Eight Isn’t Enough

Every year we try to make CityBeat’s Best of Cincinnati ® issue bigger and better, and every year we succeed. Still, it’s not enough. It’s never enough.

When we start the process of gathering staff picks and assigning feature stories every year, there’s always a little doubt. Did we say everything last year? Is there anything left in Greater Cincinnati to write about?

You’d think now that we’re doing our eighth annual Best of Cincinnati ® we’d have learned an important lesson — there’s never a shortage of things to write about in Cincinnati. And this 2004 edition is a prime example:

• You’ll find the winners of 170 Readers Picks, compiled from more than 1,100 good ballots collected online and through the mail (and after the obviously stuffed and mass-produced entries were tossed out).

• The staff contributed almost 300 picks, commenting on people, places and things the readers might have missed. We also offer seven feature stories on further choices — one in each major category — ranging from best Indian food in Clifton and best places to learn about wine to interviews with Marvin Lewis and Clyde Gray.

• This year’s “mini best” neighborhood feature is on Bridgetown (following previous profiles of Bellevue and Bevis). Next year: Best of Bond Hill?

• We reprise another “Mini Best” feature by traveling along one of the area’s signature streets, this year focusing on what many call the “Spine of Cincinnati,” Vine Street (following Best of Queen City Avenue in 2002).

• For the eighth consecutive year, Cincinnati piggies lead you through these pages. We go back to our roots, as local illustrator Christopher Witflee — who drew the piggies for the first two Best of Cincinnati ® issues — returns by placing Cincinnati pigs in well-known fairy tales. Welcome back, Chris!

• Revisit previous Best of Cincinnati ® issues if you’re not convinced at the depth and breadth of life in Cincinnati — the good, the bad, the important events, the minor moments, the people, the businesses, the neighborhoods. Click on the year in the bar to the left.

— JOHN FOX AND FELIX WINTERNITZ