in the old Ludlow Garage building and provides the neighborhood with a much-needed source of tools, paint and other hardware necessities and services.

Those looking for ingredients on the more exotic side can browse Jagdeep’s Indian Grocery. Mediterranean imports such as cous cous and dates can be found at Mediterranean Foods. They also have a great deli with all kinds of fresh take out items, like stuffed grape leaves and falafel.
Personal Care

Clifton's Ludlow Avenue business district is home to multiple businesses offering hair and nail care options. Dan's Clifton Barbers is a real, old-fashioned barber shop with a twist: they also hold regular showings of art by local painter Tom Lohre. Two full service salons--Personalities by Leona and Head First--provide a range of options from hair cuts to waxings to tanning and nail care. Another nail salon, University Nail, is just around the corner on Clifton Avenue.

Ashtanga Yoga devotees can choose from many classes, including mat pilates and hot yoga, at It's Yoga, located on the second floor of the old Ludlow Garage building. More body care is available from Dr Andrea Jewell, who provides chiropractic, orthopedic and physiotherapeutic services at Fick Chiropractic Center.

Clifton is a foodie favorite, and offers a veritable smorgasbord of eclectic, ethnic and independent dining. Aside from the requisite Subway, Skyline Chili and Bruegger’s Bagels, corporate “box” restaurants don’t exist there – those in the mood for the “same old” are encouraged by Cliftonites to purchase a TV dinner and get it over with, or take a hike to the ‘burbs. However, those seeking adventurous or vegetarian fare will be satisfied in Clifton.

It would be safe to wager that Ludlow Avenue boasts more Northern Indian restaurants per capita than any strip outside New Delhi. With three Indian restaurants – Amol, Ambar and Apna - within a single block, curry heads can more than get their fix. If you want to try your own hand at cooking Indian cuisine, stop by the Indian Supermarket behind Amol, Jagdeep’s Grocery, where you can select from all manner of exotic ingredients.

If you should ever tire of Indian, Ludlow also offers good, dependable Chinese, delectable Thai, sumptuous Italian, spicy Mediterranean and funky Mexican fusion. If spicy or ethnic is not your speed, try a hand-tossed pizza at Dewey’s, bagel and coffee at Sitwells, greasy spoon breakfast at Proud Rooster or bistro fare accompanied by live Jazz at Tinks. Finish off your culinary expedition with a French-pot ice cream cone at Graeter’s before you head over to the latest indie blockbuster at the movie theater and the evening is complete! A word of warning to anyone who walks the streets of Clifton on an empty stomach – wonderful food smells, predominantly curry-oriented, dominate the air waves. So if you don’t have time to dine, or happen to be on a diet, walking through Clifton while hungry can be somewhat masochistic.

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Official Home Page of Clifton:
www.cliftoncommunity.org/

Unlike most of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods, residents of the Clifton Gaslight District don't have to get in their cars or catch a bus to go about their daily lives.

Clifton

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