Kenwood

Kenwood is best known as the center of some of Cincinnati's most outstanding shopping. It also contains lovely residential areas, and its convenient location on I-71 provides quick and easy access to Downtown and surrounding suburbs. Kenwood embodies a happy medium between urban and suburban living.

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Second Look

Kenwood is a clean, upscale and safe neighborhood in Sycamore Township with a population of about 7,400 within 2.3 square miles. It is best known for its shopping, boasting what is widely considered to be the most upscale mall in the city, Kenwood Towne Centre. Since its inception in 1956 as Kenwood Plaza, Kenwood Towne Centre has been renovated and expanded many times. Currently it contains about 180 stores and the city's only location of retailers such as Nordstrom (opening September, 2009), Crate and Barrel and The Container Store. Excellent dining options in and near the Towne Centre abound as well.

Kenwood's rise in population followed the general expansion in suburban living after World War II. The area's fits-and-spurts growth has resulted in an interesting mix of residential architecture, ranging from Nineteenth-century colonials and 1970s split-levels to modern, contemporary construction. Commercial expansion is carefully controlled by Sycamore Township (no big box stores, for example). Kenwood's medical importance to the city expanded when Jewish Hospital acquired and expanded the old Epp Memorial Hospital on Kenwood Road. A growing number of medical offices now surround the hospital, and alternative medicine practices flourish in the area as well.

Kenwood is close enough to Downtown to still be considered central and has easy access to the entire city by virtue of its location on I-71. The Metro service along Montgomery Road and a Park-and-Ride commuter lot behind Kenwood Baptist Church provide additional transportation options.

Overall, Kenwood's central location, wonderful shopping, and quiet residential areas make it a desirable place to live or visit.

 

 

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• Dining
  

  Foodies love Kenwood. Kenwood Towne Centre has a much higher standard for food than most malls and hosts Cincinnati's only locations of Maggiano's Little Italy and The Cheesecake Factory. Trio and Embers offer contemporary, upscale cuisine to a devoted following who prefer a non-chain dining experience.

  For dessert, one can sample Cincinnati's most famed ice cream at Graeter's on Kenwood Road, or for a real old-fashioned ice cream experience, one can zip up the road to Aglamesis Brothers' traditional parlor in Montgomery - its marble-counter décor and real, homemade flavor are not to be missed. Coffee lovers on the go can get their fix at Kenwood Starbucks, which offers a convenient drive-thru.

  No conversation about Cincinnati dining is complete without a reference to nearby Montgomery Inn, which regularly ships its distinctive barbecued ribs and chicken to fans (some of them very famous) around the world. Founded by Ted Gregory in 1951, the humble inn began its rise to fame when Ted's friends sampled his wife's barbecue sauce - the rest is history. Dining at the original location in Montgomery is something every Cincinnatian must do at least once. 
• Nightlife
  

  Kenwood is a family-friendly suburb that also offers fun highlights for singles and couples. Trio is not only a fine dining favorite, but is also known for its small, intimate bar. 
  
  For die-hard sports fans, Willie's Sports Café is owned by local radio personality Bill Cunningham, and is a great place for loud music and catching the game on a big screen. The area also features a Buffalo Wild Wings, chain restaurants with full bars open late, and a smattering of smaller neighborhood pubs.

   
• Arts & Entertainment
  

  Kenwood boasts several arts and entertainment options close to home. Economically-minded theatre lovers can enjoy excellent student productions at Sycamore High School and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (better known as CHCA). In nearby Montgomery, the Village Tavern hosts live music on weekend evenings and Sycamore Township offers Sunday evening concerts in the warm weather months, featuring local and regional performers. The Blue Ash-Montgomery Symphony Orchestra also holds concerts year-round; many of the members, including conductor Michael Chertock, play with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and other notable regional groups. For lighter fare, Go Bananas Comedy Club has shows Wednesdays through Sundays.
• Recreation
  

  In Kenwood, there are lovely residential areas to walk in, and one can reflect in Kenwood Gardens, a one-acre botanical garden on the corner of Montgomery and Galbraith Roads. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the Kenwood Country Club, which offers two championship courses, along with a youth swim team, tennis courts and recreation for the whole family.

  Nearby Montgomery's park system consists of more than 96 acres, spread over eight parks. What makes these parks unique among Cincinnati communities is that they are connected by over 10 miles of bike paths and sidewalks, allowing easy access for all residents. Johnson Nature Preserve features a walking trail, where trees felled by a 1999 tornado biodegrade naturally to prevent erosion. Centrally-located Montgomery Park hosts the city's Fourth of July celebration in the summer, and sledding in the winter. Pioneer Park offers the broadest range of use areas, with everything from butterfly gardens to baseball diamonds, but even the smaller parks, such as Pfeiffer, feature tennis courts and tot lots. Those who like to swim can join the beautifully-kept Montgomery Community Pool on Hopewell Road, open every day during the summer (and also home to the Montgomery Makos Swim Team).

