our next event: happy hour at arnold's

this month we are finally heading down to over-the-rhine, one of cincinnati's most historically and architecturally significant neighborhoods. (note: i have been corrected that arnold's is actually downtown, not in otr, but i am leaving the link anyway in case you want to learn about the neighborhood). we will be having a happy hour at cincinnati's longest running drinking establishment, arnold's. if you have never been to arnold's, you are in for a treat. it is historical and full of all kinds of cincinnati pictures and memorabilia, and has a really nice courtyard.


another great thing about arnold's is the food. ronda, the owner, has recently in the past couple of years started working in the kitchen and the menu has gotten better and better. we are very lucky because ronda has agreed to give our group free appetizers so you can try some things out for yourselves.

event details:

• where: arnold's bar and grill, 210 e. 8th street (map here)
• when: wednesday, march 31, 6-9 p.m.
• food specials: free appetizers
• drink specials: 50 cents off all drafts and domestic bottles, $4.00 off all pitchers, $2.75 well drinks, $4.00 glass of house wine, $7.00 half carafe of house wine
• parking: free at meters on the street after 6 pm, or else there is a parking lot across the street from arnold's that costs a few dollars
  

here is arnold's history from their website for anyone who is interested.:

The two buildings that now house Arnold's Bar and Grill were built in 1848. 210 East 8th Street first housed a barbershop and the other building, 208, first housed a feed store. Simon Arnold opened his saloon in 1861 in the same room you enter today. The room is essentially the same as it was then and continues as the oldest bar in the city of Cincinnati.

The bartenders are different, women may enter through any door and the cost of a beer has changed slightly. During prohibition a kitchen was added and Arnold's was converted to a restaurant. The second floor living area became dining rooms and Elmer Arnold lived on the third floor.

Legend has it that he left the bathtub on the second floor to be used for bathtub gin. The bathtub became somewhat notorious and remains today (without the gin). Three generations of the Arnold family lived upstairs and operated Arnold's for ninety-eight years.

Since then Arnold's has had only four other owners. The current owner, Ronda Androski purchased the bar from long time employer Jim Tarbell. Over the years Arnold's has achieved and maintained a wonderful reputation for good food served in friendly surroundings at moderate prices. Throughout most of its history it served primarily as a daytime saloon and restaurant. In 1976 Mr. Tarbell added a dinner program; and opened the now treasured courtyard (downtown's first outdoor dining in several decades). All of this continues today and with it's wonderful sense of history and cultural diversity Arnold's has secured an important niche in this beautiful city.

if you want to learn even more about arnold's history and events, check out ronda's blog, eating at arnold's and more. we hope to see you on march 31!

(all photos courtesy of arnold's facebook page)