Neighborhoods

Over-the-Rhine sits just north of downtown and grew from 19th-century German immigrant settlement; Visit Cincy notes it is on the National Register of Historic Places and holds the country's largest collection of well-preserved Italianate architecture. Vine and Main streets are lined with restaurants, bars, breweries and boutiques, and Washington Park faces Music Hall. It is the home base for StartupCincy Week (Union Hall, 1311 Vine St) and for Cincinnati Art Week's storefront galleries, and it hosts BLINK's Over-the-Rhine zone.

Downtown is Cincinnati's compact urban core, centered on Fountain Square, which Visit Cincy calls the city's symbolic center since 1871 (the Tyler Davidson Fountain). The Fountain District around it holds the Contemporary Arts Center, the Aronoff Center, and the main Public Library. Many of the largest hotels are within a few blocks of the square, and the Connector streetcar loops through the district. It is BLINK's Fountain District zone and sits between OTR to the north and The Banks to the south.

Covington is across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati, linked by the Roebling Suspension Bridge (opened 1867, the precursor to the Brooklyn Bridge). Visit Cincy describes historic buildings, murals, nightlife and many locally owned restaurants, several of them stops on The B-Line bourbon trail. BLINK's Covington zone runs through downtown Covington, where the city creates a pedestrian Entertainment Destination Center with street closures during the festival.

The West End is the neighborhood across Central Parkway to the west of OTR. TQL Stadium (1501 Central Parkway), home of FC Cincinnati, is there, and BLINK's Ready. Set. BLINK! opening event on Oct 8 uses Central Parkway between Liberty Street and West 14th Street against the stadium backdrop. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal (1301 Western Ave) is a short drive or long walk southwest.

Findlay Market, at 1801 Race Street in northern Over-the-Rhine, has operated in the same iron-framed market house since 1855 and is Ohio's oldest surviving municipal market house. The surrounding blocks (Elder, Race and Elm streets) are packed with food merchants, and Jane's outdoor bar sits on the Elm Street side. It anchors BLINK's Findlay Market zone, and the streetcar stops at stations 10 (Elm) and 12 (Race).

The Banks is the riverfront entertainment district between Great American Ball Park and Paycor Stadium, with Smale Riverfront Park, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Andrew J. Brady Music Center and views of the Roebling Suspension Bridge. It is a designated DORA district (drinks in the official cup, 11am–1am daily) and sits on top of the Central Riverfront Garage. The Connector's first station is named The Banks, and BLINK's Riverfront zone and drone shows are here.

Newport sits across the Ohio River from Cincinnati's east riverfront, reached on foot by the Purple People Bridge. Visit Cincy notes it was established in 1795 and is now known for family attractions like the Newport Aquarium at Newport on the Levee, bourbon at New Riff Distilling and Pensive Distilling Co., and festivals. It is not a program venue, but its riverfront hotels are walkable to The Banks.

MainStrasse Village is a 19th-century German neighborhood in Covington listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a few blocks' walk from the Northern Kentucky Convention Center and the riverfront hotels. It has restaurants, bars and shops around the Goose Girl Fountain, and Goebel Park's Carroll Chimes Bell Tower plays on the hour.

Pendleton is the neighborhood on OTR's eastern edge. Ziegler Park (1322 Sycamore St), with a garage beneath its great lawn, straddles Over-the-Rhine and Pendleton, and the Pendleton Art Center at 1310 Pendleton St opens its artist studios to the public on the last Friday of each month (Final Friday).