   
• Special Interest
  

  In addition to Graeter's, there is another very special place for chocolate lovers in Kenwood.  Esther Price Candies has a store in a fine old home on Montgomery Road, at the edge of Kenwood and Silverton. Looking for more?  Personal hobbies have good outlets in Kenwood and neighboring Montgomery. Those with green thumbs will enjoy Denny McKeown's Bloomin' Garden Center on Kenwood Road. More than just a nursery outlet, McKeown also shares knowledge of landscaping techniques through on-site classes and a weekend radio program. Book lovers can join the Montgomery Book Club, which meets at the Old Montgomery Starbucks once a month to discuss the latest in literature. For the musically inclined, Cincinnati Music Academy in Kenwood offers lessons in all sorts of instruments - and for the more visual sort, Imaginattic offers art classes for kids. Residents of Montgomery can get motivated to save the earth with the city's innovative RecycleBank program. Started in October 2008, RecycleBank rewards residents for recycling by weighing the recyclables' "smart cart" on pickup day; points are then redeemed for rewards at local merchants.
• Shopping
  

  Kenwood shines when it comes to shopping. Kenwood Towne Centre is widely regarded as Cincinnati's most upscale indoor mall and is soon to be home to the first Nordstrom department store in the region. Just 12 miles north of downtown, its 180 retailers feature the only local outlets for 50 premier brands. Dillard's, Macy's, and Crate and Barrel flank the Centre's perimeter. Parents who love to shop will fall for the beautifully appointed family restrooms, and nursing lounge with comfy glider rockers. Amenities include valet parking.

  The shops and strips surrounding Kenwood Towne Centre offer an eclectic mix of luxury and discount stores, such as Diamonds Rock for factory-direct jewelry and Jos. A. Bank for fine men's clothing. For food shopping, Fresh Market and Trader Joe's sell gourmet groceries, and Pipkin's Market offers fresh local produce. Photography buffs can choose from two large camera stores, Ritz Camera Center and Cord Camera.

  A particular highlight of Kenwood-Montgomery shopping is the quality of home decorating choices. One can go trendy at Restoration Hardware, traditional at Handcrafted Amish Furniture, and find classic décor elements at Verbarg's, Closson's and Sacksteder's.
• Personal Care
  

  From the friendly neighborhood beautician to the trendiest in facials, Kenwood & its neighbor Montgomery cover all the bases for pampering; there's a salon or day spa on almost every corner. Woodhouse Day Spa is nationally recognized, Mitchell's maintains its reputation as Cincinnati's premier salon and day spa and Restorative Therapeutics specializes in massage. For workouts and strength training, locals favor Terry Bryan's Training Center. There's also an Urban Active fitness center down the road from Terry's place. If looking for an all-women's fitness studio, Venus offers yoga and massage in addition to circuit classes. The City of Montgomery also offers a variety of fitness classes at its Annex Building, including cardio, strength and flexibility training.

Foodies love Kenwood. Kenwood Towne Centre has a much higher standard for food than most malls and hosts Cincinnati's only locations of Maggiano's Little Italy and The Cheesecake Factory. Trio and Embers offer contemporary, upscale cuisine to a devoted following who prefer a non-chain dining experience.

For dessert, one can sample Cincinnati's most famed ice cream at Graeter's on Kenwood Road, or for a real old-fashioned ice cream experience, one can zip up the road to Aglamesis Brothers' traditional parlor in Montgomery - its marble-counter décor and real, homemade flavor are not to be missed. Coffee lovers on the go can get their fix at Kenwood Starbucks, which offers a convenient drive-thru.

No conversation about Cincinnati dining is complete without a reference to nearby Montgomery Inn, which regularly ships its distinctive barbecued ribs and chicken to fans (some of them very famous) around the world. Founded by Ted Gregory in 1951, the humble inn began its rise to fame when Ted's friends sampled his wife's barbecue sauce - the rest is history. Dining at the original location in Montgomery is something every Cincinnatian must do at least once. 

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Sycamore Township Home Page:
www.sycamoretownship.com/

Many of Cincinnati's finest shops and services are located here, adding to the atmos-phere of quality and refinement. Everyone will find Kenwood offers gracious living that is completely in tune with the times.

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